newnan-coweta magazine, january/february 2012
DESCRIPTION
Newnan-Coweta Magazine is featuring Cowetans with bright ideas. Stories include a young man who has built a nuclear reactor. A man who designed a flying saucer and high-schoolers who build robots for competition.TRANSCRIPT
M A G A Z I N EA Times-Herald Publication
Flying Saucers,Nuclear Fusion,Robots & More
Get Fit &Stay Organized
in 2012
Enter Our Second AnnualPhoto Contest
January/February 2012 | $3.95
Cowetans and their
Chad Ramey
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6 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
On Our Cover
Georgia Tech student Chad Ramey built his nuclearfusion reactor while a student at Northgate High School.
— Photo by Bob Fraley
MAGAZINEEstablished 1995
A publication of The Times-Herald
President William W. Thomasson
Vice President Marianne C. Thomasson
Publisher Sam Jones
Editor Angela McRae
Art Director Deberah Williams
Contributing Writers Amelia Adams, Jeff Bishop,
Nichole Golden, Holly Jones,
Katherine McCall,
Alex McRae, Elizabeth Melville,
Tina Neely, Cathy Lee Phillips,
W. Winston Skinner,
Kenneth R. Wilson
Photography Bob Fraley, Jeffrey Leo,
Tara Shellabarger
Circulation Director Naomi Jackson
Sales and Marketing Director Colleen D. Mitchell
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Advertising Design Debby Dye, Graphics Manager
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FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, call 770.683.6397 or e-mail [email protected].
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-delivery copies of The Times-Herald and at businesses and officesthroughout Coweta County. Individual mailed subscriptions arealso available for $23.75 in Coweta County, $30.00 outside CowetaCounty. To subscribe, call 770.304.3373.
Submissions: We welcome submissions. Query letters and publishedclips may be addressed to the Editor, Newnan-Coweta Magazine atP.O. Box 1052, Newnan, Georgia 30264.
On the Web:
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© 2012 by The Newnan Times-Herald, Inc. All rights reserved.Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission isprohibited.
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DEPARTMENTS48 COWETA COOKS
In today’s fast-paced world, take time out to savor ahearty winter meal inspired by the Slow Food Movement.
52 LOCAL HERITAGE
Technical education in Coweta County is not exactly anew phenomenon, since both Newnan and Senoia werehome to telegraphy schools in the early 1900s.
66 THE THOUGHTFUL GARDENER
Tussie-mussies convey a special meaning to a friend orrelative using the language of flowers.
72 TINA’S TIPS
Getting organized is a goal of many artists and crafters,and two local women share how they successfullytransformed their creative spaces.
FEATURES14 STAR-IN-A-JAR
Newnan’s Chad Ramey is changing the wayscientific research is done, using one of theworld’s smallest nuclear reactors.
22 THE GEOBAT
Jack Jones grew up near Ft. Rucker watchingthe airplanes and helicopters overhead. As anadult, he designed a flying saucer that’sgathered attention from some pretty impressivequarters.
30 MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE
Local students learn leadership and problem-solving skills through robotics teamcompetitions.
36 SERVING IN AFGHANISTAN
Newnan contractor Scott Hartz is one ofthousands of civilian contractors working hand-in-hand with the military to bring an end to thewar in Iraq and Afghanistan.
42 GETTING THEIR HANDS DIRTY
A Grantville-based youth science andtechnology center is the oldest in the state.
56 GET FIT!
A dad who became a runner and a mom whostarted counting calories tell how lifestylechanges helped them lose weight and get fit.
62 BORN TO PLAY THE GOSPEL WAY
Gospel pianist Mark Fuller grew up in Newnanand returns occasionally to share his gifts withlocal audiences.
22
30
10 NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
12 EDITOR’S LETTER
80 THE BOOKSHELF
81 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS
82 I AM COWETA
In every issue
56
78 PHOTO CONTEST
Amateur photographers are welcome toenter our 2012 Newnan-Coweta MagazinePhotography Contest.
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12 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
hen the great Steve Jobs left us last fall,one fact about the man was mentioned time
and again: he simply didn’t think like everybodyelse. Or like anybody else, for that matter.
I have long admired people who are willing to goagainst the flow, think outside the box, those willing tobe risk-takers and entrepreneurs. One quality thesefolks seem to share is that, like Steve Jobs, they don’tthink like everyone else around them, and I suspectthat is key.
We’re kicking off a new year of the magazine bylooking at some of the Bright Ideas the thinkers ofCoweta County have to offer. Here are some of theircomments:
• “I was instantly regarded as crazy.” (Chad Ramey,who built his own nuclear reactor)
• “Behind my back they were saying … that thing willnever fly. I knew better.” (Jack Jones, who successful-ly designed a flying saucer)
• “I said to myself, this is the best it’s ever going to be ifsomething doesn’t change. I’ve either got to come toterms with that, or do something different.” (AngieLovell, who decided to lose weight and get fit)
I like the way they think!
And updating our thinking strikes me as a greatgoal for the new year. For instance, I want to: Up myspeed on the treadmill. Finish my novel. Complete aquilt. Create some art. Learn to can tomatoes. For manyyears I’ve added, “Read through the Bible.” This year
I’ve updated that to, “Read throughthe Bible and live like it.” (Part A I’mpretty good at. Part B could use somework.)
I have other goals, too. It’s anelection year, so I have to remembernot to take my presidential politics tooseriously. (Even though commentatorsare already warning that this is TheMost Important Election of My Lifetime. Just as it wasfour years ago.)
I also want to start my spring seeds earlier.
And speaking of seeds, the brilliant Ann Voskampplanted one in my head bigtime with her challengingbook One Thousand Gifts, which is all about her jour-ney to live a life filled with gratitude. Is there anyonewho couldn’t use a bit more of that kind of thinking? Iwant to live a more grateful life, always.
And I’d like to encourage you to consider oneespecially Bright Idea for the new year: Why not enterour 2012 Photo Contest? It might inspire you to getthose 2011 photos organized (for more on that topic,see page 78) and win a nice cash prize at the sametime.
Happy New Year,
Angela McRae, [email protected]
{ From the Editor }
On Bright Ideas
To find out more about our 2012 Photo Contest, please seepage 78.
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14 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE14 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
t’s a warm autumn day in Newnan’s White Oakneighborhood where 3,000-square-foot homes stand
on postage stamp lots and mature trees give the feelingof privacy. Chad Ramey, an 18-year-old Georgia Tech
freshman, backs a golf cart out of the garage andinto the driveway. He parks it and beelinestoward a plywood workbench where he keeps
his homemade nuclear reactor. His small frame sportscasual black loafers, a hip sweater over a collared button-down shirt, and Gucci eyeglasses sans tape. He quicklyflips switches, connects wires, and pushes buttons withenergetic determination. A loud SQUEAKKKK erupts ashe twists a knob on a contraption called a high-vacuumoil diffusion pump. Referring to the noise, he quips,“That’s what happens when you buy cheap nuclear
Chad Ramey’s homemade nuclear reactor changes scienceBy Kenneth R. Wilson | Photos by Bob Fraley
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 15
Chad Ramey shows the corefrom his old nuclear reactor.Above, a video cameramounted by the new reactorallows Ramey to see theradiation he is creatingwhile another machinemonitors the radiation level.
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16 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
equipment.” Within minutes,Ramey’s star-in-a-jar ignites, givingoff a pinkish purple heavenly hue,glowing beneath the bicycles hangingfrom the ceiling.
Ramey is changing the wayscientific research is done, using oneof the world’s smallest nuclearreactors. By studying nuclear physics
in his garage, he can bypass theconstraints of universities whereexperiments are conducted bycommittee and equipment costsmillions. On this smaller scale, hecan experiment faster and collectmore data. Fewer than 40 individualshave built similar reactors, butRamey would like to see more.
Ramey built his nuclear fusionreactor over the course of three yearswhile a student at Northgate HighSchool. As a seventh grader at ArnallMiddle School, he discovered a bookcalled The World’s Simplest FusionReactor, And How to Make It Work byTom Ligon. Ramey read the textmultiple times, determined to one
16 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
Unlike fissionreactors used togenerate power,Ramey’s fusionreactor can’t meltdown and its tinysize produces lessradiation than anx-ray machine.
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18 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE18 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
Georgia Tech student ChadRamey built his nuclearfusion reactor over thecourse of three years whilea student at Northgate HighSchool.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 19
day build his own. Like many greatminds in history, Ramey’s peersdiscounted his ambition. He says, “Iwas instantly regarded as crazy.”Anyone familiar with teenagersunderstands the ridicule they’recapable of, but while they poppedbubble gum and played video games,Ramey kept his nose in the book.
Peer pressure is enough to determost lads, but Ramey also needed toconvince his parents the project wassafe. He enlisted the help of a nuclearengineering graduate student toanswer his parents’ questions andsafety concerns. Unlike fission
reactors used to generate power,Ramey’s fusion reactor can’t meltdown and its tiny size produces lessradiation than an x-ray machine.
After Ramey’s parents agreed tosupport the project, the next stepinvolved getting the parts. Craigslist,eBay, Home Depot and a junkyard inLos Alamos, New Mexico were fertileground for picking parts. However,Ramey’s ingenuity and a creativeimagination were the most importanttools in the garage. After all, no onehad ever built a reactor this small.Neon sign transformers fromCraigslist supplied the reactor’s
power. Early on, he used a spark plugin the reactor. He also scavenged, or“reclaimed” parts from the swimmingpool in the back yard, and pluggedthe vacuum chamber with corks toget the first flicker of light thatwould become his star-in-a-jar.
Over time, Ramey replacedmakeshift parts with better ones andregistered with seven federal agenciesso he could purchase fuel in the formof deuterium, a hydrogen isotopefound in ocean water.
Now the reactor works so well,he takes it with him to speak atconventions. Last year, the organizers
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“We’re probably the only neighborhoodin the world with two nuclear reactors.”
—Chad Ramey
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20 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
of Atlanta-based Dragon*Con, the world’s largest popculture convention, asked Ramey to bring his reactorand talk about his work. In one session titled “EvilGeniuses Doing Good Things,” he was the only panelistwithout a Ph.D., or bachelor’s degree for that matter.But, scientists and engineers giggle and stare likeeveryone else in the room when Ramey fires up the
Chad Ramey shows a larger model of the core, here andabove, that is in his nuclear fusion reactor. The machineat left monitors radiation levels.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 21
reactor and projects a video imageof the star onto the wall. It’sdifficult to get your mind aroundthe fact that a star is burning in aballroom of the Atlanta MarriottMarquis hotel. It’s the 21st centuryequivalent of cavemen gazing withamazement into a clear night sky.There’s a feeling that somethingspecial is happening withoutunderstanding quite what it is.
Ramey describes the project asopen-source science, meaning thatfusor sources and findings are inthe public domain. Thecommunity of at-home physicistsshare information via the fusor.netforum and on Facebook wherethose with experience help othersinterested in building similarreactors. Recently, Harris Tidwell,an East Coweta High Schoolstudent who’s also building areactor, contacted Ramey for help.Using Ramey’s vacuum pump, thetwo produced a plasma in Tidwell’sreactor, a big step toward achievingfusion. Proud of theaccomplishment, Ramey says,“We’re probably the onlyneighborhood in the world withtwo nuclear reactors.”
Two hours pass and clouds rollacross the sky dumping rainoutside the garage door. There’snot a star in the sky, but one stillburns brightly in Ramey’s garageuntil he clicks a few switches, turnsa few knobs, and extinguishes hisstar-in-a-jar. Tonight he packs thereactor before driving to Nashvillewhere he’ll speak at anotherconvention—a trip he’s happy tomake.
“I can’t think of anythingbetter than positively influencingsomeone else to do science.” Aftera thoughtful pause, he adds, “andhopefully contribute something tothe world.” NCM
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22 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE22 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
Jack Jones hopes to ride in his own flying saucer one dayBy Alex McRae | Photos by Bob Fraley
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 23
s soon as a mysterious disc-shaped flyingobject fell from the skies over Roswell,New Mexico in 1947, flying saucers
became a cottage industry, spawningcountless movies, books, TV shows
and not a few myths about little greenmen.
UFOs are now a common topic ofconversation. But Coweta’s Jack
Jones doesn’t talk about flyingsaucers. He builds them.
And with any luck, youmay soon be riding
in one.Jones says
people areamazed that aman creditedwith creatinga whole newcategory ofaircraftstudied artand music
instead ofaeronautics and
engineering. ButJones believes he
has a gift somescientists lack.
“I’m a futuristicthinker,” he says. “I’ve
always been able to see alittle bit ahead.”Jones grew up in Enterprise,
Alabama and loved to watch theplanes and helicopters based at nearby
Ft. Rucker. Once his father sprung for atelescope, Jones scoured the heavens for
unseen planets, distant stars and maybe evenUFOs piloted by little green men.
“I loved watching the planets and stars,”Jones says, “but that telescope also taught meto use my imagination.”
Jones headed to Auburn University to studypharmacy, but wound up with a degree in
commercial illustration and design.
Jack Jones, above and opposite, has quite afew models of his Geobat flying saucer. At topis the extraterrestrial figure Jones keeps in thebasement workshop where his original Geobatswere designed and built.
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24 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
After graduation, Jones and hisbrand-new bride, Karen Reavis,dashed off to Atlanta for jobs at adesign firm whose corporate clientsincluded Coca-Cola and GalloWines.
In 1986 Jack and Karen moved
to north Coweta, glad to endure thedaily commute to Atlanta inexchange for a more leisurely lifestyle… and one more rural amenity.
“I wanted to be far enough fromAtlanta to have a clear view of thestars without any light pollution
from the city,” Jones said. “We foundit right here.”
Jones promptly built anobservatory on the property andequipped it with a nice telescope,then threw himself into making andflying radio-controlled model
24 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
Inventor Jack Jones of Newnan painted this artworkfeatured on the cover of the book Flying SaucerTechnology by Bill Rose. Jones’ Geobat is alsofeatured in the book.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 25
airplanes. But Jones was never quitesatisfied with conventional modelaircraft.
“I wanted to build a radio-controlled flying saucer,” Jones says.“There weren’t any good plans outthere so I decided to design my own.”
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26 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE26 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
“Behind myback they
were saying,‘Jack doesn’tknow it, but
that thingwill never fly.’I knew better.”
—Jack Jones
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 27
Jones began withcircular cardboardcutouts he flewacross the familyroom. Once herealized a ring-shapeddesign worked best,he got busy buildinga model.
As Jonesworked, friendscame by to check hisprogress. “Behindmy back they weresaying, ‘Jack doesn’tknow it, but thatthing will never fly,’”Jones says. “I knew better.”
In mid-1991, Jones finallyfinished a powered model of his ring-shaped craft and to everyone’samazement, the flying saucer soaredthrough the skies like a dream.
Jones videotaped the first flightand had it documented by witnesses,then started building improvedmodels of the aircraft he called theGeobat.
“I just thought it was a nice toy,”
he says. “I spentseveral yearsjust playingwith it andhaving fun.”
In late 1997someonesuggested themilitary mightbe interested.Jones sent themsomeinformation anda flightdemonstrationvideotape. It wasthe perfect bait.
On April 26, 1998, threeengineers from the Naval ResearchLab came to Coweta County to see ifJones had really built a flying saucer.After watching the Geobat fly foronly a few minutes the Navy team
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28 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
Inventor Jack Jones also has a degree in commercial illustration and design. His artwork graces the cover of thebook Flying Saucer Technology.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 29
ended the tests, convinced Jones’demonstration video was not ahoax. They said it appeared he hadcreated the first new aircraft designin 40 years.
While the Navy continued tostudy his aircraft, Jones displayedthe Geobat at air shows and hobbyfairs and the Geobat team grew toinclude Mark Murdock and RandyPollard, who had extensiveexperience in aircraft construction,flight operations and radio-controlled flight.
A 2007 feature segment on theDiscovery Channel’s Australianedition made the Geobat a globalphenomenon that led to over650,00 viewings on YouTube andcountless inquiries from interestedinvestors.
Business boomed and Jonesand his partners are currentlyplanning to construct a full-scale,24-foot-diameter non-workingmodel of a Geobat capable ofcarrying a pilot.
“We figure once people see thefull-scale model, things will reallytake off,” Jones says. He alsobelieves that once the mannedGeobat flies, the interest won’t betotally local.
“I have a feeling once thatthing starts flying, something willshow up to eyeball it,” Jones says.Maybe something that looks likethe extraterrestrial figure Joneskeeps in the basement workshopwhere the original Geobats weredesigned and built.
Today, the skies over CowetaCounty are crowded withcommercial airliners. Jones hopesthat one day his radical new ridewill join the local air show.
“My dream is to crawl inside asaucer aircraft and fly before I die,”he says. “Right now, I’m prettyhopeful it might happen.” NCM
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53 MAIN STREET SENOIA, GA
NCOM_22-29 12/15/11 12:39 PM Page 29
30 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
t’s a chilly and drippy morning at theCentral Educational Center (CEC) onMartin Luther King Jr. Drive in Newnan.
Jesse Stearns stands beneath the glowof overhead fluorescent lights and
By Kenneth R. Wilson | Photos by Bob Fraley
30 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
Robotics isn’t all about sciencebehind a wooden table, like those found inany high school biology or chemistry lab.But he’s not dissecting a frog, and the tableisn’t covered in glass beakers. Instead, a four-wheeled robot sits on the table and plastic
NCOM_30-35 12/15/11 12:43 PM Page 30
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 31
bins filled with bolts, wires, rubberwheels, gears and batteries are stacked onthe floor. The robot, with a badgeidentifying it as “95,” looks like it wasbuilt using an Erector Set, the timelesschildren’s construction toy. As Stearnsthumbs a remote control, the robot clicks
and whines, making an awful, wince-inducing sound.
Stearns captains the TriBots, theCEC’s competitive robotics team. Heand his teammates design, build andprogram robots using skills they learn inScott Brown’s robotics classes. Many of
Jesse Stearnswill compete ineighttournamentsbefore the endof the schoolyear.He and histeammatesconstruct eachrobot tocomplete aspecific task.
Jesse Stearns, at left, andteammate Justin Jenningsare among the students onthe CEC Robotics team.
NCOM_30-35 12/15/11 12:43 PM Page 31
32 |
Justin Jennings and Jesse Stearns work onprogramming a bot for competition.
NCOM_30-35 12/15/11 12:43 PM Page 32
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 33
them want to make a career of this.Stearns already plans on studyingrobotics in college at SouthernPolytechnic State University inMarietta when he graduates, butthat’s months away. Right now, he’sthinking about tomorrow, when theTriBots travel to Gwinnett Countywith their four custom-designedrobots to compete against 14schools in a regional tournament.
Stearns will compete in eighttournaments before the end of theschool year. He and histeammates construct each robotto complete a specific task. Attomorrow’s competition therobots must pick up plastic ballsand barrels, both slightly larger indiameter than a grapefruit, anddeposit them into 30-inch-tallreceptacles to score points. Frombeginning to end, Stearns flexeshis creative, problem-solving andleadership muscles to get the jobdone.
Until a few months ago,Stearns never thought of himself asa leader. “I’ve always been afollower,” he says. There weren’tmany students with roboticsexperience when the school yearbegan. So as a senior with two yearsof robotics training under his belt,it was up to Stearns to take thereigns. He says, “It was really hardfor me at first.” Not only did hehave to lead younger students, buthe needed to recruit new ones. Hespent three weeks going to otherclasses, getting other studentsinterested. It paid off. Twofreshmen and a sophomore joinedthe TriBots and built their ownrobot, known as 95S. Three of thefour robots have a similar design,but 95S is different. Stearns says,“they’re going bold. I’m thinkingthey’re going to do the best at thecompetition.”
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* Competitive athletics, AA division, GISA* Individualized college counseling program* Extended day services* Bus service to selected areas* Foreign language instruction K-12: French,
Spanish, and Latin* Performing and visual arts programs* Classroom Smartboards and computer labs* 16 Advanced Placement courses offered
Call for apersonal tour today!
2093 Highway 29 North Newnan, Georgia 30263770.253.9898 www.heritagehawks.org
The Heritage School is an independent, college preparatory schoolserving students ages 3 through twelfth grade. We are dually accredited by the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and by theSouthern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS).
NCOM_30-35 12/15/11 12:44 PM Page 33
34 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE34 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
Justin Jennings, Jesse Stearns and the othermembers of the robotics team construct eachrobot to complete a specific task.
NCOM_30-35 12/15/11 2:13 PM Page 34
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 35
Stearns engineered the robot on the table, labeled 95,to work like a forklift. After it grabs a ball, a series ofsprockets and chains extend sections of the lift into theair before plastic tracks, which look like they were foundon a toy tank or bulldozer, eject the ball or barrel,hopefully into a receptacle.
Unfortunately, Stearns has a problem. As the robot’slift extends, there’s too much friction putting strain onthe motors. He decides to lubricate the lift’s movingparts. Rules of the competition dictate that no aerosolgreases like WD-40 can be used, but Stearns found analternative lubricant at home. “It’s actually for foosballtables,” he says. He applies it, grabs the robot’s remotecontrol again, and gives it a try. The motors still click andwhine, and the lifting mechanism raises and lowersslowly. It should be faster, and it’s obvious the motorsshouldn’t be making that grinding sound. “The motorsare working against each other,” he says. They needreprogrammed.
A few minutes later, Justin Jennings walks into theroom. He’s holding a black notebook computer and sitsdown next to Stearns, connects computer and robot, andgoes to work. He makes quick keystrokes across thelaptop as Stearns troubleshoots a few differentcombinations between the four motors. After a fewattempts, they find the right combination. Then Jenningsmoves to another table and begins working on anotherrobot.
In addition to programmers and designers, eachrobot also has a driver who controls the robot during theevent. The driver uses a remote conveniently similar to anXBox controller to direct as many as 10 motors on asingle robot.
Stearns and the TriBots stay at school until almost 9p.m. working on their robots. They arrive the nextmorning at 6 a.m. with rheumy eyes, lug their equipmentonto the bus, and travel to Peachtree Ridge High School.At the event, 95 struggles in the qualifying rounds, butmanages its way into the semi-finals before beingeliminated. As Stearns predicted, the bot built andoperated by the newbies racks up win after win beforeinexperience catches up to them. They’re knocked out inthe quarter-finals but there will be more opportunities.Stearns acknowledges these competitions are a matter oftrial and error, and problem-solving as the seasonprogresses. And, he’s confident his team will get betterover time.
“It was more of a learning experience for all of theguys, and a great start to our season,” he says. NCM
COWETA MEDICAL CENTER
F. D. Bass, M. D., F.A.C.S.
(770) 251-5597-
Coweta Medical CenterF. Donald Bass, M.D.
FCoweta Medical Center at (770) 251-5597.
NCOM_30-35 12/15/11 12:44 PM Page 35
30 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
t’s a chilly and drippy morning at theCentral Educational Center (CEC) onMartin Luther King Jr. Drive in Newnan.
Jesse Stearns stands beneath the glowof overhead fluorescent lights and
By Kenneth R. Wilson | Photos by Bob Fraley
30 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
Robotics isn’t all about sciencebehind a wooden table, like those found inany high school biology or chemistry lab.But he’s not dissecting a frog, and the tableisn’t covered in glass beakers. Instead, a four-wheeled robot sits on the table and plastic
NCOM_30-35 12/15/11 12:43 PM Page 30
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 31
bins filled with bolts, wires, rubberwheels, gears and batteries are stacked onthe floor. The robot, with a badgeidentifying it as “95,” looks like it wasbuilt using an Erector Set, the timelesschildren’s construction toy. As Stearnsthumbs a remote control, the robot clicks
and whines, making an awful, wince-inducing sound.
Stearns captains the TriBots, theCEC’s competitive robotics team. Heand his teammates design, build andprogram robots using skills they learn inScott Brown’s robotics classes. Many of
Jesse Stearnswill compete ineighttournamentsbefore the endof the schoolyear.He and histeammatesconstruct eachrobot tocomplete aspecific task.
Jesse Stearns, at left, andteammate Justin Jenningsare among the students onthe CEC Robotics team.
NCOM_30-35 12/15/11 12:43 PM Page 31
32 |
Justin Jennings and Jesse Stearns work onprogramming a bot for competition.
NCOM_30-35 12/15/11 12:43 PM Page 32
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 33
them want to make a career of this.Stearns already plans on studyingrobotics in college at SouthernPolytechnic State University inMarietta when he graduates, butthat’s months away. Right now, he’sthinking about tomorrow, when theTriBots travel to Gwinnett Countywith their four custom-designedrobots to compete against 14schools in a regional tournament.
Stearns will compete in eighttournaments before the end of theschool year. He and histeammates construct each robotto complete a specific task. Attomorrow’s competition therobots must pick up plastic ballsand barrels, both slightly larger indiameter than a grapefruit, anddeposit them into 30-inch-tallreceptacles to score points. Frombeginning to end, Stearns flexeshis creative, problem-solving andleadership muscles to get the jobdone.
Until a few months ago,Stearns never thought of himself asa leader. “I’ve always been afollower,” he says. There weren’tmany students with roboticsexperience when the school yearbegan. So as a senior with two yearsof robotics training under his belt,it was up to Stearns to take thereigns. He says, “It was really hardfor me at first.” Not only did hehave to lead younger students, buthe needed to recruit new ones. Hespent three weeks going to otherclasses, getting other studentsinterested. It paid off. Twofreshmen and a sophomore joinedthe TriBots and built their ownrobot, known as 95S. Three of thefour robots have a similar design,but 95S is different. Stearns says,“they’re going bold. I’m thinkingthey’re going to do the best at thecompetition.”
Over 30 years of experience...
Let us beyour trusted advisor!
spoonsisterstiques.com
HAPPYNEW YEARCUSTOMERAPPRECIATION
Now accepting applications forthe 2012-2013 academic year
* Competitive athletics, AA division, GISA* Individualized college counseling program* Extended day services* Bus service to selected areas* Foreign language instruction K-12: French,
Spanish, and Latin* Performing and visual arts programs* Classroom Smartboards and computer labs* 16 Advanced Placement courses offered
Call for apersonal tour today!
2093 Highway 29 North Newnan, Georgia 30263770.253.9898 www.heritagehawks.org
The Heritage School is an independent, college preparatory schoolserving students ages 3 through twelfth grade. We are dually accredited by the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and by theSouthern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS).
NCOM_30-35 12/15/11 12:44 PM Page 33
34 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE34 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
Justin Jennings and Jesse Stearns constructeach robot to complete a specific task. Thisone is designed to work like a forklift.
NCOM_30-35 12/15/11 12:44 PM Page 34
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 35
Stearns engineered the robot on the table, labeled 95,to work like a forklift. After it grabs a ball, a series ofsprockets and chains extend sections of the lift into theair before plastic tracks, which look like they were foundon a toy tank or bulldozer, eject the ball or barrel,hopefully into a receptacle.
Unfortunately, Stearns has a problem. As the robot’slift extends, there’s too much friction putting strain onthe motors. He decides to lubricate the lift’s movingparts. Rules of the competition dictate that no aerosolgreases like WD-40 can be used, but Stearns found analternative lubricant at home. “It’s actually for foosballtables,” he says. He applies it, grabs the robot’s remotecontrol again, and gives it a try. The motors still click andwhine, and the lifting mechanism raises and lowersslowly. It should be faster, and it’s obvious the motorsshouldn’t be making that grinding sound. “The motorsare working against each other,” he says. They needreprogrammed.
A few minutes later, Justin Jennings walks into theroom. He’s holding a black notebook computer and sitsdown next to Stearns, connects computer and robot, andgoes to work. He makes quick keystrokes across thelaptop as Stearns troubleshoots a few differentcombinations between the four motors. After a fewattempts, they find the right combination. Then Jenningsmoves to another table and begins working on anotherrobot.
In addition to programmers and designers, eachrobot also has a driver who controls the robot during theevent. The driver uses a remote conveniently similar to anXBox controller to direct as many as 10 motors on asingle robot.
Stearns and the TriBots stay at school until almost 9p.m. working on their robots. They arrive the nextmorning at 6 a.m. with rheumy eyes, lug their equipmentonto the bus, and travel to Peachtree Ridge High School.At the event, 95 struggles in the qualifying rounds, butmanages its way into the semi-finals before beingeliminated. As Stearns predicted, the bot built andoperated by the newbies racks up win after win beforeinexperience catches up to them. They’re knocked out inthe quarter-finals but there will be more opportunities.Stearns acknowledges these competitions are a matter oftrial and error, and problem-solving as the seasonprogresses. And, he’s confident his team will get betterover time.
“It was more of a learning experience for all of theguys, and a great start to our season,” he says. NCM
COWETA MEDICAL CENTER
F. D. Bass, M. D., F.A.C.S.
(770) 251-5597-
Coweta Medical CenterF. Donald Bass, M.D.
FCoweta Medical Center at (770) 251-5597.
NCOM_30-35 12/15/11 12:44 PM Page 35
42 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE42 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
Alexandra Gaffney andTyla Ingram perform the
"Sink or Float" experimentat a GYSTC science and
technology fair.
Sara Folsom is joined by her dad Sam Folsom at a local science andtechnology fair sponsored by the Georgia Youth Science andTechnology Center.
NCOM_42-47 12/15/11 12:57 PM Page 42
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 43
cience and technology seem to be all the rage inschools these days. That’s a good thing,
according to Debbie Stuckey, regionalcoordinator of the Georgia Youth Science andTechnology Center (GYSTC), based in
Grantville. She just wonders why it tookeveryone so long to come around.
Story and photos by Jeff Bishop
“Here in Coweta County, we have the oldest GYSTCin the state,” Stuckey said. The center was founded in1989 thanks to start-up funding by Georgia Power. “Ourmission has always been to motivate students and teachersto become more involved in science and math technology.”
A big way GYSTC does that is through the annualWest Georgia Technology Fair, which is coming up on
Local students learn about science andtechnology—and have fun doing it!
NCOM_42-47 12/15/11 12:57 PM Page 43
44 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
Student GYSTC volunteerJessica Pfliger demonstrateskinetic energy through"Energy on the Move" tostudents at ThomasCrossroads ElementarySchool.
Northgate High studentJessi Westbrook helpsstudents understand thescience behind shadowswith "Shadow Trackers."
NCOM_42-47 12/15/11 12:57 PM Page 44
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 45
Friday, Jan. 27, 2012. The GYSTCalso sponsors Family Science andMath Nights at schools throughoutthe year, as well as classroompresentations and teacher workshops.
“We really like doing the teacherworkshops, because we feel like wecan really reach a lot of students bygiving the teachers the tools theyneed,” said Stuckey. “That helpsextend the reach of what we do here.”
GYSTC is a non-profiteducational organization designed topromote interest in and enthusiasmfor science and technology. Teachersuse GYSTC to learn hands-onactivities to introduce students toscience and technology in theclassroom. Lessons include learningabout the physical attributes ofrocks, the parts of a plant, therelationships between the sun andthe moon, the mysteries ofmicroorganisms, and the power ofkinetic energy. GYSTC’s newest toolwill be a Digitalis Planetarium,which is expected to arrive any daynow.
“We’re really excited about that,”said Stuckey. “It’s always been thecase before that if you wanted yourstudents to visit the planetarium, youhad to load them up on a bus andtake them to Atlanta. Not anymore.”
Now kids will be able to look atthe stars at their own schools, sincethe planetarium is portable.
“Now we can have it right herein Coweta County. And astronomy issomething that everyone canappreciate,” she said. “Looking up atthe stars is something everybodydoes.”
Dr. Donald White, sciencecontent coordinator for the CowetaCounty School System, said thatunderstanding science andtechnology requires students toemploy their “higher-order thinkingskills.”
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University of West Georgia nursing student Suzanne H. Smith gives ThomasCrossroads Elementary student Sam Waldron a health check to demonstratehealth technology at a recent GYSTC science fair.
NCOM_42-47 12/15/11 12:57 PM Page 45
46 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE46 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
Femi Ogunbunmi and Erica Swansbrough enjoy the "Energy onthe Move" kinetic energy demonstration presented by GYSTC atThomas Crossroads Elementary.
Alexandra Gaffney and Tyla Ingram enjoy the GYSTC scienceand technology fair.
Monique McMahon and Michael McMahon assist with a staticelectricity demonstration for a Thomas Crossroads student ata GYSTC science and technology fair.
NCOM_42-47 12/15/11 12:58 PM Page 46
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 47
“I know kids are enjoying the content we provide,because they tell me so,” he said. One program he doesinvolves dressing up as a “mad scientist,” he said. It’sbecome an instant hit.
“I get it all the time. ‘You’re the mad scientist! You’rethe mad scientist!’” he said. “Science is messy. Science isdirty. Kids love that. They love to do science andtechnology. We know they’re engaged, because you canalways tell by how many kids take trips to the nurse.When we come in and do our programs, there are notrips to the nurse.”
Besides the West Georgia Technology Fair, otherupcoming events include the Elementary Science Fair anda number of Science Day events.
“We’ve got two of those coming up this month,” saidStuckey.
She said the main lesson GYSTC wants to instill isthat it’s important for kids not just to talk about scienceand technology but to, as White said, “get their handsdirty.”
“We do it,” she said. “We’re cutting PVC pipe. We’remaking rockets.”
“It’s a lot of fun,” said White. “We want these kids toget excited about science. And we’ve developed a lot ofactivities to help them do just that.” NCM
“Science ismessy. Scienceis dirty.Kidslove that.”
—Dr. Donald WhiteScience Content
Coordinator,Coweta CountySchool System
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NCOM_42-47 12/15/11 12:58 PM Page 47
48 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
ow many times have wepronounced, “If you can
read, you can cook?”Nowadays, a moreappropriate rejoinder might
be, “If you can Google, you cancook.” Although quite a few of us find
comfort in worn cookbooks or new hands-on reads,the digital world holds sway.
Most of us find our world peopled by digitaldevices ... our stoves, microwaves, thermostats. Onewall device cleverly stores or accesses recipes as well asserving as a weighing scale. A friend has a devicewhich easily activates by her voice to record a storeitem, then prints the list for ease of shopping.
Quite recently, a friend emailed me a mesmerizingvideo produced by Corning Glass Works. Most cooks
{Coweta Cooks }
Embrace
By Amelia Adams | Photos by Bob Fraley
with Winter Short Ribs
the Slow FoodMovement
NCOM_48-55 12/15/11 1:01 PM Page 48
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 49
NCOM_48-55 12/15/11 1:01 PM Page 49
50 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
have that charming blue-floweredbaking ware from our trousseau orhanded down from our mamas.However, nowadays this vision of thefuture has nary an old faithful whitedish in sight.
The plot of the offering takes anew age couple from dawn to duskin an ordinary day made easy withthe company’s diverse glass offerings.Of course, Dad now mans the glasstopped stove in preparing breakfastby merely rotating his finger to turnthe dials. From drives to work toshopping to business meetings,everything is screen-on. Even the
day’s last image allows a mere touchof the finger to put the electronicworld to sleep.
Amidst this quickened pace hasemerged a strong desire to retain thatwhich is not instantaneous but life ata snail’s pace, which is the emblem ofthe Slow Food Movement. Begun in1986 in Italy’s Piedmont region,Carlo Petrini did not wish merely aworld of fast food to overcome thebeauty of heritage dishes. Thus, inthe midst of fast food and lifestyle isa counteractive movement, in thewords of its manifesto to refuse to be“enslaved by speed.”
Often school children comehome for lunch to insure healthful,seasonal offerings. On Dec. 10 thegroup supports Terra Madre Dayworldwide in supporting smallfarmers, fishers, breeders and foodartisans to share their products.
Although I do not grow my ownfood, I am admiring of those whodo. I buy seasonal items as much aspossible, and I do seek to rely on myown kitchen for most all of mymeals. This laboratory bids healthiereating as I control the elements. Inmy self-imposed frugality, nothinggoes to waste; recycling creates
Amidst this quickened pace has emerged a strong desire to
retain that which is not instantaneous but life at a snail’s
pace, which is the emblem of the Slow Food Movement.
NCOM_48-55 12/15/11 1:01 PM Page 50
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 51
interesting concoctions. One of my oldest friends inMonroe often jokes, “We know not from whence theoriginal meal came.”
One of my thrifty, slow-paced favorites numbersbeef short ribs, preferably the boneless variety. Therecipe is easily adjusted to suit a mood or preference.By changing the liquid, from beer to wine to stock,and varying the warm spices to simpler additions ofjust the basics, a new dish emerges. Served with rice,potatoes, noodles or grits, the entree is complete.
Winter Short Ribs
3 pounds boneless beef short ribs1 teaspoon each salt, freshly ground pepper, paprikaFlour for dusting2 tablespoons canola oil1 large onion, chopped coarsely6 cloves garlic or less, finely chopped1 teaspoon brown sugar1 tablespoon chipotle chili sauce1 chopped chipotle chile (optional)1 teaspoon dry mustard1 cup beef broth1 cup dark beer or broth1/4 cup strongly brewed coffee1 tablespoon tomato paste1 tablespoon lime juice at end of cooking
Dust the ribs with seasonings and flour lightly.Brown the ribs on all sides in canola oil. Removeand sauté the onion until transparent, adding thegarlic toward the end of the cooking. Add the rest ofthe ingredients slowly and carefully stir the bottomof the pan to release all the particles from thebrowning. Place in a 325 degree oven for 2-1/2hours, checking several times to make sure the meatis covered with liquid. If it begins to dry add morebroth or water. Finish the dish with the lime juice.Serve with chosen compliment and sprinkle withchopped parsley. The ribs are better the second dayand freeze beautifully.
While the digital world moves quickly withoften the use of a single finger, ease of time advocateCarl Honore advises in his text, In Praise of Slowness:“The time has come to challenge our obsession withdoing everything more quickly.” We might just putdown our iPads and iPhones and head for thekitchen for a slow sauté. NCM
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NCOM_48-55 12/15/11 1:02 PM Page 51
52 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
roponents of technicaleducation in schools in
Coweta County onceencouraged students from
the local area—and across thenation—to study a trade andpromised them financial success.
While Coweta County hasCentral Educational Center and WestGeorgia Technical College today, thetrends and promotion of technicaleducation have changed little duringthe last century. In the early 1900s,telegraphy was the new wave that wascreating opportunity.
Telegraphy schools in bothNewnan and Senoia attractedstudents. The Southern School ofTelegraphy was located in the Reese
Opera House in downtown Newnan,now the home of Bank of Coweta.Senoia claimed the GeorgiaTelegraph and Railroad BusinessCollege. Both advertised widely anddrew students from a broadgeographical area.
Telegraphy schools tended tobring students from elsewhere, whostudied for a few months and thenwent to work far away. MarkMiner, who maintains a website on
52 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
Marshall Ellsworth Rowan spentmost of his life in Pennsylvaniaand worked 40 years as atelegrapher – using skills helearned in Newnan.—Courtesy Minerd.com Archives,www.minerd.com
This image of the operators room at the great telegraph exchange in Paris originally appeared in PopularScience magazine in 1893.
Newnan and Senoia had telegraphy schools inearly 1900s By W. Winston Skinner
{ Local Heritage }
NCOM_48-55 12/15/11 1:02 PM Page 52
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 53
the Miner/Minerd family, has written aboutMarshall Ellsworth Rowan, a relative who was agraduate of Southern School of Telegraphy.
Ellsworth Rowan (1885-1953) was fromPennsylvania. Completing his high schooleducation in 1903, Rowan came to Newnan in1904 to study at Southern School of Telegraphy.“By the following June, he had completed hisschooling and was working in SouthCumberland, Maryland,” Miner wrote.
Before 1905 ended, Rowan was back in hishome state. He married in 1906, had fourdaughters and spent four decades as a telegraphoperator—working for the Baltimore & OhioRailroad. A telegraphy worksheet from hisNewnan days has been passed down in hisfamily.
The telegraphy school in Newnan was begunin the early 1900s and operated for years,
This worksheet from the Southern School of Telegraphy waspassed down in the family of student Ellsworth Rowan.—Courtesy Minerd.com Archives, www.minerd.com
This sign on the Bank of Coweta building indowntown Newnan gives evidence of its formerrole as the Reese Opera House—and the one-timehome of the Southern School of Telegraphy, shownat back in inset photo.
perhaps even until early in the World War II era.The brick building was constructed as an “opera
house” for performances of various kinds. It is thoughtthe third floor was added to serve the needs of thetelegraphy school.
It is not surprising that the Newnan institutionwould attract students from Pennsylvania and sendthem to work in Maryland. The April 1906 issue ofWatson’s Magazine has an ad for the school. Though themagazine’s founder was Georgia politician ThomasWatson, the periodical was published in New York City.The advertisement proclaimed the school in Newnan asthe only one “that has niain line Railroad wires.” Thesewires—used for telegraph lines—minimized electrostaticcharges and thereby helped ensure accurate transmissionof messages.
The niain line wires were an inducement similar totoday’s proclamations of the most up-to-date computers
NCOM_48-55 12/15/11 1:02 PM Page 53
54 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE54 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
Watson's Magazine in April 1906 includes a page ofadvertisements for a tack puller, a handheld "addingmachine," a hair remover, a face wash guaranteed toprevent wrinkles and an ad for Newnan's SouthernSchool of Telegraphy.
“Dots and Dashes”promoted the field oftelegraphy as offeringsuperior opportunitiesfor farming, clerking orteaching school. The flierconcluded farming “ispoor business” andclerking was a job where“the pay is poor” and theworker “knows there isno promotion ahead.”
NCOM_48-55 12/15/11 1:02 PM Page 54
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 55
or broadcast equipment or health care apparatus byschools offering training—and trying to attract students.
The Georgia Telegraph School may not have hadniain line wires, but it was a going concern withstudents, curriculum and a plan for attracting students.The March 1898 edition of “Dots and Dashes,” a fliercreated by the school, has been preserved in theUniversity of Alabama Libraries. The four-page leafletwas sent to John Cocke, presumably a prospectivestudent, who lived in Greensboro, Ala.
The flier touted the school’s “equipment forteaching” as well as a “method of instruction” that was“far ahead of any so-called telegraph school anywhere.”There also was a sentence about Georgia Telegraph’s“facilities for placing our graduates.”
“Dots and Dashes” promoted the field oftelegraphy as offering superior opportunities forfarming, clerking or teaching school. The flierconcluded farming “is poor business” and clerking wasa job where “the pay is poor” and the worker “knowsthere is no promotion ahead.”
As for teaching, one of Georgia Telegraph’s sellingpoints was that telegraphy was a year-round occupation.Unlike today, when teacher salaries are divided into 12monthly payments, teachers in 1898 often received alltheir pay during the school term.
The Senoia school probably was just getting startedwhen a copy of “Dots and Dashes” was sent to JohnCocke. The flier noted the school’s articles ofincorporation had been granted at “the last term ofSuperior Court” and that the school had been charteredwith $25,000 stock. The flier also indicated theinstitution was “the only Telegraph School in theSouth,” which likely means the Newnan school had notyet begun.
From its early days, Georgia Telegraph welcomedboth male and female students, though women wereencouraged to study shorthand and typewriting because“railroads prefer to have males” as telegraphers.
In 1898, for $100 a male student could get fourmonths of schooling along with board and railroad farefrom his home to Senoia.
In the Senoia City Cemetery is the tombstone ofEugene Row, the Mississippi native who started GeorgiaTelegraph. He married into Coweta’s Linch family anddied in 1903 while his school was still in operation.
Technology and the jobs it creates are everchanging. Eugene Row’s tombstone and the ReeseOpera House are reminders of the era when thetelegraph was transforming America. NCM
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NCOM_48-55 12/15/11 1:02 PM Page 55
56 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
Get Fit!
TwoCowetansshare theirfitness successstories
TwoCowetansshare theirfitness successstories
By Elizabeth Melville |Photos by Bob Fraley
ewnan’sBusinessDevelopmentDirector, HascoCraver, is an avid
runner. And, somewherealong the open road over thepast five years, Craverdropped 50 pounds.
“Weight loss wasn’treally a motivator forrunning, it was a joyousbyproduct of it,” admitsCraver.
Like many others, hismotivation for runningstarted with a girl. Cravermet Rebecca—“the mostbeautiful girl on theplanet”—at the Universityof Georgia in 2002 while hewas a graduate student.
Before Rebecca, Craversaw running as a chore.
—Hasco Craver
“It’s meagainst
the road.”
“It’s meagainst
the road.”
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 57
Rebecca, however, enjoyed runningas part of an active lifestyle.
“I thought, if I wanted toimpress her, maybe I should, too,”said Craver.
Craver started running to spendtime with Rebecca, who is now hiswife. He started small, first tackling a1.5-mile loop in downtown Athens.He graduated to his first 5k road raceand, before he knew it, was running10-15 races a year.
“It just kind of became a part ofme,” he said.
In the summer of 2010, at thesuggestion of his wife, the twodecided to train for and run a halfmarathon. Rebecca preferscommunal running while Hascoenjoys running alone.
“It’s me against the road,” hesaid.
Craver enjoys running in anurban environment as a byproduct ofgrowing up in Philadelphia.
“Stop lights, cars, sidewalks,people, parks, houses, street signs,horns—they’re all comforting to me.”
The Cravers ran their first halfmarathon, 13.1 miles, onThanksgiving Day 2010. Hascoparticipated in his fourth halfmarathon this past Thanksgiving andset a personal record for time (1 hour31 minutes).
Craver took a laddered approachto training, constantly increasing hismiles leading up to a race. Just beforehis second half marathon, Hasco wasrunning about 40 miles per week,which breaks down to four“maintenance runs” during the weekand a 12-mile, long run on Sundays.And, since races are rain or shine, histraining is also rain or shine.
“Running at that distance—atthat level—I started to see real healthbenefits,” he said.
During a race, Craver setspersonal goals depending on the route
and distance. He studies the courseextensively and breaks the race intodifferent splits and sets time goals.
“I set multiple goals during arace because I don’t want it to be allor nothing,” he said. “In my mind, ithas to be fun.”
Running now influences hiseating habits. He eats a well balanceddiet with more fruits, vegetables andwhole grains. His snacks are frequentand healthy.
“Running 40 miles a week, youhave to replenish what you’re losing,”said Craver. “My wife jokes that thegrocery bill increases 30-40 percentwhen I’m training for a race.”
At this point in his life, Craversays he feels healthy, strong andconfident about his aerobic abilities.
“I’ve had such supportive peoplearound me,” he said. Craver alsostresses that he’s always “felt secure”being himself—whether 200 poundsor 160.
“My weight is something I’vehad issues with,” he said. “But, I’venever cried about it. I never felt fat—was never made to feel gross.” Evennow, Craver doesn’t own a scale. “I’mnot a scale guy.”
Running will likely be part ofCraver’s life going forward. Distancerunning is a time commitment,
though, and can be difficult with a 2-year-old daughter and another childon the way. Craver justifies hispastime to himself because he knowshe’s demonstrating a healthy lifestylefor his family. Running alsocontinues to be something he shareswith Rebecca.
“Some people share a love of filmor art or photography—our thing hasalways been running.”
Craver has sound advice forothers attempting to get healthy:“Don’t do it for the scale or themirror or for a wedding or foranybody else. Do it because it is foryou—and it’s not just for today, it’sfor tomorrow.
“Don’t forget to congratulateyourself every now and then,” headded. “You can enjoy weight losswhile still giving yourself those treatsthat we all need.”
Newnan’s Angie Lovell took adifferent road to fitness.
Lovell is wife to Jeff, mother totoddlers Olivia and Isabel, andstepmother to Kyle, 15. She’s also thefirst to admit that she’s “kind ofvain.”
On Oct. 15, 2010, she foundherself standing in front of a mirrorstaring at her post-baby body.
“I said to myself, this is the best
Runner Hasco Craver also serves asNewnan’s Business DevelopmentDirector.
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Angie Lovell says shehas more energy now.She feels healthy and
strong and she’s proudthat she can keep up
with daughters Isabel,at left, and Olivia.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 59
it’s ever going to be if somethingdoesn’t change,” said Lovell. “I’veeither got to come to terms withthat, or do something different.”
But Lovell was exhausted. Shehad no time or energy left to exercise.She discovered a free, onlineresource—caloriecount.com—thatallowed her to track her food intakeby recording it in an online database.The Web site has inspirational weightloss stories, recipes and the ability toanalyze the healthiness of your mealplan.
Lovell was instantly hooked.“I didn’t have room in my life for
anything else,” she said. “Iunderstood that weight loss is simplyexpending more than you take in. Ididn’t have anything else to expend,so I decided to control what I wastaking in.”
Lovell purchased a scale and gotto work. By Dec. 15, 2010, she’dalready lost about 20 pounds throughdiet alone. Six months later, she’d losta total of 25 pounds—and she’s keptit off. Lovell is content with how shelooks in a mirror now. At the six-month mark, she stopped trackingher food consumption.
“I don’t think you can trackcalories forever,” she said.
Lovell used the site as a learningtool to better understand what shewas eating in hopes of makingnutrition a life-long commitment.
Lovell’s family now eats a lot of“whole foods.” She eats nothingprocessed. “If it has more than fiveingredients, I don’t eat it.” If aningredient sounds like a chemical, shedoesn’t buy it for her family. She alsolimits the amount of meat in her diet.
“I eat a lot of vegetables andfruits and try to fill up on that,” shesaid. She’s also a fan of peanut butter.
Lovell has since taken her fitnessto another level. Inspired by theweight loss of her sister, who is now a
runner, Lovell started exercising. Shetries to run about four times a weekeither on a treadmill at the housewhile her children are napping, or bytaking her girls outside for a run inthe double stroller.
To mark the anniversary of herdecision to get fit, Lovell ran her first15k road race—9.6 miles—on Oct.15, 2011.
“I’m a runner now, and I love it,”said Lovell. “Running is anopportunity for me to disconnect. Itgives me something I’m in charge offor me.”
Lovell says she has more energynow. She feels healthy and strong and
she’s proud that she can keep up withher active children. Her daughtersnow attend gymnastics once a week.Playtime is very much encouraged atthe Lovell household.
“I’m trying to teach the samethings to my kids,” said Lovell. “I’m abig fan of running around the house.I want them to be mobile and active.”
As icing on the cake, Lovell saysbeing active has given her anewfound sense of community—andshe encourages others to takeadvantage of the resources out thereto find their own inspiration.
“You have to remember thatyou’re not doing it alone.” NCM
A double stroller for Isabel andOlivia helps mom Angie Lovellkeep personal fitness a priority.
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60 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
eth Pike, owner of ReviveFitness and a personaltrainer at Atlanta Fitness,
has helped many clients turn theirNew Year’s resolutions into weightloss realities. Pike offers professionaladvice to others hoping to get fit thisNew Year.
• “I tell my clients that it is alifestyle change, and it starts withyour mindset,” said Pike. “Before youget in the gym, you have to starttraining your mind.”
A person must immediatelyrecognize any negative, self-defeatingthoughts—i.e. “my thighs are toobig”—and turn them into what Pikecalls “positive aggression.”
• Once you’ve changed yourmind, it’s time to change your
pantry. A healthy lifestyle starts athome. That means junk food shouldgradually be replaced with nutritiousoptions. “A diet and your diet are twodifferent things,” Pike said. “Bewarethe fad diet. It will only take you sofar. Your diet involves a lifestylechange—and it involves basicscience.” All foods should be eaten inmoderation, including fats andcarbohydrates (opt for whole grainsand unsaturated fats). Monitor thecalories you consume.
“It’s okay to reward yourself witha hot fudge sundae once in a while,”Pike stressed. “Unless your diet issustainable, don’t do it, it’s notrealistic.”
• When setting fitness goals, “donot overwhelm yourself,” Pike
cautions. “Don’t set huge,unattainable goals, and don’t changeeverything at once.” If your ultimategoal is to lose 60 pounds, set smallweight loss goals over time. If youindulge in soft drinks, give yourself aperiod of two months to reduce oreliminate your intake.
“Aim to get on track within 2-3months,” said Pike. “It takes 21 daysto make something a habit.”
• Pike believes it’s the little thingsthat can help motivate a person tostay on target. “Don’t feel sillyputting an inspirational quote on themirror,” she said.
Music can also be a motivator,according to Pike. Make song playlists that you’ll look forward tohearing during a workout. Also,accountability partners can keep eachother on track when the going getstough.
• While you’re getting fit, Pikeurges you to “put your scale in yourcloset” and don’t weigh more thanonce a month.
“Pay more attention to how yourbody feels and how clothes fit,” shesaid. “Weight redistributes before youlose a pound.” It’s important to alsoremember that fat weighs less thanmuscle, according to Pike.
• While everyone can benefitfrom cardiovascular activity, weight-bearing exercises ultimately help aperson drop pounds faster.
“Building lean muscle mass hasthe greatest effect on body fat,” saidPike.
With a lot of determination anda little time, you can get and stay fitthis year.
“Be hard on yourself in the rightways,” said Pike. “It’s okay to askyourself, ‘Do I want pizza, or to seemy abs?’” But always be reasonablewith your expectations. “You canfight genetics, but you can’t changethem.” NCM
Tips from aFitness ExpertBy Elizabeth Melville | Photos by Bob Fraley
Personal trainerBeth Pikesuggests settingsmall goalswhich can bereached overtime.
NCOM_56-61 12/15/11 1:08 PM Page 60
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NCOM_56-61 12/15/11 1:08 PM Page 61
62 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
By Cathy Lee Phillips | Photos courtesy of Mark Fuller
Mark Fuller
Born to playthe Gospel way
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 63
he distance between the old NewnanHospital and downtown Newnan can
be measured in less than a mile. For MarkFuller, born in the old Newnan Hospital,the distance to playing piano for churches
around the Newnan area has to be measuredin years.
Born Feb. 24, 1961, Mark entered a Newnanvery different from the one where traffic lights packBullsboro Drive, Ashley Park offers everything fromfood to frocks to frozen yogurt, and subdivisions nowoccupy once peaceful forests and pastures. When Markleft Newnan Hospital, Kessler’s occupied the buildingwhere Golden’s serves lunch, the Alamo was the onlymovie theater around, and the Newnan Seed Store soldpastel-dyed chicks every Easter. This was long beforeNewnan churches discussed traditional vs.contemporary worship services. The time was the early1960s and Southern Gospel was the music of the day.
Mark’s favorite place on Sunday morning was in hiswooden rocker parked in front of the black and whiteTV. It was tuned to Channel 5, Atlanta’s WAGA-TV,for the LeFevre Gospel Hour. The harmonies of the
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64 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
group were beautiful. But whatcaptivated Mark was the womaneveryone recognized as leader of thegroup, Eva Mae LeFevre. Herenergetic pounding of all 88 keys onthe piano captivated four-year-oldMark. He rocked to the rhythm ofthe LeFevres on Sunday morning.On Sunday afternoons he returned tohis chair for the WNEA GospelQuartet Hour, broadcast weekly fromNewnan, Ga. He seemed to come byhis love of Gospel music geneticallybecause his mother frequented All-Night Singings that were popular atthe time. Some singings were held inNewnan at what Mark remembers asthe Co-Op.
According to his mother,whenever Mark heard Gospel music,Mark took to his chair. He oncerocked with such gusto he rubbed ablister on his back. It never had timeto heal because Mark irritated it eachSunday when he resumed his musicalroutine.
“When I grow up, I am going toplay piano just like Eva MaeLeFevre,” Mark shared with hismother. She somehow believed hewould and vowed to buy a piano forher son.
This seemed an impossiblepurchase for parents who worked inthe Hogansville cotton mills. Theyfound a used upright piano whenMark was seven years old. He wasplaying for church by the time hewas 13. He took piano lessons inLaGrange, but couldn’t forget EvaMae’s music. He spent hours at theupright trying to copy and perfecther style. If you hear Mark play now,
Mark Fuller’s parents found a used uprightpiano when he was 7, and he was playingfor church by the time he was 13.
Mark Fuller had admired gospelmusic legend Eva Mae LeFevre foryears before he got the opportunityto serve as her pianist.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 65
you will know he succeeded. TodayMark is an occasional performerwith the Bill Gaither HomecomingConcerts. When asked by Gaither toperform in the signature Eva Maestyle, audiences cheer and applaudwith delight.
Following high schoolgraduation, Mark moved to Atlantawhere he was introduced to EvaMae through a mutual friend. Theybecame friends and Mark becameher full-time pianist when Eva Mae,by then, had been christened TheFirst Lady of Gospel Music andinducted into the Gospel MusicHall of Fame. Eva Mae LeFevrepassed away in May 2009 at the ageof 91, but audiences today aretreated to the brand of music shecreated thanks to the talent of MarkFuller.
Mark is more than just amirror-reflection of a Gospel
legend. He has five CDs to hiscredit with more on the way. Witha rich baritone voice, Mark singsmore often in his concerts. Heasks his audiences to sing alongwith the old hymns that wraparound them like warm,wonderful memories. Today heperforms for church events,revivals and senior citizenluncheons. He also entertains forcommunity, corporate or privateevents. Audiences feel as thoughthey have been invited to gatheraround the piano and enjoy goodmusic with old friends.
In addition to performing,Mark works fulltime as an ITprofessional in Atlanta and ispianist for Central Baptist Churchin Marietta. Somehow he still findstime to practice and spend time inthe recording studio.
Mark’s early memories ofNewnan include visits to the DairyBar, Tastee Freez and Dairy Queen.He must have loved ice cream asmuch as Gospel music!
As a child, he saw Dr. HowardGlover when he was ill and had hisadenoids removed at the newNewnan Hospital. He enjoyed friedchicken at Wishbone, shopped atGibson’s, and visited hisgrandmother in Beaulieu NursingHome.
More recent memories ofNewnan involve playing for avariety of churches, includingmultiple engagements at NewnanFirst Baptist Church andBethlehem Baptist Church.Cowetans can enjoy his musicagain on Jan. 29, 2012 at LineCreek Baptist Church inSharpsburg.
For more information, visitMark’s website atMarkFullerMusic.com. NCM
Newnan native Mark Fuller will be inconcert at Line Creek Baptist Churchin Sharpsburg on Jan. 29.
QRCode
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66 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
{ TheThoughtful Gardener }
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Story and photos by Katherine McCall
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 67
eandering down the trail of the years, I pause atcertain places—some poignant and worth
lingering over like good conversation and wine;others bare-faced and ugly so I hurry by. A few ofthe pauses that cause me to linger are a childhoodhappily running barefoot through the sandy roadsof South Georgia and memorable teenage yearswheeling my parents’ Grand Safari around thecourthouse in downtown Newnan. Then, therewere certain things we always came into town for—books from Mrs. Jonesy at the Carnegie Library, aCherry Coke at Lee King’s counter, Levi’s fromMansour’s, and a Mother’s Day corsage fromMurphy’s. It was a red rose if your mother wasliving and a white if she had passed. A simpledeclaration of love, honor and remembrance thatproudly graced many lapels and dresses on Sundaymorning.
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68 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
Flowers have been wrought withsymbolism and meaning sincehumans have inhabited the earth.Throughout history, many cultureshave assigned meanings to certainflowers and plants. Since theVictorian era there has been an actuallanguage of flowers through whichfriends and lovers could send specificand secret messages. According toGeraldine Adamich Laufer in herbook Tussie-Mussies, floralcommunication got its beginningfrom two separate traditions andcultures. The first was the westerntradition of floral symbolism handeddown from Greek and Roman myths,Christianity and medicine. Thesecond originated from the Turks. In
the early 1700s the intrepid LadyMary Wortley Montagu accompaniedher husband, the English ambassador,
to Constantinople. While there, shewrote of the customs and cultureincluding the Turkish language ofobjects, the Selam. Her letters werepublished and sparked an interest infloral expression which would reachits height in the Victorian era.Numerous books began to bepublished on the grammar of thislanguage in the late 1800s.Fashionable ladies and gentlemenbecame conversant in a way thatcould beautifully and artfully conveysecret and meaningful messages tothe object of their affection. Thetussie-mussie was the vehicle of thisfloral language. It was a nosegay thatheld small sprays of certain flowers,herbs, berries and leaves to convey
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 69
special messages with each plantrepresentative of a single sentiment.
In Garden Flower Folklore, LauraC. Martin gives an extensive list offlowers and their meanings. Shestates, “Tussie-mussies mademarvelous gifts then, and they stilldo. They are easy to make and,accompanied by a card explaining themeanings of the flowers used, make auniquely personal present.” GeraldineAdamich Laufer’s book Tussie-Mussiesprovides a wonderful resource for avariety of bouquets for holidays,special remembrances,congratulations and celebrations. Herbook also includes an index arrangedby sentiment and by flower. Lauferstates, “Relatively inexpensive,ephemeral yet beautiful, the gift offlowers is understood to be anexclamation point in a relationship; acongratulations; amends for an
argument; a welcome; a get wellnote; a general expression of love.”
An example of a special tussie-mussie Laufer would assemble is oneto celebrate and commemorate anengagement:
Sweetheart rose: grace, beauty, loveAzalea: love, romanceStatice: never ceasing remembranceMint: warmth of feelingIvy: constancy, friendshipVerbena: marriage, faithfulnessRue: grace, clear vision, virtueScented geranium: preference,conjugal affection
As I retrace my steps on mywinding path of memories, I can’thelp but wonder how many messagesand opportunities I missed because ofignorance of the language of flowers.Likewise, in thinking back over
literature, music and art I haveencountered, how many meaningsand symbols I have nonchalantlypassed over. For example, certainlywhen Mrs. Dubose sent her prizedSnow-on-the-Mountain, carefullynestled in the candy box, to Jem inTo Kill a Mockingbird, she knew thata camellia meant ‘perfected loveliness’and ‘contentment.’
After assembling a tussie-mussieto celebrate my sister-in-law’sengagement, I realized the truth ofMrs. Laufer’s statement. It really wasan exclamation point tocommemorate and revel in thehappiness of her and her fiancé. Abeautiful note to mark a beautifuloccasion. Now I am noticing newopportunities every day to share aspecial note of celebration,encouragement or beauty withsomeone. NCM
NCOM_66-71 12/15/11 1:17 PM Page 69
Alcea, Hollyhock: ambition, fecundityAmaryllis: prideAnemone, Windflower: forsakenAntirrhinum, Snapdragon: presumptionAquilegia, Columbine: follyAster, Michaelmas daisy: afterthoughtBegonia: Beware! I am fancifulBellis perennis, English daisy:innocenceCampanula, Bellflower: constancyCheiranthus, wallflower: fidelity inadversityChrysanthemum: white-truth, red-Ilove, yellow-slighted loveCistus, Rock rose: popular favorClematis: mental beautyCockscomb: affectationCoreopsis: always cheerfulConvallaria, Lily of the Valley: return ofhappinessCrocus: abuse notCyclamen: diffidenceDahlia: instabilityDianthus, Pink: boldnessDianthus barbatus, Sweet William:gallantryDianthus caryophyllus, Carnation:woman’s loveFuchsia: tasteGalanthus, Snowdrop: hopeGeranium, Cranesbill: steadfast pietyGladiolus: you pierce my heartHedera, Ivy: fidelity, marriageHelianthus, Sunflower: haughtinessHeliotrope: devotionHibiscus: delicate beautyHyacinth: sport, game, playHyacinthoides, Bluebell: constancyImpatiens: refusal and severed tiesIris: message
A Small List ofFloral Meanings
(Compiled from Tussie-Mussies and Garden Flower Folklore)
Jasminum, Jasmine: amiabilityLathyrus odoratus, Sweet Pea:delicate pleasuresLilium, White Lily: purity, sweetnessLilium, Field lily: humilityLonicera, honeysuckle: generous anddevoted affectionMagnolia: love of natureMyosotis, Forget-me-not: true loveNarcissus, Daffodil: regardNasturtium: conquest and victory inbattleOrchis, Orchid: a bellePaeonia, Peony: shame, bashfulnessPansy: thoughtful recollectionPapaver, Scarlet Poppy: fantasticextravagancePapaver, White Poppy: sleep, mybane, my antidotePassiflora, Passion Flower: religioussuperstitionPhlox: sweet dreams and proposal oflovePrimula vulgaris, Primrose: early youthRanunculus, Buttercup: ingratitude,childishnessRosa, Rose: Thy smile I aspire toRosa eglanteria, Sweet Briar: I woundto healSedum: lover’s wreathSolidago, Golden Rod: precautionSyringa, Lilac: humilityTulipa, Variegated Tulip: beautiful eyesTulipa, tulip: fameVerbena: may you get your wishViola, Violet: watchfulnessVinca White, Periwinkle: pleasures ofmemoryYarrow: disputes and quarrelsZinnia: thoughts of absent friends
70 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
For a step-by-step lesson in
how to make a
tussie-mussie, visit
newnancowetamag.com.
NCOM_66-71 12/15/11 1:18 PM Page 70
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{ Tina’s Tips}
72 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
Cyndi Winslett enjoys documenting herfamily’s life through scrapbooking. She has awell-organized craft room in her basementwhere machinery, embellishments and tools,below, all have their own spot.
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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 73
t’s January. A new year, a fresh start. Thehustle and bustle of the Christmas season
is behind us, the parties are over, thedecorations are put away and the kids areback in school. Now what? Use that extratime and energy to do something fun,
something creative and get organized. I know a lot of you are like me: you’re
crafty, you’re creative and you’re a mess!Now, with the social calendar and the house empty, sitdown and get it all together. Whether it’s a closet or anentire room dedicated to your pastime, there are lots ofways you can make it organized and inspiring at thesame time!
Two of my friends, Susan Hester and CyndiWinslett, have rooms in their basement dedicated totheir love of their craft. For Cyndi it’s scrapbooking, andfor Susan it’s art.
Cyndi has been scrapbooking for almost 16 years.With more than 18 albums documenting family time,Christmas and school, she’s a scrapbooking expert.Although she doesn’t get to do it as often as she likes, shescrapbooks at least every couple of weeks to keep up todate as much as possible. Cyndi has lots of great suppliesand a great space to boot. Her basement room isorganized to a “T” with everything she needs. She hasfurniture ordered from scrapbook magazines that’s madespecifically for scrapbooking. The 12 x 12 drawers are the
By Tina Neely | Photos by Bob Fraley
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74 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
perfect size for album paper. She uses slat wall onthe room’s walls and also on the inside of cabinetdoors which allows her to put in pegs, boxes,hooks and racks to organize and sort supplies—scissors, markers, stickers, you name it.
Small storage boxes and storage boxes withdrawers are her major organizational tool. Thesehelp her sort precut letters, stickers and otherembellishments. Turntables of scissors andcolored pens keep essentials organized and rightat hand when she needs them.
Cyndi even keeps her pictures organized.How? She prints them right after the event(Christmas, a birthday party or ball game) andtucks them into the appropriate slots labeled bymonth in photo boxes labeled by year andstacked in the closet so she doesn’t get behind.
Before she organized her crafts, sheresearched other scrapbook rooms onlineand in magazines. “There are lots of greatideas out there if you’ll just look online,”she says. Occasionally she reorganizeseverything and purges what she doesn’tneed any more. What a great way to becreative, organized and make wonderfultreasures while recalling great familymemories!
74 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
Small storage
boxes and storage boxes with drawers are her majororganizational
tool.
Cyndi Winslett keepsup to date with herfamily photos byprinting them outright after eachevent.
NCOM_72-77 12/15/11 1:23 PM Page 74
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 75
WALK INTO SUSAN HESTER’Sart room and you’re struck by what afun, festive place it is. This basementroom oozes creativity from everynook and cranny. Her room wascreated to give her a place to do herartwork and also to have a fun placeto teach art to students. Everythingis made to be kid friendly and easyto reach for little hands.
A preschool teacher and privateart lesson teacher, Susan likes toteach children the basic elements ofart—but to her and the children themost important part is theexperience. They experience using alldifferent types of techniques andmedia to help build confidence increating great art.
The room is creatively organized.Walls of shelves are key, withcontainers and boxes to storesupplies. Paints sorted by color andall other sorts of media—studentspainted with shaving cream and gluerecently—are stored there. To hidewhat might look like clutter to some,
and to give the room vibrant color,shelves are covered by bright, funcurtains.
Frames of cork board hang onthe wall as well as lots of artworkfor visual interest and inspiration.Buckets on racks are filled withpaint brushes, pencils, and all theessentials to create the masterpieces.
One of Susan’s favorite pieces inthe room, a chest of drawerspainted to match the décor, holdschildren’s artwork. Each class has adifferent drawer, so they knowwhere to put their work if theydon’t finish and can go straight totheir drawer to retrieve it the nextweek.
She created this room byfinding and saving idea photos,furniture and storage containers.She added hardwood floors andwent from there. It’s now a beautifulplace, and her number one rule forthe entire room: it’s all washable—because in her art room you’reallowed to get messy. NCM
Rachel Douglas, Hannah Smith andLindy Scarborough enjoy an art lessonwith Susan Hester. Hester’s colorfulbasement art room is well-organized,and her shelving, below, is covered bybright, fun curtains.
NCOM_72-77 12/15/11 1:23 PM Page 75
76 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
1. Hang up the art
and crafty stuff you’ve been working on instead
of tucking it awaysomewhere for display later. It can be a great
way to add visual interest to your
room.
2.
Get a freestanding
paper towel holder and place rolls of
ribbon on it.
3.Put up a wall
of peg board or slat board to
hang buckets, racks, shelves and rods
for easy and changeable
organization.
4.
Gather mason jars or various clear glass jars
to store odds and
ends.
Craft Room Organization Tips
Susan Hester’s art room is colorful and attractive, and it is also designedwith the needs of creative youngsters in mind.
NCOM_72-77 12/15/11 1:23 PM Page 76
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 77
Celebrating 147 years of editorial and advertising excellence in Coweta County.
Newnan, Geo
3 Sections, 30 Pages
Established 1865
146th year — Issue 93
Annual Master Gardeners’
tour set for May 14
Sunday, April 3, 2011y
— see page 1B
By W. WINSTON SKINNER
Dedication ceremonies will
bbe held Monday forff the U.S.
Post Offiff ce in Tyrone, which is
bbeing named forf a soldier who
was killed in Iraq and buried in
Coweta County.
The post offif ce is being
named forff 1Lt. Robert Wilson
Collins , who is buried at Forest
Lawn Memorial Park near
Newnan. The dedication cere-
monies will be held at 11 a.m. at
Hopewell United M
Church in TyrTT one.
The church is loc
Jenkins Rd.R across
Creek High Schoo
Postal Service and
U. S. Sen. Saxby C
coordinating th
program.
Collins, 24, was
2010, in Mosu
enemym forces at
cle with an im
sive device. T
dent and anot
C remonyCeremony
nene
dedicate p
SM
By SARAH FAY CAMPBEA
Ozone season is g
longer.rr At least offf iciaff
is.Smog alert forecas
mally issued from M
Sept. 30, will now b
from April 1 to Oct. 3
Air quality is a y
concern in Georgia
to The Clean Air
That is especiallyl
metro Atlanta
Coweta County.
The Clean Air Campaign has ex
instead of May through Septemb
of ground level ozone and smog
O oneOzonefor Co
Newna
1 Section, 10 Pages
Established 1865
146th year — Issue 87
Monday, Mary ch 28, 2011r
By ALEX McRAE
A line of strong thunder-
storms that swept through
Coweta County Saturday
evening produced baseball-
sized hail that broke windows,
damaged ve icl s and covered
roads, yardsinjuries wpower outabrief.ff
th
spectaculartion.
HailstonediameterCoweta. Thwere reporarea.
Extensivto automo
i
Gi t hail hits SoutGiant hail hits Sout
Letters: Courthouse gunman
angry at justice system— see page 3
1 Section, 14 Pages
Established
146th year — Issue 88TuesdayT , Mary ch 29, 2011rr
PPPPOLLENOLLENOLLENOLLENCCCCOUNTOUNTOUNTOUNT
220High
Newnan Crossing Choruspresents “For Which I S
Hundreds hHundreds hono
Newnan, Georgiar
3 Sections, 36 Pages
50 cents
Established 1865
146th year — Issue 90
Thursday, Maryy ch 31, 2011rr
Coweta’s Local Daily’
PPPPOLLENOLLENOLLENOLLENCCCCOUNTOUNTOUNTOUNT
396High
kilos of cocaine from a home in the
located off Millard Farmer Road.
seized cocaine to be close to $4
$4 million in cocaine seized
$4 million in cocaine seizeduth of Newnauth of Newnan
hington-based Senior U.S.ct Judge Thomas Hogan
Camp had “disgraced hisand denigrated the fed-ff
diciary”yy Hogan also saidactions had “chiseled aetter onto his foreheadest of his life.ff ”ition to prison time,entenced Camp toyear on pro nbationhis prison sentence,0 hours of cf ommu-ce, pay a fine fofundergo regularwhilew he continueseatment programs ago.ncing Courtroomichard J. Russell
po tport il 15
MP, page 2A
itsoff12
-
ital
Usher in spring with
Usher in spring with ahearty portobello salad— see page 1B
— see page 1B
Newnan, Georgiarr
3 Sections, 34 Pages
Established 1865
146th year — Issue 83
Thursday, Maryy ch 24, 2011r
PPPPOLLENOLLENOLLENOLLEN
CCCCOUNTOUNTOUNTOUNT
2,459Extremely high,
D vis told the Coweta County
LEMONS TO LEMONADE
By SARAH FAY CAMPBELLA
sarah@ner wnan.com
Hundreds of dollars worth of
personal hygiene and care
items were delivered to One
Roof Of utreach this week —
courtesy of the scouts of Daisy
Troop 11206 and the manyn car-
ing people who donated money
to the troop after a counterfeitf
$50 was foundff in the troop’s
cookie sale money recently.l
operated Coweta Community
Food Pantry that is also housed
in the building. They were able
to see just how bare the shelvl es
were in One Roof ’slpersonal
care room.
Before the delivery,y there
was one tube of wf omen’s
deodorant, no men’s deodor-
ant, no shampoo or conditioner
other than sample sizes, and no
cleaning products, said
Derenda Rowe, executive
dir ctor of One Roof.R
Girl Scouts drop off f their troop’s donation at One Roof. From left
are Shelby Harlan, Virginia Fruechtenicht, Emma Casey and Sarah
Freeman.
Gi l Scouts sharGirl Scouts share
influx of donations
with One Roof
LL April 1 off
I tersection workIntersection work
on Greentop, Ha
Work W should begin soon on the intersection impr
Road. Contractor E.R. Snell has been awarded th
$1.3 $1. MILLION C
By ELIZABETH MELVILLEL
The Newnan City Council
voted Tuesday evening to
temporarily remove two-hour
time limits on parking in the
central business district.
The six-month trial will
begin on April 4, according to
Councilman Ray DuBose.a
DuBose raised the issue as
an off-agff enda item Tuesday.
“This will be a good way to
show our Southern hospitali-
ty,”y said DuBose. “Maybe this
will give us a little economic
boost.“We ought to monitor park-
ing during that time,” said
Councilman Rhodes Shell.
“We need to look and see
what effect it does haf
va e.”
Shell said when co
reevaluates the parking
restraints in October,r h
2 hour parkin2-hour parkin
in downtown
C uncil votes to begin 6-mo
Council votes to begin 6-mo
The two-hour parking limit in
a six-month trial starting Apr
decide what to do about the
either covering them or po
tors.
Kiwanis Club recipes tKiwanis Club recipes t
with Sweet Vidalia On
— see page 1B
Newnan, Georgiarr
50 cents
Established 1865
Coweta’s Local Daily’
4
T OF A CHAMPION’
Arrest Log— see page 5
Employment recruitment setat Newnan Career Center— see page 6
By JEFF [email protected] local authors and the
outgoing superintendent offCoweta County schoolswere recognized for theircontributions to the arts atthe Richard BrooksVisionary Awards fofDistinction programThursday night.The Centre for Performing
and Visual Arts and thePatrons of the Centre recog-nized humorist, columnist,and author Lewis Grizzard;author Margaret AnneBarnes, who wrote “Murderin Coweta County”; andrecently retired CowetaCounty Superintendent fofSchools Blake Bass.Dr. Marc Guy and former
Coweta County Board fofEducation member MikeSumner introduced Bass, theonly living award recipient.“Look at this facilitf y. kLook
at the progref
ss. Look at all ofthe activities that have takenplace here,” said Guy.Many of those things were
made possible by having aman like Blake Bass at thehelm, said Guy.“Mr. Bass has been a big
supporter of the arts,” saidGuy.
Sumner said that after aturbulent few years the“floodwaters began torecede” in Coweta CountySchools when Bass took thehelm in 2004.“Conf idence was
restored,” Sumner said. “WeWWare all forf ever grateful.”Bass’ leadership style hasbeen to “speak softly, andcarry a big stick,” Sumnerquipped.
He said he admired Bassstraightforwf ard approach,and the conf idence heinstilled in everyone whoworked with him. Sumnersaid he remembered a num-ber of times he receivedphone calls from Bass, relat-ing “alarming news” of some“desperate situation.”“Th
Blake BaBlake Basshonored withBrooks AwarA dLewis Grizzard, Margaret AnneBarnes honored posthumously
Blake Bass, recently retiredCoweta County superintendent ofschools, was honored for hisleadership and support of thearts.
Sumner said that eventhough he may not be a greatartist himself, Bass contribu-tion to the local arts cannot becalled into question.“I don’t even know if he can
carry a tune,” said Sumner. “Idoubt if he knows a treble fcleffrom a bass clef, or a Picassofrom a Monet. But I do knowwhat he’s done for the artshere in Coweta County.”As Bass accepted the award,
he said he deserved a bit morecredit than Sumner was will-ing to give.“Mike sells me short,” he
said, launching into a soliloquyfrom William Shakespeare’s“Hamlet.”
“I learned that in Mrs.Parrott’s class at Newnan HighSchool,” he said. “I was in one-act play I
the mostng? Was itney? Timackson? Ort right herele School,on?” said
d Jacksonandreau’s
tor toldour can-e whatw Ithis.’ Hee?’ Andd him,
rt of af
akingssong,
ome-hasthe
Andrite
ntry starsweta fireman
s during his stop with Mckenzie Comer at Madras
Newnan, Georgia1 Section, 12 Pages 50 centsEstablished 1865145th year — Issue 365
Friday, December 31, 2010yy Coweta’s Local Daily
Newnan Fire Department personnel work to put out hot spots following a house fire on FirstStreet in Newnan Thursday morning.
By ELIZABETH [email protected]
The cause of af firff e Thursday morning thatheavily damaged a home on First Street neardowntown Newnan remains under investigation.
The fire occurred at 12 First Street around 8:40a.m., according to Newnan Fire Marshal RickyAyers. The property was a rental home belong-ing to Bobby Orr.rr The renters were reportedlynot at home when the fire started.
The fire erupted in an upstairs bedroom,according to Ayers.
Newnan Fire Department Station One onJJeffersonff Street and Station Three on TempleTAvenue responded to the scene. Firefightersconfined the flames to the upstairs.ff
The department remained on the scene forabout an hour and a half, according to Ayers.
No one was injured in the fire, but Ayers estimates that more than half the home was damaged or destroyed.
He estimated the damages between $50,000and $65,000.
Fire damagesFirst Street home
By ELIZABETH [email protected]
Wednesday’a s fire at a vacant home on East HillStreet is being investigated as possible arson.
It is the sixth fire that has occurred in vacanthomes on and around that street since November2008, according to Coweta County Fire DepartmentAssistant Chief Mitch Coggin.
The fire occurred WednesdaWW y afternoon at 34 EastHill Street. Firefighters arrived within minutes tofindf the approximately 950-square-footff home fullyinvolved in flames. The structure — which belongedto WoodW y Wood — wWW as deemed a total loss.
On Thursday, Coggin said the incident is beinginvestigated as “an intentionallyl set fire.”
“There was no electrical power or gas service con-nected to the structure,” said Coggin.
The string of suspected arson fires began on April8, 2008, with a fire at 25 East Hill Street. The subse-quent fires occurred: Aug. 6, 2008, at 23 East HillStreet; Nov. 20, 2008, at 33 East Hill Street; and July4, 2009, at 2 East Murphy Street — located in closeproximity to East Hill. The home at 25 East HillStreet was targeted a second time on June 28, 2010,according to Coggin.
Anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity at or near 34 East Hill Street on WednesdaW y is
A d i E N fiArson suspected in E. Newnan fire
See FIRE,, p gpage 2
By ELIZABETH [email protected]
As Georgians prepare forff New YearYY ’s Eve,experts urge consumers to consider safetyff asthey ring in 2011 and bid farf ewell to 2010.
Nationally, firff eworks consumption increased635 percent between 1976 and 2008, while fireworks-related injuries decreased dramaticallyfrom 38.3 injuries to 3.3 injuries per 100,000pounds of ff irf eworks during that same time peri-od, according to the most recent data availablefrom the American Pyrotechnics Association.
John Conkling, a spokesman forf the AmericanPyrotechnics Association, attributes the steepdecline in injuries over the years to the fireworks industry’s consumer safety and educationinitiativi es during the last three decades.
“Fireworks can provide hours of wf holesome,familff y entertainment, but they must be used byadults carefully and safely,” said Newnan FireMarshal Ricky AyeA rs.
Ayers warned adults against allowing childrento handle any type of ff ireworks. Also, alcoholand fireworks do not mix.
Despite the decline in fireworks-relatedinjuries, consumers should resolve to use onlydevices permitted by state law while adheringto safety warnings and instructions that appearon product packaging.
In Georgia, no one younger than 18 canpurchase firf eworks.
Offf i i lf rn consumers to take precautions.
Fireworkssafetyurged byofficials
MORELAND TOWN COUNCIL
Moreland Mayor Josh Evans, left, and City Attorney Mark Mitchell listen to discussion about possibilities for the historicMoreland Mill during a December meeting of city leaders.
By W. WINSTON [email protected]
Sales Tax dollars to do the work andseek a grant that could paya back thefunds Evans said a Rural Business
on the National RegisterR of HistoricPlaces, began as a drygoods store
d d th
M S li dMayor: Sewer line upgradeswould expand mill’s offerings
By W. WINSTON [email protected]
There will be alcohol servedat one upcoming weddingreception at the Moreland Mill,but it is not clear whetherthere will ever be anotherchampagne toast in the historicbuilding.
The Moreland Town Councilhas been discussing ways toramp up use of the mill’s meeting room, but 2010 is drawingto a close with no resolution fofthe alcohol issue.
“It seems like the more wetalk about it, the more ques-tions we have,” Mayor JoshEvans reflected recently.l
There has been much discus-sion in recent months aboutwhether or not to allow w alcoholto be served at the building,which is on the NationalRegister of Historic Places.RR
The town has offeff red a roomin the formerf textile mill as aleased meeting space forff years.Some council members havesuggested ll i h
Willliquormix wellat mill?
B lld l k id fiBulldogs look to avoid firstlosing season under Richt
— see page 6
Audit finds CDC misplaced$8 million in equipment
— see page 5
Call 770-304-3373 to subscribe.
M A G A Z I N EA Times-Herald Publication
AlyssiaBrantley
Holiday
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Pawn Stars
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NCOM_72-77 12/15/11 1:23 PM Page 77
78 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
If you're like most of us, you spentpart of your holidays looking at picturestaken over the past year and resolving toorganize them better.
We'd like to help!Instead of merely organizing your old
photos, how about entering one of them inour Newnan-Coweta Magazine PhotoContest? Winners will receive a cash prize($100 for first place, $50 second, $25 third)and publication in the March/April 2012issue of the magazine.
Announcing ourSecond Annual Photo Contest
2011 First Place Winner
Inside a Sunflower by Oliver Albrecht
NCOM_78-84 12/15/11 1:27 PM Page 78
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 79
• Each entry must be taken by a currentCoweta County resident who is not a professionalphotographer, defined as someone who makes morethan half their income by taking photos. Theperson entering the contest must have personallytaken the photo and cannot submit a photosomeone else has taken. All ages are welcome toenter.
(Employees of The Times-Herald and Newnan-Coweta Magazine and their immediate familymembers, as well as freelancers who have workedfor either publication, are not eligible.)
• Each person may submit one photo on anysubject of their choosing. People, pets, landscapesand vacation spots are all ideal subjects for photos.
Please include the title of your image.• Photos may be submitted by several methods.
High-quality print copies or images on CD may bemailed to “Photo Contest, c/o Newnan-CowetaMagazine, P.O. Box 1052, Newnan, GA 30264” ordelivered to our offices at 16 Jefferson St. indowntown Newnan. High resolution images mayalso be e-mailed to [email protected].
All should be identified as entries for theNewnan-Coweta Magazine Photo Contest andinclude the photographer’s name, address, phonenumber and/or e-mail address. Photographs will notbe returned.
• Entries must be received at our offices by 5p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20, 2012. NCM
2012 Photo Contest Rules
Other winning entries in last year’s photo contest included, clockwise from top left, Asheville’s Black Balsam Bald byKevin Smith; Flower & Bee by Dave Sodko; Cowboy Cousins by Shana M. Cooper; and Humming In by MarieUmbach.
NCOM_78-84 12/15/11 1:28 PM Page 79
80 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
Coming Up for AirBy Patti Callahan HenrySt. Martin’s Press, $24.99Reviewed by Holly Jones
Lillian “Ellie” Calvin is having anamazing night. To celebrate her 48thbirthday, she is finally having an art show,“a ten-year culmination of (her) work.”Her family and friends are there and it’sone of the few times Ellie has ever felt hermother Lillian is proud of her.
The next morning Ellie receives aphone call that Lillian is dead.
These are just the first 14 pages ofPatti Callahan Henry’s novel Coming Upfor Air.
Lillian’s funeral and Ellie’s show startthe novel, but they are also the beginningof the kaleidoscope Ellie’s life is about tobecome. She isn’t complaining. Except forpainting, the last few years of Ellie’s lifehave been colorless.
Her daughter is away at college; Ellieand Lillian have never been close; andEllie’s marriage is an endless routine—everything looks pleasing on the outside,like one of Ellie’s floral paintings, butemotionally Ellie feels like a blank canvas.
During the show Ellie learns the real
reason for her mother’s sudden support.Lillian is to be honored as part of anAtlanta History Center exhibit. And,Lillian nonchalantly mentions, Ellie’scollege ex-boyfriend Hutch O’Brien willbe interviewing the honorees.
After Lillian’s death, Hutch asksEllie for information on Lillian’s tribute.Ellie agrees to meet, but she’s amazed tolearn her mother isn’t being honored forphilanthropy but for her work withinthe civil rights movement. No one inEllie’s family seems to know aboutLillian’s involvement with civil rights—or they simply refuse to discuss it.
Ellie also finds her mother’s journal.While reading it, Ellie notices her moth-er wrote in the leather-bound book onlyon New Year’s Eve of each year, begin-ning when Lillian was 12 years old andcontinuing until her death.
Most of the journal contains plansfor that year, which Ellie notices aremore like to-do lists than hopes ordreams. Ellie knew her mother had acontrolling side, but there are a few yearswhen Lillian’s aspirations are about morethan social climbing. During theseentries Lillian writes about a mysteriousHim—the love of her life.
While investigating her mother’spast, Ellie discovers things are not alwaysas black and white as they appear on apage, even a handwritten diary page. Ittakes reading about her mother’s mis-takes to help Ellie realize her own regrets,and to discover how she can paint abrighter future for herself.
Yankee Doodle DixieBy Lisa PattonThomas Dunne Books, $24.99Reviewed by Holly Jones
“Who says you can’t go home?There’s only one place they call me oneof their own.”
Leelee Satterfield—like Bon Jovi—knows where home is; she can’t wait togo back.
Fans of Lisa Patton’s Whistlin’ Dixiein a Nor’easter will remember in herdebut novel Leelee followed her husbandto rural Vermont to help him pursue hisdreams of owning an inn. When Leelee’shusband decided to pursue a ski instruc-tor instead, Leelee was left alone with her
two daughters and a business beingundermined by its previous owners anda particularly nasty New England win-ter.
In Patton’s latest novel, YankeeDoodle Dixie, Leelee is recentlydivorced, has sold the inn, and is mov-ing home to Memphis as quickly asspeed limits allow.
The problem is what to do whenshe gets home. LeeLee knows herfriends will accept her back into theirlives, but what will other people say?When Leelee left Memphis she had theperfect cheerleader-marries-quarterback,picket fence life. Being fodder for gos-sips isn’t exactly in the coming-homeplan.
Finding a new home and a job arehigh priorities. Leelee and her girls finda rental home with a next door neigh-bor who has cornered the market on at-home sales but has no sense of personalboundaries. Leelee has to sneak in andout of her house just to avoid the guy.
The job front isn’t much better.Leelee’s friends get her a job at a radiostation. It sounds great, but her boss is ahypocrite who won’t let Leelee talk toanyone. He, however, schmoozes anyguest who walks through the door.Then there is the DJ who won’t stophitting on Leelee while simultaneouslytrying to get her fired.
Was Leelee really so sure cominghome was a good idea?
{ The Bookshelf }
NCOM_78-84 12/15/11 1:28 PM Page 80
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 | 81
complicated story about reflection,revolution and redemption.
Changó’s Beads and Two-ToneShoes is divided into three sectionscovering three different time periods.It opens in 1936 with Daniel Quinn,the protagonist as a child, waking upin his Albany home to the sound ofmusic and changing times.Downstairs, Bing Crosby sings Shinewith a local black piano playernamed Cody who tells Quinn,“Shine isn’t just a song.” Crosby thenadds, “It’s an insult. A bad word buta great song. The song turns theinsult inside out.”
Part two begins in 1957 asCastro’s rebels battle PresidentFulgencio Batista’s forces for controlof the country. Quinn lands in Cubaintent on locating and interviewingCastro. He also relishes an opportuni-ty to meet his literary idol,Hemingway, whom he finds in theFlorida bar. While chatting with theauthor, Quinn experiences love atfirst sight when he meets Renata, arevolutionary gunrunner who usesher connections to get Quinn aninterview with Castro.
The book’s third section takesplace in Albany 11 years later, the dayBobby Kennedy is assassinated. Racialtensions run high, and Albany’s polit-ical machine uses vengeance and ret-ribution as tools for maintaining con-trol in the city, much like Batista’sdesperate attempt to maintain powerin Cuba. The book swirls to an endas Cody transforms Shine into abooming fast-paced free-for-all on thepiano while clashes between blacksand the white establishment rage out-side.
As a whole, Kennedy’s Albanycycle of books capture the Americanexperience and narrative unlike any-thing else. This particular novel is anenergetic journey into the jungles ofCuba and the streets of America witha cast of marginalized and vividheroes leading the way. It illustratesthe fine line between villain and hero,traitor and martyr, and reflects on thepast to show how revolution is per-petual, justice is cyclical, and redemp-tion is possible. NCM
In Whistlin’ Dixie in a Nor’easterLeelee learned what she was made of,and that steel magnolias can survive insnow. In Yankee Doodle Dixie Leeleelearns a new lesson—home isn’t aboutputting the past back together but takingthe pieces and building a new future, nomatter where you are.
Or, as Bon Jovi’s song says: “It does-n’t matter where you are, it doesn’t mat-ter where you go—if it’s a million milesaway or just a mile up the road. Take itin; take it with you when you go. Whosays you can’t go home.”
Changó’s Beads and Two-ToneShoesBy William KennedyViking, $26.95Reviewed by Kenneth R. Wilson
Changó’s Beads and Two-Tone Shoesis William Kennedy’s eighth novel in acycle of books centered in Albany, NewYork that began in 1975 with Legs. Thethird book, Ironweed, won him thePulitzer Prize in 1984. Like ErnestHemingway, a minor character in thecurrent book, Kennedy spent the dawnof his writing career as a journalist. In1957, he covered the Cuban revolutionfor the Miami Herald and has met FidelCastro several times since then. Hedraws from these experiences to weave a
{ Index of Advertisers }
March/April 2012 Ad DeadlinesPublished: March 2, 2012;
Contract Ads: January 25, 2012; New Ads: February 3, 2012. Call 770.683.6397
for details and advertising information.
America Grading and Landclearing, Inc. . .65Ankle & Foot Centers of Georgia . . . . . . . . .29Arlington Christian School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41Artisan Jewelry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Bank of Coweta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84BB&T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47Bowdon Denture Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39Center For Allergy & Asthma . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5Charter Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19Chin Chin Newnan Chinese Restaurant . . .51Communites in Schools, Troup County . . . .21Coweta-Fayette EMC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83Coweta Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35Design House at the Vintage Flea . . . . . . . .41Farm Bureau Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21Geeslin Group, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33GMC Community College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11Heritage Retirement Homes
of Peachtree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41The Heritage School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33Hollberg's Fine Furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29Home Helpers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55Lee-King and Lee-Goodrum Pharmacies . . .47Main Street Newnan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71Mercer University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35The Newnan Times-Herald . . . . . . . . . . .61, 77NG Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69NuLink Digital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4Oak Mountain Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Point University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17Palmetto Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Piedmont Heartburn Treatment Center . . . . .2Phillips Dental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45Radiation Oncology Services . . . . . . . . . . . . .3R. DuBose Jewelers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51Savannah Court of Newnan . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39Southern Crescent Equine Services . . . . . .71Southern Orthopaedic Specialists, LLC . . . .13SouthTowne Motors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Spoon Sisters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33StoneBridge Early Learning Center . . . . . . .55Table Talk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29Uniglobe McIntosh Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6Wesley Woods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9Wedowee Marine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21West Georgia Health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
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{ I am Coweta }
Edith Byrd-Parks, a Columbus native who was raised in California, moved to Newnan in August 2005. Byrd-Parks holdsa master’s degree in professional counseling and is a licensed therapist. She is married and the mother of three chil-dren, 23, 22, and 12. Having overcome kidney disease through dialysis, prayer and a transplant, Byrd-Parks is now theexecutive director of B.Y.R.D. House, a non-profit providing valuable support to at-risk youth and children.
When did the B.Y.R.D. House get started and what types of programs does it offer?
We broke off from the African American Task Force and applied forour own non-profit (status) in December of 2009 in Georgia.B.Y.R.D. House was created to help reduce risk factors associatedwith poverty, family dynamics, school stresses, individual andpeer structure and substance abuse. B.Y.R.D. House has sev-eral programs. Beat the Street, our outpatient program, is alife skills after-school program for boys and girls 6-21. Youthare referred to the program through different agencies. Weassist participants in developing skills that will enhancetheir ability to reach independence, understanding of selfsufficiency and financial independence, master toolsneeded to reach greater potential and enhance socialskills, self esteem and life skills. Byrd House is a homefor adolescent females 11-17 with an independent livingcomponent for females 18-21. The girls are taught howto love and respect themselves and others. Our sloganis “In A Baby, Out A Lady.” The minimum length of stayfor a resident is 90 days with a maximum of one year.We provide services for runaway girls, girls on proba-tion, girls in youth corrections, girls in Division of Childand Family Services, and girls being referred by par-ents or school officials.
Are there ways for the community to get involved at
B.Y.R.D. House?
We are always in need of volunteers, foster parentsand financial support. We ask that the communitytake a look at our website where we post needs atwww.thebyrdhouse.org.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Going to church, spending time with my familyand traveling.
Since this is the first issue of 2012, can you
share your New Year’s Resolutions?
As I begin the new year my focus would be tocontinue to be able to show up and be anadvocate for kids and families. Sometimeswe are their last hope. As the economy istoday we now have to find creativeways to continue to motivate, be inno-vative, and be integrative with ourprograms. We have come upagainst many obstacles this pastyear and through them all Godwas at the center. I pray thatB.Y.R.D. House will continuemaking a difference in thelives of families in CowetaCounty. NCM
Edith Byrd-ParksBy Nichole Golden | Photo by Bob Fraley
82 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE
NCOM_78-84 12/15/11 1:28 PM Page 82
770-502-0226www.utility.org
WHO KNEW A FRESH LAYER OF INSULATION WOULD HELPME WEATHER THE ECONOMY?There was money hiding in my attic. Not anymore. I’m saving $240a year just by adding insulation. What can you do? Find out how thelittle changes add up by visiting www.utility.org, and clicking on “Energy Saving Tips under the “For My Home”tab.
NCOM_78-84 12/15/11 1:29 PM Page 83
THE POWER OF
MOBILE BANKINGAt Bank of Coweta, we employ the best and the brightest to help you accomplish more than you thought possible. Come meet with the Bank of Coweta team to become MOBILE! We now offer mobile banking for virtually any mobile device* with free apps for iPhone®, AndroidTM and Blackberry® devices. Visit us online or stop by any of our conveniently located branches to learn more.
www.bankofcoweta.com
Bank of Coweta is a division of Synovus Bank. Synovus Bank, Member FDIC, is chartered in the state of Georgia and operates under multiple trade names across the southeast. Divisions of Synovus Bank are not separately FDIC-insured banks. The FDIC coverage extended to deposit customers is that of one insured bank.
Jefferson Street110 Jefferson StreetNewnan, GA 30263770.253.1340
Court Square 36 South Court SquareNewnan, GA 30263770.253.9400
Lakeside37 Lakeside WayNewnan, GA 30265770.254.7979
Senoia 7817 Wells StreetSenoia, GA 30276770.599.8400
Temple Avenue 192 Temple AvenueNewnan, GA 30263770.253.9600
Thomas Crossroads 3130 East Highway 34Newnan, GA 30265770.254.7722
Left - Right: Jena Parks- Branch Manager, Lakeside BranchTheresa Davis- Branch Manager, Temple Avenue BranchPam Clemons- Branch Manager, Court Square BranchAnne Bell- PresidentCindy Smith- Branch Manager, Jefferson Street BranchKim Resmondo- Branch Manager, SenoiaJanette Morrison- Branch Manager, Thomas Crossroads Branch
You must be registered in OnLine Access before you enroll in Synovus Mobile Banking.
* Requires mobile service provider’s data plan or texting capability, for which charges may apply. See our website for complete details.
“iPhone”, “Android”, “Blackberry”, Android® robot and the Apple® apple are all registered trademarks of their respective owners.
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