TODAY'S ISSUE
Take action to halt big tobacco marketing to children
By Phylecia Wilson
Special to GwinnettForum.com

OCT. 8, 2004 -- I got quite a shock recently at a national American Cancer Society Relay For Life meeting in Arizona, when I learned about big tobacco’s latest ploy in deceptively marketing cigarettes to children. I felt shock and then total outrage at seeing the attractive, colorful tins of candy-flavored cigarettes with names like Kauai Koala that taste like Swizzlers and other popular candy preferred by pre-teens. They currently are being test marketed in Hawaii and several northern states.

Please note I am not talking about candy cigarettes like the ones many of us older folks remember as children. No, these are real cigarettes, manufactured to be appealing to our children.

To what lengths will tobacco companies go to addict our children to one of the most preventable causes of death known to medical science? Are we going to have to start running anti-smoking ads on the Cartoon channel?

I hope this infuriates you as much as if does me and I hope you are reading this and saying, “What can I do to stop this madness?”

Well, there is something you can do. Right now there is some incredible legislation at the federal level in regard to FDA regulation of tobacco. Do you know that our mattresses, the chairs we sit on and the food we eat are subject to FDA regulation ­ but tobacco, one of the deadliest products on the market, is not?

Candy-flavored cigarettes is one of the new marketing tactics that big tobacco is using to target our kids. And yet, to this day, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has no say in what contents go into tobacco products, how they are marketed and control over the false claims that the industry makes. The FDA must review and regulate smoking cessation products, such as Nicorette, but can't even comment on the very product, that when used as directed, will kill you.

Already passed by the Senate by a huge majority, we now have a rare opportunity to pass this bill. It is presently a hot topic in Congress and action will most likely come this week. If it fails to pass the bill may not be re-introduced. You can help and technology makes contacting your legislator easier than ever.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION NOW! Go to the following link: http://www.kintera.org/site/c.beIHKUMGF/b.142810/apps/kd/kinteracentral.asp

Learn more about the issue:

• Tell your Representative what you think (enter you address and zip and your letter will automatically be addressed to your legislator.)
  
  
• Send the link to all your friends, families and other elected officials.
  
  
• I also hope you will invest $5 and join ACS CAN (American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network), the sister organization to the ACS that gives us more leverage when other legislation comes up that affects cancer in convincing our elected officials to help us by voting to eliminate suffering from cancer. You can use the same link to sign up and recruit others to the cause.

Once you sign up, you will be kept informed as to how your Representative voted on the issues.

Remember: if not now….when?

If not you, who?

ELLIOTT BRACK
New portion of road another reason for extending SPLOST
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

OCT. 8, 2004 -- It looks in many ways like an interstate highway, with four wide, nicely curved and contoured lanes, plus a 20 foot median. One or two traffic lights and a grade intersections belie that description.

It was our first time on this relatively newly-opened road, Satellite Boulevard between Smithtown Road and Georgia Highway 20 in Buford. The road is just west of Georgia Interstate 985. The road was dedicated July 6.

Actually, it’s something of a reliever section of road, paralleling Interstates 85 and 985 between Buford and Suwanee. And you might also call it a developmental artery, since more than half of land adjacent to the route is undeveloped, though there’s activity in clearing some of the area for future use.

The section from Smithtown Road to Buford is 4.4 miles in length, and cost $25.7 million. It’s entirely funded by Gwinnett County.

It’s not every county that can routinely afford to build roads like this. You may wonder where the county gets the funding for such a road, built more-or-less “just in time” for the obvious growth that is coming to the area.

The answer, in one word: SPLOST, or in a bunch of words, the Special Purpose Local Optional Sales Tax. Yep, here again is a project that comes from the lowly penny, the one cent sales tax that county voters imposed on themselves four years ago for roads such as this, and for many other projects for the long term benefit of the county.

The sales tax also helped in completing part of the Sugarloaf Parkway, and for extending Breckinridge Boulevard from Boggs Road to North Brown Road, giving additional parallel reliever lanes east of Interstate 85.

The extension of these roads is just another reason why the vote next month to extend SPLOST for another four years. With the needs of the county continually growing as its population grows, this virtually painless way of paying for major projects has become more important than ever.

Many other projects besides roads are on the agenda for spending of SPLOST funds for the coming years. However, highway construction is a good example of why SPLOST should be extended for another four years.

Here’s why: roads of the county are used not only by the people of Gwinnett, but by many others from outside Gwinnett. They pass through, or come here to shop, or visit friends, or attend events in Gwinnett, though they live in other areas.

While these visitors to Gwinnett create more traffic and use our roads, they also bring a major benefit to the county. Their purchases in malls, at theaters or sporting activities, in food stores and at gasoline stations, cost them a one per cent tax for the county (plus an additional one cent for school construction.) They help contribute to the overall treasury of Gwinnett, and help pay for the roads. It’s been estimated that sales taxes from people from places other than Gwinnett add up to 40 per cent of the sales tax collection.

We all should say “Thank you very much” for helping Gwinnett pay for these major improvements. Without these sales tax funds, the entire burden for these improvements would mean higher ad valorem taxes for Gwinnett citizens, or else we would not have funding for these many projects.

Again, thank you very much, outsiders!

Next time you are in the Suwanee-Buford area, check out this new portion of Satellite Boulevard!

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS

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For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: http://www.gwinnettforum.com/about/sponsors.htm.

McLEMORE'S WORLD
10/8: Debating debates

The latest from cartoonist Bill McLemore:

FEEDBACK
10/8: Imperfect ballot still a nonviolent alternative to war

Editor, the Forum:

With the election nearing, we hear much talk about war, democracy and freedom. As we seek ways to prevent war and model democracy, we must look to voting. Many of us are so accustomed to elections that we have forgotten that the ballot---imperfect as it may be---is a nonviolent alternative to war.

Free and fair elections are a key part of rebuilding nations after war, and a prerequisite for avoiding it. Voting is about the rule of law instead of the rule of force. It ensures the ability of citizens to hold its elected leaders accountable.

Voting is so powerful that people around the world and in the United States have risked, and sometimes lost, their lives to do it. We cannot take this form of nonviolent change for granted. We need to get to the polls on November 2 and encourage our friends and neighbors to do so as well.

-- Micah D. McConochie, Dunwoody

10/8: Challenges previous positions on smoking ban and quagmire

Editor, the Forum:

You earlier wrote: “If every single person living in Gwinnett cities was for smoking, that would only be 20 per cent of the county population. We suspect Gwinnett city residents are much like the rest of the country, where 75 per cent of the people don't smoke. People across the country, and even whole nations like Ireland, understand the dangers of smoking, and don't associate governmental interference with it, unless they are mainly bar patrons or owners. ­eeb.”

The issue however is in your still-flawed reasoning. You assume that every non-smoker agrees with the ordinance and your viewpoint. That's a fallacy. I'm a non-smoker and I disagree with the smoking ban. I don't smoke but I appreciate that smokers have rights too, as do business owners, though they may be a minority voice.

Remember your spiel about the minority having rights? (Response to Rikki Lewis - 3/5/04 ‘Thank you for your thoughts. You ask if I agree. I would say not so fast on that 50 per cent "rule" you quote. After all, minorities have rights, too. Compromise is like buying something valuable at the lowest bid. You might get a serviceable unit, but not have all the bells and whistles you want on it. And many would tell you that ‘this is the American way, too.’ ”

I guess that noble thought is purged from yours, and most other liberals, minds, when its to their benefit. We had a successful compromise with non-smoking sections and common courtesy.

Also, Scott Tuggle's letter was a bit of a sham. After going through a decent beginning and offering a non-partisan site to check facts, he then cheapened his argument by spouting more liberal party line drivel: "against the guidelines of the U.S. Constitution, after misleading the Congress." Both of these are FALSE.

Also his opinion that Bush's actions are impeachable, is also false. I'm only surprised he used "quagmire" once.

-- Tony Rivera, Suwanee

CALENDAR
10/8: Gwinnett Philharmonic starts new season Tuesday

Gwinnett Philharmonic's 10th Anniversary Concert Celebration marks the start of a new season on Tuesday, Oct. 12, 8 p.m. at the Performing Arts Center.

The October 10th anniversary concert includes Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 ("From the New World"); a Beethoven Overture ("Consecration of the House"); Gustav Holst's St. Paul's Suite; and Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Trumpets and Orchestra

Secure tickets at any Ticketmaster location, or visit the Box Office at the Gwinnett Arena today! Members of the Gwinnett Philharmonic Association, Inc. may call 770-418-1115 for assistance with ticket orders.

McDaniel Park grand opening set for Saturday, Oct. 9

Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation will host the grand opening celebration of McDaniel Farm Park on Saturday, October 9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the park at 11 a.m.

Opening day festivities include hayrides, storytelling and animals. The bluegrass band, the Skillet Lickers, and the Mike Rogers duo of acoustic guitar and harmonica will entertain audiences throughout the day as well.

Enjoy demonstrations in blacksmithing, quilting, weaving, plowing, horse care, and learn how to make ice cream “the old-fashion way.” Animal and farm life exhibits will also be on display. Watch artists throughout the day as they paint at the park.

Amid the hustle and bustle of Pleasant Hill Road and Gwinnett Place Mall, the quiet and serene McDaniel Farm Park is located at 3251 McDaniel Road in Duluth. For more information on McDaniel Farm Park and the grand opening celebration on Saturday, October 9, call (770) 814-4920.

A free shuttle to McDaniel Farm Park will be available across the street from McDaniel Road at the Gwinnett Prado on Old Norcross Road.

Covenant Counseling plans walk for mental health Oct. 16

Covenant Counseling and Family Resource Center in Snellville will sponsor “A Walk in the Park for Mental Health” on Saturday, October 16th at Tribble Mill Park, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The purpose of the walk is to create community awareness about mental health issues, as well as to raise money for the Center’s Samaritan Fund, which supplements the cost of counseling for members of the community who may not be able to afford it.

Families are also encouraged to come on October 16th and spend a day of walking around the park’s three-mile track, sharing a picnic lunch, enjoying live music, and perusing the corporate sponsorship tables.

Corporate sponsors may participate at one of three donor levels. Gold sponsors (donations of $1,000 or more) will get their company name listed on the event banner, will get table space to display their corporate information, and have their company name listed on the event T-shirts. Silver sponsors (donations of $500-$999) will also get table space and their name on the event T-shirt. Bronze sponsors ($100-$499) get their company or individual name on the event T-shirt.

CC&FRC has been located in Snellville since 1992. They are a non-profit, 501(c)3. For more information about walker registration or corporate sponsorship, contact Mary Walker at CC&FRC by calling 770-985-0837, ext. 100 or e-mail: info@covenantcounseling.org.

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
10/8: Telfair Museum in Savannah dates back to 1875

The Telfair Museum of Art in Savannah was founded in 1875 through the bequest of Mary Telfair, who willed her home to be transformed into the South's first public "academy of arts and sciences," as it was originally known. The Telfair's permanent collection contains nearly 4,500 objects from America, Europe, and Asia and is particularly strong in American Impressionist and Ashcan School paintings, and early 19th-century decorative arts. This gallery contains highlights from the Telfair's exceptional permanent collection of American paintings.

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

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Two, no three, characteristics you want in an audience

“The best audience is intelligent, well-educated and a little drunk."

-- Former U.S. Vice-President Alben Barkley, contributed by Marshall Miller of Lilburn.

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

MORE: Contact Gwinnett Forum at: elliott@gwinnettforum.com

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