GwinnettForum | Number 25.13 | Feb. 14, 2025
THE 2025 GWINNETT STAR STUDENTS have been announced for each school in the county. The Professional Association of Georgia Educators and its foundation sponsor the program. It honors seniors with the highest SAT score at each school, as well as that student’s teacher choice. The presentation recognized more than 39 students and 39 teachers from Gwinnett County Public Schools, Buford City Schools, and private schools in Gwinnett. For a list of those honored, go to THIS LINK.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Driverless rides now available in Peachtree Corners
EEB PERSPECTIVE: “Consent Agendas” can speed up routine meetings
SPOTLIGHT: Walton Gas
ANOTHER VIEW: Pro Volleyball’s Atlanta Vibe play at Gas South Arena
FEEDBACK: Courts have kept us in line 250 years
UPCOMING: Peachtree Corners releases State of City video
NOTABLE: GGC provides two stories for Valentine’s Day
RECOMMENDED: A House for Alice, by Diana Evans
GEORGIA TIDBIT: U-boats bring World War II close to Georgia
MYSTERY PHOTO: Another photo-teaser: can you identify this temple?
CALENDAR: Sugar Hill Preservation Society meets Feb. 19 at City Hall
Driverless rides now available in Peachtree Corners
May Mobility driverless car. Provided.
By Kelsey Neely Bierbower
PEACHTREE CORNERS, Ga. | May Mobility, an autonomous vehicle (AV) technology company, has announced the launch of its first commercial driver-out autonomous transportation service in the city of Peachtree Corners. The company said it has transitioned its Peachtree Corners service to driverless operations, marking May Mobility’s third driverless deployment in the United States, following successful demonstration deployments in Sun City, Ariz. and Ann Arbor, Mich.
In partnership with Curiosity Lab, T-Mobile, and the City of Peachtree Corners, May Mobility has been offering public rides in its autonomous Toyota Sienna Autono-MaaS (mobility-as-a-service) to visitors of Peachtree Corners Curiosity Lab since September 2024 with safety drivers in place. Starting this week, individual passengers will be able to ride the service without anyone behind the wheel. The service zone includes eight pre-determined stops along Technology Parkway, at popular destinations such as hotels, restaurants, retail shops, office spaces, the Innovation Center at Curiosity Lab and Peachtree Corners City Hall.
Edwin Olson, CEO and founder of May Mobility, based in Ann Arbor, Mich., says: “Peachtree Corners will be our third driverless operation, and we are excited to debut our first publicly available driverless service there.”
May Mobility’s vehicles are equipped with its patented Multi-Policy Decision Making (MPDM) technology that leverages in-situ A-I reasoning models to continuously learn and adapt to new, complex and even unpredictable driving conditions to create a safer, more comfortable ride. In doing so, MPDM solves the industry’s biggest challenge, adapting to unexpected, dynamic conditions or “edge cases,” and allows the company to scale quickly and efficiently to new environments.
Brian Johnson, Peachtree Corners city manager, says: “Curiosity Lab’s real-world smart city ecosystem has provided May Mobility with a unique environment to both continue to develop and improve their operations over the past six months, which has only further prepared the May Mobility team for its third driver-out operation and first commercial operation in the U.S.” He adds: “T-Mobile’s 5G is a key staple of our ecosystem and the driver-out transition, as it provides May Mobility with low latency, high bandwidth connectivity for a smoother rider experience and enhanced safety operations. This will continue to be important as we work toward expanding the route towards Town Center to provide additional means of transportation for city residents and visitors.”
May Mobility’s driverless operations in Peachtree Corners are open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., with each vehicle accommodating up to five passengers at a time. Riders will be able to easily book trips to any of the service’s eight stops on-demand through the May Mobility app, powered by transit tech company Via, available in the App Store and Google Play. The app promptly guides users on how to book a ride and access the vehicle, answers questions and more.
May Mobility is working with the City of Peachtree Corners on expansions and has plans to launch autonomous vehicles in metro Atlanta in partnership with Lyft later this year. Additional driverless operations in the U.S. will be announced throughout 2025.
May Mobility extended its leading portfolio of AV use cases with its recent announcement at CES 2025 of a partnership with Tecnobus, an established European electric minibus manufacturer, to introduce a new AV minibus platform able to seat up to 30 passengers, including wheelchair accessibility.
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“Consent agendas” can speed up routine meetings
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
FEB. 14, 2025 | Attending a city council or county commission meeting can be mighty boring and long if not run well. You are usually surprised at the extent of the agenda. Meetings can run three hours or more, covering many subjects, and hearing from not only the elected officials, but from local citizens with their individual input.
While some elected bodies run well and efficiently, others do not. Yep, they can be pretty boring and long-drawn-out.
Yet such meetings can be run efficiently if that body employs certain proven techniques. Some bodies employ a “consent agenda.” For the Gwinnett County Commission, that device was first introduced at the county level when Lillian Webb became its chairman back in the 1980s. She had previously employed the consent agenda when mayor of Norcross.
Here’s the definition: “A consent agenda is a group of routine, non-controversial items that are voted on together without discussion. It’s a tool that can help board meetings run more efficiently and productively.”
Using the consent agenda usually means a shorter meeting. When working properly, it also shows that the members of the group are working together well and want to move the meeting on, though they may sometimes disagree.
Here’s how a meeting would employ the consent agenda. The body would:
- Create a policy: Establish criteria for what items can be included in the consent agenda.
- Distribute materials: Send materials to board members in advance so they can review the items.
- Vote on the package: At the group’s convening, the entire consent agenda is voted on as a single package, unless a board member requests to remove an item.
What would be the benefits of adopting this consent agenda? First, it allows the board to approve routine items quickly. This frees time for more in-depth discussion of other matters.
Groups using consent agendas must make sure that all its members understand how the process works. First, someone on the staff or one of the members itself, must list the items on the agenda that are proposed to be approved by consent. That’s so that members of the body can object to a particular item on the consent agenda, and ask that it be placed on the regular agenda for full discussion. In normal working, this is essential, for each body member must have the ability to remove an item(s) easily from the consent agenda, or else the body will be fighting within itself.
A majority of the cities of Gwinnett use consent agendas in most of their deliberations. In discussion with one Gwinnett city that uses the consent agenda, we learned that 50-75 percent of the agenda items are related to consent.
A consent agenda is not limited to governmental bodies. But for sure, each member of any group employing this form of running a meeting must make sure that all members of the body fully understand how it works, and why it is in use.
The key point is timeliness. Why spend valuable time on many, many elemental and non-controversial subjects, when they can be handled with dispatch through the consent agendas?
This is no attempt to limit debate, or to silence anyone. A consent agenda merely moves the meeting along speedily making a more efficient deliberation.
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Pro Volleyball’s Atlanta Vibe play at Gas South Arena
Pro volleyball action. Provided.
By Anna Porter
DULUTH, Ga. | The Atlanta Vibe, entering its second season in the Pro Volleyball Federation (PVF), is becoming a standout team in the growing world of professional volleyball. As one of eight teams across the United States, the Vibe brings high-level action and entertainment. The Vibe play their home games at Gas South Arena in Duluth.
Launched in 2024, PVF is North America’s premier professional volleyball league, featuring top talent from both the U.S. and around the world. It offers elite athletes the opportunity to pursue a professional career domestically while competing at the highest level. The league operates in major league arenas, with each of its eight teams playing 28 matches in the 2025 season. Additionally, PVF holds a college draft, providing young talent from universities the chance to enter the professional ranks.
Owned by Colleen Craig, the Atlanta Vibe is packed with top-tier talent, including a mix of seasoned pros and exciting young players. The team consists of both returners, including 2024 League MVP Leah Edmond and 2024 Libero of the Year Morgan Hentz, and also has a handful of new faces making waves on the court, including No. 1 draft pick Merritt Beason and league kill percentage leader Khori Louis. These four players have been recently selected as inaugural All-Stars competing in the first ever PVF All-Star Match on February 22, 2025.
Leah Edmond has been instrumental to the team’s success. Known for her offensive power, she’s one of the best in the league, racking up impressive stats on the season. Her achievements earned her recognition as League MVP for the 2024 season. Whether attacking the ball or blocking opponents, Edmond’s impact on the game is undeniable. Meanwhile, Morgan Hentz is the team’s defensive powerhouse. As the libero, Hentz plays a crucial role in keeping the ball off the ground and setting up her teammates for success. Her leadership and consistency on defense make her one of the league’s top players, and her ability to dive after the ball is unmatched.
Another key player is Merritt Beason, the Vibe’s exciting rookie who was the top draft pick in 2024. Beason has wasted no time making her mark, with impressive offensive stats and the kind of energy that makes her a fan favorite. Her versatility on the court makes her a player to watch for the future. In her rookie season, middle blocker Khori Louis has made a remarkable impact, dominating both offensively and defensively. Her exceptional skills have quickly earned her a spot among the league’s top performers, showcasing her ability to consistently score and contribute to her team’s defense.
The Pro Volleyball Federation itself is still in its early stages but has already begun to make a big impact on the sports world. As the team enters its second season, the Atlanta Vibe is not just a group of athletes—they’re a source of pride for fans in the city and beyond. With their skill, determination, and passion for the game, they’re helping shape the future of volleyball in the United States.
- For Vibe tickets, go to https://provolleyball.com/atlanta-vibe-tickets
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Courts have kept us in line 250 years
Editor, the Forum:
The Federal Courts have kept us in line for 250 years. It will be a long, arduous journey to get final resolution of all of these current issues by the SCOTUS. Last administration was the forgiveness of student debt. SCOTUS answered that bell. Now, we have the swing to the right. Hang on, it will be a magnificent ride.
– Mike Tennant, Duluth
Dear readers: The author has for years been a prominent attorney in Gwinnett, and is a graduate of Auburn University and got his law degree from Mercer.—eeb
Feels that the president is following Constitution
Editor, the Forum:
Trump is the first president in my lifetime (75 years) to actually follow the Constitution. Putting a hold on USAID payments is great. Perhaps there is enough wasted money there to help those American citizens who have been crushed by the toxic spills, fires and hurricanes.
If one would look at the list of expenditures (Sesame Street in Iraq for instance), you would see our government has become too big and wasteful! Through the USAID, our tax money paid for the development of the Coronavirus. We the people own this country, not the government. Those not supporting President Trump are simply afraid of losing their power over you and/or losing dollars in their pockets.
– Barbara Warden, Norcross
Dear Barbara: We understand where you can think the government has sometimes been wasteful. But it paid for a virus? Where can you substantiate that?—eeb
Wants changes, because of wastes in government
Editor, the Forum:
Please give our president a chance because the American people voted for all of this. We have tons of waste in government spending and with a $2 trillion annual deficit along with the $37 trillion total deficit. Things need to change asap.
– Stew Ogilvie, Rehobeth, Ala.
Feels we are in “politics as usual” times
Editor, the Forum:
Looks like politics as usual regarding the executive branch’s decisions and so called ‘’what’s fair for the goose.” There are some different historical circumstances regarding citizenship and procedural pardons. We’ll have to wait for SCOTUS. In the meantime, politics as usual. When will our “leadership” grow up?
– John Moore, Duluth
Dear John: We take exception that the Trump Administration is far from showing politics as usual. It is very much politics as unusual, something our country has never seen before. Open your eyes.–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.
Peachtree Corners releases State of City video
The City of Peachtree Corners has released a video on the state of its city. Mayor Mike Mason hosts this 16 minutes video, highlighting what has recently gone on within the city’s borders. He emphasizes the city’s success is a team effort and introduces the members of the City of Peachtree Corners team.
Within its borders, its Town Center, which celebrated its fifth anniversary, continues to thrive as a community gathering space. Recent upgrades include improved lighting, Wi-Fi, security, a new drainage system, a dog park, a tot lot playground, and additional seating and shade. Overlook Garden was also built as a memorial to Debbie Mason. The Peachtree Corners Pedestrian Bridge has further unified the city’s downtown, spurring redevelopment at The Forum with housing, retail, and entertainment options.
Curiosity Lab, a key innovation hub, has supported over 150 companies in testing smart city technology. The lab has enhanced public safety, transportation, and economic development, adding 2,700 jobs and supporting 84 startups.
- To view the the mayor’s state of the city video, go to: https://youtu.be/IPCDyqqe-yE
Balfour joins Southern-focused public affairs firm
A southern-focused public affairs and government relations firm has hired former state Sen. Don Balfour of Norcross as one of its executive vice presidents. Ohio River South announced that Balfour will bolster the firm’s reach and relationship for federal and multi-state engagements with this expansion.
Balfour
At the same time, the company also announced that Andy Beck is also joining the firm also in the executive vice president capacity. He will lead the firm’s communications practice as it expands to Washington D.C.
Howard Franklin, founder and CEO of Ohio River South, says: “Andy and Don bring tremendous expertise and credibility to the firm. Their experience in public affairs, government relations, and corporate strategy will be tremendous assets to our growing roster of clients across a wide array of industries and geographies.”
Balfour will be Executive vice president of government relations. He was the longest-serving Republican in the Georgia State Senate, representing Gwinnett County for more than 20 years, where he chaired the key rules and reapportionment committees and shepherded landmark legislation into law, including property tax freezes and eminent domain reforms.
Balfour will lead the firm’s multistate practice. He previously was president of the National Conference of State Legislatures, chairing the State Suggested Legislation Committee for the Council of State Governments, and held multiple posts within the American Legislative Exchange Council. Additionally, Don served as an executive with Waffle House for over 25 years.
Ohio River South is an advocacy firm working with public and private sectors across the American South. Specializing in lobbying, strategic communications and business partnerships, the firm has helped clients score legislative wins, drive public perception, and launch innovative projects across multiple southern states. For more information, visit www.ohioriversouth.com.
GGC provides two stories for Valentine’s Day
Velasquez and Gonzalez family at GGC. Provided.
The adage goes, you learn more outside the college classroom than in it. It’s when many learn how to live independently, discover their true calling, conquer insecurities and rise to significant challenges. For the exceptionally fortunate, it’s also when they meet their true love.
There’s no telling how many people have met as Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) students and gone on to tie the knot. Here are two of those stories:
A Million to One
The likelihood that Esteban Gonzalez and Valentina Velasquez would ever meet was at least a million to one. Both grew up in different Latin American countries, Esteban in Monterrey, Mexico, and Valentina in Manizales, Colombia. The two cities are well over 4,000 miles apart.
But, as luck would have it, Esteban’s parents immigrated to the United States in 2000 when he was 5 years old, and Valentina’s in 2008 when she was 17. Both families settled in Gwinnett County for work and because they liked the school system. When they both chose to attend GGC, in 2017 they were introduced by mutual friends at a soccer game in Atlanta.
They both noticed the same thing about each other right away. “She has a strong personality, but I could tell right away she had a good heart,” he says. “He was funny, and I could tell he had a good heart,” she also says.
They started dating. On Valentina’s 29th birthday, Esteban surprised her with a black labrador retriever puppy named Belky. She was overjoyed, and then she noticed the puppy’s collar had a strange tag with something written on it. She pulled the tag straight to find the words, “Will you marry me?” They were married on August 21, 2021, in Santiago Nuevo León, México
Both graduated in 2016. Today, Esteban is a project engineer for Archer Western Contractors in Atlanta, and Valentina is a digital marketing manager at Lanier Islands Resort in Buford. In July 2022, their family expanded when they welcomed daughter Antonella. Belky is still living her best life as the cutest wingman ever.
Love at Second Sight
Zeleda family. Provided.
Mauricio and Natalie Zelada met at the March Through the Arch GGC welcoming celebration in 2012. They had no idea they had already been peers at Collins Hill High School in Lawrenceville for four years.
Natalie remembers: “I had just gotten out of a previous relationship, so when he asked me to have coffee with him, I declined.”
They remained friends. But soon it was apparent something more powerful was developing. Mauricio asked Natalie to dinner. This time, she happily accepted. “He was a gentleman and made sure I was taken care of, and since I was still living at home at the time, he made sure to drive me back and say hello to my family as well.” That sealed the deal.
They began dating in March 2015. Three years later, Mauricio surprised Natalie by proposing to her at their church, surrounded by friends and family. They were married that June.
Natalie says her favorite thing about Mauricio is his ability to understand others. “He is aware of others’ emotions and is very empathetic to what they need.” Mauricio said he loves how approachable and easy to talk to Natalie is. “That was one of the first things I loved about her,” he says.
Natalie graduated in 2016, and Mauricio followed in 2018. Today, Natalie teaches second grade at Rock Springs Elementary School, and Mauricio is an accountant at Store My Truck in Norcross. They had their first baby, Evelyn, in January.
A House for Alice, by Diana Evans
From Susan J. Harris, Stone Mountain: West London, 2017, a huge fire consumes a high-rise residential community with a tremendous loss of life. In another area of London, a house fire results in the death of family patriarch, Cornelius Pitt. These events form the backdrop of the story of a family at odds about Alice Pitt, the family matriarch whose desire is to move back to Benin, Nigeria in her twilight years. Sisters Adel, Carol and Melissa have conflicting opinions about Alice’s desire, because she is seen as the foundation of the family especially because of the fraught relationships between sisters. This is a drama of a family navigating a series of life altering changes. Diana Evans writes beautiful, luminous prose awash with sage statements and brain teasers that will engage and tantalize the reader. The family personalities are relatable, but complex and arguments spring up with spilled hurts crying for resolution. The story resolves abruptly.
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U-boats bring World War II close to Georgia
Georgia’s closest brush with actual combat operations in World War II (1941-45) occurred when American air and naval forces battled prowling German U-boats along the state’s Atlantic coastline. In 1941 Germans sank five Allied merchant ships off Georgia shores. By late 1943, however, Georgia’s coastal defenses had grown so formidable that German submarines no longer entered the state’s waters.
Georgia’s waters were initially considered an unlikely target for enemy submarine attacks. First, the state’s coastline is relatively short, stretching approximately 100 miles between the South Carolina and Florida borders. More important, the continental shelf off Georgia’s coast is extremely shallow; submerged German U-boats would have only a few feet of water over their conning towers, making them vulnerable to being spotted and attacked.
Despite elaborate prewar plans for the defense of Georgia’s coastline, the area was still vulnerable to attack when the United States entered World War II. Early antisubmarine patrols were sporadic and uncoordinated, and many Georgia coastal communities disobeyed orders for nighttime blackouts. The defenders were shaken from their complacency, however, when the U-boat threat finally hit home in the spring of 1942.
Lt. Cmdr. Reinhard Hardegen, skipper of the German submarine U-123, had already drawn Georgian blood in January 1942, when his U-boat sank the freighter City of Atlanta off the coast of Cape Hatteras, N.C. The 5,200-ton merchantman was based in Savannah, and many of the 43 sailors who died in the attack were residents of the city. On his next war patrol two months later, Hardegen sank four ships before entering Georgia’s waters.
The U-123 moved to a position in the shallow waters just off St. Simons Island. In the early morning hours of April 8, 1942, the Germans fired a torpedo and sank the 9,200-ton oil tanker Oklahoma. Less than an hour later, he spotted and sank another tanker, the 8,000-ton Esso Baton Rouge.
The next morning, the U-123 sank a third ship, the steamship SS Esparta, about 14 miles south of Brunswick. Hardegen then sailed south to prowl Florida waters, where he sank four more ships before returning to base.
A total of 23 crewmen aboard the three vessels sunk in Georgia waters died in the attacks. The two tankers, sunk close to shore in shallow water, were eventually salvaged and refloated.
The attacks along Georgia’s coastline threw the state into a panic. The gigantic blasts from the exploding tankers had shattered windows in nearby Brunswick, and thick oil fouled beaches in the area for weeks afterward. Frightening rumors of Germans landing on shore began circulating throughout the coastal communities.
Franklin D. Roosevelt acted decisively to end the U-boat threat along the Atlantic coastline. The U.S. Navy adopted the British system of convoying ships, and air and naval patrols were increased. The submarine-hunting blimps of Airship Squadron ZP-15 were stationed at Glynco Naval Air Station, near Brunswick, providing around-the-clock protection against U-boats.
Georgia’s coastal defenses grew so formidable that enemy submarines never again dared to come within sight of land. During the summer of 1943, two more American tankers were sunk approximately 150 miles east of Brunswick. But by then the tide of war had turned against the U-boats. The hunters became the hunted, and the German U-boat threat in Georgia waters ended for good.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Can you identify this temple?
For those of you who travel worldwide, here’s another striking Mystery Photo for your consideration. Figure out where this photograph was taken, then send your idea to ebrack2@gmail.com, to include your hometown.
The most recent mystery was identified by Jay Altman of Columbia, S.C.: “The Rio–Antirrio Bridge officially the Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge, is one of the world’s longest multi-span cable-stayed bridges and longest of the fully suspended type. It crosses the Gulf of Corinth near Patras, linking the town of Rio on the Peloponnese peninsula to Antirrio on mainland Greece by road. It opened one day before the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics, on 12 August 2004, and was used to transport the Olympic flame.”
The photo came from Catherine Brack, who took it while chaperoning students six months before her death.
Others recognizing it included Kay Montgomery, Duluth;. George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill; Stew Ogilvie, Rehobeth, Ala.; and Allan Peel, San Antonio, Tex., who added: “It crosses the Gulf of Corinth between Rio on the Peloponnese side and Antirrio on the mainland of Greece. The bridge is officially called the Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge in honor of Charilaos Trikoupis (1832–1896), the first Greek prime minister of the 19th century who suggested building a bridge at this location. However, it is more commonly referred to simply as the Rio–Antirrio Bridge after the two towns that it connects to across the Gulf of Corinth.
“Located approximately 107 miles west of Athens, construction of the bridge started in 1998 and was officially opened on August 12, 2004, just one day before the opening ceremonies of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. In fact, the first people to officially cross the bridge were some torch-bearers of the Olympic flame that was making its way to the opening ceremonies.”
- 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!) Click here to send an email and please mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
Sugar Hill Preservation Society meets Feb. 19
The Southeastern Railway Museum in Duluth is hosting a special President’s Day Weekend. Visit on February 15 and 16 for docent-led tours of two presidential Pullmans: the 1911 Superb used by President Warren Harding and the 1927 Marco Polo used by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Admission also includes access to exhibits and train rides. Perfect for train (and history) lovers of all ages! Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Author Talk: Join New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict as she discusses her newest historical fiction novel, The Queens of Crime. This will be on Tuesday, February 18 at 1 p.m. at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. The author of The Mystery of Mrs. Christie returns with a thrilling story of Agatha Christie’s legendary rival Dorothy Sayers, the race to solve a murder, and the power of friendship among women. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Food Giveaway is taking place on February 18 at 10 a.m. at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, 182 Hunter Street in Norcross. A total of 550 boxes of fresh fruit and vegetables will be available, on a first come, first served basis. Enter the Faith Hall parking lot via Jimmy Carter Boulevard to line up for the food. Partners in this include Volunteer Gwinnett and Helping Mamas.
Sugar Hill Preservation Society will meet on Wednesday, February 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the Community Room of City Hall. The Speaker will be retired Lt. Cmdr. Michael N. Henderson. His book, “GOT PROOF! My Genealogical Journey Through the Use of Documentation” explores his family background and the social dynamics of French and Spanish Louisiana.
Postpartum Health Awareness: Are you a new or expecting parent? Gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to navigate the joys and challenges of postpartum care, newborn care, and child safety. This will be presented on February 19 at 11 a.m. at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library.
Author Talk: Join author Tiffany L. Warren as she discusses her historical fiction novel, The Unexpected Diva, about the first Black prima donna, Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield. The talk will be at the Five Forks Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library at 6:30 p.m. on February 20. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Open House at the former Norcross Historic Library on North Peachtree Street will be Friday, February 21, from 4:30 until 6 p.m. Join city officials and staff as the city opens the doors to this landmark for the first time in years. It previously was the home of the Norcross Woman’s Club. Residents will have the opportunity to view the building, provide input on potential restoration and expansion plans and share their thoughts with the Historic Preservation Commission.
The Peachtree Corners Library will host Author Laura Elizabeth on February 21 at noon. She will discuss her newest book in The Island Mysteries series, A Special Kind of Heartache. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
GGC Four Pillars scholarship gala will be February 21 at 5:30 p.m. (dinner at 6:30 p.m.) at the Georgia Gwinnett College Convocation Center. Awards will be presented. Those attending will honor and celebrate GGC’s 20 years of growth and success, and support its amazing students with scholarship support.
Art-Tiques Winter Market will return to downtown Braselton on February 21-23 with 150+ vendors offering vintage furniture, local artwork, boutique items, and more, plus food trucks and live music. Location: Historic Gym at 115 Harrison Street. Times are Friday, 12-6 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Researching African American ancestors will be the topic of a workshop on February 22 at 11 a.m. at the Snellville Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. Learn how to research African American genealogy through courthouse records.
Horns galore! and The Chamber singers and Gwinnett Symphony will be in concert at the Norcross First Global Methodist Church on February 23 at 5 p.m. Jose Manuel Garcia will be featured at the piano as the Symphony presents Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 as well as Humperdinck and LoPresti’s “Tears of Joy.” Tickets on sale at Visit Gwinnettsymphony.org.
Lionheart Theatre in Norcross returns with Chaos Theory Improv. It is February 28 at 7:30 p.m. at 10 College Street in Norcross. It will be followed by Dr. Seuss’ Birthday with a pajama party on March 1 at 6 p.m. at the Local Peach, 125 Lawrenceville Street in Norcross.
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