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Art program seeks to help elderly discover
their talents
By
Tia Severino
Special to GwinnettForum.com
TUCKER, Ga., Aug. 21, 2007 -- Let me share with you a vision that
I have for our community. I believe as a people we will be measured
by how we treat those who need us the most, the weakest among us:
our children and our elders.
Severino |
Our stewardship to the very young and the very old is of tremendous
importance. As a mother of a 17-year-old daughter and a one-year-old
son, with an 81 year old grandmother living in a nursing home, I
am moved to tears when I see the way the world sometimes treats
our precious commodities of elderly wisdom and youthful promise
for the future.
That's why when I heard about Art Without Boundaries, I knew instantly
I had to be a part of it. Art Without Boundaries is giving me the
opportunity to have a career in art that allows me to make a difference
in the lives of our precious elders.
Since I have been accepted as an apprentice for Art Without Boundaries,
I will be opening a chapter right here in Metro Atlanta. That means
I will be providing MnemeTherapy to healthcare facilities and seniors
in this area. Can you imagine the looks of joy on the faces of our
elders when they realize that they, too, are artists?
It may be difficult to believe, but this above painting was created
through MnemeTherapy by a patient with Alzheimer's who had never
painted before. To learn more about MnemeTherapy visit http://www.artwithoutboundaries.org/MnemetecnicTherapy.html
Remember the teenage daughter I mentioned earlier? Well, she's
an artist too. I want her to know that she can pursue her dream
of being an artist. Art Without Boundaries can do that for her one
day too. In the meantime, I want to pass on certain values to her,
like respecting your elders and giving back to the community. She
heard about what I am trying to do and wanted to be included, so
she is getting the senior class at Parkview High School involved
in the fundraising and community awareness campaign. They are calling
their efforts "Senior Class for Senior Citizens."
There is a kick-off meeting on Thursday, August 30 at 7 p.m. at
Parkview Senior High School for the Art Without Boundaries concept.
Follow signs to the cafeteria. The purpose of this meeting is to
inform interested people about this program and get them interested
in this wonderful service.
There is even more reason to be excited! After the community comes
together to provide these services through fundraising, special
artists will be recognized in a Celebration. Paintings will be auctioned
off, and the proceeds will provide even more services. Can you see
the joy in the eyes of family members as the lives of their loved
ones are honored?
This story is about so much more than truly amazing art. It is
about bringing the entire community together to celebrate the lives
of our elders, and the promise of our youth. For more information
on this new venture for the area, go to tiaartangels@yahoo.com.
Add to the list of "Eureka" moments
for inventions
By
Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
AUG. 21, 2007 -- An article in USA Today recently spoke
of 25 years of "Eureka" moments. Some of what they thought
important in the last 25 years, we just don't need ourselves: Big
Berthas golf clubs, Blackberrys, debit cards, TiVo or Karaoke.
Brack |
Among their key items of the last 25 years: cell phones, laptop
computers, caller ID, DVDs, Lithium rechargeable batteries, iPods,
pay-at-the-pump, lettuce in a bag; Doppler radar; digital cameras;
electronic tolls and microwavable popcorn!
Yet man's innovative mind has produced some wonderful items within
our lifetime, many of which we would hate to try and get along without
these days. Some tasks that seemed so difficult now seem almost
easy with these new-fangled toys…or even necessities.
You can probably think of a few new ways of doing things which
now seem so easy, but in the past have been difficult.
My own list would include:
Email. It's wonderful, and so quick and easy. And now with
cameras built into computers, it's a great way to stay connected
with your grandchildren in distant cities.
Answering machines: You can stay in touch better, and don't
have to be on the phone all the time.
Chain saws. Not brand new, but so useful to the average
homeowner at certain times. There's so much difference between using
one….and a hand-held saw!
Lawn blowers and trimmers: we put the two together, though
they have different purposes. They can be loud. But again, what
ease!
Microwave ovens, though some people over-use them, like
using to boil water!
Krystals. (White Castles, for you northerners.) They weren't
invented in the last 25 years, but from time-to-time, they hit the
spot.
Google. It's hard to imagine how incomplete a computer would
be without Google. It just simply makes life easier. (We learned
lately that it is even a calculator. Put in 3.87689 x 643.23309
and see what you get.)
Gore-Tex. A miracle if we have ever seen one.
Velcro. Another amazing change. Who would have thought?
Instant replays on TV. Can you imagine watching sports without
it? And it even makes it better for the game itself, when the refs
goof up. But we agree: baseball should never adopt it for balls
and strikes, or else Bobby Cox would protest about every other pitch,
and be thrown out of more games.
Remote controls for TV: It's mighty nice to click around
the dial, rather than get your lazy self out of that chair and go
to the TV and turn the knob.
IRAs and 401k programs: They are a painless way to save
a little each month, and be in better shape in the long run. It
took governmental blessing to get these creatures, which now underpin
our entire personal savings and stock market!
Perhaps you can add a few must-have features of your own, which
makes life far more simple.
 The
public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com
to you at no cost to readers. Today's sponsor is Brand Banking
Company, headquartered in Lawrenceville, where it has three
offices, with additional branches in Snellville, Grayson and Flowery
Branch. Coming in August is our new branch in Buford, while another
branch will open in October in Duluth. It is the largest privately
held bank in Gwinnett, with assets of $900 million. Member, FDIC
and Federal Reserve System. More: www.thebrandbank.com
Feels Gwinnett school dropped ball on educating
her son
Editor, the Forum:
My son was a C student in resource classes in the Gwinnett County
school system. Last year, we moved to Northern California. When
his new school requested his records, Snellville Middle School kept
dropping the ball. They did not send his testing information or
his IEP.
Apparently they dropped the ball many times in educating my son
as well. When we moved to California, my son's grades dramatically
improved. He went from a C student in resource classes at Gwinnett
County Schools to making the honor roll at his new school in California.
When he starts high school next year he will be placed in college
prep classes because the staff feels that he can handle it.
I don't know what is going on in Gwinnett County but they aren't
educating resource students. This is apparent by their continuous
failure to meet yearly AYP goals. By the way, my son's new high
school in Redding made Newsweek's Top 1000 high schools.
-- Deeann Metzinger, Redding, Calif.
Points out differences
in proposed GOP radical tax plans
Editor, the Forum:
Your recent rant about John Linder's HR 25 (aka the "Fair"
Tax) is uncharacteristically biased and not informing the public
accurately. The "Fair" Tax bill would actually eliminate
the IRS and collect federal funds through an embedded tax (estimated
@ 23 percent, as part of the retail sales price) by the state and
funneled to the federal government, i.e. a reduction in federal
"big" government.
Currently employers are required to "withhold" certain
funds from an employee's paychecks ("income and Social Security
taxes") and remit them to the feds monthly, quarterly , etc.
These "withholdings" would be eliminated completely by
the "Fair Tax," with these previous costs floating to
the top of the sale price of an item, to be paid at the retail level.
Advantages include complete transparency of the operating costs
of the government and control of the government back to the people!
Rep. Glenn Richardson's derivative for Georgia is not as simple
or complete, causing much more derision for the masses. It maintains
a Georgia state income tax and increases the sales tax allocation,
which in simple terms, means raising taxes to fund bigger government,
which I am opposed.
The two tax plans are separate and distinct and should not be correlated
at all.
-- Kevin S. Moffitt, Lawrenceville
Dear Kevin: thanks for your brief explanations.
I agree that the Richardson and Linder plans are each distinctive
and not related.. My point is that, coming from people who are
said to be conservative, both are most radical in nature.--eeb
Feels "Fair"
Tax would help small businessmen cut cost
Editor the Forum:
I hope you are wrong!
The "Fair" Tax proposition is not a radical Republican
proposition. It is a way to remove the IRS from my pocket book.
I am a small business owner and have to pay for accounting services
to research the present highly- complicated tax codes to determine
what I owe. It is impossible for me to know how much I owe every
quarter unless we have a full review of all income, expenses, donations,
etc. This new non-partisan proposition is a huge change from the
radical system that is in place today (Mr. Roosevelt wouldn't recognize
what he started).
I wish you would take the politics out of the proposition and review
it on its merits. People with more money buy more things, hence
the more you buy, the more taxes you pay. There will be no more
loopholes for the rich to pay less taxes. It is a very simple idea.
It does not grow government. Can you imagine how many IRS jobs alone
will be eliminated?
-- Randy Sutt, Duluth
Dear Randy: People advocating this "Fair"
Tax always talk about eliminating the IRS, and under the proposal,
it would. But do you think for a minute that the bureaucracy that
runs IRS will be wandering the streets looking for jobs? No, they
will merely transfer to the large Fair Tax collection bureaucracy.
And really: do you think the super rich will end up paying 23
percent on their purchases? They will find ways around it, too,
even if is only means making major purchases in foreign countries,
or some such scheme. --eeb
Considers lumping
two together yellow journalism
Editor, the Forum:
I view being politically conservative as being faithful to the literal
words of our Constitution, narrowly interpreting that noble document,
narrowly defining the role of government, with government being
fiscally responsible, being a nation of law, individual rights and
freedoms, and individual responsibility. While it does seem that
Georgia House Speaker Richardson is doing his best to protect his
land rich constituents and add to the power of his body in state
government; that is just being a good ole boy. It is not being a
politically conservative. Good ole boys come in all political colors
and skin colors. I agree with you that Mr. Richardson's proposal
is far out and not what Georgia needs.
However, you damage your own credibility with your yellow journalism
regarding the "Fair" Tax. Exploitation of the ridiculousness
of Rep. Richardson's proposal by lumping the "Fair" Tax
in with a valid criticism of Richardson's plan is a trick that is
beneath you, sir.
The negative conclusions that you state regarding the "Fair"
Tax are based upon "facts" that are not in evidence. Please
explain how the fair tax would create bigger government when the
IRS would be eliminated. Please explain how the super rich not paying
as much of a percentage of their income as those making less is
not fair. Remember it is not an income tax. It is a consumption
tax! I am requesting that you make a credible and logically sound
argument to defend your implication that taxing sales would be less
stable than taxing income.
My opinion is that even though I am not super rich or even rich,
the "Fair" Tax is worthy of serious consideration. I would
much rather pay 22 percent tax on everything that I buy instead
of 25 percent tax on every dollar that my wife and I earn. Yes,
the "Fair Tax" is radical. But, it fits within my definition
of politically conservative and it might actually be good for our
nation.
Perhaps you should advise your readers to watch out for good ole
boys and radical socialists!
-- Wayne Buchheit , Dacula
Dear Wayne: Who do you think would be hurt the
most by this so-called "Fair" tax? A low wage worker
paying 23 percent on all their purchases, or a super rich person
paying the same rate on all their purchases? Obviously, the amount
left after paying the same rate would hit the low wage worker
harder, hence this is regressive and bad for our country. And
I am glad you agree that the proposal is radical. -eeb
Worries about wisdom
of holding kids after school
Editor, the Forum:
When I was in school, as the school bell rang at the end of the
day, we got to go home, unless we were being punished. Well, this
is not so today if you choose to pick your child up because you
refuse to let your child ride in a big yellow oven for 45 minutes
or longer to get home.
At McConnell Middle School they hold the car riders for an additional
15 or so minutes for safety reasons. Safety reasons? My first thought
would be the traffic, but there is a traffic light and a police
officer. Nope that's not the safety issue.
The issue, as I was told by the front office, is that they have
had students injured by falling down the stairs trying to get to
the bus with so many students missing the bus last year. My child
is in the Eighth Grade and has never missed the bus.
The sign across the street from the school was flashing the temperature
107 on last Tuesday and 109 on Wednesday. Some parents leave their
vehicle running for the air conditioning, which chokes everyone
else with the exhaust fumes.
Ahhh, finally the 4 p.m. bell rings and no one comes out. At 4:15
the car riders are finally released. You get to the traffic light
to see there is no flow of traffic on Ozora Road because there are
so many cars trying to get into the school. At this point its comical
until the police officer stops you to let the three buses out that
had to wait 15 minutes to load. You are now stuck behind the bus
that stops every 10th of a mile to drop the kids off. I called the
County office and was told the school is well within its rights
to hold the students after the bell rings. Where is the wisdom?
Better yet, Where is the common sense?
-- Shirley Holmes, Lawrenceville
Several new features now open at Mountain
Park park
Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation has opened several new additions
to Mountain Park Park recently.
Amenities new to the park include a skate complex, sand volleyball
court, playground with climbing boulders and swings, an open space
lawn area for free play, and a small picnic shelter and several
picnic tables.
These new features complement existing amenities at Mountain Park
Park, including seven baseball/softball fields, a football field
overlay, six lighted tennis courts, two existing playgrounds, a
mulch trail and a one-mile paved, multi-purpose trail.
Funding for the additions to the park was funded through the voter-approved
2005 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) and enhanced
by a $100,000 grant from the Department of Natural Resources Land
and Water Conservation Fund.
Two Gwinnett County organizations have received the maximum grant
awarded by the Jackson EMC Foundation. The Gwinnett Housing Resource
Partnership in Duluth has been awarded a $15,000 grant for its Home
Investment Academy (HIA) program, and the Hope Clinic in Lawrenceville
has been awarded a $15,000 grant to expand the services provided
to the working poor of Gwinnett County.
Duluth
resident heads Community Health Charities
Horne |
Community Health Charities of Georgia (CHCG) announces that Brenda
K. Horne of Duluth is its new chief executive officer. CHCG . the
only workplace giving program in Georgia devoted exclusively to
health, allows employees the ability to designate donations to a
list of 42 local health charities of their choice.
Ms. Horne was already an integral part of CHCG. She served as a
board member since 2004, including a year of service as chairperson
of CHCG's Member Council in her role as Executive Director of the
Georgia Cancer Foundation, which joined CHCG as a participating
charity in 2001.
Marvin Hodge, who served as Chief Executive Officer for more than
two years, has retired from CHCG. He was instrumental in positioning
the organization for growth during his tenure. Mr. Hodge's retirement
caps a decade of service to CHCG at both the board and executive
levels.
Ms. Horne joins CHCG with extensive nonprofit experience in healthcare.
Named executive director of the Georgia Cancer Foundation in July
2000, Ms. Horne tripled the services of the Foundation and significantly
expanded its mission of cancer education, early detection and support
for patients and families facing cancer. Prior to moving to Georgia,
she was director of strategic development for a national Miami-based
hospice firm, following a 10-year tenure as the president/CEO of
one of America's oldest hospices located in Orlando, Fla.
The CHCG workplace giving program allows employees to designate
donations to the local health charities of their choice through
payroll deduction. The 42 participating Georgia charities encompass
almost every well-known disease or disability, and many lesser-known
ones. Every year, these charities provide much-needed support, services
and medical equipment to more than two million Georgians and their
families.
Donations go to the organization(s) designated by the employee
and all donations are distributed exclusively in Georgia, for the
benefit of the local community. For more information, go to www.chcgeorgia.org.
Gwinnett Federal Credit
Union opens office in Norcross
Gwinnett Federal Credit Union held an official Grand Opening Celebration
with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 6135 Peachtree Parkway in Norcross.
This new branch will accommodate the credit union's growth and members'
service needs with a member friendly lobby area including a 24/7
ATM and an office for its vehicle buying service.
Gwinnett nonprofits
get $15,000 grant from Jackson EMC
Two Gwinnett County organizations have received the maximum grant
awarded by the Jackson EMC Foundation. The Gwinnett Housing Resource
Partnership in Duluth has been awarded a $15,000 grant for its Home
Investment Academy (HIA) program, and the Hope Clinic in Lawrenceville
has been awarded a $15,000 grant to expand the services provided
to the working poor of Gwinnett County.
HIA provides money management classes in both English and Spanish
to less fortunate Gwinnett County residents to prepare them for
home ownership. Participants who complete a workshop may use it
toward qualifying for possible down-payment assistance of up to
$7,500. The program's goal is to give homebuyers and homeowners
alike the education and resources to be able to attain and maintain
homes, while fostering a sense of community among neighbors.
Hope Clinic provides primary care and internal medicine for families
and individuals at prices that the uninsured can afford. The excess
cost of patient care is funded through donations. Grant funds will
be used to provide funds to make a bi-lingual, part-time physician's
assistant position full-time, providing more service for a growing
demand for care.
Members of Jackson EMC fund the Foundation by participating in
Operation Round Up, a program that rounds up monthly electric bills
to the next dollar amount. More than 90 percent of the cooperative's
members participate in the program, contributing an average of $6
per member per year to the Foundation.
Web
site: www.farecast.com
"Let me tell you about a web site which can help travelers.
It's www,farecast.com, the first airfare prediction website. It
helps online travel shoppers save money by answering the question;
should you buy now or wait? It offers airfare predictions from over
75 U.S. departure cities to top domestic destinations. It also focuses
on building new product features that will help travel shoppers
make more confident and smarter airfare purchase decisions. In a
nutshell, this website helps consumers know when to buy & know
when to fly."
-- Cindy Evans, Duluth
- 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
Little
known of 16th century King Site in Floyd County
The King
site is a mid-16th-century aboriginal town located on the Coosa
River in western Floyd County in northwest Georgia.
It covers a little more than five acres and is bounded by a defensive
ditch and palisade. A plaza occupied the center of the town and
contained at least two public buildings: structure 17, measuring
15 meters square and filled with benches, probably functioned as
a meetinghouse; structure 16, the smaller of the two, is of unknown
function. South of these buildings, in the exact center of the town,
is a large posthole that probably held a post measuring almost one
meter in diameter and six to ten meters in height.
The habitation zone contained two types of domestic structures:
square, semi-subterranean houses with peaked roofs and earth-embanked
walls; and rectangular corn cribs elevated two meters or so above
ground. The former were domestic residences utilized during the
cooler months of the year. The latter were used for storage of foodstuffs
and provided a shaded space for domestic activities during the summer
months. Household members were buried beneath both types of structures
and in the outdoor space surrounding them. Ten adult males were
interred beneath the floor of the meetinghouse.
The King site was first occupied at some time during the first
half of the 16th century with the construction of half a dozen or
so domestic structures. Within a decade additional households appeared,
and the town was formally laid out with its defensive perimeter,
plaza, and habitation zone. The town existed in this form for 20
to 30 years and then was abandoned. During its existence it was
probably visited by members of the Hernando de Soto (1540) and/or
Tristan de Luna (1560) expeditions. Iron tools and a sword were
interred with a small number of burials.
The iron tools were probably obtained in trade from the Spanish,
while the sword may have been obtained by other means. Whether the
town's abandonment was a result of Spanish contact is not known.
Challenge and controversy
key in what a person stands for
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments
of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge
and controversy."
-- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., via Laurie Ann Kimbrell, Lilburn.
Send your thoughts, 55-word short stories, pet peeves
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Forum for future publication.
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