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Issue
9.69 | Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 |
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TODAY'S
FOCUS FEEDBACK UPCOMING NOTABLE ALSO INSIDE _::
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Meet a sponsor
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TODAY'S
FOCUS DURHAM, N.C., Dec. 1, 2009 – This Thanksgiving, my friend and I decided to forgo invitations to the big meal at other friends’ homes this year for a ‘kitschy’ meal instead: Taste-testing frozen turkey dinners! The contenders:
First, the ease of cooking this particular Thanksgiving feast can’t be beat – preheat the conventional oven (I don’t use a microwave) for about 15 minutes; when the buzzer beeps, pop in the food trays with various bits of plastic either poked or pulled back, bake for 35 minutes, remove the smaller of the meals, continue baking others for another 10 minutes and cooking is done.
We sampled freely, armed only with forks as we “purposed” the food trays as plates in true TV dinner style. Results: The best of the three – Boston Market. The turkey slices tasted like real slices of roasted turkey, the carrots and green beans were actually pretty good and the potatoes were tasty. I’m not a gravy fan (that’s where a lot of the sodium seemed to be in all three), so I can’t attest to the gravy, but the parts that didn’t get scraped off didn’t ruin the meal. The worst – Hungry-Man. The “roasted carved turkey” advertised was, technically, roasted and carved; however, they should have added the word “roll” to the description – it was very obviously a processed turkey roll that was sliced and doused. The stuffing (which should have been called dressing, as it had never been inside a turkey) was glue-like. The corn was the best thing on the tray, as it retained its crispness. I heard the apple cranberry ‘dessert’ was OK – it just looked like thick red goop to me. And Stouffer’s wasn’t too bad – the mashed potatoes were the best of the three (must have been that paprika!). Out of a possible combined 1210 calories, the two of us probably each had about 450; the dog ate most of the Hungry-Man meal. The upside of this taste-testing – Portion control! Easy clean-up (toss in trash, put forks in dishwasher)! No leftovers! It was fun – and total cost of the three meals hovered around $11 for two! Did I mention shopping was easy??? EEB
PERSPECTIVE DEC. 1, 2009 – A hundred years ago, the United State moved around happily on a relatively maturing and most-modern form of transportation…..on railroads. They were the fastest and most comfortable way to travel. Especially in the relatively close-by cities of the Northeast, and to a lesser extent in the rest of the country, the rails were the best way to travel. After all, good roads were unheard of, since automobiles were just coming into their own.
All major cities had rail tracks converging on them, and were centers of transportation. Some were major centers: New York, Boston, Chicago, Buffalo, Cincinnati, St. Louis, Dallas, Omaha, Kansas City, Denver…and even Atlanta, Memphis and Birmingham in the South. Earlier, the major cities of the country were located mainly along the coast or major rivers, as ships were the main thrust of transportation. But the rails could go inland, and soon ships were no longer necessary to move people great distances.
Eventually, the rails were displaced by the auto. After World War II, the big push in highway construction came from the Federal government, with its Interstate program modeled after Germany’s autobahns and pushed by President Dwight Eisenhower. Yet though good, modern roads are a major source of today’s movement of its people, now for longer trips, the airways have opened up new vistas for our nation. Who would have thought earlier of routine trips to see distant family at Thanksgiving, Christmas and family birthdays? Who would have even considered those of us in the South buying skis to venture to Park City or even Switzerland? The airplane has changed all that. * * * * With the demise in passenger rail transportation, the main terminals soon fell into disrepair after World War II. Smart cities eventually either kept using their rail centers for local rail service, or converted them to other uses. Visit Omaha, or Dallas, and you’ll find their rail stations in good order. In Dallas, the lower part is still a central train station for Amtrak, and for commuter service, while the upstairs is now a sumptuous banquet space.
Visit Omaha and you’ll find a museum, complete with full-size trains on display on the bottom floor. It’s the Durham Western Heritage Museum, housed in Omaha’s former Union Station. Upstairs the spacious Great Hall is not full of travelers as before, but a place for museum visitors, sprinkled with full-sized bronze statues of people as they once passed through this station. You’ll see servicemen in uniform, or a guy with travel trunk peering at a timetable. The fascinating part of these art pieces: when you approach them, you set off a switch, and all of a sudden, you hear the statues “talking.’ Even in an almost-empty station, if you walk around fast enough, and set all switches off, it sounds like a big crowd as the voices reverberate around the Great Hall. That’s fun! Many other cities haven’t saved their stately and attractive main stations as rail service declined. Atlanta has the distinction of razing not one train station, but two. It pulled down its Union Station, built in 1930, in 1970, to replace it with a parking lot. It’s stately 1905 Terminal Station was destroyed in 1972, now space for a modern, glassed government building. And now what does Atlanta need? A modern central station to serve commuters. If earlier Atlanta leaders had insight, they would never have allowed the stations to be razed. Check out this site to see other cities that demolished their former classic rail stations. It’s
a sad story. ABOUT
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The public spiritedness of our underwriters allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today’s sponsor is Graphic Communications Corporation of Lawrenceville, a WBENC and a NWBOC certified female-owned and managed company. Graphic Communications is a dynamic full-service print, large-format inkjet and photographic output, fulfillment, point-of-purchase and multi-media communications company. The firm has a digital media and graphic design department for both print and Internet use. Graphic Communications has been awarded the Chain of Custody certification by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC). Only a select group of printers in Georgia can provide eco-conscious customers with paper with the FSC, SFI or PEFC logos, which ensure that the paper is from a well-managed, certified, sustainable forest and that the chain of custody from forest to pulp and to paper manufacturer to merchant---has not been broken. Graphic Communications' biggest strength is its ability to meet tight deadlines along with the ever-present demands for high quality and attention to detail. This ability makes the printing process seamless for its clients. Three of its greatest competitive advantages are: 1) listening, 2) being organized for speed, and 3) being detail fanatics. All of its associates are committed to giving customers exactly what they want, when they want it. Simply, at Graphic Communications, the customer's needs are the driving forces behind everything it does, from investment in technology to the friendly voices that still answer the telephone. For more information, go to http://www.gccprint.com.
FEEDBACK Editor, the Forum: I am so
glad you wrote on John Adams (GwinnettForum, November 25). What incredible
people he and Martha Adams were! I sat with them many times at American
Cancer Society dinners, went to their house for meetings, and always marveled
at how devoted he was to her. I knew a lot about Martha’s past, having
written about her, but was not aware of all the things John did in his
life until I read his obituary. I sat with him at the ACS awards event
in January and will always treasure that special time.
Worries,
boycotts about research involving all animals Editor, The Forum: It is great to see comments on the release and restitution for Chimps all over the world. Thank you for printing this article. In a civilized and progressive country there should never be a reason to torture or accept the torture of animals. Wenka and I are the exact same age, but I would imagine that my life has been much better than hers. There has to be something we can do to stop this travesty. We still have researchers who, in the name of science, test products on animals, that burn their skin, damage their eyes, etc and this in the name of beauty or cleaners. Someone has to be on their side because "they have no voice and no choice.” I try very hard to boycott any products that are tested on animals! Please tell us how to free Wenka and all the others who have been used and abused for science. Does Yerkes realize that the people in this country know that "nothing" has ever been cured by their so called "research"?
Feels senator has sold out to insurance-health care lobby Editor, the Forum: Interestingly, it would seem the double talking Senator Isakson cannot speak for himself, hiding his statements behind Team Isakson. Nor does he mention his own party's practice of signing both Patriot Acts in the dark of night as well. Those acts have removed habeas corpus and other key provisions in the Constitution that actually did safeguard free speech. It would seem Senator Isakson has sold out and caved in to the powerful insurance and health care lobby, who want to be able to cancel coverage for the sick and keep it only for the paying and healthy.
UPCOMING A Norcross church is offering a dip into Dickens this Christmas season. Ceci Duke, rector of Christ Episcopal Church, and her husband David, a Dickens devotee, will co-lead a look into the theology of A Christmas Carol, as well as its historical background. The event will be December 2, 9 and 16 at 6:30 p.m., with the program at 7:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. There’s a fascinating "back story" to the composition of Dickens’’ book. Though not much of a churchman himself, Charles Dickens is one of the most profoundly Christian writers. The Carol has become one of the most enduring works of literature in the world, crossing many cultures and there are spiritual reasons for this. Dickens' joyful little book speaks to the hearts of each generation with a fresh message of hope for our time. Then on December 16, at 7:30 p.m., The Christ Church Players will present a performance of A Christmas Carol with live music, live sound effects, and special lighting. Gwinnett Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker sets 11 performances Gwinnett Ballet Theatre (GBT) will present the 28th annual production of The Nutcracker at the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center on weekends between Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 20. Eleven public performances and five outreach shows will be performed by three casts including over 125 dancers. Eight of the eleven public shows will be accompanied by the 30 piece, professional Gwinnett Ballet Theatre Orchestra conducted by Predrag Gosta. Live music performances begin December 11h. Explains Artistic Director Lisa Sheppard Robson: “We believe it is important to offer the public a first-class production of The Nutcracker for a lower ticket price, and that is exactly what our recorded music shows do.” The first weekend’s three public performances are danced to recorded music. . The Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra, resident orchestra of the Northeast Atlanta Ballet, will again provide live orchestral accompaniment for this talented company of dancers. This family-friendly
production features the familiar classical music of Tchaikovsky, and the
elaborate production is sure to please audience members of all ages. Groundbreaking Thursday for teen center at Norcross club A groundbreaking ceremony in Norcross on December 4 at 4 p.m by the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta (BGCMA) will expand the A. Worley Brown Boys and Girls Club with a teen center. Across the nation, teen membership and ongoing Club involvement is enhanced by teens having a place of their own within the Club. To retain current teen members and actively engage more teenagers in the community, the Boys and Girls Club and community leaders recognized the need for the teen center. It will be a separate facility, but connected to the main clubhouse. At the Norcross location, trained adult staff members implement programs and mentor nearly 250 teen members and more than 120 daily teen participants. Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta operates 29 clubs in 13 metro counties, serving more than 17,000 youth annually. Co-authors plan reading in Duluth this weekend Authors Josh Hunter and Leah Alagna read from their recently published The Little Hope Book at Chocolate Perks in Duluth at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, December 5-6.
Autographed copies of the book may be purchased at Chocolate Perks. Hunter also illustrated the book, and a framed, autographed piece of art from the book that will be given away to one book purchaser in a drawing. Get a sneak preview of the book at www.thelittlehopebook.com. Or visit Chocolate Perks – just look above the chocolate case – and check the book out. Chocolate Perks is at 3160 Main Street in Duluth. Tree lighting in Snellville to be held on Dec. 7 Snellville will hold its 28th annual Christmas Tree Lighting on December 7 at 7 p.m. on the lawn at City Hall. Featured performers include Jackie O. Ginn, Britt Elementary School’s 4th-5th Grade Chorus, Snellville Middle School’s 6th Grade Chorus, Snellville First Baptist’s Children and Adult Choirs, and St. Oliver Plunkett Catholic Church’s Quartet. Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer will lead the countdown to the lighting of the tree just prior to Santa’s arrival. Deborah Rich will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies. The Snellville Keenager Club will be hosting refreshments inside City Hall. Marines with Toys for Tots will be our guests and collecting toys for Christmas. In addition to collecting toys, the City will be collecting canned goods for the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry as part of the “Can Do” initiative with the Gwinnett Municipal Association. Popular authors to give reading at Aurora on Dec. 9 Authors Rick Bragg and Sonny Brewer will be discussing their new books: The Widow and the Tree by Sonny Brewer and The Most They Ever Had by Rick Bragg on Wednesday, December 9, at 7 p.m. at the Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville. Seating is open to the public, but limited.
Autographed books, provided by Eagle Eye Book Shop, will be available for purchase. Book signing will follow the presentation. For more information about the event, visit www.gwinnettpl.org or call 770-978-5154. Rick Bragg
was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing in 1996 and is the
recipient of the 2009 Harper Lee Award for Alabama’s Distinguished
Writer of the Year. NOTABLE Five road
improvement projects got the green light from Gwinnett commissioners recently,
two funded entirely by sales tax revenues plus three to be completed in
partnership with Gwinnett’s three Community Improvement Districts
(CIDs). ARC recognizes Gwinnett Ventures with Excellence Awards
The Atlanta Regional Commission has recognized Suwanee Town Center with the Development of Excellence Award. The City of Suwanee is the first municipal government to twice be named a co-winner of this prestigious award. Also recognized by ARC were developers Bowen Family Homes, Madison Retail, and Main Street Corners. From left are: Corbitt Woods of Bowen Family Homes; Art Richardson of Main Street Corners; Ed Allen of Madison Retail; and Suwanee Mayor Dave Williams. (Photo credit: David Douglas, ten1 Photography.)
GEORGIA
ENCYCLOPEDIA (Continued from previous edition; read more) The Shields-Ethridge Heritage Farm The Shields-Ethridge Heritage Farm, located in Jefferson, in Jackson County, is an outdoor museum that seeks to use preservation and the natural environment to increase awareness and understanding of Georgia's agricultural history. The farm, founded in 1799 by Joseph Shields of Virginia, has remained in the same family since its founding and has witnessed colossal changes in agriculture. Originally, the owners planted tobacco, then switched primarily to cotton in the mid-1800s. By the early 1900s the farm's new owner, Ira W. Ethridge, transformed the landscape into a sharecropping village. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 and recognized as a Georgia Centennial Farm in 1994, the main agricultural complex contains buildings constructed between 1900 and 1945, each in its original location. Structures include a wheat house, teacher's house, blacksmith shop, fully stocked commissary, barns, a 1930 Lummus cotton gin, and the recently restored Bachelors' Academy, a two-room schoolhouse. Established in 1994 as a living history museum, the Shields-Ethridge Farm hosts an annual Heritage Day Celebration and provides tours for area children. Seabrook Village A true rarity among living history museums, Seabrook Village in Liberty County portrays a late-19th- and early-20th-century coastal African American community. After the capture of Savannah during the Civil War, Union General William T. Sherman issued Field Order No. 15, which confiscated land along the coast and redistributed it to newly freed black families. Freedmen and -women forged new communities anchored by their culture, including the Geechee dialect and a common history of bondage. Established in 1990, Seabrook seeks to interpret rural African American life between 1865 and 1930 through authentic structures, exhibits, demonstrations, and oral history. Buildings include typical tenant houses, outbuildings, a school, a church, and a sorghum mill. Tullie Smith Farm in Atlanta The Tullie Smith Farm, part of the Atlanta History Center, retains its historical appearance and illustrates the lives of Georgia yeoman farmers. The 1840s farmhouse survived General Sherman's occupation of Atlanta during the Civil War. Featuring such traditional outbuildings as a blacksmith shop, smokehouse, and double corncrib, the rural yard comes to life with animals, costumed interpreters, and such crafts as candle making, spinning, and blacksmithing. CREDITS GwinnettForum is provided to you at no charge every Tuesday and Friday. If you would like to serve as an underwriter, click here to learn more. Send
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TODAY'S
QUOTE “Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.”
Those interested in the history of Gwinnett need to know that the recently published book: Gwinnett: A Little Above Atlanta, has sold fast, with the first editions about sold out. Get yours before they're gone. Go to www.elliottbrack.com to order, or buy the book at a local bookstore shown on the site. The books are available at:
MORE RECENT COMMENTARY
FOR CHARITY. You can give "A Gift of Laughter," a great book of cartoons by Bill McLemore, to help raise money for Rainbow Village. At just $20, it's a fun way to help. To order, call 770-497-1888, or email to info@gwinnettforum.com. SISTER PUBLICATIONS We encourage you to check out our sister publications:
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