GRADUATION SPEAKER: Dr. Stas Preczewski, Georgia Gwinnett College president, and Dr. Diane White, dean of the School of Health Sciences, present graduating senior speaker Jordan Rudnicki (center) with her 2016 Georgia State Legislature Academic Recognition Day Award. More than 470 degrees were presented. See Notable below for more details.
IN THIS EDITIONTODAY’S FOCUS: GVCID Presents Quarry Crusher Run To Support Meadowcreek Area
EEB PERSPECTIVE: An Eventful Day at the New Baseball Park in Washington
SPOTLIGHT: Howard Brothers Hardware
UPCOMING: Avoid Lines by Taking Advantage of Early Voting This Week
NOTABLE: Georgia Gwinnett College Graduates 470 Students in 2016 Class
RECOMMENDED: Built From Scratch, by Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank
GEORGIA TIDBIT: For Nearly 30 Years, Jackson Lee Nesbitt Stops Creating Art
TODAY’S QUOTE: One Way To Insure That You Do Not Come Out Well
MYSTERY PHOTO: Here’s Another Vintage Mill Photo; Where Is It?
LAGNIAPPE: Chihuly Exhibit at Atlanta Botanical Garden Runs Through October 30
EDITOR’S NOTES: Our Calendar now appears near the end of each GwinnettForum.
Also until the May 24 elections, you can read candidate profiles in each of the contested primary elections. Click on the orange area button to the right or the link below to view their answers and our endorsement. You must click on each candidate’s name to view the answers to six questions GwinnettForum put to the candidates. By comparing the candidates, you may get better idea of which candidate you may want to support.–eeb
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TODAY’S FOCUSGVCID presents Quarry Crusher Run to support Meadowcreek area
By Merritt McHaffie McNeely
NORCROSS, Ga., May 17, 2016 | On Saturday, May 21, the Vulcan Materials Quarry, located in Norcross, will be the unique site of a new road race to the Atlanta market that will benefit the Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation and Meadowcreek High School, Louise Radloff Middle School and Meadowcreek Elementary School.
The Quarry Crusher Run, which is being presented by Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District, is roughly a 3.7 mile (or 7.4 mile) foot race that takes participants deep into the earth, in an active quarry, on a path that is rarely allowed to be accessed by the public. The race challenges runners to climb back out, reaching grades of over 10 percent for over a mile at some points. This unique race will kick-off at 8 a.m. with two race categories in the quarry located at 1707 Beaver Ruin Road, Norcross.
The Quarry Crusher Run Series started in Columbia, S.C., in 2012 by a small group of community-minded citizens who wanted to work together with the Vulcan Quarry and the neighborhood. After a few years of running a small festival near the quarry entrance, the organizers came up with the idea to host a road race to kick off the day of festivities by running down into the quarry pit and back out. After four years, the original organizers decided to take the race to the national scene, working with Vulcan quarries on the east coast. Four races are slated for 2016 – Columbia, S.C. on April 16, Atlanta on May 21, Birmingham, Ala. on June 11 and Baltimore, Md. on September 24.
A previous quarry run
Jaime Lomas, race director, says: “We are so excited to take this unique race on the road and expand the opportunities for more runners to experience it in Atlanta. The dedication of Vulcan Materials Company to support their community is evident in this unique run. In a world of either typical road races every weekend or new fad races that are not very challenging to runners, we think the Quarry Crusher Run offers a different option for people looking for more.”
The Vulcan’s Norcross Quarry has partnered with The Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation to donate the proceeds of the race to furthering their mission of supporting the Meadowcreek Cluster, where the quarry is located. The mission of the three schools, in partnership with the community, is to ensure high student achievement, facilitate character development and provide opportunities for leadership development through parental involvement and effective teaching.
Runners who register before May 21, may pick their race packet up at Big Peach Running Company’s Suwanee store, located at 320 Town Center Avenue in Suwanee, on Friday May 20 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Runners will receive a custom tee, sponsor promotions and other freebies in their packets. Every race participant will also receive a finisher’s medal upon completion of the race. Prizes will be awarded for overall winners and age group placers.
- Registration for all races is now available online. Package rates are available for participants who want to run more than one in the four race national series. Children under 12 are not permitted to participate in the race. Walkers and people with strollers are also not allowed. Visit www.quarrycrusherrun.com to register.
Three different aspects of a recent trip to D.C. to visit a daughter
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher, GwinnettForum
MAY 17, 2016 | Three distinct elements distinguished last weekend’s springtime trip to Washington, D.C.
It turned chilly when we visited the new (for us) Washington Nationals park on Sunday. A radio station reported as my daughter and I rode in a Uber car to the stadium that the weather was “blustery,” and that was an understatement.
Oh, the weather was beautiful, with plenty of sunshine. But that wind must have been blowing sometimes in 40 mph gusts, and it was downright cold. Heaters were turned on above us, and their warmth felt good.
First, the stadium itself. It’s located on South Capitol Street, near the Anacostia River and within several blocks of the nation’s capitol itself. Living quarters are all around in this newly-developed area around the stadium.
Seeing that stadium for the first time, we can only say it’s beautiful, with great sight lines from every seat. And the baseball action is relatively close to the stands. The designers have also done a good job in making the overall facilities and the food stands convenient to fans. We presume that the Atlanta Braves are taking notice of new stadiums around the country, and these observations and updates will significantly improve the Atlanta baseball experience when the Braves open in Cobb County next year.
The second item had to do with the game itself. The Nationals were playing the Miami Marlins. There was a most interesting play, one where a National (First baseman Ryan Zimmerman) scored on an inside-the-park home run. That’s something you seldom see, and might not have taken place at all except for the outfield play on the fly ball.
Zimmerman lofted a high fly toward right center field. Marlins outfielders Giancarlo Stanton and Marcell Ozuna both ran back watching the ball high in the sky as it neared the outfield wall. Then suddenly the two Miami players collided as the ball fell to the ground between them. Both players were flat on the ground for several minutes, and most of the eyes of fans in the stadium were on the two downed players. Meanwhile, Zimmerman trotted in with the unusual home run, with the fans relatively quiet, all intent on the felled players. After a couple of minutes, both players shook the collision off, and continued in the game. Meanwhile, the Marlins went on to win 5-1, with Zimmerman’s hit the only Nationals’ run.
WITH THE COLD, my daughter and I left the stadium early. That’s when I was treated to a different way to get around.
A new phone application showed my daughter that a Car2Go for hire was nearby. Car2Go provides cars for one-way trips within the District of Columbia. Three of these rental cars were parked along a street in various locations across South Capitol Street from the stadium. (Probably fans came to the game in them.) A reader inside the windshield read my daughter’s membership card, with information linked to her payment method and rental history, the car unlocked, She logged into her account and drove to her home in this tiny, two seat Smart Car.
Once at your destination, you park in any legal parking space, get out, and that’s it. A GPS device inside the Smart Car tells the company where the car is parked. Eventually, someone in that area will need to rent a car, look at the App to see what cars are close by, reserve it, walk to it, and then they are off driving to their one-way destination.
This new way to get around beat walking home on a cold day in Washington. And the cost: a mere $5 for our trip (prices are based on distances driven.)
This new way to get around beat walking home on a cold day in Washington. And the cost: a mere $5. And no tipping, you note. A benefit from modern technology!
IN THE SPOTLIGHTHoward Brothers Hardware
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today’s sponsor is Howard Brothers Hardware, which has retail stores in Alpharetta, Athens, Doraville, Duluth and Oakwood. John and Doug Howard are the ‘brothers’ in Howard Brothers. This family owned business was started by their dad, and continues to specialize in hardware, outdoor power equipment and parts and service. Howard Brothers are authorized dealers of STIHL, Exmark, Honda and Echo outdoor power equipment. They are authorized Big Green Egg, Traeger Grill and YETI Cooler dealers.
- Visit their web site howardbrothers.com.
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Avoid lines by taking advantage of early voting this week
Gwinnett County Elections encourages voters to skip the lines on Election Day and take advantage of early voting before the May 24 General Primary/Nonpartisan General Election.
Registered voters in Gwinnett may cast their ballots on Tuesday through Friday, May 17 through 20 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Voter Registrations and Elections Office, located at 455 Grayson Highway in Lawrenceville. In addition, seven satellite voting locations will offer extended voting hours May 17 through 20 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The satellite locations are:
- Bogan Park Community Recreation Center – 2723 North Bogan Road, Buford;
- Dacula Park Activity Building – 2735 Auburn Avenue, Dacula;
- George Pierce Park Community Recreation Center – 55 Buford Highway, Suwanee;
- Lenora Park Activity Room (not the gym) 4515 Lenora Church Road, Snellville;
- Lucky Shoals Park Community Recreation Center – 4651 Britt Road, Norcross;
- Mountain Park Activity Building (adjacent to the aquatic center) – 1063 Rockbridge Road, Stone Mountain; and
- Shorty Howell Park Activity Building – 2750 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth.
Voters can also request a mail-in absentee ballot through Friday, May 20 at www.gwinnettelections.com. Advance voting ends on May 20 and no voting will take place on the Saturday or Monday before the election.
Election Day voting on May 24 will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters who cast their ballots on Election Day must go to their assigned voter precinct. Voters can find their voting precinct or view a sample ballot on the Georgia Secretary of State’s website, www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do.
Gwinnett libraries offer new logo and new self-checkout kiosks
Along with new standardized system hours, Gwinnett County Public Library (GCPL) debuted a new logo this week, featuring bright, vibrant colors and an assortment of media icons, which will replace the navy blue book stack logo, Director Charles Pace reports. He says: “The new logo represents the different forms of media and programming we offer, and supports our vision for the future of GCPL as a place to connect, learn, and grow. All of these changes, including the technology upgrades, hours, and logo, are being implemented to best support the needs of the entire Gwinnett community.”
The new GCPL branding was provided by Primerica, headquartered in Duluth, through their Communications and Community and Foundation Relations Departments, as an in-kind donation to the library system. Primerica Senior Designer and Illustrator Don Bolt created the logo.
Working with the new checkout system
Customers will notice significant technology upgrades when they next walk through the branch doors. New self-checkout kiosks feature bright touchscreen monitors.
GCPL Director of Information Technology Michael Casey sees the potential in the upgrades. “Our new Bibliotheca self-checkout kiosks will be capable of much more than checking out a book, as customers will be able to pay for their copies, print jobs, pay late fees, and purchase items like tote bags and flash drives directly on the machines. With updates to the software later this year, the kiosks will make recommendations based on the user’s browsing history.”
Zipcars now available on campus of Georgia Gwinnett College
Zipcar, a car sharing network, has launched a new partnership with Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) to offer a car sharing program on campus. This transportation option is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for students, faculty, and staff ages 18 and older, as well as members of the local community over the age of 21.
GGC will initially offer two vehicles, a Ford Focus and a Ford Fiesta. The Zipcars will have designated parking spots located in the student housing parking lot for convenient pick-up and return.
This year, GGC members can join for $15, with rates for Zipcar vehicles on campus starting as low as $7.50 per hour and $69 per day. After the first year, members will pay an annual membership fee of $25. Gas, insurance, and up to 180 miles of driving per day are included in Zipcar rates, and cars can be reserved for as little as an hour or for multiple days. GGC students, faculty and staff can join Zipcar at www.zipcar.com/ggc.
Chris Smith, director of operations at GGC says: “This convenient transportation option will benefit the campus community, particularly students who do not have a car. These students will now be able to drive to area stores, restaurants and other attractions, which is important since we do not have such resources adjacent to the campus.”
Members with iPhones and Android devices may download the Zipcar mobile app to make reservations, lock and unlock the vehicles and honk the horn to help locate the vehicle. Reservations can also be made over the phone or on Zipcar’s website.
NOTABLEGeorgia Gwinnett College graduates 470 students in 2016 class
Georgia Gwinnett College awarded more than 470 bachelor’s degrees at its 2016 commencement ceremony, held on the college’s campus. This ceremony included several firsts for Georgia Gwinnett.
The college graduated 23 members of its charter nursing class, more of whom will graduate later this year.
- Jordan Hunter of Dacula was awarded the college’s first chemistry degree.
- Alicia Griffiths of Loganville and Ashleigh Cooper of Lawrenceville became GGC’s first female ROTC cadets to be commissioned U.S. Army officers. They joined fellow cadets Andrew Lee and Adam Robes, both of Lawrenceville, in taking a public oath of office during the commencement ceremony. The four cadets more than double GGC’s total commissioned officers. GGC’s founding president and retired U.S. Army brigadier general, Dr. Daniel J. Kaufman, presented the keynote address at the ROTC program’s formal commissioning ceremony held earlier in the morning.
- Jordan Rudnicki, a Dacula resident and nursing major, spoke on behalf of all graduating seniors. “The atmosphere of this college has taught us to look beyond tradition and ask what we can do to make things better,” says Rudnicki. “Class of 2016, be proud of your hard work and accomplishments to reach this college graduation, but don’t stop here. The progress we have each made over the last few years is just the beginning of our journeys. Let’s not settle for the status quo, or for mediocrity. Let’s be people who have courage to ask what can I do to make a difference, and then do it.”
Jackson EMC Foundation shares $81,000 to Gwinnett charities
The Jackson EMC Foundation board of directors awarded a total $125,426 in grants during their April meeting, including $81,000 to organizations serving Gwinnett County residents.
$15,000 to Extra Special People in Watkinsville to provide an opportunity for special needs or seriously ill children from low income or financially distressed families in Barrow, Clarke, Gwinnett, Jackson and Madison counties to attend an eight week camp experience where they can explore nature, discover their own abilities, master new skills and make new friends.
$15,000 to Exodus Outreach, a Buford nonprofit organization serving people in all walks of life who are hurting and in need of support, for a summer program that offers kindergarten through eighth grade at-risk students in Gwinnett and Hall counties with a supervised summer learning and development curriculum that readies students to succeed in school in the fall.
$15,000 to Gwinnett Student Leadership for its student leadership program, a two-year program serving high school juniors and seniors in 23 public schools, providing practical leadership skills and training to return to their home high school to facilitate the core leadership principles with groups there to increase the capacity to develop student leaders.
$12,500 to Camp Twin Lakes, a not-for-profit organization which offers year-round recreational, therapeutic and educational programs for children facing serious illness and other challenges, to help children in Jackson EMC’s 10-county service area attend its state-of-the-art, fully accessible campsites.
$10,000 to Spectrum Autism Support Group, a parent-run non-profit group in Suwanee that provides support, education and resources for the entire spectrum of autism disorders to families in Barrow, Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson counties, to enable disadvantaged autistic individuals ages four to 22 to attend the organization’s weeklong summer camp program where daily activities are used to teach social skills lessons.
$8,000 to Camp Kudzu, a year-round camping program for children with diabetes and their families to teach diabetes management skills that will reduce their risk of diabetes-related complications, as well as improve their attitude about living with the disease, to help children from the 10 counties served by Jackson EMC attend a one-week overnight summer camp.
$3,500 to Good Samaritan Ministry of Northeast Georgia, a Gainesville non-profit that provides food, clothing, furniture, job counseling and education assistance to those in need in Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson and Lumpkin counties, to purchase food and personal hygiene item
Jackson EMC Foundation grants are made possible by the nearly 182,600 participating cooperative members who have their monthly electric bills rounded to the next dollar amount through the Operation Round Up program. Their “spare change” has funded 1,079 grants to organizations and 327 grants to individuals, putting nearly $11 million back into local communities since the program began in 2005.
Snellville to save $100,000 with contract with new waste hauler
Snellville has awarded a two-year contract for commercial and residential sanitation and recycling services to Advanced Disposal Monday. Waste Pro had been the previous hauler.
The city received four bids for a new two-year contract to begin on July 1. The companies submitting bids were Advanced Disposal, Republic Services, Waste Pro and Waste Management. Advanced Disposal was the lowest responsive bidder.
City officials says that awarding the contract to Advanced Disposal will result in a savings of a minimum of $100,000 per year.
RECOMMENDEDBuilt From Scratch
By Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank
My childhood was ‘Tim Taylorish,’ always building stuff and hanging out at the local hardware store. So when I took an IT contractor position at Home Depot’s corporate headquarters, I was quite delighted. Early on one of my business partners suggested that I read Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank’s book Built From Scratch. It gives insight into the company, telling the story of the first 10 to 12 years of Home Depot’s existence, from an idea, to the first two stores in Doraville and Marietta and then expanding across the country. While we see Arthur and Bernie as rich and powerful today, they both had humble beginnings. It was inspirational to read their story and how hard it was for two out-of -work regular guys to keep things going in the early years.
— Tim Sullivan, Buford
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 TIDBITFor nearly 30 years, Jackson Lee Nesbitt stops creating art
(Continued from previous edition)
Beginning in 1939 Jackson Lee Nesbitt‘s work gained widespread recognition. Open Hearth Door, a Sheffield Steel Corporation painting, was chosen to represent Missouri in the American Art Today exhibition at the New York World’s Fair. Associated American Artists selected one of his etchings, Watering Place, for an edition of 250 prints that were sold through subscription. Having a print published by the association ensured national distribution, and four more of Nesbitt’s works, all of rural southern genre scenes, were later selected by the print publisher.
“Auction Barn,” an etching by Jackson Lee Nesbitt. Click image to see a larger version.
Over the next decade Nesbitt’s work was exhibited in California, Colorado, Illinois, Missouri, New York, and Oklahoma. He was awarded the Eames Prize by the Society of American Etchers in 1946, and his work was included in the book American Prize Prints of the Twentieth Century, by Albert Reese. Major corporations with operations in the Midwest, including Brown and Bigelow, Butler Manufacturing Company, Humble Oil and Refining Company, Omaha Steel Works, Pratt and Whitney Aircraft Corporation, and Standard Oil, commissioned Nesbitt to create illustrations for calendars, Christmas cards, and other publications.
From 1949 until 1951, as fewer commercial commissions came his way, Nesbitt taught etching at the Kansas City Art Institute. In 1955 he executed a print, Old Man with a Violin. It features Chris J. Gove, a local fiddle player, who often modeled at the Art Institute for Benton and deMartelly. Nesbitt pulled (printed) 25 prints but was unable to sell them. Over the 20-year period from the date of his first professional etching, which was a self-portrait in the guise of a jester, to this 1955 print, Nesbitt celebrated ordinary life and American initiative, but with the rise of abstract expressionism, his work came to be perceived as quaint and old-fashioned.
The artist sought a new livelihood in order to provide for his family, which by this time included three children—Kathryn, Evelyn Elaine, and Thomas. He sold his etching press and in 1957 relocated to Atlanta, where for a short period he was a painter and illustrator for the Lockheed Corporation before becoming an advertising salesman for Brown and Bigelow. He then established a company that sold advertising and, for nearly30 years, stopped creating art.
(To be continued)
- To access the Georgia Encyclopedia online, go to http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Summer Camps: Lionheart Theatre Company in historic Norcross is planning summer camps, with classes and shows for tots through adults. Highlights include a musical theatre class and talent show for older adults, a new art class, digital video for children, teens and adults, and a workshop to give actors complete audition preparation including a resume and headshot. The summer’s finale is The Tempest, a children’s musical adaptation of William Shakespeare’s whimsical adventure. That will be on August 4-7. The camps begin on June 6, and are aimed at specific ages. For a list of camps for all ages, go to http://www.lionhearttheatre.org/camps/.
Career Expo on Thursday, May 19, at the Lawrenceville United Methodist Church, 395 West Crogan Street. Hours are from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The Georgia Department of Labor and Crossroads Center Network are working together on this annual program. For more information about the recruitment, contact the GDOL’s Gwinnett Career Center at (770) 840-2200.
(NEW) Georgia Urban Ag and Outdoor Expo will be held at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds on May 20-21, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. It is hosted by the Upper Ocmulgee River Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc. Attendees can expect to find various agricultural events, from equestrian and sheep shearing demonstrations; to a “pop up” market from the Georgia Farmers Market Association featuring fresh agricultural products. Tickets for the Expo are $5/person for one day or $8/person for two days. Kids 12 and under will be admitted for free. For more detail, visit www.GAUrbanExpo.com.
Glow and Show Festival on Saturday, May 21, at Tribble Mill Park. The festival begins at 5 p.m. and is free to attend. Participants will experience wellness exhibitors, health screenings, fitness demonstrations, entertainment, inflatables, giant lawn games, food vendors, and park-wide activities. Following the festival at 8 p.m., a Glow and Show in the Dark 3K Fun Walk/Run Run will begin for $10/person. Proceeds benefit the Gwinnett Parks Foundation’s Health and Wellness Scholarship fund. All will be followed by a free Movie on the lawn showing The Good Dinosaur. Details: Contact Lindsey Jorstad.
ToGetHerThere Luncheon for the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Monday, May 23, at the 1818 Club in Duluth. Gwinnett County Commissioner Lynette Howard will be the keynote speaker. For more information, contact Merrill Baker.
New Art Exhibit is now on display at St. Edward’s Episcopal Church in Lawrenceville, each day from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. through July 8. This features the work of artist Mikki Root Dillon, in paintings and photography, both abstract and representational. The church is located at 737 Moon Road.
MYSTERY PHOTOAnother of American’s beautiful vintage mills; Where is it?
You know that we love old mill photographs, and this week it’s a dandy. Wouldn’t you just love to laze around this beautiful spot, perhaps have a picnic, and just enjoy this handsome place? If you can figure out where this is, send your thoughts to elliott@gwinnettforum.com and be sure to include your hometown.
Last edition’s Mystery Photo we judged to be easy, and it was for several readers. First one in was Mike Tennant of Johns Creek, identifying the Morning Glory Pool in Yellowstone National Park. The photo was sent in by Susan Shenefield of Lilburn. She and her husband, Jordan, are summer workers at the park, where they first met.
Also recognizing the Yellowstone feature included Jimmy Simpson of Lilburn, saying: “I spent a week in the area just visiting this amazing wonder and photographing the park.”
Others recognizing it were Harriet Nichols, Trickum; Lou Camerio of Lilburn; Ruth Lachman Paul of Norcross; and George Graf of Palmyra, Va.
Howard Williams Jr. of Snellville wrote: “Morning Glory Pool is located in the Upper Geyser Basin of Yellowstone National Park. The pool was named by the wife of an Assistant Park Superintendent, in 1883, after she called it “Convolutus”, the Latin name for the morning glory flower, which the spring resembles. By 1889, the name Morning Glory Pool had become common usage in the park.”
LAGNIAPPEChihuly exhibit at Atlanta Botanical Garden runs through Oct. 30
Roving Photographer Frank Sharp went to The Atlanta Botanical Garden recently, photographing the current Dale Chihuly exhibit of glass art in many forms. He reports: “These photos were all made with a Canon Powershot SX-50 using exposure bracketing to get the right exposure in tricky lighting situations. I walked the new Canopy Walk high up in the trees to get some of these shots.” The “Chihuly in the Garden,” featuring more than 20 installations composed of hundreds of pieces of colorful glass, is featured in the 30-acre green space beside Piedmont Park from April 30 to October 30, 2016. (To see other photos, click here.)
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