LEGO MODEL: As guests prepare to enter the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center south of Georgia Highway 20 in Buford, off Plunkett Road, they will be greeted with a LEGO model of the Center. That's part of a new exhibit, "Young Architects, Designing the Future," now ongoing at the Center through January, 2013. By the way, note the LEGO "grass" growing on the Environmental Center's roof, a nod to the LEED standard of the facility. For more details, see Upcoming below.

Issue 12.54 | Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012

ELLIOTT BRACK'S PERSPECTIVE
:: Our endorsements for coming election

FEEDBACK
:: Recalls 1966, doesn't want to return

UPCOMING
:: Architects' show, Brighter Smiles

NOTABLE
:: Firm expands, Mill Creek color

ALSO INSIDE

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
:: Gwinnett Federal Credit Union

GEORGIA TIDBIT
:: Columbians marched like Brownshirts

LAGNIAPPE
:: Nutcracker on the way

GWINNETT CALENDAR
:: Lots of events on tap

TODAY'S QUOTE
:: What can give you a good education

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.

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ELLIOTT BRACK
Here are local endorsements for Gwinnett's general election
By ELLIOTT BRACK
Editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com

OCT. 23, 2012 -- By the time Americans get around to actually voting, many are weary of all the previous campaigning, replete with contentious television commercials, upsetting robo calls, and candidates testing the voter's believability.

Brack

In short, the long campaign season wears on the voter. Many have seen their favorite candidates fall by the wayside, with voting resorting to nothing less than using one hand to vote, the other to hold their nose. That's American democracy, 2012 style.

Yet all voters must do their duty, and make a choice in each race. Today GwinnettForum states its choices in local races, from Congress, to the Public Service Commission, and on to state and county offices.

Here goes. We feel the following are the best candidates for these positions:

Gwinnett School Board, District 1: Our choice is the incumbent Republican Carole C. Boyce, 62, a mother of six who are graduates of the Gwinnett system (all doing great), and a strong voice for public education. She has served well, and we hope she can retain the office for years. Her opponent, Jennah Es-Sudan, 60, shows no depth of understanding the office.

Gwinnett School Board, District 3: A newcomer to campaigning, Democrat Jen Falk, 51, has studied the issues, attended school board meetings for the last year, and poured over the 990 page school budget for a better understanding of it. She will give the time to get the job done. Her sitting on this board will stimulate the thinking, but fit in well with overall Gwinnett school board objectives. We endorse her candidacy. Her opponent is veteran school board member Mary Kay Murphy, 75.

Gwinnett School Board, District 5: We endorse the incumbent, Louise Radloff, 77, who runs for the first time as a Democrat, because of legislative gerrymandering of her district. A stalwart of public education in Georgia, Mrs. Radloff exemplifies the best in long-serving candidates. Her opponent, Hussein K. Dido, 40, knows little about public education, having his three children in private school, which does not bode well for this position.

Clerk of Superior Court: Two people seek this office. We support the candidacy of Democrat Brian Whiteside, 54, to the Constitutional office charged with keeping the affairs and activities of the courts functioning efficiently, and the office above reproach. Neither candidate has won elective office before, while the Republican, Richard Alexander, 60, was appointed to the post when the previous clerk died in office.

State Representative, District 81: One of the state's brightest young legislators, Democrat Scott Holcomb, 39, is our choice for this post. An Army veteran having served in Bosnia and Afghanistan, he is an attorney and general counsel for a financial services company. His vision for the Georgia of the future is one of informed leadership, particularly in public policy, that will serve the state well. His Republican challenger, Christ Boedeker, was invited to be interviewed, but did not contact GwinnettForum.

State Representative, District 93: Another Democratic incumbent, Dar-Shun N. Kendrick, 29, is a savvy attorney who has gained notoriety among her peers as a no-nonsense legislator. She knows the issues, and connects easily with her constituents. She is a legislator who will be in leadership roles in the future. Her opponent, Republican Tina Hoffer, 56, is a former neo-natal registered nurse from Snellville.

State Representative, District 95: By default, the choice for this office is Democrat Brooke Siskin, 44, a marketing consultant. She goes up against veteran Republican Tom Rice, who did not respond to the invitation to visit.

State Representative, District 96: One of the longest serving minority legislators, Democrat Pedro "Pete" Marin, 54, has served well, and we endorse his candidacy. We look forward to other minorities becoming legislators, to better reflect our society. A consultant, Rep. Marin is the target of Republican gerrymandering of his district, and deserves another term. His opponent is Mark Williams, 50, a printing company executive.

State Representative, District 101: A first year incumbent, Republican Valerie Clark, 62, had a good freshman term, and deserves to remain in office. A retired Gwinnett school principal, she brings a positive outlook and informed background to the office. Her opponent, Democrat Timothy Swiney, ran as a Republican against Ms. Clark in the 2010 primary. Mr. Swiney did not respond to being interviewed for this election.

State Representative, District 105: A senior citizen coming out of nowhere to win the primary, Joyce Chandler, 71, is the Republican nominee, whom we heartily endorse. She's a former school counselor, who is particularly interested in limiting lobbyist's efforts and fully funding education. Her opponent, Democrat Renita Hamilton, did not respond to any of the Forum's attempts to reach her.

State Senator, District 9: Longtime Republican Don Balfour, 55, a Waffle House executive, has power, prestige and lots of backers, but also a lot of recent question marks. Therefore, for this post, we endorse his challenger, Democratic attorney Scott Drake, 50, a former prosecutor and criminal lawyer. Drake feels there is only one issue in the race: ethics in government, and that's why we are for him.

Public Service Commission, District 1: Neither candidate responded to our request, hence, no endorsement.

Public Service Commission, District 3: Our pick for this post is someone who practiced dentistry in Snellville for 20 years, Stephen Oppenheimer, 57, of Sandy Springs. Of late, he has become involved with energy security issues, one of the oversights of this office. He seeks more homeowner involvement with the PSC, reducing energy rates for Georgia families, and growing more 21st century energy jobs for Georgia. His opponent is current Republican commissioner Chuck Eaton, 43, of Buckhead.

U.S. Congress, District 4: We support the re-election of Hank Johnson Jr., 57, of Lithonia. We like Mr. Johnson's focus to restore jobs and the middle class; to work for efforts to cut costs in the health system; and to bring U.S. troops home from Afghanistan while keeping Iran at bay. His opponent, Republican J. Chris Vaughn, 46, is a church pastor.

U.S. Congress, District 7: Two Peachtree Corners residents vie for this post. It's refreshing to see the Democrats offer an attractive candidate, Steve Reilly, 51, whom we endorse. He wants to get the economy continuing in the right direction, draw down our forces in Afghanistan, tighten sanctions in Iran, and get more people involved politically. His opponent, Republican Rob Woodall, 42, is a throwback to his former boss, ex-Congressman John Linder, and offers the same tired suggestions we have heard about endlessly, such as the "Fair Tax," making it easy to support Mr. Reilly.

* * * * *

The candidates GwinnettForum has endorsed are those who we feel can represent our county best. Many of the races had candidates equally prepared to serve. In those races, we have chosen the Democratic candidate, since one of our Continuing Objectives is to see parity of the two parties through more Democratic candidates and office holders.

Now, you as a reader and voter, have one more important task: to arrive at your own opinion about the various races. Go to the six questions GwinnettForum asked of all candidates (at the right column) to read the views of the candidates. Then go and vote your conviction.

Your input is what keeps this country going, with the people having a selection of candidates, and those winning office doing the job to the best of their abilities. That way, our country will have good government, which can lead to a better life for all of us. So, get out and vote!

• To view the 2012 Gwinnett Election Ballot, click here.
  

SPOTLIGHT
Gwinnett Federal Credit Union

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Gwinnett Federal Credit Union is a $228 million credit union that serves more than 41,000 members in Barrow, Clarke, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Jackson, Oconee and Walton counties. Operating as a not-for-profit financial cooperative, Gwinnett Federal's mission is to provide quality financial services that meet the needs and exceed the expectations of its member-owners. For more information about our products and services, or to find one of our 13 convenient branch locations, please visit www.gwinnettfcu.org.

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

FEEDBACK
Remembers and compares amendment to segregation times

Editor, the Forum:

It was the summer of 1966 and court-ordered school desegregation was being enforced in the Deep South. I had gone through third grade at the school from which my mother had graduated 22 years before, and had been reassigned to one of the elementary schools "in town."

In defiance of the overall court order, a group of more well-to-do businessmen and farmers purchased the property and started a "private" academy, duly segregated (all white) of course.

The phone rang at our house. One of the founders of this new academy was calling. It seemed that someone wanted to pay for me to attend this school. My mother offered me the choice. I was flattered, but my experience in public school had been more than satisfactory. I was attached to my teachers, who had also been reassigned. Though I was just a child, on some level, I understood the underlying reason. They needed me and other "smart" kids as aces in the hole, "proof" that the academy wasn't being started for prejudicial reasons. I declined.

It's been 45 years since then, and I'm sure that the quality of education provided by that academy has, on average, been good. But that has nothing to do with the fact that it was a "private" academy. It has to do with the students themselves.

There's something vaguely familiar about this charter school amendment facing Georgia voters in November. It's slippery. Just like those farmers and businessmen said about racial segregation, proponents of this amendment maintain that the quality of education provided will be higher in charter schools than in the public schools. This is a contention that people who understand statistics and sampling and bother to read the report delivered to the legislature back in February know isn't true. There's no evidence that charter schools (and there are already 162 of them in the state) have improved graduation rates or test scores. Some have even shown the opposite.

I might ignore the amendment, except for the fact that this time, it's not the parents of the students who will pay. It's the public schools themselves, aka all taxpayers in the state, who will pay, whether their kids get to go to charter schools. Local officials will NOT approve these charter schools. They will be run by a small group, a government commission whose members couldn't possibly know the unique challenges of Cordele vs. Columbus, or Cairo vs. Cleveland.

What will happen is that many charter schools will soon be as segregated as were those private academies, but this time, we, the public, not individual families, will pay. In short, this time they'll start their "private" academies and we'll get to pay for it whether we like it or not.

As a skunk wearing fragrance to cover narrow self-interests, the charter school amendment will take us backward, erasing not only the progress of the last 50 years, but that of public education in general. I declined 45 years ago, and by my vote, I will decline this time, too. Please join me.

-- Vally Sharpe, Atlanta

• 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
GEHC plans architectural exhibit, including LEGO brick replica

The Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center (GEHC) will present Young Architects: Designing the Future, an exhibit designed by the Children's Museum of Cleveland and sponsored by the GEHC Foundation. In this exhibit, which highlights famous architects as inspiration and various block building media for hands-on interactive learning experiences, children (and adults) will become architects as they design for the future. The exhibit will be on display beginning October 26, and will remain on the GEHC campus until January 19, 2013.

Young Architects is divided into three main areas - live, work and play - with each area highlighting one or more renowned architects accompanied by photographs of their iconic buildings. As children observe these various structures, they will be challenged to contemplate such questions as: Why does it look the way it does? What is it used for? What materials were used in its construction?

Included within the exhibit will be hundreds of assorted building blocks - wooden, plastic, foam, and more in a huge variety of colors, shapes and sizes - inspiring visitors to either attempt to replicate the amazing designs illustrated or to let their creativity soar as they design and build a structure that is uniquely their own.

Inspired by the building block experiences of your past, the GEHC will also display various buildings in the Atlanta area designed out of LEGOs, including a LEGO replica of the GEH Center. The GEHC replica is amazing in its detail and contains more than 13,000 LEGO bricks.

Brighter Smiles program on verge of passing $1 million mark

An effort by a local dentist started in 2001 is on the verge of passing the $1 million mark in contributions to the Gwinnett Medical Center Foundation's fight against breast cancer.

Dr. Bruce Carter of Lawrenceville began the program, raising funds by exchanging professional home bleaching services for a $199 tax donation to the fight against cancer.

The Gwinnett Relay for Life was the recipient for the first three years, with the Foundation getting proceeds. Since then, Brighter Smiles for Brighter Futures has helped fund system-wide digital mammography at Gwinnett Medical Center; the Center for Screening Mammography at Gwinnett Medical Center-Duluth;, an ultrasound machine for the Center for Women's Diagnostic Imaging at Gwinnett Medical Center-Duluth; and an ultrasound machine in the new Gwinnett Breast Center in Lawrenceville.

Dr. Slade Lail of Duluth joined the grass-roots program after the first year, followed by 14 other dentists in 2003. Altogether, now there are over 40 Gwinnett dentists participating in the program. Dr. Tina Heil Herrington joined Dr. Carter as co-chair in 2008. The steering committee is comprised of volunteer dentists. There are no administrative fees with all funds going directly to the Breast Center.

In 2012, the program is only $39,000 shy of passing its $1 million mark in donations. Goal for 2012 is to raise $80,000, and that money will be used to purchase a Breast Tomosynthesis Machine, which is new x-ray imaging technology that acquires three-dimensional images of the compressed breast. This will greatly improve the diagnostic ability of the physicians and will save lives. The 2012 campaign began October 1, and continues through the end of January, 2013. For more detailed information and to locate a dentist participating, visit www.brightersmiles.org.

Dentists can join the program by contacting Beverly L. O'Toole, associate director of Annual Gifts and Special Events, Gwinnett Medical Center Foundation, 678-312-8507.

NOTABLE
Commercial refrigeration firm expands at Stone Mountain

Heatcraft Worldwide Refrigeration, a leading global provider of commercial refrigeration solutions, has unveiled its new Innovation Center at its headquarters at 2175 West Park Place Boulevard in Stone Mountain. The state-of-the-art facility highlights the company's more than 125 years of refrigeration expertise with global innovative products, training services and high-tech laboratory all designed to provide added customer value.

Larry Golen, Vice President and General Manager for Heatcraft North America, says: "The opening of the Heatcraft Innovation Center marks an exciting time for our company, as it will further strengthen our capabilities of providing best in class refrigeration equipment and complete systems to our customers. In addition to being a place where our latest global innovations can be showcased, the facility will serve as a strategic resource for our customers in product development, testing and training."

With an existing laboratory of 30,000 square-feet, the new development center includes a 15,000 square-foot expansion. The Heatcraft Innovation Center includes three main areas:

(1) equipment and systems showroom,
(2) training facility, and
(3) an expanded global laboratory.

The showroom displays more than 60 refrigeration solutions exemplifying the extensive breadth of Heatcraft global innovation across a wide variety of markets including food retail, foodservice, cold storage, and industrial cooling. The 3,500 square-foot training facility housed within the Innovation Center contains fully operational refrigeration systems designed to create an effective hands-on learning environment for beginners to those with advanced technical skills. Finally, the expanded global lab with locations in both the Stone Mountain and Columbus, Ga. operations will allow for more robust equipment and complete systems testing using realistic environmental conditions ensuring products are up to the highest of quality standards and in compliance with regulatory requirements.

Vibrant colors of fall at Mill Creek Nature Center near Buford

Where do Gwinnettians go to enjoy the exuberant colors of fall? Some drive north to the Appalachian Mountains, while others fly to Vermont. The answer, however, lies closer to home at Mill Creek Nature Center in Buford. On October 13, volunteers picked up trash along the trails of the wetland sanctuary before the start of the annual Rivers Alive event. Few know that the wetland sanctuary is within a stone's throw of the Mall of Georgia! It is no accident, according to Georgia Wildlife Federation Program Director Hank Ohme, who noted, "The Mall of Georgia donated the 88 acres to the Federation." Recently, Ohme joined forces with the Philadelphia Winn Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, and Boy Scouts representing Troops 511 and 575 for the cleanup. From left are several Philadelphia Winn members with Ohme, Vicki Watkins of Lawrenceville, Debbie Houston of Lilburn, Ohme, Pam Lyle of Lawrenceville, and Deena Richart from Lawrenceville.

RECOMMENDED

• 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
Columbians marched like Brownshirts in demonstrations

(From previous edition)

After receiving their charter, Loomis and Burke stepped up recruitment efforts throughout the city of the Columbians in the mid 1940s.. Though they professed to welcome "all members of the white man's community," the two men drew a majority of their support from working-class whites, or as Burke himself put it, "those of our brothers and sisters that many of the politicians call 'poor white trash.'"

During weekly meetings at the AFL Plumbers and Steamfitters Union and at impromptu rallies in mill neighborhoods throughout the city, Loomis and Burke warned audiences against the dangers posed by the city's minorities and urged those gathered to help protect the integrity of white neighborhoods. In order to join, prospective members needed only to fulfill three requirements. "Number one: Do you hate niggers? Number two: Do you hate Jews? Number three: Have you got three dollars?"

Burke and Loomis claimed to have enlisted as many as 2,000 members, though other sources indicate the actual number was closer to 200. Despite their relatively small membership, however, the group made their presence known. Dressed in khaki uniforms that bore more than a passing resemblance to the Nazi Brownshirts, the Columbians held frequent demonstrations, marching in lockstep through the streets of Atlanta and performing military drills in public spaces.

Neither did their small numbers limit the Columbians' ambition. Vowing to "show the white Anglo Saxons how to take control of the Government," Loomis and Burke predicted that the group would win a number of local and statewide elections before making a bid for nationwide control.

In order to fulfill their vision of a "progressive white community," the two men advocated a program of repatriation and deportation for America's minorities. Under their plan, blacks would repatriate to South Africa, which they admitted would first need to be purchased from Britain, and Jews would be deported to an unspecified location in the Mediterranean. "Briefly," Loomis explained, "the mission of the Columbians is to separate the white man from the nigger, and the Jew from his money."

(To be continued)

• Click here to access the Georgia Encyclopedia
  

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© 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.

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
What can give you that good education

"I respect faith, but doubt is what gets you an education."

-- Mobile, Ala.. restaurant owner and philosopher Wilson Mizner (1876 - 1933).

CANDIDATE PROFILES
Meet this year's candidates

For the 2012 general election, GwinnettForum asked all candidates facing opposition in Gwinnett County to provide answers to a few questions. You can read the answers of those who responded below by clicking on the links.

Candidates with no opposition are not listed.

• SEE the 2012 general election ballot

PROFILE KEY

• (DNR) indicates a candidate did not respond to our survey.
  
• (YES) indicates a candidate has received GwinnettForum's endorsement.

2012 FEDERAL CANDIDATES

U.S. Congress, District 4

• Henry C. “Hank” Johnson Jr. (D) (YES)
  
• J. Chris Vaughn
  

U.S. Congress, District 7

• Rob Woodall (R)
• Steve Reilly (D) (YES)
  

2012 STATEWIDE CANDIDATES

Georgia Public Service Commission, District 3

• Chuck Eaton (R)
  
• Stephen Oppenheimer (D) (YES)
  

2012 STATE CANDIDATES

Georgia State Senate, District 9

• Don Balfour (R)
  
• Scott Drake (D) (YES)
  

State Representative, District 81

• Chris Boedeker (R) (DNR) 
  
• Scott Holcomb (D) (YES)
  

State Representative, District 93

• Christine (Tina) Hoffer (R)
  
• Dar’shun N. Kendrick (D) (YES)
  

State Representative, District 95

• Tom Rice (R) (DNR)
• Brooke Siskin (D) (YES)

State Representative, District 96

• Pedro "Pete" Marin (D) (YES)
• Mark Williams (R)
  

State Representative, District 101

• Valerie Clark (R) (YES)
• Timothy Swiney (D) (DNR)
  

State Representative, District 105           

• Joyce Chandler (R) (YES)
  
• Renita Hamilton (D) (DNR)
  

2012 COUNTY CANDIDATES

Clerk of Superior Court

• Richard T. Alexander (R)
• Brian Whiteside (D) (YES)

Gwinnett County School Board, District 1

• Carole C. Boyce (R) (YES)
• Jennah Es-Sudan (D)

Gwinnett County School Board, District 3

• Mary Kay Murphy (R)
• Jen Falk (D) (YES)

Gwinnett County School Board, District 5

• H.K. Dido (R) (DNR)
• Louise Radloff (D) (YES)

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

THE WEEK AHEAD

(NEW) Halloween Magic Show: 10 a.m., Oct. 27, Aurora Theatre. In this holiday tradition, Arthur Atsma will amaze and amuse people of all ages with sleight-of-hand, audience interaction and comedy. Reservations are strongly recommended for what has always been a popular show. Call 678-226-6222 or visit www.auroratheatre.com for tickets.

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.

Gruesome Greenway and Halloween Hayride: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Oct. 27, Lilburn City Park. This is a free, family event with activities to entertain younger children, while older children and adults take a hair-raising hike on the Camp Creek Greenway. Sponsored by the City of Lilburn. Children under age 8 will not be permitted without an accompanying adult, since it is so scary! Wear your Halloween costume!

(NEW) Braselton Antique and Holiday Festival: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Oct. 27, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 28, Braselton Downtown Park. Admission and parking are free. Antique and collectible dealers, nurseries, crafters, furniture collections, primitives, ironworks, vintage jewelry, pottery, glassware, yard art, soaps and candles, dolls and food items will be showcased. More info.

ONGOING AND COMING SOON

Terror on the Trail: Friday and Saturday nights, through Oct. 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.

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.

(NEW) Eighth Annual Hemlock Music Fest: Nov. 2 to 4, Starbridge Sanctuary near Dahlonega. This all-ages, eco-friendly event features three days of live music, primitive camping, educational exhibits, arts and crafts vendors, a kid's nature village, rustic living demonstrations, great food, and free canoeing. Proceeds aid efforts to minimize the impact of the non-native hemlock woolly adelgid parasite, which is devastating the hemlock trees of North Georgia at an alarming rate. More details.

(NEW) Gateway International Food and Music Festival: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Nov. 3, Lillian Webb Park in Norcross. The region's multicultural talent festival will highlight the rich cultural contributions of Gwinnett's diverse communities, through music, dance and cuisine. Details: 770 449 6515. Sponsored by the Gwinnett Village Community Alliance.

(NEW) Fourth Annual Synchronized Swimming Performance: 11 a.m. Nov. 3, Collins Hill Park Aquatic Center. The free patriotic program is a tribute to military veterans and their families. The group is composed of girls ages 8 to 14 who love to swim in an artistic and creative way. More details: 770237-5647 or visit www.gwinnettparks.com.

Wink Art Exhibit: Through Nov. 24, Tannery Row Artist Colony in Buford. 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.

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.

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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