TODAY’S DIGITAL WORLD will soon be part of the 12-acre Freeman’s Mill Park. County commissioners have awarded a $442,270 contract to low bidder Pacific Studio to design and build interactive exhibits for the mill, located at 1401 Alcovy Road, south of Dacula. The exhibits will tell the story of how grains have been planted, harvested and milled for centuries. Park visitors will see early milling machinery and a smaller scale mill that will grind bags of cornmeal to take home. Gwinnett County bought the 150-year-old mill site in 2002. Like many other historic sites preserved throughout the county, Freeman’s Mill restoration is funded by voter-approved SPLOST programs.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Gwinnett Voters Urged To Support $350 Million School Bond Issue
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Another Fine Trip, But This Time Not to A Distant Country
ANOTHER VIEW: History Shows Continued Discrimination Concerning Voting
SPOTLIGHT: Howard Brothers
FEEDBACK: Kavanaugh Is Epitome of What Republicans Call an Activist Jurist
UPCOMING: GGC’s Science and Technology Dean Leaves Post in May, 2019
NOTABLE: Here Are Answers To Minor League Baseball Team Nicknames
RECOMMENDED: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Death of Gene Talmadge Leads To “Three Governors” Situation
MYSTERY PHOTO: Here’s Another Lighthouse as Mystery for You To Identify
LAGNIAPPE: Norcross Mural Ties Distinctiveness with People and Events
CALENDAR: Nine New Activities for You To Enjoy in Gwinnett
TODAY’S FOCUS
Gwinnett voters urged to support $350 million school bond issue
By J. Michael Levengood
Co-chair, GCPS Education Bond Referendum Campaign Committee
(Editor’s note: Other members of the GCPS Education Bond Referendum Campaign Committee include Norwood Davis, co-chair; Andrew Pourchier, treasurer; and members Carla Carraway and David Will.–eeb)
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. | Few things are more important to the future of Gwinnett’s families, communities and economy than public education. Learning is the door to opportunity – for better jobs, better neighborhoods and for attracting companies to our county. A good education is an investment for which there is no greater return.
Levengood
On November 6, Gwinnett voters have the opportunity to make a significant investment in Gwinnett County Public Schools by voting yes to the bond referendum proposed by the Board of Education. It will allow the sale of up to $350 million in bonds that will fund improvements to all 140 schools in the school district – without raising taxes.
These bonds will help to ensure that Gwinnett’s award-winning public school system will continue to be excellent places of teaching and learning.
- Specifically, voting yes will improve the existing schools through needed renovations and maintenance.
- Voting yes will fund upgrades to labs and other instructional spaces, as well as athletic facilities.
- Voting yes will pay for enhancements to school safety and new school buses.
- And voting yes will ensure that all students have access to the 21st century technology they need to prepare for the future and to be successful as they enter the workforce.
As Gwinnett’s population continues to grow, these bonds will help accommodate the growth in the number of students by funding the construction of a new high school to relieve overcrowding in the Mill Creek Cluster. The bonds will also build out an additional floor of classrooms at Discovery High School. In addition, there will be system-wide building renovations, safety enhancements and technology upgrades.
Gwinnett County Public Schools is one of a select few school districts in the nation to achieve the most favorable rating for its bonds from Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, the bond rating services, because of the fiscal responsibility of our education leaders. The bond rating is like your credit score. It enables Gwinnett County Public Schools to pay the lowest and most favorable interest rates on its bonds.
As a result, the current tax rate is sufficient to cover the cost of the repayment of the bonds to make these much needed capital improvements. The Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce endorses and supports this referendum as do civic and community leaders throughout our county.
When you vote on November 6, I hope you will join me in voting yes for Gwinnett schools for this important referendum, which you will find at the end of the ballot.
Thank you in advance for your support. For more information, visit www.gwinnettkidscount2018.com.
ON THE BALLOT
The question will appear on the ballot this way:
YES or NO: Shall general obligation debt of the Gwinnett County School District in the principal amount of not to exceed $350,000,000 be issued for the purpose of funding (i) all or a portion of the following projects for Gwinnett County School District
(A) developing, constructing and equipping new schools, support facilities and athletic facilities;
(B) adding to, renovating, modernizing, improving and equipping existing schools, properties and support facilities of the Gwinnett School District;
(C) enhancing school safety system-wide;
(D) acquiring school buses and other transportation vehicles;
(E) improving and modernizing technology and making system-wide technology improvements; and
(F) otherwise improving and equipping facilities for educational purposes (collectively, the “Projects”); and (ii) paying costs of issuance of such general obligation debt?
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Another fine trip, but this time not to a distant country
By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher, GwinnettForum
OCT. 5, 2018 | Many of you know that I like to travel to new lands. My most recent trip was only 16 miles in length, and for 10 days. The destination was Gwinnett Medical Center, where I successfully underwent bypass surgery on August 13.
Last week my surgeon, Dr. David Langford, pronounced me discharged, in remarkable shape, though he wanted me to maintain limited activity for another six weeks. The reason I’m writing this is to be something of a warning if others start to experience what I was finding about my body. Happily, I recognized something was amiss before I had to submit to emergency procedures.
Another trip, one to Germany for a river boat cruise and extension in July, led to this surgery. While on the trip, I found that when on shore excursions, or out walking for distances, I was experiencing a shortage of breath. At one time, returning from dinner in Bad Nauheim, Germany, I was going only about two park benches before I had to rest a while.
However, this shortage of breath was not entirely new. Previously, in walking my dog, Hercules, every morning, I was having to stop two or three times to catch my breath to reach the top of a low hill. And to show how the bypass made a difference, these days I can walk the total distance to the top of the hill without stopping or being winded at all. So, success!, though my strength has not fully returned as it should and by afternoon I am tired.
My hospital stay was longer than most bypasses, since the medical team detected an unusual aspect with my kidneys, and flushed them for five days before the surgery. But after the operation was over, there were no problems at all.
Now, you may not believe this (hard to do so for me), but at no time after the slitting my breastbone open about 10-12 inches, have I felt any pain at all! Miracle of miracles, in one way of thinking. Modern medicine has greatly improved its methods over the years, and here I am the beneficiary!
The nursing team at Gwinnett Medical Center took great care during my stay at the hospital, and I was most pleased with them. Interestingly, as is much of Gwinnett, the aides and nurses hail from all over, not just the USA, but the world, from Ecuador, New Jersey, Loganville, Lawrenceville, the Philippines, Bosnia, and many other places. It’s another display of Gwinnett’s diversity.
These health aides have their medical training from far-flung places, and all did a superb job of pricking, poking, pumping and prying on me at all times of day and night. At of all times, 4 a.m., I even had three X-rays, (rolling the hallways via wheelchair) each time.
Another element: when discharged from the hospital, the next medical step is home health care, providing the patient with home visits and physical therapy. This we found to be a great comfort, as they came regularly to check me out. Since I know little of how to treat a released patient, it was a great burden lifted, giving me (and my family) peace of mind from these visits. You wonder how those released from the hospital in earlier days got along without such care.
So give me a little more time for full recovery, and I will be physically a “new person” compared to what I was before. And meanwhile, we’ll return to the twice-weekly publication of GwinnettForum with this issue. Thank you for your patience during the once-a-week period. The trip to Lawrenceville was a good one for me!
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
History shows continued discrimination concerning voting
By George Wilson, contributing columnist
STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. | Americans have died for the right to vote. Yet the control and implementation of voting laws were left up to the states.
Unfortunately, the states have a dark history of voter limitation, from the Founders to now, and the images are not flattering. The Constitution itself is vague about voting rights—by design, since early on white male property owners had limited trust in others who did not meet their requirements. As we examine history through the decades, we see an ugly pattern: people in power doing everything they can to remain so—and limiting suffrage has always been a favorite tactic.
History shows us a wide variety of discrimination: by race, gender, place of origin, as immigrants have rarely been welcome to vote. We can spend much time exploring the denial and suppression of the African-American vote, and we note that such efforts have succeeded and continue to dampen voter turnout. Legal challenges and court decisions, statehouse maneuvers, legislative misbehavior—all combine to leave us with a dim view of the history of voting rights in this country. Moreover, we can explore the fake issue of “voter fraud” that many (who wish to limit voting rights) have long raised. Repeated studies have found virtually no evidence of it: a tiny fraction of a single percent.
Finally, before we become too weary and cynical, we can simply vote. Remember, the present active electorate represents a victory for the status quo: those who do vote are proportionally older and wealthier than the statistically average American, and they tend to have stronger and more conservative opinions on matters such as gun control, labor rights, and abortion; young people, minorities and others, conversely, are scarcely present in modern elections and turn out in numbers far lower than in any other industrial democracy. We can attribute this low level of participation by citizens to many causes, among them the disgraceful quality of the contemporary media such as Fox News, and talk radio.
Here are a few suggestions for improvements:
- Easier voter registration;
- A holiday for national elections;
- The elimination of gerrymandering;
- Campaign finance reforms; and
- Limiting campaign time.
Congress needs to mandate (and help pay for) a computerized system that registers people whenever they interact with government agencies, and follows them from state to state. The Brennan Center for Justice estimates this would add 50 million people to the rolls permanently and save money through greater efficiency and accuracy.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Howard Brothers
Today’s sponsor is Howard Brothers, which has retail stores in Alpharetta, Doraville, Duluth, Oakwood and Athens. 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, Echo outdoor power equipment and Benjamin Moore paint. Howard Brothers is also an authorized Big Green Egg, Traeger Grill and YETI Cooler dealer.
- Visit their web site www.howardbrothers.com.
- For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here.
Kavanaugh is epitome of what Republicans call an activist jurist
Editor, the Forum:
In her Feedback piece on liberal shrill feminists that have apparently overrun the Democratic party Ms. Debra Houston speaks both incorrectly and abusively at once. First of all there is a ton of data showing that MOST victims of sexual assault do NOT report the crimes and much more data on why. The why is exactly what you see in her writing and on display by Republican white males of the Judiciary committee – attack the victim and defend the alleged perpetrators at all cost for the patriarchy MUST be defended to the death.
The problem with Judge Kavanaugh runs far deeper than the allegations from Dr. Ford. First he is not just a conservative — he is the epitome of what conservatives often accuse liberal judicial appointment to the Supreme Court of being — an activist jurist. Second. he will be the second appointee for life to the Court that will be there as a loyalist to the current self anointed King. Personal loyalty trumps all political leanings. This is important because as the crimes pile up around President Trump, Judge Kavanaugh is a firm believer in the office of the president being above the law.
Confirming this individual to the highest court in the land will put the finishing touches on the complete removal of the Republic and supplant it with a dictatorship. Trump has been both blatant and frequent is his use of his office to exact revenge on his enemies, both real and perceived. I have never voted party line before but this year sadly I must. Sen. Lindsey Graham was prophetic when he said back during the 2016 campaign that if Trump wins the Republican nomination, he will destroy us and we will deserve it. Here we are and now Sen. Graham is singing the praises of the Tweeter in Chief.
— Roger Hagan, Lilburn
“Liberal victimhood” column almost completely baffled her
Editor, the Forum:
That essay (“Liberal victimhood”) so baffled me that I really don’t know where to start. I wish I could live in this world where everything is sunshine and roses and women who are ashamed by an action caused by another is reported immediately and the bad boy/man goes to jail. Unfortunately for those women back then, they can’t take a time machine back to that time when they were assaulted or raped to report the incident. Would they be believed or would they be told, ‘Boys were just being boys” back then.
I believe in Dr. Blassy-Ford and her account of events and who assaulted her. It’s a shame women who apparently never made a foolish mistake in their sheltered life want to villainize the victim and put the abuser on a pedestal Judge Kavanaugh was pure as the driven snow as he seems to think he is, he should welcome a through investigation from the FBI and this whole mess would be settled. As for this being a Democrat vs. Republican fight, you bet it is. If I recall, it was the Republican Senate Leader McConnell who held up the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court because there would be an election in a year’s time and the new President should be allowed to seat a judge to the court. So the first shot over the bow was the Republicans’ doing.
This judge made it to a nomination hearing, where as Garland wasn’t afforded that courtesy at all. Please don’t call Democrats victims and we won’t call Republicans callous bullies.
— Sara Rawlins, Lawrenceville
Feels use of sarcasm in the place of objectivity shows partisanship
Editor, the Forum:
The attempts to use sarcasm in place of objectivity and fact do not lessen the true lack of empathy replaced by sheer partisan hatefulness in Ms. Debra Houston’s recent opinion piece, “Suggest you vote Democratic and wallow in liberal victimhood.”
Any abuse should not be politicized. To even suggest women have a voice and have come forward on sexual abuse issues simply does not ring true. The National Institute of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics (1992-2000) says only 26 percent of sexual assaults were reported to police. How many more women have to come forward to tell us how traumatized this experience has been for them—that they kept it locked inside for decades?
Truthfully, Judge Kavanaugh has shown who he is over many years. Facts of his unethical, if not illegal, smear tactics and leaks of selected information to the press during his role as a lieutenant on the Starr investigation, have been well documented by David Brock, a fellow conservative operative, who knew Kavanaugh well personally and professionally. He (Kavanaugh) is unfit to serve for many reasons beyond his boorish behavior.
— Howard Hoffman, 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
GGC’s Science and Technology dean leaves post in May 2019
Mundie
Dr. Thomas Mundie, dean of Georgia Gwinnett College’s School of Science and Technology (SST), has announced that he will resign from his post as dean on May 30, 2019. He will continue to serve SST as a full time faculty member for an additional year before officially retiring from the University System of Georgia (USG).
Mundie became the charter dean of SST in 2006, developing the school’s faculty and its courses in the sciences, mathematics and information technology. Under his leadership, SST has obtained grants from a number of organizations including the National Science Foundation and the USG to foster undergraduate education in the sought-after fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); developed a STEM Education Innovations program to offer unprecedented opportunities for undergraduates to conduct research; and has grown to become the largest of the six schools on campus.
Mundie brought with him 27 years of experience in research and higher education to GGC. He held research positions at Walter Reed Army Institute of Research in Washington, D.C. and Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii, and served as professor of life science and biology program chair at the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y.
Lilburn completes 2nd leg of boardwalk on Camp Creek Greenway
Construction is complete on the new PermaTrak concrete boardwalk located on Camp Creek Greenway Trail in Lilburn. The ribbon cutting on the new link will be on Monday, October 8 at 6 p.m., near the Velva Court entrance. The 958-foot boardwalk is the longest PermaTrak project in the country that is supported on the helical pier foundation system, which consists of steel piles screwed into the soil to a specified torque. Lilburn Planning and Development Director Doug Stacks says: “The public can enjoy running, walking, and cycling on this new boardwalk for the next 50 years.” The start of the boardwalk is near Velva Court. PermaTrak is a low maintenance, pre-cast concrete product. This is the second PermaTrak installation on the 4.2-mile greenway. In September 2015, the city was the first in the state of Georgia to install PermaTrak, which is produced by a company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. The project was funded through SPLOST, the one-percent sales tax approved by voters. Gwinnett County contributed $509,228 to the total cost.
Here are answers to Minor League Baseball Team nicknames
In the last issue of GwinnettForum, we presented our readers with a quiz on naming minor league baseball teams. Here are the answers. See how many of the 40 you got right.
- The Little Rock Arkansas Travelers,
- Bradenton, Fla, Marauders
- Carolina (Zebulon, N.C.) Mudcats
- Charleston S.C. RiverDogs
- Chattanooga Lookouts
- Clinton, Iowa LumberKings
- Columbia S.C. Fireflies
- Columbus Ohio Clippers
- Delmarva (Salisbury, Md.) Shorebirds
- Down East (Kinston, N.C.)Wood Ducks
- Erie (Pa.) SeaWolves
- Florida (Kissimmee) Fire Frogs
- Fresno (Cal.) Grizzlies
- Greensboro (N.C.) Grasshoppers
- Gwinnett (Lawrenceville, Ga.) Stripers
- Hickory (N.C.) Crawdads
- Iowa (Des Moines) Cubs
- Lake County (Eastlake, Ohio) Captains
- Lakewood (N.J.) BlueClaws
- Lancaster (Calif.) JetHawks
- Lansing (Mich.) Lugnuts
- Lexington (Ky.) Legends
- Louisville (Ky.) Bats
- Midland (Tex.) Rock Hounds
- Modesto (Calif.) Nuts
- Myrtle Beach (S.C.) Pelicans
- Nashville (Tenn.) Sounds
- New Hampshire (Manchester) Fisher Cats
- Norfolk (Va.) Tides
- Reading (Pa.) Fightin’ Phils
- Reno (Nev.) Aces
- Richmond (Va.) Flying Squirrels
- Salem (Va.) Red Sox
- Savannah Bananas
- Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) RailRiders
- Tacoma (Wash.) Rainiers
- Trenton (N.J.) Thunder
- Tri-City (Pasco, Wash.) Dust Devils
- West Michigan (Grand Rapids) Whitecaps
- Wisconsin (Appleton) Timber Rattlers
Girl Scout Kristin Horne creates “Garden of Hope” in Snellville
Archer High School senior Kristin Horne was raised in a military family. So when it came time to complete her Gold Award – the highest achievement a Girl Scout can receive – she wanted to draw attention to issues facing military veterans. Horne created a “Garden of Hope” with benches and a rock circle with a plaque highlighting the serious issues veterans face today – post traumatic stress disorder, suicide and homelessness.
On Saturday, her Gold Award project was dedicated at T.W. Briscoe Park ceremony. She says: “I chose the veterans issues because my entire family has basically been in the military and the military in general means a lot to me. More people should know about veterans issues since the more they can help those that are struggling.”
Parks and Recreation Director Lisa A. Platt says: “Her project is to honor those who serve in our military with emphasis on acknowledging that ‘Not all wounds are visible,’ meaning that those who return, even without physical scars, very much have injuries from what they have experienced.”
Frankenstein by Mary Shelley
From Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill | It was the summer of 1816. The eruption of Mount Tambora the year before had changed weather patterns throughout northern hemisphere. A party of young Brits were stranded indoors in a Swiss hotel by the winter-like conditions so they competed to see who could write the best horror story. Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin, 18, won. Her protagonist was a young scientist named Victor Frankenstein who had found a way to bring an inanimate object to life. Mary (later Mary Shelley) published her story in book form in 1818 – exactly 200 years ago. It created a stir then and is still relevant today as we continue to face rapid technological progress. Frankenstein created life without the help of God. Could he face the consequences? This tale is tragic for both Frankenstein and his monster, so if you’re looking for something to put you in the mood for Halloween, look no further than Frankenstein.”
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
Death of Gene Talmadge leads to “Three Governors” situation
(Continued from previous edition)
In the 1934 Democratic gubernatorial primary, Gene Talmadge easily won reelection, carrying every county but three. In his first two gubernatorial terms Talmadge proved to be a strong governor. When the legislature refused to lower the price of automobile tags, he did so by executive order. When the Public Service Commission, a body elected by the voters, refused to lower utility rates, he appointed a new board to get it done. When the highway board resisted his efforts to control it, he declared martial law and appointed more cooperative members to the board. When the state treasurer and comptroller general refused to cooperate, the governor had them physically removed from their offices in the state capitol. Critics denounced him as a dictator, a demagogue, and a threat to the tranquility of the state, but his supporters considered him a friend of the common man and one of the state’s outstanding governors.
Talmadge
Talmadge, a leading critic of the New Deal in the South, opposed the renomination of U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1936. Barred by the state constitution from running again after two successive two-year terms, Talmadge unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate against the incumbent Richard Russell in 1936. Two years later, his efforts to replace Senator Walter F. George also ended in failure. He finally returned to elective office with his successful gubernatorial bid in 1940.
During his third term Governor Talmadge forced the University System Board of Regents to remove two faculty members, claiming that they were undermining the state’s racial status quo, in what became known as the Cocking affair. In response to this political interference, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools voted to withdraw accreditation from the state’s white colleges. Promising to restore accreditation, state attorney general Ellis Arnall ran against Talmadge in the 1942 gubernatorial primary and handed him the only loss Talmadge suffered in a gubernatorial contest.
Although Arnall had a productive and progressive governorship, the state constitution, which had been changed to lengthen the gubernatorial term from two to four years, prohibited a successive term. Talmadge decided to run again.
The federal courts’ invalidation of the Democratic Party’s white primary before the 1946 primaries gave Talmadge an important issue. While Arnall supported the federal courts’ decisions, Talmadge, denouncing the courts’ actions as a threat to segregation, promised to restore the white primary and to keep blacks in their place in Jim Crow Georgia.
At that time, statewide elections in Georgia were governed by a county unit system of votes, which greatly favored candidates whose support came from rural counties. Under this system counties cast two, four, or six votes, depending on their classification as rural, town, or urban areas, respectively. Although the anti-Talmadge candidate James V. Carmichael received the most popular votes in the primary, Talmadge, who had very strong support in rural areas, won the gubernatorial nomination by obtaining a majority of the county unit votes.
Governor-elect Eugene Talmadge died on December 21, 1946, before taking office. His death resulted in one of the oddest political battles in Georgia’s history, known as the “three governors controversy.” In January 1947 the General Assembly finally elected Eugene Talmadge’s son, Herman Talmadge, governor, although he had not run for office. He served until the state supreme court overturned his legislative election in March.
Perhaps Herman Talmadge best described how Georgians felt about his father when he said that a third of the people would follow his father to hell and a third of them wanted him in hell. Eugene Talmadge’s belief in negative government and his bitter opposition to the New Deal and racial equality did little to improve the material well-being of Georgians during his governorship.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia online, go to http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Here’s another lighthouse as Mystery Photo for you to identify
Lighthouses always make good mystery photos. Here’s another, and your job is to identify it and tell us where it is located. Send answers to elliott@brack.net, and be sure to include your hometown.
The most recent Mystery Photo came from Ann Royster of Shelby, N.C., and was of the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton National Park in Nova Scotia.
Bob Foreman of Grayson was first in with the identification: “The nearest town of any size is Sydney. We visited Sydney a few weeks ago, but we were on a cruise so we did not get to see the Cabot Trail area due to limited time. We seriously considered renting a car and driving to the National Park but we did not want to spend all day driving and risk not getting back to the ship on time.”
Also identifying it were Sandy and Rick Krause of Lilburn, who wrote: “We visited it in 1997, the 500th anniversary of the voyage of John Cabot. We got to see replicas of the ship, and were lucky enough to be at a bridge that opened to allow it and other vessels to pass through.”
George Graf of Palmyra, Va., found “This was a tough one. Thought it was the Pacific Coast Highway but couldn’t find a matching location. The Cabot Trail, a scenic roadway that takes you around the greater part of Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island, is one of the most famous drives in Canada. The Cabot Trail makes a loop around Cape Breton Island, cutting across the top of the island and closely following the western and eastern coastlines. If you travel in a clockwise direction, you’ll be on the “inside” lane as you drive along both coasts. Because the road goes up and down steep grades and curves, the clockwise direction is better for drivers (and passengers) who dislike driving next to steep drops”.
Norcross mural ties distinctiveness with people and events
Seven people have asked who and what is picture on the mural in downtown Norcross, an the wall facing the railroad tracks in the Paizanos’ Pizza location. Depicted are:
N=Jonathan Norcross. He was the fourth Mayor of Atlanta. His friend, J.J. Thrasher, named the city of Norcross after his good friend.
O=The importance and significance of trains to the development of Norcross. The Airline Belle, a steam passenger train that ran from Atlanta through Norcross to Toccoa beginning in 1878, making twice daily trips between these destinations.
R=The Cotton Gin, which once belonged to the Summerour family, was known nationwide for developing a more productive variety of hybrid cottonseed.
C=Brunswick Hotel. In the late 1800’s Norcross had become the favorite summer vacation resort for many Atlantans, many of whom enjoyed staying at this hotel.
R=Lum Howell was a respected blacksmith in town and was known as an advocate for black children’s education.
O=Roy Carlyle was one of many talented professional baseball players hailing from Norcross. He played in the 1920’s and holds the record for the longest-hit home run—a distance of 618 feet.
S=The Norcross Depot was the train station in town. While the original burned down in a fire, the current structure has remained intact for more than a century.
S=Noye Nesbit graduated from both Norcross High School and the Georgia School of Technology. He served in France during World War I and returned to work for the Gwinnett County Water System.
AUTHORS’ VISIT: Join the Gwinnett County Public Library for a conversation with authors Lori Rader-Day and Roger Johns! The event is free and will be Friday, October 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Liberty Books, 176 West Crogan Street in Lawrenceville. Rader-Day is a one-time winning and three-time nominated Mary Higgins Clark Award author. Johns is the author of the Wallace Hartman Mysteries, and a 2018 Georgia Author of the Year winner. For more information, please visit www.gwinnettpl.org or call 770-978-5154.
BALLOT BREAKFAST and community forum will be Saturday, October 6, from 9 a.m. until noon at the Korean American Association of Greater Atlanta, 5900 Brook Hollow Parkway, in Norcross. Participants will have the opportunity to meet local, state and federal candidates and learn about the issues they support. There will also be an opportunity for attendees to register to vote, review sample ballots and learn how to work at polling locations. It is sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Upsilon Alpha Omega (UAO) chapter and with The Center for Pan Asian Community Services. More info: 770-335-3413.
TOUR LITTLE MULBERRY PARK with the Southern Wings Bird Club on Saturday, October 6 at 9:20 a.m. Park at the Hog Mountain Road Entrance (careful, there are four entrance to this park). The walk will be about two miles on a paced trail. Bring your own water and binoculars. Info: 678-334-1173.
15th ANNUAL ART SPLASH will take place Saturday and Sunday, October 6-7, in downtown Norcross, beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sunday. Besides art, the event will offer continuous live entertainment on the Thrasher Park Stage The Kidz Zone, also in the Park, returns with energetic rides and engaging children’s activities. A silent auction and sale filled with decorated chairs by local school students will be waiting for the highest bidders. Free shuttle and parking are easy to find. Check out splashfestivals.com for more information.
PUBLIC SAFETY FALL FESTIVAL will be Saturday, October 6 at Coolray Field, 2500 Buford Drive, Lawrenceville, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Gwinnett First Responders will show off their emergency vehicles, including a helicopter, ambulance, SWAT personnel carrier, and ladder truck. For more information, call 770-513-5119.
FREE CONCERT by the Johns Creek Symphony at Newtown Park amphitheater at 3150 Old Alabama Road on Saturday, October 6 at 7 p.m. Gates open at 6 p.m. The concert will be conducted by Symphony Founder and Music Director, J. Wayne Baughman. Repertoire for the performance will include American favorites, from Broadway to Sousa to Jazz.
GROUNDBREAKING at the Gwinnett Water Innovation Center of the Wayne Hill Water Resources Center, Tuesday, October 9 at 2 p.m. Park at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center, 2020 Clean Water Drive in Buford. A shuttle will take guests to the groundbreaking site. Note: wear comfortable shoes.
PIZZA WITH POLICE in Suwanee will be Tuesday, October 9 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Suwanee Police Station, 373 Buford Highway. This event is for the entire family, and will feature free pizza from Papa John’s, giveaways, and officers and police vehicles on-hand for children to explore. RSVPs are not required. Discuss issues that concern you or questions you may have, and just get to know the officers who keep the city safe.
PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOP: How do you prepare for a zombie apocalypse? Gwinnett Health Department experts will answer that question for you and share a few tips about preparing for real pandemics too! This year marks the 100th anniversary of the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic – the deadliest pandemic in human history. Today, the impact of an outbreak would be even more catastrophic due to the explosive population growth and the ease of extensive travel. Two sessions are available. Both are free and open to the public. The first is Wednesday, October 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Five Forks Branch Library, 2780 Five Forks Trickum Road, in Lawrenceville. The second is Thursday, October 25 at 6:30 pm at the Suwanee Branch, 361 Main Street, Suwanee. For more information, visit www.gwinnettpl.org or call 770-978-5154.
AUTHOR VISIT: First time novelist Nic Stone of Atlanta brings diverse voices and stories to her work. Booklist has given her first novel, a starred review calling it, “vivid and powerful.” Join Gwinnett County Public Library to meet Nic Stone on Thursday, October 11 at 7 p.m. at the Suwanee Branch, 361 Main Street, Suwanee. It is free and open to the public. For more information, visit www.gwinnettpl.org or call 770-978-5154.
CRAFT FAIR at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Snellville is Saturday, October 12,from 9 a.m. until 2 p. m. Great for starting your Christmas shopping early. This benefits the WPC missions. The church is located at 2208 Main Street in Snellville.
LUNCH AND LEARN at the Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth on Friday, October 12, at noon, as part of the Georgia Archives program at the museum. Hear James Polihronakis, Southeastern Railway Museum Education Coordinator, joined by Lloyd Neal, the Museum Assistant Librarian., talk about the many programs offered at the Duluth museum. These lunch and learn programs are sponsored by Friends of Georgia Archives and History. No registration is required. For more information, contact Penelope.Cliff@usg.edu.
THE 45TH LILBURN DAZE Arts and Crafts Festival will be Saturday, October 13, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. in Lilburn City Park. With shopping opportunities, rides, games, food, and entertainment, there is something to appeal to every member of the family. Lilburn Daze is organized and hosted by the Lilburn Woman’s Club and co-sponsored by the City of Lilburn. This festival allows the club to support and enrich the Lilburn community through scholarships, support of the arts, beautification projects, public health and safety projects, and much more. Admission is free. Parking and shuttles run from these locations: First Baptist Church, City Hall and Library, Lilburn Middle School and Salem Missionary Baptist Church. Details: http://www.lilburndaze.org.
JAZZ FEST returns to Suwanee Town Center on Saturday, October 13, from 6 to 10 p.m. It is sponsored by he North Gwinnett Arts Association in partnership with the City of Suwanee and ARTober Gwinnett. Proceeds fund the student art scholarships and NGAA art initiatives.
SNELLVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY will meet Sunday, October 14 at 2 p.m. at the Snellville City Hall. Dr Skip Taylor, department chairman of UGA’s Music Department, and Jimmy Camp will present a program on music that was popular using banjos and fiddles. On display will be the Gladstone Snell’s banjo and some other historical musical instruments. Admission is free.
WALK IT OUT 5K will be held Saturday, October 20 at 8 a.m. at Rabbit Hill Park in Dacula. It is sponsored by IamBeautiful.org. The walk supports support the Gaining Insight and Real Life Skills (GIRLS) Leadership Program. For more information, visit this site.
FREE TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP at the Gwinnett Library’s Buford-Sugar Hill Branch, 2100 Buford Highway in Buford, on October 27, at 2 p.m. Join the Georgia Nature Photographers Association (GNPA) for this informal talk and Q&A travel photography workshop in conjunction with the library’s new announcement about becoming a passport issuance location. GNPA will provide information about what to take when you travel and tips for improving your travel photos.”
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