7/6, full issue: Leukemia research grants; Recycling; ATF funding

SAVE, SAVE, SAVE: Aiming at the youthful market, Peach State Federal Credit Union is partnering with the Berenstain Bears Financial Literacy Program to educate children about the money management concept, “Save, Share, Spend, Earn.”  See more details in Upcoming below.

TODAY’S FOCUS: WES Foundation Funds Four Scientists with Research Grants

EEB PERSPECTIVE: Here’s Where To Recycle Fluorescent Tubes and Other Products

ANOTHER VIEW: Fund the ATF More To Make Enforcement of Gun Laws Able To Work

SPOTLIGHT: Lail Family Dentistry

FEEDBACK: Feels That Real Leaders, No Matter Where, Should Accept Responsibility

UPCOMING: Peach State Federal Credit Union Partners with Berenstain Bears

NOTABLE: Jackson EMC Foundation Makes Awards of $81,000 to Area Charities

RECOMMENDED: An Innocent Client by Scott Pratt

GEORGIA TIDBIT: Racers at Atlanta Motor Speedway Can Exceed 190 Miles Per Hour

MYSTERY PHOTO: Watch Out: Swashbucklers on the Move in This Mystery Photo!

CALENDAR: Free Photography Workshop Coming to GEHC on July 28

WES Foundation funds 4 scientists with research grants

By Sarah Babrick

DULUTH, Ga.   |  The WES Leukemia Research Foundation (When Everyone Survives) announces that their Medical Advisory Board has concluded their ranking of the 2018 Research Grant applicants.  As a result of these applications and rankings, a total of $200,000 ($50,000 to four recipients) is being granted to four researchers throughout the nation to continue the fight to cure leukemia and other blood related concerns.

Babrick

The researchers getting the grants include Dr. Raghavan Chinnadurai of the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center; Dr. John Colgan, of the University of Iowa; Dr. Tomasz Skorski, of Temple University; and Dr. Greg Wang, at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Raghavan Chinnadurai completed Ph.D. in Human Biology (specifically in Molecular Virology) at the Institute of Virology in University Clinic of Ulm, Germany. Subsequently he did post doctorate in immunology and cell therapy at Emory University. Currently, he is an assistant scientist at the department of Medicine in University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dr. Tomasz Skorski earned his M.D. from Medical University of Warsaw in Poland followed by a Ph.D. degree from the Medical Center for Postgraduate Education in Warsaw. For his postdoctoral training, Dr. Skorski studied leukemia genetics at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He joined the faculty at Temple University in 1999 to begin his independent research program, which is focused on personalized medicine-guided synthetic lethality to eradicate leukemia.

Dr. John Colgan earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Cook College at Rutgers University in New Jersey. He performed his graduate studies at Columbia University in New York City and received a Ph.D. from Columbia in molecular mechanisms that regulate gene transcription in eukaryotic cells. For his postdoctoral training, Dr. Colgan studied virology and immunology at Columbia University College of Physicians. He joined the faculty at the University of Iowa in 2005 to begin his independent research program, which is focused on identifying pathways critical for the development of white blood cells and the role of these pathways in leukemia development and growth.

Dr. Greg Wang received his Ph.D. from University of California, San Diego in 2006 under direction of Dr. Mark P Kamps and completed his postdoctoral studies at Rockefeller University with Dr. C David Allis in 2011. In 2012, Dr. Wang joined UNC as a faculty member of Biochemistry and Biophysics with a joint appointment in the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Research in his lab focuses on mechanistic understandings of how chemical modifications of chromatin define distinct patterns of mammalian genomes, control gene expression, and regulate cell proliferation versus differentiation during development, and how their deregulations lead to cancer.

The research they are conducting was judged to be innovative and likely to be curative against the fight of leukemia and/or other blood related concerns. It’s exciting to fund these research initiatives, says Bill Smith of the WES Foundation.

• Click here to read the full details of the recipient’s research proposals and their bios.

WES Leukemia Research Foundation paid particular homage to the time, commitment and effort of its Medical Advisory Board.  The chairman, Dr. Edmund K. Waller, M.D. Ph.D., FACP of Emory University/Winship Cancer Institute, and the other members of the board were commended. The other members of the board include Drs. Waller, Langston, Bernal-Mizrachi, and Al-kadhimi, for their years of counsel and evaluation of the research grant submittals. Smith says: “We could not do what we do without them.”

Funding for all these initiatives was on July 1. That means to include the 2018 grants, the cumulative funding by the WES Foundation  since its inception will total $1.7 million.

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

Here’s where to recycle fluorescent tubes, other products

By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher, GwinnettForum

JULY 6, 2018  |  Many of our everyday products we use around the house will not be recycled for a lot of reasons. Many are hazardous products that don’t need to be in the landfill. Others are materials that no longer is financially viable for recycling, such as the way the recycled glass market has deteriorated.

But what do you do with the items that the recycling truck won’t take?

Simply go to the web site of Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful. It has a long list of items that can be recycled at various commercial locations. By doing this, you will join the millions of people in our country who are doing their part to be a responsible person to help our environment.

What started this venture for me was the need to get rid of four fluorescent tubes that had burned out.  Recognizing that they should not be put in the recycled trash since they would splatter into hundreds of pieces of glass……and also realizing that they should not go into the garbage, what to do?

That’s when Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful came into the picture. Going to this site  (http://www.gwinnettcb.org/recycling/) I clicked on the “select materials” link, and pop! A long, long list of items that can be recycled popped up.  It started with “abrasive cleaners” and went to “yard waste.”  Altogether, there are nearly 200 items listed.

Then it lists with addresses the companies that will accept that item for recycling.

For instance, for those fluorescent tubes and compact bulbs, it lists eight locations, from Lawrenceville to Buford, but also in Tucker, Snellville, plus all locations of Home Depot and Lowe’s.

And for glass bottles and jars, the list contains seven drop-off points, including two in Gwinnett, in Snellville and Norcross.  Other locations are in Atlanta, Flowery Branch , Roswell, Sandy Springs and Smyrna.

However, for some regular household products, there are no locations listed. That’s what I found when clicking on “insecticides.”  Instead, the site says: Recycling centers that accept: ‘Insecticides.” But we found: “This material contains harmful chemicals and is not recyclable. Do not pour down any indoor or outdoor drains as it can cause ground water contamination.”  Instead, it gave suggestions to dispose of containers, or to contact the Department of Agriculture (404) 656 4958 for disposal ideas.

Randomly, I clicked on several other products, learning that you should not put in your regular home recycling such items as plastic flower pots, anti-freeze, phone books, coat hangers (take these back to your cleaners), or old trophies, though the Salvation Army accepts and re-purposes old trophies!

So whatever product you have to recycle, this long list of places for disposal from Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful can be invaluable.

THEN THIS WEEK we learned that Gwinnett County will offer free disposal of hazardous waste on August 11 from 9 a.m. until noon at the Department of Water Resources Central Facility at 684 Winder Highway in Lawrenceville.  The event will be limited to Gwinnett residents and will include batteries, cleaners, light bulbs and ballasts, lawn care products, oils, paint and pesticides. For a full list of acceptable products, go to www.gcsolidwaste.com.

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

Fund the ATF more to make enforcement of gun laws able to work

By George Wilson, contributing columnist

 STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga.  |  Admittedly, I’m a lover of facts and statistics and especially Fact Check and the organizations that keep track of Trump lies and distortions.

The number so far is up around 3,500.

But I want to discuss gun safety and the cost to our educational system. In 2014, the total market in schools and universities for video-surveillance equipment, access-control equipment and mass notification totaled about $768 million, according to IHS Technology, a research company.

This country averages about 90 deaths by gun per day. That is about 33,000 gun deaths annually. Compare that statistic to Japan, which had one gun death last year.

The population of this country is about 320 million and the number of guns in this country is about 265 million. Of those 265 million guns about half, or 130 million guns, are owned by only 3 percent of the population. Some 78 percent of the population does not own a firearm.

Here’s an even better statistic: with only about 5 percent of the population, the United States accounts for 50 percent of all guns in the world. The gun industry could barely survive without the United States.

One more statistic: there have been about 273 mass shootings, or shootings that take at least four lives, in the United States this year.

So this 3 percent of the population, this special group, that owns about half the guns through their gun lobbyists the NRA, is forcing the school systems to spend huge amounts of money on security. My suggestion is that a dedicated special tax on all guns and ammunition pay for this. Why should the school system with limited resources pay when they should be spending directly on education?

Barring this solution, the evidence is clear that nations that have adopted stricter gun laws have seen drastic drops in firearm homicides. These included laws barring powerful weapons like automatic rifles and implementing universal background checks.

The Republican solutions appear to help gun manufactures sell more guns, like for example, arming teachers.

Finally, Congress likes to say we need to better enforce gun laws already on the books. If so, I suggest they cease underfunding Alcohol, Tax and Firearms Department so that the gun shows and internet loopholes to background checks can be more effectively enforced.

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

Lail Family Dentistry

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Lail Family Dentistry is a family practice in Duluth, Georgia. We would like to take the opportunity to welcome you to our hometown. Many residents refer to Duluth as “the biggest small town.” This is mainly because of the strong sense of community that is shared by many who reside here today. Lail Family Dentistry has been a big part of that sense of community for almost 50 years when Dr. Wallace Lail started our practice in 1968. Since that time, we have added three additional family members to our team of dentists.

Dr. Slade Lail, Dr. Lisa Moss, and Dr. Devan Callaway are proud to continue the tradition

of treating patients along with Dr. Wallace Lail. We utilize the latest techniques and procedures
that are available today. As a patient, you can enjoy the fact that we are available for you
Monday through Friday during regular office hours as well as after hours, if necessary. You will also be seen on time. If your appointment is at l0 am, you will be seen at l0 am. If you are looking for a traditional, family dental practice where you will be treated honestly, fairly, and like a member of our own family, we would love to have you here.

• Go to drlail.com for more information, or call (770) 476-2400 to make an appointment.
• For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here.

Feels that real leaders, no matter where, should accept responsibility

Editor, the Forum:

Recently I read a transcript of President Trump’s news conference following his meeting with Kim Jong Un in Singapore. I found an interesting answer given by the president. The president was addressing a question about Kim agreeing to the return of the remains of missing Americans from the Korean War and the destruction of a nuclear site, specifically an engine testing site. The president said the following:

“I think, honestly, I think he’s going to do these things. I may be wrong. I mean, I may stand before you in six months and say, ‘Hey, I was wrong.’ I don’t know that I’ll ever admit that, but I’ll find some kind of excuse.”

Others may draw a different conclusion, but I find it disturbing that this quote indicates that the president is unwilling to admit when he is wrong and will find an excuse. Real leaders accept responsibility.

— John Titus, Peachtree Corners.

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

Peach State Federal Credit Union partners with Berenstain Bears

Inspired by a foundation built by educators and a dedication to citizenship, Peach State Federal Credit Union has partnered with The Berenstain Bears Financial Literacy Program to educate children about the money management concept, “Save, Share, Spend, Earn.”

The program includes the Credit Union Financial Literacy Series of books featuring the famous Berenstain Bears, the Cub Account, and associated lesson plans and activities developed by early childhood education experts.

As part of the program, Peach State will now offer a Cub Account, a savings account available for children up to age 13. Children who open Cub Accounts will receive a special Welcome Kit that includes a piggy bank, a book, The Berenstain Bears Visit the Credit Union and a distinctive membership card.

Members of the credit union’s Business Development team will share the program when visiting schools, libraries and at events that offer an opportunity for financial literacy.

Peach State’s Senior Vice President of Marketing Kristen Patton says: “The program is a fun way to introduce people of all ages to the credit union difference and educate children about financial responsibility. We offer products and services to members of all ages and life stages—we’re excited to introduce an account created just for our youngest members.”

Jackson EMC Foundation makes awards of $81,000 to area charities

A $15,000 Jackson EMC Foundation check to Rainbow Village will help provide childcare tuition assistance for its Early Childhood Development Center.  From left are Beauty Baldwin, Jackson EMC Foundation board chair; Justice French, Rainbow Village development director; and Melanie Conner, Chief Executive Officer.

The Jackson EMC Foundation board of directors awarded a total $81,000 in grants during their June meeting, including $61,000 to organizations serving Gwinnett County.

• $15,000 to Rainbow Village, a Duluth long-term, transformational housing program that provides fully-furnished apartments and comprehensive support for homeless families with.
• $15,000 to StepByStep Recovery, a Lawrenceville community-based grassroots addiction recovery organization that provides a safe and structured environment for men and women in Barrow, Gwinnett and Hall counties.
• $10,000 to Potter’s House, an Atlanta Mission facility, to help feed, house, counsel and provide educational programs such as adult literacy to men from Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Franklin, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson and Madison counties, who are recovering from substance abuse.
• $7,500 to Athens Inclusive Recreation and Sports, a non-profit organization promoting a greater wellness and quality of life by providing specific, adapted sports activities that accommodate people with disabilities.
• $7,500 to Lekotek of Georgia, a charitable organization that provides accessible play, adaptive technology and toys, information and resources to children with disabilities from Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Franklin, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin and Madison counties, to provide services through its Gwinnett satellite office.
• $6,000 to Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta to offer Gwinnett County girls from low-income households The Girl Scout Leadership Experience, a program which impacts 15 developmental outcomes that help girls discover their own strengths, connect with others in healthy relationships and become more resourceful problem solvers.

Jackson EMC Foundation grants are made possible by the more than 188,275 participating cooperative members who have their monthly electric bills rounded to the next dollar amount through the Operation Round Up program.

Applicants do not need to be a member of Jackson EMC.

 An Innocent Client by Scott Pratt

Reviewed by Tim Anderson, Fitzgerald  |  Seldom do I read self-published books because they tend to lack the quality I look for, but Scott Pratt, a Tennessee lawyer, is the exception. Pratt has a nine-book series on fictional Tennessee lawyer named Joe Dillard. I quickly became addicted after the first one. They are best enjoyed in order, I think. Pratt tells fast-paced and believable stories about his characters. The plot is well-developed and interesting. Short, action-filled chapters make for quick reading. I couldn’t stop reading the first book in the series, and had to go to others. The good guys are really good and the bad guys are deplorable. Pratt’s books have sold more than two million copies. The books are great summer reads.

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

Racers at Atlanta Motor Speedway can exceed 190 miles per hour

(Continued from previous edition)

Perhaps the most storied race in Atlanta Motor Speedway history came in such a year, 1992. On November 15 the Hooters 500 attracted a huge crowd to witness NASCAR legend Richard Petty’s final race and a battle among five drivers with a mathematical chance to win the championship. The favorite to win the championship, Davey Allison, crashed on the 253rd lap, leaving Georgia’s favorite son, Bill Elliott, and Alan Kulwicki to battle for the title. Although Elliott won the race, Kulwicki finished second and led one more lap than Elliott, which gave him five bonus points for leading the most laps and the Winston Cup championship by ten points.

After the race Richard Petty commented on the reaction of the fans: “Nobody left. There was so much going on. You had a race winner, a new champion, and me running my last race. I wish we had this much enthusiasm for all the races.” Later the race gained additional significance as the first Winston Cup race for Jeff Gordon, who would dominate Winston Cup racing for the rest of the 1990s.

Although inexperienced or journeyman racers have occasionally won Winston Cup races at Atlanta, most often the winner of an Atlanta race is a skilled driver. Indeed, the winners of multiple races at Atlanta reads like a “who’s who” of Winston Cup racing. Multiple winners include Jeff Gordon, Fred Lorenzen, David Pearson, and Darrell Waltrip (each with three wins); Bobby Allison and Bill Elliott (each with five wins); Bobby Labonte and Richard Petty (each with six wins); Cale Yarborough (seven wins); and the late Dale Earnhardt, who holds the record with nine wins.

Since the 1997 renovation of the track, Atlanta Motor Speedway has become the fastest and one of the most competitive tracks on the Winston Cup circuit. Qualifying speeds at the track have exceeded 190 miles per hour in recent years, and the races themselves invariably feature more than 30 lead changes, almost double the average for a Winston Cup race.

Atlanta Motor Speedway also regularly hosts car shows, corporate functions, outdoor concerts, and even dog shows.

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

Watch out: Swashbucklers on the move in this Mystery Photo!

Today’s Mystery Photo is of a swashbuckling group of marauders, intent on their mission.  So figure out where it is and tell us about it. Send your answers to elliott@brack.net and be sure to include your hometown.

The “good eye” of the week belongs to Judy Putnam of Peachtree Corners, who recognized the statue and the setting of the Mystery Photo as in Gibbs Gardens, near Ball Ground, Ga., as did Faye Hill of Lawrenceville. .

Of course, our regulars, George Graf of Palmyra, Va. and Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex., chipped in with their distinctive thoughts. George wrote saying of Gibbs Gardens: “I may be wrong this time since there are many copies of this sculpture going around, but the round pedestal matches up nicely.

“Gibbs Gardens was built by Jim Gibbs, president and founder of Gibbs Landscaping in Atlanta.  After traveling extensively for years looking at gardens, Mr. Gibbs decided to build his own and scoured properties in North Georgia for six years before settling on Ball Ground as the garden destination. There are rolling hills and mountain views on the property. With 24 ponds, 32 bridges, and 19 waterfalls, the gardens are a sight to behold.  The manor house where the Gibbs live is a mix of European architecture.  It took 32 years for Mr. Gibbs to complete the garden and open it to the public.  Now we can all visit the beautiful Gibbs Gardens and appreciate all the love and work that has gone into making this place spectacular.”

Allan contributed: “Today’s mystery photo is a picture of a bronze statue called ‘Bronze Girl with Cat,’ located in the Manor House Garden at Gibbs Gardens. The statue is cast by Metropolitan Galleries using a traditional Lost Wax Bronze Casting method. Metropolitan Galleries offers replicas of this statue, so other examples of this particular statue can likely be found in many different locations.

“The property is 292 acres and the house and gardens include 220 acres, making it one of the nation’s largest residential estate gardens. It is composed of 16 gardens including three feature gardens – Manor House Gardens, Japanese and Waterlily Gardens.

It should be noted that the statue in the photo is situated amongst a beautiful arrangement of Fancy Leaf Caladiums. It is ironic that the statue of a cat is placed here, since Caladium flowers are in fact toxic to cats and dogs and can cause oral irritation, pain and swelling of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty in swallowing. Hey, Mr. Gibbs, better move that cat out of this part of the Manor House Garden!”

Southern Wings Bird Club will meet Monday, July 8 at 7 p.m. at Rhodes Jordan Park Community Center meeting room, 100 East Crogan Street. John F. Deitsch will be the speaker, addressing “My Birding Adventures.”  More info: southernwingsbc@yahoo.com..

Workshop: The Evolution of Data Security will be held July 19 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Peachtree Corners City Hall, 310 Technology Parkway, by the Partnership Gwinnett Technology Forum. Ed Pimental, chairman of AgileCo Labs, will be speaking .Learn about steps banks are taking to reduce fraudulent activity, what e-commerce is expected to continue to grow, and how block chain technology supports the industry. The cost is $10. Register here.

Free Photography Workshop at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center, 2020 Clean Water Drive in Buford on July 28 from 1 to 3 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.

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• Contributing columnist: George Wilson

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