GwinnettForum | Number 25.15 | Feb. 21, 2025
MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS are coming to the campus of Greater Atlanta Christian School. The added features at the private school will cost $30 million. For more details, see Today’s Focus below.
TODAY’S FOCUS: GACS investing $30 million in campus improvements
EEB PERSPECTIVE: My appreciation of classical music goes way back
SPOTLIGHT: Peach State Federal Credit Union
ANOTHER VIEW: Check this story generated by artificial intelligence
FEEDBACK: Feels Gwinnett school board needs splitting
UPCOMING: County opts out on statewide exemption legislation
NOTABLE: Historic Braselton building gets better access
RECOMMENDED: To Echo and Remain. by Greg Lang
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Ga. Tech College of Management is now Scheller College
MYSTERY PHOTO: Can you pinpoint this home’s location?
CALENDAR: GGC Four Pillars scholarship gala is Feb. 21
GACS investing $30 million in campus improvements
New engineering, science and design lab.
By Annie Wells
NORCROSS, Ga. | Greater Atlanta Christian School (GACS) is investing over $30 million in facilities and program improvements. This transformation will be made possible through its Light the Way campaign, a initiative designed to elevate the educational experience for generations of students.
This campaign will fund a dozen renovation and building projects that reflect GACS’s commitment to preparing students for success in an ever-changing world while deepening the school’s strong Christian foundation.
At the heart of the campaign is the Jim and Julie Tidwell Commons, a dynamic hub for middle and high school students to gather, collaborate, and innovate. The Tidwell Commons will feature a new student-run coffee shop and bistro, the new Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program, a Creative Media Production Studio, and modern academic spaces, including an enhanced library and academic support areas. The space will also be home to Christian Life and Missions, providing a cornerstone for nurturing faith and spiritual growth within the GACS community.
Dr. Paul Cable, the high school principal, says that “The Tidwell Commons will be a hub where ideas come to life, equipping students with real-world skills in business, innovation, and creativity.”
Undergoing redesign will be the The Jim and Becky Combee Elementary Complex The redesign will include flexible, modern classrooms, enhanced STEM and outdoor learning spaces, and a state-of-the-art Engineering, Science, and Design Lab. Rhonda Helms, lower school principal, says: “This renovation will not only modernize the Combee Elementary Complex but will also create an inspiring and secure environment where our younger learners can thrive and grow, reflecting our commitment to excellence in education and student well-being.”
The campaign includes a new Athletic Field House to support GACS’s soccer, tennis, baseball, softball, and girls flag football programs. Featuring locker rooms, training and meeting spaces, and upgraded amenities, Tim Hardy, athletic director, says it will serve as a modern space for game-day operations and practices. “This is a premier facility that will allow our athletes to compete at the highest level.”
In addition to the Field House, GACS is renovating and doubling the space in the Naik Athletic Training Center. The expanded training center will feature state-of-the-art performance training equipment, a dedicated speed and agility area, and a new recovery suite.
Additionally, the new Wood Family Treehouse and Canopy Walk, which was completed last month, will inspire and elevate our students’ outdoor learning experiences for years to come.
Designed as a versatile hub for group learning, hands-on activities, and after-school programs, the Treehouse will become an exciting space for educational growth, exploration, and team-building.
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My appreciation of classical music goes way back
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
FEB. 21, 2025 | What was your introduction to classical music? Could it be the same as mine?
It’s nothing high-brow. And in fact, I did not even know I was being introduced to classical music.
You see, it was the William Tell Overture, by the Italian composer, Gioachino Rossini.
Yep, I first heard Rossini’s music when listening to the radio drama, The Lone Ranger!
Of course, I had never heard of Rossini. And yes, it was merely because those producing The Lone Ranger needed some uplifting music that I early on, without realizing it, started my love of classical works of all kinds.
There was a secondary introduction to classical music that came later. When growing up in Macon, the Bibb County Schools had a roving music teacher, Ms. Henrietta Collins, who traveled with a record player to the elementary schools in Macon. It was with great expectations when she came to my Gresham Elementary School. She would tell us about a record, then play it for us. That was what became known as “music appreciation.”
Ms. Collins told stories about the composers and compositions. One we particularly remember is Joseph Haydn’s “Surprise Symphony.” Ever the storyteller, Ms. Collins briefed us on the symphony but did not tell us what the surprise was going to be. It worked, as the class was completely taken in and, and very much awakened, when the record of Haydn unleashed that sudden loud chord.
(Wikipedia says that the Surprise Symphony got its name because during a quiet section of the piece, there is a sudden and very loud chord that comes as a shock to listeners. A story suggests that Hayden added the loud chord on a whim, since while conducting, he heard a patron snoring and wanted to wake him up.” He wrote this symphony in 1791.)
My interest in classical music got a boost when I moved to Gwinnett in 1974. One day when traveling down I-85, I was switching between radio stations and found a classical music station. That was back in the day when WABE radio was mostly high-brow music. Between newscasts, they played the classics. So when driving, we began hearing the classical composers, and started to appreciate it even more. But alas, eventually WABE switched its format to talk-radio, and classical music fans, though complaining mightily to WABE, lost out.
While radio stations in Metro Atlanta don’t offer any classics around the clock, at least there is Sirius XM Radio that airs satellite radio featuring all sorts of musical genres. We keep ours tuned to Symphony 75 for the classics.
All these thoughts came from hearing on Sirius XM this morning the William Tell Overture, with me back riding with the Long Ranger and Tonto to right some wrong. It’s amazing the way the Rossini music automatically pictures in my mind this masked man riding a horse as fast as he can across western lands. Yes, music can transform you.
Over the years, Beethoven has become my favorite composer. While he produced all sorts of music, his nine symphonies are my favorite. Our favorite is the Ninth, though we also particularly like the Fifth, but then each of the other seven are delightful. We get a thrill each time we hear any of them.
Thank you, Gioachino Rossini, for your stirring William Tell Overture as background music on radio and later on television for The Lone Ranger that brought me to the classics.
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Check this article generated by artificial intelligence
(Editor’s note: After talking with a Gwinnettian who is familiar with artificial intelligence, we asked him to give us 500 words showing how an article could be written by a computer, that is, by artificial intelligence. He requested the topic to be China’s DeepSeek—what it is, why it’s a big deal in the news recently, and its ramifications. Here is what he sent. He only sent it; he had ChatGPT construct it. )–eeb”
By Scott Lively
Lively
DACULA, Ga. | Regarding these 500 words, I let my secretary, um, virtual assistant, write it. Her name is ChatGPT, using artificial intelligence. I’m just the person who approved it and sent in what follows:
Imagine you’re building a super-smart robot that can help you with your homework, play games, and even tell stories. Now, what if I told you that a company in China has created such a robot, called DeepSeek, that’s not only super smart but also doesn’t need expensive parts to work? Let’s dive into why this is such a big deal.
What is DeepSeek? It is a new artificial intelligence (A-I) model developed by a Chinese company. Think of it as a super brainy computer program that can understand and generate human-like text. It’s like having a conversation with a really smart friend who knows a lot about many things.
Why is DeepSeek special? It is:
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- Smart and Efficient: Most A-I models need powerful and pricey computer chips to function well. But DeepSeek has been designed to work efficiently even with less advanced and cheaper hardware. This means more people and companies can use it without spending a lot of money. cite: wsj.
- Open to Everyone: DeepSeek is open-source, which means its design is available for anyone to see and use. It’s like sharing a secret recipe so others can cook the same delicious dish. This openness encourages more people to experiment and build upon it, leading to faster improvements and new ideas. cite:sfchronicle
- Performs Like the Best: Even though it’s more affordable, DeepSeek performs just as well as some of the top A-I models out there. It’s especially good at tasks like solving math problems and writing computer code, making it a valuable tool for students and professionals alike. cite:wsj
Why Should We Care?
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- Making A-I Accessible: By creating a powerful A-I that doesn’t require expensive equipment, DeepSeek makes advanced technology accessible to more people around the world. This can lead to more innovations and solutions to problems in various fields like education, healthcare, and more.
- Encouraging Fair Competition: DeepSeek’s success shows that you don’t need to be a giant tech company with lots of money to create amazing A-I technology. This encourages more startups and smaller companies to enter the field, leading to more competition and better products for everyone. cite:sfchronicle
- Global Collaboration: Since DeepSeek is open-source, researchers and developers from all over the world can collaborate, share ideas, and improve the technology together. This collective effort can accelerate the development of A-I in ways that benefit everyone.
The Bigger Picture: DeepSeek’s development has caught the attention of tech companies and investors worldwide. It’s a reminder that innovation can come from anywhere and that sharing knowledge openly can lead to rapid advancements. As A-I continues to evolve, developments like DeepSeek pave the way for a future where technology is more inclusive, collaborative, and beneficial to all.
In summary, DeepSeek is a groundbreaking A-I model that’s smart, efficient, and open to everyone. Its creation marks a significant step forward in making advanced technology accessible and fostering a spirit of global collaboration and innovation.
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Feels Gwinnett school board needs splitting
Editor, the Forum:
The biggest problem is that Gwinnett County has outgrown the capacity of a single school board (no offense to Buford). Buford City Schools is a great example of a local school board: manageable size, great facilities, good teachers, successful students.
I know of no other district this large in the country that is not in a major city than Gwinnett’s district. As the county has fractured into additional cities and development areas, the schools must do the same to bring the type of education the people who live in those areas want for their children.
We all know why our long standing school educator was fired and the substitute brought in was a failure from day one. Infighting of the board is not getting anything meaningful accomplished. Time to split it up and give the schools real local control like the rest of the country.
– Dan Mackaben, Crystal Lake, Il.
Action of school board reminds him of Bob Wood
Editor, the Forum:
Your comments today made me think about Bob Wood.
Back when Alvin Wilbanks and the school board ran like a well-oiled highly efficient machine, Bob got elected and delighted in being a thorn in everybody’s side. He was the contrarian on just about every issue and enjoyed the fact. Now I’m afraid we’ve got five Bobs and no Alvin.
– Norman Baggs, Sugar Hill
Here’s a word we lament that people are now using
Editor, the Forum:
Yes, I, too, share the writer’s outrage at the release of people who tried to overthrow the government. Many of them are criminals and will continue criminal acts, thinking King Trump will forever protect them.
I can see the unthinkable happening fairly soon: Trump’s assassination, most probably by one of the thugs he released, just as soon as Musk or FOTUS (Felon of the United States) take away their pensions, medical care, Social Security or other benefits. Live by fire—die by fire.
– Mike Eberlein, Peachtree Corners
High tech rolls over to the Trump suggestions
Editor, the Forum:
Looking on Google maps for a while, when I zoomed out to get a broader look at the southern U.S., I saw that Google had labeled the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America. Talk about a political move! I laughed and showed Jennie, and she laughed.
Donald Trump is like A-I, where you can build your own reality. Looks like he has Big Tech by the tail, or maybe a more tender appendage.
– Mike Wood, Peachtree Corners
Dear Mike: You are so right. Just remember how long it normally takes governmental bodies to decide naming rights to parks, agencies, forts and other named structures. But by the time the new Administration suggested it, Google and likely other similar sites rolled over and started using the new name automatically. This is no way to run a country. We need sensible law and order and basic functioning. —eeb
Arrogant of Vance shows concerning Nazism
Editor, the Forum:
How arrogant of JD Vance to suggest that Germany should not enforce its laws regarding anti Nazism to enable right wing Nazism to have free speech.
The current administration limits press freedoms, because the free press doesn’t agree with them. Recently Associated Press reporters were excluded from White House Press Room, from traveling with the President on Air Force 2 and etc.) because AP won’t acknowledge that the Gulf of Mexico is under Trump the Gulf of America.
– Robert Richardson, 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: ebrack2@gmail.com.
County opts out on statewide exemption legislation
Gwinnett County Commissioners on Tuesday voted to opt out of the new statewide Adjusted Base Year Homestead Exemption introduced in House Bill 581. The vote means Gwinnett homeowners’ assessments will stay the same homestead exemption, regardless of inflation.
Three public hearings were held at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in January and February – while cities and schools are hosting their own hearings on this matter.
The County has an existing Value Offset Exemption(VOE) that protects homeowners from tax increases due to increased property market values. Compared to the new Statewide Adjusted Base Year Homestead Exemption, the VOE protects against inflation and keeps County government taxes lower for homeowners.
Since 2001, Gwinnett County government’s existing VOE has automatically been applied when a homestead exemption is granted to a Gwinnett County homeowner. The VOE freezes the assessed property value at the base year valuation.
With Gwinnett County government’s existing VOE, the homeowner’s County government taxes are based on the frozen base year valuation, even as property values continue to rise. This is why most property tax increases seen by Gwinnett homeowners in recent years have been because of increases in school and city taxes, which have risen as property market values have increased.
Unlike the existing County Government VOE, the base value of the home is adjusted annually for inflation under the new Statewide Adjusted Base Year Homestead Exemption, making it subject to increases.
The benefit of the existing County Government VOE can be seen in the savings that homeowners receive.
The first example is a property in the city of Suwanee with a market value of $420,300 in 2021 that grew to $746,500 by 2024. The homeowner’s county tax stayed at $1,254.71 all four years based on the 2013 base assessed value, which was frozen by the VOE when the homeowner was granted a homestead exemption. The VOE saved this homeowner $5,691.11 over four years.
In another example of a home in unincorporated Auburn, the property’s fair market value increased from $225,500 in 2021 to $407,500 by the 2024 tax year. The homeowner’s County taxes remained stable at $1,066.83 each year based on the frozen base assessed value from 2017. The VOE saved the homeowner $3,116.76 in County taxes over four years.
Historic Braselton building gets better access
The historic 1904 Building, located at 9924 Davis Street in Braselton, has taken a monumental step toward accessibility. Its old freight elevator has been converted to a comfortable passenger elevator, ensuring that all three floors of this cherished landmark are now fully accessible to everyone.
In addition to the new elevator for passengers, the building now features ramps at the front entrance and a fully accessible rear entrance from Davis Street. The rear entrance, located just to the right of the iconic three-story black exterior staircase, includes a ramp and automatic doors leading to the elevator, making it easier than ever for all guests to explore the history and charm of the 1904 Building.
Jennifer Scott, town manager, says: “This is a major milestone for our community. The 1904 Building has long been a centerpiece of Braselton’s historic district, and now, with these enhancements, we can truly welcome everyone to experience its beauty and significance. These improvements reflect an ongoing commitment to preserving the rich history of the building while ensuring it remains a welcoming and inviting space for all.”
Originally constructed in 1904 as the Braselton Brothers Department store for the brothers’ famed mercantile store, this iconic downtown building has, in more recent years, been reimagined as a local market. It offers a bakery, taproom, unique retail shops, and plenty of nooks with comfy chairs. Visitors can pick up the town guide and enjoy historic displays in the lobby and view a collection of paintings by local artist Henry Wood depicting the town’s local landmarks. The building is open every day from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. and is owned by the Braselton Urban Redevelopment Agency.
To Echo and Remain, by Greg Lang
From Paige Havens, Hoschton: Gwinnettian Greg Lang is already known to be a New York Times bestselling author, but recently he crossed genres, releasing a contemporary romance novel – To Echo and Remain. This story left my heart full and my mind reflecting, as it reminds us that we all have back stories and secrets we keep close that mold the very foundation on which we live and love. Though the actual timeline of the book spans just a few days, Lang takes us on a journey across three generations. The prose, the characters, the setting, and the weaving in of Joyce Kilmer’s poetry make for a perfect blend. Lang writes, “Some spend a lifetime looking for love, and others wait a lifetime to be reunited with someone once so deeply loved.” Wherever you are on this spectrum, this book will speak to you.
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Ga. Tech’s College of Management is now Scheller College
The College of Management at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) in Atlanta combines the principles of a traditional business education with the dynamics of managing the constant innovation and worldwide reach of high technology.
Georgia Tech established a business school, the School of Commerce, in 1912 and offered the state’s first professional management graduate degree in 1945. The College of Management now provides undergraduate degrees, a full-time MBA (master of business administration) program, two executive master degree programs, and a Ph.D. in management. The College of Management is now known as the Scheller College of Business. Its enrollment for fall 2024-25 is 2,344.
One executive program allows working professionals to earn a master of science in the management of technology. With an emphasis on technical innovations, entrepreneurship, and strategic planning, this degree has been dubbed by the college as “the MBA for the age of technology.” The second program is the global executive MBA, which highlights issues related to international business and technology and includes four overseas residencies.
The college also offers a variety of short-term executive education programs that address new and ongoing business issues. Custom executive education programs also can be designed to fit the particular needs of a company’s business and employees.
The Financial Times 2006 rankings of the best full-time MBA programs in the world list the college in eightieth place—a fourteen-space jump from its spot two years before. The survey also recognizes the college as the thirty-fifth best value for the money and thirty-eighth in job placement success. In previous rankings, Forbes magazine put the college’s MBA program in the top twenty-five among public universities for return on investment.
U.S. News and World Report included the MBA programs in the top thirty-five overall and gave special recognition to the college’s operations management and information systems specialties.
In fall 2003 the College of Management moved to a new $57 million building in Tech’s expanded campus known as Technology Square, an education, research, and hospitality complex located on Fifth Street in a hub of high-tech businesses in midtown Atlanta. The new facility features 189,000 square feet of classrooms, offices, and resource space and includes a designated area for the Executive Education Center. In addition to putting students in proximity to a vibrant business community, the college’s new location is designed to accommodate plans to double the size of its MBA program and expand its executive programs.
To enhance its research and teaching efforts, the college houses a number of interdisciplinary centers, including the Center for International Business Education and Research; the Technological Innovation: Generating Economic Results program, which focuses on strategies for commercializing new technologies; and the Financial Analysis Lab, which conducts independent stock market research.
Every year the college hosts the Georgia Tech Business Plan Competition, which is designed to encourage entrepreneurship among students and alumni and foster technology-based business ventures. In the months leading up to the competition, participants receive guidance and instruction from corporate strategy experts, venture capitalists, and successful entrepreneurs.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Can you pinpoint this home’s location?
Look at the beautiful detail on this stately home. Note all the detail, the round turret, the bannisters and columns, that second floor porch, and all the many doodads that its carpenters completed. Your job: tell us where this home is located. Send your guess to ebrack2@gmail.com, and include your hometown.
In the last issue, the beautiful photography of the New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia came from Bruce Johnson of Lawrenceville. As Holly Moore of Suwanee says: “This is the longest steel span bridge in the Western Hemisphere and the third highest in the United States, towering 876 feet above the New River. Normally closed to foot traffic, on the third Saturday of October, the bridge opens to thrill seekers bungee jumping, rappelling, and simply walking the span are allowed on this day.”
Recognizing the last mystery were Jay Altman, Columbia, S.C.; Matt Willis, Lawrenceville; George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; Howard Hoffman, Berkeley Lake; Stew Ogilvie, Rehobeth, Ala.; Molly Titus, Peachtree Corners; and Ann Mitchell of Dacula, who says, “I have just been working on trip plans to the New River Gorge and West Virginia. It’s beautiful!”
Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas, gave more details: “Construction of the bridge began in June 1974, and was completed on October 22, 1977. The overall length of this single-span, steel-arched bridge is 3,030 feet long and rises 876 feet above the river. The arch is 1,700 feet long, which at the time of its opening, meant that the Gorge Bridge was both the longest and the highest single-span bridge in the world. Today, it is still an impressive structure since it is still the longest, single-span bridge in the western hemisphere, the third highest in the United States, and fifth longest in the world. It was then, and still is now, an important means of traversing the wide and deep river gorge in the area. Before the bridge opened, it would take travelers almost 45 minutes to drive along a number of interconnecting, winding and often treacherous roads to cross the gorge. After opening, it reduced the travel time to only 45 seconds!”
- 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!) Click here to send an email and please mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
Four Pillars scholarship gala is Feb. 21
The Peachtree Corners Library will host Author Laura Elizabeth on February 21 at noon. She will discuss her newest book in The Island Mysteries series, A Special Kind of Heartache. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
GGC Four Pillars scholarship gala will be February 21 at 5:30 p.m. (dinner at 6:30 p.m.) at the Georgia Gwinnett College Convocation Center. Awards will be presented. Those attending will honor and celebrate GGC’s 20 years of growth and success, and support its amazing students with scholarship support.
Art-Tiques Winter Market will return to downtown Braselton on February 21-23 with 150+ vendors offering vintage furniture, local artwork, boutique items, and more, plus food trucks and live music. Location: Historic Gym at 115 Harrison Street. Times are Friday, 12-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Researching African American ancestors will be the topic of a workshop on February 22 at 11 a.m. at the Snellville Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Learn how to research African American genealogy through courthouse records.
Horns galore! and The Chamber singers and Gwinnett Symphony will be in concert at the Norcross First Global Methodist Church on February 23 at 5 p.m. Jose Manuel Garcia will be featured at the piano as the Symphony presents Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 as well as Humperdinck and LoPresti’s “Tears of Joy.” Tickets on sale at Visit Gwinnettsymphony.org.
Thinking about returning to college? On March 1 at the Norcross Branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library there will be a workshop, College Admissions 101 for Adult Learners. Don’t miss this engaging workshop where adult learners will share their stories of returning to school, applying to colleges, and navigating the admissions process.
Join the Great Gwinnett Wetlands field work on Saturday, March 1 at two sites. Help give some extra TLC to one of our most important water resources – our wetlands! Join to help remove litter, manage invasive plants, and protect the health of our environment! This is a joint effort of Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, Gwinnett Parks and Recreation and Gwinnett Water Resources. To volunteer, click here.
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