Newnan-Coweta Magazine, January/February 2010

January/February 2010 | $3.95

M A G A Z I N EA Times-Herald Publication

M A G A Z I N EA Times-Herald Publication

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Established 1995

A publication of The Times-Herald

Publisher

Sam Jones

Editor

Angela McRae

Art Director

Deberah Williams

Contributing Writers

Carolyn Barnard, Jeff Bishop, Sarah Fay Campbell, Nichole Golden,

Holly Jones, Meredith Leigh Knight, Katherine McCall, Alex McRae,

Tina Neely, Elizabeth Richardson, Michelle Hitt Grasso,

W. Winston Skinner, Martha A. Woodham

Photography

Sarah Fay Campbell, Bob Fraley, Jeffrey Leo,

Katherine McCall, Tara Shellabarger

Circulation Director

Naomi Jackson

Sales and Marketing Director

Colleen D. Mitchell

Advertising Manager

Lamar Truitt

Advertising Consultants

Doug Cantrell, Mandy Inman, Candy Johnson,

Norma Kelley, Jeanette Kirby, Christine Swentor

Advertising Design

Debby Dye, Graphics Manager

Sandy Hiser, Jonathan Melville, Sonya Studt

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-deliverycopies of The Times-Herald and at businesses and offices throughoutCoweta County. Individual mailed subscriptions are also available for$23.75 in Coweta County, $30.00 outside Coweta County. To subscribe, call770.304.3373.

Submissions: We welcome submissions. Query letters and published clipsmay be addressed to the Editor, Newnan-Coweta Magazine at P.O. Box1052, Newnan, Georgia 30264.

On the Web:

www.newnancowetamagazine.com

© 2010 by The Newnan Times-Herald, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproductionin whole or in part without written permission is prohibited.

Member:

WINNER OF FIVE 2009 GAMMA AWARDS (for issues published in 2008)

Gold Award for Best Series, Silver Award for Best Single Issue, Bronze Award for Best

Single Cover, Bronze Award for Best Profile, Bronze for General Excellence

MAGSMAGAZINE ASSOCIATION OF THE SOUTHEAST

President

William W. Thomasson

Vice President

Marianne C. Thomasson

4 | NEWNAN – COWETA MAGAZINE

MAGAZINE

On Our Websitewww.newnancowetamagazine.com

On Our Cover

Completed on Sept. 11, 2009, Lynn Dunklin’s Quilt of Valor isnow headed to a wounded warrior. – Photo by Denise Leak

Congratulations to Lorrie Allenof Newnan, winner of ourCookie Kit Giveaway in theNovember/December issue.Lorrie said she was lookingforward to some Christmascookie baking!

Special FeaturesBook giveawaysContestsRecipe BoxPodcastsBlogsLinks of local interest

Web extras you’ll find only online.Look for the computericon throughout everyissue to lead you tothe special content atnewnancowetamagazine.com.

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Features

20

9

28

9 QUILT OF VALOR

A Coweta woman’s decision to make a quilt for a wounded soldierbecame extra meaningful after another soldier in her life—herhusband—got surprise orders sending him to Iraq.

16 BITTEN BY THE GENEALOGY BUG

We sent our Elizabeth Richardson on a mission to explore herlineage and were amazed to learn about some of her famousforebears. If you’re new to the hobby as well, she’ll take youbehind the scenes at the County County Genealogical Society.

20 WELCOME TO DEER CAMP

For years now, three Coweta men and their families have beenenjoying good times at a deer camp in a neighboring county.

24 CHALK LEVEL

Historians have been studying this African-Americanneighborhood in Newnan and learning more about its role in theformation of the county.

34 OF FURNITURE AND FAMILY

Robin Baker’s home is currently sporting a new dining roomthanks to some treasured family hand-me-downs she decided togive a fresh, new look.

40 WHAT’S COOKING IN COWETA?

Community cookbooks are a favorite of many cooks, and Cowetachurches and civic groups have some great cookbooks available.

44 INTERESTED IN HISTORY?

If you want to learn more about Coweta County or the town youlive in, there are lots of great resources available through localhistorical societies.

6

contentsJanuary/February 2010

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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2010 | 7

In every issue

20

58

54

46

8 EDITOR’S LETTER

64 THE BOOKSHELF

65 INDEX OF ADVERTISERS

28 LOCAL HERITAGE

Get a sneak peek at what’s been going on insidethe Coweta County Courthouse during its $7.5million restoration.

46 SADDLE UP

A member of two hunt clubs in Georgia,Sharpsburg’s Judi Conger also raises foxhoundpuppies and has a riding school.

50 COWETA COOKS

She’s a nurse, wife and mother of three, butHeather Bray says her busy family still makes timeto dine around the table.

54 THOUGHTFUL GARDENER

The shrub whose beauty reaches its height inFebruary is named for the exquisite and love-crossed Roman nymph Daphne.

58 BABY FILES

Is Disney really the happiest place on earth? Justask a pregnant woman who decides to go therewith her one-year-old!

60 FAMILY FUN

The Margaret Mitchell House and Museum inAtlanta makes a great field trip for aspiringreporters.

66 I AM COWETA

Meet Colleen Alrutz, director of the PiedmontNewnan Hospital Wellness Center.

Departments

40

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ocrates – admittedly someone I don’t goaround quoting every day – said that “The

unexamined life is not worth living.”Especially at the beginning of a new year, I

think a little inner examination is a good thingand a useful way of spending part of this quieter,gentler season. It is often helpful to reconsider thepast when making plans for the future, and that’swhat we’ve done with this issue. Inside, you’ll findthat many of the stories feature some elementtouched by the past while looking to the future.

Coweta quilter Lynn Dunklin, for instance, wasfollowing in the footsteps of Civil War-era quilt-makers by stitching a “Quilt of Valor” for a mod-ern-day wounded warrior (see page 9).

We sent our Elizabeth Richardson to give us aBeginner’s Guide to Genealogy by checking outthe Coweta County Genealogical Society inGrantville (page 16). Although she’s from SouthCarolina, she was able to use this wonderful localresource to find plenty of information on her fore-bears, who include quite a few famous folk,including U.S. presidents and a certain well-known writer from Moreland.

Our own Coweta County Courthouse is in themidst of a $7.5 million facelift, and we got a tour toshow you some of the progress. Artifacts from thepast were unearthed during the renovations, andeven the paint scheme in the courtroom is whatyou might call “Back to the Future” (page 24).

With Black History Month approaching inFebruary, I was happy to hear of the buzz under-way in Coweta’s Chalk Level community inNewnan, a historically African-American neigh-borhood that has become the focus of some newand exciting research (page 28).

If you’re beginning the new year with wishesfor new home decor, you’ll want to check out ourstory on Robin Baker’s dining room redo whichpays tribute to furniture lovingly handed down inher family (page 34).

Looking for a fun day trip for the family thiswinter? Find out what not-so-ancient piece oftechnology fascinated a future writer at Atlanta’sMargaret Mitchell House and Museum (page 60).

However you choose to spend your winter, Ihope the new year holds many blessings for you!

Fondly,

Angela McRae, [email protected]


{ From the Editor }

Examination Time

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By Katherine McCall | Photos by Denise Leak

ynn Dunklin’s Quilt of Valor was intended to console a wounded soldier. But as with manyendeavors begun in a spirit of love and sacrifice, it has become more than just a comfort blanket.Into the seams of this quilt are sewn pieces of her life – growing up in the military, the making ofa film, the deployment of her husband to Kuwait, and a Civil War reenactment. But most of all,Lynn’s love for her country and those who serve it shines through brightly.

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As Lynn sewed, she also wrote herthoughts and feelings in a journal that wouldaccompany the gift of the quilt. The projectstarted when Lynn began to look for a time-period sewing project to engage the womenand girls at the 2008 Camp Stephens CivilWar Reenactment for Families inCrawfordville. As Lynn researched Civil Warcomfort quilts, she came across the Quilt ofValor program, whose mission is to cover allwounded and injured service members fromthe War on Terror, whether woundedphysically or psychologically, with wartimequilts called Quilts of Valor. It was started in2003 by Catherine Roberts of Seaford,Delaware who said, “We are a nation at war.Warriors need something tangible, a physicalrepresentation of love, support andremembrance.”

Lynn felt the mission of the Quilt ofValor would fit beautifully with the Civil Warreenactment, and she was motivatedpersonally as well which she noted in herjournal.

I come from a militaryfamily. Born in Fort Bliss, TX, Itraveled with my parents for 18years while my father served inthe Army. I went to collegevowing never to marry a militaryman, and met my husband in thefirst week I was there. Now, hehas served for 20+ years. We soappreciate and understand thesacrifices of service members, andhope you will know that wehonor and thank you with everystitch in this quilt.

With the help of good friendand quilter Denise Leak, Lynn

selected the pattern “Pinwheels andPaddlewheels” from The Thimbleberries Bookof Quilts by Lynette Jensen. While working onthe quilt, Lynn’s family was in the midst ofproducing its second feature length film, TheSword. Many of the mothers and girlsinvolved in the film, known as “the Ladies ofthe Sword,” also helped with the quilt.

You have to imagine a house full of peopleand general chaos while we were diligentlymeasuring and marking. My husband hadbeen working with a group of teenagers on afilm project for about fifteen months, and theywere all at my home. The film is being enteredin an independent film festival and they weretrying to get a complete copy done to send infor the competition.

A few days later …

By Monday, the group had a workingcopy which we watched with relief. Tuesday, itwas mailed FedEx, Wednesday, the filmfestival confirmed delivery. And Thursday mybeloved husband received “surprise” orders togo to Kuwait.

Lynn Dunklin writes in the Quilt of Valor journal.

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Col. Douglas W. Dunklin left for CampArifjan outside Kuwait City on Nov. 10, 2008 andfour days later, on her birthday, Lynn left for theCivil War reenactment with daughter Grace andson Samuel.

We leave for the reenactment tomorrow.Having planned to do this as a family makes it abittersweet prospect.

The actual sewing of the quilt began on Nov.15, 2008 by themothers and daughtersat the Camp StephensCivil WarReenactment. Afterthat weekend, Lynn’swork proceeded inbetween schoolassignments, grocerytrips, and continuedfilming, but alwayswith the thought ofthat fallen soldier inthe forefront of hermind. Now thatsoldier had a face –her husband. Somedays it was toodifficult and shehad to put thequilt aside. As Lynn sewed she beganto realize how lives are like pieces of the quilt.

All this makes me wonder what we accomplishwith our days. How much of our efforts will havean eternal effect? Quilts pass away. Films age andcrumble. Even words read over and over slip fromremembrance. It is the changes in our own heartsand the wonders we pass on to others that lastforever. God allows us to interact with friends,family and strangers – each encounter shapes us.Our lives are a bit like quilts. Pieced together incolorful snippets.

Milestones came and went, Thanksgiving,Christmas and New Year’s. The Sword, whosetheme is “Always be prepared to defend yourhome, family, and faith,” was accepted as afinalist at the San Antonio IndependentChristian Film Festival. Col. Dunklin wasable to return stateside for a brief visit toattend the film festival with his family andfriends. As she traveled, Lynn’s thoughts onthe quilt continued.

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Lynn Dunklin leads a group of young ladies working on the Quilt of Valor during a civil warreenactment.

12 |

I have been struck by the diversity andbeauty of our country. The variety of people andviewpoints are all blended like a quilt –sometimes the seams don’t match into a perfectpoint, but there is still order and delight in thepattern of our lives. I have been surrounded by amultitude of languages and colors, styles andsocial statuses, but all Americans. We all enjoy thefreedom you protect and this is such a blessing weoften take for granted. So, as I am sewing myfinal stitches, I am trying to keep in mind all thehearts I represent in thanking you for defending

us. From the faces of those I love to those oftotal strangers I have passed these manymonths, the smiles reflect a gratitude wedon’t express enough.

Finally, in August 2009 the handstitching on the quilt top was finished andLynn excitedly delivered it to the HeritageQuilts and Fabrics shop in Newnan. Herquilt top and a fabric backing encased alayer of cotton batting which was thenmachine quilted on the longarm quilting

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14 |

machine to hold it all together. All that remained was to bindthe quilt around the edges. There had been some delays andsetbacks but never without a purpose, it seemed.

So here it is Friday and the anniversary of the terrorists’attack and your patriotic quilt is being sewn in a storefrontwindow in smalltown USA – how American can you get?! Itwould give you chills to see the quilt stretched out in all itsred, white and blue glory in the shop window, with vehiclesand people from the street reflected in the midday sunshine.The shop is right on the town square and sits across from thecounty courthouse. All those elements coming together in themoments we remember the fallen of 9/11 just awes me.

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After receiving a red ribbon atthe Coweta County Fair, Lynn’sQuilt of Valor, and a small piece ofLynn’s life, were packed into thepresentation case along with thejournal to travel to an unknowninjured American soldier. Her lastentry reads:

I hope that someday you will beable to pass your quilt of valor tothe next generation and you will beable to tell the story of how youcame to receive it – how you gaveof yourself for duty, honor andcountry. And how you made asacrifice that few people willunderstand completely. And finallyhow you were given a small thankyou from a grateful fellowAmerican.

Many blessings with patriotic affection,

Lynn Dunklin

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I moved from South Carolina to Newnan in 2005, freshout of college. My father thought it fitting to tell me as I wason my way out the door that Moreland’s most famous son, Mr.Grizzard, is my great uncle’s stepson. Admittedly, my responseat the time was, “Who?”

After nearly five years living in Coweta County, I knowbetter. I can truly appreciate the irony that I unknowinglyventured over state lines to come to work for the verynewspaper where Grizzard once interned.

As for Mr. Grant and the rest, I’ve only recently becomeaware that they are among the more interesting off-shoots ofmy family tree.

When asked to research my family at the Coweta CountyGenealogical Society and then share my experience, I jumpedat the opportunity. I couldn’t help wondering what otherhidden treasures would be unearthed while digging up myfamily’s lineage.

My journey led me to an old passenger depot at 5 WestBroad St., which is nestled in the heart of Grantville. There Iembarked on an Indiana Jones-like adventure tucked betweenthe old bookshelves of the research library, burrowing in mycoat for warmth in the drafty building.

The experience felt authentic. It was a bibliophile’s heaven –I was surrounded from floor to ceiling with volumes of history,of people’s lives set to paper. I spent hours in pursuit of myown roots, exploring publications that were often comprised ofcrisp, tattered pages that smelled earthy.

Luckily, I didn’t have to go it alone. I was left in thecaring, knowledgeable hands of Rhonda Ray, a volunteer whowas “bitten by the genealogy bug” about a decade ago. SocietyPresident Phil Herrington also helped me comb through thepublications available at the society – they also have century-

By Elizabeth Richardson | Photos by Bob Fraley

What do Lewis Grizzard, Cary Grant,Theodore Roosevelt, Laurence Olivier anda man by the name of “Somphronious”have in common?

Me, apparently.

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old newspapers and microfilm.Since my maternal grandparents

– Nealy Augburn Long and ShirleyAnn Tyree Long – were originallyfrom North Carolina, there wasn’tany information at the libraryspecific to my family. However, Rayhelped me Web surf Ancestry.com,which yielded a treasure trove ofinformation.

Apparently, I’m fortunate to havea relative who has already conductedcountless hours of research on ourfamily and who, thankfully, sharedthe results online. We found thenames of my ancestors dating back tothe 1700s. All the information jivedwith the names Ray helped me findwhile searching through onlinecensus data dating back to the 1900s.In most cases, though, it’s best toverify any online information foryourself to ensure its accuracy.

I was amused to discover that mygreat-great-great-grandfather’s nameis “Somphronious.” One day I’ll havechildren of my own and there’snothing like a family name …

Also, family lore has it that Imight be distantly related to AlGore – a fact we couldn’t prove ordisprove even though we didconfirm my relation to the Gorefamily. Regardless, I tell myself we allhave black sheep somewhere in thefamily tree.

Thanks to a fun feature onAncestry.com, I was able to peruse alist of famous people whom mygreat-grandfather Lacy Wayne Longis distantly related to.

Cary Grant is Long’s fourthcousin 15 times removed – yes, I’mcounting that. Former First LadyLaura Bush is Long’s 10th cousin.Our family is very distantly related tofour U.S. presidents – TheodoreRoosevelt, William Howard Taft,Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M.Nixon. As a woman and writer, I was

Volunteer Rhonda Ray and Genealogical Society President Phil Herringtonare surrounded by some of the group’s many resources available to thosewho wish to explore their ancestry.


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most excited to learn that Emily Dickinson is Long’sseventh cousin four times removed and that QueenElizabeth II is his ninth cousin once removed.

I know “12 times removed” sounds like a game of “SixDegrees of Kevin Bacon,” but at least my findings sparkedan interest in my genealogical possibilities.

My research prompted my mother to share the story ofmy great-great-grandfather’s death. Jesse Simon Long was

The Coweta County Genealogical Society in Grantvilleoffers resources including old newspapers andnewspapers on microfilm.

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killed in the early 1900s. Long had been put in charge ofa prisoner who got possession of Long’s gun and fatallyshot him. My grandfather still has the article from thenewspaper detailing his grandfather’s tragic demise.

What started as research – as names on a diagram –has quickly become three-dimensional as family membersbegin to recollect priceless stories of my ancestors’ lives.

Herrington urges people to embrace the Internet whenconducting genealogical research because there is access toso many records online. However, a serious researcher willeventually have to get in the car and drive somewhere – acourthouse, a cemetery, a newspaper – for a piece ofpriceless information.

My research was less intimidating because of thewonderful volunteers who took time out of their day tohelp me discover a wealth of knowledge about my family– and I’ve only scratched the surface.

All in all, looking at the past helps us find out whowe are and where we came from. Going forward, I haveeven bigger expectations to live up to given all my famousrelatives. I hope some day long after I’m gone, someonewill want to claim me as a fourth cousin 15 timesremoved. NCM

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Robin Miller, Billy Arnall andWilliam Starnes


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nside the rustic, tin-roofed cabin, a platter piled with sausage and baconbeckons from a kitchen counter while steps away, grits bubble on thestove and eggs sizzle on a griddle.

A group of men hover expectantly as they anticipate thecholesterol-laden feast, wiping brush and grime from camouflage

clothing, sipping coffee from mismatched cups and ignoring the deer headsdotting the walls and the gun racks groaning with enough weapons to outfita third-world army.

The scene would make Martha Stewart gag. If you’rea hunter, it doesn’t get any better than this.

Welcome to deer camp.Between bites of breakfast, Newnan’s Billy Arnall,

owner of the Three Oaks Lodge in north MeriwetherCounty, explains that shooting Georgia white tails isonly part of the day’s pleasure.

“The hunting is fun,” Arnall says, “but the bestthing is enjoying some good food and goodcompany. That’s what makes it all worthwhile.”

Arnall didn’t hunt much as a boy and when heinherited the property from his grandfather in the late

By Alex McRae | Photos by Bob Fraley

10_0102_20-23 12/17/09 2:30 PM Page 21

1970s, he was content to savor thefields and forests with a friend ortwo.

A few years later, one of thosefriends, William Starnes, suggestedhe and Arnall see how many deerwere enjoying the property, too.

There were plenty.Starnes and Arnall became

regular hunters and were soonjoined by mutual friend RobinMiller. In time, the men’s sonsjoined the outings.

“It was a great way to get toknow each other better and spendquality time with the boys,” Millersays. “There’s really nothing like it.”

By the early 1990s, the huntingcrowd had grown and the groupdecided the outdoor experiencecould be enhanced by a comfortablecabin. Maybe even one with heat.

The men and boys spent anentire year dismantling anabandoned tenant house nail by nailand building a new hunting lodgefrom the salvaged lumber.

The finished cabin had bunksfor 12 and a wood stove to fight thewinter chill. Soon, propane heat wasadded, indoor plumbing wasupgraded and air-conditioning madeeven summertime visits enjoyable.

The wives eventually noticedthe upgrades and the “No GirlsAllowed” sign came down for good.

“We weren’t interested inspending the night,” says Arnall’swife, Linda. “But it was a great placefor social get-togethers and we hadplenty.”

The women knew better than todisturb the cabin’s primitive

Three Oaks Lodge in MeriwetherCounty has played host to severalgenerations of Coweta men and boys.A lodge scrapbook photo, near left,shows the abandoned tenant housethat was dismantled for salvagelumber for the new structure.


10_0102_20-23 12/17/09 2:31 PM Page 22


ambiance, but Miller’s wife, Alice,says a few decorating touches weretolerated.

“I covered a porch swing withsome camouflage fabric and nobodycomplained,” she says. “But wedidn’t try and change much. It wasstill a hunting cabin.”

The Three Oaks Lodge socialcalendar got more crowded when ascreened pavilion featuring a hugekitchen was built.

“There’s not anything you can’tdo out there,” says Starnes’ wife,Carol. “And best of all, the menalways clean up afterward.”

Three Oaks Lodge has playedhost to Sunday School parties, pre-wedding events and a bash for abachelor on the brink of matrimony.The families even gather there forThanksgiving dinner each year.

Deer meat is never on the menu.“The girls don’t like it,” Arnall says.

The bountiful doe populationprovides a healthy supply of venison,but the hunters have collectedenough antlers over the years thatonly a trophy-sized buck rates a shot.

“We don’t mind,” says Starnes.“Watching the wildlife is part of thefun. You see some things you don’texpect out here.”

The men still laugh about thetime a hunter raced back to campclaiming he had shot a wild hog.The deceased beast turned out to bea Vietnamese pot-bellied pig.

“Basically, he’d shot somebody’spet,” Arnall says. “We try not to kidhim too much.”

Even the deer hunts don’t alwaysgo as planned. Years ago Arnall andStarnes set their sons up in a goodshooting position and then circledback to the other side of a swamp todrive some deer toward the boys.

Arnall and Starnes got close

enough to hear the boys talking.They didn’t realize they were alsoclose enough to be spotted until oneof the boys said “I see one” andbullets started flying. Right towardStarnes and Arnall.

Bloodshed was avoided and anew hunting lesson was learned.

“We didn’t try that again,”Arnall says. “But it’s a fun story totell.”

As long as hunting remains acherished American tradition,woodland retreats like Three OaksLodge will continue to flourish, butas new generations gather to enjoythe fun and fellowship, even die-hardhunters admit that these days, youcan have a great time at deer campwithout ever firing a shot.

“It’s all about spending timetogether with family and friends,”Arnall says. “We wouldn’t trade thatfor anything.” NCM

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African-American neighborhoodalong Pinson Street as “Chalk Level.”But times have changed and theneighborhood isn’t what it once was,she said.

“When I grew up on PinsonStreet, I remember playing basketball,baseball, and skateboarding,” she said.“Of course our skateboards were justold two-by-fours with wheels stuckon each corner. We had to make ourown games.

“But we had a neighborhoodgrocery store on the corner of

Chalk LevelHistoric African-American neighborhood has a rich history

Story and photos by Jeff Bishop

tanding on HardawayStreet in Newnan, lookingat an unassuming row ofold homes, you wouldn’tthink they were anything

particularly notable. But thesaddlebag double pen home at 25Hardaway is – at least by oneresearcher’s reckoning – “the earlycore” of a community that’s beenmostly forgotten.

Brenda Harden remembers hergrandmother Nora Elam, now 99,referring to the old, traditionally

Savannah and Pinson Street, and aYMCA,” she said. “We’d go playping-pong there.”

Things have “gone from bad toworse” in that part of town, she said,and she never really considered therich history behind Chalk Level.

“I was raised right there onPinson Street, but it just neverdawned on me,” said Harden.

She does remember that theneighborhood once boasted doctorsand a hospital. Her uncle, EdwardJordan, is the grandson of the late Dr.

61 Pinson St.

10_0102_24-33 12/17/09 2:34 PM Page 24


John Henry Jordan, whose 1908 QueenAnne home at 61 Pinson St. is the crownjewel of the Chalk Level area.

Julie Turner, a former planner forthe Chattahoochee-Flint RegionalDevelopment Center and currently afellow at Emory, has been researchingChalk Level for the past year, peelingback the layers of history like an onion.In fact, Newnan’s Chalk Levelneighborhood—located south of theCole Town historic district and made upgenerally of Savannah Street, DeweyStreet, and Robinson and PinsonStreets—was featured in the VernacularGeorgia group’s winter excursion onDec. 5. Vernacular Georgia is a groupwhose aim is “to promote and sustainthe focus on Georgia’s historic vernaculararchitecture and to encourage itspreservation,” according to Turner, wholed the recent excursion.

“My field work has netted surprisesand more than one puzzle to workthrough,” she said.

“I will assert with confidence, at thispoint in my research, that the earliestdevelopment of Chalk Level as anAfrican-American community pre-datesthe extant structure of streets,” saidTurner.

“Instead, the earliest buildingsfollowed the dictates of the creek and thetopography of Chalk Level,” she said.

The streets seem to follow theboundaries of the early Georgia LandLottery maps, Turner said.

“Unlike most old roads, they just goin a straight line, right along the lines ofthe land lots,” she said.

The origins of Chalk Level extendall the way back to the time when cottonwas still king, before the Civil War.Many of the streets of the Chalk Levelneighborhood are actually named forearly slaveholding plantation owners –and in a town noted for its early wealth,it took a lot of slaves to generate thatoutput.

Many of the slaves who helped buildthat early Newnan wealth are buried at a

Pinson StPinson St

Savannah StSavannah St

Wall St

Wall St

Burch Ave

Linda St

Mitchell St

Hill StHill St

Johnson AveJohnson Ave W

alt H

all S

t

Hatcher St

Mary Ann St

Pric

e St

Martin Luther King Dr

Fairmount Dr

Gay St

Long

St

Reynolds St

Hard

away

St

Robinson St

Greenville St S.

Turner St

Walker St

Paul St

Dewey St

Calhoun St

Stan

dish

Ct

D

Coweta CountyCourthouse Complex

n St

Savannah St

n StNewnan’s Chalk Level Neighborhood

File photos show the Jordanhome at 61 Pinson St. as itappears today, here, and nearthe time of its construction in1908, opposite.

10_0102_24-33 12/17/09 2:34 PM Page 25


Paul Jarrell, associate planner with the ThreeRivers Regional Commission, examines thegrave of Charlie Burch, the only markedgrave at the Farmer Street cemetery, whileCynthia Rosers and Julie Turner look on.

The Queen Anne style John Henry Kight house at 76 Pinson St.was valued at $3,500 at the time of its construction circa 1911-1920. “He was listed in the 1930 Census as a farmer, as owninghis own farm, so this was still an active farming area at thetime,” said Julie Turner.

The Tom Hunter commercial blockwas built in two phases, in 1949and 1952, and the stores haveprimarily been used as a barbershop, a beauty shop, and a “knick-knack” store. The stores arelocated from 78-82 Pinson St.

Willie L. Dixon was a brickmason, and his circa 1920home on Dewey Streetfeatures unique “flyingbuttresses” made from localbrick. The brick appears to beolder and probably recycledfrom scrap, observed JulieTurner of Vernacular Georgia.

10_0102_24-33 12/17/09 2:34 PM Page 26


forgotten cemetery on Farmer Street, notable mostly forits silence. A single, modest gravestone at the edge ofthe cemetery speaks for the 269 graves there.

“The marked grave was for Charlie Burch, son ofA.B. and Eliza Burch,” said Turner.

Participant Cynthia Rosers said that GroundPenetrating Radar (GPR) has been done at the site,confirming the number of unmarked graves.

“This was a slave cemetery for these twoplantations,” the descendants of whom later became thecore of the Chalk Level community, Turner said.

She said that at first she had her doubts, but nowshe’s convinced the graves are primarily those of slaves.

“I was pretty skeptical,” said Turner. “I thoughtmaybe they were African-Americans from the late 19thcentury. But now I’m a complete believer.”

She notes that Newnan had an unusually largeAfrican-American population, from the earliest days ofits existence.

“In 1860 there was a white population in Newnanof 958. But the African-American population was justshy of 1,600,” said Turner. “That’s something youmight expect to see in the more rural parts of thecounty, but not in town.”

She reckons that the former slaves began a

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Members of Vernacular Georgia were surprisedand delighted to find an example of the EnglishCottage style on Pinson Street while touringNewnan’s Chalk Level neighborhood.

community centered on Hardaway Street, along a creekthat parallels the road, and then branched out toReynolds Street and later to Pinson and Savannah Street.

The homes at 6 Reynolds St., 14 Reynolds St., and18 Reynolds St. are likely remnants of that early ChalkLevel era, she said.

“That’s the early core of this historic community,without a doubt,” she said. NCM

10_0102_24-33 12/17/09 2:34 PM Page 27


{ Local Heritage }

Courthouse–Court square gem to shine again

by W. Winston Skinner | Photos by Bob Fraley

10_0102_24-33 12/17/09 2:34 PM Page 28


he CowetaCounty

Courthouse lookslike the kind of place

where you might runinto Perry Mason – and I

did one day.It’s been

almost 20 yearssince a moviecrew came toNewnan todramatize GrassRoots, the novelby MeriwetherCounty nativeStuart Woods.The uniquehorseshoeshaped table wasremoved fromthe grand juryroom to createan office forJudge Boggs,played byRaymond Burr,who earlier hadsolvedunsolvable casesas Perry Mason.

Thecourthouse is agem indowntownNewnan. Itsclassic facadehas broughtseveral othermoviemakers totown, and thebuilding and itsdistinctive domehave become oft used symbols of thecounty.

The building is a repository ofstories. The previous courthouse wasa columned brick edifice dating to1829. The Banks CountyCourthouse, which still stands, looks

much like the earlier Cowetacourthouse.

The current courthouse wasconstructed during a courthouseconstruction frenzy. Georgia countieswere anxious to show themselves partof the progressive New South. A new,

imposing courthouse on the townsquare was a sure symbol of thepromise of the 20th century. Noteveryone wanted the old courthouseto go and demolition began in thewee hours.

The R.D. Cole Company builtthe 1904 courthouse based on adesign by J. W. Golucke, a self-styledarchitect from the east Georgia townof Crawfordville. James WingfieldGolucke designed 25 or moreGeorgia courthouses. Most of the

courthousesattributed toGolucke are stillin use. The NewGeorgiaEncyclopediadeems Coweta’sas “Golucke’smost ambitiouscourthouse.”

A couple ofstories about thecourthousecenter aroundEllis Arnall. Hekicked off hissuccessful 1942campaign forgovernor on theeast side of thecourthouse witha barbecueprepared by JimPike, the countyordinary.Rainwatersomehow got inthe Brunswickstew andeveryone whoate it got sick.When Arnallattempted toseek thegovernorship in1966, he

announced his candidacy in thegrand upper floor courtroom.

The courthouse for yearscontained most, if not all, countyoffices. Workers at the buildingrecently found tickets left from the1949 season of the Newnan Browns,

The courtroom of the Coweta County Courthouse is getting a facelift.A section of one wall, below, shows the feather graining and originalpaint colors that will be featured in the completed courtroom.

10_0102_24-33 12/17/09 2:35 PM Page 29


10_0102_24-33 12/17/09 2:35 PM Page 30


a semi-pro baseball team. The team members sleptunder the eaves of the courthouse. Their manager wasLamar Potts, the longtime sheriff. A 1916 arrestwarrant was also found.

The courthouse was, of course, primarily a placefor court. The most famous case there was the 1948

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Albert Johnson of Headley Construction shows wherenew wiring has been installed in the Coweta CountyCourthouse. Below he shows a fragment of glass thatremained when the old courthouse clock was shotmany years ago.

10_0102_24-33 12/17/09 2:35 PM Page 31

murder trial of John Wallace, aMeriwether County landowneraccused of killing a farmhand. Thestory was popularized by MargaretAnne Barnes’ book, Murder inCoweta County, and a TV moviestarring Johnny Cash and AndyGriffith.

I have covered plenty of trials atthe courthouse. In two of them thedeath penalty was imposed, thoughboth sentences were later reduced.Nathan Knight, the state court judgewhen I began my reporting career,had as imposing a presence on thebench as anyone I ever saw.

The courthouse is currentlyundergoing a $7.5 million restorationfunded with Special Purpose LocalOption Sales Tax money from thecounty and all its municipalities.Patricia Palmer, the county’s publicinformation officer, arranged a tourfor me and photographer Bob Fraley.Albert Johnson, the project managerfor Headley Construction, took usfrom the ground floor to the dome.

The restored courthouse willinclude its first elevator, located inthe northeast corner, near where I


The pressed tin ceiling on thebalcony of the courthouse, atleft, is being refurbished. TheNewnan Browns baseball teamonce slept in the area belowleft, and at right are metalrailings which had to be raisedto meet safety standards.

10_0102_24-33 12/17/09 2:35 PM Page 32


once copied the indictment listwhile James Garner collected histhoughts a few feet away for a scenein Decoration Day.

Original colors and the feathergraining that made the Georgiapine look like more expensivewoods in 1904 will be comingback. The courtroom and grandjury room will be preserved forposterity, and the original octagonalfloor tiles will be shining oncemore. Original 13-foot ceilings andplaster molding will again be visiblein rooms that had dropped ceilingsfor years.

Since no photographs of theoriginal courtroom lighting remain,there will be four chandeliers “asclose to the period style aspossible,” Patricia says.

Downstairs the probate courtwill function, and the CowetaConvention and Visitors Bureauwill welcome folk from near andfar. “Three of the four quadrantswill be probate court,” Patricia says.

The elevator is not the onlybow to modernity. Thick brickwalls have been cut and drilled tomake room for wiring and HVAC.The metal railings on the balconieshad to be raised to meet safetystandards. Al and the Headley folksfigured out how to add a piece atthe bottom. I doubt Lamar Pottswould notice the difference.

It is now much easier toascend into the upper part of thestructure. The “wood” in the domeitself was almost non-existent whenthe restoration began. Strongbracing has been put in place usinga process “kind of like tighteninglug nuts,” Al says.

The project was originallyslated for completion in April. Alassures me it will be ready now in“late June-July” – ready for anothercentury of stories. NCM

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{ Tina’s Tips }

From generation to generation

By Tina Neely | Photos by Bob Fraley and courtesy of Robin Baker

Passing down the love

10_0102_34-43 12/17/09 2:39 PM Page 34


At Robin Baker’shome in Newnan, her lovelydining room sports a wonderful

new color scheme and freshlyrefurbished family antiques just waiting to tella story. In chocolate brown, sky blues

Four generations of womenhave enjoyed the

furnishings now in RobinBaker’s dining room.

Clockwise from lower leftare her grandmother, Mary

Terry, mother, SheliaEntrekin, Robin Baker, and

Robin’s niece, BelleShepard.

10_0102_34-43 12/17/09 2:39 PM Page 35


and creams, it is beautiful and inviting. Thewalls are freshly painted, new curtains aremade from gorgeous Waverly fabric, andfurniture has been painted in beautifulcreams and whites. But this isn’t just anyfurniture – it’s furniture filled with love,stories and memories of special times withfamily.

The dining table and sideboard came toRobin through her grandmother, Mary Terry.After using them for many years, Marypassed them on to her daughter, SheliaEntrekin. After celebrating many a specialbirthday, Christmas and Thanksgivingdinner, the table and server were then passedon to Robin. Inspired by some lovely newfabric, Robin set out to redo her dining roomand those beloved pieces of furniture.

Like many others, Robin wantedsomething new but “new on a budget.” Most

Her family’s dining table and chairs can be seen in the photo at left of Robin as a baby being held by her great-grandmother, Mamaw Benefield, as her grandmother Mary Terry, her uncle Mark Terry and her mother Shelia Entrekinlook on. The table and sideboard also saw service at many other family celebrations through the years.

10_0102_34-43 12/17/09 2:39 PM Page 36

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people right now aren’t able to go buy all newfurnishings, so people are working with what theyhave and falling in love with their homes all overagain. It’s easy to do: repaint the walls, rearrangethe furniture, add new accessories and draperies,have the carpets/hardwoods cleaned and it’s like anew house again. Who wants a new table anywaywhen you have a perfectly beautiful one already, atable with history, fond memories and love builtinto it?

Robin has redecorated her dining room andmade her whole house new again using these easysteps:

• Be inspired. Before painting anything, wallsor furniture, find something that inspires you forthat room. Often it’s a favorite fabric (for draperies,pillows, etc.) or it could be an interesting art piece,chair or accessory.

• Paint the walls. It’s an inexpensive way tocompletely change the look of a room or house.Take your inspiration piece with you and matchthe paint to it, building around this color. Robin

Robin Baker was only 3 when shecelebrated a birthday next to the familytable which now graces her newly-redecorated dining room.

10_0102_34-43 12/17/09 2:40 PM Page 37


used new fabric asinspiration for thedining room, pulling outthe wonderful chocolatebrown in the leaves forthe wall color.

• Add newdraperies/curtains.Window treatments addso much to a room,giving it character,texture and making itfeel more like home.Stores carry many thatare pre-made, but thereare easy-to-sew patternsfor those who aren’texpert seamstresses.Consider finding afriend who is talented atsewing and work out atrade – curtains forcasseroles or whateveryour specialty might be.Another idea: use fabrictablecloths or evenshower curtains.Tablecloths come in ahuge variety of fabrics ata fraction of the cost ofcustom draperies.Shower curtains are easytoo. They are alreadyfinished, so you just cutthem down the middle,hem the sides and hangthem with drawer pullsat the top or even tieribbons through theholes to hang on thecurtain rod.

• Take a piece offurniture that’s a focalpoint and add a pop ofcolor to it. You don’tnecessarily have to paintall the furniture in theroom, perhaps just atable or chair. A piece or

New upholstery fabricfeaturing blue and chocolate

brown inspired the colorscheme in Robin Baker’s dining

room.

10_0102_34-43 12/17/09 2:40 PM Page 38


two will do it. Be bold and try it;it is OK to paint over woodfurniture. Before you do, here aresome tips to help you paint yourpieces:

• Sand/prep the surface.Depending on the condition ofthe wood, you might want to do alight sanding of the entire piecebefore you get out thepaintbrushes.

• Prime it! Depending on thesize of the piece, you may or maynot need to prime it. For smallerpieces you might go straight to itwith spray paint (no sanding, noprimer), but for bigger pieces likea table or sideboard/server youmay wish to consider primingfirst. Special foam rollers madeespecially for smoothly rollingpaint onto furniture are availableat local home improvement stores.

• Choose the paint color.Whether you choose to spray orroll the paint, it’s going to takeseveral coats. You might want toconsider rolling the first few coatsand finishing it off with final coatsin spray paint to leave a smoothfinish with no brush/roller marks.A great spray paint to look for isAmerican Accents by Rustoleum.It comes in a wonderful array ofcolors and leaves the most perfectfinish, and it’s available at localhobby and craft stores.

• Your final step for aroom/home redo: celebrate!Invite family and friends over tomake new memories and show offyour hard work. If you have anold family photo with yourfantastic furniture piece in it,invite the family over and recreatethat picture. Then frame themboth and place them in the perfectspot to make a great conversationpiece! NCM

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I love cookbooks!I own every Barefoot Contessacookbook, Magnolia Bakerycookbooks, Paula Deen and JuliaChild, even cooking textbooks from

the Culinary Institute of America. Butmy favorites are those classic, mostly

spiral bound cookbooks published bychurches, community groups, schools and

sometimes even families. They often lack

the glossy photographs and hardbound covers found inother cookbooks. Instead, these are cherishedcommunity cookbooks that hold within their pagesclassic family recipes and time-honored traditions.

We are lucky in Coweta County to have so manycommunity cookbooks that reflect not only our southernheritage but also the heart of citizens. From churches,sisters and master gardeners to the ladies of theNewnan Junior Service League and many more, thesecookbooks have been passed from mothers to daughters

to granddaughters and have raised moneyfor charitable causesand even providedcollege scholarships.

Here are somesamples of what’scooking in CowetaCounty.

By Michelle Hitt Grasso | Photos by Bob Fraley


10_0102_34-43 12/17/09 2:40 PM Page 40

CHURCH LADIES

SISTERS UNITE

When sisters get together, you can guarantee there will be plenty of good food to go around. I should know –I have two sisters and three sisters-in-law! In 2006 when sisters Martha, Willie, Shirley, Becky, Joyce, Ellen andBobbie put together a collection of family recipes for their children and grandchildren, they had no idea it wouldhelp save one sister’s life. When Shirley Williamson was given the news that she had to have a kidney transplant,her sisters – in true sister form – rallied to her side and used the proceeds from the cookbook Sisters FamilyCookbook and its sequel, Sisters Family Cookbook: Second Helping, to offset the financial burden of the transplantand ongoing medication.

Some of my fondest memories from childhood are of Sundaydinners at our small Methodist church. That tiny fellowship hall wasfilled with scents of macaroni and cheese, squash casserole, andhomemade cakes and pies. These are the kinds of recipes that fillthe pages of both editions of Cokes Chapel Favorite Recipes. Disheslike Methodist Green Beans and Tex-Mex Summer Squash Casserolewill take you back to childhood and have you rushing home to makethem for your family. If you have ever been to a church supper orjust wondered what all the fuss was about, the ladies of CokesChapel United Methodist Church have given us the very best ofthose cherished traditional favorites.


10_0102_34-43 12/17/09 2:40 PM Page 41

TO SAVE A SCHOOL

All Time Favorites of Raymond Community is a cookbook on amission. It was originally published 22 years ago to pay for a roof at theMary Ray Schoolhouse in Raymond, and three ladies with a desire tosave the schoolhouse got together once again to publish an updatedversion of this community classic. Old recipes have combined with newones in an effort to save and restore this former school as a communitycenter.

JUNIOR LEAGUE

While some cookbooks are printed for a season, some truly stand thetest of time. In 1977, a group of ladies with the Newnan Junior ServiceLeague were looking for a new way to raise money for the communityprojects they supported. The result was a cookbook that my own motherused while I was growing up in Savannah. The call went out all overGeorgia for recipes to be considered for publication. Mothers,grandmothers, sisters and friends all contributed their best and favoritesfor consideration. Popular restaurants and even the First Lady, Mrs.Rosalynn Carter, submitted recipes to be included. Thousands of recipeswere received, and each had to be blind tested three times before itactually could be included in the cookbook. When the best of the best were finally chosen, a team of ladiesvolunteered their time to type each recipe in the same format. Additional sections were added detailing suchthings as how to fold a napkin, properly set a table and decorate a cake. The final result is more than acookbook – it is a tradition still passed from one generation to the next.

Junior League members ever since have continued the tradition, and today A Taste of Georgia is currentlyin its 20th edition with more than 300,000 copies in print. It has wonnumerous awards and holds an honored position in both theSouthern Living Cookbook Hall of Fame and the Walter S. McIlhennyTabasco Community Cookbook Awards Hall of Fame.

Building on the success of A Taste ofGeorgia, the Newnan Junior Service League hasalso published two additional cookbooks –Another Serving and Simply Southern. Each yearproceeds from the sale of all three cookbooksprovide a four-year college scholarship for twoyoung women from Coweta County.

Community cookbooks will always be myfavorite and hold a special place in my owncollection. Who knows, maybe one day I will publisha collection of my own favorites! NCM


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f you’re interested in localhistory, Coweta County has a

number of groups focusing onthe history of a particular town as

well as the county as a whole. If youhaven’t visited one of these sitesrecently, you may want to put thaton your list of things to do in thenew year!

• NEWNAN-COWETA HISTORICALSOCIETYHeadquarters: Male Academy Museum,30 Temple AvenueContact: 770-251-0207, [email protected]: 10-12, 1-3 Tuesday-Saturday andSundays 2-5 p.m.Founded: 1971Meets: Members meet twice a year, fora preservation picnic in the summer andalso for a Christmas party. Board ofdirectors meets once a month.Memberships: Start at $25 for individu-als and go up to $400 for an endowmentplan.Current project: To rebuild the Atlanta &West Point Railroad Passenger depot.

By Elizabeth Richardson

CowetaFollowing history in

Male Academy Museum,Newnan

African-American Heritage Museum,Newnan

10_0102_44-53 12/17/09 2:43 PM Page 44

• SENOIA AREA HISTORICAL SOCIETYHeadquarters: Corner of Couch Streetand Pylant StreetContact: P.O. Box 301, Senoia, GA 30276Founded: 1989Meets: Third Thursday of every month at7 p.m.Memberships: $15/family, $10/individual,annually (e-mail Keith Skantz [email protected])Current projects: Restoration of thehouse. Trying to establish a museum todisplay Senoia’s historic artifacts. Opena gallery show of photographs taken bySenoia photographer Melvin Cheek.

• MORELAND COMMUNITYHISTORICAL SOCIETYHeadquarters: Town Hall, 7 Main St.,Moreland; Museum in old millContact: P.O. Box 128, Moreland, GA30259Founded: 1983

Meets: Third Thursday of every month at7 p.m.Memberships: FreeCurrent projects: To operate the OldMill Museum jointly with the ErskineCaldwell Museum and Lewis GrizzardMuseum. Cataloguing items at the millmuseum, which includes a collectionof artifacts unique to Moreland’s histo-ry. Hopes to open exhibits, includingmill, railroad and peach exhibits.

The group is collecting old familyrecipes for a reproduction of a cook-book, What’s Cooking In Moreland,that was printed many years ago.Members are also asking others toshare their memories and photos for anew Moreland history book societymembers would like to write as acommunity. “Stories of the Mill andthose who worked there would begreat, because we are working to

develop an exibit in the Old MillMuseum to showcase the history ofthe Mill while it was operated,” saidthe society’s president, Josh Evans.For more information, call Evans at678-378-1342.

• AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGEMUSEUM AND RESEARCH CENTERHeadquarters: 92 Farmer St., NewnanContact: 770-683-7055; P.O. Box 833,Newnan, GA 30264Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 10-4;other hours by appointmentFounded: 2003Memberships: $20 a yearCurrent projects/exhibits: Throughout2010, the museum will feature exhibits oftwo or three of Coweta’s oldest blackchurches each month and detail theirhistory. NCM

At a summer fundraiser for the Senoia Area HistrocialSociety, Ludie Tucker browses through sale items whilesampling one of eight flavors of iced tea.

Old Mill Museum,Moreland


10_0102_44-53 12/17/09 2:43 PM Page 45


oxhunting isn’t on the list ofapproved majors at Berry

College, but Coweta County ridinginstructor Judi Conger has parlayedher time in the saddle during hercollege years into a satisfying career.

Conger began foxhunting whenshe was a junior at Berry. Now she

shares her love of horses and huntingby teaching children and adults toride with the ultimate goal offollowing the hounds.

“Foxhunting is one of the fewthings that parents can participate inwith their kids as a sport,” she says.With many sports such as soccer or

softball, parents are limited tosupporting their kids from thesidelines, she explains, but infoxhunting, mothers and fathers areriding along with their children.

“It’s the sporting, outdoorlifestyle,” says Conger, who is amember of two hunt clubs in Georgia,

{ Saddle Up }

The Sporting LifestyleBy Martha A. Woodham | Photos by Jeffrey Leo

Judi Conger gives a ridinglesson to Luke Balentine,shown here on horse Cookie.

10_0102_44-53 12/17/09 2:43 PM Page 46


Midland Fox Hounds and Bear CreekHounds. “It’s a healthy way to teachchildren responsibility and to keepthem out of trouble. Hunting alsoteaches them social skills. There is alot of interaction of kids and adults.”

For example, two of Conger’sformer riding students, Jenna and

Claire Campbell of Peachtree City,met Bear Creek Hounds memberLori Kennedy, an engineer, whilehunting. Kennedy became a mentorto the teens, encouraging Claire topursue her interests in engineering atGeorgia Tech. Now in graduateschool in Michigan, Jenna has found

that hunting has given her an instantcircle of friends: Conger and Kennedyintroduced her to members of theWaterloo Hunt in Michigan, andJenna is now hunting with the club.

But you don’t have to ride horsesto enjoy foxhunting. Conger’shusband of 15 years, Rick, follows

Lauren Balentine rides Boo and HannaLandis rides Scarlette at Judi Conger’sRamsey Farm.

10_0102_44-53 12/17/09 2:43 PM Page 47


the hunt in his truck as a “road whip,”using a two-way radio to keep track ofthe hounds chasing their quarry,which is usually a coyote. The twohave been invited to ride with huntclubs, making friends up and downthe East Coast and in Great Britain.

The Congers, who live inSharpsburg, also volunteer to raisefoxhound puppies for Midland.Each summer, as many as eightpuppies live with the Congers inorder to learn commands and besocialized to people, horses andother dogs. TheCongers teachthe youngsterstheir names,voicecommands andadditionalessential skills,such as goingon a leash andhow to behavearound horsesand cars.

Every fallthe puppies arereturned to thekennels, wherethey are taught how to hunt.Although sad to see them go, theCongers are pleased when “their”puppies do well while hunting or athound shows. One of their puppies,Midland Roxanne ’08, grew up tobe a champion at the VirginiaHound Show, the premier showcasefor foxhounds.

As a horse-crazy youngster livingin Peachtree City, Judi Congerbegan riding at age 7 after beggingher parents for lessons. She showedhunters and learned to jump atGlenloch Stables, which eventuallywere demolished and turned into

soccer fields. At Berry,

Conger beganteaching ridingwhen a familycalled thecollege stableslooking for aninstructor. Thatled tofoxhunting withShamrockHounds and apassion that hasconsumed her:Now she huntsas often as four

times a week with Midland and BearCreek during the winter season,usually with up to 15 students intow.

Conger’s riding school is basedat 22-acre Ramsey Farm, just southof the Coweta-Fayette county line.Her students also participate inhorse shows through the Boots and

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Judi Conger works with Luke Balentine, at left, and Lauren Balentine, above. Conger’s students participate in horseshows through the Boots and Britches circuit, formed by local riding instructors to give their students show ringexperience.

Lauren Balentine helps with one of thepuppies the Congers raise for MidlandFox Hounds.

10_0102_44-53 12/17/09 2:44 PM Page 48


Britches circuit, formed by local riding instructors togive their students show ring experience.

Look at the list of Conger’s students, and the samelast names appear over and over. She often teachessiblings or, in some cases, parents and children. Onehorse in Conger’s barn has been shared by three sistersand their mother.

Although the majority of Conger’s students arechildren, many are adults who have always loved horsesand are now at a point in their lives where they want tofollow their childhood dreams. Others got bitten by thefoxhunting bug and want to learn to ride so they canhunt. Conger is all too happy to accommodate them.

In fact, learning to foxhunt is easier than ever, sheexplains. The field, which is the group of horses andriders on a foxhunt, is usually divided into threegroups. One group rides fast and jumps obstacles tokeep up with the huntsman and the hounds. Thesecond group keeps a fast pace, but avoids jumping.The third group, the hilltoppers, rarely goes faster thana trot and frequently is in a position to see the houndsworking as they follow a scent.

Hilltopping is a great introduction to foxhunting,she says, and horses can be leased for those who wantto try the sport. One horse in Conger’s barn, Bruce, islegendary for safely introducing dozens of children andadults to hunt. In 1991, Conger discovered the bayThoroughbred, abandoned and starved. She nursedhim back to health and began hunting him.

Although 28, Bruce is still going strong, and hewas booked well in advance for the November huntthat opened the 2009-2010 season for Bear CreekHounds.

Obviously the sporting lifestyle agrees with him asit does with Judi and Rick Conger. NCM

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By Meredith Leigh Knight | Photos by Bob Fraley

{ Coweta Cooks }

Heather Bray gets some mealtimeassistance from 8-year-old son Caleb.

10_0102_44-53 12/17/09 2:45 PM Page 50


Pick a night, any night, andchances are one ofHeather Bray’s three boys

has an activity – basketball, church,a school function – you name it.With Wendy’s, McDonald’s andZaxby’s in the area, it would beeasy for the working mom to zipthrough the drive-thru, especiallysince her husband David’s job as adiagnostic specialist at HennessyLexus often brings him home late.But, this Willis Road ElementarySchool nurse knows the value ofnutrition and also the importance offamily time.

“We always eat at the table,even if my husband’s working,” saidBray. “It’s the only time we can gettogether, especially with all thesports schedules.”

Bray’s weeknight meals mustmeet three criteria: easy, deliciousand kid-friendly. Fortunately, Bray’sboys – Mason, 10, Caleb, 8, andNick, 19 (when he’s home fromcollege at GSU) – like to help theirmom in the kitchen. For the HamRing recipe, Caleb was excited tohelp out with this super-quick meal,one of the boys’ favorites, even if itdoes contain broccoli.

“The Broccoli Ham Ring is

quick and easy but looks like you

have spent a lot of time preparing,”

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wide ends of the triangles will overlapeach other, and the tips will hang offouter edge of pan. There should be acircular opening in center of pan.Heather uses a small hand-held rollingpin and flattens out the large end of tri-angles. (This is fun for the kids to do.)

Next, using a large spoon, scoopbroccoli ham mixture onto wide end ofeach triangle. Then bring the tips ofthe crescent rolls over the filling to thecenter pressing down to fat end of tri-angle. You should end up with a largering. Filling will not be completely cov-ered.

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Heat oven to 350 degrees.Cook macaroni, then drain. Whilestill hot, place in 9x13-inch casse-role dish with pieces of mar-garine, add cheese and stir. Mixremaining ingredients in a bowland then stir into macaroni mix-ture. (“This is never enoughcheese for us,” says Heather, “soI add one cup or a little more ofcubed Velveeta.”) Bake uncov-ered for 30-45 minutes.

Caleb helps hismom Heatherspoon fillingonto thecrescent rollbase of thisBroccoli HamRing.

10_0102_44-53 12/17/09 2:46 PM Page 52


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While crust is baking, preparefilling. Cook sugar, cornstarchand water until thickened,stirring constantly. Stir inJell-O. Remove from heat andcool. Add strawberries andthen pour into prepared crust.Put in refrigerator to chill.Serve with Cool Whip. NCM

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ebruary – the month for love. It seems fitting that the shrub whosebeauty reaches its height in February is named for the exquisite and

love-crossed Roman nymph Daphne.This ancient tale of Cupid, Apollo and Daphne begins with

Apollo, who, bursting with pride at the conquest of the serpentPython, speaks haughtily to Cupid. Cupid, miffed by Apollo’s

attitude, exacts revenge by drawing “... from his quiver two arrows of

Story and photos by Katherine McCall

Winter Daphne

{ The Thoughtful Gardener }


10_0102_54-59 12/17/09 3:29 PM Page 54


– Thomas Bulfinch, Age of Fable: Vols. I & II, Stories of Gods and Heroes, 1913

Scarcelyhad shespoken, when

a stiffness seized all herlimbs; her bosom began to beenclosed in a tender bark; herhair became leaves; her armsbecame branches; her foot stuckfast in the ground, as a root;her face became a tree-top,retaining nothing of its formerself but its beauty.

Let us jump ahead some 2,000years to the winter of 2008. I had been

eagerly anticipating the call for severalweeks. My camera bag sat in readiness by the

back door with lenses polished and battery charged,ready to be thrown into the car at a moment’s notice.Finally, the summons came on the last morning ofJanuary, one of those warmish winter days that will coaxout early flowering plants. The Daphnes were in bloom!

I had been invited by a friend to visit her gardenand photograph her large collection of Daphne shrubs,some of which were more than 20 years old. She, likeApollo, had been smitten by Daphne – but the object ofher affection was the lovely winter flowering shrub. Herseasoned garden was a reflection of her, or maybe it wasthe other way around – she was a reflection of hergarden. Either way, their lives, like the thick wisteria

different workmanship, one to excite love, the other torepel it. The former was of gold and ship pointed, thelatter blunt and tipped with lead. With the leaden shafthe struck the nymph Daphne, the daughter of the rivergod Peneus, and with the golden one Apollo, throughthe heart. Forthwith the god was seized with love for themaiden, and she abhorred the thought of loving.”Apollo sought and pursued Daphne as she fled andbegged her father to save her. “Scarcely had she spoken,when a stiffness seized all her limbs; her bosom began tobe enclosed in a tender bark; her hair became leaves; herarms became branches; her foot stuck fast in theground, as a root; her face became a tree-top, retainingnothing of its former self but its beauty” (ThomasBulfinch, Age of Fable: Vols. I & II, Stories of Gods andHeroes, 1913). And so the angelic Daphne wastransformed into an equally handsome laurel tree.Apollo continued to swear his allegiance and love to her,proclaiming it from that time onward by using thelaurel’s branches as his own personal crown.

10_0102_54-59 12/17/09 3:29 PM Page 55


vines hanging in the trees, hadbecome intertwined through theyears. She and her garden possessed afullness of spirit that doesn’t comewith young gardens or young people.Wise, deep, mature, and very much aSouthern lady. She had been“tending” in that spot for many years– husband, children, gardens andnow was enjoying the fruits of herlabors from her bright sunroomoverlooking the garden.

As we lingered in the sunroom,she spoke lovingly to me of herDaphnes – how she had rooted and

planted most and especially how“temperamental they are, but such adelight!” Her sadness was palpable atthe mention of the lost ones. TheDaphnes bordered the walk that ledoutward from the sunroom, and as Istepped out into the afternoon,fragrance billowed around andengulfed me – some with beautifulvariegated leaves, some with glossygreen ones, and a pale pink blossomemerging from a deep pink bud. Ofthe different Daphnes, Daphne odoraor winter Daphne is probably thebest known, and Don Hastings in

Gardening in the South recommendsit as the best choice for the South.

Whether variegated or not, thisshrub is an evergreen usually reachingabout 4 feet high. As my friendnoted, the Daphne is known for itssometimes unpredictable wilting andsudden death. To give it the bestpossible growing conditions, plant inporous, loose and well drained soil ina spot with three hours of middayshade. Some mulching or livingground cover around the roots willhelp the soil stay cool. Also, wateringas little as possible in the summerwill help with spring flowering andmaintaining healthy roots.

As the shadows stretched out,and my visit came to an end, Iturned for one last look. Lateafternoon sun filtered through thepines and rested on the tops of thedelightful shrubs, and I, like Apollo,felt Cupid’s arrow. I hurriedlygrabbed my pruning shears and ranback and cut a few branches to putin a vase ... or maybe I could make acrown like Apollo? NCM

10_0102_54-59 12/17/09 3:29 PM Page 56


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Common name: Winter Daphne

Botanical name: Daphne odora

Description: Evergreen to semi-evergreen, deciduous shrub usually reaching about 4 feet high. Known for flowering in late

January to February. Some cultivars have variegated leaves.

Blooms: Highly fragrant, pale pink blossom emerging from a deep pink bud.

Cultivation: Plant in porous, loose and well drained soil, in a spot with three hours of midday shade. Some mulching or living

ground cover around the roots will help the soil stay cool. Also, watering as little as possible in the summer will help with

spring flowering and maintaining healthy roots.

Special notes: All parts of this shrub are poisonous if ingested. Branches can be forced into bloom early if cut and brought

indoors.

Notes:

{ The Thoughtful Gardener } Plant Index

Winter DaphneWEB EXTRA:

The Thoughtful Gardener Plant Index

Go to newnancowetamagazine.comto download your next

garden journal page, Winter Daphne.

10_0102_54-59 12/17/09 3:29 PM Page 57

y family had planned a

trip to Tampa the first

weekend of December for the ACC

Championship game. Because my

family travels to Disney the same way

Muslims journey to Mecca, it is

literally impossible for my dad to

step foot in the state of Florida

without making a stop to see Mickey.

Since my parents were already flying

around the world (Manila to Atlanta)

for the game, taking Lilly to WDW

for the first time was definitely on

the agenda.

After what felt like a three-day

drive to Orlando, we were thrilled to

finally be out of the car and eagerly

anticipating Disney World. The first

day at the Animal Kingdom was

fantastic and we couldn’t have asked

for better weather. The second day,

however, was a different story.

We knew it was supposed to be a

wet day but were determined to make

the most of it anyway. We were going

to the Magic Kingdom, the happiest

place on earth! I was so thrilled to be

there with Lilly and was especially

looking forward to riding Dumbo

with her since I was seven months

pregnant and that was the one thing

my OB said I could ride. We went

straight there, knowing the line would

get progressively longer through the

day. It was only slightly misting on us

while we waited. After 20 minutes or

so, it was finally our turn. Our first

ride as a family!

We stepped out from under the

shelter of the overhang, climbed into

our flying elephant, strapped

ourselves in … and the bottom fell

out. Lilly started screaming and

Aaron rapidly pulled off his raincoat

to try to keep her dry, at the same

time yelling that we needed to get

off. At this point, Dumbo took off

into the sky and we were soaring

through the pouring rain.

Now Lilly was seriously angry

{ Baby Files }

Braving Disney with a 1-year-old

Story and photos by Carolyn Barnard

Aaron, Lilly andCarolyn Barnard

because the jacket was on her head, so

she was thrashing around trying to get

out from underneath it while Aaron

desperately tried to shield her from

the rain. I was frantically looking for

my parents with the camera so we

could smile for our picture. This was

supposed to be our Christmas card

moment!

Finally, Dumbo landed smoothly

back on the ground and my furious

husband grabbed Lil and ran for

shelter. The moment we were off the

ride, the rain stopped. I felt like

Eeyore being followed around by his

little rain cloud. We all tried to have a

sense of humor about it (what else can

you do?) and headed for Mickey’s

Toon Town to try for Christmas

Picture Number Two.

Sometime during the 45-minute

wait to meet Mickey, it occurred to

me that the notion of Disney being

the happiest place on earth was

growing somewhat ironic. Standing in

line with a one-year-old, surrounded

by children being forced into

Christmas hats having complete

meltdowns, it became very obvious

that not even the parents were having

fun. Like us, they were attempting to

contain, distract and entertain their

screaming kids at the near expense of


10_0102_54-59 12/17/09 3:29 PM Page 58


Grandparents Kevin and Fran Kriglinewith Carolyn and Lilly

their own sanity. (The thought crossed my mind

that Mickey’s tent needed two things: an

enormous jungle gym and a margarita maker.) By

the time we finally reached Mickey and Minnie,

Lilly was so exhausted and angry that the mere

sight of the enormous mice sent her over the

edge. The situation was not improved when

Minnie tried to touch her. After a kamikaze-style

attempted nosedive away from the characters we

had waited so long to see, we were able to snap a

few (terrible) pictures and run out of the tent,

back into the pouring rain. Happiest place? Ha!

Wrapping up our few hours at the Magic

Kingdom, we stopped by the Christmas shop in

Liberty Square to purchase an ornament

commemorating Lilly’s first trip to Disney.

While I was looking around the store, with “It’s

the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” playing

softly in the background, I heard a very

disturbing sound coming from the back of the

store. There was a small child strapped into her

stroller, screaming “I HATE YOU! YOU ARE A

LIAR!” at the top of her lungs at her own

mother! I decided our rain-soaked trip was over.

Time to get Lilly out of there, immediately,

before the scary stroller kid projected any of her

hostile vibes onto us.

Thankfully, the next evening Tech won the

ACC Championship and Lilly was so exhausted

from her trip that she slept the whole way back to

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By Meredith Leigh Knight

{ Family Fun }

don’t mean weaving through theconstruction cones up I-85.

I had the pleasure of introducingmy daughter to an author whosework had a profound impact on meas a young girl. Margaret Mitchell

was a spunky, petite woman who wasdenied entrance into the AtlantaJunior Service League because of arisqué dance at her debutante ball, anauthor who got her start working as areporter for the Atlanta Journal

he best thing aboutvisiting the MargaretMitchell House in

Atlanta with my 11-year-old daughter wasgetting there. And I

THE Margaret Mitchell HOUSE


10_0102_60-68 12/17/09 2:51 PM Page 60

before other women did, and wholater wrote one of my favorite novels,Gone With the Wind.

Our journey began when Ishowed my daughter, Ansley, the1937 copy I inherited from mygrandmother. I read it during thesummer before sixth grade in a week’stime, carrying it from the breakfasttable to the dinner table at night.Scarlett and Rhett, Melanie andAshley set in the backdrop of theCivil War, places where I spent mysummer vacations, set myimagination in motion. And then Isaw the movie. From Vivien Leigh to

Clark Gable to Georgia’s ownButterfly McQueen, I was in love.

Before visiting the MargaretMitchell House, though, we first hadto watch the movie. My middle childand I cozied up night after night onthe couch, and I explained bits andpieces of the story along the way. Shehad been studying the Civil War atschool, making the movie even moremeaningful. The time we spentwatching together, just the two of us,was simply priceless.

Rhett uttered his famous line,and Scarlett decided to go back toTara as we turned the television off

and headed north. But first, westopped at Mary Mac’s Tea Room.After all, a girl has to keep herstrength up.

Mary Mac’s Tea Room firstopened its doors in 1945 when MaryMcKinsey decided to use her goodsouthern cooking to make money inthe tough post-World War II days.Back then, a woman couldn’t justopen a restaurant, so many femaleproprietors used the more genteelsouthern name of “Tea Room.” Atthe time, Ponce de Leon Avenuesported clanking trolley cars, theAtlanta Crackers Baseball team andtents serving ice cold watermelons.There were many ornate movietheaters like the Fox Theatre just

down the street. And there were atleast 16 other tea rooms aroundintown Atlanta, with Mary Mac’sbeing the only one left.

John Ferrell purchased therestaurant in 1994 but little else haschanged. Mary Mac’s tradition is forpatrons to write down their ownorders, which we nervously did. Noneed to worry, the only requirementis that it is legible. Since it was ourfirst visit, we were treated to potlikker. Don’t worry; it’s okay forminors. Pot likker is simply the sweetjuices from collard greens. (Thinkchicken broth, but tastier, that’sperfect for dipping the assortment ofhomemade breads that comes withyour meal.)

Scarlett and Rhett, Melanie

and Ashley set in the backdrop of

the Civil War, places where I

spent my summer vacations, set my

imagination in motion.


10_0102_60-68 12/17/09 2:51 PM Page 61


My daughter and I bothordered the vegetable plate. Herswas a deal off the children’s menufor less than five dollars for four bigheaping helpings of vegetables. Weordered banana pudding but weretoo full to eat it, so the sweetwaitress packed it in to-goTupperware.

After our meal, we were off tovisit “The Dump,” Mitchell’saffectionate nickname for theCrescent Avenue apartment whereshe penned her historic novel. Mydaughter was in awe of thetypewriter in the corner whereMitchell used to gaze out thewindow while writing. In fact, mydaughter was in awe of thetypewriter. She’d never seen onebefore. After our tour and historylesson at Mitchell’s home, Ansleyhad an opportunity to try her handon a typewriter in the exhibitdedicated to Mitchell’s AtlantaJournal career.

We also were treated to earlychildhood writings and photos,something my daughter – whoyearns to be a writer or reporter orboth one day – could relate to. Onthe property is a small museum thatfeatured a film with actors who hadtried out for the various roles in themovie. Ansley wasn’t as interested inthis as I was, and if you are a moviebuff there is also the Road to TaraMuseum in Jonesboro. For us, itwas all about the author. Throughour visit, we learned that she livedin numerous apartments around thecity, some standing, some destroyed.

On our way out, we purchaseda couple of bookmarks at the giftshop, holding hands as we crossedthe street and marveling at the lifeand times of a remarkable woman,all the while appreciating our timetogether. NCM

The Remingtontypewriter on whichMargaret Mitchellwrote Gone Withthe Wind

10_0102_60-68 12/17/09 2:51 PM Page 62


1523 LOWER FAYETTEVILLE RD., NEWNAN, GA 30265

For further information on upcoming events visitwww.thecentreonline.net or call 770-254-2787

&oƒ Coweta County

Th e Centre forPerforming Visual Arts

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Gallery Hours: 9am - 5pm; M-F

February 1 - 26

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Want to visit?Margaret Mitchell House

990 Peachtree Street

Atlanta, GA 30309

404-249-7015

Hours of Operation:Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Noon to 5:30 p.m.Holiday Hours: The Margaret Mitchell House isclosed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve,Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.The Margaret Mitchell House is open 10 a.m. to5:30 p.m. on Martin Luther King Jr. Day,Presidents Day, Memorial Day, IndependenceDay, Labor Day and Columbus Day.

Mary Mac’s Tea Room, 224 Ponce de Leon Ave.,Atlanta, GA; 404-876-1800; open seven days aweek for lunch and dinner with full bar, 11 a.m.to 9 p.m.

A bedroom inMargaret Mitchell’sapartment

10_0102_60-68 12/17/09 2:51 PM Page 63


Return to Sullivans IslandBy Dorothea Benton FrankWilliam Morrow, $25.99Reviewed by Holly Jones

Beth Hayes just graduated fromBoston College and thinks she knowseverything. In her opinion, her moth-er and her numerous aunts and unclesare the past, and they need to getused to it. Why, for example, do theystill hold on to their family’s ancienthouse on Sullivans Island, the IslandGamble? Worse yet, why are theymaking Beth babysit the house for ayear?

At the beginning of DorotheaBenton Frank’s appropriately titledReturn to Sullivans Island, that isexactly what Beth is doing. Armedwith only her teacup terrier Lola anda strong sense of martyrdom, Beth isheaded for “her one-year sentence inthe Lowcountry” – and she’s dreadingevery minute of it.

It doesn’t help that when Betharrives at the Island Gamble, her

domineering Aunt Maggie starts criti-cizing Beth’s flaming red hair, herclothing choices, and her attitude ingeneral. Beth’s mom Susan isn’t exact-ly defending her daughter either, atleast not strongly enough for Beth.

When family reunion weekend isover, all the cousins leave, AuntMaggie heads to California, andSusan heads to France for a one-yearteaching opportunity. Beth settles into the island. She gets a hostess job ata restaurant and a freelance writingjob at the local paper, she meets agorgeous guy, and Lola loves thebeach.

Life doesn’t exactly stink. Although, there is still the matter

of her grandmother’s old room, whereone minute the bed can be perfectlymade and everything in order, andthe next minute bed linens, lampsand pillows can be everywhere. Andthere are the strange sounds andscents Beth notices – even her latefather’s aftershave. Plus, the mirrorthat … no, that’s just too strange forwords.

And the gorgeous guy, Max –well, he’s still gorgeous, but he’s diffi-cult to interpret. One minute he’s allover her and the next minute he’s acold, brick wall. Beth doesn’t mindmuch, though. Max is 14 years olderand that makes him more sophisticat-ed, right? Beth knows she’s going tomarry Max, so what’s the problem?

The problem is, Beth isn’t exactlyas grown up and worldly as she thinks– not that it stops her from doingexactly what she wants. Still, wheneverything starts falling apart, Bethrealizes that old homes, family andtraditions might not be so outdated.And maybe, just maybe, she’s still got

a lot to learn.

A Separate CountryBy Robert HicksGrand Central, $25.99Reviewed by Holly Jones

Eli Griffin has been summoned.General John Bell Hood, former-

ly of the Confederate Army, is on hisdeathbed and wants Eli to carry outhis last wishes. The task is a dauntingone, but the General always couldgive orders.

Eli is to take the General’s mem-oir – not the infamous “war book”the General previously wrote but thestory of his life after the war – andgive it to a notoriously evil mannamed Sebastien Lemerle who willdecide if it is worthy to be published.Then, Eli is to get the “war book”back from General Beauregard andburn it. The problem is, no oneknows where Lemerle is andBeauregard doesn’t want to give up a

{ The Bookshelf }

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March/April 2010 Ad Deadlines

Published: March 5, 2010; Contract Ads: January 27, 2010; New Ads: February 5, 2010.

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manuscript that makes him lookheroic and Hood look like an egoma-niacal murderer.

So Eli begins his quest, and read-ers of Robert Hicks’s A SeparateCountry begin a heartbreaking tale oflove, valor and deception.

General Hood’s story is told fromthree different viewpoints – his own,Eli’s, and that of Hood’s beloved wifeAnna Marie. After being given Hood’smemoirs, Eli finds Anna Marie’s ownjournals in their daughter’s roomwhere Anna Marie and their daughterLydia have both recently died of thesame yellow fever that kills Hood.

New Orleans is not a pleasantplace during Reconstruction, whenHood’s story takes place; and conspir-acies, lynching and outright murderare commonplace. Still, Hood man-ages to fall in love with the beautifulAnna Marie and they have 11 chil-dren. He also makes the acquaintanceof Anna Marie’s childhood friends,the devious dwarf Rintrah and abrutish priest named Father Mike.

The more Eli reads and uncoversof Hood’s life, the more he realizesthat the General and his wife’s“friends” were not what they seem;and that happiness is not found inmoney, reputation or even perception.In fact, Eli learns more about himselfthe more he reads about Hood andhis family.

Hicks’ historic novel is at timesbrusque and crude, at times sadlysweet, but never boring. It shocks andsickens, but doesn’t let go until thevery end. You want to help Hood andAnna Marie find the peace that NewOrleans never let them have and solvethe mysteries that haunted them. Bythe time you finish A SeparateCountry, you will feel like you’ve beensummoned too. But it’s a quest worthtaking. NCM


{ Index of Advertisers }

10_0102_60-68 12/17/09 2:51 PM Page 65

{ I am Coweta }

Colleen Alrutz, director of Piedmont Newnan Hospital’s Wellness Center, is the mother of three “beautiful” children: Paige, Ainsley, andMichael. Alrutz’s husband Scott is a first officer for Delta airlines and also a tennis instructor. She is the third of four daughters of IdahoansPete and Kathy Mooney. The daughter of a cattle rancher, Alrutz spent the first 18 years of her life surrounded by lots of land, cattle andhorses. “If you asked my Dad he’d say I am from good Irish stock,” says Alrutz. A graduate of Patricia Stephens College in St. Louis, Mo.with a degree in communication and merchandising, she has also received many fitness certifications over the years from Pilates to groupfitness. Since college, Alrutz has lived in several different places including New York, Texas, Florida and Kentucky, but calls Newnan her“all-time favorite.”

Alrutz and her family have lived in Newnan for four and a half years.

What do you and your family enjoy doing in Newnan?There are so many things we love about Newnan. I absolutely love working in downtown Newnan. We live in a wonderful communityneighborhood, SummerGrove, with the most amazing neighbors. We can bike, run, and walk to parks, swimming pools, tennis courts. Welove spending time outdoors so the weather is perfect for us. Ainsley and Michael are involved in theNewnan-Coweta Soccer Association, so we spend many evenings and Saturdays on the soccerfields. Scott and Paige are avid tennis players and we have found Newnan to have a won-derful tennis community. I even tried my hand in tennis this summer… let’s just say moreinstruction is needed. We are members of a wonderful parish, St. Mary Magdalene.

What are your hobbies?Here is where I am supposed to say “exercise,” right? I actually do love the way Ifeel after I have exercised. I enjoy walking, running, biking. My favorite cardioequipment is the Arc Trainer. I also love Pilates. Outside of exercise, I love familytime, reading, and much to my husband’s chagrin, I love to shop.

Obviously wellness and fitness are your career, so is work your fitness rou-tine? Or do you have a routine outside of that?To this question, I will answer “I wish!” I do get the opportunity to teach acouple of Pilates classes a week, and a senior fitness class, but like every-one else I have to fit my fitness routine into my busy schedule. Ideally, I getup early in the morning and knock it out before my family even wakes up.As I get older that seems to become more and more challenging. If I don’thappen to get my exercise in first thing in the morning, I use either mylunch break or I exercise right after work. I am very fortunate to have ahusband who values fitness as much as I do. He is very supportive of megetting time to exercise.

What’s your favorite workout music?That’s a tough one for me. I actually love country, but not to workout to. Anything with a good fast beat.

What are your resolutions or goals for 2010?A couple of friends and I have registered to run in the CallawayMarathon on Jan. 30 to keep us on track during the holidayseason. Each year, my husband and I renew our com-mitment to not only improve our diet but the diets ofour children. It is so easy to drop the ball on thiswhen life is so busy. As always I will resolve tobecome a better wife, mother, friend and boss.

What advice do you have for fellow Cowetanswho want to be more healthy?This is one decision you will never regret. Itwill enhance your life in ways you neverdreamed of. You will feel better emotionally,physically and possibly spiritually. A littleexercise goes a long way and the benefitsare far too many to count! Do somethingyou love and keep doing it for the rest ofyour life! NCM

Colleen Alrutz


By Nichole Golden | Photo by Jeffrey Leo

10_0102_60-68 12/17/09 2:51 PM Page 66

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Documents

Newnan-Coweta Magazine, January/February 2010