GwinnettForum | Number 23.11 | Feb. 6, 2024
LAWRENCEVILLE HOSTS an exhibit of Black art: Community and Unity, the City of Lawrenceville’s newest art exhibition, can now be viewed on the Main Level of City Hall throughout February in celebration of Black History Month. This is a collaborative effort is with the School of the Arts at Central Gwinnett and Discovery High School. Talented community artists, Dane Caston and Myia Paige, showcase the collection. Visitors are invited to view the works on display Monday through Friday. The artists featured in this exhibition include Aaryn Middlebrooks, Akina Smith, Alex Woods, Amiya Johnson, Arima Tenia, Chaziah Morrison, Dane Caston, Jessenia McDaniel, Miya Paige, and Myarion Nelson.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Bowen is Gwinnett Citizen of Year for 2024
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Norcross resident wins International Tagore prize
SPOTLIGHT: Centurion Advisory Group
FEEDBACK: Watch out what you give up for Lent
UPCOMING: City of Suwanee plans year-long running season
NOTABLE: Four community leaders join Rainbow Village board
RECOMMENDED: The Last Word by Taylor Adams
CRITIC’S CORNER: Hamilton through Feb. 25 at Fox Theatre
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Francine Reed was Atlanta’s “queen of the blues”
MYSTERY PHOTO: Blue skies, water, red umbrellas, where is this?
CALENDAR: Prayer service for our nation Thursday at The Carter Center
Bowen is Gwinnett Citizen of Year for 2024
Bowen; photo provided.
Retired homebuilder Rudy Bowen of Suwanee was acclaimed as the Gwinnett Citizen of the Year for his long-standing dedication and service to the county and the metro Atlanta area at the 76th annual dinner of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce on February 2. He joined a distinguished group of citizens honored at the meeting.
Bowen, 84, first came to Gwinnett in 1964, after being born in Atlanta, and having graduated from Dawson County High School and the University of Georgia. In 1962, he married Jean Kirby of Dunwoody and they bought their first home in Gwinnett in 1964.
Bowen began building his first house for sale in Gwinnett in 1969, which sold quickly, as did the next. Within five years, he was building 50 homes a year, primarily mid-range homes, which gained the reputation of being of good quality and high value in one of the fastest growing areas of the nation. Soon his company started to develop land and create entire communities.
Meanwhile, Bowen was contributing to the overall county in service on various boards. That included the Lake Lanier Recreational Authority, Gwinnett Airport Authority, Gwinnett Board of Appeals, Johns Creek Hospital Board and as a deacon at Johns Creek Baptist Church.
In 2007, he was named to the Georgia Department of Transportation Board, representing initially the 6th District. He has continually served since, twice as chairman of the board. Bowen has been credited with providing steady leadership during unprecedented times to keep roadwork and maintenance projects on or ahead of schedule.
As his company grew, his son, David, and sons-in-law, Mike Phelps and Tip Cape, became involved in building homes. Now Bowen’s grandchildren are also in the companies.
Other winners at the Chamber dinner were:
Because One Matters was recipient of the D. Scott Hudgens Humanitarian Award, in recognition of their impactful efforts to help those in need.
Moneypenny was honored with the James J. Maran International Award, acknowledging their significant contributions on the global stage.
Recipients of the Public Service Award, included
- Deirdra Cox (Community Sustainability Enterprise);
- Ron Garrard (Garrard Construction Group);
- Veronica Maldonado-Torres (Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce);
- Dr. Uday Parikh (Dentistry4You); and
- Linda Schoepf (ABS/LMS Franchising Little Caesars).
Thomas D. Moreland and Dorothy Rainey were posthumously bestowed with the R. Wayne Shackleford Legacy Award, in remembrance of their enduring legacy and contributions to the community.
The event also marked a significant transition as the gavel was passed from Gwinnett Chamber’s immediate past Chair of the Board of Directors, Dean Collins, to its newly appointed 2024 Board Chair, Lanier Levett.
Levett articulated the Chamber’s vision for 2024, emphasizing a commitment to innovation and inclusivity, and heralding a future characterized by collaboration. “Together, we will continue to write the Chamber’s story; a story of innovation, inclusion, and prosperity,” Levett says.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Norcross resident wins International Tagore art prize
Ramanathan’s art at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. Photos provided
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
(Exclusive in GwinnettForum)
FEB. 6, 2024 | A local artist has won the 2024 International Tagore Award for outstanding contribution in the field of fine arts. She is Chitra Ramanathan, who has resided in Norcross since 2019, with her husband, a retired physician. She is a member of the Norcross Gallery and Studio, where she has conducted classes. She will soon be teaching a class and workshop in abstract acrylics.
She told GwinnettForum: “It was a surprise to have been chosen for the Tagore Award. I feel it might be because of the many milestones in my field, including high-profile commission projects, and exhibits and artist talks that I have given.” She has a studio in her home.
Chitra paints in a colorful abstract expressionist style, with acrylic as the prime medium, often combined with intricately-layered permanent materials, sometimes known as “happy art.” During a trip to France in 1992, she was influenced by abstract expressionist works portraying mental emotions, initially inspired by Wassily Kandinsky’s works. She frequented Claude Monet’s Garden in Giverny.
She explains: “My art is influenced conceptually by colorful flora, manifested by the changing seasons where I live in the United States, and my passion for gardening, fantasy, dreams and the melody of music. I also borrow from my recollections of colorful festivals, costumes reminiscent of my native India, and the memory of creating floor pattern drawing during my growing years.”
Chitra was born in India, in the state of Kerala, and grew up in Calcutta (now called Kolkata) in West Bengal. She was attracting interest in her art by age 6, encouraged by her mother. At age 10, she received a top prize in a national coloring competition hosted by Unilever. The following year her artwork was exhibited in a venue of the Birla Academy of Art and Culture in Kolkata, and she was awarded a trophy. All this led to her majoring in art at Stella Maris College, in Chennal.
Once in the United States, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of Illinois, plus a MBS in arts administration and human resources. By then, she had received a product grant award from Liquitex Paints for two years. Shortly after, the ARC Gallery of Chicago hosted a solo exhibit of her student work.
Her works hang in private collections in the United States, including two works side-by-side at the Bellagio Hotel, the MGM resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. These two paintings are at the Bellagio Conservatory indoor botanical garden. Other of her works have been displayed at studios in New York City on SoHo and on Broadway. Manhattan Arts Magazine published reviews of her work.
In her background, she has been a speaker and visitor artist at the Royal Academy of Arts in London. She held workshops, taught classes, and conducted art demonstrations at the Indianapolis, Indiana, Art Center and at the Art Center at Vero Beach, Fla., before moving to Atlanta.
Overseas, Chitra was a visual artist in residence at the Camac Centre d’Art at Marnay sur Seine, France through UNESCO in 2010, and at the Internazionale di Grafica in Venice, Italy in 2011.
Chitra and her husband have a daughter, who works at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and lives in Decatur with her husband and daughter. The Ramanathans moved to Norcross from Florida to be near her daughter and her family.
The 1913 Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to the Bengali polymath Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941), who funded the Tagore prizes for Indian natives to recognize those who have made a positive and lasting impact on the society.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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Watch out what you give up for Lent
Editor, the Forum:
Some of you come from religious traditions that observe Lent, the Christian belief of the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter, excluding Sundays. Since Lent is a time of self-denial, such traditions often include “giving up something” for Lent. You may enjoy this story.
Several years ago I was the manager of an office of about 15 people. One year some of us were informally discussing what we were going to give up for Lent. I mentioned that I was going to give up alcohol for Lent. The next year I told the group I was going to give up coffee. When the third year approached, several of the group told me, “Please give up alcohol. When you give up coffee, you’re too cranky!”
– John Titus, 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.
City of Suwanee plans year-long running season
The City of Suwanee is gearing up for a big year with its Running Series, featuring a dynamic lineup of races set to unfold in Town Center and along the scenic Suwanee Greenway. With a total distance of nearly 66 kilometers, runners have the unique opportunity to traverse the city limits without ever leaving Suwanee.
To sweeten the deal, the City of Suwanee, in collaboration with Big Peach Running Company, presents the Suwanee Running Series finisher T-shirt – a limited edition reward for participants completing five or more of these races, a symbol of their dedication and achievement.
New to the series this year is a major partnership with ON Running, marking a significant change for all participants. Following each race, finishers will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win ON shoes or apparel. The more races completed, the higher the chances of snagging fantastic swag!
Amy Doherty, events and outreach manager at the City of Suwanee, says: “Suwanee Running Series continues to evolve, and we’re pleased to welcome ON Running as our new sponsor. This partnership adds an exciting dimension to the series, providing runners not only with an opportunity to challenge themselves but also a chance to score some top-notch gear.”
- For more information, race schedules, and registration details, visit www.suwanee.com/runningseries.
2024 Race Schedule
- February 10 – Suwanee Sweetheart Sprint
- February 18 – Suwanee Half Marathon & Old Town 5K
- March 2 – Suwanee Beer Chaser 5K
- March 16 – Suwanee Kiwanis Shamrock 5K
- March 30 – Care for Cops 5K
- April 6 – Race to Cure Sarcoma Atlanta
- April 27 – Relay for Life Gwinnett
- May 3 – Max’s Moon Run
- May 4 – Tacos & Tequila 5K
- May 18 – Great Strides Atlanta
- August 3 – Button Down Dash 5K
- August 24 – Annandale, Extra Mile Walk
- September 14 – Care for Cops 5K
- October 12 – Spooky Spirits 5K
- October 26 – Walk to End Alzheimer’s
- December 7 – HappyFeat Run, Run Rudolph 5K
Here are voting dates in this election year
Here are important dates in this election year.
- Presidential Preference Primary: March 12;
- General Primary/Nonpartisan Election: May 21; and
- General Primary/Nonpartisan Election Runoff: June 18
Advance voting for the Presidential Preference Primary begins February 19 through March 8 at ten advance voting locations. Visit MVP.SOS.GA.gov to check your voter registrations, locate your polling place, and view sample ballots.
Four community leaders join Rainbow Village board
Deluca-Johnson
Collins
Rainbow Village is welcoming four new members to its board of directors. With its mission to transform the lives of families experiencing homelessness by providing help, hope, housing, and healing, Rainbow Village asks leaders of the community to help guide its operations.
Among the four new board members:
Dean Collins, Duluth, founder and president of a construction management firm, Axis Companies. He is also the immediate past president of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce.
Cheryl Deluca-Johnson: Braselton, professional counselor and founder of Street Grace.
Watson-Hills
Martinez
Janis Martinez,Cuming, retired founder of Ashford Management Group.
Linda Watson-Hills: Johns Creek, president at Watson-Hills, LLC , a human resource firm.
Rainbow Village CEO Melanie Conner says: “It takes more than fundraising to fuel our mission at Rainbow Village. We welcome these new board members. We are blessed to have a roster of some of Atlanta’s most visionary and successful professionals on our board. They selflessly give of their time to see that the mission of our organization is realized and that the dreams of self-sustainability that the families we serve are achieved.” To learn more about Rainbow Village, volunteer to support its mission, or make an online donation, interested parties are encouraged to visit www.RainbowVillage.org.
STAR student-teacher award winners for 2024 announced
Winners of the Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program for 2024 have been announced. The program is sponsored by the Professional Association of Georgia Educators and PAGE Foundation. More than 200 students, teachers, and guests attended the annual event that honors the highest-achieving seniors and their most academically influential teachers. The awards were hosted by Partnership Gwinnett.
The PAGE STAR honors the highest-achieving high school seniors and their most academically influential teachers. Students must have the highest score on any single SAT taken through the November test date of their senior year with their SAT scores equal to or higher than the 2023 national average scores on the evidence-based math, reading, and writing sections, as well as rank in the top 10% or top 10 students of their class based on their GPA.
The presentation recognized more than 75 recipients from 33 schools, including Buford City Schools, Gwinnett County Public Schools, Greater Atlanta Christian School, Hebron Christian Academy, Killian Hill Christian School, Notre Dame Academy, Providence Christian Academy, Sugar Hill Christian Academy, and Wesleyan School.
- For a list of the winners in each of the systems, CLICK HERE.
The Last Word by Taylor Adams
From Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill: I have read many so-called ‘thrillers,’ but this is the first one in years I’ve thought was fast paced and suspenseful enough to be called a proper thriller. I read it in one afternoon. The premise: a young woman is house-sitting at an isolated beach house on the coast of Washington when weird things begin to happen. That’s all I want to say about the plot because, if you’re looking for suspense, I recommend you not read anything else about this book, not even the book jacket. There are even spoilers in the prologue, which I skipped until the end. Author Taylor Adams is incredibly clever at giving his readers twists and turns and keeping them guessing. At times, it’s violent and yukky, but it is a murder thriller, after all. This page turner was a wild and imaginative ride and I was exhausted by the end of it.”
- 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
Hamilton, through Feb. 25 at the Fox Theatre
From Jane Wroton, Duluth: The words ‘Alexander Hamilton’ and ‘hip-hop’ in the same sentence? No way! But yes… way! Blending hip-hop, jazz, R and B, and traditional-style show tunes, this two-act musical follows the extraordinary life of American founding father Alexander Hamilton. Born in the West Indies in 1757, orphaned in 1768, moved to New York in 1772, he was George Washington’s right-hand man in the American Revolution. Lawyer, statesman, first U.S. Treasury Secretary. Friend-foe relationship with Aaron Burr led to Hamilton’s untimely death in 1804.This show features innovative 21st century music, creative choreography, multi-talented actors (who sing, dance and rap!) and realistic sets. It captivated and transported us back to the 18th century in one of our favorite theaters. And, as Hamilton creator and original Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda so aptly expressed… ‘Hamilton is the story of America then, told by America now.’ We loved it! Tickets at foxtheatre.org.
Reed was Atlanta’s “queen of the blues”
Francine Reed, Atlanta’s “queen of the blues,” was born in Pembroke Township, Ill., on July 11, 1947. The popular singer moved to Georgia in the early 1990s and added to her already solid fan base by expanding her audience beyond the confines of the metropolitan Atlanta area.
Reed’s career was cemented on the foundation of a musically rich family. (Her sister Margo Reed became a noted jazz singer.) Influenced by a gospel-singing father, she sang at church services and charity events during her youth. As an adult Reed relocated to Phoenix, Arizona, and began singing at nightclubs.
While in Phoenix, Reed set the standard by which other local talent was judged. She often performed as the opening act for such headliners such as Miles Davis, Etta James, Smokey Robinson, and the Crusaders. Widely known for her powerful voice and commanding stage presence, she sang an eclectic repertoire of jazz, blues, and rhythm and blues.
Making the acquaintance of Texas musician Lyle Lovett, who was virtually unknown at the time, in a Phoenix nightspot proved beneficial for Reed. In 1985 she began touring as a background vocalist and occasional duettist for Lovett, whose records would soon receive Grammy Awards and enjoy gold and platinum sales. Reed’s tenure with Lovett included duet appearances on many television shows, including The Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
In addition to singing with Lovett, Reed performed on Willie Nelson’s acclaimed album Milk Cow Blues (2000), lending her soulful voice to the title track as well as to the song Funny How Time Slips Away. She has contributed vocals to other musicians’ recordings as well, including those of Delbert McClinton and Roy Orbison.
Reed demonstrated her musical prowess as a solo artist with several albums of her own after arriving in Atlanta. Her first solo album, I Want You to Love Me (1995), featured a duet with Lovett. The album peaked at number seven on Billboard’s blues chart and prompted the first of several W. C. Handy Award nominations for Reed.
Reed’s second album, Can’t Make It on My Own (1996), features a duet with McClinton, and her third record, Shades of Blue (1999), met with critical acclaim.
Reed’s fame can likely be attributed to a particular song rather than to any of her records. Her trademark performance is of the classic blues song Wild Women (Don’t Get the Blues), which was written in 1924 by Georgia-born blues legend Ida Cox. Reed’s first album, as well as her 2001 release, I Got a Right. . .to Some of My Best, and Lovett’s Live in Texas (1999), all feature a recording of the song.
Atlanta magazine devoted its June 2003 issue to the city’s music scene, and an accompanying limited edition CD contains Reed’s version of “Wild Women.” In the liner notes the magazine proclaims Reed to be “probably the most beloved singer in the city.”
A frequent performer at Atlanta clubs, including the blues oasis Blind Willie’s, Reed was also a perennial favorite at the city’s Midtown Music Festival, which began in 1994.
In 2022, on the occasion of her 75th birthday, Reed’s gift to herself was to officially give up her musical career.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Blue skies, water, red umbrellas: Where is this?
Colorful red umbrellas around a swimming pool? It must be a resort. Now, can you determine exactly where this photograph was made. If so, you’ll solve this mystery. Send your ideas to elliott@brack.net, to include your hometown.
Few people were able to identify the most recent mystery. Allan Peel, San Antonio, Tex. wrote: “Today’s mystery photo was taken at the end off the main pier of Rosie’s Marina on the northern shore of Little Grand Cay, one of five small islands or’”cays’ in the Abacos district of the Bahamas. It is approximately 110-miles east-northeast of West Palm Beach and is notable for being a tourists’ haven and a peaceful fishing community.
“Rosie’s Marina is part of Rosie’s Place, which until recently, was owned and operated by Roosevelt “Rosie” Curry a former Abaco Chief Councilor who passed away on Feb 12, 2023. Rosie’s Place was, and continues to be, the number one attraction of Little Grand Cay that offers visitors a variety of services including boat docks, fuel, hotel accommodations, a store, as well as a restaurant and bar.”
The photo came from Michelle Doleske of Orlando, Fla. Other readers recognizing this mystery included Lou Camerio, Lilburn; George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; Ruthy Lachman Paul, Norcross; and Mark Smith, Eatonton.
- 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.
Prayer service for our nation Thursday at The Carter Center
A Black History Month exhibit will be open to the public for the entire month of February in the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center Atrium.This year’s theme, “Black Arts and Culture in Gwinnett,” centers around creators who have mastered their craft while illustrating the Black experience locally and nationally in the fields of art, fashion, and literature.
Snellville Commerce Club will meet at noon on Tuesday, February 6, at the Snellville City Hall Community Room. Speakers will be Nessa Griffin and Latifah Rasheed, both with the Gwinnett County Public Library. They will take the group on a field trip to tour the new Elizabeth H. Williams Gwinnett County Public Library in the Grove. Reservations are required.
Butterfly-in-the-Sky special screening, will be on Tuesday, February 6 at 7 p.m. at the Aurora Theater stage at the Lawrenceville Arts Center. This documentary tells the story of the PBS children’s series “Reading Rainbow,” its host LeVar Burton, and the challenges its creators faced in cultivating a love of reading through television.
A service of prayer for our nation will be held at The Carter Center on Thursday, February 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the Cecil B. Day chapel. Join faith leaders from Georgia for a multi-faith assembly to address this challenge. This is sponsored by the Georgia Democracy Resilience Network, which is supported by The Carter Center.
Meet Author Hank Phillippi Ryan at the Lilburn Branch Library on February 8 at 7 p.m. She will be discussing her new psychological thriller, One Wrong Word. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Hazardous waste collection will take place Saturday, February 10, from 9 a.m. until noon at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds, 2405 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville. Volunteers are needed for this event. Any type of hazardous waste will be accepted, from cleaners to auto batteries, fire extinguishers, fluorescent bulbs and ballasts, Latex and water-based paints, pesticides and poisons and many more. Questions about the event or to volunteer, can be directed to Kim Davis at 770-822-5187 or gwinnettcb@gwinnettcb.org.
Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason will be the speaker for the Men’s Civic Breakfast at Christ Episcopal Church in Norcross on Saturday, February 13 at 8 a.m. The breakfast will be in Webster Hall of the church, located at 400 Holcomb Bridge Road in Norcross. The wider community is invited.
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