Albany Living Magazine Winter 2021

Win t e r 2021

H o m e t o wn L i v i n g at i t s B e st

SUNNYLAND FARMS

Sunnyland Farms continues to be a staple in the community

ALBANY LIVING

AN INVESTMENT IN

SILVER’S ODYSSEY

Henry C. Duggan takes his readers on an epic journey through old Florida

AN INVESTMENT IN

Friendship JASON WIGGINS AND LUKE BRYAN KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF WORK AND THE BENEFITS IT CAN BRING.

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H o m e t o w n L i v i n g at i t s B e s t

contents /

winter Issue 2021

All in the Family D & D Kitchen Center was founded in 1975 by Paul F. Dunn, Jr. and has been a family-owned business in Albany for over four decades.

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Always Sunny on the Farm Established in Albany in 1948 by the Willson family, Sunnyland Farms continues to be a staple in the community.

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An Education to Last a Lifetime Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy, nicknamed 4C Academy, is committed to providing students an education that will equip them for a future full of possibilities.

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The Miracle of Birth Albany is home to many doulas, midwives/homebirth midwives, counselors, post-partum aides, and breastfeeding consultants who can help you with your many birthing options.

On T h e C o v e r Luke Bryan and Jason Wiggins >> David Parks Photography 4 winter 2021 / albany Living magazine

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Albany H o m e t o w n L i v i n g at i t s B e s t

C O NT E NTS

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102

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An Investment in Friendship

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A Haven of Hope Rhiannon Dobson and Karma Scardino

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Give Your Kids a Taste of Culture

Jason Wiggins and Luke Bryan

felt a calling to begin a ministry

know the importance of work and the

reaching out to a generation that may

is by trying out foods and mealtime

benefits it can bring.

have never heard the name of Jesus.

customs of other nationalities and

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unique American regions.

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A fun way to explore our diversity

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Interweaving fictional elements with

Decorating Tips & Trends

historical events, Henry C. Duggan

You can create a fresh look by combining

Take a look at a few more reasons

takes his readers on an epic journey

some of your existing furnishings with a

why we love Albany.

through old Florida in Silver’s

few new or new-used pieces to achieve

Odyssey.

the atmosphere you desire.

Silver’s Odyssey

6 WINTER 2021 / ALBANY LIVING MAGAZINE

Scenes of Albany

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From the Publisher From the Publisher

albany P u b l i s h e r With You in mind Publications

Jay and martin E x E C u t iPVuEbEldi si to h errS With You Patti In Mind Publications landon and mandi spivey

CCrreEat Generated Graphics, LLC Ati vi VeE||DdeEsSi g i Gnn Caffeine robin harrison

mandi spivey Relative Media and Marketing relative media and marketing Stacey Nichols Stacey nichols Photo by Leslie Hand

ooffffi ci CeEMmaAnnag AGeErr Nikki lauraBurkhalter mcCullough

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While reading through our cover story, I was reminded Perhaps the greatest piece of advice i have ever heard was given by dory, courtesty of the disney movie she sang heart just how blessed we Finding are inNemo life when to have thehergift ofouttrue to “Just Keep Swimming.” Seriously, she ran into obstacle after obstacle friendships. our family, friends and it seemed herAlong mission with was impossible, yet shetrue kept finding the can offer us strength to just keep swimming. encouragement, perspective, confidence, hope and love. i was trulyof overwhelmed when reading these thistruly issue as thepeople and Two our greatest assets instories this inlife are theme was so clear. not quitting or giving up was the message time our faith!

Albany full of strong ties and strong and again when so manyis of these heroic peoplefriendship suffered huge life devastations and made the ChoiCe to not give up. What truly brought me faith!

What a great recipe for success! to tears was the fact that not just one of these stories, but every single oneAthat experienced sort ofrecently trauma, chose to turn their pain thoughts into dear friendsome of ours shared these love and give to others from that place. that is what life is all about. so with usthese about “The heartbeat of Albany is strong! many of pagesAlbany: are filled with our friends and neighbors who turned love into action.

We’ve weathered many storms together and it positioned relationships matter and is what our hearts are made for. Connection us to stand together even through a tough political climate. to those around us is our purpose. there are always rainbows after rain, What youWinter, see hope on the the casetoin our city. growth after afternews trial. Weis getnot the opportunity choose what we do with every single day.

People smile, they are gentle with one another. We’ve had sharing these inspirational messages through pages brings me the is going enough heartbreak and you canthese sense that nothing greatest joy and i am truly honored to present this issue. Please take the to incite division.

People are the heart of on this city. time to go through the names of generous business owners page 192 It’s a that give this community such a gift at no charge. We are so thankful for beautiful community!” Well said our sweet friend!! each one of our readers and each one of these sponsors.

We love you Albany and we are so honored to be a part of this incredible

With much love and blessings from our family to yours! family in the good life city!

View our magazines online at:

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@albanylivingmagazine

From our family to yours,

Albany Living Magazine Contact us at (912) 403-3004 Contact us at (912) 654-3045 8

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A S S i S tA n t A s s i s ta n t m A n AG E r S June dixon Dixon M a n ag e r June nikki Burkhalter

P h oto G r A P h E r S Cox Photography P h otog r ap h e r s David Parks Photography

david Parks Photography Evie Carver millie mac Photography PerryLocke revellPhotography Katie relative media and marketing Millie Mac Photography rosemary West Photography Rachel Price shae Foy Photography shannan blanchard Photography Relative Media and Marketing Shae Foy Photography C oV E r P h oto Brandy dew, Sweet Photography PhotoMagnolia by david Parks

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STORY BY DAVID PENA PHOTOS BY DAVID PARKS PHOTOGRAPHY

Established in Albany in 1948 by the Willson family, Sunnyland Farms continues to be a staple in the community.

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When one takes a stroll through Sunnyland Farms’ commercial kitchen, it’s not unlike stepping into the world of the Keebler Elves.

The delicious aroma of their famous toasted nuts permeates the air, while other products like Sunnyland’s homemade pecan butter, delicious cakes and assorted candies are being prepared by hand for delivery to its customers’ front doors.

“Running your own pecan farm is a little like herding cats, particularly on the mail-order end of it,” says Alex Willson, Chief Operating Officer for his family’s Albany-based pecan operation.

“You don’t really know what to expect on some days, especially during our busy time of the year, which usually begins in October.”

Established in Albany in 1948 by the Willson family, Sunnyland Farms has always prided itself on growing only the finest nuts, but it also churns out delicacies like rum crunch cake, chocolate bark,

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Always

Sunny on the Farm

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Alex and Staci say that they want to continue their company’s focus on adapting to ever-changing markets while evolving to meet the unique challenges in our world today. This includes modernizing their methods. “We want to continue to make our website a lot more user-friendly and faster,” says Alex. “We have to always be looking five or ten years ahead of the curve.”

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The Willsons say that their customers are always welcome to stop in if they’re driving through Georgia.

Alex is even considering converting a small house on the property into a store. “We always have groups who want to tour our plant, so we’d like to have an actual store with products set up for them.

As an ecommerce business, our customers can order anything we sell, but it’s always good to have something tangible for them to see and touch.”

turtles and pecan pies. However, the top seller for the last two decades and counting is, without a doubt, Sunnyland Farm’s famous raw pecan halves. “Anything you can do with pecans, we’re either doing it or we’ve attempted it at some point,” Alex says with a laugh.

And with all its successes over the past few decades, it wasn’t surprising that Sunnyland was one of only 31 companies that received a Georgia Department of Economic Development GLOBE Award for 2020.

Moreover, the company was recognized as a top Georgia exporter for 2019 and was also one of four winners in the Exporter of the Year category.

“We’ve definitely had some success over the years, and we’ve continued to build on that,” explains Alex. “Our tagline is ‘Only the Best,’ and that’s because our focus has always been to buy the best quality ingredients. Our differentiator is that we source only the best nuts, candies or ingredients, regardless of whether we grow the nuts or

not. You can definitely tell when you get one of our products.” The farm’s homegrown nuts are harvested, shelled, and packaged right on site.

It was back in 1926 when Alex’s great-grandfather, Will Willson, initially developed the property located on (aptly named) Willson Road for the Willson Farming Company, the agricultural end of Sunnyland.

“At that time the original trees on the farm were just five years old,” explains Alex, “and amazingly some are still producing for us.” In 1948, his grandparents initiated the catalog end of the business, which became known as Sunnyland Farms. “That side of our business started off as a mail-order company with Harry and Jane Willson. It has remained a mail-order company obviously, but has been modernized with the times. For example, we went online back in the 1990’s, but (the mail-order company) was definitely a novel concept when it began.”

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Alex says that last year has definitely provided its share of unique challenges, but it’s been a learning process for Sunnyland Farms. “Like every other company, we had to modify a lot of our procedures. Our employee safety is always our primary concern.”

Sunnyland’s farm operation currently occupies about 1,760 acres, with about 1,350 acres set aside for the farm’s various varieties of trees. Traditional harvest usually starts around mid-October, though some newer varieties of trees start a little earlier. “This year’s harvest started toward the end of September,” explains Alex. “Unfortunately, we lost over 3,100 trees in 2018 due to Hurricane Michael, so last year we spent a good bit of time replacing those. The goal now is to start maximizing the yield per acre by adding trees to the existing land. We’re also bringing down some of the older trees that don’t produce as much and adding some newer varieties to the farm.”

Alex returned to take over his family’s business about five years ago after a career in finance. “I worked in equity compensation for years, but I just felt it was time to come back. I really wanted to help bring my family’s company into the 21st century. Plus, I’ve known a lot of the people who have worked here since I was a kid, so we make sure that we treat everyone here equitably and let them know that we can’t do what we do without them. Perhaps that’s one reason some of our team members stay with us for over 40 years.”

Now as a fourth-generation pecan farmer, Alex proudly works alongside his parents and his wife Staci, who handles the marketing, branding and public relation functions for the business. “We were basically founded as a catalog business, so I now am one of the creative forces behind the catalog, and I develop new recipes for it as well,” she says. “Prior to marrying Alex, I was in the food business, so this is right up my alley.”

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Although Georgia accounts for one-third of all the pecan harvests in the country, Alex says that his company’s primary concern has always been quality over quantity. “I really think that our quality products help to set us apart from our competitors,” he says.

“We have a lot of longevity, and we think we’ve always grown a pretty good nut.”

Alex says that last year has definitely provided its share of unique challenges, but it’s been a learning process for Sunnyland Farms. “Like every other company, we had to modify a lot of our procedures.

Our employee safety is always our primary concern.”

Along with the cancellation of worldwide marketing events, and sanitizing procedures taking precedence, pecan prices were much lower than usual in 2020.

And with the current pandemic, the company has seen a good bit of trepidation in the minds of many customers, but Alex sees a silver lining to it all.

“People are ordering online who’ve never done so before out of necessity, so we actually saw an increase in demand. We had to load more product to ship while adhering to the latest safety protocols, which is not really a bad problem to have. Then again, there’s

Alex returned to take over his family’s business about five years ago after a career in finance. “I worked in equity compensation for years, but I just felt it was time to come back. I really wanted to help bring my family’s company into the 21st century. Plus, I’ve known a lot of the people who have worked here since I was a kid, so we make sure that we treat everyone here equitably and let them know that we can’t do what we do without them. Perhaps that’s one reason some of our team members stay with us for over 40 years.”

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always going to be a new challenge to overcome, so we’re constantly looking for ways to evolve as a company.”

The Willsons say that their customers are always welcome to stop in if they’re driving through Georgia. Alex is even considering converting a small house on the property into a store. “We always have groups who want to tour our plant, so we’d like to have an actual store with products set up for them. As an ecommerce business, our customers can order anything we sell, but it’s always good to have something tangible for them to see and touch.”

Staci is quick to add that product innovation is always a key area for Sunnyland Farms. “Developing new products has always been one of our main goals, along with growth in the worldwide marketplace, and since I’m creative, (working at Sunnyland) allows me to really stretch my wings. For example, just this past spring we were pleased to introduce a delightfully delicious Limoncello Pound Cake, which incorporates luscious lemony batter poured over crushed almond slices. Of course, the cake incorporates Sunnyland nuts.”

Alex and Staci say that they want to continue their company’s focus on adapting to ever-changing markets while evolving to meet the unique challenges in our world today. This includes modernizing their methods.

“We want to continue to make our website a lot more user-friendly and faster,” says Alex. “We have to always be looking five or ten years ahead of the curve.”

“Being able to continue the legacy begun by Alex’s grandparents and parents is truly amazing, and we get to give back in the community which we call home,” says Staci.

For more information about Sunnyland Farms, visit http://www.sunnylandfarms.com.  ALM Sunnyland’s farm operation currently occupies about 1,760 acres, with about 1,350 acres set aside for the farm’s various varieties of trees. Traditional harvest usually starts around mid-October, though some newer varieties of trees start a little earlier.

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An

Education to Last a Lifetime

a

An educational journey sets the foundation for a student’s future as a professional. These critical years help mold young adults into motivated, enthusiastic individuals if provided the tools and guidance required to succeed. It’s a stepping stone that, if stable, can serve as the bedrock for getting to where one aspires.

Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy, nicknamed 4C Academy, is committed to providing students an education that will equip them for a future full of possibilities. 4C Academy’s CEO, Chris Hatcher, tells me about his involvement in the local

Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy, nicknamed 4C Academy, is committed to providing students an education that will equip them for a future full of possibilities.

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Chris tells me about the aviation pathway the academy offers and the unique exposure it gives students to that career. “We have flight simulators and we also have drones,” he says. “They’re not doing any flying but they are working on that FAA track. The goal is for them to get their pilot’s license.” These pathways help build the foundation of a student’s career and give them an accurate taste of the profession.

An educational journey sets the foundation for a student’s future as a professional. These critical years help mold young adults into motivated, enthusiastic individuals if provided the tools and guidance required to succeed. It’s a stepping stone that, if stable, can serve as the bedrock for getting to where one aspires.

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economic commission board he serves on that helped develop the plan to build this school in 2014. “I really got excited in that first board meeting about the academy,” he remembers. With a background in business, Chris embarked on this journey enthused to step into the education sector and make a difference in the community’s youth. In 2016, 4C Academy became fully operational and their footprint on the community was officially made.

No ordinary high school, 4C Academy was founded to provide students a creative and hands-on learning experience they might

not receive elsewhere. In addition to academic courses, they established specific pathways to guide students into their profession of choice. These pathways include things like agribusiness, engineering, graphic design, healthcare science and information technology. Students are encouraged to pursue pathways that interest and excite them.

Chris tells me about the aviation pathway the academy offers and the unique exposure it gives students to that career.

“We have flight simulators and we also have drones,” he says.

“They’re not doing any flying but they are working on that FAA track. The goal is for them to get their pilot’s license.” These pathways help build the foundation of a student’s career and give them an accurate taste of the profession.

Chris talks about the healthcare science pathway and describes students’ journeys toward becoming healthcare workers. The academy’s students work towards their certification in nurse aid and can begin

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working at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in their senior year of school. In fact, there are a handful of internships like this that can turn into full-time jobs after graduation. Chris excitedly shares the story of a student who interned with Procter & Gamble and was hired into a full-time position upon graduation.

“A lot of our certifications here are partnered with the Albany Technical College,” Chris says, explaining the dual credit opportunities the academy offers. Some teachers are certified to teach college level courses which are offered to the students and allow them to earn college level credits before graduating high school. “There are a lot of dual enrollment students here at the academy,” Chris reveals. Dual enrollment not only helps students reach their academic goals On these outdoor learning days, students work together on environmentally focused projects to impact the space and community around them.

Chris says that one group created a solar sun bar that charges phones and devices with natural energy.

Another group focused on health as it pertains to food and spent time educating fellow classmates and elementary students on the importance of eating healthy.

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faster, it encourages strong work ethics that produce motivated college students and young professionals.

Chris speaks of 4C Academy’s teachers with gratitude for their real-world experiences prior to working at the school. “Several of our instructors have come straight from industry,” he says of those that did not teach before joining the 4C team. These teachers bring fresh ideas and perspectives to the classroom every day.

4C Academy’s unique learning system includes informal classes on Fridays. Chris tells me this idea stemmed from the research that shows that today’s students have a very short attention span in class. “We’ve taken that into account and really focus on hands-on learning,” he says. Chris reports that getting students outdoors and on trips increases their involvement in discussions and projects.

Prior to opening 4C Academy, the planning team was curious what skills needed to be refined in students before they entered a career. To serve the needs of the local industry, the team did research on what businesses want in new employees.

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On these outdoor learning days, students work together on environmentally focused projects to impact the space and community around them.

Chris says that one group created a solar sun bar that charges phones and devices with natural energy.

Another group focused on health as it pertains to food and spent time educating fellow classmates and elementary students on the importance of eating healthy. Some students built 40 raised-bed garden boxes with irrigation and a mobile produce stand.

“We really try to have a community component to everything we do,” Chris explains.

In addition to the unique pathways of 4C Academy, Chris boasts of the other programs they offer. “We have a very robust robotics program here and our team has been incredibly successful,” he says proudly.

4C Academy students get the chance to compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition each year designing, programing and building a robot to compete against schools all over the country. Chris says, “Our team in three years has not only qualified for state, but the international competition held in Houston.” He adds,

“We competed at the world competition in our first two years – and were headed there for a third year had it not been for COVID-19.”

This competition is a wonderful opportunity in many ways. Not only does it encourage teamwork, it allows students the opportunity to travel with their friends and classmates. “A lot of these kids have not traveled very far,” Chris tells me. In fact, most of them had never been on an airplane before going to Houston for this competition. Chris describes the delight in which they journeyed to the event saying, “It was a great experience for them all.” An opportunity that has educational and social benefits, this is one of the many unique learning experiences offered by the academy.

Prior to opening 4C Academy, the planning team was curious what skills needed to be refined in students before they entered a career.

To serve the needs of the local industry, the team did research on what businesses want in new employees. “I was out there talking to all of our

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big and small employers and I learned there is a universal need to focus on soft skills,” he found. Knowing the value of eye contact, clear communication and a strong handshake, Chris and the teachers make sure these practices and their importance are shared with students throughout their time at 4C Academy.

To further encourage these practices, Chris says they have speakers who talk with students about how these very skills helped further their careers. “Interaction with an adult can help you get a job, keep a job and get promoted,” Chris assures me. To prepare students for this, they have hosted hand shake competitions that teach the students how to build professional relationships with confidence.

The feedback they have gotten from employers that have hired 4C Academy’s students full- time have been nothing but positive. Chris reports that their teaching of soft skills has made an impactful difference in the students after graduating school. “We’ve heard that from our employers,” he says of the people that hire these young professionals. “They can see and feel that we’ve put a big emphasis there.” And it truly makes a difference in helping these students get a job to jump start their career.

Though a newer school, 4C Academy has already made a lasting impact on the youth in the community.

“We’ve got great partnerships with our community,” Chris beams. “We’re all agreeable on our mission and our direction and that has me very optimistic about the difference this place can make on the community and really change the lives of these students.”

Because of the hard work of the men and women of this school, children in our community are daily given tools to build the foundation of their careers. At 4C Academy, students do not simply get an education but a chance at a better life and a brighter future. ALM

Though a newer school, 4C Academy has already made a lasting impact on the youth in the community.

“We’ve got great partnerships with our community,” Chris beams. “We’re all agreeable on our mission and our direction and that has me very optimistic about the difference this place can make on the community and really change the lives of these students.

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your health is important to us.

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All in the

Family

STORY BY DAVID PENA | PHOTOS BY DAVID PARKS PHOTOGRAPHY 42 albany living magazine

D & D Kitchen Center was founded in 1975 by Paul F. Dunn, Jr. and has been a family-owned business in Albany for over four decades.

r

Remember a time back when smaller, local businesses were much more plentiful in this country? Back when customers enjoyed the feeling of being regulars at “Mom-and-Pop” stores and the owners knew their names? If that doesn’t sound familiar, you’re either very young or you live in a community where corporations are slowly taking over. In fact, big businesses have basically eliminated over 4 million jobs over the last 30 years, while small businesses have actually added about 8 million new jobs. It’s a sad inevitability, but places like bike repair shops, hair salons, neighborhood bars, consignment shops, craft stores, and fruit stands are just some of the businesses that seem to be on the endangered list.

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Joan says that the real secret to the company’s longevity lies in the customer relations and a great staff. “We have some excellent employees who are like family to us, and we really care about our customers. They’re our main priority, and because of that we have a great client base.”

However, one local business is doing just fine, and it even has an interesting story behind its inception. D & D Kitchen Center was founded in 1975 by Paul F. Dunn, Jr. and has been a family-owned business in Albany for over four decades. As the owners will attest, though, the business began from somewhat humble circumstances.

“When I was 16, I worked at a service station in Albany,” recalls Paul. “Behind that station there was a cabinet shop, and that’s where it all began.” During his lunch breaks, Paul would sneak off to the woodworking shop to watch as the men constructed handmade cabinets. “I knew I wouldn’t be working at a gas station my whole life, so I set about learning how to do what they did.” Sure enough, Paul soon found himself working for another cabinet shop before ending back up at Letchworth’s. “I just sanded cabinets at first,” he says, “but I was real hungry and eager to learn, so I made them teach me.” Thus, Paul was on his way to becoming a cabinet craftsman himself, but some unexpected circumstances sped up the process.

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Only six months into his stint at the shop, he learned that his job description was going to radically change. “The shop’s foreman was planning to leave, so the owner came to me one day and told me I had about two weeks to learn how to run the shop,” says Paul with a chuckle.

It was definitely trial-by-fire for the teenager, but he accepted the challenge with a sense of renewed purpose. “It taught me how to think on my feet and figure things out really quickly.

I ended up running his shop for a couple of years. In fact, the customers would bypass the owner to come see me about designing their kitchen.”

The shop’s foreman happened to be an outstanding cabinet man, something that was not lost on the young apprentice. “At that time, Albany was very behind-the-times in terms of cabinetry,” explains Paul. “No one knew anything about it until he arrived from Florida. His name was Robert Gunn, and he taught me everything I knew about building cabinets; in turn, I’ve shared what he taught me with everyone else in Albany over the years.”

Unfortunately, Paul and the owner of the shop couldn’t agree on a business deal, so Paul 46

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eventually decided to start his own business.

The year was 1975, and Paul was just 21 years old.

Starting out on a shoe-string budget, he enlisted the help of his father for some financial backing. “We initially set up a small shop on the corner of 3rd Street and Washington,” he recalls. However, Paul soon learned that it’s one thing to run a shop for someone else, but it’s another thing entirely to run your own.

Predictably, times proved to be pretty tough for Paul at the outset. “For the first five years, I didn’t draw a penny from my business; every dime went back into it,” he explains. “If my wife Joan hadn’t supported us,

we would have starved to death. In fact, the first year we were married, I had to draw $146 to get her a Christmas gift. There were some lean years indeed.”

Joan, Paul’s wife of 40 years, concurs. “He started the business a few years before we were married. I was actually a dental hygienist for the first year, and I had to be the breadwinner. I then quit my job and began working with him when the business started growing. Although I loved my dental job, it was the right thing to do. Now I pretty much do everything that needs to be done.”

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Throughout all the hardships, the thought of quitting never entered Paul’s mind. “I just had ‘a bulldog grit’ and was determined to make it, something I get from my father,” he says with a smile. “I even ended up training him about the business.” So, with a crew of just two employees, Paul and his small staff set about changing the landscape of kitchen designing in Albany. One of his original employees, Rodney Letchworth, still works for him as foreman. “I actually got my first job from Rodney’s uncle,” Paul adds with a smile. “Over time, things slowly but surely began to click for us.”

Eventually, business improved so much that Paul moved his shop to 522 North Washington. “We bought an old pine building and fixed it up,” he says. “We

“When I was 16, I worked at a service station in Albany,” recalls Paul. “Behind that station there was a cabinet shop, and that’s where it all began.” During his lunch breaks, Paul would sneak off to the woodworking shop to watch as the men constructed handmade cabinets. “I knew I wouldn’t be working at a gas station my whole life, so I set about learning how to do what they did.”

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even had enough money to eventually purchase our first CNC router.”

Things seemed to be finally looking up for D & D Kitchen Center, that is, until life intervened.

Paul’s father unfortunately suffered a stroke in 2006, and on one fateful night he received some other bad news. “I was coming home from my father’s house when a buddy of mine called and told me my business was on fire. It was a fire that lit up the night sky; you could see it for miles.”

Interestingly enough, the cause of the fire was never determined.

Thus, Paul and company had to start again from scratch, this time at their third and current location on Washington Street just two buildings down from the old location. It didn’t take long, however, to surpass all expectations. Starting with a crew of two employees, now the company boasts a

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staff of over 20 employees, including the Dunn’s youngest daughter Whitney. “She actually went to college to be a social worker, but she decided that’s not what she wanted to do. She joined the company along with her husband, Justin McNally, three years ago, and they have been doing a fantastic job for us.”

45 years after its inception, D & D Kitchen Center now offers complete bathroom, kitchen, and other remodeling services, and they manufacture custom cabinets of every variety.

“We produce great designs at a really good value,” says Paul. “I’ve been doing this for so long I can walk into a person’s home and see designs that not a lot of others could.”

Joan says that the real secret to the company’s longevity lies in the customer relations and a great staff. “We have some excellent employees who

Throughout all the hardships, the thought of quitting never entered Paul’s mind. “I just had ‘a bulldog grit’ and was determined to make it, something I get from my father,” he says with a smile. “I even ended up training him about the business.” So, with a crew of just two employees, Paul and his small staff set about changing the landscape of kitchen designing in Albany. One of his original employees, Rodney Letchworth, still works for him as foreman. “I actually got my first job from Rodney’s uncle,” Paul adds with a smile. “Over time, things slowly but surely began to click for us.”

are like family to us, and we really care about our customers. They’re our main priority, and because of that we have a great client base.”

“It’s also about loving what you do,” adds Paul.

“It’s not work for me, so I’ll do it as long as I’m able to.” However, when he does eventually retire, the 66-year-old will leave the business in very good hands. Paul’s brother Kelly, along with his wife Lara, have also become an integral part of the business and will eventually run it along with Whitney and her husband. “She is a really bright bulb and is so great with all our customers. She’s also got such a creative edge to her, so I’m sure that she and Justin, along with Kelly and Lara, will grow our business in ways that we can’t even imagine.”  ALM

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Follow our journey.

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Hunting Films Tailor to your personal requirements, we film and produce a professional quality, feature length movie of your Hunting adventures.

With our vast experience of Hunting on every continent of the world with leading Outfitters, Professional Hunters and TV Celebratory hunters, Hannes Pienaar Productions offers you a product that is second to none.

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We understand that each client is unique and we work to create content that is customised, bringing their vision to light through film.

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The Miracle Of

Birth 58 albany living magazine

STORY BY RACHEL PRICE | PHOTOS BY KATIE LOCKE PHOTOGRAPHY

Albany is home to many doulas, midwives/homebirth midwives, counselors, post-partum aides, and breastfeeding consultants who can help you with your many birthing options.

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Birth workers are essential to their communities. When we think of them, we tend to think of doctors, surgeons and nurses. However, birthing options expand outside of hospital and office walls. In fact, the shift to hospital births is as recent as the 20th century. Prior to hospital births, women birthed at home surrounded by a midwife and seasoned mothers. Today, many mothers-to-be are not aware that they have choices when it comes to where and how they birth, what power they have over their experience, or even who is allowed to be present.

Doulas are trained and certified birth workers that provide physical, emotional, and informational support to women during labor and birth. Many doulas also offer support during the prenatal and post-partum

In public health, midwives and doulas play a positive role in promoting health care for mother and child, bringing change in birthing conditions, health, mental, and emotional conditions.

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periods. Their impact is large as many women are able to forego epidurals, avoid cesarean sections, and experience a less stressful birth with the support of a doula. Doulas are allowed at doctor’s appointments and in the delivery room.

Midwives are the traditional care providers for mothers and infants. Many OB/Gyn offices have midwives as their birth provider. Homebirth midwives, a midwife that works with the mother to stay at home during labor and delivery, also move through communities in positive ways. Planned home births produce lower rates of maternal morbidity and lower rates of interventions like a cesarean birth. A midwife and doula together produce a powerhouse for women that can include non-medicated, healthy, and yes, even an enjoyable birth experience inside or outside of the hospital setting.

Clinical midwives introduce women to the health system and ensure they and their babies receive a continuum of skilled care during pregnancy, childbirth, and in the important days and weeks after birth. While homebirth midwives are there in the home of women who choose to forego the hospital, they are there to safeguard the health and safety of mama and baby.

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Albany and many surrounding counties house birth workers, some that work behind the scenes, most that aren’t often thought of, considered, or recognized. From doulas and midwives, to birth photographers and lactation consultants, expectant women have local birthing options they may have never considered.

“Over the past year, I’ve met several local doulas and I’ve even worked with a few,” Katie Locke, photographer and doula-in-training, tells me. “My number one regret is not having a doula. The main goal of birth isn’t just a healthy baby. Birth matters, mamas matter…we tend to forget about mamas and

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“Over the past year, I’ve met several local doulas and I’ve even worked with a few,” Katie Locke, photographer and doula-in-training, tells me. “My number one regret is not having a doula. The main goal of birth isn’t just a healthy baby. Birth matters, mamas matter…we tend to forget about mamas and think of only that cute wrinkly little baby. But, doulas understand and will be right by your side as you learn to set boundaries, breastfeed, and more.”

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Midwives are the traditional care providers for mothers and infants. Many OB/Gyn offices have midwives as their birth provider. Homebirth midwives, a midwife that works with the mother to stay at home during labor and delivery, also move through communities in positive ways.

think of only that cute wrinkly little baby. But, doulas understand and will be right by your side as you learn to set boundaries, breastfeed, and more.”

Katie is a birth worker herself. Not in the usual way we all think. Katie is a professional birth photographer and owner of Katie Locke Photography. She is a visual birth story teller and has been photographing births in Southwest Georgia. She has also worked with many doulas and a homebirth midwife. “Last year I worked with a home birth midwife at a birth in Albany. I had never been to a home birth. It was magical! Juniper, the midwife, was wonderful. I was so impressed by her trust in the mother’s body.”

There are many people that think doulas and midwives aren’t necessary. Some feel they are too kooky or hippie.

However, they are actually very much needed. Statistics show that women that have had a doula experience: ● 39% decreased likelihood of having a cesarean birth ● 10% decreased likelihood of needing pain medications ● 31% decreased likelihood of reporting a negative birth experience ● shorter labors by about 41 minutes ● increased rates of breastfeeding.

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Clinical midwives introduce women to the health system and ensure they and their babies receive a continuum of skilled care during pregnancy, childbirth, and in the important days and weeks after birth.

While homebirth midwives are there in the home of women who choose to forego the hospital, they are there to safeguard the health and safety of mama and baby.

In public health, midwives and doulas play a positive role in promoting health care for mother and child, bringing change in birthing conditions, health, mental, and emotional conditions.

The relationship between mother, midwife/doula, and infant has a significant impact on the overall maternal and baby health. They can provide counseling, education, carry out emergency processes, and identify any abnormalities in pregnancy and birth. They promote and increase health within their communities.

Albany is home to many doulas, midwives/homebirth midwives, counselors, post-partum aides, and breastfeeding consultants. For more information, please join “South Ga. Birth and Baby Resources” on Facebook for a plethora of resources. ALM

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Birth workers are essential to their communities. When we think of them, we tend to think of doctors, surgeons and nurses. However, birthing options expand outside of hospital and office walls. In fact, the shift to hospital births is as recent as the 20th century. Prior to hospital births, women birthed at home surrounded by a midwife and seasoned mothers. Today, many mothers-to-be are not aware that they have choices when it comes to where and how they birth, what power they have over their experience, or even who is allowed to be present.

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an investment in

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72 albany living magazine

STORY BY RACHEL PRICE | PHOTOS BY DAVID PARKS PHOTOGRAPHY

Jason Wiggins and Luke Bryan know the importance of work and the benefits it can bring.

h

He sits across from me, a million things going on around him. He is laser focused. The bottom of his boots are scratched and dusty. His pant leg is pulled up slightly and you can see the tops of his boots are nearly perfect where they have been protected by fabric. His mother is beside me. She is proud and chatty, in a good way. She beams with pride as she listens to others speak highly of her son.

He is thumbing through pictures on his phone. He doesn’t see that I notice him smiling as he reminisces. The phone rings and I hit “record” on my phone.

“Hi Luke, how are you?” I ask.

“I’m good, how are you?” Luke Bryan replies. His friend, Jason, sits back in his chair and grins.

Jason Wiggins and Luke Bryan became friends at the age of 4.

Jason’s grandfather worked for Luke’s father at a fertilizer company in Smithville, Georgia. They remained friends throughout the years attending school and sports together. They would have parties at Jason’s grandfather’s farm where hundreds of people would show up to listen to Luke and his band. Jason and Luke would spend other bouts of free time hunting and fishing together, whenever they weren’t working.

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Jason’s parents taught him the importance of work and the benefits it can bring, such as challenging and developing self. Work also provides money to explore interests and make purchases independently, which is what Jason did. He would work at his grandfather’s farm. As a child, he would cut and sell mistletoe at Christmas, and he would work hard in school. With his own money, matched by his father, he was able to buy a truck as a teenager.

Jason received a college baseball scholarship to Georgia Southwestern State University. On the day of admissions, he came home to dinner with his parents and told them he wanted to farm on his own.

“I knew a lot of people in the farming industry, just by being around it. I knew the bankers and I went to Dawson to get a loan at the age of 19,” Jason tells me. “I knew I wasn’t going to make a living playing baseball. I have always been motivated by having my own money and not having to ask for anything.

If I wanted a new reel and rod, I wanted to be able to buy it myself.”

From the age of 19 to 29, Jason grew a successful farm business. He began with 125 acres and ended his farming career with over 5,000 acres. Through all of this, Jason and Luke remained in touch. Luke graduated from college and knew he wanted to be a

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From the age of 19 to 29, Jason grew a successful farm business. He began with 125 acres and ended his farming career with over 5,000 acres.

Through all of this, Jason and Luke remained in touch. Luke graduated from college and knew he wanted to be a singer/songwriter, but probably felt that he could not make a solid living. So, he moved back to Albany and in with Jason, working for his father.

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singer/songwriter, but probably felt that he could not make a solid living. So, he moved back to Albany and in with Jason, working for his father.

“Luke knew he could come home and take over his dad’s business, but that’s not where his heart was,” Jason shares. “Finally, we talked and I encouraged him to go and try to make a career out of singing/songwriting.” Luke moved to Nashville and Jason kept farming, married, had a son, Lan (14), and decided it was time to end his farming career.

Jason moved on to real estate after speaking with a trusted friend and mentor, Buck Heard.

“Buck was hard on me and pushed me. I still talk to Buck today. I learned much about investment working with him,” Jason shares.

As Jason was becoming more successful, Luke’s career as a singer/songwriter was taking off. The two friends decided to start investing outside of their friendship and began buying little buildings and flipping them. Eventually, they got into the mini-storage business and did exceedingly well.

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Over time, Luke and Jason sold the mini-storage units and with the money decided they needed to invest in something else.

At a breakfast with several older, successful gentlemen, Jason learned of Concrete Enterprises through Sky Martin. “Sky said we needed to buy Concrete Enterprises,” Jason says. “I told him, I don’t know anything about concrete.” But Sky encouraged him to look into it.

Jason admits he didn’t know anything about the concrete business. He knew there were 33 employees and knew the success of it depended on the people. Those that were here and those he and Luke chose to hire would determine the success of the company. “We never would’ve closed on it if it hadn’t been for Don Scozzari,” Jason tells me. “He had been in the concrete business for 45 years at that point. He knew everything about the business. I contacted him and told him ‘I will only buy it if you will come and run it for us.’ We talked and he said, ‘I’m in.’

That is what got us off to a good start, the concrete community knew Don and he knew what he was doing. It really didn’t have anything to do with Luke and me. Still, it didn’t change the fact that we were scared to death,” Jason tells me.

It seems Jason was a little more frightened than Luke by the investment. Jason shares, “Just so happens that right after we bought it, there was a scheduled hunting trip in Texas. I flew out to meet Luke. We had our boys and we planned to go deer hunting.

We were sitting around the fire. Usually I am talkative, but I was pretty quiet. Luke thought I should have been excited. We just closed on a deal and we are out there hunting with the boys.”

He kept pushing me, “What is wrong, what is wrong?” Finally I said, “Man, I am just thinking about this concrete business.”

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Jason Wiggins and Luke Bryan became friends at the age of 4. Jason’s grandfather worked for Luke’s father at a fertilizer company in Smithville, Georgia.

They remained friends throughout the years attending school and sports together. They would have parties at Jason’s grandfather’s farm where hundreds of people would show up to listen to Luke and his band. Jason and Luke would spend other bouts of free time hunting and fishing together, whenever they weren’t working.

Shocked, Luke says, “What’s wrong? Is something wrong?” I told him, “No, there is nothing wrong, but if this doesn’t go right, then I will spend the rest of my life trying to make this money back and in about two hours on a Friday night, you will make all of yours back.”

It says a lot about a relationship for a partner to trust another the way Luke and Jason do…not only with their finances, but with the day-to-day operations of their investment. Luke is hundreds of miles away from the daily activities, employees, successes, and mistakes. Yet, he trusts that Jason will handle it. It is clear from his boots, that Jason does handle it…he invests 50% financially, but 110% laboriously.

Jason is on the ground everyday overseeing what is happening. He is up at 2 AM with the rest of his crew for concrete pours. He is always looking hard to hire the right people to run each department. Jason has grown Concrete Enterprises into a 30 million dollar company; he is not only investing in his friendship and brick and mortar, but also the lives of his employees. Employees that Jason tells me are the reason Concrete Enterprises is doing as well as it is.

He values every employee, no matter their role.

Clint Eudy, Operations Manager of Express Disposal, a new high-tech trash collection service that Jason wanted to spearhead, also believes in the uniqueness of the relationship and the ethics of their business. “I was working for an oil and pipeline company and had a great job. One day I was watching football with Jason at his house when he mentioned he was looking for someone to take on that side of the business and run with it. I didn’t think a lot about it at first, but the next week I was thinking about what Jason was saying and I called him that night and told him I wanted the job,” explains Clint.

Craig Moye, CFO of Concrete Enterprises, left a CBA firm of 16 years to join the team. “Jason is crazy enough to do exactly what he says. I saw how well he did increasing the customer base in the short amount

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of time he’d been here. I saw the opportunity for growth and the opportunity to help him out. It was for the potential for something like this to accumulate the group of people we have, that is what I believed in,” said Craig.

Mike Marchant, Plant Manager, tells me, “This company makes you want to work. Jason makes you want to work.

It’s like a big family. I am the manager, but I am down there pouring concrete. Jason tells me to quit, but I can’t. I want to work. The way he treats us is the biggest thing because he gets the best out of everyone.”

Daniel Layfield, General Manager of Concrete Enterprises says, “The atmosphere at Concrete Enterprises, working for Jason and Luke, and the opportunity to grow with a successful company makes me want to be here.”

But it isn’t just his employees that sees the dedication and goodwill from Jason; those employees that went from 33 to 128 after Jason’s investment. His friend, Luke, trusts Jason enough to represent him and make 100% of the decisions concerning his half of their investment.

“It comes from a lifetime of being friends and knowing how he does business,” Luke shares. “Jason can represent me in a big board room or business meeting. He can represent me in the exact way I want to represent myself. Our core business values line up perfectly to where I think the beauty of business is our partnership. Each partner has strengths and weaknesses.

I think Jason and me…we don’t ever have hiccups…but if we did, we wouldn’t get bent out of shape about it. Our friendship supersedes anything we have going on; the most important thing is I let him do what he does best and he lets me do what I do... and what I do is stay out of the way.”

Of all the investments Jason has pursued in people, businesses, ideas, and more, the most impressive is his friendship with Luke. It is the one investment they both care most about and cater to, no matter what. They carve out time for one another in personal ways, with family and going back to their roots of hunting and spending time outdoors.

The two guys will sit on the porch of a farm they own together, looking out over the Flint River. A river they would fish back when they were 15 and 16-year-old kids. They would put their boat in under the 32 bridge and float by a beautiful lodge, Whispering Pines Plantation, and admire everything about it. “We would float by this lodge and be like, who is that guy? He’s got the bull by the horns! Gosh, we probably will never get there but it sure would be cool if we did,” Jason shares. Now, that porch they sit and reminisce on is the very one they admired at Whispering Pines.

“I think about Jason and our friendship through the years.

Our friendship started out around sports and the outdoors,” Luke shares. “Jason and I always had a real internal drive to succeed at whatever we did. As kids we used to see successful businessmen in the Albany area and we looked up to them.

Those were guys that we always wanted to strive to be

like. Even if I’d never gotten into the music business, I would’ve stayed down there and we would have been working really hard to be successful at whatever field we decided to dip our toes in. I got to go follow my dreams in Nashville, but Jason is my ‘boots on the ground’ and my connection to South Georgia.”

Jason’s boots, the ones that are worn and weathered at their exposed parts, shiny and almost perfect at their protected parts are a lot like the friendship he has with Luke. Hardworking, dedicated, willing to get dirty and take risks, but protected, cared for, real and true...invested.

And true to his nature, all of this isn’t even for his future.

This is all for his son, Lan. He is investing in Lan’s future.

“The best is yet to come,” Jason says.. ALM

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FAITH • DIVERSITY • UNITY

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STORY BY DAVID PENA | PHOTOS BY DAVID PARKS PHOTOGRAPHY

Silver’s Odyssey

interweaving fictional elements with historical events, Henry C. Duggan takes his readers on an epic journey through old Florida in Silver’s Odyssey .

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The year is 1622, during the Golden Age of Spain. The Spanish king desperately needs a steady supply of silver from Peru in order to continue to fight his European religious wars. A young lieutenant named Luis Armador is assigned to guard the silver fleet that is sailing from the Indies. Luis bids goodbye to his fiancé, Isabela, in Spain and plans to return in six months for their wedding. However, it will take much longer, as the treasure-laden galleon becomes shipwrecked off the Florida Keys during a hurricane. Over 200 members of the crew go to a watery grave, but not before Luis is washed overboard, coming ashore in colonial Florida. He then must survive a four-year trek through the wilderness of Florida to find his way back to Spain.

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Pat says that her husband is a talented storyteller, but she does have one suggestion for his new novel. “I told him that he needed to put some romance in this one for all the female readers,” she says with a laugh. “I’m going to read this next one very carefully, and I’ll definitely offer my opinion on that.”

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With three adult children and six grandchildren, Henry says his time is pretty limited these days, but he does plan to continue his writing. In fact, he has already started on a new project, a novel that’s set in Savannah, Georgia, a place known for its gorgeous architecture. “My new book is much different from my first one; it involves a lot of characters. My hero in this one is actually an arson investigator who is looking into a fire that took place in 1820. I love historical architecture, so Savannah fits perfectly into that.”

During Luis’ odyssey home, he battles the elements, animal attacks, the fierce Calusa Indians, as well as the Barbary pirates in his attempt to return home safely. Canoeing is his only major means of travel on the coast, but he is luckily aided

by Pedro Martins, a Portuguese ex-slave trader.

Luis becomes obsessed with planning his escape, and it is only by his sheer determination and natural instincts that Luis is successful in his quest to return home. In the spirit of Robinson Crusoe, the Spanish lieutenant ultimately has to become self-reliant in a foreign wilderness, and for four long years, he strives to return home with his honor intact.

If that sounds like a riveting piece of fiction, well, it is, but with many historical accuracies along the way. In Silver’s Odyssey, Henry C. Duggan’s novel, there are plenty of interesting fictional characters interspersed with historical figures and events. The story begins with the sinking of the galleon on one of its annual voyages from Seville to the Indies. “The secret of any good novel is to keep your hero in trouble, so after the first five chapters,

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it’s non-stop survival action for him,” explains the Albany native. “In fact, after the ship sank, only five out of the 260 people aboard survived. After washing up on shore, the main character laments his delayed return to Spain to his betrothed, but her image helps to motivate him.”

By interweaving fictional elements with historical events, Henry takes his readers on an epic journey through old Florida before the Sunshine State was inundated with images of Mickey Mouse and countless beach condominiums. The historical elements, along with the author’s first-hand experience of canoeing and hiking through Florida, added a realistic quality to his story.

Remarkably, Silver’s Odyssey was Henry’s first attempt at writing a novel, although he’s had some pretty extensive publishing experience. “I always enjoyed English in school and putting things down on paper. For several years, I wrote articles part-time for Southwest Georgia Living, and I also published some stories in the Albany Herald, but this is my first novel.

I’ve always loved survival adventures, so I finally set about writing one myself.”

After finishing Silver’s Odyssey, Henry’s family helped a bit with the editing process, so to speak, along with a professional editor.

“Henry had an editor, and he ended up rewriting it several times before it was published,” explains Pat. “However, his daughter, Terri, is also a writer, and she helped to edit the book as well. I typed a good bit of it, but I tried not to give too much of my opinions (on the plot) because this was his project. He did so much research for this, so I wanted him to express himself in the way that he wanted to.”

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The idea behind the plot of Silver’s Odyssey originated from Henry’s love of history and his enjoyment of the great outdoors. His wife, Pat, says that it was a natural progression that led to his first novel.

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Henry says he had to put his plans to write his novel on hold for some time before actually undertaking it. “As you can imagine, it is a timeconsuming effort to write a book, so I could never have done this while I worked at my job.” A native of Albany, Henry retired from Regions Bank in 2003, and that was a perfect opportunity for him to begin. “I wanted to draw from all my own outdoor adventures, so this book is basically a fictional survival story with some historical accuracy thrown in the mix.”

The idea behind the plot of Silver’s Odyssey originated from Henry’s love of history and his enjoyment of the great outdoors. His wife, Pat, says that it was a natural progression that led to his first novel. “He combined his love for writing with his passion for history and the great outdoors, and the novel was a great way for him to express that.

They’re the three great loves of his life, besides me, of course,” she says with a laugh.

Having canoed over 100 streams, he actually took time to visit the areas in Florida where the action of the novel takes place in preparation for writing it. “I started writing the novel in 2007, and it took me five years of research before I finished it,” he says. “I actually took time to visit a lot of

the places mentioned in my book, and that was very enlightening. For example, I traveled to Everglades City, an extreme southwestern part of Florida where the Calusa Indians had a village. That’s where my hero washes up on the shore.” Henry also spent a good bit of time in the St. Augustine Historical Library conducting his research.

Along with the historical accuracies, the book contains plenty of interesting fictional characters… characters that Henry says are rooted in the personalities of some of his friends. One of his closest friends and a former schoolmate, Charlie Reed, says, “We both grew up in South Georgia, enjoying the outdoors, and like I told Henry, I really think he hit a homerun with (the novel). As a history buff myself, I just couldn’t put it down. I think anyone who likes history or adventure would enjoy this novel.”

After finishing Silver’s Odyssey, Henry’s family helped a bit with the editing process, so to speak,

Having canoed over 100 streams, he actually took time to visit the areas in Florida where the action of the novel takes place in preparation for writing it. “I started writing the novel in 2007, and it took me five years of research before I finished it,” he says. “I actually took time to visit a lot of the places mentioned in my book, and that was very enlightening. For example, I traveled to Everglades City, an extreme southwestern part of Florida where the Calusa Indians had a village. That’s where my hero washes up on the shore.” Henry also spent a good bit of time in the St. Augustine Historical Library conducting his research.

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Remarkably, Silver’s Odyssey was Henry’s first attempt at writing a novel, although he’s had some pretty extensive publishing experience. “I always enjoyed English in school and putting things down on paper. For several years, I wrote articles parttime for Southwest Georgia Living, and I also published some stories in the Albany Herald, but this is my first novel. I’ve always loved survival adventures, so I finally set about writing one myself.”

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along with a professional editor.

“Henry had an editor, and he ended up rewriting it several times before it was published,” explains Pat. “However, his daughter, Terri, is also a writer, and she helped to edit the book as well. I typed a good bit of it, but I tried not to give too much of my opinions (on the plot) because this was his project. He did so much research for this, so I wanted him to express himself in the way that he wanted to.”

So far, Henry’s hard work has been paying off. He has sold over 2100 copies of Silver’s Odyssey, and its sales are still going strong. “Half of my sales were on Amazon while half of them I sold myself,” he says proudly. “Plus, I’ve done many book signings in order to promote it. I even carried some copies in the trunk of my car, much like John Grisham did when he started writing. As far as I can tell, I think I’ve sold more than anyone ever in Albany.

I don’t like to be immodest, and of course, my guy friends keep me level.”

With three adult children and six grandchildren, Henry says his time is pretty limited these days, but he does plan to continue his writing. In fact, he has already started on a new project, a novel that’s set in Savannah, Georgia, a place known for its gorgeous architecture. “My new book is much different from my first one; it involves a lot of characters. My hero in this one is actually an arson investigator who is looking into a fire that took place in 1820. I love historical architecture, so Savannah fits perfectly into that.”

Pat says that her husband is a talented storyteller, but she does have one suggestion for his new novel. “I told him that he needed to put some romance in this one for all the female readers,” she says with a laugh. “I’m going to read this next one very carefully, and I’ll definitely offer my opinion on that.”

Readers can purchase a signed copy of Henry’s book by emailing him at henryduggan@mediacombb.net or duggpt@gmail.com. ALM

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STORY BY RACHEL PRICE | PHOTOS BY RACHEL PRICE

Haven a

of

Hope

Rhiannon Dobson and Karma Scardino felt a calling to begin a ministry reaching out to a generation that may have never heard the name of Jesus.

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When we think of human trafficking, we oftentimes think of places such as Atlanta, New York, or California. We think of traffickers crossing over borders with kidnapped victims. Very rarely, if at all, do we imagine anything close to trafficking could be happening in our communities, right under our noses.

Sometimes, an accidental meeting or divine intervention is what it takes to open our eyes to our surroundings. For Rhiannon Dobson and Karma Scardino, such occurred in 2018. Rhiannon and Karma felt a calling that summer to begin a ministry reaching out to a generation that may have never heard the name of Jesus. They began offering “Backyard Bible Clubs” in communities and housing authorities around Albany.

During these studies, women would walk up out of curiosity and approach Rhiannon and Karma appearing worn, tired and in need.

They would ask for feminine products or

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other things that Rhiannon and Karma may have on them in their cars.

These meetings with women would occur each time a “Backyard Bible Club” was in session.

“We’d give them water and ask if we could pray with them,” Rhiannon tells me. “We would give them gospel tracts and then they began asking for personal items. We began to see a need and we decided to meet that need, so we started making food and blessing bags.”

Touched by these women, who by all appearances seemed broken, but had a fire within, Rhiannon and Karma would go out and drive around the streets of Albany praying that God would give them divine appointments. If they drove past a woman at the bus stop or asleep on a bench, they would get out and ask to pray for them. “We would tell them, ‘The Lord loves you. He has not forsaken you.’ and try to point them to Christ,” Rhiannon shares.

As they continued to follow where God led, Rhiannon felt a tug on her heart to commit herself to these ladies and their salvation. Not only salvation from a life of being forced into human slavery, but from a life away from God. After much prayer and

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conversation with her husband, she decided to leave her job as a teacher’s aide and commit herself to the work of the Lord.

An office space at the old Coca-Cola plant was donated. They began training with Wellspring Living, a non-profit organization in Atlanta, Georgia, that provides domestic sex trafficking victims and those at risk with specialized recovery services through residential and community-based programs.

Under the name “Rahab’s Haven Albany,” they became a 501C3 non-profit.

Their mission is to minister to those at risk or victimized by sexual exploitation. They have an outreach program that Rhiannon’s husband, Scott, is heavily involved with. They go out weekly into the community seeking the lost and hurt. From hotels to the streets, they approach people in the name of Jesus offering prayer and blessing bags. “What the Lord has done, we can’t actively represent that in words,” Scott shares. “It has been really incredible. Since the summer of 2020 we’ve had 11 people put their faith and trust in Jesus.”

Rahab’s Haven has a desire to open a safe house and long-term residential home where these women can be kept safe. A place where

Victims are often exposed to drugs, unlivable conditions, and harsh physical abuse.

They may be exposed to health risks, infections, and poverty. They’re worn down mentally and physically and can experience serious mental health issues. Worthlessness and feeling as if their body is not their own, can produce high levels of depression and suicidal thoughts. Malnutrition and starvation can be a common occurrence for victims and their children.

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they can develop life-skills, learn more about Jesus, and find their way to independence and freedom because the women they encounter are lost and hurting.

The vast majority are being forced into a lifestyle in which they feel they can’t escape. Abusers are using them for their personal and monetary gain. Once they are considered no longer useful, victims can be tossed aside with no place to turn. They are being mentally trained to believe they are worthless and are nothing more than slaves to their “owners.” A long-term residential home can be the place they need for healing and worth.

Victims are often exposed to drugs, unlivable conditions, and harsh physical abuse. They may be exposed to health risks, infections, and poverty.

They’re worn down mentally and physically and can experience serious mental health issues.

Worthlessness and feeling as if their body is not their

“Some of the women are homeless, some struggle with substance addiction, some are caught in prostitution, and some of them just need a friend to care and listen to their story. But ALL of them need the hope and healing of Jesus Christ.”

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The vast majority are being forced into a lifestyle in which they feel they can’t escape. Abusers are using them for their personal and monetary gain.

Once they are considered no longer useful, victims can be tossed aside with no place to turn. They are being mentally trained to believe they are worthless and are nothing more than slaves to their “owners.”

A long-term residential home can be the place they need for healing and worth.

own, can produce high levels of depression and suicidal thoughts. Malnutrition and starvation can be a common occurrence for victims and their children.

In the Bible, in the book of Joshua, we are introduced to an unlikely heroine…a thoughtprovoking woman who would be placed in the lineage of Christ, Rahab. She was a young and unlikely candidate to be a heroine of faith. She was a prostitute sent to protect spies from the King of Jericho. She was a woman deemed unworthy of any prestige, much less to be in the family tree of Jesus Christ. But God gave her a chance because He had a plan for Rahab’s life that was outside anything anyone could imagine.

“Some of the women are homeless, some struggle with substance addiction, some are caught in prostitution, and some of them just need a friend to care and listen to their

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story. But ALL of them need the hope and healing of Jesus Christ,” Rhiannon explains to me. The women are ALL unique…beautiful personalities, a sense of humor, a desire to belong, trust issues, and insecurities, but a desire for hope. They are in need of the hope Rahab’s Haven Albany is offering them through the love of Christ.

Today, alongside weekly Wednesday Bible Studies where the women come and gather for refreshments and fellowship, they still do backyard Bible clubs led by their children. Karma writes the curriculum and Rhiannon finds the location. They organize everything and go out in stages. Volunteers from Rahab’s Haven will come and assist with prayer, Bible tracts, and blessing bags.

“The Lord has been providing a lot for this ministry,” shares Alice Rodman, a volunteer.

“At the beginning we knew God was working but I don’t think we knew to what extent,” Rhiannon tells me. “We have to be faithful and obedient and each door that He opens we have to step out in faith. He is asking us, ‘Will you trust me?’ and that’s hard. We all have fought internal and spiritual battles.”

Their mission is to minister to those at risk or victimized by sexual exploitation.

They have an outreach program that Rhiannon’s husband, Scott, is heavily involved with. They go out weekly into the community seeking the lost and hurt. From hotels to the streets, they approach people in the name of Jesus offering prayer and blessing bags. “What the Lord has done, we can’t actively represent that in words,” Scott shares.

“It has been really incredible. Since the summer of 2020 we’ve had 11 people put their faith and trust in Jesus.”

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Rahab’s Haven Albany is still under a mentorship program with Wellspring Living and receives materials that will aid them in starting classes.

However, they need community support and assistance. Through love offerings, donations, prayer, and volunteering, the community can help them accomplish their mission.

“Rahab was a prostitute, but God used her and then redeemed her. He didn’t just redeem her, He put her in the lineage of Jesus. How awesome is it that God used a prostitute to help redeem His people there at Jericho and then He takes her and allows her to be in the lineage of Jesus?” Rhiannon beams.

Haven means “safe place.” It is a place offering opportunities and peace within conditions that are safe and caring.

Human trafficking is closer to home than we believe. To truly help these victims, we must educate ourselves and provide them with resources and a way

out. Rahab’s Haven Albany embodies safety, love, and opportunity. Through sharing the love of Christ, the transforming power of the gospel, and giving selflessly, they are changing the lives of not only women, but also men and children.

For more information or to see how you can help, please visit https://www.rahabshavenalbany.com/  ALM

Sometimes, an accidental meeting or divine intervention is what it takes to open our eyes to our surroundings. For Rhiannon Dobson and Karma Scardino, such occurred in 2018. Rhiannon and Karma felt a calling that summer to begin a ministry reaching out to a generation that may have never heard the name of Jesus. They began offering “Backyard Bible Clubs” in communities and housing authorities around Albany.

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Decorating

Tips & Trends: Affordable Stylish Ideas for a Fresh Look

you can create a fresh look by combining some of your existing furnishings with a few new or new-used pieces to achieve the atmosphere you desire.

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Are you tired of your dated, dull, or well-worn interior? If so, you may want to consider an update. Fortunately, there are many ways to create a new look without breaking the bank. With the following tips, you can create a fresh look by combining some of your existing furnishings with a few new or new-used pieces to achieve the atmosphere you desire.

Painted furniture. This trend has come and gone and come around again.

That’s excellent news for creating a whole new look without the expense of all new furniture. Several styles of painted furniture are currently popular, so there’s something to fit every personality.

Painted styles include the worn look, matte finishes, and ceruse style. Colors range from the newly-popular earth tones and muted hues to bright and bold color paints Toss the vertical blinds. These lack appeal and have gone to the wayside. The trend is for windows to add to the beauty of a room. When windows are ignored, they make a room feel dull and uninviting.

Look for elegant fabrics in solids or prints that compliment the colors and styles in your room. Another popular choice is bamboo shades, which add texture.

Mix patterns. At one time, this was a strict no-no, but it’s become increasingly popular. There are several tricks to make it work, though. First, use patterns of various sizes. Use a large, medium, and small pattern to bring them together without conflict. Also, use patterns in odd numbers.

For example, rather than 2 or 4 different

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patterns, use 3 or 5. Be sure to balance the patterns throughout the room rather than cramming them all in one area.

Earthy is in. Warm, earthy tones are back in this year, and cool is out. For a larger room, you could paint it in a darker earthy shade.

For smaller rooms, choose lighter warm shades of paint. White window casings and doors are also out. So consider stained wood, a color that complements the walls, or the same color as the walls.

Mix & match furniture. Nothing says boring more than a living room full of matched seating and ottomans. Create contrast with complementary colors and patterns. If your sofa is solid beige, try adding a chair with a red, beige, and brown pattern.

Combine styles. Gone are the days when everything in a room had to be of a singular style. Today, people are combining two or three of their favorite styles to create character and uniqueness. It’s merely a matter of choosing the right pieces from different styles that complement each other.

Minimal is more. The decor is essential to any room. It adds personality and creates intrigue. But overdone can feel overwhelming and makes it difficult to notice anything. A few scattered pieces to create focal points is better.

Painted furniture. This trend has come and gone and come around again. That’s excellent news for creating a whole new look without the expense of all new furniture. Several styles of painted furniture are currently popular, so there’s something to fit every personality. Painted styles include the worn look, matte finishes, and ceruse style. Colors range from the newly-popular earth tones and muted hues to bright and bold color paints

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Minimal is more. The decor is essential to any room. It adds personality and creates intrigue. But overdone can feel overwhelming and makes it difficult to notice anything. A few scattered pieces to create focal points is better.

Avoid ‘fast furniture.’ The era of throwing a room together with cheap, disposable furniture is over and for obvious reasons. Opt instead for quality pieces that will last and add value to a room. If the cost of new quality furniture isn’t in your budget, watch Craigslist and estatesales.net for like-new quality pieces at a fraction of the cost.

Mix metallics. People commonly use only gold or only silver tones in a room. But the two combined can be very attractive.

Add plenty of texture. Modern and contemporary is the in-thing. But too much of it makes for a dull, sterile look. This problem is easy to solve by adding texture, which creates dimension and makes a room more interesting. Add tufted or fur pillows to a sofa. Also, add a few objects with a rough finish and a shag rug to a hardwood floor. Don’t forget to bring in elements of nature with a couple of real plants or a stack of logs near the fireplace.

Avoid monochromatic color. Rooms with monochromatic color schemes are out, whether the colors are pale, earthy, or bold. Choose a primary color, and then accent colors that are not in the same color family as the primary.

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Mix tableware. This is a great way to save money while adding interest to your table.

One option is to choose one pattern for dinner plates, another for salad plates, and another for bowls that compliment each other. Alternatively, select several different place settings, each in different colors or patterns. These can be had for practically nothing at thrift stores, estate sales, or on clearance.

The right size art for your wall. When choosing artwork, it should be proportional to the size of the wall. Large pieces go on large wall spaces, and small go in small areas. Also, hang art at the right height. An average height person’s head should come to the center of the art piece.

Add height. There are several ways to make a ceiling appear higher. First, choose a ceiling color that’s light and at least a shade or two lighter than the walls. Use short furniture to make a room look taller. Finally, order extra long drapes so you can raise the curtain rod 5” to 7” above the window casing.  ALM

Mix metallics. People commonly use only gold or only silver tones in a room. But the two combined can be very attractive.

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Give Your Kids

a Taste of Culture

A fun way to explore our diversity is by trying out foods and mealtime customs of other nationalities and unique American regions.

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Teaching kids about different cultures is a great way to defeat stereotypes, break down barriers, and help kids value and respect people who are different from them. So why not give your kids the opportunity to experience the many cultures that make up our diverse planet and country? A fun way to explore our diversity is by trying out foods and mealtime customs of other nationalities and unique American regions.

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To eat like the Greeks, be prepared to adjust your meal schedule. They eat lunch at around 2:00 p.m. and don’t eat dinner before 9:00 p.m. Also, eating with your fingers rather than silverware is common, even with meat.

If your kids are picky eaters, don’t sweat it. There are yummy foods from every culture kids will love. Try some of the following dishes at local ethnic eateries.

If you can’t find the cuisine in your area, find recipes online for your whole family to enjoy cooking together.

Middle-Eastern. There are many different Arab cuisines. The most popular in America is Lebanese. Hummus and pita bread is a healthy mouth-watering appetizer.

If your family has only tried store-bought hummus, they’ll be in for a real treat with fresh, authentic hummus. Deliciously seasoned chicken shawarma, which you can order as a dinner or in a pita sandwich, is a favorite Lebanese meal.

There are several Lebanese meal customs to keep in mind. First, dress well. Then greet your elders first and wait to be told where to sit. Also, hold your fork in your left hand (knife goes in the right), try all foods at the table, and be prepared to take seconds and thirds at the offering of your host.

Indian. The food of India varies somewhat by region, but there are several Indian dishes kids love. Curd rice, a yogurt rice dish of Southern India, is a favorite. Eat it plain or combine it with lentils or a meat dish. Also, nearly everyone loves Tandoori

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Teaching kids about different cultures is a great way to defeat stereotypes, break down barriers, and help kids value and respect people who are different from them. So why not give your kids the opportunity to experience the many cultures that make up our diverse planet and country? A fun way to explore our diversity is by trying out foods and mealtime customs of other nationalities and unique American regions.

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chicken, including kids. A Northern India favorite is mutter paneer, a curry dish made with peas and fried cubed cottage cheese in a tomato sauce.

A few meal customs to observe include thoroughly washing your hands before the meal and eating with your hands. Avoid mixing utensils between different dishes. Also, hygiene is essential, so Indians don’t dip into shared bowls, share cutlery, or pass food with their fingers. In rural settings, Indians dress comfortably and sit on floor mats.

The food of India varies somewhat by region, but there are several Indian dishes kids love. Curd rice, a yogurt rice dish of Southern India, is a favorite. Eat it plain or combine it with lentils or a meat dish. Also, nearly everyone loves Tandoori chicken, including kids. A Northern India favorite is mutter paneer, a curry dish made with peas and fried cubed cottage cheese in a tomato sauce.

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Shepherd’s pie is an all-time favorite Irish dish. But don’t let ‘pie’ fool you. It isn’t a dessert. Instead, it’s a tasty entree of beef or lamb, vegetables, and mashed potatoes. Boxty (potato pancakes) is another Irish food kids love, as well as leek and potato soup.

Native American. In the United States, there are 562 Native American tribes, so traditionally, their foods varied depending on region and availability of certain foods. Today, they eat much of the same foods as non-native Americans. But Indian fry bread and Navajo tacos are still quite popular and loved by kids and adults alike. Succotash, another tasty dish, is made with vegetables and flavored with bacon.

Mealtime customs vary by region, but traditionally for many tribes there was no set mealtime. Everyone just dipped into ‘the eternal cooking meal’ when they were hungry.

Greek. Pita gyros stuffed with chicken or pork, tomatoes, and lettuce are the most popular Greek food. There’s also spanakopita, which is a great way to get kids to eat their veggies. These turnovers are stuffed with zucchini. There’s also crispy and gooey Tyri saganaki, fried cheese, which everyone loves.

To eat like the Greeks, be prepared to adjust your meal schedule. They eat lunch at around 2:00 p.m. and don’t eat dinner before 9:00 p.m. Also, eating with your fingers rather than silverware is common, even with meat.

Irish. Shepherd’s pie is an all-time favorite Irish dish. But don’t let ‘pie’ fool you. It isn’t a dessert. Instead, it’s a tasty entree of beef or lamb, vegetables, and mashed potatoes. Boxty (potato pancakes) is another Irish food kids love, as well as leek and potato soup.

Irish food customs are quite familiar. But keep your fork in your left hand preferably with the tines turned down. Also, keep your elbows off the table, and don’t get wild with hand gestures while holding your silverware.

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Not to be confused with Mexican food, one of the dishes of Spain kids enjoy is paella, which is a rice and meat dish. It can be made with rabbit or squid, which some kids won’t be too keen on. But it can also be made with chicken or other seafood.

Another yummy entree is empanadas, which are pockets filled with tuna or ham and cheese.

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Polish. Pierogis are one of the most famous Polish foods with kids. These dumplings are stuffed with potatoes, sausage, or even fruit. Polskie nalesniki, or Polish pancakes, is another tasty dish served a variety of ways including with cheese, meat and vegetables, or fruity quark.

In Poland, don’t begin eating until everyone is served and the host says it’s time to start, usually with the word ‘smacznego.’ Your fork goes in your left hand and knife in the right. When you’re done eating, your knife and fork should be placed horizontally on your plate, facing left.

Thai. Pad Thai is an introductory dish loved by everyone. This sweet and savory noodle dish is made with peanut sauce. Gaeng Daeng (red curry) is another delicious choice. Thai is the hottest (spicy-hot) cuisine you’ll find. So request mild for your kids. For dessert, don’t miss out on sticky rice served with mango!

Thai people typically use a fork and a short spoon for eating, rather than chopsticks. Each person gets a plate of rice. Then all the other dishes on the table are shared among each other and poured over rice.

Young kids usually sit on their parents’ laps and are spoon-fed rather than sitting in high-chairs.

Spanish. Not to be confused with Mexican food, one of the dishes of Spain kids enjoy is paella, which is a rice and meat dish. It can be made with rabbit or squid, which some kids won’t be too keen on. But it can also be made with chicken or other seafood. Another yummy entree is empanadas, which are pockets filled with tuna or ham and cheese.

Late dining is also standard in Spain. Plan to eat lunch between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. and dinner between 9:00 and 11:00 p.m. Also, Spaniards don’t eat and run. They sometimes linger for hours enjoying good company and conversation.

Cajun. This style of Louisiana cooking is wellknown for its shellfish dishes and spice. Jambalaya, made with sausage, shellfish, celery, and rice stew, is one of several favorites. Another is gumbo, made with meat stew, seafood, and okra.

In Southern Louisiana, food is relished, and preparation is taken quite seriously. Cooks aren’t content to serve mediocre food. So conversation about what you had to eat the night before is common.

Vietnamese. The most famous Vietnamese dish for both kids and adults is Pho. This noodle soup is made with beef or chicken. But it’s much more substantive than the chicken soup Americans eat.

It’s usually served with fresh veggies on the side.

Another yummy dish is banh goi. These deepfried pockets are filled with meat, mushrooms, and other vegetables.

The Vietnamese typically eat with chopsticks and a soup spoon. As a sign of respect, a bowl and spoon are handed to the eldest man at the table first. Don’t begin eating until everyone is seated and the most elderly man takes his first bite. life and a brighter future. ALM

The Vietnamese typically eat with chopsticks and a soup spoon. As a sign of respect, a bowl and spoon are handed to the eldest man at the table first. Don’t begin eating until everyone is seated and the most elderly man takes his first bite.

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Bison Valley Lodge

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Scenesof Albany Around every corner in our amazing community, there are treasures that lay awaiting discovery. Beauty is indeed all around us and in endless supply. Take a look at a few more reasons

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Photo By |

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Rachel Wellons Price

Photo By | Millie Mac Photography

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Photo By |

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Misty Warren of Sweet Magnolia Photography

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Photo By |

Katie Locke Photography Hometown Living At Its Best

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Index of Advertisers Adams Exterminators ……........................................…….. 114 AirPro Heating and Cooling …….................................…….. 68 Albany Air Conditioning & Heating ……….....................….. 101 Albany General Tire ……...........................................…….. 130 Albany Internal Medicine ……...............................…….. 36-37 Albany Living Magazine …….................................…….. 54-55 Albany Motorcars ………….................................................. 97 Albany Symphony Orchestra ………….................................. 86 Allen’s Jewelers …………................................................... 143 Allergy & Asthma Clinics of Georgia ……….... 113, Back Cover Art Sign Company, Inc. …......................................……….. 127 Austin’s Firegrill ……...................................................…….. 85 Bison Valley Lodge ………............................................….. 142 Brad Lanier Oil Company ……...................................…….. 100 Concrete Enterprises LLC ……...................................…….. 2-3 Custom Interiors ……..................................................…….. 57 D & D Kitchen Center …………....................................... 20-21 Dental Partners ……….................................................….. 131 DJ’s Car Wash & Quick Lube ..............................………….. 146 Dougherty County Board of Commissioners ……........…….. 56 Dougherty Glass Company ……................................…….. 159 Dunn’s Business Services ………...................................….. 84 Elements Coffee Co. ……..........................................…….. 144 Evie Carver Photography …………........................................ 98 Farmers Insurance - Aldridge Agency ………................….. 159 First State Bank of Albany ……............…….. Inside Front Cover Fleming & Riles Insurance …...................................……….. 67 Hannes Pienaar Productions ….........................……….. 52-53 Harvey Drilling ……...............................................…….. 22-23 Hickory Grove Storage ….......................................……….. 126 Homerun Foods .................................................………….. 100 HopeCity United …..................................................……….. 82 Hutchins Clenney Rumsey Huckaby, P.C. …………............. 147 Ivey’s …….................................................................…….. 144 Knight’s Apparel ……................................................…….. 131 Lee Power Equipment ………….......................................... 145

Logic4Design ................................................................... 158 LRA Constructors, Inc. …….......................................…….. 130 M. Hill Interiors …………........................................................ 5 Mellow Mushroom …………................................................ 70 Merry Acres ….......................................................……….. 115 Millie Mac Photography …....................................……….. 128 Oakland Plantation …….............................................…….. 87 Oxford Construction …….......................................…….. 38-39 Pellicano Construction ……......................................…….. 157 Philema Animal Hospital ...................................………….. 145 Phoebe ……..................................................................…….. 7 Potter Motor Co, Inc …………....................... Inside Back Cover Prince Automotive Group of Albany ………...................….. 158 Promise of Hope …...............................................……….. 158 Renasant Bank ……..................................................…….. 142 Rental Depot ……….....................................................….. 146 SafeAire Heating & Cooling …………................................. 117 Sellers Tile ………...........................................................….. 71 Shae Foy Photography …….......................................…….. 116 SL Sausage Company …………......................................... 147 Smallcakes A Cupcakery ……...................................…….. 157 Southern Tractor & Outdoors …….........................…….. 24-25 Southwest Georgia Pediatrics …...............................……….. 9 Stewbos ……............................................................…….. 115 Sunbelt Ford Lincoln ………...........................................….. 69 The Bow Shop …...................................................……….. 129 The Bread House & Granary ………...........................….. 40-41 The Cookie Shoppe ……...........................................…….. 159 The Flower Basket ……….............................................….. 159 The Rental Store - Yancey Rents ………........................….. 156 The Sandbox ……….....................................................….. 112 Turner’s Fine Furniture …………............................................. 1 Westover Animal Hospital ……….................................….. 156 Wild Side Running …………............................................... 143 Women’s Health Professionals ………….............................. 99 Wynfield Plantation …………............................................... 83

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