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Gwinnett Daily Post PodcastGwinnett Daily Post Author: BG Podcast Network
Get the news for Lawrenceville, Norcross, Duluth, and all of Gwinnett County with the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Gwinnett Daily Post - https://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/ This podcast is produced by BG Ad Group For advertising inquiries, please email j.southerland@bgadgroup.com For more information be sure to visit https://www.bgpodcastnetwork.com/ Language: en-us Genres: Daily News, Entertainment News, News Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Neighborhood Christmas Train Experience Rolls into Holidays to Help Benefit Norcross Co-op | North Gwinnett Co-op in Need of Donations for Annual Santa Shop Toy Drive | Gwinnett's Budget Hearing Draws Few Speakers, but Feedback Still Accepted
Tuesday, 9 December, 2025
Top Stories for December 9th Publish Date: December 9th PRE-ROLL: DTL HOLIDAY From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. Today is Tuesday, December 9th and Happy Birthday to John Malkovich I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia. Neighborhood Christmas Train Experience rolls into holidays to help benefit Norcross Co-op North Gwinnett Co-op in need of donations for annual Santa Shop Toy Drive Gwinnett's budget hearing draws few speakers, but feedback still accepted All of this and more is coming up on the Gwinnett Daily Post podcast, and if you are looking for community news, we encourage you to listen daily and subscribe! Break 1: Kia Mall of Georgia - Villa Rica Wonderland Train STORY 1: Neighborhood Christmas Train Experience rolls into holidays to help benefit Norcross Co-op The fourth annual Neighborhood Christmas Train Experience isn’t just about trains—it’s about giving back. Held at 3135 Repps Miller Road in Norcross, this massive holiday display supports Neighborhood Cooperative Ministries, a nonprofit helping families in crisis. “Last year, we raised $11,000,” said organizer Jonathan Galucki. “This year, we’re aiming for $15,000—and we’ve got a matching grant lined up.” The event runs Dec. 13, 14, 20, and 21, with tickets starting at $8. Expect nearly a dozen trains, a LEGO Christmas City, and an interactive Engineer Training Center where kids can run their own trains. Live music, festive vibes, and even a Buffalo Bills watch party? It’s all here. Visit neighborhoodchristmastrain.com for details. STORY 2: North Gwinnett Co-op in need of donations for annual Santa Shop Toy Drive The North Gwinnett Co-Op pulled off a miracle earlier this year, keeping families fed during the food-stamp crisis caused by the federal shutdown. But that effort came at a cost—plans for their annual Kristen Mullen Santa Shop had to take a back seat. “We fed families twice in November and gave out over 600 holiday meals,” said Executive Director Kim Phillips in a heartfelt Facebook video. “But now, we’re behind on toys for the Santa Shop.” The shop, which lets parents choose gifts for their kids with dignity, needs unwrapped toys by Dec. 12—especially sensory toys and gifts for teens. Visit ngcoop.org to help. STORY 3: Gwinnett's budget hearing draws few speakers, but feedback still accepted The public hearing for Gwinnett County’s proposed $2.6 billion 2026 budget? Quiet. Not a single taxpayer showed up to speak. Instead, community leaders—library board, health board, Mosaic Georgia—took the mic to thank commissioners for their expected funding. But here’s the gist: the budget is $66 million leaner than 2025’s, with Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson applauding department heads for trimming costs. “They worked hard to find efficiencies,” she said. Where’s the money going? Public safety and public works dominate—new police HQ, fire station relocations, 911 upgrades, road repaving, and even drones for mall patrols. Want to weigh in? Submit comments online by Dec. 31. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.874.3200 for more info. We’ll be right back Break 2: Ingles Markets - Sugar Hill Holiday STORY 4: 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' coming to Red Clay Music Foundry Dec. 13 Even after all these years, Jeffrey Bützer still loves playing *A Charlie Brown Christmas*. Listening to the record? Not so much. “I don’t really enjoy listening to it anymore,” he admits. “But playing it? That’s different. It’s jazz—you don’t play it the same way twice. T.T. (Mahony) takes different solos every night, sometimes longer, sometimes shorter. It keeps me on my toes, and people love it. It’s a tradition for so many, and honestly, I love that.” Bützer, Mahony, bassist Francisco Lora, and vocalists Kelly Winn and Audrey Gamez will bring the Peanuts magic to Eddie Owens Presents at Red Clay in Duluth on Dec. 13. Since the original album is only 35 minutes, the group adds some surprises—like songs from the *Phil Spector Christmas Album*—and even clips from the TV special. “We never announce it; we just do it,” Bützer says. “No one’s ever left early, so I guess it works.” And the fans? They keep coming back. “We’ve got ‘Snoopy Groupies,’” Bützer laughs. “One woman came every year, moved away, and now flies back for the show. It’s wild.” For tickets, visit eddieowenspresents.com. STORY 5: Primerica collects nearly 82,000 food items for Can-A-Thon Christmas is about giving, right? Helping those in need? Primerica hosted its annual canned food drive last week at its Duluth headquarters, collecting a jaw-dropping 81,846 cans for the Salvation Army’s Can-A-Thon. But this year, they ditched the Santa hats for bell-bottoms and tie-dye. The theme? “Can You Dig It.” Employees went all-in on the 60s and 70s vibe—think hippie costumes, peace signs, and even a nod to the Mystery Machine from *Scooby-Doo*. Groovy, right? We’ll be right back. Break 3: Sugar Hill Ice Skating Rink STORY 6: Families of crime victims remember loved ones at annual vigil As the names of Gwinnett County crime victims appeared on the screen at last weeks Crime Victims Candlelight Vigil, Deborah Free leaned into Renee Haygood’s shoulder, her tears unstoppable. Deborah’s daughter, Rachel, was killed in a domestic violence murder-suicide just two months ago. This will be the family’s first Christmas without her. Held at 12Stone Church in Duluth, the vigil—organized by the Gwinnett DA’s Office—offered grieving families a space to honor their loved ones. Three Christmas trees stood adorned with ornaments for victims, while a bell rang for each name read aloud. For Venetia and Jeffrey Coleman, who lost their son Bradley to a carjacking three years ago, the vigil was a chance to share hope. For the Free family, it was their first vigil—but not their last. “We’ll be back every year,” said Rachel’s sister, Jenn. “Her story doesn’t end here.” STORY 7: Grayson LB Tyler Atkinson Named Gatorade Georgia Football Player of the Year Gwinnett County’s got another star in the books—Grayson senior linebacker Tyler Atkinson just snagged the Gatorade Georgia Football Player of the Year award for 2025-26. That makes him the fifth-ever winner from Gwinnett, and the first since Mill Creek’s Caleb Downs in 2022. Atkinson’s season? Unreal. The 6’3”, 221-pound Texas Longhorns commit racked up 96 tackles, 26 for loss, nine sacks, and 22 QB hurries, leading Grayson to the state quarterfinals. Oh, and he’s a five-star recruit ranked No. 14 nationally for 2026. Off the field? He’s hosting youth football clinics, mentoring at church, and rocking a 3.48 GPA. Atkinson’s also in the running for Gatorade’s National Player of the Year. Big things ahead. We’ll have closing comments after this Break 4: GCPS Hiring Signoff – Thanks again for hanging out with us on today’s Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast. If you enjoy these shows, we encourage you to check out our other offerings, like the Cherokee Tribune Ledger podcast, the Marietta Daily Journal, or the Community Podcast for Rockdale Newton and Morgan Counties. Read more about all our stories and get other great content at www.gwinnettdailypost.com Did you know over 50% of Americans listen to podcasts weekly? 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