TODAY'S ISSUE
Gwinnett Transit offers special Francouer Flyer on Sunday
By Emory Morsberger
For GwinnettForum.com

(Editor's Note: Developer Emory Morsberger is one of Gwinnett's most enthusiastic supporters. Through his company, Morsberger Group, he is sponsoring the first two Gwinnett Transit System shuttles to the Braves. His firm is also hosting several Hurricane Katrina evacuees living in the Parkview area.. ---eeb)

SEPT. 23, 2005 -- It's the last Sunday Atlanta Braves game of the season, and if you haven't attended one of their exciting games this year and watched our own Jeff Francoeur, it's time to get on board - the bus, that is.

Morsberger

Gwinnett fans of the Braves and of Parkview grad and Atlanta Braves outstanding rookie, Jeff Francoeur will have an opportunity on Sunday, September 25 to attend the Braves game going in a group via the "Francoeur Flyer". More than 300 fans already have signed up to ride into Atlanta on one of several Gwinnett County Transit buses that will leave from Parkview High School and Discover Mills at 11:30 a.m.

We're hopeing fans will literally "get on board" for this fun excursion into Atlanta, and to show support for one of our own, Jeff Francoeur.. This is the first time buses of the Gwinnett Transit System have shuttled fans to a Braves game. Hopefully, it could start a new tradition. The Braves organization itself helped matters, by setting us up with a half price game admission ticket, which made it even more appealing. The round-trip cost of the shuttle is $12.

We are excited about this idea catching on and that we can repeat the flyer for the remaining three night games. Of course, we all are hopeing for post season games at Turner Field for the Braves, too.

Those who are interested in joining the Francoeur Flyer can contact Parkview booster Mike Levengood at 404-527-4830; Parkview Principal Buck Buchannon at 770-931-5644; or Gwinnett Transit director Tim Collins at 770-822-7401.

Chairman Charles Bannister, who lives near Parkview, is planning on attending, as is
Commissioner Bert Nasuti.

Although Sunday is a trial run, Gwinnett officials feel confident that the Braves' shuttle will be a big hit and that they can pursue further opportunities with the shuttle for next season. They also are planning a similar shuttle for Falcons' home games, beginning Sunday, October 2.

On Sunday, buses will be leaving from Parkview High School and Discover Mills at 11:30 a.m. in order to arrive in time for the first pitch at 1:05 p.m. Buses will return immediately after the game is over. At only $12 per person, it's a heck of a deal.

So, come on out and let's show our support for the this year's edition of the Braves and our own incredible Jeff Francoeur. See you at the game!

ELLIOTT BRACK
Tidbit time: College president, Pinckneyville tops, and peeve
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

SEPT. 23, 2005 -- Early prediction: Dr. (General) Daniel Kaufman will do well in Gwinnett as president of the new four year college here.

So far I haven't met him. But in talking to him on the telephone, the impression is good. His first words were: "Dan Kaufman of PS 35 here."

Translated, that means that he is head of the 35th college campus of the State Board of Regents, the so-far unnamed college that people are suggesting names for now. There are a couple more suggestions in this issue of GwinnettForum.

So welcome, Dr. Kaufman. The entire Gwinnett community looks forward to meeting you and enjoying your leadership of Gwinnett's own four year college.

* * * * *

Pinckneyville is Number One: In modern times, the southwestern portion of Gwinnett grew first and fastest. The prime growth was along Interstate 85 in the Norcross area, and in general, in one of the 18 precincts (voting districts) of the county, the Pinckneyville District. After all, this area was closest to Atlanta, meaning the growth was natural and expected to be the first in the county.

One early way to look at the impact of this growth was by comparing the tax digest of this area to the rest of the countyIn the 1960's and 1970's. The Pinckneyville district amounted for 40 per cent of the entire Gwinnett tax digest (value of properties). The employment centers, factories, office buildings and warehouses were primarily responsible for this impact. This is substantial, for there are 18 voting precincts, with the Pinckneyville District amounting to 40 per cent of the digest.

Even today, with major growth now throughout the county, Pinckneyville still accounts to 19.6 per cent of Gwinnett's digest. Add in four other areas, Lawrenceville, Martins, Suwanee and Duluth, and these five districts have 55 per cent of the digest. These areas generally reflect the high business activity in the county. The complete chart (rounded off) shows:

Pinckneyville 20%
Lawrenceville - 10%
Martins - 9%
Duluth - 8%
Suwanee - 8%
Berkshire - 7%
Cates - 7%
Goodwins - 5%
Hog Mountain - 4%
Rockbridge - 4%
Baycreek - 4%
Duncans - 3%
Garners - 3%
Sugar Hill - 3%
Puckets - 2%
Dacula - 1%
Harbins - 1%
RockCreek - 1%

More than anything else, this shows rather dramatically that it is the industrial and commercial base that drives the tax digest, not individual homes, not even when they are expensive. (After all, with additional land, there are fewer of expensive homes per acre.)

And this says once again why any county needs a balanced tax digest between commercial and residential tax payers. After all, the commercial firms are paying taxes---including school taxes----and not the first firm has a child in school.

* * * * *

Another pet peeve: why in the world, when you are being switched to someone's voice mail (which I do not mind), does the voice mailbox ring a minimum of three or four times before the machine picks up? Is the voice mailbox, like us humans, walking a few steps to pick up that phone sometimes…..I wonder? Or are we learning that machines need to go to the rest room, too?

Send us your latest pet peeve.

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McLEMORE'S WORLD
9/23: Some caught with pants down

Another great cartoon from Bill McLemore:

FEEDBACK
9/23: Likes BGC but wonders why people change names so often

Editor, the Forum:

Naming the four year school "Button Gwinnett College" is an excellent suggestion. It's is a great name, and distinctive.

I don't particularly like the name Georgia Perimeter College. To me it should have remained DeKalb. I also wondered why Datsun became Nissan. "Why change names" should be the general feeling.

Probably many people out of state do not know who Button is (or was), but he should have a better legacy than simply having a valuable autograph to collectors.

In Fort Myers, Fla. I thought the four year school should have been named for Thomas Edison, one of the most important figures in American history. They had a two-year school, Edison Community College. (Pro golfer Fuzzy Zoeller went there and played on the golf team.).The four year school could have been Edison State University or something like that , although I believe there is a school with a similar name in New Jersey. What do they call the new one in Florida, Florida Gulf Coast State University or something like that ? That is too cumbersome for me.
Peolple often identify with catchy names. When I hear Irvine, Calif., I immediately think of the school nickname at Cal Irvine, the "Anteaters."

-- Marshall Miller, Lilburn

Dear Marshall: That Fort Myers school might be Florida Gulf Coast University, or the Southwest Florida College, or even Edison Community College. We found those three listings, as well as the La Baron Hairdressing Academy. -eeb)

9/23: Dacula resident finds two names that appeal to him

Editor, the Forum:

I like the sound of Gwinnett State College, because as soon as they get several other colleges going within, then we can step up to Gwinnett State University or Gwinnett University. The other name that intrigues me is Button Gwinnett College or Button Gwinnett University. Thanks for allowing me to have an input, because this is a big deal for all of Gwinnett and Northeast Georgia.

-- Woody Shepherd, Dacula

UPCOMING
Lawrenceville Kiwanis plan 31st pancake breakfast Saturday

The Lawrenceville Kiwanis Club will host its 31st pancake breakfast on Saturday, September 24, from 7:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceville. An annual fundraiser for the Kiwanis Club, proceeds from the breakfast will help support its primary philanthropic focus - children in the community.

The Lawrenceville Kiwanis Club is one of the oldest service clubs in the community with more than 80 years of continuous service. Traditionally, the pancake breakfast draws a crowd of more than 300 attendees and is a major fundraiser for the Club.

Tickets for the event are $5 each, and may be purchased at the door the day of the event or from any Lawrenceville Kiwanis Club member or Key Club member from Central Gwinnett or Berkmar High School.

The menu for the September 24 breakfast includes pancakes, sausage, eggs, juice and coffee. The First United Methodist Church of Lawrenceville is located at 395 West Crogan Street. For more information about the breakfast, contact Jason West at (770) 963-0359 x 323 or jwest@rhghomes.com, or Michael Stewart at (770) 658-1194.

NOTABLE
HUD awards to grants in Gwinnett totalking $386,263

U.S. Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) announces that federal grants totaling $386,263 have been awarded to Gwinnett County from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Grants awarded include:

• $321,102 to the Lawrenceville Housing Authority under HUD's FY2005 Capital Fund Program for modernization, development and management improvements;
  
  
• $65,161 to the Norcross Housing Authority also under HUD's FY2005 Capital Fund Program for modernization, development and management improvements.
  

RECOMMENDATION
Gwinnett Public Library offering "book club to go" kits

Gwinnett County Public Library is offering specially selected titles in sets of 10 copies as an added service for adult customers who are members of book discussion groups or clubs.

"Book Club to Go!" kits also contain supporting information such as discussion guides, book reviews, a short author biography, general resources for book discussion groups and possibly other items (such as related DVD, book on CD or realia).

"Book Club to Go!" kits are checked out to one Gwinnett County Public Library card holder who assumes responsibility for returning the entire kit to the library. The loan period is eight weeks and may be renewed if other customers are not waiting.

Gwinnett County Public Library introduced the new service to book clubs with 20 kits. The number of additional kits will increase with the popularity of the introductory "Book Club to Go!" kit collection is evaluated.

A kit featured title list is available on the library's homepage. For additional information, visit any library branch or www.gwinnettpl.org.

• An invitation: What Web sites, books or restaurants have you enjoyed? Send us your best recent visit to a restaurant or most recent book you have read along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus what book you plan to read next. --eeb
  
  
  

GEORGIA TIDBIT
Augustus Baldwin Longstreet was man of many careers

In 1835 Augustus Baldwin Longstreet (1790-1870) published Georgia's first important literary work, Georgia Scenes, Characters, Incidents, Etc. in the First Half Century of the Republic. Longstreet was born in Augusta in September 1790. In 1811 he matriculated at Yale University. While in Greensboro, he met Frances Eliza Parke. They married in 1817. Of their eight children, only two-daughters Frances Eliza and Virginia Lafayette-lived to adulthood.

Longstreet

In 1821 Longstreet began a term in the Georgia General Assembly as a representative from Greene County. This term was cut short the following year when the assembly appointed him to serve for three years as the judge of the Superior Court of the Ocmulgee Circuit.

Longstreet's literary sketches would probably have been forgotten had he not collected them into a book. In September 1835 he published Georgia Scenes, Characters, Incidents, Etc. in the First Half Century of the Republic from the Sentinel office. The poet Edgar Allan Poe gave it a rave review, and in 1840 the book was reissued by a New York. Between 1838 and 1843 Longstreet published eight more "Georgia Scenes," and in 1864 he published his only novel, the poorly received Master William Mitten.

Longstreet's brief career as a full-time minister ended when he became president of Emory College in Oxford in January 1840. In 1844 he came to national prominence when he played a central role in the division of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Four years later, in 1848, he resigned his post at Emory, and the following year he served briefly as president of Centenary College in Jackson, La. He was president of the University of Mississippi from 1849 to 1856. After resigning his post in Mississippi, he left retirement in 1857, however, when he was offered the presidency of South Carolina College (later the University of South Carolina).

Longstreet served South Carolina College until late 1861. Longstreet then moved to Oxford, Miss. where his ill wife had been living with one of their daughters. In December 1862 Federal troops reached Oxford and burned his house. The Longstreets relocated to Oxford, Ga., and then to Columbus. Longstreet served the Confederacy as he could with his pen. His efforts included a leaflet of encouragement for Confederate soldiers and letters of advice to his nephew, the Confederate General James Longstreet. After the war Longstreet returned to Oxford, Miss.

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

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Incompetence was colorblind, but there was indifference

"The incompetence was colorblind. What wasn't colorblind was the
indifference."

-- U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., on the Bush administration's response to Hurricane Katrina. Chicago Tribune, Sept. 22, 2005, via Jim Martin, Smyrna.

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

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