Mary Ellen Denney
Summer Activities to Keep You Cool Friend, or Foe?
Rebecca Martin Home and Garden
Need for Speed Recognizing Toxic Behaviors in Friendships
Club Celebrates 100 Years Get Outside and Play
Photo by Zachary Dailey
Happy Independence Day!
I can't believe it's July already. This year has just flown by, and with July comes Independence Day celebrations, parades (we'll be in the Carrollton parade on the 4th – come see us!), barbeques, fireworks and spending time with friends and family.
While we're on the subject of independence, I'm wondering if you know that shopping and doing business with local merchants is part of the reason this country is so wonderful. Small business owners are the backbone of this nation, and we all need your support to keep going and growing.
West Georgia Woman magazine is a truly local small business in West Georgia. I started my business from the ground up, we are locally owned and operated and we are not a part of any newspaper conglomerate or magazine franchise.
When you spend your advertising dollars with our magazine and do business with our valuable community partners in WGW, you really are giving back to your community in a big way. Remember, just because a company says they are local or encourages you to "shop locally" doesn't necessarily mean they are. They may employ a few people who live here locally, but the majority of their revenues go outside of the county or state – padding their corporate pockets but giving very little in return to the community.
I want to thank you for your support, and for reading. Please let our community partners know you saw their ads in our magazine. Without them, there would be no West Georgia Woman!
In This Issue
Our feature this month is 12-year-old Mary Ellen Denney, who discovered her passion for motocross at only 5 years old. Since the beginning, Mary Ellen has consistently finished in the top three or top five competitors in each race she's entered.
She's recently earned her spot to compete in the Amateur National Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., slated for late July 2024. She's got her sights set on winning this elite championship in the Girls 11-16 class. Just by qualifying, Mary Ellen is 1 of 40 of the fastest girls in the world.
On page 10, learn more about Mary Ellen, her motocross accomplishments and her neverending drive to succeed.
The Rebecca Martin Home and Garden Club in Carrollton, Ga., celebrated 100 years in May. Since its inception, the club holds a rich history in the West Georgia area – receiving a key to the city of Carrollton, gaining recognition from Rosalynn Carter, former First Lady of the United States, and receiving a resolution from the State House of Representatives commending the club for its service to the community, among other accomplishments. Learn more on page 24 about this local women's club and how you can be a part of it.
As you turn the pages of this issue, you'll learn about how to get your kids off the couch and get them outside this summer, how to recognize the signs of a toxic friendship, summer activities you can do while keeping cool, Chef Rose Isaacs' delicious recipes and more.
I wish you all a safe and wonderful 4th of July!
See you next month!
Publisher
by Keith May
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Need for Speed
Waco girl earns slot in motocross national championship
High-octane dirt bike racing, known as motocross, fills the adrenaline needs of participants and spectators alike. The excitement of the speed, the jumps and the hair-raising turns brings riders and fans together as they watch who makes it to the finish line first.
This exciting sport isn’t just for grown-ups: children as young as 4 years old can race in the motocross arena. And that’s where 12-yearold Waco, Ga., resident Mary Ellen Denney found her passion at the tender age of 5.
“It was my dad’s idea because he raced growing up,” Mary Ellen explains. Her dad, Mike, is a shop foreman at The Scoutman, a Scout restoration shop, in Winston, Ga., and owns Sketchy Performance and Fabrication. He’s been repairing, building and modifying vehicles –including dirt bikes and motorcycles – since he was a teenager.
That’s a handy skill to have when you have not one, but two daughters involved in motocross racing: Mary Ellen’s sister, 15-year-old Abby, also races.
Mary Ellen’s mom, Ami, is not left behind in the adrenaline department. She works for the state of Georgia’s CACGA Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Response Team but also serves as a skydiving coach and videographer on the side.
Moving Forward with Motocross
Motocross is gaining speed across the country as a sport for nearly every age group, ranging from the age 4-8 class to the age 60+ class. The races take place on off-road tracks that include various obstacles. The tracks could be muddy, grassy or covered in gravel, and they include hills, tabletops, jumps and other opportunities for stunts.
The tracks tend to be narrow, ensuring riders must use their skills to avoid hitting each other as they race. The tracks often turn sharply, requiring a strong knowledge of riding position and weight distribution, as well as the strength to move the bike through the turns.
Motocross tracks vary in length, typically one to
three miles long. The longer the race, the more physically and mentally challenging it is.
Those challenges are part of why parents like Ami and Mike believe motocross racing provides a positive outlet for children. Although accidents and injuries happen, riders wear sophisticated safety gear and endure rigorous training. Kids learn responsibility early in this sport, having to maintain their gear and bikes. They learn about managing time wisely, and how to maximize budgets.
Children in the sport learn valuable lessons about building relationships with other competitors as well as how to win and lose gracefully. Also, the sport presents an incredible opportunity for children to stay active – it requires strong leg muscles to stabilize turns and arm strength to hold the bike steady, as well as to lift and maneuver it. In addition, dirt bike riding helps improve balance and spatial awareness.
When Mary Ellen’s parents recognized how important motocross had become to her and Abby, they tossed 100% of their support that direction, including selling their home in Whitesburg, Ga.,
Mary Ellen Denney discovered her passion for motocross at the tender age of 5.
to buy a house with enough land to build a practice track.
“I married my husband right after I graduated high school,” Ami relates. “He graduated from Central and I graduated from Carrollton. We had our oldest daughter about three years later and Mary Ellen two years after that. Everything about our life revolves around them.
PERMANENT
relates. “We travel all over the Southeast. My favorite tracks are Calhoun Motocross (Calhoun, Ga.), Sand Mountain Motocross (Albertville, Ala.) and Big Springs Motocross (Roanoke, Ala.).”
“We wanted to be able to provide them with anything and everything they needed to succeed in a sport they loved. Our house was only a few years from being paid off. Mike looked at me one day and said, ‘Let's sell everything, and buy some land and build a track for the girls.’ I thought he was crazy, but I went with it.”
Mary Ellen is going into the 8th grade, and she’s homeschooled through Acellus Academy. But homeschooling and a rigorous practice and competition schedule doesn’t mean she gets to slack off at home.
“My chores are dishes, keeping the kitchen clean, and basic bike maintenance after races,” she shares. “I also help cut the grass, weed eat and take care of our chickens.”
Ami says Mary Ellen’s first time on a bike was scarier for her than for her daughter. “I was sitting on the back of it with her. I had to lean over and help Abby with something, and before I knew it, Mary Ellen twisted the throttle, and she and the bike shot out from in between my legs. She took off and wrecked.”
By the time Mary Ellen was 5 years old, she was ready to race. “I don’t really remember my first race, other than I wanted to go fast and get a trophy," she says.
She has definitely racked up in the trophy department, consistently finishing in the top three or top five competitors in each race. “On average, I compete in 15 to 20 races per year,” Mary Ellen
Competing at that level requires an incredible amount of time and dedication, from Mary Ellen and her parents.
“She practices once per week, and goes to the gym multiple days per week,” Ami explains. “She has to stay in the gym to be strong enough to manhandle the motorcycles she races because she is so small. She usually practices on the tracks she races on. She practices on our track at the house when we are unable to go anywhere else.”
Ami shares that although it’s a huge time and financial commitment, she and Mike wouldn’t have it any other way, and they prioritize finding down time where they can all spend time on other activities that bring them joy.
“In all honesty, practicing and racing takes up the majority of our time,” she shares. “We both work multiple jobs to keep them going in this. We couldn't do it without the support of our family, friends and local businesses sponsoring her journey. In the occasional downtime, we ride motorcycles to local biker events. I skydive and work at Skydive
Georgia on free weekends, and they love to come watch me jump and ride co-pilot on the jump plane. Mary Ellen loves to weld and make metal figurines at her dad's shop and help him work on International Scouts at The Scoutman. She even has her own toolbox up there.”
The Motocross Journey
With such a demanding practice and competition schedule, Mary Ellen masters the art of juggling her time. “Homeschooling allows me to work ahead so I can focus on my riding in the moment,” she says.
That focus is essential, helping her overcome the challenges involved with the sport she loves. “The biggest challenge is not having the opportunity to train daily like a lot of competitors,” she explains. “Many kids that are riding at this level live at tracks during the week and train with professional trainers.”
Her mom agrees, and shares that Mary Ellen excels in spite of the challenges. “She's just a normal kid with parents who work full time and are not able
Left: The entire Denney family loves to ride during their down time.
Below: Serious injuries can occur with the stunts in motocross. But Mary Ellen knows injuries go hand in hand with competitive sports.
Above: Mary Ellen, second from left, with her family. Sister Abby, left, and her parents, Ami and Mike.
to put her in those ideal scenarios,” Ami relates. “Overcoming it all comes down to the hard work she puts in. She works hard. Extremely hard. While we do have a track at the house, it's small, and we don't have the proper equipment to maintain it. She gets out there on our small tractor and scrapes it with a box blade just to get it ridable. She really can do it all.”
Mary Ellen stays motivated by the thrill of the competition. “I like winning and hate losing,” she laughs. “I only get scared when I feel like I may lose a position in a race. My favorite things about racing are winning, going fast and learning new tricks.”
Like most sports, injuries occur. Mary Ellen knows this feeling firsthand, but she also knows it goes hand in hand with competitive sports.
“Mary Ellen has broken her humerus on both arms and had a compression fracture in her back that was found later after it had healed,” Ami relates. “Abby has broken over a dozen bones since she started racing. Them getting detrimentally hurt is my ultimate fear. If they were to get paralyzed or hurt even worse than that, as a parent, I could never forgive myself. But it's a risk we take. It takes a rare breed of child to love this and be as skilled as Mary Ellen is. A child like that will find that high in things
we cannot control if we were not to allow her to do this. It's cliché to say, but motocross kids do not find drugs because the high they get from this sport supersedes any other feeling.”
Mary Ellen believes she’s gained invaluable life experience while racing. “I made friends at the track, which provide me with like-minded kids my age who share a common interest,” she says. “My mentors are Ezra Lusk, Vicki Golden, and Shane and Heather Fenwick. Ezra has been a foundation in my skillset since I was first starting out. He saw my potential from the very beginning and has believed in me since I started. Vicki Golden is a pro FMX rider who has truly motivated me and been the epitome of a strong female in a male-dominated sport. Shane and Heather Fenwick own Calhoun Motocross and have provided me with a safe space to learn, grow and race on a regular basis.”
She has big plans for the future, hoping to win a national championship. She’s already conquered her most recent goal of qualifying for the Amateur National Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch in Hurricane Mills, Tenn., slated for late July 2024.
“In motocross, the Amateur National Motocross Championship at Loretta Lynn’s Ranch is the ultimate goal,” Ami explains. “She is racing in the Girls 11-
16 class, and just by qualifying, it means she is 1 of 40 of the fastest girls in the country – in the world, really, because racers travel from other countries to compete. It is the elite of the elite, and she made it.
“She had everything against her. The day of qualifying, her bike was having mechanical issues, and her dad made it work. She had to dig to the deepest parts of her core and race in a way she has never had to before. It was just so amazing to watch. She is proof that the ‘weekend warrior’ can make it. I sometimes sit back and feel guilty because imagine where she could go if we could financially put her in the position to train like the other racers she’s up against. But, we do everything we can do to get her where she has the ability to go.”
Qualifying for the championship is the latest in a long line of Mary Ellen’s success that have made Ami and Mike proud. “We were at Red Bull Day in the Dirt Down South (Dade City, Fla.) in March of
this year. She was racing in the Women’s 29 & Under class. She was one of the youngest racers on one of the smallest bikes. She raced in conditions she doesn't usually practice in. When she pulled off the track, I told her she won.
"She didn't believe me at first. It's amazing to watch her achieve goals and dreams that she didn't even know she could do.” WGW
By the time Mary Ellen was 5 years old, she was ready to race. She has racked up in the trophy department, consistently finishing in the top three or top five competitors in each race. She averages 15 to 20 races per year. Photos provided by the Denney family.
Get Outside and Play!
By Sandra Bolan
For an entire generation of kids, they didn’t hear much more than “go” before they were out the door until being called in for lunch, which was eaten at record speed, so they could head back outside for the rest of the day.
Armed with nothing more than their imagination and a skipping rope, sidewalk chalk, bike or ball, kids were expected to stay out of the house from sunup to sundown, and when parents had to call them in for the night, they would beg to keep playing under the streetlights.
Today, almost half (43%) of kids who participated in a survey noted they preferred to stay indoors all day and play with their tech toys rather than do anything outdoors. The Center for Disease Control reports kids aged 8 to 10 spend six hours a day using entertainment media. That adds up to 91 days, or one-quarter of a year.
Being outside, whether it’s doing something athletic, reading a book, playing on a jungle gym or gardening, is good for the mind, body and soul. The next day you will feel rejuvenated – despite all the activity – because you’ve just soaked up a huge dose of serotonin, otherwise known as Mother Nature’s happy pill. You’ll also feel more creative and be happier, compared to feeling glum and anxious after staying inside all day.
Vitamin D, a vitamin the human body absorbs from the sun, also boosts your immunity. Letting your kids get dirty can help their immune systems as well. Parents may cringe at the dirt they find under their child’s fingernails, but studies show that playing in the dirt could potentially reduce a child’s risk of developing some allergies and autoimmune conditions. By exposing the body to some unsanitary conditions, the body will train itself to battle back, thus creating a stronger immune system.
Home Make Your House a
may also inspire them to get in the kitchen and learn how to cook what they grow.
Playing in the dirt means some of it will end up in the house. Don’t let that be the reason you don’t allow or encourage kids to have fun. If dirt in the house is a deal breaker for you, place a bucket outside the door, along with some soap and have them scrub clean their hands and feet before going inside. Problem solved.
Other indoor activities that can easily be moved outdoors include teatime, picnics, puzzles, reading, drawing, crafts, blocks/Legos, as well as motorized cars and trucks.
If you’re able to, build a treehouse or jungle gym in the backyard. Add some twinkling lights, and everyone can safely play after the sun goes down. Another way to make your outdoor space more inviting is to expand the living area by building a screened-in porch. A covered porch also staves off the intense summer heat, making it more bearable to be outside, as well as keeping you dry on rainy days.
Lure Them Outside
If your child would rather scrub toilets than spend time outdoors, lure them out of their cave by allowing them to play video games and watch Netflix – outside. You can also entice them to explore nature through technology. For example, ask them to find out what attracts butterflies to a garden. After she learns that butterflies like brightly colored flowers (reds, yellows, oranges, pinks and purples), take a trip to the local garden center to buy some butterfly-attracting blooms, plant them and watch the butterflies come en masse. By allowing kids to utilize a traditionally indoor activity (web surfing) for an outdoor interest, they understand it doesn’t have to be either/or – it can be both.
Some children don’t want to shoot hoops, ride bikes or toss a ball around. Gardening, whether it be floral or vegetable, is a terrific way for kids to get outside. The garden doesn’t have to be large. It can be anything from a few planters on the porch to a small plot in the backyard. Gardens encourage children to get their hands dirty for a reason – planting, weeding and picking. A vegetable garden is a fantastic way for kids to gain a greater appreciation of the food they eat. Who knows, it
Does your family have a favorite sport you all love to watch on TV? Why not play it outside? You’ll only need to invest in a net (soccer or basketball) and a ball. Which leads to one of the most important ways to lure your children outdoors – lead by example. It’s not a great look if you push your kids outside and then park yourself in front of the TV or gaming console. Get out there and remember how much fun it was to be a kid and play outside all day. WGW
Rebbeca Martin Home and Garden Club Celebrates 100 Years
By Sydney Dailey
TThe Rebecca Martin Home and Garden Club celebrated its 100th anniversary on May 16, 2024. In the 100 years since its inception, the club holds a rich history in the West Georgia area.
The club received a key to the city of Carrollton, gained recognition and a letter from Rosalynn Carter, former First Lady of the United States, and received a resolution from the State House of
Representatives commending the club for its service to the community.
event that would deplete the young club’s savings account.
Kaye Harper, longtime president of the club, feels preserving the history of the club is important to honor the work of the women who came before her, “I would love for this to be studied in the next 50 years, or anytime, really. It’s so impressive what these ladies did," she shares. "They worked, they earned money and saved to build a clubhouse. Then, in 1929, the bank went under and all of their money in savings went away.”
Although devastated to lose their savings, the women were steadfast in moving forward. “They
worked again, and the husbands and sons helped. They did so many things for the community during World War II," Kaye relates. "They mailed packages of goodies and cards overseas to the sons of the community – not just the club members. They were so active.”
Through the years, various members of the club have kept written histories to preserve the daily happenings for future club members. Kaye has documents, meeting minutes, plaques and quilts made by members over the years and hopes to pass the artifacts along to a historical society or library for safe keeping one day.
Kaye has a special connection to the club in more
Members of the Rebecca Martin Home and Garden Club at their 100th anniversary celebration May 16, 2024.
ways than one. Her grandmother, Mrs. W.W. Martin (also known as Pearl Martin), was the first president of the Rebecca Martin Home and Garden Club.
The club was named after Kaye’s great grandmother, Rebecca Martin, the oldest member of the club at the time.
The organization has deep roots in its philanthropy and service to the community of West Georgia. In the early years, the focus of the club was to help families in need. It also played a large part in supporting the construction of Tanner Hospital. “Our name was on a plaque
Through the years, various members of the club have kept written histories to preserve the daily happenings for future club members. The club has documents, meeting minutes, plaques and quilts made by members over the years and hopes to pass the artifacts along to a historical society or library for safe keeping one day.
at Tanner Hospital where the club donated when they were first building the hospital. The way they donated was to have chicken and barbecue suppers. They devoted their time and their livelihood –everything they had – to support the program.”
Today, the club supports community efforts through monetary donations, more so than with chicken suppers.
“Today, we have a fund that we use twice a year for donations,” Kaye explains. Some of the main recipients of the club’s donations
In the article located on the top right of the scrapbook, the club members celebrated the construction of their new clubhouse. The article reads, "The women of the Stripling Chapel community kept crocheting fine bedspreads and serving up succulent barbecue until they constructed what Miss Mary Todd, home demonstration agent, calls one of the smartest club houses in Carroll County. Mrs. J.R. Martin, president of the club, said an all-day picnic soon will serve as an open house."
are 415 HOPE, Tanner Hospice, The Rapha Clinic, Veterans Transportation, Open Hands, Clemmie's House, Alice's House, the Boys' Home and the local soup kitchen.
With the current club members getting older, Kaye looks to a younger generation of members to join and carry on the legacy of the Rebecca Martin Home and Garden Club. “We are an older club," she relates. "We need younger members, and we’re not even half the size we have always been. We just have not come back to those numbers after COVID-19.”
At its celebration on May 16, the Rebecca Martin Home and Garden club displayed artifacts from the last 100 years and a new addition dated Jan. 11, 2024 – a resolution by the State House of Representatives congratulating the club on 100 years of service to the community.
the current club members getting older, Kaye Harper,
to a younger generation of members to join and carry on the legacy of the
Home and Garden
The club is open to new members and welcomes anyone who may be interested in joining to attend a club meeting. Dues are only $10 per year for members. Meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month (except June and August, where no meetings are held) at the Stripling Chapel Club House located at 1830 S US-27, in Carrollton, Ga. For more information about the club, or to inquire about membership, call 770-301-9269.
The club is open to new members and welcomes anyone who may be interested in joining to attend a club meeting. “This is what will get you," she laughs. "The dues went up maybe 10 years ago. They doubled. We now pay $10 per year to be a member of the club."
If you or someone you know is interested in joining the Rebecca Martin Home and Garden Club, meetings are held at 11 a.m. on the first Wednesday of every month (with the exception of June and August, which do not have meetings). Meetings are held at the Stripling Chapel Club House located at 1830 S US-27, in Carrollton, Ga. For more information about the club, or to inquire about membership, call 770-301-9269. WGW
“Carrollton’s Prescription Headquarters”
With
president, looks
Rebecca Martin
Club.
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. She is a personal chef who offers cooking lessons, baby food prep, date night dinners for two and more.
Learn more about Chef Rose at www.chefrosecooks.com.
Chef Rose photos by Zachary Dailey, Dailey Life Photography daileylifephotography@gmail.com Recipe photos by Andrew Agresta, Agresta Photography www.agrestaphotography.com
Strawberry Limeade
Ingredients
4 limes, thoroughly washed
3 cups water
1 cup of strawberries
1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
One cup ice
1/2 cup sugar
Preparation
Cut limes into four wedges and place in a high speed blender with 3 cups of water. Blend on high until fully combined. Using a wire strainer, pour the contents of the blender into a clean container. Discard the lime rinds left over in the wire strainer and any leftover rinds in the blender. Pour strained lime water back into the blender.
Add strawberries, ice, sweetened condensed milk and sugar, and blend until smooth. Serves 6
“For an alcoholic beverage, simply add 2 ounces of your favorite liquor.”
Apple and Walnut Coleslaw
Ingredients
4 cups shredded cabbage
2 medium apples, cored and thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 cup chopped parsley
For the dressing:
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and pepper, to taste
Preparation
In a large mixing bowl, combine the shredded cabbage, sliced apples and chopped walnuts.
In a separate, small bowl, mix the Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, and salt and pepper until well combined.
Pour the dressing over the cabbage mixture and toss until evenly coated.
Cover for at least 30 minutes.
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.
Serves 4. WGW
“This coleslaw is the perfect addition to your Fourth of July picnic. ”
Summer Activities to Keep You Cool
By Sandra Bolan
All winter long, we lament the cold and can’t wait for summer. Then, the sweltering summer heat sets in and we head indoors, set the air conditioner to winter temperatures and wait for fall.
When we’re basking in the A/C, it’s easy to turn on Netflix and binge-watch the heat away. But there are more productive ways to beat the heat and enjoy the summer.
Outdoors
A day at the neighborhood pool or town waterpark is never a wrong choice, but if those options aren’t available to you, don’t sweat it. One can get a great cooldown with an old-fashioned sprinkler, which over the years has transformed from a simple side-to-side arc into giant shark tunnels, palm tree towers and fire hydrants with multiple hoses spraying in every direction.
Renting a giant inflatable waterslide can be costly, not to mention they require a lot of space. Flat slip ‘n slides are a great alternative that can be DIY'd. All you need is a large plastic sheet, which can be found at any home improvement store, and a garden hose or basic sprinkler to wet the plastic, so you can slip
Cathye Dowda Cota 770.722.3947
homelifegroup@kw.com
‘n slide. Other cost-effective ways to add to your DIY backyard waterpark include spray guns and kiddie pools.
A lot of fun can also be had with water balloons and sponges. There’s water balloon pinata, for example, where you fill a large balloon with water, hang it from a tree, then grab a stick or bat and swing away.
A game of water balloon toss can easily be done with sponges, which not only makes it more costeffective, but also environmentally friendly because the sponges can be used throughout the summer, versus balloons which are one and done. Like most water toss games, don’t be surprised if it turns into a water fight.
Other cooling-off games you can play with wet sponges include cornhole or bucket toss, with the twist being if you miss the bucket or hole, you must squeeze the water out of the sponge over your head.
You won’t need any outfielders for this baseball game. Grab those water balloons or soaked sponges, as well as your baseball bat and see how much water you can spray everywhere when your bat and balloon connect. You can also do this with a tennis racket.
If you like target practice, grab a water gun and a handful of empty cans. Be forewarned, trying to knock down the targets can quickly turn into a super soaker water gun fight.
Get Crafty
These activities will require preparation. First, the frozen T-shirt challenge. Pull out a handful of old T-shirts, soak them in water, wring out the excess water, then put them in the freezer for a few hours to overnight. The challenge is this: pull the shirts out of the freezer and immediately try to put them on.
It won’t be easy. Once thawed and dried, the same shirts can be used for ice cube painting. Fill several ice cube trays with water, then add food coloring or non-toxic fabric dye. Place the ice trays in the freezer, typically overnight, to ensure the water turns to ice. Bring the shirts and colored ice trays outside, because this will get messy, and use the colored ice cubes as your paint. Once done, hang them to dry.
Indoor Fun
If you’ve just had enough of the summer sun and heat and want to spend time indoors, there’s a lot you can do with a bit of imagination. Try an indoor scavenger hunt; create – then play – a murder mystery game; tackle an old-school board game; complete a complicated jigsaw puzzle; put on a play; or have a karaoke sing-off.
No tea party is complete without snacks, but it’s too hot to turn on the oven, so why not fake bake monster cookie balls, peanut butter cookies, cake pops or Rice Krispie squares?
For healthier snacks, there are fruit and cheese kabobs, tacos, peanut butter granola pinwheels and fruit pizza.
Around Town
If you don’t have air conditioning, there are several places where you can have fun while beating the heat. Spend the day taking advantage of free programs offered at your local library, visit a museum, bounce around a trampoline park, or watch a movie on the big screen.
Don’t let the summer heat stop you from getting outside and being active. Take advantage of the cooler mornings by going for a run, walk, hike or bike ride, which will help burn off some of your energy.
When you do head outside for a day of fun in the sun, wear sunscreen and a hat, spend time in the shade, drink plenty of water, and take a break by coming indoors during the peak heat before going back outside after dinner to enjoy the cooler evening temperatures. WGW
Excellence in Adult Primary Care
Lee Stringfellow, M.D.
William Berard, M.D.
Kevin Webster, M.D.
Andrew Rho, D.O.
Simone Berard, M.D.
Joanne Gaw, M.D.
Schuyler Cook, D.O.
Jessi Stockham, FNP-C
LocaL Happenings
Nursing From The Heart
Breastfeeding Support Group
This group meets the third Thursday of each month from 11:00 to noon at the Villa Rica Library located at 869 Dallas Highway, Villa Rica, Ga.
These events are free to pregnant women and moms looking for breastfeeding support. Weight checks for your baby will be available at no cost. Come and share your breastfeeding journey with us.
Please check our website for meeting and event updates at www.nursingfromtheheart.com.
Domestic Violence 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 group where women survivors come together and share their personal stories of experience, strength and hope.
This group meets on the first Thursday of every month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at a private location. A ZOOM option is available.
There will be guidance for help and resources available as needed. At times there will also be guest speakers.
Contact hopefulone807@gmail.com for more information and to obtain the privacy contract with the physical address or ZOOM meeting ID and passcode.
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 8:30 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.
PFLAG Carrollton Support Group
PFLAG Carrollton provides a free monthly peer facilitated support group for adult members (ages 18+) of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as their family, friends and allies, as a resource for families struggling with acceptance of their LGBTQ+ loved ones.
The goal is to meet people where they are and lead with love. PFLAG’s mission of support, education and advocacy from a place of love can help struggling families, as well as the community at large.
Support group meetings (for adults 18+) are led by a PFLAG trained facilitator and held on the second Thursday of each month from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at Grace Lutheran Church, 101 Somerset Place in Carrollton.
Confidentiality and safety are top priorities. Contact Julia Houser, pflagcarrollton@gmail.com for more information.
Pregnancy Resource Center 2024 Fall Fundraising Dinner
The Pregnancy Resource Center for Carroll, Haralson and Heard Counties will be hosting its 2024 fall fundraising dinner featuring special musical guest Allie Kennedy, speakers Al and Lisa Robertson and live artist Laura Ashley. Tickets are on sale now. For more information, visit www.pregnancyrc.com.
Carroll EMC
Leaders
Graduate from Inaugural Leadership Program
Three members of Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative’s (EMC) leadership team, Kim Billings, Kelly Jimenez and Taylor Key, graduated from Georgia EMC’s inaugural Co-ops Lead program designed to equip participants with the necessary tools and knowledge to become more effective leaders within their electric co-ops and local communities.
A demonstration of the cooperative difference and principle number five, education, training and information, the four-month Co-ops Lead program
allowed participants to enhance their leadership skills by identifying their personal strengths, learn best practices for community engagement and planning and develop techniques to market the community for economic growth.
“Electric co-ops that offer community involvement opportunities and contribute to local causes have a competitive edge when it comes to employee recruitment and retention, as well as economic development,” said Dennis Chastain, president/CEO of Georgia EMC. “Programs like Co-ops Lead help ensure cooperatives have a pipeline of employees who understand the fundamentals and importance of community development to grow successful communities for many years to come.”
In addition to the curriculum, Co-ops Lead gave participants the opportunity to network with fellow EMC leaders from other cooperatives in Georgia. Together, they discussed and shared solutions for common community issues and identified mutually beneficial ways cooperatives can collaborate with their local communities.
Graduates from this year’s program consisted of 20 participants from 11 electric cooperatives across Georgia. At their graduation ceremony held in May, each participant delivered a presentation showing how they plan to build on the knowledge they gained in Co-ops Lead in their own EMC and community.
“I am honored to be a part of the first cohort of Co-ops Lead,” said Kim Billing, Manager of Member Services for Carroll EMC. “It has equipped me with confidence and vision to lead with purpose and make a meaningful impact in my community using my unique combination of strengths.”
(L-R): Kim Billings, Kelly Jimenez and Taylor Key, from Carroll EMC, graduated Georgia EMC’s Co-op’s Lead program in May 2024. Right: Georgia EMC President/CEO Dennis Chastain.
have an equitable, clean and private space of their own.
Nessel, a women-owned, health-based furniture company designed by working moms for working moms, seeks to improve lives and keep communities safe and supported through innovative design and by creating the proper accommodations so that breastfeeding team members do not have to choose between work and family.
“This project represents the best of who we are and who we want to be – an industry thought leader that continues to be a catalyst for positive change and to create inclusive environments for all team members,” said Cara Herzog, chief diversity, equity and inclusion officer. “We are incredibly proud of the progress we have made and look forward to what the future holds for women and mothers in manufacturing.”
Southwire first learned of Nessel at a valued nonprofit partner’s, Women in Manufacturing (WiM), annual Moms in Manufacturing virtual conference in 2021. The multi-year project included key processes to ensure implementation was scalable. Southwire and Nessel set out to create a global Corporate Lactation Policy, design standard lactation rooms to enable consistent accommodations across all sites, provide leadership education about the PUMP Act, provide maintenance training for ongoing support and more.
"It is organizations like Southwire and Nessel that are leading change to drive more equitable, safe and comfortable experiences for women in the manufacturing industry," said Allison Grealis, WiM President and Founder. "It is exciting to see their efforts turn into real impact for Southwire's team members, and WiM is proud to have organizations like Southwire make meaningful change through opportunities we offer."
In addition, a project plan was developed to ensure executive support, assess organizational needs, leverage a multi-phased implementation schedule and create a series of resources to prepare, manage and support implementation across all sites.
“Good companies see a problem and patch it up with immediate, short-term solutions. Great companies see a problem as an opportunity, creating programs and policies to address the underlying issues that create the problem in the first place,” said Stephanie Boms, chief executive officer at Nessel. “In that way, these companies stand-out, leading the charge with true organizational change that supports long-term, sustained success.”
This project sets Southwire apart as an industry
leader that values inclusive spaces. The rooms created go beyond compliance, and lean into inclusive accommodations, which allow team members to bring their full selves to work.
“The partnership between Southwire and Nessel demonstrates our shared commitment to foster an environment where respect and inclusion are at the forefront of everything that we do,” said Guyton Cochran, chief financial officer. “Investments like our nursing mothers standard aren’t just the right thing to do, they are the smart thing to do. We want to be an Employer of Choice and create a culture of inclusivity that enables all individuals to feel supported at work.”
For more information on Southwire’s ongoing commitment to DEI, visit southwire.com/dei. Visit southwire.com/newsroom for more Southwire news. Southwire Company, LLC is North America’s leading wire and cable company. The $8B organization is made up of more than 9,000 team members across the globe who unite as ONE Southwire each and every day to serve each other, their customers and their communities. Southwire and its subsidiaries provide solutions including building wire and cable, metal-clad cable, utility products, portable and electronic cord products and OEM wire products. In addition, Southwire offers electrical products, engineered solutions and a variety of field support services. For more on Southwire’s products and solutions, its community involvement and its vision of sustainability, visit southwire.com.
Have a Safe and Happy 4th of July!
Friend, or Foe?
Recognizing Toxic Behaviors in Friendships
By Sandra Bolan
Biohazardous materials come with huge warning labels about their potential danger. On the other hand, toxic people don’t, but should. Being around toxic people can be emotionally, physically, mentally and psychologically draining, which can shorten the lifespan of those around them because of how stressful it is to be in their presence. Increased stress means elevated blood pressure, decreased immunity, increased symptoms of depression and a higher risk for heart disease.
As we age, friends fall away, others enter, and we hope experience has taught us to avoid the drama queens (or kings) who bring chaos wherever they go – AKA toxic friends. However, sometimes toxic friends are so clever at sucking us into their drama, we don’t even realize we’re in it until it’s too late.
Telltale Toxic Traits
Friendships are based on give and take, talk and listen, being supportive and supported. Friendships don't have a winner. A toxic relationship may feel like a competition, with you somehow always ending up as the loser. Even if you’re crushing it at life and in your job, these friends somehow figure out ways to make you feel like you’re failing – your house is smaller than theirs, your clothes don’t come with the right labels, and they won’t acknowledge or
congratulate you on your successes.
Their criticism, belittling and nitpicking can often occur through jokes, something only the toxic person finds funny. When you get up the nerve to confront them and ask them to stop the backhanded critiques, they claim it was a joke and you’re just too sensitive – yet another criticism that leaves you questioning yourself. In the long term, the constant nitpicking and criticisms can erode your selfconfidence and leave you suffering from anxiety and depression.
Toxic people are fantastic manipulators. It’s you who can’t take a joke, not them putting you down. They’re also great at making you feel guilty. “How could you think I would ever hurt you,” they might say when confronted with your hurt feelings.
These kinds of people want you to change your behavior in a way that best suits their needs, not yours. They may even be clever enough to guilt and manipulate you into doing things you would have never even considered doing before.
A master manipulator will even go as far as to gaslight you. They tell you lies that sound plausible, with you usually being to blame for how things went wrong. These people are so good at messing with your mind, you start to doubt your own memories and reality.
Another telltale sign you’re in a toxic friendship is
you’re not happy when you’re with them. In fact, you may dread spending time with them because they emotionally exhaust you.
Signs You are in a Toxic Friendship
1. The friendship is one-sided. relationship should have an equal amount of give and take. If you're always the one giving and she's always the one taking, you should move on.
2. You can't trust her. trusted with anything. If she doesn't keep your secrets or consistently stabs you in the back, she is toxic.
3. She's a bully. She yells at you, embarrasses you in front of others or throws you under the bus to save her own skin.
4. She doesn't care how you feel. should empathize with and be there for one another during the good and bad times. If she turns cold every time you turn on the waterworks, ask yourself why.
How to Deal with Toxic Friends
Meat is our
The first thing is to realize your friend is toxic, which usually comes about when you finally hear what your other friends and family think about her –that she is manipulative and no good for you.
the demise of your friendship. If this is the case, be warned: she may not go quietly. She'll most likely spread rumors and lies about you to your other friends, and anyone else who will listen because you dared to call out her unruly behavior.
We all have our moments of being that toxic friend, but once we’ve gotten it off our chest, had a few cocktails and tossed about some outlandish revenge plots, we move on with compassion and understanding – like normal friends should. Life is too short to be unhappy. Get rid of your toxic friends so you can gain back your sanity. WGW
Direct-access Colonoscopies Available
Some people can save the time – and cost – of pre-procedure appointments with Tanner’s directaccess colonoscopy service. When you call the direct-access colonoscopy helpline, you’ll reach a clinician who will ask you a series of questions about your personal health history. Those questions will help determine if you would be best served by meeting with a gastroenterologist before your screening or if you can go ahead and make a colonoscopy appointment.
You may skip a pre-procedure appointment if you:
• Are 45 or older
• Are in good health
• Have no family history of colorectal cancer
• Have no chronic conditions that increase your risk (such as inflammatory intestinal conditions like Crohn’s disease)
Call 770.812.9097 to see if you qualify for a direct-access colonoscopy.
Kids Korner
By
Patriotic Wind Sock
Materials
Red, white, and blue paper streamers
Metal coat hanger
American flag stickers
String
Hot glue gun and glue sticks (not pictured)
Instructions
Create a circle with the coat hanger and twist in place.
Apply alternating colors of paper streamers, gluing them to the outside of the ring.
Tie three long pieces of string to the top of the ring for hanging.
Decorate as desired.
Jordan Dailey
Craft photos by Zachary Dailey
Summer Popsicle
Materials
Craft glue
Scissors
Green or black marker
Green and white construction paper
Scissors
Googly eyes
Tongue depressor or craft stick
Instructions
Cut out a popsicle shape from the green construction paper as shown above.
Glue the tongue depressor to a piece of white construction paper.
Glue the popsicle shape to the white construction paper and the tongue depressor.
Glue the googly eyes to the popsicle shape. Decorate as desired. WGW
Independence Day Word Search
