A new program dedicated to the arts is forming out of Suwanee. The Suwanee Arts Center and Suwanee’s branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library are working together to bring knowledge about the visual arts and art programming to the area with a new program called Art Ties. The goal for the collaboration is to provide art education for all ages, encouraging creativity and engagement in the visual arts.
The new Art Ties program is to begin in January, 2023 and to continue quarterly. The first programs will be held on January 17, 2023. The programs feature two Suwanee Arts Center Photographers: Traci Dickson, who will present “The Photographer’s Eye – The Wonder of Looking Closely,” for children ages 10-13; and Gary Bowlick, who will present “The Wonder of Photography: Light, Subject and Composition,” for adults interested in gaining knowledge about photography. Both one-hour programs will take place simultaneously at the Suwanee Library, at 4 p.m. on January 17.
Suwanee Arts Center Board Member, Rhonda Starling, along with Radha Ashok, Branch Manager of the Suwanee Public Library, are the co-creators of Art Ties.
Starling says: “As a member of the Suwanee Arts Center Board, I see the Suwanee Arts Center as a space dedicated to community engagement with several specific goals: to encourage local artists, to present workshops and other forms of education, to provide community outreach activities, and to be accessible to those that love art, and those that want to become more familiar with art. I have lived in Suwanee for more than 20 years, and feel the Suwanee Arts Center is a vibrant, vital part of the City of Suwanee.”
Located at 3930 Charleston Market Street in Suwanee, Suwanee Arts Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit art organization dedicated to promoting the appreciation of local art through exhibitions, festivals and art education. Suwanee Arts Center maintains an open membership policy where artists of all types and community members are welcome to be a part of the organization.
County OKs 2023 budget of $2.27 billion, another record
In its first major vote of the year, the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners approved the 2023 budget of $2.27 billion, a new record.
It consists of a $1.78 billion operating budget and a $488 million capital improvements budget, which includes funds from the County’s Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax program.
Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson said the budget addresses challenges facing the County, including hiring and retaining a qualified workforce, inflation and supply chain disruptions.
Initiatives in the budget include:
- Upgrades for county roads, water and sewer lines and parks;
- A language learning assistance program for employees;
- Enhancements to Gwinnett’s courts’ abilities to conduct virtual proceedings;
- New Environmental Sustainability Officer and Equity Officer positions; and
- New positions for Gwinnett’s Emergency Management team.
Historical Society to hear talk on Revolutionary-era dining
Watters
Kitty Watters of the Philadelphia Winn Chapter, National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, will speak on the topic of Dining in Early America to the Gwinnett Historical Society on Monday, January 9. The program begins with members bringing snacks at 5:30 p.m. at the Society’s new meeting place, at Rhodes Jordan Park Community Center, 100 East Crogan Street, Lawrenceville. Kitty Worrell Watters is a native of Hinds County, Mississippi, the fifth generation to be raised on the family farm. Little did she know that she had roots in Georgia back to the 1700s.
Beginning of the year is good time for a financial checkup
Now that the year 2022 has ended, some families use the year end as a prime time to perform a financial checkup. Dr. Cathy McCrary is a certified public accountant with more than 20 years of experience in tax, accounting and finance. She is an assistant professor of accounting at Georgia Gwinnett College, recognizes that many people have been pulled in several directions during the holidays and may not know where to start. “With continued interest rate hikes, people are ultimately spending more,” she says. “That’s why it’s crucial to review where your money is going. A little time spent can result in big savings.”
McCrary suggested a few areas where people can see immediate results.
- Review recurring expenses and cancel any subscriptions or memberships you don’t use. Do you belong to a gym that you never visit? Are you paying for food, magazine or streaming subscriptions that you’re not using?
- Shop around for home and auto insurance coverage. Are you working from home instead of commuting? Can you afford a higher deductible which results in a lower premium?
- Be alert and on the defense for scammers. Do you know the warning signs of a scam? Have you taken cybersecurity awareness training? A number of online companies offer free training and tips.
While you’re reviewing your finances, McCrary feels it’s never too early to organize tax documents. The IRS provides a Tax Withholding Estimator tool, which calculates the amount of taxes you should have withheld during the year. This helps to avoid any surprise tax penalties due to underpayment.
Finally, McCrary suggests that a good place for money saved is an emergency fund. “There’s nothing that can have a negative impact on finances more than an unexpected emergency,” she said. “That’s why having an emergency fund or boosting an existing fund will go a long way in helping your financial health.”
McCrary says that even a few dollars consistently placed in an emergency fund will eventually build up. “Every little bit helps,” she says.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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