5/16: Gwinnett Tech grant winner; Spring student recitals; more

IMPACT WINNERS: Designed to be reflective and unique to Gwinnett and across metro Atlanta, the Gwinnett Chamber honored more than 125 finalist organizations, across nearly 10 industry categories recently at the IMPACT Regional Business Awards, presented by Contemporary Marketing Group. The awards luncheon, held at the Infinite Energy Forum, recognized leading organizations in critical industries that are driving economic development and job creation, while also enhancing the quality of life. Accepting the awards of their organizations include, front row from left, Melinda and Jim Hollandsworth, founders, Path Project; Amy Doherty, events and outreach manager, City of Suwanee; John Wyle, vice president of General Practice Group, Rosser; Bryan Ginn, chief campus officer, Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine; and Jeff Murphy, president, Meggitt Training Systems. On the top row are, from left, Jordan Sandler, founder, Frenik Marketing Group; Alison Firth, senior director of operations, Kaiser Permanente; Matt Hyatt, founder and CEO, Rocket IT; Shiba Russell, anchor, 11Alive; and Rich Cavagnaro, CEO, AdEdge Water Technologies.

TODAY’S FOCUS: Gwinnett Tech Student Wins Cooke Foundation Grant for More College

EEB PERSPECTIVE: An Unexpected Return to the Days of Springtime Student Recitals

SPOTLIGHT: Mingledorff’s

FEEDBACK: Three Letters on Three Different Subjects

UPCOMING: Georgia Minority Leader To Be GGC Commencement Speaker

NOTABLE: InsuranceHub Plans To Hire 50 Employees in Next Three Years

RECOMMENDATIONS: GwinnettForum Needs More 150 Word Reviews….of Several Varieties

GEORGIA TIDBIT: Tracing the Progress of Bulletin of the Atlanta Historical Society

TODAY’S QUOTE: There’s a Certain Significance To Three O’Clock

MYSTERY PHOTO: Maybe the Brick Will Tell You Something about This Mystery

CALENDAR: Norcross Plans Early Bird Market on May 20

Gwinnett Tech student wins Cooke Foundation grant for more college

Surprising Michael Bradford, second from left, are, from left, from Gwinnett Tech staff members: Gail Edwards, division dean of automotive, construction and trades; Bray Bonner, program director, engineering; Dr. Julie Post, vice president of student affairs); and Rebecca Alexander, vice president of academic affairs; with a big check and balloons when they announced his big scholarship win.

By Debra Bloom, Lawrenceville, Ga.  |   Gwinnett Technical College engineering technology student Michael Bradford has been awarded the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, worth up to $320,000 to complete a bachelor’s and graduate degree at a college of his choice.

Two years ago, at age 36, Michael Bradford hit a wall professionally. He could no longer advance without a college degree. He worked in manufacturing but dreamed of being an engineer. Launching into full-time studies felt like more than he could handle. Michael had family to support and was not willing to risk the stability and well-being of his family for his own goals.

After much research, Michael made the decision to start slowly at Gwinnett Tech, since he could take classes at night, on weekends, online and still keep his full-time job. Fast forward two years and Bradford has completed his associate’s degree in Engineering Technology and, thanks to the Cooke Foundation scholarship, is well on his way to fulfilling his dream.

Bradford shares: “I didn’t want to be complacent in life. I knew I had more to offer, but I just wasn’t sure how to start. Finally, I sat down, did my research and wrote out a plan. I showed it to my family and that plan is now proof that you can do whatever you set your mind to do.”

That was the message Michael wanted to send to his children. He says: “I felt I couldn’t preach to my kids about the importance of education, if I hadn’t done it myself. I knew I had to set the example I wanted them to follow.”

Michael recalls that his mother and grandfather were examples for him. His mom earned an associate degree as an adult and his grandfather went back to school in his 30’s to pursue his dream of being a civil engineer. Both worked full-time, went to school and supported the needs of their family. Michael says: “On those days when I feel like I can’t do it, it’s my grandfather who pushes me and reminds me that I can. He has been my greatest champion.”

Michael thanks many at Gwinnett Tech who also had a positive impact on his success. Bradford says:  “I really want to thank everyone I’ve worked with and learned from at Gwinnett Tech. Especially Mr. Gregory Allen, who had the biggest influence on me as a professor; Mr. Travis Simpson, who gave an impactful recommendation for me in my scholarship application; and Mr. Bray Bonner, who was the one to encourage me to pursue the electrical engineering path.”

Thanks to the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship, Michael Bradford will now transfer from Gwinnett Tech to Georgia Tech to pursue his electrical engineering degree.

The Cooke Foundation selected 55 outstanding technical and community college students from around the nation from a competitive pool of nearly 3,000 applicants to receive Undergraduate Transfer Scholarships this year. All of the Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholars have financial need and strong records of academic achievement as shown by grades, leadership skills, awards, extraordinary service to others and perseverance in the face of adversity.

• Have a comment?  Send to:  elliott@brack.net

An unexpected return to the days of springtime student recitals

By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher, Charleston, S.C. |  There’s something special about musical recitals for young students.

From the very young newcomers and their sometimes faltering style……to the more advanced students and their confidence, to the surprise of the day (there’s usually one), the recitals are entertaining, if sometimes anticipated with nervousness…at least on the part of the parents and grandparents.

Being older grandparents, and with our granddaughters living in Charleston, we had thought that perhaps we had already been to our last recital years ago, when a daughter did a college recital. (She was good, if a parent must give a review.)

But finding ourselves on Grandparent Duty last weekend, we were surprised to find not only a recital on our agenda, but a practice session, too. (We were drafted; the parents were out of town).

Unfamiliar with the terrain, the practice served to learn directions to the location, a benefit in and of itself, since it took a little while to find the church hall. That was a chapel at a retirement hall, a place with 30 foot high ceilings and streaming bright sunshine shining in, a perfect space for a recital.

The program was an Honors Recital for the Charleston Academy of Music. With five music teachers having over 200 students for the year, there were only 19 performers for this Sunday afternoon performance, and therefore, the pick of this year’s music students.

Soon we were hearing music familiar from recitals of years past, from mostly classical composers many will recognize: Clementi, Bach, Haydn, Ginastera, Chopin, Massenet, Villa-Lobos, Ravel, and even Rogers and Hart (“Blue Moon.”)  All but two pieces were on the piano, with the addition of two violin students. The recital lasted just over one hour in length.

While a few played with a little difficulty, overall it was an excellent performance by these varied and diverse students.  We’ll admit to being particularly pleased by our granddaughters time in the spotlight (they both ‘nailed it’), and then pleased with their music teachers’ affirmation of their playing. (“They didn’t miss a note.”) Yes, we were pleased.

Every time we think of a recital, we remember one particular recital from years back, this one at the Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church. The students were from a now deceased excellent piano teacher, Ms. Else Shewmake of Lawrenceville.

One of the music students, a young man maybe 10-12 years old, was assigned a particular piece, a “rondo.”  He showed pretty good form, and was moving easily around the piano. Then it seemed that he was going a little long in this recital playing…….then it became obvious that he was having difficulty. You see, in this rondo, he kept playing parts over and over, not being able to determine how he could get out of the music. What should have taken perhaps four minutes was moving past eight….and by now the sanctuary audience had realized his problem. Finally, in desperation, the young man simply quit. It relieved us all, and made that recital especially memorable.

After Sunday’s concert, what’s next?  Why you take the girls to an ice cream parlor, of course. That’s when we found the surprise of this recital: after these many years between recitals, ice cream prices have really soared!

• Have a comment?  Send to:  elliott@brack.net

Mingledorff’s

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today’s featured sponsor is Mingledorff’s, an air conditioning distributor of the Carrier Air Conditioning Company. Mingledorff’s corporate office is located at 6675 Jones Mill Court in Norcross Ga. and is proud to be a sponsor of the Gwinnett Forum. With 34 locations in Georgia, Alabama, , Florida, Mississippi and South Carolina, Mingledorff’s is the convenient local source with a complete line for the quality heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration parts and supplies you need to service and install HVAC/R equipment. Product lines include Carrier, Bryant, Payne, Totaline and Mitsubishi.

• For all of your HVAC needs, and information on the products Mingledorff’s sells, visit www.mingledorffs.com and www.carrier.com.
• For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here.

How a famous architect from Mississippi became a ‘Rambling Wreck

Editor, the Forum:

I give tours of the Ansley Park neighborhood in Atlanta for the Atlanta Preservation Center. One of the homes that I highlight on my tour was designed by Buck Crook, the architect who (along with Ed Ivey) was featured in a recent Georgia Encyclopedia segment in the GwinnettForum.

When I was researching Crook’s life I found a website devoted to his work, created by his grandson, Jim Crossley, There he told the story of how Crook, who grew up in Mississippi, wound up studying at Georgia Tech:

“When he was ten years old he declared that he wanted to be an architect. He won high honors at Meridian High School – he was best in his class in Geometry – and left to attend college at only 15 years of age. While in Meridian he had all but decided to enroll at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but then he met a football coach from Georgia Tech.

“Coach William Alexander, at the time an assistant for head coach John Heisman, for whom the famous trophy is named, had come to Meridian to recruit what turned out to be one of Buck’s close friends. ….  Buck learned of Georgia Tech and its newly founded Department of Architecture from the coach (who became Tech’s head coach in 1920), and decided to become a Ramblin’ Wreck.”

— Gene Ramsey, Norcross

Figures two possible reasons why president has 40% popularity

Editor, the Forum:

It seems to me that there are two possible reasons why President Trump still has almost 40 percent popularity. First, many citizens do not understand how our government is supposed to work. Or many citizens approve of the dismantling of our historic standards.

If, as I suspect, approval stems from a lack of awareness, then fake news and alternative facts make our democracy vulnerable to attack. If, on the other hand, our citizens are demanding a new social contract, then we need an educated dialogue between our political parties.  Unfortunately I have limited hope for thoughtful political discussion.

My only hope is that we educate our future generations to think rationally about politics.

— Alan Schneiberg, Sugar Hill

Dear Alan: We hear you. If you hope this is the way America will go, it is not always a positive thought, for Americans seem prone to usually use the lowest common denominator in picking issues. That doesn’t bode well. –eeb

Report is that Vines Garden Railroad has great opening weekend

Editor, the Forum:

Let me thank you for the article in GwinnettForum. We at the Vines Garden Railroad had a soaring success here last weekend. We could not have done it without your article and other local media. We gave out over 200 hot dogs, chips, lemonade water and snacks, provided by Mayfield Dairy. The Garden Railroad is doing great in 2017!

— Bob Giselbach, Buford

Send us your thoughts:  We encourage you to send us your letters and thoughts on issues raised in GwinnettForum.  Please limit comments to 300 words.  We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length.  Send feedback and letters to:    elliott@brack.net

Georgia House Minority Leader is GGC commencement speaker

Abrams

Georgia House of Representatives Minority Leader Stacey Y. Abrams (D-Atlanta) will deliver the keynote address during Georgia Gwinnett College’s spring Commencement ceremony on May 18 at 9 a.m. More than 500 graduates will gather on the college’s main lawn to celebrate receiving their bachelor’s degrees.

A graduate of Yale Law School, Abrams is the first woman to lead either party in the Georgia General Assembly and is the first African-American to lead in the House of Representatives. She has received the prestigious John F. Kennedy New Frontier Award and has been nationally recognized as one of “12 Rising Legislators to Watch” by Governing magazine and as one of the “100 Most Influential Georgians” by Georgia Trend for 2012 and 2013. She was also named Public Servant of the Year by the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and was recognized for her outstanding public service by the Latin American Association.

In a less public role, Rep. Abrams is an award-winning author of eight romantic suspense novels released under the pen name Selena Montgomery. The ceremony will include recognition of three U.S. Army ROTC cadets who will be commissioned earlier that morning.

Lawrenceville deadline is July 31 for events during calendar year 2018

The City of Lawrenceville is currently accepting applications from the public for any group or individual wishing to host an event in Downtown Lawrenceville during the 2018 calendar year. For all events occurring in 2018, applications will be accepted during the dates of May 1 – July 31, 2017.

The Special Event Policy and Application process addresses the following requests:

• Use of the Lawrenceville Lawn;
• Road closures due to rental of the Historic Gwinnett County Courthouse Grounds; and
• Pre-Approved Parade Routes, 5K or 10K Run/Walk Events.

InsuranceHub plans to hire 50 employees in next three years

A member of the Duluth business community since his company’s launch in 1985, Jim Lloyd, founder of InsuranceHub, recognizes that his insurance agency is at a critical growth point. Formerly known as Lloyd Pro Group, the agency was rebranded as InsuranceHub in 2015 when Lloyd first forecasted its potential for growth thanks to an industry-wide shift towards technology. Now, with the recent move from 2675 Breckenridge Boulevard in Duluth to a new 20,000 square foot office at 1720 Lakes Parkway in Lawrenceville, three miles away from the original location, InsuranceHub is poised to potentially double the size of its staff of 42 account executives, account managers, and management staff within the next three years.

Nancy Plaisted, Senior VP at InsuranceHub, explains: “We have a lot of desks to fill in the coming years. Three months into 2017, we’ve already hired four new employees and we have four more job openings to fill. Ultimately, we’re looking to add up to 50 employees to our staff over the next 24 to 36 months.”

As attractive as the jobs are, the company culture at InsuranceHub is a major plus. The new office boasts a collaborative environment, allowing ease of communication and cooperation between departments. The bright colors and updated look used throughout the interior give the impression of a high-energy atmosphere. With the sentiment that “all work and no play” does not create happy employees, the breakroom of the office comes complete with a ping-pong table, flat screen TV and full kitchen for the preparation of lunches. A prize wheel is another popular feature of the new office. Employees can spin for prizes such as a free vacation day, a free lunch and company swag when sales goals are achieved.

• To apply for the four open positions at InsuranceHub and keep an eye out for future opportunities, prospective candidates are encouraged to visit the Careers page at www.insurancehub.com to submit their applications securely online.

Kudzu’s “Under Southern Skies” art exhibit reception is May 21

Kudzu Art Zone’s current exhibit in Norcross celebrates the southern scene and its many renditions, both realistic and abstract.  Member artists are showing works in creative new paintings this month.

One of the intriguing works, right, is Terri Enfield’s “Cargo.” This large triptych invites one to speculate what the ordered, chaotic cargo might be and its destination.

The exhibit “Under Southern Skies” runs through June 6 with a reception on Sunday May 21, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Kudzu Art Zone is located at 116 Carlyle Street in downtown Norcross. The Gallery is open Fridays and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In addition to ongoing exhibits, eight artists have studios on the premises where they often work. Kudzu also offers many classes and workshops; for more information call 770-840-9844 or see the website www.kudzuartzone.org

GwinnettForum needs more reviews … of several varieties

We need more reviews, of books, movies, television series, restaurants or even places to visit.

Put your thinking cap on, get out your computer, and write us 150 words about your favorite recommendation……–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

Tracing the progress of bulletin of the Atlanta Historical Society

In 1926 a group of 14 Atlantans, led by prominent attorney Walter McElreath, formed the Atlanta Historical Society (AHS). The organization’s goal was the “preservation of sources of information concerning the history of the City of Atlanta in the State of Georgia.” Membership benefits included a subscription to a yearly publication called the Atlanta Historical Bulletin, of which McElreath was the first editor.

The first issue of the Atlanta Historical Bulletin was published in September 1927 and contained information on the new society and two essays—”A Short History of the Parish of the Immaculate Conception” and “The Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children.” The AHS published the Bulletin yearly from 1927 to 1936. It contained historical essays on Atlanta and genealogical records like rosters, listings of names from tax digests, marriage records, and county resident lists. Beginning in 1930 the AHS increased publication of the Bulletin from three to four times a year.

From the start of World War II (1941-45) until the mid-1960s the Bulletin appeared sporadically, with a seven-year gap in publication from 1957 to 1965. Quarterly publication resumed in 1966. Many of the essays focused on Atlanta. The topics were diverse—architecture, the Civil War (1861-65), education, literature, medicine, music, sports, and transportation. Contributing authors were a combination of local “amateur” historians and well-known scholars of the South. The journal also contained articles that focused on various aspects of Georgia—Cherokee County, the Western and Atlantic Railroad, the Georgia Democratic Party, the Farmers’ Alliance, colonial Georgia, Savannah, religion in early Georgia, and the legal history of Georgia, for example.

The AHS also published a number of special issues. After Margaret Mitchell died in 1949, the AHS published a special issue dedicated to her life and career. In 1977 two special issues were published—one on the African American experience in Atlanta and the other on music in Atlanta. More recently, the AHS published a special issue focused on 20th-century American South (2001) and another issue focused on automobile racing in the South (2004). Later, essays included in the former became the basis for The American South in the Twentieth Century, published by the University of Georgia Press.

In 1978 the Bulletin was renamed the Atlanta Historical Journal to reflect the publication’s purpose as a research-based collection of essays. In 1987 the Atlanta Historical Society broadened its mission to include more articles on the state of Georgia and the South. The publication’s name was changed for a third time to Atlanta History: A Journal of Georgia and the South to reflect the broader focus.

The longest-serving editor was Stephens Mitchell (1930-66). The well-known Atlanta historian Franklin M. Garrett was also involved with the journal for decades, serving in different capacities but primarily as editor emeritus. In 1983 Bradley Rice, a professor of history at Clayton Junior assumed the editorship of the publication until 2001, when Craig S. Pascoe, an assistant professor of history at Georgia College and State University, became the editor.

In 2006, almost eight decades after its initial appearance, the AHS ceased publication of the journal. At the time of its discontinuation, the publication boasted a circulation of approximately 6,000 and an editorial board comprised of noted academics in such fields as history, American studies, political science, and sociology.

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

Maybe the brick wall will tell you something about this mystery

Figure out where this church is, and identify it, and you will have spotted this edition’s Mystery Photo.  Send in your thoughts to elliott@brack.net and be sure to include your hometown.

First in recognizing the latest Mystery Photo was Ross Lenhart of Pawley’s Island, S.C. telling us it was the lighthouse at Bald Head Island, N.C. Then came Rob Keith of Peachtree Corners saying: “ This is the oldest standing lighthouse in North Carolina and its current appearance is due to the stucco surface, which was once whitewashed, but is obviously no longer.” Others recognizing the photo include Ruthy Lachman Paul of Norcross; and Kay Montgomery of Duluth.

George Graf of Palmyra, Va. adds details: “According to ncpedia.org, Old Baldy is the oldest standing lighthouse in North Carolina. It has maintained its original form and location for over 187 years. The most important purpose of Old Baldy was to mark the Cape Fear River entrance for the maritime sailors.  Old Baldy was built in 1817 of soft red bricks covered with stucco.  In the early days the lighthouse keeper would white wash Old Baldy every two years. When Old Baldy was deactivated in 1935, the lighthouse was abandoned. The white wash protected the stucco. When it was discontinued large pieces of the stucco began to fall off the lighthouse. Occasionally someone would come along and patch the lighthouse with new stucco; however, they did not use the same stucco as was used in 1817.  Today Old Baldy looks like a patch work quilt of different stuccos.  In 1817 Old Baldy was completely white.”

(NEW) Earlybird Market in Norcross on Saturday, May 20, at Summerour Middle School. Go to the rear parking lot at 321 Price Place between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. This will give you an idea of what to expect when the regular season opens on June 3 at Lillian Webb Park.

Bikes and Barks, a motorcycle ride, and a barbecue to benefit Canine Pet Rescue, May 20, with ride registration at 8 a.m. and the ride beginning at 9 a.m. Barbecue at noon. The ride will begin at the Gwinnett County Detention Center, 2900 University Parkway, Lawrenceville. It will end at Big Sky Farm 2625 Jones Phillips Road in Dacula. Detail: http://www.caninepetrescue.com.

Third Annual 1, 2, 3K Glow and Show will be May 20 at Rhodes Jordan Park in Lawrenceville, during the Spring into Summer Festival.  It features wellness exhibitions, inflatables, fitness  demonstrations and entertainment, plus kids activities sand food vendors. A movie under the stars follows at 9 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.livehealthygwinnett.co/assets/spring-into-summer-flyer4-18-17.pdf.

Author Mark Pendergrast will discuss his latest book on Saturday, May 20 at 3 p.m. at Barnes and Noble, 5141 Peachtree Parkway, in Peachtree Corners.  City on the Verge:  Metro Atlanta and the Fight for America’s Urban Future uses the BeltLine saga to explore issues of race, education, public health, transportation, business, philanthropy, urban planning, religion, politics, and community. For more information, please visit www.gwinnettpl.org or call 770-978-5154.

City of Lilburn Fourth Annual Classic Car Event will be May 20 beginning at 10 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. in Lilburn City Park. Free admission for spectators. Awards will include 20 different categories. Entry fee is $15 day of the event.

The Children’s Hour by Lillian Hellman will be presented by the Lionheart Theatre Company through May 21. Hours are 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for seniors and students. This play will be directed by Allan Dodson.

Information Session for prospective students of the Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (GA–PCOM) will be Wednesday, May 24, from 3–4 p.m. Participants will learn about degree programs offered on campus, including Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Pharmacy (PharmD), Biomedical Sciences (MS), Physician Assistant Studies (MS), as well as the developing Physical Therapy (DPT) program. Those interested in attending the session are encouraged to register online or call the Office of Admissions at 678-225-7500.

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