GwinnettForum | Number 21.81 | Oct. 28, 2022
HERE’S A POLITICAL SIGN that’s quite tasteful, and reminding us if we haven’t early voted, what we should do on Tuesday. This sign is far different from the many signs promoting candidates which crop up quickly (but come down forever slowly after an election.) This sign was photographed by John Titus of Peachtree Corners when visiting our fourth President James and Dolley Madison’s home, Montpelier, near Orange, Va. See more details in the Mystery Photo section below.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Writer remembers article describing fascist Spain
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Hope the Astros win the Series, and Baker gets a ring
ANOTHER VIEW: If you don’t put many miles on your car, rotate your tires
SPOTLIGHT: The Gwinnett Stripers
FEEDBACK: Appreciates offering about Constitutional Amendments
UPCOMING: Lawrenceville Plans Harvest Fest on November 12
NOTABLE: Applications close soon for those seeking emergency rental help
OBITUARIES: Carolyn Morris Collins
RECOMMENDED: The Search for Bridey Murphy by Morey Bernstein
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Former Norcross firm now a Foundation benefitting local charities
MYSTERY PHOTO: Tell us about this photograph, but also tell us about its roof
LAGNIAPPE: Lawrenceville’s Hooper-Renwick themed library to open in 2024
CALENDAR: Snellville Commerce meets Nov. 1 at Summit Chase Country Club
Writer remembers article describing fascist Spain
(Editor’s note: Some of the following is paraphrased from an original article, in The New York Times Magazine, by Nicolas Casey, updated Oct. 5, 2022. It rang a bell with the author relating current candidates and their hero, blaspheming and spouting Make America Strong Again. –eeb).
By Ashley Herndon
OCEANSIDE, Calif. | In this election cycle before any of us endorse theocratic proto-fascism as a “good” alternative to our democratic republic, understand a miserably failed movement .
Herndon
“Spain’s Francisco Franco called himself Caudillo, meaning ‘strongman,’ and once in power, quickly began stripping away social freedoms. Up to the early 1930s, Spain (having overcome some historical terrors,) was among Europe’s most progressive countries.”
Under Franco, Spain changed in many ways:
- It no longer allowed married couples to divorce;
- Women could seek abortions, up until under Franco, when those rights were swiftly rescinded;
- Contraception was outlawed;
- Adultery was criminalized;
- Women lost the right to vote;
- Newspapers were censored; and
- Many books were banned.
“Franco’s ‘Falange’ even published a ‘schedule for homemakers’ outlining times to take children to school, bleach clothes and prepare dinners.”
The following paragraph really got my attention when I was in college and recently when reviewing Casey’s article.
“One of the lasting abuses of the era was borne by children. In the late 1930s and 1940s, Antonio Vallejo-Nájera, a leading psychiatrist in the regime, who was trained in Nazi Germany, promoted the idea of a Marxist ‘red gene,’ carried only by the children of Franco’s left-wing opponents. The gene, he said, might be suppressed by removing children from their birth mothers and placing them with conservative families. Franco’s men began the abductions on a large scale. They targeted children orphaned by Franco’s firing squads and took newborns belonging to women who had given birth in jail as political prisoners. All were sent to be raised by regime loyalists. The era of the ‘stolen babies’ had begun.”
The article continues: “Franco’s rule also marked a dramatic turn for the Catholic Church, which sadly allowed its nuns and priests to become partners of his right-wing regime. They commanded the education system, where children were to be instructed in Catholic values, learning to read using the Bible. Franco also ceded oversight of parts of the state-run hospital system to the clergy. Nuns often sat alongside top management at hospitals, helping to select staff and overseeing the budget. But their influence was perhaps strongest in the hospitals’ charity floors that took in the poor. There, the nuns were often deployed to encourage single mothers to give their babies up for adoption by married couples.
“Some nuns — aided by doctors, nurses, and midwives — began to abduct babies to meet demand. In certain cases, the nuns still managed to persuade mothers to give up their children willingly, though many say they were coerced into surrendering their newborns. Others say they were sedated in the delivery room and then told, when they woke up, that their babies had died. In reality, the children had been sold to other families.”
If the reader finds some similarities today, it becomes decision time. How do we want to live and what do we want to pass on to our children and grandchildren?
I choose democracy, and hope the majority of my fellow citizens do as well. The proof is Writ Large if we do not.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Hope the Astros win the Series, and Baker gets a ring
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
OCT. 28, 2022 | It’s World Series time again, and I’m excited about the Houston Astros meeting the Philadelphia Phillies in the fall spectacle. We’re pulling for Dusty Baker to finally get a World Series ring!
Yes, it was disappointing to see the Atlanta Braves eliminated from the playoffs, but what a season they had! Continuing the streak and winning their fifth division title, they were in first place, I think it was, for only two days. But by beating the New York Mets one more time than the Mets beat the Braves, the Braves came out on top.
But how about them Astros! Winning 106 games in the regular season, they now have won seven playoff games in a row, forming the best record this year in winning so far 113 games.
And they not only beat the San Diego Padres three games to one, they then made it to the Series by flabbergasting the New York Yankees in four straight games!
Meanwhile, the Braves’ nemesis, the Philadelphia Phillies, made it to the second round after losing two in Atlanta to the Braves, then returned to Philadelphia and eliminated the Braves as they won three straight. Then they defeated the Padres in five games to make it to the Series.
Baker, via Wikipedia.
We remember that Dusty Baker started his major league career as an outfielder with the Braves, and played here for eight years. He was a regular for eight years with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and finished his last three years as a player with San Francisco (1) and Oakland (2). In those 19 seasons, he had a .282 batting average , including 242 home runs.
He’s been a baseball manager with San Francisco, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati, Washington and for the last three years in Houston. In 25 years as a manager, he’s won 2,093 games, a percentage of .539. He’s been manager of the year in the National League three times, and runner-up three times.
But Dusty Baker, now 73, has never won with a team in the World Series. He’s getting attention these days, with lots of fans pulling for his Astro team. Baker is known for his skill in handling players, being able to get the best out of them, while maintaining a calm, relaxed demeanor during games.
He’ll have a lot of people pulling for him and his Astros to win this 2022 World Series.
The Phillies in 2022 have put together a winning team because of one major element: money. They have the fourth highest payroll in major league baseball, according to the Boardroom (August). The top ten:
- Los Angeles Dodgers $265,396,675
- New York Mets $261,273,320
- New York Yankees $251,899,255
- Philadelphia Phillies $242,215,746
- San Diego Padres $220,849,135
- Boston Red Sox $207,710,905
- Chicago White Sox $196,381,026
- Houston Astros $182,896,299
- Atlanta Braves $181,813,470
- Los Angeles Angels $169,413,094
As a comparison, the lowest major league baseball payroll of the 30 teams is in Baltimore, where the Orioles spend only $43,645,896 a year on payroll. Surprisingly, a playoff team, the Cleveland Guardians, have the 27th lowest, at $67,827,391. The 29th and 28th teams are in Oakland and Pittsburgh.
The Series starts Friday in Houston for two games, then has three games planned in Philadelphia, and the final two, if needed, back in Houston.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
If you don’t put many miles on your car, rotate your tires
By Catherine Brack
CHARLESTON, S.C. | Several years ago, I went car-free. Living in the heart of Washington, D.C., the transition to a purely pedestrian experience was not too difficult. Friends were happy to lend me their cars for short errands, there were ZipCars you could rent aplenty, and for longer term rentals, the airport and Amtrak station were only a few subway stops away. Public transportation is fairly efficient in Washington, and my daily 10-minute walk to METRO allowed me to visit with neighbors and catch up on the ever-present gossip that my neighborhood (and town) generates.
But Atlanta is an entirely different area, and living without a car usually isn’t an option. Atlanta traffic is legendary, and the area has topped polls for years as one of the “worst cities for commuters” (Forbes, 2008). And it’s not just as easy as walking – or even biking – wherever you’d like to go – the metro Atlanta region has been cited as one of the most dangerous cities for pedestrians (Michael Bluejay’s Bicycle Universe). Having grown up in Gwinnett, learning how to drive at Technology Park and on I-285, there was never a question about owning a car – if I wanted to get anywhere, then I needed to own a car.
On a recent visit to the area, I had an appointment to visit a colleague south of the airport, and needed to borrow a car. My mother’s car, which is seldom used and even then only for local errands, was available, so I motored off for my lunch.
Making my way back to Gwinnett, I noticed that the car was shaking – nothing too alarming, but certainly noteworthy. By the time I had passed the Clairmont Road exit, however, the car was vibrating violently. Though I should have pulled off at Shallowford Road, I pushed on, easing into the right hand lane of I-85 North, and slowing down my speed. That strategy was short-lived, as within a minute of pulling to the “slow” lane, the rear driver-side tire burst, shredding on the highway. Luckily, the car remained maneuverable, and I glided into the emergency lane, calling for help and a tow.
How had this happened? From my perspective, the tread on the tire looked perfectly fine. However, the serviceman at the tire center said that since the car was used so infrequently, the back two tires had in fact rotted from the inside out. I was lucky to have only one shredded tire, and not a larger accident on my hands.
Looking back, there are a few key lessons that I was able to take away from this incident:
(1) Car maintenance is important.
(2) Get your oil changed and your tires checked as recommended by your service professional. In case you have a car that is infrequently driven, have the tires rotated every six months. This will allow the mechanics to determine the wear and tear on your tires.
(3) Know three little numbers: 5-1-1. This is the number for roadside emergency service in Georgia.
(4) Carry a cell phone and a car charger for the cell phone.
(5) Living in DC was and is expensive, cold in the winter, frequently a hassle and often clogged with tourists. But there, living car-free eliminated many other elements, such as car payments, insurance premiums, fender-benders, speeding tickets, parking lot drama, and, of course, highway mishaps.
Drive safe, Gwinnett.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
The Gwinnett Stripers
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Appreciates offering about constitutional amendments
Editor, the Forum:
I have been enjoying the excellent coverage of the issues for Gwinnett citizens in GwinnettForum. I must say however, that the recent offering, where you gave some perspective on the constitutional amendments before us, was particularly brilliant.
Your commitment to equity and justice came through very clearly.
Let me thank you for this analysis and pray you will continue to publish this Forum for many years yet!
– Dave Spence, Lawrenceville
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, and include your hometown. The views of letters are the opinion of the contributor. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and length. Send feedback and letters to: elliott@brack.net.
Lawrenceville plans Harvest Fest on Nov. 12
The City of Lawrenceville will have a free Harvest Fest on the Lawrenceville Lawn on November 12. Harvest Fest will bring together live entertainment by four eclectic artists ranging from jazz to R&B to indie to alternative. Festivities will run from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m.
In addition to live music on the stage, visitors can undertake festive fall activities for the whole family. Shop the farmer’s market filled with local artisans and treat yourself to a variety of food vendors. Fun and games for kids include trackless train rides, a petting zoo, and a pumpkin painting station sure to keep children entertained.
Among the musicians:
- Blair Crimmins began his current music career in Atlanta, Georgia, with a drive to bring Ragtime and 1920s-style Dixieland Jazz to new audiences. While playing small rock clubs around the Southeast, he developed a sound that is at once modern while being deeply rooted in the past.
- According to National Public Radio, the Louisiana native, Gavin Turek, is a versatile entertainer. Her music – which seamlessly blends 70s funk-inspired R&B with poignant, honest lyrics, will engage and inspire even the most casual and apathetic of listeners.
- Louisiana indie-soul artist, Rozzi, made her debut in the scene with 2015’s Space EP and has blossomed into one of the next big pop sensations. Her latest release, Berry, features her smoky, full-bodied vocals, with songs that move seamlessly from upbeat pop, funk, and R&B to low-key acoustic ballads, and a special contribution from iconic guitarist Nile Rodgers.
- Chicago-based Post Animal formed in 2014, began touring in 2017, released their debut album in 2018, and recently released their second album in 2020. Their affinity for slick riffs, pop hooks, and psychedelic tendencies join them in a bond much tighter than their years suggest.
Additional information can be found at www.downtownlawrencevillega.com. Detailed food truck information will be posted on the City’s social media platforms the week of the event.
Theater group plans The Importance of Being Earnest
The performance of the classic play, The Importance of Being Earnest, will be produced by Contemporry Classics (formerly Gwinnett Classic Theatre) on one weekend only, Nov. 3 and 5 at 8 p.m. and November 5 and 6 at 2 p.m. The performance will be at the Peach State Federal Credit Union Studio Stage, Lawrenceville Art Center (managed by the Aurora). Tickets available NOW at https://www.lvilleartscenter.com/eventer/the-importance-of-being-earnest/.
What starts as a simple meeting between friends becomes one of the most popular stories of all time. Proposals, engagements, arrangements, and laughs abound in Oscar Wilde’s classic comedy of manners. This production of The Importance of Being Earnest will focus solely on Black, Indigenous, People of Color artists working on the timeless script. Director Charles T. Thomas asks, “In a comedy of manners, what does it look like for minorities to relate to each other in a way that has become popularized (and almost necessary) by the white societal structures around them? Are there moments when personal reactions/feelings/responses break through? How aggressive can one be without losing status? WHY IS IT ALL A BIG DEAL?”
Gwinnett Classic Theatre, dba Contemporary Classics, has been awarded a grant from the Georgia Council for the Arts to support these performances.
Applications close soon for emergency rental help
The portal for Gwinnett County’s successful emergency rental assistance program, Project RESET 2.0, will soon close as the county reaches its full commitment. In April 2021, Gwinnett County was tasked with spending a little more than $55 million from the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program with the goal of helping those directly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Applications for this program are available now at GCGA.us/ProjectRESET2. However, commitment levels from applications already received are driving the county to close the applicant portal on Tuesday, November 8 for new applications and Tuesday, November 15 for recertifications.
Gwinnett residents in need of assistance after the applicant portal closes are encouraged to seek assistance from the Georgia Rental Assistance Program while that portal is available or from local agencies providing assistance within our community.
Recognized by the U.S. Treasury as a top performer, the county received an additional $38.9 million to support its Project RESET 2.0 emergency rental and utility assistance program. To date, Gwinnett has processed nearly $79.3 million in financial assistance for 6,909 households ensuring that 17,164 individuals in Gwinnett County did not have to face an eviction or utility disconnection.
World Polio Day shows Rotary effort to end disease
On October 24, World Polio Day, global health experts, partners and Rotary Club members around the world stood together to celebrate the End Polio Now vaccine movement and share the progress made towards polio eradication.
Here at home, Gwinnett Rotarians have partnered with public and private healthcare partners to release an educational video to share facts about polio, vaccine development, and the effectiveness of vaccines to prevent polio, as well as many other diseases in our community.
While there is no cure for polio, the disease is 100 percent preventable with proper vaccination. Since 1988, Rotary’s End Polio Now movement has immunized over 2.5 billion children worldwide, reducing polio cases by 99.9 percent. There are now only two countries still endemic, Afghanistan and Pakistan. While that might seem ‘good enough’, until polio is gone forever no child is safe. Unless we eradicate polio, within 10 years as many as 200,000 new cases could occur around the world each year.
Dr. Audrey Arona, Health Director for GNR Public Health and Gwinnett Rotarian explains: “It only takes one traveler with polio to bring the disease into the United States or one under-vaccinated community to become a breeding ground. The best way to keep our community safe from polio is to commit to maintain high immunity against polio through vaccination.”
People most at risk for polio infection are:
- Those who have never had a polio vaccine;
- Those who didn’t receive all recommended vaccine doses; and
- Those traveling to areas that could put them at risk for getting polio.
Paige Havens, Gwinnett Rotarian and program lead for the Gwinnett Coalition’s vaccine and health equity program says: “This is a vitally important conversation. Our team of health equity navigators focuses every day dispelling myths and empowering our residents with facts about life-saving vaccines. Unfortunately, there is so much misinformation circulating. The political polarization of and disinformation about the COVID-19 vaccines set us back significantly. We must all work together and be intentional about building immunity for our community.”
- Watch the video via YouTube here: https://youtu.be/3ssippekUbI
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Carolyn Morris Collins
Carolyn Morris Collins, 79, of Norcross, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, surrounded by the love of family and friends. A Celebration of Life services for her will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 29 at Christ Church Episcopal with Reverend Liz Hendrick and Reverend Ceci Duke officiating. A reception will follow in Webster Hall at the church.
Collins
Carolyn was preceded in death by Roy Collins (husband), Glenn Tyson (son), John Collins (stepson), Helen Marshall (sister), and James and Bennie Morris (brothers). She is survived by her sister, Barbara (Bill Finch), and Ellen Stiteler and grandchildren: Ashley Widman, Lauren Widman, Anna Cathryn and Phil Mauro, Rachel Finch, Beau Stiteler, and Jake Stiteler.
Carolyn was a steadfast servant of the Lord and devoted member of 39 years to Christ Church Episcopal. Carolyn loved learning and serving her Lord in Sunday services, attending Wednesday Bible Study, and creating meaningful connections with the church congregation and clergy. She continuously sought out ways to connect with and serve others.
As an involved community leader, Carolyn was the first female member of the Gwinnett Rotary in Norcross and served as the first female president. Carolyn was a co-founder of Leadership Gwinnett, co-founder of Gwinnett County’s Teachers as Leaders, and founding member and director of Advancing Authentic Leadership. She was also a Board Member of the Gwinnett Environmental Heritage Center and owner of CMC Leadership Development Consulting. Carolyn was committed to supporting the Norcross Co-operative Ministries and Rainbow Village charities.
Most of all, Carolyn loved fully, deeply, and unapologetically. She showered her friends and family, near and far, with unconditional love and attentiveness. She never shied away from the uncomfortable or deep moments in life – when people she loved were hurting or in time of sorrow and need, Carolyn was always there to support through both her words and actions. She confidently let the Lord’s love shine through her and onto others when they needed it most.
Carolyn was a beloved member of the community and a treasure to all that knew her. The family invites all that were loved and touched by Carolyn to attend her Celebration of Life service. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to donate to the Norcross Co-operative Ministries or a charity of choice.
The Search for Bridey Murphy, by Morey Bernstein
From Susan J. Harris, Stone Mountain: This is an engrossing chronicle about a hypnosis experiment that evolved into a past life regression of one client. This is a three step program, through the use of simple hypnosis that uncovers the reasons for disturbances. The goal here is to see if a person can be brought back to an earlier time in life. The wife of a colleague is brought back to life first as a child, then, just after birth and then further and further back. It is then that she tells them her name is Bridey Murphy and she is from Cork, Ireland. Tapes of six sessions with Bridey were conducted with such detail that it warranted research and travel to Ireland. Much was corroborated though there were then and continue to be questions about hypnosis, regression and its veracity. It is an absorbing and thought provoking read that will leave the reader wondering.
An invitation: what books, restaurants, movies or web sites have you enjoyed recently? Send us your recent selection, along with a short paragraph (150 words) as to why you liked this, plus what you plan to visit or read next. Send to: elliott@brack.net
Former Norcross firm now a foundation for local charities
The Tull Charitable Foundation provides grant support for long-term growth and development to nonprofit organizations located in Georgia. The foundation recognizes that strong and vibrant nonprofit organizations are an essential component of any healthy community and better enable communities to provide for their residents’ health, well-being, and quality of life.
The Tull Foundation was formed with assets provided by Joseph McKeehan Tull. Born in 1878 in Philadelphia, Penn., Tull was raised, along with his sister and three brothers, in western North Carolina. He went on to attend North Carolina State College in Raleigh. After a year and a half of school, he left the world of formal education to embark on a career in business. An opportunity to work for the General Fire Extinguisher Company brought Tull to Atlanta in 1907. By 1914 he had opened his own business, the Southern Rubber and Supply Company, which was the precursor to the J. M. Tull Metal and Supply Company. Over the years the company expanded and became a leader throughout the Southeast.
Tull was a salesman of great skill and persuasion, as well as a man of great personal charm. He was well known for both his generosity and his level-headed business philosophy. Many southern companies struggling to survive the depression years owed their continued existence to Tull. Understanding that a failed business is a lost customer, Tull often extended unusual credit in hardship cases during this time.
Tull was also a civic leader and a strong supporter of Christian education. In 1952 he established the J. M. Tull Foundation as the charitable, giving arm of the Tull Metal Company. He and the company held firm beliefs that each citizen should feel a duty to financially support charitable and civic endeavors. Tull died in 1962, leaving his personal assets to the foundation.
When the Tull Metal Company, which was headquartered in Norcross, was sold in 1985,to Ryerson Steel of Chicago, another metal processing and distribution company, now operated under Ryerson Holdings. After 1985, the relationship between the company and the foundation ended, and the Tull Charitable Foundation was established as a companion to the original foundation. Eventually, the J. M. Tull Foundation merged with the Tull Charitable Foundation. It is now governed by a volunteer board of trustees, which is composed of respected leaders from the Atlanta community. The trustees continue the commitment to community service that was so highly valued by the organization’s founder.
Between 2000 and 2004 the Tull Charitable Foundation awarded a total of $18.5 million in grant funds to more than 200 organizations. For the most part, the foundation assists nonprofit organizations that address the following needs: education; youth development; and health and human services. To a lesser extent, the foundation also supports organizations that address environmental, cultural, and civic improvement needs.
Update by GwinnettForum: In 2021, the Tull Foundation sent grants to charitable institutions totaling $3.36 million. The total assets of the Foundation in the spring of 2022 was $97.8 million. Its board of directors include Beverly Daniel Tatum, chair; and Timothy Tassopoulos, Clay Rolader, Glen Jackson, Napoleon Rutledge, Tina Fernandez and Lillian Giornelli.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Tell us about this photograph, but also tell us about its roof
Today’s mystery is a fairly large house, and we want to know more about it. Once you identify the location of the home, can you also tell us something about its roof? So go do research, and let us know what you find. Send your answers to elliott@brack.net, and include your hometown.
Sara Rawlins of Lawrenceville writes of the recent mystery: “Tuesday’s mystery picture had me looking at Colonial style universities such as Washington and Lee. But the buildings didn’t match. So, I looked at Monticello, Jefferson’s home, nope, not it. Thinking about who might have built this home, I clicked on the picture itself and up popped our fourth president and first lady, James and Dolley Madison’s lifetime home, Montpelier in Orange, Va.
“Montpelier is the place where James Madison studied past and present governments to form the ideas which became the framework for our U.S. Constitution, along with the Bill of Rights. This plan was first known as the “Virginia Plan.” The home is also one of the nation’s largest archeology research projects for the study on slavery.”
Holly Moore of Suwanee wrote of the mystery: “This stately home to James and his wife, Dolley Madison serves as an American Constitution history museum, offering insights into Madison’s legacy into our ‘government by the people’ as well as portraying the realities of the enslaved community that kept his farm operating. Montpelier is a National Trust Historic Site which includes the restored home and gardens and walking trails.”
Architect Bob Foreman of Grayson offered another insight: “This extensively restored house is a very well-known work of architecture and served as the model for many colonial revival residential homes and small office buildings, such as the old C&S Bank branches that were in almost every town in Georgia. The C&S branches were much smaller and mostly one story. Many of those old C&S Banks are still around, just under different bank names. There are several big colonial revival homes in Buckhead and on Riverside Drive which used Montpelier as a model.”
Others identifying the photo were Stew Ogilvie, Lawrenceville; Julie Pickens, Buford; Lou Camerio, Lilburn; George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; and Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex.
Hooper-Renwick themed library to open in 2024
This is an architect’s rendering of what the new Hooper-Renwick themed library in Lawrenceville will look like. Officials broke ground this week on the 25,000 square foot library, which incorporates the existing 11,300 square foot former Hooper-Renwick school. The building once served as the only public high school for African American students in Gwinnett. The county has set aside $7.6 million from the 2017 SPLOST program to fund the project along with an additional $1.7 million from the city of Lawrenceville, which also provided the 3.8-acre site and will contribute sidewalks, lighting and landscaping for the project. The building is expected to open in 2024. Architect for the project is CAS Architecture of Lawrenceville, while the contractor will be Cooper and Company of Cumming.
Learn, play, and enjoy fair food at one of Gwinnett’s state-of the-art facilities! Join the Department of Water Resources for the Yellow River Trick-or-Treatment Fall Festival on Saturday, October 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Costumes are welcome during this free, family-friendly event. Tours will be offered throughout the day. The Yellow River Water Reclamation Facility is located at 858 Tom Smith Road in Lilburn.
Attend the Transforming Gwinnett transportation event Saturday, October 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lenora Park pavilion in Snellville. Learn about all the services that Gwinnett Transportation provides to residents. Enjoy food, music, giveaways, treats, and displays. Kids will also enjoy gift-or-treat, touch-a-tractor, face painting, games, and prizes. The event is free and open to all ages.
The second annual Deutche Klassic car show will be held in downtown Norcross on October 29, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. It will feature 250 classic German automobiles, including BMWs, Audis, Porsches, Mercedes Benzes, Volkswagens and Opels. In addition to this lineup of cars, enjoy German food, beer and a musical performance featuring a polka band.
Snellville’s Commerce Club will have a different site for its November 1 meeting at noon. Because it’s election day, the club will meet at the Summit Chase Country Club. Snellville Tourism and Trade president Don Britt will report on the state of the organization. Reservations are required by going to https://experiencesnellville.com/snellville-commerce-club/#cc-registration
Author visit: Author Robyn Lucas and Partnership Against Domestic Violence partner to discuss Paper Doll Lina and domestic violence at the Norcross Branch of Gwinnett Public Library on November 1 at 7 p.m. This is a powerful story of survival.
Groundbreaking will be Wednesday, Nov. 2, of CleanSpark at 5295 Brook Hollow Parkway, Norcross at 9:30 a.m. CleanSpark is a bitcoin mining and diversified energy company. It supports the growth and development of this new digital commodity. CleanSpark announced its $145 million investment in the City of Norcross on Sept. 16, 2021.The event also include a lunch and tour of the company’s facilities.
Author Visit: Meet Rona Simmons, author of “A Gathering of Men,” on November 3 at 7 p.m. at the Collins Hill Branch of the Gwinnett Public Library. This book celebrates veterans and the military families.
Independent Author’s Day will be Saturday, November 5 at noon at the Duluth Public Library. The program will include “How to Get your Passion Into Print.” Local Author Charles Summerour will review , Germany to Georgia : Ten Generations of An American Family, which includes his family’s role in over 270 years of American and local history.
Recycling Event: Bring hard-to-recycle items to America Recycles Day on Saturday, November 5 from 9 a.m. to noon at Coolray Field. Items should be placed in disposable containers in the trunk or back of your vehicle. Paper shredding is limited to five copier boxes, paint is limited to 10 gallons, and tires without rims are limited to eight items. Recycling electronics is free except for televisions, monitors, and printers. There is a $35 cash fee per projection or console TV, a $15 cash fee per flat screen TV or computer monitor, and a $5 cash fee per printer. This is a rain or shine event. Coolray Field is located at 2500 Buford Drive in Lawrenceville. This event is sponsored by Gwinnett Solid Waste Management in partnership with Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful.
Automobile enthusiasts and the public can once again feast their eyes on the artistry of an incredible variety of cars at the ninth annual Suwanee Classic Car Show. This takes place in Suwanee Town Center on Sunday, November 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event, sponsored by the Suwanee Arts Center, will showcase up to 180 unique cars, including muscle cars, street rods, exotic cars and imports.
Veteran’s Day: Gwinnett residents are invited to pay tribute to veterans during the county’s annual Veteran’s Day Ceremony on Friday, November 11 at 11 a.m. at the Gwinnett Fallen Heroes Memorial at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville. For those who cannot attend in person, the ceremony will stream live on Facebook @GwinnettGov and be available on TV Gwinnett and TVGwinnett.com following the event.
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Meet our team
- Editor and publisher: Elliott Brack, 770-840-1003
- Managing editor: Betsy Brack
- Roving photographer: Frank Sharp
- Contributing columnist: Jack Bernard
- Contributing columnist: George Wilson
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