GwinnettForum | Number 23.17 | Mar 1, 2024
LOOK FAMILIAR? Some Gwinnettians might remember seeing this word “Lives” before. It was part of the twin water towers facing Interstate 85 near Norcross which read “Success Lives Here.” Now this small part of the water tower is living on in Suwanee at the new Town Center on Main Park, which will open this summer. Suwanee City Manager Marty Allen told GwinnettForum: “We got it when the water towers were being removed back in 2010. We’ve held onto it for the last 14 years. It now has a new home. “
TODAY’S FOCUS: Recent comment suggests Banana Republic elements
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Buford restaurant scene, and two national figures
SPOTLIGHT: Georgia Banking Company
FEEDBACK: GOP majority in Congress and a baseball analogy
UPCOMING: County approves several new initiatives
NOTABLE: Two students, ages apart, help each other
RECOMMENDED: Macbeth by William Shakespeare
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Two Ga. Tech grads form minority architectural firm
MYSTERY PHOTO: Distinct architectural gem is today’s mystery
LAGNIAPPE: Doggin’ it
CALENDAR: Author of book about an estate executor speaks Saturday
Recent comment suggests Banana Republic elements
By Jeff Gorke
SUWANEE, Ga. | It’s easy to demagogue and name call without providing cites, facts, or being accurate. That way you can’t be refuted and the echo chamber dutifully nods. If you disagree with the direction of our country, you’re a Fascist, neo-Nazi, fill-in-the-bad-name here. That said, I find Ashley Herndon’s February 16 contribution to the Gwinnett Forum (“Plantation capitalism being pushed on us again”) a vexing top-heavy litany of bloviation, supposition, and charged language.
I discount, out of the gate, anyone who labels others with a broad and ill-conceived brush that drips with sarcasm and disdain; for instance, as we all know, Fascists and Nazis were essentially an offshoot of communism. They had nothing to do with the “right wing” aside from, perhaps, pursuing some sort of ill-conceived nationalist agenda. But, of anything, Fascism and Nazism are ideologies borne on the “left” side of the continuum. Yet those terms are used so loosely as to be valueless.
Herndon rightly points out: “Jim Crow went live after Reconstruction.” But the second part of that thought strains credulity. To wit, “Like it or not, some of our States are passing similar legislation as we breathe.”
I’m sorry, are they?
Please cite the laws that seek to codify slavery or oppress people? And, it’s a convenient yet sluggish turn of phrase where the author lumps all people of color into a homogenous group being pushed into “financial slavery.” Surely Herndon knows that Asian Americans (generally) thrive financially representing the highest per capita income group of any demographic in the United States?
Deeper in the mire, Herndon “substantiates” his premise suggesting that “…talking heads, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the [NRA], and purveyors of the so-called Biblical theology, are trying to take over secular institutions.”
Among other salient questions, that begs who, pray tell, are the talking heads? MSNBC? CNN? Al Jazeera? Fox? And while we contemplate the dynamism between secular vs non-secular, who’s trying to take over what institutions? Again, I’d suggest more facts than emotive supposition. Maybe begin with a book on post-modernism and view our current state of affairs through that prism.
Who are the “Fascists?” Why don’t we contemplate how our government conspired with major media and tech outlets to suppress speech it didn’t like (“disinformation” or “mal information”) and who defines “hate speech,” precisely? Why don’t we ask how, after the Supreme Court told the Biden Administration that it could not “forgive” student loan debt? (Sidebar: someone owes that debt; I’d suggest it’ll be the taxpayer.) But then Biden went ahead and did so anyway?
Isn’t that like what a dictator does? And why aren’t we curious that, while the sitting president committed a crime taking classified documents that he had no right to remove (as a senator and vice president), he was effectively found not competent to stand trial? Does that foregoing the federal government’s opportunity to prosecute, how can he run the country? And if he can run the country, why cannot he be held accountable in a court of law?
Minimally these are the elements of a Banana Republic; worst case, these are elements of creeping dictatorship. Remember, you don’t drop the frog in boiling water; you put him in the water and slowly turn up the heat.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Buford restaurant scene, and two national figures
Downtown Buford, via Wikipedia.
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
MARCH 1, 2024 | For sheer mass, downtown Buford has a high concentration of quality restaurants. It didn’t just happen. Several factors combined to create today’s modern dining scene.
In the 1970s, Georgia Highway 20 became four lanes with a shopping center opening. Old-time stores in Buford deteriorated. By the early 1980s Buford had many vacant storefronts. One guy said: “It was dead at night on Main Street.” Then artist communities were attracted by low rents for these ancient, high ceiling stores, many with basements and second floors. Soon the thriving art community attracted people needing places to eat. Add the growing Lake Lanier community of homes and visitors. Particularly those weekend visitors found the short drive to high-quality Main Street restaurants and the dining scene began to thrive.
Now in 2024, several of these restaurants have had a long tenure, terrific chefs, and the reputation developed as a place to visit. Parking at night is sometimes crowded, so the city built a parking garage behind the stores. And the city made sure the Main Street sidewalks were perfectly smooth with brick pavings.
Here’s the list of East Main Street restaurants by numerical addresses:
- 9: Sperata, American-European of high quality.
- 15: Tani Thai, traditional Thai.
- 37: 37-Main restaurant, American grill and music venue.
- 38: Italian Pie, Italian fare.
- 55: Aqua Terra, elegant fine dining.
- 60: Main Street Deli, fine deli not open at night.
- 101: Bare Bones Steakhouse, opens at 4 p.m except on Monday.
- 107: Off the Rails Mexican Cantina, Mexican fare.
Other downtown restaurants:
- 306 West Main: Rico’s World Kitchen, regional and world cuisine.
- 554 East Main: Tannery Row Ale House, barbecue and Southern fare.
All of Gwinnett sprouts eating establishments these days, but Buford restaurants can hold their own with any area. They are part of what makes living in Gwinnett great.
Two national figures whom I thought well of died recently.
Bob Edwards, the host of National Public Radio’s Morning Edition for nearly 25 years, died at age 79 in Arlington, Va. The Louisville, Ky. native had a distinct and rich baritone voice for radio plus a smooth delivery. He joined NPR in 1974, and was the first Morning Edition voice in 1979.
We particularly enjoyed his Friday morning at 7:35 five minute radio visits with Red Barber, the old-time radio baseball broadcaster, who was retired in Tallahassee, Fla. Their subject matter varied from not only baseball, but retirement, Florida weather, camellias, etc. When Barber died in 1992, Edwards wrote a book Friday mornings with Red, where even I am mentioned.
I met the genial and legendary basketball coach, Lefty Driesell. He was the first coach to win more than 100 games at four schools, Davidson, Maryland, James Madison, and Georgia State. He was the first to take four different teams to the NCAA tournament. When he coached Georgia State, the team went from a doormat to upsetting Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA tournament. He was not only a superb coach, but he was theatrical on the sidelines, pushing his team, taunting officials, usually winning, and always funny. He was a joy to watch. Over his career, he won 786 games.
But he was also downright affable and solid as a person. When at Georgia State, he would take the time to come to Gwinnett County and talk to groups. And you were sure to walk away being entertained beautifully.
Robert (Bob) Edwards (1947-2024), and Charles “Lefty” Driesell, (1931-2024): may you rest in peace.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
Georgia Banking Company
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GOP majority in Congress and a baseball analogy
Editor, the Forum:
After winning a majority in the House of Representatives in the 2022 election, the party took control in 2023. The party’s extreme right wing ousted their own Speaker, Kevin McCarthy, for working with the Democrats to keep the government operating by compromising on the budget. It then took the GOP three weeks to settle on a replacement. Their choice, Mike Johnson, had only been in Congress since 2017 and many of his fellow members did not know him.
Meanwhile in the Senate, a tough border security bill was passed containing much of what the GOP claimed it wanted. Negotiations in the Senate had been led by Senator James Lankford (R-OK), a border hawk. Because Donald Trump wants to use the border crisis as a campaign issue, Speaker Johnson declared it “dead on arrival” before even reading it.
Since then, a bipartisan majority in the Senate has sent to the House a foreign aid bill including aid to Ukraine and Israel. The GOP majority rejected it as not dealing with the border issue. What is it they want? One of their own, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), issued a harsh judgment saying, “Getting rid of Speaker McCarthy has officially turned into an unmitigated disaster.”
Now we have a budget crisis with the possibility that parts of the government could shut down March 1 by (today) with the rest following about a week later.
This inability to get anything useful accomplished reminded me of the question posed by Casey Stengel, manager of the championship New York Yankees in the 1950s, and later of the expansion New York Mets (1962-1965). In his first year with the Mets, seeing how inept they were, said “Can’t anyone play this here game?”
– John Titus, Peachtree Corners
Concerns about voting in the presidential primary
Editor, the Forum:
Very interesting viewpoint on why Democrats should vote for anyone other than Trump on the Republican Ballot in the presidential primary.
But what about the Republican who decides to ask for a Democrat ballot to vote for Biden?Thus, the democrat party might see many more votes for Biden thus believing he has much greater support and definitely keeping him as their candidate as President, if in fact they actually keep him as their choice.
For sure, this election period will be one of interesting plays. In the end will Biden be the actual Democrat candidate? Will Trump be the actual Republican candidate?
– Larry Benator, Johns Creek
Editor, the Forum:
Great, but not original, idea on how and who to vote for during election season as a progressive. My question is, how will you feel when the shoe is on the other foot in the future? Conservatives are learning many things from Democrat “tactics” like this, ballot harvesting, etc. Will you then be crying voter suppression?–another progressive “tactic.”
– Roberta Cromlish, 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.
County approves several new initiatives
Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners voted on several initiatives during their February 20 meeting. Below is a recap of what they approved.
New trail to connect Gwinnett Place Mall to McDaniel Farm Park: A federal grant, if awarded, will help fund a multi-use trail from McDaniel Farm Park to Ring Road. The Rebuilding America’s Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant would provide up to $8 million for the project, including a grade-separated crossing over Satellite Boulevard at Commerce Avenue to allow continuous flow of pedestrian and bicycle traffic.
- Grants support police response: Commissioners approved two grants for Gwinnett Police to better serve residents. Funds from the Atlanta Regional Commission through the Urban Areas Security Initiative will provide the department with new technology to expedite intelligence gathering for criminal investigations. A community-based web portal will also allow for a more efficient response to incidents and resource sharing capabilities between law enforcement agencies.
- Proposal for Jimmy Carter Boulevard: Funding is being requested through the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Livable Centers Initiative to support the development of a master plan for the area. The plan will identify strategies to promote new housing types, affordable housing, redevelopment and transit expansion. The plan will cost $400,000.
- Pathway connection: A new pathway will be built along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard from McGinnis Ferry Road to Grand Teton Parkway to connect two existing sections of multi-use path, between the recent extension of the Western Gwinnett Pathway to McGinnis Ferry Road and intersection improvements at Suwanee Dam Road. Commissioners awarded the $549,900 construction contract to 9 Yards Infrastructure, LLC of Suwanee.
Commission raises the salary of chair for 2025
Gwinnett County Commissioners this week approved a measure that would increase the amount that the chairman of the commission is paid. The vote on the proposition means that beginning on January 1, 2025, the salary of the chair will be $205,655.
The chair’s new salary structure is tied to compensation of the sheriff of Gwinnett County, who on January 1 will make $205,655. Previously, Sheriff Keybo Taylor was paid $148,655, plus a $50,000 local supplement. Increased cost of living rates has now made the sheriff’s salary $205,655.
GwinnettForum has long had as one of its Continuing Objectives for Gwinnett County an equitable salary for the county commission chair.
Two students, ages apart, help each other
Emily Borrego and Carlos Delgado; provided.
When Emily Borrego saw a fellow student struggling to log in to his laptop during her first class at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC), she didn’t hesitate to approach him and offer to help. Carlos Delgado gratefully accepted her offer, and in seconds, she had him signed in. Unbeknownst to the two of them, that seemingly innocuous overture was the beginning of an unexpected friendship that is still growing stronger despite the more than five decades that separate the two: Borrego is 19; Delgado is 75.
“I saw him struggling, and I just figured I’d help,” said Borrego, who lives in Lawrenceville. “It was in an information technology (IT) class, and we are both business buddies. After that, we just kind of became buddies.”
Delgado says: “Emily has a good heart. She likes helping people,” said Delgado, whose rich accent discloses his upbringing in Bogota, Colombia. “I think it’s difficult for some people to deal with people of older ages when they are young. They try to avoid it. That is not the case with Emily. She just saw me as another student who needed help.”
The two came to GGC from separate ends of their lifetimes: Borrego right after graduating from Brookwood High School in 2022 and Delgado after retiring from a career as a Spanish teacher in Atlanta and Fulton County public schools. They quickly figured out that their different perspectives complimented each other, especially when it came to getting through the IT class.
Borrego says it this way: “Literally, all we do is laugh. I help him, but I get to learn from him. We talk about life and find things to laugh about.”
Both students are busy with other classes outside of their IT studies, so they make time on the weekends to meet at a Gwinnett County Public Library, where they spend hours together doing assignments and studying for quizzes.
Delgado’s life journey took him worldwide before he landed in Lawrenceville. After earning a degree in languages from Libre University in Colombia, he moved to Spain to earn a master’s degree in Spanish from the University of Salamanca, the oldest university in the Hispanic world. After that, he immigrated to London, England, where he worked as a telephone engineer for BellSouth for 15 years before accepting a transfer to Miami, Fla. He quickly realized the city didn’t suit him.
“London was cold and the weather is awful there sometimes, but Miami is so hot it’s uncomfortable, and mosquitos would fly in every time I opened my mouth!”
He decided to move to New York City, but on his way there, he stopped in Atlanta long enough to learn that the school systems in the area desperately needed Spanish teachers. That led to a career working for the Atlanta and Fulton County public school systems until his retirement in 2013. He spent the next 10 years, as he puts it, “idling and traveling the world,” but eventually started to crave another challenge.
Borrego came to GGC from the other end of the spectrum, fresh out of high school and unsure of her career path. For now, she’s a business major. “Some people seem to have it all figured out, but that’s not who I am yet,” she said. “I’m still exploring my options.”
WABE, bookstores and libraries offer storytelling
WABE, Atlanta voice for NPR and PBS, is organizing a metro-wide storytelling event, uniting independent bookstores and public libraries across the metro Atlanta area, including Gwinnett County Public Library.
The event, scheduled for Saturday, March 16 at 11 a.m., celebrates the debut of a new storytime series for WABE’s youngest listeners, a podcast where they read stories.
Aisha Greenlee, WABE’s director of Community Outreach, says: “WABE’s inaugural “READ ACROSS ATLANTA” event is intended to not only connect our community to the power of storytelling but also to amplify the role area bookstores and libraries play as gathering spots for all.”
At each event location, readers designated by the library or bookstore will share stories from children’s books from local authors.
The Podcast ‘Where They Read Stories’, which premiered February 20, is a
twice-weekly storytime podcast featuring notable Atlantans and local performers reading children’s books, plus mini-explainers for vocabulary words, historical figures, or other big concepts that deserve a “story within the story.” It is available on WABE.org/podcasts and other podcast platforms.
Over the ground trail coming to new Suwanee Park
In Suwanee, work is progressing on construction of a new park. These uprights provide the base for a 1,200 foot over-the-ground trail around this new 25 acre Town Center on Main Park, near the nearby DeLay Nature park. The trail is west of the Suwanee Library, seen on the right in the background. Suwanee officials are hoping to see completion of the park by late summer.
Macbeth by William Shakespeare
From Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill: What more can one say about this ‘Scottish play?’ The Bard’s shortest tragedy is packed full of prophecies, murders, fear, betrayal, insanity, suicide, witches, ghosts and an all-round creepy atmosphere. What’s not to like? It’s the 11th century in Scotland when Macbeth, a successful Scottish general, walks home from a battle with fellow soldier, Banquo. Suddenly three ‘weird sisters’ appear to them in the woods. These witches predict that Macbeth will become the king of Scotland. Macbeth is astounded! So, when the king visits Macbeth’s castle that night, Macbeth is content to wait for nature to take its course and see what happens. However, Macbeth’s ambitious and domineering wife talks him into killing the king during the night! What follows is a wild and crazy ride of guilt, paranoia, hallucinations and further slaughters. Macbeth has been made into about 30 English-language movies and a few are available online for free.
- 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
Two Ga. Tech grads form minority architectural firm
The architectural firm Stanley, Love-Stanley was established in Atlanta in 1978 by William J. “Bill” Stanley III, an Atlanta native, and his wife and partner, Ivenue Love-Stanley, born in Meridian, Miss.. Both have made history from the day they graduated from the College of Architecture at the Georgia Institute of Technology, he in 1972, and she in 1977.
He was Georgia Tech’s first African American to graduate with a degree in architecture, and she was the school’s first female African American architect. Bill Stanley then became the youngest African American to be registered as an architect in the South, and Ivenue was the first female African American to be registered. They met on campus and were married in 1978.
Bill Stanley had gained experience working for six years with John Portman, notably serving as project architect for the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Mich. Stanley, Love-Stanley developed a wide range of projects, some associated with the African American community, including many of the historically Black colleges in Georgia and various African American churches.
The firm received wide exposure as part of a larger design group on such projects as the $298 million renovation and expansion of Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta during the early 1990s, and it built a strong regional reputation that extended internationally with such projects as the Olympic Aquatic Center at Georgia Tech (1995-96), a joint venture with Smallwood, Reynolds, Stewart, Stewart, and Associates. The firm’s best-known work may be the Horizon Sanctuary (1994-99), which provides worship space for the congregation of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church on Auburn Avenue, in the Martin Luther King Jr. Historic District of Atlanta.
Bill Stanley’s forte is marketing and design; Ivenue Love-Stanley is the business manager and principal in charge of production. Renovations of Reynolds Cottage (1901) at Spelman College in Atlanta, for instance, won the firm an Atlanta Urban Design Commission (AUDC) Award in 1997.
The firm’s principals claim that they have no official “house style” but believe that “each design solution is a singular response to a given set of unique criteria and conditions.” Thus, for the Herndon Tower at Atlanta’s First Congregational Church (1908), an Atlanta landmark originally designed by Bruce and Everett, issues of compatibility governed, and the firm’s design work won the couple’s first AUDC Award in 1991.
The National Organization of Minority Architects also recognized the firm for design excellence, singling out its Southwest Family YMCA (1994), St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (1994), Centennial Place Elementary School (1997), and Lyke House Catholic Student Center (1999) at the Atlanta University Center.
The Lyke House Catholic Student Center may be the firm’s most unusual building to date. It is a replication of a church hewn from rock in Lalibela, Ethiopia, one of 12 churches built by King Lalibela to celebrate African Christian antiquity in the late 12and early 13 Centuries. Stanley Love-Stanley’s design provides a chapel, a student center, and the priest’s rectory.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
[button size=”small”]MYSTERY PHOTO [/button]
Distinct architectural gem is today’s mystery
Today’s mystery is a period-piece architectural gem with several clues to guide you. Figure out where this photograph was made, send your ideas to elliott@brack.net and include your hometown.
A few people recognized this around-the-world photo from Agra, India, with Jay Altman of Columbia, S.C. the first with the right answer: “It has been a fort since the 11th century. The current fort, built in the 16th century, is the former residence of the Mughal Dynasty of India.” The photo came from Paige Havens of Hoschton, who snapped it when on a recent Rotary Club trip to vaccinate children from polio.”
Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill added: “This is the Agra Fort, built with red stone for Mughal Emperor Akbar. It is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is located less than two miles from the Taj Mahal.”
Also identifying the photo were George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; Stew Ogilvie, Lawrencville; Lou Camerio, Lilburn; and Allen Peel of San Antonio, Tex., who wrote: Agra’s Red Fort was built using red sandstone. Construction of the current structure was started in 1565, and completed in 1573, on the backs of over 4,000 laborers working daily for more than eight years. The fort served as the main residence of the rulers of the Mughal Dynasty from 1573 until 1638, when the capital city of the Mughal Empire was shifted from Agra to Delhi.”
- 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.
Doggin’ it
A dog park is coming to the Lawrenceville Lawn, at the corner of Jackson and Luckie Street. With separate areas for large and small dogs, the 0.41-acre park will provide an environment for dogs of all sizes. The areas will be separated by an eight-foot-wide concrete pathway, with decorative security fencing enclosing both. The park will have an artificial turf surface equipped with an automatic irrigation system, promoting a sanitary environment. It will also feature dog waste bins. The project, awarded to Zaveri Enterprises, Inc. of Lawrenceville after a competitive bidding process, comes at a cost of $677,899, which SPLOST dollars will fund. is slated to open in summer 2024.
Author of book about an estate executor speaks Saturday
At Lionheart Theatre in Norcross, tax evasion turns hilariously complicated in Love, Sex, and the I.R.S., where a fake marriage between roommates to cheat on their taxes, spirals into chaos, blending charm and zaniness. The show runs from March 1-17. Get your tickets here.
Hear Author Fran Stewart, author of After I Die—the List at Liberty Books, 176 Crogan Street in Lawrenceville on Saturday, March 2, from 1-3 p.m. Here’s an easy way for you to be kind to your executor by answering questions about your estate. This book is meant to introduce you to the dozens of items any executor will need to know.
Gwinnett Republicans will have a breakfast meeting at 8:30 a.m. on March 2 at 70 Bolderbrook Circle in Lawrenceville, near the airport. Speaker will be Attorney Brad Carver, sixth district chairman. An optimal $10 Chick-fil-A breakfast may be bought at Purchase@www.GwinnettRepublican.org. Come meet local candidates and officials.
Snellville Commerce Club will meet at noon on March 5 at City Hall. Speaker will be Snellville Police Officer Scott Hermel, who has 26 years as a policeman. He holds a B.A. in Theology from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He will focus on common frauds and scams and what to do so you do not become a victim. Reservations are required.
State of the county address will be given by County Commission Chairman Nicole Hendrickson on Thursday, March 7, at 8:30 a.m. at 12 Stone Church, 1322 Buford Drive, Lawrenceville. Doors open at 8 a.m. To register for the event, visit GwinnettChamber.org/State-Of-The-County-Address. This is sponsored by the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce and the Quality Growth Council.
Empowering Women-Owned Small Businesses will take place on March 7 at 11 a.m. at the Norcross Branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library. Discover the fundamental tools, tips, and essential resources needed to launch and expand women-owned small businesses. Registration is required.
Citizenship Information Session will be held at the Lilburn Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library at 11 a.m. on March 9. Discover the requirements for citizenship and the naturalization process in this informational session.
Republicans are planning a Liberty Dinner on March 9 at 7 p.m. at Lanier Technical College Conference Center in Cumming. Speaker will be Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana. The Center is located at 3410 Ronald Reagan Boulevard.
The Gwinnett Stripers are partnering with Coca-Cola to host the Coca-Cola Preseason Party at Coolray Field on Sunday, March 10. The rain-or-shine event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Tickets to the event are free, but must be reserved online in advance.
Nutrition for a Healthy Life Series will be presented on March 12 at 11 a.m. at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Learn about healthy lifestyle changes and healthy recipes to cook. This program will have Korean translation available.
Grand Opening at Corners Outreach will be Thursday, March 14 at 2:30 p.m. at 1854 Shackleford Road, Norcross, Ga. 30093.After the ribbon-cutting guests can embark on guided tours of the center’s programs. Established in 2012, Corners Academy offers free summer enrichment programs and educational support to over 1,050 students across 22 schools in Gwinnett and DeKalb counties. Launched in 2018, Corners Industries provides stable employment opportunities to parents of Corners students, with a focus on leveraging existing skill sets such as lawncare and sewing.
Author ReShonda Tate will speak on March 14 at 7 p.m. at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. In The Queen of Sugar Hill, she presents a fascinating fictional portrait of Hattie McDaniel, one of Hollywood’s most prolific but woefully underappreciated stars and the first Black person ever to win an Oscar for her role as Mammy in the critically acclaimed film classic Gone With the Wind. Books will be available for sale and signing. (The Sugar Hill referred to is in California.)
Inviting Leprechauns and Lilburchauns to participate in the Lilburn’s annual Lilburchuan Parade on Saturday March 16. This walking parade will take place inside Lilburn City Park. All are welcome to join in the fun!Meet in front of the band shell in Lilburn City Park at noon dressed in your most festive St. Patrick’s Day attire. The parade around the field, led by a Leprechaun Stilt Walker and Bagpipe player, kicks off the event, which includes walkers, pets, bicycles, wagons, and strollers. After the parade we will crown the best leprechaun look-alikes, also known as our “Lilburchauns”!Prizes will be awarded for Mr. Lilburchaun, Ms. Lilburchaun, Lad and Lassie Lilburchauns, best dressed pet, and best decorated rider.
Preview Days at Georgia Gwinnett College will be Saturday, March 23. The events will take place from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. on GGC’s campus. Prospective students will hear from members of the Grizzly family about programs of study, admissions, financial aid, student housing and more. Participants will be able to tour GGC’s campus and talk to student ambassadors about their experiences at GGC. The party-like atmosphere will include food, music and fun giveaways. GGC team members will host selected breakout sessions in Spanish. Organizers said GGC application fees will be waived in March. About 82% of GGC students qualify for financial aid.
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