Georgia Magazine - January 2025 - 4

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From THE EDITOR
Comments from our readers * Compiled by Jennifer J. Hewett
As we flip the calendar to a new
Sharing the 'love'
A Lasagna Love volunteer sent me photos of the
amazing article that Laura Berrios wrote about our
nonprofit. [See " A recipe for comfort: Lasagna Love
project shares kindness, " December 2024, page 21;
bit.ly/galasagna.]
It is truly wonderful coverage, and I want to thank
you for helping us spread the word about Lasagna
Love in Georgia. Our organization is fortunate to have
a publication like yours champion our cause!
-Lynn Hirsch, Lasagna Love outreach director
and northwest Georgia local leader, Alpharetta
Pink Pig memories
GEORGIA News
Compiled by Katie Cowart
Macy's Pink Pig returns at Georgia
Festival of Trees
The original Pink Pig train cars
are on display at the Atlanta
History Center in Atlanta.
I rode the Pink Pig as a child at downtown Rich's.
I'm 75 now. [See " Macy's Pink Pig returns at Georgia
Festival of Trees, " Georgia News, November 2024,
page 8; bit.ly/ppig1124.]
I recall it cruising through the seemingly vast
The new Pink Pig is named Penelope, or
Penny for short.
N
early 70 years after its debut, the iconic Macy's Pink Pig
ride returns to metro Atlanta for this year's Georgia
Festival of Trees, allowing a new generation to
experience the beloved tradition.
The Georgia Festival of Trees, the state's largest holiday
event focused on spreading cheer and raising awareness about
human trafficking, will take place at the Gas South Convention
Center in Duluth from Nov. 23 to Dec. 1. The revamped Pink Pig
train will debut at the opening-night gala on Nov. 22.
The Pink Pig was originally a monorail on the rooftop of
Rich's department store in downtown Atlanta. The ride, known
as Priscilla, was so popular in the 1960s that a second pig,
Percival, was added. The train cars provided children with a
skyline view and a ride around Rich's Great Tree until the store's
closure in 1991.
After briefly appearing at Egleston Children's Hospital's
Festival of Trees, the original pigs found a permanent home at
the Atlanta History Center in 1996. The Pink Pig was resurrected
inside Lenox Square mall under a pink-and-white tent from
2003 to 2019.
The Georgia Festival of Trees spans 90,000 square feet of
convention space and features live entertainment, Santa's sleigh
and reindeer, and a variety of activities. Kids can enjoy the Elf
Training Academy, the Lil' Elves Driving Academy, a Lego
competition, a gingerbread house contest and more. The Elf
Phone Booth and a North Pole post office make getting in touch
with Santa easy.
8 Georgia Magazine November 2024
I've always enjoyed getting Georgia Magazine, and the November issue brought
08_GA_News_1124.indd 8
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back many memories of riding on the Pink Pig as a child. Yes, the original ride was
on a monorail, but it was in the basement of the store.
The basement contained every toy, piece of sports equipment and hobby
accessory that was a must-have for any 8-year-old child. The ride glided along the
ceiling above all these items, which was a great marketing approach that increased
the number of toys that we included on our wish lists.
-Randy Cail, Acworth
Keeping Georgia on my mind
I love Georgia Magazine. There's so much information we can use and beautiful
pictures, too. Thanks to my brother, Bill Durham, for having this magazine sent to me
through a gift subscription. He lives in North Georgia, and l live in South Georgia.
-Ann Canaday, Blackshear
" Bringing back the Pink Pig with a new, modern twist is not
just a nod to Atlanta's holiday nostalgia but also a powerful
reminder of the spirit of giving and community. As families
gather to enjoy this cherished tradition for a new generation,
they also stand united in the fight against human trafficking,
making this event not only magical but also impactful, " says
Angie Ulibarri, Georgia Festival of Trees executive director.
In addition to family activities, there will be an afterhours,
21-and-older comedy showcase on Nov. 30. The event
raises funds for two nonprofits: Street Grace, a Norcross-based
organization that fights the exploitation of children, and Atlanta
Redemption Ink, which covers up tattoos for human-trafficking
survivors.
" We're proud to stand alongside the Georgia Festival of
Trees-holiday magic with a purpose to end human trafficking, "
says Jessica Lamb, survivor and founder of Atlanta Redemption
Ink. " As a survivor-led nonprofit, Atlanta Redemption Ink is
committed to ... helping [human-trafficking survivors] reclaim
their stories through tattoo services, scar revisions, iconography
training and support services. Being a beneficiary of this festival
gives us the chance to rally even more support for the resilient
survivors we serve while celebrating the season with our
incredible community! "
Learn more
For more information, visit gafestivaloftrees.org.
Rich's toy department on some kind of rail hanging
from the ceiling. It was a wondrous time! I don't
remember a thing about it taking us outside or around
the great tree-only the toys!
-Linda Leslie Mobley, via email
month, it signals a time to reflect on
the past but also to look toward the
future. With the start of 2025, we begin
the celebration of several milestones!
This year marks the 85th anniversary
of Georgia Electric Membership
Corp. (EMC), the Tucker-based trade
association representing Georgia's 41
member-owned EMCs, Oglethorpe
Power, Georgia Transmission Corp.
and Georgia System Operations Corp.
Georgia EMC provides leadership,
advocacy and unity for our member
EMCs through community- and
economic-development support,
youth and education programs (such
as the Washington Youth Tour,
highlighted in this month's issue),
safety and training programs, and
legislative representation at the state
and national levels.
Georgia EMC also produces
Georgia Magazine each month for
EMC members, and 2025 marks the
80th anniversary of our magazine. Stay
tuned this year for special glimpses
into the magazine's history.
In this issue we honor Jimmy
Carter-the longest-living U.S.
president-and his milestone 100th
birthday, celebrated in October.
Turn to " Our Jimmy " on page 16
to read about some of his accomplishments
and his impact on Georgia.
Check out some favorite recipes from
Carter's hometown of Plains, too, on
page 35.
I hope that 2025 will be a great
year for you. Thank you for reading
Georgia Magazine and being an
important part of our magazine's story.
They read and won!
Congratulations to Georgia Magazine's most recent trivia contest winners:
August 2024: Aubrey Milford, Bonaire; September: Darlene Thompson, Blairsville;
October: Brenda Moss, Ringgold; and November: Makayla Tran, Kennesaw. Each
winner received a $25 gift card.
Want to enter? Look for our trivia contest in the magazine each month and
online at georgiamagazine.org. This month's contest is on page 9.
Share your thoughts. Email us at magazine@georgiaemc.com. Please include your name, address
and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity and space.
4 Georgia Magazine January 2025
Happy New Year!
Jennifer J. Hewett
Editor
A recipe for
COMFORT
Lasagna Love project
shares kindness
By Laura Berrios
E
lizabeth Hill Newman of Monticello
gets a double feel-good moment
as a volunteer with Lasagna Love,
the global online organization that connects
neighbors through home-cooked meals.
There's deep satisfaction in making the
pasta dish for someone she's never met and then delivering it to
that person's door. But also, whenever Newman makes lasagna,
she thinks about her mother, the late Betty Hill of Dunwoody,
and is filled with emotion.
" My mom, who passed away in 2020, was famous in our
family for her lasagna, " Newman says. " It was really special and
a whole to-do when she made them for us. "
Volunteering with Lasagna Love is " like I'm doing it for her,
and sharing her recipe out in the world just feels great, " says
Newman, who has been with the nonprofit for two years.
She oversees Middle Georgia volunteers.
Lasagna Love's mission is to spread kindness in
communities. Anyone can sign up to receive or to make and
deliver a complimentary lasagna at lasagnalove.org.
Requests run the gamut: a senior widower who doesn't
cook, a mom with a new baby or a cancer patient undergoing
chemotherapy.
" More often than not, [those who request a lasagna are]
down on their luck and just need a break, " Newman says.
" They tell us, 'If I could just have a night off and have someone
else to feed my family so I could have a break ...' "
Those are the people whom Lasagna Love founder and
board chair Rhiannon Menn wanted to help when she started
the organization in 2020.
Menn felt helpless seeing the pandemic-related struggles of
families in her San Diego community. So she made pans of
lasagnas, reached out through Facebook and offered to deliver
the food to anyone who needed a meal. People thought that was
wonderful, and many said they wanted to help.
In four years, the organization has grown to 56,000
volunteers in all 50 states, Canada and Australia. A half-million
lasagnas have gone out, feeding about 2 million people.
Georgia has 284 active Lasagna Love volunteers, and every
Richard Dibiase and his team at NCR Voyix cooked 12 lasagnas for
Calhoun residents.
week 50 to 70 people make and deliver lasagnas in their
communities. More than 11,000 lasagnas have been delivered
statewide.
MORE
www.georgiamagazine.org 21
21-23_Lasagna_Love_1124.indd 21
11/7/24 8:22 PM
Lynn Hirsch feeds families in
Alpharetta and Roswell.
ISTOCK.COM / DZINA KRYSHTOPCHYK
LASAGNA LOVE
LASAGNA LOVE
GEORGIA FESTIVAL OF TREES
ATLANTA HISTORY CENTER

http://bit.ly/galasagna http://bit.ly/ppig1124 http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Georgia Magazine - January 2025

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - January 2025