This peace pole, made by sculptor H. Thomas, sits in the United States Armed Forces Memorial Garden at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial. The pole was gifted by the Rotary Clubs of Caen and Hagen in 2015 celebrating the 100th anniversary of The Rotary Foundation. Peace Poles like this, found around the world, are internationally-recognized symbols of the hopes and dreams of the entire human family, standing vigil in silent prayer for peace on earth.
To commemorate the United Nations International Day of Peace, Rotary Clubs of Gwinnett County, in partnership with the Ismaili Council for Southeastern United States, will host an educational community conversation with leaders actively seeking to foster peace, goodwill and better understanding.
Velshi
Members of Gwinnett’s seven Rotary clubs will join with 1.4 million Rotarians around the world to celebrate the International Day of Peace.
The meeting will be Monday, September 23, at 11 a.m. at the Lawrenceville Arts Center in Lawrenceville at 125 North Clayton Street.
Community leaders will gather to glean knowledge and understanding from dialogue centered around the journeys of refugees and immigrants seeking to find peace, unity and community.
Ali Velshi, MSNBC Chief Correspondent and Host of Velshi, will share his personal story via an open conversation with Preface Project founder JT Wu. Velshi will then have a panel discussion with local leaders who arrived as refugees and immigrants and are now championing peace and equity for all.
Gwinnett County plans for study of disparity
Gwinnett County and Griffin and Strong, P.C. will host two informational meetings about the County’s first disparity study. The first meeting will be in person on Wednesday, September 18, at 6 p.m. in the George Pierce Park Community Room at 55 Buford Highway in Suwanee. The second will be a virtual option via Zoom on Thursday, September 19, at 2 p.m.
The disparity study aims to evaluate potential barriers for small and underrepresented businesses and enterprises in Gwinnett government contracting and purchasing.
Both meetings will provide Gwinnett’s business community with an open forum to ask questions, learn about the study and discuss how to participate. To guide the disparity study, the county assembled an internal team led by the County’s Equity Officer Aisha DeBerry, to work alongside Griffin and Strong, P.C. to achieve a more inclusive business environment.
Business owners and residents can register for the in-person meeting using Eventbrite or the virtual meeting using Zoom. Registration for the in-person meeting is recommended but not required.
- For questions or concerns, please email Griffin and Strong, P.C. at GwinnettCountyStudy@GSPCLaw.com
City of Lilburn planning for Food Truck Tuesdays
The city of Lilburn, in partnership with the Downtown Development Authority and a private property owner, has entered into an agreement to host a food truck site at the corner of First and Main Streets. It’s the strip of land currently enclosed by a fence, across from the popular 1910 Public House restaurant.
Mayor Johnny Crist says plans are to launch the venture October 1. Every Tuesday of the month, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., a revolving schedule of food trucks will be featured.
This is an interim step to activate a key commercial site on Main Street. The private property owners, Lilburn Main, LLC, intend to begin construction on the first of three commercial buildings on the 0.77-acre commercial site early next year. The first building will be located next to the existing Cofer building. Buildings two and three will follow construction and occupation of building one.
The temporary food truck site will be located at the corner of First and Main, the location of future permanent structures to be constructed by the private property owners. The city’s purpose in this endeavor is two-fold:
- Build pedestrian traffic in Old Town, generating critical activity to support existing downtown businesses including 1910 Public House, Antiques in Old Town, Salon Nine Seven, Agavero Cantina – Parkside, and newcomers Haven Bodega and The Bubbly Goat.
- Offer the community more dining and entertainment options in Old Town, where City Park is the anchor for most events.
City of Norcross to open county’s first arboretum
Trees at Pinnacle Park
The City of Norcross is planning the opening of Gwinnett County’s first arboretum, a botanical garden specializing in trees, at its Pinnacle Park off Brookhollow Parkway. This achievement marks a pivotal moment for the area, blending innovative environmental practices with a commitment to accessible green spaces.
When Norcross acquired Pinnacle Park, it was obvious that the area required a comprehensive revitalization. The small lake behind the business park was functioning merely as a stormwater retention facility, surrounded by overgrowth, dilapidated bridges and deteriorating sidewalks.
Norcross City Arborist Shahin Khalili says: “The city identified the area as a green space that could serve the community on the eastern side of Buford Highway. This vision was crucial in bridging the development gap between East Norcross and the rest of the city.”
One of the initial and unique steps in this project was the eco-friendly approach to clearing overgrowth. A team of goats was brought in to tackle invasive species like kudzu and privet. Khalili remembers: “The goats were so popular that they even participated in the park’s ribbon-cutting ceremony in May 2019, ‘chomping’ the ribbon alongside local officials.”
The arboretum will feature 32 species of native trees, with plans for expansion. The criteria for selecting trees focused on species that thrive in Georgia and showcase the region’s vibrant landscape. Charlotte Osborn, chair of the Norcross Tree Preservation Board, emphasizes the importance of the arboretum’s educational value, stating, “The primary criteria for a level one arboretum was the collection of a minimum of 25 trees of individual species clearly identified throughout the garden.”
The arboretum not only enhances local biodiversity and ecological resilience but also serves as an educational resource. The park’s virtual tree tour and educational page provide valuable insights into tree preservation and native plant species. Future plans include expanding educational outreach to schools and hosting workshops on sustainable practices.
Anders gets new title with Explore Gwinnett
Anders
Lisa Anders has been named chief operating officer of Explore Gwinnett. She was for 13 years its executive director. In her new position, she will also oversee the Gwinnett Sports Commission team. Stan Hall continues to serve as chief executive officer at Gas South District. This Sports Commission drives economic development through sports, managing a variety of events for youth, collegiate, amateur and professional athletic organizations.
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