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 BIG PROJECT: Here’s a plat to give you an understanding of the $16.4 million in work being done at Wesleyan School in Peachtree Corners. Items outlined in pink will be new work. Work on the two new fields (7) should be finished in August, while the tennis area (10 and 11) will be complete in October. Work on Warren and Cleghorn Halls is due for completion by January 3, 2014. The work is being done by New South Construction. Click here to enlarge the plat. |
Issue 13.12 | Friday, May 17, 2013 TODAY'S FOCUS ELLIOTT
BRACK'S PERSPECTIVE FEEDBACK UPCOMING NOTABLE ALSO INSIDE IN
THE SPOTLIGHT GEORGIA
TIDBIT MYSTERY
PHOTO LAGNIAPPE |
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TODAY'S
FOCUS
NORCROSS,
Ga., May 17, 2013 -- The Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District
(CID) has always been blessed by having an abundance of passionate people
striving toward a common goal. Be it the board members, who have chosen
to further invest in the community they own property in, or the group
of staff members that work day in and day out to make this a community
in which people want to live, work and play. In recent months, the CID
has lost some of those long-time leaders. But in the wake of their departures,
others are rising to take up that mantle.
Ann
Cameron, a founding member of the CID's board of directors, stepped
down from her post in April. Cameron has always been a guiding hand in
the work the CID has done. With her background in commercial real estate,
she had an understanding of how the CID's work impacted the investment
and business community, and why this area was destined to regain its prominence
as a regional employment powerhouse. She says:
"I saw the potential in this area because, having a real estate background,
I believed in location, location, location. There really is no better
location than Interstate 85 and Jimmy Carter Boulevard. It offers unparalleled
access for businesses that serve the metro area. That is the reason
that it was the first location for business service space and small office
outside the perimeter." Though
Ann deserves much of the credit for the positive strides the CID has made
to date, she is quick to heap praise on her fellow board members and CID
staff. "I cannot say enough positive things about the staff
and the other board members that I have been fortunate enough to serve
with and to know. I think this group has been amazing in putting aside
personal goals for the good of the CID. We, with the help of an outstanding
staff, were totally committed to what was best for the Village. It has
been a great privilege serving with this exemplary group of
people."
Tim
Le of Exit Realty, who previously served on the board in a non-voting
capacity, replaces Cameron on the board.
One of
those staff members Cameron is talking about is John McHenry, who
has served as the CID's program director since April 2007, a role in which
he played an integral role in planning and implementing projects. He was
also a steady face at community meetings. Whether presenting to a crowd
or sitting down one-on-one in a local resident's living room, if there
was someone who wanted to learn about the CID and its initiative, McHenry
was there. In May, John accepted the post of community development director
for the city of Flowery Branch, where he'll put his skills of project
management and community development to good use. Chuck Warbington,
executive director for the CID, says: "Our community is poised to
flourish thanks in large part to the work John and Ann have done for the
CID. I'm fully confident in the team and succession plan we have in place
to carry that success forward and capitalize on the momentum we've all
worked to create."
That succession
plan includes the promotion of Alyssa Sinclair to replace McHenry
in his former post. While finishing Georgia Tech's Masters program in
City and Regional Planning, Sinclair worked as an intern for the CID.
Upon completion of the program in 2010, she was hired on full-time as
the project manager and has been intimately involved in project planning,
regional engagement and has received praise for her success in grant writing. While McHenry
and Cameron's devotion and passion will surely be missed, the CID is in
good hands as long as quality young leaders remain in the wings to take
up their charge and offer fresh perspective on the CID vision and initiatives.
ELLIOTT
BRACK'S PERSPECTIVE MAY 17,
2013 -- The cover of the May issue of Georgia magazine, the publication
of the Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, caught my eye. There was
the picture of a chef, from Lilburn. So we got in contact with her.
She’s
Jennifer Hill Booker, who has lived in Gwinnett for eight years, and makes
her living as a private chef. She’ll come to your home, prepare
a meal for any number of people, and guarantee that it’ll be good.
Her price is $125 plus the food. “I
work for people who can’t cook, or don’t enjoy cooking. We go
to the house, either cook a meal for eating hot or reheating. We are usually
in the home for 3-4 hours.” She takes a team of two assistants or
students in training with her. “The
individual chooses the menu, and we buy the food from Whole Foods, or
directly from farmers’ markets or family farmers.” She’s
no ordinary chef. Listen to her qualifications: living in Tulsa, Okla.,
where her father had a Dodge dealership, she is graduated from the University
of Tulsa, went to Oklahoma State for an associate’s degree in culinary
arts, then to Paris’ Cordon Bleu Institute to study for a year. Wow!
When not
in someone’s kitchen, she has taught at Grayson’s community
schools program, and conducts cooking therapy classes once a month at
a residential facility for mental illness. “These patients are often
overweight from their medications, or suffer psychoses. We show them how
to use a low fat and sugar diet, calm them down, and help them stay focused.
We teach all ages, from teens to older people.” Another
regular client is a couple who have been married for 40 years, and the
husband’s dream is for his wife to be a better cook. “The husband
decides the menu for each Tuesday, and I go there and talk her through
the meal, with a couple of pat recipes. Last week it was chicken scaloppini,
with asparagus and pasta. She doesn’t know how to cook, so doesn’t
enjoy it. They have a state-of-the-art, high-end kitchen, but her meals
cooked by herself often do not turn out. They are both very pleased.” Jennifer
has always wanted to be a chef. “When I was younger, we lived in
Orlando, and I grew up around Disneyland. My parents insisted that I go
to college first, then do what I wanted. So it paid off, I am able to
enjoy cooking and teach some, so my education really helped me.” As for
her aspirations, “Perhaps someday a brick-and-mortar restaurant,
with a kitchen studio, where I could offer classes besides the meals.
I would like to find a physical kitchen and open up a sit-down restaurant.” Ms. Booker,
who is “around 42,”and has two teen-age girls in middle school,
says she is never satisfied. “If there was a next goal, I do
not know what it would be. I’ve written a cookbook, and signed
a contract with an editor, and we are now shopping publishers. Who knows
what will happen next, maybe a television program?” Overall,
she is “tickled to make a living doing what I enjoy every day, and
being my own boss.” You can reach Jennifer by email or phone her at 678-294-2002. SPOTLIGHT FEEDBACK GwinnettForum today suggests viewing a demonstration of the new, easier CPR which takes the complication out of the method that was taught and practiced previously. This demonstration
was sent in from a GwinnettForum reader. It's easy to remember
and you don't have to be certified to use this method. In addition, it
may save a life! This is a demonstration, done by the doctors who developed
the procedure at the University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center. To see
the 5:59 minute demonstration, go to http://ahsc.arizona.edu/node/730.
UPCOMING The Gwinnett
County Department of Transportation will close the bridge at Interstate
85 at Pleasant Hill Road for the Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) crossover. The
project involves shifting traffic to the opposite side of the bridge,
which will make left turns onto the interstate easier and improve the
flow of traffic across the bridge. The
closure will begin at 9 p.m. on Friday, June 7, weather and
conditions permitting. The bridge will open to traffic by 5 a.m. on
Monday, June 10 with the new DDI configuration.
After crossover,
construction will continue on the center median and pedestrian facilities,
while crews will finalize the signals, interchange lighting and pavement
markings. The project is expected to be substantially complete in September,
with landscaping to begin in the fall. Once the project is complete,
the bridge at Pleasant Hill Road and I-85 will be Gwinnett County’s
first DDI and the second in Georgia. Schedule for diverging diamond work at Jimmy Carter Boulevard: Below is
an overview of the construction schedule for the Diverging Diamond Interchange
(DDI) for the bridge over I-85 at Jimmy Carter Boulevard. Note that the
schedule is subject to change based on weather and other conditions.
During
one full weekend, the bridge will be closed to all through traffic. Right
turn access to and from the interstate will not be impacted. A detailed
detour plan will be in place to minimize impacts. The date of the closure,
crossover and detour will be shared with area stakeholders and the public
in advance. For safety reasons, pedestrian traffic on the bridge will
be prohibited for at least one month following the crossover of traffic
while the pedestrian walkways are completed. Holmes' Hounds of Baskervilles coming to Snellville theater New London
Theatre will present Hound of the Baskervilles, opening May 17
and continuing through June 2.
Tickets
are $12 in advance or $15 on the day of the show. Children/students (3-19)
and seniors (55+) are always $10. Tickets can be purchased either
online through the theatre website, at Margins Charity Thrift and
Variety Mall, or at the theatre box office. Shows are performed
at the theatre, 2338 Henry Clower Blvd., Snellville.
NOTABLE
The camps
are not sponsored by Georgia Gwinnett College. NAMAR awards $4,000 scholarship to Grace Purdy Grace Purdy received a $4,000 college scholarship from the Gwinnett County Board of Realtors’ Scholarship Foundation. She is the daughter of Doug and Colleen Purdy of Cumming, and the granddaughter of Debbie Purdy, who is the broker for Purdy Real Estate in Dawsonville.
This is
the 23rd year that the Foundation, through the Northeast Atlanta Metro
Association of Realtors, has presented the Scholarship to an outstanding
high school senior. Recipients must have a first or second generation
family member who is active in the real estate profession and is a current
member of the Association. Two GGC cadets earn four-year Army ROTC scholarships For the
first time ever, two cadets in the Army ROTC unit at Georgia Gwinnett
College have earned U.S. Army scholarships. Cadets Andrew Lee and Austin
Swecker each recently received offers and subsequently accepted four-year
scholarships from the Army. Lee, a
freshman majoring in business administration with a concentration in international
business, is from Stuttgart, Germany. Swecker, also a freshman, is majoring
in criminal justice, and is from Snellville. Cadets must meet minimum GPA standards as well as minimum physical standards to be considered for Army scholarships. In addition, they must prove to their instructors that they have the ability to lead others and that they want to serve in the Army after graduation. Cadets Lee and Swecker are scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2016, after which they will receive their commission as second lieutenants and attend Basic Officer Leadership Courses. RECOMMENDED
GEORGIA
ENCYCLOPEDIA Environmental
policy is the result of a multitude of actions taken by many institutions
and individuals over a period of time. It is this interplay between groups
representing diverse interests and governmental officials that has molded
Georgia's environmental policy. As understanding of environmental matters
has increased, policymaking institutions have adjusted to changing needs.
Although efforts to protect environmental quality have progressed, the
pressures on Georgia's environment have continued to increase and intensify.
In light of the growing complexity of environmental problems and issues,
environmental policy in Georgia will have to adapt to be better able to
address environmental matters in the future.
Environmental
law emerged as a centerpiece for environmental policy in Georgia in the
mid-1960s. In response to significant water pollution problems, the Georgia
General Assembly passed the state's first major environmental legislation,
the Water Quality Control Act of 1964. This was followed in 1968 by the
passage of the Georgia Surface Mining Act, which requires the reclamation
of lands after mining. In the
1970s Georgia took major legislative steps to protect its environment.
In 1970 the General Assembly enacted the Coastal Marshlands Protection
Act, establishing a permit system for actions that would convert coastal
marshes to dry land uses. In 1972 a new agency, the Department of Natural
Resources (DNR), was created. At the same time environmental permitting
authority was concentrated in the Environmental Protection Division (EPD)
of the DNR. Passage of the Solid Waste Management Act and the Ground Water
Use Act was also accomplished in the state in 1972. Other environmental
legislation of the 1970s included laws addressing the allocation of surface
water, control of soil sedimentation and erosion, and protection of air
quality. In Georgia as in other states, the 1980s and 1990s saw a heightened focus on policymaking activities at the state capitol. This focus was reflected in the increase of lobbyists registered in Georgia during this period, from 300 in 1973 to around 1,000 by 2001. A rising concern about environmental matters could also be seen in the increase in the number of environmental organizations in Georgia, from fewer than 5 in the early 1970s to more than 100 in 2001.
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Visit this site to see details of the upcoming funerals of Gwinnett Countians from local funeral homes. On the site, sign up at top right and we'll send you GwinnettObits each day. Click on the names below to see details of their funerals.
TODAY'S QUOTE “Do not say a little in many words, but a great deal in a few.”
GREAT GIFT
Previously out of print, Elliott Brack's 850-page history, "Gwinnett: A Little Above Atlanta," is now available again. Since its original publication, the book was declared the winner of the 2010 Award of Excellence for documenting Georgia history by the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board. It is also the winner of the Gwinnett Historical Society's Whitworth-Flanigan Award for 2011 for preserving the history of Gwinnett County. The book includes 143 demographic and historic tables, with more than 4,000 names in the index, and 10,000 names in the appendix.Two versions of the book are available. The hardback edition is priced at $75, while a softback edition is $40. Books are available at:
You can also order books through the Internet. To do that, go to www.elliottbrack.com to place your order. For mail orders, there is a $5 shipping and handling fee. Purchases are also subject to the 6 percent Georgia sales tax. Or call me (Elliott
Brack) at 770 840 1003 and tell me how to dedicate a book to a friend
(or to you) as he adds his signature! SEARCH GWINNETT FORUM Loading
COMING SOON Suwanee's Everett Music Barn: 6 p.m., May 17, and 7 p.m., May 18, 4055 Stonecypher Road, Suwanee. Friday will be a jazz program, while Saturday will be the traditional bluegrass music. Proceeds benefit Family Promise's mission to end homelessness in Gwinnett. From noon until 6 p.m. will be a free Family Fun Day at the site. (NEW)
The
Duluth "Secret Garden Tour”: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 18.
The walk begins at the Strickland House, home of the Duluth History Museum,
2956 Buford Highway. You will get a map and be able to walk or board
a shuttle to the other gardens. Tickets are $25. The museum
will have experts on hand to answer questions about your gardens. There
will also be organic compost for sale as well as items for gardens. More
information is available here. Art show: Through May 21, George Pierce Park Community Recreation Center, 55 Buford Highway, Suwanee. Two artists are featured: June Gotthardt, showing landscapes of the North Carolina mountains; and Karen Device, whose work is described as "embodying a child-like sense of wonder." Admission is free. Open each day of the week and Saturday. Call 678-277-0910 for details or visit online. 17th Annual Norcross Classic Car Show: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., May 18, downtown Norcross. Proceeds benefit medical students. For information, go to this link. Sugarloaf Tour of Homes: May 18-19, Sugarloaf Country Club. Cost: $25 per person. Four local charities will benefit this year: Spectrum Autism Group, Rainbow Village, Wellspring Living and Partners Against Domestic Violence. Five homes will be on the tour. The event will include a boat and RV show on the clubhouse lawn. . Tickets may be purchased at the front gate on the day of the tour or online. (NEW) National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution Philadelphia Winn Chapter Meeting: 1 p.m., May 19, Ashton Senior Living in Lawrenceville will feature Caitlin Whiteaker, manager of the Margaret Mitchell House in Atlanta. A native of Sarasota, Fla., she is a graduate of Colgate University and has lived in Atlanta since 2007. For information, send email here. Rotary Comedy Night: 8 p.m., May 21, Aurora Theatre, Lawrenceville. The night marks the 40th anniversary of the founding of the Gwinnett Rotary Club. Proceeds from the night will benefit Rainbow Village, currently in Phase II of an expansion to raise $2.9 million for a community center on the group's Duluth campus. Comedian David Ferrell will be on stage. Tickets are $50 and include a dessert reception. To purchase tickets, go online here. Suwanee seeking: Volunteer park ambassadors. The city offers a May 22 training program to those who want to provide information and assistance to park and Suwanee Creek visitors. The one-hour program begins at 6:30 at the Suwanee Police Dept. training facility at 2966 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road. Applications are available at www.suwanee.com. CONTINUING Open Car Show with Hot Rods: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., May 25, Hayes Chevrolet, 3660 Georgia Highway 365, in Baldwin, Ga. Door prizes, raffle, swap meet, fun and food for the entire family. For info, call Matt Hayes at 706 776 1144. World Turtle Day: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., May 25, Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center. Meet live turtles, and participate in special turtle crafts and activities. For info, visit www.gwinnett EHC.org. Memorial Day Ceremony: 1 p.m., May 27, Gwinnett Fallen Heroes Memorial. Speaker will be Brig. Gen. (ret.) Dan Kaufman, who will soon become president of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. (NEW)
Moonlight
and Music Concert Series, last Friday of each month, at 8 p.m., May
to September, on the Historic Courthouse grounds in Lawrenceville. The
concerts are free, with tables for six available for purchase. The May
31 concert will feature the band, Grogus. For more information, contact
the Lawrenceville Tourism and Trade Association at 678-226-2639
or via email. (NEW) Spring Concert of the Stone Mountain Barbershop Chorus: 2 p.m., June 1, Mountain Park United Methodist Church, 1405 Rockbridge Road in Mountain Park. Featured guest for this year’s concert is A Mighty Wind, the 2012 International Bronze Medalist Quartet. Advanced tickets are $12, with an advanced purchase discount of $10 for students, groups of 12 or more and seniors over age 60. The day of the concert the price is $15. See details here. "Real/Unreal/Surreal" is the title of a new spring exhibit at the Kudzu Art Zone in Norcross, continuing through June 1. The show is a question of comparative reality, as artists display their interpretations of how real/unreal or surreal their visual creations are. For more details, contact Kudzu Art Zone at 770-840-9844 or go online. MORE EEB PERSPECTIVE
FOCUS
ARCHIVES
CONTINUING OBJECTIVES FOR GWINNETT Gwinnett Forum publisher Elliott Brack suggests that Gwinnett County needs a long-range list of continuing objectives for improving the county. Read more.
© 2001-2013, Gwinnett Forum.com is Gwinnett County's online community forum for commentary that explores pragmatic and sensible social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett County, Ga. USA.
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She
started her culinary career in 1995, and has been on her own for the last
three years. “Even in this time we call recession, people are still
eating out and buying my services for cooking for them. I average working
40-60 hours a week.”
The
public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com
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is 
This
Sherlock Holmes' spine chilling mystery is placed in a modern setting
in this version with suspense, humor and terror. Hound of the Baskervilles
will be performed on Friday and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30
p.m. from May 17 until June 2.
Grace
Purdy is currently attending Lambert High School, with a 4.1 GPA and has
been accepted at Georgia Tech, where she plans to study Business Administration.
From left NAMAR President Karen Loftus; Grace’s grandfather, Jim
Purdy; Scholarship Chair Norma Santana; Grace’s grandmother, Deborah
Purdy; Mother, Colleen Purdy; Dad, Doug Purdy; Sister, Paige Purdy; and
Grace Purdy. 
Last
week’s mystery was from Fountain Square in Cincinnati, Ohio,
sent in by Susan McBrayer. Only three people spotted it, with
Nita H. Killebrew of Lilburn being the first, following by Tamara
Munoz of Norcross, who gave more details: it is the Tyler Davidson
Fountain, which is called the “Genius of Water” tower.
Liz Forster of Cumming also knew that, but she should have, since
she is from Cincinnati. 
