4/20: On new brewery; Transit vote; Odyssey of the Mind

A TWO-DAY JURIED ARTS FESTIVAL will be in Duluth on April 28-29. Come enjoy the art, as well as live music and food trucks. This is a presentation of he Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces.  See more details in Notable below.

TODAY’S FOCUS: Lawrenceville Snags Regional Craft Brewery for Downtown Location

EEB PERSPECTIVE: Gwinnett, Metro Atlanta, Finally Moving Toward Key Transit Vote

ANOTHER VIEW: Three Gwinnett Schools Win Slots in Odyssey of Mind National Finals

SPOTLIGHT: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

FEEDBACK: Continued Banking Omissions Reminds Editor of Elevator Mistake

UPCOMING: Commission Approves Long Term Countywide Trails Master Plan

NOTABLE: GACS Athletic Director Tim Vick To Retire and Teach Bible Students

GEORGIA TIDBIT: Barrier Islands Help Protect Coastal Plain of Georgia

MYSTERY PHOTO: Gorgeous Architectural Rendering Is This Edition’s Mystery Photo

LAGNIAPPE: Roving Photographer Visits Atlanta’s Annual Piedmont Festival

CALENDAR: Peachtree Corners Library To Be Closed for Repair

Lawrenceville snags regional craft brewery for downtown location

By Lisa Sherman

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga.  |  Beer Republic Brewing, LLC will open  its new regional craft brewery in downtown Lawrenceville at 394 North Clayton Street. The building was previously occupied by a printing firm, Graphic Communications, and before that was the original home of the now-defunct Gwinnett Daily News.

The existing facility will be converted into a 56,000 square foot, state-of-the-art brewery, taproom and retail shop.  The announcement anticipates the addition of more than 50 new jobs over the next five years.

Lawrenceville City Manager Chuck Warbington stated: “The City of Lawrenceville is excited to welcome Beer Republic Brewing to its downtown. This project supports the community’s vision for redevelopment while offering opportunity for expanded downtown amenities, a walkable retail feature and new jobs to the area. At the end of the day, it’s a project that makes sense on many levels. We are very pleased to have them as a corporate partner in our growing renaissance.”

Beer Republic is the parent company for Big Kettle Brewing and Ironshield Beer and will eventually be one of Georgia’s top-five largest breweries. The organization will be operating from the Clayton Street location with Big Kettle Brewing providing contract-brewing services for other craft breweries in Georgia and the Southeast.

Ironshield Beer will be Beer Republic’s own house brand and will encompass more than 30 award-winning beers ranging from Munich-style lagers, German Bocks, pilsners, Belgian Trappist style ales, a Scotch Ale and an authentic Bavarian Hefeweizen wheat beer.

Owners Dave Rice and Glen Sprouse bring more than 50 years’ total experience to the business in professional brewing and beverage production, packaging, engineering and marketing.  The 50 new positions that the brewery will bring to the local economy will range from brewers, cellarmen, lab technicians, packaging operators and managers, marketing, sales, administrative and skilled labor with a heavy emphasis on full-time positions with benefits.

Dave Rice, co-owner, Beer Republic Brewing, LLC says: “Beer Republic Brewing’s relocation to downtown Lawrenceville presented a strategic opportunity to invest in a thriving and growing local economy while bringing in a major player in an industry that has become a driving economic force. We are excited to be able to participate in the energy and growth of Lawrenceville and we hope to make it ‘the place to go’ for great craft beer.”

Beer Republic received zoning approval at the city’s Planning Commission meeting and looks to renovate the space and be open for business prior to the end of 2018. For more information on the City of Lawrenceville’s redevelopment activity or to learn about the city’s vision and direction, visit www.lawrencevillega.org.

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

Gwinnett, Metro Atlanta, finally moving toward key transit vote

By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum

APRIL 20, 2018  |  Finally, at long last, people throughout the area seem to be realizing that something must be done about the number one problem in Metro Atlanta: public transit.

We see this new concern in Gwinnett County, in Metro Atlanta, and most interestingly, at the Georgia General Assembly. Their action this year seems to open the possibility that significant transit action can start soon.

The leadership of the area hasn’t always been so keen in attacking this transportation problem.  Oh, on several occasions, there have been referendums on this overall question, but every time it has come up, elected officials have at best been not forthcoming about proposing solutions to the transportation problem in Metro Atlanta. Now area leaders, including Gwinnett County Commission Chairman Charlotte Nash, are working together to come up with an overall area transit plan, which may see a vote this fall.

We haven’t seen such interest by elected officials on a specific transportation effort in the past. By coming together in a comprehensive metro-wide transit component, it shows significant leadership may be coming on the part of the public officials.

We’re also pleased to see Gwinnett officials backing bringing MARTA to the lower reaches of the county, with Chairman Nash taking a strong position favoring a vote on this proposition.  One proposal is to vote on whether Gwinnett should extend MARTA to the Norcross area of Jimmy Carter Boulevard.

Let’s review what has happened to the idea of public transit in the past.

MARTA was formed by an act of the Georgia General Assembly in 1965. In the same year, four of the five metropolitan area counties (Clayton, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett) and the City of Atlanta passed a referendum authorizing participation in the system, but the referendum failed in Cobb County.

In 1971 MARTA was approved by voters in Fulton and DeKalb County, leading to the initial building of the present MARTA system, with groundbreaking in 1975.  But heavy rail service did not begin until 1979.

Gwinnett rejected in 1971 the idea of joining the MARTA system, when there were 76,900 people in Gwinnett. The rejection was sound: 9,506 against the transit idea, 2,500 for it.  That same year, 1971, Clayton County also handily rejected the idea of public transportation.

Gwinnett held another referendum on MARTA in 1990, when Gwinnett had 352,910 residents. The vote was again overwhelmingly against the idea, 68,136 against it, and 28,828 for joining MARTA.

It is noteworthy to point out here that in 2013, Clayton County voters passed a one percent sales tax to join the MARTA system. However, so far, Clayton has only bus service, but no rail transit.

Gwinnett had in 2008 what essentially was a “straw poll” with similar but different questions on both the Republican and Democratic primary ballots.  In essence, 53.2 percent of the voters were against a public transit system. While not binding, at least this straw poll suggested that the thinking of the majority of Gwinnett voters on transit was changing.

Now in the present day, there is growing unrest among the population in all areas of Metro Atlanta, on why Atlanta doesn’t have a better public transit system. Gwinnett and all of Atlanta are now being held back by not having sufficient transit. Metro Atlanta can only move significantly forward when transit will be a viable alternative to go to the many reaches of the entire metropolitan area.

This year’s question on the ballot can signal a bright future for Metro Atlanta.

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

Three Gwinnett schools win slots in Odyssey of Mind national finals

Students on the Odyssey of he Mind team from Simpson Elementary School include  Ellie Simmons, Briggs Dommert, Kylie Dommert, Sophie Dommert, Emma Betteridge, Claire Ott and Addie Ebert.

(Editor’s note: Three Gwinnett schools will be participating in the world Odyssey of the Mind competition at Iowa State University in May. The Gwinnett schools are Simpson Elementary, Trickum Middle and Parkview High. Below is a story from Simpson’s Ellie Simmons—eeb).

Hello:

My name is Ellie Simmons. I’m a fifth grade student at Simpson Elementary School. Six other Simpson Elementary students and I placed first place in our division at the State Odyssey of the Mind competition. We have qualified to compete at World Finals in at Iowa State University at Ames, Iowa on May 23-26. We did a fantastic job and ended up with the highest scores in all three areas: Long Term, Style, and Spontaneous. Some of our scores even beat high school students’ scores.

Ellie Simmons

There is a $3,000 registration fee to compete in World Finals in addition to food, lodging and travel. Our team is brainstorming ideas to raise funds and are hoping you can help. We also hope to spread the word about Odyssey of the Mind to encourage other children in the area to participate.

As part of the competition, we have worked hard for months to create a skit that meets certain criteria. We wrote the script and made the costumes and props without any outside help (not even from parents and coaches). The skit is fabulous and my team members and I would love to find venues to perform to raise funds.

Odyssey of the Mind is an international creative problem-solving program that engages students in their learning by allowing their knowledge and ideas to come to life in an exciting, productive environment.

Thank you for your time!

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

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine 

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Professional healthcare programs leading to doctoral degrees in Pharmacy (PharmD) and Osteopathic Medicine (DO) are offered at Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (GA-PCOM) in Suwanee Ga. A graduate degree at the master’s level can be earned in Biomedical Sciences and Physician Assistant Studies. In addition, a physical therapy education program is under development. GA–PCOM is a private, not-for-profit branch campus of the fully accredited Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, a multi-program institution founded in 1899 with a tradition of educational excellence.   (GA-PCOM) in Suwanee Ga. A graduate degree at the master’s level can be earned in Biomedical Sciences and Physician Assistant Studies. In addition, a physical therapy education program is under development. GA–PCOM is a private, not-for-profit branch campus of the fully accredited Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, a multi-program institution founded in 1899 with a tradition of educational excellence.

• For a list of other underwriters of this forum, go to: Our underwriters.

Continued banking omissions reminds editor of elevator mistake

Editor, the Forum:

Recently you corrected yourself by saying: “There would be three mainline community banks remaining in Gwinnett after the Brand Bank sale: Piedmont Bank with $827 million in assets, Gwinnett Community Bank with $277 million in assets and People’s Bank and Trust with $296 million in assets.”

I really don’t have a dog in this fight, but doesn’t Quantum Bank in Suwanee, with $337 million in assets, count?

— Dick Goodman, Suwanee

Dear Dick: Oh, you are so right. Our head was befuddled recently. Reminds me 40 years ago when I wrote that a jeweler in Lawrenceville had the only elevator in Gwinnett.  Suddenly elevators started turning up every which way in Gwinnett. My bad and thank you for bringing me up to date. –eeb

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

Commission approves long-term countywide Trails Master Plan

Gwinnett’s proposed complete trail network.  Click the image above to link to a PDF that you can enlarge to see the trails better.

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners have approved the Countywide Trails Master Plan, which ultimately will create a seamless, interconnected web of bike and pedestrian pathways for recreation, commuting or running errands.

Board of Commissioners Chairman Charlotte Nash described the connections that will result from the master plan a major amenity that will benefit everyone across the board. “This plan will serve as the blueprint for expanding Gwinnett’s trail system in the future and tying it to trail networks across the County and beyond. I am especially excited by the level of cooperation between the Gwinnett cities and the County,” Nash said.

As part of the 320-mile network of trails, the study proposes nine “Signature Trails,” regionally significant trails with amenities, connectivity between destinations and other defining features that will set the standard for the county and the region. Some, such as the Sugar Hill Greenway, are being built by cities. Others will stretch across multiple cities and connect to neighboring counties or cities. Many of the Signature Trails are included in the plan’s Core Trail Network, a series of trails that are envisioned to be built by 2040.

The long-term goal may take decades to implement depending on funding so the plan recommended some quick-win projects, such as the Western Gwinnett Bikeway, a proposed 18-mile trail located along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard from Suwanee to Peachtree Corners, and part of the Harbins Greenway, a 17.4-mile trail connecting Harbins Park to Bay Creek Park to Tribble Mill Park to Loganville.

One future project being discussed is the Chattahoochee Trail Network, a 100-mile, regional trail along the river from Buford Dam to Newnan that would require partnerships among multiple agencies. Gwinnett officials have already met with the National Park Service and surrounding cities to explore ways to help build the trail.

The trails master plan, which was the result of a Board of Commissioners strategy session, was developed with public input as well as buy-in from county agencies working in tandem with cities and community improvement districts.

The study settled on two types of trails – the off-road trail, a concrete path up to 14 feet wide that follows its own alignment or possibly a stream or utility corridor and costs between $3.2 million and $3.5 million per mile, and a side path, an asphalt trail that runs adjacent to roadways with a buffer between users and traffic and costs between $2.4 million and $2.5 million per mile.

• To see the complete study, click here.

Scleroderma Foundation plays Hiking and Hotcakes on June 9

Runners begin the race

For the past five years the Georgia chapter of the Scleroderma Foundation has held its “Hiking and Hotcakes – Stepping out for a Cure” Event in Lilburn Park. The morning starts at 7:30 a.m. with race number pick up and walk-up registration. There is a pre-race Zumba warm up, timed 5K race with age group medals, one mile fun walk and Breakfast Bingo for those who do not wish to race. A pancake breakfast provided by the Knights of Columbus.

Last year over 300 participants raced and walked – and many more came for bingo, breakfast, and prize drawings. The fundraising goal this year is $35,000. The funds will go to Scleroderma Research. Come and see which teams will win the fundraising awards this year.

The event is staffed by many local volunteers including the Scleroderma Foundation board, Knights of Columbus from St. John Neumann Catholic Church, athletes and parents from Parkview Cross Country, and many other sponsors and community members. The location is Lilburn Park in downtown Lilburn.

• For more information about our event and how to participate, go to www.scleroderma.org/hiking2018.

Duluth presents Art Week 2018 on April 28-29, with Juried Art Festival

Duluth kicks off Art Week 2018 with a two-day juried Arts Festival presented by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces on April 28-29. Live music and food trucks will accompany the event along with 60 painters, photographers, sculptors, leather and metalworkers, glass blowers, jewelers, and crafters.

Chattahoochee Yoga will be offering free morning yoga classes on April 28 as part of Duluth Art Week. Registration is required. Chick-Fil-A will offer a “Sip and Sketch” class for art enthusiasts to enjoy from 4-6 p.m.

GACS Athletic Director Vick to retire and teach Bible students

Greater Atlanta Christian School Athletic Director Dr. Tim Vick will be leaving from his role as Athletic Director of GAC in May after 43 years of service at the school, serving since 1982. Dr. Vick has accepted a position as Bible Teacher at a sister Christian school, Central Arkansas Christian, in Little Rock, Ark.

Vick

For the Vicks the time spent on the GAC campus has been like a blink of an eye. “So much good has transpired during those years that it would be impossible to identify all that GAC has meant to us. I am thankful for Jackie Bradford who saw enough potential in a young college graduate to give me a chance to thrive as a coach and teacher in an environment which encourages us to make an eternal difference in the lives of our students,” Dr. Vick says.

Dr. Vick graduated from Harding University, playing basketball on scholarship. He has coached basketball, track, golf, cross country, and tennis at GAC. He has served as President Georgia Athletic Coaches Association (GACA).  He was named GACA region coach of the year 13 times and GADA athletic director of the year on seven years.  He was inducted into the GADA Hall of Fame in 2015.

GAC President Dr. David Fincher said of Dr. Vick, “In addition to shepherding GAC athletics through decades of sizable growth and state-wide success, Tim’s leadership has made an impact for Georgia athletics. Above all, Dr. Vick is known as a man of character and whole-hearted integrity, which should be one of our highest goals in the shaping of all our student-athletes. Tim has shown the way by his own example.”

Dr. Vick said his greatest love is teaching Bible; he has served as a Bible teacher at GAC for many years

Become exhibitor at Scrapbook Showcase at Bethesda Park on May 1

Do you have heritage here in Gwinnett County, or know someone who does?  Become an exhibitor for our special event at Bethesda Park Senior Center celebrating Gwinnett’s 200^thBirthday entitled: Bicentennial Scrapbook Showcase on Tuesday, May 1 from 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. Show off your vintage pictures and artifacts and share in Gwinnett’s historic past.

Each entry (free of cost) will receive a six-foot table and two chairs. The showcase will be open to the public for viewing at Bethesda Park Senior Center located at: 225 Bethesda Church Road.

• Exhibitors must pre-register by April 24 online at www.gwinnettparks.com with code: BEP32901 or call: 678-277-0179.

Gwinnett Place CID names new director, vice chairman

Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (GPCID) elected one new board member and named a new vice chairman during its annual Caucus of Electors on April 12. The District is a self-taxing district that uses additional commercial property taxes to accelerate infrastructure improvements, security enhancements and economic development in the Gwinnett Place area,

Brett DeLoach, general manager for Sonesta Gwinnett Place Atlanta and Sonesta ES Suites Gwinnett Place, is the new board member and  will serve a three-year term. DeLoach is no stranger to the hotel industry and brings more than 20 years of industry experience. His management career started at Embassy Suites Hotel in Jacksonville, Fla., where he was the assistant manager and responsible for overseeing operations for 277 suites’ locations. From there, DeLoach became the general manager for Hotel Indigo in Jacksonville and then moved to Atlanta to become the general manager for DoubleTree by Hilton.

The board’s new vice chairman is Trey Ragsdale, manager of government and community relations for Kaiser Permanente in Georgia. Ragsdale is responsible for securing government and community support for Kaiser Permanente’s healthcare initiatives throughout Georgia. He was also named one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s Top 40 Rising Business Leaders Under the Age of 40 in Georgia and the Atlanta Business Chronicle selected him as one of the top 50 rising Business Leaders Under the Age of 40 in the metropolitan Atlanta region.

Leo Wiener, president of Ackerman Retail, was re-elected as board chairman. Mark Williams, owner of Printing Trade Company, was re-elected to his board post for another three-year term and re-elected secretary/treasurer of the CID.

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.  Send to:  elliott@brack.net

Barrier islands help protect coastal plain of Georgia

The geological development of the Georgia coast and shoreline is the result both of ongoing, and geologically long-term, physical processes and of their interaction with a rapidly increasing population intent on settling and developing the most dynamic portion of the coastal zone.

The Coastal Plain occupies more than half of the state’s land surface. The Lower Coastal Plain extends inland for approximately 65 miles between the Savannah and St. Marys rivers, and includes 11 counties. Within this region, the remains of six progressively higher and older shorelines are present, with features generally similar to those of the present coastline. These features were formed during Late Pleistocene interglacial high seas that occurred worldwide. Higher in elevation than adjacent land surfaces and river floodplains, these ancient sandbodies provided safer ground for early Indian occupation sites and trails, as well as for such modern cities as Brunswick, Folkston, Hinesville, Jesup, and Savannah. Transportation routes, including U.S. highways 17 and 84 and Interstate 95, are also partially located along these features. The Okefenokee Swamp owes its existence to Trail Ridge, a long sand spit that built southward across the mouth of what was once a large coastal embayment.

The modern Georgia coast is bordered by a series of relatively short, wide barrier islands separated by relatively deep tidal inlets, or sounds. Extensive sand shoal systems are present seaward of the inlets and central portions of the island.

Eight major islands and island groups comprise the 100 miles of coast between the Savannah and St. Marys rivers. These are Cumberland/Little Cumberland, Jekyll, St. Simons/Sea Island/Little St. Simons, Sapelo/Blackbeard, St. Catherines, Ossabaw, Wassaw, and Tybee/Little Tybee. Tybee, St. Simons/Sea Island, and Jekyll are accessible by roadway and are the only developed barrier islands.

Popularly known as the Golden Isles, the barrier islands are composed of dune and beach ridge sands formed by the interaction of wind, waves, currents, sand supply, and a slowly rising or stable sea level. The availability of sand largely determines whether the shoreline will erode or build. In addition to providing natural habitat for numerous plant and animal communities, as well as recreational destinations for nearby human populations, the barrier islands protect the mainland from the brunt of major storms and hurricanes. The developed barrier islands have no such outer defense.

Six of the eight largest islands are composite barriers consisting of a core of beach and dune deposits formed during the previous, and slightly higher, worldwide sea level of the Pleistocene Silver Bluff, approximately 40,000 to 50,000 years ago. Most of the islands are closely fronted by similar deposits formed during the present, or Holocene, sea-level rise that began 15,000 years ago. At that time the shoreline was located along the edge of the continental shelf some 75 miles east of Brunswick, and the exposed sea bottom became an extension of the Coastal Plain with forests, plants, and animals. As the sea level began to slowly rise, animal communities were able to retreat from the rising sea, but forestlands were inundated.

About 5,000 years ago, the rate of sea-level rise decreased from three feet per century to a little less than a foot per century. The barrier islands began to form at, or near, their present locations and, in most cases, welded onto the Pleistocene barriers.

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

Gorgeous architectural rendering is this edition’s Mystery Photo

Isn’t this  Mystery Photo a gorgeous architectural site? We love the rounded entrance on two sides and the overall setting. Now try to figure out where this is, and send your thoughts to elliott@brack.net, to include your hometown.

Last week Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex. was one of two people to recognize where the Mystery Photo was taken. The other was Bob Foreman of Grayson. The photograph was sent in by George Graf of Palmyra, Va.

Allan wrote: “This  mystery photo was taken at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stonycreek Township, about two-miles north of Shanksville, Penn. It, is dedicated to the 40 passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93 who died rerouting the flight that terrorists had intended to crash in the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. on Sept 11, 2001. This winning design entry is called ‘Crescent of Embrace’ by a design team led by Paul and Milena Murdoch of Los Angeles. The original design features a ‘Tower of Voices,’ containing 40 wind chimes — one for each passenger and crew member who died. A crescent would have been formed by a circular pathway lined with red maple trees that follows the natural bowl shape of the land. Forty groves of red and sugar maples and eastern white oak trees were to be planted behind the crescent. A black slate wall would mark the edge of the crash site, where the victims are buried.

“Although a temporary memorial was established soon after the crash, the first phase of the permanent memorial was completed, opened, and dedicated on September 10, 2011. After 14 years of planning and development, the Flight 93 National Memorial was finally completed and open to family members of the victims on September 10, 2015.”

Foreman, an architect, comments: “Personally, I preferred the site before they built the memorial. Sometimes, less is better. There is little parking at the site and very few signs telling the story of what happened.”

Roving photographer visits Atlanta’s annual Piedmont Festival

Roving Photographer Frank Sharp visited the Piedmont Park Festival recently, and brought back these snapshots. He says: “ It was a good day to go to the park on a Sunday, since there was no rain. It too us a couple of hours to see all of the exhibits.  We thought the food was overpriced as expected, so we ate later at the Varsity who has the best onion rings in town. However, the streets were all torn up with construction, a real mess. All of these photographs were made with my Canon G9X Mark II pocket camera.”

(NEW) Annual Camp Gwinnett will be on April 22 from noon until 4 p.m. at Tribble Mill Park near Lawrenceville. Over 600 Girl Scouts are expected. The camp teaches Girl Scouts a variety of outdoor skills.  One of the main goals of this event is to get troop leaders, girls and their parents to feel more confident about camping and experiencing life in the outdoors.  Register at https://campgwinnett.weebly.com/.

“Informed Aging,” a program for older adults and their families, will be presented on April 22 at 2 p.m. at Temple Beth David in Snellville. Conducted by Debbi Dooley, Geriatric Care Manager for Aviv Older Adult Services at Jewish Family & Career Services, the program will cover having legal documents in order (wills, powers of attorney, and advance directives); alternate living options; and making choices to age healthfully. There will be a Q & A period following the program. This program is presented at no charge by Temple Beth David, 1885 McGee Road, Snellville.

(NEW) Temporary Library Closing: From April 23 to April 27, the Peachtree Corners Public Library Branch will close for an HVAC system replacement. Book drops will remain open, but fines for items due during the period will be waived. Customers are encouraged to select alternate pickup locations for holds expected to arrive at the Peachtree Corners branch during this time, and can call the Library Help Line with questions at 770-978-5154.

(NEW) Lilburn Relay Rally Picnic, Wednesday, April 25, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Lilburn Park Pavilion. A $10 donation gets  you lunch including sides. First come, firs served, so get tickets at info.wrhouse@gmail.com. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society.

Robotics Community Open House at Eastside Medical Center on Wednesday, April 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. on its main campus North Tower lobby.  The celebration is to mark the 1,300 robotic surgeries at Eastside, procedures that results in less pain and scarring of patients plus shorter hospital stays.  RSVP to Hope.Moeck@HCAHealthcare.com

(NEW) Technology Forum: the future of the Autonomous Vehicle will be Thursday, April 26 at 8 a.m. at Technology Park/Atlanta, 107 Technology Parkway, in Peachtree Corners. Cost is $10. Hear a panel of experts discuss the latest trends in autonomous vehicle technology and how autonomous vehicles may change our lives, economy, and the future of technology. Sponsored by Partnership Gwinnett.

Free Nature Photography Workshop at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center, 2020 Clean Water Drive, Buford, on April 28, at 1 p.m. Join the Georgia Nature Photographers Association for this informal talk and Q&A photography workshop.  They will provide information about cameras, editing software, and tips for getting better photographs with the equipment you already have.

GwinnettForum is provided to you at no charge every Tuesday and Friday.   First come, first served, so get tickets now at l

Meet our team

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

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