GwinnettForum | Number 21.08 Jan. 28, 2022
RESTING IN A MOUNTAIN of donated pajamas are Jambos CEO Rebekah Black and COO Mallory Daws following the 12Stone Church collection drive. Read about this Buford non-profit in Today’s Focus below.
IN THIS EDITION
TODAY’S FOCUS: Buford pajama nonprofit helps foster kids, now in 31 states
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Government delayed is government denied
SPOTLIGHT: Lail Family Dentistry
FEEDBACK: Let’s get better at policing and stop looking for scapegoats
UPCOMING: Three educators named to board of Rowen Foundation
NOTABLE: GMA names Lawrenceville as a 2022 Visionary City
RECOMMENDED: On the House, A Washington Memoir by John Boehner
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Georgia has wide variety of waterfalls; go check ‘em out
MYSTERY PHOTO: Check out this somewhat romantic scene
CALENDAR: D. Quincy Brown speaks to Snellville Commerce Club on Tuesday
Buford pajama nonprofit helps foster kids, now in 31 states
By Kasie Bolling
BUFORD Ga. – Since its launch in 2018, the nonprofit Jambos has sought to serve as a shining light on an uncomfortable journey by bringing brand-new pajamas to kids in foster care.
Over the last six years, the Georgia-based nonprofit has grown by leaps and bounds as word of its mission spreads like wildfire. In 2021 alone, it collected 21,000 pairs of pajamas, expanded its reach by 26 states in the U.S. and four countries the world, debuted new warehouse space in The City of Buford’s Tannery Row and launched its “Jambos-To-Home” program to deliver new PJs directly to the front doors of foster families. The year 2022 promises even more changes with the launch of Jambos’ Putting Fore Pajamas Golf Tournament at Chateau Elan on May 13. A benefit gala will also be hosted later in the year.
Still, at the heart of it all, Jambos’ purpose remains simple, yet impactful.
Jambos founder and CEO, Rebekah Black of Duluth, says: “As an organization we exist to bring comfort to the journey of thousands of kids in foster care. Oftentimes, as children enter the foster care system, they arrive at their foster homes with very few of their own belongings. We have heard stories of foster families receiving children with only the clothing on their backs.
“We understand that the transition from home to home can be very abrupt and sudden. This transition is uncertain, and those kids can be understandably anxious, so we are on a mission to provide pajamas to bring a cozy night’s rest, a little bit of peace of mind and, hopefully, an awareness that they are loved – even by people they don’t even know.”
12Stone Church is among Jambos’ many supporters, having partnered with the nonprofit for the last two years with a year-end pajama drive. Its congregation members donated over 14,000 pairs of pajamas to Jambos for children in the foster care system.
Jason Berry, co-senior pastor for the church, says: “At 12Stone Church, we love to serve our community by coming alongside organizations like Jambos that are committed to providing for the most vulnerable. We are excited to see Jambos have such a profound impact on children in foster care with something as simple as a pair of pajamas.”
As it heads into 2022, Jambos now boasts a presence in 31 states and seven countries with 371 registered volunteers and 83 donation sites. Black further states: “The year 2022 will be a huge year for us as we take on more territory hoping to serve kids in all 50 states! We are currently revamping the way we serve the Department of Family and Children’s Services and foster agencies to make our processes more efficient and streamlined. Our goal is to deploy over 1,000 pairs of pajamas a month for the second year in a row. We love when the community takes part in bringing comfort with us. From hosting a pajama donation site to volunteering in our warehouse, our supporters’ efforts make a huge difference!”
To volunteer or learn more about Jambos, Black invites interested parties to visit www.jambosdonates.com.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Government delayed is government denied
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JAN. 28, 2022 | A legal maxim attributed to British statesman William Gladstone is “Justice delayed is justice denied.” You might paraphrase this to also read: “Government delayed is government denied.”
These thoughts come to mind as we watch the changing scene, with its many versions of “government delayed.” Among them:
- Some 12 years after former Gwinnettian John Oxendine is accused of campaign violations, there is still no resolution of this charge. Oxendine won four terms as insurance commissioner before running for governor in 2010. The charges have hung over his head all these years.
- A local unexpected delay: people charged with crimes are sitting in jail all across Georgia, and may be innocent. The reason: the pandemic and Covid have halted criminal trials. Surely, but especially for the innocent, it is justice delayed, incarcerated in prison.
- Former Insurance Commissioner Jim Beck, after months and months of being charged, was convicted of improprieties in his election. All this time he was collecting his salary as a state officer, with him maintaining his innocence. It was mighty slow justice.
- Stalled in Congress is the investigation into the January 6 effort to overthrow the 2020 election verification. There are continued hearings by Congressional investigators, but so far major charges have not been advanced against those inciting this riot. Again, to many this necessarily slow investigation seems like “government delayed,” and harms our country.
- Finally, this week, the Fulton County District Attorney got a Superior Court judge to allow the creation of a special Grand Jury to investigate former President Donald Trump’s effort to overturn the Georgia election results. Finally, there is some movement. To delay longer would only have made it more impossible to get at the evidence with dispatch. But why did it take nearly a year?
Perhaps you can cite your own incidents when slow-moving government delays immediate action and sometimes justice.
Perhaps the most important area where government is being delayed, and nothing is getting done, is in the halls of Congress. Because of the 50-50 split between the parties in the Senate, Republicans are stalling with all their might, not allowing even simple bills to get to the floor. President Biden’s plan to bolster many aspects of our government, such as passing a voting improvement plan, and items to bolster our infrastructure, are turned back by Republican shenanigans.
The main obstructionist in all this is Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who by his use of his Senate rules has already changed the way the Supreme Court is now made up. McConnell has said that Senate Republicans will offer no legislative agenda before the 2022 elections and that he is “100 percent” focused “on stopping” Biden. That in itself seems to be another way to say “government denied.” And now can McConnell block another Supreme Court nomination?
What most Americans want is a government at all levels which stands for a fair and impartial functioning of our nation, and for the just execution of the laws it has passed.
Back in the 50s and 60s, the Eisenhower and Kennedy years, people had a 75 percent trust in government. But these days, no matter the party, people have less than a 25 percent trust in government.
These and other such incidents of “government delayed and government being denied” create an atmosphere that “government isn’t working.” That creates distrust in the system and harms our nation.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Lail Family Dentistry
Dr. Slade Lail and his team
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Lail Family Dentistry has been serving the community in Duluth and Gwinnett County for 50 years. Being the longest serving dental practice in the county, our roots run deep within our community and will continue to do so for generations to come. The doctors at Lail FamilyDentistry are all members of the Lail family and are here to provide for you and yours. If you are in search of a traditional, hometown dentist that utilizes the latest dental techniques and technology while also exemplifying the utmost sense of professionalism, timeliness, andhospitality, we would be glad to welcome you to our practice. For more information, visit our website at drlail.com or phone (770) 476-2400.
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Let’s get better at policing and stop looking for scapegoats
Editor, the Forum:
Not sure where to begin in response about: “Generational reasons why so many shootings” piece by David Post. Ironically, he calls his company, Future Security, since he seems to yearn for the “good ole days” when polio, smallpox and tuberculosis were rampant, women were second class citizens, et al.
Mr. Post’s blaming a stew of reasons for the increase in police shootings seems to ignore several salient points— racism and an unwillingness to have practical legislation passed limiting the inundation of guns in this country!
Video from cellphones has too often shown police abuse disproportionately against young black men. The names of the victims etched in our brains. Too often a response to overkill is ultimately then defended by the broken record monologue of police union heads, in Minneapolis, Cleveland, Los Angeles, ad nauseum.
More finger pointing with his words “liberal leaders.” Not sure who they are or what Mr. Post means? Any political novice could conclude the four years of a previous president and those he put into place who were not from a “liberal leader.” Remember an under-age teenage vigilante in Kenosha, Wis. armed himself to kill protesters, gained a not guilty verdict and become a hero to non-liberal leaders. Then there was Washington on January 6 where police were killed.
A possible recipe to improved policing: provide better pay, improve training, create a different “policing” unit to deal with domestic abuse and mental illness.
It is a complex issue. Our world has evolved. We need to get better at policing and stop looking for scapegoats.
– Howard Hoffman, Berkeley Lake
Last two years of Covid have been fascinating to watch
Editor, the Forum:
I appreciate Joe Briggs sharing his experience. I’ve heard and watched the same stories among family and friends, whose opinions vary widely in terms of how to engage with both the virus and the recommended protective and treatment protocols.
From a big picture standpoint, it seems the last two years, more than anything, have been a fascinating study in power, control, information management, and the behavior of people in large groups. It is completely mesmerizing to watch and study.
Keep up the good work.
– Randy Brunson, Duluth
Wonders if big drug companies why we can’t do like India
Editor, the Forum:
Thank you Joe Briggs, for your article in GwinnettForum.
I’m not anti-vax, I’m anti-experimental injections though. And that is what I’m seeing with those who have gotten the jab.
It is frustrating that the USA is too prideful to look to other nations for options, like India. Wonder if it is the issue of big pharmaceutical companies and lobbying. Guess we need to follow the money.
Thanks to GwinnettForum for printing this much needed article.
– Jean Harrivel, Duluth
Contributor finds himself puzzled yet optimistic
Editor, the Forum:
I am puzzled and optimistic. Tuesday’s lead story is totally adverse to every position taken by the GwinnettForum over the course of this pandemic. The Forum has consistently favored and promoted being vaccinated. Even as reality has turned out to prove that it is not actually a vaccination. But merely an attempt to mitigate severity of symptoms, when those, while vaccinated, turns out are not protected from becoming infected.
The travesty, as so eloquently described by Joe Briggs, is that it seems that those in charge have intentionally stonewalled any attempts at treating this virus. Treatments, what have been successful all around the world, when attempted to be used by doctors here, are met with serious repercussions to their medical standing, sometimes even threatening their very livelihood.
Read the story. It makes sense. The purpose of my sending these thoughts to Feedback, is to applaud GwinnettForum for allowing a column that is severely opposed to the position that it has been supporting and advocating all along. There is hope yet.
– David Simmons, Norcross
Dear David: Remember, printing different views makes this a forum, rather than a one-sided view of the world. My views in my own space can be different from those of contributors, like you or Joe Briggs. —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, and include your hometown. The views of letters are the opinion of the contributor. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Send feedback and letters to: elliott@brack.net.
Three educators named to board of Rowen Foundation
Hu
Joseph
The Rowen Foundation announced today the addition of three people to its board of directors. They are Georgia Gwinnett College President Dr. Jann L. Joseph; University of Georgia Provost Dr. S. Jack Hu; and Georgia Institute of Technology Vice President of Institute Relations Bert Reeves.
Reeves
Sachin Shailendra, chair of the Rowen Foundation, says: “A key to Rowen’s success in serving the future of Georgia is through deep partnerships with our institutions of higher learning. These three additions to our board, Jann, Jack and Bert, are three of our state’s most respected academic leaders. They will bring immense value and insight to Rowen as site development begins and we activate the partnerships and programs that will bring a unique mix of tenants to our property.” Joseph, Hu and Reeves join founding board members Shailendra and Sam Hinton on the board.
Dr. Joseph has served as president of Georgia Gwinnett College since 2019.
As senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Georgia, Dr. Hu oversees instruction, research, public service and outreach, and information technology.
Reeves served for seven years in the Georgia General Assembly. He is an attorney by trade.
Norcross to have cemetery tour on Sunday, Feb. 6
Historian Gene Ramsey will give a tour of the Norcross Cemetery on Sunday, February 6, at 2 p.m. The cemetery is east of Buford Highway. Meet at South Cemetery Street (extension of Holcomb Bridge Road.)
Obelisk in Norcross Cemetery.
Ramsay will guide you to the graves of and tell stories about the life and times of a number of Norcross area residents of years past. To mention a few:
- Edward Buchanan, who in his rags to riches to rags life at the beginning of the 20th century left one of the most prominent of houses in our community
- Homer and Mollie Jones, who built a large home overlooking the town at the time of their 25th wedding anniversary, and whose descendants served in the armed forces of the USA across the 20th century
- Thomas Twitty, whose daughters complained so much about their long walk to school from their house that he swapped it for another in the heart of downtown
- Sallie McElroy, who with her son spent their summer vacation in 1923 by driving from Norcross to Yellowstone National Park – we will hear her words describing her adventures from a letter to her husband Eb who stayed back home
- Ivey Wingo, major league baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds, a participant in the “Black Sox” World Series in 1919
The tour is free and open to the public.
GMA names Lawrenceville as a 2022 Visionary City
The City of Lawrenceville has been honored as a 2022 Visionary City, by the Georgia Municipal Association and Georgia Trend at this year’s Cities United Summit.
Nine cities across Georgia were recognized for creating positive community change through effective civic engagement and collaboration. Other cities honored are Canton, LaGrange, Ringgold, Tybee Island, Cornelia, Acworth, Moultrie, Covington and Macon.
The City of Lawrenceville was recognized for its involvement in the Summer of Impact Internship Program in partnership with Impact46 and local high schools.
The Summer of Impact, an eight-week program connecting businesses with students from Lawrenceville high schools, was established in 2018 by change advocates who saw a need for youth engagement. Leaders from the city, schools, and Impact46 united to provide internships for students with local businesses to increase awareness through community engagement, while also teaching the value of civic mindedness. Their vision was within five years, every student will be given the opportunity to discover their God-given purpose, passion and influence. In three years, nearly 50 interns have gone through the summer program.
In 2020, the Summer of Impact team added a pipeline and recruitment event called “Love Lawrenceville Day,” which introduces sophomores and juniors to local businesses, as well as informs them on important areas involving local civics, an area identified as a key need for today’s youth. Value in the program greatly benefits the students, but the business partners benefit from their time spent collaborating and mentoring students during “Love Lawrenceville Day” over the eight-week period.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
On the House, A Washington Memoir by John Boehner
From Sara Rawlins, Lawrenceville: Being of the opposing party than Mr. Boehner, I didn’t like him and called him all sorts of names when he was Speaker of the House. But after reading this book my opinion of him has greatly changed, but I’m not going to change my party because of him. I now understand how he fought for and against both parties and tried to keep an even keel to the chaos that has now taken over Washington and our whole country. Keep in mind of all the changes this country has gone through, especially those four years where we had a president that was self-serving, and made the word compromise an action of treason for both sides of the aisle. Boehner came from humble beginnings and never lost that touch with people. He is also very funny in describing people and situations he has had to work with and around.
An invitation: what books, restaurants, movies or web sites have you enjoyed recently? Send us your recent selection, along with a short paragraph (150 words) as to why you liked this, plus what you plan to visit or read next. Send to: elliott@brack.net
Georgia has wide variety of waterfalls; go check ‘em out
Georgia has a wide variety of waterfalls: some are high with sheer drops, some are tumbling cascades, and others are rushing shoals or small ledge-type falls. Several state parks have been developed around these natural wonders and play host to thousands of visitors each year. Many falls also are located in the wilds of the Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests of northern and central Georgia. There are dozens, perhaps hundreds, of other waterfalls on private lands across the state.
Most of Georgia’s waterfalls occur in the central and northern part of the state because a fall line runs across this region from Columbus to Augusta. The fall line is a geologic boundary that marks the divide between the hard, crystalline rocks of the Piedmont to the north, and the softer sedimentary rocks of the Upper Coastal Plain to the south. Erosion of the sedimentary rock by streams flowing off the crystalline rock creates steep stream gradients and waterfalls.
The most notable of the falls in central Georgia is High Falls at High Falls State Park, near Jackson in Monroe County. High Falls is the site of a once-prosperous town that grew up around a gristmill powered by the Towaliga River’s falling waters. In the 1880s High Falls became a ghost town when a major rail line bypassed it.
Rabun County, in northeast Georgia, is the state’s most prolific waterfall location. The abrupt change in elevation, combined with several large, plateaulike drainage areas, makes the area ripe for waterfalls. Wet-weather falls, such as Ada-Hi Falls at Black Rock Mountain State Park, occur where drainages are small.
Waterfalls located in northwest Georgia also are of the wet-weather variety. Often the falls on Johns Mountain (Keown Falls), near Villanow in Walker County, are just a trickle or are completely dry. However, colorful mosses and algae cover the perpetually moist rock.
Waterfalls also act as natural barriers to certain types of aquatic life. A pool below the falls on Overflow Creek, in Rabun County, is known locally as the “Eel Pool,” for it limits the migration of native eels.
Rainbow trout (from the western states) and brown trout (from Europe) were introduced into southern mountain streams in the mid-19th century. The native species (brook trout) do not compete well with these transplants. On many streams brook trout are stocked and exist without this introduced competition because of the natural barrier protection that a waterfall affords.
Stream levels fluctuate widely from season to season. Waterfalls are an obvious indicator of an abundance or lack of rainfall. During the severe drought of 1999-2000 stream levels were down by two-thirds in many cases. Northeast Georgia traditionally is the state’s wettest region, receiving upwards of seventy inches of rainfall annually. The northwest is the state’s driest region. Winter and spring are generally the wettest seasons; fall is the driest.
(To be continued)
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Check out this somewhat romantic scene
Today’s Mystery Photo may be another which proves difficult. It’s certainly taken at a different angle, and aims at something historic. Figure out this masterpiece of photography and send in your answers to elliott@brack.net, including your hometown.
Only two sleuths recognized the Kehoe House in Savannah as our most recent mystery photo. It was sent in by James Butler of Winston, Ga. He told us when sending in the photo “Tom Hanks stayed there when he filmed Forrest Gump . And all the columns, dental trim and everything you would think is wood is really cast iron. No other house of that time was made that way.”
George Graf of Palmyra, Va. wrote: “The William Kehoe House is an award-winning historic B&B on Columbia Square in the heart of downtown historic Savannah at 123 Habersham Street. In 1892, this Queen Anne mansion was built by William Kehoe. Kehoe was an enterprising Irishman who made a fortune in iron and became one of Savannah’s most prominent businessmen. Kehoe spent $25,000 on the construction of this house, including making the home a true showcase of his iron trade. Much of the detail trim, such as the window casings and ornate columns, were made of iron. One of the most well-known and most often photographed from a ghost-tour-in-progress is The Kehoe House. The Kehoe family consisted of 10 children and rumor has it that two of them died in the house. This tale is completely unsubstantiated, but is repeated often on the Savannah’s haunted pub crawls and ghost tours.”
Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas. contributed additionally: “It is a relatively large house as it needed to accommodate Kehoe’s large family of 10 surviving children. The home’s exterior stairways, window treatments, columns, fences and gates were all made of cast iron, a tribute to Kehoe’s iron foundry’s excellence in pattern making and casting.
According to a Savannah Morning News article (May 19, 2021), one of the more ‘spooky’ (albeit unsubstantiated) haunted tales involves the younger Kehoe twins who reportedly perished when they got stuck in the chimney. The boys were missing for days until their mother discovered a foul smell emanating from the chimney. Guests of the Kehoe House regularly report hearing children in the house or experiencing the sensation of small hands touching them from the bedside when they sleep. As for the foul smell? Well, that has been long superseded by the smells of the decadent morning breakfasts that are served daily at the Kehoe House B&B!”
Brown speaks to Snellville Commerce Club on Tuesday
Snellville Commerce Club will meet on Tuesday, February 1 at noon at City Hall. The speaker will be Dr. Quincy Brown, senior pastor of the Snellville United Methodist Church. Cost is $15 and reservations are required by going to https://experiencesnellville.com/snellville-commerce-club/#cc-registration.
The Gwinnett GOP is inviting persons to two events at the Mountain Park Baptist Church, 5485 Five Forks Trickum Road, marking Black History Month, with the theme “character over color.” A breakfast on February 5 at 8 a.m. will feature speakers Melvin Everson and the Rev. Garland Hunt. Register at http://gwinnettrepublicans.org/bhm. Then on February 19, at the same location, a banquet will be held at 6 p.m. with Alveda King, author and founder of Alveda King Ministries, headlining the speakers. She will be joined by Dr. Lisa Babbage, author of “The Black History Bible” and Reverend Dean Nelson, chairman of the Frederick Douglas Foundation and Executive Director of Human Coalition Action. For tickets and more information, go to GwinnettRepublicans.org/bhm.
Meet the author: Alex Robson, author of The Freedom Cards, will be at the Suwanee Library Branch, 361 Main Street, on Thursday, February 10 at 7 p.m. Learn about one man’s journey to understand the meaning of freedom. He is a Gwinnett County Assistant Principal, and will be in conversation with Emmy winner Kolinda Scialabba.
Your First Book: Start It, Finish It, Sell It. Attend this writer’s workshop on Saturday, February 12 at 1 p.m. at the Norcross Library Branch. 5735 Buford Highway, Norcross. Learn strategies to find time to write, motivate yourself to keep going, and finish your book. George Weinstein, Atlanta Writers Club executive Director and author of six novels, will lead the workshop.
Hazardous waste recycling: Do you have hard-to-dispose-of items like paints, pesticides, and batteries stacking up around your home? Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful is partnering with the Gwinnett Water Resources to host the seventh annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day on Saturday, February 12, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds, 2405 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville. The event is at no cost to residents. For a complete list of acceptable items and guidelines or to volunteer, visit GwinnettCB.org/Event/HHW.
Live Healthy Gwinnett is sponsoring free health screenings and offering community wellness activities for all ages on Saturday, February 12 from 10 a.m. until 1 p. m, at the Lenora Park Gym. Participants can also enjoy fitness classes, watch cooking demonstrations, and win giveaways and prizes. The Lenora Park Gym is located at 4515 Lenora Church Road in Snellville. For more information and to learn how to become an exhibitor, contact Carion.Marcelin@GwinnettCounty.com.
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