BRIMMING WITH IDEAS: The Fellowship Hall of the Winters Chapel United Methodist Church was brimming recently when nearly 200 residents and business owners came to provide their input on ways to improve Winters Chapel Road, the heavily traveled corridor that winds its way through Peachtree Corners and Dunwoody. The two cities are seeking to improve pedestrian safety, increase road safety and enhance the appearance of the two mile road that runs from Peachtree Industrial Boulevard to Spalding Drive. During the workshop, participants were encouraged to study the series of maps and use the maps to jot down the improvements they would like to see incorporated into the plan. After the study is complete, Pond and Company will present its findings to the Planning Commissions of the two cities.
Issue 14.94 | March 3, 2015
IN THIS EDITION
TODAY’S FOCUS: Two Gwinnett Cities Get LCI Grant from ARC
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Looking at the Hudgens Prize Winners and Current Finalists
FEEDBACK: Stamp Club Member Concerned about Lilburn Decision
UPCOMING: Gwinnett Tech Hosting Program for Future Scientists
NOTABLE: What The Rookie Wrote Back to His Mother from Spring Training
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Naomi Woodroof Gains Fame for Pioneering Work in Agriculture
TODAY’S QUOTE: Hold It a Minute Before We Need To Believe That!
MYSTERY PHOTO: Aging Building May Give Hint of Its Use
LAGNIAPPE: News from the Gulf of Aden
TODAY’S FOCUS
Regional Commission makes awards to two Gwinnett cities
By Jim Jaquish
ATLANTA, Ga., March 3, 2015 — The Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded $800,000 in its latest round of Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) grants to two Gwinnett County cities, and six other communities. The LCI grants will help these communities create new plans for quality growth and help develop innovative policies that support more vibrant, connected communities. Once their studies and plans are complete, these communities will be eligible for additional LCI funding for transportation projects needed to implement their plans.
The City of Buford was granted $100,000 for a major plan update with a focus on connectivity to schools. And the City of Norcross gained a $48,000 award for a greenway trail feasibility study for two segments along a Georgia Power easement and Beaver Ruin Road.
Since its inception in 1999, LCI has assisted 112 communities with more than $194 million in planning and implementation grants to devise strategies that reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality by better connecting homes, shops and offices. LCI communities cover less than four percent of the region’s land area, but contain seven percent of its residential development, 29 percent of its commercial development and 69 percent of its office development.
Kerry Armstrong, a Gwinnett resident and ARC chairman, says: “LCI has helped many communities across metro Atlanta reinvent and improve themselves since our board established the program in 1999. Our local government partners have used these grants to create more places that attract residents and businesses, improving their communities and the entire region.”
The LCI program is funded with federal transportation dollars. The grants fund 80 percent of the study, with the recipient making a 20 percent match.
Two key 2015 LCI grant recipients are:
- Turner Field Stadium Neighborhoods Regional Center Award for $212,000. This study will help the communities adjacent to Turner Field envision the future of the stadium and surrounding parking lots, develop a concept plan and rethink transportation infrastructure needs, all while enhancing and protecting existing neighborhoods. The City of Atlanta will partner with the Atlanta Fulton County Recreation Authority, Annie E. Casey Foundation (which is contributing financial resources for the study), the Atlanta BeltLine Inc. and various neighborhood organizations.
- Locust Grove Town Center Award for $$92,000. This plan will help the City of Locust Grove manage commercial and residential development pressure and guide growth for the town center and areas adjacent to the Tanger Outlet Mall and I-75 interchange.
The remaining grants are for supplemental studies to help LCI communities implement their existing plans or complete updates to older plans. Communities receiving supplemental study funds are:
- City of Canton, $104,000 for a major plan update including expansion of the study area into the historic downtown.
- City of Powder Springs, $80,000 for a major plan update with a focus on concept plans for vacant land downtown and connection to the Silver Comet Trail.
- McPherson Redevelopment Authority, $60,000 for a major plan update to the Oakland City/Lakewood LCI, including expansion to include the entire Fort McPherson site.
- City of Chamblee and MARTA, $104,000 for a trail concept and feasibility study on MARTA property and extending to destinations throughout Chamblee.
EEB PERSPECTIVE
Will Hudgens Prize continue to award avant garde artists?
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher, GwinnettForum.com
MARCH 3, 2015 — This year’s Academy Awards winners and the reception of moviegoers of nominated movies gives pause to think. It sent me to one of Gwinnett’s premier events, the bi-annual awarding of the $50,000 Hudgens Art Prize for Georgia artists.The Hudgens Awards program has recently announced the finalists in its third competition. The winner will be announced on June 13.
A few days after the Academy Award winners were announced, all it took was looking at the top winners, and comparing what happens at movie houses. As it was put by one story, “In the end, it was the audience that got snubbed.” Later that same story said: “…its movie awards have become hopelessly detached from movie viewers.”
The Academy’s winning movie this year, Birdman, has been seen by less than five million people. As a comparison, the Clint Eastwood movie, American Sniper, has found nearly 40 million people paying to see it. Another nominee which didn’t win, The Imitation Game, now counts 10 million viewers.
Just because movies are popular, of course, is no reason to give it an Academy Award. But recent changes in Academy procedures, to enlarge the field of entries, and bringing in more small-movie judges, may not have been as positive as some feel.
Now back to the Hudgens Prize. The basic rules for the competition are simple: “… the competition is open to artists age 18 and older, who are full-time Georgia residents. Visual artwork of any medium will be considered.”
That said, this competition gets considerable interest from Georgia amateur and professional artists, as normally at least 350 entries are sent in. From looking at entries submitted in past years, it’s clear that a majority of the entries are more-or-less conventional visual art, whether paintings, collages, photographs or similar material. The diversity of artists and entries is amazing.
However, some of the entries are “new age” and off-the-wall visual works. For the first two $50,000 prize awards, the judges seemed more inclined to favor cutting-edge media than traditional art. That may be because of the selection of the judges themselves, who have been distinguished art professionals and curators from around the country, and may feel more inclined to favor avant garde rather than conventional artists.
For instance, judges announced for the 2015 competition will be: Shannon Fitzgerald, executive director of the Rochester Art Center, Minn.; Buzz Spector, professor of art, Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts, Washington University, St. Louis, Mo.; and Hamza Walker, associate curator, Renaissance Society at the University of Chicago, Ill.
Now take a look at who has been selected as finalists for the Hudgens Prize (Click the highlighted link to see their work):
- Bethany Collins, Atlanta, multimedia conceptual art, who recently completed a residency at the Studio Museum in Harlem.
- Scott Ingram, Atlanta, painting, drawing, sculpture and design, who was also a Hudgens finalist in 2010, is among the grantees of MOCA GA’s 2013–14 Working Artist Project.
- Rylan Steele, Columbus, photography and video, who recently exhibited a series of photos about Ave Maria, a planned Catholic community in Florida.
- Orion Wertz, Columbus, painting and illustration. Wertz writes and illustrates his own books.
There will be a group show of the four nominees on display at the Hudgens Art Center from April 7 to June 27, with the winner announced June 13. In April, 2016, the winner will open a solo exhibition at the Hudgens Art Center.
In June, we’ll see what type of art the jury feels is most deserving of the Hudgens Prize.
Will the winner be more like the Academy Awards, not always in line with popular taste, or not?
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
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FEEDBACK
Stamp club member upset over Lilburn charging for meeting space
(Editor’s Note: GwinnettForum obtained this letter that a reader sent to Lilburn Mayor Johnny Crist, which we present for your information –eeb.)
Dear Johnny:
I am a member of the Button Gwinnett Stamp Club. Our club has been meeting at City Hall for as long as I can remember, and I have been a member for over 20 years. In fact, we used to meet in the old City Hall (since demolished), prior to the construction of the Calvin Fitchett Complex, now used as City Hall.
We were disappointed by the Council’s decision to impose a fee for usage of City Hall facilities. While nominal to some, the fee is not something our small club has budgeted for, nor is it something our members, predominately senior citizens, care to pay. We will likely be forced to look elsewhere for a meeting spot.
As you know, I am very supportive of Lilburn. I have sponsored and participated in a number of events in Lilburn. Despite general support for your initiatives, I think this policy is shortsighted and downright dumb.
— Best Regards, David C. Will, Royal Will law firm, Lawrenceville
Rant, Rave, and Send Us Your Opinion
Our policy: We encourage readers to submit feedback (or letters to the editor). Send your thoughts to the editor at elliott@brack.net. We will edit for length and clarity. Make sure to include your name and the city where you live. Submission of a comment grants permission for us to reprint. Please keep your comments to 300 words or less. However, we will consider longer articles (no more than 500 words) for featuring in Today’s Issue as space allows.
UPCOMING
Gwinnett Tech invites students to explore science as a career
Ready for a great career? Gwinnett Technical College has it down to a science! Learn how science can be your launching pad for more than 30 different careers and explore the science behind the scenes through tours and interactive activities at Science Works, March 26, 6 to 9 p.m., on the Gwinnett Tech campus.
The event is free. Pre-registration is recommended at www.GwinnettTech.edu/ScienceWorks. Gwinnett Tech is located at 5150 Sugarloaf Parkway, in Lawrenceville.
Dr. Cathy Scholz, dean of life sciences at Gwinnett Tech, says: “This is the second year that Gwinnett Tech is hosting Science Works as part of the Atlanta Science Festival. We had a tremendous crowd last year and are looking forward to the same this year. Science Works is particularly a great event for families with high school and middle school students who are beginning to think about their future career.”
The Atlanta Science Festival is a weeklong celebration of local science and technology, from March 21 to 28. The Festival will offer hundreds of activities during eight days at more than 50 locations across Atlanta. Performances, exhibits, lectures, demonstrations, workshops, guided walks and more will bring together local scientists, experts, teachers, and entrepreneurs with area communities of young people, families and adults who are interested in the role science and technology plays in today’s world.
Snellville event to feature producer, author and actress
A producer, an author and an actress will speak on television, film and books at a special event next month. The event, hosted by the Snellville Arts Commission and Economic Development department, will take place at 7 p.m. on March 19 at Snellville City Hall, 2342 Oak Road.
The event will feature:
- Stacy Robinson, founder of The Robinson Agency Speakers Bureau, a resource to churches and corporations nationwide providing Christian speakers, artists and entertainers. Robinson is executive producer /producer of the award-winning television talk show “The Christian View” and “Stand Your Ground.”
- Jackie Carpenter, author, motivational speaker, executive producer of a multiple-award winning feature film based on her life, “Stand Your Ground,” filmed entirely in Georgia and featuring several Gwinnett County residents among the cast and crew She has also written several children’s stories.
- Francine Locke, award-winning actress. She booked roles on local Chicago productions, like “Early Edition” and “Chicago Story” and playing opposite Tom Cruise in “Risky Business.” She is currently in production of “Diary of Lunatic” and “Where Heaven and Hell Collide” and is in pre-production on her own feature film “Take Me With You.”
NOTABLE
Clean and Beautiful seeks volunteers for annual clean-up event
Celebrating its 17th year, the Great American Cleanup, Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful’s annual event, will run from March 1 through May 31. The Focus this year is on the area’s waterways. Participants in the Great American Cleanup for 2015 in the Gwinnett Challenge will have an opportunity to win one of eight $500 cash prizes.
Before beginning their projects, local citizens are asked to visit the Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful website at www.GwinnettCB.org to “take the pledge,” in which they promise to change habits and practices at home, school, work, and play, and to be environmental stewards – caring for the land, water, and community every day.
Some ways individuals, organizations and companies can do this include: learning about their local watershed; cleaning a waterway; adopting a road to clean; recycling more; reusing resources; or planting a herb or community garden.
Volunteers can then register their project online, and will have until May 31, 2015 to complete it. They are encouraged to take 5 to 10 before-and-after digital photographs to include along with their post-project results form – which should be submitted to gwinnettcb@gwinnettcb.org no later than June 5, 2015 for recognition and consideration for one of eight $500 cash prizes. To take the pledge, view project ideas and register a project for Great American Cleanup – Gwinnett Challenge 2015, interested parties are invited to visit www.GwinnettCB.org or call (770) 822-5187 for more information.
Group in Grayson plans bicycle rides on Mondays and Tuesdays
The Grayson Coffee House will be the starting point for a new cyclist group beginning on Monday, March 9. The Grayson Cycling Club has organized the social ride on Monday and Tuesday nights for cycling enthusiasts looking for a recovery ride or just an opportunity to meet other riders from the Grayson Community.
Chris Banks, one of the organizers of the Club, notes the idea of the safety in numbers when riding. “Drivers are more apt to pay heed and make accommodations for a group rather than a single rider,” he said.
The route will be 18-20 miles along back roads from Grayson to Loganville and back.
- For more information about the Club and the weekly rides, please contact Chris Banks at (770) 527-0523 or Davis Walker at (404) 663-4433.
Jackson EMC grants $45,000 to assist local agencies
A $15,000 grant from the Jackson EMC Foundation will help Lawrenceville non-profit Step by Step Recovery provide a residential recovery program for men and women dealing with drug and alcohol addiction. Jackson EMC Foundation board members Jim Puckett (far left) and Beauty Baldwin (second from right) presents the grant check to Step by Step Recovery representatives from left Mary Beth McKee; Bridget Hall, executive director; and Veronica Butler, co-director.
The Jackson EMC Foundation board of directors awarded $107,806 in grants to organizations during their January meeting, including $45,000 to organizations serving Gwinnett County residents. Among the grants:
- $15,000 to Challenged Child and Friends, a Gainesville nonprofit organization providing educational, therapeutic, nursing and family support services to children with disabilities in all counties served by Jackson EMC, to support the Early Intervention Program that provides special needs children with classroom instruction, individualized therapy and nursing services.
- $15,000 to MedLink of Georgia, a nonprofit primary medical care network serving all counties served by Jackson EMC which provides care to those who lack access to quality medical care.
- $15,000 to Step by Step Recovery, a Lawrenceville community-based grassroots addiction recovery organization which provides a safe and structured environment for both men and women as they complete a 12 step program to deal with drug and alcohol addiction.
The Jackson EMC Foundation is funded by Operation Round Up, which rounds up the monthly electric bills of participating cooperative members to the next dollar amount. This “spare change” has funded 937 grants to organizations and 305 grants to individuals, putting more than $9.4 million back into local communities since the program began in 2005.
RECOMMENDED READ
An invitation: What books, restaurants, movies or web sites have you enjoyed recently? Send us your recent selection, along with a short paragraph (100 words) as to why you liked this, plus what you plan to visit or read next. — eeb
GEORGIA ENCYCLOPEDIA TIDBIT
Naomi Woodroof gains fame for pioneering work in agriculture
Naomi Chapman Woodroof, the daughter of pioneer settlers on the Snake River in Idaho, was also a pioneer in her own right. She was the first woman student and first woman graduate of the University of Idaho College of Agriculture, and one of the first two women in the United States to hold a degree in agriculture.
Woodroof
She was the first woman scientist at the Georgia Experiment Station and the first state-employed plant pathologist at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station. Woodroof was also the first woman named to the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame and one of the “25 for the 21st Century” honored in a resolution passed by the Georgia House of Representatives in 1997. Her research was a key component in transforming peanuts from a crop for hog feed to an essential food product.
Woodroof’s early life was challenging. She spent long hours helping with her father’s sheep and cattle ranch, she crossed the Snake River by rowboat daily to attend school, and she participated in and judged livestock shows. After obtaining her degree in animal husbandry from the University of Idaho, she found no openings for women in this field and turned to plant pathology, receiving a master’s degree, also at the University of Idaho, in 1924.
Although the University of Georgia and other southern universities did not accept women as either students or faculty, the Georgia Experiment Station in Griffin had no such policy, and Woodroof joined the staff there as an assistant biologist. Her first assignment was to work on cotton-seedling root disease, which she identified and developed a method to control.
She next worked with Jasper Guy Woodroof on a pecan project. This partnership led to a number of joint publications as well as their courtship and marriage in 1926. In 1933, when her husband was named the first president of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Woodroof resigned her post at the Georgia Experiment Station, and the family moved to Tifton. She was immediately hired by the Coastal Plain Experiment Station and assigned to a long-term research project on peanuts. Her definitive publications on peanut leaf-spot disease were followed by her research on disease control, culture, and varietal recommendations. This led to five-fold increases in peanut yields.
In reviewing her work at Tifton, former colleagues called Woodroof the unsung hero in plant pathology in the Peanut Belt. Even though some of her work had been attributed to others, peanut growers recognized Woodroof on her retirement by naming her an honorary member of their “Ton-an-Acre” Peanut Club. After retiring from the Coastal Plain Experiment Station, Woodroof returned to Griffin to join her husband, who then headed the Department of Food Science of the Georgia Experiment Station. There she organized and processed data for technical reports and served on food taste panels.
In 1967 the Woodroofs retired and began extensive travels to South and Central America, China, and South Africa, lecturing and gathering information for Jasper Guy Woodroof’s later book publications.
Naomi Chapman Woodroof never sought fame or recognition, and it was not until after her death that she received both. The pavilion showcasing Georgia’s agricultural products for visitors to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta was relocated to the campus of the Georgia Experiment Station and named the Naomi Chapman Woodroof Agricultural Pavilion in honor of her pioneering work in agriculture.
MYSTERY PHOTO
What has this been?
CLUE: Look how much the covering of this building has changed color and aged over the years. Now can you tell us what this building has been used for, and where it is located? Send your ideas to elliottt@brack.net and be sure to include your address.
Apparently several of our readers have been the Gettysburg Battlefield, as we got lots of people recognizing the Mystery Photo in the last edition, sent in by Scott LeCraw of Suwanee. It was the statue of Gouverneur (his name, not a title) Kemble Warren on Little Round Top in Gettysburg National Battlefield. Rick Edinger of Lawrenceville was first with the identification.
Also recognizing it were Ross Lenhart, Pawley’s Island, S.C.; Karen Garner, Dacula; and James D’Angelo of Lawrenceville, who should have recognized it, as he said: “As a graduate of Gettysburg College, this is an easy one. Although not known by this name at the time, this is Little Round Top and that is ‘the hero of Little Round Top,’ Brig. Gen Gouveneur K. Warren, who had the foresight to initiate the defense of the outcrop, recognizing the importance of the undefended position on the left flank of the Union Army, He was promoted to Major General following the battle. The outcrop was a northern extension of Round Top Mountain. Another outcrop associated with both was Devil’s Den.”
Richard Lux of Trickum tells us that “The monument to Brigadier General Gouverneur Kemble Warren was erected in 1888 by veterans of the Fifth New York Infantry Regiment, which was Warren’s first command during the war.” Bob Foreman of Grayson added that it was a “beautiful, peaceful, quiet place, where 51,000 soldiers died.”
Also recognizing the site were Ruthy Lachman Paul, Norcross; and Harriet Nichols of Trickum.
LAGNIAPPE
Gulf of Aden
Ship’s Serviceman Seaman Michandra Stanley, a native of Lawrenceville, and Machinist’s Mate Third Class Dericka Featherstone, a native of Newark, N.J., practice pipe patching during a general quarters drill aboard the USS Iwo Jima, an amphibious assault ship. The Iwo Jima is the flagship for the Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit provides a versatile sea-based, expeditionary force that can be tailored to a variety of missions in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Megan Anuci.)
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