BIG CHECK: The Norcross Cluster Schools Partnership (NCSP) through its annual Gala raised over $18,000 to fund initiatives through a grant application program. Teachers may request funding for projects which may not be otherwise financed. The grants were awarded to nine schools and included Kindles, a Literacy Academy, Butterfly Life Cycle and a State-of-the-Art Playground. Additionally, several local businesses have funded programs that concentrate on math and science education and participate as volunteers to help deliver the curriculum. Shown at the check presentation are, from left, Mary Hester, LAN Systems; and school principals Jonathan Patterson, Norcross High; Beverly Smith, Peachtree Elementary; Dorothy Parker-Jarrett, Summerour Middle; Maryanne Grimes, GIVE Center West; Wanda Yeargin, Pinckneyville Middle; Priscilla McHam, Stripling Elementary; Bron Gayna Schmit, Simpson Elementary; Dora Hill, Norcross Elementary; Jose DeJesus, Beaver Ridge Elementary; and Kim Dorough, Norcross Cluster Schools Partnership.

Issue 11.85 | Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012

TODAY'S FOCUS
:: Farm Fresh Market open in Buford

ELLIOTT BRACK'S PERSPECTIVE
:: Suggestion for retooling Supreme Court

FEEDBACK
:: Send us your letters

UPCOMING
:: Feb. 7 House election, comedy night

NOTABLE
:: Perkins wins award; EMC grants, more

ALSO INSIDE

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
:: Georgia Gwinnett College

RECOMMENDED
:: "The Devil in the White City"

GEORGIA TIDBIT
:: Baptists Today

LAGNIAPPE
:: Lots of activities on tap

GWINNETT CALENDAR
:: "Dancer"

TODAY'S QUOTE
:: What to expect after 100 years

OUR SPONSORS

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
:: Subscribe for free
:: GeorgiaClips.com

TODAY'S FOCUS
Buford residents now have full-time farm fresh market
By WILL NELSON
Special to GwinnettForum

BUFORD, Ga., Jan. 31, 2012 -- A recent trend in Gwinnett County is various cities now having their own farmers' market. Buford can now be added to the list. Opened in October of last year, the Buford Farm Fresh Market, owned and operated by Fred and Brenda Mauritz, is already going great guns.

Located at 5751 Little Mill Road in Buford, it is run six days a week, being closed on Monday. Daily hours during the winter are from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., while Sunday hours are from 1 until 5 p.m.

Fred Mauritz says with more than a hint of amazement in his voice: "The interest and support for our market has been greater than we initially even expected." A natural born handy man, he has converted a building once used for children's activities into a contemporary, country-style interior.

The market features a variety of local produce grown in the North and South Georgia regions. They buy products from specific local farms, such as Jaemor Farms, Orchards at Mercer in Ellijay; and from the State Farmer's Market. However, the Mauritz' also have direct contact with producers in South Georgia and adjacent states, among them the Yoder Kitchen in Anderson, S.C., and Amish products from Ohio.

There is also a large sundry department, boasting over 1,500 different products. There are jars of "Good and Evil" pickles, where conventional pickles are matched with jalapeno peppers! The market has Amish cheese, cheese curds, summer sausage and kielbasa with special seasonings in each product.

Mauritz in the apple section.

Both Fred and Brenda take pride in the variety and freshness of their produce. They seek to support local farmers in their efforts to bring high quality food to area residents.

Mauritz is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, and previously worked with General Electric and the Yellow Pages, having been in the South since he was 26. Now retired, at age 66, he seeks to help local farmers survive so that his customers can get the freshest products possible.

The process of creating and stocking the market has been a learning process. When visiting the market, enjoy Fred and Brenda's tour of the 3,000 square foot interior. With Fred's background growing up with dairy farming, he has some interesting stories on the various product lines, from Paula Deen to Jeff Foxworthy and other lines.

Their natural castile soap, Kilgore pottery, and Amish apple butter are made by local residents, which further emphasize their commitment to supporting the community. "We feel privileged to provide what everyone used to find and love in local stores and markets, and to know where produce is grown, and to know where jams, jellies and preserves are made."

Customers bring in family members from out-of-town to show them "their own" farmers' market in Buford. "This is why we have ensured there is a supply of Georgia gifts for them to take back home," states Brenda. The Habersham wickless candles and the Georgia Landmark tea bags can be surprises for relatives and friends from other states.

"We are having so much fun doing this. It is a real blessing to have this opportunity to give back to the community. Our slogan is 'It's always peachy at Buford Farm Fresh Market,'" says Fred Mauritz.

• To see photos of the market, click here.

EEB PERSPECTIVE
Perry's candidacy produced Supreme Court makeover plan
By ELLIOTT BRACK
Editor and publisher

JAN. 31, 2012 -- Granted, the hoopla, the hype and the horrible insults that presidential candidates heap upon one another, and us, is not the most beneficial aspect of a campaign for the White House.

Brack

In debates, the candidates seem to have knee-jerk responses to one another. However, one of the campaign benefits for us is that the candidates actually put some thought to their presidential platforms and proposals. Platforms in print are usually far less entertaining, but much more beneficial, than listening to one of the debates, their trading barbs, or to sound bites.

Perhaps the most intriguing of the many proposals in this Republican campaign season is the proposal by a candidate who dropped out of the race, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, concerning the Supreme Court. His proposal would hit quite a nerve with many people, who are concerned that the Court, whether it has a liberal or conservative bent, has overstepped its boundaries in some recent decisions.

Here's what Governor Perry had posted as one of his ideas on his web site, where he calls for…...

…"a Constitutional Amendment creating 18-year terms (for the Supreme Court) staggered every two years, so that each of the nine justices would be replaced in order of seniority every other year. This would be a prospective proposal, and would be applied to future judges only. Doing this would move the court closer to the people by ensuring that every President would have the opportunity to replace two justices per term, and that no court could stretch its ideology over multiple generations. Further, this reform would maintain judicial independence, but instill regularity to the nominations process, discourage Justices from choosing a retirement date based on politics, and will stop the ever-increasing tenure of Justices."

There are several points in this proposal which sound interesting:

• Lifetime appointments for Supreme Court judges would continue. However, at the end of their 18-year Supreme Court term, Gov. Perry would then allow them to retire, or move to another Federal Court without Congressional approval.
  
  
• With each president assured of two appointments during his four years of office, any changes to the make-up and outlook of the court, therefore, would be gradual.
  
  
• The timing of appointments to the court would be pre-determined, not waiting on death, a judge's cantankerousness, or senility, to arrive.
  
  
• Presidents now often appoint younger Justices, wanting to give them longer tenure on the bench, thereby anticipating certain political slants would continue longer. But under appointments who could serve no longer than 18 years, older, more experienced Justices might be appointed, since the term is known in advance.
  
  
• It is a step toward reforming the judiciary, while still keeping the Supreme Court well-insulated from whims of a single party, a president, or of Congress.
  
  
• This proposal would move toward solving the problem of Justices having longer and longer tenure, sometimes 30-40 years, something that does not always benefit our country.

While Governor Perry has put forth the idea, it is not a new one. It was first proposed in 2002, by a coalition of people from the left and right, and has floated around since then.

Now it resurfaces, courtesy Governor Perry. It's refreshing to read of innovative reform ideas which watchers from all political persuasions can discuss openly…and who knows, perhaps some day agree.

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS
Georgia Gwinnett College

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Georgia Gwinnett College is a four-year, accredited liberal arts college that provides access to targeted baccalaureate level degrees that meet the economic development needs of the growing and diverse population of Gwinnett County and the northeast Atlanta metropolitan region. GGC opened its doors in August 2006 as the nation¹s first four-year public college founded in the 21st century, and the first four-year public college founded in Georgia in more than 100 years. Georgia Gwinnett produces contributing citizens and future leaders for Georgia and the nation. Its graduates are inspired to contribute to their local, state, national and international communities and are prepared to anticipate and respond effectively to an uncertain and changing world. GGC currently serves nearly 8,000 students. Visit Georgia Gwinnett College¹s web site at www.ggc.edu.

FEEDBACK
Send us your letters

• We welcome your letters and thoughts. Our policy: We encourage readers to submit feedback (or letters to the editor). Send your thoughts to the editor at elliott@brack.net. We will edit for length and clarity. Make sure to include your name and the city where you live. Submission of a comment grants permission for us to reprint. Please keep your comments to 300 words or less. However, we will consider longer articles (no more than 500 words) for featuring in Today's Focus as space allows.

UPCOMING
Election on Feb. 7 to fill Georgia House District 107 seat

A special election to fill the vacant Georgia House of Representatives District 107 seat, which represents portions of Walton and Gwinnett counties, will take place on Tuesday, February 7.

• To view the map showing which Gwinnett areas are in the district, go here.

Voters should visit the Georgia Secretary of State's My Voter Page or call the elections office at (678) 226-7210 to find out if they are in House District 107.

Four candidates are competing for the seat left empty after state Rep. Len Walker, R-Loganville, resigned to take a pastoral position with a church in North Georgia.

Tom Kirby and Paul Smith are running as Republicans. Former Loganville councilman Michael Lynch registered unaffiliated with any political party. Also entering the fray is former Walton County Board of Education District 2 representative Mark Banks.

Voters may cast an early ballot in person at the Elections Office now through Friday, February 3 at 455 Grayson Highway in Lawrenceville from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Voters also may request an absentee ballot by mail now through February 3. A completed application must first be received before an absentee ballot is issued; visit www.gwinnettelections.com or call the Elections Office to request an application.

Rotary Comedy Night Feb. 14 to benefit Rainbow Village

Looking for a way to sweep your sweetheart off his or her feet this Valentine's Day?

The Gwinnett Rotary Club and Rainbow Village have your answer with "A Night of Comedy," on Valentine's Day, February 14. The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. at the 1818 Club in Duluth and includes a social reception, a heavy hors d'oeuvres dinner and a comedy show featuring nationally acclaimed comedian Pat Dixon.

Dixon is a New York-based comedian, movie critic, writer and actor. He has appeared as a correspondent on VH1, E! Television, Headline News and Fox News and on his own half-hour special Comedy Central Presents: Pat Dixon.

Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased by visiting the Rotary Club of Gwinnett's Web site, www.gwinnettrotary.org or www.rcggives.org.

Proceeds from the event go to Rainbow Village, a transitional housing community in Duluth for homeless families with children. Rainbow Village is in the middle of a capital campaign that will, over the next five years, build a new campus to house and support 30 families - up from the organization's current capacity of 10 families. All eight Rotary Clubs in Gwinnett County have joined forces to fund construction of an education/recreation and day care facility for the new village.

Snellville Commerce Club accepting scholarship applications

Applications are now being accepted from seniors at South Gwinnett and Brookwood High Schools for the Snellville Commerce Club's FBLA/DECA Scholarships. The club will award a $1,000 scholarship to a student from each school at its meeting on Tuesday, May 1, 2012.

To qualify for the scholarship, students must be active participants in their school's Future Business Leaders of America or DECA programs, have good grades, and have been engaged in some form of community service. The scholarship can be used for tuition, books or program supplies.

Applications should be submitted by April 2.Complete qualification requirements and a downloadable application can be found on the Commerce Club Web site at www.snellvillecommerceclub.org/FBLADECA.html. If questions, call Jon Richards at 770-978-0225

The Snellville Commerce Club is the business marketing organization of Snellville Tourism and Trade. The club meets for lunch on the first Tuesday of the month at Snellville City Hall.

NOTABLE
Sanders wins Gwinnett Tech's Perkins Award for 2012

Holly Sanders, an instructor in Gwinnett Technical College's surgical technology program, has been honored with the college's 2012 Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Education.

Sanders

This award honors technical education's most outstanding instructors. The award has been an ongoing statewide program since 1991 and the recipients are technical college instructors who make significant contributions to technical education through innovation and leadership in their fields.

Sanders has been an instructor at Gwinnett Tech since 2008. An Atlanta-area native, she holds a bachelor's degree in exercise science from Kennesaw State University and a surgical technology diploma from Gwinnett Technical College. Before entering the field of education, Sanders worked for Cryolife and then as a member of the transplant team at Piedmont Hospital.

In her nomination recommendation letter, Sanders is described as one who proactively initiated a video lab check off for each student - a transformational performance evaluation tool and just one of the many innovations Sanders has spearheaded.

An additional 15 other faculty members were nominees for the Perkins Award. They include: Susan Arnold, Interiors; Gary Carter, Computer Science; Ryan Cheek, Veterinary Technology; Kerri Crean, Culinary Arts; Dr. Philip Gibson, Bioscience; Jessica LaPointe, Biology; Christine Laurent, Nursing; David Newton, Emergency Medical Services; Mark Newton, Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management; Theresa (T.C.) Parker, Surgical Technology; Rita Patel, Networking Specialist; John Thacher, Web Design; Sue VanLanen, Office Technology; Penny Waddell, Speech; and Terra Womack, Cosmetology.

Four agencies get $52,500 from Jackson EMC program

Four agencies serving Gwinnett residents have been awarded grants totaling $52,500 by the Jackson EMC Foundation, a charity funded by the electric cooperative's members through their donations to the Operation Round Up program. The agencies and gifts are:

• Lawrenceville Cooperative Ministry ($15,000) to provide clients with emergency funds for water bills, prescription medicine and shelter through its Emergency Assistance Program, helping them deal with difficult and frequently temporary circumstances and getting them back on their feet.
  
  
• Friends of the Gwinnett County Senior Services($15,000), a non-profit organization that works with the county's agency on aging, to help provide home-delivered meals to senior citizens as well as meals served at Senior Centers.
  
  
• Boys & Girls Club of Lawrenceville ($15,000) for supplies and incentives used in "Power Hour," a comprehensive homework help and tutoring program attended by club members ages 6-18.
  
  
• Lilburn Cooperative Ministry ($7,500) to provide 30 needy families with $250 assistance for rent or mortgage payments annually.

Since the Jackson EMC Foundation began in 2005, it has funded 597 grants to organizations and 219 grants to individuals, putting nearly $6.2 million back into local communities. The Operation Round Up program which allows participating electric cooperative's members to have their monthly electric bills rounded up to the next dollar amount.

Evermore CID seeking parallel road to US 78 portion

The Evermore CID is planning a new road to allow east-to-west travel parallel to U.S. Highway 78, connecting Hewatt Road with Parkwood Road and continuing to Britt Road.

The overall design will increase driver safety throughout the Evermore corridor while improving mobility and access in the area. As preliminary planning and engineering efforts continue, the project should launch in late 2012 or early 2013.

In the meantime, the CID's Board of Directors recently agreed to investigate a possible extension of the parallel roadway to connect the intersection of Walton Court and Old U.S. 78 at U.S. Highway 78.

The extension would bring a new traffic signal and an intersection redesign to increase traffic flow and safety at the junction. The Walton Court realignment could also open access to undeveloped land representing significant potential commercial investment opportunities.

RECOMMENDED
The Devil in the White City, by Erik Larson

"This book recounts two parallel stories about the world's Columbian Exposition, the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago. One story tells about the difficulties, and the accomplishments of what was then the world's largest most spectacular fair. All the buildings, for good reason, were painted white, hence the name. Running parallel with this story is one of a nearby resident, a relatively young man, who turned out to have murdered at least 10 or 15 (but maybe 200) people around the time of the Fair, without people realizing it. Only a persistent Philadelphia detective kept on his trail, and exposed him. Chicago got the fair to enrich its reputation, and its leaders backed it strongly so Chicago could out-do the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1889, at which time the Eiffel Tower was erected. Finally they "out-eiffeled" Paris with a monster attraction you see today at most fairs. You'll have to read the book to find the name of a common term we now all associate with fairs. Erik Larson tells these stories with a fascinating and deft hand, keeping you turning pages." ---eeb

• To see images of the 1893 Columbian Exposition, the Chicago Fair, go here online.

• 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
Baptists Today born out of moderate-conservative struggle

Baptists Today, an autonomous national journal published monthly in Macon, provides news and information to Baptist church members and Baptist institutions. Originally named SBC Today, the news journal was born amid the struggle between moderates and conservatives for control of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the country's largest non-Catholic Christian denomination.

In April 1983 a group of Baptists who felt the conservative leaders of the SBC were restricting access to information about the struggle founded the publication, which initially operated in office space donated by Oakhurst Baptist Church in Decatur. The publishers' intention was to provide news and information about Southern Baptist life independent of the official denominational news services. As conservatives solidified control of the SBC, the moderate faction began new semi-denominational organizations, such as the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Alliance of Baptists. In 1991, in response to the rise of these new organizations, the board of directors of SBC Today changed the name of the journal to Baptists Today.

The list of editors of Baptists Today includes journalists who formerly held positions in Southern Baptist life. Walker Knight (founding editor, 1983-88; publisher, 1989-93; interim editor, 1997-98) served as a longtime journalist for the SBC Home Mission Board. Jack Harwell (editor, 1988-97) formerly edited The Christian Index, the Georgia Baptist Convention's newspaper. Robert C. Ballance (editor, 1998-99) held pastorates in several SBC churches. John Pierce (editor since 2000) previously served as the managing editor of The Christian Index.

• To see a current edition online of Baptists Today, click here.

• Click here to access the Georgia Encyclopedia

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.

• MORE: Contact Editor and Publisher Elliott Brack at: elliott@gwinnettforum.com

UNSUBSCRIBE

We hope you'll keep receiving the great news and information from GwinnettForum, but if you need to unsubscribe, click here.

SISTER PUBLICATIONS

We encourage you to check out our sister publications:

© 2012, Gwinnett Forum.com. Gwinnett Forum is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett County, Ga. USA.

TODAY'S QUOTE
What to expect after the first 100 years

"Life's a tough proposition, and the first hundred years are the hardest."

-- Mobile, Ala.. Restauranter and Philosopher Wilson Mizner (1876 - 1933).

MORE COPIES AVAILABLE NOW
Gwinnett history book in second printing

Previously out of print, Elliott Brack's 850-page history, "Gwinnett: A Little Above Atlanta," is now available again. Since its original publication, the book was declared the winner of the 2010 Award of Excellence for documenting Georgia history by the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board. It is also the winner of the Gwinnett Historical Society's Whitworth-Flanigan Award for 2011 for preserving the history of Gwinnett County.

The book includes 143 demographic and historic tables, with more than 4,000 names in the index, and 10,000 names in the appendix.

Two versions of the book are available. The hardback edition is priced at $75, while a softback edition is $40. Books are available at:

• Atlanta History Center, Atlanta
• Books for Less, Buford
  
• Gwinnett Historical Society, Lawrenceville
  
• Parsons Gifts and Cards, Duluth
  
• Vargas and Harbin Gallery, Norcross

You can also order books through the Internet. To do that, go to www.elliottbrack.com to place your order. For mail orders, there is a $5 shipping and handling fee. Purchases are also subject to the 6 percent Georgia sales tax.

SEARCH GWINNETT FORUM

GWINNETT CALENDAR

IN THE COMING WEEK

Candidate forums for the Peachtree Corners election. Three forums will be held on 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 31 and Feb. 6, sponsored by the United Peachtree Corners Community Association. All forums will be at the Christ the King Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall, 5575 Peachtree Parkway, Norcross. The election is to be March 6, the day of the Georgia presidential primary.

Song in My Heart, a new art exhibition: Opens Feb. 3, Kudzu Art Zone, 116 Carlyle St., Norcross. The opening reception is 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Feb. 10. More.

Aquatics Job Fair: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Feb. 3, Bethesda Park Aquatic Center, Lawrenceville. Learn about lifeguarding and instructor opportunities. Attendees must bring their own swim suit. Parents are welcome to attend.

NEXT WEEK AND ONGOING

Capturing the Light: Open daily through Feb. 22. This new artists' show, a project of the Buford Artists' Group, will be held at George Pierce Park Community Recreation Center, 55 Highway 23, Suwanee.

Exhibit Continued: The Living in Space exhibit at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center will continue now through March 3. Extremely popular with visitors and school groups, the exhibit now is open for an additional two months. More.

(NEW) Lunch and Listen fundraiser with author Lisa Gardner: 1 p.m., Feb. 9, Garden Plaza, Lawrenceville. Tickets are $10 in advance ($15 at the door if space) and may be purchased at any library branch, or at www.gwinnettpl.org, or by phone at 770 978 5154. Sponsored by Gwinnett County Public Library and Garden Plaza, which is located at 230 Collins Industrial Way in Lawrenceville, off Georgia Highway 316.

Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Masterworks II program: 5:30 p.m., Feb. 12, Gwinnett Performing Arts Center. The program, "A Romantic Valentine's Datenight," includes Tchaikovsky: Serenade for Strings in C Major, Op. 48; Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake Suite, Op. 20; and Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 in D minor: Choral, Op.125, Mov. 4. More.

State of the County Address: 11:30 a.m., Feb. 15, Gwinnett Center, Duluth. Gwinnett Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash will give her views on the present state of the county. For reservations, visit this site online.

(NEW) Book chat and signing with author Lauren Willig: 6 p.m., Feb. 15, Georgia Gwinnett College Student Center. Willig is the New York Times bestselling author of the Pink Carnation series. Books will be available for purchase and signing. Sponsored by Gwinnett County Public Library and Georgia Gwinnett College.

Take the Pledge for a Healthy Heart: 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Feb. 18, Gwinnett Center in Duluth. Features include heart healthy exhibits, screenings and educational booths, cooking demonstrations by an award winning chef, fitness classes, and giveaways every 30 minutes including iPads and iPods. All who plan to have screenings must fast at least eight hours prior. This event is free and includes breakfast. To RSVP, call 678-312-5000.

Run the Reagan mini-marathon: Feb. 18, regardless of weather. You can register late and pick up information at Academy Sports and Outdoors, 1585 Scenic Highway, Snellville. Proceeds benefit the Gwinnett Community Clinic and Young Life Ministries. For more information, go online here. Ronald Reagan Parkway will be closed from 2 a.m. until 2 p.m. the day of the race.

MORE EEB PERSPECTIVE

MORE RECENT COMMENTARY

2/14: Beck: Onion Man expands 2/10: Calmes: New GBT director 2/7: Burnette: Suwanee's future 2/3: Olson: Feb. 12 concert 1/31: Nelson: New Buford market 1/27: Ramey: GGC marketing class 1/24: Stilo: Aurora premieres musical 1/20: Saputo: Gwinnett's jobs jump 1/18: Hester: Tech trends for 2012 1/13: Scarborough: Septic systems 1/10: Wunn: Petticoats and Slide Rules 1/5: Carr: Clean Air Campaign 12/29: Walsh: Teen turnaround 12/23: Okum: Heart Center leaders 12/20: Sharp: Holy Land trip 12/16: York: Thanks for families 12/13: Houston: DAR chapter's gifts 12/9: Kitchen: White House decorations 12/6: Schklar: Ham radio operations 12/2: Olson: Hudgens winner's exhibit COMMENTARY INDEX

CONTACT US TODAY

© 2001-2012, Gwinnett Forum.com is Gwinnett County's online community forum for commentary that explores pragmatic and sensible social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett County, Ga. USA.

PHONE: 770.840.1003
EMAIL: elliott@gwinnettforum.com

Site designed and maintained by
The Brack Group.