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TODAY'S
ISSUE
Sign-up time for Norcross
101 continues until Sept. 2
By
Lauren Blaszyk
Economic Development/Main Street Coordinator
City of Norcross
Special to GwinnettForum.com
AUG. 24, 2004 -- The City of Norcross will host its citizens' government
academy, Norcross 101, for the second year in a row this fall. In
its first year, 14 citizens "graduated" from the program
and provided nothing but positive feedback at the program's conclusion.
One participant, Josh Bare, is now a Norcross City Council member!
The purpose of the program is to educate Norcross residents about
how their city government operates and how they can become more
involved in a positive, effective manner. The class sessions are
held in the Community Room at City Hall.
This year's program begins on Thursday evening, September 30, with
five additional Thursday classes to follow, with the last one on
November 4. Each two hour class will begin at 7 p.m. The first class,
taught by the City Clerk Sue Dennen will offer an overview and history
of the City and its governmental structure.
The order of those classes and presenters include October 7, Police
Department, Chief Richard Miller and Municipal Court Clerk Tracy
Thompson; October 14, City Marshal Holly Smith; October 21, Community
Development Director Johnny Lawler; October 28 General Government
Administration Rudolph Smith; November 4 Public Works Director Brad
Cole.
Each of the remaining sessions will offer information about one
of the City's departments and will be taught by the respective department
head and other employees. The order of those classes will be Police
Department and Municipal Court (October 7), City Marshal (October
14), Community Development (October 21), General Government Administration
(October 28), and Public Works (November 4).
Participants are provided with a notebook at the first class, which
contains handouts from all the departments and blank pages for taking
notes. Many of the instructors use visual aids to teach class, such
as PowerPoint presentations and slide shows. Last year, the City
Clerk brought hand written City Council meeting minutes from the
days before typewriters and computers!
Last year, some of the departments handed out remembrances. The
Marshal gave out small, red calculators with the department's phone
number, while the Public Works department provided hard hats with
"Norcross Citizens Academy Fall 2003" emblems. Mayor Lillian
Webb hands out certificates of completion to recognize their dedication
to learning more about their city at the end of the sessions.
Residents of Norcross have until September 3 to submit an application
for the program. The class will be limited to 20 participants. Please
note that class members must live within the city limits in order
to attend. Those wanting an application or more information about
Norcross 101, contact me via email at lblaszyk@norcross-ga-gvt.com
or call 770-449-4084.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Enjoy
cultural facilities of Atlanta within the perimeter
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
AUG. 24, 2004 -- Do you have friends within the perimeter that
you tease that they never venture outside I-285? For some, you would
think that trips to Gwinnett seem to them like they must travel
nearly as far as Greenville, S.C.
 Yet
let's put the shoe on the other foot. How many of us living outside
the perimeter routinely venture into Metro Atlanta? Seriously, it's
like the pot calling the kettle black….on both sides.
That mind set toward Atlanta may be short sighted. After all, there
are so many attractive places to visit in Atlanta, in addition to
the State Capitol, Turner Field and the Georgia Dome. Let's list
some.
Atlanta Botanical Gardens: we visited recently for a special
show, but the Gardens are great about any time of year. We especially
went for the colorful
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Elements by the Artist Chihuly float on a pond at the Atlanta
Botanical Gardens.
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"Chihuly in the Gaden," the fantastic large glassworks
from a Seattle, Wash. artist that fits in so beautifully with the
regular showstoppers at the Botanical Gardens. This presentation
is really quite beautiful and memorable.
For anyone who loves gardening, just to gaze upon the many offerings,
the order and he beauty of the Gardens is well worth the price of
admission. The Gardens are located off Piedmont Road near Piedmont
Park. Info: http://www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org/
High Museum of Art: right on Peachtree Street downtown.
These days it is changing, adding new elements as it continues to
grow and expand. Too, it's part of the wider Woodruff Arts Center,
with the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony, Atlanta College of
Art and 14th Street Playhouse. There's something going on at these
centers virtually every day, and something continually new at them.
Info: http://www.high.org.
Atlanta History Center: Smack in the heart or Buckhead off
West Paces Ferry Road, the History Center has regular exhibits,
and changing exhibitions. It's also a tremendous archive and library
of artifacts of Atlanta.
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Part of the Civil War Exhibit at the Atlanta History Center.
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Perhaps it's best known for its Civil War exhibits, including lots
of space allocated to the weaponry of the War. It also has the Swan
House and exquisite restoration of one of Atlanta's premier homes.
Coming next: a new wing to commemorate the Olympics in Atlanta.
Info: www.atlantahistorycenter.com.
Jimmy Carter Library and Museum: near downtown Atlanta,
the library of our 39th president and Nobel Peace Prize winner is
well worth a tour. It is also a major research center, with the
president concentrating his world-wide activities from this center.
Info: www.jimmycarterlibrary.org.
Martin Luther King National Historic Site: in the heart
of Auburn Avenue, this site features the King Center, and the grave
of the late civil rights leader. It is also next to Ebenezer Baptist
Church, which the late Dr. King and his father, pastored. No tour
of Atlanta could be complete without including this stop. Info:
http://www.nps.gov/malu/.
The World of Coca Cola: you see the history and scope of
the world's best selling soft drink. You get an idea of the reach
of this world-wide firm, headquartered here. Be sure to try out
some of the many drink varieties the firm markets worldwide. Info:
www.woccatlanta.com.
Fernback Science Center and Museum of Natural History: near
Emory, this science center and museum offers fantastic chances to
see how the world was and is. It's an exciting place for children,
with the skeleton of a dinosaur to excite you, plus many, many other
features.. Info: http://fsc.fernbank.edu/.
Whew! There are many cultural aspects in Atlanta. Get yourself
within the perimeter and enjoy these facilities. They are well worth
it.
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 John D. Stephens
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throughout the South. An equipment division, markets used heavy
construction equipment. The firm also sells new closed cargo trailers.
To contact John D. Stephens, their email address is jdsequip@aol.com.
For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: http://www.gwinnettforum.com/about/sponsors.htm.
FEEDBACK
8/24: Feels Bannister
will lead in slightly different direction
Editor, the Forum:
Regarding your reporting on the August 10 runoffs, you certainly
make a big deal out of the fact that Charles Bannister has a general
election opponent. But then you go ahead and hand Mike Beaudreau
the election even though he, too, has an opponent. I think your
sour grapes are showing.
As Bannister's campaign chairman, I couldn't be prouder or happier
that Gwinnett can look forward to a slightly different direction
in the chairman's office with an initial focus on more reasonable
controlled growth along with efforts to improve pay, conditions
and personnel numbers in our Police Department. I also believe that
Charles will bring a different style, temper/demeanor, and set of
ethics to the office that this county will find refreshing. Charles
is a good man that will work to make Gwinnett great again.
Second, comparing Mike Beaudreau to Vincent Wall was a low blow.
How would you like to have your writing compared to Mad Magazine?
Door to door campaigning wasn't invented by that RINO (Republican
In Name Only). In fact, door to door campaigning by the State GOP
Chairman Rusty Paul and me was the downfall of Wall. Beaudreau is
a fine man. Something that couldn't be said about Wall.
-- B.J. VanGundy, Norcross
(Dear B.J. Yep, we entirely overlooked the
fact that Mr. Beaudreau will have fall opposition in the candidacy
of Robin Roberts. Concerning Vincent Wall, we also didn't realize
who was responsible for his downfall, but, knowing you, wonder
if that is entirely true. -eeb)
8/24: Bush attacks
patriotism of three Vietnam veterans
Editor, the Forum:
You seem to offer some hope for the profession of journalism. There
are still voices in the media which truly seek the truth above all
else, but they seem to get little airplay in our corporate dominated
media today.
If the President wishes to make military service a campaign issue,
then the media owes it to the American people to cover the realities
of the story including his and the Vice-President's own service
record. Dick Cheney received all five deferments from service in
Vietnam and in his own words, "had other priorities".
John Kerry volunteered for the Navy, for Vietnam, and for swift
boat duty. George Bush did not. It is official military record that
the U.S. Navy awarded John Kerry the Silver Star, the Bronze Star
with Combat V, and three Purple Hearts. John McCain has been on
CNN and Fox News where he called the attacks by Swift Boat Veterans
for Bush "dishonest and dishonorable," and he called on
George Bush to both stop and condemn the advertisemnt. George Bush
has refused to do so.
The crewmates who served with John Kerry stand with him including
one of the Swift Boat Vet's, a former commander of John Kerry. George
Elliott: "In a combat environment often requiring independent,
decisive action LTJG Kerry was unsurpassed...LTJG Kerry emerges
as the acknowledged leader in his peer group." (fitness report
of John Kerry, by LTCMDR George Elliott, 18 Dec 1969).
According to CNN.com, one Swift Vet who appeared in one of the
smearing attack ads, retired Air Force Col. Ken Cordier, is also
a volunteer campaign adviser for the Bush campaign. He resigned
this week from the Bush campaign, but his participation in both
the SBVT 527 group and the Bush/Cheney 04 campaign raises questions
about the legality of the group. The 527 groups are not allowed
to coordinate their efforts directly with a campaign.
George Bush has now attacked the patriotism and leadership skills
of three Vietnam Veterans, John McCain in 2000, Max Cleland in 2002,
and now John Kerry in 2004. Just ask yourself 'Where was President
Bush during Vietnam' and let's get back to dealing with the wars
of today.
It is interesting to note the delay in how this type of information
gets into the American media while it has been openly debated and
discussed in foreign publications for weeks now. It is more than
clear that Bush is both financially and politically tied at the
hip to SBVT.
-- Roger Hagen, Lilburn
NEWS
Foundation funds strengthen early childhood
program
By
Lauren Anderson
Gwinnett Technical College announces that it received additional
contributions from the Community Foundation of Northeast Georgia
in support of its early childhood education program. Funds, totaling
$5,000, from the Foundation will help equip the college's three-year-old
classroom.
Judy Waters, executive director of Community Foundation of Northeast
Georgia, says: "Our Foundation was eager to make this contribution
to Gwinnett Tech's early childhood education program because we
support the college in delivering top-notch educators to our community.
At the same time it allows us to achieve our mission of enhancing
the
lives of our area's citizens for generations to come."
Students and community supporters attended the ceremony at the
college's Early Childhood Learning Laboratory, where executives
from the Community Foundation of Northeast Georgia presented the
contribution to Gwinnett Tech.
The contribution kicks off the college's $5.3 million capital campaign
for the Early Childhood and Teacher Preparation Center, which is
intended to satisfy the need for qualified Early Childhood teachers
and K-3 para-professionals in the community.
Pinckneyville expo set for Saturday, Aug. 28
Gwinnett Parks & Recreation will host the Pinckneyville Expo
on Saturday, August 28, at the Pinckneyville Community Center in
Norcross from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.
A free family celebration filled with storytelling, games, class
demonstrations, make-n-take crafts and more will mark the second
anniversary of the center.
The Pinckneyville Community Center is Gwinnett County Parks &
Recreation's third community center and the first in the western
portion of the county. The 20,500 square-foot facility houses a
pottery studio, five classrooms, a dance/aerobics room, an outdoor
classroom and a large community room.
The community center is located at 4650 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard
in Norcross and open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturday
from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. For more information,
call (770) 417-2200.
The mission of Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation is to provide
quality parks and leisure activities to the citizens of Gwinnett
County.
Quantum
National Bank promotes Diehl to vice president
The Board of Directors of Quantum National Bank has recently promoted
Alex Diehl to Group Vice President of Construction Lending. Alex
has been a residential construction lender at Quantum National Bank
for two years and earned its MVP Award for 2003.
Quantum National Bank is a Four Star rated, $180,000,000 asset
Gwinnett based Community Bank specializing in serving small businesses
throughout metro Atlanta.
ENCYCLOPEDIA
TIDBIT
8/24: Georgia now ranks
third in production of blueberries
The development of the blueberry industry is an interesting story.
Local fishermen in Brunswick and Toomsboro had collected some of
the best wild berries from the Satilla and Withlachoochee rivers
of south Georgia. These selections were crossed with selections
from west Florida to create cultivars (cultivated varieties) of
rabbiteye blueberries (Vaccinium ashei). Since 1944 the University
of Georgia has maintained a blueberry breeding program and released
12 cultivars of rabbiteye blueberries. These cultivars have formed
the basis for the Georgia blueberry industry.
 In
the early 1970s the first blueberry cooperative was formed in Alma.
Today there are two primary market outlets for distant shippers
of blueberries: one in Michigan and one in Florida.
Starting in the mid-1990s, southern highbush blueberries (Vaccinium
corymbosum hybrids) have been grown in significant quantities in
Georgia. In south Georgia southern highbush blueberries ripen in
April and May, and rabbiteyes ripen in late May, June, and July.
Today more than 200 growers have planted about 5,500 acres, concentrated
in the southeastern corner of the state, from Valdosta (Lowndes
County) eastward to Nahunta (Brantley County) and northward to Baxley
(Appling County).
Fourteen packing plants export the fruit to markets throughout
the United States, Canada, and Japan. About 30 to 50 percent of
the crop is sold fresh, and the rest is processed into frozen berries.
In 2003 Georgia produced 17 million pounds of blueberries valued
at $18.7 million. Georgia ranks third in the nation in acreage and
in some years fourth in production of cultivated blueberries.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Ramifications of just
how wonderful is the brain
"The brain is a wonderful organ. It starts working the moment
you get up in the morning and does not stop until you get into the
office."
-- Poet Robert Frost (1874 - 1963).
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