More parking, more possibilities! The City of Norcross is introducing a new opportunity aimed at improving parking convenience in downtown Norcross. The Valet Parking Pilot Program, launched in partnership with G5 Parking Solutions, officially kicked off on March 14 and was met with great success—over 50 cars utilized the service!
As the city heads to its second weekend, a few adjustments were based on specific needs and demands observed during the initial launch.
How It Works: drop off your car at the valet station located in the city parking lot next to The Crossing—just follow the signs.
The city offers this service on Friday and Saturdays from 3:30 until 11 p.m., and on Sundays from 3:30 until 9 p.m.:
For $5 per vehicle, guests can skip the parking search and spend more time enjoying all that Downtown Norcross has to offer. This is an option since all standard public parking spots remain available, including City Hall and The Crossing lots. The valet station only occupies a limited number of spaces, ensuring ample parking options for those who prefer to park themselves.
Since this is a six-month pilot program. We anticipate ongoing adjustments to better accommodate interest and demand. For the latest updates and more information about the Valet Parking Pilot Program, sign up for the city’s communication platforms. Visit norcrossga.net/signup to select your preferences.
Gwinnett Shelter seeks foster care homes for animals
Gwinnett County has reached a critical capacity at its animal shelter, and is desperately seeking help.
Katrina Helman, director of the Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center at 884 Winder Highway in Lawrenceville, says: “Some animals that enter the center need a little extra care before they’re ready to find their adoptive home. Fostering is a great way to make a difference in an animal’s life without the long-term commitment of adoption. It gives these pets a chance to thrive while also helping open space for other animals in need.”
Foster homes are needed for a variety of reasons, including pets too young or small for adoption, animals recovering from illness or injury, those that are under-socialized or pets in protective custody. All foster homes will receive veterinary resources and supplies, including food and leashes at no cost.For those ready to adopt a shelter pet, adoption fees are waived, and all pets are spayed/neutered, microchipped and vaccinated for free before they are adopted.
Organization is the key when it comes to your tax return
The April 15 tax filing deadline is just a few weeks away.
The process of filing your taxes starts with organization, says Benjamin Akins, associate professor of legal studies and taxation at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC).
“You should have most of the forms you need to file your taxes by the end of January, though a few may come in February or March,” he says. In addition to the standard W2 or 1099, other forms people receive may be from savings accounts, investment accounts, lottery ticket winnings or casino winnings.
“Keep all of your forms in one, safe place,” he suggests “You don’t want to have to search for forms when you’re ready to file.”
Once you have the forms you need, Akins thinks the first decision is to determine how you’re going to file. Part of this is determining your most advantageous filing status. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) offers five options depending on your life circumstances: single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household or qualifying, surviving spouse.
“Each status is unique and will affect how much you might owe, credits you can claim and your standard deduction amount,” says Akins. If you made $84,000 or less last year, you can file for free through the IRS’ Free File program.
For all taxpayers, choosing the best way to file really comes down to their comfort level.
“The IRS has fillable forms you can use,” he says. “You can also use tax filing software, or you can hire a certified public accountant (CPA) to manage it for you. It really comes down to what option helps you sleep better at night.”
Another thing to consider is whether you want to take the standard deduction or itemize them.
“Some of the things you can itemize include charitable contributions, home mortgage interest, certain property taxes and certain medical expenses. If these amounts add up to more than your standard deduction, it’s more advantageous to deduct these specific expenses.”
For 2024, the standard deduction is $14,600 for single and married filing separate taxpayers. For a married couple filing together, the standard deduction is $29,200.
“If you decide to itemize your deductions, always, always have receipts to prove contributions or expenses,” maintains Akins. “That way, if there are any questions later from the IRS, you have the documentation you need.”
Some additional factors to consider when filing your taxes are life changes.
“If you’ve had a change in your family – like getting married or divorced, children living at home or leaving home – these are events that can impact your tax return,” he notes, “One great thing about reaching the age of 65 is that the tax code becomes more favorable to you. For instance, your standard deduction meaningfully increases.”
New film and production studio open in Flowery Branch
Studio B at Film Quality Studios. Provided.
Film Quality Studios, the first woman-owned film and media production facility in Hall County, announces its grand opening. Located in Flowery Branch, minutes from Lake Lanier and the Atlanta Falcons Training Facility, this new 12-acre site provides a full-service production space designed to meet the diverse needs of creators and production teams.
Owned and operated by Debra Chesneau, Film Quality Studios marks a significant addition to the North Georgia creative landscape. As the only woman-owned facility of its kind in the area, it offers a unique space where projects can be shot, edited, and managed from start to finish.
For nearly four decades, Chesneau ran the family business selling fuel additives and biocides. She sold the assets and retired from that business. She then converted the storage warehouse into a studio, a year’s work.
The studio features two 4,000-square-foot, climate-controlled stages; a 40’ x 20’ pre-lit Cyc wall with RGBWW lighting on a MOD X truss system; 200-amp power distribution; back up generators; and internet redundancies. It includes 75-car parking and a loading dock for streamlined operations. On-site resources include kitchenettes, green rooms, hair and makeup areas, editing suites, broadcast rooms, and server rooms, with equipment rentals available. Leading-edge technology is deployed throughout the studios.
Chesneau says: “Our studio brings new opportunities for production teams to work in a facility designed to support all phases of a project. We’re excited to provide the North Georgia community with a much-needed production resource just minutes from Lake Lanier.”
Film Quality Services (FQS), the new studio’s production company, partnered with major brands like the Atlanta Braves, NFL, and Dreamhack to produce content for streaming platforms.
Led by Cody Chesneau, the head of Broadcast, the family-run business has established a reputation for delivering high-quality broadcast solutions. The launch of Film Quality Studios marks the next step in the company’s ongoing evolution, as it is now accepting bookings, For more information or to schedule a visit, visit www.filmqualityservices.com.
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