GwinnettForum | Number 21.78| Oct. 18, 2022
THE DAY CHAPEL at the State Botanical Gardens in Athens is a special event facility on the garden’s 313 acre campus. The Day Chapel, completed in 1994, was the third major building constructed at the State Botanical Garden. Funding was provided by the family of Cecil B. Day Sr., founder of Day’s Inns, in his memory. This site hosts special events from weddings, meetings and concerts. See more about the Botanical Gardens in the Georgia Tidbit below.
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Here are GwinnettForum’s 2022 endorsements
SPOTLIGHT: Comet National Shipping
FEEDBACK: Brings charges against many for undermining democracy
UPCOMING: Next weekend is the 22nd annual Gwinnett Great Days of Service
NOTABLE: Peachtree Corners is finalist for IEEE Smart Cities award
OBITUARIES: Daniel Leslie Lay
RECOMMENDED: The Fabliaux, translated by Nathaniel E. Dubin
GEORGIA TIDBIT: State Botanical Gardens of Georgia is in Athens on 313 acres
MYSTERY PHOTO: This edition’s photo may prove difficult
CALENDAR: Gwinnett’s Great Day of Service takes place this weekend
Here are GwinnettForum’s 2022 endorsements
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
OCT. 18, 2022 | During this 2022 political season, Gwinnett Forum has talked directly with 108 political candidates, in order to meet them and to evaluate their candidacy, so as to determine which person will be the best candidate in statewide and local races.
Making such an evaluation has been a tradition in GwinnettForum since 2008. We take this as a serious responsibility as a member of the media community, seeking to report to our constituent of readers on an important part of the democratic process, an election of public officials.
Of the counties, Gwinnett is particularly known for its diversity. More than ever, there are a wealth of diverse candidates running. We applaud these relatively new members of the community getting involved in politics, and are pleased to endorse many of them, to reflect changing Gwinnett.
We offer a 30-minute meeting to all candidates who qualify to run for state and local offices, as reported on the official Secretary of State web site. We use the addresses and telephone numbers they list on that site to contact these candidates. We regret that some of those running for office—a minority of all candidates seeking office—did not take the time to visit with us. We thank those who gave us 30 minutes of their campaign time and who answered six questions about their candidacy. We are posting their answers on our site today, all this at no charge to these candidates. We regret that some candidates did not make themselves available for this service.
This year we have another possibility that November 8 won’t end the political season, as the Libertarian Party offers several statewide candidates. Add to that possible close races, and the continuation of annoying political charges may sully our airwaves. We hope not.
Now to the endorsements.
2022 FEDERAL RACES
For U.S. Senate: We wholeheartedly endorse the Rev. Raphael Warnock, 53, of Atlanta, for a full term in the Senate. His shortened two year term (replacing Sen. Isakson) has given him time to show the nation that he is making a fine senator to represent Georgia, sponsoring significant legislation, and holding his own as a peer among the Senate. His demeanor in the current campaign has been exemplary, above the fray, testifying to his character. Our anticipation is that he will serve Georgia for many years with distinction in this office.
For Congress, Sixth District: Our endorsement is for the candidacy of Democrat Bob Christian, 51, a baker from Dawsonville, to represent the sixth district of Georgia. We like his platform of a unifying message for our nation. He also abhors the January 6 insurrection and those who are false patriots; he wants to codify Roe v Wade, and supports legislation to ensure that every person’s vote counts.
For Congress, Seventh District: We support the candidacy of Mark Gonsalves for a seat in Congress from the seventh district. Mr. Gonsalves, 62, a Republican consultant from Johns Creek, is seeking this office for the second time. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth in accounting, he is someone who supports term limits, and wants to insure that Americans do not lose the freedoms that have been its practice for almost 250 years. “We are only one generation away from losing these freedoms,” he says. He feels there are unifying issues which can come together for the people at this time.
For Congress, Ninth District: A candidate from Murrayville, Democrat Mike Ford, 78, an attorney, is our choice for this post. A native of Macon and a Mercer graduate, he feels it is his duty to go to Congress and do his best to represent the district “without engaging in nonsense and lies about a stolen election.” He also wants to protect women’s reproductive rights, and is most perplexed by those wanting the states to decide such questions. Mr. Ford also recognizes the need to address the root problem of domestic terrorism from guns, “or we will continue to have that problem.”
2022 STATEWIDE RACES
For Governor: Most Americans recognize that our nation and our state are best served when no one political party is in total control. For the state of Georgia, it is a virtual certainty that the Republican Party will be in control of both the Senate and House next term. We therefore endorse the candidacy of Democrat Stacey Abrams, a former legislator, tax attorney and novelist, 49, of Atlanta, for governor. Ms. Abrams came close to winning this office in 2018, and her policies look even better this time. She has stimulating ideas, is a strong advocate of women’s rights, sees a more positive way for Georgians to have health care, and is a proponent of safe communities and strong law enforcement.
For Lieutenant Governor: GwinnettForum endorses the candidacy of Democrat Charlie Bailey, 39, an attorney living in Grant Park, for the number two constitutional job in Georgia. He is a former prosecutor of gangs, who recognizes several steps must take place to reduce gun violence, starting first with the family. He wants to expand Medicaid, and feels it is a moral failure to let hospitals close. He feels that “all of us deserve sane safety and equal justice before the law and I have fought for these in my career.” His opponent is a former false elector and Trump supporter.
For Secretary of State: It’s a no-brainer selection this go-around to support the candidacy of Republican Brad Raffensperger for re-election to this office, Mr. Raffensperger, 66, of Johns Creek, has served in an exemplary manner to protect the outcome of the 2020 Georgia elections, staunchly defending our election outcome in the face of an outraged president. We need more people in office who will stand their ground when they know they are right. Let’s keep him in this key office!
For Attorney General: While none of the three candidates met with GwinnettForum, we choose as the best choice in this race to be Democrat Jennifer “Jen”Jordan, 47, of North Atlanta. She is an attorney and former state senator, and grew up in Eastman, Ga.
For Agricultural Commissioner: We endorse the candidacy of Republican Tyler Harper, 36, of Ocilla, to oversee this vast department of Georgia government. A substantial farmer himself, this young candidate looks to find ways to provide the right resources for the farming industry, the state’s biggest industry. That includes seeking to incentivize farmers to invest in new technology, which will benefit all Georgians. We make this endorsement in the face of recognizing that a Gwinnettian, Nakita Hemingway, is also seeking this office. We feel Mr. Harper has a better chance to be successful in this office.
For Insurance Commissioner: We find that today that one of the best-run offices in state government is led by Republican John King, 56, of Roswell, the current commissioner. Taking over an office left in shambles by the former commissioner, who was sent to prison for theft, Mr. King has restored this office and can be proud of his service to this department of state government. He is holding insurance companies accountable. We happily endorse his election.
For State School Superintendent: We endorse the current school superintendent, Richard Woods, of Tifton, a Republican, for re-election to this job. His opponent was another candidate who did not visit with GwinnettForum.
For Labor Commissioner: There were three “no shows” with GwinnettForum for this job. We make no endorsement.
FOR GEORGIA LEGISLATURE
State Senate, District 7: A self-employed political consultant, Nabilah Islam, 32, of Lawrenceville, is our choice for this post. A child of immigrants from Bangladesh, she is a graduate of Georgia State University. She wants to work to see Georgians have better health care, including expanding Medicaid and protecting women’s right to an abortion. Another of her ideas is to attack the teacher shortage by paying them more. And she seeks an increase in access to the ballot, and sees no reason to legislate against giving water and food to people waiting in line during elections.
State Senate, District 40: Veteran Gwinnett Democratic legislator Sally Harrell, 56, a housewife and mother of Tucker, is up for re-election. One of the most astute of our Gwinnett delegation, she looks for crevices in budget issues. Last session she found a $550 per semester “temporary” special fee charged to state university students starting in 2009 that was still on the books, and got the Republican-controlled legislature to appropriate $230 million to plug that slush fund. Such actions deserve re-election.
State Senate, District 41: An Episcopal priest from Stone Mountain, Kim Jackson, 38, a Democrat, is completing her first term in office. Astute at the insides of politics, she works across the aisle, with every bill she presents having co-sponsors with Republicans. Her interest is in criminal reform, and also in allowing immigrants to be able to start school without waiting for a year by establishing residency first.
Senate District 45: A diversity consultant from Sugar Hill, Democrat Matielyn Jones, 40, is seeking this office. She’s the mother of two and is originally from New Orleans. She is concerned about housing, particularly with two-income families finding it difficult to compete with others in buying a home. She feels the $6 billion state surplus should be spent on the people. She is Pro Choice, wants to expand Medicaid, and seeks to find more data on the “why” of the present violence in Georgia.
Senate District 46: No recommendations.
Senate District 48: An immigrant born in Bangladesh, Democrat Josh Uddin, 56, of Johns Creek, seeks this office. The owner of several insurance agencies, Mr. Uddin feels that the insurance industry is in it only for the money, and is not socially responsible. He says that as a candidate with a health care background, he deals with people and knows what they need in this area. He wants to pay teachers more, and see better outcomes for schools, since students must compete globally these days. He says that some say the countries cannot find women leaders, but Bangladesh did so 36 years ago.
House District 30: No endorsements.
House District 48: Republican Scott Hilton, 42, of Peachtree Corners, is back on the campaign trail after losing in 2020 after serving one year in the House. A commercial banker, he recognizes that people are caught between inflation and recession, and beginning to hurt. He wants to strengthen the penalties for gang activity, and strengthen the police. He wants a practical approach to abortion, a one-stop site for those pregnant to have the resources they need, though he is Pro-Life.
House District 88: No endorsements.
House District 95: A Democratic statehouse representative since 2010, Dar’shun Kendrick, 39, an attorney from Lithonia, should be returned to the legislature. She succeeds because of her desire to help people in her district, and she continues to see a lot of people in her district. She plans in the next session to concentrate on legislation centered around health care and foster care, abortion rights and workforce development, with particular attention to the technology community.
House District 96: Another veteran Gwinnett legislator is Rep. Pete Marin, 64, a Democrat from Duluth. A consultant, he was the first Hispanic to be a member of the Legislature. He will push for stricter gun assault laws, and supports law enforcement and background checks.
House District 97: Two immigrant candidates are vying for this post, and both are new to politics. Our choice for this legislative post is Democrat Ruwa Romman, 28, of Duluth, a senior consultant with Deloitte. She is a graduate of Oglethorpe University, with a master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University. A veteran of advocacy for 10 years, she wants to pay teachers more, increase apprenticeships more, expand Medicaid, and protect fundamental voting rights. If elected, she would be the first Muslim woman in the statehouse.
House District 99: Two highly qualified people seek this post. Our choice is Democrat Om Duggal, 63, a Hindu man who was born in New Delhi, India, who now lives in Duluth. He is an entrepreneur in hospitality and senior housing. He has seen how difficult it can be to get new businesses going, and seeks to help these small businesses. He believes in health care expansion, and though not against the second amendment, he wants to regulate assault weapons. He also wants state colleges to be free for all persons and is Pro-Choice. His opponent is Republican Matt Reeves, 45, an attorney who lives in Duluth, and is Pro-Life.
House District 100: No endorsements.
House District 101: Already serving two terms in the House is Democrat Gregg Kennard, 56, of Lawrenceville, a pastor with Nspire Outreach Church. He particularly is interested in working on mental health parity and substance abuse and treatment, and seeking more insurance coverage to pay for this huge gap though bi-partisan legislation. He supports a better safety net for law enforcement officers, and supports having mental health practitioners going along with them on calls. He feels that Georgia’s best days are ahead, and that the state needs legislators in touch with the complexities of their districts.
House District 102: Our choice for this post is Gabe Okoye, 61, a Democrat from Lawrenceville, a civil engineer and geoscientist. Mr. Okoye is the one person primarily responsible with building a much more effective Gwinnett Democrat Party by finding more people to run for election. He is originally from Nigeria, and runs to “give back to a country which has been so good to me.”
House District 103: no endorsements.
House District 104: Serving six terms in the House is Republican Chuck Efstration, 41, of Dacula, an attorney practicing family law. He has served with distinction as chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and has been named the Legislator of the Year.
House District 105: A newcomer to running for office, Democrat Farooq Mughal, 44, who lives in Dacula, is a native of Pakistan. He runs his own business advising local governments on policy and how to secure funding for projects. He was inspired to run when he was principal for a day at Dacula, after listening to young minds of diverse backgrounds who want to make changes. “They were my role models,” he says, “to give these kids a vibrant future.”
House District 106: A Democrat from Snellville now completing her second term in the House, Shelly Hutchinson, 52, who owns a mental health treatment center, is our choice for this post. She has been a gamechanger in the Legislature by doing a good job in making relationships across the aisle. “Without it, you flounder,” she says. She realized this in getting her legislation inserted in Republican bills, though she got no credit for her effectiveness. She reminds this corner of a “workhorse,” instead of a “showhorse.”
House District 107: One of the smartest representatives Gwinnett has is Democrat Sam Park, 36,of Lawrenceville, an attorney with the Positive Health Center in Duluth. He has been effective in passing limited waivers on health care for pregnant mothers and their enrollment for Snap Care and Peach Care. He is for common sense gun reform, recognizing that more guns mean more risk of a fatal accident, since statistically a waiting period before a person gets a permit reduces gun violence, suicide and causing harm. He also opposes guns in church, since the current Republican bill that passed put “guns before God.”
House District 108: It’s refreshing to see two good people run for this office. Democratic candidate Jasmine Clark, 39, a clinical instructor at the Emory School of Nursing, lives in Lilburn. Her opponent is Johnny Crist, 71, a Republican and minister, was mayor of Lilburn for eight years. With two good candidates, it’ll be good to see either of them win. No endorsement.
House District 111: No endorsement.
GWINNETT COMMISSION RACES
Commission District 2: A commissioner for the last four years, Democrat Ben Ku, 40, of Tucker, who owns a software consulting company, has served well. He recognized four years ago that the make-up of the commission did not reflect its diversity. He is working to make sure that the southern part of Gwinnett is no longer neglected. He wants to improve the infrastructure of the county with inclusion and innovation “through open source development, done in house, so it costs less and is the best use of funds.”
Commission District 4: Our choice for this post is current commissioner since 2018 Marlene Fosque, 59, of Lawrenceville, a Democrat. She is retired from Aetna and has been a consultant for two non -profits. She is running since she got interested in politics during the Obama campaign, and now feels “God prepared me to do it.” She recognizes transportation is a major question in Gwinnett, and says rail might not be the way, but Bus Rapid Transit might work, and seeks more information on this. She feels that “diversity is our strength, and inclusivity is our power.”
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Comet National Shipping
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Brings charges against many for undermining democracy
Editor, the Forum:
J’accuse!
- I accuse Donald Trump of undermining American democracy.
- I accuse the thirty Trump officials who declined to testify in the January 6th hearings for denying the American people of their right to know what their government did or didn’t do to protect our election process.
- I accuse the 2020 current Republican candidates who are denying the actual results of the 2020 elections of encouraging electoral ignorance.
- I accuse the millions of Americans of not understanding their obligation to be informed voters.
- I accuse our Justice Department of not aggressively prosecuting everyone who was part of the clear attempt to overthrow our democracy.
These accusations are necessary to protect everything I believe in, so help me God!
– Alan Schneiberg, 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.
Next weekend: 22nd annual Gwinnett Great Days of Service
Gwinnett is actively recruiting volunteers for its annual Gwinnett Great Days of Service volunteer initiative.
For three days, the weekend of October 21-23, thousands of individuals, corporations, churches, schools and civic organizations will join in a weekend of community service to address some of the County’s most critical needs.
Volunteers can choose service projects based on location, agency or activity. Opportunities range from stocking shelter pantries to building wheelchair ramps to cleaning up nature trails and streams.
Community Services Collaboration Manager Muriam Nafees says: “There are so many different types of projects, so you can choose one that fits your skills and interests. Whether you are part of an organization in need of volunteers, a company or group with a passion to create a positive impact or an individual with a desire to change your community, we have a place for you.”
Launched in 2000 by the Gwinnett Coalition, Gwinnett Great Days of Service has become one of the largest volunteer days of service in the United States.
This year, the Coalition has passed the torch to Gwinnett County, empowering Volunteer Gwinnett to lead the charge through Gwinnett Serves, a new initiative that helps local nonprofits and community partners with volunteer recruitment. For more information and to register for an event, visit VolunteerGwinnett.net.
$4 million grant will expand local mental health care
View Point Health of Lawrenceville has been awarded a four-year, $4 million Certified Community Behavioral Health Center (CCBHC) Planning, Development, and Implementation grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
Jennifer Hibbard, View Point Health CEO, says: “We are thrilled to be able to expand our already robust programs to offer more comprehensive services which focus on the whole individual. This grant is the result of a year-long effort by our team to move towards the CCBHC model.”
View Point Health, one of 22 Community Service Boards in Georgia, is a comprehensive behavioral health provider in Gwinnett, Rockdale and Newton counties providing recovery-focused care to the most in need population since 1994. View Point Health is part of a statewide behavioral health safety-net that ensures everyone in Georgia can get the help they need, in their community, regardless of their ability to pay. With this new funding, View Point Health is able to expand its already robust services to serve as a comprehensive provider including mental health, substance use treatment and health care services to our community.
Peachtree Corners is finalist for IEEE Smart Cities award
Peachtree Corners has been named by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers as a Smart Cities finalist. The organization brings together IEEE’s broad array of technical societies and organizations to advance the state of the art for smart city technologies and to set the global standard. A link to the official awards can be found at https://smartcities.ieee.org/ieee-smart-cities-contest-2022/results.
Peachtree Corners was recognized for its unique approach to city government and the proactive integration of technology into its short and long-term planning. This, in addition to the strategic vision, economic development factors, real-world problems solved, impact on various federal government agencies or regulators, the city’s alignment with United Nations Sustainability Goals, and benefits for citizens to the architecture of technologies deployed, were all considered during the evaluation.
As an incubator, the Curiosity Lab acts as a community for these companies and technology developers to network and collaborate on projects that may not have been possible before.
EMC Foundation grants $87,000 to Gwinnett nonprofits
The Jackson EMC Foundation board of directors awarded a total of $102,000 in grants for organizations during its September meeting, including $87,000 to organizations serving Gwinnett County. They include:
- $15,000 to Good Samaritan Health Centers of Gwinnett, Inc., in Norcross, for technology needs to operate its two full-service primary medical and dental care clinics.
- $15,000 to Hebron Community Health Center, Inc., in Lawrenceville, a nonprofit providing low-income, uninsured Gwinnett residents with medical and dental care, to fund the Next Step Project, which provides diagnostic referrals and testing and prescription medication and supplies.
- $15,000 to Hope Clinic, Inc., in Gwinnett County, for its mental health services program to uninsured patients in Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Franklin, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson and Madison counties.
- $15,000 to Junior Achievement of Georgia, Inc., for program materials and supplies for the JA Biztown and JA Finance Park interactive programs that teach the concepts of financial literacy, business, entrepreneurship and career readiness to middle school students in Gwinnett County.
- $15,000 to Neighborhood Cooperative Ministry, Inc., in Norcross, for its Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which provides matching funds to assist clients with one month’s housing costs.
- $12,000 to Northeast Georgia Care, Inc. (dba Choices Pregnancy Center), in Gainesville, for its My Baby Counts program, which provides educational materials on parenting skills to pregnant women and new parents in Barrow, Clarke, Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson counties.
Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Daniel Leslie Lay
Daniel “Danny” Leslie Lay, 71, lifelong resident of Norcross, peacefully entered into the presence of his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, October 11, 2022.
Lay
Funeral services for Danny will be held on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, at 1 p.m. in the sanctuary of One Heart Church 706 N. Peachtree Street, Norcross, , with Rev. Ronnie Stevens. Burial will follow at the City of Norcross Cemetery. A reception will be held following the burial back at the funeral home. The family will gather with friends on Tuesday, October 25, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Peachtree Corners Chapel of Crowell Brothers Funeral Homes and Crematory.
Danny was born July 7, 1951, in Atlanta, to the late James Chiles Lay Sr. and Annie Mae Dean Lay. Also preceding Danny in death was his sister, Lynn Lay Embro; brother, James “Little Jimmy” Chiles Lay Jr.; and brother-in-law, Joseph “Joe” John Embro Jr.
Danny was of the Christian faith, spending most of his life growing up in the First Baptist Church of Norcross. He was the grandson to the late Edward Harlan Dean and Marion Boyce Dean, original settlers of Gwinnett County. Danny was a graduate of Norcross High School Class of 1969. He then furthered his education at University of West Georgia.
Danny served in the Naval Air Reserves from 1969-1975. Many hobbies of his included collecting cars such as Fiat Abarth’s, Land Rovers and the love of building and collecting vintage bicycles. In his early years he enjoyed hiking, camping, and attending car shows with his children. The simplest pleasures in life brought great joy to Danny. He had a love for photography and was passionate about music. As a child he taught himself to play guitar, remarkably learning to play by ear. Danny was in a band with his high school buddies and continued singing and playing in a Gospel Quartet with his lifelong best friends.
He retired from BellSouth/AT&T with nearly 30 years of service. He served on the Norcross City Council from 1990 until 1996 where he played a major role in helping businesses and organizing major projects to make Norcross a better place to live. Danny’s love was his family, especially his children and his grandchildren whom he adored and was so proud of. Times dearest to Danny were trips to the beach with his family, watching his grandchildren build sandcastles or making the biggest splashes in the pool. He was a gentle man and saw the good in everyone. Short to judge, he was always willing to lend whatever he had to help those he knew and those he didn’t know.
Danny is survived by the mother of his children, Krista Hall Lay; children, Gabriel Lay and wife Andi, Hannah Lay Hall and husband Tyler, Joseph Lay, Lydia Lay Clark and husband Tramell; and Samuel Lay. He was a proud “GranDanny” to Bella Ariah Clark, Frankie Rose Lay, Cecelia Grace Hall, Sullivan Duke Hall, Amelia Mae Lay, Magnolia June Clark, Julian Dominic Clark, and Everly Clementine Lay; sister, Judith Lay Peacock and husband, William “Buck” Emerson Peacock; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.
Flowers are accepted, or if desired, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Center or Children’s Health Care of Atlanta in honor of “Daniel Leslie Lay”.
Arrangements entrusted to Crowell Brothers Funeral Homes and Crematory, 5051 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Peachtree Corners.
The Fabliaux, translated by Nathaniel E. Dubin
From Raleigh Perry, Buford: This book has more stories in it than you would imagine. The stories were told by minstrels in the 1100’s, 1200’s and the 1300’s. If you enjoyed reading The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer or the Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio, many of their tales are extracted from this book. Let me warn you many, if not most, are a bit bawdy and might offend some readers. I will also warn you, this is not an easy book to find. It was published in 2013 and none of the bookstores still have it, not even Barnes and Noble. From the back of the book, the following statement says: “Bawdier than The Canterbury Tales, The Fabliaux is the first major English translation of the most scandalous and irreverent poetry in Western literature.” Dubin is a professor emeritus of modern classical languages at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s in Minnesota.
- 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
State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens is on 313 acres
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia, located in Athens, is a 313-acre preserve set aside by the University of Georgia in 1968 for the study and enjoyment of plants and nature. The garden is a “living laboratory” serving teaching, research, public service, and outreach missions for the University of Georgia and the citizens of Georgia. The garden contains a wide variety of natural features and includes plant communities and habitats common to the Georgia Piedmont.
A number of specialty gardens and collections have been established, and others will be added as the master plan for the garden is implemented. The theme gardens, collections, and display beds contain a diverse array of both native and exotic plant species. One recent addition, the Heritage Garden, contains plants of historic and socioeconomic interest to Georgia. Included are ornamentals, fruits, and row crops as well as a selection of native plants.
Located next to the Visitor Center, the International Garden explores the interrelationship of plants and people throughout civilization and is set in the context of three eras that have significantly affected the evolution of botanical gardens, a secondary theme. The Herb Garden, Physic Garden, and Bog Garden are located within the International Garden, which also contains representative species from the floras of the Mediterranean region, Latin America, China, and the southeastern United States.
Five miles of color-coded nature trails extend into the far reaches of the garden. The longest is the White Trail, which parallels the Middle Oconee River for several hundred yards and extends into the upland plateau areas of hardwood forest. The Red, Green, Blue, Purple, and Yellow Trails are shorter, interconnecting segments. The Orange Trail traverses the eastern section of the garden. It also parallels the river for several hundred yards.
The Callaway Building, constructed in 1975 with funds provided by the Callaway Foundation of LaGrange, serves as administrative headquarters for the garden. In addition to a library, laboratories, and offices, the building contains an auditorium, reception area, and conference and meeting facilities.
The Alice Hand Callaway Visitor Center and Conservatory was completed in 1984 and serves as a stunning focal point for the garden. The building contains offices, classrooms, a gift shop, the Garden Room Cafe, and a 10,000-square-foot conservatory featuring tropical plants of economic interest. Changing art exhibitions featuring botanical and horticultural themes are on display in the foyer.
The Day Chapel, completed in 1994, was the third major building constructed at the State Botanical Garden. Funding was provided by the family of Cecil B. Day Sr. in his memory. Modern in design, the chapel contains an eclectic combination of styles and details. Abundant doors and windows provide views into the surrounding hardwood forest.
The Garden Club of Georgia State Headquarters was completed in 1998, at which time the club moved its headquarters from the Founders Garden on the University of Georgia campus to the State Botanical Garden. The building, located on a high knoll between the Day Chapel and Visitor Center, is a house museum containing exceptional furnishings and decorative arts.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
This edition’s photo may prove difficult
We’ll label today’s mystery as difficult. And here’s a hint, that it is in Gwinnett County, but not by any of the main roads. So poke around in your mind where this might be located, and with your answer, send to elliott@brack.net to include your hometown.
Few readers were able to spot the recent mystery, though Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex. came up with the right answer and great detail. He wrote: “Today’s mystery photo is indeed ‘not what it seems’. Eagle-eyed readers may be able to make out the faded sign that reads (in part) ‘Norcross Transfer & Storage Inc’ and will immediately start searching the historic district of Norcross, Ga. for this building. This is what I did, wondering and questioning why you would suggest that it is ‘not what it seems?’
So I expanded my search and then ran across an even earlier (and larger) photo of this building (where the sign was less faded) on the Wikipedia Commons website. It identified the location as being in Charlottesville, Virginia.
“This building was originally known as the Norcross Transfer and Storage Building, and was built in 1924. In the early-2000’s, renovation of this building, and others nearby, it transformed into upscale urban apartment buildings. Located in the heart of the Historic Downtown Mall, these buildings are now known as the Norcross Station Apartments and, according to their website, they “offer a mix of 1-and 2- bedroom apartment homes, each with its own distinct character, featuring lofts and flats from 700 square feet to over 1,600 square feet.”
Also recognizing the photo was Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill, who added: “More than 30 apartments were renovated from the original Norcross Transfer and Storage warehouse near Charlottesville’s historic downtown mall. A local artist named Paul Stams created the exterior art.” The photo came from George Graf of Palmyra, Va.
Supervisors of the Gwinnett County Soil and Water Conservation District will hold their regularly scheduled public meeting on Wednesday, October 19, beginning at 9:30am. This meeting will be held at Gwinnett Senior Services Center, 567 Swanson Drive, Lawrenceville. There is also a Zoom option for those who can’t attend in person – the link is here: Join Zoom Meeting. Meeting ID: 884 2322 5909, passcode: 771750.
Enjoy dessert when Author Marisela Martinez-Cola discusses her book on October 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the Duluth Public Library. The book, The Chinese American, Native American and Mexican Americans’ Struggle for Educational Equality, takes a look at the diverse history of litigation that preceded Brown v. Board of Education.
Career Fair at Annandale Village in Suwanee to be on October 26 from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m, and from 3-6 p.m. Annandale CNAs, CMAs, LPNs, RNs, nurse managers, a Director of Open positions include nursing position, direct support professionals, including roles in food services, housekeeping and transportation. Annandale offers generous benefits including signing bonuses, flexible scheduling, on-site training and extensive training. For more information, visit annandale.org.
Groundbreaking of the Hooper-Renwick Themed Library will be Wednesday, October 26, at 11 a.m. at 56 Neal Boulevard in Lawrenceville. The project is by Gwinnett County’s board of commissioners in partnership with the Gwinnett County Public Library. It will be the first themed library in Gwinnett and funded by SPLOST. Parking is available at the Lawrenceville Lawn, 210 Luckie Street. A shuttle will take guests to the site.
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