GwinnettForum | Number 25.54 | July 15, 2025
CURRENT EXHIBIT: To appreciate animals indoors in cool comfort, come to Norcross Gallery’s current exhibit, All Creatures Great and Small, a member show celebrating the beauty of all animals from beloved pets to rarely seen beasts or domestic animals. Outstanding works in the exhibit are Don Yaun’s large, impressive painting (at left), the “Hardman Farm State Historic Site in Sautee, Nacoochee, Ga.” It is a realistic illustration of old farming techniques. A more contemporary painting by Lynda Ellis (at right) is the bright, colorful “Bluebird of Happiness.” One can almost feel the joy of this happy bird. Drawing Attention is a big upcoming exhibit open to members and nonmembers beginning July 17 continuing through August 23.
TODAY’S FOCUS: From Duluth to the other Duluth; a marathon
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Norway’s fjords are surprising, beautiful and serene
SPOTLIGHT: The 1818 Club
ANOTHER VIEW: Norcross in talks to revise residential zoning code
FEEDBACK: Ranked-choice voting better, so to eliminate run-offs
UPCOMING: Michener in new role at Gateway85 CID
NOTABLE: Jackson EMC Foundations makes local grants
RECOMMENDED: Madison’s Restaurant and Bar, Berkeley Lake
OBITUARY: T.S. McFerrin IV
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Marshall founded first Baptist church in Georgia
MYSTERY PHOTO: The setting is beautiful with a stately mansion
CALENDAR: Writers workshop July 19 at Lilburn library
From Duluth to the other Duluth: a marathon
By Brandon Odum
DULUTH, Ga. | Growing up in Duluth—and being part of one of the city’s founding families—this town has always meant a lot to me. My roots run deep here, from Main Street to the woods behind Grandma Ann Odum’s house. But I’ve always wondered: how did our Duluth get its name?
Turns out, it came from Duluth, Minn. Back in the late 1800s, our town was known as Howell’s Crossing. But when the railroad was put in from St. Paul, Minn., to Duluth, Minn. in 1863 (the “Lake Superior and Mississippi Railroad”), a congressman joked about stretching it “all the way to Duluth.” As the railroad came through Georgia, the name stuck for the Georgia town, too. Ever since I found that out, I’ve wanted to visit the other Duluth. I just didn’t expect it would happen by running a marathon.
Like a lot of folks, I got into running during COVID. All the gyms were shut down, and I needed a way to get outside, stay active, and clear my head. What started as simple walks between Zoom meetings in downtown Duluth slowly turned into jogs. I signed up for my first 5K, and somewhere along the way, I made the wild decision to register for a full marathon. Since then, I’ve run the Chicago Marathon and the Marine Corps Marathon in D.C.
When I learned that one of the biggest marathons in the country—Grandma’s Marathon—was held in Duluth, Minn., it felt like fate. The course runs from Two Harbors down the shoreline of Lake Superior and finishes in the heart of town. Over 10,000 runners show up every year, and the energy is incredible. I couldn’t help but smile every time I saw a “Welcome to Duluth” sign. Naturally, I brought home a race shirt for Grandma Ann, and she got a kick out of that.
Most of my training happens right here at home. I’m usually at Suwanee Creek Park on Saturdays, and during the week I’m out at Cauley Creek or getting in miles around downtown Duluth. I usually run anywhere between 30 and 40 miles per week. It’s a lot, but I hired a coach and followed a plan that helps keep me on track. The hardest part is simply getting out the door some mornings—but after every run, I feel 10 times better.
The best part? Being outside. The mental clarity. The quiet. Sure, there are a few drawbacks—nagging injuries here and there, early mornings, and let’s just say running shoes aren’t cheap. I’ve tried several brands, but Brooks shoes have been my go-to lately. I rotate pairs to keep things fresh.
I’m lucky to have an incredibly supportive family. My wife, Mary, and our two kids are always cheering me on. It means a lot to show them what it looks like to commit to something big and stick with it.
Now I’ve set a new goal: to run a marathon in every state. Next up is the Flying Pig in Cincinnati, then the New York City Marathon. But no matter how far I run, Duluth, Georgia will always be my starting line.
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Norway’s fjords are surprising, beautiful and serene
By Elliott Brack,
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JULY 15, 2025 | The fjords of Norway are not as I had thought. We recently enjoyed a cruise there.
I had imagined that fjords were long rivers emptying into the sea, with steep mountains around, a creation of the Ice Age, which gorged out deep cracks in the rocks, opening up the seas to roam deep into the land.
But it is not like that. Think of Norwegian fjords as something like Lake Lanier Islands, all within a body of water. One description: “A fjord is a deep, narrow and elongated sea or lake drain, with steep land on three sides. The opening toward the sea is called the mouth of the fjord, and is often shallow. The fjord’s inner part is called the sea bottom. If the geological formation is wider than it is long, it is not a fjord. Then it is a bay or cove.
The fjords give you a sense of peace, with towns situated on the land around them. We were on a seven day cruise on the Silversea’s Silver Dawn, along with about 526 other visitors. We were lucky and had good weather every day (except for one foggy day when at sea), and visited five ports, where we could get off ship and explore the towns and countryside with bus trips to the sites, or go on hikes, or shop. The daytime temperatures were between 58 and 75 degrees, with lots of sunshine. The week before, it rained every day on the cruise. The humidity was always low.
The inland ports we visited included Andalsnes, Trodheim, Alesund, Olden and Kristiansand. We sailed from Bergen, after a flight from Copenhagen, Denmark. We visited the cities during the day, and cruised at night to the next port, arriving about 8 a.m. The seas were calm, and you seldom felt any ship movement. Our flight home was from Copenhagen.
Sunset this night was at 1:17 a.m.
While Alesund and Kristiansand are coastal, Trodhein was the most distant town from the sea….some 81 miles inland. It is also the key technical city of Norway, with a population of 212,000 citizens, of whom 20 percent are students.
In every port, the mountains rose around you, some reaching 5,000 feet. It was awe-inspiring and beautiful. When in Olden, we were told the Norwegian king, Harald V, who is 88, was nearby in a boat wearing a red cap at his favorite sport, fishing for salmon. (We never saw him.)
The biggest surprise: knowing little about Norway, we were amazed at its extensive road system, mostly paved two-lane roads. Even on the secondary roads, Norway often tunnels through mountains to save mileage and time. From the ship, you could see cars driving along the coast, which would suddenly disappear into tunnels, emerging sometimes a mile or two afterward. Think of the cost of building such roads, even on the most remote islands among the fjords! But Norway is a rich country, with high taxes, and gains tremendous revenue from North Sea oil exploration.
Perhaps 90 percent of the houses in Norway are painted white. White paint was the most costly in time past and today and is made from fish oil combined with zinc. The cheaper paint is red, from fish oil and iron oxide. White houses are more prestigious than those painted dark red.
We were told to pack clothing for rain and cold, which we did…but never used. It made our luggage heavier, but we didn’t have to use that gear.
Norway and the fjords: now much more understandable!
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The 1818 Club
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Today’s underwriter is The 1818 Club, named for the year that Gwinnett County received its charter. The 1818 Club is a member-owned, private dining experience providing the best in food, service and meeting accommodations for its members. Whatever your business or social dining needs, the 1818 Club has the proper facilities, recently renovated, to gracefully host your gatherings.
- 100-seat formal dining room open for breakfast and lunch.
- Capital Room open for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as cocktails.
- Three private rooms which can be used for dining or meeting space. AV is offered in each room.
- 220-seat Virgil Williams Grand Ballroom, divides into three sections, all with AV.
- Gwinnett Room for upscale dining, with Frankie’s menu available.
Our top-notch service team enhances your experience by providing a sophisticated social atmosphere, engaging events and a full serving of dining and entertainment opportunities. If you want an urbane and central site to entertain people, consider joining the 1818 Club. For more details, visit https://www.the1818club.org/Home.
- For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here.
Norcross in talks to revise residential zoning code
By Cathy Muth
NORCROSS, Ga. | The City of Norcross is reviewing changes to zoning ordinances for residentially zoned lots.
Here is a quick and dirty education on residential zoning:
- R100 – this is a single family home property whose frontage is a minimum of 100 feet;
- R75 – the same as above, but with just 75 feet frontage; and
- R60 – I think you know where this is going…
Suffice it to say, a majority of lots in Norcross are residential.
While it may seem inconsequential to most, here are a few examples of how the proposed changes could affect you:
One of the recommended changes affects building height for Accessory Dwelling Units (an ADU is typically a detached building with climate control, a garage apartment, for instance).
This would allow your direct neighbor to build a two-story (24’ feet or more!) garage/apartment structure in their backyard *without your consent* (The current code restricts Accessory Structure heights to 12 feet or one story, and provides unquestioned approval for permit). This means you could have a nice view of the backside of your neighbor’s second home right off your back deck.
Currently, if your neighbor wants a variance (or an approval that is outside of regulations) to allow for a roofline higher than 14 feet, they require all adjacent properties to provide consent. If consent is not given, and the owner still wants to have their variance, then the issue goes to the Zoning Board of Appeals where the owner would try their case among a Board of their peers. Under the current recommended amendments, the request for neighbor consent and the need for a variance would be done away with.
Another provision being offered is an increase in setback requirements; a setback being the amount of space from the property line to the edge of a structure.
Current code allows a five foot setback for all Accessory Structures. If the current changes are approved, the new setback will change to a slightly more generous 10 feet.
While this may sound acceptable, think about this: What if your neighbor suddenly wanted to build a 1,300 square foot ADU and it would sit just 10 feet off your property line? This doesn’t sound enticing to me.
If you consult the County’s Unified Development Code (UDO), the county bases ADU setbacks on building size. In fact, anything over 650 square feet isn’t even allowed per the county without a Special Use Permit. They offer a graded system based on building size, suggesting a building which is up to 650 square feet requires a 20 foot setback.
For anyone whose concern is around their neighbors building an ADU specifically for use as an AirBnB will be happy to hear that the City is considering restricting ADUs to only long-term rentals and permanent residences (for your mother-in-law or grown children).
Many of us have beautifully wooded backyard views, thanks to the designation as a Tree City USA. Properties are already densely clustered in many areas of town. Do we really want to allow for more buildings to block our view? This is something we need to ask ourselves, and something we should be asking those in charge of making these changes.
Think about what drew you to Norcross in the first place. Consider how just a few years from now, these changes could alter the charm that makes Norcross what it is.
I invite you to contact the City Planning and Development Department, Zoning Board members, or reach out to your City Councilmen.
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Ranked-choice voting better, so to eliminate run-offs
Editor, the Forum:
Let me completely agree that ranked-choice voting makes much more sense than all the run-off elections we must have here in Georgia.
One thing to note, though: GwinnettForum mentioned that poll workers have to sit there for 12 hours. I used to work at the polls, and a poll-worker’s day begins well before 7 a.m. We always had to be there the night before to set up and check the equipment, then on the day of voting be there at 6 a.m. for the final set-up and checks. We never left at 7 p.m., but had to stay until the last item was checked off the meticulous list we had for closing up. I applaud the good people who work the polls!
– Fran Stewart, 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.
Michener in new role at Gateway85 CID
As the Gateway85 Community Improvement District (CID) prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2026, the CID is entering a new chapter of leadership and momentum.
The CID board of directors named Robert Michener as the interim executive director, as Emory Morsberger, a founding contributor and longtime executive director, recently resigned from the position. Morsberger served as the CID’s first secretary and was instrumental in its early formation and transformation into one of Georgia’s largest and most active CIDs.
With 17 years of service to the CID, Michener brings significant knowledge, extensive project expertise and a deep commitment to the local community. Michener previously served as director of operations for the CID, and he has played a vital role in managing transportation improvements, public safety initiatives, beautification efforts and more.
Shiv Aggarwal, chairman of the Gateway85 CID board of directors, says: “Emory Morsberger helped move our organization forward. We wish him the best as he embarks on new ventures, and we welcome the fresh ideas and steady leadership that Robert Michener will in the interim bring to the table as the CID shapes its bright future.”
Under new leadership, Gateway85 will continue its mission to support economic development, improve mobility, accessibility, security and enhance quality of life across the district.
Michener says: “As a longtime Gwinnett resident, I have seen firsthand how much this community has grown and evolved in the last two decades. It’s an honor to step into this role and serve the CID during a time of transition and opportunity. The district has great momentum, and I’m excited to continue contributing to Gateway85’s next era of growth.”
The CID board officers will lead a search to evaluate permanent executive leadership, with updates to be shared in the coming months.
Free recycling carts available in unincorporated areas
Residents in unincorporated Gwinnett County can request a free recycling cart.
If you currently receive trash services, and are interested in curbside recycling services, order your free 65 gallon recycling cart at GCSolidWaste.com. The county is committed to recycling and reducing the volume of waste going into landfills to help protect the environment.
County announces changes in commission office
There have been several changes in the office of the Gwinnett County Commission.
Lewis Cooksey has moved from being the county transportation director to a new assistant county administrator position.
Edgardo Aponte is the new transportation director. He was previously the deputy transportation director,
Russell Royal is now director of financial services. He had been serving as acting director after Buffy Rainey (formerly known as Buffy Alexzulian) was promoted to the deputy county administrator/CFO position vacated upon Maria Woods December retirement. Prior to serving as acting director, Russell was deputy director.
Ron Adderly is now the director of support services. He had been serving as acting director since Angelia Parham retired nearly two years ago. Prior to that, he was a deputy director of the department of support services.
The recent promotions were all effective the week of June 22.
Jackson EMC Foundation makes grants to nonprofits
The Jackson EMC Foundation board of directors awarded a total of $101,633 in grants for organizations during its recent meeting, including $67,140 to organizations serving Gwinnett County.
- $10,000 to Friends of Disabled Adults and Children Too, Inc., which serves individuals with injuries, illnesses or physical disabilities by providing mobility and daily living aids for its home medical equipment program.
- $10,000 to Hi-Hope Service Center, Inc., Lawrenceville, which serves adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities for its nursing support program for Gwinnett County residents.
- $10,000 to The Next Stop Foundation, Inc., Flowery Branch, which serves adults with special needs for its services for residents in Barrow, Gwinnett, Hall and Jackson counties.
- $9,840 to Annandale at Suwanee, which supports adults with developmental disabilities and brain injuries for its independent living program for Gwinnett County residents.
- $9,300 to Creative Enterprises, Inc., Lawrenceville, which serves individuals with disabilities and other employment barriers for its day program for residents in Barrow and Gwinnett counties.
- $8,500 to Angel House of Georgia, Inc., Gainesville, which serves women recovering from addiction for entry to its program.
- $7,000 to Hope for the Journey of North Metro, Inc., Lawrenceville, which serves individuals diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers for its Hope for the Journey Program.
- $2,500 to Wheelchairs 4 Kids, which serves children with physical disabilities for its medical equipment program for Gwinnett County residents.
Jackson EMC Foundation grants are made possible by the 221,697 participating cooperative members who have their monthly electric bills rounded to the next dollar amount through the Operation Round Up program.
Tuff wins election for nation’s information officers
Gwinnett County’s Special Projects and Media Relations Strategist Deborah Tuff has been named Second Vice President of the National Association of County Information Officers, following a competitive national election with candidates from counties across the country.
Tuff, a two-time Emmy-winning executive producer, will help shape the future of government communications nationwide in her new leadership role. Tuff previously worked as a television anchor and reporter for nearly two decades. Since joining Gwinnett County, she has led several award-winning programs including Upfront Gwinnett and Eye on Gwinnett.
Madison’s Restaurant and Bar, Berkeley Lake
From Howard Hoffman, Berkeley Lake: Madison’s Restaurant and Bar, recently opened at 4790 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, in Berkeley Lake. It’s named for their young daughter. It is clear the Donelsons, both trained at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, know their way around the kitchen. Open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., their menu has it all from all-day brunch to tasty lunch and dinner options. If it’s not on their menu, Charlie can and will make it. Lunch: fresh salads, sandwiches, burgers, rice bowls, tacos, pastas and more. And dinner has a generous selection including: ribeye steak, lamb chop, lobster, short ribs and salmon. They make their own desserts including: a variety of sorbets (lemon and apple pear among them). And nice kids meal options. It’s all GOOD. They are in the former Alex restaurant spot in Suite 112 (first floor) and free parking is at their door.
- 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.
T.S. McFerrin IV
Known to the world of high school football as “Coach T,” Thomas Sumner McFerrin IV, whose 34 years as a head coach in Georgia crafted a 317-84-4 record – the ninth-winningest record in Georgia history, succumbed on July 1, 2025 to dementia after dealing with the impervious disease that he fought for over four years.
Born on February 6, 1942 and raised in Murfreesboro, Tenn., he died at age 83 in Monroe, Ga,, leaving an iconic legacy as a Georgia High School football coach.
His parents were Florence Cox McFerrin and Thomas Sumner McFerrin III. His brothers, Sam and Jim McFerrin, are both still living in Tennessee.
Coach T is survived by his wife Jane Johnston McFerrin; son Thomas “Tom” Sumner McFerrin V; son Robert “Rob” Johnston McFerrin; daughter-in-law Stephanie McFerrin; grandchildren Anna Parks Kindig (Drew Kindig) and Matthew Parks; and sister-in-law Judy Johnston Adams.
Coach T’s background included two years of college at Millsaps in Jackson, Miss., which he attended on a football scholarship. He transferred to Middle Tennessee State University and graduated with a BS in history in 1964 and then earned a Master’s degree in history (MA) from Florida State University in 1965.
He began his teaching and coaching career at Druid Hills High School (DeKalb County) in 1965. His first head coaching position came in 1968 at Lithonia High School in DeKalb County, a place that had not known winning in years. His first year there the Bulldogs went 8-1-1. In 1969, his second season as a head coach, Lithonia played for the state championship.
Under McFerrin’s tutelage, he led seven schools to region titles, five to state semifinals, and four to championship games, with two state titles (Elbert County, 1995 and Jefferson, 2012), during his 34 years coaching in Georgia. Combined with the four years he coached in Tennessee, McFerrin compiled a 341-101-4 record. He also won three State Championships in tennis with Tucker High School in 1988, 89, and 90.
He was inducted into the Georgia Athletic Coaches Hall of Fame in 2014, two years after his third and final retirement and winning the state championship at Jefferson. Five years later (2019), Coach T was inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.
Aside from all of his professional accolades, Coach T’s character is what will be his legacy. The trait that stood out most to his son, Tom, was how he treated others: “Dad always treated everyone, whether it was managers, custodians, players, parents, administration, or media, with the same respect and love. It did not matter if you were a star player or fourth string, he treated everyone the same.”
His faith was displayed in his everyday life. Rob recalls, “Dad came from a long line of preachers, but he decided to go into another form of ministry called teaching and coaching. He was not one to preach at you, but he lived out his Christian values through his actions and how he treated people. After retirement, he became very involved in Monroe First Methodist Church, FCA, and the CLC (Christian Learning Center), as well as serving on many committees and boards around the state.”
When one considers that there have literally been thousands of men to coach high school football in Georgia, and only 69 of them have won 200 or more games in their careers, to put his legendary career on an even more special plateau, Rob provided some insight to the axiom ‘People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.’ – “When people, coaches, or players were around Coach T, they did not want to disappoint him or let him down, Dad had the innate ability to make people strive to do their best. And he was always able to get the best out of everyone.”
McFerrin, a man diminutive in stature, left this world as a giant in his industry, one committed to making those around him feel better because he took the time to care and share his love and devotion to those he encountered along the way to becoming an icon that truly set him apart from his peers. Coach T influenced hundreds of lives to follow his actions and directions, and those that did so quite obviously became better persons for having crossed paths with a man whose morals, ethics and personal behavior were above reproach.:
His funeral was held July 8 at the Lighthouse World Outreach Center in Monroe. Meadows Funeral Home, Inc. was in charge of arrangements.
Marshall founded first Baptist church in Georgia
Daniel Marshall, a Baptist pastor and itinerant preacher, is generally considered the first great Baptist leader in Georgia. He founded Kiokee Baptist Church, the oldest continuing Baptist congregation in the state.
Born in Windsor, Conn., on August 24, 1706, Marshall had no formal education. He began his career as a farmer and served for 20 years as a deacon in the First Church in Windsor, one of the nation’s oldest Congregational churches. In 1742 he married Hannah Drake, and they had one child, Daniel Jr.
Coming under the influence of the revivalist George Whitefield around 1745, Marshall became a Separate Congregationalist, a group considerably more evangelistic and charismatic than the establishment Standing Order Congregationalist churches of Connecticut. As a layman he preached in New York and Pennsylvania for about three years. During this time his first wife died, and in 1747 he married Martha Stearns, the sister of an evangelical preacher. Together they had ten children. Marshall’s wife later became a preacher in her own right, although she was never ordained.
From 1754 to 1771 Marshall ministered in Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, becoming an ordained Separate Baptist leader second in influence only to Shubal Stearns, his brother-in-law. During these years Marshall was a revivalistic and emotional farmer-preacher.
Marshall moved to Columbia County, Georgia, in 1771, and soon thereafter he organized the Kiokee Church, probably about three and a half miles east of the town of Appling. As the Baptist patriarch in the area, he was a mentor to at least 16 younger preachers. During the Revolutionary War (1775-83) Marshall was an American patriot; after the war he and others fought for legislation favoring religious liberty. Just before his death he acted as moderator of the Georgia Baptist Association, founded in 1784 at Kiokee Church.
Marshall died in Columbia County on November 2, 1784. He apparently owned at least 400 acres of land in Georgia (but no enslaved people) and left an estate “of considerable value.” One honest friend, Morgan Edwards, described him as “a weak man, a stammerer, and no scholar,” and admitted that Marshall’s success was “surprising when we consider that he is a man of no bright parts, nor eloquence nor learning. Piety, earnestness and honesty are all he can boast of.”
The Marshall Historical Site, near Appling, was dedicated in 1984.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
The setting is beautiful with a stately mansion
Today’s mystery is a stately mansion with beautiful lawn and patriotic banners. Many readers may have seen or visited here. Figure out where this is and send your idea to ebrack2@gmail.com. Be sure to list your hometown.
The previous mystery, from July 1, was considered difficult, but had a clue from the previous mystery. Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas, got it right again, saying: “Today’s mystery photo is of the iconic Cavern Club in Liverpool, located less than 1/2 mile east of the Liverpool Waterfront (featured in last week’s mystery photo). The club was instrumental in The Beatles’ live music career, where they performed 292 times between 1961 and 1963. It was where they developed their unique sound and style, and where their fanbase took shape, launching them to global fame and the cultural phenomenon of “Beatlemania” in the early 1960s.” The photo came from Ross Lenhart of Stone Mountain.
Others recognizing the club were George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; Stewart Ogilvie, Rehobeth, Ala.; Lou Camerio, Lilburn; Alexis Kelley, Norcross; Jay Altman, Columbia, S.C.; and Dan Mackaben, Crystal Lake, Ill.
Peel also wrote: “Originally opened on January 16, 1957, by jazz aficionado Alan Sytner, the club quickly embraced the growing rock-and-roll movement, launching numerous legendary British bands. It was located in a centuries-old underground warehouse cellar, part of Liverpool’s historic warehouse district that was used as an air raid shelter during WWII. The arched brick walls and low, tunnel-like ceilings gave the venue its distinctive acoustics and atmosphere. The original Cavern Club was demolished in 1973 during the construction of a ventilation shaft for the commuter rail network in the area. Rebuilt in 1984 using original bricks on the same site to preserve its legacy, The Cavern Club continues to host live music regularly, attracting both established and emerging artists.
“Now, here’s a fun fact about The Cavern Club. Despite its great acoustics, it was basically a cave-shaped basement filled with a bunch of energetic musicians and audiences. They were all sweating bullets over the rock-and-roll fever of the music. The humidity was so high that Paul McCartney’s bass strings would get rusted after several nightly performances! Who would’ve thought?”
- 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.
Writers workshop July 19 at Lilburn library
Norcross PDC (People Drinking Coffee) meets Wednesdays from 8:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. at 45 South Cafe to discuss current events that are political, educational and community-focused. Speaking on July 16 will be Melvin Everson, vice president for Community and Government Affairs at Gwinnett Tech. No dues or membership fees; anyone can attend.
The Southwest Gwinnett Chamber will present Cynthia E. Currence on July 17 at 8:30 a.m. as its Coffee Connections spotlight at Atlanta Tech Park in Peachtree Corners. She will share insights and lead an interactive session on the topic of “Building High-Value Partnerships Between Companies and Nonprofits.” No registration required. Coffee and tea will be provided.
Writers Workshop scheduled for the Lilburn Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on July 19 at 1:30 p.m. Learn more about writing, network with other writers, and listen to accomplished authors offer tips to improve your writing in partnership with the Atlanta Writers Club.
Author talk: join History Channel’s Pawn Stars rare books specialist Rebecca Romney discussing her book, Jane Austen’s Bookshelf, examining the overlooked women writers in the Western canon and their significance to Austen. This will be at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on July 24 at 6 p.m. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Braselton Police Foundation 5K Run will be Saturday, July 26. Pick up packets at 6:30 a.m. at Braselton Brothers Department Store, 9924 Davis Street.
Clear out your garage and basement and dispose of your household hazardous waste! Join us at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day event on Saturday, July 26 from 8 a.m. until noon at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds in Lawrenceville. Residents can bring up to five disposable containers of waste products such as paint, motor oil, batteries, cleaning chemicals, and more. For a complete list of acceptable waste products, visit GwinnettCB.org. If you’d like to volunteer at this event, visit VolunteerGwinnett.net.
Lionheart Theatre will present Senior Moments Tour 2025, for one-night-only on July 27 at 7 p.m. It presents The Paris Dancers and 2nd Act Performing Company, featuring song, dance and fast-paced, energetic fun. The show starts at 7 p.m.
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