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Issue
9.80 | Friday, Jan. 15, 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 LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga., Jan. 15, 2010 -- Gwinnett Technical College has received a $50,000 challenge matching grant from the Betty and Davis Fitzgerald Foundation to benefit the Hudgens Center Tuition Assistance Program at the college.
The program enables the children of eligible Gwinnett Tech students to attend the D. Scott Hudgens, Jr. Early Education Center on campus while their parents are enrolled in classes at Gwinnett Tech. The community, faculty, staff and board members of Gwinnett Tech raised an initial $50,000 towards the challenge grant to earn the additional $50,000 from the foundation. The Foundation's mission is to honor Betty and Davis Fitzgerald by making a difference in the lives of others, primarily through the education and healthcare of the disadvantaged residents of Metro Atlanta and Georgia. J. Lindsay Stradley, Jr., chair of the Foundation board, says: "It is our pleasure to present Gwinnett Technical College with this gift. We were extremely impressed to see how quickly the Gwinnett Tech community came together to meet the challenge of this grant. The D. Scott Hudgens, Jr. Early Education Center on the Gwinnett Tech campus offers parents and their children a marvelous educational opportunity. We are pleased to help open the doors to parents and children who may otherwise not have had this chance." The Foundation is based in Atlanta. Betty and Davis Fitzgerald left their estates as a foundation for the good of the community. They had lived together in Atlanta for 55 years. Betty was born in Winchester, Ky., in 1926 and began working in Atlanta in 1948 after graduating from Duke University. Davis was born in Atlanta in 1922, graduated from Georgia Tech, and served in the Navy. Upon returning to Atlanta, he took a job at Trust Company of Georgia and married Betty in 1950. The couple lived in Atlanta for the next 55 years. Davis continued working at the bank, now SunTrust. The D. Scott Hudgens, Jr. Early Education Center offers unmatched early care and education for children ages six weeks to 8 years. Recognized by the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education for modeling best practices in early education, the Hudgens Center follows the highest standards of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. The Hudgens Early Education Center offers infant and toddler care, preschool, Montessori, Georgia Pre-K, Pre-K extended learning and school-age summer camps. Mary Beth
Byerly, executive director, Gwinnett Tech Foundation, explains: "There
can be many obstacles that keep deserving students from attending college,
and access to quality, affordable childcare is often at the top of that
list. In times of economic challenge, the need is even greater. We are
so pleased to be able to ease this burden for our students so that a college
education can be attainable, and are greatly appreciative to the Betty
and Davis Fitzgerald Foundation and the Gwinnett Tech community for their
tremendous contributions." EEB
PERSPECTIVE JAN. 15, 2010 -- A concern of anyone who travels internationally, or even when going on vacation anywhere, is their health while away from home. A whole industry has grown up around giving people peace-of-mind while traveling.
A new book just released by a Lawrenceville author shows the horrors that getting sick away from home can bring. In this case, it turned out to be a "worst nightmare" situation, as the person's spouse not only got sick, but died, when on an around-the-world cruise. Dying in Egypt is Harve Rawson's account of what he and his wife, Joyce, faced once she became ill when the couple's cruise liner docked in Oman. Rawson is not a newcomer to writing books, having authored several, many about his travels, as he and his wife had visited more than 150 counties. Harve is a former college professor and dean, and moved to Gwinnett about a year ago. Up until Joyce Rawson became sick while on the cruise, the ironic aspect is that she was considered "healthy as a horse." She was a retired teacher in Indiana, and the couple had taken around the world cruises twice before. When the ship docked in Oman, Joyce felt poorly, and stayed on ship while Harve went out on an excursion into the desert.
Upon returning, his wife was not improved. She was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Oman, and a few days later airlifted to Cairo, Egypt to a more modern hospital. All the while, doctors had not diagnosed her condition, and she got continually worse. Meanwhile, Harve was battling multiple problems, getting little information about his wife from medical officials; confronting the language barrier; not easily finding accommodations for himself; being frustrated in dealing with insurance companies from afar; and himself having troubles breathing because of a pulmonary condition of his own. As his wife got worse, she eventually had seven machines hooked to her, each keeping a vital organ going. Harve wrote: "I thought how all the noises alone would drive a person crazy in and of themselves, and wondered if medical technicians and physicians ever gave a thought to the psychological effects of what they were doing to the patient."
Eventually, doctors realized pancreatic cancer was the culprit. Harve, knowing his wife did not want to be kept alive by machines, then found a new problem. Her living will was not valid outside the USA. Their doctors initially did not honor it until Harve found a hospital psychologist who had compassion. The next day, his wife was moved to a new room, with only a breathing machine. Some 36 hours later, she died, with Harve by her side in the room. Another passage on Harve's insight with grief: "Since true love IS mutual, intense grief also means the survivor was as loved as he or she loved. Grief is the price we pay for being loved." This book from Harve Rawson came from notes that he made to keep up with his wife's condition. His writing it had to be a catharsis for him, but it is a major insight for all of us who may someday find a loved one in difficulty in hospitals anywhere. It is a powerful book. (Dying in Egypt is 204 pages. Copies are available at either Barnes and Noble or Amazon web sites; or by calling Authorhouse at 1-888 280 7715; and from the author at $12 plus $3 handling. Rawson can be reached at 770 280 2241, or at rawson@hanover.edu.) ABOUT
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McLEMORE'S
WORLD
FEEDBACK Editor, the Forum: Jesse James Warren, 60, killed two people January 12 in Atlanta. Why did his parents name him after a famous outlaw? Did they think it was funny? Did they think naming him after a bank robber would encourage him to become a banker? To be noticed in a classroom? People tend to live up to the name they are given. That's a sobering thought. They also live up to what parents say to them positively or negatively, such as "You'll never amount to anything;" or "I'm proud of you and will always love you." People fret and argue about selecting a baby name. I think they should also spend some time exploring the effect that name will have on its life. Will it be hard to pronounce or cause teasing from schoolmates? They may select a family last name for a baby's first name; hence, Madison, Hunter and Anderson. Some mimic celebrities or reflect current events. Many honor their heritage, such as when black Americans choose African names. To know who you are, to know what your parents were thinking or who they were honoring when they named you, can be an interesting discovery. A child, once knowing the origin of their name, might want to find out as much as they can and emulate the person. The five most popular boys' and girls' names in 2008 were Jacob, Michael, Ethan, Joshua, Daniel, Emily, Isabella, Emma, Ava and Madison. (Source: Social Security records) It still boils down to being considerate of the life you want your baby to lead. We all need as much help from others as possible. Starting life with a meaningful name helps.
UPCOMING A section of the internationally celebrated AIDS Memorial Quilt -- the 54-ton, handmade tapestry that stands as a memorial to more than 91,000 individuals lost to AIDS -- will be on view from January 25-30 at the University of Georgia Gwinnett Campus in Lawrenceville.
The display is being presented by the department of student affairs at the Gwinnett Campus. Visitors may view the quilt from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. in the lobby of the building at 2530 Sever Road, just off 1-85 at the Old Peachtree Road exit. The NAMES Project Foundation, established in 1987, is the international organization that is the custodian of the AIDS Memorial Quilt. The AIDS Memorial Quilt began with a single panel created in San Francisco in 1987. Today, the quilt is composed of more than 47,000 individual 3 x 6 foot panels, each one commemorating the life of someone who has died of AIDS. These panels come from every state in the nation, every corner of the globe and they have been sewn by hundreds of thousands of friends, lovers and family members into this epic memorial, the largest piece of ongoing community art in the world. Sections are continuously on display across the country in schools, places of worship, community centers, businesses, corporations and a variety of other institutional settings in the hope of making the realities of HIV and AIDS real, human and immediate. To date, more than 17 million people have seen the AIDS Memorial Quilt at tens of thousands of displays throughout the world. For more information on the display at the UGA Gwinnett Campus, call 678/985-6767. Aurora Children's Playhouse schedules three shows for kids Aurora Children's Playhouse is planning three shows, all with music, to enlighten and entertain youngsters. On January 23, A Musical Tour through Latin America will be presented by Havana Son to transport you to a sunny and warmer place. Children will participate by singing, clapping, dancing or playing percussion instruments.
On January
30, Aurora Learning Library presents The Library Dragon by Carmen
Agra Deedy. A fire-breathing librarian with a burning love for books is
ultimately won over by a fearless youngster. Seating is limited. Advanced
reservations are encouraged NOTABLE Travel conditions along Interstate 285's top end corridor, between Interstate 75 and Interstate 85, are a serious problem. For those that live, work and play along I-285's top end, it's up to you to help find a transportation solution.
In 2006, the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) launched revive285 top end, an initiative to develop a transportation solution for the northern I-285 corridor. The project team, with public input, has since developed eight transportation solutions or "alternatives" to address these problems. The alternatives currently under consideration include:
The project team is now seeking further public input to help determine which of the eight alternatives should move forward, be modified, or be discarded. Go online to www.revive285.com to: review the alternatives in detail, including 3-D perspectives of the options, watch the alternatives video, compare the alternatives with the interactive mapping tool, learn more about the revive285 top end project and provide valuable feedback via comment, survey or message board. The revive285 top end corridor also includes the portion of I-75 from Windy Hill Road to I-285. Contact the project team directly at info@revive285.com or by calling the project hotline at (770) 431-7445. Gwinnett residents used less water during 2009 Gwinnett County residents are conserving water even after the drought ended last year. Average daily total water usage was 71.3 million gallons in 2009 compared with 71.9 million in 2008 and almost 18 percent lower than the 86.8 million gallons used daily in 2007.
Total usage for the year was 26 billion gallons, compared with 26.3 in 2008. Commission Chairman Charles Bannister says: "With our raw water supply in the hands of others, we need to be good stewards of this resource," referring to Georgia's ongoing water wars with Alabama and Florida. "I encourage everyone to keep up the good work." Acting Director of Water Resources Lynn Smarr says that the 11 billion gallons saved over the past two years is the equivalent of one surface foot in Lake Lanier. "We've had a wet year but normally when a drought ends people tend to slip back to their old habits. We're very pleased that our customers are not doing that." Officials attributed part of the savings to the ongoing and successful rebate program that pays between $50 and $100 for replacing old, inefficient toilets. Details are available at toiletrebate@northgeorgiawater.org or by calling (404) 463-8645. Gwinnett Tech has double-digit growth for last 12 quarters With winter quarter classes now underway, Gwinnett Technical College marks three years -- 12 consecutive quarters -- of double digit enrollment growth. This is a milestone achievement that administrators say reflects the need for accessible higher education and career-focused training, the growth of in-demand programs of study, and new trends in how education is delivered to students.
Enrollment for winter quarter 2010 is up 25 percent over last year, with a total of 6,563 students registered. Notably, Gwinnett Tech saw a 28 percent increase in new students and a 64 percent increase in fulltime new students. Gwinnett
Tech President Sharon Bartels says: "We're seeing tremendous growth
in virtually every measurement of our student population. This year, our
winter enrollment is virtually the same as our record fall figure---and
that's rare. Fall quarter is traditionally our largest enrollment period
and winter quarter enrollment generally drops." Gwinnett Tech is currently building additional parking and campus roads, and will break ground on its new life sciences building this spring. RECOMMENDED
BOOK
"I finished reading The Lost Ark of the Covenant by Tudor Parfitt just before Christmas. The focus of the book was to solve the 2,500 year old mystery of the fabled biblical ark. As a student of history, the book is fascinating! It reads like a novel in parts, and one has to keep reminding one's self that it is not a novel. I found myself going back on several passages in each chapter to make sure I was getting it all correctly. The book is 365 pages and a short epilogue. My next book will be either South of Broad, by Pat Conroy or Going Rogue, by Sarah Palin."
GEORGIA
ENCYCLOPEDIA An internationally known scientist, Henry Clay White served as professor of chemistry at the University of Georgia from 1872 to 1927. White was especially interested in the application of chemistry to the improvement of crops, and he advanced agricultural science and education in Georgia.
Born in Baltimore, Md., in1848, White was the son of a merchant. After graduating from the University of Virginia in 1870, he worked briefly for a chemical company in Baltimore and presented lectures at the city's Maryland Institute for the Promotion of Mechanic Arts. In 1871-72 White served as the professor of chemistry at St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland, but he left at the end of the term to become professor of chemistry at the University of Georgia. Finding poorly equipped facilities at the university, he set about to improve the situation and developed one of the better chemical laboratories in the region. Devoting considerable time to agricultural chemistry, he published a number of important studies of soil conditions and the cotton plant. He was particularly interested in improving the quality of fertilizers. In addition to his regular duties, White served as chemist for the Georgia State Geological Survey (1876-78), the state of Georgia (1880-90), and the Georgia Experiment Station (1888-1914), located in Griffin, where he also served as vice director (1891-1912). Despite opposition from critics who disliked his liberal views and his advocacy of the theory of evolution, White was appointed in 1890 as president of the State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, which was affiliated with the University of Georgia. Deflecting the efforts of some of the Trustees to make the college an entirely independent institution, he succeeded in integrating it with the university in 1906 as the College of Agriculture. He remained in his administrative post until 1907. He was the recipient of six honorary doctoral degrees, the last of which was awarded by Columbia University in 1908. A confirmed proponent of the theory of evolution by 1875, White organized a conference on the topic in Athens, Ga., in 1909, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin, whom he considered to be one of the four greatest thinkers in history. During his later years White wrote on literary topics, and in 1926 he published a biography of Abraham Baldwin, the founder of the University of Georgia. White was married to Ella Frances Roberts from 1872 until her death in 1913; they had no children. He died in Athens on November 30, 1927. 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 "A conservative is a man who sits and thinks, mostly sits."
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
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