Peachtree Corners Magazine June/July 2024

2024 Summer Reading Challenge JUNE 1 - JULY 31

Readers of all ages are invited to join the Summer Reading Challenge at Gwinnett County Public Library! Log your reading and win prizes, and join us all summer long for magic shows, pirate parties, and puppet shows!

Scan to learn more about the challenge and see event dates for your local branch! gwinnettlibrary.org

PEACHTREE CORNERS MAGAZINE

EDITORIAL

EXECUTIVE EDITOR & PUBLISHER

RICO FIGLIOLINI

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

ANNA DEL VILLAR

EDITOR EMERITUS

KATHY DEAN

EDITORIAL CONSULTANT

RITA FIGLIOLINI

ADVERTISING

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

JULIE DAVIS julie@livinginpeachtreecorners.com

TUKER DUKES tucker@mightyrockets.com

RICO FIGLIOLINI

Publisher & Executive Editor

Rico Figliolini is a creative director and social media strategist, three-time magazine publisher and podcast host. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York and is a political junky, sci-fi and anime fan, and avid reader and movie binger.

RITA FIGLIOLINI

Editorial Consultant

Rita Figliolini has lived in PTC for 23 years with her husband and life partner, Rico Figliolini. Proud mom of 3 — Jason, Kinsey and Jack. Former Managing Editor of the original Inside Gwinnett, she’s now Advisor to PTC Magazine. Telling stories is in our blood!

JULIE DAVIS

Account Executive

Julie Davis is an accomplished sales rep with over 20 years of experience in the telecom industry. When not working or spending time with friends and family, Julie can be found melting glass, as she is an avid fused glass artist.

HARRY J. PINKNEY, JR

Graphic Designer

Harry J. Pinkney, Jr is an accomplished Graphic Designer with over 25 years of experience. A Philadelphia native who now calls Atlanta his home. He enjoys his dog, Chloeé, working out, movies, and running his own freelance graphic/ web design business.

ANNA DEL VILLAR

Contributing Editor / Newsletter Editor

Anna is a contributor to Peachtree Corners Magazine. She graduated with a B.A. in English Composition from Georgia State University and has five years of experience performing multimedia writing, editing, and publishing for automotive, small business, and general assignment media.

ARLINDA SMITH BROADY

Senior Writer

Arlinda Smith Broady is of the Boomerang Generation of Blacks that moved back to the South after ancestors moved North. With 30 years of journalism experience, she’s worked in tiny newsrooms to major metropolitans. She brings professionalism, passion, pluck, and the desire to spread news.

KATHY DEAN

Editor Emeritus

Kathy Dean has been a writer and editor for over 20 years. Some of the publications she has contributed to are Atlanta Senior Life, Atlanta INtown, Transatlantic Journal and The Guide to Coweta and Fayette Counties.

PATRIZIA WINSPER

Writer

Patrizia hails from Toronto, Canada where she earned an Honors B.A. in French and Italian Studies at York University, and a B.Ed. at the University of Toronto. This trilingual former French teacher has called Georgia home since 1998. Catch her reporting about our vibrant city on the Peachtree Corners Network.

PEACHTREECORNERS

PUBLISHED BY MIGHTY ROCKETS LLC. P. O. BOX 923207 Peachtree Corners, GA 30010 678-438-5310 editor@livinginpeachtreecorners.com

Peachtree Corners Magazine is published six times a year by Mighty Rockets LLC. Opinions expressed by the contributing writers and editors are not necessarily those of the publishers, editors or Peachtree Corners Magazine. The publisher will not accept responsibility for submitted materials that are lost or stolen. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of this publication. However, the publisher cannot assume responsibility for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement it seems unfit for publication or does not fit in our guidelines.

June/July 2024 issue Volume 6 Number 33 ©2024 Peachtree Corners Magazine

The editors welcome submissions, event listings, achievements and photography. Please direct them to editor@livinginpeachtreecorners.com. This publication is independently and privately owned, and managedby Mighty Rockets LLC instagram.com/peachtreecornerslife facebook.com/peachtreecornerslife twitter.com/peachtreecrnrs www.pinterest.com/ PeachtreeCornersMagazine

TRACEY RICE

Photographer

After a long career in global marketing for Fortune 500 companies like The Coca-Cola Company and Texas Instruments, Tracey earned a degree in Commercial Photography and now owns her own photography business. She specializes in portraits, events and real estate photography. She is the President of the Peachtree Corners Photography Club.

GEORGE HUNTER

Photographer

George Hunter is an IT professional from Alaska by way of Texas. His primary hobby is photography, covering a wide range of subjects from pets to cosplay, sports to fashion. Volunteering and fostering dogs brings him much joy. George, his wife Lila and their rescued dogs have made their home in west Gwinnett for almost 20 years.

BRUCE JOHNSON

Photographer

Bruce has been a resident of Gwinnett County for over 30 years and is heavily involved in the Southwest Gwinnett community. A former General Manager of the Hilton Atlanta Northeast hotel, he is active with the SWGC, PTC Business Association and Norcross community meetings/events. Currently, he works for Explore Gwinnett.

KRISTEN CORLEY

Writer

Kristen Corley is an Atlanta native with over a decade of experience in content creation. She lives in Historic Norcross with her family and writes “Young Norcross,” a weekly newsletter that focuses on building community and local engagement.

RAINA LOGAN

Podcast Production

Raina Logan is a highly accomplished audio engineer, music producer, and talented writer. With over a decade of entrepreneurial experience as the owner of an esteemed audio production company, Raina seamlessly merges her creative writing skills with her technical expertise, shaping unforgettable auditory journeys.

DORIE LIU

Photography/Intern

Dorie Liu is a rising senior who attends Norcross High School and currently lives in Peachtree Corners. She enjoys journalism, research, and plans to major in Communications in college.

1: Flicks on the Green - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Mutant Mayhem

8: Night Music - Carpool (Cars Tribute)

15: Sports on the Screen

22: Sports on the Screen

29: Summer Concert SeriesGuardians of the Jukebox (80’s)

6: Flicks on the Green - Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark

13: Night Music - Beyonce Tribute

20: Midsummer Kids Festival (2:00-5:00pm)

27: Summer Concert Series - Tina Turner Tribute

3: Flicks on the Green - Lilo & Stitch

10: Sports on the Screen

17: Night Music - Drancing Dream (Abba Tribute) and Hall & Oates Tribute

24: Peachtree Corners Has Talent

31: Summer Concert Series - Ticket To The Moon (ELO Tribute)

SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER

7: Bark in the Park (11:00am2:00pm)

7: Flicks on the Green - Secret Life of Pets

14: Night Music - Blank 281 (Blink 182 Tribute)

20-22: Peachtree Corners Festival

28: Summer Concert Series - A1A (Jimmy Buffet Tribute)

DECEMBER

5: Holiday Glow (5:30-8:00pm)

7: Sports on the Screen

14: Sports on the Screen

TIMES

Flicks on the Green: 7pm Night Music: 7pm Summer Concert Series: 7pm

4: Sci-Fi Movie on the Green

4-6: Sci-Fi Film Festival

12: Night Music - Hot Licks & Rhetoric (Steely Dan Tribute)

19: Peachtree Corners Decathlon

26: Summer Concert Series - The Evolution of Pop

2: Sports on the Screen

9: Sports on the Screen

11: Veterans Day Service

16: Sports on the Screen

23: Sports on the Screen

30: Sports on the Screen

Yoga on the Green (by Sunny Street Yoga): Tues 8am (Jun-Sep) CrossFit (by PPG CrossFit): Thurs 8am (May-Sep)

FIRST UP - EVENTS Events, Programs & Fun Things to Do

ONGOING

Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday: 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Saturday & holidays: 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sunday: 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays.

Exhibition Hub, Atlanta Art Center 5660 Buford Hwy. NE, Doraville vangoghexpo.com/atlanta

Tickets: Adults (ages 13+), $39.90; children (4-12), $23.90; seniors (65+), students (13-26) and military, $33.90; VIP tickets and group or family bundles available.

Visitors of all ages are invited to step into Vincent van Gogh’s paintings in this touring immersive art exhibit. Van Gogh’s most compelling works are displayed as two-story projections filling 20,000 square feet. The sight-and sound-experience lasts about 60 to 75 minutes.

Seoul of the South Food Tour Ticket Sales

Saturdays, June 15, July 13, August 17 and September 14. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

exploregwinnett.org/seoul-of-thesouth-food-tour Tickets: $69 per person

Explore Gwinnett’s Seoul of the South Food Tour tickets are available for the 2024 season. Tickets sell quickly and include food at the local Korean restaurants, transportation and special swag bags. The tour runs for four hours.

Yielded Men

Fridays weekly. 7-8 a.m.

Moe’s Original Barbecue 5005 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 810, Peachtree Corners yieldedmen.org

Admission: free

Yielded Men (YM) is a weekly safe, small discussion group focused on

Important Dates

JUNE

14 Flag Day

16 Father’s Day 19 Juneteenth

JULY

4 Independence Day

28 Parents Day

building relationships and encouraging men in their walk with God. Each week the group addresses a specific issue that most men face in life. All are welcome.

June

ReNew: The Green VBS

Monday-Thursday, June 3-6.

Christ the King Lutheran Church

5575 Peachtree Pkwy., Peachtree Corners parking lot ctklutheran.org, 770-449-1211

Online registration is open.

ReNew Vacation Bible School welcomes kids ages 4 and up to discover Jesus, strengthen the community and grow as stewards of God’s creation. Attending children will explore God’s Word through Jesus’ Parable of the Sower, learn about God’s creation and how to care for it and meet local stewards of the environment as they make new friends and have a great time.

Third Annual Hats N Heels Tea Party

Saturday, June 8. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Norcross Cultural Arts Ballroom 10 College St., Norcross WhatsPoppinUSA.com, 262-4POPPIN

Admission: free to shop; $10 to sip and shop; free parking The vintage tea party-themed vendor pop-up shop has plenty of girliness to go around. The event features more than 20 local, female-owned business vendors, a tea bar and a dress up closet with real minks as well as a GIANT 7-foot Teddy Bear. Free parking and handicap accessible. RSVP at WhatsPoppinUSA.com/events.

Peachtree Corners

Photography Club Group

Meet Up

Thursdays, June 13, July 11 and August 8. 6:45-8:15 p.m.

Atlanta Tech Park

107 Technology Pkwy., Peachtree Corners pcphotoclub.org

Admission: free

Photographers of all skill levels are welcome; arrive at 6:15 p.m. for social time.

Duluth Rotary Car Show

Saturday, June 15. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

City Hall in Downtown Duluth 3167 Main St, Duluth duluthga.net

Admission: free

Exotic cars, antique classics, foreign sports cars, hot rods, muscles cars and more take over City Hall in this event hosted by the Rotary Club of Duluth.

Bluesberry Beer & Music Festival

Saturday, June 15. 3-10 p.m.

Betty Maudlin Park 1-63 Lawrenceville St., Norcross bluesberrybeerfestival.com, norcrossga.net

Indulge in all things blueberry, from drinks to treats, while enjoying some soulful blues music. But the real star of the show is the talented lineup of performers, guaranteed to get you dancing and singing along all night long.

Juneteenth Celebration

Wednesday, June 19. 10-10:50 a.m.

Cultural Arts & Community Center 10 College St., Norcross

Admission: free

The celebration features a curated program with performances by the Brown Sugar Stitchers Quilt Guild, storyteller Sistah Olufemi, violinist Carey Durham and Giwayen Matan, a dance, percussion and vocal ensemble group. Each artist brings a unique blend of skill and passion to the stage. The event will also be livestreamed.

Summer Harvest 2024 at Lionheart Theatre

June 21-23

Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m.

Lionheart Theatre 10 College St., Norcross lionhearttheatre.org, 404-919-4022

Tickets: $20

An amazing collection of 10-minute plays explore the theme of “Unexpected Goodbyes.” Visit vidaliatheatre.com for tickets.

PCBA Business

After Hours: Taste of Peachtree Corners

Thursday, June 27. 5:30-7:30 p.m.

City Hall, Community Chest Room 310 Technology Pkwy., Peachtree Corners peachtreecornersba.com, 678-969-3385

Tickets: $40; free for Peachtree Corners retired or active-duty military service members.

Enjoy an evening of delicious bites and drinks while sampling foods from local businesses and wear red, white, and blue to salute our armed forces. PCBA will present a check

to the Peachtree Corners chapter of Folds of Honor Foundation, which awards scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members. Attendees must be 18 years or older.

July

Red, White and Boom!

Wednesday, July 3. 5-10 p.m.

Lillian Webb Park

5 College St., Norcross norcrossga.net

Admission: free

Celebrate American independence with an amazing display of fireworks that will light up the night sky. Before the show starts, there will be live music, delicious food, face painting and other fun activities for the whole family. Bring blankets and chairs to relax and enjoy the show; shade structures, tents and umbrellas are not allowed.

The Last Days of Judas Iscariot

July 13-21

Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.; Sundays 2:30 p.m.

Pinckneyville Community Center 4650 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Berkeley Lake www.liveartstheatre.org

Tickets: Adults, $18; seniors and students, $15; LAT members, $12

About the show: Set in a time-bending, darkly comic world between heaven and hell, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, by Stephen Adly Guirgis, reexamines the plight and fate of the New Testament’s most infamous and unexplained sinner.

The Enchanted Bookshop

July 25-28

Thursday and Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.

Lionheart Theatre Company 10 College St., Norcross lionhearttheatre.org, 404-919-4022

Tickets: $12

About the show: During the day, A Likely Story may look like any other used bookstore, but at night, it’s a place where magic happens. That’s when the characters inside the books come alive. The show is produced through a special arrangement with Pioneer Drama.

August

Community Connection Day

Saturday, August 10. 12-4 p.m.

The Father’s House Church front lawn

6060 Spalding Dr., Peachtree Corners

thefathershouseatl.org

Bring the family and enjoy free food, drink and giveaways, including back-to-school items, from local and national non-profit connections. Free health/wellness resources and information will also be available.

Email ask@thefathershouseatl.org for more information.

https://thefathershouseatl.org

Light Up the Corners

August 10. 7-10:30 p.m.

The Forum

5185 Peachtree Pkwy., Peachtree Corners

theforumonpeachtree.com

Registration cost: $35, plus $3.10 sign-up fee, until July 10, when the cost jumps to $40.

Be part of the annual glow run and help light up a life. There’s a 4 Mile Glow Run and 1K Twilight Trot to choose from, as well as a Virtual Runner option for non-running supporters. Proceeds benefit at-risk children and families in the community who are struggling by giving them the opportunity to participate in programs and activities at the Fowler YMCA. Sign up at runsignup.com/Race/Events/GA/ PeachtreeCorners/runthecorners.

Good Samaritan Gwinnett: Primary Medical & Dental Care Mission [Podcast]

Shameka Allen, CEO of Good Samaritan Gwinnett, works in nonprofit healthcare and brings a working mother’s perspective to an organization serving over 52,000 people since 2005. Good Samaritan provides primary medical and dental care to over 300,000 uninsured patients in Gwinnett County, Georgia, with fee-based, discounted services funded through patient fees, donations, and grants. They face challenges such as language barriers and navigating the healthcare system for specialty care within their predominantly Hispanic patient population. Our podcast interview with your host, Rico Figliolini, covers this and more in our latest episode.

Town Green Calendar

5140 Town Center Boulevard, Peachtree Corners peachtreecornersga.gov

Scan QR for Calendar ►

Peachtree Corners Has Talent Registration

Through June 15.

Registration is free.

Applications are now open for performers — singers, songwriters and bands— eager to captivate the community. There are three age range categories: kids (ages 12 and under), teens (13-18) and adults (19 and up). Single applicants must be residents of Peachtree Corners. Bands and groups must have one member who is a Peachtree Corners resident. The event is scheduled for Saturday, August 24, 4-8 pm at the Town Green. Visit peachtreecornersga.gov for details and to register.

Flicks on the Green

First Saturday of the month. 7 p.m.

Admission: free

July 6 | Indiana Jones Raiders of the Lost Ark

About the film: This Spielberg classic takes place in 1936, when archeology professor Indiana Jones ventures into the jungles of South America searching for a golden statue.

August 3 | Lilo & Stitch

About the film: The 2002 Disney film follows a lonely young girl’s close encounter with the galaxy’s most wanted extraterrestrial, which she adopts thinking it’s a small, ugly dog.

Yoga on the Green

Every Tuesday. June 4, 11, 18, 25; July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; August 6.

8 a.m.

free

This class runs June through September and is taught by instructors from Sun Dragon Yoga for beginners to experienced practitioners. Please bring water (no glass containers), a small towel or two, and a yoga mat — and wear comfortable clothes.

CrossFit on the Green

Every Thursday. June 6, 13, 20, 27. July 4, 11, 18, 27; August 1, 8.

8 a.m.

Admission: free

All ages and fitness levels are invited to join Terrance Fox with CrossFit PPG for a strength and conditioning workout weekly May through September. Students should bring water (no glass containers), a small towel or two, and a mat if possible — and wear comfortable workout attire and good shoes.

Night Music and Market

Second Saturday of each month through September. 4 p.m.

Admission: free

The Night Market runs 4-8 p.m. The show opens at 7 p.m., and the headline act takes the stage at 8 p.m.

June 8 | Carpool, Ultimate Cars

Tribute Band and Shakerag

About the bands: Comprised of five of the most talented and hardworking musicians in the Atlanta area, Carpool recreates the magic of The Cars with precision and passion. Shakerag is an alt-country/Americana ensemble whose music blends traditional roots with a psychedelic twist.

July 13 | Beyonce Formation Experience and KymBerli Dee

About the bands: The Beyonce Formation Experience is an electrifying tribute that takes the audience on a journey through some of Beyoncé’s greatest hits. Singer songwriter KymBerli Dee specializes in trapsoul, neosoul, R&B and contemporary jazz.

Sports on the Screen Wednesdays, June 15 and 22. August 10.

Admission: free

Tailgate with fellow fans. Sports fans are encouraged to bring their own coolers or purchase food and drink from one of the many restaurants in the Town Center while watching their favorite teams on the big screen.

Summer Concert Series

Last Saturday of each month through September. 7-9 p.m.

Admission: free

June 29 | Guardians of the Jukebox and Risky Biscuit

About the bands: Guardians of the Jukebox is a sonic and video highlight reel that delivers the ultimate 1980s nostalgia experience with high energy. Risky Biscuit is a cover band that specializes in delivering the favorite songs of 80s and 90s kids.

July 27 | Tina: A Tribute to the Queen of Rock and Roll and Lilac Wine

About the bands: Lori Mitchell Gay and her band channel the spirit of Tina Turner in electrifying full stage production. Acoustic band Lilac Wine presents music alluring and relaxing to listeners.

5155 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners theforumpeachtree.com/events

Scan QR for more information ►

Little Peaches

Every other Tuesday. June 4, 18; July 2, 16, 30; August 13. 4-6 p.m.

Admission: free

Children enjoy an ultimate playdate with kid-friendly crafts, games and entertainment.

Forum Fit

Every Wednesday. June 5, 12, 19, 26; July 3, 10, 17, 24, 31; August 7, 14.

6-7 p.m.

Admission: free

This weekly fitness session, held May through October at the North

Plaza, combines strength conditioning, cardio and mindfulness. Participants earn a loyalty stamp for every completed class. Friday Night Live

Every Friday. 6-8 p.m.

Admission: free

The Forum brings in favorite local musicians every week May through October. Everyone is invited to kick back and groove to the music.

June 14 | East and Ward

June 28 | James and Julia

July 12 | Jason Gardner

July 26 | The Bourbon Brothers August 9 | Taylor Harlow

Check out the latest podcasts from Peachtree Corners Magazine on our YouTube Channel

Hosted by Rico Figliolini, Prime Lunchtime with the City Manager is an informative monthly podcast that delves into city developments, news and issues with guest, city manager Brian Johnson.

UrbanEbb, features topics and interviews from start up companies and urban planning, to politics and cultures. Scan the QR to start today.

Admission:

Peachtree Corners Library Branch Calendar Highlights

5570 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners 30092

770-978-5154 | gwinnettpl.org

Book Bathing: Library Soundscapes

Friday, June 7. 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Admission: free

Inspired by Japanese “forest bathing,” everyone ages 12 and up are invited bring headphon es or earbuds and de-stress while exploring the library’s sights and sounds.

Author Talk: Jim Wilson

Monday, June 10. 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Admission: free

Professor Jim Wilson, author of books that include “Common Birds of the Gulf Coast,” will share photos and info on the birds he has watched and studied. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

Travel Around the World with Books

Monday, June 10. 1-2 p.m.

Admission: free Kids aged 6-11 will get a taste of different countries by reading pages from books that take place in different countries.

Toddler Time Storytime

Tuesdays, June 11, 18, 25 and July 9, 16, 23. 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Admission: free

Toddlers (ages 2 and under) and their caregivers are welcome to enjoy stories, activities, fingerplay and songs to develop reading readiness skills.

Cosmic Creations: Painting Planets

Wednesday, June 12. 4-5 p.m.

Admission: free

Learn about the planets in our solar system and use ping pong balls and paint to create one. For ages 6-11.

Preschool Story Time

Thursdays, June 13, 20 and July 11, 18, 25. 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Admission: free

Stories, songs and games for preschoolers (ages 3-5) help them develop literacy skills.

Celebrating Juneteenth: Freedom Day

Thursday, June 13. 1-2 p.m.

Admission: free

Learn about the life of Black Americans and why celebrating Juneteenth is important. Presenter Estelle Halliburton will present insights from her lived experience and how she triumphed over the hardships she endured as a black person born in Mississippi in 1938. All ages are welcome.

Flag Day STEM

Thursday, June 13. 2-3 p.m.

Admission: free

Celebrate Flag Day with a STEM activity about the colors of the flag. For ages 6-11.

Chemistry in Action: Gel Beads

Friday, June 14. 3-4 p.m.

Admission: free

Learn how to create gels from polymers and then make your own gel beads. For ages 6-11.

Where is Waldo #MetKids

Monday, June 17. 2-3 p.m.

Admission: free

Take a virtual field trip to the famous Met Museum and learn about art while you help find Waldo. For ages 12 and up.

Recycled Engineering — Adventure Vehicle

Tuesday, June 18. 2-3 p.m.

Admission: free

Bring your best problem solving and engineering skills to create an adventure vehicle. For ages 6-11.

Chess Boards and Checker Crowns

Thursdays, June 20 and July 18. 6-7 p.m.

Admission: free

Everyone aged 6 and up are invited to learn how to play, and learn more about, the classic board games of chess and checkers.

Making a Fairy Biome

Thursday, June 27. 1-2 p.m.

Admission: free

Learn about local biomes and create your own fairy habitat. For ages 6-11; registration required.

The Science of Fireworks

Tuesday, July 2. 2-3 p.m.

Admission: free

Did you ever wonder how fireworks are made? Kids 6-11 will enjoy some fun science and a fireworks craft.

National Compliment

Your Mirror Day

Wednesday, July 3. 3-4 p.m.

Admission: free

National Compliment Your Mirror Day reminds us to take a moment before rushing through our day. All ages will learn some positive affirmations.

Balloon Rockets

Tuesday, July 9. 1-2 p.m.

Admission: free

Use engineering skills and make a balloon rocket to race.

LIONHEA

A Guided Painting Class | Sunset at the Beach

Thursday, July 11. 1-2 p.m.

Admission: free

Artist Mita will guide everyone step-by-step through the techniques of painting a brilliant sunset by the beach.

Detective Workshop: Fingerprint Analysis

Wednesday, July 17. 1-2 p.m.

Admission: free

Discover the science behind fingerprinting and how law enforcement uses it to solve crimes.

Start Your Story!

Monday, July 22. 3-4 p.m.

Admission: free

Learn about authors who were not even 18 when their first book was written and published. Then start making your own book.

Emoji Painting

Tuesday, July 23, 2-3 p.m.

Admission: free

Paint your favorite emoji. Registration is required.

Find Your Ikigai

Thursday, July 25. 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Admission: free

Not sure of your life purpose? Try finding your ikigai! Learn about

this Japanese concept and how to use it to improve your outlook on life.

Library Olympics

Wednesday, July 31. 2-3 p.m.

Admission: free

Families are invited to compete in Library Skills competitions while learning about France, the Olympics and the library.

GWINNETT COUNTY PARKS

gwinnettcounty.com

Teddy Bear Picnic

Saturday, June 8. 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

One Stop Norcross 5030 Georgia Belle Ct., Norcross 678-225-5400

Admission: $2 per Gwinnett resident; $4 per non-resident Kids 12 and under will enjoy a picnic with their favorite plushies. Drinks, snacks and crafts will be provided.

Crafternoon

Mondays, June 10, July 8 and August 12. 2-3:30 p.m.

One Stop Norcross 5030 Georgia Belle Ct., Norcross 678-225-5400

Admission: $5 per Gwinnett resident; $15 per non-resident

Adults 50+ are invited to bring a friend, or make new friends, while exploring the creative process through a variety of art media. Supplies are included. Participants are welcome to bring their own snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. No previous art experience required.

Clay Creations

Fridays, June 14 and August 15. 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Friday, July 12. 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Pinckneyville Park Community Recreation Center

4650 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Berkeley Lake

678-277-0920

Admission: $12 per Gwinnett resident; $32 per non-resident

Relax and create at Pinckneyville Park’s Pottery studio. Participants will learn the basics of hand building with clay and make their own works of art. Light refreshments will be served.

Norcross Games

Saturday, June 15. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

One Stop Norcross 5030 Georgia Belle Ct., Norcross

678-225-5400

Admission: Free for Gwinnett residents; $12 per non-resident

All ages are welcome to participate in competitive yet friendly games, from tug-of-war to sack racing. Winners will receive prizes.

Paint Party

Monday, June 17. 1-3 p.m.

One Stop Norcross

5030 Georgia Belle Ct., Norcross 678-225-5400

Admission: $15 per Gwinnett resident; $33 per non-resident

Fun, energetic and skilled art instruction will have students feeling like pros after completing their masterpieces. Bring snacks and non-alcoholic beverages or get have one on Parks Department. All supplies are provided. For ages 12 and up.

Food, Fun and Flavor

Friday, June 21. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

One Stop Norcross

5030 Georgia Belle Ct., Norcross

678-225-5400

Admission: free

Ages 18 and up are invited to discover practical home-cooked solutions to healthy eating and living well.

Kids Night: Cool Escape

Fridays, June 21, June 19 and August 16. 5:30-9 p.m.

One Stop Norcross

5030 Georgia Belle Ct., Norcross

678-225-5400

Hush Money

Admission: $12 per Gwinnett resident; $24 per non-resident

Kids, ages 7-12, enjoy a dinner and fun activities with friends. There’ll be games, crafts and more.

Full Moon Firefly Frenzy

Friday, June 21. 7-9:30 p.m.

Simpsonwood Park

4511 Jones Bridge Cir., Peachtree Corners gwinnettcounty.com, 678-277-0902

Admission: free

Georgia has 50+ different species of fireflies, more than any other state in the country. All ages are invited to witness this summer phenom-

Guitars for Vets

Mondays. 12-3 p.m.

Admission: free

enon, and to help record valuable data on the insects.

Resale Market

Saturday, June 22. 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

One Stop Norcross Parking Lot

5030 Georgia Belle Ct., Norcross 678-225-5400

Admission: free to shop

Vendor fee: $25, Gwinnett resident; $45, non-resident

Sell your wares or hunt for bargains at this indoor sale. Vendors are provided with one 6-foot table and two chairs.

GWINNETT COUNTY PARKS

Pinckneyville Park Community Center

4650 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Berkeley Lake Open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. GwinnettParks.com, 678-277-0920

To register, contact Tom Emch at 770-605-0429 or ibemch@charter. net.

This program helps Veterans cope with PTSD through music. Participants get 10 weeks of one-onone lessons. When finished with lessons, participants receive a free guitar.

To register, contact Cliff Meinhardt at 404-234-8040. Learn more at guitars4vets.org.

Bridge Act II

Fourth Monday of the month. 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

Admission: free

For more information, contact JoAnne Leisen at 571-330-4730.

Book Club

Last Tuesday of the month

Admission: free Join in on the reading fun.

Senior Bridge Club

Thursdays. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Admission: free

Experienced Bridge players ages 50 and up are invited to participate in this trick-taking card game using a standard 52-card deck.

To register, contact Mary Fender at 678-357-6709 or maryrfender@ yahoo.com.

Gwinnett Chess Club

Every other Saturday. 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Admission: free

Chess for all ages. All experiences are welcomed.

Atlanta Hobby Robotics Club

Third Saturday of the month. 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

All ages are welcome to share their robotics ideas.

To register contact Walter Burleson at 404-932-8108 or wlenbl@gmail. com.

Atlanta Gourd Patch

Second Saturday of the month

Admission: free

Residents aged 18 and up are invited to apply their creative talents to natural gourds.

Contact KMR01@aol.com for more info and the supply list. Call 678277-0920 for details.

THIS SUMMER

Stand Up Comedy at the Clay! Hosted by Yoshee

June 7 and July 5. 8 p.m.

First Fridays feature comedy, hosted by Yoshee So. The show also features Florida’s up-and-coming Jake Klark and Jessica It’s All Good, a comedian from the South with a loud person-

Paul Thorn

June 13. 8 p.m.

Paul Thorn has created an impressive career with his muscular brand of roots music — bluesy, rocking and thoroughly Southern American — that speaks universal truths.

Songwriters in the Round | Sammy Shepherd, Hannah Onley, Zach Alexander

June 14. 8 p.m.

Sammy Shepherd’s soft vocal tones mix with intricate guitar nuances and make for a wonderful show.

Hannah Onley is a 27-year-old singer/ songwriter who writes and records original tunes. Acoustic guitarist and singer Zach Alexander also writes songs and performs in the Atlanta

End of the Line | The Allman Brothers Tribute Band

June 15. 8 p.m.

End of the Line pays homage to the Allman Brothers while pushing the boundaries of their timeless and extensive catalog.

RB Morris & The New Band

June 16. 8 p.m.

Knoxville-based singer songwriter RB Morris has been called “…a cross between a rural Tom Waits and an urban Woody Guthrie.”

Mitch Rossell

June 20. 8 p.m.

Mitch Rossell is a prolific songwriter; with just an acoustic guitar, he takes the stage show after show and wins new fans.

3116 Main St., Duluth eddieowenpresents.com

This is an abridged list of events for this venue, please check their website for the full calendar of events

Songwriters in the Round | Avery Gipson, Bradley Cole Smith and James Hall

June 21. 8 p.m.

Atlanta native Avery Gipson is a singer songwriter who tells universally relatable stories. Bradley Cole Smith’s songs characterize the human experience and give them ageless appeal. A dynamic performer, James Hall has deep roots in the ATL rock scene of the late 1980s.

Jason Lee Wilson & James County

June 28. 8 p.m.

Tennessee-raised Jason Lee Wilson, along with James County, bring a Southern blend of rockabilly, traditional country and gospel music.

The Fine Colombians | A Steely Dan Tribute

June 29. 8 p.m.

The band brings the look and sound of Steely Dan, fronted by “Dr. K,” pianist, singer, musicologist, classical music composer and faculty member of the music department at Brevard College.

Thunder & Rain with opener Thomas Hinds July 12. 8 p.m.

Thunder & Rain is a newgrass string band based in Nashville. A troubadour from North Georgia, Thomas Hinds performs original songs that share the struggles of life.

Blair Crimmins and the Hookers

July 19. 8 p.m.

A multi-instrumentalist, Crimmins Blair has tried to bring Ragtime and 1920s style Dixieland Jazz to new audiences. His sound is modern and deeply rooted in the past.

Shawn Mullins Benefit for Hero Dog Rescue

July 20. 8 p.m.

Shawn Mullins specializes in folk rock, instrumental rock, adult alternative and Americana music. Georgia-based Hero Dog Rescue saves abandoned, abused and neglected dogs from high kill shelters.

Robert D. Fowler Family

YMCA

5600 W. Jones Bridge Rd., Peachtree Corners

facebook.com/FowlerY/ 770-246-9622

Senior Activities

Grief and Loss Support Group

Mondays. 11 a.m.

Grief and loss are two of the most difficult emotions to face, but you don’t have to face them alone. This is a safe and caring environment for participants. Held in the Senior Meeting Room.

For more information, contact Ellie Garrett at ejgarrett@gmail.com.

Caring for Those Who Care

Tuesdays. 11:45 a.m.

The YMCA’s weekly Caregivers

Group provides a dedicated meeting space for caregivers to offer and receive emotional support. If you are providing care for a loved one, or want to learn more about long term caregiving, this group is for you. The group offers practical information while respecting confidentiality and encouraging camaraderie. Held in the Senior Meeting Room.

For more information contact Mary Crawley at mcrawley@wans.net.

Lifelong Learners

Every other Friday. 12:15 p.m.

For ages 50 and up, Lifelong Learn ers offers seniors the chance to come together and enjoy guest speakers, local field trips and spirit ed cultural discussions. Held in the Senior Center.

For more information, contact Rob Wilson at robertw@ymcaatlanta. org.

Other senior activities include:

• Canasta — Mondays, 2 p.m. in the Senior Meeting Room

• Dominoes — Thursdays, 10:45 a.m. in the Senior Meeting Room

Norcross Gallery and Studios

116 Carlyle St., Norcross | norcrossgalleryandstudios.org, 770-840-9844

Check their website for costs and up to date information.

Exhibits

Pigments of the Imagination ‘24 (Juried)

May 23-July 6

Vivid Delight (Collaborative) July 11-August 17

Ongoing Sessions

Figure & Portrait Study Sessions

Tuesdays, 1-4 p.m.

Cost: $16 for members; $22 for non-members; package pricing available

Organizers: Lynda Ellis, lyndaellis@ gmail.com; Anne Emerson Hall, annehallstudio@yahoo.com

Evening Open Studio

Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m.

Cost: free for members, $5 for non-members

Organizer: Kathy Collins, mkcollinsart@gmail.com

Daytime Open Studio

Thursdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Cost: free for members, $5 for non-members

Organizer: Anne Labaire, labaireart@gmail.com

Workshops

Watercolor Wisdom

July 18-21. 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Cost: $550 for members; $650 for non-members

This four-day workshop will give participants information as well as multiple physical and visual problem-solving approaches that can be applied to painting, particularly in watercolor. Instructor Russell Jewell will teach participants how to see into the future of their painting before they paint it, allowing them to see the target painting and possess the confidence to go for it. Jewell’s primary medium is watercolor, but his techniques come from his doctorate in art education and his 30+ years of teaching art to students. Organizer: Anne Emerson Hall, annehallstudio@yahoo.com

Best of Peachtree Corners Readers’ Choice Awards 2024

Peachtree Corners residents have spoken, and the results are in.

Here are this year’s winners of “The Best of Peachtree Corners.” Over 1,400 of our readers and social media followers weighed in to help us compile this list of area favorites.

Thank you to all the participants, and congratulations to the winning businesses!

Best Mexican Food

1. Kiko’s Tacos & More is a relaxed strip mall eatery offering a menu of exciting Mexican fare, cocktails and lunch specials.

3435 Medlock Bridge Rd, Peachtree Corners kikosmexican.com facebook.com/KikosMexicanRestaurant 770-441-1818

2. La Parilla 5131 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 1005, Peachtree Corners laparrilla.com @laparrillamexicanrestaurant 770-242-0766

3. Taqueria del Mar 5075 Peachtree Parkway Northwest, Suite 105A, Peachtree Corners taqueriadelmar.com @taqueria_del_mar 770-696-4582

Best Place for a Business Lunch

1. Marlow’s Tavern features the “Best of the Best” in American tavern fare served in a modern atmosphere. The menu offers a diverse combination of classic dishes that are updated and elevated to a higher level.

5210 Town Center Blvd Suite 260, Peachtree Corners marlowstavern.com @marlowstavern 470-550-1197

2. J. Alexander’s Restaurant 5245 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners jalexanders.com/georgia/peachtree-corners/5245-peachtree-pkwy/ @jalexandersrestaurant 770-263-9755

3. (tied) Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar 5224 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners lazydogrestaurants.com/locations/ peachtree-corners-ga @lazydogrestaurants 470-735-4501

Best Barbecue

1. Moe’s Original BBQ is a 2,000-squarefoot fast-casual restaurant that is a great place for the community to enjoy a meal together, celebrate little league victories and birthdays and watch their favorite sports on TVs around the full premium bar or on the large outdoor patio.

5005 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 810, Peachtree Corners moesoriginalbbq.com/peachtreecorners @mobpeachtreecorners 770-696-2631

2. Cue Barbecue 5260 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Peachtree Corners cuebarbecue.com/peachtree-corners @cuebarbecue 470-299-5117

Best Breakfast

1. Flying Biscuit Café has called Peachtree Corners home since 2008. Join them for breakfast, brunch and lunch in their dining room or patio. 5270 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 120, Peachtree Corners flyingbiscuit.com/locations-2/ peachtreecorners/ @flying.biscuit.cafe 770-407-5885

2. JR’s Log House Restaurant 6601 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Peachtree Corners jrsloghouse.com facebook.com/jrsloghouse 770-449-6426

3. Manhattan NY Deli & Bagels 5275 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners manhattannydeli.com facebook.com/p/Manhattan-NY-Deli-and-Bagel-100089604675378 678-879-0707

Edited

and compiled

by Anna del Villar

3. (tied) Firebirds Wood Fired Grill 5215 Town Center Blvd, Peachtree Corners firebirdsrestaurants.com/ peachtree-corners @firebirdsgrill 770-225-4662

3. JR’s Log House Restaurant 6601 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Peachtree Corners jrsloghouse.com facebook.com/jrsloghouse 770-449-6426

H&W Steakhouse

Best Steaks and Burgers

1. H&W Steakhouse strives to provide modern fine dining and an unforgettable steakhouse experience. H&W Steakhouse is the latest fine-dining concept

from Norsan Restaurants, which has been in the restaurant business for over 35 years. The company also operates Pampas Steakhouse in Johns Creek and Frankie’s The Steakhouse in Duluth.

5242 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners hwsteakhouse.com @hwsteakhouse 470-682-4600

2. Ted’s Montana Grill

5165 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners tedsmontanagrill.com @tedsmontanagrill 678-405-0305

3. (tied) Uncle Jack’s Meat House 5222 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 920, Peachtree Corners unclejacksmeathousepeachtree.com @ujmeathouse 470-532-1010

3. (tied) Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar 5224 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners lazydogrestaurants.com/locations/ peachtree-corners-ga @lazydogrestaurants 470-735-4501

Best Chinese Food

1. New Dragon serves the Peachtree Corners area with delicious Chinese cuisine, offering specialty dishes that have been well-crafted to create a delightful culinary experience.

5450 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 1B, Peachtree Corners newdragonpeachtreecorners.com 770-558-4262

2. Panda Express

3200 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Norcross pandaexpress.com @officialpandaexpress 678-969-0028

3. Great Sichuan 10475 Medlock Bridge Rd Suite 116, John’s Creek greatsichuanga.com 770-417-8862

Best Desserts and Sweets

1. Peterbrooke Chocolatier transforms the art of fine European chocolate making into a truly American experience by combining the very best ingredients and old-world techniques with a variety of all-American treats.

5135 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 930, Peachtree Corners peterbrooke.com @peterbrookechocolatier 770-817-8118

2. Tiff’s Treats Cookie

5230 Town Center Blvd Suite 130, Peachtree Corners cookiedelivery.com/menu.aspx @tiffstreats 470-387-1200

3. (tied) Beard Papa’s

5215 Town Center Blvd Suite 620, Peachtree Corners beardpapas.com/peachtree-corners @beardpapaspc 770-807-0564

3. (tied) Cookie Fix

5143 Peachtree Pkwy Suite A, Peachtree Corners cookiefix.com @cookie_fix 770-268-2080

Best Sushi

1. On the frontier of Japanese restaurants, Sushi Osawa is proud to present its unique and wonderful cuisine, created from the finest ingredients.

5270 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 119, Peachtree Corners sushiosawa.online @sushiosawa 678-691-3034

2. Sushi Mito

6470 Spalding Dr Suite P, Peachtree Corners sushimito.com @sushi_mito 770-734-0398

3. (tied) Happy Sumo Sushi and Steak House 6135 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 610, Peachtree Corners happysumosushiandsteakhouse.com @happysumosushisteak 770-248-0203

3. (tied) Aomi Japanese Restaurant 5145 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 470A, Peachtree Corners aomijapanese.com 770-840-8710

Best Latin Food

1. Mojitos Cuban American Bistro is a family owned and operated restaurant, operating for over 15 years in Atlanta, Georgia, featuring the finest mojito cocktails as well as authentic family recipes passed down from generation to generation.

5161 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 630, Peachtree Corners mojitosbistro.com @mojitosatl 770-686-3254

2. Tortugas Cuban Grill 3466 Holcomb Bridge Rd Suite AA, Peachtree Corners tortugascubangrill.com facebook.com/Tortugascubangrill 470-275-5599

Best Outdoor Dining

1. Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar is a classic American casual dining chain with locations spread throughout eight states.

5224 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners lazydogrestaurants.com/locations/ peachtree-corners-ga

@lazydogrestaurants 470-735-4501

2. Fire & Stone Italian Pizza Kitchen

5215 Town Center Blvd Suite 610, Peachtree Corners fireandstonekitchen.com @fireandstonekitchen 470-219-5100

3. Pêche Modern Coastal 5155 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 320, Peachtree Corners pecheforum.com @pechemoderncoastal 770-674-1098

Best Pizza

1. Fire & Stone Italian Pizza Kitchen serves Neapolitan and NY-style pizzas, made with the freshest premium ingredients, prepared at 800° in wood-fired ovens.

5215 Town Center Blvd Suite 610, Peachtree Corners fireandstonekitchen.com @fireandstonekitchen 470-219-5100

2. Marco’s 5270 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners marcos.com @marcospizza 770-840-9991

3. Cicis

6050 Peachtree Pkwy, Norcross cicis.com/locations/ga-norcross-6050peachtree-pkwy @cicisofficial 770-300-0535

Best Place for Happy Hour

1. Marlow’s Tavern has earned another top spot on our list. The contemporary atmosphere and handcrafted cocktails complement a diverse menu of classic dishes with a modern flair.

5210 Town Center Blvd Suite 260, Peachtree Corners marlowstavern.com @marlowstavern 470-550-1197

2. Lazy Dog Restaurant and Bar 5224 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners lazydogrestaurants.com/locations/ peachtree-corners-ga @lazydogrestaurants 470-735-4501

3. (tied) Firebirds Wood Fired Grill 5215 Town Center Blvd, Peachtree Corners firebirdsrestaurants.com/ peachtree-corners @firebirdsgrill 770-225-4662

3. (tied) Tavern at Medlock

3230 Medlock Bridge Rd Suite 101, Peachtree Corners tavernatmedlock.com @tavernatmedlock 770-242-2757

Best Seafood

1. Pêche Modern Coastal. Inspired by traditional flavors yet prepared with modern techniques, Pêche Modern Coastal offers a fresh, creative, and respectful interpretation of the ocean and earth.

Marlow’s Tavern

5155 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 320, Peachtree Corners pecheforum.com @pechemoderncoastal 770-674-1098

2. J. Alexander’s Restaurant 5245 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners jalexanders.com/georgia/peachtree-corners/5245-peachtree-pkwy/ @jalexandersrestaurant 770-263-9755

3. (tied) Firebirds Wood Fired Grill 5215 Town Center Blvd, Peachtree Corners firebirdsrestaurants.com/ peachtree-corners @firebirdsgrill 770-225-4662

3. (tied) Marlow’s Tavern 5210 Town Center Blvd Suite 260, Peachtree Corners marlowstavern.com @marlowstavern 470-550-1197

Best Place for Salad

1. At Salata, every salad and wrap is crafted with the customer in mind, allowing diners to choose every topping that goes in it.

5210 Town Center Blvd Suite 210, Peachtree Corners salata.com @salatasalads 470-233-7586

2. Chopt Creative Salad Co. 4880 Peachtree Corners Cir, Peachtree Corners choptsalad.com/location/ peachtree-corners @choptsalad 470-866-1720

3. Newk’s Eatery

5185 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 105, Norcross order.newks.com/menu/newks-norcross-ga @newkseatery 470-545-4572

Best Vegetarian Food

1. Loving Hut is a beacon of light for an alternative way of living to achieve “World Vegan, World Peace.” 6385 Spalding Dr Suite E, Peachtree Corners lovinghut.us/norcross 678-421-9191

2. Royal Bistro Thai 6365 Spalding Dr Suite A, Peachtree Corners royal-bistro.com 678-404-7733

3. Salata 5210 Town Center Blvd Suite 210, Peachtree Corners salata.com @salatasalads 470-233-7586

Best Local Venue for Private Event

1. With free parking, prime access to I-85 and I-285, and just ten miles from the Ameris Bank Amphitheater, the Atlanta Marriott Peachtree Corners hotel is near the hustle of the city without the hassle.

475 Technology Pkwy NW, Peachtree Corners

marriott.com/en-us/hotels/atlcp-atlanta-marriott-peachtree-corners/ overview @marriottbonvoy 770-263-8558

2. Hilton Atlanta Northeast 5993 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Peachtree Corners

hilton.com/en/hotels/atlhphf-hilton-atlanta-northeast/ @hiltonhotels 770-447-4747

3. Atlanta Tech Park 107 Technology Pkwy, Peachtree Corners atlantatechpark.com @atlantatechpark 470-482-1800

Best Wings

1. Voted #1 Hot Wings and Best Sports Bar in Atlanta, Three Dollar Café, offers the best selection of beers, quality food and a family-friendly environment.

6050 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 100, Peachtree Corners threedollarcafe.com @threedollarcafeofficial 770-441-8520

2. Wings 101 6135 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners wings101norcross.com 678-691-5199

3. Jolene’s Wings & Beer 5224 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners jolenes.com 470-735-4501

Best Barbershop

1. Grab a cold one, have a seat and get comfortable. Boardroom Styling Lounge is a place where clients can make real connections and staff strive to positively impact the lives of anyone who walks through the doors.

5200 Town Center Dr Suite 230, Peachtree Corners boardroomstylinglounge.com/locations/atlanta-peachtree-corners @boardroomstylinglounge 470-319-9001

2. Traditional Shave Masters

5260 Peachtree Industrial Blvd Suite 500, Peachtree Corners traditionalshavemasters.com @traditionalshavemasters 678-615-3480

3. Patrick’s Executive Grooming Salon For Men

5210 Town Center Blvd Suite 350, Peachtree Corners pegsm.com facebook.com/PatrickExecutiveGrooming/ 240-350-8547

Best MedSpa

1. Treat yourself at Dermani MEDSPA. The company offers laser hair removal, skin rejuvenation, Botox, Juvéderm, body contouring and skin tightening, microneedling and voluma services.

5165 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 230, Peachtree Corners dermanimedspa.com/peachtree-corners-norcross @dermanimedspa 404-946-3956

2. Suburban Med Spa

4989 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners suburbanmedspa.com @suburban_medical_spa 678-282-0051

3. Massage Envy

5270 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 109B, Peachtree Corners locations.massageenvy.com/georgia/ peachtree-corners.html @massageenvy 770-300-0033

Best Facial Spa

1. Whether you’re looking for smooth, hair-free skin, sagging skin solutions or a collagen boost, Suburban Med Spa has you covered.

4989 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners suburbanmedspa.com @suburban_medical_spa 678-282-0051

2. Dermani MEDSPA

5165 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 230, Peachtree Corners dermanimedspa.com/peachtree-corners-norcross @dermanimedspa 404-946-3956

3. Massage Envy

5270 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 109B, Peachtree Corners locations.massageenvy.com/georgia/ peachtree-corners.html @massageenvy 770-300-0033

Best Place for Fitness

1. Robert D. Fowler Family YMCA serves the Peachtree Corners and Norcross community with programs focused on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility

5600 W Jones Bridge Rd, Peachtree Corners ymca.org/locations/robert-d-fowler-family-ymca @fowlerymca 770-246-9622

2. Burn Boot Camp

5450 Peachtree Pkwy, Norcross burnbootcamp.com/locations/ peachtree-corners-ga facebook.com/burnbootcamppeachtreecornersga 470-403-2876

3. (tied) Orangetheory Fitness

5270 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 105, Peachtree Corners orangetheory.com @otfnorcross 678-786-4100

3. (tied) LifeTime Fitness

6350 Courtside Dr NW, Peachtree Corners lifetime.life/locations/ga/peachtree-corners.html @lifetimepeachtree 770-449-6060

Best Nail Salon

1. Sugarcoat Forum is a modern nail and beauty destination that provides an honest, healthy and clean beauty experience.

5131 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 451, Peachtree Corners sugarcoatbeauty.com @sugarcoat.forum 470-545-1830

2. Tipsy Nail and Salon Bar 5230 Town Center Blvd Suite 120, Peachtree Corners tipsynailspeachtreecorners.com @tipsyptc 770-837-2130

3. (tied) Urban Nail Salon 5270 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 112, Peachtree Corners, urbannailsalon.org 678-292-6307

3. (tied) Luxury Nails at Forum 4880 Peachtree Corners Cir Suite 1115, Peachtree Corners theforumpeachtree.com/directory/luxury-nail-spa facebook.com/luxurynailsattheforum (770) 687-2258

Best Hair Salon

1. Frost Salon is committed to delivering outstanding, genuine customer service and an artistically inspired, technically sound approach to hair, all while continuously staying educated on new trends.

5075 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 103, Peachtree Corners frost.salon @frost.salon 770-680-4549

2. Van Michael Salon 5161 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 606, Peachtree Corners vanmichael.com/locations/forum @vanmichaelsalon 678-987-3600

Botox® starting at $180 or $9/unit

laser hair removal as low as $30

chemical peels, microdermabrasion, IPL, facials & dermaplaning as low as $60

JUVEDERM® Ultra or Plus $499/syringe

Volbella for $549/syringe

Voluma for $799/syringe

SkinPen® microneedling as low as $175

HydraFacial® as low as $120

3. (tied) Yany’s Hair Salon

5450 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 1C, Norcross yanyshair.com 770-729-1767

3. (tied) Hair by Yare

5210 Town Center Blvd, Peachtree Corners hairbyyare.square.site @hairbyyare 404-476-1228

105 Technology Pkwy, Peachtree Corners spaldinganimalhospital.com 770-558-4347

2. Peachtree Corners Animal Clinic 4020 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Norcross animaldoctorofpeachtreecorners.com facebook.com/p/Peachtree-Corners-Animal-Clinic-100063534251263/ 770-448-0700

Best

Yoga/Pilates Studio

1. Club Pilates believes that Pilates is for every type of body, upholding Joseph Pilates’ vision of helping all people feel great.

4880 Peachtree Corners Cir Suite 1130, Peachtree Corners clubpilates.com/location/ peachtreecorners @clubpilates 404-902-2583

2. The Forum - Forum Fit The North Plaza, 5155 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners theforumpeachtree.com/events/forum-fit-2 @theforumptc 770-368-8811

3. Sun Dragon Yoga 5600 Spalding Dr, Norcross sundragonyoga.com @sundragonyoga 313-303-0096

Best Animal Hospital/Veterinarian

1. Spalding Animal Hospital strives to provide the highest level of care, compassion, and commitment to the health and well-being of your furry family members, from juvenile to geriatric.

Peachtree Corners zendogpetcare.com/petcare 678-389-5679

3. (tied) Whiskers on Kittens Boarding and Dog Grooming 6579 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Peachtree Corners whiskersonkittensboarding.com facebook.com/Whiskersonkittensboarding/ 770-653-4038

Best Dental Practice

1. Innovative Smiles is a growing dental practice that delivers excellent customer service and an array of dental care offerings.

5185 Peachtree Pkwy NW Suite 201, Peachtree Corners gwinnettdentist.com/wp3/ @innovativesmilesattheforum 770-763-7470

2. Linked Dental 6270 Smithpointe Dr, Norcross linkdentalcare.com @linkdentalcare 770-448-1977

3. (tied) Imagix Dental of Norcross 5270 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 101, Norcross imagixdental.com/dentist-office/norcross-ga-30092 facebook.com/ImagixDentalNorcross 678-274-6981.

help with all optometry needs. 5270 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 109A, Peachtree Corners ferdonfamilyeyecare.com facebook.com/FerdonFamilyEyeCare 678-271-3445

2. Peachtree Corners Eye Clinic 4005 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Peachtree Corners peachtree-eye.com facebook.com/peachtreecornerseyeclinic01/ 770-441-1211

3. Dr. John S. Yu & Associates P.C. 5151 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 700, Peachtree Corners local.lenscrafters.com/eyedoctors/ga/ peachtree-corners/5151-peachtree-parkway.html (770) 623-8564

Best Day Care

1. The Goddard School of Peachtree Corners is a warm and nurturing space where extraordinary awaits students each and every day.

5055 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners goddardschool.com/schools/ga/ peachtree-corners/peachtree-corners @goddard_school 770-446-7939

2. Sunshine House of Peachtree Corners

3. (tied) Peach Paws Animal Hospital 5075 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 101, Peachtree Corners peachpawsvet.com @peachpawsvet 770-726-8725

3. (tied) Medlock Bridge Animal Hospital

5155 S Old Peachtree Rd, Norcross medlockbridgevet.com facebook.com/p/Medlock-Bridge-Animal-Hospital-100063771210908/ 770-242-9272

Best Pet Boarding

1. PetSuites Norcross is the premiere boarding, daycare, grooming, and training facility, committed to providing exceptional service to pet guests and pet owners.

6865 Jimmy Carter Blvd, Norcross norcross.petsuitesofamerica.com @petsuitesatlantanorcross 678-293-8125

2. Spalding Animal Hospital 105 Technology Pkwy, Peachtree Corners spaldinganimalhospital.com 770-558-4347

3. (tied) Zen Dog Pet Care 4468 Parkspring Terrace NW,

3. (tied) Agape Pediatric Dentistry 5185 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 325, Peachtree Corners agapepediatricdentistry.com @agapepediatricdentistry 678-730-8951

Best Physical Therapist

1. PT Solutions of Norcross is committed to delivering exceptional treatment to patients of all ages, including young middle school athletes and geriatric patients.

5270 Peachtree Pkwy, Norcross ptsolutions.com/clinics/ga/norcross @pt_solutions 470-482-6926

2. Motion Stability Physical Therapy 5510 Spalding Dr Suite B, Peachtree Corners motionstability.com @motionstability 404-382-8702

3. Results Physiotherapy Peachtree Corners, Georgia 5450 Peachtree Pkwy Suite 1F, Peachtree Corners resultspt.com/peachtree-corners-georgia facebook.com/ResultsPhysiotherapy/ 678-823-6100

Best Optometrist Practice

1. Ferdon Family Eye Care offers quality vision care, staffed by courteous professionals who have the professional tools and experience necessary to

5470 Spalding Dr, Peachtree Corners sunshinehouse.com/center/spalding @sunshinehousecenters 770-840-7404

3. (tied) Primrose School of Peachtree Corners

6325 Primrose Hill Ct, Peachtree Corners primroseschools.com/schools/ peachtree-corners @primroseschools 770-409-8732

3. (tied) Creme de la Crème 4785 Peachtree Corners Cir, Norcross cremedelacreme.com @cremeschools 770-409-0000

Best Real Estate Agent

1. With over 50 years of combined real estate experience, The Nancy Minor Team has the expertise to provide clients with the highest level of service in any market.

3930 E Jones Bridge Rd, Peachtree Corners nancyminor.com facebook.com/TopAtlantaAgent 404-955-7653

2. Alan Kaplan

1555 Peachtree Rd NE Suite 100 sothebysrealty.com linkedin.com/in/alan-kaplan-7657196 770-442-7300

Dr. Philip K. Talley, Innovative Smiles (Photo by Tracey Rice)

3. (tied) Kelly Kim

3035 Peachtree Rd Suite 202 ansleyre.com/teams/621/kelly-kim-team facebook.com/kellykimrealestateteam 404-480-4663

3. (tied) Terri Hayes

4249 Allenhurst Drive, Peachtree Corners georgiamls.com/real-estate-agents/ HAYESTERRI facebook.com/TerriHayesTeam 770 374-7900

Best Bank/Credit Union

1. The Piedmont Bank delivers the financial products, personal connections and professional expertise that has helped build businesses throughout the southeast.

5100 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners piedmont.bank 770-246-0011

2. Associated Credit Union 6251 Crooked Creek Rd NW, Norcross acuonline.org facebook.com/associatedcu 770-448-8200

3. Tandem Bank 2356 Main St, Tucker tandem.bank @tandem.bank 770-281-9880

Best Coworking Space

1. Second Story at Broadstone Peachtree Corners offers private offices for rent, perfect for professionals seeking a balance of privacy, community and inspiration. Fully furnished spaces, high-speed internet, and amenities let users work, relax and connect seamlessly.

5720 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners broadstonepeachtreecorners.com 404-446-0262

2. Atlanta Tech Park 107 Technology Pkwy, Peachtree Corners atlantatechpark.com @atlantatechpark 470-482-1800

3. Peachtree Corners Executive Suites 4015 Wetherburn Way NW Building A, Suite 100, Peachtree Corners peachtreecornersexecutivesuites.com 470-375-2205

Best Senior Living Communities in and near Peachtree Corners

1. Village Park Peachtree Corners provides all of the comforts and services of premier senior living within minutes of The Forum and other local shopping, dining, and entertainment favorites. 5701 Spalding Dr, Peachtree Corners villageparkpeachtreecorners.com facebook.com/VillageParkSeniorLiving

770-416-0502

2. The Mansions at Sandy Springs

3175 River Exchange Dr, Peachtree Corners mansionsseniorliving.com/mansions-sandy-springs facebook.com/TheMansionsAtSandySprings 678-672-3654

3. Parc at Duluth 3315 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Duluth parcatduluth.com facebook.com/ParcatDuluth 770-622-6880

Best Apartment Complex

1. Unmatched in Peachtree Corners, Broadstone Peachtree Corners

Apartments has built a world within a world—with captivating creature comforts and delightful details around every corner.

5672 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners broadstonepeachtreecorners.com @broadstonepeachtreecorners 678-515-5726

2. The Spoke at Peachtree Corners 450 Technology Pkwy NW, Norcross thespokepeachtree.com facebook.com/TheSpokeatPeachtreeCorners 470-947-7965

3. Cortland Peachtree Corners

510 Guthridge Ct NW, Peachtree Corners cortland.com/apartments/cortland-peachtree-corners @cortlandpeachtreecorners 423-497-3033

Best Family Doctor/Practice

1. Dr. Sunit Singhal has been practicing medicine for decades. In February 2001, he proudly opened Suburban Medical Center to provide healthcare for his community.

4989 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners suburbanmedicalcentermd.com 770-582-1300

2. Atlanta Urgent Care 5246 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners atlantaurgentcare.com/atlanta-urgentcare-at-peachtree-corners facebook.com/urgentcarepeachtreecorners 770-464-6400

3. Northside Peachtree Corners Primary Care 5277 Peachtree Pkwy, Peachtree Corners northside.com/ptc 678-312-8430

Best HVAC Service

1. With decades of collective HVAC experience on its team, Premier HVAC Mechanical Corporation strives to of-

fer the latest in technology and efficiency in heating and cooling systems.

6669 Peachtree Industrial Blvd Suite N, Peachtree Corners premierhvaccorp.com facebook.com/SuperCoolGuys 770-696-4189

2. Spencer Heating & Air Conditioning 4708 S Old Peachtree Rd, Norcross spencerair.com facebook.com/Spencer-Heating-Air-Conditioning-Inc-135952766577571 770-447-5289

3. Bardi Heating, Cooling, Plumbing 2100 Norcross Pkwy Suite 100, Norcross bardi.com facebook.com/bardihvac 770-627-7600

Best Home Services (Electrician, Plumber, Etc.)

1. For 35 years, Bardi Heating, Cooling and Plumbing has called Georgia home. They know what it’s like to deal with hot Atlanta summers, plumbing emergencies and heating or water issues in the home.

2100 Norcross Pkwy Suite 100, Norcross bardi.com https://www.facebook.com/bardihvac 770-627-7600

Best Home Contractor

1. EV Remodeling is here to translate your needs into a creative solution that remodels the space you already have into the one you’re perfectly dreaming of.

3906 Morris Ct. Peachtree Corners evremodelinginc.com facebook.com/evremodeling 678-822-7573

2. Victoria Renovations 5051 Peachtree Corners Cir Suite 200, Norcross victoriarenovations.com 770-406-8909

Best Private School (K-8)

1. Cornerstone Christian Academy partners with parents to provide a quality academic education designed to develop students who will follow Christ, embrace biblical truth and live lives that glorify God.

5295 Triangle Pkwy NW, Peachtree Corners cornerstonecougars.org facebook.com/p/Cornerstone-Christian-Academy-100055110837238 770-441-9222

2. International Charter Academy of Georgia

3705 Engineering Dr, Peachtree Corners internationalcharteracademy.org facebook.com/internationalcharteracademyofgeorgia 770-604-0007

Best Private School (K-12)

1. Wesleyan School is a private college-preparatory nondenominational Christian school located 20 miles north of Atlanta in the suburban city of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, United States. It was founded in 1963 and has existed on its current grounds since 1996.

5405 Spalding Dr, Peachtree Corners wesleyanschool.org facebook.com/wesleyanschool 770-448-7640

2. Greater Atlanta Christian School 1575 Indian Trail Lilburn Rd NW, Norcross gac.org facebook.com/GACSpartans 770-243-2000

Best Youth Summer Camp

1. For over 25 years, Wesleyan School Summer Camps have made summers fun for all children ages 5-14. Camps range from arts to athletics, STEM to life skills, and we offer morning, afternoon, and full-day programming.

5405 Spalding Dr, Peachtree Corners wesleyanschool.org/programs/summer-camps @wesleyaninsta 770-448-7640

2. Greater Atlanta Christian Summer Camps 1575 Indian Trail Lilburn Rd NW, Norcross, GA 30093 greateratlantachristian.org/campus-life/summer-camp/summer-camp facebook.com/Greateratlantachristiansummercamp 770-243-2275

3. (tied) Fowler YMCA 5600 W Jones Bridge Rd, Peachtree Corners ymcaatlanta.org @fowlerymca 770-246-9622

3. (tied) Gwinnett Parks 75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville gwinnettcounty.com/web/gwinnett/ departments/communityservices/parksandrecreation facebook.com/GwinnettGov/ 770-822-8000

Best Summer Camp (Kids Under 10)

1. On our list again are Wesleyan School Summer Camps. This summer, the fun runs from June 10-28 and July 8-19. These camps have everything from sports like soccer and lacrosse to creative pursuits like chess and sewing. 5405 Spalding Dr, Peachtree Corners wesleyanschool.org/programs/summer-camps @wesleyaninsta 770-448-7640

2. Greater Atlanta Christian Summer Camps 1575 Indian Trail Lilburn Rd NW, Norcross, GA 30093

greateratlantachristian.org/campus-life/summer-camp/summer-camp facebook.com/Greateratlantachristiansummercamp 770-243-2275

3. (tied) Club SciKidz

500 Kedron Dr. Peachtree City atlanta.clubscikidz.com/camp-locations/#location-207 @clubscikidzatlanta

678-294-9504

3. (tied) Gwinnett Parks

75 Langley Drive, Lawrenceville gwinnettcounty.com/web/gwinnett/ departments/communityservices/parksandrecreation

https://www.facebook.com/GwinnettGov/ 770-822-8000

Best Place for the Kids to Play

1. Peachtree Corners Town Center

Playground is located on a two-acre event lawn home to concerts, movies and other community events as well as children’s play areas. Center Blvd, Peachtree Corners ptreecornerstowncenter.com/directories/town-green facebook.com/peachtreecornerstowncenter 678-691-1200

2. Jones Bridge Park 4901 E Jones Bridge Rd, Peachtree Corners gwinnettcounty.com/web/gwinnett/ departments/communityservices/parksandrecreation facebook.com/GwinnettGov 678-277-0920

3. Pinckneyville Park 4758 South Old Peachtree Road, Peachtree Corners gwinnettcounty.com/web/gwinnett/ departments/communityservices/parksandrecreation 770-978-5270

Best Museum to Visit in Metro Atlanta

1. Fernbank Museum in Atlanta, Georgia, is a museum that presents exhibitions and programming about natural history. Fernbank Museum has a number of permanent exhibitions and regularly hosts temporary exhibitions. 767 Clifton Rd, Atlanta fernbankmuseum.org facebook.com/FernbankMuseum 404-929-6300

2. High Museum of Art 1280 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta high.org @highmuseumofart 404-733-4400

3. Fernbank Science Center 156 Heaton Park Dr, Atlanta fernbank.edu facebook.com/fernbankcenter 678-874-7102

4. National Center for Civil and Human Rights

100 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW, Atlanta civilandhumanrights.org.facebook.com/ ctr4chr

678-999-8990

5. Southeastern Railway Museum 3595 Buford Hwy., Duluth, GA 30096 train-museum.org facebook.com/SoutheasternRailwayMuseum 770-476-2013

6. The Hudgens Center for Art & Learning 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Building #300, Duluth thehudgens.org facebook.com/hudgenscenter 770-623-6002

7. Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center

2020 Clean Water Dr, Buford gwinnettcounty.com/web/gwinnett/ departments/communityservices/parksandrecreation 770-904-3500

Best Local Hotel for Out of Town Guests

1. When looking for hotels in Peachtree corners, Hilton Atlanta Northeast, dubbed the “Castle on the Hill,” is not too far from Atlanta city limits.

5993 Peachtree Industrial Blvd, Peachtree Corners

hilton.com/en/hotels/atlhphf-hilton-atlanta-northeast facebook.com/HiltonAtlantaNortheast/ 770-447-4747

2. Atlanta Marriott Peachtree Corners

475 Technology Pkwy NW, Peachtree Corners

marriott.com/en-us/hotels/atlcp-atlanta-marriott-peachtree-corners facebook.com/ATLCP/ 770-263-8558

3. Hyatt Place Atlanta/Norcross/ Peachtree

5600 Peachtree Pkwy, Norcross hyatt.com/en-US/hotel/georgia/hyatt-place-atlanta-norcross-peachtree facebook.com/hyatt 770-416-7655

Scan the QR to check out the top Nine Best Places to Work in Peachtree Corners

Best Weekend Getaway (within a 2-hour drive of Peachtree Corners)

1. Château Élan Winery & Resort in Braselton, GA

100 Rue Charlemagne Dr, Braselton chateauelan.com facebook.com/chateauelan 678-425-0900

2. Amicalola Falls State Park & Lodge in Dawsonville, GA

418 Amicalola Falls State Park Rd, Dawsonville amicalolafallslodge.com @amicalolafalls 706-344-1500

3. The Ritz-Carlton Reynolds, Lake Oconee 1 Lake Oconee Trail, Greensboro ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/ahnrz-theritz-carlton-reynolds-lake-oconee facebook.com/ritzcarltonlakeoconee 706-467-0600

4. Blue Ridge Scenic Railway 241 Depot St, Blue Ridge brscenic.com @blueridgescenicrailway 877-413-8724

5. Lake Lanier Islands Resort in Buford, GA 7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy, Buford lanierislands.com/lake_lanier_accommodations/legacy-lodge facebook.com/lanierislands 800-768-5253

6. Brasstown Valley Resort & Spa in Young Harris, GA 6321 US-76, Young Harris brasstownvalley.com facebook.com/brasstownvalleyresort 706-379-9900

7. Callaway Resort & Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA 17617 US Hwy 27, Pine Mountain callawaygardens.com facebook.com/CallawayGardens 800-225-5292

8. Barnsley Resort in Adairsville, GA 597 Barnsley Gardens Rd NW, Adairsville barnsleyresort.com facebook.com/BarnsleyResort 770-773-7480

9. The Cloister at Sea Island on Sea Island, GA 100 Cloister Dr, Sea Island, GA 31561 seaisland.com/accommodations/ the-cloister facebook.com/thecloisteratseaisland/ 866-966-5983 ■

Summer Reading, Streaming & Podcast Recommendations

Beat the heat this Summer with a good book, show or podcast. This year, Peachtree Corners Magazine received over 30 recommendations from more than a dozen city residents. There is something for everyone on this list, so let’s dive in.

Machine Made: Tammany Hall and the Creation of Modern American Politics by

Terry Golway

This 400page book offers readers a comprehensive and insightful exploration of one of the most influential political machines in American history. It provides valuable lessons and perspectives on the intersection of politics, power and society.

Turning Point: The Bomb and the Cold War

Stream on Netflix

This nine-part series offers viewers a thought-provoking exploration of one of the most consequential periods in modern history. It provides deep insights into the complexities of nuclear politics and the enduring legacy of the Cold War.

Fareed Zakaria GPS

Listen on CNN Audio

This podcast comprehensively examines foreign affairs. It enhances a listener’s global awareness, fosters critical thinking and sheds light on complex issues shaping our world today.

— Brian Johnson, City Manager for Peachtree Corners

Empowering Nurses

Through Self-care: Unleashing Your Potential and Thriving in the Nursing Profession by Audrey

Boyce

Audrey Boyce offers a practical guide to help nurses find balance and fulfillment in their personal lives and professions. With a comprehensive overview of self-care strategies, this book is essential for nurses looking to recharge, reduce stress and increase job satisfaction.

The Go-Giver, Expanded Edition: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea

by Bob Burg and John David Mann

The Go-Giver tells the story of Joe, an ambitious young man striving for success. Through Joe’s journey, this book imparts powerful lessons about the significance of giving, collaboration and building meaningful relationships in achieving success.

Special Ops: Lioness

Stream on Paramount+

The protagonist, Joe, attempts to balance her personal and professional life as the tip of the CIA’s spear in the war on terror. The Lioness Program enlists Cruz to operate undercover alongside Joe among the power brokers of State terrorism.

Money and Wealth

Listen on Apple Podcasts

In Money and Wealth, John Hope Bryant provides valuable insights into financial literacy and wealth-building strategies. With a clear and accessible approach, Bryant aims to empower listeners with practical knowledge to achieve financial stability and success.

1984 by George Orwell

The new audio drama of George Orwell’s 1984 on Audible is nothing short of phenomenal. With a full

cast of film stars and sound effects in stereo, you’ll feel like you’re actually in Oceania, being watched by Big Brother.

— Jill Tew, local author of the forthcoming young adult dystopian novel The Dividing Sky

Enter Ghost by Isabella Hammad I recently read this and loved the writing. The author plays around with formatting between narrating the story and switching to the format of a play to show the dynamics between characters.

— Ruwa Romman, Georgia State Representative

Sideline C.E.O. by Marty Smith

From learning about Greg Sankey figuring out how to lead the SEC through Covid as he sat on his front porch to Mack Brown processing through how to lead his football team through racial tensions at UNC, you realize that these men [and women] are normal human beings that face the same difficult choices as the rest of us.

Not to mention, Marty Smith captures the lives and insight of these coaches in a fun, compelling way!

Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer New Kid by Jerry Craft

Where Do We Go from Here by Martin Luther King Jr. — Joseph Antonio, Middle School Principal at Wesleyan School

Never Enough: When Achievement

Pressure Becomes Toxic – And What We Can Do About It by Jennifer B. Wallace

Anna del Villar

— Bobby Cobb, CEO of Cobb Global Outreach Inc.

While on this surface this book offers great wisdom from some of the most successful coaches of our time, it also provides a behind-the-scenes look at the lives of many people we admire.

This book presents research on how to raise healthy, joyful achievers in a hyper-competitive world. The author was a guest speaker at Greater Atlanta Christian’s (GAC) Parent Partnership Series this year, and we heard about the importance of children knowing that their intrinsic self-worth is not contingent solely upon external achievements.

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt

Discover the root causes behind the epidemic of today’s teen mental illness. With compelling data, Jonathan Haidt unveils the decline of play-based child-

hood and offers practical solutions for a healthier, more fulfilling upbringing. We have asked GAC faculty to add this to their personal summer reading list.

— Dr. Scott Harsh, President of Greater Atlanta Christian School

Seeing Eye Girl by Beverly Armento

Beverly Armento’s account of her life in Seeing Eye Girl is truly remarkable. I was captivated by her story of resilience, strength and, ultimately, forgiveness.

— Erin Griffin, Norcross High School Foundation for Excellence Co-President

Glad You’re Here by Craig

Cooper and Walker Hayes

Glad You’re Here tells the true, redemptive story of country music singer Walker Hayes and his unlikely friendship with pastor Craig Cooper. In alternating chapters, each individual shares their unique perspective on pivotal moments in their friendship, and the book reminded me to prioritize the patient and persistent cultivation of community.

— Ann Cousins, Communications Director and Wesleyan School

The Boredom Experiment

Listen on Apple Podcasts

The Boredom Experiment, hosted by Jeremy and Ashley Parsons, is a short, heartfelt podcast series that documents and explores the effect of removing digital distractions and social media from their family’s lives for a year.

Over eight episodes, they share their experiences and insights into how this experiment impacts their creativity, relationships and overall well-being.

The Parson’s storytelling thoughtfully weaves together interviews, music and their musings in such a creative, personal way that makes it an absolute delight to listen to.

The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Youtube

Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport

Digital Minimalism advocates for a thoughtful and intentional approach to technology use. Newport argues that constant connectivity and digital distractions hinder productivity and well-being and encourages individuals to choose tools and habits that align with their values and long-term goals.

In a digitally crowded world, this book was a needed reminder to be intentional with my time and strategic with how I use technology.

— Natalie Dettman, Creative Director at Wesleyan School

West with Giraffes by Linda Rutledge

This is lightly based on a true story. It is the story of moving giraffes who survived a hurricane, were rescued in the Atlantic, and were carried cross-country to the San Diego Zoo. It is well-written, and the character development is fantastic.

Crossing the country with two giraffes during the Depression created excitement in all the small struggling areas. The joy of those who had never dreamed of seeing a giraffe in real life will bring joy to anyone reading this book.

Housewives

of True Crime

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Youtube

Moms and Mysteries

Listen on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio and Spotify

Southern Fried Crime

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Youtube

Wiser than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Listen wherever you get your podcasts

— Nancy Minor, The Nancy Minor Team

The Women by Kristen Hannah.

A great read about the Army nurses in Vietnam.

— Laurie Rogers, The Nancy Minor Team

In The Woods by Tana French

This book is a real page-turner. The author is a gifted writer, so even though it is a crime thriller, it reads like a novel. There are six books in the series, and I have read all of them.

Casefiles

Listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify

This is a true crime podcast that has been around for several years. The stories are detailed and very interesting and cases are examined from all over the world.

— Shameka Allen, MBA, MA, CEO of Good Samaritan Health Centers of Gwinnett

Over the Edge of the World

by Laurence Bergreen

Over the Edge of the World is a captivating account of Magellan’s expedition around the world. We all know Magellan’s name but few of us know the rich details behind the adventure and how it unfolded. I was inspired by the courage and bravery of those who took part in the great Age of Exploration.

Arrested Development

Stream on Netflix

This is easily one of our favorite shows. My wife, Meredith, and I have watched and re-watched it so many times and still find it so hilariously funny. The show blends clever writing with quirky characters and intricate, running gags. There’s always money in the Banana Stand!

Dr. Death

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Wondery

This gripping true-crime podcast explores the shocking story of a dangerous surgeon. It’s a must-listen for its compelling narrative, deep investigative journalism and critical insights into medical malpractice and systemic failures. The podcast has since been made into a limited streaming TV series.

— Scott Hilton, Georgia State Representative

Sleep Wrecked Kids by Sharon

Moore

This book explains how inadequate sleep affects children’s growth, development and learning. This is a great guide to creating better sleep routines.

Healthy Sleep Happy Kid by Meghna Dassani

This quick, easy read offers valuable insights into how sleep impacts a child’s health. It provides practical tips for improving your child’s sleep environment and habits and is a go-to resource for parents aiming to enhance their child’s sleep and overall wellness.

I can’t overstate the importance of good sleep habits for the overall well-being of your child and the entire household. Quality sleep is the foundation for happy, healthy kids and stress-free parents, setting the stage for the best possible summer with your family.

— Dr. Gia Grannum, Board Certified Pediatric Dentist of Agape Pediatric Dentistry

The Measure by Nikki Erlick I recommend The Measure by Nikki Erlick, which is about to come out in paperback! It’s a great pick for summer reading or a book club!

Poured Over, the Barnes & Noble Podcast

Stream on the Barnes & Noble website and Apple Podcasts

Check out the Poured Over podcast for interviews with your favorite authors, book recommendations for your TBR pile and more.

— Amanda Couch, Assistant Manager at Barnes & Noble at The Forum

A Record-Breaking Year for Wesleyan Athletics

Wesleyan School is known for its faithbased academic excellence, but maybe you didn’t know that the school’s athletic achievements are

just as impressive. This year alone, Wesleyan has amassed an astounding nine state championships.

ning nine state championships is a credit to our student-athletes, coaches, and parents,” said Chris Cleveland, head of school and assistant coach for the varsity boys basketball team.

Nine state championship titles are the most Wesleyan has ever won in a single school year. But the school’s athletic department is focused on far more besides winning.

By Anna del Villar

“The Wesleyan School athletic program has been incredibly blessed to enjoy a significant amount of success during the 2023-2024 school year. Win-

“While winning a state championship is a substantial accomplishment that is worthy of celebration, it is not the sole measure by which we measure the success of a season. It is our greatest desire and prayer that the lives of our students will be transformed due to the investment by our coaches and through

Combined girls swim and dive (All photos courtesy of Wesleyan School)

Ben Vondrak- 200m and 800m

Boys swim and dive

Weezie Moore - 3200m

the relationships they build with their teammates,” added Cleveland.

After the girls and boys lacrosse teams won their state titles earlier this year, Wesleyan now has a state championship in every sport they field.

“We are so proud of our student-athletes, coaches, and our entire athletics program. Regardless of the number of state championships in a given year, our goal is to develop young men and young women of character. When recognition like state titles accompanies that objective, it certainly is a lot of fun and a great honor for our entire community,” commented Lacy Gilbert, director of athletics.

Congratulations to all Wesleyan student-athletes, coaches and faculty for this incredible accomplishment.

List of team titles:

• Softball

• Girls Cross Country

• Boys Swim & Dive

• Girls Swim & Dive

• Girls Lacrosse

• Boys Lacrosse

• Girls Tennis

• Girls Track & Field

• Boys Golf

List of individual titles:

• Weezie Moore - Girls Cross Country

• Abbey Suits - Dive

• Hattie Wasmuth – Swim: 200 Medley

• Max Perry – Swim: 50 Free

• Ryan Cowart, Jace Neeb, JJ Neeb and Max Perry – Swim: 200 Free Relay

• Ansley Chapman, MC Harrison, Vivian Hosier and Hattie Wasmuth – Swim: 200 free relay

• Ryan Cowart, JJ Neeb, Max Perry and Connor Worgo - Swim: 400 free relay

• Ansley Chapman, Lily Corbitt, Vivian Hosier and Hattie Wasmuth – Swim: 400 free relay

• Weezie Moore - Track & Field: 3,200 meters

• Kyra Brubaker, Ansley Voss, Eva Murphy and Julie Anne Bush - Track & Field: 4 x 800-meter relay

• Anne McSweeney - Track & Field: 800 meters

• Ben Vondrak - Track & Field: Wheelchair 800 meters and 200 meters ■

Wesleyan Seniors Set Sights on Careers in the Armed Forces

By Peachtree Corners Magazine Staff

The Wesleyan College Advising office is pleased to announce that two seniors are pursuing careers in the Armed Forces. Mamie Pridgen was appointed as a midshipman for the United States Naval Academy Class of 2028. Pridgen received nominations from Congresswoman Lucy McBath and Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.

A member of Wesleyan’s volleyball and lacrosse teams, Pridgen has been a four-year competitor in both sports. This year, she was also the varsity girls’ basketball manager. Well-regarded by players and coaches, she has also served on Wesleyan’s Student-Athletic Leadership Team.

In addition to her athletic abilities, Pridgen served

for three years on the Honor Council, culminating in being elected chaplain this year. She participated in Mock Trials, SALSA (Students Advocating Life without Substance Abuse), book clubs and a monthly missions club.

She is the editor of the yearbook and editor-in-chief of the Wesleyan Literary Magazine. Chosen by the 12th-grade chairs, she currently serves as one of the co-presidents of the senior class. She is a member of the English National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and the National Honor Society.

Pridgen has always had im-

mense respect for the military. Her desire to serve her country began after watching her brother, Andrew Pridgen, as he matriculated through the Army ROTC program at Furman University and graduated to become a second lieutenant currently serving in Germany.

With a single-minded focus, Pridgen set her sights on the Naval Academy, one of the country’s premier officer training programs, and participated in the summer seminar following her junior year and two candidate visit weekends during her senior year. Pridgen will report to the Naval Academy in June, where she will major in opera-

Boys Lacrosse

Girls Cross Country

Girls Lacrosse

Girls Tennis

Girls Softball

Girls Track & Field

Boys Golf

Mamie Pridgen

tions research. Upon graduation from the Naval Academy, Pridgen will commission as an ensign in the United States Navy.

Nadia Desbordes was also selected to attend the United States Air Force Academy in June 2024.

Highly skilled athletically and academically,

Nadia flourished during high school. In her freshman year, Nadia played junior varsity lacrosse, and she ran varsity track and placed in four events at the state track and field competition during her sophomore year.

However, her primary sport has been volleyball. A member of the Wesleyan volleyball program since sixth grade, Nadia began playing on the varsity team in her sophomore year. She was named to the First Team Region 7-AAA squad in her junior and senior years and to the Gwinnett County A-6A Second Team as a senior.

Her athletic prowess led to her being named to Wesleyan’s Student-Athlete Leadership Team as a junior and senior. Additionally, Nadia played on a national-level club team throughout her high school years. During her junior and senior years, she volunteered as a volleyball camp counselor and volunteer club coach.

Wesleyan Seniors Josh Kavel and Kallaghan

Freeman Are this Year’s Valedictorian and Salutatorian

By Peachtree Corners Magazine Staff

Congratulations to the 2024 Wesleyan School valedictorian, senior Josh Kavel, and salutatorian, senior Kallaghan Freeman. Kavel and Freeman were awarded these honors based on their numerous academic accomplishments.

This year, Kavel is one of two Wesleyan National Merit Finalists, while Freeman is one of six Wesleyan National Merit Commended Scholars. Kavel is an AP Scholar with Distinction, and Freeman is an AP Scholar with Honor. In addition to incredible hard work and success in the classroom, both Kavel and Freeman are involved in many activities outside of the classroom.

During his time at Wesleyan, Kavel played football as a freshman and varsity basketball all four years of high school, earning over 1,000 career points. He participated in the Italy mission trip last year, is a member of the investment club and is a member of the senior leadership team (a group of students chosen by their grade chairs who lead the senior class in activities and responsibilities).

Outside of the classroom, Kavel is an active member of Serve Georgia. He established a team that makes sandwiches every Sunday afternoon at his house to deliver to those experiencing homelessness. Kavel is

still considering his college options.

Freeman has participated in Wesleyan athletics as a part of the varsity soccer team for the past three years. He also plays year-round soccer with his club team.

Freeman’s passion for STEM is displayed in his choice of taking STEM classes every year of high school culminating in the STEM senior seminar class. He is a founding member of the robotics team, and both of his VEX robots made it to the state competition. He has also participated in two other STEM showcases.

Freeman is an active member of the math team and chess club. He is also active in his youth group at North Point Community Church. Next year, Freeman will study mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech. ■

More Valedictorians and Salutatorians from our local schools:

Duluth High School

Riley Hasenstab

Yao Kun Tang

Valedictorian Salutatorian

Meadowcreek High School

Valeria Quijada

Joshua Hernandez

Valedictorian Salutatorian

Norcross High School

Lisa Van Ness

Erin Brown

Valedictorian Salutatorian

Paul Duke STEM High School

Oswin F. Cervantes

Peyton Harvey

Valedictorian Salutatorian

Greater Atlanta Christian School

Ridgeway Price Ridenour Akhil Sarikonda

Valedictorian Salutatorian

In addition to her athletic accomplishments, Nadia has been deeply involved in school life. Since sophomore year, she has served on the yearbook staff culminating in serving as Senior Section Editor. As a member of the GRACE club for all four years of high school, Nadia has promoted a more diverse, welcoming, and inclusive community for students.

Nadia has also served as a Wesleyan Ambassador to prospective students and their parents since ninth grade. While involved in these activities, Nadia has also compiled an exceptional academic record. She has been named an AP Scholar with Honor, served as a math team member since ninth grade, and completed a Senior STEM Seminar project.

Graduates of the United States Air Force Academy commission as a second lieutenant into either the U. S. Air Force or U. S. Space Force. Congratulations to Mamie, Nadia, and their families for this honor, and thank you for your willingness to serve our country. ■

Peachtree Corners Festival Awards

Norcross High School Drama Scholarship

This month, the Peachtree Corners Festival proudly awarded the 2nd Annual Debbie Mason Memorial Scholarship for Drama to Norcross High School senior, Pavin Jones.

Jones, an aspiring actor and filmmaker, has been actively involved with the Norcross High School drama program for the past four years. “My experience with the drama club at Norcross High School has helped me come out of my shell, believe in myself, and inspire others to achieve their dreams,” said Jones.

Jones credits his success to the unwavering support of his parents, siblings, aunt, and especially his drama teacher, Ms. Parrish. “Ms. Parrish has always been a big inspiration because she constantly pushed me to improve my craft,” he added. Ms. Parrish retired this year after a distinguished thirty-five-year career at Norcross High School. ■

Nadia Desbordes

Kallaghan Freeman

Josh Kavel

Pavin Jones

Peachtree Corners Business Association Awards Scholarships to Two Deserving Students

By Peachtree Corners Magazine Staff

The Peachtree Corners Business Association (PCBA) awarded 2024 scholarships to Frances Grant of Mount Pisgah High School and Aidan Nazareth from Duluth High School at its April and May PCBA Business After Hours events.

Both Grant and Nazareth were awarded $1,000 each. Grant has been accepted to Texas Christian University, Elon University, Wofford College, and Wake Forest University. She has selected Wake Forest to pursue her studies while she continues supporting her new community.

Nazareth has been accepted to both Vanderbilt University and Georgia Tech. Nazareth has chosen to attend Vanderbilt University where he will continue his studies in psychology to better understand those around him and leave a positive impact on other’s lives.

“This year, we were so pleased to see the caliber of all the students who applied for our two PCBA scholarships. We received applications from four qualified high schools in our community. Both Frances Grant and Aidan Nazareth are amazing future leaders in our society. We are so proud to be able to support their educational aspirations as they both pursue their education at two top-tier colleges,” said PCBA Scholarship Committee Chair Donna Linden.

Funds for the PCBA Community Outreach program are raised throughout the year from PCBA membership, sponsorship and annual charity events. Donations and scholarships are awarded monthly so members have the opportunity to learn more about these individuals and organizations. ■

Peachtree Station HOA Hosts School Bus Driver Appreciation Luncheon

More than 30 Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) bus drivers received a good meal and heartfelt thank you at a special luncheon in Peachtree Corners during their 2nd Annual Bus Driver Appreciation Luncheon. The Peachtree Station Homeowners Association (HOA) hosted the event in celebration of the 35 Zone 038 GCPS bus drivers from Norcross High School, Paul Duke STEM High School, Pinckneyville Middle School, Summerour Middle School, Peachtree Elementary School, Simpson Elementary School, and Stripling Elementary School who safely transport students to and from home and school during the year.

Elizabeth Kay Pinder, president of the Peachtree Station HOA, is proud to provide this celebration again for the community’s dedicated bus drivers. “We love celebrating our Bus Drivers! We want the show our gratitude to their consistent dedication to our kids. They make a positive impact in our neighborhood every school day and we cherish them.” Pinder says.

Knuckies Hoagies, a local establishment in Peachtree Corners, also played a significant role by providing food and beverages for the luncheon. ■

From left, Michael Pugh, PCBA Board; Allison Reinert, PCBA Board; Audrey Boyce, PCBA Outreach; Frances Grant, Scholarship Winner; Lisa Proctor, PCBA Board; Suzanna Martinez, PCBA Board; Donna Linden, PCBA Board

From left, Donna Linden, PCBA Board; Suzanna Martinez, PCBA Board; Lisa Proctor, PCBA Board; Aidan Nazareth, Scholarship Winner; Allison Reinert, PCBA Board; Audrey Boyce, PCBA Outreach

Top right, honored school bus drivers.

Above, individual gifts from the Peacthree Station HOA for the drivers

Far left, Elizabeth Kay Pinder and rep from the local Knuckies Hoagies Left, from left, HOA Volunteers Lisa Hopkins, Elizabeth Kay Pinder, Erin Seitz, Valerie Harris

Norcross High School Foundation for Excellence Gala Honors Educators and Funds Student Dreams

Photo credIt: Kent Ruby (Courtesy of Norcross High School Foundation of Excellence) 1 2 3 4 7 6 5

By Peachtree Corners Magazine Staff

On April 19, the Norcross High School Foundation for Excellence held its annual Gala, which raised over $115,000. Since its inception in 2001, the Foundation has raised over $2.8 million to improve the facilities, promote equity among all students, and strengthen the school’s academic, artistic and athletic capacities.

The board and the school administration strive to be good stewards of the funds entrusted to them, ensuring that investments in the school reach as many students as possible.

At the Gala, the Foundation sold over 100 teacher wish bricks. Teachers pinpoint items to enrich teaching and create distinctive learning experiences beyond the standard curriculum. These ideas transform into bricks for funding, with Gala attendees buying them to construct a robust school for students.

These wish bricks have an instant and direct impact on classroom learning across all levels in the school.

The Gala is also an opportunity to honor Weare Gratwich, Lynne Kliesrath and Kirk Barton, the exceptional individuals being inducted into this year’s Hall of Fame.

These educators truly embody the spirit of Norcross High School. Their relentless dedication has ensured that students can strive for excellence and achieve their fullest potential.

Their generosity and commitment to enriching the school community exemplify the true essence of community involvement, and the Foundation is grateful for everything they have contributed. ■

1 | Tim Le and his wife Amy Lam

2 | NHS Foundation Board Member, Shelly Regina and Rachel Anderson

3 | Donna Linden, Lisa Proctor and Eric Christ

4 | NHS Foundation Co-Presidents, Caroline Grant and Erin Griffin with Gala Chair, Leah Bilz

5 | Lisa and Brad Barton (Kirk’s brother), 2024 Hall of Fame Honoree, Kirk Barton with his wife Stacie, Kirk’s parents Lamar and Janice Barton

6 | 2024 Hall of Fame Honorees, Weare Gratwick, Kirk Barton and Lynne Kliesrath

7 | Paul and Gina Misticawi, Michael and Dana Zamuel (NHS Foundation Board Member), Justin and Amy Coleman

8 | Blayne Kliesrath, Lynne Kliesrath, Jean Campbell-Kuhn (NHS registrar’s office), NHS Asst. Principals Hunter Marshburn and Vinny Byams

9 | Mark and Wendy Willis, Lydia Gratwick, Amber Gratwick and 2024 Hall of Fame Honoree, Weare Gratwick

10 | Marion Parker, David and Stacie Sikes, Tim and Meg Waddell, Scott and Meredith Hilton (NHS Foundation Board Member)

11 | NHS Foundation Board Members, Katie Lester and Veronica Pomeranz with her husband Adam Pomeranz

12 | NHS Foundation Board Members, Nicci and Scott Schemmel and Jed DeLong

Local Students Show Off Their Artistic Creations

By Peachtree Corners Magazine Staff

From May 11 through May 18, the Norcross Gallery & Studios kicked off a fantastic exhibition, Reflections at Rectory, which showcased the works of 36 rising stars: AP and IB art students from our local high schools.

The opening reception celebrated their creativity and dedication. Gallery director Anne Hall presented a dozen awards generously sponsored by the community, a testament to the local support for these young artists.

One prestigious award, the Terri Enfield Memorial Award, holds special significance.

Established by Terri’s daughters, it recognizes not just artistic excellence, but also leadership, work ethic and the spirit of collaboration. Last year’s winner, Aidan Ventimiglia, even played a part in selecting this year’s recipient Jasmine Rodriguez.

Congratulations to all the student artists.

Students in the second annual Reflections at the Rectory exhibit. ■ Norcross High School:

■ Gustavo Benumea-Sanchez

■ Maycol Cruz Padilla

■ Dorie Liu

■ Harlet Martinez Castro

■ Paulina Santana

■ Gisela Rojas Medina

■ Clare Fass

■ Ava Netherton

■ Ubaldo Diaz

■ Katia Navas-Juarez

■ Mariah Ingram

■ Arisdelcy Juan

■ Max Kaiser

■ Dani Olaechea

■ Christina Bonacci

■ Diana Ortiz Ventura

■ Katie Yerbabuena-Padierna

Paul Duke High School:

■ Adamu Abdul-Latif

■ Salma Noor Alabdouni

■ Samrin Zaman

■ Camryn Vinson

■ Liz Damian

■ Cecelia Berenguer

■ Jasmine Rodriguez

■ Angelina Bae

■ Dahyana Perez

■ Jonah Swerdlow

■ Kyra Allicock

■ Anni Brown

■ Kaleb Fields

■ Destiny Jones

■ Gabriela Leal-Argueta

■ Madisyn Mathis

■ Ashley McDonough

■ Ahtziri Pinones

■ Alondra Valiente-Torres

Adrian Ventimiglia, Jasmine Rodriguez, Paul Duke HS

Gabriela Leal Argueta, Norcross HS

Christina Bonacci, Norcross HS

Max Kaiser, Norcross HS

Courtney Escorza, Colleen Nikopour, Laura Hwang, Jennifer Jackson, Norcross HS

Laura ELizabeth Martin, Payton Hirschmann, Paul Duke HS

Norcross High Mock Trial Team Prepares Students for Future Careers

Team sports often get all the glory for building character and life skills in young people, but despite popular belief, mock trials aren’t just for students who want to be lawyers.

“It’s the sport for the intellectuals that want to exercise their minds,” said Matt McGahren, head attorney coach of the Norcross High Mock Trial team.

“I think what it does for these high school students is that it gives them not just speaking skills and logical reasoning skills but also a lot of self-confidence and self-esteem. It shows them the value of hard work. They exercise not just their mind but their creativity,” he explained.

Students thrive in mock trial

Along with attorney coach Skip Hudgins and teacher coach Harold Wright, youngsters are guided through mock cases to give them an authentic look into the legal system.

Those who play witnesses learn to be actors in a way. Regardless of the profession the students will pursue, the most valuable lesson is the art of persuasion.

“The advantages they have interviewing with employers later in life and interacting in the work environment, I just think it’s a phenomenal opportunity, and I think we want more people to know about it,” said McGahren.

The coaching has paid off. Norcross High School has gone to the state finals five years in a row.

“I think [students] can come in with a variety of different strengths, and then we just build the parts that aren’t there, as well as the motivation and the desire to do it,” said McGahren. “I come from a background of being too scared in high school to even get up and speak, and I wish I had pushed myself to overcome those fears. So, I think willingness is the best skill they need to have.”

Wright, a social science teacher at Norcross High School, agreed.

“Mock trial entails learning some researching because too often, especially now, they talk about false narratives and fake news and stuff like that where people just take information, pull it out of the sky, and act like it’s true,” he said.

The Georgia Mock Trial Competition

The competition is designed to increase students’ understanding of and appreciation for the law, court procedures and the legal system, according to sponsor State Bar of Georgia.

“They get a problem from the state and don’t really research the law, but they learn the rules of evidence,” said McGahren.

Preparing for the competition creates a family atmosphere because alums help the students, and it’s like a fraternal society.

The state bar’s mock trial committee prepares a problem for high school mock trials that contains a

fact pattern and witness statements. It has legal authorities like case law for the competitors to refer to, and a narrative goes along with it.

Basic guidelines

“It will either be a civil case or a criminal case. And this year’s case was a criminal case. So the challenge was to figure out what’s going on in the problem, figure out who the characters are, and find out what the legal questions are,” said Wright. “The team has to

represent both sides of the case, the prosecution, and the defense, and they develop a theory of what they think happened from their perspective.”

The teams work on developing the characters, starting with witness statements.

“We have not only great student attorneys, but we also have great witnesses,” said Wright. “We have a few months from October to January to prepare the case. We do scrimmages against other schools. Then there are three rounds of competition.”

He explained that there’s a regional competition, a district-level competition, and a state competition.

“Our team will be assigned either prosecution or defense for each round,” said Wright. “It’s like an unscripted simulation. They play the case out in court, and we often have actual judges for the rounds and attorneys who act as evaluators. They’re the jury.”

The students are rated on how well they do for their part and are also given a lot of constructive feedback. Sometimes, the cases are loosely based on actual problems or legal issues.

“There was one several years ago that was about the Castle Doctrine – the stand-your-ground laws,” said Wright. “But it’s not a specific case, but sometimes it’s maybe a legal concept that the kids might have heard about.”

Faux court, real results

Recent grad Elena Domenech has been in mock trial for three years and recommends it.

year was an amazing feeling, especially considering how worried the team was coming into the competition.

“It all just goes to show how much hard work is worth. I am excited to try out for Georgia Tech’s mock trial team and am even more excited to take what I have learned with such an incredible team with me throughout the rest of my life,” she said.

Rising senior Yvonne Coleman has also been in mock trial for three years and had similar feelings.

By Arlinda Smith Broady

“I wholeheartedly believe it was the best decision that I ever made. I met some of my best friends, and I learned how to be confident in myself,” she said. “I wrote my college essays about mock trial and what it meant to me, and it has been an experience of joy, growth and positivity.”

She added that making it to the state semi-finals this

“It is by far my favorite and most beneficial extracurricular I participate in,” she said. “This year, Norcross’ Mock Trial team qualified for the state semi-finals, winning every Outstanding Witness and Attorney Award at State Competition. I am beyond proud of my team’s success!”

She added that mock trial has improved her writing and speaking skills. It has also given her the confidence that one day she might argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court or even become a Supreme Court Justice herself. ■

Team picture

Attorney Coaches

Elena Domenech

Yvonne Coleman

City of Peachtree Corners Unveils Space-Inspired Tot Lot Playground

By Peachtree Corners Magazine Staff

On Friday, May 10, 2024, the City of Peachtree Corners held a ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony of its new space-themed Tot Lot Playground on Town Green.

Last November, the city began constructing a new tot lot for children under six years old that is themed around space exploration. This new play area includes a rocket ship, a moon rover, a crashed UFO and other fun designs. It was also created to be fully accessible, ensuring all children can enjoy it.

During the ribbon-cutting, children and their guardians enjoyed fun activities, including an ice cream truck, bubble lady, balloon animals, face painting and even a visit from Buzz Lightyear. ■

by Dorie Liu

Photos

Comic Book and Children’s Book Author Greg Burnham [Podcast]

Greg Burnham, a Norcross-based comic book and children’s book author who is attending this month’s Momocon over Memorial Day Weekend, spoke with Rico Figliolini this week. They talked about his recent contributions to comic anthologies Milestone Initiative (featuring Icon), Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun (featuring Superman), and DC Power 2024 - and, his latest children’s book, Swim, Kelly! Swim!

They also talked about collaborating with artists, crafting compelling characters, feedback from beta readers, and the evolving landscape of diversity and representation in comics, stressing the importance of authentically empowering marginalized voices to shape narratives.

Transforming Offices to Apartments & Building New Cities from Scratch, with Brian Johnson [Podcast]

Converting office buildings into apartments is a complex and challenging process, often met with a low success rate due to the inherent design of office structures. Warehouses, on the other hand, offer a simpler conversion path. In this episode, Brian Johnson delves into the intricacies of these transformations and explores what it takes to establish a new city within a metropolitan area, especially when local residents feel their taxes are being misused or siphoned off by the county. Discover the key factors and considerations behind these urban development endeavors. Hosted by Rico Figliolini

Discover Peachtree Corners Magazine in digital form: Your guide for local news, events, and community insights. Stay connected, stay informed. Scan the QR Code to subscribe to our twice a week newsletter.

The Forum’s Transformation: A New Chapter in Peachtree Corners

Led by North American Properties (NAP), The Forum is being reimagined as a mixed-use destination in the center of Peachtree Corners. This multiphase project aims to enhance the already strong community connection between residents. It also seeks to attract new businesses, residents and visitors, while creating jobs and boosting tenant sales.

Innovative rebranding and technology

Built in 2002, the Forum is an open-air shopping center featuring a variety of retail stores, restaurants and entertainment options. Following its acquisition

by NAP, The Forum in Peachtree Corners has undergone a significant rebranding to update its visual and verbal identity and reflect its more modern persona.

Early in redevelopment, NAP partnered with the city of Peachtree Corners to improve the connection between The Forum and the Town Center.

“The overall goal of the project is to create a more cohesive ecosystem that embraces the city’s hometown charm. It also reduces the need for residents to venture outside the area to nearby destinations for in-demand experiences,” explained NAP Public Relations Director, Britni Johnson.

Debbie Mason

The new branding is evident throughout the property with updated pole banners, property and directional signage and window graphics, along with digital enhancements to The Forum’s website and social media channels.

“One of the first things NAP completed upon taking over management at The Forum was a rebrand encompassing a new visual and verbal identity,” added Johnson.

In addition to aesthetic updates, The Forum is set to roll out several technological enhancements designed to improve the visitor experience. These include four new digital directories for wayfinding, event information and interactive features such as a “snap a selfie” function.

“State-of-the-art stage lighting and A/V for the main stage in The Plaza, which is under construction and set for completion in late summer 2024, will transform the entertainment experience,” Johnson said.

Greenspaces for community gatherings

In terms of design, new community gathering spaces have replaced excess street parking, promoting longer visits and greater interaction among guests. These improvements are part of a broader effort to boost walkability and connectivity across the property.

To enhance the overall guest experience at The Forum, Phase I of the redevelopment focuses on expanding the public realm by adding new greenspaces that welcome casual gatherings.

The first of these spaces, the 1,700-square-foot North Plaza, was introduced in October 2023 and is complemented by surrounding restaurants with inviting patios, including the soon-to-open Politan Row food hall.

Further enhancements are visible in the construction of The Plaza, situated near Pottery Barn. This development is set to include a 6,650-square-foot turfed event plaza equipped with a covered performance stage, a large LED screen and comfortable seating areas. Upon completion, The Plaza will host The Forum’s annual events.

By Kristen Corley

Moreover, additional Wi-Fi access points are being installed to enhance connectivity and support an outdoor workspace.

“We host over 100 annual events – many of which are held in partnership with or support local organizations, including Light Up The Corners with the Fowler YMCA, Restaurant Week with Peachtree Farm, and Santa at The Forum with Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries,” noted Charlotte Hinton, The Forum’s marketing manager.

Trick or Treat at the Forum

(Photos courtesy of The Forum)

Light up The Corners

Prioritizing guest safety

Rest assured, when you’re attending an event or stopping by for an afternoon visit, your safety is NAP’s top priority.

Since taking over The Forum in March 2022, NAP has significantly increased security measures, boosting coverage by 35% as a key aspect of the property’s ongoing redevelopment. This enhancement includes round-the-clock protection provided by onsite security personnel and off-duty law enforcement officers.

ing social media followers on what they want to see at The Forum,” she added.

Since acquiring The Forum in March 2022, NAP has secured 39 deals with various tenants.

Notable recent openings include Alloy Personal Training, Cookie Fix, Giulia, Kendra Scott, Lovesac and Stretchlab. Coming later in 2024 are Nando’s PeriPeri, Sucre and The NOW Massage.

“We look forward to becoming part of The Forum community by providing guests with a truly memorable part of their day. So much of our days are rushed,

The Forum’s security infrastructure has also been expanded, with the installation of nearly 30 new CCTV cameras across the property. Additionally, NAP formed a strategic partnership with Fusus by Axon, a local technology firm based in Peachtree Corners, to integrate a real-time public safety intelligence platform with the existing camera network.

“This allows police to tap into the surveillance feed and gain critical intel during active investigations, ensuring a rapid and informed response to any security issues,” shared Johnson. The security team is directly accessible for immediate assistance.

NAP’s dynamic retail strategy

Understanding the evolving needs of the Peachtree Corners community, NAP is curating a diverse mix of retailers, including popular brands and local entrepreneurs.

Brooke Massey, NAP’s Director of Leasing, emphasized the strategic approach of their retail team.

“NAP’s retail leasing team has strong relationships with an extensive collection of 300+ in-demand brands and is in constant communication with them about their needs,” she explained.

This network has facilitated the introduction of both well-known brands and local entrepreneurs into the retail space, maintaining a dynamic balance that caters to the community’s desires.

Moreover, Massey highlighted the vision behind their tenant selection.

“Our strategy is very data-driven, and our marketing team even plays a role in the curation process by poll-

“We’re constantly seeking unique opportunities to engage with our neighbors. The Peachtree Corners Photography Club currently has an exhibit of photos shot by local residents on display in the Forum South office lobby,” shared Hinton.

“Our team participated in the 2024 Career Exploration Night sponsored by the Norcross Rotary Club. We also recently supported Wesleyan Middle School students on their construction project challenge win,” she added.

running one errand to another. Everyone deserves a moment to slow down and enjoy something delicious. We want to be the space where that happens for Peachtree Corners and all who visit,” shared a company spokesperson for Sucre.

Creating memorable moments

The Forum turned a somber anniversary into a moment of joy for a local family.

Two days after the 2022 Holiday Tree Lighting, tragedy struck Peachtree Corners Councilman Joe Sawyer’s family. His daughter was killed while working as a Lyft driver, leaving behind three young children.

A year later, on the first anniversary of her death, the Sawyer family was invited to The Forum’s 2023 Tree Lighting event.

“We worked with Santa to surprise the kids, and when I took them backstage, they thought they were just going to get to meet and chat with him,” said Sue Storck, The Forum’s general manager.

Unbeknownst to them, a larger surprise awaited as they were brought on stage to help Santa light the tree, delighting the crowd of over 14,000 attendees.

“The kids were surprised and delighted to be able to do this, and it was a fantastic memory for both the Sawyer and Forum families,” Storck added, reflecting on the community’s effort to support one of their own during a time of loss.

The team’s efforts continue throughout the year, planting seeds within the community.

Local investments from new tenants: Kendra Scott’s philanthropic engagement

New tenants are bringing their own philanthropic efforts to the community, too. Kendra Scott Peachtree Corners partnered with the Norcross High School Cheer Team on May 10, donating 20% of the proceeds.

The next day, they partnered with Spectrum Autism Support Group, again donating 20% of the proceeds to the local organization.

“When Kendra Scott opens a store in a new community, we always lead with giving. Philanthropy is one of our core pillars, and we love to celebrate our grand openings by partnering with organizations that are already making a difference!” shared Amanda Young, Southeast Marketing and Philanthropic Manager for Kendra Scott.

By working with Norcross High School Cheer and Spectrum Autism Support Group, we’re able to introduce ourselves to Peachtree Corners residents as a true community partner,” she added.

Kendra Scott is also dedicated to strengthening community ties through “Kendra Gives Back” events at its Forum location.

These events are intended to support local causes and foster connections among community leaders and area supporters.

“We are looking forward to being able to host these organizations in their own backyard!” said Young.

The company is committed to maintaining strong partnerships with neighboring businesses at The Forum, such as Cookie Fix, Peche, and Giulia-The Italian Bakery.

“We are so excited to be a part of The Forum family and have already enjoyed working with their leadership,” Young exclaimed.

Looking ahead

The transformation of The Forum is more than a redevelopment project; it’s a vision for the future of Peachtree Corners.

With plans for adding residential units and a boutique hotel, The Forum is poised to become a dynamic hub of activity.

“Long-term, we’re working toward creating a place that’s activated 18 hours a day, seven days a week,” projected Johnson.

Through thoughtful design, community engagement and a commitment to sustainability, The Forum’s transformation is set to enrich the lives of Peachtree Corners’ residents for generations to come. ■

Light up The Corners

Light up the Forum

Kendra Scott Main Plaza

Pedaling Together: Building a Safe Cycling Community

For many, cycling is more than just transportation; it’s a shared passion and source of community. The sport welcomes riders of all ages, backgrounds, ethnicities and professions.

The local Peachtree Corners Cycling Club (PC3), founded by Randy Bailey, boasts 1,300 local members. That means 1,300 of our friends, neighbors, coworkers and community leaders are cycling on roads regularly.

“It is a great cardiovascular endurance fitness activity, particularly if you’re over 40 and your knees and hips don’t work as well. Cycling is an activity to help you stay fit and to stay healthy,” Bailey shared.

The sport, which welcomes people of all ages, demographics and abilities, is also a wonderful way to connect with others.

“A typical ride could last two hours or three hours. It’s great from a social standpoint, a bit like golf in that sense. The social interaction and connectedness that it brings is really cool and beneficial,” Bailey said.

Safety challenges and infrastructure needs

Bailey champions cycling as a lifestyle and works to ensure it is a safe option for everyone in Peachtree Corners.

“My goal for a long time has been to try building bridges with the people sharing the roads with us to make sure that we arrive alive,” he asserts.

Bailey has a lifetime of experience as an endurance athlete and over four decades of residency in Peachtree Corners. He has witnessed firsthand the evolution of local roads and the increasing need for comprehensive safety measures.

“Cycling has been a significant part of my life. Through my experiences, both joyful and jarring, I’ve come to realize the critical need for better safety measures and mutual respect on our roads,” Bailey stated.

Cyclists face numerous safety challenges. They’re actively dodging road debris, potholes and infrastructure issues that drivers may not even notice.

Andrew Hixson, Norcross City Councilman, avid cyclist, and member of PC3, has had a few narrow escapes of his own.

mon issue is drivers passing extremely close and accelerating purposefully near you,” Hixson shared.

Common misconceptions on the road

Acknowledging the tension between drivers and cyclists on the road, Bailey addressed a key misconception that commonly leads to road aggression.

“If a group of cyclists moves into the road and someone gets stuck behind us, they might feel like we don’t care about them. The perception may be that we are being arrogant, obnoxious and unaware of others around us. That is the furthest thing from the truth,” he said.

“There’s a reason we’re not on the side of the road. Our top two goals in riding a bike are: don’t get killed and stay out of the way of the rest of the traffic. No one is going to pull out into active traffic unless there’s a reason,” he explained.

“The reason could be that on the shoulder, where we’re usually riding, there’s broken glass, potholes, or other obstacles that cars don’t see. If we hit those, we might get a flat tire at best, or worse, we could have an accident and land on our head. We do everything we can to be respectful and flexible. We stay out of the way of faster-moving traffic as much as possible,” Bailey further commented.

Bailey’s commitment to road safety is deeply personal, fueled by friends’ accidents and his own harrowing experiences.

“I was rear-ended on my bicycle by a pickup truck at Lake Lanier a few years ago. I fractured my pelvis and I broke some ribs, but I came up swinging. That’s good when you have one of these incidents because that’s not always the case,” he recounted.

According to a 2022 report from the CDC, nearly 1,000 bicyclists die, and over 130,000 are injured in crashes that occur on roads in the United States every year. Dedicated to the sport they love, cyclists are pleading for a better understanding of laws and humanity on the road.

Common misconceptions on the road

By Kristen Corley

“Riding is full of close calls that you, unfortunately, get used to. I have fallen a few times, mostly due to poor road design and maintenance. The most com-

Bruce Hagen, founder of Hagen Rosskopf personal injury law firm, specializes in cycling accidents. He shared insights into common misconceptions about cyclists’ rights and responsibilities on the road.

(Photos courtesy Randy Bailey)

According to Hagen, these misconceptions often stem from drivers’ misunderstandings about cyclists’ rights.

“Cyclists have most of the same rights to ride on the road that drivers have. For example, bicyclists over the age of 12 may only ride their bikes in the street, not on the sidewalk, as many drivers believe. Cyclists may ride two abreast; they do not have to ride single file,” he explained.

Better education and awareness among motorists are needed to ensure safer interactions on the road. However, understanding the laws does not eliminate the threat posed by distracted driving.

Hagen emphasized the severity of this issue.

“The number one danger facing cyclists is distracted driving caused by improper use of cell phones. Driving while texting or holding a cell phone is not just illegal; it endangers everyone on the road, particularly vulnerable road users such as bicyclists and pedestrians,” he added.

Practical advice for cyclists

Hagen also offered practical advice for cyclists to protect themselves, starting with their insurance coverage. He highlighted the importance of having comprehensive coverage that extends beyond just automobile accidents.

“Everyone, but especially cyclists, should have as much Add-On Uninsured Motorist (UM) coverage as possible on the automobile insurance policy. The UM coverage follows the individual wherever they go, even when they’re riding a bike,” he advised.

This ensures that cyclists are financially protected in case of incidents involving uninsured or underinsured drivers.

Hagen outlined several critical steps that cyclists should take immediately following a crash.

“After a crash, it’s very important to call the police to conduct a thorough investigation. Take photographs at the scene, if possible, and of any visible injuries. If there are witnesses, get their names and contact information since it often does not show up on police reports,” he urged.

Collecting this evidence can be crucial for any legal proceedings or insurance claims that may follow.

Legal and medical follow-up

Hagen also stressed the importance of seeking medical attention and being cautious with insurance companies.

“Follow up immediately with the appropriate medical provider to get whatever care that’s needed. Do not give a tape-recorded interview to the driver’s insurance company because they’re not trying to help. They’re trying to minimize their exposure to paying a claim,” he said.

“When you can, contact a lawyer who has specific expertise in handling bicycle crash cases because there are many unique aspects that make them different from a typical Car vs. Car personal injury case,” he continued.

Promoting safety in urban areas

Looking at broader solutions, Hagen shared his views on how to improve cycling safety in urban

areas like Peachtree Corners. He believes that a comprehensive approach is essential for making meaningful changes.

“Improving safety for cyclists requires a multipronged approach involving improved infrastructure on the roads to make them safer for all users, public education about drivers’ responsibility and enforcement of existing laws,” Hagen said.

This approach aims to create a safer environment for cyclists through better road design, increased public awareness and stricter law enforcement.

The role of technology in enhancing cyclist safety

Innovative solutions are continually being developed to improve the coexistence of vehicles and bicycles on our roads.

A key example is the partnership between Spoke Technology and Audi, which aims to enhance cycling safety. This collaboration combines Spoke’s advanced sensor and software technology with Audi’s automotive expertise to create a safer environment for cyclists.

On April 28, 2024, the Curiosity Lab Criterium returned to Peachtree Corners. The competitive cycling race hosts USA CRITS Division 1 teams across three states. This year, the race spotlighted advanced safety technologies, including a live demonstration of Spoke’s Cellular Vehicle-to-Everything (C-V2X) technology in collaboration with Audi.

Spoke’s technology represents a significant leap in safeguarding cyclists, pedestrians and motorcyclists, often referred to as vulnerable road users, or VRUs. The C-V2X technology facilitates improved communication between VRUs and nearby vehicles through a small device.

This device, which can be attached to bicycles, motorcycles or carried by pedestrians, communicates with vehicle-based C-V2X systems, such as those found in Audi cars. It alerts both drivers and VRUs to each other’s presence, direction, and speed, helping to prevent accidents before they occur.

When accidents do occur, the team analyzes incident data to identify patterns and areas of concern. This allows for continuous improvement of safety features. This data-driven approach ensures that the solutions are not only effective but also evolve with changing road conditions and cycling behaviors.

Public-private partnerships and community engagement

Curiosity Lab’s achievements have brought national recognition to Peachtree Corners as a leader in intelligent mobility and smart city solutions. The event highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships. Technology companies, car manufacturers and local governments like Peachtree Corners collaborated to develop life-saving technologies.

“The city is doing a lot of research on vulnerable road users and is collaborating with Audi, T-Mobile and other partners at Curiosity Lab. They’re developing technology to keep cyclists, pedestrians, scooter users and e-bike riders safe when sharing the road with cars and trucks,” said Bailey.

As Peachtree Corners and its partners continue to work for safer streets, they will establish a model that other communities can emulate.

The initiatives in Peachtree Corners highlight the importance of cooperation between cyclists, drivers and municipal officials. By promoting community involvement, utilizing advanced safety technologies and educating the public on traffic regulations and hand signals, the city encourages a shared road environment for everyone. ■

City’s First Employee Steps Down

Diana Wheeler starts her own consulting business

When a city is established, there’s a lot to do to get it going. One of the most important decisions is hiring effective staff.

Diana Wheeler was one of those qualified employees who helped turn Peachtree Corners into the community it is today. She’s also credited with being the city’s first hire.

“I worked in Alpharetta for about 20 years as a

community development director, and I decided that it was time to try something new and different, something I hadn’t done before. I was going to start up my own consulting business,” said Wheeler.

She was only a few days into her new career when the city of Peachtree Corners called.

“They said, ‘Hey, we’d like you to come and help us out. We’re starting up a new city, and we don’t really have any planners. We need a community development department,” said Wheeler.

So, she went back into city government work and put off starting her business.

Years of service

“I was the only employee for a while,” she said. “There were a lot of interesting times, and there were opportunities I’ve never had before, like setting up all of their programs and systems at the beginning.”

At a City Council meeting on April 23, Wheeler was recognized for more than 12 years of dedicated service to the city.

“A lot of things were accomplished, and after 12 years, I thought, well, you know, I still want that one last sort of professional challenge that I hadn’t ever done before, which was to go out on my own and take advantage of the connections that I’ve made over the years and work on projects that were of interest to me,” she said.

She let the city leadership know that it was time for that change and that she’d be making that change at the end of April.

By Arlinda Smith Broady

Photos by Tracey Rice

“Diana’s daily presence was profoundly valued by her colleagues, who benefitted from her expertise, leadership, and perhaps most importantly, her composure in the face of the numerous challenges that the Peachtree Corners city government has encountered during her tenure,” read a statement from the city.

Diana Wheeler

Don’t call it a retirement

As the community development director, Wheeler wore a lot of hats, metaphorically speaking.

“When I was community development director, I had four divisions: the building department, which issues permits and performs inspections; code enforcement, which basically enforces the city’s regulations in commercial and residential areas; planning and zoning, which does all the public hearings and all the zoning research work, and when we added the Town Center, we added special events,” she said. “It’s just a lot of different things. And the city has a very limited number of employees. So, everybody does multiple tasks.”

But she hasn’t entirely left the city. Through the end of the year, she’ll be coordinating the special events at the Town Center.

“We’ve got an incredible lineup. We have all sorts of really cool concerts … and we’re also introducing a night market, which is like a farmer’s market,” she said.

The market will take place on the second Saturday of the month and will have about 14 different vendors selling produce, homemade products, and other items.

“We’re going to have a talent competition this year,” she said. “It’s called Peachtree Corners Has Talent, and we’re asking people to submit YouTube videos, and there are prizes for winners.”

Additionally, there’s a children’s festival and one for the canines in the new dog park.

“On December 4, we’re going to have the huge holiday glow event, which is our big holiday gala at the town center with a concert and Santa and all sorts of stuff for kids to do and a sing-along and lots of free hot chocolate and cookies and things like that,” she said.

Wheeler is unsure if she’ll continue working as a consultant with the city beyond December, but she’s excited about her next chapter. Her consulting business is focused on special projects.

A new journey as a consultant

“In communities where they have a limited staff but would like to take on a project, for example, the city of Jasper and the city of Milton have two different areas where they have projects that they would like to take on, but they don’t have the staff resources,” she said.

That’s where she’ll come in.

“They hire people sort of as a side project to work just on that project. And those are the sort of things that I would do,” she said. “I get to focus on a specific project and don’t deal with the day-to-day things.”

Wheeler said she likes that she gets to choose what she wants to work on and use her skills and experience to the fullest. ■

Highlights of Wheeler’s career with the city of Peachtree Corners:

■ She laid the groundwork for the establishment of Peachtree Corners’ inaugural City Hall.

■ She was instrumental in the development of the Holcomb Bridge Corridor Urban Redevelopment Plan, Livable Centers Initiative, Innovation Hub Master Plan, Winters Chapel Road Corridor Study and conceptual planning for the Multi-Use Trail network.

■ She established and nurtured the Arts Council, created the Arts & Culture Master Plan, and promoted other public art initiatives, bringing the residents enriching cultural experiences, artistic expression and a sense of community pride.

■ She played a pivotal role in the establishment and ongoing support of the Peachtree Corners Planning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Downtown Development Authority, Redevelopment Authority, Arts Council, and Green Committee.

■ She played a crucial role in securing the city’s Green Community Certification and its Tree City USA recognition.

■ She spearheaded the implementation of the city’s initial zoning laws and led the Code Enforcement, Building and Permitting and Planning and Zoning Departments.

■ She pioneered the city’s first Comprehensive Land Use Plan.

■ She played a key role in launching Special Service Districts, contributing significantly to their initiation and success.

■ She Diana guided Town Green and Town Center initiatives.

■ She organized and managed Peachtree Corners’ special events.

Phase I of The Forum’s Redevelopment Is Nearing Completion

We’re creating an environment where guests can check off all of their to-do list in one place. Join us for an early morning workout, grab a coffee, find a cozy place to open your laptop, take a little retail therapy break, pick up some groceries, and then join your friends for dinner or a live concert.”

Brooke Massey Director of Leasing at North American Properties

Peachtree Corners Welcomes New Community Development Director

With community development director Diana Wheeler stepping down to pursue a consulting career, Peachtree Corners city leadership

By Arlinda Smith Broady

turned a challenge into an opportunity.

In January, Shaun Adams was hired as the assistant city attorney to oversee compliance for land use and economic development-related matters and help with legal issues.

His background in public and private sector development made him the ideal replacement.

As luck would have it, Adams moved to Georgia in 2005, selling real estate while attending law school.

“I actually started working down at the capital a lot, lobbying on various policies right out of law school,” he said. “I was the legal counsel for the Senate Judiciary, and that exposed me to ACCG, which is the State County Association, which represents

Photos by Tracey Rice

With the motto, Advancing Georgia’s Counties, ACCG helps with the policy aspect of things like training and education.

“While I was a lobbyist for them, I focused on economic development, infrastructure-related issues and whatever policies went into place,” Adams said. “We also went around the state and trained our commissioners and their staff on some of those policies and put their new processes in place.”

Local government possibilities

“After a handful of years, I got lured away into the private sector,” he said.

Working on land use and government relations matters from the other side of the table, Adams represented developers and investors.

“Sometimes [investors would] come to me with a property that they bought, and they’d say, ‘Hey, we bought this on investment. We’d like to see how we can make the highest and best use of it. Help us cre -

all staff and elected officials for counties across the state.”

Shaun Adams

ate a vision,’” he said. “So, I helped put a team together to determine what we thought could go on the site based off of local government zoning.”

His job entailed working with architects and engineers to design the site and help the client take it to market. Ultimately, the contract purchaser would come in and seek needed entitlements.

“I would help with that,” Adams said. “Those were the fun ones because you got to start on the ground.”

Adams got to know many different local government jurisdictions and worked extensively around metro Atlanta on various matters. On a busy week, he may work with five different jurisdictions across the state.

As a family man with a wife and two sons, he began looking for something that would keep him closer to home.

A perfect fit

City Manager Brian Johnson says it was serendipitous that Adams was looking for a position at a time when the city needed someone like him.

“It’s actually a hard position to fill, and I just happened to catch him,” said Johnson. “We were familiar with each other because he’s represented a number of clients coming before the city.”

Johnson said that Adams was legal counsel for some of the most significant developments in the last few years: North American Properties purchasing and revitalizing The Forum, housing development Waterside, and Intuitive Surgical moving its headquarters from the West Coast.

“He was on the other side of the table as we worked together to make these projects ultimately better for the city and better than they were upon their initial submittal,” Johnson said.

“And I knew then that he was a really knowledgeable guy that really knows how to deal with people.

He’s a problem solver. He’s always looking for ways to figure out how to resolve conflict and navigate minefields as it relates to land use and all the laws and zoning that apply to it,” he added.

Changes to the job

Although Wheeler is no longer a staffer, she’s still doing work for the city.

With Adams’ legal background, the events planning team will be transitioning out from under community development.

“By taking that off my plate, it’ll allow me to do more with the legal side of things that the position didn’t do previously,” he said.

There will also be a shift with code enforcement duties moving under Chief Marshal Edward Restrepo.

“I moved code enforcement underneath the city marshal’s office because code enforcement and law enforcement are almost like fraternal twins -- they both do very similar things,” said Johnson. “Each of them is enforcing a different level of law. Code enforcement is municipal code, and law enforcement is state code, but they work hand in hand.”

The events planning through the end of the year has already been moved from the community development director’s department. As a consultant, Wheeler will work with other contractors to manage the happenings at the Town Center. Director of Communications Louis Svehla has already moved into managing premier events, Johnson said adding that the city may use more consultants in the future under Svehla’s management.

“He has really shown his ability to manage special events very adeptly. He really showed me that skill set when we had last year’s Criterium bike race,” said Johnson. “I decided to take advantage of some opportunities, including our partnership with Audi, which

we were going to announce to the whole vulnerable road user thing.”

With only three months to prepare, Svehla pulled off the event without a hitch.

“He did an outstanding job and so he is capable of taking the management of our community events, our concerts and stuff,” said Johnson.

Johnson said the city is still utilizing consultants for some aspects of special events, but if consultant fees become more expensive than hiring someone full-time to assist Svehla, he’ll make that call.

“All those moves have happened, and I’ll sum it up by just saying that I’m just playing to the strengths of these people and utilizing a great team that I have, and it’s working out really well,” Johnson said. ■

Twin Authors Chronicle Antics of ‘Four-Legged Brother’

Twin Authors Chronicle Antics of ‘Four-Legged Brother’

When rescue dog

Apollo found his forever home with Megan and Mackenzie Grant, the Berkeley Lake twins knew they had added a special member to the family. He’s so beloved that he’s considered their “four-legged brother.”

Apollo is a Boston terrier. The breed is known for its friendliness and love of people and children. According to the Purina Company, makers of all kinds of pet food, Boston terriers make affectionate pets and are outgoing and social.

While they are called ‘terriers,’ they are not in the terrier group, nor do they behave like them. They are far happier at home with their owner than getting into the usual mischief.

But Megan and Mackenzie see him as a silly addition to the family.

“He’s super cool because he’s always up for fun and loves us a whole bunch. And guess what? We love him back even more! He’s like the best friend ever, wagging his tail and making everything awesome!” they said in a press release.

Apollo’s birthday inspiration

As his first birthday approached, the girls, six years old at the time, wanted his day to be special.

“I said, ‘Well if you want to come up with something to do, let’s write it out,’” said mom Tameka Womack. “So they started writing out all these different adventures, and it was so cute.”

Megan recalled that their teacher had told them about someone who had published a book, and she asked if they could, too.

“When I read through it, they had all the different things, like playing dress up because we had bought some clothes for him. And we take them out for long walks around the lake and stuff,” Womack added.

Although their favorite subjects in school are PE and art, they did such a good job with the tale that Tameka worked with them to get it published. On Feb. 1, the young authors released the children’s book, “How We Love Our Four-Legged Brother.”

Publishing success

The 30-page book took off almost immediately. Available for print and digital through Amazon and print editions through Barnes & Noble, the book has reached customers in the U.K., Germany, France, Japan, Canada, Australia, Sweden, the Netherlands, Italy, Poland and throughout the U.S.

The girls and their mom were so pleased and surprised to find out the book was No. 1 in its category on Amazon.

“They were just so excited that people actually bought the book,” said Womack. “They were just like, ‘Wow, who is buying this?’”

Feedback from fellow twins, animal lovers and teachers showed that the story resonated on many levels.

“As an educator, I am always on the lookout for diverse and inclusive literature for my students. ‘How We Love Our Four-Legged Brother’ not only captivated the imaginations of the children in my class but also served as a wonderful conversation starter about friendship, empathy and the beauty of diversity,” wrote Ashleigh Darby.

… or out in the winter without his sweater,” said Womack. “We have a little budget for his clothes because every time the girls see something, they’re like, ‘Oh, I think Apollo will like it.’ I’m like, I think he would too, but let’s let it stay in the store.”

Nurturing creativity

Although both mom and dad are engineers and kind of hoped that the twins would follow in their footsteps, Womack said she’s okay with them being artistic and creative.

“Writing is teaching them some responsibility and teaching them a little bit about money,” she said.

“Now they want to write a book every day.”

Between raising three daughters (the twins have an older teenage sister), running a household with her husband and keeping up with her career at Georgia Tech, Womack said she’ll look for time to continue helping the girls with their dreams.

“With summer coming up, I would definitely encourage parents to help their children explore their creativity in any kind of way, from digging holes in the ground to … seeing the world … to creating books instead of being on the internet,” said Womack. I try to limit my kids’ screen time … and build real memories.”

By Arlinda Smith Broady

The royalties from book sales are tucked away, with a percentage going to Apollo’s wardrobe.

“He won’t go out in the rain without his raincoat

Find “How We Love Our Four-Legged Brother” on Amazon. ■

Mackenzie Grant

Megan Grant

4 MILE GLOW RUN & 1K TWILIGHT TROT

SATURDAY, AUGUST 10TH

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Taking the Bite Out of Prime Mosquito Months

Peachtree Corners and Gwinnett County may be spared a huge cicada event this year. But mosquitos have been showing up in force. An eco-friendly solution may be just the answer to keep mosquitos and pesky gnats from invading your outdoor spaces.

Local startup GeoMosquito has developed a highly effective eco-friendly solution, and it just gained a PTC investor to grow the company.

Living in mosquito-central

Mosquitoes are a significant seasonal challenge in this area, and Atlanta has repeatedly appeared on lists of worst cities in the U.S. for mosquito popula-

tions.

GeoMosquito founder Geoff Krstovic took a job working for a mosquito control company because the flexible hours gave him more time with his kids. He decided to branch out on his own and focus on a eco-friendly and effective solution.

For two years, he worked on creating a formula that was nontoxic and a spraying protocol that produced repeatable successful outcomes.

“I became passionate about finding a solution that was safe for pollinators, pets, people, and plants. The same bushes your pet roams through should not be sprayed with harsh chemicals. It’s bad for pets and any poison that gets on their fur can be transferred,” said Krstovic.

The investment in research and development paid off. Krstovic’s proprietary nontoxic formula wasn’t just a safer, eco-friendly choice, it worked, and his early customers became passionate fans. But to grow the business, he needed an investor.

One day, as he was servicing a client in the Peachtree Corners neighborhood of Revington on the River, he found his investor living right next door to his childhood home.

When you invest in your yard, you want to use it

Nathan and Erin Rhatigan found their dream home just days before their third child was born.

pletely rebuilding the decks and re-landscaping. The problem? They couldn’t use it during prime-time spring and summer months. They kept getting driven indoors by mosquitos. The couple tried multiple pest companies, but none of them provided effective results, and they worried about the chemicals they were exposing their young children and pets to during treatments.

A neighbor recommended GeoMosquito. The solution was nontoxic, and the couple finally found a service that worked. The family could go back outside and enjoy the beautiful view, play sports and entertain family and friends.

As the couple learned more about Krstovic’s ambitions for the company and his search for an investor, they decided to invest themselves. For Krstovic, it was a full-circle moment.

Who says you can’t go back home?

“It felt fantastic to find someone who understood my vision for the company and could help move GeoMosquito forward. To find someone in my old neighborhood, next door to my childhood home, it was pure serendipity. I also appreciated that they had experienced first-hand how effective and consistent the service was over the course of a few years,” said Krstovic.

By Carol Casey

The house has an amazing river view and the first investments they made were in their yard, com-

Nathan Rhatigan says that his and his wife Erin’s fondest memories are made in the backyard with family and friends.

“I just got really tired of spending money without getting results and not being able to enjoy our out-

Geoff Krstovic says customer feedback has been vital to designing the ecofriendly solution.

L to R Nathan Rhatigan, Erin Rhatigan, Geoff Krstovic. (Photos courtesy of GeoMosquito)

side spaces,” he said.

The couple was skeptical about trying another company, but after seeing immediate results after the first treatment, they were excited to move forward with the service.

“It’s great to be back in the fresh air and enjoying our property. Living alongside the river, it was also important to us not to put anything on our property that could hurt the water. Now that we’ve discovered this service, we want neighbors and beyond to have access to it. It impressed us that Geoff was so meticulous about both the formulation and application,” said Rhatigan. ■

3 Tips to Reduce Mosquitos in Your Yard

1. Every three to five days, empty all items on your property that hold water. The gestation cycle for mosquito species in Georgia is generally 7 to 10 days, so eliminating standing water regularly will help lower activity.

2. Don’t let leaves and branches pile up. Leaves, especially those from a magnolia tree, can hold water for weeks at a time and create the perfect environment for mosquitos to thrive.

3. Make sure your gutters are cleaned at least once a year, preferably twice a year. Debris blown from nearby trees can enter your gutters and create pools of water that are ideal nesting sites, even with gutter guards installed.

Why SolutionsEco-Friendly Are Important

■ Hazardous chemicals contaminate pollinating flowers, exposing bees, butterflies and even hummingbirds.

■ Pets can accidentally ingest or inhale lethal pesticides.

■ Toxins from traditional pesticides can be washed into streams and drains, contaminating soil.

■ Friends, family and especially babies don’t always know where an application has been applied.

■ Mosquitos and other pests build up a tolerance to harsh chemicals over time.

■ Companies will often double the standard amount of chemicals used to get results, increasing the amount of exposure.

Dogs frequent areas that are sprayed for mosquitos and can transport harmful chemicals into the house

Local Marketing Production Company Finds Peachtree Corners Right for Business

When perusing the list of goods and services provided by Peachtree Corners-based company Vox-Pop-Uli, instead of asking what they do, it may be quicker to ask what they don’t do. When

it comes to marketing production, it’s easy to see why the company motto is, “Yeah, we do that.”

A first-generation Ukrainian, Andrew Hajduk’s parents immigrated to the U.S. in 1949 after the Soviet Union took over Ukraine. They settled in the Chicago area and worked in the steel mills. A job transfer moved the family to metro Atlanta in 1975, where they’ve been ever since.

In 1996, Hajduk worked at a similar company, where he was inspired to branch out independently.

“I had a partner at the time, and we were out mak-

ing sales calls in North Carolina and visiting customers,” he said. “We thought we were a whole lot smarter than our boss and decided to go and do it on our own.”

Where did the name Vox-Pop-Uli come from?

“Neither one of us was smart enough nor creative enough to come up with something. The only challenge that we gave [the designer] was we wanted a name that didn’t tie us to anything specific to what we did. And we didn’t want a name that didn’t reflect either of our names,” Hajduk said.

The literal Latin translation is “voice of the people.”

“We use that as we help our customers be the voice to their people. Through marketing, with flyers, signage, whatever it is, but letting their marketing be the voice to their people, their employees, their customers, whoever it is.”

By Arlinda Smith Broady

Photos by George Hunter

At first, they worked out of their homes until securing office space a year later. After a few years, Hajduk’s partner left, so Hajduk continued the vision on his own.

Megan Hajduk, Andrew Hajduk, Cindy Hajduk, and Daniel Hajduk

Andrew Hajduk

“We have grown and adapted. Our model has changed a little bit. But it’s always been about working with our customers. We do a lot of specialty retail with other B2B customers, and we’re just really providing a full marketing service for them and acting as their fulfillment center,” Hajduk said.

Even though printing is a major part of the company’s work, communication of the client’s brand is really its backbone.

“We started before digital print had become commercially acceptable. We had an opportunity to be very early adopters of digital print because we saw a need, and we had some customers that were willing to take a chance on it with us,” he said.

“It’s evolved with that, and there continues to be a heavy print component to it, but now there’s all the swag, all the different things that people use to communicate their brand,” he added.

Technology is the key to success

One aspect that has kept Vox-Pop-Uli ahead of much of the competition is embracing technology.

“One of the things that it’s done to our internal pro-

cesses is it’s made the timeframe a lot faster. It allows people to be way more responsive to an immediate need,” he said.

“If I want to do a last-minute campaign for Memorial Day weekend, which is in what two and a half weeks, I can do that. Whereas, with the traditional print or before the technology was there, there was no chance I would be able to do that,” he explained. Sometimes, that makes things challenging because clients don’t build in time. They know that last-minute

orders are generally no problem.

“The other thing it’s done is it’s given people the ultimate flexibility,” he said.

With many national clients, a lot of materials need to be customized for different locations, different states and different markets.

“Everybody’s got legal disclaimers because of pricing, services or whatever. So, we can customize down to a state or local level, depending on the product,” said Hajduk.

“We don’t print 10,000 of any one thing, but we might print 1,000, each of 10 different versions for a company because if you’re in Kentucky, you’ve got one disclaimer, one price package. And if you’re in Florida, you have something else.”

Creating online store for clients

“We’re maintaining stores where they can go in and order their products,” he said. “Whether it’s posters, business cards, whatever it is, but all the inventory exists virtually now. As a business, you’re not maintaining large inventory levels of anything. They can do everything on demand. … As opposed to printing or producing a whole bunch of something to last you, they can literally order it as they need it. And it exists virtually until it’s printed.”

Vox also helps customers create campaigns.

“People ask me all the time, ‘What form do you think works best?’” said Hajduk.

“I believe you must be omnipresent. People have short attention spans today. We’re competing harder for that consumer dollar. I don’t think any one thing is going to work. It’s not about a single Facebook ad, a digital post, or a postcard; all things have to work together,” he explained.

Hajduk said the most successful campaigns involve print, storefront, digital and social media elements.

The right place for business

“We’ve always been in the Gwinnett County area,” Hajduk said. “We started out in Duluth on the other side of 85.”

Hajduk and his partner lived on opposite sides of the metro area, so Gwinnett County was a good middle ground.

“The Interstate 85 corridor was always a good place for us. We started out off Steve Reynolds Blvd; then we’re in Duluth for a little bit. And then in 2005, we moved over here to the North Woods complex and watched it become Peachtree Corners,” he said. “Then, in 2019, we moved to this space. I just love the feel of the community. I love this location. I like being on Peachtree Industrial Blvd.”

City leadership

“I think Peachtree Corners has done a lot of things right. In terms of how they’re growing and things like that,” he said. “The location is good and central. My wife, Cindy, and I moved to Peachtree Corners in January. We were in Johns Creek till we became empty nesters. We wanted to be on the river, and we found a great house,” he said.

Even though the kids have moved out, Megan and Daniel are part of the Vox staff. Along with his wife, a stay-at-home mom until the children were older, the Hajduks are building a legacy of family and community. There’s room if younger son Steven also desires to join the family business.

“We see continued growth and scaling,” said Hajduk. “We’re excited about growing here. As technology has changed, it’s given us a broader mix of clients. Up until about five or six years ago, the company was very retail-based, meaning we had a lot of retail clients. We have a lot of clients outside of Georgia, and I spent way too much time traveling. But we have a great opportunity now with everything we do to grow here.” ■

The Right Buyer When Selling Your Small Business

Findingtherightbuyerforyourbusinessgoesbeyondgettingthehighestofferpossible.Asaseller,you’relookingforthemostqualifiedbuyerthatbestalignswithyour values.Addvaluetoyourcompanyandcontributetothecontinuedsuccessofyour business by balancing these goals.

#1

You made your major dream of becoming a successful business owner come true! Still, lately you’ve been feeling a bit like “been there, done that”. So, what’s next? That’s up to you. You’ve earned that freedom.

#2 #3 #4

CreateAnIdealBuyerPersona–Whenitcomesto selling your business, you’re looking for your ideal candidate.Beflexiblealthoughitisimportanttoconsider what type of buyer your company can best support.

Maybe you haven’t planned an exit strategy, and you can’t just walk away after all this time...what about everything you built? And where would you even begin?

UnderstandtheDifferentTypesofBuyers-Selling yourbusinesscomesdowntoabasicfundamental: getting to know your target audience. People buy businessesfordifferentreasons.Theirmotivebehind purchasing will affect how you reach them.

To sell your business, you need to understand how much it is worth. Remember valuation is an art, not a science. Multiple factors will come into play as you determine what your company is worth such as the business’s financial health, industry trends, the current market demand and the location of your company.

Appeal to Your Potential Buyers - Prepare your businessforshowing–makesureeverythingisinits bestshapebeforeapproachingprospects.Thisincludes getting your books and financials in order, too!

ListYour Sale withABusiness Broker -Abroker helpsyousavetime.Theyidentifytherightmatchfor your business and ensure you’re only dealing with qualifiedprospects.Allwhilemaintainingyouranonymity.

KARL BARHAM KBarham@tworld.com

There’s a lot to know when it comes to selling your business - in fact, that’s our business. If you’re ready to talk about your exit strategy, call Transworld Business Advisors. We’ll take care of the details while you plan your next chapter. Explore your options and receive a complimentary valuation of your business by giving us a call 770-766-9855 or email atlantapeachtree@tworld.com today!

AtTransworld,we’lladvertiseyourbusinesstoaworldwidenetworkofbuyerswho areeitherinterestedingrowingthroughacquisitionoraresearchingfortheirnextopportunity.TolearnhowTransworldBusinessAdvisorscanofferyousoundadviceand insightintosellingyourbusiness,scheduleaconsultationtodaybygivingusacallat 770-766-9855 or email atlantapeachtree@tworld.com today!

Business Organizations and Events

Atlanta Tech Park

107 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners 404-797-1221 | atlantatechpark.com

Atlanta Tech Meet Up

Tuesdays, June 4, July 2 and August 6. 6-8 p.m.

Sponsored by Aditi Consulting, the monthly meet-up welcomes tech admirers and professionals to discuss all things emerging in technology in the café.

Atlanta Tech Week Kick-Off

Monday, June 10. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

RenderATL will host Atlanta Tech Week, June 9-15, with a kick-off held at Atlanta Tech Park. The week-long event will spotlight the magic of the Atlanta innovation ecosystem. Register at lu.ma/atlantatechweek2024.

Summer Cook Outs!

Tuesdays, June 18 and July 23. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

ATP’s favorite summer event is back with burgers, bean burgers, hot dogs and an ice cream truck. No registration required.

Tech Talks 2024

Wednesday, June 19.

The Q2 Tech Talk will feature speakers and topics (to be announced) will be offered to members in the café as well as virtual plus members via Zoom.

Gwinnett Women’s Chamber

Tech Talk

Fridays, June 21 and July 19. 12-2 p.m.

Admission: GWC members, $15; non-members, $25.

The Gwinnett Women’s Chamber hosts insightful talks featuring speakers in the tech industry as they share knowledge on how to use technology to help your business grow. Lunch is provided. Please register through gwinnettwomenschamber.com.

Rotary Club of Peachtree Corners

The Hickory Room 5260 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard Peachtree Corners, GA 30071 peachtreecornersrotary.org

Club

Meetings

Mondays, June 3, 10, 17. 12-1 p.m.

Speakers include Chief Marshal Edward Restrepo of the Peachtree Corners City Marshal Office on June 3. Meetings are held on most Mondays; check the website for more info.

Duluth Business Association

Meetings held the second Tuesday of every month. Meeting locations are announced monthly. duluthbusiness.org

The June 11 meeting will be held at Delmar Gardens of Gwinnett, 3100 Club Drive in Lawrenceville.

RSVP by emailing duluthbusiness@gmail.com.

Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce

First Friday Breakfast — Georgia Power

Friday, June 7. 7:30-9 a.m.

Hilton Atlanta Northeast

5993 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Peachtree Corners

Admission: $28 for members, $35 for non-members; registration is required.

Andrea Sieber and Deon Tucker, representatives of Georgia Power, will discuss the innovative strategies and solutions that are shaping Georgia’s energy future.

First Friday Breakfast — Mayor’s Panel

Friday, June 12

Check the website for further information.

Admission: $28 for members, $35 for non-members; registration is required.

Mayors from Norcross, Peachtree Corners and Berkeley Lake give their city updates.

SWGC Coffee Connections

Thursdays, June 13, 20, 27; July 18, 25; August 8, 15. 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Admission: free for SWGC members and visitors

Expand your business connections with local professionals over coffee. Meetings are normally held in the large meeting space behind the SWGC office at Atlanta Tech Park.

Check out the latest podcasts from Peachtree Corners Magazine on our YouTube Channel

Hosted by Rico Figliolini, Prime Lunchtime with the City Manager is an informative monthly podcast that delves into city developments, news and issues with guest, city manager Brian Johnson. UrbanEbb, features topics and interviews from start up companies and urban planning, to politics and cultures. Scan the QR to start today.

PCBA Lunch Club

4989 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners 678-969-3385 | peachtreecornersba.com

Thursdays, June 6, July 18, August 8. 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

Marlow’s Tavern, Peachtree Corners Town Center, 5210 Center Blvd., Peachtree Corners

Open to PCBA members and their guests. Advance registration is appreciated.

Meet up with PCBA members for an enjoyable way to network and save 15% off your lunch check.

PCBA Connecting Over Coffee Morning Meetup

Tuesdays, June 11, July 9, August 13. 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, 5215 Town Center Blvd., Peachtree Corners

Free admission for PCBA members and their guests. Register online as space is limited.

Meet with other PCBA and business professionals over coffee in a positive atmosphere on the second Tuesday of the month. Business cards will be shared with all attendees.

PCBA Business After Hours: Taste of Peachtree Corners

and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members. Attendees must be 18 years or older.

PCBA Business After Hours Speaker Series

Thursday, July 25. 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Hilton Atlanta Northeast

5993 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Peachtree Corners

Event registration is $40. Advanced registration is $25 for members and $35 for guests. Includes appetizers and drinks. Check online for the latest details.

Thursday, June 27. 5:30-7:30 p.m.

City Hall, Community Chest Room 310 Technology Pkwy., Peachtree Corners

Tickets: $40; free for Peachtree Corners retired or active-duty military service members.

Enjoy an evening of delicious bites and drinks while sampling foods from local businesses and wear red, white, and blue to salute our armed forces. PCBA will present a check to the Peachtree Corners chapter of Folds of Honor Foundation, which awards scholarships to the spouses

Scan the QR Code for more information on the Taste of Peachtree Corners

Andrea Sieber

Deon Tucker

UGA Legend Imparts Words of Wisdom at Salvation Army Luncheon

The role team sports play in building authentic relationships is pretty apparent, especially the relationship between a coach and the individual players.

Showing strength often means showing vulnerability as well. And sometimes the strongest people can have their vulnerable moments. That’s what the Salvation Army’s ministry is all about – helping those who need a hand.

To further that message, one of the most noteworthy coaches in University of Georgia football history, Mark Richt, shared his insights as the key-

note speaker for the 10th annual “Doing the Best” luncheon on May 9 at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta NE. The event is one of the main fundraisers for the Salvation Army of Gwinnett County.

Coach Richt’s journey

Richt shared his personal experience of being recruited out of high school and eventually going into coaching, highlighting the challenges and rewards of the journey.

“My mom taught me what it means to love unconditionally,” said Richt. “And my dad and I connected through baseball … he taught me how to love and respect people … unfortunately he’s no longer with us.”

Having that groundwork at home helped underscore the value of relationships in sports, he said, adding that’s what helped overcome obstacles in coaching and in life.

Richt coached the Bulldogs from 2001 to 2015 and The University of Miami from 2016 to 2018. He retired with a record of 171-64.

His UGA win total is second only to Hall of Fame coach Vince Dooley’s. He was named the 2002 and 2005 SEC Coach of the Year and is currently the 10th-winningest coach in SEC history. Last year, he became the fifth coach from Georgia and the fifth

The impact of faith

He shared with the audience how his faith in God helped him overcome fears and doubts – even while battling Parkinson’s disease, emphasizing his hope in the future glory of heaven.

“I got Parkinson’s, and as most people know, it’s a progressive disease that gets worse over time. It affects your movement. I get muscle rigidity,” he said. “When I got the diagnosis, I thought, ‘Well, what do I do?’”

He said he decided he was going to enjoy the blessing he had while he could. And he encouraged the audience to do the same.

“We are grateful to have Coach Richt join us for this milestone year of the Doing The Most Good Luncheon,” said Captain Paul Ryerson, commanding officer of The Salvation Army of Gwinnett County. “The need remains high for many in our community, and the funds raised through this event will allow us to continue to serve as a resource and bring hope to our local neighbors.”

By Arlinda Smith Broady

Visit southernusa.salvationarmy.org/gwinnett to learn more. ■

Hurricanes coach to enter the College Football Hall of Fame.

Scott Slade and Coach Richt (Photo by Jon Avery)

Matt Xander

MC Scott Slade from WSB Radio

The Salvation Army of Gwinnett County “Doing the Most Good” by the numbers (2023):

■ 51,134 pounds of food donated,

■ 640 number of households that received food donations,

■ 1,461 nights of shelter provided,

■ 54 number of households that received rent/mortgage and utility assistance,

■ 738 families received gifts at Christmas through the Angel Tree program and

■ 1,979 children received gifts at Christmas through the Angel Tree program.

LInda and Donnie McQuaigwith Coach Richt (Center)

Coach Richt, Allison Wade and Peter Billups with The Strippers

Jace and Aidan Brooks

New Dining Experience Opens at Hilton Hotel

Dahlia’s offers southern-style fare and easy entertainment

Just in time for the summer season, Hilton Atlanta Northeast has launched a new dining option, Dahlia’s Restaurant & Porch.

The casual dining experience brings understated luxury to an easy, breezy setting with comfortable patio furniture on a spacious outdoor deck, a full bar with top-shelf spirits and an impressive wine collection. The cuisine is Southern style and utilizes regionally sourced, farm-fresh ingredients.

“You really can’t ask for an easier setting or a more comfortable way to unwind,” said Andrew Stegen, executive vice president of operations for FullG

Capital, the hotel operator. “In the old days, hotels had restaurants for the travelers, and the locals came occasionally. Now, it’s the other way around. You have to appeal to the people who live here.”

At a press preview on May 15, Dahlia’s was unveiled for the first time.

Dahlia’s plans to offer weekend buffets, sports viewing on the patio and family-friendly cookouts.

“Dahlia’s is a great addition for our hotel guests but also for the local community! We are most excited about our new porch, which is the perfect place for happy hour spritz, outdoor dining and future programming,” said Mike Roling, general manager of Hilton Atlanta Northeast.

The food is led by executive chef Robert Chafflin, who said he likes to bring an approachable yet flavorful take on southern culinary staples. For the preview, guests were wowed with shrimp and

grits, braised beef short ribs, mushroom risotto, shrimp po’boys, cheesecake with caramelized peaches and a whole lot more.

The beverages were just as tantalizing – from the signature Black Dahlia to the unexpected Southern Dandie to an array of seasonal spritzes.

“We are excited to bring a newly renovated restaurant space, brand new porch, and refreshed menu to our property,” said Roling. “We welcome the public, both locals and hotel guests alike, to come join us for a dining experience elevated by our southern hospitality.”

By Arlinda Smith Broady

Photos by Bruce Johnson

Food photos courtesy of Hilton Atlanta Northeast

Dahlia’s also has a private dining area and a lounge area—perfect for relaxing after a busy day, grabbing a sumptuous meal with the family or meeting friends for lunch or dinner and drinks. Dahlia’s also provides catering for hotel events. For more information, visit dahliasrestaurant.com. ■

Local State Reps Give Roundup of Legislative Session

Hilton, Romman trade friendly banter that reflects diverse views in Georgia government

Georgia State House District

97 Representative Ruwa Romman and District

48 Representative Scott Hilton, whose constituents include parts of Southwest Gwinnett County, including Peachtree Corners, sat down for a second time to share information about legislative action at the State Capital.

Their discussion was part of the Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce First Friday Breakfast series at Atlanta Hilton Northeast.

Although they sit on opposite sides of the aisle, Hilton and Romman both seek to sponsor and pass legislation that improves and maintains a high quality of life in the Peach State and provides its residents with what they need.

Elected in 2022, this was Romman’s sophomore year in the State House. She serves on the Georgia House Energy, Utilities and Telecommunications Committee, Georgia House Information and Audits Committee and Georgia House Interstate Cooperation Committee. Hilton previously served in the State House from 2017 to 2019 but took a “sabbatical,” as he calls it, to

serve as executive director for the Georgians First Commission under the Office of Governor Brian Kemp.

He was re-elected to his current position in 2022. He is the vice chair of the Georgia House Creative Arts and Entertainment Committee and the Georgia House Education Committee, as well as a member of the Georgia House Public Health Committee and the Committee on Georgia House Urban Affairs.

Senate Bill 63

The moderator, Norcross resident and former WAGA political reporter Dale Russell started off with a topic making headlines: Senate Bill 63. This law, signed by Gov. Kemp shortly after the session ended, prohibits charities, individuals or groups from providing bail funds for more than three people per year unless they register as bonding agencies. It also expands mandatory cash bail to 30 new offenses.

“I think it’s going to bring home safety to the community,” said Hilton. “I ran on that issue because as I was knocking on doors, I’ve heard from folks who [want to] keep our community safe. And unfortunately, no community has been immune from the uptick in crime that we had seen post-COVID, so this was one of those bills in response to that.”

Hilton gave examples of crimes where individuals out on bail committed acts such as murder.

“That was our commitment back to our constituents to say, ‘Listen, we’re not going to let bad guys back out onto the streets again to do more crime.’ This bill was in response to this; it’s going to keep our community safe, hold those accountable and bring justice to those who break the law,” Hilton remarked.

“Unfortunately, right now, we’ve got district attorneys and sheriffs across Georgia who are blatantly disregarding the law and letting folks back out on the streets who pose, you know, safety risks to law-abiding citizens like you and I and your businesses,” he continued.

Russel pointed out that there’s been a lot of criticism of this law.

“The ACLU was totally against it. Some felt like it was imprisoning poor people in the sense, for minor crimes,” he said.

“I do agree with the criticism for a few reasons,” said Romman.

“The problem with this bill is that of the 30 crimes that are listed as now requiring a cash bail, the majority of them don’t actually require jail time, even if you’re found guilty of them. So now, somebody who would not even have ever served time for those crimes that are listed could now serve jail time because they cannot afford their bail,” she explained.

She added that the law doesn’t address the crimes it’s supposed to protect citizens from.

“We see these headlines, but this bill doesn’t address those because what we see happening is that a lot of churches now will no longer be able to bail people out that cannot afford their bail because of this bill,” she said.

“And churches that have been trying to, for example, reunite a parent with their children for Christmas, or whatever the case may be, can no longer do that. There is actually an exception written into this bill for bail bondsmen. So, it’s not like being able to pay cash bail is completely out of the question. It just means that somebody can make money off of it now,” Romman continued.

Hilton said the state isn’t done with addressing public safety issues as they come up.

“I know that’s been a priority of the governor, and I think rightfully so; you know, there’s a reason we’ve got citizens flocking to Georgia over the last ten years; we’ve added a million Georgians to our state, and they are leaving states with policies that don’t have this. They’re coming to Georgia for economic prosperity, for safety and for good schools,” said Hilton.

House Bill 1105

Another controversial bill, HB 1105, is framed as a public safety bill that requires local enforcement to coordinate with federal immigration officials when someone in custody is suspected of being in the country illegally.

Some say it’s an immigration bill.

By Arlinda Smith Broady

Photo by George Hunter

“I know that the federal administration is trying to tell us there’s not a crisis. But there is a humanitarian

Scott Hilton and Ruwa Romman

Dale Russell

crisis going on right now on our southern border. … But they’re not handling it the right way, and it’s starting to impact our communities,” said Hilton.

“We’ve got sheriffs who have folks in their custody, who [need] to be reported up to ICE. And essentially, they’re sort of ignoring what’s in the law right now that says you got to report these folks,” he explained.

Romman doesn’t see it that way.

“Again, when you read the contents of the bill, that is, unfortunately, not what it does,” she said. “I’m one of the few, if not the only, member of the legislature that’s done any border project work,” she remarked.

She talked about her work keeping unaccompanied immigrant minors safe.

“I want to remind people that when we talk about immigration, there’s an entire spectrum of people that we are talking about. And it’s not just at the border, it’s also people that fly into our country legally, that gets narrowed into a terrible immigration system,” Romman said.

“It forces our state and county and city police to do federal-level work without more funding. What we’re doing is we’re actually adding an increased burden, essentially onto their workload that we are not paying for. And in addition, within this bill, if they do not do this, they could lose more funding.”

She added that this will take the police away from focusing on local issues and trying to work with people who live in their communities.

“If a community member feels like if they reach out to police for help, and the police are going to deport them, they are less likely to report crimes and less likely to work with our local police department,” Romman said. “If we’re serious about immigration and its relationship to crime, immigrants are 30% less likely to commit crimes, and I don’t want to vilify an entire group of people.”

Romman said she supports a holistic, three-pronged

approach that includes improving conditions on the border and pathways to citizenship.

Business-related legislation

When the smoke cleared, both Hilton and Romman joked that they had different opinions about many issues but agreed that’s a healthy part of how the government works.

“The fact that we do disagree and the fact that you, the community, have varying choices and options out there. I think it’s a healthy part of the process,” said Hilton. “And we do have fun. I was telling somebody we play kickball about halfway through the session, and we do get along.”

The discussion moved on to topics such as the FTC ruling on non-compete clauses and tort reform, which just about everyone in the room agreed upon. Although employees could see the beauty of disallowing non-compete clauses, as business owners, they’d hate to see trade secrets put in jeopardy or valuable time and money put into training to benefit another company.

And everyone wanted to see caps on personal injury claims for things like slip-and-falls and fleet vehicle accidents.

“One of the few regrets I have coming out of session is that we didn’t do more on tort reform,” said Hilton. “Right now, Georgia is the number one judicial hellhole in the nation, meaning that we have more lawsuits on businesses and payouts than anywhere else in the country.”

This was one area where both representatives had similar views.

“I don’t think this is a left or right issue,” said Romman. “I want to make sure that whatever tort reform we pursue does not let, for example, a bad-acting company off the hook. But on the flip side, if somebody is just going around and suing everybody all the

time to try and make some money off of it, how do you protect corporations and businesses from those kinds of bad incidents litigation?”

“What I will continue to look for when it comes to tort reform is, how are we going about balancing that?” she added.

Looking ahead

As the session wrapped, Romman and Hilton pointed out legislation they’d like to see move forward next year.

“House Bill 971 creates a $300 tax credit for taxpayers who sign up for firearm safety training or purchase a safe storage device. It’s a bipartisan measure, viewed by some as a small but perhaps significant move for gun safety advocates, which was tabled in the Senate room,” said Romman.

She said the bill wouldn’t even require someone to disclose that they owned a firearm, but it was meant to incentivize people to store their firearms properly.

“There wasn’t a lot of appetite if somebody didn’t properly store their gun to have consequences for that, so we thought it would just incentivize better behavior,” she said.

Hilton mentioned school safety.

“Over the last three years, every single school in Georgia has gotten a one-time $100,000 grant for School Safety. That’s every school in Georgia; in this most recent budget, we included $45,000 in recurring money for every school in the state to do whatever they want to ensure their campuses are safe,” he said. This includes private schools as well.

At the end of the event, Hilton and Romman reminded the audience that they weren’t running against each other, and even though their views were different, their goals for a better Georgia were equally as passionate. ■

The Purple Heart City designation was created by the Military Order of the Purple Heart in 1992.

Joining the Council to present were three representatives of the Military Order of the Purple Heart who are members of Atlanta Chapter 465:

Lou Zayas

o Lou is the Atlanta Chapter Commander and Senior Vice Commander for the Georgia Region

o He served as a helicopter door gunner in Vietnam from 1966 to 1967 and then served with the 82nd Airborne

Jerry Hughes

o Jerry is the Finance Office for the Atlanta Chapter

o He served with the 196th Light Infantry Brigade in Vietnam from 1968 to 1971

James Gordon

o Welfare Officer for the Atlanta Chapter

o U.S. Army 1963 to 1970, combat medic in Vietnam

Proclamation

A PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY OF PEACHTREE CORNERS, GEORGIA RECOGNIZING

PEACHTREE CORNERS AS A PURPLE HEART CITY

WHEREAS, the City of Peachtree Corners has a proud history of supporting our military veteran

Gwinnett County’s newest and largest city, Peachtree Corners, was founded July 1, 2012 and is located along the Chattahoochee River in the southwest corner of the county. The city is home to over 45,000 residents and 3,000 businesses.

population and deeply honors the sacrifice and service of the men and women who have served in the armed forces of the United States; and

WHEREAS, the Purple Heart Medal is the oldest military decoration in present use being the first award made available to the common soldier, and is specifically awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who have been wounded in combat or have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms being killed in action against a declared enemy of the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, Peachtree Corners recognizes the courage of those who have been awarded the Purple Heart, distinguishing themselves by acts of extraordinary bravery and valor; and

WHEREAS, Peachtree Corners has a large veteran population, including Purple Heart recipients:

Mike Mason, Mayor

and WHEREAS, Peachtree Corners proudly counts among its Mayor, City Council, and city staff numerous veterans, including esteemed individuals who have not only served with distinction but have also been decorated for their valorous actions in combat, reflecting their commitment to the principles of freedom and democracy; and

WHEREAS, the presence of these brave individuals within

the fabric of the local governance and administration enhances the collective commitment to service, fosters a deeper understanding of military sacrifices, and underscores the importance of remembering those who have paid a high price for our freedoms; and

WHEREAS, establishing Peachtree Corners as a Purple Heart City serves as a public expression of the city’s unyielding appreciation for the sacrifices of its military members, past and present,

and their families; and

WHEREAS, the Military Order of the Purple Heart was founded in 1932 with the mission to foster an environment of goodwill among combat-wounded veterans and their families, promote patriotism, and, most importantly, to ensure we never forget the sacrifices of our veterans; and

WHEREAS, it is appropriate that we remember and recognize the sacrifice of our nation’s Purple Heart recipients and show them

the honor and support they have earned;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that I, Mike Mason, Mayor of Peachtree Corners, on behalf of the City Council and all citizens, do hereby proclaim Peachtree Corners as a Purple Heart City, committed to the ideals of liberty, justice, and democracy for which these heroes have valiantly fought and sacrificed.

SO PROCLAIMED AND EFFECTIVE, this the 21ST day of May, 2024.

Georgia Recognizing the Pinckneyville Middle School Parent Teacher Student Association City

A DECLARATION OF THE CITY OF PEACHTREE CORNERS, GEORGIA RECOGNIZING THE PINCKNEYVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENT TEACHER STUDENT ASSOCIATION

WHEREAS, Pinckneyville Middle School was established in 1984, and is the primary Middle School for Peachtree Corners residents; and

WHEREAS, The Pinckneyville Middle School Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is a volunteer organization comprised of parents, teachers, students, and school administrators all working together to further the well-being of Pinckneyville Middle School and its students; and

WHEREAS, The PTSA’s primary purpose is to promote the welfare of children and youth in homes, school, communities, and

places of worship and to develop between educators and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education; and

WHEREAS, The PTSA raises funds for school improvements and special projects that help improve the teacher & student school experience; and

WHEREAS, The PTSA sponsored a fundraiser in Spring 2024 that raised over $31,000, the most money raised of any fundraiser in the school’s history. The fundraiser was student-driven and the first of its kind in the Norcross School Cluster. Approximately 58% of the students raised funds as part of the program. At the end of the fundraising period, the program concluded with outdoor competitive activities and an exhilarating “Color Battle”

that faculty and students participated in on the school’s turf field; and

WHEREAS, The funds raised will be used for student incentive programs, academic grants, teacher grants, improvements to school facilities, and academic achievement and behavioral competence programs.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT DECLARED by the Mayor and Council of the City of Peachtree Corners that the Pinckneyville Middle School Principal and PTSA Executive Board be recognized for their dedication, commitment, and innovative approach to advancing the well-being of the school and helping provide a world-class educational experience for all its students.

SO DECLARED on this 21st day of May 2024.

Would you like to get involved with your community and engage in the decision-making process? If so, apply to volunteer on a city board, commission, or authority.

The City of Peachtree Corners has an application process for volunteers willing to serve on the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), the Redevelopment Authority (RDA), and the Planning Commission (PC). You must be a current resident of the City of Peachtree Corners to serve.

The City is currently working to fill vacant positions on the DDA, RDA, and ZBA.

To apply, please complete the City’s online application: City Boards, Commissions, and Authorities Volunteer Application.

The information provided in the application will give the Mayor and City Council information about residents considered for an appointment. Volunteer groups are appointed by the City Council and are staffed by City employees.

In addition to filling current open positions, the City will accept applications throughout the year. If there are no vacancies, submitted applications will be kept on file for one calendar year.

The Declared May 19-25, 2024 as National Public Works Week

A PROCLAMATION OF THE CITY OF PEACHTREE CORNERS, GEORGIA DECLARING MAY 19–25, 2024 AS NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK

WHEREAS, public works professionals focus on infrastructure, facilities, and services that are of vital importance to sustainable and resilient communities and the public health, high quality of life, and well-being of the people of the City of Peachtree Corners; and,

WHEREAS, the support of an understanding and informed citizenry is vital to the efficient operation of public works systems and programs such as water, sewers, streets and highways, public buildings, and solid waste collection; and

WHEREAS, these infrastructure, facilities, and services could not be provided without the dedicated efforts of public works professionals, who are engineers, managers, and employees at all levels of government and the private sector, who are responsible for rebuilding, improving, and protecting our nation’s transportation, water supply, water treatment, solid waste systems, public buildings, and other structures and facilities essential for our citizens; and,

WHEREAS, it is in the public interest for the citizens, leaders, and children in the City of Peachtree Corners to gain knowledge of and maintain an ongoing interest and understanding of the importance of public works and public works programs in their respective communities; and,

NOW, PROCLAIMED by the Mayor and Council of the City of Peachtree Corners that May 19-25, 2024, is hereby proclaimed National Public Works Week and we urge all citizens to join with to recognize the substantial contributions they make to protecting our national health, safety, and advancing quality of life for all.

SO PROCLAIMED AND EFFECTIVE, this day, May 21, 2024.