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Greetings!
Happy 2026, District 3!
It's already shaping up to be a busy and exciting new year — from the 250th anniversary of our nation, to Parks and Recreation's 40th anniversary, the many annual events Gwinnett is known for, and all of our wonderful cultural celebrations. There's lots to look forward to!
In addition to all the celebrations, there will also be many opportunities to make an impact through service — whether it's serving as a board appointee, volunteering to help beautify our parks, or packing meals for Gwinnett seniors. You can find several openings already available on VolunteerGwinnett.net.
And finally, as an alumnus of an HBCU — Florida A&M University — I'm proud to encourage others to look into HBCU institutions for their educational pursuits. On Saturday, January 31 from 9:00am to 2:00pm, check out the 8th Annual Greater Atlanta HBCU College Fair. The event takes place at South Gwinnett High School and is free and open to the public. Learn more and register today.
Keep reading below to find out what else is going on in District 3 and Gwinnett this winter. Let's work together to make 2026 the best year yet!
| | Happening Around Gwinnett | | |
Sign up for emergency alerts
Prepare for emergencies with Gwinnett's free notification system, Alert Gwinnett! Residents who sign up will receive real-time emergency alerts straight to their phones. Whether it’s a severe thunderstorm, flash flood, tornado warning, or a man-made emergency, Alert Gwinnett sends official updates directly from the Gwinnett County Office of Emergency Management and the National Weather Service.
This service is customizable, giving you the power to choose the categories that are important to you and your family. Sign up for Alert Gwinnett or download the Smart911 app from Google Play or the App Store.
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New tag office hours for 2026
The Tax Commissioner's new tag office hours are 8:30am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. Call center hours remain unchanged. This adjustment supports operational continuity and fiscal responsibility while ensuring residents receive efficient, exemplary service.
The office’s current service options include 16 self-service kiosks across the county, online services through the Tax Commissioner’s website, mail-in and drop-box options for select transactions, and in-person services. For more information about locations and services, visit GwinnettTaxCommissioner.com.
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Bring One for the Chipper!
Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful will once again host their Christmas tree mulching event, Bring One for the Chipper. Rather than placing your live tree by the curb after the holidays, the eco-friendly organization encourages residents to take part in one of the largest "treecycling" events in Georgia!
Drop off live trees at designated Fire Stations around the county from now until January 21. Trees must be free of lights, tinsel, decorations, and tree stands before they are dropped off.
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Attend Gwinnett's annual hiring event
Join us for our Career From Here job fair at Gas South Convention Center on Tuesday, February 3 from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Explore exciting career opportunities with Gwinnett County Government, offering competitive pay and benefits.
Several County departments will be conducting interviews onsite and may extend conditional job offers on the spot. For more details and to register, visit GwinnettCounty.com/2026CareerFromHere.
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Trapped and Trafficked: A District 3 Town Hall
I will be kicking off the year with another town hall in my Awareness Series, Trapped and Trafficked. This Human Trafficking Awareness Town Hall will be on January 26, 2026 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center at 75 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville.
The event will feature a panel discussion, audience Q&A, and a resource fair featuring local support organizations. I look forward to meeting you and hearing from you as we discuss these important community issues.
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Volunteer for MLK Day of Service
Join us in honoring Martin Luther King Jr. by by giving back to your local community! The work will focus on removing and cleaning up invasive and overgrown vegetation from around the edge of the Lawrenceville Lake in Rhodes Jordan Park, in addition to other related projects. This work is essential to help protect our native habitats and improve safety and visibility for park patrons.
Volunteers are needed Monday, January 19 from 10:00am to 1:00pm, so visit VolunteerGwinnett.net to learn more and sign up.
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GeoGwinnett: 2026 Park and Seek Challenge
Get ready for an adventure like no other! To celebrate Gwinnett Parks and Recreation's 40th anniversary, we're inviting you to join the GeoGwinnett: Park and Seek Challenge -- a year-long, accessible geocaching experience across our beautiful county parks.
Explore unique Gwinnett parks throughout the year and discover 16 hidden geocaches placed just for this challenge. Each will bring you closer to uncovering the natural wonders, scenic trails, and hidden gems of our award-winning park system. Four parks will be highlighted each quarter. From January to March, begin the hunt at the following Lawrenceville locations:
- Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, 185 West Crogan Street
- Isaac Adair House, 15 South Clayton Street
- Lawrenceville Female Seminary, 455 South Perry Street
- Freeman's Mill Park, 1401 Alcovy Road
Whether you're a seasoned geocacher or brand new to the hunt, this challenge is a fun, family-friendly way to stay active, explore the outdoors, and celebrate 40 years of parks, trails, and community.
| | Special Events and Happenings | | |
Consumer Education: Detention Pond Maintenance Workshop
Thursday, January 15 from 6:30pm to 7:30pm
A workshop to assist neighborhood associations, business owners, and property owners who are responsible for maintaining a stormwater detention pond or other stormwater drainage systems in their neighborhood. Representatives from the Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources will offer maintenance guidelines and helpful advice to protect your detention pond from major failures, safety hazards, and liability issues. Open to ages 19 and up. Register Online. Gwinnett County Public Library Grayson Branch, 700 Grayson Parkway, Grayson. Event cost: Free!
S'more Winter Fun
Friday, January 16 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Meet up at the pavilion to make s'mores by the fire and enjoy fun games and activities! Spruce up your s'mores by bringing extra toppings of your choice. Open to all ages. Register Online. Lenora Park, 4515 Lenora Church Road, Snellville. Event cost: Free!
Breaking Ground Art Reception
Thursday, January 29 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
"Breaking Ground" is Alphonso Edwards II's benchmark body of work that captures his growth, development, and artistic journey towards finding his voice. Walk along with him as he breaks ground through an exploration of layered colors and composition that echo memories of his history, heritage, and life. The exhibit will be open January 21 through March 16. Open to all ages. Register online. Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, 185 Crogan Street, Lawrenceville. Event cost: Free!
| | Commissioner Watkins in the Community | | |
I was privileged to help recognize five County employees who recently returned home after being called to active duty in the United States Armed Forces. We are so grateful for your courage, dedication, and service, not only to our country, but to our Gwinnett County residents as well.
Let's give a warm welcome home to Cameron Turner, Nana Brobey, and not pictured: Megan Poindexter, Chong Yim, and Hayden Brandon.
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The Board of Commissioners and I were glad to recognize the accomplishments and talent of South Gwinnett High School's Cosmic Boom Band. They recently earned national recognition for participating in the 2025 Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade, where they received the WorldStrides 2025 Spirit Award for their energy, musicianship, and showmanship.
The band also received an invitation to march in the 2026 New Orleans Mardi Gras Parade after a successful showing in the 2025 parade!
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It was an honor to welcome the Walk for Peace pilgrimage as they arrived at Wat Lao Buddha Khanti in Snellville on the last day of 2025.
Along with Chairwoman Hendrickson, we presented the monks with a proclamation and a Key to the County to Phra Ajarn Maha Dam Phommasan, a distinguished spiritual leader who faithfully serves the Gwinnett community.
| | Updates from a District 3 Board Appointee | | |
Adopting Pets in 2026!
The Bill Atkinson Animal Welfare Center has reinstated animal adoption fees to encourage adoptions and ensure responsible pet placement. Every adoption will still including spaying/neutering, microchipping, certain vaccinations, and heartworm treatment, if needed.
View adoption fees and more at GwinnettCounty.com/AnimalAdoptionFees.
Also, if you're interested in fostering a shelter pet or learning more about the foster program, email AnimalFoster@GwinnettCounty.com or call 678.226.7225.
- Tonya Anderson, District 3 Appointee for the Gwinnett Animal Advisory Council
To learn more about planning efforts and how you can be involved, contact your District 3 Planning Commissioners.
District 3 Planning Commissioners
Ben Archer, Ben.Archer@GwinnettCounty.com and Katrina Fellows, Katrina.Fellows@GwinnettCounty.com
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