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Issue 9.27 | Friday, July 3, 2009 | Forward to your friends! |
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McLEMORE'S
WORLD ARCHIVE FEEDBACK UPCOMING NOTABLE ALSO INSIDE _::
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TODAY'S
FOCUS DACULA, Ga., July 3, 2009 -- The drought is officially over! Georgia is back in a normal rain cycle with annual rainfall over 50 inches per year.
Water restrictions
have been reduced from the highest level (4) to a non-drought level which
allows outdoor watering on an odd/even daily basis with no time restrictions.
Lake Lanier was not much better off in May of 2009 at a level of 1068 feet above sea level compared to May of 2007 at a level of 1065. Communities, local businesses and government entities need to come together with smart solutions for the future. In landscaping, there are so many things that can be done with the irrigation systems and controllers in regards to pressure regulation, design and efficiency. Outdoor and indoor water use should be addressed on both the commercial and residential sectors. For outdoor water use, I believe that Best Management Practices (BMPs) should be implemented. The University of Georgia has put together BMPs of water conservation which can be found on its website. This addresses planning and designing, soil analysis, appropriate plant selection, practical turf areas, efficient irrigation, uses of mulch and appropriate maintenance. Also, a plan to help Georgians use water more efficiently throughout the state was recently released by the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (EPD). Georgia's Water Conservation Implementation Plan (WCIP) is a resource to guide Georgia's seven major water use sectors in an effort to help sustain the state's water resources and provide for a secure water supply in the future.
Details of the plan include long term conservation goals, benchmarks for determining progress, a menu of optional best practices and implementation actions designed to reduce water waste, water loss and, where necessary, water use. EPD Director Dr. Carol A. Couch says: "The ultimate goal of water conservation is not to discourage water use, but to maximize the benefit from each gallon used. This plan will guide Georgians toward more efficient and sustainable water use to help ensure that our water resources will continue to support growth and prosperity while maintaining healthy natural systems." The WCIP was developed for Georgia business owners, farmers, homeowners, water service providers and government officials to assist with decisions related to water use and water management. The impact of the drought will be felt on Georgia's landscape industry for years to come. This industry has more than $8 billion in annual sales, 7,000 companies and over 80,000 employees. The complete outdoor watering ban alone is an unfair burden considering the majority of consumption is used indoors. After the outdoor watering went under complete ban, it was proven that this was not the cause of the drought or the low lake levels. Georgia's water plan is far behind the western part of the United States, but it is not too late to catch up by implementing a comprehensive plan. Incentives and rebates for smart irrigation and landscape along with a multitude of building codes to protect water use need to be put in place for all construction and renovation. Memories are short and if we don't address the problems right now things will be worse the next time we face a drought. For more information, please visit www.ConserveWaterGeorgia.net, www.maltalandscape.com, www.urbanagcouncil.com , www.uga.edu or www.russelllandscapegroup.com. ELLIOTT
BRACK JULY 3, 2009 -- Let's try to add perspective about the current state of the Gwinnett County Commission. How have they bungled matters so that there is deep distrust of what was previously a well-thought-of governmental body?
We see four major areas of concerns. No one would concern have caused a turn-around in the way that people view the Commission. However, taken one-after-the-other, they are devastating to it.
These four points are just key developments that the Gwinnett County Commission has either been involved with, or caused. We can see it no other way because of their intransigence. The Commission also failed to provide leadership and statesmanship at these difficult times, taking the uncompromising attitude that if you do not like their position, simply take them to court. This one-sided position is not healthy, and does not seek cooperation and consultation. In the last 30 years, Gwinnett has not seen such a stuck-in-the-mud Commission. The outcome may be slow, but in the long run, the voters will not stand for such incompetence.
The public spiritedness of our underwriters allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today's sponsor is the Aurora Theatre, Gwinnett County's first choice for professional theatrical entertainment. Celebrating their 14th year as Gwinnett's crown jewel for the performing arts located on the square in Downtown Lawrenceville, Aurora Theatre is committed to producing quality, professional theatre for all of North Georgia. The2009-2010 Season begins in August with the Broadway classic Kiss Me, Kate and includes: the world premiere of Buy My House …Please!, a modern comedy, Christmas Canteen 2009, an Aurora tradition, Tranced, a psychological thriller, A Catered Affair, winner of the 2008 Drama Desk Award for Best Musical and Boeing Boeing, a high flyin' comedy. New this season Aurora Theatre will add the GGC Lab Series of edgier contemporary plays in the Gwinnett Federal Credit Union Studio. Aurora also offers a club comedy series called Funny Fridays, Swing Nights at Aurora Theatre with the Metro Jazz Club and Lawrenceville Ghost Tours. For young children they have, Saturday Children's Playhouse on select Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. and classes with Aurora Academy for students of all ages. To purchase individual tickets, season tickets or for more information, visit their revamped new website at www.auroratheatre.com or call 678-226-6222.
McLEMORE'S
WORLD ARCHIVE
FEEDBACK Educators that I've talked to are mixed about it, but many warmly receive the idea. I feel that it would definitely be to the children's benefit after being in GCPS for two years with my oldest son. I really like the idea of more/longer breaks throughout the year (especially the fall) and a one month summer. Many of
my friends whose kids are under this system in other areas are totally
thumbs up for it. They say that school year feels less hectic, and some
unanticipated family benefits have been being able to vacation at different
times of the year when it's cooler and less expensive. Plus, it is so
hard for everybody to come back after 2.5 months of not being in the routine
of school; the fall is really rough. Summer breaks are less stressful,
too, trying to fill the children's time. They're enjoying their kids more.
UPCOMING Friday, July 3, promises to be a big day in the history of Norcross. At 11:30 Friday morning, a ceremony will dedicate the new $4.3 million Lillian Webb Park, a landscaped area where the former baseball park was located. The park was re-developed through SPLOST funds.
Features of the 4.1-acre park include fountains, a cascading waterfall, grass sodded areas, and newly-installed trees. The park is located at the east end of Jones Street. This once was the site of Norcross School, and most recently, where a log cabin was located. The park concept came from Stephen Fuller Designs of Norcross, with the construction by The Alter Group of Woodstock. Stephen Fuller says that the park is an organized and natural gateway plaza connecting historic Norcross with the future larger segment of growth down the hill toward Buford Highway, all encompassing a 20-30 per cent grade change. "It opens the door to the area with a cascading staircase and fountains down the hill. It becomes a dynamic nucleus for Norcross." Anticipated is that ultimately, buildings for housing and commercial applications will be erected on at least two sides of the park. Fuller says these buildings will surround the park, making it much like an open room below them." Private construction of the buildings has been delayed by the recent downturn in the economy. Besides the ribbon cutting on Friday, other activities include:
Formal dedication ceremonies for the park are scheduled for Monday evening, September 7, when the community will hold an end-of summer party in honor of Mayor Emeritus Lillian Webb. Suwanee working to become better green community The City of Suwanee's new City Hall, opened in February, was designed to become the second public facility in Gwinnett County to earn LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. And the community of 16,500 is well-known regionally for its award-winning open space initiative and the new parks it created. But now the City is taking its commitment to going green to the next level.
Suwanee City Council adopted at its June 25 meeting several policies that should help the City earn certification through the Atlanta Regional Commission's (ARC) Green Communities Program. Wes Rogers, Suwanee's senior environmental planner, says: "We're not attempting to re-tilt the world. In many ways, Suwanee is already a green city. We're simply taking it to the next level and acknowledging that there are some things that we can do to use our environmental resources more efficiently. These new policies are meant to change the way that City employees think and encourage us to modify some of our daily behaviors." Established in 2008, the ARC Green Communities Program is designed to encourage local governments to reduce their environmental footprint through policies and practices and, in turn, encourage citizens and businesses to do the same. Several other metro communities, including Roswell, Dunwoody, and Norcross also are working toward certification. The new sustainable-practices policies adopted by City Council include:
The new policies, notes Rogers, aren't meant to be written in stone, but rather serve to encourage city staff and residents to be aware of how our decisions and actions have a real impact on the environment. An important component of Suwanee's green community commitment will be to share information with citizens through the city website (www.suwanee.com) and educational materials. The City of Suwanee hopes to attain Green Communities certification by later this year. Says Rogers: "We're working to make Suwanee, literally, a cooler place to live." New London Theatre schedules run of Pirates of Penzance New London Theatre will present Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance opening July 10 and continuing through August 2. The Pirates of Penzance is a classic musical of Fredric and his servitude as a pirate, his love for Mabel, his loyalty to the Pirate King, and the plot against the Major General. The musical is being directed by Scott Rousseau and produced by John Berlo. Performances
will be July 10-12; July 17-19; July 24-26; and July 31-August 2. Friday
and Saturday show times are 8 p.m., while Sundays are 2:30 p.m. NOTABLE The Atlanta
Regional Commission (ARC) has included greater Gwinnett Place in its Lifelong
Communities study aimed at extending and enhancing the life cycle of metro
area communities. Medical Center expanding interventional radiology program
Gwinnett Medical Center's Interventional Radiology program is expanding with the addition of a new physician and advanced technology that will raise the level of care it provides the community. Brandon Kang, M.D., a board-certified interventional radiologist, is joining the staff. He comes to Gwinnett after having been a professor at Emory University's Interventional Service. He was awarded America's Top Radiologist by the Consumer's Research Council in 2007 and 2008. In addition, Dr. Kang earned the prestigious Ettman Scholar Award and the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Resident of the Year while training at the University of Tennessee. Interventional Radiology (IR) focuses on minimally invasive, image-guided therapy.
GEORGIA
ENCYCLOPEDIA Continued from previous issue By the 1930s clotheslines bearing chenille bedspreads lined U.S. Highway 41 through Dalton and other small communities in northwest Georgia. Tourists on their way to Florida often stopped and bought these spreads, sometimes believing them to be examples of authentic American folk crafts. Of the many designs adorning the spreads, the most popular among tourists was the peacock. This section of U.S. Highway 41 became known as "Peacock Alley" precisely because of the dominance of that design in the roadside displays. The participation of farm families in this industry provided badly needed cash incomes and helped these families weather the Great Depression. It also produced fortunes for some. Dalton's B. J. Bandy (aided by his wife, Dicksie Bradley Bandy) was reputedly the first man to make $1 million in the bedspread business by the late 1930s, but many others followed.
In the
1930s such companies as Cabin Crafts began to bring the handwork from
the farms into factories. The bedspread manufacturers sought greater productivity
and control over the work process and were also encouraged to pursue centralized
production by the wage and hour provisions of the National Recovery Administration's
tufted bedspread code. The industrialization of tufting raised productivity and created a booming local textile industry centered in Dalton. The remarkable success of tufted bedspreads led companies to experiment with other products, such as robes, tank sets (fuzzy covers for toilets), and small rugs. The experimentation with small rugs eventually led some of these companies to begin using the machine tufting process to cover an entire piece of room-sized (nine feet by twelve feet or so) backing material with raised yarn tufts to produce carpets. In the 1950s carpets surpassed bedspreads and other tufted products and became a staple of American consumption. Dalton remains the tufted bedspread capital of the world, but it also became the carpet capital of the world by the early 1960s. Exhibits related to the old bedspread industry can be found at Crown Gardens and Archives in Dalton. Crown houses a number of bedspreads from the period, as well as other exhibits related to the history of the Dalton area. CREDITS GwinnettForum is provided to you at no charge every Tuesday and Friday. If you would like to serve as an underwriter, click here to learn more. Send
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TODAY'S
QUOTE "Nothing will ever be attempted, if all possible objections must be first overcome."
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