|
Below you'll find recent comments by Gwinnett Forum readers about issues
of the day: FEEDBACK
10/29: Wants to set
record straight on story
Editor, the Forum:
Someone needs to set the record straight since the Atlanta
Journal/Constitution may not have enough time to correct THEIR article
on the District 69 Georgia House of Representatives contest between
Incumbent Gene Callaway and former PTSA President Hugh Floyd.
The story can be found at: Access
Atlanta
When Callaway said that "... two gang members followed me
home" from his business, he failed to mention that his business
is located in DeKalb County, NOT Gwinnett.
He also failed to mention that when House Bill 567 was introduced
in
February 2001 (a bipartisan bill which increased the penalties for
graffiti)
by the House Special Judiciary Committee, Callaway voted against
it. He said in committee discussion that "Georgia does not
have a gang or graffiti problem."
Rather than being a benefit to Gwinnett, Callaway is "part
of the problem."
-- Allan Hytowitz, Voting Republican, former PTSA President,
Lilburn Middle School
10/29: Meanness of
political advertising turning him off
Editor, the Forum:
I read with much interest your article on the viciousness of today's
political advertising. Ironically, I had toyed with the idea of
submitting a letter to the Savannah Morning News about the deluge
of political ads we are receiving on all the television stations
from the candidates for major offices of both parties.
I think that most voters are getting turned off by all the flak
being thrown up by the candidates. It is definitely overkill.
They, the candidates need to tone their rhetoric down, or lots
of voters are not even going to vote for any of them. I know I am
having second thoughts about going to the polls on Nov. 5.
-- David E. Tyre, Jesup
10/22: Great Day of
Service still needs volunteers
Volunteers are needed for Gwinnett's Third Annual "Great Day
of Service" ,
sponsored by the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services,
on
Friday, October 25. This community outreach day will support 59
agencies
through 145 service projects. Civic groups and corporations who
wish to
volunteer can visit the website at www.gwinnettgreatdayofservice.org
or
contact Paige Havens at (678) 407-5002.
10/22: Sees college
president as relishing his job
Editor, the Forum:
Your recent article about Cumberland College was of great interest
to me.
Peter and I serve on a foundation board which reviews proposals
annually. Each year we are bowled over by the wonderful warmth in
Jim Taylor's grant proposals. He does a terrific job personalizing
all programs for the students while sharing the benefit the kids
receive from each project.
His care and concern for the entire student body at Cumberland
is evident. How refreshing it is the see someone who truly enjoys
and relishes his job so very much. I appreciated reading your impressions
of the school which has such a unique mission and the visionary
man behind the college.
-- Carole Boyce, Dacula
10/18: Thinks article
on Andy Miller a real gem
Editor, the Forum:
That was a great article about Andy Miller. I really appreciate
your newsletter, but that article is a real gem.
-- Rob Coopman, Lawrenceville
10/15: Doesn't care
for political signs on right-of-ways
Editor, the Forum:
The eyesore "vote for" signs in public places, like Thrasher
Park in Norcross and other right of ways, are in violation of various
Norcross ordinances, according to the city.
Let's understand that we have officials or want-to-be officials
asking to be elected who will manage laws concerning zoning, permitting,
and ordinance enforcement that they are already breaking.
After election I'm sure taxpayers dollars will be used to pay city
employees to remove these signs from public property that the person
who put them there to start with isn't going to remove.
-- Ray Farrell, Duluth
10/4: Check out the
math before panicking over SAT scores
Editor, the Forum:
Before you panic and start packing your bags to leave Georgia over
our 50th rank in SAT scores, let's do the math. First, let me say
that I'm just a dad with two sons in the Gwinnett Public School
System.
An objective observation of Georgia's SAT results looks dramatically
different than all the hysterical media would indicate. That literal
interpretation ignores what's really taking place.
Georgia has a 65 percent participation rate in SAT testing. That's
huge! The larger the statistical sampling, the better the results.
That ranks us 14th in the country in participation and I think results
from parents motivating their college-bound kids to cash in on Georgia's
outstanding HOPE Scholarship program. The SAT minimum standard for
admission at Georgia colleges has been on a steady rise since the
HOPE Scholarship was introduced nearly 10 years ago.
By no coincidence, Georgia also ranks 14th in the country when
you take the weighted average of SAT scores factored by participation
rates. North Dakota can attempt to boast about being first in SAT
scores, but they rank 50th in participation with only four percent
of their kids taking the test. The 13 states ahead of us in weighted
average scores are all within six percent of Georgia results.
Another obvious sign of encouragement for Georgia is the steady
stream of families from all over the world trying to get to Georgia
to partake in our prosperity, climate and lifestyle.
So next time you hear someone bashing our Georgia schools, do the
math and you'll realize we have good reason to be proud of Georgia!
-- Brian F. Luders, Duluth
10/4: Comments captured
her feelings about Iraq
Editor, the Forum:
For weeks, I've been struggling with my feelings toward President
Bush's
saber rattling and war talks. Your comments captured my feelings
exactly.
Thank you for putting into words what so many of us are thinking.
Perhaps,
someone in Washington will actually listen to "we the people."
-- Diane Bates, Monroe
10/1: Smoking, culture
and moonshine driving
Editor, the Forum:
Kudos to you for publicizing the ban on smoking in restaurants.
You may or may not know that the entire state of California passed
a similar law (and publicized it with the same strategy as the NYC
mayor) about four years ago. Night clubs and bars were included
as well, not just restaurants.
I lived in Northern California at the time and I can attest that
it was great coming home from dining or partying and not smelling
like an ashtray. It also didn't hurt business, but improved it.
I hope this wave will roll over the 'ole proverbial Georgia shores.
-- Craig Heighton, Buford
* * * * *
Editor, the Forum:
Thanks for the informative piece by Cathy Grogan on the Gwinnett
Philharmonic. You know, I was already planning to attend the concert
at Gwinnett's Civic and Cultural Center. I wouldn't miss it. After
all, I'm the conductor!
A thought for parents: good news for those who feel inadequate
to "teach" their children about art and culture. "Children
don't need to be taught beauty, they will apprehend it if only they
are exposed to it."
A word to the "empty nest" friends of my generation:
"Don't you think its time you paused to smell the roses? If
not now, when?"
Gwinnett has an orchestra--so conduct yourselves accordingly!
-- Monte Nichols, Suwanee
* * * * *
Editor, the Forum:
A quick note to say how much I enjoyed the recent "Show and
Tell" story about moonshine. I think you may have to be "old
southern" to fully appreciate the reality of moonshining. At
one point early in my husband's father's life he was a driver who
delivered the whiskey. Too bad he didn't continue and become a NASCAR
driver!
-- Name Withheld in Lawrenceville.
WHAT'S
YOUR PET PEEVE? Send your peeve Gwinnett
Forum for future publication. | 
