small business

Carlie Gabriel (right), pictured with sister Claire (left) and brother Trey, holds a banner she created for Trey’s all-star baseball team last July. She’s created more than 45 banners for her customers. (Submitted Photo)

Carlie Gabriel (right), pictured with sister Claire (left) and brother Trey, holds a banner she created for Trey’s all-star baseball team last July. She’s created more than 45 banners for her customers. (Submitted Photo)

Hobby with heart: Local teen turns banner painting into business

Emilie Sullivan
Thursday, February 5, 2026
What began as a handmade birthday gift for her younger brother has grown into a small business for 17-year-old Carlie Gabriel, an Oglethorpe County High School senior.
Debbie Winsett wraps a holiday-themed, hand-painted glass bottle she made and sold at her booth — Light Up Your Life — at the Christmas Marketplace at the Craw- ford Depot on Sunday. Winsett also sold hand-painted University of Georgia pieces that were sold out by the last day of the marketplace. “I call myself ‘Light Up Your Life,’ because most of the things that I do — all of my bottles — light up,” Winsett said. “I started painting lamp shades, and they all light up.” (Photo/Emily Adams)

Debbie Winsett wraps a holiday-themed, hand-painted glass bottle she made and sold at her booth — Light Up Your Life — at the Christmas Marketplace at the Craw- ford Depot on Sunday. Winsett also sold hand-painted University of Georgia pieces that were sold out by the last day of the marketplace. “I call myself ‘Light Up Your Life,’ because most of the things that I do — all of my bottles — light up,” Winsett said. “I started painting lamp shades, and they all light up.” (Photo/Emily Adams)

PHOTOS: The Christmas Marketplace

Emily Adams
Wednesday, November 26, 2025
Linda Parish and Gina Holloway scrape paint off a cabinet on Aug. 22, 2025 to prepare for First Friday. The cabinet will hold drinks and food for Lexington Market Place's First Friday event on Sept. 5, 2025. (Mia Fishman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Linda Parish and Gina Holloway scrape paint off a cabinet on Aug. 22, 2025 to prepare for First Friday. The cabinet will hold drinks and food for Lexington Market Place's First Friday event on Sept. 5, 2025. (Mia Fishman/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Lexington Market Place seeks to revitalize downtown with First Friday event

Ansley Gavlak
Wednesday, September 3, 2025
Over the years, downtown Lexington has shifted from a stop-and-shop town to a community many simply drive through.   But local business owners want the charm that Main Street once had to return — and that effort begins this week with First Friday.
Dustin and Tara Wood opened their new store Vessel Barn in Oak Tree Plaza on July 5. The couple sells candles, wax melts, apparel and other handmade products. (Photo/Jennifer Xia)

Dustin and Tara Wood opened their new store Vessel Barn in Oak Tree Plaza on July 5. The couple sells candles, wax melts, apparel and other handmade products. (Photo/Jennifer Xia)

Candles, T-shirts, other goods featured in new store

Jennifer Xia
Thursday, July 10, 2025
The scent of hand-poured candles welcomed customers to a new locally owned business in Oak Tree Plaza this past weekend. Vessel Barn, owned and operated by Dustin and Tara Wood, officially opened on July 5, offering a curated selection of handmade home goods.
Rick Skoglund (left) hands over the keys to the property of Mathews Used Cars to Mike and Mari Robb, the new owners. The dealership has been in business since 1965, with Skoglund buying it from Raymond Mathews in 2010. (Photo/Elizabeth Kim)

Rick Skoglund (left) hands over the keys to the property of Mathews Used Cars to Mike and Mari Robb, the new owners. The dealership has been in business since 1965, with Skoglund buying it from Raymond Mathews in 2010. (Photo/Elizabeth Kim)

Mathews Used Cars closing after 60 years

Elizabeth Kim
Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Mathews Used Cars will close its doors next week after 60 years in business. The dealership’s property and building have been sold, but owner Rick Skoglund will continue to to sell its current inventory.

Chamber sees personnel changes

Jennifer Xia
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Ronnie Boggs stepped in as chairman of the Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce earlier this year following the resignation of former chairman Williamson Sintyl.
(Left - Right) Jay Patel, Beulah Hatchett (Nana) and Carrie Faris pose for a photo at Carrie’s Corner Store & Cafe in Stephens, Georgia on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Faris sold the business to Patel at the end of January. (Photo/Libby Hobbs)

(Left - Right) Jay Patel, Beulah Hatchett (Nana) and Carrie Faris pose for a photo at Carrie’s Corner Store & Cafe in Stephens, Georgia on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. Faris sold the business to Patel at the end of January. (Photo/Libby Hobbs)

Faris sells Carrie’s Corner to take care of ‘Nana’

Libby Hobbs
Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Carrie Faris opened Carrie's Corner Store & Cafe in Stephens in May 2022 and said this community “feels like family.” However, her mother’s eyesight has worsened from macular degeneration, so she decided it’s time for her to stay at home with “Nana.
Crawford Pizza employees Elizabeth Russell (left) and Caitlin Hartrum stand in front of the restaurant’s mural earlier this month. Russell, who lives in Crawford, and Hartrum, who lives in Lexington, said it helps welcome people to the county. (Margaux Binder/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Crawford Pizza employees Elizabeth Russell (left) and Caitlin Hartrum stand in front of the restaurant’s mural earlier this month. Russell, who lives in Crawford, and Hartrum, who lives in Lexington, said it helps welcome people to the county. (Margaux Binder/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Mural gains popularity: Phrase on side of Crawford Pizza welcomes visitors to city

Margaux Binder
Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Every day for almost a year, a large mural has greeted those who drive through downtown Crawford.    The mural’s bold, white letters — “It’s nice to have you in Crawford Georgia” — stand out against the red brick on an exterior wall of Crawford Pizza.
Amy Delfin-Torres can't contain her excitement during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening of Town and Country Kafe on March 2. About 50-60 customers and staff joined owners Josh Robayo, Amy Delfin-Torres and Willie Torres outside to participate in the ceremony, which was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. Torres took a second to thank those in attendance. "Without you, there's nothing," he said. (Sarah Myers/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Amy Delfin-Torres can't contain her excitement during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the grand opening of Town and Country Kafe on March 2. About 50-60 customers and staff joined owners Josh Robayo, Amy Delfin-Torres and Willie Torres outside to participate in the ceremony, which was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce. Torres took a second to thank those in attendance. "Without you, there's nothing," he said. (Sarah Myers/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Town and Country Kafe Grand Opening

Sarah Myers
Thursday, March 7, 2024
Town and Country Kafe, a Spanish-inspired cafe and restaurant in Crawford, had its grand opening Saturday, after delaying its opening last November due to building renovations.    The Chamber of Commerce board members hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the restaurant’s opening.