Make this Mother's Day Week-end the best ever ...
7 ways to make Mom's Day special!
1. "Behind the Garden Gate" Garden Tour, Saturday May 9 from 9 am until 3:pm features some of Lilburn's most beautiful gardens and at the same time helps the Lilburn Woman's Club raise funds for community needs. See what the Gwinnett Daily has to say about one of the participating gardens. Check this LINK for description of the six featured garden retreats. Get tickets or donate HERE. (After a busy week Mom will really enjoy this stress reliever.)
2. Picnic in a Lilburn Park - pack a lunch, (don't make Mom do this, you can do it!) and enjoy Lilburn City park, walking trails, and playground. Take your bicycles for a ride over to Lions Club Park and trails. Check out the fields, pavilion with grill and playground at Bryson Park. You might even do this without Mom on Saturday while she enjoys the Garden Tour and make Sunday really special for her.
3. Shoal Creek Water Treatment Plant Open House - FREE Great Saturday field trip for the family or Dad and the kids, especially if Mom wants a Spa Saturday to herself. May 9 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. This open house includes kids' activities, refreshments, crafts, and tour of the plant. Water professionals will be on hand to answer questions about the drinking water supplied to the County. Shoal Creek Filter Plant, 1755 Buford Dam Road in Buford. Call 678.376.4200 for more information.
4. Fort Daniel Archaeology Month Open House - FREE-May 9 from 10:00am to 2:00pm. The Fort Daniel Foundation invites you to explore archaeology and the early history our local community at one of Gwinnett County's premiere historic sites. The open house marks the opening of a new archaeology lab and museum. Activities include excavation and screening of artifacts in the fort's blockhouse area, interpretive tours and exhibits, media presentations, and viewing of the artifact conservation and curation process in the new lab. Visit www.thefortdanielfoundation.org for more information. Fort Daniel, 2505 Braselton Highway in Buford. (Another great Saturday field trip. )
5. National Train Day will be on May 9 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Vines Park. Event is free to attend and will celebrate the season opening of the only G-scale garden railroad in Georgia. Park is located at 3500 Oak Grove Road, Loganville. For more information call 678-277-0906. (Another great Saturday family activity. Mom might want to visit Vines.)
6. Check out local businesses for specials such as Doug Dorough's Plant Sale this week-end for naturally blooming flowers in your yard and remind Mom all year long that you care.
7. After child-free Saturdays for mom, you top of the weekend with dinner out on Saturday or brunch or dinner on Sunday at a Lilburn restaurant. These restaurants were featured at "Taste of Lilburn 2015" and are worth a visit especially if you haven't tried them: 1910 Public House, Bambinelli's, The Barn Brew House, Rivals on Five, Taqueria Los Hermanos and Taste of Paradise.
Lilburn Community Partnership News
Lilburn Library Update
The Lilburn Library building on Hillcrest
Road, will likely be vacated sometime in Fall, 2016 following the opening of the new Lilburn Branch Library adjoining the new Lilburn City Hall. Phil Hoskins, Deputy County Administrator, shared with the Lilburn Community Partnership that Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation is in the process of evaluating the facility and will consider use of the building for community recreational programming opportunities. The groundbreaking for the joint City Hall / Public Library project is scheduled for June 9, 2015 at 1:30 pm.
Community "Cookout for a Cause"
The Lilburn Community Partnership Cookout was a great success. Over $1,000 was raised for the Lilburn Relay Rally. Thank you Lilburn!
LCP After Hours May 19
LCP After Hours will be held Tuesday, May 19 from 6:30 pm until 8:00 pm at Ruppert Landscape. Area residents, business operators and community leaders will be treated to a tour of the facility, a cookout, and a presentation by branch manager, Steve Faber and staff.
Ruppert is one of our major companies in Lilburn and this
a great opportunity to learn more about their services and get some great ideas from their garden displays at their facility. Business operators are encouraged to bring handouts for the Community Information Table and a door prize for giveaway.
Two dates remain for LCP After Hours 2015: August 18 and October 20. Contact Michael Taylor at mtaylor@bellsouth.net if you are interested in providing a door prize, hosting a future event or would like more information.
Providence to Break Ground on Athletic Complex
After several years of planning, Providence Christian Academy will soon be breaking ground on the Lamar
Lussi Athletic Complex. Plans are to have a ceremony after the spring instrasquad football scrimmage game on Friday, May 15.
Congratulations and best wishes to the Providence school family as they begin the construction phase on this long-awaited addition to their school complex.
LCP Board Member Desai Appointed by Gov. Deal
Congratulations to Ritesh “Rick” Desai, LCP Board Member, on his recent appointment by Governor Nathan Deal to the Board of Commissioners of the Commission on Equal Opportunity. Desai currently serves as the director of Public Relations for BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir in Lilburn. He previously served as the president and Chairman of the Georgia Indo-American Chamber of Commerce and is the current chair of the Small Town, Big World: International Festival in Lilburn.
Desai also served as the co-chair of the Asian-American Commission for a New Georgia’s Economic Development Committee under Gov. Sonny Perdue. Desai is a graduate of Meadowcreek High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. He and his wife Sheetal have three children.
Posted May 4, 2015
The City of Lilburn will offer two new types of events this summer, in addition to old favorites like the Sparkle in the Park fireworks celebration on July 4. Get your beach blankets ready to enjoy movies, concerts, food trucks, and more on the lawn in Lilburn City Park.
Rock the Park is a new Friday night concert featuring national acts that perform popular classics. Admission is free. The Return will bring Beatles tunes to the park on June 5. The Ultimate Eagles Tribute -- On The Border will perform on Aug. 7.
Lilburn's first Moonlight Movie will be "Paddington" on Friday, May 22. Children's activities and concessions will open at 8 p.m., and the movie will begin at dusk on an inflatable screen in the park. A second Moonlight Movie is scheduled for the fall. "Hotel Transylvania" will be shown on Oct. 24, with activities beginning at 6 p.m.
City Market on Main will be back for another summer season starting June 2 through Aug. 25. The City of Lilburn hosts this traditional farmers market in Old Town focused on fresh, local produce. City Market on Main will be open Tuesday evenings from 4-7 p.m. in the Greenway parking lot, which is on Main Street next to the railroad tracks. Follow City Market on Main on Facebook to find out who will be at the market this season.
Lilburn Food Truck Tuesdays are also back again this year, starting May 12. Sample a variety of food trucks and local bands on the second Tuesday of the month in May through August and the third Tuesday in September.
Sparkle in the Park will light up the park with fireworks and GLOW the Show Band on July 4. GLOW is an Atlanta-based, seven-piece, dance/show band with a focus on quality vocals, clear music and lots of FUN! They are guaranteed to pack the dance floor every time. The event also includes a variety of concessions, food trucks, bounce houses, balloon animals, corn hole, beer and wine, and even a dunk tank!
Other upcoming events in Lilburn City Park:
PAWfest on May 16
National Night Out on Aug 4
Small Town. Big World. Lilburn International Festival on Sept. 12
White Elephant Sale on Sept. 19
Classic Cars in the Park on Sept. 26
Lilburn Daze on Oct. 10
Media Contact: Rozalyn Schmitt, Event Coordinator, 770-638-2225, rschmitt@cityoflilburn.com
Commissioners Approve Construction for Joint Lilburn City Hall and Lilburn Library
(Lawrenceville, Ga., May 6, 2015) – Construction will begin soon on a new building to house both Lilburn City Hall and a Gwinnett Public Library branch. The two governments previously agreed on cost-sharing details for the project in May of last year after signing an initial understanding in 2011.
Hogan Construction Group LLC of Norcross was the lowest of four bidders at $11,294,000. Gwinnett County will manage construction and the two entities will share in the cost. The library portion funding comes from SPLOST. Construction will take about 14 months. The 47,940-square-foot, two-level building will include 5,217 square feet of shared community and support space in addition to the 18,864-square-foot library and 24,927-square-foot city hall. It is designed to meet LEED Certification Version 3.0 through the U.S. Green Building Council.
Primary funding for Gwinnett’s public library system comes from Gwinnett County. District 2 Commissioner Lynette Howard said, “The existing Lilburn branch at 788 Hillcrest Road is one of the system’s oldest and smallest branches, so we are relocating it to a building twice the size and making it more computer-oriented. I am excited about this branch being the first upgrade of our older libraries and that this is the first joint building with a municipality. I truly appreciate everyone working together to make it happen.”
Lilburn had outgrown its present city hall at 76 Main Street. It needed space for public safety and municipal courts and wanted to develop a downtown core by relocating to a more accessible and prominent location. Mayor Johnny Crist said, “We want to express our sincere appreciation of the partnership formed in making this project a reality. We look forward to working with Gwinnett County as we embark into the construction phase of this wonderful project.”
The local governments have already worked together to realign Main Street with two roundabouts to smooth traffic flow to Old Town and to lower Church Street by eight feet to improve sight distance and safety. The $3.5-million project was also supported by the State Road and Tollway Authority and the Lilburn Community Improvement District.
City and DDA Dedicate Memorial Bench to Helen Morriss
Saturday, April 24 was a time for family, friends, current and former city officials to honor the lifetime of serivce of Helen Morriss. The group shared memories of longtime public servant and resident Helen Morriss as they gathered to dedicate a park bench near the playground. It was an especially fitting location as Helen's grandson is a frequent visitor to the playground. (See more pictures in the Photo Gallery.
Gwinnett County News
Upcoming Events
Board of Commissioners Town Hall Meetings
May 12 at 6:15 pm. The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners wants to hear from you. Join them for the final of in a series of four town hall meetings. Beginning at 6:15 pm, representatives from County departments will hold an open house to answer your questions and talk about the different services they provide. At 7:00 pm, the commissioners invite you to share your thoughts and ideas about County government services. The final meeting will be held at the Hudgens Center for the Arts, located at 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth.
Water Wise Landscaping Workshop -FREE
May 12 from 7:00pm to 8:00pm. Come learn
how your landscaping can be water wise to both you and the environment. Register through the Stormwater Management Division at dwrsreg@gwinnettcounty.com with your name, address, and phone number or call 678.376.7193 and press 5. Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center Auditorium, 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville.
Memorial Day Ceremony in Honor of Gwinnett Military Heroes
May 25 at 1:00pm. This annual event honors our county's military heroes and public service personnel. Members of the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners and honor guard units from Gwinnett County Corrections, Fire and Emergency Services, Police Department, Sheriff's Office, and the Lawrenceville Police Department will take part in this event. Gwinnett Fallen Heroes Memorial, 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville. For more information, visit www.gwinnettfallenheroes.com.
CELEBRATE OLDER AMERICANS MONTH
(Lawrenceville, GA., May 5, 2015)
Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation (GCPR) in partnership with Health & Human Services is celebrating Older Americans Month in May to honor and recognize older Americans for their contributions to our families, communities and society. The theme of this year’s celebration is “Get into the Act,” to focus on how older adults are taking charge of their health, getting engaged in their communities, and making a positive impact in the lives of others.
GCPR kicked off the month with a resolution on Tuesday, May 5 for Older Americans Month, presented by the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners. By promoting and engaging in activity, wellness, and inclusivity, more Americans than ever before can “Get into the Act.” Throughout the month, GCPR will be offering special activities and events at various locations:
- Get Your Z’s will be on May 8 from 11 a.m. – noon at Prime Timers Pointe at George Pierce Park. Free to attend and learn tips and tricks for getting a good night’s rest, sleeping better and more soundly. Park is located at 55 Buford Highway, Suwanee. For more information call 678-277-0910.
- The Players Memorial Softball Tournament and memorial ceremony will be held May 9, 8:30 a.m. at Bethesda Park Softball Complex. Free to attend ceremony and cheer on the teams. Park is located at 255 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville. For more information call 678-277-0890.
- Monday Movie Matinee will be on May 11 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. at Bethesda Park Senior Center. Enjoy a bargain movie with popcorn and drink. Event is $2/person. Park is located 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville. For more information call 678-277-0179.
- Acting Up and Cooking Out will be on May 14 from noon – 1:30 p.m. at Bethesda Park Senior Center. Event is $6/person and will feature a cookout, concert and lawn games. Park is located at 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville. For more information, or to register call 678-277-0179.
- Elvis in Hawaii Luau will be held on May 15 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Prime Timers Pointe at George Pierce Park. Event is $12/person and includes food, festive music and fun with Elvis. Park is located at 55 Buford Highway, Suwanee. For more information, or to register call 678-277-0910.
- (Grand) Kids to Parks Day will be on May 16 from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. at Rhodes Jordan Park Playground. Event is free for all to celebrate National Kids to Parks Day. Bring the grandkids and enjoy lawn games, special activities and inflatables. Park is located at 100 East Crogan Street, Lawrenceville. For more information call 678-277-0890.
- The Master Gardeners Tour will be on May 16 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. at various locations. Join the Gwinnett County Master Gardener Association for a beautiful tour of ten local gardens. Event is $16/person. For more information visit www.gwinnettmastergardeners.com.
In addition, there will also be ongoing activities including Celebration of Life Art Show throughout the month of May at Bethesda Park Senior Center, Beauty of God’s Nature Art Show at George Pierce Park Community Recreation Center, fitness and wellness activities such Zumba Gold, Yoga and Aquatic Exercise. GCPR is proud to support Older Americans Month and the opportunity to show appreciation and commitment for our senior citizens. For more information,call 770-822-8840 or visit www.gwinnettparks.com.
Police Host Multicultural Festival
The annual Gwinnett Multicultural Festival will take place Saturday, May 16, 2015, from 11:00am to 3:00pm at the Gwinnett Place Mall, located at 2100 Pleasant Hill Road in Duluth, near the Satellite Boulevard and Tandy Key Lane entrance. The event offers families the opportunity to see the services provided by the Gwinnett County Police Department and interact with officers.
In addition to meeting officers from various units, families can receive free car seat checks and enjoy kids' activities, police vehicles and fire truck displays, K-9 demonstrations, cultural performances, a rock wall, inflatables, and food vendors. For more information, call the Gwinnett County Crime Prevention Unit at 770.513.5119.
Community Emergency Volunteer Courses
The Gwinnett County Office of Emergency 
Management is offering free Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT training to Gwinnett County residents beginning May 26, 2015. These courses educate residents about disaster preparedness for emergencies that may impact their community. Residents are trained in basic disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.
Courses are open to all Gwinnett County residents age 18 years and older who pass a background check provided by the Gwinnett County Police Department. The training consists of eight sessions that take place from 6:30pm to 9:00pm on Tuesdays. A course review and disaster simulation will take place on Saturday, July 11 from 8:00am to noon. For more information or to sign up for the course, please email ema@gwinnettcounty.com. Sign up soon; class size is limited to 25 participants.
Sheriff Hosts Jail Break Challenge
The Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office will host its third annual Jail Break Challenge on June 6 at 8:00am at the Gwinnett County jail, 750 Hi Hope Road in Lawrenceville. This 5K obstacle run is designed to challenge runners of all levels. The course leads runners around the campus of the jail, where they will encounter all levels of terrain and extreme obstacles.
The event will feature three categories: Open Competitive, Team Competitive, and Non-Competitive. Proceeds support the Sheriff's Office's teen mentoring programs. Space is limited, so register soon at www.active.com. For more information, please visit www.jailbreakchallenge.org.
Nash to Serve as President of CCG
Gwinnett County Chairman Charlotte Nash was
sworn in by Senator Johnny Isakson on Sunday, April 19 as President of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia and will serve as part of the association's 40-member Board of Managers. ACCG is Georgia's county association and works on behalf of county officials and their communities by providing public policy and legislative advocacy, leadership development, civic and community engagement initiatives, insurance and retirement programs that specialize in local government needs, and other cost-saving programs.
As president, Chairman Nash will work with the ACCG Executive Director and the Board of Managers to lead the association and guide policies over the next year. In addition, she will work with the Board of Managers to update the strategic plan, which focuses on increasing county efficiencies, enhancing continuing education offerings, and fostering strong relationships between counties and the state and federal government.
County Offices Closed for Memorial Day
All Gwinnett County Government offices, with the exception of those operations required for the comfort and safety of residents, will be closed Monday, May 25 for the Memorial Day holiday. County Offices will resume normal business hours on Tuesday, May 26. A Magistrate Court judge will be available at the Gwinnett County Detention Center during the holiday. In addition, trash and recycling collections are scheduled as normal in unincorporated Gwinnett County. While the Gwinnett County Solid Waste and Recycling Call Center will be closed that day, hauler call centers will be open.
