Eighteen of 24 beams have been placed on a new bridge of Georgia Highway 20 across the Chattahoochee River by C.W. Matthews Contracting of Marietta in a $10.2 million contract. The beams, set in place Thursday night in the rain, are 110 feet long, six feet high and weigh about 80,000 pounds each. The last six beams, on the Forsyth County side of the bridge, are expected to be placed this week, weather permitting.
ISSUE 15.06 | April 21, 2015
IN THIS EDITION
TODAY’S FOCUS: City of Sugar Hill Hoping To Be Gwinnett’s Sweet Spot
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Transit Poll Gives Gwinnettians Hope of Possible Solution
FEEDBACK: On Respect for Police, What Progressives Want, and One Rant
UPCOMING: LDS Choir To Present Concert; Cardiac Screening; Barefoot Festival
NOTABLE: GC&B Announces New Wetlands Program; Gwinnett Tech Top Student
RECOMMENDED MOVIE: Starring Adam West
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Overpumping from Aquifer Can Lead to Salt Water Intrusion
TODAY’S QUOTE: Watch Out Should We Achieve Improved Voter Turnout
MYSTERY PHOTO: Few Guess Mystery Was in Columbia, S.C.
TODAY’S FOCUS
Sugar Hill preparing facilities to become Gwinnett’s sweet spot
By Megan Carnell, events and marketing coordinator, City of Sugar Hill
SUGAR HILL, Ga., April 21, 2015 — Over the last ten years, Sugar Hill has been quietly and effectively managing its many assets and preparing for the future. Well, the future is now and the city is more than ready to take on the challenge! As the fourth largest city in Gwinnett County, and as the population continues to grow, city leaders are boldly moving forward with plans to build a 21st Century downtown destination for residents and visitors alike.
This rebirth was spurred by the persistent voices of an engaged community yearning for their own sense of place – a downtown to shop, eat, work, play, live and be entertained. The city’s past investments in a new city hall, amphitheater and downtown streetscape, have helped pave the way for their current motto of “Go Big or Go Home,” a mantra of Mayor Steve Edwards. City leaders have made it clear they will work to do it right to a scale that will set Sugar Hill apart from the rest of its peers in Georgia and across the country. Mayor Edwards maintains, “We have beefed up our resources and we are laser focused to fast track this process.”
After nearly a year of planning, design and site acquisition, the city will begin construction this summer on its extensive mixed-use downtown development project to be called the EpiCenter. It will include a 326-seat performing arts theater, a recreation center and gymnasium, community rooms, some 30,000 square feet of retail, office, and restaurant space, including a roof-top lounge. All will be connected by a large pedestrian plaza sitting atop a parking garage overlooking the city’s 2,500 seat natural amphitheater, named “The Bowl at Sugar Hill.” The $30 million EpiCenter should be open for business in the fall of 2016.
Taylor Anderson, chairman of the city’s Downtown Development Authority, is excited about this project but also points to all the other projects that are feeding off the city’s energy and investments. A private development team is in the final stages of presenting a mixed-use project for consideration by the Downtown Development Authority and the city that would include housing and more commercial space overlooking the Bowl and lawn area behind city hall. The former City Hall is now called the Suite Spot and houses 12 new business in an incubator setting. Monthly memberships for a large co-working space will be available May 1 at the Suite Spot. The 2,300 square foot annex building is being transformed into DaddyO’s Irish Ice Cream Pub, a distinctive new restaurant that will offer regular and alcohol infused ice cream, a bar, as well as an extensive Irish pub menu.
The city’s amphitheatre, The Bowl at Sugar Hill, the city’s newest venue, is becoming its namesake center stage, quite literally. Scott Anderson adds: “Each event we host in the Bowl is an opportunity to tell our story of where we’ve been, where we are, who we are and where we’re going. That story will be told over and over again as people visit downtown and get entertained by the wide range of local, regional and national events in the Bowl.”
All the anticipated public and private projects soon to come out of the ground will amplify the city’s high octane energy and its “Go Big or Go Home” mantra. With all this as well as its parks, golf course and beautiful neighborhoods, Sugar Hill is becoming the place to go to “Enjoy the Sweet Life!”
EEB PERSPECTIVE
Unexpected poll on transit gives hope to early test of sentiment
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher, GwinnettForum.com
APRIL 21, 2015 — The results of a poll concerning public transportation in Gwinnett, and showing support for MARTA in particular, by the Chamber of Commerce last week, should come as no surprise, though the poll was unexpected. We commend the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce for undertaking the project.
There are several reasons the results should not have been surprising.
- More and more Gwinnettians are frustrated by traffic problems, and are wanting to get something done about it.
- These same people are beginning to say that they would rather pay more, in about any fashion, to get congestion solved. Source: the growing number of people in Gwinnett using the Express Lanes.
- The fact that Gwinnett continues to be a mostly-Republican county. These voters often favor sales taxes to pay for progress. Adding another penny for MARTA would not displease them.
- Democrats, meanwhile, tend to favor public transit on its merits, and merely want an equitable way to pay for it.
- Gwinnett in 1990 had 352,910 residents. In 2014, the estimated population was 877,922, a growth since 1990 of 525,012 people. Many people moving into Gwinnett have positive experience with public transit, and wonder why Gwinnett doesn’t have it.
- Gwinnett is becoming a younger county, and these younger adults want to move around more easily than today’s clogged roads allow.
In case you missed seeing the results of the Chamber survey, here we feel are the major points.
- Three in five (63 percent) likely voters support expanding MARTA into Gwinnett County.
- There is a majority support for expanding MARTA into Gwinnett County among all gender age groups, and a stronger support among voters 18-54.
- A majority of likely voters in Gwinnett County support a one percent sales tax to fund the expansion of MARTA into Gwinnett County.
Last week about the only negative concern came from County Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash, who seemed downright strong in not wanting to see a MARTA vote soon. This is disturbing, in that in general, her administration has been an exemplary one. She has steered the county back from its recent unpleasant past, put county government on a solid footing, and given the residents a new confidence that government is efficient and its commissioners are working smoothly with the county and with area officials.
We anticipate that on further review, the county commission will recognize that the county has come a long way since 25 years ago. It has a limited transit system, but obviously needs a more up-to-date and better transit solution for the future. Now that Clayton County has voted to join MARTA, an effort by Gwinnett to test the voters on their feeling would seem to be in order.
Granted, MARTA may not be the best answer to Metro Atlanta’s transportation solution. But until something changes, it’s the most immediate route to take now. While we may see efforts by the State of Georgia to become a larger player in transit for the Metro Atlanta, until that time comes, MARTA is the major present player for us.
What we don’t need is for the county to undertake another study, with its long research and assessment period. That would only delay matters. Moving to test the sentiment of the people of Gwinnett on public transit, say at the 2016 General Election (a presidential year, when most vote) will produce a faster solution. Until then, let the ideas and alternative suggestions flow!
Again, a tip of the hat to the Gwinnett Chamber for bringing this subject to the fore after 25 years.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Aurora Theatre
The public spiritedness of our underwriters allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today’s sponsor is Aurora Theatre, the professional theatre of Gwinnett County and home of the best entertainment in Northeast Georgia. With over 600 events annually, Aurora Theatre has live entertainment to suit everyone’s taste. Aurora Theatre’s Peach State Federal Credit Union Signature Series is comprised of Broadway’s best plays and musicals alongside exciting works of contemporary theatre. Additionally, Aurora produces concerts, comedy club events, children’s programs, and metro Atlanta’s top haunted attraction, Lawrenceville Ghost Tours. Aurora Theatre is a world-class theatrical facility with two performances venues. It is nestled on the square in historic downtown Lawrenceville, with free attached covered parking and is surrounded by myriad of restaurants and shops.
Coming Soon: Hands on a Hardbody, inspired by the true events of the acclaimed 1997 documentary of the same name, this new musical is infused with a soulful rockabilly score. May, 7-31, 2015. For more information or to purchase tickets: http://www.
- For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: https://www.gwinnettforum.com/about/sponsors.
FEEDBACK
At traffic stops or anywhere, it’s a matter of respect for police
Editor, the Forum:
I am an older Caucasian woman. When I get stopped by a police officer, I am always nervous, no matter the reason for the stop. I would no more mouth off and do something that might cause the officer to react than I would touch a rattlesnake.
The word is respect for the authority. It has nothing to do with race. The other side of this is when I feel in danger or threatened, the police officers who respond are my protectors and I am so grateful.
I don’t see race, age, or gender. Thank God for our protectors. I do understand the frustration of being profiled by the police and I don’t know the answer to this. Respect flows both ways and we all need to work on that.
— Beverly Lougher, Lawrenceville
Questions views concerning what progressives want
Editor, the Forum:
I don’t believe that Debra Houston is correct when she says that progressives would like for the legislature to meet year-round.
I consider myself a progressive (probably would be considered conservative by Massachusetts or New York standards) and know quite a few others, and none of them – not one of them – would like to see the legislature meet on a full-time basis.
In fact, they see the idea as a disaster, given the track record of the Georgia legislature.
On the other hand, I can see why a right-winger might like the idea of a full-time legislature. They might feel that they need to meet full time in order to countermand, as much as possible, anything that comes out of Washington.
That seems to be what they’re obsessed with, anyway.
I don’t know where Ms. Houston got such an idea, but I can assure her that it definitely NOT the case, at least with the progressives I know.
— Robert H. Hanson, Loganville
Dear Robert: We wondered about that ourselves, but do not want to infringe on contributor’s views. Usually broad-brush pronouncements prove improper, and sometimes, downright outrageous. –eeb
Wants no part of court providing people with translators
Editor, the Forum:
I say “NO!” to court translators. When you go to Iran, you don’t get free translators. If you go to court in Germany, you don’t get free translation services. Why does the country think they have to provide everything for free and have taxpayers fund it? If you don’t speak English, or don’t learn it, don’t come here. Period, the end.
My rant.
— Trish Gates, Lilburn
Dear Trish: Quite the rant! Why do we have court interpreters? It’s something called equal rights, I think. Also let me suggest you stay out of Iran or Germany. —eeb
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
LDS choir, Gwinnett Community Band plan annual concerts
The Sugar Hill Latter Day Saints Choir and Gwinnett Community Band will perform a free, annual community spring concert on April 25-26 entitled, “Let There Be Music.” This will mark the 10th season the band and choir have performed together.
The multi-media concerts, featuring the nationally recognized 70-piece Gwinnett Community Band and the 65-person Sugar Hill LDS Choir, will be at 7 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints church, adjacent to North Gwinnett High School at 4833 Suwanee Dam Road in Suwanee. Another venue was added a few years ago in Lilburn to accommodate growing crowds with the performance being held on Sunday, May 3, at 7 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints annex building located at 1150 Cole Drive. No ticket is necessary to attend.
The choir was formed in the fall of 2005. The Choir draws its all-volunteer members from Dawson, Hall, Gwinnett and Forsyth Counties. Several accomplished musicians and community leaders participate in the choir with cities being represented including Buford, Cumming, Dacula, Dahlonega, Flowery Branch, Gainesville, Hamilton Mill, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Oakwood, Sugar Hill and Suwanee.
Established in 1984, the Gwinnett Community Band is a non-profit group of adult amateur musicians from the metro-Atlanta area. For more information contact 404-375-7882 or visit www.sugarhillldschoir.org.
Medical Center offers cardiac screenings for student athletes
Gwinnett Medical Center, along with Gwinnett Medical Group and Simon’s Fund, will host cardiac screenings for student athletes ages 12-19 in the north metro area. Simon’s Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to education, advocacy and innovation to protect children from sudden cardiac arrest and death. Gwinnett Medical Group is composed of multi-specialty physician practices employed by Gwinnett Health System.
Together, these two organizations have screened nearly 500 student athletes over the past three years at no cost.
All student athletes in the north Atlanta area are invited for the complimentary screenings; however, there are limited appointments available. To register, visit www.simonsfund.org. The screenings will take place at:
When: Sunday, April 26, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: CardioVascular Group
755 Walther Road, Lawrenceville
During the screenings, each student will have blood pressure checked, height and weight taken, and an ECG exam. If necessary, students will also receive an echocardiogram. The exam will take about 20 minutes.
While the testing is important from a physical perspective, it also provides peace of mind. Adam Shunk, sports performance psychologist at Gwinnett Medical Center, says: “Since athletes in our community have been impacted by sudden cardiac arrest, it’s incredibly helpful to have them screened, not only from a physical perspective but mental, too. It’s important for an athlete to eliminate mental concerns especially for those with any family history of heart disease.”
Barefoot Festival to kick off 8-day event in Duluth on May 9
“Barefoot in the City” will become an eight-day event in Duluth, kicking off on the first day on May 9. It opens with the unveiling of the Duluth Public Art Master Plan, which is a guiding document created for Duluth’s rich visual and performing arts heritage. It will take place in the Shifting Scapes exhibit located at 3111 Main Street at 2 p.m.
Throughout the week there will be lots to see and experience such as: colorful tree and light pole wrappings, movable art to Tweet about, opportunities to learn art techniques and more. The global art project seen in 60 countries, “Before I Die,” will also come to Duluth. Residents will get the opportunity to join the international phenomenon and express their goals publicly.
NOTABLE
Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful launches wetlands program
Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful (GCB) is launching a pilot program designed to grow awareness and promote the ongoing stewardship of Gwinnett County’s extensive network of wetlands and water sources. The program –named Great Gwinnett Wetlands – marks an ongoing partnership between GCB and Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources. The first of these initiatives is slated for Saturday, April 25 with a stewardship project at Bromolow Creek and Wetlands in Duluth. Keep America Beautiful President Jennifer Jehn will attend the event to help launch the Great Gwinnett Wetlands.
Longtime GCB supporters and aspiring environmental stewards are invited to volunteer for the Bromolow Creek and Wetlands stewardship project on Saturday, April 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Throughout the day, there will be plenty of opportunities for hands on learning so participants will feel empowered to create their own water stewardship projects. Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center will be on hand as a partner in the event, which will also include beautification efforts, as well as monitoring the health of the stream to gauge the effectiveness of this and future stewardship projects.
Beyond the Bromolow Creek and Wetlands stewardship project, GCB plans to place more of an emphasis on its educational efforts to help make local citizens aware of the significant function wetlands serve in the overall health of the environment. The nonprofit organization is even happy to help them locate the closest waterway by calling 770-822-5187 or sending an email to gwinnettcb@gwinnettcb.org.
Lithonia’s Sewell is Gwinnett Tech Distinguished Scholar for 2015
Gwinnett Technical College honored hundreds of its high-achieving students at its recent annual awards ceremony, recognizing leaders in academics, program excellence, leadership and community outreach. Tracy Sewell, an Environmental Horticulture student from Lithonia, earned one of the college’s most prestigious awards as the 2015 Distinguished Student.
Aaron Poulsen, Environmental Horticulture program director, Gwinnett Tech; Tracy Sewell, 2015 Distinguished Student; and Dr. Glen Cannon, president, Gwinnett Tech.
Outstanding students in each Gwinnett Tech program of study were honored, as were members of National Technical Honor Society, SkillsUSA winners and a host of individual program honorees. In all, almost 300 students were recognized.
On campus, Sewell is a Student Ambassador, a member of Phi Theta Kappa national honor society, and the leader of two campus projects for Gwinnett Great Days of Service. She is also the Student Farm
Manager, leading Gwinnett Tech’s ‘Farm to Fork’ program, a joint effort between the horticulture and culinary arts programs where culinary students cook with produce and herbs grown on campus by the horticulture students. Last month, Sewell earned two national horticulture scholarships, from the Professional Grounds Management Society and from the Professional Landcare Network.
Sewell was one of five finalists for the Distinguished Student award. Other finalists were:
- Kelly Fleming, an Interiors student from Sugar Hill;
- Rasheeda Lake, a Radiologic Technology student from Hoschton;
- Robert Siple, an Information Security student from Hoschton; and
- Lisa Dyer, a Registered Nursing student from Lawrenceville.
RECOMMENDED MOVIE
Starring Adam West
A movie
“The movie Starring Adam West is an interesting inside documentary portraying the life and times of the original Batman. His early life in western movies, subsequent success as the Caped Crusader, and later-life achievements (voicing talent on Family Guy, The Simpsons) are profiled. For those of us who grew up with the twice-weekly Batman television shows, this behind the scenes look at our hero is a warm, unvarnished look at a very funny man. The story of the five year effort by his family, supporters, and fans to award Mr. West a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame reveals a man who finally embraces his iconic role. This film is a great retrospective of a performer who continues to be very active and well-loved by a legion of fans. The movie stars Adam West and Ralph Garman and was directed by James Tooley.
— Karen Garner, Dacula
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
Overpumping from aquifer can lead to salt water intrusion
(Continued from previous edition)
Natural flow in rivers and streams s originates from subsurface (ground) water. In cities rain flows off roofs and streets directly into streams, but rain in natural settings soaks into the soil and percolates slowly downward to the water table, where it is stored and released slowly to streams.
Groundwater storage in the Blue Ridge and Piedmont regions is limited by shallow depth to bedrock and limited porosity (the volume of openings within soil or rocks) in the bedrock. Most groundwater is stored in the saprolite (weathered bedrock) and takes only a few months on average to reach the nearest stream.
In the Valley and Ridge region, and especially the Coastal Plain, groundwater is more readily available because the bedrock can store more water. The Floridan aquifer in the Coastal Plain and the limestone aquifers in the Ridge and Valley have large (albeit finite) storage capacities. Water may take thousands of years to travel from its point of recharge to its point of discharge.
Groundwater recharge occurs where water is added to subsurface aquifers; a good example is on the Withlacoochee River near Valdosta, where a large sinkhole “swallows” the entire flow of the river most of the year. Most groundwater recharge in the rest of Georgia is diffuse, however, adding small amounts to groundwater over large areas.
Groundwater discharge occurs as springs—for example, Magnolia Springs near Millen and Radium Springs near Albany. Groundwater discharge can also be diffuse, causing high water tables, such as in swamps and marshes. Some discharge occurs offshore as well, as diffuse upward flow through the seafloor and as large offshore springs, the so-called blue holes.
The northern fall line (along the Cartersville Fault) separates the Ridge and Valley from the Blue Ridge and Piedmont, and the southern fall line separates the Coastal Plain from the Piedmont. The aquifers in the Valley and Ridge, as well as in the Coastal Plain, are generally sandwiched by lower permeability formations (geologic units that transmit water).
Over–pumping by cities and industries from the confined aquifers in coastal areas has caused water levels to drop, leading to salt-water upconing (salt water moving upward from below) as well as salt-water intrusion (leakage into the aquifer from the ocean above).
Upward leakage from previously artesian aquifers has been reduced or eliminated by overpumping, which has caused declines in freshwater inputs to rivers and coastal wetlands. By removing the water that helps support the land surface, groundwater use has also caused the land surface to sink.
MYSTERY PHOTO
Compare and contrast
CLUE: Is this not a beautiful scene? And compare the size of the people in the foreground with the building! Amazing! Wonder where it is? If you think you know, send your ideas to elliott@brack.net and be sure to tell us which town you live in.
Last week first in with the right answer was Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill, who correctly identified Finlay Park fountain in Columbia, S.C. The photograph was sent in by Chuck Warbington of Auburn.
Another correct answer came from Rob Keith of Peachtree Corners, who sent in this comment with another view of the park: “I had to laugh when I saw the Mystery Photo this week, as I was standing in that same spot, looking at that fountain just two weeks ago. I’m a South Carolina Gamecock and lived in Columbia for about 10 years, including during the time this park, with its unmistakable fountain, was developed. Finlay Park really is a showpiece in downtown Columbia and I have many fond memories of time spent there with friends on lazy Sunday afternoons. While I like the view you’ve posted, which shows the Strom Thurmond Federal Building in the background, I think another perspective is more interesting. By the way, thank you for your publication – it seems like a real labor of love for you.”
Tanya Moore of Norcross also wrote: “This is Finlay Park Fountain in Columbia, S.C. Finlay Park is named after Kirkman Finlay, former mayor of Columbia.”
LAGNIAPPE
Snellville honorees
For helping create a stronger bond between the community and the Snellville Police Department, Tricia Rawlins has been named the Marcy Pharris Volunteer of the Year. The award, was just one of eight given out at a ceremony emceed by Mayor Pro Tem Tom Witts. Rawlins, who heads the Snellville Neighborhood Alert Program, a Facebook-based network of crime-aware residents, was honored for her service to the city, including her tireless efforts helping the police department. From left, seated are other award winners, Enio “JoJo” Castellanos, STAT student nominee at South Gwinnett High School; Susan Chappelear, Gwinnett Sunrise Rotary Club; Marcy Pharris, longtime volunteer for whom the awards is named; Tricia Rawlins; Marilyn Swinney, Snellville Tourism and Trade; and Ronnie Bentley, Snellville Farmers’ Market. On the back row are Snellville Councilman Bobby Howard, Georgia Commission on Equal Opportunity Executive Director Melvin Everson, Councilwoman Barbara Bender, Mayor Pro Tem Tom Witts, Councilman Dave Emanuel and Snellville Police Department Capt. Greg Perry.
CREDITS
GwinnettForum is provided to you at no charge every Tuesday and Friday. If you would like to serve as an underwriter, click here to learn more.
- Send your thoughts, 55-word short stories, pet peeves or comments on any issue to Gwinnett Forum for future publication.
- MORE: Contact Editor and Publisher Elliott Brack at: elliott@gwinnettforum.com
Follow Us