Athens Area Habitat for Humanity: 9/1/09

9/28/09

September is almost over!

Don't forget that for all of September Taqueria La Parilla will donate a percentage of their sales to Athens Area Habitat! Be sure to stop by early this week!

Check out two locations!

Athens
2439 Jefferson Road
Athens, GA 30606
(706) 549-4977

Watkinsville
1431 Capital Avenue #101
Watkinsville, GA 30677
(706) 310-999

9/22/09

Happy Fall Equinox! It's officially the first day of fall!

The September Equinox explained

What happens during the September equinox?

The sun crosses the celestial equator and moves southward in the northern hemisphere during the September equinox. The location on the earth where the sun is directly overhead at solar noon is known as the subsolar point. The subsolar point occurs on the equator during the September equinox and March equinox. At that time, the earth’s axis of rotation is perpendicular to the line connecting the centers of the earth and the sun. This is the time when many people believe that the earth experiences 12 hours of day and night. However, this is not exactly the case.

Dispelling the “exactly 12 hours of daylight” myth
It is important to note that day and night during the September equinox is not exactly equal length. During the time of the September and March equinoxes many regions around the equator have a daylight length of about 12 hours and six-and-a-half minutes. Moreover, the day is slightly longer in places that are further away from the equator and the sun takes longer to rise and set in these locations.

According to the US Naval Observatory the dates of “equal” day and night occur about February 25 and October 15 at a latitude of five degrees in the northern hemisphere. They occur around March 17 and September 26 at a latitude of 40 degrees. On the dates of the equinoxes, the day is about seven minutes longer than the night at latitudes up to about 25 degrees, increasing to 10 minutes or more at a latitude of 50 degrees.

Historical Fact
A Greek astronomer and mathematician named Hipparchus (ca. 190-ca.120 BCE) was known for discovering the precession of the equinoxes, the slow movement among the stars of the two opposite places where the sun crosses the celestial equator. Hipparchus made observations of the equinox and solstice. Astronomers use the spring equinoctial point to define their frame of reference, and the movement of this point implies that the measured position of a star varies with the date of measurement. Hipparchus also compiled a star catalogue, but this has been lost.

The word “equinox” derives from the Latin words meaning “equal night” and refers to the time when the sun crosses the equator. In modern times this word is used to refer not only to the positions on the ecliptic but also the times of the year when the sun has reached them. The September equinox has been used as a reference point in many calendars in the past, including the French Revolutionary Calendar. Although very little is known about the ancient Macedonian calendar, some believe that the first month began after the autumnal equinox.

(via.)

9/18/09

UPDATE: Build for Saturday 9/19
will be rained out.

Thank you for your eagerness to volunteer but
please do not make the trip to the build site in
the rain! Contact volunteer@athenshabitat.com
to reschedule your time with us.

Call the office at 706.208.1001 if you have any
questions.

9/17/09

Happy Birthday Ms. Peggy!

Athens Area Habitat would like to wish Ms. Peggy a wonderful birthday! She is one of our most dedicated volunteers and you have likely met her if you've been to the ReStore. Thank you, Ms. Peggy, for all of your smiles and support!

9/16/09

Athens Area Habitat is with the times. It's never been easier to follow our upcoming events and contact us! Check us out on Facebook, Twitter, and AIM (BuildLouder).

9/15/09

A View From The Builder: Tom's Blog

Five of UGA's finest came out to support AAHFH this Saturday. With smiles on their faces, they attacked the long neglected ReStore parking lot and lawn. They removed debris from long ago builds, cut down limbs that were starting to take over half of the parking spots and spread 2 truckloads of mulch to create more much needed parking. I should also give credit for Alex and Andrew who braved the 24 foot ladder to de-gunk the gutters before they re-wired the phone and sound systems in the store. What a motivated and easy going group! We all appreciate your efforts to make our facilities shine.

--Tom

9/14/09

This record player and AM/FM radio is working well (despite missing a needle for the record player!). It sits in a well-kept wooden cabinet that is perfect for anywhere in the house that needs a little bit of music! The top of the cabinet closes to hide the player inside.

We are asking $75.
Mention this posting and receive 10% off! Please visit Athens Habitat ReStore to check on item's availability.

Athens Habitat ReStore
532 Barber Street (across the tracks)

9/11/09

Remembering and honoring 9/11 through service.

Students heed call to honor, volunteer for 9/11

Eight years, a war on terror and one presidential administration have passed since Sept. 11, 2001. And for his first 9/11 anniversary as commander-in-chief, President Barack Obama called for Americans to remember the tragedy with acts of service and volunteerism.

"No force for change is more powerful than that of Americans who are making a difference in their communites," Obama said in an Aug. 27 press release. "This Sept. 11, and in the days, weeks, and months that follow, let us recommit ourselves to service, renew America's promise, and work together as one people and one Nation."

Laura Dempsey, Public Outreach Director for the Athens' area Habitat for Humanity, said the community has heeded the president's call for service.

(read full article from the Red & Black here)

9/10/09

Athens Area Volunteer Exp o is today!

The Volunteer Expo will take place from 4:00-7:00pm at the Classic Center in Downtown Athens and its free!

The Athens Area Volunteer Expo will put dozens of community non-profits and organizations on display for the community to visit in order for citizens to find the best volunteer opportunity in Athens.

Come say hello to Laura at the Athens Area Habitat booth!

9/9/09

RESTORE HOT ITEM OF THE WEEK:

Piano ready to rock n' roll for only $200! Mention this posting and receive 10% off! Please visit Athens Habitat ReStore to check on item's availability.

Athens Habitat ReStore
532 Barber Street (across the tracks)

9/8/09

Athens Area Habitat was Spotted! at The (k)larity Group Race for the Dream 5k!

Thank you to everyone who came out to support the Race for the Dream on Labor Day. The weather was perfect and we had about 200 runners out enjoying the morning run on their holiday. Results for the race can be found here thanks to Classic Race Services. Special thanks to ReTool for donating the prizes for the runners!

9/4/09

The (k)larity Group Race for the Dream 5k is coming up on Monday!

Join Athens Area Habitat as we race towards the dream of homeownership. Come out to run or to volunteer!

Labor Day
Monday, Sept. 7
8:00am
Milledge Avenue Baptist Church

9/3/09

Athens Area Habitat will be participating in the Athens Area Volunteer Exp o!

The Volunteer Expo will take place next Thursday, September 10th from 4:00-7:00pm at the Classic Center in Downtown Athens and its free!

The Athens Area Volunteer Expo will put dozens of community non-profits and organizations on display for the community to visit in order for citizens to find the best volunteer opportunity in Athens.

Hope to see you out there!

9/2/09

A View From The Builder: Tom's Blog

With some help from three of the brightest minds at UGA, the Habitat team tackled another wheelchair ramp project. Sara, Sang and Suray selflessly sacrificed their sopping, sweat-stained shirts while sinking steel screws... Nuff said? Building on top of concrete seemed like a gift after digging holes for the last several Saturdays, but drilling in the concrete presented its own challenges. In true Habitat fashion, the volunteers overcame all obstacles and conquered!

--- Tom

9/1/09

Community Partner Fundraiser:

For all of September Taqueria La Parilla will donate a percentage of their sales to Athens Area Habitat!