To the Editor:
The Steffen Thomas Museum of Art thanks all our many friends and supporters for making our 2009 annual fall fundraiser – Artoberfest  – such a fabulous event.
What a rollicking evening Saturday, October 22 was! The museum’s gallery and grounds were transformed into a German Beer Garden where guests enjoyed hearty German food and drink while listening and dancing to live music provided by the David Ellington Duo.
A silent auction included handcrafted items, jewelry, local services and works of art. Another highlight was this year’s raffle prize: a magnificent 1978 Krugerrand, a one-ounce fine gold South African coin in a 14-karat gold pendant setting. We hope you found the evening as full of geműtlichkeit as we did! We’re so glad you came.
We also offer our sincere thanks to the following sponsors who made this event possible: Bank of Madison; David Crawford, CPA; DreamTeam Technologies, Inc.; Georgia Power – A Southern Company; The Herald Journal; HouseSmart; Jim Boyd and Associates; Madison Studios; Morgan County Citizen; Smith Communications, Inc.; Vanishing Rural Georgia Art, Olde South Wine and Spirits, and Yellowbook.
Best of all, the event earned over $ 5,000 for our “Georgia Master” visual arts museum and our award-winning Arts Outreach Program serving Morgan, Greene and Putnam counties.
Thanks to you all.

Marguerite Copelan,
President, STMA Board of Directors
Via e-mail

To the Editor:
Thank you Madison!
We regret to announce that after 16 great years as your local GM dealer we are unfortunately having to close our doors. Due to the current economic times and the auto makers decisions to close large members of dealership, including Madison, we can no longer function as a viable location. We are deeply saddened to leave this wonderful town and all of our fantastic customers and friends. Your patronage and support over the years is greatly appreciated and we will truly miss you.
Thank you!
Phil Cook and Family
Phil Cook Motor Company
Madison
Hand delivered

To the Editor:
The inclement weather did not curb the enthusiasm of anyone who attended Georgia Rescue and Rehabilitation’s first annual A Dog Day Afternoon on October 17.
Georgia Rescue and Rehabilitation is grateful to the following supporters and businesses that donated auction items and made it a great success. Thanks to Jordie Bug, Madison Gift Mart and Café, Artisian’s Alley, Petals Salon, Barkin’ Dogs Shoe Co., Amelia’s, Dog Ear Books, The Shops at the Icehouse Underground, GreenSouth, Shear Elegance, Tapestry Greenhouse, Lilywind Kids, Pure Bliss Spa and Shop, Main Street Vet, Joyce Connell and Madison Markets, Diane Driscoll of Furry Friends Forever and GRR supporters Starr Shepherd, Angela Dull, John Baggett, Shelley Yeatman and Amy Bruckner. Thanks also to Morning Glory’s and Dreamcatchers in Greensboro, Social Graces and Flaunt Salon in Covington and Fur’st Class Pet Resort in Bishop.
Thanks also to Ingles of Madison for their support and donation. The Morgan County Citizen and radio stations Starstation 1250, Dock103.9, WMOQ and Z97 got the word out. GRR gives a big thanks to demonstrators Lisa Reynolds of the Morgan County Sheriff’s Department for the K-9 unit, Sit Happens Dog Training and Behavior, Pawsitive Results Clicker Training, Oconee River Kennel Club, Furry Friends Forever, Hank Gallups, Kyle Duncan and Preston Dean, Main Street Vet and Jen Gran Photography for services, barbecue chef Gene Smith and Storm Troopers of the Georgia Garrison 501st Legion.
A huge thank you goes to our GRR volunteers.
Look for us next year!
Carol Harris
PR, Fund-raising and Event Planner, Georgia Rescue and Rehabilitation
Via e-mail

To the Editor:
I attended the Hispanic Heritage Festival on Saturday, Oct. 24 and remain confused as to why it was located outside the Morgan County Courthouse rather than the Town Park. I understand that the Town Park, while not being an actual park, is an event facility. So, why was the Hispanic Heritage Festival event not taking place there, but rather on a thoroughfare blocked off so that cars could not pass from one end of the street to the other? I would have thought that rather than impede the flow of traffic, the better solution would be to hold events in the Town Park, being that it is an event facility. I would like to know the reasons why it was felt that having the festival in a street was seen as more sensible than in the Town Park.
I was also rather disappointed in not seeing the dancing horses, knowing how symbolic they are to Latin culture. They were advertised as performing, and again I am sure there are reasons why they were not allowed. I did ask a lady at the festival, and admittedly, something could have been lost in translation, but I was told that horses were banned in downtown Madison, due to a city ordinance. I did, however, see a horse pulling a carriage, standing between the post office and police department, so that cannot be right. Maybe the ordinance is against performing animals, so, not just horses, but dogs, elephants even zebras are also prevented from dancing downtown.

Andrew Simpson
Newborn
Via e-mail

To the Editor:
The Morgan County Team for “Rivers Alive” Lake Oconee Clean-up did an exceptional job for the community last Saturday. The Boys and Girls Club “Passport to Manhood” team covered the 278 bridge and shoreline, bringing in some especially large and yucky litter: a decomposing tarp, a hub cap, a shot-up street sign and a toilet seat. Thanks Zac, Leequell, Jaalen, Keyshawn, Kentavlous and Bobby: you guys made our day! By water, our awesome kayak crew: Amy, Cady, Dan and Mary brought in a water-logged chaise lounge cushion, a plastic chair and lots of smaller junk that didn’t need to be in our water supply. Pat brought all sorts of stuff that she retrieved on foot from the Redlands bridge including large quantities of tangled fishing line. Removing this litter helps prevent wildlife from getting accidentally ensnared in it. Marguerite helped me get our paperwork done and facilitate the volunteers. A special thank you goes out to the Apalachee Bait Shop for cheerfully allowing our volunteers use their facility as a base. Altogether Morgan County’s haul was about 460 pounds of ugly, polluting litter. Later, some of the group attended the Lake Oconee Clean-up luncheon hosted by Georgia Power at the Old Salem Campground. There, we joined volunteers from all over Georgia that helped clean up Lake Oconee. Thanks to all the volunteers and supporters; every litter bit taken out of our water helps!
Linda Thoman
Keep Morgan Beautiful
Buckhead
Via e-mail