THE FADING SUN backlights a silhouette for geese romping around Rhodes Jordan Park in Lawrenceville. Roving Photographer Frank Sharp captured this scene on a recent late afternoon.
IN THIS EDITIONTODAY’S FOCUS: Performances for Lionheart Theatre for 2016 Are Announced
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Gambling, Medical Marijuana and Two Movies for You To Enjoy
ANOTHER VIEW: Reforming the U.S. Senate …Answers to Reader Comments
FEEDBACK: Does Not See Benefit from Having Local Two Party System
UPCOMING: Hudgens Art Center Has New Exhibit; Baldwin To Marshal MLK Parade
NOTABLE: Aurora Theatre Presents Pulitzer Prize Winning Wit through Feb. 7
RECOMMENDED MOVIE: Lamb
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Confederates Give Up St. Simons, and Union Forces Occupy Brunswick
TODAY’S QUOTE: On the Movement away from September
MYSTERY PHOTO: Statue in Downtown Decatur Stumps Our Readers
LAGNIAPPE: Baldwin Elementary School Makes up New Norcross Skyline
TODAY’S FOCUSLionheart Theatre company announces play offerings for 2016
By Sean Casey
NORCROSS Ga., Jan. 12, 2016 — Lionheart Theatre Company of Norcross announces its 2016 season complete with comedy, drama and children’s plays. The company will be presenting nine different plays in the coming year, ranging from classics of the theatre to new creations for audiences. The company makes its home at the Norcross Cultural Center.
Tanya Caldwell, the company artistic director, says: “We bring highly entertaining shows at affordable prices in the beautiful setting of Historic Norcross. You’ll see local professionals as well as your neighbors perform.”
The line-up for the coming year included:
February 4-14: Charlotte’s Web, by E. B. White, directed by Tanya Caldwell, is about an affectionate, sometimes bashful pig named Wilbur, who befriends a spider named Charlotte. Charlotte uses her web to save her friend.
March 11-13: Love Loss and What I Wore, directed by Dot Reilley, is based on the best-selling book by Ilene Beckerman and stories by Nora and Delia Ephron, and uses the memories triggered by clothing and accessories to communicate heartwarming and often hilarious stories.
May 6-22: You Can’t Take it With You by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, directed by Scott King, introduces audiences to the freethinking Sycamore family and the mayhem that ensues when their daughter’s fiancé brings his conservative, straight-laced parents to dinner on the wrong night.
August 4-7: The Tempest, a children’s musical directed by Nancy Caldwell, is an amazing musical introduction to Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Dramatic and full of life, this is the story of Prospero the magician, who causes a shipwreck in his attempt to find justice.
September 9-25: Run for Your Wife, directed by Marla Krohn, tells the story of taxi driver John Smith. He’s the happiest man in the world – until one night. When he doesn’t come home, his wife calls the police – and so does his other wife!
October 21-23: Bewitching, is a collection of original short plays that cast a spell. Perfect for the Halloween season!
October 27-29: Lawless Spirits History Tour. Back by popular demand, this Halloween History tour takes you through the City of Norcross to meet gun slingers, hobos riding the rails and carney folk.
November 4-20: A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, directed by Joanie McElroy, revolves around the divergent dreams and conflicts within three generations of the Younger family. When her deceased husband’s insurance money comes through, Mama Lena dreams of moving to a new home and a better neighborhood in Chicago.
December 8-18: A Charlie Brown Christmas, directed by Tanya Caldwell, brings the beloved seasonal television special to life on stage as Charlie Brown, Snoopy and the other Peanuts grapple with the real meaning of Christmas.
- To make reservations or to order Flex-Passes, log onto to www.lionhearttheatre.org. For information, call 678-938-8518, or email reservations@lionhearttheatre.org.
Gambling, medical marijuana and two movies for you to enjoy
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher
JAN. 12, 2016 — Two groups which we oppose have made surprising progress this year. We refer to those wanting the Georgia Legislature to approve gambling and medical marijuana in Georgia. We don’t think these are good ideas.
These groups have insidiously made their way into the minds of many people extolling the virtues of casino gambling and introducing emotion on the medical use of marijuana. They even want horse racing and pot growing in Georgia.
Even the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has come under their influence, with a story saying Sunday that a poll shows Georgia voters want to approve both measures. Remember, it’s merely a poll. We don’t think this poll is right, for we think the majority of reasonable-minded Georgians would disapprove of both measures.
We, too, like the poll, could be wrong. Yes, we know that Georgia voters have substantially changed in recent years, even moving to the right politically. But that doesn’t mean that Georgians want to see casino gambling which some say will “bring more tax revenues” (bull) to Georgia. And while those advocating medical marijuana do so to relieve “the suffering of those with cancer, diabetes, arthritis and the common cold,” we don’t believe those are the conservative values of most Georgians.
Yet those advocating these two undesirable ventures have done an amazing public relations maneuver in the last year on keeping their message before the people. But that doesn’t make it right.
Watch out! The Georgia Legislature has just convened.
Anything can happen.
* * * * *
Here are two recommendations of recent movies we have seen.
Saturday we saw The Big Short, a movie which tackles the job of explaining to U.S. citizens what caused the recent recession. You remember, the time when everything seem to tank, from housing, to jobs, to Wall Street and your and my pocketbook?
This stock market crash came from a most complicated maneuvering on Wall Street. New types of financial devices were created, all aided and abetted by the big Wall Street financial firms, the government, the bond rating agencies, traders gaining big bonuses, and all smiling as everyone enjoyed the success of the American economic system.
Then everything went south. Yet a few people, the ones recognizing what was really happening when everyone else thought the other way, made big bucks.
Go see this picture. It’s a beautiful explanation of how all this took place. There are no special effects of building exploding, or magical encounters, or other devices, but an extraordinary movie on an important subject. Those predicting the Academy Awards say this picture is worthy, and could cop many honors for its innovative way of explaining this subject.
It’s worthy of your dollar.
* * * * *
Another movie may not cost you anything more, if you have a Netflix subscription. We purely stumbled on My Afternoons with Margueritte on Netflix. It’s a sentimental French film, with subtitles, which you should see simply to enjoy a good movie, though The New York Times panned it.
It’s a story of an unlettered middle-aged Frenchman, something of an oaf and the small village buffoon, who happens to talk with a 95-year-old woman one day who was sitting on a bench watching the pigeons. This first conversations blossoms into a nice friendship, and the story breaks out into a delightful escapade involving reading, understanding and caring.
Though it has subtitles, these are surprisingly well done, and don’t take away from the story. The 2011 movie didn’t win accolades from many critics, but it’s a good story, and one we enjoyed tremendously.
ANOTHER VIEWReforming the U.S. Senate; Answers to reader comments
By George Wilson
JAN. 12, 2016 | Many people read my two articles about the U.S. Senate and the need for reform.
Someone reminded me that even through the U.S. Senate is the least representative body in the world; the British House of Lords is just as bad. I couldn’t agree more and reform is needed in Great Britain.
Some of the comments said that the Senate districts would have to be drawn anew with each census. Not true, under the constitution the number in the Senate, unlike the US House of Representatives, is determined by the number of states and not the population.
Also the states would determine how many states could be created within their boundaries. As an example, New York could have as many as five or as few as two. The same applies to California, Texas, and other states.
Also, you could have compacts and agreements that one state would handle a service for a consortium of states; namely, state police, prisons and other functions.
Throughout the history of the U.S. Senate, it has used its power to hold back desegregation, campaign finance reform, health care reform, New Deal programs, and gun control. Moreover, in this century Southern senators filibustered anti-lynching legislation, and later blocked civil rights reforms. In foreign policy, disasters like failing to join the League of Nations led to World War 11.
My fear is if the emergent multi-racial majority in the United States perceives the Senate as the tool of selfish white obstructionists controlled by wealthy oligarchs, pressure will grow on the judiciary or the President to take control and push through reforms that the majority needs and approves. This would further weaken our constitutional order.
Under my proposal, we can use the Constitution to reform the Senate or trash the Constitution to get around the Senate. The choice is ours.
IN THE SPOTLIGHTInfinite Energy Arena
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum to you at no cost to readers. Today’s underwriter is Infinite Energy Arena home to four distinct facilities in Duluth: The Arena at Infinite Energy Center, Infinite Energy Theater, Infinite Energy Forum, and The Hudgens Center for the Arts. The Arena at Infinite Energy Center has had 12 years of tremendous success hosting countless concerts, family shows and sporting events, and is home to the ECHL’s Gwinnett Gladiators and the NLL’s Georgia Swarm. Some past concerts include George Strait, Carrie Underwood, Beyoncé, Foo Fighters, Eric Clapton, Katy Perry, Kid Rock, James Taylor and Michael Bublé. The Arena at Infinite Energy Center also hosts many family shows including Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey, Cirque du Soleil, Disney On Ice and Harlem Globetrotters. Infinite Energy Forum offers patrons the opportunity to host or attend a wide variety of events, from corporate meetings to trade shows to social occasions. Infinite Energy Theater has an intimate capacity of 708-seats and is home to many local events, family shows and even some comedians. The Hudgens Center for the Arts showcases a range of artwork throughout the year along with offering a wide range of fine art classes.
- For further information visit www.InfiniteEnergyCenter.com.
- For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: Our sponsors.
Does not see benefit from having local two-party system
Editor, the Forum:
I very much appreciate the publishing and advancement of the Gwinnett Objectives. On the top of the list is elimination of non-partisan elections in favor of a two-party system for county elected offices. Possibly the debate needs to be rehashed.
I can’t possibly see any benefit to adding a label to a candidate – it’s ambiguous and a distraction. It’s possible to be a ‘conservative Republican’ as far as foreign policy and federal spending is concerned because it maximizes state sovereignty and leaves more money for me to be a local ‘liberal Democrat’ and build libraries, schools, and parks. No good can come from a two-party system. Candidates should campaign on their agenda.
— Joe Briggs, Buford
Dear Joe: On the surface, we would be better off locally without political parties. But as long as we have them, we want a balance of power between the two parties, which we don’t have no, so that neither one will dominate. That’s our reasoning.–eeb
- SEND FEEDBACK AND LETTERS: elliott@brack.net
Hudgens Center for the Arts opens new exhibit on Jan. 12
A new exhibit will open on January 12 and run through March 26 at The Hudgens Center for the Arts in Duluth. It is presented as Personal Politics: Artist as Witness, Memory Keeper and Social Conscience.
Curator Jerushia Graham has invited 12 artists whose work addresses this wide breadth of topics to exhibit together. Each artist’s personal interest contributes to the larger societal discussion that shapes our world. The works resonate with one another to provide a rigorous visual dialogue and food for thought.
Works in the exhibit include by Jamaal Barber, Jessica R. Caldas , Alfred Conteh, Drék Davis, Jessica Scott Felder, Shanequa Gay, Deborah R. Grayson, Carlton D. Mackey, Masud Olufani, Iman Person and Dante Yarbrough.
Curator Jerushia Graham says: “Whether you actively engage in the political process or quietly volunteer your energies towards activities you consider personal interests, each of our actions, our voices, and our memories lay the foundation for future generations. We invite you to critically assess the current state of affairs and identify the ‘issues’ that move you to witness, remember, envision the future, and act. When you look closely, the political is personal and personal is political.”
Also on view will be Selected Works from the Permanent Collection, Birds in Portrait: photographs by Joel Conison.
Joel Conison was a commercial photographer for over 20 years before returning to Pratt Institute in order to earn a MFA. After teaching for five years at the college level he has continued to work on his own photography as well as teach at Spruill Center of the Arts in Atlanta and give private instruction in Photoshop. His work has been exhibited at the local, regional, and national level. Birds in Portrait captures the natural beauty of birds in an unnatural environment.
Baldwin is marshal of 16th MLK Parade in Lawrenceville
Baldwin
The United Ebony Society of Gwinnett County, Inc. will host the 16th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration on Monday, January 18, in Lawrenceville. Grand marshal for this year’s parade will be Beauty P. Baldwin, a retired educator from Dacula.
The theme, “What Are You Doing For Others?” underscores the importance of everyone making a difference by reaching out to help others in need. The brief program and parade line-up will take place between 9 a.m. until 9:40 a.m.
The parade will start at 10a.m. in front of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center at 75 Langley Drive and concludes at Moore Middle School on U.S. Highway 29 at the intersection of Johnson Road.
The celebration includes information provided by community outreach organizations, artwork displays by GCPS students and a step show at Moore Middle School. The activities will take place until 2p.m
- For more information and parade registration, visit www.gwinnettmlkparade.com for parking and activities planned, or call 678-856-7602.
Snellville, Grayson in head-to-head battle to help SE Food Co-Op
David Emanuel and Allison Wilkerson
For the second straight year, Snellville and Grayson are locked in a head-to-head battle in an effort to feed the area’s hungry. The second annual Snellville-Grayson Give Hunger the Boot Challenge is under way and each city hopes to collect the most non-perishable food or financial donations to win a trophy and have its name on plaques to be displayed in both city halls. The Southeast Gwinnett Food Co-Op will be the beneficiary. David Emanuel of Snellville and Grayson Mayor Allison Wilkerson stand back- to-back as they lead efforts to help the Co-Op.
The need always becomes critical in January, after the holidays, according to Kathy Emanuel who created the program with her husband, Councilman Dave Emanuel. “Last year Grayson beat Snellville, but this year we can do much better,” she says. “The city with the most donations wins, but the real winners are the local families in need that the Co-Op helps.”
- To donate in Snellville, drop of non-perishable food items or donations at City Hall, 2342 Oak Road, or at Public Works, 2491 Marigold Road. Take Grayson food or money donations to Grayson City Hall, 475 Grayson Parkway, Grayson.
Aurora Theatre presents Pulitzer Prize-winning Wit through Feb. 7
A beautiful story of life and the looming question of what happens next, Aurora Theatre invites audiences to experience the powerful Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece Wit, playing January 14 to February 7. Detailing the final days of Dr. Vivian Bearing’s battle with stage IV ovarian cancer, Wit is a poetic journey through the English professor’s reflection on her life and the relationship between patient and healer.
Producing Artistic Director Anthony Rodriguez says: “As cancer survivors, this play is extremely personal for both myself and partner Ann-Carol. Although the type of cancer is very specific in Wit, the brilliance of the play is that we have all been, in some way, affected by cancer. Ultimately, Vivian’s personal battle with cancer in the play serves to comfort and inspire every person who has fought, every person who has triumphed and every person we have lost along the way.”
Directed by Tlaloc Rivas and written by Atlanta teacher Margaret Edson, this exhilarating story of self-realization and strength takes a deeper look into humanity and one woman’s bold journey of accepting it.
A matinee will be performed Wednesday, February 3 at 10 a.m., with tickets starting at $16. Regular show tickets range from $20-$55 and can be purchased online at tickets.auroratheatre.com or by calling the Box Office at 678-226-6222. Parental discretion is advised, as the play does contain brief artistic nudity.
Regular show times are as follows: Wednesday-Friday: 8 p.m.; Saturday: 2:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday: 2:30 p.m.
Following the matinee on Sunday, January 17, audiences are invited to attend a meet and greet with Margaret Edson, as she speaks with guests about the play and what inspired her to create this powerful production.
Swan recognized for 50 years of service to Lilburn Woman’s Club
The Lilburn Woman’s Club announces the celebration of 50 years of outstanding service in Woman’s Club work to Pat Swan. She joined the Decatur-DeKalb Junior Woman’s Club in 1966.
Swan
The Lilburn Woman’s Club recognizes her many years of outstanding leadership for our members and other members of the GFWC on both state and national levels. Over her 50 year membership, Pat has served in many positions beginning with helping to Save the Fox Theater and Callenwolde Art Center. Among her many offices has been as president of the Georgia State Womans Clubs in 1994-96 and in 2008-10 as president of the Southern Region. She has also been named the winner of Georgia First Jennie June Award, for the Southern Region.
She has served on the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies board for 25 years; is a member of the Gwinnett Senior Leadership Board of Trustees; been president of the Women’s Cancer Council; is on the Gwinnett Cancer Leadership Committee/Relay for Life Committee; served as chairman of the board at the Hudgens Art Center, 2007-2009; and is a member of the Gwinnett Department of Family and Children Advisory Board.
Commission adopts $1.5 billion budget, holding line on taxes
Gwinnett commissioners have adopted a balanced, $1.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2016. The adopted budget holds the line on property tax rates while funding services cut during the recession, addressing concerns about workforce recruitment and retention, and investing in essential infrastructure and critical community needs.
The operating budget totals $1.1 billion, compared to $1.05 billion last year. It includes an additional $7.2 million to cover election expenses and expand hours and locations for advance voting. It also unfreezes 25 police positions and restores staff at the animal shelter and in parks maintenance. Library funding is up to 88 percent of its 2008 level and Gwinnett Transit can add three new express routes.
Home care and delivered meals are expanded for seniors on waiting lists. There will be additions to a special victims unit in the District Attorney’s office, 30 new police officers, nine new firefighter/paramedics, 12 new part-time sheriff deputies, three new Juvenile Court positions and another magistrate judge. The budget includes a four percent pay-for-performance increase for eligible employees and the restoration of longevity pay.
The capital budget of $363 million, down from $371 million last year, funds design for a new state patrol building, a courthouse expansion, construction of a new medical examiner/morgue building, senior center renovations and body cameras for police officers and sheriff’s deputies.
RECOMMENDED MOVIELamb
“Lamb is an award-winning movie based on a novel written by my niece, Bonnie Nadzam. Reviews describe the story as “provocative” and “beautiful and troubling.” It is about a middle aged man confused about the death of his father and an impeding divorce who convinces an insecure seventh grader to join him on a journey westward. The psychological developments between actor, Ross Partridge and child actress, Oona Laurence is a fascinating story. The movie will play at the Plaza Theater starting on January 15.”
— Alan Schneiberg, Sugar Hill
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 TIDBITConfederates give up St. Simons; Union forces occupy Brunswick
(From previous issue)
Confederate leadership and the people of Savannah came to pin their hopes of resisting coastal Union occupation and breaking the blockade on a handful of gunboats. Three of these, the Atlanta, the Georgia, and later the Savannah, were ironclads patterned after the CSS Virginia, famous for its battle against the USS Monitor at Hampton Roads, Va., in 1862. The Macon, the Sampson, the Resolute, and the Isondiga, wooden gunboats of varying designs, constituted the remainder of the Confederate fleet in Savannah. In addition, Georgia’s coastal defenses included innovative torpedoes, developed by Commodore Matthew Maury, which caused the Union navy periodic concern.
Despite these innovations, the Confederate naval forces paled in comparison to Union naval strength. Despite fleeting successes by Southern naval forces, the increasingly potent Union navy ultimately enabled complete Union control of the Georgia coastline.
General Lee’s decision to consolidate forces in 1862 began with the withdrawal of Confederate troops from St. Simons and Jekyll islands on the southeastern Georgia coast. On March 9, 1862, two Union gunboats arrived to find abandoned the earthwork batteries overlooking the channel between the islands. Sailing farther inland to the town of Brunswick, the ships found the town deserted and the wharf and depot ablaze.
Union naval forces took other Sea Islands with similar lack of resistance. Tybee, the northernmost of Georgia’s islands and within easy range of Fort Pulaski, fell to Union forces without a fight. Along with Union gunboats, batteries erected on Tybee initiated the first major engagement in Savannah on April 10, 1862. Union forces under the command of Major General David Hunter and Captain Quincy A. Gillmore bombarded Fort Pulaski, which was commanded by Confederate Colonel Charles H. Olmstead, overnight. The rifled cannons of the Union gunboat Norwich, as well as those from the land batteries, made short work of the masonry walls of Fort Pulaski. Fearing a complete breach in the walls and explosion of the fort’s powder magazine, Olmstead surrendered. Union troops occupied Fort Pulaski for the remainder of the war.
Early in the war, 1,500 Confederate troops were ordered to St. Simons Island to defend it against the Union blockade. By the end of 1862 Lee had ordered those troops to move north to help defend Savannah, leaving St. Simons open to Union occupation. In June 1863 the 54th Massachusetts regiment, one of the Union’s first African American regiments, under commander Robert Gould Shaw, spent several weeks on the island and made an expedition up the Altamaha River.
On June 11 they were ordered to attack the nearby port of Darien, which was thought to be a base for blockade-running activity. Despite objections from Shaw, his troops, along with the Second South Carolina Infantry, burned and looted the town, causing the greatest wartime destruction to civilian property along the Georgia coast. The film Glory (1989) recreates this incident, along with the Fifth-fourth’s suicidal assault on Fort Wagner, S.C., on July 18, 1863.
(To be continued)
- To access the Georgia Encyclopedia online, go to http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Can you place this photograph of row houses?
It’s merely a photograph of simple row houses, at least their back porches. But is this some of the famous row houses of Baltimore or Washington, or where? Send your answers to elliott@brack.net and be sure to include the town where you live.
Not a soul recognized the statue which was the Mystery Photo in the last edition of GwinnettForum. The photo was sent in by Jerry Colley of Lilburn, who identified it as “It’s Commodore Stephen Decatur, for whom the city is named, and it’s in downtown Decatur.” The statue is on the main plaza above the Decatur MARTA Station. Congratulations to Jerry for stumping us all.
Commodore Decatur was a United States Naval officer and commodore notable for his many naval victories in the early 19th century. His numerous naval victories against Britain, France and the Barbary states established the United States as a rising power. Decatur subsequently emerged as a national hero in his own lifetime, becoming the first post–Revolutionary War hero. His name and legacy, like that of John Paul Jones, soon became identified with the United States Navy.
LAGNIAPPEBaldwin Elementary School now on Norcross skyline
Rising on the skyline looking east from downtown Norcross is the now-building Baldwin Elementary School (named for Beauty Baldwin.) It is on the site of the former Summerour Middle School, which was built up the street at the former Norcross High site.
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- MORE: Contact Editor and Publisher Elliott Brack at: elliott@gwinnettforum.com
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