West Georgia Woman Magazine November 2021

Woman

Complimentary

November 2021

West Georgia TM

Angie Henry Hats with Heart

It's Our Anniversary!

Celebrating Six Years in West Georgia

10 Easy Ways to Increase Productivity

Holiday Leftovers and Pets What's Safe and What's Not1

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Angie Henry is Keeping Heads and Hearts Warm with Noggin Knitters Page 10 Photo by Zachary Dailey

What’s inside...

10 Hats with Hearts

Fred Richards Honored at 21 Dr. 2021 Masquerade Ball

Fall! Gardening Tips for 25 Hello Cooler Weather

Easy Ways to Increase 28 10 Productivity

34 Living a Meaningful Life

42 Holiday Leftovers and Pets

In Every Issue:

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30 33

Daily Fare Womentality

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44

Local Happenings Kids Korner

Woman

Complimentary

2021

West Georgia TM

Holiday Guide

Festive Fashion Forward

Reinventing Advent Calendars

CELEBRATE THE SEASON WITH OUR ANNUAL HOLIDAY GUIDE!

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Unexpected Holiday Movies

Holiday Wreaths Made Easy

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The following political affiliation or belief, genetic information, veteran status, or citizenship statusEquity (except in those special circumstances permitted or mandated byCampus law). The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: (Title IX) Coordinator, Dean of Students, 770.755.7839, 200 Drive, As set forth in its student catalog, West Georgia Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, sex, religion, disability, age, persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Equity IX) Coordinator, Dean ofGA Students, 770.755.7839, 200 Campus Drive, Newnan, GA 30263.

ADA (Section 504) coordinator is V.P. ofstatus, Administrative Services, 678.664.0533, 401(Title Adamson Square, Carrollton, 30117. political affiliation or belief, genetic information, veteran or citizenship status (except in those special circumstances permitted or mandated by law).

The following As set forth in its student catalog, Georgia College not discriminate on the678.664.0533, basis of race, color, creed, national ethnic origin, religion, disability, age, Newnan, GA 30263.

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ADA (Section 504) coordinator is V.P. Administrative Services, 678.664.0533, 401Coordinator, Adamson Square, Carrollton, 30117. persons haveGA been designated to handle inquiries regarding theofnon-discrimination policies: Equity (Title IX) Dean of Students,GA 770.755.7839, 200 Campus Drive, Newnan, GA 30263. ADA (Section 504) coordinator is V.P. of Administrative Services, 678.664.0533, 401 Adamson Square, Carrollton, GA 30117.

7

It's Our Anniversary!

This month marks six years of West Georgia Woman Magazine – can you believe it? It seems only yesterday we published our first issue. Since Nov. 2015, we have grown from just one monthly issue to several special issues throughout the year, including two more new issues we added this year – Healthy Woman and our annual Football Preview. We have you, our wonderful staff, editorial contributors and our valuable community partners to thank for this accomplishment!

We're excited to announce that we are partnering with Carroll County, Ga. on another publication this year, Discovering Carroll County. That is scheduled to publish Nov. 15, 2021.

Thank you for reading our magazine. We hope to be a part of your lives for many years to come!

In This Issue Our feature this month is Angie Henry. In December 2016, Angie visited a children's hospital with her husband, and she was deeply moved by what the kids and their families were going through. She wanted to do something for them, but didn't know what she could do. Soon after, she taught herself how to knit hats by using a loom. In 2017, she started the group Noggin Knitters to provide Photo by Zachary Dailey hats for people in need. Since its inception in 2017, Noggin Knitters has made and given away over 7,500 hats to children, cancer patients, the homeless, veterans, active military servicemen and women and many others. Even during the pandemic, they made hats at home and gave away 2,200 last year. Learn more about Angie and how she's helping keep people's heads and hearts warm on page 10.

Carrollton Licensed Professional Counselor and Life Coach, Dr. Fred Richards, was honored Oct. 2, 2021 by the Carroll County Mental Health Advocates (CCMHA) for his 43 years of contributions to mental health, locally and statewide. I'm sure you know by now that I'm a huge fan of my dear friends, Drs. Fred and Anne Richards. My life, and the lives of many others in this community, has been impacted immensely because of their perpetual kindness, generosity and love. Learn more about Fred and his numerous contributions to mental health on page 21.

Do you wish you could be more productive at work and at home? Do you have trouble focusing on one thing or find yourself trying to multi-task too often? On page 28, Sandra Bolan shares 10 easy ways you can increase your productivity so you can do more in less time.

Are you looking forward to the upcoming holidays? If you have pets, I bet they're looking forward to the leftovers! Sadly, many of the most common holiday foods can wreak havoc on your pets' gastrointestinal systems, and you could actually harm your pets by unintentionally feeding them something toxic. On page 42, learn what's safe and what's not when it comes to feeding your pets those holiday leftovers.

There's much more inside! Thank you for being a very special part of our lives for the past six years!

We wouldn't be here without your support. Please continue to do business with our advertising partners included in our publication. Without them we could not provide you with this beautiful magazine each month.

I hope you and yours have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving.

See you next month,

8

Publisher

Finding our voice. Knowing our value.

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West Georgia Woman is a voice for and about the women who live and work in West Georgia.

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

Volume 7 • Issue 1 November 2021

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Photographer for cover Zachary Dailey

Editorial Contributors

Sandra Bolan, Jordan Dailey, Rose Isaacs and Amanda Thomas

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Hats with Hearts

By Amanda Thomas 10 by Zachary Dailey Photos

Angie Henry is Keeping Heads and Hearts Warm with Noggin Knitters 11

A

ngie Henry remembers it like it was yesterday.

It was Christmas in 2016. She and her husband, Tim, a Freemason at Flint Hill Masonic Lodge #371 in Douglasville, were at the Children's Scottish Rite Hospital in Atlanta delivering toys donated by the Lodge. She was deeply moved by what the kids and their families were going through.

“I was touched by what those poor kids were experiencing,” she recalls. “They were in the hospital, on Christmas, when they should have been at home waiting for Santa. It was heartbreaking.”

Angie wanted to do something for them but knew that as a woman, she could never join the Lodge.

This was because Freemasonry was founded as a fraternal organization for men, and many lodges still did not allow women to join.

At that point, she turned to God for guidance with finding a way she could help. Soon after, she saw a Facebook video of a man in a nursing home crocheting hats and giving them to people in his community.

“I said, ‘Lord, I don’t know how to knit or crochet,’” she says. “However, I still felt like this is what I was supposed to do.”

Angie started watching more videos and learned that she could knit using a loom, a tool used to make fabric by weaving yarn or thread. She purchased a loom at a local craft supply store and taught herself how to use it.

Once she had gotten the hang of it, she started a group at her church, Heritage Baptist Church in Douglasville.

Her new hobby led to the creation of a new ministry in May 2017 – the Noggin Knitters.

The Woman Behind the Mission “I have been married to the most amazing man for 32 years,” Angie says of her husband, Tim. “We have two wonderful daughters, Jenna and Macy.”

Jenna is 28 years old and Macy, who came up with the name of Angie's knitting group, is 26.

Angie and her husband are Douglas County natives who have lived in the Fairplay community for 27 years.

“The house we live in is where Tim grew up,” she explains. “He has been here his whole life, so there are deep roots in this community.”

As a Realtor in West Georgia for the past 19 years, Angie has met some amazing people along the way.

“My career as a Realtor is very rewarding,” she smiles. “I really enjoy helping people find the perfect house for their family – the place that they can call home."

Her love for meeting new people makes her the perfect person to support community members who need a helping hand.

“I enjoy people, period, and the feeling of helping someone,” she says.

The Mission Begins Noggin Knitters had its first meeting in 2017.

It began with a few women from West Georgia meeting twice a month to create hats for children

Angie Henry, far left, started the group, Noggin Knitters, to make and provide hats for children suffering from illnesses that would cause them to lose their hair. The members meet once a month to socialize and have an old-fashioned knitting bee.

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WWW.WESTGEORGIAWOMAN.COM something productive if I’m making a hat, and it’s suffering from illnesses that would cause them to helping somebody else.” lose their hair. Some members already knew how to crochet.

For those who didn’t, Angie taught them how to A Message of Hope make hats using a loom.

“We literally just get together and knit or crochet Be strong and take heart all and visit,” she declares. “I always bake some kind You who trust in the Lord. of goodie, and we just sit around and have an oldPsalm 31:24 fashioned knitting bee.”

This is the Bible verse written on the tag of every It takes about an hour to make a large adult-sized hat. hat, and members bring the hats they’ve made at “Those who are receiving these hats need hope,” home to the meeting. she says. “They are not in “It’s super easy,” the best of circumstances. she explains. “There’s There is no better hope no counting involved, than in our Lord. He is so I can do it while where our strength comes watching TV in the from.” evening or listening to The other side of the an audiobook. It’s very tag says, “Made with relaxing.”

Love by Noggin Knitters, Angie admits she’s Heritage Baptist Church, not one just to sit and Douglasville, Georgia.” be idle.

The first donation they “I’ve got to be doing made that year was 100 something,” she says. hats to Scottish Rite for Be strong and take heart all/You who trust in the Lord: Psalm 31:24. This is the Bible verse written on the tag of every hat. The other side of the tag says, “Made with Love by Noggin “I feel like I’m doing Children in Dallas, Texas.

Knitters, Heritage Baptist Church, Douglasville, Georgia.”

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“I’ve got to be doing something. I feel like I’m doing something productive if I’m making a hat, and it’s helping somebody else.”

Despite the pandemic, they were able to give out 2,200 hats last year.

They resumed meeting at Heritage Baptist Church once a month in July, but meetings at the Lodge have yet to resume.

Making an Impact As the group continued to grow, they accumulated a lot of hats. So Angie started looking for more places to donate them.

Angie didn't know how to knit or crochet, but she felt led to make hats for sick children. After watching They sent hats to videos online, she learned that she could knit using a loom, a tool used to make fabric by weaving yarn children’s hospitals in or thread. She purchased a loom at a local craft supply store and taught herself how to use it.

Alabama, Georgia, The group connected to the hospital through one Maine, Minnesota and Texas. While the group had of her husband’s Masonic brothers, who was from initially started to help sick children, they soon Texas. realized others could also benefit from a warm hat.

In December 2017, the group donated hats to “It grew to be so much more because there the newborn intensive care unit (NICU) at Wellstar are so many people in need,” she says. “It’s an Douglas Hospital for babies born addicted to drugs. amazing feeling to be able to give so many people That first year, they made close to 1,000 hats. something to make them smile. It’s so wonderful, Most group members learned about the group and I love it so much.” through word of mouth or its Facebook page. As They now donate to both children’s hospitals and time went on and word continued to spread about nursing homes. the group, the membership steadily grew.

“The older people enjoy our visits,” she smiles.

Over the years, the group has had at least 50 In 2017, the group received a donation of green, members who have floated in and out, depending red and white yarn someone found at a yard sale. on their schedules. Typically 15 or more members “We were like, ‘What are we going to do with all attend each meeting. of this?’” she exclaims.

“I felt compelled to start another group in my community in Fairplay, so we started meeting at the Lodge where my husband goes,” she recalls.

There were five to six people in that group until the pandemic began in March 2020, and they stopped meeting.

Despite this, the group still had a large inventory of hats built up, and everyone continued to make hats at home.

“We were able to make several deliveries throughout the winter to keep spreading the warmth,” she exclaims. “It was so awesome to know Abigail Whorton, Chief Operating Officer that we’re doing something to help someone in need.”

15

Want to Get Involved?

Since Christmas was such need and were hurting The Noggin Knitters meet the second so much, and we were able rapidly approaching, they decided to make hats for to actually help.”

Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at the residents at Douglasville After delivering the hats, Heritage Baptist Church located at Nursing and Rehabilitation the group jumped right in 8800 Rose Avenue in Douglasville.

Center. and helped give out food They invite anyone who wants to This was before the and care packages. make hats to join the group. pandemic when there were “It was wonderful,” Knowing how to knit or crochet fewer visitor restrictions. she recalls. “It was so is not a requirement. Angie will help “We all made red, white heartwarming – though that those interested in making hats and green hats, and that sounds sort of cliché – to be learn through using a loom. year, we took all of these giving out hats, but it really hats to the nursing home was.”

The group is also looking for at Christmas,” she says.

Angie’s contact with the recommendations for “Everyone was absolutely Wounded Warrior Project organizations who need hats. thrilled.” also connected her with the If you would like to join the group, The group has also gone Atlanta VA Hospital, where donate yarn or funds to buy yarn, or to downtown Atlanta and the group now provides provide recommendations for hat worked with outreach groups several hundred hats to distribution, call 770.789.9228. to give their hats to the patients every year. homeless. On Feb. 9, 2019, Other organizations the the Wounded Warrior Project held a health fair at a group has donated to include the Carrollton VA bus station in Atlanta for homeless people.

Hospital, foster programs in Cobb, Douglas and “A group of us went down with our hats and Carroll counties, local food pantries and missions, handed them out,” she says. “It was such an hospital cancer units, warming shelters in Maine and amazing day. We saw all these people that were in the Fullerville Mission in Villa Rica. They’ve also sent

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Since its inception in 2017, Noggin Knitters has made and given away over 7,500 hats to children, cancer patients, the homeless, veterans, active military servicemen and women and many others. Even during the pandemic, they made hats at home and gave away 2,200 last year.

been donated to the program, which Douglas County Superior Court Judge Beau McClain started to provide Christmas gifts to children in need.

The group has also received cards in the mail, including one from the Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases in Atlanta.

them to members of the USS Ronald Reagan serving “Dear Noggin Knitters, in the North Pacific and placed them in "blessing I wanted to thank you on behalf of our patients boxes" in Douglasville. here at the Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood There are six blessing boxes in the city of Disorders for your generous donation. The children Douglasville. Blessing boxes provide non-perishable deeply appreciate gestures of the heart and wear food and drink, toiletries, paper goods, baby items, your hats proudly.” school supplies, pet foods, cold weather items and Over the years, the group has given out over more for residents in need.

7,500 hats. Angie keeps up One time, the group with the numbers by having received a special request from everyone sign a book that Cancer Survivors for Relay includes the date and the for Life in Douglas County. number of hats given at each The organization wanted 100 delivery. purple hats for cancer survivors There are no signs the and 100 for their caregivers.

Noggin Knitters are slowing “We are always looking for down anytime soon. That’s why someone who can use a little they are always looking for cheer and a little warmth for more members to join them. their noggin,” she says. “Every once in a while, we hear from A Community of someone who received one of Support our hats through our Facebook page. It’s amazing to hear Angie is thankful for the where they end up.” support she has received from One message came from a her husband over the years. mom whose son received a hat “My husband has been through Operation Christmas awesome at supporting me Noggin Knitters places their handmade hats in Toys for Tots Douglas County. six "blessing boxes" throughout Douglasville. with this ministry,” she says.

“He LOVES it. Wears it Blessing boxes provide non-perishable food and “More than once, he has most of the time, indoors and drink, toiletries, paper goods, baby items, school outside.” supplies, pet foods, cold weather items and more delivered hats for me. He has gone so far as to meet my Hundreds of toboggans have for residents in need.

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Wounded Warrior contact at midnight on Peachtree Street just because that is what worked best for his schedule. You know when it comes to hats, you’ve gotta do what you’ve gotta do.”

She is also grateful for the donors and volunteers who have made all the deliveries possible. “We are very thankful for the support we get,” she says.

Angie admits that making hats can get expensive.

“Yarn is not cheap, so we have some groups that donate money,” she explains. “I go buy yarn and give it to the ladies.”

Her contact with the Wounded Warrior Project sends them a check once a year to buy yarn.

Another group, Modern Woodmen, donates yarn multiple times a year.

Looking Ahead Since making one hat only takes about an hour out of the day, Angie believes she and the members of Noggin Knitters get much more out of it than they put into it.

For her, it's not about the time it takes to knit a hat. It's about bringing joy to people.

She loves that the Noggin Kinitters provide comfort and hope to the people who need it most

– and to be able to do this for free with no strings attached is a blessing.

To her, making hats is a ministry, not a business.

She and the members of Noggin Knitters are doing it out of love. And as long as there is a need, you will find Angie spending her spare time making a hat for someone in hopes it will bring a little warmth and joy to their life. WGW

To learn more about Angie Henry or Noggin Knitters, call 770.789.9228 or email AngieHenry@bellsouth.net.

Follow the group on Facebook @NogginKnitters Mail monetary donations for yarn to: The Noggin Knitters Attn: Angie Henry 8126 SR-5 Whitesburg, Ga. 30185 19

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Dr. Fred Richards Honored at Carroll County Mental Health Advocates Annual Masquerade Ball

D

r. Fred Richards, Carrollton Licensed Professional Counselor and Life Coach was honored Oct. 2, 2021 by the Carroll County Mental Health Advocates (CCMHA) for his 43 years of contributions to mental health, locally and statewide.

CCMHA's annual Masquerade Ball provides funds to support activities and services for individuals and families living with mental illness and addiction, crisis response services for Carroll County citizens, and an array of other programs and services.

This year's Masquerade Ball raised funding for an additional mobile Carroll County Crisis Response Team (CCCRT), a unit of licensed mental health workers and local law officers who work together to prevent mental health emergencies from requiring

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Left to right: City of Carrollton Mayor Betty Cason, Dr. Fred Richards, Debbie Neal, Carroll County Mental Health Advocates Director Jodie Goodman and Dr. Anne Richards.

Richards is a past recipient of the George P. Morehead established the first private community Podein Counselor counseling center of the Year Award in the West Georgia from the Licensed area. Since 1978, Dr. Professional Counselor Richards has served as Association of Georgia the Club Herald of the which recognized Carrollton Kiwanis Club him for service to and, in 2017, the Club's the organization, Distinguished Service passage of legislation Award was renamed establishing the the Fred Richards licensure of professional Distinguished Service counselors in Georgia Award in recognition of (1984) and his writings his numerous service on psychology and contributions to that counseling. organization.

Dr. Richards is a Dr. Richards is the founding member of author, co-author, or the Board of Directors co-editor of numerous of Alice's House, a safe publications regarding haven for children in psychology, education, Dr. Fred Richards with West Georgia Woman magazine Publisher Carrollton, Ga., and the Angela Dailey at the 2021 CCMHA Masquerade Ball. Dr. Richards was and relationships, surrounding area. He honored for his 43 years of contributions to mental health, locally and (including Humanistic and the late Dr. M.D. Psychology: A statewide.

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“

Sourcebook, Educational Accountability, Perceptual Psychology: A Humanistic Approach to the Study of Persons and Homonovus, The New Man).

Dr. Richards is married to Dr. Anne Richards, retired Professor – Dr. Fred Richards Emerita in Psychology at the University of West Georgia.

During his acceptance speech, Dr. Richards spoke about his history in the Carrollton community, and gave credit to his wife of 52 years.

“I had a tough life – traumatic childhood," he said.

"I was a drunk, crazy guy, but I had a good heart.

But I didn’t feel safe in the world. And so, I want to publicly thank Anne. I went over to her apartment and everything I owned was in the trunk of a beat

up old Chevy.

My life was not working, and she took me in.

She was one of the most rational human beings you’d meet. Everyone was confused – ‘What is she doing?’ When we decided to get married, even her family was terrified.

It’s true. But it worked out. You took me in, Anne. You’ve never shamed me; never blamed me. I thank you so much, because I wouldn’t be alive today. There’s a lot of people in this room who’ve loved me well despite sometimes who I am, and because of who I am. I want everyone to know that you’re honoring me, but I’m telling you about Anne. If you knew the story, you’d send me out of town tarred and feathered and you’d make her a saint.” WGW

There’s a lot of people in this room who’ve loved me well despite sometimes who I am, and because of who I am.

I want everyone to know that you’re honoring me, but I’m telling you about Anne. If you knew the story, you’d send me out of town tarred and feathered and you’d make her a saint.

“

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Hello Fall!

By Sandra Bolan

N

Gardening tips for cooler weather

ovember is typically the time of year people go all-out decorating their homes for the upcoming holidays. But people can’t ignore the landscaping as it needs to be prepped for the cooler temperatures and spring bloom season.

The Lawn The weekly lawn cuts are finally coming to an end for the year. However, that doesn’t mean you can completely ignore the grass.

Now is the time to aerate the lawn because it may have become compacted over the summer with kids running around on it or cars being parked on it.

Aerating opens up the grass to enable water to drain down to the roots.

Rake your lawn regularly to keep the it clear of leaves and other fallen tree debris. This will foster growth and keep pests at bay.

Flower Gardens Clear out the flower beds of any debris so you can see the stem bases. Now, you can inventory what you have. Did everything grow? Did you have too

much of one flower and not enough of another?

Remove dead annuals as well as any perennials that are no longer viable.

Cut back the surviving perennials to just a few inches above the soil. If you can split your overabundant blooms, do so. Either replant the split flowers elsewhere in the garden or give them to friends.

Plant cool season flowers, such as carnations, pansies, petunias, snapdragons, tulips and hyacinths.

Ensure you create a map of where the bulbs are located so you don’t plant others on top of them.

Finish off your flower garden with a fresh layer of mulch. It not only elevates the look of flower beds, but it also keeps the ground temperature consistent and protects the soil against heaving, which can cause root breakage.

Shrubs and Trees Prune shrubs and trees back. However, don’t cut them down to the base. Large-scale pruning can encourage growth that will become damaged during the cooler winter temperatures.

If you want to add more shrubs and trees to

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your property, plant them now. Although the air temperature is cooler, the ground remains warm, which encourages root growth.

Fruits, Vegetables and Herbs Harvest whatever fruits, vegetables and herbs that are still viable from your garden. Then remove all dead plant matter and inventory what will re-grow next season.

Spread fresh manure over the top layer of your vegetable garden so it can rot down throughout the winter.

You don’t have to wait until the spring to plant your vegetable seeds. Now is the time to plant beets, carrots, collards, kale, lettuce, spinach, swiss chard and turnip.

Numerous herbs can also be started, including cilantro, dill, fennel, parsley, sage and thyme.

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770-431-1340

Houseplants Believe it or not, houseplants have seasonal blooms, just like exterior flowers.

Succulents, such as cacti and jade, go into their winter rest phase. Knowing this, don’t overwater them thinking it will bring them back to life.

Succulents will suffer root rot if overwatered.

Continue to water your broadleaf plants such as ferns, palms and philodendrons. However, you may find you don’t need to do so as often during the winter.

The cooler temperatures are the perfect time to prep your garden for next year's growing season.

Doing a bit of work now ensures your garden will be the envy of the neighborhood come spring.

WGW

Succulents will suffer root rot if overwatered.

WWW.SPA316.US 770.537.1236

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Achieve More in Less Time

By Sandra Bolan

B

Ten easy ways to increase your productivity

eing productive on a daily basis is much easier said than done. Your boss throws yet another thing on your desk that must be finished by this afternoon. Your daughter forgot her soccer uniform – again. Your coworker thinks you are the one responsible for this task or another. The list goes on and on. It's enough to make even the sanest person tear her hair out.

We’re always looking for ways to do more as there’s always more to do. But, as the old saying goes, “It’s not the number of hours you put into work, it is the amount of work you put into those hours.” Follow these easy tried and true steps and you'll knock out your to-do list in no time.

1. Work smarter, not harder. The key to mastering working smarter is being organized.

Messy workspaces lead to inefficiencies because you’re always digging around for something. While you may think your disorganized workspace is organized, your brain thinks otherwise. Clutter actually limits the brain’s ability to concentrate and process information. Get rid of everything that doesn’t add to your productivity.

2. Do the task you dislike the most first thing in the morning. It’s like a Band-aid. Just rip it off and move on. Without that dreaded task in the back of your mind, you’ll be able to focus better on your other tasks.

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3. Make to-do lists. Before you leave for the day, create tomorrow’s to-do list. To-do lists not only keep you focused, but you feel satisfied every time you cross something off it. Putting

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4.

5.

6.

7.

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the list together at the end of the day also means you’re not wasting time in the morning wondering where to start. When making the list, put only the most important tasks on it and be realistic about how much you can actually do in one day. Set deadlines to turn in your work that are roughly 24 hours before the actual deadline. The 24-hour buffer will enable you to meet your deadline despite any lastminute complications that crop up. Deadlines also provide focus.

Delegate. When done properly, you end up with a lot more time to focus on what has to be done by only you. The key to successfully delegating is assigning the right task to the right person, then leaving them to it. If you assign a task to someone illequipped to tackle it, all you end up doing is micromanaging, which defeats the purpose of delegating.

Eliminate Distractions. Social media is a mindless waste of time, and when you’re kneedeep in assignments and deadlines, it’s not an excuse your boss will accept when something isn’t handed in on time. If you absolutely must check TikTok and Instagram, set a fiveminute timer. When the alarm goes off, shut it down and get back to work. To help keep you focused and not tempted by social media, turn off all notifications – it only takes one swipe of the do-not-disturb button.

Just say no – to meetings. Meetings are typically the biggest waste of time, yet for some reason head honchos still insist on having them. The average office worker spends more than 31 hours per month in unproductive meetings. Before you say "yes" to the next meeting invite, ask yourself, “Can the meeting’s work be accomplished through emails or phone calls?” If so, then politely decline the invitation and get the talking points covered in other ways.

Minimize disruptions. Many people don’t work in an office with a door. Most offices have low-walled cubicles or, if you work from home, the dining room table, which makes “popping in” really easy. It may seem rude, but even if you’re not listening to anything, put on headphones. They also help drown out distracting chit-chat.

Give up on perfection. If you want everything you hand in to be perfect, you’ll never get anything done. Instead, focus on doing your

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best. It’s better to get a task off your plate, with your best effort, than be paralyzed with perfection.

9. Take breaks. If you’re a salaried employee, taking breaks are up to you. Most of the time, you won’t take any and you may even eat lunch at your desk. Every couple of hours, stand up, walk around – outside if you can – for some fresh air and change of scenery.

Short breaks help you refocus and maintain a steady flow of concentration and productivity.

10. Stop multitasking. We all think we can do 10 things at once. The reality is that productivity can be reduced by as much as 40 percent through mental blocks that occur when flipping from one task to another. Productivity increases when you give all of your attention to one task at a time.

If they're honest, most everyone would admit to wasting too much time during work hours with various unproductive tasks. If you want to get your work done, done well and on time, then you have to remain focused.

Begin implementing these highly effective strategies today, and pretty soon, you'll have time on your hands. WGW

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Daily Fare With

e s o R f e h C

Photos by Zachary Dailey

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Chef Rose Isaacs is a native of Carroll County and lives in Carrollton with her husband Shawn and their son, Sebastian.

She graduated from West Georgia Technical College in 2013 with a degree in Culinary Arts.

After graduation, she began her career as a chef at the Carrollton Kroger Marketplace where she works in the bistro.

"

This dish is warm, cozy and ideal for a fall weekend breakfast or brunch.

"

Apples and Cream Pancake Ingredients

Preparation

1/2 cup milk 2 large eggs 1/2 cup all purpose flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 2 tablespoons butter 1/4 cup brown sugar 3 ounces cream cheese, softened 1/2 cup sour cream 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 1/2 cup thin sliced apples of choice 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Preheat oven to 450º F. In a small bowl, combine milk, eggs, flour, salt and cinnamon. Mix until smooth.

Heat a cast iron skillet in hot oven for about 5 to 10 minutes or until hot.

Remove from oven and add butter.

Stir to coat surface of pan.

Pour in pancake mixture and bake for 10 minutes or until golden brown.

Combine sugar, cream cheese, sour cream and vanilla in a small bowl until well blended.

Fill pancake with cream cheese mixture and top with apples and chopped nuts.

Serve immediately.

Serves 6.

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Cheesy Baked Brussels Sprouts

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These cheesy sprouts are the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving.

Ingredients 4 to 5 cups Brussels sprouts, halved 2 tablespoon butter

3 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 cup flour 2 cups milk

1 cup gruyere, Swiss, or combination of Alpine style and cheese, grated 1/4 cup grated Parmesan Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation Preheat oven to 375º F Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil.

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"

Cook the Brussels sprouts for 5 to 6 minutes until slightly tender.

Drain and run sprouts under cool water to stop cooking process and pat dry.

In a medium saucepan over medium heat cook garlic in butter.

Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute.

Slowly add in milk – whisking continuously to remove clumps – and cook for 5 to 6 minutes or until thickened.

Remove pan from heat.

Add in half of gruyere and half of grated Parmesan.

Season with salt and pepper.

Pour Brussels sprouts into baking dish and cover with cheese mixture.

Stir to evenly coat and top with remainder of cheese.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until nicely browned Serves 4. WGW

Womentality

Inspiring quotes by extraordinary women “The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy.”

– Mother Teresa

By K. Kendall – originally posted to Flickr as Audre Lorde, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/ index.php?curid=8103582

“‘Thank you’ is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.”

– Alice Walker

“Appreciation can change a day, even change a life. Your willingness to put it into words is all that is necessary.”

– Margaret Cousins

“Give thanks not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day of your life.

Appreciate and never take for granted all that you have.” – Catherine Pulsifer

“In the end, though, maybe we must all give up trying to pay back the people in this world who sustain our lives. In the end, maybe it’s wiser to surrender before the miraculous scope of human generosity and to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices.”

– Elizabeth Gilbert

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Living a Meaningful Life 34

By Sandra Bolan

W

e all tend to want the same things: a big house, fancy car, designer clothes, prestigious career and maybe an award or two. We also believe this will make us happy.

The reality is we can have all of these things – and more – and still be miserable. The hard truth is you can’t find true happiness through the outside world.

When we’re not content on the inside, we often want more, and that “more” usually comes in the form of material things. Admit it — we’ve all done some retail therapy to make us feel better. But did it really work? In the short-term, sure. Long-term?

Likely not.

Perhaps we should focus on what we already have. For example, internalize the concept of “enough.” Do you have enough? Did you do enough? Are you enough?

When it comes to the question, “Are you enough?” the answer should always be yes.

However, we often base how we perceive ourselves by comparing ourselves to others. Are we a success or a failure, based on that comparison?

If you believe yourself to be a failure, think of losing and failing as a form of learning – how can I be better next time?

We can only achieve true happiness by being content with our inner selves – our mind, body and spirit. Sometimes one of those three hums along better than the other two. That’s OK because every day is another opportunity to start over and put all three in sync.

Stop Comparing The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, until we go over there and realize it’s greener thanks to good lighting and filters.

To stop comparing our lives to others is hard, especially since social media is all about showing off our best selves.

When you stop focusing on what you don’t have, you start to appreciate what you do have.

Practice Simple Gratitude Habits The default human condition is to be negative and live in an endless cycle of fight or flight.

Although you didn’t realize

it, when your parents made you say “please” and “thank you,” they were teaching you gratitude.

But as we become self-absorbed adults, those simple gestures may sometimes get tossed out the window because we’re in too much of a hurry to grab our over-priced lattes to take a second to hold the door for someone else who is also running late.

All is not lost. Being grateful can be re-learned.

Remind yourself that practicing gratitude often makes it difficult to have negative thoughts and emotions.

• Start small. Instead of trying to transform from a Negative Nelly to Grateful Gertrude overnight, start by holding the door open for others and thanking the barista or waitress.

• Journal. One of the most popular ways to learn gratitude is to write it down.

By doing this, you have to stop and ask yourself, "What am I grateful for?" You can think big picture – having a home, car or job. Or you

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something new into a habit.

Consistency is key. So even if you don’t think being grateful and showing gratitude towards others is morphing you into a happier person, stick with it. Studies have shown that practicing gratitude can physically change your brain and boost your happiness, so give it some time.

Live With No Regrets We never want to think about our last days on earth. But you can treat each day like your last and in doing so, ask yourself, "Did I live my best life today?" If you can go to bed happy with what you accomplished and how you interacted with others, then the can drill down to what is unique to you and answer is probably a resounding "yes." your life. Maybe it’s that someone took your If you're not happy with how you did, get up the carpool duties for the day or your partner next day and purposefully change what you didn’t made dinner tonight. Journaling what you’re like. grateful for can take as little as five minutes Are you balancing your time between work and a day, and it can be done first thing in the morning or right before bed. If you keep your family, or is your job bleeding into your family time? journals and you’re having a rock-bottom kind Do you spend too much time on meaningless things of day, it’s good to look back and be reminded like mindlessly scrolling through social media? You only get one life, so don’t waste it. of all the good in your life.

When you pass on, no one, except maybe your • Try to think of at least one thing. Another boss, will celebrate your ability to burn the candle at way to make gratitude a daily habit is when both ends and your willingness to put job over family, you sit down to dinner, alone or with the fun and adventure. family, think No one on their of one thing deathbed has ever that happened said they’re glad during the day they spent so much for which you’re time working instead grateful. You of pursuing their may even start passions or spending to realize that time with friends and what you’re loved ones. grateful for isn’t When we think of stuff, but your living a meaningful friends and life, we often envision family. It’s good self sacrifice and to force yourself working for the into a positive betterment of others. state of mind But you don’t need at least once to give up everything and become a third-world a day because no matter how bad your day missionary to do good. Small things, like saying was, when you look back at it, there is almost “please,” “thank you” or “good job," and learning always something good you'll find buried how to be grateful for what you already have, can within. make the world a little better right at home. WGW • Make it a habit. It takes 66 days to turn

Treat each day like your last

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Local Happenings

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

West Georgia Mental Health Professionals Wellness Meetup Group

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

Learn more at www.heartmatterswellness.com.

Hope For The Journey This group meets the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at the Tracy Stallings Community Center at 118 South White St. in Carrollton.

These events are free to breast cancer survivors or those currently battling breast cancer.

Learn more at www.hopeforthejourneywestga.org, email execdirector@hopeforthejourneywestga.org or call 770.214.1491.

Rare Pearls Mentoring and Leadership Program Rare Pearls mission is to enrich and empower the lives of young girls and women. This group meets the

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third Saturday of each month at Heritage Baptist Church in Douglasville, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

This program is open to all girls ages 7 to 17.

For more information, call 770.947.8210, email rarepearls2015@gmail.com or visit the website at www.rarepearlsmentoringandleadership.org.

Nursing From The Heart Breastfeeding Support Group This group meets the third Monday of each month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 500 Old Bremen Road in Carrollton.

These events are free to pregnant women and moms looking for breastfeeding support. Free weight checks for your baby will be available. Come and share your breastfeeding journey with us.

Please check our website for meeting and event updates at www.nursingfromtheheart.com.

Gertrude's House Breast Cancer Support Group This group meets the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Lithia Springs Family Chiropractic at 1758 Lee Rd. in Lithia Springs.

This group is open to all survivors, caregivers,

supporters, friends, family and those fighting breast cancer.

Visit their Facebook page @GertrudesHouse or email them at GertrudesHouse@yahoo.com.

Domestic Abuse Support Group

Center, located at 201 Trojan Drive in Carrollton.

Visit www.misswestga.com for the application.

Deadline for applications is Nov. 19.

For questions or more information, email Director Donna Barr at donnabarr@misswestga.com.

Local Organizations Receive Carroll EMC Impact Grants

There is Hope is a support group for women survivors who have dealt with, or are currently dealing with, domestic violence.

This is a private Facebook group where women survivors come together and share their personal stories of experience, strength and hope.

For more information, please contact hopefulone807@gmail.com.

Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Groups Has your life been impacted by the loss of a friend or loved one to suicide? You are not alone. These groups offer peer support for anyone who has been affected by suicide loss.

There is no cost to attend.

Group meetings in Carrollton are the third Tuesday of each month from 7 to 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.

Miss West Georgia Open Competition Who will be the next Miss West Georgia?

Miss West Georgia, an official affiliate of Miss Georgia and Miss America, is holding an open competition Saturday, Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. at the Mabry

To honor their son who passed away from cancer in 2019, the McDaniel family founded Chase the Victory – an organization that shares hope and spreads kindness through programs like KickBack that gives shoes to teens affected by cancer.

Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative (EMC) Foundation awarded 45 Impact Grants to charitable causes in the cooperative’s seven-county service area that totaled $138,011 in contribution funds.

The funds will be used toward a variety of local projects to serve, protect and improve the surrounding communities and their residents.

Since the first issuing of grants in 2002, more than $3.8 million has been given back to Carroll EMC communities. Health and human services, education and environment protection are a few of the areas that receive funding from the Foundation.

Impact Grants are made available to organizations through Member participation in Carroll EMC’s Operation Round Up® (ORU®) program. Members are given the opportunity to contribute by rounding their electric bill to the nearest whole dollar. These funds are separate from company profits and are only accessible to the Foundation Board of Trustees who award the donations to eligible partners.

“My fellow trustees and I were so pleased to meet the recipients of the 2021 Impact Grants,” said Trudy Sowar, Chair of the Carroll EMC Foundation Board of Trustees. “The grant recipients submitted exceptional applications, and we all look forward to seeing the results of their work.

“I received my electric bill the day before our reception, and the 79 cent round up had a special meaning to me,” continued Sowar. “It was a concrete example of how such a small gift combined with those of many other Members can make such a positive difference in our community. We encourage everyone to participate in ORU® if they are not

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currently enrolled.”

Impact Grants are only made possible through Member involvement. To sign up for ORU® or to view the complete list of Impact Grant recipients, visit www.carrollemc.com/impactgrants.

Carroll EMC is a Member-owned cooperative providing electricity to approximately 52,000 homes and businesses. The co-op serves Members in Carroll, Haralson, Heard, Paulding, Polk, Floyd and Troup counties. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. For more information visit the cooperative’s website at carrollemc.com or follow Carroll EMC on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn. Carroll EMC: Community Built. Community Builder.

Keep Haralson Beautiful hosts educational programs and projects, so citizens can become involved in the beautification of their own environment. KHB received an Impact Grant for its Tire Recycling event.

State Taps WGTC to Train Officers

West Georgia Technical College President Dr. Julie Post and Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Deputy Director Jimmy Sumner signed an agreement for West Georgia Technical College to provide phlebotomy training to state and local law enforcement officers through a grant from the Governors Highway Safety Association and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility. The training began in October.

Under an agreement reached this summer, West Georgia Technical College will train state and local law enforcement officers as phlebotomists who will be able to draw blood from drivers suspected of being under the influence of alcohol, drugs or both.

The program, established by the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, is funded by an Impaired Driving Grant from the Governors Highway Safety Association and the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility. Funds from the grant also will be used to purchase equipment for the certified officers to perform blood draws.

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“A blood test is often the key piece of evidence needed to convict a DUI driver in court, but the barriers law enforcement officers are facing in getting blood drawn during a DUI investigation are resulting in too many of these cases going to trial without any toxicology evidence,” Governor’s Office of Highway Safety Director Allen Poole said. “Officers being able to perform blood draws should lead to more convictions and hopefully serve as deterrent for more people to not make the selfish decision to drive when they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs.”

Officers participating in the phlebotomy program will undergo 10 hours of online training and 32 hours of classroom training. West Georgia Technical College will initially provide all of the phlebotomy training, led by Dr. Phyllis Ingham, Program Director for Clinical Laboratory Technology and Phlebotomy.

Upon successful completion of the training program, the officers will have the same qualifications as phlebotomists who work in hospitals, doctor’s offices and other licensed medical facilities in the state of Georgia. The Georgia Public Safety Training Center is overseeing the training program.

“West Georgia Tech is honored to be chosen by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to provide this critical training for law enforcement officers,” WGTC President Dr. Julie Post said. “We have excellent staff and facilities for this training, and it reinforces our reputation as a premier provider of employees with advanced technical training and specialized skills.”

Training officers to become qualified phlebotomists will assist the prosecution of DUI cases with the inclusion of critical toxicology evidence at trial.

Obtaining the blood evidence sooner in the investigative process will provide a more accurate measure of the blood content of a suspected impaired driver, and not having to wait for a blood test to be performed by a third party will allow officers to return to their patrol duties, GOHS said.

“Getting drunk and drugged drivers off the road saves lives, but convicting them of DUI will help ensure they do not make the mistake of driving impaired again,” GOHS Law Enforcement Services Director Roger Hayes said. “The response we have gotten to this program has been positive, and a number of agencies around the state have indicated they want to have officers in their department with this certification. In fact, several agencies currently have this capability.”

Arizona is credited with starting the nation’s first law enforcement phlebotomy program in 1995 with other states, including Texas, Minnesota, Colorado, Maine, Idaho, Washington and Utah, who have successfully established similar programs.

The law enforcement officers who will be considered for this training include those whose current activity is funded by a grant from GOHS, including the Georgia State Patrol Nighthawks and GOHS Highway Enforcement of Aggressive Traffic (H.E.A.T.) units. After the funding from the GHSA/Responsibility.org Impaired Driving Grant is expended, GOHS will seek to continue the Law Enforcement Phlebotomy Program with a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

First Apprentice Lineman Class Opens at WGTC Class is officially in session for the students of the new Apprentice Lineman program at West Georgia Technical College.

The inaugural class – Jaylen Baker of Bowdon, Jack Beverly of Carrollton, Justin Pate of Bowdon, William Teague of Douglasville and Five students are training Adam Warner of Fayetteville – to be apprentice electrical began the four-week training linemen at West Georgia Technical this month. The program on October 4.

The Apprentice Lineman four-week class teaches basic skills needed for en- program, offered by the try-level employment as Economic Development a lineman. The next class Division at WGTC, was begins in January. created after local industry partners expressed a need for lineman training in the West Georgia area. It is the first non-credit lineman program offered by a technical college in the state of Georgia.

“We are honored that our partners from Carroll EMC, Coweta-Fayette EMC, Diverse Power, GreyStone Power and Georgia Power came to us with the need for a lineman program, and we are excited to work with all of them to fulfill that need,” Vice President of Economic Development and Community Affairs Angela Berch said. “It is a true collaborative partnership that we are proud to be a part of.”

The program was totally customized based on input from the industry partners. Students in the program will be trained with the necessary skills for entry level lineman employment including safety, construction and pole climbing. Students will also earn CPR, OSHA 10, and DOT flagging credentials and learn soft skills such as interviewing and resume writing. Recent Carroll EMC retiree Scott Teal is the

instructor. Teal started his career at Carroll EMC as a meter reader in 1987. During his time there he became an Apprentice Lineman, Lineman, and ended his 34-year career this year as a System Design Staker.

“West Georgia Tech is fortunate to have Scott Teal as the instructor for the Apprentice Lineman Program,” Executive Director of Economic Development Linda Sullivan said. “He recently retired after 34 years at Carroll EMC, so he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the job.

He has been so supportive and dedicated to this program from day one, and his excitement about the students’ accomplishments in the first week of class has been contagious. We are thrilled to have him on board.”

Although retired, Teal signed on as instructor of the program because he saw a great opportunity to share his knowledge with future linemen.

“As my generation retires, it is imperative for us to give back to our career to train up new linemen with the latest and newest improvements while continuing to keep the focus on safety,” Teal said.

“This training will provide the foundational skills needed for future linemen as they begin their adult lives in a career that puts others first.”

Teal is already impressed with his first group of students and how they have exceeded his expectations.

“While I was reluctant to make a commitment to a new position so soon after retirement, the students’ eagerness to participate and improve further drives my desire to see them certified to climb poles safely,” Teal said. “Based on my observations thus far, I am expecting a 100 percent success rate. The support of area EMCs, Georgia Power and Southwire Company is a blessing. The generosity of these businesses shows their interest in developing talent to enter the workforce, and we sincerely appreciate their time, resources and their aligned focus on safety.”

The next Apprentice Lineman Program cohort will begin in January 2022 and will be conducted at WGTC’s Murphy Campus in Waco. A CDL license is required for admission into the program. WGTC conducts both day and evening CDL programs at the Carroll Campus. For more information about the Apprentice Lineman Program, contact Linda Sullivan at linda.sullivan@westgatech.edu or 678-664-0516.

West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers more than 140 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is one of the largest of the state’s 22 technical colleges. For more information, visit www.westgatech.edu.

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Holiday Leftovers and Pets

By Sandra Bolan and Angela Dailey

P

ets always seem to know when you're cooking something special, and they're usually right there in the kitchen, hoping for a tasty tidbit or two. What’s the harm in sneaking your furbaby a little bit of turkey or stuffing, or better yet, making them a plate of their own during the holiday season?

Sadly, many of the most common holiday foods can wreak havoc on your pets' gastrointestinal systems, and you could actually harm your pets by unintentionally feeding them something toxic.

Unsafe Foods for Pets Onions, garlic and chives. Many seasonings contain this group of very toxic ingredients, and they can be found in just about anything from dressing to creamed potatoes. These ingredients, whether fresh, cooked, powdered or in any other form, can lead to anemia and damaged blood cells.

Ham and bacon. Dishes that contain processed forms of pork can cause pancreatitis, a potentially life threatening and extremely painful disease in dogs. Thoroughly cooked pork meat without added spices, seasonings or sauces is safe for pets to eat.

Alcohol. Alcohol has the same effect on dogs' and cats' brains and livers as it does humans. It doesn't take much to cause severe damage, and consumption can lead to tremors, respiratory distress, coma and even death.

Chocolate and caffeine. Chocolate contains the toxic ingredient theobromine, which is poisonous and may result in seizures, abnormal heart rhythm,

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Photo by Zachary Dailey

What's safe and what's not tremors and death. The most dangerous kinds of chocolate are dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate. Chocolate and other holiday desserts that call for tea or coffee as ingredients also contain caffeine, which can be fatal if ingested. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning include restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations and muscle tremors.

Sugar-free foods, particularly those that contain xylitol. Any sugar-free foods can be extremely dangerous to animals. Xylitol causes an animal’s blood sugar to plummet, which then leads to liver failure.

Raw yeast dough. It is very unsafe to give your pets raw dough. Not only does the dough expand in their stomachs, causing extreme discomfort and bloating, but yeast cells produce alcohol as they ferment, which could lead to alcohol poisoning and death if consumed. Plain baked white or whole grain bread is safe for most pets to eat as an occasional treat.

Other harmful foods often consumed in abundance during the holidays that can cause more than an upset stomach in pets include cranberry sauce, nutmeg, grapes, raisins, (grapes and raisins can cause rapid kidney failure and death in pets) macadamia nuts (these contain a toxin that may lead to vomiting, tremors, hyperthermia, muscle weakness and depression when pets consume them, even in small amounts), gravy, poultry skins and green bean casserole.

Side effects range from vomiting, diarrhea,

kidney failure, paralysis and even death. Giving your pet even small amounts of highly fatty foods like homemade mac and cheese can lead to pancreatitis.

Signs your pet is in food-caused distress are aggression, drooling, panting, a fever, pacing and repetitive behavior.

Safe Foods for Pets

Dailey Life Photography Zachary Dailey, Photographer for West Georgia Woman Magazine

Call us today for your photography needs!

404.444.9072 daileylifephotography@gmail.com @DaileyLifePhoto

@DaileyLifePhotography

www.daileylifephoto.wordpress.com

While it may seem like pets can’t have any human food, there are quite a lot that will seem like special treats to them.

These foods include plain pumpkin puree, (but not pumpkin pie, because it contains nutmeg and other spices, and not pumpkin pie mix), squash, plain green beans, apples (no seeds or cores), plain, cooked potatoes (do not feed raw potatoes to pets because it contains the toxic compound solanine) carrots, celery (cut into bite-size pieces), cherries without pits (limit to only one or two at a time), plain, cooked shrimp, oranges (limit to small quantities to avoid stomach upset), raw or cooked broccoli, sweet potatoes and coconut – all in moderation.

Any vegetables given to your pets should be fresh or frozen – never canned. Canned vegetables contain too much salt, which is dangerous to pets.

When it comes to turkey, pets can enjoy it, as long as it’s cooked, deboned and unseasoned.

Turkey bones are small and brittle, therefore, they’re a choking hazard. The fragile turkey bones can also perforate the intestines, which can require surgery. Turkey must be cooked thoroughly to avoid salmonella.

It’s not just the food we knowingly give to our pets we have to be careful of. Pets are ruled by their noses, and holiday food scraps smell really good.

Ensure you seal the garbage can or take the trash out to the dumpster after the holiday meal.

Luggage and purses can also contain great smelling, but toxic, treats, so keep them out of reach. Ask your out-of-town guests to secure any chocolate, sugar-free items and medications to prevent accidental ingestion (medications should also be kept out of reach of small children).

No matter how cautious you are, it's possible for your pet to sniff out and eat what it shouldn't.

Always keep the numbers of your vet, the closest emergency animal clinic, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center number (888.426.4435) within easy reach in case of an emergency.

If you believe your pet may have consumed something toxic, call for emergency help immediately. WGW

43

Kids Korner

Thanksgiving Turkey

Materials Dark and light brown construction paper Assorted feathers (we got ours at our local dollar store), some longer than others.

Hot glue gun Scissors Orange pipe stem, cut in half Marker or crayon

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By Jordan Dailey Photos by Zachary Dailey

Instructions Cut the dark brown construction paper into a fanshape (for the tailfeather base) and a peanut-shape (for the turkey's body).

Glue the longer feathers to the fan-shaped base.

Glue the shorter feathers on top of the longer feathers.

Glue the turkey's body on top of the shorter feathers.

Cut a beak out of the light brown construction paper and glue to the body.

Draw eyes on the turkey.

Take the orange pipe stems and twist them into feet for the turkey.

Glue the pipe stem feet to the bottom of the fan base at the bottom of the turkey's body.

Thankful Pumpkin

Instructions Cut the orange construction paper into four- to six-inch strips.

Write one thing you are thankful for on each strip.

Fold the strips into rings, with the words on the outside, and glue them together at the top to create a pumpkin-shape.

Cut a leaf out of the green construction paper.

Write the words, "I am thankful for ..." on the leaf and glue it to the top of the pumpkin.

Twist the pipe stem into a pumpkin stem and glue to the pumpkin under the leaf. WGW

Materials Orange and green construction paper Green pipe stem Hot glue gun Scissors Ink pen

Because a HOME is much more than a house.

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Happy Thanksgiving Word Search Word Bank

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Thankful Plymouth Family American Friendsgiving Baste Centerpiece Meal Football Harvest Leftovers Massachusetts Cornbread Dressing Thanksgiving Leaves Feast Gratitude Dessert Friends Casserole

Word search created at puzzle-maker.com

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It ’s not about

cancer,

it ’s about

you.

You’re more than your cancer.

At some cancer treatment programs, it’s easy to forget that there’s a person behind the diagnosis. Someone’s parent.

Someone’s daughter. Someone who’s scared, uncertain and full of questions.

So at Tanner Cancer Care, the first thing we do is get to know you — and answer your questions.

Your cancer navigator works with you every step of the way.

Making appointments. Arranging transportation. Answering questions about your financial concerns. Opening the door to all the resources of a regional health system.

Meanwhile, your clinical team studies your case, evaluates treatments and trials, and presents the best, evidence-based care plan to move you past cancer and on with life.

And they do it in 3 days.

Wait less. Worry less. Begin treatment faster.

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