GwinnettForum | Number 23.86 | Nov. 1, 2024
IF YOU HAVE VOTED ALREADY, you earned this “I Voted” sticker….which in Gwinnett came in five languages, reflecting the diversity of the county. Today (Friday) is the last day you can vote early in person. If you wait to vote on Tuesday, you can vote for 12 hours, with the polls closing at 7 p.m. As of Wednesday, some 257,656 have advanced voted in person, and 17,326 have voted by absentee ballots. There are 663,451 people registered to vote in Gwinnett County, reports Zach Manifold, elections supervisor. This translates for those who wait until election day to vote in shorter waiting times.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Whoever wins could face a Republican Senate
EEB PERSPECTIVE: That old sun moves a lot faster than you realize
SPOTLIGHT: Georgia Banking Company
FEEDBACK: Remember who was first disrespectful of officials
UPCOMING: Rainbow Village moving fast toward raising $15 million
NOTABLE: 4th Harvest Festival in Lawrenceville is Nov. 9
RECOMMENDED: Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie
OBITUARY: Bob Rule
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Stutzmann is first female to lead Atlanta Symphony
MYSTERY PHOTO: Classic building sports colorful shields
LAGNIAPPE: GGC hosts Grizzly networking night
CALENDAR: Local Author’s Day come to Lilburn library
Whoever wins could face a Republican Senate
By Jack Bernard, contributing columnist
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. | Because of Donald Trump’s personality and divisive rhetoric, all eyes are on the 2024 presidential race.
But there’s a second race most important to our country. The Senate currently has 49 Republicans, 49 Democrats and two independents who caucus with the Democrats (Senators Angus King and Bernie Sanders). All the GOP needs is to win one race to tie the Senate, or two flips of seats to give the Republicans control of the Senate.
Now to look at individual state races that could turn the Senate.
In red West Virginia, Senator Joe Manchin correctly decided he could not win against his GOP Senate opponent, the popular Governor Jim Justice. Only the party faithful even know the name of the Democrat (Glenn Elliott) who is running against. So count West Virginia as one GOP turn-over, making the count 50-50.
Montana’s Senator Jon Tester is a rancher with rural roots. He’s well-liked, but a Democrat in another solidly red state. He’s running against a formidable young opponent, charismatic Tim Sheehy, a former Navy SEAL, who is endorsed by Trump. If Montana turns red, that will give the GOP a 51-49 advantage.
In red Ohio, respected pro-union Democrat Senator Sherrod Brown is running for reelection. His opposition is Bernie Moreno, supported by Trump. Larger cities will all go for the Democrat. However, rural areas are headed red in Ohio. Brown has lost these counties in past races, but by far smaller margins than the national Democratic candidates. How well Brown will do, the only Democrat in Ohio to win statewide, is anyone’s guess. But his battle is clearly uphill and may give the GOP another seat, making it 52-48.
Although the state leans blue, Michigan has another open seat that could swing either way. Rep. Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat, is running against former Rep. Mike Rogers, a relative moderate in today’s ReTrumpican Party. Almost every survey has Slotkin ahead. However, the Muslim population of Michigan is the largest in the nation. Kamala Harris is being pressured to take a stronger stand against Israel, and Slotkin is Jewish. It would not surprise me if this race were much closer than polling predictions, but Michigan should remain blue.
Arizona Senator Krysten Sinema is an unpopular Democrat turned independent, who’s not running. Arizona was solid red a short while back. But even though inflation and immigration are the top issues for Arizona voters, that has changed. The Democrats have nominated a popular Hispanic, Rep. Ruben Gallego, while the GOP has doubled down on a far-right candidate, television personality Kari Lake. Chances are that the race will go Democratic. Given a clear choice, voters of both parties may want a “normal” person representing them, so Gallego is favored.
Maryland has been solidly blue for a long time and will probably have yet another Democrat as Senator, with Prince Georgia Executive Angela Alsobrooks their candidate. However, Governor Larry Hogan is a widely admired Republican who just might pick up an upset against a lesser-known Democrat. His biggest problem is Trump heading the national ticket, and many people just voting Democrat all the way down.
Finally, these Democratic senators, Nevada (Jacky Rosen), Pennsylvania (Bob Casey) and Wisconsin (Tammy Baldwin), all should keep their states blue with the incumbents winning.
So, to add up, the Senate almost certainly will turn Republican in 2024, perhaps 52-48. The exact count will depend on how much of an impact the presidential candidates have on Senate elections.
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That old sun moves a lot faster than you realize
Sunrise at Myrtle Beach. (Photo by Susan McBrayer)
By Elliott Brack,
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
NOV. 1, 2024 | The earth rotates around the sun ever so slowly, but in reality to mankind, it moves pretty fast.
That’s the conclusion we got all of a sudden recently. We were resting in a chair in our den, after our morning dog walk. We were possibly nodding, when to our surprise, we felt direct heat on our face.
Opening our eyes, it was the morning sun, shining through a pane of glass in our kitchen, directly hitting us in the eye. It was in the lower left part of the right pane of a kitchen window, and so bright that we could not look directly at the sun. The time was about 8:35 a.m.
That set us to thinking. We have been interested in the trajectory of the sun in our neighborhood for several years. One morning quite a few years back, we were up again walking with another dog. It was June 21, right at 6 a.m. on that date, and the sun came up and was shining directly down our street. The summer equinox is the time when the sun arises in its most northeastern location at about 75 degrees. And it’s also the longest day of the year, as the sun starts on its orbit toward the west, traveling on that long day to about 210 degrees northwest.
We are aware of when the sun sets, for when we are at our computer terminal at about 8:35 p.m. on those long June nights, the sun is again in our eyes from the West.
And for sure, if you can count on one element in the universe, the sun will make that path year in and year out. It is dependable.
Now back to sitting in that chair. Remember, there was bright sunshine shining directly into my eye. And as I pondered, I realized that the sun was ever so slowly rising in a top right direction on that pane. That’s when I checked the time. Very slowly, it kept rising, and at about two minutes, some tall tree limbs and leaves mottled the brightness. Meanwhile, the sun continued to move upward, past the leaves, and again the sun was bright again, about midway along the pane. The clock showed it was by now 8:38.
In the next two minutes, it was in the top right corner of the pane, with about half the sun shining in my eyes. And in another minute, it disappeared from the topmost pane entirely.
No longer was the sun shining into my eye.
That same morning an email from one of our regular readers, Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill sent a photograph, showing the sun rising over the ocean in Myrtle Beach, S.C. I wrote an email back to her, mentioning the sun shining through the pane into my eye.
Her reply: “ I was thinking something similar this morning as I was watching the sun come up. It all happened in – I don’t know – five minutes? First the sky was a coral rose color, and then the sun started peeking up and, within no time, it was completely up.
“I thought, how can that be when I’m standing still? Nothing seems to be moving. An interesting contemplation.”
So we say to you: try it yourself. Pick out a fixed point, and watch the sun move for about five minutes. Its orbit takes 24 hours, and it seems to move slowly, but for sure, it is constant and moving faster than you think.
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Georgia Banking Company
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Georgia Banking Company (GBC) is a community bank that provides its customers with a high-tech, high-touch exceptional customer experience. We’ve built a reputation for providing excellent service and support to our customers. In addition to our community-focused approach, GBC also offers a range of high-tech banking solutions that make banking more convenient and accessible for our customers. Our online banking platform is user-friendly and provides customers with access to a range of features and services, including account management, bill payments, and fund transfers. GBC also offers mobile banking, which allows customers to access their accounts and manage their finances on the go. If you’re looking for a bank that values community, technology, and exceptional customer service, then GBC is the perfect choice. By switching to GBC, you can enjoy the convenience of high-tech banking solutions while still receiving the personal attention and support that only a community-focused bank can provide. So why wait? Make the switch to Georgia Banking Company today and start enjoying a better banking experience. GBC is The Bank of Choice – learn why at www.GeorgiaBanking.com. Member, FDIC.
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Remember who was first disrespectful of officials
Editor, the Forum:
It was Newt Gingrich who started this culture of not being respectful to elected officials.
– George Wilson, Stone Mountain
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.
Rainbow Village moving fast toward raising $15 million
DULUTH, Ga. | Thirty three years after its creation as a nonprofit organization with a mission to bring Help, Hope, Housing, and Healing to families experiencing homelessness, Rainbow Village has launched a capital campaign to more than double the number of people it can serve.
On October 24, Rainbow Village officially launched its “Building Homes. Building Hope” capital campaign to raise $15 million. To date, it has raised $10,752,768, including a $4.6 million grant from Gwinnett County. This is an affordable housing project funded by American Rescue Plan Act funds. Rainbow Village CEO Melanie Conner says: “We have a long way to go, but I am so hopeful, given this amazing launch.”
Within its current campus footprint, the nonprofit can serve 30 families with transitional housing and transformational programming for up to two years. The recent purchase of an adjacent property paired with the development of a three-year Strategic Plan means Rainbow Village can more than double its capacity to serve an additional 36 families.
Conner adds: “More than bricks and mortar, this campaign is not just about raising funds; it’s about igniting hope and fostering change in our community.”
Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson says: “Our commitment to building strong, supportive communities is at the heart of everything we do in Gwinnett County. It is an honor to contribute to the growth of Rainbow Village and its mission to provide a safe and stable home for those in need. This award is more than just funding—it’s a promise to continue nurturing hope and creating opportunities for families to thrive.”
City of Duluth Mayor Greg Whitlock shares similar sentiments about the long-standing nonprofit, “Rainbow Village is an organization the city leans on to keep us in touch with the community. For folks facing hard times, we have to make sure that they believe there is hope, and that is exactly what Rainbow Village does.”
In addition, ambiance that underscored the vital role that Rainbow Village plays in addressing housing insecurity. Attendees were also treated to comfort food and acoustic tunes.
The Capital Campaign funds will support the construction of two new buildings to house 36 apartments, along with the provision of tools needed to strengthen its operational foundation. Rainbow Village encourages donations of all sizes and has established a variety of giving opportunities. With every dollar raised, the organization moves one step closer to achieving its transformative goals.
- For more information about Rainbow Village’s three-year Strategic Plan and ways to contribute to the Capital Campaign, click here.
Glow Light Show returns to Coolray Field soon
Baseball season might be over, but the holiday season is right around the corner. Glow Light Show returns to Coolray Field, home of the Gwinnett Stripers, next month.
The area’s most popular drive through light show debuts Friday, November 15 and runs nightly through Sunday, December 29, including holidays. The dazzling display of sights and sounds showcases over one million Christmas LED lights while you stay comfortable in your car.
Time slotted tickets allow for admission to the show for a reserved time and only require one ticket per vehicle, proving to be the area’s most budget-friendly seasonal event. The optional Flex ticket allows for rescheduling for busy families during a hectic holiday season.
4th Harvest Festival in Lawrenceville is Nov. 9
The City of Lawrenceville announces the lineup for the fourth annual Harvest Festival, taking place at the Lawrenceville Lawn from noon to 6 p.m. on November 9. This year’s Harvest Fest is jam-packed with lively music, curated artisan vendors, and free family fun.
Mayor David Still says: “The Lawrenceville Harvest Festival has grown into a solid tradition in our community, bringing people together each year to celebrate creativity, music, and family fun. We showcase incredible talent, uplift local artisans, and provide a free event where residents and visitors alike can enjoy what makes Lawrenceville special.”
Alongside fall entertainment, Harvest Festival features live performances from talented up-and-coming artists, including headliner Tiera Kennedy joined by Fulton Lee, The Doohickeys, and Six One Five Collective. In addition to live music from the lawn stage, attendees can enjoy festive activities for the whole family. Shop the artisan market filled with local craft vendors and indulge in snacks and treats from a variety of food vendors. Kids will be attracted by the games, while everyone can test their skills in activities like sack races, a pie-eating contest, and a Pumpkin Smash competing for a chance to win prizes.
Braselton, Barrow hospitals get new leader
Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Braselton and NGMC in Barrow County are getting a new leader who has more than two decades of experience growing services to care for people.
Kevin Matson will begin serving as Northeast Georgia Health System’s vice president of Regional Hospitals as of November 4. In his role, Matson will lead daily operations for NGMC Braselton and provide oversight of NGMC Barrow. John Neidenbach will continue serving as administrator of NGMC Barrow, leading daily operations.
Matson joined NGHS in 2000. He received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Brenau University and earned his master’s degree in Health Administration from Ohio University. He most recently led the successful opening of NGMC Lumpkin’s new campus in Dahlonega.
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, by Dai Sijie
This small book (184 pages) opens the reader to the world to Communist China’s Cultural Revolution, as it tells of the exile of two teenage boys to a rugged mountainous community for their re-education. Chairman Mao Zedong began the revolution in 1966, seeking to assert communism ideology, and purge the country of Western influences. He sought to get people out of the cities, with youth sent to the mountainous countryside, to be indoctrinated in local ways. Here those sent to the country are put to hard tasks without the use of routine tools, true force labor, with uneducated countrymen their taskmasters. Yet these boys find a secret cache of books, banned in the country, and learn western ways from them, with the help of a little teenage Chinese seamstress. Well told, the book proved an immediate hit, and has been translated into 25 languages, plus been made into a film.—eeb
Bob Rule
Bob Rule, (1936-2024), of Duluth, known worldwide as “Mr. Yo Yo,” died Oct. 29,He was also one of the seminal figures of the commercial slot-racing industry and hobby. He died at Northside Gwinnett Medical Center after recent triple bypass surgery. Funeral services are planned at Bill Head Funeral Home in Duluth on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 2 p.m.
Rule
Bob was a native of Nashville, Tenn., but grew up in Detroit, Mich. He began yo-yoing as a boy in 1948. He entered his first yo-yo contest in 1949 and in 1952, began working part-time for Donald F. Duncan, Incorporated, managing yo-yo contests and demonstrations in the Detroit area.
In 1955, he went to work full-time for Duncan as a professional yo-yo demonstrator. In this role, he traveled across the United States and to Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico demonstrating yo-yo tricks, managing yo-yo contests, and appearing on local television stations to promote the Duncan line of yo-yos and spinning tops.
The Smithsonian Institution has an extensive collection of his personal papers and yo-yo materials. He was the last employee of Duncan before it went out of business. At the Smithsonian, his collection is listed as the Bob Rule Papers, 1950-1999, Archives Center, National Museum of American History. The collection is divided into five series.
A more complete obituary will be included in the Nov. 5 issue of GwinnettForum.
Stutzmann is first female to lead Atlanta Symphony
The original conductor of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra was Italian-born Enrico Leide, who came to Atlanta from New York in 1920 to perform at the Howard, Paramount, and Old Metropolitan Theaters. Records indicate that an early concert was held on October 7, 1923, with 60 players drawn from pit orchestras of the Howard and Metropolitan Theaters. The group later presented a series of Sunday afternoon concerts under Leide’s direction. The advent of talking motion pictures and the subsequent stock market crash in October 1929 dissolved the group before the end of the decade.
In 1945 another ensemble under Chicago conductor Henry Sopkin (1903-88) was organized by music teachers in the public schools and sponsored by the Atlanta Music Club; it was called the Atlanta Youth Symphony. Adult musicians were added gradually, necessitating a name change in 1947 to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and by 1951 the ASO was entirely made up of professionals.
Under Sopkin’s leadership, the ASO became one of the country’s top 25 orchestras. It commissioned new works, began touring, and hosted famous guest artists. Sopkin, who retired in 1966, devoted the rest of his career to building the ASO.
Beginning in 1967, Robert Shaw headed the ASO as music director and conductor. After overseeing the conversion from a part-time, nine-month ensemble to a full-time, year-round employer, he improved the orchestra’s playing skills, founded the ASO choruses, and brought the orchestra to national prominence through extensive touring; appearances at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and Carnegie Hall in New York City; national radio broadcasts; and its first professional recordings.
Shaw also led the ASO in meaningful engagement with the African American community, hiring the orchestra’s first Black players, prompting the election of the first Black members of its board, bringing in many African Americans as guest conductors and performers, and forging relationships with the predominantly Black colleges of the Atlanta University Center. At his retirement in 1988, he led the ASO and ASO Chorus on their first European tour, performing in East and West Germany, Switzerland, France, and Great Britain.
Shaw was followed by Yoel Levi, who served as music director from 1988 to 2000. Born in Romania in 1950 and brought up in Israel, Levi symbolized the ASO’s increasingly international outlook. He made many recordings with the orchestra and in 1991 led its second tour of Europe. The ASO performed concerts in 15 cities, including London, England; Paris, France; and Vienna, Austria. Levi expanded the orchestra, bringing in many fine new players. His discerning ear for such important aspects of ensemble technique as balance, intonation, and fine gradations of dynamics honed the ASO into one of the finest orchestras in the world.
Robert Spano became music director in September 2001, and Donald Runnicles was named principal guest conductor, forming a unique creative partnership with senior ASO staff for developing musical programs and other projects. Spano led the ASO and Chorus on the opening night of the 2003 Ravinia Festival in Chicago, and conducted them at Carnegie Hall in 2004.
In 2023 Nathalie Stutzmann made history by becoming the first woman to direct the ASO and the second woman to lead a major American orchestra, after MacArthur Fellow Marin Alsop. Stutzmann was awarded the prestigious Best Conductor of the Year at the Oper! Awards 2024 for her debut Bayreuth performance of Wagner’s Tannhäuser. She led the ASO into its eightieth season in 2024, with Yo-Yo Ma, Marc-Andre Hamelin, Inon Barnatan, and Kirill Gerstein as guest soloists.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Classic building sports colorful shields
Look at the colorful shields on this classic building. It’s no doubt a one-of-its-kind. Can you determine where this Mystery Photo was taken? Try your luck, and send your thoughts to ebrack2@gmail.com, including your hometown.
Jay Altman of Columbia, S.C. identified the previous mystery, that of Glas-Allt Shiel, located on Loch Muick, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Built as a hunting lodge originally for Queen Victoria and completed in 1868, it lies at the western end of the north shore of the loch. The queen had previously used the lodge further north in the glen at Allt-na-giubhsaich ,but after the death of Prince Albert, could no longer bear to stay there, with its associations. The cottage at Glas-allt Shiel was extended and became her new retreat. It is also known as the Widow’s House or the Widow’s Hut.”
Claire Danielson of Black Mountain, N.C. took the photo recently after “escaping” to Scotland when Hurricane Helene left her without power, water and food. (She is back in Black Mountain now, but was still without potable water when she returned.)
Also recognizing it were George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; Lou Camerio, Lilburn; and Alan 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.
GGC hosts Grizzly networking night
Georgia Gwinnett College’s (GGC) School of Business Administration (SBA) recently hosted Grizzly Networking Night, a popular event held each semester to connect students with professionals from the Atlanta metropolitan area. More than 100 students and representatives from local public, private, and non-profit sectors attended the event, designed to provide students with pathways to career opportunities, internships, and professional mentorship. Initially held in the fall and spring semesters, Grizzly Networking Night’s popularity has driven organizers to expand the event to include the summer semester, creating year-round networking opportunities for GGC students. Attendees value the experience, with many students noting that the connections they made have been instrumental in shaping their professional journey. Each event enables students to gain insight from industry professionals while also strengthening the college’s partnerships within the local business community.
Local Author’s Day come Saturday to Lilburn library
Christmas tree setting of a 40 foot Norway Spruce at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse is today (November 1). After the tree is decorated, the official lighting of the tree ceremony will be held on Thanksgiving night.
America Recycles Day is Saturday, November 2 at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds in Lawrenceville from 9 a.m. until noon. This popular annual event will give locals a “one-stop-shop” opportunity to drop off items that are typically more difficult to recycle, such as electronics, tires, clothing, sneakers, and latex and oil-based paint. Paper shredding will also be available. Make plans to join the group as a volunteer or participant!
Local Author’s Day will be marked at the Lilburn Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on November 2 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Each year, Gwinnett County Public Library provides an opportunity for independent local authors to showcase their works through author talks, readings, book sales, and signings. More than 25 authors of children’s books and various adult book genres will be available for sale and signing. The goal of this exciting event is to bring libraries, local authors, and readers together throughout our community.
The Snellville Commerce Club will hold its annual general membership meeting on November 5 at noon at the Snellville City Hall. President Don Britt will report on the state of the organization, have a financial update and give us a glimpse of plans and activities.
Writing Your Memoirs: Learn how your experiences and life lessons can entertain and inspire others in this three-part writing workshop. It will be on November 6 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lawrenceville Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library.
Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra will present Magnificent Marimba on November 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Johns Creek United Methodist Church. This will be the debut concert for Music Director Finalist Howard Hsu, and will also feature phenomenal guest soloist and percussionist Britton-René Collins.
Healthy Living Workshop will be held at 11 a.m. on November 9 at the Lilburn Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Join community health experts for a wellness workshop to learn more about maintaining your physical, mental, and social health.
Veterans Empowerment Expo is coming to the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Join other veterans and their families for an informative panel discussion, access to resources, and support services that will empower them. This will be held on November 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Healthy Living Workshop is scheduled for November 9 at 11 a.m. at the Lilburn Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Join community health experts for a wellness workshop to learn more about maintaining your physical, mental, and social health.
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