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TODAY'S ISSUE
Fifth annual Gwinnett Senior Olympics to begin on April 24
By Bob Giselbach
Duluth
Special to GwinnettForum.com

MARCH 2, 2004 -- In 1999, a concerned group of senior citizens met with Gwinnett Parks officials and formed the first Gwinnett Senior Golden Olympics Committee.

The first games were held in the spring of 2000 with 78 participants. The games have grown to 256 participants in 2003. Citizens 50 years of age and older participate in five-year age groups in a number of events. These include archery, bowling, horseshoes, golf, holey board cycling, shuffleboard, running, table tennis, tennis, swimming, walking, bridge, Rummikub, putting, race walking, darts, billiards, basketball throw, and field games. Events are held for about four weeks in various parts of the county. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded in each of the events.

The focal point of the Senior Games is the Gwinnett Senior Center in Bethesda Park off Ronald Reagan Parkway. The opening day event this year will be held on April 24 with a barbecue lunch at noon. The closing ceremony will be held on May 22 with a box lunch.

An entry fee of $10 includes both meals, a Senior Olympics t-shirt and the medals for the top three participants in each event.

Participants may move on to the Georgia Senior Olympics held each September in Warner Robins, The gold and silver medal winners in Warner Robins qualify for the National Senior Games be held in Pittsburgh, Penn. in June of 2005 which will attract over 10,000 senior citizens.

The 2004 Board of Directors of Gwinnett Senior Golden Olympics include Al Sandham, chairman; Bob Giselbach, vice chairman; Jan Burdsal, secretary; Eileen Giselbach, treasurer; and at large members Susie Dodson, Dana Dow, Charles Rawls and Iris Sandham. Advisers include Susan Adkins of the Gwinnett Health System, and Pam Hoffman and Tina Fleming of the Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation staff.

More information and a handbook are available at the Gwinnett Senior Center. Several senior citizens from Gwinnett have advanced to the National Senior Games in past years and have brought home gold medals. Information is also available at the Gwinnett Senior Golden Olympics web site: www.gwinnettseniorolympics.org.

The goal of the Gwinnett Senior Olympics is to inform seniors in Gwinnett County of the opportunities available to them to help them live more active and healthy lifestyles.

ELLIOTT BRACK
New Le Carre book recalls sighting at bridge in Berlin
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

MARCH 2, 2004 -- Twelve journalists from the South, along with one young German diplomat, were sitting on a 20 passenger Mercedes mini-bus in West Berlin, overlooking the Spree River. It was during the Cold War, about 25 years ago.

A young Berlin expert was lecturing, pointing out the river, which was the dividing line between Communist East Berlin and West Berlin. As the expert noted the manned gun emplacements on the Eastern bank, and how East Berlin kept its citizens from fleeing to the west, a lone older East German was walking his dog along the river.

I watched this older man intently, as he moved toward the bridge. My mind told me: "He's trying to make an escape!" I watched in panic, thinking I was about to see history being made. Finally, I could contain myself no longer, and interrupted the lecture.

The lecturer turned, eyeing the situation. "No problem," he said. "East Berlin doesn't care how many older people leave their country. That way, they don't have to pay their pension." Obviously, the guy was merely walking his dog.

No doubt one reason I was alarmed about this situation was that I had recently finished John Le Carre's "The Spy Who Comes In Out of the Cold." In that book, an escape had taken place over the Spree in a similar setting.

Some 25 years later, Le Carre is still turning out novels with cloak-and-dagger overtones. And I'm still a fan.

The end of the Cold War, some thought, might mean the end of the prolific novels of Le Carre. Indeed, though he in recent books has taken on new topics, still the books were inspired by one sort of the British espionage system. However, some recent novels have been far more difficult to assimilate than his earlier "George Smiley" encounters.

His latest, "Absolute Friends," is so very much up to date, aiming his plot in the post-War against Iraq times.

Where Le Carre's earlier novels had an overall Western leaning, this time in "Absolute Friends," he becomes much more of a critic of American imperialism.

However, Le Carre sneaks up on you. For the first 300 or more pages, he merely builds a case. But soon after you cross the 300 count (page 305), he begins to get quite specific:

This is not the Le Carre of earlier books. This book is critical of current day American and British imperialism (read Bush policies.) It is direct, where his previous books have been far more indirect.

We never previously really considered John Le Carre political, certainly not anti-Western. While this book is more pro-reason, than anti-war, it still is up to date. Today he is much more on target than the sideway shots of earlier works. "Absolute Friends" is a fast read. Tony Blair and George W. Bush won't like it very much. And John Le Carre, whether at the River Spree or Heidelberg Castle in this book, hasn't lost his touch.

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FEEDBACK
3/2: Clear numbering system on houses helpful to community

Editor, the Forum:

Thanks to former Snellville Chief Davis for a fine article. We all need to be made aware of what our police and their leaders experience and achieve. Gwinnett County cable channel has a feature called "Behind the Badge" which invites guests from local law enforcement to elaborate on their duties, experiences, and concerns. Through media such as the FORUM and Cable Access, citizens can better understand how they can help officers on the street do their jobs and achieve their objectives.

In a recent conversation with a Gwinnett Patrolman, I became aware of the consequences of a phenomenon I had noticed in some multi-tenant areas a few years back. The officer mentioned how helpful it was in the area we were standing that apartment building numbers were clearly marked and visible to responding officers. He continued on by stating that in many areas of the county (and elsewhere I am sure) apartment buildings and units are not marked well and some are not numbered in logical sequences. This, he said, caused delay in locating emergency situations.

Policemen are usually the first to arrive at 911 calls and, not only provide immediate assessment and action, but also coordinate info to the other emergency resources that might be needed. Slowing their arrival could mean worse consequences for victims, combatants, property, and those who happen to be in the vicinity (not to mention endangering the police, costing the county money, and adding additional aggravation to those public servants who are already in stress filled environments).

Perhaps "building and apartment numbering" problems could be addressed by fines or even by fee or tax reduction incentives to landlords or maybe the landlords just don't understand the peril that is caused and will voluntarily correct problems once they are aware. However, it is certain that either property owner negligence or unimpeded actions by tenants to obscure their residences are responsible for the problem. Resolving it would not be expensive and would yield benefit to our police and other emergency services right away. Now that's SUPPORT!

-- Randy Stephens, Duluth

3/2: Successive chiefs of Shellville set increasingly higher levels

Editor, the Forum:

I enjoyed Chief Davis's thoughts and reflections of what was obviously a rewarding career and life.

Not having served in a civilian capacity with its inherent problems but having served in the Military Police, I relate to what he says about the job. His words reflect the person who has seen the worst, overcome it, and still loves life.

Having lived in Snellville for 31 years, I've known three chiefs now. Each successor has raised the bar of excellence and I look forward to seeing how high the bar can go in the future. Jimmy Davis set it high, went over the top, and now leaves a legacy, like the motto "Striving For The Highest". Best wishes in the future.

-- Howard Williams, Snellville

CULTURE
Courthouse to host exhibit of mixed media and collage

Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation and Pinckneyville Community Center invite you to view a new art exhibit, "Learning How to Fly," at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse in Lawrenceville.

The exhibit will be on display at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse through May 21.

"Learning to Fly" is an exhibit of mixed media works and fabric collage wall hangings that incorporate recycled fabrics and materials. The Gwinnett Historic Courthouse is located at 185 Crogan Street in historic downtown Lawrenceville. The reception and exhibit are free and open to the public. For more information call (770) 417-2200.

PUBLIC SERVICE
Vinson Institute seeks nominations in public service arena

Individuals and organizations from throughout the state are encouraged to submit nominations for the 2004 Georgia Excellence in Public Service Awards. So says Jim Ledbetter, director of the University of Georgia's Carl Vinson Institute of Government, which coordinates the awards.

This is the second year for the awards program, a public-private partnership between the Vinson Institute and Georgia Trend magazine in cooperation with the Georgia Municipal Association, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Awards are presented to state, regional, county and city officials and professionals. The program is designed with three primary purposes, according to Ledbetter: to publicly honor outstanding state and local elected, appointed, and/or career public-sector service professionals; to foster a culture of recognized excellence in Georgia's professional public service, drawing attention to exemplary service and distinguished achievements; and to help raise the profile of state and local public service as a career pursuit.

Complete nomination applications are due at the Carl Vinson Institute of Government no later than April 15, 2004, with the winner announced at a public ceremony in early September in Atlanta. For more information about nominating an outstanding public service official or professional, visit the awards Web site at www.vinsoninstitute.org/excellence.