GwinnettForum | Number 25.76 | Sept. 30, 2025
LONGER LASTING: Because Norway gets so much snow and rain each year, churches there, when built of wood, are structured in vertical alignments. This allows the precipitation to slide down the wall, giving the church a much more durable, longer lasting exterior. This is a church in Olden, Norway.
TODAY’S FOCUS: How one boy’s fascination with cars began
EEB PERSPECTIVE: First Black female policewoman joins Secret Service
SPOTLIGHT: Lail Family Dentistry
ANOTHER VIEW: Suwanee Art Center director on her retirement
FEEDBACK: Several responses to recent Trump comments
UPCOMING: GGC grad from Kosovo has job traveling the world
NOTABLE: Unincorporated county residents can get free recycling carts
RECOMMENDED: Affairs of the Heart of Short Stories of Henry James
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Bullock was first Republican governor
MYSTERY PHOTO: Old-style building has solid good lines
CALENDAR: Jimmy Carter celebration at Best Friend Park on Wednesday
How one boy’s fascination with cars began
By Mike Eberlion
PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga. | I have been a “Car Nut” since I was 12 years old. In my 80s now, I have owned over 200 cars. My fascination started with my first paid job at Dollar Auto Wrecking in Glendale, Calif. It was owned by my 20 year old cousin, Tom, and I blame him and the yard for the craziness.
First day on the job ($1 a day) I was told to harvest the batteries out of the 300 or so junked and wrecked cars, spread over some six acres. I was told to simply load the monsters into the trunk of one of the running cars and then stack them in the battery shack.
Talk about excitement…12 years old, me, driving a car. I didn’t dare tell Tom I didn’t know how to drive or that I really didn’t know what a battery was.
In desperation, I asked one fella who was separating the body of the car from the frame with a huge acetylene torch. He showed me where to look for the batteries and then how to unbolt the the tie downs and battery cables. The battery was nestled into a steel frame and as I went to unbolt it, the wrench, now carrying 6 volts of electricity, came into contact with the inside of the fender. Sparks flew! And so did I. I dropped the wrench and ran.
I was young but not really unaware of electricity, from then on I carefully avoided any contact with metal while I was unbolting the cables.
The first battery I removed weighed, I think, as much as I did, but through sheer will-power and full body exertion I wrestled it out so I could carry it. Instead I dropped it. When it landed, upside down, it cracked the case and I could see it leaking. I hoisted it first onto my thighs…then walked/dragged it to my car. The thighs of my Levis were sopping wet. I was on my second battery when I felt my legs starting to burn; a minor irritant at first, but very soon, my little legs were screaming at me.
I didn’t dare drive to the office—too slow: I ran. Tom, my cousin, was sitting at his desk. When I hit the door I shouted, “Help—my legs are burning.” Tom asked what I had done. In as few words I explained I had spilled some of the battery water on myself.
Jimmy supplied the answer, “You little idiot! That’s not water, it’s battery acid.” Russ, the tow truck driver, was now at the door and heard the exchange. He ordered, “Come with me. I’ve got some baking soda in the truck.” We went to a water spigot at the side of the office and he mixed some of the soda with water in a hub cap. “Drop your pants!” he commanded.
What? Drop my pants? In public? The burn in my legs convinced me to do as commanded and Russ slathered the paste onto my thighs. Almost immediately the pain was extinguished and that was my second lesson of the day: Car batteries are full of acid. I finished the first day in a pair of Levi shorts.
Upon reaching home I learned another: Never pour battery acid onto your new $6 Levis. Another new pain, this one on the backs of my little legs after mom saw that I had ruined the first new pants she’d ever purchased for me. (She was a power sewing instructor.) I remembered that lesson. But that’s where the crazy fascination with cars was born.
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Female Black Gwinnett officer joins Secret Service
By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher, GwinnettForum
Sept. 30, 2025 | Since the time she was six years old, ever since President John Kennedy was assassinated, Yvette Summerour of Lawrenceville had always wanted to be a Secret Service agent, protecting the president. She is the daughter of the late Tim and Ruth Summerour of Lawrenceville.
“When the president was assassinated, it really affected our family, especially my mother. I wanted to do all I could do so that she would not have to go through that sorrow again.” So she focused on her goal.
She would graduate from Central Gwinnett High School, then go to the University of Georgia and graduate, majoring in psychology and sociology.
Understanding the requirements of the Secret Service, Yvette knew that she would have to have law enforcement experience to join the service. She applied to the Gwinnett Police Department, which was directed in that day by the legendary John Crunkleton. Joining that force made Yvette Summerour the first Black female police officer in Gwinnett County history.
She says of a black woman joining the force: “I do not recall a time when it was not respectful. From age 7, when we were forced to integrate the schools, I learned to have balance and get along with whatever group you were in. In the years when I was the first Black female officer, I just followed the guidelines that we had. The other officers were always respectful. Because I was female, perhaps they protected me more. I told them I appreciated them being with me, and I knew that if I needed help, they would show up.”
Yvette joined the Secret Service just after the attempt on the life of President Ronald Reagan. She continued as an agent for 27 years, until President Barack Obama’s second term. She was on the Presidential detail for five and a half years, from President Bill Clinton’s first term until midway of his second term.
After her presidential detail assignment, she was moved to other positions in Washington, and eventually assigned to the Atlanta Secret Service office in 2005, as its supervisor. She retired in 2013.
She thoroughly enjoyed her Air Force One experience. “The attendants on the plane know that you have been out there working perhaps for 12 hours on the detail, and you have been sweating with the heavy vest, and all equipment. When you get on that plane, you can relax, and decompress on the big, wide leather seats. You are given a cold towel and a lemonade, and there’s nothing like flying on Air Force One. You want to never fly in any other way.”
When moving back to this area, she sought to buy a home in Lawrenceville, but couldn’t find what she wanted, so was delighted to buy a home in Snellville, where she still lives.
Once retired at age 55, after her father’s death, Yvette didn’t slow down. She felt the Holy Spirit telling her something. She enrolled at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, earning a master’s degree in Christian Education. She attends Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, where she teaches Bible studies and is the assistant director for Christian Education. Fittingly, she is also on the security team at the church.
“All my life, I’ve wanted to protect the president. God told me this was his plan, and I have been as comfortable as I have ever been doing that.”
On Friday: yes, another Central Gwinnett graduate joins the Secret Service.
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Lail Family Dentistry
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Lail Family Dentistry has been serving the community in Duluth and Gwinnett County for 53 years. Being the longest serving dental practice in the county, our roots run deep within our community and will continue to do so for generations to come. The doctors at Lail Family Dentistry are all members of the Lail family and are here to provide for you and yours. If you are in search of a traditional, hometown dentist that utilizes the latest dental techniques and technology while also exemplifying the utmost sense of professionalism, timeliness, and hospitality, we would be glad to welcome you to our practice. For more information, please visit our website at drlail.com or phone (770) 476-2400.
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Suwanee art center director on her retirement
Dear friends and fellow artists:
Eight weeks ago, I shared with the board of directors my decision to retire from my role as executive director of the Suwanee Arts Center. Since then, I have been transitioning my knowledge and responsibilities to the board and staff, and I will continue to assist for the next few weeks to ensure a smooth handoff.
These past three years have been transformative in my life. When I first arrived in Suwanee, I was searching for community, purpose, and a place to settle. I was greeted with open arms and immediately made busy—and I have loved every moment of it! The “business of art” and the unique challenges of supporting artists and cultural nonprofits were the perfect fit for me. Suwanee’s dedication to arts and culture has been inspiring, and I will cherish the relationships I’ve built here always.
Looking forward, I am excited to embrace new chapters—becoming a first-time grandmother, enjoying a little travel, and settling into my new home about an hour and a half away. While this means I won’t be commuting regularly, you will still see me at art events across the region. And though I am retiring from my executive role, I will continue to work privately as a consultant for artists seeking professional development and for cultural nonprofits pursuing strategic growth.
I am proud of the growth we’ve achieved together at the Suwanee Arts Center. Over these three years, we have expanded our arts education programs, increased the scale and attendance of our community festivals, and raised the quality and diversity of our exhibitions. These accomplishments are a testament to the creativity, resilience, and commitment of this community.
Please know that I would love to stay connected with you. Feel free to reach me anytime at Hill19Cynthia@gmail.com, whether to share your artistic journey, to explore consulting opportunities, or simply to catch up over a gallery visit.
Thank you for welcoming me into your community and for allowing me to serve the arts alongside you. Suwanee will always hold a special place in my heart, and I look forward to seeing your creativity continue to flourish.
– Cynthia Hill, Carrolton
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Several responses to recent Trump comments
Editor, the Forum:
Ty Cobb (not the baseball player) is a lawyer who worked as a Special Counsel in the White House in 2017-2018 and represented President Trump during the Mueller investigation. After Joe Biden became President, Cobb gave this opinion: “I believe former President Trump to be a deeply wounded narcissist, and he is often incapable of acting other than in his perceived self-interest, or for revenge. I think those are the two compelling instincts that guide his actions.”
We now see how accurate that assessment was in observing Trump’s actions and words each day. Yes, we need to pray for our country every day, but we can do more each in his or her way. We need to resist, to speak the truth, call out lies and defend our Constitution.
One may choose to participate in protests, write letters to the editors of newspapers or Internet forums, support organizations that will file legal challenges to the Administration’s actions, or those defending voting rights.
Write to your Representative or Senator to share your opinions and concerns. The fact is you can’t sell your soul to Trump and keep your spine/integrity. It’s either one or the other. Choose wisely for our country.
– John Titus, Peachtree Corners
Editor, the Forum:
Thanks for your cogent essay of September 26 on Trump. It put me in mind of a paragraph I saved from the 9/24/2020 in the New York Review of Books (sorry I neglected to note the author), regarding the mystery of why so many people seem so oblivious to his failings:
“Trumpism is a Ghost Dance for the white male American, an act of faith that the invaders can be banished and the old order restored. The mines and steel mills have no more returned to the Midwest than the buffalo did to the Great Plains, but this soured, curdled grief for a vanished world (part real, part imagined) remains at the heart of Trump’s emotional appeal.”
— Mary Beth Overmyer Twining, Durham, N.C.
Editor, the Forum:
Concerning your Sept. 26 (“Trump’s pronouncements sully the office”). We can do more than pray. We can vote in 2026 for senators and representatives who have the courage to stop Trump in his tracks.
– Tim Keith, Sugar Hill
Editor, the Forum:
I have this ability to find a new word, crack it, and never forget where I first saw it and what the page number was. The word was “rodomontade.” The most rodomontade person with whom you can identify today is Trump. The word means “boastful.”
– Raleigh Perry, Buford
Learned from article about crypto mining
Editor, the Forum:
I really appreciated the article by Tom Baxter on Crypto mining. It was clearly and understandable, writte, and explained much about the issues.
– Marlene Ratledge Buchahan, Snellville
Send us your thoughts: We encourage you to send us your letters and thoughts on issues raised in GwinnettForum. Please limit comments to 300 words, and include your hometown. The views of letters are the opinion of the contributor. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Send feedback and letters to: ebrack2@gmail.com.
GGC grad from Kosovo has job traveling the world
By Teresa Abraque | For Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) alumnus Flurim Aliu, traveling is a big part of his job. He flies from his home in Switzerland to countries around the world. Since graduating with a bachelor’s degree in political science from GGC in 2017, he has forged a distinguished career as a political economist, working as a consultant and research analyst for the World Bank. He is also a visiting researcher for the International Monetary Fund and has worked for the German Development Institute. He’s currently a Fellow at Switzerland’s Council on Economic Policies, and he regularly publishes on economic policy.
Aliu says: “I meet so many different government officials from around the world who are all trying to help their countries, and we help them design better economic policies. I also get to travel a lot, which is nice. I’ve worked in finance ministries in countries like Ireland and Italy, which are relatively close to my home base in Switzerland, and to faraway places like Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, the Philippines, and Nepal.”
The journey to becoming a student at GGC started in his hometown of Mushtisht, southern Kosovo.
“To be completely honest, it was a little bit random,” explains Aliu from his home in Zurich, Switzerland. “There was this Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in our municipality called Kosovo Hope, which was partnering with Grace Church in Snellville to organize student exchanges. American students would come to Kosovo over the summer and the Kosovar students would go to the U.S. on exchange. I was in one of the first groups to go to the U.S. on exchange.”
Initially, Aliu thought he would apply to a university in Austria since he speaks German and had volunteered with the Austrian NGO. But the opportunity to live in the U.S. and study at GGC changed his Aliu majored in political science at GGC, but an elective class in economics captivated his imagination: “I just thought economics is this fascinating way of understanding how the world really works and what drives societies,” he says.
“I also dreamed of taking back the lessons from both PoliSci and economics to my country one day and trying to help it develop further. I think studying PoliSci and economics is a really good combination because many economic decisions (at the macro level, where I focus) are made using political rationale instead of strict economic rationale.”
Aliu says his favorite memories of GGC revolved around his time in the International Student Association.“I got to meet so many people (at GGC) from so many places, and it opened my eyes to how similar we actually all are!” he says.
Aliu says he would encourage current and future GGC students interested in economics as a career to go for it.
“There are outstanding professors at GGC, and economists are desperately needed in the private and public sectors alike, so there will always be demand,” he says.
Aliu still plans to take the lessons he’s learned back to Kosovo one day. In the meantime, he plans to continue building his career while enjoying home life in Zurich.
New name for roadway in Peachtree Corners
After receiving approval by the Peachtree Corners council earlier this year, plans are moving forward to rename Technology Parkway South to Innovation Drive.
This change is intended to help eliminate confusion with the nearby Technology Parkway and improve navigation for businesses, visitors, and service providers. The new name also reflects the city’s strong technology heritage, and it aligns with other streets in Technology Park, such as Scientific, Engineering, and Research Drives
Unincorporated county residents can get recycling carts
Residents in unincorporated Gwinnett County can request a free recycling cart. If you currently receive trash services and are interested in curbside recycling services, order your free 65-gallon recycling cart at GCSolidWaste.com.
The county is committed to recycling and reducing the volume of waste going into landfills to help protect our environment.
Affairs of the Heart from the Short Stories of Henry James
(Produced by Rex Firkin, John Frankau and adapted for television by Terrence Feely)
From Susan J. Harris, Stone Mountain: Affairs of the Heart, based on the short stories of Henry James, is a series of 13 short productions that bring literature of Henry James to life in a tragic/comic way. Episode titles are Emma, Flora, Grace, Mary and Louisa, Adela, Catherine, Bessie, Kate, Milly, Leonie, Daisy, Elizabeth and Miss Tita. Rich in dialogue, repartee, set designs and gorgeous costumes, each story depicts the nuances that come about in relationships with spoken and unspoken words that evoke mystery, and intentions revealed and unrevealed. In an age when action is the way of storytelling today, it is refreshing and longed for change to see the how communication works in the lives of each heroine who is striving for connection, understanding and in some cases solace. Well worth the viewers time, especially those who enjoy English/American literature read and viewed.
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Bullock was first Republican governor of state
Rufus Bullock was the first Republican to be elected to Georgia’s highest political office, serving as governor from 1868 to 1871.
Bullock was a northern-born businessman who cooperated with the Confederacy, became the most hated man in the state during Reconstruction, was forced from office by the Ku Klux Klan, and recovered enough of his reputation.
Rufus Brown Bullock was born on March 28, 1834, in Bethlehem, N.Y. When he was six years old, his family moved to Albion, N.Y., Upon graduation from Albion Academy in 1850, Bullock became an expert in communications technology and, by 1855, managed the Philadelphia office of the American Telegraph Company. By 1860 Bullock had married Marie Elizabeth Salisbury of Pawtucket, R.I., and moved to Augusta to manage the Southern Express Company.
Even though he opposed secession, Bullock accepted the rank of lieutenant colonel and continued operating the telegraph, railroad, and freight interests for his company and for the Confederate quartermaster’s office.
When the war ended, Bullock entered politics, played a prominent role at the constitutional convention in December 1867 and won the election in April 1868 for governor over the Democratic favorite, John B. Gordon. Bullock’s business connections to the North brought in investment capital to bolster the state’s economy by the rapid construction of railroads, schools, factories, and public buildings in connection with relocating the state capital from Milledgeville to Atlanta.
Bullock’s unwavering support for African American equality and officeholding and the principle of “one man, one vote” flew in the face of recalcitrant white supremacy, however, overwhelming all other issues and keeping his tenure precarious. He often traveled to Washington, D.C., to plead with U.S. president Ulysses S. Grant and the Republican Congress to support the military reconstruction in Georgia. These actions condemned him in the eyes of Georgians who could not condone the changes wrought by the Civil War (1861-65).
They began a “Lost Cause” campaign to return Georgia to Democratic rule. When the 1870 election returned a Democratic majority to the legislature, Bullock secretly resigned and fled to New York.
In 1876 Bullock returned to Georgia and stood trial on various charges of corruption, conspiracy to defraud the state, and malfeasance. After the prosecution failed to substantiate its case and two Atlanta juries declared him not guilty, Bullock remained in Atlanta and became one of the city’s most prominent citizens. He was president of Atlanta’s first cotton mill, senior warden of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, and president of the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the high-society Piedmont Driving Club. His significant role in organizing the Atlanta Exposition of 1895 included persuading Booker T. Washington to give a keynote address.
Bullock and his wife left Atlanta in 1903 and returned to Albion, N.Y., where he died in 1907. On the day of his death all flags on public buildings in Georgia were lowered to half-staff in honor of his role in raising Atlanta to prominence in the New South.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Old-style building has solid good lines
For you mystery photo sleuths, today’s puzzle is an old style building, built solidly and with good architectural features. It may push you to determine where this structure is located. Work hard and come up with solution, then send your answer to ebrack2@gmail.com, to include your hometown.
Sherwin Levinson of Lawrenceville was on top with this identification: “I’m sure that’s the Ponte Vecchio in Venice. I spent a week living in an apartment near that bridge and crossed it many times.” The photo came from Sharon Lemaster of Atlanta, via Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill.
Jay Altman of Columbia, S.C., added: “The Ponte Vecchio (Old bridge) or Ponte degli Alpini, (bridge of the Alpini was rebuilt in 1948), is the covered wooden bridge designed by the architect Andrea Palladio in 1569. The bridge is located in Bassano del Grappa, Italy, and was destroyed many times, the last time in World War II. The bridge spans the river Brent.”
Other readers recognizing the photo were George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; Stewart Ogilvie, Rehobeth, Ala.; Allan Peel, San Antonio, Texas; Hoyt Tuggle, Buford; and Sara Rawlins, Lawrenceville.
- SHARE A MYSTERY PHOTO: If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Click here to send an email and please mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
Jimmy Carter celebration at Best Friend Park on Wednesday
Gwinnett County will join the nation in honoring the enduring legacy of President Jimmy Carter and his lifelong commitment to public service, human rights, and community building. The tribute will take place on Wednesday, October 1 at 10 a.m. at Best Friend Park in Norcross. The celebration, held in partnership with the Gateway85 Community Improvement District, Gwinnett County Public Schools, and Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity, will bring together students, residents, and community partners in shared reflection on President Carter’s values of peace, unity, and compassion. As a key part of the tribute, the Jimmy Carter Legacy Art and Essay Contest will feature creative works from students in the Meadowcreek and Norcross clusters of Gwinnett County Public Schools.
The Norcross PDC (people drinking coffee) meets each Wednesday at 8:15 a.m. at the 45 South Café in downtown Norcross. Speaker for the October 1 meeting will be Mary Dowdy-Head of the Norcross Downtown Merchants Assn. The event is free and visitors are welcomed.
Join award-winning author Kimberly Belle as she discusses her newest thriller, The Expat Affair, about an American expat’s startling discovery that plunges her into the glamorous but deadly world of Amsterdam’s diamond industry. Books will be available for purchase and signing. The talk will be October 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library.
Citizens of Norcross who have old electronics such as CD players, stereos, phones or fax machines can recycle them soon. Bring them to the City’s biannual Recycle and Clean Up Dat Recycle Day on October 4, from 8 a.m. to noon at Norcross Public Works, 345 Lively Avenue. The city will also collect paper for shredding, single-stream recyclables, glass bottles and jars, scrap metal, bulk materials and more. Visit aplacetoimagine.com for accepted items, volunteer info and event details!
Have a ‘berry’ good time at the Bluesberry Beer and Music Festival hosted by the City of Norcross on October 4. Enjoy blueberry drinks and treats while listening to soulful blues music at this popular blueberry-focused event. Admission is free. It will be held 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Thrasher Park.
Braselton Medieval Faire will be October 4-5 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. It will be at Medieval Village and Enchanted Forest, 9924 Davis Street, Braselton. Be entertained and educated with living history demonstrations from History Now, hands-on activities, vendors, and live entertainment throughout the weekend! Stroll over to the Enchanted Forest to meet the Queen and check out the gaming room, demos and DIY lectures!
The Snellville Historical Society fall meeting will be October 5 with an open house at its location, 2145 North Road in Snellville. Time will be from 2-4 p.m.
A debate in Norcross for candidates for two city council seats is scheduled for Tuesday, October 7, at 7 p.m. at the Norcross Community Center. Councilman Matt Myers is being challenged by Briana Murray, while Councilman Bruce Gaynor will have Samantha Spitzner as his opponent. Moderator of the debate will be Jim Blum of Peachtree Corners.
The [M] Factor film is a screening and roundtable discussion on the first documentary film on the health crisis faced by millions of women going through menopause. A roundtable discussion will follow the screening on October 8 at the Lilburn Branch of Gwinnett Public Library.
Southwest Gwinnett Chamber will host its Thursday Thought Leaders Lunch on October 9 at 11:30 A.M. at the Hilton Atlanta Northeast in Peachtree Corners. October’s topic is “Creating a Culture of Care: Winning the Hearts of Your Customers,” presented by author and guest speaker, Dee Ann Turner. Cost is $34 for members; $40 for non-members. Lunch buffet is included. Register by October 7 to reserve your spot.
Writing Your Memoirs: Learn how your experiences and life lessons can entertain and inspire others in this three-part writing workshop. This will be presented on October 9, 16, and 23 at the Collins Hill Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library.
The Norcross Arts Splash will be held in downtown’s Thrasher Park on Saturday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday, October 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More than 100 artists from across the county will showcase their talents with folk art, ceramics, paintings, photography, mixed media, fiber art, metalwork and jewelry. There will an interactive Kid’s Zone with face paintings, sand art, plus playground equipment. There will also be lots of festival food and drink. New for 2025 is the addition of the Local Maker’s Market at the historic Norcross Library, which is adjacent to Thrasher Park. Visit this treasure trove of handmade items by local artisans and crafters.
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