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TODAY'S ISSUE
History Center to offer enterprising women exhibit
By Ashley Freer
Atlanta History Center
Special to GwinnettForum.com

MAY 28, 2003 -- The Atlanta History Center announces the upcoming arrival of Enterprising Women: 250 Years of American Business, organized by the Schlesinger Library of the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University and the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, Mass.

The exhibition, which runs July 4 - September 21, 2003, tells the compelling story of American women in business from the colonial era to the present. The History Center is the third stop on a national tour that includes the National Heritage Museum, the New-York Historical Society, the National Museum of Women in the Arts, the Los Angeles Public Library and the Detroit Historical Museum.

Enterprising Women: 250 Years of American Business is made possible by support from Ford Motor Company and AT&T. Both companies have also provided support for the exhibition's presentation in Atlanta. Additional support is provided by the Cabot Family Charitable Trust with in-kind support from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The exhibition is presented locally by The Forward Arts Foundation with further funding from the Hellen Plummer Charitable Foundation and Northside Hospital.

Celebrating the success and creativity of women, Enterprising Women brings to life the stories of more than 40 intriguing and diverse females who helped shape the landscape of American business. Women from around the country are honored for their success, including:

* Revolutionary War publisher and postmistress Mary Katharine Goddard
(1738-1816), printer of the first copies of the Declaration of Independence to feature the names of the signers;

* Beauty pioneer Madam C.J. Walker (1867-1919), whose hair-care products brought her from her slave parents' dilapidated cabin to her own Hudson River estate;

* Women's health promoter Lydia E. Pinkham (1819-1883), who built a business marketing herbal remedies for everyday ailments to ladies;

* Maggie Lena Walker (1867-1934), the first female bank president in the United States and also a champion of philanthropy; and

* Cosmetic salon owner Elizabeth Arden (1884-1966), who brought new ideas into the beauty industry and established an empire.

Contemporary businesswomen in the exhibit include: Katharine Graham, publisher of the Pentagon Papers and owner of Washington Post Company; Ruth Handler, founder of the Mattel toy company and creator of the Barbie & Ken dolls; Linda Alvarado, founder of Alvarado Construction, Inc., and the first female owner of a major league baseball team; and multimedia success story Oprah Winfrey.

The Atlanta History Center has created a complementary photo-panel exhibition to honor Atlanta's own "enterprising women" during the run of the exhibition. Atlanta's Defining Women chronicles 50 modern women who have made an impact in the city.

Some of the "living legends" included are Cathy Cox, Georgia Secretary of State; Shirley Franklin, mayor of Atlanta; Coretta Scott King, founder, The King Center; M. Alexis Scott, publisher/CEO, Atlanta Daily World; Ann Wilson Cramer, director, IBM Corporation; and Stephanie V. Blank, trustee, The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.

Founded in 1926 as the Atlanta Historical Society, the Atlanta History Center includes four signature exhibitions and two changing exhibition galleries in the Atlanta History Museum, two historic houses, the James G. Kenan Research Center and 33 acres of gardens. The organization's mission is to inspire people to connect to the past so they may better understand the present and prepare for the future. The Atlanta History Center offers historical perspectives for all ages, integrating history, education and life-enrichment programs. For more information, visit www.AtlantaHistoryCenter.com.

ELLIOTT BRACK
City of Sandy Springs might help Norcross problem
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com

MAY 28, 2003 -- Norcross citizens should watch with eagerness what's about to happen to Sandy Springs. Will this affluent Atlanta suburb become a city of its own, or will forces within the City of Atlanta block once again the creation of a new town?

Perhaps you remember recently when some newcomers Norcross, in particular, have voiced what old-time Norcross residents have felt for years: that the city was getting a bum rap on identification of yeggs.

When an activity or crime take place within the vast greater limits of the Norcross post office, one of the largest in the county, and whether it occurs within the confines of the city, it is usually identified as happening in "Norcross."

Consider that the little city of Norcross, year 2000 population 8,410, is surrounded by the much larger Norcross postal zone, which currently has 44,365 delivery stops per day, and an approximately population of 125,000. You can see why people in Norcross get their dander up when something takes place along Singleton Road, or Graves Road, or even on Peachtree Parkway, and the word is that it "happened in Norcross." In these cases, it most definitely did not happen within the City, yet the Norcross gets the notoriety.

The members of the Norcross Homeowner's Association want something done about it, but so far have not suggested a solution, other than voicing objections to the media. It's been a problem happening for years. In past times, we remember designating some of the greater Norcross area as "Lilcross" and "Norburn," as a more accurate location of some events.

Perhaps Norcross residents should have paid more attention a few years back when then Rep. Mary Squires was seeking to propose legislation creating a new town east of Interstate 85. Only problem: Ms. Squires bumped up against a Georgia law which requires that newly incorporated cities not be within five miles of an existing city limit. Norcross is within that radius of the proposed new town, as is Lilburn. The upshot was the bill got halted to establish a new city east of Interstate 85.

Had this happened, all the hullabaloo taking place in New Town would have carried that town's label, and not the designation of Norcross as the origin of the event. Even Peachtree Corners can't be a town of its own for the same limit of bumping up against Georgia law in its proximity to Norcross.

Creation of a new incorporated city east of I-85 would also have given rise to more participation in government by minorities, since this area would have been ripe for minorities to seek seats on that area's government body. But the force of Georgia law prevented Rep. (now Sen.) Squires form introducing this proposal.

All that would be changed, it would appear, if Sandy Springs is successful in becoming incorporated. If Sandy Springs can do it, bumping up against the Atlanta City Limits, other new towns might be founded, and the archaic five-mile limit might be dropped.

Sensitive Norcross newcomers would have fewer instances of their town being part of the police blotter for disreputable activity that currently takes place outside its borders.

LIGHT BULB GOING OFF: What if....what if...both the Norcross and Lilburn City Councils passed a resolution in support of creation of a new town east of Interstate 85, regardless of Georgia Law? If these two towns did not object, what's the point?

Could such a resolution pave the way to Gwinnett getting a new town, one which could possibly have majority ruleŠ.by minorities?

FEEDBACK
5/28: Smashing success at Dacula Memorial Day festivities

To the editor:

If you were not with us in Dacula on Memorial Day 2003, you missed a solemn, wonderful day. Our 10th annual 5K run, Dacula Memorial Day parade and Dacula Festival in the park started early and lasted well into the afternoon. There were several hundred runners, loads of paraders and many who enjoyed the crafts, food, music and fun at the festival. Most of all, it gave folks the time to reflect on what Memorial Day is about-honoring those who have served and died for freedom.

Our honored guests included CWO Ronald Young, Jr. and his parents. The former Iraqi POW, Ron Young, was the grand marshal of the parade and spent several hours meeting people, signing autographs and posing for photographs with his well wishers.

If you can measure the impact of an event by the numbers of people who attend, Memorial Day 2003 in Dacula was a smashing success. Several thousands lined the streets to view the parade and wish Grand Marshal Young well.

Congratulations are in order for the Dacula Track Club for sponsoring the 5K race, Marvin Atherton for his work in carrying out the parade, and Billy Stone for coordinating the festival.

May 26, 2003, Dacula remembered!

-- Jim Wilbanks, Mayor of Dacula

NEWS
Trade-Tourism commissioner to speak today

Georgia Department of Industry, Trade and Tourism Commissioner Glenn Cornell of Duluth will address members and guests at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce May General Membership Meeting. The meeting will be held Wednesday, May 28, at 11:30 a.m at the 1818 Club in Duluth. Contact Marci Davis (770) 232-8812 or marci@gwinnettchamber.org for more information.

Brunswick port to handle bumper crop of Georgia wheat

The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) is making plans to handle a bumper wheat crop that will translate into millions of dollars in revenues for Georgia farmers, according to Doug Marchand, executive director for the GPA.

"We are expecting between 100,000 and 150,000 tons of wheat to move through the Port of Brunswick between July and August," said Marchand. "Up to 50,000 tons of that will come from local farmers and will mean some $6 million in revenues for Georgia's farmers."

Last year, the Port of Brunswick did not export any wheat from Georgia, Marchand added.

"It's marvelous that we have GPA's facility in Brunswick that can handle the bumper wheat crop we are expecting this year," said Bill Smith, executive director for the Georgia Feed and Grain Association. "The facility is an excellent conduit for Georgia-grown row crops to the international market."

The Port of Brunswick's agri-bulk facility provides a full range of services to Georgia farmers with storage capacity up to 64,800 short tons of agri-product. The facility is supported by 925 linear feet of dock space and is ideally situated within 2.5 miles of Interstate 95 via U.S. Highway 17. Two Class I rail providers, CSX transportation and Norfolk Southern Railroad, provide exceptional long haul service. The Golden Isles Terminal Railroad interchanges with both Class I railroads and provides switching services for the facility. Rail storage can easily accommodate 200 hopper cars by way of the complex's loop track.

Charlie Regini, GPA's veteran agricultural commodities expert, said that the agri-bulk business at the Port of Brunswick has increased more than tenfold in the last five years, from 45,880 tons in 1997 to 622,599 tons in 2002. Brunswick's expanded agri-bulk facility came on-line in October of 1996.

The Port of Brunswick's auto business is also thriving, added Marchand. In the first ten months of Fiscal Year 2003 (July-April), Brunswick moved 260,406 auto and machinery units through the port, a 28.5 percent increase, or 57,691 more units than at this time last year.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
What would happen if prejudice were stamped out

"If we were to wake up some morning and find that everyone was the same race, creed and color, we would find some other cause for prejudice by noon."

-- Sen. George Aiken