FIVE MEADOWCREEK HIGH SCHOOL culinary students will be on their journey to a national competition in Providence, Rhode Island on April 27-29. The students earned top honors in the 2018 Hospitality Foundation of Georgia ProStart State Championship. Their teacher, Chef Simone Byron, won the 2018 ProStart Teacher of the Year honor. Peach State Federal Credit Union is sponsoring the students on the trip. From left are Peach State President/CEO Marshall Boutwell, Wayne Miles, Carlos Barboza, Chef Simone Byron, Jose Martinez and Peach State Chief of Staff, John Fair. Not pictured is team member Jorge Narvaez.
IN THIS EDITIONTODAY’S FOCUS: Museum to have operating steam locomotive soon
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Peachtree Corners Funds $2 Million Emerging Transportation Idea
SPOTLIGHT: Peach State Federal Credit Union
McLEMORE’S WORLD: God Given Gift?
UPCOMING: At Least Three Competing Big Events in Gwinnett This Weekend
NOTABLE: Russell Knick To Become Gwinnett County’s New Fire Chief
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Georgia’s Virtual Library, GALILEO, First Founded in 1995
MYSTERY PHOTO: Can a Big Group of Readers Figure Out This Mystery Photo?
TODAY’S FOCUSMuseum to have operating steam locomotive soon
By Andrew Durden
Operations Manager, Southeastern Railroad Museum
DULUTH, Ga. | One of the most common questions I receive regarding the Southeastern Railway Museum (SRM) is “When will we have an operating steam locomotive?”
Durden
People asking this question are almost always referring to the locomotives in our collection, and those who have been around since, say, 2003, are generally referring to Georgia Power #97. This was the last steam locomotive to operate at SRM before being taken out-of-service for boiler repairs in December 2003.
My usual answer is something like this: “Well, once some more pressing projects that are more vital to the overall health of the organization or the collection are complete, we’ll look at funding the restoration of 97.” Or, if in a particular mood, I might add: “When you write a check.” The truth, until now, has actually been “I have no idea.”
However, I now have an answer to the question, though not necessarily in the exact context in which folks are asking it. While we are not yet rebuilding one of our own locomotives, we will have an operating steam locomotive for a couple of weekends later this year. On September 29-30, and October 6-7, we will be hosting a steam locomotive, Jeddo Coal #85 (aka “Mack”), owned by John and Barney Gramling of Ashley, Indiana.
For a number of years, the Gramlings have been rebuilding and operating their own tank locomotives, at museums and on tourist railroads, throughout the country. Starting with ex-Flagg Coal 0-4-0 #75 (aka “Hank the Tank”), John and Barney later expanded their operating roster to include Lehigh Valley Coal #126 (“Sadie”).
Note the steam engine with rainbow.
Most recently, ex-Jeddo Coal #85 (“Mack”) made its debut, just as #75 was going into the shop for its federally mandated 15-year inspection. The Gramlings have made appearances at a number of our neighbor museums and tourist railroads, including the North Carolina Transportation Museum, the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum, the St. Mary’s Railroad, and others. John and Barney were even the subject of a television show, “Have Steam Engine, Will Travel.”
The SRM is planning the event as a celebration of 20 years at the current site. We are hoping to also attract former volunteers, particularly those that were around during the move, for a reunion.
There will be further details revealed as Mack’s visit approaches. Please help us to pass the word as we promote the event. Also, we hope that individuals will step forward to help sponsor the event.
More on that soon, as well. I’m excited, not only because steam is what attracted me to the museum in the first place 19 years ago, but because I believe it is an important part of our mission to educate the newer generations about what a steam locomotive is—not only as a static interpretive piece, but as a living, breathing, operational artifact.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Peachtree Corners funds $2 million emerging transportation idea
Note the blue-top simulated autonomous vehicle in special lane to be constructed along Technology Parkway in Peachtree Corners.
By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher, GwinnettForum
APRIL 27, 2018 | All across the nation, the big new high-tech topic is driverless cars. Wednesday in Peachtree Corners, that Gwinnett city announced a program that lets the city work toward leadership in cutting-edge ideas that may transform innovations in transportation technology. It is being called an advanced vehicle technology accelerator.
The city has allocated $2 million on this emerging technology by which the city hopes to attract transportation-focused companies. Peachtree Corners will install a testing ground for programmed autonomous vehicles on a 1.4-mile route along Technology Parkway. It will be all within the city from Peachtree Parkway to Spalding Drive. The city is working with Prototype Prime, an innovation think tank in Peachtree Corners, and with Atkins, an engineering consulting firm in Atlanta, on this project.
The 1.4-mile segment of Technology Parkway will be retrofitted to accommodate one dedicated lane for a driverless vehicle, plus one lane each way for passenger vehicles. The driverless vehicle will stop at specified location.
However, the vehicle is not expected to provide merely a benefit of hauling passengers. Mayor Mike Mason emphasizes that this new approach is not about ridership of the vehicle, but about stimulating economic activity.
Working together on the advanced vehicle technology accelerator will be Prototype Prime and TechConnectHubs.com. The city seeks to collaborate with major brands and Fortune 500 companies throughout the advanced vehicle ecosystem to focus on transportation challenges for tomorrow.
Sanjay Parekh, director of Prototype Prime, says: “Autonomous vehicles have the ability to improve the quality of life for people and success of business in many ways. We want to be one of the innovations in this area.”
TechConnectHub.com of Peachtree Corners will provide innovation scouting to bring industry expertise to a worldwide network of leaders, who are already working on future solutions.
Wright
Mayor Mason wasn’t at first himself sold when Councilman Alex Wright initially brought up an innovative idea a few years back. “Alex started talking about how Peachtree Corners could stimulate talk on transit. He eventually convinced me and other council members that rail transportation was the old technology, and if we wanted to budget any money for transportation, we had to move to autonomous vehicles and other solutions.
“He kept sending us information on alternative solutions. He saw some of these alternative ideas as a way to make a practical matter pay off. Soon, he had all of us on board.”
Right now Mason says that it appears the only other place where there is an autonomous accelerator in Georgia is at Georgia Tech. “Ours will surely be the only other one outside of the Perimeter.”
After the Council warmed to Wright’s idea, City Manager Brian Johnson suggested a modest feasibility study. It was also suggested that the corridor for the vehicle track be totally within an area the city could control, and not on county or state roads. “Suddenly,” Mason says, “We realized that the street in from our City Hall was perfect for it. Who knows, it could even extend to our City Center that we are building now across from the Forum on Peachtree Parkway.”
At the Wednesday announcement, Mayor Mason added these words: “We’ve had people tell us that collectively, Peachtree Corners can fill the shoes of the late Paul Duke, who originally conceived this area as a place to live and work and play. He created the concept of Peachtree Corners. Now we hope to add more value to what he anticipated as we work to bring more economic development to this area.”
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McLEMORE’S WORLDGod Given Gift?
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GEHC offers special events on Earth Day, April 29
Guests at last year’s Gwinnett GreenFest prepare to release ladybugs into the wild.
It’s estimated that more than one billion people worldwide now participate in Earth Day activities each April. The Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center (GEHC) plans to join in the global celebration and promote more sustainable and environmentally conscious decisions in our daily lives at the Gwinnett GreenFest.
The Gwinnett GreenFest event takes place at the GEHC on April 29 from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. The program fee for the event is $8 per person. Children two-years-old and younger are free. The cost for non-Gwinnett residents is $16 per person.
The event includes crafts, games and activities that encourage people to get in touch with nature. Guests can enjoy activities on the grounds of the historic Chesser-Williams House, including cooking and laundry demonstrations and natural gardening practices.
Enjoy a guided tour of the F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Plant on the GEHC’s tram. Discover the amazing process Gwinnett County utilizes to treat your wastewater. Tours take place at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Throughout the event, special tours and hikes are set for specific times. Visitors can enjoy a Bicentennial tree hike through the GEHC forest at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. The hike includes local tree and wildflower identification, native animal discussions and much more.
ArtFest Gwinnett planned in Lawrenceville on Saturday
The City of Lawrenceville will showcase the city’s artsy side at ArtsFest Gwinnett on Saturday, April 28. Held in downtown Lawrenceville, the celebration of visual and performing arts in Gwinnett will include the ever-popular Chalk Walk and Aurora Theatre’s live Broadway production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
In addition, the ArtsFest will feature local artists, food trucks and live music. The ArtsFest will be held from noon – 6 p.m. with The Hunchback being performed from 7 – 9 p.m.
This year’s theme for the Chalk Walk is #Gwinnett200, which celebrates the county’s historic 200th anniversary! Discover why art is a way of life in downtown Lawrenceville at ArtFest.
Duluth to have its own Spring Art Festival on April 28 and 29
The Duluth Spring Arts Festival returns to Duluth Town Green for a two-day outdoor festival featuring a fine artist market with local and regional artists and performers for all to enjoy on April 28 and 29. It is presented by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces.
This festival is an art festival for Artists by Artists, letting the artist have a voice in the creation and operations of the festival. This event will feature painters, photographers, sculptors, metalwork, glass artists, and jewelers. The Festival will also offer artist demonstrations, live music, children’s play area, plusgourmet food trucks with healthy alternatives.
- Visit on April 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on April 29 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Duluth Town Green. For more information about the event go to www.duluthartsfestival.com.
Knick to become Gwinnett County’s new fire chief
Gwinnett County Administrator Glenn Stephens has appointed Assistant Fire Chief Russell Knick to succeed Fire Chief Casey Snyder, who is retiring after 29 years of service to Gwinnett County. Knick, a 24-year veteran of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, assumes his new role on May 6. He is expected to announce additional promotions to fill other key leadership positions in the coming weeks.
Knick
Knick, who will oversee the department of 952 employees, began his career with Gwinnett County in 1990 in the Sheriff’s Office before transferring to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services in 1993. Knick’s experience in fire and emergency medical services management includes high-profile assignments in the areas of strategic planning, leadership development, training and community partnering initiatives.
Knick holds a B.S. and a master’s degree of Public Administration from Jacksonville State University and a career excellence designation as a chief fire officer from the Center for Public Safety Excellence. He is a member of the 2018 class of Leadership Gwinnett.
Knick, a Lawrenceville native, lives in Commerce with his wife, Patti. They have two grown children.
Stephens says: “Under Casey’s (Snyder’s) watch, the department received international accreditation from the Center for Public Safety Excellence and the county’s ISO classification rating improved from a 4 to a 2. If these accomplishments weren’t enough, the department also opened a new fire training facility, Fire Station 31, Maxwell High School Training Tower, and relocated Fire Stations 10 and 15 during the five years he served as chief. I wish Casey the best in his well-deserved retirement
Knick has served for the past three years as assistant chief for the operations division, the department’s largest division consisting of more than 850 sworn personnel, 31 fire stations and the Fire Academy. He previously held positions of fire academy director and district commander in the chief’s office.
Lawrenceville DAR Chapter hosts 120th annual Georgia conference
From left are DAR members Regent Kitty Watters, Second Vice Regent Connie Rifkind and First Vice Regent Ann Story.
The Philadelphia Winn Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter in Lawrenceville hosted the 120th Georgia conference recently at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter in Atlanta. Some 28 Winn chapter members were in attendance.
In addition, the Winn chapter nominee, Gwinnett’s Elizabeth Summerlin, was announced as the state’s outstanding teacher of American History. She will go on to compete at the national level at the Continental Congress in June.
Peggy Duncan Freeman, state chair, DAR Service for Veterans, presented the Outstanding DAR Service for Veterans Award to Vera Anne Lockhart, nominated by Philadelphia Winn Chapter.
Hardy named athletic director at Greater Atlanta Christian School
New athletic director at Greater Atlanta Christian School is former head football coach Tim Hardy.
Hardy
At the school since 2012, he has led the Spartans to a 71-13 record. That includes four consecutive Region championships, appearances in the State Semi-finals or Finals in five of the past six seasons and being named the 2014 AA Coach of the year. His previous coaching experience includes ten years at the collegiate level at Wheaton and Centre College, where he coached five NCAA Division III playoff teams and one NCAA Division III National Semi-finalist, and three years as Head Coach at Mountain View High School.
GAC President-Elect Dr. Scott Harsh says: “Tim Hardy is uniquely qualified, wise, deeply passionate, energetic, and a proven leader. He embraces and lives our mission. He’s been able to work as Assistant Athletic Director the past few years to learn how to lead an athletic program with excellence.”
Hardy will continue to serve in his current position as head football coach. Hardy earned a B.A. in business and economics from Wheaton College, an M.S. in managerial leadership from National-Louis University, and an Ed.S. from Valdosta State University in coaching pedagogy.
RECOMMENDED- 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. Send to: elliott@brack.net
Georgia’s virtual library, GALILEO, first founded in 1995
GALILEO (GeorgiA LIbrary LEarning Online), a project of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, has provided online access to library materials to the state of Georgia since 1995. GALILEO is Georgia’s virtual library, with electronic books, periodicals, journals, magazines, newspapers, such reference materials as encyclopedias, and special collections, and access to Georgia’s library catalogs. Through collaboration and resource sharing, GALILEO provides universal access to library materials and information for all Georgia citizens. It does not replace the library but complements the services offered by libraries.
The primary objective of GALILEO is to utilize available technology to electronically deliver uniform and universal access to extensive educational resources to everyone in Georgia. The intent is to make it easier for libraries to share resources and to equalize access to information throughout the state. Through the use of sophisticated technology, GALILEO connects all of Georgia’s communities regardless of location or economic considerations.
GALILEO’s history began in August 1994, when the University System of Georgia’s chancellor, Stephen Portch, asked his advisory staff to consider how they would spend $20 million. The staff and system librarians suggested that funds be allocated to enhance systemwide library services, especially databases offering full-text materials—a complicated idea that librarians had long been pursuing. The chancellor was excited by the prospect of providing vastly improved, wide-ranging information services and superior library access to system students, faculty, and staff, and potentially to all Georgia citizens.
GALILEO made its debut on September 21, 1995, just 150 days after the governor and legislature approved funding. Initial access was for University System of Georgia faculty and its more than 200,000 students. The founders anticipated that in later years other educational entities would want to participate. Because GALILEO was instantly popular, however, within six months some private academic institutions requested to join the GALILEO family. All Georgia citizens now have access to GALILEO from school libraries, public libraries, and home computers.
GALILEO has been hailed as one of the earliest and most comprehensive statewide library systems in existence in the United States today.
GALILEO serves more than 2,500 locations across Georgia: public colleges and universities, private colleges and universities, technical colleges, public libraries, and public K-12 schools. All communities have a standard set of licensed (for pay) and “free” databases. (Databases can be described as the modern versions of such tools as the Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature.) GALILEO databases allow users to search for articles published in journals, and they open up a world of information with full-text or electronic books, periodicals, and reference sources. The advantage of licensed resources is the reliability and quality of the information.
(To be continued)
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia online, go to http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Can a big group of readers figure out this Mystery Photo?
Several clues stare at you in this edition’s Mystery Photo. Put them all together and let’s see if as many readers figure out this puzzle as the big crowd did for the last edition. Send your ideas to elliott@brack.net and be sure to include your hometown.
Lynn Naylor of Atlanta beat the crowd—literally a crowd—of people recognizing the most recent Mystery Photo. “It’s the Helmsman Statue in Gloucester, Mass. Facing the outer harbor of Gloucester, stands a bronze statue depicting a helmsman, intent on steering his ship through a storm. The statue commemorates the thousands of Gloucester fishermen known to have died at sea. On the statue’s base and a nearby plaque are the words of Psalm 107:23, 24: “They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep.”’—King James Version.” The photo was sent in by Karen Garner of Dacula.
Neal Davies, Decatur: “It’s the Gloucester Fisherman’s Memorial statue in Gloucester, Mass. Also known as the ‘Man at the Wheel’ statue, it’s located at the entrance to Stacy Esplanade in Gloucester.”
The view from the statue
Altogether, we counted 17 getting the right answer, including many regulars. They included Tim Sullivan of Buford, Philomena Robertson of Oakwood, Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill (who said the statue is not far from Gorton’s Seafood), Bob Foreman of Grayson, Jim Savedelis of Duluth, and Ruthie Lachman Paul, adding “The designed of sculpture at 1925 Leonard F. Craske (1882-1950) English artist.”
Others included Lou Camiero of Lilburn, Marcia Bumbalough of Buford, and Ann Serrie, who wrote: “I have seen this statue many times in Gloucester, Mass. when I lived in New England. I am currently from Lawrenceville and went to Gloucester and Rockport on our honeymoon.”
Still others: Elizabeth Truluck Neace, Dacula, John Titus, Peachtree Corners, Virginia Klaer of Duluth and Chris Indech of Peachtree Corners, who remembers: “I saw this every summer in my childhood. After the ‘Perfect Storm” of the early 90’s, with the last major loss of life in current times, they added a statue of a fisherman’s wife and children further down. The inscription on the fisherman’s statue starts ‘They that go down to the sea in ships’..”
George Graf of Palmyra, Va. added more detail: “The bronze statue is eight feet tall on a five-foot granite base. Gloucester bills itself as the ‘America’s Oldest Seaport,’ and the monument was completed in 1925 to honor 300 years of Gloucester losing fisherman. Circling the cenotaph are plaques with the names of those lost at sea from 1716 through 2001. The six that make up the class of 1991 are the captain and crew of the Gloucester-based Andrea Gail, the fishing boat made famous in the book and film, The Perfect Storm. But it’s not clear what it takes to get one’s name on the plaques, since there are maybe 500 or so listed, whereas a city hall mural has the names of more than 5,000.”
Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex. added: “Today’s mystery photo is another easy one. The statue is the product of a competition sponsored by the Gloucester Tercentenary Permanent Memorial Association to commemorate Gloucester’s 300th anniversary and to permanently memorialize the thousands of fishermen lost at sea in the first three centuries of Gloucester’s history (i.e. 1623 – 1923). In 1879 alone, 249 fishermen and 29 vessels were lost during a terrible storm. In preparing for the competition, Craske spent many hours aboard fishing schooners, sketching and photographing fishermen at work. His design was accepted and cast at a cost of $10,000. Generally acknowledged as Craske’s finest work, the Gloucester Fisherman’s Memorial is viewed by thousands of visitors annually and has become a symbol of the city, commemorating Gloucester’s link to the sea.”
CALENDAR
Free Nature Photography Workshop at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center, 2020 Clean Water Drive, Buford, on April 28, at 1 p.m. Join the Georgia Nature Photographers Association for this informal talk and Q&A photography workshop. They will provide information about cameras, editing software, and tips for getting better photographs with the equipment you already have.
2018 Singleton Four Miler of the Atlanta Track Club will start from Thrasher Park in Norcross on Saturday, April 28, at 7:30 a.m., rain or shine. It is the fourth event of the Track Club’s Grand Prix Series. The Singleton event is named after one of our founding members and a pioneer in road racing, Dr. Tim Singleton. Dr. Singleton made a significant impact on the health and fitness of the Atlanta community and left an amazing legacy for future generations.
Statewide Day of Service of the Georgia Federation of Women’s Clubs in Lilburn will be April 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In an effort to multiply impact to raise awareness and support those affected by domestic violence, the Lilburn Woman’s Club will be supporting this effort in a Day of Service. Support the Lilburn Woman’s Club by donating any item, such as baby wipes, conditioner and shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes and paste, gift cards and other personal items. Bring items to the mail and package center, next to Kroger, at 4255 Lawrenceville Highway.
Drug Take Back: Gwinnett residents can get rid of unused, unneeded, or expired prescription medications for free by dropping them off at the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office on April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Tablets, capsules, patches, and other solid forms will be accepted. Liquids, including intravenous solutions, syringes and sharps, and illegal drugs cannot be dropped off. Call 800-882-9539 for more information or visit www.DEATakeBack.com.
Gwinnett Interfaith Prayer Breakfast will be Thursday, May 3, at 7:30 a.m. at the Infinite Energy Center in Duluth. The Gwinnett observance of the National Day of Prayer will bring together leaders of all faiths to pray for the community. The program will feature Keith Parker of Goodwill North Georgia; Doug of Shipman Woodruff’s Art Center; and MC Angela Harrington with the Atlanta Interfaith Community Initiatives.
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