GwinnettForum | Number 25.53 | July 1, 2025
SECURITY PATROL: You’ll be seeing security vehicles like this around the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District in the future. The district signed an agreement with the Signal of Northeast Atlanta, a private sector security organization, to provide round-the-clock enhanced public safety coverage throughout Gwinnett’s central business district. For more details, see Notable below.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Enjoying France without constant Trump talk
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Recent elections show sharp contrast in outcomes
SPOTLIGHT: PCOM Georgia
ANOTHER VIEW: Should we really celebrate the 4th on August 2?
FEEDBACK: Cutting weather funds might bring on the military
UPCOMING: Hendrickson to chair transportation policy group
NOTABLE: College Intern Mix helps students build connections
GEORGIA TIDBIT: The origin of bottled Coke coupled with prohibition
MYSTERY PHOTO: It’s underground, and this mystery photo has clues
CALENDAR: Consider attending your own area’s Fourth celebration
EDITOR’S NOTE: GwinnettForum is taking a short break. The next edition should be published on Tuesday, July 15, 2025.
Enjoying France without constant Trump talk
By Andy Brack, Charleston City Paper
BEYNAC-ET-CAZENAC, France | Perhaps the most delightful thing about vacationing in France this year was something beyond the great food, spectacular culture, lush vistas and kind people.
The best thing about this year’s time away from the United States was not having to hear about Donald Trump and politics every time you turn a corner. Maybe it’s not until one gets away for a bit that you realize how inundated and exhausted we are by politics through social media, television, radio, newspapers and all of the messaging that slams into our brains daily. Being able to mostly turn that off for a few days has been a vacation in and of itself.
Sure, we heard about the sudden bombing of Iran, the New York mayor’s race and the not unexpected announcement by S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson that he is running for governor.
But what’s been joyously missing is the rat-a-tat-tat of people dissecting every little aspect of what Trump and his administration are doing – even though they often just seem to make up stuff as they go along to respond to whatever is in the daily news cycle.
So maybe the best vacation advice of the year – either inside the U.S. or out – is to turn off social media and television for a few days to get away from the incessant hum and chatter of politics. It will be good for your soul.
IN FRANCE, my younger daughter and I had a good time visiting Paris, Bordeaux and several small villages along the Dordogne River. Here are some observations:
Air-conditioning. We visited during an unexpected heat wave in a part of the world that doesn’t do air-conditioning well. In one hotel, the lowest setting for the A/C was 76 degrees– and it was still humid. In an apartment we rented briefly, the 18-inch-thick walls did a great job of keeping out the heat, but it was still warm inside. To get cooler, we bought a $30 fan.
Food. Once you eat bread baked by the French, you won’t want the schlock that most Americans eat. It’s fresh, clean-tasting, hearty and inexpensive – as are wine, cheese and more. While you can still get junk in larger grocery stores, it’s interesting to look at how there are far fewer ingredients listed on packaging. Everything seems less processed.
Coffee. It’s just better. Anywhere you go in France – except maybe train stations – has better coffee than you generally get in the U.S. The portion sizes, however, are tiny.
Markets. Villages thrive on weekly markets where you can get everything from canned duck and the sweetest strawberries to olives, nuts, cheese, fish, meat, clothing, jewelry and all kinds of knick-knacks. We didn’t see a lot of Chinese-made junk.
Transportation. The high-speed trains between big cities are way cool. It took 2.3 hours to go 350 miles from Paris to Bordeaux, for example. Ubers are affordable. Trams are easy. But driving in a rented car on narrow French country roads can be exhausting.
Smoking. About the only disappointing part of some local restaurants were smokers at outside tables. While smoking doesn’t appear as ubiquitous here as it once was, it’s noticeable and makes one think about how much more pleasant restaurants are in the U.S. since smoking has been banned.
Guns. The culture isn’t permissive or obsessive on guns. People weren’t walking around with them. Gun shops were rare – most likely because of how hard it is to get hunting rifles here. About the only guns we saw were among trios of police officers in high-traffic tourist areas.
Andy Brack is editor and publisher of Statehouse Report and the Charleston City Paper. Have a comment? Click here to send an email.
Recent elections show sharp contrasts in outcomes
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JULY 1, 2025 | Let’s take a look at two recent unrelated elections from June 2025.
Last week there was an election in Georgia for two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC). This election should have been held during the last General Election, but a federal lawsuit postponed the election. Because of the timing, the turnout was miserable across the state.
Here are the results of the PSC election .
- For the District 3 Democratic seat, there will be a runoff on July 15 for this seat between Keisha Sean Waites, who received 46 percent of the vote, and Peter Hubbard who won 33 percent of the vote. A third candidate got 20 percent, throwing the race to a runoff. The winner will face incumbent Republican Fitz Johnson on November 4 in the 2025 General Election.
- For the District 2 seat, incumbent Republican Tim Echols won his race to face unopposed Democrat Alicia Johnson in November.
As of June 24, 2025, there were 7.4 million people registered to vote in the PSC election. But only 207,954 voted, or 2.8 percent of active registered voters. Can you imagine how many will return to the polls on July 15 to actually nominate a person for this seat? Few.
That’s right. That’s also a mighty puny way to nominate someone for an important state office.
Think, too, about the cost to the individual counties to have several people man the polls for this election. It makes you shake your head in wonder about some ways our democracy actually works.
Now look at another entirely different election last week, in New York City, where there were 11 candidates running for mayor. Six of the 11 candidates achieved at least 1 percent of the vote.
Before the race, many thought former Gov. Andrew Cuomo would win the Democratic nomination.
But no. Instead, a newcomer, Zuhran Mamdani, upset the favorite handily. Note, too, that Mr. Mamdani is a Muslim, the first of his religion to win this nomination for mayor in New York. That shows the power of diversity today in politics!
But here’s the second kicker in this race: New York City was using ranked-choice voting. That meant that though Mr. Mamdani did not win a majority, but won only 43.5 percent of the vote, to 36.4 percent for Mr. Cuomo, Mamdani was still declared the nominee without the need of having a runoff!
Now, consider this: had Georgia had ranked-choice voting, and required that the leader have at least 40 percent of the vote, there would be no need for a puny runoff election.
Think of the cost New York City would be facing had they not decided to rank-choice the candidates. It would be high.
And now Georgia must go through a statewide runoff for this single post on the Public Service Commission. Besides the high cost of the runoff, think of the poor election workers who will man the polls in the run-off in the 159 counties of Georgia. They will sit there for 12 hours (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and be bored stiff.
We feel that the idea of ranked-choice voting will be a growing method to elect officials in more and more states in the next few years. However, we suspect that the Georgia Legislature, consisting of politicians in both the major parties who are not always forward-thinking, will take ages before they accept the ideas of ranked-choice voting. It just seems like to many people ranked choice is a better way, but few in the Legislature think that way.
What a major contrast these two June elections provided!
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Should we really celebrate the 4th on August 2?
By Teresa Araque
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. | The Fourth of July is the day America celebrates its independence, but that’s only the beginning of the history behind this storied holiday. It also includes local ties to Gwinnett, Hall and Walton counties.
Is it July 4 or August 2? The discrepancy in the signing of the Declaration of Independence stems from the paper that was used: parchment versus broadside printing paper.
Dr. Michael Gunther, associate professor of history, interim history and geography department chair at Georgia Gwinnett College, says: “Statesmen like Thomas Jefferson, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin collaborated on drafting the Declaration of Independence in June 1776, and on winning passage of the crucial “Lee Resolution” on July 2.”
By this time, he said, Georgia supported independence and had sent Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall and George Walton to Philadelphia to sign the document. At the end of debate over the wording of the Declaration, the final vote was taken on July 4.
A paper copy likely signed only by John Hancock and Secretary Charles Thomson made its way to John Dunlap, a printer, who executed the first broadside printing, adds Gunther.
“Despite some evidence to the contrary, most historians maintain that the parchment Declaration was signed on August 2, 1776,” Gunther found. “The act of signing the parchment Declaration that rests in the National Archives today is still shrouded in mystery. Congressmen such as Matthew Thornton and Thomas McKean, who were not present on July 4, signed the parchment. Button Gwinnett likely signed on August 2.”
The value of these documents is eye-opening. Gunther said that a Dunlap broadside fetched over $8M at an auction in 2000.
He added that so few surviving documents have Gwinnett’s signature, which makes them valuable.
“Fifteen years ago, a signed Gwinnett letter sold for over $700,000,” he said.
Today, the influence of the Declaration of Independence continues beyond the document.
“Grounding a revolution against monarchy and empire in statements of universal truths helped inspire later revolutions, including the French Revolution,” says Gunther. “The words of the Declaration propelled a debate about what equality means. The Seneca Falls Declaration of Sentiments, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech all draw on and engage critically with the Declaration of Independence.”
Next year, America celebrates its 250th anniversary of independence, called the semiquincentennial, and celebrations are already underway.
“Recent commemorations include the Battles of Lexington and Concord (April 19, “the shot heard round the world”) and Bunker Hill (June 17), as well as the birth of the U.S. Army (then called the Continental Army) on June 14,” said Gunther. “Not since 1976 has there been such an opportunity to celebrate such a milestone.”
Did you know?
- John Hancock’s signature is the largest since he was the presiding officer of the Second Continental Congress.
- Signatures on the document are in geographical order from south to north, which is why Georgia delegates’ signatures appear first on the left side of the parchment.
- In 1818, Georgia named three northern counties, Gwinnett, Hall and Walton, after the Declaration signers.
- On the 50th anniversary of independence on July 4, 1826, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both passed away.
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Cutting weather funds might bring on the military
Editor, the Forum:
The National Weather Service (NWS) collaborates with the Department of Defense (DOD) on numerous weather initiatives. NWS will get reduced severe weather forecast information from the DOD, which DOD leaders attribute to budget cuts and staff reductions. Or could this decision actually be a policy decision by the Trump Administration? Either way, these reductions will affect NWS’s ability to gather accurate weather forecasts during severe weather events.
The Trump Administration made significant budget cuts and staff reductions within NWS staffing, as well as in DOD.
- These staffing cuts have curtailed weather balloon launches, a vital source of upper-atmosphere data for weather models.
- These reductions in data sharing could lead to less accurate and timely weather forecasts, particularly for severe weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes.
- NWS had issued warnings for severe weather events, and a reduced ability to forecast accurately and issue warnings could endanger American lives and property.
Why might the Trump Administration want to worsen severe weather outcomes to our nation’s communities? Possibly to have more reasons to call out National Guard troops, and even call out active military personnel, to go into those communities after a weather disaster to “help” maintain order. Such military actions would normalize the presence of armed troops in our communities and habituate Americans to accept their increased presence. Most large U.S. cities are coastal and “blue” or are “blue” whether if they are in a “blue” or “red” state.
Do you share my concern? Such military actions within America will make it easier and more likely for Trump to invoke martial law and effectively take control of the county’s large cities, while blaming it on the weather!
– Mike Wood, Peachtree Corners
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.
Hendrickson to chair transportation policy group
Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson was recently reappointed as chair of the Economic Development and Transportation Policy Committee for the Association County Commissioners of Georgia. The appointment was made by ACCG President and Dougherty County Commissioner Clinton Johnson.
Hendrickson says: “This is progress in action and it’s the result of collaboration, commitment and a deep belief in what’s possible when we work together. I’m proud to see our vision come to life in such a meaningful way.”
The Economic Development and Transportation Policy Committee is responsible for identifying innovative state, regional and local economic development policies and strategies that support sustained growth throughout Georgia. In addition to addressing tax and investment policy and workforce development, the committee also works toward building a comprehensive, interconnected multimodal transportation system that serves all parts of the state.
Souter, O’Conner win new terms on Lilburn CID board
Two Lilburn Community Improvement District board members have gained re-election for three year terms to its board. They are John Souter and Ed O’Conner.
Souter, a lifelong Lilburn resident, is a graduate of South Gwinnett High School and West Georgia College. He is the founder and CEO of Comet National Shipping Corp., and has been deeply involved in real estate investment and commercial property ownership throughout the Lilburn area. He is a member of the Gwinnett Rotary Club.
O’Connor, currently the vice chairman of the board, has been a key figure in Atlanta’s commercial real estate industry since 1996. He is a member of the Society of Industrial and Office Realtors. O’Connor holds the prestigious Silver Phoenix Award from the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors, recognizing 25 years of Million Dollar Club membership. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Illinois State University.
The LCID is comprised of commercial property owners within the district who invest in their community by paying additional property taxes to support enhancements in safety, transportation, infrastructure and landscaping. During the meeting, the board also voted to maintain the district’s self-imposed millage rate at 5 mills for the upcoming fiscal year.
College Intern Mix helps students build connections
More than 50 college interns convened recently at the Partnership Gwinnett Intern Mix to build professional connections and explore career opportunities in one of Metro Atlanta’s most dynamic communities. Sponsored by Primerica and PBK Architects of Sugar Hill, the annual event showcased Gwinnett’s commitment to cultivating its future workforce through strategic talent development.
This year’s Intern Mix brought together students from a range of industries for a high-energy evening of networking, employer recognition, and career-focused conversations. The event served as a critical touchpoint in Partnership Gwinnett’s broader workforce strategy, aiming to retain emerging talent and bolster the region’s economic vitality.
Bayleigh Kempainen, managing principal of PGK Architects of Sugar Hill, says: “We try to take every opportunity to support students, especially Gwinnett students, and we like programs like Intern Mix, and are glad to support it.”
Lisa Brown, Primerica chief people office, says: “At Primerica, we believe that investing in the development of young professionals benefits them individually but also contributes to the overall prosperity of our community. That’s why we sponsor events like Partnership Gwinnett’s Intern Mix, which aligns with our commitment to support the growth and success of the next generation.”
The event, aligned with Partnership Gwinnett’s larger talent initiatives, including the Talent Council, Workforce Forum, and the upcoming Workforce Summit collectively work to bridge the gap between employer needs and local talent development.
Signal is new security partner with Gwinnett Place
Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District announces a new partnership with Signal, a private sector security organization, to provide round-the-clock enhanced public safety coverage throughout Gwinnett’s central business district.
Signal provides uniformed officers, known as Gwinnett Place Ambassadors, who are visible daily throughout the district, assisting the public, supporting businesses and serving as a deterrent to criminal activity. The coverage is also enhanced with weekday patrols from CID staff. For the first time, GPCID can provide community patrols 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Trey Ragsdale, chair of the Gwinnett Place CID board of directors, says: “Our partnership with Signal enhances our public safety presence and allows us to offer continuous coverage throughout the district. Combined with our existing CID staff patrols, we now have dedicated personnel in the district 24/7, creating a safer and even more welcoming community.”
Although they are not law enforcement, Gwinnett Place Ambassadors serve as a community-based public safety resource. They regularly coordinate with the Gwinnett County Police Department to promote safety, maintain visibility and improve quality of life throughout the area.
Jeff Gilhooly, owner, Signal of Northeast Atlanta, says: “We’re proud to offer the peace of mind that comes from a strong collaboration like the one we share with Gwinnett Place CID. Our ambassadors will work in collaboration with GPCID’s patrols to help visitors, workers and residents alike feel more comfortable and secure.”
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The origin of bottled Coke coupled with Prohibition
(From previous edition)
A few years before Coca-Cola began its spectacular rise to international acclaim, a drink known as Pemberton’s French Wine Coca was extremely popular in Atlanta. Its fame spread throughout the Southeast, and the demand for the tasty beverage was high.
In 1885 a reporter from the Atlanta Journal approached the creator of French Wine Coca and asked him for a detailed analysis of the new drink. John Pemberton replied, “It is composed of an extract from the leaf of Peruvian Coca, the purest wine, and the Kola nut. It is the most excellent of all tonics, assisting digestion, imparting energy to the organs of respiration, and strengthening the muscular and nervous systems.”
He explained that South American Indians considered the coca plant a sacred herb and praised its beneficial effects on the mind and body. With the aid of the coca plant, the Indians had performed “astonishing” feats, he said, “without fatigue.” Pemberton then admitted that his coca and kola beverage was based on Vin Mariani, a French formula perfected by Mariani and Company of Paris, which since 1863 had been the world’s only standard preparation of erythroxylon coca.
In 1886 the city of Atlanta introduced prohibition, which, among other things, forbade the sale of wine. Pemberton decided to make another version of his popular drink. He dropped the reference to wine in the name of the beverage, substituted sugar syrup for the wine, and coined the name “Coca-Cola” to identify his formula. Henceforth, he would call Coca-Cola the ideal temperance drink, both on the label and in advertising.
Realizing that he needed financial backing to market this nonalcoholic version of French Wine Coca on a large scale, Pemberton formed a company for that purpose. He put his son Charles in charge of manufacturing Coca-Cola, and after prohibition ended in 1887, he again produced French Wine Coca. He announced that he would retire from active practice, sell his drugstores in Atlanta and elsewhere in the state, and devote all his time to promoting his beverages.
Meanwhile, a group of businessmen responded to Pemberton’s appeal to finance the new Coca-Cola Company. He was to receive a royalty of five cents for each gallon of Coca-Cola sold.
It was Pemberton’s practice to organize a business as a co-partnership and then convert it into a corporation. In March 1888, after being in business for eight months as a co-partner, he filed the petition for incorporation of the first Coca-Cola Company in the Fulton County Superior Court. Five months later, on August 16, 1888, he died at his home in Atlanta.
On the day of Pemberton’s funeral, Atlanta druggists closed their stores and attended the services en masse as a tribute of respect. On that day, not one drop of Coca-Cola was dispensed in the entire city. At sunup the following day, a special train carried his body to Columbus, where a large group of friends, relatives, and admirers laid him to rest. The Atlanta newspapers called him “the oldest druggist of Atlanta and one of her best known citizens.”
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
It’s underground, and this mystery photo has clues
It’s underground, the bricks are old, and you see some lighting fixtures. What happened here? This may be too tricky, but try your luck. Send your ideas to ebrack2@gmail.com, and provide your hometown address.
The last Mystery Photo got an immediate response from Ross Lenhart, Stone Mountain: “It’s the waterfront in Liverpool, England. The University of Liverpool developed a pre-eminent school of tropical medicine in the 19th century as a shield to protect the British Isles from disease from ships coming from the Empire. One of my sons works with a British firm as a software architect from here in Atlanta.” The photo came from Michael Clark of Atlanta through Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill.
Also recognizing the photograph were Jay Altman, Columbia, S.C.; Chuck Paul, Norcross; George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; Dick DoPresti of Berkeley Lake; and Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas, who wrote an extensive answer: “Today’s mystery photo is of the Pier Head area of the Liverpool Waterfront, a bustling riverfront that serves as a cultural, commercial, and tourism hub for the city of Liverpool, with many bars, restaurants, and hotels lining the docks, intermixed with waterfront walkways, river boat tours, and ferry rides. It has become a regular port of call and embarkation point for many cruise lines, such as Cunard, MSC, and Viking.
“Prominently visible in the center of the mystery photo are three early 20th century buildings referred to as the ‘Three Graces”:
- On the left is the Royal Liver Building, completed in 1911. It was one of the first buildings in the world to be constructed using reinforced concrete, and was the tallest building in Europe at the time. Its two clock towers are topped with the famous Liver Birds, mythical creatures that have become symbols of Liverpool.
- In the center of the photo is the Cunard Building, completed in 1917. It served as a key hub for transatlantic shipping operations and the headquarters of the Cunard Steamship Company.
- On the right is the Port of Liverpool Building. Completed in 1907, it served as the headquarters of the Mersey Docks and Harbor Board, the governing body responsible for the management, maintenance, and development of Liverpool’s dock system and harbor facilities along the River Mersey.
“The name is derived from the Old English word ‘Liuerpul,’ where ‘Liuer’ meant thick or muddy water and ‘Pul” meant a pool or creek. So Liverpool basically means ‘a swampy pool.’ I have to admit that this isn’t all that unfair. It was likely a far more accurate description in 1190, which was the time that “Liuerpul” was the first recorded name for the city.”
- 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.
Consider attending your own area’s Fourth celebration
Snellville Commerce Club meets July 1 (today) at noon at Snellville City Hall. Speaking will be Gwinnett Police Sgt. Jason Thomas, head of Gwinnett Safe Communities.
Author Talk: Join author Omar Tyree as he celebrates the 30th anniversary of his iconic bestselling novel Flyy Girl. This will be on July 1 at 7 p.m. at the Snellville Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Norcross PDC (People Drinking Coffee) meets Wednesdays from 8:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. at 45 South Cafe to discuss current events that are political, educational and community-focused. Speaking on July 2 will be Louis Svehla, director of communications for Peachtree Corners. No dues or membership fees; anyone can attend.
Sparkle in the Park: The City of Lilburn will hold its 16th annual Sparkle in the Park this year on Thursday, July 3, starting at 6 p.m. Join the community for this celebration of independence at Lilburn City Park for a night full of live entertainment, food vendors and a fireworks display.
Join art professor Dr. Janet Stephens to explore the history of color in art and the Impressionists’ impact in transforming painting and bringing the arts into the modern world. The talk is entitled Color and the Rise of Modern Art: Impressionism and Beyond. It will be presented July 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library.
The Park Place Master Plan Recommendations workshop will be July 10 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The workshop will be at 1790 East Park Place Boulevard. Come to share your thoughts on the recommended design framework for Gwinnett’s southwestern gateway! Your feedback will help ensure that the master plan reflects the needs and collective vision to make this community thrive. The Park Place district generally surrounds the intersection of Park Place Boulevard.
Learn about fireflies. Georgia has 50+ different species of fireflies, more than any other state in the country! Join Gwinnett Parks and Rec at Simpsonwood Park on July 10 for Full Moon Friday Firefly Frenzy to witness this summer phenomenon and help record valuable data on these incredible insects. It’s for all ages and starts at 8 p.m.
Gwinnett Reads Jane Austen: Dressing the Part: Regency Era Fashion. Learn how fashion reflected the shifting social values of the early 19th century and the art of understated elegance. Perfect for history enthusiasts, costume lovers, and anyone curious about the fascinating world behind the iconic looks of the Regency period. This will take place July 15 at 11 a.m. at the Norcross Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library.
Join award-winning author Daniel Black as he discusses his novel, Issac’s Song, about a young queer Black man finding his voice in 1980s Chicago. This event will be July 16 at 7 p.m. at the Snellville branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
A Year with Frog and Toad is the next production of Lionheart Theatre Company in Norcross. It will be staged from July 17-20. Follow two best friends, the cheerful Frog and grumpy Toad, as they hop, sing and dance their way through a year of adventure. Based on the books by Arbold Lobel. Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online.
Join Gwinnett Master Gardeners to hear nature photographer Eric Bowles on July 21 at 7 p.m. at the Bethesda Senior Center, 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville. You are invited to join the gardeners for dinner at 6:30 p.m. Bring a dish to share.
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