• Coweta’s great romances • Valentine’s Day chocolates • A visit with author Jan Karon January/February 2008 | $3.95 MAGAZINE A Publication of The Times-Herald BLACK HISTORY MONTH Celebrating Celebrating BLACK HISTORY MONTH Also in this issue: • Coweta’s great romances • Valentine’s Day chocolates • A visit with author Jan Karon
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• Coweta’s great romances• Valentine’s Day chocolates• A visit with author Jan Karon January/February 2008 | $3.95
MAGAZINEA Publication of
The Times-Herald
BLACK HISTORY MONTHCelebratingCelebrating
BLACK HISTORY MONTHAlso in this issue: • Coweta’s great romances• Valentine’s Day chocolates• A visit with author Jan Karon
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Established 1995
A publication of The Times-Herald
Publisher
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Editor
Angela McRae
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Contributing Writers
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Alex McRae, Elizabeth Richardson, W. Winston Skinner, Martha A. Woodham
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Newnan-Coweta Magazine is published bi-monthly by The Times-Herald, Inc., 16 Jefferson St., Newnan, GA 30263.
Subscriptions: Newnan-Coweta Magazine is distributed in home-deliverycopies of The Times-Herald and at businesses and offices throughout CowetaCounty. Individual mailed subscriptions are also available for $23.75 inCoweta County, $30.00 outside Coweta County. To subscribe, call770.304.3373.
Submissions: We welcome submissions. Query letters and published clipsmay be addressed to the Editor, Newnan-Coweta Magazine at P.O. Box 1052,Newnan, Georgia 30264.
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NEWLOCATION
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Special FeaturesWeb extras you’ll find only online. Look for the comput-er icon throughout every issue to lead you to the spe-cial content at
newnancowetamagazine.com.
Online Book Club:Join us in the Book Nook and be among the first to discuss ourJanuary selection, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini.
Web extras
ON OUR WEBSITE
www.newnancowetamagazine.com
READY TO WRITE?Announcing the Second Annual Newnan-Coweta Magazine Writing Contest
If you’ve got a story to tell, you’ll want to enterour second annual writing contest. The rulesare simple:
Be a Coweta County resident.Include a Coweta County person, place orthing in your writing.
Your entry may be fiction or non-fiction, butit can’t exceed 1,500 words. (No poetry.)
On the first page, please list your name,address, phone number, e-mail address andtitle of entry. On the following pages, pleaseinclude only the name of the entry.
There is no age requirement, but all writingentries will be judged together.
Employees and freelancers of The Times-Herald or Newnan-Coweta Magazine arenot eligible.
Mail us a printed copy of your entry post-marked no later than March 31, 2008.
Please keep a copy for yourself, as entrieswon’t be returned.
Mail entries to Newnan-Coweta MagazineWriting Contest, P.O. Box 1052, Newnan, GA30264.
A panel of judges will decide the winners.First place wins $100 and publication in theMay/June issue of the magazine. Secondplace wins $50 and publication on the maga-zine’s Web site. Third place wins $25 andpublication on the Web site.
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Book giveawaysOnline SurveysGuest BookRecipe Box
PodcastsBlogsLinks of local interest
295 Bullsboro Drive, 770-253-5017
26 Jefferson Street, 770-252-5267
Hospital Road, 770-304-7860
White Oak, 770-304-7840
B A N K I N G I N S U R A N C E I N V E S T M E N T S
For two years now, Cowetans havebeen coming together monthly to talkopenly about racial matters thanks tothe group Come to the Table. Find outhow you can become involved.
28 BUILDING FAMILIES
Children from China andGuatemala now call CowetaCounty home thanks to some localcouples who added to their familythrough international adoption.
33 HAPPY VALENTINE’S
DAY!
34 VALENTINE’S SWEETS
Didn’t get your fill of sweets overthe Christmas holidays? Two ofCoweta’s resident chocolateexperts share tips to help withyour Valentine’s Day candymaking.
46 SENTIMENTAL
JEWELRY
New jewelry is always a welcomegift, but local jewelers are finding
today’s customers also like to repurpose anold piece of jewelry or turn a familymemento into something they can weartoday.
54 FROM HOBBY TO HOLLYWOOD
You may not know Tony Chaney’s name, butyou’ve seen his work. Whether it’s hisMartin Luther King sculpture at an Atlantamuseum or props used in Hollywood movies,Chaney is motivated by the thrill of thechallenge and a desire for perfection.
76 A CONVERSATION WITH
JAN KARON
Come into the Newnan-Coweta MagazineBook Nook for a conversation with JanKaron, author of the Mitford books and thefirst of the Father Tim novels, Home to HollySprings. Also, find out how to win anautographed copy of Karon’s new book!
14 NEWNAN’S LIVING LEGEND
Octavia Jenkins Mahone followed herfamily into the funeral home business inNewnan. Already well-known for herbusiness and civic work in the community,Mahone was recently honored with anational award from the 100 Black Womenof Funeral Service.
20 BEHIND THE SMILE
Willie Pritchett aims to be a goodexample to young men who don’t have afather figure in their lives. Whether he’sserving as chairman of the local housingauthority or volunteering with at-riskyouth, Pritchett believes it’s important tostay active in the community.
38 COWETA’S GREAT
ROMANCES
Who doesn’t enjoy a good love story?Hear how some of Coweta’s greatromances began along with theiradvice for keeping your ownrelationship a happy one.
Features
January/February 2008
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60 MEET A READER
Her favorite author is DorisKearns Goodwin and hercelebrity crush is actor GeorgeClooney. Meet Joanie Andersonof Newnan.
62 COWETA COOKS
For the Schroeder and Endicottfamilies of Newnan, Januarymeans the return of an annualfamily-and-friends competition:The Soup-Off!
66 FAMILY FUN
If the kids have you climbing thewalls this winter, let them climbsome walls at Reality Climbing inTyrone.
70 SADDLE UP
At Marsha Reese’s HorseHeaven, a therapeutic ridingprogram is a place of love andacceptance for physicallyhandicapped children andwomen overcoming addictions.
In every issue10 EDITOR’S LETTER
79 THE BOOKSHELF
81 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
82 10 THINGS
Departments
70
54
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66 34
J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 | 9
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>FROM THE EDITOR’S PEN
ome newsis just toogood tokeep quiet,so as soonas I got the
I got off thephone and wasdoing the happydance, causing mycurious co-work-ers to inquireabout the source of my sudden happiness.
So much for having a low-key, professionalapproach to our magazine landing an interviewwith one of America’s favorite authors. A betterwoman would have acted like she gets to do thissort of thing all the time, I know, but hey … WEGOT TO INTERVIEW JAN KARON!
You can thank Liz for the fact that an inter-view with Jan appears in this issue. The modera-tor of our Newnan-Coweta Magazine Book Nook,a new online book discussion group, Liz is per-haps one of the world’s greatest Jan Karon fans.She’s read the entire series of Mitford books(nine novels) repeatedly. She has all the books onCD. She has all the gift books, the cookbook, thebedside reader, the Radio Theatre CD set. Assomeone who has read all of Jan’s works onlyonce each, I feel like a bit of a latecomer to theparty.
Through some fortunate correspondencewith Jan’s helpful publicist (bless you, Ann Day!),we learned we could spend some time with Janat her hotel the morning before she spoke at theCarter Center in Atlanta. (To read Liz’s account offirst meeting Jan, visitncmagbooknook.blogspot.com. I’m happy to
report that I wasthe calm one, foronce in my life.)
Those of us inthe newspaperand magazinebusiness aredevoted readers,and I especiallyenjoy knowingthat Jan’s firstMitford bookbegan as a serial-ized feature in theBlowing Rocketnewspaper inBlowing Rock,N.C.
Her new book,Home to Holly
Springs, takes us back to the Mississippi roots ofher beloved main character, Father Tim. We’redefinitely not in Mitford anymore, and I appreci-ate the fact that the new book discusses racialthemes and other weightier issues we wouldn’thave seen in Mitford. (Warning to readers: Ourinterview on page 76 does give away some prettysignificant plot details, so if you haven’t read thenew book yet, you may want to tuck this articleaway for future reading. Better yet, I’d suggestyou hurry up and read Home to Holly Springs!)
Appropriately enough, it’s also in this issuewe proudly announce the kickoff of our SecondAnnual Newnan-Coweta Magazine WritingContest (see page 6). I so enjoyed reading theentries as they arrived for last year’s contest.Could the next Jan Karon be in our midst?
I’d love to think so!
Warmly,
Angela McRae, EditorNewnan-Coweta Magazine
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SThe joy of meeting Jan
Angela, Jan, Liz
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For 365 days of local news, information and enjoyment,
call 770-304-3373
Coweta’s Local Daily16 Jefferson Street • Newnan, GA 30263
Collage photos courtesy of African American Heritage Museum and Roscoe Jenkins Funeral Home
08_0102_6_15 12/17/07 5:21 PM Page 13
Octavia Jenkins Mahone:
ctavia Jenkins Mahone of Newnanwears many hats in Coweta County:she’s a mother and grandmother,
successful businesswoman, faithfulchurch member, and active member of
several organizations. Her friends and family call her “a pillar of the
community,” “caring and compassionate,” awoman of “strength and character,” “a wonderfulboss” and “a virtuous woman.”
Most recently, she’s been named a FemaleLiving Legend by the 100 Black Women of FuneralService for her outstanding achievements in themortuary business. She was honored at the 70thconvention of the National Funeral Directors andMorticians Association, Inc. in Philadelphia, Pa.,which recognized women across the country.
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OBy LaTina Emerson | Photos by Bob Fraley and courtesy of Octavia Jenkins Mahone
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The president and co-owner ofRoscoe Jenkins Funeral Home washailed as a licensed funeral director inthe state of Georgia and a thirdgeneration funeral director. “It makesme feel special to be honored while Iam living,” says Mahone.
For more than 15 years Mahonehas led the family-owned business,which continues to flourish, recentlyexpanding to a new location onMillard Farmer IndustrialBoulevard.
In January 2007, Mahone, herdaughter, Jacquelyn Mahone Flowersand friend Linette C. Ward becameco-owners of Roscoe Jenkins FuneralHome, Inc. The business moved fromEast Broad Street, where it had been astaple in downtown Newnan for 70years, beginning a new chapter inCoweta County’s history.
Childhood — The Making of a Businesswoman
Octavia Jenkins Mahone wasborn July 15, 1941. Raised an onlychild, Mahone was treasured by herlate parents, Roscoe and OctaviaJenkins, and they worked to giveher the best that life couldoffer. They groomed theirdaughter to one day followin their footsteps.
Roscoe Jenkins FuneralHome, established in 1911,was the first funeral homefor African-Americans inCoweta County, saysMahone. The funeral homewas founded in the early1900s by Fannie Jenkins. Theestablishment was named theCoweta Burial Association and
was located onRobinson Street.
In 1911,Jenkins’ son, RoscoeConklin Jenkins,took over thefuneral home andchanged the nameto Roscoe JenkinsFuneral Home. Hemarried OctaviaSmith in 1917,and together theyoperated thebusiness. RoscoeJenkins FuneralHome relocatedto Perry Street in1933, and then toEast Broad Streetin 1937.
Mahoneremembersplaying outsidethe building indowntownNewnan, andthough somearound herexperiencedracial discord,
Mahone said her parents didn’t facethose types of issues. “I don’t recallthem having obstacles. They wererespected and treated well,” she said.
The Jenkinsfamily lived
onCalhoun
Streetin
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Roscoe and Octavia Jenkins
Octavia JenkinsMahone in 1950
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The University of West Georgia offers distinctive opportunities for individual growth that enrich your journey to graduation, and access to our outstanding programs is closer than you may think.
UWG’s Newnan Center offers degree programs in business, education and nursing,and you can earn an M.B.A. there through one evening class a week for 22 months. In addition,undergraduate classes are taught in a variety of disciplines and can be applied toward completion of the more than 100 programs ofstudy offered at our main campus in Carrollton.
Octavia Jenkins of Roscoe Jenkins Funeral Home in Newnan,center, is named Mortician of the Year in ceremonies at CallawayGardens in November of 1978.
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Newnan. Mahone reminisces thather father was protective and wise.
He loved to whistle and smoke cigars.She fondly recalls that her mother wasloving and enjoyed baking andsewing. “She used to make gowns,”
said Mahone. Mahone was
raised in the churchand attendedNewnan ChapelUnited MethodistChurch, where sheremains a membertoday. She attendedelementary schoolon Pinson Street atthe Verona Rosserbuilding throughthe seventh grade.For eighth grade,she attended
Howard Warner High School. In 1955, she entered Central
High School, a black high school, onMcIntosh Street, now Martin LutherKing Jr. Drive. “We were the firstninth graders to attend the school forfour years,” she said.
She recalls that Central High hada stage in the lunchroom, but didn’thave a gym. All physical educationclasses were held outside, and theschool’s football team played its gamesat Pickett Field on Wesley Street.
“When I was in high school, Istarted coming in [to Roscoe Jenkins]and doing secretarial work,” she said.Mahone completed her studies atCentral High in 1959. Followinggraduation, she worked as a secretaryat Howard Warner for three years andthen at Fairmount for one year.
Mahone attended Clark AtlantaUniversity in Atlanta for one year. Shemarried and gave birth to a daughter,
“Octavia is a person that has been a pillar forthis community. I can remember the times when thefuneral home would help people in need, paying a gasbill, buying groceries or trying to provide some type ofshelter. They’ve been there for the community for awhile.” — Margaret Thompson, Mahone’s best friend,friends since 1960
“She’s a very kind-hearted person. She doesn’tmind helping anybody. Anybody that she can help,she will help. She’s been good to me over the yearsthat I have worked for her. You couldn’t work for abetter person than her — she’s a wonderful boss.” — Jason Thompson, godson, employee at RoscoeJenkins from 1995 to present
“She’s such a caring person, and that’s the mainthing that people always say about her. She’s allbusiness, but she’s very caring about people and theirneeds. I think that’s one of the reasons she has beensuccessful. I consider her to be one of my goodfriends.” — Alice Malcolm, lifelong friend
“My mother is a kind, caring and compassionateperson. Her strength and character is profound in herpersonal and professional life. She is a force in myinspiration because she is the essence of a virtuouswoman.” — Jacquelyn Flowers, daughter
Giving Back — A Friend to Many
Roscoe Jenkins is in thewhite hat, above, and atright with Octavia infront of the funeral homewhen she was a girl.
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Jacquelyn, on June 1, 1961.Her father, Roscoe Jenkins,
died on July 8, 1964, and Mahonebegan working full-time at thebusiness in 1965. Mahone waslicensed as a funeral director in1975, and completed herapprenticeship under her mother’sguidance. She worked alongside hermother to provide funeral servicesto Coweta residents.
On May 17, 1992, Mahone’smother, Octavia Jenkins, passedaway at age 94, leaving Mahone asthe sole proprietor and thirdgeneration to lead the funeral home.
Lessons Learned — Upholding a Legacy
In business, Mahone says herparents taught her “to be honestand treat everybody the same.” Shelearned the importance ofdedication and hard work. “You’reon call 24/7. You’re alwaysavailable,” says Mahone.
“All families are not the same.You adjust to their needs,” Mahonehas discovered through the years.What she enjoys most about herjob is “helping people.”
She has postponed only onefuneral during her tenure —because of snow. The family hadthe funeral two days later, she said.
During services, some songstouch her. “Babies are sad,” she said.
She considers her mother to beher role model. She respected hermother for her quiet spirit, but saysshe also liked to have fun. Hermother enjoyed dancing, which isalso her favorite pastime.
Mahone says she enjoyedraising her daughter. “I was themom who always carried thechildren to the football games outof town.” She has threegrandchildren, Danielle B. Flowers,Therrell Flowers and MauriceDiamond. She hopes one day hergranddaughter will continue thelegacy. NCM
“No detail is too large or too small to honor your loved ones.”
Owners Pictured (L-R) Linette C. Ward, Octavia J. Mahone and Jacquelyn M. Flowers
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By Janet Flanigan | Photos by Bob Fraley
The WisdomBehind the Smile:Willie Pritchett
he great hymn writer Isaac Watts wrote “Kind words
toward those you daily meet, Kind words and action right, Will
make this life of ours most sweet, Turn darkness into light.”
Watts might have had Newnan’s Willie Pritchett in mind
when he wrote this. However, Watts has been gone over 250
years and Pritchett is still actively involved in Coweta County
after 30 years of doing what he loves best — turning darkness
into light.
20
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even insisted we see the Navy Band,”he says, eyes rolling a bit, but with asly smile. “We go to the Civil RightsMuseum,” he said, and to theUniversity of Alabama where afriend’s 102-year-old mother “tells the
kids what it was really like to be ablack person back when there weresigns saying ‘colored’ and ‘white’ onthe drinking fountains. You shouldsee their eyes bug out!” He chuckles,but in a sad way.
Pritchett is taking a couple yearsbreak from coaching to focus on hiswork at Milliken in LaGrange andplanning for his eventual workretirement, but he has no plans togive up coaching. His son has takenover coaching reins, and Pritchettcontinues to help with the youngpeople on Saturdays and with specialoutings.
Several years back, Pritchettdiscovered the Coweta CountyRecreation Department was planningto move the football field out onHighway 16 (now known as MuttHunter Park) and he becameconcerned for “his” local kids. Wherewould they practice? How wouldthey get out there? Pritchett knew
“I was lucky,” he says. “I camefrom a family that had both amomma and a daddy, but lots of kidsdidn’t have their father and many inthe black community still don’t havefathers.
“When I got out of high school, Isaw there were lots of single parentkids from the ‘rough areas’ thatneeded someone to look up to, so Istarted coaching PONY leaguebaseball and little league football.”Pritchett still carries the vestiges of histhree-sport letterman’s body from hisdays at Newnan High School, but hisbig athlete’s body contains acompassionate spirit. He reminiscedabout Coach Harry Mullins, “Coachplayed me when others wouldn’t playa black quarterback in those days. Iwas also a catcher on the baseballteam because I was so big and I wasn’tafraid.”
Pritchett was used to not showingfear — he and his brother had beenthe very first black kids to play in theNewnan PONY League. That’s justone of the reasons why it’s been soimportant for him to coach youngmen in sports today.
“I have heard some parents say
‘Willie Pritchett is racist’ because Ionly have black boys on my teams,”he explained softly. “That isn’t it atall. It’s just that, I am trying to be agood example to these boys whodon’t have a father or man in their
lives. My son, Antoine Martin,coaches and I might be the only manthey interact with. Or sometimes itbrings their daddies out to theirgames and you ought to see thosekids try when their fathers show up.It’d make you cry.”
He believes in the tough loveapproach with “his” kids when theyare on the team. If their report cardsare not up to his standards, the kidshave to run banks (hills). Parentshave even called Coach Willie fordisciplinary advice, he chuckled. Thegreatest moments, though, are whenhis former teammates bring theirsons to be on his team. He says thatis true success because those fathersare involved in their son’s lives.
Sports is just the beginning of hisinvolvement with his kids. He andhis family try to expose the childrento opportunities they might notordinarily see. “We carry them ontrips, to sporting events, and my wife
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that children from lower incomeneighborhoods had a difficult enoughtime catching a ride to the fields intown, but getting out to Highway 16on the eastern side of the countywould be virtually impossible.
Pritchett was also bothered abouta couple of other things that he feltwere affecting his community, so hedecided the only way to really voicehis concerns was to run for CountyCommissioner. “It was a wonderfulexperience, and the great thing wasmy voice was heard. I didn’t win butevery single thing that I wanted tohave happen, happened. Those newfootball fields on Temple Avenue arethere for everyone’s kids to play on. Itwas a very positive experience forme,” Pritchett says.
It must have been positive,because he has remained politicallyactive. Currently, Pritchett serves aschairman of the Newnan HousingAuthority, another cause near anddear to his heart. “Our motto is In,Up and Out, which means get aperson who has never owned a homeand maybe never believed they couldown a home, we get them in thehousing system, up on their feet andout in a house of their own.” He’sseen the Newnan Housing Authorityhelp three or four families intohomes, and HUD has helped withfinancing on a couple of homes.
Pritchett also volunteers with at-risk kids at United We Stand, is activein Come to the Table, and helps atthe annual “neighborhood” cookouton Boone Drive that feeds about2,000 people. It seems Pritchett iseverywhere and knows everyone. Hehas a smile on his face, and there isgreat wisdom behind the smile, andmaybe a little sadness. “Too manyparents want to be their kid’s friends.You’ll be disrespected in the end.”
Kindness flows from WilliePritchett, who has indeed turneddarkness to light for so many. NCM
For news, events and hours seewww.nicksgrantville.com Delivery § Take-Out § Dining RoomWE’RE BAKING HISTORY!
TM
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Come ToThe Table
It’s time to
By W. Winston Skinner | Photos courtesy of The Times-Herald
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�
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Come To The Table asks the question, “Can we all get along — really get along?”
Coweta County is known for its southern hospitality and its emphasis on good manners.
A couple of years ago, local residents concerned about the social divide between people of
different races formed Come To The Table.
The organization has addressed topics that can make people squirm — white privilege, the
role of race in local politics and why 11 a.m. Sunday is the week’s most segregated hour.
J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 | 25
Admiring the winning Come To The Table logo are, from left, NatalieHynson, Marge Zettler, artist Amira Pippins and Sandy Heard.
Dr. Suzanne Minarcine, president of Come To The Table, speaks to thegroup about its direction at a recent meeting.
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In April, CTTT held a forumon the Sam Hose lynching, an1899 event that broughtapprobation from around theworld when it occurred but whichwas unknown to many lifelongCowetans. Dr. SuzanneMinarcine, current CTTTpresident, and Sandy Heard, thegroup’s secretary — along withfounding member Don Chapman— recently shared insights aboutCome To The Table.
NCM: When, how and why did youget involved in Come To The Table?
Minarcine: I became involved inCome To The Table in its infancy. … Iwas blessed to have parents whobelieved all men – and women –were created equal. … I later facedsignificant discrimination as a resultof my gender. … Why should I bedenied an opportunity because I wasfemale? And why should anyone bedenied an opportunity because oftheir skin color? When I came to thefirst meeting, I recognized the valueto the community and decided thiswas an organization whose ideas Icould support.
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Heard: I was intriguedwith the concept ofpeople coming togetherto speak of theirdiversities in culture,opportunities andprejudices; to be able todo all of this whilesharing a meal together.I was especiallyintrigued because thiswas taking place in theDeep South.
Chapman: I started CTTTbecause it was myobservation that once a conversationstarted across the racial lines, withinjust a minute or two, race was nolonger an issue. But unfortunately,very few conversations were startedacross the racial lines. CTTT was anattempt to not only start conversationsbut to empower the people to seebeyond the immediate and form lastingfriendships.
NCM: Why is an organization likeCome To The Table important to ourcommunity?
Chapman: It is extremely important tobridge the gaps that are presentlyseparating our citizens. Workingtogether as a team will make us muchstronger than if we are pulling indifferent directions.
Heard: CTTT can help to create anawareness of our differences and thethings we have in common. It can alsohelp to bridge those differences bycreating a better understandingthrough dialog. …All of us no matterwhat our ethnicity carried baggagefrom our past. It is very difficult to behonest with ourselves, let alone toshare our thoughts and past withothers.
Minarcine: Come To The Table is uniquein Coweta County in that we discussdiversity issues and promote anunderstanding. We have had some veryheated discussions, but we’veconcluded as friends.
NCM: Did the Sam Hose discussionresult in something positive ornegative?
Heard: This particular discussionresulted in some positive and negative. Ithink that the black communityappreciated it being mentioned in thenewspapers even though theirparticipation … was sparse. …Unfortunately I think that both the whiteand black community felt uncomfortablebecause Sam Hose became an openissue. I think that a lot of people didn’tknow how they should react. … Thereshould not have been the feelings ofguilt or anger from anyone.
Chapman: Of course, lynchings wereterrible and should never havehappened, but I don’t think Sam Hosewas a good “poster child” for an anti-lynching campaign. I feel that issue hurtCTTT in the community as many peopleobjected to bringing up such an “old
Dr. Said Sewell of the University of West Georgiaencouraged Come To The Table participants to focuson a particular group of local youth for one year.
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case” and one in which the factswere so disputed. … My motto is“Remember the past, but focus onthe future.”
Minarcine: There is a disconnectbetween the history as taught andthe history as it actually occurred.… The purpose was not to placeblame on anyone. If we wanted toapproach this in biblical terms, Ithink our goal was simply anacknowledgement of whathappened, that it was a tragedy forall sides, and a recognition of thehumanity of Mr. Hose and (thealleged victims of his crimes). Thenext step would then be forgivenessand repentance, in stating that weare all terribly sorry that the eventsever occurred, and we will doeverything possible to make surethis does not happen again.
NCM: What is the biggest challengefacing our community in the next fewyears? Is this something with whichCome To The Table can help?
Minarcine: We have a huge problemwith education here in CowetaCounty. Our high school drop-out rateis embarrassing. Our teen pregnancyrate is much too high, and we areperpetuating a cycle of failure. Byfocusing our efforts on educationand leadership development, we canmake a difference.
Chapman: The biggest problemfacing our community is the lack ofcooperation among the variousraces. Our community is dividedalong racial lines. … Working to healpast grievances while focusing onmaking our future a better place forall our citizens is a worthy goal …one in which CTTT can play animportant role.
Heard: We are wasting ourchildren’s future. We need to investin our underprivileged … children.… We have to broaden theirhorizons. … We at Come To TheTable are hopeful that by exposingour young people to differentexperiences it will help them to thinkoutside of their comfort zone andrealize that they can be a part of the“big picture,” the future. NCM
Come to the Table meets
monthly at St. Paul’s
Episcopal Church in
Newnan. For the latest
schedule, call Dr. Suzanne
Minarcine at 678-423-1989.
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Desperate poverty and socialupheaval over the last 20 years lead tothe rise in adoptions in LatinAmerica, the former Soviet Unionand Eastern Europe. In China,government population controlpolicies contributed to the
o matter a family’s reason,the decision to adopt is verymuch a personal journey. Forthose choosing internationaladoption, the journey
literally covers thousands of miles. U.S. citizens started adopting
Local residents build families through international adoptionchildren from other countries insubstantial numbers after WWII,many of them European andJapanese orphans. However, war andits aftermath are not the only factorsleading countries to allow theirchildren to be adopted abroad.
NBy Leigh Knight | Photos by Bob Fraley
‘He has my heart’
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abandonment of infant girls andovercrowded orphanages, a factor intheir government’s decision to allowinternational adoptions, according tothe Evan B. Donaldson AdoptionInstitute.
Today, there are approximately 50
countries that offer adoption serviceswith the majority of the childrencoming to the U.S. from China,Russia, Guatemala, Ukraine andSouth Korea. The average wait timefor a child is 12-18 months. Mostadoptions are finalized in the
country of origin, so parents comehome with the child being legallytheirs. The recent U.S. ratification ofthe Hague Treaty on Inter-CountryAdoptions hopes to ensure ethicaladoption practices, which means thatadopting parents can be sure the
Karen and Steve Barker withchildren Cade and Lily Glen
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process and roadblocks along the wayto labor pains. “But like thosechildbirth pains, you forget the‘waiting pains’ once you feel thesweet and remarkable pleasure anddelight of your baby in your arms.”
The Barkers make sure thechildren know their heritage,teaching them at an early age aboutGuatemalan holidays and traditions.
“We have a strong commitmentto it. We are thrilled to say wherethey are from when people ask,” says
Karen. “Steveand I are soproud of ourchildren andfeel that Godhas blessedus richly by
rights of everyone involved areconsidered.
After 12 years of marriage, Karenand Steve Barker decided they wereready to see their family grow. Karenis the principal at Arnco-SargentElementary School, and Steve is thedirector of Administrative Services forthe Coweta County School System.
“We knew we wanted to adoptinternationally. It’s the way wewanted to go; the way God wantedus to go,” says Karen. “We wanted tohighlight another culture in ourfamily. It’s where we felt lead. It’swhere our hearts were.”
After researching differentcountries and programs, the Barkersselected Gladney’s Center forAdoption and the country ofGuatemala.
The couple received constantsupport from their friends and familyas they went through the extensivebackground check that is required.
“We had to provide numerousreference letters from family, friends,co-workers, letters ofrecommendation from employers,proof of financial status to provide forthe child, even crazy things like septictank inspections,” recalls Karen.
The couple’s patience wasrewarded with a referral for a babyboy, Cade, now 6. They receivedtheir son’s photo three days after hewas born. He remained in foster carein Guatemala, and the couplereceived monthly updates includinginformation on doctor visits until theBarkers brought him home when hewas eight months old.
“The program allows parents togo to visit before the paperwork wasdone, but I didn’t think I could doit — put my hands on him andthen walk away,” says Karen.
A little sister, Lily Glen, born inGuatemala, recently joined bigbrother Cade.
“It’s been a huge blessing for us.A long hard waiting process butworth the wait, no doubt,” saysKaren, who compares the extensive
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creating them for us. Our adoptionagency had a picture and a quote onit website that I love. It said, ‘He maynot have my eyes or my hair color,but he definitely has my heart.’”
* * * * *
“We had the older two [Katie, 16,and Alex, 13], and then my husband,Dave, got this wild idea to start overagain,” recalls Kristin Richard. “Iwasn’t up for being pregnant again, sowe looked at adopting.”
The couple decided oninternational adoption because it’smore favorable to families with olderchildren, and there’s no chance of thebirth mother contesting the adoptionas is sometimes the case in the U.S.,according to Kristin.
“We keyed into China from thebeginning. A friend gave us
some information, and my
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Abby andKatie Richard
Kristin and Dave Richardwith daughters AnnaGrace, left, and Abby
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husband does a lot of work in Chinaand Asia, and a lot of his friends areAsian. It was the best thing for us,”says Kristin.
The couple adopted Anna Grace,now 4, when she was 11 months old,and Abby, now 3, when she was 20months, which worked out well withKristin since she preferred havingtoddlers to newborns.
Kristin describes Anna Grace andAbby as typical American girls, wholove telling the story of how theywere born in China, and mommy goton an airplane to come get them.
“We let them know we areinterested in their birth culture, butwe don’t want to go overboard,” saysKristin. “We plan to let them takethe lead as they get older, and blendthe two cultures together — that’swhat works for us.”
Although the current wait time istwo and a half years from when thepaperwork lands in China, accordingto Kristin, many countries, includingChina, have programs where specialneeds children are availablesignificantly faster.
“Special needs, speaking for theChina system, are typically minor,correctable needs such as skinconditions, cleft lip/cleft palate, heart
conditions, extra digits, missing limbs,albinism, Hepatitis B, etc., or bybeing a healthy but older child,”explains Kristin. “Parents can let theiragencies know if they are interested inthis program and identify the specialneeds that fit their families. AnnaGrace came to us via the traditionalprogram, but Abby came via thespecial needs (also called the waitingchild) program due to a possible skincondition, which she does not have.She was misdiagnosed in China.”
Kristin recommends prospectiveparents check out the agency to makesure it is reputable, know how theprocess works, visit Internet groupsfor prospective parents, and be awareof what kind of attachment or healthissues the child may have.
Both sets of grandparents havebeen extremely supportive and doteon the girls, according to Kristin, asdo the Richards’ older children.
“They adore the girls and lovedmaking trips to China…they havesaid it would be pretty boringwithout them. They’ve asked to goback and get a brother — but that’snot happening,” laughs Kristin. “Thegirls have added so much to ourfamily. I can’t imagine them notbeing here.” NCM
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Alex, Kristin, Anna Grace, Dave, Abby and Katie Richard
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seeds that could be processed intochocolate — making a frothychocolate drink that became adelicacy among their people — andthey set the course of history.
Today, chocolate is a favorite
treat among many across the globe,and Valentine’s Day, the holiday oflove, is the perfect time to indulge inchocolate cravings.
Two Newnan chocolate expertshave some helpful hints on making
lmost 2,000 years ago, theancient cultures of Mexicoand Central America made a
priceless discovery in theirrainforests, the cacao tree. Thenatives soon learned the tree had
By LaTina Emerson | Photos by Bob Fraley
A Valentine’s Day Delight
Chocolates byContemporary
Catering
A
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chocolate candy and other items forloved ones this Valentine’sseason.
Deena Iannarino, owner ofSimply Sweet Supplies, says thatValentine’s Day is a busy time for hersupply shop on Highway 34 East.Among her merchandise, she sellssupplies for candy making, includingchocolate candy molds.
Molds come in almost any shapeimaginable, from hearts and cupids toteddy bears and interlocking hearts.There are also molds for chocolatejewelry boxes, dessert cups, andtropical shapes such as sea shells andpalm trees.
“A lot of the candies such as thebonbons and truffles are easier to doin a mold,” said Iannarino.
“Petits fours are also reallypopular at Valentine’s Day,” she said.Petits fours are bite-sized cakes insideof a chocolate shell. The tiny cakescan also be covered in icing.
Truffles are probably the mostrecognizable of the seasonal candies.The chocolate squares are sold inassorted boxes and can have a dense,creamy or filled center. Pre-madefilling is now available for truffles.
The chocolate lover has beenmaking homemade fudge since highschool. She prefers chocolate thatdoes not have to be tempered, such asthe Merckens brand of chocolate, anduses all types of chocolate from darkto white to milk chocolate.
“You can melt it in several ways.The easiest way for a beginner is witha double boiler because it helpsmaintain the temperature,” she said.Chocolate can be melted in themicrowave, stove top, crock pot or afondue pot.
After melting the chocolate,simply pour it into a mold and stickit in the freezer. “You pop it out ofthe mold and it’s done. Five minutestops,” she said. “I can probably make
three dozen petits fours in an hour.”Iannarino recommends working
in stages and having several molds onhand for faster chocolate making. Toprevent cracking in petits fours, sheadvises adding Crisco or ParamountCrystals to soften the chocolate.However, if too much is added, thechocolate won’t harden.
To make the gift extra special,candies can be placed on a platter,candy foil wrappers or even candyboxes. White chocolate candies canalso be painted, and chocolate nowcomes in all colors of the rainbow.The 3-D molds and pattern transferswith various designs are alsobecoming increasingly popular.
“You can also flavor yourchocolate. You can put oils in it,such as peppermint oil or cinnamonoil,” she said.
For more information onmaking chocolate candy, Iannarinorecommends the book All AboutCandy Making by AutumnCarpenter.
Jennifer Hanna, co-owner ofContemporary Catering on HerringRoad, also has some chocolate candyfavorites. She has worked at the full-service catering business with herbrother, John, for 15 years.
“The chocolate and whitechocolate dipped strawberries arealways a hit. They just completelylend themselves to romanticism.People just love them,” says Hanna.
Making chocolate dippedstrawberries is easy, said Hanna. Anytype of chocolate can be used, frombittersweet to semi-sweet. “It’s simplya matter of tempering the chocolate
Deena Iannarino shows some of the treats she offers at Simply SweetSupplies in Newnan.
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on your stovetop and melting it to agood creamy consistency,” she said.
“You want to dip the strawberrystraight in,” said Hanna. Also, eachstrawberry should be allowed to drip.“When you see a berry that has a bigclump of chocolate at the bottom,that’s called a foot. You don’t wantthe foot on it – you want it to have asmooth look,” she said.
Lastly, she recommends layingthe strawberry on a piece of waxpaper and placing it in the freezer forseveral minutes.
Another of Hanna’s personalfavorites is the coconut chocolatetruffle. “I created this because of mylove for Mounds bars,” she said.They are made of coconut, butter,powdered sugar and chocolate. “It’sgreat for the coconut lover.”
Contemporary Catering makesseveral other chocolate desserts suchas bar candy filled with nuts,brownies, chocolate chip cookies andthe Oreo brownie English trifle.
Hanna also has some ideas forthose trying to do something uniquethis Valentine’s Day. Over the years,many men have come to her to orderan intimate dinner for their wives,which adds a “personal touch” and ismore private than dining at arestaurant.
She also recommends Valentine’sDay gift baskets, which her business
delivers. The baskets can be filledwith different confections, appetizerssuch as miniature brie or pâté, abottle of wine or a teddy bear.
Following are some candy recipescourtesy of Simply Sweet Supplies.
PEANUT BUTTER MELT-A-WAYS
1 pound peanut butter wafers (canbe found at specialty candy shops)1 cup creamy peanut butter1 tablespoon coconut oil
Melt peanut butter wafers and oil.Add peanut butter and blend well.Fill small molds, then freeze. Whenfirm, remove from mold and dip.
In a large bowl, combine creamcheese, butter and confectioners’sugar. Mix in peppermint oil. Coloras desired with food coloring paste,or leave white. Roll mixture in smallballs and place on waxed paper.Flatten with a fork dipped in
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J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 | 37
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Beat butter and liquid in saucepanover low heat until melted. Add dryfondant, stir and knead until mixedwell. Store in airtight container atroom temperature for several hours.When ready to use, knead againuntil creamy. Store in fridge whennot using. Add colors/flavorings ifdesired. NCM
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Coweta’s
GREAT
By Megan Almon, Photos by Jennifer Riggs
Coweta is home to many a couple that’s getting it right when
it comes to marriage.
These four pairs of lovebirds tell how their “great romances”
came to be and share some secrets to their success.
Romances
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Calvin and Lavonia Richards
MET: Summer, 1942 — a whirlwind summer romance ended when Calvin took a job in Savannah, Ga., and sailedaway with the Merchant Marines.Reunited: Years later — 63 to be exact. Calvin, who lost his wife some time ago, learned of Lavonia’s where-abouts from a cousin. When he found out she’d been twice widowed, he picked up the phone to call her. Thatconversation was the first of many “hour(s) of charm” for Lavonia on the telephone. Calvin drove up toNewnan’s courthouse square and, like something out of a storybook, Lavonia walked right into his arms andnever looked back.
THE WEDDING: Sept. 24, 2005.
ADVICE:• “We enjoy each other,” Lavonia said. “We tease each other about trying to change, but it doesn’t work oneither side.”“If he was something different, I wouldn’t have wanted him,” she added.• With 81 and 82 years behind them, Lavonia and Calvin have learned one of life’s most valuable lessons. “Everyday is a bonus day at our age,” he said.
Whether they’re visiting with family or friends, cooking a meal, working in the yard, watching “Reba” reruns ortaking a spin in their convertible, the pair makes a point of cherishing their time together.
J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 | 39
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Curtis and
Mabel Ivey
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J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 | 41
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MET: Late 1930s, a school perform-ance. For him — a fiddle player —and her — a chorus girl — it wasn’tmutual love at first sight. He wantedto get her attention so badly, heexaggerated the sweeps of the fiddlebow so that it waved in Mabel’s face.“He got my attention,” she said. “ButI didn’t like it.”
FIRST DATE: He coerced her, promis-ing a coveted trip to “the new the-ater” in Barnesville, Ga. Theystopped at his brother’s house alongthe way and had such fun theystayed all evening, the theater for-gotten.
THE WEDDING: Sept. 25, 1943, duringa one-week furlough Curtis wasgranted before he was shipped over-seas to fight. The couple corre-sponded by letter until 1945. They’vebeen inseparable ever since.
ADVICE:• “We just enjoy each other somuch,” Mabel said.
Curtis rises at 5 a.m. to start break-fast. Mabel joins him for coffee. After65 years, they still have plenty to talkabout. The morning is their “specialtime.”
The pair enjoys socializing, and theirgarden is a pastime that entertainsthem both. Curtis enjoys growing thevegetables, and Mabel is equally ful-filled by preparing them, filling freez-ers for the winter.
• “It was my determination that Iwanted to stay in my marriage,”Mabel said.
To say that two individuals are “notcompatible” is an “easy way out” ofcommitment.
“No two people are alike,” she said.“Everybody’s different. Everybodyhas their own little things.Sometimes you have to accept oroverlook them because you can’tchange them.”
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MET: At the office, Alta Loma, Calif. Eddie’s attempt at smalltalk was thwarted by a very busy Sandy, who “dismissed” himand continued on her way. Eddie had no idea he’d just “metand been rejected by the woman” who would become thelove of his life.
THE PURSUIT: Intrigued, he made it his mission to get to knowSandy. Months of persistence came to fruition when sheaccepted an invitation to lunch.
THE WEDDING: July 20, 1989, after nearly six years of dating.
ADVICE:• The Heards tread carefully when it came to lifetime commit-ment. Each was looking for “true love.”Sandy knew she didn’t want an overbearing personality, andEddie was looking for a woman with a certain amount of inde-pendence.
“You’re putting your best foot forward when you date,” shesaid. “You must be comfortable with that person through thegood and the bad.”
Suffice it to say, the pair took their time letting their romanceblossom.
After a while, Eddie knew it was true love.“You don’t have any control over that feeling,” he said. “When
you’re with her, you want to be with her. When you’re awayfrom her, you want to be with her.”
• “Eddie and I are partners. We make decisions together,”Sandy said.
Eddie, a retired engineer, taught Sandy the art of setting adifficult decision aside and approaching it from a differentangle.
Each feels their love helps them make decisions with theother’s best interest at heart.
• The Heards begin each day with a hug before settlingdown to breakfast.
At dinnertime, they come together again and “talk thingsover.”
“Always communicate,” Eddie said. “And don’t be afraid toapologize.”
“Stay away from the negatives,” he added. “Don’t focus onweaknesses, but strengths.”
“Don’t get into a relationship where you think you canchange somebody,” Sandy added. “You cannot. Appreciatethem for what they are.”
08_0102_38_45 12/18/07 12:23 PM Page 43
Katie and
Joey Agee
with daughter
Harper Ellis
08_0102_38_45 12/18/07 12:24 PM Page 44
J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 | 45
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MET: First Baptist Church ofNewnan’s 2002 Vacation BibleSchool.
She was the pastor’s secretary, andhe was a hired musician whosemusic — and personality — enter-tained the children throughout theweek. So much so that Agee wasoffered a position working with thechurch’s youth.
THE COURTSHIP: The couple neveractually admitted they were “dating.”
We were “just friends,” Katie said,laughing.
After eight months of being “justfriends,” Joey popped the questionto Katie.
THE WEDDING: Dec. 20, 2003.
ADVICE:• Since the couple began “justfriends”-ing, they’ve consistentlymade Thursday nights all about oneanother. Even now that 4-month-oldHarper Ellis is here, the pair keepstheir “date night.”
• Since the beginning, Joey and Katiehave had a rule about questions —you can’t ask one without answeringit yourself.
The rule made getting to know oneanother easier.
“We’ve won every newlywed gamewe’ve ever played,” Joey said.
Building a foundation of strong com-munication made marriage an easystep for the pair. Joey knew his wifewas one of the most “indecisive”people he’d ever met, and Katieknew her husband held very differenttastes in food from her own.
• The couple began receiving“money” advice long before theywere married.
“Poor choices make a strain on yourrelationship,” Katie said.
The pair has found that a little finan-cial margin goes a long way towardsa more comfortable existence. NCM
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46 | N E W N A N - C O W E T A M A G A Z I N E
By Leigh Knight | Photos by Jeffrey Leo
Cowetans enjoy jewelry makeovers
08_0102_46_53 12/17/07 7:30 PM Page 46
J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 | 47
Dad’s Delta tie tacks wereturned into treasured familypieces, repurposed into new
necklaces courtesy of JeffMorgan at Morgan Jewelers
in Newnan. With their newpieces are, from left, Morgan
Bliemeister, Melanie Beaty,Margaret Jones, LaurenBeaty and Mary Norton.
his Valentine’s Day,give your loved one(or yourself ) amakeover – not ahome, hair or fashionmakeover but ajewelry makeover. Ifyou have pieces thatwere inherited fromfamily members thatyou’re not quite sure
TT
08_0102_46_53 12/18/07 12:31 PM Page 47
few localswho did
just that.Mary Jones
Norton ofNewnan always
shared a specialconnection with her
father, Charles WesleyJones Jr. Norton remembershim as a loving father toher and her sister, Melanie,and devoted husband toNorton’s mom, MargaretJones. In addition, he was adedicated employee ofDelta Airlines, retiring after35 years of service.
what to do with, childhood ringsthat you’ve outgrown, gold chainsand nugget necklaces leftover fromthe ’70s, or even flea market finds,you are a perfect candidate. Moreand more Cowetans are reviving andrecycling their jewelry and, in theprocess, creating unique heirloomsthat they can pass down to loved
ones for generations.Here are a
48 | N E W N A N - C O W E T A M A G A Z I N E
Personally and professionally, TammyNorthcutt of Artisan Jewelry inSharpsburg is a fan of jewelry makeovers.Here, she wears a memory necklacemade from bracelet charms. Below are apendant made from an engagement ring,and the bangle bracelet features stonesfrom rings Tammy herself wore as a girl.
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J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 | 49
“Every five years, Delta wouldgive Dad a tie tack with Deltawings for years of service,” recallsNorton. “Right after he retired in1992, he took the whole family toHawaii. I remember seeing himdressed up wearing that tie tack. Itwas so much fun. Dad really letloose in Hawaii…. Right before hegot sick, he took the whole family,including the kids, on a cruise. Itwas the most awesome trip ever. Iremember him wearing the tie tackthat I have on formal night.”
A shadow box held the tie tacksuntil Jones succumbed to lungcancer in May 2001.
“We had talked about doingsomething with the tie tacks whilehe was sick,” says Norton, “butafter he passed away, we knew wewanted to make some kind ofjewelry.”
Norton and her family took thepins to Jeff Morgan at MorganJewelers in downtown Newnan andasked, “What can we do withthese?”
Morgan fashioned the tie tacksinto circular pendants, eachengraved with “Dad” on the frontand the years of service on the back.The tie tacks, which are gold exceptfor the first anniversary pin, whichis silver, also contain preciousstones. Norton’s sister MelanieBeaty’s necklace contains a ruby anda diamond. Margaret Jones wearsthe 30-year pin, which features anemerald and diamond. Beaty’sdaughters, Morgan Bliemeister andLauren Beaty, both received theirpendants on their 18th birthdays, aswill Norton’s daughters, Hailey andWesley Anne, who is named for hergrandfather. Norton’s necklace,which she wears faithfully everyday, was fashioned from the pingiven to her father by Delta on his15th anniversary of service.
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50 | N E W N A N - C O W E T A M A G A Z I N E
“I have worn it every day sinceI got it. I feel like he is with me. IfI get stressed, then I start rubbingit. I know that sounds weird,” saysNorton, “but he’s my guardianangel.”
Jewelry makeovers are also aspecialty with Tammy and JeffNorthcutt, who own ArtisanJewelry Company in Sharpsburg,and Tammy’s own personalcollection is inspiring.
“We like to take what you haveand create pieces of jewelry that arefunctional,” says Tammy.
One of Tammy’s favorite piecesis a bangle bracelet created frombirthstone rings she received as alittle girl. Customers can bring intheir own gold or silver to be usedas well, making the cost veryaffordable.
Tammy also loves her memorynecklace. When she decided toupgrade her wedding band, herhusband and jeweler, Jeff, createdthe necklace using her originalband to hold charms. Tammydecided to go with a religious
A customer combined several old piecesof jewelry to have Artisan Jewelry inSharpsburg craft this new tanzanite anddiamond necklace. Below, Jeff Northcuttworks on a piece for a customer.
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J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 | 51
theme, so her ring now holds across she was given on hersixteenth birthday and otherreligious charms that have specialmeaning to her.
“We like to make peopleexcited about wearing theirjewelry,” says Jeff. “I know I’vedone a good job when someonegives me a hug for something I’vemade or recreated for them.”
The couple have fulfilledrequests from many Cowetans,including reshaping a weddingband into a heart pendant usingthe original diamond in thecenter, replicating old weddingrings that were lost, and helpingfuture grooms. Tammy suggestsbuying the diamond andproposing to the bride-to-be withthe diamond in its case and thenallowing the bride-to-be to designa custom ring. (Hint to husbands:This works for any stone!)
Ray DuBose, owner of R.S.Mann Jr. Jewelers in downtownNewnan, recalls severalmemorable makeovers.
“One family diamond wornby (a) mother was being passed onto a son, here in Coweta, who wasa hardworking rising musician,”says DuBose. “The young mantaught music lessons by day andplayed the Atlanta club scene atnight. I met with him to createjust the perfect simple design tosafely hold the family heirloomdiamond. The musician’s schedulewas so tight that I had to deliverthe ring to Buckhead in the coverof the night, where the proposalwas made between musical gigs.”
Another Coweta resident lefther diamond wedding band to beused to create new pieces for hergranddaughters.
“All five,” says DuBose, “withtheir own unique style.”
Monthly Auctions, Antiques and Uniqueswww.bennettsantiques.com Tyrone, GA
Ray DuBose of R.S. Mann Jewelers in Newnan works ona customer’s ring. DuBose is among the local jewelersseeing the trend of customers wanting to have newjewelry created from old family pieces.
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J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 | 53
Dubose discussed with the family the manydifferent options and after thinking of severalpossibilities from rings to earrings to necklaces,it was decided he would design a ring for eachgranddaughter.
“Each would be the same smart design of alldiamonds in a straight row,” says DuBose. “Alasting memory of grandmother, diamonds onceworn by their beloved grandmother now suitablefor today’s and future generations. Oh, andanother surprise [for the granddaughters], eachwas engraved on the inside of the ring with theirpet name for grandmother.” NCM
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08_0102_46_53 12/17/07 7:31 PM Page 53
54 | N E W N A N - C O W E T A M A G A Z I N E
Tony Chaney’s sculptures canbe found around the world
By Elizabeth Richardson | Photos by Bob Fraley
08_0102_54_61 12/17/07 7:36 PM Page 54
J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 | 55
You’ve probably seen his work
in any number of places around the
world, but most people have never
heard of 62-year-old
Tony Chaney of Newnan.
Chaney became a freelance sculptor
and prop builder just over a decade
ago. He has screen credit for his work
in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, The
Lawnmower Man and Into the Sun.
His work has been on display at Six
Flags Over Georgia and other theme parks,
at malls around the country, at the 1996
Olympics in Atlanta — and even in the
Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.
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56 | N E W N A N - C O W E T A M A G A Z I N E
“I didn’t know I could do it,”admits a still-shocked Chaney. “Iwish I could have discovered that I
United States and held a variety ofjobs. He was born in Indiana, raisedin Ohio and spent a number of years
could do this much earlier in mylife,” he jokes.
Chaney has lived all over the
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Love is in the AirLove is in the Air
Tony Chaney’s model of the Bates Motel
08_0102_54_61 12/17/07 7:36 PM Page 56
J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 | 57
in Pennsylvania. It wasn’t until laterin life that he moved to CowetaCounty and made his life-long hobbyof building models into a successfulcareer.
Chaney came tovisit Coweta for thefirst time in 1980 andfound the county tobe “ideal.” It wasn’tuntil 1985, however,that he first came tolive in Georgia,relocating to Atlantawhere he spent a fewyears sellingcomputers.
Chaney moved toLos Angeles, Calif. in1989 to stay with his son, who hadgone there the year before on ascholarship to work on set design.
During that time Chaney builtmodels and props that were used inthe three major motion pictures. Healso got a degree in film.
“I had built plastic modelsthroughout my life and I was alwaysinterested to see how that was
incorporated into films,” Chaneysaid.
His success, he says, is acombination of natural talent, the
thrill of a challenge and a drivefor perfection.
While people assume theHollywood life is one ofglamour, Chaney recalls thework was stressful becausemoviemakers set unrealisticexpectations.
Also while living inCalifornia, Chaney builtarchitectural miniatures forLandmark Entertainment —the largest internationalproduction company — whichwere then used to construct
theme parks in Japan.“I spent my free time walking
around through the various studios
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Tony Chaney made this bust of Martin Luther King Jr. forthe National Museum of Patriotism in Atlanta.
08_0102_54_61 12/17/07 7:36 PM Page 57
58 | N E W N A N - C O W E T A M A G A Z I N E
where projects were in progress.Several [studios] had sculptorsworking on figures, or trees orarchitectural elements. That was likeworking in Santa’s workshop,” saidChaney, who much prefers workingtabletop on miniatures than climbingladders to create the larger-than-lifemodels.
Following the riots sparked bythe Rodney King police brutalityincident in 1992, Chaney decided toreturn to Georgia. Right away herealized he made the best decision forhis career, which started in 1996.
“This is a smaller market,” hesaid. “Here, I get to be a big fish in asmall pond.”
Chaney’s first attempt at sculptingwas the beast from Beauty and theBeast. The feat took him 80 hours tocomplete and was for Disneyland’sParis stage show. Now, Chaney preferssculpting human figures, specificallybusts, and says that local sculptorCarol Harless is his mentor.
His first regular job in his newcareer was building models for SixFlags Over Georgia. Over the years,he’s contributed Looney Tunes,ghoulish models for their Fright Festin 1999, and even a three-dimensional Greco-Roman friezeinspired by Savannah architecturethat greets guests at the entrance.
Prior to 2000, Chaney receivedregular freelance work from 12companies in the Atlanta metropolitanarea. Since then, the economy hastaken a turn that Chaney describes as“kind of scary,” and now only threecompanies provide him business on aregular basis.
Most recently, Chaney createdprops for the Opryland Hotel’sWhoville holiday display, which iselaborately displayed in ice.
For the 1996 Olympics, hecrafted oversized Coke bottles that
Local sculptor Tony Chaney derives muchpleasure from creating models. Here, he’s
in the workshop at his home. Above, hisrecreation of the chase scene from
“Return of the Jedi.”
08_0102_54_61 12/17/07 7:36 PM Page 58
J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 | 59
marked the mist areas where peoplecould go to cool down.
Anyone who has visited theNational Museum of Patriotism,which is in the process of reopeningin a new location in downtownAtlanta, has seen many of Chaney’spieces. Over the years he’scontributed busts of Jimmy Carter —his first sculpture in clay — MartinLuther King Jr. and BenjaminFranklin. He’s also sculpted Mt.Rushmore and a recreation of thefamous photo “Raising of the Flag onIwo Jima.”
Chaney’s work is somewhatseasonal. He typically has more workfrom August to October than fromJanuary until April.
Even though it is now hislivelihood, building models forpleasure remains a priority —particularly models of robots andanything relating to the sciencefiction genre. Chaney displays hislife-sized model of a robot namedMaria from a 1927 silent film titled“Metropolis.” Director George Lucasadmittedly modeled Star Wars’ C3POafter Maria.
“I’m like a little kid, andprobably an embarrassment for mychildren,” says Chaney, with a laugh.
Regardless, he doesn’t plan togrow up anytime soon.
For more information, visitwww.tonychaney.com. NCM
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08_0102_54_61 12/17/07 7:36 PM Page 59
����
on the arts and education. I think itwould have been wonderful!
What’s your biggest pet peeve?People who are unkind and rude toone another.
Beaches or mountains as a vacationspot?Beaches, especially at sunrise andsunset.
What are you currently reading?“Personal History” by KatharineGraham. I also love all the magazineswe get at Hastings: Taste of theSouth (cooking magazine), Victoria,Southern Lady, Y’all and CountryLiving. The Times-Herald’s Newnan-Coweta Magazine is a must-read.
What is your favorite thing about theSouth? I like the way families are close toone another and how traditions arefollowed. I like all the seasonalfestivals and special events, likeTaste of Newnan on the Square …any event at The Centre forPerforming Arts ... and of course,sweet tea! NCM
�������������������
Describe yourself in one sentence.I enjoy life and I try to laugh as muchas possible ... when my father passedaway suddenly, it made me appreciatelife more and to enjoy each day.
What’s your biggest fear?Most “scary” rides at Six Flags!
Who’s your favorite author?Historian Doris Kearns Goodwin
If this was your last day on earth, whatwould you do?Have a picnic with my friends andfamily: good food, good music (Irishand ’80s dance music) and lots of“fun times.”
Who’s your biggest celebrity crush?George Clooney
Vanilla or chocolate?Chocolate — any kind — especiallydark chocolate!
If you could have been a witness to anyevent in history, what would it havebeen and why?The Grecian Age and the building ofthe great temples ... there was a focus
� �JOANIE ANDERSONREADER ...
Meet a Newnan-Coweta Magazine
Photo by Elizabeth Richardson
08_0102_54_61 12/18/07 12:35 PM Page 60
J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 | 61
��MORE ABOUT ANDERSON:Joanie Anderson is the Books and Magazine Associateat Hastings, where she’s been employed since May 2003.She was born in Miami, Fla. to a large Irish-Catholic fam-ily. She earned a B.A. in Journalism from the Universityof Miami on a scholarship from The Miami Herald. Shespent eight years with the Missouri Army National Guardas a public affairs specialist where she got to work onassignments at the Pentagon. She received a JointService Achievement Medal for work on the presidentialinauguration of 1993. Joanie’s husband, Keith, is aregional training manager for IKON Office Solutions.They moved to Newnan in 1999 and have one son,Nicholas, 13, who attends Madras Middle School.
We now carry the full line of portable Yamaha outboards from 2HP to 25HP along with G3 jonboats. We also have your RePower motors in stock from 2HP to 300HP.
M A R I N E
08_0102_54_61 12/18/07 12:35 PM Page 61
> COWETA COOKS
By Ruth Schroeder | Photos by Bob Fraley and courtesy of Ruth Schroeder
62 | N E W N A N - C O W E T A M A G A Z I N E
As we stood there feeling verycold, I mentioned how nice it wouldbe to have a hot bowl of soup thatwould surely warm our insides. Westarted to reminisce about all thedifferent kinds of soup we used toenjoy as children. How nice it wouldbe to have a “soup night” once a year,hopefully on the coldest night, witheveryone bringing a different soupand all the condiments. Everyoneagreed, and that was the beginning of
the Soup-Off.We began with just our families
and two friends, for a total of sixcouples. The friends have come andgone for various reasons, but thefamilies are always here. After theChristmas holidays, we were lookingfor something different to fill the gapuntil Spring, and this was it.
With such a large group wedecided to make a few ground rules.It is recommended the event be
he 15th annual Endicott-Schroeder Soup-Off is anevent that warms tummiesand brings laughter to all whoattend. The soup is always hot
and the weather, we hope, will be cool.How did this event come about
and what makes it so great? On onecold Saturday in March of 1993, theEndicotts and Schroeders were havinga yard sale. This particular day wasvery cold and windy.
at family’s 15th annual
cold-weather feast
at family’s 15th annual
cold-weather feast
Cheddar ChickenCorn Chowder
08_0102_62_69 12/18/07 12:38 PM Page 62
adult-only, although if you want toinclude children that would be fine.
• Pick a time around January orFebruary for your Soup-Off. Each yeara different couple will host the event intheir home.
• Limit the couples to six or eight,for you can only eat so much soup!
• If the event is in your home, youmay invite a guest.
• It is a must that copies of eachsoup recipe are in hand to share.
• If you can’t come, you must bepolite and let your host know.
• If anyone in the group wants tostart their own Soup-Off, they may.
That first Soup-Off brought manydifferent kinds of soup. We have kept allthe recipes from past years – 90 of themto date – except for one that Ken andKasey Schroeder made. He called itPola-Cuba Bean Soup. We’re not sure ofthe mixture, and it looked pretty bad,but it was delicious – one of the best!
Some of the soups are really good,and some are an acquired taste. We tryto vote for the best one, but they are allwinners. We even have a dessert soup atthe end.
We have never duplicated a singlesoup, so one day we hope to have agreat Soup-Off Cookbook.
This year’s Soup-Off will be the lastweekend of January at … oh, no, Ican’t tell you. That would give away thesecret of where all the aroma andlaughter is coming from. This time isspent with family and great friends.One couple even comes up fromFlorida for the Soup-Off.
We all love soup, we all love coldweather, and we all have family and/orfriends. Let’s get together and raise oursoup bowls mixed with laughter andwonderful blessings. Reminiscing andfriendship is the best combination for agreat soup.
J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 | 63
DELIVERY (Limited Area, Min. Order $15.00, from 5:00-10:00 p.m.)Monday-Thursday — 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Friday — 11:00 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.
3 slices bacon, diced3 large potatoes, washed and cubed5 cups water1 cup tomato sauce1/4 cup onions, chopped1-1/2 teaspoons salt1 (10-ounce) can green chilies,chopped1/2 pound sharp cheddar cheese,grated
Brown bacon in large skillet. Addpotatoes and stir to coat. Add water,tomato sauce, onions and salt.Reduce heat to simmer and cook 1hour. Divide chilies and cheeseamong bowls. Spoon hot soup overchilies and cheese. Serves 6.
ITALIAN TRIPLE THREAT
By Steven and Ruthi Endicott
1/2 pound Italian sausage1/2 pound ground beef1 large onion, chopped2 cloves garlic, minced3 (14-1/2-ounce) cans beef broth2 (14-1/2-once) cans diced tomatoes,undrained1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce1 cup dry red wine
2 carrots, thinly sliced1 tablespoon sugar2 teaspoons dried Italian season-ing2 small zucchini, sliced1 (9-ounce) package cheese-filledtortellini1 Parmesan cheese rind1/2 pound pancetta, browned andcrumbled1/2 cup shredded Parmesancheese
Discard sausage casings. Cooksausage, beef, onion and garlicover medium heat, stirring untilmeat crumbles and is no longerpink; drain and return to pan.
Stir in broth and next six ingredi-ents; bring to boil. Reduce heat;simmer 30 minutes. Skim off fat.
Stir in zucchini, tortellini and rind.Simmer 10 minutes. Remove rind,sprinkle each serving with cheeseand pancetta.
Serving suggestion: Serve withMozzarella Crustini. Cube breadand mozzarella and skewer. Placeskewers hanging over casseroledish and baste with melted butterand fresh rosemary. Bake at 400degrees for about 5 minutes.
CHEDDAR CHICKEN CORN
CHOWDER
By Ken and Mary Ann Endicott
3 bacon slices1 pound skinless, boneless chickenbreasts, cut into bite-sized pieces1 cup chopped onion1 cup diced red bell pepper2 garlic cloves, minced4-1/2 cups fat-free, reduced-sodiumchicken broth1-3/4 cups diced, peeled potatoes1-1/4 cups frozen corn (Ken andMary Ann use half cream-style andhalf whole-kernel)1/2 cup all-purpose flour2 cups low-fat milk3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheeseSalt and pepper to taste
Cook bacon in Dutch oven overmedium high heat until crisp.Remove bacon from pan, crumbleand set aside. Add the chicken,onion, bell pepper and garlic todrippings in pan and sauté 5 min-utes. Add broth and potato andbring to boil. Cover, reduce heatand simmer 20 minutes until potatois tender. Add corn and stir well.
Place flour in a bowl, gradually addmilk and whisk until blended. Addto the soup. Bring to a boil over
At a recent Soup-Off are, at front, Mary Ann and Ken Endicott, and other couples (front to back, from left) Lana andMiles Moody, Mary Lou and Bill Bassett, Jane and Skip Petsch, Ruth and Art Schroeder, Kasey and Ken Schroeder,and Ruthi and Steven Endicott.
08_0102_62_69 12/17/07 7:52 PM Page 64
J A N U A R Y / F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8 | 65
770-599-0606
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medium high heat. Reduce heat tomedium and simmer 15 minutes oruntil thick, stirring frequently. Stir inthe cheddar cheese, salt and pepper.Top with crumbled bacon
CHEDDAR CHEESE BLOPS
By Art and Ruth Schroeder
1 cup water1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, cut into pieces1/2 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper1 cup flour4 large eggs1-1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly oiltwo baking sheets.
In medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan,combine water, butter, salt andcayenne pepper. Bring to a boil overhigh heat.
Reducing heat to medium, addflour all at once and beat with awooden spoon until the mixturepulls away from the sides of thepan. Remove from heat.
Beat in the eggs, one at a time,beating well after each addition.(Mixture will separate at firstbut will come back together asyou beat it.) Stir in the cheese.Drop the dough by tablespoonsabout 1 inch apart on bakingsheet. Bake in the upper andlower thirds of the oven, switch-ing positions halfway throughthe baking. Bake for 25-30 min-utes, until puffed, golden andcrisp.
Note: Cheese Blops can bebaked 1 week ahead and frozen.Reheat the unthawed blops in a350-degree oven for 15 minutes.
Soup-Off enthusiasts include,from top, Ruth Schroeder, MaryAnn Endicott and Bill Bassett.
Enjoying soup are SkipPetsch and Mary LouBassett.
08_0102_62_69 12/17/07 7:52 PM Page 65
By Leigh Knight | Photos by Bob Fraley
> FAMILY FUN
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to Colvin.“Bouldering
is an immenselypopular sport thatdoes not require abelay or rope,” saysColvin. “When weare finished with ourexpansion, we willhave the largestbouldering area on theSouthside, more than3,000 square feet.”
In addition tothe Kave, RealityClimbing will have2,200 square feet of whatis known as top outbouldering for ages 14and up as well as3,000 square feet oftop rope and leadclimbing area that will begeared primarily forbirthday parties and groups.
“Safety is our priority,”says Colvin. “It’s notsomething we take lightly.I am extremely strict onsafety. Outside, there are100 foot climbs, whichgive a whole newperspective. I alwayskeep in mind that oneof my team membersmay go outside to trywhat they arelearning in here.”
Sport said sheappreciates the factthat parents cantake the
belaying class.Belayers provide safety to the
climbers through the use of belayequipment, rope and harness. A
belayer secures the freeend of the rope
for theclimber,holds themif theyfall,
andlowers
themsafely to
theground.
“It’s reallyeasy and fun and
gives you a lot ofinteraction with the kids,”says Sport. “About half of theteam is girls. It’s neat seeingthe dads out belaying. It’s thegreatest thing to see those
fathers and daughters.
igher, Will, you’re almost tothe top,” shouts Newnanmom and realtor Paige Sport
as she watches her seven-year-old sonnimbly scale the 30 foot indoor rockwall, carefully placing his foot in thehold that represents his skill level.
“He’s been climbing since birth,so this gives him a more organized,safe way to do it,” says Sport.
Will is the youngest member ofTeam Pursuit, a recreational rockclimbing team at Reality Climbing, afull service, indoor rock climbingfacility, located on the border ofPeachtree City and Tyrone. Theclimbers are coached by experiencedclimber and owner Nicole Colvin.
“My daughter Mary Paige’sMontessori class did P.E. here forseveral sessions. I took Will to climb,and he loved it. Then I found outabout the team. He is very excitedabout competing [which isoptional],” says Sport.
The bright, airy facility features2,100 square feet of texturedclimbing terrain, reaching heights upto 30 feet, along with a 20 footrappel tower, rental gear, up topviewing area, and party room.Expansion is currently underway thatwill more than double the size of thefacility, thanks to the design andhandiwork of Colvin as well as thesweat equity of the members.
Colvin used recycled wooddonated from construction sites tocreate an area known as the Kave, a20 x 20 bouldering area. The floorsare lined with 10-inch-thick paddingas well as moveable mats. The Kavewill be open to younger kids to “hang
out on the ceilings,”according
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aring, eaching, eachingC T R Experienced Childcare Professionals
With ballet or piano, there is not an opportunity tobe involved like that.”
“Rock climbing is great for kids and parents,”says Sport. “It’s indoors and burns a lot of energy.”
“It’s just fun to climb,” says Will. “It’s achallenge on the hard routes. Every time I mastersomething, they make it harder. I like climbingoutside, also trees, and someday, a mountain,maybe even Mt. Everest when I grow up.” NCM
Location: Reality Climbing, 125 DepotCourt, Peachtree City, GA 30269,Tyrone Station, on the border ofPeachtree City and Tyrone
Price: Varies; Membership availablebut not required; For those who wantto try it to see if they like it, RealityClimbing offers two choices: threeclimbs each at $15 or one hour with aguide for $25 for the first person and$15 for second and third. My familyselected the second choice, and thethree of us got in plenty of climbs forthe money.
Other Programs: Reality Climbingoffers college and high school nightsas well as Boy and Girl Scoutprograms in addition to a variety ofclimbing team options.
For more information, visitwww.gorockclimb.com or call 770-48-REACH or 770-487-3224.
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Horse Heaven> SADDLE UP
Helping Daniel Rodriguez, 3, above and at right, are volunteer Lynne Akin, Horse Heaven’s Marsha Reese andvolunteer Bethany Sewall. At top right is Jake Donnett, age 5.
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oweta County resident MarshaReese turns to one of God’s
most forgiving creatures to helpher do His work: horses. The sign
at the drive to her barn says it all: HorseHeaven.
“One of the ways that God shows hisunconditional love and acceptance for us is
through these animals,” she says, her faceserene.
A deeply spiritual woman, Reese has always
Therapeutic ridingprogram serveschildren, womenBy Martha A. Woodham |
Photos by Bob Fraley
C
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been a rider and a teacher. She hasmarried these passions by creatingtherapeutic riding programs on herCoweta farm that serve children withphysical handicaps and adult womenovercoming addictions.
Her first childhood memories areof riding with her father on thefamily farm in Coweta. During herdays in 4-H, she rode a mule, and herfirst equine was a Walking horse-Welsh pony cross named Gidget that
she trained herself.Today she lives on a farm on the
edge of Coweta and Meriwethercounties with her husband of 14years, Tom Reese, a developer. Thefarm is also home to Center StageArabians, a breeding and showoperation run by her step-daughter,Priscilla McCammon, who wasfeatured in the November-Decemberissue of Newnan-Coweta Magazine.
Reese’s life has been a natural
progression towards her horse ministry.In her younger days, she rode herQuarter horse mare, Sugar, in Westernbarrel racing competitions. A fall putan end to her need for speed, and sheturned to carriage driving. But shekept the sorrel mare, giving her a goodhome until she passed away at age 26.Reese still grieves.
Her farm is home to anothergeriatric equine, Sox, another sorrelQuarter horse. “When I buy a horse,
Occupational therapistKaren Balaze and Martha
Reese work with littleDaniel Rodriguez.
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I keep them forever,” she says with a smile. “They’reyour life and your family.”
When Reese was teaching special educationclasses in Fayette County, Sox became her teachingassistant. Sox would go to school where studentscould redeem coupons for good behavior for rideson Sox. Reese also brought her students to the farmon field trips.
“You could see how riding made a difference,”she says.
Now Reese has six geldings with calmdispositions that are used in her program. Ranging
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from Quarter horses to TennesseeWalking horses, most are used undersaddle, but some also drive. She turnsthem all out to pasture together.
“The horses live as a herdbecause they all have to worktogether,” she says.
Reese operates her riding therapyout of a seven-stall barn custom-built
by Tom’s brother, R.J. Reese, but thecenterpiece of the program is acovered arena set in the shade of oaktrees with a handicapped access rampnearby. Several of Reese’s four dogsand 10 cats are also usually hangingaround, her own version of apeaceable kingdom.
Riders come to Horse Heaven once
a week for therapy sessions that includeplenty of time just interacting with thehorses and other animals. Some arechildren with physical handicaps whosebodies are helped by hippotherapy. Thegentle movement of a horse’s walk isrhythmic and repetitive, helpingimprove balance, posture, mobility andfunction. Hippotherapy has shown to
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be effective with people who havecerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis,developmental delay, stroke ortraumatic brain injury, autism andlearning or language disabilities.
She pauses and looks out over herarena. “You cannot just say I lovehorses. I love kids.”
Reese has extended her programto help women enrolled in WellspringLiving in Peachtree City, a Biblicallybased therapeutic environment forwomen seeking a way out ofunhealthy behaviors and addictions.She is on the board of WellspringLiving, which she describes as aprogram “to heal from the inside out.”
“A horse will mirror ouremotions,” says Reese, explaining whythe riding program coupled withBiblically inspired therapy issoeffective with wounded women. “Itis immediate feedback.”
Reese chose the right name forher farm: Horse Heaven ... andheaven for those who need horses.NCM
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why he suffered in that relationship withhis father. I knew that Peggy had left,but I didn’t know why. I wanted toknow more about Tommy Noles. It justseemed to me that, while there was nomore story left to tell about Mitford,there was much more story left to tellabout him.
A: Were you taking a risk to put FatherTim in a different setting, to have himwith a different group of characters in adifferent community?
J: Well, yes, you’re always taking a riskwhen you change. Readers don’t wantchange. People who adore film starsdon’t want them to change. I was seeinga piece yesterday on Cary Grant. Heplayed a very unusual role, he was a verywicked sort of man. And the film didn’tdo well. I think he got an AcademyAward, but it actually was not veryacclaimed by his fans. So, everyone’safraid of change. But I’ve got to tell you,I’m an artist, and I’m going to change asit presents itself to me. And I can’tworry about — I do worry about whatmy fans will think, of course — but Ican’t be constrained by that.
L: Well, we kid each other, Angela’s thefan, and I’m the fanatic.
J: The fan and the fanatic. How funny!
L: I would probably be embarrassed foryou to know how many times I’ve readthe whole series. I have them all onCD, too. But I will tell you, you’vesaved me a lot of money in therapy,because that’s my therapy, is just tolisten to the Mitford (CD’s) —especially John McDonough. But whenI first started reading (Home to HollySprings), I think I just missed — as a fan— I missed Puny, and then I realizedthat Cynthia wasn’t with Father Tim andI was like, “Oh my gosh! He leftCynthia at home!” (Jan laughs.) But justlike when he went to Whitecap, you getto know those characters. But I will sayyou surprised me, and it had amysterious feel that I wasn’t countingon. You did surprise me in the middlewith the brother. I didn’t see that onecoming.
A: (To Jan) This is definitely newterritory for Father Tim to be in. Wasthat hard to write?
J: I think it was just hard to get my
A CONVERSATION WITH JAN KARON
Jan Karon left a successfuladvertising career to move to BlowingRock, N.C., where she wrote her best-selling series of “Mitford” books, ninenovels set in the fictional town ofMitford, N.C. Though she’s saidgoodbye to Mitford, she has kept thecentral character of the Episcopal priest,Father Tim, and has him returning tohis Mississippi roots in her new book,Home to Holly Springs. Karon recentlysat down for a conversation withNewnan-Coweta Magazine’s BookNook moderator, Liz Barnett, andeditor, Angela McRae.
A: Liz and I have been talking aboutour impressions of Holly Springs all the
way here.
J: Oh, I’d love to hear it! I’d love to hearyour impressions!
A: We were speculating on at whatpoint in the game you knew post-Mitford there would be a Father Timseries in a different setting. Lookingback, I think, “Was she foreshadowing?”
J: No, I never intended to foreshadow.It never occurred to me to have anotherseries until, it was right before I beganLight From Heaven, which was the finalnovel in the Mitford series, that Irealized, you know, this is going to bemy ninth novel and I still don’t knowthis man very well. I still don’t know
> BOOK NOOK
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gonna know. Period. So if we’re gonnahave any kind of documentary of anactual, ordinary life, all these questionscan’t be answered here on earth.
L: But that’s one thing I think thatreaders relate to in your books. Noteverything is tied up neat and pretty inpackages. Pauline still had issues to dealwith with her children. They all didn’tcome running back and say, “Mama’sbetter.” Father Tim is living his life andhe has issues in the past. I think that’sgood for the average person because weall have issues no matter who we are,and … we can go on anyway. And ofcourse, I don’t know if this is yourmotto, but when you say “theextraordinary beauty …”
J: “of ordinary lives.”
L: From the minute I read that, I think,I’m an ordinary person, with children,and these ordinary things going on in aworld where sometimes my life …would seem unimportant, but it’s veryimportant to me. So I relate to FatherTim’s ordinariness, his getting hisChristmas list done, you know, runningthis errand. I see him in me.
J: I think that’s a brilliant insight. Thereare no ordinary lives. None. And what Itry to do in my work to date is capturethe life of an ordinary person and see itas, say, Aaron Copland saw thecommon man, the great beauty andgreat energy and even glory in thecommon man, woman and child.That’s one reason I write with respectfor my readers, I respect my readers andwho they are, I respect their ordinarylives. If I were not an author who hashad some success, by the grace of God,I would be a very ordinary person.
A: Let me switch gears for a minute.I’m wondering if the Holly Springspeople — you had your first book-signing there last week, right? — arethey as receptive as the Blowing Rockpeople were?
J: We had a lot of novels for BlowingRock to wake up and smell the coffeeand realize what huge tourism thesebooks were gonna bring in. HollySprings doesn’t know yet that that canhappen. It probably can’t be as big aboon because there are not gonna benine Holly Springs novels.
hand around the right brother. Youknow, what kind of brother was thisgoing to (be)? Because when you delivera half-brother who’s half-black to FatherTim, you better know … what you’redoing. And that was scary, for me. So, Isearched around, and then he just sort ofwalked in. He’s so easy. He’s such acomfortable character. Such a sweet guy.Very much like his half-brother, Tim.
A: You know the faith element is such ahuge (theme), that’s all throughout everybit of your work. Are your books aboutredemption, or about grace, and is thatreally the same?
J: Redemption and grace.
A: Together?
J: Even redemption is, of course, an actof grace. Fundamentally aboutredemption. But I did introduce thegrace component more liberally, I think,in this book. … But you know girls, Ididn’t know where we were gonna findTommy Noles. The reason we have notseen Tommy Noles in the Mitford series,every time I would sit down to write abook from about Out to Canaan on, Iwanted to have Tommy Noles in it. Iwould make notes about Tommy Noles.But I couldn’t find him. You see, theauthor couldn’t find Tommy Noles. Ididn’t even know for sure whether we’dfind it in this book. But you know I justthought, I just have to find TommyNoles. And, what would have happenedto somebody whose parents were bothraging alcoholics, and who was onehimself? And what would havehappened to some guy who was small?You see this also affects men, I think, inmany ways….Well anything could havehappened. But I saw a PBS special ontunnel rats, and I just thought, “TommyNoles.” That’s what happened.
L: In the Mitford novels, I know thatFather Tim has a past with his fatherand that it’s kind of unfinished orunpleasant. But I don’t think I realizeduntil Holly Springs just how dark thatpast was.
J: No, I didn’t either. And actually, it’snever resolved. Remember the questionhe always wanted to ask his father butnever did, “Why do you hate me?” Hestill doesn’t know. And let me tell you,there are things in life we’re not ever
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most wonderful scenes. Or I’m in bedand it’s late at night and maybe I thinkmaybe if I just can be still I actually cango to sleep instead of getting up to writeit down. But you’d better get up andwrite it down.
L: What do you do when you’re on theroad and the scene comes?
J: Here’s a pen, here’s a — (Jan motionswriting while driving). You don’t wantto meet me on the road.
L: With that creativeness, I can relate… I’m an interior decorator. I’vedecorated many houses in the bed. I’vehad to get up and write it down.
J: That’s cute! Decorating in the bed.There’s an article for you.
A: Liz is also our first reader blogger onour magazine’s web site. But when westarted talking about this and doingthings online, we actually picked acouple (of books) — some we liked,some we haven’t — but then it hit us weneeded to do a mega book.
L: You’re the mega book.
J: Thank you! Will you please give mywarm regards to everybody in yourbook club?
A: When I discovered you, really, waswhen you were the Writer in Residencefor Victoria magazine, which I think hasbeen about 10 years ago now.
J: Yes, even to this day people will writeor tell me in a receiving line that theydiscovered me in Victoria. The goodnews is, Victoria magazine is back, thefirst issue is on the stands, and it looksterrific. It was bought by HoffmanMedia in Birmingham.
A: We know their magazines wellaround here.
J: Southern Lady. Tea Time …
A: In fact Tea Time had (an articleabout) your White Tea. That looked likeso much fun.
J: It was a beautiful event.
A: I’m such a tea fanatic, that every timeCynthia and Father Tim are having apot of tea, I’m trying to take notes andthink, “OK. What kind is it, and arethey tea bag or loose leaf tea people?And what do they carry at The Local?” Iknow at one point you specificallymentioned Earl Grey and I think youmay have mentioned a Darjeeling. ButI’ve always wanted to know what FatherTim and Cynthia are drinking.
J: Darn if I know! I’m just gonna haveto look into this. You see I’m not a greattea fan. I mean I enjoy tea, but I drink itfor comfort, and I have no palate for it.I just drink it because it’s soothing andwith a little honey maybe it’ll help mesleep and that kind of thing. I use itmedicinally. But I’ll remember this.
When they’re in Ireland, I’ll see thatwe name their teas.
L: Well, you just gave us a tip. Thatyou’re gonna write about them inIreland, I guess?
J: (Nodding) Next book.
A: Well, we know (they’re) going onthat trip finally.
L: But I didn’t know if we’d open up(the next book) and say “OK, nowwe’re back from Ireland.”
J: No, no, we’re gone. We will be inIreland. Have to. Have to go.
A: (To Liz) Any final questions fromyou?
L: (To Jan) Can I go with you?
A: If she gets to go, I get to go.
J: Well, you all are a lot of fun, Imust say! I appreciate it. NCM
L: Yes, do!
J: (Laughs.) What I was so concernedabout, of all the people who will bereading this book — and we hope thatthat will at least be a million — I wantedto please my readers. I want to be a gooddate for the reader. That’s what KurtVonnegut says, you’ve got to be a gooddate for the reader. That’s what I want tobe. But I particularly wanted to be a gooddate for the people of Holly Springs,because this is about their town. And Itried, with everything in me, not to geteven a street name wrong.
A: And I read something about anotherbook project you had going on about amid-18th (century house) … is thatyour house?
J: No.
A: Because your house is a little newerthan that, right?
J: Well, yes, but I want to set it on theriver, on the James River, where so manygreat plantation houses are. But youknow, don’t count on me for this book.It’s gonna be a long time. It’s a lot ofresearch … a lot of writing. It needs tobe very blowsy, with lots of characters,not Gone with the Wind, but you knowit needs to be a big book, and I’m notup for that quite yet. But I do nurturethe very thought, and the concept isextremely enthralling to me.
L: As the characters inyour book are a comfortto me, the CD’s on andit soothes me – do theyever crowd your headand you want to say“Could y’all leave for alittle while?”
J: You know, they’realways talking. There aretimes I don’t know howto turn that sort of thingoff. … And one of mysleeplessness issues isstuff going on all thetime. You’ve gotta go geta bucket and catch it,when that faucet opens,you better havesomething standing by.And sometimes goingdown the road I get the
WEB EXTRA
Coweta County residents may register towin an autographed copy of Home to Holly Springs atwww.newnancowetamagazine.com.Also, you can hear a podcast of Jan reading an excerpt just forour readers at www.newnancowetamagazine.com.
Online Book Club:Join us in the Book Nook and be among the first to discuss our
January selection, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled
Hosseini.
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high school seniors. Hewas intelligent, well-read,quarterback of the foot-ball team — a god in theheavens of high school.
Marie thought hewas a joke.
Actually, Mariethought the South was ajoke. The year was 1954and, according to Marie,segregation was the mostbackward, sinful abomi-nation that ever existed.For Cole, it was the waythings were. He didn’tlike it, but what could hedo?
It began as a prank.Cole’s teammates daredhim, even offered to payhim, to take Marie on adate. She was pretty, afterall. But things backfired.Marie saw through thedare and wanted to take
the prank fur-ther. She saidthey should pretend to bemadly in love — and watchpeople’s reactions.
It worked. The town wasshocked, but no one more thanCole. When he and Marie wereactually alone, they talked —about everything. Marie wantedto enlighten Cole. He wanted togive her a sense of tradition.
After a valedictory speechthat appalls everyone, Marieleaves town, swearing never toreturn. But she and Cole write,sometimes letters of 10 pages,sometimes 10 words.
“I’ll always be with you,”Marie says, “as trite as thatsounds. I will, though. I’ll bewith you, looking over yourshoulder.”
And she has been, in lettersand dreams, a presence he can’tignore. When Cole’s dreamsbecome overwhelming, he turnsto a psychologist who tells himto write his and Marie’s story —an exorcism of sorts.
And from this request Cole
The Book of MarieBy Terry KayMercer University Press, $23Reviewed by Holly Jones
“The good of living is in the sweet-ness of memory.”
Can a person you know one yearchange you forever? Dictate who youbecome? Teach you more about yourselfthan you ever knew?
According to Terry Kay’s The Book ofMarie, the answer is yes.
“From their first meeting, Marie JeanFitzpatrick had had power over him,much the same as a wizard casting spells... and it did not matter that he had lastseen her the night of their graduationfrom Overton High School.”
Cole Bishop is in his late 60s. He isdivorced and a professor at a college inVermont. He plans to return home for his50th high school reunion, but he’s notsure about his reception. And he keepshaving strange dreams — about Marie.
When Cole met Marie, they were
THE BOOKSHELF
receives his past, his living, his “sweetnessof memory” and The Book of Marie.
The ChoiceBy Nicholas SparksGrand Central, $24.99Reviewed by Holly Jones
The title of Nicholas Sparks’s latestnovel, The Choice, is appropriate but onlyhalf right. And while some would arguethat the second choice made is muchmore difficult than the first, both areimportant, even life-changing.
Travis Parker and Gabby Holland donot meet under the best circumstances.Gabby recently moved in next door toTravis, and she is convinced that Travis’sboxer Moby has gotten her collie, Molly,pregnant. After all, Moby is allowed tofreely roam the neighborhood, runningthrough yards and chasing squirrels.
Indignant, Gabby storms through theyard to confront the culprits, only to findthat Moby has been neutered. Plus, thereis more of a spark between Moby andMolly’s owners than between the dogs.
Soon, the boy next door is all Gabbycan think about — not what she wants
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awards, Anderson hasnow returned to NorthCarolina and has com-piled A Love Affair withSouthern Cooking: Recipesand Recollections. Thebook includes some 200recipes, and it alsoincludes the storiesbehind such southernbrands as MoonPies,White Lily flour andTabasco sauce. (Whoknew that Lance snacksare made in Charlotte,and the belovedToastchee cracker dates to1938!)
Many regional spe-cialties are included inthe book, from thefamous NatchitochesMeat Pies and Cajun RedBeans and Rice toLouisville’s famous HotBrown dish and the North CarolinaLiver Mush so familiar to readers of theMitford books.
Readers will enjoy Anderson’s talesof how she discovered many of theserecipes. Her Charleston Shrimp Pie,which she says is really a casserole, wasserved the first time she stayed at theMills House in Charleston. And we allknow about Bananas Foster, the dishmade famous by Brennan’s restaurant inNew Orleans. In Lafayette, La., however,Anderson came across Bananas FosterCheesecake at the Café Vermillionville,“and about all it has in common with theBrennan’s classic are bananas, butter,brown sugar and rum.”
The recipes are varied and plentiful,
considering she moved to Beaufort to benear her boyfriend of four years, the onewho won’t propose.
And so Gabby’s choice is one of life,as in, who she wants to spend the rest ofher life with.
Eleven years later, Travis has his ownchoice to make.
Travis and his wife were in a caraccident. They had been on a date butended up having an argument. Theweather was bad, Travis missed a redlight, and in trying to avoid a truck, helost control of the car. Three monthslater, his wife is still in a coma.
Because of the living will shesigned, Travis’s choice is looming. Thedoctors, and the lawyers, say that hemust either decide to turn off the life-support equipment or move her to along-term care facility.
Every day he goes to the hospital,talks to her, and moves her arms and legsto keep her muscles working. Andalthough she does not respond or showany sign of a change in her condition,Travis knows she’s still in there. He wantsto respect her wishes, but he’s not surehe’s ready to give up the love of his life.
Travis’s choice also involves life, buthis involves death as well.
Nicholas Sparks knows how to makehis readers laugh, to make them cry, andmake them fall in love. But in his latestnovel, he also teaches his fans the impor-tance of living life — and making TheChoice.
A Love Affair with Southern CookingBy Jean AndersonWilliam Morrow, $32.50Reviewed by Angela McRae
Jean Anderson was born in NorthCarolina, but as the daughter of twoYankees — her word, not mine — shewasn’t introduced to southern food untilage 5.
It was there in the cafeteria of theFred A. Olds Elementary School inRaleigh, N.C., that Anderson first fell inlove with southern cooking. “And apiece of brown sugar pie was all it took,”she says.
As an adult, Anderson worked fordecades in New York as a magazine edi-tor and freelance food and travel writer.Her career was often spent covering culi-nary stories in the South. A member ofthe James Beard Cookbook Hall of Famewho has already won five best cookbook
You are invited to join Newnan-Coweta Magazine’s new online bookdiscussion group, "The BookNook" led by Liz Barnett.
The book for January willbe A Thousand Splendid Suns byKhaled Hosseini.
Start reading now andpost your own thoughts aboutthe book during the month of November at
newnancowetamagazine.com.
WEB EXTRA
so there’s bound to be something you’llwant to try. Those who love southern his-tory will especially enjoy the timeline ofpeople and events who shaped southernfood, including Hernando de Soto (heintroduced hogs to Florida), ThomasJefferson (he planted European vegetablesin his Monticello garden), Mary Randolph(she published The Virginia House-Wife,the first southern cookbook) and SamuelRumph (the Georgia farmer who devel-oped the Elberta peach hybrid).
So whether you want to learn how tomake old-fashioned hominy or just enjoylearning about the history of KrispyKreme doughnuts, this book will be atreasured addition to any library of south-ern cookbooks.
WEB EXTRA
Want to win A Love Affair with Southern Cooking? Coweta County residents mayregister to win at www.newnancowetamagazine.com.
Online Book Club
08_0102_76_84 12/17/07 9:05 PM Page 80
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Freddie Wallace has owned and operated Flowers by Freddie, located at 29 Franklin Highway,since 1981. Wallace first worked for a nursery when she was 15 years old. Over the years, shedeveloped a talent for floristry that was encouraged by her family and supported by her husband,Jimmy. Every year, Valentine’s Day takes the cake as being the busiest time of year in her line ofwork.
(1) The floristry business is a business of emotions and it’s our job to express those emotions. Forexample, people come in when loved ones die and need consoling. This is the last thing they cando for their loved ones, so we try to make sure to do the best job we can. (2) Every customerneeds a smile and a kind word. I believe this because it’s the way I was raised. (3) Beauty is inthe eye of the beholder. I may not have the same taste as a customer, but it’s my main objective toplease each and every one of them. (4) The goal of a floral customer is to make someone else smile— and this world needs more smiling faces. (5) In many cases, the amount of money spent on theflower arrangement is not as much of an issue as ensuring that a person’s feelings are expressed.(6) In this line of work, we patch a lot of marriages and, unfortunately, we ruin a lot of them.Especially when the wife calls … (7) Customers need to know that their order is my most importantpiece of work that day. Skimping on an arrangement is simply not an option. That’s what makesValentine’s Day so hard. (8) Valentine’s Day is by far my busiest holiday. We start on preparationsfor the holiday on the first day of the year to make sure we have all our bases covered. (9) God is sogood. He gave me the gift of floral arranging and has continued to bless my efforts. I thank Him forthis. (10) Flowers are a gift from God. I marvel at the detail he gave to each and every one — color,size, aroma — just like us, each variety is different. NCM
As told to Elizabeth Richardson | Photo by Bob Fraley
10as a Florist
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things I’velearned ...
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