TODAY'S ISSUE
Charlotte Nash reflects on her 27 years with the county
By Charlotte Nash
Retiring Gwinnett County Administrator
Special to GwinnettForum.com

(Editor's Note: We asked Charlotte Nash to give us her thoughts as she retires from Gwinnett County government. She has served with distinction in various capacities, including being the director of financial services for the county, and for the last nine years, the county administrator. She was involved in county government for 27.-eeb)

DEC. 14, 2004 -- As I think about the progress made in Gwinnett County over the last decade or so, I feel a great sense of pride in what has been accomplished. Gwinnett has established itself as a leader in almost every area, with awards and recognition galore to prove it.

Nash

More importantly, we see the proof in our day-to-day lives when we drive through a safer intersection, visit a first-rate park, make an emergency call for Police or Fire assistance, use tap water for drinking and cooking, borrow a book from the closest library, enjoy a concert at the Arena at Gwinnett Center or attend a class at the Gwinnett University Center. All this and more are here within easy reach.

Gwinnett's development into a well-rounded community with excellent services and infrastructure is a success story with many authors. However, credit must first be given to the County's residents --- you elect its leaders, you set expectations for facilities and services and you provide funding to pay the County's bills and you involve yourselves directly in County activities and decisions. You are a vital link between the community and its elected leadership and government staff.

Second, credit goes to the County's elected officials for the progressive leadership they have provided. This has been true in every decade, but certainly in the most recent one. The three individuals elected to the County Commission in November 1992 (Wayne Hill, Tommy Hughes and Judy Waters) came into office determined to be a team and willing to accept differing roles based on personal strengths and the needs of the group. They committed to settle differences privately and to embrace the will of the majority once a decision was made.

This approach set the tone, even as membership of the Board changed. Much of the progress since 1992 can be attributed to the Board's focus on major issues and the goal of doing what was best overall for the County. I have seen time and time again the common desire for Gwinnett's well-being surface in the midst of disagreement, giving a basis for compromise.

I salute each one of the commissioners during this time period for their service and contributions. Each has worked to better the community, despite the cost to themselves and their families. My special thanks goes to Tommy Hughes for providing political insight, serving as a sounding board and working to maintain Board relationships.

To Wayne Hill, I extend my respect and admiration for his dedication and honesty. No other elected official I have known has put more effort into working for Gwinnett or cared more for the County. While he demanded a lot from the staff and me, it was no more than he expected of himself. His example taught me about responsibility and loyalty.

Finally, I want to highlight the great staff throughout County government. I am proud of the quality folks we have been able to recruit, develop and retain. They are the best anywhere, and they will continue to work every day to serve the community, to support the Board of Commissioners and to make Gwinnett a continuing success.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Sugar Hill gas prices, Rumsfeld's questions and Jekyll leases
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

DEC. 14, 2004 -- With lots happening, it's a good time to catch you up on a few items.

Hurrah for the City of Sugar Hill. There was a news item recently about the price of natural gas in that city declining, Sugar Hill gas customers will be pleased to see.

What happened is a result, we would say, of good management. Anticipating higher oil prices, Sugar Hill bought gas futures, locking in its wholesale price. And as a result, the city was able to price gas to its customers at a lower cost in the area, and even still made a profit. Now they have cut some profit, giving gas customers a lower cost, according to Sugar Hill officials. Sugar Hill residents will agree, we bet, that the results are good management!

* * * * *

Most lawyers will tell you, always know the answer to a question you put to someone on trial.

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld apparently has never learned this lesson, as he opened the floor to questions when visiting soldiers deployed overseas, and about to go into Iraq, recently.

For he surely didn't get what he thought he might, as one soldier brought up the problems of vehicles not having adequate metal plate protection as they were about to enter a combat zone.

The interesting aspect was that the defense secretary wanted the questions to come from the men in the field, not from journalists. But when journalists are imbedded with troops, the Army runs a risk that these journalists will find a way to get important questions answered, one way or the other. And apparently armor plating vehicles is far worse than the defense secretary either knew about, or wanted to admit.

In reality, Mr. Rumsfeld found himself "on trial" out of the questions he sought!

* * * * *

Ever since the State of Georgia purchased Jekyll Island, back in 1946, the state has owned the entire island, allowing businesses and individuals not to own the land, but to lease it. These people were given 99 year leases. Back in the early 50's and 60s, such a lease was a long time toward ending, and therefore, people built on the leased real estate, sometimes erecting quite substantial homes.

Now, of course, those leases are getting much closer to expiring. And some people, businesses in particular, would love to see the island privately owned and operated.

Other see it another way. Even the Jekyll Island Citizen's Association is on record as opposing the selling Island property to private landowners. Among their arguments is that if this happened, the newly created private property on the island would fall under weak Glynn County planning and zoning regulations. This brought up the idea that it might lead to beachfront property being densely developed as high rises and condos, such as you see on other beaches in Florida or South Carolina. Jekyll's beach, you may remember, has no high rises and consists primarily of beachfront homes, open land, or a few low-rise hotels.

Three options were given to our governor, Dr. Sonny Perdue, which included:

1. Sell the leased land and privatize current Jekyll operations.
2. Manage the island under current laws.
3. Re-develop portions of the island, while reducing the scope of the Jekyll Island Authority.

We hope the State of Georgia, and in particular Governor Perdue, will opt for keeping Jekyll Island as it is, relatively undeveloped and pure, and open as a virtual park to all residents of Georgia, as a jewel in the crown of the Golden Isles.

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FEEDBACK
12/14: Says Nordstrom has service like many of us remember

Editor, the Forum:

In reference to your article on department stores, there is still one that offers the services that we remember getting at Rich's and Davidson's and one of there stores is in Gwinnett County. It's Nordstrom at the Mall of Georgia!

Their emphasis is on customer service and they work to promote that everyday. They carry quality merchandise and will not be undersold, and will match prices on identical items. They have free gift boxes, you can move in the aisles without being crowded by merchandise, they have a piano player and their return policy is the most liberal in the industry. Nordstrom is a department store maintaining values of times gone by.

-- Lee Baker, Lilburn

(Editor's Note: Most people will agree that Nordstrom is an ideal as a department store, when it comes to service. Mr. Baker is president of the Touchdown Club of Atlanta, and an employee of Nordstrom.-eeb)

12/14: Family sees bear between Duluth and Suwanee

Editor, the Forum:

We saw a giant black bear walking across our yard when we got home last night, off Buford Highway near Saint Monica's Catholic Church between Duluth and Suwanee. The top of his back, on all fours, was even with the top of the lid on the back of my truck!

I called 911. They said keep your pets in the house. We didn't go looking for him...

-- Brian Luders, Duluth

(Editor's Note: Our view of Mr. Luders has gone up a notch, knowing he didn't go out looking for that bear. -eeb.)

NEWS
Gladiators offer tickets in exchange for coats for kids

On December 17 the Gwinnett Gladiators will be hosting the Second Annual "Coats For Kids" at the Gwinnett Arena located at: 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. The Gladiators are dedicating this special night to the needs of Gwinnett's most invisible citizens, foster children.

The 2005 Gwinnett Neighborhood Leadership Institute (GNLI) Helping Hands team members (Kelly Ann Davis, Michelle Chaney, Frances Smith, Aaron Whiting and Raj Sooknanan) will greet fans attending this year's coat drive at the door as they collect the needed coats.

GNLI-Helping Hands Project Team Leader, KellyAnn Davis, states "Our teams focus at this years coat drive is to help collect as many new or slightly used coats and jackets before the start of the 7:35 pm game, with the goal that every child in care, will have a clean, warm coat to wear this winter." All sizes are welcomed and needed. The collected coats will be delivered the following week to the Foster Children's Foundation Clothing and Resource Center, a non-for-profit organization that helps the children who are in the Foster Care Program.

Fans who donate a coat or jacket at the "Coats For Kids" event will receive a coupon good for discounted ticket prices at the time of purchase. The coupon will allow donating patrons to receive either 10 Premium Seats in selected areas for $10/ticket or 10 Upper Mezzanine Seats for $5/ticket. This discount is for this game only.

For questions or information regarding this event, please contact KellyAnn Davis (FCF/GNLI) at 678-409-5089 or email kellyanne.davis@earthlink.net

Church of Movies offers special Christmas Eve service

Mill Creek Community Church, also known as the "Church at the Movies," is offering the community an opportunity to start a new holiday tradition by spending Christmas Eve (December 24) at the Mall of Georgia Regal Theaters.

Its second annual Christmas Eve service with classic Christmas carols, clips from favorite Christmas movies and a brief message about the meaning of the season, will be offered at 5:30 p.m. in Theater #2.

"We offer a casual, relaxed atmosphere," said church pastor, Tony McCollum. "There's no dress code, and we keep it fun and entertaining, yet still inspiring."

This kid-friendly service is open to all ages, and childcare is provided for pre-registered children under the age of two. Keeping the children in mind, the service will last only an hour, and there will be special surprises throughout the event for them.

Free tickets are required for this exciting event. Reserve your free tickets today by visiting the website at www.ChristmasEveAtTheMovies.com. For more information, call 770.614.6152.

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
12/14: Lillian Smith led early denouncement against segregation

Lillian Smith (1897-1966) was the first prominent white Southerner to denounce racial segregation openly and to work actively against the entrenched and often brutally enforced world of Jim Crow. From as early as the 1930s, she argued that Jim Crow was evil ("Segregation is spiritual lynching," she said) and that it leads to social moral retardation.

Smith gained national recognition-and regional denunciation-by writing Strange Fruit (1944), a bold novel of illicit interracial love. Five years Lillian Smith later, she hurled another thunderbolt against racism in Killers of the Dream (1949), a brilliant psychological and autobiographical work warning that segregation corrupted the soul.

Lillian Eugenia Smith was born into a large, respectable, prosperous family in Jasper, Florida, on December 12, 1897. When the family business collapsed in 1915, her family moved to their cottage in Clayton, and started Laurel Falls Girls Camp. Smith studied at Piedmont College in Demorest, and then left to help run the family camp.

By and large, Smith's neighbors were polite to her, but she knew what many Southerners thought of her and could decipher the ugliness of the expression, uttered by Eugene Talmadge, that Strange Fruit was a "literary corncob." Though her fame may have diminished since her death, she was an important early voice in the movement for civil rights in the American South, one of the first white Southern writers to confront the evils of racism and injustice in a forthright, uncompromising manner.

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

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Proving again that big things can come in small sizes

"My favorite saying for the last several years is "If you think you're too small to be effective, you have never been in bed with a mosquito." I don't know who the author is.

-- Laura Dennison, Duluth

• 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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