The following video talks about the planning process that helped develop the list of projects in the twelve regions of Georgia with special emphasis on Plan 2040 for the Metro Atlanta Region.

Studio Segment, ARC Chair Tad Leithead and ARC Transportation Planning Chief Jane Hayse from Atlanta Regional Commission on Vimeo.

My personal thanks for those who work so hard to honor the sacrifices of our veterans.

Dacula Memorial Day Pageant will be held on April 28, 2012.
1 Mile Fun run will begin at 8:00 a. m. on May 28, 2012.
5K Run will begin at 8:30 a. m. on May 28, 2012.
19th annual Memorial Day Parade begins at 10:00 a. m.

See the Dacula Memorial Day website for more information/applications to participate in the events.

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The Mayor, City Council members, and City staff joined with the other 14 Cities in a signing ceremony at the old Historic Courthouse in Lawrenceville later in the evening. These recommendations now need to be approved by the Court to finally settle the on-going litigation.

Mayor Wilbanks said, “I want to congratulate the parties to the suit and the negotiators on both sides of this issue. The Dacula City Council and I believe that the parties have reached agreements that provides for fair and equitable service delivery among the governing authorities in Gwinnett County.”

You can look at the site and all its information without logging in, but remember you cannot post to the forums unless you are logged in.  Go to any existing forum, chose a topic to reply to and make your submission. Alternatively, you may create a new topic and enter your post in the space below the name of the new topic. The topic will be located within the forum to which the  topic belongs. Remember our policies of service as you post in the forums.

A reminder to potential new users, a complete registration is required. Partially filled-out registration forms are rejected. If your attempt at registration fails, you may complete a new registration at any time. Look at our policies as you register. If you can’t live with them, don’t use the site.

This site provides information for local residents or people who may be moving into our area. The City receives hundreds of registrations from all over the world and especially from companies that want to sell you or me something. I’m not sure what those potential users bring to Dacula and the issues that face us and our neighbors. If the webmaster and I cannot determine that such registrations are valuable for our residents, those registrations are rejected. Potential overseas users are encouraged to contact the webmaster to plead their individual cases, i.e. the potential user might be a resident of the Dacula area employed in, for example, China.

What does it mean for the Dacula Community? I’m going to list the projects that most directly affect the City of Dacula. Based on these projects that locally affect you and the remainder of the TIA list, you decide whether or not the TSPLOST is worth a one penny tax on your purchases:

• TIA-GW-009:  Bridge Upgrade at Winder Hwy/Dacula Road/CSX Railroad–$10,400,000
• TIA-GW-025:  New Interchange at I-85/Gravel Springs RD–$33,300,000
• TIA-GW-057:  Grade Separation at Harbins Road/SR 316–$23,000,000
• TIA-GW-058: Grade Separation at Hi Hope/Cedars RD/SR 316–$61,900,000
• TIA-GW-059: Grade Separation at US 29/SR 316–$51,000,000
• TIA-GW-060: Sugarloaf  Pkwy SR 316 to SR 20–$296,000,000
• TIA-GW-069: Walther Blvd N/S Connection at SR 316–$10,600,000

Additionally, the City of Dacula will receive its portion of the 15% of collected moneys that will be used locally. The amount is about $1,489,560 over the ten-year period. The City is working on its list of improvements to be paid for from these funds, if the voters decide to pass the TSPLOST in July 2012.

Starting your own business is a risk. About 30% of all new businesses will fail to be profitable in the first several years of operation. But starting your own business may be an answer to the problem of unemployment or underemployment for many. Most small businesses in the nation have only one employee, the owner, who works out of the home. But even with this statistic, small business is the major employer in the nation, and I think that is true in Dacula as well.

Why then do small businesses fail? One reason is, of course, the economy. Most startup businesses are underfunded. In our economy, it is hard right now to get entrepreneurial funding from banks and financial institutions.

A business may be started for the wrong reason. The owner may underestimate the time and hard work necessary to run a business. The business might be located in the wrong place. The owner may not understand how to plan using strategic, careful methods.

There may be regulatory problems that the owner didn’t consider, or there may be major, established competition for the customers of the startup.

Simply opening a business and waiting for customers just doesn’t get it. I found this statement from statistics gathered by the Small Business Administration interesting, “No website. Simply put, if you have a business today, you need a website. Period.”

I think this means that you have to be active on the “WEB” and social media, but you also need to be active in the locality also. If you don’t have a professional looking website describing your activity, you will lose business to those businesses that do. If your business is not active in the community, your business will lose customers to those businesses that are active community participants. One way any business can begin to work the community is through the Dacula Business Association. Joining with other businesses in the community is a first step. These are people you can network with who understand meeting a payroll, employee problems, what social media means, and the need for personal time.

When it comes to the success of any business, the business owner is ultimately the “secret” to success. Setbacks in business are to be expected. How the owner approaches those with drive, determination to learn, and a positive mindset will ultimately determine success or failure of a given business.

I am always pro-business in my outlook. Businesses mean jobs. Jobs mean a more successful community. Successful communities are places people want to visit and live. Spend you dollars in the community supporting your local businesses.

It means success for you too.

By Shelby Jack – Miss Junior Dacula 2011

9-11 firefighters raising U.S. flag

Do you actually remember where you were on September 11, 2001? I remember that day clearly. I was sitting at the green table at Dacula Elementary School, in Mrs. Eddleman’s second grade class. Our principal came over the intercom to tell our teachers to turn on the news to see what had happened.  As a second grader news like this doesn’t really affect you that much.

Five years later I heard of a firefighter’s story, a man that not only went the extra mile but the extra two. His name was Stephen Siller. Every hero has his or her struggle; Stephen’s was losing both of his parents at the age of ten. But his life allowed him to grow into an extraordinary individual. Stephen was heading home one day after the late shift at Squad 1. He was heading to play a round of golf with his brothers when the scanner in his truck told him of the first plane hitting the towers.  He called his wife, Sally, to let her know he would be late.

Stephen turned his truck around and headed back to his Squad, not knowing his company had already left. He grabbed his gear and jumped back in his truck. He finally made his way to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel where he found it they closed it due to traffic so Stephen strapped on 60 pounds of gear and started running through the tunnel that was two miles to the towers, knowing he had a wife and five kids back at home.

Stephen died saving lives that day. Stephen’s life and heroic death can serve as a reminder to us all to go the extra mile, or in Stephen’s case the extra two. His family went the extra two miles by creating a race and charity in Stephen’s name. The charity is called Stephen Siller’s “Let Us Do Good Children’s Foundation”. This charity helps children with one or both parents in the war in Iraq or 9/11.

Every year they also host a race in New York following Stephen’s heroic footsteps through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel.   I have been honored to run in that race alongside soldiers, police officers, and firemen strapped in all their gear. As we remember 9/11,  I hope the country can not only remember those who were lost, but the heroes that sacrificed their life for others. We can all learn to go the extra mile … or two miles … for someone else. Thank you.

Monica Wolfe – Young Miss Dacula 2011

On Sept 11^th, 2001, thousands of people died as a result of terrorists attacks.

But of those thousand, 8 special people perished- people who had just begun the journey of life- 8 special children. – the youngest victims of 911.

Forget the horrible images of smoke billowing out of building and planes crashing, I want you to think about the children- children full of life and potential.  Let’s celebrate and remember them, as they were….

Asia Cotton- 11 years old- She loved reading and science.  She wanted to be a pediatrician when she grew up.

Rodney Dickens- 11 year’s old- An honor roll student who loved to watch wrestling.

Bernard Curtis Brown- Also, 11 years old- He lived for school.  He would not miss school, even when sick.  And he loved basketball, especially Michael Jordan.

Sisters- Zoe and Dana Falkenberg- ages 8 & 3- close sisters, who were vacationing with their parents.  Couldn’t you just envision them holding hands?

Juliana Valentine McCourt- Age 4 – on her way to Disneyland with her momma.

David Brandhurst- age 3- a little boys who was full of smiles and laughter. He had just vacationed with his family.

And finally, Christine Lee Hanson, age 2-a girl who always ended her calls to Grandma as I love you namma.

These were children filled with promise; with life. Their laughter and love filled the hearts of mothers, fathers, grandparents, siblings, teachers and friends. In their little time on earth, they touched the lives of so many.

They made a difference. They made an impact.

In their memory, I challenge you each to do 8 good deeds of charity or service. And when you serve, do it in the names of Asia, Rodney, Bernard, Zoe, Dana, Juliana, David, and Christine.

May they rest in peace.  May they never be forgotten.