GwinnettForum | Number 25.62 | August 11, 2025
BECAUSE THIS IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SETTING, we are highlighting today’s Mystery Photo as the main photo today. Look at the design, and the way it flows together. And it might be difficult to get out of that maze, too. See if you can identify where this photograph was taken. See Mystery Photo, below.
TODAY’S FOCUS: In new location, Georgia Wellness offers more services
EEB PERSPECTIVE: Homeowner groups could provide another service
SPOTLIGHT: Gateway85 Community Improvement District
ANOTHER VIEW: Student debt is one of our nation’s bigger problems
FEEDBACK: Norcross and Suwanee parklet are not at all similar
UPCOMING: Mosaic Masterpiece Art Auction coming on August 21
NOTABLE: Changes, like a new cell phone, can bring a frustration
RECOMMENDED: God Only Knows, by Hugh Whitemore
OBITUARY: Bob Baroni
GEORGIA TIDBIT: Inman family among key leaders after Civil War
MYSTERY PHOTO: It’s gorgeous, but think of the maintenance
CALENDAR: Aurora Theatre marks 30th anniversary with The Wiz
In new location, Georgia Wellness offers more services
By Robin Mauck
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. | In a state that consistently ranks among the highest for maternal mortality and health disparities, Georgia Wellness stands as a place of hope for women and families in need of compassionate, accessible, and life-affirming care.
What began as a small but determined effort to close gaps in prenatal and postpartum care, has grown into a robust and visionary organization now taking bold steps toward long-term impact with the recent acquisition of a new facility.
This new building marks a transformational milestone for Georgia Wellness. The expanded space will not only allow for a dramatic increase in patient volume but will also serve as the foundation for a fully integrated family health center. It prioritizes maternal wellness, pediatric care, and social support services under one roof. The location will house both medical and mental health services, educational programming, group prenatal care, and community outreach initiatives that promote health equity and dignity for every mother and child served.
Currently, Georgia Wellness offers a full spectrum of maternal health services, including routine and high-risk prenatal care, trimester-specific education, postpartum prevention, mental health counseling, and supportive pregnancy care in a group format. In addition, free transportation is provided to ensure that lack of access never stands in the way of life-saving care. Through partnerships with local organizations clients receive holistic support.
But the vision does not stop there. In the coming year, Georgia Wellness plans to expand into pediatric care, allowing mothers and their newborns to receive coordinated services in a single, trusted location. This seamless transition from pregnancy to parenting support is essential to long-term health outcomes and will reduce fragmentation in care for some of Georgia’s most vulnerable families.
Additionally, plans are underway to open a maternity home, a residential program for pregnant women in crisis. This facility will provide not just shelter, but wraparound services including counseling, life skills training, and case management to empower women during pregnancy and prepare them for stable, independent living after birth.
With the acquisition of this building, Georgia Wellness is not simply growing, it is reshaping the future of maternal and child health in Georgia. The organization’s commitment to whole-person care, community partnership, and faith-informed compassion continues to set a new standard for what maternal healthcare should look like.
In a landscape where far too many women fall through the cracks, Georgia Wellness is building bridges between medical and emotional care, between crisis and hope, and between mothers and a future filled with possibility. The new facility is more than just a building; it is a promise to serve more, reach further, and love deeper.
Georgia Wellness is proof that when a community comes together to care for its mothers, generations are changed.
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Homeowner groups could provide another service
By Elliott Brack
Editor and Publisher, GwinnettForum
AUG. 12, 2025 | Homeowner associations: some people love ‘em; some are in one and can’t stand it, but can do nothing about it. When buying a home, membership in the HOA comes automatically, and there is little you can do about it.
Homeowners Associations (HOAs) are a standard of many residential communities in the United States, but what exactly are they, and why do they exist?
An HOA is a governing body formed within a residential community, typically in planned neighborhoods, condominiums, or townhome developments. The primary responsibilities of an HOA include maintaining shared spaces, enforcing community rules, and providing a high standard of living for all residents.
Up front, let me say I’m most pleased that I do not live in a neighborhood with an HOA. All too often, people elected to these HOAs go far away from reasonableness in enforcing the rules. For instance, they might veto your desire to change the color of your house, or not allow a shed in your back yard, and generally are onerous in the interpretation of the governing rules. The better associations guide with a tender hand, while keeping the area pristine.
Yet I see that these associations might do an even better job for the homeowners they represent.
Here’s a hypothetical case: suppose at the entrance to your neighborhood, there are several open lots facing the major thoroughfare. What if someone bought one of these properties, and planned to put a 16 pump gas station and convenience store at the entrance to your subdivision? And let’s suppose that you did not live in an area with an HOA.
If the zoning was proper for this gas station, there would be little you could do about it.
On the other hand, if this property was in a HOA, those property lots would not allow such a business. Yet if the property for the gas station was down the road a short distance, at the entrance to another subdivision without a HOA, that would be a different story. Residents of both subdivisions might object, but little could be done.
Here’s where a well-run HOA might be of great assistance to both sub-divisions. While most HOAs are well aware of the activities within their HOA, a really good HOA might have a wider influence. Voluntary representatives from the HOA might attend regular governmental meetings, at the county and city level, to be aware of widespread activities. They might be watchdogs for the HOA residents, to keep abreast of what was going on. Such individuals could sound a warning bell to their HOA neighbors, as well as other sub-division neighbors, alerting them to possible downgrading possibilities of the area. Local residents would be pleased that they might stop such an unwanted business.
Unfortunately, most HOAs do not take the wider course of watchdogging. And from time to time, unwanted possibilities arise that scare neighbors within the wider community.
Some HOAs will say: “Not our job.”
Yet the more alert HOA activist could see the broader picture and be of exemplary service to people in the area.
We hope those of you in HOAs have a solid working group watching out for your community, and keep you alert to possibilities.
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Gateway85 CID
The public spiritedness of our sponsors allows us to bring GwinnettForum.com to you at no cost to readers. Gateway85 Community Improvement District is a self-taxing district that includes just over 800 commercial property owners with a property value of over $1.7 billion. Gateway85 includes the southwestern part of Gwinnett County including properties along Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Buford Highway, Indian Trail Road and Beaver Ruin Road. Gateway85 is one of five CIDs to be created in Gwinnett County and is one of the largest CIDs in the state. The community is an economic powerhouse that helps fuel the regional economy.
More than 3,000 businesses employing roughly 47,400 people call Gateway85 home. The jobs in the district account for almost 16 per cent of Gwinnett County’s total employment. Gateway85 provides $27.5 billion in economic output for the County and $36.4 billion economic output for Georgia. Gateway85’s mission is to improve property values through increased security, decreased traffic congestion, and general improvements to the curb appeal and infrastructure of the area. Gateway85 CID’s office is located at 6305 Crescent Drive, Norcross, Ga. 30071.
- For more information visit https://www.gateway85.com/, or call Robert Michener at 770 798 4700 or email him at info@gateway85.com.
- For a list of other sponsors of this forum, click here.
Student debt is one of our nation’s bigger problems
“The Republican Party’s steadfast opposition to student debt relief remains a wildly unpopular stance — even with a majority of younger Republican voters.”
– Mike Pierce, executive director, Protect Borrowers Action.
By Jack Bernard, contributing columnist
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. | Current United States student debt stands at $1.6 trillion and is increasing. As detailed below, because of political reality, neither party has adequately addressed this issue.
Georgia’s average student loan debt is over $42,000. And that figure is higher than in 48 other states. A study conducted by an online HR platform, Techr, this means that these “residents are struggling under the weight of student loans.”
That study also found that the 1.7 million student borrowers in Georgia owed a hefty $71 billion in student loan debt. As would be expected, they are relatively young people, with about half under 35 and compose 15 percent of all state residents.
Most Americans incur student debt, but the proportion varies greatly by race. The percent of black students with a bachelor’s degree obtaining such loans is 81 percent and their payments average $258 monthly, with 23 percent being behind on payments. Hispanics are at 60 percent with average monthly payments of $188 and 20 percent are behind on payments. Whites are at 59 percent with $215 average monthly payments and only 6 percent are behind.
The real question is what can be done about this abysmal situation? The Biden approach was to simply attempt to abolish student debt by Executive Order. The Supreme Court stopped that, although Biden did partially succeed via other methods. The current administration’s approach is to undo everything Biden has done, student debt being one of these efforts.
So, who is right? The answer is more complex than choosing “a” or “b.”
Here is what one poll found regarding low-income Americans- nearly 60 percent say forgive the loans. Yet over a third state that is a bad idea.
Slightly more than half of Americans believe that we should erase all student debt. As usual, there were major differences by party.
Here is what another poll (by Protect Borrowers Action) found just before the 2024 election: 73 percent overall wanted the government to act to lower school debt, with half of those polled wanting either total or partial cancellation. The figures were even higher for Democrats who were Gen Z and millennials: 81 percent. For Republican Gen Z and millennials, the figures were much lower, but still high: 49 percent.
The fact is that we as a nation cannot go on as we have, spending more while cutting taxes for corporations and the wealthy. The Big Beautiful Bill (BBB) should be called the Budget Buster Bill.
We have a choice with school debt. We can reduce some of the burden, especially on lower-income people. But, if we do, that will increase the national debt even more. Unless Congress moves to cancel out some or all of the BBB tax cuts, and selectively raise taxes to reduce the national debt, our tax structure is in trouble.
One thing is for certain. Younger people are under a tremendous financial strain. For my fellow boomers to shake our heads and do nothing is a poor strategy.
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Norcross and Suwanee parklets are not similar at all
Editor, the Forum:
In response to the Suwanee City Manager’s comments on the Norcross Parklets: I’ve seen those parklets and the situation is not similar in any way to the Norcross Parklet.
Here’s why:
- Suwanee parklets are on a half circle amply wide street within Town Center, and not on a main road through the center of town.
- Suwanee parklets are colorful and shaded and fit with the new Town Center that you have created. Norcross parklets are drab, unshaded and do not fit in with the historical aspect of our city.
- Suwanee parklets do not block the view of any of the stores in Town Center. Norcross parklets obscure the businesses on Jones Street.
- Suwanee parklets are not leased to restaurants. They are there for hanging out, resting, eating take out etc. Restaurants have outside seating on your very wide sidewalks. In Norcross the parklets are being leased to restaurants for table service.
Nothing about Suwanee parklets feels unsafe. Norcross parkets are anything but safe. They don’t pull you in and they are not inviting. If in a proper setting, parklets could have been all that and more. There are several spots in town that could have worked. This spot does not!
– Mary Dowdy, Norcross
Reader spots grandfather in previous edition
Editor, the Forum:
The man in the Snellville School photo plowing the mules is my grandfather, Overton Couch. My mother, who would have been 8 years old at the time, and her family lived across 78 Highway from the school.
I’m not 100 percent certain it is him, but we have the same photo in a family album somewhere!
– Richard Tucker, Berkeley Lake
(Editor’s note: Mr. Tucker is former president of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce—eeb.
Praises nursing profession after stay in hospital
Editor, the Forum:
Unfortunately, I recently had a three day inpatient stay at the Emory Johns Creek hospital. This is a big shout out to the nurses that cared for me. All of nurses were attentive, tender, professional, and pleasant throughout their 10 or 12 hour shifts. I was aware that they were understaffed and overworked. Yet even after a long demanding day, the nurses remained competent and pleasant. One nurse stayed a half hour past her shift to sit with me to make sure I was okay.
This must remind us all that our hospital nurses all need to be appreciated by us. We, as a country, need to offer funding for more nursing training, provide adequate staffing, and most importantly, provide nurses compensation commensurate with the importance of their professional efforts.
Hospitals need the financial support of insurance companies and government to support our hardworking nurses. We all need to fight for adequate hospital funding.
– Alan Schneiberg, Sugar Hill
Resounding “Amen!” for Baggs’ immigration insight
Editor, the Forum:
Norman Baggs’ article on the Trump Administration’s supposed immigration reform deserves a resounding Amen!!! The best measure of a nation’s heart and soul is our treatment of the homeless, the poor, and the immigrants living and working alongside us.
“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40 NIV Bible).
– Gary Christensen, Chamblee
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Mosaic Masterpiece Art Auction coming on Aug. 21
By Amanda Mickelsen
DULUTH, Ga. | Mark your calendars for Thursday, August 21, as Mosaic Georgia presents its sixth annual Mosaic Masterpieces Art Auction and Happy Hour at The Hudgens Center for Art and Learning in Duluth. This unique community celebration combines the best of Gwinnett County’s artistic talent with support for survivors of sexual abuse and violence.
From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., guests will enjoy an eclectic mix of original artwork created by talented local artists, appetizers, beverages, a Silent Auction and live entertainment featuring both a caricature artist and live painter. The highlight of the evening will be our dynamic host, Kiana Dancie—celebrated Atlanta-based comedian, transformational speaker, best-selling author, and emotional intelligence coach—who will bring her humor, energy, and storytelling to create an unforgettable atmosphere.
The main event features an online art auction where attendees can discover and collect unique pieces while directly supporting both local artists and Mosaic Georgia’s vital mission. Guests also enjoy the opportunity to connect with 100+ neighbors, local leaders, and community advocates. Whether you’re an art enthusiast, community minded, or simply looking for a meaningful way to spend an evening, Masterpieces offers something special for everyone.
Every ticket purchased and artwork bid supports Mosaic Georgia’s comprehensive services for survivors of sexual violence, including a 24-hour crisis line, advocacy, forensic medical care, legal aid, counseling, and healing programming. For nearly four decades, this trusted Children’s Advocacy Center and Sexual Assault Center has provided this vital support. In 2024 alone, they served over 3,300 people, 82 percent being children and youth under the age of 18.
Executive Director Marina Peed says: “This event perfectly captures what we’re about—bringing our community together to create something beautiful while supporting survivors. Every ticket and piece of art purchased helps us continue providing critical services to those who need them most.”
The 2025 Masterpieces event enjoys strong community support from local organizations. Various sponsorships demonstrate the widespread commitment to supporting the needs of survivors and their families in our area.
Located at 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway Building 300 in Duluth, The Hudgens Center provides the perfect backdrop for this intersection of arts and advocacy. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased online. Buy your tickets today and be part of something meaningful.
For tickets or more information, visit this site or send an email to Lacie Manning.
Changes, like a new cell phone, can bring a frustration
Spiders, needles, germs, heights—these are all common fears. But there’s one that quietly grips more people than you might expect: metathesiophobia—the fear of change. While it may not be as visible as a panic over spiders or as dramatic as a fear of heights, the fear of change can be just as paralyzing, influencing decisions, stalling progress, and quietly holding people back.
Change can feel like standing on the edge of a diving board. It’s scary but thrilling if you take that leap.
“The fear of the unknown can create a feeling of anxiety,” says Dr. David Ludden, Georgia Gwinnett College’s (GGC) professor of psychology and chair of the psychology department. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 12.5 percent of adults experience some type of phobia in their lifetime.
While change goes back to the beginning of time, the pace from then to now continues to accelerate. Consider the automobile, said Ludden. Just over 100 years ago it was newly accepted as a widely used means of transportation.
“Today, it’s all about technology,” he says. “For example, take our cell phones. Something as simple as getting a new phone can cause anxiety and frustration. I just bought a new one and I’ve had to learn how to use it all over again. It functions differently and has features that I’m getting used to.”
Change, adds Ludden, isn’t a bad thing.
“Most change is for the better when you think about it,” he says can make things better.”
Fear aside, part of the challenge with change is people tend to resist it.
“It’s common to hear about the ‘good old days’ and how great it was then,” says Ludden. “However, many times that is a nostalgic, romanticized view of how things actually were.”
Both Ludden and his wife are avid readers.
“My wife has rows of books on shelves in our house,” he says. “And she asks me why I don’t read anymore. I tell her I read just as much, only on a screen.”
Like it or not, change happens.
“The idea of change can trigger negative reactions like anxiety,” feels Ludden. “Accepting that change is going to happen is a good first step. It’s part of what helps you grow personally. Many times, it’s not as bad as you imagined it would be.”
In the end, Ludden says change is inevitable, but how you approach it is what makes the difference.
“It’s okay to be afraid of change, but you shouldn’t let fear rule your life,” he emphasizes.
God Only Knows, by Hugh Whitemore
From Susan McBrayer, Sugar Hill: Did the Catholic Church create the resurrection story as a marketing ploy to attract more attention to Christianity? This is the basis of this play. It’s summertime and two couples are vacationing at a villa in Tuscany when a disheveled man walks onto their patio. The man tells them he’s a scholar working with ancient documents at the Vatican. He says he recently discovered a paper describing how the church, after being adopted as a state religion in Rome, contrived to resurrect Jesus from the dead ‘to give the people what they wanted.’ But when he shared this discovery with one of the priests, he was thrown in jail. Realizing his life was in danger since his discovery could jeopardize the church, he managed to escape into the Tuscan countryside. He and the couples debate religious ‘truths’ all night. This is not great literature, but certainly thought provoking.
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Bob Baroni
Bob Baroni, 80 of Loganville, passed away on Tuesday, August 5, 2025. A Funeral Service was held on Saturday, August 9, 2025 in the Loganville Chapel of Tim Stewart Funeral Home. Interment was at Oconee Memorial Park, 2370 Hog Mountain Road, Watkinsville.
Mr. Baroni was the City Manager for the City of Lawrenceville prior to retirement. A dedicated public servant for more than four decades, Baroni began his career with the city in 1974 and went on to serve as director of Parks and Recreation, city clerk, and Lawrenceville’s first city manager. Known for his steady leadership and commitment to fiscal responsibility, he played a key role in major projects, including the construction of the current City Hall, and helped shape the city’s culture and operations. He is a City of Lawrenceville Heritage Trail medallion honoree, one of 34 individuals whose lasting contributions have shaped Lawrenceville’s history. His legacy continues to guide Lawrenceville today.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Pascal and Inez (Evans) Baroni; and brother, Russell Dane Baroni. Bob is survived by his wife of 54 years, Gloria Baroni of Loganville; daughter and son-in-law, Beth (Alan) Bannister of Loganville; brother and sister-in-law, Jerry (Laura) Barone of Ocala, Fla.; grandchildren: Jacob Bannister, Andrew Bannister, Christopher Bannister, Kayla (Chance) Bannister Tudor, Emily (Will) Bannister Gilbert; three great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements were by Tim Stewart Funeral Home, Loganville.
Inman family among key leaders after Civil War
The Inman family is representative of those members of the planter class who lost much of their wealth during the Civil War (1861-65) but recouped their fortunes in a postwar urban environment. The Inmans fit the theory of historians who argue that members of the planter class evolved into the South’s political and economic leaders, roles which were not new to them, after the Civil War.
The Inmans came to Atlanta from eastern Tennessee around the time of the Civil War. In 1865 Shadrach W. Inman followed his two younger brothers, William H. Inman and Walker P. Inman, who had arrived in 1859 and were acting as agents for the Northwestern Bank of Georgia in Ringgold. Shadrach established dry-goods stores with his youngest son, Hugh, in Atlanta. Meanwhile, William, along with Shadrach’s second son, John, went to New York to act as the family’s connection there. Samuel, Shadrach’s eldest son and the grandfather of Atlanta poet and diarist Arthur Crew Inman, went to Augusta and worked in a dry-goods store there with his future brother-in-law, Samuel K. Dick.
The dry-goods stores of the time served as places to barter goods, particularly for farmers growing cotton, but were later discontinued in favor of direct dealings in cotton. The Inmans worked as factors, purchasing cotton from farmers and reselling it when the market turned more favorable. From their interest in cotton they expanded into such related areas as fertilizers, cotton presses, steel hoops to hold compressed cotton, and railroads for the shipping of cotton.
In order to influence shipping rates, the Inmans obtained positions on the boards of various railroads and as voting stockholders. As a result of serving in these capacities, John H. Inman became president of the Richmond and Danville Railroad in 1890. As president, Inman was accused of charging the Richmond and Danville too much money for the stock of the Central of Georgia Railway, of which he was one of the largest stockholders. Due to this conflict of interest, Inman was forced to resign in 1892, and investigations followed. He never recovered from this incident and died on November 5, 1896, with his once wealthy estate in bankruptcy.
Samuel and Hugh, on the other hand, found their interest in various businesses growing along with the city of Atlanta. Starting as railroad stockholders, they became investors in streetcars with their friend Joel Hurt and began to invest in banks, often serving as board members of those banks. Atlanta real estate also became a large part of the Inmans’ business interest, as did insurance, which, because of the threat of fire to their real estate investments, was a natural progression.
The Inmans were soon able to venture beyond the world of business and into the politics of the city. Samuel and Hugh served as aldermen and as members of various civic organizations, all the while pushing the physical development of Atlanta and improving the value of their real estate investments.
Through the money they made on cotton and railroads, the Inmans were able to participate in philanthropic activities in Atlanta. They were key to the development of the Georgia Institute of Technology and Agnes Scott College, as well as, to a lesser extent, Atlanta University and Oglethorpe University. Other charities supported by the family included churches, the Confederate Soldiers’ Home, and Women’s Work in the American Red Cross during World War I (1917-18). The Inmans also supported the founding of an orphanage and of Grady Memorial Hospital. Many cultural endeavors, including the High Museum of Art, also benefited from the Inmans’ generosity.
- To view the Georgia Encyclopedia article online, go to https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org
It’s gorgeous, but think of the maintenance
Think of all the hard work in planting a garden like this. Look, too, at the design. Think, too, of the maintenance. Can you determine where this gem of a garden is located? Send your answers to ebrack2@gmail.com and be sure to tell us where you live.
The most recent Mystery Photo was tough, and few people pinpointed it. Allan Peel of San Antonio, Texas gave us details: “This is Saint Bavo’s Cathedral located on Saint Bavo’s Square in the historic city center of Ghent, Belgium.
“The Gothic cathedral was constructed in phases from the 13th to the 16th century. As with other mystery photos, this one has a few mysteries as well, including the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, is a famously large and complex multi-panel altarpiece that was created in the 15th century. Throughout its history, a number of panels were stolen but eventually returned, except for one … the panel called Just Judges. It was stolen in 1934 and remains missing to this day. While a replica fills its place, the missing panel is sometimes referred to as ‘the world’s most stolen artwork.’
“Bishop Antoine Triest (1576–1657) is famously said to have been buried, at his request, in the cathedral’s crypt, standing upright and facing the altar. Legend has it that he made this unusual request so that he could continue ‘to watch over his flock’ and remain in service to God, even in death.” The photo came from Chris Altman of Portland, Ore., via his father, Jay Altman, of Columbia, S.C.
Also recognizing it were Dick LoPresti, Berkeley Lake; George Graf, Palmyra, Va.; 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.
Aurora Theatre marks 30th anniversary with The Wiz
Smart Money for Parents will be the topic at the Norcross Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on August 12, 19 and 26 at 11 a.m. Learn how to budget, save, and plan for you and your children in this three-part series.
Meet Author Jacinta Howard at the Snellville Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on August 13 at 7 p.m. She discusses her romance novel, When Forty Blooms. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
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 August 13 will be Jennifer Boettcher of the communications office, City of Dunwoody No dues or membership fees; anyone can attend.
Aurora Theatre kicks off its milestone 30th Anniversary Season with a milestone of its own – the 50th Anniversary of the beloved Tony Award-winning musical The Wiz. Running August 14 – September 7, this bold reimagining of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz infuses the classic tale with the heart and soul of Black culture through electrifying R&B, gospel, and soul.Under the direction of Marlon Burnley, with choreography by Akeem Edwards and music direction by Aurora Co-Founder and Producing Artistic Director Ann-Carol Pence, The Wiz launches a celebratory season of storytelling, joy, and community at Aurora Theatre.
Understanding lobbying in Georgia—A Candid Conversation—-will be the subject of the August 14 meeting of the Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. The meeting will be at the Hilton Hotel Northeast in Peachtree Corners at 11:30 a.m. Panelists will include Lewis Massey, Hunter Loggins, Jamie Lord and Jet Toney. The moderator will be Dale Russell (Cannot accept walk-ups.) This panel is designed to be engaging, accessible, and informative for voters, business leaders, nonprofit professionals, and anyone curious about how government really works. You are invited to attend, ask questions, and walk away with a deeper understanding of one of the most influential aspects of public policy. “Registration is necessary.”
Grow Your Business: Lunch and Learn with Reference Solutions. Learn how to use the U.S. Business and Consumer Modules to target specific groups of businesses or individuals who may most likely be interested in your products or services. This will take place on August 14 at 11:30 a.m. at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library.
Laughter for a cause: Norcross’ Lionheart Theatre will present Bananarama IV on August 15-16 at 7:30 p.m. This will be a wild night of comedy, music and drag to support Project Chimps. Suitable for ages 16+. Proceeds benefit a living sanctuary in the Blue Ridge mountains.
Join author Lo Patrick as she discusses her newest Southern mystery, Fast Boys and Pretty Girls. Books will be available for purchase and signing. This will be at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on August 16 at 5 p.m.
Are you a corporate professional dreaming of leaving the 9-to-5 hustle to become your own boss? Attend a workshop, “Your corporate escape plan” on August 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Snellville Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library. This workshop provides a clear and actionable roadmap to help you confidently transition to self-employment.
Join for a lively conversation with Leigh Dunlap, screenwriter-turned-novelist, as she discusses her debut Southern thriller novel, Bless Your Heart. She will be appearing at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on August 20 at 6:30 p.m. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
Churches in Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey: Join author Brenda S. Cox for a visual and historical journey through the churches that shaped Jane Austen’s life and novels. Books will be available for purchase and signing. This part of the Gwinnett Reads Jane Austen will be at the Lilburn Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on August 21 at 6:30 p.m.
Meet Sissy Goff and David Thomas, nationally recognized speakers, bestselling authors, and co-hosts of the popular Raising Boys and Girls podcast, on Friday, August 22, at 9 a.m. at Greater Atlanta Christian School, 1575 Indian Trail Road, Norcross. The event is free and open to the public with registration link: here.
The 12th annual Extra Mile 5K and one mile run-walk will be held Saturday, August 23, starting at 7 a.m. at Suwanee Town Center. This benefits Annandale at Suwanee. Participation supports individuals with developmental disabilities and acquired brain injuries, while advancing Annandale’s mission to empower every Villager to reach their fullest potential and independence – one gift, one registration, one team and one step at a time.
Volunteers needed: Looking for a few good men and women to volunteer for the September 6 British Car Fayre in downtown Norcross. Time: between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. If interested, send an email to: Bill Aguilar at: wcac04@yahoo.com. Include your name, email and cell number.
Join author Ravynn Stringfield as she discusses her newest romance novel, Love in 280 Characters or Less. This will be at the Duluth Branch of Gwinnett County Public Library on August 27 at 6 p.m. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
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