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Beware, beware the fine print in security
system contracts
By
Greg Brooks
Walton EMC
Special to GwinnettForum.com
MONROE, Ga., Sept. 21, 2007 -- "Read the fine print."
We've all heard it again and again.
Brooks |
In a practical sense, contract fine print probably makes little
difference much of the time. But when you install a home or business
security system, the fine print can make a huge difference.
The best way to avoid problems with security system fine print
is to do business with a company that doesn't require a contract.
Security industry leaders have moved away from monitoring contracts
and do business on a month-to-month basis.
This means if you're not satisfied with their service, you can
change companies anytime-no strings attached. You have no further
obligations to the company, financial or otherwise.
As a rule, security companies that don't require monitoring contracts
have much lower monthly monitoring rates. That's one reason they
don't need to hook you with a contract in the first place.
If you decide to do business with a security company that requires
a monitoring contract, here are common pitfalls:
- Lease vs. ownership. Many customers are surprised to
find they never own the security system. When they don't renew
the contract, the company takes the system out of their home or
business. Check closely to see if your equipment is leased or
if you'll eventually own the system.
- Proprietary systems. Some companies use security panels
(the brains of the system) that can't be monitored by anyone else
but them. So even if you do own the system, it can't be used if
you switch companies.
- Automatic renewals. Check to make sure the contract you
sign does not automatically renew. On this type of contract, there
is a very short time to cancel at the end of the contract term.
If you don't contact the company during that small window, the
contract goes back in force.
- Long contract terms. It's not unusual for some monitoring
contracts to run as long as three years. If you become unsatisfied,
that's a long time to wait to make a change.
- Cookie cutter systems. Companies that offer bargain security
systems typically use a one-size-fits-all approach. No matter
what your specific needs, you get the same minimal equipment as
every other system they sell. If you want upgrades, they're usually
very pricey. Cookie cutter systems aren't the bargain they appear
to be. By the time you pay elevated monitoring rates for several
years, you'll have spent more money.
- Add-ons. Make sure you don't pay more if you want smoke
detectors or medical alert equipment monitored.
Don't be pressured by an aggressive salesperson to sign a contract.
If the offer is only good for a short time, let it pass. It's always
a good idea to accompany elderly relatives or friends during sales
calls, security company or otherwise.
Walton EMC is in the home and business security field. To learn
more, visit emcsecurity.com
or call EMC Security at 770 963-0305.
Glancy Jones Dunn was first baby born at clinic
in Duluth
By
Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
GwinnettForum.com
SNELLVILLE, Ga., Sept. 21, 2007 -- One of the most singular births
ever recorded in the county is that the first baby was born in a
Gwinnett medical facility. That person was born in Duluth on June
30, 1941 and aptly named Rachel Glancy Jones. She was named for
two persons. The nurse helping deliver her was named Rachel. Her
other name, Glancy, of course comes from the hospital namesake,
Joan Glancy. The first-born in Duluth, Glancy, was the daughter
of Gladys and John Jones, who lived then on Boles Road, not far
from Duluth, but soon moved to Norcross.
Brack |
Most of her life, she has been known as "Glancy." The
only time in her life when she was known as Rachel was in the first
grade in Norcross, when "my teacher, Birdie Moore, insisted
on calling me by my first name."
She first met General A.R. Glancy, who spurred the Duluth community
to build what later became Joan Glancy Hospital, at a birthday in
May of 1948, which the general was giving for all children born
at the hospital. General Glancy took an interest in the first-born
of the hospital, and kept up with her progress. Prior to her going
to high school, General Glancy obtained permission from her parents
to send the young girl to the private Westminster School in Atlanta
for her high school education. The general's grandson, Gary Hull,
was in her class. She was a boarding student at Westminster.
Glancy Dunn |
Her first job when in high school during summers was working at
the Duluth hospital. "I would ride the Greyhound from our home
in Norcross to Duluth, and did about everything around there, cleaning
up the emergency room or delivery room, or working with the autoclave
or in the lab."
Glancy Jones later graduated in 1963 from Rollins College in Winter
Haven, Fla., with a degree in social work on a scholarship provided
by General Glancy. She met her future husband, Richard Dunn, after
college while working at Georgia Tech. He was with the Georgia State
Patrol, where he retired recently. The couple have lived in Snellville
since 1972.
They had two children. Their son, Rick, is named in memory of Richard
Hull of Irvindale Farms. Rick got his master's degree from the University
of Georgia, and for years was a professor at Dickerson College,
Harrisburg, Pa. Now he is director of evaluation with the Georgia
Dept. of Mental Health and lives in Sandy Springs.
The Dunn's daughter also has a name with meaning. She is named
Lenora, which was the name of General Glancy's wife. She graduated
also from the University of Georgia and is an interior designer
living in Brookhaven.
Glancy Dunn worked in social work for various agencies in Atlanta
before accepting a job in 1980 when the new Snellville hospital
opened. She became the director of social work and recently retired
after 27 years at the hospital. On her retirement, one of her colleagues,
Dr. Larry Lesser, who has researched the history of Joan Glancy
Hospital, said of her: "General Glancy provided scholarships
for many children. He told them they were indebted, but not to him,
but to their fellow man, to pay back in some way what he had done
for them.
"Glancy Dunn is a person who has extremely good values, is
compassionate and probably has similar values as General Glancy.
She was a hand-up, not hand out, social worker, always had a smile
on her face, happy with patients, showing them a way to provide
for themselves. She has a very strong religious faith without being
evangelical about it. She shared values to capitalize on ways to
bring people together. General Glancy would be very pleased in what
she has done!"
She's a landmark figure in Gwinnett history, the first baby born
back in 1941 at the Duluth Clinic
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Suggests
each county get its own simpler absentee ballot
Editor, the Forum:
With all the talk of fraud in the absentee balloting process, I
hope you will go ahead and take a moment to download your own absentee
ballot application at the Georgia Secretary of State's site. Then
you can see that it is complicated and unclear.
The voter must fill out the form correctly, find the address, provide
postage and envelope to, and then mail it in to their own local
Registrar or Board of Elections. It is important to know that each
county follows no own protocol about the formality of the form.
It is entirely possible to create a much simpler form, and get it
approved by your own Board of Elections or Registrar's office, should
you be interested in helping disabled and elderly voters in particular
to vote absentee.
I highly recommend paring down all but the most vital information
on the form. It may take a couple of meetings with your local authorities,
but I have learned that many of our most vulnerable voters are put
off by the form itself.
If you're considering an absentee balloting initiative this cycle,
you might want to get started on that process of negotiation now.
I will send out my prototype to anyone who's interested, once I
get it approved for my county and this cycle. But it will only be
a sample; each county will have to have their own form. You can
help make a real difference this way.
-- Madelyn Powell, Athens
Sees few alternatives
to problems at Grady Hospital
Editor, the Forum:
I was dismayed by the challenges facing Grady Hospital outlined
in GwinnettForum on Sept. 18 The worst thing is that this is nothing
new. I could have expressed the same sentiment to the AJC and any
other local news organizations at almost any time for as long as
I can remember.
Year after year after year, Grady is plagued by bigger financial,
management, staffing, equipment, and maintenance, technological
and ethical problems. This downward spiral has continued despite
leadership changes within Grady itself and Atlanta's political offices.
There will be no end to it.
The dilapidated, crumbling Grady building itself is a disgrace that
symbolizes the deteriorating situation as a whole. It is, arguably,
the biggest embarrassment to a city that already has plenty of other
candidates for the same dubious honor.
When is enough enough?
I see only two real options: a) Demolish the building, sell the
land and use the profits to fund a better facility or, b) Demolish
the building and sell the land to a private hospital at a discounted
price provided that they offer an agreed-upon amount of services
to those that cannot find care elsewhere. Unfortunately, only a
major shift in Atlanta's political environment could, in my opinion,
clear the path for a fresh start.
In any event, Grady is a suffering beast and the time has come to
end the suffering.
-- Jamie Kennedy, Grayson
Advertisement by Hardees
draws reader comment
Editor, the Forum:
I am highly offended by the sexual content in the latest Hardees/Carl's
Jr. television commercials known as "Patty Melt" and "Flat
Buns." In my opinion, they violate local community standards.
-- Brenda and Carl Wiley, Suwanee
(Editor's note: Several people wrote letters
about this advertisement, which apparently incensed people. It
appears to be part of a widespread effort to get this commercial
taken off television stations. As for us, we haven't see it. Did
it offend others?-eeb)
Enjoyed comments about
ever-changing aspect of Norcross
Editor, the Forum:
Way to go on the comment from Colonel Jones story of his childhood
in Norcross and how it has continued to change with the times over
the years. Such an eloquent description of time changing and changing
times made me ponder his last statement. "I finally realized
that Norcross had changed forever...".
-- Roger Hagen, Lilburn
A high-def dude
Another great cartoon from Bill McLemore:
Adair House to be saved, moved back to Lawrenceville
The historic Isaac Adair House and commissary - thought to have
been built in 1827, making it one of the oldest existing homes in
Gwinnett County - is on the move again. Originally built near the
present day Hurricane Shoals Road in Lawrenceville, the house was
moved years ago to a rural location at 1235 Chandler Road. But now
it stands right in the path of the Sugarloaf Parkway extension.
Gwinnett Commissioners on Tuesday approved a plan to move it again
- back into the city and next to the 1838 Lawrenceville Female Seminary
at 15 South Clayton Street. The county will maintain the house and
commissary as National Historic Register structures, eventually
opening them to the public for tours and special events.
The buildings will be secured on a temporary space near their present
location until the new road is ready for the move into town. The
front porch and four chimneys will be disassembled and restored
but a 1990s kitchen addition on the back will be demolished. The
agreement also specifies that the County will establish photographic
documentation and narrative reports on these structures as well
as the Leatherwood-Henderson farm.
The five-way agreement is between Gwinnett County, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, the Georgia State Historic Preservation Officer,
the Advisory Council of Historic Preservation and the Gwinnett Historical
Society.
County
votes $500,000 to support Chamber partnership
A new, multi-sponsor economic development effort aimed at bringing
new jobs to Gwinnett County, enhancing the workforce and improving
quality of life received a financial commitment from the Board of
Commissioners on Tuesday.
The County agreed to contribute $500,000 a year for up to five
years provided that specified goals are met every six months. The
Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce leads Partnership Gwinnett with many
public and private partners. It seeks to retain and expand existing
Gwinnett businesses and develop new business in five key market
segments: healthcare, distribution, corporate and regional offices,
information technology and advanced communications.
Board Chairman Charles Bannister says: "County government
has worked closely with the Chamber for years to help develop new
jobs close to home for Gwinnett residents. This appropriation shows
the board's continuing commitment to improve the local economy."
Partnership Gwinnett's goals include promoting economic wealth
and diversification and improving education, workforce excellence,
quality of life and visibility. Over the next five years, it aims
to help create 65,000 jobs and attract $5.8 billion in new wealth.
City of Suwanee to
recognize "attractive" projects
The City of Suwanee is borrowing a timeless theme from Hans Christian
Andersen and establishing an awards program that will recognize
individuals, businesses, and organizations that have "exceeded
expectations" in creating aesthetically attractive projects
- in a sense, transforming ugly ducklings into architectural swans.
The Swan-ee Awards program will honor special efforts to undertake
aesthetically attractive construction or renovation projects in
the City of Suwanee. These projects might include, but are not necessarily
limited to, new construction, renovated buildings, landscaping,
sustainable/long-term developments, "clean-up" projects,
and public art.
Nominations for the first annual Swan-ee Awards will be accepted
through October 15 with awards to be presented in December. While
the nominated projects must be within the corporate city limits
of Suwanee, nominators and award recipients may be individuals or
organizations located outside the city limits. Rules of eligibility
and an awards application are available at www.suwanee.com.
Gwinnett vet tech
graduates continue 100% exam pass rate
Gwinnett Tech's veterinary technology program has once again secured
a 100 percent pass rate on the Veterinary Technician National Exam
(VTNE) this testing session, continuing its history of a 100 percent
pass rate since the program's inception nine years ago. Graduates
of Gwinnett Tech's veterinary technology associate degree program
sit for the VTNE each June.
Dr. Bonnie Ballard, veterinary technology program director at Gwinnett
Tech, says: "The VTNE is a benchmark of sorts in the veterinary
medicine field. Program success is often measured in terms of passing
rates of students, particularly by the American Veterinary Medical
Association program accreditation agency. Our pass rate indicates
that the program curriculum at Gwinnett Tech adequately prepares
students to pass the test."
In its nine years, the veterinary technology program at Gwinnett
Tech has graduated 118 students. All 118 have passed the VTNE exam.
Gwinnett Tech's veterinary technology program emphasizes specialized
training in animal health care. Program graduates receive a veterinary
technology associate in applied science degree and are eligible
to sit for the VTNE to become qualified as registered veterinary
technicians in the state of Georgia.
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
Tybee Island
traditions still abound on coast near Savannah
Tybee
Island, located approximately 18 miles from Savannah, is a seaside
community. Sitting at the mouth of the Savannah River, the 2.7-square-mile
island holds a year-round population of approximately 3,400 residents,
although this population increases greatly during the summer season.
Longtime residents know Tybee Island as Savannah Beach, the one-time
name that reflected both the town's proximity to the river and its
resort-like atmosphere.
Tybee Island Lighthouse |
Known for its mild, fresh air and salty ocean breezes, Tybee Island
took a new course toward the end of the 1800s, becoming a destination
well known as a tonic for people with asthma, allergies, and other
ailments. The practice called "taking the salts" likely
derived from the many beneficial qualities attributed to the area
by doctors, who urged patients to spend time on Tybee to cure their
ailments.
Tybee also became well known during this time as a resort town.
A short boat or train ride away from Savannah, Savannah Beach promised
relief from the summertime heat and humidity that plagued inland
areas. With the opening of Tybee Road in 1923 to automobile traffic,
the way of life on the island slowly started to change.
The Tybee Island Light Station, known as the Tybee Lighthouse,
having lit the entrance of the Savannah River since 1736, is perhaps
the most identifiable landmark on the island. It is one of the oldest
U.S. lighthouses still in existence. It is now owned and managed
by the Tybee Island Historical Society.
Although visitors can no longer ride a train to Tybee, they are
still able to sit under the Tybee Pavilion, fish off the Tybee Pier,
and walk along beachfront avenues. Local events include several
arts, food, and music festivals held at Tybee Pavilion; the annual
Beach Bums Parade along Butler Avenue; and the Polar Bear Plunge
swim in the Atlantic Ocean each New Year's Day.
To access the Georgia Encyclopedia, go to http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
We grow when we leave
school and start to read
"What we become depends on what we read after all of the professors
have finished with us. The greatest university of all is a collection
of books."
-- Philosopher Thomas Carlyle (1795 - 1881).
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
social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett
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