GwinnettForum | Number 26.09 | Jan. 27, 2026
20TH ANNIVERSARY: Marking its 20th year of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Georgia, the college commissioned a mural, which was unveiled recently. For more, visit Today’s Focus below.
TODAY’S FOCUS: PCOM Georgia unveils new mural for 20th anniversary
EEB PERSPECTIVE: In defense of the weather forecasters and this and that
SPOTLIGHT: Sugarloaf Community Improvement District
ANOTHER VIEW: Says current president willing to try new approaches
FEEDBACK: Vote out delusional Clyde in the next election
UPCOMING: Household hazardous waste pickup is Feb. 7
NOTABLE: King is new director of Suwanee Arts Center
RECOMMENDED: The Elements of Marie Curie, by Dava Sobol
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Atlanta hosts the Civil and Human Rights Museum
MYSTERY PHOTO: Today’s Mystery is just another iron fence
CALENDAR: “Unbuttoning the Declaration @ 250” on Jan. 29
PCOM Georgia unveils new mural for 20th anniversary
SUWANEE, Ga. | PCOM Georgia campus in Suwanee has unveiled a major new mural created by Atlanta-based graffiti artist and muralist Mr. Totem as part of the College’s 20th anniversary celebrations. The unveiling event featured remarks from faculty and the artist, before a lively public countdown revealed the new design. The new mural covers the entire wall of the indoor central gathering space of the campus.
Brian Mann, dean of the School of Health Professions and Sciences, says: “Mr. Totem’s work brings energy, depth, and color to our campus, inspiring students, staff and visitors alike. This visual masterpiece not only shows PCOM Georgia’s growth over the last 20 years, but also how art has the power to bring people together.”
The artist selection process spanned more than a year and drew submissions from over 79 artists nationwide who were vetted by PCOM Georgia’s art committee and various members of the campus community. Chosen for his bold use of color and 3-D effects that captivate viewers and foster community dialogue, Mr. Totem’s latest work reimagines the DNA ladder as a vibrant symbol of the College’s holistic, whole-person care philosophy.
Mr. Totem said at the unveiling: “The core element of the mural design is a DNA double helix. Along the DNA strand, it shows the progression of unlocking the mind, challenging the body and enlightening the spirit, exemplifying PCOM’s mission of caring for the whole person.”
Born and raised in Atlanta, Totem’s full name is Amir “Totem” Alighanbari. He now lives in Chamblee. He has traveled the world at the invitation of communities, event organizers, governments and more to share his skills, knowledge and creative process. Totem has applied paint to walls for more than 30 years. His style and technique are renowned worldwide, most notably for his pioneering 3-D style and artistic versatility.
Inspired by his life experience and the characters he’s met along the way, Totem’s art explores the relationship between robotic armored letters he calls the Mechanical Battle Serif.
From a young age, Totem has been fascinated by the engineering interactions of letters. What started out as an exploration of his own name, evolved into a study of the dynamics between his style and the environment, mind and machine.
Totem continues to elevate graffiti as an art form and bring street art to the mainstream. Personally, he strives to push the limits of his style and his abilities in every composition.
- Have a comment? Click here to send an email.
In defense of the weather forecasters and this and that
By Elliott Brack
Editor and publisher
JAN. 27, 2026 | After a night of hearing small frozen limbs and pine cones falling on the roof, most of us survived cozily despite hearing all sorts of warnings from the weather forecasters.
Yep, they missed it again.
But let’s cheer the weathermen and women. We thank them for their diligence in warning us of what might happen…..but luckily for us, their dire predictions were astray again.
Apparently weather people up and down the East Coast were all predicting all sorts of forecasts, all bad. Here’s a note we saw from a guy in Baltimore, who also survived without much happening, and put out this screed:
“Weathermen cannot be held criminally, or civilly responsible for an inaccurate forecast unless the plaintiff can show malfeasance or neglect. That’s what I gleaned from a few articles I Googled.
“I believe, and you’ve probably heard this, that the weathermen (or their producers) are selling a product, and the more sensational, the more people (buyers) will tune in. Why do news organizations choose to dramatize like this? I can only imagine it is to attempt to grow their audience.”
We beg to differ slightly in defense of the forecasters.
All these weather people are doing the best they can to warn us that this MIGHT happen. They would rather you recognize and prepare for the worst, than to be surprised with even more serious weather outcomes. If they are to err, let it be to our benefit.
So cheers to them for their warnings!
SPENDING THREE DAYS in California recently, when we got our hotel bill, we saw again how local officials prey on travelers. The locally-added tax to travelers is slightly shy of robbery. In effect, it’s “tax the non-voters,” who only stay short term in a city, yet this group of people contribute taxes to that city.
Yet I wondered, then realized, that we in Georgia do it, too.
From the internet, we found: “In Gwinnett County, Georgia, a state-mandated $5 per night “hotel-motel fee” is applied to most short-term room rentals. This fee applies to the first 30 days of a stay, after which it is not required. Additionally, a 7 percent Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax and state sales tax (4 percent) are often applied to short-term rentals.”
Yep, we are guilty, too. While areas compete for those staying in hotels and motels, it’s to fatten the local tax revenue. It’s today’s best example of the phrase, “Taxation without representation.”
DO YOU DRIVE an automobile that is “limited?” Many automakers put out models they describe as “limited.”
We looked up one definition, which reads: “’Limited’” typically denotes a high-level trim package, often near the top of the lineup, offering premium features, upgraded materials (like leather seats), and advanced technology not found on base models. While originally suggesting limited production numbers, it is now primarily a marketing term for a well-equipped, luxurious version of a car.”
ONE MORE THOUGHT to leave you with on this cold day: from a small story in The New York Times: “In 1917, to buy the Virgin Islands from Denmark, the U.S. agreed not to make any claims on Greenland.”
- Have a comment? Click here to send an email.
Sugarloaf CID
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. The Sugarloaf Community Improvement District was formed in 2016 to ensure the long-term success of Gwinnett County’s premier business and entertainment district. The CID is made up of 115 commercial property owners that pay an additional property tax to advance transportation, security, and placemaking projects within the district. The CID then leverages these funds to enhance the value and quality of life for investors, businesses, residents, and visitors.
Sugarloaf CID is home to the Gas South District, Sugarloaf Mills, and a thriving business community. The CID has 7% of Gwinnett County’s jobs, including 1,278 companies representing 26,669 employees. The Sugarloaf district has a $15.6 billion annual economic impact on Georgia’s economy.
Since its formation, the CID has leveraged over $28 million in funding for transportation improvements in the CID, advanced projects to help make the district connected, safe, and attractive, and expanded the CID to more than six times its initial value.
- To learn more, visit its web site at www.sugarloafcid.org
- For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here.
Says current president willing to try new approaches
By Karen Sanchez
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. | Understanding the distinction between an insurrection and a riot is crucial.
An insurrection is a politically motivated rebellion against authority or government, typically seeking to achieve specific political goals, such as overthrowing a government. An insurrection can be planned and may involve various participants, including military factions.
A riot, on the other hand, is generally a spontaneous and chaotic outbreak of violence, often rooted in social grievances or emotional responses. Riots can emerge from protests or other public gatherings but do not necessarily have a specific political aim. They may involve looting, vandalism, and clashes with law enforcement.
For example, we can conclude that an insurrection happened in Sacramento at the California State Capitol on May 2, 1967, while a riot is what transpired in D.C. on January 6. 2021.
As a mom who loves my children, I would never put myself in danger or try to hurt a federal agent while they are trying to fix problems created by the previous administration, which allowed open borders without proper vetting. Only a politically radicalized person would not accept that as a fact.
I know what’s best for my children, and my doctor, who has cared for them since birth, doesn’t need the government dictating what he can or cannot do to keep them safe.
I also believe that media outlets should pay for their programming themselves, and the government should not interfere with their rights to free press. Unlike the previous administration, which suppressed our freedom of speech on nongovernment-funded media platforms, we should allow a free and fair exchange of ideas.
The Obama administration sent millions of dollars to Iran, helping them advance their nuclear weapons and fund terrorist attacks, specifically on Israel. The current administration has halted that funding and pushed back Iran’s nuclear weapons development significantly.
Career politicians should be accountable for their actions and statements. Our current president is not a career politician, and his behavior may not always align with traditional political correctness.
I understand that individuals like Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who misled the American people about the Russian Hoax and those who covered up issues like the Hunter Biden laptop, and President Joe Biden’s mental decline should be held accountable. They used our tax dollars to create and perpetuate lies. What about those who removed President Joe Biden from the voting ballots without consent of his constituents?
Additionally, I recognize that our current president is willing to try new approaches to improve the economy. It’s too soon to gauge the effectiveness of those tariffs.
Evidence suggests that President Bill Clinton and others were more involved with Jeffrey Epstein, but I haven’t seen much coverage of that in the news.
I believe both political parties are guilty of scandal, misinformation, and corruption. The media tends to hide misconduct from Democrats, while they highlight similar actions among Republicans.
My mother became an American citizen yesterday, pledging to protect and defend her new country. She could have chosen to remain a citizen of her old country, but she opted to pledge allegiance to the USA and its constitution, recognizing it as the best country that protects our God-given freedoms. So many born here may never fully understand that choice.
- Have a comment? Click here to send an email.
Vote out delusional Clyde in the next election
Editor, the Forum:
Let me totally agree with Alan Schneiburg’s assessment of Rep. Andrew Clyde’s Congressional record. If you want to get under Clyde’s “skin,” go to his Facebook page and read what some like-minded people have to say about the job he is doing.
You would be surprised. Many of us think he is doing a terrible job and catering to the convicted felon 47’s every whim. Let’s all put this poor delusional man out of our lives by voting him out of office this year. I, for one, will be very thankful when this nightmare with this administration is over. Let’s hope decency and decorum will return to Washington, D.C.
– Sara Rawlins, Lawrenceville
- 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.
Next pick-up of household hazardous waste is Feb. 7
Virtually every household in Gwinnett has them. Household hazardous waste (HHW) is leftover household products that can catch fire, react, or explode under certain circumstances, or that are corrosive or toxic. They range from bug sprays in aerosol cans to weed killers in spray bottles.
As these HHW products age or are no longer needed, residents need to seek appropriate ways to dispose of them. To that end, Gwinnett County is planning is bi-annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day co-hosted by Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful and Gwinnett County’s Department of Water Resources (DWR).
The next event – marking the first of two in 2026 – is scheduled for Saturday, February 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Gwinnett County Fairgrounds.
“We are pleased to provide this option for residents of Gwinnett, and since its inception eight years ago, it’s been very well received,” said Schelly Marlatt, Executive Director of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. “Household hazardous waste can take up space in one’s garage, storage room, basement, and cabinets. Not only is participation in our HHW Collection Day a great way to declutter ahead of the big Spring clean, but it’s also an impactful form of environmental stewardship. By placing that household hazardous waste in our hands, event attendees can rest assured it will be disposed of properly, with minimal to no environmental impact.”
Items that will be accepted during the February 7 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day include:
- Aerosol/spray pesticides
- Automotive products (engine degreaser, brake fluid, transmission fluid, antifreeze, etc.)
- Cleaners, corrosives, spot removers, acids, and bases
- Aerosol/spray paint
- Auto batteries
- Batteries (household and rechargeable)
- Chlorinated solvents
- Cooking oil and grease
- Fire extinguishers
- Flammables (lighter fluid and waste fuels like kerosene, gasoline, diesel fuel, etc.)
- Fluorescent bulbs and ballasts
- Hand sanitizer
- Insecticides
- Latex and water-based paints
- Lawn care products
- Mercury
- Mercury salts and elemental mercury thermometers
- Oil-based paint and stains
- Oxidizers
- Pesticides
- Poisons
- Propane cylinders
- Solvents and varnishes
- Thermostats and other mercury-containing items
- Thinners and paint strippers
- Weed killer
- Wood preservative
Items that will NOT be accepted include ammunition, radioactive waste, pharmaceuticals, biomedical/biohazard waste, and fireworks. This event will also NOT include the collection of electronics, tires, or paper for shredding.
Gwinnett residents may bring up to five “containers” of household hazardous waste for FREE. Containers may be the size of a laundry basket, a small moving box, or a paper grocery bag. Attendees should note that containers will not be returned. Gwinnett County Fairgrounds is located at 2405 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville. Attendees are asked to enter the main entrance of the Fairgrounds, located off Sugarloaf Parkway, at the traffic light.
King is new director of Suwanee Arts Center
The Suwanee Arts Center (SAC) has named a new executive director. She is Athea King, who brings more than a decade of nonprofit, gallery, and leadership experience—along with a commitment to building an inclusive, accessible, and arts-centered community.
She most previously was with the Woodruff Arts Center, where she managed engagement for more than 130 Board of Trustees members, stewarded philanthropic partnerships, and co-developed fundraising events benefitting statewide arts education. Her work supported campus-wide collaborations between the High Museum of Art, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and Alliance Theatre, strengthening integrated community programming across disciplines.
Athea also served as Gallery associate of Visual Merchandising at the Spruill Gallery, in Atlanta, where she led merchandising strategy, strengthened artist relationships, and directed the annual Holiday Art Fair, the gallery’s largest and most successful fundraising event, featuring more than 145 curated artisans.
Athea’s background also includes roles at the High Museum of Art, ArtCloud, HomeStretch, and Alan Avery Art Company, experiences that have shaped her into a multifaceted arts leader skilled in strategic planning, donor and board relations, program development, operations management, and artist advocacy.
She plans to develop classes, exhibitions, and public programs that reflect the vibrancy of Suwanee and foster meaningful connections between artists, residents, and local organizations.
In addition to her administrative leadership, Athea is a practicing fine art photographer whose work has been exhibited throughout the Southeast and supported by two successful Kickstarter campaigns. She holds a BFA in Photographic Imaging from the Art Institute of Atlanta.
The Elements of Marie Curie, by Dava Sobol
The author, one of our favorites, delves into the life of Marie Curie, the woman who painstakingly discovered radium, for which she was the first woman (along with her husband) to win the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1903. After the death of her husband, she won a second Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1913. During World War I, she outfitted and drove a van with X-ray equipment she had invented on the front lines to save the lives of wounded soldiers. Meanwhile, she trained her brilliant daughters and other women in her lab. Her elder daughter also won a Nobel prize, also in chemistry, in 1935. ‘Madam Curie,’ as she is often referred to, continued researching and teaching (at the Sorbonne) her entire life. This is a fascinating book, paving the way for women in professions once thought of only for men. –eeb.
- An invitation: what books, restaurants, movies or web sites have you enjoyed recently? Send us your recent selection, along with a short paragraph (150 words) as to why you liked this, plus what you plan to visit or read next. Click here to send an email.
Atlanta hosts the Civil and Human Rights Museum
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights (NCCHR), located in downtown Atlanta, is a museum devoted to exploring the connections between the U.S. civil rights movement and the global struggle for human rights. The 42,000 square-foot facility opened in 2014 and features among its permanent exhibits the papers of Martin Luther King Jr.
Though discussion of such a facility had circulated among Atlanta leaders for years, the effort only gained momentum when Ambassador Andrew Young and Evelyn Lowery approached Mayor Shirley Franklin about the matter in the early 2000s. With assistance from Central Atlanta Progress and the Boston Consulting Group, Franklin then appointed a blue-ribbon working group to determine feasibility and make recommendations.
Poor economic conditions slowed fundraising for a time, and the facility’s groundbreaking was postponed until 2012. Of the estimated $80 million expense—a figure that included a $5 million endowment—nearly $40 million came from private donations while $40 million derived from public Tax Allocation District monies scheduled to expire in 2012 if not accessed. An impressive roster of local donors and international corporations helped pay for the facility with donations of $1 million or more coming from Delta Airlines, The Home Depot, Turner Broadcasting, AT&T, Georgia-Pacific, the Wilbur and Hilda Glenn Family Foundation, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, the AEC Trust, and SunTrust Banks (now Truist), Wells Fargo, and Bank of America.
Eager to start programming, the NCCHR began in the fall of 2011 an oral and visual histories project funded by the Ford Foundation. Working with broadcast professionals from CNN and academic experts from Georgia State University, center staff undertook dozens of interviews with movement veterans for use in future programming. Some of these interviews became components in the Freedom Mosaic, the NCCHR’s online educational resource.
Working with international design firm HOK, the Freelon Group designed an environmentally sustainable building with LEED Gold certification and a green roof, using long exterior walls that curve like cupped hands, holding glass panels at its open end. In October 2015 the Atlanta Business Chronicle named it “Atlanta’s Best Architecture.”
The NCCHR facility consists of three levels. The bottom floor houses the Martin Luther King Jr. Collection Gallery, which displays selections from King’s manuscripts, a large lobby area lined with paintings by Georgia artist Benny Andrews depicting the life of civil rights icon and Atlanta Congressman John Lewis, and an auditorium. The second level features the main lobby overlooking Pemberton Place, the reception desk and gift shop, and the main exhibit gallery investigating the modern civil rights movement.
The primary exhibit, “Rolls Down Like Water: The American Civil Rights Movement,” uses historic film footage to retell movement history set alongside such features as an interactive lunch counter experience. The third floor concludes the exhibition with its interactive human rights gallery. Called “The Spark of Conviction: The Global Human Rights Movement,” the exhibit builds on Eleanor Roosevelt’s role in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by encouraging visitors to self-identify with international struggles and to consider their “ethical footprints” in their daily lives.
Regular programming at the NCCHR includes lecture series and community dialogues, film screenings, Women’s Solidarity Society events, and an annual event in December recognizing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The NCCHR receives approximately 200,000 visitors each year, including more than 50,000 students. A year after its opening, Shipman resigned as founding CEO of the NCCHR in June 2015, later taking the position as President and CEO of the Woodruff Arts Center.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Not just another iron fence
This ornate iron fence dominates today’s mystery, and in advance, we suggest this will be a difficult photo to identify. Send your thoughts to ebrack2@gmail.com and tell us your hometown.
Several people recognized the skyscraper in Chicago. Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas, wrote in detail: “Today’s mystery photo is of the Chicago Board of Trade Building (CBOT) in the Chicago Loop, the second-largest commercial business district in the U.S., second only to Midtown Manhattan.
“Completed in 1930, CBOT is 44 stories high (605 feet tall), which made it the tallest building in Chicago, at least until 1965, when it was surpassed in height by the Chicago Civic Center. Since that time, Chicago’s skyline has continued to grow dramatically – so much so that CBOT is now ranked 42nd amongst the tallest in the city.
“If you look at the very top of the building in the mystery photo, you will see a 31-foot aluminum statue of Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, a nod to the importance of the building in agricultural trading history. While Ceres appears to be watching over the commercial district, it is ironic that the statue’s sculptor, John Storrs (1885–1956), made the statue faceless, believing it would be too high for anyone to actually see her face.”
The photograph came from Rick Krause of Lilburn. Among others recognizing the photo were Robert Richardson, Peachtree Corners; George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; Jay Altman, Columbia, S.C.; Stewart Woodard, Lawrenceville; Sara Rawlins, Lawrenceville; Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill; and Stewart Ogilvie, Rehobeth, Ala.
- 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.
“Unbuttoning the Declaration @ 250” on Jan. 29
The Gwinnett Historical Society (GHS) January meeting will take place on January 26, at 7 p.m. at Rhodes Jordan Park Community Recreation Center, 100 East Crogan Street, Lawrenceville. Guest speaker will be Susan Hogue from Master Framing and Preservation in Chamblee. She will discuss the proper care and restoration of family heirlooms. The meeting is free and open to the public. Make plans to attend! Note that GHS is monitoring the weather forecast for this weekend. If conditions impact the meeting on Monday, GHS will send out a notification.
The Norcross PDC (people drinking coffee) meets each Wednesday at 8:15 a.m. at the 45 South Café in downtown Norcross. The January 28 meeting will have Norcross Police Chief Bill Grogan speaking. The event is free and visitors are welcomed.
The 2026 Norton Native Intelligence Forecast will be held on Thursday, January 28, at the Ramsey Conference Center at Lanier Tech, 2535 Lanier Tech Drive, in Gainesville, starting at 5:30 p.m. Join Frank Norton to gain his insights on trends in business and real estate in Northeast Georgia.
Peachtree Corners Library is hosting Robotics with Curiosity Lab on January 28 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Learn more about this unique space where companies test new innovations and technology. Get your questions answered and experience hands-on robotics in this all-ages program. Admission is free. Registration is not required.
“Unbuttoning the Declaration @ 250,” will take place at Georgia Gwinnett College on Thursday, January 29 at 12:30 p.m.in Room 1210 in W Building. This is part of Stephens Executive Forum. It will focus on the 250th anniversary of the publication of Thomas Paine’s Common Sense.
A solo exhibit of the work of Chitra Ramanathan of Norcross, a teaching artist at Norcross Gallery and Studios, is now going on at the Pinckneyville Park and Recreation Center in Berkeley Lake through January 31. It is a retrospective, as some early works are included up to current ones, many large in scale.
Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society will meet at the Gwinnett Fairgrounds, 2405 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville on Saturday, January 31 and on Sunday, February 1, both days from 8:30 a.m. until 3:15 p.m. This is a free event to promote amateur radio to our community and to educate and entertain amateur radio enthusiasts. Learn about the latest developments in amateur radio technology, share knowledge and experience, and network with other amateur radio operators. Attendees can expect to see demonstrations of various types of equipment, and attend presentations and workshops on a variety of topics.
Budding gardeners or those who already have a green thumb, save the date for the Houseplant Potting Workshop at Peachtree Farm on February 2 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Learn to select the correct pot, amend and build potting soil, and then pot your plant. A pot, soil and plant is included, but guests may bring their own pots and plants if they want to do extra. $20 per person. Purchase tickets online.
Beatrice Dixon, the founder of The Honey Pot Company, discusses her inspiring memoir, The Soul Instinct, and overcoming adversity on February 3 at 6:30 p.m. in Lawrenceville at the Hooper-Renwick branch of Gwinnett Public Library.
Learn more about authentic representation and preservation of Black Americana decorative arts and explore the inspiration behind Precious Black Jewels by Tanzy Ward. This event will be held on February 11 at 11 a.m. at the Hooper-Renwick branch of Gwinnett Public Library in Lawrenceville.
GwinnettForum, which has been published online since 2001, is provided to you at no charge every Tuesday and Friday. The publication offers an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett County, Ga. USA. Learn more:
- Editor and publisher: Elliott Brack, 770-840-1003
- Mailing address: P.O. Box 1365, Norcross, Ga. 30091
- Work with us: If you would like to learn about how to be an underwriter to support the publication of GwinnettForum as a community resource for news and commentary, please contact us today.
Subscriptions to GwinnettForum are free.
- Click to subscribe.
- Unsubscribe. We hope you’ll keep receiving our great news and information from GwinnettForum, but if you need to unsubscribe, go to this page and unsubscribe in the appropriate box.
- © 2026, Gwinnett Forum.com.
