July 21: Mass transit, sprinkler days, more

LIGHTNING STRIKE: It’s the summer electrical storm season, when claps of thunder and lightning can scare the devil out of you….and perhaps also upset your dogs and cats. Gwinnett has had its share of late day rain with fireworks lately, some causing extensive problems with houses and trees. Roving Photographer Frank Sharp was on the downtown Atlanta Jackson Street bridge aiming west over Freedom Parkway Saturday night when an electrical storm arrived. He took this 10 second time exposure, and didn’t realize that he had captured the lighting on the left side of the photo until examining the photos later at home. “It made my day,” he says.

IN THIS EDITION

TODAY’S FOCUS: New Internet Site Seeks Promoting Mass Transit in Gwinnett
EEB PERSPECTIVE: City of Lilburn Planning To Have Two Sprinkler Days!
FEEDBACK: Strategic Warning Signs About Passing Buses Could Educate Drivers
UPCOMING: Peachtree Corners Businessmen Plan Second Outreach Event
NOTABLE: After 26 Years, Gwinnett Community Clinic in Snellville Is Closing
RECOMMENDED READ: Stuff Matters by Mark Miodownik
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Urban Sprawl Impacts Species Conservation
TODAY’S QUOTE: What Can Sometimes Happen to the Innocent
MYSTERY PHOTO: Georgia Landmark in Washington Was Latest Mystery Photo
LAGNIAPPE: Opening Night Coming for Aurora’s Production of Memphis

Site seeks to raise funding to promote mass transit in Gwinnett

By Jack Snyder, director, Gwinnett Needs Mass Transit

NORCROSS, Ga., July 21, 2015 |  Do you commute to work in the Atlanta area? Is sitting in traffic jams worth using your own car? Does our lack of spending on road infrastructure in the Atlanta area bother you? If you answered “Yes” to these questions, then it is time to really consider mass transit as an alternative. Whether you like it or not MARTA is now the best alternative solution.

Snyder

In the metro Atlanta area MARTA has suffered by being perceived as corrupt, wasteful, and bringing undesirables to the suburbs. By the way, this was the same time that BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit, in the San Francisco area) began operations.

To address these issues, we would first have to deal with passé thinking. The environment for mass transit has and is changing in Gwinnett County, and with MARTA. As businesses relocate to Georgia, besides the offer of tax breaks for the company, the area’s mass transit also becomes an important concern to top officials in those companies. They know their employees must get around easily.

Millenniums moving to the metro Atlanta area want good schools, parks, and easy access to major events in the area, and with that desire, mass transit is a deciding enticement.

Mass transit station locations are a factor in higher property values to those housing options located nearby. Relocating millenniums want housing that is close to those stations and they are willing to pay for it, thus creating those higher property values.

As for ridership safety, in reports that have been issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation that focuses on safety of ridership, MARTA ranks second best in the nation with only the Metro in Washington D.C. ranked higher. That is higher than in San Francisco, Chicago, New York and the other 250 transit systems across the country.

As for equipment, MARTA is upgrading its buses and trains through already dedicated funding of the Department of Transportation. So, any future funding cuts or government shutdowns are not going to impact these upgrades.

The Sierra Club reports that it was active in helping Clayton County pass mass transit last November. They also tell me that both Douglas and Rockdale Counties are looking to the Georgia Legislature to possibly add them to the MARTA system.

So what needs to happen to bring real mass transportation to Gwinnett County?

Since our county commissioners are not willing to have this on next year’s ballot, contact your commissioner and the chairman of the commission and demand a ballot initiative on the November, 2016 ballot. Call the commissioners or send a letter to Chairperson Charlotte Nash saying you expect to be given the opportunity to vote on this issue. Her address is 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville, Ga. 30046.

For much too long, the naysayers have influenced the business of county government, and because no other voices were heard, nothing happened. The time has arrived for all citizens of Gwinnett to stand and be heard for progress in mass transportation, and not for business as usual.

You have a voice, believe it or not and if this issue is important to you—make it be heard!

• You can help financially. Go to this site: http://www.gofundme.com/wu4gj6x.

Lilburn plans Sprinkler Days; having a good day before getting going

By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher

JULY 21, 2015 | Three cheers for the City of Lilburn. The City is doing something during Dog Days that is applaudable.

Remember seeing reports from New York City of that city turning on fire hydrants during hot weather so that the kids (and some adults) can splash around in the water?

Well, Lilburn is doing something similar. On Wednesday, July 29, the city is turning on its sprinklers in a section of Lilburn City Park for the kids to enjoy. Come play from 10 a.m. until noon in the sprinklers and enjoy the refreshing cool of the water! That’s wonderful! The city is also planning to do this on the last Wednesday in August, on the 26^th. It will be Sprinkler Day again! The city requires that the children enjoying the sprinkler be supervised by an adult.

But three cheers for Lilburn for taking this plunge for cooling off with sprinklers. It’s something the other cities can promote for children in those areas.

So Monday was my lucky day, it turns out, when I was least expecting it.

A couple of weeks ago, something happened to me that has happened to most of us at one time or another: I could not find my car key. Of course, others were enrolled in searching for the key, yet no where could it be found. In today’s modern switch system, losing a car key is no long a simple move. Today’s modern key operates differently, and costs a pretty penny, about $200, if you have to replace it.

Monday didn’t start out well to begin with. Besides still using my wife’s key to my car, when I switched on the smart car, it told me that my left rear tire had only 24 pounds of pressure, and I should correct the situation immediately.

So having some quarters in my pocket, I headed early-on to the service station, ready to feed the air hose machine with those quarters to pump up the tire. I was also hoping that I had not picked up a nail, and that was the reason for the low pressure.

What a surprise at the gas station. No longer are quarters useful. No longer was adding air at this station something you did by inserting coins. Now air cost a dollar! You had to swipe your credit card to activate the machine. No cash allowed! But with the tire pressure low, suddenly the dollar was worth it. So I swiped a credit card, pumped the tire up, but still don’t know if there is a nail in the tire.

But then…..suddenly, my world changed! For as I started to climb back into the driver’s seat, lo and behold, there was a car key right by the door under the driver’s seat. At first, I thought perhaps I had dropped the second key there. But it was in the car’s key slot. I had found the first set. I had saved spending $200 for another key. All of a sudden, I had already had a good morning….and was not even to the office yet!

Gwinnett Braves

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers the Gwinnett Braves are the Triple-A International League affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. The team plays their home games at Coolray Field, located on Georgia Highway 20 just east of the Mall of Georgia. Come on out and enjoy the family-friendly fun and kid-friendly activities of Minor League Baseball while also watching the future stars of the Atlanta Braves develop. The G-Braves have home games remaining in July, August and September, including post-game fireworks each Friday night for “Fireworks Friday.”

• A full list of promotions and giveaways can be found at GwinnettBraves.com.  You can also follow the G-Braves at twitter.com/GwinnettBraves and facebook.com/GwinnettBraves1.
• Tickets are on sale now, call 678-277-0340 or visit GwinnettBraves.com/tickets.

Signs placed strategically could educate unresponsive drivers

Editor, the Forum:

A few signs educating drivers about school buses, placed strategically, would help our area tremendously. People need to know before they do something wrong, not after. I don’t know any other way to reach the masses.

We don’t need a lot of signs. Maybe 100 or so. That would be more than enough to warn most of the citizens of Gwinnett County, while driving to and from work. Seeing them would hopefully educate them about when to stop.

Signs are not needed at every stop. Four lane roads would get priority. Two lane roads would have signs only where there is a potential problem. You would only need to put several signs on a road where there are multiple stops.

None would be needed in subdivisions. Anyone who passes a bus in a subdivision should get a ticket.

— Steve Jones, Peachtree Corners

Send us a letter.  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.

Peachtree Corners Business Association plans 2^nd outreach event

The Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) announces its second annual Community Outreach Event. Hosted by Slingshot Entertainment in Peachtree Corners, the event will take place on August 27, 2015 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Net proceeds from this event will benefit local charities and organizations.

Lisa Proctor, PCBA president, explains: “The PCBA Outreach Committee’s mission is to support local community activities and charitable organizations throughout the year. As PCBA continues to grow, the Outreach Committee is working to identify new and meaningful ways to give back to the community,” shares Ms. Proctor. Local charities and organizations that will benefit from this year’s event include, the Peachtree Corners Veterans Memorial, Clean the World, Norcross Cooperative Ministry, Meals on Wheels, as well as additional community outreach programs.

Advance registration is on sale through August 17th for members and guests. Registration will continue through day of the event; walk-ins are welcome. Raffle tickets may be purchased in advance during online registration and at the event.

Admission price (ranging between $20 – 30 based on membership status) includes two drinks, appetizers, bowling shoe rental, and bowling game. Attendees will be able to participate in bowling, silent auction, and community service project. There will also be a check presentation to a local charity. Guests can tour Slingshot Entertainment, the new 130,000 square foot family entertainment complex in Peachtree Corners. Additional activities at Slingshot Entertainment include go-cart racing, Ninja obstacle course, and arcades.

• For more information or to register, visit www.peachtreecornersba.com or call 678-969-3385.

After 26-year run, Gwinnett Community Clinic is closing

Gwinnett Community Clinic, a 26-year-old non-profit helping people in Snellville, plans to discontinue their operations effective October, 2015. This Clinic is a non-profit program providing primary care and chronic disease management to qualified patients.

Established in December 1989, this private, charitable care clinic has provided low cost healthcare to uninsured, indigent residents of Gwinnett County.

Since the rollout of the Affordable Care Act and open enrollment for Obamacare insurance, Gwinnett Community Clinic has realized a significant decrease in enrollment and requests for services. Effective immediately, no new patient enrollments are being accepted. Current patients may update their qualification for service through October 1.

Gwinnett Community Clinic has had support of donors, collaboration with medical providers and volunteers, and community partners to provide its services. It has been a medical home to the working, uninsured poor of Gwinnett County.  The Gwinnett Community Clinic was able to provide over $5 million each year in primary care and chronic disease management.

The Clinic was funded by United Way of Greater Atlanta, Kaiser Foundation, Georgia Baptist Healthcare Ministry Foundation, private donations and grants and other supporters.

Red Cross recognized several from Gwinnett in awards program

The American Red Cross recognized two Gwinnett outstanding volunteers and community partners from across Atlanta for 2014-2015 at the Delta Flight Museum on July 16.

Anderson

Donna Anderson of Lawrenceville received the Disaster Preparedness and Response Volunteer Award, which is presented to the Red Cross volunteer who has shown exceptional personal leadership, dedication, and perseverance that resulted in more effective delivery of service to disaster clients and enhanced levels of individual and community preparedness with timely and cooperative responses. A 25-year volunteer, Anderson personally handled 122 calls for Red Cross assistance and dispatched the Disaster Action Team to respond. She also used her leadership skills to recruit, train and mentor both new and current dispatchers.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) in Gwinnett and the Gwinnett County Fire Department received the Good Neighbor Award. This recognizes a local organization which has partnered with the Red Cross in order to raise awareness of the Red Cross mission and to expand the scope of communities of the Red Cross.

A generous Red Cross supporter, the church donated 2,000 blankets while their Youth Program assembled comfort kits for disaster-stricken families. Some 125 LDS missionaries also took part in six Red Cross fire safety campaigns, helping to install smoke alarms and share preparedness information. The LDS also helped the Red Cross to host, plan and staff three metro events known as First 72 Hour Emergency Preparedness Summits to better prepare faith communities for emergencies.

This year, Gwinnett County Fire Department and Emergency Services partnered with the Red Cross by providing smoke alarms which were installed in high-risk neighborhoods throughout Gwinnett County. In all, a total of 960 smoke alarms were installed and hundreds of families received assistance with fire escape plans.

Cohen

Marc Cohen, Sugar Hill, received the Red Cross Health and Safety Services Award, given to a Red Cross volunteer who has shown exceptional commitment to the Red Cross mission and training standards while promoting exceptional service delivery. A Red Cross First Aid and CPR Instructor in Gwinnett County, Cohen saw an opportunity to expand life-saving Red Cross training at no charge in his community by securing the Sugar Hill Community Center as an additional class location. Cohen also volunteers his time monthly to teach at the Center, serving as a best practice for other communities to follow.

Kathleen Innes, Duluth, received the Volunteer Leadership Award, the Red Cross highest honor for Humanitarian Services, presented to an extraordinary volunteer who contributes through sustained and outstanding leadership in the face of challenges. Innes has also earned a national reputation for her competence in planning and response which culminated in her recent promotion to the rank of “Chief” in Red Cross Client Services – the highest level of responsibility for serving disaster clients on large relief operations, here or across the country.

Jay Badlani of Duluth received the Young Leader Award, presented to the Red Cross volunteer between the ages of 14 and 24 who has volunteered with the Red Cross for at least two years, served in a leadership role in an inspiring and impactful way. A rising senior at Johns Creek High School, Badlani helped start a Red Cross Club at the school to give students a variety of meaningful hands-on experiences. The club has grown to 50 members.

Shah named member of UGA’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2015

Shah

Deep Shah, M.D. (Greater Atlanta Christian School Class of 2004) has been named a member of University of Georgia Alumni Association’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2015. Members of this highly regarded group were selected because of their success in professional undertakings. Shah earned an undergraduate degree from UGA, a Master’s degree in Comparative Social Policy from University of Oxford, and a Doctorate of Medicine from Harvard Medical School. Currently, Shah is an Internal Medicine/Primary Care Physician resident at Emory University.

Head of SACS will address Georgia Gwinnett commencement

Wheelan

Speaker for the Georgia Gwinnett College summer commencement will be Dr. Belle S. Wheelan, president of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS). She will address graduates at the Gwinnett Center at 10 a.m., August 4. About 150 students will be awarded bachelor’s degrees. Wheelan’s career spans 40 years and includes the roles of faculty member, chief student services officer, campus provost, college president and Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is the first African American and/or woman to serve in her current role, as well as several of her previous positions. Wheelan holds a doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin in educational administration with a special concentration in community college leadership.

Stuff Matters

By Mark Miodownik

A friend gave us this 227-page book, and we never thought it would interest us. But once inside, there was a new world of insight into everyday materials that was surprisingly fascinating. Written by a British scientist who has a knack of explaining matters simply, soon the world of glass, plastics, metals, porcelain, diamonds and even teacups and jet engines, were most interesting to explore. You even learn more about chocolate and why it tastes so good. (By the way, our taste buds owe a lot to a company named Fry and Son in England, and Nestle in Switzerland. Thanks to them for every time we enjoy more chocolate.) Top this off with comments about modern implants for humans and discussion on new laser printing of body parts, and the mind whirls. Not for everyone, but we were happily pleased at finally dipping into this book. — eeb 

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

Urban sprawl impacts species conservation

By the 1990s ecologists had found that urban sprawl sparked a decline in species diversity: it destroyed habitats, fragmented forests into small patches that failed to protect many species, and created barriers that prevented animals from searching out mates and food.

Ecologists also found that invasive exotic (non-native) species threatened the survival of native species. This trend was first exhibited in the early 1900s with the devastating chestnut blight. Imported from Japanese nursery stock, this fungus decimated chestnut trees, which once made up 20 to 60 percent of the tree canopy in the mountains. Kudzu, fire ants, Chinese privet, dogwood anthracnose, and other exotic species continue to prey upon or displace native species.

Several forces countered these trends. In 1973 the federal Endangered Species Act was passed, spurring the protection of species in Georgia. Land conservation by many groups accelerated, and the Georgia Community Greenspace Program was created in 2000 through an act of the Georgia legislature. The voluntary program provided funds to encourage counties to preserve 20 percent of their land and water as permanent greenspace for the protection of natural resources and informal recreation.

• To access the Georgia Encyclopedia online, go to http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org

Georgia landmark in Washington was latest Mystery Photo

CLUE: What in the world are these two guys, one a baseball player and the other a businessman, discussing?  Who and where are they?  Send your guess to elliott@gwinnettforum.com — and make sure to include your contact information and hometown.

After striking out the side with the last Mystery Photo, the most recent one was easy for several people. It was the Fitzpatrick Building, circa 1898, in downtown Washington, Ga., sent in by Lou Camerio of Lilburn.

Bob Foreman of Grayson spotted it immediately, saying: “That is the old Fitzpatrick Hotel building, a great Georgia landmark.”

Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill also got it right, saying: “I wonder if the courthouse architecture is modeled somewhat after the hotel because they both have turrets.” Richard Lux of Trickum also got the identification right.

Opening night

The opening night of the new Aurora Theatre production of the Peach State Federal Credit Union Signature Series of Memphis is July 23. Travis Smith and Naima Carter Russell star in the play, which is the start of the 20th year of the award-winning theatre. It is a co-production with Theatrical Outfit, this tuneful tale is sure to strike a chord with music lovers of all ages! (Photo by Chris Bartelski.)

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