Living Jackson Magazine

Look What' Going On

Hoschton dedicates new flagpole
Although flags are a common sight around town, most Hoschtonians can’t remember the last time Old Glory flew from a mast in the downtown area. That all changed on July 1 when Mayor Bill Copenhaver and city officials, joined by a police honor guard, local veterans and citizens, dedicated the City’s new flagpole and raised the stars and stripes in front of City Hall.

“Hoschton is a wonderful place to live and our new flag helps us to remember all of the past generations who died for our country,” said Jim Jester, councilman and chairman of the flagpole project.

Mayor Copenhaver conducted the dedication ceremony and emphasized many of the civic improvements that Hoschton is in the process of making.

‘Bucks for Books’ in Braselton
The Town of Braselton is funding the Braselton-West Jackson Library’s new facility. The library’s “Bucks for Books” campaign is helping increase the book collection from the present 6,200 to the new capacity of more than 161,000 books.

The library was awarded a $15,000 grant from Jackson EMC as part of the company’s Operation Round Up program. The funds will help purchase reference, hardback, adult, youth and children’s books, as well as books on tape for senior citizens.

The campaign received another huge boost when Representative Tommy Benton presented a $10,000 appropriation from the Georgia General Assembly. Benton sponsored the special appropriation for the new Braselton Library during the 2006 legislative session.

“A library is a genuine source of pride for a community,” Benton said, “and more so for the Braselton area since its Council and citizens took the lead to construct a new library ten times larger than the present one.”
The Braselton Library is under construction on Hwy. 124, one block west of the historic downtown. It is scheduled to open in September.

New local MOMS club
A Jefferson/Braselton MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club®, established earlier this year, is a support group designed for the modern, at-home mother. The 20-member club welcomes new moms who need a support group or a little outlet, said Christy Martin, president of the local MOMS Club. “Everything we do is during the day, when moms need the most support, and children are welcome at all events.”

“There are lots of moms who do not know about our support group, and we would love to get more people involved,” said Christy Martin, president of the Jefferson/Braselton MOMS Club. “We have chosen The Tree House in Winder as our service project and will begin fundraisers soon.”

For information, contact Martin at jeffersonbraseltonmoms@yahoo.com, or call 706-367-0057 or go to
www.momsclub.org. The group is working on its own web site.

Something to BRAG about
Some 1,800 bicyclists passed through Jackson County as they pedaled more than 400 miles from Dalton to Augusta during the annual Bicycle Ride Across Georgia (BRAG) June 10-17. BRAG is an annual odyssey of discovery of the back roads of Georgia by bicycle.

“Although the ride is sometimes strenuous and often hot, BRAG has been completed by all types of people—college students and first graders, judges and soldiers, teachers and grandparents,” said Jerry Colley, BRAG director.
The riders overnighted at the Commerce Middle School June 15. According to BRAG, passing through a town pumps more than $100,000 into the local economy. For more information on the ride, go to www.brag.org or call 770-498-5153.

Bicentennial Mural Unveiling
On July 1 in conjunction with Jefferson’s Freedom Festival, the Bicentennial Mural was unveiled at the Pocket Park in downtown Jefferson. The first of three murals commissioned by the Bicentennial Committee and the City of Jefferson, this one was painted by Dave Wiley and depicts Crawford W. Long’s discovery of ether as an anesthetic in surgery. Wiley painted panels to be fitted together, which are located on the side of the Alltel Building.

Future murals, also to be erected during Jefferson’s Bicentennial year, will be of Martin Institute and the Gainesville Midland Railway locomotive.

Volunteer Opportunities

Better Hometown Jefferson
General meetings are held at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday. Meetings are held every month at the Jefferson Civic Center.

The Ark of Jackson County, Inc.
Help Jackson County residents who have had an emergency loss of income. To get assistance or volunteer, call
706-367-8365.

Children’s Advocacy Center
Various volunteer opportunities. Call Tina Grubbs, 770-868-1900.

Crawford W. Long Museum
Volunteers needed to assist with museum work and the public; 706-367-5307.

Friends of the Library Club
Volunteer with the Commerce Public Library and help with fundraising events and special projects; 706-335-2262.

Humane Society of Jackson County
Volunteers needed for special events, Christmas float. Board members being interviewed for 2007 year. Call 706-367-1111 or e-mail roxane@hsjc.com

Jackson County Family Connection
Share input about community needs and help meet these needs; also, volunteer needed for light clerical work. Call 706-367-3026.

Jackson County Habitat for Humanity
Volunteer you time and help provice a home for a needy family. Call 706-335-4083 for more information.

Peace Place
Battered women and children’s shelter needs volunteers for various tasks and projects including work at and donations for store; 770-307-3633.