Newspaper Page Text
Page 6B
The Braselton News
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
Denis LaLanne
Church News
Church dedication,
new name celebrated
Hoschton Baptist Church, formerly the Church of
Hoschton, is celebrating its name change and a new church
dedication.
The dedication for the new church (at 380 Sam Freeman
Road in Hoschton) will be Sunday, Aug. 27.
On Sept. 10, the church will kick-off its new youth and
children’s classes on Sunday nights.
More information will be announced later for these events
and more.
For more information, contact the church office at 706-
654-8415 or pastor Cory Sexton at 678-234-9401.
Hoschton UMC announces events
Hoschton United Methodist Church has announced its
upcoming events. In addition to its regular services and
Bible studies, the church plans:
•Bingo on Friday, Aug. 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
This is a covered dish luncheon.
•Grandparents' Day will be celebrated Sept. 10.
•homecoming will be Oct. 15 with the Rev. Darryl
McGinnis as the guest speaker.
Hat program at
Paradise A.M.E. Church
Paradise A.M.E. Church missionary society will celebrate
its fourth annual “What is your hat-itude” program on Sun
day, Aug. 27. at 4 p.m.
Everyone is cordially invited to attend.
“Men and women, please wear or model your favorite hat
and register with a $10 donation. If you do not have a hat,
please join us for this special occasion. We will share in
God's word and receive knowledge about the physical and
spiritual hats missionaries wear,” state leaders.
“If you are unable to attend our program, a donation is
greatly appreciated. We look forward to you visiting with
us.”
Men and Women are asked to register their hat by calling
Faye Banks Shields at 706-367-8918 or Doris Brown at
706-367-8234.
The congregation will decide the top male and female
winners of the hat parade.
The church is located at 431 Martin Luther King Jr.,
Drive, Jefferson.
The pastor is Rev. Avis L. Snearl.
BIARRITZ, France - This holiday paradise, which
peaks in summer, has a Georgia connection in that
it is the home of former Georgia football master
achiever, Richard Tardits. whose
remarkable story has never been
told enough.
His family is one of two res
onating links I have with the
enclave known as the land of the
“Big Fish.”
Biarritz will always be my
favorite international home away
from home—I glory in the Rich
ard Tardits story, and I am hon
ored to be a friend of Denis
LaLanne, one of the most accom
plished sports writers in history
of Lrench journalism.
The narrative dates back. While Richard’s story
was incubating in Augusta, Ga., where family friend
Edouard Servy had settled, which would impact
the life of young Tardits, I was being introduced to
LaLanne.
In the late 70s, I became acquainted with the editor
of Lrance Golf, Dennis Machenaud. We met at the
British Open at Sandwich, England in 1981. Because
I had asked for a credential for the Open for the Ath
ens Newspapers, the assumption was that I was from
Athens, Greece, which led to my being assigned a
seat in the international section—fortuitously beside
Machenaud.
Machenaud spoke English fluently. We had a won
derful week of conversation. At the end of the tourna
ment, he told me about his friend, Denis LaLanne. He
asked if I could help him become credentialed for the
Masters. I was happy to recommend him and pleased
to make the effort to assist.
My friends at the Augusta National Golf Club, bent
on international hospitality, saw that the leading golf
columnist for the French national daily, L'Equipe,
was certainly worthy of credentials. Thus began a
long and warm relationship that continues today. My
friend Denis LaLanne is 91 years of age today, but
functions as if he were 51 which was about his age
when I first met him.
Handsome, gregarious and clever, Denis was always
lovable, introspective and ready for good wine and
conversation. He became an expert in rugby, ten
nis and golf among other sports. He covered the
four Grand Slam tennis tournaments—the Australian
Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the U. S.
Open at Flushing Meadow. He added to that four
some the four major golf tournaments—Masters, U.
S. Open. British Open and the PGA.
When he came to the Masters, he stayed in my
home. When I went to the British Open, I traveled
early to Biarritz and stayed in his home. The mutual
admiration society continues, and I am the better for
it.
He is, perhaps, the greatest sports journalist in
French journalism. At the French Open at Roland
Garros each summer, they now give the Denis LaLanne
Award to the French journalist who writes what is
considered the best story on the championship.
My summer schedule for the Open championship at
Birkdale a few weeks ago was such that I returned to
Biarritz after an absence of a few years. I wanted to
see Richard Tardits. I wanted to visit with his parents
Criqui and Maurice at their home overlooking the
no-holds-barred-Atlantic, washing ashore beneath
their lovely cliff side home. If I had a choice of
staying at Buckingham Palace or the Tardits’ abode in
Biarritz, I would choose the latter.
The fury of the Atlantic slamming ashore in Biarritz
would make an artist of seasoned travel swoon. A
meal with the Tardits is an event. You begin with
champagne followed by a Spanish Rose, followed by
a French blanc, Meursault, followed by a Montrachet.
How can life be any more robust and rousing?
When Richard Tardits came to Athens, my friend
ship with Denis LaLanne was beginning. The first
summer in Biarritz, Richard’s parents and Denis and
his wife, Collet, took me to dinner at Chez Albert
down by the sea with Richard and his friend, William
Tang.
A Spanish band was playing energetically and came
to our table to see if we had a request. I looked at
Richard and asked if they could play, “Glory, Glory?”
Soon, in the most improbable setting—the shores of
France looking west to America, we sang the Georgia
fight song with the deepest of respect and affection.
My French connection has resonated in my life, and
I will be eternally grateful that the conduit was the
serendipitous seating at the British Open press tent
and the glory of Georgia football. Selah!
Loran Smith is a columnist for Mainstreet Newspa
pers. He is the co-host of the University of Georgia
football tailgate show.
Email social and church news
to alex@mainstreetnews.com.
loran
smith
FALL TERM REGISTRATION • BRASELTON SPONSORED BY:
DATE: Tuesday, August 22, 2017
TIME: Mix & Mingle - 5:30 p.m., Course Overviews - 6:00 p.m.
PLACE: Braselton Town Hall
4982 Hwy 53 • Braselton The Braselton Visitors
Bureau Authority
Classes begin October 2, 2017!
For more information call 706-654-5720 or visit www.brenau.edu/lifetimestudy.
Join BULLI at Brenau University,
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