PRETTY AS ... At one time, there were preening peacocks strolling the grounds of Dr. Fayette Sims' house, which backed up to Constitution Boulevard in Lawrenceville. Occasionally, the peacocks would wander over to the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, and peck the windows. But alas, there are no peacocks near GJAC today. Yet Frank Sharp, while on vacation in Bali last week, made this photo of a male peacock at the Bird Park with a Nikon Coolpix P510 camera.

Issue 12.57 | Friday, Nov. 2, 2012

TODAY'S FOCUS
:: View Point Health's mission

ELLIOTT BRACK'S PERSPECTIVE
:: Could Sandy impact election?

FEEDBACK
:: Blogger on voting

UPCOMING
:: Suwanee survey, new Wildlife head

NOTABLE
:: HomeSafe Georgia, Jackson EMC

ALSO INSIDE

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
:: Mingledorff's

RECOMMENDED
:: The Last Kashmiri Rose

GEORGIA TIDBIT
:: Confederate memorials around state

LAGNIAPPE
:: TAG awards

GWINNETT CALENDAR
:: Lots of events on tap

TODAY'S QUOTE
:: Give way out of argument

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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TODAY'S FOCUS
View Point Health created to promote overall health of life
By DAVID CREWS
CEO, View Point Health
Special to GwinnettForum.com

(Editor's Note: David Crews is the fourth CEO of View Point Health, formerly GRN Community Service Board, following Frank Berry, now commissioner of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health, Bobby Robbins (retired) and Bill Mahaffey (deceased).-eeb)

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga., Nov. 2, 2012 -- Our mission here is to promote overall health and improve quality of life by ensuring the delivery of effective behavioral and physical health care that meets the needs of communities we serve.

Crews

View Point Health, formerly GRN Community Service Board, is a public authority created to provide services to individuals who need treatment and support to cope with mental health, addictive diseases, and developmental disabilities. View Point Health serves individuals who are the most in need, including those who are uninsured/ underinsured, low-income Medicaid, aging/elderly Medicare, and war veterans. Services are client-centered and recovery-focused including behavioral health assessment, psychiatric evaluation, medication management, group and individual therapy, family therapy, peer support, psychosocial rehabilitation, housing, supported employment, court services, crisis intervention, on-site pharmacy services, rehabilitation services, brief residential crisis stabilization services, short-term substance abuse residential treatment as well as developmental disability day services and group homes.

In partnership with the State of Georgia in its settlement with the Department of Justice reducing the use of in-patient hospital beds, View Point added Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) to its service array. ACT is a team treatment approach designed to provide comprehensive, community-based psychiatric, rehabilitation, and support services to adults with serious and persistent mental illness. While Gwinnett, Rockdale and Newton Counties compose View Point Health's core service area, View Point was recently awarded a contract to expand ACT service into Fulton and DeKalb Counties.

In addition, View Point Health operates a 27 bed adolescent crisis stabilization unit in DeKalb County that serves youth from more than 100 counties in Georgia. Children and Adolescents (C&A) who are currently in or at risk of long term, out of home placements are served by View Point Health's Care Management Entity. Services include High Fidelity Wraparound, a strength-based, family-driven approach focused on developing self-sufficiency; building natural supports; and increasing family capacity to respond to crises. Network Support helps child-serving agency staff identify local, high quality behavioral health services and additional supports to meet the unique needs of youth and families. View Point Health is one of two providers selected to provide C&A Care Management Entity services statewide.

Recently, View Point Health partnered with two Federally Qualified Health Centers in the communities we serve to offer primary care to our clients. Clients are able to access behavioral health treatment and primary care services in the same building and many times on the same day. This focus on integrated health services and wellness allows providers to communicate about client care and improve overall outcomes.

View Point Health serves about 11,000 clients across multiple locations with a full continuum of behavioral health services and supports. The services provided by View Point Health contribute to the reduction in homelessness, reduction in crime and subsequent incarcerations, increase in graduation rates and lower dropout rates, as well as lower rates of child abuse and child welfare utilization, and decreased emergency room visits and inpatient admissions. As recognition of contributions to the community, View Point Health received the 2011 Healthcare Agency of the Year Award from the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce.

• For more detailed information, visit https://myviewpointhealth.org/.

ELLIOTT BRACK
You wonder if Hurricane Sandy will affect national election
By ELLIOTT BRACK
Editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com

NOV. 2, 2012 -- Hurricane Sandy has dealt a severe blow to the Northeastern United States, as a massive storm inflicted tremendous damage to people and infrastructure last week. Those of us in other areas of the country could do little but mainly sit and watch televised images of the horrific destruction.

Brack

Though the landfall took place a week before the national election, you recognize that it is possible that the aftermath of the storm could directly affect the overall election. After all, some people could be too busy with mere surviving rather than take the precious time to go vote.

Should this happen, especially in one of the swing states like Ohio or Pennsylvania, you wonder if it could directly affect the presidency. Stranger things have happened, i.e., concerning ballot chads ...

It's possible that either of the two presidential candidates could blame their failure to win the 2012 election on the impact of the storm. We hope it doesn't come to this…..but this could be the legacy of this strong storm.

Best comment we've seen on a close election was by Cartoonist Mike Luckovich, showing both President Obama and Mr. Romney trying to get the attention of a lone male voter. A bystander explains: "It's come down to Ohio, specifically, Fred in Ohio."

Isn't it beautiful how a smart cartoonist can take a complicated situation, and simply boil it down to one mighty sketch….and make sense? That's a real talent.

CONGRATULATIONS are in order this week, as Peachtree Corners Baptist Church marks its 30th anniversary on land donated by Jim Cowart. The church grew out of an idea from Dr. Jim Chavis, formerly with Dunwoody Baptist Church. Speaking at the 30th anniversary morning service at 10:45 a.m. on Sunday will be former pastor Dr. Richard Harris, while at 6:30 p.m., there will be a celebration/praise concert with the church band and orchestra and more than 130 current and former worship choir members. The church is located at 4480 Peachtree Corners Circle.

AMENDMENT ONE about charter schools is getting all the attention on Tuesday's ballot, but there is another amendment that the voters are being asked about.

Amendment Two asks voters if they will approve the State of Georgia entering into multi-year leases on buildings. Proponents of the system say that it would save taxpayers millions, as the state would not have to enter into expensive one year leases, as is the case now.

Under the current law, Georgia taxpayers are forced to pay rates far higher than other "market" renters because of an antiquated law that prohibits the state from signing leases for more than one year. If Amendment 2 is approved, the state will have the option to execute long-term leases for government offices rather than being forced into expensive one-year leases. Most governmental agencies stay in office space an average of 10.7 years. Georgia and Missouri are the only two states with an AAA bond rating that require single year leases. All other AAA bond rated states allow multiyear leases.

Still and all, you wonder whose ox will be gored by this, and how the taxpayers might end up losing on this. The amendment sounds good, but we still wonder.

HEARD ON RADIO: "When someone steals your identity, why is it that they only steal your good parts?"

SPOTLIGHT
Mingledorff's

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today's featured sponsor is Mingledorff's, an air conditioning distributor of the Carrier Air Conditioning Company. Mingledorff's corporate office is located at 6675 Jones Mill Court in Norcross Ga. and is proud to be a sponsor of the Gwinnett Forum. With 32 locations in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, Mississippi and South Carolina, Mingledorff's is the convenient local source with a complete line for the quality heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration parts and supplies you need to service and install HVAC/R equipment. Product lines include Carrier, Bryant, Payne, Totaline and Aeroseal. For all of your HVAC needs, and information on the products Mingledorff's sells, visit www.mingledorffs.com and www.carrier.com.

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

FEEDBACK
Posting on the Internet about voting from Duluth resident

Harriet Cole of Lawrenceville sent this along, from a friend of hers. It is by a Gwinnett native who now lives in Duluth.

Here are a few thoughts on the upcoming election by Kim Belloni, who posted it on the internet recently. It's somewhat refreshing. Go here.

• 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
Suwanee to conduct satisfaction survey in 8 categories

To assess residents' satisfaction with community amenities and municipal services, the City of Suwanee is again participating in the National Citizen Survey. A representative sample of 1,200 households will receive an invitation to participate in the survey.

Financial Services Director Amie Sakmar says: "We hope that residents will share about 20 minutes and their opinions with us, so that we can determine where we're doing a good job and where we need to improve."

The National Citizen Survey asks for feedback in eight categories related to community characteristics and local government services: community quality, environmental sustainability, community inclusiveness, community design, recreation and wellness, civic engagement, public safety, and public trust.

Suwanee's 2012 survey results will be available early next year. These results assist in community planning, resource allocation, program improvement, goal-setting, and policy-making. Based on 2010 survey results, the City of Suwanee received two Voice of the People awards from the International City/County Management Association in 2011.

Former DNR official to head Georgia Wildlife Federation

The Board of Directors of the Georgia Wildlife Federation (GWF) announce that Todd Holbrook, former deputy commissioner of Georgia's Department of Natural Resources (DNR), is the new President and CEO, effective January 1, 2013.

Holbrook

Holbrook, of Conyers, comes to GWF after a 27-year career with Georgia's DNR, including with the Wildlife Resources Division and chief of Game Management. A biologist with degrees in wildlife management from the University of Georgia and Virginia Tech, Holbrook was responsible for several groundbreaking studies into the decline, recruitment and retention of hunting and angling participation.

Holbrook is known for his practical knowledge and policy expertise, utilizing social sciences in the application of wildlife management techniques. After studying the influences of hunter satisfaction levels and deer management objectives, the state focused on offering diverse hunting opportunities and encouraging antlerless harvest, increasing hunter participation throughout the state.

Current GWF President and CEO Jerry McCollum says: "I am delighted with the choice our board made for my replacement. Todd and I have worked together for a long time and I look forward to continuing to work with him in my retirement."

NOTABLE
County promotes HomeSafe Georgia assistance program

County and state officials gathered at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center on Thursday to promote the temporary mortgage payment assistance available to homeowners in Gwinnett County and metropolitan Atlanta through HomeSafe Georgia.

HomeSafe Georgia is a federally funded program designed to assist homeowners who struggle to pay their mortgage due to reduced income from involuntary unemployment. Since HomeSafe Georgia began in April 2011, more than 2,000 Georgians have received assistance to help them make their mortgage payments until they find work.

Gwinnett County Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash said, "We have experienced more than our fair share of foreclosures in Gwinnett County. The funds available through the HomeSafe Georgia program provide an option for Gwinnett homeowners who are trying to pay their bills and keep their homes in these difficult times."

HomeSafe Georgia's goal is to help more than 18,000 homeowners avoid foreclosure by the end of 2014. Eligible homeowners approved for the program will close on a no-interest loan. After the assistance period, the loan will be reduced at a rate of 20 percent per year for five years.

Jackson EMC linemen return after helping out in Maryland

After helping restore power for all but the remaining few members of Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO) whose homes and businesses were flooded, Jackson Electric Membership Cooperative (EMC) crews returned home Wednesday evening.

Twenty-one Jackson EMC personnel and 12 vehicles left Georgia on Saturday morning, arriving in advance of Hurricane Sandy's landfall, and joined hundreds of linemen from SMECO, other Georgia and North Carolina co-ops, and contractors in a race to restore electricity as quickly and safely as possible.

Dwayne Ansley, director, Operation Services, says: "With 60 co-op linemen on-hand from Georgia and an additional 32 from North Carolina, SMECO was able to quickly restore power to those who lost it in the wake of the storm."

Ansley said that even though millions in the Northeast are still without power, most of the co-ops in the region are in good shape or making good progress with the crews they had. "Many of the customers who are without power right now are further north, and they have resources committed in that area already. We do have contract construction and right-of-way crews that we released who are still working in Baltimore and Connecticut. Our crews were ready to move on to another location if they were needed, but there were no outstanding requests for assistance from other cooperatives in the area we were working."

In recent years, Jackson EMC linemen have worked alongside fellow co-op workers in the wake of storms and disasters elsewhere in Georgia, as well as in Kentucky, Mississippi and neighboring states.

Ansley said that whenever disaster strikes, Jackson EMC linemen are ready to deploy when called. "Because of the size and potential impact of Hurricane Sandy, we anticipated a call for assistance," said Ansley, who coordinates storm restoration efforts for Jackson EMC. "Once we got the call from SMECO, we were ready to put our crews and equipment into action right away."

From left are Chuck King, Tim Sweat, Scotty Thompkins, David Tate, Kevin Grant, Chris Hammond, Jason McElwaney, Scott Mitchell, Joey Thompson, Justin Cash, Joey Poss, Pedro Artega, Jeff Baker, Tony Tatum, Jimmy Patrick, Brian Berry, Dwight Byrd, Brandon Mitchell, Keith Camp and Alex Solhtalab. (Not pictured is Stan Russell)

Murtagh wins Court of Appeals ruling on suit against Emory

The Georgia Court of Appeals has ruled that Jim Murtagh, M.D., won a major legal victory in his decade-long struggle to prove that officials at Emory University had inflicted illegal reprisals on him for daring to blow the whistle on alleged research-funding fraud. In addition, the Appeals Court lectured Fulton County Superior Court Judge Wendy L. Shoob by informing her that she didn't understand the term "contempt" . . . and that she had been legally harassing Dr. Murtagh from the bench for years

Make no mistake, says attorney Mark Spix of Atlanta, a nationally recognized expert on arbitration, because maintaining a reliable and even-handed means of dispute resolution is essential to commerce, protecting due process during arbitration is "absolutely vital" to the economic well-being of the entire nation. The abuse of Murtagh was "perhaps the most egregious example of manipulating and distorting the arbitration process in the history of the U.S. legal system."

He adds: "When you look at how Jim Murtagh has stood up to two of the most politically powerful institutions in Georgia, and when you consider that he did it in an effort to help reform them both, you have to conclude that he's actually a pretty heroic figure - one of those undaunted truth-tellers who refuses to stop telling it like it is, regardless of personal cost."

RECOMMENDED
The Last Kashmiri Rose
By Barbara Cleverly

"The place is a town 50 miles south of Calcutta, India. The time is 1922 during the British Raj. The problem is that the wives of five British army officers in the same regiment have died during the month of March, each in a different year. Are the deaths accidental, suicides or murder? A Scotland Yard detective living in India has his work cut out for him because the trail is cold for four of the five deaths. This mystery moves along at a decent pace and gives you a real flavor for India during British rule. Plus, it has a little twist at the end."

-- Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill

• 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
Confederate memorials located in cities large and small

Confederate memorials honor Georgians who fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War (1861-65), and are located across the state, in both large cities and small communities. One of the earliest Confederate memorial services was held in April 1866 at Columbus, marking the beginning of a national movement to honor the war's dead, both Confederate and Union.

Most memorials are monuments or markers, but others take different forms. Confederate memorials in Georgia include the beautiful depictions of Georgia's military leaders and battles in the stained-glass windows at Rhodes Hall in Atlanta, as well as the carving on Stone Mountain of Robert E. Lee, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, and Jefferson Davis, which is the largest Confederate memorial in the world. Memorials to individual soldiers include the large obelisk to Captain Henry Wirz (Andersonville) and statues to generals Patrick Cleburne (Ringgold), Nathan Bedford Forrest (Rome), John B. Gordon (Atlanta), Joseph E. Johnston (Dalton), Robert E. Lee (Richmond Hill), and James Longstreet (Gainesville). Countless other memorials to individual Confederate soldiers and sailors can be found in cemeteries across the state in the form of tombstones.

Markers consist primarily of signs or plaques that provide information about war-related individuals or events. Located throughout the state, they include government historical markers, markers installed under the Works Progress Administration (a New Deal program instituted by U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt), and markers placed by organizations or individuals. Examples of federal government markers are found in Georgia at Fort Pulaski, the battlefield at Chickamauga, and Kennesaw Mountain.

Numerous state markers related to the Civil War discuss troop movements, engagements, or historical sites. Examples include the birthplace marker in Coweta County for William Thomas Overby, who is known as the "Confederate Nathan Hale," and the marker in Augusta's Magnolia Cemetery (pictured above) for the burial location of seven Confederate generals from Georgia.

Georgia's Confederate monuments are made from a variety of materials, including fieldstone, marble, sandstone, granite, iron, and bronze, and are designed in a wide range of styles. The most common style is a shaft supported by a pedestal and topped by the figure of a Confederate soldier, but other styles include obelisks, columns, boulders, arches, tablets, cenotaphs, fountains, benches, and even one totem pole.

Inscriptions, ranging from the simple to the poetic to the highly political, grace Georgia's monuments. "Lest We Forget" or "Our Confederate Dead" are examples of simple sentiments found on numerous monuments. Typical expressions of extended sentiments include poet Theodore O'Hara's lines, "On fame's eternal camping ground / Their silent tents are spread, / And glory guards, with solemn round / The bivouac of the dead," which is found on the Colquitt County monument in Moultrie; and "They struggled for constitutional government as established by our Fathers and though defeated, they left to posterity and record [sic] of honor and glory more valuable than power or riches," found on the Randolph County monument in Cuthbert. Other monuments, especially some newer ones, list the names of men who were either native to or buried within the county in which the monument stands. Fine examples of this type are found in Blairsville (Union County), Carrollton, Dalton, Dawsonville (Dawson County), Elberton, LaFayette (Walker County), and Springfield (Effingham County).

(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
Give opponent a way out without him losing face

"The most important thing in an argument, next to being right, is to leave an escape hatch for your opponent, so that he can gracefully swing over to your side without too much apparent loss of face."

-- English-born American newspaper columnist, writer, teacher Sydney J. Harris (1917-1986).

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
  
  
• READ our 2012 endorsements

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) Opening reception for ArtDawgs: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Nov. 2, The Nest, 17 College Street, Norcross. This is fine art by alumni of the University of Georgia. The collection will remain on view through November 7.

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) Book signing: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Nov. 3, Books for Less, 2815 Buford Drive, Buford, by best-selling author Will Martin (The Lincoln Letter). More details: call (770) 945-9288, or visit www.mybfl.com.

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.

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.

24th Annual Eizenstat Memorial Lecture, featuring Associate Justice Stephen G. Breyer of the United States Superior Court: 8 p.m., Nov. 7, Ahavath Achim Synagogue, 600 Peachtree Battle Avenue, Atlanta. The lecture is free and open to the community. Courtesy RSVP requested by email or by phoning 404.355.5222.

ONGOING AND COMING SOON

Stitched Art Show by Adele Steele: Through Nov. 30, Chocolate Perks in Duluth. An opening will be November 4 from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., with quilt wall hangings, scarves, custom designed jewelry, totes, etc. Proceeds benefit the Gwinnett Women and Children's Shelter.

(NEW) Consignment and Estate Sale: Nov. 9-10, Gwinnett Fairgrounds in Lawrenceville, sponsored by the Junior League of Gwinnett and North Fulton Counties. Details: contact by email or call 770-990-2206.

Veteran's Day Ceremony: 1:30 p.m., Nov. 11, Gwinnett Fallen Heroes Memorial, 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville (at the back of the GJAC front parking lot.

(NEW) Southern Wings Bird Club: 7 p.m., Nov. 12, second floor of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center. Author John Yow of The Armchair Birder will speak on coastal birds. More info.

Gwinnett Technology Forum: 7:30 a.m., Nov. 13, Busbee Center of Gwinnett Technical college. The subject will be Untangling the Invisible Wires of today's Wireless Industry. Panelists will be Glenn Lurie, AT&T; Daniel Foster, Verizon Wireless; and Steve Brumer, 151 Ventures. There is no cost to attend.

(NEW) Gwinnett Economic Development Summit: 7:30 a.m., Nov. 16, Gwinnett Technical College. Speakers include Dr. Christopher Ray, principal of Gwinnett Online Campus; Dr. Mark Iken, Georgia Gwinnett College; Matt Hyatt, CEO of Rocket IT; Jeff Spence, COO, Innovolt; Stephen Fleming, Ga. Tech Innovation Institute; and Mayor Nancy Harris of Duluth. More info.

(NEW) Fourth annual Johns Creek Poetry Festival: 10:15 a.m. to 1 p.m., Nov. 17, Northeast Spruill Oaks Library, 9560 Spruill Road, Johns Creek. Featured speaker will be Judson Mitcham, new poet laureate of Georgia. Details: 770-876-2904.

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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