West Georgia Woman Magazine April 2021 by West Georgia Woman Magazine/Angel Media, LLC

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April 2021

West Georgia

Dr. Lydia Rosencrants Family Ties

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Mama's Boy! Dealing with Difficult In-laws 1

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Dr. Lydia Rosencrants Shows Her Children They Don't Have to Be Born into a Family to Be Loved. Page 10 Photo by Zachary Dailey

What’s inside... 10 22 30

Family Ties

Time Waits for No One Mama's Boy

32 35 36

Like a Boss Sleep Tight Haunted by the Past

In Every Issue:

26 29

Daily Fare Womentality

38 44

Local Happenings Kids Korner

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New Beginnings In March, my family experienced great joy mixed with some fear and uncertainty. The joyful part was that my son Zachary married his beautiful fiancée, Jordan, in our church on March 5. There was also a larger ceremony and reception March 6, and we were honored to have Dr. Fred Richards officiate. I am so happy that Jordan is now my daughter-inlaw! She is just a wonderful young woman, and I love her dearly. She is a blessing to our family, a precious wife for Zach and she is going to be a terrific mother to my grandchildren. The frightening part was that my dad fell through a roof 25-feet onto concrete, just two days before the wedding. He spent several days in the trauma intensive care unit at Atlanta Medical Center and is now in the rehabilitation unit at Floyd Medical Center. He fractured both hips, his pelvis, four ribs and had some stitches in his elbow. Considering his fall and injuries, my dad is doing much better. He is walking again with a walker and it will be a long recovery, but we are thankful he is alive. In This Issue Our feature this month is Dr. Lydia Rosencrants from LaGrange, Ga. In 2001, the 30-year-old college professor was taking a nap when she says she heard God speak to her. She says He told her He wanted her to adopt internationally. Lydia and her husband Scott knew nothing about adoption, much less adopting internationally, but within a week they had signed with an adoption agency. The young couple would soon embark on an incredible journey that would lead them to have 13 children – 10 adopted, 2 biological and 1 foster child, whose adoption will be finalized this month. On page 10, learn more about Lydia and how she shows her children they don't have to be born into a family to be loved. Our article on page 22 seems very appropriate considering my father's recent accident. Learn the steps you need to take to create an advance care plan, which includes your will, a living will, durable power of attorney and possibly a do not resuscitate order (DNR), along with a pre-arranged funeral. Take the steps necessary to make your wishes known while you're of sound mind and in good health, because we are never promised another day. Do you and your in-laws get along? Now that I am a mother-in-law, I want to take every precaution to ensure that I don't achieve monster-in-law status with Jordan! Learn more about dealing with those difficult in-laws on page 30. Thank you for reading West Georgia Woman! There is so much more to read inside. Please do business with our community advertising partners as much as you can. It is through their partnership that we are able to give you our beautiful magazine. I hope you have a wonderful Easter. See you next month,

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Volume 6 • Issue 6 April 2021

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

Angela Dailey angela@westgeorgiawoman.com

Copy Editor Editorial Contributor

Shala Hainer shala@westgeorgiawoman.com

Photographer for cover Zachary Dailey

Editorial Contributors

Sandra Bolan, Jordan Dailey and Rose Isaacs

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Sales@westgeorgiawoman.com West Georgia Woman is a monthly publication of Angel Media, LLC. All contents of this issue are copyright 2021. West Georgia Woman magazine, its logo and “Finding our voice. Knowing our value. Making a difference.” are trademarks of Angel Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. All submissions will be included as space is available. West Georgia Woman reserves the right to reject or edit any submissions that are not in compliance with our editorial policy. If you wish to have your submission returned, please include a self addressed stamped envelope along with your submission.

Family Ties

Dr. Lydia Rosencrants, back left, with 10 of her 13 children. Her husband, Scott, back right, blue shirt, is a full-time, stay-at-home dad. Article by Angela Dailey Photos by Zachary Dailey

Dr. Lydia Rosencrants Shows Her Children They Don't Have to Be Born into a Family to Be Loved

r. Lydia Rosencrants never planned on having 13 children. She was an only child; her husband, Scott, was one of three siblings. The couple married in 1998, and a year later, Lydia landed her dream job as an accounting professor at LaGrange College, a small, liberal arts college with approximately 1,000 students located in LaGrange, Ga. Established in 1831, LaGrange is the oldest private college in the state of Georgia. "I am a professor because I never wanted to leave school," she laughs. "I would happily stay in school forever, and this is the closest I could get!" Scott, a U.S. Navy veteran, was taking his core classes at LaGrange College with a goal of transferring to Georgia Tech to become an electrical engineer. Starting a family wasn't even on the radar for the young couple. But in 2001, 30-year-old Lydia was taking a nap when she says she heard God speak to her. "It was the only time I feel like God spoke to me out loud," she says. "He said, 'You are going to adopt internationally.' So, I got up and started looking on the internet." Lydia and Scott knew nothing about adoption, much less adopting internationally, but within a week they had signed with an adoption agency.

The young couple would soon embark on an incredible journey that would lead them to have 13 children – 10 adopted, 2 biological and 1 foster child, whose adoption will be finalized this month.

Ready-Made Family They met their first two children, Arstan and Serik (now 21 years old), the day after Arstan's second birthday. Serik is five weeks younger than Arstan. The boys' birth country, Kazakhstan, is the largest country in Central Asia and the ninth largest in the world. To bring an adopted child to the United States from Kazakhstan, parents must meet certain suitability and eligibility requirements. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) determines who is suitable and eligible to adopt a child from another country and bring that child to live in the United States under U.S. immigration law. In addition to being found suitable and eligible to adopt by USCIS, prospective adoptive parents seeking to adopt a child from Kazakhstan must meet certain requirements imposed by Kazakhstan, such as requiring a two-week physical bonding period where the child remains in the orphanage and the

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prospective adoptive parents spend time with the child. The adoptive parents must agree to send post adoption reports as well as numerous other elegibility requirements. After both adoptions were complete, the young parents and their new sons boarded their 15-hour flight home on Sept. 11, 2001. Lydia and Scott were bringing two little boys back to a better life by adopting internationally, while international terrorists were attempting to destroy American lives simultaneously. The September 11 attacks, also called the 9/11 attacks, were a series of airline hijackings and suicide attacks that were the deadliest terrorist attacks on American soil in U.S. history. The attacks against New York City and Washington, D.C. caused extensive death and destruction and triggered an enormous U.S. effort to combat terrorism. Some 2,750 people were killed in New York, 184 at the Pentagon, and 40 in Pennsylvania. Police and fire departments in New York were especially hard-hit: hundreds had rushed to the scene of the attacks, and over 400 police officers and firefighters were killed, according to the Encyclopedia Brittanica. “I remember the pilot coming on over the intercom," says Lydia. "He spoke in German first, then English, and told us we couldn’t land in American air space. Scott, being in the Navy, thought the president had been assassinated." The new family was forced to land in Canada, but there was a problem: Their young sons didn’t have Visas to be in Canada. "You don’t process adoptions across the border, you have to do it at an international airport," Lydia explains. Thankfully, the family met a border patrol agent who had also adopted internationally. When they explained their situation to the agent, he was able to help them bypass miles of line and brought them exactly where they needed to go to be processed.

An Only Child Lydia was born in Richmond, Va., to parents, Harry and Myrna Whitt. She was an only child, and her first 18 years were spent in the same house in West Point, Va. She had a wonderful upbringing, and she says her parents were very loving, supportive and encouraging. "I was pretty outgoing," she relates. "I was an overachiever – a typical only child. I did well in school and participated in a lot of extracurricular activities."

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Lydia loved the theater and participated in as many productions as she could. She read constantly, and was the editor of her high school yearbook. She also competed on an academic bowl team called the Battle of the Brains. She was fortunate to be in the same school district from kindergarten through 12th grade. After she graduated high school, Lydia attended the University of Richmond for her undergraduate degree. She enjoyed school so much that she decided to obtain her Ph.D. in accounting at Michigan State University. All of her higher education was paid for through scholarships from the University of Richmond, Michigan State, her father's employer and from the state of Virginia. "My parents both have their master's, so education was always valued in my family," she shares. "I decided I wanted to be a college professor my junior year of college when one of my favorite professors encouraged it." When Lydia was 24 years old, her parents divorced. "The divorce didn’t affect me tremendously," she explains. "But it did give me a desire for a home. I felt like after they divorced, I really didn’t have that home base so much. It certainly made me cautious when I approached

"The road less traveled is often mentioned and seldom taken. I think I can truly say that I took the road less traveled when I graduated from Michigan State University with my Ph.D. in Accounting and took a position with LaGrange College. I chose this path because they gave me the opportunity to start its accounting program. LaGrange College has been good to us." marriage. I wanted it to last, and it made me appreciate what we have now." Lydia met Scott at a microbrewery in Michigan when she was 25. "I thought he was very handsome and very tall," she says. "I was immediately attracted to him. Besides the physical attraction, he made me laugh." The couple dated for two years before they were married.

Taking the Road Less Traveled Lydia and Scott moved to LaGrange in 1999 so Lydia could start her dream job, one that allowed her to build LaGrange College's accounting program from the ground up. Under Lydia's direction, the program became the first in the world to receive separate accreditation by the The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).

She says what she loves most about working at LaGrange is building relationships with her students and coworkers. "I love what I do," she says. "I would have liked the chance to stay at home. I think I would have been a good stay-at-home mom. But that wasn’t God’s plan, and I truly enjoy working with students. They don’t come to my office as much as they did before COVID-19, but I am so happy I still see them in class." Over her 21-year career at LaGrange, Lydia was named chair of the department of business, which under her leadership added nonprofit studies to its title. She developed or co-developed degrees in nonprofit leadership, marketing and entrepreneurship and sports management, as well as minors in international business, poverty studies, marketing design and applied finance. She also led the master's program in philanthropy and

Financing a Family of 14 – Q & A the world learning development – the about business and only program of its Having a large family has its perks, but number of gifts such as one or two? it can also be very expensive, especially A. It really depends on the child’s age. The serving others. kind in the South. as the kids grow older. Lydia's family younger children have parties and receive consists of 11 children and three adults more gifts, but we celebrate everyone’s One of "The road less living in their home. birthday with the cake of their choice. We the college's traveled is often Read below for the lowdown on some of have eight birthdays between August and the typical expenses for a family of 14. October, so that is a super busy time and accounting majors mentioned and we all gain weight. won the Elijah seldom taken," she Q. How many gallons of milk do you Q. What does an average Christmas cost buy each week? A. Two to three. in your family? Are there limits on those Watt Sells award shares. "I think I Q. How many loaves of bread? A. Two gifts? Do the kids share big-ticket items for his CPA exam can truly say that I to three. such as video game consoles? A. It costs Q. What is your grocery bill like a lot because we never want the kids to scores and four took the road less each month? A. $2,000. We go grocery resent being part of a large family. They do other accounting traveled when I shopping two to three times a week. share big-ticket items. For instance, Owen Q. If you were to take your entire family and Julia got an Xbox for Christmas last students achieved graduated from out to eat and to the movies, what would year. semi-finalist status Michigan State that normally cost you? A. We’ve never Q. How many of your children have cell actually done that. Out to eat is about phones? What does that bill look like? University with my in the American $125. A. Seven. Some of them pay their own Institute of Certified Ph.D. in Accounting Q. Do you have a special vehicle, such share, but yes, it is high. as a 15-passenger van? A. We do, but Q. How many of your children are on your Public Accountants and took a position don’t use it much anymore now that the car insurance? What does that bill look older kids drive. It is expensive on gas like? A. Five. It is pretty insane. (AICPA) student with LaGrange for sure. Q. Do the older children have cars and competition. College. I chose Q. What do you spend on each child’s did they work and buy the cars themselves birthday? Do you have birthday parties or did you and Scott buy them for them? "I believe what this path because for them? Do they receive a limited A. Some do. We helped. sets us apart is our they gave me the belief that business opportunity to start its accounting program. LaGrange College has been is about more than making money – it's about making a difference," she explains. "That difference good to us." looks 'different' for every student that takes a class Under her leadership, sports management with us, and we treat them as the image bearers of students have had the opportunity to work at the God that they are. So, I have taken that less traveled Super Bowl, and business students have traveled to Austria, China, Ecuador and various countries around road, and it has made all the difference."

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More to Love Once Lydia and Scott adopted the two boys, they felt called to go back and adopt even more children. The first seven children they adopted were within 35 months of each other – all of them under the age of 8. "Once you’ve been, it’s really hard not to go back," she explains. After Serik and Arstan (both 2 years old), came Damir, 4, Marat, 3, Lydia, 7, Ira, 6, and Toma, 6. The first seven children Scott and Lydia adopted are now all over the age of 21. "No one is gone, though," she says. "Our home is extremely important to us. Even the older ones don’t do a tremendous amount outside of the home. We’re happy together. We make our home a place of refuge, and they know they always have a place to come back to. All of them still need Mom and Dad." After bringing home the first seven children, Lydia and Scott adopted 4-year-old Anna, 9-yearold Julia and 5-year-old Stefka from Bulgaria, a country in Southeast Europe. At the time Anna was adopted, she weighed only 24 pounds. They also have a 2-year-old local foster child whose adoption will be finalized this month. Some of their children had special needs that

were discovered after adoption, and two of their children have mobility issues. Anna had advanced hydrocephalus – the buildup of fluid in the cavities deep within the brain. Her condition had never been treated. "She is completely and totally dependent on us," Lydia says. "She’s such a delight. She’s just happy all the time." Seven of their adopted children have special needs to varying degrees. When Lydia was 39 years old, she and Scott decided they would like to try to have a child together. Son, Owen, their first biological child, was born in 2011, then came daughter, Eva, in 2015. They also have a daughter-in-law, Skyler, who is Arstan's wife, and a granddaughter, Elena, who is 2 years old. "Before we had a large family, I didn’t feel like we needed a large family. We woke up one day, and we had all these kids, and we said, 'Where did all these kids come from?'" she laughs. "Scott and I have the same sense of humor, which allows us to deal with all we have to deal with. If we didn’t have each other to laugh with, I’m not sure how we would make it." When they first began adopting, Scott was driving 1 1/2 hours to Georgia Tech every day, working toward his degree. Later, he made the difficult decision to leave college so he could be a full-time, stay-at-home dad. "One day, Scott came home and

"Scott and I have the same sense of humor, which allows us to deal with all we have to deal with. If we didn’t have each other to laugh with, I’m not sure how we would make it."

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Before the he said, 'I quit,'" she coronavirus, Scott says. "Scott is my taught martial arts rock. He is a terrific part-time. He still husband and father takes classes in Atlanta who gave up his to sharpen his skills. dream of becoming "I'm currently taking an electrical engineer a ballet class with when God called 12-year-olds," Lydia us to adopt. There laughs. "I take pointe. are days that I come Martial arts his thing, home and Scott looks and ballet is mine. a little worn out, Other than that, we’re but there is never a time he runs away at home." In 2006, Lydia's dad, screaming." Harry, now 90 years Lydia and Scott do old, moved in with have the benefit of Lydia and her family. having some children He helps Scott with the who are older. They children as much as he are almost always is able. Lydia's mom, willing to help their Lydia, with her 90-year-old father, Harry Whitt. Harry has lived with the Myrna, is 76 and lives mom and dad with Rosencrants since 2006. in Memphis, Tenn. the younger ones. Lydia describes her family as boisterous, chaotic, "They help quite a bit," she says. "Most of the happy, loving, fun and wonderful. The children range time, they love it. Of course, we get the occasional in age from 2 to 24 years old. Lydia is 24, Irina, 23, grumbles."

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The Rosencrants family from left to right: Lydia, Julia, Lydia, Stefka, Ira, Damir, Owen, Serik, Eva, Toma, Scott, Anna and Harry Whitt. Not pictured: Arstan and Marat.

Tamara, 23, Damir, 23, Marat, 22, Arstan, 21, Serik, 21, Julia, 15, Anna, 12, Stefka, 11, Owen, 9, Eva, 5, and their foster child is 2. Daughter-in-law, Skyler, is 21 and their granddaughter, Elena, is 2 years old. Eleven of their children live at home, with five in college or vocational school, one child works and one is married. Having a large family certainly means more expenses, but Lydia says it all works out fine. "I feel like God has multiplied what we have in miraculous ways," she shares. "My dad helps with some of the expenses, but we don’t splurge a lot." With 14 people in the same home, it can be challenging to fit in quality time together as a couple. Prior to COVID-19, Scott and Lydia would have date nights on occasion, but when the pandemic hit, they stopped going out for a while to protect Harry and Anna from the virus. But they don't seem to mind; they are happiest when they are at home spending time with their family.

Meant to Be Lydia says she and Scott don't plan on adopting more children, but none of their adoption journey was ever planned, anyway. "We try to be open to God’s plan," she explains.

For close to 20 years, Lydia and Scott have shown their children that you don't have to be born into a family to be loved, nurtured and cherished. They firmly believe that each of their 13 children were always meant to be a part of their family. "It is our calling," she shares. "I’m extremely blessed that God put me together with the person who shared that calling. It is the most important thing in our lives. The most important thing is the children. We both feel so strongly that this is exactly why we’re here." WGW

To learn more about Dr. Lydia Rosencrants or to reach out to her regarding this article, you may email her at lrosencrants98@gmail.com. Send mail correspondence to: Dr. Lydia Rosencrants c/o West Georgia Woman Magazine P.O. Box 2782 Carrollton, Ga. 30112 21

No One

Time Waits for

Planning for Life's "What ifs" By Sandra Bolan

ou’re in the prime of your life with a good job, spouse, kids and most important, no health concerns. So why would you even want to think about your funeral or whether you want a DNR? Because things happen – in an instant. You could be running a marathon on Sunday and having a heart attack on Monday. Or, you could be killed in a car accident. Anything could happen at any moment, and we are never guaranteed another day. Most people say they want to die at home, but only about one-third of adults have an advanced directive expressing this and other end-of-life wishes, according to the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors. What is an advance directive or advance care planning? It’s a plan for life’s “what ifs.” "What if I’m in a car accident;" "What if I have a debilitating disease;" "What if I become too ill to speak for myself and am unable to voice what I really want people to do with my affairs or medical care?" Advance care planning includes your will, a living will, durable power of attorney and possibly a do not resuscitate order (DNR), along with a pre-arranged funeral. The purpose of having a plan written out for when you can’t advocate for yourself is so that your family doesn’t have to guess what you want. When putting together your advance care directives, there are three things to think about: what do you want to happen (statement of wishes); what do you want not to happen (refusal of treatment/ DNR) and who speaks for you (durable power of attorney).

DNR The default standard of care is to aggressively treat patients. A "Do Not Resuscitate" order informs medical personnel you don’t want all measures possible taken to bring your heartbeat back to a normal rhythm if it stops beating or you stop breathing. This means no CPR, no ventilator and no intubation.

Organ and Tissue Donation Organ donation can only be considered after a person has been declared brain dead by a doctor. Your medical condition at the time of death determines what organs can be harvested. One person can donate up to eight lifesaving organs: the heart, liver, pancreas, intestines, two lungs and two kidneys. Tissues such as the cornea, heart valves, skin and bone can also be donated. You can also donate your brain – not for transplant, but for research. Even though you declare your wish to be an organ donor on your driver’s license, make sure your family is also aware of your intentions.

Wills

A will is not the same as a living will. A will is a legal document that spells out the distribution of your assets. A will is not just for the wealthy. Between your checking, savings and retirement accounts, home Living Will equity, vehicles and life insurance policy, you’d be surprised to find out just how valuable you may be in A living will enables a patient to not be subjected death. to treatments without consent, in particular, during For some families, the distribution of these assets emergency situations. can cause an enormous amount of strife, which is why Do you want to be alive the most number of days it’s best to spell out exactly who gets what. possible or do you prefer to live with quality of life? If you have minor children, their legal guardian These are all difficult decisions for family members should be named in the will. If you have pets, who are also dealing with the sudden possibility of provisions for their care should also be made. losing a loved one. A living will makes the process Who should you trust with your more matter-of-fact and less emotional. Auto, Home, Life & Commercial insurance?

Durable Power of Attorney

This document designates someone to make healthcare decisions for you when you can’t, and It details the forms of treatments you do and don’t want. The person you choose as your voice needs to be aware of your values and must be capable of carrying them out, even if some family members may disagree.

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Services include but not limited to wealth management and comprehensive financial planning for families, female investors and business owners. Securities and advisory services offered through Commonwealth Financial Network, Member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Fixed insurance products and services offered through Milestone Investment Management LLC or CES Insurance Agency. The Women's Choice Award® Financial Advisor program was created by WomenCertified Inc., the Voice of Women, in an effort to help women make smart financial choices. The Women's Choice Award Financial Program is based on 17 objective criteria associated with providing quality service to women clients, such as credentials, experience, and a favorable regulatory history, among other factors. Financial advisors do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of Women's Choice Award Financial Advisors, though they may have paid a basic program fee to cover the cost of their client survey. The inclusion of a financial advisor within the Women's Choice Award Financial Advisor network should not be construed as an endorsement of the financial advisor by WomenCertified Inc. or its partners and affiliates and is no guarantee as to future investment success. Women's Choice Award® Financial Advisors and Firms represent less than 1% of financial advisors in the U.S. As of December 31,2019, of the 542 considered for the Women's Choice Award, 169 were named Women's Choice Award Financial Advisors/Firms. The criteria provided reflects the most recent year for which Financial Advisors/Firms received the award. The criteria used, the number of Financial Advisors/ Firms considered for the award, and the number of those who receive the award, may vary from year to year. For more information, please visit http://www.womenschoiceaward.com/.

Wills can be made with the assistance of a lawyer or you can get legally binding documents from LegalZoom and Nolo.com.

Life Insurance Life insurance pays a death benefit to any person or organization named in the policy. Monthly premiums are typically quite low, while the payout can be quite substantial. You can’t access your life insurance policy while still alive, unless you’ve signed up for an accelerated death benefit rider. This rider can be used to pay for some of your end-of-life care.

Funeral Pre-planning Funerals are not cheap. The average cost is $9,000, and that doesn’t necessarily include a casket, which could be as much as $10,000. When a loved one dies, unexpectedly or not, family members instinctively want to celebrate their life in a big way. But is that something you want, and more important, can your family afford a big send-off? By pre-planning your funeral, you’re in charge of everything from the location of the memorial, casket,

type of service, music, flowers, readings, food, guest list and final resting place. When families are in need of a funeral home, they typically pick one closest to home or one the hospital works with the most. Neither option may be the right fit. By pre-planning your funeral, you can shop services and prices. Funeral homes typically let you pay in one lump sum or monthly. There is also final expense insurance, which covers funeral costs in the $10,000 range. Premiums are lower because the policy covers funeral expenses only. Most companies only consider insuring people between the age of 50 and 85 years old. Benefits typically depend on a phone interview and health questionnaire. Just like your assets, family members can become overly emotional and think more about what they want versus the wishes of the deceased. That is why pre-planning your funeral avoids any family conflict. No one wants to think about their own mortality, but when you’re healthy and of sound mind, now is the perfect time to make those plans. It's never too early to begin thinking about what is important to you. Take the necessary steps now, while you are able, to ensure your wishes are known. WGW

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Daily Fare With

e s o R f e h C

Photos by Zachary Dailey

Chef 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.

One Pan Salmon and Asparagus

This dish is a quick and light spring dinner bursting with fresh flavors.

Ingredients

Preparation

3 to 4 salmon fillet pieces (about 4- to 6-ounce portions) 2 lbs (about 2 bunches) asparagus, fibrous ends removed Salt and black pepper 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 small lemon sliced into rings for garnish

Preheat oven to 450° F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Place salmon fillets in a row in the middle of the baking sheet. Surround fillets with trimmed asparagus. Drizzle asparagus with olive oil. Sprinkle both asparagus and salmon with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, mix all the ingredients for the lemon-garlic-herb butter with a fork until combined. Spoon prepared butter mixture over the salmon and spread evenly. Top each salmon fillet with a lemon slice. Bake uncovered for 10 to 12 minutes. Cook until salmon easily flakes with a fork. Serves 4.

For the Lemon-Garlic-Herb Butter: 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice from 1 small lemon 2 garlic cloves, pressed or minced 1 teaspoon fresh dill, finely chopped 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Kid Friendly Granola Bars

Get creative with your recipe and add dried fruit, festive chocolate candies for holidays or different blends of puréed fruits and vegetables.

Ingredients 1 1/2 cups rolled oats 1/2 cup shredded coconut 1/4 cup honey (substitute applesauce for kids under 1-year-old) 1/4 cup flour 3 tablespoons nut butter of choice (peanut, almond or sunflower) 1 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/8 teaspoon baking powder 2 tablespoons chia seeds 1/4 cup water, or fruit or vegetable purée of choice (applesauce, pumpkin, banana or sweet potato) 1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional. I used chocolate mini eggs for an Easter-themed bar.)

Preparation Preheat oven to 325° F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone mat. Blend oats and coconut in a food processor until coarse in texture. Add honey, flour, nut butter, vanilla, cinnamon, baking powder and chia seeds. Blend well. Add 1/4 cup of water, or fruit or vegetable purée. Place batter onto prepared baking sheet and press with your hands until 1/4- to 1/2-inch thick. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top of the mixture and lightly press down. Use a knife to score lines before baking. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. Serves 12 to 16. WGW

Womentality

Inspiring quotes by extraordinary women “We look at adoption as a very sacred exchange. It was not done lightly on either side. I would dedicate my life to this child.” – Jamie Lee Curtis By Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=41638621

“Anyone who ever wondered how much they could love a child who did not spring from their own loins, know this: it is the same. The feeling of love is so profound, it’s incredible and surprising.” – Nia Vardalos

“A child born to another woman calls me mommy. The magnitude of that tragedy and the depth of that privilege are not lost on me.” – Jody Landers

“Little souls find their way to you, whether they’re from your womb or someone else’s.” – Sheryl Crow

“My life has been shaped by the decision two people made over 24 years ago. They decided to adopt a child. They got me, and I got a chance at the kind of life all children deserve.” – Karen Fowler

Mama's Boy

front and support each other, not side with your parents.

You Can't Please Them All

By Sandra Bolan

Dealing with Difficult In-laws

hen you get married, you not only get a spouse, but a whole set of in-laws you are expected to love and accept, for better or worse. If you’re lucky, your in-laws will welcome you into the family with open arms. But, sometimes they can be so challenging to deal with, you will actually want to move away – far, far away.

Monster-in-law The movie nailed it. The new spouse is viewed as a threat and is trying to steal her son away from her. There is also the mother-in-law who just refuses to let her baby boy go, no matter how old he is. While mothers-in-law have the worst reputation for refusing to butt out of their son’s lives, fathersin-law can also be challenging. They typically come across as know-it-alls, rude and controlling. If a newly married couple is going to survive difficult in-laws, they have to do one thing – not let the in-laws’ behavior cause conflict between them. No matter how intolerable they can be, don’t make your spouse choose between you and his parents. Doing this puts your spouse in an impossible situation and you may not like the outcome. However, there does need to be an unspoken rule between the two of you: you must maintain a united

There are going to be in-laws who, no matter how hard you try, just can’t be pleased. Don’t remake yourself into someone you’re not just to appease them. Your own parents love you no matter what, but your in-laws don’t have to. They should, however, be adult enough to accept you for who you are and as the person their child will spend the rest of his life with.

Set Boundaries

One of the most important things a newly married couple needs to do is set boundaries. Some in-laws love to pop by unannounced and at the worst times. If this is not something you appreciate, ask them to call before dropping by or tell them not to expect to have the door answered. When it comes to your children, make sure the inlaws know that you, not they, are raising them. That includes everything from religion, which school they attend, the food they eat (no candy for example) and words that are not acceptable to say in front of them. Child rearing is likely where the greatest conflict will occur because, after all, their children turned out perfectly fine the way they raised them, so they must have done it the "right" way. If they are constantly stepping over your boundaries, call them out on it and don’t let them get away with it.

Toxic Behaviors They’re condescending, make you feel worthless and not good enough for their child. They talk about you like you’re not there, but you’re sitting right beside them. They even gossip about you to their neighbors and friends. Before you confront them, try

talking to your spouse first to see if he also notices this behavior. Sometimes all it takes to quell this is a nudge from their own child to put a lid on it. Although, sometimes, it can backfire and make things worse. If you’re gutsy enough, stand up for yourself and ask them to treat you with respect. Again, it may or may not work – be prepared for an even frostier reception next time you get together. No matter how upset you are, try to remain courteous, kind and respectful toward them.

The Oversharing In-law They tell the neighbors, other family members, grocery store clerks and anybody who will listen, intimate details of your marriage. The first line of defense is to not provide those details. For example, you’re trying to have a child, but there are some issues making it a little more complicated. When the in-laws ask about when they can expect a grandchild, simply answer “We’re working on it.” It's also important that you and your spouse don't share details about any squabbles you may be having at the moment. Just don't do it. The only thing this will do is cause more friction between you and your in-laws, and it will give them more intel to share with the world.

Dailey Life Photography

The Controlling In-law These are the in-laws who insist you do things their way. This includes maintaining all the family traditions. For example, they want you to spend every holiday with them, failing to acknowledge you have your own family you and your spouse would also like to spend time with. This is when the couple needs to be unified and inform them that they will, for example, spend Thanksgiving with them this year, Christmas with the other in-laws and vice versa next year. If being with your in-laws is just too challenging, don’t take them up on every invite. It's OK to limit the amount of time you spend with them, and it's certainly acceptable for your spouse to visit his parents without you. No matter how crazy they make you, remember they are still your husband's parents and your children's grandparents. They love your spouse and your kids, and even if you don't get along with them, it's important to encourage and nurture those relationships as much as you can. WGW

Zachary Dailey, Photographer for West Georgia Woman Magazine

Call us today for your photography needs!

404.444.9072

daileylifephotography@gmail.com @DaileyLifePhoto

@DaileyLifePhotography

www.daileylifephoto.wordpress.com 31

Like a

Boss!

Things to Consider Before Starting Your Own Business By Sandra Bolan

mall businesses make up 99 percent of all American businesses. So it’s easy to believe just about anyone can start a successful company. The reality is that 20 percent of small businesses fail within the first year. Thirty percent of small businesses close their doors in their second year. Half will fail after five years, and 70 percent of small businesses will shutter after a decade, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

Know Your Market

Name It Some say choosing a company name is the hardest part of starting a business. You may come up with the perfect name, but when you go to register it, it’s already taken. Also check URLs. The company name may be available but the URL might not be. Once you have your business name, protect it through an entity name at the state level. You may also need to file for a trademark at the federal level.

Just because you have a brilliant idea doesn’t mean Obtain Necessary Permits other people will agree. But if you have enough faith in In order to be legally compliant, go to sba.gov to your concept, the first thing you need to do is check the find out what is required for your specific business. market to see if the product or service already exists. You will also need to contact your local city and Next, develop a message – what problem are you solving? Be the solution. Rather than pushing a product county government and ask what type of licenses are required to own a business in your area. for the sake of making money, think more about the problem it solves. It’s much easier to get customers to buy your product or service if it makes their lives better Don't Become a Statistic in some way. If your idea is truly unique, do more research. Is there Small businesses fail all the time. The key to not really a need for your concept? Who are your potential becoming a statistic is to deliver what the customer customers? The customer profile includes gender, age, wants, not what you want. Many new business buying habits and economic bracket, to name a few. owners have grand ideas about people clamoring Talk to other business owners in the for their product or service before it’s industry and get as much information as even launched and believe they will Women-owned businesses are growing, surviving and thriving. they are willing to give. be millionaires within a year. It could Between 1997 and 2017, happen, but the likelihood is that it women-owned businesses grew won’t. by 114 percent, according to Create a Business Plan an American Express study. Start small. Self-fund your company As of 2017, women own 11.6 as much as possible. Once things are Writing a business plan is your million companies in the U.S., employ almost 9 million people humming along and the company is roadmap to success and includes and pump $1.7 trillion annually growing, you may want to consider how your company will be structured, into the nation's economy. outside funding, but make sure it’s for initially funded, operated and its path very specific things, such as marketing or to profitability. increasing manufacturing. It also includes a company description, details the It’s important to know why other small businesses problems your product or service solves, customer fail, within your industry and outside of it. The most demographics and your advantage over the common reasons for business failure include a lack of competition. sufficient capital, poor management, an inadequate How will your company will be structured? Will you business plan, an overblown marketing budget, be the CEO, COO, manufacturer, shipper, customer cash-flow issues, outcompeted, price or cost issues, service rep, IT department or will you delegate? the product or service is irrelevant and customer This is where you need to be realistic about your reactions – both good and bad. abilities. Are you a born salesperson, or are you more Sometimes no matter how hard you try, your the idea generator? Are you an excellent negotiator, or do you take the first offer because you don’t know how business may fail anyway. Be realistic and understand that this might happen to you. You may need to to fight for the best deal? regroup and try again. Just remember that failure is If you’re looking for investors, this is where you ask an opportunity for learning. Identify where you went for what you want and detail how you will spend the wrong, and make improvements in those areas. If funds. you make the choice to try again, you will be more If you’re providing a product, will your distribution likely to be successful the second time around. be via a storefront, exclusively online or a hybrid of the WGW two?

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Sleep Tight By Sandra Bolan

unctioning on as little sleep as possible has become a cultural badge of honor. We’ve become a nation of burning the candle at both ends by either staying up all night to get a project done for work or school, or finish watching those last couple of episodes of our latest Netflix binge. We also know how bad it is for us because the next day we feel like death warmed over – and look like it too. No matter how much concealer you use, those dark circles and puffy eyes won’t disappear. You always vow to not do that again, but the very next night your bed is barely slept in. The occasional all-nighter is no cause for concern. But over the long haul, all-nighters can actually wreak havoc on your health. • Our Body Heals Itself During Sleep. When we sleep, our bodies heal themselves from all the trauma we put them through during the day. Our central nervous system, which is the body’s information highway, resets itself. When you don’t allow this to happen, you get brain fog, have difficulty concentrating, are cranky, have poor coordination and it becomes tougher to learn new things. This can lead to everything from loss of productivity and creativity at work to on-the-job injuries. • Sleep Boosts the Immune System. What’s the only thing you want to do when you get a cold or the flu? Sleep. While you sleep, when healthy and sick, your immune system produces infection-fighting substances such as cytokines and antibodies, which are used to fight off bacterial infections and viruses. • Lack of Sleep Causes Weight Gain. If you get less than six hours a night of sleep regularly, you’re 30 percent more likely to become obese. Part of that is because sleep helps regulate your hormones, in this case, leptin, which tells your brain you’ve had enough to eat and ghrelin, which is an appetite stimulant. When these hormones get out of sync, you start to snack at night and overeat. Lack of sleep also makes you too tired to go to the gym, which again, contributes to weight gain. • You'll Look Older. A bad night of sleep usually has you waking up with puffy eyes and sallow skin. Sleeping very little, night

after night, will turn your youthful glow into dull, saggy skin that no lotions or potions will ever be able to cover up. While you sleep, the body releases human growth hormones, which help maintain that muscle you worked so hard to build in the gym, as well as thicken your skin (so no saggy jowls) and strengthen bones. • Depression. On top of all that, not getting enough sleep is just depressing. Insomnia is actually one of the first signs of depression, and the two feed off of each other. Insomnia feeds the symptoms of depression and depression makes it harder to fall asleep. If you suffer from insomnia, seek medical help or consult a therapist to help get to the root of your depression.

How Much is Enough? The average adult is supposed to get between seven and nine hours of sleep a night. So how do you get more sleep? With a few behavioral changes. • Avoid daytime naps. • No caffeine after noon. • Go to bed at the same time every night and wake up every morning at the same time. This includes Saturday and Sunday. • One hour before bed is your time to relax. Put away the phone/tablet/laptop and take time to meditate or read a book. • Avoid eating heavy meals shortly before bed. Give yourself about four hours between dinner and bedtime. • Don’t workout right before bed. Your adrenaline will be spiked, giving you too much energy right when you want to be drowsy. • Limit your nighttime alcohol consumption. Think of sleep as a daily computer reboot. After being mentally and physically busy all day, your body needs to power down and recharge. In the evenings, you shut down your computer and boot it up in the morning. You need to do the same thing for your body. WGW

Haunted By the Past

comes to mind. While it may be the most horrible form, emotional abuse is actually associated with the greatest amount of adverse outcomes, according to the American Counseling Association. Emotional abuse can lead to an increased risk for psychosis, drug use and adult harassment. Adult survivors of sexual abuse are more likely to engage is sexual activity at an early age; have a teenage pregnancy; live with attention deficits; and suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Another form of child abuse, but one not often thought of, is neglect. Neglect is when a child is deprived of their basic needs including adequate supervision, healthcare, clothing, food and housing. It also includes the failure to provide The Long-term Effects of Child Abuse on Adults educational, social and emotional support. As adults, neglected children often burn By Sandra Bolan through sexual partners, become drug ear. Anger. Social isolation. Depression. dependant and can even suffer from hallucinations. Suicidal thoughts. When children are subjected to neglect and These are just a handful of the long-term abuse, this can lead to significant cognitive delays effects child abuse survivors can suffer as adults. and potential educational failure. April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. These same kids also run a higher risk of Child abuse, intentional or not, is behavior by a becoming homeless – 26 times more than a child parent, other adult or caregiver that is outside of who wasn’t abused or neglected. normally acceptable conduct. It has a great risk of Homelessness can be traced back to poor causing physical and emotional harm. academic achievement, which leads to low-end jobs, The severity of the long-term side effects varies if they are able to find any employment at all. greatly depending on the frequency and duration of the abuse. Adults subjected to at least one abuse Who Are the Abusers experience as a child are 12 times more likely to attempt suicide. Abuse can happen within any family – rich or poor. Gender also plays a role in its effects. Girls, But studies show it’s most prevalent in homes where according to the National Institute of Justice there are family, social or environmental issues that Studies, internalize their behaviors. For example, lead to adult/caregiver poverty, substance abuse, females suffer more from depression and anxiety unemployment and violence. and are more socially withdrawn, compared with When a child is young, the abuser is usually the males. Boys or men, on the other-hand, externalize their emotions by bullying, becoming hostile and aggressive with others. Some of these behaviors lead to adult criminal activity. Males are also at a significantly higher risk of substance abuse, “Carrollton’s Prescription Headquarters” compared with females.

Not Just Physical Child abuse is not just physical abuse. It can be emotional, sexual or sometimes all three. When we think of the most horrific abuse a child could be subjected to, sexual abuse is often what

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child's mother. However, any family member can be an abuser. Sibling physical abuse is one of the most common forms of abuse, yet it is often accepted as normal within a family unit. "Sibling abuse, especially in its more severe forms, often reflects an overall level of family pathology," says Kathleen Kendall-Tackett, Ph.D., IBCLC. "Chances are, there are other types of abuse present as well. Parents may also be abusive, or at the very least, neglectful. Having multiple abusers, not surprisingly, makes the overall abuse experience more severe."

Other Adverse Effects Adults survivors are prone to suffering from low self-esteem, problems self regulating their emotions, depression, anger, panic disorders, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) as well as difficulty setting boundaries and maintaining adult relationships. Women are more likely to be re-victimized as adults. Women who experienced sexual abuse as a child are 72 percent more likely to experience violence as an adult, according to an International Violence Against Women survey. Women who were abused as children are more likely to abuse substances, engage in dangerous sexual liaisons, have eating disorders and injure themselves – including multiple suicide attempts, according to Dr. Kendall-Tackett.

You Can Stop the Cycle of Abuse Only about one-third of survivors of abuse repeat the pattern of abuse with their children. Some female survivors opt not to have children for fear of continuing the cycle of abuse, but also because they feel they’re not emotionally capable of being good mothers. As adults, survivors also often fear they may not be able to protect their children from abuse by

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Prom Season

someone else. Seeking help from a mental health professional can assist you in stopping the cycle of abuse.

How to Heal There are a multitude of coping mechanisms for child abuse survivors. Many survivors take personal responsibility for their abuse, while some adults cope by repressing and denying it ever happened. But coping is not healing. To truly heal and achieve some sort of closure, you must work through your feelings and confront those painful experiences from your childhood. Below are some ways to begin the healing process. • Seek help from a professional therapist • Join a support group of other abuse survivors • Write down your experiences • Seek active closure by speaking to your abuser "Be clear in your own mind what it is you most want the other person to understand, what you might want to know through your questions," says Bob Taibbi, LCSW. "The attitude you want to take is that of understanding, of reaching some closure, of making sense now as an adult of those events of the past, of gaining a more complete picture of why what happened happened, rather than an occasion for flinging blame and anger." • If face-to-face is unsafe or frightening for you, send the abuser a letter or an email With professional help, you can repair those broken places inside you and make peace with the memories that haunt you. There is still hope for healing. WGW

If you are being abused or know a child or adult who is being abused, be the voice for that person. Call Georgia’s statewide domestic violence hotline at 1.800.334.2836 for help.

Local Happenings

Due to our country's current health situation, please call or email the organizations included in our local events section to inquire about in-person meetings.

West Georgia Mental Health Professionals Wellness Meetup Group

This group meets the last Saturday of every month in Douglasville or Austell. For more information, contact Cheryl at theheartmatters@gmail.com or 678.754.5840. Learn more at www.heartmatterswellness.com.

Hope For The Journey This group meets the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at the Tracy Stallings Community Center at 118 South White St. in Carrollton. These events are free to breast cancer survivors or those currently battling breast cancer. Learn more at www.hopeforthejourneywestga.org, email execdirector@hopeforthejourneywestga.org or call 770.214.1491.

Rare Pearls Mentoring and Leadership Program Rare Pearls mission is to enrich and empower the

lives of young girls and women. This group meets the third Saturday of each month at Heritage Baptist Church in Douglasville, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. This program is open to all girls ages 7 to 17. For more information, call 770.947.8210, email rarepearls2015@gmail.com or visit the website at www.rarepearlsmentoringandleadership.org.

Nursing From The Heart Breastfeeding Support Group This group meets the third Monday of each month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 500 Old Bremen Road in Carrollton. These events are free to pregnant women and moms looking for breastfeeding support. Free weight checks for your baby will be available. Come and share your breastfeeding journey with us. Please check our website for meeting and event updates at www.nursingfromtheheart.com.

Gertrude's House Breast Cancer Support Group This group meets the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Lithia Springs Family Chiropractic

at 1758 Lee Rd. in Lithia Springs. This group is open to all survivors, caregivers, supporters, friends, family and those fighting breast cancer. Visit their Facebook page @GertrudesHouse or email them at GertrudesHouse@yahoo.com.

Cancer Support Group at Tabernacle Baptist Church Has your life been impacted by cancer – whether your own or someone you know? Tabernacle Baptist Church hosts a faith-based cancer support group providing spiritual and emotional support to those diagnosed, currently undergoing treatment, those in remission and caregivers. Meetings run from 6 to 7:15 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month. Meetings are held in room 256 at 150 Tabernacle Drive, Carrollton, Ga. For more information, call 770.832.7063 or visit the website at tabernacle.org.

Domestic Abuse Support Group There is Hope is a support group for women survivors who have dealt with, or are currently dealing with, domestic violence. This is a private Facebook group where women survivors come together and share their personal stories of experience, strength and hope. For more information, please contact hopefulone807@gmail.com.

Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Groups Has your life been impacted by the loss of a friend or loved one to suicide? You are not alone. These groups offer peer support for anyone who has been affected by suicide loss. There is no cost to attend. Group meetings in Carrollton are the third Tuesday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. at 306A Bradley Street. For more information, contact Ivey Rollins at iveyrollins@gmail.com or call 470.729.0909. Group meetings in Douglasville are the second Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church at 6167 Priestley Mill

Rd., Room 226. For more information, contact Terri Johnson at chose2live@aol.com or 770.765.2181. Group meetings in Newnan are the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Crossroads Church, 2564 Hwy 154. For more information, contact Lynn Bradley at 770.301.4890 or email nbll.bradley170@gmail.com, or contact Nancy Bradley at 770.251.6216.

Carroll EMC Blood Drive Carroll EMC will host a blood drive Tuesday, April 6, in the Robert D. Tisinger Community Center at the Carrollton office from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you'd like to sign up for an appointment, please call 770.832.3552 or visit www.redcross.org. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Carroll EMC Selects Semi-Finalist for $1,000 Scholarship Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative (EMC) recently named Emily Stone of Bowdon as its semifinalist for the Walter Harrison Scholarship. The Walter Harrison Scholarship is a program sponsored by Georgia’s electric membership corporations. The $1,000 scholarship can be applied to academic expenses at any accredited two- or four-year university, college or vocationaltechnical institute in Georgia. “To be selected as a semi-finalist for this prestigious scholarship is such an honor," said Stone who is a graduating senior at Bowdon High School. “I am so thankful to live in a community that is so encouraging and supportive of students and their education.” Stone plans to begin her studies of industrial engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in the fall. Twelve Walter Harrison Scholarships will be

awarded to students with exemplary academic records. Grade-point average, academic standing, scholastic honors, and financial need are considered when determining a student’s eligibility. A scholarship committee comprised of directors, managers and key staff at Georgia’s 41 EMCs seeks to award scholarships to remarkable students who may otherwise not be able to afford college. To be eligible, applicants must be accepted or enrolled in an accredited undergraduate degree program and must complete both a two-page application and a two-page autobiographical sketch referencing future plans. The scholarship is available to any college level student regardless of age. Carroll EMC received 12 eligible applications this year. “We encourage all eligible students to apply for the Walter Harrison Scholarship,” said Taylor Key, Community Relations Specialist for Carroll EMC. “I personally know how costly of an investment attending college is, and it humbles me to be a part of a cooperative that does all it can to ease that financial burden for students.” Statewide winners will be announced on or before April 1.

Carroll EMC Named Top Workplace for 7th Consecutive Year For the seventh year in a row, Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative has been recognized as a Top Workplace by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. This year’s winners were recognized at the 2021 AJC Top Workplaces virtual event Thursday, March 18. Employees and members of businesses and organizations in the small, mid-size and large categories participated in a third-party survey administered by Energage, LLC. Feedback gathered from the anonymous survey measured workplace culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization. “During this very challenging time, Top Workplaces has proven to be a beacon of light for organizations, as well as a sign of resiliency and strong business performance,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “When you give your employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and their business.” Carroll EMC was first awarded the Top Workplace recognition in 2014 and has continued to rank

respectably in the small business category the past six years. In 2021, the cooperative ranked 25 out of 86 small businesses. “Last year was hard on many businesses,” said President and CEO for Carroll EMC, Tim Martin. “Workplace culture has always been a top priority for us. At the cooperative, we are more than just Member-focused – we are employee-focused. This honor shows how resilient our employees are in making the best of difficult times.”

Carroll EMC is a Member-owned cooperative providing electricity to approximately 50,000 homes and businesses. The co-op serves Members in Carroll, Haralson, Heard, Paulding, Polk, Floyd and Troup counties. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. For more information visit the cooperative’s website at carrollemc.com or follow Carroll EMC on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn. Carroll EMC: Community Built. Community Builder.

WGTC Campus Construction: First Building Topped Out The steel structure for the first building of the new West Georgia Technical College Carroll Campus was completed March 19 with the placement of the last beam – a signed steel girder hoisted into place high atop the three-story edifice. Officials and guests from West Georgia Tech, the Technical College System of Georgia and local organizations joined general contractor McCarthy Construction and others for a brief signing ceremony prior to the lift. “I’d like to thank everyone who has joined us today for your work in getting us to this point,” Interim WGTC President Pat Hannon said. “We have a great group of employees, the people working at the system office, our contractors, our architect, our legislators – thank you for each one for all the hard work. We would not be where we are today without your support.” Guests at the event included Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner Greg Dozier, State Property Officer Marty Smith, local county commissioners and representatives the boards of WGTC and the WGTC Foundation. The new campus located in the Buffalo Creek Technology Park on the Carrollton Bypass will replace West Georgia Tech’s 52-year old campus on Newnan Road in three buildings totaling almost 150,000 square feet. The building topped out last week is the main classroom building, a three-story brick and steel structure which will house the enrollment center including offices for admissions and financial aid personnel, along with labs for paramedicine and

Dr. Howard Seeman will be retiring after 30 years of practice in West Georgia. Best wishes and thank you for being such an important part of our community!

Photo by Keith May

www.westgagastro.com

If you would like to send Dr. Seeman your congratulations or funny short story, please send to: 157 Clinic Ave. Suite 201 Carrollton, Ga. 30117

certified nursing assistant programs on the first floor. Also on the first floor will be Adult Education, which prepares students to obtain their high school equivalency through either the GED Test or HiSET. The student center, bookstore and library will occupy a large portion of the second floor, with classrooms, computer labs and faculty offices filling the rest. The top floor will include a large cosmetology salon and labs for chemistry, criminal justice, engineering and early childhood development. General classrooms will be scattered on all floors. This building will be prominent to technology park visitors, facing a large roundabout already present on site. A two-story glass façade will welcome guests to the gray brick facility. The steel structure is visible already from the Highway 166 Bypass. Foundation work is continuing on the large, single-story technical and industrial building of almost 62,000 square feet located behind the main building. This second building will house labs for trades and industrial programs including diesel equipment, welding, industrial systems, precision manufacturing and construction trades. A pedestrian bridge will connect the two buildings. A third smaller building will provide space for maintenance equipment and staff. Large parking areas surround the buildings, with 693 spots proposed. A new driver training range will be constructed to support the commercial truck driving program. “Every week, we have all observed this campus coming out of the ground and the excitement grows every time we share the progress,” Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Kristen Douglas said. “The faculty and staff have had true ownership in this project because of the intentional solicitation of their input from the beginning and throughout the project.” Douglas said instructors at the current Carroll Campus have been heavily involved with the planning and design of new classroom and lab spaces, with the goal of the campus to prioritize the academic areas on the new campus. She said one office on the current campus has been outfitted with sample furniture to get faculty and staff feedback on the type and style of furniture that is needed. The campus sits on about 40 acres of the Technology Park donated by the Carroll County Development Authority. The campus site will fill the left side of the Technology Park, if facing it from the Highway 166 Bypass. The Carroll County Development Authority retains the right side of the Park and continues to market it for possible development.

Buffalo Creek marks the extreme left of the Park, behind the campus site. A portion of the Park there is in a floodplain and preserved as wetlands. The new campus is scheduled to open in 2022 and replace the College’s 52-year-old campus on Newnan Road. Programs currently offered at the Newnan Road campus will relocate when the new campus opens.

West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers more than 120 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is one of the largest of the state’s 22 technical colleges. For more information, please visit www.westgatech.edu.

West Georgia Technical College staff, invited guests and construction contractors signed the final beam of the first building on WGTC’s new Carroll Campus March 19 before it was lifted into place atop the three-story building which is now visible from the Highway 166 Bypass in Carrollton.

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Kids Korner

Bunny Frame

Materials 2 paper plates Pink or blue paint Cotton balls Hot glue gun and glue sticks Scissors Picture of your baby (or child) Your baby's feet (or just decorate bunny with paint) Instructions Cut bunny ears and feet out of the first paper plate. Paint the bottom of your baby's feet and place

By Jordan Coffman Photos by Zachary Dailey

the footprints in the bunny ears and feet. Cut the picture in a round-shape and glue it to the center of the second paper plate. Glue the bunny ears and feet to the paper plate. Glue the cotton balls to the paper plate to form a frame around the photo. Glue the remaining cotton balls to the bunny ears and feet, leaving room for the footprints to show through.

April Flowers Materials Pink, purple and green construction paper Black permanent marker Hot glue gun and glue sticks Scissors

Instructions Fold the green construction paper in an accordian-shape. Cut flowers out of the pink and purple construction paper. Take the black permanent marker and decorate the flowers as shown above or as desired. Glue the flowers to the green accordian-shape to create a flower garden. WGW

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