11/9: Hudgens Prize finalists; Big changes in Gwinnett politics

TROLLEY AWAITS YOU: Starting November 9 (today), hop aboard the new Braselton trolley and experience town in a whole new way!  The vintage red trolley, owned and operated by the Braselton Visitors Bureau Authority, has wooden bench seating inside and is fare free! Regular routes will occur on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday schedule.  The trolley will operate on a fixed stop system, making a continuous loop to connect the historic downtown with the 211 corridor. Passengers will be able to visit everything from the historic Braselton Brothers Department Store Building to the Chateau Elan Winery and everything in between.  Get more information at www.BraseltonTrolley.com. Need to rent out the trolley for a private group? No problem! For rental information, contact Jessica Payne at 706-684-0369 or jpayne@braselton.net.

TODAY’S FOCUS: Hudgens Center Announces Finalists for Its $50,000 Art Prize

EEB PERSPECTIVE: Oh, The Times Have Changed Quite Quickly in Politics in Gwinnett

SPOTLIGHT: Primerica, Inc.

FEEDBACK: Bet He Has Tongue-in-Cheek About Blue-Ribbon Government Panel!

UPCOMING: 23rd Annual Christmas Canteen Returns To Aurora Another Season

NOTABLE: Ex-Lilburn Mayor, Longtime Public Servant, Diana Preston, Has Died

RECOMMENDED: The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

GEORGIA TIDBIT: Gov. Ellis Arnall’s Political Tenure One of Most Unusual Circumstances

MYSTERY PHOTO: Two Big Clues Should Guide You To Answer This Mystery

CALENDAR: Democrats in Gwinnett Plan Victory Breakfast This Saturday

Hudgens Center announces finalists for its $50,000 art prize

By Ifi Williams
Executive Director, Hudgens Center for Art and Learning

DULUTH, Ga.   |  Finalists for the $50,000 Hudgens Art Prize for 2019 have been announced.

The 2019 Hudgens Prize finalists are:

Beamon

Benae Beamon is from Atlanta: “Tap dance is the primary force in my work and the basis for my rhythmic lexicon as a performance artist. This lexicon, inspired by hip hop, jazz, spoken word, and west and south African movement and sound, allows me to craft silence using sound with an intentionally Afrocentric frame.”

Benjamin

Paul Stephen Benjamin of Scottdale: “I am a multidisciplinary artist. My work brings the past, present and future together through use of the color black. The color black becomes an entry point into discussions of Blackness. I create multi-layered artworks, which incorporate history, text and popular culture. I employ painting, sculpture, installation and video in my work.”

Johnson

Darian A Johnson from Decatur: “My most recent work utilizes transfer techniques as a means to address the circularity of human consciousness, to draw parallels between visual and verbal/written language, and to question the changing state of perceptual experience as digital technologies continue to influence the human condition.”

Meko

Michi Meko of Atlanta: “In the summer of 2015, I almost drowned. Inviting this life-changing event’s influence into my studio practice, my recent paintings and sculptures focus on the African American experience of navigating public spaces while remaining buoyant within them. This work contributes to an important conversation, as African Americans in public space are consistently threatened, now more visibly and openly with the evidence and sharing offered by social media.”

This $50,000 biennial prize is one of the largest nationally awarded to an individual artist and is only available to Georgia residents. The purpose of the competition is to elevate and promote the arts in Georgia, as well as to offer a transformational opportunity for the winning artist.

Every other year The Hudgens Center selects a jury panel made up of three prominent arts professionals from outside of the state of Georgia. The Hudgens issues a statewide call to all Georgia artists to submit entries electronically to be reviewed by the panel of jurors, who review the entries and select the four finalists. The panel of jurors reviews the entries and selects the four finalists. These four artists are invited to display work in the Finalists Exhibition. Each of these artists receive a $1,500 cash stipend to cover the expenses of the exhibition. This year, The Hudgens has launched the fifth cycle of the prize with the award to be granted in 2019.

The jury panel for the 2019 Hudgens Prize:

• Glenn Adamson, senior scholar at the Yale Center for British Art, New Haven, Conn.
• Anne Ellegood is senior curator, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, Calif.
• Amber Esseiva, assistant curator, Institute for Contemporary Art, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va.

While the Hudgens Prize directly impacts the four finalists, one of whom will ultimately win the $50,000 award, the Hudgens is honored and proud to be the facilitator of a competition that is able to bring the work of so many Georgia artists to the attention of the highly esteemed panel of jurors.

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

Oh, the times have changed quite quickly in politics in Gwinnett

By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher

NOV. 9, 2018  |  Let’s take a look at the 2018 elections.

In many ways, in the still-to-be-called races, matters are going like they should.

While there still votes to be counted, those leading in races say what they should: they claim victory.  Meanwhile, the candidates who are trailing maintain that the race isn’t quite over yet, so they’re not conceding.

And yes, we know that there will be at least two statewide runoffs, that for Secretary of State, and for one of the seats on the Public Service Commission.

In the race for governor, on Thursday morning Brian Kemp had 50.3 percent of the vote, while Stacey Abrams trailed closely behind. He had 1,973,099 votes, or 62,000 more than Ms. Abrams 1,910,390.

In the Secretary of State race, Brad Raffensperger leads with 1.9 million votes (49.2 percent), while John Barrow had 1.8 million votes, or 48.6 percent. Libertarian spoiler Smythe Duval polled 86,109 votes, or 2.2 percent to send that to a runoff.

In the Public Service Commission runoff, the incumbent Chuck Eaton has 1.9 million votes, to 1.8 million for Lindy Miller, so the two face one another in the runoff. Ryan Graham of the Libertarian Party scored 102,112 votes, assuring the runoff.

In the other PSC race, incumbent Republican Tricia Pridemore won by 126,000 over Dawn Randolph.

Meanwhile, Congressman Rob Woodall appears to have the most votes (139,804), but challenger Carolyn Bourdeaux (138,904) hasn’t thrown in the towel, wanting to wait until every vote is counted. That’s a Woodall lead of less than 1,000 votes. Look for a recount in that race. Ms. Bourdeaux handily took Gwinnett — by  23,000 votes — but the Forsyth County part of the district was Woodall territory, and may have ensured his victory.

In another congressional race of interest in the adjacent Sixth District, Democrat Lucy McBath came out of nowhere to upset Karen Handel, 159,353 to 156,419. After all the hullaboo of the 2016 election, McBath surprised a lot of people. Ms. Handel finally issued a concession Thursday morning in an email.

LET’S TURN to the local political outcomes.

Yes, what people thought would happen, did: Democrats came roaring back after being clearly in the minority in the council since 1984.  It was their best effort since then, mainly because the Democratic Party now seems more energized than the Republicans in Gwinnett.

The Democrats won 10 of 13 contested legislative races. The delegation now totals 17 Democrats and only seven Republicans — quite a flip!

What can we look for in the future?  Just after some Democrats jumped to a new party after the 1984 election, who knows?  Some Republicans may “see the handwriting on the wall” and suddenly embrace a new vision as a Democrat in future races. It won’t be the first time a candidate has left one party for another after seeing how the cards are counted.

Republicans P.K. Martin and Renee Unterman returned to the General Assembly, but will have quite a cadre of new Democrats to go to the Capitol with them.

Two other changes in local races: Democrats now have two seats on the county commission with Ben Ku and Marlene Fosque winning.  Democrats also now have a seat on the school board with EJ Blair’s victory, while Steve Knudsen won a Republican seat.

We also consider it an upset for Brian Whiteside’s victory for solicitor general over incumbent Rosanna Szabo.

It was quite a different political year in Gwinnett. It might point to a new party dominating Gwinnett in years to come.

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

Primerica, Inc.

The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Primerica, Inc.,  headquartered in Duluth, is a leading distributor of financial products to middle-income families in North America and is Gwinnett’s fourth largest employer, with 1,700 employees. Primerica representatives educate their Main Street clients about how to better prepare for a more secure financial future by assessing their needs and providing appropriate solutions through term life insurance, which it underwrites, and mutual funds, annuities and other financial products, which it distributes primarily on behalf of third parties. In addition, Primerica provides an entrepreneurial full or part-time business opportunity for individuals seeking to earn income by distributing the company’s financial products. It insures approximately 5 million lives and had over 2 million client investment accounts at December 31, 2017. Primerica is a member of the S&P MidCap 400 and the Russell 2000 stock indices and is traded on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “PRI.”

• For more information, visit primerica.com.
• For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here.

Bet he has tongue-in-cheek about blue-ribbon government panel

Editor, the Forum:

Hahahaha!

Who knew Ol’ George Wilson was a neocon? I thought nation-building was frowned upon by the more left-er set of folks!

That’s how we got into the messes in Iraq and Afghanistan in the first place; trying to bring democracy to countries that have no history of civic responsibility.

I think we can agree that the military budget is way too bloated.  There is a strong current to keep it that way. Here’s an idea: let’s appoint a blue-ribbon government panel to study it for a few years! That should yield results!

— Rick Hammond, Lawrenceville

Dear Rick: about your blue-ribbon panel: sure, it’ll yield results!—eeb

Was this election an aberration or is it a trend?

Editor, the Forum:

Wake up on a Wednesday morning and sleepy, conservative Peachtree Corners has elected a Democrat state senator, a Democrat state representative, and a Democrat county commissioner.   What will this mean to this new city?  The Republican predecessors were graduates or close associates to the United Peachtree Corners Community Association, but now a whole new world of politics is here.

Was this simply a rejection of Trump?  I doubt it.  Demographics have been changing, the African American voter was highly motivated,  and the ever present Democrat residents had strong candidates for once.  Even John’s Creek’s state representative is now Democrat.   Woodall lost Gwinnett by almost 23,000.  Immigrants from Asia, Africa, and South of the Border vote Democrat for the most part.  This may not have been an aberration.  This may be a trend.

— Bryan Gilbert, Duluth.

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

23rd annual Christmas Canteen returns to Aurora for another season

‘Tis the season to be jolly at Aurora Theatre! The ever-popular Christmas Canteen 2018 will unwrap the magic of Christmas November 15-December 23 with new hosts Jimi Kocina and Cecil Washington, Jr. Brimming with merry melodies, and comedy, trips down memory lane and a sprinkle of Christmas magic, Gwinnett’s longest-running theatrical holiday tradition makes the most wonderful time of the year even more wonderful! This is the 23^rd year that the Aurora has presented this fan-favorite holiday show.

“Christmas Canteen is a special community tradition that we look forward to celebrating every year,” said Anthony Rodriguez, Producing Artistic Director of Aurora Theatre and Co-Director of Christmas Canteen 2018. “We are delighted to ring in the holiday season with the 23rd anniversary of this fan-favorite that is sure to leave audiences of all ages feeling merry and bright!”

Co-directed by Ricardo Aponte and Anthony Rodriguez, Christmas Canteen is an Aurora original with writing by Brandon O’Dell, musical direction by Ann-Carol Pence and choreography by Ricardo Aponte.

Aurora Theatre will also welcome back its annual Festival of Trees. From the clever to the breathtakingly spectacular, nearly 30 trees decorated by local businesses will illuminate the theater lobby for visitors to enjoy. Guests are encouraged to cast a vote for this year’s most decorative tree by placing a new, unwrapped toy or non-perishable food item under their favorite tree. All gifts will be donated to the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots, and the food items will be delivered to Gwinnett’s local food banks. Audiences of all ages are invited to make spirits bright and help ensure that everyone has a warm holiday season!

Recommended for all ages, Christmas Canteen 2018 will be presented November 15-December 23. Tickets start at $30 with discount matinees on Tuesday, November 27 at 10 a.m. and December 11 and 18 at 10 a.m., starting at $20. Tickets can be purchased online at tickets.auroratheatre.com or by calling the box office at 678-226-6222.

Suwanee Youth Leaders program seeking applications

Now in its sixth year, the award-winning Suwanee Youth Leaders (SYL) program is accepting applications for its nine-month leadership program for high school sophomores and juniors. SYL is open to students who live in the North Gwinnett, Peachtree Ridge, and Collins Hill clusters, as well as home school and private school students who reside within those clusters. The program centers on civic involvement, leadership skills, and volunteer opportunities.

The 2019 SYL program kicks off with a mandatory two-day retreat in the spring. Students then meet one Saturday each month March through October and are expected to volunteer at several community events which may include the August Concert, two Food Truck Friday events, Suwanee Fest, and Arts in the Park.

• Applications are available at suwanee.com and are due by December 1. For more information about SYL, contact Adam Edge at aedge@suwanee.com or Denise Brinson at denise@suwanee.com.

Ex-Lilburn mayor, longtime public servant, Diana Preston has died

The City of Lilburn has announced the death of Diana Preston, former councilwoman, mayor, and longtime public servant to cancer at age 69.

Preston

Mrs. Preston died on Monday. Services will be held on Monday, November 12 at 11 a.m. at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 801 Tom Smith Road, Lilburn. She is survived by her husband, three children, mother, four siblings and two grandchildren. She was originally from Charleston, S.C. and attended Clemson University before becoming a teacher in Gwinnett County Public Schools. She moved to the Lilburn area in 1970.

She retired from the district after serving in administrative and coordinator roles. Mrs. Preston served on the Lilburn City Council for 22 years and was elected Mayor of the City of Lilburn in November 2007, becoming the first woman in city history to hold that position. She also served as a charter member of the Lilburn Planning Commission and a member of the Lilburn Merit Board.

As a member of Lilburn City Council, one of Mrs. Preston’s many responsibilities included parks, recreation, and community activities. She was instrumental in the creation of the 4.2 mile Camp Creek Greenway Trail, which has become a popular attraction in Lilburn. Mrs. Preston led the rededication of Lilburn City Park in 2004, Lilburn’s Centennial Celebration in 2010, and set in motion the project to build the current City Hall-Library. She was also instrumental in helping form the Lilburn Community Improvement District along the U.S. Highway 29 corridor in 2010.

City Manager Bill Johnsa says: “Diana’s dedication and love for her community was unmatched. She touched many lives and will be greatly missed.”

Mrs. Preston served as president of Gwinnett Municipal Association, graduated from the first class of  Leadership Gwinnett, and served on the Board of Directors for Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful. In 2007 she was recognized as one of Gwinnett’s most influential women.

She later formed Lilburn Community Partnership, a nonprofit organization designed to bring the Lilburn community together through events and programs that continue today. For her many years of service and dedication, the City of Lilburn signed a proclamation earlier this year declaring December 12 of each year to be observed as “Diana Preston Day.”

Information session on coding school will be held Nov. 13

In January 2019, Prototype Prime, the city’s start-up incubator, will begin hosting a 24-week coding boot camp taught by Georgia Tech. Those interested in learning more about the classes will have an opportunity during an upcoming information session. It will be held on Tuesday, November 13, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at Prototype Prime, located at 147 Technology Parkway.

Both business owners and individuals who would like more details about the coding boot camp, are welcome. Those attending will be able to meet representatives from Georgia Tech to learn about the coding boot camp. Business owners will also learn about grants offered through an Atlanta Regional Commission program that provides businesses up to 90 percent of the cost of the coding school.

The classes are offered through Georgia Tech Professional Education (GTPE), an academic division of Georgia Tech. Students will learn specialized skills through a fast-paced, immersive curriculum and acquire skills to become proficient in front-end and back-end technologies. Students will receive hands-on training to master the hard and soft skills needed for web development, data science and analytics, and will finish the course with a wide set of technical skills and a portfolio of projects. Classes begin Jan. 28, 2019.

The Atlanta Regional Commission program provides businesses with financial assistance for on-the-job training, and incumbent worker training to assist in training workers in the Atlanta area. The ARC provides reimbursements to employers to help compensate for the costs associated with skills upgrade training and loss of production for new hires.

Attendees are requested to RSVP to ensure a seat for this information session. Feel free to bring your lunch to this mid-day event. For more information, visit Georgia Tech’s coding boot camp web page or call 404-328-7187.

Georgia Gwinnett College’s nursing program gains accreditation

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) has announced that Georgia Gwinnett College has earned accreditation for its baccalaureate degree in nursing program. Officially recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education as a national accreditation agency, the CCNE ensures the quality and integrity of baccalaureate, graduate and doctoral programs in the United States and its territories.

GGC’s highly selective, yet affordable, nursing program first admitted students in the fall of 2014, graduating its charter class in 2016. The college has established strong partnerships to provide graduates with relevant clinical experiences. Each academic year, approximately 64 nursing students graduate and begin working at medical facilities within our region and beyond.

CCNE standards for accreditation focus on program quality, curriculum, institutional resources, outcomes and student achievement. Although a voluntary, self-regulatory process, CCNE accreditation holds nursing programs accountable to the community of interest, ensures that the programs are preparing individuals to fulfill their expected roles and fosters continuing improvement in nursing programs.

 The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

From Karen Harris, Stone Mountain:  A family trying to heal moves to Alaska for a new life off the grid and hopefully a simpler life. Ernt Albright is a Vietnam veteran suffering from PSTD. Cora, the supportive wife and mother to 13-year-old Leni, tries to navigate Ernt’s increasing rages which come with the first winter and 18 hours of darkness. Gradually with the help of the community, the family settles in but is unprepared for the hugeness of the challenges that are part of living with unrelenting cold, the little frictions that develop within the community, Ernt’s increasing violence and Leni’s growing fear of her father, and the hugeness of living in Alaska.  Kristin Hannah’s rare ability to create characters that are multi-faceted and her ability to create lavish scenes that describe the beauty and mystery that is Alaska makes this a novel that is both realistic and satisfying.

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

Arnall’s political tenure one of most unusual circumstances

(Continued from previous issue)

Just as remarkable as Ellis Arnall’s political ascendancy was his political decline. The state constitution prohibited gubernatorial succession, and Arnall suffered his first major defeat when he failed to persuade the legislature to propose a constitutional amendment allowing gubernatorial succession. Arnall also lost popularity by leading the efforts at the 1944 National Democratic Convention to re-nominate Vice President Henry A. Wallace.

Arnall

The liberal Wallace was unpopular in Georgia. But most damaging to Arnall’s political career was his stance on allowing blacks to vote in the state’s white primaries. A federal district court held that the state’s white primaries were unconstitutional. Arnall refused to follow the examples of other southern states, which tried to evade the court’s mandate.

His inaction allowed the Eugene Talmadge faction to denounce him as a traitor to the white race. Many white Georgians believed Arnall was too liberal on the race issue, and a politically revived Talmadge won the 1946 primary by promising to restore the state’s white primary. Many also resented Arnall’s best-selling books, The Shore Dimly Seen(1946) and What the People Want (1948), and his nationwide lecture tour that, they believed, belittled the South.

The end of Arnall’s tenure as governor proved to be as memorable as anything he actually achieved in office because of the “three governors controversy,” a dispute over the rightful heir to the governorship that erupted in the wake of Talmadge’s death one month after winning the election. With both the lieutenant governor Melvin E. Thompson and Talmadge’s son, Herman, vying for the post-election vacancy, Arnall made it a three-way contest by refusing to vacate the governor’s office until the dispute was settled. He dropped his claim to the office two months before the matter was resolved by the state supreme court, which ruled that Thompson would serve as acting governor until a special election could be held the following year.

After leaving the governorship in 1947, Arnall became a successful attorney and businessman in Atlanta. For a brief period he served in the administration of U.S president Harry S. Truman as director of the Office of Price Stabilization. Truman offered him the position of U.S. solicitor general, but he declined. Arnall again ran for governor in 1966. He was the front-runner in the Democratic primary in a field of six candidates, but he was forced into a runoff with Lester Maddox, a well-known segregationist. Maddox defeated Arnall in the runoff. The former governor never sought public office again.

Ellis Arnall died in 1992 at the age of 85. In 2011 a historical marker honoring him was dedicated in Newnan.

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

Two big clues should guide you to answer this mystery

Today’s Mystery Photo might be a little easier this week. There’s bridge and river for you to identify. Who’s up to it?  Send your answer to elliott@brack.net and include your hometown.

The recent Mystery Photo was difficult, with lots of English words, plus a few in Greek. The photo came from George Graf of Palmyra, Va.   It didn’t keep Walt Thompson of Duluth from knowing where it was located. “This latest picture is of the Archipelagos Restaurant-Bar on the Island of Rhodes, Greece. The city of Rhodes is the largest of the Dodecanese islands of Greece in terms of land area, and is the island’s capital. The restaurant is located in the medieval Old Town, near a square with a fountain, and the view is nice especially during sunset. They feature seafood, excellent pizza, a wine bar, and great service.”

Fran Worrall of Lawrenceville also located the mystery.

Allen Peel, San Antonio, Texas also recognized the photo. He says: “Today’s mystery photo was taken near the fountain in the middle of Hippocrates’ Square, located in the medieval part of the Old Town of Rhodes, just at the north-east point of the island of Rhodes in Greece. More commonly known in Greece as ‘Ippokratous Square’, this town square is popular with both tourists and locals. Jam-packed with souvenir shops, restaurants and plenty of cafe-bars, it is a bustling square all day long, as it is full of people who either sit at the small tables of cafes and restaurants or pose for pictures at the marble fountain or wait for their dates on the steps of the nearby building of Kastellania before bar-hopping at one of the many bars at night. A small part of the marble fountain can be seen on the bottom-left side of the photo (where the man is feeding the pigeons).”

VICTORY BREAKFAST of the Gwinnett County Democrats will be Saturday, Nov. 10 at 8:30 a.m. at Sweet Baby Jane’s Home Cooking, 3620 Satellite Boulevard in Duluth. Meet the new Gwinnett Democratic officials. Stephen Day, Chairman of Gwinnett County Board of Elections will give us an analysis of the just concluded elections. Cost is $10 for an all-you-can-eat buffet.

CAPELLA’S MARTIAL ART, or barbershop harmony, with the Stone Mountain Chorus, will have two performances on Saturday, November 10 at the Peachtree Corners Baptist Church, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. This year’s special guest artists are Banks and Shane, an Atlanta entertainment tradition since 1972.  Tickets are online at the secure web site: www.stonemountainchorus.org.  Advance purchase tickets are $22, with discounts to $20 for seniors (60+), students and groups (12+).  All tickets at the door are $25, cash or personal check.

SUWANEE CLASSIC CAR SHOW will be Sunday, November 11, at Town Center Park from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. This is sponsored by the North Gwinnett Arts Association. Showcasing a variety of cars, including street rods, muscle cars, trucks, exotics, and imports, the show will also feature Junior Dragsters on exhibit, Paint-A-Wreck, a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, music by Uptown Entertainment, and artists creating in the park. Prizes will be offered in several categories.

VETERAN’S DAY ceremony will be November 11 at 1:30 p.m. at the Fallen Heroes Memorial located at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center. With granite slabs bearing the names of the honored dead as a backdrop, the ceremony will include an honor guard, speakers, including Col. Rick White, co-director and chairman of the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame. There will be a 21-gun salute, and bugler playing Taps. The Fallen Heroes Memorial is located at 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville.

RIBBON CUTTING and dedication of Peachtree Corners Town Center Boulevard will be held on Tuesday, November 13 at 5:30 p.m. Work is underway on the 21-acre tract of land, located on the 5200 block of Peachtree Parkway, that will be the site of the city’s new Town Center, which will feature entertainment venues, restaurants, shops, office space and townhomes.

THIRD ANNUAL RED, BLUE AND YOU, a celebration of community heroes, will be November 14 at 11:30 a.m. at the Buford Arena, 2795 Sawnee Avenue in Buford. This event is to support the members of the public safety community. The event is free and the public is welcomed.

INTERNSHIP WORKSHOP is November 15 from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce building. It will efficiently cover the basics of internships. Participants will walk out with everything they need to start an internship immediately, including responsibilities, types, description, referrals, and managing and executing to expectations. The workshop is free. For more details, call the Chamber at 7770 232-3000.

LILBURN TREE LIGHTING will be held Saturday, November 17 at City Hall. See real reindeer! Enjoy refreshments, holiday music, kids’ crafts, decorated trees throughout City Hall. Note that the reindeer picture opportunity is 6-8 p.m. only. Enjoy holiday music, kids’ crafts, decorated trees throughout City Hall. Entertainments will be by Georgia Brass Band, Lilburn Middle School Chorus and Lilburn First Baptist Proclamation Handbell Ensemble.

AMERICA RECYCLES DAY is November 17, from 9 a. m. until noon at Coolray Field. To celebrate, Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful is partnering with Gwinnett County Solid Waste and Recovered Materials Division. Recycle items that are typically harder to recycle, such as electronics, tires, paint, ink cartridges, clothes, and more! Free paper shredding will be available, up to five boxes per vehicle. To volunteer, visit http://www.volunteergwinnett.net.

REINDEER GAMES in downtown Braselton is Saturday, November 17 at 10:30 a.m. It’s the year of the Deer! And we’d love for you to join us as we kickstart the holiday season. Parade entries are free and a little doe is awarded for the best floats. So put your antlers together and start planning today! For more information contact Amy at apinnell@braselton.net .

FOURTH ANNUAL CHILI COOKOFF to benefit the Gift of Adoption Fund will be Saturday, November 17 at Suwanee Town Center. Sponsored by Peach State Federal Credit Union, there will be over 50 chili teams vying for the $1,000 Grand Prize, voted on by the attendees. The fund assists Georgia families with their own domestic and international adoptions. Advance tickets are available at www.peachstatechili.com.

GwinnettForum is provided to you at no charge every Tuesday and Friday.

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

More

• Location: We are located in Suite 225, 40 Technology Park, Peachtree Corners, Ga. 30092.
• Work with us: If you would like to serve as an underwriter, click here to learn more.

Subscriptions to GwinnettForum are free.

• Click to subscribe.
• We hope you’ll keep receiving the great news and information from GwinnettForum, but if you need to unsubscribe, go to this page and unsubscribe in the appropriate box.

© 2018, Gwinnett Forum.com. Gwinnett Forum is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett County, Ga. USA.