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Issue 10.15 | Friday, May 21, 2010 |
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McLEMORE'S
WORLD ARCHIVE FEEDBACK UPCOMING NOTABLE ALSO INSIDE _:: IN THE
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TODAY'S FOCUS
DULUTH, Ga., May 21, 2010 -- The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (GPCID) recognizes the importance of moving traffic in an efficient manner in the Gwinnett Place area for its citizens and businesses. Although in some areas of Georgia the recent economic constraints have placed a hold on maintenance of traffic signal operations, the GPCID moved forward with signal maintenance and monthly and quarterly performance checkups. And the results have been significant.
In October of 2008, the GPCID contracted Wolverton & Associates, Inc. (W&A), a full-service Duluth civil engineering firm, to improve the flow of traffic within the Gwinnett Place area. W&A was also contracted to provide monthly and quarterly signal maintenance. The contract includes 45 traffic signals along Pleasant Hill Road, Steve Reynolds Boulevard, Satellite Boulevard and Club Drive. The results have shown that the GPCID decision has helped to save much more than just travel time. The GPCID signal timing project resulted in a travel time reduction along Pleasant Hill Road of nearly two minutes per vehicle throughout the day. This can add up. In fact, it equates in a savings of over 62,000 gallons of fuel per year, and a monetary impact of over $1.3 million per year. The project also included extensive coordination with Gwinnett County DOT staff, since they are responsible for the operation and maintenance of these traffic signals. How did GPCID get these results? The methodology behind the synchronization of traffic signals is to reduce the number of stops, improve travel time and reduce delay experienced by drivers in the Gwinnett Place area. Positive environmental impacts, in the form of reduced emissions and gasoline consumption, are also realized as a result of the successful signal timing project. This is achieved by programming all of the traffic signals within the system to operate in concert with one another to efficiently move traffic. The new signal timings are developed by using traffic computer modeling software that simulates traffic conditions. Signal timings are then fine-tuned under field conditions with numerous observations and monitoring of the system. W&A staff members visit the system each month to ensure that the controllers all display the exact time and date, which often can be off a few seconds because of thunderstorms or other variables. And a few seconds can make an immense difference. On a quarterly basis, W&A staff visits the system to perform a more extensive review of the operations. Without constant attention, the operation of the signal system would eventually degrade, leading to a much less efficient flow of traffic. For GPCID, the maintenance has paid off by providing residents, shoppers, visitors, local workers, and merchants a much more pleasant, and efficient, driving experience with controlled and safer traffic conditions. EEB PERSPECTIVE MAY 21, 2010 -- Hats off to a lot of people for creating the Gwinnett Sports Hall of Fame, announced recently. The first inductees will be introduced at Coolray Field prior to a Gwinnett Braves baseball game on June 6. (See GwinnettForum, May 14.)
Five people will be inducted in the first class. However, some obvious names were left off the first announcement, which caused several people to ask some questions. More than anything else, we heard: "Why was George Rogers not included? What else do you have to do to gain acceptance to the Gwinnett Sports Hall of Fame besides winning the Heisman Trophy?" After all, it is the most prestigious award in college football, and Mr. Rogers won it, after having a successful career at the University of South Carolina. His accomplishments not only at Duluth High School, but as a professional player at New Orleans and Washington are legion. Today he's on the athletic staff at the University of South Carolina, and continues to be an example of the best in sports. Talking to one of those who helped form the new Hall of Fame, we learned that a provision this first year was that any person named, if living, had to be present. George Rogers was among those who was at first chosen for the honor, but he ran up against a conflict for the date of the induction ceremony. He had already committed to be with his friend, Tony Dorsett, at Dorsett's charity's golf tournament. The selection committee anticipates that they will have Rogers here inducted into the Hall next year, and they will make sure it is a date that Rogers can attend.
Of course, a major world figure, Heavyweight Boxer Ezzard Charles, won't attend, since he is deceased. However, his son, Ezzard Charles II, will represent his father at the induction, a fitting tribute to someone born here in Gwinnett who later became world-known. We got from David Seago, one of the organizers of the new Hall of Fame, a list of the basic qualifications to be considered for the honor of being among those selected. Basically, the person must have either been born in Gwinnett, or participated in sports for two years at a Gwinnett County high school, be at least 26 years of age, and show high standards of sportsmanship, ethical conduct and character. The "required attendance" for living inductees also got two recent Gwinnett baseball athletes, Jeff Francoeur and Brian McCann off the list. Anticipation is that efforts will be made to have an induction ceremony one year at a baseball off-season time. Another provision in the overall criteria for selection for the Gwinnett Sports Hall of Fame allows for significant Gwinnett coaches to be among the nominees. We can think of several for consideration in coming years: Jack Britt, Cecil Morris and Jackie Bradford. Certainly the accomplishments of these and other athletic leaders of youth ought to qualify these coaches for membership in the Gwinnett Sports Hall of Fame in the future. It's good
to see leadership, this time from the Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation,
in establishment of the Gwinnett Sports Hall of Fame. Now's the time to
start sending nominations for next year's class. For instance, we could
suggest someone who would be eminently qualified, the late Perrin Walker,
an outstanding Olympic track man. For more information, go to www.gcps-fundation.org. ABOUT OUR SPONSORS
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Precision Planning, Inc. is a multi-disciplined design firm based in Lawrenceville, Georgia with a 26-year history of successful projects. In-house capabilities include Architecture; LEED® Project Management; Civil, Transportation and Structural Engineering; Water Resources Engineering; Landscape Architecture; Interior Design; Land and City Planning; Land Surveying; and Grant Administration. PPI has worked diligently to improve the quality of life for Georgia communities through creative, innovative planned developments, through the design of essential infrastructure and public buildings, and through promoting good planning and development principles. Employees and principals are involved in numerous civic, charitable and community based efforts in and around Gwinnett County. For more information, visit our Web site at www.ppi.us or call 770-338-8103.
McLEMORE'S WORLD ARCHIVE
FEEDBACK Editor, the Forum: I got a
chuckle out of the cartoon listed the other day, "Waiting on the
Lottery". And I got a little philosophic and started to think about
how many of us are also waiting on the lottery. Now I do buy a ticket
now and then, and everyone fantasizes about winning a little something
they didn't have to work for. But I also feel like to many people are
not being proactive and trying to solve their own problems.
Take the
wars going on overseas; does anyone really see a defined goal here? It
seems to me like we are just waiting our time and hoping that something
will happen to make a positive change. That after all these years we are
still risking the lives of our troops and it would seem only maintaining
the status quo. Are we waiting for the lottery?.... As an aside. I admit
that although I have an opinion; I have no real answer to this question
myself.
Finds television best for older shows or football games Editor,
the Forum:
After several false steps, he ends up toasting a toasting Editor,
the Forum:
UPCOMING Looking
for fun closer to home? Look no further: "Music at the Vines Mansion"
kicks off a four-concert series at Vines Mansion and Gardens on May 30.
Proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society.
The series
begins on Sunday, May 30, and continues through Sunday, September 19.
The first concert is an American Music Festival featuring blues artists
Randall Bramblett, Col. Bruce Hampton, Yon Rico Scott Band and Mike Delaney. Doors open
for Sunday concerts at 4 p.m. and for Friday concerts at 6 p.m. Concerts
will be rain or shine - no rain dates will be scheduled. Ticket prices,
which start at $22.50 for general admission, can be purchased on-line
through: www.MusicAtTheVinesMansion.com. Duluth's museum plans locomotive celebration June 5-6 The Southeastern Railway Museum is planning a Locomotive Celebration! June 5- 6 on its grounds in Duluth. This will be a celebration of rail locomotives old and new. In particular, the museum will mark the anniversary of the 100th birthday of the Savannah & Atlanta locomotive #750. There will be free admission to the museum both days. In addition, kids can get temporary locomotive tattoos, and participate in kids locomotive arts and crafts. Other activities with locomotive themes includes a hunt, slide show and tours of the grounds, plus caboose rides. Ice cream and cookies and other refreshments will be available. The museum is located at 3595 Buford Highway in Duluth. Deadline near for next Gwinnett Senior Leadership class Deadlines are approaching for participation in the 2010-2011 Gwinnett Senior Leadership class. The program, to be in its 12th year, is a program for those 55 and older, retired or still working, to acquaint seniors with a deeper understanding of how Gwinnett County operates. Members of the class take one day a month for a year to study issues in depth, and to meet with high ranking Gwinnett officials to learn more about the county.
Kathy Gestar, Senior Leadership Gwinnett Executive Steering committee chair, says that nominations and applications are now being accepted for the upcoming Senior Leadership Gwinnett class that begins August, 2010. The nomination deadline is June 5, 2010 and the application deadline is July 10, 2010. Gwinnett Tech hosts the program. For more information about the Senior Leadership Gwinnett or for an application, please contact Lori Christopher by email at lchristopher@gwinnetttech.edu, or by phone at 678-226-6316. NOTABLE Gwinnett
Elections Director Lynn Ledford has been selected for the 2010 Frances
Duncan Award from the Georgia Election Officials Association (GEOA).
This is
the highest honor that election officials can receive, as the award is
given by peers throughout Georgia to recognize outstanding achievements
in either voter registration or elections. Walton Electric Trust disburses $60,109 in Round Up program
For 13 years, Walton Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) customer-owners have come to the aid of those around them by participating in the cooperative's Operation Round Up program. Customers allow Walton EMC to round their monthly electric bill to the next dollar with the resulting change going to a fund administered by Walton Electric Trust. Trust members are Walton EMC customer-owners who review every request for help to make decisions on awards within the co-op's 10-county service area. The Trust's bylaws prevent the money from being used for administrative costs or electric bills. For a list of the latest disbursements, amounting to $60,109, click here. RECOMMENDED
GEORGIA ENCYCLOPEDIA
The River and Harbor Act of 1890 authorized the Corps of Engineers to maintain a steamboat channel between Savannah and Fernandina, Fla., at a mean low-water depth of seven feet. During this period steamboat lines utilized the entire route, making semiweekly trips between the Savannah and St. Johns rivers, with stops at Darien, Brunswick, St. Marys, and Fernandina. Freight vessels utilized both the waterway and the connecting freshwater rivers (Altamaha, Ogeechee, Satilla, and Savannah) to transport cargoes of cotton, guano, naval stores, rice, and seafood. Other steam vessels were engaged in working the productive oyster beds along the coast. Georgia's oyster industry in the 1890s and early 1900s was the most active on the East Coast.
The greatest
use of the inland waterway during this period, however, was in connection
with the lumber industry. An 1890 Corps of Engineers report noted that
25 million feet of lumber were towed annually from the mouth of the Altamaha
River to loading grounds in Sapelo Sound or at St. Simons Sound. The opening of pulp mills in the mid-1930s required larger barges to facilitate the shipment of long-haul commerce over the AICW. The Corps of Engineers began regular maintenance of the waterway, including the dredging that is a necessary activity. The Corps, in the 1930s and 1940s, obtained from the state of Georgia the marshland rights-of-way along the passage for the disposal of spoil from dredging work. 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 "I can't understand it. I can't even understand the people who can understand it."
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:
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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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