BIG SHIP: There's little doubt that at least one of those cargo containers include items shipped from Asia to Gwinnett when it docked in Savannah last week. This docking is significant since this ship, M/V CMA CGM Figaro, is the largest ship ever to arrive at the Port of Savannah. Some 8,500 TEU (Twenty foot equivalent units) are aboard the ship, which is 1,100 feet long and has a 140 foot beam. Built by Samsung Heavy Industry in South Korea, it was the largest container ship ever to call on the United States when it visited the West Coast in June. In order to more efficiently handle vessels like the Figaro, the Savannah Harbor Expansion Project will deepen the river from its current 42 foot depth to as much as 48 feet. This project will maintain and create jobs and commerce throughout the region.

Issue 10.44 | Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010

TODAY'S FOCUS
:: Possible Tucker crematory concerning

ELLIOTT BRACK'S PERSPECTIVE
:: Findings soon from special grand jury

FEEDBACK
:: Send us your thoughts

UPCOMING
:: Special days, festivals, play

NOTABLE
:: Auburn grant, Porter to speak

ALSO INSIDE

_:: IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Meet a sponsor

_:: RECOMMENDED: Check out this book

_:: GEORGIA TIDBIT: Louisville

_:: TODAY'S QUOTE: Fear, not power

_:: ARCHIVES: Read past commentaries

TODAY'S FOCUS
Tucker area people concerned about possible crematory
By TIA SEVERINO
Special to GwinnettForum.com

TUCKER, Ga., Aug. 31, 2010 -- It may come as a surprise for many to learn that in Georgia there are no current regulations on toxic emissions from crematories, which can include dioxins and mercury vapors from amalgam fillings.

Severino

Since mercury is known to be one of the most poisonous substances, causing serious neurological issues, it is astonishing that no effort is required by the funeral industry to prevent this release, and no independent, unbiased third party is charged with monitoring the pollution of our air, water, and soil from a completely preventable source. Yet this is just what was discovered when a Gwinnett County
homeowners' group began to investigate the impact of a proposed addition to an adjacent funeral home intended to house a crematory unit.

Just behind and around the Bill Head Funeral Home on U.S. Highway 29 in Tucker, within 100 to 1,000 feet, Mimosa Estates is a subdivision of more than 50 houses. Most of us accept that there is a funeral home nearby, but we strongly oppose the Special Use Permit request that, should that be granted, that would allow a crematory to be added to that location.

We have legitimate concerns about property value loss, which some sources indicate could be as much as 50 percent of the already deflated current value. The existing funeral home may deter some potential buyers, but the pool of interested parties will decrease dramatically when it is learned that right next door, or around the corner, is an operating human remains incinerator.

The creepy factor is just too much for most people. Even if the current homeowners cannot or do not wish to sell their property, the issue of odor, smoke, fine particulates, and toxic chemicals will so drastically impact the quality of living, physiological and psychological welfare that it does not constitute a best use of the land.

On September 7, the Gwinnett County Planning Commission Board will consider the request by Bill Head; opposition to this permit will also be heard. Our community plans to do everything we can to prevent a crematory addition in our neighborhood. Whatever impact we will have on the zoning issues is to be determined at this meeting. For the sake of our collective benefit as residents, please attend.

It also seems to be a matter of public health concern that Bill Head is operating a crematory in an undisclosed location which has no signs indicating that fact, directly across the street from Lilburn Middle School, and right next to a residential area with apartment buildings and homes. The crematory at this unmarked, unlisted location has been in operation there for nearly two decades, and according to the letter of intent sent to some residents in the affected area, is the unit intended for relocation at the funeral home owned by Bill Head further down the highway. When asked about the toxins released by a report that is nearly 20 years old, the story was changed to "We plan to put in a new, low-pollution model."

Old or new, we don't want a crematory in our back yard.

For more information or to sign our petition, contact me at tiaseverino@gmail.com or Ben Roberson at benroberson@bellsouth.net. Or go to this Web site: www.no2crematory.wordpress.com.

EEB PERSPECTIVE
Special Purpose Grand Jury expected to release findings soon
By ELLIOTT BRACK
Editor and publisher

AUG. 31, 2010 -- Wonder what's been happening to that Special Purpose Grand Jury that was named to investigate certain land transactions of the county? It's hard at work, says District Attorney Danny Porter. In fact, the jury is now coming toward the conclusion of its work with progress expected to be announced by the end of September or first part of October.

Brack

Porter notes that the Grand Jury has met every Friday since January looking into county land purchases. "You've got to give them credit," Porter says, "we plucked 23 citizens off the street and impressed them into service. They have been engaged, and are educated and alert. They know where they want to go, they don't gripe, and they have been a pleasure to work with."

He adds: "This jury sets its own agenda. Once we said this is what we want to look at, they knew where they wanted to go."

Since the Grand Jury is looking at the conduct of members of the Gwinnett County Commission, we were curious as what would happen should one or more of the commissioners be indicted by this Grand Jury.

Once a felony indictment is returned against a county commission, the governor gets this notice, and appoints a review commission consisting of the attorney general and two officials who hold the same office as the person indicted. This commission reports to the governor within 14 days (or longer if the governor allows). If the commission determines that the indictment relate to and adversely affect that office, the governor may suspend the indicted official from office until the case is determined, or until the expiration of that term of office.

During the suspension, the governor may appoint a replacement officer. The suspended officer must be tried at the next regular or special court term following the indictment.

For details, read the Georgia Code section 45-5-6. Go here online.

* * * * *

One of the better historical exhibits we've seen in the last few years will open for a run at the Atlanta History Center on Saturday, September 4. It was at the Library of Congress that we saw With Malice Toward None, an exhibit on the life of Abraham Lincoln. We highly recommend it to you. It will be in Atlanta through Nov. 7, 2010.

You can see Lincoln come to life through living history performances, enjoy storytelling, hear excerpts of some of Lincoln's most popular speeches, and experience musical styles that were prominent during this time.

The Atlanta History Center is the only venue in the South to host this important national traveling exhibition organized by the Library of Congress. With Malice Toward None and its national tour are made possible through the support of Union Pacific Corporation, which was founded by President Lincoln after he signed the Pacific Railway Act in 1862. For more information on Lincoln and Union Pacific, visit www.UPCelebratesLincoln.com.

The exhibition is presented in Atlanta by The John and Mary Franklin Foundation, Southern Company, Atlanta Gas Light, and the Georgia Humanities Council. Promotional support provided by Georgia Public Broadcasting and Comcast, powered by Xfinity.

With Malice Toward None is presented as part of the Atlanta History Center's Civil War to Civil Rights exhibition series, presented by the Scott Hudgens Family Foundation, Macy's and The Atlanta Foundation.

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS
Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District

The public spiritedness of our underwriter allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (CID) is a self-taxing district organized in March 2005 comprised of 238 commercial properties. The CID's mission is to "enhance the economic vitality of Gwinnett's central business district by strengthening the area's role as the center of commercial activity." In addition to comprehensive planning efforts to address traffic congestion, an area-wide branding and marketing initiative, daily community patrols keeping the area free from graffiti and litter, landscaping enhancements, infrastructure improvements and promoting redevelopment opportunities, the CID Board of Directors remains committed to increasing the long-term economic sustainability of greater Gwinnett Place. The Gwinnett Place CID...Keeping Gwinnett Place the Place to be. To learn more about the Gwinnett Place CID and ways to find success at Gwinnett's central business district, please visit www.GwinnettPlaceCID.com or www.visitgwinnettplace.com.

• For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: http://www.gwinnettforum.com/about/sponsors.htm

FEEDBACK
Send us your thoughts

We encourage readers to submit feedback or letters to the editor. Send your thoughts to editor at elliott@brack.net. We will edit for length and clarity. Make sure to include your name and city where you live. Submission of a comment grants permission to us to reprint. Please keep your comment to 200 words or less. However, if you write 500 words, we'll consider it for Today's Focus.

UPCOMING
7th annual Norcross ArtFest is scheduled for Oct. 2-3

Historic Norcross will be bursting with creative artwork and whimsical displays as more than 170 local and national artists line the city streets at the seventh annual, invitation-only ArtFest October 2-3. The show will open Saturday at10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and on Sunday, 11 a.m. until 5 p.m.

The festival will have hand-picked-talent and entertaining artists from around the country in painting, folk art, photography, pottery, jewelry, metalworking and so much more. This year, ArtFest is increasing the artist market, so that festival-goers have more art to explore..

The weekend celebration draws crowds of 30,000-40,000 annually and will feature continuous jazz, bluegrass and live entertainment on Thrasher Park stage, as well as food and exciting children's rides. As a special bonus from the City of Norcross, Friday night, October 1 at 7:30 p.m., the Stephen Lee Band will be playing the blues. On Saturday night, October 2 at 7:30 p.m. the Beau Hall Band will perform.

The popular Kidz Zone returns with the lively art pavilion for young artists of all ages to enjoy free arts and crafts projects. A silent auction filled with decorated chairs by local school students will be waiting for the highest bidders at the Norcross ArtFest "chairs for charity" booth, managed by the Norcross Arts Alliance. Local Historic Norcross boutiques, shops and restaurants will also be open during the event to welcome visitors. Proceeds go to the Norcross Lions Club to be distributed to their wonderful charities. Parking and shuttle service are free. For more information, check out www.NorcrossArtFest.com.

Aurora Theatre begins Circumference of a Squirrel Sept. 16

Aurora Theatre opens the 2010-2011 GGC Lab Series with a play as odd and funny as its title. Circumference of a Squirrel by John Walch runs from September 16 until October 3. The GGC Lab Series is made possible through the support of the sponsor, Georgia Gwinnet College (GGC). This series features contemporary works fueled by innovation, creativity and inspiration. GGC Lab performances are held in the Gwinnett Federal Credit Union Studio, which gives audiences an intimate view of contemporary plays that resonate with young adults, our next generation of theatre goers.

Circumference of a Squirrel -- a riff with an inner-tube -- is a wild ride that incorporates an inner-tube, a bagel, a doughnut, a lifesaver, a holiday wreath, a tire swing and a cycle of abuse smartly packaged in a darkly comic one-man show. At the center of the action sits Chester, a man who spins this outlandish, funny and bruising tale of growing up with an intolerant father who has a rabid hatred for squirrels.

Returning to Aurora Theatre after playing in the thriller Corpse! is Daniel May, who has performed on every stage in the city and is one Atlanta's most versatile performers. The show is under the direction of Aurora Theatre Artistic Associate, Susan Reid.

Playwright John Walch has been produced, developed or commissioned at such theatres as Actors Theatre of Louisville, Manhattan Theatre Club, Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey, the Public Theater, and the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London. Mr. Walch is a key voice among modern American playwrights..

Aurora Theatre Artistic Director Anthony Rodriguez says: "I was initially attracted to this play by its quirky title, but I am sold on Walch's ability to draw us into this comically disturbed individual's mind and still leaving the audience with a feeling of hope."

Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m, Tickets are $15.

Norcross Kudzu Art Zone plans Sept. exhibit, silent auction

Kudzu Art Zone's will have its first exhibit, 12x12 Xtravaganza, and silent auction featuring an 'X' factor. This in a general term meaning the unknown factor or the unexplainable thing which adds a certain value to that object, element or a person.

Featured will be 12 inch by 12 inch art works on board, canvas or whatever foundation necessary for the artist's creation. With total freedom to create, the 'X factor' will be present in the art work by Kudzu Art Zone members, invited guest artists and local dignitaries of Norcross featured in a colorful wall display, ready for a silent auction bid.

On September 10, the silent auction bidding will begin at $50, with $10 increments and will continue until Saturday, October 1, at 4 p.m. This is a fundraiser for Kudzu Art Zone, a non-profit organization with 50 percent both going to both the artist and organization.

Area artists and art patrons are encouraged to join the Kudzu Art Zone organization. Ongoing opportunities to exhibit art, enjoy instruction, or network with fellow artists are only some of the benefits of membership. For more information, call 770-840-9844 or visit Kudzu Art Zone on the Web.

Suwanee Day to have 10th Classic 5K and 10K on Sept. 11

The 10th annual Suwanee Day Classic 5K and 10K race will be run Saturday, September 11. Both races begin at Town Center Park, the 5K at 8 a.m. and the 10K at 9 a.m. Runners may participate in both races, which are hosted by BodyPlex Fitness Adventure.

The 5K route will take runners through historic Old Town and then up a memorable hill in the Brushy Creek neighborhood. The 10K route is along the Suwanee Creek Greenway and ends with another notable hill back up to Town Center.

Runners may register online through September 1 at www.suwaneeday.com or www.active.com. Late registration and number pick-up will be available from 4:30-8 p.m. Friday, September 10, at a Runners Expo at City Hall and beginning at 6:30 a.m.

NOTABLE
"Better Auburn" wins $9,700 Jackson EMC Foundation grant

The Jackson EMC Foundation, a charity funded by contributions of the electric cooperative's members through Operation Round Up, has awarded a $9,700 grant to Citizens for a Better Auburn.

The non-profit, grassroots organization, which was formed to better the lives of present and future residents, will use the grant funds to expand an adult literacy program, in partnership with Lanier Technical College, and enable greater numbers of area residents to improve the quality of their lives by earning their GED.

In the 2010 school year, the program had 75 students enrolled, with 12 students earning their GED diplomas, 19 students showing grade level improvement and one student awarded membership into the National Adult Education Honor Society.

Any individual or charitable organization in the ten counties served by Jackson EMC (Clarke, Banks, Barrow, Franklin, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison and Oglethorpe) may apply for a Foundation grant by completing an application, available online or at local Jackson EMC offices. Applicants do not need to be a member of Jackson EMC.

Danny Porter to speak at William Day DAR Chapter on Sept. 9

The William Day Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will host Gwinnett District Attorney Danny Porter as part of their Constitution Week observance on Thursday, September 9 at the Parc at Duluth at 12:30 pm. Mr. Porter will speak to the group about the Constitution of the United States.

Porter

During his terms as District Attorney, Porter has continued to prosecute cases in the courtroom ranging from drug possession to capital murder. Several of these high-profile cases have received national attention including the expansion of the Victim-Witness Program providing services to crime victims. The Gwinnett Victim-Witness Program has received recognition as best in the State of Georgia.

Thursday, September 17, 2010, begins the national celebration of Constitution Week. The week-long commemoration of America's most important document is one of our country's least known official observances. Our Constitution stands as a testament to the tenacity of Americans throughout history to maintain their liberties and freedom, and to ensure those unalienable rights to every American.

The tradition of celebrating the Constitution was started many years ago by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). In 1955, the Daughters petitioned Congress to set aside September 17-23 each year to be dedicated for the observance of Constitution Week. The resolution was later adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed into Public Law 915 on August 2, 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

RECOMMENDED
The Bonfire, by Marc Wortman

'The Bonfire, by Marc Wortman, is a richly-detailed account of the Atlanta campaign during the Civil War, and the events leading up to it, told through the lives and words of observers and participants on both sides of the conflict. This includes James Calhoun, the wartime mayor of the city; Bob Yancey, a hired-out slave living in the city away from his owner; William T. Sherman, whose military experience in the South in the 1840s prepared him for the battles of 1864; and many others. The Bonfire also contains a generous set of maps, illustrations and photographs."

-- Gene Ramsey, Norcross

An invitation: What Web sites, books or restaurants have you enjoyed? Send us your best recent visit to a restaurant or most recent book you have read along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus what book you plan to read next. --eeb

GEORGIA ENCYCLOPEDIA
Louisville was capital of Georgia for only 10-year period

(Continued from previous edition.)

Prominent early residents of the Louisville area include Revolutionary patriot Solomon Wood and Joseph Gabriel Posner, a Polish Jewish immigrant who moved to the town in 1795. Posner operated a thriving mercantile and real-estate business, including a boarding house in which state leaders and residents gathered in the popular "Long Room." Throughout the first half of the 19th century, several residents in and around Louisville achieved influential legal and political careers: Roger Lawson Gamble; Mirabeau B. Lamar, who served as the second president of the Texas Republic; and Herschel Johnson, who is buried in the Louisville City Cemetery.

Louisville's Market House

Louisville served as the state capital for 10 years. Criticism of the site arose over the vulnerability of its residents to malaria outbreaks, disappointment with the Ogeechee river trade, and the town's inaccessibility to the growing western population. In the fall of 1807 the state government relocated to Milledgeville, and the arrival of the railroad in the 19th century turned economic activity away from the old statehouse square. Residents adopted a linear design for their central business district, following a popular trend in Georgia town development during the 1820s and 1830s. Broad Street emerged as the main business thoroughfare and continues in that function today.

The Civil War (1861-65) put Louisville in the path of Union general William T. Sherman's March to the Sea in late 1864. Although Louisville escaped the brunt of the destruction that took place in other Georgia communities, Federal troops set fire to several houses, the jail, and the courthouse, in addition to ransacking private homes. During Reconstruction (1867-76), citizens of Louisville contended with an uprising in August 1870 headed by Cudjo Fye, also known as Figh or Cudjo Lowery, who formed an association of freedmen to protect their civil rights.

The post-Civil War era brought efforts to improve the quality of life for citizens of Louisville. In 1867 the town formed a library association. In the 1890s the city created a public school system for white children six to eighteen years of age, and a school and an industrial instruction center were provided for the town's African American students. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Works Progress Administration, created as part of U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal, performed valuable service by revitalizing a dilapidated portion of the town's Market House, which allegedly was the site of a slave market during the antebellum period.

Today Louisville remains a farming community, with additional sources of income coming from health and social services, the clay-mining industry, retail sales, finance, and education. The town retains several interesting cultural resources, and residents preserve their rich history through the Jefferson County Historical Society. Louisville is also home to the News and Farmer, a respected regional newspaper, and a thriving local artistic community. The Arts Guild of Jefferson County and two art galleries, Emily's and the Fire House Gallery, both provide outlets for Jefferson County artisans. Furthermore, the town offers an annual spring exhibit of work produced by local and state artists. Other cultural attractions include the Pal Theater on West Broad Street as well as Pansy's Restaurant and the Old Jefferson Hotel, known today as the Queensborough Building. In 2003 a satellite campus of Sandersville Technical College was established in Louisville.

• Click here to access the Georgia Encyclopedia

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