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Issue 12.41 | Friday, Sept. 7, 2012 TODAY'S FOCUS ELLIOTT
BRACK'S PERSPECTIVE FEEDBACK UPCOMING NOTABLE ALSO INSIDE IN
THE SPOTLIGHT RECOMMENDED GEORGIA
TIDBIT LAGNIAPPE GWINNETT
CALENDAR TODAY'S
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TODAY'S
FOCUS LAWRENCEVILLE,
Ga., Sept. 7, 2012 -- With school back in session, that means Aurora Theatre
Academy's extensive array of classes are right around the corner. Enrollment
is now open, says Aurora Theatre Director of Education Jaclyn Hofmann.
This fall, Aurora Theatre Academy will prepare students of all ages and
skill levels to perform like professionals. Acting instruction will be
offered for elementary, middle and high school students in the after school
hours. There will also be classes for adults and a new preschool acting
class for children ages 4 to 6. Located on the square in downtown Lawrenceville,
all classes will culminate in a showcase in their exquisite facility.
For adults,
if they have ever wanted to act or maybe just feel more comfortable in
front of an audience, it's not too late for you to make the leap. Work
on skills like cold readings, monologue delivery, auditioning with confidence
and learn how to succeed in the business of show business. These classes
are from 7:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. on Mondays, September 17 through October
22. To register, call 678-226-6222 or visit www.auroratheatre.com. ELLIOTT
BRACK SEPT. 7, 2012 -- One of my early mentors in South Georgia was Attorney John Mattox. He was what you might call a Bull Moose Republican, strong in his outlook, and relatively conservative. He was also a former hard-charging fullback and had been a Marine officer in the South Pacific in World War II.
I am amazed at how often I think of him, though he has been gone now for perhaps 10 years. He had a particular view of what people in small South Georgia county seat towns thought of themselves. He told me: "Just look at how well the people take care of their courthouse and their cemeteries. If they are neat, the people have pride, and the town is a good one." These days, John Mattox might add another way to tell what the people of a community think. Brought to mind are recent developments right here in Gwinnett County you might use as an indication of what the community thinks of itself. For instance, even before it was Gwinnett's newest city, Peachtree Corners residents took pride in their area. The United Peachtree Corners Civic Association, a group of homeowner associations, took it on themselves to fund the beautification of Peachtree Parkway, paying for the mowing and landscaping of the key roadway through what is now their city. They didn't have to do this; they just wanted those who traveled this parkway to know that they were proud of their area, digging into their pockets to improve its looks.
Now the Lilburn CID is itself beginning a series of projects aimed at beautifying the main corridor of their area, U.S. Highway 29. This week, a major announcement out of one of Gwinnett's cities: Suwanee. The Council invested taxpayer money to the tune of $285,845 to landscape (and hardscape) tracts near the intersection of Interstate 85 and in other parts of the city. This also includes maintaining the areas for one year. Altogether 11 small tracts will get improvements, near the corners of interchanges and on the north and south ramps of Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road at I-85. Essentially, Suwanee is "rolling out the welcome sign" of an attractive city at its major intersection. Earlier, it had begun work on improvement in the centers of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. All this makes Gwinnett look much more attractive, and is a wise investment of taxes. It would make the old war horse Republican John Mattox proud of Gwinnett's welcoming solution. ABOUT
OUR UNDERWRITERS
FEEDBACK Editor, the Forum: Since Andy wrote the August 31, 2012, Perspective and ended with the question "Now, what would you suggest?," I'll give an answer.
Whether your plan is hiding out, hand to hand, firearms, or any combination of these, nothing will succeed without knowledge, ability, awareness, and the discipline to act or not. Situational awareness is something to live. If you decide it will be a firearm, although not legally mandatory, morally it is [important] to get correctly trained and then practice. Get a concealed carry permit, because out of sight is out of mind. To me carrying open is targeting yourself and garnering attention, most usually bad. You wouldn't show your cards before you played them, would you? Be invisible...be safe.
Feels solution to gun issue is education, not legislation Editor, the Forum: Cars kill far more people than handguns annually so using Andy Brack logic (August 31 issue), logic is we should ban them too. Let's ignore the proven facts that when guns are banned, only criminals will have them! In communities where gun ownership is encouraged crime rates are lower. Just as police officers need recurrent training with handguns so should auto drivers and private gun owners take training. As a gun owner I visit a range regularly to stay proficient that if I need my gun to defend myself or family, I'm ready. Just as past attempts to ban alcohol failed so would we be wasting our time and efforts to ban guns. As with most other issues, education is the answer, not legislation.
UPCOMING New London
Theatre of Snellville will kick off its 2012-2013 season with The Odd
Couple, being staged three times a week through September 23.
The
Odd Couple will be performed on Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m.
and Sunday afternoons at 2:30 p.m. Gwinnett Tech offering free GED exam preparation More than
one million adults in Georgia don't have a high school diploma. And without
a high school credential, they're less likely to get a good-paying job,
discover a great career or enjoy a much better life.
Gwinnett
Tech is located at 5150 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville. NOTABLE Peachtree Corners looked nationally, but turned to a veteran Georgian to become its first city manager. Mayor Mike Mason announced this week that Julian L. Jackson of Monroe was to become the new city's key administrator. He will take office October 1.
Gwinnett
commissioners approved a plan this week to purchase a new aerial ladder
fire truck that will use the ladder from an older model owned by the Gwinnett
County Department of Fire and Emergency Services. Harvesting old fire
trucks is a new concept for the department, but it promises to save $174,586. County names six to serve on 2013 budget review team Gwinnett
Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash has asked six residents to serve on
the county's budget review team. County staff members will support Nash
and the review team in setting priorities and making recommendations for
the 2013 budget. Snellville doctor is artist of the month
RECOMMENDED
GEORGIA
ENCYCLOPEDIA Largely forgotten today, Nap Rucker was one of the premier left-handed baseball pitchers in the major leagues during the first two decades of the 20th century.
Rucker spent his entire ten-year major league career playing for the hapless Brooklyn Superbas of the National League. (The name Superbas, adopted in 1899, came from a popular vaudeville troupe of the time. The team later became the Brooklyn Dodgers.) Rucker debuted in Brooklyn in 1907 and immediately became the team's best pitcher, leading the Superbas in games, innings, strikeouts, and earned-run average. His fifteen wins were second best on the team. In 1908 he emerged as a National League star, winning seventeen games for a club that managed only fifty-three victories. Rucker finished third in the league in innings pitched and second in strikeouts. He also pitched a no-hitter, striking out fourteen Boston Doves while walking none. Teammate errors denied Rucker what would have been only the fourth perfect game in baseball history. In 1910 he led the National League in complete games, innings pitched, and shutouts. He had his finest season in 1911, winning twenty-two games, more than a third of his team's sixty-four victories, and coming within one out of pitching another no-hitter. He was fourth in the league in innings pitched and third in strikeouts. Rucker lost the speed on his overpowering fastball in 1913, and he hurt his arm the following season. For the last four years of his career, he relied on an assortment of off-speed pitches, especially the knuckleball. He was one of the first players in baseball history to throw this pitch, and evidence suggests that Rucker, in collaboration with fellow pitcher and Augusta teammate Eddie Cicotte, may have invented the knuckleball in 1905.
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TODAY'S QUOTE "The reason why worry kills more people than work is that more people worry than work."
MORE COPIES AVAILABLE
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 Loading
IN THE COMING WEEK (NEW) Gwinnett Technology Forum: 7:30 a.m., Sept. 11, at Gwinnett Technical College's Busbee Auditorium. Speaker will be Rich McDonald, the global director of Executive Briefing Program for NCR in Duluth. He will address how the company, through technological innovation and advancement in multiple channels, helps its customers achieve next generation productivity gains. (NEW) Third Annual Gala of the Northeast Atlanta Ballet: Sept. 29, Northwood Country Club. Now in its 16th season, the goal of the night is to raise $25,000 toward providing high quality, affordable arts programming, with live orchestra for all performances, and unsurpassed performing opportunities for aspiring dancers. More. MORE EEB PERSPECTIVE
FOCUS
ARCHIVES 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 |
Rising
Stars (Elementary School students) get the opportunity to learn what
it takes to put on a play. Students will be provided with stage experience,
while encouraging teamwork and collaboration with peers. The experience
instills a sense of self-confidence in our students. This fall, 1st and
2nd grade students can enroll in Mini Rising Stars, who will present a
performance of Library Mouse. Master Rising Stars, for 3rd through 5th
grade students, will work on a performance of The Country Maid. Rising
Star home school students will have a special weekday session for 1st
to 5th grade home school students that will culminate in a production
of "The Country Maid."
Middle
and High School Students have several options this semester. Middle and
high school students can enroll in Shooting Star Musical Theatre, a class
comprised of singing and acting technique, audition preparation and professional
etiquette that culminates in a rousing musical showcase. The Acting Edge
classes will allow students to take the drama out of life and put it where
it belongs - on stage. Aurora Theatre Academy will also offer an Advanced
Acting Edge class for returning students wanting to push to the next level.
Likewise,
the most comment the first three Community Improvement Districts in Gwinnett
got was from the landscaping and clean-up of their areas. This first came
through the Evermore CID landscaping U.S. Highway 78 through its area.
Then when the Gwinnett Village CID and the Gwinnett Place CID came along,
they spent part of their money dressing up at first their entrances along
Interstate 85, telling all the motorists along this busy stretch of road
that they were inviting people into their communities. These CIDs have
taken it further, also cleaning up interior roads, and placing directional
signs along their streets, in addition to having nighttime patrols through
their areas to improve safety.
The
public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com
to you at no cost to readers. Today's sponsor is the Gwinnett Chamber
of Commerce. From answering your questions and providing a host of
useful information, to promoting growth in our county, there are people
working every day to help make Gwinnett a place where businesses thrive
and success lives. For more detail, go to 
The
courts have ruled that there is no government obligation for protection
of an individual, only for the public body. Individual protection is your
own responsibility and consists of so many passive and active ingredients.
Passively plan your security, and then actively practice it. This could
range from cowering in a corner, or passively to standing ON a corner,
actively.
This
classic comedy opens as a group of the guys assembled for cards in the
apartment of divorced Oscar Madison. And if the mess is any indication,
it's no wonder that his wife left him. Late to arrive is Felix Unger who
has just been separated from his wife. Fastidious, depressed and none
too tense, Felix seems suicidal, but as the action unfolds, Oscar becomes
the one with murder on his mind when the clean-freak and the slob ultimately
decide to room together with hilarious results as The Odd Couple is
born.
There's
no better time than now to take the one easy step that can change their
lives forever -starting with a free GED practice test.
Mayor
Mason said: "His professional experience and integrity, combined
with practical common sense, is the perfect mix for us." 
The
idea is to refurbish the 95-foot aerial ladder on a 1992 fire truck and
remount it on a new chassis for a total cost of $858,691. According to
Fire Capt. Tommy Rutledge, a brand new ladder truck would have cost just
over $1 million.
Snellville's
next visual artist exhibiting work at the City Hall is Dr. David Babulski.
His work will be on the wall during the month of September during normal
business hours. Dr. Babulski's art interests are minerals and painting.
Through his work, he has helped preserve mineral deposits in Georgia,
and collected and mounted minerals from across Georgia. His artistic skills
capture and paint the beauty of mineral deposits in watercolor. Dr. Babulski
is a native of California and a graduate of California State University
in earth science, with a minor in art. Artists and groups interested in
a solo show at the Snellville City Hall are urged to see information on
the city's web site about applying for acceptance.
"This
story takes place in the late 1800s, beginning in New York and moving
to Newport, R.I., then a small harbor town where the socially elite gathered
for yachting and socializing around the turn of the old century. It was
the era when the infamous "robber barons" brought spectacular
progress and wealth to the country, and there was a big divide between
old money and new money. The Gods of Newport is an account of how
Sam Driver, a fictional character with new money, fought and scraped to
be accepted by people with old money. A self-made millionaire, Driver
wanted his beautiful daughter to be accepted by the ladies who lived in
those mansions by the sea. I thought the social aspect of the novel was
a bit silly, but I really loved the historical part about the rich and
powerful men who shaped 'The Gilded Age.'" 
IT
IS HARD TO BELIEVE that the 30th annual
Duluth Fall Festival is right around the corner. We hope
to see you in Duluth on September 29th and 30th! There will
be more than 350 vendors, a parade, music at two venues, entertainment,
"Man's Corner", a carnival, a 5K road race and much more.
All of the proceeds are used for improving Downtown Duluth, and
as you will see, this mission is paying off! The Historic
Downtown has never looked better. For more information, visit 