OPEN SOON FOR BUSINESS: Mayfield Dairy Farms will re-open its Visitor's Center in Braselton on Friday, Nov. 9, 2012. The center has been closed since last fall while the company looked for ways to make it more economically viable. The center will be open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Tours will be scheduled beginning at 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. There will be no tours on Wednesday. To schedule a tour, call 1-888-298-0396. Tours are also offered at Mayfield's other Visitor's Center in Athens, Tenn. Tours remain free to the public through the end of the year. Beginning in 2013, tours at either Visitor's Center will incur a $3 charge per person and will include a free scoop of Mayfield ice cream. Visiting the gift shop and ice cream parlor will remain free. At the announcement of the re-opening were, from left, Councilman Richard Mayberry, Dawn Thompson of Mayfield, Mayor Bill Orr, and other councilpersons Peggy Slappey, Dudley Ray and Tony Funari.

Issue 12.51 | Friday, Oct. 12, 2012

TODAY'S FOCUS
:: Lilburn's city hall, library plans

ELLIOTT BRACK'S PERSPECTIVE
:: ALEC behind bill to weaken schools

FEEDBACK
:: Needed at Gwinnett Place, Fair

UPCOMING
:: Library reopening, CHUK run, plants

NOTABLE
:: Officer, SurgiTech volunteers, meals

ALSO INSIDE

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
:: Howard Brothers

RECOMMENDED
:: Crawfish Chowder

GEORGIA TIDBIT
:: Fewer south Georgians desert

LAGNIAPPE
:: SAR chapter honors namesake

GWINNETT CALENDAR
:: Lots of events on tap

TODAY'S QUOTE
:: Consider doing more of this

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TODAY'S FOCUS
Lilburn moves forward with new city hall, public library
By NIKKY YOUNG
Special to GwinnettForum

LILBURN, Ga., Oct. 12, 2012 -- The City of Lilburn is taking strides toward redevelopment of the city with three major projects under way. The Main Street realignment, a new City Hall and library, and a commercial development at Indian Trail/Lawrenceville Highway, are key parts of a strategic plan to revitalize Lilburn and stimulate the local economy.

Mayor Johnny Crist says: "We feel it is important for the city to lead development in a direction that will encourage quality growth and make Lilburn a destination." The Mayor and Council approved property transactions regarding the projects at its meeting on Monday.

In the first quarter of 2013, construction is expected to begin on the realignment of Main Street, starting at its intersection with U.S. Highway 29 (Lawrenceville Highway.) The $2-million road project will create a safer, more traditional intersection with the highway and allow for smooth traffic flow to Old Town, where the Calvin Fitchett Municipal Complex, City Park, the Camp Creek Greenway trailhead, and the Old Town business district are located. The road alignment creates "new ground," assemblages of properties ready for development. About 22 acres will front on the new alignment, making it a prime spot for economic growth.

The realignment will lead to the centerpiece of the city's plans for revitalization: a new City Hall and library off Church Street, near the new alignment work. An L-shaped, brick building will be perched atop a hill that is easily visible from Lawrenceville Highway - effectively bringing the City Hall uptown. The nostalgic architecture and prominent clock tower will convey the city's small-town feel, while the state-of-the-art quality of the facility will communicate the type of service residents and businesses can expect to find in Lilburn.

Made possible through the cooperative efforts of the City of Lilburn and Gwinnett County, the two-story City Hall/Library building is unique in that it is a joint project under one roof. The new City Hall will have 24,000 square feet, including administrative offices, a large meeting room, and Council Chambers. The current Municipal Complex will be occupied by the Lilburn Police Department and Court. The 20,000+ square foot replacement library will nearly double the size of the existing Lilburn Public Library.

The expected completion date of the City Hall and Library is Fall 2014. The building cost is set at $10 million in SPLOST funding, the countywide one-percent sales tax approved by voters for special projects.

While the City Hall/Library occupies a portion of one corner of the Indian Trail/Lawrenceville Highway intersection, the Lilburn Downtown Development Authority is working to secure a developer for 38 acres on the opposite side of the intersection.

The former Jackson Creek Water Treatment Facility is prominently located on major commercial corridors, with 1,350 feet of frontage on Indian Trail Road and more than 500 feet on Lawrenceville Highway. The DDA's ownership of this property and the properties surrounding the Main Street realignment open the door to many opportunities for redevelopment while maintaining city control over the future.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Far-out ideologues want to destroy public education in Georgia
By ELLIOTT BRACK
Editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com

OCT. 12, 2012 -- Let’s take a moment and consider what a charter school essentially is.

Brack

It is not like regular public schools. While charter school funding comes from public sources, charter schools essentially are public versions of private schools. If Amendment One passes next month, that could upend public education in Georgia.

Here’s why: public money will go to charter schools, funds that would otherwise go to the local public school. But, get this: there is no accountability of charter school’s public money the way public schools do. Those with input into what a charter school teaches, and the way it is run, won’t be parents of the charter school students, but, board members only reporting to the school’s management, not the public. (The school itself would be authorized by a state agency of seven people appointed by the governor, not by a locally-elected board.)

Sounds crazy, right?

All this comes from a far-out organization that has been laboring behind the scenes for

years to promote its own limited-government agenda. It seeks to dramatically change public education, and then privatize most of it. The organization is called the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC for short. It was founded in 1973, and consists of nearly 2,000 ultra-conservative state legislators, promoting the privatization of public schools. It also wants privatization of other ways of life, such as health care, the environment, voting laws and public safety.

And how do they accomplish this? ALEC has prepared a template of their model language it gives to like-thinking legislators for bills to introduce in their state as “reform” measures. In other words, this self-selected group has its own limited agenda, which it is aggressively pursuing, funded by corporate money and wealthy citizens hell-bent to get richer through less government, and less taxes.

Yes, more greed. And in the case of Amendment One, actually an expansion of government.

Over the years, one of the key agendas items of ALEC is supporting school vouchers of public money to pay for private education. Wisconsin was the first state in the nation to move to this system. Boy! Is this is bad legislation!

ALEC carries on a broad range of efforts to get their views enacted into law. Among some measures, ALEC seeks:

• Requiring universities to annually report to the legislature on "intellectual diversity."
  
  
• Setting up low-income students for failure in college by incentivizing early graduation for the students in need of a complete high school education.
  
  
• Promoting climate change denial in education.
  
  
• Subsidizing private universities by offering taxpayer-funded vouchers to for-profit and religious institutions of higher education.
  
  
• The list goes on and on. To see other ALEC initiatives, click here.

Back to the upcoming amendment in the Georgia election next month.

Even reading the proposal on the ballot is virtually dis-honest. The explanation on the ballot will read:

“Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended to allow state or local approval of public charter schools upon the request of local communities?”

Sounds positive. And even the preamble sounds positive, saying the amendment: “Provides for improving student achievement and parental involvement through more public charter school options.”

Yet you must vote NO to keep public education as it now is, limiting charter schools to approval by local boards, with appeals always possible to the State Department of Education. Let me repeat: on Constitution Amendment One, vote NO to defeat the ALEC idea that is on the Georgia ballot. There's not one thing in the legislation that assures better student performance or parental involvement, despite the deceptive language written by the Governor.

Again, vote NO on Amendment One.

SPOTLIGHT
Howard Brothers

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today's sponsor is Howard Brothers, which has outlets in Duluth, Norcross and Oakwood. John and Doug Howard are the owners/operators of the Howard Brothers stores, which specialize in hardware, outdoor power equipment and parts and service. Major trade brands are a hallmark of Howard Brothers. And did you know that Howard Brothers is the largest seller of Stihl Outdoor Power products in the United States. Howard Brothers also carries Makita Power Tools. Visit the web site at www.howardbrothers.com.

• For a list of other underwriters of this forum, click here.

FEEDBACK
Gwinnett Place area needs more residents close by

Editor, the Forum:

Lots of ideas are being considered regarding how to bring the Gwinnett Place Mall area back up the forefront. Physical improvements have already happened such as sidewalks, signage, and fast elimination of graffiti. Security efforts are up!

I understand that the mall is under new ownership and I suppose that incentives are being considered on how to draw quality stores and restaurants back in. The upcoming diverging diamond intersection at I-85 and Pleasant Hill will speed traffic flow. These are all helpful, but will not ultimately restore the Mall significantly and permanently.

But what will really get things moving again? How can stores be enticed to invest in the area without incentives or governmental support? That would be a miracle wouldn't it? Let me take it further; how could these merchants be brought to the point of begging to come back? Now that's intriguing! What is the key ingredient to take advantage of Gwinnett's Mall close-in location?

The key is bringing people in.

Not just to shop there, but to live there! Let's say that 5,000 people could be added around the mall as residents. What do you think that would do to the value merchants place on being there? Only the hope of strong profitability can do that! Signage and lip service won't do it!

You notice something immediately when you drive around the parking lot. It is the significant availability of out-parcels. There is abundant land to build on within walking distance to the mall. It is sitting there waiting on somebody to wake up to the vast potential of what could be done.

Right now, the majority of usage at the mall is retail. Let's say that the available land would be mostly zoned for medium rise residential condos (not high rise with all the zoning sensitivities of the previously proposed towers) with a portion reserved for office space that will surely be needed to follow. And let's further assume that the county government would get on a fast track to prepare for this zoning. Then we will be speaking the condo developer's language of being able to build without huge hassles.

What about infrastructure to handle all the additional traffic and congestion? If a ton of condos are being built, then reasonable impact fees that this great location will support can pay the way for what is needed to keep things moving! One of the great things about mixed use zoning is that people don't have to drive far (or even at all) to get what they need that's immediately around them. We are talking walking distance to the mall.

If leadership in the Gwinnett CID cannot bring the county government and the rest of the business community on board with this, then we'll just see more of the same and an area that will eventually become a taxpayer liability instead of a windfall! "Without a vision, the people perish."

-- Roy Holman, Snellville

Attaboy! Roy: you put some thought into this. As for a high-rise, what's wrong with that? After all, just look at what happened when Atlantic Station got built, mixing people and business. A true mixed-use would include mid and high-rises for both homes and offices.--eeb

Elisha Winn Fair article stirred memories of long ago

Editor, the Forum:

Your article on the Elisha Winn Fair took me to the Internet to read about a family home of my relatives in Dallas, Millermore, in the Oak Cliff section. As a kid, annual trips were made there to select and cut our Christmas trees, scrappy cedars, and be entertained by our very old Cousin Minnie Miller. The house was moved many years ago to Old City Park by the Dallas Historical Society. Your perspective evoked great memories!

-- Rosemary Walsh, Sugar Hill

• 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
Five Forks Library to hold reopening Monday

After much anticipation, the Five Forks branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library will reopen to the public on October 15. The branch, which began an upgrade project earlier in the year, will have reconfigured spaces, new interior finishes and fixtures, an energy efficient HVAC system, and several new high-tech features. A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on Tuesday, October 16, at 4 p.m. with grand reopening celebration for the public to follow on Saturday, December 1.

As part of the project, a new Tech Studio space is giving library customers access to professional quality software for image and video editing, design, and media creation. Software such as Final Cut Pro, Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop will be available to the public.

An automated sorter is also being installed to cost effectively keep up with circulation demands. It will process books 24/7, as they are returned by customers.

In the following weeks, an exterior vending machine will bring 24/7 access to customers who need materials when the library is closed. The machines will be about the size of a standard vending machine, holding up to 500 items. A variety of materials will be available for check-out with a valid library card.

• For more information about the Five Forks reopening, please visit www.gwinnettpl.org, or call (770) 978-5154.

Oct. 20 CHUK Run in Norcross benefits cerebral palsy

The City of Norcross, Norcross Police Department and its Foundation, Wells Fargo Advisors and United Cerebral Palsy of Georgia are teaming up to present a special event featuring family fun and celebrating kids of all abilities on Saturday, October 20.

The second annual Norcross Police Department C.H.U.K Run (Cops Helping Unique Kids), presented by Wells Fargo Advisors, will begin with a 5K Run through downtown Norcross at 8 a.m. There is a $20 registration fee, with proceeds supporting United Cerebral Palsy of Georgia services for children and adults with disabilities. Participants can register in advance by mail or online at www.ucpga.org, with a guaranteed t shirt size. Day of event registrations will be accepted with T shirt sizes as available.

Following the 5K Run, beginning at 9 a.m. there will be a one mile Fun Run/Walk and Free Family Festival in Thrasher Park, with a variety of entertainment and activities for kids of all abilities.

For a Sponsor Package, Event Exhibitor Booth or more information about the Norcross Police Department C.H.U.K. Run, or UCP of Georgia programs and services, contact Joan Rizzo at 770-676-2000, ext. 225.

Gwinnett Tech offering annual community plant sale soon

Gwinnett Technical College's Environmental Horticulture program is hosting its annual community plant sale October 16 - 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the campus greenhouse near Building 600.

"We had such a great response to our expanded sale last year that we are again hosting the sale for three full days. We have a great selection, including flats of annuals for fall planting and fall herbs and vegetables," says Aaron Poulsen, program director, Environmental Horticulture at Gwinnett Tech.

The Gwinnett Tech Environmental Horticulture program holds a community plant sale annually to sell to the community the plants the students have grown. Offered at the sale will be:

• Fall annuals: pansies, violas and snapdragons at $10 per flat;
  
• Vegetables: romaine lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, Napa cabbage, bok choy;
  
• Herbs: rosemary, cilantro, parsley and sage;
  
• And…..Daphne odora, Beautyberry; Pink Stardust Magnolias; Confederate Jasmine; Winter Honeysuckle; Southern Shield Ferns; Holly Ferns; Crape myrtles (Plum Magic, Pocomoke, Pink Velour); Rudbeckia; Swamp Sunflower; Sedum 'Neon'; Oakleaf Hydrangeas; Spiraea (Goldmound, Fujino Pink); and Ornamental Grasses (Pink Muhly, Sweet Flag, Variegated Miscanthus).

The GTC greenhouse is located adjacent to Building 600 on the Gwinnett Tech campus, 5150 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville.

NOTABLE
City of Lilburn adds part-time code enforcement officer

The City of Lilburn has added a part-time code enforcement officer to address resident concerns on nights and weekends.

Lilburn resident Paul Calcaterra joins the Planning and Economic Development Department, which includes one full-time code enforcement officer and a building inspector. Calcaterra previously worked 10 years as a building inspector for Gwinnett County government and as a code enforcement officer for the City of Chamblee.

Code enforcement officers address violations that impact property values and quality of life in the city, such as improper storage of trash and junk vehicles, illegal parking, and exterior home maintenance. Planning and Economic Development Director Doug Stacks said that the Mayor and Council added this position at the request of citizens who desired increased enforcement outside of regular business hours.

To make a complaint in the Lilburn city limits, click on the "Request a City Service" link on the homepage at www.cityoflilburn.com or call 770-638-2228 or 770-638-2204.

Gwinnett Surgi-Tech students volunteer with MedShare

Students in Gwinnett Technical College's (GTC) Surgical Technology program left the classroom behind to spend a day volunteering at MedShare on October 11, helping pack surgical and other medical supplies for shipment to developing countries.

MedShare is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the environment and healthcare through the efficient recovery and redistribution of surplus medical supplies and equipment to underserved healthcare facilities in developing countries. MedShare's national headquarters and southeastern distribution center are located in Decatur. Some 24 GTC students who started the Surgical Technology program this fall participated.

MedShare has shipped more than 700 40-foot tractor-trailer size containers to over 85 developing countries and territories, and provided more than 2,100 medical mission teams with $2.5 million in supplies. The group's volunteer corps exceeds 1,500 monthly.

For 13th year, Outback donates meals to senior services

On Wednesday, Outback Steakhouse in Suwanee donated 370 meals to benefit Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services. Friends Board Member Russell Delong, right, gets ready to deliver Outback meals to neighboring businesses.

This is the 13th year Outback Steakhouse in Suwanee has donated meals to raise funds for Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services the nonprofit organization that financially supplements core programs for Gwinnett County Senior Services. The event has generated almost $115,000 through the years.

RECOMMENDED
Crawfish Chowder

Editor's Note: A recent family reunion had a surprise, an especially good bowl of Crawfish Chowder gracing the table. See what you think of this recipe. (And remember, you could substitute shrimp easily.)--eeb

From Daphne Roberts, Perry

CRAWFISH CHOWDER

• 1 stick of butter
  
• 2 tablespoons flour
  
• 1 large onion (chopped)
  
• 1/4 chopped green onion
  
• 1/4 cup of grated provolone cheese
  
• 1 qt. half and half
  
• 2 (11oz.) cans whole-kernel corn
  
• 2 (11oz.) cans cream-style corn
  
• 1 can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
  
• 12 oz. of Crawfish tails (you can put more if you prefer)
  
• 1/2 teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce
  
• Andouille sausage (I take the casing off and chop it up real fine) Just put the amount you want. It is Cajun and spicy though. I just put half of the link.
  
• 1/4 cup red wine to taste.

Salt and pepper to taste (I add some Old Bay or Tony Chachere's seasoning). In a large pot, melt butter over low heat. Blend flour into melted butter. Add onion and sauté until wilted. Add remaining ingredients and cook on medium heat for 40 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent corn from sticking & scorching. Enjoy!!

• 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
Fewer south Georgians were deserters during the Civil War

(Continued from previous edition)

Whereas the 63 plantation-belt counties in the lowlands provided more than 50 percent of the volunteer infantry companies in the Civil War, desertion rates among soldiers hailing from this region were among the lowest in the state. This phenomenon may be partially accounted for by the fact that Confederate social and military authority remained reasonably intact in the lowlands for most of the war, making it perilous for would-be deserters from the area to flee home.

Although Sherman's march to the sea from Atlanta to Savannah was brutal, Union forces advanced rapidly, were largely unopposed, and did not occupy any place along the route long enough for deserters to flee to their lines. Also, because the majority of regiments from central and south Georgia belonged to the Army of Northern Virginia and engaged in battles far from their homes, potential deserters found it much less practical to return home than did those serving in the Army of Tennessee. It was also difficult for the lowland Georgians in the Army of Tennessee to flee home because the Army returned to Tennessee instead of pursuing Sherman through southeast Georgia.

The economic structure of the plantation belt and the widespread use of slave labor also allowed lowland Georgians to remain in the Confederate Army without worries for the safety of their homes and families. Whereas the 1864 Confederate Conscription Act depleted north Georgia of its male population, wealthy plantation owners in the lowlands were able to apply for exemptions. While 3,368 Georgians deserted to Union lines throughout the war, approximately 11,000 affluent Georgia men received exemptions and were able to remain in their communities and maintain social and economic stability. When Union and Confederate armies left the state in early 1865, desertions among Georgia troops persisted but at a greatly reduced rate until the war's end.

• Click here to access the Georgia Encyclopedia
  

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GWINNETTOBITS.com

Visit this site to see details of the upcoming funerals of Gwinnett Countians from local funeral homes. On the site, sign up at top right and we'll send you GwinnettObits each day.

Click on the names below to see details of their funerals.

• Visit GwinnettObits.com

TODAY'S QUOTE
Something more people should consider doing

"Drawing on my fine command of the English language, I said nothing."

-- American humorist Robert Benchley (1889 - 1945).

MORE COPIES AVAILABLE
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

THIS WEEK

(NEW) Wink Art Exhibit: Through Nov. 24, Tannery Row Artist Colony in Buford. Show reception is 6 p.m., Oct. 20. Shown will be resident art with a hint of humor, a turn of the phrase or visual twist to make you smile. Details: 678-428-4877, or visit www.TanneryRowArtistColony.com.

(NEW) Photo Exhibit: Through Nov. 28, George Pierce Park Community Room, Suwanee, during Community Center hours, Monday through Saturday. Frank L. Sharp presents "Israel, the Holy Land," while Wendell Tudor features "Images of the Sea," coastline and landscape images, including photographs from Canada.

Terror on the Trail: Friday and Saturday nights, Oct. 12-27, Sims Lake Park in Suwanee. Tours begin at 7:30 p.m., with the last tour at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance at www.terroronthetrail.com or by calling the Aurora Theatre Box Office at 678-226-6222. The park's 1.2-mile looping trail will be transformed into a haunting backdrop for zombies and tales of terror.

Girl Scout engineering careers for women: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Oct. 13, Alpharetta campus of DeVry University, 2555 Northwinds Parkway. Women in engineering careers will help lead girls in a variety of hands-on science activities about science careers. Lunch will be provided to all registered.

39th annual Lilburn Daze Festival: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 13, Lilburn City Park. Free Admission. Sponsored by GFWC Lilburn's Woman's Club in cooperation with the city.

(NEW) Peachtree Corners Art Fest (at Berkeley Lake): 10 a.m., Oct. 13 and Oct. 14. The event will be held at 4650 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Norcross.

Gwinnett Congressional Candidate Forum: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15, Busbee Center of Gwinnett Technical College. Candidates from the Fourth and Seven Districts have been invited to appear. Hosted by the Gwinnett Leave of Women Voters in coalition with the Organization of Chinese Americans of Georgia and the United Ebony Society of Gwinnett. "Know the issues, join the conversation, make a difference."

Norcross Candidate Forum: 7 p.m., Oct. 18, Norcross Community Center. Candidates for seats on the Norcross City Council are being asked to appear. Sponsored by the Progressive Development Committee of Norcross.

(NEW) Alternate energy options, Sierra Club meeting: 7 p.m., Oct. 18, Berkmar High School. Trey Gibbs of Sterling Planet will talk of the importance of solar, wind and tidal energy to Georgia and the United State. Info: Michael Hallen at 678-200-0455.

COMING SOON

(NEW) Creatures of the Night Festival: 6 p.m., Oct. 19, Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center. Experience the wonders of nocturnal animals and their amazing adaptations, and meet real, live examples that might inhabit your backyard, including an owl and an opossum! Other activities include a scavenger hunt, crafts and information sessions and green pumpkin carving contest. For info, visit www.gwinnettEHC.org.

Fort Daniel Frontier Faire, at Hog Mountain: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 20, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 21, at 2505 Braselton Highway. The former site of Fort Daniel (circa 1812) is currently located on privately owned property. Faire parking on site is limited to handicapped only and parking for the public is available across the street at Northview Church, corner of Georgia Highways 124-324.

(NEW) Historical Talk at Snellville City Hall: 3 p.m., Oct. 21, Speaking will be Dr. James W. Cofer Jr., principal research engineer with the Georgia Tech Research Institute. He is also the managing editor of the Georgia History Quarterly, and host of Today in Georgia History on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

Candidate Forum: 7:30 p.m., Oct. 22, Christ the King Lutheran Church, 5575 Peachtree Parkway, Norcross. Area candidates for Congress, the statehouse and school board have been invited. Judge Warren Davis is the moderator. Sponsored by the United Peachtree Corners Civic Association.

Halloween-for-Haiti Carnival: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Oct. 27, Christ Episcopal Church, 400 Holcomb Bridge Road, Norcross. Music, food, kids' activities throughout the event. Costume parade with prizes at 5 p.m. Haunted trail from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Proceeds benefit the children of Jasmin, Haiti.

Euro in Crisis: 11:30 a.m., Oct. 31, 1818 Club, 6500 Sugarloaf Parkway. The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a talk by the Consul General of Germany to Atlanta, Christoph Sander. Sponsored by the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. Info: 770 232-3000.

MORE EEB PERSPECTIVE

12/21: Fort Daniel, Chambliss 12/18: Ban assault weapons 12/14: Army-Navy game 12/11: Who stole American dream? 12/7: Lock 'em in a room 12/4: On Partnership Gwinnett 11/30: Hera Lighting 11/27: Voting out scalawags 11/20: Arts alive in Gwinnett 11/16: Hope Clinic needs help 11/13: Casino coming? 11/9: GOP and Georgia Dems 11/6: Early voting, more 11/2: Will Sandy impact election? 10/30: Georgia and GI Bill 10/26: Barge making name 10/23: Our 2012 endorsements 10/19: Pet peeves, more 10/15: Long plane flights 10/12: NO on Amendment 1 10/9: Elisha Winn Fair 10/5: Lots of construction 10/2: Texting while walking 9/28: WSB sets lower bar 9/25: State Archive fracas 9/21: Charter concerns 9/18: Benefits of living here 9/14: Continuing objectives 9/11: Trip to France, Spain 9/7: Community pride 8/31: Conversation on guns 8/24: More robocalls ahead 8/21: Newspaper museum 8/17: Seem easier to vote? 8/14: Western ridges, fall line 8/10: Runoff endorsements 8/7: New UGA health campus 8/3: Primaries raise more questions EEB index of columns

  FOCUS ARCHIVES

12/21: Wiggins: Recycle trees 12/18: Two canal cruises to take 12/14: C. Brack: Give a little 12/11: Goodman: Suwanee's art 12/7: Duke: Director of Encouragement 12/4: Dorough: Food co-op 11/30: McHenry: CID redevelopment 11/27: Sutt: Gwinnett arts' questions 11/20: Urrutia: Grad wins award 11/16: Collins: Las Vegas 11/13: Barksdale: Storm prep 11/9: Houston: Kettle Creek 11/6: Stilo: Christmas Canteen 11/2: Crews: View Point Health 10/30: Willis: Amendment One 10/26: Brown: Doc's research 10/19: Hudgens Prize jurors picked 10/15: Urrutia: $2 million gift to GGC 10/12: Young: Lilburn city hall 10/9: Long: Charter schools 10/5: Jones: PGA golf to return 10/2: DeWilde: Suwanee's red code 9/28: Stilo: Pinter's Betrayal 9/21: Love: Model for Nigeria 9/21: Walsh: Childhood obesity 9/18: Ashley promoted 9/14: Wiener: CID's initiative 9/11: Olson: $50K Hudgens contest 9/7: Stilo: Acting classes for all 8/31: Havenga: Great Days of Service 8/24: Griswold: Casino for OFS site 8/21: Brooks: Taking the Megabus 8/17: Summerour: Newspaper family 8/14: Sharp: Newport visit 8/10: Thomas: On schizophrenia 8/7: Carraway: Amendment wording 8/3: Willis: Ready for school parents? COMMENTARY INDEX

CONTINUING OBJECTIVES FOR GWINNETT

Gwinnett Forum publisher Elliott Brack suggests that Gwinnett County needs a long-range list of continuing objectives for improving the county. Read more.

• Development of a two-party system for local offices
• Transparent operations to restore faith in Gwinnett's County Commission
• Moving statewide non-partisan judge election runoffs to the General Election
• Light rail for Gwinnett from Doraville MARTA station to Gwinnett Arena
• Extension of Gwinnett Place CID area to include Arena and Discovery Mills Mall
• Banning of tobacco in all Gwinnett parks
• Making Briscoe Field a commercial airport for jet-age travel
• Approval of Educational SPLOST in 2013
• More diverse candidates for political offices and appointment to local boards
• Physical move of former St. Gerard's Catholic Church in Buffalo, N.Y., to Norcross
• Creative efforts to support the arts in Gwinnett
• Advancement and expansion of city and Gwinnett historical societies
• Stronger regulation of late-night establishments with alcoholic licenses
  

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