official newsletter of the city of suwanee, ge rgia

www.suwanee.com september2014 insidethis issue…

City 3 employees feeling SWELL Photo by Wendy Lenox Knock knock: ‘Doors’ exhibit returning to Suwanee Approximately 40 artist-painted doors will be on exhibit at Sims Lake Park throughout October. These doors and others on display at five additional locations throughout This unique Gwinnett County are part of the 2014 Doors to Homes exhibit is designed & Hope exhibit, presented by Gwinnett Habitat for to bring awareness Double Humanity, Gwinnett ReStore, and ArtWorks! Gwinnett. 4 the fun to the issue of Sept. 20 & 21 This unique exhibit is designed to bring awareness to the homelessness…. issue of homelessness and the universal need for affordable housing.

Several Suwanee-area artists are participating in the “painting for a purpose” program, including several with the North Gwinnett Arts Association and students in the North Gwinnett High School National Art Honor Society.

The exhibit will open at Sims Lake Park on Saturday, October 4. Habitat for Humanity will host a World Habitat Day ceremony at Town Center Park at noon Monday, October 6. ‘Arresting’ 12 experience The doors will be available for purchase via GwinnettReStore.org. Each door is $100 and may be picked up at the end of the month-long exhibit. Trek or Treat among upcoming fall events

Wine, classic cars, and the best from some of Suwanee’s favorite restaurants are on this fall’s event menu. But it’s hot dogs, costumes, fall festival games, inflatables, and dancing with Parker that will be served up on Saturday, October 25, when the annual Trek or Treat event is held at Final Food Truck Suwanee Creek Park. Friday on menu Designed especially for elementary schoolchildren and younger, Trek or Treat is scheduled 11 a.m.-1 p.m. A hot dog for October 3 lunch will be served while supplies last. Youngsters are encouraged to dress in costume. Suwanee’s final Food Truck Friday of 2014 will be held at Town Center Park on October 3. Come enjoy the music of the Hilaire Band and grab dinner from one of your favorite food trucks. Food truck vendors expected to be on site include The Blaxican, Freckled and Blue, The Fry Guys, Hail Caesar, Mighty Meatballs, A Moveable Feast, Nana G’s Chicken and Waffles, Tex’s Tacos, and WOW!

Food will be served from 5:30-9:30 p.m. with music beginning at 7 p.m. Beer and wine may be purchased from licensed Town Center merchants. Other community events coming to Town Center Park in October Road work ahead and November include: Over the next couple of months, City Council is expected Suwanee Wine Fest to consider two separate contracts for annual road October 4 @ 1 pm repairs and improvements, which are anticipated to be suwaneewinefest.com substantially completed by the end of the calendar year. Milling, patching, resurfacing, shoulder work, replanting Taste of Suwanee of grass, and traffic control striping of about 4.9 miles of October 11 @ noon Korean Festival City roadways will be undertaken. tasteofsuwanee.com October 18 & 19 @ 11 am

Funding for the projects will be provided through City of Suwanee Big Peach Suwanee Classic Suwanee SPLOST and general funds as well as the State Runners Anniversary Car Show of Georgia’s Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant Walk/Run November 9 @ 10 am program. October 14 @ 6:30 pm ngaa4arts.com

Resurfacing is scheduled for Azalea Chase Drive, Azalea Chase Point, City’s millage rate remains the same Carlsbad Court, Cherrystone Walk, George Pierce Court, Goldfield City Council was expected to adopt a The City of Suwanee began the 2014-15 Trace, Heathfield Court, Leaf Lake fiscal year 2015 millage rate of 4.93 mills, fiscal year on July 1 with a $13.6 million Drive, McGinnis Park Drive, the same tax rate as the previous two operating budget. While the City’s Morning Glen Drive, Treemont years. Council was scheduled to vote property tax rate remains the same, Trace, White Sands Court, Whitlock on the millage rate at its August 26 those revenues are anticipated to Avenue, and Yosemite Drive. In meeting, as this newsletter was being increase by 4.89 percent due to rising addition, portions of these roads printed. property values. will be resurfaced: Annandale Lane, Landover Crossing, Lansfaire Suwanee’s millage rate has remained the The City of Suwanee issues property tax Terrace, Magnolia Leaf Lane, Ruby same or been reduced every year since notices in October with payment due Forest Parkway, Scales Road, 2002, when it was raised to 5.99 to fund by December 20. Gwinnett County has Station Center Boulevard, and the voter-approved open space initiative. already issued county property tax bills; Stonecypher Road. those payments are due October 1.

2 www.suwanee.com Things are ‘SWELL’ with City’s employee wellness program The City of Suwanee takes a lot of pride in being fiscally fit and healthy. Recently the City and its employees have been putting more emphasis on being physically fit, too. Through an employee-managed program, Suwanee is working to create a culture of wellness and camaraderie.

In December 2012, the City of Suwanee relaunched and rebranded its employee wellness program. (The City abandoned its two-year-old wellness program in 2009 due Suwanee employees loving life Suwanee employees recently celebrated to a downward spiraling economy and budget cuts.) As 2013 completion of the first year of the City’s wellness program. rolled around, a committee comprised of employees from each City department created a new name for the program: during a staff lunch on August 15 at Suwanee Creek Park, SWELL – Suwanee Wellness: Employees Loving Life. which also included a demonstration and tips presented by disc golf pros. “The program is a means of helping employees have “The committee wants employees to work

healthier lifestyles,” says together on good health and to celebrate Administrative Services The committee achievements,” says Janey Kravitz, director of

Director Elvira Rogers, who wants employees to worksite wellness with Ascension Benefits & chairs the SWELL committee. Insurance Solutions of Georgia, who works with ““ “And healthier employees equal work together on the SWELL committee. increased productivity and reduced employee absences.” good health “I talk with a lot of my other clients about She also notes that healthier and to celebrate Suwanee’s program,” she says. “The fact employees can mean fewer that Suwanee averaged about a 20 percent health insurance claims and achievements. participation rate in its first year is amazing. lower renewal rates for the City. It often takes programs that are volunteer based years to reach that level of participation.” Through SWELL, the City has Overall, employee participation rates in offered a CPR class, blood Suwanee wellness programs over the last year ranged from 6 pressure checks provided by students at the Philadelphia to 70 percent. College of Osteopathic Medicine, biometric screenings, and Lunch and Learn presentations on a variety of topics Says Rogers: “We tried to make it easy for employees, even including sensible snacks and hypertension. A tread-desk couch potatoes like me, to participate.” has been purchased and installed in an office space, which employees can schedule for use. As the program moves forward, she says, a challenge will be to continue to get employees to understand the value of City employees have participated in Dietbets, Yoga in the their participation. Park, races, and the Walk Georgia program through which 13 employees on three teams and individually accumulated the “I think that the citizens of Suwanee want to be served by equivalent of 3,488 miles walked. people who are happy and healthy,” says Kravitz, “and who are better able to serve them.” In addition, the City has implemented a wellness point system – employees earn points for undertaking preventative medical and dental appointments, meeting individual wellness goals (such as stopping smoking or flossing or exercising on a regular basis) as well as group goals (such as participating in a Lunch and Learn or running with a colleague in a race). At the end of the program’s first year, 24 employees had turned in a wellness tracking sheet and 23 received enough points to earn the top prizes, a dri-fit Suwanee shirt and gift card. The awards were presented

www.suwanee.com 3 September 20 & 21 Saturday, September 20 Free shuttle transportation from off-site parking begins @ 9 am 10am: Parade 10am-7pm: Arts & crafts exhibitors 10am-7 pm: Inflatable rides, children’s activities 11am-7:30pm: Free entertainment 6pm: A1A in concert Free shuttle transportation to off-site parking ends @ 8 pm Red, White & You Sunday, September 21 Free shuttle transportation from Book it to the parade off-site parking begins @ noon Medieval knights. Futuristic Stormtroopers. Scary creatures from the noon-5 pm: Arts & crafts Netherworld. And, of course, scouts, pageant queens, and area performers – all exhibitors are expected to march in the annual parade that will kick off Suwanee’s first two- noon-6:30pm: Inflatable rides, day community festival. The Suwanee Fest parade will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, children’s September 20, heading up Main Street from Stonecypher Road and down Buford activities Highway, ending at Town Center Park. 1pm-6:30pm: Free entertainment Food vendors remain open This year’s parade theme is “Red, White & You.” At the head of the parade will be until 6:30 pm grand marshals former U.S. Army Capt. Luis Carlos Montalván and his beloved service dog, Tuesday. In cooperation with the Gwinnett County Public Library, Free shuttle transportation to Montalván and Tuesday will also appear onstage at Town Center Park following off-site parking ends @ 7 pm the parade, at 11:20 a.m., for a presentation and “meet the author” event.

The recipient of two Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart among numerous other awards, Montalván is the author of New York Times bestseller Until Tuesday: A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him. Published in 2011, the book describes the bond between Tuesday and Montalván, who suffered physical and psychological wounds following two tours of duty in Iraq. Earlier this year, Montalván’s first children’s book, Tuesday Tucks Me In: The Loyal Bond Between a Soldier and His Service Dog, was published.

Cash prizes will be awarded to parade participants who are judged to be the best in a variety of categories, including best of show, most entertaining, most creative, and best use of theme.

4 www.suwanee.com Suwanee Fest headline band offers ‘Changes in Latitudes’ Whether your preference is for being “wasted away again in Margaritaville,” munching on a “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” or impatiently waiting for it to be “Five O’Clock Somewhere,” you’ll enjoy kicking back and listening to the 2014 Suwanee Fest headline band. A1A, the official and original Jimmy Buffett tribute show, is about as close as you can get to the real thing without having the fun-loving 68-year-old island music troubadour himself on stage.

A1A’s free Suwanee Fest performance will begin at 6 p.m. The band has released several all-original CDs, and many of Saturday, September 20, on the Town Center stage. those “trop rock” songs are now part of the A1A live show as are classic reggae tunes as well as, of course, favorite tunes from Before forming A1A in 1991, Jeff Pike had developed an Jimmy Buffett’s long career. enormous following in the Atlanta area as his one-man first- of-its-kind tribute to Jimmy Buffett. Today A1A continues to put A1A’s Suwanee Fest concert is free and open to the public. No on a highly energetic, colorful, and family-friendly Parrot Head alcohol may be brought into Town Center Park, but beer and Extravaganza Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show. The band boasts wine may be purchased throughout the festival from licensed on its website that it is “the first and only tribute show ever Town Center merchants. sanctioned by Jimmy Buffett himself.” Be a hero: Run in Suwanee Fest Classic Runners in this year’s Suwanee Fest Classic are being encouraged to dress a little, well, differently. Because a portion of all race entry fees will go to Cure Childhood Cancer of Atlanta, runners are being asked to dress in superhero attire to honor those touched by childhood cancer.

This “racy” prelude to Suwanee Fest is hosted by Georgia Fitness and takes place Saturday, September 13, at Town Center Park. The event includes a 1K fun run, 5K race, and 10K course. The 5K will begin at 7:30 a.m. with the 10K start slated for 8:30 a.m. The 1K fun run takes off at 8:35 a.m. or beginning at 6 a.m. on race day at Town Center Park. Race- day registration also will be available. It’s not too late to sign up for the race. Online registration for the Suwanee Fest race is available at active.com. An application Approximately 70 awards will be presented in various age may be downloaded at suwaneefest.com, and in-person groups. registration is available at local Georgia Fitness locations. The fee for each race is noted below: For more information about the race, contact Georgia Fitness at 770-614-6140 or [email protected]. 1K: $25 • 5K: $33 10K: $38 • 5K & 10K combo: $43

Registered runners may pick up race packets at a runners expo from 4:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, September 12, at Suwanee City Hall

www.suwanee.com 5 Their creations. Your temptations.

We apologize on behalf of the artists and crafters who will be Below, two students in the Suwanee Youth Leaders program, exhibiting at Suwanee Fest. They’re shamelessly going to tempt Simi Shah a senior at Peachtree Ridge High School and North you on September 20 and 21 with handcrafted items that will Gwinnett junior Nikita Deshpande, introduce you to four of the brighten your home, cause you to sparkle, or make a fabulous exhibitors who will be at Suwanee Fest. C’mon to the festival gift. Using glass, wood, jewels, paint, metals, fabric, natural and take a look at the stunning creations crafted by these artists ingredients, yarn, canvas, recycled household materials, and and others. We dare you not to buy something! more infused with their hard work and imagination, Suwanee Fest exhibitors have created an array of must-have items.

Glassy improvisation Loose has done just that as he returns to Suwanee’s by Simi Shah community festival for a second year. His popular, free- standing sculptures made of fused glass and other works Jeff Loose has come to typically range from $25 to $200. Check out appreciate improvisation – studioglass.wordpress.com for more information about not in theater, as you might his glasswork. expect, but in glasswork.

In 2003, after acquiring Beautiful recyclables his degree in sculpture by Nikita Deshpande design from the University of Georgia, Loose began Have you ever thought of dominos pursuing his childhood or scrabble tiles as jewelry? What interest in glass. He about spoons as a pendant? has worked on several Lawrenceville artist Kimberly commissioned projects Kelley has and makes memorable related to conservation and pieces of jewelry out of everyday restoration for churches, recyclable items found around the businesses, and residences. house.

Suwanee Fest offers an When she was a child, Kelley’s opportunity for him to show grandmother would provide people his smaller, more recycled items for arts and craft accessible glass creations. projects. Fine-tuning her artistic He looks forward to sharing interest required some trial and his company’s research and error; Kelley tried sewing, painting, development in glasswork. and other crafts, but creating jewelry seemed her perfect match. Much of his artwork, especially stained glass, involves time- Her jewelry-making business, intensive, structured processes. But it’s the abstract aspect Gorilla Dust Designs, is now eight of his art and the surprise that comes from embracing years strong. improvisation that really appeal to Loose. The best art, often inspired by elements in nature, says Loose, is not a perfectly An administrator with the Centers for Disease Control, Kelley executed process, but rather an opportunity to discover. squeezes in her soul-feeding jewelry-making during evenings and weekends. Each design usually takes about two to three Through his Studioglass firm, Loose explores a wide-range of days to make from start to finish. Reflecting on her work, styles, from traditional techniques used during the medieval Kelley says that her jewelry design has definitely changed era to working with contemporary styles. “You don’t look over the years; her pieces are far more intricate and varied for your style in painting number one,” he says. “After 100 than they used to be. paintings, you will find your style. What’s really important is to always be making art.”

6 www.suwanee.com When it comes to seeking inspiration for her jewelry pieces, Suwanee Fest is Sanchez’s initial exposure to a large Kelley says: “You have to try new objects and shapes and just community. He hopes the festival will steer him in the right see what fits.” direction artistically. His items range from $6 to $100. Sanchez loves the people factor of his art business as much as he Her most popular item is the scrabble tile pendant, which enjoys creating his work, so be sure to visit his booth and features a letter and unique artwork and designs. Ranging check out his work. from $5-$20, her jewelry is very much adored and oftentimes described as “never seen before” by her patrons. “My customers tell me they always get compliments when they wear my jewelry and that’s one of the best compliments I Haute couture for canines could get,” she says. by Nikita Deshpande

The 2014 festival marks Kelley’s third year participating in Dior, Valentino, Alexander Suwanee’s “celebration of community.” McQueen, and Versace may be among the biggest names in “Suwanee Fest is fun,” she says. ”There are a lot of people, and haute couture for Hollywood’s you get direct feedback from your customers.” elite, but for the best-dressed canines in North Georgia the designer name being barked about is Burris, Myrtle Burris. Whirlibobs by Simi Shah Buford resident Myrtle Burris, who retired from a government Bob Sanchez has always position in 2001, is the owner been handy with model of Stuffy Shirt Dog, which radio-controlled airplanes, sells clothing, caps, and other so he decided to put his accessories for the furry, four- hand to the test with other legged set. Sewing since she woodworking projects. And was 12 years old, Burris was busy after an extensive career as a creating Christmas stockings car salesman, he “retired” to one holiday season several years the world of art. ago when a neighbor asked her if she could make one for Over the years, Sanchez has her chihuahua. Wanting to try created a broad spectrum something new, Burris went for it. of wooden items, from outdoor décor to children’s toys. He spends a great deal of time focusing on the intricacies of each Like any fashion designer, Burris finds the hardest part of piece with the mindset that “there is always something to her job is staying current and creating new designs that her learn.” customers will like. Her most popular items are doggy dresses, vests, and sun visors, all of which are personalized for each As he has no formal training in woodworking, Sanchez dog. describes his art as a constant learning process. He practices lots of patience, always stopping and rethinking. His A few of Burris’s most creative and fun ventures are her “tutu woodworking is a time-consuming, elaborate process that dresses.” Burris’s dresses go way beyond the frou-frou tutu involves breaking up palette wood, cutting, drilling, and around the hips; her outfits come with matching tops, tutus, assembling his pieces. Nonetheless, he loves seeing the joy and even legwarmers for the winter. Other products include on kids’ faces when they pick up one of his toys, describing baseball caps and sun visors with a favored team’s logo on himself as a “big old kid.” For him, the hardest part is the the front and a favorite player’s jersey number on the back. attachment he develops to his long-term projects. Most of Burris’s just-for-dogs products range from $1 to $20 Sanchez’s handmade toys include toolboxes, cars, trucks, and and feature a variety of styles and haute fashions. Some trailers with adopt-a-pet and pet rescue themes. Additionally, of her most eye-catching and adorable products will be he constructs outdoor décor, such as whirligigs, usually made exhibited at Suwanee Fest. “I enjoy sewing for dogs, I really from palette wood. do,” she says. “People are really hard to please.”

www.suwanee.com 7 All Stars Performing Arts Suwanee Fest Saturday, noon Voted Best of Gwinnett 2013 entertainment for Best Artistic/Cultural Scene, All Stars Performing Arts Academy, in Sugar Hill, trains bubbles, rocks, and encourages students to evolve as dancers, actors, and musicians. The academy was named Best of Show in the and slithers take the 2013 Suwanee Day parade and Most Entertaining in the 2012 two-day parade. All Stars students have performed at several area More than a dozen performance groups will the course of Suwanee’s festivals and events, including the NCAA Basketball Finals Town Center stage over performers have Some Suwanee Fest “fight” like halftime show at the Gwinnett Arena and National Geographic community festival. rock you, Convention at the Cobb Galleria. four legs while othersto you,will slitherblow bubbles and some for will you, They’ll sing tigers. and read to you. Reptile Man Saturday, 12:40 pm Come enjoy Suwanee Fest’s eclectic line-up – all performances entertainment to the public. Nationally recognized reptile handler are free and open Jason Clark has more than 25 years of wildlife experience with snakes, alligators, and other reptiles. A natural comedian, Clark’s Southeastern Snake Capt. Luis Carlos Montalván, Author Encounter show focuses Saturday, 11:20 am on venomous snakes and offers a “hysterical thrill ride” as he shares New York Times bestselling author Luis Carlos his adventures experienced during wildlife Montalván and his service dog, Tuesday – both removal emergencies and the day-to-day of them award-winners – will get things going shenanigans at his Southeastern with a reading from their widely acclaimed Reptile Rescue. children’s book, Tuesday Tucks Me In: The Loyal Bond between a Soldier and His Service Dog. Royal Dance Academy Published in May, Tuesday Tucks Me In has Saturday, 1:20 pm & Sunday, 2:30 pm been selected by Amazon.com as the “Best Nonfiction Children’s Book of 2014” (to date). Royal Dance Academy’s award-winning program delivers technical quality dance education and Montalván and Tuesday, who also are serving as provides dance enrichment opportunities for parade grand marshals, are appearing at Suwanee students. RDA students are encouraged to achieve Fest in partnership with the Gwinnett County their objectives regardless of their level, be it Public Library. recreational or vocational. Implementing the internationally recognized dance education syllabus The two are co-featured in an independent film of the Royal Academy of Dance, RDA provides documentary, Buried Above Ground, which will be additional training in classical ballet, modern, released later this year. Montalván is also the author contemporary jazz, lyrical, hip hop, and ballroom. of Until Tuesday, A Wounded Warrior and the Golden Retriever Who Saved Him, which was published in 2011. Stone Mountain Chorus Saturday, 2:45 pm Montalván served 17 years in the U.S. Army, including tours of duty in Iraq where he earned two Bronze Stars, the Purple A men’s a capella group, the Stone Mountain Chorus has Heart, Army Commendation Medal for Valor, and the Combat performed in greater Atlanta since 1980. The chorus has won Action Badge. Wounded in action, the Army vet sustained two Dixie District Chorus Championships, in 2000 and 2010. traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries in Iraq in 2003.

Following Montalván’s presentation, festival-goers can meet the author and Tuesday, purchase books, and get them signed at the Gwinnett County Public Library booth.

8 www.suwanee.com Manmade Mountains Gwinnett School of Rock Saturday, 3:45 pm Sunday, 3:30 pm Based in Athens, Manmade Now in its 21st season, the Mountains’ music is difficult to Gwinnett School of Rock is Atlanta’s describe. Terms such as indie, original rock school program. At its folk, and psychedelic (with some four locations, the school offers 10- reggae influence) seem to come week sessions that culminate in a close. The band believes in the recorded concert at cool venues. “soul” of music and tries to portray that in the music it writes and performs. Sugar Hill Christian Academy Choir Sunday, 4:30 pm Colby Dee Saturday, 4:45 pm The Traveling Praise Team from Sugar Hill A Collins Hill High School graduate, Christian Academy is Colby Dee, who now lives in Nashville, is made up of students one of the fastest-rising female country in grades K-8. The music performers. CMChat called her team strives to deliver “one to watch in 2014” and iTunes editors joy through song. described her two singles as “new and noteworthy.” Dee brings a bold voice, sincere soulfulness, and abundant zest Capital City Xpress for life to the music world. Sunday, 5:30 pm A1A Formed in 2006, Capital Saturday, 6 pm City Xpress entertains with big band and swing music The official and original as well as modern Jimmy Buffett Tribute Band, chart-toppers. Band members come from diverse backgrounds, A1A was formed in Atlanta but they all have one thing in common – playing great music. in 1991. The band offers an energetic, colorful, family-friendly Parrot Head Extravaganza that features the best Jimmy Buffett songs from every era of Suwanee Fest his career. Entertainment Tiger Martial Arts Saturday, September 20 Capt. Sunday, 1 pm Luis Carlos Montalván, Author All Stars Performing Arts 11:20 am For more than 15 years, Reptile Man noon students at Tiger Martial Arts, Royal Dance Academy 12:40 pm from preschoolers to adults, Stone Mountain Chorus 1:20 pm have learned skills such as Manmade Mountains 2:45 pm focus, discipline, confidence, respect, and self-defense while Colby Dee 3:45 pm improving their physical strength and flexibility. 4:45 pm A1A, Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band 6 pm Suwanee Youth Ballet Sunday, September 21 Sunday, 1:40 pm Tiger Martial Arts Suwanee Youth Ballet 1 pm 1:40 pm The Suwanee Youth Ballet Royal Dance Academy 2:30 pm provides performance Gwinnett School of Rock 3:30 pm opportunities for students, Sugar Hill Christian Academy Choir 4:30 pm ages 6-18. SYB members are athletes who learn to be positive Capitol City Xpress 5:30 pm role models and team players; they demonstrate self- discipline, sensitivity, and passion. www.suwanee.com 9 Shawnee North Business Center Take the bus 305 Shawnee North Drive (at Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road) Want to avoid traffic congestion and make your Suwanee Fest Southeastern Freight experience hassle-free? It’s easy. Plan to park at one of three 3655 Windsor Park Drive convenient off-site parking lots and take the free shuttle to (Near the intersection of Buford Highway & McGinnis Ferry and from Town Center Park. Road) IMPORTANT: Enter from Buford Highway only. The shuttle buses will run from 9 am - 8 pm Saturday and noon - 7 pm Sunday. Please note that bus service will be very Limited parking for guests using motor scooters or wheelchairs limited during the parade on Saturday, from approximately will be available at the Suwanee Police Department at 9:30-11:30 a.m. 373 Buford Highway, across the street from Town Center Park, except from about 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday. Additional parking Off-site parking is available at: for those with disabilities will be available at Shadowbrook Baptist Church (4187 Suwanee Dam Road); a wheelchair- Shadowbrook Baptist Church accessible shuttle bus will provide transportation to Town 4187 Suwanee Dam Road Center Park.

Suwanee Fest Parking Map

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Chair Parade Volunteers These folks make Janis Beavin Ryan Neilan, Chair Pascha Dudley Sponsorship Sandra Quady At-Large Committee it happen! Paul Beavin Scott Quady Members These folks deserve a pat on the back, a hug, a Entertainment Vendors David Ouimet big “thank you” for volunteering and planning Cris Koenigs, Chair Robin Sullivan, Chair Kathy Mooney another spectacular community festival. Michelle Budd Dawn Hudson Thank you Suwanee Fest planning committee Dan Koenigs Transportation members for your time, enthusiasm, energy, Cyndi Weinbaum Doug Schwendy dedication, creativity, and hard work. Richard Sanders

10 www.suwanee.com Suwanee Fest Gold sponsors put Atlanta Classic Cars Member's Auto Choice money where Keurig Green Mountain PNC Bank Silver Mustard Seed Pediatric Dentistry their heart is North Atlanta Primary Care Suwanee’s community festival gets American Laser Skincare bigger and better each year thanks, Costco North Georgia Pediatric Dentistry in large measure, to the generous Country Financial Omega Learning Center support of several community- Delta Community Credit Union Dr. Rhonda Hogan, DMD, PC minded businesses and organizations. Dentistry for Children Peach Skin Sheets Please support those businesses who Everdry Waterproofing Pre-Press to Printing support our community. Fenski Automotive Center Power Home Remodeling Group Food Should Taste Good Quantum National Bank Presenting Free Chapel Renewal by Andersen Georgia Fitness Road Atlanta Gwinnett Gladiators Stepping Stone Montessori School Gwinnett Medical Center Sugar Hill Spine and Wellness Gwinnett Urgent Care Suwanee Dental Care Imagix Dental Suwanee Magazine Platinum Integrated Healthcare & Suwanee Sports Academy Body Makeover Taylor Construction Ippolito’s Tiger Tails Animal Hospital LeafGuard of North Georgia Treetop Quest Madaris Siding and Windows Whitney & Robertson Orthodontics Mitsubishi Electric Take home a memento of the day At only $10 each, you’re definitely going to want to take home a couple of Suwanee souvenirs from your day spent at the community festival.

T-shirts, posters suitable for framing, and adorable miniature Parkers will all be available at the City of Suwanee tent for $10 each.

The heather blue t-shirts will feature the 2014 Suwanee Fest logo. Since this is the first-ever Suwanee Fest, the t-shirts are sure to become collector items. T-shirts will be available in children’s and adult sizes.

Suwanee Fest posters, sized approximately 18 x 24 inches, also will be available. The posters will brighten your home, office, or dorm room.

Perhaps the hottest item of the day will be the cute and fuzzy stuffed Parkers. Parker the Dog is Suwanee’s oversized mascot, but the Parker dolls are only 8 inches tall. Now you can take Parker home with you!

www.suwanee.com 11 Intern undertakes ‘arresting’ experience on 12-hour ride-along with Suwanee police officer by Harris Wilson

Editor’s note: Summer intern Harris Wilson, a sophomore at the University of Georgia, had so much fun following and writing about one of our public works staff members for the August issue of Connects that he volunteered to do a similar story about one of our police calls. Lee-Foon prides himself on the efficiency with which he officers. He apparently ended up being a “good luck charm” for one of dispatches accident reports. When he first joined the force our newest officers, Julian Lee-Foon, and the two had a “big” day. several months ago, he told me, it could take him over an hour to navigate the paperwork and release people at the Everything I know about police I learned from Hollywood. So scene; at our first accident report this morning, he has both when I found myself (once again) waking up at the crack of drivers safely on their way in less than 15 minutes.

dawn in service of the City of Suwanee, I wasn’t sure whether am to expect the light-hearted shenanigans of 21 Jump Street 9 am9:00 pm or the knuckle-biting intensity of End of Watch. The answer, “I should have told you this to begin with,” says as you might expect, is a little of both, but not too much of Lee-Foon as we continue our morning patrol, either. “but this probably isn’t going to be like an : am episode of Cops.” I see what he means. If you 6 6am00 pm Though he freely admits that there are The typical shift for Suwanee police officers is 12 hours; some exciting days, there’s a lot more ever wondered, mercifully, I get to ride along on the day shift with Ofc. Julian routine work to being a police officer in Lee-Foon. He introduces himself before sunrise, shotgun in a community like Suwanee than there we’re not jerks. hand (your point, End of Watch), as we go out back to load “ are adrenaline-pumping foot chases. up. There’s enough equipment in the car for me to write We’re here to an entire article on: sirens, lights, radio, laptop, ticket books, As we continue our patrol throughout do our job and ticket printer, glass cutters, etc. This particular car also is the City, the Automatic License Plate outfitted with an Automatic License Plate Reader (ALPR). Reader not only scans parked cars, it to keep people The shotgun is safely stowed in the trunk and after a short picks up the tags of cars passing us on briefing from Cpl. Richard Pope, our day starts in earnest. either side of the road. Expired tags, invalid safe. am insurance, suspended licenses, and stolen 7:307: am30 pm vehicles are downloaded from the state database While other officers on patrol run traffic, answer calls, and daily. Occasionally there is a false alarm – a sign here or complete accident reports, Lee-Foon hosts his Highland a fence there can trigger the sensitive machine – but if I were Station PACT (Police and Citizens Together) meeting in the you, I’d be careful to renew your tags before driving anywhere police station. Designed to enhance the relationship between around Suwanee. officers and citizens as well as give a face to law enforcement in local neighborhoods, PACT is a program that encourages Though he only joined the force last year, Lee-Foon clearly has officers to meet with members of an assigned neighborhood a feel for the City’s traffic, navigating from hot spot to hot to address any pressing concerns or questions about local spot and effortlessly spotting things even the ALPR can’t. By ordinances. lunch, he’s made several stops for faulty brake lights, riding : am emergency lanes, and, of course, the classic unfastened 8 8am00 pm seatbelt. (Really folks, just buckle up. Of our dozen or so Our PACT meeting wrapped up, we are assigned as the tickets issued during the day, nearly half of them were for “roam” car for the day, and we drive back and forth seatbelts – or, rather, a lack of seatbelts.)

throughout the City while other officers focus on specific am zones. We offer back-up if they need it or answer calls in a 112:302: 3pm0 pm particular zone if the officer assigned there is tied up with Rather disillusioned by my morning of zero car chases or bank something else. We stay mobile more than you might expect, robberies, I was glad to see that there are some things the and, with morning traffic, there is no shortage of movies do get right. As one of the newest members of the

12 www.suwanee.com back within the City limits. The second we cross I-85 Lee- Foon spots and stops a trailer without any brake lights. This time the problem isn’t a suspended license – it’s no license at all. I have earned myself “lucky charm” status as a ride-along as this marks the first time that Lee- Foon makes two arrests from two separate incidents in the same shift. We turn around and head right back to Lawrenceville with our new friend.

am 6 6pm:00 pm Despite a few hang-ups at the jail over the booking process (pro tip: don’t lie to the police about your name), the rest of the afternoon is fairly uneventful. Our return to Suwanee yields a few more traffic tickets and accident reports but no more arrests. Probably a good thing for Lee-Foon as he already has a record amount of force, Lee-Foon, who is 23, is still subject to some lighthearted paperwork on his hands. As we return the car to the station heckling from the more senior officers during our lunch for the night shift, I can’t help but notice that the 12 hours break. “Greenjeans,” they call him, and trade jokes and stories have passed rather quickly. while our waitress brings the food.

am “If you ever wondered,” says Lee-Foon of himself and his law 1:301 pm:30 pm enforcement colleagues, “we’re not jerks. We’re here to do our Back on the road, we discuss Lee-Foon’s training. job and to keep people safe.” You can tell he means it. Even Following a stint with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, after 12 hours on the job, he’s earnest and enthusiastic about he joined the Suwanee police force last upholding the law in the City. He’s not afraid to get tough December, doing his time in dispatch and when he needs to, but first and foremost he’s committed to undertaking serious ride-along training serving the people of Suwanee.

If you before finally becoming an official patrol ever wondered, officer in April. Looking over his “cheat One of the coolest moments of our entire day together

sheet” of codes and violations, I can’t came just after our first arrest. On our ride to Lawrenceville, we’re not jerks. imagine how long it takes to get the driver with the suspended license was asked for his “ them all down. Many of you fans of hometown. “Bronx, New York,” comes the answer from the We’re here to procedure TV shows may recognize the back seat. “No kidding!” says Lee-Foon. “I grew up there!” They “10-4” sign-off, but there are dozens spend the rest of the drive discussing local hot spots like only do our job and and dozens of numbers for every two people from the same neighborhood can. “Yeah, it’s nice situation imaginable. here,” the man says. “Don’t have to worry about your car, to keep people where you’re going to park. Everybody’s nicer. It’s quiet here.” safe. “Hold on,” Lee-Foon says suddenly as we sit at a red light. “I’m about to blow your Quiet? Yeah, I agree with him. If you do too, maybe you mind with this next stop.” I’ve been tagging should thank a Suwanee police officer. They may have more along with him long enough to know that he in common with you than you think. has far better eyes for this than me, but I still don’t see what he’s talking about even as we pull the battered hatchback into the gas station. Ladies and gentlemen, I can proudly tell my grandchildren that I witnessed a documented case of the infamous 40-8-72: driving a vehicle with no rear- view mirror. That was a new one for both of us.

am 2:302 :pm30 pm We weren’t done with our “firsts” for the day. As our afternoon patrol wears on, the ALPR hits on an expired registration; as it turns out, the driver has a suspended tag and license. I don’t know the number for that, but I do know the consequence: a one-way trip to the Gwinnett County Jail.

am 3:453 :pm45 pm Arrests take a long time. Between the paperwork, transportation, and booking, it is over an hour before we are

www.suwanee.com 13 Say ‘goodbye’ to for business The following businesses phone scam received new licenses from the City of Suwanee in June The Gwinnett County and July. Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate reports of a phone scam being perpetrated • Advanced RP 302 Satellite Boulevard throughout the county and is providing information about the • Aspen Auto Brokers scam in order to help prevent 4411 Suwanee Dam Road residents from falling victim to it. • Bookman Accounting and Tax Services The Suwanee Police Department 333 Main Street began receiving similar scam reports • Cornerstone Academic from citizens this spring. 970 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard • ECOATM The scam begins with a call from 400 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard someone who claims to be with a local • El Molino Bakery Supplies law enforcement agency, often a 3550 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road high-ranking officer. The caller says • Fast Training Athlete Development that the victim has failed to respond to a 105 Satellite Boulevard jury summons and that a warrant has been • Greek Isalnd Grill issued for their arrest. The caller than says 3320 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road that the victim can avoid arrest by paying a • Hair by Devyn fine over the phone using a pre-paid debit card. 3675 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road • Kris Darby Flooring & Interiors “These phone scammers are very skilled at what they do,” 3631 McGinnis park Drive says the sheriff’s office. The caller has extensive knowledge • Laugh Publishing Network of the law enforcement agency they’re impersonating, often 1245 Buford Highway naming actual staff members, and providing a call-back phone number where they can be reached. The caller also • Loreto Bakery* 3635 Burnette Park Drive often has personal information about the person being targeted. • Movement Mortgage 3725 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road “It is very important that citizens are aware that a law • Nail Studio Salon by Tom enforcement agency will never contact them by phone to 2870 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road request payment of any type, especially using a pre-paid • Perfect Body Wax Salon debit card or Green Dot MoneyPak,” says the sheriff office’s 315 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard press release. • Rapid Response R&R 970 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard “If you do happen to have a warrant out on you, for example, • Reach 3D for failure to pay a ticket,” says Capt. Cass Mooney with the 1275 Buford Highway Suwanee Police Department, “you can call the court and pay • The Royal Dance Academy it over the phone, but we won’t ever initiate the call. We’ll 105 Satellite Boulevard never call you and say you need to pay right now over the • Salude – The Art of Recovery phone.” 601 Northolt Parkway • Sun 3 Trading All reports related to this scam are being turned over to 3640 Burnette Park Drive and investigated by the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office. To • Town Center Animal Clinic report a phone scam, call the sheriff’s investigative services 3886 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road division at 770-619-6655. Mooney also suggests that should • Warrior Wellness and Rejuvenation you receive such a call, you can block that phone number. 1500 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard • Wiedenbach-Brown “There are a lot of phone scams going around,” says Mooney. 425 Buford Highway “You’ve got be careful and appropriately suspicious of anyone who reaches out to you by phone or email and • Your Pie 3370 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road requests money.” *Business rents kitchen by the hour.

14 www.suwanee.com Art ‘en plein air’ connections The North Gwinnett Arts Association will once again host a Suwanee Plein Air event this fall. Artists from near and far are invited to participate and paint scenes of Suwanee “in the open air” on Saturday and Sunday, October 18 and 19. We got an ‘A’! For the third consecutive year, the City Sign up online at suwaneepleinair.com. The entry fee is of Suwanee’s annual report has earned $35 for North Gwinnett Arts Association members and $40 a Popular Annual Financial Reporting for non-members. Cash prizes will be awarded for first, award from the Government Finance second, and third place in artists’ choice and people’s choice Officers Association, but for the first categories. time the City’s report received an A – indeed, a 96.5 average score out of 100 – from three judges. “Artists will use their personalized styles in pursuit of the The GFOA report states: “The reviewers commented very common goal of capturing scenes of Suwanee as quickly favorably that the City has done an outstanding job in as possible before the movement of the sun and clouds producing a visually appealing report…. The front cover alter the lighting and colors of the view,” says NGAA on the is one of the most innovative seen by the reviewers. The Suwanee Plein Air website. “Visitors are invited to watch formatting is outstanding.” the artists at work.” The GFOA panel of judges reviewed the City’s annual report and scored it on the basis of reader appeal, Mayor re-appointed understandability, distribution, and other factors including to GMA council innovation and usefulness. Mayor Jimmy Burnette has been re-appointed Two judges join to the Georgia Municipal Suwanee Municipal Court Association’s Legislative Policy At the July 22 City Council meeting, Norman Cuadra and Council. The council is the focal Angela Duncan were sworn in as the newest judges with point of GMA’s legislative policy Suwanee Municipal Court. Suwanee’s court will hold efforts and provides guidance additional sessions each week and switch from evening and input to GMA staff during hours to day court beginning September 9. the legislative session.

“Mayor Burnette has extensive Get a glimpse behind the badge knowledge of both municipal Get a glimpse behind the badge and gain a better issues and the legislative understanding of some of the complex situations that process making him an outstanding candidate for the Suwanee police officers experience through this fall’s Legislative Policy Council,” says GMA Executive Director Citizens Police Academy. Classes will be held from Lamar Norton. “He has been a proven leader on legislative 6:30-9 p.m. weekly beginning October 7, usually on Tuesdays issues for the cities in his area, and we look forward to his but sometimes on Mondays depending on the week, at the continued input on the council.” Suwanee Police Training Center, 2966 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road. Classes will end December 9; check the online application for specific dates.

Planning a 2015 event? Registration is free, but notarized applications, available for Do you have a great idea for a race, festival, or other fun download at suwanee.com, must be received by community event for next year? City of Suwanee event September 26. Priority is given to City of Suwanee residents applications for 2015 will be available at suwanee.com or to those who work within the City. beginning in early October. The applications will be due December 1. Once the City’s event calendar is approved at Topics covered include crime scene processing, traffic the beginning of the year, no additional events are added. stops, building searches, crime prevention, and narcotics identification.

www.suwanee.com 15 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID SUWANEE, GA PERMIT NO. 242

330 Town Center Avenue Suwanee, GA 30024

upcoming official newsletter of the city of suwanee, ge rgia events

S September 8 Harvest Farm Managing Board 4:30pm 16 City Council Workshop 5:30pm 8 Suwanee Fest Planning Committee 6:30pm 18 Korean Festival (TCP) 11am 11 City Council Workshop 5:30pm 19 Korean Festival (TCP) 11am 13 Suwanee Fest 5K & 10K 7:30/8:30am 21 Downtown Development Authority 7:30am 13 Suwanee Farmers Market (TCP) 8am-noon 21 Zoning Board of Appeals 6:30pm 16 Downtown Development Authority 7:30am 25 Trek or Treat (Suwanee Creek Park) 11am 16 Zoning Board of Appeals 6:30pm 28 City Council Meeting 6:30pm 20 Suwanee Fest 10am-7pm 21 Suwanee Fest noon-5pm 23 City Council Meeting 6:30pm November 8am-noon N 27 Suwanee Farmers Market (TCP) 4 Planning & Zoning Commission 6:30pm 5 Public Arts Commission 6pm 6 City Council Workshop 5:30pm O October 9 Suwanee Classic Car Show 10am 1 Public Arts Commission 6pm 10 Harvest Farm Managing Board 4:30pm 3 Food Truck Friday (TCP) 5:30-9:30pm 14 Big Peach Anniversary Walk/Run (TCP) 6:30pm 4 Suwanee Farmers Market (TCP) noon 18 Downtown Development Authority 7:30am 4 Suwanee Wine Fest (TCP) 1pm 18 City Council Meeting 6:30pm 7 Planning & Zoning Commission 6:30pm 18 Zoning Board of Appeals 6:30pm 11 Taste of Suwanee (TCP) noon 27 Holiday: City Hall Closed 13 Harvest Farm Managing Board 4:30pm 28 Holiday: City Hall Closed 14 Big Peach Anniversary Walk/Run (TCP) 6:30pm

Unless otherwise noted, City of Suwanee public meetings are at City Hall, 330 Town Center Avenue. Dates subject to change; check suwanee.com for updates.

City of MAYOR Jimmy Burnette 770/945-3492 CITY MANAGER Marty Allen 770/945-8996 Suwanee COUNCIL Dan Foster 678/404-9641 POLICE CHIEF Mike Jones 770/945-8995 Georgia Dick Goodman 678/446-7520 EDITOR Lynne Bohlman DeWilde 770/945-8996 Beth Hilscher 678/546-3388 Doug Ireland 770/265-0880 Linnea Miller 678/592-4150