By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JAN. 26, 2024 | Perhaps you have heard of the Kendeda Fund, a nationwide nonprofit we learned that has been based in Georgia in a story from the Saporta Report. We read about it going out of business at the end of 2023, and found it to be one of the most interesting stories of the year, quietly and virtually anonymously operating without most people realizing who was behind it.
It was run by Diana Blank, the first wife of Home Depot Founder Arthur Blank. She spent the last 30 years giving away more than $1 billion, particularly in Atlanta and Montana. It’s a long, beautiful story. We won’t go into details because of space. But you’ll find it interesting by going to this link.
From Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful: When you get new products packed with SyrofoaM around it (such as a new computer or printer or coffee pot), what do you do with the packaging if it is Styrofoam?
Don’t send it away in your curbside recycling bin. No, Styrofoam does not belong in the recycling bin. If you participate in the Hefty Orange/ReNew program (the orange bag recycling), you can put it in there and drop it off at WestRock’s Transfer station in Lawrenceville, GC&B says. Otherwise, you can place Styrofoam in your garbage can.
Raleigh Perry sends this note as a reminder: “To everyone who received a book from me on Christmas, they are due back to the library on Monday.” Boy, that’s gracious, Raleigh!
Labor unions developed in this country because of management in many industries being onerous, not thinking reasonably and often having a stranglehold over their employees. We saw an item the other day on how deep that stranglehold was.
When the United Mine Workers of America began to organize in January of 1890, one of their demands was that workers be paid their wages in U.S. currency. Many mine owners paid their employees in company scrip, essentially tying the workers to the company even more. Company scrip was often rejected at many stores, maintaining another way the company held unreasonable sway over its workers.
Can you imagine a company paying its workers today in its own fake money?
Gwinnett commissioners this week were together when asking the local delegation to the Georgia Legislature to use caution when considering the possibility of a 17th city (Mulberry) in Gwinnett County.
You can understand the plight of the commission. It has crafted a good relationship with its current 16 cities on which government does what, on long-term planning, and how the sales tax will be split. To have to bring elected members of a new city to the table will take a lot of time and negotiation. In particular, the county is concerned about long-term efforts, such as the 2045 Plan. We’ll all watch this with interest.
Let’s close today with riddle time, which can also be Bad Joke Time: Why did the tomato blush? Because it saw….get this….the salad…dressing!
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