West Georgia Woman Magazine 2019 Holiday Guide by West Georgia Woman Magazine/Angel Media, LLC

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2019

West Georgia TM

Holiday Guide Dealing with the Holidays After Divorce

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Here Come The Holidays! No matter which holiday you’re getting ready for . . Turkey Day or Christmas Day . . cooking or gift giving . . WE CAN HELP!

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We have a little bit of everything you might be looking for, and a whole lot of service to help you find what you need. We have new items arriving every day, and great gift giving ideas just in time for the holidays. Here are just a few examples of the GOOD STUFF you can find in our wide selection.

• Pure North Georgia Sorghum Syrup, made by the Z.W. Seabolt family. Oh! Breakfast, just out of the oven hot biscuits and sorghum syrup, it doesn't get much better than that! Available in pints and quarts. Don't wait too long to get yours! • Satisfy your sweet tooth with Dave's Sweet Tooth Gourmet Toffee. Milk chocolate, dark chocolate cherry and coffee toffee. • Brighten your holidays with Life Time Candles by White River Design. Oil filled for LASTING beauty ALL through the holidays and year 'round enjoyment. • Back by popular demand, our own Georgia grown, Raw “SHELLED PEANUTS,” with tried and true peanut brittle recipe ideas. NEW harvest, while supplies last! A 5 lb. box makes a perfect, tasty gift. • Olivia Marie’s “SWEETS AND TREATS,” locally produced in Roopville, Ga. Jellies, jams, veggies, salsa and more – it's ALL good! Gift packages available. • Aspen Mulling Spices and special holiday drink mixes. Just love that holiday room filling smell. Get yours now! Yummy good! • If you like cheese, you will LOVE our genuine old fashioned Wisconsin Waxed Hoop Cheddar Cheese. 3 lb. rounds in a box, perfect for entertaining or gift giving. "RED," mild, "BLACK," sharp. Tastes OH! So good! • Clyde Cook, close to home pure “LOCAL” honey produced in Ephesus, Ga. It's just the best and good for you too! 1 and 2 pound bottles.

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• Georgia Olive Farms chef’s blend “extra virgin” olive oil, produced in Ga. It has a green, fresh buttery taste with a mild, fruity finish. Just wonderful in so many healthy ways. • Mascot “Fresh Shelled” Pecans. Can't you just taste them now? The perfect healthy treat for cooking, baking, snacking or gift giving. 12 oz. and 16 oz. bags and specialty gift ideas. New harvest, never frozen. • Trapp Fragrance Candles – Seasonal Holiday Collection of eight wonderful fragrances. Perfect for your home, holiday event or special gift giving. • Thymes Frasier Fir Aromatic Candles. A tradition that feels right at home. The aromatic snap of Siberian fir needles, heartening cedarwood and earthy sandlewood combine to create a justcut forest fragrance that evokes warmth and comfort. Some might call this a Christmas candle, but it is so much more. This candle is a glowing focal point for entertaining and makes it the perfect choice for any gift giving occasion.

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Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inside... 20

Santa's Secret Savings

Sweet and Simple Holiday Desserts

Holiday Fare with Chef Rose and Special Guest, Dorcie Smith

Dealing with the Holidays After Divorce

Circles of West Georgia Inspires Community for the Holidays

The Truth About Christmas

A Helping Hand

Non-traditional Holiday Wreaths

Season's Greetings! The holidays are a time of celebration for many, that includes spending time with friends and family, holiday parties and gift-giving. They can also be a time of reflection – thinking about things you've accomplished this year and looking forward to opportunities for self-improvement in the new year. The holidays are a great time to assess our current situations and to focus on the things we are grateful for in our lives. As I spend time reflecting on my life and what we have accomplished this year, I want you to know how grateful I am for you! Thank you for reading West Georgia Woman magazine. In This Special Issue We are so excited to provide you with our second annual West Georgia Woman magazine holiday guide! We have been working harder than Santa’s elves so we could finish this beautiful special edition for you. I hope you enjoy our 2019 holiday guide as much as we enjoyed creating it for you. This issue is full of fabulous articles from delicious and easy holiday desserts and decorating to dealing with the holidays after divorce and ways you can give others your time, treasure and talent right here in West Georgia. We also have included a special article about Circles of West Georgia, a local nonprofit organization that inspires the spirit of community Photo by Keith May through their designer show house each year. Check out the fabulous photos my son, Zachary, took of their beautiful showhouse and learn more about Circles of West Georgia and their mission on page 25. Don't forget to check out our advertising partners' "Santa's Secret Savings" coupon section on page 20. Please shop locally and support our advertising partners as much as you can by using their coupons inside this publication. Without them, there would be no West Georgia Woman magazine! Shopping locally as much as you can really does make a difference in our communities. As we approach the holiday season, please remember to give yourself some special care, spend quality time with family and friends and most important, remember the true spirit of Christmas. As Chef Rose says in this issue, "Gifts, decorations and material things don’t make the holidays perfect – sharing good times, enjoying good food and making memories with the people you love create the perfect holidays." I couldn't agree more. Very special thanks to Shala Hainer for writing the wonderful articles included in our 2019 holiday guide. She is an amazing writer, and we are so grateful for her monthly contribution as our copy editor and for her valued contributions to our special issues. I wish for abundant blessings for you and yours during this holiday season. Peace and Joy,

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Finding our voice. Knowing our value. Making a difference. TM

West Georgia Woman is a voice for and about the women who live and work in West Georgia. Our mission is to engage, inspire, and cultivate a cohesive community for all women in West Georgia by sharing our hopes, our dreams and our lives. This magazine would not be possible without the inclusion of our advertisers. Please be sure to show your support by doing business with these VIP’s (very important partners) so we will be able to continue to share with you our stories about amazing West Georgia women! Please be sure to tell them we sent you! Inspiring women wanted.

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Volume 2 November/December 2019 Holiday Guide

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West Georgia

This publication is dedicated in loving memory of Tristan Alexander Brooks May 15, 1993 – September 17, 2015

Angela Dailey angela@westgeorgiawoman.com

Copy Editor Holiday Guide Editorial

Shala Hainer shala@westgeorgiawoman.com

Photographer Zachary Dailey

Editorial Contributors

Rose Isaacs and Dorcie Smith

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Zachary@westgeorgiawoman.com Angela Brooks Dailey, owner and publisher of West Georgia Woman magazine, has lived in West Georgia most of her life and has a deep love and appreciation for the area. She received her B.B.A in management from The University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Ga., and is a Civil and Domestic Relations mediator and arbitrator registered with the Georgia Office of Dispute Resolution. She lives in Carrollton, and has two wonderful children, Zachary and Sydney Dailey. Angela enjoys reading, spending time with her children and extended family and loves to watch Sydney play soccer.

Non-traditional Holiday Wreaths

oes the thought of trying to make your own holiday wreath have you tied up in knots? You’re not alone. Even the craftiest people often shy away from wreaths because it’s difficult to find creative ideas that elevate your front door from cheery but boring to something worthy of “Christmas Vacation.” If you’ve never made a wreath before, they are easier than you think. Many non-traditional wreath ideas are nearly impossible to get wrong because it’s all about what you love.

Wrapped in Yarn Although this option is the simplest, it offers the most opportunity for quick and easy variety. Apply a small amount of spray adhesive to a foam wreath form, then start wrapping the form with yarn, pulling it tight as you go around the form. Space the yarn out slightly as you go around, spraying adhesive periodically. It takes about three times around the wreath for it to be fully covered, and when you’re ready to end it, simply cut the yarn and glue the end to the back of the wreath. For added punch, hot glue some colorful pieces

to one small section, such as non-breakable ornaments, felt flowers or holiday bows. To jazz up the wreath even more, try using a variegated yarn that will spread different colors around the wreath, or add something fragrant such as short juniper branches or cinnamon sticks as glued-on decorations. You can even criss-cross one layer of a different color on the top to completely change the look. Yarn isn’t the hardiest of materials, so it works best on a covered porch or indoors.

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Yarn Ball Wreath Although this uses yarn again, it offers a completely different look. It gives a rustic, crafty twist to a more traditional look. Start by wrapping a foam wreath form with cloth, gluing it to the back or securing it with pins. Then use small foam balls of different sizes, or even wad up some newspaper into balls. Wrap the balls in yarn, going over them at least four times to cover them completely. Glue the balls to the front, outside and inside of the form – hot glue works well for this. Then start gluing more yarn balls to those already attached to provide depth and dimension. Get creative with the colors you choose – don’t stick to traditional red and green. Think purple and silver, blue and white, or a colorful mixture. Throw in some twine-wrapped balls to add that more rustic touch. Finish this wreath with battery-powered lights.

Wine Corks If you’ve been wondering what to do with all the wine corks you’ve been saving, a holiday wreath is your answer. Several options exist, depending on how many wine corks you have available. For a simple wreath with a few corks, use hot glue to secure some end-to-end inside a large embroidery hoop. On the outside of the hoop, stand the corks up and glue them securely so they fan out and give the wreath size and shape. Adding a holiday bow dresses up the wreath to match your décor. Another option is to glue the corks somewhat haphazardly to cover a foam wreath form. For any corks that have ends pointing forward when you’re finished, pin a small snowflake or glue a colored dot of paper for little pops of surprise. If haphazard isn’t your thing, you can glue them end-to-end, laying flat, in circles on the form, or cut the ends at a slight angle, and glue them with the angled end down so the uncut ends point outward. This last option could take 200 corks or more. With any of these ideas, hot glue small decorations between the corks or evenly spread around

the wreath. Berry bunches or small ornaments tend to fit nicely.

Mason Jar Lid Wreath Walk on the wild side a bit and try a wreath that isn’t round. This one makes an adorable tree shape that dresses up your front door. Take 15 mason jar lids, and lay them on your table in a triangle shape – there should be five lids on the bottom row, four on the second, and so on. Hot glue the lids together, using clothes pins to hold them in place until they dry. If you don’t want to use glue, tie the lids together tightly with twine. Now for the fun part – tie decorations at the top of each lid, so they will hang down inside each circle. These could be small ornaments, large beads, pinecones, yarn balls or characters such as snowmen and elves. Twine works well with the look of the lids, or try fishing line so the decorations seem almost suspended in mid-air inside the lid loops. Each of these wreaths should take a couple of hours to make. To make memories at the same time you make the wreaths, invite friends or family over for a relaxing craft time, or even a special girl’s night out. With a touch of creativity, you can make something you can show off proudly during the holidays for years to come. WGW

Sweet and Simple Delicious and Easy Holiday Desserts You Can Fa-La-La in Love With

he hustle and bustle of the season doesn’t have to extend into your kitchen. Whether you have a houseful of guests coming over to celebrate or you need to make a dessert for a holiday potluck, wow your friends and family with tasty desserts that are surprisingly quick and easy.

Chocolate Spoons Bump your hot chocolate up notch with chocolate spoons. Melt semi-sweet chocolate chips in the

microwave, usually at 50 percent power, stirring every 30 seconds until melted. Dip holiday-themed plastic or small wooden spoons into the chocolate to cover the stirring end, then lay them on parchment paper to dry. When your friends and family stir their hot chocolate, the chocolate on the spoons will melt and add to the sweet goodness. Have some fun with this one by jazzing it up with tasty additions. For example, sprinkle crushed peppermint or holiday sprinkles onto the spoons while the chocolate is still wet. Or, line three small marshmallows on the chocolate end of the spoon like a snowman – you can even add chocolate chips for eyes, buttons and a hat.

Grown-up Rice Cereal Treats Skip the marshmallows and add an unexpected adult twist to the favorite rice cereal treats. This uses dulce de leche sauce, which you can find in the international section of most grocery stores. Take ¾ cup rice cereal, toss with a teaspoon of vegetable oil and bake in a 350-degree oven for 10 minutes. Let the cereal cool, then mix it with 1 cup of blanched sliced almonds, 5 tablespoons of

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dulce de leche, and a half teaspoon of vegetable oil. Spray a sheet pan with non-stick spray, then scoop large tablespoons of the mixture onto the sheet, flattening them with the back of the spoon. Bake for 15 minutes.

Holiday Fudge While this isn’t the fudge your grandmother used to make, it’s quick, easy, creamy and delicious. It offers a variety of options to change it up and make it fit your holiday theme. Start by melting 12 ounces of white chocolate in the microwave. Mix it with one cup of sweetened condensed milk, which is usually a little less than a full can. Pour the mixture in a baking dish lined with parchment paper, and let it sit until cool and firm. Instead of a square dish, try a round cake pan, but place a can or bottle in the middle of the pan first. Pour the mixture around the can – when you pull the can out later, you have a hole in the middle of the fudge, making it look like a wreath. Try mixing flavors into the fudge for a tasty surprise. For example, add one teaspoon each of ground nutmeg, cinnamon and ginger for holiday flair. Or, add a half to whole teaspoon of peppermint extract. Make the fudge as beautiful to look at as it is yummy to eat by sprinkling crushed peppermint on top, or by adding chopped nuts.

Sandwich Cookie Truffles Pick your favorite sandwich cookies, and crush them in the food processor or in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin. Use about one container, which is usually 14 ounces. Mix the crumbs with an 8-ounce package of room-temperature cream cheese. Use a large melon baller or cookie scoop to form small balls of the mixture, then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet in the freezer for half an hour. Melt 12 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave, then use two spoons to help you dip the cookie balls into the chocolate. Place them back on the parchment paper and put them in the freezer for another 15 minutes. While the chocolate is still warm, sprinkle the tops with leftover cookie crumbs or crushed peppermint. Try dipping some in melted white chocolate, too, to add variety. It’s best to keep these refrigerated until you’re ready to serve them – don’t worry, they won’t sit out of the fridge for long before they are all gone. WGW

Dealing with the Holidays After Divorce 13

You have the unique opportunity to turn the holidays into anything you want.

hinking of the holidays brings memories of time with family, warm conversations by the fire and laughter with those you love. Even the most amicable divorces can make you feel overwhelmed, lonely or sad when the holidays roll around. You don’t just have to smile and deal with your emotions privately – enlist the aid of friends and family, focus on self-care and find your path to truly enjoying the holidays and celebrating not just with a smile on your face, but one in your heart as well.

Create New Traditions One of the most difficult things during the holidays is reliving all the happy moments from when you were married. Maybe his mother made the best holiday desserts, or maybe you made it a point to take the kids to see holiday lights just at dusk every Christmas Eve. Stop thinking about that right this second! Memories are amazing things, and they help craft you into the wonderful person you are, but they are the past. Where you are now is the present, and you have the unique opportunity to turn the holidays into anything you want. Think about new traditions to start, and set them in motion. Make these traditions something you can

do on your own, with friends, with family or with your kids. For example, watch a funny holiday movie during the first night of your holiday vacation. Roast s’mores, using peppermint bark instead of chocolate, over the fire, or even over your gas stove burners, on Thanksgiving night. Start a gratitude journal every year on New Year’s Day. These new traditions give you something to look forward to every year – something that is just for you, even if you end up sharing the traditions with people you love.

Travel If you’re feeling low about spending the holidays alone, think about somewhere you’ve always wanted

to go, then go there! It could be as simple as seeing snow-covered mountain tops in the Smokeys on Christmas morning, or as exotic as walking the dramatic cliffs in Croatia. From a long weekend to a two-week jaunt, traveling can help you find your center, explore new places and create new memories to focus on during the holidays. Feel free to take friends, family and kids with you on these trips, but remember: being alone isn’t the same as being lonely. You can travel alone and enjoy the different pace of another country or the quiet solitude of a peaceful mountain cabin without once feeling lonely.

Make a Plan While it might seem easier to just wait and see what everyone else wants to do, planning ahead does more than gives you something to look forward to: it makes sure you’re not dreading the unknown. Envisioning what your holiday might look like can lead to anxiety, so nip that in the bud. Take control of the situation, and make plans way in advance – several months in advance, if you need that. If you have kids, confirm which days you’ll have them and which days they will be with your ex. If you don’t, go ahead and lock down whose house you’ll be spending the holiday at, and who else will be there, recommends Psychology Today. Take a step further and just invite them all to your house.

Don’t Get Stuck on the Day We sometimes put a premium on certain days, but change your focus to fit your priorities. If it’s your ex’s turn to have the kids on Thanksgiving, don’t be sad. Instead, plan a special Thanksgiving celebration a different day. If you’re going out of town for New Year’s, ask your friends if you can get together with them either before or after the holiday to celebrate some time together. The actual day you see each other doesn’t matter, as long as you get to see each other.

these are gone forever just because you’re divorced. Again, take control, and give yourself permission to give yourself a gift this holiday season. Giving yourself some self-care time makes you better able to be a good friend, sister, mother and daughter. Consider a massage, facial, new haircut or even a new exercise program to help you relieve stress. This can tie into several of the other suggestions – maybe go to a spa at the hotel in Beliz while you’re traveling, or make it a tradition to get holiday designs on your fingernails during a manicure. However you decide to spend your holiday, remember that you are in control of your holiday destiny. Take that control and embrace it – when you decide you are going to have a happy holiday season, you will find a way to make that a reality. While your holidays might look different than they did when you were married, there’s no reason they can’t look better. WGW

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The Truth About Christmas Interesting Facts You May Not Know.

• Holly Jolly Santa. Santa wasn’t always the cute, happy character we associate with Christmas. Traditionally, he’s often shown in dark clothing, usually blue. He rarely had a smile on his face in drawings of him. In 1931, however, Coca-Cola decided to craft a happier version to include in some advertising. They changed his clothes to red, updated his demeanor to joyful, and the jolly old elf was born. • Santa’s Sleigh. Washington Irving is best known for creating the story of the "Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and the headless horseman. However, he brought us one important tidbit of Santa lore: the sleigh and eight flying reindeer. He was a huge Santa fan, even helping found the Saint Nicholas Society of the City of New York in 1835. • Tinsel Town. Originally made from real silver when it was first introduced in Germany in the 1600s, tinsel was once banned in the United States. For a while, it contained lead and contributed to cases of lead poisoning. Whether it contains lead or not, it’s not a good idea to eat tinsel, so try to keep the newer plastic versions away from kids and pets regardless. • Rudolph By Any Other Name … Rudolph first appeared in the late 1930s, and Rudolph wasn’t the only choice for his name, according to NPR. Other top contenders included Reginald,

Roland and Romeo. • Illegal Holiday. Because a few traditions of Christmas can trace some of their roots to the pagan festival of Saturnalia, the Puritans in the Massachusetts Bay Colony actually outlawed the holiday. If you were caught celebrating Christmas between 1659 and 1681, you would be fined five shillings. • Santa Tracker. The beloved Santa Tracker provided every year by NORAD started as a happy accident. In 1955, a Sears ad misprinted the phone number of where children could call to give Santa their wish lists. It turns out that number was the hotline to the U.S. Continental Air Defense. When children started calling and reached Col. Harry Shoup instead of Santa, the soft-hearted colonel got airmen in his command to start answering the phone pretending to be Santa, and even called a radio station to give updates on where Santa’s sleigh was every hour. NORAD continues the tradition today with trackers on TV and apps for other devices every Christmas Eve. • Holiday ‘Stamp’ede. Although several countries had Christmas stamps as early as 1898, the United States released its first one in 1962. The 4-cent stamp featured two candles to one side and a wreath, and it was printed in red and green. WGW

Dr. Fred Richards as Santa. Photo by Zachary Dailey

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Holiday Fare With

e s o R f Che

and special guest contributor, Rose's mother, Ms. Dorcie Smith.

Chef photos by Keith May.

Rose Isaacs is a native of Carroll County and lives in Carrollton with her husband Shawn and their son, Sebastian. She graduated from West Georgia Technical College in 2013 with a degree in Culinary Arts. After graduation, she began her career as a chef at the Carrollton Kroger Marketplace where she works in the bistro. Recipe photos by Zachary Dailey.

oliday traditions don’t get any more memorable than the food you eat and the people you make the food with. For me, the holidays always mean good food and happy times in the kitchen with my mother. I learned most of my first cooking lessons from my mom, learning how to make sweet treats to give to friends and family members, tweaking recipes to make them deliciously perfect and, most of all, enjoying the things we make together with our family. Gifts, decorations and material things don’t make the holidays perfect – sharing good times, enjoying good food and making memories with the people you love create the perfect holidays. Thank you, Mom, for all of the wonderful memories you've given me and for teaching me the most important lessons that I hope to pass down to my children. I love you. – Chef Rose

pan liner may also be used. In a small bowl, combine baking soda, salt, butter and seasonings. Set aside. Combine corn syrup, sugar and water in a heavybottomed pot. Place a candy thermometer on the side of the pot into the sugar mixture. Make sure the bottom of the thermometer does not touch the bottom of the pot. Boil mixture over medium-high heat. Cook until mixture reads 250 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature, the sugars should form a thread when a spoon is pulled out of the mixture. Add peanuts and stir continuously until mixture reaches 290 degrees Fahrenheit. Turn off heat and add butter, salt, baking soda, cayenne pepper and cinnamon. Quickly pour on previously prepared pan or silicone pan liner and allow to cool.

Merengues Ingredients 2 egg whites 1/2 cup sugar 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or other extract of your choice. 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar Peppermint or chocolate chips

Preparation

Peanut Brittle Ingredients 3 cups white sugar 1 cup white corn syrup 1/2 cup water 3 cups unsalted peanuts (raw or roasted) 1 tablespoon butter 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional) 1 teaspoon cinnamon (optional)

Preparation Butter a baking sheet with raised edges thoroughly and set aside. Alternatively, an unbuttered silicone

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Line cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Place egg whites, cream of tarter and salt in a mixing bowl. Mix with electric mixer on medium-speed until egg whites turn foamy and just begin to turn white.

While continuing to whip, slowly add sugar â&#x20AC;&#x201C; about one teaspoon at a time. Once all sugar has been added, whip on high-speed until glossy and very stiff. Stir in your choice of extract. Vanilla, peppermint, lemon or almond work well. Other options, such as small chocolate chips, dried fruit or crushed peppermints can also be added now or sprinkled on top before cooking in the oven. Transfer merengue mixture to a large piping bag with a large star tip. Pipe 1/2 to 1 inch dollops onto baking sheet, 2 inches apart. Dry in oven for 2 to 2 1/2 hours or until merengues are dry and not browned.

hour, stirring mixture every 15 minutes. Allow to cool and store in an airtight container.

Ginger Snap Cookies Ingredients 3/4 cup vegetable shortening 1 cup sugar plus extra to roll cookies in 1 egg 1/4 cup molasses 2 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 tablespoon crystallized ginger, finely chopped

Preparation

Spiced Almonds Ingedients 1 egg white 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 4 cups whole almonds 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon allspice 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease a cookie sheet. In a small bowl, combine about 1/2 cup of sugar and the finely chopped crystallized ginger. Set aside until batter is complete. In a medium-bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, ginger and cinnamon. Set aside. In another bowl, beat shortening and one cup of sugar with an electric beater or stand mixer with whip attachment. Add egg and continue to beat until light and fluffy, then add the molasses. Slowly incorporate flour and seasoning mixture into the shortening and sugar mixture and beat until smooth and blended. Roll dough into one inch balls. Roll balls in prepared sugar and ginger mixture to coat. Place 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until cookies have spread and the tops crack. Transfer to wire rack to cool. WGW

Preparation Preheat oven to 250 degrees. In a small bowl, combine sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whip egg white and vanilla extract with an electric mixer until foamy and semi-firm peaks form. Toss almonds in egg white mixture to coat. Sprinkle sugar mixture over almonds and stir well. Spread on a greased baking sheet and bake for 1

he Carrollton Tony Jackson Garrett Lodge #35 of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is an organization that consists of full-time employed and retired members of local and state law enforcement. The lodge also consists of associate members who support the FOP's mission. The FOP is the world's largest organization of sworn law enforcement personnel, with more than 330,000 members in more than 2,200 lodges. The Tony Jackson Garrett Lodge #35 was chartered on April 24, 1975, and was named for a Carrollton police officer who was killed in the line of duty. The FOP is very active with helping local underprivileged and special needs children and children who have been affected by crimes – either as victims or witnesses. The lodge also supports FOP members, members of public safety, the Special Olympics, the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), as well as numerous other local groups and civic organizations.

About Cops, Kids and Christmas This year's "Cops, Kids and Christmas" event will be held on Dec. 10 at Walmart in Carrollton for special needs children and Dec 12 at Target in Carrollton for the underprivileged and those who have been affected by crimes. On the day of the event, the kids meet the officers they will be shopping with at the Carrollton Police Department. Then, Santa Claus drops in, listens to the children's Christmas wishes and takes photos with them. After time spent with Santa, the kids climb into police

cars with the officers and are encouraged to play with the patrol car P.A. system, lights and sirens on the way to shop. Once the cops and kids arrive at the store, breakfast is provided for the children. After breakfast, the children go with their police officer partner to shop for their gifts. They are given, on average, $200 to $250 for Christmas shopping and are encouraged to purchase whatever they would like within the budget. "Some of the kids select items they need, such as clothing or personal items," says Detective Sergeant Dan Keever, past president of the FOP. "Some of them purchase gifts for their siblings and parents. It touches your heart to see these children – some of whom have so little – think about others before thinking of themselves. Another fun thing about the event is watching the kids as they speak over the patrol car P.A. system and flip the switches to change the lights and the sounds of the sirens while riding in the car to shop. It is so much fun to interact with these kids and see the big smiles on their faces." Det. Sgt. Keever says this event means so much more than just a nice thing the FOP does for the community. "Kids, Cops and Christmas" gives children positive interaction with law enforcement and helps to plant the seed that the children can count on the police when they need them. If you would like to make a donation to help kids in Carroll County, call Eddie LeBlanc at 770.318.5618 or you can mail your donation to the Carrollton FOP at 115 West Center St., Carrollton, Ga. 30117. The Carrollton FOP is a nonprofit 501(C)(8) organization, and all donations are tax deductible.

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Circles of West Georgia Inspires Community for the Holidays Photos by Zachary Dailey

ircles of West Georgia welcomed a record crowd to the fourth annual Designer Show House in October. The organization showcased the home of Betty and Tommy Green in Sunset Hills County Club. A spectacular home on its own, the volunteer designers brought their own style and holiday pizazz to help inspire attendees to take their own Christmas decorations to the next level. Circles of West Georgia is an innovative, community-driven way to affect poverty in the local community. The funds raised through the show house help Circles to directly assist these families in

breaking the grip of poverty in their homes. The classic house chosen for the 2019 Design Show House was a showpiece on its own with its meandering layout, towering ceilings, expert workmanship and exquisite trim and finishing details. Volunteer designers come in and add holiday enhancements to the already beautiful home to create a Christmas show house. “We had over 20 designers this year,” says The Honorable Edie Haney, Carroll County Probate Judge and board member of Circles of West Georgia. “Each designer chooses an area of the home, such as a room or the front porch, that they would like to decorate for Christmas, and each brings their own unique style. This was our fourth show house, and we had some designers who have been with us since the beginning, as well as several new designers.” Attendees tour the home after purchasing a $20 ticket online or onsite at the show house. As part of the event, attendees can visit an art sale and pop-up Christmas shop inside the home. A portion of the proceeds from the art sale benefited Circles of West Georgia. Local artists presented items such

as paintings, pottery and jewelry for purchase by attendees. Some of the designers offer the décor used in the house for sale as well. “Any nonprofit wants to be sustainable financially,” explains Edie. “Circles receives grant funding, but as a board, we wanted to make sure we have other avenues as well, and the community has been so wonderful to support us. Just as we have designers who have been with us from the beginning, we have some amazing sponsors who help us with this event as well.” Edie says they are excited by the overwhelming community support for the show house. “Our goal is to fund our program, and for the show house, almost all of our expenses and needs have been donated by our fantastic volunteers and sponsors,” she relates. “Last year, nearly 95 percent of the show house proceeds went directly to fund our programs because of the generous donations we received for the show house event.” Circles of West Georgia attacks poverty with a different mindset than many other organizations.

The group works with the participants to educate and support them toward a more financially stable lifestyle. “They work with a coach to determine their goals, look at their income and create their budget – a workable, sustainable budget,” explains Edie. “They work to find their barriers that are standing between them and their goals. What do they need to overcome? Whether it’s education, whether it’s employment, whether it’s childcare, they find the barriers and determine how they can start to address them.” Participants are called Circle Leaders. The Circle Leaders work for 18 months with two volunteer Circle Allies, and these Allies help support them and keep them on their plan and their paths to financial freedom. Circles of West Georgia uses a comprehensive approach to change the lives of people living in poverty in the West Georgia area. They combine mentorship with other programs, such as educating legislators about the challenges that arise as people try to lift themselves out of poverty. For example, as their income gradually rises, the assistance and benefits they receive drop off significantly, often leaving them in a worse situation than they were when their income was lower. “This is known as the cliff effect,” Edie says. “The benefits don’t decline gradually – they actually drop off. That makes getting out of a poverty situation incredibly hard. Somehow we have to get our assistance programs to match the work ethic of the people who are working harder and producing more.” Circles of West Georgia estimates there are 20,000 families

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living in poverty in Carroll County, which means one in four children here is living in poverty. They focus on helping these struggling members in the community by addressing poverty, shifting from merely service delivery to self-sufficiency and community-building. To help them continue to grow and increase their ability to affect poverty in the community, Circles added a new element to the Design Show House. This year, they added the Design Dinner, which was held the evening before the show house opened to the public. They brought in speaker Cynthia Pararo, COO and lead designer for the Pineapple House, a premier international interior design firm headquartered in Atlanta. She spoke to a packed house about popular interior design trends and styles, and innovative ideas for incorporating treasured pieces and places into design masterpieces. Tickets to the dinner were $50. If you’re looking for some holiday decoration inspiration in the fall of 2020, the Design Show House gives you new ideas, introduces you to designers who can help you create your own holiday dreamscape and gives you the peace of mind of knowing you are helping others in your community at the same time. “This is a great way to do something fun on a weekend but also know you are participating in the elimination of poverty in our community,” says Edie. For more

OH WHAT fun! it is to shop at

Clothing • Jewelry Footwear • Gifts 941 Maple Street • Carrollton 770.836.8864 Monday - Friday 10 - 6 Saturday 10 - 5 information, visit www.circleshowhouse.com or www. circlesofwestgeorgia.com. WGW

A Helping Hand

Ways You Can Give Back This Holiday Season

Operation Christmas Douglas County. Started in 2015, Operation Christmas Douglas County has provided over 36,000 needy local children with new Christmas gifts in its first four years. Needy children may receive a free Christmas gift and will have a chance to receive a donated bicycle in addition to their gift. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, email theelfsquaddc@gmail.com. Bridging the Gap. Bridging the Gap works all year to provide food and clothing to needy families in Coweta County. This year, they expect to serve about 1,800 children with their Christmas in Coweta program. They provide gifts for children of all ages, including teens, as long as they are still in high school. For more information on donating or volunteering, visit www.btgcommunity.org, call 770-683-9110 or email christmasincoweta@ btgcommunity.org. Southwire Project GiftÂŽ Annual Toys For Tots Drive. To brighten the holidays for children who would normally wake up on Christmas morning without gifts, Southwire collects toys each year for the local Toys for Tots chapter from the community and employees. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s toy drive will be held on Dec. 9 and 10 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Walmart located at 1735 S. Highway 27 in Carrollton. For more information on the toy drive, call the Project GIFT hotline at (770) 832-4729. Carroll County Fraternal Order of Police Cops, Kids and Christmas. Current and retired officer members of the Tony Jackson Garrett Lodge #35 of the Fraternal Order of Police take children shopping for Christmas. Two events are held each year in December: one for children with financial needs and one for children with special needs. The children are chosen from victims or witnesses of crimes that the officers have encountered and recognize as in need of holiday assistance. The FOP relies on community donations, and they will match every $100 donation dollar for dollar. Mail donations to 115 W. Center Street, Carrollton, GA 30117 or call Officer Eddie LeBlanc at 770.318.5618 to pay with credit card. Christmas Gifts for Children. Bowdon Area United Christian Ministries offers Christmas Gifts for Children for needy children from the Bowdon area

schools. Two retired teachers shop for each child individually using donations, making sure each child gets personalized gift choices. Send donations to 190 Grammar School Road, Bowdon, GA 30108 or call (770) 258-0303 for more information. Project Joy. Project Joy works with referrals from the Coweta County Division of Family and Children Services to give Christmas gifts and clothing to needy children, the elderly and foster children. Project Joy will be accepting donations of clothing, shoes, coats and gift cards from Dec. 1 through Dec. 24. For more information on donating, call Frances Smith at 770.310.5041 or email Fhsmith105@gmail. com. Community Christian Council. This organization has a free medical clinic and a food bank that operates yearround in Haralson County. During Thanksgiving and Christmas, they host dinners, offer free haircuts, family Santa pictures and give boxes of food to families so they can prepare their own holiday meals. For more information or to donate or volunteer, contact Tammy Ward at Tammy735@ bellsouth.net. Heaven in Your Home Catering Thanksgiving Meal Outreach Program. This program prepares a holiday meal on Thanksgiving Day for the residents of local motels in Carroll County. They will be serving nine motels in Carroll County. For more information, to make a donation of money, gift cards or food, or to volunteer to cook, serve, set up or clean, contact Latoya Gamble at 770.769.6181 or email gamble22014@att.net. Douglas County Foster Parent Association Secret Santa Program. This program is the only county program that matches children in foster care with gifts on their Christmas wish lists. Financial donations can be made out to Douglas County FAPA Secret Santa and mailed to 6000 Stewart Pkwy, Suite 7234, Douglasville, GA 30154. Gift donations will be accepted at the Douglas County DFCS office at 8473 Duralee Lane on Nov. 30, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dec. 1, Noon to 4 p.m.; and Dec. 2-4, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information or to deliver gifts early, contact Mindy Alexander at mindy.alexander@ dhsga.gov or call 770.842.1771. WGW

Happy Holidays Word Search Word Bank

Christmas Stockings Ceremonies Presents Caroling Kwanzaa Sleighride Toys Hanukkah Holiday Lights Dreidel Goodwill Poinsettia Kinara Winter Greetings Hanukiah Sacred Advent

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