TODAY'S FOCUS
:: Three more Lake Lanier venues

ELLIOTT BRACK'S PERSPECTIVE
:: Gwinnett put in brilliant light

McLEMORE'S WORLD ARCHIVE
:: Special request

FEEDBACK
:: Letters on lapel pins, Woods

UPCOMING
:: Opportunity zone, Clean-Up

NOTABLE
:: Rehab facility, Rotary events

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_:: TODAY'S QUOTE: Clay on character

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TODAY'S FOCUS
Lake Lanier Islands resorts add three more wedding venues
By KASIE BOLLING
Special to GwinnettForum.com

BUFORD, Ga., April 9, 2010 – Georgia’s most visited lakeside retreat, Lake Lanier Islands Resort , is opening three new outdoor wedding venues. Adding to a veritable cornucopia of current wedding sites throughout the Resort, Spring 2010 will mark the introduction of The Carriage House, The Venetian Pier, and PineIsle Pointe at Lanier.

Artist’s Rendering of The Venetian Pier (Image courtesy of Lake Lanier Islands Resort)

Following the wild popularity of the Resort’s first outdoor venue, Legacy Pointe at Lanier which debuted Summer 2007 under the name Summer House Garden) resort owner Virgil Williams wished to expand on the open air wedding concept to meet the needs of brides and grooms throughout the Southeast. He says: “We love weddings! There is always a sense of excitement and surge of electricity throughout the Resort whenever a ceremony is about to take place. It’s a real privilege to play an important role in such a special day, and we are honored that brides and grooms choose Lake Lanier Islands Resort as the site for their wedding.”

He adds: “In keeping with the Resort’s desire to introduce families throughout the Southeast to the new generation of Lake Lanier Islands, we will continue to add special amenities all over the Islands in the coming years. This year, we are particularly thrilled about the debut of our new wedding venues. Each venue has a timeless ‘classic’ flair, but they lend themselves to a beautiful blank canvas where the bride and groom can create their own picture-perfect day. Our wedding specialists work closely with each couple to help define and shape their dream wedding, but no two weddings are ever alike at Lake Lanier Islands Resort. Each has the distinctive ‘thumbprint’ of its bride, from traditional, to ornate, to utterly original. We believe that’s the New Age of Romance.” 

Each venue is different:

• The Carriage House at Lanier is a semi-enclosed pavilion designed to evoke the feel of a 19th century coach house.
  
  
• The Venetian Pier at Lanier is inspired by the same romantic notions that must have stirred the hearts and minds of early architects in Venice, Italy.
  
  
• The PineIsle Pointe at Lanier provides panoramic views of both the lake and the immaculately manicured 18th fairway of the renowned PineIsle Golf Course.

Wedding Specialist, Celita Fritch says: “We have received an unbelievable response to each of our new venues. They join a long list of favorite venues – our Grand and Plantation Ballrooms, our outdoor site at Legacy Pointe and our fleet of yachts, as well as several additional new sites currently under construction, for a grand total of 20 wedding venues accommodating up to 450 guests.” The new venues are expected to open in late spring or early summer, this year.

A Wedding Showcases at the Resort is an opportunity for future brides and grooms to meet up to 50 wedding vendors, take a tour of the venues and enjoy a tasty sampling from the Resort’s reception menu. Wedding Showcases are planned for July 11 and November 14. Couples can reserve a spot for either of these dates by calling Rebecca Henderson at (678) 318-2072 or by e-mailing their request to rhenderson@llimail.com. To schedule a personalized tour and consultation with the Wedding Specialists, couples are encouraged to call the Resort’s “Wedding Inquiry Line” at 678-318-2061 or e-mail their request to sorr@llimail.com.

EEB PERSPECTIVE
Two different reports put Gwinnett County in brilliant light
By ELLIOTT BRACK
Editor and publisher

APRIL 9, 2010 – Two far different reports out last week painted Gwinnett in a brilliant light.

Brack

First came the announcement that for the second year in a row, Gwinnett County Public School System is a finalist for the Broad Prize for Urban Education. Gwinnett is one of five urban school districts selected as a finalist, and the largest of the five finalists.

Each of the five finalists will get at least $250,000 in college scholarships, while the winning district will garner $1 million for scholarships from the Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation.

The five finalists and their student enrollment are:

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, N.C. (133,600);
  
• Montgomery County Public Schools, Md. (142,000);
  
• Socorro Independent School District, El Paso, Tex. (41,000);
  
• Ysleta Independent School District, El Paso, Tex. (44,729); and
  
• Gwinnett County Public Schools, Ga. (159,222).

Isn't it interesting that the Broad Foundation considers among the best school systems in the nation two independent systems from the same town of El Paso, Tex.?

In its announcement of the finalists for 2010, the Broad Foundation says the Gwinnett system demonstrates “unwavering focus on strong, sustainable students achievement.” It adds: “It is our hope that school districts around the country will learn from the practices Gwinnett and the other finalists districts are employing that are leading to impressive academic gains.” The Broad Prize eligibility for its prizes are the 100 largest urban school districts in the country.

School systems cannot apply or be nominated for these awards. This year's five finalists were selected by a review board of 18 prominent leaders in education, and from executives from leading education universities, associations and foundations.

* * * * *

The other report came from Kennesaw State University, where the A.L. Burruss Institute of Public Service and Research conducted a survey of the five county (Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett) Metro Atlanta area to measure each county's quality of life.

Gwinnett residents scored happier with their government and quality of life than the other four counties. Among findings where Gwinnett scored highest (very good or good) were:

• 86.6% as a place to live.
  
• 89% as a place to raise a family.
  
• 71.6% for well maintained roadways.
  
• 84% for police protection.
  
• 79% for quality of schools.
  
• 79.3% for medical care.
  
• 84.2% for trash and litter control.
  
• 78% for drainage and flood control.
  
• 82.7% for library services.
  
• 91.5% for parks and recreation.
  
  
• To view how Gwinnett stacks up, click here.

There were only a few categories where other counties topped Gwinnett. Fulton scored highest (65.6%) as a “place to grow old”), where Gwinnett hit 59.7%. Cobb had the best traffic flow (36.1%), while Gwinnett was 32.1%. For employment opportunities, Fulton was highest (34.5%), and Gwinnett was second at 20.8%.

When asked whether the economic situation in their county was getting worse, Fulton was the lowest (19.5%), while Gwinnett ranked 24.7%. And on the question of whether the county would be a better place to live in five years, Fulton hit 55.1%, while Gwinnett was 35.8%.

What the Burruss study says is that Gwinnettians are pretty pleased at what is happening around their county, more so, in general, than the other four counties.

• To review the entire 20 page report, go to this link.

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS
The IMPACT! Group

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today GwinnettForum welcomes a new underwriter. Today’s underwriter is The IMPACT! Group, a full-service housing assistance agency based in Lawrenceville. The IMPACT! Group provides a range of housing assistance services, including foreclosure prevention, homebuyer education, financial education, and transitional housing to the residents of Gwinnett County and greater Atlanta.  In the past year alone, the agency operated over 50 percent of the transitional housing units available to homeless families in Gwinnett and provided over 5,000 of your neighbors with housing counseling and education. Awarded the  2009 D. Scott Hudgens Humanitarian Award by the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, The IMPACT! Group is able to provide all of its services in both English and Spanish. If you or a loved one are facing a home foreclosure or are looking to access down payment assistance to buy a home, The IMPACT! Group may be able to help. All IMPACT! housing counselors are HUD-certified and all homeowner counseling sessions are kept confidential. Visit their website at: www.theimpactgroup.org.

• For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: http://www.gwinnettforum.com/about/sponsors.htm

McLEMORE'S WORLD ARCHIVE
Special request

FEEDBACK
Criticism of those wearing lapel pins is disgusting

Dear Editor:

The idea that anyone, politicians or not, should be criticized for wearing an American flag pin, is in a word, disgusting. Any American should be proud of America, and wearing an American flag pin is one of many ways to  show support our country.

We don't have to like the wearer, but we should like the flag and what our  country stands for. The flag is a symbol of America and stands for the freedoms we  believe in and have had for many years, it does not stand for the wearer.

– Jim Nelems, Duluth

Says “Amen” to thoughts concerning flag lapel pins

Editor, the Forum:

Amen! to your editorial on lapel pins. It reminds me of a song that was out in the late 1960's -- in response to the Vietnam War - that went:

"But your plastic flag won't get you
  Into Heaven any more.
We're already over crowded
from your dirty little war.
And these brave young men went out to do
Their patriotic chore.
So your plastic flag won't get you
Into heaven any more."

I don't remember who sang it, but it draws a stark contrast between true patriotism and what I call "Bumper-sticker patriotism" which is prevalent today.  Keep up the good work.

– Robert H. Hanson, Loganville

Loved seeing items about respecting the American flag

Editor, the Forum:

Hooray for the part about respecting the flag. How about posting something on flag etiquette. I suggest readers click to this site: http://www.usflag.org/flag.etiquette.htm

Also, perfect time for GwinnettForum to have something on the history of the Master's Golf Tournament.

– Shirley Holmes, Lawrenceville

Says Nike Tiger commercial nauseating, and also offensive

Editor, the Forum:

Aah, the Masters.  Lush fairways.  Blooming azaleas.  Green jackets.  A tournament that fiercely holds on to tradition in good ways (harsh penalties for unruly fans), and bad (the lack of female members).
 
And now, we have the super bad.  Super bad timing, that is.  Nike unveiled its new 30-second spot, featuring their tried-and-true and oh-so-blue spokesman, Tiger Woods.  In the black and white commercial, which was released on Thursday, a remorseful Woods looks straight into the camera, unfaltering, for 30 seconds. The narrator questions Woods, perhaps to entice the viewer to surmise that this is what’s going through Mr. Woods’s head as he approaches a par-3 shot:
 
“I want to find out what your thinking was, I want to find out what your feelings are...and...did you learn anything?”
 
And who is this wise, questioning voice?  Earl Woods.  Tiger’s dead father! 
 
Produced by Wieden & Kennedy, some in the advertising world are calling this a “bold move” and a wise risk for putting the topic of Mr. Woods’s infidelity front and center.?As a golf fan, and fan of Nike’s previous advertising work, this is beyond the pale.  This is nauseating.  This is creepy. This is offensive and sick on so many levels.  
 
Nike should be applauded for sticking by its spokesman, but let’s be honest.  They are doing it because Mr. Woods has helped them sell a lot of product over the years.  If Mr. Woods was truly this remorseful character that he’s attempting to play, why in the world would he agree to shoot this ad?  And why would Nike insert itself into his personal life?
 
Is this another case of the great public relations machine at work?  Trying to evolve the image of Tiger by creating this contrite (I’d say trite) spot depicting a humbled man?
 
Baloney.  This spot spits in the face of personal integrity, adherence to vows made before friends, family and a higher power, and any sort of therapy that has supposedly been the recent focus of his life.  It is degrading to golf, to his family, to the viewing public and to his fans.  It is a marketing stunt, pure and simple, designed to dupe the audience into believing that their once favored son of golf is redeemed.  He’s not redeemed – he’s found another niche from which to profit. 

– Kitty Barksdale, Washington, D.C.

We encourage readers to submit feedback or letters to the editor. Send your thoughts to editor at elliott@brack.net. We will edit for length and clarity. Make sure to include your name and city where you live. Submission of a comment grants permission to us to reprint. Please keep your comment to 200 words or less. However, if you write 500 words, we'll consider it for Today's Focus.

UPCOMING
State designates opportunity zone along Jimmy Carter Blvd.

County officials received notice last week that the State of Georgia has approved an area at Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Interstate-85 as an Opportunity Zone. Any lawful business within the zone can now qualify for maximum state tax credits of $3,500 for each new job it creates. This is the second designation in the Gwinnett Village CID for this maximum state tax credit. The first designation was late last year for businesses along the Buford Highway corridor in the City of Norcross.
 
The new opportunity zone runs along Jimmy Carter Boulevard from Singleton Road/South Norcross-Tucker Road south of I-85, along Jimmy Carter north to Best Friend Park.
 
Chuck Warbington, executive director of the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District, says: “Having this designation over the years to come will maximize our efforts to attract new businesses and re-develop properties like the OFS site. 
 
The incentive, which can be used annually for up to five years, is available to new or existing businesses that create and maintain two or more new full time jobs. The credits will offset some or all of the business’s income tax liability with any excess applied to its state payroll withholding. An Opportunity Zone must be within or adjacent to a census block group with a 15-percent or greater poverty rate and where an enterprise zone or urban redevelopment plan exists.
 
Nick Masino, vice president of Economic Development and Partnership Gwinnett at the Gwinnett Chamber, says: “The new opportunity zone gives economic developers another tool to add to the relocation or expansion package. This particular location already offers what many businesses desire---convenient access in and out of Gwinnett. Adding major job tax credit opportunities and a focus on revitalization only strengthens the ability to readily sell it to prospects.”
 
Lilburn plans Great American Clean Up of trail May 1
 
Lilburn will participate in The Great American Clean-Up, administered by Keep America Beautiful, is an annual program that occurs from March 1 to May 31.  It is the nation's largest community improvement program.  Last year, an estimated 2.8 million volunteers nationwide donated their time to clean and beautify their communities.

This year the City of Lilburn will be hosting two events. The city is first encouraging residents to clean up around their own neighborhoods. The other project will be held on May 1, and will consist of replanting flowers on the Greenway Trail. Volunteers will meet at 9 a.m. at the entrance to the trail. For more information about both clean-up events, visit the City of Lilburn website at www.CityofLilburn.com.

To volunteer or for questions regarding the Great American Clean-Up, please call Alayne at City Hall at 770-638-2229 or email at ahightower@cityoflilburn.com.

Strickland House in Duluth plans several spring events

The Historic Strickland House Museum in Duluth has several activities upcoming.

On April 17, there will be a spring plant sale, with flowering shrubs , knockout roses, trees, pass-a-long plants, and more. There will also be handmade cedar bluebird houses and posts, with locating instructions. Master gardeners will be there to answer questions and soil sample bags for testing, and vendors will offer their wares.

Also in April, the Museum will present genealogy classes. Classes will be April 20, from 7 until 9 p.m. and on April 27 from  7 to 9 p.m. Come learn how to search and how to be sure that information is accurate. The classes will be taught by Leah Gonzalez, a professional genealogist and contributing writer to Georgia Genealogical Society  Quarterly. Classes will be a $15 payable to the Duluth Historical Society.  Registration is required. Call 770-232-7584.

Regular museum hours are Friday and Saturday from noon until 3 p.m. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children.  The Museum will also open for special events and tours. Call 770-232-7584 or visit the Web site at duluthhistorical.org.

NOTABLE
Rehab facility stairway gets spruced up with artwork

Clinicians, visitors and patients have a new incentive to take the stairs at Glancy Rehabilitation Center. The central stairway, frequently used by physical therapists to reacquaint stroke patients with stair climbing, was once "sterile and boring," according to Patty Hyder, a Glancy administrative assistant who oversaw the transformative project to make the stairway more pleasant. Now, the stairway walls exhibit the mural of a quaint, lakeside garden thanks to the work of artist Rhonda Sells and her helping hands, Rhonda Thomas, Emily Griffith and Christine Fahrnbauer.

The artists started work on Feb. 1, 2010, and finished three weeks later. Leah O' Brien, a physical therapist who uses the stairs during therapy sessions, says: "Patients are just excited to be walking again. While patients come and go, the staff and associates will continue enjoying the improvements."

Duluth Rotary plans two events to fund summer camp

The Rotary Club of Duluth is hosting two separate fundraising events in April to ensure that local children from Rainbow Village, a nonprofit organization that supports families in dire need, enjoy the experience of summer day camp.

Rainbow Village, a one-to-two year transitional program for homeless families with children, provides safe, furnished housing along with mandatory supportive services---such as life-skill classes and after school programs---that facilitate self-sufficiency. This summer, the Rotary Club of Duluth will send approximately 25 Rainbow Village children to ten weeks of summer day camp at Bunten Road Park.

“We knew we were taking on a serious commitment when our membership overwhelmingly voted in favor of this endeavor,” says Tommy Terrell, President of Duluth Rotary, “but we cannot imagine anything more important than giving the youngest members of our community wholesome, stimulating opportunities in which they can grow and thrive.” Terrell added that while Duluth Parks and Recreation has worked to make the effort feasible by reducing the cost of tuition for the Rainbow Village campers, Duluth Rotary is strongly counting on the local community to participate in its fundraising.

The public is invited to a Texas Hold’em and Bingo Player Party on Thursday, April 22 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The 1818 Club on the third floor of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce Building, 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. Those attending will be treated to heavy hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar, along with prizes (including getaways and gift cards) for winners. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $25 per person by emailing Tommy Terrell at thtaub@yahoo.com.

Individuals, partners and foursomes are also welcome to Duluth Rotary’s Out of the Rough 2010 Golf Tournament, which starts at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29 at the Chateau Elan Golf Club, in Braselton. The cost per player is $75. Golfers may register by contacting Ric Baxter at 770-682-0000 or rickbaxter@AmsTax.net.

RECOMMENDED
What's your recommendation?

• An invitation: What Web sites, books or restaurants have you enjoyed? Send us your best recent visit to a restaurant or most recent book you have read along with a short paragraph as to why you liked it, plus what book you plan to read next. --eeb

GEORGIA ENCYCLOPEDIA
The Masters is only tournament at same time each year

Although it became a regular stop on the professional tour in the 1930s, the Masters Tournament in Augusta was not immediately recognized as one of golf's major events, a fourth component of a modern Grand Slam. Several factors helped the tournament evolve into that prestigious position in the 1950s: the support of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who often played at the club during his presidency; the tournament's success with the emerging medium of television; and the annual presence of such stars as Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, and a bit later, Jack Nicklaus.

The Masters was a pioneer in many respects. Roberts devised the over-under (+/-) to par scoring system. In 1949 Jones and Roberts originated the post-tournament ceremony in which the defending champion presents the new champion with the coveted green jacket. The Masters was the first golf tournament to be televised, in 1956 on CBS. In time, other tournaments adopted many Masters innovations.

In spite of its rise to major tournament status and success with television, the Masters became a target of controversy in the 1960s because of the Augusta National club's general exclusivity and, in particular, perceived racism. As club chairman, Roberts seemed determined to make it difficult for any black player to enter the Masters; at best, he was extremely careful about the qualification procedure and insensitive to the obstacles blacks faced in professional golf. The exclusionary tournament policies, the fact that Augusta National had no black members, and the Old South aura surrounding the club and tournament made the Masters a focal point for the issue of racism in golf. The entry of the first black player, Lee Elder, in 1975 and the death of Clifford Roberts by suicide in 1977 (Jones had passed away in 1971) did much to diffuse the criticism, allowing the Masters to develop a more positive public standing.

In the early 2000s controversy again visited the Augusta National Golf Club as women's groups began to target the all-male club for alleged gender discrimination.

The Masters continues to grow in prestige and popularity. It remains the only major golf tournament staged every year on the same course, a feature that provides the event a sense of continuity and familiarity lacking in the other major tournaments. Recent competitive highlights include Jack Nicklaus's unprecedented sixth victory in 1986, Australian Greg Norman's heartbreaking losses, and Tiger Woods's spectacular victories in 1997, 2001, 2002, and 2005. The Masters has long taken pride in the international makeup of its fields. It continues to draw the world's best golfers annually to northeast Georgia for what has become one of the world's finest golf tournaments.

• Click here to access the Georgia Encyclopedia

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TODAY'S QUOTE
Most important distinction of mankind is character

"Of all the properties which belong to honorable men, not one is so highly prized as that of character."

– Henry Clay (1777-1852), via Roy McCreary, Dacula.

MODERN HISTORY OF GWINNETT
Only two copies left!

If you have delayed ordering the history of Gwinnett published in 2009, there are only two copies left. Most fast to secure your copy of Gwinnett: A Little Above Atlanta. Call 770 840 1003 to reserve your copy!

Hurry. No second printing is anticipated. Get this local bestseller before the supply is exhausted!

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:

• Books for Less in downtown Snellville and Lawrenceville (Highway 20 near the Braves park);
• Labaire Pottery, downtown Norcross

MORE EEB PERSPECTIVE

	6/22: Legislative endorsements
	6/18: Voters get big changes
	6/15: Do rigid candidates listen?
	6/11: Interviewing candidates
	6/8: Westmorelands' legacy
	6/4: Parade for Guard unit
	6/2: California voting proposition
	5/28: Web site on Vietnam casualties
	5/25: Forum to make endorsements
	5/21: Rogers not in Hall?
	5/18: Metro media not mainstream
	5/14: Fire ants to whoppers
	5/11: New park, library
	5/7: New interchanges
	5/4: Governor's race
	EEB index of columns

MORE RECENT COMMENTARY

	6/18: Olson: Korean pottery
	6/15: Nelson: Enviro Center
	6/11: Sherman: Far East mission
	6/8: A. Brack: BetterGulf.org site
	6/4: Sorenson: Waste plan to start
	6/2: Fincher: GACS-Rwanda ties
	5/28: Enright: Preventing foreclosures
	5/25: DeCarlo: Animal reforms
	5/21: DeVos: Pleasant Hill Rd.
	5/18: Methodist Society mission
	5/14: Herndon: 5 to be inducted
	5/11: Jones: Civil War reflections
	5/7: Pattie: Spring allergies
	5/4: Olson: Hudgens' contest
	COMMENTARY INDEX

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