CMYK Thursday, October 31, 2013
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Farm to Preschool is celebrated. 3B
Election day is Nov. 5 for some voters Tuesday, Nov. 5, will be a day for some area voters to go to the polls for special elections and municipal elections from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and some voters have been taking advantage of early voting options. Early voting at the Jackson County Administrative Building continues from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 1. In addition, the early voting satellite kiosk, located at the Commerce Parks and Recreation Center at 204 Carson St., is also open through Friday. Please note there will be no early voting in Braselton, and there will be no Saturday voting for these municipal elections. Below is a list of the voting locations in each city in Jackson County where balloting will take place: Arcade: Arcade City Hall, 3325 Athens Highway, Jefferson Commerce: Parks and Recreation, 204 Carson St., Commerce
Jefferson: Jefferson Civic Center, 55 Kissam St., Jefferson Nicholson: Nicholson Community Center, 129 Lakeview Drive, Nicholson Pendergrass: Pendergrass City Hall, 22 Smith Bridges Road, Pendergrass In Flowery Branch, early voting is continuing at City Hall through Nov. 1 during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Two council seats and the position of mayor are being contested. Councilman Joe Anglin, Post 4, is running unopposed. Post 3 incumbent Fred Richards is being challenged by Ed Edwards, and Tara Richards, who holds Post 5, is being challenged by Chris Fetterman. Mayor Mike Miller and candidate Shanon Lutz are seeking the next mayoral term. Some area residents will be going to the polls in Gwinnett County for the special election including the referendum to renew Gwinnett County’s 1-cent Special Purpose
Local Option Sales Tax after the current program ends next March. Gwinnett County voters will decide whether to renew the SPLOST sales tax for a three-year program estimated to raise an estimated $498 million. County and city officials have agreed to share SPLOST proceeds. The county will dedicate 70 percent of its 78.9 percent share to transportation, including $25 million for joint city/county projects. Public safety, parks, library relocation/renovation and senior facilities will also get funds. The cities will get 21.1 percent. To learn more about the Gwinnett County SPLOST program, visit www.gwinnettsplost. com. Some voters will cast ballots in the special election for the Georgia House of Representatives Districts 100 and 104 seats. Gwinnett registered voters may cast a ballot in advance of the Nov. 5 election between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. through Friday, Nov. 1, at
the Elections Office or between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. at one of the following four satellite polling locations: • Centerville Community Center: 3025 Bethany Church Road, Snellville, • George Pierce Park Community Recreation Center: 55 Buford Highway, Suwanee • Dacula Park Activity Building: 2735 Old Auburn Road, Dacula • Lucky Shoals Park Community Recreation Center: 4651 Britt Road, Norcross No ballots will be cast on Monday, Nov. 4, and registered voters have the option to request an absentee ballot that will be sent by mail. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is noon on Friday, Nov. 1. You can check My Voter Page on the website page of Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp for information related to elections in your area. Sample ballots will be available if there are polling activities in your community. You can also call your Elections office.
Fall back an hour Sunday
Standard time returns; also time to check the batteries
For The Paper
The Enterprise Flour & Grist Mill provided a backdrop for some of the festival booths while instead Tim Sweat helped to explain the mill’s operations.
Antique & Holiday Festival: Showcase for Town of Braselton to usher in season By FARAH BOHANNON
fbohannon@clickthepaper.com
Last weekend surely must go down as the two most perfect autumn days so far. The crystal-clear blue skies, mild temperatures and changing foliage greeted the several thousand people to the 2013 Braselton Antique and Holiday Festival with what seemed like endless booths filled with unique, practical and beautiful items. However, the festival was mainly a success due to the diligence that Countryside Antiques owner Donna Cannella and her volunteers devoted to this bi-annual event. There is also a springtime Antique and Garden Festival. “Each year, the Braselton An-
tique and Holiday Festival grows, but I was particularly surprised about this year’s growth. I was amazed at how busy both Saturday and Sunday were and this was actually the first festival where I was not able to get out of my shop and walk around,” said Cannella. “It was a great problem to have.” The vendors included items such as food, woodworking, jewelry, home decor, artwork, plants, furniture, gifts, soaps, antiques and more. The booths were well organized on a map for attendees to refer to and were located at Braselton Park in Downtown Braselton. There were an estimated 10,000 visitors throughout the weekend.
See FESTIVAL , 8A
Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph T. Hudgens reminds Georgians that it is time again to change their clocks from daylight saving time back to standard time – and they should also change the batteries in their smoke alarms (smoke detectors) at the same time. “Every year in Georgia there are fire fatalities in homes that didn’t have smoke alarms, or where the alarms did not function because of dead batteries,” Hudgens said. “If you do not have a smoke alarm, you need to get one. If you have a smoke alarm, make sure it is in working order. Changing the battery at least once every year and cleaning dust from the device are easy ways to ensure continued protection of your family and your property. Having a working smoke alarm doubles the chances you will survive a fire in your home.” Hudgens also recommends changing batteries in flashlights and weather radios, and having an emergency plan in place in case severe weather threatens. Daylight saving time ends Sunday, Nov. 3, at 2 a.m., when clocks are set back one hour.
Families use web to update about children’s health By FARAH BOHANNON
Tripp’s favorite place, the Atlanta Aquarium. On the Facebook page on which thousands of people have followed Tripp’s story, Bill Halstead recalls the day his son There are several local children who are currently fight- was injured: I can honestly not believe that it has been a year ing harder than most adults will ever have to. since Tripp was hurt, I remember the day well They are a tough bunch of kids who have unand in detail, right up until we got to Egleston breakable support systems of family, friends and they told us just how severe the injury was. and loved ones who are with them every step The Halsteads have received the most meof the way. dia attention once Stacy Halstead launched There is no such thing as giving up and these the “Tripp Halstead Updates” Facebook page support systems will do whatever it takes to after Tripp’s little skull was crushed into many fight for these children who have serious medipieces by the limb that left him with severe cal conditions – whether it be staying up into the brain damage. wee hours of the night planning a fundraiser or Tripp’s prognosis wasn’t good at first, but he praying for a miracle. has fought and improved as the months went One local family is marking the one-year on. Stacy continuously updates the Facebook milestone of their child’s survival. Doctors page with her son’s milestones, updates, photos, were uncertain if 2-year-old Tripp Halstead videos and more. Today, she has 911,000 “likes” would live after he suffered a traumatic brain from all over the world. injury when high winds downed a tree in his Tripp’s photo which According to Stacy’s posts, a vast majority Winder daycare center’s yard. The child was friends used as their pro- of Tripp’s followers are positive and uplifting. struck in the head while he played outdoors. She is grateful for the thousands of prayers and On Tuesday, the Halsteads spent the day at file picture on Tuesday. thoughts that people post several times a day. fbohannon@clickthepaper.com
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Followers are also able to send donations, cards and gifts to an address that is provided on the Facebook page. “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We love all of the sweet cards we get, we still take time to read them all. We show Tripp the cute pictures that the kids draw and the cards we get from other people with traumatic brain injuries. Thank you again for all your prayers and support,” said Stacy after receiving a load of Lightning McQueen goodies for Tripp back in June. Unfortunately, putting information online for the world to see can lead to harsh criticism. There have been a handful of commenters who do not agree with the way the Halsteads are doing things, and they are not ashamed to state their opinion. Stacy understands that everyone has their right to an opinion, but there is no need to be rude, demeaning or ugly on a page that is meant to be supportive and uplifting. Even when she receives something unpleasant, Stacy presses on with her updates and is thankful for the thousands of positive comments that come Tripp’s way. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/tripphalsteadupdates.
See FAMILIES, 2A
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