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The Sylvania Times
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 - Page 13
Celebrate National Peanut Month
The Georgia peanut industry joins together to celebrate National
Peanut Month in March and donate peanut butter to the Atlanta
Community Food Bank
March is National Peanut Month, a time to celebrate one of America’s favorite foods!
The Georgia peanut industry kicked off the celebration this week by hosting the 2024
Georgia PB&J Day in Atlanta, Georgia. During the event, the Georgia Peanut Commission
and Peanut Proud donated 10,080 jars of peanut butter to the Atlanta Community Food
Bank.
Peanuts and peanut butter were promoted during the event by industry partners serving
grilled PB&Js, country-fried peanuts, peanut candy and more. Governor Brian Kemp
presented a proclamation recognizing March as National Peanut Month while Sen. Russ
Goodman, chairman of
the Senate Agriculture
and Consumer Affairs
Committee, and Rep. Robert
Dickey, chairman of the
House Agriculture and
Consumer Affairs Committee
presented resolutions
recognizing the importance
of Georgia’s peanut industry.
“Peanuts are Georgia’s
official state crop, and the
state boasts the largest share
of peanut production in the
U.S. at nearly 53 percent
for the 2023 crop,” says Joe
Boddiford, chairman of the
Georgia Peanut Commission.
“Georgia’s 3,700 peanut
farmers contribute
approximately $2 billion
annually to the state and
local economy.”
Sponsors and exhibitors
include the Georgia Peanut
Commission, National
Peanut Buying Points
Association, Kroger, Georgia
Farm Bureau, Georgia
Federal-State Inspection
Service, National Peanut
Board, Peanut Proud, Atlanta
Community Food Bank, Premium Peanut and the University of Georgia Peanut Team.
As part of the celebration, peanut butter valued at $10,000, was presented to the Atlanta
Community Food Bank. The Atlanta Community Food Bank provides food and grocery
products to nearly 700 community-based, nonprofit partner agencies with hunger relief
programs throughout 29 counties in metro Atlanta and north Georgia. According to Ben
Burgess, corporate relations manager with the food bank, the need for food assistance is
not going away.
“A recent study of our service area showed that an average of 200,000 food insecure
households are served each month through the Atlanta Community Food Bank partner
agency network. Peanut butter is a very nutritious and important product to those clients
because it has a stable shelf life,” Burgess says. “One jar can make several meals for a
family or individual in need. This donation will help the 10 percent of Georgian residents
and the one in eight children who are food insecure in the state.”
Coincidentally, March is National Nutrition Month - a great time to recognize the
nutritional value of peanuts. One serving of peanuts is a good source of protein, vitamin E,
niacin, folate, phosphorus and magnesium. Peanuts are naturally cholesterol-free and low
in saturated fat.
For additional details and photos from the 2024 PB&J Day, visit the Georgia Peanut
Commission website at gapeanuts.com.
Celebrating Read Across America at
Screven Christian Academy
Sarah Saxon. Times Reporter
On Thursday, March 7, the halls of
Screven Christian Academy echoed
with laughter and the rustle of pages as
individuals gathered to celebrate Read
Across America in honor of the beloved
children's author. Dr. Seuss.
In a heartwarming display of community
spirit, several individuals and businesses,
including Candace LaNasa, with a local
grocery store visited the academy to
share the joy of reading with the students.
LaNasa and her colleagues not only
brought books but also distributed coloring
books, crayons, and a generous plate
of cookies to each eager student. Miah
Powell, who has two children in Screven
Christian, also read to a classroom.
The event highlighted the importance
of fostering a love for reading from an
early age, echoing Dr. Seuss's belief that
parental involvement in reading lays
the foundation for children to become
independent readers in the future.
Read Across America celebrations are
poised to take on a new form considering
the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Many
students are now engaging in virtual
learning, prompting organizers to adapt
and plan a variety of virtual events
throughout the year, not just in March.
However, this year's celebration also
comes with a notable shift in focus. The
National Education Association (NEA) has
moved away from spotlighting Dr. Seuss's
works towards promoting a more diverse
selection of children's literature, a decision
that has stirred debate on social media
platforms.
While President Joe Biden emphasized
the importance of literacy and national
reading comprehension in his Read Across
America Day presidential proclamation,
he notably diverged from his predecessors,
Donald Trump, and Barack Obama, by
not mentioning Dr. Seuss by name. This
departure reflects broader efforts within
educational circles to embrace a more
inclusive and diverse range of literary
voices.
As Read Across America Day
communities like Screven Christian
Academy continue to uphold the
tradition of celebrating reading while
also embracing the evolving landscape
of children's literature and educational
practices.
Two Georgia House members
announce plans to leave office
-Dave Williams. Capitol Beat
ATLANTA - Two veteran members of the Georgia House of Representatives announced Friday
that they won’t seek reelection this year.
Reps. David Knight, R-Griffin, and Gregg Kinnard, D-Lawrenceville, addressed their colleagues
from the House floor on the final day of Qualifying Week for legislative candidates.
Knight, now serving in his 20th year in the House, is chairman of the House Appropriations
Committee’s Higher Education Subcommittee.
On the House floor Friday, Knight said the recent death of House Rules Committee Chairman
Richard Smith convinced him it was time to leave office and spend more time with his wife and
young son.
Knight praised Democrats and Republicans in the House for debating issues in a civil manner,
even when they disagree.
“People are tired across this nation of bad politics and people being mean to each other," he said.
“If we treat each other with civility, we’ll all be better for it, and the people of Georgia will be better
for it."
Kennard, elected to the House in 2018, had indicated late last year he would not ran for a fourth
term after House Republicans redrew the House map during a special redistricting session.
The new map put Kennard in the same district as House Minority Whip Sam Park, D-Lawrenceville,
and Kennard decided to step down rather than face Park in a Democratic primary contest in May.
This photo is an artist rendering of the Market on Maple, the proposed shelter at the Newington Heritage Park will
look the same. Photo contributed.
Newington Heritage Society Progresses
on Pavilion Project
-Joe Brady. Editor
Newington, GA - Last Monday, the Newington Heritage Society convened for its
monthly meeting at 4:30 p.m. at the Newington Bank, where the group of eight dedicated
individuals discussed ongoing projects aimed at enhancing the community's appeal. One
notable initiative currently underway is the construction of a covered pavilion, mirroring
the success of the Market on Maple shelter at the Newington Heritage Park.
The Heritage Society members have been diligently working towards the realization
of this project, and their efforts have been buoyed by generous donations from several
local entities. Private contributions have poured in, with notable support from Planters
Telephone, Newington Bank, GA Power, and Operation Roundup from Planters EMC. The
combined efforts have amassed a total of $20,500 towards the construction goal.
Ben Hodges, a local contractor, has submitted a bid in the amount of $25,250 for
construction. Zandra Overstreet, the President of the Heritage Society, expressed
optimism, stating, "If we can secure $5,000 more, we should be able to commence
construction."
The covered pavilion is expected to become a central point for community gatherings
and events. Concrete installation is slated to follow the construction phase, adding
durability and functionality to the structure.
The Newington Heritage Society, a nonprofit organization established in 2013 by eight
dedicated residents and former inhabitants of Newington, aims to make the town more
inviting for newcomers. Their commitment to community improvement is not limited
to infrastructure projects, as evident in their upcoming event - the Newington Cleanup
scheduled for this Saturday, March 16, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the park beside the old
gym.
For those interested in learning more about the Heritage Society or getting involved,
please call 912-690-1223. The group holds regular meetings on the 1st Monday of each
month at the Bank of Newington at 4:30 p.m., welcoming community members to join in
their mission of preserving and enhancing the cultural heritage of Newington. “We always
welcome community involvement in our projects,” Overstreet concluded.
Who is the real St. Patrick?
Modem St. Patrick’s Day celebrations,
at least in the United States, are likely
be to characterized by commercial lucky
charms and green beer—all of which has
very little to do with the historical figure of
the saint. As it turns out, it took centuries
for the holiday to accme the elements that
now seem cmcial to its celebrations.
The March 17 celebration started in
1631 when the Church established a Feast
Day honoring St. Patrick. He had been
Patron Saint of Ireland who had died
around the fifth century—a whopping 12
centuries before the modem version of
the holiday was first observed. But very
little is known about who he actually was,
according to Marion Casey, a clinical
assistant professor of Irish Studies at New
York University (and a regular marcher in
the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Manhattan).
“We know that he was a Roman citizen,
because Britain was Roman then, and
then he was enslaved and taken to Ireland,
where he either escaped or was released,”
Casey says. “And then he became a priest
and went back to Ireland, where he had a
lot of luck converting the Dmid culture
into Christians.”
Legend says St. Patrick was actually
bom Maewyn Succat, but that he changed
his name to Patricius (or Patrick), which
derives from the Latin term for “father
figure,” after he became a priest. And
that supposed luck of his is the root of all
the themed merchandise for modem St.
Patrick’s Day.
It wasn’t until the early 18th century that
many of today’s traditions were kicked
into high gear. Since the holiday falls
during Lent, it provides Christians a day
off from the prescriptions of abstinence
leading up to Easter, and around the 1720s,
the church found it “got kind of out of
control,” Casey says. It was to remind
celebrants what the holiday actually
stood for that the church first associated a
botanical item—customary for all saints—
with St. Patrick, assigning him the symbol
of the likewise lucky shamrock.e world
goes green on St Patrick's Day
Modern-day celebrations and themes
continued to take shape during the rest of
the 1700s. In 1762, the first New York City
parade took place. It wasn’t until 1798,
the year of the Irish Rebellion, that the
color green became officially associated
with the day, Casey says. Up until the
rebellion, the color associated with St.
Patrick was blue, as it was featured both in
the royal court and on ancient Irish flags.
But as the British wore red, the Irish chose
to wear green, and they sang the song
“The Wearing of the Green” during the
rebellion, cementing the color’s relevance
in Irish history.
As for the green beer, that’s an even
later addition. In fact, it wasn’t until the
late 20th century that Ireland repealed a
law that initially kept everything—pubs
included—shut down for the day. Since
then, thanks to a marketing push from
Budweiser in the 1980s, downing beer
has become a common way to celebrate,
regardless of how closely it’s tied to the
actually meaning of St. Patrick himself.
Bill cracking down on ‘swatting’
clears Georgia House
-Dave Williams. Capitol Beat
ATLANTA - The Georgia House of
Representatives overwhelmingly passed
legislation Monday aimed at “swatting,”
false reports of criminal activity that send
police to the homes or offices of targeted
victims.
The bill, which passed 162-2, increases
penalties for those found guilty of making
swatting calls, mandating a prison sentence
of 10 to 15 years and a fine of at least
$25,000 upon conviction of a third offense.
First and second offenses would require
lesser prison terms and fines.
Incidents of swatting calls targeting
politicians have been on the rise. During
the last three months, three Republican
state senators, a Democratic state senator,
GOP Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, and U.S. Rep.
Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Rome, have
been targeted by swatting calls.
“New techniques like AI (artificial
intelligence) ... have made swatting calls
more of a headache for law enforcement,”
state Rep. Deborah Silcox, R-Sandy
Springs, said Monday.
Rep. Tyler Paul Smith, R-Bremen,
said swatting calls typically cost law
enforcement agencies - and, thus,
taxpayers - $15,000 to $25,000.
The state Senate passed the bill
unanimously late last month. The House
Judiciary Non-Civil Committee added
a section to the measure that creates the
crime of drive-by shootings, punishable by
a prison sentence of five years to 20.
The legislation clears up confusion
over existing laws governing drive-
by shootings, said Rep. Matt Reeves,
R-Duluth, who carried Senate Bill 421 in
the House.
“This makes it clear: Do not shoot at a
dwelling. Do not shoot at a car,” he said.
A 3-year-old Athens boy was shot and
killed during a drive-by shooting over the
weekend while watching television in his
home.
“Drive-by shootings are incredibly
dangerous ... often for bystanders,” said
House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration,
R-Dacula. “Cleaning up the statute is
necessary.”
Because of the changes made by the
House, the bill must return to the Senate
before gaining final passage.
Left: David Knight,
R-Griffin
Right: Gregg Kinnard,
D-Lawrenceville,
