Ladies and Gentlemen, I know you are expecting more about the Love Shack ad nauseum, but I've got quite a lot of other interesting stuff to mention and I cannot do it in the same column with that adult entertainment mess. You see the problem. It is rather like sending a condolence note inside a birthday card…the one message completely wet blankets the other. You just ought not to try both at once, bad breach of manners. So, we are going to have a rest and talk about the Fall Festivals that are approaching soon, or I'll miss my opportunity to talk about them and encourage you to attend.
   I am eager to return this column to its roots of neighborhood news over the back fence, so to speak. The recent publicity regarding "Over Coffee" has brought messages from the most stupid people on the planet to my computer that I am exasperated beyond belief. For the record, I am not against free speech and I am certainly not against sex. People are free to think whatever they wish, but I realize there is no reasoning with folks who haven't got the education or the I.Q. to separate and understand the issues. I'm through trying to get my message across to fools. It simply can't be done!

***

   So, here's vintage "Over Coffee":

   Just want to mention again the Peachtree Christian Hospice Golf Challenge on September 17th at St. Marlo Golf Club. This is the first fundraiser for the 12-bed inpatient facility on Duluth Park Lane that opened for patients in October of last year. This is the beautiful and tranquil place for terminally ill patients who need an increased level of palliative care that was donated by the late Scott Hudgens. He provided the 8.7 acres of land and the cost for constructing the building. The members of the Peachtree Christian Church of Atlanta did all the rest of the work. The hospice is operated by United Hospice, but the Board of Directors for the nonprofit organization is made up of members of Peachtree Christian Church under the able direction of co-chairs, Martha and Bill Todd. Everything they do is top drawer, my friends. This hospice is attracting patients from all over the state.
Please interest yourself in this place. Call Community Relations Director Linda Scott at (770) 232-7727 and tell her you want to help volunteer or play golf.

***

This year's Duluth Fall Festival co-chairmen Kay Montgomery and Doug Mundrick on stage in Taylor Park during opening ceremonies of last year's Fall Festival. They are expecting another huge crowd will attend the 2001 festivities.

   The 19th Duluth Fall Festival is the last full weekend in September, Saturday the 29th and Sunday, the 30th. Centered primarily in Downtown Duluth in Taylor Park, the two-day festival features over 250 arts & crafts vendors who offer an array of homemade items. There are games and special attractions for the children and over 35 food vendors to meet every possible taste.
   The parade starts on Saturday at 10:00 a.m., winds down Main Street, crosses the railroad tracks at Calvary Christian Fellowship, and heads south on Buford Highway until BB&T bank. Folks are on their own for parking, which is largely accessible on the side streets off Buford. Be prepared to do some walking, as the city of Duluth cannot possible designate parking for the 40,000 folks who are expected in and around the downtown area. Everybody always finds a spot.
   Grand marshals for the parade are sports celebrities this year, Brett Butler, Kevin Butler, and Mark Price. Duluth High School's own well-loved Coach Joe Marelle is the honorary grand marshal. I'm sure they'll be glad to sign autographs for you.
Elvis impersonator Mark Pitt is the headliner on the entertainment stage again this year. The Fall Festival wouldn't be the Fall Festival without him, ("Thank you. Thank you ver' much!") The new Duluth Festival Center amphitheater stage will sure be an improvement over the one that was used in years past. Lots more seating in the outdoor amphitheater. Again, State Rep. Brooks Coleman will be the voice of the parade and the master of ceremonies in the park for the daytime entertainment on both days.
   On Saturday evening, "The Catalinas" will be the inaugural act for the Duluth Festival Center. The evening entertainment starts at 6:30 p.m. with the Duluth High School Band, ribbon-cutting ceremonies by city dignitaries after that, and "The Catalinas" taking the stage at 8:00 p.m. with their popular Carolina Beach music. You'll want to dance and there'll be room on this new Duluth Town Green! The whole Saturday evening schedule is a new feature for the Fall Festival, and I am happy to say the food vendors will be open to serve you until 9:30 p.m. 
   This festival is always a lot of fun, my friends. You'll run into people from all over, and not just Gwinnett. This is one of the more successful down home celebrations. All of the proceeds have historically been returned to the city for civic improvements, for the past several years namely to help pay for the Duluth Festival Center.
   The silent auction always makes a lot of money because there are great items for your bid. Be sure and stop by that booth. I was particularly glad to hear there would be TWO funnel cake stands this year. That line always seemed endless for that sweet treat because everybody wants one. Funnel cakes are guaranteed to go directly to my hips, so I stand in line and argue with myself. Always get one.

***

   The Norcross Fall Festival is on the very next weekend, October 6th and 7th in Thrasher Park in Historic Norcross. 

Singer Scott Howard takes the stage and charms the crowd at last year's Norcross Fall Festival. He'll be back this year, helping emcee Brooks Coleman with the microphone duties as well as performing.

   This is the third year for this combination festival and the results have been great! Sponsored by the Norcross Woman's club, Norcross Lions Club, Norcross Business Association, and the city of Norcross, the proceeds from this festival's sponsors and vendors are divided between the two civic clubs for the charities they support. A large donation has already been jointly earmarked for the Care Teams of the Norcross Cluster Elementary Schools, which will help their efforts go a lot farther.
   This parade also starts at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday and goes from Rock-Tenn, through Historic Norcross, and down North Peachtree Street to the First Baptist Church. I'm told there will be horses, motorcycles, antique cars, and tons of kids. Pastor William Sheals from Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church is serving as grand marshal. His 16,000-member regional church and Christian academy is a huge force for good in Norcross. State Representative Brooks Coleman is master of ceremonies and he'll have a little assist on the microphone from Norcross High School freshman Scott Howard.
   Elvis impersonator Dean Crownover, whose appearance is sponsored by Norcross resident Carol Ann Stough, ReMax Suburban Atlanta, will also open the entertainment schedule in Norcross on the stage in Thrasher Park. I am sure he'll have his yak hair sideburns glued on again this year. Folks, this is Elvis with a funny bone. You will love his banter as well as his singing. The Army Ground Forces Brass Quintet will be there, and so will BorderCollies, a contemporary Celtic band. Looking forward to hearing all this great music!
   Games and pony rides for the kids, arts & crafts, rock climbing, lots of food, and all that good festival stuff. Come on down both days, bring money, and have a wonderful time. There is nothing like eating a hot dog in the park on a cool Fall day!

   One last item about the coming November referendum for the school Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, or SPLOST: I noticed that folks are writing to the popular local press and complaining about "raising taxes again." This penny sales tax for schools is already in place, my friends; we are already paying it in Gwinnett. The referendum merely EXTENDS this tax for four more years. It isn't a new tax. If we pass it nothing will change at the cash register.
   If we don't pass it, folks, everything will change. And quickly! This powerful penny allows Gwinnett County Public Schools to open new schools that are PAID FOR. With the tremendous growth that is still coming at us in this county, 6,000 students or more per school year, we must have more facility capacity to handle all the students. We are the fastest growing school system in the state. Estimates do not expect this rapid growth to slow down until 2010.
   The people who are objecting to the penny sales tax for schools obviously do not understand the economics of our predicament. If the SPLOST should fail, the School Board will have no option but to turn around and ask for a school bond. If the voters pass the school bond, this means that all new schools will have to be paid for TWICE. Passage of a school bond merely authorizes the School Board to BORROW the money to build the schools. Then, we service the debt that takes years and years to pay back the bond. It comes out of our property taxes, folks. We are still paying back school bonds that were necessary before the Georgia constitution was changed in 1996 to allow schools to collect the penny SPLOST. 
   And, aaaugh! if the voters should happen to fail the school bond as well, we'll quickly have students sitting on the floor. If this unfortunate scenario materializes, who do you think will be yelling the loudest? My guess is it will be the people who caused the SPLOST to fail. With proceeds from SPLOST, schools are built as the money is available. No debt. No waste here either-Gwinnett County Schools brings in the new schools ahead of time and under budget. We are the envy of other school districts, I assure you. Now the challenge is to get the word out how necessary this penny tax is, given that over half of the residents in Gwinnett County do not have children in the public school system. Our demographics are changing, we are getting older.

   We MUST pass this extension of the penny tax for schools, my friends. It is simply a no-brainer.

   Hope all is well.

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