News for Sunday, December 23, 2007

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Gwinnett educators win state honors in counseling

Two Gwinnett County Public Schools counselors and a high school principal were honored at the state level recently for the roles they play in advising and counseling, as well as promoting the counseling profession.

Saint Cyr - Davilus

Jean and Marlene Saint Cyr of Stone Mountain announce the engagement of their daughter, Jose Saint Cyr of Stone Mountain, to Mark Davilus of Snellville, son of Vercanne and Ersulia Davilus of Snellville.

Digital WiFi Frame, camera among best gifts for techies

It seems like techies should be the easiest group to buy for. But in truth, the gifts that plug in, connect and capture daily life are the hardest to buy, and usually the most expensive. Shelves are lined with 18 different headphone options, ranging from $9.99 to hundreds of dollars. Behind locked cases are 47 choices of cameras, and that's just in your price range. And then there is the endless wall of high-tech accessories.

Linder pays respect to former Georgia house speaker

John Linder was a thorn in Tom Murphy's side while the congressman was serving in the Georgia General Assembly.

Local workers will be clocking in on Christmas Day

On Tuesday morning, children across the globe will gleefully tear into the piles of presents that have been tucked beneath their homes' bedazzled evergreens for weeks. Exhausted parents will collapse lifelessly into recliners and love seats, sipping black coffee just to stave off yuletide narcolepsy. Nat King Cole will sing softly about chestnuts and Eskimos.

HERO program seeks teen applicants for African mission

Are you aware of an event or project that benefits our community? Contact Anna Ferguson at 770-963-9205, ext. 1308, or anna.ferguson@gwinnettdailypost.com.

Coming to a neighborhood near you: Development permits

DEVELOPMENT PERMIT APPLICATIONS - The following are development permits received by the Gwinnett Planning and Development Department. Developers have submitted plans for these sites but have not received the Planning and Development Department's OK to begin clearing the land. Permit applications received Dec. 14.

Road closures

' Arcado Road at Lilburn Stone Mountain Road will require intermittent lane closures from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through December for intersection improvements.

Political Notebook: Linder pays respect to former Georgia house speaker

John Linder was a thorn in Tom Murphy's side while the congressman was serving in the Georgia General Assembly.

Two young stars headline Duluth concert

LAWRENCEVILLE - Two young sensations-to-be are headlining a free concert in Duluth today.

Gwinnett 'HERO' hailed for most assists in '07

ATLANTA - Sometimes niceness reaps more than Brownie points with Santa.

Military News

Sean T. Lynch has joined the Army under the Delayed Entry Program. He reported to Fort Leonard Wood in Waynesville, Mo., for basic training in November. He is the son of Jack and Joyce Lynch of Duluth.

Politicians, constituents bid Murphy a final goodbye

WACO - Tom Murphy's funeral was a bit like the House of Representatives he ruled for almost three decades.

Braves' Jones opens academy in Suwanee

By Christine Troyke

Community Connection: Norcross Business Association president enjoys swimming, travel

Chuck Paul, owner of A Closer Look mystery shopping, brought his entrepreneurial skills to lead the Norcross Business Association, of which he has been president for one year. Paul's gregarious nature and sense of humor matched well with his years of work experience in the restaurant industry and later as a business owner. Paul, 57, is a veteran world traveler who looks forward to making downtown Norcross his home where he can walk to work. In this edition of Community Connection, staff writer Christy Smith enjoyed a one-on-one conversation with Paul.

Christmas tree mulch will be used at Suwanee parks

SUWANEE - Suwanee officials are hoping the community will chip in after the Christmas holiday and bring their once-decorated spruces to be recycled.

95th birthday

Horace R. Blalock of Lilburn celebrated his 95th birthday on Friday. His wife, Allie A. Blalock of Lilburn, celebrated her 90th birthday on Wednesday. The couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Nov. 7. They were married on Nov. 7, 1937.

Marketplace

Local collision shop celebrates fifth anniversary

Stuffing the bus Buford students, faculty donate toys for children in the community

BUFORD - About six years ago, Brenda Brown had an idea of how Buford City Schools could give back to the community: Park a big yellow bus in front of a school and let people fill it with toys.

Gwinnett Gab

Theater group presents check to library

Births

Nov. 3

Norcross Business Association president enjoys swimming, travel

Chuck Paul, owner of A Closer Look mystery shopping, brought his entrepreneurial skills to lead the Norcross Business Association, of which he has been president for one year. Paul's gregarious nature and sense of humor matched well with his years of work experience in the restaurant industry and later as a business owner. Paul, 57, is a veteran world traveler who looks forward to making downtown Norcross his home where he can walk to work. In this edition of Community Connection, staff writer Christy Smith enjoyed a one-on-one conversation with Paul.

Students get response, flag from soldier

HOSCHTON - When Carol Clyde's students wrote letters to a soldier who is friends with her daughter, she expected he would write back.

Collins Hill wrestling program helps families in need

One family nearly lost everything when the father was hurt and put out of work. Another family lives in a two-room home with eight kids. While one mother of three battles pancreatic cancer.

Woman spends three days inside Lilburn Wal-Mart shopping

LILBURN - While Gwinnett County's three malls fill with last-minute shoppers, the Wal-Mart in Lilburn hosted a woman on a three-day shopping spree last week.

Nation briefs

Crucified Santa is man's protest of commercialism

Offensive player of the Year: Kenny Miles Broncos' Miles enjoys rise from obscurity to record-breaking runner

Kenny Miles is a big goal person, the type who makes a list of what he wants to achieve and maps out how to get there.

Web site created to pair lost gloves with their owners takes off

PITTSBURGH - Jennifer Gooch's mission was to create a simple Web site where people could go to find their lost gloves. Even if no happy reunions ever took place, she was just content to spread a little goodwill.

Loyalty was the secret to Tom Murphy's longevity

In the legislative redistricting that followed the 2000 census, Georgia Democrats were determined to do everything they could to keep control of the General Assembly in a state rapidly turning Republican.

Winder feast aims to spread goodwill

WINDER - It all started with a man, his truck and some darn good food.

Can Gore save this Christmas?

Here's a Christmas story that might make you cry, but not for sentimental reasons. The town of Great Barrington, Mass., population 7,000, has ordered a curfew on 'holiday' lights this season because of global warming.

Defensive player of the Year: Eric Eberhardt North's Eberhardt reaps benefits of hard work, hustle

SUWANEE - It didn't matter where the football was, chances were Eric Eberhardt was somewhere near it.

Police report

Man claims he was shot by alleged pimp

Good news from schools: Gwinnett educators win state honors in counseling

Two Gwinnett County Public Schools counselors and a high school principal were honored at the state level recently for the roles they play in advising and counseling, as well as promoting the counseling profession.

Volunteers send care packages to soldiers Operation Sandbox ships items throughout year

SNELLVILLE - It started with a search for a yellow ribbon.

Smith - Moore

Randy and Susanne Smith of Duluth announce the engagement of their daughter, Kristen Smith of Duluth, to Stanley Moore of Cumming, son of Tom and Debbie Moore of Cumming.

A slow return to normal life

MINNETONKA, Minn. - The ruins of the Minneapolis bridge collapse are all cleaned up now, but Garrett Ebling is still picking up the wreckage it made of his life.

Riverside Parkway Kroger getting a gas station center

"What's going on here?" is a weekly column in the Sunday Community section of the Gwinnett Daily Post. If you see a construction site and don't know what's being built, call Christy Smith, business reporter, at 770-963-9205, ext. 1321, or e-mail her at christy.smith@gwinnettdailypost.com.

Preserving history Woman loans 100-year-old wedding dress to museum

WINDER - Jessie Maffett and her mother, Meldevene Gunter, spent many afternoons stitching together by hand the gown that Maffett would wear in her Sept. 22, 1907, wedding to James Nichols of Winder.

Environmentalists unhappy with 'mixed bag' energy bill

ATLANTA - Environmental advocates were thrilled a year ago when Democrats captured control of Congress after a dozen years out of power.

Travel: Unprecedented NYC hotel boom could help ease room shortage

NEW YORK - While planning her vacation to New York, Lisa Werness was so horrified by the hotel prices in Manhattan that she opted for cheaper lodging in Brooklyn - where she scored a room rate of just $400 a night.

Holiday for one Area offers alternatives to family gatherings

I admit that, for the vast majority of my life, I have been a traditionalist and averse to change - especially when it comes to the holidays. I like to open Christmas presents on Christmas Day, starting with the stockings and having each family member take turns opening a gift, the youngest going first. I like to go to a movie on Christmas Day, and then come home for turkey, cranberry sauce and my mom's ultra-dry, almost inedible stuffing.

World briefs

Turkish warplanes hit Kurdish rebel targets in Iraq

Christmas brings silver lining, even to cynics

At this cheery, festive time of year, it's difficult to think negative thoughts. I have to work pretty hard at it.

Companies to relocate to Duluth Town Green

DULUTH - Masha Anderson Bomar's heart has always been in Duluth. Soon, her company will be, too.

Heritage Center cure for winter break blahs

It's just about all over. Almost all of those holiday concerts, plays, ballets and displays, if they are still running at all, end today. Except for a few.

Prep Roundup: Lurry's basket gives Shiloh overtime win

MARIETTA - Zac Lurry scored the winning basket for Shiloh as the Generals beat North Cobb 50-48 in over time on Saturday.

Help from home Toy program helps troops' families with holiday gifts

LAWRENCEVILLE - More than 300 children of Georgia Army and Air National Guard members will this year enjoy the Christmas their families couldn't afford to give them.

Coach of the Year: John Small Small leads South back to playoffs

By Ben Beitzel

Buford woman 'adopts' 7 overseas units Organization founder sends phone cards, care packages to deployed troops

BUFORD - Barbara Swenson never imagined that her nickname would become her destiny.

People briefs

Norris suing creators of book about action star

Community calendar

Send items for the Community Calendar to calendar@gwinnettdailypost.com or the Gwinnett Daily Post, P.O. Box 603, Lawrenceville, GA 30046. The fax number is 770-339-8081. Please include event name, address, phone number and cost. Deadline is two weeks prior to the event.

Obama gets supporters all fired up

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Barack Obama has become a one-trick pony. But what a trick it is!