TODAY'S ISSUE: Lilburn's Little Gardens Marks 25th Anniversary
ELLIOTT BRACK: Duluth Mayor Bubbles Over About Possibilities in Town
McLEMORE'S WORLD: Traffic nightmare
FEEDBACK: Filibustering, Those New Phone Books and More about the Moon
UPCOMING: Rotary Hosts Blood Drive; Busy Time at Hudgens Center for Arts
TODAY'S QUOTE: Considerations to Make When You Are In The Majority

"Whenever you find that you are in the majority, it is time to reform.

-- Mark Twain , via Jim Dumond, Buford.

I couldn't help but laugh about the smaller telephone directories. It seems that even my normal magnifying glasses were inadequate. I have to use them plus a magnifying glass to see the print. Thanks for the humor!

-- Janet Gibson, Lawrenceville

TODAY'S ISSUE
Little Gardens Restaurant of Lilburn marks 25th
By John Gibb
Owner
Little Gardens Restaurant

(Editor's note: On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Little Gardens Restaurant, we asked owner John Gibb to write about it.-eeb)

LILBURN, Dec. 5, 2003---When my wife and I moved to Lilburn in 1969, we loved the rural atmosphere of the county. We knew it was pretty rural when city council member, the late Gartrell Nash, suggested the best way to raise money for the city was to have a fish fry.

We purchased Little Gardens Restaurant in 1984 and opened at Thanksgiving. Fine dining was new to growing Gwinnett. I remember watching a guest painstakingly remove the mesh-netting wrap from a lemon to squeeze the juices on his entrée. We were advised against expanding our wine list from three to 81 listings. Little Gardens efforts have been recognized consistently with the prestigious Wine Spectator Award. Pam made all of the curtains, faux painted walls, and hung wallpaper. Jock, our son, and a chef built the waterfall gardens, the site for nearly 3,000 weddings.

Little Gardens maintains a quiet country estate setting for intimate dining, while at the same time hosting wedding receptions, business meetings, and special events in private dining rooms, and the Garden Ball Room. Table-side service is our hallmark; from Chateaubriand, to Caesars Salad to Flaming Bananas Foster. But exceptional service has its down side. I remember when one of our male guests threatened to deck a waiter if he tried to place a napkin in his lap. Our special events have become very big hits, such as our Murder Mystery Dinners, New England Clam Bakes and Comedy Nights.

Little Gardens has hosted many local and national personalities since the first diners were served on Thanksgiving Day 25 years ago. Some national personalities include Paul Newman, Dale Evans, Bill Anderson, and Governor Jeb Bush. Aaron Spelling's TV series, "Savannah," was shot at Little Gardens. Paul Harvey once mentioned Little Gardens on his radio show.

Little Gardens kicked off our 25th Anniversary in November by offering our original menu, with the 1978 prices. Each month through November of next year we will be offering special promotions. All of these can be seen on our Little Gardens web site www.littlegardens.com. In addition Little Gardens has introduce a $25 Three Course Menu throughout the entire celebration year.

In 1979, Gwinnett County announced the closing of Vines Botanical Gardens. Urged by the "Save the Vines Committee", (including Judy Waters, Wayne Mason, and Richard Tucker), I entered into an operation agreement for it with the county. After investing over $1 million in the project, the stately Manor House has become a premier restaurant and meeting facility.

The Vines has hosted many special events from Coke's International Bottler's Convention, the March of Dimes Walk-A-Thon, to the Governor's Conference on Tourism. Over 25,000 Gwinnett County School children have participated in Vines education classes. At Elliott's Brack's urging a children's maze has been added to the gardens. The Vines was also the host location for a week long CNN Travel Show.

Recently we introduced a Dining Gift Cards for a special night out. They remain active for three years after they are purchased. The Dining Gift Card may be used at Little Gardens, the Vines Botanical Gardens Restaurant and the Arbor gift shop. They carry a balance that can be used at any location of our locations until the full amount of the gift is used.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Lots of excitement going on around Town Square in Duluth
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

DEC. 5, 2003 -- There's a certain excitement going on in the City of Duluth, centered around the Town Square. You almost feel it as you watch children splashing in the bubbling fountain during the warmer months, or skating on the portable ice rink set up these days. And of course you see it during the Duluth Days or about any time people are congregated around City Hall.

It's a refreshing feeling.

Evidence mounts that this is only the beginning of what is expected to be even more dramatic activities going on in Duluth, Mayor Shirley Lassester suggests.

For instance, she says that several firms have submitted "wonderful, visionary" proposals for developing the central part of town. "All these should bring in more foot traffic and help the mom-and-pop stores thrive even more," she says.

These proposed developments would be primarily retail activities, with housing on upper floors. "They all seem to have a European-like flair, but still capture the essence of the Duluth heart and emphasis," she says. Already a small two-story development has been built around the Town Green, and additional housing has been approved behind the central area.

The Duluth mayor, who recently was re-elected unopposed and has served for 10 years as mayor, says that acceptance of these proposals are months or even years away. "But they are exciting."

One of the key points in the proposals is locating a new or expanded City Hall. At least three sites are considered in the Town Square area, though recent talk has brought a possible Buford highway location into consideration.

Already the City has taken steps to move the police department out of City Hall and into new facilities at the corner of Buford Highway and Davenport Road. The city in January will accept proposals on this facility. The City anticipates that the new police department will be in operation in mid-2005. It will have expansion built in, "to last 20-30 years," the mayor says. Besides the police operation, the City Court will also be located in this facility.

There is another major change facing the city, one that will complicate activity in downtown Duluth in the next two years. That is the re-location of the railroad crossing of Highway 120. Instead of a straight crossing of the railroad as it does now, the highway routing across the rail tracks will be diagonal, from Buford Highway to the corner adjacent to the middle school. This routing change could also affect the proposed developments in the area of the current city hall.

But listen to the mayor, and soon she is back talking about the Town Square area. "We are so pleased at how it has evolved," the mayor bubbles. "It has a nice area, the Festival Center, and we have the amphitheater, and the fountain. It is a great meeting facility for so many groups, for weddings and receptions.

"And when you see children playing in that fountain, you have to smile, or laugh. It is an absolutely Disneyland-like experience for the children. They love it, and so do their parents."

Duluth's moving forward, and anticipating even greater change in coming months in its downtown. Stay alert to these many developments.

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today's sponsor is E.R. Snell, Contractor, Inc. of Snellville, a company founded in the 1920s. The firm was built on Christian beliefs with honesty and integrity leading the way. Its goal is to build a safe and modern highway system while preserving our natural environment. Through quality production and high safety standards, it strives to be the best contractor possible, while continuing to be a positive influence on its employees and the community. Internet access is at www.ersnell.com.

(Editor's Note: Ah, you with short memories. Sources at the US Senate tell me that in 1968, Republicans blocked the "promotion" of Supreme Court Justice Abe Fortis to chief justice. How? By filibuster!

During the Clinton Administration, Republicans blocked a floor vote on 63 judicial nominees in committee -- mostly through secret "holds" or not providing hearings for the nominees. Some were "on hold" for four years!

Also during the Clinton administration, Republicans tried to filibuster six judicial nominees who made it to a floor vote. But the GOP couldn't keep its caucus together and didn't have enough votes to sustain a filibuster.

Actually, a filibuster is a time-honored parliamentary technique by one party, and used by both parties, to try to force their own views on matters, when they are not in power. And usually the party in power always cries, "Foul!" --eeb.)

(Dear Janet: No humor intended; it's serious for some. Just ask those with far sightedness, and you don't hear them laughing Best thing I have heard about this is that BellSouth now says that the smaller directories were only a 'test.' We hope that it flunked their test, if that is so. -eeb)

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.