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DEL.ICIO.USA town so nice, let’s hail it twice
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Larry Brannon was making his way around the tables when one particular design caught his eye.
“Hey,” he shouted to Ed From, who was on the other side of the room. “Norman Rockwell submitted an entry.”
The men served on an eight-person committee that met Wednesday to pick the design that will grace —shirts and posters for Suwanee Day, which takes place Sept. 20 at Town Center Park. More about that celebration - and the winning entry - later.
The Badie Tour stopped by City Hall to inquire about an interactive event that unfolds this weekend. It’s the inaugural “Life is good in Suwanee Festival,” set for noon to 9 p.m. Saturday in the park.
Definitely check it out. You’ll get to play hoops with a rubber chicken or horseshoes with a toilet seat and plunger. The festival highlight, though, will be the “World’s Greatest Backyard Athlete” competition.
Eighteen people will compete in a series of events, including a watermelon seed-spitting contest, burger building and a potato sack race.
Remember the name DeWayne Davis. He expects to rule the sack race, if not the coveted crown.
“Maybe,” said Davis, chuckling.
In all seriousness, though, Davis said he decided to suit up for a good cause. See, each athlete either contributed, raised or had someone sponsor him or her for $500. That money, along with all proceeds from festival sales and an auction, will go to the Life is good Kids Foundation Inc., a Boston-based nonprofit. It helps plan charity festivals like Suwanee’s across the country.
The foundation distributes money to nonprofits that serve children. Suwanee’s proceeds will benefit Project Joy, a 19-year-old, Boston-based nonprofit that helps kids (think Hurricane Katrina victims) recover from trauma through play. Training and resources are provided to educators, child-care providers and other professionals who work with children.
Amy Doherty, Suwanee’s events coordinator, said local organizers hope the festival nets $10,000. The money will be used to set up a Project Kids program in metro Atlanta.
“The money stays in metro Atlanta,” Doherty told me. “This is the first time we have done anything like this, but the big thing about this nonprofit is that it has credibility. That makes a big difference.”
From, one of the judges for the Suwanee Day Celebration design, doesn’t doubt the event will succeed. After all, this is Suwanee, ranked by Money Magazine as the 10th-best small community to live in. Town Center Park, located off Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road, basically serves as the town’s front yard. It’s the locale for community concerts, movies, fun. Children frolic daily in the Big Splash interactive fountain.
“Everybody loves the park,” noted From, a local business owner and part-time actor. “If it’s not raining, we’ll have a good turnout Saturday. I’ve never seen anything up here not have a good turnout.”
Now, back to choosing a commemorative design for Suwanee Day. This was no willy-nilly, knee-jerk decision. Judges started poring over the 73 prints at 10 a.m. Wednesday. A winner was not voted on till an hour and a half later.
“We’re going to be a while,” mused Doherty, after the top choices had been narrowed. “May as well sit down.”
One by one, designs were critiqued, then rejected. “Too professional.” “Too busy.” “Too much clip art.”
Then, the winner: A design by Ashleigh James of Buford that featured symbols of music, art, nature and good times.
“This is a big year,” said Suwanee spokeswoman Lynne DeWilde. “The 25th celebration. We want everybody to know about it.”
For more information about the “Life is good in Suwanee Festival,” contact Suwanee City Hall at 770-945-8996. Online: www.projectjoy.com; www.lifeisgood.com. Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-270-5235 or e-mail: rbadie@ajc.com.
Permalink | Comments (12) | Post your comment | Categories: Rick Badie
Comments
By Jais
June 12, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this
They had a saying in Samurai circles of Japan- “Born dreaming, Die sleeping.” It is a metaphor depicting stupid people and the way they live their lives.
That being said, I challenge you, Rick Badie, to write an article that is of true importance to our situation in Georgia. Suwanee is a nice place, don’t get me wrong…but you could do something more than bore us when Gas is $4 a gallon, our politicians are corrupt, and our pocketbooks are vanishing into thin air- literally.
I await the removal of this post and the “implementation of change”. =)
By Average White Banned
June 12, 2008 3:47 PM | Link to this
->Jais…you’re assuming “Mr. Badie” even bothers to read his responses! :/
But you’re absolutely right, and I have the strong feeling you’re more qualified! (Seriously) :)
By LT5000
June 12, 2008 7:34 PM | Link to this
The title of this Badie blog should be “I’m so devoid of ideas that I am going to recycle a blog I wrote a few months back”.
Badie blows. Many times I have asked him to do a rid along with the Norcross Police Department and report what he sees. No dice.
Rick has never met an Illegal he didn’t like.
Maybe he could interview long time residents of the various Norcross neighborhoods, that have become Mexico City barrios, and get their input.
Anything that would be moderately interesting reading. Anything that isn’t a thinly veiled Obama informercial. Anything that would indicate Badie has more than one brain cell in his head.
LT5000
By Cindy
June 13, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this
The “ride along” topic would be of interest to many readers.
A multi-faceted approach:
1)getting the call, 2) responding, 3)handling the call-techniques used-what each type of call entails/involves, 4)delivering arrested people to the jail.
By JAMES MCCOY
June 13, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this
LT5000,you really need to get a life my friend.For someone who hates this column,you sure do make a point to read it every other day,what’s up with that?
By Jais
June 13, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this
Rick- you are lingering dangerously close to cyber attacks for deleting my posts. Do it again and I promise you will regret it permanently.
By TellUsAbitAboutYourself
June 13, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
Whew!…just looked around and wow! You guys have every known door open to almost every kind of security threat there is! LOL…hope you guys have a good consultant!
By Jais
June 13, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this
LT5000-
you know what I mean? It’s like looking at a bad comedy sketch. At first I’m smiling. Then there’s crickets. Then someone shouts “Are you serious? You’re serious.” and everyone gets up and leaves.
You would think after all that is going on in this county that we could be given at least a decent read for our time sifting through ads and junk email on this publication’s behalf is quite sickening. I don’t recall the last badie article that wasn’t crap nobody reads. Is he undercutting the competition or something? Is he free of charge or what. Anyone have a clue for me here? Is it political?
By Mark
June 14, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this
I think Badie must drive a bread truck, or a similar occupation during the day. He certainly isn’t a full time journalist.
By Bonedaddy
June 14, 2008 10:09 PM | Link to this
Actually, I took my wife and young daughter to Suwanee today and it was a blast. Thanks Rick. You guys ever read the heading of this column? It is Rick Badie, my opinion, not Rick Badie, investigative undercover reporter. There are plenty of people reporting on the life sucks stuff. (Illegals, crime, idiots, etc., etc.,) Not all of life sucks and today in Suwanee was a great example. I know Rick is a liberal, and if I need my conservative fix, I listen to Fox News.
By Cindy
June 16, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this
You guys ever read the heading of this column? It is Rick Badie, my opinion, not Rick Badie, investigative undercover reporter.
Aww, thanks. Sometimes we forget. I still think the ride-along idea is a good one. I’d like to see that.
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July 15, 2008 2:29 PM | Link to this
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