News Releases

February 5, 2010

MORE FRESH, MORE OFTEN AT 2010 SUWANEE FARMERS MARKET

Lovers of fresh produce, colorful flowers, and delicious baked goods can double their pleasure this year at the Suwanee Farmers Market. In addition to its traditional Saturday morning hours, the Suwanee market also will be open Tuesday evenings.

“Our farmers are excited to be able to offer fresh produce twice a week through the Suwanee market,” says Events Coordinator Amy Doherty. “Now, those residents who enjoy sleeping in on the weekend have a chance to enjoy fresh, in-season produce, too, on Tuesday evenings.”

The Suwanee Farmers Market will be open at Town Center Park from 8 am-noon Saturdays and 4-7 pm Tuesdays May 1 – October 12.

Nearly two dozen vendors participate in the Suwanee Farmers Market each week, offering in-season produce, herbs and plants, free-range meat and eggs, baked goods, and jams and jellies.

Guidelines and applications for those interested in being part of the 2010 Farmers Market are now available online at www.suwanee.com. Applications will not be accepted until the annual farmers market meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, March 29, at Suwanee City Hall, 330 Town Center Avenue.

January 27, 2010

HELLO, 2010: CITY WEBSITE GETS AN UPDATED LOOK

Visitors to the City of Suwanee website (www.suwanee.com) might initially think that they need to adjust their glasses or their computer screen, but they’re really seeing just fine. The familiar circa-1998 yellow and red design and icon-tagged navigation bar of the City’s website have given way to a fresh 2010 look.

All of the same great, current information – maps and press releases, financial and zoning documents, parks and services information – can still be found at www.suwanee.com. However, the look of the site has been updated, and the navigation moved from the left side of the page to the top. In addition, quick clicks and the calendar have been moved to the bottom of the page. A video window has been added, and the City has posted a new promotional video.

The City of Suwanee website was established in 1998, and the design and format of the site had remained essentially unchanged until now.

“In Internet years, our website’s look had aged well beyond its prime,” says Public Information Officer Lynne Bohlman DeWilde. “Our website has served us well, though, and we didn’t feel it needed a complete overhaul, but rather just a fresh, updated look. Suwanee is known for being progressive and now our website, which is visited annually almost 400,000 times, more accurately reflects our progressive community.”

January 26, 2010

SUWANEE LOOKING FOR CORPORATE SPONSORS, DONORS
WILLING TO MAKE AN ‘IMPRESSION’ ON COMMUNITY

The City of Suwanee, through its Suwanee Arts Partnership volunteer organization, is launching a fund-raising effort to make possible an exhibit of original outdoor sculptures to be displayed year-round throughout downtown Suwanee.

The Suwanee SculpTour, modeled after a successful program in Columbus, Georgia, will enhance the community’s quality of life in a creative way, says Economic and Community Development Director Denise Brinson.

The exhibit will feature 15-25 sculptures of varying types, styles, and materials, which will be on loan to the City and, ideally, will change each year. No City funds will be used to implement the SculpTour so t he exact number of pieces will depend upon how much financial support is provided by businesses and individuals.

The SculpTour will be designed to be interactive in that residents and visitors will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite sculpture; the winning piece will be purchased and displayed permanently.

“By exhibiting loaned pieces, the SculpTour will make a significant and widespread impact through public art in a single stroke,” notes Brinson.

“Vibrant, thriving communities across the country all have one thing in common: a commitment to public art,” she adds. “We believe that by making a similar commitment, we can help make Suwanee – already a great place to live – a truly world-class community. But we’re going to need some help from corporate sponsors and individuals to get there.”

Arts programs like the SculpTour can have a real economic impact on the community, Brinson says, bringing additional visitors to downtown Suwanee. In addition, public arts initiatives can make art accessible to everyone, attract a creative workforce, encourage dialogue, celebrate civic achievements, increase livability and walkability, and stimulate creativity in the workplace and schools.

For more information about the Suwanee SculpTour or to learn more about sponsorship opportunities and benefits, contact Denise Brinson at denise@suwanee.com or 770/945-8996. Also, a brochure with more information and sponsorship opportunities is available at www.suwanee.com.

January 25, 2010

REAL LIFE ‘LAW & ORDER’

When the next Suwanee Citizens Police Academy class graduates in April, the number of alumni of this eight-week “glimpse behind the badge” will total more than 300. The Suwanee Police Department has offered its Citizens Police Academy roughly twice a year since 2000 as a means to help citizens gain a better understanding of the risks and responsibilities of officers and to strengthen the bond of friendship and cooperation between citizens and the police department.

The next academy begins February 16. Classes will be from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesday evenings through April 6.

The deadline for notarized applications, which are available online at www.suwanee.com, is Friday, February 5. Participants must be at least 19 years old; preference is given to Suwanee residents or to those who work in the City of Suwanee. For more information, contact Ofc. Elias Casanas at elias@suwanee.com or 770/945-4607, ext. 327.

Class topics include crime scene processing, traffic stops, building searches, crime prevention,, and narcotics identification.

January 4, 2010

MAYOR TO PRESENT STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS JANUARY 13

Mayor Dave Williams will present the annual State of the City address at 6 p.m. Wednesday, January 13, in Council Chambers at City Hall, 330 Town Center Avenue. The presentation is part of the monthly Suwanee Business Alliance meeting and is open to the public.

The mayor’s presentation will highlight the economic challenges as well as the achievements of the past year. Williams also will look at how the Suwanee community has evolved over the past decade from a friendly, booming small town to one of America’s best places to live.