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Three Gwinnett UGA students win CURO apprenticeships
By Joelle Wells
Special to GwinnettForum.com

ATHENS, Ga., Nov. 20, 2007 -- Three University of Georgia undergraduates from Gwinnett are part of a group of 24 freshmen and sophomores selected to participate in a research apprentice program sponsored by the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities (CURO) during the 2007-2008 academic year. They are Opeoluwa Fawole of Lawrenceville, and Alex Orellana and Cleveland Piggott, both of Suwanee. Piggot also was a winner of a CURO award as a freshman. He is now a sophomore.

Through the CURO Apprentice Program, UGA's Honors Program has been promoting these research partnerships at the onset of college so that the students can delve right into their fields of interest and explore various options of their chosen career paths.

Fawole, a microbiology major, is studying in the laboratory of infectious diseases specialist David Peterson in UGA's College of Veterinary Medicine. She is studying the parasite Plasmodium falciparum and its behavior during pregnancy. The parasite is a major cause of malaria. After graduating in 2011, Fawole would like to attend medical school, specializing in plastic surgery, so that one day she can travel to underdeveloped countries to perform reconstructive surgery on children with deformities. She is a graduate of Grayson High School.

Orellana knows from personal experience how painful and intensive the rehabilitation process can be when he suffered serious leg injuries after playing competitive soccer for many years. Now he is working in UGA's biomechanics laboratory with kinesiology professor Cathleen Brown, assisting in a study of participants with various levels of ankle instability. After graduating in 2011 with a degree in exercise and sports science, he would like to pursue a career in sports rehabilitation. He is a graduate of Collins Hill High School.

Piggott wants to work on a project focusing on neurodegenerative diseases because his grandfather suffers from Alzheimer's disease. Under the guidance of cellular biologists Marcus Fechheimer and Ruth Furukawa, he is investigating the formation process for Hirano bodies, protein structures found in people's brains, especially those with neurodegenerative diseases. After graduating with bachelor's degrees in biology and psychology, Piggott would like to attend medical school with the hopes of becoming a neurologist or cardiologist. He is a graduate of Peachtree Ridge High School.

David S. Williams, director of the Honors Program, says: "We have Honors students who choose UGA rather than other top schools in the country because of the opportunities to do research early in their career. As the CURO Apprentice Program continues to grow in stature and reputation, we are examining how we can further maximize the two-year apprenticeship. For example, this year the Honors Program supported 14 CURO Apprentices' travel to present posters and oral presentations at a national conference."

As part of the program, the apprentices attend a weekly interdisciplinary seminar with a strong writing component that focuses on issues and methods related to conducting research. Invited speakers such as Jay Hakes, director of the Jimmy Carter Library in Atlanta, provide an expert perspective on timely national topics and encourage further debate and discussion among the apprentices.

Pamela Kleiber, associate director of the Honors Program, says: "The small weekly seminar provides the support and encouragement for these undergraduates who are undertaking the challenge of research. CURO apprentices may decide to don white lab coats to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with nationally and internationally recognized research faculty, while other apprentices prefer to create art or investigate psychological or social problems, political processes or international affairs. Diversity of individuals, program of study, thought and approach is integral to the CURO Apprentice Program."

Freshmen chosen for the Apprentice Program may continue through their sophomore year if they maintain a minimum 3.4 GPA and receive a satisfactory performance review.

New diversity in Gwinnett brings more need for sidewalks
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher

NOV. 20, 2007 -- A change in policy about building roads now includes in many contracts a new element for Gwinnett County: sidewalks.

It's a sign of the growing urbanization of Gwinnett, and also a sign of the changing populations in the county.

Ten years ago, when you routinely drove through neighborhoods, there was little presence of people walking. And if they were walking, in effect, they had to walk on the roadways or the right-of-way, for there were few sidewalks throughout the county.

All that has changed in the last few years. Now you can drive the main streets and on key subdivision roadways, and routinely see a lot of people walking---on sidewalks---at all hours of the day.

Obviously, it is far safer to have sidewalks throughout Gwinnett than have people walking in the streets. Taking place in many areas of the county and Gwinnett cities is the addition of sidewalks in crowded areas. While Gwinnett has made substantial progress in this area, there are still many miles of heavily-traveled streets that beg for sidewalks.

No, we're not talking about activity on seldom-used streets. One example of a street where there are not enough sidewalks is heavily-traveled Jimmy Carter Boulevard. While newer developments along this road have been required to include sidewalks in their construction plans, there are many, many gaps on the right-of-way along Jimmy Carter Boulevard with no sidewalks. You can see that people are walking on this road because of the paths that have been worn on the right-of-way. This area should be a priority for additional sidewalks, as should other heavily-used corridors. The specific area for other priority sidewalks are too numerous to cite.

One reason for the need for these sidewalks is the ethnic make-up of the county. We are seeing people move into Gwinnett who do not always have automobiles at their disposal. Therefore, they must use their own legs to shop, to visit a doctor, or to catch public transportation. So the sidewalks, or the roadways, get more use by pedestrians.

The beginning of the Gwinnett Transit System six years ago was a godsend for those without means of transportation. The continued climb in the transit system's ridership numbers is another sign of how much our sidewalks must be used.

Since the late 1990s, the county has required sidewalks at all new development. When a citizen's review committee was adopted for recommendations on the SPLOST sales tax in 1997, sidewalks became a priority project, as it has been in sales tax programs since. Gwinnett County is approaching appropriating $100 million for sidewalk construction from SPLOST funds. That includes, besides engineering such work property, curb, gutter and draining improvements, in addition to some right-of-way purchase. New sidewalks have also come out of building new roads, and with intersection improvements.

In recent days, we have seen another development that also makes good sense. Often there are gaps in the sidewalk construction, coming from former developments not being required to install sidewalks on street frontage. With new development requiring sidewalks, this left gaps in the sidewalk areas. Now we are seeing contracts awarded for completion of sidewalks to fill these gaps. It is both commendable and far safer for pedestrians.

We'll admit to questioning the increased awarding of sidewalk contracts when the county and cities first began this. We now see the wisdom, and applaud their completion and wider use in Gwinnett County.

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Sorry Elliott, again you're off base and I must agree with Craig Heighton of Hoschton. Local government forcing the developers to pay for art is no different than the government taking money out of the taxpayer's pockets. Doing it this way is just less obvious to us tax payers. We still pay for it in higher prices.

You say: "Even the county commission and Chamber of Commerce are now talking about how art is a "quality of life" issue, not to be overlooked". Ah, so what! I would rather them worry about more pressing "quality of life" issues that this county faces than a cheap looking metal frog sitting on a cheap bench that nobody will really care about the next day.

Lilburn resident Dean Black has been named the new president of the Atlanta Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; his wife Beth Anne will serve as temple matron starting this month. Dean Black will serve along with counselors Lynn Bassett of Buchanan, Ga. and Acworth resident Darrell Cheney.

Black and his wife each will volunteer 40-50 hours weekly in their new positions overseeing the activities surrounding the temple including working with more than 500 volunteers who will assist members from 149 congregations. There are more than 60,000 members within the Atlanta Temple's geographic boundaries that include areas as far south as Albany to Chattanooga and from Dothan to the Atlantic coast.

Black retired as director of LDS Family Services and was called as the mission president of the Philippines Angeles Mission where he served with his wife for three years in the Philippines. Black has served in various leadership positions within the church including that of a bishop and as a counselor in the temple presidency.

Nearly 25 years ago the Atlanta Temple was dedicated by current Mormon Church President Gordon B. Hinckley who was serving as a counselor in the first presidency at the time he dedicated the temple on June 1, 1983. The Atlanta Temple became the Church's 21st temple. At the time it was completed, the temple was the first in the Southeast United States and served more than 150,000 members in 11 Southeastern states and the Islands of the Caribbean.

The Atlanta Temple was part of the first group of smaller temples announced for the church - enabling more temples to be accessible to members around the world who often made great sacrifices to attend. Since then, another 120 temples have been built including seven other locations in the Southeast -- bringing the total to more than 134 worldwide that have been built or are under construction in 32 states of the United States and in 40 countries.

Sunday services are held in other church meetinghouses with temples being reserved for instruction and sacred ordinances, including marriages, performed by church members. Mormons believe that members who are married in the temple can be married for time and all eternity and that those bonds will extend beyond this life. Although anyone may enter and participate in services held in meetinghouses, because of the sacredness of the temple and the view that it's the "House of the Lord," only church members in good standing are allowed to enter a Mormon temple.

Discover the magic of the Season on Thursday, November 22 (Thanksgiving evening) on the square in downtown Lawrenceville for the City and Gwinnett County's annual Lighting of the Tree.

Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation, the City of Lawrenceville, and the Lawrenceville Tourism and Trade Association work to bring hundreds of lights and thousands of smiling faces together for a night of entertainment and cheer. Beginning at 5 p.m. at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, this event includes the arrival of Santa Claus, live entertainment, carriage rides, tours of the beautifully decorated historic courthouse, and of course, the giant tree presentation! End your Thanksgiving with a night to remember that makes children's eyes light up more than the tree lights and ornaments themselves. For more information, contact the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse at (770) 822- 5450.

The Suwanee Police Department, already state-certified through the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP), is now seeking national accreditation.

In order to achieve state certification through GACP, an agency must demonstrate that it meets 118 standards. CALEA has 459 standards for national accreditation. These standards cover every area of law enforcement from hiring to weapons discharge, from crime analysis to internal affairs. The standards are designed to ensure that accredited agencies have and follow specific written policies; they also enhance the department's relationship with the community, strengthen accountability, reduce liability risks, and ensure the highest professional standards.

Only five percent of law enforcement agencies in the country receive national accreditation. In Gwinnett County, only the Gwinnett County Police Department and Norcross Police Department are currently accredited.

The Suwanee Police Department has up to three years from its registration this fall to ensure that appropriate policies are in place and documented. The final step in the accreditation process is an onsite inspection by outside assessors from all over the country.

Jennifer Stephens of Lilburn, Georgia Gwinnett College director of public affairs, received the 2007 Georgia Education Advancement Council's (GEAC) Award for Distinguished Service in Public Relations at the Council's annual meeting in Brasstown Valley recently.

President Dan Kaufman of GGC said: "For one from GGC to be recognized by this organization for her work on behalf of the college is wonderful. She has become an invaluable member of my senior leader team, as well as a recognized leader throughout the Gwinnett community. She brings remarkable vision and innovation to every task as she carries out her extensive responsibilities."

Stephens noted that working for GGC has been an enviable experience among her colleagues. "Having the opportunity to be a part of this new, exciting college is a career high, and I am very privileged to be able to help promote its image." GEAC is a statewide organization comprised of public relations, fundraising, and external affairs leaders from Georgia's public institutions, the Technical College System of Georgia, and several major private colleges and universities.

Less than two weeks after being offered to the public, Cornerstone on the Square, Lawrenceville's first mixed-use residential development, surpassed the market trend in pre-sales of its condominiums, townhomes and courtyard homes, with 25 per cent sold in less than two weeks. Cornerstone's developer, Morsberger Group, razed the former Wachovia Bank building at the corner of Crogan and Culver Streets on November 5 and will begin construction of Cornerstone on the Square immediately.

"This is an anomaly in today's housing market," said Emory Morsberger, CEO of Morsberger Group. "Where else do you find new housing construction breaking ground in Gwinnett County? Builders are complaining county-wide about poor sales, but here we are, selling eight of our 33 homes in two weeks and breaking ground on the project."

Cornerstone On The Square's sales office is located on the square at 186 W. Crogan Street. Priced from the mid $300,000 to the high $400,000, the mixed-use residential project is another first for Historic Downtown Lawrenceville.

Cornerstone on the Square was designed to be reminiscent of the former Ewing Hotel at the corner of Crogan and Perry Streets which boasted three stories with balconies. Built in 1836, the hotel lost its balconies and third floor when it partially burned in 1889. It is one of the buildings Morsberger Group redeveloped

The Commission on Interracial Cooperation (CIC), founded in Atlanta in 1919, worked until its merger with the Southern Regional Council in 1944 to oppose lynching, mob violence, and peonage and to educate white southerners concerning the worst aspects of racial abuse. The commission remained based in Atlanta but had state-level committees throughout the South and, in the 1920s, some 800 local interracial committees. Key leaders included Will W. Alexander, executive director; Jessie Daniel Ames, the longtime director of woman's work; Arthur Raper, research director; and Robert B. Eleazer, director of education.

The Commission grew out of the activities of several organizations, including the Atlanta Christian Council and the YMCA War Work Council (headed by Methodist minister Will Alexander), which sought to lessen racial tensions at the end of World War I (1917-18). After meetings among interested constituencies, the CIC was established early in 1919, with Alexander as the executive director and the Atlanta industrialist John J. Eagan as president.

The Rosenwald Fund provided funding for the Southern Commission on the Study of Lynching to investigate all lynchings that occurred in 1930 and to suggest methods for eliminating the brutal practice. Arthur Raper, the commission's chief investigator, published the results in his book The Tragedy of Lynching in 1933. Jessie Daniel Ames established the Association of Southern Women for the Prevention of Lynching, an organization of southern white women who pledged to combat lynching in their own communities. The Carnegie Foundation funded the Conference on Education and Race Relations, under the direction of Robert Eleazer, to develop course materials and hold summer workshops to encourage the teaching of race relations courses in southern high schools and colleges.

A series of conferences in Atlanta; Durham, N.C.; and Richmond, Virginia, led to the formation in 1944 of the Southern Regional Council. Many leaders in the interracial movement agreed that the CIC's programs were outmoded and supported its merger with the Southern Regional Council. The CIC had nonetheless helped to prepare the South to enter a new and challenging phase in the movement toward racial justice.

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