January 6, 2009

SNAP SUWANEE

Do you have a great photograph that conveys a thousand words or so about the Suwanee community? If so, consider submitting the photo to the City’s Snap Suwanee photo contest. The City’s Public Arts Commission is hosting the contest, and the initial winning photographs will be displayed at the grand opening of the new City Hall, anticipated early this spring.

Pictures submitted to the Snap Suwanee Photo Contest must be taken within the City of Suwanee limits, preferably within the last two years. Ideally, photos will be taken at identifiable Suwanee locations and convey a sense of the community.

Snap Suwanee is an ongoing contest with photos accepted year-round, but to be considered for the 2009 display to be unveiled at the City Hall grand opening, entries must be received by Monday, February 16.

The contest is open to amateur and professional photographers, with a limit of five submissions per year per person. An individual may win only once each year.

Submit or mail digital photos to the Suwanee Crossroads Building at 323 Buford Highway or email individual photos to SnapSuwanee@suwanee.com. A separate entry form is required for each submission. More guidelines and an entry form are available at www.suwanee.com.

January 5, 2009

MAYOR TO PRESENT 2009 ‘STATE OF THE CITY’

Suwanee Mayor Dave Williams will present the 2009 State of the City address during the January 14 Suwanee Business Alliance meeting. The meeting is open to the public and will begin at 6 p.m. in the community meeting room at the Gwinnett County Public Library, 361 Main Street.

Among the topics to be discussed are the economy; 2008 accomplishments, including the opening of Sims Lake Park, construction of pedestrian connectors that link various destinations, and completion of the 2030 comprehensive plan; as well as the upcoming opening of Suwanee’s new City Hall.

January 5, 2009

THE ROAD TO QUANTICO

Capt. Cass Mooney heads to Quantico, Virginia, later this week to participate in the elite FBI National Academy, an invitation-only 10-week course of study for law enforcement leaders. Mooney will be one of six Georgia officers among 250 from around the world to attend the 236th session of the academy from January 12-March 20.

Less than 1 percent of law enforcement leaders around the world have completed the program, which includes classes in law, behavioral science, forensic science, leadership development, and communication as well as the challenge of Quantico’s infamous Yellow Brick Road obstacle course. The Suwanee Police Department is proud to employ four other officers who have completed the FBI National Academy.

Mooney, who commands Suwanee’s field operations bureau and has worked for the police department for 11 years, says: “The FBI National Academy is like the Harvard of police training.”

Other Suwanee officers who are National Academy graduates include Chief Mike Jones and Deputy Chief Janet Moon, who participated while working for the Rome Police Department; Technician Bill Morgan, who attended as a detective sergeant with the Bedminster, New Jersey police department; and Capt. Clyde Byers.

January 5, 2009

TAKE ON A NEW ROLE IN NEW YEAR

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to wear a badge, the Suwanee Police Department has an interactive opportunity for you. The police department’s eight-week Citizens Police Academy begins February 10.

The program offers Suwanee residents and business owners a fun, exciting way to get a glimpse behind the badge and to develop a better understanding of the issues, tactics, and risks associated with law enforcement.

The deadline for notarized applications is Friday, January 23; applications are available online at www.suwanee.com. Participants must be at least 19 years old; preference is given to Suwanee residents or to those who work in the City of Suwanee. For more information, contact Sgt. Elias Casanas at elias@suwanee.com or 770/945-4607, ext. 327.

Weekly classes are from 6:30-8:45 p.m. Tuesdays, February 10 - March 31, at the George Pierce Park Community Center, 55 Buford Highway. Classes cover a variety of topics, including crime scene processing, traffic stops, responding to burglary calls, crime prevention, and narcotics identification.

December 17, 2008

BRING ONE FOR THE CHIPPER HAS NEW SUWANEE LOCATION

To paraphrase poet Emma Lazarus: Give us your tired, your droopy, your tree with shedding needles yearning to serve a higher purpose. As part of the annual Bring One for the Chipper program, the City of Suwanee will recycle former Christmas trees.

Trees, stripped of all decorations and lights, may be dropped off from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. December 26-January 3 at Sims Lake Park, 4600 Suwanee Dam Road. Please note the new drop-off location. Mulch from the trees will be used in Suwanee’s parks.

This year’s program culminates on Saturday, January 3. Those who drop off their trees from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. that day will receive seedlings while supplies last. Adult volunteers are needed January 3 to help unload trees from vehicles. If you’d like to help, contact Tammy Hiler at 770/945-8996 or thiler@suwanee.com.

Bring one for the Chipper is a program of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and Keep Georgia Beautiful.

December 8, 2008

GO OUT ON A LIMB WITH YOUR CREATIVITY

The City of Suwanee is seeking artists who are willing to go out on a limb with their creativity. The City is hosting a design competition for artwork to be featured in its annual Art on a Limb program. Samples of proposed artwork must be submitted by Monday, February 16, 2009.

Art on a Limb is a month-long initiative designed to celebrate and bring attention to the arts as well as the natural beauty of Suwanee’s parks. Through the program, two pieces of original artwork, especially created for the City of Suwanee, are placed along the Suwanee Creek Greenway or at other Suwanee parks each day throughout the month of  May. Those who find the art pieces get to keep the unique treasures.

Submitted artwork must be original, able to be placed outdoors (on a limb or on the ground), and be reproducible.  Artwork may include paintings or drawings on a variety of materials as well as sculptures, glasswork, ceramics, or any other suitable medium. At least 100 pieces of the selected artwork will need to be produced; the winning artist will receive compensation for the pieces.

For more information and an application form, visit the City of Suwanee website, www.suwanee.com. Or, contact Events Coordinator Amy Doherty at adoherty@suwanee.com or 770/945-8996.

Previous Art on a Limb pieces have included ceramic orbs, original paintings on small pieces of Suwanee’s old water tower, nature-themed ceramic tiles, and gourds painted to resemble birds.

December 4, 2008

NEW AND IMPROVED

The City of Suwanee honored four renovation projects and a newly constructed office building this week when it presented its annual Swan-ee Awards. Established last year, the Swan-ee Awards recognize construction, renovation, and landscaping projects that are aesthetically pleasing and enhance the Suwanee community.

Mayor Dave Williams presented the 2008 awards during a December 2 holiday luncheon to:

• Pastors Sam and Sandy Gasaway for design and renovation over a seven-year period of the Christian Worship Center on White Street. A narthex, steeple, and restrooms were added to the church, and antique bricks and concrete siding designed to mimic wood were used on the façade in order to maintain the original character of the building.

• Jeannette Pierce and Sherri Coffman for renovation of their Davis Street home. A new kitchen, front and rear porches, and fireplace were among the renovations as was a newly landscaped backyard. Although the size of the home was more than doubled, it retains its folk Victorian architecture and charm.

• Mother and son co-owners of Revival Salon, Joy and Cody Smith, for their makeover of what is purported to be the oldest building in Suwanee. The Smiths took great care to maintain the original character of the Main Street building while creating a Victorian/Louis XIV ambiance for their styling salon.

• Dr. Bill and Sheila Williams for expansion and renovation of the Suwanee Dental Care office building on Suwanee Dam Road. When Williams purchased the building and expanded his offices, he and his wife re-designed the façade to be congruent with the interior Southwestern theme.

• Zebra Construction Co. for construction of its new 23,160 square foot headquarters building in Swiftwater Park. Early 1900s-era brick details incorporated into the façade of the building are combined with modern, funky zebra-striped columns that mark the building’s entrance.

December 3, 2008

PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT OFFERS
‘A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW’

A marketing communications writer by profession, Suwanee resident Dick Goodman finds another medium for expression in an exhibit of his photography. “A Different Point of View” presents 27 of Goodman’s photographs; the exhibit is currently on display through February at the Suwanee Crossroads Center, 323 Buford Highway.

The photographs represent several of Goodman’s collections, including Japan, Black and White with a Splash, Plantation Kitchen, and Green.

Says Goodman of his photography: “I’m attracted to the smaller details and textures – and sometimes the feelings – of the visible world that we often overlook in our hectic lives. In my photographs I try to capture those elements so that others might see what they may be missing.”

Goodman discovered his passion for photography when at 13 his father gave him his first 35mm camera. His father’s gift, says Goodman, “opened a window onto photography as a way to record not just events or people, but the special details, colors, and textures of the world.”

A metropolitan New York native, Goodman lived and worked in Miami for nearly three decades before moving to Suwanee in 2006. For more information about Goodman’s photography visit www.photos.dickgoodman.com.

“A Different Point of View” exhibit is free and open to the public. Photographs in the exhibit are available for purchase. The Suwanee Crossroads Center, located at 323 Buford Highway, is open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays. The exhibit is in the court/meeting room.

November 20, 2008

CITY OF SUWANEE BUDGET PRESENTATION
RECOGNIZED AS AMONG THE BEST

For the third consecutive year, the City of Suwanee has obtained the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada. This award recognizes Suwanee’s 2009 annual budget, which began July 1.

Suwanee’s finance department also has been recognized by GFOA for five consecutive years with a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its comprehensive annual financial report.

“We’re happy that the care and hard work put into Suwanee’s financial documents have been recognized by GFOA,” says City Manager Marty Allen. “Our budget document is well-organized, thorough, and complete. It includes the kitchen sink. You can find statistics to performance measures to our capital program to our general fund budget. The average reader as well as the sophisticated numbers person will find useful, interesting information in our budget.”

In order to obtain the Distinguished Budget designation, a government agency’s budget document must function proficiently, as determined by a panel of independent reviewers, in four categories: policy document, financial plan, operations guide, and communications device.

Suwanee’s budget documents and comprehensive financial reports may be viewed on the Economic Development/Reports & Regulations page of the City website, www.suwanee.com.

November 20, 2008

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO SUWANEE

No pouting…no crying ’cause Santa Claus is coming to Suwanee! Santa will arrive on Main Street in historic Old Town on his tractor-pulled sleigh Saturday, December 6, as part of Suwanee’s annual Old Town Holiday Festival and Caboose Lighting event. The festivities begin at 5 p.m.

Come help Santa light the red caboose and enjoy performances of favorite holiday tunes by elementary school choruses, carriage rides, holiday crafts, and hot chocolate, s’mores, and cookies. Also, share your wish list with Santa and have your photo taken with him – just bring your own camera. All activities are free, except for the carriage rides, which are $4/person or $15/family of up to six.

November 7, 2008

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: TUNNELING WORK ON SUWANEE’S PEDESTRIAN UNDERPASS TO GO 24/7

Work is expected to begin Monday, November 10, on tunneling for Suwanee’s pedestrian underpass, which, when complete, will provide foot-powered access beneath the railroad tracks and between the two distinct areas of downtown Suwanee: Town Center and historic Old Town. The tunneling will begin at the construction site behind the current City Hall.

Once work begins, it will continue 24 hours a day, seven days a week until it is completed, stopping only when trains come rumbling through. Much of the work involves digging by hand with some use of pneumatic tools and a small excavator.

The length of the underpass is 62 feet. Under ideal conditions, workers expect to tunnel about three feet per eight-hour shift or 10-15 feet in a 24-hour period, according to Forrest White, Suwanee’s capital projects manager representing Heery International.

The process, notes White, involves tunneling about 18 inches in, then inserting a liner plate and bolting that together with other plates forming a tube that is about 13 feet in diameter. The sections of the tube will be grouted together before workers begin advancing another 18 inches into the tunnel.

The company doing the tunneling is Bradshaw Construction Corporation of Ellicott City, Maryland. JJE Constructors, Inc. of Norcross is the general contractor.

This pedestrian underpass, an important element in Suwanee’s efforts to enhance connectivity among various destination areas throughout the City, is funded in part by a nearly $1 million Livable Cities Initiative Grant received from the Atlanta Regional Commission.

City officials expect that the pedestrian underpass will be completed in early 2009.

Note to photographers: The best photo opportunities are anticipated Wednesday and Thursday, November 12 and 13.

November 4, 2008

CITY PURCHASES WAREHOUSE
FOR PUBLIC WORKS STAFF, EQUIPMENT

The City of Suwanee recently closed on an approximately 12,000 square foot warehouse on nearly 1.34 acres at 3670 Windsor Park Drive. The 20-year-old warehouse will be utilized by the City’s 12-member public works department.

A 2005 space needs assessment conducted by Urban Collage found that the department had clearly outgrown available space, particularly when taking into consideration the City’s addition of – and need to maintain – more than 300 acres of parks and open space through its award-winning Open Space Initiative.

Public works staff members are responsible for maintenance of City parks, streets, sidewalks, facilities, and rights of way as well as the Suwanee water system.

October 31, 2008

SUWANEE SEEKS ORIGINAL ARTWORK
FOR NEW CITY HALL

Through its Public Arts Commission, the City of Suwanee has issued a call to professional artists or artist teams for design, execution, and installation of original artwork in up to three locations at its new City Hall.

The request for qualifications is open to professional artists residing in the United States, though preference may be given to Georgia-based artists. The deadline for submitting qualifications is November 19.

Suwanee’s new two-story, 23,600 square foot City Hall is expected to be completed early next year. Suwanee’s Public Arts Commission has identified three specific art projects for interior and exterior locations of the new City Hall:

• A pair of kinetic sculptures to be suspended from exposed rafters on the barrel-vaulted ceiling in the two-story lobby.
• A static or kinetic sculpture for outside the building’s entrance.
• A pair of pieces in any medium to be installed on facing walls on either side of the second-floor lobby.

The complete call to artists/request for qualifications is available on the Business Matters/Requests for Proposals page of the City of Suwanee website, www.suwanee.com. For additional information, contact Denise Brinson at 770/945-8996.

Suwanee’s Public Arts Commission (PAC) was established in March. Seven Suwanee residents and business representatives with backgrounds, experience, or interest in the arts serve on the PAC. The Commission’s top priorities currently are focused on encouraging developers to incorporate public art into their projects and recommending artwork for City Hall.

October 29, 2008

GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION
FOR SUWANEE’S NEWEST PARK

The City of Suwanee will host a grand opening celebration for Sims Lake Park from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, November 8. The park is located at 4600 Suwanee Dam Road, at the intersection with Tench Road.

The fourth new park (fifth if you include the Suwanee Creek Greenway extension) to open in Suwanee in the past 5 years, Sims Lake Park is comprised of 62 idyllic acres and includes a 7-acre lake, 1.2-mile looping trail, well-fed streamscape, playground area, picnic pavilion, and two 2-acre play meadows. In addition to voter –approved open space bond funds used to purchase and develop the park, SPLOST funds were used to provide equipment for the playground area.

Activities at the grand opening will include a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony, fall crafts, nature scavenger hunt, outdoor story time, lawn games, face painting, and family photo opportunities. This event is free and open to the public. Overflow parking will be at Level Creek Elementary School, 4488 Tench Road.

October 28, 2008

SUWANEE WINS TWO NATIONAL MARKETING/COMMUNICATIONS AWARDS

The City of Suwanee claimed two awards, a first and second place finish, at the    October 23 annual City-County Communications and Marketing Association (3CMA) Savvy Awards presentation.

The City’s 2007 resident guide, Play hard. Live well. Smile more!, received the first place Savvy award in a printed publications category that included communities with populations up to 97,000.  Suwanee’s population is about 16,000. In addition, the City’s America’s Best Places to Live marketing strategies received a Silver Circle, or second place, award in the Marketing and Tools – Economic Development category that included communities with populations up to 58,000.

Of Suwanee’s resident guide, Savvy Awards judges commented: “This is a visually appealing, concise, informative publication produced at no cost to the City, but with impressive results…. It is well-written, and the color photographs really tell the City’s story well.”

The resident guide is available by contacting Suwanee City Hall at 770/945-8996 or on the About Suwanee page of the City’s website, www.suwanee.com.

October 10, 2008

SUWANEE TOWN CENTER RECOGNIZED
AS ‘BEST PROBLEM-SOLVER’

The Georgia Downtown Association and Georgia Department of Community Affairs recently presented the City of Suwanee with an outstanding revitalization award, recognizing Town Center in the “Best Problem-Solving” category. The award was presented October 2 at the Georgia Downtown Conference in Douglasville.

The award recognizes Town Center as a bold, innovative response to Suwanee’s need for an identifiable downtown and vibrant community gathering place. In 2002, following recommendations established in the Old Town Master Plan, Suwanee embarked on an initiative to create from scratch a mixed-use downtown and community gathering place.

“In  a relatively short time,” says Downtown Manager Jane Keegan, “Town Center has become the vibrant heartbeat of our community.”

October 9, 2008

BE PART OF DOWNTOWN SUWANEE CONVERSATION

The first of five community meetings that are part of the Downtown Suwanee Master Plan process will take place at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 14, at Suwanee First United Methodist Church, 603 Scales Road.

These meetings will permit residents and other stakeholders an opportunity to be part of the conversation that ultimately will result in a master plan for downtown Suwanee, which includes Town Center and historic Old Town. Consultants working with the City of Suwanee will lead the conversations, offering information about goals and concepts, sharing draft recommendations, and listening to feedback and comments from citizens.

“We fully expect that citizen input will be a key element in development of this Downtown Master Plan,” says Planning Director Josh Campbell.

Additional community meetings are scheduled through April with the second meeting on November 11.

In addition, a survey about downtown Suwanee is currently accessible under Hot Links on the City of Suwanee homepage, www.suwanee.com.

The Downtown Suwanee Master Plan is expected to be completed around the middle of next year.

October 6, 2008

SUWANEE OPENS NEWEST PARK

The City of Suwanee has opened its newest park – the fifth to be created through its award-winning Open Space Initiative. Sims Lake Park, 62 idyllic acres located at Suwanee Dam and Tench Roads, was opened over the weekend.

In addition to a 7-acre lake, Sims Lake Park features an approximately 1.2-mile looping trail, well-fed streamscape, playground area, picnic pavilion, and two 2-acre play meadows.  The park also has public restrooms and parking for nearly 90 cars.

“This is the City’s first new park to open on the west side of Peachtree Industrial, where many of our citizens live,” notes City Manager Marty Allen. “That factor coupled with the stunning natural beauty of the property will, we hope, make Sims Lake a well-used park.”

The City of Suwanee will host grand opening festivities for the park from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, November 8. Details about the event will be posted to www.suwanee.com in the near future.

In addition to voter-approved open space bond funds, SPLOST funds were used to provide equipment for the playground area.

September 30, 2008

TELL YOUR SUWANEE STORY

Do you recall when cotton bales used to line Main Street? Do you remember the first Caboose Lighting event or, more recently, the grand opening of Town Center Park? Do you have a heart-warming story about how you knew that Suwanee was the right hometown for you?

If you have a Suwanee memory or community story that you’d like to share, now you can do so on video. With the assistance of the North Gwinnett High School audio/video technology program, the City of Suwanee will be collecting Suwanee stories on videotape throughout the month of October.

Says Kimberly Larson, graduate intern in the city manager’s office: “This video, which will premiere at the grand opening of City Hall next year, is about Suwanee’s history. We’re documenting, celebrating, and commemorating where we came from.”

Larson is coordinating the project, working with North Gwinnett junior Cameron Powell.

Thirty-minute interviews are being scheduled from 1:30-4:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays through October. To sign up, contact Larson at klarson@suwanee.com or 770/945-8996, ext. 400.

September 26, 2008

ALL THAT JAZZ

The final concert in the 2008 Suwanee Smooth Jazz 107.5 WJZZ series will bring “All That Jazz” to Town Center Park Friday, October 3. The evening will feature some of Atlanta’s coolest jazz performers as well as keyboards, horns, and saxophone. Music will begin at 7 p.m.

The “All That Jazz”-themed evening will include performances by Brian Clay, Melvin Miller, and Jeff Sparks.

Keyboardist Brian Clay, a WJZZ on-air personality, has captivated audiences throughout the Atlanta area with his blend of smooth grooves and urban rhythms. A prolific performer and creative trumpet player, Melvin Miller’s latest release, Here’s to Life, has garnered rave reviews. Jeff Sparks, a member of the contemporary R&B/jazz ensemble 5 Men on a Stool, blends various genres, ranging from classical soul to contemporary jazz to hip-hop, on his soprano sax.

Bring picnics, blankets, and low-back chairs to Town Center Park. Food, beer, and wine will be available for purchase. No outside alcoholic beverages may be brought into Town Center Park. The park is located at the intersection of Buford Highway and Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road.

September 15, 2008

NOMINATE A ‘WOW’ PROJECT
FOR ANNUAL SWAN-EE AWARD

Wow! The City of Suwanee is seeking nominations for new construction or renovation projects that elicit a “wow” reaction. The Swan-ee Awards program is the City’s way of recognizing folks who’ve achieved excellence in creating aesthetically attractive facilities.

The awards will be presented in December to individuals, businesses, and organizations who have created architectural “swans.” Recognized projects may include, but are not necessarily limited to, new construction, renovated buildings, landscaping, sustainable/long-term developments, “clean-up” projects, and public art. Projects must be within the City of Suwanee limits and preferably completed within the last year. Because the awards program is relatively new, older projects may be eligible as well.

Nomination forms are available online at www.suwanee.com. The deadline for submitting nomination forms is October 17. For more information, contact Toni Shrewsbury at tshrewsbury@suwanee.com or 770/945-8996.

Last year, four projects received Swan-ee Awards:

• the gold-leaf, dimensional sign created for Pierce’s Corner – Bob Bretschneider
• 571 Main Street, renovated historic home – Jimmy and Caron Burnette
• renovation of the historic Oakley Building at 677 Main Street – Andrei Mastrogiovanni and Earl Mitchell
• renovation of Suwanee Plaza at 3680 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road – Sidney Mozayyani.

September 12, 2008

SOME ROADS TO BE CLOSED DURING SUWANEE DAY PARADE

Several roads around Suwanee’s Town Center Park will be closed from approximately 9:45-11 a.m. Saturday, September 20, during the annual Suwanee Day parade, which starts at 10 a.m.

Roads affected include:

• Buford Highway from McGinnis Ferry to Suwanee Dam
• Suwanee Dam westbound between Buford Highway and Peachtree Industrial Boulevard
• Main Street

September 10, 2008

GET AN INTERACTIVE GLIMPSE BEHIND THE BADGE

Classes for the next City of Suwanee Citizens Police Academy begin October 2. The program offers residents and business owners a fun, exciting way to get a glimpse behind the badge and to develop a better understanding of the issues, tactics, and risks associated with law enforcement.

The deadline for notarized applications is Friday, September 26; applications are available online at www.suwanee.com in the Hot Links section. Participants must be at least 19 years old; preference is given to Suwanee residents or those who work in the City of Suwanee. For more information, contact Sgt. Elias Casanas at elias@suwanee.com or 770/945-4607, ext. 327.

“The Citizens Police Academy was fantastic,” says program graduate Sandy York. “The simulated traffic stops and empty building searches were great fun. The ride-alongs were my favorite. An enlightening experience for the average Joe.”

Weekly classes begin at 6:30 p.m. and will run over an eight-week period through November 20. Classes cover a variety of topics, including crime scene processing, traffic stops, responding to burglary calls, crime prevention, and narcotics identification.

September 5, 2008

SUWANEE DAY CELEBRATES 25TH
WITH FESTIVAL FAVORITES, NEW TWISTS

The 1980s brought us Michael Jackson…Pac-Man…the Apple computer… Madonna….and Suwanee Day. Suwanee’s annual fall festival will commemorate its 1980s roots with its 25th celebration 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, September 20, at Town Center Park. Traditional favorites and a few new twists will be part of this year’s family festival.

First-ever Suwanee Day vendor to be joined by about 170 others

More than 170 exhibitors will offer a variety of arts and crafts, fine art, and food. Gertrude Thomas, 83, will be there just as she has been every year since 1984 when she was one of two vendors at the inaugural festival. She’ll be selling bars of her secret-recipe peanut brittle, which typically sells out shortly after lunchtime.

“There were only two of us [exhibitors] the first year,” recalls Thomas. “The next year, there were two or three more. As it went on, it just got bigger and bigger. Now, it’s humongous. I guess you can find just about anything you’d be looking for.”

Other arts and crafts vendors will offer a veritable alphabet of items from artisan jewelry to yard art, baskets to tutus, baby trinkets to university logo wear, and everything in between: bird feeders, bracelets, chimes, folk art, handbags, mosaic items, necklaces, painted signs, pottery, Raggedy Anns, whimsical décor…and much more!

Michael Phelps is Suwanee Day grand marshal

This  Michael Phelps completes speedy laps, too, but he’s not the Michael Phelps of Beijing Olympic lore. The Suwanee Day parade grand marshal is the Michael Phelps who is a 19-year-old Suwanee area resident, Auburn University student, and up-and-comer on the NASCAR race circuit. Driving the number 45 Bowen Family Homes and Cunningham Motorsports car, Phelps currently competes in the ARCA RE/MAX Series as well as the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series.

Phelps will lead off the 10 a.m. parade, the theme of which is, appropriately, “totally ’80s.” The parade will travel north up Buford Highway (from Russell Street) by Town Center Park and then south down Main Street.

Fun for everyone

In addition to the all-day, free, on-stage entertainment, yummy food, and arts and crafts exhibitors with an array of unique items, Suwanee Day offers an island of inflatables where children can climb, bounce, and tumble for hours of fun. New this year specifically for tweens and teens: an interactive gaming pavilion.  There, the nimble-fingered can test for free their skills at a variety of Nintendo, PlayStation, and Wii games. A Guitar Hero III contest also will be staged during the festival.

Suwanee Day goes green

The Suwanee Day festival is proud to announce that for the first time this year it’s going green. With the assistance of gold sponsor Allied Waste, the festival will recycle paper, plastic, aluminum, and cardboard.

Local artist creates commemorative keepsake

Local artist Melody Orr relied on her lifetime love affair with art as her inspiration to complete a commemorative poster she created for this year’s 25th Suwanee Day.  Limited edition prints of the poster will be available for purchase at the festival, and the artist will be on hand from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. to sign posters. The printed posters are $10 each.

Using water colors and acrylic in her at-home studio, Orr tried to capture the high-energy level of Suwanee Day.

“Suwanee always has something going on,” says Orr.  “I tried to capture as much activity as possible in the commemorative poster design.  There are children playing in the fountain, people walking in the park, and vendors showing their wares.”

Remembering festival’s roots

The first Suwanee Day was held in May 1984. About 75 people attended the event held behind the current Gwinnett County Fire Station #13.

“It was a nice day,” recalls Pamela Reeves, owner of Ambiance Interiors, who was the other exhibitor at that first Suwanee Day. “It was really, really laid back.” Hamburgers and hot dogs were grilled, the Everett Brothers bluegrass band performed, and an old upright piano was brought in for anyone who wanted to play, she says

Last year’s “celebration of community” was held at Town Center Park, where the festival moved in 2004 after being hosted for several years along Main Street in historic Old Town. About 40,000 people attended last year’s festival.

Admission to the festival is free. For more information, visit www.suwaneeday.com.

September 4, 2008

CITY SEEKS CITIZENS TO SERVE ON PLANNING BOARDS

The City of Suwanee is accepting applications from residents who would like to serve on one of the City’s planning and zoning boards.

The Planning and Zoning Commission hears all planning and zoning matters, including all rezoning and special use permit requests, and makes recommendations to City Council on these matters.

The Zoning Board of Appeals considers and rules on all variance requests, which are required when a developer or property owner wishes to do something not ordinarily allowed by the City’s zoning ordinances or when the City's zoning ordinances create a hardship. Decisions of the Appeals Board are not subject to the review of City Council and can only be appealed to Gwinnett County Superior Court.

Both groups meet on a monthly basis, and the five members of each board are appointed by City Council to two-year terms. Appointees must reside in the City of Suwanee.

To request an application, contact Planning Director Josh Campbell at campbell@suwanee.com or 770/945-8996, ext. 229. Applications will be accepted through September 30.

August 29, 2008

CITY’S FINANCIAL REPORTING RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE FOR 5TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

The City of Suwanee’s comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) has received for the fifth consecutive year the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). Suwanee’s fiscal year 2007 CAFR, prepared by the City’s financial services department, was judged by an impartial panel as meeting the highest standards, clearly communicating the City’s financial story, and demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure.”

The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and, according to GFOA, “represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.”

GFOA is a nonprofit professional association serving approximately 16,000 government finance professionals.

August 28, 2008

POLICE, BUSINESSES TO FORM PACT
IN SUWANEE GATEWAY

Suwanee police officers and business owners are teaming up to bring the police department’s neighborhood-based, relationship-rich PACT program to the Suwanee Gateway, the commercial area surrounding Suwanee’s I-85 interchange.

“We’re hoping to duplicate the success of the residential PACT program in the Gateway area,” says Economic and Community Development Director Denise Brinson. “This is a great opportunity for businesses to develop relationships with one another as well as with the City.”

Suwanee’s residential PACT program, established in 2002, is designed to build relationships between citizens and the police department and to resolve quality-of-life issues before they become criminal problems. Neighborhoods meet with their PACT officer three times each year, and officers are always available to “their” residents via phone and e-mail. Last year, more than 1,000 residents attended some 78 PACT meetings.

The same strategies will be applied to the approximately 400 businesses in the Gateway area, with four officers serving as Gateway liaisons. The first Gateway PACT meeting will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, September 16, at the Courtyard Marriott, 310 Gwinco Boulevard; the meeting is open to all Gateway businesses. Six meetings will be offered each year with participating businesses required to attend three of those meetings.

Through PACT, officers hope to build better relationships with business owners and employees, which, they believe, will result in reduced criminal activity. And when criminal issues do arise, the relationships established through PACT will allow officers and businesses to more effectively resolve those issues.  Police will have established avenues for sharing information, alerts, and crime prevention tips.

Says Lt. Dan Clark, one of Suwanee’s investigators and a Gateway PACT liaison: “This is a win-win situation for us. By forging these relationships, businesses will come to know us, develop a level of trust, and have a means to share information with us and with one another, which ultimately will help us to be better able to solve and prevent crimes.”

August 26, 2008

SUWANEE MASTER PLAN UPDATE WILL FOCUS
ON DUAL-PERSONALITY DOWNTOWN

Downtown Suwanee is a bit like the ancient Chinese symbol yin-yang. Quaint, historic Old Town and the newly constructed, bustling Town Center represent contradictory yet complementary aspects of downtown Suwanee. The City of Suwanee is poised to update its 2002 Old Town Master Plan in order to determine how best to create a unique synergy for its dual-personality downtown area.

“We want to find a way to merge these two areas,” says Planning Director Josh Campbell. “Our desire is that both of these areas – these two sides of downtown Suwanee’s personality – be compatible and tied to one another.”

The City of Suwanee will contract with Ecos Environmental Design, an Atlanta-based landscape architecture, urban design, and planning services firm, to lead the 6- to 9-month downtown master planning process. Throughout the process, Ecos will collaborate with other firms: Market & Main will focus on housing; URS will concentrate on transportation issues; and architectural firm Smith Dalia also will consult. The cost for this downtown master plan will be about $85,000.

Consultants will work with City staff and a steering committee comprised of 12-15 residents, business owners, and other stakeholders as well as rely on public input in order to create the new master plan.

The process is expected to begin in September with the first of five community meetings anticipated for October. Community meetings will be open to Suwanee residents and downtown stakeholders. These meetings, notes Campbell, will offer opportunities for citizen involvement through review and input.

Says Campbell: “Despite the success of Town Center, we have some challenges in our downtown area. The master planning process will help us identify strategies for addressing these challenges and embracing new opportunities.”

August 11, 2008

RECALLING SUWANEE WHEN….

The City of Suwanee is looking for individuals who remember Suwanee when….

The City will host a History Open House Monday and Tuesday, August 18 and 19, at the Suwanee Crossroads Center, 323 Buford Highway. City staff members are asking citizens’ assistance in identifying photos and other historic artifacts and in reviewing and adding to a historical timeline.

Kimberly Larson, graduate intern in the city manager’s office, has spent a significant portion of her summer dusting off old frames and digging through documents and other artifacts in City storage areas. Among the treasures she’s uncovered are the diploma of one of Suwanee’s first doctors, an old dress, the memoirs of one family who lived in Suwanee in the late 1800s, and lots of old photos. Now, Larson is looking for some help in identifying the people, events, and places in the old photos.

“We’ve got lots of great photos from the 1950s,” Larson says, “but we have no idea who’s in the photos, where they are, or even if they’re in Suwanee. We hope that some of our residents can help us identify these photos.”

The City also is hoping that residents may be willing to share their own photos and artifacts (documents, programs/flyers from events, trinkets, etc.) from the Suwanee of yesterday. Photos and items from before 1950, especially if they can be identified, would be “gems,” says Larson. The City also is particularly interested in photos and items from the 1960s and 1970s.

Ultimately, the City hopes to create a historic display for the new City Hall. The display would be a permanent exhibit in a hallway off the grand foyer tentatively named “Hall of History.”

“As forward-thinking as our City Council is,” says Jessica Roth, assistant to the city manager, “Councilmembers also are very interested in our local history and believe that it is important that it be preserved.”

August 11, 2008

25TH SUWANEE DAY PROMISES TO BE
A ‘TOTALLY TUBULAR’ CELEBRATION

The 1980s brought us Michael Jackson…Pac-Man…the Apple computer… Madonna….and Suwanee Day. Suwanee’s annual family fall festival will commemorate its 1980s roots with its 25th celebration on Saturday, September 20.

The first Suwanee Day was a half-day event held in May 1984. About 75 people attended the event held behind the current Gwinnett County Fire Station #13. Last year’s “celebration of community” was held at Town Center Park, where the festival moved in 2004 after being hosted for several years along Main Street in historic Old Town. About 40,000 people attended last year’s festival.

This year’s 25th Suwanee Day, “a celebration of community,” will offer traditional favorites that attendees look forward to each year as well as a few new fun twists:

• a 10 a.m. kick-off parade, the theme of which is “totally ’80s”; for the first time this year, cash prizes are being offered for decorated floats in several categories

• nearly 100 quality arts and crafts vendors providing an eclectic array of handmade items, from sculpted “face” lamps to stunning jewelry, friendly Raggedy Anns to shimmery tutus, and handbags to folk art on recycled wood.

• free entertainment on the Town Center stage throughout the day; the festival is going a little bit country this year with its headline evening acts, Ricochet and The Lost Trailers

• an island of inflatables where children can climb, bounce, and tumble for hours of fun; new this year for tweens and teens will be an interactive gaming pavilion

• a fireworks display will bring the 12 hours of fun to an end with a bang

Following a full day of free performances staged by local favorites, including the Everett Brothers, Suwanee Academy of the Arts, and North Gwinnett High School drum line, The Lost Trailers and Ricochet will take the Town Center stage beginning at 6:30 p.m. for free evening concerts.

The grand marshal for the annual parade is Michael Phelps, a 19-year-old Suwanee resident and Auburn University student, who drives the number 45 Bowen Family Homes and Cunningham Motorsports car in ARCA and Hooters Pro Cup races across the country.

Runners can get a head start on celebrating Suwanee Day by participating in the BodyPlex Fitness Adventure’s Suwanee Day Classic on September 13.  This year, a 10K route has been added; runners can choose to run either the 5K route or the 10K, or both. More information and applications are available at www.suwaneeday.com.

For the first time this year, Suwanee Day is going green. With assistance from Allied Waste, the Suwanee Day festival will recycle paper, plastic, aluminum, and cardboard.

Off-site parking and free shuttle transportation to Town Center Park will be available for the festival. The shuttle will operate from 9 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Off-site parking locations are:

• Shadowbrook Baptist Church
  4187 Suwanee Dam Road

• Shawnee North Business Center
  305 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road

• Southeastern Freight
  3655 Windsor Park Drive
  @Buford Highway and McGinnis Ferry Road
  (enter from Buford Highway)
  Additional information about the 2008 Suwanee Day is available online at www.suwaneeday.com.

Suwanee Day 2008 Schedule
September 20, 2008 ~ Town Center Park

Free shuttle transportation from off-site parking begins ~  9 am

Parade ~ 10 am

Arts & craft exhibitors ~ 10 am – 5 pm

Inflatable rides, children’s activities ~ 10 am – 7:30 pm

Free entertainment ~ 11 am – 10 pm

The Lost Trailers ~ 6:30 pm

Ricochet ~ 8:15 pm

Fireworks ~ 9:45 pm

Free shuttle transportation to off-site parking ends ~ 10:30 pm

August 8, 2008

RUN, SUWANEE, RUN

This year’s Suwanee Day Classic could be twice the fun. The September 13 annual run celebrating the upcoming Suwanee Day festival will offer the traditional 5K course through downtown Suwanee as well as a new 10K course.

“We decided to add the 10K for those runners seeking an additional challenge and as a way to incorporate the Suwanee Creek Greenway into the course,” says Jason Vance of BodyPlex Fitness Adventure, the Suwanee Day Classic organizer.

Both courses will start and finish at Suwanee’s Town Center Park on Saturday, September 13. The 5K race will begin at 7:30 a.m., and the 10K run will start at 8:30 a.m.

Race applications are available at www.suwaneeday.com or by contacting BodyPlex at 770/614-6140. The registration fee is $18 through September 6, and runners who register by that date are guaranteed a race t-shirt. After September 6, the fee is $20, and t-shirts will be provided while supplies last. On-site registration will be available race day beginning at  6:30 a.m.

About 350 runners participated in last year’s race.

July 31, 2008

EDWIN MCCAIN TO ROCK SUWANEE

Platinum-selling singer/songwriter Edwin McCain will bring his soulful sound to the Suwanee Town Center Park amphitheater for a free concert August 16.

The music will begin at 7 p.m. with opening performances by up-and-coming Atlanta-based performers Gareth Asher and Sam Thacker.

McCain is well-known for his blend of southern soul and acoustic storytelling as well as for his hits: I’ll Be, I Could Not Ask for More, Solitude, Write Me a Song, and Hearts Fall. With uncommon insight and compassion, McCain has a way of investing life’s everyday moments with a poetry all his own.

Says Paste Magazine: “Edwin McCain knows how to deliver a tune. His aching tenor works best when served up raw, brimming with unfiltered emotion.”

Bring lawn chairs and blankets, picnic dinners, friends, and neighbors to Town Center Park, located at the intersection of Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road and Buford Highway. Food and beverages, including beer and wine, will be available for purchase, however, no alcohol may be brought into Town Center Park.

Off-site parking and free shuttle transportation to Town Center Park will be provided. The shuttle will run from 6:30-10:30 p.m. from Shawnee North Business Center, 305 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road.

July 22, 2008

FUN, ACTIVE DESIGN SELECTED TO REPRESENT 25TH SUWANEE DAY

Ashleigh James, 23, is enjoying a lot of firsts in her life: Her first job out of college. Her first house. And her first logo contest win. (OK, she recently celebrated her second wedding anniversary.)

James’ design, which uses bright colors and fun graphics to capture the vibrancy of the Suwanee Day festival, was selected from among 73 entries (received from 58 individuals) to represent the 2008 festival, which marks the 25th celebration of Suwanee Day.

James is a Lawrenceville resident and 2007 graduate of Brenau University, where she earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in graphic arts. She has returned to Buford, where she grew up, for work as a graphic designer at Accent South Media.

“I’ve always wanted to be an artist,” James says, “but always heard that you can’t make any money as an artist. As a graphic artist, I can make money and be creative all day long.”

James had been planning for almost a year to enter the annual Suwanee Day design competition, ever since she created last summer a Suwanee Day ad for an Accent South client who also was a festival sponsor.

“I knew that Suwanee Day was a fun event so I wanted everything in my design to look fun and active,” James says. “Logos are my favorite thing to do. They’re therapeutic.”

As the winner of the Suwanee Day design competition, James received $500 and will ride in the annual Suwanee Day parade.

This year’s Suwanee Day festival will be celebrated from 10 a.m-10 p.m. Saturday, September 20, at Town Center Park.

July 21, 2008

TWO MEN ON A STAGE

Eric Essix and Melvin Miller, well-known Atlanta-based jazz performers and both members of the contemporary R&B/jazz ensemble 5 Men on a Stool, will take the Town Center stage for the August 1 Suwanee Smooth Jazz WJZZ 107.5 concert. This free concert will begin at 7 p.m.

Eric Essix has enjoyed a recording career that spans 20 years and has produced more than 10 albums and several radio hits, including “Come September,” “First Out,” “For Real,” and “Rainy Night in Georgia.”  An electrifying guitarist, Essix studied at Boston’s prestigious Berklee College of Music.

A prolific performer and creative trumpet player, Melvin Miller’s latest release, Here’s to Life, has garnered rave reviews.

Off-site parking will be available at the Shawnee North Business Center, 305 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road. Free shuttle transportation between off-site parking and Town Center Park will be provided from 6:30-10:30 p.m.

Bring picnics, blankets, and low-back chairs to this free concert at Town Center Park. Food, beer, and wine will be available for purchase. No outside alcoholic beverages may be brought into Town Center Park. The park is located at the intersection of Buford Highway and Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road.

July 16, 2008

SUWANEE POLICE LEADER TAKES HELM
OF STATEWIDE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION

Suwanee Police Chief Mike Jones has taken the helm of the 500-member  Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP). Jones was sworn in yesterday at the GACP summer conference in Savannah.

As GACP president, Jones, a 34-year law enforcement veteran, will represent chiefs of state, county, municipal, college, and other law enforcement agencies throughout Georgia.

Jones has several goals for the association during his one-year term as president:  positively influencing how traffic enforcement is implemented throughout the state, addressing retention issues, becoming more active in assisting agencies in becoming state-certified, and providing enhanced executive training classes.

Jones worked for 24 years with the Rome Police Department, where his father also was an officer, before becoming Suwanee’s chief 10 years ago. He is an adjunct professor at Columbus State University, Georgia POST (Peace Officer Standard Training) instructor, emergency vehicle operations and firearms instructor, and Georgia-certified assessor.

He has a bachelor of science degree in interdisciplinary studies from Berry College and a master’s of public administration from Columbus State University. Jones lives in Braselton with his wife, Debbie, and the younger of his two sons.

July 15, 2008

NEXT FILM IN SUWANEE’S CLASSIC SCI-FI SERIES IS A REAL BLAST

Suwanee’s Movies on Main Street classic sci-fi series will continue Saturday,  July 26, with a free showing of Dr. Strangelove, Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. This Stanley Kubrick-directed 1964 film, considered a masterpiece of black comedy, will begin at dusk at the Burnette-Rogers Pavilion on Main Street in historic Old Town.

Starring Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, and Sterling Hayden, Dr. Strangelove satirically recalls the tensions of the Cold War days. Responding to a U.S. attack ordered by insane and paranoid Gen. Jack D. Ripper, the Russians prepare to unleash the Doomsday Machine, their ultimate weapon, which will destroy the planet. In the War Room, the president and his advisors frantically try to avert disaster.

The Movies on Main Street selections are intended for adults and teens. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnic suppers or snacks, and (non-alcoholic) beverages to the Burnette-Rogers Pavilion. Snacks, soda, and water will be available on-site.

The final presentation of the Movies on Main Street series will be an August 23 double feature: Mel Brook’s Young Frankenstein and Woody Allen’s Oedipus Wrecks.

July 3, 2008

EXHIBIT…MARCH…RUN…VOLUNTEER AT WWW.SUWANEEDAY.COM

Be a part of the 25th celebration of Suwanee Day! Suwanee’s annual “Celebration of Community,” which includes a parade, arts and crafts exhibitors, children’s activities, a 5K/10K race, and all-day on-stage entertainment, will take place Saturday, September 20, at Town Center Park.

Applications for arts and craft exhibitors, parade participants, runners who want to go all out in the BodyPlex Family Fitness Suwanee Day 5K and 10K Classic, and festival volunteers are now available at www.suwaneeday.com.

The first Suwanee Day was held in May 1984 behind the current fire station on Buford Highway. Over the years, the festival has been held on Main Street in historic Old Town and, since 2004, at Town Center Park. Last year, approximately 40,000 attended the one-day festival.

“You wouldn’t think that the festival could get any better, but each year it does,” said Kay and Wayne Davis of Suwanee of the 2007 festival. “There’s always something we haven’t seen before.”

July 1, 2008

SUWANEE DDA ANNOUNCES GRANT PROGRAM
FOR BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS

The Suwanee Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is implementing a Façade Improvement Grant Program that will provide grants for exterior improvements to buildings in downtown Suwanee, which encompasses Town Center as well as historic Old Town.

The program is funded through a generous contribution from the Suwanee branch of BB&T bank, located in Suwanee’s Town Center.

“We’re supporting the Façade Grant Program because it’s a strong incentive for reinvestment in downtown Suwanee,” says Denise Bradley, branch manager of BB&T at Town Center. “Good design and maintenance are key factors in the economic success of downtown Suwanee and contribute to increasing values of properties as well.”

DDA Chairman Kevin R. O’Brien says: “By offering dollars to help pay for enhancements, we hope to improve the aesthetic appeal of the downtown district. We’d like to see these grants spur owners to make improvements, from a little sprucing up or needed maintenance to complete renovations. We’re also encouraging the preservation of historic buildings by giving these projects higher priority.”

Suwanee’s façade improvement program offers matching grants up to $750 for residential projects and up to $2,500 for commercial projects. Eligible projects include repairs to exterior facades, exterior painting, repair or restoration of trim, replacement of non-conforming signs, architectural lighting, and landscaping, among other types of improvements.

Property owners and tenants (with long-term leases and landlord approval) may apply for the grants. The Suwanee DDA Design Committee will review applications and award grants. Funds will be paid as reimbursement for eligible expenses after completion and final approval of the project.

The first round of applications will be accepted through September 2. The DDA anticipates two rounds of funding each year, depending upon available grant monies.

Application materials and guidelines are available from the City of Suwanee’s Downtown Program office, located in the Crossroads Center at 323 Buford Highway. For more information, contact Downtown Suwanee Manager Jane Keegan at 770/945-8996 or jkeegan@suwanee.com.