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Colin Morris
with her three year old son, Gabriel and two year old daughter, Micaela
My kids can spot a fire truck with their
eyes closed.
Something about that combination of red paint,
flashing lights, blaring siren and urgent mission fascinates them.
Last week we took a tour of the City of Woodstock
Fire Station on Arnold Mill Road, just east of the train tracks. From
the start, my kids were spellbound. The fire fighters showing us around
talking right to the kids, encouraging them to ask questions and gently
explaining how things worked. We saw the fire pole, and watched someone
slide down. We saw the kitchen and the fire fighter's beds. We got to
look at all the fire trucks. The kids climbed into the driver's seat pretending
to drive to the 'mergency — as my son would say. Then Firefighter
Aaron put on all his fire gear to show the kids what fire fighters look
like and sound like through their oxygen masks. This "Friendly Fire Fighter"
experience helps kids not be afraid of rescue workers in a real-life situation.
What a great idea!
The fire station is beautiful — how
many cities can say that? I learned as much as my kids from the tour.
We left with fire hats, Junior Fire Fighter badges and plenty of stories
to tell Dad when he got home. Now, every time we drive on Arnold Mill
Road, my three year old pipes up from the backseat, "Mom, there's the
fire station. We've been there." Which gives good ol' mom a chance to
review what we learned and make sure those safety lessons really stick.
After all, fun and safe is mommy's motto.
Call the Fire Marshall at (770) 926-2017
to schedule a tour for your kids. Both groups and individuals are welcome.
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Ita Gilbert
Ita Gilbert has a passion: it's educating
and promoting awareness about domestic violence, and she's lucky enough
to have a job, which feeds her passion. She has a favorite quote, "People
saying it can't be done are often interrupted by people doing it." With
this mantra in mind, Ita founded the Cherokee Center for Change, a counseling
center in Woodstock. She created the center as a way to do what needed
to be done to help people, minus the red tape. She had become weary of
people telling her what she couldn't do — she is about doing what
needs to be done, period. Ita is a Licensed Certified Counselor and has
a Masters Degree in Counseling. And although the Cherokee Center for Change
is her job, it's what she does inside and outside of the job that makes
her January's Pathfinder.
At the Cherokee Center for Change, Ita will
take cases pro-bono, and she also hires college interns to assist in counseling
clients. A lot of centers will not hire interns, but Ita utilizes these
young people to provide low-cost assistance to those who really need it.
Ita's passion is educating the general public
about the seriousness of domestic violence and assisting those who are
victims. By referring clients to the Cherokee Family Violence Center,
she came to know its director, Meg Rogers. Ita became educated to not
only the prevalence of domestic abuse but also how it permeates society
and affects everyone, not just the immediate victim. It was through Meg
that Ita became involved in the Blue Ridge Judicial Circuit Task Force
on Domestic Violence, of which she is now Chairperson. The goal of this
task force is to provide consistent, seamless response to domestic violence.
She works with judges, district attorneys, sheriffs and women's advocates.
It's not always easy, but she takes her role very seriously because, as
she states, "when there's a weak spot in the system, domestic violence
becomes worse."
Education, Ita believes, is the key to decreasing
domestic violence. Her goal is to make the public aware that domestic
violence touches all of society — it can lead to other crimes affecting
those who are in the wrong place at the wrong time. She also feels it's
important to erase the stereotypes of domestic violence. According to
Ita, domestic violence is not about anger management, and it hits all
socio-economic groups. By volunteering her time on the Task Force, she
is able to educate those who deal with domestic violence on a daily basis.
Bill Ratliff, pastor at Towne Lake Community Church, is someone who has
worked with Ita. He says, "Ita is one in a million, with a heart for the
deep needs in people's lives."
Ita, for all you do to make our community
a better place, we thank you!
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