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Village partners with developer to
revitalize neighborhood
By
Sally Sherrington Haggard
Executive Director, Gwinnett Village Community Alliance
Special
to GwinnettForum.com
NORCROSS, Ga., Aug. 24, 2007 -- The Gwinnett Village Community
Alliance has partnered with local developer Omair Pasha, CEO of
the Premo Group, to bring some encouraging changes to the Springdale
Estates Neighborhood located off of Jimmy Carter Boulevard.
Springdale Estates is an older, well-kept neighborhood that has
several active residents involved in the area. Pasha agreed to work
with the Gwinnett Village and the residents of Springdale Estates
to replace the old, rotting Springdale Estates neighborhood entrance
sign, improve the landscaping and add a sidewalk leading into the
neighborhood.
Chuck Warbington, executive director of the Gwinnett Village CID,
says: "This is not something that Mr. Pasha had to do. It is
a great partnership between a developer and a neighborhood. In the
long run it helps the neighborhood establish an identity and it
also helps to give a more upscale look to the new development located
on the corner of Jimmy Carter and Lanier Boulevard. It's a win-win
for everyone and the Community Alliance is just glad to help."
Former
Springdale Estates Sign |
There are positive changes occurring all around the Gwinnett Village
commercial corridors. With the installation of new sidewalks, the
hiring of off duty police officers and the interchange landscaping
at Beaver Ruin, Indian Trail and Jimmy Carter Boulevard, people
can see changes are being made in Gwinnett Village. The Gwinnett
Village Community Improvement District (CID) represents 600 commercial
property owners. One of the main challenges of this CID is that
it also has 100,000 residents living within the district. The CID,
according to the law, can only work with the commercial property
owners on infrastructure improvements, beautification and security
and cannot work with the neighborhoods in this area, which make
up a huge portion of the district.
Spruced
up sign. From left are Omair Pasha, Sally Sherrington Haggard,
Chuck Cimarik and Betty Tapley, GVCA board members; and Mildred
Dubvall and Patti Parsons, Springdale residents. |
The Gwinnett Village Community Alliance was established as the
non-profit, sister organization for the CID for this very reason.
The Community Alliance works with residents, schools and businesses
in the area to improve the quality of life for all of Gwinnett Village.
The Community Alliance is a 501(c)(3) organization and relies solely
on grants and donations to operate in these 3 focus areas. The Village
Residents Committee, which is headed up by Norcross City Councilman
Keith Shewbert, focuses on increasing homeownership, stabilizing
residents and cleaning up the neighborhoods in the area.
The Gwinnett Village Community Alliance is also charged with promoting
and branding the Gwinnett Village as a destination. One project
will be the Gwinnett Village visitor's map, which will be released
soon and will be distributed throughout the area to highlight shopping,
dining and services. The Community Alliance also works to support
after school and summer school programs in the public schools in
the area in order to increase test scores and the graduation rate.
For more information on the Gwinnett Village Community Alliance
please visit www.gwinnettvillagealliance.com
or call 770-449-6515.
Most congested commute may be Lawrenceville
to Loganville
By
Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
AUG. 24, 2007 -- It may be today's most difficult commute, going
to or from Loganville to Lawrenceville. It's going to improve, but
it won't be fast. Ask about it to anyone moving to perhaps Gwinnett's
hottest residential area today, Grayson. Many people in this area
either have to use this road, Georgia Highway 20, or cross it, each
day. It can be slow.
Brack |
The other day we were driving from Lawrenceville to Loganville
in the middle of the day. We left Lawrenceville at a time when we
would not have thought traffic was bad: 1:05 p.m. It was.
It took 14 minutes to get to Webb Ginn House Road. We didn't reach
the middle of Grayson until 1:23, and finally, at 1:31, crept into
Loganville.
The snarled area right now with its normal heavy traffic is compounded
by the work being done by the Georgia Department of Transportation.
It is widening part of the road from two lanes to what will be four
lanes, with a divided median. The work is being done by E.R. Snell,
Contractors, of Snellville.
The current work is a 3.9 mile project from Ozora Church-Cooper
Road east of Grayson to Plantation Road in Lawrenceville. Cost of
this project is $26.8 million. This project is supposed by be completed
by August, 2008, but slowed utility relocation is going to project
the completion past that date. There is yet no official estimate
of the completion date.
At the same time, construction of a new school along that segment
of Georgia Highway 20 is underway. Couch Middle School construction
has begun, with a completion date anticipated of March, 2009, and
the first use as a school in August of 2009. That means that this
school construction can only complicate and increase the frustration
of motorists on the road portion.
Then, by the time the current work of the Highway 20 widening is
completed, the Department of Transportation will award a contract
for the balance of the road from Lawrenceville to Loganville. This
portion, Ozora Church-Cooper Roads to Georgia Highway 81, is a 3.6
mile project, and will also be a four-lane, divided median, roadway,
anticipated to cost $14.8 million.
Currently, the DOT is still buying right-of-way on this second
Highway 20 project. There is no firm start date on this unit, which
cannot be determined until all the right of way is let, and the
road bid.
However, by approximately 2010, motorists along the Loganville
to Lawrenceville route should be able to flow along with traffic
in a much upgraded manner. Of course, meanwhile, more people will
move into the area….so the improvement in traffic conditions
might not seem all that great.
One positive word about the roadwork underway now on this road:
traffic is now using a temporary three-lane roadway. The good portion
of this is that it is three lanes wide, allowing for left-turn lanes
at intersections. You regulars of traffic congestion know that those
turning left on two-lane roads cause terrific delay problems. By
widening the temporary lanes to three, the flow of traffic, though
congested, is much better by allowing the left turners not to be
a problem.
So, cheers to the county and state DOT units for the three lanes
in service on this road!
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Earlier flat tax proposal killed by Republican
bigwigs
Editor, the Forum:
For those who are concerned about the national sales tax (the "Fair"
Tax), no need to worry. It will never happen.
The biggest jokes on the political scene are those characters who
have their "Fair" tax meetings. They get all excited about
their big tax change in the making.
They need to face reality. Think about it the flat tax went nowhere
twice, 1996 and 2000, and the main critics of flat tax proponent
Steve Forbes were the Republican establishment candidates running
against him! Compared to the national sales tax, the flat tax was
a minor change, yet failed miserably at the ballot box.
The Democrats had their work performed by the enemy party. And
yes, I was all for the flat tax and voted for Steve Forbes both
times. He'd have been far better than GWB, no comparison. His plan
allowed a person to file under the flat plan or the present monstrosity,
your choice. Imagine that.
As for the gentleman (Bob Hanson) who criticized Atlanta radio
as too much of the same stuff, I agree. You can drive into other
metro areas and find considerably more variety in radio programming;
oldies, jazz, listening music, a much better assortment than is
available in Atlanta. Sometimes the difference is amazing. When
I worked in Norfolk, Va., Melbourne, Fla. and Houston I noticed
a far better range of listening choices there than here.
-- Marshall Miller, Lilburn
Dear Marshall: You and I are in step on this
issue. I agree: too many vested interests around to allow such
a radical move.---eeb
Safe house
Another great cartoon by Bill McLemore:
Bluegrass concert on historic courthouse lawn
Friday
A concert by the progressive bluegrass group, Honi Deaton and Dream,
is set for Friday, August 24, at 8 p.m. on the Gwinnett Historic
Courthouse Lawn, presented by the Lawrenceville Tourist and Trade
Association.
The concerts are free although reserved seating for tables of six
can be purchased by contacting the Historic Courthouse staff at
(770) 822-5450.
Honi Deaton and Dream is a distinctive blend of bluegrass, country,
and old-time music. Nominated twice in recent years for female vocalist
of the year in Nashville, Honi Deaton's powerful, soulful voice
is punctuated by her passionate original lyrics and upright bass
accompaniment. She is accompanied by band members on guitar, mandolin,
fiddle, dobro and banjo.
The lawn and rented table seating is available starting at 6:30
pm
Possibility of tollway
along busy I-85 up for discussion
Hear directly from Georgia State Roads and Tollway Authority Director
Rosa Rountree on how Gwinnett drivers along the Interstate 85 corridor
in parts of Gwinnett and DeKalb counties may be able to reach their
destinations quicker if Georgia is selected from a "short list"
of nine projects to receive more than $93 million in Federal grant
money.
The demonstration project would serve one of Gwinnett's (and Atlanta's)
most heavily congested corridors, the Interstate 85 Northeast Expressway.
Specifically, it will be located on I-85 between Old Peachtree Road
(Exit 109) and the I-285 perimeter in both northbound and southbound
directions. The project addresses congestion through tolling/pricing,
transit, technology and teleworking.
The meeting is August 29 at 4 p.m. at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce
in Duluth. To attend, RSVP Jo Anne Wymer at 70 232-8807 or by email
at joanne@gwinnettchamber.org.
The High Occupancy Toll Lanes (HOT) along the corridor promises
to be a new and more effective way to manage HOV lanes. Carpools,
vanpools and transit will be able to use the lane for free. With
new technology, toll booths will not be necessary and any toll pricing
would be driven by market demand. The concept of this project is
that the converted managed lanes allow motorists in general purpose
lanes the option to escape congestion. For a nominal fee motorists
will receive a guaranteed trip time in return.
Cancer Society plans
voluntary leadership summit Aug. 30
The 2007 Volunteer Leadership Summit of the American Cancer Society's
South Atlantic Division, "Power to Change the World" is
set for August 30 at 6 p.m. It will be at the Gwinnett Hospital
System Resource Center, 665 Highway 120 in Lawrenceville.
Attendees will learn how to become a valued volunteer with The
American Cancer Society through their many programs and services.
Those wishing to attend should RSVP to Elaine or Kim at 770-814-0123.
Snellville fall softball
registration open until Sept. 4
Registration for the fall season of adult softball at the Snellville
Parks and Recreation Department has begun and will continue on a
space available basis until September 4. The four leagues offered
are Men's Open, Men's Industrial, Men's Church and Co-ed. For more
information about registration, please visit www.snellville.org
or contact the park office at 770-985-3535.
Sugar
Hill spraying for mosquitoes; plans road improvement
The City of Sugar Hill is aggressively attacking the mosquito problem
by early morning spraying, and using larvicides in stagnant water.
The City has completed its second round of spraying for mosquitoes.
This comes as the West Nile Virus has been reported in Georgia
this year. The city decided to address this problem by spraying.
How can you protect yourself?
- All mosquitoes need standing water to develop.
- Eliminate stagnant water around your home where mosquitoes can
lay eggs.
- Birdbaths should be refilled weekly, swimming pools maintained,
and plant pots or any container that holds water should be checked.
- Since dawn and dusk are when mosquitoes are most active, stay
inside or if you are out, wear long sleeves and long pants.
- Consider using a mosquito repellent that contains DEET on exposed
skin.
* * * * *
The City of Sugar Hill is making changes to Whitehead Road to promote
safe driving. By September 1 the City plans to install three-way
stop signs on Whitehead Road at its intersection Arbor View, and
Balin Road. Since Whitehead Road has become heavily populated and
is residential in nature, the City will reduce the speed limit at
the city limits from 35 to 25 miles per hour.
Construction to install curb and sidewalk on the south side of
Whitehead Road has been coordinated with Gwinnett County DOT. This
construction has begun and will extend the sidewalk from Sunset
to Arbor View Lane. The construction will continue until November.
Gwinnett Credit Union
opens office on Peachtree Parkway
Gwinnett Federal Credit Union held an official Grand Opening Celebration
with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 6135 Peachtree Parkway in Norcross.
This new branch will accommodate the credit union's growth and members'
service needs with a member friendly lobby area including a 24/7
ATM and an office for its vehicle buying service. From left are
Jaime Benitez, teller; Maria Feliciano, Norcross Branch manager;
Marshall Boutwell, president & CEO; Marie Johnson, teller; Jonathan
Patterson, principal of Norcross High; and Ms. Kelley Martin, vice
president of branches.
- 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
Sherman
orders deportation of 400 Roswell mill workers
In July 1864 during the Atlanta campaign of the Civil War, General
William T. Sherman
ordered the approximately 400 Roswell mill workers, mostly women,
arrested as traitors and shipped as prisoners to the North with
their children. There is little evidence that more than a few of
the women ever returned home.
As the Union forces approached Atlanta in the early summer of 1864,
almost all the members of the founding families of Roswell had fled.
The remaining residents were mostly the mill workers and their families.
On July 5, seeking a way to cross the Chattahoochee River and gain
access to Atlanta, Brig. Gen. Kenner Garrard's cavalry began the
Union's 12-day occupation of Roswell, which was undefended. The
next day Garrard reported to Sherman that he had discovered the
mills in full operation and had proceeded to destroy them, and that
about 400 women had been employed in the mills. On July 7 Sherman
replied that the destruction of the mills "meets my entire
approval." He ordered that the owners and employees be arrested
and charged with treason.
The women, their children, and the few men, most either too young
or too old to fight, were transported by wagon to Marietta and imprisoned
in the Georgia Military Institute, by then abandoned. Then, with
several days' rations, they were loaded in boxcars that proceeded
through Chattanooga, Tenn., and after a stopover in Nashville, headed
to Louisville, Ky., the final destination for many of the mill workers.
Others were sent across the Ohio River to Indiana.
First housed and fed in a Louisville refugee hospital, the women
later took what menial jobs and living arrangements could be found.
Those in Indiana struggled to survive, many settling near the river,
where eventually mills provided employment. Unless husbands had
been transported with the women or had been imprisoned nearby, there
was little probability of a return to Roswell, so the remaining
women began to marry and bear children.
The tragedy, widely publicized at the time, with outrage expressed
in northern as well as southern presses, was virtually forgotten
over the next century. In 1998 the Roswell Mills Camp No. 1547,
Sons of the Confederate Veterans, initiated a project to acknowledge
and honor the deported mill workers. Through publicity, advertisements,
and research, some of the descendants and other relatives were found;
most of their deported ancestors had settled in the North.
In July 2000 the project culminated in a ceremonial event highlighted
by unveiling a memorial monument in Roswell's mill village park
to commemorate the sacrifices of the mill workers and to honor the
400 women.
The wealth that everyone
aspires to have
"The first wealth is health."
-- American author, poet and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson
(1803-1882), via Cindy Evans, Duluth.
Send your thoughts, 55-word short stories, pet peeves
or comments on any issue to Gwinnett
Forum for future publication.
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© 2007, Gwinnett Forum.com. Gwinnett Forum
is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible
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