GwinnettForum | Number 25.75 | Sept. 26, 2025
A $5,000 JACKSON EMC FOUNDATION check to Latina Leads will help provide mentorship fees for its program. At the check presentation with program participants were from left: Maria Aidee de Perez, membership director of Latina Leads; Dee Anderson, Jackson EMC Foundation board member; Maria Alejandra Bastidas, founder/CEO of Latina Leads; Eli Caiazzo, co-founder/COO of Latina Leads; Jennifer Fennell, Jackson EMC Gwinnett district manager; and Kenny Lumpkin, Jackson EMC Foundation representative. For a list of other check recipients, see Notable below.
TODAY’S FOCUS: So far, Georgia is safe from crypto mining
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Trump’s pronouncements sully the office
SPOTLIGHT: The Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce
ANOTHER VIEW: Kurtz did painting of Atlanta scene for Cola-Cola
FEEDBACK: NIMBY is rearing its head in Norcross accessory units
UPCOMING: Provost at UGA to join Rowen Foundation board
NOTABLE: “Peace and Unity” award goes to Emory Morsberger
RECOMMENDED: Presidential Courage by Michael Beschloss
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Civil War Heritage Trails markers are throughout state
MYSTERY PHOTO: See if you can identify this bright pedestrian bridge
CALENDAR: Public Safety Fall Festival is Sept. 27 at Coolray Field
So far, Georgia is safe from crypto mining
(Editor’s note: the following story appeared recently in the Saporta Report, and is reprinted with permission.—eeb)
By Tom Baxter, SaportaReport
ATLANTA, Ga. | When crypto mining opponents in other states get discouraged, Cyndie Roberson often sends them a video clip of the Georgia House Banks and Banking Committee’s hearing last year on the Blockchain Basics Act. It shows, she says, that if they’re given the right information, lawmakers will reject efforts to pave the way for crypto mining in their states.
A retired registered nurse and vice president at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Roberson became an anti-crypto after she and her husband bought a cabin in Cherokee County, N.C. They’d planned it to be their retirement dream home, but the noise from a crypto mining operation, which began operations nearby, was so loud and constant that they sold out within months.
Roberson had, in the meantime, become part of a growing local movement against the crypto mining operations that had sprung up in the area, and today sits on the board of the National Coalition Against Crypto Mining. Fourteen contiguous counties, nine in North Carolina and five in Georgia, have passed restrictions or complete bans on crypto mining, including Cherokee County.
Crypto or blockchain mining takes place in data centers that are similar to the traditional variety, but gobble up more power and require big, loud high-speed fans to cool. This is only one of many issues involving crypto that will be debated over the next several years, but noise can be a very effective flashpoint, as a chorus of gas-powered leaf blowers on a Saturday morning will attest.
Opposition on several fronts defeated the Blockchain Basics Act, which would have prohibited local governments from regulating crypto operations, given tax advantages and otherwise cleared the way for the expansion of crypto. It’s certain that many elements of the bill will be back soon. A separate Senate bill was introduced at the end of this year’s session, which would allow the state to invest in Bitcoin and, in various other ways, clear the path for crypto.
“To stay competitive, we need to modernize our regulatory approach. That means updating laws to reflect the realities of today’s economy, providing legal clarity for emerging technologies and holding bad actors accountable without penalizing responsible builders,” Tony Erwin, principal consultant at Skyrocket Financial Solutions, wrote in a recent issue of James magazine.
Blockchain Basics bills, which are also called Right to Mine bills, have been introduced around the country. They differ in various ways, but a pivotal issue that unites all of them is that of state versus local authority over the huge facilities that are the basis for the planned crypto economy.
It’s interesting that a block of seven mostly Southern states — Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Missouri — have rejected Right to Mine bills. That may have something to do with Arkansas, which passed a Right to Mine bill in 2023 and faced a backlash so sharp that the author of the bill quickly moved for more restrictive legislation. It could also indicate the states where crypto mining operations have been most active.
The “bad actors” Erwin referred to have often been identified as Chinese-owned crypto mining companies, which have been relocating in the United States since 2021, when the Chinese government banned cryptocurrencies. The Chinese had several reasons for doing this, including the enormous electrical demands, which hindered their climate goals and the vulnerability of the system to fraud. But out in the Chinese countryside, noise also ranked as a major concern.
Crypto proponents say that better-designed plants with more shielding over the thousands of fans that operate 24/7 will solve this problem, but until they replace the noisemakers, crypto has a nuisance problem.
It’s quite loud, by most descriptions, but it’s undistinguished by any highs or lows. It’s just a constant, monotonous roar, and at its frequency level, it carries quite a distance. Roberson says that she has seen people at meetings weep, describing the effects on them.
We used to speak colloquially about the smell of money. The sound of crypto may soon have its own special connotation.
Tom Baxter’s column from The Saporta Report is republished with permission.
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Trump’s pronouncements sully the office
By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher, GwinnettForum
SEPT. 26, 2025 | Never have I been ashamed and chagrined about an American president before. But Donald Trump’s continued antics have seriously degraded our country. It’s bad enough that this is happening to Americans for us to put up with. Even worse, it is particularly appalling to see him attack and upset the diplomatic community and insult foreign nations with reckless abandon.
Trump’s bullying in his second term is worse than his first term, something we thought impossible. Talk about shooting from the hip! Not only that, but this president seems to have absolutely no understanding of the complexities of the machinations of world affairs.
What amazes me is that with all this ballyhooing that he does, the American economy somehow hasn’t plunged downward. The business climate of any nation is a fine-tuned machine, and might get upset with the slightest suggestion. But through the Trump time, the economy continues amazingly stable, though indications remain that it could plunge any day.
And so far, the Federal Reserve has done its job responsibly in fine-tuning the interest rate, in spite of Trump’s continued interference to cut interest rates quicker.
The last week of Trump’s ranting and behavior has been particularly vexing and troublesome for our democracy.
- Throwing a temper tantrum wanting to punish anyone who doesn’t like him, particularly the media. Has President Trump never heard of the First Amendment, when everyone has a right to speak their piece? As the Huffington Post reported: “If Trump can control the media, he will be free to enact whichever policies he wants — without anyone to hold him accountable for the harm he may do. It’s all a part of his effort to control what Americans can say, think, or engage with.”
- Insulting the United Nations appearing before it on its 80th anniversary. Allotted 15 minutes to talk, he rattled on for 56 minutes of rambling boasts and insults. The speech was a dark fantasy of narcissism and Christian nationalism that struck at the heart of the very concept of the United Nations. In its wake, some journalists demolished Trump’s wild claims, while others bemoaned his destruction of diplomacy by berating our friends and allies while they were guests in our country. As one senior diplomat said afterward: “This man is stark, raving mad. Do Americans not see how embarrassing this is?’”
- Trump cannot stand criticism of any kind. He chunks aside and fires his own appointees when they disagree with him. His efforts against late-night television hosts have been a favorite target, saying that anyone who mocks him should be taken off the air. At least ABC (Disney Entertainment), which took Jimmy Kimmel off its late night show not wanting Trump’s wrath, heard the nation’s protest, and reinstated Kimmel.
- The Glendale, Ariz. rally after the murder of Charlie Kirk, was this another vehicle for Trump not merely to laud the late departed, but set in motion more rants and raves, more of a political rally than a memorial service? And do such MAGA rallies not remind you of the way Adolf Hitler swayed Germany nearly a century ago, bringing himself to power, and each rally ending with the vast followers throwing up their right arms and saying “Sieg Heil?” Will we soon be saying “Sieg Trump?”
Yes, these and many more episodes of Donald Trump disparaging Americans and our allies abroad as well trying to force change our basic principles, makes me ashamed of what is happening in our country. We can only pray for better days.
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Kurtz did painting of Atlanta scene for Cola-Cola
By Robert H. Hanson
LOGANVILLE, Ga. | The illustration on the Sept. 16, 2025 edition of the GwinnettForum (below) is a painting done by Wilbur G. Kurtz for the Coca-Cola Company in 1942. It depicts Jacob’s Pharmacy, the drugstore where the beverage was first served in 1886.
Wilbur Kurtz was an unusual combination of artist and historian. He was born in Illinois in 1882, first visited Atlanta in 1903, moved to Atlanta in 1907, and died in Atlanta in 1967.
He met William A Fuller, the conductor on the train hauled by the locomotive General on the day in 1862 that it was stolen by Union spies, setting in motion what became known as The Great Locomotive Chase. They discussed not only Civil War history, but the history and geography of Atlanta in that era.
He later married Fuller’s daughter, Annie Laurie Fuller.
Kurtz was interested in history in general, and specifically Civil War history as it pertained to the Atlanta area. Someone wrote that he became more Southern than most Southerners.
In the early 1900s he interviewed many elderly people who had been alive during the Civil War, getting details about buildings, transportation, and everyday life in Atlanta at the time. He took notes and based his paintings on the information gleaned from these interviews. The result was a number of paintings that were, perhaps, the most accurate portrayal of Atlanta scenes during its history, short of an actual photograph.
Kurtz was a technical advisor on such motion pictures as Gone with the Wind, Song of the South, and The Great Locomotive Chase and was a consultant on the restoration of the locomotive Texas prior to its placement in the Cyclorama in the 1930s. (This carefully studied restoration was scrapped in favor of a later – 1880’s – appearance, much to the chagrin of your writer.)
Two Georgia governors commissioned paintings by Kurtz, one of which was a gift to President Lyndon B. Johnson and hung on a wall at his LBJ Ranch in Texas. Johnson’s great-grandfather had moved to Texas from Georgia.
Wilbur G. Kurtz died in Atlanta on February 18, 1967, a few days short of his 85th birthday, and was interred at Atlanta’s Westview Cemetery.
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NIMBY rearing its head in Norcross accessory units
Editor, the Forum:
Author’s note: While I use the term NIMBY in a somewhat derogatory manner, I acknowledge there’s a little bit of NIMBYism in all of us.
As most readers know NIMBY stands for “not in my back yard.” It is generally associated with folks who oppose development within their communities. In the case of Norcross, NIMBYs are concerned increased density will negatively impact the historic charm of Norcross and their property values. However, over the last couple of decades increased density in Norcross has resulted in sky-rocketing property values in a thriving historical district.
The current manifestation of NIMBYism in Norcross concerns accessory dwelling units (ADUs). These are smaller secondary residential structures that share the same property as primary single-family residences. ADUs provide independent living spaces for elderly parents/adult children and contribute to the affordable housing supply. By existing Norcross code ADUs cannot exceed 40 percent of floor area of the main dwelling or be higher in height than the main dwelling. About a dozen ADUs have been built in Norcross over the last decade. But a recent misinterpretation of codes (ADU vs. single family residential) has generated more controversy than necessary. Full disclosure: I built an ADU with a garage on my property last year.
Norcross single family residential code restricts accessory building height at 12 feet. It’s obvious this code is referring to backyard sheds not ADUs. Rather than clarifying the difference, Norcross has been paralyzed by a vocal minority of NIMBYs trying to use this discrepancy to restrict ADUs. Two recent cases forced homeowners wanting to build ADUs to go before the Board of Appeals. In both cases the ADU advocates attending the meetings outnumbered the NIMBYs and the homeowners prevailed.
The motivation against ADUs is pure NIMBYism: it is that my neighbor’s ADU will spoil my view. My advocacy for ADUs is based on property rights and providing affordable housing in a community where million-dollar homes are becoming the norm. Rather than pitting neighbor against neighbor by forcing homeowners to seek approval on a case-by-case basis, the city needs to step up and clarify its ordinances. Governing back yard sheds is different from ordinances governing ADUs.
– Jeff Hopper, Norcross
MAGAs have failed to protect our constitutional society
Editor, the Forum:
I am truly concerned about our country. Our democracy is falling apart. The MAGA Republicans have failed to protect our constitutional society. There are three potential reasons for their failure.
Ignorance: MAGAs seem to lack knowledge about our history, current events, and how our government is supposed to work.
Apathy: Most MAGAs lack the willingness to know what is really happening to our democracy.
Mean spirited: So many of the MAGA community seem to relish the violence and hurtful consequences of their beliefs.
I would love for someone to show me where I am wrong. We need to protect our Democracy.
– Alan Schneiberg, Sugar Hill
Sees county-owned mall development at snail’s pace
Editor, the Forum:
Wow! After how many years of owning the property and not having it on the tax rolls, Gwinnett County is seeking Requests for Proposal (RFPs) for Gwinnett Place Mall? Calling this a snail’s pace movement on this site would be an insult to the snails.
I’m sure after a year or so of collecting and reviewing RFPs and then probably another million dollar consultant study, somebody will have to finally decide what to do with the property. I guess we can look forward to another 10 years or so until this starts bringing in tax money for the county unless they give it away to developers as incentive.
With all the overdevelopment in the rest of the county it is pathetic this area has been neglected so long. Maybe someday leaders can get elected that actually know how to do something other than commission studies and sit on bad investments.
– Dan Mackabe, Crystal Lake, Ill.
Agrees that political violence in any case is abhorrent
Editor, the Forum:
Contrary to what some might say, I don’t often talk just to hear myself. I believe that any conversation that does not advance the level of discourse is a waste of time.
I’m not going to engage in a sling-fest of “both sides do it” with Jack Bernard regarding his missive on political violence. Pretty sure my list is longer than his…I certainly agree that political violence in any case is abhorrent, and nobody deserves to die for exercising their right to express an opinion.
I’d just like to point out that the alleged perpetrator of the Governor’s mansion arson in Pennsylvania “harbored hate” towards Gov. Shapiro, but did not have any particular partisan leaning. He was and is a deeply disturbed person who chose to express himself through violence.
As for violent rhetoric from our national leaders, I’m not sure the last time I heard any Republicans calling people Nazis and Fascists.
– Rick Hammond, Flowery Branch
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.
Provost at UGA to join Rowen Foundation board
Benjamin C. Ayers, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of Georgia, has joined the Rowen Foundation as its newest board member. Ayers brings more than 29 years of education and academic leadership to the Foundation. Ayers began his tenure as UGA’s chief academic officer on June 30. He has served the university since 1996, holding roles of increasing responsibility.
Before becoming provost, he led UGA’s Terry College of Business as dean for 11 years, guiding the university’s second-largest academic unit. Rowen Foundation Chairman Sachin Shailendra says: “It’s an honor to welcome Ben to the Rowen Foundation Board. His leadership, reputation and background are the perfect combination to help Rowen thrive for years ahead.”
Limited number of tax bills mailed incorrectly
There were 0.1 percent of Gwinnett taxpayers whose Value Offset Exemption (VOE) didn’t appear on their tax bill, because of a programming error. The VOE is a Gwinnett County exemption that prevents the county portion of the bill from going up as property values increase.
Tax Commissioner Denise Mitchell has clarified that the bills that have been impacted by this programming will be corrected and mailed soon. Then the due date for the corrected bills will be due 60 days after the corrected bill is mailed. Mitchell, in her commitment to transparency, has further penned a letter to the taxpayers impacted by the programming issue, maintaining her commitment to transparency.
“Peace and Unity” award goes to Morsberger
On the United Nations’ International Day of Peace Day, community leader Emory Morsberger of Lilburn was recently presented with the inaugural Rotary Peace and Unity Award. Presenting the award at the Hudgens Center was Rotary District 6910 Governor Jessica Fleetwood, who said, “It is my honor to present the inaugural Rotary Peace and Unity Award to our long-serving Rotarian, Emory Morsberger.”
Morsberger is a member of the Rotary Club of Gwinnett County, a former member of the Georgia Legislature, and the chief executive of the Morsberger Group, a firm focused on civic issues and economic development.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Morsberger has led efforts to support the Ukrainian people. After traveling there in June 2022, he helped form the nonprofit Helping Ukraine, a humanitarian effort committed to sustaining the lives of those courageously defending their freedom and democracy. Through his leadership, more than $5 million in humanitarian aid has been delivered to Ukraine over the past three years.
Morsberger has personally made multiple trips to Ukraine, working alongside local leaders and fellow Rotarians, sometimes sheltering from bomb attacks, all while putting his own life at risk to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
JEMC Foundation grants $49,000 to local operations
The Jackson EMC Foundation board of directors awarded a total of $95,025 in grants for organizations during its recent meeting, including $49,000 to organizations serving Gwinnett County.
- $10,000 to Adult Literacy Jackson, Inc., Pendergrass, which is dedicated to improving adult literacy, for its GED Testing Program serving residents in Banks, Clarke, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson and Madison counties.
- $10,000 to the Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation Fund, Inc., to support teachers participating in an impact lab to help students prepare to enter kindergarten through the Building Babies Brains Program.
- $10,000 to Junior Achievement of Georgia, Inc., for student materials for its Discovery Center at Gwinnett.
- $10,000 to YMCA of Metro Atlanta, to support five elementary or middle school students participating in its Y Explore Afterschool Program at the J.M. Tull-Gwinnett Family YMCA.
- $5,000 to Latina Leads, LLC, Suwanee, which empowers girls with the skills, knowledge and opportunities needed to become effective leaders in their communities, for mentorship fees for its Future Leaders: Empowering the Next Generation Program for residents in Gwinnett and Hall counties.
- $4,000 to Brenau University, Inc., Gainesville, for its Childcare Access Means Parents in School (CAMPIS) Program to provide counseling support group services to single parents enrolled in courses at Brenau University for residents in all counties served by Jackson EMC.
Jackson EMC Foundation grants are made possible by the 223,150 participating cooperative members who have their monthly electric bills rounded to the next dollar amount through the Operation Round Up program.
Students can win $100 for conservation poster artwork
Your 10th-12th grader could win up to $100 for their artwork!
Gwinnett County Soil and Water Conservation District is currently accepting entries for their annual art contest for 10th-12th grade students now through October 10. Students may submit their poster digitally by emailing a photo of their artwork and the required entry form to jena@gacd.us with the student’s name in the subject line.
The annual art poster contest provides public, private and homeschooled students in 10-12th grades the chance to have their art selected to advance on to the state contest. Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners: $100 for 1st place, $50 for 2nd place, and $25 for 3rd place.
This year’s theme “Home is Where the Habitat is” highlights the essential role of both natural and managed habitats in conservation efforts. For more information, visit www.gwinnettswcd.org.
Presidential Courage, by Michael Beschloss
From John Titus, Peachtree Corners: The author, a noted presidential historian, describes acts of courage by several presidents including George Washington, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, and both Roosevelts. He goes into greater depth and highlights Washington, Lincoln, Truman and Reagan. He brings to life these flawed, complex, and often prejudiced men along with their wives and families. If you enjoy presidential history, this is a book for you. The subtitle of this book is Brave Leaders and How They Changed America 1789 – 1989.
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Civil War Heritage Trails markers are throughout state
The impact of the Civil War (1861-65) on Georgia was greater than that of any other event before or since. Some 11,000 Georgians were killed between 1861 and 1865, and more than 460,000 enslaved African Americans were emancipated by the war’s end.
The nonprofit organization Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails (GCWHT) chronicles the Civil War era through historic driving routes and interpretive markers. GCWHT, a tax-exempt corporation founded in 1999 and led by volunteers from throughout the state, works to raise public awareness of existing preservation opportunities while providing scenic and cultural benefits to those who follow its trails.
Another goal of GCWHT is to stimulate economic development in Georgia. With funds awarded by the federal government under the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st century, and with the support of scores of local communities, GCWHT has erected highway directional signs and a series of interpretive markers at many locations along or near some of the routes used by the Union and Confederate armies. Trails bypass interstate highways, instead leading visitors through rural counties.
Communities along or near each trail benefit from this increased tourism.
The content of every marker is thoroughly checked by representatives of the National Park Service, the Georgia Park Service, academics, and local historians; documentation for all content is required. GCWHT markers include a map, photographs, and/or Civil War–era drawings. Most are installed adjacent to existing public parking; GCWHT coordinates with the Georgia Department of Transportation and with local jurisdictions and landowners to build adequate parking if none is nearby.
GCWHT divides the state into six distinct “trail regions,” each representing a geographical area and/or a significant event from the Civil War period. Because the Atlanta campaign and the March to the Sea were two major Civil War events in Georgia, these trails were created first. Interpretive markers feature not only military campaigns but also such nonmilitary topics as the roles of women and African Americans, hospitals, churches, railroads, and many other social and political subjects from the era. Each marker is linked along a trail route to national and state parks, museums, and other Civil War heritage attractions.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
See if you can identify this bright pedestrian bridge
How about this as an interesting pedestrian bridge? It had solid artful supports, a tiled roof, even a lookout point, and a lot of people using it. Figure out where this bridge is located and send your answer to ebrack2@gmail.com, telling us your hometown.
Stewart Ogilvie, Rehobeth, Ala., pinpointed the most recent mystery. “This is Skansin, a historic fortress in Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands, in the North Atlantic Ocean between Norway and Iceland. Skansin is located on a hill beside the port of Tórshavn. The fort was built in 1580 by Magnus Heinason to protect against pirate raids of the town, after he himself was nearly caught up in one such raid.” The photograph came from Bo O’Kelley of Gainesville.
Others identifying the photo were our faithful regulars, Jay Altman, Columbia, S.C.; George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; and Allen Peel, San Antonio, Texas.
- 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.
Public Safety Fall Festival is Sept. 27 at Coolray Field
The annual Public Safety Fall Festival is back for a fun-packed day on Saturday, September 27 at Coolray Field. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., meet Gwinnett’s first responders and enjoy food, giveaways, demonstrations, displays, and the Motorcycle Training Challenge with multiple police agencies showcasing the best of motorcycle courses. Kids can also enjoy a touch-a-truck with a SWAT personnel carrier, fire trucks, and other specialized vehicles. For more information, email PDCommunityAffairs@GwinnettCounty.com. Coolray Field is located at 2500 Buford Drive in Lawrenceville.
Alma Mexicana Atlanta will be presented at the Lilburn Branch of Gwinnett Public Library on September 27. Come for a multicultural experience to learn about the folkloric dances and traditions of Mexican culture.
Ground-breaking for an expansion of Rainbow Village in Duluth will be Monday, September 29 at 10 a.m. at 3427 Duluth Highway in Duluth. The expansion will double the size of housing to help bridge the gap between homelessness and housing security.
Gwinnett County will join the nation in honoring the enduring legacy of President Jimmy Carter and his lifelong commitment to public service, human rights, and community building. The tribute will take place on Wednesday, October 1 at 10 a.m. at Best Friend Park in Norcross. The celebration, held in partnership with the Gateway85 Community Improvement District, Gwinnett County Public Schools, and Gwinnett Habitat for Humanity, will bring together students, residents, and community partners in a shared reflection on President Carter’s values of peace, unity, and compassion. As a key part of the tribute, the Jimmy Carter Legacy Art and Essay Contest will feature creative works from students in the Meadowcreek and Norcross clusters of Gwinnett County Public Schools.
Join award-winning author Kimberly Belle as she discusses her newest thriller, The Expat Affair, about an American expat’s startling discovery that plunges her into the glamorous but deadly world of Amsterdam’s diamond industry. Books will be available for purchase and signing. The talk will be October 2 at 6:30 p.m. at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library.
Have a ‘berry’ good time at the Bluesberry Beer and Music Festival hosted by the City of Norcross on October 4. Enjoy blueberry drinks and treats while listening to soulful blues music at this popular blueberry-focused event. Admission is free. It will be held 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Thrasher Park.
Braselton Medieval Faire will be October 4-5 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. It will be at Medieval Village and Enchanted Forest, 9924 Davis Street, Braselton. Be entertained and educated with living history demonstrations from History Now, hands-on activities, vendors, and live entertainment throughout the weekend! Stroll over to the Enchanted Forest to meet the Queen and check out the gaming room, demos and DIY lectures!
The Snellville Historical Society fall meeting will be October 5 with an open house at its location, 2145 North Road in Snellville. Time will be from 2-4 p.m.
A debate in Norcross for candidates for two city council seats is scheduled for Tuesday, October 7, at 7 p.m. at the Norcross Community Center. Councilman Matt Myers is being challenged by Briana Murray, while Councilman Bruce Gaynor will have Samantha Spitzner as his opponent. Moderator of the debate will be Jim Blum of Peachtree Corners.
Southwest Gwinnett Chamber will host its Thursday Thought Leaders Lunch on October 9 at 11:30 A.M. at the Hilton Atlanta Northeast in Peachtree Corners. October’s topic is “Creating a Culture of Care: Winning the Hearts of Your Customers,” presented by author and guest speaker, Dee Ann Turner. Cost is $34 for members; $40 for non-members. Lunch buffet is included. Register by October 7 to reserve your spot.
Writing Your Memoirs: Learn how your experiences and life lessons can entertain and inspire others in this three-part writing workshop. This will be presented on October 9, 16, and 23 at the Collins Hill Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library.
The Norcross Arts Splash will be held in downtown’s Thrasher Park Saturday, October 11 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, October 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. More than 100 artists from across the county will showcase their talents with folk art, ceramics, paintings, photography, mixed media, fiber art, metalwork, and jewelry. There will be an interactive Kid’s Zone with face painting, sand art and playground equipment! Plus, there will be lots of festival food and drink. New for 2025 is the addition of the Local Maker’s Market at the historic Norcross Library, which is adjacent to Thrasher. Visit this treasure trove of handmade items by local artisans and crafters.
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