Close-Up John Winters
Sunday, March 24, 2013 — 1B
Vision 2013
Sequester this When the federal government st a r t s u si n g word s you’ve never heard of, watch out. I refer to words like “ethnic cleansing.” This is the polite way of saying one group is killing another. Not that there’s a polite way to talk about the mass execution of another, but why can’t we just call it what it is? Now we are playing with “f iscal cliff ” and “sequestration .” T hese a re terms used by the Certain people in Congress and the Other People in Congress who blame each other for not fixing whatever. And the Certain People and the Other People also point fingers at Those People in the White House. It’s everyone’s fault but theirs. We somehow avoided the fiscal cliff, which involved the nation falling off the mountain of debt; at least that’s the image that works for me. We did that by simply saying we could borrow more money. There’s a concept we should try at home. We spend too much, so just borrow more to pay for the stuff we can’t afford anyway and add to our debt. Those must be the kind of jokes bankers share with each other. Now sequestration was, intentionally, the absolutely worse idea the Certain and Other people could come up. Make a law soooooo bad that everyone would work together to ensure it would never happen. Basically, automatic cuts kick in if the Certain and Other types can’t agree to fix the budget. And that would never happen. But it did. And it’s not like the department heads get to choose where those cuts come from, they are pretty much across the board. And yes, there are some exempted budget items - and very expensive ones, mind you. And all that means is the non-exempted ones get hit harder. Put it this way. You have two non-exempted departments. Program X buys rifle ammunition. Program Y is working on turning peanuts into rifle ammo. Under sequestration, you can’t be logical and kill the peanuts for ammo idea. No, each program gets cut, meaning we have less rif le ammo and still can’t make peanuts into ammo. Or, White House tours are canceled, but somehow we can still have a politically-fueled St. Paddy’s Day White House affair. Or our military continues to get paid (exempted), but their tuition assistance and TRICARE (non-exempt) are getting cut. The FBI will be cut by $480 million, but we just gave Egypt $250 million. I have no idea. Sorry. Our military planes will continue to fly, with less fuel; the Air Force Academy Band will not be playing in Newnan. I will be the first to admit it is easy to sit here and criticize the Certains and Others and Thoses (yes, I know that’s not a word). So let’s come up with a solution. And I have one. It’s called “Doing The Sistine.” Round up all the budget committees, stick them in a room, and make them sit on uncomfortable chairs. Lock the doors. And most importantly, take away all their electronic toys. No television, no radio, no newspapers. Politicians with no outside contact - the whole cruel a nd u nu su a l pu n i sh ment thing. And they can’t leave until they come up with a plan. We are not being Draconian here. They get potty breaks and can sleep at night on hard cots. And they’ll get water and bread. Impossible isn’t it?
See winters, page 2B
State Senator Mike Crane spoke at the March 5 meeting of ASPIRES Inc. Pictured with Senator Crane are Nicole Smith and friend Gabriel Belmonte, who both have autism. ASPIRES is an advocacy group that works with family of special needs children. “The senator was gracious and attentive to the needs of the community to improve post-secondary education and training for our young adults with developmental disabilities in our community,” said Sandy Smith of the group.
Photo by Nichole Golden
The Hollis-McRitchie Museum on Jackson Street in Newnan will open in April and will be the focus of the year for the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society. An interactive World War II museum will open there in August.
April opening set for McRitchie-Hollis Museum By NICHOLE GOLDEN nichole@newnan.com In April, the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society will open the McRitchie-Hollis Museum, which will eventually house an interactive exhibit on Newnan during the World War II years. “This year is all about the McRitchie House,” says Joanna Arrieta, executive director of the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society. T he Pen i ston-T hom a sson home at 74 Jackson St. in Newnan is home to the McRitchie-Hollis museum. A bequest from Newnan native Edgar B. Hollis, including some $2 million in funds and a collection of antique furniture, makes the museum possible. Although originally from Newnan, Hollis spent most of his professional career in Washington, D.C., working for the National Security Agency’s Inter-Library Loan Division. Initially, visitors will enjoy the beautiful furnishings with the date for the public open house to be announced. The interactive exhibits will be completed in stages. “We don’t want to rush through it,” said Arrieta. The World War II ex hibit, opening in August, will feature photographs, and Newnan newspaper headlines and stories from the war years, and even the closets will become interactive exhibit spaces for patrons ages “7 to 70” to enjoy,” said Arrieta. “It’s really focused on the home front,” she said. A Victory Garden will be planted in the museum’s courtyard adjacent to the old Newnan Hospital building. The historical society eventually hopes to hold cooking demonstrations using produce from the garden, says Arrieta. The goal, said Arrieta, is to make the museum something that Newnanites can be proud of while having something that tourists will also want to visit. The exhibit will likely change seasonally in its focus. In August, the historical society also plans to open a visitor’s center in a brick building on Clark Street, near the museum. Tickets for admission to both the McRitchie-Hollis
State Senator Mike Crane met with parents of special needs children at a recent meeting of ASPIRES. Pictured with Crane are group officers, from left, Cathy Degen, Sandy Smith and Diane Cormier. At its March meeting, the group discussed the need for more local businesses to open their doors for vocational and life skills training programs. A group goal is to secure funding to develop post-secondary training opportunities for young adults with developmental disabilities.
Crane visits with ASPIRES members By NICHOLE GOLDEN nichole@newnan.com
Hollis Museum front door
Museum and the Male Academy Museum at the nearby city park will be sold there. A temporary exhibit for children to enjoy will also be housed at the visitor’s center, until a permanent location for the planned Children’s Interactive Museum is determined. Arrieta said a children’s museum committee has been formed, headed by Pamela Prange, and among other issues will select a permanent site. In 2014, the Male Academy Museum on Temple Avenue will likely be closed for a time for a “re-do” focusing on the Civil War with a “top of the line” exhibit. The historical society also owns and operates the Depot History Center on East Broad Street. An expansion of the train depot, which served as Newnan’s freight depot, may be considered by the society’s board. For m ore i n for m a t ion o n up c o m ing events such as the historical society’s Spring Tour of Homes and Sesquicentennial Commemoration (May 4), and Preservation Picnic (June 1), or for details on becoming a member of the society, go to www.newnancowetahistoricalsociety.com.
Fashion show at Wesley Woods
At left, Gerri McCoomb, wearing a bright floral print jacket, stops to chat with those attending the spring fashion show held March 14 at Wesley Woods of Newnan. McCoomb and other members of Kiwanis of Coweta modeled clothes from the boutique at Wesley Woods, which held a sale this week to benefit special activities and new furnishings at the retirement community. At right, this unique handbag adds color to the classic black and white springtime outfit worn by Brenda Rich at the recent spring fashion show at Wesley Woods of Newnan. Rich is president of the Kiwanis of Coweta and she and other models showed fellow club members the latest in spring styles at the event. Photos by Nichole Golden
The group ASPIRES Inc. met March 5 with Georgia State Senator Mike Crane in attendance. ASPIR ES works to sup port the family members of those with developmental disabilities. Crane listened to the parents’ concerns at this meeting about grown children with disabilities and the lack of services for them. “We need the support from the community to help us give our children, who are graduating from high school and who have graduated, to work, volunteer and receive training that will help them become more independent and live a quality life,” said Sandy Smith, an ASPIRES officer. “A life skills training center would be a great beginning in Coweta. Hopefully, a building could be donated with funding to support the program.” S m i t h ’s ow n d a u g h t e r, Nikki, has autism and attends the Rutledge Center three
days a week. Although she has several work skills, a speech impairment affects how others perceive her ability to follow tasks. Nikki is starting to volunteer at the One Roof Ecumenical Thrift Store and Food Pantry in Newnan. “She loves to sing. She can play the piano by ear and read notes,” said Smith. “There are many skills that she has and given a chance, she can prosper with the support of the community.” According to Smith, Senator Crane was very “gracious” and “attentive” to the group member’s concerns and issues raised. Sm it h c u r rent ly ser ve s on the Region 6 Planning Board with the Deparment of Behaviora l Hea lt h a nd Developmental Disabilities and consults with families seeking resources for their family members. For more information on A SP I R E S , c ont a c t C a t hy Degen at 770 253-3514 or Sandy Smith, 770 252-2117.