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Phylecia Wilson given national cancer
volunteer award
Special to GwinnettForum
NEW YORK, N.Y., Nov. 25, 2008 - Phylecia Wilson of Clarkesville,
formerly of Gwinnett County, was presented with the American Cancer
Society's National Volunteer Leadership Award last week at the Society's
annual national meeting. She was among four people who were recognized
for their outstanding dedication to helping reduce the burden of
cancer.
Phylecia Wilson receives the American Cancer Society's National
Volunteer Leadership award. She's with Dr. John Seffrin, chief
executive officer of the national American Cancer Society, and
the newly installed national volunteer president. Elizabeth
"Terry" T.H. Fontham, dean of the School of Public
Health at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. |
The Society, the nation's largest voluntary health organization,
honors individuals whose work is helping to make the organization's
mission of eliminating cancer as a major health problem a reality.
In gratitude for their inspirational service to mankind, the Society's
national volunteer leaders presented annual awards to these outstanding
individuals in ceremonies during the organization's annual meeting
here.
Ms. Wilson was honored for her more than three decades of invaluable
service to the American Cancer Society in fundraising, cancer control
and patient services. Her leadership at the local and nationwide
levels of the American Cancer Society Relay For Life community fundraising
and mobilization movement earned her the Relay For Life Hall of
Fame award in 2001, which only four other volunteers have received.
She is the founder of Relay For Life in Gwinnett County, which is
now the largest Relay event in the world raising more than $2.5
million annually. Ms. Wilson has worked tirelessly to motivate people
nationwide to become cancer advocates through her involvement with
the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM and the national
and Georgia Public Policy Committee. She is a cancer survivor who
has inspired countless people as a volunteer and spokesperson with
the Society.
The first year a Relay for Life was held in Gwinnett, money raised
totaled $119,246, at the time the most money ever raised by a first-time
relay in the nation. From the beginning, Gwinnett led the nation
in number of cancer survivors involved, and in dollars raised in
subsequent years. Gwinnett was the first relay to net $1 million
in a single relay, which came in 1999.Three years later, in 2002,
it was the first to raise $2 million. By 2008, it was raising $2.5
million at its Relay, and a collective $20 million in the 15 years
of the event.
Other awardees included Michelle M. Le Beau of Chicago, professor
of Medicine and director of the University of Chicago Cancer Research
Center, who received the Distinguished Service Award for her work
in therapy-related cancers; Frances M. Visco of Philadelphia, who
received the Distinguished Service Award for her commitment to breast
cancer advocacy and women's health issues; and the late Florence
S. Wald of Branford, Conn., who received the Humanitarian Award
for her pioneering efforts in hospice care and outstanding contributions
to the nursing practice.
At the meeting, George W.P. Atkins of Atlanta, was named chair-elect.
The Atlanta-based American Cancer Society is dedicated to eliminating
cancer as a major health problem by saving lives, diminishing suffering
and preventing cancer through research, education, advocacy and
service. Founded in 1913 and with national headquarters in Atlanta,
the Society has 13 regional Divisions and local offices in 3,400
communities, involving millions of volunteers across the United
States. For more information anytime, call toll free 1-800-ACS-2345
or visit www.cancer.org.
Some ideas if you're contemplating Amtrak
railroading trip
By
ELLIOTT BRACK
Editor and Publisher
NOV. 25, 2008 -- For Bob Giselbach of Buford, it was a trip of
a lifetime. Bob has an interest in railroads, and in fact, works
in railroading, part time on weekends during the summers, as the
voluntary superintendent, you might say, of the Vines Garden Model
Railroad near Loganville.
Brack |
He and his wife, Eileen, have returned this fall from a four-day
trip via train from Atlanta, to Washington, Chicago and Seattle,
and four days for a return. Once off the train in Seattle, they
boarded the Holland American line's MS Amsterdam and went on an
Alaskan cruise. Altogether, they were gone 17 days. While they enjoyed
the cruise, weather did not cooperate on the late August cruise,
with fog settling in most of the days, with little that they could
see. They were off the ship sightseeing in Victoria, British Columbia,
and in Alaska at Juneau, Sitka, and Ketchikan.
Bob seemed to like the time on the train best, though he came away
with some definite impressions of train travel. And Bob likes the
clickity-clack of rail travel, sleeping well on the berths in his
compartment.
Before he retired, Bob was in the Army Artillery, and later spent
20 years as a U.S. Postal Service police officer. As for trains,
he says he has no idea where his love for trains came in, but it's
a passion for him
From his journey across the country by rail, Bob came up with several
observations for those who may have envisioned such a trip. Among
his ideas:
- Don't wait until you are too old to take care of yourself on
a trip such as this. "I'm 76, and it sometimes tired me."
- Forget about Amtrak if you are fat. "You just won't fit
into some of the spaces, like the tables and chairs in the restaurant
that are bolted down in the dining cars, or in the toilets and
showers," he says.
- Only travel in a bedroom, not a roomette, and definitely not
in coach. "A bedroom cost more, but it's worth it."
For the eight day train trip, the cost was $3,100, which included
all meals and a bedroom on the train for him and his wife.
- Travel with a fistful of five dollar bills for tips.
- Woe to you if you are a smoker on Amtrak. "Amtrak has no
mercy for smokers. I am not a smoker, but I felt for them. They
announce that they will put you off at the next station if they
catch you smoking."
- And finally: "When traveling on Amtrak, have a thick skin,
and remember that the glass is always half full."
On the trip, Bob feels that the best part of travel by train is
"Sitting by the large windows and watching the world go by.
You can't do this on an airplane." He is pleased with Amtrak
employees in general: "These people know how to treat passengers,
with free coffee, juice and snacks. By all means listen to them
for advice." During the entire trip by train, he met only one
surly employee, and simply did not tip him.
One aspect that Bob was displeased about: the Amtrak station in
Atlanta. "For a town this size, we need a better station. Many
of the places we stopped at, much smaller towns, had far better
stations."
Watch out. Bob Giselbach may be boarding another train soon for
another clickity-clack trip!
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Likes
what he sees in new waste management plan
Editor, the Forum:
I'm somewhat pleased with the new options for the Gwinnett waste
management plan for 2009 and beyond. It means considerable savings
for me and my family. Some might be paying marginally more, but
I think most will find the savings somewhere down the road.
As for your recycling comments in the November 21 issue: the limits
on the current recycling plan made it too much to keep up with.
We presently are able to recycle about seven items, which made it
a "why bother?" issue for me.
But under the new plan, the new 35 item list for recycling and
the larger 95 gallon can being provided will certainly make me change
my recycling habits. Hopefully more will jump on board with the
new service in 2009!
-- Scott Phillips, Dacula
Dear Scott: Here's another recycling tip: throw
away your vegetable waste in a compost pile. Store all those leaves
now falling to cover the household vegetative waste until next
fall, turn the pile regularly, and voila: in several months, you'll
have rich, thick, black compost waiting to go on your flower or
garden beds. --eeb
County agent suggestions
for winter vegetable garden
Editor, the Forum:
I would like for Robert Brannen from the Extension Service to include
some ideas for a winter vegetable garden. It surprises some people
to see that I have a winter vegetable garden with collards, turnip
greens, mustard, cabbage, spinach and onions.
I'm sure there are many more vegetables that would make a wonderful
winter garden. I planted some winter mustard outside of the garden.
When they bloom, the honey bees cover it and when they seed, the
house finch have a feast.
You will also have an endless supply of mustard coming up year
after year. It's not too late to plant. Still Lake Nursery on Scenic
Highway in Lawrenceville has a decent selection and the best prices
for those who didn't start their plants from seed. Happy Gardening,
-- Shirley Holmes, Lawrenceville
Dear Shirley: I bet those bees enjoyed your fall
blooms, for fall is not as good as spring for buds. See below
for Robert's ideas.-eeb
Asparagus: Select the new all-male hybrid
asparagus varieties such as Jersey Giant, Jersey Prince, and Jersey
Knight. These varieties produce spears only on male plants. The
all-male hybrids out-yield the old Mary Washington varieties by
3 to 1. May be planted from November thru December and January
15 through March 15.
Green Onions: Crystal Wax has silvery white skin, small,
round bulbs and mild, crisp flesh that make them ideal for pickling.
The White Portugal has more flattened globes with silvery white
skin, firm, sweet and mild. Stores well. Can be pulled early as
bunching onions, used for grilling or pickling when small, or
left till fully mature. May be planted in the fall from September
1 through December 31 and January 1 through March 15.
Dry Bulb Onions: Granex 33, Grano 502,
Sweet Vidalia, (bulb-type), Sweet Georgia '(100 - 120 days to
maturity). Granex is marketed as Vidalia onions. Used for salads,
slicing, and cooking. Stays firm, crisp, and sweet when stir fried.
Similar to the "Vidalia" onion. Bulbs are large and
thick, and noted for their exceptionally sweet flavor. Produces
high yields and is resistant to pink root. May be planted from
October 10 through November 10 and from January 1 through March
15.
Winter greens |
Garden Peas: Little Marvel is a vigorous
bush plants, with heavy yields, hardy, sugary, tender, sweet fine-flavored
peas. Small pods whose peas stay tender and sweet even when fully
ripe and filling the pod. An excellent choice.
Wando - Although it is resistant to the effects of heat and therefore
used for late sowings, it also pollinates well under cooler conditions.
Good for freezing and canning. May be planted January 15 through
February 15
Edible Pea Pods: Sugar Ann: The crisp,
sweet succulent three inch pods are ready to eat 10 to 14 days
ahead of the original Sugar Snap pea. Remains in prime eating
condition for days. Short 24 inch vines need no staking. May be
planted January 15 through February 15
Greens: Lettuce and Mustard may be planted
January 15 through March 1. Red Sails Lettuce is a truly superior
loose leaf lettuce. It is long standing with red and light green
rumpled leaves. A truly attractive as well a nutritious addition
to any salad. Approx. 45 days to maturity.
Lawrenceville's
Lighting of the Tree set for Thursday night
Discover the magic of the Season on Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving
evening) on the square in downtown Lawrenceville for the annual
Lighting of the Tree.
Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation, the City of Lawrenceville,
and the Lawrenceville Tourism and Trade Association work to bring
hundreds of lights and thousands of smiling faces together for a
night of entertainment and cheer.
Beginning at 5 pm at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, this event
includes the arrival of Santa Claus (6:45 p.m.), live entertainment,
carriage rides, tours of the beautifully decorated historic courthouse,
and of course, the giant tree presentation (6 p.m.)! End your Thanksgiving
with a night to remember that makes children's eyes light up more
than the tree lights and ornaments themselves.
For more information please contact the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse
at (770) 822- 5450.
Button Theatre plans
Winter Wonderland cabaret and auction
The Button Theatre is planning its first Winter Wonderland, which
will include a Dessert Cabaret and Silent Auction.
Its first Winter Wonderland will be Monday, December 1, and promises
to be a night of fun and festivity, featuring some of Atlanta's
best talent, including Maura Carey Neill, Ben Neill, Jennifer Hendrickson
and Charlie Bradshaw, as well as a silent auction to help theatre
patrons with their Christmas shopping.
The event will be at the Jacqueline Casey Hudgens Center for the
Arts at the Gwinnett Arena at 7 p.m. for the silent auction, followed
by the 8 p.m. performance
Santa plans arrival
on sleigh in Suwanee on December 6
No pouting…no crying 'cause Santa Claus is coming to Suwanee!
Santa will arrive on Main Street in historic Old Town on his tractor-pulled
sleigh Saturday, December 6, as part of Suwanee's annual Old Town
Holiday Festival and Caboose Lighting event. The festivities begin
at 5 p.m.
Victorians singers will entertain Suwanee fete |
Come help Santa light the red caboose and enjoy performances of
favorite holiday tunes by elementary school choruses, carriage rides,
holiday crafts, and hot chocolate, s'mores, and cookies.
Also, share your wish list with Santa and have your photo taken
with him - just bring your own camera. All activities are free,
except for the carriage rides, which are $4 per person or $15 for
family of up to six.
Buford Yule parade
grand marshal will be John Oxendine
Come celebrate the Holiday Season at Historic Main Street in Buford
on Saturday, December 6. The festivities start at 11a.m., culminating
with the lighting of the tree at 5:30 p.m. A parade will proceed
through Main Street at 2:30 p.m. John Oxendine, Georgia insurance
commissioner and Gwinnett resident, will be the parade's Grand Marshall.
Along with the parade, this year's festivities include stage performances,
children's activities, food and street merchants. All of this will
take place at and around the amphitheater area at the end of Main
Street (Historic Buford) in front of the Bona Allen Mansion.
Sugar Hill plans festive
arrival of Santa for December 6
The City of Sugar Hill will present its annual Holiday Celebration
on the Town Green and in the Community Center. The event takes place
Saturday, December 6, from 5-8 p.m. From 5-6 p.m., sing favorite
holiday songs with local school choral groups.
Sugar Hill Elementary School chorus will sing Dec. 6 |
At 6 p.m. join the Mayor and City Council as they light the Town
Green annual Christmas Tree. Then from 6:15pm until 8 p.m. join
Santa in the Community Center for refreshments while listening to
holiday music. For more information, or for those who require special
accommodations, contact the Recreation Department 48 hours in advance
at 770-831-7413.
County
water bills soon will be payable online, too
Another governmental entity allows online payments. Beginning Jan.
1, 2009, the Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources will
offer commercial and residential customers the opportunity to save
time with online bill payments.
Acting Water Resources Director Lynn Smarr says that customers will
be able to log in to the secure Web site and pay their bills online
either from checking accounts or with credit or debit cards. Customers
will also be able to review a 16-month bill history in the same
format as their paper bills.
Residents can take the first step in creating an online account
now by visiting the County's home page at www.gwinnettcounty.com.
Go to the upper left-hand corner of the homepage and select Register
Now in the "mygwinnett" section.
- An invitation: What
Web sites, books or restaurants have you enjoyed? Send us your
best recent visit to a restaurant or most recent book you have
read along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus
what book you plan to read next. --eeb
Freshwater mollusks
here among world's most abundant
The freshwater
molluscan
fauna of Georgia are one of the most diverse and abundant found
anywhere in the world. In the southeastern United States, which
has the greatest freshwater mollusk diversity in the world, Georgia's
165 mollusk species (67 snails and 98 mussels) rank fourth in total
diversity.
However, freshwater mollusks are the most imperiled group of animals
today. Since the 1920s, 12 species of mussels and three species
of snails have become extinct in Georgia. As of 2003, 13 species
of freshwater mussels were protected under the Endangered Species
Act, and four more were candidates for listing. Only a single species
of freshwater gastropod was listed in 2003, and one other species
was a candidate. The overall conservation picture is staggering:
fully 46 percent of freshwater snails and 75 percent of freshwater
mussels in the state are considered at risk. The primary cause for
species loss has been human alterations to natural stream and river
habitats.
Freshwater snails and mussels derive from ancestral lineages originating
in the Cambrian period, some 500 million years ago. Most of the
freshwater fauna found in Georgia today evolved from saltwater species
that invaded freshwater river systems along three primary routes
and thus developed into three general groups: the Atlantic Slope
fauna of the Altamaha and Savannah River basins, the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint
rivers fauna, and the fauna of the Coosa River basin, which is part
of the Mobile River system.
(To Be Continued.)
Party suggests big
government doesn't work and proves it
"The Democrats are the party that says government will make
you smarter, taller, richer, and remove the crabgrass on your lawn.
The Republicans are the party that says government doesn't work
and then they get elected and prove it."
-- American Political Satirist P.J. O'Rourke (1947 - ).
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is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible
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