NEW for 5/16: Saved swamp; winners; Mountain Park

GwinnettForum  |  Number 22.35  | May 16, 2023

SAVED SWAMP: Now preserved as part of the Moody Forest along the Altamaha River near Baxley, Ga., are over 4,000 acres of land, including this cypress and tupelo area, purchased and saved for posterity by The Nature Conservancy, and and managed by the State of Georgia. For details on this purchase, see Today’s Focus below. (Photo by Rick Krause.)

IN THIS EDITION

TODAY’S FOCUS: Remembering saving over 4,432 acres on the Altamaha River

EEB PERSPECTIVE: Winners, taxes, making snow in Minnesota and Social Security

SPOTLIGHT: Comet National Shipping

ANOTHER VIEW: Mountain Park community questions tennis venue proposal

FEEDBACK: GwinnettForum helps her make a key decision

UPCOMING: High school graduation times listed, starting May 17

NOTABLE: Valedictorians, salutatorians named for each high school

RECOMMENDED: A New Look at Grace; A Spirituality of Wholeness by Bill Huebsch

GEORGIA TIDBIT: Residents of Wiregrass Georgia have their own entertainment

MYSTERY PHOTO: Figure out which port town this photo shows

LAGNIAPPE: Gwinnett’s first Whataburger restaurant opens near Buford

CALENDAR: Great Strides Walk for Cystic Fibrosis is Saturday  in Suwanee 

TODAY’S FOCUS

Remembering saving over 4,432 acres on the Altamaha River

Author Janisse Ray reads at the forest.

By Rick Krause

LILBURN, Ga.  |  “God doesn’t like a clearcut….”

It’s been a little more than 15 years ago that, when in February 2008, my wife, Sandy,  and I were fortunate to have participated in a celebration of The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) purchase and saving of a tract of land along the Altamaha River near Baxley, called Moody Forest. 

Krause

The tract was one of the nation’s last remaining old-growth forests, with a diversity of landscapes and large array of wildlife. That includes rare and endangered species which had long made Moody Forest a priority for the conservation community. The Nature Conservancy  was determined to save it.

Moody Forest is named for the Moody family, who arrived in Appling County in the mid-1800s and spent much of the next century on the land. They lived amongst the longleaf pine and alongside the Altamaha River.

In 2000, their property passed to 32 descendants of the original Moody settlers, and they decided to sell the land in a closed-bid auction. The land was sought after by the timber industry, but The Nature Conservancy outbid eight timber companies and took possession of the 4,432-acre parcel. As is often the case with TNC’s purchasing property such as this, they turn over the property in which it lies to the State of Georgia. Of this tract, 2,700 acres went to the state and is today managed by Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as a Wildlife Management Area. They manage the rest of the land as the Moody Forest Natural Area.

Several people were instrumental in the acquisition of the property. Representing TNC and present that February day were Tavia McCuean, then vice president and executive director of TNC in Georgia, and Christie Lambert then (Coastal) Georgia Marine and Freshwater Conservation Director for TNC, both of whom fought hard for this preservation. Shelly Lakly, directing TNC beginning in 2008 and leading the public-private land-management partnership with DNR, was also present. 

Laird

Also present that day was Cody Laird, a steadfast conservationist whose first love is the longleaf pine, wiregrass ecosystem. Laird had been on the Boards of Trustees and Advisers of the Georgia Conservancy and played a part in saving the tract. 

And then there was Janisse Ray of Baxley, renowned author, poet, naturalist, environmental activist, and preservationist, and probably the one who, growing up in the immediate area, knew the area the best and fought the longest and hardest to accomplish the preservation of Moody Forest. 

Nature journalist Charles Seabook and Dink NeSmith of Athens.

Ray, author of Ecology of a Cracker Childhood, which won the American Book Award and other honors, gave a reading that day from that book. I recall her reading the passage: “God doesn’t like a clearcut…” It couldn’t have been better suited. That passage also got the attention of one of the world’s greatest biologists, Edward O. Wilson, who, in his book, The Future of Life, said, “Her [words] perfectly captures the cadence of an evangelical sermon”. 

She wrote, and read that day: “God doesn’t like a clearcut. It makes his heart turn cold, makes him wince and wonder what went wrong with his creation, and sets him to thinking about what spoils the child. He refuses to go into clearcuts at all. He thought he had given his children everything their hearts would desire; what he sees puts him in a quarrelsome mood, wondering where he went wrong.” 

It was a wonderful event and a memorable day.

• Have a comment?  Send to: elliott@brack.net

EEB PERSPECTIVE

Winners, taxes, making snow in Minnesota and Social Security

By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum

May 16, 2023  |  Listed below are winners of the 12th annual Movers and Shakers awards of Partnership Gwinnett, awarded on May 4. 

Most Valuable Provider Award: Garrard Group, Duluth, a construction services provider.

Corporate Citizen Award: Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US, Suwanee, a variable refrigerant flow systems provider

Supply Chain Pioneer Award:

• Small: Skipper Logistics, Lawrenceville, logistics outsourcing and transportation company;
• Large: Eclipse Gaming Systems, Duluth, a slot game designer and manufacturer.

Manufacturer of the Year Award:  

• Small; ePac Atlanta, a global technology-driven custom flexible packaging company;
• Medium; AdEdge, Duluth a water treatment solution provider; and 
• Large: Price Industries, Suwanee, a critical controls and noise control products manufacturer and supplier.

You say taxes are too high? Many Georgia taxpayers will be getting a check from the State of Georgia soon, since the state collected more than it spent last year.Want taxes cut more? If you really are in for cutting taxes, look to the federal government.  Its planned budget for fiscal 2023 is $5.8 trillion (no telling how many zeros in a trillion). This budget will have with it a $1.2 trillion deficit. The budget is huge, with 63 percent listed for “mandatory spending.”

Caring for Social Security takes up 19 percent of our budget, and 15 percent goes for health. Both national defense and Medicare account for 12 percent. 

Meanwhile, the Pentagon’s proposed 2024 budget is the largest peacetime budget in our history. It’s about $25 billion more than the $816 billion budget Congress approved for 2023.  Of that defense budget, $145 billion is for research and development purposes.

New reader: We have a new reader in Bovey, Minnesota. That’s about 81 miles northwest of Duluth, Minn. Larry Parks has been corresponding with us since finding an article online.

He writes of his winters in rural Minnesota: “The town I live in has no traffic lights, only stop signs, and not many of them. The winters up here are cold, but it is easy to dress for it, and I get to do magic: I turn boiling water into snow instantly. Simply take a gallon of boiling water and throw it into the air on a 40 below day. It is snow by the time it hits your belt height. I have more bears for neighbors than humans.”

It’s amazing to us in the South that he can create instant snow in winter, except for the fact he doesn’t need to do it with so much snow around him in Minnesota. But, people have to have a way to have fun during those cold spells!  Attaboy, Larry!

Mentioning Social Security, did you know of its origins?  Those of us who get such a check each month owe it to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who on Aug. 14, 1935 saw passed his original Social Security Act . It was part of Roosevelt’s New Deal and it was first intended to help keep senior citizens out of poverty, which it still does. 

Those Social Security numbers were introduced in 1936 for keeping track of taxes paid into the system. These days people usually fill out their child’s Social Security application along with the child’s birth certificate. That makes Social Security numbers the de facto identification number of everyone born or working in America.

• Have a comment?  Send to: elliott@brack.net

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Comet National Shipping

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today’s sponsor is Comet National Shipping. If you have trucking needs, why pay for a WHOLE flatbed or covered truck, when all  you need is half the space? Comet National Shipping of Lilburn can provide you with the transportation, packing, and warehousing solutions that will keep your costs reasonable and suited to your company’s needs. With more than 26 years of nationwide service, our customers put their trust in Comet National because we understand their shipping needs can change from shipment to shipment. In business since 1992, Comet is dedicated to delivering cost-effective solutions for transporting your products quickly and safely to your customer’s destination without compromise. At Comet National, our full-service shipping, packing, and warehousing resources are sure to fulfill your requirements. Call us at 1-800-831-5376. We will respond quickly to provide you with quotes and see to it that the loads are handled as you have specified, and delivered on time!  

• For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here.

ANOTHER VIEW

Mountain Park community questions tennis venue proposal

By Kate Pittman

MOUNTAIN PARK, Ga.  |  Rumor has it Costco is interested in building a third store in Gwinnett.  The understanding is that it is considering the site of the 1996 Olympic tennis courts, located off U.S. Highway 78, in the shadow of Stone Mountain.  Before readers get excited about another Costco, there is much the community and Board of Commissioners need to consider. There are tradeoffs, especially in long-term planning and quality of life.

The 1996 Olympics hosted many international tennis champions in a stadium with an up-close view of Stone Mountain. The site borders Dekalb County, Stone Mountain Golf Course, and tStone Mountain Highway (U.S. 78) with 1/3 mile of highway frontage.

 Stone Mountain Park, the most visited attraction in Georgia, hosts over 40 million visitors a year. There is much about this location that makes it unique and valuable. Additionally, the surrounding commercial area is ripe for revitalization.  For these reasons, Gwinnett County purchased the Olympic property in 2016 with intentions of developing this well located, highly-visible property into a county showcase. The plan, proposed by the previous County Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash, was to create a landmark “Gateway to Southern Gwinnett”, easily seen from U.S. Highway 78. The vision promised walkability, boutique dining & shopping, housing, Greenspace, and a spectacular view of Stone Mountain.

In 2017, the stadium and tennis courts were demolished and cleared for future construction. In December 2020, Gwinnett’s Board of Commissioners authorized Fuqua Development to create a modern live-work-eat-shop-play mixed-use development as catalyst for revitalizing the local area.  The contract placed the project under a strict non-disclosure agreement, keeping everyone from citizens and even the County Commissioners in the dark on Fuqua’s plan. 

When Case RZC2023-00008 was put before the Planning Commission onMay 2, 2023, the proposal looked nothing like Charlotte Nash’s original Gateway vision. Gwinnett County (with Fuqua Development) applied to rezone the site for a huge retail building, a 12-dispenser gas station, and acres of paved parking.  Along with this, the neighboring parking lot of the Self-Storage Facility, formally Target, would become a 255-unit apartment complex, and three fast-food “restaurants.”

The Mountain Park Community Association posted information about the project, along with alternative concepts for this high-visibility location. Based on comments to MPCA’s posts, the community would like a Costco located nearby, but are concerned about how the projected increase in traffic would affect their quality of life. 

Every day 90,000 vehicles pass by on the U.S. Highway 78; Costco alone would add over 20,000 vehicles. The three restaurants, gas station, and apartments would further increase traffic. The community would benefit more if Costco was located further down Highway 78, where the large Cub Foods building has lain vacant for over a decade.  The Cub Foods property is undeniably in need of revitalization; which would significantly improve the commercial area in southwest Gwinnett County. 

It’s pretty safe to say that Charlotte Nash’s vision for a “signature southern gateway” did not include a close-up view of the back of a Costco warehouse on this important highway.

The Planning Commission tabled Case RZC2023-00008 until June 6, 2023.  Afterwards it will move to the Board of Commissioners for a final vote. Contact information for the Planning Commissioners and County Commissioners can be found at https://www.mountainparkcommunity.us/mpca-news

• Have a comment?  Send to: elliott@brack.net

FEEDBACK

GwinnettForum helps her make a key decision

Editor, the Forum:

 I so enjoy your twice-weekly newsletter and look forward to reading all the great articles each week!  

One in particular this week regarding PCOM Georgia: I have thought about donating my body to science over the years and your article has helped me to make up my mind about doing this. THANK YOU! Getting older makes you think more AND plan ahead.

Your newsletter has really taken off and I have shared it with all my family and friends – they love it too! One question…I see you have George Wilson’s name as a Contributing Columnist, but I don’t see much, if any of his writings. Just curious – we were both in the same class at Leadership Gwinnett….and he was such a sweet guy and my favorite classmate! Any news?

– T Joyner, Monroe

Dear Ms. Joyner: By happenstance, Mr. Wilson sent us an idea this week, which we print below. Yes, it would be neat to hear more of his thoughts. –eeb

Would like to see Gavin Newsom as candidate

Editor, the Forum:  

California has a population as large as Canada. With that experience governing that big state, Gavin Newsom would make an excellent candidate for president.

– George Wilson, Stone Mountain

We must do something; a buy-back would be a start

Editor, the Forum: 

Keep up the great work you do! Lots of people agree with you. We all  have to do something and a gun buy-back could be a start!  

– Barbara Knox Luckhurst, Duluth 

Why we must do something: people are dying!

Editor, the Forum: 

Your article about guns was on the mark and truthful and and probably heartfelt…but you surely missed one reason to buy back guns: PEOPLE ARE DYING. Ask the families of the dead what they think about guns. They will give you many other reasons for your effort.

– Mike Eberlein, Peachtree Corners

There is less crime today than 40 years ago

Editor, the Forum: 

You have lived here a long time and followed the news longer than I’ve been alive so your perspective matters to me.  

Your buy-back gun article caused me to look up the statistics in Georgia about crime, since I am curious to see if on the average we are more or less safe. 

The stats I found from the GBI over the last 40+ years are very interesting. On the average, there is a lot less crime for the average person today than 40 years ago, which really surprised me. 

I wonder why that is?

Thanks as always for your perspective and getting my brain to think a bit in the morning.

– Terry Swaim, Auburn

Dear Terry: Police tell us that overall, crime is down. One possible reason we all seem surprised about this, particularly for those of us in Gwinnett, is that we today have so many more people around. So, while the numbers for crimes is high and it seems all around us, on average we don’t have as many as in the past, purely because of our fast growth. –eeb 

Send us your thoughts:  We encourage you to send us your letters and thoughts on issues raised in GwinnettForum.  Please limit comments to 300 words, and include your hometown.  The views of letters are the opinion of the contributor. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length.  Send feedback and letters to:  elliott@brack.net.

UPCOMING

High school graduation times listed, starting May 17

The graduation ceremonies for Gwinnett’s Class of 2023 will take place as follows: 

Graduation times listed for other high schools in Gwinnett

Buford City Schools will hold its graduation on May 26 at 7 p.m. at the Buford Arena. The valedictorian and salutatorian will be announced at the Awards Banquet at the high school May 17 at 7 p.m. 

Greater Atlanta Christian School will graduate on May 20 in the Long Forum. Valedictorian of the class is Sophia Nguyen of Duluth, while salutatorian is Cecile Nguyen of Alpharetta.

Provident Christian Academy of Lilburn will graduate seniors on May 20 at Lilburn First Baptist Church at 10a.m.  Valedictorian of the class is Lydia Panek while salutatorian is Caleb Stewman.    

Killian Hill Christian School of Lilburn will graduate May 26 at Killian Hill Christian School at 7 p.m.  The valedictorian and salutatorian have not yet been determined.

Hebron Christian Academy of Dacula will graduate May 19 at 7 p.m. at Hebron Church.  There are three valedictorians of the class, who are John Paul Beck of Braselton, Jacob Fortner of Dacula and Peter Lee of Duluth. (All three tied with the same grade point average, 4.5.)

NOTABLE

Valedictorian, salutatorians named at each high school

Gwinnett County Public Schools also salutes the highest-ranked students in each school based on their GPA, those earning the title of valedictorian or salutatorian. They are:

10 Gwinnett graduates will attend military service academies

Gwinnett grads continue to answer the call to military service. Ten Gwinnett seniors accepted appointments to one of the nation’s military service academies. 

A total of 421 seniors will serve their country through military service after graduation, including cadets who honed their leadership skills in Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) units available at 14 GCPS high schools. 

Those earning academy appointments include:

RECOMMENDED

A New Look at Grace; A Spirituality of Wholeness by Bill Huebsch

From Karen J. Harris, Stone Mountain: This book is a prayerfully rich journey past definitions and into what it means to both experience grace and be a tool for grace to manifest in the lives of others.  The format of the text is unique in that it is poetic in texture, thus allowing the mind to digest the ideas on both rational and intuitive levels. A high point in the reading journey is the discussion of the Holy Pause, a moment to seek meaning and breathe in the contents of an experience. He brings to life the idea that holiness is not relegated to the Church but is a primary aspect of being fully human. The content of each chapter is deep and requires quiet reflection to fully experience.  I located this book on the giveaway table at my parish. What a wonderful find. This title can set the tone for the new year for the reader.

• An invitation: what books, restaurants, movies or web sites have you enjoyed recently? Send us your recent selection, along with a short paragraph (150 words) as to why you liked this, plus what you plan to visit or read next.  Send to: elliott@brack.net 

GEORGIA TIDBIT

Residents of Wiregrass Georgia have their own entertainment

Historically, wiregrass residents in South Georgia found their own, often raucous, forms of entertainment. Accustomed to working hard and playing hard, farmers and their families traditionally engaged in get-togethers—husking bees or corn shuckings, cane grinds or sugar boilings, “pindar” (peanut) shellings and boilings, and hog killings. 

Quilting parties and sewing bees offered women opportunities for social interaction. Wiregrass residents played a folk game called fireball, in which the “ball” consisted of a burlap sack or rags tied together with a fine rope, soaked in kerosene, and set on fire. Hordes of neighbors would gather and form sides for a harmless game of hurling these missiles at one another, spectacularly lighting up the nighttime skies.

Residents continue to enjoy fishing and hunting in the many creeks, streams, and pristine forests of the wiregrass region. Fishing in particular is upheld as a so-called poor man’s sport, since it can be pursued without much expense. Those who like to fish refer to it as “drowning worms.” Over the years they have developed several ingenious ways of procuring bait. One is the practice of grunting worms, or worm fiddling: driving a stick into the ground and rubbing a stone back and forth to make the stick vibrate, which lures worms out of moist soil.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Thomasville area gained renown for its elite woodland hunting plantations. Owned by northern industrialists after the Civil War (1861-65), the large estates recognized quail as the quintessential game bird in wiregrass Georgia. These properties were self-contained, frequently having their own roads, schools, and churches. Quail season attracted many celebrities, including presidents and royalty. The hunting season abounded with rituals, with the best saved for last. On the closing day, workers “put the fire” to everything, inducing a controlled burn of the woodlands. Ironically, it was the near depletion of the quail population that first alerted conservationists to the role of fire in the evolution and regeneration of the pine forest.

One cannot talk about everyday life in wiregrass Georgia without discussing religion. One of the earliest schisms involved a nationwide rift among the Baptists regarding foreign missions—a dispute that coincided with the arrival of many early pioneers in wiregrass country. A particular faction, the anti-mission Primitive Baptists, emerged in the area. Because of the restrictions they placed on members, the Primitive Baptists gained the label “hardshell.” Dancing and drinking were forbidden, of course, but one could also be expelled for playing an instrument at dances or for handling alcoholic beverages. There were also sanctions against profanity, dishonesty, and backbiting that produced grievances. Although restrictions applied to dancing, play-party songs were permitted, allowing members to sing and essentially to dance without incrimination. Such songs and ring games functioned as a favorite pastime of both adults and children.

Another significant wiregrass country tradition embraces a form of religious music known as Sacred Harp. This musical tradition dates back to late-18th-century New England but has been most enduring in the South. In singing schools based on the fa-so-la singing tradition, participants learned to sight-read notes originally based on four shapes (triangle, circle, rectangle, and diamond). Forming a square seating arrangement, they sang in four-part harmony (treble, alto, tenor, and bass). As the tradition evolved, singers switched to a seven-shape note system. Song book publishers began to sponsor professional duets and quartets to attend these “all-day sings.” Waycross is known for maintaining the tradition of all-night gospel sings, highlighting the role sacred music plays regionally as a form of entertainment and an evangelical tool.

Special church services and singing conventions still occasion what is known as dinner on the grounds. At these all-day events, a midday break results in a virtual feast, often featuring some of the region’s most popular food dishes. Especially popular is the lemonade that quenches one’s thirst after a long morning of singing or preaching; traditionally it was prepared by the menfolk in large barrels. Churches and other community organizations often serve chicken pilaf, a festive food. Their fish fries frequently emphasize mullet, a saltwater fish that, farther inland, is considered a delicacy to be eaten in colder months. 

• To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org

MYSTERY PHOTO

Figure out which port town this photo shows

Today’s Mystery Photo is obviously a seaport, and there may be some features that will easily give away its location. Try your hand at identifying this photograph, and send your idea to elliott@brack.net and include your hometown. 

Allan Peel, San Antonio, Texas, was one of three regular mystery photo spotters who correctly figured out the last mystery. Several readers found similar islands in other parts of the world. Allan wrote: ‘Today’s mystery photo is a picture of Bird Rock, a large sandstone and granite rock formation that is a popular tourist attraction located just off the coast of Pebble Beach, approximately four miles west of Monterey, Calif. There is an informational sign posted at this site that reads:

“Bird Rock
Not just for the birds

At times it’s easy to see how this rock got its name. During spring and summer, nesting cormorants and gulls and roosting pelicans cover Bird Rock, At one time Bird Rock was just for the birds, but after its coating of bird droppings (guano) was mined for fertilizer, seals and sea lions move in.”

The photo came from Rick Krause of Lilburn. Also recognizing it were George Graf of Palmyra, Va. and Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill.

SHARE A MYSTERY PHOTO:  If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but  make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!)  Send to:  elliott@brack.net and mark it as a photo submission.  Thanks.

LAGNIAPPE

As the orange ribbon falls, Gwinnett County opened its first Whataburger restaurant in The Exchange near Buford last week. The company, based in San Antonio, Tex., operates more than 900 outlets in 16 states. Another location is planned in Snellville. The company employs approximately 100 at the new location. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Chamber Ambassadors welcomed the new business to the county.

CALENDAR

Understanding Medicare: Speak with a Specialist on Tuesday, May 16 at 11 a.m.  at the Centerville Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Get unbiased guidance from a Certified Medicare Counselor about costs and coverage, comparing options, and enrolling in plans.

The Gwinnett County Soil and Water Conservation District will meet Wednesday, May 17 at  9:30 a.m. at the Gwinnett Senior Service Center, 567 Swanson Dr., Lawrenceville.  Among the agenda items will be reports from the LIA of Gwinnett cities. 

Ribbon-cutting for a new Boys and Girls Club of Lanier in Buford will be Thursday, May 17, at 5 p.m. at 4550 Hamilton Mill Road in Buford, behind the First Baptist Church. 

Ribbon-cutting and reception of Leather and Lace Coffee and Company will be held at Braselton Civic Center 27 East Lake Drive, on Thursday, May 18, from noon until 2 p.m. Ribbon Cutting at 12:30 pm.

Great Strides Walk for Cystic Fibrosis will be in Suwanee at Town Center Park on May 20, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Over 2,000 walkers will raise funds and awareness for this rare, genetic disease that progressively limits the ability to breathe and has no cure. This will be the largest CF walk nationwide, and raised more than $2 million in 2022 to support these efforts. To get involved in Great Strides, call the Georgia Chapter at 404-325-6973 or visit: http://fightcf.cff.org/GreatStridesATL. Walk Day is a fun, family-oriented event with a healthy walk.

Writing Workshop: Show, Don’t Tell: Why it Matters to Your Reader, will be Saturday, May 20, at 11 a.m. at the Lilburn Branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library. Zachary Steele, author and founder of Broadleaf Writers, will take a deep dive into the process of drawing the most out of your characters and settings.

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