community news
Duluth Summer Stage Concert Series
On Saturday July 21 at 6:30pm, the City of Duluth’s Summerstage Concert Series presents a Sinatra and Friends Tribute show with The Usual Suspects Big Band. Produced by Atlanta Special Events, this Rat Pack style show stars Duluth residents Lori O’Brien as Marilyn Monroe and Liza Minnelli and Allan Wiltshire singing the songs of Sammy Davis. Pat Sallarulo of Norcross will entertain with his smooth Frank Sinatra style vocals and Tim Beasley of Virginia Beach adds comedy and song as Dean Martin. The Usual Suspects Big Band will start off the evening at 6:30 with a set of Big Band favorites and at 7pm, the Sinatra show begins. Dancing is welcome and encouraged! Admission FREE. Bring chairs, blankets, picnic basket and dancin’ shoes!
Reading Takes You Everywhere
Take your kids on an exotic journey this summer, solve a mystery, or laugh at the antics of a wacky band of friends. Summer is all about vacation and the Gwinnett County Public Library (GCPL) is all about its Vacation Reading Program (VRP) 2007. From May 1 through August 12 students of all ages can attend fun programs at their local public library, and keep track of their reading activities on their game cards. The theme for this year’s VRP is Reading Takes You Everywhere, and by encouraging your child to read for pleasure they too can experience adventures beyond their own bedroom.
Beginning May 1 kids may register online at the library’s website or at all 14 of the GCPL branches beginning May 19. Together, parent and child set a goal and once that goal is reached the child will receive a VRP certificate and a free book at any branch by letting their librarian know of their achievement. Your child is also eligible to win a prize once they receive their certificate. Watch for details at the library!
The Gwinnett County Valor Awards
We offer our congratulations to the recipients of the 2nd Annual Gwinnett County Valor Awards given by the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce. The awards ceremony, which was held March 16th at the Hilton Atlanta Northeast, was given in honor of the brave officers who so courageously serve our communities in Gwinnett.
Receiving the Gold Medal of Valor Award were Lt. Mike Johnson, Officer Ryan Gill, Officer Gabe Springer and Sgt. Steve Castor of the Gwinnett County Police Department. Officer J.P. Saverance of the Gwinnett County Police Department was honored with The Silver Medal of Valor Award. The Bronze Medal of Valor Award was given to Officer Bobby Johnson of the Duluth Police Department. Firefighter Jason Simms of the Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Services received The Lifesaving Award. The award for the Public Safety Person of the Year was given to Officer Greg Perry of the Snellville Police Department with Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department’s Fugitive Unit honored with the Public Safety Unit of the Year Award. Finally, the Gwinnett County Chamber honored the team of Operation One Voice with the Medal of Merit.
With gratitude for your hard work and willingness to put yourselves in harms way for the safety of our community, we say Thank You from Accent Gwinnett and the thousands of other grateful citizens of Gwinnett County.
Memorial Day Celebration
Join the City of Duluth this Memorial Day as they honor the brave American servicemen, servicewomen and their families who served our country from 1950- 1955. They came from every walk of life to fight for their country in a far away land called Korea. The City of Duluth, in conjunction with American Legion Post 251, will declare May 26 Korean War Veterans Day. The American Legion Riders, a sanctioned organization of Veterans and their motorcycles, will participate to “Honor” and “Remember” those who served in the Korean War, for those who are still missing and those who did not return. This is an unbelievable performance you will not want to miss!
A memorial service honoring all veterans of the Korean War will be held at 7pm on the Town Green in Duluth. Any Korean War Veteran able to attend should contact BeBe Samples at 678.475.3512 or bsamples@duluthga.net.
Breast Cancer Three Day Walk
Many local teams are training for the upcoming Breast Cancer 3-Day walk, October 12-14, and one Gwinnett team plans to host several local events to help raise funds. The Tutus for Tatas, a group of men and women from the Dacula/ Lawrenceville area, will host “Golf for the Cure” at Hamilton Mill Golf Club June 25. Registration is $125 per player with teams of four. Cost includes a continental breakfast and all American cookout lunch. Eagle 106.7 radio personality Greg Talmadge will emcee. For more information contact Melinda at 678.947.4114.
Tutus for Tatas will also present their second annual “A Taste of Hope” fashion show and luncheon featuring entertainment, breast cancer info and a silent and live auction August 25 at the First Baptist Church, Sugar Hill. Dillards Mall of Georgia will provide the fashions and all models are Breast Cancer survivors. TV personality Denny Moore will be the Master of Ceremonies. Cost is $60 per person and is 100% tax deductible. Contact Kathy at 770.972.2104 for more info.
Tutus for Tatas raised over $217,000 last year making them the number one team in Georgia and in the top five fundraising teams nationwide.
AT&T Classic BIRDIES FOR CHARITY®
The When Everyone Survives Foundation (WES) invites you to take part in the AT&T Classic BIRDIES FOR CHARITY® program which centers around the PGA Tour event May 14-20 at the Tournament Players Club Sugarloaf in Duluth. The AT&T Classic and Atlanta Classic Foundation Charities, Inc. is giving WES a chance to raise funds with your pledges. You can make a minimum pledge of one penny per “birdie” made Wednesday through Sunday by the PGA Tour players at the AT&T Classic. You can also guess how many cumulative “birdies” will be made this year for a chance to win a 42” Plasma Television. This promotion is 100% tax deductible. For more information call 770-813-0719.
(Started by the Smith family of Duluth after losing their son to leukemia, the WES Foundation raises money to help fund innovations in leukemia research. www.wheneveryonesurvives.org)
Noble Village Senior Community Under Construction
The Neighborhoods of Noble Village at Sugarloaf are committed to providing a balance of comfort, convenience, and independence for their clients states Mark Gary of Gary Holding Group, the family-owned business developing this active senior community. Gary explains that a lot of forethought and planning went into every detail of building an exciting, comfortable community. Julie Amerson, VP of Marketing continues that sentiment saying, “Noble Village is for the senior population seeking the right decision for long term housing arrangements. We offer the ‘Continuum of Care’ option with cottages, independent apartments, assisted living and memory care. Our staff will counsel with you and your family members to ensure a smooth, exciting transition.” The mission for Noble Village is: “To encourage independence, To foster a sense of community,
Gwinnett Chamber Announces Small Business of the Year Winners
Sean Murphy with Canvas Systems was awarded the 2007 Overall Gwinnett Small Business Person of the Year Award and the winner of Gwinnett’s Small Business Person of the Year for the 150+ employee category at the Gwinnett Chamber’s Pinnacle Small Business Awards Dinner presented by HavenTrust Bank on April 25. Additional Small Business Persons of the Year Awards were presented to Steven Wagner with Virtual Properties Realty for the 1—10 employee category, and Hank Datelle with Cypress Care for the 11—149 employee category. Twenty-two additional small businesses were also awarded Pinnacle Small Business Awards for demonstrating extraordinary growth and giving back to the community.
The companies honored were selected from more than 300 nominations as Gwinnett’s Top 25 Pinnacle Small Business Award Winners, based on steady and above average growth and profitability, growth in number of employees, contributions to the community, overcoming adversity, original entrepreneurship and more, as defined by the Small Business Administration.
Local Decorator Accepted to National Organization
Angela Thee owner of Angela Thee Custom Interiors, was recently accepted as a member of the Decorators’ Alliance of North America (DANA), a professional organization that promotes excellence in the field of interior decorating.
Members of DANA must demonstrate professionalism and competency by subscribing to a code of ethical standards and completing a course of study in interior decorating. As a member in good standing of DANA, Angela Thee will have access to interior decorating resources and vendors, up-to-date research in decorating trends, and continuing education opportunities.
Angela opened her business providing Custom Window Treatment Design and Fabrication in 2002. Her designs can be seen at www.picturetrail.com/athee
The Gwinnett Chamber’s Big Expo is Back!
The annual one-day business tradeshow and job fair is Thursday, August 16 at The Gwinnett Center from 1pm-7pm. With more than 250 exhibitors this expo is a great opportunity to expose your business to thousands of potential clients while you network with peers, generate quality business leads, and attend Gwinnett’s largest Business After Hours of the year. This year’s event features six seminars and a keynote luncheon with local and nationally renowned business experts and authors. Registration deadline is August 4. www.bigexpoandjobfair.com
