GwinnettForum | Number 23.04| Jan. 12, 2024
THE CITY OF DULUTH has a new mayor, Greg Whitlock, after Nancy Harris completed 16 years as the city’s top official. Shown with the new mayor is his daughter, Olivia and wife, Barbara. For a look at the accomplishments of Mayor Harris, see Another View below.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Here are 14 choices you can make in this new year
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Yule message, habits, Chick-fil-A, and speed cameras
SPOTLIGHT: Lail Family Dentistry
ANOTHER VIEW: Duluth bids farewell to Nancy Harris’ 16 years as mayor
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
UPCOMING: Kiwanis plans 15th annual Father-Daughter dance
NOTABLE: Lilburn plans three month moratorium on building Old Town
OBITUARY: Donald L. Thompson
RECOMMENDED: The Joy of Costco by David and Susan Schwartz
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Rivers below Fall Line once were means of transport
MYSTERY PHOTO: What can you tell us about this lighthouse?
CALENDAR: Reception at Braselton Arts Council is tonight from 6-7 p.m
Here are 14 choices you can make in this new year
By Randy Brunson
SUWANEE, Ga. | Last year we shared a few thoughts on the choices we made. Given its popularity, we decided to share it again as we enter 2024.
Brunson
Stewardship: Choose to be a steward of your time, talent, treasure, and relationships. Choose to see your life as an opportunity to share what you have been given with others, in a way that improves the quality of their lives. A mindset of stewardship helps release us from the tyranny of ownership.
Trust: Choose to build trust. My friend Dave says trust is built through character, competence, and caring. Character is who we are, competence is what we know, caring is what we do.
Goals: Choose to set goals. Keep the list short. No more than three to five business goals, no more than three to five personal goals. More than that, nothing is a priority because everything is.
Growth: Choose personal growth. While goals are important, the process of personal growth is critical. It is the journey of becoming who we were designed to be by our Creator, in order to maximize our impact during our time here.
Responsibility: Choose to take complete responsibility for yourself and all that comes under your domain. And choose to wear the mantle of responsibility with grace and dignity.
Grace: Choose to extend grace to yourself as well as to others. We are all on a journey. That word of kindness or encouragement could make all the difference.
Rest: Choose to rest. As finite, we must have rest. Our bodies weren’t designed to go non-stop.
Learn: Choose to be a lifetime student. Pick a language you want to learn, a culture you want to study, an author whose books you want to read.
Faithfulness: Choose to be faithful to those to whom we have committed, and to our calling and purpose. The primary mandate is not to success, or glory, or accomplishment. The primary mandate is faithfulness.
Advice: Choose to ask for, listen to, and apply advice. There are no guarantees, no risk-free environments or investments, and no certain futures. Learn from those who are where you want to be in life, through one-on-one time, group learning, or reading what those people have written.
Attitude: Choose an attitude of gratefulness. Make a list of what you are grateful for. Add to it every day. Your sight allows you to see those you love, and to enjoy the beauty of a sunrise or sunset. Your hearing allows you to hear the joy in children singing, and the majesty of Beethoven’s 9th.
Example: Choose to set an example. Never underestimate the power and influence of the decisions you make today on those around you, and on future generations.
Hope: Choose always to keep hope alive. Be mindful of where you place your hope. C.S. Lewis said, “if we have longings which cannot be satisfied in this world, it is obvious we were made for another world”. Yes.
Perseverance: Choose to carry on. It takes no talent to quit, criticize, condemn, or complain. My friend Bill died on August 30th, 2020. He was a Marine in Vietnam and trained as an engineer. By profession he was an attorney. Like me, he was a preacher’s kid, which is not something I necessarily recommend. His motto? Suit up, stand up, show up, and never, never, never quit.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Yule message, habits, Chick-fil-A and speed cameras
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JAN. 12, 2024 | The best localized Christmas card we got this year was from newcomers to Georgia, Pam and Eugene Brooks of Norcross. Their card was from Allport Editions, and entitled “Georgia Christmas,” by David Price, from 2004. It’s still up-to-date.
Well illustrated, the “Georgia Christmas” card read:
A Partridge in a Peach Tree
Two Swinging Golfers
Three Stone Mountain Lookers
Four Blooming Magnolias
Five Golden Peanuts
Six Savannah Ghosts Dancing
Seven Metro Trains a-Screeching
Eight Cokes a-Fizzing
Nine Braves Batting
Ten Blue Crabs a-Crawling
Eleven Falcons a-Running
Twelve Pecans a-Glazing
Bet you sang along when reading this refrain!
Mighty proud: It does our heart good to read about a Georgia company that has exploded with success…..six days a week. We’re talking about Chick-fil-A of course, which has an amazing history.
Opened by Truett Cathy in 1980, at first only in malls, it today has 2,806 far-flung mostly free-standing outlets, and annual sales (in 2022) of $19 billion. Wow! The company earns more revenue per restaurant than any other fast-food chain!
Chick-fil-A has operations in 47 states, only not in Hawaii, Alaska and Vermont.
It’s the largest purchaser of Sunkist lemons in the world…some 250 million lemons each year. And each store makes its own pickles from cucumbers, soaking them in brine for three days. And what does the “A” in Chick-fil-A stand for? Grand A chicken.
Attaboy, Chick-fil-A. Keep it up!
Habits are hard to break. Much of the way you go about your life today comes from what you learned from your parents when you were small. Such as:
- “Switch off the light when you leave the room.”
- “Take off your hat in the house.”
- “Clean your plate.” (That was usually followed by “You should think of the poor, starving children in China.”)
- “Waste not, want not.” (That applied to most everything.)
Speed cameras at four locations in Norcross are working in reducing accidents, the city manager, Eric Johnson, reported the other day. Mainly, with autos moving at slower speeds, accidents are down, and accidents with injuries are down.
In their three-plus years of operations, the city has been paid by the camera company owners more than $6 million, which for the most part is building in reserve to help pay for the city’s new police headquarters now being planned. Ninety-six per cent of the violators do not live in the 30071 Zip postal code area, that is, they are not Norcross residents.”
The four speed cameras are located near schools where serious accidents happened in the past: on Lawrenceville Street, Mitchell Road, and two on Beaver Ruin Road. Speed cameras were not installed near the city’s two high schools or on Atlantic Boulevard near an elementary school.
So slow down on these areas, or help pay for the anticipated Norcross police building.
Whether you live in Pennsylvania, you can enjoy a delicious Pittsburgh-style steak grilled on your grill or backyard fire pit. The term “Pittsburgh-style” refers to a specific grilling method in which the outside of the steak is charred while the inside remains rare or medium-rare.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Lail Family Dentistry
Dr. Slade Lail and his team
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Lail Family Dentistry has been serving the community in Duluth and Gwinnett County for 53 years. Being the longest serving dental practice in the county, our roots run deep within our community and will continue to do so for generations to come. The doctors at Lail Family Dentistry are all members of the Lail family and are here to provide for you and yours. If you are in search of a traditional, hometown dentist that utilizes the latest dental techniques and technology while also exemplifying the utmost sense of professionalism, timeliness, and hospitality, we would be glad to welcome you to our practice. For more information, please visit our website at drlail.com or phone (770) 476-2400.
- For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here.
Duluth bids farewell to Harris’ 16 years as mayor
By Talore Ruedt
Harris
DULUTH, Ga. | As Mayor Nancy Harris concludes her 16-year tenure in Duluth, the City of Duluth shares gratitude for a leader who not only helped shape the city’s physical landscape, but also nurtured a strong sense of community and creativity. As a lifelong resident of Duluth, Mayor Harris witnessed significant changes and growth in her beloved city, and her impact resonates in every corner.
When Mayor Harris first entered office in 2007, she set out with a vision centered on preservation, a promise that would guide her through four terms of dedication to Duluth’s quality growth. Under her leadership, the city experienced transformative construction projects, including Parsons Alley, Sugarloaf Marketplace, District at Duluth, George Rogers Avenue, Willbrooke Pocket Park, Courtyard by Marriott, Rogers Bridge Park with the new Pedestrian Bridge, the Davenport Intersection, and the new Astroturf Activity Lawn, among others. These developments reshaped Duluth and preserved its historic charm while embracing progress.
Mayor Harris, an avid lover of the arts, championed creativity, fostering a vibrant artistic scene in Duluth. She is also the mastermind behind the colorful crickets that you have spotted around Duluth.
However, Mayor Harris’ impact extended far beyond physical development. Her enthusiastic connection with the community set her apart as a leader who showed caring. She was often found engaging with the community at local events; fostering the love of art through the establishment of the Duluth Fine Arts League; supporting local businesses by being front and center at countless groundbreakings, ribbon cuttings and grand openings; mentoring youth through the Student L.E.A.D. program; and keeping the public informed through regular meetings like the annual “Be Duluth Show” and the quarterly civic meeting “Connect Duluth.”
Over the years, Mayor Harris found many distinctive ways to connect with her constituents. There was the unforgettable “Carpool Karaoke,” where she harmonized with CBS Sports Broadcaster Brad Nessler; local musicians Banks and Shane, and Eddie Owen; to the informative “Undercover Mayor” series, where Harris offered residents a behind-the-scenes peek into the city’s workings. And let us not forget that Harris was the first to introduce us to DeeDee, Duluth’s beloved “Chicken of Tomorrow” mascot!
City Manager James Riker reflects on Mayor Harris’ leadership style, emphasizing her clear goals that provided the staff with the freedom to be creative. He applauds Mayor Harris’ embrace of creativity, citing her influence on various initiatives. “Mayor Harris’ leadership is characterized by clarity and well-defined goals. She not only embraces but actively encourages innovation, resulting in initiatives like the revitalization of Taylor Park, the architectural charm of Parsons Alley, and the historically influenced design of the new Duluth library. Her commitment to fostering a creative environment has allowed our staff the freedom to innovate in all departments.”
Incoming mayor Greg Whitlock speaks to Mayor Harris’s leadership style. “I have worked with Nancy as Mayor for 16 years. She has proven herself as a servant leader through addressing tough issues, creating a vision, collaborating with Council, and including the community. Her visions and fun personality can be seen throughout the city, which prospers more today because of her.”
As Duluth bids farewell to Mayor Nancy Harris, the echoes of her leadership will continue to resonate in the city’s vibrant developments, artistic expressions, community engagement, and a legacy of inclusive and visionary governance.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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.
Lilburn plans 3-month moratorium on building in Old Town
The City of Lilburn is moving to impose a three-month moratorium on the acceptance of applications for new buildings, additions and developments in residentially zoned parcels within the “downtown character” area, namely historic Old Town.
The 90 days of the delay for new permits will be used to evaluate current architectural standards outlined in the City’s Zoning Ordinance. Its purpose is to ensure that developers work in partnership with the City to preserve and create an architectural and aesthetic character that embraces the old with the new.
Going forward, the City will not accept applications for new buildings, additions or new developments on residentially zoned parcels in the downtown character area for three months. However, about 180 parcels zoned R1 or R2 in the character area may be subject to the moratorium.
Kiwanis plans 15th annual Father-Daughter dance
The tradition continues for the 15th year as the Kiwanis Club of North Gwinnett prepares to host its annual Father Daughter Dance. From infants to infinity, daughters of all ages enjoy this annual evening to dance the night away with their dads (or father figures, uncles, or grandfathers).
Relocated to the Braselton Civic Center in February 2023, the three dances continue to draw record attendance from surrounding cities and counties! With catered light hors d’oeuvres, professional photography, and long stem red roses presented after the last dance, special memories are created for a lifetime!
What began as a single father/daughter event in 2009 with 188 attendees soon expanded to three dances over two evenings. Considered to be one of the premier father daughter dances in the Metropolitan Atlanta Area, attendees have traveled hundreds of miles from within and outside of the State of Georgia. With no age limit, there is no shortage of smiling, well dressed couples ready to enjoy a Prom Like experience.
This year, the dances will be held on February 2-3. Tickets may be purchased online at: www.northgwinnettkiwanis.com. On Friday Evening, February 2, the dance will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. On Saturday evening, the two dances will be held at 5 to 7 p.m., and 8 to 10 p.m. respectively. Tickets are limited, and sell out attendance is expected.
Proceeds from the dance and other Kiwanis Club of North Gwinnett fundraisers are reinvested back into the community with scholarships for area high school seniors or for other children- related events.
GGC seeks volunteers for free physical assessments
The Department of Exercise Science and Physical Education at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) seeks volunteers for participation in a 10-week exercise program. The program is designed to help exercise science students sharpen their hands-on skills, while gaining experience in a practical fitness setting.
Volunteers will have a pre-training and post-training fitness assessment performed, which will include blood pressure, body composition, cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, balance and flexibility.
Following the pre-training assessment, participants will undergo a 10-week personalized fitness training program two days per week. Each session will last approximately one hour. To participate, volunteers must be healthy adults, between the ages of 18 and 70, with no major health conditions and be available between 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays beginning Jan. 31 through April 17, 2024.
- For more information, or to see if you meet the requirements, please contact GGC’s Department of Exercise Science and Physical Education at exscpracticum@ggc.edu before January 21.
Emergency Services seeks volunteer chaplains
Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services seeks volunteer chaplains for its chaplaincy program. Interested candidates must be certified members of clergy whose qualifications include current ministry service for a minimum of two years. All interested candidates should fill out an online application no later than February 2. For more information, email Ryan.McGiboney@GwinnettCounty.com.
Get a grant toward buying your first home
If you are a first-time homebuyer, you might be eligible for a Gwinnett Homestretch Down Payment Assistance program. New or existing Gwinnett residents aspiring to own a home can receive down payment assistance of up to $10,000 as a five-year deferred payment loan with zero percent interest. To qualify, the home must be located within Gwinnett County and should not exceed $323,000 for an existing home or $346,000 for new construction. For a list of eligibility requirements and to apply, visit GwinnettCounty.com/HomestretchDPA.
Affordable internet access is possible for your home
You may qualify for a $30 monthly discount on your home or mobile internet service through the Federal Communications Commission Affordable Connectivity Program. Gwinnett is encouraging eligible residents to claim this new benefit and start saving on internet service.
Visit AffordableConnectivity.gov or call 877-384-2575 to learn about eligibility and apply. Then, contact a participating broadband provider to start receiving your monthly discount.
Donald Thompson
Donald L. Thompson, 79, a husband, father, grandfather and a member of the Norcross community for over 60 years, passed away peacefully on Jan. 5, 2024. He was born on July 28, 1944, in Hialeah, Fla., to the late parents, Melinda and Floyd Thompson.
Thompson
Don’s journey in life was marked by devotion, hard work, and kindness. He proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps, training as an air traffic controller. Donald found fulfillment in his career, dedicating four decades to Rich’s/Macy’s, where he excelled as a salesman in the Furniture Departments.
Outside of his professional life, Donald cherished the simple pleasures that brought him joy. He found solace in working in his yard, tending to his garden, and creating a peaceful sanctuary for his loved ones. He had a green thumb and took great pride in maintaining a beautiful and vibrant outdoor space.
Donald was a member of First Baptist Church of Norcross. He found strength, direction, and solace in his Christian beliefs, which guided him through life’s triumphs and challenges.
Don’s greatest joy in life was his family. He was married to his wife, Carolyn, for 56 years. Their union was blessed with two sons, Bradley and Brian Thompson. Donald cherished his role as a grandfather to Lucy, Anna, and Braydon Thompson, showering them with unwavering love and support.
Donald Thompson will forever be remembered for his warm smile, gentle spirit, and unwavering devotion to his family. His legacy of love, hard work, and kindness will continue to inspire all those who had the privilege of knowing him.
Funeral services to celebrate Donald’s life were held at Crowell Brothers Funeral Homes and Crematory on January 11, 2024, with the Rev. Steve Pritchett officiating. Burial was in Peachtree Memorial Park.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.crowellbrothers.com.
The Joy of Costco by David and Susan Schwartz
This book is about a love affair by a New York couple writing a book, with no input from management, about the 850 Costco warehouse clubs, which has two locations in Gwinnett. These author’s love how 40 year old Costco operates, and the book might be entitled ‘A love affair with Costco.’ They have visited Costco membership operations all over the world, and are amazed at how the company manages its far-flung operations yet ‘does things right,’ such as allowing members to return merchandise with no questions asked (even a piano after several years). The book is loaded with far-flung facts about Costco (seller of more cashews and olive oil than anyone.) It marvels at how Costco keeps prices down, but doesn’t dominate its suppliers. Or that its employee productivity is twice that of comparative retailers. It’s a fun way to learn much about this amazing retail giant of today.—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
Rivers below Fall Line once were means of transport
(Continued from previous edition)
As part of the Georgia fall line, mammal species vary widely among the regions. To the north of the fall line, the smoky shrew and deer mouse occur only in the Blue Ridge; numerous bat species inhabit the caves of the Valley and Ridge and Appalachian Plateau; and generalist species like chipmunks and gray foxes occupy the Piedmont.
Coastal Plain mammals south of the fall line include the round-tailed muskrat in the swamps; marsh rabbits and mink in the tidal marshes; and the North Atlantic right whale, the state marine mammal, in offshore waters. Among amphibians and reptiles, giant salamanders inhabit the Coastal Plain, while numerous woodland salamanders in the Appalachian Mountains give this region the highest salamander diversity in the world. American alligators and sea turtles are found south of the fall line, as are the smallest frog species (little grass frog) and largest snake species (eastern indigo) in the United States.
Rivers of the Coastal Plain were a major means of commercial transportation during the 1700s and early 1800s. Cities founded along the fall line, called “fall line cities,” are located at the places where these rivers crossed the fall line, marking the upstream limit of travel. The city of Columbus, for example, was established where the Chattahoochee River crosses the fall line; Macon, Milledgeville, and Augusta are similarly located at the crossings of the Ocmulgee, Oconee, and Savannah rivers, respectively.
These cities became important transportation hubs because traders could only travel upstream until they reached the waterfalls of the fall line. At that point they were forced to disembark and reload their cargo on the other side of the falls in order to continue their journeys. Columbus served as the upstream head of navigation for the Chattahoochee, as did Augusta for the Savannah River and Macon for the Ocmulgee River. After the first steamship arrived in 1828, Columbus became a gateway city for cotton. Above the fall line, flatboats and barges moved goods around the state. Below the fall line, steamships had unimpeded access to move goods, mostly cotton, into the Gulf of Mexico.
In addition to their importance as transportation hubs, fall line cities were successful because of the presence of water resources. Fall line waterfalls first powered mills and eventually powered hydroelectric dams. The availability of water power continued to sustain fall line cities even as railroads surpassed river transportation by the middle of the nineteenth century. Although hydroelectric power only supplies about two percent of the energy used by Georgia consumers today, the reservoirs created by hydroelectric dams are still used for recreational and fishing purposes.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
What can you tell us about this lighthouse?
This Mystery Photo of today is obviously a lighthouse, which has certain telling characteristics. Your job is to tell us the story of this lighthouse, and where it is located. Send your idea to elliott@brack.net and include your hometown.
The most recent Mystery was solved by several. Lou Camerio, Lilburn, said: “This is the Old or Historic Cherokee County Courthouse. Built in 1928.” The photo came from Wikipedia.
Jay Altman, Columbia, S.C.: added: “It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. The previous courthouse was destroyed in a fire in March 1927. The new one was a five-story Neoclassical Revival building that dominates over Canton’s public square. It is significant architecturally in part because it is one of few courthouses in Georgia made of local marble. It was designed by architect A. Ten Eyck Brown (1878-1940). There was a master sculptor, Jimmy Watt, who supervised other sculptors including David Ashe Herschel Couch and B. Maloni who carved the four eagles above the front portico.”
Other readers recognizing it included Raleigh Perry, Buford; Stew Ogilvie, Lawrenceville; George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill; and Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex.
- 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.
Reception at Braselton Arts Council is 6-7 p.m. tonight
Reception at Braselton Arts Council will be Friday, January 12, from 6-7 p.m. in The Gallery at The 1904 at 9924 Davis Street, on the second floor. The reception will feature the work of Expectacion Decor, the current pop up artist in The Gallery. Learn more about the Braselton Arts Council.
Lionheart Theatre will present an evening of laughter with its next production. Lionheart Comedy Night will showcase some of the area’s funniest comics on January 13 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Admission is $10 to see the vibrant Norcross comedy scene for a night of hilarity and unforgettable open mic performances. You may purchase tickets online.
Ribbon-cutting at Generous Care Adult Day Center, a new business, will be held on January 16 at 2 p.m in Lawrenceville, at 1180 McKendree Church Road.
Housing Resource Expo will be held January 20 at the Aurora Theatre, 1218 East Pike Street, in Lawrenceville. Time will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. It is sponsored by the Gwinnett Housing Corporation and Lawrenceville Housing Authority.Over 20 housing agencies will provide information and resources on emergency housing, home ownership, rental, and home improvement opportunities. This will be the fifth housing expo with the goal of connecting Gwinnett residents with all existing resources.
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