October 2025 Magazine Issue

THURSDA Y, NOVEMBER 6 | 2-4 PM

EMPOWER

Fall Vibes

Don't you just love fall weather? As I write this letter to you, it's still end of September and about 90 degrees outside, but thoughts of fall are with me, nonetheless!

There’s just something about this time of year that feels so cozy and warm. The crisp air, the way the leaves turn into the most beautiful orange, red and gold colors – it’s like nature is quietly celebrating before the stillness of winter. I love walking outside and hearing that soft crunch of leaves underfoot, or catching the scent of woodsmoke in the breeze. Even coffee seems to taste differently in the fall.

It’s also a time for me to slow down a bit, appreciate the beauty of nature and feel more connected to the world around me.

I hope you’re finding a little magic in the air this season, too.

In This Issue

We have two women we are featuring this month. Brittany Cota and Lidy Walton are women who work on behalf of victims of domestic violence.

In September, Brittany stepped in as the newly appointed executive director of the West Georgia Domestic Violence shelter, and Lidy became the new shelter director. Together, they are looking forward to continuing a program that offers more than refuge for victims – it offers the possibility of a life free from violence for people who live in the counties it serves: Carroll, Heard, Haralson, Meriwether and Coweta.

On page 10, learn more about Brittany and Lidy, and their mission to help heal women and children affected by domestic violence.

We're proud to share that our dear friends at Milestone Investment Management, LLC celebrated 15 years in business last month. This is truly a "milestone" to be celebrated. Learn more about my friend and community partner, Michael Stone, and his commitment to his clients and the community on page 18.

You'll also read about Gina Land and Heidi Sweatt, two sisters who brought Land Zen, a healthy lifestyle shop, to Adamson Square a year ago. Not only does Land Zen offer a variety of vitamins, dietary supplements, teas and oils, as well as jewelry, books, accessories and natural-fiber clothing, it also offers bioenergetic testing, red light therapy and vibration plates. Gina and Heidi are community partners of ours, and we're happy to share more about their inspiring business during their one-year anniversary month. Learn more about Land Zen on page 26.

Sandy Bolan shares how to talk with your teens about the dangers of vaping, Circles of West Georgia is preparing a new holiday show house for the community and, of course, Chef Rose Isaacs offers two delicious recipes. We've also included the ninth article of our cancer support series written by Patrick Yuran. Thank you for reading West Georgia Woman magazine. We couldn't do this without your support and the support of our fabulous community partners.

See you next month,

Publisher

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.

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Volume 10 • Issue 12 October 2025

Publisher/Editor

Angela Dailey

angela@westgeorgiawoman.com

Copy Editor

Editorial Contributor

Shala Rathke

shala@westgeorgiawoman.com

Photographer for Cover/ Graphic Design

Zachary Dailey

Editorial Contributors

Sandra Bolan, Jordan Dailey, Rose Isaacs, Kim Ashby MacColeman and Patrick Yuran

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“You Are Worth It”

By Shala Rathke

The West Georgia Domestic Violence Shelter may be filled with women and children, but in reality, it’s filled with something even more: peace, which is something these families may have never known before.

It’s not just a place – it’s a turning point for thousands of people every year, and a place of safety, dignity and healing. The entire team of dedicated staff works diligently to help these families change their futures, led by Brittany Cota and Lidymar “Lidy” Walton.

In September, Brittany stepped in as the newly appointed executive director of the shelter, and Lidy became the new shelter director. Together, they are looking forward to continuing the program that offers more than refuge – it offers the possibility of a life free from violence for the counties served by the shelter: Carroll, Heard, Haralson, Meriwether and Coweta.

Lidy, 38, was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, but spent part of her youth in Florida, graduating from Lake Wales High School in 2004. She earned a nursing degree in Puerto Rico and later added studies in the paralegal field from the University of Georgia. Lidy started with the WGDVS in 2018 as a client advocate, eventually overseeing the Good Samaritan Transitional Housing, Rapid Re-Housing and volunteer programs. In 2022, she served as the shelter’s assistant director, and now tackles the role of shelter director.

She and husband Matt have three children ages 16, 14 and 11, all active in school and sports in

Carrollton, Ga. Her childhood was not marked by physical violence, but she survived verbal abuse within the home. She witnessed how words can wound, shaping her belief in advocacy, not just for survivors but also for staff.

“I continue to advocate not only for our clients but for my staff continuing to work with their mental health,” Lidy shares. “The training and the openness of working toward your mental health in recent years has been phenomenal.”

Brittany, 33, was born and raised in Bowdon, Ga., and has lived her life deeply connected to the community there. She attended West Georgia Technical College, where she laid the foundation for a career in human resources.

She and husband Blaine have two children ages 12 and 9, one who plays baseball and one who plays softball. “We are also very family oriented and spend much of our time at the ball field,” she shares.

Brittany’s path into the domestic

violence field grew from her professional life and witnessing the ripple effects of abuse in her community. “My career path began in human resources, where I developed a passion for helping people,” she explains. “That passion naturally led me to the domestic violence field. I have not personally been a victim of abuse, but I have seen firsthand how devastating it can be, and I felt called to use my skills to create a safe haven for others.”

Previously serving as a director of human resources at a healthcare center, focusing on employee development, compliance and partnerships, she took over the reins as the WGDVS executive director on Sept. 1. “While I’m new to this role, I feel very grounded in our mission thanks to the incredible foundation built by the team before me,” she says. “I was familiar with the shelter and its reputation in West Georgia, but stepping into leadership has given me a much deeper appreciation for just how vital it is to our community.”

The Need is Real

No one wants to admit they are a victim of domestic violence. Many women believe they will be judged or not believed when they share their stories. But domestic violence – physical and emotional – is real, and the numbers are high.

• In 2024, Georgia reported 42,184 incidents of family violence and saw a 12% increase compared to 2023, according to the Georgia Commission on Family Violence.

• Over 35% of those reported incidents ended in arrest; of those, the majority of primary aggressors were male.

• Temporary Protective Orders (TPOs) are a key tool: in 2024 there were 17,662 ex parte (emergency) TPOs issued statewide. About 41% of those were later extended into longerterm protective orders.

• According to the Georgia Commission on Family Violence’s 2024 fact sheet, there were an estimated 129,528 adult victims of family violence in Georgia in 2023.

• In the same year, about 17,682 children were identified as victims of family violence.

• Georgia also records hundreds of domestic violence fatalities each year: for example, there were 193 known domestic violence fatalities in 2022.

In the United States, nearly 20 people per minute experience physical abuse by an intimate partner.

That adds up to more than 10 million people per year, according to Harbor House. Approximately 1 in 4 women and 1 in 9 men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, sexual violence or stalking in their lifetime.

In 2024, the West Georgia Domestic Violence Shelter served 2,157 unduplicated clients, both resident and non-resident people who came for shelter, legal advocacy or support.

Domestic violence is a pervasive problem, cutting across age, race, geography and socioeconomic status. It also demonstrates that services like those offered by WGDVS are not extra – they are vital, and sometimes life-saving.

Children are deeply affected by domestic violence. Many domestic violence situations involve children either witnessing or being directly involved. Exposure to domestic violence has long-term effects on mental health, educational outcomes and the risk of future involvement in abusive relationships.

Fighting Unseen Battles

Before seeking help at the domestic violence shelter, women and children often experience years, even decades, of abuse. They know their situations

are untenable, but they don’t believe escape is possible.

Shelters like WGDVS are used by a diverse group of survivors:

• Women (and often children) fleeing abuse: physical, verbal, emotional, sexual or financial.

• People who may have few or no resources: financial instability, limited employment, lack of social or family support nearby.

• Those in crisis but also those who need a transitional period to reorganize their lives. Some just need legal help, others need housing while others need to rebuild psychologically and practically.

Abusers often use isolation to keep their partners tethered. They may try to cut their partner off from support, family, friends and resources. The victims often don’t know who they can turn to for help because they have been pulled away from everyone they could trust. Many women are scared their abuser will retaliate against them or their kids.

These victims have a long road ahead to find stability after leaving their abusive situations. Even with a job, single mothers often can’t find safe, affordable housing. Rents rise, subsidies are limited, discrimination or lack of credit may block options.

And though Georgia has protections in place, the enforcement, access to legal help, speed of court proceedings and resources for victims are often stretched.

Brittany’s immediate goals are to address many of these gaps, especially expanding transitional housing, strengthening partnerships and increasing outreach so survivors know help is real and possible.

“One common thread is that abusers often isolate their partners – financially, emotionally and socially,” she relates. “Survivors face tremendous obstacles such as lack of housing, fear of retaliation

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and financial dependence. The shelter helps them rebuild by offering emergency housing, legal advocacy, financial guidance, and, most important, hope.”

Giving Victims Hope

Leaving domestic violence situations often takes much more courage than remaining in them. To serve people, WGDVS uses several avenues to get the word out about their services, including referrals from law enforcement, hospitals, schools and partner agencies, as well as community outreach and engagement.

“Education is a powerful tool,” Brittany says. “It helps break the stigma, shows survivors they are not alone and invites the community to be part of the solution.”

By offering a safe place to begin the process of rebuilding their lives, the shelter gives women hope for the future. Beyond shelter, the team offers many services, including transitional housing via the Good Samaritan Program, legal advocacy, case management, support groups, comprehensive safety plans, schooling or school liaison for children who need counseling and help with relocation when

clients choose to rebuild in a new area.

Although they help thousands of people, Lidy says some stories stick with her and help give her the motivation to keep pushing forward. “A client was fleeing from a different state, but because of our assistance, her child was able to attend school, and she was able to obtain employment,” Lidy remembers. “She was referred to Good Samaritan Transitional Housing, a program that is 100% community founded, and was able to finish her degree and buy a home in two years.”

Though the program at WGDVS is officially structured for 30 days, clients often stay longer: on average about 50 days in the safe house, Lidy shares. The stay depends a lot on need: some people need only a temporary protective order and can return home; others are relocating, perhaps near family; many are starting from scratch without financial resources, housing or stable employment.

Transitional housing is crucial. WGDVS’s Good Samaritan Transitional Program has helped clients not just survive but improve their lives. Since 2022, three clients have completed that program and become homeowners. That’s more than shelter – it’s generational change.

“The common denominators are children of

Meet the Most Powerful Decision Makers in the Home

abused women become abused themselves,” shares Lidy. “It is important to not only support women but to also support the children who grow up witnessing domestic violence. We all as a community need to work together to help break cycles.

The biggest obstacles are financial, but there is also the fear of being alone. Our organization has an excellent relationship with the school liaison and if a child needs any counseling, we can speak with them in order for the children to receive those services.”

Safety planning is a central piece of the shelter’s work, not just for the duration of someone’s stay in the facility, but after they leave. WGDVS offers case management, assistance with communication

and connection to other community resources.

Confidentiality is taken very seriously to protect the survivors, maintain trust and avoid further harm.

“Confidentiality is important and something we do not take lightly,” Lidy relates. “In reality, being in a shelter is hard and no one wants to be here. We keep everything confidential to not only protect them but for clients to keep the trust with each and every one of us.”

“We maintain secure, confidential locations and work closely with law enforcement to protect the safety of our residents,” says Brittany. “After leaving, we connect survivors with transitional housing, employment resources and ongoing advocacy to reduce the risk of returning to their abuser.

Confidentiality is critical – not only for safety, but also for the dignity and trust of every survivor we serve.”

Looking Forward

Some efforts feel slow, such as changing laws, shifting perceptions and available affordable housing. But others have already changed lives. Lidy has seen changes in protective orders and enhanced enforcement that are gradually shifting the balance to benefit survivors.

Brittany steps into her executive role with goals that build on the existing foundation:

• Strengthen partnerships with law enforcement, hospitals, schools and community agencies to ensure that survivors have multiple paths to reach help.

• Expand outreach, so survivors never feel they have nowhere to turn.

• Increase transitional housing opportunities.

• Broaden community awareness initiatives through events, social media, classes and engagement with civic groups.

Volunteers are an essential part of their work. "We are always accepting and looking for volunteers,” Lidy says. “Members of the community can always

host drives for the shelter that includes clothing, food and toiletries.”

Brittany and Lidy both encourage the community to get involved. If you see someone in an abusive situation – verbal, emotional, financial, physical –reach out. Survivors often feel alone, and knowing someone notices, believes them and cares can be the difference.

For people living with domestic abuse, Brittany and Lidy share than leaving isn’t easy, but with planning, resources and support, it is possible. And the journey doesn’t end when someone crosses the threshold of a shelter – it continues through rebuilding housing, finances, relationships and self.

“You are worth it!” Lidy exclaims. “This season might be difficult, but WGDVS is here to support you.”

“You are not alone,” Brittany emphasizes. “Help is available, and leaving is possible. We are here to walk alongside survivors every step of the way.” WGW

If you are in an abusive situation and need help, call the WGDVS 24-hour crisis line at 770.834.1141 or visit the website at westgadv.org.

All inquiries remain confidential.

A Milestone Worth Celebrating

Michael Stone, owner and founder of Milestone Investment Management, LLC celebrates 15 years in business

As Michael Stone celebrated the 15th anniversary of Milestone Investment Management, LLC, on Sept. 13, 2025, it was an occasion to reflect on a journey that spans over four decades in the financial services industry. The founder and owner of an independent

wealth management firm, Michael’s story is one of persistence, passion and a deep commitment to his clients and his community.

His professional journey began in the banking industry, where he started as a bank teller in 1972. Over the next 24 years, he climbed the ranks within

commercial banking, taking on various leadership roles. In 1986, he moved to Atlanta, Ga. Despite his success in the field, Michael felt something was missing. While he had a deep understanding of finance, his passion for making a personal difference in people’s lives pushed him to seek new opportunities.

In 1997, Michael made the decision to transition to a new career path as a financial advisor with Edward Jones Investments. Over the next 13 years, he learned the intricacies of individual financial planning, specializing in retirement planning and investment strategies. But as his career progressed, Michael found himself yearning for more independence and a deeper level of personal connection with his clients. He wanted to offer more tailored solutions, to design financial strategies based on his clients' unique needs, rather than corporate mandates from large firms.

The Birth of Milestone Investment Management, LLC

In September 2010, Michael took a bold step and launched Milestone Investment Management, LLC, in Carrollton, Ga. He envisioned a firm where clients would not only receive professional financial advice, but also experience a more personalized approach – one that took into account each client's specific goals, challenges and aspirations. He wanted to create a business that would serve his clients’ best interests while reinvesting income back into the local community where he and his clients lived and worked.

By becoming an independent financial advisor, Michael gained the freedom to prioritize his clients’ needs without the constraints imposed by corporate agendas. He could craft custom solutions that truly aligned with each client’s financial goals.

Most important, he could provide peace of mind by ensuring that his clients were receiving advice that was in their best interests, thanks to his fiduciary responsibility as an investment advisor representative.

Michael’s team offers personalized financial advice, creating strategies designed to protect and grow clients' wealth over time. Specializing in retirement planning, investment management and risk mitigation, Michael has cultivated a trusted reputation for his thorough, personalized approach to wealth management.

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“We start by gathering as much information as possible about their financial goals,” says Michael. “Then, we assess their current financial situation to determine if their strategy will get them where they want to go.”

Michael and his team work closely with clients to design strategies that not only help achieve their objectives but also identify and mitigate potential risks. “Whether it’s through tax planning, estate planning or insurance solutions, we help our clients prepare for the unforeseen,” Michael explains.

Deep Roots in the Community

Michael embraces a genuine commitment to give back to his community. He believes strong communities are built on strong relationships, and his involvement in Carrollton and the surrounding areas speaks to this.

Michael and his wife, Andrea, established the "Michael and Andrea Stone Visiting Artist Series" in partnership with the University of West Georgia’s College of Arts and Humanities; they are sponsors of “LiveArt” at the Townsend Center for the Performing Arts; and they helped organize the Carrollton Main Street annual "Art Takeover."

Beyond the arts, Michael is a past president of

the Carrollton Dawnbreakers Rotary Club and has years of work invested in a wide range of community service projects and organizations. His philanthropic efforts support numerous causes, and Michael’s

dedication to community service was recognized in 2017 when he received the Honorary Alumnus award from the University of West Georgia.

Another aspect of Milestone Investment Management that sets it apart is its focus on providing financial planning services tailored to women. Michael recognizes that women often face unique challenges when it comes to planning for their financial futures. Whether they are navigating life changes, managing a household or planning for retirement, women have different needs and goals.

“We believe in empowering women through personalized financial guidance,” Michael explains. “Women live longer than men, so planning for longterm financial security is essential. We work with women to help them not only achieve their goals but also identify any risks that might put those goals in jeopardy.”

Looking to the Future

With a foundation built on integrity, personalized service and community involvement, his firm is poised to continue helping clients achieve their financial goals, one milestone at a time.

“Your accomplishments are not finish lines, they’re

milestones,” Michael says. “And when you work with Milestone Investment Management, you become family. We’re here to help you build, grow and protect your financial future with the same care we would offer to our own loved ones.”

With over 50 years of financial experience, a deep connection to his community and an unwavering commitment to his clients, Michael Stone has truly created something special. As he celebrates this milestone anniversary, it’s clear the best is yet to come for the Milestone Investment Management family and the clients they serve.* WGW

Land Zen

Sisters share heart, health and healing on Adamson Square

By Kim Ashby MacColeman

II think the hashtag was something like, ’Find the others,’” says Gina Land of the mantra that resonates within her. After a lifetime of sickness and a major bout with cancer, Gina has a better understanding of health and wellness. Now it’s her mission to find the others, those who also struggle with health issues and want to foster wellness. But diet and nutrition are only two factors in the wellness equation. “It’s really multi-layered,” Gina’s husband Seth explains. “Because if you look at any religion, it’s always the body, the mind and the spirit. So you really have to address all of it.”

This is the goal of Land Zen.

In October 2024, Gina and her older sister Heidi Sweatt opened the doors to the holistic health and wellness shop that’s tucked in the corner of Adamson Square in Carrollton.

The shop offers a variety of vitamins, dietary supplements, teas and oils, as well as jewelry and natural-fiber clothing. Land Zen is the embodiment of a 15-year dream come true.

Gina's Story

“They called me Lazarus,” Gina laughs, because she was always so sick as a child. As she grew, the health struggles continued, even into college where she battled chronic fatigue. “I was always trying to figure out how to make myself better.”

This quest to understand prompted Gina to study nutrition in college and, later, to work for WIC, the USDA’s nutrition program for women, infants and children.

She came to believe that many health and

emotional issues stem from nutrient deficiencies. This ideology was reinforced when cancer nearly took her life in 2009. It started with a lump in the roof of her mouth. After seeing a dentist and a few doctors, she received an unsettling diagnosis: salivary gland cancer.

In 2010, she had a large portion of the inside of her mouth removed. “They cut most of the roof of my mouth out on the left side, down toward my throat,” she recalls. She couldn’t talk and could barely eat. Several years later she had surgery again, but the damage was still quite severe. Eating was difficult, so she didn’t. This led to extreme weight loss.

She says she drank so much water because of dry mouth that she overdosed. Overdosing on water is extremely serious and can even lead to death, which is where Gina found herself after being rushed to the hospital.

“I was skin and bones,” she recalls emotionally. She was convulsing in a hospital bed, unable to talk. She chokes up again, remembering how she knew death was near. She says the archangel Michael appeared, but instead of death, she says he revived her and stayed with her through the yearslong healing process. “You know you have spirit

guides,“she explains. ”They’re always there to help you. God says ‘be still.‘ That’s when He talks to you.”

This, she says, was another milemarker in her journey to wellness. “I had a degree in nutrition, so I was already interested in that sort of thing, but it’s like God leaves these little breadcrumbs for you.”

She continued to follow those breadcrumbs by reading everything from the Bible and philosophers, to 18th century doctors and dentists. She asked questions and soaked up all the information she could on the topic of diet and how it impacts health. She looked back to look forward, rewinding the clock of both her family’s history and the history of mankind to better understand true wellness.

Letting the Ancestors Speak

The first ancestors Gina and Heidi looked at were their parents. The women are only 11 months apart, and they think that has something to do with Gina’s constant health struggles. “I think I was nutrient deficient because my mom had us too close together. It takes two years to build up [a woman’s] immunity to pass on to the child,” Gina explains. It's not a condemnation, but rather a belief based on education and experience. As fate would have

Providing Care and Comfort to All Ages

it, both sisters ended up having multiple children in quick succession, and both say their youngest faced daunting health issues. They believe it’s because their bodies were depleted of nutrients and didn’t have time to rebuild their stores before the next baby was on its way. Severe allergies and asthma were common themes with both children in their youth.

Along with the close timeline of their births and their children’s births, big sister Heidi reveals that Gina is the only sibling to have had her tonsils removed. Tonsils are widely considered a first line of defense against disease.

Heidi recalls, “Plus, we grew up on a dirt road and had a farm. We had a lot of mold spores coming into the house. She was 11 months younger than me, so where I was not suffering, she was.”

The trail of breadcrumbs came back to nutrition and environment, as well as physical and emotional impacts.

Spiritual Battles: Making the Connection

Heidi gets emotional when she thinks about the deep wounds many people have and how they

impact the body. She knows this from personal experience, as well as her work as a counselor at Inner Harbor in Rockmart. She worked with teens who she says were on their last chance before prison.

“There was so much anger because, for a lot of them, their mothers didn’t love them enough to stop the drugs – or to keep them – so someone else raised them," she says. "You’re seeing these kids live in a lifestyle because it’s the only one they know. And when they understood that I was there just to listen, you could just see the burden start lifting off of them.” Many of these kids, like her, were tasked with not only taking care of themselves, but their siblings, too.

For Gina and Heidi, examining their childhood helped uncover hidden hurts that they say manifested in their bodies. Heidi shares that their dad was a Vietnam vet and, later, a welder working on industrial pipes who was gone for months at a time.

The sisters explain that although the war ended in 1975, the impacts of it on their father lasted forever and were passed down to them in both physical and emotional ways. The girls say he was sprayed with Agent Orange, an herbicide used to deforest

when they were born – an exchange of chemicals from their dad’s time at war, and an exchange of emotional trauma from being in fight or flight mode for much of their youth. Because of this, both spent years detoxing and healing their bodies.

“These kinds of things attach [to you] and you start getting depressed or anxious or sad ... [this is] part of the component you have to address. The body, and the mind and the spirit,” explains Heidi.

parts of Vietnam. He also suffered from PTSD, which would manifest in flashbacks and moodiness.

“I could see when he was first shifting," says Heidi. “And he wasn’t abusive to us, he wasn’t mean, he was just … scary. I mean, he was an 18-year-old kid going over there and doing tasks that the government asked him to do. That weighs on you.” That weight also fell on Heidi as the oldest, often handling grown-up tasks for the family as a 12or 13-year-old girl.

The sisters agree that an exchange happened

The sisters believe that not addressing the trauma only leaves it to sit and fester, depleting your body of nourishment. Pain, they say, surfaces in a variety of ways including stress, inflammation and insomnia.

“So if [someone] is dealing with a lot of anger and resentment, you’ll see it in the liver,” explains Heidi. “A lot of anxieties and resentment will show up in the kidneys. Any kind of heart relationship could actually be some sort of relationship that [a person] hasn’t healed from and, over time, it can turn into a nutrient deficiency.”

Providing insurance to families, farmers and businesses for 100 years

Let the Healing Begin

If someone comes to Land Zen and wants to dig deep, bioenergetic testing can be done on site. This assessment is based on the idea of energy transfer. That every cell, organ and emotion has subatomic energy frequencies that impact our health. These frequencies resonate from your organs, spine, hormones and body systems. Bioenergetic testing evaluates it all for imbalances or deficiencies. It is a painless and non-invasive procedure that takes about 15 minutes to complete.

Both Heidi and Gina are certified in bioenergetic

testing. Once target areas are identified, they can suggest dietary changes and natural supplements to help restore balance.

Red light therapy and vibration plates are also available at Land Zen. Red light has been shown to reduce inflammation, while the vibration plate stimulates the lymphatic system. Gina says young athletes often use these two therapies when dealing with recurring injuries.

At Land Zen, people enter the store for different reasons and with varying amounts of openness. Some just want an old-school natural remedy, while others want to explore holistic healing to understand the core issues they’re facing. They welcome both and spend as much time as possible listening to each person’s story. It’s this openness that allows Gina to live out her mission to find the others, so they never walk alone. WGW

Daily Fare

Chef Rose With

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.

She is a personal chef who offers cooking lessons, baby food prep, date night dinners for two and more.

Learn more about Chef Rose at www.chefrosecooks.com.

Chef Rose photos by Zachary Dailey, Dailey Life Photography, daileylifephotography@gmail.com.

Recipe photos by Andrew Agresta, Agresta Photography, www.agrestaphotography.com.

Chorizo Kale Soup

Ingredients

14 oz chorizo sausage links, sliced

2 russet potatoes, peeled and chopped

1 onion, chopped

8 cloves garlic, sliced

32 oz chicken stock

1 bunch kale, roughly chopped

Optional toppings:

Chili oil

Sour cream

Crusty bread

Preparation

In a stockpot, sauté chorizo slices, allowing the oil from the chorizo to render.

When the slices are crispy, remove and set aside.

In the same stockpot with the chorizo oil, sauté the onion and garlic until softened.

Add potatoes.

Pour over the chicken stock and allow the soup to simmer until the potatoes are tender.

Purée the mixture using an immersion blender or a regular blender and return to the pot.

Add back in the chorizo and chopped kale and cook for 5 minutes or until kale has wilted slightly.

Top with preferred toppings. Serves 8.

“This spicy, hearty soup is perfect for a chilly fall evening and comes together really quickly for a weeknight meal.”

Caramel Apple Smoothie

Ingredients

1 medium apple, peeled, cored and chopped

1 banana, frozen

1 tablespoon almond butter

1 cup milk or plant-based milk

1–2 teaspoons caramel sauce or maple syrup, to taste

½ teaspoon cinnamon

Ice cubes, optional for extra chill

Preparation

“A

perfect start to the day or an afternoon treat.”

Combine the apple, banana, almond butter, milk, caramel and cinnamon in a blender.

Blend until smooth and creamy.

Add a few ice cubes if you prefer a colder, thicker texture.

Taste and adjust sweetness with extra caramel or maple syrup if desired.

Pour into a glass, and serve immediately. Serves 1. WGW

Holding On and Letting Go:

A Story of Love, Life and Loss

Lesson #9: The Power of Presence

By Patrick Yuran. Photo: Marie Yuran by Zachary Dailey, Dailey Life Photography

Being truly present is like dropping anchor in the middle of shifting tides. It is the pause that steadies the ship when waves rise higher than you expected, the quiet center that allows you to navigate uncertainty without being tossed off course. For us, presence has been one of the most powerful tools on our journey after my wife, Marie was diagnosed with incurable breast cancer. It is the anchor that holds us fast, the compass that guides us through the swirling waters of life, and the tether that keeps us connected when everything else feels unsteady.

Our September cruise to Alaska stands out as a vivid illustration of this lesson. From the moment we boarded the ship, the vastness of the ocean reminded us just how small our individual worries could feel in the larger scheme of things and how much we had to gain from leaning fully into each experience together. We didn’t rush from port to port, nor did we let the itinerary control us. Instead, we stayed grounded in each moment, letting the rhythm of the journey guide us.

Evenings became a sacred time as sunset dinners were rituals of presence, not just meals. The sky would light up in shades of pink and gold, reflecting off the water like molten glass, and Marie and I would sit side by side, hand in hand, absorbing

the beauty around us. Conversation flowed naturally, sometimes deep, sometimes playful, but always intentional. Those moments reminded me that connection is cultivated not in grand gestures, but in shared attention and focus.

During the day, we explored the wonders of Alaska with the same mindfulness. The lumberjack show made us laugh until our sides ached, and for a few hours, the stress of daily life, the constant planning, and even the shadow of illness seemed to fall away. The dog sledding experience was exhilarating, yet grounding, as we

guided the sled together. Feeling the crisp air on our faces and the rhythm of the dogs’ paws against the snow, I realized presence is also about moving in sync with another, trusting and relying on one another in real time.

Seeing the beauty of glaciers and the rugged terrain from the safety and comfort of our private balcony required a different kind of presence. It required an attentive, awe-filled and patient focus. Each drifting minute revealed a new wonder of unique ice formations shimmering like crystal cathedrals, reflections of jagged peaks in the still waters, the quiet majesty of untouched wilderness. I watched Marie’s eyes light up at each view, her delight reminding me that being fully present is a gift we give each other and to ourselves.

Evening shows and concerts on the ship became a kind of meditation in motion. Music filled the air, and instead of trying to capture every note or anticipate the next song, we simply listened, absorbed and shared quiet smiles. Presence isn’t always just about noticing the big moments, but it is also about leaning into the small ones as well. The in-between moments, the subtle details that accumulate into a life fully experienced are just as important. Throughout the cruise, I realized that presence

doesn’t require perfection; it requires intention. It requires slowing down long enough to notice, engage and appreciate. It requires trusting that by anchoring ourselves in each moment, we can weather whatever comes next. Even when the waves of illness, uncertainty or fear threaten to pull us apart, being grounded in the here and now keeps us steady, connected and resilient.

Alaska reminded me that life is not only about reaching the next port or crossing the horizon. It’s about being fully in the cabin, fully at the dinner table, fully beside the person you love.

In presence, we find joy, connection and strength that no storm can undo. And as I hold Marie’s hand and watch her laugh, marvel, and simply be, I know that this anchor, our shared presence, is one of the greatest gifts we can give to each other, and to ourselves. WGW

Patrick Yuran is an educator, artist and entrepreneur. He currently serves as the Head of School at Oak Mountain Academy, is the founder and Artistic Director of The REAL Theatre and is the President of PJY Consulting. Photos by Zachary Dailey, Dailey Life Photography.

By Shala Hainer

Circles of West Georgia hopes to welcome a record crowd at its annual Designer Show House Oct. 31 through Nov. 2. This year, the organization will showcase the home of Mike and Missy Dugan at 608 Rome St. in historic downtown Carrollton, Ga. A spectacular home on its own, volunteer designers will bring their own style and holiday pizazz to help inspire attendees to take their own Christmas decorations to the next level.

Circles of West Georgia is an innovative, community-driven way to affect poverty in the local community. The funds raised through the show house help Circles to directly assist these families in breaking the grip of poverty.

The home chosen for the 2025 Designer Show House offers a glimpse into the city’s past while remaining a cherished part of its downtown community. Mike and Missy Dugan’s home stands as both a stunning architectural treasure and a piece of Carrollton’s vibrant heritage. With its steep gabled roof, ornate woodwork and inviting wraparound porch, the residence highlights the elegance and craftsmanship of turn-of-the-century Victorian architecture. Volunteer designers add holiday enhancements to the already beautiful home to create a Christmas show house.

This holiday season, the Dugan home will be transformed into a festive showcase as 11 regional decorators, florists and artists each bring their unique style to a designated area of the house. From cozy rooms to the welcoming front porch, every space will reflect the creative vision of its designer. Organized by Jill Pierce, Circles board member and chairwoman of the Designer Show House committee, the event highlights the talents of Ann Stallings Blair; Betsy Barnes Grisham; Greg Hendrix of Mountain Oak Florist and Design; Michelle Volk and Jodie Moseley of Curated Charm & Co.; Meredith Sammon Kelly of The Flower Cart; Karie Krilla and Heather Lambert of Maple Street Design + Co.; and Lindsey McCord, Tina Reid and Molly Strickland.

Visitors can tour the beautifully decorated home by purchasing a $25 ticket, available online or onsite at the show house.

Circles board members are thankful for the outpouring of community support for the show house each year. "As a nonprofit, we want to be sustainable financially," Jill explains. “Circles receives grant funding, but as a board, we want to make sure we have other avenues as well, and the community has been so wonderful to support us. Just as we have designers who have been with us from the beginning, we have some amazing sponsors who help us with this event by donating their time, treasure and talents to this fabulous event. The program is funded through community support, with the show house made possible almost entirely by donations from generous sponsors and dedicated volunteers."

The organization attacks poverty with a different mindset than many other organizations. The group works with the participants to educate and support them toward a more financially stable lifestyle.

“They work with a coach to determine their goals, look at their income and create a budget – a workable, sustainable budget,” explains Jill. “They work to find their barriers that are standing between them and their goals. What do they need to overcome? Whether it’s education, employment or childcare, they find the barriers and determine how they can start to address them.”

Participants are called Circle Leaders. The Circle Leaders work for 18 months with two volunteer Circle Allies, and these Allies help support them and keep them on their plan and their paths to financial freedom.

Circles of West Georgia uses a comprehensive approach to change the lives of people living in poverty in the West Georgia area. They combine mentorship with other programs, such as educating legislators about the challenges that arise as people try to lift themselves out of poverty. For example, as their income gradually rises, the assistance and benefits they receive drop off significantly, often leaving them in a worse situation than they were when their income was lower.

“This is known as the cliff effect,” Jill says. “The benefits don’t decline gradually – they actually drop off. That makes getting out of a poverty situation incredibly hard. Somehow, we must get our assistance programs to match the work ethic of the people who are working harder and producing more.”

Circles of West Georgia estimates there are 20,000 families living in poverty in Carroll County, which means one in four children here is living in poverty. They focus on helping these struggling

members in the community by addressing poverty, shifting from merely service delivery to selfsufficiency and community-building.

If you’re looking for some holiday decoration inspiration in the fall of 2025, the Designer Show House gives you new ideas, introduces you to designers who can help you create your own holiday dreamscape and gives you the peace of mind of knowing you are helping others in your community at the same time.

“This is a great way to do something fun on a weekend but also know you are participating in the elimination of poverty in our community,” Jill says.

This year’s show house is located at 608 Rome St. in historic downtown Carrollton, Ga.

Tickets are $25. For more information about tickets or sponsorship opportunities, email Christy Sammon at chrisleigh1209@gmail.com or Jill Pierce at jill@jillpierceinsurance.com.

Follow the Circles of West Georgia Designer Show House Facebook page and the Circles of West Georgia Instagram page for up-to-date information.

Purchase your tickets at bit.ly/CirclesDSH2025 or scan the code to the right. WGW

Clouded Judgement

The dangers of teen vaping

By Sandra Bolan

Peppermint, sugar cookie, tiramisu custard, blue raspberry and caramel aren’t America’s favorite desserts, but they are some of the most popular vape/e-cigarette flavors. These flavors have replaced the bitter tar taste of tobacco and helped vaping, especially by teens, increase in usage from 1.5% in 2011 to 5.9% in 2024.

When vapes were first introduced in 2007, teens weren’t the target market. Tobacco companies pitched them as a way to help people quit smoking. But between the tasty flavors, customizable pods and less-than-honest marketing claims that vapes/ecigarettes were just vaporized water and posed no health risks, teens quickly butted out traditional smokes and picked up the vape.

Vapes typically contain nicotine and many harmful chemicals, including propylene glycol (a chemical used to make antifreeze, artificial smoke in fog machines and paint solvent) and flavorings. When the liquid is heated, these chemicals can produce

toxic compounds, including heavy metals and cancer-causing agents, according to the American Lung Association.

The number of vape brands increased by more than 46% between 2020 and 2022, while nicotine strength tripled and pod prices decreased, making the product even more enticing to teens.

Nicotine is the addictive ingredient found in tobacco as well as in vapes and e-cigarettes, and as the adolescent brain continues to develop until

Any conversation with a teenager typically means venturing into enemy territory, but there are ways to approach sensitive topics, like vaping, without them turning into shouting matches, coupled with door slams and your teen doing exactly what you hoped she wouldn’t do, just to spite you. Your goal is to actually have an honest and open conversation. Lecturing, judging and criticizing are the fastest ways to shut that down. Use the conversation as a teachable moment. If you were once a smoker, own up to it and be honest about what it did to your body.

how expensive the habit is. Then, try it for a second week, then a third. Pretty soon, her friends will stop sharing their vapes with her, and your teenager will see how much money she's been spending.

Smoking a cigarette was once a rite of passage for most teenagers. Now, it’s vaping, and despite big tobacco’s best efforts to make consumers believe it’s a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes, it’s not. You may not be able to stop your teenager from vaping when you're not around, but by being honest about the consequences, you may be able to get her to kick that bad habit to the curb.

Kids Korner

Ghastly Garland

Materials

White coffee filters (6 - 10)

Cotton balls or tissue scraps (not pictured)

White string or twine

Small rubber bands or twist ties

Black marker

Instructions

Place a cotton ball in the center of a coffee filter and gather the filter around it to form a head. Secure the neck with a rubber band or twist tie. Decorate ghosts as desired. After making several ghosts, tape or tie them along a stretch of twine, leaving about 4 to 6 inches of space between each ghost. Hang across a doorway or mantel.

Cotton Swab Skeleton Art

Materials

Black or orange construction paper

Cotton swabs (10 - 20)

White glue

White chalk or gel pen

Googly eyes

Scissors (optional)

Instructions

Draw a simple skull at the top of the construction paper. Glue googly eyes inside the skull. Use a full-sized cotton swab for the spine and collarbone.

Break or cut the cotton swabs to create shorter pieces for the ribs, arms, legs, hands and feet. Glue the spine and collarbone to the paper first, forming a T-shape. Then, place the ribs at an angle, and arrange the arms and legs in a fun pose.

Decorate as desired, and allow to dry. WGW

Please Help Us Build a Memorial Bench for Dr. Fred Richards

Sculptor Kevin Shunn will be creating a bronze memorial statue of Fred with a bench.

The Carrollton Fraternal Order of Police is collecting donations through its Barry Carroll Foundation for this project.

If you wish to donate to Fred's legacy project, please make your check payable to the Barry Carroll Foundation, with "Fred Richards Memorial Bench" in the memo line.

Checks can be dropped off at the City of Carrollton Police Department or mailed to:

Barry Carroll Foundation c/o Chief Joel Richards, 115 W. Center St., Carrollton, Ga. 30117.

Or, you may donate through PayPal or Venmo using the QR codes on the left. Please reference the "Fred Richards Memorial Bench" in the "for" section.

HALLOWEEN Word Search

Take Care of Your Mind During Menopause

Menopause can be a challenging time — not just for your body but for your mind, too. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by mood changes, anxiety or trouble concentrating, you’re not alone.

Our Willowbrooke Women’s Services team provides specialized mental health care tailored to the unique emotional challenges of menopause. We’re here to help you regain clarity, manage stress and find your balance again with compassionate support every step of the way. Take the first step toward feeling like yourself.

Reach out today at 770-812-3266 to connect with our Willowbrooke Women’s Services team. You don’t have to face menopause alone — we’re here for you.

WillowbrookeAtTanner.org