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TODAY'S
ISSUE
Frequent visitor to
Jekyll Island pens thoughts on island
By
Danny Brasuk
Reprinted with permission
(Editor's Note: The following first appeared
in the January 6, 2005 edition of Jekyll's Golden Islander, and
is re-printed here with permission, though slightly abbreviated.-eeb.)
MARIETTA, GA. -----I've been closely following the master plan
for the future of Jekyll Island. As one who has visited the island
regularly over a 22 year span, I feel I'm qualified to offer a few
opinions.
Without a doubt, Jekyll Island and its facilities, save for those
inside the Jekyll Club Historic District, need work - a lot of work.
The changing market place combined with the starvation of funds
by the State's politicians have clearly hurt the island economy
and put it in jeopardy of collapse. However, I don't see the master
plan, at least as explained in this paper doing anything to solve
Jekyll's problems.
Jekyll's master plan does nothing to capitalize on Jekyll's greatest
attribute: solitude. Solitude is Jekyll's competitive advantage
in the vacation market place. The master plan should do everything
to protect and enhance this most precious of assets. Jekyll provides
us a chance to escape from the busy world, yet not be too far removed
from it. If one just wants to relax and unwind, Jekyll is one of
the few places left on the East Coast.
On my two most recent visits to the Island this year, I've developed
my own master plan. I see a Jekyll Island that caters to two market
segments: parents that want to give their kids a chance to be kids;
and childless adults that need to take a break from their busy worlds
and "recharge the batteries."
In my master plan, I see Blackbeard's replaced by an expansive,
open-air, eatery and plaza, with multiple food outlets, and accessible
from the beach and bike/skate paths. . Sociable teenagers would
find a place to do what they do best: hang out and be seen.
I see the putt-putt and playground shifted to the beach side of
Beachview Drive, making both directly accessible from the beach.
Add lots of trees for shade cover, and presto, parents have still
another place to shelter the kids from the hot summer sun, while
not really leaving the beach.
In place of the current shopping center located far from the Island's
population base, I see a new "Jekyll Village" located
adjacent to the residential district that begins at Captain Wylly
Road. I'd make it pedestrian friendly, with the parking lot pushed
to the rear and wide pathways connecting it to the existing cluster
of homes and motels as well as the extended stay properties that
I recall seeing in one plan.
I see all of the bike ways, not just the newly rebuilt stretch
south of Clam Creek, upgraded to be friendly to training wheels,
in-line skates, and bicycles. I even see one of the underused golf
courses converted to bike paths especially made for small kids,
ones in which all trails are visible from and lead back to a shady
oasis where the parents would be waiting.
For those that need a "wilder" experience, I see rugged,
only slightly improved, bike paths through the forests. I improvise
such an experience now by taking my mountain bike into the forest
and following the water main routes that transit the island.
The Jekyll Island that I see in my master plan would preserve Jekyll
in all the ways that many people have grown to love over the years,
yet still provide a viable year-round economy. If we put forth and
execute a master plan to satisfy all the Island's customers, and
not just a few short term investors, surely the profits will follow
- to everyone.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
How
would you like to pay a tax of 31 percent on each sale?
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
JAN. 28, 2005 -- From what is coming out of the Georgia Legislature,
perhaps it's time to pause and add up a few items.
 The
current Gwinnett sales tax goes somewhat like this:
Four percent for the state (except 2 percent for food); and 1 percent
each for SPLOST for both county-run activities and schools. That's
a total of 6 percent.
The new Republican leadership in the Legislature doesn't apparently
like the way the state has been plodding along on a very conservative
fiscal path in the last 140 years or so. Some of those Republicans
think what's best for Georgia is not just little changes, but big
changes.
But every time a change is proposed, there's one question looming
on the horizon: who's going to benefit from this change?
Now some Republicans propose to make all state school revenue be
based on retail sales, financed by a three percent additional sales
tax. That would bring the sales tax in Gwinnett up to 9 per cent.
You buy a $100 item, and you would end up paying $109, instead of
today's $106.
What if you bought a $30,000 automobile? Where previously you would
pay $31,800, you instead would pay $32,700. Hmmm.
Meanwhile, how about big landowners? What do you think would happen
to the taxes on say, 100 acres of land, or an industrial plant worth
$100 million? Yep, you guessed it: their property taxes would be
cut approximately in half, or perhaps even more.
Sales taxes are usually argued by Republicans to be the "fairest
form of taxation, since you pay on what you consume." Yet others
maintain that the wealthy can more readily afford to pay taxes than
can poor people. And those in the lower economic ranges would be
paying three per cent more tax on every hard earned dollar they
spent.
So, what we really need to know is: who benefits from shifting
school taxes being based on property to based on sales? Why, of
course, the people at the bottom of the ladder suffer, while those
in the top tier get a whopping tax reduction!
You think that's bad?
Here comes Rep. John Linder of Gwinnett, proposing that federal
income taxes be eliminated, and the nation shift its major source
of revenue to a tax on retail transactions, or a national sales
tax.
Rep. Linder estimates a 22 per cent value added (sales) tax would
fund our national government. With the state's current 6 percent,
plus another three per cent for schools in Georgia, plus Linder's
22 per cent….why, we're talking about up to 31 percent on each
and every purchase! What's going on? That $30,000 automobile, under
this proposal, would wind up costing $38,400!
Whew!
The audacity of Rep. Linder is that he calls his shifting of the
tax burden and added value proposal a "Fair Tax." Who's
it fair to? Who's really getting taken to the cleaners, the Fat
Cats or the Average Joes?
Georgia may have been run by Democrats for years, but in one reality,
they were solid, and conservative in taxing matters. The state's
credit rating remained high.
We hope there are enough real fiscal conservatives within the state
and national Republican Party to put a stop to these far-reaching
and overzealous radical Republican proposal of additional sales
taxes.
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McLEMORE'S
WORLD
1/28: Secretary of
State Relaxing
FEEDBACK
1/28: Says Bush's inauguration
address thoughts do not mesh
Editor, the Forum:
After watching and reading the coverage on the second inauguration
of President George W. Bush this week, a couple of thoughts do not
mesh.
The President's rhetoric on liberty and freedom is not based in
reality. Many at home and abroad today wonder if the U.S. is still
the beacon for liberty and freedom that it once was, largely due
to policies promoted by the President in his first term. Many countries
have posted their intent to arrest the US President for war crimes,
even more foreign nationals have stated plans for much worse.
If President Bush would have the U.S. become a beacon of liberty
again, he would work with other nations, rather than threatening
other countries with unilateral, military action. He would order
a cease fire in Iraq, withdraw U.S. troops from major population
centers, transfer full authority to the soon to be elected Iraqi
government, and declare that it is the policy of the U.S. to withdraw
all military troops and bases from Iraq.
If President Bush wants to make the ideals of his rhetoric come
to life in our own country, he would call for repeal the most intrusive
provisions of the USA Patriot Act, if not the entire monstrosity
itself.
-- Micah D. McConochie, Dunwoody
1/28: Wondering about Ralph Reed when he's needed
Editor, the Forum:
Loved your article on the UGA athletics. Was all news to me - used
to attend the gymnastics some. Thomas used to have season tickets
and I would go with him and also attended when I was on the campus
and could get the tickets. Where is Ralph Reed when you need him!!!
-- Patricia Mitchell, Jefferson N.C.
CALENDAR
Community Center plans
Black history month art exhibit
Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation and Pinckneyville Community
Center has a new art exhibit in honor of Black History Month. The
exhibit features the works of Chester Hopper, Valerie Turley, Iia
Owens and Kweku.
A reception featuring food and beverages will be held on Thursday,
February 10, from 7-9 p.m. with an opportunity to meet the artists.
The exhibit will be on display at Pinckneyville Community Center
from February 8 through April 27. There is no charge for the reception.
Chester Hopper is a prolific artist as well as art educator. Valerie
Turley's abstract paintings are both colorful and soulful. Iia Owens
is best described as Art Nouveau/Expressionistic portraiture. Kweku's
work is heavily textured, combining both two- and three-dimensional
elements.
Pinckneyville Community Center is located at 4650 Peachtree Industrial
Boulevard in Norcross. The exhibit is open Monday through Friday
from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 12
p.m. to 5 p.m.
Rail museum offers
second annual Valentine's dinner
The Southeastern Railway Museum is planning its second annual "Romance
on the Rails", the museum's Valentine's fundraiser event. Enjoy
the relaxing atmosphere of a bygone era as the professional staff
of "Casual Catering of Georgia" serves you on china and
white linen.
Dinner will include a choice of beverages (beer, wine, tea, Coke,
coffee), hors d'oeuvres, salad, choice of beef, chicken or fish,
and side items. Champagne, coffee and desert will round out the
evening. Each couple at dinner gets a box of chocolates and a rose.
Dinner seating is limited to nine tables at a choice of four different
seating times. Seating is available Sunday, February 13 at 5:30
and 7:30 p.m. and on Monday, February 14 at 6 and 8 p.m. A table
for a couple is $125 and a table for two couples is $215.
To reserve your table please call 770-495-0253 x3 or via email at
Admin@srmduluth.org. Southeastern Railway Museum, is located at
3595 Peachtree Road, Duluth, one mile north of Pleasant Hlll Road
off Buford Highway.
NOTEWORTHY
Gwinnett court official leads statewide Clerks' authority
Lawler |
Gwinnett County Clerk of Superior Court Tom Lawler has been elected
chairman of the Board of Directors of the Georgia Superior Court
Clerks' Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA).
Lawler was first elected as Gwinnett's Clerk of Superior Court
in 1996, having previously served eight years as Gwinnett County
District Attorney. His public service career began in January 1970
as a Gwinnett County police officer. After leaving for service in
the Army, Lawler returned to serve as solicitor of the Juvenile
Court of Gwinnett County.
Lawler, 56, lives in Norcross with his wife Trish. They have one
son, Michael, who is a Gwinnett police officer.
RECOMMENDED
READ
About Splenda
 Ever
hear of the artificial sweetener 'Splenda?" It is a chlorinated
artificial sweetener that people believe is "natural."
It's not. Splenda actually is artificially produced. To date, no
long-term tests have been done on its effects on humans, but the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reviewed possible side-effects
from consuming Splenda to include enlarged liver and kidneys, decreased
white blood cell count, reduced growth rate and decreased fetal
body weight. --EEB
A lot of good information is here: http://www.truthaboutsplenda.com
- An invitation: What Web sites or books have you enjoyed?
Send us your best recent read along with a short paragraph as
to why you liked it, plus what book you plan to read next. --eeb
ENCYCLOPEDIA
TIDBIT
1/28: Atlanta airport
one of busiest airports in the world
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is one of the
busiest passenger airports in the world. Only Chicago's O'Hare airport
rivals Atlanta in passenger volume and in number of takeoffs and
landings.
 In
an average weekday afternoon 500 aircraft may be in the air flying
toward Hartsfield-Jackson, and an equal number may be in the air
after departing it. In an average month about 80,000 flights and
more than seven million passengers pass through the airport on flights
scheduled with 21 airlines. At the same time, the airport will handle
about 53,700 metric tons of cargo and more than 60,000 metric tons
of mail on airliners and cargo aircraft operated by 20 companies.
Flights from the Atlanta airport go directly to every continent
except Antarctica and Australia. The longest flight is to Johannesburg,
South Africa, which is 8,439 miles long and takes approximately
fifteen hours and twenty-five minutes. It is possible to fly almost
anywhere in the world from Hartsfield-Jackson on scheduled air carriers
with no more than one or two stops along the way.
The facility is named after two important Georgia politicians:
William B. Hartsfield and Maynard Jackson. Hartsfield, a former
alderman and mayor of the city of Atlanta, founded the airport at
the site of an abandoned racetrack in 1925 and became its first
commissioner. The name Jackson was added to Hartsfield Atlanta International
Airport in 2003, after the death of former Atlanta mayor Maynard
Jackson. Jackson was the first African American to serve as mayor
of a major southern city.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
One guy suffers from
paranoia in reverse
"I am a kind of paranoiac in reverse. I suspect people of
plotting to make me happy."
-- Writer J. D. Salinger (1919 - )
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