GwinnettForum | Number 22.68 | Sept. 29, 2023
THE CITY OF SNELLVILLE has a new branch library of Gwinnett County Public Library, as the Elizabeth H. Williams Library has a new home at The Grove at Towne Center. Helping snip the ribbon at the opening were Councilwoman Gretchen Schulz, Councilman Dave Emanuel, Mayor Barbara Bender, former mayor Tom Witts and Mayor Pro-Tem Tod Warner. The branch boasts approximately 24,000 square feet of space, which is twice the size of the previous branch. The library features a meeting room with a capacity for 120, collaboration room with seating up to ten, two learning labs with sound attenuation, 20 computer stations, three group study rooms, 128 parking deck spaces, Amazon lockers and 39 hours per week of Open Access time outside regular branch hours.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Gwinnett Giving Girls find way to make a difference
EEB PERSPECTIVE: The Acropolis in Athens, Greece, dominates that city
SPOTLIGHT: Lail Family Dentistry
FEEDBACK: Send us your thoughts
UPCOMING: County releases Transit Development Plan
NOTABLE: Georgia Power chairman joins Rowen Foundation board
RECOMMENDED: Swamp Story by Dave Barry
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Georgia railroads financially sound, dominated by two lines
MYSTERY PHOTO: Figure out where this red bridge is located
CALENDAR: Celebrate Hispanic Latino Heritage October 3 at GJAC
Gwinnett Giving Girls find way to make a difference
By Darcie Johnson
DULUTH, Ga. | Who would have thought that a challenge given through Leadership Gwinnett, asking participants in 2017 to think of a way they could make a difference in Gwinnett, would have made such an impact on Gwinnett County?
Johnson
Jerri Hewitt Miller and Tracie Cason, LG Class of 2015, collaborated with Margaret Bugbee, of the Northeast Georgia Community Foundation, in establishing a Giving Circle. I had the benefit of being invited to learn more and later would assume the role of secretary. We began working to build the guidelines, mission and vision of the group. The Gwinnett Giving Girls (GGG) was created in 2017, with a mission of supporting emerging nonprofits that support women and children in Gwinnett County. Today, the GGG ladies have given $50,000 in micro grants to local nonprofits making an impact in their community.
When GGG was created, we knew we wanted to create a way that busy career women could gather with minimal impact to their already busy schedules. We did want to help educate the ladies about nonprofits and the resources, serving their community. Therefore, we only meet four times a year. In March, we network and invite new members. For June and September, we hear from three nonprofits at each of these meetings. Finally in December we make a decision to award our grant. We started with a goal of awarding one grant for $5,000. However, through the generosity of these ladies, we have increased this annually.
March 2020, the world was shutting down and most of us were working from home. We got creative and started hosting the events online. Not only was this our most successful year of awarding grants, but we learned from the nonprofits presenting, that they were making great connections with each other. So, we have continued to invite the nonprofits to listen to the other groups presenting the same evening. We record our presenters and place them on our private Facebook page so the ladies can review them, if they are unable to make our meetings, or want to refresh themselves on the presenters for the end of year voting for grant awards.
GGG has grown, many of the nonprofit presenters have opted to join, so they too can learn more about resources in our community, but also to build solid relationships with other women wanting to make an impact in Gwinnett County. We have been so fortunate. Not only have the GGG’s members given their treasures, but they have stepped up to become board members and volunteers, giving of their time and talents as well.
The GGG’s are fundholders with the Northeast Georgia Community Foundation. We ask for a $250 donation from our members, $125 from the nonprofit members and young ladies (29 and younger). We welcome new members from the community at any time and currently are meeting at Cosmo’s Speak Easy in Lawrenceville. If you want further information, please contact me at GwinnettGivingGirls@gmail.com or Donate.
May 2023, I graduated from Leadership Gwinnett, the largest ever. It has been my complete pleasure to have grown this group and awareness to nonprofits in Gwinnett County over the last seven years.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
The Acropolis in Athens, Greece, dominates that city
Nighttime light on Acropolis
(Editor’s note: Two 87-year-olds have just returned from a cruise off the Dalmatian coast. Their trip started in Athens, Greece. Here is a description of that city. –eeb)
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
SEPT. 29, 2023 | Never have I seen a symbol that dominates a city as does the Parthenon at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. It is formally known as the Temple of Athena Parthenos (Athena the Virgin).
The massive stone structure, in ruins but still an amazing edifice, glows white while being lighted during the night skies, sitting on a flat seven acre limestone hill 490 feet above the surrounding land. The night time darkness heightens its statement, though even during the day, it’s easily visible from most of Athens, while the city tapers easily down from the Acropolis to the coastal sea level, about 17 miles away.
The re-creation of the 42-foot statue Athena in Nashville, Tenn. is the focus of that second replica of the Parthenon just as it was in ancient Greece. The Nashville Parthenon and the Athena statue are both full-scale replicas of the Athenian originals.
The Parthenon in Nashville, Tenn. doesn’t dominate the area as does the Athens original. The Parthenon in Nashville, Tenn. is situated entirely differently. In Nashville, the Parthenon stands as the centerpiece of Centennial Park, and while beautiful and not in ruins, the Tennessee version does not stand out uniquely from the surrounding Nashville land. It’s a tourist attraction, but not the compelling symbol of Nashville, which is dominated by country music. But in Greece, you can see the Acropolis from much of the city, as it dominantly reigns over the area.
Can be seen from throughout the city.
The original Parthenon is so inspiring, even more so at night, in its stand-out whiteness.
The Acropolis of Athens is the most striking and complete ancient Greek monumental complex still existing in our times. Its overall dimensions are approximately 101 by 228 feet. The Parthenon, the apotheosis of ancient Greek architecture, has been rocked by earthquakes, set on fire, shattered by exploding gunpowder, looted for its stunning sculptures and defaced by misguided preservation efforts.The Achaemenid destruction of Athens was carried out by the Achaemenid Army of Xerxes I during the Second Persian invasion of Greece, and occurred in two phases over a period of two years, in 480–479 BC.
Acropolis dominates the city.
And to think this magnificent structure was built about 1,500 years ago when many modern tools and transport vehicles were yet to be built. The flat structure of the Acropolis is in itself spectacular. To accommodate the temple, the south part of the summit was cleared, made level by adding some 8,000 two-ton blocks of limestone, a foundation 36 feet deep at some points, and the rest was filled with soil kept in place by the retaining wall. Think again: how did they maneuver these massive stones to the site without modern mechanical devices?
While skyscrapers are the symbol of New York, the Parliament of London, and the Eiffel Tower a symbol of Paris, the Acropolis stands out as the dominant feature of Athens, and all of Greece. It is a magnificent domination!
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Lail Family Dentistry
Dr. Slade Lail and his team
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Lail Family Dentistry has been serving the community in Duluth and Gwinnett County for 53 years. Being the longest serving dental practice in the county, our roots run deep within our community and will continue to do so for generations to come. The doctors at Lail FamilyDentistry are all members of the Lail family and are here to provide for you and yours. If you are in search of a traditional, hometown dentist that utilizes the latest dental techniques and technology while also exemplifying the utmost sense of professionalism, timeliness, and hospitality, we would be glad to welcome you to our practice. For more information, please visit our website at drlail.com or phone (770) 476-2400.
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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.
County releases Transit Development Plan
The Board of Commissioners have approved its Transit Development Plan (TDP) in anticipation of the county’s recent spike in population and economic growth.
Spearheaded by the Gwinnett Transportation department, the plan was developed over an 18-month period from 2022 to 2023 using the community’s feedback as the catalyst for its recommendations. The TDP evaluated changing transportation demands, considered significant population growth, and aligned transit services and infrastructure investments with the county’s identified priorities and needs.
Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson says: “This transformative plan benefits everyone by improving and expanding multimodal transportation services countywide. It charts an intentional path forward while paving the way for a more prosperous future, providing convenient transit alternatives for our residents and reducing congestion on our roads.”
The new plan encompasses a comprehensive network that covers all of Gwinnett County with shared ride services. The plan also comprises a multi-faceted approach that includes the introduction of Local Ride, Quick Ride, Rapid Ride and Airport Ride networks to connect areas seamlessly within the county and to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Gwinnett DOT Director Lewis Cooksey adds: “By embracing innovative ways to reimagine our local transit service and enhance connectivity to the greater Atlanta region, the adopted TDP creates a clear road ahead for a more efficient, accessible, reliable and environmentally friendly transportation option in Gwinnett County. This TDP puts the focus on providing mobility for all by thoughtfully leveraging the best transit modes to adequately meet the varying needs of each of our communities.”
Some of the recommendations outlined in the TDP include:
- Expanding Ride Gwinnett to seven days a week;
- Adding high-capacity transit along the county’s busiest corridors; and
- Building out 500 miles of convenient and frequent fixed routes.
- View the complete Transit Development Plan recommendations online.
Slip ramp give easier access to hospital from four-lane
A new slip ramp from Georgia Highway 316 East to Northside Hospital Gwinnett has been opened at Georgia Highway 120 in Lawrenceville.
The City of Lawrenceville has been working with the Georgia Department of Transportation and Northside Hospital Gwinnett since July 2022 to add this slip ramp, making it easier to gain access to the hospital campus. It also will relieve congestion at the ramp to Georgia Highway 120 (Pike Street).
City of Lawrenceville worked with CHA Consulting, Inc. as the designer, Ohmshive Construction, LLC as the contractor, and Atlas as the construction manager. The total project cost is $2,144,586 and includes 0.41 miles of grading, curb and gutter, sidewalk, drainage, and asphalt paving.
Half Mile project to relieve GGC congestion
A half-mile expansion of Collins Hill Road from University Center Lane to the Lendon Connector is set to start construction later this month.
The project will add two travel lanes with a center lane, install a shoulder with a curb and gutter and include a new 12-foot-wide multi-use path.
The project aims to reduce traffic congestion near Georgia Gwinnett College and downtown Lawrenceville. The installation of the southbound travel lane and longer turn lane will also provide smoother access to side roads and the college entrance.
The Collins Hills widening project is expected to be completed and opened by mid-2024 and is funded by SPLOST. The contract bid for the project is $1.3 million, and was awarded to CMC, Inc. of Suwanee.
Georgia Power chairman joins Rowen Foundation board
Greene
Georgia Power chairman, president and CEO Kim Greene has joined the board of the Rowen Foundation. As leader of the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company, Greene brings a strong passion for emerging technologies, innovation and STEM-related education to the table. In addition to her leadership role with Georgia Power, Greene serves as a director for Valero Energy Corporation and the Metro Atlanta Chamber. She also serves on the board of trustees for the Morehouse School of Medicine and Georgia Research Alliance and is a member of Atlanta Rotary. Greene was recently named one of Atlanta’s Most Admired CEOs by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Greene was also named to the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame, received the University of Tennessee’s Distinguished Alumna Award and the University of Tennessee’s Nathan W. Dougherty Award – the most prestigious honor presented by the College of Engineering.
GGC ranked 4th nationally in ethnic diversity
Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) has been ranked as the most ethnically diverse Southern regional college, for 10 consecutive years according to the 2024 U.S. News and World Report magazine college and university rankings. The Southern region includes 12 states and Puerto Rico.The same report indicated that GGC ranks No. 4 in ethnic diversity among regional colleges in the nation.
The ranking was based on data reported from the college’s fall 2022 semester. With 11,030 students, the ethnic composition of GGC’s student body was 32 percent Black/African American; 27 percent Hispanic; 24 percent White; 12 percent Asian, 4 percent multi-ethnic and less than one percent each for Native American, Pacific Islander and unknown.
Jones returns home with Georgia Banking Company
Jones
After eight years of diverse experiences across the financial services industry, Tyler Jones is returning home to Griffin, Ga., as the newly appointed Market President for Georgia Banking Company (GBC).
Bartow Morgan, Jr., CEO of GBC, says: “For the past two years, Tyler has been an integral part of our team, serving as the vice president of specialty finance. During this time, he has witnessed and contributed to our remarkable growth. We are confident that his leadership will continue to drive us forward, pushing the envelope on sophistication and innovation in the community banking space.”
Tyler’s journey has taken him through various industries, including structured real estate transactions, lending to private equity and private credit funds, small business management, company sales, and a wide array of structured finance products. Now, he will leverage these skills to invigorate and propel businesses in the Griffin community. He is a graduate of the Terry College of Business of the University of Georgia, with a BBA in finance.
Swamp Story, by Dave Barry
From Sara Rawlins, Lawrenceville: Get glimpse why Florida brings out the crazy in folks in this book. It is one hilarious misadventure after another about a group of misfits coming together in scheme after scheme. It takes place in the Everglades on the Tamiami Trail, capturing what happens when a two lane main road becomes clogged from crowds going to see an adventure caused by today’s social media. I have been in traffic like that on that very road as a child, but usually it was because of a wreck. There are canals on both sides of the road, so you just have to wait it out until things get cleared away. As an ex-Floridian who lived near the Everglades in a once sleepy town of Homestead, I went to school with a few of these characters. Thank goodness for Dave Barry who can remember times while the bad guy got what he deserved.
- 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
Georgia railroads financially sound, dominated by two lines
A declining passenger business, however, was a small part of the Georgia railroads’ decline; they continued to lose the much-larger freight business to trucks, and they could not attract the capital investment to maintain thousands of miles of lightly used track. The Staggers Rail Act of 1980 extensively deregulated the railroads and put them on a stronger financial footing, but it led to the abandonment of hundreds of railroad miles, including tracks that had once served as main lines.
Today, most railroads are financially sound, but there are many fewer than before. In Georgia, most freight traffic is carried by only two: CSX (successor to ACL and Seaboard) and Norfolk Southern (successor to Southern Railway and Central of Georgia). Twenty-three short lines serve as local feeders to the main lines. Passenger service, which never disappeared entirely, is available on two Amtrak routes. One route, known as the Crescent, runs from New York to Washington, D.C., through north Georgia and Atlanta and on to New Orleans, Louisiana. The other runs from New York to the Georgia coast and on to Florida.
A great many Georgia cities and towns, including Alamo, Baxley, Bremen, College Park, Cornelia, Manchester, Millen, Pembroke, Smyrna, Soperton, Waycross, and Winterville, owe their existence to the railroads. The growth in the number of towns engendered by the railroads was due in part to the steam trains’ need to stop frequently for water (to be converted into steam) and fuel (first wood, later coal).
Once the railroads came through an area, towns grew up along them, frequently at points where trains would stop for water and fuel. A depot would be built and businesses would locate nearby to take advantage of the concentration of potential customers. Other businesses would be established to provide such services as lodging, saloons, livery stables, blacksmiths, warehouses, and milling. Eventually a town or city would develop.
Often a city would be incorporated with its boundaries legally defined as a circle with the railroad depot in the center. For instance, the boundaries of Dalton were defined as one mile in every direction from the depot.
In several cases county seats were moved to be on the railroad. In Lowndes County the seat was moved from Troupville to Valdosta, a new town on the Atlantic and Gulf. In Fannin County the seat was moved from Morganton to Blue Ridge, a new town on the Marietta and North Georgia Railroad. In Bartow County the seat moved from Cassville to Cartersville, and in Jones County the seat moved from Clinton to Gray. In other cases the county seat remained off the railroad while a larger town developed on the rail line, as was the case in Crawford County, where the new railroad town of Roberta grew to surpass the seat, Knoxville, in size.
Today, railroads are a major part of Georgia’s freight infrastructure. The port of Savannah—the fourth busiest container port in the country in 2015—and the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport both depend on Georgia’s interstates and railroads to ship goods into the interior of the country. By 2014 CSX, one of the two largest rail operators in the state, had handled more than 1.9 million carloads of freight in Georgia and was operating nearly 27,000 miles of track.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Can you determine where this red bridge is located?
Check out where you think this red bridge might be. Be careful; it might not be where you think it is. Send your thoughts on its location to elliott@brack.net, and include your hometown.
The last mystery photo, several days ago, was recognized by several people including Stew Ogilvie, Lawrenceville: “It’s the historic (1852) Arlington Green Covered Bridge (Bennington County, Vermont) over Batten Kill in Arlington, Vt. It’s also known as the Bridge at the Green. The bridge is a Town Lattice truss. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.”
Others finding out this mystery included Jay Altman, Columbia, S.C.; Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill; Allen Peel, San Antonio, Tex.; and George Graf, Palmyra Va.
- 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.
Celebrate Hispanic Latino Heritage Oct. 3 at GJAC
Celebrate Hispanic Latino Heritage on Tuesday, October 3 at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center Plaza in Lawrenceville. It’s going to be an evening filled with riveting performances, great food, and fellowship with Gwinnett’s vibrantly connected community! Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m., and the program will start at 7 p.m. Click here to register to attend.
Join the book launch of bestselling author Denny S. Bryce’s newest historical fiction novel, The Other Princess. This will be at the Duluth branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on October 3 at 7 p.m. She will be in conversation with fellow historical fiction author Vanessa Riley. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Snellville Commerce Club will meet on October 3 at noon at the City Hall. Speaker will be Craig Dominey, senior film location specialist and camera ready program manager of the Georgia Film Office. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University. He worked as a scriptwriter for numerous commercials and corporate videos. Craig has also served as a contributing writer for regional websites, magazines and newspapers.
Understanding Medicare: Get unbiased guidance from a Certified Medicare Counselor about costs and coverage, comparing options, and enrolling in plans. This will be held Wednesday, October 4, at 11 a.m. at the Grayson branch of Gwinnett County Public Library.
Reading is FUNdamental will be presented at the Norcross branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on October 7 at 11 a.m. Would you like to learn how to build your child’s speech, language, and emergent literacy skills while reading together? If so, this series is for you!
Put on your calendar: The 44th Annual Elisha Winn Fair will be Saturday and Sunday, October 7-8, at the Elisha Winn House, Gwinnett’s birthplace, at 908 Dacula Road in Dacula. Enjoy a living history exhibit, good food, craft vendors, music, blacksmithing, weaving, spinning and military enactors. The fair is sponsored by the Gwinnett Historical Society.
The Snellville Historical Society will meet on October 8 at 2 p.m. at Snellville City Hall. The speaker will be Donna Barron. Her father was one of the last sculptors on the carving on Stone Mountain.
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