TODAY'S ISSUE
Gwinnett Ballet plans first performance with live orchestra
By Holley Calmes
Special to GwinnettForum.com

FEB. 28, 2006 -- Gwinnett Ballet Theatre, the county's oldest performing arts non-profit organization, will present two major "premieres"to audiences at the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center March 10-12.

This award-winning pre-professional ballet company will bring a new rendition of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" to the stage. It will also present its new live music ensemble, the Gwinnett Ballet Theatre Orchestra, for the first time.

The fact that GBT is performing to live music is a monumental feat. The only other dance organization in the Atlanta Metro Area to perform to live music is the venerable Atlanta Ballet. GBT Board Chairman Stan Hall says: "Having live music to perform to is inspirational to the dancers, and the audience will notice the difference in the immediacy and depth of the experience."

The premiere is important in another aspect in that it is a collaboration with other Gwinnett area non-profits. "We have invited an elite group of young women from the Gwinnett Young Singers to be a part of the program, and we also have two professional sopranos, Sherry Seiden and Magdalena Wor," continues Mr. Hall. "This version of "Midsummer Night's Dream" is by composer Felix Mendelssohn. The music is very melodic and beautiful. It even includes the familiar "Wedding March" that so many couples use as a recessional in their weddings. It also contains choral and solo vocals. "

On top of this, GBT has also invited a group of five young men from the Brookwood High School Dance Department to perform as the group of villagers who gambol about the woodlands as a part of the story. An additional five professional male dancers are also members of the cast, which is largely composed of the 30 young women who make up the GBT pre-professional company. And, although GBT's dancers are pre-professional, the choreography created by Thom Clower united with their technical expertise will astound the audience. Half of GBT's graduates, under the supervision of Lisa Sheppard-Robson, go on to professional dance careers.

The idea for live music has been brewing with GBT for the past year. Predrag Gosta, GBT's new music director and conductor, is prominent in the Atlanta Chamber Music scene. He is the founder and Music Director for New Trinity Baroque, a group reviewed by the Atlanta Journal Constitution as being "the gem of chamber music in Atlanta."

Gosta's expertise also extends to opera and ballet conducting as well as playing many instruments. A native of Yugoslavia, he graduated from the Trinity School of Music in Oxford, England.

GBT's goal is to have live music for its annual Spring performances, and hopefully also for a number of "Nutcracker" performances at Christmas. This will be especially important for the upcoming holidays as 2006 marks GBT's 25th anniversary of "Nutcracker."

"A Midsummer Night's Dream" is ideal family entertainment. The Friday, March 10 premiere is also a fundraiser for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster at 404-249-6400 or by visiting the Gwinnett Center Box Office. Performances are March 10 at 7:30; March 11 at 2:30 and 7:30; and March 12 at 2:30. For more information call 770-978-0188.

ELLIOTT BRACK
Perhaps there is a way to unlock political partisanship
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com

FEB. 28, 2006 -- Partisanship in government is worse than ever. The competition between the major parties is threatening to undo our nation. It¹s happening at mainly the national level, but even one sees it in Georgia more and more.

Brack

At its root is power, though money contributes to the quest for power.

Perhaps a look at the philosophy of our founders can point to some direction for our government. After all, one of the key elements of our founders was their insistence on checks and balances.

In original intent, these checks and balance concerned the three branches of government: legislative, judicial and executive. Independent from one another, they work to a certain extent.

Yet another element of the checks and balances threatens us today: the amalgamation of power by one political party in all three branches. (We see it best in the efforts to change the Supreme Court. Today it's conservatives trying to steer the court their way; back years ago, it was liberals, led by President Franklin Roosevelt, trying pack the court with people with his philosophy. That, you may recall, was knocked down by a court who understood the idea of checks and balances.)

In our Nation's Capitol, today we have today both the Senate, the House of Representatives and White House led by Republicans. Here in Georgia, it's much the same, with both the legislative and executive branches controlled by one party.

No matter which party is in control of elected government, it appears that having one party in power has us remembering: "Absolute power corrupts absolutely."

But what if there were rules against the House, the Senate and the presidency from the same party?

Perhaps there is a way. We remember when first reading the by-laws of one agency, and running across a provision that startled us. We were just joining the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.

The Council consists of a mix of educators and representatives from the media. It's mostly run by the educators, but Article VI of its by-laws reads:

"To preserve parity in voting between industry and educational members at each meeting, any representative may call for a division of the house. When a division is asked, the chair will allocate votes to representatives with seniority of service on the Council as needed to provide parity in voting strength between industry and educational representatives present."

In all my 15 years on the Council, there was never a call for a division of the house. While sometimes there was heated debate between the members, neither the academics nor the professionals asked for this provision. But the important element: it was there. Since it could be used, the threat of its use caused the members to act more responsibly.

So, the question: what if whenever the presidency (or governorship) and the Senate were from the same party, it was required to have parity in the House of Representatives? The Speaker of the House would be required to award the number of votes needed by the minority party to put them on a parity with the majority.

Such a move would undercut partisan politics. It could make our government more accountable. Members could not pull a simple power play along party lines. The political party would be less important. Individual members would have to vote their conviction, instead of by party lines.

Unreasonable? Compared to some of the shenanigans we see from Congress, this is mild.

Break up that power by giving the minority enough votes to be equal with the majority, and we would have a new day in government.

One agency, the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communications, may be pointing the way. It could be a breath of fresh air.

ABOUT OUR SPONSORS

Today's featured sponsor is The Gwinnett Center, which is home to three distinct facilities right here in Duluth. The Convention Center offers our patrons the opportunity to host or attend a wide variety of events; from corporate meetings to trade shows, to social occasions. The Performing Arts Center has an intimate capacity of 700 guests, which is home to many local events, family shows and even the occasional comedic performer. The Arena is our newest addition and has already seen great success with a nomination for The 2005 Pollstar Arena of The Year Award. In early 2006, the Center has already had performances from Bon Jovi, George Straight, Nickelback and many more. Please visit www.gwinnettcenter.com for updates on events at our three great facilities.

For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: http://www.gwinnettforum.com/about/sponsors.htm

FEEDBACK
2/28: Concerned about free speech for the people of China

Editor, the Forum:

Free speech is not the most important thing on America's mind when it comes to China.

Some members of Congress are engaging in holier-than-thou public condemnation of American Internet companies. They are holding hearings to humiliate company representatives. They are appearing on television acting in rage as though they are taking action on behalf of Chinese human rights. This media circus gets Congress off the hook while in fact nothing is being done.

If the U.S. government wants to make Chinese human rights a priority, it could pass a law prohibiting American companies from helping the Chinese government trample on the free speech of its citizens. Internet firms would have to tell the Chinese government that American law obligates them to respect the free speech of Chinese citizens.

The fact is human rights in China are not at the top of America's China agenda. American policymakers need China¹s central bank to continue to send us almost a billion dollars a day to make up for our budget deficit and low rate of personal savings. They need China's help dealing with hot spots like North Korea. Also, American business wants free access to China's huge market, without interference.

Will the Chinese people be better off for Cisco, Microsoft, Google and Yahoo? Yes, but they'd be even better off if they had freedom of speech.

-- Ralph Greene, Snellville

2/28: Learns from Forum another difference between parties

Editor, the Forum:

The Gwinnett Forum continues to provide me with valuable information. The February 21 edition points out another difference between Democrats and Republicans. Democrats apparently think "societal responsibility" means government. Republicans believe that it means society.

If we are shirking out responsibilities as a society we only need to look in a mirror, not point fingers at Washington.

-- Patrick Malone, Snellville

2/28: Feels people of all persuations really want same thing

Editor, the Forum:

Willis Rogers assessment of today's youth expecting to be given a free ride in the world I agree with. However, I feel strongly it is from their parents that they learn this, not some vast liberal left wing conspiracy at the AJC.

Most real issues are not published in the corporate media, nor discussed on TV. The failure of our media to bring us the real news and truth is not a conspiracy of either the right or left; it is a failure of our Republic for all Americans.

Parents teach their children to be expectant of material things today without having to earn them. One way this is taught is through rampant abuse of credit in America. Children grow up thinking they can get whatever they want whenever they want simply by charging it.

Let me address other points you make. Muslims have never declared war on the US. Al-Qaeda, a small militant sect within the larger Muslim community, has declared war on the US. Our nation's future may be at stake, but one can bring a myriad of reasons to bear as to why that is, most of which are self inflicted, such as our dependency on fossil fuels and military spending to run the economy.

We check shoes of grandmothers boarding planes and allow thousands of shipping containers to enter the country without so much as a cursory look. The owners of terminal leases at our ports is irrelevant if we are not checking the containers. Look at what Hong Kong has accomplished at its port since 9-11 as an example. Every container is checked for radiation and x-rayed for a look at its contents.

I would urge Americans to look for independent or third party candidates in the upcoming election. The changes we need will not be brought about by those who brought us to where we are.

Liberals, conservatives and all other American citizens really want the same things after all: better lives for our children, peace, and sustainable economic prosperity. Simply branding everyone left or right is to miss the silent majority in the middle who need to speak out loudly and soon.

-- Roger Hagen, Lilburn

UPCOMING
Ribbon cutting Tuesday afternoon for police precinct

Gwinnett Police will open a new satellite precinct in Peachtree Corners soon. District 2 Commissioner Bert Nasuti announces that the County is negotiating a lease for almost 1,800 square feet in the existing Market Place Shopping Center at 6135 Peachtree Parkway.

Nasuti says: "This facility will help increase police presence in the Peachtree Corners area on the southwestern edge of the county." The West Precinct, based in Norcross, is the busiest of the five Gwinnett Police precincts. Officers there handle more than 107,000 calls for service annually, issue more than 15,000 citations and make about 3,000 criminal arrests a year.

The County will lease the space for one year, with options for four one-year renewals. Remodeling of the space and installation of phone and data lines will begin soon. Police Chief Charles Walters said he is "Glad to have this new facility that will improve police efficiency and provide a remote base of operations for the busy West precinct officers."

The County plans a ribbon cutting for this new facility on Tuesday, February 28, at 2 p.m.

NOTABLE
Gwinnett Hospital System wins clinical excellence award

Gwinnett Hospital System is a recipient of the 2006 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence, based on a study issued by HealthGrades, the nation's leading independent healthcare ratings company.

The study analyzed data from Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville and Joan Glancy Memorial Hospital in Duluth.

Thomas Karr, Jr., interim president and CEO of Gwinnett Hospital System and Gwinnett Medical Center, says: "It's an honor for us to be ranked among the top five percent for clinical quality of all hospitals in the country by an independent source such as HealthGrades. I'd like to congratulate our physicians and staff for their dedication to quality and the outstanding patient outcomes they provide to this community."

Only two hospitals in the state of Georgia will receive this award.

In addition to the Distinguished Hospital Award, Gwinnett Medical Center is a recipient of the 2006 HealthGrades Pulmonary Care Excellence Award, ranking the hospital among the top five percent in the nation for overall pulmonary care.

Each year, HealthGrades independently analyzes the clinical quality performance of all nonfederal hospitals across the country in 28 procedures and diagnoses, ranging from bypass surgery to the treatment of heart attacks. Hospitals that receive the HealthGrades Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence are those hospitals that rank in the top five percent when all 28 individual scores are aggregated into an overall score. Out of over 5,000 hospitals graded, only 277 U.S. hospitals qualified for this prestigious award in 2006.

RECOMMENDATION
Rewriting History, by Dick Morris

"I have just finished reading Rewriting History, by Dick Morris, former adviser to the Clintons, (who resigned from the Clinton staff in 1996 and since has become a consultant). The book is a real eye-opener for all the Clinton fans out there and deals mainly with Hillary and all her shenanigans, dating from the time Bill Clinton ran for governor of Arkansas in 1978, and ends with Hillary being elected to the U.S. Senate, representing the state of New York. Good, informative reading. I highly recommend it."

-- David Earl Tyre, Jesup

• 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
Classical music debuts in Atlanta shortly after founding

What was probably Atlanta 's first notable concert occurred in February 1858 at the recently completed Athaeneum Theater, when pianist Sigismond Thalberg, assisted by violinist Henry Vieuxtemps, brought his "Grand Concert" to the city.

Opera made its first appearance in October 1866, when Max Strakosch and the Ghioni and Sussini Grand Italian Opera Company opened the Bell-Johnson Hall (capacity 600) with Il trovatore (The Troubadour ), Norma, and Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville ). The next month the Grover Opera Troupe staged an operatic concert, followed by the McCulloch Opera Troupe with performances of Il barbiere di Siviglia and Don Pasquale . The lack of a suitable theater prompted the Belgian consul, Laurent DeGive, to construct DeGive's Opera House at the corner of Marietta and Forsyth streets (capacity 1,200) in 1870; in 1873, he increased the seating to 2,000.

In February 1872 ,the country's most respected conductor, Theodore Thomas, brought his orchestra to the city for the first time. The next year Ferdinand Wurm organized the city's first serious instrumental ensemble.

The year 1873 also saw the completion of five main-line railroads, which increased the number of touring companies that came to the city. During the 1870s, British opera companies supplanted Italian, presenting a few Italian favorites in English. Atlanta's first performance of an English operetta, Eichberg's The Doctor of Alcantara , occurred in 1877, and in 1879 William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan's H.M.S. Pinafore made its Atlanta premiere. Several concert organizations were established in the post Civil War period, notably the Mozart Club (1867), the Beethoven Society (1872), and the Rossini Club (1876).

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

THOUGHT OF THE DAY
Are we prepared to occupy territory in Middle East for years?

"The issue before us is not whether the United States should end the regime of Saddam Hussein, but whether we as a nation are prepared to occupy territory in the Middle East for the next 30 to 50 years."

-- Former Secretary of the Navy James Webb, in 2003, via Marshall Miller, Lilburn. Mr. Webb is the author of the book, Born Fighting, and is currently seeking a seat in the Virginia Senate race as a Democrat against Republican George Allen.

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

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