Carolyn Altman, executive director of the Georgia Southern University Botanical Garden, invited everyone to lunch on Thursday. Altman extended the invitation on Wednesday's “Mornings unPHILtered” show.
    Altman came on the show to talk about the four-part “Lunch and Learn” series at the Botanical Garden that began in September and concludes today. The meal and talk begins at noon. The speaker is Myrtis Akins, who was the Bulloch County Extension Office's home economist for years.
    Akins' topic will be “From Dirt to Dessert: Preserving Your Harvest.” Her lecture will focus on preserving fresh food from your summer gardens or from the Farmers Market, by freezing and canning.
    Altman told host Phil Boyum that the lunch menu includes fresh spring greens with balsamic vinaigrette dressing, a choice of grilled chicken or sirloin strips for an entree, fresh baguettes, and fresh strawberries with Creme Fraiche on pound cake for dessert.
    Local produce growers and bakers will provide the items for the menu. The charge for the meal and lecture is $20 per person. A yearly membership to the Botanical Garden is $35 per individual and $50 per family.
    To learn more about the event, and to make a reservation for today's luncheon, which is required, Altman said to call the garden office at 871-1149.
    Boyum next welcomed Doug MacGinnitie, one of two Republican candidates running for Georgia's Secretary of State.
    Boyum asked MacGinnitie why he was seeking the office. MacGinnitie said his background as a successful small businessman makes him perfect for the job.
    The secretary of state has two primary tasks: to oversee and administer all of the elections in the state; and regulating and administering small business.
    MacGinnitie shared the experience of a family friend who wanted to start a new business in Georgia. He said she spent the first months doing nothing but talking to tax accountants and lawyers.
    MacGinnitie said as Secretary of State he would make a number of changes so that people like his friend would be able to get to the matter of running a business more quickly. He said the office could help with marketing her business; setting up her suppliers and shippers; and getting her new business up and running.
    MacGinnitie said that while he has served on the City Council in Sandy Springs, most of what he knows is what he has learned as a small businessman.
    If elected as Secretary of State, he would like to do two things: first, to use his business knowledge to make changes that would establish Georgia an easy place to start up new small businesses.
    Secondly, he said he wants to make it much easier for those serving in the military around the world to vote in all elections. Statistically, he said, more than three-quarters of the American military are essentially disenfranchised from voting in America's elections.
    He has set up a committee to make suggestions that would solve the problem.
    MacGinnitie said his campaign has been traveling around the state talking to everyone. In fact, MacGinnitie said he will be in Statesboro tonight at 6 p.m. speaking to the monthly meeting of the Bulloch County Republican Party at R.J.'s Restaurant on South Main St.
    
    “Mornings unPHILtered” airs live Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on statesboroherald.com and also simulcast on WWNS-AM 1240 on the radio. You also can listen anytime at BoroLive.com on statesboroherald.com