Grab your snow boots and mittens because it’s about to snow in Downtown Duluth. Kick off the holiday season by joining us at Deck the Hall on December 4 from 2-7 p.m.
Enjoy a giant snow slide, real snow playground, crafts, photo moments with Santa and the tree lighting. New event attractions include a Holiday Market hosted by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces, an ugly holiday sweater contest, performances by the Tinseltone Carolers and story times with the Grinch and an elf from the North Pole.
While attending the event, residents are encouraged to chat with city council members during the Community Chat from 4-5 p.m. under the City of Duluth tent which will be located in the Paver Lot by Main Street. For more information, please visit: www.duluthga.net/events.
Gwinnett essay book to be released by UGA Press in July
A professor at Georgia Gwinnett College is co-editor of a collection of essays that explore Gwinnett’s historical, economic and cultural highlights. Dr. Michael Gagnon, an associate professor of history at GGC, who lives in Flowery Branch; and Matthew Hild, who teaches history at Georgia Tech and lives in Atlanta, have combined to compile this book, which will be released July 15, 2022 by the University of Georgia Press in hardcover and soft cover.
Its title is Gwinnett County, Georgia, and the Transformation of the American South, 1818-2018. While not claiming to be comprehensive, this book provides general readers and scholars alike with a glimpse at Gwinnett through the ages.
Study on Bus Rapid Transit partially funded by three CIDs
Gwinnett County Commissioners have approved an agreement with three community improvement districts to fund a cost study of a Bus Rapid Transit corridor between Doraville and Sugarloaf Mills.
The agreement with the Gateway85, Gwinnett Place and Sugarloaf CIDs outlines financial commitments and the management structure for a study to estimate the capital and operating costs for the Bus Rapid Transit corridor.
According to the Federal Transit Administration, bus rapid transit, or BRT, is a bus-based transit system that may include dedicated lanes, traffic signal priority, off-board fare collection, elevated platforms and enhanced stations. Each CID will contribute $25,000 toward the cost of the study, which is estimated to cost $100,000. The county will manage the study.
Peachtree Corners offers help for electric vehicle charging
The City of Peachtree Corners is offering assistance to businesses in the city that are interested in installing electric vehicle charging stations.
As part of President Biden’s $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, there are a number of incentives at the local, state and federal levels available to those looking to adopt electric vehicles. In addition, Georgia Power is also offering incentives as part of its Make Ready program.
There are a variety of cost off-sets currently available. Commercial property owners and businesses may set up a time to speak with experts who can help walk them through the process of installing EV charging stations on their property. For more information, contact Jennifer Howard at jhoward@peachtreecornersga.gov.
Hard work pays off for Rodriguez as graduation nears
To Benjamin Rodriguez of Lawrenceville, hard work isn’t a platitude – it’s a way of life passed down to him from his parents. His father spent three decades managing restaurants, and his mother was an activities director at a nursing home. Rodriguez, 22, started working from the time he was old enough to apply for a job. He worked at a fast-food restaurant and as a lifeguard throughout high school. When he enrolled at Georgia Gwinnett College, he knew he’d work his way through that, too.
Rodriguez
Rodriguez will join more than 600 of his classmates at GGC’s fall commencement, scheduled for 10 a.m., December 7 at the Gas South Arena.
One of three brothers, Rodriguez was born in White Plains, N.Y. When he was two, his family moved to Georgia for more opportunities, affordable living and access to relatives. The family settled in downtown Lawrenceville, a five-minute drive from the GGC campus, which made GGC a convenient choice of college. He landed a part-time job as an assistant manager at Collins Hill Park Aquatic Center. During his sophomore year he picked up a second job at the GGC Wellness and Recreation Center and worked full-time with both jobs for the rest of his college career.
Rodriguez says that while location was a huge plus, it wasn’t the only factor in his decision to attend GGC. “I felt like there would be a lot more opportunities than there would be at a larger college campus,” he says. “At a smaller campus, you actually get to know your professors on a personal level and connect within the community, leading to more well-defined experiences and opportunities.”
Rodriguez will graduate with a bachelor of business administration with a concentration in management information systems and a minor in information technology. He recently landed yet another job – this one using skills he learned at GGC – as a full-time project coordinator at CentricsIT. He eventually wants to become a project manager and ultimately, a business analyst.
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