Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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 G#a9# Ftm knu CauMy taw«K* C» SoAnFn»flfeU)eHsuia&) < Mt«,ie 770"867"21 88 Auto. Home. Life. OKrar , (■''uueif^atijt'alette 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