CLEAN AIR RECOGNITION: White Oak Elementary School in Gwinnett has been named the School of the Year by the Clean Air Campaign. Keisha Ford-Jenrette, program manager for Excellence Recognition Georgia Department of Education, presents the award to school Principal Jean Loethen-Payne and several students. The award program recognizes the best commute options programs in Georgia, celebrating the success of employers, property managers, schools and individuals in advancing the promise of cleaner air and less traffic.

Issue 12.60 | Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012

TODAY'S FOCUS
:: Storm checklist thanks to Sandy

ELLIOTT BRACK'S PERSPECTIVE
:: Look for word on casino-style complex

FEEDBACK
:: Voting, elections, pugs

UPCOMING
:: Third Thursday film, CID members

NOTABLE
:: 18 finalists, Hutchison is new judge

ALSO INSIDE

IN THE SPOTLIGHT
:: Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory

RECOMMENDED
:: The Last Child

GEORGIA TIDBIT
:: Dot Kirby -- tennis star

LAGNIAPPE
:: Bali high, but Bali can be low, too

GWINNETT CALENDAR
:: Lots of events on tap

TODAY'S QUOTE
:: Do right-wing programs hurt GOP?

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
As any big storm nears, prepare in advance with checklist
By KITTY BARKSDALE
Special to GwinnettForum.com | Permalink

(Editor's Note: After Hurricane Sandy hit the Northeast, a friend in Washington, D.C. sent this along, which can apply to preparations for other weather-related storms. You might save the checklist for your own benefit. -eeb)

WASHINGTON, D.C., Nov. 13, 2012 -- Hurricane Sandy was projected to hit my hometown with winds gusting between 60 to 80 miles an hour with a massive amount of rain. Predictions indicated that floods, power outages and transit systems were to be affected. Indeed, we had a massive rainfall, our subway system was down for 36 hours, power outages were sporadic and the federal government closed for two days. The storm was powerful, damaging many homes in its path, from the Bahamas to New York and New Jersey, but spared D.C. from much of its wrath.

As my daily news intake shifted from election coverage to Sandy updates, I realized I needed to hunker down and get prepped for the storm. The obligatory trip to the grocery store was made, though milk and eggs were not high on my list, as they go bad quickly with any power outage. I filled the car with gas. I filled a bathtub with water, in case the city water was not potable post-storm. I checked the roof, cleaned my gutters, and made sure all of the windows were securely fastened, and extraneous outside furniture and plants were secured against the wind. I had a ditch kit ready, with clothes, credit cards, a passport, life and house documents, blankets, emergency food and a tarp. I had my pet carrier ready, with extra food and foldable bowls for water and food. D.C. doesn't get many hurricanes, but this wasn't my first rodeo.

But for all this preparation, I forgot one key element that, in the case of a real emergency, would have made the difference between normalcy and victimization. I didn't have enough cash on hand. I had about $80 in cash at the height of the storm. If there had been a more extensive emergency, as we've witnessed from afar in New Jersey, ATM machines would not work, banks would not open, and grocery stores and other venues that accept checks would not be able to verify your identity.

It is incredibly tempting to spend a "stash" of cash that you keep for a rainy day fund. Yet it is a good idea to have some greenbacks in a secret location within your home for just these types of emergency. At this writing, it seems like $500 is a fair amount, but that number would vary depending on the size of your family. Some folks freeze credit cards to prevent themselves from spending, and in a waterproof pouch, you could keep cash that way. Hide it in a book, under your mattress, or in some place that makes sense to you. Regardless of your storage method, having cash on hand is a discipline we should all heed to have the best possible outcome in case of an emergency.

Here's an eight-point checklist you might print out.

1. Make ice ahead, some in large pots. Can be used to keep the frig cold (like a big cooler) or as drinking water.

2. Store plenty of towels, rags. Have hand sanitizer, hand or surface wet wipes.

3. Do laundry ahead of time.

4. Charge phones, laptops, camera. Take before and after pictures for insurance.

5. Print list of phone numbers in case cell phone dies.

6. Find trash and plastic bags. Waste builds up and smells over time if you are stuck inside.

7. Coordinate with neighbors. If people share it can be less work for everyone.

8. Have ready extra batteries, radio, flashlights.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Come what may, we suspect Norcross to get casino-style complex
By ELLIOTT BRACK
Editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com | Permalink

NOV. 13, 2012 -- No matter what, Gwinnett County and Norcross will relatively soon become the home of a $1 billion gambling complex at the intersection of Interstate 85 and Jimmy Carter Boulevard, on part of the land no longer needed by the current occupant, OFS, the same land where Western Electric thrived for many years.

Brack

This casino will open under auspices of the Georgia Lottery, no matter whether the residents of Gwinnett want it or have a vote on the matter, perhaps even while the sitting governor Nathan Deal protests that he would not want a gambling casino in Georgia, and with no public body having any input in the decision except the independent Georgia Lottery Commission.

You see, the Lottery Commission will point to the passage of the Georgia Lottery constitutional amendment in 1992 as their authority for casino-style gambling. It will come as a surprise and to the astonishment of many Georgians that they were also voting for creation of a gambling arena when they passed the Lottery! But that's the interpretation that the Georgia Lottery will cite as the authority to bring casino-style "entertainment" to Georgia via video lottery terminals.

Of course, the Georgia Lottery will whitewash the establishment of the casino-complex as a bold attempt to "save" the Hope Scholarship. After all, it will point out, if something isn't done to bring in more revenue for Hope Scholars, the program will be significantly curtailed, and not be worth as much to the scholars now getting a free ride for their college tuition. This will allow their parents, the real beneficiary of the Hope Scholarship funds, to breathe a sign of relief, and in effect, be thankful that some way was found to provide the funds for their bright child's college that they might have had to fund without the new gambling program funding Hope.

Why do we feel that the casino is coming? And when?

First, the when. We suggest that it could come as early as the first of January, before the Georgia Legislature gavels into session. That would make the establishment of the casino a fait accompli, meaning that the Legislature could do nothing about it, since it had already been passed by the independent Georgia Lottery Commission.

And why do we think so strongly that the casino is coming?

Alford

Now just think: if you were being considered as a new president of the Georgia Lottery, as was Debbie Dlugolenski Alford of Conyers mostly recently, what questions would you ask of both the other members of the Georgia Lottery, and of the person pushing for you to get the job, the governor?

Wouldn't you want some indication of how the Lottery was going to get past its anticipated shortfall? Wouldn't you want to know if you were going to be a "maintenance caretaker," always desperately trying to find new sources of revenue?

Or wouldn't you be far more willing to accept the job if you knew that there was going to be a major new source of Hope Scholarship funds through allowing new games of chance to be run through the Georgia Lottery? After all, wouldn't such a casino contribute as much as $350 million annually, and make the job of Lottery president much easier? Wouldn't you want to know the answers to these questions prior to accepting the presidency?

So look forward to an announcement from the Georgia Lottery soon, no matter the protests of citizens, politicians, and especially the governor. After all, Governor Deal's hands are tied…….since the Lottery Commission is independent….even though the governor appoints this board. Don't you know?

SPOTLIGHT
Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory is a Buford based family owned-and-operated business. We serve all faiths and offer funerals, cremations, out of town services, as well as pre-arrangements. We also accept pre-paid funeral arrangements and insurance policies that were purchased at other funeral homes. We have parking for 150 cars at our site on South Lee Street in Buford. Our dedicated and caring staff's goal is to see that the needs of each family they serve have been met with distinctive, professional and compassionate service. Our web site is http://www.flaniganfuneralhome.com. To schedule a private appointment, please call us at 770-932-1133.

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FEEDBACK
Says Gwinnett voting patterns getting to be more like state's

Editor, the Forum:

I've always enjoyed GwinnettForum's insights and wanted to share this bit of info I have been exploring regarding Gwinnett politics. I moved to this area in late 1997 and have been following the (never dull) political scene ever since.

First, in 2012 in Gwinnett, 91,823 people "early voted" (advance in-person). Of those, 43,959 voted for Romney and 47,388 voted for Obama. That same year 185,173 people voted on election day: 102,555 for Romney and 79,227 for Obama. I point this out because advance voting favored Obama, not something you might expect in Gwinnett.

Now, perhaps more interesting, is Gwinnett's Presidential voting over the past 24 years. While the current political leadership representing Gwinnett in Atlanta and Washington is overwhelmingly Republican, the change in the county's politics can be seen when you examine how Gwinnett votes in Presidential elections in comparison to how the state of Georgia votes.

For example, in the 1988 Presidential elections, fully 76 percent of Gwinnett citizens cast their ballots for George H. W. Bush and 24 percent voted for Michael Dukakis. The state of Georgia, as a whole, gave 60 percent of their votes to Bush and 40 percent to Dukakis in the '88 elections. This means that the spread between the Republican and Democratic vote in Gwinnett was 52 points; whereas the spread in the state vote was 20 points. The difference between the state spread and the county spread, in the 1988 election, was 32 points.

If we run these numbers for every Presidential election between 1988 and 2012 we begin to see a very clear pattern developing -- Gwinnett county citizens are voting more like the rest of the state's voters. Looked at in a graph, we can see that the spread between the state vote and the county vote all but disappears by the 2012 elections. (See attached PDF titled "Gwinnett-State Spread" for numbers.)

I'll leave it to you to analyze the results, but Gwinnett county's voting patterns are certainly changing and beginning to reflect those of the state as a whole. Hope you find this as interesting as I did.

-- Michael Casey, Flowery Branch

Dear Michael: First, thanks for the scholarship. Gwinnett's change is probably resulting from its growing size: as it becomes larger, the overall Gwinnett statistics (perhaps in most arenas) will reflect the overall population of the state, whether in outlook, demographics, or even as you point out, in politics. Again, our thanks for your objective insight. -eeb

Feels 2 paragraphs recently hit the nail on the head about GOP

Editor, the Forum:

Your article ("National GOP has problems") in the recent Forum seems to hit the nail on the head several times. In particular, the two paragraphs below capture their biggest, overall failures to inspire Americans.

"It's clear to us that the Republican controlled House should be realizing now that the GOP must be a little more reasonable if they are to gain the ascendancy. Now having fought with the Democrats and President Obama for four years, the GOP gained nothing in this election. Isn't it obvious that some compromise, on the debt ceiling, or how to deal with the budget, or military spending…..might make the Republicans more relevant to the people, if they should show some willingness to compromise?

"So far their stone-walled approach may not have lost them control of the House, but what have they gained? Voters apparently do not like the Republican inability to sit down at the table and work toward statesmanlike results."

But, the GOP's problems with Latinos, women, and other minorities, also will box them out of future leadership of our nation, as those constituencies gain demographic ascendancy, if the GOP doesn't change. Republican leaders in general, and the TEA Party in particular, must move away from their reactionary, obstructionist agendas to policies and platforms that are action-oriented and appeal to the exceedingly intricate demographics that now constitute American voters. If they don't change, it will only get harder for them in four more years.

-- Michael L. Wood, Peachtree Corners

PugFest still seeking funds after 2012 event in Lawrenceville

Editor, the Forum:

Pippi Longstocking, pug of Becky Bowen.

PugFest 2012, the largest fundraiser of the year sponsored by the Southeast Pug Rescue and Adoption, Inc. (SEPRA), a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization that rescues, fosters and adopts out "any and all pugs and pug mixes in need", raised $19,428 last month. Expenses for the event ran $9,900, meaning that PugFest 2012 only netted $9,528.

Approximately 750 people and 350 pugs attended PugFest, but SEPRA is still in debt by about $11,000. SEPRA still has many of the PugFest 2012 t-shirts for sale, as well as its 2013 calendar and new cookbook that didn't print in time for sales at the event.

SEPRA, based in Suwanee, will plan additional fundraisers for 2013. Traditionally, the event is held the last Saturday in October. Follow pugs on the website at www.rescuepug.com.

-- Brenda Megel, president, SEPRA, Suwanee

• Send us your opinions. 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
Independent films to be showcased at Third Thursday party

Independent films produced by several area filmmakers are being featured at the Third Thursday Arts Party, November 15 at 6:30 p.m. in historic Norcross. The Norcross Arts Party showcases local, metro and regional talent at downtown art venues.

The film screenings are free and will be divided up among local venues: the Norcross Arts Center, Kudzu Art Zone and Vargas and Harbin Studio Gallery.

Four area filmmakers will be screening, including David Hughes Duke, an EMMY-Award-winning producer whose work has been featured on national public television and at various film festivals; John Duke and David Porter, young filmmakers whose documentaries have already garnered exposure on public television; and Cuban artist Rey Vargas, who is part owner and full-time artist exhibiting at the Vargas and Harbin Studio Gallery in Downtown Historic Norcross, who explores an extra dimension of perception in several short art films.

Film topics range from the inspirational Summer Hill: A Story of Community (now in its seventh year on national public television); to La'Teef, the profile of an inner-city barber who mentors at-risk youth; and In Search of Prospect.2, an art film shot in New Orleans; and City Garden, about a housing project that blossoms into an organic community garden. Over 13 films are scheduled for screening during this event. All are free, and the filmmakers will be available for discussion after viewing. For a complete bio of the film makers and a list of films, visit www.aplacetoimagine.com.

Gwinnett Village names 2 new members to board of directors

The Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District (CID) has two new board of directors, Michael Tuller and Phil Sadd. Michael Tuller filled the vacant post as Gwinnett County's appointment, while Sadd is the first appointment from the newly formed city of Peachtree Corners.

Tuller is a certified planning professional with over 15 years of experience working in the metro Atlanta region. He recently formed his own firm, Chattahoochee Planning Associates, where he specializes in assisting local governments with their land use and transportation planning efforts.

Sadd is the district one representative on the Peachtree Corners City Council. He has worked and resided in that community for over 20 years. Sadd is the senior vice president of sales for a local technology company and has served as the managing director of his company's first international subsidiary.

Community Improvement Districts are made up of commercial property owners who tax themselves in order to fund infrastructure, aesthetic and public safety projects in their community. At 14 square-miles, the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District is the largest in Georgia. The CID represents 550 commercial properties valued at over $1 billion.

NOTABLE
City of Duluth narrows field to 18 for Gateway Art Project

The City of Duluth, led by the Gateway Art Project Committee (GAPC) and Mayor Nancy Harris, has received 85 letters of intent from artists all over the country for its new public art project. The committee has now narrowed the field down to 18 semifinalists that are asked to submit their concept drawing or illustration.

Finalists will then be selected and given a honorarium to produce a mock up or model of the concept before the final decision is made. The chosen design will be a permanent piece of original art to be installed in the center of the newly constructed roundabout located at the intersections of West Lawrenceville Street, McClure Bridge Road and Irvindale Road. This historic residential setting is considered a "gateway" into downtown Duluth. This piece of art is expected to become a significant icon for the City and an important symbol to welcome citizens and visitors alike into the heart of Duluth.

The donation for this initial project is from the AGCO Corporation, a global manufacturer of agricultural equipment and Fortune 500 company, whose corporate headquarters is located in Duluth. AGCO distributes their products in more than 140 countries worldwide and is a publicly traded company with additional locations in Europe, South America, Africa and Asia Pacific.

The GAPC was formed in January 2012 to plan and implement the process of selecting a piece (or pieces) of public art to be located in the center of the roundabout. This initial site-specific project is the first of many public art pieces the City hopes to commission to enhance the beauty and culture of Duluth and the surrounding areas.

Semifinalists for Gateway Art Project include:

Ilan Averbuch, Long Island City, N.Y.;
Douwe Blumberg, De Mossville, Ky.;
Riis Burwell, Santa Rosa, Calif.;
David Clark, Green River, Wyo.;
Andrew Crawford, Atlanta, Ga.;
Martin Dawe, Atlanta, Ga.;
Michael Dillon, Milton, Ga.;
Jon Barlow Hudson, Yellow Springs, Ohio;
Howard Kalish, Brooklyn, N.Y.;
Claudia Jean Klein, Lake Worth, Fla.;
David Landis, Atlanta, Ga.;
Michael McLaughlin, Torrington, Conn.;
Marc Moulton, Statesboro, Ga.;
Koryn Rolstad, Seattle, Wash.;
Roger Stoller, Porticia Valley, Calif.;
Tim Upha, Fort Collins, Colo.;
John Wendelbo, Seagrove, N.C.; and
Joshua Wiener, Boulder, Colo.

Governor appoints Hutchison to Gwinnett Superior Court

Gov. Nathan Deal has appointed the Hon. George F. Hutchinson, III to the Superior Court judgeship within the Gwinnett Judicial Circuit. Hutchinson fills the vacancy created by the appointment of the Hon. William M. Ray, II to the Court of Appeals of Georgia in July.

Hutchison

Hutchinson has served as the Chief Magistrate judge of Gwinnett County since December 2007 and Magistrate judge from 2004-07. He previously served as senior assistant district attorney in Gwinnett County and assistant district attorney within the Coweta Judicial Circuit.

Hutchinson earned his bachelor's degree in Administration of Justice from Guilford College in North Carolina and his law degree from Emory University School of Law. He and his wife, Julie, have two children. They reside in Lawrenceville.

RECOMMENDED
The Last Child
By John Hart

"Set in North Carolina, this murder mystery centers on the disappearance of a 13-year-old girl, the girl's family, a second disappearance, and an obsessed policeman. The protagonist is the girl's twin brother who is determined to find his sister when others have failed. The subject matter is rough (violence, child sex offenders, etc.) but the writing is fast paced, which is great for someone with a short attention span. The story picks up in the second half where there are more bodies and suspects, and it has many twists and turns. I had a stomachache when I finished it because of the tension, but it was a very good mystery and I recommend it!"

-- 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
Dot Kirby wins Georgia Women's Golf Championship 5 times

In 1932, at the age of 12, Dot Kirby entered the Georgia State Women's Golf Championship as the youngest golfer to compete for a championship. She advanced to the semifinals, and the next year she became the youngest female golfer to win a state championship. She was Georgia's women's golf champion five times during her career.

Mary Dorothy Kirby was born in West Point, in Troup County, on January 15, 1920, and moved to Atlanta when she was ten. Her new home on Piedmont Road was situated near a miniature golf course, where she first became interested in golf. Neither of her parents played, but by the time Kirby was in the sixth grade, she was playing nine holes before school and a full 18 after school.

Entering the Washington Seminary in Atlanta, Kirby polished her golf with the help of Howard "Pop" Beckett at the Brookhaven Golf Club. Kirby never turned pro, saying that she played golf for fun and that the men who played for a living did not appear to be having fun.

Her amateur career, however, was spectacular. Besides winning the Georgia State Women's Championship five consecutive times, she made more Curtis Cup appearances than any other U.S. team member, with a total of four (1948, 1950, 1952, and 1954). She also won two consecutive National Titleholders Championships (1941 and 1942) and one North-South Tournament.

Her most memorable win was sinking an eight-foot putt to capture the 1951 U.S. Amateur Championship by one stroke. Returning from that championship, she was welcomed home by the legendary golfer Bobby Jones, Governor Herman Talmadge, Atlanta mayor William B. Hartsfield, and hundreds of fans at City Hall, where the mayor proclaimed it Dorothy Kirby Day.

Kirby was known for her good nature. Some observers doubted that she would ever be a champion
because she lacked the "killer instinct." She treated her opponents as friends, leaving any hard feelings behind. Kirby retired from tournament play in the mid-1950s; in 1974 she was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, and in 1989 she was inducted into the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame. In 1971 the Atlanta Country Club established the Dorothy Kirby Invitational Tournament. Her portrait, presented by Bobby Jones, is displayed in the Capital City Club.

Kirby worked for WSB-TV and WSB Radio as a sportscaster and sales representative for 35 years. She then entered the real estate business, where the persistence she learned on the golf course often qualified her for the Million Dollar Club. She died on December 12, 2000, in Atlanta.

• Click here to access the Georgia Encyclopedia

LAGNIAPPE
Bali high?

But there's Bali low, too. Frank Sharp reports that on a recent trip to the world-famous area, one of the first things that he and his wife did was to take a shuttle bus to its private beach. "It was at High Tide and I thought it was wonderful." Then, after four days of touring, the couple returned to the area. "Nobody mentioned, high tide and low tide. Being a land lover, I was shocked to find that the beach was gone, or at least, a beach without water, as it was low tide." His theory is that since Bali is located almost on the equator, that the moon's influence on tides, being closer, is much stronger than in the Northern Hemisphere.

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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
Do right-wing programs eventually serve to hurt the GOP?

"Part of the problem, I think, is the profusion of right-wing radio and television programs. Democrats complain furiously that Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck or Sean Hannity smear the left, but I wonder if the biggest loser isn't the Republican Party itself. Those shows whip up a frenzy in their audience, torpedoing Republican moderates and instilling paranoia on issues like immigration."

-- Conservative New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof, Nov. 8, 2012.

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

Buford Business Association Afterhours: 5:30 p.m., Nov. 13, Mirko Pasta, 3265 Sardis Church Road. Information on the holiday season will be presented. BBA board election results will be announced.

Open House at Gwinnett Village CID offices: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Nov. 15, 5855 Jimmy Carter Boulevard. Visitors will learn of anticipated improvements at the Jimmy Carter Boulevard-Buford Highway intersection.

Population explosion will be the subject at the Sierra Club meeting: 7 p.m., Nov. 15, Berkmar High School. Todd Daniel will be discussing the relationship between population and the environment in his program, "The Global Population Explosion - Here We Grow Again." For more details, email dan3688@aol.com.

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.

15th America Recycles Day: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Nov. 17, Recycling Bank of Gwinnett, 4300 Satellite Boulevard, Duluth. Come for free paper shredding, cash for aluminum cans, free recycling of foam food containers, cash prizes, and recycling of newspapers, cardboard, etc.

Another America Recycles Day: 9 a.m. to noon, Nov. 17, Coolray Field, home of Gwinnett Braves. Sponsored by Gwinnett County Solid Waste and Recovered Materials Division. This event will have paper shredding, electronics recycling, and tire recycling. Kid's activities, free food and giveaways are on tap.

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.

Basket Weaving Workshop: 10:30 a.m. to noon, Nov. 17, McDaniel Farm Park, 3252 McDaniel Road, Duluth. Ideal for those 10 and older. Admission is $10 per person. Participants must pre-register at www.gwinnerrehc.org. Organized by the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center.

Book Signing: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Nov. 17, Books for Less, 2815 Buford Drive, Buford. Doug Dahlgren of Decatur will be signing Four Samaritans, the fourth in The Son series.

(NEW) Fall Art Scholarship Fundraiser: Noon to 5 p.m., Nov. 17, Artists' Open Studio in Suwanee. Funds will benefit the Rosemary Benavides-Williams Scholarship Fund, honoring the artist who passed away last spring. Fifteen businesses are participating.

Southern Wings Bird Club: 7 p.m., Nov. 19, second floor of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center. Author John Yow of The Armchair Birder will speak on coastal birds. More info.

ONGOING AND COMING SOON

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.

Stitched Art Show by Adele Steele: Through Nov. 30, Chocolate Perks in Duluth.

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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