CMYK Thursday, August 14, 2014
features
3B
Farah Bohannon The Paper
Families in The Falls of Braselton, including the Ben Davis family enjoyed National Night Out hosted by the Braselton Police Department. More scenes at ClickThePaper.com
Braselton Police host National Night Out By FARAH BOHANNON
fbohannon@clickthepaper.com
The Braselton Police Department hosted a National Night Out cookout on Aug. 5 at The Falls of Braselton, the town’s latest neighborhood watch location. The purpose of National Night Out is to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and to send a message to criminals that says neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. This event began in 1984 and has become more and more popular each year because of the positive message it sends to citizens. As of today, National Night Out involves more than 37.8 million people and 16,124 communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories, Canadian cities, and military bases worldwide. The Braselton Police Department wholeheartedly believes in this mission of uniting the police force with residents of the town or county where they are employed. Chief Terry Esco and Assistant Chief Lou Solis always look for ways to involve their department with the community in positive ways — they are actively involved with YearOne and host a Public Safety Day there in April, speak at Homeowners Association (HOA) meetings, check car seat installations, speak to civic organizations, and much more. Solis says he believes National Night Out is an excellent way for the police department to get to know the community and to show both children and adults that the officers can be trusted. “National Night Out is a great event that we enjoy hosting with members of our community,” said Solis. “It helps children to feel comfortable around police officers and to not be afraid of them. It’s also a great way to get to know the community and for them to get to know us. That way, when our officers patrol the neighborhood, the residents know they are there to ensure safety.” Since Braselton’s National Night Out cookout was hosted by the Braselton Police Department, officers and town employees were the ones who prepared the food and entertainment for the attendees. Esco manned the grill with two helpers
while Town Manager Jennifer Dees and Finance Coordinator Nan Edwards served hamburgers and hot dogs with smiles on their faces. There were a variety of toppings, chips and cookies to eat alongside the main meal. Several of Braselton’s officers were in attendance and mingled with The Falls of Braselton’s residents plus others who RSVP’d for the event. Braselton Sgt. David Bohannon showcased his new 2014 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor vehicle for both children and adults to enjoy. Children crawled through the car and explored every inch of it while playing make believe games of “cops and robbers.” The children also activated the lights and sirens in the car which was a huge hit. Several kids ran to their mothers and fathers screaming, “that was awesome!” It was an experience that is intended to show children that police officers are trusted adults that they can turn to in times of need. The Falls of Braselton resident Ben Davis says he thinks National Night Out is a great communitybased event and enjoys getting to know the officers who protect the area in which his wife and two young girls live. “I feel like this event pulls the community together. I like to see the faces and meet the people who protect the community and take care of us,” said Davis. “My wife and I always try to teach our girls that police officers must be treated with respect. They are people just like us and keep us safe.” Davis’ daughters were comfortable around the officers and even posed for a photo while receiving a special “It’s Better In Braselton” tossing disc. He says he has taught them about respect for authority and that police officers are trusted individuals and among those not to be feared. Braselton Capt. Michael Steffman said he enjoys National Night Out because he believes it will cause the town’s residents to feel comfortable around the officers. “I think National Night Out is great,” said Steffman. “I wish we’d host more of them. I think it brings the neighborhood and the police force together and allows the residents to feel more comfortable around us. We don’t want them to see us
COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS Farmers Markets. The Braselton Farmers Market is from 4-7 p.m. on Fridays in downtown Braselton on Harrison Street while the Jefferson Farmers Market is from 7-11 a.m. on Saturdays in downtown Jefferson. Enjoy music at the farmers market in Jefferson as The Sunroom Gang entertains Saturdays from 7:30-11 a.m. Glow in the Park 5K. A Glow in the Park 5K is planned for Fort Yargo State Park on Saturday, Aug. 16, starting at 8:30 p.m. Presented by Anytime Fitness and Chick-fil-A of Winder, the Glow in the Park 5K will provide awards to the top overall male and female, overall masters male and female and top three in age groups from 14 and under to 70 and up. Registration at www.glowintheparkwinder.com. Sponsorships are available. Get information by contacting Rob Goldsmith at 678-985-3921 or emailing fundracers5k@ gmail.com Vineyard Fest at Château Élan. On Sunday, Aug. 24, the focus will be on the tastes, sights and sounds of the 18th annual Vineyard Fest. All-inclusive tickets are $85 per person.Ticket price includes parking, wine glass and wine tasting, educational seminars on wine, delicious cuisine within our Harvest Food Tent prepared with locally grown produce, live music, dancing and
grape stomping. More than 75 domestic, international, and regional wines will be available for tasting along with beers from select craft breweries. Tickets being sold on an advance ticket basis only. Guests must be 21 years or older. Call 678-4250900 ext. 41. Book shepherding class. The Jefferson Public Library will host Athens-based publishers, Bilbo Books, for two progressive workshops on writing the book “you’ve been meaning to write for years,”Thursday, Aug. 21, and Thursday, Aug.28, at 1p.m. in the library’s meeting room. William Bray and Bowen Craig will lead the “book shepherding” class. Bilbo Books specializes in “book shepherding,” guiding the author through the many, sometimes laborious, steps in the writing and publishing process. These workshops are free and no registration is required. Sunset on the Square. This summer concert of the Sunset on the Square will be held in downtown Jefferson on Saturday, Aug. 23, with Abbey Road Live, a Beatles tribute band, in a two-set show. The happenings start at 7 p.m. and admission is free. No coolers please. Miss Hoschton Pageant. Held annually in Hoschton, this year’s fundraiser for Georgia Army National Guard sol-
diers is Aug. 23. Visit www. MissHoschtonPageant. wetpaint.com for paper work or stop by Ritzi Reruns Consignment & Gift Shop in Braselton. Free square dance lessons. “Square Dancing is Friendship set to Music” that’s the square dance motto. This fall, the Jug Tavern Square Dance Club is giving free dance lessons beginning Tuesday, Sept. 16, from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at the Winder YMCA. Come join the fun and meet some new friends. No partner required. For more information, contact Tommy or Elouise at 770307-7377 or 770-307-6036 or visit the website at jugtavernsquares.org. Fall Into Recycling. The Keep Jackson County Beautiful Fall Into Recycling Event will be from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 16 Hendrix Drive in Jefferson. If you have questions, give me a call Keep Jackson County Beautiful executive diretcor Susan Trepagnier at 706708-7198. Any questions about what to recycle? Go to http://www.keepjacksoncountybeautiful.org for the list. Volunteer appreciation event. Friends of the BraseltonWest Jackson Library will host its Volunteer Appreciation on Monday, Sept. 22, at Higher Grounds Coffee House from 1-3 p.m. Please See EVENTS, 5B
as an adversary or someone who looks for citations all the time. We want them to know we are here to protect them.” Braselton Mayor Bill Orr, along with his wife and a daughter, were in attendance and said National Night Out was a wonderful evening that sent a positive message to the residents of this particular community. “We couldn’t ask for a better turnout,” said Orr. Braselton’s National Night Out was a huge success. Approximately 200 people attended and stayed well past 8 p.m. as they enjoyed good company and discussion with the officers as the sun set. For more information about National Night Out, visit natw.org/
Farah Bohannon The Paper
Braselton Police Chief Terry Esco was busy cooking up burgers and hot dogs for the National Night Out event hosted by the Braselton Police Department.
Appeal of Mystery on Main By FARAH BOHANNON
fbohannon@clickthepaper.com
Mystery on Main Street is off to a great start so far, according to Braselton Downtown Director Amy Pinnell. The downtown promotion got under way on Aug. 8 and continues through Aug. 22. This family-themed campaign features a puzzle to be solved. Participants collect the different puzzle pieces – letters of the alphabet -- at the 20 participating businesses, and use them to spell out a special mystery phrase. The puzzle pieces must be attached to the free entry forms that participants can pick up at any of the businesses involved. Completed entry forms can be turned in at any time between now and 9 a.m. on Aug. 25 at any participating business, the downtown director’s office or the office of The Paper, located in Suite 8 of the Braselton Brothers Store complex on Davis Street. Completed entry forms will be entered into a drawing for a fabulous gift basket that includes a $50 downtown dollars gift certificate. Pinnell has already received one completed entry form as of Monday which she said is great since Mystery on Main Street just started. “Since this is the first time we have
hosted Mystery on Main Street, I didn’t really know what to expect,” said Pinnell. “It is going great so far.” Pinnell spoke with Braselton Gallery owner Debra Swantek and said that she has already had at least 10 visitors visit the gallery while figuring out the mystery. The Wasden family including Ava, EllyGrace and Faith visited The Paper for Mystery in Main. They have already visited several locations which they have never visited before giving credence that the mission to get people to downtown Braselton is working. Pinnell also said the “mug shots” are a huge hit among the participating businesses. The puzzle pieces are “hidden away” in mugs bearing the Downtown Braselton logo. Participants take their own “mug shots” or have their mug taken at each location and post the photo to their Facebook page or the Downtown Braselton Facebook page. The business with the most shots will win a prize. “Several businesses are really getting into their competition of posting the mug shots,” said Pinnell. “There are some really awesome signs as well.” Visit www.downtownbraselton.com for more details on how to participate in Mystery on Main Street.
LeAnne Akin The Paper
The Wasden sisters got their mug shot made at the Paper for the Mystery on Main puzzle search. Downtown Braselton manager Amy Pinnell said the downtown promotion – a first-time happening for her office – is going well. It wraps up Aug. 22.