community news

AmericanCancerSociety Crusaders’ Ball
The Gwinnett Place Marriott has been chosen to host the 32nd annual Crusaders’ Ball Against Cancer on November 4th. This year’s theme, New York, New York, promises an evening of big-city fun. Participants will play games, enjoy magic tricks, bid on auction items in both silent and live auctions and dance the night away in an effort to help the American Cancer Society meet this year’s goal of $225,000 for cancer research, education, advocacy and patient services. For the eighth year, Cox Enterprises, Inc. will be presenting sponsor with their donation of $25,000.
In previous years, funds raised by Gwinnett County’s Crusaders’ Ball have helped develop Tamoxifen, a drug credited with substantial reduction in incidents of breast cancer, as well as aided in discovery of drugs Gleevec to treat chronic myeloid leukemia, Rituxan for treatment of lymphoma, and Herceptin, which attacks breast cancer at its genetic roots.
Statistically, 3,400 Americans are diagnosed with cancer every day. In a single day 1,500 Americans lose their battle with the disease, while 1,900 Americans are pronounced cured of cancer. One out of every two males and one out of every three females will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes.
Since the first Crusaders’ Ball in 1978 more than two million dollars has been raised by what many Gwinnetians consider the most important social (and socially responsible) event of the season. For ticket information visit www.crusadersball.org, or call Jennifer Matson at the Gwinnett County chapter of the American Cancer Society at 770-814-0123.

Celebrate Hispanic Culture
The month of October is Hispanic Heritage month and Gwinnett County will be celebrating in full swing. “It is a chance for others to get to know the Latino/Hispanic culture and have a good time”, says Ingrid Hervey, Chairperson for the Hispanic Advisory Committee. The festivities will be free at the Walmart shopping center at 1400 Lawrenceville Highway on October 14 from 11am - 4pm There will be folkloric dances, music presentations, vendors providing a taste of their country’s foods and much more. Over 13 Latin countries will be represented showcasing the diversity within all Latin cultures.
In addition, Gwinnett Justice Administration Center will transform the right wing of the first floor of the Gwinnett Justice & Administration Center into a colorful display of Latin America. Pottery, basket weavings, paintings, clothing, and music are just a few of the displays that will line the sides of the hallway. The self-guided exhibit will be on display throughout the month of October. For more information about the Hispanic Heritage month event festivities, call 770-638-5668.

Duluth Fall Festival: Top Twenty Events in the Southeast
The Duluth Fall Festival was recently named one of the “Top Twenty” events in the southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society. This society is dedicated to the marketing and promotion of travel to and within the great southeastern states and recognizes the importance of festivals and special events in the southeast.
The Duluth Fall Festival has been an annual event for the past 23 years, with all proceeds going towards improving and beautifying Downtown Duluth. The Fall Festival Committee consists of over 300 volunteers. There are over 350 arts and crafts, and food booths, two separate children’s areas featuring rides, games, entertainment throughout the day, and crafts. The festival is held the last weekend of September every year and this year’s dates are September 30 and October 1. For more information on the festival, visit www.duluthfallfestival.com

get in the swing of things
Gwinnett Community Clinic’s Third Annual Golf Classic is scheduled for Monday, October 23 at Country Club of Gwinnett (formerly Trophy Club of Gwinnett) off Hwy 124 (Scenic Hwy.). Your participation in this fund raising event will help support this wonderful healthcare clinic for the indigent, uninsured residents of Gwinnett County.
Available Opportunities:

• Sponsorships in the amounts of $100 to $1000. All donations are tax deductible. (These sponsorships will pay for snacks, beverages and door prizes.)
• Hole sponsor with Tee sign advertisements at $150 each
• Each foursome at $500 each
• Each player at $125 each
• Donate door prizes and silent auction items

For more information please contact Pam Kramer at 770-736-2596 or Sheila Adcock at 770-736-2284.

Halloween Safety Tips
The days when a pointy black witch hat passed for a Halloween costume are long gone. Now, elaborate costumes transform every child into miniature monsters and superheroes. Unfortunately, these elaborate costumes can cause needless injuries. Coupled with other widely known dangers, such as tainted candy and crossing the street at night, it is easy for concerned parents to be spooked by trick-or-treating. Carol Ball, with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and SAFE KIDS of Georgia offers these tips to parents who want to make this Halloween a safe one:

• Avoid costumes with excessive flowing fabric, such as capes or sleeves. Loose clothing can easily brush up against a jack-o-lantern or other open flame, causing your child’s costume to catch on fire.
• Make sure your child’s costume fits properly. Oversized costumes can cause your child to trip and fall, bringing them home with more scrapes and bruises than candy.
• Accessorize with flexible props, such as rubber swords or knives. Inflexible props can cause serious injury in case of a fall.
• Apply face paint or cosmetics directly to the face. If a mask is worn, be certain it fits securely. Cut the eyeholes large enough for full vision.
• If possible, choose a brightly colored costume that drivers can spot easily. If not, make your child stand out in the dark by decorating his costume with reflective tape and stickers.
• Always supervise children under the age of 13. Older children should trick-or-treat in a group. Attach the name, address and phone number of children under age 13 to their clothes in case they get separated from adults.
• Teach your child to cross the street only at crosswalks or intersections. Make sure he understands never to cross between parked cars, and to always look both ways before crossing. Remind your child to stay on the sidewalk, if possible, and to walk facing traffic.
• Remind your child not to eat any candy before you have a chance to examine it thoroughly for holes and punctures.

For more information on Halloween safety, call Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at 404-250-kids, or visit www.choa.org or www.safekids.org

Ludwig Symphony Orchestra
The Ludwig Symphony Orchestra presents a Far East Festival of Classics with a Kick of Jazz for the opening gala concert of its ninth season on Sunday, November 12, 2006, at 4 p.m. at the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center. The afternoon performance features sensational violinist-Chihiro Inda from Toyko, Japan- interpreting the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto; legendary Atlanta jazz pianist-Gary Motley- in the world premiere of his “Highlands Summit Suite” for Jazz Quartet and orchestra; and local Chinese-Malaysian 13 year old pianist-Stephanie Ng- in her orchestral debut on Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No.2.
Maestro Thomas Ludwig, former music director of the New York City Symphony and resident conductor for American Ballet Theatre with Mikhail Baryshnikov, will lead the 80 piece orchestra in a varied and colorful program that includes Stravinsky-Firebird Suite, Rossini-Overture to Semiramide, Enesco-Roumanian Rhapsody No.1, and Yohann Strauss, Jr.-Tritsch Tratsch Polka.
Call 770-623-8623 for tickets. Prices are $15 for Adults, $12 for Seniors, and $5 for Students under 22. For more information call: 770-623-8623. Visit their website at www.ludwigsymphony.org

Small Hands, Big Gifts
At a very young age we learn to associate birthdays with receiving gifts. We make lists of our deepest desires, we make good and sure that everyone knows what is on the list. This is what we look forward to most about birthdays: tearing into a brightly wrapped box and revealing the surprise inside. Today, however, some parents are starting a different birthday tradition: charity.
Gwinnett County residents, Allison and Cleve Long decided to make a change in their children’s usual birthday celebration. After talking to Cooper, age 6, and Avery, age 5, it was decided that birthday guests would bring school supplies instead of presents. These school supplies would then be gathered together and donated to a local charity.
A few weeks before the birthday party, which would be a double birthday celebration for both Cooper and Avery, Allison began to search for the organization that was the best fit for this donation. A family member suggested The Foster Children’s Foundation, located in Duluth. The foundation was currently beginning a program to collect book bags filled with school supplies to give out at the start of the school year. It took no time at all for Allison to agree that this was indeed the right organization for their donation.
As the party grew nearer, Cooper and Avery grew more excited about their special birthday gifts. Cooper, who is very perceptive for such a young guy, said “I really hope that all of the things we get help them, and I hope they have fun at school this year.”
On July 28th, twenty-three kids and their parents gathered to celebrate with Avery and Cooper. Book bags, pencils, glue, markers, notebooks, and many other school supplies were given by the bag full. After the party, Avery was asked what she thought about donating the supplies instead of receiving gifts, her reply was, “I think we should give them more stuff.”
Everyone involved had a great time, and were touched by the generosity of the two little philanthropists. Avery and Cooper plan to do the same thing every year, content with the fact that they are helping others and that giving is as great a gift as receiving. — Eryn Roush