ISSUE 14.93: Talent show, Langdale and GSU, more

LAWRENCEVILLE, Feb. 27, 2015—-The second annual Gwinnett’s “Kids Got Talent Show” will be presented on Saturday, March 28, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Students from around Gwinnett County schools will take the stage at Central Gwinnett High School to showcase their talents. The event helps raise funds and awareness for adults with developmental disabilities in the community for Hi-Hope Service Center.

The Master of Ceremony for the occasion will be Jay Dennard, chief operating officer of Gwinnett Medical Center. There will be mystery celebrity judges and a special guest performance by Karl Drake’s Irish Dance and Acting Up Theatre.

Among members of the 2015 Gwinnett’s “Kids Got Talent” cast will be:

• Caylyn Kelley, Duluth Middle School;
• Cecily Davis, Alex Davis and Courtney Lee, Snellville Middle School;
• Ella Riley Patterson, Buford Academy;
• Fernando Castellanos, South Gwinnett High School;
• Kayla C. Jones and Alisha Maxwell, Snellville Middle School;
• Laney Hall, Vantage Point Education;
• Madelyn Green, Gwinnett Online Campus;
• Nilah, Neeyah and Neenah Reid, Snellville Middle School;
• Partee Elementary Dance Team – Partee Elementary School;
• Rylee Sanders, Cooper Elementary School;
• Scerra Jones, Central Gwinnett High School; and
• Sophia Ritch, Duluth Middle School.

Hi-Hope Service Center has a 55 year tradition of supporting individuals with developmental disabilities.  Now focusing on adults, it provides support by connecting its clients with integrated opportunities for learning, work and leisure. It believes that individuals with developmental disabilities have inherent value with gifts and abilities to share. Without intentional engagement and support, these gifts may remain hidden and the community may never benefit from their contribution. These individuals are not only a vital resource to our community, but they enrich our lives.

Why a talent show for kids? Leading by example, kids are passionate about giving of themselves to make a difference. These students (elementary to high school in Gwinnett County) are aware of their special gifts and they don’t take them for granted. Instead, they are sharing those talents to draw the community in for a special evening of fun, awareness and support to play a role in ensuring that the critical work of Hi-Hope Service Center continues and grows.

Susan Boland Butts, CEO of Hi-Hope, says of the program: “Hi-Hope believes that everyone can contribute to their community, in their own way no matter their age or ability. Gwinnett’s “Kids Got Talent” gives youth an opportunity to use their talents to help ensure that others can develop theirs. Hi-Hope’s mission is to cultivate community for adults with developmental disabilities, many of whom are consistently contributing to our community through working, volunteering or sharing their own talent. When we all come together, everyone wins.”

The goal: with the community’s help, Hi-Hope can accomplish many goals:

• Provide awareness of Hi-Hope and its programs/services;
• Share its mission with community members;
• Give opportunity for children to be philanthropists and share their talents with the community;
• Ensure adults with developmental disabilities have the opportunity to share their gifts and talents with the community.

Interested in volunteering at Hi-Hope? Contact Christina Pratt at cpratt@hihopecenter.org.

Hi-Hope Service offers a number of sponsorship opportunities tailored to any size business, group or individual. Visit its website for details or contact me, Shannon Brabner at sbrabner@hihopecenter.org.

By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher, GwinnettForum.com

(Third of a three-part series)

FEB. 27, 2015 — If George Sparks shepherded Georgia State University in its middle years, the major figure propelling the university into the future was no doubt Noah Langdale. He was president from 1957 until 1988, seeing it grow from two buildings with $1.9 million budget and 5,200 students, and offering one degree, to 22,000 students and 20 buildings, a budget of $118 million and with 50 degrees in more than 200 fields. Today GSU could soon have more than 50,000 students, as Georgia Perimeter College is to merge with GSU.

Langdale was a football lineman at Alabama, and later a “burly orator” and erudite man, who got his law degree from Harvard. He had a voracious vocabulary, and was a walking, talking force for his school.

But before the Langdale’s reign, GSU had to survive a long and continuing brawl with the University of Georgia, and its president, O.C. Aderhold, over control of courses, spending, faculty and expansion. The wrangle became public. At one time the Southern School of Pharmacy in Atlanta asked the University System Regents to take over its operation under the jurisdiction of what would become GSU. Aderhold and the University objected, since it had its own pharmacy school, and didn’t want it hampered. (Eventually the Southern College of Pharmacy merged with Mercer University of Atlanta.)

Noah Langdale

Among recriminations between the two campuses was that the Atlanta campus had offered courses on an experimental basis, which quickly became permanent in the catalog. Athens officials were upset. The quarrels continued over personnel, courses, administrative control and of course, money.

Eventually an Athens study found Atlanta classes were too large, faculty overloaded, and many part time faculty were used for night classes. This was not keeping the standards that UGA suggested, the Athens-based report said.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta campus continued to grow, worrying Athens administrators. One UGA official wrote: “I dread to think what would happen if the Atlanta Division were given a free hand.”

You can be sure that funding was not equal. The Alma Times reported: “….that the Regents gave the Atlanta Division only $163 per student whereas the next lowest (college got) more than twice that amount.”

Another element working toward change was the membership of more than 4,000 Atlanta Division alumni. Its president called for a complete separation from UGA. Almost incongruently, UGA president Aderhold responded that the Atlanta Division could lose accreditation if independent, and he wrote, “It would be impossible to prevent it from growing into a full fledged university.”

Horrors!

But it happened, GSU gaining independence on April 8, 1955, at the recommendation of University System Chancellor Harmon Caldwell, to the consternation of President Aderhold of UGA. He began orchestrating an effort to convince people, particularly Regents and politicians, that separation “would be a serious mistake.” Few appeared to hear him.

At the time of becoming independent, state funding for UGA was rising from $406 to $432 per student in 1954-55, while the Atlanta division funding had decreased from $152 to $140.

Yet, in all its years, Georgia State continued to grow. And today it even has a football team. That old lineman, Noah Langdale, would revel in that.

Documentation: “The Struggle for State Supported Higher Education in a Southern Regional Center: Atlanta and the “Mother Institution,” 1944-1955, Fall, 1996, The Georgia Historical Quarterly, by Merl E. Reed.

I pray every day for peace in our world. There is an evil force moving through our world that strives to enslave the people under an ideology that will change our world from a place of beauty and freedom to a world of hatred and intolerance toward anyone or anything that does not follow their beliefs. I pray every day that the free people of our world will rise up and defend the vision of“all men and women created equal with rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” If we don’t take a stand soon, there will be little to stand for.

— Beverly Lougher, Lawrenceville

When A Deal Is To Good To Be True…..Watch Out!

Editor, the Forum:

A couple of days ago I got an email from what I thought was Charter cable.  It looked official, being a short customer service survey.  I had received these before in the past and thought nothing of completing the few questions.  At the end of the survey, it said that I had been “rewarded” with a new iPhone6! 

I told my wife that it was too good to be true!  I paid the small shipping charge of $9.95.  However, the phone never came! When we called Charter, they knew nothing about the deal. We called Visa to cancel the charge. They said the charge came from China. 

My good friends out there might want to watch out for this online robbery and don’t bite at the free deal. It was, indeed, too good to be true! 

— Frank Sharp, Lawrenceville

Ride-Along Introduces Policeman to Jamaican Restaurant

Editor, the Forum:

What happens when your Gwinnett Police civilian ride-along happens to be a Bajan?

As part of my Leadership Gwinnett Training, I had the pleasure of doing a Ride-along with Officer Laney of Gwinnett County Police West Side Precinct.  Our shift started at 6:30 a.m. and ended at 3 p.m. The police calls in between those hours ranged from minor traffic stops; an SUV with a mind of its own; incorrect turn signals (turning right in a left lane); theft of services; disturbing the peace; and several others that I am not at liberty to discuss.  

While patrolling along the Singleton Road corridor, Officer Laney asked “So what time do you want to eat lunch and where do you want to eat?”  He mentioned several good places where on the west side of I-85, but we were assigned to the east side.  I asked “Have you ever had West Indian Food? I know a great Jamaican Restaurant on Indian Trail.”  Thanks to GwinnettForum’s stamp of recommendation, “A Taste of Paradise” was our destination.  I introduced Officer Laney to Jerk Chicken, Rice and Peas, Steamed Veggies and Plantains. 

PS: At one of our traffic stops, a GDOT Traffic Engineer politely signaled Officer Laney, to tell him the turning light problem was repaired, not knowing that it was us that called it in! High Fives all around – that’s how we roll here in Gwinnett County!

— Arlene P. Beckles, Norcross

Learn to find funders for your non-profit with the Foundation Center’s comprehensive funding research tool. A session on funding will be presented Monday, March 30, starting at 6 p.m., at the Five Forks Branch of the Gwinnett Public Library, at 2780 Five Forks Trickum Road.

This session provides an introduction to the Foundation Center’s comprehensive database, Foundation Directory Online Professional. Learn how to create customized searches to develop targeted lists of foundations that will match your organization’s funding needs.  You will spend time exploring Power Search, which allows you to search across nine Foundation Center databases – grantmakers, grants, companies, 990s, news, jobs, RFPs, nonprofit literature, and IssueLab reports. The program is free, though space is limited and registration is required.

• Please register at: http://grantspace.org/classroom/training-calendar/Atlanta/introduction-to-finding-funders-2015-03-30-lawrenceville-ga. For directions or further information, call (770) 978-5154.

Heritage Center To Have Special Admission for World Thinking Day

Is it possible to travel around the world in less than three hours?  The Environmental and Heritage Center (EHC) thinks it is, and invites you to become an international traveler without leaving the borders of Gwinnett County.

The EHC and local Girl Scouts from the Apalachee Service Unit are partnering to celebrate World Thinking Day on Saturday, February 28, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. This is a learning opportunity that celebrates international friendships and reminds everyone that Girl Scouts are a part of a global community with members in more than 150 countries. 

At World Thinking Day, each participating troop adopts a specific country, shares information about that country, provides a taste of that country’s cuisine and makes a “swap” that is reflective of the culture. With more than 25 troops planning to attend, visitors will get to experience a taste of countries such as China, Brazil, Croatia, Japan, Thailand, France, Greece, Italy and more.

For the event, the EHC will have a special discounted admission of $1 per person between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. For more information on the EHC and World Thinking Day, please visit www.gwinnettEHC.org.

Many Varied Activities Coming in 2015 in the City of Duluth

The City of Duluth is releasing its 2015 Event Season Calendar. The theme “Sub-URBAN Cool” will encompass 2015 events, including the return of some favorites from 2014.

The Duluth Rotary Car Show kicks off the event season on Saturday, April 18. Visit www.duluthrotaryevents.org for more information.

Fridays-N-Duluth returns on May 1. Entertainment, games and fun are on tap each Friday evening May through October. Food Trucks return from June through October. Movies are scheduled for the first and third Fridays each month, with music and other entertainment on all other Fridays. 

Barefoot in the Park Fine Arts Festival (www.barefootinthepark.org) is Mother’s Day Weekend (May 9-10) and will be the kick off to the all-new Art Week (May 9-16) where the city’s new Public Art Master Plan will be unveiled and “artsy” events will take place each day. The ever popular Musicians Playground will return this year on June 26.

The Summer Stage Concert Series will begin on June 20 with a Beach Party featuring Atlanta’s own, A1A, a Jimmy Buffett tribute band. On July 18 the Georgia Cup Twilight Cycling Event rolls into town. Vertical Horizon will cap off the night with some fabulous music sure to have you dancing the night away. Yacht Rock Schooner will take the stage on August 15, and you can be “movin’ and groovin’” during this show. Rounding out the series will be Rupert’s Orchestra at the Duluth Fall Festival Concert on September 12.  

Duluth Celebrates America will be back on the Town Green for 2015! On July 3 there will be music, food, fun and fireworks!

The Duluth Fall Festival takes over Downtown Duluth the last weekend of September (September 26-27).

Last year, 100,000 people attended Duluth City events. More events are being planned, so be on the lookout as the 2015 event calendar is completed. For more information about these and other 2015 events visit www.duluthga.net.

(From previous edition)

In 1919 W.C. Bradley partnered with Ernest Woodruff, another businessman with Columbus roots, to develop a group of investors that purchased the Coca-Cola Company from Asa Candler for $25 million. This purchase created a relationship between Coca-Cola and the Bradley family that lasted for three generations. Bradley, Turner, and grandson William B. Turner all served on and chaired the Coca-Cola board of trustees. Bradley is also credited with securing loans that saved Coca-Cola during the sugar crisis that followed World War I (1917-18). Additionally, he served as a mentor to Woodruff’s son, Robert, who was president and chairman of Coke from 1923 to 1981.

Bradley

Bradley also advised other business associates and friends, including William I. H. Pitts, to invest early in Coca-Cola. Pitts, who owned a general store in Waverly Hall, followed Bradley’s advice and generated a fortune that later became the source of the William I. H. and Lula E. Pitts Foundation.

Bradley was a member of St. Luke United Methodist Church. In 1923 he donated his company’s entire line of steamboats to the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, which continued to run them until changes in transportation technology made them unprofitable.

During the Great Depression, Bradley and his business partners kept the textile and ironworks factories open, despite losing money. According to Columbus oral history, Bradley would withdraw funds from his bank account daily to give to widows, children of employees, or others in need.

In 1943 he began the W. C. and Sarah H. Bradley Foundation with 4,000 shares of Bradley Company stock. In 1961 D. Abbott Turner also started a foundation, and in 1982 these two foundations merged to become the Bradley-Turner Foundation, which reported assets of almost $163.8 million in 2003.

At the time of Bradley’s death in 1947, his heirs donated his house and property on Wynnton Road to the Muscogee County School System. This land is now home to the Columbus Museum.

Evidence of Bradley’s legacy, through his company and through the organizations endowed by him and his heirs, are found throughout Columbus. Units of his business heritage, such as Synovus and TSYS, have been named among America’s best places to work. Family members and business leader heirs trace this success to the model of integrity and servant leadership that Bradley exhibited during his lifetime.

CLUE: One lonely statue stands amid the fall splendor in today’s Mystery Photo. Perhaps the countryside gives this location away. Tell us where you think this is located, and include your hometown when sending in your idea to elliott@brack.net.

The mystery photo in the last edition proved easy, and quite popular. Jim Brooks of Norcross reported in first: “I believe Cindi and I saw this ‘Monument to he Discoveries’  in Lisbon, Portugal, while visiting last year.” He is right. Then came an onslaught: including Carolyn Hill, Suwanee and Ross Lenhart, Pawley’s Island, S.C.

Ruthy Lachman Paul of Norcross wrote: “Discoveries Monument district, Belen in Lisbon. The monument was built in 1940 in honor of the Portuguese explorers of the Age of Discovery in the 15th century and 16th centuries, which led to the discovery journeys, Portuguese colonization and conquest of new places around the world. The monument is adjacent to the River Tagus, close to where many of the ships began sailing to their goals. The original monument was biodegradable and therefore was rebuilt in 1960 of concrete, to mark 500 years since the death of Henry the Navigator.”

Others with the right answer included Jo Pinder of Baltimore, Md.: “Visited there several years ago with a Roads Scholar tour of the art and architecture of the Iberian Peninsula.” She adds: “Enjoying the 11 degree weather here in Baltimore”; Harriet Nichols, Trickum; Lou Camiero, Lilburn; Lee Klaer, Duluth; Tom Merkel, Berkeley Lake.