THE STATE TRANSPORTATION BOARD’S new executive leadership team, from left, includes Secretary Emily Dunn of Blue Ridge; Chairman Tim Golden of Valdosta; and Vice Chairman Rudy Bowen of Suwanee. See more details at Notable below.
TODAY’S FOCUS: People’s Republic of China doesn’t care about Hong Kong Uprising
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Words from Several, and What’s Happening at Gwinnett Place Mall
SPOTLIGHT: Renasant Bank
FEEDBACK: Remembers Old Time Leaders Working Together Toward the Goal
UPCOMING: Aurora Theatre Appoints Two Key Management Executives
NOTABLE: Rudy Bowen of Suwanee Is Vice Chairman of Transportation Board
RECOMMENDED: Osher Life Long Learning Institute at Emory University
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Salvador Dali Works Are on Exhibit at Oglethorpe University Museum
MYSTERY PHOTO: What’s With These Statues on the Top of Today’s Mystery Photo?
CALENDAR: Oldtime Radio Show To Be Presented Saturday at Norcross Church
People’s Republic of China doesn’t care about Hong Kong uprising
Hong Kong skyline
By Therin Scott
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. | Hong Kong went from ‘the barren island’ at the end of World War II to an economic powerhouse that in 2015 had a per capita income 40 percent higher than that of Great Britain, its one-time colonial master. This economic miracle came through the work of a group of British civil servants, chief among them Sir John Cowperthwaite, who retired in 1971 after ten years as Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary. His influence, however, goes back to 1945 when he first came into the civil service there. (“Architect of Prosperity, Sir John Cowperthwaite and the making of Hong Kong” by Neil Monnery.)
Hong Kong was and is the beneficiary of laissez-faire capitalism or as Cowperthwaite’s successor coined their policy, “positive non-intervention.” Concomitant with capitalism is freedom of the individual. Why? Because the collective decisions and actions made by individuals in a free market are, in the main, better than those made by central planning and its mistakes are more quickly corrected. Perhaps the most amazing aspect of this economic miracle is that “Hong Kong enjoyed decade after decade of growth without creating any national debt.” In fact, they’ve historically run a surplus or reserve to fund infrastructure projects.
But nothing lasts forever. The end of this experiment in freedom was guaranteed when, by international agreement, the British Colony of Hong Kong was transferred to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1997. The “one country-two systems” scheme was supposed to last until at least 2047. It won’t. Tensions with the PRC predate this agreement by 30 years. In 1967 there were Communist protests in Kowloon and even “demonstrations in front of Government House.” Sound familiar? The recent demonstrations by anti-Communists in front of Government House will also ultimately prove to be a failure.
Once established in the human psyche, freedom has a strong pull. The vast majority of the protesters in Hong Kong come from the Millennial Generation. They see a dim future. They know how good the past has been for their parents and grandparents. They want the same for themselves and their children. I’ve seen video of them carrying British Union Jack flags and even American Flags. Neither country can or will come to their rescue. They have only themselves, their love of freedom, and their umbrellas.
Hong Kong is the last place on earth implementing capitalism and freedom in its purest form. It is extremely successful at generating wealth, although it does have a wealth gap issue, so utopia, it ain’t. However, hundreds of thousands of people in the streets are declaring control by the PRC is not the answer. The PRC does not care what they think.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Words from several, and what’s happening at Gwinnett Place Mall
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
AUG. 19, 2019 | Some bits and pieces: Cities around Gwinnett are stirring with political intrigue this week, as it’s time to qualify if you want to seek municipal office in Gwinnett. Most cities close their qualifying Wednesday, though Berkeley Lake closes on Thursday and Auburn and Norcross on Friday.
With that in mind, just how much do the mayors and city councilman of the county get paid for their work for the cities? We asked the city clerks of the county cities, and got back this information, which we present in table form.
Note that two Gwinnett cities, Buford and Grayson, do not pay their city officials anything, but get them volunteering as part of their service to the city.
U.S. Attorney for the North District of Georgia, BJay Pak of Lilburn, spoke to the Gwinnett Chairman’s Club last week. We learned that there are 97 different U.S. Attorneys spread among the 50 states. Georgia has three U.S. Attorneys, in the North, South and Middle Districts. BJay has a staff of about 250 people in his office, including 104 Assistant U.S. Attorneys, who investigate, prosecute and administer his office.
We learned that BJay is confirmed in his office by the U.S. Senate, and that he cannot be fired…..but he says he “pays attention to Tweets” from our president…..as he goes about his duties in office.
Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper announced that he will not continue his run for the Democratic presidential nomination. It’s good to see that large field of candidates at least a little less crowded. Now we hope Governor Hickenlooper can enjoy a run for the U.S. Senate.
We learned that Marsha Bomar is now with MARTA, but we did not understand what she will be doing in that new slot. She is assistant general manager for Capital Program Delivery for the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). She oversees Infrastructure Engineering, System Engineering, Capital Programming, Programs and Construction Management as well as Architecture. MARTA capital budget this year is approximately $500 million.
Once booming Gwinnett Place Mall is much of an embarrassment these days, with it appearing to be only about 20 percent of retail space occupied. And what few cars can be found in the mall’s vast parking lot, most are unsold automobiles overflowing from nearby local dealers.
The mall is owned by Moonbeam Capital Investments of Las Vegas, who bought it in 2013. Its founder and CEO is Steve Maksins. The firm seems almost disinterested in rehabbing the former popular mall. Some of the income for Moonbeam now comes from movies being shot in the mostly-empty Gwinnett Place space.
Gwinnett is not Moonbeam’s only downtrodden mall. In Onondaga County, N.Y., the Moonbeam’s Shopping Town Mall owes more than $10 million in property taxes, and is filing for bankruptcy. Moonbean has owned it since 2013.
In Pittsburgh, Pa., ownership of Century III Mall, another Moonbeam property, filed reorganization for full demolition and redevelopment into a new mixed use project. Sears Holdings objected in filing in court, saying the plan is “devoid of any substance.” That mall is now posted as “uninhabitable.” Read more about Moonbeam here.
Among the reasons for having Community Improvement Districts is to redevelop the area, renovate dilapidated buildings, and reduce the crime rate. Gwinnett85 CID Director Emory Morsberger released a graphic showing the reduced crime rate in the CID continues to fall. That’s great for his district, and for our county. The district has recently installed more security cameras throughout the area, and security patrol lights.
Attaboy, Gateway85!
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Renasant Bank
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today’s sponsor is Renasant Bank, which has humble roots, starting in 1904 as a $100,000 bank in a Lee County, Miss. bakery. Since then, we have grown to become one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions with approximately $12.7 billion in assets, approximately 2,500 associates, and more than 190 banking, lending, wealth management and financial services offices in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida. All of Renasant’s success stems from each of our banker’s commitment to investing in their communities as a way of better understanding the people we serve. At Renasant Bank, we understand you because we work and live alongside you every day.
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Remembers old time leaders working together toward the goal
Editor, the Forum:
Great article on the many amenities we enjoy in the Gwinnett County area. As you said and closed your article by thanking the many, not individually, but as an unselfish, and mostly unnamed, “bunch.”
An important part of that bunch (though not well known) was YOU, in the early days of growth. You deserve a huge amount of the credit for those days and the good that followed.
I’ll never forget some of those early sessions on important community issues when you and Bob Fowler (the press), elected officials, developers, bankers, liberals, conservatives, business folks and ordinary citizens threw off their specific identity and interests, their professional and selfish interest, to consider the problem. They discussed the possible solution, formed a plan of action, then contributed whatever they could in time, money, talents, or influence to implement those plans, always looking to the good of the whole. That brought about many of the things for the community that you list in your article.
So know that I remember that, and will always appreciate what you did in those days and respect how you handled it. I also enjoyed it, and enjoy seeing the many positive results.
Keep up your good work.
— Charlie Brown, Johns Creek
Dear Charlie: You were right there in the middle of all this as president of Technology Park/Atlanta, putting TPA, Peachtree Corners and Gwinnett on the map! And even today you continue to help improve the area. Keep it up yourself!–eeb
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
Aurora Theatre appoints two key management executives
Aurora Theatre has announced the appointment of long-time veteran Katie Pelkey to the role of General Manager, where she will oversee daily operations, budget and revenue of the $2.9 million non-profit operation. The theatre also says that David Koté will also become the theater’s new director of Education/Artistic Associate.
Kote
Pelkey
Anthony Rodriguez, Aurora Theatre’s Co-Founder and Producing Artistic Director, says: “Katie, having been a part of our family for 11 years, has worked side-by-side with our team, earning her way to this executive position. As an artist, she will continue making every actor, musician, designer and director feel welcome while upholding our artistic vision. David’s zeal for engaging underrepresented populations will also be critical in allowing us to continue our mission of serving the most diverse county in the Southeast.”
For over a decade, Pelkey served as Production Stage Manager for New Plays for Young Audiences, a prestigious Theatre for Young Audiences summer staged reading series based at New York University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Educational Theatre from New York University with a minor in Dramatic Literature.
Koté is an award-winning director, actor and educator who brings extensive experience to the creative team of the fastest-growing professional theater in Georgia. In this new role, he will oversee Aurora Theatre’s education program, including directing overall development, supervising artists and interns as well as teaching Acting Apprentice Company classes.
Koté began his studies at Tri-Cities High School of Visual and Performing Arts and the acclaimed Freddie Hendricks Youth Ensemble of Atlanta. Prior to this position, Koté served as Director of Theater Arts at Tri-Cities High School Visual and Performing Arts Magnet. Koté earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Speech and Theatre Arts from Dillard University and a Master’s in Fine Arts in Directing from Indiana University.
Prehistoric Pandemonium Extinction party will be Aug. 24
Live Healthy Gwinnett and Gwinnett Parks and Recreation will present a dino-mite adventure for the whole family on August 24. The Prehistoric Pandemonium Extinction party will take place at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center at 5 p.m.
Guests can touch real dinosaur fossils and reconstructed nests, experience hands-on exploration stations, take a tram ride to get an up-close look at several dinosaurs and check out the Paleo Playground. The event includes activities for all ages, such as food trucks, face painters, exciting vendors and photo opportunities.
Guests can also view the traveling exhibit Tiny Titans: Dinosaur Eggs and Babies and take a rare and exciting look at the life of dinosaurs through their eggs, nests and embryos. This remarkable exhibition offers an astounding array of authentic dinosaur eggs and nests collected from all over the globe – including those from the plant and meat-eating dinosaur groups. Each science-rich section is enhanced with exciting life-like models of embryos and hatchlings, colorful illustrations of dinosaur family life and stunning photographs of some of the world’s most renowned dinosaur hunters and their discoveries. The exhibit runs until September 28.
The party ends with a glow in the dark fun walk/run beginning at 8 p.m. that includes a glow in the dark T-shirt and two glow bands for $10 per person. Proceeds from the fun walk/run benefit the health and wellness scholarship fund. Registration is required for the Dino-Mite Glow in the Dark fun walk/run and can be done online at www.runsignup.com or onsite beginning at 5 p.m. The Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center is located at 2020 Clean Water Drive in Buford. For more information, visit www.livehealthygwinnett.com or call 770-822-8869.
Hay Que Comer Project to culminate in Pico de Gallo Day in Norcross
Planting items for the Hay Que Comer project are Eduardo Gonzales, Jose Perez, Marisol Perez and Carlos Celedon.
Celebrate Norcross’ “Pico de Gallo Day” featuring local gardens’ produce at the Norcross Community Market on August 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Keeping the plants watered for the Hay Que Comer project are Karina Salinas Perez and Melissa Salinas Perez.
Its Hay Que Comer Project will offer entertainment, activities and free food for the market’s patrons. Pico de Gallo will be the featured food items prepared on-site by project moms and public representatives and supplied by the project’s local school and community gardens. This event will culminate the end of the project which championed cultural diversity.
This event will showcase the Mexican cultural staple, pico de gallo, the iconic condiment made with tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, cilantro and lime juice. Ingredients will be supplied by local school and community gardens from Peachtree Corners and Norcross. There will be professional and local entertainment, free food samples (featuring pico de gallo prepared at the market by project moms and public representatives working side by side), student presentations, kids’ activities, and an outdoor Zumba class.
Suwanee’s Bowen is new vice chairman on transportation board
The State of Georgia Transportation Board elected its new executive leadership team last week. Tim Golden of Valdosta was named chairman; Rudy Bowen of Suwanee was named vice chairman; and Emily Dunn of Blue Ridge was named secretary. The new positions are effective immediately. Board elections are held annually to ensure that all regions of the state are represented at the executive leadership level.
Chairman Golden represents the Eighth Congressional District. He was most recently vice chair. Golden, a business and civic leader, has been named three times to Georgia Trend’s 100 Most Influential Georgians list. He is a graduate of Valdosta State University. Golden replaces Ann R. Purcell of Rincon, who has served on the board since 2013 and represents Georgia’s 1st Congressional District.
Vice Chairman Bowen represents the Seventh Congressional District. He was elected to the board in 2007 and most recently served as board secretary. Bowen attended the University of Georgia. Bowen served 16 years in the Georgia State Senate prior to his election to the board in 2015. He also served for seven years as a representative in the Georgia House.
Secretary Dunn of Blue Ridge represents the Ninth Congressional District. She was elected to the board in 2011 and served as the first female chair in 2015-16. Dunn has been named to the Engineering Magazine 100 Influential Women to Know list two years in a row. She is a registered nurse who received her BSN from North Georgia College.
Bender seeks re-election as mayor of City of Snellville
Bender
Snellville Mayor Barbara Bender will seek re-election for another term as Mayor. She says: “I have been engaged and volunteering in Snellville for over 25 years and began serving on the City Council in 2005. In that time, I have gathered a wealth of experience and have brought my background as a CPA and common-sense business principles to the city to protect citizens by keeping taxes low and managing tax dollars efficiently. I have lived, worked and raised my family here and I love this community.”
She cites “The city has made tremendous progress in the last few years. The Towne Green has been improved and citizens are enjoying world-class events. Sidewalk projects and a roundabout have been completed. Oak Road Park is complete and Briscoe Park Phase 3 improvements are underway along with a greenway trail to connect our new Towne Center with city and county. These are only a few of the accomplishments we have seen.”
Ms. Bender has served on the Council since 2005, and served as mayor since September, 2017. She has lived in Gwinnett for 48 years, and is a graduate of Parkview High and Georgia State University in accounting. She is married to Greg, and the couple has two grown children.
Osher Life Long Learning Institute at Emory University
From Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill: Imagine an invigorating place designed solely for people 50 and above. A comfortable place for taking classes and meeting people who share your interests. A place with no stress, no tests and rarely any homework. A place for discussion and learning. This wonderful place is called OLLI at Emory and is a place for those who left school decades ago. The subjects offered vary depending on the season and on what the teachers want to teach. I’m taking a Shakespeare class this summer and am looking forward to Conversational Italian in the fall. This wonderful place is a balm to my soul and is a fabulous deal. Annual membership is only $50 and most courses costs only $45. OLLI is in a building just off Interstate-85 at Clairmont Road. There’s a parking lot right out front. Registration began August 19 (though popular classes can fill up within three hours). The OLLI website is https://ece.emory.edu/olli/
- 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
Dali works are on exhibit at Oglethorpe University Museum
The mission of the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art in Atlanta is to exhibit figurative or realistic art that is international, spiritual, or metaphysical. Oglethorpe is a small private university, and its art museum is the only one on such a campus in the Southeast that regularly shows nationally and internationally recognized exhibitions. The museum has a small but important permanent collection stressing its mission.
Founded as the Oglethorpe University Art Gallery in 1984, it became Oglethorpe University Museum of Art in 1993 after major renovations and expansion to more than 7,000 square feet of floor space. The museum’s two galleries, South and Skylight, are known for their intimacy and the carefully chosen music that accompanies each exhibition. With its hardwood floors, white columns, and earth-red walls, the building is often called a jewel itself.
With few exceptions, the museum’s unusual exhibitions have originated there. Some of the most historically important have been The Grand Tour: Landscape and Veduta Paintings; Venice and Rome in the 18th Century; Four from Madrid: Contemporary Spanish Realism; The Many Faces of Buddha; Claude Monet at Giverny: Family Photographs, 1890-1926; Contemporary Black Artists from South Africa; The Spirit and the Flesh: Contemporary American Realists; Duane Hanson: A Master Returns; Hermann Hesse: Novelist, Poet, Painter; Dream of the Red Chamber: An Experience in Traditional Chinese Aesthetics: Paintings by An Ho and Furniture by Henry Lautz; and Nicholas Roerich, Messenger of Beauty: Paintings from the Bolling Collection. Many of the exhibitions were accompanied by catalogs.
The exhibition organized by the museum for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Mystical Arts of Tibet Featuring Personal Sacred Objects of the Dalai Lama, traveled across the United States, Mexico, and Canada for several years.
The current exhibition includes Salvador Dali’s Stairway to Heaven, which continued through August 31. The works of art on loan are drawn from the collection of the Park West Museum. The presentation of this exhibition is made possible by The Park West Foundation.
The next exhibit will be A Route Campagne: Impressionist Works from the Melamed Family, to be presented September 13-December 15. This exhibition will feature more than 35 original works of art by late 19th and early 20th century artists, including key works by the Impressionists that have been generously donated over the past ten years to the Oglethorpe University Museum of Art by the Melamed family of Atlanta.
The paintings, drawings and fine prints of artists such as Bonnard, Boudin, Cézanne, Chagall, Corot, Matisse, Montézin, Pissarro, and Renoir, among others, will be included.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia online, go to http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
What’s with these statues on the top of today’s Mystery Photo?
Check out the statues on top of today’s Mystery Photo building. What can you tell us about this building, and why the statues? Send your thoughts to elliott@brack.net, and include your hometown.
Frank Sharp’s (of Lawrenceville) photograph of a monastery in Lima, Peru was the last Mystery Photo. Don Moore of Suwanee was the first to get it right. He says: “Here is what I found on it. Basílica y Convento de San Francisco is the Spanish name for Saint Francis Monastery located in Lima, Peru, one block northeast from the Plaza Mayor. The church and convent are part of the Historic Centre of Lima, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991.”
George Graf, Palmyra, Va.: adds: “ The Basilica Cathedral of Lima was conceived, designed and built by the Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro (1529-41). Following his murder in 1541, Pizarro’s remains were briefly interred in the cathedral courtyard. Later his head and body were separated and buried in separate boxes underneath the floor of the cathedral. In 1892, a body believed to be that of Pizarro was exhumed and put on display in a glass coffin. However, in 1977 while working on the cathedral’s foundation, workmen discovered a lead box in a sealed niche, which bore the inscription: ‘Here is the head of Don Francisco Pizarro Demarkes, Don Francisco Pizarro who discovered Peru and presented it to the crown of Castile.’ Forensic investigation of the two bodies, determined that the body which was originally thought to have been Pizarro was not him and that the second remains most probably were. The lead box which contained the head is displayed in the chapel as is the catalogued poster depicting the bones that were found.”
Others getting the identification right include Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill and Jim Savadelis of Duluth.
Meanwhile, Allan Peel, San Antonio, Tex. sent in: “The Basilica is an example of the Spanish-Baroque style and was blessed and declared sacred in 1673, but its construction took over 100 years to complete in 1774. It survived several big earthquakes unscathed, including the ones in the 1687 and 1746, but it was heavily damaged by the earthquake in 1970. In addition to the church and monastery, the building also contains a library and catacombs. The library is world-renowned and possesses nearly 25,000 antique texts, some of them predating the Spanish Conquest of Peru. The site was used as the place of burial until 1808, consisting of bones and skulls of about 25,000 bodies that were buried there in the catacombs. Despite the big earthquakes, the brick and mortar crypts have remained intact.”
Christ Church Players will present ON THE AIR, a 1940’s-style radio show, on Saturday, August 24, at 7 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 400 Holcomb Bridge Road in Norcross. Hear overbaked prima donnas, bluegrass , belting convicts and gossip mavens from the beauty shop, plus impersonating of George Burns and Gracie Allen. Tickets are $10 available through the church office, 770 447 1166.
Call for Art by the Tannery Row Artist Colony. The 2019 Fall Juried Art Exhibit will be from September 14 until November 1. Deadline for entries will be August 21 at midnight. The judge for the 2019 Fall Juried Exhibit will be Allison Lauricella, assistant gallery director Brenau University. For a prospectus and online entry form visit tanneryrowartistcolony.com. Tannery Row Artist Colony is located at 554 West Main Street in Buford.
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