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City of Norcross rebrands itself as
"A Place to Imagine"
By
Bucky Johnson
Mayor, City of Norcross
Special to GwinnettForum.com
NORCROSS, Ga., May 27, 2008 -- In communities that prosper both
spiritually and economically, there is a presence of people known
as "The Creative Class." Foremost, they are proponents
of diversity and the unique.
Johnson |
They represent a major driving force of the local economy as they
are the minds working hard not only to preserve our way of life,
but improve it for the future. In the places they call home, you
will find them discovering new ways to enhance lives and make a
difference in the world. People of this persuasion enjoy doing things
together and desire a life that is heart-throbbingly real. These
are the people of the City of Norcross.
The Norcross brand was created with the residents of the City in
mind. "A Place to Imagine" is more than just a slogan---it's
a pledge to embrace the idea that all citizens help to shape the
City of Norcross into a place that reflects their values and sense
of self. "A Place to Imagine" refers to not only what
Norcross is now, but to what the City of Norcross will be---a truly
great place, with amazing opportunities for future growth and community
redevelopment---as well as a place where people can come to think,
create, and share ideas.
"There comes a time when a community finds itself at a point
where the ways of the past and the way of the future intersect…."
Thus begins the opening lines of the Imagination Proclamation, a
document that serves as the foundation of "A Place to Imagine."
It is an articulation of the City's shared values and vision. On
April 17, 2008, this Proclamation was signed by me and the members
of the Norcross City Council as a testament to our desire to continue
to live by the principles it sets forth. It is a promise to support
a community that is built by those who live within it.
Norcross' energy is based on a rare blueprint that creates an exceptional
sense of community. It's a place that knows no strangers, celebrates
every part of its whole, and welcomes the future as wholeheartedly
as it honors its past---its future is driven by its vision. Everyone
has something to offer and the desire to make a difference. That's
why Norcross welcomes anyone who dreams of contributing to the development
of a community they are proud to call their own. The City of Norcross
is indeed a place to embrace, a place to call home, a place with
a vibrant community spirit…truly, "A Place to Imagine."
Tucker author gives insight of last days of
World War II
By
Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher
MAY 27, 2008 -- Ending a war can be difficult, too. And it can
be dangerous, as Punchy Powell of Tucker relates in the story of
the 352nd Fighter Group during World War II in Europe in his book,
Bluenose Tales.
Brack |
Powell relates the story of Lt. Col. (later Major General) Luther
Richmond, a downed pilot who was being held along with 9,000 other
Allied airmen at Stalag-Luft I, located at Barth, on the Baltic
Sea of North Germany. He had been shot down on April 15, 1944.
A year later, with the war winding down, the prisoners (and German
guards) could hear to the east artillery of the First Ukranian Army
attacking across Germany, as the Russians advanced.
This made the Germans guarding the Allied POWs nervous. The Germans
did not want to surrender to the Russians, and the German commandant
suggested marching the 9,000 prisoners westward, to hook up with
the advancing Allies. The senior American officers were against
this, thinking a mass of people without identification marching
across the countryside at the end of the war would be targets for
both sides. Finally, the Americans convinced their German camp officials
that the war was about over, and for the Germans to simply abandon
their camp, and leave for their homes. This happened one night about
midnight, and the Americans were immediately in charge. They locked
the gates, not wanting their fellow POWs to venture out into what
they considered the dangerous German countryside.
Colonel Richmond was put in charge of transportation (as it was)
and food. Rations had been meager for a while. A patrol eastward
linked up with the Russians, and Richmond went forward to seek food
for the prisoners from the Russians. After some negotiating, they
agreed.
Richmond returned to the camp, some 80 miles away, and the next
day a strapping Russian officer showed up, announcing he had 80
head of cattle, and asking for help in driving the animals to camp.
The Allies were surprised, thinking they would get dressed meat.
But they complied, soon getting the cattle, and finding butchers
among their men. Soon other foods, potatoes, vegetables, flour,
arrived from the Russians.
Then the big Russian officer returned, announcing that he had 1,000
pigs for the POWs. Richmond, by then, didn't think they needed that
many pigs, and tried to beg off. The Russian was insistent that
his commander had told him to deliver to the Allied POWs pigs. Finally,
Richmond agreed to send seven of the POWs back for the pigs, but
only to get enough to fill two trucks.
They returned with 40 huge hogs, the POWs smelling heavily of pigs.
Seems they had quite a time. First they constructed a ramp for the
pigs, but the pigs would not herd, certainly not up the ramp. Then
they tried corralling the pigs in a corner, but the pigs wiggled
away. The final solution: the Allied POWs would wrestle the pig
to the ground, and this 6'5", 280 pound lean Russian officer
would literally pick up the animal and place it in the truck.
No wonder the returning POWs, and the Russian, smelled like a pig.
Eventually the 9,000 prisoners were airlifted out from a nearby
German field, in groups of 35 aboard B-17s, with the POWs crammed
in every nook and cranny.
But ending a war, any war, can be slow and difficult. Thanks, Punchy
Powell, for this insight, about the last days of World War II.
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Library
lands Charles Frazier for "Summer Reads" program
Gwinnett County Public Library has scored a coup: Charles Frazier,
winner of the National Book Award for his bestselling novel Cold
Mountain, will be the keynote speaker of the 2008 Gwinnett Reads
program, featuring his latest book Thirteen Moons as its centerpiece.
The popular summer reading program encourages metro Atlanta adults
to read the same book as they participate in activities throughout
Gwinnett County reflecting aspects of the story's plot and culture.
Thirteen Moons has become a high-profile part of Frazier's efforts
to help the Cherokee's preservation efforts. Frazier has been honored
by the Tribal Council of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation
for his dedication to helping save the Cherokee language and culture.
"Growing up in western North Carolina," says Frazier,
"I never asked too closely how it came about that neighboring
Cherokee people still persisted there in places like Snowbird and
the town of Cherokee so long after the Trail of Tears. In large
part, Thirteen Moons is my belated attempt to understand that movement
of American history and to tell a part of the story of the southern
Appalachians and its people at a moment of transformation."
This final Gwinnett Reads activity brings everything together at
Gwinnett Center July 12 with Frazier reading from his book, answering
questions, and presenting Cherokee music, singing, and readings.
He will also sign books that are available at the event in English
and Cherokee. The $15 per person ticket includes buffet-style appetizers,
entertainment, audience interaction, and a book signing with Frazier.
Proceeds will benefit the language preservation efforts of the Eastern
Band of the Cherokee Nation.
Gwinnett Reads participants will have an opportunity to hear Cherokee
translator Myrtle Driver Johnson interpret some of the program's
English language readings. Another highlight of the program will
be the musical storytelling of Cherokee native John Grant, who plays
a Native American flute and sings in English and Cherokee. The Chieftains
Museum in Rome, Ga. will also host activities related to Cherokee
culture.
For more information, visit www.gwinnettreads.org
or call Denise Auger at (770) 822-5375.
Local sorority to
award 10 Beauty Baldwin scholarships
Scholarships from the Upsilon Alpha Omega Graduate Chapter of Alpha
Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated, the first African American Greek-letter
sorority in Gwinnett County, have been announced.
The 2008 Beauty P. Baldwin Scholarship recipients and their schools
are: Mehiret Wondimu and Kiana Nicholas, Central Gwinnett ; Shanise
Lawrence, Berkmar; Kaitlyn Gaddis and Monique Jones, South Gwinnett;
Mi'lisa Patton, Peachtree Ridge; Vonee Hemans and Mia Crayton, Brookwood;
Mallory Fox, Parkview; and Kameon Prather, North Gwinnett.
The Beauty P. Baldwin Scholarship was established to honor the
first African American female superintendent in the state of Georgia,
Beauty P. Baldwin of Dacula . Typically the scholarship is reserved
for female African American students; however in their efforts to
embrace African American males, this is the second year the chapter
will award a scholarship to a male student.
Chapter members will honor the recipients and award scholarships
on Saturday, June14 at a Scholarship Reception at Hopewell Christian
Academy in Norcross at 4 p.m.
Gwinnett County property
tax bills will be mailed by July 15
Gwinnett County Tax Commissioner Katherine Sherrington will mail
2008 property tax bills by July 15, 2008. Payment installment dates
are September 15 and November 15, 2008.
As in the past, only one bill will be mailed. It will include payment
coupons and reply envelopes for both installment payments. First
installment amounts shown on tax bills must be paid by Sept. 15,
2008, or taxpayers may pay the entire amount by this date. The balance
must be paid by the second installment date of Nov. 15, 2008. Installments
not paid by the stated due dates will incur a five percent (5 percent)
penalty. In addition, interest will begin to accrue on any unpaid
amount at the rate of one percent (1 percent) per month beginning
on November 16.
Community Foundation
awards $172,030 in local grants
The Community Foundation for Northeast Georgia has awarded $172,030
in grants for 2008. The announcement was announced recently at its
annual Donor Evening of Appreciation.
Judy
Waters (center) with Community Foundation Recognition winners,
Dr. Lanny Lesser and Dr. Bill Martin. |
In addition to thanking its generous donors, CFNEG paid tribute
to Dr. Lanny Lesser and Dr. Bill Martin with the presentation of
the "Community Leadership and Philanthropy Awards". Both
physicians have served the community for over 30 years and both
have founded clinics in Gwinnett to provide healthcare services
to the underserved and the uninsured. Dr. Lesser founded the Gwinnett
Community Clinic and Dr. Martin founded the Hope Clinic.
Another token of recognition was given to Nancy Gullickson for
her 30 years of service to the arts community in Gwinnett. This
award was presented for the first time ever in honor of the late
Mary Kistner who was a devoted patron of the arts in the county.
The recipients of the 2008 grants were:
- SUSTAINING GRANTS: Prevent Blindness; Lekotek; Southeastern
Railway Museum, Duluth for Depot Restoration; Creative Enterprises;
Hope Clinic; Gwinnett Community Clinic; Winder-Barrow YMCA; and
Forsyth County Family Haven.
- MARY KISTNER FUND: Grants: Hudgens Arts Council, Gwinnett
Philharmonic, and Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center.
- IMPACT GRANTS: Hi Hope Center, Annandale Village; Gwinnett
Tech/ GAP Program; and Gwinnett Boys and Girls Club.
New London Theatre
picks David Clack for Buddy Award
New London Theatre hosted their "Buddy Awards" recently
with an evening of song, drama and dance compiled of 2007 seasons'
plays and musicals. The annual celebration is New London's way of
thanking their many volunteers and contributors, and celebrating
the season's triumphs.
David
Clack with daughter, Cassie. |
The Buddy Awards name is a derivative of "BOD," or Board
of Directors. The Buddy Awards are selected from nominations by
peers and the New London Theatre Board of Directors, and are given
for exceptional contributions to the theatre for the past season.
The top winner for special achievement was David Clack, who has
been with New London Theatre for three years. A talented singer
and actor, he has been singularly instrumental this past year in
making New London's dream of a theatre of its' own come true. His
work in building, performing, and managing is not only the backbone
of the emergence of New London Theatre I a new home, but it is a
shining example of community service.
- 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
Malcontented
Southerners bolt to become Dixiecrats
The Dixiecrats
were members of the States' Rights Democratic Party, which splintered
from the Democratic Party in 1948.
The faction consisted of malcontented southern delegates to the
Democratic Party who protested the insertion of a civil rights plank
in the party platform and President Harry S. Truman's advocacy of
that plank. Before the convention southern delegates were dismayed
by Truman's 1948 executive order to desegregate the armed forces.
With that backdrop many southern delegates were already concerned
as they headed to the 1948 Democratic convention.
When the Democratic national convention convened in July 1948,
some Alabama and Mississippi delegates were prepared to walk out
of the convention if the civil rights platform passed. When it did,
all of the Mississippi delegates and half of the Alabama delegates
stormed out of the convention. On July 17, 1948, the Alabama and
Mississippi delegations, and a few individual delegates from other
southern states, met in Birmingham, Ala., to select a presidential
ticket to oppose the Democrats. The Dixiecrats chose South Carolina's
governor, Strom Thurmond, for president and Fielding L. Wright,
governor of Mississippi, for vice president.
The goal of the Dixiecrats was two-fold. First, the splinter party
hoped to deny both the Democrats and Republicans a majority in the
electoral college, forcing the election into the U.S. House of Representatives.
Second, Dixiecrat leaders maneuvered to have the Thurmond-Wright
ticket declared the "official" Democratic Party ticket
on the ballots of all southern states. In the end this ploy succeeded
only in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina, all
Deep South states. Georgia was the lone Deep South state to remain
loyal to the national Democratic Party; the Dixiecrat ticket appeared
on Georgia ballots as a third party.
On election day 1948, the Dixiecrats won Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi,
and South Carolina but failed to win any state in which Thurmond
appeared as a third-party candidate. In Georgia, Thurmond came in
a distant second to Truman. A closer analysis of the Dixiecrat phenomenon
revealed an interesting pattern: the Dixiecrats were most successful
in the states and counties where black citizens were the most numerous.
Although the Dixiecrats immediately dissolved after the 1948 election,
their impact lasted much longer. Many white voters who initially
cast Dixiecrat ballots gravitated back toward the Democratic Party
only grudgingly, and they remained nominal Democrats at best. Ultimately,
the Dixiecrat movement paved the way for the rise of the modern
Republican Party in the South. Many former Dixiecrat supporters
eventually became Republicans, as was highlighted by Strom Thurmond's
conversion in the 1960s.
Menacing with imaginary
hobgoblins is practical politics
"The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace
alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it
with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary."
-- H.L. Mencken, via the Georgia Public Policy Foundation.
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