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TODAY'S
ISSUE
Ex-educator uses puppets
to aid children to avoid violence
By
Mary Long
Special to GwinnettForum.com
(A retired Gwinnett County Public Schools teacher,
Ralph Greene, who uses puppets to teach young children to avoid
violence, was named Senior of the Year at the awards Luncheon
for the Gwinnett Council for Seniors. Here is a profile of Ralph
and Pat Green, which first appeared in the Gwinnett Citizen. -eeb)
JULY 9, 2004 -- Ralph and Pat Greene have made the garden surrounding
their Snellville home a gathering place for birds and people. The
people often visit the Greene Garden to look at the flowers, listen
to the birds and enjoy the peace and beauty there. Birds and other
wildlife come to the Greene Garden in search of seasonal and permanent
housing. Humans and other beings find themselves drawn to this retreat
from busy metro traffic.
Greene |
Ralph and Pat Greene, natives of Morristown, Tenn., moved to Snellville
from their hometown in 1973. Ralph began his 25-year teaching career
at Snellville Middle School that year; their son, Eric, was a toddler
and Snellville was a country town. The Greenes remember that a farm
owned by Troy Thompson was off U.S. Highway 78 where the former
Wal Mart was located. In the evenings, the Greenes often heard the
Thompson cows mooing, ready to eat and be milked. They also recall
that when they first came to Snellville the police spotted the out
of state tag on their car and followed them all the way to their
driveway. In the 70's and early 80's traffic was so light around
their subdivision that their son often walked to Britt Elementary
and South Gwinnett schools.
The Greene Garden has over 125 varieties of day lilies in bloom
at various times during the warm seasons. The visitor can relax
in the gazebo, built by Stanley Ivey, or on one of the benches designed
and constructed by Ralph, who is an expert woodworker. The wildlife
around the garden is interesting for there are over 30 birdhouses
placed around and all are occupied by a variety of bird families.
Ralph Greene runs a regular Habitat for Birds providing them with
homes that he builds. Some return annually to nest and raise their
young. Ralph cleans the birdhouses each year and the birds apparently
appreciate his efforts to make their living arrangements clean and
attractive. Wrens, goldfinches, titmouses, Carolina Chickadees,
sparrows, robins, red birds, and brown thrashers nest in the area
along with hummingbirds, Oreos and other winged creatures. Brown
Thrashers, Georgia's State Birds, are particularly interesting,
for they love to dig in the loose leaves and mulch for insects.
Three sets of bluebirds usually set up housekeeping each year to
nest, hatch eggs, feed their young then teach them how to leave
the nest.
The Greene Garden is the result of planning, muscle investment
and lots of sweat equity for the yard had at least 15 tall pine
trees but no grass, shrubs or flowers when the Greenes moved there
over 30 years ago. Ralph and Pat planned an extreme makeover for
the yard and turned the area into a place of beauty. The focal point
of the back garden is the gazebo with a small pond nearby. A water
bird came to the pond a year ago and stayed long enough to fish
the pond dry, so the Greenes restocked and now hope that the bird
will not return for more feasting at their expense.
Ralph Greene is a retired Gwinnett educator and Pat works at the
Williams Library in Snellville. Both continue to pursue their gardening
avocations with success and with enthusiasm.
In addition to gardening, Pat and Ralph donate many hours volunteering
in local elementary schools. The Greenes present a puppet show to
kindergarten and first grades. The show tells about bullying in
a way that children ran relate to and understand. The show, "Hands
Are Not For Hitting" is part of the Gwinnett County Solicitor's
program to prevent the abuse of children.
Those Greene thumbs have succeeded in making their comer of Snellville
a sanctuary for birds, people and other wildlife including the resident
possum that comes out occasionally to greet visitors.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Old
Button's name keeps popping up all over the place
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
JULY 9, 2004 -- The name Button Gwinnett keeps popping up all around
the country. In a news story about autograph hunters in the New
York Times last week, Mary Jo Murphy wrote:
 "When
in the course of human events a man calls you a scoundrel and a
lying rascal, your own course is clear. You challenge him to a duel.
If he is a lucky shot and you are Button Gwinnett, it's bye-bye
Button.
"Which is why a piece of paper that Gwinnett put his neat
but not especially handsome signature on is so hard to find. Shuffling
along with the millions who visit the National Archives in Washington
to squint for scant seconds at the Declaration of Independence can
provide a glimpse. Gwinnett's is the first name in the first column
on the left. Keep the line moving."
She goes on to say that there are less than 50 copies of the Gwinnett
signature. And of course for collectors, that drives the price up.
The Georgia Encyclopedia says of his signature: "Gwinnett's
signature is one of the rarest and most valuable of the signers
of the Declaration of Independence. In 1979 a letter signed by Gwinnett
brought $100,000 at a New York auction; its value was estimated
in 1983 to be up to $250,000."
Ms. Murphy notes that a John Hancock, by comparison, has brought
$55,000, and a Thomas Jefferson only $8,900.
* * * * *
Then an editorial story in the Savannah Morning News last week
told of an event in that town each year which honors Button Gwinnett:
a wreath-laying ceremony.
Savannah does 'colonial' up in a big way. There are three chapters
of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in that city,
with the local DAR chapters taking turns hosting the wreath-laying.
Ironically, this year the Lachlan McIntosh chapter of the DAR hosted
the event. (The other two groups are known as the Bonaventure and
Savannah chapters of the DAR.) The ironic aspect is that Lachlan
McIntosh was the guy Button Gwinnett was dueling with back in 1777….with
Button dying a few days after that duel. It was an unfortunate name
of a DAR chapter for the special day purporting to honor Gwinnett
County's namesake!.
* * * * *
UNC EVENT: Over the years we have reported of the only celebration
of Button Gwinnett in the country, held each July at the University
of North Carolina Press. This year the celebration will be held
July 26 (Wish we could be there!) Over the years it has evolved
from a summer ice cream party to lunch cookout for this year, says
Heidi Perov of UNC Press. If you are in the Chapel Hill area that
Monday, stop by: the people are gracious hosts, and will highlight
anyone from Gwinnett that day, we know from previous visits!
* * * * *
Speaking of the Georgia Encyclopedia, we hear that it is a popular
site with Gwinnett students. The Encyclopedia tracking software
shows that the Gwinnett School system has logged more official visits
than any other library or school system in the state to the site.
The device totals information about the number of sessions and
page requests, even including the date of the visit, from libraries,
county and city school systems, colleges and technical schools.
And Gwinnett's school system comes out on top.
That says a lot about how savvy the Gwinnett students are, and
of course, how connected they are, too. Somehow, it doesn't surprise
us, for we think Gwinnett students are smart enough to recognize
a good source site when they see one. And there's no doubt the Georgia
Encyclopedia is the cat's meow about up-to-date Georgia information!
For instance, at the death of Ray Charles, the site soon had an
"In Memoriam" section about the popular musician. Being
up-to-date is what makes this online Georgia Encyclopedia so valuable!
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McLEMORE'S
WORLD
7/9: Taking the temperature
The latest from cartoonist Bill McLemore:
NEWS
7/9: Two from Norcross
win Nanney scholarship in music
The Mark Nanney Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to two students
at Norcross High School. Robin Schaps and Dominic Bruno have each
earned $1,000 college scholarships through their outstanding level
of musical achievement, dedication, and leadership.
 Robin
will attend the University of Georgia in Athens. She has been a
three-year All-State Band member, a three-year District Honor Band
member, a four-year UGA Jan-Fest Honor Band member, a member of
the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, a participant in the Governor's
Honors Program as a Woodwind minor, a participant in the Winter-Fest
through Armstrong Atlantic University, and a participant in the
Future Music Educator's Colloquium through Georgia Music Educator's
Association, a recipient of the "Most Valuable Woodwind"
award and a two-year section leader in the Norcross High School
Band. Robin is the recipient of the "2004 John Philip Sousa
Award". She will pursue a major in Music Education on oboe.
 Dominic
will attend Georgia State University. He has been a member of the
All-State Band for one year and a member of the District Honor Band
for two years. He has also been a member of the Atlanta Youth Trumpet
Ensemble, a substitute for the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, a two-year
member of the Jan-Fest UGA Band, recipient of the Outstanding Senior
Marching Band Member and a two-year section leader in the Norcross
High School Band. Dominic is the recipient of the "2004 Semper
Fidelis United States Marine Award for Musical Excellence,"
and the "2004 Louie Armstrong Jazz Award." Dominic plans
to pursue a major in Music Education on trumpet.
The Mark Nanney Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1991.
Mark, who was in his second year as Drum Major of the Norcross High
School Band, was killed by a drunk driver while Mark was on his
way to a University of Georgia football game in Athens. The Fund
was established to encourage and financially assist talented students
who, plan to make a significant contribution to the music world
by pursuing a college degree and a career in Music Performance or
in Music Education.
For more information on the Mark Nanney Memorial Scholarship, please
visit the website at: www.marknanney.com.
CALENDAR
7/9: Local non-profit
sets tropical auction to benefit seniors
The Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services (FOGCSS), a nonprofit
organization that privately supports senior services programs, will
hold a tropical auction to benefit seniors Thursday, July 22 from
6 to 8:30 p.m. at Delmar Gardens of Gwinnett, 3100 Club Drive, Lawrenceville.
The event entitled "Tropical Temptations Evening of Fun"
will feature heavy hors d'oeuveres, drinks, entertainment by an
authentic steel drum band, the opportunity to bid on silent auction
items and the chance to win door prizes. Auction item categories
include fine art, sports, services, travel, child items, jewelry/apparel
and electronics.
Funds raised from the event will go directly to support Gwinnett
County Senior Services programs such as Meals on Wheels. The event
is open to the public and tickets can be purchased for $10 in advance
or $15 at the door. The ticket price includes admittance to the
event, entertainment, food and beverages, a door prize ticket and
participation in the silent auction. Dress is tropical casual or,
if coming after work, business attire. To purchase advanced tickets,
call 770.822.8775.
5th annual Wine South
Atlanta set in Gwinnett in September
Wine South 2004, Atlanta's annual festival of food, wine, art and
music, is celebrating its fifth anniversary Saturday and Sunday,
September 18-19, at the Gwinnett Civic Center.
The festival will feature more than 500 different wines and food
from dozens of top Atlanta area restaurants along with celebrity
chef cooking demonstrations, educational wine seminars, wine-related
artwork, and continuous live musical entertainment. Food and wine
tastings will be arranged in international pavilions.
Proceeds from Wine South 2004 will benefit TEAM Georgia, a safe
driving organization, and local children's charities.
Festival hours are 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. both days. Wine South 2004
tickets are $50 a day or $95 for a weekend pass in advance or $60
and $110 at the door. Discounted tickets at $35 a day are available
for designated drivers. Tickets can be purchased securely on line
at www.winesouth.com
or charged by phone at 678-985-9494. Attendees must be 21 or older.
BOOK
RECOMMENDATION
7/9: From Jo Ann Pinder
Gwinnett County Public Library
"I am currently reading a police procedural, Middle of
Nowhere by Ridley Pearson. This is one of series which features
a trio of detectives from the Seattle Police Department. Pearson
develops a story around a true crime using Seattle as the backdrop.
Combining his in-depth research with wonderful character development
makes for a great read.
"In this case, I am listening as the author reads the story
to me by way of the library's book on tape/CD collection. I had
the pleasure of having lunch with Mr. Pearson several months ago
in Seattle--one of the many advantages of being president of the
Public Library Association.
"The pile of books by my bed is currently made up of pre-pubs.
These books scheduled for publication in the fall were collected
by the staff at the recent Book Exposition America (BEA), where
they scouted out what to buy for the library shelves in coming months.
I am now reading Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking
by Malcolm Gladwell. He wrote the The Tipping Point."
- An invitation: What books have you enjoyed? Send us
your best recent book along with a short paragraph as to why you
liked it, plus what you plan to read next. --eeb
ENCYCLOPEDIA
TIDBIT
7/9: Fiddlin' John
Carson first on radio with country music
In the spring of 1922, Georgia's "Fiddlin' John" Carson,
at the age of 54, became the first genuine old-time country musician
to broadcast country music over a radio station. A year later, on
June 14, 1923, the country-music recording industry was launched
when Carson made his first phonograph record.
 John
William Carson, a native of Fannin County, in the north Georgia
mountains, made a living as a farmer, railroad worker, horse jockey,
and moonshiner before his talent as a musician was discovered. Between
1913 and 1935 Carson was a major figure at the Georgia Old-Time
Fiddlers' Conventions, held annually in Atlanta.
When Atlanta's WSB, the South's first radio station, went on the
air on March 16, 1922, Fiddlin' John Carson took notice. A week
later, fiddle in hand, he visited the studios to inquire about being
allowed to have a try at this latest marvel of entertainment technology.
Taking his place before the microphone, Carson launched into an
impromptu concert of mountain music that lasted, according to one
station official, until "exhaustion set in."
The response from listeners was instantaneous and profuse. Telephone
calls, telegrams, and letters poured in for days afterward. Carson
was a regular performer on WSB into the early 1930s and thereafter,
intermittently, into the 1940s. He died in 1949.
Fiddlin' John Carson spent the last years of his life as an elevator
operator in Georgia's state capitol, a job earned as a reward for
years spent entertaining prospective voters at campaign rallies
for Georgia governors Eugene and Herman Talmadge. Carson was inducted
into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame in 1984.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
It's what in the home
that counts, writer says
"A home is not a mere transient shelter: its essence lies
in the personalities of the people who live in it."
-- H. L. Mencken, (1880 - 1956), via Roy McCreary of Dacula.
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