West Georgia Woman Magazine December 2018 by West Georgia Woman Magazine/Angel Media, LLC

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December 2018

West Georgia

Mayor Rochelle Robinson A Lifetime of Service

Sleep in Heavenly Peace Helping Kids Sleep at Night

Spread Joy, Not Germs This Holiday Season 1

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A Lifetime Of Service

A Bed Of Their Own

PMS: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment

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

good for you too! 1 and 2 lb. bottles. • Georgia Olive Farms chef’s blend “extra virgin” olive oil, produced in Ga. It has a green, fresh buttery taste with a mild, fruity finish. Just wonderful in so many healthy ways. • Mascot “Fresh Shelled” Pecans. Can't you just taste them now? The perfect healthy treat for cooking, baking, snacking or gift giving. 12 oz. and 16 oz. bags and specialty gift ideas. New harvest, never frozen. • Trapp Fragrance Candles – Seasonal Holiday Collection of eight wonderful fragrances. Perfect for your home, holiday event or special gift giving. • Thymes Frasier Fir Aromatic Candles. A tradition that feels right at home. The aromatic snap of Siberian fir needles, heartening cedarwood and earthy sandlewood combine to create a just-cut forest fragrance that evokes warmth and comfort. Some might call this a Christmas candle, but it is so much more. This candle is a glowing focal point for entertaining and makes it the perfect choice for any gift giving occasion.

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Another Year Over

Wow. This year has just flown by, hasn't it? For me and my family, this year has offered up many changes, along with a few challenges. My daughter, Sydney, graduated high school in May, began college in the fall and is really enjoying her college experience. She was fortunate to have two of her high school classmates attend the same college; her best friend, Noah, and another wonderful friend â&#x20AC;&#x201C; now her roommate â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Jasmine. Sydney has met many new friends, joined the Kappa Delta sorority, helped her soccer team win several games this year and was chosen for the USA South Athletic Conference All Conference Sportsmanship Team. She loves everything about her school and is having the time of her life. I miss her so much, but I am so happy she and her friends are thriving in college. My son, Zachary, also went back to school to become certified in photography. He did such a fantastic job and finished at the top of his class. He also met a new young Photo by Keith May woman, Jordan, earlier this year who we really love. He recently moved a bit farther from home as well but, thankfully, I still am able to see him every day. My parents divorced in the fall after almost 46 years of marriage, and that has been a bit of a challenge for all of us. I was really surprised that, at 45 years old and divorced myself, I was still affected by their divorce in some ways. Business-wise, we had the new addition of our inaugural Holiday Guide. The first guide was a success, thanks to all of our wonderful existing and new advertising partners, and we were fortunate enough to be able to give a percentage of our net proceeds to Open Hands United Christian Ministry. We plan on donating to a different local charitable organization after publishing the holiday guide each year. Look for it online at www.westgeorgiawoman.com and in print, available free in retail and medical locations all over West Georgia and East Alabama. We are excited to announce that we have also been very busy working on another new addition: our first Bridal Guide. More news on that coming soon. How was your year? I hope it has been wonderful for you. In This Issue Our cover feature this month is Douglasville, Ga., resident and Mayor Rochelle Robinson. Rochelle has served her city, county and country in many ways. From serving in the Army National Guard as a young college student, serving abroad and in Washington D.C. with the CIA for several years and in various positions in Douglasville, she is a true community servant. She is also very kind and gracious, with a genuine personality. Read about Rochelle and how she she became the city of Douglasville's first African-American and female mayor on page 10. There are many charitable organizations in the U.S. that give food, clothing and toys to children and families in need, but there are few who provide beds, bedding and pillows for children. What started as a single garage service project in Idaho for one family at Christmas time has grown into a a remarkable 100 percent volunteer service organization with over 100 chapters across the U.S. One of those chapters is in LaGrange, Ga. Learn more about Sleep in Heavenly Peace, how they're helping kids in West Georgia and East Alabama sleep at night and how you can help local children on page 20. As many as three in four women have PMS symptoms at some point in their life, according to the Mayo Clinic, and the symptoms can be debilitating for women. Cheryl Francis gives some tips on how to stay sane, and how to take care of yourself during this difficult time every month on page 26. Thank you for reading West Georgia Woman magazine. Please do business with our valuable advertisers included in this publication and in our 2018 holiday guide, and please be sure to tell them you saw their advertisements in West Georgia Woman magazine! I wish all of you a joyful holiday season and a Merry Christmas! See you next year!

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

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

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

West Georgia

Volume 4 • Issue 2 December 2018

Publisher/Editor

Angela Dailey angela@westgeorgiawoman.com

Copy Editor Editorial Contributor

Shala Hainer shala@westgeorgiawoman.com

Photographer for cover Mark Steffey

Editorial Contributors

Charlene Brooks, Cheryl A. Francis, L.P.C. and Rose Isaacs

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

A Lifetime of Service

Douglasville Mayor Rochelle Robinson Ushers in a New Era

Photos by Mark Steffey

By Janet Flanigan

hen Rochelle Robinson was a thirdgrade student in Youngstown, Ohio, her mother took her to a march on the Board of Education. They were marching for equality in schools and for the uniformity of schoolbooks for all students. “My mother is my inspiration,” she says. “Hattie May Hubbard-Martin was a giant; her parents were sharecroppers in Mississippi, yet Hattie was able to graduate from an all-white high school and then got her college degree. She owned her own business and became a director of Head Start.” Head Start is a United States Department of Health and Human Services program that provides comprehensive early childhood education, nutrition, health and parental involvement services to low-income children and their families. These were terrific accomplishments for any woman, let alone a black woman, living in that era in America. The little girl who marched with her mother that day most likely never imagined she would one day be elected the first female and the first black mayor of a city in West Georgia.

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Family Ties

While Rochelle’s mother served as a role model, her father was also incredibly important to her. He worked hard for the family and even kept a backyard garden in the middle of the city. Rochelle grew up with her older sister and younger brother in a middle class, two-parent household. They lived in a mixed neighborhood that consisted of primarily Italians. When Rochelle was 15 years old, her parents had what she calls an "oops" baby, her younger brother.

"The Bible is my blueprint for life and I try to live my life based on those principles."

Grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles rounded out the large, extended family that has always kept close ties with one another. “We all used to go to my grandparent’s farm in Toronto, Ohio, each summer, and my cousins are still more like siblings,” she says.

Religious Roots In the fourth grade, Rochelle experienced a traumatic accident when she was hit by a car and missed her fourth-grade year in school. She turned to prayer during that trying year of recovery from the accident. “I was raised in a strong Christian household and prayed with my family for guidance and decision-making,” she explains. “The Bible is my blueprint for life and I try to live my life based on those principles. I have prayed throughout my life to the Lord for help in all areas, since God healed me after the car accident.” She quotes Proverbs 18:16 as a source of strength for her: “A man’s gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.” While recovering from her accident, Rochelle considered a future career in nursing and, although that goal ultimately changed as she grew older, she recognized that she would find other ways to serve.

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Coming of Age Rochelle attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Youngstown, a school with a predominately white student body. “I did experience incidents of discrimination and hate growing up,” she relates. “But I also experienced many kindnesses, too.” She strove to be the best she could, and was the only African-American student in her school to be chosen for the dance line and homecoming court. Rochelle’s mother had illustrated to her the importance of getting a college degree, and after high school graduation she began attending nearby Youngstown State University. “I participated in the GI Bill and joined the Army National Guard, which paid for college tuition," she says. "I also decided to remain close to home for support with things such as books and housing.” For her major course of study, Rochelle decided on a communications degree. In addition to her classes, she found great satisfaction in making the university cheerleading team and became active in the campus chapter of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). But perhaps most important to Rochelle was her membership in Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), a

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Greek-lettered sorority, and the first established by African-American college women. AKA, a historically black sorority, enjoys membership in the “Divine Nine." The “nine” are historically black Greek letter organizations that make up the National Panhellenic Council. “AKA has been a great motivator and support system in my life from college to this day,” she explains. “I needed a group of women and men to help give me a sense of belonging and love. AKA has always been a staple of sisterhood for me from when I lived in Ohio, Washington, D.C. and now in Georgia.”

Service to Country

Rochelle, back row, third from right, with sisters from the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Photo: Facebook, Rochelle Robinson for Mayor.

Rochelle may have signed up for the Army National Guard as a way to pay for college, but she enjoyed the experience as well. “I love my country and really thrived in the Army National Guard," she shares. "Military service runs deep in my family, with my dad and all his brothers serving and all of my mother’s brothers served too.” Rochelle served for six years as part of the G.I. Bill and says that as an athlete and disciplined person, the military experience came naturally for her. After serving her time in the Ohio Army National Guard, she was a senior in college when she met CIA recruiters at Rochelle, left, with fellow Ohio Army National a university Guard soldiers. Photo: Facebook, Rochelle job fair. Robinson for Mayor.

The CIA, or Central Intelligence Agency, is a civilian foreign intelligence service of the United States government that gathers, processes and analyzes national security information from around the world, mainly through the use of human intelligence. As a cheerleader, gymnast and runner she was more than prepared for the rigorous physical requirements of training with the CIA, and she already had military security clearance from her service in the Ohio National Guard. In 1986, she enrolled in the CIA's Federal Law Enforcement Training Center – also known as the FLETC program – and began an eight-year stint with the CIA. Two of the most common training programs for CIA agents at FLETC include the Uniformed Police Training Program and the Criminal Investigator Training Program. Today, Rochelle continues to hold the distinction as a certified law enforcement officer. Although Washington, D.C. was her home base, Rochelle traveled the world. She isn't allowed to say much about her time in the agency, but she often lived under an assumed name and was unable to have contact with family or friends for months at a time.

A Chance Encounter In 1994, Rochelle was asked to come to Georgia to sing for her godson's dedication ceremony. Reverend Jeff Robinson, a dynamic young preacher

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“Like my mother before me, I initially stayed home after Joel was born,” Rochelle remembers. “I just believed it was my responsibility to be involved in my children’s education.” Following the example of her parents, Rochelle began volunteering in the community as well. “I volunteered because both mom and dad volunteered in the community via school, church and neighborhood initiatives,” she says. Her first volunteer activity was with the PTA at North Douglas Elementary, where she served as PTA president. While her kids advanced through the Douglas County school system, Rochelle continued on the path of volunteerism. She remained active in the PTA; served as a member of the Chapel Hill Middle School Council; worked as a Band Booster and International Baccalaureate Booster; and served as a Rotary Interact Liaison at DCHS.

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from Atlanta was on the pulpit that day, and the two sparked a connection. They begin dating longdistance, and one year later, Rochelle left the CIA, moved to Georgia and married Jeff. They chose to live in Douglasville to be near his work. Rochelle says her husband of 23 years is her counselor and covering, and is the epitome of a modern man. In addition to his pastoral duties, he works as a supervisor at PepsiCo. “He cooks, picks up the kids and takes them to activities and doctor’s appointments when I can’t be there,” she says. The couple has three children. Their son, Joel, is 19, and he is studying forensic criminology at Georgia Southern. He graduated from Douglas County High School's International Baccalaureate program, which is a two-year educational program recognized by many universities worldwide that provides internationally accepted qualification for entry into higher education. Their daughter, Olivia, is 18 and is in the International Baccalaureate program at DCHS. She also participates in chorus, drama and animation. Their youngest daughter, Ana, is 16 and is an advanced placement honors student at DCHS. She enjoys being part of the cheerleading squad and orchestra, and she hopes to one day go into medicine.

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A Political Path In 2002, Rochelle took her first foray into the political world when she ran for and was elected to the Douglasville City Council. While serving her first term as a city councilwoman, Rochelle became pregnant with daughter Ana and decided after fulfilling her four-year term, she would not seek reelection. This did not mean, however, that she was finished with public life. After completing her term with the city council, she says she was subsequently appointed to a variety of boards and positions that she served until she ran for Mayor, including the Douglasville Zoning Board; the West Georgia Technical College Board; WellStar Regional Health Board; Douglas County Board of Elections and she served as president of the Douglas County Water and Sewer Authority Board. “It has been my experience that once you have served for any organization and have done a good job, you gain the respect and confidence of people," she shares. "Then other organizations seek you out to serve.”

Another natural progression for Rochelle took place in 2009 when she received her ordination as a licensed minister from the Church of God. She currently holds this license and says she has preached and taught all over the county. Rochelle is very proud of her service on the city council and in particular, helping diversify city staff and providing assistance to the underserved and neglected parts of the community. Eventually she felt compelled to do more. “I prayed with my family about next steps because I believe serving others is part of my calling,” she says. That next step turned out to be running for mayor of Douglasville.

Campaign Strategies When she decided to run a campaign for Mayor, her husband was all in, but her children were hesitant. When a person serves in a public capacity, there are things that are said or alleged about those in office and she says her children were hurt by lies and teasing. But ultimately, they all decided to support her run for mayor. As he had when she ran for City Council, Jeff served as her campaign

manager and the couple began praying and fundraising, asking friends and supporters to hold fundraising parties for her campaign. She promoted campaign themes of “Experience, compassion and fairness” and her goal to “Move the city forward." Politicians are natural targets for naysayers and critics alike, and Rochelle says she is no different. She has held true to the strategy that Michelle Obama articulated, “When they go low, we go high.” “I will defend myself against lies, but I trust God to help me fight my battles and people will eventually see the truth," she explains. "I let my works and character speak for me.” Douglasville has seen a population shift since the year 2000 when 64 percent of the population was white. In 2015 when Rochelle ran her campaign, the population had become 56 percent black and 36 percent white, according to 2010 census data, and it seemed constituents were ready to have representation reflective of the city makeup. Prior to Rochelle's election, Douglasville had already seen a couple of firsts. Gary Sparks became Douglasville’s first African-American police chief and Marcia Hampton became its first African-American and first female city manager.

With her election, Mayor Rochelle Robinson became the first female and first African-American mayor of Douglasville. “It was never my intention to become the first black this or that. I have just never put limits on myself,” she explains. “I am extremely proud to be a black woman and I believe the black experience in this country has historically been extremely difficult, with many challenges of hate and racism. As a people, we have fought, bled and died for equality and fairness. And that spirit lives on in me to stand up for all people: black, white, Asian Hispanic, rich, poor, men, women and children.” Rochelle was elected on Dec. 1, 2015 – 60 years to the day that Rosa Parks took her place in history when she refused to get up from that seat on the bus. On the day she was elected, Rochelle said, “I was just overwhelmed, and that was the first thing that came to my memory: Rosa Parks sat down 60 years ago today so that I could stand up in this city. I’m standing on so many shoulders. I did not get here by myself.”

The Mayor's Life Rochelle is proud to have served the city of Douglasville, and cites plans for improvements to the downtown area as a continuing major agenda

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The rest of the afternoon consists of phone calls, emails or other daily tasks. At 5:30 p.m., she may participate in her AKA sorority prayer call. Attendance is often required in the evening at an event or function, but when possible, she spends time in the evenings with her family. In her limited spare time, Rochelle enjoys singing, reading and decorating. She admits that a life in public service can make it difficult to maintain friendships because of her busy life. “Most of my friends outside of politics understand, but it is hard,” she says. Her experience with growing up eating fresh fruits and vegetables grown by her father has carried over into Rochelle and Jeff’s own family. She believes in healthy eating and exercising, and she and Jeff work out together three days a week. These lifestyle choices help keep her energy level and spirits high.

Future Goals

item. She also says fair wages, improving the Northside area and adding parks and greenspace are just a few of her goals for her beloved adopted city. Having served in government for almost all of her professional life, she says not much about government surprises her. However, one area that has been a surprise to her is the snail’s pace that things move to get things completed. She also says balancing relationships can be a challenge to people in government positions, particularly those who have been elected. “I have been an elected official since 2002 and have become known to many people and to many city employees," she says. "Sometimes, other employees feel they know me and therefore, want to take our relationship for granted. It can be difficult sometimes." An example of a typical day finds the mayor dropping her girls off at school before 8:30 a.m. Then, she’s off to a meeting such as the Community Service Board, from about 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. A quick break, and then another meeting, such as with Douglasville Unite, will take place from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. A city manager’s meeting or another organization will take place later on, beginning around 2:30 p.m.

Rochelle has decided she will seek re-election as mayor in 2019. She says she would also like to see more women run for public office, and believes women are uniquely qualified as they are capable of multitasking and tend to lead from that perspective. For now, Mayor Rochelle Robinson says she will continue to strive to improve the lives of all of her constituents in the City of Douglasville. WGW

A Bed of Their Own

Local Volunteer Organization is Helping Kids Sleep Easier

aGrange, Ga., resident, Greg Watts, and a group of his buddies have always enjoyed helping people in need. Over the years, he and his friends completed many do-it-yourself projects, such as building handicapped ramps and porch repairs for people who needed help in their community. Although it was hard work physically, Greg and his friends enjoyed the camaraderie, helping others and the feeling of accomplishment that came with every completed project. But, the opportunities they were given to help others were sporadic, and they wanted to do more. In February 2018, Greg saw something on his Facebook feed that caught his eye. The post was a reality television web program titled "Returning the Favor," which was hosted and produced by Mike Rowe, the actor famously known for the television show, "Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe." In the show, Mike Rowe travels around the country showcasing people who are giving back to their communities â&#x20AC;&#x201C; people Mike affectionately labels as "Do-Gooders." "The episode that I watched featured Luke Mickelson and his organization, 'Sleep in Heavenly Peace,' Greg explains. "After watching the program, I reached out to our team and asked if this might be something we could make happen. Then I reached out to Luke Mickelson, CEO and executive director of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, to see if we could start a chapter for the West Georgia area." Now a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP) had humble beginnings: The first bed was built in Luke's garage in Twin Falls, Idaho in 2012. With wood left over from building the first bed, Luke reached out on Facebook to see if anyone else needed one, and the rest is history. Six years later, SHP has 117 chapters all over the country

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serving children who need beds. Greg says SHP is a 100 percent volunteer organization from the build volunteers and chapter presidents to the CEO and founder, and the organization's motto is, "No Kid Sleeps On The Floor in Our Town!" After receiving approval, the LaGrange chapter of SHP was officially ready to serve children on July 4, 2018, with Greg serving as chapter president. Their first delivery of beds was to a grandmother who was raising her three granddaughters. Nov. 10, 2018 served as a milestone for the chapter when bed number 100 was built with the help of student volunteers on the campus of LaGrange College. LaGrange College was the site of a recent volunteer build for Sleep in Heavenly Peace that took place Nov. The chapter 10. 30 beds for children in need were built that day, and the bed in the photo was SHP's 100th bed. The has delivered Transformation Leadership Class at the college spearheaded the event and provided many of the volunteers. over 70 beds If your business or organization would like to be part of this hands-on community project, you may email since starting in greg.watts@shpbeds.org or call 844.432.2337 ext. 5711 for more information. Photo: SHP Facebook page.

July, and 18 more children have been approved and are waiting on delivery. Because each chapter is self-funded, there is always a need for volunteers and donations from local communities. Chapter needs include: cash donations to purchase building materials and bedding supplies, in-kind donations of materials and new bedding, gift cards to local suppliers for build materials and bedding supplies and volunteers to help build and deliver beds to the children. "Many churches and civic organizations will do ‘bedding drives’ to help supply comforters, sheets and pillows," he says. "We also have corporations and businesses sponsor a build day at their business or facility who use it as a team-building event and community investment. Several churches and youth groups are scheduling build day events for their groups and churches. There are many ways to help financially and with their time." SHP is a fully accredited 501(c)3 organization by the IRS and Greg says all donations of any kind are 100 percent tax deductible. Each chapter is independently accounted for, and they are 100 percent self-funded through local donations. All of the donations stay in the chapter account to serve the children in their local communities. You don't have to be a skilled carpenter to volunteer with SHP. An organized assembly line

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process is used during the builds and the chapter has a no skills required policy. Anyone can help – young or old, male or female. "Many of our volunteers put a power tool in their hand for the first time at the build day," he says. "We are also about a 50-50 mix of men and women at these events. Many bring their children and grandchildren along with them to work alongside them to help teach what serving is all about." The LaGrange SHP service footprint includes the following counties in West Georgia: Carroll, Coweta, Heard; Troup; Harris; and Meriwether; and Randolph and Chambers counties in East Alabama. The chapter will expand into these communities as volunteer teams and local funding is established. During his work as chapter president of SHP, Greg has encountered children who are sleeping in all types of less-than-ideal conditions. "Some are sleeping on piles of clothes, on blow-up mattresses, couches, sleeping with multiple siblings in a single bed and with parents or grandparents," he says. Using local building materials, SHP can provide a complete bed for one child – including the twin frame, mattress, comforter, sheets and pillow – for approximately $150. The cost of a bunk bed is approximately $300. SHP only accepts new bedding Some of the recipients of new donations because they have bunk beds. Sleep in Heavenly no way of monitoring or Peace builds and delivers new, controlling used items. single or bunk beds to children in If you have a need for a bed, need throughout West Georgia and East Alabama. Photos by SHP. or would like to refer someone,

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STAND UP FOR A CHILD WHO NEEDS YOU.

Volunteer to Change a Child's Life Nobody longs for a safe and loving home more than a child in foster care. As a court-appointed special advocate (CASA) volunteer, you will be empowered by the court to help make this dream a reality. You can make a difference in the life of a foster child. Contact us today to find out how.

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there is an easy online application at www.shpbeds. org. Answering a few simple questions and leaving your contact information is all that is required for an SHP team member to reach out and follow up. "We receive a number of requests from school counselors, churches, DFCS (Division of Family and Children Services), police departments and friends of people who need help," he relates. "We have had several coworkers fill out applications for someone they work with, and people who we may have already helped contacting us for someone they know who may be in the same situation. We do stress that we are not a bed replacement organization, but rather one focused on those children who have no bed of their own." Greg says based on the population and income levels of just Troup County alone, it is estimated that over 1,200 children are in need of beds, and those estimates don't include the other counties in their service area. "The need is great, we have a great team and our community is beginning to respond," he shares. "It is great to serve with such a wonderful group of people! Please continue to spread the word about how we can help children in our community and share with those you know about all of the different ways they can participate

and support what SHP is doing. Seeing the smiles on the faces of the children when they receive their very own bed – some of these kids are getting a bed of their own for the first time in their lives – that is the best feeling in the world. We have gained a lot of momentum over the last couple of months and can already see that 2019 is going to be a very exciting time for us." WGW

To learn more about Sleep in Heavenly Peace or to volunteer, visit them on Facebook @SHPLaGrange, call 844.432.2337 Ext. 5711 or email greg.watts@shpbeds.org To make a donation, mail to: P.O. Box 800312 LaGrange, GA 30240

PMS or PMDD?

PMS!

By Cheryl Francis

MS. Everybody talks about it, but do we really know what it is? Some jokingly attribute PMS to any female whose behavior they believe is “out of the norm." PMS, or premenstrual syndrome, is a pattern of behaviors and feelings that occur after ovulation about one or two weeks prior to the onset of a woman’s monthly menstrual cycle. Once menstruation begins, the symptoms of PMS stop until it is time for the next menstrual period. About 30 to 80 percent of women who are in their reproductive years experience changes in their behavior and emotions at the time of their menstrual cycle, according to the Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Women's Mental Health. Symptoms may include cramps, swollen or tender breasts, joint pain, bloating and headaches. Food cravings, skin breakouts, changes in sleep patterns and poor memory or concentration are other symptoms women experiences with PMS. Others experience emotional symptoms such as extreme irritability or moodiness, a sense of despair, feeling overwhelmed, anxious, withdrawing and isolating, feeling fatigued or crying spontaneously over seemingly insignificant issues.

It is important to differentiate Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) from Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) and perimenopause. PMDD presents symptoms much like that of PMS. Except, the symptoms of PMDD are more extreme, severe and debilitating. The symptoms of PMDD negatively affect a woman’s daily functioning. Some women describe this time of the month as “hell week,” because the symptoms of PMDD can feel unbearable. The symptoms of PMS also resemble that of perimenopause. Perimenopause is the beginning of, or the transition phase to, menopause. Perimenopause symptoms may include emotional changes like irritability, mood swings and mild depression. Women may also notice breast tenderness, joint and muscle aches and pains. They may have difficulty concentrating, and possibly experience temporary memory lapses. The major difference among the three is that the symptoms of PMS are distinctly predictable – occurring around the same time of the month. There is not a specific set of risk factors, and there is no conclusive evidence to clearly indicate the cause of PMS. However, due to extensive research on the subject, most doctors now consider PMS to be a legitimate medical problem. The age of onset for PMS may begin at the time a female starts menstruating. As a woman ages, symptoms may worsen as she reaches her late 30s – especially as she approaches menopause. This worsening of symptoms is due to the fluctuation of hormone levels as the body transitions to menopause. It is a relief to know that PMS disappears during pregnancy and post menopause.

PMS and Your Mood Progesterone and estrogen are hormones that prepare the uterus for menstruation and play a role in supporting mood regulation. PMS occurs due to the fluctuation of estrogen and progesterone. Serotonin is a chemical in the body that helps to regulate behavior and mood. During the premenstrual stage, serotonin levels also change. At low levels, a woman may experience depression and other behaviorial changes such as anxiety and irritability. These changes will occur prior to the menstrual cycle and stop around the third or fourth day of the cycle. The difference between depressed mood related

symptoms, improve overall health and enhance energy levels. Foods rich in B vitamins and high fiber assists in minimizing the negative effects of PMS. Certain supplements such as folic acid, vitamin D, calcium and magnesium help to reduce cramping and mood swings. Increasing fluid intake helps to reduce bloating. During the menstrual cycle, many women crave sweets, especially milk chocolate. This is not the healthiest option to ease the cravings, but pure dark chocolate has been proven healthier when eaten in moderation. Caffeine, alcohol and a diet that includes too much sugar and salt also contribute to the worsening of symptoms. It is very important that the diet is monitored. Practicing relaxation techniques such as mindfulness have been shown to help some women, and regular exercise helps stave off issues such as cramping during the PMS phase. Getting plenty of From Botox and cosmetic injectables, to massage or PRP hair rest also helps. restoration, we have something for everyone at Spa 3:16. Knowing your body and keeping track of your We offer non-invasive body contouring and skin tightening, mental states and emotions have been shown to be as well as full aesthetic services and microblading. helpful. Some women take antidepressants and use We are a full retail & medical spa! birth control methods to help control mood swings This holiday season give the gift of beauty, relaxation, and wellness! and regulate their hormones. 7 7 0.5 3 7.1 2 3 6 w w w.3 1 6 h e a l t h c a r e.u s The symptoms of PMS may also worsen other to PMS and clinical depression is the timeframe. conditions. Migraine, some seizure disorders, asthma Depression related to PMS goes away once a woman and allergies are some of the conditions that may begins to menstruate. Clinical depression is a worsen during the PMS stage. If your symptoms combination of psychological and biological distress continue to worsen, or the treatment being used and creates changes in brain functioning. is not helping to reduce or alleviate PMS, it is The symptoms of clinical depression last for two necessary to schedule a visit to your medical doctor. weeks or more and, unless treated with medication You do not have to suffer alone or in silence, and or psychotherapy, it may be long-lasting. Some of help is available. Talk to your physician about your the symptoms are likened to that of depression symptoms to find out what treatment options are related to PMS. A woman may experience persistent best for you. WGW sad or anxious mood that will not go away even Cheryl A. Francis, Licensed Professional when menstruation begins. She will experience a Counselor, is the owner of The Heart Matters sense of hopelessness and may even feel severe Wellness Services LLC, a full-service counseling guilt or suicidal thoughts. agency. She is certified as a Mental Health First Aid Adult trainer When these symptoms are experienced daily and regularly provides and will not go away, it is time to seek professional seminars and trainings support. to the community on various mental health issues. She has partnered Treatment with the Georgia Center for Child Advocacy to There is no cure for PMS. However, several train individuals in the treatment options have been utilized and proven prevention of childhood helpful for those who suffer with PMS. A healthy sexual abuse. Visit heartmatterswellness.com lifestyle is one of the biggest contributors in relieving for more information about the symptoms of PMS: Diet, stress management; Cheryl and her work. relaxation therapy; and exercise help control the

Daily Fare With

e s o R f e Ch

Chef photos by Keith May.

Rose Isaacs is a native of Carroll County and lives in Carrollton with her husband Shawn. 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.

28Recipe photos by Mark Steffey.

This dip is a wonderful holiday appetizer to please a large crowd.

" Smoked Salmon Dip

Any leftovers can be used as a delicious spread on toasted bagels. .

Ingredients

Preparation

1/2 pound smoked salmon, also called lox

Finely chop the smoked salmon and put in a medium mixing bowl. Add the softened cream cheese, minced onion, lemon juice, horseradish, hot sauce and salt and pepper to taste. Mix all ingredients well. Place salmon dip into serving bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to marinate well together. Serve with your favorite mini toasts or crackers. Serves 8 to 10.

16-ounce block of cream cheese, softened

2 tablespoons finely minced onion Juice from 1/2 lemon

1 teaspoon fresh horseradish

1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce Salt and pepper, as desired

Mini toasts or crackers for serving

Ingredients

Monkey Bread

2 16.3 ounce cans butter biscuits 3/4 cup sugar 2 tablespoons cinnamon 3/4 stick butter, melted

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a bundt pan by spraying with nonstick spray.

Mix sugar with cinnamon and set aside. Cut all biscuits into quarters and roll each in prepared cinnamon and sugar mixture. Place each rolled piece into the bundt pan. Mix remaining sugar and cinnamon with melted butter and stir well. Pour mixture over the biscuits and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. To serve: Turn out bundt pan over a large plate and pick off pieces of bread as desired. Serves 6 to 8. WGW

â&#x20AC;?This is the perfect Christmas morning breakfast treat to feed the whole family. This classic pull apart recipe can be tailored to your taste by adding diced apples, raisins or pecans.â&#x20AC;?

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Why the Flu Vaccine is Important W hile seasonal flu viruses are detected all year in the U.S., they are most common during the fall and winter season. Usually, flu activity increases in October and peaks in between December and February, but flu activity sometimes can extend through the month of May, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The flu, or influenza, is a respiratory infection that can create very serious complications, particularly for those most vulnerable: the elderly, young children and those who have certain medical conditions. Although the flu vaccine is not 100 percent effective, it is still the best way to prevent the complications and sheer misery of the flu, and the CDC recommends everyone 6 months or older be vaccinated each year for the flu. Still not convinced? If you're still thinking of abstaining from the flu vaccine this year, here are five reasons why you may want to reconsider.

1. Needle-free alternatives are available. If you have an aversion to needles, now you don't

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have to worry. There is an approved nasal spray available for people age 2 to 49 – as long as they are healthy, don't have asthma and aren't pregnant. 2. The flu vaccine could potentially save your life. On average, over 200,000 people in the U.S. are hospitalized each year due to complications from the flu, according to the CDC, and between 3,000 and 49,000 people have died from those complications each year since the 1970s. 3. There's an additional version of the flu vaccine made specifically for people 65 or older. This shot is tailor-made for older people to better protect them against the flu. Ask your primary care doctor, pharmacist or local clinic for this vaccine if you are over 65. 4. The sooner you get the vaccine, the better your odds for staying healthy during flu season. Times have changed and so have doctor recommendations. Years ago, we were told to wait until later in the season to get the flu shot. Now, the CDC recommends getting the flu vaccine as soon as it is available to you. It usually takes about two weeks after receiving the shot for the flu vaccine to be fully effective, so you should get your shot as soon as possible. 5. It is extremely unlikely that you will have any serious side effects, and you will not contract the flu from a flu shot. Although there are some side effects of the flu vaccine, such as soreness, swelling or redness from the shot, headache, fever, muscle aches or stuffy nose, many people experience no side effects at all. And, in spite of what some people believe, you cannot get the flu from the flu vaccine because it is made from an inactive virus (no longer infectious), or a particle designed to look like a flu virus to your immune system. Both cannot infect you, according to the CDC. The flu virus spreads so quickly and easily that you can become infected just by being near a person who coughs, sneezes or talks, or by touching a surface infected with the virus and then touching your mouth, eyes or nose. Anyone who has had the flu knows how horrible it is to catch the flu virus. It is so important to protect yourself and the community around you by getting the flu vaccine if you are able and a good candidate for the shot. Ask your doctor, pharmacist or local clinic if the flu vaccine is right for you, and if it is right for you, don't delay. Get vaccinated for the flu so you can have a potentially safer and healthier winter. WGW

Womentality

Inspiring quotes by extraordinary women “I must be willing to give whatever it takes to do good to others. This requires that I be willing to give until it hurts. Otherwise, there is no true love in me, and I bring injustice, not peace, to those around me.” – Mother Teresa

“Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

“Think the tree that

bears nutrition: though the fruits are picked, the plant maintains fruition. So give all the love you have. Do not hold any in reserve. What is given is not lost; it shall return.” – Kamand Kojouri

“People say, what is the sense of our small effort? They cannot see that we must lay one brick at a time, take one step at a time. A pebble cast into a pond causes ripples that spread in all directions. Each one of our thoughts, words and deeds is like that. No one has a right to sit down and feel hopeless. There is too much work to do.” – Dorothy Day

“I believe the world is divided in three groups: givers, takers and the few that can balance both impulses. Giving and loving is a beautiful thing. It is the currency of compassion and kindness, it is what separates good people from the rest. And without it, the world would be a bleak place. If you are a giver, it is wise to define your boundaries because takers will take what you allow them to; all givers must learn to protect that about themselves or eventually, there is nothing left to give.” – Tiffany Madison

Local Happenings

West Georgia Mental Health Professionals Wellness Meetup Group

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

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

Rare Pearls Mentoring and Leadership Program

Rare Pearls mission is to enrich and empower the lives of young girls and women. This group meets the third Saturday of each month at WellStar Douglas Hospital, 8954 Hospital Dr. in Douglasville, in the Sycamore Room from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. This program is open to all girls ages 10 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.

GriefShare at Tabernacle Baptist Church Utilizing a video seminar, support group and workbook, each of the 13 weekly GriefShare meetings center around a topic important to the grief recovery process. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m., and the meetings run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. each evening. Meetings are held at 150 Tabernacle Drive, Room 256, Carrollton, Ga. Classes are free. Participation workbooks are $15. For more information on GriefShare, call or text John Pearson at 404.368.2746.

DivorceCare at Tabernacle Baptist Church Utilizing a video seminar, support group, and workbook, each of the 13 weekly DivorceCare meetings center around a topic important to your recovery process. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m., and the meetings run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. each evening. Meetings are held at 150 Tabernacle Drive, Room 260, Carrollton, Ga. Classes are free. Participation workbooks are $15. For more information on DivorceCare, call or text John Pearson at 404.368.2746.

Carroll EMC Accepting Applications for Washington Youth Tour Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative is accepting applications from area high school students, who will be 16 by June 2019, to compete for an all-expense-paid spot on the 2019 Washington Youth Tour. The week-long once-ina-lifetime leadership trip offers participants the opportunity to experience U.S government and U.S. history up-close while having fun, making new friends, and gaining leadership skills. If chosen, the students will become one of the three delegates sponsored by Carroll EMC and join more than 110 teens from other EMCs across Georgia to represent the state during the 2019 Washington Youth Tour to be held June 13-20, 2019. The fast-paced, high-energy program is designed to give students a taste of democracy in action, expose them to the nation’s rich history through visits to national monuments and museums, and encourage students to become politically aware citizens. “The Washington Youth Tour not only taught me more about the exceptional individuals who have helped to shape the history of my nation, it allowed me to meet and form bonds with exceptional individuals in my community, who I know will become the great leaders and history-makers of our nation’s future,” said last year’s delegate, Anna Handley. That sentiment, expressed by many former delegates, underscores the significance of the program – to participate in an unforgettable weeklong journey in the nation’s capital that includes face-to-face meetings with state and national leaders, leadership training, and discussions on important issues with students from other states. The tour begins in Georgia where students get to know each other before boarding an airplane and flying to Washington, D.C. where they connect with more than 1,800 students from across the country. Plans are in the works to cruise down the Potomac River; lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery; meet with Georgia’s U.S. senators and representatives; take photos outside the White House and tour the U.S. Supreme Court, the United States Capitol, Mount Vernon and the National Cathedral.

Students will visit memorials honoring Presidents Franklin Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and George Washington; Martin Luther King Jr.; World War II; the Korean and Vietnam Veterans memorials; and watch the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps and the Silent Drill Platoon perform at the Marine Memorial (Iwo Jima statue) as well as spend time at the Smithsonian, Newseum and Holocaust Museums. Applications can be found on our website, www.carrollemc.com, from Nov. 1 to Feb.15.

Carroll EMC Hosts Biannual Fall Agribusiness Seminar Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative hosted its fall Agribusiness Seminar Oct. 29 at the Carroll County Agriculture-Education Center. The bi-annual seminar is known for bringing together individuals and groups in the agricultural community from the cooperative’s seven-county footprint and across the state. Area farmers, National FFA Organization students, association representatives, business leaders and elected officials were represented and in attendance at the fall seminar. This seminar featured Suzanna Denison as the keynote speaker as well as a panel that spoke on the importance of planning the future of your farm. Denison is the program manager for the American Farmland Trust and is a passionate advocate for farmland access and preservation. Her presentation focused on the value of farm succession planning and how to plan for the future. “What succession planning is all about is insuring financial security, setting the stage for retirement for the future of the farm and that translates to peace of mind,” said Denison. “You have to choose the right tools that will help you achieve that smooth and successful transfer." A panel discussion followed the keynote presentation expanding on the theme of farm succession planning. Brian Kent, county engineer for Carroll County Community Development, Colton Caldwell, attorney for Caldwell Law P.C., Randy Nichols, CPA from Macon, Ga., and Emmett Harrod, Carroll EMC Board Director and Retired Probate Judge made up the panel along with Denison. The panel gave their expertise along with answering questions focusing on dealing with tricky family matters.

“The most important part in succession planning is communication,” said Nichols. “Communication is the single biggest thing to successful succession planning and successful family relations.”

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

Carroll EMC fall agribusiness panelists: (l-r) Randy Nichols, Colton Caldwell, Emmett Harrod, Suzanna Denison, and Brian Kent with Carroll EMC CEO, Tim Martin. Photo by Carroll EMC.

WGTC Boards Capture State Honor The West Georgia Technical College Board of Directors and the WGTC Foundation Board of Trustees brought home the big hardware at the Technical College System of Georgia’s 2018 Leadership Conference last month. Due to the work of both boards, West Georgia Tech was awarded the second annual Leadership and Excellence in Attendance and Dedication (LEAD) Award for board commitment and enthusiastic participation in the conference. For the first time ever, the WGTC Foundation Board of Trustees was recognized as a 2018 Technical College Foundation Association of Georgia Role Model Foundation Board. To achieve this certification, a Foundation Board of Trustees must submit documentation to the TCFA documenting its active engagement in the Foundation’s work. The WGTC Foundation was one of 11 foundation boards across the state recognized by TCFA and TCSG Commissioner Matt Arthur Oct. 30, 2018.

Members of the WGTC Foundation Board of Trustees are President Bryant Hightower, Vice President Greg Wright, Treasurer Ned Fowler, Mark Foster, Daniel Jackson, Linda McWhorter, Jim Mottola, Rocky Clay, Dr. Bob Patterson, Latesa Bailey, Helen Rice, Murray Bradley, and Delores Goldin. The WGTC Board of Directors was recognized for 100 percent board certification for the fourth year in a row. This designation means that all board members are certified by completing needed training and education through the Technical College Director’s Association. Members of the WGTC Board of Directors are Chairman Bill Stone, Chair-elect Michael McNeely, Tommy Britt, Aaron Mabon, Joel Rogers, Denise Taylor and Bill Hightower. Also at the Leadership Conference, the J. Randy Jackson Family was selected as a TCFA Benefactor of the Year for 2018. The WGTC Foundation nominated the Jackson Family in recognition of their continued commitment to technical education and workforce development. The Jackson family established an endowed scholarship in memory of the leader of Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia. Mr. Jackson’s wife, Deborah, and son, Jamey, accepted the award from Commissioner Matt Arthur on behalf of the family. “During his life, Randy Jackson was a great supporter of technical education and West Georgia Tech,” WGTC President Dr. Scott Rule said. “He had a vision for investing in the workforce of Troup County. The scholarship provides for future generations of West Georgia Tech students who will be the workforce of tomorrow. We thank Randy’s family for continuing his passion for workforce development with this endowment.”

West Georgia Technical College was honored with the LEAD Award for board commitment and participation at the Technical College System of Georgia’s Fall Leadership Conference last month in Savannah. Members of both the WGTC Board of Directors and the WGTC Foundation Board of Trustees were on hand to receive the award.

WGTC Planning New Carroll Campus West Georgia Technical College is planning a new campus in Carroll County to replace its current 50-year-old facility, provide additional space and expand instructional offerings. The campus will be located on about 40 acres in the Buffalo Creek Technology Park near the west end of the Hwy. 166 Bypass in Carrollton. Carroll County and the City of Carrollton developed the Tech Park and the Carroll County Development Authority has committed property there for the campus. “From my first day at West Georgia Tech, people have been talking about a new campus in Carroll County,” WGTC President Dr. Scott Rule said. “We know we need it. Our educational partners know we need it. Our industrial and business partners know we need it. Our students know we need it. The College has been working for years to get to this point, and we are so pleased to announce that, through the generosity of the Carroll County Development Authority, property is committed, and we are also working with a $4 million state allocation in this fiscal year to hire architects and project managers for campus construction.” Rule said the Technical College System of Georgia has requested an additional $49.4 million in next year’s state budget for campus construction. As part of the state budget, these funds will need to be approved by the General Assembly in its 2019 session. WGTC operates five full-service campuses across seven counties in West Georgia. Over 7,100 credit students are enrolled this fall. Carroll County Area Vocational Technical School opened in 1968, making Carrollton one of the original sites for what is now West Georgia Tech. About 1,700 credit students attend class on the Carroll Campus this fall. About 100 additional students are taking GED prep classes there. Daniel Jackson, president and CEO of Carroll Tomorrow and the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce, said he and his staff have been working with a number of community partners for several years on this project. “It has taken the cooperation of all our partners to get to this point,” Jackson said. “I think you can look back at 1968 and see the vision of those men and women who knew that technical training was needed if Carroll County were going to grow. And it has grown. It has grown so much that the facility they built in 1968 can’t accommodate the training we

New Year’s Eve December 31, 2018 10 pm – 12:15 am

Headlining - STRUTTER-Kiss Tribute Band

THE MILL Amphitheater and Thomas A. Dorsey Stage * 106 Temple Street in historic downtown Villa Rica

need now.” Jackson said community leaders sat down with Technical College System of Georgia leadership about three years ago and laid out the case for why a campus is needed. “We told them that West Georgia Tech has five campuses, and its busiest campus – in Carrollton – is not able to provide the space or the technology that is needed to train students to do the jobs in Carroll County,” Jackson said. “We heard from them that Carroll County needed to step up and put skin in the game. We believe the land committed by the development authority in the Tech Park was the impetus needed at the state level to get the ball rolling,” he said. Local legislators have been instrumental in securing the $4 million in design money this year and will be crucial to obtaining construction money in future state budgets, Rule said. “As Georgia's economy continues to grow, we must work to provide opportunities in a wide array of highly skilled, high paying jobs,” State Senator Mike Dugan (R-30) said. “We are fortunate that we have an institution like West Georgia Technical College to help our people get the skills and training necessary to fill those jobs. With this new facility, we will be able to provide even more opportunities, offer the potential for our citizens to work careers of their choosing, and keep Georgia as the best state in the nation for economic growth.” If construction funds are approved by the General Assembly in 2019, they could be available by August, Rule said. “At a minimum, the new campus will include all of the instructional programs offered at our existing Carroll Campus,” Rule said. “The construction budget would support a campus of around 160,000 square feet plus a full commercial truck driving range. The current campus is about 100,000 square feet including all the various buildings on the Newnan Road site. Obviously, there are programs we would like to add to better support the businesses and industries in Carroll County.” Carroll Tomorrow is assisting WGTC with the necessary job climate assessments to justify new programming that can be offered to fill the job demand in Carroll County, Jackson said. Carroll County Development Authority Chairman Tim Warren said the authority believes investment of land in the Tech Park will lead to more growth. “West Georgia Tech is a regional technical college with many resources they can bring to bear with the right facilities,” Warren said. “If we truly want to have a workforce that has the skills needed in

today’s economy, we need the educational resources here in Carroll County to teach and train our people. We can attract more industry – and we can better support our existing industries – when we have all the educational resources available to fully support their workforce needs.” Rule said the new location has a number of advantages. “Anytime you relocate, you want to be sure that you don’t disrupt current student travel, but the new site is only four miles from our current location," he said. "It’s in very close proximity to University of West Georgia, which we think will be a real advantage to our continuing partnership with them. It’s near Carrollton High School and Central High School, and it allows us room for now and room to expand later.” Dugan said he believes the campus will aid Carroll County in continuing to grow jobs. “I am proud that the historically strong efforts put forth by West Georgia Technical College have been recognized at the state level,” Dugan said. “The belief that even better things are in store for our future are what led to us investing into this awesome new facility." West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson and Troup counties and class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers more than 120 associate degree, diploma and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is one of the largest of the state’s 22 technical colleges. For more information, please visit westgatech.edu.

West Georgia Technical College President Dr. Scott Rule presented plans for a new Carroll Campus to a meeting of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Workforce Development Committee November 14.

Spread Joy, Not Germs This Holiday The Gift of Hand Washing Season Y ou spend so much time and energy picking out the perfect holiday gifts for those you love, but how much time do you spend washing your hands? The truth is, if you're not washing your hands properly, you could be giving your loved ones a most unwelcome gift: germs that could make them very sick. A 2013 study by Michigan State University published in the Journal of Environmental Health observed 3,749 people in public restrooms in a college town environment (hello, Carrollton and LaGrange!). In the study, researchers found that only five percent of people washed their hands long enough to kill infection-causing germs after using the restroom. Furthermore, 33 percent of people did not use soap and 10 percent did not wash their hands at all. Men, in particular, were inept at washing their hands properly. In fact, 15 percent of men did not wash their hands versus 7 percent of women. Only 50 percent of men used soap to wash their hands, compared with 78 percent of women. Other findings include: people were more likely to wash their hands in the earlier part of the day, less likely to wash their hands if the sink was dirty and more people washed their hands if there was a sign posted encouraging them to do so. Hand washing is the one effective thing people can do to greatly reduce the spread of disease and

infectious germs that cause diarrheal and respiratory illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, a large percentage of foodborne disease outbreaks are spread through contaminated hands, and it is estimated that washing hands with soap and water could greatly reduce diarrheal diseaseassociated deaths by up to 50 percent.

When To Wash Your Hands • After coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose • After using the bathroom • After cleaning up a child who has used the bathroom • After changing diapers • Before and after taking care of someone who is sick • Before eating • Before, during, and after preparing food • After touching garbage • Before and after treating a wound or cut • After touching an animal, animal waste, pet food or animal treats It takes 20 seconds of vigorous hand washing with

West Georgia Ambulance

Encourages all WOMEN to INVEST IN YOURSELVES! Tips for Avoiding Stress and Depression During the Holidays • • • • • • • •

ask family and friends for help with holiday tasks. maintain healthy habits such as exercising and eating properly. learn to say no when your schedule is full. create a holiday budget and stick to it. volunteer to help others or someone in need. be realistic and accept that everything may not be perfect. reach out to others if you are feeling lonely or depressed. no one is worth more than you. when you are at your best, then you can be better for those around you.

Dedicated Healthcare When You Need It Most • 770.832.9689 soap and water to kill germs effectively, says the CDC, yet the Michigan State University study found that people are, on average, only washing their hands for approximately six seconds. Physicians and the CDC recommend singing the "Happy Birthday" song twice while you are washing your hands to ensure you are washing long enough to kill the germs.

Common Washing Mistakes • Washing only the palms of your hands. Germs hide in between the pockets of your fingers and under fingernails, so extra scrubbing in these areas is required to kill germs that cause illness. • Skipping soap and using hand sanitizer. Soap and water is the best way to fight germs such as Clostridium difficile, a bacteria that causes diarrhea, and norovirus, an extremely contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Sanitizer is good, but soap is better. • Touching other surfaces immediately after washing your hands. Five percent of bathroom faucets carry staph and 27 percent carry molds, according to a 2011 study

conducted by NSF International, and moist surfaces are breeding grounds for germs. It’s always best to turn off the faucet or open the door in a public restroom with a paper towel to keep your just-washed hands clean. • Not rinsing your bar soap before washing your hands. That slime your bar soap lies in could contain harmful bacteria that can transfer to your hands. To avoid this, always rinse your bar soap in running water before washing your hands. Store your bar soap out of water and allow it to dry between uses. • Refilling liquid soap dispensers. A small study in an elementary school restroom conducted by the American Society for Microbiology showed that when soap dispensers were refilled from a larger bottle, there was a significant increase in bacteria on hands compared to dispensers that were replaced with a sealed soap refill. This holiday season, give your loved ones and everyone in contact with you a gift they will really appreciate – the thoughtful, simple and easy gift of hand washing. This way, you will all spend less time being sick and more time making merry. WGW

Little THINGS DELIVERING

the

tanner.org/maternity

Every baby’s arrival is different, whether the first-born, fourth-born — or a twin following on her sibling’s heels. Tanner offers a personalized approach to maternity care, providing each new mother with the support she needs to help her delivery go as she pictures it. Our experienced team of obstetrics specialists will help you formulate your birth plan, our free online and in-person classes will help you prepare and our specially trained labor and delivery nurses will support you in putting your plan into action.

Lily Noland and big sister Hannah Noland Parents — Heather and Stephen Noland

So go ahead, mom — work on that labor playlist, toss your Bluetooth speaker in your go-bag and get ready. You expect your delivery to be special. So do we. 43

Kids Korner

Tealight Snowman Ornaments

By Charlene Brooks Photos by Zachary Dailey

Red and green bows Red pom-poms Embroidery thread or yarn Scissors

hese adorable snowman tealight candles will add a little sparkle to any room this holiday season, and this super easy gingerbread man craft will give your little ones something fun to do while they are home on Christmas break.

Instructions

Materials Tealight candles Hot glue gun Red marker Black marker Googly eyes Black construction paper Red pipe cleaner

Glue the googly eyes to the tealight candles. Using the markers, dot mouths on the tea lights. Cut out a top hat from the black construction paper. Cut a small rectangular piece from one of the green bows and glue to the top hat. Glue the hat to the top of the tealight candle. Glue the bows to the bottom of the tealight candles. Cut a piece of the pipe cleaner approximately three inches long and glue it on top of one of the tealight candles. Glue the pom-poms to each end of the pipe stem. Glue a piece of yarn or embroidery thread to the back of the tealight candle for hanging on your Christmas tree.

Super Easy Gingerbread Man Materials Brown, red, green, black and pink felt or construction paper Googly eyes Red pom pom Scissors

Instructions

Hot glue gun

Draw a gingerbead man freehand, any size you wish on the felt or construction paper. Glue the googly eyes and pom-pom nose to the gingerbread cutout. Cut a mouth out of the red felt or construction paper and glue to cutout. Cut two circles for buttons out of the pink felt or construction paper and glue to cutout. Cut a collar for the gingerbread man out of the green felt or construction paper and glue to cutout. Cut black circles out of the black felt or construction paper and glue one circle on each foot. WGW

An Independent PreK-3 through 12th Grade College -Preparatory School

Oak Mountain Academy is a family-oriented Independent School with faith-based values and an Academy Honor Code. We offer high academic standards as we prepare our students for college and beyond. Our students are supported through various dynamic opportunities empowering them to lead lives of service and integrity.

Join us for Admissions Open House ~ Thursday, January 31, 2019 ~ 9 a.m. 222 Cross Plains Road ~ Carrollton, GA 30116 ~ 770-834-6651 ~ www.oakmountain.us

M Lov erry Wes e, Chris tma tG e s! Mag orgia W azin om e an

Merry Christmas Word Search Word Bank

Jesus Angels December Christmas Tree Elves Goodwill Merry Snow Jolly Mistletoe Holy Family Season Saint Nicholas Tradition Stockings Toys Wreath Yuletide Tinsel Sleigh Bells

Word search created at puzzle-maker.com

Family and Cosmetic Dentistry

Holiday Specials!

$100 off Crown and Bridge Work $55 Bleach Whitening Strips Kit (Bleach Kit Retail Value $75) M. Dawn Harvey, DMD, PC

*Offer valid for new or existing patients only from 11.01.18 - 12.31.18.

Family Dentistry and Complete Facial Esthetics 105 Dallas Rd â&#x20AC;˘ Villa Rica â&#x20AC;˘ 770.459.5778 www.drharveysmiles.com 47

AND TO ALL . . .

A GOOD NIGHT. JOHN THORNTON GMC 1492 N Park St (Hwy 27) Carrollton GA 30117 770.832.9602 www.johnthorntonbuickgmc.com 48