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Issue 9.89 | Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010 |
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 SNOW GLOW: The weekend's snowfall created opportunity to get rare photos, such as this shot from the Elisha Winn House taken by Todd Evans of the Hamilton Mill community. The rare snowfall over Gwinnett measured between two and four inches. |
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TODAY'S FOCUS LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga., Feb. 16, 2010 -- It was a surprise for his wife, Jessica Schelke, one which will last: the establishment of an endowment for an English scholarship, in memory of her father. That's what Michael Schelke of Sandy Springs did recently at Georgia Gwinnett College.
The scholarship honors the memory of Antonio Damian, born in El Salvador to Lebanese parents who left Beirut in the 1920s. They traveled to France and Cuba before settling in Central America. Schelke says: "I wanted to honor Jessica's father because he was the embodiment of the entire story of the Damian family." I wanted to recognize what he had to do to build a better life for his family." The eldest of seven, Mr. Damian spent his childhood traveling to and from Lebanon and helping raise his siblings during his father's prolonged business trips across the Atlantic to manage his olive grove and vineyard ."His father's work ethic and interest in travel and languages inspired Damian to build his own career in international business, which took him to several nations across four continents. When civil war erupted in El Salvador in 1980, Damian and family fled to the U.S. to seek political asylum. Damian continued to support family members in El Salvador until his death in 1999. A firm believer in education, Damian and his wife instilled an appreciation for life-long learning and intellectual curiosity in all four of their children. The youngest, Jessica Damian, now is an assistant professor of English at Georgia Gwinnett College. Schelke said he is proud of the family's story and commitment to education. "I think it's impressive to achieve so much in a country and language that is not your own. I also directed the scholarship to benefit students who may have similar challenges." The Antonio Damian Scholarship Fund, eventually to be $50,000, will support Georgia Gwinnett students majoring in English, with preference to those from historically underrepresented groups, or who are first-generation college students and to those who demonstrate financial need. Recipients must be full-time students and maintain a specific minimum grade-point average. The scholarship may be renewed for up to four years. Lois Richardson, dean of the School of Liberal Arts, says: "The scholarship is the first established in GGC's School of Liberal Arts, and the first created in the college by a faculty member's spouse. "We deeply appreciate Mike's generosity. This scholarship will allow a special population of students to receive a 21st Century and beyond, liberal arts education that will prepare them for the global economy." The fund will be used to award scholarships beginning in the fall of 2010.†† Gordon Harrison, president of the Georgia Gwinnett College Foundation, says: "An endowment is a fund that provides a permanent source of support. Such a fund is the perfect way for a donor to make a lasting investment, and is a very meaningful way to recognize a loved one." Jessica Damian, who was born in El Salvador, was invited to a small reception of college staff where she heard the news about what her husband, a native of Southern California, had done. They have lived in Georgia for four years. "I
had no idea my husband was planning this," she says. "I am so
touched that he chose to honor my father this way, and to benefit students
who need support to pursue their education. My father would have been
so proud to be remembered in this way." EEB PERSPECTIVE FEB. 16, 2010 -- Our citizens are dissatisfied with their government. It shows in poll after poll. Most of the dissatisfaction seems aimed at the Federal Government, as the partisanship in Washington sours the country on the inability and slowness in tackling pressing issues.
There's also a certain amount of criticism in Georgia of the problems of the state, many brought on by the recession, but also brought on themselves by elected officials with their whacky proposals and often unrepentant conduct. And in Gwinnett County, we have seen the standing of our county diminish as the county commission and the many Gwinnett cities fail again and again to reach compromise on the delivery of services. Again, the economy has helped trigger the dissatisfaction of the citizenry because of the inability of many local governments to lead, or to get along with one another. It appears to us that we are not seeing the best government efficiency come from our leaders. There are several pressures that come to bear on this in addition to the economic conditions. Here are a few of them: Communications: if anything, today we have far too much communications. It bogs down the smooth flow of government. This is not to hunger back to the days of closed-door sessions. No, today the problem is that government officials often get themselves tied up because they open their mouths too much. They get far too much exposure than they are due. They seek to polish their image instead of moving ahead with efficient government. Yes, the media continues to ask them to comment. But many a time it would be best for the officials to resist the temptation to open their mouths. Transportation: this applies to the Federal Government most severely, but can also apply to government in Georgia. For our senators and representatives in the Congress, the widespread airline flight structure allows many of these officials to spend more time in their Georgia home, and less time in Washington. Many are Monday through Wednesday residents of Washington, with the other nights spent in Georgia. While in Washington, they are quite busy, seeking to cram a week's work into three days. But what also happens: they are so busy that they do not have time to mix and mingle with their contemporaries. Before modern air travel, many in Congress virtually lived their entire lives in Washington, and enjoyed a private lifestyle where they could be friends with colleagues across the aisle. It would appear that such a life led to more collegiality, and made passage of legislation requiring bipartisanship support possible. Sadly, such a friendly lifestyle no longer is possible, as we see open bickering and consternation keeping much good legislation from passing. Complications: with modern media and the Internet, the earth is a much more connected world, with international incidents clearly impacting us as never before. The speed of such a world hits all of us, even down to the city and county level. It's the New World Order, not so much governmentally inspired as it is driven by incidents out of our control. The world will never be the same again, as it makes governing tougher. That's a pessimistic take on the modern world. Our hope is for more innovations to improve the machinations of the world. ABOUT OUR SPONSORS
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. About WIKA Instrument Corporation: For over 60 years, WIKA Instrument Corporation (WIKA) has continued to globally advance pressure gauge, sensor and temperature instrumentation technology and applications. In the United States, WIKA's operation utilizes state-of-the-art manufacturing technology and highly automated proprietary production equipment in its nearly quarter-million-square-foot facility in the metro Atlanta suburb of Lawrenceville, Ga. As the industry leader in lean manufacturing, WIKA offers a wide variety of stock and customized instrumentation solutions for critical applications that often are distributed within days. The WIKA customer service department recently earned the Operational Excellence Award for Leadership from one of North America's leading distributors of industrial maintenance, repair and operation replacement parts. Producing over 40 million gauges, diaphragm seals, transmitters, and thermometers worldwide annually, WIKA has the most extensive product line in the industry. More: www.wika.com.
FEEDBACK Editor, the Forum: Anthem Blue Cross, the largest provider of health insurance in California, recently announced they would increase premiums by up to 39 percent. Aflac, headquartered in Georgia, just announced a $1.5 billion net profit for 2009. At the same time, a recent study conducted by the Harvard Medical School states 45,000 Americans die each year due to lack of health coverage.
Folks, I don't know about you, but I have a serious problem with this. While I believe private insurance companies should be allowed to make a profit, the greed that has engulfed this industry must be stopped. What we are talking about is luxury verses necessity. Fat-cat CEO's are living the life of luxury, while middle class and poorer Americans are dying each day because they simply cannot afford or have been denied the coverage and treatment they need. In a land as great as America, it is shameful that so many of our citizens are just allowed to die, for no other reason than greed. My father worked in the textile mill for 40 plus years and my mother was a homemaker. A year after his retirement, the mill closed, and with it went my parents health insurance.' For my father, who was 65, it wasn't a big concern as Medicare kicked in. For my mother, who was 10 years younger, it was devastating. My mother had been in poor health for years, and suddenly found herself without insurance.' We contacted no less than ten companies, and she was denied by all due to her preexisting conditions. For seven years, until she was eligible for Medicare, my parents depleted their savings in order for my mother to get the care that she needed. In 2007, my monthly premiums doubled. In 2009, my company was forced into a "health care savings plan." If you are not familiar with that, it's a debit card in which a small amount of money is added monthly to pay for medical expenses.† I went from a $20 deductible to a $3,000 deductible. Recently, I wasn't feeling well and went to my doctor. Shortly afterwards I received a bill from my doctor for $180, from the lab for $719 and medicines of $204. All of this, I had to pay out of pocket. Although I am blessed to have a job and make a decent living, I find that I can simply not afford to get sick. Healthcare reform has become a personal issue for me. It's an issue that has not only greatly impacted my family, but I also have a friend whose mother was one of the 45,000 that died last year because she could not afford the treatment that she needed. Although I believe in smaller government, healthcare is an area that our government simply can no longer ignore. Those who argue otherwise are fortunate to have great heath care coverage and no worries, but would quickly change their opinion if a loved one was one of the 45,000. Whether its single payer, a public option, or another form of assistance, not another person should die, not another family should spend through their life savings, not another American should fear getting sick because they can't afford it. Realize that this is America, the greatest nation on earth. It's time to wake up and start acting like it.
Correction on recent comment about high-speed rail Editor, the Forum: Thanks for printing my letter on high-speed rail. But the headline mischaracterized my point. You called it "Study Needed on rail transportation issues." This is the exact opposite of the point I was trying to make. The last thing we need is more studies. It's been studied to death.
UPCOMING Atlanta Gas Light President Suzanne Sitherwood is to be the speaker on February 19 for the Gwinnet Leadership Organization for Women (GLOW) program. Her topic will be "Hard Hats and High Heels: Women in Leadership meeting at 7:45 a.m. at Sugarloaf Country Club
If one were to take a look in Sitherwood's closet, her wardrobe would show that women can do it all! There is the expected power suits, stilettos and purses in Sitherwood's closet, but also a few items that can surprise anyone, including a hard hat and a uniform. These would be from her early days at Atlanta Gas Light Company in 1980, when she joined the company. Her first job was maintenance, working out of a gas truck. Working in a man's world is nothing new for Sitherwood, especially considering her childhood on military bases. Now she
is not only leading the company where she has worked for 30 years, but
she is also the first woman to chair the Georgia Chamber of Commerce in
its 100-year history. The cost to attend the breakfast is $35 for Chamber members and $45 for non-Chamber members. To RSVP, contact Nicole Wright at 770-232-8816; or e-mail nicole@gwinnettchamber.org. Joy of Six art show set at Tannery Row in Buford The Tannery Row Artist Colony will present the next art show, The Joy of Six, commemorating its sixth anniversary at the Tannery, at their opening night on Friday, February 20 from 6 to 9 p.m. The show will encompass original paintings, 3-D art, and mixed media art. The show is free to the public and will run until April 10. The opening night boasts live music, poetry readings, free appetizers and beverages, as well as a drawing for a weekend get-a-way. The Tannery Row is located at 554 West Main Street in Buford. The show will be judged by Dottie Newman, Gail Whitworth and Morris Herzberg, all serving on the Patron Board at the High Museum of Art. As a theme, the works must creatively represent some form of the number 6, either in presentation or allegory. For more
information, visit www.TanneryRowArtistColony.com
for directions, or call Sabrina Bland at 404-729-1203†or e-mail NOTABLE Web Industries of Boston, Mass., a global leader that specializes in custom manufacturing and development for flexible materials, will expand its Suwanee operations in Gwinnett. The expansion, projected to create 25 high-wage engineering and technician jobs, will allow Web Industries to service new and expanding large-scale composite aircraft programs for commercial and military use - such as the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
Web Industries
also projects a few hundred more jobs to be created over the next several
years should business growth continue as planned. Today's expansion will
create $6 million in capital investment. Web Industries is in the final stages of securing over 250,000 square feet of manufacturing space to support their current and future facilities needs. The Suwanee location will be one of the largest facilities the firm occupies in North America. A 100 percent employee-owned company, Web Industries is a global leader specializing in custom manufacturing and development for flexible materials for over 40 years. Web is a critical piece of the manufacturing process for a wide range of products spanning airplane parts to baby diapers.† Web serves five strategic markets including: Advanced Composites for Aerospace, Medical Diagnostics, Consumer Products, Wire and Cable, and Emerging Technologies such as thin films used in Solar and Flexible Electronics applications.† Web Industies' Suwanee operation provides world class processing of carbon fiber pre-preg composites which are the critical materials for the manufacturing of the new generation of commercial aircraft. Much of the new 787 is made from carbon fiber pre-preg composites from Toray Composites America, Inc . Web Industries is the world leader in the processing of these materials with a level of technological leadership and productivity unmatched in their industry. Fairclough collects children's books to gain Eagle rank Max Fairclough, a senior at Grayson High School, became an Eagle Scout on, January 23. He is a member of Troop 583, which is sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) in Dacula.
For his Eagle service project, Fairclough collected children's books from the community and donated them to the Quinn House, a local shelter that assists families in need. Fairclough contacted the presidents of three homeowner's associations in Lawrenceville and Loganville to get permission to distribute fliers within the neighborhood, asking for new and gently used children's books. Fairclough and his Venture Crew, a team of 12 people, stapled fliers to 600 grocery bags donated by Publix and distributed them in each of the neighborhoods. A week later Fairclough and half of his crew collected more than 1,900 books from the neighborhoods, while the other half built five bookshelves. Then came sorting through the books for wear. Fairclough said, "I was pleasantly surprised at how generous the community was. I was only expecting to collect about 500 books." The project took 172 man-hours to complete. Fairclough said, "I choose to do this project because I felt that it would make a positive impact on the community by involving the members of the community. It was a way for me and them to give back and to help children." Fairclough is the son of Mylene and Tom Fairclough of Lawrenceville. He is the point guard and co-captain for Grayson High's basketball team and is on the student council. He plans to attend Brigham Young University in the fall.
GEORGIA ENCYCLOPEDIA
A branch of the United States Mint was established in Dahlonega in 1835, a decade after the nation's first gold rush brought thousands of miners into North Georgia, and its first coins were issued in 1838. During the next 23 years, the Dahlonega Mint coined more than $6 million in gold but did little to alleviate the nation's chronic money shortage. The coins were too valuable to circulate locally, and most found their way into overseas trade.
The Branch Mint at Dahlonega was one of three mints chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1835. The others were in Charlotte, N.C., and New Orleans, La. The opening of the Dahlonega Mint coincided with the removal from Georgia of the last Cherokee Indians, whose word for yellow, Talonega, gave the town its name. Ironically, by the time the first half eaglesó$5 gold pieces were minted on April 17, 1838, the region's gold mines were nearly exhausted. Several problems plagued both the builders and the operators of the mint. It took many weeks to get materials and machinery into the frontier town, and skilled labor was hard to find there. Local citizens, qualified or not, wanted jobs, and there was never a shortage of applicants. The director of the United States Mint in Philadelphia complained that the institution in Dahlonega was a "neighborhood mint." Certainly, it was in the thick of politics. The mint superintendent was always a partisan of whatever party was in office, and the jobs of assayer and coiner, requiring skills largely absent on the frontier, eventually became political plums as well. Despite difficulties, coins minted in Dahlonega were of high quality and are still prized by coin collectors. Mint officers preferred making the larger and easier-to-coin half eagles, but they also produced quarter eagles, gold dollars, and for one year, three-dollar gold pieces. Business at the mint, often slow, increased markedly in the early 1840s when there was a major gold strike at a local mine, but it boomed after the California gold rush as Georgia miners brought ore home with them to be coined at the local mint. When Georgia seceded from the Union in January 1861, the state took over the Branch Mint's building and machinery. The Confederate States of America could not supply dies for coining, however, so the half eagles minted from the bullion on hand still bore the imprint of the United States of America. Unionists in north Georgia talked of seizing the mint and holding it for the Union. The Confederate Congress closed the Branch Mint in June 1861, and for the rest of the Civil War (1861-65) a private assayer lived there and acted as caretaker. During the Reconstruction era, it was occupied by federal troops. Failing to sell the building, the U.S. government gave it to the trustees of North Georgia Agricultural College (later the North Georgia College and State University) in 1871. In 1878 the old mint building burned, and a new college building, which still stands, was erected on the site. It is topped by a steeple leafed with Georgia gold. 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 "Money doesn't always bring happiness. People with ten million dollars are no happier than people with nine million dollars.
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 http://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. 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. SISTER PUBLICATIONS We encourage you to check out our sister publications:
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