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J.K. Rowling unveils background information about the Dursleys
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J.K. Rowling once again served up some morsels to appease the undying hunger of her fans Tuesday when she revealed background information about the mean and nasty Vernon and Petunia Dursley. - photo by Megan Marsden Christensen
PRIVET DRIVE J.K. Rowling once again served up some morsels to appease the undying hunger of her fans Tuesday when she revealed background information about the mean and nasty Vernon and Petunia Dursley.

With a surname derived from a town not far from where Rowling grew up, the Dursleys met at work, where Petunia quickly became smitten by the deliciously normal Vernon, according to the exclusive content published on Pottermore.

Rowling revealed Petunia was scared to confess to Vernon that her sister, Lily, was a witch attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and she did so tearfully.

A shocked Vernon said he did not hold it against Petunia, but he despised both Lily and her then-boyfriend, James Potter, by the end of their first meeting, where he learned about flying broomsticks and Gringotts bank.

The Dursleys did not hear from the Potters after they received Harrys birth announcement, which Petunia threw away.

Petunia raised Harry grudgingly and Vernons distaste for James Potter contributed to his opinion of Harry.

The Dursleys are reactionary, prejudiced, narrow-minded, ignorant and bigoted; most of my least favourite things, Rowling wrote. I wanted to suggest, in the final book, that something decent (a long-forgotten but dimly burning love of her sister; the realisation that she might never see Lilys eyes again) almost struggled out of Aunt Petunia when she said goodbye to Harry for the last time, but that she is not able to admit it, or show these long-buried feelings.

Rowling added she decided to keep Petunias goodbye to Harry true to her character throughout the books.

To read more detailed information about the Dursleys and other exclusive content revealed Tuesday, visit Pottermore with a login or visit time.com.
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Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program announces grant
Funds earmarked for Share the Road initiatives
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Grant funding totaling $93,458 has been awarded to the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program (GMSP) by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The approved funding will be used to increase motorcycle safety awareness and outreach by encouraging all motorists and motorcyclists to Share the Road.

“The need for motorcycle safety programs is greater than ever, and this support from GOHS enables motorcycle safety programs and impaired riding initiatives to reach riders and non-riders alike” said Commissioner Spencer R. Moore. “Thank you GOHS for helping (the Department of Driver Services) and GMSP educate and encourage all Georgia drivers to ‘Share the Road.’”

The grant allows DDS to further develop the Motorcycle Safety Outreach Program by continuing to fund a position to promote state and national safety initiatives. The GMSP outreach coordinator researches, coordinates and helps maintain an adequate presence at industry events, local schools and colleges, regional meetings and festivals to increase awareness of motorcycles on the roadways and provide the most current information on motorcycle safety initiatives.

Visitors to a GMSP event display are also encouraged to sign up for regular newsletters which provide additional safety information, as well as review the motorcycle safety message on other social media platforms.

GMSP regulates motorcycle training for new riders, as well as seasoned riders, who want to learn how to ride a motorcycle legally and safely. The program is based on a continuum of learning and therefore offers three entry points to rider education.

Students participating in the Basic Riders Course do not need specialized motorcycle equipment, as the GMSP provides both a motorcycle and a helmet to class participants. Upon successful completion of the course, participants receive a 90-day license waiver card that exempts them from both the written and on-cycle skills tests needed to obtain a Class M license in the state of Georgia.

Please visit the DDS website at www.dds.georgia.gov for many online services including the convenience of enrolling in a GMSP training class and accessing many licensing services.

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