Newspaper Page Text
BLAKE AJED
ATHENS NEWS AND VIEWS
Probate Judge Susan Tate congratulates new ACC Commissioner Allison
Wright on four years of late nights and angry phone calls.
Commissioner Mike Hamby wilt serve as
mayor pro tern this year???helping Mayor Nancy
Denson craft the budget, and representing the
city and running meetings when she can't be
there???after two years of Commissioner Andy
Herod serving in that rote. "I'm gtad the reign
of terror is over," Hamby said.
Planning Ahead: Downtown Athens wilt have
about 1,500 more beds in a few years than it
does now, most of them fikely fitted by cof-
fege students. What wilt happen to the places
where those students five now? Commissioner
Kefly Girtz wants answers.
"I think we've all seen the burgeoning
devefopment in the downtown core, and, I
think, to a large degree, that's a good thing,
given that we've got students living in close
proximity to the university, so we're seeing
environmental benefits," Girtz said. "We're
certainly going to see public safety benefits
as a result of alt this devefopment. But at the
same time, we have to ask the question of
what does this mean for outlying areas, and
what does this mean for existing multi-famify-
zoned areas?"
It would be nice to see the commission try
to get out in front of an issue for once. Aft
Help Stacey-Marie: Local art
ist, photographer and musician
Stacey-Marie Piotrowski was
hit by a pickup truck white rid
ing her bike on Tafmadge Drive
Dec. 19. The driver, Matthew
Brian Andrews, 29, blew slightly over the legal
blood alcohol limit of 0.08 percent and was
charged with DUI, according to ACC police.
Piotrowski suffered severe injuries, wilt be
out of work for some time and is uninsured,
so she needs help with medical bills and living
expenses. Her friend Serra Ferguson has set
up a page at Youcaring.com to take donations
and had raised $2,363 as of press time. (See
the online version of City Dope for a link.)
Ferguson is also looking for a nonprofit to
donate a car because Piotrowski won't be able
to ride a bike???her primary mode of transpor
tation???for a white due to her injuries.
Pardon Our Progress: Some of you may have
noticed that we launched a new version of
Ffagpole.com over the holidays. It's not quite
ready for prime time yet, but when it is, Music
Editor Gabe Vodicka and I have lots of coot
stuff planned, so stay tuned. If you have any
bright ideas (or death threats or whatever)
send 'em to news@ffagpofe.com, tweet me,
hit me up on Facebook or, if you're really old-
fashioned, pick up the phone. No telegrams,
smoke signals or carrier pigeons, please.
Blake Aued news@flagpole.com
Meet the New Boss(es): Two new Athens-
Clarke commissioners, Allison Wright and Jerry
NeSmith, were sworn in last Wednesday, and
NeSmith wasted no time getting down to busi
ness. The former planning commissioner bro
kered a compromise between a developer and
residents of the Creekside Manor subdivision
over a proposed fast-food restaurant at the
neighborhood's entrance across Highway 78
from the Caterpillar plant. Well, it won't be a
fast-food restaurant anymore. After some con
fusion that required a brief break, the com
mission approved a rezoning from residential
to commercial, along with a set of restrictions
on uses, hours and lighting that all sides said
they can live with. It's an auspicious start for
NeSmith, who has replaced Ed Robinson rep
resenting the Atlanta Highway area. (Wright
succeeds Alice Kinman in the Five Points-
centric District 4.)
too often, especially when it comes to devel
opment, ACC is reacting to something that's
already in the works, like the Selig develop
ment downtown, and so they're behind the
eight ball from the beginning. Grappling with
what to do with the inevitable vacant sub
urban apartment complexes now, well before
anyone moves into a new building downtown,
is a smart move. As commissioners will find
if they move forward with the study Girtz has
requested, there are plenty of tax and zoning
incentives out there for redevelopment.
Go West, Old Man: U.S. Rep. Paul Broun, 66,
was among a dozen Republican congressmen
to oppose keeping John Boehner as House
speaker. Broun cast his vote for Allen West, a
one-term Florida Republican who lost his re-
election bid in November. (Apparently, speak
ers don't have to be members of Congress.
They can pick any old yahoo
off the street!) Broun cited
Boehner's failure to get a fis
cal cliff deal that cut spend
ing. He did not mention a
proclivity the tea party dar
ling West shares with Broun:
calling Democrats Nazis and
Communists.
Voting against Boehner
for speaker would prove very
useful if one were to, say,
challenge a more moderate
GOP senator in a primary.
Like???just to throw a name
out there???Saxby Chambliss.
But it won't do Broun much
good in the House. After the
new Congress was sworn in,
he reintroduced legislation to
ban abortion and audit the
Federal Reserve. Guess how
far Boehner will let those bills
get.
Monday & Wednesday:
Ml You Can Eat Wings!
BOGO Boneless UJings
9pm ???til Midnight
EVERY NIGHT!
(restricions apply)
STUDENT DISCOUNT -??
10% Off Sundays : '"r
For Catering, Deliveries and Reservations
706.354.6655
196 Alps Rd. ??? Beechwood Center
Friendly Neighborhood Bar
Free Popcorn ??? Pool
Jukebox
Every Tuesday 7:30pm
DOUBLE ELIMINATION
POOL TOURNAMENT
Every Wednesday
KARAOKE
Thursdays
BLUES NIGHT WITH THE
SHADOW EXECUTIVES
Friday, Jan. 11
CAROLINE AIKEN
WITH JOHN PAGANO & EDDIE GLIKIN
Saturday, Jan. 12
ERIK NEIL BAND
2455 Jefferson Rd. in Homewood Hills
Open 2pm M-F ??? 12pm Sat
theLslassic iiiiiiiiiin9/.7nun 97J9,
Public
Radio
for Athens and
Northeast Georgia
Celebrating 25 Years
in the Athens Area
706-542-9842
www.wuga.org
Your Oasis for Ideas
and the Arts
WUGA is a broadcast service of the University of Georgia
HAPPY 2013!
Stop by and Join Us in /
Celebrating Our
2Qtb Anniversary!
HFIIR 5TUDIO
HH gg [St] 156-A College Ave. ??? Athens, GA ??? (706) 546-7288
yj* *1815118'**
c/5yU*
Assisi
WWWJ00mtgfiT.NET
iTIrilllAmiflliEVl
7-9pm $20/person
beginners welcome
Five Points Bottle Shop
BEER WINE ~ LIQUOR CIGARS
hi
YOU
for letting us
serve you in 2012!
Kick off 2013
with a visit to the
stores with the
most extensive
selection ofWine,
Beer and Spirits!
Get All Your
??? wTuTVTTTTAvi
SUPPLIES
(Westside)
6c GROWLERS
at our
Growler Stores!
NO FAKE I.D.s ??? NO CRYBABIES
www.FIVEPOINTSBOTTLESHOP.com
Join Our Mailing List for Information on Events & Specials! ??? 3
2 LOHTIOnS:
1655 S. LUMPKIN ST. ??? 706-543-6989
3685 ATL. HWY. ??? 706-316-2337
JANUARY 9, 2013 ??? FLAGPOLE.COM 5