Augustans need to speak out if they want high-speed rail service to Atlanta: Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) Corridor from Charlotte, NC to Atlanta, GA hopefully through Augusta

Please support and speak out about the SE Rail Corridor Augusta to Atlanta – flood these folks with positive emails and phone calls, plus stay informed

Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) Corridor from Charlotte, NC to Atlanta, Georgia – hopefully through Augusta

I strongly support having high speed rail service on existing lines that includes Augusta to Atlanta.

I have been a longtime supporter of all forms of public transportation for those of us who can not afford cars due to outrageous gas prices and high insurance rates.

Sadly recent public hearings were not only a long distance from Augusta – but were not publicized enough in the Augusta area.

**The good news is – there is still time for public comment via the internet.

Scroll down to see the ways you can comment and stay informed on the project.

Below is the information I have collected on the project:

News stories on the issue – and highlighting the basic facts:

http://www.wjbf.com/story/22523597/officials-to-discuss-charlotte-atlanta-rail-line

State and federal officials are proposing to extend the Southeast High-Speed Rail Corridor, under development from Washington to Charlotte, into the Atlanta area.

The train would connect with the Georgia Multi-Modal Passenger Terminal and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

There are six potential corridor route alternatives.

Officials say others may also be evaluated if they’re identified during agency and public scoping meetings.

http://suwanee.patch.com/articles/citizens-attend-atlanta-charlotte-rail-service-meeting-in-suwanee

http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/metro/2013-06-03/high-speed-rail-linking-atlanta-and-charlotte-could-pass-through-augusta

Originally, the Atlanta-to-Charlotte Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan identified the study area as a corridor in northeast Georgia and the South Carolina Upstate that encompassed Interstate 85 and an existing Norfolk Southern railroad.

As the study progressed, alternative routes were added, with two through Augusta and Columbia the southernmost route, according to Georgia Department of Transportation spokeswoman Jill Goldberg.

State transportation board member Don Grantham, who represents the Augusta area, said he will lobby for the train to pass through Augusta, though he has doubts the rail line will come to fruition.

“With funding and the amount of money available right now, that’s something that’s going to be on the back burner,” he said.

(I urge Mr. Grantham to rethink his position and put the project on the front burner)

Improving the road system is a greater need, said Grantham, who has not studied the rail proposal.

The Atlanta-to-Charlotte rail study costs $4.8 million, with 80 percent funded by the Federal Railroad Administration and the rest covered by the Georgia DOT.

Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Atlanta-Charlotte-HSR

Georgia DOT info:

http://www.dot.ga.gov/travelingingeorgia/rail/atlantatocharlotte

http://www.dot.ga.gov/travelingingeorgia/rail/Pages/PassengerRail.aspx

http://dot.ga.gov/travelingingeorgia/rail/AtlantatoCharlotte/Pages/default.aspx

Atlanta to Charlotte Corridor Passenger Rail Service Investment Plan Project Fact Sheet

http://www.dot.ga.gov/travelingingeorgia/rail/AtlantatoCharlotte/Documents/FactSheet.pdf

A virtual meeting is available on the project website via youtube through July 4th.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktVax4lz7sY

http://youtu.be/ktVax4lz7sY

U.S. Dept. of Transportation – The Federal Railroad Administration

Atlanta to Charlotte Passenger Rail Corridor Investment Plan Tier I EIS

http://www.fra.dot.gov/Page/P0657

http://www.fra.dot.gov

Progressive Railroading

http://www.progressiverailroading.com/federal_legislation_regulation/news/AtlantatoCharlotte-highspeed-rail-corridor-to-be-subject-of-public-scoping-meetings–36343

http://www.progressiverailroading.com

https://www.facebook.com/ProgressiveRailroading

Project Contact Information:

There are several ways to stay informed and provide feedback about the Atlanta to Charlotte PRCIP project:

Project Manager:

Derrick Cameron

Georgia DOT Office of Program Delivery

One Georgia Center, 25th Floor

600 West Peachtree St. NE

Atlanta, GA
30308-2214

(404) 631-1223

dcameron@dot.ga.gov

—

Consultant Team:

Andrew Smith

Project Manager

HNTB Corporation

3715 Northside Parkway

200 Northcreek, Suite 800

Atlanta, GA

30327

(404) 946-5700

asmith@hntb.com

HNTB Corporation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HNTB

—

Join Mailing List

Stay informed by joining the mailing list for Atlanta to Charlotte PRCIP project updates.

Submit your information via email:

AtlantaCharlotteHSR@dot.ga.gov

—

Corridor History

Study Area

http://www.dot.ga.gov/travelingingeorgia/rail/AtlantatoCharlotte/Pages/StudyArea.aspx

Study Process

http://www.dot.ga.gov/travelingingeorgia/rail/AtlantatoCharlotte/Pages/StudyProcess.aspx

Project Schedule

http://www.dot.ga.gov/travelingingeorgia/rail/AtlantatoCharlotte/Documents/Schedule.pdf

FAQs

http://www.dot.ga.gov/travelingingeorgia/rail/AtlantatoCharlotte/Pages/FAQS.aspx

Council on Environmental Quality: Executive Office of the President

A Citizen’s Guide to the NEPA: Having Your Voice Heard

http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/nepa/Citizens_Guide_Dec07.pdf

Additional info:

How is the project funded?

What is a Tier 1 EIS?

What is NEPA?

What is the Atlanta to Charlotte PRCIP?

What is the schedule?

Where can we learn more?

How can I get involved?

Where is the project located?

 Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) Corridor Project and Approval Schedule   Energy points

Atlanta to Charlotte Corridor Passenger Rail Service Investment Plan Project Fact Sheet

A Citizen’s Guide to the NEPA Having Your Voice Heard SE Rail Corridor Augusta to Atlanta

This would be nice in Augusta on Martin Luther King Blvd. – along with other forms of business investment

This would be nice to have in Augusta on MLK Blvd.

Augusta needs to support its public transportation systems including getting high-speed rail service to pass through Augusta – as Augusta is two of about six proposals for a proposed Southeast High Speed Rail (SEHSR) Corridor service from Charlotte, North Carolina to Atlanta, Georgia (hopefully through Augusta).

Photo shows a Richmond-bound BART train that runs on elevated tracks above the congestion on Martin Luther King, Jr. Way on April 16, 2013 in Oakland, California

Photo by Andy Tucker aka MSPdude on flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mspdude/8956470128

I first saw this post on a wordpress blog I respect – called MLKBLVD – that highlights streets Named for Dr. King across the world:

http://mlkblvd.wordpress.com/2013/06/07/bart-along-mlk-way

Teachers, Students: Check out Georgia’s “interesting and great” African American writers and other black literary talents profiled at the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame in Athens, Georgia

Georgia has “produced a lot of interesting and great writers” including many famous African American literary talents who are profiled at the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame in Athens

Photos for this special graphic courtesy the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame in Athens, Georgia

Photo by Rev. Terence A. Dicks

By Greg Peterson, volunteer media advisor for the nonprofit Georgia Center for Children and Education, Inc. in Augusta, Georgia

(Athens, GA) – The state of Georgia has “produced a lot of interesting and great writers” including many famous African American literary talents who are profiled at the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame in Athens, Georgia.

People know about authors like Moreland, Georgia native Erskine Caldwell, who wrote Tobacco Road (a real road and story about Augusta) – and Margaret Mitchell – who wrote Gone with the Wind.

The story Tobacco Road depicts a setting just south of Augusta during the worst years of the Great Depression – and to this day the real Tobacco Road is in the same area.

Gone with the Wind is set in and around Atlanta during the American Civil War and Reconstruction of the South.

“A lot of people don’t think that former Pres. Jimmy Carter, Johnny Mercer and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. are celebrated at the Hall of Fame – but they are,” said Rev. Terence A. Dicks, who took the photos while in Athens to attend an event at the University of Georgia on behalf of Georgia Legal Services Program.

“They are all great writers in their own right,” Rev. Dicks said.

Mercer was a poet, lyricist, songwriter and singer born in Savannah.

The late Dr. King and former Pres. Carter worked on award-winning social justice issues.

Among those honored in Athens is prolific and celebrated African-America author William Edward Burghardt “W.E.B.” Du Bois (Feb. 1868 – Aug. 1963), who wrote the landmark collection of essays, The Souls of Black Folk.

Perhaps most important, Du Bois penned a (1935) great work titled Black Reconstruction in America – that effectively debunked and challenged the absurd – but popular notion – that blacks were responsible for the dismal failures of the Reconstruction.

The first African American to earn a doctorate at Harvard, Du Bois was a professor of history, sociology and economics at Atlanta University.

In 1909, Du Bois was one of the co-founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Replica of the home of celebrated Augusta, GA author Frank Yerby. The Yerby House is located at Paine College in Augusta.
This is a replica of the original house, which was demolished due to asbestos, lead, and structural issues.
Photo by Amber Rhea via flickr

Augusta native and 1938 Paine College graduate Frank Garvin Yerby “was a prolific writer who is greatly respected at Paine College,” Dicks said.

Yerby wrote 33 novels that sold 55 million copies and were translated into 22 languages, and three became motion pictures: Foxes of Harrow (1946), The Golden Hawk (1948), and The Saracen Blade (1952).

In addition to his writing talents, Yerby was a professor at several universities over his life time.

“Paine College has an entire collection of his books that is maintained in the college’s Frank Yerby House” that opened in 2008, Dicks said,

Frank G. Yerby House replica photo by Paine College

Constructed in the early 20th century, the original Yerby home in Augusta was moved in Feb. 2004 from 1112 Eighth St. – a mile and a half to Paine College property – specifically to 1718 Laney-Walker Boulevard (at Druid Park Avenue).

The building was recently demolished just over a year later (2005) because it was in poor condition including asbestos, lead, and structural issues.

A replica was built in its place.

In Feb. 2013, the Paine College School of Arts and Humanities hosted the Inaugural Frank Yerby Literary Symposium.

Yerby was born in Augusta on September 5, 1916 and died on November 21, 1991 in Madrid, Spain.

Photo by Rev. Terence A. Dicks

“Young Africans Americans should find out about their heritage and history,” said activist Rev. Terence A Dicks, a Progressive Democrat from Augusta.

“I would invite teachers to do field trips to the Georgia Writers Hall of Fame in Athens,” Dicks said.

Photo by Rev. Terence A. Dicks

“You do not have to go to New York or Chicago to learn about legendary African American authors – you can go library and campus of the University of Georgia in Athens,” Dicks said.

“It’s a great campus – and will help young people to start thinking about college.”

Dicks has long been a prolific reader of African American history – and believes you are never too young or old for blacks to learn about their heritage.

“I was going to run for political office in Augusta and wanted to gain a stronger sense of who I am,” said Dicks, who “made the choice to work in the media and restaurant business instead of going to college.”

These types of exhibits should inspire African American youth to go to college.

“Don’t wait until college – and you don’t have to be in college – to learn these things,” Rev. Dicks said.

“You don’t have to be in college – to learn these things,” Rev. Dicks said.

“There are a lot of people on a journey of discovery” especially now that Barack Obama is America’s first African American President.

“It is no longer what we used to call black history – it is history – and its become real to so many because of Obama’s second term,” Dicks said.

“It is no longer what we used to call black history – it is history,” Dicks said.

The Georgia Writers Hall of Fame was established in 2000 as part of the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library to honor Georgia writers and to introduce the public to the library’s rich collections for research into Georgia literature and cultural history.

http://www.georgiawritershalloffame.org

http://www.libs.uga.edu/hargrett/resources/classes.html

http://www.libs.uga.edu/development/making.html

http://www.georgiawritershalloffame.org/honorees/index.php

Georgia writers:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Yerby

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erskine_Caldwell

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacco_Road_%28novel%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Mitchell

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Mercer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._E._B._Du_Bois

Augusta native and 1938 Paine College graduate Frank Garvin Yerby:

Frank Garvin Yerby was born in Augusta, Georgia, on September 5th, 1916, the son of a black hotel doorman, Rufus Garvin Yerby and his white wife, Wilhelmina.

He attended private elementary and high school, the Haines Institute, predominately black, and received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Paine College

http://www.paine.edu/blog/post/2013/02/05/Paine-College-Hosts-Inaugural-Frank-Yerby-Symposium.aspx

http://www.paine.edu/press.aspx?art=3

http://www.paine.edu/docs/library/finaid/FrankGarvinYerby.pdf

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2005/07/03/met_457685.shtml

http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/richmond-neighbors/2013-02-19/literary-festival-planned-library-march-1-and-2

http://old.chronicle.augusta.com/stories/070305/met_4465978.shtml

https://www.facebook.com/PaineCollege

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0947568

Photo of Frank Yerby House replica by Amber Rhea

http://www.flickr.com/photos/amberlrhea/487303362

Photo of Frank Yerby House replica by Paine College:

https://picasaweb.google.com/107457693032871903091/PaineCollegeCampusPhotos#5496832714427591554

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2008/04/21/met_195804.shtml

http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aah/yerby-frank-g-1916-1991

Photos by Rev. Terence Dicks, 706-799-5598

Honoring Augusta Coach Jerry Hunter for caring about inner city youth: W. K. Kellogg Foundation New Tools New Visions 2 (NTNV2) sponsor a youth baseball camp at Paine College

Honoring Augusta Baseball Coach Jerry Hunter for caring about our inner city youth: W. K. Kellogg Foundation New Tools New Visions 2 (NTNV2) sponsored a youth baseball camp at Paine College in Augusta, Georgia with Jerry Hunter as coach

New Tools New Visions 2 (NTNV2) in Augusta, Georgia: Finding healthy outlets and activities for inner city youth and others facing social inequalities by addressing issues of environmental health, violence, health equity, and social justice.
NTNV2 is a Paine College/Community Partnership funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation

NTNV was the primary sponsor of a baseball camp for inner city youth in the summer of 2010 organized by amazing and outstanding Augusta Coach Jerry Hunter.

The Jerry Hunter Baseball camp for middle school and elementary school kids included “inner city youth from Augusta area housing projects,” said Rev. Terence A. Dicks, an Augusta activist and the NTNV2 Community Liaison and Steering Committee chair and  New Tools for Healthy People 2020.

“We need more projects like the Coach Jerry Hunter’s baseball camp for our children – to give them something to do” during the long, hot summers in Augusta, said Rev. Dicks, who is hoping to help start more projects for Augusta area youth because they are targets for greedy drug dealers and have too much time on their hands if not involved in extracurricular activities.
Coach Hunter “is a very enterprising young educator and a Paine College Alumni,” Dicks said.
Coach Hunter was the boy’s baseball coach (2007-2010) at Lucy C. Laney High School in Augusta and then became the celebrated head coach of the high school boy’s basketball team – leading the team to its first class AA state championship in 2012.

“It’s a Mother’s Day gift to Miss Laney, from us,” said the modest Wildcats coach Jerry Hunter in an interview with an Augusta newspaper following the March 11, 2012 state championship victory.

Coach Hunter was honoring the school’s famous and beloved namesake:
Post Civil War African American Educator, Reformer, and Social Activist Lucy Craft Laney – who established a school for African American children in Augusta and was a huge inspiration to many of her students including (Mary McLeod Bethune) a future advisor to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR).

Coach Hunter stepped down as the school’s basketball coach in 2013 to spend more time focusing on his family.

A 1997 Paine College graduate who lettered in basketball, Coach Hunter was a member of the 1994 basketball team that won the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season title and advanced to the NCAA Division II Tournament.

In 2011, Coach Hunter’s son LaTron (3rd base) became the first Wildcats baseball player to ever get a full athletic scholarship signing with Southern Union State Community College in Alabama.

Hoping his son’s scholarship will encourage more youth to play baseball, Coach Hunter said LaTron showed Augusta athletes it’s possible to earn a scholarship in sports other than basketball and football.

Hunter’s three seasons as head basketball coach for Laney (77-15 record/84 percent success) included three Final Four appearances and the 2012 state championship.

Scroll down after photos to see related links and more information about the NTNV2 grant at Paine College:

Coach Jerry Hunter: Paine College Class of ’97 is among those honored in June 2012 by Augusta Sports Council
http://www.paineathletics.com/news/2012/6/4/GEN_0604122721.aspx
http://paineathletics.com/mobile/index.aspx?story=261

Lucy C. Laney High School
http://laney.rcboe.org

Educator, Reformer, Social Activist Lucy Craft Laney (April 13, 1854-October 24, 1933), an early African American educator who established a school for African American children in Augusta, Georgia:
http://www.lucycraftlaneymuseum.com
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/stories_people_laney.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucy_Craft_Laney
http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aah/laney-lucy-craft-1854-1933
http://sos.georgia.gov/black_history/Portraits.htm
http://sos.georgia.gov/black_history/Portrait5.htm

Coach Jerry Hunter
http://laney.rcboe.org/user_profile_view.aspx?id=f02f561b-efd9-4d95-8b89-3e85d1673a42
http://www.maxpreps.com/high-schools/laney-wildcats-%28augusta,ga%29/baseball-spring-09/schedule.htm
http://augustaeagles.blogspot.com/2012/03/post-game-show-guests-jerry-hunter-and.html

Laney Coach Jerry Hunter has stepped down as basketball coach March 18, 2013
http://www.wrdw.com/sports/headlines/Laneys-Hunter-steps-down-as-basketball-coach-198861581.html
http://www.wrdw.com/sports/headlines/Long_road_led_to_Laneys_first_title_142273305.html
http://chronicle.augusta.com/sports/high-school/2013-03-18/laney-coach-hunter-has-stepped-down-basketball-coach

Laney routs Manchester for its first state title
Laney 67, Manchester 53
Sunday, March 11, 2012
http://www.wrdw.com/home/headlines/State_Champion_Laney_Wildcats_bring_trophy_back_to_cheering_classmates_142391235.html
http://chronicle.augusta.com/sports/high-school/2012-03-11/laney-routs-manchester-its-first-state-title
http://bcove.me/5xy7fnwu

Team and Coach Jerry Hunter honored by city of Augusta after 2012 state championship victory
http://chronicle.augusta.com/sports/2012-03-20/state-champion-laney-wildcats-honored-ceremony
http://bcove.me/7w7sg5jp

2012 stories in Augusta newspaper about student helped by coach Hunter
Problem child : Laney High star athlete overcomes odds to graduate – and gives praise to coach Jerry Hunter:
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/education/2012-05-19/laney-high-star-athlete-overcomes-odds-graduate

Fostering success: Laney star made home on basketball court
http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/education/2012-04-29/laney-star-made-home-basketball-court

Jerry Hunter’s students/players go on to acclaim:
http://www.tigernet.com/story/basketball/Rod-Hall-signs-letter-intent-play-basketball-Clemson-9549
http://www.orangeandwhite.com/news/2013/mar/20/brad-brownells-building-blocks-rod-hall/?partner=RSS


New Tools New Visions 2 (NTNV2) in Augusta, Georgia:
NTNV2 is a Paine College/Community Partnership
Funded by the W. K. Kellogg Foundation

NTNV2 is a community collaborative organization built on Community Based Participatory Research principles

NTNV organizes Augusta churches in public, celebratory activities.

Pastors, Ministers and other Religious leaders can publicly commit their churches to the Annual Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS.

Encourage HIV/AIDS education, promoting HIV testing and organizing against stigma.

The group’s intention to serve as a vehicle for increasing the level of public awareness in the Augusta Black church community.

NTNV 2 assessment by Dr. Kimberly M. Coleman, MPH
Consultant and paid contractor for the Kellogg Foundation
11-8-10 in Denver, CO
138th annual meeting of the American Public Health Association
New Tools, New Visions 2 : Lessons Learned as a Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) technical assistance coordinator – partnered with four rural, African American Communities in Albany, Augusta, Fort Valley, Savannah.
http://www.slideshare.net/kmcoleman1/new-tools-new-visions-2

Dr. Kimberly M. Coleman, PHD, MPH, CHES
In 2008, she was awarded a $100,000 contract from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation as the Technical Assistance Coordinator for the “New Tools, New Visions 2″ project
http://www.nccu.edu/directory/details.cfm?id=kcolem16
919-530-7131
kcolem16@nccu.edu
drkmcoleman@gmail.com

——-

Albany State University
New Tools, New Visions 2: ‘Lessons Learned Engaging in CBPR with Albany, GA Tools for Change, Inc.’
http://www.agtfconline.org/NTNV2/NTNV2%20APHA%20Presentation%20Final.pdf
www.agtfconline.org

Albany, Georgia Tools for Change, Inc.
P.O. Box 3841
Albany, GA
31706-3841

Danielle Blackwell, BA
Facilitator
ddblackwell@bellsouth.net
229-255-0502
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/danielle-blackwell/1a/b95/144

——-

NTNV2 Purposes:
Connect four rural GA communities surrounding Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) with faculty resources to develop a community-based participatory research (CBPR) infrastructure to address issues of environmental health, violence, health equity, and social justice.

NTNV2 Project Goals:
Help community residents to resolve identified problems, and create change in public policy, and quality of life using several public health-based strategies to engage community residents and partners with researchers and/or HBCUs to develop solutions for each targeted community’s health issue among local residents

Community Grantees:
Four Southern Georgia community organizations were selected after submitting proposals to the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, Harambee House, Inc. and Citizens for Environmental Justice

Kellogg Foundation
www.wkkf.org
www.facebook.com/pages/WK-Kellogg-Foundation/111812468884033
www.twitter.com/WK_Kellogg_Fdn

Participants define strategies to eliminate obstacles from and creating good policies for African Americans to develop healthy families.

Using the Healthy People 2020 objectives include dynamic interaction between building healthier family structures and eradicating obstacles to healthier Black families.
While myriad areas of health disparities will be addressed, special attention will be paid to four focus areas:

Violence as a public health issue
HIV/AIDS
Mental Health Disparities
Under-utilization of Preventative Care

Presenters take a proactive stance in addressing critical matters corresponding to the creation of stronger Black Families and improved health conditions.
Presenters include outside experts and the Augusta community, Paine College faculty/students plus reps of the Medical College of Georgia health system.
NTNV2 Augusta is a partner of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office of Minority Health’s National Partnership for Action (NPA) to End Health Disparities, and a member of the national Healthy People 2020 Consortium.

More info:

Dr. Adeleri Onisegun
NTNV2 Project Director
Paine College Dept. of Psychology
706-821-8281
aonisegun@paine.edu

Rev. Terence A. Dicks
NTNV2 Community Liaison
Chair, Steering Committee
706-799-5598
TerenceDicks@gmail.com
TAD89@lycos.com

United Methodist News Service story March 2008 by Linda Green
www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=4177739&ct=5451583#.UZuqhJy-i4w

Augusta, Georgia: Richmond County Democratic Party pays tribute to the Boston Marathon bombing victims, the community and the brave police officers as they continue road to recovery

Richmond County Democratic Party (RCDP) chair Dr. Lowell Greenbaum of Augusta offers words of condolence and praise during the RCDP tribute to the murder victims of the Boston Marathon bombings and those severely injured.
Augusta Democrats also offered their sympathies and respect to all Boston area residents – especially the families of those brave police officers killed and injured while capturing the terrorists.
Both terrorists were shot, one died and the other arrested.
Photo by Progressive Democrat the Rev. Terence A. Dicks of Augusta, a Democratic Party of Georgia State Committee member for the 12th Congressional District of Georgia on behalf of the RCDP

Photos of Richmond County Democratic Party (RCDP) tribute to the Boston Marathon victims of the 2013 bombing

RCDP chaplain the Rev. Sidney Gates offers prayers for those who were victims of the bombing and to families of the brave police officers involved in the apprehension of the Boston terrorists

The RCDP honored those who were injured and killed at the parade and the party praises the brave police officers who were killed or wounded capturing the suspects.

Showing solidarity for the terror victims and all Boston area residents, party members discussed their feelings about the terrorist bombing, press coverage and other issues.

RCDP members have friends and family who work and reside in Boston.

Two bombs near the finish line of the Boston Marathon killed three people on the afternoon of April 15 and more than 260 people were injured in the attacks that shocked the world.

Murdered in the bombings were eight-year-old Martin William Richard of the Boston neighborhood of Dorcheter; Krystle Marie Campbell, 29, a restaurant manager from Medford, Massachusetts; and Lü Lingzi, 23, a Chinese national and Boston University graduate student from Shenyang, Liaoning.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus police Sean Collier was gunned down by the terrorists after their identities became public.

Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Transit Police Officer Richard H. Donohue, Jr. would be shot and seriously wounded by friendly fire a few hours later during a hail of gunfire in a shootout between between police and the terrorists.

Speakers at the Wed., April 17, 2013 event in Augusta, GA included RCDP Chair Dr. Lowell Greenbaum and the Rev. Sidney Gates, RCDP Chaplain.

(Photos by Progressive Democrat the Rev. Terence A. Dicks of Augusta, a Democratic Party of Georgia State Committee member for the 12th Congressional District of Georgia on behalf of the RCDP)

Picture above, right to left, are:

Front Row: RCDP chaplain the Rev. Sidney Gates, RCDP voter registration chairperson Betty Frank, RCDP Treasurer Liz Johnson; and a guest of the of the RCDP event.

Back Row: RCDP member Frank Williams and RCDP Sgt. Of Arms Alvin Forrest

Pictured above:

Front row: RCDP member Krishna Goel

Second Row: Augusta residents and RCDP members Barbara Stenstrom and Gloria R. Greenbaum, wife of the RCDP chair.

Third Row: Avid longtime RCDP members Marcia Brown, party assistant treasurer Hilda Phinizy, and Lydia (Alvin) Forrest

Fourth Row: RCDP member and former party secretary Michael “Mike” McCullen, a member of the Progressive Religious Coalition and co-chairman of the Augusta Mayors Blue Ribbon Commission on Race

Speaking at the podium above is the Rev. Sidney Gates, RCDP chaplain and a member of the Augusta Progressive Religious Coalition

Boston Marathon Terrorist Attacks
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2013/04/28/bombreconstruct/VbSZhzHm35yR88EVmVdbDM/story.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Marathon_bombings

Some background on those pictured – all known for their compassion for others:

With others with a big heart, Krishna Goel was named one of the 2012 volunteer Caregivers of the year representing from the Central Savannah River CARE-NET (Caregivers Network) program – a unique volunteer coalition of 12 Georgia caregiver support organizations across a broad array of illnesses and disabilities.

Goel was honored by former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and the Rosalynn Carter Institute (RCI) for Caregiving at the 2012 RCI Gala

Goel is the chair of the Augusta Chapter of the Georgia Traumatic Brain Injury Support Groups.

http://www.rosalynncarter.org/Georgia%20CARE-NET%20Coalition/

http://www.rosalynncarter.org/UserFiles/File/Advocate%20Dec%202012.pdf

http://vids.gsw.edu/GSW-TV/RCI_25thAnniv_Gala.mp4

http://www.traumaticbraininjurylawyer.com/content/injuries/tbi/support/ga.html

An active member of the Summerville Neighborhood Association, Barbara Stenstrom is a longtime Democratic Party supporter/contributor who has donated/supported worthy projects like the Lucy Craft Laney Museum, environmental clean-up and many more community efforts like the daily newspaper’s Empty Stocking Fund plus is a noted cat lover and protector.

http://naturalsciencesacademy.org/PDF/AcademyNotes02-2012.pdf

https://summervilleaugusta.org/publications/files/pubs/post-1998-2-october.pdf

http://www.lucycraftlaneymuseum.com/friends.htm

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/1998/06/01/met_229958.shtml

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2005/03/31/met_448945.shtml

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2002/01/20/met_333960.shtml

Known for her big heart for all people and human rights, Gloria Greenbaum called out Republicans for their dirty tricks and meanness while writing letters to the editor recognizing great community causes like the Good Boys, Good Men program at Hephzibah High School and bringing culture and arts to Augusta’s (Savannah) Riverfront.

Gloria Greenbaum was quoted in a 2000 news story praising Democratic Presidential candidate Al Gore for making history by naming Sen. Joe Lieberman as his running mate because he (Lieberman) was the first Jewish candidate (Lieberman) on a national ticket.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/02/17/let_511668.shtml

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2000/08/17/met_295805.shtml

http://chronicle.augusta.com/opinion/letters/2011-06-10/put-performing-arts-center-river

Lydia Forrest

http://old.chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2008/11/05/met_482296.shtml

http://www.nbc26.tv/story/21738565/local-democrats-and-republicans-watch-final-presidential-debate

RCDP assistant treasurer Hilda Phinizy, who serves as secretary of the fitness/recreation Kingston Club, Inc, a Non-Profit Corporation

http://www.richmondcountydemocrats.com/officers.htm

Former RCDP secretary and avid Democrat Michael McCullen is a member of the Augusta Progressive Religious Coalition and co-chairman of the Augusta Mayors Blue Ribbon Commission on Race relations.

McCullen works at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center at Doctors Hospital of Augusta

http://chronicle.augusta.com/latest-news/2011-09-08/augusta-state-university-panel-discusses-post-911-world

https://www.facebook.com/michael.mccullen.35

RCDP voter registration chairperson Betty Frank has been actively involved in National League of Women Voters and Georgia Council on Aging.

A retired social worker, Frank received an advocacy award from the Augusta chapter of the National Association of Social Workers for her political involvement and leadership role working with groups including the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) Agency on Aging (AAA), the League of Women Voters and the Mental Health Association.

She served as President of the Augusta Chapter of the National League of Women Voters and as a deputy registrar with the Richmond County Board of Elections.

She has been active on many levels on behalf of seniors, veterans and others including legislative advocate with the CSRA AAA and with the Coalition for Mental Health Advocacy.

In 2008, Frank was named Volunteer of the Year by the CSRA AAA.

Frank was honored for her tireless efforts to bring about positive change for seniors and their families.

She has worked on the local, state and national level to promote, support and sponsor important issues and legislation which have benefited all citizens of the CSRA.

Her ultimate goal is to ensure that seniors are comfortable and knowledgeable about how to communicate with their elected officials

http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/metro/2010-03-29/retired-social-workers-be-honored-service

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2008/09/25/liv_477053.shtml

http://www.csrardc.org/csra/Newsletters/May2008.pdf

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2008/06/01/aik_460437.shtml

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2006/10/08/met_99674.shtml

RCDP Treasurer Elizabeth “Liz” A. Johnson has been actively involved in voter registration, Storyland Theatre, Jesse Norman School of the Arts, Planned Parenthood, Augusta Choral Society, Augusta Library, the Lydia Project, Augusta GreenJackets’ Diamond Club, the Sierra Club, Southeastern Natural Sciences Academy, Earth Day, and the Sacred Heart Garden Festival

http://www.augustamagazine.com/Augusta-Magazine/June-July-2012/Life-Begins-at-60/

RCDP member Frank Williams has been featured in the news – and is know around Augusta – or his avid support of Democratic Party

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/03/20/met_515264.shtml

http://old.chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2008/11/05/met_482288.shtml

RCDP Sgt. Of Arms Alvin Forrest

http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/metro/2013-01-21/overlap-martin-luther-king-jr-day-presidential-inauguration-marked-service

Columbia Grads for Robin Hood Tax, Protest Unfair Student Loan Debt

Columbia Grads for Robin Hood Tax, a photo by Robin Hood Tax USA on Flickr.

A great protest about unfair student college loan debt – and for the Robin Hood Tax – strongly supported by the Progressive Democrats of America.

We should be proud of these students for saying its unfair to give big banks a break – yet burden our students with outrageous debt just because they went to college.

America needs to repair its priorities if we are to succeed in this millennium.

Michigan Hunter Indicts National Rifle Association (NRA) plus GOP and Other U.S. Lawmakers on Felony Charges of Mass Murder, Bribery, and Racketeering/Conspiracy (RICO Act)

*A message and indictment of the NRA from Greg J. Peterson of Marquette, Michigan, deer hunter, news reporter and a close friend of the creator of this blog- the Rev. Terence A. Dicks of Augusta, Georgia

I am an avid hunter – and on behalf of the United States of America and its children:

I indict and make a citizen’s arrest of the NRA (as a group and its board of directors and executives) plus U.S. lawmakers represented by Republican Party (GOP) and other U.S. elected officials who are involved in an ongoing crime spree involving the mass murder of children and adults, a mob-like conspiracy, bribery and corruption in public office:

Count 1:

I accuse and indict the National Rifle Association (NRA) of insidious complicity in mass murder due to its conspiracy of lies.

Count 2:

I indict lawmakers on bribery charges from being influence by the huge pocketbooks of the gun lobby instead of being influence by the blood of children. These lawmakers should go to prison or be sentenced to spend a night in the poor neighborhoods where tragically violence occurs every minute.

Count 3:

I indict the NRA and GOP and other lawmakers on felony racketeering and conspiracy charges – specifically the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO Act).

Counts 4 thru 1,004:

I indict the NRA and U.S. GOP lawmakers (and other unnamed elected-officials) who support NRA lies and/or received money from gun-related groups) on 1,000 Counts of conspiracy to commit murder.

I demand that federal and state prosecutors immediately arrest the leaders of these groups and lawmakers due to their ongoing crime spree – as they did in the case of the Illinois Governor.

The annual deaths of dozens of inner city children by assault weapons is not enough to touch the hearts of the lawmakers who oppose weapon reform.

Due to greed – the NRA continues to deny the impact of these weapons and large clips in all violence including the recent slaughter of young children at a school in Connecticut and other mass shootings.

Whether it be assault weapons, large clips or the ease of access to handguns and ammo, the NRA denial of their culpability in this bloodshed is motivated by large contributions by those who represent gun companies – some secretly – and those who claim to be true sportsman.

Like lambs to a slaughter, America’s children are being gunned-down with ease because the NRA has touted its biggest lie – that a ban on assault weapons and large clips will lead to an end to hunting via the collection of normal game-hunting guns used by decent, fair and reasonable hunters.

A real hunter doesn’t need a semi-auto with large clips – as 3 to 5 bullets are enough bullets or shells in a fair hunt.

If you can’t hit the prey like deer with your first 3 rounds – you’d better really practice your aim.

If reloading is too much – you are just lazy.

Automatic and semi-automatic weapons are for “spray and pray” – not true elegant target practice. Reloading after 3 bullets for these purposes is easy enough to “practice” your aim.

What’s more gun enthusiasts know this – tho many tout the disingenuous and vile arguments of the NRA that are aimed at protecting those who sell these guns rather than America’s children – and for that matter all people.

One of the dumbest arguments I have recently heard is that we need these weapons in order to overthrow the government. This is not the 1700s.

I strongly oppose assault weapons and big clips plus easy access to handguns.

Anyone who uses the old greedy and slimy NRA argument that gun laws will eventually result in the taking away of “REAL” hunting weapons is regurgitating rhetoric without thinking for themselves.

Now don’t be fooled – these guns laws are needed but do not expect overnight miracles – because as like all major issues the road to solutions have many chambers.

A ban on assault weapons and big clips will not instantly stop school and other mass shootings – this make take decades – but its one helluva good start.

We must pass new gun restrictions.

Like a path in a dense forest, we’ve taken a long walk to arrive at a society with little compassion – and/or being people of goodwill who have become so busy trying to survive that they have little time for others including children.

Even parents who adore their children come home exhausted due to expectations of a bankrupt society where employers expect unreasonable outcomes even by the hardest working and dedicate employees.

It is sick and sad that it took a mass shooting at a mostly white school – for people to cry and care.

I hope they realize inner city kids of that age get shot every day.

We need to approach the problem from many trajectories – like parents restricting violent video games that simulate mass shootings – and taking the stigma away from asking for mental health treatment or any kind of emotional help.

Despite and because of electronic era, we do not communicate with each other in meaningful and one-on-one ways.
This lack of interpersonal communication festers when you add in factors like parents with longer hours, lower pay and being required to do the jobs of 3 people.

Nearly everyone needs some kind of loving and emotional help in today’s whether it be from friends, family or professionals.

The reasons that any kind of new gun laws will not end hunting and target practice are many – and possibly the biggest is not unlike the NRA’s top motivation for aiding and abetting mass murder – and that is money – green – $$$$$$.

We all know, that all 50 states and the feds make lots of money from hunting licenses and other fees to stop hunting by passing legislation or collect real hunting weapons.

Government depends on this economical boost to their respective and collective treasuries and everything related to tourism.

Gun makers have to get over it – be part of the solution and quitting hiring the NRA to be your vicious hunting dog.

The NRA rhetoric often falls on the ears of people who don’t think for themselves or are too afraid to stand up to other hunters who regurgitate the false blather.

I have not missed opening day of firearms deer season – and as long as my health stands I never will.

If the deaths of inner city kids happen in America’s white suburbs – I would not have to write this – because lawmakers would have already banned assault weapons and restricted the number of projectiles allowed at any one time in any gun.

Children’s Defense Fund – Protect Children Not Guns 2010 Report

Speak up now – because:

“In the end, we will not remember the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

See related links below:

Inner City Gun Violence – Black/Minority Children Should Matter:

http://0-ireport.cnn.com.library.ccbcmd.edu/docs/DOC-903113

http://www.theskanner.com/article/Young-Black-Males-The-Forgotten-Victims-Of-Gun-Violence-2012-12-26

Victims of Sandy Hook Elementary School Massacre

http://photos.denverpost.com/2012/12/15/connecticut-shooting-victims

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/12/16/remembering-the-victims-of-the-sandy-hook-elementary-school-shooting/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Hook_Elementary_School_shooting

Victims of Colorado Theatre Massacre

http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2012/07/us/interactive.colorado.victims/?iid=article_sidebar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Aurora_shooting

Victims of Columbine High School Massacre

http://acolumbinesite.com/victim/memoriam.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbine_High_School_massacre

Gun Violence:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_violence_in_the_United_States

https://alittleknowledgeisadangerousthing.wordpress.com

https://alittleknowledgeisadangerousthing.wordpress.com/2013/01/06/gun-control-facts-nra-lies-hysteria-by-mrs-facts

Just Plain Sick:

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/12/05/creepy-fox-news-host-giggles-during-talk-about-shooting-deaths-of-inner-city-teens

Don’t Let The NRA Hold This Country Hostage Over Gun Control:

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/dont-let-nra-hold-country-hostage-gun-control/LrncYgsT

Gun photo credits:

AK47 Olive-Drab Military Photo by Olive-Drab via Wikipedia

Smith and Wesson Model 60 .38 Special revolver with a 3-inch barre photo by Wikipedia username Dori

ATF inspector at a federally licensed gun dealer in ATF photo via Wikipedia