GwinnettForum | Number 22.79 | Nov. 3, 2023
HERE’S A STRIKING new photo of the Sugar Hill City Hall. The City of Sugar Hill is unveiling a new web-based Digital Budget Book. Sugar Hill’s comprehensive Digital Budget Book will include the general fund and capital improvement project budgets. Read details in Upcoming below.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Here’s background on future use of Olympic site
EEB PERSPECTIVE: The travels that the Apostle Paul took got my interest
SPOTLIGHT: Georgia Banking Company
ANOTHER VIEW: What on earth happened to the Grand Old Party?
FEEDBACK: Animal shelters are full; please consider an adoption
UPCOMING: Sugar Hill unveiling web-based Digital Budget Book
NOTABLE: PCOM Student Shares his Success with First Generation Students
OBITUARY: Stephen Willis Day
RECOMMENDED: We’re about out; send your recommendations!
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Savannah College of Art and Design has 16,000 students
MYSTERY PHOTO: Can you identify this roaring stream over rocks?
CALENDAR: America Recycles Day at Gwinnett Fairgrounds is Nov. 4
Here’s background on future use of Olympic site
Image is page 40 of Revised Rezoning Application.
(Editor’s note: Here is background for your understanding on a significant tract of land which has become controversial in the concept planning. The author is the founder of the Mountain Park Community Association, and led the organization for four years. She is a geologist and retired professional engineer. —eeb)
By Kate L. Pittman
MOUNTAIN PARK | At the October zoning hearing, the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a revised rezoning application for the Olympic tennis site off U.S. 78 near Stone Mountain.
The application, submitted by Gwinnett Planning and Fuqua Development, includes a “Big Box” store (rumored to be a Costco). To address concerns raised by individuals and the Mountain Park Community Association, an impressive number of conditions were included in the revised application, ensuring this Mixed-Use development serves the needs of the community and encourages future revitalization.
This is a win-win for Southwest Gwinnett and unincorporated Mountain Park, as supporters will get their Costco and opposition will get improvements that promote revitalization and address community needs.
The next step is drawing up the contract for sale of the property to Fuqua Development. The county is expected to issue a press release once a contract is written.
To understand the opposition to Fuqua Development’s original plan for this property, a little background is required. This site was the highly-visible location of the 1996 Olympic tennis matches. For the 30 years Dekalb County owned it, the property was neglected and the stadium crumbled, creating an eyesore.
In spite of Dekalb County’s neglect, the location is uniquely endowed with what makes real estate valuable: “Location, location, location”. It lies between Stone Mountain Freeway (U.S. Highway 78) and the granite outcrop of Stone Mountain, directly on the Gwinnett/Dekalb County Line, with 1/3-mile of frontage on U.S. 78 and several hundred feet of property line shared with the golf course in Stone Mountain Park.
Former Gwinnett County Commission Chairwoman, Charlotte Nash, recognized the property’s potential to create a landmark in southwest Gwinnett County. Under her leadership, the county purchased the Olympic venue through a land swap with Dekalb County. The land was cleared within a year of the purchase to make it construction-ready. Then it went out to bid, asking developers for a livable, walkable, mixed-use concept to create a landmark “Southern Gateway” that would make Gwinnett proud. The county’s original vision definitely did not include 30 acres of impermeable parking or a Costco.
Members of the opposition have been fighting for revitalization of the area for four years or more. They saw Gwinnett’s “Southern Gateway” vision as a step toward revitalization and improved quality of life for the Mountain Park community and surrounding area. Those opposing the rezoning were not specifically against a Costco being located in the general area, they were opposed to building it on this particular property.
The hearing was delayed for months while modifications were made to the original plan and conditions were included in the resulting revised application. Details are still being hammered out regarding what portion of the property’s tax revenue will be used toward revitalization of the surrounding commercial area.
During a six-month process, Jeff Fuqua of Fuqua Development, Commissioner Ben Ku and other board members, the Planning Commission, and Gwinnett Planning and Development, all worked with input from the community to negotiate a win-win solution. Not everyone is happy with the compromise, but there is something in this agreement for everyone.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
The travels that the Apostle Paul took got my interest
Via Wikipedia.
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
NOV. 3, 2023 | A surprised interest from a recent trip to Greece got me to realize how vast and difficult the travels must have been as the Apostle Paul moved around in the years after the death of Christ. He was the first Christian evangelist, as he spread the gospel of the church in those rugged days as no person has spread it since.
Even today, if you had only the convenience of an automobile, you would put on many hard miles to go as far and as wide as this traveler did. While it would be exhausting now with modern powered vehicles, figure how difficult it must have been to travel by foot, or maybe by horse or camel or sail-powered ship, in those days.
The best reference I found to Paul’s travels was in a link on the internet. It goes into great detail to tell of those historic travels. If you want to see that information, click here.
All this interest in Paul began while on an air flight from Istanbul to Athens. I saw on the screen Thessalonica, where Paul wrote about, 200 miles northwest of Athens, and Corinth, about 60 miles southeast of Athens. (Later on the trip, when on a ship’s cruise to the Dalmatian Coast, we would narrowly steer through the Corinth Canal, cut in limestone, saving the ship something like 430 miles around Peloponnesia to get from Athens to the Aegean Sea. I was out on the foredeck to see this phenomenal passage.)
The airline map hooked me. Always a curious student of geography, wanting to know what geographic features are around me anywhere I go, I immediately knew that I would have to find more details to understand the travels of Paul so many centuries ago.
That night in Athens I learned from my laptop and internet maps the location of many places in the Bible. Phillipi, I found, was near Thessalonica in what is Macedonia. And Ephesus was a town in western Turkey, as is Colossae. And of course, Paul would eventually sail to Rome, where he was imprisoned, but continued to write to the Christian communities.
Just think of the hardships Paul encountered on these many journeys. And you wonder how this travel was paid for, and why he decided to go to the many places that he visited.
Of course, these questions of mine have ticked the minds of many scholars over the ages, and much has been written. And yes, much of Paul’s writing is in dispute.
Wikipedia tells me that Paul is certain to have written the letters of the New Testament’s Romans, Galatians, Corinthians, First Thessalonians, Philemon and Philippians. But many scholars have in dispute his epistles to Second Thessalonians, Colossians, Ephesians, both Timothys, and Titus. The letter to First Timothy is thought to be the last epistle he wrote before his death.
Scholars say that though some letters are attributed to Paul, the style of the letters are different from his other works, and therefore questionable. They primarily do not have his common themes, and reflect a church hierarchy that is more organized and defined than the church in Paul’s time.
You can appreciate Paul’s journeys more now that you understand the geography of that area in that era. And to think he never had the convenience of a Waffle House!
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Georgia Banking Company
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Georgia Banking Company (GBC) is a community bank that provides its customers with a high-tech, high-touch exceptional customer experience. We’ve built a reputation for providing excellent service and support to our customers. In addition to our community-focused approach, GBC also offers a range of high-tech banking solutions that make banking more convenient and accessible for our customers. Our online banking platform is user-friendly and provides customers with access to a range of features and services, including account management, bill payments, and fund transfers. GBC also offers mobile banking, which allows customers to access their accounts and manage their finances on the go. If you’re looking for a bank that values community, technology, and exceptional customer service, then GBC is the perfect choice. By switching to GBC, you can enjoy the convenience of high-tech banking solutions while still receiving the personal attention and support that only a community-focused bank can provide. So why wait? Make the switch to Georgia Banking Company today and start enjoying a better banking experience. GBC is The Bank of Choice – learn why at www.GeorgiaBanking.com.
- For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here
What on earth happened to the Grand Old Party?
By Jack Bernard, contributing columnist
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. | Ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy was booted from his position by a handful of right-wing GOP extremists who did not think he was pro-MAGA enough. They were led by Matt Gaetz, a Florida Congressman with about as dubious a background as anyone ever in Congress.
I was once a southern Republican, and a fiscal conservative. I was an elected official and head of a county party in rural Georgia. But no more.
The GOP was once the party of progress. Democrats were the ones who wanted to preserve slavery, even after they lost the Civil War. Democrats in Southern states in times past passed a series of horrible laws designed to make sure that black people would be an underclass. These laws related to education, voting, marriage and virtually every aspect of daily life.
Much later came Nixon’s Southern Strategy, designed to remove the dominance that the Democrats had in the South. Over an amazingly short period of time, the Dixiecrats became the Republicans who now dominate Southern politics. And along the way they adopted the exact policies that had characterized the bigotry of Southern Democrats.
Former President Trump, a one-time Democrat, has a long history of racism. The Trump firm in NYC was sued twice for discrimination in housing. Both times, the cases were settled; the Trump organization lost.
Trump also advocated the death penalty for the Central Park Five, black teens accused of raping a white jogger. He even took out a full-page ad. The problem was that they were all proven innocent. But, Trump never apologized for his error.
Then, we have the Charlottesville incident. Violent neo-Nazi and white supremacist protestors were equated by Trump with the peaceful democracy-loving counter protestors.
Governor DeSantis of Florida decided that his path to victory is to be an even bigger bigot than Trump (book banning, history denial and statements about slavery). According to DeSantis, slaves were lucky to learn a trade. They were grateful to be enslaved.
Only Senator Tim Scott, an African American, has strongly criticized DeSantis. Most candidates for the GOP presidential nomination remained quiet.
Surveys show that older white people have a higher incidence of bigotry. I have heard: “Trump will make sure the ‘coloreds’ don’t get welfare and take our money.” And also “Trump will stop those Mexicans from coming into the country.” (actual quotes). These statements were made by people on welfare (meals on wheels, Medicaid, etc.) and/or who have immigrant parents.
The younger generation does not believe in racism to the extent that older Americans do. How can the GOP expect to prevail long-term?
Booting an extremely conservative, pro-Trump Speaker for not shutting down the government takes the cake in irrational actions. Unless the party changes course under new Speaker Johnson, the Republican Party will eventually lose elections-starting with the House in 2024.
That is, unless it can figure out a way to steal elections by reducing minority voters (like the voter purges and restrictive voting laws in Georgia) or claiming voter fraud. That is how Kemp prevailed.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Animal shelters are full; please consider an adoption
Editor, the Forum:
If you’ve been living under a rock, you might not know that every animal shelter anywhere near us is horribly over-populated. Even shelters previously designated as “no kill” are having to be exterminated because of lack of space.
This causes great outcry to animal lovers, but when adequate space is gone but new animals are brought to the shelter every day, what options are there?
Lifeline, which operates the Fulton and Dekalb shelters, opened an “overflow” facility but now that’s full, too. Gwinnett, which has been proud of being no-kill for a while now, is posting that animals are in danger of euthanasia because they’ve run out of space. They are also not accepting new animals.
If they’re not taking animals, where do they go? Sometimes the only option is to leave them on the streets. No one with a heart finds this acceptable.
To help solve this serious problem, please consider adopting or fostering an animal from a shelter. They all have nearly any breed you might favor and all ages, seniors, babies and everything in between.
Also, fostering for a short while is most helpful and of course, adopting for a lifetime is an excellent option. If you love animals and have room for just one more in your home — or two? If so, go to a nearby shelter and bring home a very grateful fur friend as a loving addition to your home.
– Louise Stewart, Norcross
Early on, Pennsylvania required men for their militia
Editor, the Forum:
There have been some “high cotton” responses from your suggestion of compulsory service piece.
Just a historical note: in 1777, Pennsylvania passed a law that all men from ages 18-53 must serve in at least the militia for 60 days. There was a class designation by month. The Pennsylvania Militia fought on Sept. 11, 1777, at Brandywine facing Hessian troops at Chadds Ford. There were also rangers who served on the frontier. If one has ancestors that go back that far, there’s a high likelihood there’s a veteran of the Revolution.
Compulsory is most successful in survival situations like our Revolution or like in Israel and other small countries. We project power with our military as a world leader at the top of the food chain.
– Byron Gilbert, Duluth
Storage battery in home interesting, but the grid is strained
Editor, the Forum:
That was an interesting article on the Vermont utility which is going to install home battery storage units. It seems like a good idea, and illustrates the trade-off in the Biden Administration forcefully pushing hastily, but not logically thought-out a plan to eliminate fossil and virtually force Americans to go electric vehicles; at unaffordable prices. The grid is strained as it is.
– Ron Baker, Stone Mountain
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.
Sugar Hill unveiling web-based Digital Budget Book
The City of Sugar Hill is unveiling a new web-based Digital Budget Book powered by ClearGov, a provider of Budget Clear Management software for local governments in 2024. Sugar Hill’s comprehensive Digital Budget Book will include the general fund and capital improvement project budgets.
These budgets will be accessible online through an easy-to-navigate website with interactive content to make complex financial data easy to understand for all. .
City Manager Paul Radford says: “We are excited to partner with ClearGov to provide comprehensive and transparent explanations of our budgeting processes. We encourage residents to dive into the platform to discover all of the city’s services and the resources necessary to deliver them.”
The ClearGov platform allows residents to understand better what is included in the budget broken down by department. The public can see how funds are generated and allocated and have an understanding of how the city’s annual budget impacts community programs and services. The Digital Budget Book will be accessible through the city’s website. Residents can access this data 24/7 to provide feedback or ask questions about a highlighted project.
Mayor Pro Tem Marc Cohen maintains: “With this platform, the City Council continues its commitment to enhancing transparency, fostering active community engagement, and streamlining operations within our city.”
Pet adoption fees waived this weekend at shelter
Gwinnett County is seeking to help shelter pets find their forever homes during this weekend. The Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center will host Shelter Pets Rock on Saturday, November 4 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. with family-friendly activities, music, entertainment and local vendors.
Pet adoption fees will be waived at the annual event, hosted by Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement.
Animal Center Director Vernon Sawyer says: “Shelter Pets Rock is a wonderful opportunity for people to come out to the center, meet all of the amazing animals we have here and enjoy an afternoon of fun. Shelter animals make great pets with their companionship and unconditional love. We’re excited to help our pets find their forever families.”
Gwinnett Animal Welfare takes in approximately 7,000 lost, stray and surrendered animals each year. All adoptable cats and dogs come with a microchip, spay/neuter services and rabies vaccinations. Adoptions are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- For more information about Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement, visit GwinnettAnimalWelfare.com and follow @GwinnettAnimalShelter on Facebook. The At Center is located at 884 Winder Highway in Lawrenceville.
Student shares his success with 1st generation students
A pitch for a business competition at Georgia State University in 2016 was the impetus behind the establishment of the Georgia First Generation Foundation, a nonprofit organization in Gwinnett County, which has helped more than 750 students consider next steps after high school graduation.
Aoun
The Georgia FirstGen brochure begins like a novel. “On a cold and rainy February morning, Charbel Aoun, MS ’21 (PharmD ’25) and Francisco Martinez, MS ‘21 were in a college study area when they entered the competition.
“Being the first in their families to graduate from high school and attend college, Aoun and Martinez understood the real, yet not impossible barriers that students face when working to achieve a college education.”
Though they did not win the competition, a wave of interest from the community spurred the two on to forming a nonprofit organization to support the growth and success of first generation high school students and, just as importantly, to create a sense of belonging and community for these students.
Aoun, a third-year pharmacy student at PCOM Georgia, is the founding executive director. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Georgia State University in physics and astronomy, Martinez, a Lanier High School graduate from Sugar Hill, completed a master’s degree in physics from Georgia Tech and works as a data analyst.
To date, Georgia FirstGen has student chapters at seven Gwinnett County high schools and has served 750 first generation students who have more than a 95 percent acceptance rate into college, according to Aoun. In addition, Aoun has helped organize more than 45 educational meetings and conferences.
“These events have served as a platform for students from underrepresented backgrounds to gain valuable insights into higher education and career opportunities,” he says. “Witnessing the impact of these events on students’ lives has been incredibly gratifying. It reaffirms my belief that education can transform lives and break down barriers.”
Last year, Aoun was named to the 35 Under 35 class by the Gwinnett Young Professionals, which is sponsored by the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. This year, Georgia Trend magazine recognized Aoun, 27, as a member of the 2023 class of 40 Under 40 and placed his photo on the cover of the magazine as the youngest to receive this year’s recognition.
Aoun grew up in Gwinnett County and is a product of Gwinnett County Public Schools, graduating from Mountain View High School in Lawrenceville. The first of five children, he was born in the early ‘90s shortly after his parents met and were married following their immigration to the United States in hopes of pursuing a fresh start – his father from Lebanon and his mother from Syria.
Aoun earned a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Georgia State University, before matriculating into PCOM Georgia in Suwanee in 2018 where he earned a Master of Science degree in organizational development and leadership. He then enrolled in the Doctor of Pharmacy program.
His plans include merging his passion for pharmacy with his commitment to leadership and education.
Georgia Archives recognizes local authors for Gwinnett book
From left are Drs. Ashwani Monga, executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer of the University System of Georgia; Michael Gagnon; Matthew Hild; and Toby Graham dean of University of Georgia Libraries). Dr. Hild’s certificate contains a photo of the historic Gwinnett County Court House.
The Georgia Archives has recognized Gwinnett College historian Michael Gagnon, and co-editor, Matthew Hild of Georgia Tech, with a Georgia Historical Records Advisory Council award for “Excellence in Documenting Georgia History.” This is for the publication of Gwinnett County, Georgia, and the Transformation of the American South, 1818-2018.
Other contributors to this book include Georgia Gwinnett College history faculty Drs. Richard Cook, Jr., David Mason, and Carey Shellman, as well as former GGC history faculty, Dr. Erica Metcalfe. GGC history alumna, Katheryn Nikolich, also contributed a chapter to this volume.
Stephen Willis Day
Gwinnett County elections board member Stephen Willis Day, 71 of Dacula, died on October 30 at his home as a result of pancreatic cancer.
Day
He was born in Atlanta and grew up in DeKalb County. He was a graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology, and was a professional engineer. His main passion outside of family (to whom he was devoted) was politics, and he was a voracious reader of history and political topics.
Appointed to the Gwinnett County Board of Registrations and Elections, Stephen was recognized for his expansive knowledge of election law. He served for more than 10 years on the county elections board, including time as chairman.
He was a long-time political activist and a lifelong Democrat. Stephen served as an executive committee member of the Gwinnett County Democratic Party for more than three decades. He also served as a state committee member of the Democratic Party of Georgia for 30 years. Stephen served as chairman of the Gwinnett County Democratic Party from 1994-1996.
For decades, Stephen provided key volunteer support for Democratic candidates at the local, state and national levels. His intelligence and selfless dedication made Stephen an ever present influence on the campaign trail. His advice and guidance were sought by many.
His friends and political colleagues knew him as a dedicated and reliable mentor who was drawn to politics for all the right reasons. Stephen was driven by his belief in justice, reason, consensus and moderation, and a belief that good government was a necessity for building and maintaining a great society.
Stephen leaves behind his wife, Lori, and daughters Alexandra and Olivia.
The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners issued the following statement on his death:
“Stephen Day was a dedicated member of our community whose selfless service on the Gwinnett County Board of Registrations and Elections will have a lasting impact in Gwinnett County. His passion and advocacy for improving the election process and voter access, even during tumultuous times, should serve as an inspiration to us all. As we mourn our loss, let us also celebrate the positive impact Stephen had on the lives of others. His legacy is a testament to the power of kindness, resilience, and determination. Our heart goes out to his family in this difficult time. Our condolences also go to the members of the board of registrations and elections, who he served alongside Stephen with honor, dignity, and respect.”
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
Savannah College of Art and Design has 16,000 students
Established in 1985, the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) attracts students from around the world. It was founded in 1978 by Richard G. Rowan, Paula Wallace, May L. Poetter and Paul E. Poetter as a private, non profit college and is fully accredited. Its president is Paula Wallace.
SCAD has two campuses – one in downtown Atlanta and the main campus in Savannah. SCAD enrolls more than 16,000 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 120 countries. It offers more than 100 degree programs. Cost of enrollment for a full academic year is $40,095.
In 1991 the program received accreditation from the National Architectural Accrediting Board to award the bachelor of architecture degree. In 1995 a master’s of architecture degree program was initiated, and conversion of the five-year bachelor’s degree into a five-year master’s degree took place in 2000.
SCAD architecture students established a chapter of the American Institute of Architectural Students by 1990 and a chapter of the architecture honor society, Tau Sigma Delta, in 1993.
As with most SCAD facilities, the architecture department occupies a rehabilitated historic building. First housed in the former Henry Street Elementary School, designed in 1892 by William Gibbons Preston and built by Gottfried Norrman, the department moved in 1989 to Eichberg Hall, known today as Clark Hall.
The former engineering department building of the Central of Georgia Railway Company, Eichberg Hall (1887) was designed by Alfred Eichberg and Calvin Fay. In 1994 the college received the National Honor Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and in 1998 it received the American Institute of Architects Honor Award for Urban Design.
In recent years, SCAD athletic teams have been ranked among the nation’s top 25 teams. SCAD athletics has established an outstanding legacy by recruiting talented student-athletes and fielding teams in the tradition of excellence for which SCAD is best known.
Study-abroad programs in Lacoste and Grasse, France further broadens the educational experience for students. Its other study-abroad programs are in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan and in France in Paris.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Can you identify this roaring stream over rocks?
Falling water always seems to attract people. This is a roaring stream over rocks. Can you figure out where it is located? Send your answer to elliott@brack.net and include your hometown!
Rick Krause, Lilburn, immediately recognized the recent Mystery Photo: “The photo is of the Peace Arch, on the US and Canadian border at Blaine, Washington and Surrey, British Columbia along what was then U.S. Highway 99. I vaguely recall seeing it when my parents and my brother and I drove to see it in the mid 1950s, while living just south of Olympia. Have since visited it a couple times.Most impressive.It symbolizes a long history of peace between the two nations.”
Several others recognized it including Jay Altman, Columbia, S.C.; Barbara Dawson, Dahlonega; Stew Ogilvie, Lawrenceville; George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; and Allan Peel, San Antonio, Tex.
SHARE A MYSTERY PHOTO: If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Send to: elliott@brack.net and mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
The City of Lilburn has a new Byron Park road improvement to realign the entrance to the park. The $4.3 million project will combine three existing intersections into a lighted, single-intersection roundabout. Breaking ground are David Cassell of the State Road and Tollway Authority; Tad Leithead, Lilburn CID; Curt Thompson, Seventh District Transportation Board member; City Manager Jenny Simpkins of Lilburn; County Commissioner Ben Ku; Lilburn Mayor Tim Dunn; Lilburn city councilmen Yoon-Mi Hampton, Emil Powella, Dr. Scott Batterton, and Michael Hart; and Matt Gore, Lilburn assistant city manager.
America Recycles Day at Gwinnett Fairgrounds is Nov. 4
Celebrate America Recycles Day with Gwinnett! Recycle electronics, paint, clothing, sneakers, tires, and paper at the annual recycling event on Saturday, November 4 from 9 a.m. until noon at Gwinnett Fairgrounds Sugarloaf parking lot, 2405 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville. Paper shredding will be done on site. Here are some reminders before you come: paper shredding is limited to five copier paper boxes; paint is limited to 10 gallons; tires are limited to eight (without rims); electronics recycling is free except for TVs, monitors, and printers. There is a $35 cash fee per projection or console TV, $15 cash fee per TV or computer monitor, and a $5 cash fee per printer.
Gwinnett County’s inaugural Stand Down event Saturday, November 4, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Gwinnett Veteran and Family Services Center, 567 Swanson Drive, Lawrenceville. The free event will recognize veterans and their families and provide crucial supplies, and services to all veterans and their families – no matter their status – including food, health screenings, flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
Reading is FUNdamental workshop. Would you like to learn how to build your child’s speech, language, and emergent literacy skills while reading together? If so, this series is for you. This will be held Saturday, November 4, at 11 a.m. at the Norcross branch of Gwinnett County Public Library.
Community Clean-Up in downtown Braselton will be Saturday, November 4. Come help the Downtown Development Authority pick up trash in the historic downtown district from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Volunteers will gather on the town green where they will receive supplies and instructions.
Suwanee Classic Car Show will be Sunday, November 5, at Suwanee Town Center, beginning at 10 a.m. There will be over 185 cars, from cool cars to restored antiques, and muscle cars, street rods, exotics and imports. This event is held to honor and show gratitude to military veterans for their service and sacrifices. Guest speaker will be Georgia State Rep. Matt Reeves.
Snellville Commerce Club will meet November 7 at noon at Piedmont Eastside Hospital in the ERC classroom on the second floor. Enter at the breast center entrance of Medical Plaza No. 1. This will be a business meeting with reports from Don Britt,president of the Snellville Tourism and Trade Association.
Those wanting to attend Braselton’s fourth annual Cravin’ Bacon Walk should order their tickets now. The event will be December 7 from 5 to 9 a.m. in downtown Braselton. There are two levels of tickets: the $35 Squealer ticket, and the $65 VIP ticket, for those over age 21. For tickets, go here.
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 columnist: Jack Bernard
More
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 1365, Norcross, Ga. 30091
- Work with us: If you would like to learn about how to be an underwriter to support the publication of GwinnettForum as a community resource for news and commentary, please contact us today.
Subscriptions to GwinnettForum are free.
- Click to subscribe.
- Unsubscribe. 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.
© 2023, 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.
Follow Us