| |
TODAY'S
ISSUE
United Way seeks to
honor philanthropic women in county
By Jessica Pennamon
Suwanee
Special to GwinnettForum.com
OCT. 31, 2003 -- Do you know a woman who left her mark on Gwinnett
through philanthropic endeavors? Then make sure the rest of the
county knows her too. Nominations are now being accepted for the
2004 Legacy Awards hosted by the Women's Legacy of United Way.
 The
2004 Legacy Award will recognize and honor women who have demonstrated
outstanding leadership and excellence by volunteering their Time,
Talent and Treasure to the Gwinnett County community.
Awards presented at the Legacy Awards dinner on April 30, 2004
will acknowledge exceptional women who have devoted themselves to
one of the four categories: Time, Talent, Treasure, Legacy. One
award will be given for each category.
Proceeds from the event, held at the Gwinnett Place Marriott, will
be used to meet the basic needs of children and families in Gwinnett
County. The cost of each ticket is $100. Company sponsorships are
available.
Help us honor those who have made a difference in Gwinnett and
send in your nominations for the 2004 Legacy Awards by January 31,
2004. Every woman in Gwinnett County (including teens) can be a
candidate. Nomination forms from all ages are acceptable. All nominees
must be present at the Legacy Awards dinner.
To find out which category best fits your nominee, check out United
Way's website: www.unitedwayatlanta.org/womenslegacy
or stop by United Way in Gwinnett, 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite
240, Duluth, Ga.30097.
Nomination forms are available electronically at the web address
above. These forms are also available at the United Way in Gwinnett
and in Gwinnett Magazines' November and December issues. Incomplete
or late applications cannot be considered.
For further information concerning the Women's Legacy of United
Way in Gwinnett or the Legacy Awards call Deb Roberts or Pat Hart
at United Way in Gwinnett, 678-417-6434. You can also e-mail Pat
Hart, phart@unitedwayatlanta.org.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Fishing
is one subject of super new work by Terry Kay
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
OCT. 31, 2003 -- Even if you are not a fisherman, as long as you
like a good story well told, you will enjoy Terry Kay's newest novel,
"The Valley of Light." And if you are a fisherman, well,
you'll just understand the story better, we suspect.
 It's
far more than a tale of fishing. Terry, who once lived in Lilburn
and now resides just outside Athens in Winterville, admits that
he is not much of a fisherman himself. But he has observed others
expertly hauling in fish, and does a superb job in describing both
the techniques and the mindset of someone intent on landing another
one.
The setting for this tale is in a valley in North Carolina just
over the Georgia border from Hiawassee. The setting is 1948, and
the main character is a Georgian who has fought against the Germans,
has seen his share of battle, and is forever scarred from this.
Yet he realizes that somehow, through the thick and thin of battle,
he was able to survive, and for that he realizes he is lucky to
be back in the United States.
There's another side to the main character. He is somewhat slower-witted,
though he has common sense that allows him to function as well as
most other people. He realizes his limitations, and moves easily
through life on a simple and proud path, unfettered by much of life.
One of the beautiful aspects of this Kay novel is the pace of the
story. It is never frantic, but moves along amiably, making continued
progress, and slowly introducing new elements into the story. It
is not a desperate book, one yelling and screaming at the reader,
but one told with careful construction and gentle touches. It has
a nice feel to it, and enough depth of character to easily keep
you reading.
Terry Kay writes in a manner which never pushes the story too quickly
or quirky, but allows it to unfold easily. You feel most comfortable
reading Terry Kay, as you would (in the former times) a catch-up
letter from a relative.
Some say the newest Kay book is his best work. The story is certainly
told with deep feeling and love of character. You yearn for a life
as this was in 1948, a much simplier time. Even today, in this region
of mountains touching Georgia and North Carolina, life is far less
complex than it is in other parts of the states and world. This
very way of life is the draw for communities like Haynesville, Murphy,
and Franklin, in North Carolina, and Blairsville and Hiawassee in
Georgia. Yet the very tug that pulls in newcomers is of course at
the same time destroying the way of life that was before. The old
saw applies: "You can't have your cake and eat it too."
So we will never see life as Terry Kay describes in 1948 in these
parts. The best way to feel it is what you read in stories like
this one by Terry Kay, recounting the simpler time.
Some people think Kay's best previous work was "To Dance with
the White Dog." Certainly it got acclaim, and is better known
through a televised account. His first work, "The Year the
Lights Came On," about rural Georgia getting electrified, and
"The Kidnapping of Aaron Greene," set in Atlanta, were
superb stories in themselves.
Yet "The Valley of Light" is even better. It is not only
a good read; it is a story told masterfully about one great fisherman.
McLEMORE'S
WORLD
The
new guard
A new cartoon from Bill McLemore:
ABOUT OUR SPONSORS
 The
public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com
to you at no cost to readers. Today'ssponsor is Forum Development
Group, who presents a new concept in retail at The Forum on
Peachtree Parkway at Peachtree Corners Circle. An elite collection
of more than 50 merchants provide a glittering array of retail opportunities
in an atmosphere where you can stroll the streets of style, while
enjoying a great selection of shopping, dining and the life the
area has to offer. For more information, go to www.forumdevgroup.com.
FEEDBACK
10/31: Concerned
about what was being taped to her mailbox
Editor, the Forum:
Yesterday when I arrived home, I found the current issue of
the nonprofit Historic City of Norcross Times Newsletter taped
to the front of our mail box. This issue contains information
about the mayor's race and the candidates running for City Council.
I am sure it was hot off the press and the Newsletter Chairman,
Bill Barks, was concerned if it was mailed it wouldn't reach
voters before the election next Tuesday.
-- Pat Fadal, Norcross
(Editor's Note: Barks told the
Forum that he had checked with the Postmaster and that as long
as it was not in the box, it was OK, since the post "belonged
to the person." However, postal officials told the Forum
Thursday that any item touching the box should be charged postage.
Barks told the Forum that in the future he would put in a plastic
bag when delivering. -eeb)
CALENDAR
College planning
disaster preparedness seminars
Georgia Perimeter College's Nursing Department will present
two "Disaster Preparedness" seminars Wednesday, December
3, from 10:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The seminars will be held
simultaneously in the Lawrenceville Campus B-building Atrium
and as well at the Clarkston Campus Student Center.
The event features information about general disaster preparedness
for individuals and families in the event of a natural or manmade
disaster.
The event is free and open to the public. Lawrenceville Campus
is located at 1000 University Center Lane, Lawrenceville and
Clarkston is located at 555 N. Indian Creek Dr., Clarkston.
For more information, call 404-299-4177.
Georgia Perimeter College, the largest associate degree-granting
college in the University System of Georgia, serves more than
20,000 credit and non-credit students through six locations
in metro Atlanta. For additional information, visit www.gpc.edu.
LOCAL
NEWS ITEM
Gwinnett athletic
director joining bank's board
Georgian Bank, which recently announced a $50 million capital
infusion and a new holding company board of directors, today
announced the addition of seven business and civic leaders to
the bank board of directors.
The seven new directors join five existing directors, adding
regional representation while retaining strong ties to the 2
year-old community bank's Powder Springs base.
New directors are Gordon Teel, Georgian Bank chairman, president
and chief executive officer; Vince Dooley, director of athletics
at the University of Georgia; Frank Brown, president and owner
of Brown & Company Jewelers in Roswell; Dave Hunter, athletic
& activities director at Brookwood High School in Snellville;
Don Rolader, president and owner of Rolader & Rolader, a
Roswell-based law firm; Gary Waddell, a managing partner at
Waddell, Smith, Magoon & Freeman, a Roswell-based accounting
firm; and J.C. "Chuck" Wallace Jr., president of Wallace
Enterprises in Smyrna.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
There is a certain
irony to life for all of us
"The supreme irony of life is that hardly anyone gets out
of it alive."
-- Robert Heinlein, via Roy McCreary of Dacula.
What's your favorite saying? Share with others through
GwinnettForum. Send to elliott@gwinnettforum.com.
SEND
YOUR FEEDBACK
Send your thoughts, 55-word short stories, pet peeves
or comments on any issue to Gwinnett
Forum for future publication.
===========================================
MORE: Contact Gwinnett Forum at: elliott@gwinnettforum.com
© 2003, Gwinnett Forum.com. Gwinnett Forum
is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible
social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett
County, Ga. USA.
|
|
