Editor, the Forum:

This year Micromeritics and the City of Norcross participated in a toys and clothing fund raiser for the Gwinnett Children's Shelter in Buford. The effort was a resounding success! They collected over 300 pieces of toys and clothing. The city Marshall along with the City Tax manager delivered the toys the children's shelter to the volunteer co-ordinator Laura Conchling at the shelter. They were overwhelmed at the efforts.

After completely filling up the trunk and rear seat there was absolutely no
room left for anything else! A big cheer to Micromeritics Inc. and the City of Norcross for their work during this Christmas Season!

-- Craig Newton, Norcross

12/20: Applause for article on Doctor Perdue

Editor, the Forum:

Your Forum article of December 17 displayed well your writing skills. Applause, applause! However, I could not tell if your letter had actually been sent to "Dr.Perdue". I certainly hope so. Please continue your sane commentary.

-- Janet Gibson, Lawrenceville

12/17: Using a cut Yule tree actually helps the environment
By Heather Leo
Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful

Did you ever think that by using a cut Christmas tree in your house that you were actually helping the environment?

Millions of Christmas trees are planted each year, helping the environment from the time they are planted until after the holiday season when they can be recycled.

While they are growing for up to 16 years, Christmas trees absorb carbon dioxide and other gases while producing oxygen. Every acre of Christmas trees planted gives off enough oxygen to meet the needs of 18 people.

Today in America there are enough Christmas trees planted that 18 million people a day are supplied with oxygen. Also, the farms that grow Christmas trees stabilize soil, protect water supplies, and provide a refuge for wildlife. Often, Christmas trees are grown on soil that will not support any other crops. And when one Christmas tree is cut down, one or two are
replanted in its place.

After the holiday season is over, the branches and trunk are biodegradable and can be made into mulch for the garden. Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful has recycled Christmas trees in Gwinnett for 18 years and returned the mulch to the community.

"The mulch from our Christmas tree recycling efforts throughout the years has been used by thousands of Gwinnett residents, Gwinnett County Public Schools and several county government departments," says Connie Wiggins, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful executive director. "By recycling the trees and making this resource available to the public, we are all practicing sustainability and stewardship."

For information on where to recycle your Christmas tree in Gwinnett, visit www.gwinnettcb.org or call 770.822.5187.

(Information for this article was provided by American Forests.)

12/13: Refreshing story about a good deed

Editor, the Forum:

Recently Architect Buck Lindsay of Lawrenceville lost his cell telephone.

Joan Murphy, while visiting the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, found the phone in the landscaping next to her car. Buck had lost it when visiting the building.

Joan, also being a Verizon Wireless customer, called them to let them know she had found a phone. They called and left a message on voicemail at Buck's office, where I work. Later I called Joan and met her to retrieve the phone.

I presented her with a gift certificate for her good deed, which she resisted, but eventually gave in.

Later I found out that she had been an administrative assistant at Mrs. Smith's Pies and was laid off four months ago with 68 other people when their workload decreased. Her act of kindness comes at a time when some might not show such goodwill towards others.

I'd hire her in a heartbeat if we had a position, but if you happen to hear of any opportunities that might suit her skills, please pass them along to me and I'll let her know.

It's refreshing to know folks like Joan Murphy are still out there.

-- Brian Luders, Duluth

12/10: Machine's own coins were rejected!

12/6: Suggests names to help out schools

Editor, the Forum:

As to the Feedback notes in your November 26 edition, I suggest that Dillon, Gelbrich, and Drumond go volunteer their great insight and extensive understanding of the school construction problems to help Jim Steel.

-- Elmore Stuart, Norcross

12/6: Entire community can assist in locating schools

Editor, the Forum:

Recognizing that one's constructive input and feedback is always welcome, I wish to offer a perspective to your November 22nd article regarding the Dacula cluster and the challenges before them.

Although few can argue the significant building accomplishments achieved by the Gwinnett County Public School System (GCPS) over the past decade, questions concerning collaborative community vision and prioritization of community resources are considerations worth exploring.

Planning for a new school does impact upon the use of land in the community. Every time a school is planned and constructed, the comprehensive nature of the use of land is in some fashion impacted or influenced. To insure that the decisions made for a school building benefit the community to a maximum degree, the planning process must be structured to address the community to a maximum degree, the planning process must be structured to address the comprehensive nature of community development.

The question then must certainly be raised in these instances as to how the entire community can assist and be party to the decisions that go into the planning of and locating a school building. The technical, social, and political difficulties enumerated above sometimes serve to overwhelm planning efforts of the appropriate officials in local jurisdictions.

In spite of the fact that there are many actual and perceived conditions that may hinder collaboration by and between various local jurisdictions in developing the community, there are many areas where special collaborative efforts do exist. On the other hand, there are many instances where the school district either marginally collaborates with other jurisdictions, or perhaps does not even make much of an effort to collaborate. Local jurisdictions in many localities do not attempt to overcome the difficulties mentioned above simply because of the independence and single purpose nature of the school district.

Schools obviously must be placed where the students are located regardless of other circumstances. This is the prime consideration when the school board selects a site for a new school.

This consideration does not necessarily run counter to appropriate land use for the betterment of the entire community. The opportunity, however, to plan in a comprehensive nature beyond the needs for a school building are very good and result in a larger solution for community development.

-- Tony Arakawa, Berkeley Lake

12/6: Transportation not one of favorite departments

Editor, the Forum:

The DOT is one of my least favorite departments (DEFACS at the top of the list) in this state. It is bloated, has too much power, no original ideas other than pave, pave, pave and it operates out of our line of vision AND that is totally and completely unacceptable.

All old white guys, no women, one black guy, and no other "minorities" nor cross culture representation. This thing harkens of the good old boy cronyism days of yore, like 1865. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck. . . .

No, still a Republican sir, but if it ain't right, it ain't right. Thank you and I look forward to a lively four years - though not gloating. Be well.

-- Paul Coyne, Norcross

12/3: Says Grayson losing "Best kept secret" identity

Editor, the Forum:

Thanks for the great article about Grayson. I have forwarded it to all my friends and relatives. Even though our signs read "Gwinnett's Best Kept Secret," we aren't going to be that way for long!

Being born and raised in Grayson and with my child now being the third generation in our family to go through Grayson schools, I can't tell you how proud I am of our community! Thanks for recognizing such a great and special part of Gwinnett!

-- Suzanne Adams, Grayson

12/3: Editor causes great laughter

Editor the Forum:

Who is Tammy Savage? I've received quite a few humorous e-mails over the
weekend!! Have a great week.

-- Tammy Shumate, Grayson

(Editor's note: Sometimes people with the same first names, without realizing it, causes unexpected problems. This happened to this editor this time .Tammy Shumate is the Councilperson in Grayson; Tammy Savage is not. Apologies all around. -eeb.)

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