SKILLS WINNER: Gwinnett Tech students had an exceptional showing at SkillsUSA, Georgia’s Post Secondary State Leadership and Skills Conference hosted March 23-27, 2017 at the Georgia International Convention Center. Of the 65 Gwinnett Tech students who competed, 39 placed. A total of 22 competition medals were earned; 11 gold, 9 silver and 2 bronze. Five were in team categories.
Gwinnett Tech SkillsUSA competitors (from left) include Maimanatu King, Jessica Dukharan, Tyler Butler, Zainab Alsuraifi, Travel Pittman, Tin Zhao, Dana (Danny) Noroly, Roy (RJ) Dunkley, Bryan Granzella and Florence Williams shown with faculty adviser Penny Waddell (far right).
TODAY’S FOCUS: Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful Takes Aim at Cleaning Bromolow Creek
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Gwinnett Hispanic Businessman Finds Success in Gwinnett and Southeast
SPOTLIGHT: MTI Baths Inc.
UPCOMING: Gwinnett To House More State-sentenced Inmates at Correctional Unit
NOTABLE: Three Gwinnett Cities Named Among Top Ten Best Suburbs for 2017
RECOMMENDED: Darktown by Thomas Mullen
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Gov. Samuel Elbert Oversaw Chartering of University of Georgia
TODAY’S QUOTE: How Ideals and the Stars Are Alike
MYSTERY PHOTO: Can You Identify This Historic House and Tell Its Significance?
LAGNIAPPE: Lilburn Woman’s Club Gets Allstate Helping Hands Grant
CALENDAR: Bed Race Around Gwinnett Historic Courthouse Is This Weekend
Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful takes aim at cleaning Bromolow Creek
By Kasie Bolling, Lawrenceville, Ga. | Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful will host its Third Annual Great Gwinnett Wetlands on Saturday, April 29 at the Bromolow Creek watershed. Through a partnership with Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources, the earth-friendly event focuses on a key wetland in the county. During the day, volunteers will learn why wetlands are so important, while being inspired to maintain their well-being by picking up litter, monitoring the water and surrounding ecosystem, and removing invasive plants that could potentially threaten the health of the wetland.
To be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 29, the event will provide plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning, stewardship and beautification of the wetland. As a thank you for their participation, all volunteers will receive a specially designed t-shirt to commemorate the program. Parking for the event will be available at Aviation Institute of Maintenance located at 2025 Satellite Pointe in Duluth. Interested individuals are asked to register online at www.gwinnettcb.org.
Program Manager Sumner Gann says: “Through Great Gwinnett Wetlands, we hope to promote awareness of the wetlands that act as sponges, collecting excess water and storing it to help prevent flooding from our local streams, rivers and lakes. We also hope to create a sense of ownership and collective responsibility among our citizens. It’s vital that we all work together to protect and maintain these wetlands and precious water sources like the Chattahoochee River, Yellow River and Lake Lanier. After all, if we don’t do it… who will?
“During last year’s Great Gwinnett Wetlands, hundreds of volunteers removed 2,900 pounds of trash and 4,800 pounds of invading plants. This year, we’re hoping those numbers will go down as a sign that people are littering less and our efforts are paying off. With Water Professionals Appreciation Day coming up on May 1, I can think of no better way to say ‘thank you’ to the awesome men and women whose job it is to care for our waterways than by bringing our neighbors together for a very successful event.”
Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful Services, Inc. (GCB) is a Keep America Beautiful affiliate and award-winning 501(c)(3) charitable organization. It boasts an expansive community-based network dedicated to finding long-term solutions to environmental and quality of life issues through individual action. The organization is guided by a Citizens Advisory Board that represents all sectors of the Gwinnett County community.
A nationally recognized leader in creating cleaner, greener and more livable communities throughout Gwinnett, GCB involves more than 100,000 volunteers annually to clean and restore public places, recycle more, protect watersheds and develop the next generation of environmental stewards.
- To learn more about Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, please visit www.GwinnettCB.org. Its executive director is Schelly Marlatt.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Gwinnett Hispanic businessman finds success in Gwinnett, Southeast
By Elliott Brack, editor and publisher | It’s a beautiful story of a Mexican and his wife coming to this country, working hard, and finding success. He’s one of the most achieving of Gwinnett businessmen, building a multi-company empire since arriving at Georgia Tech to pursue a master’s in engineering in 1980.
Since then, he has founded a 11-restaurant chain in Metro Atlanta; unexpectedly needed to form a meat packing company to supply his restaurants; now has two highly-regarded t
op-class restaurants with Luciano’s in Duluth (and another in Charlotte, N.C.) and award-winning Pampas in Johns Creek; and also owns 17 Hispanic radio stations, and one, and soon three, televisions stations.
He’s Norberto Sanchez, 59, of Duluth. His businesses now employ more than 1,000 people. Most recently, he agreed to take over the nightly 1818 Club dining room on the third floor of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce building with a traditional steakhouse, named Frankie’s. It’s open to the public, and has seen patronage average 175 people a night since starting February 13.
Sanchez
He says: “The inspiration for Frankie’s comes from a desire to offer Gwinnett County the best quality steaks in a great atmosphere.” He adds: “This is our first restaurant not on ground level, but the people like it. We have free valet parking every single night.”
When Mr. Sanchez came to the United States, his choice of Atlanta was because of an agreement between Monterrey (Mexico) Tech, where he got his undergraduate engineering degree, and Georgia Tech. Initially working in business, he found he wanted to be his own boss, and with a partner, started La Cozuela Family Mexican restaurant. Soon it grew to four locations. He and his partner decided to split, and each took two restaurants. But Sanchez had to come up with a new restaurant name for his two. “We decided to ask our customers, then held a contest, and got 5,000 entries. Julie Jackson from Conyers, who now lives in Peachtree City, came up with Frontera, because it means border. It is a mex-mex restaurant, not tex-mex as before. Her prize was $10,000.” Today there are 13 Fronteras.
In 1992, Sanchez did not plan it, but felt he needed a better quality of meat and synergy for his restaurants. Today his meat-packing firm, Prime Meats, supplies high-end meats to the East Coast out of Tucker. Prime Meats will expand to warehouses in Nashville, Tenn., and in Virginia, and is in the planning stage for another plant, probably in Texas.
Meanwhile, his food business were doing well but had a low return. Sanchez turned to the Hispanic radio business for a higher profit on his investment. He leveraged his business to eventually own 17 stations in North and South Carolina and Florida, now the largest Hispanic media network in the country. He also has a Hispanic television station in Charlotte, and is in the process of acquiring two other Hispanic stations in Charleston, S.C. The media business is headquartered in Charlotte, N.C. His Hispanic stations emphasize local programming.
Two years ago, he transformed his companies with a mission statement, having “God as the center of our company.” His firm includes two chaplains, one Catholic in Atlanta, the other, a Baptist in Charlotte, on staff. “We dedicate money to our employee Caring Committees, where they determine how to help our people in need. I go to the meetings, but do not have a vote. These committees are our best accomplishment, for it helps our own employees.”
These days, Norberto Sanchez is concentrating his time on the new Frankie’s concept, which he hopes someday to use as a model for expansion. “We want to make sure Frankie’s succeeds in Gwinnett.”
What a successful immigrant story is Norberto Sanchez!
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
MTI Baths Inc.
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today’s featured sponsor is MTI Baths Inc. of Sugar Hill. MTI Baths is a manufacturer of high-quality acrylic and engineered solid surface bath products, including whirlpools, air and soaking baths; lavatories; shower bases; and kitchen sinks. MTI’s patented Fill-Flush® and Simple Touch® whirlpool cleaning systems are the best on the market. MTI now offers engineered solid surface–counter tops and sinks. Every product is custom-made to order and shipped within seven business days. We are now operating in an additional manufacturing plant of 38,000 square feet. CEO of the firm is Kathy Adams, while Russell Adams is president.
- Visit their web site at http://www.mtibaths.com/.
- For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here.
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
Gwinnett to house more state-sentenced inmates at correctional unit
The Gwinnett County Department of Corrections will soon see an increase in its inmate population – and the number of inmates assigned to work crews in the community – following an amendment to the contract with the Georgia Department of Corrections.
The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners agreed to increase the number of state inmates housed at the County prison from 158 to 222, effective May 1. The additional state-sentenced prisoners will enhance the work details currently helping in the community. The Gwinnett County Prison typically houses about 100 county-sentenced inmates and can house up to 512 inmates. The number of county inmates sentenced to the work camp has been on the decline since 2009, which created room to accommodate more state prisoners. The state pays the county $20 per inmate per day.
Warden Darrell Johnson said, “Requests for work details to meet the needs of the community is constant and is increasing, so the timing of the agreement is a blessing.”
The Gwinnett County Department of Corrections decreases the operating costs associated with lawn and grounds maintenance at county parks, fire stations, the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, and other government owned properties. In addition, inmate details pick up roadside litter, cover up gang related graffiti, and serve multiple municipalities and community improvement districts within the county.
Kudzu Studio 8 Artists to be on exhibit at Tannery Row in Buford
The Studio 8 Artists from Kudzu Art Zone are on the road! This group of professional artists, who maintain their studios at Kudzu Art Zone in Norcross, are exhibiting their works at the Tannery Row Artists Colony in Buford from April 29 through June 2. The talented group consists of Kathy Collins, Cathy Crock, Diana Dice, Lynda Ellis, Kathy Kitz, Anne Labaire, Betty Loud, and Wanda Walston, an eclectic group of award-winning artists.
In the exhibit, viewers will enjoy landscapes by Crock, Collins and Loud; whimsical creations by Dice and Walston; portraits by Ellis; and fanciful abstracts by Kitz and Labaire. The show is a celebration of techniques and draftsmanship in a variety of genres, by well-known creative talents. The Tannery Row Artists Colony is located at 554 W Main Street in Buford, and is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 12 until 4 pm. There will be an opening reception Saturday April 29 from 6 to 8 pm.
Stinchome to manage Sterling Seacrest office in Peachtree Corners
Stinchome
Atlanta-based Sterling Risk Advisors, Inc. and Savannah-based Seacrest Partners, Inc. plan to merge and operate as Sterling Seacrest Partners, Inc. The new company will be the largest privately held, independent insurance brokerage in the state of Georgia. It will open an office in July in Peachtree Corners at 6535 The Corners Parkway with 14 employees, and will have former University of Georgia football player Matt Stinchome running the Gwinnett office. Sterling will maintain its existing office space at 2500 Cumberland Parkway. The new merged firm will employ over 150 insurance agents and service team members with six offices in Atlanta, Savannah, Hilton Head, Columbus and Little Rock. The merger will officially take effect on July 1, 2017.
Discussion on the Changing Face of Politics in Norcross on April 23
Gwinnett County Public (GCPL) will host Dr. Robert M. Howard for The Changing Face of Politics: Gwinnett’s 2016 Voting Patterns, on April 23 at the Norcross Cultural Arts and Community Center. The program will begin at 3 p.m. Join GCPL and Dr. Howard for coffee, questions, and a discussion on politics in Gwinnett County following the 2016 Presidential Election.
Dr. Howard is a professor of political science at Georgia State University and the executive director of the Southern Political Science Association. He is the author of numerous articles and books including Judging Law and Policy: Courts and Policymaking in the American Political System, Getting a Poor Return: Courts, Justice and Taxes, and the co-author of the latest edition of Politics in Georgia.
The program is free and open to the public. The Norcross Cultural Arts and Community Center is located at 10 College Street in Norcross.
Auto traffic detour will be in downtown Duluth for 2 weeks
West Lawrenceville Street in Duluth will be closed for construction of upgraded pedestrian facilities from Monday, April 24 through Thursday, May 4. Access to parking for Epicurean and at Parsons Alley for Dreamland BBQ, Personify, and Simply Done Donuts will be accessible from the Hill Street/West Lawrenceville Street intersection and via a new driveway at Parsons Alley. Additional parking throughout downtown will remain open at all times. All businesses will remain open and fully accessible during construction. Traffic will be detoured around the construction.
Weather providing, the road is anticipated to reopen prior to the kickoff of the Food Truck Friday event on Cinco De Mayo (5/5).
Three Gwinnett cities named among top 10 best suburbs for 2017
Three Gwinnett County cities have been named as among the top 10 best Georgia suburbs of 2017 by Niche.com. Here are the top 10 of Georgia’s 100 best suburbs to live in for 2017, according to Niche.com:
- Decatur, Dekalb County;
- Johns Creek, Fulton County;
- Alpharetta, Fulton County;
- Suwanee, Gwinnett County;
- Roswell, Fulton County;
- Milton, Fulton County;
- Peachtree City, Fayette County;
- Peachtree Corners, Gwinnett County;
- Berkeley Lake, Gwinnett County; and
- Avondale Estates, DeKalb County.
The report by Niche.com uses data from a number of sources including the U.S. Education, U.S. Census Bureau, the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report and others.
McGee joins Eastside Medical Group OB/GYN practice
McGee
Eastside Medical Group’s physician specialty practice Gwinnett Gynecology and Maternity is continuing to expand their physician team to provide more comprehensive women’s services to the Gwinnett community. Dr. Carmen McGee, OB/GYN joined the practice team on April 1. Bringing 15 years of experience with her, Dr. McGee was born in Columbus, Ohio and grew up in Toledo, Ohio and Albany, Ga. Her undergraduate degree is from Albany State University with a doctor in medicine from Eastern Virginia Medical School. She completed an obstetrics and gynecology residency at Saint Joseph Hospital in Chicago, Ill. She’s lived in Gwinnett County since 2009.
Ga-PCOM student heads Student National Medical Association
Third-year doctor of osteopathic medicine student Danielle Ward was installed as national president of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA). Ward made history as she is the first osteopathic medical student to assume this position since the SNMA’s founding in 1964. During her medical school career, she has served the organization as the Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (GA-PCOM) chapter president and as the 2015-2016 national osteopathic schools committee co-chair.
Ward
A member of the GA-PCOM DO class of 2018, Ward is an African-American single mom to an active 10-year-old daughter. She is a 2009 graduate of Louisiana State University, with a B.S. degree in biochemistry and a 2013 graduate of the University of Saint Joseph, West Hartford, Conn., where she earned an M.S. degree in biochemistry. She is a graduate of North Cobb High School, and now lives in Suwanee.Ward noticed that it is hard to find minority women in osteopathic medicine (or just medicine in general for that matter). Her goal, she said, is to be a source of encouragement and inspiration for young minority females considering medicine.
Darktown by Thomas Mullen
Reviewed by Rose Marie Mason, Lawrenceville | The setting is Atlanta, 1948. Mayor Hartsfield decides that after the semi-integration of black soldiers in WWII, the time is right to integrate the Atlanta police force. He manages to recruit eight black men; however, certain restrictions exist for them. They can patrol only black neighborhoods (hence the title Darktown), they can patrol only on foot, they cannot arrest either black or white people, and they cannot go into the white police headquarters, since most of the members of the white police force are members of the Ku Klux Klan. Their headquarters in the basement of the Butler Street YMCA. When patrolling, they realize blacks in Darktown resent them as Uncle Tom figures. When a black girl is found dead, two of the officers, without authority, decide to proceed with an investigation. Thus begins a plot that is riveting, informative, horrifying, and compelling.
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
Gov. Samuel Elbert oversaw chartering of University of Georgia
Before his governorship of Georgia in 1785, Savannahian Samuel Elbert served as commander of both Georgia’s militia and Continental Line during the Revolutionary War (1775-83). He later commanded a brigade under General George Washington at Yorktown, Va., and he was brevetted a brigadier general in November 1783. Both Elbert County and its seat, Elberton, are named in his honor. Born in 1740 in Savannah, Elbert was the son of a Baptist minister, William Elbert, and his wife, Sarah.
Elbert
In 1754 young Elbert began to establish himself firmly as a successful merchant in Savannah, and by the mid-1760s he owned numerous tracts of land and possessed a number of slaves. In 1769 he wed Elizabeth Rae, the daughter of a prosperous planter and merchant; they had six children together. Elbert established a Masonic lodge in Savannah, Unity Lodge No. 465, in 1774, but it did not survive the Revolution. From about 1776 to 1786 he served as provincial grand master, making him head of the masonry craft for Georgia. In his later years Elbert was a member of Christ Church, the Anglican parish in Savannah.
Elbert organized and was commissioned captain of a grenadier company of Savannah’s First Regiment of militia in June 1772, and soon after he sailed for England to “perfect himself in the duties of military life.” Upon his return he applied himself to exercising his unit in proper military drill.
Politically, Elbert was a conservative Whig and a sympathizer to the colonial cause. In June 1775 he was elected to serve on Savannah’s Council of Safety, a body authorized to ensure the city’s security during the early days of the rebellion. In August, Elbert marched his company to Augusta to protect the town from an invasion of Loyalists when the local militia commander refused to deploy. In January 1776 Elbert assumed command of the militia in Georgia.
Upon the formation of the Continental Line in Georgia in February 1776, Elbert was commissioned a lieutenant colonel of the First Battalion. He was subsequently promoted to colonel and given command of a planned expedition against St. Augustine and East Florida, which ended unsuccessfully. Despite the failure, Elbert ultimately gained command of Continental Line forces in Georgia and spent much of 1778 attempting to improve the training of his forces, as well as defending Savannah and planning a third (unsuccessful) invasion of Florida.
Savannah fell to the British in December 1778. In March 1779 Elbert was wounded and taken prisoner by the British at the Battle of Briar Creek, Ga. He remained a prisoner until his exchange after the fall of Charleston, S.C., in June 1781. Elbert then made his way to Washington’s encampment, where he was given command of the “grand deposit” of arms and military stores. From June through November he commanded a brigade at Yorktown. In 1782 Elbert returned to Georgia, and a year he later was brevetted as brigadier general of the Continental Line, though he was already a major general in the state’s militia.
He was elected as a delegate to the Continental Congress in 1784 but declined to serve. He was then elected for a one-year term as governor in 1785. During his governorship Elbert oversaw the chartering of the University of Georgia. Later he served briefly as sheriff of Chatham County before dying at the age of 48 on November 1, 1788.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia online, go to http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Can you identify this historic house and tell its significance?
From a historic lighthouse, to another house with some historic significance. Tell us where you think this edition’s Mystery Photo is located, and give us its background, if you can. Send in your thoughts to elliott@brack.net and be sure to include your hometown.
The last Mystery Photo saw several readers who quickly recognized it. First in was Duluth Insurance Man Jim Savadelis, quickly followed by the retired Jim Nelems of Bluffton, S.C., who said: “We have been to this lighthouse as one of the 287 national parks and monuments (of 387) we have visited. It is the Port Reyes lighthouse on the California coast in the Port Reyes National Seashore.” The photo was sent in by Sandy and Rick Krause of Lilburn.
Others successfully recognizing the photograph were Lisa Heerman of Suwanee; Ruthy Lachman Paul of Norcross, Tim Israel of Dacula; and Bobbie Tkacik of Lilburn, who wrote: “I was there about 15 years ago and I remember there are about 100 steps down a cliff to get to it. It’s the shortest lighthouse I’ve seen but still beautiful.” Jim Savedelis would not agree with Bobbie: “Seems like 300 steps, especially upward, to me.”
George Graf of Palmyra, Va. adds: “The Point Reyes Lighthouse in the Gulf of the Farallones on Point Reyes in Point Reyes National Seashore, located in Marin County, Calif. According to the National Park Service, the Point Reyes Headlands jut 10 miles out to sea and pose a threat to ships traveling between San Francisco Bay and locations to the north. The historic Point Reyes Lighthouse was built in 1870 to warn mariners of this navigational hazard and served for 105 years. The lighthouse was retired from service in 1975 when the U.S. Coast Guard installed an automated light adjacent and below the historic tower. The Coast Guard then transferred ownership of the lighthouse to the National Park Service.”
The Park Service says: “The historic Point Reyes Lighthouse….endured many hardships, including the April 18, 1906, earthquake, during which the Point Reyes Peninsula and the lighthouse moved north 18 feet in less than one minute! The only damage to the lighthouse was that the lens slipped off its tracks. The lighthouse keepers quickly effected repairs and by the evening of the 18th, the lighthouse was once again in working order. The earthquake occurred at 5:12 am and the lighthouse was scheduled to be shut down for regular daytime maintenance at 5:25 am. Although the earthquake caused much devastation and disruption elsewhere, the Point Reyes Lighthouse was essentially only off-line for thirteen minutes!”
Lilburn Woman’s Club gets Allstate Helping Hands grant
The Lilburn Woman’s Club (LWC) has been recognized by the Allstate Foundation as being a positive force for change in their community. The Allstate Helping Hands in the Community grant of $1,000 will go a long way to help the members of the LWC continue their mission of “community improvement through volunteerism.” Allstate’s Helping Hands in the Community funds grants to nonprofits where they volunteer their time to bring out the good in their communities. From left with the check for the award are Arthy White, Barbara Brooks, Patty Gabilondo, Nancy Delaney and Gloria Sill.
Lilburn Relay for Life Rally, Friday, April 21 at 5 until 9 p.m. at Lilburn City Park. Come to enjoy the fun-filled evening of games, food and fun. Entertainment will be provided. Have a team or be a sponsor. Sponsored by the Lilburn Woman’s Club. A survivors lap around the park will be at 6 p.m. For more details, email bdsnookybell@gmail.com.
Free paper shredding at Coolray Field from 9 a.m. until noon April 22 at Coolray Field, home of the Gwinnett Braves, in Lawrenceville. This event will feature on-site paper shredding with a limit of five copier boxes per vehicle. This event is sponsored by Gwinnett County’s Solid Waste Management Division and Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful to promote sustainability while bringing awareness and encouraging residents to appreciate Mother Earth.
Free recycling in Lilburn is coming soon. Each year the City of Lilburn asks a variety of recycling vendors to offer their services at one great event — the Great American Cleanup. This year’s event will be Saturday, April 22, from 8 a.m. until noon in the Greenway parking lot across from Lilburn City Park. This is an opportunity to clean out your garage, filing cabinet, etc.
Community Clean-up in Peachtree Corners will be April 22. Join with the United Peachtree Corners Community Association and Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful in making the city more attractive. Volunteers will work in small teams alongside city officials to clean up various litter and illegal signs around various roads in the city of Peachtree Corners. All supplies including bright safety vests, gloves, bags, large grippers and water will be provided. Adults and children 12 years old and older (accompanied by an adult) are invited and encouraged to participate. For more information or to organize your subdivisions group, please contact Matt Lombardi at mattlombardiupcca@yahoo.com
(NEW) Eighth Annual Bed Race for Family Promise of Gwinnett County on the square in downtown Lawrenceville will be Saturday, April 22 from 10 a.m. until noon. The parade of beds will be at 10:30 and the race heats begins at 11 a.m. with the race finals at noon. For more details, call 678 376 8950.
(NEW) Snellville Historical Society will meet Sunday, April 23, at the Snellville City Hall at 2 p.m. The topic for this meeting will be on the development and changes to the Snellville Medical Community.
Bear on the Square Mountain Festival, 21st edition, is in Dahlonega April 22-23. Admission is free to all Saturday and Sunday events. Complete information about the Bear festival, including schedules of activities, names of performers and artists, a listing of sponsors, and other information can be found at www.bearonthesquare.org.
DISCUSSION on April 23 at 3 p.m. at the Norcross Cultural and Community Center on Georgia and Gwinnett politics and the recent election. Join Gwinnett County Public Library for coffee, questions, and a discussion on the changing face of Georgia and Gwinnett. Professor of political science at Georgia State University, Dr. Robert M. Howard, will be leading this seminar. He is the executive director of the Southern Political Science Association and co-author of the latest edition of Politics in Georgia. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit www.gwinnettpl.org or call 770-978-5154.
(NEW) Author Visit: Gwinnett County Public Library will host John Sandford on Monday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at the Norcross Cultural Arts and Community Center in Norcross. This event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase and signing courtesy of Eagle Eye Book Shop. John Sandford is the pseudonym of John Roswell Camp. Camp won the Pulitzer Prize in journalism and was one of four finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in 1980. As John Sandford, Camp is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and will discuss his new novel Golden Prey. Golden Prey is the 27th book in the Prey series of thrillers featuring Lucas Davenport. For more information, visit www.gwinnettpl.org or call 770-978-5154.
(NEW) Author Visit: Gwinnett County Public Library will host Ace Atkins, New York Times bestselling author, on Friday, May 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Aurora Theatre, 153 East Crogan Street, Lawrenceville. This event is free and open to the public. Books will be available for purchase and signing courtesy of Eagle Eye Book Shop. For more information, please visit www.gwinnettpl.org.
(NEW) Mayberry Moments will be Saturday, May 6 at 8 p.m. at the Red Clay Theater in Duluth. Come meet original Andy Griffith show cast members Maggie Peterson, who played Charlene Darling, and Rodney Dillard, one of the Darling family brothers. Also see David Browning, also known as The Mayberry Deputy, a portrayal of Barney Fife. For tickets, visit http://eddieowenpresents.com.
(NEW) Quarry Crusher Run will be May 6 at the Vulcan Materials Quarry, at 1707 Beaver Ruin Road in Norcross, to benefit the Gwinnett County Public Schools. Starting time is 8 a.m. Descend 600 feet to the bottom of the quarry before you begin your climb out! See if you are up to the challenge. It’s two miles down, and of course, another two miles back. Test yourself! For details, visit quarrycrusherrun.com/atlanta to register.
HANDYMAN SERVICES: Whatever your home maintenance problem is, Isaias Rodriguez can help. An experienced painter, he is dependable in installing or repairing siding, gutters, ceramic tile, plumbing, garage doors, or any other problem around your home. He’ll even fix your bike! He is originally from Mexico and has been in Georgia since 1996. He is legally allowed to work in the United States and is insured. Give him a call at his home in Norcross at 404-569-8825 or email him at rodriguez_isais@yahoo.com. Visit his Facebook page at Neza construction and home repair to see some of his past work.
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