Free and fitness are always good, and at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC), you can have both by volunteering for a free 10-week exercise program.
The Department of Exercise Science and Physical Education is offering this program to benefit both participants and students. Volunteers will receive a comprehensive fitness assessment and a personalized training plan, while GGC’s exercise science students gain valuable, hands-on experience in a practical fitness setting.
Assessments include:
- Blood pressure
- Body composition
- Cardiovascular fitness
- Muscular strength
- Balance
- Flexibility
After the initial assessment, participants will take part in a personalized 10-week training program, meeting Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30–6:30 p.m., September 16 to November 20. A post-training assessment will measure progress.
Who can participate:
- Healthy adults ages 25–65
- Healthy adults without any major health complications
- Healthy adults who don’t currently exercise regularly
- Healthy adults able to attend scheduled sessions
To express interest in participating, visit this site to complete the pre-participation survey. For additional questions, please contact exscpracticum@ggc.edu
Mountain Park getting new Marriott Fairfield Inn
A new four-story Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites will be built in the Park Place area of Mountain Park. The address is 1990 West Park Place, Stone Mountain.
The hotel will feature modern décor, an indoor pool, flexible meeting space, complimentary hot breakfast, free high-speed Wi-Fi, and a convenient 24/7 marketplace. It is expected to open by Spring of 2027.
Esteves returns to area as arts center manager
The City of Lawrenceville has named Daniela Esteves as Complex General Manager of the Lawrenceville Arts Center (LAC). Esteves brings more than eight years of experience in the performing arts and event industry, and returns to Gwinnett in a new job.
She most recently served in Artistic Operations at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and previously worked with several arts and entertainment organizations, including Gas South District in Gwinnett County from 2019 to 2021. Her professional background includes programming, patron services, marketing, and event management. Esteves holds a Master of Arts in Arts Management from American University and a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from the University of Florida.
Effective July 1, 2025, the City created a new division within the Department of Community and Economic Development to operate the LAC. Under this structure, several Aurora staff members have transitioned to city positions, and new positions have been added to expand programming, rentals, and communications.
Jasmine Jackson, director of Community and Economic Development, says: “The Lawrenceville Arts Center is more than a performance venue — it’s a gathering place that fuels our local economy and strengthens community connections. This transition ensures the Center remains welcoming and vibrant, while expanding opportunities for residents and visitors to experience the arts in Downtown Lawrenceville.”
Grimsley joins board of Jackson EMC
A new member of the Jackson EMC Board of Directors is Mary Grimsley, a leader recognized for her strong community involvement and dedication to service.
Grimsley is an educator and business owner. She and her husband, Don, own Grimsley Enterprises, Inc., an ocean freight forwarding firm. Active in the community, she is a member of the University of Georgia Parents Leadership Council. She serves on the Sisu-Integrated Early Learning board of directors and is a past board member of the Spina Bifida Association of Georgia. She is a graduate of Leadership Georgia.
Grimsley is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, a master’s degree in reading education, and a certification in gifted education. She previously taught at Trickum Middle School in Lilburn. She and Don live in Gainesville. They have four children, a son-in-law and a grandson.
She succeeds Alton Thornton, who is retiring from the Jackson EMC Board of Directors after 14 years of service. He previously was with AgGeorgia Farm Credit.
State conservation board recognizes two Gwinnettians
Two Gwinnettians have been honored by the Georgia Association of Conservation Districts (GACD).
Ellis Lamme was elected vice president at the annual meeting recently at Jekyll Island, Ga. As Vice President, Ellis will assist with leading GACD as they work with federal and State partners of the United States Department of Agriculture and with all 40 Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Districts in the promotion of natural resources conservation.
Lamme was born in Portsmouth, Ohio in 1947, and has been in the south for 40 years. In 2000, he was elected as chairman of the Gwinnett County Soil and Water Conservation District Board and has since been re-elected for five consecutive terms. He also currently serves as the president of the Upper Ocmulgee River Resource Conservation and Development Council, a multi-county environmental organization based out of Lawrenceville.
In addition, the GACD recognized David van Landingham of Snellville, who has served for 10 years as a District Supervisor for the Gwinnett County Soil and Water Conservation District. He is secretary of the Gwinnett conservation district board. He began the Gwinnett Water and Pollution Department and was with the county for 14 years.
