|
Below you'll find recent comments by Gwinnett Forum readers
about issues of the day:
FEEDBACK
7/30: Mailbag
full, so here are thoughts
of five writers to Feedback today
(JULY 30, 2002 - - Editor's Note: With a tremendous amount of
feedback recently, we thought we would feature letters this week.-eeb)
Editor, the Forum:
Think about ALL the major names change when crossing Lawrenceville
Highway! Jimmy Carter Boulevard becomes Mountain Industrial Boulevard;
Indian Trail to Killian Hill; Beaver Ruin to Arcado Road. Pleasant
Hill to Lester road, etc. Bet you don't know why Arcado is so named....
- - Don Printz, Tucker
Editor's note: Dear Doctor Printz: Can't let this one go by
without replying.. Arcado was named when Paul Dover, O.D. Cain
and Weldon B. Archer were our three county commissioners, back
in 1949. They used the first two letters of their last names,
giving us AR-CA-DO. ---eeb
* * * * *
Editor, the Forum:
The book "Brunelleschi's Dome," by Ross King, sounds
interesting. I will definitely get it.
Let me recommend Ken Follett's Pillars of the Earth? It is a novel,
centered around building a small cathedral in England during the
same period. The son of the original builder went to Paris (?) and
saw what they were doing there, went back home and changed the structure
to include a dome, if I remember right. A long, but great read if
you haven't already read it.
- - Phylecia Wilson, Snellville
* * * * *
Editor, the Forum:
Let's hope that people will know who they are going to vote for
before they are standing before the new voting machine. If they
don't, that could be compounded with how to operate the new voting
machine.
- - Kathy Gestar, Snellville
Editor's note: Kathy: Gwinnett gets the new computer voting
machines not for the primary, but for the General Election. Each
Gwinnett precinct will have a demo model of the new election computer
during the primary. Check it out. Meanwhile, we'll have a report
on the new machines prior to the November voting.--eeb
* * * * *
Editor, the Forum:
Randy Yelverton doesn't get it (re: the Griggs lady.) People like
him never will. He hasn't "been there."
You know that I have "been there," very involved in the
Gwinnett community during the 70's and 80's. (Rotary, Clean and
Beautiful and a pile of other civic activities, many with direct
contact with all County Commissioners).
I also appreciated your attention to the road 'Road Name Changing."
To add even more to the confusion, just try to find a street address!!!!
Most commercial properties are not identified with a street number,
even though it is required by County ordinance.
How do the emergency people find anything in a commercial area?
All the owners seem to think that we know who all the tenants are
based on the name of the property. Where are our County enforcement
marshals?
- - E. F. Stuart, Norcross
* * * * *
(Editor's note: A recent query about the descendents of the
family of Norcross produced this result.-eeb)
Editor, the Forum:
Sorry, old soul, but there could be as many as 20,000,000 plus
descendants alive today of old George Norcross from Ribchester,
England, in 1850, and I am only one of them.
Now my cousin Joe Norcross, who lives in Columbus, S.C, has been
(to Norcross) and according to one of his encounters with a local
Genealogist of repute, "they all come from Ribchester, all
them Norcross's."
If anyone ever needs information on Norcross's, I have a ton and
am researching them for my own family tree. I know of at least two
other complete trees available and I can point to many others looking
for their place in the family. Incidentally, all North American
Norcross's come from either Jeremiah (Massachusetts Bay Colony,
1632) or John (William Penn's Colony, 1699), both sons of Thomas,
the Haberdasher of London, England. Otis is descended from Jeremiah,
as am I.
- - Philip Norcross Gross, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (philipgross@rogers.com)
7/26: Disappointed,
and questions about integrity
Editor, the Forum:
I was highly disappointed by your editorial (of July 23). Because
you did not offer any indication as to what issues Ms. Neaton-Griggs
was opposing, your editorial basically undercut the idea of elected
official having integrity. You chastised her for being unrealistic
by making a stand against the other commissioners. It seems you
would rather her go along with the other commissioners even if she
disagrees with the issue in question.
Do we elect officials just so that they can get legislation passed,
regardless of their moral beliefs? I personally elect an official
not for pragmatic reasons, but because I hope they will legislate
with integrity. Because you do not tell us what Ms. Neaton-Griggs
opposed, your editorial basically says that elected officials should
leave their integrity at the door in the name of progress. What
kind of progress is it that sacrifices integrity in the name of
teamwork?
In conclusion, I can only think back to what all our elementary
school teachers used to tell us. "If all your friends jumped
off a cliff, would you do it to?" Please tell us the full story.
- - Randy Yelverton, Duluth
EDITOR'S RESPONSE
What follows is the editor's response to the letter:
I figured some people would take this tack, because I did not point
out a particular instance. Yet I wanted to keep it away from issues,
and talk about the idea of getting real progress in your area AFTER
you were elected.
Granted, integrity is perhaps the most important element in a public
official. Yet there also enters the idea of effectiveness. After
election is when the "trading" goes on, the scratching
of each other's back if you really want to get something done. Ms.
Neaton-Griggs refuses, and as a result, her district (and the county)
suffers. That's another look at what integrity means in a commissioner,
whether they can deliver what they promised. And it takes teamwork
to do it.
--eeb
7/23: Wants higher
level of leadership from GOP
Editor, the Forum:
Your July 19 GwinnettForum was a nice mix of topics making for
interesting reading and a thought-provoking agenda for your readers.
Regarding the Northern Arc, it will happen. To many involved power
brokers coupled with an obscene amount of money will not "railroad"
this debatable transportation solution for Georgia.
With respect to Linder and Barr, I am not pleased with how Mr.
Barr has managed the interests of Georgians in the water negotiations.
That is a personal feeling after a bit of investigation. From a
Gwinnettian's perspective along with the current pulse of those
I have chatted with on this race, a number of voters are still upset
about Bob bailing on the Republican party in a district that he
could managed victory if had he been up for the challenge.
I am curious whether Ralph (Reed) had any input on this decision
as the party leader. Certainly, the 11th district is the resource
battles. I believe John Linder will be victorious but by a slim
margin (say, 4 percent).
I do not claim to understand all of the closet politics that shape
decisions of this nature, but there is one thing that is crystal
clear to me at this point. The Republican party could use a much
higher level of dynamic leadership that would use purposeful persuasion
and penetrating influence directed towards issues that clearly fall
in the best interests of the party.
I believe this was a chord played during Mr. Reed's campaign rhetoric.
I remember well since I was at all of the party conventions last
year.
- - Tony Arakawa, Berkeley Lake
7/23: With this thinking,
Titanic captain would be promoted
Editor, the Forum:
Let me get this straight - - we promote the fellow in charge of
Ruby Ridge and put him in charge of airport security. He inspects
90-year-old ladies from Des Moines, so now we replace him with Admiral
Loy, who has been responsible for stopping drug smuggling for the
last few years?
What a job he did with dope!! There is none of it around so I can
see why they thought he could stop terrorists. .
All this takes you breath away. If the Titanic had been owned by
the USA, with this thinking, I guess we would have made the Captain
an Admiral.
- - Dean Booth, Atlanta
7/19: Daytona YMCA
held corporate challenge
Editor, the Forum:
At the Daytona Beach YMCA this year we completed a Corporate Challenge
with area businesses. We had 19 join in on the festivities. It was
a great program.
We did it over a three-week time frame. I bet you Gwinnett guys
have a lot of success. Ours was a little cheaper, but that fits
with our area. We charged $150 per event per team. Businesses could
enter as many teams as they wish. Good luck.
- - Randy Brown, former Gwinnettian
7/19: United Way seeks
loaned executives for campaign
Editor, the Forum:
United Way in Gwinnett County is interviewing for loaned executive
positions. Loaned Executives assist with running the annual workplace
campaigns. The program begins August 5 and concludes in early December.
Specifically, candidates will need to demonstrate strong skills
in public speaking, working with people, able to manage multiple
tasks, highly motivated, and management experience. It is a great
opportunity to work with both the non-profit and corporate community.
If you are interested please contact me, Brent Pieper, Associate
Area Director-Campaign, at bpieper@unitedwayatl.org.
- - Brent Pieper
7/16: Business activity
creates new terms
Editor, the Forum:
We must at least laugh some. Here are new definitions of time-honored
accounting practices, which we have learned from the last few weeks
business activity.
- GAAP = generally avoided accounting practices.
- FRS = fantasy reporting standards.
- Ebitda = earnings before interest, tax, depreciation
and auditors.
- Ebit = earnings before irregularities and tampering.
- NAV = normal Andersen valuation.
- CEO = Chief Embezzlement Officer.
- CFO = Corporate Fraud Officer.
- P/E = parole entitlement.
- EPS = eventual prison sentence.
- - Dean Booth, Atlanta
7/12: Feels county
should provide area for extreme sports
Editor, the Forum:
Please consider helping me with a project I have undertaken. As
a citizen of Gwinnett, I feel that our parks need to have an extreme
sport section. I sent an email below to many officials who may be
able to help, but I was hoping you would circulate it to your readers,
in order for me to gain more support in this quest. Thank you for
your time.
-- Zack Parsons, Lawrenceville
(E-mail follows):
Hello,
I am writing to ask for your help in preserving a sport. My name
is Zack Parsons, I am 15 years old, a student at Collins Hill
High and I am one of many skateboarders in Gwinnett County. I
am one of the many skateboarders, along with many other extreme
sportists, who would like you to help us.
Here is our problem: while there are plenty of
football, baseball, softball, and even roller hockey fields, Gwinnett
seems to be lacking in a public skatepark of any sorts, except
at Pinckneyville. There is also another at Rome, Ga.
I myself live in Lawrenceville and frequent Collins
Hill Park. The lack of spots to skate is saddening. I also find
that you cannot skate anywhere outdoors in Gwinnett without running
into signs telling you not to skateboard. Even the park has one.
I propose that the county furnish a public outdoor
skate park at most of their parks, since the parks really are
for the public. As of now, most parks do not allow you to skate
and even if you find a spot to skate. People tell you not to skate
there.
I am not wanting a humongous skate park that
takes up all of a park. All I request is a small place for extreme
sportists to enjoy, so they too can feel as they are a part of
the public, the very same public the parks are built for.
-- Zack Parsons, Lawrenceville
(Editor's note: Mr. Parsons can be reached at
indietro_uomo@hotmail.com.)
7/9: Says thank you
to Jeanne Spears
Editor, the Forum:
Good to see Jeanne Spears getting notation in her home county as
volunteer of the year for the Atlanta Chapter of the American Red
Cross. That is a huge recognition for someone who goes and goes
all over the country as a volunteer.
Since I know Jeanne, I can say that she would go without the recognition----that's
which its important that we say "thank you" to those who
give so liberally to people in need.
Thank you, Jeanne !!
- - Charles Summerour, Member, Advisory Board of the Gwinnett
Service Center, American Red Cross
7/5: Red Cross volunteer
of the year title goes to
Gwinnett Service Center member
Jeanne Spears, a four year volunteer with the Gwinnett Red Cross
Service Center in Lawrenceville, has been named as the Metropolitan
Atlanta Chapter's Volunteer of the Year. Spears was presented her
award by David McLaughlin, chairman of the Board of Governors of
the National Red Cross, at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Atlanta.
The Volunteer of the Year Award is the highest recognition of service
presented by the local Red Cross. It is intended to spotlight volunteer
who has contributed in an extraordinary way.
Spears, a retired registered nurse, is involved in almost every
phase of the Gwinnett center's operation. She has served as a member
and captain of the Disaster Action Team providing immediate aid
to local disaster victims. She is a CPR/First Aid/AED and disaster
services instructor and also teaches Community Disaster Education
classes.
She serves as chairman of the service center's Disaster Health
Services committee and is a member of the aviation response team.
Spears has responded to numerous local disasters and has served
on four national level missions including New York City 9-11 attacks,
where she was one of the first out-of-state Red Cross responders
to arrive.
The award nomination described her New York service: "After
witnessing first hand the scope of the tragedy, she offered to extend
her assignment from three to four weeks. Jeanne went from hospital
to hospital visiting patients and families to give them the support
they needed. She would work all day and continue to assist the grieving
families into the evening if needed."
The nomination continued, "Jeanne exemplifies the Red Cross
motto, 'Together, we can save a life,' and she is highly respected
by both paid and volunteer staff for her knowledge and skills. She
is a tireless and dedicated volunteer . . ."
7/2: Senate candidates
sound off on the Pledge
Editor, the Forum:
This decision (on the Pledge of Allegiance) is ludicrous. The Pledge
of Allegiance is a totally voluntary expression of patriotism, which
is exactly what our country needs right now. Is "In God We
Trust," on our money, unconstitutional too? I hope a higher
court will strike this decision down.
-- Sen. Max Cleland.
* * * * *
Editor, the Forum:
The idea that the Pledge of Allegiance could be considered unconstitutional
is not only un-American, it is outrageous! I am deeply disturbed
that a judge in California would actually go so far as to try to
tell my grandchildren that they cannot recite the Pledge in their
own schools.
-- U.S. Rep. Saxby Chambliss
* * * * *
Editor, the Forum:
This (ruling) is an outrage! Of course this case will be appealed
to the U.S. Supreme Court, and I trust that the Supreme Court will
overturn what the Court of Appeals has done. If not, we need a constitutional
amendment, and I for one would certainly vote for it.
- - Ga. Rep. Bob Irvin
WHAT'S YOUR PET PEEVE? Send your peeve Gwinnett
Forum for future publication.
|
