Today’s Focus
FOCUS: Writer remembers article describing fascist Spain
By Ashley Herndon | In this election cycle before any of us endorse theocratic proto-fascism as a “good” alternative to our democratic republic, understand a miserably failed movement .
“Spain’s Francisco Franco called himself Caudillo, meaning ‘strongman,’ and once in power, quickly began stripping away social freedoms. Up to the early 1930s, Spain (having overcome some historical terrors,) was among Europe’s most progressive countries.”
FOCUS: Strategy team presents Gwinnett Mall revitalization plan
By Lillian Boff | The Gwinnett Place Mall Site Revitalization Strategy Team has presented the implementation strategy for transforming the Gwinnett Place Mall site to the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners. The team consists of a partnership effort of Gwinnett County, the Atlanta Regional Commission, the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (CID), and consultant VHB.
FOCUS: Sculptor Olu Amoda wins $50,000 Hudgens art prize
By Stephanie Lloyd | Sculptor Olu Amoda of Smyrna has been named the 2022 Hudgens Prize recipient, with a cash award of $50,000 and a solo exhibition at the Jacqueline Casey Hudgens Center for Art and Learning in 2023. Born in Warri, Nigeria, Amoda earned a Masters of Fine Arts from Georgia Southern University in 2009, and has since made Georgia his home.
Gwinnett Forum | Aug. 23, 2024
“Never tell anyone that you’re writing a book, going on a diet, exercising, taking a course, or quitting smoking. They’ll encourage you to death.”
– Comic Artist Lynn Johnston (“For Better or Worse”) (1947 – ).
Recent deaths
DULUTH FALL FESTIVAL
The family-friendly event, Duluth Fall Festival, will take place on September 28-29. This is the 41st year, and the Festival has consistently been voted one of the top festivals in the entire area, including “Best Large Festival in the Southeast’” by national publications.
There will be more than 300 arts, crafts and food booths, a huge parade, entertainment at two venues, a 5K road race, and much more. If you would like more information, are interested in volunteering, etc., go to the Festival website:
Continuing objectives
Gwinnett Forum publisher Elliott Brack suggests that Gwinnett County needs a long-range list of continuing objectives for improving the county. His list:
- Move statewide non-partisan judge and school board elections to the General Election.
- Adoption of the 2023 Transit Plan for Gwinnett.
- 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.
- 21st century salary for the Gwinnett County Commission members.
- Remove chewing gum on sidewalks at entrances of post offices and other governmental buildings.
- Eliminate single-use plastic packaging and straws in Gwinnett and require instead the use of paper products.
- Condos instead of apartments for Gwinnett.
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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