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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 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.

June 30, 2008

MUSICAL MCCAIN COMING TO SUWANEE

On tour to promote his just-released album, a collection of vintage R&B cover songs entitled Nobody’s Fault But Mine (Saguaro Road Records), platinum-selling singer/songwriter Edwin McCain will perform a free concert at Suwanee’s Town Center Park on Saturday, August 16. The concert will begin at 8 p.m. with an opening act.

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.

His newest original material CD, titled Lost in America, was released in 2006. He expects to begin work on a new album in the fall.

McCain’s musical career, which began in earnest in 1993, is filled with self-penned hits, yet he reveled, according to information on youtube.com, in the experience of recording others’ classic R&B and southern soul songs. He has said: “I wanted people to listen to this album in their car, and no matter what they’re driving, feel like they’re in a 1966 Cadillac convertible heading down a two-lane road between Greenville and Augusta with the AM radio on, the top down, and the wind blowing through their hair.”

Listening to McCain’s performance of these classics – as well as his own soulful hits – for free in Suwanee’s Town Center Park promises to be an equally enjoyable experience. Bring lawn chairs and blankets, picnic dinners, friends, and neighbors. 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 7:30-10:30 p.m. from Shawnee North Business Center, 305 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road.

June 27, 2008

‘SPIDER-MAN 3’ TO WEAVE WEB OF ADVENTURE FOR SUWANEE’S MOVIES UNDER THE STARS AUDIENCE

Spider-Man will bring his heroics to Suwanee when Star 94’s Movies Under the Stars comes to Town Center Park on Saturday, July 12. A free, outdoor showing of Spider-Man 3 will begin at dusk.

Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, battles an array of villains – and himself – in this third installment of the recent movie series chronicling the popular Marvel Comics superhero.

Released last year and starring Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst, Spider-Man 3 is rated PG-13 for sequences of intense action violence. Parents can find more information about the 139-minute movie at www.kids-in-mind.com and similar websites.

Greg Maki with the Easton, Maryland, Star-Democrat says of the film: “While many other franchises have infamously fizzled out on their third installment, Spider-Man 3 is a creative and technical triumph.”

Bring lawn chairs, blankets, and snacks to Town Center Park, but no alcohol please. Food and (non-alcoholic) drinks will be available for purchase on site.

June 27, 2008

THREE FOR FREE

The July Suwanee Smooth Jazz 107.5 WJZZ concert at Town Center Park offers three eclectic performers for the regular price – and the regular price is free. The performances begin at 7 p.m. Friday, July 11.

Performing will be Brian Clay, Julie Dexter, and North “2unes” Woodall.

Brian Clay, a WJZZ on-air personality, has captivated audiences throughout the Atlanta area with incredible live performances and his blend of smooth grooves and urban rhythms.

Julie Dexter, a world-renowned singer/songwriter, has won numerous international awards. Her most recent release is Moon Bossa with Khari Simmons.

Jazz guitarist North “2unes” Woodall is a staple on the Atlanta music scene. In August 2007, he released Straight @ You.

June 26, 2008

BALANCED FY09 BUDGET FUNDS PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES, ENHANCED TECHNOLOGY; NO INCREASES IN TAX RATES

Suwanee City Council adopted this evening a nearly $12.9 million balanced budget for fiscal year 2008-09. The $12,863,830 budget, which represents a 10.43 percent increase over last year’s amended budget, becomes effective July 1. The millage rate is proposed to remain the same at 5.77, and there are no increases in any of the City’s tax rates.

Public safety initiatives account for many of the new items funded. In addition to adding two police officer positions and purchasing three police cars and one motorcycle, all of which will increase the department’s ability to undertake selected patrols and shift personnel as needed, the City of Suwanee is implementing a take-home car program. The program, which allows officers to drive police vehicles between home and work, is estimated to cost $90,820 next year.

“As new cities come online and nearby jurisdictions add officers,” says City Manager Marty Allen, “it has become increasingly difficult to recruit and retain quality police officers. Several neighboring jurisdictions offer a take-home car program, a benefit that is very attractive to many officers. In order to remain competitive and to keep quality officers in our community, Suwanee will now test such a program, too.”

Other new initiatives in Suwanee’s 2009 budget focus on technology enhancements. The budget includes funds for digital records storage ($95,000) and a revamp of the City’s website, www.suwanee.com ($75,000). Digitization of the City’s hard-copy files will open up valuable storage space, increase accessibility, and ultimately save money. The overhaul of the City’s website, which has not been structurally changed since its establishment in 1998, will enhance the site’s functionality, allowing for better interactivity as well as in-house content management.

Suwanee continues to pursue revitalization opportunities in its Old Town and Suwanee Gateway areas. A major update of the 2001 Old Town Master Plan will be undertaken ($75,000). Gateway signs ($88,800) and enhancements to the current water system ($150,000), which serves residents primarily in the Old Town area, also are included.

Additional funded initiatives include:

staffing and equipment for the 62-acre Sims Lake Park, expected to open later this summer
completion of Suwanee’s first individual MS4 stormwater permit
adjustments to certain staff salaries, as recommended through an Atlanta Regional Commission Compensation and Market Study, so that Suwanee will fall in line with market expectations and remain competitive ($75,560).

Annual bond payments, totaling approximately $1.62 million, for the 2002 Open Space Initiative and new City Hall project remain the City’s largest expenditures.

“The City of Suwanee remains fiscally healthy and strong,” says Allen. “The City projects revenue growth to top $1 million this year due to a growing tax digest, increased franchise fees revenue, continued – although slowing – economic development, and growth of new businesses.

“This budget will allow Suwanee to maintain existing service levels. City staff will continue to strive to provide the excellent quality of service and lay the groundwork for the outstanding quality of life that our citizens have come to expect.”

June 24, 2008

2008-09 MILLAGE ROLLBACK RATE PUBLIC HEARINGS

The City of Suwanee’s proposed millage rate for fiscal year 2008-09 remains at 5.77 mills. Suwanee’s millage rate has remained the same or been reduced during each of the past six years.

The proposed 5.77 rate exceeds the calculated rollback rate (5.669). Therefore, in accordance with Georgia State Law (48-5-32-1), the City of Suwanee announces its intention – as set forth by SB 177, Act 431 of the 1999 Legislative Session – to increase by 1.78 percent the property taxes it will levy in fiscal year 2008-09.

As also is required by state law, the City of Suwanee will hold three public hearings related to this increase. The hearings will be at the City of Suwanee Crossroads Center, 323 Buford Highway, on the following dates:

11:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 9
5:30 p.m. Thursday, July 10
6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 22

The millage rate is scheduled to be set at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 22.

Suwanee’s proposed fiscal year 2008-09 budget requires a millage rate higher than the rollback millage rate. Therefore, before Suwanee City Council may set a millage rate to support the budget, Georgia Law requires that three public hearings be held to allow the public an opportunity to express their opinions on the increase. The City also is required to distribute this press release.

June 11, 2008

DRIVING PROGRAM ENCOURAGES PRIDE

Ask any parent: There aren’t too many experiences more nerve-wracking than having a new teen driver in the family. A program offered by the Suwanee Police Department can help take the edge off, though. Georgia Teens Ride with PRIDE (Parents Reducing the Incidents of Driver Error ) is designed to help parents model safe driving behaviors and attitudes in order for their new teen drivers to be safer and more confident behind the wheel.

The two-hour PRIDE class will next be offered at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 12, at the Suwanee Crossroads Center, 323 Buford Highway. Offered in cooperation with the Georgia Traffic Injury Prevention Institute, the program is designed to help reduce the number of injuries and deaths related to teen driving.

The PRIDE program addresses attitudes and behaviors of teenage drivers. The course makes parents/guardians more aware of their own driving behaviors, assists parents in helping their teens to become safe drivers, and offers strategies for required supervised practice driving time. PRIDE is not a hands-on, “how-to” program.

Class space is limited and advanced registration is required. For more information and to download an application, visit www.suwanee.com or contact Sgt. Elias Casanas at elias@suwanee.com or 770/945-4607, ext. 327. The registration deadline is June 27.

June 5, 2008

LIFE IS BETTER WITH GREAT MUSIC

The Wailers, the renowned reggae band that in one shape or another backed Bob Marley for 17 years, will be the headline performer at the Life is good in Suwanee Festival on Saturday, June 14.

“I’m stoked! They’re a fantastic reggae band,” says Corey Holdrich, a stylist at Hairllucinations at Suwanee’s Town Center. “I’m going to skank in Suwanee.” (For the uninitiated, to “skank” is to dance to reggae music in a manner characterized by bending forward, raising the knees, and extending the hands.)

The Wailers, who will take the Town Center Park stage at 7:30 p.m. for the free concert, head up a diverse Life is good musical line-up that also includes up-and-coming, Atlanta-based classic rock, country, and bluesy rock performers.

The free performances are part of the Life is good Festival being held from noon-9 p.m. June 14 at Suwanee’s Town Center Park. The festival celebrates “good vibes” and will feature traditional and wacky backyard-style games and activities as well as the World’s Greatest Backyard Athlete competition.

The on-stage entertainment line-up for the day features:

Five Star Iris – 1:30 p.m.
Jessica Urick – 3 p.m.
Michelle Malone – 5 p.m.
Wailers – 7:30 p.m.

Over the past year, Five Star Iris has taken its “modern version of classic rock” on the road around the world. The band, which consists of twin brothers Alan and Rob Schaefer, Alex Winfield, and Dan Fishman, completed a Middle East tour last summer that included performances for military personnel serving in Iraq, Kuwait, and other locales. The band also performed at the Pentagon and on New Year’s Eve at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

As a 4-year-old, Jessica Urick began performing along with her big sister for family members. Now, the 22-year-old from Grayson tours her country/country-rock tunes throughout the Southeast. Urick has been the regional winner of the 2005 Colgate Country Showdown, a semi-finalist in the Nashville Star Competition, and last year won the Shift2Nissan Battle of the Bands national competition.

Rock and blues singer/songwriter and guitarist Michelle Malone also began performing as a young girl – with the church choir. She’s now crafted her own sound, blending those religious roots with her acoustic slide guitar, gritty electric blues, and explosive vocals. Her most recent CD is titled Sugarfoot.

Bring blankets and chairs to chill at Town Center Park, but no alcohol will be permitted at this family-oriented event.

June 3, 2008

MOVIE SERIES PUTS SCIENCE GONE MAD
~~UNDER THE MICROSCOPE~~ ON THE BIG SCREEN

Sci-fi movies – from spine-chilling to wacky – will be featured this summer during the City of Suwanee’s Movies on Main Street, a series of exclusive revivals and must-see classic films.

Slated for the Saturday night series are:

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
June 28
Dr. Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
July 26
Double feature: Young Frankenstein (1974) and Oedipus Wrecks (1989)
August 23

The film series offers horror and hysteria, paranoia and provocative satire, lunacy and laughs – from emotionless pod people, the Doomsday Machine, a Chinese magic trick, and an oversized monster.

Directors Mel Brooks, Stanley Kubrick, Woody Allen, and Don Siegal are responsible for the madness. Notable actors include Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Gene Wilder, and Mae Questel (the voice of Betty Boop and Olive Oyl).

Movies will be shown at 8 p.m. outdoors at the Burnette-Rogers Pavilion on Main Street. These events are free and open to the public; the movie series is for adult viewers. Patrons should bring lawn chairs or blankets, but no alcohol, please.

June 3, 2008

‘LIFE IS GOOD’ IN SUWANEE

Have you ever played basketball with a rubber chicken? How about horseshoes with a toilet seat and plunger? Or maybe Twister outdoors on an oversized mat?

This is the kind of wacky, interactive fun that participants can expect to enjoy at the Life is good in Suwanee Festival from noon-9 p.m. Saturday, June 14 at Town Center Park.

“We’re really excited about this festival,” says Amy Doherty, Suwanee’s events coordinator. “It’s not going to be like any event Suwanee’s ever done before. There will be lots and lots to do – activities, crafts, entertainment – and the emphasis will be on doing. This isn’t going to be a passive event; to maximize your fun, you’re going to need to participate in the activities.”

In addition to the wacky activities, there also will be classic games, such as bags (a game involving bean bags, platforms, and bragging rights that dads particularly enjoy), hopscotch, hula hoop contest, hangman, and crafts for dad.

A highlight of the festival will be the World’s Greatest Backyard Athlete competition. About 15 backyard athletes will compete for the crown of “World’s Greatest” in a series of events that include watermelon seed spitting, an obstacle course that includes burger building and racing on hippity-hops, and a whiffle ball homerun derby. All athletes have raised funds for the Life is good Kids Foundation, which is donating all proceeds to Project Joy, a nonprofit organization that helps children who have endured traumatic events get their play back.

Lawn games and activities and creative crafts will begin at noon. The World’s Greatest Backyard Athlete Competition begins at 1 p.m., and musical entertainment begins at 1:30 p.m.

The musical line-up includes:

Five Star Iris – 1:30 p.m.
Jessica Urick – 3 p.m.
Michelle Malone – 5 p.m.
Wailers – 7:30 p.m.

Says Doherty: “We want people to come chill out in Town Center Park – Suwanee’s front yard – and really participate in the variety of fun activities and crafts, enjoy great music, and cheer on our World’s Greatest Backyard Athlete competitors who are putting it all on the line in support of Project Joy. It’s going to be an awesome day!”

Food, including peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and beverages will be available for purchase. Bring blankets and chairs to chill at Town Center Park, but no alcohol will be permitted at this family-oriented event.

May 23, 2008

JOEY SOMMERVILLE TO ‘TRILL’ TOWN CENTER AUDIENCE AT JUNE SMOOTH JAZZ CONCERT

Trumpet player Joey Sommerville will take center stage at the Suwanee Smooth Jazz 107.5 WJZZ concert at Town Center Park Friday, June 6. The free concert begins at 7 p.m. with an opening performance by Chandra Currelley.

Sommerville has performed, recorded, and produced with a wide range of artists, including mega rock group Phish, Peabo Bryson, Wayman Tisdale, and Rhonda Smith. He was the featured instrumental soloist on Cirque de Soleil’s Grammy-nominated and Juno Award-winning album Alegria. Sommerville’s most recent album, Like You Mean It, was released nationally on May 13.

Opening for Sommerville is Chandra Currelley, who describes her music as “urspijaz” – urban, spiritual, jazz. Currelley also is an actress. She plays herself in Tyler Perry’s hit movie Diary of a Mad Black Woman and toured nationwide in the stage production of Perry’s What’s Done in the Dark.

The Suwanee Smooth Jazz 107.5 WJZZ concert series is once again bringing some of metro Atlanta’s – and the country’s – hottest jazz performers to the Town Center stage on a monthly basis through October.

Bring picnics, blankets, and low-back chairs to these free concerts 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.

May 22, 2008

EXHIBIT PRESENTS ARTIST’S ‘PERCEPTIONS’

An exhibit of works by local artist Vickie Johnson is now on display at the Suwanee Crossroads Center. The exhibit, titled “Perceptions,” features 15 acrylic and oil paintings, including landscapes, cityscapes, and portraitures.

Believing that art is a gift to be shared with others, Johnson has been an art teacher in Gwinnett County Schools since 1994. She was named the Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year in 1998.

A Suwanee resident, Johnson says: “My life has been a struggle in learning how to use the gift that I have been given in the right way. My art peels back the outer layers of who I am to expose the experiences of my life.”

Originals or prints of most of Johnson’s works on exhibit are available for purchase. More information about Johnson and her art may be found on her website, www.vjohnsonperceptions.com.

The “Perceptions” exhibit is free and open to the public and will be on display for approximately the next three months. 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.

May 19, 2008

SCHOOL’S OUT; FOUNTAIN’S ON!

Wednesday, May 21, is going to be a BIG day for area children: Not only is it the last day of school for Gwinnett County Public Schools, it also marks the first day this year that the Big Splash Fountain at Suwanee’s Town Center Park will be turned on. The fountain, opened in June 2006, has not been in operation since the fall because of the continuing drought conditions in North Georgia.

As long as drought conditions don’t worsen and the state and county continue to permit it, Suwanee city officials say, Gwinnett County’s largest interactive fountain will spray water from its 43 jets on a daily basis from 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. The fountain’s operating hours have been reduced slightly from last year’s in an effort to meet the state’s goal to reduce water usage by 10 percent. The fountain does recycle most of the water used, but still some water is lost due to evaporation and carry off.

May 8, 2008

SUWANEE COURT SUPERVISOR FIRST IN GWINNETT COUNTY TO COMPLETE STATEWIDE TRAINING PROGRAM

Suwanee Municipal Court Supervisor Mariza Abdeljawad is the first court clerk in Gwinnett County to complete the Georgia Council of Court Administrators’ (GCCA) educational certificate program. In completing the 40-hour training program, Abdeljawad was among 21 court clerks from throughout the state to receive a certificate of court administration April 22.

Over a two-and-a-half-year period, Abdeljawad attended training sessions on topics that included management, technology, finance, legislation, and human resources as they relate to the judicial system.

The program is designed to improve participants’ effectiveness as court professionals. Abdeljawad, who has worked in Suwanee’s Municipal Court for 8 years, is now working to obtain a master’s certificate through GCCA, which requires 100 hours of training.

May 8, 2008

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE CROWNED
WORLD’S GREATEST BACKYARD ATHLETE?

About 25 representatives from the Suwanee community will lock horns in fierce competition June 14 as they race hippity-hops, try to spit watermelon seeds further than anyone else, and hammer it out in a whiffle ball homerun derby. The competition will be part of the Life is good in Suwanee Festival at Town Center Park and is a fund-raiser for Project Joy, a nonprofit organization that uses play to strengthen and heal children whose lives have been impacted by trauma.

The City of Suwanee is seeking backyard athletes who are man/woman enough to take on the competition. World’s Greatest Backyard Athlete entry forms are available at www.suwanee.com. Each participant must raise $500 – through sponsorships, donations, or any creative fund-raising strategy they choose – for Project Joy. The deadline to sign up is June 2.

Allyson McMillan, area director for Suwanee’s Primrose Schools, is ready for the challenge. “I’m going to start running every night,” she says. “I’m thrilled. I’m totally excited. I just want to go out and beat all the men.”

Suwanee Day planning committee member and businessman Scott Snead hasn’t encountered such critical competition since his elementary school field days. He’s going to practice his seed-spitting skills, though he promises not to do so in public.

And Senior Pastor Bobby Linkous at Shadowbrook Baptist Church figures that if David could slay Goliath then he’s got just as good a chance as anyone at being crowned the World’s Greatest Backyard Athlete.

For more information about the competition or Life is good in Suwanee Festival, contact Amy Doherty at adoherty@suwanee.com or 770/945-8996.

May 8, 2008

RAISE THE ‘WOOF’ FOR PETAPALOOZA

Suwanee’s Town Center Park will host a tail-wagging event when Petapalooza, Star 94’s annual “pet party in the park,” returns Saturday, May 17. This year’s party for the pooches takes place from noon-10 p.m. Admission is free.

Frisbee and agility demonstrations, discussions with pet experts, pet adoptions with the Gwinnett Humane Society, dog events, and live music will fill the day.

Contests will include pet/owner look alike, biggest dog, smallest dog, ugliest dog, best dressed pet, and best dog trick.

The first dog show/demonstration will begin at 1 p.m. Live musical entertainment begins at 4:30 p.m. The event will close with a special showing of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, which will begin around 8 p.m. or as soon as it is dark enough.

Pet products, food, and beverages, including beer and wine, will be available for purchase. No alcohol may be brought into Town Center Park. Bring blankets and lawn chairs for the on-stage musical entertainment and movie.

May 5, 2008

SUWANEE DAY DESIGN DEADLINE IS JUNE 6

Get real creative real fast for your chance to win $500.

The deadline for submissions to the 2008 Suwanee Day design competition is June 6.

This year’s festival, to be held Saturday, September 20, at Town Center Park, marks the 25th celebration of Suwanee Day.

The winning designer of the 2008 official festival logo not only will receive $500 cash, they also will see their design on t-shirts worn this fall by hundreds of Suwanee Day volunteers and festival-goers. In addition, the winning design will be used on 2008 Suwanee Day posters and other promotional materials.

Original artwork including paintings, drawings, and photographs will be accepted as will digitally created designs. Designs should be versatile and reproduce well on t-shirts and as posters. Guidelines and an application are available at www.suwaneeday.com.

May 5, 2008

PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING:
EVA KENNEDY ROAD PROJECT

The City of Suwanee will host a public information meeting from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at the Suwanee Crossroads Center, 323 Buford Highway. The open-house, drop-in meeting will provide information about an upcoming improvement project for Eva Kennedy Road.

Improvements along Eva Kennedy from Stonecypher Road to approximately the Brushy Creek subdivision will include adding curbs and gutters, replacing the sidewalk on the south side of the roadway, and installing three oval-shaped, landscaped islands to help reduce speeds along the road.

The project is not yet scheduled, but likely will be undertaken before the end of the year, depending upon completion of acquisition of right-of-way easements.

April 23, 2008

2008 SUWANEE SMOOTH JAZZ 107.5 CONCERT SERIES HITS FIRST NOTE MAY 2

Bob Baldwin will be the featured performer at the opening concert of the 2008 Suwanee Smooth Jazz 107.5 WJZZ concert series at Town Center Park Friday, May 2. The free concert begins at 7 p.m.

The Suwanee Smooth Jazz 107.5 WJZZ concert series will once again bring some of metro Atlanta’s – and the country’s – hottest jazz performers to the Town Center stage on a monthly basis through October.

Baldwin’s most recent release, NEWURBANJAZZ.COM fuses jazz and funk with vocals and highlights his ability to weave life’s experience into music while creating inventive harmonies. Baldwin, who has worked with a variety of other artists, currently hosts the New Urban Jazz Lounge on 107.5 WJZZ.

Opening for Baldwin is gifted saxophonist Jeff Sparks. Sparks blends various genres, ranging from classical soul to contemporary jazz to hip-hop, on his soprano sax.

April 23, 2008

SUWANEE FARMERS MARKET OPENS MAY 3

The City of Suwanee will take “fresh” to a whole new level when the Suwanee Farmers Market re-opens for the season Saturday, May 3. The Farmers Market will be open from 8 a.m.-noon every Saturday through October 11 (except for September 20) at Town Center Park.

May and June produce includes lettuce, broccoli, English peas, garlic, green beans, herbs, radishes, potatoes, snap peas, spring onions, turnips, and yellow squash. Also available at the Farmers Market are baked items, beef, honey, jams and jellies, free-range eggs, and perennials.

April 22, 2008

FLOCK TO SUWANEE CREEK GREENWAY FOR ART ON A LIMB

This year’s Art on a Limb is sure to have folks flocking to the Suwanee Creek Greenway for their chance to find and keep a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork. The 2008 “finders keepers” celebration of nature and art features gourds painted to represent some of the birds that inhabit the popular four-mile trail. The birds have been created exclusively for Suwanee’s Art on a Limb by local artist Ingrid Bolton.

Each day throughout the month of May, the City of Suwanee will hide two pieces from Bolton’s flock of gourds somewhere along the Greenway. The birds may be placed anywhere along the trail, from the bridge that connects the greenway to George Pierce Park to the trailhead at Suwanee Creek Park and may include the new pedestrian connection to Town Center as well as Suwanee’s new soft surface trail. Whoever finds a piece of artwork may keep it.

This marks the fourth year that Suwanee has celebrated art and nature by commissioning artwork for Art on a Limb. In previous years, featured artwork has included painted clay orbs, paintings on pieces of the old Suwanee water tower, and nature-themed ceramic tiles.

This year’s Art on a Limb artist Ingrid Bolton spends a lot of time on the greenway, walking there at least twice a week. She has created several oil paintings of scenes along the greenway. A member of the Dunwoody Fine Arts Association and the Artisans of Flowery Branch, Bolton has used gourds in the past as canvases for paintings of sunflower fields, roosters, and Tiffany-inspired designs.

For Art on a Limb, Bolton originally tried painting magnolias and other flowers on gourds, but determined that they were too tame. “I like nature and I like birds,” she says. “I thought that doing birds would allow me to use the interesting shapes of various gourds and to create something fitting to be hung from trees along the greenway. Some of them have real character.”

Bolton created 33 different kinds of birds, including blue herons, cardinals, ducks, humming birds, owls, sparrows, and woodpeckers. Those not lucky enough to sight one of Bolton’s birds along the greenway, may purchase one beginning June 2 for $25 at Suwanee City Hall or the Life is good festival at Town Center Park on June 14.

April 17, 2008

ROADS WILL BE CLOSED BRIEFLY
DURING TOUR DE GEORGIA APRIL 25

As the Stage 5 start of the Tour de Georgia presented by AT&T gets underway Friday, April 25, several roads along the City of Suwanee route will be closed briefly. The 120 professional cyclists participating in this year’s Tour will leave Town Center Park at 10 a.m. sharp, pedaling their way by Level Creek Elementary, then back by Town Center Park to McGinnis Ferry Road, across the Chattahoochee and on their way to Dahlonega. Visit www.suwanee.com for a complete City of Suwanee route.

Tench Road in front of Level Creek Elementary (from Peachtree Industrial to Suwanee Dam) will be closed around 9:15 a.m. Other roads will be closed from approximately 9:55-10:15 a.m. These roads include:

Buford Highway – between McGinnis Ferry and Suwanee Dam roads
Suwanee Dam – from Buford Highway to Tench Road
Brogdon Road – from Suwanee Dam to Tench Road
Tench Road – from Brogdon Road to Suwanee Dam
Peachtree Industrial Boulevard – from McGinnis Ferry to Tench Road
McGinnis Ferry Road – from Buford Highway to the Chattahoochee River

April 17, 2008

PARTY IN DE PARK

Suwanee’s prequel to the April 25 Stage 5 start of North America’s premier professional cycling event and rolling festival will be a Party in de Park. Stage 5 of the Tour de Georgia presented by AT&T gets rolling from Town Center Park at 10 a.m. Friday, April 25, but the party begins the evening before.

Jimmy Buffett tribute band A1A will get folks in a festive mood when it takes the Town Center stage at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 24, for a free concert. Formed in 1991, A1A is considered “the official and original Jimmy Buffett tribute band” and is internationally renowned for its energetic performances.

Before the concert, BodyPlex Family Fitness will host what’s being billed as “the world’s largest outdoor spin class.” Three fitness instructors will lead up to 100 people in this fun spurt of energy at 5:30 p.m. Registration forms are available at www.suwanee.com or by calling BodyPlex at 770/614-6140. The registration fee is $20, with proceeds going to Lance Armstrong’s LIVESTRONG Foundation. All riders will receive a commemorative t-shirt and wristband.

In addition, Suwanee Creek Bicycles will be on hand to conduct a bike safety clinic, and Suwanee parks officers will lead bike tours of the nearby Suwanee Creek Greenway.

Other Suwanee Tour de Georgia events include the weeklong Tour de Suwanee Creek Greenway, April 17-24, and race-day activities.

While the race is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. sharp, activities will begin at Town Center Park around 8 a.m. with an extreme stunt bike demonstration by Mama’s Board-N-Bike. Riders will begin arriving at the park around 8:30 a.m. and will mingle with fans in Autograph Alley. Professional cyclists, according to Tour officials and fans, are very open to signing autographs and posing for photos.

Please remember that no fan parking will be available at Town Center Park. Free shuttles from off-site parking locations at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (4833 Suwanee Dam Road) and Shadowbrook Baptist Church, (4187 Suwanee Dam Road) will be running from 7:45-11 a.m.

Also, no alcohol will be available for purchase nor permitted during Tour de Georgia events at Town Center Park. Food may be purchased from vendors on site.

Several City of Suwanee roads along the Tour route will be closed to traffic for a brief period at the beginning of the race.

April 4, 2008

TOUR DE SUWANEE CREEK GREENWAY

In celebration of the Tour de Georgia Stage 5 start at Town Center Park April 25, the City of Suwanee invites area residents to take on the Tour de Suwanee Creek Greenway.

A course set up along the four-mile Suwanee Creek Greenway from April 17-24 will imitate the seven stages of America’s premier professional cycling event. And, those who complete (preferably on bicycle) each of the mock Tybee Island to Atlanta stages that comprise the Tour de Suwanee Creek Greenway will be eligible to win a Fuji mountain bicycle ($350 value). The drawing for the bicycle, donated by Suwanee Creek Bicycles, will take place at the Party in de Park event on April 24.

“The Tour de Suwanee Creek Greenway provides a fun way to commemorate Suwanee’s and Gwinnett County’s role in this year’s Tour de Georgia,” says Events Coordinator Amy Doherty. “We hope it will give participants just a little taste of what the Tour athletes experience and will get them pumped up for the Stage 5 start at Town Center Park on April 25.”

To qualify for the bicycle drawing, participants must complete a course card, which can be downloaded from www.suwanee.com. Each stage of the Tour de Suwanee Creek Greenway will be marked with a sign that provides a key phrase to be entered on the course cards.

Completed course cards may be mailed or dropped off to City Hall, 373 Buford Highway, or Suwanee Creek Bicycles, 1175 Buford Highway. Cards also may be faxed to 678/714-0992 or scanned and emailed to ldewilde@suwanee.com. Finally, cards may be dropped off at the Town Center stage from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, April 24, during Party in de Park festivities. The drawing for the bicycle will take place later that evening.

April 3, 2008

SUWANEE TO WELCOME STATEWIDE VISITORS
TO ‘HEAR T & SOUL’ OF COMMUNITY

Downtown Suwanee will be the center of attention when more than 40 visitors from across the state roll into town on their chartered bus Wednesday afternoon, April 16. The visitors, who represent government agencies, foundations, and developers from across the state, are visiting thriving downtowns in nine north metro communities (including four in Gwinnett County).

Organized by the Georgia Cities Foundation, the three-day 2008 Heart & Soul tour highlights innovative ways by which some Georgia cities have created vibrant, attractive downtown communities that enhance the quality of life and attract economic development.

As they arrive at Town Center, the visitors will be greeted by a chorus of kazoos, played by children from Primrose Schools of Suwanee. A tour of Town Center will feature the 10-acre park, businesses along Town Center Avenue, and the home of Councilmember Jeanne Rispin. The tour also includes a visit to Downtown Suwanee’s more sedate, but charming, historic district along Main Street.

The out-of-town guests will be staying in Suwanee overnight and will enjoy dinner on the Town Center stage with a private concert to follow at the Everett Brothers Music Barn.

“This is a great opportunity for us to show off our downtown – both sides of its captivating personality,” says Downtown Manager Jane Keegan.

In addition to Suwanee, Heart & Soul participants will visit Lawrenceville, Norcross, and Buford as well as Decatur, Roswell, Woodstock, Acworth, and Kennesaw.

March 31, 2008

PRAISE FOR SUWANEE’S PARKS

Park Pride, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization that leads and inspires action for parks and greenspace, awarded the City of Suwanee its 2008 Inspiration Award during its Parks and Greenspace Conference today at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. Suwanee won in the government category for extraordinary commitment to preservation and improvement of parks and greenspaces as demonstrated through its $17.7 million Open Space Initiative.

Through the Open Space Initiative, begun in 2002, Suwanee has acquired more than 250 acres of open space and created four new parks, including a 3-mile extension to the Suwanee Creek Greenway. The fifth park to be created through the initiative, Sims Lake Park, is expected to open later this year.

“More than any other jurisdiction in metro Atlanta, the City of Suwanee exemplifies the 'Parks and Sustainability' theme of Park Pride's conference,” says Park Pride Executive Director George Dusenbury. “They have literally built a walkable, smart-growth city by creating new parks and encouraging appropriate development around them. Park Pride views the City of Suwanee as a model for the rest of the region.”

Suwanee is the first city to win the Inspiration Award; previous government winners include DeKalb County CEO Vernon Jones and Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. Award winners are judged on four criteria: leadership, long-term commitment, results, and innovation. Other 2008 winners are: Friends of Collier Heights Park in the community category and Blue Heron Nature Preserve and the Trust for Public Land in the corporate category. The awards recognize park/greenspace efforts within Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties.

March 28, 2008

YOU CAN TAKE THESE VALOR AWARDS TO THE BANK

Suwanee’s Criminal Investigation Division was named Public Safety Unit of the Year when the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce presented its 2008 Valor Awards this afternoon at the Atlanta Hilton Northeast. The Criminal Investigation Division includes Lt. Dan Clark, Det. Shane Edmisten, and Det. Rob McCoy.

In addition, Sgt. Dwayne Black received a bronze Medal of Valor for bravery and heroism. Lt. Matt Scott also was nominated for a Valor Award.

Each of the Valor Awards presented to Suwanee officers relate to the police department’s 100 percent success rate in tracking down and arresting those who attempt to rob banks in the City of Suwanee.

In 2007, there were an unprecedented six bank robberies in Suwanee. (Metro Atlanta led the nation last year in bank robberies.) Arrests were made in each case, sometimes almost immediately following a pursuit of the robbers and sometimes a few weeks later following good detective work. In all, nine arrests were made, resolving not only the six Suwanee robberies but several others in the metro area and beyond as well.

“It was a lot of luck,” says Det. Shane Edmisten of the Suwanee PD’s 6-for-6 record in 2007. “But it was also many hours of investigation and help from our citizens.”

An example of key citizen assistance is provided by the case for which Sgt. Dwayne Black received the Valor Award. On March 12, 2007, the RBC Centura on Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road was robbed. An off-duty bank employee, who happened to be at the nearby Office Depot and witnessed the robbers’ escape, contacted police, and followed the suspects down I-85 until Sgt. Black caught up with them. With the assistance of the Gwinnett County Police Department, the two suspects were eventually arrested off Pleasantdale Road.

Citizen communication was essential in the case that Lt. Matt Scott was nominated for as well. As luck would have it, Scott was in Buford April 16, 2007 picking up a fleet vehicle that had been serviced when the “be on the lookout” call for a white car with custom black rims heading north on Peachtree Industrial came in.

At the intersection of Highway 20 and PIB, just such a car, wanted in connection to a robbery of the former Wachovia Bank at Peachtree Industrial and Suwanee Dam, turned by Scott and headed east on Highway 20. Again, after a brief vehicle and foot pursuit, two suspects were taken into custody.

Sometimes the arrests don’t come so quickly, and the case’s resolution relies on detective work – both the old-fashioned kind that involves interviewing witnesses and combing the scene for evidence and the high-tech kind that requires Internet research.

Perhaps the most notorious of Suwanee robbery suspects was Bobby Joe Philips, the “Grandpa Bandit” who allegedly robbed the SunTrust at Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road on October 24, 2007 as well as six other banks throughout Georgia and Tennessee. Philips was arrested November 10 in Perry. It was the Suwanee PD, through information provided by a witness and evidence found near the robbery scene, who, with the assistance of the FBI, identified the suspect.

“The best thing,” notes Scott, “is that, despite the high number of robberies, no one has been hurt. We’ve been very fortunate.”

March 19, 2008

ROAD MAP TO 2030 NEARLY COMPLETE

The City of Suwanee is nearing completion of its 2030 Comprehensive Plan/Community Agenda. First, though, the City is seeking additional input and feedback from citizens. A draft of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan, a citizen-driven vision created through a 10-month collaborative process, is available for review online at www.suwanee.com.

Citizens may share written feedback with City officials through April 1. Comments should be mailed to City Hall (323 Buford Highway, 30024) or emailed to 2030plan@suwanee.com. Also, two public meetings are scheduled:

A Task Force/Work Group meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27, at the George Pierce Park Community Center.
A public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, at the Crossroads Center, 323 Buford Highway.

Building upon the new directions established through the 2020 town master plan (adopted in 2000), the 2030 Comprehensive Plan creates a community vision that aims to balance Suwanee’s residential, small-town feel with continued commercial, employment, and economic development opportunities. The plan will guide how Suwanee develops over the next 10 years at least.

For the first time in Suwanee’s history, according to the plan, future growth, to a large degree, is likely to be via redevelopment rather than on previously undeveloped sites. Much of the City’s future growth is envisioned in three distinct areas: Suwanee Gateway, Town Center, and in nodes along Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.

The plan divides the entire City into 10 distinct character areas and describes expected, desired growth in each of the areas. Many of the areas, including most existing neighborhoods, are expected to experience little, if any, significant changes.

“This plan not only defines areas where bold changes are expected, indeed encouraged,” says Planning Division Director Josh Campbell. “It also, significantly, identifies those areas that need to be preserved and not change very much.”

March 13, 2008

BE A PART OF SUWANEE DAY

Exhibitor applications are now being accepted for this year’s 25th celebration of Suwanee Day. The annual “celebration of community,” which attracted 40,000 participants last year, will be held Saturday, September 20, at Town Center Park.

“We love this festival,” said The Spotted Daisy’s Christy Holland and Lori Kennedy, who exhibited last year. “It’s very well organized, and the people are very helpful. It draws a good crowd.”

Exhibitors include artists, craftspeople, and food vendors as well as a limited number of non-profit organizations and festival sponsors. Exhibitors are selected through a jury process, not on a first-come, first-served basis. Preference is given to exhibitor applicants who offer individually made artistic and craft items. No business resale, hobby-crafts or home-based consultants, or retailing is permitted. If not accepted, application fees will be returned.

Additional exhibitor guidelines and an online application are available at www.suwaneeday.com. The deadline for applications is June 1.

For the first time this year, the Suwanee Day festival is offering artists and craftspeople an opportunity to participate in a Best of the Festival competition. Those artists interested in participating will add $25 to their exhibitor fee. First, second, and third place winners will be determined the day of the festival and, winners will receive cash awards to be determined by the number of artists participating.

February 25, 2008

SUWANEE EVENTS WIN KALEIDOSCOPE OF AWARDS

The City of Suwanee took home an array of awards from the 2008 Southeast Festivals and Events Association (SFEA) annual conference: four gold or first-place awards as well as a second-place recognition. The SFEA presented 120 annual Kaleidoscope Awards to 28 organizations on February 19 in Greenville, North Carolina.

Suwanee’s 2007 events were recognized in several categories. Primrose Schools of Suwanee won in the Best Sponsor category for the schools’ interactive sponsorship of Suwanee Day, the community’s annual family festival. Kim Towne, volunteer chairperson on the Suwanee Day planning committee, was recognized as Best Volunteer for her work in upgrading the festival’s online volunteer registration process.

Another award with a Suwanee Day connection was in the Best Event within an Event category. Suwanee won for its Sail-A-Bration activities at Suwanee Day, which celebrated Suwanee’s designation by Money magazine as one of America’s best places to live. Last year’s Suwanee Day t-shirt, the design for which was created by Amanda Savage, a 2007 Oconee County High School graduate, won a silver award in the Best T-Shirt category.

The other first-place award taken home by Suwanee was in the Best Event Photo category for a photograph that depicts Jere Flynt conducting the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra during a June 30 concert at Town Center Park. The photo was taken by Lynne Bohlman DeWilde, Suwanee’s public information officer.

“It was awesome to bring home so many awards,” says Amy Doherty, Suwanee’s events coordinator. “I’m really pleased for Primrose Schools and volunteer coordinator Kim Towne. It’s because of the support and collaborative efforts of community businesses and individuals like them that Suwanee is able to host such great events.”

February 19, 2008

IF YOU DESIGN IT, THEY MAY WEAR IT

Get your creative on and help the annual Suwanee Day festival celebrate its 25th year. The winning designer of the 2008 official festival logo not only will receive $500 cash, they also will see their design worn this fall by hundreds of Suwanee Day volunteers and festival-goers.

The deadline for submitting entries in the 2008 Suwanee Day design competition is June 6. The winning design will be used on 2008 Suwanee Day t-shirts, posters, and other promotional materials.

Suwanee’s annual “celebration of community” will take place Saturday, September 20, at Town Center Park.

Last year, the Suwanee Day committee received 57 design entries from 44 individuals. Amanda Savage, a 2007 graduate of Oconee County High School, was last year's winner. Approximately 40,000 attended the 2007 festival.

February 8, 2008

SUWANEE GATEWAY: A SHARED VISION

The City of Suwanee is hosting informational meetings for Suwanee Gateway business owners Thursday, February 21. The meetings, part of the City’s launch of its new Suwanee Gateway branding campaign, are designed to share with business owners the City’s vision and plans for the area.

Meetings are scheduled for 8:30 a.m., 1 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. at the Suwanee Crossroads Center, 323 Buford Highway. Business owners and other interested participants are requested to confirm their attendance, along with their meeting time preference, with Toni Shrewsbury, tshrewsbury@suwanee.com or 770/945-8996.

The City of Suwanee is committed to revitalization of the Gateway, an area of largely industrial, retail, and office uses surrounding I-85 Exit 111, as a distinctive, vibrant mixed-use center.

“We hope that through these informational meetings business owners and others will get as fired up as the City of Suwanee is about the exciting potential for the Suwanee Gateway,” says Suwanee’s Economic Development Division Director Denise Brinson.

February 5, 2008

SUWANEE PUTS DOWN ROOTS;
18TH YEAR AS TREE CITY USA

In celebration of Arbor Day, the City of Suwanee will plant up to a dozen trees Friday, February 15, near the new pedestrian bridge that links Town Center and the Suwanee Creek Greenway. The 3- to 5-foot trees, to be planted on the wooded side of the boardwalk bridge that runs parallel to Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road, will include oak, river birch, and cypress specimens.

“This is an ideal time to plant trees,” notes Wes Rogers, Suwanee’s senior environmental planner. “They’re dormant now and won’t bud until March or April. Also, the area where we are planting these particular trees is in a floodplain area, so the drought conditions should not affect them.”

Planting will occur at 3 p.m. The public and volunteers are welcome. Contact Rogers at wrogers@suwanee.com or 770/945-8996 to volunteer or for more information. Seedlings will be given to each volunteer.

This marks the 18th consecutive year that Suwanee has been designated a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation.

January 29, 2008

APPLICATION DEADLINE MARCH 1
FOR SENIOR HOMESTEAD TAX DEFERRAL PROGRAM

For Suwanee homeowners 62 or older and living on a limited income of $20,000 or less annually, the City of Suwanee now offers a homestead tax deferral program.

“This program is designed specifically for older residents who may be on a fixed income,” notes Amie Sakmar, financial services director. “It’s a way of putting off tax payment until such time as the property is sold or transferred. It’s important to note that this deferral program applies only to City of Suwanee property taxes and does not impact any Gwinnett County taxes.”

City Council adopted the program last year. For those who qualify for the program, the City defers the property taxes owed and a lien is placed on the property. The City’s deferral is considered a loan, with an interest rate applying to the amount to be paid back when the property is sold or transferred.

An application must be completed each year a deferral is sought. The application deadline is March 1.

Additional information and an application are available at www.suwanee.com on the Information about Taxes page in the City & Other Services section. Or, contact Susan VanNus, administrative assistant in the financial services department, at svannus@suwanee.com or 770/945-8996.

January 23, 2008

SUWANEE EXHIBIT OFFERS ‘TIME ESCAPE’

Suwanee artist Dennis Assayac invites viewers to escape the hectic pace of everyday life and breathe in the beauty reflected in his eight oil paintings currently on display at the City of Suwanee Crossroads Center. The paintings include a reproduction of a neo-classical panel originally owned by Marie Antoinette, contemporary scenes of Paris, garden settings, and landscapes.

Born in Paris, France, Assayac discovered his artistic talent at a young age and nourished it with private tutoring with masters from the acclaimed Ecole des Beaux-Arts. He moved to the United States in 1971 and has lived in Suwanee the past 14 years.

Today Assayac enjoys sharing his artistic skills with students and watching their talents grow. He offers painting and drawing classes (as well as guitar and French lessons) for children, teens, and adults. In addition, Assayac performs classical guitar locally, using the stage name Francini.

More information about Assayac and his artwork is available on his website, www.epicgallery.com.

The “Time Escape” exhibit is free and open to the public and will be on display for approximately the next three months. 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.

January 15, 2008

SUWANEE LAUNCHES BRANDING CAMPAIGN,
OTHER EFFORTS TO REVITALIZE GATEWAY AREA

The Suwanee Gateway, an area of largely industrial, retail, and office uses surrounding I-85 Exit 111, is about to get an attitude adjustment. At the January 24 State of the County presentation, hosted by the Gwinnett Chamber and Council for Quality Growth, Suwanee will launch its Gateway branding campaign, which includes a new logo, tagline, and host of marketing strategies.

The branding campaign is a component of the City’s efforts to revitalize this key commercial area, which was the first such area to be developed in Suwanee more than 30 years ago.

“The Suwanee Gateway is a main entrance into our community,” notes Economic Development Division Director Denise Brinson. “Frankly, it’s not been making a very good first impression lately. As a City, we’re focusing our energies here, and we’re working to transform and brand the area as a vibrant, sustainable mixed-use center and a distinctive entryway into the City of Suwanee.”

Late last year, Suwanee City Council adopted a redevelopment plan for the area. The plan calls for investment of millions of dollars, both public and private, in the area, with public funding to come primarily through creation of a tax allocation district. (Suwanee voters approved a redevelopment powers referendum in November. Creation of a tax allocation district does not increase tax rates.)

The Suwanee Gateway redevelopment plan recommends:

improvement of the area’s transportation infrastructure
strategic streetscape improvements that will better accommodate pedestrians
creation of additional office and commercial sites to attract new private investment
public safety and other infrastructure improvements that will enhance the safety and appeal of the area
bold, new development that will serve as a catalyst for additional complementary development
elimination of eyesores and underperforming, obsolete uses
cooperative branding and marketing.

To help it create and market a distinctive, consistent image for the Gateway area, Suwanee turned to redpepper, a Lawrenceville-based marketing firm.

“The City of Suwanee has a very powerful brand as a community of excellence,” notes redpepper partner Dave McMullen. “The disconnect with the Gateway area is that it doesn’t have that shiny reputation – yet. The logo, tagline, and materials that we developed with the City of Suwanee rely on the City’s record of excellence and on the exciting potential for the Gateway area.”

City of Suwanee officials will meet with Gateway area businesses in February to share the new brand and marketing materials as well as provide more information about redevelopment plans.