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Issue
9.78 | Friday, Jan. 8, 2010 |
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McLEMORE'S
WORLD FEEDBACK UPCOMING NOTABLE ALSO INSIDE _::
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Meet a sponsor
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ABOUT US GwinnettForum.com is a twice-weekly online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett County, Ga. USA. Contact us today. SEARCH GWINNETT FORUM |
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TODAY'S
FOCUS BRASELTON, Ga., Jan. 8, 2010 -- The Town of Braselton has been included in the nation's most notable "9 from 2009" by Arkansas-based Gadberry Group. Outgoing Braselton Mayor Pat Graham says: "We're ahead of the curve, setting a tone for high quality growth, award winning infrastructure and essential services without levying a property tax."
Gadberry Group principal Larry Martin, at the group headquarters in Little Rock, says: "The number-one spot went to Braselton, Georgia, whose impressive household growth was only surpassed by its economic strength," Martin said. "Braselton topped the list with an average household income increase of 67 percent from 2000 to 2009." The demographic research and location-based services' firm based its annual listing upon Braselton's dramatic change in population and the presence of emerging census blocks of neighborhoods with less than ten households in 2000 and more than 100 households in 2009. The census blocks include all of Braselton and stretches into southern Hall, northwestern Barrow and western Jackson Counties. Gadberry Group began announcing notable high growth areas in 2007. In additional to its analysis of census blocks, the firm uses key demographic variables such as ethnicity, household income, net worth, economic stability, length of residence and age in its national calculations. Graham adds: "What a tribute to be on the list. We're the only community in Georgia which meets the criteria for inclusion." Area business leaders quickly confirmed the national recognition. The data bodes well for the Halvorsen Development Corporation, the Boca Raton, Fla. firm which has long eyed the I-85 corridor. President Thomas W. Vincent said: "We chose Braselton for the future development of a 237-acre retail and mixed-use project for several important reasons including high disposable income, its proximity to the North and South Carolina state lines and the dynamic growth potential of the I-85 corridor."
Jackson County Area Chamber of Commerce president Shane Short echoes those visionary sentiments, adding "Braselton serves as a gateway into Jackson County stretching along the growing I-85 corridor from Atlanta. This growth placed Jackson County as one of the top 25 fastest growing counties in the nation according to the Census Bureau. The Town plays a major role in our community because of its excellent employment opportunities and industrial growth and because of its high quality residential and retail developments." Duke Realty's Senior Vice President Chris Brown says: "We identified Braselton as a prime growth area about ten years ago and invested over $100 million over that time, attracting job-generating companies such as SearsLogistics, Tractor Supply, Mitsubishi and Progressive Lighting to the town. We enjoy the pro-business environment created by the Town." The towns named were:
In its official notification to Braselton, a Gadberry spokeswoman added, "We hope you are excited to have an opportunity to be part of the "9 from 2009" list. We believe that it will again draw national attention to your city and raise awareness for economic development opportunities and prospective retailers." Accepting
the accolades as one of her last officials acts as Mayor, Graham says:
"Our vibrant business community offers an array of amenities for
small town living. What a tribute to be on this prestigious list."
She proclaimed the Town logo says it all: "It's Better in Braselton." EEB
PERSPECTIVE
JAN. 8, 2010 -- We Georgia natives are not used to such cold weather in winter as we have been having lately. It's been bone-chilling cold for an unprecedented length of time in Gwinnett recently. Don't know about you, but I find it hard to stay warm.
Each morning walking the dog around daylight I am impressed by just how cold it is. I've learned to take the precaution of loading up with layered clothing. Recently when out during the daytime I had on three layers at the bottom, and six layers on top. With my down-puffed jacket, I looked like the Pillsbury DoughBoy. I could see myself tripping and falling down. I could have frozen while trying to wiggle up, like Ralphie's brother in A Christmas Story. So we began asking people: "How do you stay warm in harsh weather?" With so many people moving in here from Northern climes, we figured we would get a few distinctive answers.
The short answer, of course, is to layer the clothing, to trap warm air inside each of the layers. My dog did not like a "Snuggie" he got for Christmas. He refuses to move when it's put on him. (My own gift of a "Snuggie" has worked wonders while watching all the bowl games on television.) Walking around the block also makes you realize one place where it's tough to layer: the extremities. It's difficult to fit your foot into shoes with layers on your feet. Even if you have a thin underglove with regular gloves, the fingertips get cold fast. Stuffing hands in pockets helps some, but you can't stuff your toes in pockets, so the toes get cold. Here are more thoughts from others on how to stay warm (in no particular order):
Another person had a more long range solution: "Move." But even Floridians we were talking to this week by phone in Naples were complaining. One said: "It's down into the 40s!" That may show how hard it is to stay ahead of the weather. Cold can be anywhere. We remember years ago, when in South Georgia, we got to interview a guy from Sweden one January. During the course of the interview, curiosity got to me, and I asked: "Is it true that after you take saunas in Sweden, that you often go out and roll naked in the snow?" (After all, nothing sounded crazier to me.) "Yes, that's true, and we do that, and the cold of the snow invigorates your body," the Swede told us. Then he added: "But last night in Waycross, Ga., I have never been so cold in my life." I guess we have to accept the cold, no matter where we are! Since we
started with a quote, let's end there, too: George Herbert tells us: "Every
mile is two in winter." ABOUT
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UPCOMING Aurora Theatre invites you to curl up with the fascinating psychological drama Tranced, by nationally renowned playwright and psychologist Bob Clyman to begin on January 12. In the play, a highly respected psychiatrist famous for "trancing," helps his patients uncover suppressed memories. As he trances Azmera, a foreign grad student, he discovers a secret that may have dire consequences for an already struggling country. As the play unfolds, the action spirals into quite an unexpected conclusion.
In his
final performance as an Atlanta-based actor, Maurice Ralston makes his
Aurora Theatre debut as the enigmatic psychiatrist. The cast also includes:
Naima Carter Russell, Cara Mantella and Chad Martin. This ensemble is
under the direction of Aurora Artistic Associate Susan Reid. Tranced also
marks the return of lighting designer Jessica Coale. Explains
Anthony Rodriguez, Aurora Theatre producing artistic director: "My
role in the community is to find fresh, new works like Tranced
and give local audiences a chance to experience them. That is what is
so exciting to me about producing a regional premiere." First Sierra Club meeting of 2010 set for Jan. 21 It's New
Year's resolution time and there is no better time to resolve to improve
the environment of your community. The January 21 Greater Gwinnett Group
of the Sierra Club would like to help you get more actively involved in
a fulfilling Sierra Club activity. Technology Forum to address using wireless applications The January
19th Gwinnett Technology Forum will present the subject, "Using Wireless
Applications from a Business Perspective." The event is at Gwinnett
Technical College's Busbee Center at 7:30 a.m. Suwanee to hear mayor give State of City Jan. 13 Mayor Dave Williams will present the annual State of the City address at 6 p.m. Wednesday, January 13, in Council Chambers at City Hall. The presentation is part of the monthly Suwanee Business Alliance meeting and is open to the public. The mayor's presentation will highlight the economic challenges as well as the achievements of the past year. Williams also will look at how the Suwanee community has evolved over the past decade from a friendly, booming small town to one of America's best places to live. The Suwanee
Business Alliance (SBA) is a business networking organization with about
100 members. The SBA meets monthly in varying locations and hosts the
State of the City address each year. NOTABLE
Walton
Roundup program benefits Hi-Hope Center here These are the latest recipients of funds from Walton EMC's Operation Round Up program:
More than 40 percent of Walton EMC customer-owners are enrolled in Operation Round Up; those not enrolled can initial their bill in the Operation Round Up box or call Walton EMC at 770-267-2505. RECOMMENDED
GEORGIA
ENCYCLOPEDIA Sea Island is an internationally known resort and cottage colony located off the Georgia coast near St. Simons Island in Glynn County. The centerpiece of the resort is the Cloister, a Spanish-style hotel designed by Addison Mizner, which dates from 1928. One of a series of barrier islands, Sea Island is approximately five miles long and one and a half miles wide at its widest point. A causeway connects the island with St. Simons Island, its larger neighbor to the west.
Once known as Fifth Creek Island by coastal Native Americans, Sea Island was largely uninhabited until the 1920s. In 1768 James MacKay, one of General James Oglethorpe's troop commanders, acquired it as a land grant from King George III of England, but he made no use of it. By the early years of the 19th century, the island, then known as Long Island, had been acquired by John Couper of Cannon's Point Plantation and his business partner James Hamilton of Hamilton Plantation. In 1814 the island was passed to James Hamilton when the partnership between the two men was dissolved. Later the island was acquired by William Audley Couper, son of John Couper, who in 1845 sold it to his brother James Hamilton Couper. The Coupers
used the island to pasture cattle during the summer months. In 1888 the
heirs of James Hamilton Couper sold the island to James F. O'Shaughnessey,
a member of the Jekyll Island Club, to use as a hunting preserve. This
venture was short-lived, and the island was used for little other than
grazing livestock until 1921, when a group of local businessmen formed
a company to subdivide the island for vacation cottages. The completion
of a causeway between the mainland and St. Simons made Sea Island accessible
to the public in 1924.
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TODAY'S
QUOTE "When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and princes are home, when the shepherds are back with their flock, the work of Christmas begins: to find the lost, to heal the broken, to feed the hungry, to release the prisoner, to rebuild the nations, to bring peace ... to make music in the heart."
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:
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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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