CMYK features
The Paper | Thursday, December 6, 2012
7B
Bethlehem Post Office ready for holiday rush By KATHY BRIDGES
Regional staff
Roxane Rose The Paper
James, and two other youngsters, practicing golf at the Commerce club. Below: James, standing with his hands on his head, was amazed with the golf clubs and lessons.
GOLF CLUBS Continued from 3B
Rich Glover of Safelight in Braselton, who had donated a set of men’s clubs, also reached out to John Lott, golf pro at Château Élan, who gives complimentary lessons to James on the driving range at Château Élan on Saturdays. Matthew Dean, a Boys & Girls Club staff member, makes sure that James gets to his lessons. The old African proverb says that it takes a village to raise a child. The people of Jackson County, from Braselton to Commerce, have illustrated that community dedication with James. “We’ve known James for several years now,” Martin said. “We were more than happy to do it.” James, who has never had any golf clubs before, much less an entire set, managed to get three words out: “Cool” and “thank you,” which he said over and over. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson County began programming under the umbrella of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hall County in 2003 and received its own charter in September 2008. Earlier this year, the organization received a $500,000 Federal Community Block Grant, giving it a huge step toward long-needed new facility in Jefferson, which is expected to be open as early as Fall 2013. The fundraising goal for the new facility, including furnishings and computers, is $1.3 million. “By the first of October next year, we’ll be in it,” Williams said. “We are hoping to receive enough in our capital campaign to also
upgrade the Commerce facility.” Board member David Varnedoe, who is heading up the capital campaign on a volunteer basis, said his dedication comes from the way the club is positively changing lives for children. “The Clubs are showing them that there’s a future out there,” Varnedoe said. “And the impact is not only immediate, but there are benefits down the road too, for the child as well as the community.”
The Christmas rush has begun. The rush to mail Christmas cards that is, from the Bethlehem Post Office. Each year the small post office in the “little town under the star” is besieged with patrons wishing to mail their Christmas cards from Bethlehem in order to get the Bethlehem cancellation. Hand stamps reading “Greetings from Bethlehem” are also available to add to the cards. People from all over Georgia, the United States and even the world have had their Christmas mail postmarked from Bethlehem, Ga. Katie French of Jefferson recently moved to Georgia from California. “I didn’t realize I was so near Bethlehem,” she explained as she stamped her Christmas cards at the Bethlehem Post Office. “I had heard rumors of this town and I just had to do this!” She sends about 100 cards each year and 90 percent of them will go to California. “I don’t miss it at all,” she said of California. “I moved because it’s so expensive to live there. I landed my dream job here and a dream man. I love everything about Georgia.” Kathy Bridges Regional staff The Christmas mail is Katie French of Jefferson was thrilled to mail her Christpostmarked by hand with an mas cards from Bethlehem in Barrow County. ancient stamping machine that only postal worker Kim Camp can run. “It’s my baby,” she laughed. “We went from hand-stamping to using this machine. We have four of these machines for backup parts since you can’t get parts any more.” The date is changed by hand with metal numbers carefully placed in position by Camp. A foot petal similar to a sewing machine pedal runs the machine which feeds the envelopes through in a flash. Camp can stamp hundreds in just a few minutes. Last year, the post office processed about 150,000 Christmas cards. Postmaster Ada Czajkowski places a guest book in the lobby and visitors from as far away as Germany and Forta Lez, Brazil, have signed in. With 17.9 billion pieces of mail expected to be delivered this holiday season, including 3 billion cards and letters, the U.S. Postal Service reminds you to mail early for the holidays. And if you want the Bethlehem cancellation, get your cards addressed and ready. There is usually a line to use the hand stamps.
Last year, the post office processed about 150,000 Christmas cards. Visitors from as far away as Germany and Forta Lez, Brazil, have signed the guest book.