GwinnettForum | Number 22.05 | Jan. 17, 2023
NEW BRANDING: Gwinnett County Transit’s buses are sporting a new design, as the county transit agency is going through a rebranding, and getting a new name: “Ride Gwinnett.” To learn more, go to Upcoming below.
TODAY’S FOCUS: It’s not exciting, but start 2023 by reviewing the basics
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Here is the list of the new names for Army bases
ANOTHER VIEW: What happened to nighttime guest in Gabby’s area
SPOTLIGHT: Aurora Theatre
FEEDBACK: New Army base names may break their identity
UPCOMING: Gwinnett County Transit becomes “Ride Gwinnett”
NOTABLE: Check out new mural, Meet me on Main, in downtown Duluth
RECOMMENDED: The Anatomy of Anxiety by Ellen Vora, M.D
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Maule Air makes short takeoff and landing aircraft
MYSTERY PHOTO: Here’s a colorful lighthouse for you to ponder
CALENDAR: Gwinnett Corrections offers Career Fair on January 21
It’s not exciting, but start 2023 by reviewing the basics
By Randy Brunson
DULUTH, Ga. | Welcome to 2023! As we do each year, we will start 2023 with a review of the basics.
The basics aren’t fancy, require no special knowledge, and generally don’t make for exciting party conversation.
Brunson
Then why discuss and review? Simple. They work. And these basics apply equally to your personal and business life. What are those basics?
- Spend less than you make. What’s required? To have a good understanding of both what you make and what you spend.
- Always have a reserve. How much? Some consumer finance types suggest three to six months of expenses. The actual answer is specific to the facts and circumstances of your particular situation and comfort level.
- Avoid debt. Yes, be extremely careful with debt. To my knowledge, there have been few bankruptcies among those businesses or individuals who are debt-free.
- Make and implement long-term plans. It’s easy to find articles and essays about the value of committing your plans and goals to writing. And regular review. The implementation? It takes work and intent.
- Choose to be generous with your time, your talent, and your treasure. Approaching life as a go-giver yields a quality to life, and a robustness to the spirit, that is unparalleled in human existence.
Our opinion about the ideal allocation of a dollar?
- Give away the first ten cents, in a manner which yields no financial benefit to you. It helps free each of us from the tyranny of ownership.
- Set aside the next dime for long-term wealth building. Not for the new house, car, or next business you plan to buy. Long-term wealth building.
- The next twenty cents? Taxes.
- The final sixty cents? Everything else you want to do in life.
Our commitment as a business is to long-term sustainability and viability. To be here to serve families across generations for decades to come. To that end, we have chosen to live what we teach. We operate without debt. And in fact have a corporate resolution on the books which says we will not borrow money. We maintain a healthy and growing operating reserve. And we are intentional about identifying and developing future generations of firm leadership.
That’s enough for now. Enjoy 2023. And remember, the best is always yet to come.
Here is the list of the new names for Army bases
World War II-era postcard, via Wikimedia Commons.
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JAN. 17, 2023 | Since GwinnettForum recently commented on Army bases named for Confederates, who are these bases now going to be named for? Here’s the list:
From Fort A.P. Hill to Fort Walker: Dr. Mary Walker was the Army’s first female surgeon and was ultimately awarded the Medal of Honor for her service during the Civil War.
Fort Polk to Fort Johnson: Sgt. William Henry Johnson, an African American soldier considered one of the first heroes of World War I after he fought off about two dozen Germans alone, killing at least four. He was later posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Fort Benning to Fort Moore: Lt. Gens. Hal and Julia Moore. Hal Moore served in the Army between 1945 and 1977, with assignments in Japan, Korea, Norway and Vietnam. His wife, Julia, “worked with the American Red Cross, and advocated for continued support for military families, including childcare and quality-of-life opportunities.”
Fort Gordon to Fort Eisenhower: After General of the Army Dwight Eisenhower, who went on to serve as the nation’s 34th president. Interestingly, the fort is located in Augusta, where the former president enjoyed visiting and playing golf.
Fort Hood to Fort Cavazos: After Gen. Richard Cavazos, who served in both the Korean War and Vietnam War. “In 1982, he became the first Hispanic-American to pin on four stars, with his final assignment as head of the US Army Forces Command.”
Fort Lee to Fort Gregg-Adam: After Lt. Gen. Arthur Gregg and Lt. Col. Charity Adams. Gregg helped desegregate the Army, including at Fort Lee, while Adams, in 1944, “was selected to command the first unit of African-American women to serve overseas.” Her mission involved leading the 6888th Central Postal Directory in England.
Fort Pickett to Fort Barfoot: Tech. Sgt. Van T. Barfoot served for 34 years, including in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The commission noted that Barfoot, who died in 2012, made headlines in 2009 “when he insisted on flying the American flag at his home, against the wishes of his local homeowners’ association.”
Fort Rucker to Fort Novosel: Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael J. Novosel Sr. served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, where he flew 2,543 medevac evacuation missions, according to the release.
From Fort Bragg to Fort Liberty: After the value of liberty. The 82nd Airborne Division is based here. Its World War II route from Normandy, France, east towards Germany forms part of the commemorative “Liberty Road” featuring painted kilometer markers with a prominent image of a torch. This is the only base not renamed after a military person.
A 10th Army base named for a Confederate is Camp Beauregard in Pineville, La. However, since it is owned by the Louisiana National Guard, public input is now underway in Louisiana to adopt a new name for this base.
The renaming process proved controversial on Capitol Hill, with numerous Republican lawmakers opposing the effort. Former President Donald Trump publicly opposed the idea during his time in office, saying that changing the names ignored the history of the military sites and dishonored the troops that served at each.
But enough Republican lawmakers sided with Democrats to advance the measure, approving the name changes.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
What happened to nighttime guest in Gabby’s area
Gabby
By Franklin M. Rinker
BRASELTON, Ga. | It happened back in 2016. Gabby is a Tabby house cat that enjoys having a cat door in our basement hideaway that joins my shop. The location provides a number of places for her to retreat, eat and sleep, and the freedom to come and go as she pleases.
Rinker
One morning I noticed that her food dish was upside down and her water dish was not in its normal place, with water splashed about. I figured perhaps an opossum had entered the cat door and upset things. My solution was to set a humane trap and catch the opossum, which I did.
The next day the trap was upside down and cat food and water were scattered about. So, maybe a raccoon? So I set a larger trap. The next morning, the trap was there, but no raccoon. I set it again, moving the trap to a better angle.
That night we had friends over and as things broke up, I went downstairs to check out matters. When I turned on the light… what did I see? A large raccoon, who headed for the cat door as soon as he saw me! And outside he went!
I then wondered if he had broken open a large bag of cat food that I had on a shelf on the other side of the room. Not only a ripped open cat food bag was there, but another raccoon was sitting quietly by the bag and just looking at me! He had no desire to vacate the premises! That really bothered me as that is not normal at all! Since friendly raccoons can be rabid, I got a pole and prodded the raccoon. All it did was look me in the eye! I then began to worry about rabies!
That left me only one way to go, so I retrieved my 22 rifle and again prodded the raccoon with the muzzle of the barrel, to no avail. So, I placed the muzzle next to the raccoon’s head and fired. That ended the life of the raccoon, but there was a large pool of blood and a carcass to deal with. I decided to clean up in the morning.
In old clothes the next morning, I planned to clean up the mess from the previous night. What did I see upon entering the basement area? No carcass, and yet bloody drag marks stretched across the floor to the cat door!
Being puzzled, I tried to figure out just what happened? There was no question that the raccoon was dead, but what could have dragged the carcass outside? I took a picture of the scene and then cleaned up the mess, still wondering just what had happened?
About noon, my next door neighbor called to ask if I knew where Gabby was? “She is here, why do you ask?” He said: “Let me look again!”
Returning to the phone, he said: “I can see a red fox eating what I thought was Gabby, but I think it is a raccoon in the little wooded area between our houses.”
My guess is that the red fox was out foraging for food during the night and smelled the blood, followed his nose through the cat door and retrieved the carcass, and dragged it across the yard to the wooded area!
Needless to say, that cat door was shut down the next day!
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Aurora Theatre
The public spiritedness of our underwriters allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today’s sponsor is Aurora Theatre, providing the best live entertainment in northeast Georgia. Aurora Theatre produces Broadway’s best alongside exciting works of contemporary theater. Aurora Theatre manages Lawrenceville Arts Center in partnership with the City of Lawrenceville. This $45 million world-class facility with five venues, has the ability to host a wide variety of performances, weddings, celebrations and community events both indoors and outdoors. Nestled on the historic downtown square, Lawrenceville Arts Center has FREE attached covered parking and is surrounded by restaurants and shops. This fall enjoy events such as Nashville’s Six One Five Collective in concert, the Disney classic Hocus Pocus on the big screen, our Festival del Dia de Los Muertos and the Lawrenceville Ghost Tours. Be sure to secure your seats for CHRISTMAS CANTEEN 2022 as it is sure to sell out most performances.
For more information or to purchase tickets: http://lvilleartscenter.com/ or call 678-226-6222
- For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here.
New Army base names may break their identity
Editor, the Forum:
Concerning military bases, I always found it as punishment of the southern states that the most important bases were named for the worst performing generals or insignificant ones. Ft. Hood and Ft. Bragg have to be two of the most important bases we have and those generals who wasted more southern sons than any others.
There’s certainly room for later great military leaders in our history. Eisenhower, Bradley, Patton, Gavin, MacArthur, Halsey, Nimitz, Schwarzkopf could have been considered.
There is the consideration of the long line of tradition that runs through military families. Seeing the double “A’s” on a shirt or hat gets me to thinking “All American” to the 82nd Airborne.
Changing names may break the identity of these bases. General Bragg hastened the end of the Confederacy, but those who trained and deployed to fight from Fayetteville for decades, are closely connected to those embroidered “AA’s” and the name Bragg. Legacy has filled our ranks and recently this seems to be broken.
To be clear, I did not serve. I make these comments as a history hack. We should not be reckless with the people who swear to put their lives on the line to defend the nation from our threats. I appreciate those who have kept me free.
– Byron Gilbert, Duluth
Surprisingly, finds himself agreeing with what Bernard wrote
Editor, the Forum:
It’s hard to believe I’m about to say this, but I actually agree with much of what Jack Bernard wrote in GwinnettForum on Friday: (“Our children benefit when Georgia teaches are paid better.”)
I almost want to make this an anonymous post to preserve my conservative street cred, but I want to give Mr. Bernard his props. I especially like his point about the entrenched bureaucracy in education these days. I have not found the actual numbers to develop a ratio of in-class teachers to administrators here in Georgia, but I suspect it’s a little top-heavy. Every dollar we spend on administration is a dollar that we can’t spend on actual instruction.
Of course, we can’t agree on everything! I heard Governor Brian Kemp say last week that teachers, in fact all state employees, would be getting raises in his second term. I’m of the opinion that this administration is doing a good job in managing our resources.
Let’s remember that government (state and federal) cannot spend a penny that they don’t first get from the taxpayers.
(Jack, don’t let this go to your head!)
— Rick Hammond, Flowery Branch
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.
Gwinnett County Transit becomes “Ride Gwinnett”
Last week Gwinnett County unveiled a new name and a new branding for its transit system. Embodying the county’s vibrant brand, Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson said “Ride Gwinnett” represents how the county will connect people to where they need to go.
She says: “Ride Gwinnett is the new name with the goal of making our public transit system an attractive and everyday choice for residents and visitors. This is an exciting day and the excitement will continue in the coming months with the expansion of new routes included in the recently approved 2023 budget.”
During the unveiling, Gwinnett Department of Transportation Director Lewis Cooksey and the crowd counted down and chanted, “Move that bus!” to reveal Ride Gwinnett’s new branding.
He adds: “It has been over 20 years since Gwinnett’s transit system began, so a new brand and name that reflects how our focus on mobility has evolved is fitting. To go along with our new look, we will also have new changes to service soon, so it is an exciting time for transit in Gwinnett.”
The rebranding can be seen on the county’s buses, bus stop shelter, transit website and signs.
Ride Gwinnett has seven local routes, five commuter routes, complementary paratransit for local routes, three Park and Ride locations, and one transit center. To explore current bus routes and schedule, fare prices, and more, visit RideGwinnett.com.
Chamber board of directors welcomes 17 new members
Seventeen new members of the board of directors have been welcomed by the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce.
New members joining the Gwinnett Chamber Board of Directors for the 2023 fiscal year include:
- Laura Balance, Hudgens Center for Art and Learning;
- Nathan Bohannon, Jackson EMC/Gwinnett Young Professionals;
- Jim Brooks, Evermore CID;
- Dr. Karen Bryant, University of Georgia – Gwinnett Campus;
- Clayton Cain, Cain Injury Law;
- Cherish De la Cruz, Burkhalter Law, LLC;
- Aziz Dhanani, Premier Petroleum, Inc;.
- Om Duggal, InfraProp;
- Al Edwards, CERM;
- John Gardner, Luckie;
- Colleen Japuntich, NEMA, Inc.;
- Michael Levengood, Law Office of J. Michael Levengood
- Rep. Dewey McClain, Gwinnett Legislative Delegation;
- Brandon Odum, Pinnacle Financial Partners
- Jason Palmgren, Bank of America
- Kenyata Smiley, HNTB; and
- Denise Townsend, United Way of Greater Atlanta Gwinnett.
The Gwinnett Chamber will hold its first full board meeting of the year on Thursday, January 19, at the 1818 Club. To view the full list of 2023 board members, visit and to learn more about the Gwinnett Chamber, go to www.gwinnettchamber.org.
Check out new mural, Meet me on Main, in downtown Duluth
Duluth has a new mural, centrally located and most visible on the back windows of the Nacho Daddy building, dubbed Meet Me on Main. It’s a colorful step back in Duluth history, the product of talented local artist Brenda Ehly.
Ehly
Ehly says “When I first moved to Duluth in 1984, the city seal displayed the motto, ‘Pride in Old and New.’ I think that same spirit is alive and well in Duluth, and I hope my painting, Meet Me on Main, reflects that value.
“The location of this mural installation is actually the same one as the scene depicted. The bank is currently the site of The Chocolaterie, and where Parsons Dry Goods once stood, you can now find Good Word Brewing. The city requested a colorful and whimsical interpretation of a historic photograph, and I am honored to have been included in this project.”
If her name sounds familiar, it’s because she is no stranger to the Duluth art scene. You have likely admired her work during one of your visits to Downtown Duluth. Some of her most notable local pieces include:
- Dream Big mural at Hill Street and West Lawrenceville.
- Painted bike rack at Hill Street and West Lawrenceville.
- Two paintings displayed in Maple Street Biscuit Company.
- Interior & exterior signage at both Crave Pie and Harper Row.
- Backdrop for the model train set at the Southeastern Railway Museum.
- Pen & ink depiction of City Hall located inside City Hall as part of our permanent art collection
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
The Anatomy of Anxiety by Ellen Vora, M.D
From Karen Harris, Stone Mountain: This is an eye-opening look at the origins of anxiety in all its forms. A functional medical psychiatrist, the author says that anxiety means to constrict. Anxiety disorders in America have skyrocketed 270 percent between 2019-2021, likely because of the pandemic. Because anxiety has a physical component, her theory is that many are caused by inflammation that pushes the body into the ‘fight or flight’ mechanism thus causing systemic imbalance. Much of this imbalance is caused by diet and pharmaceuticals designed to foster healing. This type of anxiety is ‘False Anxiety.’ Anxiety that occurs because of life changes such as grief, loss of a job, or a breakup that takes place, comes from outside life issues is ‘True Anxiety’ and requires a different type of treatment plan. The Functional Medical approach looks at the whole person and can provide relief from the discomfort of this scourge of the modern life.
- Seriously, we are about out of Recommendations. Please send in your thoughts on 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
Maule Air makes short takeoff and landing aircraft
Maule Air, Incorporated, based in Moultrie, is a family-owned aircraft manufacturing company that produces single-engine, four-place STOL (Short Takeoff Or Landing) aircraft. Founded in 1941, Maule Air is the oldest of the few small aircraft manufacturers in Georgia. The STOL abilities of the Maule series have proven useful in terrain ranging from Canadian lakes to the Alaskan bush to the dense jungles of Brazil.
Founded by Belford David “B. D.” Maule and his wife, June, the company was initially named the B. D. Maule Company. B. D. died in 1995.
B.D. Maule discovered a talent for things mechanical early in his career. In 1929, at the age of 18, he joined the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 19th Airship Company at Langley Field, Va. When he wasn’t working on dirigibles for the Army, Maule found time to build his first airplane: a single-seat, midwing monoplane powered by a Henderson 27 HP motorcycle engine. He taught himself to fly in it. After his service with the Army, Maule married and went to work for Lycoming Aircraft Engines, a major manufacturer of general aviation piston engines in Williamsport, Penn.
In 1939, while still working at Lycoming, Maule designed and built the “Hummer,” a low-cost self-starter for light aircraft. In 1940 he moved his family to Jackson, Mich., and with Art Knapp formed the Mechanical Products Company (MPC) to manufacture the Hummer starter. MPC grew rapidly, and in 1941 Maule left to start the B. D. Maule Company, which produced subcontractor parts and light aircraft tailwheels that he had designed. As the United States drew closer to involvement in World War II (1941-45), demand for starters diminished and the need for tailwheels and subcontractor parts increased.
The company name changed to Maule Aircraft Corporation in 1962. The fast-cruising M-4 was produced in the small company factory in Napoleon, Mich. With its STOL capabilities, float and ski options, stability, ease of handling, roomy interior, and economical operation, the craft was a success with pilots internationally.
In 1968, due in large part to good flying weather and lower labor costs, Maule and his family moved the company to Spence Air Base, a former World War II training field in Moultrie. The M-4 had evolved from 145 horsepower with a fixed propeller to 220 horsepower with a constant speed propeller. New manufacturing buildings were constructed at Spence, along with a roomy lodge home, designed by Maule’s wife, and Maule Lake, which accommodates float plane landings and takeoffs.
As of 2006 the company had manufactured more than 2,300 airplanes. Maule Air produces 20 standard models of the STOL aircraft, 18 with piston engines and two with turbine engines. In 2003 Maule Air introduced the M-9-230 at the Experimental Aircraft Association Oshkosh AirVenture and became the first U.S. aircraft original equipment manufacturer to utilize the SMA SR305 Jet A powered diesel engine.
B.D. and June Maule were inducted into the Georgia Aviation Hall of Famein 1992 and 1999, respectively.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Here’s a colorful lighthouse for you to ponder
Readers keep sending in mystery photos of lighthouses. Here’s another, different primarily in color. Check it out and see if you can determine where it is located. Send your ideas to elliott@brack.net and include your home town.
First in with the right answer this edition was Stew Ogilvie, Lawrenceville: “The mystery is the South Dakota state capitol in Pierre. My wife and three dogs went to South Dakota recently to see the sights and museums. One of the prettiest, cleanest states in the country.”
Others recognizing it were Sara Rawlins, Lawrenceville; George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; Lou Camerio, Lilburn; Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill; and Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex., who wrote: “If you zoom in to the mystery photo, you will find that above the four main columns that frame the front entrance, the words “SOVTH DAKOTA” (yes .. that is a ‘V’ not a ‘U’). What’s up with that? Well apparently this is an architectural tribute to the Roman influences of the neoclassical design of the building. There is no “U” in the Latin alphabet, and the letter “V” is often used as a replacement. If you have ever visited areas once ruled by the Roman Empire, you will find many historic buildings that use a “V” where we would normally expect to see a “U” in the name.”
Career Fair: Gwinnett County Corrections will host a career fair on Saturday, January 21, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. The Department seeks to fill corrections officer and senior corrections officer positions. The career fair will include a facility tour, background check, behavioral assessment and interview. Gwinnett offers benefits, paid training, educational incentives, tuition reimbursement and career advancement. The Comprehensive Correctional Complex is located at 750 Hi Hope Road in Lawrenceville.
Writers’ workshop on family stories: “Creating Genuine Emotion in Your Characters,” will be on Saturday, January 21 at 10:30 a.m. at the Norcross Branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library. Is 2023 the year to write your family story? Join Susan Beckham Zurenda, author of Bells for Eli,for this workshop.
Author Visit: meet television star and author Matt Paxton in Norcross on Thursday, January 26 at 7 p.m., at the Norcross Cultural Arts Center. Paxton, of Hoarders TV, will discuss his book, Keep the Memories,Lose the Stuff: Declutter, Downsize, and Move Forward with Your Life.
GwinnettForum is provided to you at no charge every Tuesday and Friday.
Meet our team
- Editor and publisher: Elliott Brack, 770-840-1003
- Managing editor: Betsy Brack
- Roving photographer: Frank Sharp
- Contributing columnist: Jack Bernard
- Contributing columnist: George Wilson
More
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 1365, Norcross, Ga. 30091
- Work with us: If you would like to learn about how to be an underwriter to support the publication of GwinnettForum as a community resource for news and commentary, please contact us today.
Subscriptions to GwinnettForum are free.
- Click to subscribe.
- Unsubscribe. We hope you’ll keep receiving the great news and information from GwinnettForum, but if you need to unsubscribe, go to this page and unsubscribe in the appropriate box.
© 2023, Gwinnett Forum.com. Gwinnett Forum is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett County, Ga. USA.
Follow Us