Normans News SPRING 2013 EditionPAGE 1Normans News Social Activities To End ?As families of or iginal organizers ofsocial activities in the neighborhoo d grew up, and the Women’s Club disbanded, the HOA focused on getting younger families involved in taking over activiti es. They’ve had only a little success. Last year only a fraction of the adults and children attended the activities that were offered, so one can’t help but wonder if it is really worth the ex- pense and effort involved to continue offer- ing social ev ents in Norman Downes? Per- haps, with the availability and close proximity of the surrounding parks and Duluth Towne Green we may no longerneed or want to sponsor special activi- ties just for Norman Downes residents. HOA board members can not take on the job of directing social activities in addi- tion to the important jobs they are already doing for the community . It has been sug- gested that a young women’s club form to continue at least the children’s activities. Sadly, no one seems to want the responsi- bility of organizing this group. This year the board members have voted to sponsor three social events. They chose the events most attended (cont. on p.5)“FOR AND BY OUR RESIDENTS OF NORMAN DOWNES”Individual Garage Sale Permits for April 27th Now Required by the City of Duluth (see page 5 )ND Activities 5The Pr es id ent’s Co r ne r 4-8-9“Sam’s Story” 2-3-4Announcements 6-7-9New Guidel ine for Y .O.M. 7The President’s CornerProject Updates: Street Signs and Front Signs —We are preparing to repair and rejuve- nate the remaining street signs, posts, and front entrance sign plaques. They will remain t he same basic shape and design but will be made to look new again. We hope to get this done with the coming summer months. Tennis Driveway Gate and Boundary Fence —To keep the tennis and lake access areas exclusive to Norman Downes residents (continued on p. 4)
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“Sam’s Story” Sometimes, we take for granted what we have....
One day last winter, during one of my visits to V-Nails in Suwanee, I asked
the proprietor, whose name is Sam, how he came to live in this particular part of the country. With broken English, gestures and pictures, Sam shared his
courageous story of how and why he entered the United States, and how he
came to reside in Georgia.
Actually hearing Sam’s story firsthand, instead of reading an article or
watching a news program about the trials of people coming to our country, made
it very real and personal. It renewed me with a sense of gratefulness for having
the good fortune of being born in this wonderful country. I asked Sam if he wouldallow me to share his story with all of you in hopes that you might want to support
his business with your patronage at some time in the future. Sam is a very
honorable man, an asset to his community and a very deserving individual.
Some members of his family sacrificed their lives for the sake of their freedom.
When North Vietnam invaded South Vietnam, life became pure hell for
those who could not get out of their path. The South Vietnamese, who until then
had been protected and helped by the Americans and others, were overnight
forced out of schools, jobs, and homes. Food became scarce and life very brutal.The only sure way to survive was by paying off the North Vietnamese police. And
even that was no guarantee! Those who paid off the police to board boats out of
the country were often stopped once out to sea, by yet more police in gun boats.
Those with the ‘wrong paperwork’ and no more money were beaten and sent
back to shore and jailed. Those who protested were shot on the spot and tossed
overboard. Sam related that the larger the payment, the bigger the boat you were
allowed passage on. Many boats sunk from the sheer weight of the overcrowded
passengers and others perished from huge waves that would overcome the boatsin huge storms at sea.
Sam’s family managed to scrape together enough money to get one of
Sam’s older brothers out of the country by boat. Sam showed me how his brother
had to stay crouched down in one spot due to the number of bodies around him.
He survived on only a few sips of water and almost no food until the boat was(continued next page)
rescued almost seven days later! Many on board with him became sick and died.
He saw one entire family that he had knew and grew up with, washed overboard by
a massive wave in a terrible storm.
As for the rest of Sam’s family, the police eventually invaded and took over the fam-
ily home. Both of Sam’s parents protested. His father was shot immediately and
both his mother and a younger sibling later died from the beatings they receivedduring the encounter. The young daughter was beaten for simply trying to shield
the mother screaming over her husband’s death. The family was loaded into a
truck with other South Vietnamese families and only the clothes on their backs.
They were driven far into the countryside and dropped off with no food or water to
survive as best they could.
Sam’s brother had been helped to enter the United States by the CCA, a Christian
Coalition of organizations who aided refugees at that time. Sam is very proud of his
brother who is now a US citizen and a practicing, licensed accountant. Once
established, his brother sent money to Hong Chong to be smuggled into the country
to negotiate with police for Sam to leave. Three different times Sam left by boat
and was forced back by the gun boat police, even though he had a valid exit visa,
which they claimed was forged. Three times he was beaten and jailed for several
months before release. Sam’s brother appealed through the CCA to the United
Nations in Hong Kong to intervene and negotiate on Sam’s behalf. He sent money
again. The United Nations was successful this time in getting Sam released and he
was moved to China and then Korea. After interviewing many refugees, a Christian
Relief organization agreed to sponsor and pay Sam’s airfare to New York. In New
York he was given the choice of being educated or given a job. Sam, then 19,
wanted to work. He was sent to Atlanta, where he worked in a chicken factory, pull-
ing wings from chickens. Sam was also given temporary housing with three other
refugees, and a small stipend to buy clothing. When he arrived , it was snowing. A
bus delivered the refugees to and from work each day.
Keeping our neighborhood strong is essential these days. Having strong localschools impacts the strength of our community.
Mason Elementary would appreciate your help in a few ways and it won’t cost youa penny. Here are a few ways that you can help:
1. When you shop at Publix, have them scan a Mason card. The card is free andyour name and identity are not associated with it. The card simply shows Publixhow many Mason supporters shop there. Publix then gives the school a checkbased upon total receipts. If you would like a Mason Publix card, email me atJeanne _ [email protected] and I will drop one in your mailbox.
2. Clip the Box tops for Education coupons from participating products. When you
have collected some, please pass the baggie to a Mason student, teacher or my-self. Mason collects $.10 per logo turned in. This money is used to buy PE and artequipment and supplies.
3. If you buy Coca-Cola products, save the alphanumeric codes from 12 packboxes or the screw caps from most products. Pass these along as well. Thesenumbers are entered online to benefit PTA programs.
4. If you have children’s books in good condition that you no longer want, pleasedonate them. Teachers use them in the classrooms or give them to students thatdo not have books at home.
(cont. from pg. 4 --Presidents Corner) with infrequently used residents’ boats. We will
be requiring a boat registration and sticker, showing that the boat is the prop-
erty of a Norman Downes resident. All other boats will be removed. Applica-
tions for stickers will be available on the Norman Downes website.
Access cleanup and mosquito control — The access area has been cleared ofpoison ivy, poison oak and other toxic plants, over the past few years. Our
contracted engineering company and the City of Duluth have advised us that
this area is part of our water runoff system, and should be maintained.
A major issue is mosquito control due to the standing water in the area. Resi-
dents along the adjoining streets have voiced many complaints. Also, dead
and dangerous trees have recently been cut. The current unsightly pile of logsis intended to be made into a retaining wall on the opposite side from the
creek to prevent water inflow. Then we can explore a bio-friendly way of
controlling the mosquitoes. The first step is to organize the movement of the
logs (left intentionally long so that passers-by can’t roll them into the creek)
and make sure the existing mulch path is intact. The access area will remain
natural, with no vehicle traffic. Boat racks, benches, tables and other non-
permanent structures will be placed within the appropriate setback in the near future.
Downes-ness — The price we pay for our privileges and freedoms is participa-
tion in one form or another. Keeping our neighborhood looking and working
like it does is no easy task!
Of course we owe many thanks to all who take (and those who have in the
past!) the time and have the initiative to be hands-on. However many of us
can’t be physically active because of health, work, travel, and other commit-
ments - but everyone can help by maintaining basic community awareness.
Those who have the time and opportunity to dig in and help with one
neighborhood project or another – will of course have (continued top of next page)