GwinnettForum | Number 21.24| April 1, 2022
DIGNITARIES CUTTING THE RIBBON at the new The Water Tower facility include Nick Masino; Commissioner Ben Ku; Water Tower CEO Melissa Meeker; Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson; Thomaesa Bailey, District Director, Office of Congresswoman Carolyn Bourdeaux; Commissioner Marlene Fosque; and Katherine Zitsch, director of the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Leaders celebrate innovative new facility, The Water Tower
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Know a candidate? Make sure they contact the Forum soon
ANOTHER VIEW: Georgia Democrats have special weapon in election: Donald Trump
FEEDBACK: China may see more possibility of being the peacemaker
UPCOMING: Jesus Christ Superstar returning to Fox Theatre in April
NOTABLE: Lawrenceville Police Department gains state certification
RECOMMENDED: Utopia by Thomas More
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Whitewater paddling is popular sport for many in Georgia
MYSTERY PHOTO: Here’s a photo which reminds us today is April Fool’s Day
LAGNIAPPE: This guy found a way to sprout
CALENDAR: Investiture of Dr. Jann Joseph as GGC president is Friday (today) at 10:30 a.m.
Leaders celebrate innovative new facility, The Water Tower
By Deborah Tuff
BUFORD, Ga. | County leaders rolled up their sleeves to cut the ribbon for and celebrate the completion of The Water Tower – an innovative center in Gwinnett, bringing education, co-working and research together under one roof. It is the first facility of its kind in the world as it conducts research on the water and wastewater industry, and also helps train water technologists of the future.
“The Water Tower has already become a beacon of innovation for our community and the region,” said Gwinnett Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson. “In addition to enhancing our existing water systems, it will also contribute to the technological and educational advancements within the water industry as a whole.”
Located in Buford, The Water Tower was launched in 2019 and includes two nonprofit organizations, The Water Tower at Gwinnett and The Water Tower Institute. The $33.7-million facility provides a thriving ecosystem for water innovation. It is fueled by research and powered by pioneers in the study of water and its uses.
The main facility consists of a 57,000-square-foot building that features three classrooms, four conference rooms, multiple laboratories, co-working spaces, single-tenant office rentals, a field training center and a water treatment demonstration area. Its founding partners include Gwinnett Water Resources and these companies: Gresham Smith, JEA, Mueller, and Siemens. Its sustaining partners include Carollo, Garver, Kamstrup and Wade Trim.
Other collaborating partners include Aqaix, Georgia Association of Water Professionals, Georgia Center for Opportunity, Georgia Gwinnett College, Georgia State University, Georgia Tech, Global Water Works, Go:hub, Gwinnett County Public Schools, Georgia Water and Wastewater Institute, ResilientH20 Partners and Science for Georgia.
Its leadership team includes Melissa Meeker, chief executive officer; Kristan VandenHeuvel, director of applied research; Chis Impellitteri, director of research and development; Chad Wilbanks, director of training and technology; and Peggy Alexander, office manager.
The Water Tower at Gwinnett, a 501(c)4, is responsible for the development and operations of the campus. Another nonprofit, The Water Tower Institute, a 501c3, is responsible for solutions, instruction, and engagement programming.
Together, these entities are committed to creating a thriving ecosystem of water innovation fueled by imagination, informed by research and powered by pioneers. This is being accomplished by bringing together the public and private sectors of the water industry, side by side with academia and nonprofits, to tackle the industry’s greatest challenges.
“It feels great seeing The Water Tower come to fruition, from site design to the ribbon cutting,” said District 4 Commissioner Marlene Fosque. “The Water Tower is a physical representation of our commitment to meeting the pressing needs of residents and businesses while also being responsible stewards of the environment and our natural resources.”
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Know a candidate? Make sure they contact the Forum soon
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
APRIL 1, 2022 | Do you, as a reader of GwinnettForum, personally know any of the current Gwinnett or statewide political candidates?
If you do, you can help GwinnettForum, and even moreso, you can be of major assistance to the candidate. This time of year, we are spending 30 minutes with as many candidates as we can. That’s to evaluate their candidacy and determine which candidates GwinnettForum will endorse in the primary and general election.
The most difficult job is to set a time to meet with the candidates. Many candidates do not realize how they can benefit from meeting with us. It’s not so much for them to get our endorsement. It helps the candidates by giving them exposure to our readers. We ask that they answer six questions, which we will post on our website without any editing on our part. That’s so the candidate can speak directly to the voter. That gives our readers a chance to view the candidate’s answers and compare candidates. It often results in the readers making up their minds for which candidate they will cast their vote.
Recognize that the candidate gets to do this without any cost to them. It’s GwinnettForum’s public service. However, the candidate is allowed to post on our website when, and only when, they spend 30 minutes with us face-to-face.
It’s often difficult to get on the candidates’ calendar. They are busy. Many statewide candidates have never heard of GwinnettForum. Even some Gwinnett candidates haven’t either (horrors!). They don’t understand the ramifications and what they miss by not contacting us. And remember, they get on our web site without any cost to them.
So, your job will be to get in touch with those candidates you know, and see if they have made contact with us. We must talk to the candidates who have opposition in the primary before April 22, our cut-off date. That gives us the required time to formulate their answers to put on the web three weeks prior to the primary voting for you to read.
By the time you read this, we will have talked to 49 candidates so far this season. But there must be nearly 200 out there. For instance, there are 28 candidates running for the four Gwinnett seats in the Congress. So far we’ve only met with six of these 28 candidates.
As part of your reading the GwinnettForum, use your understanding and familiarity with candidates to help those running, by making sure they touch base with us in the next few days. We want to evaluate as many candidates as we can.
The help of our readers in contacting candidates will mean we’ll have more candidates appearing on our website, and you’ll know more about them, and possibly, how to be a more informed voter.
It might be called a phenomenon. These days nearly every political candidate has a website. But the names of their sites are all so similar!
What the candidates name their websites is often similar, for we see a pattern developing. Candidate after candidate in Georgia this year have named their website something similar to this: (name of candidate)forgeorgia.com. Or if not that, it’s ….(name))4georgia.com or sometime ….(name)4ga.com. We’ve counted 31 such web names for statewide candidates. It’s refreshing when you see a website name which is different from the same old “…forgeorgia.com.”
No fooling.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Georgia Democrats have special weapon: Donald Trump
“MAGA Republicans — are not going to go and vote for this guy Kemp,”
–Former President Donald Trump, March 26, 2022.
By Jack Bernard
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. | Well, my favorite con man, Donald Trump, was recently here in Georgia in all his bombastic glory. His trip to our fine state was marked by his obsession with the 2020 election.
He constantly continues to promote the Big Lie, that the election was stolen from him. As for Trump’s assertions and his obstructionist strategy, a U.S. District Court Judge said it best: “The illegality of the plan was obvious…President Trump corruptly attempted to obstruct the Joint session of Congress on January 6, 2021.”
P.T. Barnum, obviously Trump’s role model, would be extremely proud. But for the Georgia GOP, not so much.
For a long time, I have been saying that the Democrats are in serious trouble because of out-of-control inflation, the ill-conceived and failed Build Back Better Bill, and President Joe Biden’s inability to sell his accomplishments. Biden’s approval level is in the basement, with little chance to turn it around by November.
But now I believe that Stacey Abrams and Senator Raphael Warnock may have a fighting chance, because of our verbose friend, Donald Trump. He stated emphatically that if BrIan Kemp is on the ticket “Herschel Walker is going to be very seriously and negatively impacted.” I don’t often agree with Trump, but this time he is correct. And it’s all due to Trump’s inability to care about anyone except himself.
I’m a pragmatic person who looks at facts. I still believe that Stacey Abrams and Senator Raphael Warnock could be in for a very tough time in the upcoming election, especially with the General Assembly’s glaringly partisan voter suppression efforts. However, Trump is dividing the Georgia GOP. Kemp supporters are being castigated as “RINOs” (Republicans in Name Only) even though Kemp is the most conservative. Likewise, Georgia’s Republican Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, another conservative Trump opposes, is getting the same treatment.
Kemp and Raffensperger are both conservatives. Why would Trump endorse former Senator David Perdue for governor and Rep. Jody Hice for secretary of state in the GOP primary?
The answer is simple. Kemp and Raffernsperger did not support Trump’s attempt to overthrow the will of the people and install him for another term as president in November 2020. Similarly, Trump has endorsed challengers to Attorney General Chris Carr and Insurance Commissioner John King, both Republican office holders, and others because these two have been insufficiently vocal in repeating Trump’s “Big Lie.”
The question then becomes: “Will the GOP unite after the primaries”? If Kemp is the gubernatorial candidate, will the MAGA people stay home, as Trump indicated?
And should Perdue win the primary (highly unlikely), will disgruntled Kemp supporters sit out the November election? And will either situation cause both Stacey Abrams and Senator Warnock to carry the victory, despite the national and state-wide dissatisfaction with the Democrats? Could be. We will soon see.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
China may see more possibility of being the peacemaker
Editor, the Forum:
GwinnettForum’s recent bent on the Ukraine invasion and China’s opportunity conundrum was enjoyable. I think that China was indeed watching the world reaction to Russia very closely.
But when Putin went beyond what could be understood as legitimate concerns over rights and treatment of ethnic Russians and a NATO buffer zone by going west of the Dnieper river destroying civilian population centers and clearly broadcasting a broader intention, Xi likely saw the timing to take Taiwan by force was no longer right. It makes more sense now for China to become the peacemaker and regain some of the business that he has recently lost through tariffs and sanctions.
– Joe Briggs, Suwanee
Putin now more dangerous, not unlike a cornered rat
Editor, the Forum:
Thank you for your insights on the war in Ukraine. Condoleezza Rice in The New York Times warned that “Putin is not in control of his emotions.” The networks, ABC and NBC, both reported tonight that his military advisors are afraid to tell him how bad the war is going.
He has been insulating himself as shown by the extra-long conference table he uses. Some analysts have compared Putin to a cornered rat, more dangerous now than before because he is not in control of the events. He wants Russia to be the dominant energy power in the world. I am afraid that he will eventually attack and control Odessa and cut off the sea to Ukraine. About 40 percent of the world’s wheat harvest comes from the fields of Ukraine. This would result in a world-wide hunger disaster. The late Madeleine Albright, secretary of state. met with Putin in a small room and said that he showed no emotion and acted more like an amphibian than Boris Yeltsin, the previous Russian leader, who was more animated and cordial.
I spent part of 2019 in St. Petersburg. This is where Putin was born and grew up. His father was wounded in World War II and a brother was killed. It was a beautiful city with many canals and parks but no skyscapes. I wondered why and eventually discovered why. It was because Peter the Great who founded the city built it on a swamp and the ground is not solid enough to support the weight of skyscrapers!
– Frank Sharp, Lawrenceville
YouTube segments about Plato is not casual listening
Editor, the Forum:
Recently GwinnettForum had a recommendation to hear a podcast on the Last Days of Socrates. There are also great offerings on YouTube. I found a reading of the complete dialog, “Parmenides,” that Plato wrote at the beginning of his third or mature period. Young Socrates is meeting with Parmenides and Xeno, and suggests that this is the origin of either Socrates’ or Plato’s metaphysics in a clash of the monists versus the pluralists and the contradiction problem in participation. Saint Augustine would take the form of forms from Plato’s dialogue and make it God. Milan was a center for neo- Platonism.
This is not casual reading. Having it read to you is helpful, but the pace is far quick. It takes one through multiple metaphysical contexts and shows the contradiction in each. The second part solves this problem or at least offers Plato’s solution to this conflict of pre-Socratic metaphysics.
– Byron Gilbert, Duluth
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.
Jesus Christ Superstar returning to Fox Theatre in April
Following critically acclaimed, sold-out engagements in the United Kingdom, the reimagined 50th anniversary tour of Jesus Christ Superstar will play Atlanta’s Fox Theatre from April 19-24 as part of the Broadway in Atlanta 40th anniversary season. Tickets start at $40 and can be purchased at FoxTheatre.org/superstar. One of the sponsors of the performance is Fifth Third Bank.
Jesus Christ Superstar is set against the backdrop of an extraordinary series of events during the final weeks in the life of Jesus Christ, as seen through the eyes of Judas. Reflecting the rock roots that defined a generation, the legendary score includes I Don’t Know How to Love Him, Gethsemane and Superstar.
The show is a proven musical phenomenon with a world-wide fan base. As demonstrated by NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, this epic work attracted over 9.6 million viewers, earned the highest ratings in its time period, and received the highest critical ranking of any live musical event on network TV. On September 17, 2021 a variety of special edition Jesus Christ Superstar albums, remastered at Abbey Road, were released. These special anniversary editions are a celebration of the original 1970 double concept album and its continued success spanning an incredible 50 years.
Lawrenceville Police Department gains state certification
he City of Lawrenceville Police Department has achieved state certification through the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police. From left are Butch Ayers, chief executive of the chief’s association; Major Myron Walker, Acting Police Chief Lt. Jake Parker; Officer Jason Elliott, certification manager; and Chuck Groover, state certification program coordinator.
The City of Lawrenceville’s Police Department has achieved certification from the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police GACP). Of the 600 local police departments in Georgia, only 20 percent have attained this status.
The law enforcement profession and community have been under significant strain during the ongoing pandemic and further challenged by public reaction and backlash following the 2020 summer of racial justice protests. Police recruiting, retention, and delaying planned retirements due to sworn officer shortages have become a challenge nationwide. Lawrenceville recently implemented a $3,000 hiring incentive supplement for new officers to help with recruiting.
Butch Ayers, executive director of the GCPA, says: “For over 30 years, the Association worked with communities across the state who went through this certification process. We are honored to have been asked by the City of Lawrenceville, and its newly state-certified department, to coordinate and lead the search for the next Chief of Police.”
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Utopia by Thomas More
From Raleigh Perry, Buford: I am of the opinion that no two people who have read this book will have the same interpretation. Basically, what it turns out to be is a comparison of diametrical opposites. The book consists of two parts. When I see a juxtaposition between what exists and its opposite, I think of a Hegelian Dialectic. I want to see a synthesis of what is good of the bad and what is bad of the good. From that, I want to see a new system synthesized. With More’s Utopia, you have an idea of a system that is better than England’s. When put into a position where he could change things, he only made things worse. To me, he was more of a villain than a saint. For more in depth on More, I suggest that you read Jasper Ridley’s Statesman and Saint. A saint Thomas More is not.
- 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
Whitewater paddling is popular sport for many in Georgia
Whitewater paddling is one of the fastest-growing outdoor recreational activities in the United States. Whitewater enthusiasts by the thousands have discovered that Georgia, blessed with a multitude of navigable rivers, abundant rainfall, and marked changes in elevation, is in many ways a whitewater paradise.
Whitewater paddling is a general term that may be used to describe a variety of activities. Using paddles, whitewater enthusiasts navigate non-motorized boats through swiftly moving, or “white,” water. Several types of whitewater craft are commonly seen on Georgia’s waterways, including rafts, canoes, and kayaks. In addition to the inherent excitement offered by the sport, paddlers are drawn to whitewater paddling because it offers rigorous exercise, a chance to enjoy the spectacular scenery along the rivers, and the opportunity to observe rare plants and wildlife.
The American Whitewater Association lists more than 20 Georgia rivers, primarily in the northern mountains, as suitable for whitewater paddling. A wide range of difficulty levels is represented, from gentle ripples and occasional shoals appropriate for the novice to sheer drops of thirty feet or more, navigable only by experts. Georgia’s mild climate also makes the state an ideal paddling destination, since boaters can enjoy the sport year round with minimal protective clothing.
Although a handful of hardy individuals have been canoeing difficult whitewater since the 1940s and earlier, whitewater paddling did not emerge as a sport until the development of durable rafts designed for use by the military. Surplus rafts became available for civilian use after World War II (1941-45) and began to be used by recreational boaters shortly thereafter. Rafts were ideally suited for whitewater paddling because of the resiliency of the materials used in their construction—primarily reinforced rubber and plastic. These boats could withstand powerful impacts with rocks and emerge unscathed.
Rafts remained the primary boat of choice for southeastern whitewater until the 1950s. At that time fiberglass and other materials developed for the national space program began to be used in the construction of canoes and a “new” type of boat adapted from a Native American design, the kayak. Fiberglass had several advantages over materials previously used in boat construction: it was easily formed into a variety of shapes, and it was relatively strong and extremely lightweight.
Unfortunately, fiberglass often cracked upon impact with rock. After improved plastics and plastic-molding techniques were developed in the 1970s, durable and inexpensive whitewater boats became available
The 1972 movie Deliverance, adapted from a novel by James Dickey, was filmed on two Georgia rivers, the Chattooga and the Tallulah, as well as on the Chauga in neighboring South Carolina. This movie sparked much interest in the new sport, and greater numbers of people began paddling Georgia whitewater. Outfitters also began establishing businesses to accommodate people interested in rafting, canoeing, or kayaking in the state. Georgia law requires that lifejackets be worn on rivers in the state. Helmets, although not required on all rivers, are also necessary for safety.
The crown jewel of Appalachian whitewater, the Chattooga River is one of the few remaining free-flowing streams of substantial size in the Southeast. The Chattooga received federal protective status in 1974 under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The Chattooga has sections to accommodate all skill levels: Section II is suitable for novices, Section III is suitable for intermediate paddlers, and Section IV is considered an advanced run.
The Tallulah River and the gorge through which it flows are among the geological marvels of the Southeast. The Tallulah River is also one of the premier whitewater runs in the world. Located in Rabun County, Tallulah Gorge and the nearby town of Tallulah Falls were once tourist destinations, until a hydroelectric dam completed in 1914 silenced the mighty falls. In 1988 the Georgia Power Company and the federal government reached an agreement allowing recreational releases of water from the dam at the head of the gorge five weekends per year. Overnight a world-class, expert-level whitewater run was reborn. The fall and spring releases in Tallulah Gorge draw whitewater enthusiasts from around the globe as well as hundreds of spectators.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Here’s a photo which reminds us today is April Fool’s Day
With today being April Fool’s Day, how about this foolish Mystery Photo? Now try to figure out where this location is, and tell us what you know about the picture. Send your answer to elliott@brack.net and include your home town.
Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex. sent a good deal of detail about the most recent Mystery Photo:
“Today’s mystery photo is of an Episcopal church, Christ Church, located in the Alexandria, Va. historic district known as the ‘Old Town.’ It was built between 1767 and 1773. This is really the back of the church. The entrance is on the other side of the building. Because it was originally built on the outskirts of Alexandria, the church was often referred to by locals as ‘The Church in the Woods.’ It was more formally called the Fairfax Church until it was renamed to Christ Church in 1816. This church is one of few that could boost that ‘George Washington worshiped here.’ After the church was completed, George Washington was one of its original parishioners, and he purchased a box pew that visitors can sit in today. Its interior was spared the ravages of the Civil War. Because of George Washington’s affiliation with the church, the Union troops held and protected the church during the war, and as a result, much of the interior was spared.”
The photo came from Rob Ponder of Duluth. Others recognizing it include George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Lou Camerio, Lilburn; Jim Savadelis, Duluth; and Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill.
This guy found a way to sprout
How about this energetic bit of nature? It sure reminds us of the phrase, “Where there is a will, there is a way.” Yep, Mother Nature continues to help us all find our way in this large world. It’s happening all around. You just have to look around and see it everywhere.
Investiture of Dr. Jann Joseph as the third president of Georgia Gwinnett College will be Friday, April 1, at 10:30 a.m. at the Student Center, Building E, of the College. Speaker will be Dr. Sonny Perdue, new chancellor of the University System of Georgia, who will be in his first day in office. Back in 2005, Dr. Perdue, while governor, signed legislation creating what would later be known as Georgia Gwinnett College. While Dr. Joseph became GGC president in July 2019, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed her investiture.
Sundays in Suwanee Series with author Tiphanie Yanique will be on April 3 at 3 p.m. at the Suwanee Library Branch, 361 Main Street. Join this national award-winning author as she discusses her newest book, Monster in the Middle, a love story that captures both the mind and heart.
Snellville Commerce Club will meet on Tuesday, April 5, at noon at City Hall. Speaker will be Jason DiFranco, director of development and community partnerships for the Gwinnett County Public Library. Reservations are required at $15 each for non-members. Eagles Landing will be catering lunch. To reserve a space, go to this link.
Meet the Author Series: meet Marlene Ratledge Buchanan at The Sheridan at Eastside, 1900 Tree Lane, Snellville on Thursday, April 7 at 11 a.m. Join us for a lighthearted conversation with the author. She’ll chat about one of her works—Life is Hard. Soften It with laughter—a book about finding the humor in the hard times, over refreshments and mirth. RSVP TO 678-801-9135
Gwinnett Place Mall’s Reclaim Gwinnett Place Mall Block Party will be Saturday, April 9 from noon to 4 p.m. This is the final engagement opportunity for the mall’s equitable redevelopment strategies. During the block party, attendees will have an opportunity to share feedback about the strategies, learn what happens next, and celebrate a successful community-driven process. Its community partners will also offer programming and food for free. Cantonese, Korean, Spanish, Mandarin, and Vietnamese interpreters will be onsite. Register at GCGA.us/BlockParty.
Gwinnett Democratic Women will have a virtual Candidate Forum on Saturday, April 9 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. This will allow candidates to tell who they are, the positions they are running for, why they are running and where they stand on issues. Pre-registration is required. Day of the event registration is not available. Register for this forum at www.gwinnettdemocraticwomen.org/events/.
Georgia Public Broadcasting will show the film, A President in our Midst at 10 a.m. on Sunday, April 10. This is a documentary on President Franklin D. Roosevelt while in Georgia.
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