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PAGE 6A -- THE COMMERCE (GA) NEWS, WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 19, 2007 Col. Michael D. Steele is pictured with the Huber Engineered Woods employees (current and retired) who attended the Veterans Day luncheon. Left to right are (front) Noah Castonguay, Mike Willingham, Brian Dufresne, Willie Hill, Kevin Porterfield, Jeff Dempson, Bryan Moore, Mike Walker, (back) Steele, George Kull, Walt Blackman, Jimmie Cleveland, Lonnie Hoff, Wayne West, Alan Sick, Mik Edenfield, Darrell Hettrick, Allen Sealock and Larry Gerow. Veterans not pictured include Tim Baughcum, Jimmy Broyles, Wade Connell, Jerry Ellis, George Fleming, Jimmy Foote, Danny Millen, John Morris, Dan Perkins, David Randall and Pete Rutherford. Photo by Eric Reynolds Huber Holds Special Veterans Day Program U.S. Army Colonel Michael D. Steele joined the staff of Huber Engineered Woods LLC Nov. 9 to join their Veterans Day cel ebration in Commerce. It has become a tradition at this local manufacturing facility to provide a special luncheon each year to honor employees who are veter ans of the United States Armed Forces. The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States and to its flag was particularly poignant that Friday. The flag, provided for the event by Steele, had been recovered from the World Trade Center buildings just minutes before their collapse on Sept. 11, 2001. Steele also addressed the group. “Col. Steele’s moving remarks reminded all of us why we honor personnel in our armed forces, both past and present, who have protected the rights and free doms that the American flag represents,” said plant manager Kenny Poe. Steele is a native of the Commerce area who attend ed and played football for the University of Georgia. His career in the Army includes command ing the 3rd Brigade,101st Airborne Division (Rakkasans) from June 2004 through November 2006 of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was a company commander in the 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in 1993 during the Somalia mis sion Operation Gothic Serpent. A book and movie, “Black Hawk Down,” are based on this mis sion; Steele was portrayed in both. His current assignment is in Georgia with the Army Forces Command. During his remarks, Poe also remembered two veterans who had died since the 2006 luncheon — employees John DelGallo and Joe Mobley. “John and Joe always said this annual luncheon for veterans was an important event for them,” said Poe. “They are missed.” Ruby Tuesday Restaurant Undergoes A Makeover For more than 35 years, Ruby Tuesday restaurants meant Tiffany-style lamps, polished brass, striped awnings, and plen ty of antiques and curios on the walls. But all that has changed as the Ruby Tuesday in the metro Atlanta area — including the Ruby Tuesday at Banks Crossing — have undergone a makeover. Gone are the artifacts and memorabilia, the black-and- white checked tablecloths and the dark-stained woods. Now there is a clean and more con temporary look, with soft, earth- tone colors, upholstered seats, specially commissioned artwork and photographs, and colorful, light-hearted lighting fixtures. On the outside, Ruby Tuesday’s are now painted a uniform color, accented with black awnings. It’s all part of the company’s nationwide remodeling program that is transforming a familiar brand into one known for “sim- NEED PRINTING? CALL 706-367-5233 ple fresh American dining,” and it’s happening on a scale and schedule that are unprecedented in the restaurant industry: more than 600 restaurants complete ly remodeled in less than six months, at a total cost of approx imately $75 million. “We are passionate about great food and gracious hospitality,” says Sandy Beall, Ruby Tuesday’s founder, Chairman and CEO. “Our new look and feel are an important part of that, part of our determination to consistently provide a high-quality casual din ing experience that our guests will remember,” he adds. The redesign work takes place between closing time and lunch hour the next day, with local contractors and craftspeople employed for everything from painting and wall covering to the installation of lighting and awnings, and is complete in about five weeks for approxi mately $100,000 per restaurant. Every two hours, workers at 25 distribution centers will be loading trucks for shipment to a Ruby Tuesday, with more than 750 incoming deliveries before it’s all complete. Five truckloads of chairs make their way to the restaurants every day during the process, and nine different work shops are making 9,000 new booths that will require more than 60,000 yards of “whisper vinyl,” the largest single order of that material ever placed. The renovation is already com pleted at the Commerce unit. “Our research — and our first hand experience — tell us that people believe great food like ours tastes even better when it comes with gracious hospitality,” Kimberly Grant, Ruby Tuesday’s Executive Vice President, says. To be sure that happens, the company has added extra dining room staff. Don't Forget To Recycle That Christmas Tree Now that you’ve got that Christmas tree up, Keep Jackson County Beautiful says it’s not too early to start thinking of how you will dispose of it when all the gifts are a distant memory. The organization will hold its Bring One for the Chipper recy cling event Saturday, Jan. 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Trees will be recycled into mulch or used as wildlife habitat. Drop-off sites include the Lanier Technical College park- ing lot on South Elm Street in Commerce, the Jefferson Civic Center, the Jackson County Transfer Station, and the First Baptist Church of Hoschton. Those participating will receive a free dogwood seedling while supplies last. For information, call Susan Trepagnier, executive director of Keep Jackson County Beautiful at 706-708-7198 or visit online at www.keepjacksoncountybeauti- ful.com. Fareha Rahim, MD Internal Medicine We are now located at our new office 613 Hospital Road Commerce, Georgia 30529 Commerce Medical Center 1 706-335-9411 ^MCR,MCDBeBS,CGNA^HMOPPO)AMERlGROUF,AARF,UH^J ATTENTION! HAVE YOU GOT CREDIT CONCERNS? Do you need a 2nd chance with your vehicle financing? Do you need dependable transportation? LET YOUR JOB HISTORY AND YOUR DOWN PAYMENT BE YOUR CREDIT! CALL 866-636-4881 High % of approvals Hwy. 441 in Commerce 706-335-3196 • 800-798-7435 www.wayneneal.com SERVICE HOURS: M-F 7:30-6:00 • Sat. 8:00-4:00 Recycle Your Christmas Tree! Beginning Wednesday, December 26, 2007, you can drop off your Christmas Trees for recycling. On Saturday, January 5, 2008, Saplings will be available (while they last) at the Jefferson, Commerce, Talmo and Transfer Station locations only. Recycle your Christmas Tree at the following locations: Arcade-Center Wednesday, December 26, 2007 - Saturday, January 5, 2008 New Kings Bridge Road Compactor Site Commerce Wednesday, December 26, 2007 - Saturday, January 5, 2008 Designated area at the Commerce Shopping Center on S. Elm Street Commerce- M ay s v i 11 e Wednesday, December 26, 2007 - Saturday, January 5, 2008 Yarbrough Crossing Compactor Site Hoschton Wednesday, December 26, 2007 - Saturday, January 5, 2008 First Baptist Church Jackson County Transfer Station Wednesday, December 26, 2007 - Saturday, January 5, 2008 Jefferson Wednesday, December 26, 2007 - Saturday, January 5, 2008 Drop off at the Civic Center A Htffj JnCkwn County Ifaiitiriil For Additional Information, Call Keep Jackson County Beautiful at 706-708-7198.