Woman
Complimentary
December 2020
West Georgia TM
Audrey Lee Top Dog
Simple Ways to Bring Happiness into Your Life
Heat up Your Love Life this Winter Sharing Peace and Joy in a Scary World 1
Hope
This year has been the most painful year that most any of us have ever experienced. Many people have passed away, and among them, many who served as leaders in our families and in our community. Together we have suffered great anxiety from a global pandemic that took away our daily norms, and separated loved ones as we feared the unknowns of contamination. While 2021 is still unknown, we remain filled with hope. The Christmas season is the reminder that our hope does not rest in this world, but in Christ. Wishing you much joy in this season.
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Champion Tibetan Mastiff Breeder Audrey Lee Proves Every Dog Has Its Day Page 10 Photo by Zachary Dailey
What’s inside... 10 22 25 30
Top Dog
Baby It's Cold Outside! Cops, Kids and Christmas Sharing Peace and Joy in a Scary World
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Woman Complimentary
2020
West Georgia
Holiday Guide
TM
Pick up your print copy of our annual Holiday Guide today or view online at www.westgeorgiawoman.com Festive Holiday Centerpieces
Carroll County CASA Fosters Love During the Holidays
Ditch the Holiday Stress Solving the Name-Drawing Dilemma 7
A Difficult Year As I reflect on all the trials and tribulations of this year, I'm astounded at the resilience I've witnessed from so many in our community. We've all had to find new ways of working, shopping, socializing and even eating. Our children had to attend school from home, mothers and fathers had to become teachers and many of us were unable to visit with our vulnerable relatives. We've experienced the loss of some very dear members of our community, neighbors, relatives and friends. All of these things have taken a toll on our mental and spiritual health. One thing that is so clear to me is how we've discovered that what is really most important and meaningful in our lives has nothing to do with the things that once gave us pleasure and joy. This year has taught us to value our relationships, human contact, our health and the health of others who are closest to us, our families and the simple things in life. For this, I am grateful. Something else I am grateful for is probably the best thing that has happened in our family this year. Last month, my son Zachary asked his beautiful girlfriend Jordan to be his wife. They plan to marry in March. Life does continue, in spite of the obstacles.
Photo by Zachary Dailey
In This Issue Our feature this month is Audrey Lee. This year marks Audrey’s 40th anniversary as a dog groomer and 27 years as an entrepreneur. She is the owner of Cedartown Pet Boutique in Cedartown, Ga. and is a champion Tibetan mastiff breeder. In the 2019 edition of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, Audrey's dog, Evo, earned Best of Breed, and her other dog, Aine, was awarded Best of Opposite Sex. These two wins made Audrey the first owner ever to have her dogs take these two titles in the same year at Westminster. Learn more about Audrey and how she's proving every dog has its day on page 10. Are things a little chilly when it comes to your relationship? Sandra Bolan shows you how to heat up your love life this winter on page 22. "Cops, Kids and Christmas" gives children positive interaction with law enforcement and helps to plant the seed that the children can count on the police when they need them. The Carrollton Fraternal Order of Police is asking for your help to help kids in Carroll County receive Christmas gifts this year. If you make a $100 donation to the program, the FOP will match $100. Learn more about the Cops, Kids and Christmas program on page 25. Are you anxious about the future? Saddened by things that have happened this year? Sandra Bolan helps us learn how to share peace and joy in a scary world on page 30. We lost someone very dear to the West Georgia Woman magazine family last month. Dr. David Randall (Randy) Turner, owner of Turner Pharmacy, passed away at the young age of 63. Randy supported our vision to celebrate the achievements of women through his advertising partnership from the beginning, and we will forever be grateful to him for helping our publication become what it is today. We will always remember his kindness and gentle heart. He was a valued member of the community, and we will miss him dearly. Learn more about Randy and his dedication to his family and the Carrollton community on page 40. Thank you for reading West Georgia Woman! Please continue to do business with our advertising partners included in our publication. Without them, we could not provide you with this beautiful magazine each month. I wish you peace and joy this Christmas and in the New Year. Merry Christmas!
Publisher
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Finding our voice. Knowing our value. Making a difference. TM
West Georgia Woman is a voice for and about the women who live and work in West Georgia. Our mission is to engage, inspire, and cultivate a cohesive community for all women in West Georgia by sharing our hopes, our dreams and our lives. This magazine would not be possible without the inclusion of our advertisers. Please be sure to show your support by doing business with these VIP’s (very important partners) so we will be able to continue to share with you our stories about amazing West Georgia women! Please be sure to tell them we sent you!
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Get yours from our racks at Kroger, Publix, Smith Brothers Supply Company, Southern Home and Ranch Center, Food Depot (Maple Street) and the Tanner Health System Medical Pavilion Inspiring women wanted. in Carrollton. We have them at Publix Do you know an interesting woman on Bullsborough, Lee-King and Thompwho should be on the cover of West son pharmacy locations in Newnan, the Apothecary Shoppe in Douglasville and Georgia Woman? Is there a special the Vitamin Shoppe in Hiram. Publix at project or organization you would Mirror Lake, in our rack at Piggly Wiggly like us to feature in our magazine? Let us know! Email your suggestions in Bowdon, Kroger in Cedartown, The to features@westgeorgiawoman.com. Little Giant Grocery in Sargent and the Tanner Health System Villa Med Office Share your special events. Buildings in Villa Rica. CVS in Bowdon, Piggly Wiggly in Tallapoosa and our Send your upcoming events to: racks at WM Grocery in Roanoke and calendar@westgeorgiawoman.com Wedowee, Al., as well as hundreds of Need to advertise? Email: other retail locations and medical offices in West Georgia and East Alabama! Sales@westgeorgiawoman.com Call 404.502.0251 The views, opinions, positions or strategies expressed by the contributing authors are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, positions or strategies of Angel Media, LLC., West Georgia Woman magazine or any employee thereof. Angel Media, LLC. makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, correctness, suitability, or validity of any information in this publication and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use.
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Volume 6 • Issue 2 December 2020
This publication is dedicated in loving memory of Tristan Alexander Brooks May 15, 1993 – September 17, 2015
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Audrey Lee, right, with her husband Don and five of her Tibetan mastiffs left to right: EVO, Em, Aine, Rosa and Seger
Article by Sandra Bolan Photos by Zachary Dailey 10
Top Dog
Champion Tibetan Mastiff Breeder Audrey Lee Proves Every Dog Has Its Day11
W
hen Addis Lee lent his daughter-in-law $1,500 to start her own business, he told his friends he never expected to see that money again. But 45 days later, Audrey Lee paid him back – in full. “He told me to wait, hold onto it in case I needed it, but I was insistent to pay him back,” recalls Audrey, who is celebrating 40 years as a professional groomer. Addis died 15 years later. Audrey fondly recalls that when his family went through Addis’ personal possessions, they found a Bible. In the back of it were family photos, along with every newspaper article about his daughter-in-law’s successes throughout the years. She had no idea how proud he was of her. And she's had a volume of accomplishments, serving as a true trailblazer in Polk County. The 55-year-old was the first person to operate a grooming business in Polk County when she opened Cedartown Pet Boutique in 1993, and she was the first dog owner to win Best of Breed and Best of Opposite Sex in the same year at the illustrious Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. “I was over the moon happy,” recalls Audrey of the 2019 dog show wins.
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Not bad for a woman who got her start in the canine industry on the “pooper scooper crew” at the age of 12. Audrey recalls being “enlisted” for the scooper crew by a friend’s mother who showed Great Pyrenees. There were 2,500 purebred dogs competing in the 1977 Atlanta Dog Show. But it was a litter of Siberian huskies from another show handler that got Audrey’s career going. Audrey wasn’t supposed to mingle with other dog handlers, just scoop. But for a young dog lover, the fluffy, little huskies were just too cute to ignore. After spending time playing with the puppies, Audrey traded contact info with their handler. Six months later, the husky owner called Audrey to offer her a puppy that wasn’t working out for her. Audrey, 13, jumped at the opportunity to work with the puppy named Turpin. Within a year, he earned his American Kennel Club (AKC) championship. An AKC championship is obtained when a registered dog accumulates 15 points with two major wins, according to the AKC. The AKC is the largest registry for purebred dogs within the United States.
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Audrey continued to attend as many dog shows as she could. When she walked through the grooming area, Audrey became mesmerized by all the primping and preening the dogs were undergoing. Dogs have been known to run on a treadmill pre-show to get those muscles supple, while others have their fur blown out bigger than the leader of an ‘80s heavy metal band. Like most young teens, Audrey took on a slew of odd jobs. But she didn’t go the babysitter or fast-food restaurant route; instead she walked and housesat her neighbors’ dogs. At 15, Audrey got a job at Marietta’s Dixie Pets, where she learned how to transform the scruffy into the sleek and shiny. This wasn’t, however, her first time grooming dogs. When Audrey was younger, she was known for giving her mixed-breed dog, Duffy, haircuts and would complete the new style with some bows. In 1983, at the age of 18, Audrey married and left that job behind for a better paycheck in general customer service, but she continued to work at the animal shelter to keep up her skills.
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CB radio repairman. They married in 1991. While pregnant with her second child in 1991 and no longer working, Audrey quickly became bored as she had never not worked. So she put a sign on her Hwy. 27 front yard offering dog grooming services in her home. Within a few short months, she gained about 150 regular clients, many by word of mouth. Audrey quickly realized she had to find a space outside her home to keep up with the demand. Audrey already had a few cages for the dogs to hang out in before and after their appointments, but she needed cash for rent and a high-velocity drier. With two little ones at home, Audrey admits cash was tight. So she approached her in-laws for the start-up capital. Just days after the blizzard of ’93, Audrey opened her own dog grooming shop – Cedartown Pet Boutique.
Choosing Happiness Three and a half years later and now the mother of 1-year-old Thomas, Audrey divorced and returned to her first love – dogs. “I made the decision I wanted to be happy. I didn’t mind if I was wealthy or not,” she says. Audrey became a groomer at Marietta’s Pet Boutique. Throughout her five years at the store, she also became an instructor and the store’s manager. The Pet Boutique not only transformed Audrey’s professional career, but it also changed her personal life. It was while working there she met Don Lee. Marriage was the furthest thing from the single mother’s mind, but she fell head over heels for the
Audrey, with her husband Don Lee. Don is very supportive, frequently helping Audrey care for her Tibetan mastiffs.
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This year marks Audrey’s 40th anniversary as a dog groomer and 27 years as an entrepreneur. Audrey opened the Main Street grooming salon with a five-year plan to add boarding and training to her list of services. Audrey’s reputation within the community and the ad campaign of “Why drive to Rome?” put her ahead of schedule by almost two years.
what was, in 1996, a niche business, but because she was female. “Twenty-seven years ago, Cedartown was a very male-dominated town. Very few female businesses. It was obvious (gender) was a part of that,” she says of her struggle getting a small business loan. After exhausting the Polk County financial institutions and with a new business plan in hand, Audrey approached Haralson This year marks Audrey’s 40th anniversary as a dog groomCounty banks. She also Expansion er and 27 years as an entrepreneur. She is the owner of switched tactics and sought Cedartown Pet Boutique in Cedartown, Ga. out a personal loan instead. Audrey knew in order to One loan advisor, Audrey recalls, wanted to expand and offer training and boarding services, she immediately dismiss her before she could even sit would have to move. She found six acres of land on Piedmont Highway and put down a sizeable deposit. down. But when he asked for a business plan and she produced the one the SBA helped her with, she But like most business owners wanting to expand, was approved. she needed additional financing that was too large But of course, there were still more hurdles for for any family member. Audrey did what every small business owner does her to jump through, and it took another six months before she actually received the loan. “It was – she visited the banks in Polk County, looking for a horrible,” she recalls. The SBA also made Audrey business loan. put up her home for collateral. “Not one place in Polk County would finance a “They really wanted me to be committed,” she grooming and boarding business,” she recalls with says. dismay. The land Audrey purchased had no structures She was turned down 14 times. on it, so she was able to design exactly what she Undeterred, Audrey took the advice of a friend, wanted. But there was one problem – she wasn’t a who recommended she visit the Small Business building designer. However, she had a grooming Association (SBA), which operated out of Floyd University at the time. The SBA provides counseling, client in architect school, so she traded grooming capital and contracting expertise to small businesses. services for CAD designs the contractor could utilize. The 1,000-square-foot main building is where the They suggested Audrey put together a far more transformations take place, while the 1,800-squarecomprehensive business plan than the one she was foot kennel has 30 indoor/outdoor runs, along with using to shop for loans. three separate and secure exercise yards. Audrey admits it was a big task, but she was not going to let a bunch of bankers who knew nothing about the dog grooming/boarding/training industry Return to the Dog Show Ring stop her. Audrey remembers how the financial officers told her dog grooming was too risky an investment While Audrey was building her grooming and there was no market for it. business, she always knew she wanted to return to Pet grooming and boarding is a $7 billion industry, the dog show ring. Audrey also knew she wanted with almost 125,000 businesses throughout the to make her comeback with a breed other than United States, employing more than 200,000 people, a Siberian husky. So the big question was, which according to IBIS World, an industry research analyst breed? Then, one day in 1992, a former colleague firm. introduced her to a Tibetan mastiff puppy. When Audrey also acknowledges feeling penalized and frustrated because not only was she trying to finance Audrey met the bundle of fur, she fell in love and
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knew the breed of her next show dog. However, with the average cost of a Tibetan mastiff puppy at $1,800 and with a 6-month-old baby girl, a 5-year-old son and her own business, Audrey knew she would have to wait to get back into the ring. About eight months later, she had the opportunity to foster a 6-month-old Tibetan mastiff named Myra. A year later, another rescue opportunity came her way with 1-year-old Magnum. Audrey quickly learned how smart, stubborn, reserved but loyal the breed could be. With her decades of training experience and panache for transforming the most obstinate of dogs, that didn’t phase her. “I like the tough dogs, I like the challenge. I like seeing them progress,” she says. Audrey showed Myra competitively, but to her dismay, the dog wasn't show quality. Magnum never made it to the show ring. They both lived happily into their teen years with Audrey and her family. In 1999, following the death of her father, Thomas Jones, Audrey received a bit of money from his estate. It was just enough to buy her first Tibetan mastiff show puppy, Sky. In early 2000, Audrey entered Sky into a Virginia
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rare breed dog show where she won Best in Show Puppy. This was the start of Audrey’s victories in the ring with the Tibetan mastiff. The pair continued to hit the show circuit where Sky earned four championships. Audrey showed Sky until 2008, when she retired at the age of eight. Audrey knew she had something special with Sky, and in 2001, she bought another puppy from the same breeder and named him Fuso. He became the winningest Tibetan mastiff in history, prior to the breed being accepted by the AKC. Like Sky, Fuso’s first shows were on the rare breed circuit, but that didn’t mean they were small, regional affairs. Fuso made his debut at 3 months of age at a rare breed dog show that took place in Washington, D.C. at the National Mall and was filmed for Outdoor Life Network. Fuso won Best in Show Baby Puppy in the 3- to 6-month category.
Joining the AKC After years of lobbying by the American Tibetan Mastiff Association, the ancient breed, known as a guardian of villages, monasteries and palaces, was finally recognized by the AKC in 2007. Audrey, however, was not one of the dog owners lobbying for the breed being accepted into the registry. In fact, she was against it. “I wanted my beloved Tibetan mastiff to remain the same,” Audrey says of why she opposed them being brought into the AKC fold. The Tibetan mastiff competes in the “working” group, which includes the Alaskan malamute, Bernese mountain dog, boxer, doberman pinscher, rottweiler and Siberian husky. However, once the breed was accepted into the AKC, she jumped on board because she loves to show, and there would now be more opportunities to do so. “The disadvantages are there are many very good professional handlers who are tough competition, and sometimes judges don’t know the breed as well as some of the rare breed judges,” she says. Knowing the Tibetan mastiff would be able to participate at the show of all dog shows – the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show – for the very first time, Audrey wanted to give Fuso the opportunity to strut his stuff on the big stage. In addition to the fact that he was considered old for a show dog at age 7, there was one major hurdle: Fuso was 30 pounds overweight.
Showtime It can take years of breeding, training and participating in regional shows before a dog receives an invite to Westminster, if ever. All of that work culminates into two minutes of ring time, during which the dog is scrutinized by the judges against the breed standard on its gait, size, head proportion to its body, expression, teeth and coat. There is also the all important “it” factor. One command a handler will never use is “sit.” “If they sit in the ring, I’ll have a heart attack,” admits Audrey. "You never want a dog to unfluff its blowout. I want them to stand still like a statue.” Audrey was showing other dogs, but it was Fuso she wanted to bring to Westminster because he had already won 54 Best in Shows, eight different championship titles and three National Speciality titles throughout his show dog career. So, Audrey put Fuso on a diet, much to his dismay, and the pair started training, hoping to get rid of the ring rust. Fuso earned his AKC Championship at the Atlanta Dog Show and came one step closer to strutting his stuff in New York City. Fuso and Audrey continued with more dog shows. Fuso ended up working his way into the Top 5 dogs in the United States, which earned him, and Audrey, an invitation to Westminster. “Once we got him buff and he stepped into the show ring, he was a tough dog to beat,” Audrey proudly admits. Audrey went to the 2008 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show with Fuso, along with her 15-yearold daughter Julie, who showed another of their dogs, Strou. “Everything about Westminster was exciting,” she
recalls. Being the owner of a breed newly inducted into the AKC, the pair was interviewed by a multitude of news media outlets. Julie was even interviewed by Sherri Shepherd of The View. Sadly, neither Fuso nor Strou made it to the ribbons. “But it was an honor to be there with him, Julie and Strou, as history was being made – a Tibetan mastiff competed at Westminster for the first time,” she excitedly recalls. Fuso crossed over the rainbow bridge in 2010 at almost 10 years of age.
New Era After years of owning puppies bred by other people, Audrey was ready to take on the challenge of breeding herself. She bred her first litter of Tibetan mastiffs in 2005. Breeding Tibetan mastiffs is particularly challenging as females only cycle once a year in the fall, with puppies born usually from December through March. There’s also a lot of work, and heartache, a breeder undertakes, which is never seen by future puppy owners. In her 15 years as a breeder, Audrey has had her share of heartache. She’s made middle-of-the-night emergency vet visits so her mothers could have unexpected C-sections. She’s even had mamas birth stillborn puppies. Audrey has slept, with one eye open, beside the whelping box more nights than she can recall to ensure nothing goes wrong with mama and her newborn puppies. “It’s always much easier to buy a puppy," she says. "You show up, pay your money and get your puppy. When breeding, if done Audrey visits with her cycling female right, months go dogs. Female Tibetan mastiffs only into planning." cycle once a year in the fall, with A fourth puppies born usually from December generation puppy through March.
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has multiple Best in Show and Best in Show Speciality titles. “We knew the breeding would be phenomenal,” explains Audrey. For whatever reason, the breedings never took. Debbie decided to breed Major with one of her own females – Bella. It worked. That was in 2015. Among Bella’s puppies was a little boy with a devilish personality. He was aptly named Evo – Evil One. He also happened to be Audrey’s favorite in the litter Audrey's extensive collection of her of five. dogs' winning show ribbons cover Just before Easter of that year, three walls in her grooming business, Debbie called Audrey and asked Cedartown Pet Boutique. her to check her inbox ASAP. Much to Audrey's surprise, there was an airline cargo ticket from Audrey’s breeding program is "Aujudon’s attached – Debbie was giving Evo to Audrey. What’s Love Got To Do With It." Her call name is “Debbie knew me in my Fuso days and had Tina. witnessed our amazing bond and our incredible “This puppy had the wild, wild hair of Tina Turner success in the show ring," she says. "She knew I in the ‘80s,” she says with a laugh. would show Evo to great accomplishment. And I There was another, more personal reason, behind have." Tina’s kennel name. Evo is now an AKC “Love has everything to do Champion, AKC Grand with being a breeder, an owner/ Champion, as well as an AKC handler and dedicating your Bronze and Silver Grand life to the breed," she shares. Champion. "You certainly don’t do it for the A grand champion has money. You spend way more defeated other champions, than you’ll ever realize.” while a bronze champ has Believe it or not, Westminster beat out 100 other dogs of has no cash prizes. The only the same breed. Silver status dog show to give cash to its is when the dog defeats 200 winners is the annual AKC Royal in his/her respective breed. Canin National Championship. A gold level dog has taken Its Best in Show winner earns down 500 others in his/ $50,000. The other prizes range her breed, while a platinum from $15,000 (Best Bred by winner is bestowed upon a Exhibitor in Show) to $50 (Best dog who has won out over of Opposite Sex to Best of more than 800 in his/her Breed/Variety winners). breed. Evo’s father – Major “I own a lot of expensive – is the first Tibetan mastiff ribbons,” she laughs. to have achieved Platinum status. Evo Two years ago, Audrey began a new era of Tibetan For three years, Audrey tried mastiffs with her Russian-born to breed one of her female Audrey, with her Tibetan mastiff, Aine. Aine is an Aine, which she co-owns with Tibetan mastiff’s with one of her AKC champion, Grand champion, Grand ChampiDebbie. best friend’s Debbie Parsons on Bronze, and ATMA National Specialty Best of Five-month-old Aine was Slayton’s males, Major. Major Breed Winner.
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Left: Audrey with Aine. Right photo: Long-time championship handler Tony Carter handled Audrey's dog, Evo (left), in the 2019 edition of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show while Audrey handled Aine (right). Evo earned Best of Breed, while Aine was awarded Best of Opposite Sex. These two wins made Audrey the first owner to have her dogs take these two titles in the same year at Westminster. Photo on right provided by Audrey Lee.
put on a 16-hour flight from Moscow to DC in May 2018. Audrey couldn’t bear for her to be put back on the plane to come to Atlanta, so Audrey made the 10-hour drive north to pick her up. In the fall of 2018, Aine competed in her first show in Atlanta, where she earned her AKC Championship title within the shows’ first three days. On day four, the 7-month-old puppy earned Best of Opposite Sex to Evo. Aine also earned points towards her AKC Grand Championship title. Both dogs earned invitations to the 2019 edition of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Being the handler of two dogs of the same breed that are participating in the same show is impossible. So Audrey enlisted the help of longtime championship handler Tony Carter. He also handled Major, so it was only fitting he handle Evo at Westminster. Evo earned Best of Breed, while Aine, who Audrey showed, was awarded Best of Opposite Sex. These two wins made Audrey the first owner to have her dogs take these two titles in the same year at Westminster. Audrey recalls telling Tony, just prior to walking into the ring, “Let’s get both.” This was Audrey’s second attempt at the double win. She first tried it in 2018 with Evo and Tina. While in New York City with Debbie that year, the pair headed to the famed Macy’s store, where Audrey spotted a fabulous red purse by Gucci.
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Debbie made her a promise that if Evo and Tina pulled off the double-win, the bag was hers. Obviously Audrey didn’t get the bag. But months after the 2019 victories, Debbie kept her promise and sent her that Gucci bag. Audrey returned to Westminster earlier this year, just prior to COVID-19. She showed Evo from a Hoverboard, thanks to a broken foot. Evo didn’t win. But Aine, who was shown by Tony, earned Best of Opposite Sex. Most of the remaining 2020 dog shows have been cancelled. Westminster plans to go ahead with a show next year, but for the first time, it won’t be in Madison Square Gardens. It’s being moved outside to Tarrytown, New York, and it will be in June versus the traditional date in February. Audrey plans on being there with Evo, hoping to add some new ribbons to her walls. WGW
To learn more about Audrey Lee, Cedartown Pet Boutique or her Tibetan mastiff breeding program, email aujudontm@bellsouth.net or call 770.748.0518 or 770.547.0250. Follow her on Facebook @CedartownPetBoutique or visit the website at www.aujudontibetanmastiffs.com.
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Baby It's Cold Outside!
Heat Up Your Love Life This Winter
22 By Sandra Bolan
I
f you’re reading this after December 11 and you’re still with your significant other, than consider yourself one of the lucky ones. December 11 is apparently the most common day of the year to end a relationship, according to digital statisticians who analyze Facebook. Even if you don’t call it quits just a couple of weeks before Christmas, it’s quite possible things between you and your partner are a little prickly. Part of why we get snippy with others during those long, dark, depressing winter months is because there is so little daylight, which messes with our serotonin levels. Another explanation for our moodiness is we’re craving the comfort of carbs and alcohol. But booze and carbs, in excess, make us feel bloated, so the last thing on our minds is romance. But there are ways you can spice things up, despite the chilly temps outside, and, sometimes, inside.
First, return your dining room table to well, a dining room table, by removing all traces of your home office (laptops, notes, charging stations etc). Set the table with your finest China and cutlery and opt for candles instead of harsh overhead lighting. Finish the décor with some flowers. Switch off the television and turn on your playlist. Order dinner from your favorite restaurant. But don’t serve it from the take-out cartons. Instead, immediately put it on your dinnerware. Who knows, you may be able to pass it off as homemade. After dinner, take yourselves to the couch, burrow under a big, cozy blanket and turn on a movie, remembering to leave the lights low.
Game Night By now, you’ve likely worn out your board or video games, but if you’re not totally sick of them, pull them out and have a game night. You can also turn your favorite TV quiz show into an at-home competition. Make sure to keep score. You can even make the stakes a little higher by placing a wager such as the loser has to give the winner a massage. Speaking of massages, why not have an at-home
Dinner and a Movie The old stand-by of dinner and a movie will occur a little differently this year, but it can still bring you that touch of romance and togetherness you need.
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Go for a walk downtown. spa day for the two of you? Fill the tub with scented bath bombs and take a bath together or give each other massages.
Get Outside Even if you don’t think of yourself as particularly outdoorsy, get outside and go for a hike with your significant other in one of the area’s state parks. You can even pack a picnic to eat at the midway point or at your favorite scenic spot. If your version of being one with Mother Nature is more urban, go for a walk downtown where you can see the streets and stores decorated for the holidays. If there is a street that tends to go all Griswold in their holiday décor, go for a stroll in that neighborhood.
Stay in Bed Sometimes all you want to do is nothing – just wear your PJs all day and never leave the bed. Do it and make it a date. Cook a proper breakfast together or, if you’re the one who always does the cooking, let your partner take over kitchen duties. Serve it on a tray in bed while you binge watch Netflix. While dinners, flowers and grand gestures are great for giving things a bit of a spark, sometimes all you need to do is something small like sending a
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text message to let your significant other know they are loved and appreciated. Just remember, romance doesn't happen by itself. You get what you put into the relationship, so fan those romantic flames and watch the temperature rise this winter. WGW
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Local Law Enforcement Makes Positive Impact with Kids Through Christmas Shopping Program
he Carrollton Tony Jackson Garrett Lodge #35 of the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is an organization that consists of full-time employed and retired members of local and state law enforcement. The lodge also consists of associate members who support the FOP's mission. The FOP is the world's largest organization of sworn law enforcement personnel, with more than 330,000 members in more than 2,200 lodges. The Tony Jackson Garrett Lodge #35 was chartered on April 24, 1975, and was named for a Carrollton police officer who was killed in the line of duty. The FOP is very active with helping local special needs children and adults, underprivileged children and children who have been affected by crimes – either as victims or witnesses. The lodge also supports FOP members, members of public safety, the Special Olympics, the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS), as well as numerous other local groups and civic organizations.
Cops, Kids and Christmas This year's "Cops, Kids and Christmas" event will be held in December at Walmart in Carrollton for special needs children and at Target in Carrollton for kids who have been affected by crimes and the underprivileged. On the day of the event, the kids meet the officers they will be shopping with at the Train Depot in Carrollton. Santa Claus drops in, listens to the children's Christmas wishes and takes photos with them. After time spent with Santa, the kids climb into police cars with the officers and are encouraged to play with the patrol car P.A. system, lights and sirens on the way to shop. Once the cops and kids arrive at the store, breakfast is provided for the children. After breakfast, the children go with their police officer partner to shop for their gifts. They are given, on average, $200 to $250 for Christmas shopping and are encouraged to purchase whatever they would like within the budget. "Some of the kids select items they need, such as clothing or personal items," says Det. Sgt. Dan Keever, past president of the FOP. "Some of them purchase gifts for their siblings and parents. It touches your heart to see these children – some of whom have so little – think about others before thinking of themselves. Another fun thing about the event is watching the kids as they speak over the patrol car P.A. system and flip the switches to change the lights and the sounds of the sirens while riding in the car to shop. It is so much fun to interact with these kids and see the big smiles on their faces." Det. Sgt. Keever says this event means so much more than just a nice thing the FOP does for the community. "Cops, Kids and Christmas" gives children positive interaction with law enforcement and helps to plant the seed that the children can count on the
DONATE $100 AND THE FOP WILL MATCH $100!
Cops, Kids and Christmas
Contact: Eddie LeBlanc – 770.318.5618
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www.facebook.com/carrolltonfop police when they need them. If you make a $100 donation to the Cops, Kids and Christmas program, the FOP will match $100. To help kids in Carroll County receive Christmas gifts through this program, call Eddie LeBlanc at 770.318.5618 or you can mail your donation to the Carrollton FOP at 115 West Center St., Carrollton, Ga. 30117. Donations of any amount and gift cards to Target or Walmart are gratefully accepted. The Carrollton FOP is a nonprofit 501(C)(8), and all donations are tax deductible.
Wednesday Night BINGO Another fun and exciting way you can support the FOP's charitable programs is to attend its weekly BINGO night every Wednesday at Venue 1625, located at 1625 Bankhead Highway in Carrollton. Compete each week for a chance to win $1,500 during the electronic and paper BINGO, participate in a 50/50 raffle with several prizes and enjoy refreshments at the concession stand. The doors open at 6 p.m. and the first ball is called at 7 p.m. Masks are recommended and social distancing is in place. All proceeds from BINGO go directly to the FOP and their charitable programs. For more information on "Cops, Kids and Christmas" or BINGO, call Eddie LeBlanc at 770.318.5618 or email Eddie@cmbrentals.com or eleblanc@carrollton-ga.gov. Follow them at www.facebook.com/carrolltonfop. WGW
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Daily Fare With
e s o R f e h C
Photos by Zachary Dailey
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Chef Rose Isaacs is a native of Carroll County and lives in Carrollton with her husband Shawn and their son, Sebastian. She graduated from West Georgia Technical College in 2013 with a degree in Culinary Arts. After graduation, she began her career as a chef at the Carrollton Kroger Marketplace where she works in the bistro.
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This wonderful warm dessert drink for the holidays is a much more decadent and luxurious version of your traditional hot chocolate as it is much thicker than normal.
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Hazelnut Hot Chocolate Ingredients
Preparation
2 tablespoons butter
Melt butter in a medium saucepan over low heat. Whisk in cornstarch until combined and melty. If you want the hot chocolate thicker, use the maximum amount of cornstarch. Add in milk and sugar. Increase the heat gradually to medium-high. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Mixture will start to thicken. Once the mixture begins to thicken, turn the heat down to low and add in the chocolate chips and hazelnut spread. Stir constantly until well melted. Serve hot, topped with whipped cream. Serves 2.
2 teaspoons to 1 tablespoon cornstarch 2 cups milk 4 tablespoons sugar 1 cup chopped chocolate or chocolate chips (white, dark, milk or your favorite combination) 1 to 2 tablespoons chocolate hazelnut spread Whipped cream for topping (optional)
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Fresh Fruit Christmas Tree Ingredients 1 ripe pineapple 1 pear (a little underripe works best) 2 clementines, peeled and segments separated 3 kiwi, ends trimmed then chopped into large chunks with skin left on 8 ounces strawberries, stems removed 6 ounces blackberries 1 1/2 cups red grapes 1 1/2 cups green grapes 1 bamboo skewer toothpicks
Preparation Slice a little off the sides of the pineapple at an angle to create a cone shape. Push the bamboo skewer through the center, then skewer the pear on top. Cut the wooden skewer if needed to leave about 1-inch uncovered at the top of the skewer. Place pineapple onto a serving tray then insert toothpicks around pineapple and pear at a slight angle, breaking a little off of the toothpicks, if necessary. Add fruit. Place most of the bigger fruit first then fill in with the smaller fruit, such as the grapes. Place a strawberry pointed side up to cover the top skewer. Add clementines in a star pattern with a blackberry in the center. Alternatively you can slice a small slice of pineapple and use a star cookie cutter to create a pineapple star for the top. Serves 8 to 10. WGW
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This makes for a fun and healthier breakfast treat on Christmas morning that the whole family will enjoy. Make ahead and store in the refrigerator until ready to eat.
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Womentality
Inspiring quotes by extraordinary women “It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.”
– Mother Theresa Photo: By Túrelio, CC BY-SA 2.0 de, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2246938
“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.” – Agnes M. Pharo
“Let us have music for Christmas. Sound the trumpet of joy and rebirth; let each of us try, with a song in our hearts, to bring peace to men on Earth.” – Mildred L. Jarrell
“Remember this December, that love weighs more than gold.”
– Josephine Dodge Daskam Bacon
“Christmas – that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance – a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.”
– Augusta E. Rundel
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Sharing Peace and Joy in a Scary World
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By Sandra Bolan
"B
e pitiful, for every man is fighting a hard battle." When Ian Maclaren penned this phrase in 1897, the author and minister of the Free Church of Scotland had no idea how prophetic his words would be in 2020 and nearly 12 months into a worldwide pandemic. No doubt Thanksgiving was a lot different this year for you and your family. Hopefully, you were able to discover some things you were grateful for. As Christmas is now upon us, peace and joy are often the sentiments that surround us. But you might be thinking there’s little to be joyful for. This will sound trite to those who have suffered catastrophic loss, but we need to try to find joy in the little things. For example, you’ve been able to spend a lot more time with your family – even if they’re starting to gnaw at your already frayed nerves. Underneath, we realize how lucky we are to still have each other. Your home has possibly never been so clean and organized, and you may have picked up a new hobby. You can also be joyful for having your health. This has been a year filled with a tremendous amount of conflict. For many of us, the wish for world peace isn’t just a cliché. But world peace, or even peace within our own community, won’t happen until we have inner peace. “We need to take action to develop compassion, to create inner peace within ourselves and to share that inner peace with our family and friends,” says the Dalai Lama. "Peace and warmheartedness can then spread through the community just as ripples radiate out across the water when you drop a pebble into a pond." So how can we spread peace and joy this holiday season while our nation and the entire world is in turmoil? • Smile. It may seem like smiling at someone is pointless when it’s hidden behind a mask. But do it anyway. You not only smile with your mouth, but also with your eyes. You never know how much of an impact you may have by smiling at a stranger. It could be exactly what they need to get through their day. • Turn a negative conversation around. It’s so easy to go down the path of negativity when you get to chatting with your girlfriends. Don’t go down that road. The minute you hear despair in her voice or the rant you know is coming, redirect the conversation somewhere else, either to a lighter topic or about something your kids achieved at school
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– anything that brings their minds to a nonnegative space. When it comes to gossip, don’t feed that machine. The old adage “If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all,” might be the way to go. Be kind. It’s easy to play the blame game right now and do a lot of finger pointing because nearly everything is out of our control. Just don’t. Don’t even blame yourself. Instead, be kind to yourself and others. We have no idea what hardships the person in the grocery store check-out line is suffering. So if they’re taking longer than you want to cashout, cut them some slack and smile. Be grateful. Even though we focus on what we’re grateful for at Thanksgiving, we need to continually give thanks for what we have. Gratitude is also a wonderful antidote to anxiety, fear, worry and depression. "Stopping to give seasonal thanks is a wonderful thing, but what’s even better is practicing gratitude year round," says Dr. Deborah Serini. "In fact, studies show that consistent positive interactions, particularly ones that involve gratitude, increase happiness and decrease levels of depression." Accept the reality. The truth is, scary and sad things happen all the time, no matter how much we want to resist them. We cannot avoid the reality of our world or the bad things that may happen in our lives. But, as heartbreaking and scary as our world can be, there are many more things that are beautiful and meaningful.
When you make an intentional effort to embrace all the good things, you will be able to share that happiness with others. After all, it's difficult to feel scared and anxious when you have peace and joy in your life. WGW
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The Germiest Time of the Year Tips to Avoid Getting Sick During the Holidays 32
By Sandra Bolan
I
t’s the most wonderful time of the year, so the story goes. The reality is it’s actually the germiest time of the year, and 2020 is not the year to be playing Russian roulette with your health. It just takes one hello handshake or passing of a plate by someone who forgot to coat their hands in Purell to cause the common cold, or worse, COVID-19. Medical experts are urging we refrain from family gatherings this holiday season in order to mitigate any chances of COVID-19 being spread by unknowing asymptomatic friends and family members. While distancing ourselves from others and using lots of hand sanitizer will help stave off illness, holiday stress, cooler temperatures and indulging in way too many unhealthy foods does lower our immune systems, making us susceptible to illness, in particular the good old fashioned common cold. Never mind hitting the stores to
shop for Christmas gifts – the best gift you can give someone this year is getting your flu shot. Another way you can help keep your immunity strong is to avoid stressing yourself out. Easier said than done as we’ve spent the majority of 2020 being nothing but stressed, but stress causes our bodies’ cortisol levels to spike, which in turn lowers our immunity. If ever there was a time to practice yoga or meditate, this is it, as both activities have been shown to reduce stress levels. If you want something more active, then go for a walk. Not only can it lower your stress levels, but you get much needed vitamin D from the sun.
Avoid stressing yourself out.
More Tips for Avoiding Illness • Get enough sleep. Getting the required amount of sleep is extremely important for people who
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Drink plenty of water with those holiday cocktails.
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want to avoid getting sick. "Those who get eight or more hours of sleep are less likely to get a cold than those who snooze seven hours or less," says Dr. Partha Nandi. • Wash your hands often. You're particularly susceptible to germs while out holiday shopping. Surfaces such as door handles, faucets, stair and escalator railings are all common places where germs like to hang out. If you touch these surfaces, keep your hands away from your face and don't touch or put any food in your mouth until your hands have been thoroughly washed for at least 20 seconds. If you don't have access to soap and water, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer to kill the germs. • Drink plenty of water. Drinking enough water will greatly improve your health. During the holidays, people typically drink more alcohol, which dehydrates the body. For every holiday cocktail, drink one glass of water to avoid dehydration. • Try magnesium supplements. Often, people don’t get the correct amount of this mineral from their diet, but magnesium is essential in strengthening the immune system. “Magnesium increases the activity of the part of the immune system involved in the formation of antibodies (immune response) and acts on cells making them more active in protecting themselves from microbial, bacterial and viral attacks," according to Dr. Carolyn Dean, author of The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to Women’s Health. She says magnesium supplements are essential because the farming methods used
today have decreased the natural magnesium from the soil. Always consult with your doctor before taking any type of supplement.
You Get Sick Anyway You did all the right things but you still managed to catch a holiday cold. It's not necessarily time to run to your doctor
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looking for antibiotics. They don’t work on colds, as colds are virus-based. Antibiotics work on bacterial infections. And before you go digging through your medicine cabinet for cough syrup and pain relievers, rummage through your kitchen instead. Probiotics, such as yogurt and kefir, have been shown to reduce the duration of a cold. Herbal tea with honey, as well as chicken soup, are remedies that have been used for generations for good reason – they work. We all know dark chocolate is loaded with antioxidants and can help lower blood pressure, but did you know it can also help lessen the severity of coughs? The remedy is half an ounce of 70 percent, or greater, cocoa, three times a day. Elderberry may reduce mucus production, while zinc might be effective in shortening the duration of your cold by a day or two, especially if you take it within 24 to 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. However, zinc can have potentially harmful side effects. Consult with your doctor before taking any supplements that may cause unwanted side effects or may interact with other medications. Vitamin C has long been thought to also reduce the severity of colds. The scientific evidence, however, isn’t there to prove it. When vitamin C does, however, appear to work is when it’s combined
with vitamin E. A stuffy nose is not fun nor pleasant. You feel like your head is going to explode when you bend down, and you become a mouth breather. A neti pot, if used properly, can help flush out your nasal passages, but be aware that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that if they are not used correctly, the user runs a risk of developing serious infections, even potentially fatal ones, according to Medical News Today. If a neti pot is too invasive for you, take a hot steam shower. The hot shower also relaxes those muscles that tend to tighten up when you get sick. Another alternative is to use a saline nasal spray. Another decades-old, mom-approved remedy that still works today is a mentholated ointment. Put a small dab under an irritated nose for some relief. Rubbing some on the chest can also provide some congestion relief. When it comes to blowing noses, there is apparently a right way and a wrong way, according to some medical experts. The wrong way is to blow full force into the tissue, as the pressure can move germ-carrying phlegm into your ear passages, causing an earache. The correct way is to gently blow one nostril at a time into the tissue. WGW
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Step Up to Stop Falls
Protecting Yourself from Falls in the Home
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By Sandra Bolan
"H
elp! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!” became a pop culture phrase in the 1980s thanks to a television commercial for a medical alert device. The catchphrase appeared on T-shirts and in stand-up comedy routines. But for many Americans, that little medical device has been invaluable. Falls account for almost onethird of all non-fatal injuries in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Every 20 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall.
Remove Clutter One of the easiest ways to prevent falls in the home is to clean up the clutter – everything has a place, and there’s a place for everything. Remove your piles of stuff from the floor, and that includes, magazines, shoes and electrical cords. Avoid having throw rugs scattered throughout the house. If you insist on keeping them, make sure they don’t curl up on the edges, causing a tripping hazard. You also don’t want rugs to slide out from under your feet, so use non-slip carpet backing. Wear rubber-soled flat slippers in the house. Yes, socks are way more comfortable, but they increase the likelihood of your living room becoming a slip ‘n slide. When it comes to furniture placement, make sure there is enough room to easily maneuver around the couch, chairs, footstools and side tables.
Handrails and Grabrails As we age, there comes a time when we need to give up the multi-story family home and move into a bungalow/ranch-style home. But if that is not possible, ensure your stairwell handrails are secure
What to Do if You Fall
Every 20 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall, according to the CDC. If you live alone, you may want to consider wearing a medical alert necklace. If you fall, you can push the emergency button and assistance will be dispatched. If you don’t want the alarm, ensure your cellphone is always in your pocket or within reach. After your fall, stay on the ground, remain calm and get your bearings – does anything hurt? Do you have a headache? Are you bleeding? If you are uninjured and can get up on your own, do so with the assistance of a nearby chair, countertop or handrail. and sturdy, and use them when going from one floor to the other. Limit the number of trips you make up and down the stairs. Don’t carry items that block your view of the step. Lighting the stairwell is also important. Have a light switch at the top and bottom of your staircase. Install grabrails beside toilets and by the bathtub so you can get up and down with ease. You may also want to place non-slip stickers on the floor of your tub or shower as wet floors can become extremely slippery. Also consider putting a non-skid bathmat outside the tub or shower.
Chairs are Not Step Ladders When it comes to getting those rarely used items off the top shelf in the kitchen or in the closet, don’t stand on a chair or table to get at them. Invest in a reach stick or have someone else get it for you.
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Local Happenings
Due to our country's current health situation, please call or email the organizations included in our local events section to inquire about in-person meetings.
West Georgia Mental Health Professionals Wellness Meetup Group
This group meets the last Saturday of every month in Douglasville or Austell. For more information, contact Cheryl at theheartmatters@gmail.com or 678.754.5840. Learn more at www.heartmatterswellness.com.
Hope For The Journey This group meets the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the board room at the Tracy Stallings Community Center at 118 South White St. in Carrollton. These events are free to breast cancer survivors or those currently battling breast cancer. Learn more at www.hopeforthejourneywestga.org, email execdirector@hopeforthejourneywestga.org or call 770.214.1491.
Rare Pearls Mentoring and Leadership Program Rare Pearls mission is to enrich and empower the
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lives of young girls and women. This group meets the third Saturday of each month at Heritage Baptist Church in Douglasville, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. This program is open to all girls ages 7 to 17. For more information, call 770.947.8210, email rarepearls2015@gmail.com or visit the website at www.rarepearlsmentoringandleadership.org.
Nursing From The Heart Breastfeeding Support Group This group meets the third Monday of each month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at 500 Old Bremen Road in Carrollton. These events are free to pregnant women and moms looking for breastfeeding support. Free weight checks for your baby will be available. Come and share your breastfeeding journey with us. Please check our website for meeting and event updates at www.nursingfromtheheart.com.
Gertrude's House Breast Cancer Support Group This group meets the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at Lithia Springs Family Chiropractic
at 1758 Lee Rd. in Lithia Springs. This group is open to all survivors, caregivers, supporters, friends, family and those fighting breast cancer. Visit their Facebook page @GertrudesHouse or email them at GertrudesHouse@yahoo.com.
Domestic Abuse Support Group There is Hope is a support group for women dealing with, or who have dealt with, domestic abuse. Through There is Hope, women will come together and share their personal journey, while listening to others share theirs as well. There will be guidance for help and resources available at each meeting. Meetings are free to the public. Group meetings will be held at Tanner on Robinson, 115 Robinson Ave, Carrollton, Ga. every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 7, 2021. Contact hopefulone807@gmail.com for more information.
Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Groups Has your life been impacted by the loss of a friend or loved one to suicide? You are not alone. These groups offer peer support for anyone who has been affected by suicide loss. There is no cost to attend. Group meetings in Carrollton are the first and third Tuesday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. at 306A Bradley Street. For more information, contact Ivey Rollins at iveyrollins@gmail.com or call 470.729.0909. Group meetings in Douglasville are the second Tuesday of each month from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church at 6167 Priestley Mill Rd., Room 226. For more information contact Terri Johnson at chose2live@aol.com or 770.765.2181.
Power Restored to Carroll EMC Members Within Days of Tropical Storm Zeta Carroll Electric Membership Cooperative recovered from a four-day restoration process following the impacts of Tropical Storm Zeta that
affected 63 percent of the cooperative’s electric system, which covers 1,100 square miles and more than 5,300 miles of power lines. With more than 32,000 Members without power at the height of the storm the morning of Oct. 29 and nearly 1,000 additional outages reported throughout the day as wind gusts continued to down trees on service lines, the widespread outage event was the largest experienced since Hurricane Opal in 1995. However, with modern technology and the assistance of outside crews, power was restored to all Members within a matter of days. An event this large could have lasted weeks just 10 years ago. “To repair that amount of damage in less than a week is remarkable,” said Carroll EMC Vice President of Operations Tommy Cook. “Crews responded to approximately 1,000 locations with damage ranging from downed wires, blown fuses and broken poles. A total of 94 broken poles were replaced – that could be a day’s work each depending on the situation.” Mutual aid partners and contracted crews from Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Kentucky began arriving at Carroll EMC by Oct. 28 in the evening and continued to roll in through Saturday afternoon. Additional crews arrived Sunday morning as well. Coupled with the nearly 300 in-house and assisting linemen, contractors and outside personnel working in the field, support teams in the office were operating at full capacity including engineering, system design, Member services, communications and the warehouse. By Sunday afternoon, Nov. 1, all storm-related outages were resolved. Carroll EMC sent a storm crew of eight linemen to assist Central Alabama Electric Cooperative who were still recovering from the impacts of Tropical Storm Zeta. “Restoration after a storm can be very dangerous,” said Carroll EMC CEO Tim Martin. “I’m proud of our storm response and that everyone went home safely to their families.”
Carroll EMC is a Member-owned cooperative providing electricity to approximately 50,000 homes and businesses. The co-op serves Members in Carroll, Haralson, Heard, Paulding, Polk, Floyd and Troup counties. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. For more information visit the cooperative’s website at carrollemc.com or follow Carroll EMC on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram and LinkedIn. Carroll EMC: Community Built. Community Builder.
Photo by Carroll EMC
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In Memory of Dr. David Randall (Randy) Turner August 4, 1957 – November 9, 2020
W
e lost someone very dear to the West Georgia Woman magazine family last month. Dr. David Randall (Randy) Turner, 63, of Carrollton, Ga., passed away on Nov. 9, 2020 surrounded by his family. Randy was one of West Georgia Woman magazine's original charter advertisers in November 2015. In August 2016, we featured Randy in our annual "Man Issue," and he shared with us his views about his business, his community and the importance of women's issues. "Women's issues
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are important to every single person," he shared. "Whether you are male or female, you have a mother, grandmother, sister, wife, daughter, etc. so men as well as women need to pay attention because what affects women affects us all. As a husband and father of four daughters, it will always be important to me to support issues facing women. Seeing life through the eyes of women as I have, one becomes sensitive to all types of things that men sometimes fail to consider." Randy supported our vision to celebrate the achievements of women through his advertising partnership from the beginning, and we will forever be grateful to him for helping our publication become what it is today. We will always remember his kindness and gentle heart. He was a valued member of the community, and we will miss him dearly. We extend our sincere condolences and heartfelt prayers to his family and close friends during this difficult time. Obituary: Randy was born in Carrollton on Aug. 4, 1957, the son of the late Corbett and Hazel Turner. Randy had a long career as a local pharmacist. For 32 years, he owned and operated Turner Pharmacy. Following his graduation from Carrollton High School in 1975, Randy attended college while working at his father-in-law’s pharmacy, which is where his love of the profession originated. He graduated from Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy in 1987 with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. After buying his own pharmacy, he enjoyed mentoring and providing guidance to other young aspiring pharmacists. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson William Randall (Will) Garrett. Survivors include his wife of 44 years, Lynde Lovvorn Turner, daughters Ali (Joe) Garrett, Lucie Anne Turner, Lydia (Eric) McLendon and Mary (David) Stark – all of Carrollton, Ga.; grandchildren Turner, Charlie and Henry Garrett; Luke Turner; Lena and Eloise Cutcher; Olivia, Oliver, Willa and Ross McLendon; and Stella, Jack and Goldie Stark; brother
Michael (Ann) Turner of Flowery Branch, Ga.; sister Paula Deese of Carrollton, Ga.; father-in-law Bobby Lovvorn of Bremen, Ga. and mother-inlaw Mary Nell Lovvorn of Bremen, Ga.; brother-in-law Brandall (Dana) Lovvorn of Bremen, Ga.; sisters-in-law Lisa (Wendell) Horne of Macon, Ga., Lucie (David) Price of Carrollton; and many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his outstanding staff and loyal customers at Turner Pharmacy who described him as a “kind, fair, gentle and loving man to all with whom he came into contact and treated everyone the same.” Randy was a member of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church in Carrollton. Furthermore, he was a founding member and past president of the Carrollton Dawnbreakers Rotary Club. He also served as a long-term member of Mercer University’s College of Pharmacy Alumni Board. It was Randy’s love of family where he felt most at home. He loved family gatherings, whether it was eating homecooked meals, going to concerts and great restaurants, singing his favorite songs around the family piano and taking his family on numerous trips throughout the years. He was a loving husband to his wife, wonderful father to his four daughters and caring grandfather to his
cherished grandchildren. His kind demeanor always welcomed anyone into his presence. Most of all, his unselfish, giving spirit made a countless difference to so many lives in his community. Due to ongoing COVID-19, a service for family and close friends was conducted on Friday, Nov. 13, 2020 at 2 p.m. under the arbor at Shiloh United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jeff Jackson of St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church officiating. Interment followed in the Shiloh UMC Cemetery with Brandall Lovvorn, Wendell Horne, David Price, Bobby McMillan, Billy Stark, Andrew Lovvorn and Bo Lively serving as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Community Foundation of West Georgia – Will Garrett Scholarship, 807 S. Park St., Carrollton, Ga., 30117 or online at www.cfwg.net; or St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church, 606 Newnan St., Carrollton, Ga., 30117 or online at www.stmargaretsga. com/donations. Messages of condolences may be expressed to the family at www.almonfuneralhome.com. WGW
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Finding Joy By Sandra Bolan
F
Simple Ways to Bring Happiness into Your Life
or some people, being happy comes easy. For others, it’s a battle. So, for those of you who have to “work” at being happy, here’s how can you can do it, without feeling miserable. • Pick activities that suit your interests. But how do we know what we like? Easy. Try anything and everything. What have you always wanted to try? Go do it. You don’t like it. Move on. • Exercise. Most of us hate going to the gym. Even “gym rats” will tell you there are days they want to skip their workouts. But they don’t, and that’s because of how they feel afterwards. Exercise gets your endorphins flowing – endorphins are our bodies’ natural opioids or happy drug. They also create that “runner’s high” you often hear about. But you don’t need to run in order to get that “high." Just do a physical activity you love, and you’ll feel it. • Keep a gratitude journal. Remember when you were a kid and wrote out all your feelings in a diary you stuffed under your mattress, positive your parents would never find it? Didn’t we always feel better when we told Mary Jane – in our diary only – how much
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being snubbed at lunch hurt us? Oprah made “Dear Diary” cool for adults when in 1996, she introduced us to the gratitude journal. The purpose of these daily entries is to put a positive spin on your day and life, versus the ranting we filled our diary pages with. Typically, you write down three to five things a day you’re grateful for. They can be anything from someone holding the door for you, your health or new blooms in your flower garden. • Try something new. While quarantined, many of us took the opportunity to learn something new or revisit an old hobby such as knitting, baking or painting. Making something gives us joy because of the gratification that comes when we actually see something through to its completion. • Forget about it. How many people do you have beefs with? Do they even know you have a grudge against them? Likely not. I bet if you see them out and about, they are as happy as can be. They’re not walking around holding onto some grudge against you, so why should you? “Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from inside. Don’t be upset and caught up with things or people you cannot change. … If you let go a little, you will have
a little happiness. If you let go a lot, you will have a lot of happiness. If you let go completely, you will be free and have unlimited happiness,” according to the creators of the mindfulness App Meditative Mind. • Act like a kid again. As a kid, you probably danced – a lot. Sometimes to the radio, records, tapes or the music in your head. At times you may have even looked like Elaine from Seinfeld, but felt like Baryshnikov. Did you care? Did she care? Nope, and it always made you happy. As adults, sometimes we’re too self-conscious to just be free and silly. Oftentimes it takes a few wobbly pops to get us there. We need to go back to being a kid and dance like nobody’s watching. Jump on a swing and see how high you can go; rip down the slide; spin around in circles until you fall down and watch the sky continue to rotate or grab a hula hoop and give it a go.
• Try a little retail therapy. Shopping, in moderation, is in fact therapeutic, according to Dr. Barton Goldsmith. This even includes online shopping. When we feel sad, stressed or anxious, it’s often rooted in a sense of powerlessness. Shopping, however, provides people with some sense of control. It’s being able to choose between making that purchase or not buying anything at all that makes us feel more in control. • Do something for someone else. This can be as simple as texting a friend to say “hi." Volunteer at a soup kitchen or homeless shelter. Mow your elderly neighbor’s lawn. • Surround yourself with positive people. No one wants to listen to a Negative Nelly all the time. Before you know it, you, too, will start thinking and being negative about everything. Instead, hang out with people who always see the glass as half full, not half empty. WGW
Don't hang out with people who always see the glass as half empty.
May the gifts of the season ... peace, hope, love, health and happiness be yours throughout the New Year.
Dedicated Healthcare When You Need It Most • 770.832.9689 43
Kids Korner
By Jordan Coffman Photos by Zachary Dailey
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et in the holiday spirit with these inexpensive and easy-to-make crafts. All materials were purchased at our local dollar store. This ornament wreath is a snap to make. Just thread the ornaments on a wire hanger and you're done! Small children may need help untwisting and shaping the wire hanger and twisting it back. This Christmas centerpiece made from picture frames is a great way to add a homemade winter scene to your holiday table.
Ornament Wreath Materials
1 wire hanger 1 red bow 30 to 40 small Christmas ornaments
Instructions Pull apart the wire hanger at the hook. Shape the hanger into a circle. Thread the wire hanger through the top of the ornaments just like you would with a metal hanger or string. Keep threading the ornaments onto the hanger until you have the wreath you desire. Twist the two ends of the hanger back together, leaving enough excess at the top to form a hook for hanging. Attach bow to the top of the wreath.
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Christmas Centerpiece Materials
5 glass picture frames Christmas ornaments Artificial poinsettias Artificial snow 1 to 2 feet of garland Hot glue gun and glue
Instructions Glue 4 picture frames together without the backing to form a glass box. Glue 1 frame to the bottom for the base. Wrap garland around the base. Pour snow into the glass frame box. Place Christmas ornaments inside. Place poinsettias inside the box, decorating as desired. Display centerpiece on any table. WGW
Because a HOME is much more than a house.
Shala Hainer, Realtor Cell: 770.842.8500 Office: 770.240.2004 shalahainer@gmail.com 45
Merry Christmas Word Search Word Bank
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Christ Winter Christmas Tree North Pole Wise Men Ornaments Manger Sleigh Bells Holly Rudolph Sacred Gift Holiday Eggnog Star Joyful Saint Nicholas Yuletide Stockings Fruitcake
Word search created at puzzle-maker.com
Give Them a Reason to SMILE This Christmas!
*
Holiday Special! $55 Bleach Whitening Strips Kit *Retail Value $75. Offer valid for new or existing patients only. Offer expires 12.31.20.
M. Dawn Harvey, DMD, PC Family Dentistry and Complete Facial Esthetics 105 Dallas Rd, Villa Rica, GA 30180 • 770.459.5778 www.drharveysmiles.com
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PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S.POSTAGE PAID EDDM RETAIL LOCAL POSTAL CUSTOMER
YOUR
Destination FOR Health We’re reimagining what health care should be.
YOUR DESTINATION FOR: • Adams Park
Wellness, not just treatment. Coordination, with your providers together at a single address. Greenspace, so you can safely stay active. Technology, to engage in your health like never before.
• Blue Bike Bistro
Tanner Health Pavilion is our newest destination for health, bringing a host of primary care and specialist providers together with state-of-the-art imaging, new park space and more.
• Carrollton GreenBelt trailhead • Comprehensive Breast Care Center • John and Barbara Tanner Cardiac Rehab Center • Tanner Breast Health • Tanner Healthcare for Children • Tanner Healthcare for Women • Tanner Heart & Vascular Specialists
Your health matters. That’s why we’re here for you.
• Tanner Imaging Center • Tanner Primary Care of Carrollton • West Georgia Internal Medicine
tanner.org
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