By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | Today we’ll give you a breather and never mention something that has focused our attention for the last few months, if you get the drift of the thought.
HOW ‘BOUT THOSE CUBS! It was great to see normally an unsung key leader of the Cubs, the former Atlanta catcher David Ross, have a very good game, slamming a home run in what is perhaps his last game in professional baseball. After all, he’s 39, and crouching behind home plate must be much tougher now than previously.
And another former Brave, Jason Heyward, scored the winning run. Though he had a quiet Series offensively, Heyward proved his mettle with several outstanding catches, and one key throw in particular, that helped ignite the Cubs. He was also credited with revving up the Cubs during the rain delay before the winning inning. He herded the 25 Cubs into a small weight room, without coaches or other officials around, and urged his teammates on.
David Ross was quoted: “Jason spoke up and said this is about your teammates. He (Jason) just said, `We’re the best team in baseball for a reason. Continue to play our game, support one another. These are your brothers here, fight for your brothers, lift them up, continue to stay positive. We’ve been doing this all year so continue to be us.’ It was a great message,” Ross was quoted as saying. Several of the Cubs were in tears when Heyward finished.
It must have helped, as they were fired up and won in the delayed next inning.
So the Cubs can no longer lament the old annual Brooklyn Dodger refrain, “Wait until next year!” That moaning can now belong to Cleveland, who had an amazing year, and could well be in the chase next year after 78 years of no World Series!
Among those marking the 50th anniversary of Berkmar High were Lilburn Mayor Johnny Crist, District V School Board Member Louise Radloff, Berkmar High Student Kendall Castaneda, Principal Al Taylor and CEO/Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks.
AN ANNIVERSARY: An event over the weekend marked what you might call the beginning of major changes in the Gwinnett school system. Berkmar High marked its 50th anniversary.
The school was formed in 1956 from the consolidation of Lilburn and Bethesda high schools, and the name came from the combining of two militia (voting) districts, Berkshire and Martins. Lilburn and Bethesda were the last of 10 high schools to be consolidated in Gwinnett. Since there was such great rivalry, it took several years to agree upon a name and a location for the new high school.
Enrollment that first year was 425 students in grades 8-12. Now there are 2,951 students in grades 9-12. In 1956, the county had fewer than 10,000 students. Today the Gwinnett school system enrolls 178,000 students.
Berry
THE NEW COMMISSIONER for the state Department of Community Health is Frank Berry. For the last four years, he has been the head of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Development Disabilities. Previously, the Community Health director was Clyde Reese, who Governor Nathan Deal named to the Georgia Court of Appeals.
Berry is an alumnus of the Leadership Gwinnett class of 1999.
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