Live music key feature of 30th Gwinnett
Ballet Theatre
By
Holly Calmes
Special to GwinnettForum.com
JAN. 4, 2007 -- When Gwinnett Ballet Theatre dancers took their
final bows on December 17 on the stage of the Gwinnett Performing
Arts Center, an historic chapter closed on the 30 year-old company
and a new chapter began. Close to 9,000 people were in the audience
this year.
GBT's "The Nutcracker" enjoyed 11 public performances
to predominantly sold-out houses. Six of these performances were
accompanied by the 30-piece Gwinnett Ballet Theatre Orchestra under
the direction of Predrag Gosta. The Atlanta Youth Choir also participated
for the first act "Snow" scenes. The live music brought
new patrons to the theatre and created a wave of excitement in Gwinnett's
blossoming arts community.
Says GBT Artistic Director Lisa Sheppard Robson, "The public
flocks to enjoy this holiday classic, and they have delighted in
our 'Nutcracker' for years. The addition of live orchestration and
chorus brought the house down. I hope we can afford to continue
to delight our audiences with this collaboration and offer this
privilege to our incredibly talented dancers. Strings, voice, winds,
percussion and dance filled the theater with the festive magic of
each enchanting note of Tchaikovsky's incredible score."
Gwinnett Center's Executive Director Preston Williams said, "The
addition of live music was particularly unique for a venue of our
size. We received nothing but positive feedback from attendees and
staff. The live music was really a plus for it. We give GBT kudos.
It was the best effort yet!"
The ballet company, headquartered in Snellville, has been quietly
gathering forces over the past several years under the leadership
of Board Chairman Stan Hall. He says, "This year's Nutcracker'
performances had placed Gwinnett Ballet among the very elite of
metro-Atlanta arts organizations. We have always known that Gwinnett
Ballet was a hidden treasure. But this year's performances, with
the full orchestra and choral addition, have allowed the treasure
to be discovered."
Garet Erwin as Harlequin Doll |
The addition of a live orchestra this year gave GBT the distinction
of being the only company in the Atlanta area performing "Nutcracker"
to live music. Ms. Robson says, "We were fortunate to attain
our distinguished conductor, Predrag Gosta, last season, and with
his ambition and enthusiasm we have carved a new path of entertainment
and expectations." The GBT Orchestra premiered in March of
2006 with "A Midsummer Night's Dream."
Music Director Predrag Gosta is also the highly regarded Music
Director of Atlanta's New Trinity Baroque. He states, "We are
fortunate to have a ballet company of such high quality as the Gwinnett
Ballet Theatre. The freshness of artistic approach and the youth
and enthusiasm the dancers project enchant everyone in the audience
and are an inspiration to every musician who has the privilege to
be a part of its orchestra. I am delighted to be the Music Director
and look forward to conducting GBT's future productions. With its
talent, GBT is joining the ranks of Gwinnett and Atlanta's leading
arts organizations."
Although adding live music was a serious financial consideration,
the risk was worthwhile according to Mr. Hall. "As difficult
as the financial commitment to live music can be, it is all worth
it when when you see the pure enjoyment and satisfaction on the
faces of the audience. We are firmly committed to bringing the best
possible performances to Gwinnett County, whatever the cost. I think
that we have demonstrated our seriousness of this commitment this
year. And I think that based on the number of people who came to
see the production, that they are dedicated to us as well."
Gwinnett Ballet Theatre is a pre-professional ballet company which
specializes in preparing serious ballet students for a professional
career. Approximately half of its graduates are accepted into professional
dance companies across the country, including Houston Ballet, North
Carolina Dance Theatre, Ballet Arizona, Ballet Maryland, Atlanta
Ballet, and others. One of its graduates, Alessandra Ball who currently
dances with North Carolina Dance Theatre, was a recipient of the
prestigious Princess Grace Award in 2005.
For more information about Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, call 770-978-0188
or go to the Web site at www.gwinnettballet.org.
Electing superintendents is bad idea for state
of Georgia
By
Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
JAN. 4, 2007 -- One of our Gwinnett state representatives is already
up to thinking awry even before the Legislative sessions opens,
which points to troubled times ahead.
Brack |
Rep. Clay Cox, the Lilburn Republican, has told people he plans
to introduce legislation to allow the election of school superintendents
in the state.
Without pulling any punches, to this idea we say: "Shame,
shame on you, Rep. Cox." This idea of yours is bad, and will
hurt Georgia.
Here's why we think the legislation is not only not needed, but
is harmful. There are several reasons, and much of it has to do
with cronyism in local politics.
First, apparently Rep. Cox doesn't understand the dynamics of politics
in small counties, say those smaller than 20,000 people. That would
include the majority of Georgia's 159 counties. For if the representative
realized what happens in small county politics, he would know that
when Georgia allowed the election of school superintendents, the
children of Georgia were the ones who suffered under this system.
In small counties, there are only a few people who are qualified
to run for an elective school superintendent. Why? Because the sitting
school superintendent sees to it that qualified candidates are not
hired by his school system. And any principal who shows any sort
of effort to buck the administration of the sitting school superintendent,
will find that he or she will not get their contract renewed for
another year. They will be out of a job.
That alone does not disqualify that person from running. Most potential
candidates are in education, and usually work for the school system.
Yet a good school superintendent can virtually ensure that there
will be no qualified candidates within his county. Essentially,
it's the quality of education and by extension the students who
are hurt by such a system, since good leadership is often blocked.
How about in larger counties? Usually it's a little harder for
a superintendent to manipulate the hiring practices, but of course,
it happens.
Far better is the current system, which allows local control through
appointment of the superintendent by an elected board. The people
of Georgia approved this system statewide by a Constitutional Amendment
in 1993.
Rep. Cox maintains that having elected superintendents will make
them more accountable to the public. Baloney!
Ask no further than Gwinnett's own Supt. Alvin Wilbanks, who responds
beautifully to appointing superintendents by saying: "This
arrangement allows the superintendent to focus on public education,
not politics."
Alvin's right. You want your system headed by a person who is a
professional educator, not a politician.
Another key point: Georgians would roar loudly if Rep. Cox and
other politicians tried to "appoint" the public-policy
making local school boards. We elect our school boards to guide
policy, and allow them to pick the person to head the day to day
operations, the superintendent. Overlapping electing a school superintendent
opens up even another can of worms of having competing politicians
(the board and the superintendent) guiding our schools and the future
of our children. They would be at loggerheads. You don't want that.
Rep. Cox is hard-headed. He may have a hidden agenda we don't know
about, No reasonable person wants to elect school superintendents.
It may be by allowing Georgia to have elected superintendents prior
to 1993, that is one of the reasons our schools have had such a
low level of achievement over the years.
Electing school superintendents is dead wrong. If this is the way
Rep. Cox and the Republican Party wants to lead their "new"
Georgia, we are in for a bad ride.
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Some resolution
Another great cartoon by Bill McLemore:
Suggests eliminating fees for online auto tag purchases
Editor, the Forum:
Having just read your latest Forum, I wanted to comment about renewing
the car tags online.
I have renewed my tags online for as long as it has been available.
The reason many people probably do not renew online is the deadline
to order is not clear and the small fee to process online because
of charging a credit card.
I am assuming the "letter of the law" is that the car
tag expires on my birthday. If I am able to renew at a tag office
on my birthday and get the tag right away, that would be delaying
the "tax" as long as possible while staying within the
letter of the law.
Well I've found that if I renew online ON my birthday, I can get
the tag within five to ten days and not fall out of the current
month (probably a little gray area). Plus I'm lucky because my credit
card statement closes before my birthday so I have another 45 days-plus
before I actually have to pay the funds to my tags. So I am delaying
the tax even longer.
Let me recommend the following to make more people use the online
renewal process.
1) There should be bigger text or an insert with the renewal
notice making it a bigger deal to renew online. The text is so
small, apparently to try to fit everything on one page. In addition,
there are already a couple of other informational items in the
notice that may go un-read.
2) The county should absorb the convenience fee of credit card
processing. If we were not charged the credit card processing
fee, and the county absorbed it as part of the cost of doing business,
I think more people would also join in the renewing online.
I drive a newer vehicle and my total car renewal bill is close
to $400. Surely the county can afford the small fee that VISA or
MasterCard charges to process my payment to be able to save elsewhere.
They're already charging me the mailing fee to mail me the little
sticker. How many more fees need to be added to the process?
Thanks for your Forum. It's always good to read and see just a few
other things of what's going on around Gwinnett.
-- Scott Phillips, Dacula
Dear Scott: We agree: the county could push more
of us toward online processing of auto license plates by eliminating
the fee. It reminds me of firms offering "free shipping"
to get us to buy online. Since it saves the county money, and
helps reduce long lines by us processing online, your suggestion
makes sense. --eeb
Wants county to recognize
problems of gangs in Gwinnett
Editor, the Forum:
As an ever-increasing number of gangs are now operating in Gwinnett.
What is the county doing? The Police Department has reassigned officers
off the Gang Task Force. Crime is up. Drug activity is up.
It appears to me that someone has not seen the problem from our
point of view as business people of Gwinnett. Our business is off
Cruse Road, and we can point to places of drug raids, shooting,
and robberies within sight of our office.
The county is in the mode of building, but somehow overlooks the
runaway crime.
I guess citizens can only vote.
-- Wayne Adams, Snellville
Dear Wayne: Your comments are dead center. You
may be a little pleased to know that the Gwinnett government's
operating budget for 2007 consists of a 4.5 per cent jump over
2006, and has in it several projects which your concern address.
It includes the addition of 47 positions in Police Services includes
a 30-person police staffing package and 12 positions for Quality
of Life enforcement. Still, that won't do it alone, for more direct
attention needs to be paid to the items you mention. But it is
a start. --eeb
Gwinnett
Chamber has three key events coming in January
Three key events of the Gwinnett Chamber year are coming up in
January.
The 59th annual meeting of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce is
set for Friday, January 26 at the Gwinnett Civic Center.
Martin |
The black-tie-optional spectacular is more than a celebration of
Gwinnett Chamber stewardship for the county's success. It recognizes
the accomplishments of 2006 and anticipates 2007. More than 1,000
people will attend this event to celebrate the people of Gwinnett
that have made significant contributions to enhance our quality
of life.
The program begins at 6 p.m. with the dinner beginning at 7:30 in
the Gwinnett Center's Tommy P. Hughes Ballroom. Tom Martin, chairman
of the board of Gwinnett Community Bank, is slated to take over
the office of chairman of the Chamber from outgoing Chairman Wayne
Shackelford.
For more information on the Annual Dinner, contact Alicia Krogh
at 770-232-8809.
* * * * *
On January 12, the president of Russell Landscape Group, Inc.,
Dr. Bill Russell, shares his secrets to success in a breakfast at
the Sugarloaf Country Club at 7:45 a.m.
Dr. Russell, who holds a Ph.D. in agricultural chemistry from the
Ohio State University, has an extensive 20-year background in landscape
pesticide research. He is a former chairman of the Gwinnett Chamber,
and was a finalist for Small Business Person of the Year in 1998.
For information on the breakfast, contact the Chamber.
* * * * *
Gwinnett Commission Chairman Bannister will review the County's
2006 achievements and lay out his vision for 2007 and beyond at
the annual state-of-the-county address on January 25 General Membership
Meeting. The meeting will be at 11:30 a.m. at the Atlanta Marriott---Gwinnett
Place in Duluth.
Cost to attend either the breakfast or lunch is $35 for Chamber/Council
members; $55 for non-Chamber/Council members. Registration deadline
is January 22.
Suwanee
resident selected for Harvard Neighborworks fellow
The executive vice president of Consumer Credit Counseling Service,
Mark N. Cole, of Suwanee, has been selected as a NeighborWorks Fellow
at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. Cole is one
of 49 individuals chosen to participate in Achieving Excellence,
a training program offered by NeighborWorks® America through
the Kennedy School of Government.
Cole |
Cole directs all operational aspects of Consumer Credit Counseling
Service (CCCS), a 250-employee non-profit organization serving consumers
through offices in four states, including a Gwinnett office at 3473
Satellite Boulevard. The agency also offers help around the clock
online at www.cccsinc.org
and via telephone at 800-251-CCCS (2227). CCCS provides budget and
housing counseling, debt management plans, financial education and
the bankruptcy counseling and debtor education now required by federal
law.
Cole serves on the Board of Directors of the Better Business Bureau
of Metropolitan Atlanta, the Board of Community Friendship and the
Advisory Board of TechBridge.
Achieving Excellence is an 18-month educational program for seasoned
executives in community organizations focused on affordable housing,
community revitalization or economic development. Participants work
on specific challenges, striving for solutions to enable their organizations
to make lasting change in their communities.
Achieving Excellence includes three sessions at Harvard University
and coaching by Douglas K. Smith, principal designer of the program.
The remaining sessions are scheduled for February and October.
More improvements
beginning to show for Gwinnett Place CID
Another heavily traveled pedestrian corridor now includes new sidewalks
and landscape beautification for those enjoying what the Gwinnett
Place area has to offer.
The Gwinnett Place CID has coordinated the installment of sidewalks
along one side of Market Street from Satellite Boulevard to Venture
Parkway. The new sidewalks connect to sidewalks the CID previously
worked to add along Venture Parkway.
Additionally, significant landscape improvements were made throughout
the area, including new sod, ground cover plants and maple trees.
The CID worked to clean up years of overgrown right-of-way space
and beautified a retention pond near Venture Parkway. Long-term
plans call for revitalizing the area to produce a park-like environment.
Joe Allen, CID executive director, says: "Market Street is
a key walking area for those frequenting the great restaurants and
entertainment venues in the District,". "These new improvements
will prove safer and more pleasant surroundings for those working
in or visiting our area." The street connects the motel area
of the CID with shopping and entertainment areas.
At the same time, crews are busy preparing the gateway monument
and park at the intersection of Commerce Avenue and Satellite Boulevard.
More information on CID projects and other district events is available
online at www.GwinnettPlaceCID.com
- 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
In Memoriam:
James Brown
Brown |
Legendary artist and Georgia native James
Brown, known as the "Godfather of Soul" and "Mr.
Dynamite," was hailed as one of the most influential musicians
of the 20th century. He began his career in Georgia during the 1950s,
and in the 1960s he helped to forge a new musical style known as
"soul." His energetic stage presence and rhythmic innovations
influenced generations of later musicians, particularly funk, disco,
rap, and hip-hop performers.
Brown also used his music as a vehicle for nonviolent protest during
the civil rights movement, and he was a well-known philanthropist
in his hometown of Augusta.
Brown was honored with three ceremonies in the week following his
death on December 25, 2006: a procession and public viewing at the
Apollo Theater in New York City; a private service in North Augusta,
S.C.; and a public viewing and memorial service at the James Brown
Arena in Augusta. The arena was renamed in Brown's honor just months
before his death.
Sure way to work toward
having a happier life
"The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the
beginning of a happier life for ourselves."
-- Helen Keller (1880-1968), via Roy McCreary, Dacula.
Send your thoughts, 55-word short stories, pet peeves
or comments on any issue to Gwinnett
Forum for future publication.
===========================================
MORE: Contact Gwinnett Forum at: elliott@gwinnettforum.com
© 2007, Gwinnett Forum.com. Gwinnett Forum
is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible
social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett
County, Ga. USA.
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