GwinnettForum | Number 22.11 | Feb. 7, 2023
LOCAL AND STATE HONORS: An 11th grade home-school has won the local and statewide Knight History Essay Contest sponsored by the Button Gwinnett Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) in Lawrenceville. She is Macayla Hutsler of Bethlehem, in the center. Following the presentation of a certificate and a monetary award, Ms. Hutsler was notified that her entry had also won the state award. Her essay will now be submitted for consideration in the National Society SAR essay contest. Her essay was “Caesar Rodney: A Patriot Worth Remembering.” This Delaware patriot’s tie-breaking vote made the Declaration of Independence unanimous after Pennsylvania and South Carolina also voted in favor of independence. From left are NSSAR President General Bruce Picket; Eric Hutsler, father; Macayla Hutsler; Leslie Hutsler, mother; GASSAR Committee Chair of Knight Essay Terry Gibbs; and GASSAR State President Dr. David Ludley. Her essay won her $100 locally and $550 from the state honors.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Here’s the reason this guy is no longer a Republican
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Old time Republicans are between rock and hard place
SPOTLIGHT: Comet National Shipping
FEEDBACK: Bring up the gun laws, and here come the letters
UPCOMING: County to invest $500,000 recovery funds in hospitality
NOTABLE: GGC’s Grizzly Academy Dreamers have unique approach
OBITUARIES: DO NOT RUN BULLOCK OBIT AGAIN
RECOMMENDED: The Little Old Lady Who Broke all the Rules by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Rome native creates fashion scarf for many, including First Ladies
MYSTERY PHOTO: One famous style of buildings asks you for its location
LAGNIAPPE: Youth cartoonist needed
CALENDAR: “Overcome Rejection” is the subject of Feb. 16 talk at Lawrenceville Library
Here’s the reason this guy is no longer a Republican
By Jack Bernard, contributing columnist
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. | I was once a Republican Georgia county commissioner. Then I served as the chair of the Association County Commissioners of Georgia’s Tax Committee.
I’m no longer a Republican. Here’s one reason why.
The GOP has become a fiscally irresponsible group. It does not believe in paying the debts that the Federal government has already incurred via spending already approved by the House and Senate and signed by this and past presidents, like Donald Trump. That’s what “raising the debt ceiling” means. It has nothing to do with future obligations. It relates simply to paying off what the government already owes for military and non-military expenditures.
The GOP has gone from a fiscally conservative (cost-benefit based) party to something quite different. It’s a party that simply does not want the wealthy and large corporations to pay as much taxes and develops its fiscal policies around that one aspect of budgeting.
And that leads them to want to cut programs which Americans want and love, like Social Security and Medicare. Of course, GOP political types do not use these words. They say- “entitlements are bankrupting the United States” or “entitlements are why we have a large deficit.” Per the Government Accounting office, entitlements means “payments of benefits to any person that meets the eligibility.
Say the words, GOP politicos!
I recently attended a Georgia Budget and Planning Institute conference where Democrat Bee Nguyen and Republican Brian Robinson debated budget issues. Both are very sharp but have diametrically opposed budgeting philosophies.
Robinson made statements consistent with those above, avoiding defining “entitlements.” This tactic is consistent with other GOP figures who have made similar statements. For example, a. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) said- “Our main focus has got to be on nondiscretionary—it’s got to be on entitlements, such as Social Security and Medicare.”
At least Florida Senator Rick Scott has said, “We’ve got to start being honest with the public that — what’s our plan? Medicare is going bankrupt; Social Security is going bankrupt.” But Scott’s stated solution under his plan is to review those programs for cuts every five years.
I also was once a top-level planning and budget person in government and industry for decades. To put it simply, a financial statement, whether for government, not-for-profit, or a business, has two key components, revenue (money coming in) and expenses (money going out), i.e., not just spending. Think about your own household budget. You don’t want to spend more than you bring in. If you want more things, you can get a better paying job or a second job to make more money. Or you can cut your wants and just address your needs.
The government is the same way. It can reduce expenditures and should when it comes to “pork” (such as airplanes for the Air Force Generals, weapons for the Army brass, or ships for the admirals.) But when services are valuable to the average retiree, like Social Security and Medicare, the solution may be to increase taxes on corporations. Or better still: reversing the tax cuts that Donald Trump and the GOP provided the wealthy in its 2017 give-away law.
Now you understand why I can no longer be a Republican.
Old-time Republicans are between rock and hard place
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
FEB. 7, 2023 | A recent letter to the editor of the Atlanta newspaper hit me as a major cry for help.
A reader in Marietta essentially asked: “Why has my Republican Party abandoned me?” There is no doubt that many, many Republicans are asking the same question these days.
For the once-balanced Republican Party has turned into a far right-wing cluster who seem to want to take control not only of conservatism, but would not mind taking down the entire government.
The question would then be: what would be left to govern us?
That now-lost Republican laments in his letter: “There are just too many crazies in the GOP, too many actions taken by the party that are downright embarrassing, and too many folks in the GOP who won’t call out fascism/Trumpism as a threat to our constitutional republic.”
He concludes: “Thus, I am a voter without a party.” And he says: “I’m abandoned and now politically homeless.”
We all should feel for this lost political soul. He feels his party has left him, and cannot abide the Democrats, so is really lost.
A two-party structure, led by statesmen in both parties, has been the unwritten governmental structure of the United States. It has served our nation quite well for 247 years. We’ve had the Democratic-Republican, Democratic, Federalist, National Republican, Whig, and the Bull Moose. Occasionally, a third party has stuck its nose into elections, but never prevailed.
In many parts of the world, other democracies have often seen multiple political parties of different factions, which often create chaos in government. The United States has not had to experience multiple parties. We have dodged that bullet.
Yet the way the Grand Old Party is traveling these days, it makes a person wonder if it can succeed with so many far-right ideas that discourage the average voters. The failure of the GOP to make headway in the off-year elections shows that the average person doesn’t want to vote for disruption and disorder in leadership. The way Speaker Kevin McCarthy came to power makes you question if the new GOP-led House of Representatives will ever be able to pass reasonable measures. At least the Democratic-led Senate is holding the House in check.
Then look at the successes in the last two years in the Biden Administration. Many thought the oldest president might have difficulties governing. But Biden has shown his political skills. The Democrats have passed significant legislation, didn’t lose as many House seats as thought in the midterms, and have come together in many ways. It is attracting voters, not turning them away as Republicans have.
So yes, we can understand the plight of this Republican in Marietta, and no doubt many similar GOP doubters in Gwinnett. You wonder if this schism in the GOP will lead efforts of the far-right wing to become what amounts to a third party. It won’t work on the national level.The third party wing-nuts would never be able to attract enough voters to be viable.
Many current Republicans would be pleased to see a reasonable element of their party take back control of the Grand Old Party and work for a more stable party. That would be good for this country and give that Marietta voter a happy home.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Comet National Shipping
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Bring up the gun laws, and here come the letters
Editor, the Forum:
Raleigh Perry’s recent article contained many suggestions and well-thought-out solutions to this epidemic of mass killings that seems to be as predictable on the news as a nightly weather report. We almost seem to have run out of places that can proclaim: “Never thought it would happen here!”
He touched on the National Rifle Association paying large sums via lobbying to elected officials. How about if those in Congress and the Senate are publicly named along with how much money they receive to “support the NRA?” I am sure many/most NRA members are responsible gun owners, but the intractability of the NRA not to give one inch on any gun safety initiatives is counterintuitive.
– Howard Hoffman Berkeley Lake
Editor, the Forum:
GwinnettForum is always interesting, and columns by Raleigh Perry announcing real facts are a bonus. It is very refreshing to read his words in the Feb. 3, 2023 issue about guns and the Second Amendment. If only our guns weren’t governed by the NRA.
– Alma Bowen, Gainesville
Editor, the Forum:
Regarding Raleigh Perry’s comments on guns, the NRA, mass shootings: It is common to confuse correlation and causation, as Raleigh has done.
– Randy Brunson, Duluth
Editor, the Forum:
You had another bad article on gun control. The government cannot control the guns, unless you live in Russia, China or North Korea. That is a bogus discussion: the Second Amendment, which was written for the citizens to defend themselves against a bad government. Right now, we are on the verge of a bad government, and there is more talk about a civil war than fair elections. A long article, but the NRA is rated the most patriotic organization in America.
– Ron Schwartz, Dublin
Editor, the Forum:
Raleigh Perry is obviously a learned man but completely misses the point on gun control. I believe the Second Amendment also, because of the prescience of our founders, knew the dangers of big, overreaching government. Thus, the other reason for the Second Amendment.
The guns people are killing others with are often stolen. Mass killings can be done with knives, machetes, swords or bludgeons. Give a deranged person any one of these and he can kill many people. The idea of taxing ammo is foolish as criminals will find ways around this. I am not and never have been an NRA member but am thankful for their efforts.
– S. Scott Batterto, DDS
Dear Scott: Back when those founders were writing the Second Amendment, recognize that we had mostly single-shot weapons, slowly fired because of having to muzzle-load each shot. There in those days were no monster automatic weapons, or even revolvers. That makes a huge difference when considering our present gun laws. –eeb
Questions renaming of Army forts and viewpoint of writer
Editor, the Forum:
In response to Another View on January 31, 2023 by Tom Fort, I would like to comment that I found the quote from Lt. Gen. Hal Moore very moving. Then I clicked through to read the rest of the profile piece. As a fiscally conservative Democrat, who also spent several years working on Fort Benning, I, too, am dismayed when name changes and rebranding cause unnecessary spending, especially within government entities. Recall that Gwinnett County rebranded its county logo in 2017.
However, I would like to point out that Mr. Fort’s legitimate question, about the effects of rebranding on the surrounding community, is lost by the inclusion of his opinion will be “canceled” by the “woke” comment. A good editor would have cut that comment because it changes his editorial from legitimate concern to political baiting. He is assigning a presumed negative action onto the “woke” but he has no way of knowing if it will happen.
This comment also tarnishes his tribute to an American hero with a cheap political trigger. Doesn’t Lt. Gen. Hal Moore deserve better?
I would like to suggest a simple alternative and a little less divisiveness – “Then businesses and churches – while they are not forced to change their names (“Benning Auto Parts,” etc.) – will they feel the need to do so?”
– Tamara Betteridge, Peachtree Corners
- 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.
County to invest $500,000 recovery funds in hospitality
Gwinnett County and Explore Gwinnett, the county’s tourism and hospitality arm, will invest $500,000 of Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery funds in improving key areas of the local hospitality and tourism sectors negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson says: “The arts and entertainment industries contribute significantly to our county’s vibrant culture and economy. We’re proud to use this portion of federal funding to invest in their success, and we look forward to seeing these industries continue to thrive here.”
The funding will be distributed to support the following initiatives:
- The Arts Recovery Program, an initiative of Explore Gwinnett, will receive $100,000 to help arts and entertainment-based nonprofits pay rent and utility costs.
- Explore Gwinnett will partner with nonprofit FreshFilms to use $150,000 towards creating a workforce readiness program with Meadowcreek and Berkmar High Schools. The program will prepare graduates for ready-to-fill jobs in Georgia’s entertainment industry.
- Explore Gwinnett will also use $250,000 to lease 115 Flock license plate readers to improve safety and curb car theft. The license plate readers will be placed at 110 locations across Gwinnett, especially around hotels and at the Gas South District and Coolray Field.
The funds are provided through the American Rescue Plan Act.
GGC’s Grizzly Academy Dreamers have unique approach
Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) has introduced an after-school program for historically underserved elementary school students that will serve as a model for similar programs across Georgia.
Named “Grizzly Academy Dreamers,” the program serves third-fourth-and-fifth-graders from Jenkins and Lawrenceville Elementary Schools. The initiative was funded by a $1.75 million federal grant spearheaded by its director, Dr. Amber Jarrard Ebert, assistant professor of science education and secondary education department chair at GGC.
The program’s overarching goal is to create a community learning center that provides a safe and productive environment for children after school and provides resources, opportunities and services to their parents. Ebert said that student goals are rooted in academic support as an extension of the school day and include enrichment opportunities designed to bring in arts, expression, leadership and good citizenship.
Ebert says: “Currently, we offer STEP classes, STEAM (science, engineering, technology and math), journalism, entrepreneurship art, self-awareness, coding, drum and social-emotional learning classes during the sessions.”
The program is different from others because it also includes instruction sessions for parents for things like English as a Second Language, career assistance and budgeting.
Dr. Ebert adds: “I would venture to say that what we are doing is unique. I do not know of another institution in the state that brings students from K-12 to a college campus consistently for a dedicated program. This took well over a year to plan and implement but trust me, it’s very much worth it when you see the kids’ and parents’ reactions.”
Zaira Crawford, who graduated from GGC in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in education and works for Grizzly Academy Dreamers as one of its certified teachers, said she’s already seen the program have a meaningful impact on students in the short time it’s been operating.
“Some of the students were very timid and nervous when they first came into the program, but now they are always asking why the time has to end so quickly,” says Crawford. “I am happy to be a part of a growing program that creates a sense of belonging, improves social skills, provides academic support and, most importantly, makes learning fun for students.”
Grizzly Academy Dreamers currently serves 80 students. The team intends to expand its enrollment and curriculum offerings. Ebert said the program exposes students to a college atmosphere at an early age, significantly improving the probability that they will seek higher education later in life.
She also said the program would not be possible without collaboration with Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) which provides bus transportation, school resource officers and snacks for the students.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
The Little Old Lady Who Broke all the Rules,
by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg
The author has written a series of books about five 80-year-old or so Swedish retirees, who find conditions deteriorating at their retirement home because of the greed of the owner. In conversations, they come to realize that inmates in prison get better food, get plenty of exercise in well-equipped gyms, and it’s absolutely free. So why not commit a crime, get caught, and spend retirement in prison? It can’t be all bad, they feel. So begins the hijinks and twists and turns for a successful robbery, and not just any robbery, but a monstrous one. Meanwhile, the press gets wind of this, and the robbers become celebrities of sorts. Not always fast-paced, but the story line moves along and you’ll enjoy these elderlies enjoying themselves tremendously. Their antics continue in other books. Read them purely for fun, with nary a cuss word in the covers, that in itself delightful. – eeb
- 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
Rome native creates fashion scarves for many, including First Ladies
Frankie Welch was a scarf designer and fashion entrepreneur whose clients included politicians and First Ladies as well as prominent businesses, universities, and organizations. She operated a dress shop near Washington, D.C. named Frankie Welch of Virginia, from 1963 to 1990.
Welch’s Cherokee alphabet scarf
Welch was born Mary Frances Barnett on March 29, 1924, in Rome, Georgia, the youngest of four children. Her parents were Eugenia Morton and James Wyatt Barnett, who worked for Southern Bell Telephone Company. She graduated from Rome High School in 1941, then enrolled at Furman University in Greenville, S.C. In 1944, after her junior year of college, she married her childhood sweetheart, William Calvin “Bill” Welch, who was serving in World War II (1941-45). Frankie graduated in 1948 with a degree in clothing and design.
In 1963 Welch opened Frankie Welch of Virginia in Old Town Alexandria. The shop carried clothing and accessories by primarily American designers.
Virginia Rusk, wife of Secretary of State Dean Rusk, asked Welch to design something “truly American” that the State Department and White House could use as gifts. Inspired by a visit to her hometown of Rome where she had seen one of her father’s books with an image captioned “Cherokee Alphabet,” she designed her Cherokee Alphabet scarf. It was immediately successful and remained her most popular scarf throughout her career.
Welch’s second scarf was designed for an event in early 1968: the first fashion show to take place at the White House. Welch’s red, white, and blue scarf displays the words “Discover America” over a stylized shape of the continental United States. The scarves featured prominently on the runway and were given as gifts to the attendees.
Following her success during the 1968 political season, Welch decided to expand her business. She sent promotional brochures to 5,000 large companies and institutions, offering to design custom scarves on commission.
Her early scarves were primarily large squares of cotton or silk. In the 1970s and early 1980s, she favored smaller scarves, often in the popular synthetic fabrics of the era. Many of these scarves are based on 8-by-8-inch modules, an inspiration from Frank Lloyd Wright. Most scarves featured four modules in a column, though she frequently hemmed single modules and called them napachiefs, a combination of “cocktail napkin” and “handkerchief.” Her clients included clients from McDonald’s to McCormick (spices) and the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. She also designed scarves for Jimmy Carter when he was governor of Georgia and for his presidential campaign. Betty Ford bought many of her clothes at Frankie Welch of Virginia and often wore scarves designed by Welch.
Welch closed her dress shop in 1990, though she continued to design scarves for another decade. Most of her later scarves were large silk squares or cotton bandanas. She relocated in 2001 to Charlottesville, Virginia, near one of her daughters, and died on September 2, 2021.
(Editor’s note: this encyclopedia article is quite long, and has been edited for space. To read the entire article, go here.)
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
One famous style of buildings asks you for its location
Here’s a Mystery Photo similar to other such buildings that once were important all over our country. Your job is to identify exactly where this building is located. Send your entry to elliott@brack.net, and include your hometown.
Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex. gives us an interesting comment on the last Mystery Photo: “Today’s mystery photo is of the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, N.H. The hotel was built by Joseph Stickney (1840 – 1903), a native of Concord, N.H., who made his fortune by age 30 as a coal broker in Pennsylvania. The resort is considered to be “the grandest of all the grand New England mountain hotels,” and was built as a summer retreat for the rich and famous of the Gilded Age against the backdrop of the looming Mount Washington, the tallest mountain in New England.
“Joseph Stickney’s wife, Carolyn Stickney (1869 – 1936), spent her summers at the hotel in the early 1900s and she only ever slept in her own ‘travel’ bed (a portable bed that she could take with her back to the south of France, where she spent her winters). Upon her death in 1936, Carolyn decided to move into the hotel on a permanent basis … at least that is what the local myths and legends surrounding this property suggest! To ensure her eternal stay remains comfortable, her original furniture remains in Room 314, otherwise known as “The Princess Room,” which was her room during before (and after?) her death. If visiting the hotel and staying overnight, you can try to reserve Room 314 for yourself, but you will still pay full price, even though you are sharing the room with someone else!” The photo came from Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill.
Others recognizing it include Joe Briggs, Suwanee; Pat Bruschini, Peachtree Corners; Stew Ogilvie, Lawrenceville, “When a kid, I took the cog railway to the top of Mount Washington;” George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; and Joe Altman, Columbia, S.C.
Lou Camerio of Lilburn also nailed the photo, adding: “I would not recommend New England for snow skiing, after spending a week at Killington, Vermont. It just does not compare to the Colorado mountains and other western ski resorts.”
Youth cartoonists wanted to submit their work
GwinnettForum is looking to encourage cartooning by Gwinnett youth. If you know of any students who can draw well, and can dream up outlandish and funny ideas in a cartoon format, they should submit three of their drawings. The sample cartoons to determine those selected should be submitted in a horizontal, black-and-white format by email, to be sent by email to elliott@brack.net. More than one cartoonist might be selected, anticipating that GwinnettForum would show one cartoon in each edition.
Deadline for submission will be Feb. 14, 2023. GwinnettForum will compensate the winner who can produce cartoons on a continuing basis.
Author and historian Rita Roberts will visit the Duluth Branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library to talk about her new book, I Can’t Wait To Call You My Wife: African American Letters Of Love And Family In The Civil War Era. The event will be Thursday, February 9 at 7 p.m. This book honors the voices of African Americans of the Civil War era through their letters, inviting readers to engage personally with the Black historical experience.
Stakeholder input session: The Town of Braselton has partnered with Downtown Strategies for a Strategic Visioning Workshop and Strategic Plan for moving Downtown Braselton forward. Citizen input is needed! Plan to attend the session and come prepared to collaboratively share ideas, goals, concerns, and challenges. The session will be held February 9, from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Braselton Civic Center, 27 East Lake Drive.
Men’s Civic Breakfast at Christ Episcopal Church in Norcross will be February 11 at 8 a.m. in Webster Hall. Speaker will be Gwinnett Sheriff Keybo Taylor. The church is located at 400 Holcomb Bridge Road in Norcross.
The 14th annual Father-Daughter Valentine Dance will be February 10-11, being put on by the Kiwanis club of North Gwinnett. This year the event will be at the Braselton Civic Center. Three dances are scheduled, from 7-9 p.m. on February 10; and on February 11 from 5-7 p.m. and from 8-10 p.m. All dances are $90 per couple, with $10 for each additional daughter. For tickets, visit: https://ngkc.bigtickets.com/father-daughter-dance-2023
Doing business with Gwinnett County: Join the Gwinnett County Purchasing Division Thursday, February 16 at 9 a.m. or 2 p.m. to learn about doing business with Gwinnett County government. During the one-hour virtual clinic, Purchasing and Water Resources staff will share information about the different divisions of Water Resources, current and upcoming opportunities, and how to do business with the County. Register for one of the two virtual sessions atgcga.us/QuarterlyClinicSignup.
“Overcome Rejection: Unleash Your Greatness” is the subject of an inspirational talk by Pastor Dwight Buckner, Jr., which will be given on Thursday, February 16 at 7 p.m. at the Lawrenceville branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library. Join GCPL and Pastor Buckner for a discussion about his new book Overlooked. Pastor Dwight Buckner teaches you how to overcome the feelings of rejection and unleash the greatness that’s locked up in you.
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