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TODAY'S ISSUE
Even in Atlanta, prepare now for coming hurricane season
By Tiffany Fell
American Red Cross, Atlanta
Special to GwinnettForum.com

JUNE 7, 2005 -- In light of last year's unprecedented hurricane season which included three storms directly affecting Metro Atlanta, the American Red Cross Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter urges people to begin making preparations for this year's hurricane season starting June 1.

Chapter CEO Tim English says: "Waiting until the last minute to prepare for a hurricane, or assuming that a major storm will not hit your community is a huge mistake. We saw many people in the metro area caught off guard by the wind, rain, tree damage and power outages caused by the remnants of Hurricanes Frances, Ivan and Jeanne."

The Atlantic hurricane season officially begins June 1 and ends November 30. As communities along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts prepare for hurricane season, the Red Cross recommends the following safety steps and tips:

Gather emergency supplies including: prescription and non-prescription medications, nonperishable or canned food, a manual can opener, water (at least one gallon per day per person), a battery-powered radio, flashlight, extra batteries, important documents, cash and credit cards, a first aid kit and special items for infants, elderly, family members with disabilities and pets. Store supplies in a waterproof, easy-to-carry container, such as a plastic tub with handles. A complete list can be found at www.redcross.org.

* Create a disaster plan with everyone in your family and household so you will know how to contact each other in an emergency and where to meet.

* Plan ahead for the possibility of becoming separated from your family and friends who live in the same disaster-stricken area as you do. Because phone lines may be out of service or overloaded after a disaster, it is often easier to call out-of-town. Choose an out-of-town contact that each family or household member will call to check in should a disaster occur.

* Make an emergency contact list that each family member can carry with the names and telephone numbers of people to get in touch with.

* Identify an evacuation route and alternate routes ahead of time; practice your route. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. In case of evacuation to an American Red Cross shelter, be sure to bring your disaster supplies kit, pillows and blankets and other hygiene and comfort supplies.

* Make advance preparations for pets so you can bring them with you when you evacuate, but remember, due to health department regulations, pets aren't allowed in public shelters.

* Measure windows and obtain hurricane/high-wind shutters or cut plywood to cover each one

* Remove diseased and damaged tree limbs well before a storm strikes

* Strengthen garage doors and double doors

* If you live in a manufactured home, check that the tie-down straps are secure. Get a professional's help if needed.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Day trip to Warm Springs promises good history, good food
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

JUNE 7, 2005 -- Here's a one day trip from Gwinnett that will teach you something, and make sure you are fed well, too.

Drive south to Warm Springs, and visit the Little White House, where President Franklin Delano Roosevelt sought refuge from polio. A new HBO movie, Warm Springs, has been in the news lately, telling that story.

Then for some really tasty Southern cooking, visit The Bulloch House in Warm Springs. The food is excellent, the way I remember years ago in South Georgia. The prices are right, and the hospitality gracious.

The Bulloch House, under operation of Judy West, began in 1990. She remembers: "I was a housewife and mother, and raised two boys. When it came time for them to go to college, mama needed more money, so mama went to work by buying The Bulloch House."

Working with Ms. West is her brother, Charles Garrett, and his wife, Sylvia. Altogether about 30 full time and 30 part time are employed.

Not trained in the restaurant business, they did "what our parents taught us," Ms. West says. "We always had a lot of company coming to our house to eat, and we prepare food the way our grandmothers used to do. We peel our own potatoes, make our own biscuits and cornbread, and cut the fried chicken with a pulley bone in it. Another favorite is chicken and dressing, as are roast beef and pork, served several ways." On Friday and Saturday night, catfish and hushpuppies are on the menu.

"People like our sweet potato soufflé. And we've been frying green tomatoes before the movie came out."

Also popular are the home made desserts. She says: "We make our own cakes, caramel and six layer chocolate. We sell hundreds of them. And banana pudding and peach cobbler. We offer lemon pie, and we're working on a chocolate pie, though it isn't perfected yet."

Ms. West says that she started with one stove, and one refrigerator…."and no money. We took one week at the time, and spent a lot of time mopping floors, crying, and asking, 'Dear God, what have I done?' We didn't know there was an 80 per cent failure rate for new businesses."

Her brother and wife had worked at a furniture plant that closed, and were looking for a job. "So we took a deep breath, bought the Bulloch House, found it in bad shape, with the walls in disarray. We did a lot of physical work ourselves, but hired a contractor to build on the banquet room in the back. The house seated 75 before remodeling, and now can seat 200.

And they enjoy it. Says Ms. West: "My sister and I played a lot when we were growing up, and still play a lot today.

"We were banking on serving a high volume, for with low price points like we have, and the upkeep and overhead, we need a lot of people."

They also have fixed up an adjacent house with furniture, home furnishings and gifts. "The gift shop gives us a chance to bring in some more money, still offer low price food, and have some money left at the end of the month."

The Bulloch House is open seven days a week for lunch, plus Friday and Saturday nights. Buffet cost $6.95 for Monday-Friday; $7.95 for Saturday and $9.95 on Sunday. Drinks and desserts are additional. It's located near downtown Warm Springs, on Georgia Highway 41.

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. The featured sponsor today is Russell Landscape Group Inc. of Dacula. Bill Russell is company president. The firm's experts offer a complete range of professional landscaping services for office/industrial parks, shopping centers, banks, condominiums and convention center complexes. Its professional affiliations are a reflection of the firm's professionalism and commitment to real property. To go to its web site, click on http://www.russelllandscapegroup.com.

The officers and congregation of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church are pleased to announce the pending nuptials of Ms. Patricia Kim and Senior Pastor Dr. William L. Sheals. The ceremony will be held July 30, 2005, in the church's main sanctuary beginning at 4 pm. Bishop Paul S. Morton of Greater St. Stephen Full Gospel Baptist Church, New Orleans, La.. will perform the ceremony.

The wedding party of 135 will consist of 50 bridesmaids and 50 groomsmen to include ministers, deacons and their spouses. More than 2,500 church members and community leaders are expected to be in attendance. A general reception will immediately follow on the church campus in Faith Hall. An invitation only reception will be held later in the evening at the Atlanta Athletic Club in Duluth.

Dr. Sheals, a native of Lakeland, Fla., has been Senior Pastor of Hopewell since 1980 and recently celebrated his 25th Anniversary with the church. Since Sheals' arrival, the church has grown from 200 members to more than 18,000 on the church roll and from 1 building on 2 acres to 11 buildings on more than 32 acres. Dr. Sheals received his business degree from New York University. His theological degrees are from Florida Memorial Seminary and the International Bible College, with studies at Luther Rice Seminary, I.T.C., Morehouse and the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

Ms. Kim, originally born in South Korea to an African American father and Korean mother, was raised in Texas after her parents moved to Fort Hood when she was six years old. Having spent most of her life in Houston, she relocated to Atlanta in 2000. A graduate of the University of Arlington (Texas), Ms. Kim received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management and is currently employed as a Staff Accountant for a major telecommunications firm.

Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church is located at 182 Hunter Street, Norcross. The church is located on a 32-acre campus known as the City of Hope. In addition to three Sunday Services, other amenities include a Christian Academy for grades K4-12th grade, Child Development Center for children six weeks-four years old and Christianomics Mall including barber shop, beauty salon, nail salon, clothing boutique, bookstore, and restaurant.

There's a place in Gwinnett County where you can hop through waterfalls flowing from colorful pipes, climb through an aquatic playground, race down a towering waterslide, or just lay on your back and float down a winding lazy river.

"Welcome to summer, come on in for dip in one of our six fantastic pools" says Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation Director Sharon Plunkett. The county parks and recreation department has readied the waters for children heading out from school for the summer.

Best Friend Park in Norcross just received a facelift, which added some new aquatic play/splash features to the existing pool. The entire park is undergoing major improvements construction, but the entrance on Jimmy Carter Boulevard will be open for pool patrons, while the rest of Best Friend Park will open to the public later in the year.

Five Gwinnett parks include new aquatic playgrounds, with features like splashes, lazy rivers and water slides. These parks include Best Friend Pool, Bogan Aquatic Center in Buford, Collins Hill Aquatic Center, Rhodes Jordan Park Pool in Lawrenceville, and Mountain Park Aquatic Center.

Sharon Plunkett says: "I think we've taken pools to a new level in recent years. Our newer pools have many amenities that, in the past, you could only find at water parks."

All county pools are open for the summer season and will operate through Labor Day.)

Pools are in high demand in Gwinnett County. On average 400,000 people visit the county's pools each year and the Mountain Park Aquatic Center, which has an outdoor pool and two indoor pools, was the busiest facility last year with close to 175,000 participants. More than 1,000 aquatics lessons were offered in 2004 with over 6,000 participants, and hundreds of aquatics classes, from hydro-aerobics to diving are offered year-round.
See below for hours of operations and phone numbers for all of Gwinnett County's pools.

Twilight Swim: Admission is half-price one hour before closing at all pools excluding Family Swim nights.

Rentals: All pools are available for rental (depending on season/availability) on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings after closing to the public. Two-hour minimum and three-hour maximum on rentals. $50 deposit required to reserve the facility and $200 cleaning/damage deposit due with payment prior to the start of the rental. Private rental groups must adhere to all pool policies/rules. Weather or unforeseen maintenance/repair closings may affect rentals. For pricing information, contact the facility you wish to reserve.

Passes: Seasonal and annual discounted rate passes are available. Seasonal passes valid Memorial Day-Labor Day and Labor Day-Memorial Day (indoor pools only). Annual passes valid one year from date of purchase. Annual passes may only be purchased at Mountain Park, Bogan and Collins Hill, but are valid at all Gwinnett County pools.

The Southern Ballet Theatre, an innovative non-profit, pre-professional dance company seeks sponsors for the 2005-2006 season. Committed to the art and emotion of classical ballet, but known for delighting audiences with unexpected, modern twists, Southern Ballet Theatre seeks like-minded patrons eager to further an appreciation of the performing arts in Gwinnett County. Southern Ballet Theatre (SBT) approaches the 2005-06 season with exciting plans and special needs.

High on SBT's wish list for the future would be sponsorship of these professional dancers, all who devote their time and energies to the company while holding down jobs or studying as full-time college students.

After the successful premiere of The Wizard of Oz in March 2005 to sold-out audiences, SBT will respond to popular demand and present The Wizard of Oz once more in March 2006. The company invites corporate, small business and private underwriters to fund the following: lighting design, professional dancers, scenery and props, costumes and pointe shoes, and special effects for this 2006 encore production of The Wizard of Oz. New special effects are planned above and beyond the fire, water, snow, tornado, and hot air balloon that thrilled initial audiences. SBT would like to secure sponsorship of a professional fly crew to actually give flight to the witches, monkeys, and even Dorothy.

For more information, please contact Amy Orr, co-artistic director, at (770)963-2685.

ENCYCLOPEDIA TIDBIT
Creek Indian society power revolved around each "mico"

Creek Indian society contained an unknown number of leaders in the pre-removal era. Each village had civil, religious, and war chiefs of various ranks. Leaders wielded authority only as long as they could persuade others to agree with their decisions. As a result, leadership positions frequently changed hands.

The most important Creek leader was the mico or village chief. In addition to providing domestic leadership micos served as diplomatic representatives. They welcomed traders, diplomats, and other sojourners into the village, served as representatives at treaty negotiations, and led warriors into battle. Micos could not coerce their villages into obedience. Instead they used various methods to persuade Creeks to follow their lead. They redistributed scarce resources and daily necessities, demonstrated their bravery in warfare, forged trade relationships, arranged diplomatic alliances, and wielded powerful sacred items. In this way Creek micos demonstrated that they deserved their positions of power.

Kinship ties to prominent leaders helped many Creeks obtain power, and as a result the powerful Wind Clan had a disproportionate number of village leaders. Clan leaders, especially elder women, often prevented micos from controlling the most important decisions within Creek society. Clans organized hunts, distributed lands, arranged marriages, and punished lawbreakers. The village power structure, which reserved positions of leadership for members of each of the resident clans, further limited the power of the mico.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
There's a time for this, and then there's a time for that

"I don't think anyone should write their autobiography until after they're dead."

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