DeWayne Davis's Blog

Suwanee, Georgia Is Happening - Check It Out!

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:51:32 -0500

Once again, Money Magazine recognized Suwanee, Georgia as one of the best places to live in America. The city was selected as number 35 in 2009 from over 2400 small towns (populations of 8,500 - 50,000). The city's commitment to historical preservation, community involvement, planned development and greenspace keep this thriving city among the best places to live in America and a premier destination for businesses and residents moving into metro Atlanta.

Highlights of Some Upcoming Events

Community Garden Plan Approved - City Council approved the master plan for Suwanee's community garden on July 28. Team Agro-Engineers created the plan with help and input from City staff members and citizens on the Founders Committee. The first 50 garden plots of the project's phase one should be available in time for planting in spring 2010.

Free community concerts - There will be two big concerts in the Suwanee Town Center Park amphitheater during the month of August.

Magic 107.5/97.5 Suwanee Summer Concert Series presents Sol Factor along with Naturally 7 and PJ Morton on Friday (August 7th) starting at 6:30 PM.

August 15th - Suwanee will host Los Angeles-based, Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling recording artists, Tonic at the Town Center Park amphitheater. Come out to hear their new music along with their 1998 hit “If You Could Only See,” from the band’s debut album Lemon Parade.

Originally posted at SuwaneeDwellings.com

Atlanta One of Top Cities to Buy a Home

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 11:07:53 -0500

Forbes Magazine and the Atlanta Business Chronicle recent articles listed the Atlanta metro area as #13 of the top 25 US cities to buy a home in today's economy. The research and articles confirm that Atlanta's growth, opportunities and available housing provide buyers with great investment options.

The research focused on the average price per square foot, frequency of real-estate transactions and distribution of sales-activity throughout numerous large metropolitan cities. Some relative stability or improving stability in the housing market combined with the lower home prices has been attracting more buyers in many areas including Atlanta. Multiple offers are becoming common places for some of the distressed homes (short-sales and foreclosures) on the market and this is helping to reduce inventory.

If you have money to invest or the ability to obtain financing, then real estate is readily available as an excellent investment for the future. The wide variety of incentive programs for tax credit and buyer assistance make this market even more attractive and the metro-Atlanta area has proven to be a good location.

Originally posted at SuwaneeDwellings.com

Gwinnett Graduates Awarded Scholarship

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:39:40 -0500

High school graduates throughout Gwinnett county continue to excel academically and are recognized on a national level for their excellent achievements. Recipients for the 2009 National Merit Scholarships and the Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarships include several graduates from local Gwinnett county high schools.

Out of over 2800 students selected for the National Merit Scholarship, 14 graduates representing six different high schools within the Gwinnett County Public School system were chosen. The list of National Merit Scholars included two graduates from North Gwinnett and one from Collins Hill here in Suwanee. The other high schools represented were Brookwood, Parkview, Norcross and Duluth high schools.

The Robert C. Boyd Honors Scholars included 12 Gwinnett County Public School graduates representing 12 different high schools, including Suwanee's North Gwinnett, Collins Hill and Peachtree Ridge.

Congratulations to all the scholarship recipients and to the outstanding work of the high schools here in Gwinnett county.

For a complete list of the student names and more information, check out Heather Darenberg's article in the Sunday (6/28) Gwinnett Daily Post.

Originally posted at SuwaneeDwellings.com

July 4th Celebrations in Gwinnett

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:25:47 -0500

Although the current economy and budget shortages within Gwinnett county caused the county to cancel the traditional Gwinnett Glows celebration for this year's 4th of July, there are still several places throughout the county to enjoy the music, fun and fireworks on Friday and Saturday evening.

Check out all the scheduled in events in today's Gwinnett Daily Post.

Celebration Locations - Gwinnett Daily Post (7/1/09)

Originally posted at GwinnettDwellings.com

Future Meets Past at Pierce's Corner - Suwanee, GA

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:28:57 -0500

What do you see as the future of Pierce's Corner? Pierce's Corner, dating back to 1910, is a beacon shining back on Suwanee's past and on the quaint beauty of the Old Town Main Street revitalization. A big part of Suwanee's appeal and charm is the combination of a thriving, growing, progressive community along with the preservation of its interestingly diverse history. This combination will be most vividly displayed as the Old Town Main Street area and Pierce's Corner continue to be developed into a modern mixed-use district using the historic buildings and surroundings as the foundation. The property known as Pierce's Corner with its large 1910-vintage brick building stands out as a major part this area's future.

This article is intended to peak your curiosity and get comments about more specific ideas from you as citizens, residents and visitors to Suwanee for the future use of the property bordered by Main St, Scales Rd and Jackson St including the historic Pierce's Corner building. Even with our recent economic struggles, renovation and revitalization projects have been taking place all over Gwinnett county as residents look to preserve the past with tasteful modern businesses for entertainment, relaxation, shopping and services. Give your comments and let your friends and neighbors know what businesses you would frequent at Pierce's Corner in Old Town Suwanee. If you haven't seen the Old Town area in a while, then cruise on down Main Street and check it out.

The Old Town Main Street area is one of the key components in the recently completed Downtown Master Plan and which included, as always in Suwanee, a great deal of input from the residents of our community. The previous Old Town Master plan in 2002 included resident input and suggestions for the future of the Old Town Main Street. The citizen inputs for the Old Town district plan generally called for a mixture of retail, residential and commercial offices in a pedestrian-friendly environment while maintaining the historic environment. Many of these ideas have already been implemented with the restoration and renovation of several Main Street properties for businesses which include Revival Hair Salon, Main Street Photography, Allstate Insurance and other office and retail businesses.

Originally posted at SuwaneeDwellings.com

When Bubbles Burst, You Get Stuff On Ya!!

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 14:23:33 -0600

When we were kids, we loved to buy or mix up a bottle of soapy water and blow bubble. After a while, you learn some of the many factors involved in getting the biggest possible bubble to last as long as possible. You have to have just the right mixture of soap and water. There needs to be just enough breeze to keep the bubble aloft, but not so much that the bubbles break before taking flight. And finally, you have learn to blow just the right amount of air at just the right speed for just the right length of time so that you make that perfect bubble. This process can take a long time, maybe a whole afternoon and maybe even require a whole new batch of soapy solution.

One thing that always held true is that whenever the bubbles burst they would spray "stuff" on anyone nearby. The bigger the bubble--the more stuff that gets sprayed when they burst. The closer you were to the bubble when it burst, the more "stuff" gets on you. Many times, it was your little brother or sister or a neighbor who caused the bubble to burst, but you still got "stuff" on you if you were nearby.

Well, we blew the housing "bubble" up way beyond its capacity for the conditions. We over mixed the solution with higher and higher home prices that seemed to hold well enough at time, but that's probably because we were blocking most of the financing "breeze" with extra risky loans that eventually broke free. The whole housing "bubble" game got to be so much fun that more and more people joined in, and mixed more of that solution of bigger, more expensive houses and more neighborhoods. Unfortunately, most people weren't taking the time necessary to really examine all the critical factors needed for safely blowing up the biggest possible bubble that would stay aloft for a long time.

The bubble burst, and it was a huge bubble, so we are all trying to wash the "stuff" off of us and sometimes off our neighbors. The clean up may take a while, but just like those backyard bubble sessions, everyone needs to do most of their own clean up work.

11-acre Property w/ 5BR/4BA Home (6 acres pasture) in Jefferson, GA

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:33:10 -0600

I've had this listing since March and I'm open to any advice, suggestions or recommendations as to better improved ways to market the property and attract potential buyers. The sellers actually had the property listed for almost two years (with two separate agents) prior to giveing me the listing. The previous agents had the property listed well above the true market value ($895K initially and then $695 with the second agent). We had the property appraised in March before listing and got a value of $600K, so we've listed at $595K.

The sellers are offering the property for sale or lease ($2600/mo lease). There has been fairly steady activity viewing the property online and sporatic calls about both the sale and lease options, but no truly serious candidates.

This is a very unique property with a very large house (over 7000 sf) including a theater/studio that seats 30-40 people along with a large open banquet/party/meeting room. The interior of the home has a rustic, country style with large open rooms with lots of marble (counters and floors) and exposed wood in the floors, walls and ceilings. The interior is finished and decorated well, but the exterior needs some work in some areas. The land has approximately 6 acres in fenced, grass pasture but has no barn or stalls and needs some fence repair work.

I've had some response to ads at StableMates.com as well as Craigslist, HorseBoarding.com and direct email to various horse clubs, associations and other organizations.

Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. A buyer would really be appreciated.

See the property at www.exceptionaldwellings.com or Realtor.com Link.

11-acre Property w/ 5BR/4BA Rustic Country Home in Jefferson, GA

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:18:28 -0600

I've had some response to ads at StableMates.com as well as Craigslist, HorseBoarding.com and direct email to various horse clubs, associations and other organizations.

Any thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. A buyer would really be appreciated.

See the property at www.exceptionaldwellings.com or Realtor.com Link.

You Might Be A First-time Homebuyer....Yeah, Even You!!

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:52:09 -0600

Are you a first-time homebuyer? Don't be too quick to answer that question, because you might be very surprised to find out that you actually are a first-time homebuyer. The correct answer to this question could actually qualify you for up to $7,500 (interest-free loan) from Uncle Sam.

Before I go any further, let me clearly disclose that I am not an expert tax or financial adviser so after reading this short post you may need to consult a professional tax adviser before proceeding.

Now, are you really a first-time homebuyer? Well according the federal government and the Internal Revenue Service, you qualify as a first-time homebuyer if you meet the following definition:

This means that first-time homebuyers and those who have not owned a home in the three years prior to a purchase can qualify for the credit. IRS Website FAQ Link

So, if you (and/or your spouse) have not owned a home during the last three years, then you qualify as a first-time homebuyer and are eligible for the new Tax Credit of up to $7500 if you purchase a home before July 1, 2009. This definition may include many different families who under various circumstances have NOT purchased or owned a home during the past three years. The family may have relocated and have been renting a home for the past three years while deciding where, when and how to purchase a new home. Individuals or families may have gone through some life change circumstances which have prevented them from purchasing or owning a home during the last three years, such as divorce, financial or medical struggles, unstable employment, etc. For these individuals, as well as individuals who have never purchased a home, the new Tax Credit program can offer an additional financial benefit to purchasing a home along with today's lower-priced homes and lower mortgage interest rates. Please note that in my opening paragraph I referred to the Tax Credit as an "interest-free loan," because this is money that does have to be paid back to the federal government over the next fifteen years without any interest. (i.e. - $500/year for 15 years = $7500)

Don't let the words "first-time" cause you to ignore a potentially great opportunity!

Original post on GwinnettDwellings.com

Town Center Park and Old Historic Suwanee Connected Soon!!

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 12:25:03 -0600

Construction began early this week on the new pedestrian crosswalk connecting Town Center Park and the Old Historic Suwanee area. This crossing over the busy Buford Highway just south of the Suwanee Dam Road intersection will be equipped with a new state-of-the-art pedestrian HAWK crossing signal (High-intensity Activated Crosswalk).

Pedestrian HAWK Signal System

This system allows for safe pedestrian crossing only when needed without restricting or interrupting normal traffic flow when pedestrians are not present. Solid black traffic signals are mounted horizontally over the street, but the high-intensity lights are not powered on unless activated by the pedestrian switch. Once activated the lights flash YELLOW then solid RED to stop traffic while the pedestrian crosses, then the lights go black again. The HAWK system’s initial installation in Tucson, Arizona has been highly successfully. Suwanee’s installation will be the first in the state of Georgia and should prove to be a tremendous compliment to the, soon-to-be-finished, tunnel beneath the railroad tracks which provides a direct pedestrian connection between Old Historic Suwanee and Town Center Park.

Let’s take a walk to the other side of the tracks!

Residents will now be able to travel by foot directly between Town Center Park and the attractions of Old Downtown such as the library, Playtown Suwanee and historic main street shops. Walkability is one of the increasingly important factors in attractive, sustainable development, and Suwanee is striving to address this important future need for all residents while maintaining its historic nature.

Original post at SuwaneeDwellings.com on 1/16/09

Open House in Lawrenceville, GA (4BR/2.5BA + Bonus)

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:30:40 -0600

Open House - Sunday (1/11/09) 2:00 - 5:00

328 Sunnyside Ct, Lawrenceville, GA

(Off Hwy 29 just N of Ronald Regan Pkwy)

Bring your buyers or see for potential buyers. Enjoy some refreshments and check out this REDUCED PRICE listing in Lawrenceville's Brookside Plantation subdivision.

Great 4BR/2.5BA with the master-on-main, cul-de-sac location with completely updated kitchen and master bathroom for the greatly reduced list price of $150,000.00. FMLS #3780259

Online Flyer with photos, video and greater description.

Whatever Happened to the Age-old Saying - "Location, Location, Location"?

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:23:59 -0500

Everyone knows that the most important factor in real estate is "Location, Location, Location." Even the most novice person on the streets has heard this well-known saying for years and years. As simple as it sounds, the reason this saying is so widely known and applied when discussing real estate is because the statement is TRUE and always has been.

Well, it has always been applicable until 2008, when suddenly it appears that all real estate can be discussed on a nationwide basis and lumped together as a single unified commodity. The truth is, and I understand that I'm preaching to the choir for the most part, there is no national housing market. The "national housing market" being discussed and lamented for the past several months is actually made up of thousands of very "real" individual neighborhood markets in your communities and mine, where the true market values should be and normally are determined by, you guessed it......Location, Location, Location.

Now, I am not ignorant enough to think that our economy does not have serious problems or that the real estate industry is not suffering from mistakes made during the boom years of easy loans and soaring demand. I know that the high number of foreclosures, short-sales and bank-owned properties have a tremendous impact on neighborhood markets, and has drawn attention at a national level. However, I do believe that the overwhelming fear and lack of confidence has been increased by misrepresenting the problem with a constant barrage of news on declining "national housing" prices. The truth is most of us will suffer to some degree during these challanging times and many will suffer more than others, but it also true that some bold individuals will flourish because they make wise choices and take courageous risks based on the actual conditions in their specific location, not based on national averages.

Part of our role as real estate professionals is to help communicate to the public and educate the public that real estate is local, has always been local and will always be local. The news about the market in another part of the country does not universally apply in our communities. It is our role to find out what the market is doing in our specific community. This may require us to focus even more intensely on even smaller segments of our communities....even down to neighborhood levels.

We need to be able to accurately advise our clients, buyers and sellers, on their realistic options. In today's market, those options may not always be in our immediate best interest, as agents, for all neighborhoods, but in the long term we will all benefit from a market that operates on the best local information and facts. The challenges and opportunities are all unique to the location.

We still buy and sell real estate based on Location, Location, Location. In fact, one of the first questions agents ask of their buyers is, "Where are you interested in living?"

Eat Out at 30 Restaurants with 6,000 Friends - Taste of Suwanee

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:07:27 -0500

On Saturday, October 18th, residents of Suwanee and all surrounding areas will have the opportunity to sample fantastic food from over 30 different restaurants at the 2nd Annual Taste of Suwanee. The festival is expected to attract over 6,000 hungry, fun-loving people to Town Center Park to enjoy an afternoon sampling appetizers, entrees and desserts from the menus of some of their favorite areas restaurants, as well as many other restaurants yet to be discovered. The food theme continues with culinary demonstrations by the Kroger Cooking School's infamous Chef John.

For the sports fans, music fans and youngsters interested in taking a break from eating, there will be plenty of other entertaining distractions. Dish Networks will have a tent fully-equipped to air college football games for the football fanatics attending the event. The Kids Zone will be filled with new, improved inflatable activity centers to entertain children of all ages with fun games and lots of bouncing. The amphitheater stage will host live music and performances throughout the afternoon to suit a variety of "tastes." As festival-goers move from one restaurant to another throughout the park, they will be able to visit with various business "Community Partners" and purchase arts and crafts from local in the Artist Market area.

Event benefits the North Gwinnett High School Tip-Off Club.

Admission is Free! Tickets to sample food and enjoy the activities in the Kid Zone are 50 cents each. Each food sample or activity cost 1-6 tickets.

The best options for Free Parking are located offsite at the Suwanee Public Library and Shadowbrook Baptist Church with free shuttles (11:30-5:30) running from the park to the church and library.

Original post at SuwaneeDwellings.com

Gwinnett County Transit Commuters Will Get More Seats

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:55:05 -0500

The rising gas prices and wavering economy has caused most people to adjust many of their normal everyday routines. One of the daily routines is commuting to work, and many people in Gwinnett County have given up their personal vehicle commute for public transportation. According to data from the Gwinnett County Transit (GCT) director, Phil Boyd, the monthly ridership rose 26.4% between March and July of this year for the express transit routes between Gwinnett and downtown Atlanta (74,883 riders in July versus 59,249 in March).

Over the next 9 months, the seven-year old GCT system will retire 35 of the old compressed natural gas fueled buses to be replaced by an equal number of larger clean diesel fuel buses with 69% greater seating capacity. These new buses will expand the county's express route seating capacity from park-n-ride locations in Buford, Norcross and the Discover Mills mall transporting commuters to various locations in downtown Atlanta, in addition to three other express routes GCT runs for the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) from Discover Mills mall and park-n-ride locations in Snellville. More local commuters are learning to enjoy the comfort of the buses along with the more consistent, reliable commute times provided by using the I-85 HOV lanes to beat the unpredictable, yet consistently heavy, Atlanta traffic each day.

Original post at GwinnettDwellings.com

New Sims Lake Park Now Open in Suwanee, Georgia

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:18:04 -0500

Once again, the City of Suwanee has demonstrated its commitment to preserving beautiful greenspace within the community and providing outdoor, natural amenities to enhance the lifestyle of the residents in surrounding neighborhoods. The new Sims Lake Park at the intersection of Suwanee Dam Road and Tench Road is a perfect example of this commitment, with 62 gorgeous acres including a large stream-feed lake with a stone step access area to the water's edge, playground area for children, grassy meadows with picnic tables, a picnic pavilion, restrooms and 1.2 miles of paved trails circling the lake through the wooded rolling hills. The gates to the park opened this weekend for the first guest while an official "grand opening" will be hosted by the City of Suwanee on Saturday, November 8th from 2:00 to 5:00.

The residents of Settles Bridge and Barrington subdivisions have the added benefit of being right next door to this beautiful park with sidewalk access from their neighborhood entrance areas. All of the residential neighborhoods along Suwanee Dam Road northwest of Peachtree Industrial will benefit from their close proximity to this new park and many neighborhoods are within easy walking or bicycling distance. Residents can enjoy the opportunity to picnic in the park or just watch their children play in the playground and along the trails. This is just one more reason to consider Suwanee when looking for a great place to "play hard, live well and smile more."

Sims Lake Park in Suwanee, GA Community Video - Suwanee, GA 30024

Photos - Sunday (10/5/08)

Original post at SuwaneeDwellings.com

Gwinnett's Solid Waste Services Changes Will Not Effect Suwanee

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:50:19 -0500

In 2009, Gwinnett County will begin its district-based contract system for sanitation services managed and operated through the office of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful on behalf of the county. For now, these changes will not effect the residents within the City of Suwanee. Suwanee residents will continue to select their own sanitation services providers, while city officials observe the new Gwinnett county solid waste management system and continue to evaluate a variety of possible options for future services.

The City of Suwanee shares many of the same goals as Gwinnett county in upgrading the solid waste management systems within our community. These goals include expanding recycling opportunities, saving energy, improving collection efficiencies, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, environmental enhancements and improving resident quality of life. As city officials analyze Suwanee's needs in 2009, opportunites will be provided for citizen input and feedback throughout the process.

Original post at SuwaneeDwellings.com

Suwanee's Pedestrian Underpass Beneath the Railroad Tracks is Underway

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:39:08 -0500

Work on one of Suwanee's long-term projects has been taking place behind the scenes and out of sight for a long time, but now the construction is visible, and audible, to the public. This project is the "Connection" pedestrian underpass beneath the railroad tracks behind the Suwanee police and fire stations. The underpass will provide a safe passage connection between the old historic Main St of Suwanee (Old Town) including the library and the Town Center Park area where the new Suwanee City Hall is nearing completion. In addition to the underpass, the project will include a new crosswalk at the intersection of Buford Hwy and Town Center Ave in front of the current city hall and police station.

Steve Williams, a representative from the railroad helping to oversee the underpass construction, explained that they are currently driving pylons deep into the embankment on the Town Center side of the tracks and installing a wooden retaining wall to support the railroad embankment to avoid disturbing the tracks during the actual digging. Because of the limited embankment depth and close proximity of the tracks, the digging cannot be done with typical heavy equipment mechanical boring, but will actually be completed using hand-held equipment. As the soil is dug out from under the tracks, steel support walls will be progressively bolted together in sections and installed in an arch beneath the tracks. The fabrication of the steel support walls is one of the many components of the project which has been taking place off site and behind the scenes for some time.

The City of Suwanee, Georgia's ability to obtain a $1 million dollar grant and, more importantly, obtain approval from the railroad to construct this pedestrian underpass is more evidence of the tremendous foresight and tenacity of the government and business leaders in this community. This project demonstrates Suwanee's total committment to providing sustainable economic growth while retaining and revitalizing the existing historic and natural beauty of the our hometown community.

Original post at SuwaneeDwellings.com

Gwinnett County Leaders Visit the Research Triangle in North Carolina

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:33:43 -0500

A large group of Gwinnett government officials, business, civic and chamber leaders are in Raliegh/Durham, North Carolina today to meet with their counterparts from the Research Triangle area. The purpose of the trip is to discuss the successful ideas and development activities used to expand that region's economic growth in areas of business, education, transportation and revitalization. The team of 56 Gwinnett leaders will tour various facilities and meet with leaders from the Wake County area in North Carolina in hopes of bringing back helpful information to support Gwinnett's pursuit to become a major part the "Innovation Crescent" between Atlanta and Athens.

Similar trips were completed in 2006 to Fairfax County, VA and in 2007 to the Dallas suburb area of Collin County, TX. The Research Triangle region of North Carolina was selected because Wake County, NC has many socio-economic similarities to Gwinnett as well as a successful track record in achieving some of the same goals being pursued here in Gwinnett county. These Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce Strategic Leadership Visits are intended foster a spirit of cooperation and provide local business and civic leaders with inspiration for local projects which promote growth and innovation. The trips to Virginia and Texas are credited with helping to launch the Partnership Gwinnett economic-development movement driven by the chamber as well as the push to bring minor league baseball into the county.

The primary benefit to businesses and the citizens of Gwinnett county is a greatly expanded view of the possibilities and probable stumbling blocks to be avoided as we move toward intelligent, controlled growth throughout the county.

For more information on this trip see the article by Cammie Young in today's Gwinnett Daily Post or visit the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce website.

Original post at GwinnettDwellings.com

Suwanee, GA - Town Center Parks' Last Jazz Concert of 2008

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:02:11 -0500

Friday night (October 3rd) marks the last of the 2008 jazz concerts at Town Center Park. The theme for the concert night is "All That Jazz" and 107.5 WJZZ will feature some of Atlanta’s coolest jazz performers beginning at 7:00 PM on the amphitheater stage. This Smooth Jazz concert will include performances by Brian Clay, Melvin Miller, and Jeff Sparks.

Keyboardist Brian Clay is a WJZZ on-air personality, who also performs throughout the Atlanta area with a blend of smooth jazz grooves and urban rhythms. Melvin Miller is a creative trumpet player and prolific performer, who was a featured artist at Town Center Park earlier this summer. His latest CD release titled Here's to Life is receiving rave reviews from the jazz community. In addition, he is a member of the contemporary R&B/Jazz ensemble group, 5 Men on a Stool, where they blend a combination of various genres ranging from classic soul and jazz to hip-hop. Jeff Sparks' is a Jazz/Christian artist, whose soprano saxophone has also been featured on the Town Center Park stage during the 2008 season. Jeff's new CD is titled Havin' Fun and will be available at tomorrow night's concert.

The evening promises to be a perfect finale to a great season of wonderful music and fun in the beautiful Town Center Park. As always, there will be plenty of activities for young and old throughout the park, including food and drinks, games for children and the variety of retail shops and restaurants surrounding the park. The cool fall evening provides a comfortable backdrop for the great music and other activities.

Original post at SuwaneeDwellings.com

True Perspective on the Wall Street Financial Crisis

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:12:08 -0500

Very much like most Americans, for the last three days I have been immersed in emotional confusion and uncertainty. My family, friends and even casual acquaintances of the last few days all find ourselves pooled together in a terrible crisis situation with only limited understanding of how we got here or why this had to happened. We have been valiantly struggling to find answers to our questions from within and among ourselves, because the experts holding most of the important facts are difficult to reach and reluctant to provide specific details or even speculations about the immediate future. This environment produces tremendous emotional strain, because of the apparently devastating effects for the future on so many lives.

Unlike most other Americans, for the last three days I have not been overwhelmed and consumed by the news coming from Wall Street and Washington DC. My family, friends and many wonderful new acquaintances of the last few days have spent time waiting, weeping, praying and seeking encouragement in a small second floor waiting area outside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Candler Hospital in Savannah, Georgia. We have all spent hours standing at the bedside of loved ones, who are fighting battles against serious illnesses or injuries that have proven to me just how short and precious life really is. Many of us have had to suffer the terrible news that our loved ones may actually be losing their battle. Some have lost the battle, while others do show signs of improvement and growing strength. We’ve even been blessed at times to witness great joy as we move throughout the hospital and see other families celebrating the birth of a new baby. The point for me, and hopefully many others, is that most of the worries of this world are really much less important when viewed from the ICU perspective.

I know this is not my typical fun and upbeat blog post, but this is really something I felt compelled to share, because having the right perspective is essential in all areas of life but very difficult to keep. Just visit an ICU waiting area to get a better perspective on your own personal crisis situations.

Original post at SuwaneeDwellings.com

Suwanee Day Parade Grand Marshall - Michael Phelps

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:01:25 -0500

Tomorrow is the BIG day. The City of Suwanee is expecting approximately 40,000 visitors tomorrow throughout the entire day at Town Center Park for the 25th Suwanee Day celebration. The theme of the event and the parade is "Totally 80's" and with the beautiful weather expected it should be a Totally Awesome day.

The parade kicks off the festival activities at 10 a.m. The parade route begins at the corner of Russell St and Buford Highway traveling north on Buford Highway to Suwanee Dam Rd, then south along old Main Street to the finale in front of Pierce’s Corner for a total 1.25 miles. (Buford Hwy will be closed from McGinnis Ferry to Suwanee Dam Rd from 9:15 - 11:30 tomorrow morning for the parade and festivities).

The parade's Grand Marshall will be Michael Phelps, no not the guy going fast in the pool, but the guy going MUCH FASTER on the race track. Michael Phelps drives the #45 Bowen Family Homes race car competing in the ARCA RE/MAX Series and the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series.

Original post on SuwaneeDwellings.com

Editting or Formating Post to Localism

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:02:28 -0500

As a new blogger on Localism, I've primarily "syndicated" some of my posts from ActiveRain on selective county, city and/or community Localism sites. Unfortunately, I'm noticing that most of these posts get rearranged when seen on Localism, especially the image alignments.

Any solutions or recommendations? All help is greatly appreciated.

Bartow Jenkins - Big Piece of Gwinnett County History Has Passed Away

Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:19:56 -0500

Bartow Jenkins, the beloved teacher, coach and long-time mayor of Lawrenceville, died at age 81 early yesterday morning. "Coach" Jenkins has been a fixture in Lawrenceville and Gwinnett county since the mid-50's. Serving as a teacher in Lawrenceville from 1954 to 1974, then as the first football coach and the creator of the driver's education program at Central Gwinnett High School. Virtually anyone who grow up in Lawrenceville has memories of "Coach" Jenkins, including Lawrenceville's current Mayor Rex Millsaps, who was a student of "Coach" Jenkins.

In addition to his service to the young people of Lawrenceville and Gwinnett county, he helped to shape the future of the city and county with his long-time service as a heavily-involved civic leader. First serving as a member of city council and then county commissioner before beginning his 14-year stint as Lawrenceville's mayor. Many young people growing up in Lawrenceville only remember one mayor, because he served in that office the whole time they were growing up.

My wife and her family are among the many Lawrenceville natives who have fond memories of "Coach" Jenkins. Though my wife never had "Coach" Jenkins as a teacher because he left Central Gwinnett in 1976 to become the first principal of Parkview High School, his influence was strong enough among her older friends and upper class to remain a part Central Gwinnett's personality for years to come. He later went on to become the director of athletics for the Gwinnett County Public Schools.

After reading the Gwinnett Daily Post headlines this morning about his death, my wife commented that "Coach" Jenkins' funeral will be a very well-attended event, which will include all of the past and present influential business, government and civic leaders within Lawrenceville and Gwinnett county, as well as many average citizens touched by his many years of service to this community.

The Gwinnett Daily Post is requesting input on their website of memories, stories and reflections that citizens may have about "Coach" Jenkins. Go to GwinnettDailyPost.com

Original post at GwinnettDwellings.com

Champagne and Classic Cars at Hudgens Center for the Arts in Duluth, Georgia

Sun, 14 Sep 2008 18:57:12 -0500

Last night the Hudgens Center for the Arts hosted its annual "Champagne and Classic Cars" fundraising event. The classic cars on display throughout the evening included 1930 Packard Boat Tail Speedster, 1941 Packard Formal Sedan, 1942 Packard 180 Rollson Town Car, 1948 Packard Convertible, 1955 Studebaker Speedster, 1958 Studebaker Golden Hawk, 1964 Studebaker R-2 Challenge Race Car and 1988 Lamborghini Countach.

In addition to these great classic cars, the evening guests were treated to champagne, hor d' vours and music in the midst of the beautiful "Gifts from Africa" exhibit currently on display at the center. Live music was provided by B.J. Chorale and the Stateline Grocery Barbershop Quartet, in addition to dance music from Black Tie Events. Guests were also invited to help complete a work of art on display throughout the evening - a paint-by-numbers drawing of the 1958 Studebaker Golden Hawk.

The finale of the evening was the raffle drawing for numerous beautiful and innovative gift baskets provided by local business sponsors and the live auction of other fabulous donated items. All proceeds from the event tickets, raffle and auction support the continuing work of the Hudgens Center to promote fine arts in Gwinnett county.

Photos taken 9/13/08 -

Original post at GwinnettDwellings.com

Suwanee Day 5K and 10K Races at Town Center Park - Suwanee, GA

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:08:01 -0500

Crowds lined the street in front of the park near the fountain at Town Center Park in Suwanee, Georgia this morning for the start and finish of the 2008 Suwanee Day 5K and 10K races. Visitors to the park had a variety of attractions this morning as runners and spectators cruised past the regular Saturday morning Farmer's Market, children played in the fountain and families walked their dogs.

The City of Suwanee along with BodyPlex Family Fitness sponsored the races to promote next week's Suwanee Day event and community fitness. BodyPlex also conducted one of their "BodyVibe" workout classes from the amphitheater stage for anyone interested in participating after the races.

A total of over 600 runners participated in the two races with first, second and third place times awarded for numerous age and gender categories for each race. The fastest time for the 5K race was just over 16 minutes and the fastest time for the 10K was around 36 minutes. The overcast skies and slightly cooler temperatures gave the runners a welcome break from the normal summer heat. Check out this video of photos from this mornings activities......ENJOY!!

Photos taken 9/13/08 -

Original post on SuwaneeDwellings.com