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EDITOR'S NOTE: Because of
the Memorial Day holiday, the next edition of Gwinnett Forum will
be posted on Wednesday morning, June 2, instead of on Tuesday morning.
Have a happy and safe Memorial Day. --eeb
TODAY'S
ISSUE
Stay within your budget
with careful planning this summer
By Gay Watson
Consumer Credit Counseling Service
Special to GwinnettForum.com
MAY 27, 2005 -- Once again, it's the good old summertime. The kids
are out of school and will be getting bored. But you may not have
the budget to keep them busy, active and learning over the summer.
Don't worry - Consumer Credit Counseling Service wants you to stay
within your budget and has suggestions for some inexpensive options
keep the kids entertained and informed while they are out of school.
Summer camps are a great way for your little ones to make new friends,
learn new skills and fill the summer break. But many of these camps
can be expensive, especially if you are sending more than one child.
Look at community newspapers, websites, church bulletins and roadside
signage to find great deals on summer camp. Organizations like the
YMCA often offer scholarships for those in need. Ask if you qualify.
Also find out if there are discounts for sending your child to more
than one week of camp or sending multiple children. Make sure you
don't sacrifice safety to save a few bucks. Get good recommendations
from past campers so you feel comfortable sending your child off
to camp.
Another place to chill out is the local library, which has for
years offered summertime story hours. Go to your county's website
for a list of library activities that are sure to entertain your
child and keep them reading over the summer break.
National and state parks often host living history demonstrations,
wildlife and nature walks and recreation events for all ages year
round. Summertime is a great time to take advantage of these often-free
offerings. A quick online search should provide a calendar of events
at such parks. Not only will your kids be able to run off some energy
there, they may even learn something new about history, nature or
science. Pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it.
So you still have to work even though the kids are out of school?
To avoid high daycare costs, pool resources with friends and neighbors.
Each of you can volunteer for a week to take care of all of the
kids. Also solicit help from family. The kids will probably love
a week at grandma's house. Also, organize activities for neighborhood
kids. Group swim sessions at the neighborhood pool or a fun game
of kickball can keep the kids active and help them make new friends
in the neighborhood. It will also help mom and dad meet other parents
in the neighborhood with whom you can pool resources.
Local parks and playgrounds are a great place for kids to throw
a ball or take a swing. Visit your county's website to find out
which parks offer which amenities. Look for more than play facilities.
Go and feed the ducks or find a wading stream in which to cool off.
Church activities, such as Vacation Bible School, are a great way
to remind your child about your faith while filling their summertime
days.
Museums and art galleries frequently offer summertime exhibits
that are geared toward their youngest patrons. Check out the Internet
to find puppet shows, plays and exhibits that are free or inexpensive.
These may bring out your child's creative side.
The best approach for tackling summertime ho-hum is planning. A
little research will help make your kid's summer a time they won't
forget. Plus, finding low cost options for entertaining your children
will help you save money. If you need more help with budget or credit
issues, be sure to contact Consumer Credit Counseling Service at
800-241-CCCS or www.cccsinc.org.
ELLIOTT
BRACK
Dogs
behind steering wheels, and report on Hercule Brack
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
MAY 27, 2005 -- Time to get one thing off my chest that really
peeves me: people who drive an automobile with a dog in their laps.
It's downright dangerous. Who knows which way the dog might lurch
at any time, especially if this Lap Dog sees a dog of the opposite
sex prancing down the roadway! No telling what might happen, the
car swerving because the driver obviously lost control when the
dog started that ruckus!
Just this morning a car making a left turn toward me had a smaller
brown poodle between the driver and the left window. When the car
approached me, all I could see was the dog, and what I think was
a female driver. That set me off.
Now I loves dogs as much as anyone, and our Herky has often ridden
with us. But not between my arms when I am driving! Far as that
goes, the best place for Herky is the back seat, and even there,
he or any other dog can cause problems, I recognize.
Yep, we admit up front we are not perfect. But dogs don't belong
in the lap of the driver. And no, we don't want a new law passed
on this subject, but we would like to appeal to nothing less than
sane reason on this subject.
Yes, lap dogs in automobiles are pet peeves of mine. What's yours?
* * * * *
A Report on Hercules Rumpole Brack, our new year-old dog we call
Herky. He's getting along quite nicely, except his love of leather.
Yep, a few pairs of shoes can show his damage, but after all, it
was our fault for leaving a closet door open. We have learned.
 He's
gaining weight, up from 12 pounds when he got him to about 15 now.
And he's even beginning to mind a little better. I suppose if he
could talk, he would also say that we are doing better toward him.
We're walking him twice daily around the block or more, so he's
exercising us quite well.
And he's fun to have around. We've fenced part of the back yard,
and he was relatively quick on learning the Pet Door routine. He
still has this talent for dragging all sorts of items to the back
yard from inside the house, but then, we really shouldn't let rolls
of toilet paper sit around openly, should we?
We wondered about his roots, but now firmly feel even though he
is a pound dog that he's nothing less than a wire-haired Jack Russell
with a funny looking head. A friend says it's a Jack Russell if
he puts his paws on your chest and tries forever to lick you in
the face. That's him.
It's good (after four years) to have a dog around the house again.
* * * * *
While Gwinnett County can be reasonably proud of raising lots of
money in its Relay for Life competition, the Cleveland-White County
Relay for Life claims its own title: most money raised per capita
in Georgia.
Their Relay recently raised $173,000, which doesn't approach the
Gwinnett figure of more than $2.2 million. But hey, there's only
about 20,000 people in all of White County. Congratulations, White
and Cleveland: you've done beautifully.
And talking about Relay: students in Athens raised $223,000 in
the University Relay for life. What say, Georgia Tech?
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McLEMORE'S
WORLD
5/27: On
Memorial Day
Another great cartoon by Bill McLemore:
FEEDBACK
5/27: Are
we so callous to demand Jennifer suffers
Editor, the Forum;
Last week GF Editor Elliott Brack's article
on Jennifer Wilbanks the so-called 'runaway bride,' laid out well
thought out reasons why she should be left alone to deal with her
own mess and not have to become the next media spectacle. Apparently
the Gwinnett County DA Danny Porter disagrees with Mr. Brack. Mr.
Porter said that "There has to be a consequence for lying to
the police." I agree but couldn't Gwinnett County have a bit
more compassion for her?
The city of Duluth is working out an agreement with the Wilbanks
in order to recoup their costs for the manhunt, which is truly the
only real offense committed. Now Jennifer and her family, who certainly
wanted some privacy after their ordeal, will be dragged through
the court of public opinion. An ordeal is an ordeal even when it
is of our own creation.
Worse in my estimation was the AJC poll online which as of this
writing had about 72 percent of people saying the indictment is
the right thing to do. Are we that callous of a people to demand
her suffering be brought into the public arena?
The money lost by both Duluth and Gwinnett County for their efforts
to locate Ms. Wilbanks can be recouped without charging anyone for
a crime and wasting even more County money with court proceedings
and the like. This action only lends credence to my views that America
is becoming a police state where punishment for any infraction MUST
be meted out without regard to any extenuating circumstances. What
would we lose if 'justice' was not imposed so forcefully and publicly
upon Ms. Wilbanks?
Maybe Mr. Porter just fears losing the next election? That the
Wilbanks' have lost their privacy is for sure now. I can't imagine
this becoming a local election issue, but one can only wonder at
his motivations since he did not seem very forthcoming about his
plans in the press conference held this morning at the Justice Center
in Lawrenceville. I shall reserve further judgment on the DA until
such time as he finalizes his plans. So far his actions seem to
indicate a bit of grandstanding and more government waste of time
and resources.
-- Roger Hagen, Lilburn
UPCOMING
Suwanee
suggests several ideas for upcoming Memorial Day
Are you looking for a fun---yet appropriate---way to celebrate
the Memorial Day weekend? Then you'll want to check out the concert
performance at Town Center Park this Friday. The City also is hosting
a fun, family-centered,
performing arts-focused event at the park next Saturday.
More details about both of these events are available at the City
of Suwanee website, http://www.suwanee.com.
Other ideas for this upcoming holiday weekend:
- Visit one of Suwanee's parks or the Suwanee Creek Greenway.
A park locator map is available on the website; check the "Hot
Links" section on the homepage for the link.
- And, if you're planning a visit to the Suwanee Creek Greenway,
be sure to look for the Art on a Limb orbs that are being placed
along the trail and in the parks daily throughout the month of
May.
- Also, check out the City's revised website for trail etiquette
suggestions.
If you're more into surfing, Internet surfing, that is, check out
photos from last weekend's America concert, which was attended by
about 13,000. Again, the link is in the Hot Links section of the
homepage. Click, know, and go at http://www.suwanee.com.
Old courthouse art
show features pastels, watercolors
Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation's Pinckneyville Community
Center opens a new art exhibit, Viewpoint of Two, featuring works
by pastels and watercolor artists, Sarah B. Arnold and Nedra C.
Bailey, at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse in Lawrenceville.
A free opening reception with light refreshments will be held at
the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse on Thursday, June 2, from 7-9 p.m.
with an opportunity to meet both artists. The exhibit will be on
display at Gwinnett Historic Courthouse from May 31 through August
24.
The exhibit features a sampling of Sarah B. Arnold's pastel painting
which focus on landscapes. She says she loves creating paintings
of places she has been and of people she has seen in their natural
surroundings.
Also featured in Viewpoint of Two, is pastel and watercolor artist
Nedra C. Bailey. The common theme in her work is tranquility.
The Gwinnett Historic Courthouse is located at 185 West Crogan
Street in Lawrenceville. The exhibit is open Monday through Friday
from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The
reception and exhibit are free and open to the public. For more
information call (770) 417-2200.
NOTABLE
Two Gwinnett
educators get honor from University
 Two
Gwinnett educators were recognized recently by the University of
Georgia's College of Education. Gale D. Hulme, left, and Alvin Wilbanks
received the 2004 and 2005 University Council for Educational Administration
Excellence in Educational Leadership Award. This award recognized
practicing school administrators who have made significant contributions
to the improvement of administration preparation. Wilbanks, of Lawrenceville,
is the superintendent of Gwinnett Schools, while Dr. Hulme, from
Duluth, is program director for Georgia's Leadership Institute for
School Improvement (GLISI), on loan from the Gwinnett system.
Historic courthouse
and McDaniel Farm Park extend hours
Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation has expanded the hours that
the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse and McDaniel Farm Park are open
to the public. The Courthouse is now open on Saturdays, from 10
a.m. until 2 p.m., and McDaniel Farm Park is now open on Sundays,
from noon until 4 p.m.
"Both facilities are very popular and we wanted to give the
public additional opportunities to visit these two rich historic
resources," said Sharon Plunkett, director of Gwinnett County
Parks & Recreation.
McDaniel Farm Park, located at 3251 McDaniel Road in Duluth, offers
visitors a step back in time to experience life on a farm in the
early 1900s. The 134-acre property, a former cotton farm, has been
restored to depict a typical 1930s subsistence farm in Gwinnett
County. One of the original tenant farmhouses on the property has
been restored, as well as the barn, well house, chicken coop, buggy
shed and blacksmith shed. The McDaniel Farm House features displays
in several of the rooms than can be viewed by visitors. The natural
beauty of the park can also be experienced through several recreational
amenities, including 2.5 miles of connecting, paved multi-purpose
trails, a picnic pavilion and a large informal play area. McDaniel
Farm Park is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.;
and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. For more information call (770) 814-4920.
The Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, the focal point for the square
in downtown Lawrenceville, was built in 1885. The building, listed
on the National Register of Historic Places, is open to the public
for tours and private rentals and also hosts special events such
as the annual Brown Bag and Moonlight & Music summer concerts,
and the annual Lighting of the Tree on Thanksgiving Day. The Gwinnett
Historic Courthouse is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to
4 p.m.; and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information
call (770) 822-5450.
RECOMMENDED
READ
- 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
5/27: Early legislature
required slave patrols within state
Beginning in 1757 Georgia's colonial assembly required white landowners
and residents to serve as slave patrols. Asserting that slave insurrections
must be prevented, the legislature stipulated in "An Act for
Establishing and Regulating of Patrols" that groups "not
exceeding seven" would work in districts 12 miles square. The
statute, modeled on South Carolina's earlier patrol law, ordered
white adults to ride the roads at night, stopping all slaves they
encountered and making them prove that they were engaged in lawful
activities. Patrollers required slaves to produce a pass, which
stated their owner's name as well as where and when they were allowed
to be away from the plantation and for how long. Patrols operated
in Georgia until slavery was abolished at the end of the Civil War
in 1865.
 Whites
could hire substitutes to patrol for them; absentees were fined.
Much of the burden of patrol duty fell to non-slaveholders, who
often resented what they sometimes saw as service to the planter
class. By the early 19th century it became necessary to pay people
to perform what had been voluntary unpaid service. In 1819 Savannah's
city watch received one dollar for every evening they served and
shared in any reward for the forced return of fugitive slaves.
Slave patrols had the legal right to enter, without warrant, the
plantation grounds of any Georgian; they often searched the slave
quarters and inspected slave homes, looking for stolen goods, missing
slaves who had turned runaway, weapons that could be used in an
insurrection, or evidence of literacy and education, including books,
papers, and pens (teaching a slave to read was forbidden by Georgia
law in the antebellum period). Enforcement was often more lax than
the letter of the law suggested. For instance, in Greene County,
in the heart of the plantation Black Belt, the grand jury complained
about the laxity of the patrols and their failure to provide effective
vigilance over the county's vast slave populace.
Although slave patrols ceased to function after the Civil War,
they provided the blueprint for later activities of the Ku Klux
Klan-a new means by which the white community sought to control
the activities of freedmen and freedwomen during Reconstruction.
THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Turning a phrase around
as seen from another view
"I am prepared to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is prepared
for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter."
-- Sir Winston Churchill, (1874 - 1960) on the eve of his 75th
birthday.
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