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The best part of my job is being trusted to share the stories of the remarkable people who call West Georgia home.
None of us at West Georgia Woman magazine take that responsibility lightly, and it is an incredible honor to get to know these wonderful individuals.
It never ceases to amaze me how many interesting people there are who live and work in our community! We are very lucky, indeed!
And, of course, we are extremely lucky and honored to be a part of your lives each month. Thank you for reading West Georgia Woman!
March 8 is National Women's Day, a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
I can't think of a better woman to represent than our feature this month, Mary Leftridge Byrd. Not only is she extremely accomplished, but she is also a very kind and caring human being.
Following her career in corrections, she spent 12 years as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) Transportation Security Administration’s Federal Security Director at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA) – the world’s busiest airport – and seven additional federalized airports around the state.
In September 2020, she accepted another challenge to serve in the newly established Surface Operations Division, which parallels TSA’s Aviation Division. Along with four of her peers, she serves as one of five Regional Security Directors (RSD) in the nation.
On page 10, learn more about Mary, her numerous accomplishments and how she's working every day to keep the nation secure.
Does your family run around like crazy going from one child's extracurricular activity to another? Are you constantly on the go, eating in the car and doing homework on the run? On page 23, learn how being involved in too many activities affects your children and your family, and what you can do to find that balance between extracurriculars and a healthier quality of life.
Our other features in this issue include adopting pets instead of buying from breeders, exploring the 'sober curious' movement (yes, that's a real thing that I didn't even know existed until my daughter told me), repairing broken friendships, Chef Rose Isaacs' delicious recipes and much more.
See you next month,
West Georgia Woman is a voice for and about the women who live and work in West Georgia.
Our mission is to engage, inspire, and cultivate a cohesive community for all women in West Georgia by sharing our hopes, our dreams and our lives.
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By Shala Hainer
Photos by Zachary Dailey
Finding the passion to succeed often involves being surrounding by inspirational people. But Mary Leftridge Byrd found her motivation to persevere by combining the power of the people who lifted her up with the fuel from those who refused to believe in her abilities.
Born in Harrisburg, Penn., Mary grew up with strong role models – successful, accomplished Black women and men who taught Mary that humility, commitment and competence were key. Following her career in corrections, she spent 12 years as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) Transportation Security Administration’s Federal Security Director at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA) – the world’s busiest airport – and seven additional federalized airports around the state.
“In September 2020, I accepted another challenge to serve in the newly established Surface Operations Division, which parallels TSA’s Aviation Division,” she explains. “Along with my four peers, I serve as one of five Regional Security Directors (RSD) in the nation responsible to engage
and collaborate with stakeholders to enhance security through a risk-based approach to prevent attacks against and improve the resiliency of the nation’s transportation systems.”
As a child growing up in Pennsylvania, Mary was intrigued by law enforcement. “This interest developed when I was a little kid and watched cowboys every Saturday morning,” she remembers. “I recall our favorite show was Covered Wagon Theatre, along with the Lone Ranger, Hopalong Cassidy and others – we never missed a Saturday morning. I cannot explain it, but I was seemingly transfixed by the Sheriff’s badge and six-shooter belt, and typically he was ‘the’ one with the palomino horse.”
For Christmas one year, Mary received a red, fringed cowgirl outfit, complete with hat and a gun belt with two cap guns. “I was in heaven,” she says. “The greatest challenge that evolved was my mother repeatedly telling me no, you cannot wear that cowgirl get-up to school, to the birthday party, or heaven forbid to St. Paul’s Episcopal on Sunday morning!”
She says her village of strong women who surrounded her included her mother, grandmother, godmother, sisters, aunts, older cousins and friends.
Mary Leftridge Byrd's baby photo. As a child growing up in Pennsylvania, Mary was intrigued by law enforcement. Following her career in corrections, she spent 12 years as the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) Transportation Security Administration’s Federal Security Director at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA) – the world’s busiest airport -- and seven additional federalized airports around the state. She currently serves in the USDHS Surface Operations Division, which parallels TSA’s Aviation Division. She is one of five Regional Security Directors (RSD) in the nation working to enhance security, prevent attacks against and improve the resiliency of the nation’s transportation systems.
“Clearly, the elders in my life wanted me to be welleducated –academically and socially; they wanted me to be productive as much as they wanted me to fully enjoy the silly and fun times of my young life, and they helped me do both,” she relates. “The women in my life sat with me to work through homework, showed me how cornstarch is for a rash and magically also used to thicken gravy. They introduced me to the power of reading and language, and how to blind stitch hem a pair of slacks, before anyone in their right mind ever thought about sending such out to be done by a professional. They taught me to be kind to others and that the true measure of a person might be how she treats or regards another who seemingly holds no bearing in this world, but, in fact, each of us do. The elders, especially older women, showed me all of these life lessons related to success as an individual, as a child, a young woman and still as an older woman. At the same time, my father taught us to manage money, stand straight, have a strong handshake and always look someone directly in the eye, no matter their station in life.”
Mary says the writing of Marianne Williamson so beautifully speaks to why she perseveres and stays focused:
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness That most frightens us.
We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small Does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking So that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; It's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, Our presence automatically liberates others.
you see, also encouraged me in a way they had not have even thought about – funny how that works, isn’t it?”
She recalls other people in her life who were instrumental in helping her decide upon a career focus, including neighborhood police officers. “Fast forward to the era of there being ‘beat cops’ (with all respect accorded) in our community,” she relates.
“One officer in particular was a sharp guy who always spent time talking with us. We knew him to be ‘our’ neighbor officer and we were ‘his’ kids. He asked about school, if we were doing our homework, working hard to get good grades, being kind to each other and respectful to elders and others, were we getting up in time so our parents didn’t have to call to us over
She shares there were some leaders in her community who challenged the positive messages poured into her by her circle, letting her know they thought her abilities were limited. “Their view of my limits – as they decided – were actually motivators,” she remembers. “So those who thought little of me,
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and over to get us up and moving during the school week or on Sundays to get to church on time.
“It was his long stride, that bright shield, sharply pressed uniform, equipment belt that noisily and definitively switched back and forth, one hip to the other as he walked through our neighborhood. He and his partner struck a commanding posture, a presence that was always reassuring, never frightening, yet clearly he was not to be taken lightly. He was in charge, yet, in that position, which we held in very high regard, he extended himself to each of us, and we felt safer in a time when that had a completely different meaning.”
She says she was encouraged by her elders and others to reflect about Erin Hanson’s quote, “There is freedom waiting for you, On the breezes of the sky, And you ask ‘What if I fall?’ Oh, but my darling, What if you fly?"
“What I learned was to keep trying. What I model as I walk my leadership journey is to keep trying,” Mary shares.
Mary’s illustrious career began serving in corrections field. She’s worked in many positions with progressively more responsibility, including probation officer, assistant warden, warden and superintendent, statewide halfway house director, parole counselor, parole agent, parole supervisor, Deputy Secretary, Federal Security Director and now Regional Security Director.
“Yet the thing that matters at the end of it all is what I’ve been able to do to contribute to the benefit of others and the safety and security of our shared community,” she says. “For 30 years, I served in the profession of corrections and thought surely there could be no more dynamically challenging
public service environment than administering maximum security correctional facilities. I was wrong – and not for the first time in my career, that’s for sure. When I entered this profession of transportation security and specifically federal aviation and surface transportation security, I found another dynamic, demanding mission.”
Mary was a trailblazer in the male-dominated field of criminal justice. She noticed men held most of the professional positions, and women worked predominantly in traditional roles such as nurses, secretaries and educators. Yet, she found those women to be incredible sources of strength and support.
“That was an era where my co-workers who were women were as curious as they were excited about seeing and cheering on, one of their own, yet I was not doing women’s work,” she recalls. “I gave every appearance of having somehow made it through the invisible chain barrier tightly held against, to women who dared to think beyond the roles and limits where others were comfortable, glass ceilings and quick-sand floors that sucked one under or stifled dreams.”
When Mary became a state parole agent, all the other parole agents were men. When they welcomed her happily, she thought maybe it was her winning personality and easy humor that brought that on.
“Man, was I wrong,” she says. “I realized the only reason I was wildly welcomed was because within the work week, my first on the job, that every single woman on parole supervision was transferred to me as I was the first and only woman to have been hired as a parole agent in that office. Finally, my coworkers – all men – could breathe a sigh of relief by my just showing up as their equal – well, maybe more like bearing the same job classification. They were freed of the bond of caseload supervision of women parolees. In retrospect, and obviously we’re talking decades ago, I think about the striking parallels between how women offenders were seen and how I was seen in my early career years.”
She knew that men of that era were conditioned to ignore the possibility of women being in demanding career roles. Many saw women in corrections as odd, or even a nuisance. “I remember the first time I walked into a county prison. I was with a senior parole agent who had been assigned as the field training officer,” she relates. “When we to the desk, the front desk sergeant barely glanced at me and said to my peer, ‘What are you bringing her in for?’ So when I say it was not that long ago, we’re talking recent history. Not unlike women offenders, the economies of scale doctrine, how the world sees women has fed a relative disregard and perhaps even ignorance about the role of women –about possibility.”
She couldn’t help but notice in the corrections field, she was part of what she refers to as the “only” pattern – she was often the only woman, the only African American, and the only one willing to speak up. “In each of these positions, it had been my reality that what I did well was often overlooked, and what was not done up to standard was magnified,” she explains. “It is this experience that helped me understand, in an intimate way, what I’ve been told, like the quote etched over the entranceway to a library on the campus of an HBCU that cautions, ‘In order to be equal, you must excel.’ Despite these hurdles, I did and still reach for the highest standards and always work in a way that connects head and heart.”
She recalls being discounted by a chief probation officer, who told her he would never select a woman to be a probation officer. He told her she had no promise, and less potential to serve in law enforcement – but he offered to hire her if she wanted to type.
“I think my eyes may have answered, as I silently asked myself, ‘who is this guy?’ This is not what my elders taught me – they said I could be anything,
do anything I put my mind to,” she shares. “Yet when the selection board recommended me to the President Judge several months later, I was offered and accepted the position as a probation officer. That Chief was made to eat his words. He had such little confidence in me and, frankly, way too much confidence in himself.
“So when I eventually moved on, promoted to a state-level position, I would take time to write a note to the Chief in case he ever wondered about that Leftridge girl – I only wanted to keep him posted on career moves that had been earned.
"In fact, I once noted to the Chief in one of the last notes I sent him that I recalled him expressing concern about my not having potential nor promise. ‘Maybe you were right, sir, had I accepted your secretary job – the only thing I might be cut out for, according to your assessment. I declined the idea of being a secretary because, frankly, I could not type my way out of a paper bag if both ends were open. But here’s the thing – you talked about how being a secretary would have been a solid stepping stone since I would have moved from secretary to secretary position. Chief, maybe you hadn’t known, I did become a Deputy Secretary – of Corrections.”
The road to her current position as a TSA Regional Security Director was a long one, requiring her to live in different locations around the country – from Washington state to Georgia – and travel often.
She and her husband, Embria L. Byrd, settled in the West Georgia area in 2009, first in Douglasville, then Villa Rica.
“I enjoy the sense of living in a less congested area, though clearly there is growth across the county,” she shares. “That said, I don’t mind sharing our land with deer and wild turkeys, too! Also, I really enjoy the many opportunities to be a patron to the number of family owned businesses I’ve found in the area. For me, it’s not a singular pursuit to just be a customer, a purchaser. I always appreciate not just doing business with but learning from my new neighbors who know and share the history of the area.”
Mary says she met her husband while they both worked for the D.C. Department of Corrections. “It’s always a ‘moment’ when introducing myself sometimes when I say my husband and I met in prison,” she laughs. “He was leading Program Services in the Department’s institutions in Lorton,
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Va., and I worked in the Department Headquarters for the Director’s office in Washington, D.C.”
They enjoy an extended family of siblings, nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends who primarily live in the mid-Atlantic, the Carolinas and Washington state.
Of all the positions she has held, her favorite was the Executive Assistant to the Commissioner of Corrections in a large Department of Corrections.
“Though this position was relatively early in my career, it was the pivot point that changed my early trajectory,” she shares.
“The Commissioner was an absolute supporter of my development as a corrections professional. He unequivocally trusted me and my judgment. His direction set me on a course of, in part, guiding the work of his own senior leadership team toward accomplishment of the high-level department-wide priorities that had been established by the state Legislature required to be achieved by his office.
In a recommendation for entry to an advanced degree program, the Commissioner of Corrections wrote, “Ms. Leftridge is a talented career professional with a strong commitment to public service. She is exceptionally gifted in the areas of interpersonal relationship building and, given the right support systems and guidance, she is a solid prospect as executive leadership material. She is considered to have high professional promise. Without question, she has the strength and character of which leaders are fashioned.”
“He inspired me to articulate a shared vision with senior leaders who had been in the field much longer than I, but not one of the Deputy Commissioners was accustomed to being tasked by a junior colleague who held the position closest to the office of the Commissioner. He articulated and then demonstrated his confidence in me to internal and external partners and senior leaders. This posture made a critical difference in how I saw myself, which became the catalyst for my professional growth. This was the turning point of my career – the Commissioner promoted me to Assistant Warden from the Executive Assistant position, and it’s been a learning journey since then. Such a privilege to serve.”
In April 2009, Mary began serving as the Federal Security Director, State of Georgia, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration, Office of Security Operations, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Atlanta, the world’s busiest airport, along with seven additional airports. She weathered many unexpected storms in this position, including leading her 1,000-member team through an unprecedented federal government shutdown.
Within a week of the shutdown ending, Mary led her team to meet the challenge of keeping a
record number of travelers safe as they journeyed to and from Super Bowl LIII, which was held in Atlanta. Super Bowl Monday saw a record-setting volume of 104,000 passengers and 68,000 checked bags without a single security-related incident under her guidance.
Those accomplishments helped her earn her current position as RSD. “As the department senior field executive, I am responsible to direct security program oversight, system assessments, compliance with industry standards, collaboration with partners in law enforcement, security operations and regulatory enforcement,” she explains. “The RSD directs Surface Operations regional and fieldbased surface security professionals who serve as Transportation Security Inspectors and provide enhanced transportation security through planning, development and implementation of intelligencedriven activities and responsibilities to mitigate the potential of catastrophic domestic and foreign terrorist events and protect critical infrastructure across the U.S. transportation system. The Area of Responsibility (AOR) includes the complex, interconnected network of roads, bridges, tunnels, mass transit systems, over-the-road operators and conveyances, school transportation systems,
passenger and freight railroads, pipelines, and maritime facilities.”
Her territory includes 14 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
One of her most respected qualities is workforce development and her ability to build leaders and teams. She takes pride in sharing her life lessons with others and helping them live up to their potential.
“It is my privilege – my obligation – to pass on what’s been poured into me,” she relates. “This includes the tenets of what is needed to become a successful professional, but it all begins with to whom we have the good fortune of being born, as well as who steps in or maybe even who we invite in to walk next to us on this life’s journey. There’s an art to sharing and using those lessons.”
When she worked as the superintendent of a maximum security facility, she had a visitor who left a lasting impression – a Catholic sister who was interested in learning more about some of programs Mary instituted there. “As we walked and talked, we visited housing units, the infirmary, new commitment housing, death penalty housing and all across the compound,” she recalls. “As we closed out her last day of the visit, she asked, ‘Superintendent, do you have children?’ I answered, ‘No, Sister.’ After some
quiet time later, she said, ‘I have enjoyed being with you, Superintendent, and I want to share this with you. Though you have not given birth, it’s clear you have given life.’ I will not forget that thought – my elders would have celebrated what we were able to create, even in a coercive community.”
She focuses on sharing her knowledge about important skills to help build future leaders. Mary says communication is an essential skill, but effective communication seems more complicated as technology progresses – it may be easier to get messages out, but it’s also easier to lose the human and personal aspect of that message.
“If one is not cautious, the sense of self as to what the meaning is behind a message and what gave rise to a message can be lost or so minimized that what’s written may be received as just words rather than writing in a way that allows the reader to open up to receive the intent,” she explains. “We hear a lot about being intentional, which I think is very important. What the words read is certainly important, but how it is wrapped should seek to lift the reader’s consciousness. People, especially a large workforce serving in public safety, deserve that insight so they can potentially be moved from compliance to commitment. Writing
and speaking are seminal skills that I see as gifts from the Creator, and we have each been granted gifts.”
Building effective teams is another important aspect of Mary’s skillset. “Even that, I think is, in part, predicated on effective communication,” she shares. “Too, it is the absolute respect for people, which is the starting block when I enter and work to build any relationship, particularly in the work environment of law enforcement, and organizational or transportation infrastructure security. I have thoroughly enjoyed being an observer to watching wingspans open as others learn their own flight patterns – it can actually be breathtaking. I’m completely serious when I say that.”
In recognition of her hard work and dedication, Mary has won many prestigious awards. These include being named as one of the Atlanta Tribune’s Metropolitan Area “Superwomen” and recognized as Criminal Justice Professional of the Year by the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives. She has also received the President’s Award from the Women in Federal Law Enforcement Foundation, the American Correctional Association’s annual award as the Best in the Business, the Woman of Achievement award by the Delaware
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County Commission for Women and Government Executive magazine’s Theodore Roosevelt Government Leadership Award.
Of all her accolades, Mary says the one that means the most to her is the Department of Homeland Security’s TSA People First Award. It recognizes a strong commitment to people with an emphasis on collaboration, professional development and communication. “This award focuses on the obligation a leader has to employees without whom the mission would not be accomplished,” Mary says. “This award is most meaningful because of its essence. Its description heralds the most important resource the agency has: its personnel. While shocked by my name being announced, I was quick to step to the microphone and thank the staffs I’ve worked with over time.”
“If you don’t design your own life plan, you will find yourself smack in the center of someone else’s plan for you. You have to sign up, speak up, show up, stand up and rest up so you can finish up.
While Mary isn’t ready to walk away from her career just yet, she has taken time to reflect on how she got to her position and what her next steps might be. “Walking this demanding, exciting journey has been life defining, and for this, I am so appreciative,” she relates. “It has given me the opportunity to not have the same experience 100 times, but instead 100 different experiences. As long as I remain in public service, I will encourage and enable others when and where I can, never forgetting the women and men who have done the same for me. I have not gotten here on my own. I stand on the shoulders of so many who have guided, supported, chided and cared for and about me.
“I am certainly not impervious to wanting to give up or give in sometimes, but many have gone before me and made the pathway less fraught with obstacles, wider and more negotiable. They didn’t give up, and if they had, I would not be where I am – I owe a lot to so many, so I pay it forward by lifting others.”
Knowing building leaders is part of her passion, Mary expects to continue that work after retiring from her professional career. “I envision having the opportunity to teach, consult, train and speak to
leadership development, leading and managing complex organizations, affirming action and effective communication, and the role of leaders in creating community and common ground,” she says. “I have served in two very unusual environments we all know about and sometimes read about, but how many among us have had the opportunity to grow and grow others in the professions of aviation and surface transportation security and regulation at the federal level and corrections at the local, state and through consulting with the American Correctional Association?
“One thing ever present in my head and heart is this: the want to become a sister in service to Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. The DST sisterhood is such a phenomenal presence in this world. My belief is career accomplishments are gifts on loan to me and meant to be shared – for me, this would be the ultimate way and privilege to share and serve.
“
“And who knows – I may write a book. Some would read the content and think, ‘You can’t make this stuff up,’ and you know what? I wouldn’t have to. I’ve seen some things I wish I had never seen and likely missed some things I wish I had seen. In sum, this has been one amazing career. After these decades, I am so grateful to carry such respect for public service and public servants.”
Mary’s often asked for advice from young professionals and during speaking engagements. She consistently suggests people work to understand their reason and their purpose, and to strive to influence people in a positive way.
“I like to remind people to figure out what your superpower is and live it, share it; be adaptable, affirming and a positive enabler. Meet people where they are – don’t wait for any person to approach you. Move toward others to reach them. The worst that is likely to happen is you may be disappointed, but life, like effort, is a process, not an event. Everyone’s clock doesn’t ring at the same time. Try again – keep diplomatically but persistently challenging others to use their many gifts. If you don’t design your own life plan, you will find yourself smack in the center of someone else’s plan for you. You have to sign up, speak up, show up, stand up and rest up so you can finish up.” WGW
Protecting
Signing your children up for extracurriculars begins with good intentions – you want to harness your child’s interest in a sport or hobby and expand their social circle.
Next thing you know, you’re chauffeuring your child from one activity to another every day of the week, everyone’s eating their meals in the car and all family conversations revolve around the child’s progress and ways to improve.
It’s not just the children who can get stressed out by having to go from one practice to another. You’re the one who has to get them everywhere, and if you have a job or other children also participating in a multitude of afterschool activities you may feel overwhelmed and resentful of not having time for yourself.
Participating in goal-oriented activities can teach children numerous skills that can be transferred from the playing field to real life. Kids who participate in extracurricular activities learn valuable life lessons, such as the value of teamwork, how to win or lose with grace and how to speak in front of others. Extracurriculars also develop social skills, boosts self-esteem and can reduce the potential for participating in risky behaviors.
On the other hand, the wrong activities can have
a child coming home with excuse after excuse for not wanting to return to practice. When this happens more than once, listen to what your child is truly trying to tell you. Is she saying, “I don’t like this activity anymore,” or “I never liked this sport, and I was only doing it to please you,” or perhaps something has happened to make her not want to participate anymore, such as being bullied by another player or the coach.
Never assume a child wants to quit for “no good reason.” Quitting is completely acceptable and the only way they’re going to know what they like is by trying a multitude of activities. One day they’ll find the “one” and stick to it for years to come. No one should be forced to have fun.
Being involved in multiple activities can also be frustrating and may negatively affect her confidence. She may be working hard but not seeing any results because she just doesn't have enough time to actually improve.
There’s no magic maximum number of activities a child should participate in at one time, but there are some warning signs you should watch out for in your child to determine when enough is enough.
• Difficulty sleeping
• Changes in personality or mood
• Physical exhaustion
• Restlessness
• Decreased school performance, such as dropping grades or unfinished homework
• Uninterested attitude
There can also be warning signs that manifest in the family dynamics. Is your family always eating on the go and feeling rushed? Are your kids forced to do their homework in the car on the way to an activity every day or almost every day? If you can't participate in family activities that are meaningful to you, or you don't feel as connected to your children as you used to be, then it may be time to re-evaluate extracurriculars.
Another option may be to enroll your kids in recreational sports that your city or county offers instead of going the "competitive" route, which typically takes up more of your family's time and resources.
Ask your child if she really enjoys the activities she's participating in, or if she's doing it only because she thinks you want her to do it. Ask
yourself if you are trying to make yourself look good as a parent by packing her schedule full of activities.
All families are different. Just because your friends have a packed schedule for their kids doesn't mean you have to do the same thing, and it doesn't make you a better or worse parent because you set a schedule that works best for your family.
Extracurriculars aren't about the quantity of activities, but the quality. It may sometimes be best to focus on one activity that your child can improve her skills in than multiple activities where she'll just be mediocre.
Having free time, or time without any planned activity is a good thing. Children can feel anxious when their
entire day is scheduled from the minute they wake up to the time they go to bed because it doesn’t allow them time to do what they want, when they want. This might also lead to resentment towards the activity they once loved because it’s become allconsuming.
When a child has downtime, it fosters creativity – they learn how to amuse themselves. Children also learn to think for themselves because, for once, they’re not being told what to do and when to do it by a coach or teacher. Donna Volpitta, director of the Center for Resilient Leadership and co-author of The Resilience Formula: A Guide to Proactive, Not Reactive, Parenting, says much of a child's development is best nurtured outside of adultdirected activities.
The prefrontal cortex in our brains that include executive functions such as decision making, selfcontrol and problem solving develops best during a child's unstructured free play. “There’s a cost to not giving them that downtime, and it can be pretty significant,” says Volpitta.
When kids are allowed to be in control of their extra time, are encouraged to navigate social interactions on their own and are able to make up their own games, they develop those high-level cognitive skills that will help them be successful.
When kids are allowed to be in control of their extra time, are encouraged to navigate social interactions on their own and are able to make up their own games, they develop those high-level cognitive skills that will help them be successful.
During the week, try to schedule at least one day or evening for family fun. That could mean movie or game night, or anything else you enjoy doing together as a family that doesn’t focus on one person. This means family fun night can’t be watching a sibling’s game – everyone should have an opportunity to participate.
Having hobbies or participating in sports is great for everyone of all ages. But when one or two family members' activities dictate the entire family’s schedule, perhaps it’s time to dial it back a bit.
When you set boundaries on the precious free time your family has, that can manifest itself in a healthier quality of life for the entire family. WGW
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
1 lb (450g) pork sausages, (kielbasa works here)
1/2 lb (450g) thick-cut bacon, diced
4 large potatoes, peeled and sliced
2 large onions, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 cups (475ml) chicken or vegetable broth
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Preheat your oven to 325°F (163°C).
In a large, oven-safe casserole or Dutch oven, brown the sausages over medium heat until they are golden on all sides.
Remove the sausages and set them aside.
In the same pot, add the diced bacon and cook until it becomes crispy.
Remove some excess fat if needed.
Add sliced potatoes, onions, minced garlic and carrots to the pot. Stir to combine and cook for a few minutes until the vegetables start to soften.
Pour in the chicken or vegetable broth, scraping the bottom of the pot to release any flavorful bits.
Season with salt and pepper.
Place the browned sausages back into the pot, nestled among the vegetables.
Cover the pot and transfer it to the preheated oven.
Bake for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, or until the potatoes are tender, and the flavors have melded together.
Remove from the oven and check the seasoning, adjusting if necessary.
Serve the Dublin Coddle hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley.
Serves 6.
" This hearty and comforting Dublin Coddle is a traditional Irish dish that's perfect for a St. Patrick’s Day celebration. "
For the crust:
2 cups pretzels (any kind) crushed
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted 1/4 cup granulated sugar
For the filling:
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups whole milk
4 oz dark chocolate, finely chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
Preheat an oven to 350ºF.
In a food processor, pulse the pretzels until finely crushed.
Add pretzels to a mixing bowl and combine with melted butter and sugar.
Mix until fully combined.
Press the pretzel mixture firmly into a 9-inch pie dish.
Bake the crust for 8 to 10 minutes until set.
Allow to cool completely.
While the crust is cooling; in a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch and salt.
Gradually whisk in milk until smooth and well combined.
Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer.
Cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until thickened.
Remove saucepan from heat and add in chopped dark chocolate, butter and vanilla.
Stir until chocolate and butter are melted.
Pour the mixture into the cooled pretzel crust.
Refrigerate about 4 hours or until set.
Garnish with whipped cream, pretzel crumbs and shaved chocolate.
Serves 8 WGW.
" Celebrate Pi Day (March 14) with a unique twist on a classic chocolate pie. "
There are more than 6 million companion animals living in shelters across the United States. The day an animal shelter adopts out all its residents, as it recently did in Pennsylvania, is extremely rare and a cause for celebration.
Of those 6 million shelter animals, roughly 3 million are dogs and 3.2 million are cats. Sadly, many of these animals – about 920,000 – never get reunited with their owners or adopted by a loving family. Instead, they’re euthanized.
821
770.832.7076
By adopting a shelter animal, you save the life of not just one, but two animals. The empty kennel can now be filled with another lost or abandoned pet in need of a new home.
For 28 years, the host of The Price is Right ended his show with “This is Bob Barker reminding you to help control the pet population. Have your pets spayed or neutered.” Many pet owners listened to the popular game show host, while some refused and still won’t spay or neuter their pets for a myriad of reasons. Some may claim it’s not natural, or believe every dog or cat should experience the miracle of life. They may say neutering will take away their male dog's “manhood,” or the pet’s personality will change.
Just one intact female dog and her litter can produce upwards of 67,000 puppies over a six-year span. Just one intact female cat and her litter can produce an incredible 370,000 kittens, according to PETA. If just half of these pet owners spayed or neutered their pet before their first litter, imagine
how many more animal shelters would be able to shut their doors because they were empty.
People often go directly to a breeder when they want a puppy or specific type of dog. There’s nothing wrong with that, providing you’ve done your research, as many breeders are actually puppy mill breeders.
Mass breeding of animals, especially dogs, began following the Great Depression, when crop farmers lost everything. The United States Department of Agriculture encouraged farmers to mass breed animals, particularly dogs, to supplement their income. There weren’t, and still aren’t, any regulations for puppy mills. As such, female dogs are repeatedly impregnated until they’re no longer profitable, at which time they’re destroyed, turned out or if lucky, brought to a shelter. These dogs spend their lives in cramped, dirty cages with very little human contact.
If you’ve ever purchased a pet from Facebook, the flea market or the Walmart parking lot, you may have bought from a puppy mill breeder. These aren't typically legitimate breeders who treat their breeding animals with love and compassion. If you do buy from an unknown breeder, ask to see their property where you can see how they were raised.
For families who want a puppy, they’re in abundance in shelters, but so are adult dogs and cats – many who already come potty and obedience trained. The plus side to adopting an adult dog is
“Who rescued who?” is a question anyone who’s adopted a pet can thoroughly understand. You may have taken them out of the shelter, but your pet has given you so much more.
• A rescue dog can make you healthier as you have to walk them, no matter their age, size or breed.
• Just sitting beside and petting an animal releases oxytocin, the love hormone, and can lower a person’s blood pressure and cortisol levels.
• Pets have shown to mitigate the effects of loneliness and depression just by simply being there.
• For children, living with a pet teaches them responsibility, as they have to feed it, provide it with water, clean up after it as well as show it affection.
• Dogs, in particular, teach us to live in the moment and not dwell on the past. They make us stop to smell the roses – literally.
• Owning pets also provides you with routine and structure, which gives you a sense of purpose.
they are a bit calmer, have developed more impulse control and are more likely to be out of the chewing stage by age 1 or 2.
Do you want a specific breed of dog? Shelters are often full of purebred dogs. There are also breedspecific rescue organizations from which you can adopt.
If all you’re looking for is a cute dog or cat to love, shelters are full of puppies and kittens, and adult cats and dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds.
When you adopt from a shelter or rescue organization, the pet will already be spayed or neutered, thus helping reduce pet overpopulation.
Pet ownership is a lifelong commitment and can become costly with initial vaccines, food, toys and emergencies. So why not lessen the up-front costs? Adoption fees can range from $50 to $200 and include spaying or neutering, vaccinations and a microchip. Puppy mills and legitimate breeders can charge anywhere from $500 to $2,000 per puppy.
By adopting, you become an integral part of helping control pet overpopulation, you take sales away from puppy mills and give great animals a second chance at living their best lives. WGW
We live in a culture where every major milestone or significant life event is typically celebrated with alcohol. The only individuals not expected to drink are those who are pregnant, recovering alcoholics or designated drivers.
However, in 2018, wellness expert and author Ruby Warrington revolutionized our relationship with alcohol when she chronicled her relationship with it in Sober Curious: The Blissful Sleep, Greater Focus, Limitless Presence, and Deep Connection Awaiting Us All on the Other Side of Alcohol. She made it acceptable to no longer be all-in or stone-cold sober.
Ruby Warrington’s story wasn’t the traditional narrative of an alcoholic hitting rock bottom, then rising from the ashes like a phoenix. Instead, she scrutinized her relationship with alcohol, trying to understand why she drank and how it impacted her life.
It’s common for people to use alcohol to unwind, whether it’s going out with co-workers for a cocktail after a rough day at the office or pouring a glass of wine once the kids have gone to bed. It can also help the socially anxious loosen up a little so they can make small talk without feeling like their heart is going to explode out of their chest.
The problem with utilizing alcohol as a stress management tool is that it doesn’t address the underlying problem, which could be anxiety or being overwhelmed by a myriad of responsibilities related to work, kids or home.
The 'sober curious' movement is a shift in the way generations and people are thinking about and interacting with alcohol use, and it's not just a
fleeting trend. People are becoming more aware of their relationship with alcohol, without necessarily deciding on complete abstinence. It’s about creating a healthier relationship with drinking and questioning the role of alcohol in their lives.
Being 'sober curious' is not the same as sobriety, which is when you have sworn off alcohol altogether, typically as a result of alcoholism or religious reasons.
If you feel alcohol might be an issue but you don’t want to completely give it up, that’s where 'sober curious' comes in.
The first and most popular choice is to participate in Dry January or Sober September. You can also dip your toes in with a “damp” version, where you limit your alcohol consumption to certain occasions or cap the number of drinks you have.
When it comes to everything that make us feel great in the short-term but makes us feel terrible afterwards (think alcohol or chocolate) – we’re often told it’s OK to indulge but in “moderation.” The problem with that is what’s in “moderation” for one person may be overindulgence for someone else.
The World Health Organization, on the otherhand, has a straightforward answer when it comes to how much alcohol is too much: any amount that has
an adverse effect on a person’s health.
In the short-term, despite the immediate enjoyment, alcohol consumption can lead to increased interpersonal conflicts. Over the longer term, any amount of alcohol could elevate the risk for cardiovascular disease, liver disease, diabetes, mental health issues and cancer. It may also negate any other healthy habits you have such as a clean diet and regular physical activity.
After abstaining for just one month, people have reported reductions in their blood pressure and weight. Long-term benefits reported include:
• Weight loss/management. Alcohol contains a large number of empty calories. Cutting back can lead to weight loss or better weight management.
• Improved digestive health. Drinking alcohol can cause issues such as gastritis or acid reflux, due to irritation of the digestive tract.
• Better sleep. Alcohol often disrupts sleep patterns. Reducing the amount you drink can lead to more rest and improved sleep quality.
• Improved mental health. Drinking alcohol impacts your mood in many ways. It may feel good at first, but it can also increase feelings of depression or anxiety. Reducing your consumption of alcohol may lead to more positive and stable mental health.
• Enhanced cognitive function. You'll typically make better decisions, have increased mental sharpness and improved focus the less alcohol you drink. Drinking alcohol in excess can be especially dangerous.
• Improved physical fitness. Alcohol consumption in excess can reduce muscle recovery and hinder athletic performance.
• Better longterm health overall. The more you cut back or abstain from drinking, the lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and depression.
If you’re considering going 'sober curious,' answer the following questions in regard to your drinking habits.
• How many times a week do you drink?
• How much do you drink in a single sitting?
• Where do you drink?
• What time of day do you drink?
• Do you lie to friends or loved ones about your alcohol consumption? For example, telling your spouse you've only had two drinks when you've actually had five.
• Why do you drink?
Once you answer these questions honestly, ask yourself one more: How do I feel about my answers? If you’re unhappy, for example, about how often you consume alcohol or if you're hiding the amount of alcohol you drink from friends and family, then you may be ready to try scaling back a bit.
Create a plan. How are you going to allocate your time that was once spent at the pub? Take up a new hobby, revisit an old one, read, spend more time with family – all without a drink. The key is to find activities that don’t revolve around alcohol.
For your friends to be supportive, they don’t have to join you, they just need to support your efforts. If they don’t, then perhaps it’s time to expand your social circle. Learn to say “no.” If you continue to socialize with friends you’d normally drink with, still
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go out, but opt for water or a mocktail.
Some experts recommend starting a 'sober curious' journal. Every time you want a drink, write down where you are, how you're feeling and what you're doing. Journaling is a great way to learn more about yourself and your drinking habits, triggers and what is motivating you to turn toward alcohol.
If you want to be "sober curious" but you want to continue to socialize with friends you’d normally drink with, still go out, but opt for water or a mocktail.
We have apps to track just about every aspect of our lives from the food we eat to sleep and workouts, so why not download one to track your alcohol free/less days. Not only will you get fun fireworks on your screen to celebrate milestones –one day/week/month/year alcohol-free – some apps will even track how much money you’re saving.
In general, a person who consumes one to three drinks a week can save $5 to $15 ($260 to $780 per year). Savings depend on what you drink – beer is cheaper than wine or hard liquor – and whether you’re abstaining or just cutting back.
Every once in a while, it’s a good idea to take stock of your life to see what’s working and what may be hindering your goals. This can occur on any day of the year, not just January 1. It could be March 10, August 3 or any other day of the year.
Being 'sober curious' may be something to consider if you feel alcohol has too large a presence in your life. Never be afraid to ask yourself “why” you do something, and if you don't like what your answer is, know that you can do something to change. WGW
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.
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.
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 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.
Fentanyl is a crisis. It's time to make our stand.
A powerful synthetic opioid 100 times stronger than morphine and 50 times stronger than heroine, fentanyl was initially developed to relieve pain in cancer patients or following surgery.
Because of its strength, fentanyl is extremely addictive.
Because the drug can easily be mixed with other street drugs to increase their potency, it’s being found as the cause of more overdose deaths.
Fentanyl can slow breathing – and stop it altogether.
The spread of the drug is seen nationally as a public health crisis.
Attend a powerful day of education and hope at the 2024 Carroll County Fentanyl Awareness Summit
Thursday, March 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at City Station located at 2115 Maple St. in Carrollton.
At this event, you'll learn more about fentanyl use in Carroll County, visit vendors and hear stories of survival and recovery.
Speakers include Carroll County Sheriff Terry Langley, Carrollton Police Chief Joel Richards, Carroll County Coroner Keith Hancock and testimonies from
those whose loved ones were stolen by fentanyl.
This event is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided.
Register now to reserve your seat and lunch at tanner.org/fentanyl.
Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative (EMC) has selected Kaleb Chambers of Bowdon to represent the co-op as its semifinalist for the Walter Harrison Scholarship. Chambers will compete at the state level for one of 16 $1,000 scholarships to use toward college tuition.
The Walter Harrison Scholarship, a program sponsored by Georgia EMC, the cooperative’s statewide association, is awarded to outstanding students seeking a post-secondary education at any two- or four-year university, college or technical institute in Georgia. To be eligible, students must be accepted or enrolled in an undergraduate program and complete an application with their
electric cooperative. Academic standing, scholastic honors, community involvement and financial need are all considered when choosing a semifinalist.
“To ensure fairness and maintain impartiality in the evaluation process, we have a representative from a neighboring cooperative judge the applications,” said Rolando Benitez, Community Relations Representative and Member Advocate for Carroll EMC. “We are very confident in the judge’s selection and believe Kaleb [Chambers] has the heart to win over the statewide judges as well.”
Chambers, a smalltown senior with a love for agriculture and politics, plans to combine his two passions by attending Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in the fall to pursue a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness and later attending law school. His end goal is to one day become an agricultural lawyer and an elected official.
“In third grade, I began my campaign for the United States presidency,” said Chambers. “I’ve since shifted my focus from national politics to state government. I have gained votes already even though I am many years away from seeking such an honor, but I believe I will serve my community in an elected seat of some capacity.”
Having already held office in organizations like the Future Business Leaders of America and Future Farmers of America as well as actively sharpening his soft skills through the Carroll County Junior Chamber of Commerce, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership, Susan A. Mabry Citizens Academy and Emerging County Leaders Program, Chambers is
well on his way to fulfilling his dreams.
“At the end of the day, I am a man who wants to leave this world a little better than how I found it,” Chambers said.
A scholarship committee comprised of directors, managers and key staff at Georgia’s 41 EMCs will judge each semifinalist application to select the sixteen scholarship recipients. Statewide winners will be announced on or before April 1.
Carroll EMC is a Member-owned cooperative providing electricity to approximately 54,000 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, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and YouTube. Carroll EMC: Community Built. Community Builder.
Jessica
Friendships sometimes begin organically with a shared snack, playing games together or sitting beside each other on the school bus. Next thing you know, it’s decades later and you’re still friends.
You may have hundreds of Facebook friends, but you really only have room in your brain for around 100 to 250, according to evolutionary psychologist Dr. Robin Dunbar. Dr. Dunbar's social network theory says these friendships are divided into concentric circles or layers:
1. Up to two very special people (parents or significant other).
2. Five very close friends (intimate friends who are part of your inner circle).
3. 15 best friends (close friends you can count on if needed).
4. 50 good friends (still pretty close).
5. 150 casual friends (your clan).
6. 500 acquaintances (you typically remember their names and how you met).
Some friendships naturally fade away for a variety of reasons, such as one or both of you no longer put in the required time to nurture it; you no longer have common interests; one or both of you move away; and then there’s marriage and children. A friendship may also abruptly end because of a specific event and, depending on the incident, you may or may not be able to repair that friendship.
How long you’ve been friends also factors into whether it can be repaired. It’s a lot easier to write off a new friend than someone who’s been a mainstay in your life for decades. When conflict arises between two friends as it undoubtedly will at some point, the fight itself isn’t necessarily important, but how you resolve it can be the deal-breaker.
The first step to repairing a friendship is figuring out what went wrong. Sometimes it’s obvious, like a big blow-up, or it may have been more subtle, like a misunderstanding or miscommunication.
Before any attempt at reconciliation can take place, you both need a cooling-off period. If you don’t let this happen before you try to work things out, emotions may still be extremely raw, and instead of repairing the friendship, the friction between the two of you may worsen. Remember, people process and heal at different speeds. Just because you’re “over it” doesn’t mean the other person is.
When you feel ready to talk things out, don’t ambush your friend at the monthly book club meeting. A public place or group meet-up is not the time nor the place to hash out your issues. Instead, send a text or make a phone call to ask if she is ready to talk. Be prepared to hear a hard “no.” You may also get a “not yet.” In either case, you tried, and that’s all you can do.
If you know you caused the rift, own it and don’t make excuses. For instance, if you have the opportunity to apologize, don’t say: “I’m sorry, but
... ” Adding an excuse to your apology sounds more like you’re justifying your wrongdoing rather than making a sincere apology. The other person may
group setting to avoid uncomfortable situations or conversations. Whatever you do together, keep it fun and light.
If you were once best friends, it’s possible the rift will never enable the two of you to return to that level of friendship and trust. On the otherhand, the fall-out might have been a blessing in disguise and served as a much needed “airing out” of issues that had been building for years. Once all is said and done, your bond may be even stronger.
Not all friendships are meant to last forever. If you’ve done everything right, given her space to process the incident and apologized but she still isn't interested in reconnecting, it’s OK to say goodbye to the friendship. You can walk away knowing you tried your best to repair the
By Jordan Dailey
Materials
Penne pasta noodles
Tan or yellow construction paper
Black marker
Glue stick
Instructions
Draw a lion's face on the construction paper.
Glue penne pasta all around the face to create the lion's mane.
Materials
Six sheets of construction paper, various colors
Popscicle or craft stick
Glue stick
Scissors
Instructions
Cut a large circle out of each sheet of construction paper.
Fold each circle in half.
Glue the folded circles to the popsicle stick in a pinwheel pattern. WGW
Word Bank
Jesus Christ
Egg Hunt
Chocolate
Good Friday
Hide Grass
Christianity
Bunny
Hop
Jellybeans
Lent
Candy
Sunday
Dye
Basket
Sacrifice
Clean out the closet. Oil change and tires. Gutters.
But you still owe something to yourself: a colonoscopy.
Stop putting it off. Get screened and get peace of mind.
Don’t let fear hold you back. Colonoscopy prep is easier than ever — and since it allows the doctor to remove precancerous polyps, it’s one of the few screenings that can prevent cancer.
Get peace of mind. Schedule your colonoscopy today. It’s easier than you think and it could save your life.
Your future self will thank you while you’re waiting on that oil change.
Schedule your fast access colonoscopy! Call 1-833-262-6793 to see if you can skip the pre-visit and go right into the screening. Get more details at tanner.org/fast-track
It’s not about cancer — it’s about you. Screening for cancer is about taking care of yourself. If there’s a problem, we’re here with our Tanner Cancer Care Promise, giving you answers, options and a path forward — fast