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The Paper | Thursday, July 9, 2015
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Be a Superhero to local kids: Support CASA 5K Grab your Superhero costume and join Piedmont CASA on Sept. 26 at Fort Yargo State Park for the fourth annual Superhero Run. Last year, Batman, Superman, Spiderman, Captain America and many others participated. The family fun run/1k begins at 8 a.m. at picnic shelter #2. The trail run begins at 8:30 a.m. from the same location on a course laid out by Classic Race Services. The top three men overall and top three women overall from the 5K will win cash prizes. All Superheroes in costume are automatically entered in the costume contest. The costume contest winners in child, teen and adult categories win prizes. The event includes activities for the children, childcare for parents who want to run, and goodies for the runners. Register online at Active. com up until a few days before the race or come on race day at 7 a.m. To be guaranteed a T-shirt, register by Sept. 14. Piedmont CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) speaks for local abused and neglected children. Community members over 21 years of age with a clean criminal background complete free training. Then they are assigned to a child by court order. Staff guides and supports the volunteers, who give five to 15 hours per month to their assigned child, seeking what’s in the child’s best interest. Funds from the Superhero Run help the organiza-
Braselton environmental specialist Yvette Wise helped to educate Summer Reading Program participants about the importance of protecting the environment, especially water resources, and informed how families can be part of the solution.
‘Environmental hero’ highlights clean water For The Paper
Batman, Superman, Wonderwoman and other Superheroes are invited to be involved in the Sept. 26 trail run to benefit Piedmont Court Appointed Special Advocates. tion support the advocacy of CASA volunteers. Free training classes will be offered beginning on Tuesday, Aug. 18, at St. Anthony’s Episcopal Church in Winder. Come to the first session from 6-9 p.m. with no obligation to continue. Get more information by calling 706-387-6375. Life Up a Child’s Voice. A Child’s Life. Many thanks to the businesses and individuals in the community who are supporting this event: Solvay, Committee to Elect Representative Terry England, Stepan, Georgia Power, First American Bank, South State Bank,
NAPA Auto Parts, Springleaf, American Pest Control, and Brand Bank. More sponsorships are available. Help make this a Super Saturday by giving to abused and neglected children with your donations, volunteering, and participating. Give these children a chance. All donations are tax deductible: visit www.piedmontcasa.org. Check out www.facebook.com/piedmontcasa. “Please join us for the fun and come lead the pack,” say organizers including Charm McCall.
Gwinnett Senior Golden Games involves 326 The 2015 Gwinnett Senior Golden Games, with closing ceremonies on May 13, was a huge success. The first games were held in 2000; there were 15 events and 76 participants. In 2014 games we had 280 participants with 37 games. In the 2015 games, there were 326 participants and 37 games. A highlight was Isabello Daniels Holyston, a 1956 Olympic medal winner who was among the participants. First-, second- and thirdplace winners in each event/ age category were awarded gold, silver and bronze medals. A total of 391 gold, 295 silver and 173 bronze medals were awarded to the participants. A number of participants continue on to State and National Competitions. Our Golden Games began with Opening Ceremonies on April 1st at Bethesda Park Senior Center to Closing Ceremony on May 13, also at Bethesda Park Senior Center. Torch Bearers at Opening Ceremonies were Bud and Ginny Kushman. The Senior Golden Games are an opportunity to help seniors maintain health, communication and provide an opportunity for 50 year and above adults to participate socially while competing in
athletic events. A participant can learn a new skill and become more aware of all the recreational opportunities in Gwinnett and neighboring counties. Gwinnett Seniors newlyelected president Mike Radnovich thanked all for their participation and gave closing remarks. Outgoing president Alan Villavasso was thanked for his service and was presented with a plaque. Other officers, board members and support staff are: Vice President – Pat Harney; Secretary – Marie Hickman; Treasurer – Elaine Shiver; Historian– Edward Munar; Members at Large– Bud Kushman and Hank Duran; Web Site Chairman – Richard Porter; Data Manager – Debbie Reid The closing meal was proved by: Garden Plaza, The Bridge, Right at Home, Hearthside Sugarloaf, Kings Coach, Lifecare of Gwinnett and Lifecare of Lawrenceville. It took all Gwinnparticipants, volunteers and the support of Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation Staff to put on this very special event. With the number of new participants, the organization hope they will pass the word onto friends and neighbors to how wonderful
and fun the event was. Not everyone wins a medal, but most leave with fond memories, a “kick” to their adrenalin and a newlymade friend or two. Some only see those friends once a year, at the games, but all look forward to the reunion. Gwinnett Seniors will meet at 10 a.m. on Sept. 21 at Bethesda Park Senior Center.
Braselton’s environmental specialist, Yvette Wise, nicknamed the “environmental hero” by the Braselton Library staff, presented a compelling program for 56 library patrons in the Braselton Park recently. “Children learned about becoming an environmental hero for their environment,” says Lori Hayes, assistant manager of the Braselton Library. Wise was the featured presenter in the series of learningbased activities sponsored by the Friends of the Braselton-West Jackson Library during the summer months. “We learned about critters in the creek and emphasized the importance of clean water for all and discussed how humans impact our local waterways,” said Wise. “Our samples of creek dwellers included frogs, salamanders, crayfish, minnows, aquatic insects and dragonflies.” Wise works with Matt Treeter of the Barrow County Stormwater Department and McHaney & Son Erosion Consultants to coordinate Rivers Alive cleanup efforts each spring and fall. To learn more about being a sponsor of Rivers Alive or volunteering for a cleanup, contact Yvette Wise at 706-654-3915 ext. 1012. The library’s summer programs continue through July at the library or at various locations in Braselton. Visit www.braselton.net for additional information or call 706-654-1992.
Living things found in streams give an indication of the health of the water of water, Yvette Wise explained.
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Our daughter Ruby had cardiac complications when she was born. Once they got her stable in the NICU, we sat there just silently watching her in the incubator for a couple of hours, just thinking about the enormity of the situation. Not only were they there for every medical need Ruby had, but they just instinctively took care of the small stuff like getting us a glass of water. They were just there for us physically and emotionally. We couldn’t have been at a better place!
Lora & Solomon Smothers Ruby’s Mom and Dad
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