Milledgeville Scene - July/August 2011

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CONTENTS

July/August 2011

FEATURES

20

10

Dining on Campus

16

Georgia College Radio

20

Rock Hawk

24

Steeped in Faith

30

Mark Weaver

36

A New Era

24

10

40

IN EVERY ISSUE From the Editor

6

A little bit about what’s inside from our very own Natalie Davis

Scene and Heard

Find a place to worship

42

Where to find exactly what you’re craving

8

Arts & Entertainment 44 Current events and things to do around town

Arts and Culture and news of note

Worship Directory

Dining Directory

28

Sightings Scenes from events throughout town

46

ON THE COVER New GMC fine arts director Mark Weaver inside his classroom.

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from the editor

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”

— Mahatma Gandhi

By the time many of you read this, a renewed energy will have set in throughout Milledgeville as part of the sojourn that takes place every year late summer. It’s the time of year when the local community is infused with a different sort of vibrancy, one that can only be the result of students returning to local campuses. The streets get busier, parking, of course is more of a challenge, but there’s also a bit of a sense of youthful energy and renewal that makes this time of year unique.

Inside this issue of Milledgeville Scene, our annual Back to School edition, we celebrate that energy, as writer Jonathan Jackson takes us inside the newly established WRGC on the Georgia College campus. See how this National Public Radio affiliate is exposing local students to a whole new level of hands-on education. Also in this issue, writer Valerie Niblett shares how the Rock Hawk effigy, located in nearby Putnam County, utilizes history and environment to take hands on to even greater heights.

With a unique twist on our usual dining feature, you’ll also read how both Georgia College and Georgia Military College are giving new meaning to dining hall and school cafeteria, serving up diverse selections for local students and visitors alike.

N

atalie

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Be sure to also read our cover story on former Baldwin fine arts director Mark Weaver as he shares with writer Vaishali Patel how he plans to make an impact in his new role at GMC. And don’t forget to check out our Q&A with Youth Enrichment Services (YES) director Linda Watson-Kaufman on the program’s impact on the local community, and our church profile on Flipper Chapel AME. You’ll also read how a new era is being ushered in at both John Milledge Academy and Sinclair Christian Academy, as writer Steven Cary sits down with Geoff Mangus, principal of SCA, and Mark Hopkins, headmaster at JMA. Thanks for your continued interest in Milledgeville Scene magazine.

Remember to e-mail us with your feedback and story ideas, and let us know what you think of this issue.

Send your comments to ndavis@unionrecorder.com and let us know what you think.

Whether you’re a newcomer to the classroom or a returning student, let’s all try to harness some of that energy that circulates this time of year and do something great with it. You never know where it could possibly lead.

NATALIE DAVIS/MANAGING EDITOR

Who was your favorite teacher in school?

Jonathan Jackson City Editor My favorite teacher of all time is Josephine King. Far more than teaching me high school literature she taught me to think for myself. When I am pushing deadlines, I am thankful for those 500 words in 50-minute essays as well as those dictionary drills. We remain in touch, and I consider her a mentor and friend.

Steven Cary Contributing Writer/Summer Intern My favorite teacher is Mr. J.D. Zuber at Monroe Area High School. Mr. Zuber was more than just my teacher. He someone who believed in me, and showed me what it means to care about my work. He pushed me to be a better student, a better journalist, and most of all a better person.

Haley Harper Advertising Sales My favorite teacher was an English teacher I had all through high school. She made us work very hard and we had many rules (which we hated back then!).

When I got to college and all my English classes were a breeze, I realized how much I really appreciated her!!

Rico Dixon Classified Sales There have been so many teachers throughout my life that have impacted me in a positive way, but if I had to pick only one as my all time favorite, it would have to be my 11th Grade History Teacher, Mr. Williams. I know that our class was a little chaotic, but in the end, life lessons, values and experiences will never be forgotten.

JULY/AUGUST 2011 • MS • 7

a look at the arts & culture of Milledgeville and Baldwin County THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE recently awarded the Andalusia Foundation a $120,000 Save America’s Treasures matching grant to completely restore the Hill House on the grounds of the farm where writer Flannery O’Connor once resided.

The Save America’s Treasures program is one of the largest and most successful grant programs for the protection of elements of endangered cultural heritage in the United States. Grants are available for preservation and/or conservation work on nationally-significant intellectual and cultural artifacts and historic structures and sites. Intellectual and cultural artifacts include artifacts, collections, documents, sculpture, and works of art.

Historic structures and sites include historic districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects.

The 544-acre farm complex at Andalusia consists of the main house, a peafowl aviary, Jack & Louise Hill’s House, which will be renovated through the grant funds, the main cow barn, an equipment shed, the milk-processing shed, an additional smaller barn, a parking garage (also called the Nail House), a water tower, a small storage house (formerly a well house), a horse stable, a pump house, and three tenant houses.

According to the Andalusia website, The Hill House is a modified mid-19th century plantation type cottage. It is smaller and simpler in detail than the Main House and features two front entrances. Robert “Jack” and Louise Hill, resident farmers at Andalusia, lived at the house. Formerly located in the crescent of the driveway nearer the Main House, it was moved to its current location, approximately 225 feet to the northwest of the Main House, in the late 1940s. O’Connor refers to the Hills, along with their boarder Willie “Shot” Manson, with humor and affection on several occasions in her letters.

The grant must be matched, dollar for dollar, by the grant recipient. Thus far, the Andalusia Foundation has raised $40,000 to match the grant. The Andalusia Foundation is a non-profit organization, tax exempt 501(c)3. To donate to the matching grant for renovations, call (478) 454-4029, email wiseblood@andalusiafarm.org or visit www.andalusiafarm.org/donate/donations.htm.

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THE MILLEDGEVILLE CHAPTER of the Watson-Brown Foundation Junior Board of Trustees has awarded nearly $33,000 in grants to support preservation projects in middle Georgia.

Matt Davis, curator of the Old Governor’s Mansion at Georgia 2011 Milledgeville Chapter of the Watson-Brown Foundation Junior Board of Trustees.College, has announced 2011’s grant recipients: • $2,406 to Georgia’s Old Capital Museum for audio tours; • $1,300 to Steffen Thomas Museum of Art in Madison for collection conservation supplies; • $14,500 to Macon Cemetery Preservation Inc. for Linwood Cemetery restoration; • $2,500 to Sparta-Hancock Historical Society for Graves Barn restoration; • $2,790 to Friends of the Cannonball House in Macon for kitchen window restoration; • $4,500 to Wilkinson County Historical Society for Gordon Old City Jail restoration; and • $4,990 to Holt School Inc. in Jones County for Holt School restoration.

“This year the junior board selected a diverse group of sites to help sustain central Georgia’s rich history,” said Davis. “The students made all the calls, and we’re proud of the results.”

The junior board is part of the educational programming of the Old Governor’s Mansion.

The 12-member board is made up of high school students who have an interest in historic preservation, are active in their communities, maintain good academic standings and have strong references from teachers.

The Watson-Brown Foundation established Milledgeville Chapter of the Watson-Brown Foundation Junior Board of Trustees in October 2006.

This year’s board members include Stephanie Azahar, Mikayla Holmes and Timothy Irish of Milledgeville; Jordan Hattaway, Jordan Pridgen, Gabriel Rodriguez and Matthew Tyson of Macon; Elizabeth S. Lacksen of Sparta; Taylar Massengale of Warthen; Edward Scheff of Tennille; Kelly Woods of Lizella; and Leanna Harbor of Gordon.

“Historic preservation sites are treasures in our community,” said Harbor, board secretary and rising senior at Georgia Military College Prep School. “To give to local preservation sites is important because they educate all ages about the past, teaching us lessons we can apply to our future.”

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GMC, GC dining halls mix things up cafeteria-style

By SARAH BETH ARIEMMA Photos by Danielle Fields, Sarah Beth Ariemma, and Tim Vacula

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Milledgeville boasts one of the broadest range of eateries within a 100-mile radius for a community of its size.

Soul food, quaint local favorites and international delights are offered to visitors and community members, but perhaps one of the two best-kept secrets in town happen to be a couple of the largest and most auspicious buildings in Milledgeville: GMC’s dining hall and Georgia College’s dining room, “The Max.” Both establishments serve fine cuisine to students who are actively pursuing a degree, as well as community members who feel a cool rush of nostalgia for cafeteria-style food.

For those who believe that cafeteria food is out of fashion, think again: Cafeteria-style, yes. Bland food served by stereotypical lunchroom ladies? Couldn’t be further from the truth.

Georgia College’s dining hall is a place for students and members of the community to indulge in an all-you-can-eat meal while enjoying a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere. The dining hall is currently undergoing a $3 million renovation, courtesy of a brand-new contract with Sodexo Dining Services.

Kyle Cullars, assistant vice president of Auxiliary Services for Georgia College, is an enthusiastic champion for the college’s new dining hall, The Max. The project was a long

time coming.

“Auxiliary Services is different because we have to run things as a business. We have to fund our projects ourselves, but every bit of our profit goes back into student services and improving the experience as a whole. We started over eight months ago going through the bidding process with Sodexo to obtain a new contract, and we are thrilled to be under a new contract with them,” Cullars said.

The Max, short for Maxwell Student Union, will be a culinary delight for students and community members to savor and enjoy. The state-of-the-art dining facility will feature five new “restaurants,” nearly all with names pertaining to local flair.

Milla d’Villa will feature Italian cuisine favorites such as tortellini, homemade marinara and baked penne casserole, as well as tomato pesto cream and spaghetti casserette and fresh pizza. The 441 Diner will appear as a 50s-style diner and will feature all of the typical comforts of home such as grilled cheese sandwiches, pulled pork barbecue, meatloaf, whipped gravy and mashed potatoes, gyros and as an added bonus, breakfast will be served all day long.

Sinclair’s Sandwiches will offer freshly baked breads and even fresher ingredients for customers to create their own sandwiches and designer salads.

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Vidalia’s will feature homemade soups, fresh salads and top-of-the-line vegetarian and vegan options.

“We’ve always served these kinds of options for vegetarians and vegans, but it wasn’t very well known. Now, we want everyone to know that these options are here for you, and to take advantage of our services,” Cullars said.

Magellan’s Mongolian Grill will serve international cuisine to allow students a true custommade culinary creation and a chance to expand their taste pallets with new and different tastes.

Desserts will be handcrafted and vary from day to day, but one can be sure that each will be delectable.

“We are starting something new this year as well. It’s called, ‘The Balanced Way.’ Now when you go through the buffet line at each location, you can ask for your meal to be made ‘the balanced way.’ The calorie count and portion will all be under a certain limit, so customers can be sure that they are enjoying a delicious, but healthy, meal,” Cullars said.

Each station will also feature a nutritional content sign, and Cullars said that each station will utilize as many fresh, local and organic foods as possible.

Many of the ingredients for the food items will come from local growers within a 100-mile radius.

When it comes to the dining hall’s newly reconstructed image, Cullars hopes that the location will become a Milledgeville delight.

“I hope that Georgia College’s Max is all the rave among students. Next year, we hope to expand our meal plan options and have a wider selection for the community and other students, and we’ll sell a meal plan to anyone who is interested,” he said.

The choices will run on a

three-week cycle to keep the options from becoming stale, and to encourage customers to try new things everyday.

“My favorite is always the Italian. I think we’re going to have a lot of excitement at all of the stations and I’m looking forward to seeing how the students react to our new changes.”

“

dessert carts and serving line,” Clark said.

In August, the hot grill will add new favorites to the lineup, such as Mediterranean-style turkey burgers, vegetarian burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches, hamburgers and hotdogs, as well as hot and tasty French fries.

“We do something a little

“The bulk of our business takes place Monday through Friday at lunchtime. Summer hours depend on the camps that are using the facility, and the classes that are being held,” Clark said.

Normal hours of operation from August through May on Monday through Friday include

We serve only above average food here. We have fine cafeteria food that tastes great and looks wonderful.

GMC’s Food Service Director and Executive Chef Calvin Clark is no stranger to food. The foodie has been working in the restaurant and service industry for 22 years and graduated from Le Cordon Blue in Portland, Ore. The former restaurant owner had a restaurant in Warner Robins, but was drawn to GMC two years ago in September when he discovered the great benefits and the quality that GMC stands for.

“I was looking to spend more time with my family, as I have a 7-year-old daughter, and I discovered GMC. I was born and raised in Hawaii and have always worked in restaurants. When it came time for me to choose a career, I wanted to validate my work and learn even more about management and cooking procedures,” Clark said.

“I had heard great things about GMC and I needed and wanted the stability.”

During his time as food service director and executive chef, Clark switched the dining hall to Sysco Foods and U.S. Foods.

The change allowed Clark to tweak the menus and food as desired, according to customer tastes.

“We serve only above average food here. We have fine cafeteria food that tastes great and looks wonderful. We have different stations that offer customers a wide variety of choices every day like our hot grill, salad station,

-Calvin Clark

different here. All of our food is fried in a special canola oil blend that is approved by the American Heart Association. It is much more expensive, but so much better for you. Now students and outside customers can enjoy fried food on occasion without the damaging effects of poor oil,” Clark said.

The customer favorites include beef tips and rice, along with “the best fried chicken” on Wednesday. Students also love wings and French fries, as well as sweet potato pie and pecan pie.

GMC has also hired a dietitian to help consult with chefs about how to best balance a meal so that customers are only consuming the very best nutrients for their body.

“We want to serve tasty and nutritious food to our customers because we have such a broad base. We serve sixth-graders all the way to 70-year-olds. We all eat at the dining hall and want the food to be really good in all ways, and we also want community members to know that they can have breakfast, lunch and dinner here. This isn’t just for students,” Clark said.

Meal prices differ for each person, as most everything is a la carte. For lunch, the price is $2.10 for an entrée, $0.90 per side, and $0.85 for a drink and unlimited refills. Customers can expect to spend around $3 for breakfast and about $5.50 for lunch and dinner.

breakfast from 6:30 a.m. until 8 a.m., lunch from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., and dinner from 4 p.m. until 6:45 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, breakfast is served from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m., and dinner is served from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.

“We scale down during the summer, but during the school year we feed about 1,000 people a day. We go through 460 cases of biscuits at 30 pounds per case and 430 cases of pizza a year. We feed a lot of people,” Clark said, laughing.

GMC also does catering for both school events and outside events such as weddings.

Because he has the flexibility of not signing a contract with a food company, Clark has plenty of leeway when it comes to accommodating banquet menus or other ideas.

“As soon as I get feedback from customers, I can tweak the menu and keep my own flexibility. If customers aren’t loving a particular item on the menu, we can get rid of it easily and come up with an even better item,” he said.

Clark hopes more people will take advantage of the dining hall, and all of the delights it has to offer.

“I want to keep our focus on serving customers and I want to keep the meals delicious, balanced and healthy. Our top focus will always be on those things.”

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G

eorgia College’s newest media outreach is a multi-faceted, ambitious project that delivers classical music, world-class news and analysis, plus in-depth programming to the Milledgeville and Baldwin County region.

WRGC, on the air since March, is the result of a fiveyear quest to install a public broadcasting affiliate at Georgia’s public liberal arts university. It is a dream come to fruition through a unified focus of tireless perseverance of university administration and broadcasting liaisons — and it An inside view of the WRGC studio. is all right here at our own College’s WRGC. Georgia College.

Wooten entered the mix at WRGC as the station was Mike Wooten is the station manager and he arrived, as almost ready to go on the air. he says, just as the heavy lifting was being completed. Still, He said his entry point came late in the process of a partner in the vision, he has quickly taken ownership in establishing the station, as the drive to locate a Georgia the project and believes, as do others involved in the Public Broadcasting station at Georgia College was a long process, that potential is unlimited for what can be accomeffort undertaken by administration at the university. plished through the initiative.

“All the hard work had been done. Bill Wendt, Wooten got his start in high school when he went to University Communications — Harry Batson and a lot of work for the local radio station in his hometown of other people,” Wooten said.

“Jim Fain, who worked on the McRae. He went to work with the 1,000-watt AM station project as a consultant — a lot of other people, starting alongside a friend who encouraged him to apply for the years ago, got the idea and started working on it.” job.

Wooten said vice president for external relations and After high school, Wooten attended the University of university advancement Amy Amason and former Georgia Georgia and expressed an interest in print journalism and College President Dr. Dorothy Leland were both champistudied public relations at the Grady College of Journalism ons for the project. & Mass Communication.

The studio was located on West Campus in a structure He spent a few years in the public relations field for a that was originally constructed to house a convenience grocery store chain and saw an opening at a radio station store and a state-of-the-art broadcasting system was put in in Athens. For 13 years, Wooten worked with the newsplace.

The station was slightly retrofitted to provide a gathering operations at the station. He generated news broadcast booth and workstation. The station’s strength content for the station and became an afternoon anchor. and broadcast range is in line with content provider Spending time as the night side beat reporter, Wooten Georgia Public Broadcasting guidelines. experienced an array of stories.

“Our station is licensed for 5,000 watts,” Wooten said.

“I ended up back in radio and stayed in that job for 13 “With our tower, over here on Highway 49, we are able to years,” Wooten said. “After a couple of years, the news push out to Baldwin County, Putnam County, part of director who was there left.”

Hancock, most of Wilkinson, a good bit of Morgan Finding himself back in radio (Wooten realized he had County and a good bit of Jasper … and most of Jones been bitten by the broadcasting bug at an early age), he County.” knew the career was a perfect fit. Being enthralled with Wooten described the signal area of WRGC as running radio news even as a kid instilled love in his heart for the primarily north and south in an oval shape so as not to field. conflict with other nearby public radio signals.

Wooten spent more than 10 years following his time at “It’s all top of the line equipment,” Wooten said of the the radio station as a public information officer for the hardware aspect of the studio.

Clarke County School District in Athens, time that preThe station reaches 62,000 listeners in six counties and pared him for his future post at the helm of Georgia

18 • MS • JULY/AUGUST 2011

broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Through the hard work of university engineering, Wooten said, the station neared completion.

As the kickoff date approached, the university invited those integral in the project, as well as local media, to attend the first broadcast from the studio. At 9 a.m. Thursday, March 31, Leland flipped the switch bringing the station to life.

Hers was the first voice broadcast, and she introduced the community to the new station: “Good morning. This is Dorothy Leland, president of Georgia College. I welcome you to WRGC, a Georgia Public Broadcasting affiliate owned and operated by Georgia College, Georgia’s designated public liberal arts university. We hope that you will enjoy today’s GPB programming and make WRGC 88.3 FM a favorite station on your radio dial.”

The future of the station will include WRGC’s own generated content. That station has already started broadcasting two locally produced segments.

Each morning during the National Public Radio feed of “Morning Edition,” news inserts related to the Milledgeville and Baldwin County region are presented during three different windows. In addition, the station offers “Georgia College Presents,” which has thus far included musical shows performed by students and recorded for re-broadcast on the station. Public service announcements serve to educate listeners to happenings on and around campus as well.

The station has another practical application as a training ground for future broadcasters. Training students majoring in

mass communication in a serious radio format was one of the goals outlined when the station was created.

Wooten has his sights set on deeper news coverage in the future and is excited to consider the expansion available to WRGC. One attribute he says will help attain that goal is the freedom offered by the public broadcasting format.

“The news content we carry is more issue focused and more feature focused than perhaps a commercial station would be,” he said. “I think that’s typical of public broadcasting in general. …

We are free to do things like Georgia College presents. I’m not sure a commercial station could block out an hour three nights a week to do something like that.”

Wooten says he is interested most in presenting local programming that has an impact on the community.

“One thing we’ve talked about and are planning on launching this fall would be a public affairs type show … an interview program where we focus on a particular issue that is important in Milledgeville, Baldwin County or some of the areas we hit and talk about those issues in-depth,” Wooten said.

Interviews will focus on those with the position and ability to address the issues raised on the show.

The station is charged with securing local underwriting to help support the content, but does not rely on direct advertising revenue.

WRGC also benefits from support of Georgia Public Broadcasting that provides the NPR content.

WRGC relies on support from listeners — listeners who will in turn likely come to rely on WRGC.

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By VALERIE NIBLETT Photos by Jessica Luton/Keith Barlow

JULY/AUGUST 2011 • MS • 21

Hidden amongst aged oaks and majestic pines just off a gently curving walking trail rests a unique and mysterious wonder. Left behind possibly to mark a sacred place or to direct travelers, an ancient symbol is visible to all who pass. Made of thousands of quartzite rocks meticulously arranged on a low mound, the silhouette of a great hawk spreads its wings across the earth as if soaring in flight.

Not as pristine as its sister effigy Rock Eagle nearly 13 miles to the northwest, Rock Hawk takes a bit of imagination to make out its blurred edges. Standing atop a relatively new 30-foot viewing tower, it is beautiful nonetheless. Rock Hawk has become a piece of savored ancient history resting quietly in the woods of eastern Putnam County.

Thought to be created by Woodland Indians, both sites are at the highest points in Putnam County. They were surveyed by the Smithsonian Institute in the late 1800s and are estimated to be between 1,000 and 2,000 years old. With very few artifacts to pinpoint their exact ages, and the lack of identifying artifacts in general, some experts believe that the effigies themselves may have been ceremonial or religious in nature and far from nearby villages.

Many circular rock mounds have been found throughout the southeast. Some are deemed to have been ancient burial sites or sites marking the fall of a Native American warrior in battle. It was not uncommon for passing tribes to place another stone on the mound in memorial.

As portions of Rock Hawk and Rock Eagle sites were excavated in the 1950s, only Rock Eagle indicated clear remnants of cremated human remains beneath its central mound. While many such stone pilings had pockets of moderate levels of phosphorus and calcium, it is thought that this may be due to the decay of a large number of snails that congregate beneath the rocks rather than attributed to human remains.

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The Rock Hawk effigy is made of quartzite rocks, arranged on a low mound that creates the silhoutte.

Thought to be the only two rock effigies of this type located east of the Mississippi River, both are now protected and cared for. While Rock Eagle has enjoyed the protection of the 4-H center for many years, Rock Hawk has only recently begun to be properly maintained. At one time, wellmeaning groups had tried to rebuild the fading hawk, bringing in new stones. Rock Hawk, sometimes called “Little Eagle,” may have had a larger wingspan than the more visible Rock Eagle.

Located at Georgia’s Rock Eagle 4-H Center, the large eagle effigy is viewable by visitors, but not open to the general public.

Rock Hawk Effigy and Trails Park is open to the public and is located just off of Ga. Highway 16, now called the Historic Piedmont Scenic Byway, between Eatonton and Sparta near Wallace Dam. Bordering Georgia Power’s Lawrence Shoals Park, the area boasts a wide array of activities available to visitors including historical markers, nature trails, boating, fishing, camping, picnicking, hiking and mountain biking.

Full of educational wonderment, the

area boasts more than 12,000 years of local history including hundreds of historical markers along more than 15 miles of nature trails. Indoor and outdoor interpretive centers present information about the area’s flora and fauna. Lockerly Arboretum has graciously identified and marked native trees and shrubbery along the Blue trail, which all leads to a greater understanding of the area and its natural habitat.

An archery range was recently officially unveiled, featuring a static range, where users shoot into large "bow butt" targets secured inside freestanding sheds, and a 3D trail with realistic animal targets on 17 lanes. Users should bring their own equipment. The range is open during daylight hours.

Some trails have been maintained by local mountain biking enthusiasts and are double tracked on the faster, easier route and single tracked over difficult terrain for more of a biking challenge. Walkers and hikers are welcome to use the paths as well.

All users should be courteous of others and use appropriate trail etiquette.

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Rock Hawk boasts challenging bike trails and terrain.

GIFT STORE AT THE OLD GOVERNOR’S MANSION

The land was once a part of Putnam County’s most successful antebellum plantation owned by the Little family. Kinchen Little eventually owned nearly 5,000 acres in Putnam and neighboring Hancock counties including Rock Hawk. A prominent livestock owner, Little kept several hundred head of cattle, swine and dozens of milk cows, horses and mules. Before his death, Little began to section off his land to his wife and sons, giving the section of land including Rock Hawk to his widow.

The property contains two cemeteries. The smallest of the two can be seen from the park road and includes graves of the Little and Stinson families. The Stinsons owned the property before Kinchen Little rented and then purchased it from them. Kinchen married Christine Stinson. The second cemetery holds more than 100 graves and may have originally been a slave cemetery and later some Littles and other local residents were buried among them.

Many of the graves are unmarked, as gravestones were expensive.

The Rock Hawk Effigy and Hiking Trail is managed and maintained by the Georgia Power Company. Hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Visitors are asked to be considerate of each other and the environment.

Gifts with a Southern Flair Tues-Sat 10am-4pm • Sun 2pm-4pm

478-445-SHOP(7467) 120 S. Clarke Street (Entrance on W. Greene St.) JULY/AUGUST 2011 • MS • 23

Flipper Chapel AME blends 118-year tradition with contemporary to meet needs of community worshipers Story and Photos By SARAH BETH ARIEMMA

Flipper Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church is a unique blend of tradition and a contemporary way of worship.

The congregation is a part of the African Methodist Episcopal diocese, and the church has anywhere from 225 to 250 worshipers on any given Sunday.

The little church, nestled in at 136 Wolverine Street, has parishioners as far north as McDonough and as far south as Warner Robins.

Pastor David Luke has been serving Flipper Chapel AME for four years and his time spent with the church has been, in his opinion, a God-sent blessing.

“I’ve always wanted to work with people, but as a teenager, I didn’t know what I would do. I’ve owned my own business since I was 17 years old, and I was called to preach when I was 21. I started preaching at 30, and it has been the greatest blessing I’ve ever known,” Luke said.

Luke graduated from Tuskegee University, and later went on to obtain a master’s degree in divinity from St. Thomas University.

Currently, he is applying for a master’s program in Christian Teaching. Teaching has always been in Luke’s forefront. The charismatic man grew up in an impoverished area in Alabama, and his experiences growing up only solidified to him the importance of a strong education, and a background steeped in faith.

“We have reading programs here at Flipper Chapel, use of the resource center across the street, as well as programs to strengthen our boys and girls. We partner with the board of education in every aspect of learning and we even offer tutoring programs for individual students,” Luke said.

Children are carefully evaluated during Sunday school classes to make sure that a learning disability does not exist. If a teacher detects a student is affected by issues related to learning, the church is willing and able to coach the child in another way and get to the root of the problem.

“We have summer reading programs to see how children

respond to the literature, and keep it as a fun and in an informal setting. But we discovered that literacy problems don’t just effect children — adults have literacy deficiencies as well. Our church decided to partner with Georgia Military College and learn how to help people in our church community and beyond receive their GED diploma and go on to a two-year or four-year university,” Luke said.

Flipper Chapel’s partnership with GMC took GED learning to another level. Now, when students have finished their GED program, they can go to GMC to obtain their associate degree to further their education and better their career chances.

“We in Milledgeville catered to the industry that was available to us. Entry-level jobs at Central State Hospital and the factories and plants were easy to come by a few years ago. When they disappeared, so many people found themselves at a disadvantage.

The need for advanced degrees was suddenly here, and many people realized they would have to go back to school, but didn’t have the tools to do it. We help people find those tools, and GMC has helped with so many scholarships and support. We’ve banded together as a community to educate people,” Luke said.

Currently, the church has about 33 members of both church and community who are actively pursuing their GEDs. Luke would like to see more men, and young men in particular, enroll in the program, and he hopes that the church will be able to participate in leading ninth grade students and beyond to a graduation date.

“We want to identify the students who are in crisis and help them realize that education will affect the way they live. When I was giving a seminar once, a young man about 19 years old came up to me and said, ‘I want to go back to school.’ We helped him get his degree. But we want to make sure that students have the best possible chance of graduating when they are younger, and know that they can and will do something with their education,” Luke said.

JULY/AUGUST 2011 • MS • 25

Flipper Chapel’s members believe in service to all people, and the congregation never shies away from adding a new element to its vast array of services. The church opened a food bank nearly four years ago that is registered through the Georgia Food Bank.

The bank feeds more than 500 families a month and is available for anyone who needs assistance. Minister Bryan Reese leads the church’s praise and worship team, and Luke believes this musical worship style is one that cannot be matched.

“Our worship experience has both swagger and spirit. We teeter on the brink of Pentecostal, but there is something here for both young and old. [The] Rev. Linda Gattis leads our liturgical dance team, and we have young people from age 2 all the way into their 40s who worship with dance,” Luke said.

The church also offers a special senior program that was put in place to give senior citizens a voice. The program, led by Sister Charlene Philyaw, meets once a month for seniors play Bingo and fellowship. Attendees share their stories and even lament together.

“There is always a keynote speaker who lectures on everything from handling grief to energy conservation. This is a communitywide offering and our seniors love coming and sharing in that time together,” Luke said.

Worship is held every Sunday at 8 a.m. and 10:50 a.m. Sunday school for adults, teens, toddlers and preschool-aged children is

held at 9:30 a.m. Each lecture is the same, but age-appropriate to make sure that every age can comprehend the lesson. At 10:15, the church comes together to allow each member to tell what he or she learned from the lesson in front of the church.

“This is so special because it is a wonderful thing to hear a child of preschool age give the same synopsis of the lesson as a senior citizen. It brings everyone together in learning,” Luke said.

On Wednesdays, a 7 p.m. mid-week worship service is held, and the church always serves a hot breakfast on Sunday before Sunday school. Flipper Chapel also has a van service to allow everyone who wants to go to church but doesn’t have access to a vehicle to be able to come. Simply call the church on Saturday to arrange for a pickup for either the 8 a.m. service or the 10:50 service. The church can be reached at (478) 453-7777.

“We are a very loving church and we expand beyond the pastor. We embrace the entire family, and celebrate families all year long. We see the needs of our people and we’ve grown tremendously. We are an expanding ministry and we are accepting of anyone, no matter race, gender or socio-economic status. We are here for the community and we will always follow the path that God has given us.”

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Antioch Primitive Baptist Church 512 NW Monticello Rd. 478-968-0011 Baldwin Church of Christ 57 Marshall Rd. 478-452-5440 Bible Rivival Church 101 Deerwood Dr. 478-452-4347 Black Springs Baptist Church 673 Sparta Hwy NE 478-453-9431

First United Body of Christ Methodist Church Deliverance Church of

Milledgeville

366 Log Cabin Road Milledgeville, GA 31061

478-452-4597

“Where Caring Comes From the Heart”

140 SW Effingham Rd. 478-453-4459 Central Church of Christ 359 NE Sparta Hwy 478-451-0322 Church of God 385 Log Cabin Rd. 478-452-2052

325 Allen Memorial Drive

453-8514

Church of Jesus Christ 1700 N Jefferson St. 478-452-9588 Community Life Baptist Church 1340 Orchard Hill Rd. 478-414-1650 Community Baptist Church 143 NE Log Cabin Rd. 478-453-2380

Countyline Baptist Church 1012 Hwy 49W 478-932-8105 Countyline Primitive Baptist Church 120 NW Neriah Rd. 478-986-7333

First United Methodist Church 366 Log Cabin Rd. 478-452-4597 Flagg Chapel Baptist Church 400 W. Franklin St. 478-452-7287

Covenant Baptist Church 264 Ivey Dr. SW 478-452-0567

Flipper Chapel AME 136 Wolverine St. 478-453-7777 Freedom Church, Inc. 500 Underwood Rd. 478-452-7694

Covenant Presbyterian Church 440 N. Columbia St. 478-453-9628

Freewill Fellowship Worship Center 115 Cook St. 478-414-2063

Discipleship Christian Center Church 113 SE Thomas St. 478-452-7755

Friendship Baptist Church 685 E Hwy 24 478-452-0507

Elbethel Baptist Church 251 N. Irwin St. 478-452-8003 Emmanuel Baptist Church 384 Gordon Hwy 478-453-4225

Friendship Baptist Chapel 635 Twin Bridges Rd. 478-968-7201 Grace Baptist Church 112 Alexander Dr. 478-453-9713

Faith Point Church of Nazarene 700 Dunlap Rd. 478-451-5365

Greater Mount Zion Baptist Church 171 Harrisburg Rd. 478-452-9115

First Baptist Church 330 S. Liberty St. 478-452-0502 First Presbyterian Church 210 S. Wayne St. 478-452-9394

Green Pasture Baptist Church 150 N. Warren St. 478-453-8713

“We Outsell Because We Outserve” Janice Ward

453-9335 28 • MS • JULY/AUGUST 2011

Hardwick Baptist Church 124 Thomas St. 478-452-1612 Hardwick United Methodist Church 195 Hardwick St. 478-452-1513 Hope Lutheran Church 214 Hwy 40 W. 478-452-3696 Hopewell United Methodist Church 188 Hopewell Church Rd. 478-453-9047 Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 2701 Irwinton Rd. 478-452-7854 Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses 110 NW O’Conner Dr. 478-452-8887 Lakeshore Community Church 882 Twin Bridges Rd. 478-986-7331

Life and Peace Christian Center 116 SW Frank Bone Rd. 478-453-3607

HATTAWAY SCREEN PRINTING

CENTRAL GEORGIA BATTERY COMPANY 3020 Heritage Road Milledgeville, GA

Gumhill Baptist Church 1125 Hwy 24 478-452-3052

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Office (706) 484-2153 • Cell (478) 456-3797 www.janiceward.georgiamls.com

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Church Events • Family Reunions School Events & Clubs T-Shirts-Jackets • Caps

478-452-6435 800-792-8228

Living Word Church of God 151 W. Charlton St. 478-452-7151 Milledgeville Christian Center The Sheep Shed 120 Ivey Dr. 478-453-7710 Miracle Healing Temple 133 Central Ave. 478-452-1369 Missionaries of Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints 141 Frank Bone Rd. 478-452-5775

New Covenant Community Outreach Ministries 321 E. Hancock St. 478-453-3709 New Hope Baptist Church 345 E. Camden St. 478-452-0431 New Life Fellowship Church 123 Ennis Rd. 478-414-7654

New Life Ministries 1835 Vinson HWY SE

Northridge Christian Church 321 Log Cabin Rd. 478-452-1125

Mount Nebo Baptist Church 338 Prosser Rd. 478-452-4288

Northside Baptist Church 1001 N. Jefferson St. 478-452-6648

New Beginning Worship Center 200 Southside SE 478-696-9104

WHIPPLE OFFICE EQUIPMENT Sales & Service Since 1964

Torrance Chapel Baptist Church 274 Pancras Rd. 478-453-8542

Sacred Heart Catholic Church 110 N. Jefferson St. 478-452-2421

Union Baptist Church 720 N. Clark St. 478-452-8626

Oak Grove Baptist Church No. 1 508 Hwy 49 478-453-3326 Oak Grove Independent Methodist Church 121 Lingold Dr. 478-453-9564 Old Bethel Holiness Church 866 SE Stembridge Rd. 478-451-2845 Pathfinder Christian Church 120 N. Earnest Byner St. 478-453-8730 Pine Ridge Baptist Church 657 Old Monticello Rd. 478-986-5055

Vaughn Chapel Baptist Church 1980 N. Jefferson St. 478-452-9140 Victory Baptist Church 640 Meriweather Road 478-452-2285

Shiloh Baptist Church 204 Harrisburg Rd. 478-453-2157

Spring Hill Baptist Church 396 Lake Laurel Rd. 478-453-7090

Wesley Chapel Foundation House 211 S Clark St. 478-452-9112

Saint Mary Missionary Baptist Church 994 Sparta Hwy 478-451-5429

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Saint Mary Baptist Church Hwy 212 478-986-5228 Saint Paul Baptist Church 485 Meriweather Rd. 478-986-5855 Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church 220 S. Wayne St. 478-452-2710

ACCOUNTING & TAX

ANNIVERSARY

Wesley Chapel AME Church 1462 SE Elbert St 478-452-5083

Sinclair Baptist Church 102 Airport Rd. 478-452-4242

HARGROVE

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Union Missionary Baptist Church 135 Prosser Rd. 478-453-3517

Seventh Day Adventist Church of Milledgeville 156 Pettigrew Rd. 478-453-8016

Westview Baptist Church 273 W Hwy 49 478-452-9140 Zion Church of God in Christ 271 E. Camden 478-453-7144 If your church is not listed, call 478-453-1418.

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Typewriters • Cash Registers • Copiers

100 East Hancock St (478) 452-3710

Trinity Christian Methodist Church 321 N. Wilkinon St. 478-457-0091

Seventh Day Adventist 509 N. Liberty St. 478-453-3839

Mosleyville Baptist Church 106 SE Oak Dr. 478-452-1723

New Beginning Church of Christ 325 Hwy 49 478-454-5489

Rock Mill Baptist Church 2770 N. Columbia St. 478-451-5084

Second Macedonia Baptist Church 2914 SE Vinson Hwy 478-452-3733

New Vision Church of God in Christ 941 NE Dunlap Rd. 478-414-1123

Milledgeville Study Group 140 Chase Ct. 478-414-1517

Tabernacle of Praise 304 Hwy 49 W. 478-451-0906

Salvation Army Corps Community Center 478-452-6940

New Life Foursquare Church 112 Jacqueline Terrace 478-452-1721

Montpelier United Methodist Church 449 Sparta Hwy 478-453-0040

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church 265 SW Mt Pleasant Church Rd. 478-452-7978

Rock of Ages Baptist Church 601 W. Montgomery St 478-453-8693

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By VAISHALI PATEL

Mark Weaver thought playing a musical instrument and becoming a band director was his niche, until he found the love of teaching students of all ages the art of acting, singing and performing before an audience.

After almost two decades of following his passion and fine-tuning the fine arts program at Baldwin High School as the theater director, Weaver has made a mid-career shift to Georgia Military College Prep School in order to refine and expand its fine arts program.

The Milledgeville native graduated from Baldwin High School in 1991 as a drum major in the school band. Weaver immediately decided to head to Florida after high school to work for Walt Disney Entertainment as a summer supervisor for the next two years.

“I did everything from opening and running the studio, giving tours through the studio, and getting off-site school groups to come in. It was a lot of fun,” he said. “Then the thought of ‘I have to get a college degree’ kept driving me, so I came back home and went to Georgia College as a general studies major. Within the first two weeks of school, [former Georgia College Band Director] Todd Shiver called me and said, ‘listen, get your clarinet out of the closet and just come play in the band.’ Within the second week, I became a music education major even though I wasn’t a strong enough performer, but I thought it was the right move for me.”

Weaver set his focus on becoming a band director as he began his educational aspirations at Georgia College, where he became good friends with Clint Raburn, current Baldwin High School band direc-

tor, who also followed the same career pathway.

“I have known [Weaver] since 1991 when we were students in the music education program at Georgia College. We graduated together in 1995, and he started in the Baldwin County school system at the same time that I started in the Jefferson County school system in the fall of 1995,” Raburn said. “[Weaver] and I have worked together on many theater and music productions over the past 11 years, and though it can be stressful at times, I have gained a great deal of knowledge about teamwork and the benefits of excellence in every aspect of the production. [Weaver] is a great educator whom students respect. He is able to extract a high level of achievement from the students that he teaches. Students know that he expects their very best in class, rehearsals and performances. He is able to identify a student’s strength and make that strength shine. He has been a great asset to the Baldwin County school system over the past 16 years, and I wish him the same, if not greater, amount of success at GMC.” A job opportunity became available as a general music teacher at Southside Elementary School to teach kindergarten through fifth grade students in 1996 at which Weaver was distinguished as the Baldwin County Teacher of the Year during his first year teaching.

“I was there for five years. What I thought would be a short gig, I ended up loving,” he said. “When the Southside Elementary principal left for Oconee Valley High School, the old Midway Elementary School, she asked me to go with her to teach at-risk students general music and computers. In August 1998, I started and I loved those

students. Going from elementary to alternative kids was eye-opening for me. I got them involved in Light Magic II with Southside and Blandy Hills Elementary School choirs.”

In 1999, Weaver was given the position of technology and fine arts coordinator for the Baldwin County school system, and he undertook the responsibility for the next 11 years. “[Former Baldwin High School Principal Lyn Chandler] called me in 2001 encouraging me to take the drama coach position after the theater director had moved on. I took the job and became the theater director while working at the board office,” he said. “We started dreaming and talking about getting a fine arts center in 2003 before I physically moved to the high school in 2005 since all of the fine art programs take place there. It was [preceding Baldwin County School Superintendent] Gene Trammel’s dream to be able to produce big shows with huge student involvement, so this new Fine Arts Center and its size is really his legacy. He told us to dream big and we could cut it later. What was wanted by the teachers, designed and built is sitting here right now. It’s something I’m very sad to leave.”

Weaver directed and produced 27 shows and hundreds of performances during his career with the Baldwin County school system, from his very first production of “Beauty and the Beast” in 1996,

32 • MS • JULY/AUGUST 2011

“Steel Magnolias,” “Jekyll and Hyde,” “Fame: The Musical,” “Chicago,” and “Guys and Dolls,” to his final production of “Little Shop of Horrors” in fall 2010.

“I graduated in 2008 and while I was there, I was in ‘Chicago,’ ‘Into the Woods,’ ‘Ragtime’ and ‘Swing.’ Before I even knew Mr. Weaver, I was obsessed with Baldwin’s theater program. Through elementary and middle school I went to see all of his productions and fell in love,” said Hannah Strickland, who participated in Baldwin’s theater program for all four years under Weaver’s direction. “Mr. Weaver is a master of making things spectacular on a limited amount of budget and resources. He had a knack for making things exceptional, even when there wasn’t a lot to work with. He never settled for mediocre even if it meant holding an all night rehearsal just to get things perfect. He could recognize talent and got a lot of kids involved in fine arts that otherwise would have just been another face in the crowd at Baldwin High. He could see the untapped potential in so many kids; I truly believe he changed a lot of people’s paths.”

Among Weaver’s accomplishments, he won four best musical awards for one act competition, the Thespian Troupe was selected to perform “The Wiz” at state conference in 2009, and he created the first-ever Baldwin County Choral Arts Festival in which all school

choirs performed together.

“My 16-year career at Baldwin has been magnificent. There are frustrations beyond frustrations in education right now from furloughs, state mandates and testing, but if you keep the kids first, you will be fine. The kids are my motivation. We are here to help them find what they love and I don’t think you can find a better venue than the fine arts. I get paid to put on shows and work with kids; it’s like a dream job,” he said. “I love my students and I will miss them.

They’ve made me who I am and I hope to see amazing things out of them.”

Now that Weaver has officially taken on the role of GMC Prep School’s fine arts director since July 1, auditions for the fall program, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” have already been completed in preparation for the kickoff to the school year.

“I am ready to roll and I’ve already got a full plate for the year. It’s a new challenge with a smaller group of kids. My goal is to get the theater program to boost and have the students extremely busy by introducing the concept of one act play in which we are going to compete in the fall. We are starting a Georgia Thespian Chapter at the school for theater students, which will be something new for GMC middle and high school kids,” Weaver said. “Since the choir teacher has done everything, they have not been to competitions and seen what other schools are doing. We’re going to get these students to see some professional shows. We’ve already purchased 60 tickets to shows at the Fox Theater in Atlanta for “Wicked,” “Billy Elliot” and “Les Miserables.” We are also taking them to Walt Disney World to participate in improv workshops and the Candlelight Processional.”

Weaver joins the GMC family while taking the responsibility for all aspects of the fine arts program in the preparatory school, from various staged productions, choral presentations and involvement with the Georgia High School Association Literary Competitions to middle school musical theater classes and a senior-level music and theater course.

“While we have an excellent facility in the Goldstein Center for the Performing Arts, we have not been able to take advantage of the technology that is available. [Weaver] possesses a wealth of expertise in a wide variety of tasks related to theatric productions, is imaginative, and has a high energy level. I expect that we will be able to use his considerable talents in the college arts presentations as well,” GMC President Maj. Gen. Peter Boylan said. “[He] has a proven track record of developing students’ existing talents in the fine arts as well as motivating students to discover personal talents of which they were not even aware. I expect that the fine arts relationship we initiated with Baldwin High School this past March will continue. [His] previous association with Baldwin High School will certainly assist us in cementing our relationships. This is an exciting initiative that will not only benefit our students, but has profound implications for improving our community as well.”

The 600 square-foot music room in Usery Hall is what Weaver now calls his new home.

“GMC has some great teachers and being a liberal arts college, the fine arts needs to come into focus. The opportunity was there for me to make a shift and the idea that I can work with college is something I’ve had in the back of my mind for a long time, so I’m very excited and ready to move forward,” Weaver said. “What I’m most excited about is taking everything I’ve learned the past 16 years to a new place, so I’m starting here with a whole 16 years worth of skills and just building on that; it’s exciting and scary. I’m 100 percent ready to go and to continue to grow and build off GMC’s successes.”

A bust of W.J. “Bill” Usery is displayed inside Usery Hall, where Weaver’s new classroom is located.

An outside view of Usery Hall, which houses GMC Prep.

JULY/AUGUST 2011 • MS • 33

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Both Sinclair Christian and John Milledge Academies will enjoy new administrators beginning in the 2011 school year, as SCA fills its first-ever principal position and JMA replaces its head of school.

The SCA school board filled the new position with Capt. Geoff Mangus, a retired United States Army officer, who brings high expectations for the future of the school.

Believe it or not, Mangus never considered working in the school system as an administrator while in the Army.

“I had been active duty military the whole time,” Mangus said. “I never really thought about it [being an administrator] or getting out of the army.”

Although Mangus never anticipated becoming an administrator, he did discover his interest in working in the school system through teaching courses at Georgia Military College for the military.

“I was teaching political science at GMC, and that’s how I got into teaching,” Mangus said. “I loved making an impact on my students lives.”

When Mangus heard of the position opening, he went to God with it.

36 • MS • JULY/AUGUST 2011

“I heard that the position opened up, and I prayed about it,” Mangus said.

It worked out so that weeks after retiring from the Army, Mangus interviewed for the first-ever open principal position at SCA. “I don’t believe in coincidences — everything happens for a reason,” Mangus said. “I got out of the army and two weeks later I was interviewing for this job. I really feel like it was the way God was looking for me to go.”

Mangus had already met the only requirement to be an administrator in the school system and did not even know it.

“I finished up at Georgia College & State University and double majored in political science and criminal justice,” Mangus said. “I also got a master’s in public administration, which was the only true requirement to be an administrator for a school.”

Though Mangus has limited experience as a teacher or administrator in the school setting, he does however bring leadership and managing experience to the table.

“I’ve had a ton of experience working with staffs and learning how to manage people,” Mangus said.

“Soldiers and students have a lot in common, only

instead of training, you’re teaching.”

Mangus admits that there are similarities and differences; though, they are minute.

“Through communicating, managing a staff, and disciplining, they are very similar,” Mangus said. “It is different because you’re not only dealing with students, but parents as well.”

Mangus has very high expectations for his students and teachers going into his first year as principal.

“I expect all of my students to have A’s and B’s, all of my teachers to love and care for the students, and teachers and students alike to have a heart of service for the community,” Mangus said. “All disciplinary problems will be unacceptable to me.”

Sending the kids to college is also a high priority for Mangus in his first year.

“I want everyone contributing to society,” Mangus said. “I want all of our kids going to college.”

While it is his goal to help the school grow as well, Mangus believes he must improve it first.

“It needs to be better before bigger,” Mangus said. “We need to make it a better school spiritually, physically, emotionally and intellectually.”

With Mangus’ help, SCA plans to take the necessary steps to improve the four areas of the school.

“We are raising standards for high school students, making it more difficult,” Mangus said. “All of our courses are college preparatory, but we are also opening up a dual-enrollment program so juniors and seniors can take college courses.

“We are also in a new building,” he said. “We do have plans for a couple of playground sets and a new parking lot as well.”

There are also plans by Mangus to add programs for the younger kids to help create an interest in school.

“For the younger kids, we also want to implement spelling bee contests, science fairs and academic teams,” he said.

Understanding that sports also play a large role in developing JULY/AUGUST 2011 • MS • 37

young minds and bodies, Mangus plans to create more athletic opportunities for his students.

“We are starting a cross country, a baseball and a high school fishing team, which will compete not just in Georgia, but in surrounding states in the southeast region,” Mangus said. “We are also looking into getting an ROTC program.”

Mangus desires to think of SCA not as a school, but as an opportunity to serve.

“I look at it as more of a ministry,” Mangus said. “My long-term goal is to do the right thing always. It’s an impossible goal, but if you’re always trying to do the right thing you’re following God’s plan.”

Unlike Mangus, Mark Hopkins, headmaster, has big shoes to fill as the new head of school at JMA. The board chose Hopkins as the heir to Larry Prestridge, former head of school, as Prestridge announced his retirement midway through the 2010 school year.

“When I came here two years ago I had hoped I would be the guy,” Hopkins said. “Mr. Prestridge has been slowly grooming me the last two years, and I’ve been slowly taking the responsibilities since December.”

“

I think it’s important that we have a well rounded education for kids.

-Mark Hopkins

Hopkins has spent the last two years as JMA’s assistant headmaster, dealing mostly with the high school and assisting with the academy’s day-to-day responsibilities, but as of June 1 he became responsible for overseeing the school at all levels.

“I’m very fortunate I’ve been here long enough to know the pulse of the school,” Hopkins said. “I think I have a lot of new ideas to bring to the table and I’m excited to be here.”

Heading into the new school year, Hopkins believes he has a lot to offer to the JMA family.

“What I want is to build on the great traditions we already have and improve on the arms we don’t have,” Hopkins said. “We have a good sampling of fine arts, but I want to build a strong program.”

Hopkins has a strong passion for the areas of technology and fine arts and he plans to improve on the programs in the future.

“I think it’s important that we have a well-rounded education for kids.” Hopkins said. “This year we want to have a jazz band and a chorus.”

To Hopkins, it is important the academy stay up-to-date on the technology used, as he believes the students being tech savvy will help them in their future careers.

“Literally, the kids graduating now will have jobs that aren’t even created,” Hopkins said. “So we want to keep them up-to-date with technology.”

While improving in technology and fine arts, Hopkins hopes to get the JMA family more involved in the community as well.

“I am very community-minded, so I plan on doing more outside the walls of the school, not for publicity, but for the sake of helping,” he said. “I want the community to see what a loving family we have around here.”

Though, Hopkins plans to implement changes in the coming years, he does believe that the family at JMA is what makes the school what it is.

“The first thing I realized when I got here was the huge alumni connection here,” Hopkins said. “That is a neat and interesting aspect of the school.”

38 • MS • JULY/AUGUST 2011

Hopkins also believes that the unusually low staff turnover rate helps shape the school into a successful academy.

“The teachers here are wonderful,” he said. “It is the longevity of the teachers, and the turnover here is small, so the teachers are who we are.”

In what Hopkins believes to be one of the best staffs he has ever worked with, he considers himself fortunate to be in such a good situation.

“God opened up a door for me,” Hopkins said. “I do feel very humbled and like the right person for the position.”

While things at JMA seem to be headed in the right direction under Hopkins, he admits there is always something that can be improved to allow the students to have the best education.

“We want to be the very best in everything we do,” Hopkins said.

“We want to develop critical-thinkers and empower the kids to think outside the box.”

In an attempt to help this initiative, JMA has also gained new accreditations.

“We are now SAIS (Southern Association of Independent Schools) and SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) accredited, which is the same accreditation of the college (Georgia College),” Hopkins said. “This will help us sharpen our game and make us take a long, hard inward look at ourselves.”

With all the new changes and improvements, Hopkins admits it is all with the goal of always striving to improve so the students at JMA will get the best education possible. Hopkins is looking forward to working toward this goal in his first year as the new Headmaster of JMA. “We want to be, not just good, but great,” Hopkins said, “and I feel blessed and honored to have this opportunity.”

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www.sinclairpowersports.com Hours: T-F 8:30-5:30 & • Sat 8:30 to 3:00 JULY/AUGUST 2011 • MS • 39

Q & A - Dr. Linda Watson Kaufman

“

Some students are behaving better in school because of afterschool programs.

Students can’t learn if they are suspended. No matter what you do, if students are not in class, they are not learning.

“

Linda Watson Kaufman is the director of Afterschool Achievement at Georgia College. Among her duties and responsibilities, Kaufman oversees the operations of the local Youth Enrichment Services Program, which began in 2007 and the High Achievers program, which launched in 2003, both of which provide educational activities and support for students and parents throughout the Baldwin County area.

Please explain what the Youth Enrichment Services program does and how and where it functions in the community.

The High Achievers and YES Program believe that students matter.

The goal of the project was to curb teen pregnancy by working with a cohort of youth entering sixth grade and then to follow them through 12th grade. The project included seven interventions: education and college readiness; job club; lifetime recreational activities; access and participation in visual, performing, and creative arts; leadership programming; family life and sexual education; mental health, physical and dental assistance. The core group of students just graduated from high school. The goal of the project is to produce leaders with civic agency skills. These students prepare all year to facilitate a free spring break and summer camp for younger youth. This project serves 144 to 160 unduplicated youth each year, all of whom are on public assistance. During the year they collaborate with the Peace Corps. Twice in the last few years, the High Achievers have been invited to the Carter Center when President Carter presented the Lillian Carter Award to a returned Peace Corps member. One student was invited to speak about the value of public service; another was recognized for preparing an emblem, which will be used next year on Peace Corps materials. These students also form the base of Mayor Richard Bentley’s Commission on Youth Leadership.

The YES Program aims to help students promote on time, persist to graduation, and to be ready for post-secondary education or work.

Afterschool activities include homework help by state-certified teachers, tutorial support for areas of weakness, academic enrichment and other enrichment activities, such as physical education, violin, drumming, dance, disc golf, art, theater, public achievement (where they are learning to be good citizens), and work ready programming including a small business whereby high school students are designing and selling labeled bottled water in a business called “Water Works.”

40 • MS • JULY/AUGUST 2011

Are there eligibility requirements for taking advantage of the resources YES provides? If so, please explain.

YES provides afterschool services at Eagle Ridge, Blandy and Midway elementary schools, Oak Hill Middle School and Baldwin High School. All students from these schools are eligible to apply for the YES Program; however, students must participate daily to be in the program. Sequena Moon at Georgia College is the Program Coordinator for the High Achiever Program. Any Baldwin County High School students interested in participating in the High Achiever Program can reach her at (478) 804-3778.

Where does funding for the programs come from?

The High Achievers Program began in 2002 with initial funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The program continues today with grant funding from the Georgia Department of Human Services. The YES Program is a replication of some of the activities of the High Achievers project. Funded by several grants from the U.S. Department of Education through the Georgia Department of Education’s 21st Century Learning Community Center Program, the YES Program was first funded in 2007 and reaches out to 610 students providing them with academic and enrichment activities during the school year.

What assets do you feel the YES program provides for the community?

There are savings to taxpayers: The cost of running our programs is about $2,000 per child per year. The average cost of incarcerating one child for one year nationwide is $86,000. If we save one child per year with external funding, we’re paying for much of the cost of one afterschool site.

There are financial benefits to our city: Our programs hire almost 200 employees. These people have anywhere from $10,000 to $14,000 more income per year. That’s $2 million to almost $3 million more.

{

INFO

There are savings to our workplaces: 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. is documented as the most unproductive time of the work day, yet our YES and High Achiever parents aren’t on the phone calling their students to see what they’re doing, nor are they running off to take care of emergencies. They know where their students are and that they are safe and productive.

Dr. Linda Watson Kaufman: (478) 445-0145 Richard Harry: (478) 454-9012 Sequena Moon: (478) 804-3778

}

There are savings to families: The average weekly cost of afterschool care in Georgia is $66 per week. If all of the students we serve in our YES afterschool program were to pay for afterschool care, the cost per year would be $1.2 million. YES has been running for more than four years; that’s a staggering $4.8 million in childcare savings in Baldwin County.

Our high school High Achievers run free spring break and summer camps for more than 100 younger students. This is an invaluable service that young people provide for their younger peers at First Presbyterian Church.

There are healthcare benefits to Baldwin County: The first afterschool program — the High Achievers Program had as its focus to curb teen pregnancy, and not one of the students in the program is pregnant or has fathered a child. Our original cohort of High Achievers graduated this year. These students have told us that when they graduate from college, they want to come back to Milledgeville and run afterschool programs.

Sadly, this year, 1 out of 2 children of color between the ages of 7

and 9 will become Type 2 diabetics. Afterschool programs are the perfect platform for erasing this. Childhood obesity is going to bankrupt our nation. Our afterschool programs can and will save kids. Imagine the enormous healthcare savings.

College students have benefited from these programs: A music student of Georgia College graduated last year and immediately got a teaching job. Her 720 hours of teaching to students every day in the YES afterschool program at Eagle Ridge strengthened her resume. She became a good teacher in an afterschool program in Baldwin County.

There are cost savings to our school district: Some parents tell us that their students come to day school because they want to be in afterschool. Attendance for our afterschool YES youth is up. Schools get paid for students who are in school.

Some students are behaving better in school because of afterschool programs. Students can’t learn if they are suspended. No matter what you do, if students are not in class, they are not learning.

And most of our professional staff members are teachers who cannot work for our afterschool programs if they aren’t in day school.

There are fewer teacher absences when YES is running. Teachers, not subs, are working with students.

How can people tap into YES program resources or find out more information about the program?

Applications are available through me, the YES Director, at 4450145, or through the Adult Program Coordinator, Richard Hartry, at (478) 454-9012. Afterschool programming is the right thing to do in Baldwin County, and if you would like to partner with YES or the High Achievers or to learn more about our afterschool programs, please contact me, Richard Hartry or Sequena Moon at 804-3778.

JULY/AUGUST 2011 • MS • 41

dining directory 119 Chops 30 W. Main St. Milledgeville AJ’s Hotwings & More 2601 North Columbia St. Ste 4 Milledgeville (478) 804-0101 Amici Italian Cafe 101 W Hancock St. Milledgeville (478) 452-5003

Where the food is fresh, the wine is flowing, and gentle times have arrived.

Creative Seasonal Summer Menu

“Pulled Lamb with Mojito Sauce” Slow cooked lamb tossed with a homemade mojito sauce with mint and rum flavors. Served with cranberry walnut slaw and garlic mashed potatoes.

Sit on the porch and enjoy the Peach Blossom Spritzer featuring locally produced Courson’s Peach Wine

3.00 Martini Wednesday Nights

Seafood, Pasta, Steaks and updated Regional specialties!

Red Room Available for parties, meetings or events including Expanded Wine List $

Open Sundays 11-3 Perfect for After Church 2600 N. Columbia Street

(in Wal-Mart Plaza)

478.452.4444 www.sylviasgrille.com 42 • MS • JULY/AUGUST 2011

Applebee’s 106 NW Roberson Mill Rd. Milledgeville (478) 453-8355 Asian Bistro & Grill 124 W. Hancock St. Milledgeville (478-452-2886 Aubri Lane’s 114 S Wayne St. Milledgeville (478) 454-4181 Barberito’s Restaurant 148 W Hancock St Milledgeville (478) 451-4717 Blackbird Coffee 114 W Hancock St. Milledgeville (478) 454-2473 Bo Jo’s Cafe 3021 N. Columbia St. Milledgeville (478) 453-3234 The Brick 136 W Hancock St. Milledgeville (478) 452-0089 Bruster’s Ice Cream 1801 North Columbia St Milledgeville (478) 453-1303 Burger King 2478 N Columbia St. Milledgeville (478) 453-3706 Captain D’s Seafood 2590 N. Columbia St, Milledgeville (478) 452-3542

Chick-Fil-A 1730 N. Columbia St. Milledgeville (478) 451-4830 W. Hancock St., Milledgeville (478) 452-0585 Chili’s Bar & Grill 2596 N. Columbia St. Milledgeville (478) 452-1900 China Garden 1948 N. Columbia St. Milledgeville (478) 454-3449 China Wings 3 1071 S. Wayne St., Milledgeville (478) 453-3655 Church’s Chicken 620 N Jefferson St., Milledgeville (478) 414-1808 Country Buffet 1465 SE Jefferson St., Milledgeville (478) 453-0434 Crooked Creek, Bone Island Grill 208 Crooked Creek Dr., Eatonton (706) 485-9693 Dairy Queen 1105 S Wayne St., Milledgeville (478) 452-9620 Domino’s Pizza 1909-B N Columbia St. Milledgeville (478) 453-9455 Down South Seafood 972 Sparta Hwy Milledgeville (478) 452-2100 Dukes Dawghouse 162 Sinclair Marina Rd Milledgeville (478) 453-8440 El Amigo Mexican Restaurant 2465 N Columbia St., Milledgeville (478) 453-0027

El Tequila 1830 N Columbia St., Milledgeville (478) 414-1702 Golden Corral 1913 N Columbia St., Milledgeville (478) 414-1344 Goodie Gallery 812 N Columbia St., Milledgeville (478) 452-8080 Great Wall Chinese Restaurant 1304 N Columbia St. Milledgeville (478) 452-5200 Grits 132 Hardwick St. Milledgeville (478) 453-2520 Harold’s BBQ 411 Pea Ridge Rd. Eatonton 706-485-5376 Haynes Snack Bar 113 SW Davis Dr. Milledgeville (478) 453-4155 Huddle House 300 E. Hancock St. Milledgeville (478) 452-2680 206 NW Roberson Mill Rd., Milledgeville (478) 452-3222 IHOP 2598 N Columbia St. Milledgeville (478) 452-0332 Jackson’s at Sinclair 3065 N. Columbia St. Milledgeville (478) 453-9744 James Fish and Chicken 905 S Wayne St. Milledgeville (478) 453-8696 Judy’s Country kitchen 1720 N. Columbia St. Milledgeville (478) 414.1436 Kai Thai 2600 N. Columbia St. Milledgeville 478-454-1237

Kentucky Fried Chicken 2337 N Columbia St. Milledgeville (478) 453-2456 Kuroshima Japan 140 W. Hancock St., Milledgeville (478) 451-0245 Lieu’s Peking Restaurant 2485 N Columbia St., Milledgeville (478) 804-0083 Little Tokyo Steak House 2601 N Columbia St., Milledgeville (478) 452-8886 Margarita’s Mexican Grill 2400 N Columbia St., Milledgeville (478) 453-9547 McDonald’s 2490 N Columbia St., Milledgeville (478) 452-1312 611 S Wayne St., Milledgeville (478) 452-9611 McDonald’s Wal-Mart, Milledgeville (478) 453-9499 Mellow Mushroom 2588 N. Columbia St., Milledgeville 478-457-0144 Metropolis Cafe 138 N. Wayne St., Milledgeville 478-452-0247

Original Crockett’s Family Cafeteria and Catering 1850 N. Columbia St. Suite 10 Milledgeville (478)804-0009 Paradise Country BBQ 111 Old Montgomery Hwy Milledgeville (corner Hwy 441 N. & Log Cabin Rd) (478) 452-8008 Papa John’s Pizza 1306 N Columbia Street, Milledgeville (478) 453-8686 Papa and Nana’s Wang House 174 Gordon Hwy SW Milledgeville (478) 414-1630 Pickle Barrel Cafe & Sports Pub 1892 N Columbia St., Milledgeville (478) 452-1960 Pizza Hut 650 W Wayne St., Milledgeville (478) 453-3703 2511 N Columbia St. Milledgeville (478) 452-7440 PJ’s Steak House 3052 Highway 441, Milledgeville (478) 453-0060 Puebla’s Mexican Restaurant 112 W Hancock St, Milledgeville (478) 452-1173

Sonic Drive In 1651 N Columbia St., Milledgeville (478) 451-0374 Sonny’s Brew’N Que 120 N. Greene St., Milledgeville (478) 452-0004 Soul Master Barbecue & Lounge 451 N Glynn St. Milledgeville (478) 453-2790 Subway 1692 N Columbia St., Milledgeville (478) 453-2604 Subway 2600 N Columbia St. Milledgeville (478) 804-9976 Super China Buffet 1811 N. Columbia St., Milledgeville (478) 451-2888 Sylvia’s Grille 2600 N Columbia St. Milledgeville (478) 452-4444 Taco Bell 2495 N Columbia St.,Milledgeville (478) 452-2405 Velvet Elvis 118 W Hancock St., Milledgeville (478) 453-8226 Vinson Diner 2136 SE Vinson Hwy, Milledgeville (478) 453-1171

Octagon Cafe Milledgeville Mall (478) 452-0588

Quizno’s Subs 1827 N Columbia St, Milledgeville (478) 451-0790

Waffle House 1683 N Columbia St Milledgeville (478) 452-9507 3059 N Columbia St.,Milledgeville (478) 451-2914

Old Clinton Barbecue 2645 N. Columbia St., Milledgeville (478) 454-0080

Ruby Tuesday’s 2440 N Columbia St., Milledgeville (478) 452-5050

Wendy’s 2341 N Columbia St., Milledgeville (478) 453-9216

Old Tyme Dogs 451 W. Montgomery St. Milledgeville

Shrimp Boat 911 S Elbert St. Milledgeville (478) 452-0559

Zaxby’s 1700 N Columbia St., Milledgeville (478) 452-1027

Milledgeville Donation Location~2910 Heritage Place Wed-Sat: 11am-5pm • Sun: 12pm-5pm JULY/AUGUST 2011 • MS • 43

arts & entertainment AUGUST August 2 Oconee Regional Symphony Orchestra auditions. Georgia College’s Porter Hall, Room 203. 7 p.m. Visit oconeeregionalsymphonyorchestra.org for more information.

August 8 Photography Class. A four-week class with local photographer Danielle Fields. 6 p.m. Call (478) 451-9992 for more information.

ONGOING “Curtis Stewardson: A Solo Show.” Georgia College Museum Focus Gallery. Through September 21. (478) 445-4391.

“The Surveyed Extent.” Sandra Trujillo. Georgia College Museum Entry Gallery. Through September 21. (478) 445-4391.

2010-2011 President’s Hall Student Exhibition. Georgia College Department of Art. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday Parks Hall, 3rd floor. Call (478) 445-4572 for more information.

“Labor Behind the Veil.” Old Governor’s Mansion. Tours by appointment only. A historically documented tour that provides mansion visitors a glimpse of the working lives of men and women who lived and worked on the mansion grounds. Call (478) 4454545.

“The Collections Tour.” Old Governor’s Mansion. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tuesday-Friday (by appointment only). $15 for adults; $8 for seniors; $10 for groups; $4 for students. Hear an in-depth discussion on the Mansion’s varied material and textile collections, the process of building the collection, recent restoration, and culminating in the methodologies employed in locating both original and period appropriate pieces and materials for display within the museum. Call (478) 445-4545.

ATTRACTIONS Andalusia Flannery O’Connor’s Farm, North Columbia Street, (478) 4544029, www.andalusiafarm.org. Open to the public Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bartram Forest In 1794, Native Americans inhabited the Bartram Forest. Today, educational hiking trails allow visitors to see centuries of abundant wildlife, natural wetlands, and an erosion ravine with soil that is a 44 • MS • JULY/AUGUST 2011

remnant of the ancient shallow seas that covered Georgia 50 to 100 million years ago. Three looping trails cover this natural wonder.

2892 Highway 441 South. (478) 445-2119.

Blackbridge Hall Art Gallery 111 South Clarke St., (478) 445-4572, www.gcsu.edu/art, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. This art gallery exhibits regional, national and internationally recognized contemporary artists. It also presents GCSU senior art major exhibitions at the end of each semester.

Brown-Stetson-Sanford House 601 West Hancock St. (478) 453-1803. Open by appointment and on the Historic Trolley Tour. An architectural gem built by John Marlor in the “Milledgeville Federal” style with its characteristic columned double porch. It served the state capital as the BeecherBrown Hotel and then the State’s Rights Hotel for the many visiting legislators who came to the area.

Central State Hospital Museum The Central State Hospital Museum, located on Broad Street in an 1891 Victorian train depot, contains memorabilia that spans the history of CSH. From annual reports to medical equipment, to client’s personal effects, the museum’s contents tell the story of the history of mental health treatment in the United States and the unique story of the hospital once renowned as the largest “insane asylum” in the world. Central State Hospital Museum tours are available by appointment only. For information call Terea Jacobs at (478) 4454128. www.centralstatehospital.org.

Flannery O’Connor Room Dillard Russell Library, GCSU campus, University session. On display are manuscripts from O’Connor’s personal collection of more than 700 books and journals. The room is furnished in the Victorian style of the 1870s. Most of these items were brought from Andalusia, the farm where O’Connor lived and wrote the major portion of her fiction. For information (478) 445-0988.

GCSU Natural History Museum Herty Hall, Room 143, Wilkinson Street (478) 445-0809 for hours; also open by appointment. Visit the Paleozoic, Mesozioc and Cenozoic eras and see fossils from Georgia and across the world. The museum offers an explanation of the history of life through geological time.

E-mail your events to ndavis@unionrecorder.com. Please include time, date, location, including address, cost for the vent and a contact phone number.

Your Neighborhood Pharmacy The Department of Theatre presents:

Fall Dance Classes in:

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• Adult/Teen Beginning Ballet Classes

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Photo by Quantum Photography Classes begin Monday, Aug. 1 and are taught by Amelia Pelton and Julie Mulvihill, BFA and MFA in dance, and GC dance minor students. All creative movement, ballet, and tap students will perform in The Nutcracker production.

For more information and to register for classes please call (478) 445-5277.

Voted #1 Dance Studio in Milledgeville The Nutcracker, voted Best Community Event in Milledgeville

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JULY/AUGUST 2011 • MS • 45

Sightings

COTILLION

Cotillion students Savannah Wright and Samuel Joiner.

Chrissy Skinner, Emma Hawthorne and Sarah Kate Hawthorne.

Pre-cotillion students.

Harrison Hood and Cyaira Vest enjoy dinner.

Students filling out their dance cards.

46 • MS • JULY/AUGUST 2011

COTILLION

Pre-cotillion and Junior Cotillion students with instructor Jamey Rivers. Approximately 25 students and their parents turned out Sunday, May 1 in the MSU banquet room for the culmination of the pre-cotillion and junior cotillion 2010-2011 season. Students practiced the skills they learned such as filling out their dance cards, going through a receiving line, going through a refreshment line and using proper table manners. The students also did the four dances they learned, which included the Fox Trot, the Shag, the Cha Cha and the Waltz. They also did several dance contests and had prizes. The final dance of the evening was a waltz with their parents. The next class begins in September and runs through May 2012. Enrollment begins in July through the Continuing Education Department at GCSU. Monthly meetings are held for one hour per month for students in Pre-cotillion (kindergarten through third grade) and Junior cotillion (fourth through 10th grade).

James Bateman and Chryslin Forney-Robinson at the Junior Cotillion.

Cotillion student Carolina Puebla.

JULY/AUGUST 2011 • MS • 47

Sightings

FIRST FRIDAY

Milledgeville City Manager Barry Jarrett speaks during the ribbon cutting ceremony marking the official opening of Wayne Street following the recent Streetscape renovations.

Milledgeville City Councilman Steve Chambers speaks during the ceremony.

Carlee Schulte, Milledgeville Mainstreet director, speaks during the ceremony.

48 • MS • JULY/AUGUST 2011

FIRST FRIDAY

Local city and Chamber of Commerce officials cut the ceremonial ribbon at the Wayne Street event held during First Friday.

Terry Kennedy and Lyn Chandler with the Milledgeville Baldwin County Chamber of Commerce speak during the downtown ceremony.

JULY/AUGUST 2011 • MS • 49

Sightings

GRADUATION 2011

GMC Prep cadets make their way to the commencement ceremony.

John Milledge Academy STAR student and valedictorian for the Class of 2011, Gavin Kopel, speaks during graduation ceremony.

The family of Hunter Renfroe, the John Milledge Academy student who died in an auto accident weeks before graduation, accepts his diploma at graduation.

50 • MS • JULY/AUGUST 2011

GRADUATION 2011

Sinclair Christian Academy students perform during kindergarten graduation.

Baldwin High School graduates celebrate during commencement at the Centennial Center.

EBLA academy graduates stand during their commencement ceremony.

JULY/AUGUST 2011 • MS • 51

Making a difference by empowering young people Academics

Athletics

Fine Arts

Service A Well Rounded-Education

• Academics - Enhanced AP and Honors Classes • Athletics - Continued the tradition of athletic excellence

• Fine Arts - New emphasis on Art Programs, Drama, Chorus, and Jazz Band • Service Learning - Teaching students to better serve their community

Join us in making a difference in your child’s life today! Call 478-452-5570 or learn more at www.johnmilledge.org.

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY AS TO STUDENTS: John Milledge Academy admits students of any race, color, or nationality to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, nationality, or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletics, and other school administered programs.