Snellville Spirit Fall 2020

Snellville, Where Everybody’s Proud to Be Somebody

FALL 2020

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Fall 2020 - Volume 42 Publisher/Editor: Kelly McAloon Editor: Brian Arrington

The board on Snellville Tourism and Trade would like to thank you for all your support for the past ten plus years. 2020 has been an unusual year to say the least. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, we are continuing to plan events and activities for the future. We are working hard to make our community strong and vibrant.

Although we have had to cancel many of our events this year, there are still some activities that we have been able to continue to make available to the citizens and businesses in Snellville while abiding by the recommended CDC guidelines. The Farmers’ Market, Community Garden and Food Truck Fridays are being operated with masks and social distancing requirements. We have held our monthly Snellville Commerce Club meeting virtually with some great and informative programming. We are working on a new website and business directory that will be available soon. Be sure to check out our virtual contests being offered this Fall. And of course, we are planning for a great 2021 season.

As a board we have made decisions for the 2020 season out of caution to help promote a healthy and safe atmosphere for the citizens and visitors of Snellville. We are a strong community in Snellville and we will continue to host the events that are possible in 2020 and plan for the future. Remember, healthy businesses are what keep our economy moving forward, so please Shop Local and support businesses that continue to move through different challenges each day. It is the board of Snellville Tourism and Trade’s hope to continue to provide an atmosphere for our community to come together, get to know each other, and support each other.

Don Britt - President Regina Hart Billy Franklin Alice Snipes Kurt Schulz Administrative Assistant – Kathy Emanuel Summer Daniels Lucy DeForest Executive Director Jared Eakins Kelly McAloon

Don

Don Britt, President, Snellville Tourism and Trade

Connecting our Community to Celebrate Snellville 4

Snellville Spirit Magazine is produced by: Snellville Tourism & Trade Association

P.O. Box 669 • Snellville, GA 30078 Website: www.snellvilletourism.com Snellville Tourism and Trade Association’s mission is to promote business, tourism and events in the City of Snellville.

President Don Britt Vice President Billy Franklin Treasurer Kurt Schulz Secretary Kathy Emanuel Board Member Lucy DeForest Board Member Jared Eakins Board Member Regina Hart Board Member Alice Snipes Executive Director Kelly McAloon Administrative Assistant Summer Daniels City Council Mayor Barbara Bender, Mayor Pro Tem Dave Emanuel, Cristy Lenski, Gretchen Schulz, Tod Warner and Solange Destang City Website: www.snellville.org Magazine Design by Brian Arrington, Perry Cox and Kelly McAloon Magazine Cover Design by Root Design Studio and Perry Cox Contributing Writers and Photographers: Kelly McAloon, Don Britt, Brian Arrington, Gretchen Schulz, Barbara Bender, Eric Van Otteren, Root Design Studio, Trent Lind and GNR Health Department

CONTENTS 7

10

20

24

6

There is still a lot to be excited about in 2020.

MAYOR’S MESSAGE

16

What’s happening at city parks and the Senior Center?

7

K9 Hanes joines the Snellville Police Department.

SNELLVILLE’S NEWEST OFFICER

18

Popular roadside zoo returns better than ever.

8

Get the latest on the city’s multi-use downtown project.

THE GROVE

19

STAT offers a new listing of area businesses.

9

Kick off your weekend with some food on the Towne Green.

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY

20

Snellville seniors take part in outdoor exercise classes.

10

The season is winding down but an extended one is coming.

SNELLVILLE FARMERS’ MARKET

22

Popular contest is coming back for another year.

11

How to deal with at-home learning in times of COVID-19.

DIGITAL LEARNING

23

STAT offers several fun contest for residents and businesses.

12

Meet the new leader of the Snellville Youth Commission.

SYC COORDINATOR

24

A new water feature installed at the Community Garden.

14

Health professionals offer their take on the Coronavirus.

VIRUS UPDATE

25

Pictures from recent events on the Towne Green.

26

Recipes fit for the fall season.

PARKS AND SENIORS

YELLOW RIVER REBORN NEW BUSINESS DIRECTORY STAYING FIT

SCARECROW CONTEST TAKE A CHANCE

COMMUNITY GARDEN PICTURE PAGE FALL FOOD

5

5

Mayor’s Message - Mayor Barbara Bender The year 2020 has certainly wreaked havoc on just about every aspect of our lives. It is hard to find someone that has not been impacted personally by everything going on this year.

Throw in a presidential election in November and we are in for a bumpy ride for the rest of this year.

samples of the materials planned for the library building. The exterior will incorporate granite historically used throughout the Snellville region along with brick and wood elements.

Despite all the challenges of this year, I am happy to report that Snellville’s long-time vision of a downtown is moving ahead at full speed. Aug. 26 will mark the first anniversary of our signing a development agreement with MidCast, LLC and we have been off and running since then.

The City of Snellville has partnered with the Gwinnett Newton Rockdale Public Health department, the sixteen Gwinnett cities and Gwinnett County in the JOIN THE TEAM campaign to encourage everyone to wear a mask, social distance and wash your hands. Please check out the Facebook page and help to promote the message. Combatting this virus and its spread requires everyone of us to act responsibly for the protection of ourselves, our family, and our neighbors. Take a picture of yourself in your mask and post it with #JoinTheTeam.

The former Suntrust bank building at 2440 Wisteria Drive is currently being renovated into the new location of the U.S. Post office. Construction is moving toward an early November completion to allow the move before the busy holiday season.

The latest rendering of the new Gwinnett Public Library was depicted in the last issue of the Spirit magazine. This issue features a glimpse of The Grove greenspace area design. The landscape architect firm, Root Design, has been hard at work incorporating our wish list into a outside area for all to enjoy. See page 8 for a computer-generated rendering of the space.

City officials and Gwinnett library staff recently met to see

Work is also about to start on Phase I of our Greenway Trail system. This trail will create a greenway trail that will circle the Towne. This work will also include needed upgrades to our stormwater system for the area.

Despite all the challenges of this year, I am happy to report that Snellville’s long-time vision of a downtown is moving ahead at full speed. August 26 will mark the first anniversary of our signing a development agreement with MidCast, LLC and we have been off and running since then.

Public Works <<< TAX DOLLARS AT WORK - Stormwater Utility

Dollars at Work. The Dickerson Group has completed stormwater project PW200212. The project consisted of five locations.

1525 Winding Creek Circle, 1670 Winding Creek Circle, 1715 Winding Creek Circle, 1340 Summit Chase Drive, 3101 Brooks Drive.

The total bid price $263,534 for CIPP lining and pipe replacement. Actual cost when completed came in at $258,968.97.

6

Where Everybody’s Proud to be Somebody

Snellville Police Department K9 Hanes and Officer Moore round out K9 Unit <<< K9 HANES - K9 Hanes, is the

newest member of the Snellville Police Department K9 Unit.

He is a 1-year-old German Shepherd/ Belgian Malinois mix who comes to the unit after training about 300 hours at Shallow Creek Kennels in Sharpsville, Pa.

assisting the Gwinnett Metro Task Force if needed.

It wasn’t until he worked the night shift as a patrol officer with the Snellville Police Department that he was able to achieve his goal to work as a member of a K9 Unit.

“K9 has always interested me since a young age due to having family friends who were K9 officers,” Moore said. “When combating narcotics, you could possibly save someone’s life, preventing a possible overdose and that is reassuring knowing your K9 partner could do that. (K9 Hanes will be helpful in) tracking suspects who commit serious crimes to other people and to prevent them from hurting someone else or committing more crimes while hiding/evading police and looking for individuals who may have a disability, wandering away from home and bringing them back safely to their loved ones.”

K9 Hanes and Moore make up the third K9 team on active duty joining K9 Cezar and his handler Lt. Rain Nieddu and K9 Aron and his handler Officer Jacob Callaway.

There’s a new member of the Snellville Police Department – one with four legs and a tail.

K9 Hanes, a 1-year-old German Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix recently joined the city’s K9 Unit after training about 300 hours at Shallow Creek Kennels in Sharpsville, Pa. K9 Hanes is trained in tracking, narcotic detection, article searches, building searches and open area searches to locate people that were trying to hide or were lost, according to his handler, Officer Nick Moore.

“K9 Hanes is from Slovakia where he received training prior to coming to the United States,” Moore said. “When he arrived to Shallow Creek Kennels, the staff trained him for another seven weeks until we arrived to class where we further trained for six weeks. We will continue to train every week to maintain his skill set to better serve the citizens of Snellville and anyone else who would need our assistance!”

K9 Hanes is sure to be a hit with residents during community policing efforts.

“He has a lot of energy and very social with people,” Moore said.

“I feel in times like this, the canine is also a great way to help bridge the gap between the police and community by doing demonstrations or events, which I would enjoy doing as well.”

Moore, started his career with the Atlanta Police Department in 2014, covering the Southwest side of the city. There he was on the APD Crime Suppression Unit / Tactical Traffic Unit, focusing on high-crime areas, drug sales and serving warrants. Later, he worked with the Norcross Police Department as a patrol officer and the Special Response Team, serving local narcotic warrants and

“The Snellville Police Department welcomes this wonderful team to assist in providing service and protection to our community,” said SPD Chief Roy Whitehead said.

K9 Hanes came to the city because of funds raised by the Snellville Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, a group comprised of graduates from the more than 30 sessions of the city’s Citizens Police Academy.

“The CPA Alumni Association is a 501-C-3 corporation which, as part of its mission, conducts fundraisers to buy resources and equipment for the police department we could not obtain through the normal budgeting process,” Whitehead said. “A primary focus of its fundraising is to provide the K9s for the police department, all equipment used by the handler and the dog and provide insurance to help with any medical issues that might arise. As a result, there is no taxpayer money expended in the operation of the K-9 Unit.”

- Brian Arrington, Public Information Officer

<<< DYNAMIC DUO - K9 Hanes and Officer

Nick Moore make up the third K9 team on active duty joining K9 Cezar and his handler Lt. Rain Nieddu and K9 Aron and his handler Officer Jacob Callaway. The Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association funds the city’s K9 Unit and got a look at the new K9 last month during a meeting.

7

The Grove at Towne Center Plans are moving full speed ahead for The Grove

^^^ THE GROVE - A computer-generated rendition of a plan for The Grove at Towne Center.

For many years, Snellville leadership and the citizens and residents of Snellville have wondered when, and many times if, the city would really build a town center. Now plans are picking up speed with the first visible labor, the renovation beginning in June at 2440 Wisteria Drive, previously owned by SunTrust.

An exchange agreement with the United States Post Office and the signing of a joint development agreement last summer not so quietly signaled the behind the scenes work of Snellville leadership and staff.

Design was given the green light to continue detailed designs and development drawings.

Now, the leadership of Snellville has negotiated an earlier completion date of the renovation and relocation of the post office. The contractor has been able to expedite the renovation work and anticipates completion of the renovation in early November. This is good news as all parties involved want to see the post office moved before the rush of the Christmas season fills our porches and USPS delivery trucks with packages.

Get ready for 2021. The stage is being set this year to launch construction in early 2021.

A group of citizens and leaders, dubbed The Grove Design Review Team, was pulled together at the end of July and spent a couple of hours with Root Design reviewing and discussing the landscape architecture plan for The Grove at Towne Center. Mayor and Councilmembers reviewed the plans and recommendations of The Grove Design Review Team at a work session on Aug. 10. The plans were well received and Root 8

On Aug. 11, city leadership and staff met with architects from TSW to review material selections for the new Gwinnett Public Library that is to be built in The Grove. The overall design has been approved by Gwinnett County and city leadership. Gwinnett County and the city are looking to finish construction documents and put the library out for bid in December.

In July, Mayor and Council also approved a $1.1 million contract to the Dickerson Group for Phase 1 of the Greenway Trail which will create a walking and bicycle path around The Grove at Towne Center. City Manager Butch Sanders said about $400,000 of that money will go toward stormwater improvements in the Towne Center. Mayor Barbara Bender called it a “major milestone for the city.” Mayor and Council had a ribbon-cutting for the Greenway Aug. 24.

- Eric Van Otteren, Economic Development Director

Where Everybody’s Proud to be Somebody

SEPTEMBER 4

OCTOBER 2

• Big House BBQ • Gyro Chef Mediterranean • 6 Pack Subs Vietnamese Cuisine • Atlanta Seafood • UpTown Food Truck • Sweets Treats • Kona Ice

• Love at Wurst Sight • Grubbin Out • Atlanta Seafood • On the Roll Main Lobster • Frozen Sweets • Kona Ice

Snellville Food Truck Friday will be following all the COVID social distancing CDC advisories. At this time we will not have any tables and chairs set up on the Green. Visitors may use the brick knee wall to sit on, but are asked to please adhere to all social distancing rules. We encourage all who attend to wear face masks. DJ Lee will keep us entertained with music, but due to COVID, there will be no contact games played until further notice.

EVENT CANCELLATIONS THRU OCTOBER 2020 All events on the Snellville Towne Green will be CANCELLED through the end of October, due to COVID -19, except for the Snellville Farmers’ Market and Food Truck Friday events. For more information, please visit www.SnellvilleEvents.com.

FALL CANCELED EVENTS Star Spangled Labor Day Taste of Snellville Concert Series Fall Festival It is our priority in Snellville to continue to be part of the solution and not encourage large gatherings of people.

Please Do Your Part and Keep Snellville Safe!

Wear a Mask | Social Distance | Wash Your Hands!

Snellville Farmers’ Market Season is ending but extended market planned The 11th summer season of the Snellville Farmers Market will come to an end on Sept. 26. But farmers’ market customers will still be able to fuel their passion for “buying local” when the Extended Season Farmers Market starts on the first Saturday in October.

For the third consecutive year, the market’s Extended Season will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, on the first Saturday of each month, October 2020 through May 2021, in the City Hall parking lot.

<<< MARKET VENDORS - (Left) Ty

Cowart of TyCo B Farms prepares a bag of produce for a customer. (Below, left) Aldo Ramos of Sunshine Farm makes a sale. (Below, right) Richard Presley of Presley’s Farm and Garden weighs tomatoes for sale.

“The market is smaller than our summer market so we move to the City Hall parking lot, which also has the advantage of giving the grass on the Towne Green some recuperation time after being used throughout the summer for the market,” said Councilwoman Gretchen Schulz, who, along with a dedicated committee of volunteers, started the market in 2010.

Another addition this year will be a market for agricultural products only on the third Saturday of each month, also 9 a.m. to noon in the City Hall parking lot.

“This will give another opportunity for our farmers who sell fresh produce, meats, eggs and honey to offer their products to market customers,” Schulz said. “To avoid losing their products, they have a need to sell more than just once a month.”

The Extended Season markets will continue to operate with the COVID-19 safety precautions that have been in place throughout the summer. Vendors will wear masks and customers will be highly encouraged to wear masks and practice social distancing. Customers will also be asked not to touch the vendors’ products.

“We’ve been very pleased with our customers attention to these precautions throughout the summer,” Schulz said.

“We rarely see a customer without a mask and they leave plenty of space between customers when waiting in line at a vendor’s booth.”

The market emails a newsletter prior to each market, which includes a listing of all vendors expected to participate. To subscribe, send a request to snellvillefarmersmarket@gmail.com. The market also provides a listing of participating vendors prior to each market on its Facebook page.

- Gretchen Schulz, Councilwoman, Snellville Farmers’ Market Organizer 10

Where Everybody’s Proud to be Somebody

Digital Learning

Tips for parents during digital learning days As students try their hand at online learning in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, families are working toward making the transition from classroom to computer not just manageable but successful.

“After day two of Digital Learning at Brookwood, we have seen much success!” Brookwood High School Principal Bo Ford said, shortly after the school year began. “While there have been a few times where it was slow to log in initially, all students are able to participate and we are seeing excellence in teaching and learning with our teachers and students. We are blessed to be in a district that supports our students and staff and we look forward to the gradual return of students to the building while providing digital choice for families who wish to continue to learn virtually.”

Experts say, while online learning has been used for a decade for advanced high school and college students, little is known how younger students will be affected by learning solely on a computer. Students who struggle in in-person classes are likely to struggle online, so it is important parents familiarize themselves with their schools’ extra help resources. Even high-performing students may struggle online, so parents may want to monitor their progress early in the process.

It is universally acknowledged that parent involvement is key to a successful online experience for students. The more a parent engages with the child’s education online, the more successful they can be. However, this is also a given during traditional classroom learning.

Creating a structure is important. It may be best to create a schedule as is done during a traditional school day. Keep a set schedule, eat lunch at a regular time. Start and end the same time each day. Getting the kids out of their pajamas may also help keep them motivated and serious about the prospect of online learning.

Having a separate, designated place for schoolwork is beneficial. Students who did their school work in a designated room or place that was not used for their personal activities seemed not only to learn more, but also to enjoy the experience more than students who did their work on the couch.

It’s not hard to see that a students’ entire school day looks and functions differently at home than at school. Typically, between bus rides, lunch, breaks, changing times in the halls and waiting for extracurricular activities to start, students can spend up to 10 hours a day in school. Parents shouldn’t mandate their kids to spend that much time on school at home. Online students are likely to have much more at-home time to fill with activities, creative projects, and personal interests.

As we know, social interaction is an important aspect of

^^^ DISTANCE LEARNING - Students who are learning at home during the COVID-19 pandemic are best served having a structured schedule and a regular place to work.

schooling. It may be a good idea to have a time when you allow your child to have a Zoom call with a friend or call a grandparent for a few minutes to keep their spirits up. Don’t forget, students get physical activity at school, so set aside some time for them to venture outside, ride a bike or play in the backyard.

South Gwinnett High School Principal Dorothy Jarrett said her teachers are prepared for online learning and for when the students come back to the classroom.

“Our CEO Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks said it best, ‘This is not the beginning of the school year we had hoped for, however, it was a possibility we planned for,’” she said. “Over the last five months our teachers have been planning for digital learning so they were prepared to hit the ground running. Teachers are providing both live (synchronous) and recorded (asynchronous) lessons and independent work. Students are required to follow their schedules with their teachers and also complete activities and assignments on their own to meet assignment deadlines.”

Jarrett said the school has distributed 570 Chromebooks to support student with no access or limited access and the county has provided hotspots.

South Gwinnett is ready for the students to return.

“All social distancing measures are in place, one way halls have been designated, classrooms stocked with sanitizing supplies, and masks are required,” she said. “Our survey results indicates that approximately 1,400 of our 2,630 students will be returning to the building.”

- Brian Arrington, Public Information Officer 11

City News Unified Development Ordinance revamp process wrapping up A renovation to the city’s Unified Development Ordinance is coming to a close.

^^^ SYC COORDINATOR - Chanel Stephens, of Snellville, will serve as coordinator for the Snellville Youth Commission.

Navy veteran to lead Snellville Youth Commission A U.S. Navy veteran has been tapped to head up the Snellville Youth Commission. Chanel Stephens, of Snellville, will serve as coordinator for the commission which is charged with teaching students about civic engagement. She replaces former SYC Coordinator Chris O’Donoghue.

“I am interested in this position assisting high school students because I can remember being in high school and needing guidance,” Stephens said. “I remember everyone I was able to turn to in search of answers and I would like to be able to be that guidance for current students and return that favor. I understand the need for students in that age range to feel connected to those working with them in order to effectively reach them and encourage engagement.”

Created in 2016, SYC is the brainchild of South Gwinnett High School teacher and Councilwoman Cristy Lenski. SYC welcomes rising sophomores, juniors and seniors to apply to gain unique experiences that will expand their insight into the growing multigenerational and multicultural aspects of Snellville, city leadership and south Gwinnett County as a whole. The selected ambassadors from South Gwinnett, Shiloh and Brookwood high schools will increase their civic knowledge and develop their understanding by engaging in numerous civic activities.

“Chanel is an impressive, charismatic leader and role model,” Lenski said. “As a Navy veteran, she possesses the discipline, maturity and resourcefulness needed to take the Snellville Youth Commission to the next level.”

For more information on SYC visit www.snellville.org/ snellville-youth-commission.

12

The UDO is a consolidation of most City of Snellville ordinances and regulations related to the development and use of property into one user-friendly document. Rather than have separate ordinances affecting such things as land use, subdivision, flood and environmental protection, building standards; all of these have been consolidated into one document. City officials said the current rules that guide development in Snellville are confusing, unclear and sometimes conflicting. The UDO revision, which started in 2015, makes them very user-unfriendly for both the public and city officials.

City staff and their UDO consultants will consider all comments in preparing the official draft UDO that will be introduced for adoption later this year. During the adoption process, the public can continue to submit comments for consideration, however, once the UDO is adopted by the Mayor and City Council it can only be changed by that body. A website where residents can review the proposed code is now operational and can be found here: www.snellvilledevelopmentcode.org/diary-updates/arenovated-development-code.

The city Planning Commission is scheduled to have a public hearing on the UDO Sept. 22 and the Mayor and Council will have a public hearing Oct. 26. Adoption will take place after the public hearings are completed.s

^^^ 2020 CENSUS - Councilwoman Solange Destang has been working to make sure residents fill out the Census 2020. Destang was at the Snellville Farmers’ Market on July 4 to educate residents about the process. The Census count determines the city’s share of sales tax funds and police reimbursements with the county. To fill out the census visit 2020census.gov.

Where Everybody’s Proud to be Somebody

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13

COVID-19 Update Eastside Medical Center, GNR give Corona update The human race has faced an enemy like no other these last few months. One that has made time stand still for our nation and our world. Never in our lifetimes have we faced a crisis like this one. Homes have turned into offices, schools, sanctuaries.

Social distancing has become common language. We have been stretched to imagine a new way of life, a new normal. Through it all, Eastside Medical Center and our HCA Healthcare family have remained focused on one thing - the care and improvement of human life. It’s what we do. It’s who we are.

Just as we set up a COVID-19 hotline at the start of the crisis, we now offer an insurance hotline to assist community members and patients whose insurance coverage has been impacted by a lifechanging event, such as job loss or reduced income. This hotline is one way we’re committed to ensuring our community receives the care they need during this time. The goal of the hotline is to help our TRENT LIND patients get the information they need to confidently manage their health needs. The hotline is open to all and offers free, confidential and personalized guidance. If you need insurance coverage option assistance, call 833-867-8771 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m, Monday through Friday.

While the global spread of COVID-19 has made a significant impact on how hospitals and physicians deliver patient care, one thing that has never changed is Eastside’s commitment to the safety of every patient. We are taking action to ensure - now more than ever - that you are in safe hands. We have established enhanced protections throughout our sites of care to create a safe environment for everyone who walks through our doors.

When emergencies occur, such as heart attacks or strokes, seconds matter, and it is important not to delay medical care. Our physicians and colleagues are here to take care of all healthcare concerns, whether COVID-19 related or not.

Our Eastside colleagues have demonstrated an unwavering response to the COVID-19 pandemic and we are forever grateful for their commitment to caring for our patients and each other like family. I encourage you to join our healthcare workers in the fight against COVID-19 by continuing to wear a mask, keep your distance and wash your hands. Together, we can slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

At Eastside Medical Center, care is the foundation of our values and the core of our mission. We are here to ensure you receive the care you need today, for a healthier tomorrow.

- Trent Lind Chief Executive Officer Eastside Medical Center 14

The coronavirus that causes COVID-19 is unique, so unique that it has brought public health to the forefront of public awareness.

The virus has kept Dr. Audrey Arona, district health director and CEO of Gwinnett County Health Department, and her team very busy the past several months. For years, the Health Department has planned and prepared staff to respond to a possible pandemic, and those plans have been put into action in new ways during the COVID-19 response. For starters, the Health Department has become one of the go-to places for COVID-19 testing in the community. The team made modifications to their mass vaccination plans to support providing free testing for the county. Performing the test is just one part of the response, though. The health department contacts every positive COVID-19 individual, performs a thorough case investigation, notifies contacts to that case, manages outbreaks in long term care facilities and other congregate living facilities, and provides education DR. AUDREY and guidance for every segment of our ARONA community. Also, early in the response, the Health Department provided local hospitals ventilators and thousands of PPE items and the district office served as a hub for northeast metro Atlanta for the distribution of PPE from the Strategic National Stockpile.

The team has continued to provide education and prevention messages to slow and stop the spread of the virus. The virus that causes COVID-19 is highly contagious, and currently, there is no designated treatment nor a vaccine yet available to prevent the virus. However, community mitigation strategies do work to stop the spread of this virus, including social distancing, wearing facial coverings, hand and respiratory hygiene, staying home when sick and staying away from others who are sick.

“These behaviors will most certainly stop the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Arona. “Every COVID-19 infection and every COVID-19 death is preventable. Stopping the spread of this virus should be a priority of everyone, so please help us to amplify our prevention message and model these easy measures that will save lives.”

The health department, along with Mayor Barbara Bender and other city and county officials, has launched a prevention message campaign called “Join Team Gwinnett.” To learn more visit jointeamgwinnett.com.

Visit www.gnrhealth.com/covid-19-info to learn more about COVID-19.

- Gwinnett County Health Department

Where Everybody’s Proud to be Somebody

NEW BUSINESS

By Brian Arrington, Public Information Officer

Live

Exist

A five-story, 102-room Hampton will be built in the FO Inn R &GSuites O D. city following a unanimous vote by the Mayor and Council earlier this year.

FOR OT HERS.

The 64,400-square-foot building will be located in Park Place, a development located at the corner of Pharrs Road and Scenic Highway which recently saw the grand opening of Cracker Barrel, Freddie’s, Zaxby’s and Aspen Dental.

ONL INE I N P E R SON

S UNDAYS | 9AM + 1 1 : 1 5 AM Inn & Suites

by Hilton within the city. Finally, Hampton Inn & & SERVIC ES

There had been concerns the hotel would cause traffic issues at the busy intersection, but, according to the developers, daily trips would be reduced by nearly two thirds of what was previously approved for a 12,000-square-foot restaurant.

Suites, under the Hilton (Hotels) umbrella, has a reputation for being a high-quality brand and product that would be an asset to the city for many years to come.”

We have a seat saved for you! .

And just this month, paperwork was filed to bring an Outback Steakhouse to Park Place.

“There is a need in the city for a quality limited-service hotel in the Scenic Highway Commercial Corridor as there are very few options for travelers to utilize while staying in the area,” said Planning and Development Director Jason Thompson. “Eastside Medical Center, adjacent restaurants, retail businesses and neighboring residents could all benefit from having a nice Hampton

FBCSNELL ORG

■ Affordable nightly, weekly and monthly rates ■ Average suite features over 300 square feet of comfortable living area ■ Each room includes a separate living area, ample work space with desk, remote control cable tv with HBO or Showtime, iron and ironing board, and in-room hi-speed Internet access ■ Apartment size kitchen with refrigerator, two-burner stovetop, full size microwave, in-room coffee maker, in-room toaster, dishes, cookware & utensils, and a well-lit kitchen table/work area ■ Interior corridors with key card access for added security and always clean & friendly service

Crestwood Suites

■ Clean, well-lit property with beautiful grounds and plenty of free parking

■ Exclusivebehind in-lobby coffee bar across from of Snellville Located off Scenic Highway Target

Eastside Medical Center

I T

S

.com

1784 Presidential Circle 30078 n ■ Snellville, own Georgia uITeS

770-982-5250 770.982.5250 1785 Circle • Snellville, Georgia 30078 www.Presidential CrestwoodSuites .com

What’s Going On? Snellville Parks and Recreation • Snellville Senior Center

Briscoe Park is open daily 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

770-985-3535 Oak Road Park 1925 Oak Road (Passive neighborhood park) Park office is open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Masks and social distancing is mandatory to enter building until further notice. For more information on registration and classes, check out the Parks and Recreation Department on Snellville’s website at www.snellville.org/parks-recreation.

Please “like” our Facebook page for more information on our upcoming events and happenings: www.facebook.com/SnellvilleParks. **All Briscoe Park programs, activities, and events are dependent on how COVID-19 progresses. Please check the website for more information.**

Briscoe Park Pool is open with COVID-19 guidelines until Sept. 7. Back-to-school hours began on Aug. 17. Monday – Thursday closed, Friday 4 – 7 p.m. and Saturday/Sunday 12–7 p.m. For more detailed information on guidelines and hours visit www.snellville.org/parks-recreation or call 770985-3535.

If you are interested in tennis instruction, clinics, and/or tournaments conducted by certified tennis instructors at Briscoe Park visit www.aetennis.com or call 470-417-4547 for more information.

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Briscoe Park is partnering with the non-profit, Generals Athletic Club, to help offer a variety of sport programs and mentorship to the Snellville and Shiloh community. Conditioning/ training is going on now through October. Social distancing guidelines will be adhered to. Visit www.gac-sports.org for more information.

All-In FC Youth Soccer Club is registering for fall season soccer. For more information visit www.allinfcsnellville.com.

National Flag Football is registering for a fall season at Briscoe Park. Visit www.falconsflagfootball.com for more information.

Ladies of Pearl Kickball will start their fall season at the beginning of September. Visit www.lopkl.com for more information.

Outdoor tennis courts are available on a firstcome-first-served basis without lights daily from 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. Not all of the courts may be available at all times if tennis Instructor or USTA team are utilizing the courts.

Park Rentals Planning a picnic, family reunion, or a wedding?

Briscoe Park has indoor and outdoor rentals to accommodate your needs.

There are four outdoor, open-air pavilions (Lakeside, Sager, Williams, and Peters pavilions) available at the park. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, pavilion capacity has been modified. The larger indoor room is located inside the Briscoe Park Office. Come see our newly remodeled smaller indoor facility, Courtland Williams Pavilion and the newly remodeled restroom beside it. Due to COVID-19 restrictions room capacity has been modified.

Modified capacity, photos and other regulations can be found at snellville.org/rentals.

Facilities at the park can be rented with 14 days notice. For room/pavilion rentals call the park office at 770-985-3535 or visit the website at www.snellville.org/rentals For field rentals, email Meghan Meegan at mmeegan@snellville.org. For a list of rental properties, visit snellville.org/parks-recreation.

Snellville Senior Center Due to continued COVID restrictions the Snellville Senior Center remains closed. The Snellville Parks and Recreation Department is monitoring the state and federal websites and updates daily as we move thru the pandemic.

We are working closely with Gwinnett County to coordinate how best to serve our members of the center while we are closed and will continue to evaluate re-opening the center based on statistics gathered from state, federal and Gwinnett County experts. Snellville Parks and Recreation will also be offering some exercise classes at Briscoe Park (under very modified regulations) and organizing group walks (again under modified regulations) have started.

SPRD staff are still available to assist, please call 770-985-3580.

Are you over 60 and facing hunger, health or mobility issues? Do you know of someone who is? Gwinnett County is offering resources to help those in need. Emergency assistance for seniors is available. Call 678-377-4150 to speak with Senior Services staff. For more information call 678-377-4150 or visit GwinnettHumanServices.com.

Visit the Snellville Senior Center on Facebook at www.facebook.com/snellvilleseniorcenter or City website at: www.snellville.org or by calling 770-985-3580 for more information.

Where Everybody is Proud to be Somebody

visit gwinnettcitizen.com for local community news Have a story to share? Email sharing@gwinnettcitizen.com

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The Yellow River Game Ranch is back with a new name and a new focus.

It’s now the Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary and it’s all about benefitting animals and educating

yellowriverwidlifesanctuary.com New owners Katy and Jonathan Ordway have made it their mission to provide the animals at the sanctuary a clean and expansive environment where they can thrive and allow visitors to learn about them.

“Our vision is to provide unreleasable wildlife with life-long homes in an environment that successfully meets their physiological and psychological needs,” the Ordways say on the sanctuary’s website, yellowriverwidlifesanctuary.com. “Our mission is to provide education to our community on the importance of caring for wildlife and their natural habitats.”

In recent years, the game ranch was in disrepair until it closed its doors in 2018. Enter the Ordways who had their own memories as visitors to the facility. They bought the ranch and quickly started making improvements, the biggest of which was creating a two-acre bear enclosure complete with a pond, waterfall and night house.

The ranch re-opened as a sanctuary in late May and now has more than 150 animals representing 30 species including bison, lemurs, exotic birds and farm animals.

The Ordways and their staff work with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ensure the health and safety of the animals, providing them quality food and quality enclosures.

The hope is the sanctuary will become a haven for students and families.

“Our goal is to provide the animals with enrichment activities, high quality diets and well-maintained habitats,” the Ordways said. “We thank all of you for your support and generosity and hope to see you at YRWS soon!”

The Yellow River Wildlife Sanctuary is currently open for business. More information can be found at yellowriverwidlifesanctuary.com.

humans.

Come Visit Snellville’s New “Tasty” Businesses

Stop by and give us a try!

Morgan Bigley (Supervisor), Troyeisha Smith, Ian Samuels and Erin Cleetus (Cashiers).

Krispy Kreme opened to great fanfare recently at 1635 Scenic Highway. The home of “Hot and Fresh” is already a popular favorite locally.

Esther Quaye has been with the company for 15 years.

for yourself the infamous Krispy Kreme donuts, especially when the HOT sign is on. Stay tuned for an upcoming ribbon cutting at the Snellville Krispy Kreme location.

Stop by the new Krispy Kreme in Snellville and experience

Stop by and give us a try!

Owner, Jerrick Daniels

The Awkward Cup is a locally owned business at 2420 Wisteria Drive. The business will soon have food on site and has a unique interior and plenty games to enjoy with your fruit smoothie.

Pineapple/Banana, Strawberry/Cherry, Peach/Mango

The Awkward Cup located in Wisteria Village is offering a brand new experience to sorbet and smoothie lovers.

The sorbet is made with Fresh, All Natural Fruit.

No Dairy! No Syrup! No Ice, No Water, No Sugar! No Kidding!

Stop by and give us a try!

Ribbon cutting with Snellville city officials.

The newest area Dunkin’ Donuts is located at 3941 Highway 78, west of the city in Stone Mountain. City officials were on hand at the ribbon cutting to celebrate the recent grand opening.

Pick your favorite flavor!

That location is also owned by those who run the Centerville location and the Dunkin’ Donuts on Main Street in Snellville.

Snellville Senior Center Snellville’s Senior Center may be closed, but that’s not stopping the fun and exercise Though the Snellville Senior Center is still closed due to COVID-19, the Parks and Recreation Department is finding ways to keep its members healthy in mind, body and spirit.

Parks and Recreation has unveiled new senior programming which keeps seniors safe while they get a chance to interact with friends from the Senior Center and get fresh air and exercise.

An exercise class, led by Jane Moore and Staci Dye, takes place Monday and Thursday mornings, while a walking group meets Wednesday and Fridays. Both activities start at 8:30 a.m. at T.W. Briscoe Park in the parking lot behind the Park Office.

Social distancing guidelines are practiced.

“With the COVID pandemic, one of the hardest hit groups was our Senior Center members as far as interacting with others and being social,” said Parks and Recreation Director Lisa A Platt, CPRP. “Socializing is very important, since many of our members live alone, for them to have the social stimulation.

Our programs at the center - and part of the SPRD philosophy has always been based on mind, body, spirit. Our goal is to help our members keep all of those parts of their lives healthy. With the center being closed, with no known opening date at this time, the Parks and Recreation staff knew there had to be some program we could provide and still maintain the CDC/State guidelines.”

Members of the Snellville Senior Center walk near the fountain at Pate Lake at T.W. Briscoe Park as part of the Center’s walking program. Senior Program Supervisor Kathi Gargiulo said staff called the more than 400 members of the Senior Center to inform them about the programs. The response has been overwhelming, she said. “ “We’ve definitely seen an increase from those who weren’t involved in our exercise class before, now wanting to participate in these new outdoor classes,” Gargiulo said. “We’ve even had several people at the park that were just passing by, see our group in action and then asked to join in. Our center was where our community would come and meet new people and make friends. Everyone has missed coming and seeing their friends on a regular basis. So we are thrilled that this has turned out to be such a successful program. Our staff is continually told by our senior members just how very thankful they are to be getting out again.”

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^^^ SENIOR EXERCISE - The Senior Center workout class at T.W. Briscoe Park.

Providing “outside of the box” programming has also brought Senior Center members to Briscoe Park – a place many of them have never been before.

“We have had many make comments like, ‘This has been here for years and I never knew it was right around the corner.’ Many did not even know that the Center was part of the Snellville Parks and Recreation Department because the center is over by City Hall,” Platt said. “Now many of the members are being exposed to all the great facilities and opportunities that are offered through SPRD at Briscoe Park.”

The new venture has pleased Senior Center members and Parks and Recreation Department staffers alike.

“We are so very pleased to serve our center members and citizens and to continue to grow and expand the way we think and move forward in executing recreation programming to everyone as we move forward thru these unprecedented times of the pandemic,” Platt said. “We will continue to challenge ourselves to service our community and to stimulate everyone to have a healthy mind, body and spirit.

For more information on the programs and to learn more about the Snellville Senior Center, call 770-985-3580.

- Brian Arrington, Public Information Officer

Where Everybody’s Proud to be Somebody

All Full Facility Golf Memberships pay $150 per month and Tennis, Swim & Social Memberships pay $75 per month for first twelve months.

Social Dining Membership $300 per year.

Summit Chase offers exciting junior lesson programs in golf, tennis and swimming.

Our junior programs are open to members and non-members.

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THE SCARECROWS ARE COMING TO SNELLVILLE! 8th Annual VIRTUAL Scarecrow Contest Calling all business owners, schools, churches, and residents to join in the fun!

Great advertising for businesses, too! Entrance fee is only $20.

How will this work? You create a scarecrow and put it on display outside your business, school, church, home or club. We’ll make sure that there is a map online of all locations where Scarecrows are on display for voting. Patrons will be encouraged to visit your location and vote on who has the BEST SCARECROW in Snellville. Contest is available to everyone in Snellville!

On-Line voting will begin October, 2nd thru October, 23rd – ending at 10 p.m. All winners will be notified on Saturday, October 24th at 4 pm. The Mayor of Snellville and the STAT Team will personally visit each winner at their location and take a LIVE Facebook Video of the winning Scarecrow. In addition, the winning scarecrows (1st, 2nd & 3rd place) will be presented a trophy and cash prizes (1st - $100, 2nd - $75, and 3rd - $50) and also receive recognition in the winter Snellville Spirit magazine, STAT (Snellville Tourism and Trade) website and Facebook page.

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LET’S ALL HAVE SOME FALL FUN IN SNELLVILLE! WHO CAN MAKE THE BEST SCARECROW in our community? The winning scarecrows (1st, 2nd & 3rd place) will be judged on creativity, originality and overall presentation.

All proceeds from the silent auction will benefit the Gwinnett Southeast Food Co-op. Your money will go to a special, worthy cause!

We will auction off the scarecrows on Facebook of those who want to participate on Sunday, October 25th.

Any questions can be emailed to Kelly McAloon at kelmca@comcast.net or call 770.310.0429.

Detach and return form below with $20 check payable to: Snellville Tourism & Trade (STAT)

#

To ensure that your scarecrow is on the map, the deadline to receive the registration form is on September 18, 2020.

Name of Business: _____________________________________________________________________________ Contact: ____________________________________ Scarecrow Name: __________________________________ Telephone: ___________________________________ Email: __________________________________________ Mailing address: Snellville Tourism & Trade (STAT), PO Box 669, Snellville, Georgia 30078 For more information, rules and tips — www.SnellvilleEvents.com

VIRTUAL FALL FUN IN SNELLVILLE!

PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST

Show us who has the best pumpkin carving skills and creativity to win the Great Pumpkin Carving Contest in Snellville! (Open to anyone who lives or has a business in Snellville) Deadline for entry is Wednesday, October 21st. Contest will start on Friday, October 23rd at 10 a.m.

Email a picture of yourself next to your carved pumpkin to Kelly McAloon at kelmca@comcast.net and put “Pumpkin Carving Contest” in the subject line.

“LIKE” us (Snellville Tourism and Trade) on Facebook and “follow” us on Instagram All entries will be displayed on our Facebook page under “Snellville’s Great Pumpkin Carving Contest” 1 LIKE, 1 VOTE (sharing the photo to another page will NOT count as a vote) The photo with the most LIKES by Friday October, 30th at 5 p.m. will WIN! Prizes will be awarded on Oct. 30th in person at 6:30 p.m. and a LIVE FACEBOOK Video will be taken of all the winners.

Prizes:

1st Place - $100.00

2nd Place - $75.00

CITY OF SNELLVILLE, BEST FALL PHOTO CONTEST!

3rd Place - $50.00

Who can capture the Ultimate “Fall” photo within the City of Snellville?

Photo must be taken in the City of Snellville Email all photos to Kelly McAloon at kelmca@comcast.net and put “Fall Photo Contest” in the subject line.

• Deadline for submission is November 6th • On-line voting will begin on November 8th at 10 a.m. and run through November 20th at 7 p.m.

All entries will be displayed on the Snellville Tourism and Trade Facebook page under the name “City of Snellville - Best Fall Photo Contest” Winner will be announced on November 21st

Prizes:

1st Place - $75.00 2nd Place - $50.00 3rd Place - $25.00

Community Garden @ Snellville

Water feature debuts at Community Garden Memorial donations have led to a new water feature in the Community Garden @ Snellville.

Donations in memory of Carol Witts, wife of former Mayor Tom Witts, and their son, Rick McGranahan, were used by the Community Garden Committee to pay for the materials needed to construct the water feature, which is located at one corner of the garden’s pavilion.

“The sound of water trickling over the rocks brings a wonderful feeling of serenity to the garden,” said Councilwoman Gretchen Schulz, who along with her husband, Kurt, have led the Community Garden Committee since its inception in 2011.

Several gardeners contributed to the design and construction of the water feature: Brian Hughes, a Snellville resident who is a retired hydrologist and brought pond-construction experience to the group; Wes Nettleton, a Grayson resident who serves as the lead master gardener at the garden; Martha Whitman, a Snellville master gardener; and Kurt Schulz, a retired architect/contractor who lives in Snellville.

The group still plans to add landscaping to the area around the pond when cooler temperatures are more conducive to plant growth.

A dedication ceremony is planned for 11 a.m. Sept. 6 at the garden.

The garden is located in Briscoe Park at the intersection of Marigold Road and Sawyer Parkway, across the street from the Snellville Recycling Center.

For more information on the Community Garden @ Snellville visit www.SnellvilleCommunityGarden.com.

- Gretchen Schulz, Councilwoman, Community Garden @ Snellville Organizer 24 24

^^^ GARDEN WATER FEATURE - From left are Wes Nettleton, Brian Hughes and Kurt Schulz, the crew who put the fountain together.

“The sound of water trickling over the rocks brings a wonderful feeling of serenity to the garden.”

Where Everybody’s Proud to be Somebody

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Many thanks to Team Snellville Volunteers, Snellville Police Department and Public Works!

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Fall Recipes

Pumpkin Soup Instructions Season beef (meat of choice) Fill a pot/pan with 1/4 water and add beef. Cover on a low heat until beef is tender, Add more water to the beef pot. until it reaches halfway.

Add diced pumpkin to the mixture.

Then add powdered /blended seasoning for taste. Allow to simmer Add carrots, onion, garlic, peppers, parsley, chives and celery sticks.

Add a dash of black pepper.

After 15 minutes on low heat add dumpling (flour and water with a little salt. Knead until texture is up to your liking. Then cut into little cubes and add into pot).

Cook for 5 minutes then add potatoes.

Taste as you go along for any additional taste e.g. salt /seasoning Add water if needed.

- Solange Destang, Snellville Councilwoman

Black Bean and Sweet Potato Enchiladas Ingredients 2 Tbsp. olive oil, plus more for brushing tortillas 1 onion, chopped 1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped (about 2 1/2 cups ) 1/4 cup water 1 can black beans, drained 1 can (4oz.) green chiles 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 jalapeno, minced 1 tsp. ground cumin 1 tsp. salt 6 light corn tortillas 6 flour tortillas 2 cups red enchilada sauce (canned or homemade), divided 2 cups shredded monterey jack cheese Instructions Preheat oven to 400 F. In large pot, heat oil over medium-high. Add onion, and cook until just softened, about 5 minutes. Add sweet potato and water; cover. Cook until sweet potato is tender, 10-15 minutes. Continue cooking, uncovered, until water has evaporated, 1 minute. Off heat, stir in beans, corn, chiles, cilantro, garlic, jalapeno, cumin and salt.

Brush both sides of tortillas lightly with oil. Arrange on baking sheet and bake until warm and pliable, about 2 minutes. Pour 1/4 of the enchilada sauce in bottom of 9x13 baking dish.

Spoon about 1/4 cup sweet potato mixture into each warm tortilla.

Roll up; place seam-side down in baking dish. Top with remaining enchilada sauce and cheese. Cover with foil; bake until enchiladas are hot and bubbling, about 20 minutes. Enjoy!

- Barbara Cabek-Rosselle Owner, Snellville Mellow Mushroom

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*********ECRWSSEDDM****

POSTAL CUSTOMER

Snellville Tourism & Trade P.O. Box 669 Snellville, GA 30078

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Snellville, Where Everybody is Proud to be Somebody.