Gwinnett Forum.com -- Gwinnett County's community forum and idea exchange

TODAY'S ISSUE
Three GMC physicians collaborate for new stent procedure
By Kyle Brogdon
Special to GwinnettForum.com

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. April 4, 2006 -- Gwinnett Medical Center (GMC) has introduced a new element of care for patients at high risk for stroke. A new procedure at GMC is intended to prevent stroke by treating blockages in the carotid artery, the main blood vessel leading to the brain.

This procedure at GMC is a collaboration of several local physicians, cardiologist Louis Heller, interventional radiologist James A. York, and vascular surgeon Charles Moomey. The new carotid artery stent, the RX ACCULINK Carotid Stent, is for use in patients who have had symptoms of a stroke and whose carotid artery is at least 70 percent blocked, and who are not good candidates for the surgical alternative.

Stents, which are small metal mesh tubes, have been used in heart arteries for several years. The standard carotid artery procedure, carotid endarterectomy, involves surgeons cutting into the neck artery to remove the blockage. Most patients require general anesthesia for this procedure. RX ACCULINK Carotid Stent is inserted during angioplasty, a less invasive procedure in which the stent is threaded up to the neck artery via a catheter inserted in the groin. This procedure is now available as an option for patients who are not candidates for standard surgery. Patients of the new stent procedure usually require only local anesthesia.

Studies have shown the new stent system to successfully open blockages in 92 percent of patients. In addition, the stent still allowed blood flow to the brain more than two years after the procedure. Gwinnett Medical Center successfully performed its first RX ACCULINK Carotid Stent procedure in early March of 2006.

Gwinnett Hospital System, anchored by flagship Gwinnett Medical Center, is a not-for-profit healthcare network providing high quality facilities and services to Gwinnett and the surrounding community. With over 4,000 employees and 800 physicians, the System provided care in 2005 to almost 400,000 patients. In 2006, Gwinnett Hospital System received the HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence, ranking among the top five percent of all hospitals in the nation for overall clinical performance. To learn more, visit www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Glory be! Today's issue marks start of sixth year on Internet
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

APRIL 6, 2006 -- It somewhat surprises me to be able to tell you that this edition of GwinnettForum marks the beginning of the sixth year of its publication!

We can hardly believe it. Ever since retirement from the Atlanta newspapers on April 1, 2001, we have been putting out the GwinnettForum. We've voiced out views and found a myriad of different contributors to give their view on issues of the county, the state and nation.

(The very first contributor was Ellen Gerstein of the Health and Human Service Coalition, who posed: "Our most pressing need is nothing less than you!" Interestingly, that is probably the most pressing need today in Gwinnett, that of people getting involved in community affairs.)

Those reading the Forum have had their say, as they sometimes objected to views, other times gave new insights, and generally kept the wider Gwinnett community alive with comment.

This comment from people becomes part of what we call a "moderated forum," in that for any comment to get into print, it first must get past (and often heavily edited to conform to good taste) by me. In effect, we are no blog, and do not allow people to call each other names, at least without being closely edited.

All this would not have been possible without the key backing of our "supporters," those businesses within Gwinnett who see benefit in helping fund a public community commentary site. These firms help pay the expenses of producing the Forum, and help keep public discussion of current issues alive. We could not continue this Forum without them. Click on our "sponsor" link, and see who they are. When you see representatives of these firms, thank them for their support of GwinnettForum!

There have been continuing changes to GwinnettForum over the years. Fairly early on, we began utilizing the services of a cartoonist, a retired Episcopal clergyman, Bill McLemore, who lives in LaGrange. His distinctive viewpoints, presented in simple line drawing form, often make you chuckle, and can give you pause for concern, too.

Shortly after the debut of the Georgia Encyclopedia, GwinnettForum began excerpts from this distinctive and interesting source. In each issue we highlight an aspect of this on-line source, giving a view of Georgia history, often with facts we've never heard from other sources. (By the way, Georgia is the only state which publishes its own encyclopedia online. It is a tremendous resource, and as historic events occur, it can be updated relatively quickly.)

Officials of the encyclopedia tell us that more Gwinnettians sign onto the site than from any other county, giving rise to the idea that GwinnettForum promotes usage of the site.

Another feature we run occasionally are "recommendations," of books, film, and even restaurants. We rely mostly on our readers for these 100-word (or so) reviews, and are surprised at the width and scope of these reviews. Our readers are a real cosmopolitan group, and have quite a varied taste.

Have you noticed another way that readers participate? That's right, in submitting "quotes of the day." What started out as a regular search by us for a good quote, has turned into a easy effort of readers giving us the benefit of their activities in reading, by submitting pithy quotations.

All in all, five years of Internet publishing has been for us a way to stay active in he community in retirement, and also have a good time.

Some readers may not realize that during this time, we have also started GeorgiaClips, published each business day, giving links to the most significant stories taking place in Georgia. This intensifies our publishing on the Internet. This service is not free.

As the old Bartels and Jaymes commercial said it right: "Thank you for your support." We look forward to more Internet publishing, with your help.

A COUPLE OF readers sent this in. Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 5, 2006, at two minutes and three seconds after 1 a.m., the time and date will be 01:02:03 04/05/06.
That won't ever happen again.

Today's sponsor is the Gwinnett Philharmonic which is in its second decade of offering great music at the Performing Arts Center of the Gwinnett Arena. The Gwinnett Philharmonic's upcoming events include the full orchestra's concert on Tuesday, April 18, featuring music of Broadway and cinema as well as some beautiful classics including violin soloist, Judy Cox. Also slated is the Vega String Quartet on Tuesday, May 16. For tickets call Ticketmaster at 404-249-6400, or visit the Arena Box Office in person. Please check out the web site for more information: www.gwinnettphilharmonic.org.

They say that America's values, wages and safety are jeopardized by the "flood" of immigrants sneaking across our borders. That many of our societal problems are to be laid on these scapegoats. The solution should be, find and deport them, and don't let any more in.

The continued influx of immigrants has always fueled America's economic and cultural rise. Americans are happy to eat the food harvested and prepared by, live in homes constructed by and entrust the care of their homes and children, to these "illegal aliens".

When companies are busted for hiring undocumented workers, is anyone boycotting the company for it? Consumers value price and aren't concerned about how a company accomplishes low prices. If people really care about keeping all jobs open to American citizens, then level the playing field by enforcing labor laws.

Millions of immigrant workers earn less than the minimum wage and work without the occupational safety, workers' compensation, overtime pay and other protections legal status offers.

The number of claimed "illegal aliens" as a percentage of the population is clearly absorbable by the job market as our low unemployment rate demonstrates. The question remains. Do we need the immigrant workers as much as they need us?

Going back to college can be intimidating. As adults we are all busy with jobs, family, and many other commitments. Most people are apprehensive about fitting into the classroom environment, or ask, "How will I pay for it?"

Spring Hill College is designed for working adults. The one night per week courses and accelerated terms are convenient for adults with busy schedules. Spring Hill knows that adults bring a wealth of knowledge and experience into the classroom and the school draws on that experience to enrich classes.

The first step in achieving a goal of returning to college is to attend a Spring Hill Open House. This is an excellent opportunity to meet with an advisor one-on-one.

The next Open House is April 6 from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. It is a "drop in" with no advanced appointment needed. The event will be held at the Spring Hill Atlanta campus, at 1805 Shackleford Court, Suite 200, in Norcross. For more information, phone 678 924-1919.

The Suwanee Smooth Jazz 107.5 Concert Series will be held on the Town Center Park stage the first Friday of each month throughout the spring and summer. The first concert will feature Brian Clay and Kompani at 7 p.m. Friday, April 7.

Kompani has captivated audiences throughout the Atlanta area with incredible live performances and its blend of smooth grooves and urban rhythms with inspirational vocal arrangements. This ensemble band includes some of the most talented performers in Atlanta and features keyboardist/composer/singer/
songwriter Brian Clay and lyricist/singer/songwriter Pamela Best.

Food may be purchased from local vendors or bring your own picnic dinner. Beer and wine also are available for purchase at each concert. Bring blankets or chairs, however, no alcohol may be brought into Town Center Park.

Award-winning poet Albert Goldbarth will read from his vast collection of poetry at Georgia Perimeter College on April 11 and 12.

A distinguished professor of humanities at Wichita State University, Goldbarth has published more than 20 collections of poetry and three volumes of essays. He is the winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for the poetry collection "Heaven and Earth: A Cosmology" and of the OSU Press/The Journal Award for the poetry collection "Popular Culture."

Poetry magazine noted that "Goldbarth's most engaging trait is his deep and abiding soulfulness, a generosity of spirit that elevates clowning into eloquent feeling and places brashness at the service of spacious passions."

Goldbarth will read at GPC's Lawrenceville campus on Tuesday, April 11, at 12:30 p.m. in the atrium of the B building. The campus is located at Georgia Gwinnett College, 1000 University Center Lane. He will also read April 12 at Georgia Perimeter's Dunwoody campus at 11 a.m. in the C building auditorium, room 1100. The Dunwoody campus is located at 2101 Womack Road. The readings are free and open to the public. For more information send an e-mail to jportnoy@gpc.edu or call 678-407-5324

Escape to Neverland with The Northeast Atlanta Ballet and the boy who never grew up, April 14-15 at the Gwinnett Center.

With choreography by Nicolas Pacana, this performance comes complete with pixie dust, a tick-tocking crocodile, and the magic of flight. But beware: danger is just around the corner. Captain Hook and the pirates are looking for revenge, and Peter Pan is at the top of their list. Peter Pan is a beautiful, action-packed adventure that captures the hearts of children and adults. Flying, sword flights, fairy dust, and eternal youth spark the magic of Peter Pan.

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door and are available at the Gwinnett Center Box Office 770.623.4966, at Ticketmaster 404.249.6200, or The Northeast Atlanta Ballet at 770.921.7277. Group tickets are available.

State Sen. Curt Thompson (D-Norcross) has announced that a $25,000 local assistance grant to the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District (CID) for human services needs is included in the annual state budget for fiscal year 2007.

Thompson, who also serves as President of the CID Board, said the funds will be used to develop a strategic plan for preventing gang activity in the communities of Southwest Gwinnett. After School Programs will be a key element of the initiative, he said.

He added: "I want to thank Gwinnett Board of Education member Louise Radloff, whose testimony before the Appropriations Committee helped secure this funding, I urge Governor Perdue to support this program and include the item in the budget when he signs it into law."

For more information, visit the Gwinnett Village CID web site at www.gwinnettvillage.com.

Joel Rosich, a web design student at Gwinnett Technical College, was recently named the college's winner of the Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL). The Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE) sponsors the statewide GOAL program, which recognizes and rewards excellence among technical college students. Rosich was selected from the college's four finalists named last month.

Gwinnett Tech's other 2006 GOAL finalists were: Kenneth Miller, hotel, restaurant and tourism management student; Donna Covault, business management student; and Jennifer Salter, interiors student.

Rosich will go on to compete in the statewide GOAL competition among finalists from the other 33 technical colleges across Georgia. The statewide winner will receive a new automobile.

Fort Stewart is located about 40 miles west of Savannah. It was created in 1940 as an antiaircraft training facility. In 2004, the 280,000-acre facility, the largest in area in the eastern United States, is the base for the Third Infantry Division (Mechanized) and the First Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, Rapid Deployment Force. Hunter Army Airfield, located at Savannah, is also part of the fort.

The effort to locate the antiaircraft training facility to the Savannah area was led by U.S. Congressman Hugh Peterson of Ailey. In the spring of 1940 he introduced a bill that led to the creation of the facility. The new installation was named Camp Stewart, after General Daniel Stewart, a Revolutionary War (1775-83) hero from Liberty County.

During World War II (1941-45), Camp Stewart was also used as a training site for other personnel and as a prisoner of war camp. In 1943, a section of the reservation was used to hold German and Italian prisoners of war (POWs) captured in the North African campaign. The military used POWs for construction projects on the base, and local farmers used them for clearing land and harvesting crops.

Women's Air Service Pilots (WASPs) arrived at the base to fly planes towing antiaircraft targets out of nearby Liberty Airfield. In addition to antiaircraft training, the base offered postal training and a school for cooks and bakers.

The former World War II antiaircraft artillery training facility is used in the 21st century for tank, field artillery, helicopter gunnery, and small arms training. Almost 16,000 military personnel are currently stationed at the fort, and more than 3,000 civilians are employed by the military.

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Something we all are without taking Civil Service exam

"The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination."

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