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TODAY'S
ISSUE
Whirlwind mid-America
vacation turns out great
By Marsha Bomar
Street Smarts
Duluth
Special to GwinnettForum.com
(Editor's Note: A Gwinnettian recently returned
from a vacation trip to mid-America, and found some interesting
spots. Enjoy that trip with them.-eeb)
AUG. 12, 2003----Our family just got back from an amazing whirlwind
three-day vacation, and I thought you would enjoy this.
We started in Dayton, Ohio at the U.S. Air Force Museum. This has
the most inspiring collection of modern and early aircraft housed
near Wright Patterson AFB. The gigantic hangars are full of fighter
and commercial planes and unmanned aircraft and experimental crafts.
It also includes Presidential airplanes, including the Air Force
One on which Lyndon Johnson was sworn in, and another where Franklin
Delano Roosevelt had the first wheelchair lift installed.
 The
planes range in size from the tiny, six foot long X-36 to the gigantic,
yet never used Valkyrie. I guess I never realized that the Wright
Brothers hailed from Dayton and went to Kitty Hawk to make their
first flight for the favorable wind conditions.
We zagged to Indianapolis, Ind. and visited the Brickyard (Indy
500) Museum and its Hall of Fame. In addition to seeing vehicles
dating back to the first 500, we took a spin on the famous track
with a stop at the brick row where the winner gets a traditional
kiss.
I was particularly interested in seeing the car driven by Janet
Guthrie. She was my first office mate at Sperry Rand, where all
of us young engineers worked and crewed with her. It took the first
Indy 500 six hours and 45 minutes to complete. Today, it takes just
over two hours, with a single lap taking about 40 seconds!
Surprisingly, one of the highlights in Indianapolis was a trip
to the former President Benjamin Harrison's house. Our 23rd President
was a fascinating man. He collected beautiful musical instruments
and his first wife was a wonderful painter, creating many watercolors
and ceramic dishes. His great-great grandfather, William Henry Harrison
and all of the generations in between, are portrayed in his home
office.
 Our
last stop was at the Kentucky Horse Park. We expected to see a large
collection of horses, and the variety of breeds did not disappoint
us. However, we were pleasantly surprised by a unique exhibit, "All
the Queen's Horses" which shows the significance of the horse
in British history. Artifacts from English museums and the Queen's
personal collection were on display, including suits of armor, carvings,
paintings, carriages, books. It was awesome.
I know that you travel a lot and are always looking for interesting
places, so I thought I would make a few recommendations.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Duluth
has a winner in its Town Green project
By Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com
AUG. 12, 2003 -- Though the City of Duluth has operated its new
Town Green and Festival Center since last fall, Saturday was the
first big event that we have attended there.
It's an amazing facility. Residents are justifiably proud of it.
Other Gwinnett cities have such areas for gatherings. There's Old
Town in Suwanee, the center of Norcross which it ropes off for activities,
and Lawrenceville has the old courthouse square. Lilburn's City
Hall and nearby park is the focus of many of its activities, while
Snellville centers around Lenora Park. Berkeley Lake focuses toward
its lake, while Dacula and Grayson both have parks in town. Loganville,
Auburn and Braselton all have their gathering places.
But none compare with what Duluth has done on its Town Green. Of
course, it helps that it has both public and private monies helping
out, especially with the private shops and housing built on or near
the Town Green.
Duluth's facility is perhaps the best venue for a large, outdoor
party in Gwinnett. Last year's Duluth Fall Festival marked the opening
of Town Green. The Festival also contributes toward the facility,
donating $120,000 last year after a fine festival. Overall, the
$6.5 million facility was financed by 20 year bonds.
The Town Green is essentially a center of Duluth activity, where
people can gather. A highlight is the water fountain area, splashing
away to delight both young and old. (Fashionable dress for this
area is barefooted, the more to enjoy the water!)
On any given day during the summer, people start arriving as the
fountains are turned on at 10 a.m., with people staying through
nightfall. Parents may tell you that they come to bring their kids,
but they, too, enjoy lounging on the green, having picnics, or getting
wet.
Meanwhile, the handsome Festival Center provides a stage, two rooms
seating 100 each, a warming kitchen and restrooms. Spaces upstairs
are being leased as offices.
Behind Festival Center, developers are putting in housing, shops
and restaurants. A total of 45 town homes are being built, plus
15 condos and 45 lofts.
Phase Two of the Town Green, set to begin this year, will see landscaping,
sidewalks, curbs and gutter, and widening of Hill Street behind
the Festival Center. Wrought iron-and-brick fencing will go up around
the Cemetery on the south end of the area. It's all anticipated
to be complete by year's end.
It's a delightful spot, Duluth's Town Green. Cities throughout
the nation will be emulating this concept. It makes downtown Duluth
viable, and gives the town tremendous credibility in providing a
good outdoor venue for its residents, and visitors.
* * * * *
We found Retired Duluth Coach Cecil Morris in the crowd at the
wedding reception we attended on Saturday. Cecil is now retired
on the South Carolina coast near Myrtle Beach. Many in Duluth fondly
remember his tenure as coach of the Duluth Wildcats.
ABOUT
OUR SPONSORS
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public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com
to you at no cost to readers. Today's sponsor is Howard
Brothers, which has outlets in Duluth, Norcross and Oakwood.
John and Doug Howard are the owners/operators of the Howard
Brothers stores, which specialize in hardware, outdoor power
equipment and parts and service.
FEEDBACK
8/12: Suggests
combat pay for substitute teachers
Editor, the Forum:
As a new, but aged, certified, Georgia teacher, I substituted
at various Gwinnett County schools last winter and spring. It
was very difficult with many situations needing attention occurring
often and simultaneously.
Although getting assistance and support in many cases, I often
felt that most of the difficulties were regarded as "part
of the teaching learning curve" by more experienced teachers.
It seemed that I was supposed to be some sort of politician
who, upon learning of the arduous life of the beginning teacher,
would support larger salaries for the profession generally.
OK, as a politician (and I am not), I suggest that female married
teachers get a pay decrease, single female teachers get a raise
(if justified by their financial statements), male teachers
get a raise, and new teachers and substitute teachers get combat
pay.
Those in the know may find reason in my suggestions; however,
in practicality, one may wish to lump my proposal into the same
bin as SUV lanes on the highways for the local affluent.
-- Randy Stephens, Duluth
(Editor's note: Dear Randy:
You are right about one thing; you are not a politician. What
politico would advocate reducing salaries, or admit that some
need combat pay?-eeb)
8/12: Wants more funding for cancer research
Editor, the Forum:
I'm writing in regard to my concern about the future of funding
for cancer research and programs to prevent, detect and treat
cancer. After several years of strong and consistent growth
in cancer and other medical research funding, the President
and House of Representatives have slated the National Institutes
of Health (NIH) for just a 2.5 percent increase, an increase
mostly absorbed by inflation. The Senate has proposed a 3.7
percent increase, still falling short of the 8.5 percent increase
the American Cancer Society believes is needed to ensure continued
momentum and new breakthroughs to fight this deadly disease.
Critical cancer-related prevention and early detection programs
at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), many
of which serve medically underserved communities, are also at
stake, threatening the nation's ability to prevent cancer or
catch it early, when it is at a more treatable stage.
Cancer is the nation's second leading killer and most feared
disease. This year, more than 1.3 million people will be diagnosed
with cancer and 556,500 will die. Nearly nine million Americans
alive today are cancer survivors. In spite of this, many in
Congress still have not made cancer funding a national priority.
As President Bush has said, "In order to win the war on
cancer, we must fund the war on cancer."
I hope that Congress will take that to heart, and do the right
thing-- fully fund research by the NIH and other governmental
programs that are making progress in the fight against diseases
that kill millions of Americans every year.
-- Cathie Gober, Cumming
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Ramifications of
"no stupid questions"
"If there are no stupid questions, then what kind of questions
do stupid people ask? Do they get smart just in time to ask questions?"
-- Scott Adams (1957 - ).
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