GwinnettForum | Number 25.55 | July 18, 2025
THE LAYOUT of the Lawrenceville Arts Center is extensive, sporting three stages. The operational agreement between the city-owned Center and the Aurora Theater has recently changed. Read about it in Perspective below.
TODAY’S FOCUS: Sutt is new chair of Aurora Theatre board
EEB PERSPECTIVE: It’s good to see a tenant and owner work together
SPOTLIGHT: Walton Gas
ANOTHER VIEW: Next hazardous waste collection is July 26 at fairgrounds
FEEDBACK: FOX News keeps pushing trickle-down economics
UPCOMING: Aurora kicks off 30th season with The Wiz on August 14
NOTABLE: Program helps newcomers understand college costs
RECOMMENDED: Someone, by Alice McDermott
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Georgia has abundant groundwater resources
MYSTERY PHOTO: Check out this highly-placed setting for a lighthouse
CALENDAR: Ribbon-cutting today at First Senior Center of Georgia
Sutt is new chair of Aurora Theatre board
By Tony Sandrew
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. | Aurora Theatre welcomes new officers. Amanda Sutt is the new board chair, while Sir Tim Minard is vice chair and Curt Thompson is board secretary, joining a dynamic group of civic leaders, industry experts, and community advocates dedicated to supporting the mission and vision of Aurora Theatre.
Amanda Sutt is CEO and Creative Director of Rock Paper Scissors of Lawrenceville, a branding and marketing agency that helps businesses align their messaging and marketing with their mission. She began with Aurora in 1999 when she started helping with sets, then joined the production crews the following season. She designed her first shows in 2004, bringing a passion for storytelling that remains central to her work today. With a degree in technical theatre and a concentration in scenic and costume design, Sutt pairs her artistic roots with decades of experience in marketing strategy and visual identity.
Sir Tim Minard is the founder and CEO of Eclipse Gaming Systems,a software firm in Duluth. With a strong background in financial services, technology, and business development—as well as leadership roles with Wells Fargo and The Hartford—Miniard brings a strategic mindset to the board. He is also a Knight of the Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller.
Curt Thompson of Norcross is an attorney and a former Georgia State Senator, who practices law at Thompson and Associates in Duluth. He has served as chair of the Sierra Club’s Georgia chapter, advocating through Gwinnett County Habitat for Humanity, participating in Norcross Cooperative Ministries, AID Gwinnett, and leading the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement Association.
Aurora Theatre’s 2025–26 Board of Directors includes:
- Ann-Carol Pence, Founding Board Member – Aurora Theatre
- Anthony Rodriguez, Founding Board Member – South Forsyth CID
- Amanda Sutt, Board Chair – Rock Paper Scissors
- Sir Tim Minard, Vice Chair – Eclipse Gaming Systems
- Dean Collins, Treasurer – Axis Companies
- Curt Thompson, Secretary – Thompson & Associates Law Firm
- Lisa Anders – Explore Gwinnett Tourism + Film
- Stephen Michael Brown – Cookerly PR
- Gene Byce – Jireh Supplies
- Natalie Cho – Bon Cosmetics
- Dr. Valerie Clark – Georgia General Assembly
- Jay Dennard – Northside Hospital
- Khady Ellison – Advanced Urology
- Bruce Johnson – Lawrenceville City Council
- Dr. Dan Kaufman – DKaufman Consulting, LLC
- Jun Lin – Shoppes of East Lake LLC
- Kristen Manion Taylor – Delta Air Lines, Inc.
- Santiago Marquez – Latin American Association
- Thomas Mew – Buckley, Bala, Wilson, Mew
- Michelle Bachelor Robinson – Spelman College
- Laura Ryll – Peach State Federal Credit Union
- Chuck Warbington – Lawrenceville City Manager.
- Have a comment? Click here to send an email.
It’s good to see a tenant and owner work together
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
JULY 18, 2025 | It’s good to see tenants and owners work together instead of the squabbling you might see in such arrangements.
Today let’s focus on what is culturally happening in Lawrenceville, as the city has amended its agreement with Aurora Theatre to provide an unusual working arrangement between the two entities that should also result with benefits for both parties.
When Aurora Theatre moved from Duluth into the renovated former First Methodist Church building in Lawrenceville in 2007, it was a major move for the theatre. It happened as Emory Morsberger was redeveloping the downtown area, and searching for a lead tenant around the downtown square.
He purchased the former church building in 2003 and soon worked to land a new entity, the Aurora Theatre, which then was operating out of inadequate quarters in Duluth, into new and better productive operations. Theatre-goers were amazed at the new 250 seat main stage. The complex investment was priced at $7.5 million. Everyone was happy. Overnight, the city of Lawrenceville was boasting of having a professional theatre within its midst.
The city also got a new feature, a parking deck off Crogan Street, which opened up directly into the theatre. It was a tremendous hit and convenient to park for theatre patrons.
Meanwhile, Aurora continued to grow, soon having subscribers to its arts program from 107 counties in Georgia.
As Aurora flourished, the professional company recognized that it needed more facilities, as it was outgrowing its quarters. It was about 2018-19 that both the city and the theatre recognized that they needed to start serious talks about long range plans.
Meanwhile, the city had purchased the key property where a Gwinnett Federal Credit Union bank was located, on the square between the Historic Courthouse and the renovated Aurora Theatre.
What happened next was an original concept, with the city proposing and building the Lawrenceville Arts Center, which opened on October 20, 2021. The entire center consisted of 59,500 square feet, including a 500 seat Grand Stage, a small studio stage, plus cabaret and the original 250 seat main stage. There’s also a grand lobby and art gallery. Meanwhile, the city handed over operations of the entire Arts Center to the Aurora.
Now that has changed. The Aurora will now concentrate on theatre operations, while the City of Lawrenceville will manage the Center and book its space for community engagement, educational performances, public and city-wide celebrations, personal milestones, private events and corporate meetings activity.
Jono Davis, now the executive director of Aurora, is “happy with the new agreement. We’re the anchor tenant, rent the space and provide technical and box office operation for the Arts Center. Meanwhile, the city owns, runs and maintains the building.” The new agreement began July 1.
So here we now have a tenant concentrating on what it does best, and an owner playing a wider role in the building operations.
It appears that it will be a win-win for both. Hurrah, and congratulations to both entities for their new arrangement, done without arguments and squabbling.
Working together like this makes a community even better than it was before.
- Have a comment? Click here to send an email.
Walton Gas
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Walton Gas is a local natural gas provider that serves homes and businesses all across Gwinnett – and the greater Atlanta area! With an office in Gwinnett, they have a rich history of investing in this community – from civic and business groups to non-profits organizations and scholarships/grants for school students and classrooms. They have received the highest customer satisfaction ratings among all of Georgia’s competitive natural gas providers. To learn more about their outstanding value and service, call 770-427-4328 or, visit:www.waltongas.com/gwinnett.
- For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here.
Next hazardous waste collection is July 26 at fairgrounds
By Casie Bolling
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. | Gwinnett County government departments are teaming up to help neighbors rid their homes of household hazardous waste. Co-hosted by Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful (GC&B) and Department of Water Resources from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, July 26, the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day will take place at Gwinnett County Fairgrounds.
Held twice a year – in the winter and again in the summer – since its launch in 2018, the event has collected 1,161,430 pounds of household hazardous waste for proper disposal. In addition to getting the word out to Gwinnett County residents who may want to bring items to the event, its organizers are also seeking volunteers in order to help keep traffic moving smoothly. Duties will include directing traffic, removing materials from vehicles, breaking down boxes, and more.
Schelly Marlatt, executive director of GC&B says; “Extreme heat – much like the high temperatures we’ve been experiencing in Georgia the last few weeks—means special care should be given to the disposal of household hazardous materials, which is why we created this event with our friends at the Department of Water Resources. Many people may be tempted to pour certain materials down their drain or down storm drains, but that can negatively impact our local water sources and the environment at large. The demand for this event was so great that we added a second event each year, and – most recently – have added a fourth hour to accommodate expected crowds. We saw more than 1,000 vehicles drive through our event in February, and – with the kids out of school – we’re expecting even more attendees at the July 26 event.”
In preparation for the event, she encouraged prospective attendees to start cleaning out their cabinets, closets, attics, basements, workrooms, and garages in search of the following items they no longer need in preparation of the Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day:
- 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 preservatives
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 County Fairgrounds is located at 2405 Sugarloaf Pkwy in Lawrenceville. Those interested in registering as a volunteer for the July 26 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day can visit https://bit.ly/463JY0X.
- Have a comment? Click here to send an email.
FOX News keeps pushing trickle-down economics
Editor, the Forum:
Trickle-down economics will not work. Not one of the administrations that have pushed it knew it would not work. It is a game to further enrich the super rich, the oligarchy of the United States.
Nearly a quarter of Fox News’ prime-time economic news coverage in the second quarter of 2024 espoused or promoted the trickle-down economic theory, a discredited economic model that advocates for reduced tax and regulatory burdens at the upper end of the income, wealth, or profit spectrum in order to induce economic growth.
Media Matters analysis of three months of economic news coverage from April through June 2024 from broadcast evening and prime-time cable programs revealed that FOX News was by far the leading vector by which trickle-down talking points were injected into the news ecosystem.
– Raleigh Perry, Buford
Appreciates description of the Norwegian fjords
Editor, the Forum:
Wow! Your Norway cruise sounded like a wonderful trip! I have always wanted to see a fjord since I heard the word in fourth grade. Your pictures and descriptions might be the closest I get. They may have to suffice.
– Lili Outzs, Athens
- 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.
Aurora kicks off 30th season with The Wiz on Aug. 14
Aurora Theatre-goers can anticipate a celebratory and dynamic Season 30, launching with the highly anticipated production of The Wiz (Aug. 14 – Sept. 7, 2025). This electrifying musical kicks off a milestone season celebrating three decades of storytelling, community impact, and artistic innovation.
The 30th Anniversary Season features a vibrant mix of beloved classics, new works, and audience favorites. Other shows on the agenda include:
- Christmas Canteen – A heartwarming holiday tradition, marking Co-Founder Ann-Carol Pence’s final season leading the cherished original revue she created 30 years ago;
- The Play That Goes Wrong – A high-octane farce where everything that can go wrong hilariously does;
- Initiative – A moving World Premiere play where a final D&D campaign becomes a celebration of friendship, imagination, and the moments that matter most;
- In the Heights – Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking musical celebrating home, identity, and the rhythm of community.
Whether you’re a longtime supporter or discovering Aurora Theatre for the first time, Season 30 promises unforgettable experiences that honor the past while boldly embracing the future.
Library gets grants for program honoring Jane Austen
Gwinnett County Public Library has been awarded two grants as it presents “Gwinnett Reads: Jane Austin” in multiple presentations through December 31, 2025, celebrating the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birthday. The celebration includes a massive book giveaway, author visits, film screenings, book club discussions and other festivities that highlight her life and works.
One grant was for $13,500 Gwinnett Creativity Fund Project Grant. The other grant was for $5,000 and came from the Georgia Council for the Arts.
Library Executive Director Charles Pace says: “We are honored to receive this grant as it will help us inspire older and newer generations to get to know Jane Austen and her published works.” He adds: “This money will allow us to introduce the community to the published works of Jane Austen, as well as books, movies, and TV shows that have incorporated her themes for decades.”
About Jane Austen: The world-renowned English author completed just six works during her time and yet manages to command a legion of fans around the world. Her timeless stories have been turned into a plethora of movies, television shows, and modern adaptations in addition to being translated into multiple languages to cross cultural boundaries. Today, she remains as popular as ever and is revered as much as any literary figure in the history of the English language.
Program helps newcomers understand college costs
Through a unique summer program, Georgia Gwinnett College employs high school counselors to provide financial aid guidance for college students.
Eveeta Perumal wanted to make sure her finances were in order before starting her first year in college. The 19-year-old from Loganville, along with her mother, visited Georgia Gwinnett College’s (GGC) Financial Aid office where they were greeted by Latasha Dillar. She walked the pair through the financial aid process. Dillard, who works full-time during the school year counseling 10th grade students at Discovery High School, is spending the summer at GGC helping students like Perumal transition to college.
Since 2021, GGC’s Financial Aid office brought high school counselors on board during the summer months. According to Kimberly Jordan, GGC’s interim vice president for Enrollment Management Services and executive director of financial aid, the counselors work from mid-May until late July and sometimes into August, before returning to their home schools right in time to start the academic year.
“The financial aid process is not easy,” she says. “This program is another conduit for us to get information to high school students, along with reminders to complete the FAFSA and provide assistance in those areas where students need help.”
This is Dillard’s third summer at GGC. She said the college’s friendly atmosphere keeps her coming back—and so does her passion for helping students. “We’re right there to help them,” she says. “Most students need support with FAFSA applications, scholarship information or figuring out how to cover tuition.”
The summer experience also enhances her work back at Discovery High School.
“A lot of our staff may not be very familiar with the new financial aid processes—but I am because I’ve been working with them throughout the summer,” Dillard explains. “So I can be a resource at my school for FAFSA updates, process changes and how to prepare students and parents as they ger ready for college.”
Across the room, John Cash was also assisting students with their FAFSA applications. A counselor at Dacula High School during the school year, Cash has worked each summer at GGC since 2022. He previously served in GGC’s Enrollment Management department and says returning gives him the chance to reconnect with former colleagues—and former students.
“My favorite thing about being at GGC during the summer is seeing students I’ve worked with at Dacula,” Cash said. “In fact, earlier today, I saw a student who graduated from Dacula two years ago. I helped him get ready for college, and now he’s here getting help with financial aid.”
Both Cash and Dillard said it’s comforting for students, especially those new to the college, to see familiar faces as they navigate the sometimes-confusing intricacies of financial aid.
For Perumal, she’s grateful for the help so she can concentrate her efforts on the business of being a successful college freshman.
“Ms. Dillard showed me the financial aid process, told me what I had to do and when I had to do it,” she said. “She was very helpful and nice and gave my mom all the information she needed, too.”
Her mother, Eve, agreed, making this program, and GGC, “mom approved.”
“From the moment I walked in, I felt comfortable,” she said. “Everyone was very friendly and made us feel at home. I was very impressed.”
Someone, by Alice McDermott
From Karen J. Harris, Stone Mountain: Marie Commeford’s life is much like the life of many of us. It is filled with joys, sorrows, situations and humdrum day-to-day occurrences. Alice McDermott has crafted a soulfully satisfying story of Marie’s life from childhood, including the loss of a friend to a freak accident, the trials and heartbreaks of adolescence, early married life and the birth of children, the death of her parents, and the mystery of her brother Gabe, a priest who leaves his vocation. Threaded through the story is the issue of her poor eyesight that serves as a metaphor of her difficulties navigating seeing meaning from her life experiences. As Marie matures, her remembrance of times past shape her understanding of others, underscore her value system and make her a personage of import in her own right. The reader will be engaged from the first page as the story unfolds with ease and grace.
- 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.
Georgia has abundant groundwater resources
Georgia has abundant groundwater resources found mostly south of the fall line, but also in the Valley and Ridge region in the northwestern part of the state. In the intervening Piedmont and Blue Ridge regions, the crystalline bedrock and overlying saprolite typically do not provide significant amounts of groundwater.
The biggest demand for groundwater in Georgia comes from agriculture, which pumps as much as 1.5 billion gallons of groundwater per day at the peak of the growing season.
South Georgia is underlain by a thick sequence (up to 4,400 feet) of sand, silt, clay, and limestone beds that thicken toward the south and east and are gently inclined in those directions. Sandy layers and limestones make up the Coastal Plain aquifers. From oldest to youngest, they are named the Cretaceous, Clayton/Dublin, Claiborne/Gordon, Floridan, and Brunswick aquifers. An aquifer is a formation that contains sufficient saturated, permeable material to yield a significant amount of water to wells and springs.
The extremely productive Floridan aquifer system, a series of Paleogene limestone formations, underlies most of south Georgia and extends from southeastern Alabama to South Carolina and Florida. In most places, the Floridan aquifer is artesian, confined above and below by relatively impermeable clay layers. In the lower Flint River basin of southwest Georgia, the Floridan aquifer is semiconfined. There, the aquifer recharges annually with seasonal rainfall from November to April. Where the Floridan aquifer is at or near the surface, many springs can be found. Most of the groundwater used by agriculture comes from the lower Flint River basin because the Floridan aquifer is shallow and productive.
In the coastal counties of Georgia, sands and limestones of the Brunswick aquifer are thickest in the counties along the Altamaha River. This aquifer is being used more than in the past as an alternative to the Floridan aquifer.
In northwest Georgia, folded and faulted Paleozoic limestones underlie the intermontane valleys. These limestones are extremely productive aquifers that, like the Floridan aquifer, recharge annually. The limestone aquifers of north Georgia are associated with many springs. The combination of recent drought and heavy municipal and industrial pumping, however, has created localized sinkholes that have caused significant property damage.
Across Georgia, groundwater levels typically rise and fall throughout the year in a predictable cycle. In normal rainfall years, groundwater levels are highest in March and April after being recharged by winter and early spring rains. Levels decline through natural discharge to rivers and springs and from pumping until they reach their lowest levels in late October and early November. They gradually rise thereafter until the following spring.
In some parts of south Georgia east of the Flint River basin, there have been long-term declines in the Floridan aquifer, indicating that withdrawals are exceeding recharge. Heavy industrial and municipal pumpage of the Floridan aquifer along the coast of Georgia, especially in Savannah and Brunswick, has resulted in large cones of depression in which hydraulic pressure has been significantly reduced. This has led to saltwater intrusion in Brunswick and Hilton Head, S.C., and the cessation of many flowing artesian wells.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
Check out this highly-placed setting for a lighthouse
Look at how unusual the setting is for this lighthouse. It’s one of the most stunning we have seen. Your job is to tell us where it is located. Send your idea to ebrack2@gmail.com to include your hometown.
The last mystery photo was of the Babyland General and the “birthplace” of the Cabbage Patch Kids dolls located in Cleveland, Ga, Jay Altman of Columbia, S.C. wrote. He added: “Xavier Roberts converted a former clinic into a retail facility for the sale of his dolls, originally called ‘Little People.’ It is presented as a birthing, nursery, and adoption center for premium Cabbage Patch Kids. Although the fad surrounding the dolls has largely died down, this site attracts numerous fans and curiosity seekers.” The photo came from Cindy Evans of Duluth.
Other readers in far-flung places recognizing the Cabbage Patch home were Stewart Ogilvie, Rehebeth, Ala.; Dick LoPresti, Berkeley Lake; Sue Baum, Hoschton; Ruthy Lachman Paul, Norcross; George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; Barbara Dawson, Dahlonega; Lou Camerio, Lilburn; Rick Krause, Lilburn; and Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas. Peel asked: “I’m curious … are there any readers of the GwinnettForum that still have an original Cabbage Patch Kid living at home? If so, treat them well, for some of the early handmade dolls could fetch as much as $37,000 if they were ever put up for ‘re-adoption.”
- 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.
Ribbon-cutting today at First Senior Center of Georgia
Ribbon-cutting of an expansion of the food bank of the First Senior Center of Georgia will be Friday, July 18, at 11:30 a.m. This will be at 5555 Oakbrook Parkway in Norcross.
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.
Gwinnett Historical Society will meet Monday, July 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the Rhodes Jordan Park Community Center in Lawrenceville. The subject of the program will be the county’s namesake, Button Gwinnett.
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. 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.
GwinnettForum is provided to you at no charge every Tuesday and Friday.
Meet our team
- Editor and publisher: Elliott Brack, 770-840-1003
- Managing editor: Betsy Brack
- Contributing columnist: Jack Bernard
- Contributing columnist: George Wilson
More
- 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 great news and information from GwinnettForum, but if you need to unsubscribe, go to this page and unsubscribe in the appropriate box.
- © 2025, Gwinnett Forum.com. Gwinnett Forum is an online community commentary for exploring pragmatic and sensible social, political and economic approaches to improve life in Gwinnett County, Ga. USA.
