EXCITEMENT BUILDS as a recent Georgia Race for Autism begins. The next such race is October 5 at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds. The race features a 5K race, a one mile fun run, a 100- yard dash and a Tot Trot. For more information, see Notable below.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Remember, when tragedy strikes, take steps to heal
EEB PERSPECTIVE: How we found out Gwinnett Water Dept. has heart
SPOTLIGHT: Comet National Shipping
ANOTHER VIEW: Another look at what Project 2025 can mean
FEEDBACK: How to fit four times the people in the same space?
UPCOMING: 13th annual Peachtree Corners festival is Sept. 21-22
NOTABLE: Norcross punts on Woman’s Club building
RECOMMENDED: The Fraud by Zadie Smith
GEORGIA TIDBIT:Naturalist John Abbott spent 65 years in Georgia
MYSTERY PHOTO: Today’s Mystery may be a tough one
LAGNIAPPE: Microtransit pilot program now underway
CALENDAR: Green! glass and paper recycling this weekend
Remember, when tragedy strikes, take steps to heal
By Dr. Josi Kalavar
Professor of psychology, Georgia Gwinnett College
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. | Over the past two decades, an all-too-familiar scene has made headlines: photos of a community gathered at a place to mourn a senseless tragedy. It could be from a natural disaster like tornadoes, floods and hurricanes, a fire, a building collapse, or most recently, a school shooting.
Kalavar
For the victims, their families and friends, and the community at large, the shock and wide range of emotions run deep. How can you manage something that usually makes no sense?
As individuals, this is a personalized experience as everyone grieves differently. Any news of death affects people differently, depending on how long they’ve known that person, the level of closeness and their interactions. For a community, it can be overwhelming because you don’t understand what has happened, so it’s difficult to make sense of it. This can also raise the sense of not being in control and heightened feelings of insecurity.
Three major groups react differently to a tragic situation: administrative personnel, the society/community and individuals.
The administrative school and security personnel must provide updates as quickly as possible to people. Society includes your community leaders, your neighbors and your network of friends who support one another. It is important to understand that it is difficult for everyone and that expressing your emotions is okay. For some people, talking about it helps them to grieve, while others have a need to do something like attend a vigil or write a poem.
For a community impacted by tragedy, people may or may not know the victims. It’s important for communities to gather together to share their grief and emotions, make connections, and support one another.
There are steps you can take to process and heal from a tragedy.
- Talk about it with family, friends and neighbors. Expressing your feelings is healthy.
- Help others by volunteering for community needs.
- Use calming strategies, like increasing your sense of safety and awareness, participating in events involving reflection, meditation, etc.
- Talk about what can be done to increase people’s sense of security.
There may come a time when the sense of grief or hopelessness is more than a person can bear. If you feel overwhelmed and anxious, or can’t function in your day-to-day life, reach out to a mental health professional. They can guide you in your healing.
At GGC, students have access to the college’s Counseling and Psychological Services on campus, while faculty and staff have resources available with one call.
As people impacted by tragedy process what happened, there is one more thing that I emphasize: we can all get through this together.
There is always hope.
- Have a comment? Click here to send an email.
How we found out Gwinnett Water Dept. has heart
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
Sept. 10, 2024 | The Gwinnett Department of Water Resources has heart. That’s encouraging, since Gwinnett County government is huge, with 6,000 employees spread over 14 professional departments.
We can vouchsafe for Gwinnett having heart.
It all started over a water bill. Where my usage was often 5,000 gallons or less, suddenly our household was being charged for 54,000 gallons of water! And instead of having a bill of about $50 for water and sewer, the new bill total was $1,056.07.
What was going on?
It took a while to figure it out. It went back to our house having a blockage in the sewer pipe near the street. A root had been growing inside the pipe for years, and finally blocked sewage being able to flow to the street’s sewer line. A plumber fixed the problem, but in doing so, had to dig deeply to get the sewer line, about six to 10 feet below the ground. Using a heavy backhoe, which weighs between 7-10,000 pounds, we didn’t realize it at the time, but the weight of the back hoe had crushed the thin lawn irrigation lines, only a couple of feet below the surface.
For some reason, there was no indication that the irrigation lines were crushed except one: the irrigation system was not working.
Putting in a call to an irrigation service, one guy showed up when he wasn’t supposed to, dug into the ground, and found the problem. But he never talked to us, nor could we get in contact with him. Another irrigation service was scheduled to check out our problem three different times, but never showed up. This was getting frustrating.
At last Tim Waters of Snellville, who runs Waterways Irrigation, arrived, looked over the situation, started digging using a five inch shovel, and determined what had happened. “The back hoe crushed the lines in several places. You’re going to have to install new lines.” He came back the next day, and within two hours was finished, with the irrigation system working beautifully. Tim’s main job is as a Gwinnett County fireman, stationed at Collins Hill. (“Great work on our system, Tim. Thanks.”)
Now back to the Water Department: when we got the big water bill, our initial contact was Mary Robertson, of Loganville, who is their “customer care advocate.” She immediately told us not to pay the $1,000 water bill, for it was obvious that something was wrong. “When you get your irrigation system repaired, let us know, and we’ll send someone out to read your water bill and get you a new bill.”
So after Tim Waters had repaired the system, we called Mary back. “We just had someone out there to read your meter,” she told us. “And your new bill will be $58.65.”
Wow! We were relieved. And it showed to us that our Gwinnett Department of Water Resources has their operation running smoothly to help customers in distress. It’s good to see government working with its people to help solve their problems, and that it’s got heart.
Mulberry residents: We encourage you to read the demographic questionnaire that GwinnettForum put to the 15 candidates in the race for the initial Mulberry City Council. The candidate answers are also linked in the right panel of the front page of the Forum. Over the weekend, the remaining four candidates completed the form, so that readers can view all the candidate answers. GwinnettForum is pleased to provide this public service to its readers.
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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! Visit our new offices at 4149 Arcadia Industrial Circle in Lilburn.
- For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here.
Another look at what Project 2025 can mean
(Editor’s note: today Jack Bernard writes part two of a three-part series looking at Project 2025 and what it would mean if this program guided the next Trump Administration. The series will continue next Tuesday.—eeb)
By Jack Bernard
Part two of three
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. | Today we examine Project 2025 government agencies and programs, including immigration policy.
This is the second in a multi-part series dealing with the specifics of Project 2025, a detailed 920-page document written by Trump allies. But it has been disavowed by Donald Trump because of political concerns. However, given who wrote it, it is a virtual certainty that it will be the basis of a second Trump Administration.
Under Project 2025, the Federal Aviation Administration would be required “to operate more like a business” (Page 664) than a regulatory agency, potentially endangering air travelers. The Department of Homeland Security would be “dismantled” (page 165) and the Department of Justice would be changed dramatically and politicized. It says: “(DOJ) should…enforce federal law against providers and distributors of such (abortion) pills” (page 594).
The conservative plan would do away with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (page 869) which it incorrectly classifies “as a shakedown mechanism to provide unaccountable funding to leftist nonprofits politically aligned with those who spearheaded its creation.” Thus, consumers would be once again left with no advocate for their interests… while big business contributes money to the MAGA campaign.
The Department of Commerce would be gutted and politicized to benefit the extreme right and their big business donors (page 665). Project 2025 advocates that – “political leadership be immediately installed to target the Office of the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration. Further, it says: “political appointees receive a mandate to communicate with external partners…at every stage of the budget and appropriations process to “ensure that funds are not being diverted to programs that do not align with Administration priorities.”
Similarly, the Federal Reserve would be completely gone (page 693). Project 2025 advocates “legislation that would ‘effectively abolish the Federal Reserve and replace it with ‘free banking,’ whereby ‘neither interest rates nor the supply of money’ would be ‘controlled by government.’” Such a move would give free reign to self-interest too big to fail financial behemoths, leading to disastrous depressions like the Great Depression of 1929.
Project 2025 makes the incorrect assumption that the Department of Homeland Security is “help(ing) migrants criminally enter our country” (page 8). It opposes any reasonable solution whereby immigration is “mitigated” (i.e., lessened). Instead, the Project unrealistically demands that the “border (be) sealed.”
Project 2025’s plan is to slash the size of the federal workforce (page 20), politicizing it, while hindering its ability to function. This is based on the radical right assumption that there exists a “largely underworked, over-compensated, and unaccountable federal civilian workforce”. Along the same lines, the Trump administration is advised to “fill its ranks with political appointees” who would “overcome the federal government’s obstructionist Human Resources departments.”
But at the same time, it would dramatically increase the number of political appointees. Estimates are that 40,000 right-wing advocates, including many politically connected but inexperienced novices, would be appointed. Extensive efforts are being made now by Heritage people closely allied with the Trump campaign to screen these people so that they could be appointed ASAP after the election.
They would replace skilled government workers. For example, it says Department of Education staff who Project 2025 insists “inject racist, anti-American, ahistorical propaganda into America’s classrooms” (page 8). Are they supposedly racist for advocating teaching the accurate history of slavery, an issue in several states?
The final column in this series will detail education and government relations plans. Project 2025 spells out several radical proposals for change.
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How to fit four times the people in the same space?
Editor, the Forum:
The constant controversy about immigration issues fomented by Donald Trump needs some rational input! This is an international problem that will not go away any time soon.
I was born in 1933. In that year the worldwide population peaked at 2 billion inhabitants. In March of this year, the worldwide population was 8.2 billion. In my lifetime we have tried to fit four times as many humans into a space that has not and cannot expand.
Our natural resources are finite. Now our ability to control disease has improved. Agriculture has made great strides in productivity, but this is limited. Where are the exploding masses supposed to go?
It is natural for people to seek better access to food and services. So they go to the most successful countries that they can get into. No new walls can stop this!
If the world population continues to expand at the same rate as the last 90 years, I am glad I will not be around to see it!
– Lee Klaer, Duluth
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: ebrack2@gmail.com.
13th annual Peachtree Corners festival is Sept. 21-22
The 13th annual Peachtree Corners Festival, is an anticipated event that brings together residents and visitors for a weekend of community spirit, entertainment and good vibes, is back—for its 13th year.
Located in and around Town Center, the Peachtree Corners will be hosted on September 21-22, with times on Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. There will be arts, crafts, home made goods, live music on the Town Green stage, a classic car show, plenty of food trucks on site and free parking.
Peachtree Corners Festival is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) volunteer organization dedicated to putting on a safe and wholesome family-friendly event. The festival also has a positive cash flow, and funds support the education and beautification of the city. The best part? It is completely free to attend.
Festival President Dave Huffman says: “Our residents like to have a festival to call their own, although we do get many attendees from surrounding cities and communities outside of Peachtree Corners. Come and enjoy.”
Norcross punts on Woman’s Club building
The Norcross City Council has punted on condemning the Norcross Woman’s Club property and acquiring it by eminent domain. At its September 3 meeting, it tabled the question and the item may come up at a later meeting.
It appears that the city is still interested in acquiring the property, and will now be in discussion with the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, the current owners. In early August, the now-disbanded Woman’s Club donated the historic library and clubhouse to the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation’s Revolving Fund. The Trust planned to sell the building to a preservation-minded private buyer to adapt into a single-family home. That never happened, since in the meantime, the city posted a condemnation sign in front of the building, seeking to obtain it by eminent domain.
After the city’s first condemnation move, the Trust said it “makes clear that their primary objective is not to protect a local landmark, but rather to gain control of a property with no restrictions in place.” Local residents turned out in force for the September 3 City Council meeting, where council members discussed a resolution that would begin litigation to condemn the property.
Registration open for Georgia Race for Autism
Registration is now open for the annual Georgia Race for Autism, taking place on October 5, at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds, located at 2405 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville. This event promises something for the entire family! Whether you’re a seasoned runner or simply looking for a fun day out, you’ll find plenty to enjoy.
The event features a certified 5K race, a 1 Mile Fun Run, a 100-yard Dash, and a Tot Trot, ensuring that participants of all ages and fitness levels can join in the excitement. Runner Check-In opens bright and early at 7 a.m., so be sure to lace up your running shoes and get ready for a fantastic time! There’s also a silent auction for your participation.
The event opens at 6:30 a.m. for onsite registration and runner pickup of race number, t-shirts, and race bag. To register, click here.
Want to make an even bigger impact? Start a fundraising team and help us raise funds for Spectrum Autism Support Group. Your efforts will contribute to something truly special, supporting the vital work Spectrum does in our community.
But that’s not all! Stick around for the free Fall Festival, kicking off at 8 a.m. and packed with family-friendly activities. Enjoy a petting zoo, face painting, pony rides, inflatables, balloon art, a sensory fun area, a trackless train, music, entertainment, a silent auction, and over 75 resource/vendor booths. The festival runs until 12 noon, so there’s plenty of time to explore and have fun.
By participating in this event, you’ll be supporting Spectrum Autism Support Group’s mission to provide essential camps and clubs for individuals impacted by autism in our community. Don’t wait—sign up today and get ready to make a difference! We’ll see you at the starting line!
The last event drew a crowd of over 2,500, with 400 runners, and 80 vendors! And, over 150 community volunteers came to make this event a successful one. You want to be included in it in 2024.
The Fraud, by Zadie Smith
From Karen J. Harris, Stone Mountain: This book contains stories that link together in 19th century England. Eliza Touchet is the Scottish lass and cousin to William Ainsworth, once famous author. She doesn’t believe her cousin has much talent and is superseded by famous contemporary Charles Dickens. Eliza has many interests including those involving getting justice for the disenfranchised. Andrew Bogle grew up enslaved on a plantation in Jamaica. He knows all there is to know about sugar and also how the rich deceive the poor, and how easy it is to fool people. When he finds himself in England as a star witness at the Tichborne trial, he hopes to unmask a butcher from Australia who claims to be the sole heir to an estate and title. The trial captures all classes in London and seeks to unmask an imposter. It paints a colorful picture of the time period and explores the idea of imposter phenomenon.
- 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. Click here to send an email.
Naturalist John Abbot spent 65 years in Georgia
Naturalist and artist John Abbot advanced the knowledge of the flora and fauna of the South in the 1700s by sending superbly mounted specimens and exquisitely detailed illustrations of birds, insects, moths, and butterflies to collectors and scientists.
An autobiography detailing his early life was discovered after his death, but little information exists about the nearly 65 years he spent in Georgia. Nevertheless, Abbot’s carefully detailed drawings enabled scientists to accurately classify New World plants and animals.
Born in London, England, on June 11, 1751, into a prosperous family, the young Abbot was expected to follow in his father’s law profession. He spent around four years as a law clerk, but his love of nature, which developed during childhood, ultimately led him to a different vocation. Later Abbot mastered the taxidermic skills needed to preserve and display insects, moths, and butterflies.
Abbot decided to leave London for Virginia, setting out in the summer of 1773. Abbot left his homeland, never to return, armed with an agreement with the London jeweler John Francillon to serve as his agent for the sale of specimens and illustrations\.
Abbot settled in Hanover County, Va. and spent the next two years conducting a geological survey of the region while collecting and drawing approximately 570 different species of insects, butterflies, and moths. He perfected his mounting and shipping techniques, to create a more lifelike appearance.
At the outset of the Revolutionary War (1775-83), set out for St. George Parish (later Burke County), about 30 miles south of Augusta, where relatives of his Virginia friends owned land. Within a few years of moving to Georgia, Abbot married; had a son, John Abbot Jr.; and acquired land in Burke County, as well as other property.
Abbot lived and worked in Chatham County between 1806 and 1818. When the War of 1812 (1812-15) disrupted overseas commerce, Abbot sent his work to American collectors. After trade resumed, he once again sent work to Europe; in 1818 he moved to Bulloch County. Abbot continued to send drawings and specimens abroad until the mid to late 1830s. He moved to the home of his friend William E. McElveen in Bulloch County. The final legal record of the artist is a document that concerns his will, dated October 24, 1839,
In 1957 the Georgia Historical Society placed a marker in the McElveen Cemetery as a monument to Abbot and his work. Two species of spiders and one moth are named in his honor. The Southern Lepidopterists’ Society, established in 1978, bestows the John Abbot Award to an individual who has made significant contributions in the field.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Today’s Mystery may be a tough one
Today’s Mystery photo may turn out to be tough. There are few clues. Some of our readers have been here. See if you can pinpoint where and what this is. Send your answer to ebrack2@gmail.com and include your hometown.
The previous mystery was not difficult, as 14 people detected it, with Kay Montgomery of Duluth first in. It is a view of the inside of the Georgia State Capitol. Following are those who also spotted it: Jay Altman, Columbia, S.C.; George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; Lisa D’Addieco, Hoschton; Matt Willis, Lawrenceville; Mark Smith, Eatonton; Charles Anderson, Hartwell; Alan Schneiberg, Sugar Hill; Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill; Michael Gagnon, Flowery Branch; Robert Hanson, Loganville; Sara Rawling, Lawrenceville; Alana Moss, Duluth; 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: ebrack2@gmail.com and mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
Microtransit pilot program now underway
One of the microtransit buses which began operations of a pilot program in the Norcross area on Monday was parked behind the ribbon-cutting for this service Friday in Norcross. Local officials, led by County Chairman Nicole Love Hendrickson (in green dress) stand about to cut the ribbon for the service. It is collaboratively operated by Gateway85 Community Improvement District, the city and the county. Microtransit is an on-demand, shared-ride service aimed at improving mobility for residents and businesses. Ride Gwinnett also currently operates microtransit service in Snellville and Lawrenceville. Service cost $3. Visit RideGwinnett.com for more information and to download the Ride Gwinnett app.
Green! glass and paper recycling this weekend
Go Green! glass and paper recycling will be at four locations the week of September 9-12, and will take place from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. each day. On September 9, it will be at Bogan Park in Buford;’ On September 10, at Peachtree Ridge Park on Suwanee; on September 11 at Lucky Shoals Park in Norcross; and on September 12 at Lenora Park in Snellville.
U.S. Citizen Naturalization Ceremony at Coolray Field, hosted by the Gwinnett Stripers. As part of Patriot’s Day and Education Day at Coolray Field on Wednesday, September 11 at 11:15 a.m., the Gwinnett Stripers are partnering with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia to host a U.S. Citizen Naturalization Ceremony. Judge Richard W. Story of Gainesville will preside over the naturalization of 50 new U.S. citizens, marking the first time such an event has been hosted at Coolray Field. Those attending should park in Lot A and enter through the Main Gate of the ballpark.
Author Jayme Canty will visit the Snellville Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library for an author talk on September 12 at 7 p.m. She will discuss her book Snapping Beans: Voices of a Black Queer Lesbian South. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Fourth annual Global Ismaili Civic Day is September 15 with a collective clean-up of seven waterways in metro Atlanta to remove trash and invasive plant species, and improve water quality and the health of the local ecosystem. The Ismaili Muslim community will partner with Georgia Interfaith Power and Light, the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, Gwinnett Water Preserve, and the Southern Conservation Trust. Among the areas to be cleaned will be Lions Club Park at 55
Citizenship Clinic is scheduled for the Norcross Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on September 21 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. Invest in your future by applying for United States Citizenship. Pre-registration is required to attend the workshop.
Reading is FUNdamental will take place at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Join Meridith Rose each month to learn about the fundamentals of reading and ways to build your child’s speech, language, and emergent literacy skills while reading together. Children are encouraged to attend. The program will be September 21 at 11 a.m.
Lake Lanier Islands 36th annual Shore Sweep will be Saturday, September 21 from 8 a. m. until 1 p.m. Be a part of cleaning up the lake for the benefit of Lake Lanier and all those who enjoy it. If you have never helped with Shore Sweep, we promise you will be surprised by how fun picking up trash can be! This event, hosted by the Lake Lanier Association is the largest volunteer clean-up in Georgia! Boats or all sizes and types are needed. To register, go to Lanier.org/Shore-Sweep/
JapanFest celebrates its 50th anniversary this year with the weekend festival taking place on September 21–22 at the Gas South Convention Center. Immerse yourself in Japanese culture through food, games, shopping, live performances and hands-on activities for the whole family. Tickets are available online or can be purchased at the door.
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