CLASSICAL MUSIC RETURNS to the North Atlanta area in October, as the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra’s 2024-2025 season will begin. The symphony will be highlighting three world class conductors during the season, and one will be the next music director. For more on the symphony, see Today’s Focus immediately below.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Johns Creek Symphony starts season on October 5
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Handy for Mulberry election: information on candidates
SPOTLIGHT: Georgia Banking Company
FEEDBACK: Wants to know when absentee votes are counted
UPCOMING: Ribbon-cutting Friday kicks off Norcross Microtransit
NOTABLE: Police headquarters building to get redesign
RECOMMENDED: City of Laughter by Temim Fruchter
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Carroll County’s Banning Mill now an event center
MYSTERY PHOTO: See if you can identify this classic building
LAGNIAPPE: Well ahead of schedule, it’s Zombie Time!
CALENDAR: Public Safety Fall Festival at Coolray Field on September 7
Johns Creek Symphony starts season Oct. 5
By Lauren Nye
JOHNS CREEK, Ga. | Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra’s 2024-2025 season will spotlight three world-class conductors as they bring their strengths and passion to the podium in hopes of becoming the next music director of the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra (JCSO).
The season entitled, “Three Maestros, One Podium,” begins on October 5, 2024. The five-concert season ticket package for “Three Maestros, One Podium” is priced from $85-$215. Single tickets are from $22-$55. To buy tickets, visit johnscreeksymphony.org or call 678-748-5802.
Throughout the season, the guest conductors will be joined by renowned instrumental and vocal soloists including Britton-René Collins, David Fung, Tom Hooten, Johns Creek Chorale, and Bethany Mamola. At the end of the season, the JCSO will announce the new music director.
All three guest conductors will present concerts that emphasize the power of human connection, the vibrancy of different music genres, and the impact music has on communities. The concert season lineup is as follows:
- Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. at Newtown Park – Classical K-pop: Experience the youthful energy of K-pop music in JCSO’s season premiere concert, Classical K-pop. Led by guest conductor Henry Cheng, this concert will capture vast themes of love and the power of human connection through orchestral arrangements of chart-topping K-pop hits from BTS, PSY, and more.
- Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. at Johns Creek United Methodist Church – Magnificent Marimba: Enjoy the expressive sounds of the marimba in JCSO’s Magnificent Marimba concert featuring percussionist Britton-René Collins! Led by guest conductor Howard Hsu, this strings-only concert includes a performance of Starburst, as well as Tchaikovsky’s lush Serenade for Strings.
- Dec. 14 at 3:30 p.m. at Mount Pisgah Church: A Kids’ Christmas – Experience the joys of Christmas in this sensory-friendly kids’ Christmas concert. Guest conductor Paul Bhasin will lead the JCSO in holiday tunes that are loved across world cultures. This concert will feature Fleetwood Dancers, a special guest narrator, singalongs, and an appearance by Santa Claus.
- Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at Mount Pisgah Church: Holidays With the JCSO: Bring your family home for the Holidays With the JCSO! Led by guest conductor Paul Bhasin, this concert will shine merry and bright with expressive arrangements of seasonal classics. Featuring guest vocalist Bethany Mamola and the Johns Creek Chorale, this concert will be a heartwarming experience.
- Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. at Mount Pisgah Church: Heroes Among Us: A Musical Tribute: Led by guest conductor Henry Cheng, this offers a powerful tribute to the spirit of heroism around the world. Featuring pianist David Fung, the concert includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 7, Grieg’s Piano Concerto, and Valerie Coleman’s Seven O’clock Shout, composed to honor the sacrifice of frontline workers during COVID.
- March 15 at 7:30 p.m. at Mount Pisgah Church,From Screen to Stage: The sounds of Harry Potter, Star Wars, Mission: Impossible, and more will come to Johns Creek in our concert From Screen to Stage. Guest conductor Howard Hsu presents this concert full of pop-culture masterpieces. From John Williams to Tchaikovsky, the musical magic of motion pictures will fill the air!
- May 10 at 7:30 p.m. at Johns Creek United Methodist Church, Kaleidoscope of American Music: Guest conductor Paul Bhasin unveils a Kaleidoscope of American Music, where we showcase the depth, complexity, and diversity of our nation’s musical heritage. Featuring LA Philharmonic Principal Trumpet Tom Hooten, this concert will highlight pioneers like George Gershwin and modern voices, including John Williams and Atlanta’s own Michael Kurth.
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Handy for Mulberry election: Information on candidates
Some of the candidates running for election in the new city of Mulberry. Click to meet the candidates.
By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher, GwinnettForum.com
SEPT. 6, 2024 | Perhaps you have noticed that while GwinnettForum endorses candidates in state, local and national presidential political races, we do not endorse candidates in the 16 (soon to be 17) Gwinnett city elections. The individual cities have their own unique governmental characteristics, and it is hard to keep up with them.
Coming up this fall, voters in the boundaries of the new City of Mulberry will elect five councilmen. Those elected in turn, will decide among themselves who will be their presiding officer, or mayor.
While GwinnettForum will continue its policy of not getting directly involved on who should be elected in Mulberry, we will, however, present demographic facts about the 15 candidates seeking these five positions on its City Council, and ask them why they are running.
We have sent to all candidates a questionnaire so that they may introduce themselves to their voters. It’s a relatively short questionnaire, plus one open-ended item asking each to answer in no more than 100 words why they should be elected.
We will print the result of what the candidates send back, starting today, and in future issues of this publication. There is no charge to the candidates for GwinnettForum to list their answers. We do this as a public service for our readers.
While some of the candidates have not responded to our request for information, today we print the answers to those eight (of 15) candidates who have sent the questionnaire back to us. Meanwhile, click on this link to see the candidates who were speedy in returning the form to us. (In coming issues, we’ll add responses when the candidates send their answers to us.)
Note: Marland Roberts, who previously qualified to run for Council, is no longer in the race.
Here’s to Gwinnett’s 17th city. May the voters be diligent in choosing their new leaders.
Postal offices are saying that our mail service is improving. It may be, but every now and then we get mail showing that significant delays are still out there.
On Tuesday we got a letter back which could not be delivered, since the people we hoped to get the Christmas card had apparently moved. Yes, it was on December 19, 2023 that the envelope was mailed, and it was returned to us on September 3, 2024. That’s a little over eight months later.
Instead of one of those yellow “Return to sender” stickers, there were three stickers. The first one was dated January 6, 2024. Another sticker was dated June 27, 2024, while the third sticker had a date of July 11, 2024. Again, remember we got the envelope back on September 3.
Makes you wonder why this letter was sitting around in some postal bin from January 6 to June 27, then sat again until July 11, and which finally got to us September 3.
Does the thought come to mind, “What’s going on?” And it also makes you think that all the postal problems cannot be in Palmetto.
One postal official told us that all forwarded mail in the southeast, if not the nation, must be re-routed to Tampa, Fla. first, before it was routed back to the sender. We presume, of course, for efficiency. It’s not working.
How to handle Robocalls? Raleigh Perry of Buford makes this suggestion: “Answer the phone this way: ‘THIS IS WWKK RADIO AND YOU ARE ON THE AIR!’” He adds: “You will not hear anything but a hang up”
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Georgia Banking Company
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Empowering Communities: Georgia Banking Company’s Commitment to Community Banking.In an era of mega-banks and digital finance, community banks play a vital role in fostering local economic growth and providing personalized financial services. Georgia Banking Company (GBC) stands out as a champion of community banking with a deep-rooted commitment to the people and businesses of Georgia. We believe in going beyond traditional banking transactions. That’s why GBC actively participates in community events, supports local charities, and collaborates with small businesses. By being an integral part of the fabric of the communities we serve, we become more than just a financial institution; we strive to be a trusted partner and neighbor. Our dedication to community banking sets us apart. We prioritize building relationships, supporting local initiatives, and fostering economic growth. We understand that when our communities thrive, we all succeed. To learn more about why GBC is The Bank of Choice, visit www.GeorgiaBanking.com. Discover the personalized banking experiences, tailored financial solutions, and commitment to local economic growth that make us the preferred choice for individuals and businesses. Member FDIC.
- For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here.
Wants to know when absentee votes are counted
Editor, the Forum:
I am curious to know if we vote by mail-in ballot, when is our vote counted? Are we truly counted before the polls close? If I want to make sure that my vote is counted, should I vote on election day? Is this the same throughout Georgia? I am curious about Rabun County, not just Gwinnett.
I am hoping you can enlighten readers.
– Marie Klaer, Duluth
Dear Marie: Here’s what Zachary Manifold, head of the Elections Division in Gwinnett sent back: “Absentee by mail and Advance In-person voting ballots are the first results posted on election night after the polls close. They should be uploaded between 7 and 8 p.m.”
Rabun County should be the same.
If you ask me, I would rather vote on election day, to make sure. –eeb
Differs on view concerning Project 2025
Editor, the Forum:
Project 2025 has nothing to even do with Trump. You have a very biased journalist who continues to post articles that are not true. 2025 exists but has no bearing on Trump. Maybe Harris, but not Trump.
– Ronald Schwartz, Dublin
Dear Ronald: Seems we touched a nerve. Also seems you have swallowed the former president’s line that he knew nothing about it. Substantial number of people close to the scene would differ from you. Remember, this column is one man’s opinion.—eeb
Sometimes you have to vote for least incompetent
Editor, the Forum:
Border security is a joke under Harris, our border czar. I guess the Democrats hope to register them to vote illegally of course, so that they can vote right in this election and return the incompetents to office. Sometimes in an election you have to vote for the least incompetent candidate.
– S. Scott Batterton, Lilburn
Dear Scott: Sometimes?—eeb
Differences: you say po-ta-to, and I say po-TAH-to
Editor, the Forum:
Radical, far left propagandist Jack Bernard is at it again. This time with his biased, skewed thoughts on Project 2025. Must we listen to this unabashed hit piece, in a three part series, no less? Here is the pertinent information in his writings.
- Donald Trump has broadly refuted the document. What more do you need to know?
Please Jack. If you absolutely must criticize the Republican Presidential candidate’s intentions, how about taking aim at his written, stated objectives, rather than a theoretical document produced by an uninvolved Think Tank.
And as for me, I keep going over this GOP Platform list, trying to find an item that I disagree with. Sorry. I can’t.
– David Simmons, Norcross
Dear David: You absolutely certain Donald Trump can write?—eeb
Kamala Harris’ task for the border was diplomacy
Editor, the Forum:
Vice President Kamala Harris’s main task was to engage diplomatically with Mexico and the Central American countries to see what steps they could take to lessen the number of their people crossing the border into the United States.
Some steps were taken to help them economically to improve conditions and enforcement, thereby keeping their citizens at home. Unfortunately, the crisis in Venezuela aggravated the situation and probably aggravated the border surge.
In addition, climate change, wars, and poor government policies have contributed to illegal migration all over the world. Our border problem was aggravated because ex-President Trump killed a bi-partisan bill on immigration policy because he needed the border as a campaign issue.
– George Wilson, Stone Mountain
Gwinnett has three juvenile accountability courts
Editor, the Forum:
There are plenty of screwed-up teenagers in Gwinnett County. In response, we have a complex juvenile justice system. Some offenders need the legal restrictions imposed by the courts. Some offenders may need a second chance without creating a legal record.
Many years ago, I was part of an effective program that was an alternative option. Offenders and their parents agreed that the child would participate in a court-monitored therapy program. As long as there was no other offense, there would be no record of delinquency. Some 90 percent of teenagers who participated in the program successfully completed the program. It was a positive outcome with little cost to the county. Gwinnett County should consider offering a similar program.
– Alan Schneiberg, Sugar Hill
Dear Alan: That sounds like a good idea, but wouldn’t you know it, Gwinnett is on top of matters in this area. The Juvenile court doesn’t have one, but three, accountability courts, for Behavior, Drugs and Family Treatment. As you describe, similar rules apply.—eeb
- 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: ebrack2@gmail.com.
Ribbon-cutting Friday kicks off Norcross Microtransit
A microtransit pilot program will begin in the Norcross area on Monday. On Friday, September 6, a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. at the Norcross Public Library will celebrate the launching of the program. The library is located at 5735 Buford Highway.
The program officially begins on Monday, September 9. This on-demand, shared-ride service is designed to enhance mobility for residents and businesses in the Norcross area, offering a flexible and convenient new transportation option.
Lewis Cooksey, Gwinnett County Department of Transportation Director, will serve as emcee. Speakers include Gwinnett Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson, District 1 Commissioner Kirkland Carden, District 2 Commissioner Ben Ku, Gateway85 CID Executive Director Emory Morsberger and Norcross Mayor Craig Newton.
The Gateway85-Norcross Microtransit Pilot Program, developed in partnership with Gwinnett County and the City of Norcross, introduces an on-demand microtransit service for the community. For $3 per ride, riders can travel anywhere within the designated service area. The service will run from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
Police headquarters building to get redesign
Gwinnett County will use Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax funds for the redesign of our Gwinnett Police headquarters. The upgrades will address current and future space requirements, consolidating offsite teams and sections into a single facility. Originally built in 1977, the existing headquarters was expanded in 1988 and has undergone several reconfigurations over the years to adapt to the evolving needs of the county and the department.
Precision Planning Inc. was awarded the contract, and construction is slated to begin in 2026. The project will be funded by SPLOST, with an estimated cost of $5.8 million.
City of Laughter, by Temim Fruchter
From Sara Rawlins, Lawrenceville: Let me tell you about a book I have just finished enjoying. It is City of Laughter by Temim Fruchter. It’s a multi-generational story of a Jewish family from a small village in Poland. It’s how the daughter tries to get her mother to tell her the stories and secrets about her family, grandmother and great-grandmother, who immigrated to America in the 1920s. The storyline can be confusing sometimes, because it jumps from the past to the future. However, you simply stick with the story and eventually all will be revealed. Yes, the book contains a few Yiddish words that I ended up having to look up to understand. This book also deals with lesbianism in a suppressed society, so it may not be a book for everyone to read. But this is a book I can recommend it to daughters who want to understand their mothers and vice versa.
- 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. Click here to send an email.
Carroll County’s Banning Mill now an event center
Banning Mill is located in southeastern Carroll County on the banks of Snake Creek, an arm of the Chattahoochee River.
Four Bowen brothers first operated the mill on land that they acquired in one of Georgia’s land lotteries. By 1849 they were producing skeins of coarse yarn used in osnaburgs (grain sacks). The factory became known as Bowen’s Mill, and the surrounding area as Bowenville.
After the mill burned in 1851, the Bowen brothers forfeited their business. The next owner was William Amis, a businessman and state legislator from Coweta County. The Civil War (1861-65) began before Amis was able to make the mill operational. The mill buildings survived the war, and in 1866 Amis reopened, naming the mill Carroll Manufacturing. By 1880 he had sold it to a group of four businessmen. One of the new owners, Arthur Hutcheson, took charge of the mill.
Hutcheson, an Irish-born merchant with a store in Palmetto, devoted the rest of his life to the mill community. Under his direction Hutcheson Manufacturing, as it was renamed, prospered. He added two new pulp mills, a sawmill, and a gristmill, in addition to refurbishing the area’s old paper mill. During Hutcheson’s time at Banning, the mill produced cotton sheeting and shirting fabric, while the paper mill produced striped paper, the first mill in the region to do so. Hutcheson’s greatest achievement, however, was bringing electricity to the mill in the late 1880s. Banning became one of the first factories in Georgia to operate with electric power.
By Hutcheson’s death in 1895, the mill property extended for more than 1,300 acres. The textile mill housed 5,000 spindles and employed, in addition to the residents working in the surrounding mills, about 240 workers.
In 1921 the mill acquired new owners and another new name, Banning Cotton Mill. The new owners added a rubber plant facility. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, however, the mill experienced several closures. The residents of the area were often forced to seek work in other mills, and the owners declared bankruptcy by the close of the decade. During the 1940s the mill produced heavy cord to be used in tire manufacturing and yarns to be used in mops. The mill closed down often during World War II (1941-45) and, when open, employed only 50-75 workers. One improvement to the facility during the war years was the installation of a motor to replace the water-powered turbine.
In an effort to revive the factory during the late 1950s, Banning manufactured carpet yarns and became affiliated with carpet manufacturers in Dalton. By the 1960s, production at the mill began to decline and its operations ceased in 1971, approximately 130 years after its opening.
In August 1974 the mill opened as an entertainment center. The venue hosted musicians, visual artists, actors, and more throughout the following two decades.
In the early 1990s the property was purchased by Atlanta businesswoman Patricia Brown. In 1998 Historic Banning Mills was founded to help preserve its history, as well as the surrounding Snake Creek River Gorge and Chattahoochee watershed. The conservancy now operates alongside an adventure resort and retreat center, offering experiential education, lodging, and outdoor activities and adventure-based programming.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
See if you can identity this classic building
Here’s a look inside one classical building. Note all the activity, too. Now, can you figure out where this photograph was taken? If so, send your idea to ebrack2@gmail.com, and include your hometown.
Three always reliable spotters recognized the last Mystery Photo. As George Graf of Palmyra, Va. wrote: “It’s the Vineyard at High Holly, 37 High Holly Road, Scaly Mountain, N.C.” The photo came from another veteran of these photos, Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill.
The other two to recognize the photo were Jay Altman, Columbia, S.C. and Allan Peel of San Antonio, Tex., who wrote: “Vineyard at High Holly, a 28-acre private estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains, is off the Highlands Plateau in Scaly Mountain, N.C., just 2,000feet north of the Georgia-North Carolina border. It is an elegant, family-owned and operated vacation destination, boutique winery and wedding venue that was opened in 2013. Facilities at the Vineyard include an open-air Pavilion, an outdoor wedding ceremony area, a large farmhouse and six separate cottages for guests, a restaurant/bar housed in a 1940s barn loft and a tasting venue in a wine cellar.”
- 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: ebrack2@gmail.com and mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
Well ahead of schedule, it’s Zombie Time!
It’s Zombie Time! Retailers put out Christmas goods well before that magic day, and today’s merchandise sellers do the same thing when it comes to Halloween. Yet today it’s no longer mother sewing up a bedsheet for a little ghost, but now ghouls and goblins are much larger, often mechanical and very scary. This monster collection was spotted at Lowe’s Home Improvement on Beaver Ruin Road.
Public Safety Fall Festival at Coolray Field on Sept. 7
Author Talk with Martha Boone will be held September 5 at noon at the Lawrenceville Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Join the author as she discusses Mother Charity, the long-awaited sequel to The Big Free. Books will be available for sale and signing.
The Appassionato Choir Performance will be Saturday, September 7 at 7 p.m. at Norcross Global Methodist Church. The choir will perform works by Johannes Brahms, Josef Rheinberger, Shawn Kirchner, Stephen Paulus, and others. The address is 2500 Beaver Ruin Road, Norcross. Admission is free. Details here!
Visit Coolray Field on Saturday, September 7 for the 15th annual Public Safety Fall Festival! Come out from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. to meet our first responders and enjoy food, giveaways, demonstrations, and displays. Kids will love the touch-a-truck experience featuring a SWAT personnel carrier, fire trucks, and other specialized vehicles. There will also be a Motorcycle Training Challenge showcasing courses from multiple police agencies. This event is open to residents of all ages and abilities. Email this address for more information. Coolray Field is located at 2500 Buford Drive in Lawrenceville.
British Car Fayre will return to Norcross on Saturday, September 7, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the downtown area. This annual marking of all things British means classic cars, motorcycles and other items British. Over 400 vehicles are expected, with proceeds going to local charities.
Author Talk with Honorée Fannone Jeffers will be on September 7 at 7 p.m. at the Snellville Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Jeffers will discuss her novel, The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois, with Dr. Carol Anderson. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Gwinnett Beer Week is September 7-14 in public houses throughout the county. Launching during Gwinnett Beer Week, the Sippin’ in the Suburbs Mobile Beer Pass lets participants earn points redeemable for prizes by checking in at Gwinnett County’s craft beer and spirits locations. Each check-in garners points, which can then be spent on collectible prizes from Explore Gwinnett, including posters, trucker hats, bottle openers, t-shirts etc. The Suburbs Mobile Beer Pass is free, and automatically checks users in upon arrival. Those who wish to participate can sign up at www.ExploreGwinnett.org/SippinInTheSuburbs.
Lunch and Learn: Grow Your Business with Reference Solutions. This will take place at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on September 9 at 1 p.m.Learn how to use the U.S. Business and Consumer Modules to target specific groups of businesses or individuals interested in your products or services. Registration is recommended.
Go Green! glass and paper recycling will at four locations the week of September 9-12, and will take place from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. each day. On September 9, it will be at Bogan Park in Buford;’ On September 10, at Peachtree Ridge Park on Suwanee; on September 11 at Lucky Shoals Park in Norcross; and on September 12 at Lenora Park in Snellville.
U.S. Citizen Naturalization Ceremony at Coolray Field, hosted by the Gwinnett Stripers. As part of Patriot’s Day and Education Day at Coolray Field on Wednesday, September 11 at 11:15 a.m., the Gwinnett Stripers are partnering with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia to host a U.S. Citizen Naturalization Ceremony. Judge Richard W. Story of Gainesville will preside over the naturalization of 50 new U.S. citizens, marking the first time such an event has been hosted at Coolray Field. Those attending should park in Lot A and enter through the Main Gate of the ballpark.
Author Jayme Canty will visit the Snellville Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library for an author talk on September 12 at 7 p.m. She will discuss her book Snapping Beans: Voices of a Black Queer Lesbian South. Books will be available for sale and signing.
Fourth annual Global Ismaili Civic Day is September 15 with a collective clean-up of seven waterways in metro Atlanta to remove trash and invasive plant species, and improve water quality and the health of the local ecosystem. The Ismaili Muslim community will partner with Georgia Interfaith Power and Light, the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta, Gwinnett Water Preserve, and the Southern Conservation Trust. Among the areas to be cleaned will be Lions Club Park at 5500 Rockbridge Circle in Lilburn, from 2 to 5 p.m.
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