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TODAY'S ISSUE
Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center
partnership, conceptual plan announced
By Heather Welch
Special to GwinnettForum.com

OCT. 1, 2002 -- A conceptual plan for the new $10 million Gwinnett County Environmental and Heritage Center was unveiled Wednesday on the grounds of the F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center in Buford, where the center will be housed. The Gwinnett County Environmental and Heritage Center is a collaborative project of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, the Gwinnett County Board of Education and The University of Georgia.

Presenters included representatives from the three organizations: Chairman Wayne Hill from the commission; Chairman Dan Seckinger from the Gwinnett School Board; and President Michael F. Adams and Dean of the College of Environment and Design, Jack Crowley from the University.

The site master plan for the Center includes an educational facility associated with the water resources center, which is one of the country's most efficient, high-tech water treatment facilities. The Gwinnett County Environmental and Heritage Center will provide educational opportunities and resources for citizens statewide.

Chairman Hill said: "The Environmental and Heritage Center is a unique and exciting project for Gwinnett residents as well as people from all across the state." "We'll preserve more than 200 acres to educate people about our environment and the county's heritage. The center also will have amenities for passive recreational activities such as hiking and biking. This is really going to be something special."

The Environmental and Heritage Center will offer a collection of interior displays and exterior landscapes and exhibits to provide learning opportunities for K-12 and adult audiences. Specifically, these programs and exhibits will explore the use and importance of water by past, present, and future inhabitants.

President Adams said: "The University of Georgia is proud to be a part of this critical project to help educate the people of Georgia and Georgia's public officials about water resource and conservation issues. With a broad range of faculty expertise and a proven record of water resource and management research, UGA brings to this center a depth of knowledge that will enable it to accomplish its goals."

The proposed location for the center is north of the access road and east of Woodward Mill Road trace. While still conceptual, the design of the future building and associated site development will utilize ecological materials and methods to allow the project to serve as a model of sustainable design. The development also will employ ecological approaches to storm water management.

Mr. Seckinger had these words: "The Environmental and Heritage Center project is an exciting opportunity for the school system to be involved with the county in a partnership that will benefit so many people in Gwinnett. By getting in on the ground floor in its formation, we have the chance to help develop educational plans that will make the center the most valuable resource possible for our students and all the citizens of the county."

Development of the Gwinnett County Environmental and Heritage Center is envisioned as a long-term project with construction likely to be completed in phases. Initial funding, a total of $10 million, comes from the 2001 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2004.
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ELLIOTT BRACK
Administration does a superb job
convincing some of immediate war
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com

OCT. 1, 2002 -- Give our current presidential administration one major achievement. It has wormed into the mind of many people that our nation is soon to go to war.

It's to the point where we recently heard one commentator use the phrase: "...the coming war with Iraq."

Granted, we may be approaching war. But so far, all it has been is talk, mostly from the president, with his saber-rattling approach. Luckily, after his initial outbursts that indicated an attack would come soon, as advisers got in their warnings, the president has toned down the rhetoric.

Apparently, however, the Administration has been so convincing to some people in the media that they assume we will soon be in the "coming war". That is scary.

Granted, some presidents have taken military steps that have not gone before the Congress. In times of imminent dangers, we want someone to have authority to move quickly in limited ways.

The danger lies in a president assuming more power than our nation, and particularly our Congress, wants to give him. He may see danger that others don't see. He may want to strike before a nation strikes at us. He may have the urge to move immediately.

Our Constitution requires far more. It doesn't give one person the ability to wage war against any one person or any nation without the consent of the Congress.

Even the President admits that after September 11, we are fighting a "war against terrorism," not against any one specific nation. Granted, some nations may be helping these terrorist agents more than others. Granted, we may want to retaliate against such people. The problem is that the Constitution doesn't allow such tactics.

Had our nation experienced an open attack such as Pearl Harbor, our nation would no doubt be totally united in urging Congress to declare war. The problem is that there is no such country for the US to confront in the "war against terrorism."

In spite of all this, the president keeps seeking to move our nation toward war against what he perceives to be a serious threat. Many Americans, absent a direct blow from another nation, will hesitate to launch an offensive war against any nation, and that includes Iraq.

And that doesn't even bring up the subject that many nations would see the US in the aggressor role should we go to war with Iraq.

Our nation has faced immediate threats before. Put all this in perspective, think of it this way: after the Korean War, there were two superpowers, the USA and Russia. Think particularly during the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the heads of those two nations realized the terrible consequences that could come from a nuclear war. Both nations had the weapons; both nations had opportunities; the tensions were great.

Somehow, in a great show of restraint by leaders of both nations, the world was spared a nuclear crisis. The world survived this close call.

Today is the United States in any more danger than back 50 years ago? Can we and other world leaders sidestep direct conflict and find other solutions to these continuing problems?

We hope so. We would hate to see moves by Americans that could erupt into terrible calamities of another world war.

With the continued campaign by the Administration to convince the Congress that war is necessary, and will take place soon, we hope it won't come to this. We recognize the Administration in its success at convincing some people that war is imminent; we can only pray that it is not. back to top

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FEEDBACK:
10/1: Smoking, culture and moonshine driving

Editor, the Forum:

Kudos to you for publicizing the ban on smoking in restaurants. You may or may not know that the entire state of California passed a similar law (and publicized it with the same strategy as the NYC mayor) about four years ago. Night clubs and bars were included as well, not just restaurants.

I lived in Northern California at the time and I can attest that it was great coming home from dining or partying and not smelling like an ashtray. It also didn't hurt business, but improved it. I hope this wave will roll over the 'ole proverbial Georgia shores.

-- Craig Heighton, Buford

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Editor, the Forum:

Thanks for the informative piece by Cathy Grogan on the Gwinnett Philharmonic. You know, I was already planning to attend the concert at Gwinnett's Civic and Cultural Center. I wouldn't miss it. After all, I'm the conductor!

A thought for parents: good news for those who feel inadequate to "teach" their children about art and culture. "Children don't need to be taught beauty, they will apprehend it if only they are exposed to it."

A word to the "empty nest" friends of my generation: "Don't you think its time you paused to smell the roses? If not now, when?"

Gwinnett has an orchestra--so conduct yourselves accordingly!

-- Monte Nichols, Suwanee

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Editor, the Forum:

A quick note to say how much I enjoyed the recent "Show and Tell" story about moonshine. I think you may have to be "old southern" to fully appreciate the reality of moonshining. At one point early in my husband's father's life he was a driver who delivered the whiskey. Too bad he didn't continue and become a NASCAR driver!

-- Name Withheld in Lawrenceville.
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THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Staggering thought either way

"Sometimes I think we're alone. Sometimes I think we're not. In either case, the thought is staggering."

-- R Buckminster Fuller, (1895-1983). back to top

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