GwinnettForum | Number 21.43 | June 7, 2022
NEW GREETING: Welcoming visitors to Norcross along Buford Highway is this colorful new sign. That’s the former Norcross library you can see at the top of the photo. Don’t you know many local residents will consider this as a great place to take a photograph, and maybe even use it on their next Christmas card? The sign was a gift to the city by the developers of The Brunswick, Gateway Ventures. Matt Mason of Gateway Ventures coordinated with the city in getting this feature located at this location.
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Here are GwinnettForum’s endorsements in primary runoffs
SPOTLIGHT: Centurion Advisory Group
FEEDBACK: What’s happening to weeklies also happening to magazines
UPCOMING: Jackson EMC offers solar block energy to its members
NOTABLE: Commission adopts new smoke-free air ordinance
OBITUARIES:GEORGIA TIDBIT: Plant selection is important particularly in a Xeriscape
MYSTERY PHOTO: Figure out exactly where these ruins are located, and why
LAGNIAPPE: Gwinnett Parks win honors for school readiness program
CALENDAR: Groundbreaking of new tower at Northside Hospital Gwinnett is Tuesday morning
Here are GwinnettForum’s endorsements in runoffs
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JUNE 7, 2022 | There’s still work for the voters of Gwinnett and Georgia.
The 2022 primary runoff elections are two weeks away, to take place June 21. Today GwinnettForum presents its endorsements in the primary runoff.
Four statewide races, two congressional races, and two local races pit the two top candidates who survived the first round of voting. It’s important for these candidates that Gwinnett voters return to the polls to complete the nominations for the General Election on November 8. (See candidate answers to our questions here.)
There are two non-partisan elections in the runoff, that of a school board selection and the race for a judge of the State Court of Gwinnett.
Remember: voters are required to cast ballots for the runoff in the same party’s primary as they voted earlier. If they did not vote on May 24, they may vote in either party’s primary runoff.
Below are our recommendations for the primary runoff elections:
Federal candidates
For Congress, 6th District
Evans
Republicans: Our support goes to Jake Evans, 35, of Roswell, a refreshing political newcomer who we see as an up-and-coming face of the party. An attorney, he seems a cut above the other candidates seeking this office. His stance on party matters will make him popular among party members, staying close to the party line. He is also young and sharp enough to have staying power for his future in Congress.
For Congress, 7th District
Gonsalves
Republicans: We pick for our endorsement Mark Gonsalves, 62, a consultant and veteran businessman of Johns Creek, who is a term limits candidate. He recognized the polarized nature of politics, and seeks to bring our nation back together, using issues which will sound logical to many Republicans. We were surprised that the other candidate, Mike Corbin, scored so high in the first primary. However, we anticipate that Democrat Nominee Lucy McBath will beat either of these Republicans in the General Election.
Georgia statewide candidates
For Lieutenant Governor:
Bailey
Democrats: We chose as our endorsee Charlie Bailey, 39, an attorney from Grant Park in Atlanta. An attorney in private practice in Atlanta, he ran for attorney general in 2018 and got 48.7 percent of the vote. He believes all citizens deserve the same safety and equal justice opportunities, and should not have to worry about their kid’s safety, or how they will pay a hospital bill. He’s energetic and young enough to be a strong champion for Georgians. The other candidate, Kwanza Hall, ran strong in the initial voting.
For Secretary of State:
Nguyen
Democrats: Our candidate of choice in this race is Bee Nguyen, 40, of Atlanta. A former legislator, she sat on the Governmental Affairs committee, which oversees elections laws. She is deeply concerned that Republicans have made it harder for people to vote and also worked at crippling turnout. She promises to protect the right to vote. She is most bright and vigorous, and can bring efficiency to the day-to-day functions in managing this office of many functions.
For Commissioner of Insurance:
Robinson
Democrats: Our choice in this race is Janice Laws Robinson, 44, of Newnan, who has worked in the industry for 20 years. She was the 2018 nominee for this position. She particularly wants to see Medicaid extension to cover the half million Georgia without this coverage, and promises to hold insurance companies accountable, to cap rate increases and stop predatory underwriting practices.
For Commissioner of Labor:
Horn
Democrats: Recognizing that this department has been in chaos lately, Nicole Horn, 46, of Atlanta, promises to bring order and improve operations. She will make sure that Georgians are paid unemployment benefits in a timely manner. This former small businesswoman is energetic and savvy, and will charge forcefully for improved efficiencies in this office. We endorse her.
2022 Non-partisan school board posts
Gwinnett School Board, Post 4
Simmons
For this seat on the Gwinnett School Board, we endorse Adrienne Simmons, 41, of Tucker, for 20 years a classroom teacher and current Department of Education employee. She knows what it’s like to be in the classroom, and to work at the state level to improve student achievement. She seeks to improve teacher retainment, and wants to see more counselors in schools.
2022 Non-partisan judicial races
For Judge of State Court (South seat)
Dove
For State Court (open seat): There are three persons seeking this seat on the State Court in Gwinnett, a position being vacated by Chief Judge Pam South. We feel the best candidate for this position is Erica Dove, 47, of Lawrenceville, who was in private practice at King and Spalding and has been a criminal defense attorney. She has been for 10 years a prosecutor and knows the ins and outs of the courthouse well.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Centurion Advisory Group
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What’s happening to weeklies also happening to magazines
Editor, the Forum
Enjoyed GwinnettForum today, especially about weekly newspapers.
It’s so sad. It has also happened with magazines. And I believe it’s happening now with books. People are reading my books on their phones. Who would have ever thought? We must continue to support newspapers and magazines. And books, and we must support our libraries.
– Ed Nichols, Clarksville, Ga.
(Editor’s notes: The above has written: We’ll Talk Some More – a collection of 24 short stories set in northeast Georgia; Perfect Land – 60 prose poems; and I Wish I Could Laugh – a chapbook of 32 prose poems.
What if Steve Jobs had invented the microwave oven?
Editor, the Forum:
I really like Joe Briggs’ comparison of a microwave beeper with a cement truck in reverse. If Steve Jobs had invented the microwave, when our food was done we would be greeted with a gentle Brahms lullaby or an amusing ditty.
– Tim Keith, Sugar Hill
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.
Jackson EMC offers solar block energy to its members
Jackson EMC members can now enjoy the benefits of solar energy without the costs and complications of rooftop solar panels, thanks to Cooperative Solar, a new program announced recently.
With Cooperative Solar, Jackson EMC members can receive energy from an off-site solar facility that distributes energy to individual residences while avoiding the inconvenience of rooftop solar.
Christy Queen, Jackson EMC’s director of residential marketing, says: “Our new program allows members to utilize clean, renewable energy without having to bother about roof orientation, shaded roofs, subdivision restrictions, homeownership and long-term contracts for solar panels.”
Members can purchase solar energy blocks from Jackson EMC at a monthly rate, and receive the electricity produced by approximately three solar panels for each solar energy block purchased. The monthly output from each solar energy block varies due to the sun’s position, time of year, and the number of cloudy days. Therefore, members will receive different amounts of solar energy each month based on the available sunlight and the performance of the solar facility.
The kilowatt-hours produced by the solar energy block in each calendar month will offset the same number of kilowatt-hours on the member’s bill. If the solar energy block produces more kilowatt-hours than members use during their billing period, they will receive a credit for the excess. On average, each solar energy block is expected to produce between 200 and 225 kilowatt-hours of solar electricity monthly. For reference, the average Jackson EMC household uses 1,200 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month.
Solar energy blocks are $23 each per month. Residences served by Jackson EMC are eligible to sign up for up to three blocks. There is no long-term commitment, and members may discontinue their solar energy commitment at any time. Sign-ups are on a first-come, first-served basis. Members can complete the Cooperative Solar enrollment form by visiting the Cooperative Solar section of jacksonemc.com/renewables.
Jackson EMC can help members evaluate their solar energy options. Resources and full eligibility requirements are available at jacksonemc.com/renewables or by calling Jackson EMC at 1-800-462-3691.
Commission adopts new smoke-free air ordinance
The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners approved a Smoke-free Air Ordinance during its public hearing on May 24. It was approved as a measure to protect and preserve the health, safety, and welfare of Gwinnett residents. The ordinance will replace Article V of Chapter 38 in the Code of Ordinances of Gwinnett County entitled Clean Indoor Air and will take effect on June 23.
Under the new rules, smoking is no longer allowed in public parks of the county. It also changed several aspects of the rules. The measure is seen as a means to combat vaping and e-cigarettes.
In 2005, the Board of Commissioners adopted the Clean Indoor Air Ordinance to protect public health and welfare by prohibiting smoking in most public places and private places of employment. Since then, public awareness of the harms of smoking and second-hand smoke has increased, and the smoking industry has seen changes with the development and increased use of e-cigarettes and vaping. In Georgia, more than 11,700 adults die from smoking-related illness each year.
The Board also approved an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance during the May 24 public hearing. The ordinance now addresses cigar bars in the same manner as hookah lounges and includes definitions related to each.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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Movie review: All the Bright Places (Netflix)
From Tim Anderson, Fitzgerald: Fear not for the future of cinema with extraordinary young actors like Elle Fanning and Justice Smith. All the Bright Places, a film adaptation of Jennifer Niven’s terrific novel, has Fanning and Smith lighting up the screen as Violet and Theo. The movie begins with Violet considering suicide after the life-shattering death of her sister, her best friend. Theo comes along at just the right time to talk her down, and then inserts himself into her life to try to bring her back from the brink. It is a sad, but tender and beautiful story of empathy and compassion and the power it has to restore. Theo quite literally saves Violet. We realize Theo is far more damaged than Violet, but it’s too late to save him too. Poignant and moving, the movie gives a vivid picture of the danger of teen suicide in today’s youth.
- 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
Plant selection is important particularly in a Xeriscape
(Continued from previous edition)
Soil analysis is critical to optimize the soil’s water-holding capacity, yet provide good drainage. Organic amendments, for example compost, benefit most soils. It is recommended that four inches of an organic material be applied to the soil surface and incorporated into the top 12 inches.
Appropriate plant selection is important to any landscape, but it has particular importance in a Xeriscape. Select plants that are adapted to the site conditions and plant them in the appropriate water-use zones. Any plant in the nursery trade can be used in a Xeriscape, provided it is zoned according to the amount of water the established plant will require.
Practical turf areas emphasize the use of turfgrass for its function in the landscape, such as for erosion control or as a recreational surface. Avoid using large expanses of irrigated turfgrass just to fill space in the landscape. When selecting turfgrasses, consider their ability to withstand hot, dry periods in summer.
Efficient irrigation makes every drop count. By irrigating between 9 p.m. and 9 a.m., less evaporative water loss occurs than in the hot midday sun. Water also can be saved by resetting the irrigation time clock regularly according to changes in rainfall patterns and by installing a rainfall sensor to prevent the irrigation system from operating during rain. Drip irrigation and hand watering help target irrigation to plants that need it.
The use of mulches helps conserve water in the soil and insulates the roots of plants from extreme heat in summer and cold in winter. Mulches also reduce soil-borne foliar diseases by acting as a barrier between the soil and the foliage. Such organic mulches as pine straw, pine bark, and shredded hardwood bark are excellent mulch choices.
Appropriate maintenance is critical once the other water-saving steps are in place. Reduce the amount of fertilizer applied, particularly during dry periods, and minimize summer pruning that encourages new, succulent growth, which has a high demand for water. Grasscycling, the practice of leaving grass clippings on the turf area instead of bagging them, adds moisture and nutrients back to the turf and conserves moisture by acting as a mulch at the base of the grass blades.
Xeriscape gardening is a practical, common-sense approach to quality landscapes that conserves water and protects the environment. It is a beautiful way to have twice the landscape for half the water.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Figure out exactly where these ruins are located, and why
Today’s Mystery Photo stands in ruins, and your job is to tell about the ruins and where they are located. Be sure to include your name and address when you send to elliott@brack.net.
The Mystery Photo in the last edition drew several responses, including several incorrect ones. (No, it was not Watson Mill Bridge.) The photo came from Brian Brown of Fitzgerald and his Vanishing Georgia photographic library.
Stewart Woodard of Lawrenceville sent in: “It is the Poole’s Mill Bridge, a historic wooden covered bridge over Settendown Creek (a tributary of the Etowah River) in Forsyth County, Ga. built in 1901. It is 96 feet long. Circa 1820, Cherokee Chief George Welch constructed a gristmill, a sawmill, and a simple open bridge at the site. Welch continued to run and maintain the mills and bridge until the Cherokee removal in 1838.
“The land that held the bridge and mills was won in the land lottery by John Maynard of Jackson County, Ga., who sold the land to Jacob Scudder. Following Scudder’s death in 1870 the mill and bridge were bought by Dr. M.L. Pool. A cotton gin was added at the site in 1920, but cotton was largely abandoned by local farmers when the poultry farming was introduced. The mill was left in disuse by 1947 and was burned by vandals in 1959.
“The original bridge that stood at the site was washed away in a flood in 1899. A new bridge using the Lattice truss bridge style would be built on the site. The design called for wooden pegs to be driven into holes bored into wooden beams to hold the design together. The beams were cut on site at the saw mill, but the holes were bored in the wrong positions. At this point the construction was taken over by Bud Gentry, who oversaw the redrilling of the holes. The mis-drilled holes can still be seen in the bridge’s beams.
“In the mid-1990s the bridge began to sag and a revitalization effort began. A support pier was built in the middle of the creek. During this revitalization private citizens also donated land in the area to allow the creation of Poole’s Mill Park.”
Others recognizing the bridge were Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex.; Michael Gagnon, Flowery Branch; Kay Montgomery, Duluth; Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill; Lou Camerio, Lilburn; and George Graf of Palmyra, Va.
Gwinnett Parks win honors for school readiness program
The National Association of County Park and Recreational Professionals awarded Gwinnett County the 2022 Social Justice Award for its Building Brains Anywhere program. The award recognizes outstanding leadership and collaboration in community programs or projects. It also honors park systems that have served as a change agent and made a tangible impact in the community by prioritizing a culture of equity and inclusion. Gwinnett launched B2 Anywhere in 2021 to help improve school readiness and academic success for youth in target areas with a critical need for support. Accepting the Social Justice Award were Gwinnett Community Services Department Director Tina Fleming; B2Anywhere Project Coordinator Tania Ballou; Deputy Division Director Jason West; and Deputy Department Director Lindsey Jorstad.
Groundbreaking of a new 10-story, 162-room patient tower at Northside Hospital Gwinnett in Lawrenceville will be Tuesday, June 7 at 10 a.m. The project also includes a five-story, 143,828-square-foot medical office building to house outpatient imaging, ambulatory surgery and a variety of physician practices. Completion is expected by 2025.
Meet the Author: A talk with bestselling author Lynn Cullen, will be Thursday, June 16 at 7 p.m. at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Books will be available for sale and signing. There will be complimentary refreshments and a silent auction.
Recognizing a new craze, there’s a Cornhole Tournament on the horizon. The Sunrise Rotary Club of Snellville plans this tournament on June 25 at the Lincoln Fill Station, 2280 Henry Clower Boulevard in Snellville. Hours are from noon to 6 p.m. Teams can register for prizes at $50 per two-person team. Proceeds will benefit local charities that the club supports. Email questions to gwinnettsunrisefundraiser@gmail.com.
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