BUFORD: Concert series planned at mall

Every Saturday through Aug. 30, the Mall of Georgia will host live musical performances from favorite local artists. The performances will be held on the lawn at the outdoor Village Pavilion from 6:30 to 9 p.m. The community concert series is free and open to the public.

Scheduled artists include Deja Vu, May 31; Ally X, June 7; Legends, June 14; High Cotton, June 21; Wilson Braswell, June 28; Stone Echo, July 5; and The Woody's, July 12. For information, call 678-482-8788 or visit www.mallofgeorgia.com.

DACULA: Walk to raise funds for arthritis

The Arthritis Foundation's Georgia Chapter kicks off National Arthritis Month with the inaugural Arthritis Walk Gwinnett 9 a.m.-noon Saturday at Rabbit Hill Park, 400 Rabbit Hill Road. The event raises funds for arthritis research, programs and services for the nearly 1.7 million children and adults in Georgia with arthritis. Offerings include 1- and 3-mile courses followed by lunch and entertainment. For information, visit www.arthritiswalkgwinnett.org or www.arthritis.org

Memorial Day slate of activities

The city of Dacula celebrates veterans and military service personnel today. Festivities start with a 1-mile Fun Run at 8 a.m.; a 5K race starts at 8:30 a.m. Registration for both races will be from 7 to 8:20 a.m. at the library at Dacula Park. The Memorial Day Parade led by grand marshal Paul Efstration, a World War II veteran, begins at 10 a.m.

The Dacula Festival will start at 9 a.m. in the historic part of downtown. A special dedication of the Dacula Centennial Plaza recognizing longtime families and residents of Dacula will be held near the gazebo at noon. All Memorial Day activities are free of charge.

City work session set for Thursday

The mayor and City Council will meet for a scheduled work session at 7 p.m. Thursday at Dacula City Hall.

DULUTH: Roger Ou gets national notice

Duluth High student Roger Ou was one of 10 students recognized for his essay in the Council for America's First Freedom essay contest. Ou received honorable mention at the national level in this contest open to students in grades 9-12 across the country. The students were assigned a topic to write about in which they examined religious freedom, its history, current importance and relevance in their lives. The contest was judged by college professors, ambassadors and legal experts on religious freedom.

Registration for day camp open

Bunten Road Park is registering for summer camps: Learn to Play Lacrosse, July 14-17; Hardball Warehouse Camp, June 2-6; Tavani Soccer Camp, June 23-27; and Michael Douglas Basketball Camp, June 16-20. Duluth Day Camp runs Monday through Friday, June 2 through Aug. 8.

LAWRENCEVILLE: Songwriters' group to meet

Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) meets 7-10 p.m. June 3 in Conference Room B at the Gwinnett County Justice and Administration Center, 75 Langley Drive. www.nsai-atlanta.com

Evan O'Brien is Eagle Scout

Evan R.S. O'Brien, 16, of Troop 500 in Lawrenceville was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout on April 26. Evan is the son of Susan and Bob O'Brien and is a student at Collins Hill High School. For his Eagle project, he supervised the construction of six large picnic tables for one of the pavilions at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center in Buford. The project took more than 220 hours of volunteer work from Scouts and leaders from his troop, friends and family. To finance his project, Evan conducted a Christmas tree pick-up and got monetary donations.

Evan has earned 24 merit badges and held positions, including historian, assistant patrol leader and assistant senior patrol leader and was twice elected senior patrol leader. He is serving as troop guide and is working toward his Bronze Eagle Palm. He was also a den chief for Cub Scout Pack 510, where he received the Den Chief Service Award. Evan plays snare on the drum line of the Collins Hill High School Screamin' Eagle Band and is a member of National Beta Club.

Greeks raise research funds

Chapters of the North Metro at Lawrenceville Pan-Hellenic Council are raising money for cancer search in Relay for Life in May.

Under the theme "Greeks United for a Cure," the Pan-Hellenic Council has worked several months raising funds for the overnight event of the American Cancer Society. Participating Greek chapters include Rho Kappa Lambda graduate chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Upsilon Alpha Omega graduate chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Beta Lambda Lambda graduate chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, Gwinnett County alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, Sigma Omicron Zeta chapter of Zeta Phi Beta sorority, Lawrenceville-Duluth alumnae chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, and Phi Phi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.

Hybrid tech training expands

Gwinnett Technical College recently expanded its hybrid training fleet in the college's automotive technology program, anticipating growing demand from students, employers and, ultimately, car owners. Southeast Toyota Distributors has provided a second Toyota Prius to Gwinnett Tech to be used by students in the Toyota T-Ten Technician Development Program. "We now have two hybrid Toyota Prius models for our students to learn and train with, enabling them to become experienced with hybrid technology even before they graduate," explains Steve Conway, automotive program technology director at Gwinnett Tech.

Hybrid technology —- which uses both gasoline and electricity —- requires specially trained automotive technicians who have mastered additional performance and safety requirements. Gwinnett Technical College is the only Georgia college offering the T-Ten program. Students can choose either the associate degree or the diploma program. In this cooperative learning model, students divide their time between classroom instruction and work at a Toyota dealership while in school. The sponsoring dealership also pays for the student's Automotive Service Excellence certification tests.

For information about Gwinnett Tech programs, call 770-962-7580 or visit www.gwinnetttech.edu.

LILBURN: Townsend wins trip to Germany

Brookwood High student Ben Townsend has been awarded one of 30 trips to Germany, sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of German. Townsend qualified to compete for the trip competition by posting a high score on the National German Exam. Outstanding secondary students competed for a three- to four-week study trip to Germany, with a family stay, attendance at a gymnasium (high school) and participation in various excursions to places of cultural significance.

Patriotic concert in city park

The city of Lilburn celebrates Memorial Day from 4 to 6 p.m. today in Lilburn City Park. Patriotic musical selections will be performed by various entertainers, including the Gwinnett Community Band. For more information, visit www.cityoflilburn.com or call City Hall at 770-921-2210.

Last Lilburn Idol audition dates

Remaining audition dates are Thursday and June 10 in the City Hall auditorium for Lilburn Idol to be held in Lilburn City Park on June 27. To compete in this year's event, visit www.cityoflilburn.com and download a registration form or come to City Hall for a form.

June garage sale slots remain

Spaces are still available for the June garage sale, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 7. Find registration forms and information in the events section of the Web site, www.cityoflilburn.com. For more information, call city hall at 770-921-2210.

NORCROSS: Grant helps GVCA summer school

United Way of Gwinnett County presents a $25,000 opportunity grant to the Gwinnett Village Community Alliance to expand summer school programs. The presentation will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Gwinnett Village Community Alliance, 1412 Oakbrook Drive, Suite 181.

The alliance held a program last summer at Louise Radloff Middle School and is expanding this summer into Summerour Middle School.

The eight-week program, to be managed by GVCA with help from Gwinnett County Public Schools and the Boys & Girls Club, serves about 300 students. For more information contact Debbie McMinn, associate area director, at 404-527-8806 or dmcminn@unitedwayatlanta.org.

SNELLVILLE: Joint replacement is lecture topic

The h2u (health, happiness, you) organization at Emory Eastside Medical Center presents Dr. Craig Mines, orthopedic surgeon, speaking on what to know about joint replacement and prevention at 2 p.m., June 25, at the Snellville Senior Center, 2350 Oak Road.

Mines is in private practice in Snellville and is on the medical staff at Emory Eastside. He is certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. For more information on the free lecture, call the h2u office, 770-982-2358, or visit www.emoryeastside.com.

Smiths to speak at Lighthouse

Snellville Aglow Community Lighthouse meets at 10 a.m. June 3 at Inviting Events, 3485 U.S. 78. The guest speakers are June and John Smith. For more information call 678-327-7478.

SUWANEE: Works by local artist on display

An exhibit of works by local artist Vickie Johnson is on display at the Suwanee Crossroads Center. The exhibit, "Perceptions," features 15 acrylic and oil paintings including landscapes, cityscapes and portraits. Johnson has been an art teacher in Gwinnett County Schools since 1994 and was named the Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year in 1998.

The "Perceptions" exhibit is free and open to the public and will be on display for about three months. The Suwanee Crossroads Center, 323 Buford Highway, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The exhibit is in the court/meeting room.

More information about Johnson and her art can be found on her Web site, www.vjohnsonperceptions.com.

COUNTYWIDE: Kids' food event back at malls

The annual "Simon Kidgits Super Duper Mini Chefs" event is at Gwinnett area malls for hands-on fun with food 1-3 p.m. Saturday at the Mall of Georgia in Buford; and 2-4 p.m. Saturday at Gwinnett Place mall in Duluth. Club members can attend for free; the cost for non-members is $5.

The event includes a Mr. Potato Head mix and match activity, pasta craft station and free recipes from a kids' TV channel. A free fruit and veggie playset and kid's placemat are available to club members while supplies last.

Participants are encouraged to donate a non-perishable food item to help stock the shelves of local food banks. For more information, visit www.simonkidgitsclub.com.

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