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Greetings!
First, I want to thank everyone who joined us for the Hidden Homeless Solidarity Walk and Resource Fair and my Community Town Hall earlier this week. You listened, asked questions, and showed up for your neighbors — that’s what Gwinnett is all about. Let's keep the conversation going and build on this momentum!
As a U.S. Army veteran, I always find Veterans Day especially meaningful, so I hope you'll join us as Gwinnett County honors those who have served. Celebrations will begin with Operation Green Light for Veterans, a national initiative that shows support for our service members. From November 4 through 11, the Armed Forces Monument at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center will shine green in support of our veterans.
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Then, on November 11, Gwinnett will hold its annual Veterans Day ceremony and Stand Down event. I’ll also have the honor of recognizing four centenarian veterans from our community. I hope you’ll join us in celebrating these remarkable individuals. You can find more details about both events in the newsletter below.
Whether you're a veteran or have a loved one who served, please keep this list of important phone numbers handy. Support is available all year long.
Finally, from my family to yours, I wish you a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!
| | | Happening Around Gwinnett | | |
Join us in honoring our veterans
Gwinnett County will host its annual Veterans Day ceremony at 11:00am on Wednesday, November 11 to pay tribute to our military heroes. Join us at the Fallen Heroes Memorial on the grounds of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, located at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville. During the ceremony, veterans who have reached their 100th birthday and beyond will be honored in commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. If you're unable to join in-person, you can stream the ceremony on the County's Facebook page.
Before and after the ceremony, guests are also invited to the Gwinnett County Stand Down event by the memorial to find veterans’ resources. The event is free and registration is encouraged, but not required.
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GJAC front entrance closing for renovations
The front entrance of the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center will be closed through August 2027 while a SPLOST-funded project is underway to enhance security, improve visitor accessibility, and modernize our facilities. During the construction period, visitors who park in the front parking lot will access the building via a temporary entrance located on the east side of the building. For more information, visit GwinnettCounty.com/Construction.
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Property tax bills due November 15
The 2026 Gwinnett County property tax bills were mailed in September and are due November 15. If you have an escrow account, your property tax information is made available to your mortgage company. However, it is your responsibility to ensure taxes are paid. For more information or to pay online, visit GwinnettTaxCommissioner.com/Pay.
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Help Gwinnett County identify local small businesses
Do you own a small local business in Gwinnett? If you have 100 or fewer employees or $10 million or less in annual gross receipts, a physical office in Gwinnett, and a current occupational certificate, you may qualify for the County's Local Small Business designation.
Through our Procurement Readiness and Opportunity Plan, we're working to better identify and engage local small businesses interested in doing business with the County. For more information and to register and self-certify as a Local Small Business, visit GwinnettCounty.com/LocalSmallBusiness.
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Take a survey about the Solid Waste Management Plan
Gwinnett County is updating its Solid Waste Management Plan and wants to hear from you! The plan is designed to show the state of Georgia that the County can collect and safely discard or dispose of the items that are thrown away. The plan also outlines how the County can find ways to improve waste reduction, recycling, diversion, education, and long-term sustainability in the future. Your feedback will help inform future planning efforts and guide decisions about solid waste programs and infrastructure. Take the survey by November 30.
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Lenora Park Community Recreation Center now open
Last month, County leaders unveiled the new Community Recreation Center at Lenora Park, expanding recreation and community engagement in southern Gwinnett. The former gym was transformed into a space where residents can play a variety of indoor sports and features space for activities like art, dance, and education.
The $10.3 million project was funded by the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax program, known as SPLOST. Other Lenora Park projects include the artificial turf installation on the multipurpose field in 2025, a new press box and maintenance compound in 2026, and outdoor basketball courts and dog park renovations slated for 2027. The Lenora Park Community Recreation Center is located at 4515 Lenora Church Road, Snellville.
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Recycle your items on America Recycles Day
Have some hard-to-recycle items like tires, paint, and electronics? Drop them off at America Recycles Day on Saturday, November 7 from 9:00am to noon at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds in Lawrenceville. Volunteers will remove items placed in disposable containers from the trunk or back seat of your vehicle. Recycling electronics is free except for projection/console TVs ($35), computer monitors ($15), and printers ($5). Visit GCSolidWaste.com for a full list of acceptable items.
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Reduce waste with smart meal prep
Join us on November 19 at the Five Forks Branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library for the Better Cooking for a Better Environment workshop from 6:00pm to 7:30pm. Learn how to reduce food waste, choose eco-friendly cleaning methods, and make more sustainable choices in the kitchen.
To register, visit Gwinnetth2o.com, call 678.376.7193, or email DWRworkshops@GwinnettCounty.com with your name, address, and phone number.
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Light the Great Tree on Thanksgiving night
The tradition continues as the Great Tree is lit at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse in downtown Lawrenceville on Thursday, November 26 from 5:30pm to 8:00pm.
Following Santa's official tree lighting duties, the Courthouse will welcome visitors for self-guided tours and serve as his headquarters, offering plenty of festive photo opportunities. This event is free for all ages.
| | Special Events and Happenings | | |
Autumn Harvest Bingo
Thursday, November 12 from 9:30am to 11:30am
Come dressed in your fall colors and enjoy fellowship, fall treats, and prized. A light lunch will be provided. Open to ages 50 and up. Register online. Lenora Park Community Recreation Center, 4515 Lenora Church Road, Snellville. Event cost: $8/person
Vegetable Gardening 101 (Virtual)
Tuesday, November 17 from noon to 1:00pm
Learn how to choose the right garden site, understand soil and sunlight needs, pick the best varieties for Georgia's climate, and master planting techniques from seed starting to transplants. Lisa Klein with UGA Extension Gwinnett will simple strategies to keep your garden productive all season long. Open to all ages. Register online. Online Learning, Virtual. Event cost: Free!
Water Quality: Cooking for a Better Environment
Thursday, November 19 from 6:00pm to 7:30pm
Learn how fats, oils, and grease from your kitchen can damage pipes and pollute local waterways. You’ll also learn simple cooking and cleaning habits that help protect your plumbing and our local water quality. Attendees may qualify for a 5% credit on their Stormwater Utility Fee. Open to ages 19 and up. Register online. Gwinnett County Public Library Five Forks Branch, 2780 Five Forks Trickum Road, Lawrenceville. Event cost: Free!
| | Commissioner Watkins in the Community | | |
On October 24, Gwinnett residents gathered at Lenora Park for something that mattered. During the Hidden Homeless Solidarity Walk and Resource Fair, our community said 'we see you' to our friends and neighbors experiencing housing instability.
It was also a great way to connect people with resources and talk about what homelessness looks like in our county. Thank you to everyone who came out to walk!
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It was a pleasure to speak at the recent Gwinnett 101 graduation and congratulate the latest cohort of graduates. I'm also a graduate of this program, so I know how enriching those weekly sessions are — there's no better way to understand how your county government works from the inside out.
All these residents are now walking resources for their communities! I can't wait to see how they all put that knowledge to work. Congratulations, Cohort 22!
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Last month, I was also proud to join Chairwoman Hendrickson and other County leaders in unveiling the new Community Recreation Center at Lenora Park. For 32 years, this park has been a special place for District 3 residents and visitors, and this new space gives families even more room to run, play, learn, and connect.
Thank you to our residents for investing in Gwinnett and for trusting us with your pennies.
| | Updates from the District 3 Boards | | | | |
