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Medical Center gets approval for open heart surgery
By Andrea Wehrmann
Special to GwinnettForum.com

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga., June 10, 2008 -- Gwinnett Medical Center (GMC) has been granted formal state approval to establish an open-heart surgery program that could be operating as early as 2010. The official approval came in the form of an approved Certificate of Need from the Georgia Department of Community Health for the new service, which clears the way for the hospital to construct new operating facilities and finalize plans for a collaborative relationship with Saint Joseph's Health System, the premier provider of cardiac services, including open-heart surgery, in Metro Atlanta.

Phil Wolfe, president and CEO of Gwinnett Medical Center, says: "An open heart program for this community has been a critical component of Project PATH, GMC's strategic initiative. This is not only a point of pride for our organization; it should serve as a point of pride for Gwinnett. Our community rallied around this cause with over 1,000 letters of support and resolutions from leaders throughout the county."

GMC launched its campaign for open heart last October with a dedicated website, www.openheartgwinnett.org and a massive community outreach effort. The community quickly responded with letters of support demonstrating the need for advanced cardiac care in our community. Clyde and Sandra Strickland of Lawrenceville went a step further by committing $1 million for the program.
In early January, GMC submitted its CON application to the state, which began an intensive review process to confirm that the project is in the public interest. In April, GMC and St. Joseph's announced the formation of Gwinnett

Cardiovascular Services, an entity jointly owned and managed by GMC and St. Joseph's that will infuse the new heart program with the highest quality of clinical care from day one.

Kirk Wilson, president and CEO of Saint Joseph's Health System, says: "Saint Joseph's recognizes that the Gwinnett community is something special. We are excited about the opportunity to launch a best-in-class program with GMC, and pleased that we can continue to build upon our legacy of expertise in cardiac care."

Barring any appeal of the decision, GMC will immediately integrate open heart facility planning into the construction currently underway on campus. The design process will begin in August and construction is anticipated to begin in July 2009.

About Gwinnett Medical Center: It is a not-for-profit healthcare network providing high quality facilities and services to Gwinnett and surrounding communities. In 2007, Gwinnett Medical Center launched Project PATH, a comprehensive strategic initiative that is planning, advancing and transforming healthcare in Gwinnett County. To learn more, visit www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org and www.openheartgwinnett.org.

About Saint Joseph's: It is the regions' premier provider of cardiac and vascular services and recognized as one of the 50 top hospitals in the country. St. Joseph's is Atlanta's oldest hospital. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1880, today St. Joseph's is a 410-bed, acute-care hospital recognized as one of the leading specialty-referral hospitals in the Southeast and is sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy. St. Joseph's is a member of Catholic Health East. For more information, visit the website at www.saintjosephsatlanta.org.

Obama could neutralize Bill Clinton with Supreme Court seat
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher

JUNE 10, 2008 -- It must have been difficult for Hillary Clinton to admit defeat in seeking the Democratic nomination. She hung in there, against all the odds, and actually won nine of the last 12 state primaries. However, it was futile against the surprising early lead that Barack Obama grabbed quickly and held.

For a person like Ms. Clinton, who so obviously wanted to show the world what a female could do as president of the United States, she must be feeling down these days. Back two or three years ago, who would have thought that a young, black and relatively-short term Senator would bring a campaign that would catch fire with the public.

Now the attention turns to see if the previously warring Democratic candidates can first make real solid peace. Secondly, the question turns to who will be Mr. Obama's running mate.

Ms. Clinton would be a strong choice for him, if she will take being second fiddle as she has never before. (Even while her husband was in office, you remember, she was First Lady.) Yet for Mr. Obama to select Ms. Clinton as his running mate, the real nagging question is: what to do with Bill Clinton?

After all, Mr. Obama would not want to have his running mate's husband kibitzing around the White House, generally being in the way, or even actively offering advice from afar. While even if Mr. Obama liked any idea Mr. Clinton proffered, Mr. Obama would not want to give the impression he was a lackey to ideas of the former president.

So should Mr. Obama win the election, with Ms. Clinton as his vice president, what to do with Bill Clinton?

One guy, South Carolinian Jack Bass, writing recently in The New York Times, suggested that Mr. Obama could ask the New York governor to appoint Bill Clinton to fill the unexpired term of his wife. That might work. But it wouldn't get Bill away from politics, or interfering with White House policies.

We see a better way to neutralize the former president and score a victory for the liberal wing of the party at the same time: appoint Bill Clinton to the Supreme Court when a vacancy occurs. With several elderly jurists nearing retirement, the appointment could come relatively quickly.

Yes, Bill Clinton was disbarred as a lawyer for five years in Arkansas. Following that, Mr. Clinton resigned from appearing before the Supreme Court bar. However, Clinton is something of a legal scholar. The pressures of him sitting on the Supreme Court would keep him active, and allow him to enjoy a new lease on life, and be productive (and distant from politics) at the same time. Remember, there are no qualifications in the Constitution to become a Supreme Court nominee. The president only nominates, and the Senate confirms. A person need not even be a lawyer or even have a legal background to get a nomination.

So the big game now, as the run-up to the national conventions, is for Mr. Obama and Mr. McCain to keep matters lively and in front of the people, without incurring their wrath. The road to the White House can be rocky, with unusual twists and turns. The choices of the vice president that the two candidates make could be significant and even swing a close election.

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Haven Trust Bank is an underwriter of GwinnettForum. From a single branch in the Duluth/Sugarloaf area of Gwinnett, to a second branch in Decatur, the bank opened a third location in the Johns Creek-Alpharetta area in 2006. Haven Trust Bank will open a new branch in Snellville in November, 2007. With assets of over $400 million, Haven Trust Bank is one of the top 10 lenders in Georgia of federal government Small Business Administration (SBA) funds. Ed Briscoe, bank president and CEO, says: "We have the ability to identify with small businesses. Our personal and responsive attitude toward them has elevated us as a leader in the community. We're different and we make all our decisions quickly and locally. That enables us to make a real difference in the lives and businesses of our customers." Visit its web site at www.haventrustbank.com.

Recently I had a holiday (vacation) in the Caribbean on the island of the Dominican Republic. On my way home to Australia, I decided to visit the area having the same name as myself, namely Gwinnett County.

What an experience that was. By your reception, it seemed as if I was the very first Gwinnett to ever visit the area and I felt extremely proud. I have been asked to mention some of my most memorable experiences.

I hardly know where to start. I have a great picture taken at a set of traffic lights. The sign next to the stop light says "Gwinnett Drive." Is this what they call "Seeing your name up in lights?" If so, I'm famous at last!

It was great, just driving around the county and seeing buildings and institutions having my surname. The strongest impression that sticks in my mind is that the spelling (if not the pronunciation) was the same as mine.

I would also like to say a very big thanks to all those at the Gwinnett Rotary Club, where I enjoyed an extremely great lunch. I also enjoyed meeting your government commission chairman, Charles Bannister. All of you made me very welcome, and I thank you all.

In Atlanta, the vision of Martin Luther King's memorial grave, the recent Tornado damage and the famous Peachtree Street and Stone Mountain, all impressed me. Although I doubt how well I could say "Peachtree Street" after a couple of drinks. I found it bit of a tongue twister.

When I returned home to Melbourne, Australia, I was surprised to find that my wife had gone into hospital for a hip operation. It was not scheduled until November, unless a cancellation occurred. It was news for me but after a long flight home, I found myself traveling some 40 miles a day to visit her. She is now out of hospital and recovering at home.

On a final note, I would just like to say, that I am extremely proud of my surname. Not many people can trace their family tree back to 1600, as I can. Not many people can be proud to have an ancestor's name on the American Declaration of Independence.

To all I met, thank you for your warm hospitality and maybe I'll return one day.

I recently used my gas card for a gasoline purchase. When the statement came in, I made a partial payment and the following month, paid it in full, so I thought. In the words of Gomer Pyle, "Surprise, surprise, surprise!" I received yet another statement for $2.16 interest for the period between the closing and posting of my final payment. Needless to say, I was outraged and immediately called them. The lady at the other end was very nice, considering my tone. Nothing she could do, but I could and did, close the account. We have all heard it a million times: "Read the Terms" of your credit grantor. It might also prevent a stroke or heart attack!

You have until June 13 to participate in an Ugly Necktie Contest sponsored at the Hudgens Center for the Arts.

Bring your most "outstanding" necktie (read "tacky" or just plain "Ugly") to the Center at 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth. The winner of the contest will be rewarded with a suitable prize, and gain the notoriety that goes with having owned the ugliest necktie in Gwinnett. Judge for the contest is Elliott Brack, a veteran of conducting ugly necktie contests. Judging will be on Saturday, July 14 at noon.

The neckties entered in the contest will be made into a tapestry to hang at the Hudgens Center for the Arts, and will be on display on June 21. For more information on this and other activities at the Hudgens Center, go to www.artsgwinnett.org or call 770- 623 6002.

Have you ever played basketball with a rubber chicken? How about horseshoes with a toilet seat and plunger? Or maybe Twister outdoors on an oversized mat? This is the kind of wacky, interactive fun that participants can expect to enjoy at the Life is Good in Suwanee Festival from noon-9 p.m. Saturday, June 14 at Town Center Park.

In addition to the wacky activities, there also will be classic games, such as bags (a game involving bean bags, platforms, and bragging rights that dads particularly enjoy), hopscotch, hula hoop contest, hangman, and crafts for dad.

A highlight of the festival will be the World's Greatest Backyard Athlete competition. About 15 backyard athletes will compete for the crown of "World's Greatest" in a series of events that include watermelon seed spitting, an obstacle course that includes burger building and racing on hippity-hops, and a whiffle ball homerun derby. All athletes have raised funds for the Life is good Kids Foundation, which is donating all proceeds to Project Joy, a nonprofit organization that helps children who have endured traumatic events get their play back.

Lawn games and activities and creative crafts will begin at noon. The World's Greatest Backyard Athlete Competition begins at 1 p.m., and musical entertainment begins at 1:30 p.m.

Food, including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and beverages will be available for purchase. Bring blankets and chairs to chill at Town Center Park, but no alcohol will be permitted at this family-oriented event.

Leo Llonch of Virtual Properties is the 2008 Good Neighbor of the Northeast Atlanta Metro Association of Realtors. NAMAR President Tim McFadden, left, presents the award to Llonch. He has been a real estate agent for over 10 years and volunteered his time, resources and money to help youth in the community.

Llonch was the fundraising director for the Southeast Paddlers, to organize the Benefit Paddlethon for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. The Paddlethon was held at Stone Mountain Lake. Proceeds were used for Pain Management at the Children's Surgery Center.

The Sautee Nacoochee Community Association, an art, history and environmental organization that is one of the state's leading community cultural centers, will bring Headwaters: Stories From A Goodly Portion Of Beautiful Northeast Georgia back to the hand-built, historic gymnasium on the campus of the Sautee Nacoochee Center from July 10 -27, 2008.

This performance was a sold-out success during its premiere production in 2007. Additional performances have been added for SummerFest 2008. The production is on Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.

Stories from people in White, Habersham, Rabun, Lumpkin, Stephens and Banks counties have been crafted by playwrights Jo Carson and Jerry Grillo into a script about the making and keeping of community in a place that's still a little bit wild.

Headwaters features a large cast of northeast Georgia residents who tell local tales and sing both traditional and original songs in a performance that illustrates the character of this unique region of the state. They are accompanied by a string band of local musicians ---the SNOrchestra---and perform in front of backdrops created by noted local artist John Kollock. Rivers of stories flow through music and movement in Headwaters, creating an entertaining and thought-provoking experience for the whole family.

Dinner will be available before each performance in the Sautee Nacoochee Center Community Hall, adjacent to the historic gymnasium, and packages including tours of the new Folk Pottery Museum of Northeast Georgia will be offered. Ticket prices are $10 for SNCA members and $15 for non-members, $5 for children ages 6-12. Dinner is $8. The box office phone number is 706 878 3300, and more information and on-line ticket purchasing opportunities can be found at www.snca.org. The Sautee Nacoochee Center is located at 283 Georgia Highway 255 North, near the junction of the Sautee and Nacoochee valleys.

A successful 2007 Gwinnett Village Community Alliance (GVCA) summer program is being expanded through funding by the United Way. The $425,000 opportunity grant will assist 300 students at Louise Radloff and Summerour middle schools to allow struggling students additional personal academic learning, hands on field trips, and recreational activities in the eight week program.

Many students in Gwinnett Village do not generally have the opportunity to attend summer programs or attend field trips. This affords them the opportunity to grow academically, socially and build confidence for the upcoming school year. The program will be managed by GVCA with the assistance of Gwinnett County Public School staff, the Boys and Girls Club and the Latin American Association.

Chuck Warbington, Executive Director, Gwinnett Village, says: "We are excited to continue to partner with our local school system and expand the mission to two schools this year with the grant from United Way. This program is critical for us to continue the positive transformation of the southern part of Gwinnett County."

The 2008 Summer School Program is comprehensive which includes daily instruction in Math, Science, and Journalism as well as individual programs specifically for girls and for boys. In addition students will be exposed to programs from Girls, Inc., 100 Black Men, and Junior Achievement and between 8 to 12 field trips. And this year, students will even be able to visit two businesses located in Gwinnett Village to get a behind the scenes look at the business operations at CarMax and Vulcan Materials.

Each day starts at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m., with a breakfast, lunch and snacks included. The mission of the Gwinnett Village Community Alliance is to work in tandem with and support the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District, to increase property values, promote business development and foremost to improve the quality of life for all those who attend school, live, work, and play in the Village.

Louisville, the county seat of Jefferson County, also served as Georgia's third Capitol from 1796 until 1807. By the mid-1780s the new upcountry settlers outnumbered those in the older coastal counties, and upcountry legislators demanded a state Capitol in a more western location than Savannah. On January 26, 1786, the assembly passed a law appointing Nathan Brownson, William Few Jr., and Hugh Lawson as commissioners charged with finding a site for the seat of government. Legislators also specified that the new Capitol would be named Louisville in honor of King Louis XVI of France, America's Revolutionary War ally.

Commissioners Brownson, Few and Lawson purchased 1,000 acres on the south side of Rocky Comfort Creek near the Ogeechee River to take advantage of the river transportation. The original city plan, modeled after Philadelphia, Penn., included a raised statehouse in the central square, with streets and town blocks radiating out from that focal point and forming right angles.

Georgia's Revolutionary War debt and the threat of a large-scale conflict with the Creek Nation delayed the official opening of the Louisville statehouse until May 1795, when delegates convened there for a state constitutional convention.
The legislature briefly considered making Louisville the home of the University of Georgia but decided to build the Jefferson, or Louisville, Academy there instead. It served as one of a series of schools established to train young men for a university education. By 1806 the town had grown to nearly 100 homes with approximately 550 free and slave inhabitants.

Louisville served as the state Capitol for ten years. Criticism of the site arose over the vulnerability of its residents to malaria outbreaks, disappointment with the Ogeechee river trade, and the town's inaccessibility to the growing western population. In the fall of 1807 the state government relocated to Milledgeville, and the arrival of the railroad in the nineteenth century turned economic activity away from the old statehouse square. Residents adopted a linear design for their central business district, following a popular trend in Georgia town development during the 1820s and 1830s. Broad Street emerged as the main business thoroughfare and continues in that function today.

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