Gwinnett Daily Post PodcastChristkindl Market Heading into Final Days of First Run in Lawrenceville | Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 66 Hosts Annual Cops and Kids Christmas Event | Exploring Gwinnett's History: Christmas in the Past
Top Stories for December 23rd
Publish Date: December 23rd
From the BG AD Group Studio Welcome to the Gwinnett Daily Post Podcast.
Today is Tuesday, December 23rd and Happy Birthday to Eddie Vedder
I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by KIA Mall of Georgia.
- Christkindl Market heading into final days of first run in Lawrenceville
- Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 66 hosts annual Cops and Kids Christmas event
- EXPLORING GWINNETT'S HISTORY: Christmas in the past
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 - Sugar Hill Ice Skating Rink Final
STORY 1: Christkindl Market heading into final days of first run in Lawrenceville
The Atlanta Christkindl Market has been buzzing with holiday cheer, drawing over 226,000 visitors to downtown Lawrenceville since Thanksgiving. But if you haven’t made it out yet, time’s running out—Christmas Eve is your last chance.
This German-inspired market has become a magnet for families across Gwinnett and beyond, offering European treats, handmade ornaments, and festive vibes. City Manager Chuck Warbington predicts the final tally will top 320,000 visitors.
The market, at 210 Luckie St., is open daily now through Christmas Eve. Hours vary, so check ahead—and maybe book a Santa photo while you’re at it.
STORY 2: Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 66 hosts annual Cops and Kids Christmas event
Holiday traditions come in all shapes—carols, candles, big family dinners, and gift exchanges. But for the past 35 years, Gwinnett law enforcement has added its own twist: one December night dedicated to giving back.
On Thursday, officers from 10 Gwinnett departments gathered at the Walmart on Lawrenceville Highway for the annual Cops and Kids Christmas. They strolled the aisles with families, helping kids pick out toys and clothes—making sure there’d be something under the tree.
For many officers, this event is tradition.
This year, 61 families and 104 kids were treated to gifts, Christmas dinner fixings, and even a “blessing box” from Hebron Baptist Church.
For officers, it’s more than just shopping—it’s a chance to connect with the community and show a different side of law enforcement. More than 100 officers, plus Gwinnett Police Explorers, joined in this year.
STORY 3: EXPLORING GWINNETT'S HISTORY: Christmas in the past
When we think about Christmases past, it’s easy to romanticize them—quiet, simple, less commercial. Maybe we picture what our grandparents described or scenes from old books, but the truth? It all depends. Time, place, culture, class—Christmas looked different for everyone.
By the 1800s, Christmas shifted toward family. Homemade gifts, carols, and decorated trees became staples. For enslaved people, though, the holiday was bittersweet—sometimes a brief reprieve, sometimes more work.
In Gwinnett’s early days, Christmas was simple. Handmade decorations, maybe a church service, and stockings filled with candy, nuts, and—if you were lucky—an orange.
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We’ll be right back
Break 2: Ingles Markets
STORY 4: ART BEAT: Instructor Jae Montano helps people find 'The Joy of Painting'
Jae Montano doesn’t believe in mistakes—just “happy accidents.” A Certified Bob Ross Instructor (one of only 18 in Georgia), she’s made it her mission to share the joy of painting, one brushstroke at a time.
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Jae didn’t start painting until the pandemic hit. Stuck at home, she stumbled across Bob Ross on YouTube and was hooked. That spark led her to classes with Steve Ross, Bob’s son, and eventually to becoming a certified instructor herself in 2022.
Now, Jae teaches Ross’s wet-on-wet technique across Atlanta and Gwinnett, helping students create dreamy landscapes without fear or perfectionism.
You can catch her at festivals like Suwanee Arts and Duluth Spring and Fall, or shop her work at Suwanee and John’s Creek Art Centers. For classes and more, visit www.paintingwithjae.com.
STORY 5: HOUSING MATTERS: Georgians struggle with cost of living more than most Americans
The cost of living is crushing. For some, it’s meant bouncing between overpriced motels; for others, it’s homelessness. Here’s a look at the latest on affordable housing and the fight against homelessness:
Georgia ranks 8th in financial struggle:
A United Way study puts Georgia in the top 10 states where people can’t afford basics like food, gas, and housing. Nearly 34% of adults are behind on rent or mortgage, and 41% struggle with daily expenses. Nationwide, 42% of households can’t cover essentials—13% live in poverty, while 29% are stuck in the “ALICE” gap: earning too much for aid, but not enough to get by.
Warming centers hiring
Gwinnett’s warming centers open when temps hit 35°F or below, offering meals and shelter. They’re hiring attendants ($18/hour) to work 5:30 p.m.–7 a.m. Apply at gwinnettcounty.com/WarmingStationsJob.
It’s tough out there—help is out there too.
Break 3: DTL HOLIDAY INTERVIEW GDP_DTL_MARK BERENS_122325_FINAL
STORY 6: Gwinnett school board drops high schools from cell phone ban
Gwinnett County Public Schools will follow the new state law banning cell phones in K-8 classrooms, but high schools? Not yet.
The school board voted 3-2 last week to ban personal devices—phones, smartwatches, tablets, headphones—in elementary and middle schools. Originally, the plan included high schools too, but that part was dropped after some debate.
Why? Flexibility. “High schoolers have jobs, leave early, and have different responsibilities,” said Vice Chairwoman Tarece Johnson-Morgan.
Still, the state might force the issue soon. Lawmakers are already eyeing a high school ban for 2026.
For now, the K-8 ban covers the entire school day—class, recess, even assemblies. Exceptions? Only for students with special needs.
STORY 7: Atlanta's Christmas Day forecast sees temperatures near record high
It’s not exactly sweater weather, folks—Christmas in Atlanta is shaping up to feel more like a spring fling. Highs are expected to hit the low to mid-70s, putting this year in the running for one of the warmest Christmas Days on record. The all-time high? A toasty 75 degrees back in 2015.
By Christmas Eve, most of metro Atlanta will bask in the 70s, while the North Georgia mountains hover in the 60s.
Rain? Not likely. Just sunshine, warmth, and maybe a little disbelief.
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
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