Threatening Gestures, Budget Cuts and Cupcakes

Thankfully no one was injured in this incident, but it does highlight the risks associated with private commerce. Whether you use Craigslist or any other service, take steps to make sure you and your family are not placed in danger. Several commenters on the article and on the Dacula Patch Facebook page recommended conducting any transactions at a location away from your private residence. Well-lit and busy public places such as gas stations or strip malls are ideal. As always, be careful and report any suspicious activity to police.

This story drew more attention on Facebook than any other story I posted this week. It seems as if Dacula residents love cupcakes and are excited about the prospect of having 120 (!!) different flavors to sample. Owner Ramona Hampton will have 10 to 20 flavors available each day and says her most popular creation is the prima donna, a chocolate cupcake infused with cream cheese filling and white chocolate “sparks.” Sounds delicious!

Cupcakes got a lot of attention on Facebook, but school budget cuts drew more attention on Dacula Patch. The Gwinnett County Public School system is facing an $89 million revenue shortfall for fiscal year 2013. Find out what your friends and neighbors had to say about the steps the school system is taking to address the current budget problem.

We also had some good school-related news last week. This past week, Mill Creek High School launched its second year of “MC Reads,” the school’s summer reading program. This innovative program encourages students to read for the love of reading. By eliminating the pressure of graded assignments and providing a greater selection of books, MCHS media specialists Julie Hatcher and Mary K. Donovan hope to instill a lifelong love of reading in their students. My daughter is a Mill Creek student and I can tell you she much prefers “MC Reads” to any other summer reading assignments she has had.

This story appeared to resonate with a number of readers. Have we really reached a point where every aspect of our lives is subject to scrutiny by our employers or potential employers? Criminal history checks, credit checks, personal references and professional references have long been a part of the employment process, but social media snooping? Does an employer really have any business looking at your family photos or vacation pictures? Do they need to know who your Facebook friends are? I think not.

Be sure to check in during the week for the latest news and don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates throughout the day. Have a great week and thanks for reading Dacula Patch.