Oconee County, GA Politics

Hello! Back in April we had to postpone the “Walk and Talk with a Scientist” event because of threatening weather.  Even though I tried to get the word out that we had to cancel, earnest scientists and members of the public popped up like mushrooms! We ended up having some wonderful conversations while walking in the drizzling rain and gathered under the pavilion. See a photo below of some of the people who came . One young person who attended was a student from North Oconee High. I hope students interested in STEM careers and interested in the world around them will join us — and you folks, too! I’ve invited our county commissioners and other elected officials such as Jody Hice.  We will need to be nonpartisan at the event to protect scientists, all of whom must set politics aside as they do the rigorous work of science. Please help me get the word out to scientists and the public.  Here’s the press release below for this free, drop-...

Dear fellow Democrats, I wanted to be sure you know about an event in Oconee County this coming Sunday that is  a celebration of science at a time when the nation’s scientists are working in an increasingly hostile environment. The Oconee Democrats have organized the  event — called “Walk and Talk with a Scientist” — for  April 23rd  at  Herman C. Michael Park  to provide scientists a chance to chat with the public about their vital and interesting work. We have people from UGA, the EPA, US Fish and Wildlife, the USDA, the University of North Georgia, and elsewhere —— geologists, botanists, and researchers specializing in poultry science, water toxicology, coral reefs, endangered species, cancer detection, and much more. This free, drop-in event will take place   from 3 to 5 around a  trail that loops about one-third of a mile around a pond. The path is good for baby strollers, wheelchairs, and walkers. ...

How wonderful that President Obama has won re-election! While you may feel sick and tired of politics this morning, you'd be surprised how interesting it is to read about the 1972 Democratic primaries, when a really diverse bunch of folks competed to run against Nixon. Do you know who won the Florida primary that year? George Wallace. Join us in reading about that contentious period, as we take up Hunter S. Thompson's "Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72" for the Oconee Democrats' November book group discussion on the 28th, a Wednesday. Please note that we're changing our location to the new Tlaloc restaurant in the Bell's shopping center in Watkinsville. We start the discussion at 7 but arrive a little beforehand to order dinner and/or drinks. Newcomers are always welcomed! Join us to talk politics and history! Pat Priest --------------------- The details recapped: November 28th at 7 PM Tlaloc restaurant in t...

From: Pat Priest ppriest@charter.net Date: September 8, 2012 1:54:03 PM EDT To: Oconee County Democrats ; oconee@yahoogroups.com Subject: [oconee] "Proofiness" discussion in September Reply-To: oconee@yahoogroups.com The Oconee Democrats' book group is reading Charles Seife's "Proofiness: The Dark Arts of Mathematical Deception" for its September book. Among the topics Seife explores is the Bush v. Gore outcome in 2000. Many of our book choices in 2012 have highlighted our strong support for science and carefully reasoned knowledge. Here's a portion of the book's review in the New York Times: "Seife, a veteran science writer who teaches journalism at New York University, examines the many ways that people fudge with numbers, sometimes just to sell more moisturizer but also to ruin our economy, rig our elections, convict the innocent and under count the needy. Many of his stories would be darkly funny if t...

Reply-To: oconee@yahoogroups.com Geraldine Brooks' "Caleb's Crossing" is on tap for the July discussion of the Oconee Democrats' book group. It's based on a real person: the first Native American to attend -- and graduate from -- Harvard  . . . in 1665. Lynn Neary of NPR included the book in a short list of the best book club picks of 2011 (though I didn't know this when I chose it!) -- and characterized the works on the list as "sure to catalyze serious and lively conversation." She describes the book as a "satisfying but sobering look at the early days of this country . . .  a great pick for lovers of historical fiction." Many people really love the Australian-born author, who won the Pulitzer Prize for an earlier book ("March"). Our group meets at Piccolo's restaurant in the Bell's shopping center in Watkinsville at 7 PM the last Wednesday of each month. Some of us arrive at about...

Please consider participating in the Oconee Democrats book group - this month is "Black Like Me" which just turned 50. Sincerely,  Dan Matthews To: oconee@yahoogroups.com From: Date: Sat, 7 Apr 2012 14:41:28 -0400 Subject: [oconee] April book: "Black Like Me"   Hi! Hope you're out enjoying this lovely day -- if you're lucky, without neighbors' raucous power tools drowning out the peace and quiet. I'm writing to suggest that you join us! The community book group sponsored by the Oconee Democrats will discuss the classic "Black Like Me" by John Howard Griffin on April 25th. The book should be especially interesting to talk about in light of the recent, tragic death of Trayvon Martin. The group meets the last Wednesday of every month at Piccolo's, a pleasant restaurant in the Bell's shopping center in Watkinsville. The discussion gets underway at 7, with some of us arriving at 6:30...

Please consider purchasing the book at Books Galore in Watkinsville. Sincerely,  Dan Matthews To: oconee@yahoogroups.com From: ppriest@charter.net Date: Wed, 7 Mar 2012 08:56:21 -0500 Subject: [oconee] March book discussion   Hello! For our March discussion, the community book group sponsored by the Oconee Democrats is reading a Pulitzer Prize-winning book about evolution by Jonathan Weiner titled "The Beak of the Finch." Part science, part natural history and human history -- and very well written -- the book is perfect for conversations about evolution. Books Galore in Watkinsville has a couple of copies of the book at 20% discount. The group will meet at Piccolo's restaurant in the Bell's shopping center in Watkinsville at 7 PM on March 28th. Some people drop in early to order dinner or drinks. Newcomers are welcomed. Group members come from several counties and hold various political beliefs. Drop in someti...

From: Pat Priest ppriest@charter.net Date: January 27, 2012 9:07:48 PM EST To: Oconee County Democrats oconee@yahoogroups.com Subject: [oconee] 2012 slate of books for the community book group Reply-To: oconee@yahoogroups.com   Hello! We've finally settled on this year's slate of books for the book group sponsored by the Oconee Democrats. Join us sometime! I think you'll find the list very diverse -- with a play, some terrific writing about science, a handful of classics, and new works, too. We meet the last Wednesday of every month at Piccolo's in the Bell's shopping center in Watkinsville. Come at 6:30 if you'd like to order dinner or a drink. We'll get the discussion underway at 7. Please pass this list along to people you know who might be interested in joining us. Attendees include people from various counties and with different political affiliations, too. ...

Check out these books and come to the non-partisan Oconee Democrats book group. Sincerely,  Dan Matthews Subject: [oconee] book group books   Hello! Hope you're on enjoying a lovely holiday season! For those of you around during the holidays, the book group sponsored by the Oconee Democrats will meet on Wednesday, December 28th, to discuss a book added for people with a little extra time to read during the holidays: "The Art of Racing in the Rain." The NY Times best-selling book is an easy, heart-warming read told from the vantage point of a dog. The group will meet at Piccolo's restaurant on Hog Mountain Road in Watkinsville. Some folks gather at 6:30 to order dinner or a drink before the discussion gets underway at 7 PM. You might want to get started on the January book, which is much longer (and a classic): Robert Penn Warren's wonderful "All the King's Men." Drive safely and look out for each other! Pat Priest __._...

The community book group sponsored by the Oconee Democrats is reading  the Pulitzer Prize-winning " Pilgrim at Tinker Creek " for our July book. The author, Annie Dillard, characterizes the book simply as "narrative  non-fiction," while reviewers describe this lovely classic about the  natural world as "masterful" and a "book of wonder." Copies are available at Books Galore in Watkinsville for a 25% discount  (though you should call first to see if copies remain before you head  out to buy one: 706/769-1443). The group will meet in the "glass room" at the Oconee County library  this month. That's on your right as soon as you enter the building. We always meet the last Wednesday of each month. We'll meet at 6:30 PM  -- on Wednesday, July 27th. Participants hail from several different counties. Newcomers are always  welcomed! Happy Independence Day weekend! Pat Priest

Tune in this new radio show premiere next Saturday on NewsTalk 1340 WGAU AM on your dial From: Pat Priest ppriest@charter.net Date: May 5, 2011 8:31:25 PM EDT To: dan matthews danjmatt@bellsouth.net Subject: New radio show in Athens Finally we have the press together for the new radio show on WGAU. Here's the press release below. Neal had this to say for your blog if you'd like to use it: "This show is an extension, I think, of the neat things the Oconee Democrats have been doing to inform people about issues and help them develop a sense of place." See you Saturday! Pat ------------------------------- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE "True South" A new weekly, hour-long show debuts May 14th on radio station WGAU Saturdays from 10 – 11 AM on 1340 AM For more information, contact Pat Priest ppriest@charter.net 706/353-8310 A new local radio program showcasing timely stories in state and national politics and culture with a southern sensibility ...

Ben Emanuel, the Riverkeeper for the Oconee region of the Altamaha River system, came to the last meeting of the Oconee Democrats to talk about threats to water quality and quantity. He wondered if some of us would like to get involved to protect our rivers and streams. Ben is trained to present a "Get the Dirt Out" workshop ( www.getthedirtout.org ), which gives citizens the tools to monitor and observe construction sites for signs of erosion and practices that violate state law. Erosion from construction sites is terrible for wildlife, as fish and other creatures suffocate when sedimentation levels are high. Anyone interested in attending a workshop? Contact Ben: Ben < oconee@altamahariverkeeper.org > We're lucky to have a riverkeeper, and we should help! Pat Priest Member, Oconee Democrats

A half dozen hearty souls bared rain and the remnants of snow to pick up a gazillion cigarette butts and assorted debris along side the Oconee Connector essentially between the Golden Pantry and the Quick Trip. This clean up was rescheduled from Saturday because of the snow on the side of the road. Not all had melted by Monday. Melissa Steele, Pat Priest, Sara Jane Love, Dan Matthews, and Robert Wyatt Many thanks to the volunteers including Mary Mellein, Sara Jane Love, Pat Priest, Melissa Steele, Ann Stoneburner, Dr. Robert Wyatt and Dan Matthews for coming out on a soggy holiday. The group met at the Barber Creek Fire Station and divided up and picked up trash on both sides of the road, one group heading toward the busy Highway 316 and the other past the Quick Trip and the Golden Pantry. The smart and experienced people brought bags and clean up tools to pick up the trash near the side of the roads. The oncoming traffic kept the volunteers dodging vehicles to grab the wrappers...

Conservative author and historian Andrew Bacevich teaches at Boston University where my sister Emily is taking advanced Italian. A reminder that you do not have to live in Oconee, or be a Democratic supporter, to be in the book group, but it could not hurt if you were. Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:05:49 -0400 Subject: [oconee] September book discussion   The book group sponsored by the Oconee Democrats is discussing " The Limits of Power: The End of American Exceptionalism " for our September book. Please join us! It's a rather quick read and a New York Times bestseller. The author, the well-regarded conservative historian Andrew Bacevich, is a professor at Boston University, where he teaches history and international relations. In the book, Bacevich takes up problems with the American military, the nation's political system, and what he describes as an unchecked "profligacy" in the culture. The Washington Post argued that Bac...

The following was written by Patricia Priest Woven brightly,  Daniel J. Matthews, Jr. Subject: [oconee] Neat things coming up!   Remember that the forum about creating a park -- and protecting for future generations -- the area around the covered bridge is tonight at 7 PM at the library in Watkinsville! Here are a few other things I thought you might find worthwhile: We're meeting Wednesday at 6 to discuss award-winning writer Tracy Kidder's " Mountain Beyond Mountains " -- a wonderful book about Haiti and an American doctor's incredible outreach to the poor there. We meet at Five Points Deli on Epps the last Wednesday of every month -- and anyone can join in the discussions. And planning further ahead: The Keep Oconee County Beautiful Commission has planned a litter clean-up of Harris Shoals Park on April 24th at 9 o'clock -- and the Mayor of Watkinsville Joe Walter is sponsoring another litter clean-up that's a contest betwe...

Oconee County Democratic Committee members and Republicans, and every political stripe in between ought to be part of Melissa Steele's Rose Creeks clean ups this Saturday morning down Highway 15 at Antioch Church Fellowship Hall on Antioch Church Road some eight miles south of Watkinsville. I do not have the waiver attached but I am sure Melissa will bring some on Saturday morning. To: Oconee County Democratic Committee  Sent: Mon, March 1, 2010 8:47:32 AM Subject: [oconeedemocrats] Creek clean-up   Did the committee talk about the creek clean-up that Melissa Steele is organizing? I sent out information about it some time ago to Karen to pass along to high school-aged Young Dems -- and to Kelly Manley, who oversees the Young Dems at GSU, but the date has crept up on me to talk about it among ourselves. I meant to bring this up at the monthly meeting -- If you guys will let me know if you'll attend, I'll pass along a rough count to Melissa. I...