Elliott Brack’s Perspective
BRACK: Boyce firm named Atlanta Contractor of the Year
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | For the fifth year in a row, a firm started in Dacula when Thomas Boyce turned 16 years old has been named the Contractor of the Year for Atlanta by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). Boyce Design and Contracting of Dacula focuses on high end residential remodeling projects in the Northern Atlanta area.
The firm is owned by brothers Thomas 30, and John Boyce, 28, sons of Carole and Peter Boyce of Dacula. Carole is a member of the Gwinnett School Board, while her husband is an attorney.
BRACK: Collins Hill grad wins “full ride” for Ph.D. at University of Virginia
By Elliott Brack | A Collins Hill High graduate has completed her degree at Clemson University and because of her accomplishments, has won a “full ride” five year program to complete her Ph. D. degree at the University of Virginia (UVA) in economics. One person put the value of the award at $250,000.
BRACK: Collins got the job done at Peachtree Christian Hospice
By Elliott Brack | Most people in Gwinnett probably do not realize the contribution that Dr. Jim Collins, who died at age 77 last week, had on the county. Dr. Collins was the long-time pastor of the Peachtree Christian Church in downtown Atlanta. Through his efforts, Duluth’s Peachtree Christian Hospice is now thriving in Gwinnett.
BRACK: Tragic accident near Savannah raises questions of student travel
By Elliott Brack | The tragic April 22 vehicular pile-up on Interstate 16 near Savannah where five Georgia Southern University nursing students were killed has shocked our state, and has caused concern on the national stage. It may even lead to new legislation regulating heavy transport rigs to push safer highways.
BRACK: Without good people involved, bad government will erupt
By Elliott Brack | All most citizens want in their life is to do their job well, enjoy their family, hopefully take a vacation from time to time, and be a good citizen. All most want out of their government is for it to work in the background by delivering services efficiently, and not cause a stir. That will make them happy.
For the most part, except for some recent exceptions, Gwinnett County governments pretty well do that. Yes, there are from time-to-time some headlines that make the county citizens unhappy, and yes, there are some frictions in one or two municipal governments.
Unfortunately, many citizens don’t involve themselves much with government. Most governments chug along trying to do a good job, and staying our of the headlines when it comes to shenanigans.
Gwinnett Forum | April 1, 2025
“However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results.”
— Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (1874-1965), via Lee Klaer, Duluth.
Continuing objectives
Gwinnett Forum publisher Elliott Brack suggests Gwinnett County needs a long-range list of continuing objectives for improving the county. His 2025 list:
- Move statewide non-partisan judicial and school board elections to the date of the General Election.
- More creative efforts to support the arts in Gwinnett.
- Advancement and expansion of city historical societies.
- Require establishments that serve alcoholic beverages to halt sales of such products at 1 a.m., and close by 2 a.m.
- Require the Georgia Legislature to meet only once every two years.
- Eliminate single-use plastic packaging and straws in Gwinnett and require instead the use of paper products.
- Gwinnett planners to encourage condos and townhouses instead of apartments.
- County-wide microtransit services.
Interested in Gwinnett history?
Now re-printed in its third edition, Gwinnett: A Little Above Atlanta, the award-winning history of Gwinnett County, is once again available for purchase. It sold out of its first two printings. The book won the 2010 Award of Excellence in Documenting Georgia History from the Georgia Historical Records Advisory Board. The book is available at Old Town Antiques at 93 Main Street in Lilburn.
- The history of Gwinnett is also available as an e-book from Amazon or Barnes and Noble for $9.95.
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