Cut loose and support the arts

Suwanee Performing Arts will cut loose July 30 and 31 with performances of Dean Pitchford's toe-tapping musical Footloose as well as an original musical titled Fancy Free. More than 50 local students will star in these Broadway in the Park performances, which begin at 7 p.m. each night at Town Center Park.

Preferred seating is available: Low-to-the-ground tables for eight people may be reserved within the amphitheater area for $90; half tables are $45. To reserve a table, call 678/910-7184. The performances may be watched for free outside the reserved amphitheater area. However you choose to watch these upbeat musical performances, plan to bring a picnic dinner or snacks; no alcohol may be brought into Town Center Park.

Suwanee Performing Arts is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the community by bringing opportunities for participation in and appreciation of the performing arts. These summer productions serve as the primary fund-raiser for the organization.

Capt. Cass Mooney

Police department adds
three-wheeled vehicle to toolbox

The Suwanee Police Department has added a three-wheeled personal-transportation vehicle to its cache of crime-fighting tools. Using forfeiture funds, the department has purchased for approximately $9,000 an Xtreme Green Sentinel, a state-of-the-art, electric-powered, multi-terrain police mobility vehicle. The Sentinel will be utilized as an additional means for patrolling trails, parks, and special events.

“The Sentinel,” says Capt. Cass Mooney, “offers the Suwanee Police Department yet one more way to serve and protect our citizens. Its reliability, flexibility, and ability to reach speeds of up to 29 miles per hour make it an ideal alternative for use at our parks and along the Suwanee Creek Greenway.”

Last fall, the department experimented with patrols utilizing Segways. Comparatively, Mooney says, the futuristic-looking Sentinel can travel farther on a charge (up to 80 miles/charge) and faster than the Segway, which maxes out at about 12 miles per hour.

Toast @ Town Center

The July rendering of Suwanee’s monthly Toast @ Town Center event will take on a creative flair as the North Gwinnett Arts Association joins Town Center merchants on Thursday, July 29, in offering an evening of good meals, good deals, and good times.

Toast @ Town Center is a regular event through which merchants offer special deals, entertainment, and in-store events from 5-10 p.m. on the last Thursday of each month through October. Town Center Avenue is closed and a street-festival atmosphere is created. Patrons may purchase drinks at Town Center restaurants – coffee, sodas, beer, and wine – and take them from shop to shop and within the park.

 As part of July’s festivities, the North Gwinnett Arts Association (NGAA) is hosting an Art Walk. Participants can view up close the artwork that has been on display in Town Center windows and meet the artists responsible for the original creations. “Footprints” throughout Suwanee’s built-from-scratch downtown area will lead participants to a wealth of great artwork and books as well as interesting artists and authors, says NGAA President Vickie Johnson.

In addition, Town Center restaurants will offer “creative” menu items and live music will be performed.

Deputy Chief Janet Moon
Photo by Main Street Photography

State organization honors deputy chief

Suwanee Deputy Chief Janet Moon received a Meritorious Service Award from the Georgia Police Accreditation Coalition (GPAC) in June in recognition of her nearly two decades of service to GPAC and law enforcement agencies across the state that have sought to achieve the highest levels of professionalism.

“Janet has been one of our steadfast members,” says GPAC President Cheri Pickard, accreditation manager with the Johns Creek Police Department. “No matter what her rank over the years [from officer to deputy chief], she has continually attended meetings, contributed, and assisted agencies with achieving accreditation. She’s never too busy to answer a phone call. She’s been a wonderful personal mentor to me and has helped bring our organization to another level of professionalism and leadership. She’s so deserving of this honor.”

A member of the Suwanee Police Department since 2001, Moon was promoted to deputy chief in 2006. A Cedartown native, she began her career with the Rome Police Department in 1989. Before that, she served four years as a military police officer with the United States Army. She has a master’s degree in public administration from Columbus State University and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy.

With more than 130 member agencies, GPAC works to increase the level of law enforcement professionalism throughout the state of Georgia by assisting members with meeting organizational objectives related to national accreditation and/or state certification.

Tell us what you think!
What would make Suwanee’s parks even better?

The City of Suwanee needs your help! The City wants to make its award-winning parks even better and we need you – our park-users – to give us your ideas about how to do that.

As your children have romped through one of Suwanee’s playgrounds or as you’ve strolled along one of the trails, have you ever thought “This park needs a ….” or “It’d be so cool if this park had a ….”? Let your imagination soar – and let the City of Suwanee know what element you think would make a great addition to our parks: Main Street, Martin Farm, PlayTown Suwanee, Sims Lake, Suwanee Creek Park, Town Center, or the Greenway.

Send suggestions to Assistant to the City Manager Jessica Roth at jroth@suwanee.com.

As part of the 2011-15 Capital Improvements Program, the City of Suwanee has allocated funding (received through the 2009 SPLOST) to enhance existing parks.