TODAY'S ISSUE
In heavy storms without electricity, you seek new ventures
By the Rev. Bill Crosland
Sandy Springs
Special to GwinnettForum.com

(Editor's Note: The writer is a former Gwinnettian from Sugar Hill, who has moved recently to Sandy Springs. He recounts what went on at his house during the recent heavy storms passing near Atlanta.-eeb)

SEPT. 24, 2004 -- Our nine- and six-year-old grandchildren think that it's fun when the lights go out! This family lives in Charlottesville, Va., and it's not so much fun for their parents who depend on electricity for their well water.

Hurricane Frances took away our electricity for almost 48 hours, but fortunately we had an old-style telephone that didn't need electricity to operate, and we had plenty of hot water. The gas grill cooked us a hamburger that Tuesday night.

Then my wife, Charlotte, suggested that we go to a movie. The theater in Sandy Springs had electricity, though we were too late for the first showing. We left thinking we would come back later.

We then visited Baskin-Robins for ice cream. They were closing but agreed to serve us if we would take the cones with us. We ate under an awning with rain dripping all around us.

We went home for a short spell, and then back to the movie at 10 p.m. We saw Delovely (the story of Cole Porter). We were the only people in the theater! It was then home and to bed. (We wondered if we might see an increase in the birth rate in our area some nine months from now! We will not make any contribution, of course, since we are not Abraham and Sara!).

Thursday we learned the cause of our power outage. A large old oak tree had toppled over on River Valley Road, taking a power pole and all the wires down with it. River Valley was blocked for two days, and traffic detoured through our street, Amberidge Trail, which makes a circle.

Hurricane Ivan was more tolerant of us, leaving us power, but destroying our communication. Neither our land line nor cell phones would work. The only way to communicate was through e-mail. I'm going ask a Sugar Hill friend, Chuck Brack, to explain to me again how we could have our DSL connection, but no voice communication.

I don't have much else to report except my disappointing tomato-growing season. We planted tomatoes last May.

Our early fears that there would not be enough sun were unfounded, and the plants grew like weeds. Very shortly after the early tomatoes began to form, they also began to disappear. The thieves were obviously creatures of the night.

I thought for a while that I could out-grow their consumption, but finally gave up and called in the Critter Catchers. For a nice sum, they promised to catch the culprit. And they did.

In a night or two, I had a nice raccoon which they took and released in the mountains. But the tomatoes continued to disappear. I bought my own trap and set it out. Very soon, I caught a possum. Then another raccoon. And finally, a second possum.

These animals successfully wiped me out. I harvested not the first tomato. All I have left for my labors is a nice possum. Considering what I have spent so far, I figure this possum is worth almost $300.

But have I got a deal for someone. They can have this possum for no charge. And I'll even arrange for delivery! Just let me know.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Aurora Theatre being seen as economic development engine
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

SEPT. 24, 2004 -- Just how important are the cultural arts to a community? Based on a cursory glance at some other communities, the arts are worth a lot, even to the point of thinking of the cultural community as an asset for economic development.

This topic comes to the forefront as at least three cities have eyes on the Aurora Theatre in Duluth. While the Aurora has been moving forward in rented facilities in Duluth, what it really needs is a permanent home where it can help its own future by making long term investments in modern, upgraded facilities, and have room for administration, classrooms and storage.

So while the Theatre continues in Duluth, at least two other Gwinnett communities have voiced an interest in it, and are taking measures to possibly attract it with possible permanent facilities. Both efforts are tied to the upcoming one per cent sales tax vote, which now cities of Gwinnett share with the county, but on a larger, more equal basis.

Lawrenceville has said that if the one cent sales tax measure passes, it's sales tax allocation of approximately $16 million will include $1 million for a building to house a theatre. That would be a facility that the Aurora could renovate for its uses.

In Norcross, should the one cent sales tax be extended, the city's portion would amount to $6 million; City officials have plans to re-construct the old "Castle" that once housed the local school. The site is where the present log cabin now stands. Included in these plans for the three story building are facilities for a theatre such as the Aurora.

Both these cities have been in talks with the Aurora.

Meanwhile, the City of Duluth and the Aurora Theatre are negotiating about the possibility of the city leasing the former Calvary Christian Church to the theatre for a 99 year period at $1 a year. So far the city has not moved on this request.

In other smaller communities across the nation, the arts in general have often been seen as key instruments in economic development of the community. A few examples:

• In Marietta, Ga. The Theatre-in-the-Square gets $75,000 a year from the City of Marietta, while its Downtown Development Authority also makes a contribution to the theatre.
  
  
• In Cherokee County, Ga., the Arts Council transferred title to a building in Canton for the Council use. Initially the county had agreed to lease the building to the Council for 30 years at $1 a year. However, transfer of title came as the Council needed title to renovate the building.
  
  
• In Staunton, Va, the city donated $500,000 to Shenandoah Shakespeare to build the Blackfriar Theatre. In the three years since the theatre has been in Staunton, a study found the move had a $34 million economic impact. Now a convention center and hotel are being remodeled across the street, and a $4 million parking garage is planned.
  
  
• In Middleton, Conn., the city lured the Goodspeed Opera House from East Haddam with a $9 million theatre, at no cost for the theatre. Total impact of the project is estimated at $20 million, with offices, shops, new library and other facilities nearby.

Such moves by local governments are being made after taking a fresh look at the way the cultural community impacts a town.

Extension of the Gwinnett one cent sales tax for county (and city) infrastructure could be a boom for the arts in one of these Gwinnett cities.

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McLEMORE'S WORLD
In memory of Jack Hensley

The latest from cartoonist Bill McLemore:

CALENDAR
Suwanee's rescheduled 5K road race for Friday at 7 p.m.

You can still enjoy some of the Suwanee Day glow and fun by participating in the annual Suwanee Day 5K Classic. The annual road race and kids carnival, sponsored by BodyPlex Fitness Adventure, was rescheduled, due to the severe weather brought in last week by Hurricane Ivan, to this Friday, September 24. The race, which begins and ends at Town Center Park and winds through historic Old Town in between, starts at 7 p.m.; on-site registration begins at 5 p.m. Registration is $20.

In addition to the race, a kids carnival with free inflatable rides and musical entertainment will be held at the same time.

BOOK RECOMMENDATION
From Nona Patterson of Lawrenceville

"Here are some of the books I have read in the last three months. I try to read 50 books each year.

"The African Queen by C. S. Forrester.
Cities of the Plains, Cormac McGarity.
Watch for the Morning, Elisabeth McDonald.
Death Comes for the Archbishop, Willa Cather.
A Year in the South, Stephen Ash.
Fire in the Canebrake, Laura Wexler.
A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains, Isabella Bird."

• An invitation: What books have you enjoyed? Send us your best recent book along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus what you plan to read next. --eeb
  

ENCYCLOPEDIA TIDBIT
9/24: Georgia Music Hall of Fame opens in Macon in 1996

The Georgia Music Hall of Fame in Macon is the state's official music museum. The 43,000-square-foot building is home to thousands of documents and artifacts, including sound recordings, costumes, instruments, sheet music, photographs, recording equipment, and memorabilia from hundreds of the state's musical legends. All eras of Georgia's musical history are covered, from the earliest Native American instruments to the latest pop beats.

In the late 1980s a movement took shape to honor Georgia's musical legends. Under Zell Miller's leadership the legislature allocated $6.5 million for the project. The city of Macon offered to donate property for the new building, and the Georgia Music Hall of Fame Authority was created in 1991 to begin the project. Groundbreaking for the site was held in May 1994, and the building was officially opened on September 21, 1996.

Among the museum's permanent exhibits is Tune Town, a 12,000-square-foot area devoted to all types of Georgia music. Each style of music is represented in one of Tune Town's buildings, which include a rhythm and blues club, a chapel, a café, and "Backstage Alley," an area featuring people behind the scenes in the music industry (such as songwriters, producers, and attorneys). There are two interactive theater venues, the Gospel Chapel and the Gretsch Theater. Artifacts on display include unusual instruments, performance costumes, obsolete recording technology, instrument makers' tools, awards, photographs, and personal memorabilia of the artists themselves.

In September 1999 the Hall of Fame expanded its exhibit space with the addition of the Billy Watson Music Factory. This area was designed specifically for children from pre-kindergarten through the fourth grade. The Music Factory encourages children to explore the world of music, including the sounds and instruments of other countries, careers in music, families of instruments, and musical styles. The area is highly interactive and provides a fun learning environment. In 2003 more than 48,000 schoolchildren visited the Georgia Music Hall of Fame with school groups, clubs, scout troops, and other organizations.

On the second floor of the museum is the Zell Miller Center for Georgia Music Studies, a library and archive for students, scholars, and researchers. This area features more than 1,000 books on general music, Georgia history, and Georgia musicians, as well as files on the artists who are featured in the exhibits.

• To access the Georgia Encyclopedia, go to http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
  

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Comedian finds himself in quite a comfortable position?

"I have enough money to last me the rest of my life, unless I buy something."

-- Comedian Jackie Mason.

• Another invitation: What's your favorite saying? Share with others through GwinnettForum. Send to elliott@gwinnettforum.com.
  

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