TODAY'S ISSUE
The remembrance of growing up in downtown Luxomni
By Jimmy Kennedy
President, Jim Anderson Insurance, Lawrenceville
Special to GwinnettForum.com

FEB. 24, 2006 -- The community of Luxomni (which means "light for all") is now part of the Lilburn city limits. It consists of an approximate two mile horseshoe of Luxomni and Arcado Roads. Both roads begin at U.S. Highway 29.

Kennedy

I took my first breath and became a resident of Luxomni in June of 1945. At that time, the community consisted of dirt roads, the Luxomni sewing club, the Mason Hall, about 20 homes and one combination store/post office, which was run by my mother, Mamie.

In those days, the mail was delivered to the post office by a train pulled by a steam locomotive. The mail was thrown from the train in a large canvas sack, which was retrieved by my mother or me. Luxomni was too small to warrant an actual train stop.

The oldest lady in the neighborhood was Miss Lilly. If a customer came in before Ms. Lilly had retrieved her mail, my mother would ask if they would drop Ms. Lilly's mail off to her. The answer was always, "yes."

The members of the community would come to the store, usually to get a grocery item or two and the mail. There was a single gas hand-operated pump in front of the store and a few concrete benches. I used to put peanuts in an RC Cola and sit on those benches listening to the locals swap tales.

We lived in a small structure adjacent to the store, which consisted of a kitchen and one bedroom where my mother, father, sister, and I slept. Our outhouse was on a hill behind the house. Like most families, about half of what we owned came from the Sears-Roebuck catalog. We also had Luxomni's first telephone.

Mamie Kennedy

On cold winter nights, my mother would hold our sleeping blankets close to our coal-burning stove to warm them. She would then place the warm blanket on our beds and my sister and I would jump into bed as she threw the top covers over us. I've never been warmer than I was as a child in Luxomni winters.

When I was five years old, my parents sold their store and we moved about 300 yards up the gravel street to a two bedroom frame house on five acres. My father built the house himself with the help of his brothers. We played cowboys and Indians in the nearby woods, where Jackson Creek flowed behind our property. We built tree houses. Does any kid today know the sense of joy and pride in spitting off the front porch of their own tree house, built with your own hands from scavenged materials?

Saturdays were Lawrenceville days. Folks went into "the city" to pay bills, buy groceries, and run various errands. When I was old enough, my parents let me ride the bus to Lawrenceville to see a movie. A double feature cost 14 cents.

Nobody in our Luxomni locked their doors! It was a simple, trusting time. As a matter of fact, I don't remember ever seeing a door lock until I was much older.

A lot of delivery people came to Luxomni. There was the men representing Standard Coffee, Merita Bread, Dutch Oven Bread , and of course, the milkman and the guy from the dry cleaners. If you needed something, you usually didn't buy it in a store. Instead, it was most likely delivered by some man in a truck.

Everyone in Luxomni knew everyone else. I'm so grateful to have grown up in that community, with those people, under those circumstances. They live in me today.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Shirley Franklin presents refreshing view as a public official
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

FEB. 24, 2006 -- In recent months, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin has made at least two major talks in Gwinnett County. She was back this week, speaking before the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce.

Brack

The significance of her visits to Gwinnett cannot be ignored. She is seeking to work with officials from throughout the Metro Atlanta area, addressing issues of concern to the entire region. She also appears to be seeking to forge relationships that will substantially benefit the entire area.

By happenstance, Mayor Franklin came before the Gwinnett audience this week at the same time former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell was on trial in the City of Atlanta. His Administration is accused of cronyism, with high living, improper conduct, the taking of bribes and in general, widespread corruption in the city government.

(We also remember Bill Campbell getting repeated letters from Gwinnett, when he was mayor, inviting him to Gwinnett to speak. Know his response? None. He never even replied to any of the many invitations.)

Franklin

Contrast all this with Shirley Franklin's first four years in office, when she wore the title of Pothole Queen proudly, while attacking the many problems in the Atlanta infrastructure. She also faced monumental financial problems for the city. Yet she ramrodded through tough changes which put the city back on solid ground, and gained favor with voters, as she handily won re-election for a second term, with a whopping 91 percent!

Just how good a leader Mayor Franklin is proving to be as mayor can be seen in one of her initiatives...in an area that has nothing to do with her office. Mayor Franklin realizes that her office has no authority over public education, with a board elected for that purpose. Yet she also feels: "Schools systems do better when public officials embrace them. You need to meet youth halfway to encourage them to be successful."

To that end, Mrs. Franklin offered to meet individually with all 2,000 Atlanta seniors. To encourage them to get more education. All she asked of them was to "first, show up and be good in their attendance. Then, stay out of trouble. And third, pass a drug test."

Two years ago, she ended up with face-to-face Saturday meetings with 700 students. Out of this group, 392 chose to go for higher education, for which she helped find funding for those in need. "And from August last year until now, not one has dropped out," she said to applause from the audience Tuesday.

So far this year, she has met with 776 students already. "I'm telling them they must learn how to learn, for the rest of their life, and to apply themselves," she says, quoting from Thomas Friedman's book, The World Is Flat.

She also maintains: "Money is not the issue here. Engagement is the key. The only way we are going to have a strong country is to have an educated work force."

Shirley Franklin is bringing a fresh approach to Atlanta city government. Her enthusiasm and purpose are catching. She is energetic, on task, and virtually relentless in attaining her goals.

What a refreshing view of an elected official! And to think that she is even paying attention to the suburbs! That is a major change in what we have heard from Atlanta out here in the boonies for years.

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McLEMORE'S WORLD
2/24: Wondering what you can afford

The latest from cartoonist Bill McLemore:

FEEDBACK
2/24: Feels too many think government owes them everything

Editor, the Forum:

I was asked to sign up for the Atlanta Journal/Constitution the other day. When I refused on the basis of the total liberal slant to the local news and an almost totally liberal slant on national and international news, especially the war in Iraq, I received a rant and rave exhibition the likes of which I have never before heard. This had to have been written by a very liberal Democrat and memorized by this individual for just such an occasion and individual as myself.

We, you and I, have created this "welfare state" that so many have become so accustomed to that they really do think that the "government" owes them everything that is set forth in the Constitution. They do not see the need to earn anything. Unfortunately, the cold and hard truth is that most people I know actually do not realize that the "Government" is "us", and someone actually has to pay for all of these "free" programs.

They also don't seem to understand we are actually at WAR, a real shooting and dying WAR. The future of our nation is at stake here. The Muslims have vowed to wipe us from the face of the earth simply because we are not Muslim. They have also vowed to do the same thing to the nation of Israel.

I hope that we as a nation will soon wake to the reality of life.

-- Willis Rogers, Snellville

2/24: Harriman tried using Georgia railroad in coast-to-coast link

(Editor's Note: the writer is a published author on railroads, and authority on railroad history in this area. eeb)

Editor, the Forum:

Edwin H. Harriman, the railroad financier who came within a few months of building a coast-to-coast railroad empire, dabbled briefly in railroads in Georgia for a few years immediately preceding his death in 1909.

In 1895, the railroad properties of the Central Rail Road & Banking Company of Georgia were reorganized as the Central of Georgia Railway Company. The interest of the Southern Railway Company was placed in trust at that time to avoid conflict with the anti-trust laws and the laws of the State of Georgia.

In 1907, this interest was sold to Mr. Harriman, who already had amassed a considerable railroad empire which included the Union Pacific, Southern Pacific, and Illinois Central railroads. The sale included controlling interest in several short-line railroads owned by the Central of Georgia, as well as the CofG itself.

With this sale complete, the Illinois Central put together a route into Birmingham, Ala. to connect it with the rest of Harriman's empire. In anticipation of this, Harriman sold his interest in the Central to the IC in 1909. Harriman died shortly after the sale, and before completion of the IC's Birmingham extension and thus did not see the completion of his coast-to-coast railroad empire.

The IC's interest in the CofG was wiped out in the receivership of 1932, and the Central emerged as an independent carrier in 1947. It was purchased by Southern Railway in 1960, and the Southern exercised management control in 1963. Since that time, the Central has been a subsidiary of Southern Railway, and since 1982, Norfolk Southern Corporation.

-- Robert H. Hanson, Loganville

UPCOMING
Cartridge World to open 1000th outlet in Duluth March 1

Cartridge World, the largest retailer of cartridge refilling services in the printer cartridge industry, is opening of its 1,000th store and its second Gwinnett County franchise location in Duluth at 2628 Pleasant Hill Road on Wednesday, March 1. The ribbon cutting is at 11:30 a.m.

Consumers and businesses can have their inkjet, laser, photocopy and fax cartridges refilled at this location. This service allows customers to refill their printer cartridges with as much ease as they refill the gas in their cars and save up to 50 percent. Cartridge World estimates that it will keep 9 million cartridges out of landfills this year which can take up to 450 years to decompose.

Nancy McGill, owner of the Lawrenceville and Duluth Cartridge World stores, says: "People here realize that buying a new printer cartridge is neither cost-effective nor environmentally friendly. By recycling cartridges people can help protect our environment."

Cartridge World was founded in South Australia in 1991. The 500th United States location is expected to open in spring 2006. For more information, contact the Duluth Cartridge World location at (770) 497-4910 or the Lawrenceville location at (770) 995-4465.

Caboose Days coming on April 1 at Duluth railroad museum

The Southeastern Railway Museum announces the fourth annual Caboose Day on April 1 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., celebrating the last car of trains and the folks that lived and worked there.

Activities include track speeder rides, temporary caboose tattoos, special speakers and food. Guided tours through cabooses will be available as will a caboose set up for kids to have a snack. There will be a craft corner for kids to create a souvenir to take home as well.

Through March 26 the museum is open for general admission only on Saturdays. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors (65+), $4 for children (2-12). Children under 2 are admitted free. Effective March 31, 2005 the museum will expand days of operation for the summer.

The Southeastern Railway Museum has been in operation since 1970 and is Georgia's Official Transportation History Museum. The museum has over 80 other pieces of retired railway rolling stock including vintage steam and diesel locomotives, passenger coaches, private business cars, a World War II army troop kitchen, wooden freight cars, railway post office car and maintenance of way equipment. Transit history is represented with a cross section of buses and trolleys from the early 1900's through the mid 1980's. The museum is also home to MARTA's historic bus fleet which includes buses from many of the predecessor systems to MARTA. Many other items from Georgia's transportation history are also presented on the museum's 30-acre site.

NOTABLE
Gwinnett plans online auction on some used equipment soon

After seeing online auctions work in other counties, Gwinnett County will try auctioning some of its surplus equipment on the Internet. Commission Chairman Charles Bannister says: "If this can increase the return on our investment when we dispose of old vehicles and other equipment, I'm all for it."

The County will post automobiles, light pick up trucks, landscaping mowers and utility carts on e-Bay soon. A sampling of the equipment that will be available for auction includes the following: 2004 Chevrolet Colorado; 004 Pontiac Grand Prix; 1997 Chevrolet C1500 ton full size pick up, with 4WD, SWB with extended cab; 1997 Ford Taurus; 1996 John Deere F925 72" deck riding mower; and 1995 electric golf cart. The county will list mileage, emission status, title type, and major condition issues, if there are any, online.

Many governments and private businesses use auctions to recover whatever residual value may be left in outdated or surplus vehicles, office machines, furnishings, and other equipment.

Gwinnett County will also hold a traditional auction of vehicles and miscellaneous equipment with Wayne Evans Auction Company on Saturday, March 4. Bidding begins at 10 a.m. The live auction will take place at the County Fleet Management facility at 620 Swanson Drive in Lawrenceville. Prospective bidders can preview the items there on Friday, March 3, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on auction day from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Payment for purchases must be cash, cashier's check or a check accompanied by a bank guarantee. County employees will not receive preferential treatment. Questions about the items or the auction itself should be directed to Wayne Evans Auction Company, Inc. at 1-800-282-8460 or www.weaci.com.

Coffee mugs "hit of the day" at groundbreaking of interchange

An unexpected "hit of the day" emerged from Monday's groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Interstate 85 and Georgia Highway 316 interchange in Duluth. The interchange, at a cost of nearly $150 million, is the single largest and most expensive transportation project in the history of Georgia.

The Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (CID), led by Chairman Tom Wheeler, commissioned the production of 250 coffee mugs to commemorate the groundbreaking. But it seems that 250 was not enough.

"This is the largest transportation project in Georgia history," said Gwinnett Place CID Board Member Mark Williams. "It will have an enormous positive impact on this area, so we wanted to do something to commemorate the groundbreaking. The groundbreaking mugs went like wildfire at the event," Williams said. "The mugs we had there were completely gone, and the phone hasn't stopped ringing this morning with people asking for more."

In response, the CID Board will commission a second limited printing of the coffee mugs. The stainless steel mugs read "I-85 @ 316 Groundbreaking, February 20, 2006, Gwinnett Place CID (and) GDOT" (Georgia Department of Transportation).

"Folks who want the Groundbreaking mugs are urged to go to our CID Web site,
www.gwinnettplacecid.org, to let us know by email," Williams said. "They will be available at $9.95 each, and may become real collectors items. Imagine having an I-285 Groundbreaking mug, or a 75/85 Connector Groundbreaking mug. This transportation project is even bigger than either of those projects."

PIB-McGinnis Ferry intersection now has red light camera

As of February 21 there is additional incentive to stop at red lights in Suwanee. The City's first red light camera enforcement system is "live" at the Peachtree Industrial Boulevard/McGinnis Ferry intersection.

During the initial 30-day period, warnings (no fines imposed) will be mailed to violators. Beginning March 23, $70 citations will begin being sent to those who run the red light at that intersection.

Over the next year, Suwanee plans to install three additional red light camera enforcement systems, at Satellite Boulevard and Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road, Suwanee Dam and Peachtree Industrial, and, if the state grants permission, at I-85 and Lawrenceville-Suwanee.

RECOMMENDATION

• 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 TIDBIT
Early Georgia colony encouraged settlement by Quakers

The original charter of the colony of Georgia encouraged the settlement of Quakers, or members of the Society of Friends.

Wrightborough

Few Quakers, however, came to the province in the early years. In 1768, more than 70 families from the area of Orange County, N.C. began settling in a special reserve set aside for them by the Georgia colonial government. Located in present-day McDuffie County, the reserve and its town were named Wrightsborough, after Georgia's royal governor, James Wright. Documents reveal that less than one-fifth of the landholders in this reserve were actually Friends.

The American Revolution provided a particularly trying time for the Georgia Friends. In 1773-74, bloody clashes occurred nearby between non-Quakers and the Creek Indians. During the Revolution, Maddock and some of the other Wrightsborough residents actively supported the king's cause. Bandits and rebel partisans committed robberies and murders in Wrightsborough, and by May 1781, 35 people in the area had been murdered, including 11 in their own beds. The worst of the raiders included a rebel colonel named Josiah Dunn, a former Wrightsborough Quaker who had been disowned before the war for horse stealing. Between 1777 and 1783, a total of 20 of the Quakers were reported to the Wrightsborough Monthly Meeting for military activities, mainly for fighting back, and 15 were thus disowned.

After the war he and his followers were allowed to return peacefully to their homes. The Monthly Meeting eventually disowned Maddock for refusing to account for money he had improperly solicited to help his fellow refugees.

Wrightsborough's Quakers were adamantly opposed to slavery, even more so than most American Friends. They finally left Georgia mostly for Ohio between 1805 and 1809 because of the growing slavery controversy. Wrightsborough survived as a village until the 1920s, but little remains physically of the settlement in modern McDuffie County. The Historic Wrightsboro Foundation promotes the heritage of this lost settlement.

• To access the Georgia Encyclopedia, go to http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
  
  

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Now we're talking about real faith in this case!

"Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

-- The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968), via Cindy Evans, Duluth.

• Another invitation: What's your favorite saying? Share with others through GwinnettForum. Send to elliott@gwinnettforum.com.
  

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