Newspaper Page Text
Forsyth County News- Sunday, October 3,1999
Forsyth Life
Laura .
Lavezzo
‘O, Georgia!’
encourages
emergence of
hidden talent
“Write what you know,” said Mr.
English, who, coincidentally, was
the sixth grade English teacher at
my school.
Mr. English was the first teacher
to make us keep a daily journal. He
said writing about your life was the
best way to develop your “voice”
in the world. Believing that person
al experience makes for the best
story-telling, he encouraged us to
tell the tallest tales we could, using
just the right mix of real life and a
little bit of imagination, yet exclud
ing titles like “The Dog Ate My
Homework.”
Many of us thought the journal
exercise rather corny. Writing
about the inconsequential stuff of
xsj
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about, let alone take time to read
about, our boring little lives, we
promised.
So we wrote about the batch of
cookies we baked (and burned)
with Mom the day before, and the
snow we hoped might soon fall,
and the cute boy who sat two rows
over.
What we did not realize, was the
impact the act of writing had on
our ability to comprehend and
accept the life around us. Nor did
we recognize the benefits writing
had on our vocabulary, spelling
and organizational skills. That was
the part Mr. English kept to him
self.
Unfortunately, not all kids get to
spend a year with someone like
Mr. English. This is obvious when
you review the results of the writ
ing segment on the 1998 National
Assessment of Educational
Progress. Though Georgia fails
into 16th place in the country in
demonstrating good writing skills,
American school officials are dis
appointed with overall student per
formance.
There is hope, however, and it
comes in the form of ingenuity. ‘
Local independent book store
owner, Paul Cossman, published
the first volume of “O, Georgia!”
in fall 1997. A collection of adult
writing, the book features the
insight and creativity of several
Georgia residents, some of whom
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O. GIOWIAI
a c»M an
had never
before
written
simply
for the
fun of it.
The suc
cess of
that first
publica
tion led to
plans for
“O,
Georgia,
Too! An
Awesome
■ Collection of Original Writings by
• Young Georgians,” featuring stu
dents in grades 1-12. That work
; included children from all over
Georgia, published for the first
time in 1998.
Cossman’s theory is that the ear
lier people are encouraged to write,
the sooner they will develop feel
ings of self-worth, and the ability
to express themselves. In addition.
See WRITERS, Page 2B
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Photos/Scott Rogers
HThe Forsyth County Public
Library serves the
community in many ways,
providing youth programs;
access to the Internet and
the GALILEO database col
lection; multi-media
resources and a collection of
books which turns over at
the rate of four times annual
ly, said librarian Liz Forster,
left. Above, 4-year-old
Samantha Fort enjoys one of
the library’s puppet shows
for preschoolers. Above
right, the puppets have a
new home thanks to Friends
of the Library, the fundraising
group that supports the
community-based, non-profit
institution.
Photo/Tom Brooks
life
seemed a
waste of
time. We
were only
12
nothing
interesting
had hap
pened to
us, we
argued.
No one
would
even want
to hear
* I
Family Haven faces rise in local domestic violence
By Lee Ann Baumann
Family Haven
“At the first meeting of the
Forsyth County Human
Resources Council in April 1988,
a shelter for battered women and
their children was cited as the
community’s most pressing need.
A task force formed and met
immediately at the adjournment
of the Council meeting. An
announcement placed in county
newspapers prior to the next meet
ing brought 15 people together
who were vitally interested in the
issue of domestic violence and
who were willing to give of their
time and energy to make changes.
Subsequently, the group became
incorporated as Forsyth County
Family Haven.”
This statement was issued by the
first Chair of the
Board of
Directors, Sister
Kathryn Cliatt.
By October 1989,
the new organiza
tion was ready to
shelter its first
victims of
domestic vio
lence.
Each year the month of October
is set aside to commemorate
Domestic Violence Awareness
Month. This year will be especial
ly significant because Family
Books, puppets, automation and the Internet
66 By October 1989,
the organization
was ready to
shelter its first
victims...
99
Fim/' j
Lee Ann Baumann
Haven will be celebrating 10
years of service to victims of
domestic violence. They will
enter the next decade with more
services than were ever dreamed
of 10 years
ago.
The original
purpose of
having a tem
porary shelter
for women
and children
to go to when
their homes
have become unsafe has never
changed but improved upon.
Under the guidance of a commit
ted board of directors and execu
tive director, Family Haven has
established itself as a dedicated
organization committed to helping
all victims of domestic violence.
The children’s program has
grown and expanded in the past
four years. Under the leadership
of the children’s director, aided by
the children’s advocate, the young
people have a variety of programs
that fit their individual needs.
Many children come to Family
Haven behind in their school
work. Volunteers and staff work
with the children, helping them
with the work they have missed.
There is a special support group
for children. During the week, the
director and advocate work with
both mothers and children, help
ing them with their current needs.
The children’s director and advo
cate also organize trips to the zoo,
movies, skating and museums
throughout the year.
The shelter manager counsels
the women daily to help them set
goals, find jobs and seek medical
care. The shelter manager also is
responsible for keeping the build
ings in good working order. A
part-time client services assistant
helps out three days a week by
aiding the shelter manager and
other staff members.
Family Haven has a 24-hour hot
line ((770) 887-1121) that is
answered by both volunteers and
staff. There is a staff member on
duty at the shelter at all times. The
night and weekend managers con-
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Evolution
ot a
Library
Stewards of knowledge!
prepare for 21st Century.
JU
By Laura Lavezzo Carrico
Lifestyle Editor
Librarian Liz Forster remembers well the
humble quarters which were once home
for the Forsyth County Public Library. Not
long ago, she says, the library was housed
in a small building now occupied by
members of the Sheriff’s Office in down
town Cumming.
Forster, who served as the branch man
ager of the local library from 1987 until
shortly after its current facility opened in
1992, has recently returned to Forsyth
County as the public services manager for
both the existing institution and the new
Sharon Forks Library, due to open in
2000.
When Forster originally joined the
tinue the goals and objectives that
have been set during the day.
In the past 18 months, Family
Haven has added a legal advocate
to the staff. She helps individuals
obtain temporary protective orders
and explains other legal options to
the client. She also works closely
with the Domestic Violence Task
Force within the Sheriff’s depart
ment.
• «
• In 1997,878 domestic violence incidents were
reported in Forsyth County. In 1998, that number grew * i
to 2,617.
• In 1995,17,816 domestic violence incidents were
reported in Georgia. In 1998, there were
54,418 reports. fl’
• In 1998, four homicides were classified as domestic
violence-related in Forsyth County.
• One out of every four American women (25 percent)
report they have been physically abused by a husband
or boyfriend at some point in their lives.
• Eight percent of teenage girls ages 14 to 17 report
knowing someone their age who has been beaten by
a boyfriend.
• Among all female murder victims in 1995,26 percent
were known to have been slain by husbands or
boyfriends. Only 3 percent of the male victims were
known to have been slain by wives or girlfriends.
Music; art
and intelligent
conversation
PAGESB
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library staff, the annual circulation was
61,849 items and the Internet was only
used by scientists and computer gurus. In
1999, she says, the library is checking out
nearly 60,000 items each month, and pro
vides user-friendly Internet access to
everyone.
“Information and the tools used to orga
nize and engage it keep expanding,”
Forster admits. This explains the library’s
interest in publishing its own Web site,
www.forsyth.public.lib.ga.us, which fea
tures many helpful services to patrons.
The site includes a kids’ page; library card
application process; library history; infor
mation on the construction of the Sharon ■,
See LIBRARY, Page $
XT
The community outreach coordi
nator is a newly created position.
Her job includes teaching classes
designed to educate every sixth-',-
seventh- and eighth-grade student
in the Forsyth County School
System about domestic violence
issues. Teen dating violence p&
sentations are given in the high
♦ •
See HAVEN, Page 8B
Bl