Oconee County, GA Politics

The Oconee County Democratic Committee selected three delegates to State Convention in Athens in August during their caucus Saturday afternoon at Krimson Kafe in Watkinsville. Vicky Moody is already a member of the State Delegation, and Robert Wyatt and Jonathan Veit will be joining her along with Ann Stoneburner. Tony Glenn and yours truly as alternates.  The secret ballots were tabulated by Vicky and Ann, who is the assistant chair of the committee but graciously chaired this meeting. Many discussions of the recent primary, on both sides of the ballot, as well as education and other topics were discussed soon thereafter. Though we may be small in number, we are strong in spirit and opinion. It was good to see longtime members Herb and Myrna West return to the fold for the meal and meeting at the Watkinsville lunch time eatery. The Oconee County Democratic Committee does not always have enough members to meet or make quorums as was the case for their most recent meeting prior ...

I am deeply saddened at the impending closing of Art Masters Gallery and Framing in downtown Watkinsville. They sponsored my radio show back when I was an AM radio talk show host, so I am not the least bit impartial about the demise of this business. The owner Geoff Seila is one of my best friends as well. Almost every framed photo, newspaper or piece of art in my house was done by them either under Seila's tutelage or perhaps as far back as Peggy Holcomb's ownership.  Peggy is of course the head of the Oconee County tourism department now. I have traded with Art Masters in at least four different locations and six different incarnations of space and scope of business.  I hope nothing but the best for Geoff and his wife Sherry and their son Drew. Geoff recently thought about closing this business before, and he was talked out of it by former Watkinsville Mayor Jim Luken. He worked hard to come up from under the mountain of debt accumulated from a variety of loans and oth...

My good friend Geoff will provide an interesting and engaging stroll this Saturday morning, and I will attend as well. Woven brightly, Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. To: oconee@yahoogroups.com From: ppriest@charter.net Date: Thu, 8 Oct 2009 10:02:18 -0400 Subject: [oconee] Don't miss upcoming strolls!   Watkinsville' s founding will be the subject of this week's "Saturday Stroll." Geoff Seila, who holds a degree in history from UGA, will lead the hour-long tour, which starts at 9 AM. You'll learn about an old fort, a spring -- and more! Seila owns Art Masters gallery in Watkinsville. He sells folk art and does custom framing at the gallery, which has recently moved closer to the central business district (to 18 North Main). Seila is also an avid record collector and hopes to one day start a low-power radio station in Watkinsville. Each week the volunteer guide determines which charity will receive the $5 per person fee; Seila has chosen t...

The Watkinsville merchant location shuffle continues to ebb and flow with the announcement that long time local framing business Art Masters will be moving up Main Street to the old Cherokee Connection location at 18 N. Main Street. This is the fourth location of Art Masters in the last ten years, and moves the business almost across the street from their original location in downtown Watkinsville. Owner Geoff Seila has plans to even add a small vinyl record business in a back room of the new location. Seila in once again renting from Joy Elder after talking extensively with Miss Vinnie Williams of the Oconee Enterprise and outgoing Mayor Jim Luken of Watkinsville into moving the business instead of closing down. His move leaves Jimmy Marbut and Sunshine Cycles as the only tenant in the small strip mall between the restaurants Chicken Express and Floyd's Grill.