TODAY'S ISSUE
Musical group surprises with songs from earlier era
By Elaine Fuerst
Special to GwinnettForum.com

SEPT. 28, 2004 -- My husband, John, and I with our closest friends had been trying for quite awhile to get over to "Rafters" to see my former Nortel Networks' colleague Alan McKie's son's band. I really didn't know what to expect except that the McKies, from Alpharetta, are all very smart, hardworking and wonderful people. I wanted to go just to show my support for Andrew. Little did I know how much fun I would have and how many memories the music would bring back.

With the first strum of the guitar, I was transported to an earlier time in my life. I heard a voice softly sing …"Close Your Eyes and I'll Kiss You, Tomorrow I'll Miss You…." It's a Beatles tune; one that is as much a part of me as my right arm. And that's how one of my recent Friday nights went. All night, the band played songs I actually knew!

What's so unusual about this particular group that played classic rock music a/k/a Beatles, Rolling Stones, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Lynard Skynard - was that it was a group of high school boys. The group is called RAIN and started as most groups do, in someone's garage. All are quite talented and landed a "let's see what you can do" gig at "Rafters," a neighborhood restaurant at State Bridge and Jones Bridge; a hop skip and toe tapping step from Gwinnett County. They pleased the patrons so much, they've been there almost every Friday night, just getting better and better.

When I taught high school, I was in tune with what the students were listening to, but I've pretty much been out of touch, turning my dial most days to news radio. To my surprise, I was not hearing rap, hard rock, smash rock or loud twangy ear-splitting squeaks.

I was not alone in my enjoyment. The other couple with my husband and me were amazed as well at how good the group sounded and the choice of music. They fully well expected to encounter your typical neighborhood "garage band", but "they were good". What impressed my friend the most was how guys from the bar side of the restaurant, separated by a wall of windows, kept opening the windows gawking in amazement when the different musicians did their solos on "Freebird".

In the group is Andrew McKie, son of Tracey and Alan McKie, dear friends who also have two other talented and smart children that I adore. Andrew is the vocalist and guitar, Micah Voss is drummer, Drew Mitchell is base guitar, and Jeff Jones is on guitar and harmonica, with some fancy moves in the last song of the evening.

I caught up with a young couple as they left the restaurant and asked them why they came. They said they pretty much loved the music and thought Rain was really good. They said that almost everyone their age liked the "old stuff", that it was all coming back. It's a good feeling to know that some of the music I love is also enjoyed by today's teens.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Most Gwinnett cities need to enact no smoking ordinances
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

SEPT. 28, 2004 -- "Sometimes one vote can make a big difference. Such was the case in Columbia County on Tuesday night (Sept. 21) when good health triumphed over sick air by a 3-2 margin. Commissioners Tommy Mercer and Steve Brown and Chairman Ron Cross provided the votes that guarantee indoor public places must be smoke-free starting next Jan. 1.

"Now that Columbia County has snuffed out its smoke, the Augusta Commission must follow suit. Richmond and Columbia counties are far too integrated, commercially and geographically, for just one jurisdiction to ban."

-- Editorial in Augusta Chronicle.

* * * * *

Get a measure passed by a governmental body, and chances are you will find someone behind-the-scenes working to get the measure rescinded. No doubt this is already happening in Gwinnett, just as it will in Columbia County.

Some people, notably bar owners, were strongly opposed to this measure in Gwinnett, which the Gwinnett County Commission saw reason to pass, no doubt concerned about the health of the citizens of Gwinnett.

But be assured, the bar owners are still fighting a rear-action against the measure, and lobbying the new members of the county commission who take office January 1, 2005, to allow smoking in bars.

Stay your course, county commissioners.

If you think the organized opposition to no smoking in bars is convincing, you will be surprised how strong the anti-smoking lobby is, (though usually quiet and not organized).

For example, far more than half the people of the United States today do not smoke. Not only that, even many of those who do smoke realize the dangers of smoking, wishing they did not have this addiction. Today people also understand the dangers of second-hand smoke.

Throw all of these people together, and you reach about 75 per cent of the nation's population that are opposed to softening the bans on smoking. Any efforts to liberalize the no smoking ban in Gwinnett public places would be met with a strong reaction by the great majority of Gwinnett residents.

What it amounts to is that Gwinnett continues to set the pace for the rest of Georgia in many areas. Gwinnett is looked upon by the rest of Georgia as being most progressive in delivery of government services, in public education, and in adopting concerns of its citizens, including the ban on smoking.

It reminds us of the story out of Alabama, where officials were saying that waste water could not be cleaned to the requirements the state was trying to set. "You can't clean waste water that much," so the guy said. Came the response: "Well, look at Gwinnett County, Georgia. They are setting a world standard in water treatment." It takes only determination, energy and funding.

We're proud of the high Gwinnett standards for excellence. Gwinnett citizens also want their county regulations setting a pace for healthiness. That's why they were so pleased to see the county commission approving the no smoking ban. Citizens want it to continue, unabated, and will move mightily against any effort to change the law.

* * * * *

While the county commission has set the pace when it comes to a smoking ban in the county, most Gwinnett cities are dragging down the overall healthiness by not enacting smoking bans.

So far, only Grayson, Berkeley Lake, Loganville and Snellville of the 15 Gwinnett cities have enacted a smoking ordinance. The other Gwinnett cities need to move positively to improve the health of their citizens, too, by having a no-smoking ban in public places.

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FEEDBACK
9/28: Baseball or football - - friend or acqaintance?

Editor, the Forum:

As the end of baseball season collides with the beginning of football season, it presents an interesting commentary on changing American values. Is football rivaling baseball as America's pastime? I purport that if the standard of measure is truly a pastime, then there is no comparison.

Baseball takes us back to a slower pace when there were not as many leisure activities competing for our time, and one may argue here, there was not even as much leisure. It is played on a "field" and divided into orderly innings where each team takes their turn, one-on-one, batter with pitcher. Pitchers and catchers report in February and the leaves are falling by the time the World Series champ is crowned. Baseball is like a friend that comes and stays with you, day by day, for most of the year. A four game losing streak or a slow spring start, like the Braves this year, can be overcome.

Football is played on a "gridiron" where fans tailgate on asphalt parking lots. Depending on college or pro, the entire season may be only 11-20 games. The season is much shorter, August-January, and the games are only played once a week. There is so much more at stake with each win or loss as suggested by one Tampa Bay Bucs fan now living in Atlanta wrote to a local paper. He stated that after two losses by the Bucs, he was now switching his allegiance to the Atlanta Falcons, who won their two first games. Such intensity hardly qualifies as a pastime.

There is something about baseball being there for you almost every day for most of the year. There is something about the slower pace that speaks of the ability to take the time to establish a relationship. The players, coaches and sportscasters are likely to be around longer in baseball, even though they may change teams. I am admittedly biased, growing-up in a different era. While I enjoy a good football game or even season, there is no doubt for me that baseball will continue to be America's pastime. So "for a good time", go to the gridiron and tailgate, but for a longer lasting and real relationship, catch a baseball game.

-- John O'Kane, Stone Mountain

9/28: Suggests security will be top election concern

Editor, the Forum:

None of the following verbiage will have any bearing on the upcoming election, especially Medicare. The primary issue that will decide the outcome of the election is the security of this nation.

One candidate is clearly security conscious for the USA, Bush; and one candidate clearly is not all that concerned about the security of this nation, Kerry.

The selection of the next President will be primarily based upon this one issue! Mark my words!

-- Roy McCreary, Dacula

Dear Roy: We'll see. -eeb

CALENDAR
Deadline nearing for Gwinnett environmental scholarships

Two Gwinnett County seniors with an interest in agricultural or environmental sciences will receive $2,500 scholarships in November, through efforts of County Commission Chairman Wayne Hill.

"The scholarships were part of an award I got for greenspace preservation, so it seemed right to offer the money to kids with an interest in that area," Chairman Hill said.

The scholarship was awarded to Chairman Hill by the Large Urban County Caucus of the National Association of Counties (NACo), and is funded by the Siemens Corporation. Chairman Hill received the award in July during the NACo conference in Phoenix for his vision and leadership in preserving greenspace in Gwinnett County.

Information about the scholarship is being distributed by high school guidance counselors across Gwinnett and is also available online at www.gwinnettcounty.com. Deadline for mailing the application packet is October 22. The scholarships are to be awarded in mid-November.

NEWS
Hopewell church plans fall festival and health fair

The campus of Hopewell Baptist Church will bustle with activity on Saturday, October 9, 2004 for children of all ages. Hopewell Christian Academy PTO will hold the third annual Fall Festival and Health Fair in the Give Us Hope Youth Center and the parking lots of Faith Hall and the Youth Center.

There will be amusements for all ages, along with food concessions around the campus.

Celebrating its 10th year of health ministry to the "whole" person, the Health Fair will offer free screenings for a variety of health concerns, including dental and eye care, Chiropractic consultations, kidney profile (CBC, Cholesterol, diabetes testing), foot and ankle care, mini massage, and even nutritional cooking demos.

There will also be a session on Disaster Relief Awareness sponsored by the Disaster Relief Ministry.

To round out Hopewell's holistic approach to wellness, the Fitness Center will sponsor Fitness Education classes, which will be conducted throughout the day and staff will be available to accept new members.

The Health Fair will begin at 10am followed by the Annual CDC/HCA Parade down Faith Boulevard.

Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church is located at 182 Hunter Street, Norcross.

BOOK RECOMMENDATION

• 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
9/28: Robins Air Base has tremendous impact on middle Georgia

Robins Air Force Base is Georgia's largest industrial installation and is located in Warner Robins, 16 miles south of Macon. Both the base and the town were named for Brigadier General Augustine Warner Robins (1882-1940), one of the first logistics specialists and generals of the Army Air Corps.

On August 14, 1941, after much competition, the War Department approved the construction of a depot in middle Georgia dairy-farm country near the Southern Railroad whistle-stop of Wellston. The site was chosen because of its flat lands, artesian water, proximity to a main rail line, and abundant and cheap land and labor.

During World War II it was re-designated seven times, acquiring "Warner Robins" in the fifth version of its name, when the town of Wellston was renamed to honor General Robins. Throughout World War II (1941-45), 23,670 employees repaired almost every kind of AAF aircraft, including B-17s, C-47s, B-29s, B-24s, P-38s, P-47s, and P-51s.

By March 1946 only 3,900 employees remained. The Berlin Airlift and the Korean War restored the workforce to 17,697 by December 1952. In 2002 Robins Air Force Base had more than 5,250 military and about 12,750 civilian employees.

Robins AFB has the largest runway in Georgia and is capable of accommodating the world's largest aircraft. The replacement value of the base is $5 billion.

The Museum of Aviation, begun in 1981, has four major structures on 43 acres and 90 historic aircraft. It has become a major regional educational and historical resource that hosts more than 500,000 visitors annually.

Robins's total economic impact on Middle Georgia was $3.1 billion in 1998. Warner Robins has a population of more than 48,800, and Houston County's is more than 110,000. All 25 Middle Georgia counties have grown and experienced economic stability as a result of the presence of Robins Air Force Base.

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

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
What it takes to challenge what others say

"To repeat what others have said, requires education; to challenge it, requires brains."

-- Mary Pettibone Poole, A Glass Eye at a Keyhole, 1938.

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

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