Newspaper Page Text
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2008
BARROW JOURNAL
PAGE 5A
Feeling nostalgic about Winder
I need to do some Christmas
shopping, but I’m having a little
trouble with nostalgia getting in
the way.
When I go to downtown Winder
today, I am caught up in the days
when Gallant-Belk stood on the
corner of Broad and Candler
Streets where the gazebo has stood
sentry since the store’s destruc
tion by fire back in the late 70s.
Those were the days when we had
a parking problem — not enough
spaces — downtown. The store
fronts were filled, the upper floors
were offices and five o’clock on a weekday
signaled an onslaught of factory employees
pouring into downtown Winder to do some
shopping before their ride picked them up for
the trip home.
Back in those days, my father owned
City Pharmacy on the southwest corner of
Broad and Candler Streets. The Christmas
parade kicked off a flurry of shopping days
as neighbors came to town to shop with their
neighbors. After all, if you couldn’t find it in
downtown Winder, it wasn’t worth having.
Mother opened a gift department in the
front of the drug store in 1967 and we car
ried everything from typical drug store junk
to $300 collectible dolls. Our collegiate sec
tion was a force to be reckoned with as we
had shoppers coming from Athens to buy
from us.
I have the most wonderful memories of
Christmas in downtown Winder. Every store
was a treasure trove for shoppers — clothing,
jewelry, toys, books, pretties for the home,
furniture — you name it.
As for City Pharmacy, we had a pair of the
cutest little animatronic Victorian tree trim
mers. Decked out in their red velvet, they
decorated our Christmas tree under which
were strategically placed ideas for
that hard-to-buy recipient on your
list. In the other window, we had a
display of stuffed animals and dolls
passers-by had a hard time resist
ing.
But times have changed. Winder’s
factories have closed. Families have
more cars than drivers. People don’t
mind driving to Athens, Buford,
Commerce, or Atlanta to shop at the
big box stores. We have property
owners neglecting their buildings
to the point of demolition. Barrow
County’s new courthouse complex
outside of town will pull courthouse traf
fic away from downtown Winder. Winder’s
Christmas shoppers have dwindled dramati
cally.
I have to hand it to our downtown busi
nesses — they are survivors. Retooling their
merchandise mix, they're working hard to
ride out the current economic storm and give
downtown Winder a leg up. These folks have
been through a lot to present gifts for you to
purchase for Christmas 2008. Give them a
try and imagine the other storefronts filled.
If you had your d’ruthers, what would you
like to see in downtown Winder to serve you?
What would get you excited to shop locally
again? Got any ideas? Share them with City
Hall.
This time next year, downtown Winder will
be on the upswing. I feel it in the very core
of my being. You can feel it in the air. If I can
only persuade my husband to stop listening
to all the naysayers on television and go with
my female intuition ...
Helen Person is a native of Barrow County
and has returned to her home community
after 20 years of living in Gwinnett County.
She can be reached at helenperson@wind-
stream.net.
helen
person
Unable to spend time
with great-grandson
Dear Editor:
After reading the letter to the editor,
“Denied visitation rights,” in the Dec. 3 edi
tion, my heart was deeply stirred.
I have a great-grandson who will be
3-years-old in January. By an act of fate, we
were able to see him before he left the hos
pital and a year ago, I saw him pass by in the
parking lot at Wal-Mart.
My granddaughter asked his mom if I
could see him and she said, “No.” I have
never done anything wrong to the young
mother except pray for her and the baby
while he was still in her womb at the time
she had come to tell me she was pregnant.
That day, I received a sense of peace and
felt also that I would not have a part in his
life anytime soon.
God asked me to place this in His will and
trust Him. Just because I have done this does
not mean I don’t cry along with his paternal
grandmother to see Elijah on special days.
We have never mistreated this family or
had any bad feelings toward them. I know
his maternal grandmother is caring and lov
ing toward him.
Nevertheless, she does not know what we
are enduring.
The grandmother works at the nursing
home and I get very uncomfortable when I
go to see my mother who is a patient there.
Yes, Elijah has a great, great-grandmother
who does not know he exists. She never will
know because Alzheimer’s has taken that
part away from her.
The only man in Elijah’s life passed away
a few years ago.
My ex-son-in-law is of good reputation.
He loves all outdoor sports and also loves
his grandson who he has only seen once. He
could be a very positive person in this child’s
life. I would settle for just watching this little
man behind a glass mirror and enjoy hearing
him laugh, see him jump, run and do things
little boys do.
God bless Mr. England in his efforts for
grandparents’ rights.
Sincerely,
Brenda Williams
Winder
Asks for prayers
for elected officials
Dear Editor:
Thank you for your election coverage dur
ing 2008. It has been a long political season,
finally brought to an end with the recent run
off election. We appreciate all of the voters
who participated in all or part of the primary,
general, and runoff elections.
We would ask our complete community to
pray for our elected leaders at every level,
that they might be blessed with wisdom and
courage in making decisions. We would ask
all Democrats to pray with us for our new
President-Elect. We hope we could all pray
for future Presidents, regardless of Party
affiliation.
Also, we need to keep in mind our military,
police, fire, and emergency personnel and
their families in our prayers. We owe them
so much for their service and protection.
Many thanks as well to all who are par
ticipating in so many efforts to help the less
fortunate. Every little bit adds up and makes
a difference.
Whatever the future brings, we want the
very best for Barrow County, Georgia, and
the United States of America.
Merry Christmas and best wishes for
2009!
Sincerely,
Ken Young
Chairman
Barrow County Republican Party
TREES FOR TROOPS
Members of the 148 Echo of Barrow County picked up trees for troops at 7 G’s
Farm in Nicholson recently. The farm, as well as the City of Arcade and the City of
Nicholson, contributed to the tree sponsorship. Pictured are: (front, L-R) Arcade
council member Cindy Bone, family liaison Chakla Brown, (second row, L-R) Beulah
Smith and Greg Smith of 7 G’s Farm, Tyrone Brown, Eddie Skelton and Raymond
Huffman of 148 Echol, (back, L-R) Terry Ivey of 7 G’s Farm and officer Bill Hazelgreen
of the Arcade Police Department.
Trees for Troops benefits soliders
Barrow County troop gets
52 donated trees this year
Members of the 148
ECHO company out of
Barrow County came to the
7 G’s Farm in Nicholson last
week to receive a donation
of Christmas trees for their
unit, which will deploy to the
middle east next month.
Fifty-two trees were
donated by the 7 G’s Farm,
Sleepy Hollow Farm, Powder
Springs, and Grandpa Coker’s
Farm, Marietta, all members
of the Georgia Christmas
Tree Growers Association.
The City of Nicholson and
the City of Arcade each spon
sored trees included in the 7
G’s Farm package.
The donation was received
by Chakla Brown, family
liaison for the 148 ECHO
company. A certificate of
appreciation was presented to
the donors in return.
Just before Thanksgiving,
a Fed Ex trailer was loaded
with 100 trees from the 7
G’s Farm and other Georgia
tree farms and headed to Fort
Stewart, Hinesville.
And last weekend, 40
members of the U.S. Navy
Supply
Corps School detachment
in Athens came to 7 G’s Farm
and selected trees as part of
the same program. In addi
tion, five local service per
sonnel on leave made their
way out to receive trees.
Trees for Troops is a
program designed to get
Christmas trees to military
families for the Christmas
season.
This program was initiat
ed in 2005 by the Christmas
Spirit Foundation working
with the National Christmas
Tree Growers Association.
This year over 16,000 trees
have been committed and are
in the process of being deliv
ered to bases worldwide.
“I want to thank all the
local business and individu
als that have sponsored trees
through our farm, which
has increased the amount of
trees we were able to put in
military homes,” said Greg
Smith, one owner and opera
tor of 7 G’s Farm.
“Through your generos
ity we were able to send 140
trees to those brave soldiers
serving our country.”
MR. AND MRS. CLAUS IN STATHAM
Santa and Mrs. Claus welcomed Statham Elementary School students to the post
office Monday morning. Photo by Susan Treadwell
The Barrow County Sheriff’s
Office will host a retirement
celebration for sheriff Joel
Robinson Thursday, Dec. 18.
The event will culminate 24
years of law enforcement for
Robinson, who is retiring as
sheriff as the end of the year.
The event will be held at the
Winder Community Center.
The cost is $15 per person,
which includes meal and gift,
or $25 per couple.
Those wishing to make
comments should let organiz
ers know when they RSVR
Call 770-307-3080, ext.
3098 or 3133 for more infor
mation.
Those wishing to attend
should RSVP by Dec. 12.
Robinson to be honored at celebration
Voice your opinion:
Write a Letter to the Editor
a
! ANNUAL CHRISTMAS AVON SALE
December 11, 12 & 13
(Thursday, Friday & Saturday)
Jane Saunders’ Home
574 Treadwell Road • Bethlehem, GA
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Thurs. & Fri.
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Saturday
Call 770-867-2393 or 770-846-3207 for directions.
Every item in my sale room is priced
50% or more below book price!
FARM
To win like this, you have to tie driven. Q (J AU
Congratulations to Kyle Buscti* for driving the #18® Farm Bureau
Insurance car to his record tying 10th Nationwide Series win of the year. INSURANCE
Ready tor insurance serviced by a real person driven to put you first? ——*
Call or visit us today tor a tree rate quote. Auto. Home. Life.
Barrow County Farm Bureau
284 Hwy. 211 N.W. • Winder, GA 30680
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SoAnFn»flfeU)eHsuia&) < Mt«,ie 770"867"21 88
Auto. Home. Life.
OKrar ,
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YOUR LOCAL HOLIDAY SHOPPING DESTINATION
Present this ad for 20% Off Select Merchandise
(Selections vary weekly)
Unique & Affordable Giftware
Cards ~ Gourmet Foods ~ Home Accessories ~ Spa Items
Custom Soy Candles & Silk Flower Arrangements
Original Local Art ~ Sterling/Gemstone Jewelry
Free Gift Packaging
Special Holiday Hours: Mon. - Thurs. Noon - 6 p.m.
Fri. Noon - 7 p.m. • Sat. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Christmas Eve • Closed Christmas Day
Lynn Hammond, Owner/Artist
9 W. Wright St. • Winder • 770-867-1320