Thursday, November 29, 2012
Each week, Patch sits down with someone in Norcross who possesses all the traits of a great leader.
Chuck Paul's 20-plus years living in the Norcross and Peachtree Corners areas haven't gone unnoticed in the community. Whether it's volunteering at Stripling Elementary or giving his two cents at the Progessive Development Committee meetings every week at 45 South Cafe, Paul has no doubt given back to the area. Patch spoke with Paul to learn more about him, his business and the different things he does around Norcross. What is your profession? My business partner, David McAleese, and I founded a nationwide Mystery Shopping company (A Closer Look Inc.) in 1994. We are located at 460 S. Peachtree St. near downtown Norcross. We have become very involved in everything Norcross! What Norcross projects/organizations are/were you involved in? I …
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Each week, Patch sits down with someone in Norcross who possesses all the traits of a great leader.
While certified public accountant Ranae Heaven crunches numbers in her daily job, she does much, much more for the Norcross community. Heaven has done everything from working nights with the Norcross Cluster Schools Partnership to being a founding member of the Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. She also received the Helping Hands award at the 2012 Norcross PD Foundation dinner for her generosity and involvement with the local police department. This week, the influential lady was able to step away from her busy life and answer a few questions about herself. What is your profession? CPA. What Norcross projects/organizations are/were you involved in? I am on the board of the Norcross Cluster Schools Foundation, the Norcross Business …
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Meet the 12-year Norcross resident who's been involved in organizations and events such as the Downtown Development Authority and the Corners to Crossing race.
Many people in Norcross are involved in a number of organizations and volunteer efforts, from festivals to 5Ks to city committees. One of those people is Pat Eidt. Having lived in Norcross for 12 years, Eidt is the current chairman for Norcross' Downtown Development Authority, and he's also been involved in the city's Christmas Tour of Homes and the Norcross Preservation Board. Norcross Patch spoke with Eidt to dig up a little bit more about himself. What is your profession? Account executive with Dealermatch.com–a start-up company that helps dealers improve their selling and buying processes for used cars wholesale among the 25,000 automotive dealerships. What Norcross projects/organizations are/were you involved in? Name something …
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
The Gwinnett County Public Schools program aims to help struggling African-American male students through mentoring.
Every other Wednesday during the school year, Norcross resident Thomas Taylor visits Summerour Middle to eat lunch. Not with colleagues or the school staff, but with a small group of male students. He's there simply to listen, and sometimes talk, while the kids discuss everything from sports to classes to family life. "We sit and talk, and it's surprising how young men will open up to an older gentlemen if they don't fear that he's an authority figure," said Taylor. Taylor goes to Summerour as a volunteer mentor for Gwinnett County Public Schools' Community-Based Mentoring Program. The program aims to help at-risk or struggling African-American middle school boys through mentoring. With 81 active mentors, the county program can be found …
Thursday, June 14, 2012
The African Women Health Education and Empowerment Center sold African jewelry, pottery and fabrics at Norcross' farmers market last week.
This year's new monthly artists area at the Whistle Stop Farmers Market has had a variety of vendors so far, and some of them have a bigger story behind all the creative jewelry and pottery. Norcross resident and Kenya native Doris Mukangu set up a booth at last week's market to sell African jewelry and household items to raise funds for her nonprofit, the African Women Health Education and Empower Center. Established in 2006, AWHEEC is an organization in Clarkston that assists in directing African refugees and immigrants to health services and education. Its objective is to empower them in the U.S. as they "socially, economically and psychologically adjust to their new environment," according to an AWHEEC pamphlet. As a 501(c)3, the …
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Rip Robertson's last day with the city is this Friday.
After five and half years with the city of Norcross, Superintendent Rip Robertson of Norcross' Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts Division will be the new director of the Parks and Recreation Department for Doraville come this Friday. For Norcross, he's helped coordinate all city events, from the Spring Break Music Fest to the Independence Day celebration to the city's two car shows. He's seen the city grow from having small-town events to hosting some of the biggest festivals Gwinnett County has to offer. "We've seen tremendous growth at our big city events, and that's something that I'm proud to be a part of," he said. The event he's most proud of, though, is the Summer Concert Series. When he took over the event in 2007, he said, the …
Friday, June 1, 2012
Each week, Patch sits down with someone in Norcross who possesses all the traits of a great leader.
Even though Gene Ramsay has been living in Norcross for only about four years, he knows a lot about the area. As a historian, he's co-authored "Images of America: Norcross," which is the city's first pictorial book, and has written for professional and history journals. Ramsay does more than just history, though. That's why Patch has covered him in this week's Influential People of Norcross. What are your different professions/volunteering jobs? I work as a supply chain consultant for Profit Point - we use mathematical techniques to help businesses improve their planning and operations. In my "ample spare time" one of my favorite activities is to give tours of the Fox Theater and Oakland Cemetery in Atlanta. I also hear that you travel a…
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Local kids in need will benefit from the Strawberry Stroll 5k this Saturday in Norcross.
Choosing local businesses is more than just getting fruit from the neighborhood farmer and buying clothing from a boutique around the corner; it's about helping local charities, too. Kris Rodgers of RockTenn had that track of mind when deciding on what local nonprofit to benefit when organizing last year's 5k in the Strawberry Stroll, an annual festival in the city of Norcross that celebrates the in-season fruit at the end of May. Rodgers and two others from the company picked Kingdom Kids, a nonprofit formed in Norcross that helps local children and families battling anything from leukemia to physical abuse. Similar to the Make A Wish Foundation, Kingdom Kids grants wishes as big as a trip to Disney World to as small as gas cards. "I went…
Friday, May 18, 2012
Wesley McDowell is headed to the championships in California this summer.
A local student will be competing this summer at the 2012 USA Fencing National Championships, a division of the U.S. Olympic games. Welsey McDowell, a sabre fencer and a rising sophomore at Greater Atlanta Christian Schools, will participate in three events (age divisions Y14, U16 and U19) in the tournament, which will take place from June 29 to July 8 in Anaheim, Calif. The GAC student from Stone Mountain has been a fencer for four years. His most recent competition was in April at Kennesaw Mountain Regional High School, where he participated in the Peach State Open ROC and the Georgia Games 2012 Fencing Championships. At the competition, he was awarded the gold medal for finishing highest of all the fencers from Georgia and received …
Friday, May 11, 2012
Each week, Patch sits down with someone in Norcross who possesses all the traits of a great leader.
Local historian Edie Riehm has been in the city of Norcross for 15 years, and she has a lot to show for it. From co-authoring "Images of America: Norcross" last year to being on the mayor’s Imagination Task Force, Riehm definitely puts in more than 100 percent of herself into the city. On top of everything, she also just graduated with her Ph.D. in history this year. This week, the influential lady was able to step away from her busy life and answer a few questions about herself. You co-authored Norcross' first pictorial book. How was the process and are you happy with the end result? I’m delighted with the end result because it is a unique book about Norcross and one that appeals to people of all ages. And there would be no book without …
Neva Spell
3:37 pm on Friday, November 30, 2012
TWO FINGERS UP FOR CHUCK PAUL. . . more ›