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The Paper | Thursday, March 19, 2015
GARDEN PARTY Continued from 3B
facility that the community can be proud of,” said CEO Michael Williams. Through the Commerce City government, the club was awarded a $500,000 State of Georgia Community Development Block Grant in August 2014 that will go toward the cost of building the new facility. In awarding the grants, Gov. Nathan Deal said the grants “will ensure successful economic development and enhance the quality of life for all Georgians.” The capital campaign will raise the $1 million balance necessary to complete construction, furnish the facility and cover three years of operating costs. Designed by 2WR architecture, interiors and planning, the new, approximately 7,000 square foot, state-ofthe-art facility will be able to accommodate up to 225 children, nearly triple the capacity of the current club. Williams said the new club
will be located on 5.19 acres of land at the intersection of Homer Road and Ridgeway Drive which was purchased by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson County in 2014. The Commerce Club serves an average 85 members a day, and jumps to 105 members daily during the nine-week summer program. “The Boys & Girls Club’s slogan – Great Futures Start Here – aren’t just words. Our clubs have touched the lives of so many children in Jackson County, and we hope to increase our community impact through this facility,” said Honorary Capital Campaign Chair Verlin Reese, president of Quality Foods, Inc. He noted that 60 percent of club members are making A’s and B’s in school. “With the help of businesses and individuals within our community, we will be able to make this new facility a reality, and provide our children with a safe place to play, learn and develop into productive members of society.” Area residents and businesses who would like to
5B
For The Paper
Holding the Community Development Block Grant awarded the City of Commerce by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs for a new Boys & Girls Club are (L-R) Debra Smith of Allen-Smith Consulting; Commerce City Clerk Sandra Haggard; Mitch Chapman, Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson County board member;Ward 1 Commerce City Councilman Archie Chaney; Commerce City Manager Pete Pyrzenski; Georgia Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Gretchen Corbin; and Patsy Allen of Allen-Smith Consulting. support the construction of the new Commerce club may make a donation to
the capital campaign on the clubs’ website http://www. bgcjcga.org or mail a check
to The Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson County, 412 Gordon Street, Jefferson, GA 30549.
All donations to the Boys & Girls Clubs are tax deductible.
Area beekeepers helping to preserve pollinators By Derrick Fowler
Allowing your front yard to turn into a meadow may not be practical, but consider allowing an area or border to become a natural area on your property, a mini meadow. Select plants that bloom at different times of the year. This gives your landscape variety and color as well as a food source for bees throughout the growing season. If you choose to apply chemicals such as weed killers, fungicides, pesticides and fertilizers, be very diligent to follow all label recommendations and further
Gues columnist
Man and honey bees have been linked for thousands of years in varying ways in all varieties of cultures. Evidence of this bond has been discovered in cave drawings in France dating back some 8,000 years. These drawings depict “honey hunters” harvesting the sweet reward from hives attached to rock outcroppings. Hieroglyphics found in ancient Egypt show the value of honey and beekeeping and gives insight into beekeeping practices. The ancient Egyptians further recognized the value of honey bees as pollinators and would move their bees to follow blooming times along the Nile. Honey bees here in the United States are not native to North America, they were brought here by the early explorers and colonists. The honey bees that nearly all beekeepers manage are European honey bees, specifically most are the Italian honey bee. These bees are chosen for their calm demeanor and generous honey production. Today, honey bees are in trouble. Annual losses due to hives dying are averaging about 30 percent per year. Honey bees are responsible for 1 out of every 3 bites of food that we consume. Perhaps you have seen images of grocery store produce departments in a side by side comparison of what variety of colorful fruits and vegetables would be lost without
consider applying chemicals at times when bees and pollinators are not active, late in the day just before dark. Support the continuation of beekeeping by becoming a beekeeper yourself. Join a local bee club and learn more at The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Honey Bee Program at ent.uga.edu. You can also enjoy the benefits of honey bees and the products of the hive by supporting a local beekeeper. So, there are things that
you can do to help honey bees and native pollinators. Think of these as the warming days of Spring and Summer approach. Derrick Fowler is a Certified Beekeeper through the Georgia Master Beekeeper Program and has been beekeeping for five years. He and his wife Kimberley live in Hoschton. He is currently serving as President of The Beekeepers Club of Gwinnett County and can be contacted at 678-449-6203 or OchreHillFarm@gmail.com.
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Big Green Egg
For The Paper
Derrick Fowler handles his honey bee hives. He has been beekeeping for five years at his Hoschton home. honey bees for pollination. Scientists have developed a scenario of contributing factors that involve the deadly combination of chemicals, disease and virus enhanced by the introduction of a mite that weakens honey bee populations and also a general loss of bee forage habitat. Many “backyard beekeepers” take up the hobby of beekeeping in an effort to do something to help save the bees. Now, if working with thousands of insects is not your idea of a hobby, there are other ways to help bees and ensure they continue to thrive. Coming out of Winter and into the warming, sun filled days of Spring, home-
owners begin to think of garden plots, landscaping and new additions of flowers and trees. Some things to consider that could help our pollinators and encourage their visits to our home landscapes involves doing things a little different. Beautifully manicured lawns are many homeowner’s dream and goal, but that perfect lawn is a desert for bees and pollinators.
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