AURORA THEATRE of Lawrenceville has been recognized with the 2016 Governor’s Awards for the arts and humanities. Gov. and Mrs. Nathan Deal presented the award to the leaders of the Aurora, Anthony Rodriquez and Ann Carol Pence, this week in Atlanta. It was one of only five awards given to organizations that have made significant contributions to Georgia’s civic and cultural vitality through service to the humanities or excellence in the arts. Aurora was nominated by Doug Hooker, executive director of the Atlanta Regional Commission, and Bartow Morgan, Jr., CEO of BrandBank, for its continued artistic excellence, immense impact on the region and its thriving educational programming that embraces cultural diversity in both the English and Spanish speaking communities. “Ann-Carol and I are extremely grateful that Aurora Theatre is being recognized as one of Georgia’s major cultural assets,” remarked an ecstatic Anthony Rodriguez, co-founder and producing artistic director of Aurora Theatre. The Aurora is now in its 21st season.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Why This Writer Supports Donald Trump for President
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Gwinnettians Need To Approve Continuation of SPLOST Funds
ANOTHER VIEW: Corporate Crime Fraud by Healthcare Companies and Banks
SPOTLIGHT: Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District
FEEDBACK: Wants Voters Basing Their Ballots on Judgment, Real Qualifications
UPCOMING: Changes Coming To Peachtree Industrial Blvd. and Five Forks Road
NOTABLE: Gwinnett Tech, Mercedes-Benz To Announce New Partnership
RECOMMENDED: A President in our Midst by Kaye Lanning Minchew
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Savannah Siege Long Term Includes Restoration of Colonial Status
TODAY’S QUOTE: Lots of People Will Agree About the Return of Autumn
MYSTERY PHOTO: You May Find This Mystery Hard To Identify
LAGNIAPPE: Norfolk-Southern Hazmat Safety Train Plans Stop in Atlanta
CALENDAR: October 15 Is Deadline To Pay Property Taxes in Gwinnett
Why this resident supports Donald Trump for President
(Editor’s Note: Last issue came with a ringing endorsement for Hillary Clinton. Now check these thoughts out from another reader. It’s all to provide commentaries in GwinnettForum coming from all sides, for the benefit of our readers. Consider submitting yours. –eeb)
By Gregg Stopher, Peachtree Corners | As a lifelong conservative, Mr. Trump was not my first choice for the Republican nomination. Nor my second. Nor my third. I felt like Dr. Ben Carson was the best choice from a leadership standpoint…and I still do.
However, as fine a man as he is, Dr. Carson was much too mild and simply too meek for the current zeitgeist. Thus, it was not to be. Interestingly though, Dr. Carson was the first of Mr. Trump’s opponents to get fully behind him, after dropping out of the race in early March. As the one word I attribute to Dr. Carson is “wisdom.” That endorsement spoke volumes.
Trump
Is Mr. Trump impolitic? Yes. Has he hurt some people’s feelings along the way? Of course he has. Are there more than a few utterances that he wished he could take back? Without question. Yet despite all of that, he continues to tap into a feeling amongst a large percentage of Americans who feel their interests no longer matter to their “betters” in Washington, D.C.
More than two-thirds of the populace feel that the country is on the wrong track, so let’s review where the country stands at this point in our history:
- Labor Force Participation Rate below 63% (worst in 40 years).
- Home Ownership Rate @ 63% (worst in 50 years).
- Poverty Rate @ 15%.
- People on Food Stamps @ 47.6 million
- Federal Debt @ ~$20 Trillion.
- Median Family Income down $3K+ from 2008.
- Health Insurance Costs up 35-40% since 2008.
- Interest Rates held artificially low for seven+ years (portending the significant inflation to come).
- Economic Growth sub-3% for eight years (first time ever).
And on and on. The fact is that this country is in terrible shape. Porous borders, an indifferent administration, and a “globalist” mindset is pervasive amongst the cognoscenti. Never mind this “nuisance” known as radical Islam; more people fall and die in the bathtub than are killed by jihadists (guess who famously uttered those words?).
So along comes Trump, who grew up in –and prospered in – a very different country, one that assumed the mantle of world leadership, and one that knew it was imperative that the U.S. lead. Mr. Trump promises to “Make America Great Again.” What’s not to like about that?
Contrast that with, “I deserve this. I waited my turn. I am entitled to this. Why am I not 50 points ahead?” You tell me, dear reader: which is the more compelling argument?
Mr. Trump is not an ideologue, but a pragmatist. He is about what works; it is as simple as that. He speaks his mind, with almost no filters. Contrast that with his opponent, and it becomes clear – despite his obvious flaws – that Mr. Trump is the only person we can entrust to lead this country.
Bottom line, here is what Mr. Trump represents:
- Borders closed to illegals.
- Adherence to the constitution and the rule of law.
- ISIS becomes WASWAS.
- Immigrants to assimilate to the American way of life.
- A growing economy.
Hillary Clinton represents the status quo/more of the same. The choice is plain, my friends: either Donald J. Trump is the next president of these United States, or you will be living in a country you can no longer recognize ten years from now!
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Gwinnettians need to approve continuation of SPLOST Funds
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | What do you think your property tax payments to Gwinnett County would be if Gwinnett did not have a special fund for constructing major projects, in view of the tremendous growth Gwinnett has had in the last 50 years? (By the way, October 15 is the deadline to pay the 2016 property taxes.)
To fund the many improvements in roads, buildings and schools that Gwinnett has needed, the relatively low property tax rate would be significantly higher, and the average Gwinnett tax bill would be considered “sky high.”
The reason this hasn’t happened is that Gwinnett had a popular manner to help pay for all these major and necessary capital improvements. That has been the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. And yes, you as residents of Gwinnett since 1986 have paid an extra penny (each for county government and also another penny later on for schools) to fund these improvements. But since Gwinnett is a mecca for all of North Georgia to come and shop our retail stores, our malls, our auto showrooms and other local businesses, these out-of-county shoppers help pay for these Gwinnett improvements.
It’s estimated that a minimum of 25 percent of local SPLOST dollars (and we say it’s closer to 40 percent) come from these out-of-county shoppers. All you have to do to believe this is to check out the auto tags in the parking lots of the county. They come from Fulton, DeKalb, White, Hall, Clarke, Barrow and other counties surrounding Gwinnett.
Thank you, out-of-county shoppers, for helping pay for our roads and bridges and sidewalks that all of you use, and thanks again, out-of-towners, for helping Gwinnett pay for its many new schools, which you don’t use. We thank you just the same.
On the general election ballot this November will be a question for Gwinnett voters: should Gwinnett continue to level the one cent sales tax to help pay for county infrastructure for the next six years? If passed, this will bring in nearly a billion dollars over the period ($950 million) to help pay for improved parks, roads, libraries, public safety improvements, and similar projects in all 16 Gwinnett cities.
Since these capital improvements will be needed anyway, we suggest that passing the SPLOST question is the best way to pay for these projects. If county voters turn down approval of a continuation of the extra penny on all sales in the county, the county will be left in a bad position. It’ll still need these many improvements, with no way to pay for them except to raise property taxes. And no one wants that. It will be an additional property tax, yet we’ll be further behind since out-of-county people won’t help pay for the improvements. In other words, these necessities will cost us more.
Slightly over $200 million (20.24 percent) of the proposed SPLOST funds will go to the 16 Gwinnett cities for local capital improvements. That will bring new projects right to your front door, if you live in the cities.
At one time, Gwinnett County government scheduled a SPLOST so that it was voted on in an odd-number year, requiring a special election (which itself is costly, inefficient, and need not be that way.) Few people turned out. Now Gwinnett’s government is on track to allow the voting on this question on an even-numbered year, which means that the vote can be the same year as a General Election, not needing the costly special election. It also allows people to vote when many people turn out, showing that the county trusts the majority to help answer this question.
We urge Gwinnettians to approve this upcoming SPLOST vote. You have a personal interest in this vote, since it will not increase your taxes.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
button size=”small”]ANOTHER VIEW[/button]
Corporate crime fraud by healthcare companies and banks
By George Wilson, contributing columnist | From time to time you hear Republican office holders and seekers speak in generalities about excessive government regulations. However they are seldom, if ever, specific about what regulation they would do without. Wonder why? It seems to me we need more oversight of corporations not less. Recently, I have been keeping track on some of these corporate transgressions and will do so in the future.
Since the beginning of 2010, drug manufacturers, hospital systems, insurers and other healthcare companies have paid nearly $7 billion in fines and settlements to resolve cases in which they were accused of defrauding the federal government.
Among the cases involving healthcare companies, the largest is the $784 million settlement the Justice Department reached last April with Pfizer and its subsidiary Wyeth to resolve allegations that they overcharged the Medicaid program. DaVita HealthCare Partners, a leading dialysis provider, was involved in the next two largest cases, in which it had to pay a total of $800 million to resolve allegations that it engaged in wasteful practices and paid referral kickbacks while providing services covered under Medicare and other federal health programs.
Banks, led by Wells Fargo, account for the second largest portion of False Claims Act penalties, with more than $3 billion in payments. In addition, the CEO of Wells Fargo boosted the value of his 6.5 million shares of stock to $200 million. This was achieved by pressuring bank employees to add new customer accounts that customers did not approve.
With their armies of K street lobbyists and the ability to give unlimited amounts of money to politicians, corporations have a big advantage. So you, the voter, should extend a healthy dose of skepticism when any politician throws out this generality. Better yet pin them down on exactly what excessive regulations they would eliminate.
Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. The Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District was formed in 2006, and is a self taxing revitalization district that includes just over 800 commercial property owners with a property value of over $1 billion dollars. Gwinnett Village CID includes the southwestern part of Gwinnett County including properties along Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Buford Highway, Indian Trail, Beaver Ruin, and Singleton Road. Gwinnett Village is one of five CIDs to be created in Gwinnett County and is the largest of all CIDs in the state. Gwinnett Village’s mission is to improve property values through increased security, a decrease in traffic congestion, and general improvements to the curb appeal of the area.
- For more information visit www.gwinnettvillage.com or call 770-449-6542.
- For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to: Our sponsors.
Wants voters basing their ballots on judgment, real qualifications
Editor, the Forum:
I read the comments of Alvin Leaphart, Jesup, and without going into great detail, I agree with some comments and can’t support others.
One can write a similar piece on Hillary. She certainly isn’t any gold standard. All one has to do is look at her record and then barf.
Many agree that neither candidate is good. Our problem is trying to determine which is the lesser of the two evils. Following the outcome, we must pray that we can survive the one who is elected. Personally, I would just about vote for anyone except Hillary!
I just pray that people will vote on their opinion of each candidate and not do something like “vote for Hillary because you want to see a woman elected”. Let’s base our ballots on judgments on real qualifications.
It will be something to watch and, if there isn’t a clear victor, things will go to court because neither will be willing to fold their tent and depart.
— Tom King, Huntsville, Ala.
President Carter, Judge Rehnquist share same birthday
Editor, the Forum:
Jimmy Carter and William Rehnquist were born on the same day, October 1, 1924. I’m not a Carter fan but wish him a long life. Carter was a phony, all over the map over the years, very lucky to be running against weak appointed incumbent Gerald Ford, who’d never even won statewide, much less nationally. Jimmy’s lucky streak ran out in 1980.
I thought Rehnquist was a good justice. Someone obsessed with quotas once started demanding Justice Rehnquist submit a list of his staff, listing race, gender, ethnicity, religion, suggesting a lack of diversity. Rehnquist calmly replied that he hired on the basis of qualifications only. Imagine someone saying that today.
— Marshall Miller, Lilburn
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. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Send feedback and letters to: elliott@brack.net
Changes coming to Peachtree Industrial Blvd. and Five Forks road
Two road projects were approved by the Gwinnett County Commissioners this week. One includes work in Peachtree Corners, while the other will improve Five Forks Trickum Road.
Commissioners approved a construction agreement with the Georgia DOT for a project to improve Georgia Highway 141/Peachtree Parkway at Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. A total of $1,299,420 in federal funding is included in the project. The remaining costs of the project will be funded by the 2014 SPLOST and the city of Peachtree Corners.
The project will extend a southbound lane on Peachtree Parkway, south of Holcomb Bridge Road, through the merge with Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. The new lane will continue past the existing bridge over Jimmy Carter Boulevard before tapering down near the next southbound on-ramp. Drainage improvements and new overhead signage will be constructed in conjunction with this project, which was awarded to E.R. Snell Contractor Inc. of Snellville.
Snell was the lower of two bidders. The total estimated construction costs of $2,114,346.56 will be funded by the Georgia DOT at 62 percent, 2014 SPLOST program at 31 percent and the city of Peachtree Corners at 7 percent. The project is to be completed by next summer.
Five Forks Trickum Road from Oak Road to Tom Smith Road will be improved in another project approved this week. CMES of Marietta was the low bidder on the contract to widen and install a center turn lane on Five Forks Trickum Road. The contract also includes upgrades to the intersections of Five Forks Trickum at Oak Road and Five Forks Trickum at Killian Hill Road. Concrete sidewalks will be installed along both sides of Five Forks Trickum Road, with pedestrian markings at each intersection. The improvements also include curb and gutter and drainage upgrades.
In addition, new traffic signal communication lines and equipment will be installed from Ronald Reagan Parkway to Killian Hill Road. These upgrades will allow direct communication to the traffic signals from the Traffic Control Center for timing adjustments.
The contract amount of $11,570,143.65 was the lowest of the three bids received. The contract is funded at 92 percent from the 2009 SPLOST, six percent from the Water and Sewer Renewal and Extension Fund and two percent from the 2014 SPLOST.
The Board also awarded a nearby sidewalk contract to CMES. The sidewalk project will extend along the west side of Hewatt Road from U.S. Highway 78 to Cherie Glen Road and carries a price tag of $322,740.
Inaugural Lawrenceville Christmas Parade to feature Clydesdales
The inaugural Lawrenceville Christmas parade will feature an advertising icon, the Budweiser carriage and Clydesdale horses. The parade is scheduled for December 2, a Friday, at 7 p.m.
Along with the parade, Lawrenceville’s first Hometown Christmas event will also feature Santa Claus, community floats and Christmas activities. For those groups interested in participating in the parade, they should submit the Participant Application.
Chuck Warbington, City Manager of Lawrenceville, says: “Being able to launch our Christmas Parade program with a nationally recognized brand only serves to further those goals and bring heightened awareness and exposure of Lawrenceville to the Metro Atlanta region.”
Andrew Lorimer of Eagle Rock Distributing Company, says: “The community support that fills Lawrenceville is undeniable. The City has been a great partner to work with during past events, so we were thrilled to provide them with the opportunity to add the Budweiser Clydesdales to their Christmas Parade.”
Lawrenceville purchasing body cameras for police officers
The City of Lawrenceville has voted to outfit Lawrenceville Police Officers with body-worn cameras. The Department will use asset forfeiture funds to acquire 75 body cameras, nine in-car cameras and warranty packages for each officer.
Body worn cameras are used to preserve evidence and provide an accurate account of activity for on-duty officers.
Chief Randy Johnson adds: “The Lawrenceville Police Department already maintains a high level of accountability with its officers. Having a video record of events while on-duty will support our regular routine and ability to serve the community.”
Gwinnett Tech, Mercedes-Benz to announce new partnership
Gwinnett Technical College has been handpicked by Mercedes-Benz USA to formulate an educational partnership that will help elevate Mercedes-Benz technician recruitment and training model to meet the growing needs of their dealer network across the United States. Mercedes-Benz USA has been working strategically with the State of Georgia to address their workforce development needs.
Executives from Gwinnett Technical College, the Technical College System of Georgia, and Mercedes-Benz USA will come together to announce the one-of-a-kind partnership on Tuesday, October 11 at 9:30 a.m. at the Busbee Center of the Cisco Auditorium at Gwinnett Tech. The program includes capital investments, in-kind donations and learning resources that will train the next generation of automotive service technicians on the most innovative, state-of-the-art technology.
The move comes since there is an industry-wide shortage of technicians. Technicians at Mercedes-Benz require specialized education and Gwinnett Tech’s highly-regarded automotive program will be able meet rigorous training requirements.
Gwinnett has 4 finalists for Technology Association STEM Award
Gwinnett has four finalists in the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) and the TAG Education Collaborative (TAG-Ed) for the fifth annual STEM Education awards. These awards were created to recognize and celebrate schools, extracurricular programs, public-private partnerships, science agencies and post-secondary education outreach programs for outstanding efforts and achievement in supporting and promoting science, technology, engineering, and math education in Georgia.
Finalists from Gwinnett County were among those named for the 2016 awards include:
- High Schools: Peachtree Ridge High School, Suwanee;
- Post-Secondary and Corporate Outreach: Cisco Systems, Lawrenceville;
- STEM Day Activity: M. H. Mason Elementary School, Duluth; and
- STEM Certified School Outreach: White Oak Elementary, Sugar Hill.
A President in our Midst
By Kaye Lanning Minchew
Reviewed by Allison Hutton, Atlanta | Between 1924 and 1945, Franklin D. Roosevelt visited Georgia 41 times. At first, he sought relief from the debilitating effects of polio in the waters of Warm Springs. Over time, he grew to love the state and its people, enjoying his home in west Georgia, known as the ‘Little White House,’ which provided a respite from life in Washington, D.C. A new book, A President in our Midst: Franklin Delano Roosevelt in Georgia by Kaye Lanning Minchew ( a co-publication of the University of Georgia Press and Georgia Humanities) is filled with nearly 200 photographs of FDR that reveal how he interacted with the locals, found inspiration for some New Deal programs, and more.
An invitation: what books, restaurants, movies or web sites have you enjoyed recently? Send us your recent selection, along with a short paragraph (100 words) as to why you liked this, plus what you plan to visit or read next. –eeb
Savannah siege long-term includes restoration of colonial status
(From previous edition)
Count Charles Henri d’Estaing’s strategy called for three French and two American columns to make a simultaneous assault at dawn, around 5 a.m. at the siege of Savannah in 1779. The French were to charge northeast across about 500 yards of open ground toward the Spring Hill redoubt, while the Americans were to form on the French left and charge Spring Hill from the west. The French, however, arrived late. Moreover, when the first French column reached its position on the right flank of the line of departure, d’Estaing immediately sent it forward before the other columns arrived.
The French battle cry “Vive le roi!” [Long live the king!] rang out while the Scottish bagpipes of the defenders greeted the assault. British grapeshot tore into the French column as it moved across the open plain, while those who reached the abatis protecting the redoubt fell to British musket balls. In spite of the French officers’ best efforts, their attack column broke away and sought the protection of the surrounding woods. As the second and third French columns moved into the attack, they met with the same fate as the comrades who had preceded them.
In the American zone, Pulaski waited for the infantry to breach the defensive lines so that he could lead his 200 horsemen on a charge through the gap. Colonel John Laurens’s 2nd Regiment South Carolina Continentals and the 1st Battalion Charleston Militia led the allied infantry advance. General Lachlan McIntosh followed with the 1st and 5th South Carolina Continentals, along with some Georgia regulars. They crossed the open area, swarmed into the ditch, hacked their way through the sharp-pointed abatis, and planted the flags of South Carolina and France on the earthworks.
The British, in response, cut down the attackers and their colors, and launched an aggressive counterattack, led by the grenadiers of the 60th Regiment and a company of marines. The battle raged for nearly an hour. The defeated allies retreated, leaving 80 dead in the ditch and 93 more between it and the abatis. None of the French grenadiers had managed to get inside the redoubt.
Realizing the crisis and impatient to act, Pulaski left his cavalry under cover in the woods and rode forward to investigate the field. As he did so, word reached him that d’Estaing had been cut down with his men and was possibly dead. Pulaski, accompanied by his aide, Captain Paul Bentalou, rode forward to see the ground for himself. As he did so, grapeshot from either the Sailors’ Battery or the Germain—it is uncertain which—hit Pulaski in the groin, causing a mortal wound. Back at the woodline, his troops realized that a charge against the British defenses would be futile and began a retreat. As they moved into the swamp, the horsemen swept away part of Laurens’s command, causing Laurens to lose control of his scattered and disorganized units.
Continental senior officer Thomas Pinckney returned to General Lincoln with the report that not one allied soldier was left standing in front of Spring Hill. The French withdrew to Causton’s Bluff and Thunderbolt, where they returned to their ships in the Savannah River and sailed away. Lincoln had no option but to withdraw to Charleston, S.C. The militiamen melted away.
The Whig allies lost about 1,094 killed, including about 650 French troops. In addition, Prevost returned to their commands some 116 wounded allies, most of them having received mortal wounds. British losses, according to General Henry Clinton, were 16 killed and 39 wounded. However, other sources claim that these figures include “King’s troops” only and do not count their Loyalist or German auxiliaries. Most authorities accept the figure of about 40 killed and 63 wounded. General Clinton declared that the defeat of the allied assault on Savannah was “the greatest event that has happened in the whole war.”
The immediate results of the siege of Savannah included a humiliating defeat for the French, the hardening of British policy against rebellious Americans in the South, and the realization by Georgia Loyalists and their British protectors that resistance in the upcountry must be crushed without mercy.
Long-term results included the restoration of Georgia to colonial status. From this vantage, the British were able to expand their control north into the Carolinas and Virginia. Further, large numbers of Americans who had been somewhat indifferent to the conflict began to flock to the British standard, believing that the revolutionary enterprise was doomed to failure.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia online, go to http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
We predict that this Mystery Photo will baffle most of you
Somehow, we think this lazy looking photograph will be difficult for our readers to spot. You may have had to be just in the same position on this water to have this angle for the photograph. Take a guess and send in your thoughts to elliott@brack.net and be sure to include your hometown.
The last edition Mystery Photo was of a popular spot, Yellowstone National Park and its mighty river cutting through. Surprisingly, few readers recognized the photo taken by Beverly Lougher of Lawrenceville from the Calcite Springs overlook.
George Graf of Palmyra, Va. was first with his answer. “I believe this photo was taken from the Calcite Springs scenic overlook of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming.” He adds: “When Yellowstone National Park was established, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana were not yet states. As such, the park proposal received little opposition from regional governments and business interests. In the beginning, Yellowstone was administered by the U.S. Army. Not until 1916 was the U.S. National Park Service established.All Yellowstone National Park territory falls under the legal jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming. However, only 96 percent of Yellowstone falls within Wyoming state lines; the remaining four percent is split between Montanan and Idahoan land. This makes Wyoming’s the only district court to oversee land in more than one state.”
Two others send in correct answers Karen Garner, and Mark Joseph, both of Dacula. Mark remembers: “About 35 years ago, I pulled some nice trout out of the Yellowstone River on a fly rod!”
Norfolk-Southern Hazmat Safety Train plans stop in Atlanta
The Norfolk Southern Hazmat Safety Train will be in Atlanta October 11-13, providing training to the Metro Atlanta area first responders. The train consists of a distinct engine honoring police, fire, and emergency services; two boxcars converted into classrooms; and four types of tank cars.
It will be at the Amtrak Station at 1688 Peachtree Street for the training. The train is part of NS’ Operation Awareness and Response program to strengthen relationships with local first responders and to provide training on hazardous materials transport and railroad operations. Norfolk Southern takes extensive measures to ensure the safe transport of hazardous materials and to help communities prepare and respond to an unlikely incident. The train will stop in 18 cities during 2016. It’s part of the emergency response training the railroad offers to some 5,000 first responders annually.
Open House at the Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine will be Friday, October 7 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Faculty members and students will be on hand to discuss the programs offered at the Suwanee campus including Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Pharmacy (PharmD), Biomedical Sciences (MS), and Physician Assistant Studies (MS). The Open House will include a tour of the campus. In addition, information about the curriculum, the application procedure and the financial aid process will be available. Those interested in attending the open house are encouraged to register here or call the Admissions Department at 678-225-7500.
(NEW) The seventh annual Public Safety Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, October 8 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., at Coolray Field (home of the Gwinnett Braves) in Lawrenceville. Other activities include a softball tournament between the Police and Fire Departments. While admission into the festival and softball tournament is free, organizers are asking those planning to attend to bring a canned food donation to help support the North Gwinnett Cooperative Ministries.
40th annual Lilburn Daze Arts and Crafts Festival will be October 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Lilburn City Park. It features more than 150 arts and crafts vendors, a variety of food vendors and a kid zone featuring free art activities, a train ride, pony rides and lots of other fun for the children. Lilburn Daze is hosted by the Lilburn Woman’s Club and co-sponsored by the City of Lilburn. Visit www.lilburndaze.org for more information.
Panel Discussion at a meeting of the Snellville Historical Society, October 9 at 2 p.m. at the Snellville City Hall. The program will be a panel discussion by several members of South Gwinnett High School’s First (1958) Graduating Class,” led by Clark Britt. For more information, call 770 633 1737.
Fall Challenge at the Tannery Row Artist Colony in Buford is continuing through October 10. This art exhibit is at the historic Tannery building at 554 Main Street in Buford, the home of 16 artist studios. Donna Biggee of Snellville has created a 30×30 inch painting, as a feature of the exhibition. The art center is open Tuesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.
Auction at Southern Wings Bird Club meeting, October 10 at 7 p.m. at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center in Lawrenceville. Bring new gently used items for the auction, with proceeds benefitting the club. More info: southernwingsbc@yahoo.com.
Author Visit: Best selling Author Kyle Mills will be at the Norcross Cultural Arts and Community Center, on Friday, October 14 at 7:30 p.m. for an appearance, presented by Gwinnett County Public Library. The Center is located at 10 College Street in Norcross. This program is free, and books will be available for purchase and signing courtesy of Books for Heroes. For more information, visit www.gwinnettpl.org or call 770-978-5154.
Join Gwinnett County Public Library for a book discussion and signing with Gelia Dolcimascolo on Saturday, October 15 at 2 p.m. at the Collins Hill Branch Library, 455 Camp Perrin Road, Lawrenceville. This event is free and books will be available for purchase and signing. The first five teens to arrive at the event will receive a copy of the new book courtesy of the Friends of the Library. For more information, visitwww.gwinnettpl.org or call 770-978-5154.
Annual Car Show at St. Matthew’s Episcopal on October 15, 2016, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., rain or shine. This is a judged show for cars, trucks and motorcycles. Besides vehicles, there is fun, food and prizes for the whole family. Location: 1620 Oak Road, Snellville.
8th Annual Frontier Faire at Fort Daniel in Hog Mountain, Saturday, October 15 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is $2 a person or $5 a family. Co-sponsored by the Fort Daniel Foundation and the Gwinnett Archaeological Research Society, the faire is located on the site of a frontier fort dating back to early 1800s. For more information, visitthefortdanielfoundation.org.
(NEW) Deadline to pay Gwinnett County 2016 property tax bill is October 15. View your property tax information at GwinnettTaxCommissioner.com on your computer, tablet or phone. If you have questions, contact the office at Tax@gwinnettcounty.com or 770-822-8800.
(NEW) Ribbon cutting and opening of Lilburn’s new City Hall and Library, Tuesday, October 18 at 4 p.m. at 340 Main Street. Come tour the new $11.3 million structure following the ceremony, funded by the city and county SPLOST.
(NEW) Ribbon Cutting of a new office at the Central Gwinnett High branch of the Peach State Credit Union, October 20 at 12:30 p.m. The address of the branch is 564 West Crogan Street.
Co-Authors Nathalie Dupree and Cynthia Graubart will be at the Taste of Home Cooking Show on October 20 at 5 p.m. at the Infinite Energy Forum Ballroom, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth, hosted by Gwinnett County Public Library. Dupree is the author of 13 cookbooks, and has hosted more than 300 television shows. Graubart has a column in Southern Living and is the author of Slow Cooking for Two. Tickets are $15 atinfiniteenergycenter.com and $20 at the door. Books will be available for purchase and signing courtesy of Old New York Bookshop.
(NEW)Grand Opening of Discovery Garden Park in Norcross will be Saturday, October 22 at 1 p.m., with Mayor Bucky Johnson leading the ribbon cutting. Guest speaker will be Gardening Expert Walter Reeves. Food trucks and live music will add to the celebration.
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