12/23: Lawrenceville’s plans; Dangerous crossing; A friendship

AGCO TRACTOR: When the Duluth Public Works staff built a train float for Duluth City Council to ride in the 2015 Duluth Fall Festival parade, it was built around an older tractor Public Works currently used. The Fall Festival committee loved the “train” and wanted to see it used for other city events, and donated $30,000 to the city to purchase a new tractor. AGCO Corporation of Duluth then enters into the story. A new Massey Ferguson tractor was delivered recently to the Duluth Public Works facility. AGCO representative Toby Bowen says:  “AGCO is happy to be able to give back and to be able to interact with the community on this level.” Shown with the new tractor are Jason Brock, Jim Dugan, Annette McIntosh, Katherine Willis, Billy Jones, Tom Kramer, Kabe Cain and Toby Bowen. In the tractor cab are Mayor Nancy Harris, Kelly Kelkenberg and in front of them Public Works Director Audrey Turner.

We wish our readers Merry Christmas and happy holidays! During this holiday season, GwinnettForum will appear next on December 30. —eeb

TODAY’S FOCUS: Lawrenceville Setting Stage For Several Major Projects in 2017

EEB PERSPECTIVE: Dangerous Holcomb Bridge Rail Crossing May Get Relief via Internet

ANOTHER VIEW: How Two Different People Worked Toward a Deep Friendship

SPOTLIGHT: Gwinnett Medical Center

FEEDBACK: Some Items on the Internet Are Starting to Wear Thin with Her

UPCOMING: Norcross Adopts New Ordinance Concerning Hotel Safety

NOTABLE: Envistacom Names Kalonji Soccer Academy Recipient of Support

RECOMMENDATION: Sunshine’s Cheez-It Grooves

GEORGIA TIDBIT: Here are Some of the Most Wondrous Waterfalls in North Georgia

TODAY’S QUOTE: ‘Tis the Season to be Plenteous

MYSTERY PHOTO: Gigantic Structure Begs the Question: Where Is It?

LAGNIAPPE: Toy Soldiers Guard Mr. and Mrs. Claus at Historic Courthouse

CALENDAR: PCOM Open House on Horizon in January

Lawrenceville setting stage for several major projects in 2017

By Chuck Warbington, city manager  |  The year 2016 has been an exciting year for Lawrenceville. From concerts and Clydesdales to new business and future planning, 2016 has set the stage for unleashing the “potential” that has described Gwinnett’s county seat for the last decade.

Warbington

A trauma 2 hospital, being the county seat, a four-year college, professional theatre and county airport all drive Lawrenceville’s economy and boast award-winning accolades while leading the city’s job and business infrastructure. Together with a vibrant and thriving Downtown Square, Lawrenceville’s stage is set and the start of the show, imminent.

In 2016 alone, this community has begun execution of its economic development strategic plan, witnessed more than 30 major events in the downtown area, the opening of hundreds of new businesses, an active film industry and a host of land-planning projects that promise much in the way of economic impact for 2017. With a $179-million budget, second in size only to Atlanta and oldest city in the Metro region, Lawrenceville is working diligently to invest funds in strategic projects that will enable growth now and in the future. Our goals are simple – retain workforce, recruit business, create housing opportunities, develop land to highest and best use, fill the downtown with viable businesses and create a live-work-play destination in the heart of our community.

So, as we execute these goals, what does 2017 look like for Lawrenceville? Here’s a preview to some of the projects that will be breaking ground for this coming year:

• Two-Way Street Conversion – The city will begin construction to convert Perry and Clayton Streets to two-way for an estimated cost of $12 million. Project will also include much needed traffic congestion relief on Scenic and Jackson Streets.
• College Corridor – The city will also begin construction of the 2.2 mile linear park between Georgia Gwinnett College and the historic Downtown District for an estimated cost of $30 million.
• Gas Infrastructure Improvements – The city is investing more than $22 million in upgrading its sizable gas infrastructure to better serve the more than 50,000 existing customers while building for future expansion.
• Public Works Facilities – In preparation for new development in the heart of the downtown, the city has also worked to acquire property, design plans and begin construction of a new public works site along Pike Street. This project is budgeted to be just under $20 million.
• Park Place Improvements – The city will also invest just under $4 million in roadway, sidewalk and drainage improvements along Park Place.
• Marketing and Communications – Lawrenceville will launch a newly designed website in March of 2017 as well as creating new marketing materials that will serve to tell the dynamic story of Gwinnett’s county seat. Together with over 30 events planned for downtown in 2017, the city will invest more than a quarter of a million dollars in these projects, realizing the “sense of place” that over 30,000 participants enjoyed this year at the Christmas Parade alone.

Combine all this public investment with some private opportunities on the horizon and 2017 will mark a historic year for the nearly 200 year-old – yet still new and vibrant – town.

You’ve seen the previews in 2016. Now, silence your phones, grab your popcorn and get ready – the feature presentation’s about to begin!

• Have a comment?  Send to:  elliott@brack.net

Dangerous Holcomb Bridge rail crossing may get relief via Internet

By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher  |  The City of Norcross may get a gift from Google next year.

It won’t be something to unwrap, but it could help solve a major problem in the city.

You see, the most dangerous railroad crossing in Gwinnett is in the middle of Norcross, the Holcomb Bridge Road crossing of the Norfolk-Southern rail tracks. The big problem is that the roadbed takes a big dip downward on the westward side.

As a result, 18 wheeler tractor-trailers find that their back wheels of the truck dip down, causing the long trailer to get caught on the rail tracks. And once wedged, it takes lots of time to unstick the trailer from the tracks.

And in the meantime, about 20 Norfolk-Southern trains barrel down the rails each day. When a trailer gets stuck on the crossing, on some occasions, the Norcross Police can warn Norfolk-Southern officials of the problem, and halt trains before they approach the crossing. But other instances, there is no time for warnings, the first thing the engineer of a train knows there’s a trailer on the tracks is as he approaches the crossing. The last time this happened, it took the engine 1.1 miles to come to a halt.  Meanwhile, the trailer was rammed off the track, and its contents strewn down the rails.

What Google announced is that it will add audio and visual alerts to warn drivers about upcoming rail crossings, the Federal Railroad Administration said Monday. Not only that, but four other companies with GSP map services, Apple, Garmin, Tom Tom and AOL’s MapQuest, are being asked to join a similar map partnership using the agency’s data to pinpoint the crossings.

After all, if Google can show the photograph of virtually every house in the USA, why not pinpoint the problems at rail crossings. Only 15.5 percent of the 250,711 rail crossings in the U.S. are grade-separated, meaning they have bridges or underpasses to keep motor vehicles and trains apart. That leaves 231,104 rail crossings with no safety devices except perhaps crossing gates. Of course, this can cause great dangers. There were 270 people killed at such crossings last year.

The problem in Norcross isn’t gates…..there are crossing gates there. It’s the sharp decline in the roadbed going westward that causes the trailer to hang up on the rails. There is insufficient clearance for the trailer.

Therefore, the City has multiple warning signs in each direction to the crossing. The problem is that big haul drivers are concentrating on the map on their GPS, and don’t pay attention to the signs. So it is a surprise to them when suddenly, their trailer is caught on the tracks.

Though this has been a problem for years, Norcross officials are moving –ever so slowly—to solve the problem. The Council has secured funding for improvements for early 2017. The solution is to eliminate the dip by raising the roadbed on the west side of the tracks. It must also raise the roadbed of Thrasher Street parallel to the tracks on the west side.

This will mean that the two homes on Thrasher Street nearest the intersection will be below the roadbeds. Councilman David McElroy is one of those residents, and therefore, cannot participate on the Council vote.

The Council hasn’t voted to make the improvement yet…..pending additional information.

Waiting could cause another trailer-train wreck, or take another life. The Norcross Council has the solution, and the money to do it. Waiting is useless. The Council should act speedily.

• Have a comment?  Send to:  elliott@brack.net

How two different people worked toward a deep friendship

By Debbie Houston, contributing columnist | Mary Lou and I became friends about six years ago. We’re two different people, to be sure. She is Unitarian and I am Baptist. She voted for Bernie Sanders in the Georgia primary; I voted for Marco Rubio.

When we discuss politics or religion, we go gentle into the conversation to maintain our friendship. In the beginning, we spoke about a common interest—genealogy–and from that she urged me to join the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Before a woman can join, she must prove she has a Patriot ancestor. The DAR has resources to help women identify their ancestor and gather the all-important documentation.

I never dreamed that such an esteemed organization would welcome me, but it did, and I’m thankful.  Through DAR, Mary Lou and I worked together on another shared interest — literacy. And from there, I began teaching English as a Second Language at my church. Do you see where this is headed? One interest led to another and a new acquaintance had broadened my world.

It isn’t all work. Mary Lou and I walk at Lilburn Park for exercise, fresh air, and good conversation. She says she has learned from me and I told her I have learned from her. For example, she said Christians speak in a kind of code that others often don’t understand. That opened my eyes. It reminded me of growing up in my church; whenever the preacher mentioned the “Holy Ghost,” I trembled. Ghosts of any sort frightened me. And yet some of us Christians assume everyone understands the doxology of our faith.

Mary Lou and I recently discussed President Obama. She said Republicans stood in his way at every turn. I said, well, that’s always true of the opposing party. But then she reminded me of Republican Senator McConnell’s words in 2010 that, “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.

I wish McConnell hadn’t said that; I had to concede Mary Lou had a point. When one of us can’t concede, we often agree to disagree.

I’m bothered by the modern litmus test for making friends, that people must think alike. How did we get to this point? I think it’s from politicizing everything, including friendship. “I don’t like that celebrity,” a conservative writes on Facebook. “He’s very liberal.”

Americans have more in common than we admit. We care about our families, the economy, and the right to pursue happiness.  The latter I stole from Thomas Jefferson — who was not a Christian. He enjoyed the Bible, but cut out all references to miracles. I think we still could’ve been friends and maybe gone on long walks together.

• Have a comment?  Send to:  elliott@brack.net

Gwinnett Medical Center

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Gwinnett Medical Center’s parent company is Gwinnett Health System (GHS), which also includes Gwinnett Medical Group and Sequent Health Physician Partners.  GMC employs approximately 5,000 associates and has 800 affiliated physicians serving more than 400,000 patients annually.  Gwinnett Medical Center (GMC) is a nationally-recognized, not-for-profit healthcare network with acute-care hospitals in Lawrenceville and Duluth. Additional facilities include: the Gwinnett Women’s Pavilion, the Gwinnett Extended Care Center, Glancy Rehabilitation Center, outpatient health centers and surgical centers, imaging centers and outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy facilities.

• To learn more about how GMC is transforming healthcare, visit gwinnettmedicalcenter.org.
• For a list of other sponsors of this forum, go to:  https://www.gwinnettforum.com/about/sponsors.htm

Some items on the Internet are starting to wear thin with her

Editor, the Forum:

It was with great interest that I read what the three contributors, Tommy Purser, George Wilson and Elliott Brack, had to say about today’s media and the Internet. I’m of the age when there used to be two papers printed a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. As a girl growing up in Homestead, Florida, I grew up with the Miami Herald and the Miami News. My only interest in the paper as a child were the color “funny pages” on Sunday. As I grew older, I became interested reading our local home town paper, The News Leader.

It wasn’t until I left home, married and moved away that I lost interest in reading any newspaper. When we finally settled in Lawrenceville, we subscribed to The Atlanta Constitution. As time went on, cable TV came into our home and along with it came a subscription to the Gwinnett Daily Post. Eventually the personal computer entered our home. My knowledge has expanded to where I don’t have to leave home to visit far away countries, thanks to Google.

As computers widened their reach, having a blog online attracted people to think they could write any thing. Next came You Tube, again people thought they had something to share with the world via a video. Social media like Facebook, led to Instagram, Snapchat and so on. Now everyone thinks they are clever and can put any and everything out there online. It’s starting to get boring and I find myself using the computer less, except to read my email.

What is missing in this instant world of information is balance. No one wants to do the hard work of checking facts anymore. “If it’s on the Internet, it must be true” saying is starting to wear thin with me.  As for the newspaper, I still read the comics and now added reading the Obits. Some of them can be quite entertaining.

 — Sara Rawlins, Lawrenceville

Intrigued with idea of ranked elections, and about electoral college

Editor, the Forum:

What a great approach on the racking and stacking of election choice to avoid runoffs.  I like that idea, and hope it catches on to many more locations.  Also, there has been a lot of discussion for and against the electoral college system in choosing a presidential candidate.  That begs the question: why didn’t it get instituted within State elections for counties on a similar basis?

— George Graf, Palmyra, Va.

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

Norcross adopts new ordinance on hotel safety

In an effort to protect the safety of guests staying at local hotels, motels and extended-stay hotels as well as citizens, the City of Norcross recently approved a new hotel/motel ordinance.  Its purpose is to ensure the continued availability of transient lodging within the City of Norcross, proper maintenance of hotels, motels, and extended-stay hotels and to protect the health, safety and welfare of hotel, motel, and extended-stay hotel inhabitants.

The new ordinance, which will begin to rollout during the first quarter of 2017, requires hoteliers to have things such as a functional video surveillance system, vehicle and parking guidelines, and adequate lighting.  The ordinance sets requirements for detailed documentation of renter information and it also sets limits on length of stays so that the lack of ongoing room maintenance and maid service does not create substandard conditions.

City of Norcross Police Chief Bill Grogan notes: “With rising crime rates at area hotels, we are deeply concerned about the safety and wellbeing of our citizens and guests staying at hotel, motel and extended-stay hotels. The ordinance was put into place to help deter crime, ensure legitimacy of guests and provide requirements that are enforceable for hoteliers.”

Similar ordinances exist throughout the country and are considered a best practice in local communities to deter crime and protect the safety and wellbeing of guests and citizens. In 2016 alone, the City of Norcross had 183 major crimes reported in hotels, which translates into one out of every three major crimes reported in the entire city.

Maxwell High to get 4-story fire training tower on its campus

A four-story fire training tower will be built on the campus of Maxwell High School of Technology at 990 McElvaney Road in Lawrenceville. The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners approved an intergovernmental agreement recently with the Gwinnett County Board of Education that spells out the details of the plan.

The County will fund up to $530,000 using SPLOST funds and the balance will be paid by the school district. Fire Chief Casey Snyder says that “the partnership will benefit both students and firefighters, and the central location makes it ideal for routine firefighter training.”

Maxwell High School of Technology currently offers courses in both fire service and emergency medical service. Crews from nearby Fire Station 20 often help teach Maxwell students. The tower will allow both students and firefighters to practice skills in response and mitigation of emergency situations in multi-story buildings. Those skills include search and rescue operations, emergency medical care, hose advancement, fire sprinkler and standpipe systems, ground and aerial ladder placements, and hoisting techniques.

According to Snyder, the fire department has already hired students who successfully completed Maxwell’s emergency medical service program. “I expect the tower will help the newer fire service program to be an equally valuable recruitment tool for the department,” Snyder said.

Envistacom names Kalonji Soccer Academy recipient of support

Envistacom, a Hispanic woman-owned counterterrorism, cyber and communications company in Atlanta, selected the Kalonji Family Foundation and Kalonji Soccer Academy of Lawrenceville (KSA) as the recipient of its charitable support,. That includes sponsorship of more than 200 players’ new jerseys and an additional $10,000 donation to a player who suffered a severe head injury during a game in September.

Alyssa Rodriguez Carson, Envistacom’s president, and Alan Carson, Envistacom’s vice president of markets, initially became involved with the KSA because their son Liam, a part-time Envistacom employee who performs physical security inspections, played in its soccer club before moving to Germany in 2015 to play semi-professionally.

Alan Carson explains: “We were really impressed with the Kalonji Family Foundation and its soccer academy because of their commitment to helping underprivileged and immigrant children. Not only does the organization work to develop their teams’ athletic skills, but the coaches and staff also encourage the players of all ages to excel in school as a path to college that is not otherwise available to them,” adds Alyssa Rodriguez Carson.

Rueben Nsemoh, a 16-year-old goalkeeper for the KSA ‘00 Premier Team playing in the Southern Regional Premier League (SRPL), Region III, was seriously injured during a game when he collided with another player resulting in a concussion and subsequent coma. He still suffers from seizures and requires ongoing medical care. Envistacom donated $10,000 to the GoFundMe account for Reuben to help defray some of his medical costs.

Envistacom’s owners are asking employees to join them in making year-end charitable gifts to the Kalonji Family Foundation and KSA whose soccer programs are designed for children ages 4 to 19, regardless of their financial situations. KSA is based in Bryson Park, serving disadvantaged youth from Gwinnett, DeKalb and Fulton counties.

Bruno Kalonji, executive director of the Kalonji Family Foundation and KSA, says: “We really appreciate everything Envistacom has done in sponsoring the Kalonji Family Foundation and our soccer programs. Having professional jerseys helps our players with their self-esteem and that supports our larger goals of building athletes with mental strength, physical endurance and critical-thinking skills not just on the field, but in life. Envistacom and their employees’ financial support also will help us provide financial assistance to injured players for medical care when their insurance is insufficient,” he adds.

Parker Is Gwinnett Tech winner as the instructor of the year

Parker

Theresa (TC) Parker, who has lived for 35 years in Grayson, is the Gwinnett Technical College 2017 Instructor of the Year. She will now compete at the state level for the overall Georgia Rick Perkins award for excellence in technical education.. Parker is the Surgical Technology Director at Gwinnett Tech, after stints at Northside Hospital and Gwinnett Medical Center. She joined the Gwinnett Tech faculty as a full-time adjunct clinical director in 1999, and three years later Parker was named the program director. Under Parker’s leadership, the past ten surgical technology cohorts have achieved a 100 percent pass rate for their national credentialing exam on the first attempt. Parker’s students consistently earn some of the highest scores in the nation.

Banks of Suwanee to be president of Barbershop Quartet Chapter

The Stone Mountain Barbershop Chorus installed its 2017 slate of officers at the annual installation and awards banquet held at Peachtree Corners Baptist Church recently.

Serving the chapter in 2017 are President Bill Banks of Suwanee; Executive Vice President Scott Phillips of Dacula;  VP of Music and Performance David Naddor of Duluth; VP of Membership Recruiting Doug Black of Jonesboro; VP of Programs Robert Siegel of Atlanta; VP of Marketing Mike Brunson of Atlanta; Treasurer Greg Arthur of Lilburn; and Dixie District Delegate Charles Robinson of Lilburn.

Also serving the 36 man singing group as board members at large are Bruce Adams of Loganville, Phil Guy of Lilburn, Ron Wills of Dacula and Charlie Gardner of Milton.  The immediate past president is David Southern of Norcross.

The group will begin its 2017 performance calendar under the musical leadership of chorus director  Dylan Oxford of Decatur.  Plans are now under way for the groups’ Spring concert on Saturday, April 29, at Mountain Park United Methodist Church.

Robert Siegel of Atlanta received the 2016 Barbershopper of the Year award.  This award, determined by secret ballot from the entire chapter membership, is the most prestigious that the chapter can offer and reflects the chapter’s assessment of the individual making the most significant contribution to the overall success enjoyed in 2016.  Robert served the singing group as VP of Programs.

Phil Guy of Lilburn won the chapter’s 2016 “Auggie” Award, named for deceased member Auggie Mamrack, as the “unsung hero” who contributed his time and talents most unselfishly during 2016.  Phil was the artistic director of the chapter’s very successful 2016 Fall show, “Music Man Songbook”.  His leadership was recognized by the board of directors as being a model for every member.

The Stone Mountain Chorus invites all interested men to visit a regular rehearsal meeting each Tuesday at 7 p. m in the choir rehearsal room of Peachtree Corners Baptist Church.

Sunshine’s Cheez-It Grooves           

There’s a new snack cracker on the market these days: Sunshine’s Cheez-It Grooves. The new cracker is larger, crisper and tastier than the old-time Cheez-It. The new cracker, perhaps on the market for six months now, comes in four flavors: Original Cheddar, Zesty Cheddar Ranch, Sharp White Cheddar and Hot and Spicy Cheddar. The last is quite good, if you like a tangy cracker. Overall, the new Grooves have a quite different and snappier texture, satisfying the palate. Look for them in the cracker section of your favorite supermarket.  If you didn’t know this, Sunshine is now a division of the Kellogg Company. Look for it in your grocery store.—eeb

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

Here are some of the most wondrous waterfalls in North Georgia

(Continued from previous edition)

The most wondrous of the state’s falls are in northeast Georgia’s Tallulah Gorge State Park, near the Rabun County and Habersham County line. The names of its falls suggest both great power (Tempesta, Hurricane, and Oceana) and romance (L’Eau d’Or [a.k.a. Ladore, French for “water of gold”] and Bridal Veil).

Until the early 20th century the once-mighty Tallulah River flowed freely, carving a deep and scenic gorge. Dammed just above the gorge, its waters were diverted for power generation to fill the electrical needs of a booming Atlanta and northeast Georgia.

Hiawasee Falls

Before the dam’s construction (completed in 1913) the falls were a major attraction, considered the “Niagara of the South.” A writer in the September 28, 1819, issue of the Georgia Journal claimed, “The cataract of Niagara and its great whirlpool and banks, is the only superior natural curiosity to the Rapids of Tallulah, that I have ever seen.”

The town of Tallulah Falls had fine hotels, and the Tallulah Falls Railroad brought in the tourists. Gorge promoters, on two occasions, hired aerialists to cross it. During a hair-raising walk by Professor Leon on July 24, 1886, a stabilizing rope snapped. Leon finished half of his proposed round-trip walk before a horrified crowd. The most publicized crossing was made by Karl Wallenda on July 18, 1970, long after the river was dammed. The towers that held his wire are still in place, though the north tower now lies on its side.

In 1911, an era when humans attempted to master nature in every way, the most hotly contested environmental battle of the day was waged to keep the Tallulah River flowing free. The leader of this fight was Helen Dortch Longstreet, the young widow of Confederate general James Longstreet. She led the Tallulah Falls Conservation Association against Georgia Power Company and Governor Joseph M. Brown, spending her time and fortune in a vain effort to stop the damming of the Tallulah River.

Twice a year, spring and fall, the river is allowed to flow at its pre-dam levels. During these scheduled water releases, a limited number of experienced kayakers are permitted to put in their boats below the third fall (Hurricane) and kayak through Oceana, Bridal Veil, Sweet Sixteen, and the remaining rapids. Park visitors are not permitted within the gorge during these water releases, but from an overlook visitors may watch the kayakers go over Oceana Falls.

North Georgia’s Amicalola Falls derives its name from the native Cherokee word meaning “tumbling waters.” Amicalola is the state’s highest waterfall, with a total drop of 729 feet. It is located in Amicalola Falls State Park, one of Georgia’s most popular attractions. From an overlook atop the falls, one may witness the mountains-to-piedmont transition.

Another popular fall with native roots is the 186-foot-high Toccoa Falls (“toccoa” is the Cherokee word for “beautiful”). It is located on the campus of Toccoa Falls College. In November 1977 an earthen dam on the creek above the falls burst after torrential rains and flooded the campus, taking the lives of thirty-nine people as they slept.

Anna Ruby Falls, near Helen, is named for the daughter of a Confederate colonel who once owned the surrounding lands. This double fall is one of the state’s most beautiful and heavily visited.

On Pine Mountain, in west central Georgia, is Cascade Falls. Located on the Pine Mountain Trail and adjacent to a rock formation called the Wolf Den, it was one of U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt‘s favorite spots.

• To view the Georgia Encyclopedia online, go to http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org

Gigantic structure begs the question:  Where is it?

This appears to be a substantial building, maybe a cathedral, or is it? But can you pinpoint exactly where it is located? Send in your thoughts to elliott@brack.net and be sure to include your hometown.

Last edition’s Mystery Photo showing a framed setting came quickly to three of the regular photo-spotters. The photo came from Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill. Bob Foreman of Grayson was first to identify it.  “The location is Great Island Common, New Castle, New Hampshire. The light house in the distance is the Fort Point Light, also called the Fort Constitution Light.”  Another identifying it was Karen Burnette Garner of Dacula.

George Graf of Palmyra, Va. gave more detail: “The art piece is entitled, Beauty, The “Common” Denominator, and is a joint work by artists, Walter Liff and Margaret French.  This silhouette art sculpture is of an artist painting an ever-changing scene.  New Castle is the smallest (pop. 968) and easternmost town in New Hampshire, and the only one located entirely on an archipelago.  Settled in 1623, an earthwork defense was built on Fort Point which would evolve into Fort William and Mary.  Chartered in 1679 as a parish of Portsmouth, it was incorporated in 1693 and named New Castle after the fort.”

Toy soldiers guard Mr. and Mrs. Claus at historic Courthouse

Here are photos of Mr. and Mrs. Santa Clause at the Historic Courthouse in Lawrenceville.  The Santas in real life are Dale and Vi Banner. Note the toy soldiers guarding the couple. At the courthouse during the Santa time was a toy train room, reports Roving Photographer Frank Sharp of Lawrenceville.

Get your dancing shoes ready for Duluth’s New Year’s Eve Extravaganza! Georgia native Craig Campbell will hit the stage with his chart-rising song “Outskirts of Heaven” on December 31. There will be family friendly activities, a gigantic snow slide, a winter carnival and live entertainment by the Highbeams and DJ Rob. The festivities kick off New Year’s Eve at 7 p.m. on Duluth Town Green. The main event is free to the public. The event is an activity of the City of Duluth and sponsor, Kicks 101.5.

Windows 10 Training, January 11 at 11 a.m. presented by Gwinnett County Public Library. This will be at the Lawrenceville Branch Computer Lab, 1001 Lawrenceville Highway, Lawrenceville. Learn to navigate Windows 10 and how to explore the Taskbar, resize tiles, use File Explorer, and more!  This workshop will also discuss how to keep your information private and Internet browsers.  Gwinnett Senior Learning Center (GSRLC) will lead the workshop. For more information, visit www.gwinnettpl.org or call 770-978-5154.

STATE OF THE REGION address is Friday, January 13 at 11:30 a.m. at the Hilton Atlanta Northeast. Speaker will be Kerry Armstrong, chairman of the Atlanta Region Commission. This is presented by the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. To register, click here.

(NEW)  OPEN HOUSE: Prospective students are invited to an open house at Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (GA–PCOM) on Friday, January 13 from 5:30–8 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. Information about the curriculum, the application procedure and the financial aid process will also be available. Those interested in attending the open house are encouraged to register online or call the Office of Admissions at 678-225-7500.

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• Editor and publisher:  Elliott Brack, 770-840-1003
• Managing editor: Betsy Brack
• Roving photographer:  Frank Sharp
• Contributing columnist: Debra Houston
• Contributing columnist: George Wilson

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