Watkinsville Man admits Covington investment fraud | ajc.com

Our own local Bernie Madoff?
Man admits Covington investment fraud  | ajc.com

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Grayson v. Broun on the Constitution

Representative Alan Grayson of Florida schools our own Congressman Paul Broun about the Constitution recently.

Lee Becker video taped the entire Oconee BOC town hall meeting

Oconee County Town Hall Meeting Oct. 20, 2009 from Lee Becker on Vimeo.

Plenty of Oconee projects, little funds | News | OnlineAthens.com

Oconee County Board of Commissioner members held an informal town hall meeting Tuesday evening, and all evidence pointed toward civility, cooperation and distinguished interaction on all fronts. I highly commend everyone involved in the process, and give massive credit to the Margaret Hale, John Daniell and Chuck Horton as they seemed to spearhead this movement toward more community involvement in the democracy of Oconee County government.
Plenty of Oconee projects, little funds | News | OnlineAthens.com

Athens Line Cab Ride - Downtown Watkinsville

Riding the rails through Watkinsville, Georgia

UGA ecologist leads next 'Saturday Stroll' | Oconee | OnlineAthens.com

Please consider attending this Saturday morning's stroll through Watkinsville and come to our yardsale at Rita Bennett's house at the corner of Second and School street in lovely downtown Watkinsville
UGA ecologist leads next 'Saturday Stroll' | Oconee | OnlineAthens.com

The money behind these Republican politicians is simply a-mazing! | Who do they represent?

Finally the Democratic leaders in the state go on the offensive
The money behind these Republican politicians is simply a-mazing! | Who do they represent?

Oconee County Cycling Advocacy Group - the urgent frequency of NOW - meeting Wednesday, October 28 at Jittery Joes

With the non-partisan suggestion by an ad hoc citizens group suggesting the possibility of banning bikes, the time for serious cyclists, non-serious cyclists (me)  and non-cyclists to come together is now better than ever.

Woven brightly,

Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.

From: smkogan@uga.edu
To: smkogan@uga.edu
Subject: Oconee County Cycling Advocacy Group
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2009 12:52:04 -0400

Dear Fellow Cyclists and Cycling Friends,

As you have probably heard, a dedicated group of cycling enthusiasts is emerging who are focused on advocating for cycling in Oconee County. We appreciate your interest and are compiling a list of names, addresses, and emails of cyclists and others who share our concerns. We will post regularly to this email list to update you on our efforts and to invite your participation.

Our goal is to develop a formal advocacy group, the Oconee County Cycling Organization. Over the next 3-6 months we will be building the foundation for a long-term, effective group that will be a voice for cycling in Oconee. We envision a cycling friendly community, with greater awareness and sensitivity on the part of local government and the community at large, improved cycling infrastructure, and partnerships with various cycling related stakeholders. We are determined to pursue this vision with passion, focus, and dedication.

On Wednesday October 28th, our interest group will be meeting at 8:30PM at Jittery Joe's in Watkinsville. A key first step in our efforts is to elect a temporary board of directors with a Chair who will guide the formation of the organization. We invite dedicated cycling advocates to consider participating.   Mr. Brent Buice from Bike Athens has agreed to attend this meeting, to provide us with information about building an effective cycling advocacy group, and answering our questions about the process.

WHAT:            Meeting of the Oconee County Cycling Organization-Interest Group

WHEN:            Thursday, October 28th from 8:30PM -9:30PM

WHERE:          Jittery Joes, Watkinsville

WHO:              People interested in contributing to the development of a formal organization

AGENDA:

1. Nominations for Developmental Board of Directors and its Chair

2. Election of Board and Chair

3. "Developing a bike advocacy group" talk with Mr. Buice of Bike Athens

4. Results of our research on example by-laws and the League of American Bicyclists.

5. Planning for next meeting

Special Note: Are you an attorney or have expertise in non-profit administration? We need you!

Thank you all for continued interest.

IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO RECEIVE UPDATES ON OCCO ACTIVITES, PLEASE EMAIL smkogan@uga.edu

This takes all of five minutes top over your lunch hour or break if you can do this today. Thanks! Be polite and firm and realize these calls are largely symbolic but important.

Woven brightly, 

Daniel J. Matthews, Jr.

From: info@barackobama.com
Subject: Call for Jenny

Dan -- Jenny U. from Missouri did what any parent would: When her son needed a kidney, she donated one of hers. But she didn't realize insurance companies would use her kindness as an excuse to never cover her again, calling her donation a "pre-existing condition." Now, insurance companies are spending millions on a campaign of lies to kill health reform that would help folks like Jenny. So, today, with crucial negotiations taking place in Congress, we're raising our voices and making it clear: It's time to deliver on reform. We've set a big goal: 100,000 calls to Congress made or committed to in a single day. To hit it, we'll need your help -- will you take 3 minutes to call Congress now? Call your representatives and tell them: It's Time to Deliver on health reform. According to our records, you live in Georgia's 10th congressional district. Please call: Sen. Saxby Chambliss's Macon office at (478) 741-1417 Sen. Johnny Isakson's Atlanta office at (770) 661-0999 Rep. Paul Broun's Athens office at (706) 549-9588 (Not your representatives? Click here to look yours up.) Health insurance reform is finally ready for consideration by the full Congress, and hundreds of insurance company lobbyists on Capitol Hill are working overtime to kill it. Calling is quick and easy, but effective -- and your voice has tremendous power at this critical moment. After you make your call, tell the staffer who picks up where you live and that you're counting on Congress to deliver on health reform. Let them know that Americans like you support the President's plan -- and that if your representatives are working to pass it, they have your thanks. If we hit 100,000 calls made or committed to, we'll send an unmistakable signal that this time, families must come before insurance companies. We'll be tracking progress toward our goal publicly -- make sure to report your call back to us so we can count it: http://my.barackobama.com/TTDCall Thank you, Mitch Mitch Stewart Director Organizing for America

Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to: danmatt@hotmail.com To unsubscribe, go to:

Editorial: Give Oconee commissioners credit for forum | Opinion | OnlineAthens.com

Decent primer on how to actively participate in your local democracy here in Oconee County. Most people are very well behaved at these meetings already, but I can imagine that a few folks will get red in the face about some issues. Let's hope banning bicycles is not chief among them. Editorial: Give Oconee commissioners credit for forum | Opinion | OnlineAthens.com

Yard Sale/Fund Raiser Redux

So what can we do, Rita? The yard sale items in your yard should be OK but I would not leave anything on the ground too long with the frost

Woven brightly,

Georgia often sneers as Atlanta struggles | ajc.com

Georgia often sneers as Atlanta struggles  | ajc.com

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Oconee to open it up at Town Hall meeting

Informal, as commissioner Margaret Hale says she wants it to be, town hall meeting concerning real Oconee County concerns commencing at the Civic Center on a Tuesday evening 7 to 9 pm. Too bad I will be across Hog Mountain Road in Oconee Veterans Park at my son's soccer game. Even though other bloggers seem to think I am being a tad bit disingenuous of a stretch, I would ask about banning bicycles on Oconee County roads to try and prevent the story from going further than this:

Committee member James Morris, however, said problem cyclists are a "minority," according to the minutes, and he felt the county didn’t really have jurisdiction, despite Crowe’s legal review.

Crowe made a motion, seconded by committee member Courtney Gale, that the committee continue its discussion of the issue at future meetings, and that motion passed 5-4.

At the March 10 meeting of the committee, Chairman Abouhamdan brought the matter up again. Oconee to open it up at meeting | News | OnlineAthens.com

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Outlawing the Bicyclists? Now there is a really stupid G.O.P. idea

So this is the second time in a week I have heard mention that some ill advised comments from a citizen proposing the banning of bicycles on our roads in Oconee County, Georgia. While I do not think for a second that the current Board of Commissioners would ever pass such a stupid law, it would be the quickest way for the Democrats to come back in power in Oconee.  Not to mention a huge waste of sheriff deputy and municipal police time. Non-Watinsville resident Kate McDaniel dared dangle that out of her mouth at the end of Watkinsville City Council meeting the other evening, and evidently she was harkening back to this meeting that Lee Becker once again uncovered. Thank you Lee.

Even Athens madman Jeff Snowden would oppose this, not to mention Watkinsville city council member Brian Brodrick, the dozens of local bicycle enthusiasts and triatheletes and every parent who bought their chid a bicycle at Sunshine cycle or Wal-Mart.

From: Lee Becker <lbbecker@mindspring.com>

Date: October 18, 2009 4:26:13 PM EDT

To: lbbecker@mindspring.com

Subject: Trailing the Bikers

Reply-To: lbbecker@mindspring.com

Dear Friends,

I found an interesting story--or at least a story I felt was interesting--in the minutes of the county's Citizen Advisory Committee for Land Use and Transportation Planning. I combined it with some video I shot while in The Netherlands last month and made it part of the blog I just posted.

Here's the tease: What do a missed doctor's appointment, bicyclists and the widening of Mars Hill road have in common? The answer is at:

http://oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com/

If you have an opinion, by the way, about the widening of Simonton Bridge road or the extension of Daniells Bridge road with a flyover to Home Depot, you have two opportunities to express it.

One will be at the Town Hall Meeting of the Board of Commissioners that will start at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday night at the Civic Center on Hog Mountain road.

The second is at the MACORTS web site: http://www.athensclarkecounty.com/macorts/

Or you can send a comment to: macorts@co.clarke.ga.us <mailto:macorts@co.clarke.ga.us>

The deadline for comment to MACORTS is Oct. 21.

Background on the Simonton Bridge road and the Daniells Bridge road projects is at:

http://oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com/2009/10/oconee-presents-confused-picture-of.html

Thanks

Lee

--
Lee Becker

Blog: www.oconeecountyobservations.blogspot.com

Web: http://lbbecker48.googlepages.com/