Suwanee Magazine January/February 2019

THE FITNESS ISSUE JAN / FEB 19

RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT:

BANANA’S BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT:

HUDSON LEGAL

georgia swarm E X C L U S I V E

I N T E R V I E W S

Gwinnett’s professional lacrosse team shares its strategy for reclaiming the NLL World Championship in 2019

JAN / FEB ‘19

44 The Buzz on the Georgia Swarm We recently caught up with key members of the Swarm to learn more about what to expect this season and their plan to bring a national world championship back to Georgia.

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Meet the 2019 Get Fit Challenge Contestants After the success of last year’s Get Fit Challenge, we’re bringing it back for 2019.

Meet the six new contestants and follow their journey on this 90-day fitness competition.

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Winter Farmers Market Meet a few of the stand-out vendors at Suwanee Winter Farmers Market, where residents can shop for fresh, local winter produce and local handmade products in Town Center Park.

40 Local Dog Parks

PHOTO BY CHIP HOGSED

Our guide to area dog parks to take Fido for some dog-time fun!

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28 Get Outdoors in Suwanee

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PHOTO BY WALT WOODEN

We’ve highlighted five local ways to get moving in the new year, from hoofing it on the Greenway to taking up a friendly game of disc golf.

Business Spotlight: Hudson Legal Danielle Hudson Laughlin went from a philosophy major to a law degree and now helps local small businesses thrive.

32 Gut Health

Connie Jeon of Alkaline Wellness shares nine tips to heal your leaky gut for a healthy fresh start in 2019.

36 Suwanee Whole Life Co-op Local co-op gives the community access to nutritious, organically grown foods.

52 Student Writer Submissions

Local high school students write about New Year's Resolutions.

62 New Year Beers 34 Let's Play!

Take the kids to these three local spots to keep them active all year round.

Five local breweries hand-selected one of their new beers for Suwanee Magazine readers to try in the new year.

15 Investment Strategies

Aileron Investment Advisors discuss why inflation should still be top of mind.

16 Meggitt Training Systems

With recent partnerships with the Suwanee and Gwinnett County police departments, Meggitt Training Systems is making a giant impact on law enforcement in the local community and beyond.

18 Ride-Along with Suwanee PD

Contributor Lizzy Kidney joined a police officer for a day to patrol Suwanee’s streets.

25 Blocking Blue Light

Learn how to protect your eyes from blue light rays, which can cause damage as they penetrate the deep tissue of the eye.

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Restaurant Spotlight: Bananas

in every issue:

Tucked away in an industrial area near Suwanee Town Center, Banana’s is the ultimate sports lover’s paradise where the recreational sports create an atmosphere that makes watching the game and grabbing a bite to eat fun for the entire family.

43 Pet of the Issue

8 Editor’s Letter

66 City Buzz 70 Sugar Hill City Buzz 72 People & Places 80 Event Calendar

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letter

a note from our managing editor

Invest in Your Health in 2019

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JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2019

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Georgia Swarm's Shayne Jackson and Lyle Thompson photographed

by Karl Lamb on December 14th in the Swarm locker room at the Infinite Energy Center.

• RESTAU RANT SPOTLIG HT: BANANA'S

Suwanee Magazine

ON THE COVER:

THE FITNESS ISSUE JAN / FEB 19

RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT:

BANANA’S

• HU DSON LEGAL

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- Alicia

G EORG IA SWARM: EXCLUSIVE I NTERVI EWS

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If you’re looking for a little recreational fun with a side of good food, look no further than Banana’s on p. 57. Located inside the Atlanta Silverbacks Indoor Center, Banana’s is Suwanee’s ultimate family-friendly sports bar, serving up wings and burgers alongside entertainment for the kids, such as a mini bowling alley and a large indoor soccer field that can be used for pickup games of football, soccer, and kickball. Banana’s also boasts the area’s largest TV screen, clocking in at an impressive 20 feet, so keep it in mind the next time you’re looking for a good spot to watch a big game.

If all the talk of sports bars is making you thirsty, turn to p. 62 for a roundup of five new local beers to try in the new year. Good Word, Slow Pour, and Left Nut are among the local breweries turning out craft beer you’ll want to pay attention to in 2019. And you’ll have the perfect opportunity to sample from these breweries and more at our favorite event of the year, Suwanee Beer Fest. The annual St. Paddy’s Weekend event is the biggest craft beer festival in the Southeast, with more than 300 craft beers on hand.

Tickets for Suwanee Beer Fest go on sale January 11 at noon at suwaneebeerfest.com. Tickets sell out quickly, so don’t wait!

If you find yourself at Suwanee Beer Fest for the samples, or Banana’s for the food, or at the next Swarm game for fun, be sure to lift up whatever you’re drinking — whether it’s a local craft beer or a hydrating glass of water — and toast to health. What better way to treat yourself in the new year than by investing in yourself? If not for yourself, do it for those who are fighting for their health. Suwanee Magazine and I will be alongside you for the journey.

S U W A N E E M AG A Z I N E

ood health isn’t always guaranteed.

This is a hard lesson I’ve learned in my personal life over the past year. My son was born with significant medical needs and every trip to the emergency Alicia Carter Managing Editor room, every hospital stay, Alicia@suwaneemagazine.com every prescription refill is a reminder that good health truly is a blessing. Unfortunately, many of us take our health for granted, including myself, until it’s taken away, but there is a silver lining: In most cases, we are in control of our health. Every day is an opportunity to wake up and make choices that positively impact our wellness. Being active, eating healthy, and keeping incheck with our mental health are the first steps to that positive change.

In this issue of Suwanee Magazine, our annual Fitness Issue, we chose to not take our health for granted. Turn to p. 28 for a number of ways to get active, from walking The Suwanee Greenway or renting a bike for the day to stocking the kitchen with fresh produce from the Suwanee Winter Farmers Market (p. 37). We’re also excited to introduce our readers to the 2019 Get Fit Challenge contestants on p. 20. After the success of the 2018 Challenge, in which the contestants lost a combined total of more than 100 pounds and nearly 20 inches, we once again put a call out to the Suwanee community looking for six locals who wanted to get healthy in the new year. A number of people applied, but we feel confident that the final six will rise to the challenge and make us — and the community — proud. You can follow along with their journeys in the pages of Suwanee Magazine, as well as on our website, suwaneemagazine.com.

If you need a little extra motivation to get moving, look no further than the subjects of our cover story, the Georgia Swarm. The lacrosse team won the national world championship in 2017 and have entered the 2019 season with the goal to bring the cup back to Georgia.

We recently caught up with key members of the team to learn more about what to expect this season, including Co-Owner and President Andy Arlotta, Head Coach Ed Comeau, and players Shayne Jackson and Lyle Thompson, who was named the 2017 National Lacrosse League MVP. Read more about the Swarm on p. 44.

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT:

HUDSON LEGAL

georgia swarm E X C L U S I V E

I N T E R V I E W S

Gwinnett’s professional lacrosse team shares its strategy for reclaiming the NLL World Championship in 2019

ANGELA VEUGELER President / Editor-in-Chief angela@suwaneemagazine.com RANDALL VEUGELER Vice President and Publisher ALICIA CARTER Managing Editor TAMMY LUNEY Ad Manager ads@suwaneemagazine.com

Creative Director RANDALL VEUGELER Art Director ERICA ABRAMS Writers LIZZY KIDNEY NATALIE STUBBS Production Manager LAURA PAYNE Web Editors WALT WOODEN • CLARKE GLIDEWELL Digital Marketing Manager PRISCILLA SALMASI Graphic Design APRIL MILLER • SHAY HARBAUGH BRIAN HASSINGER • LAURA HOLCOMBE • RYAN THOMAS Photographers KARL LAMB • JULIE PERDUE WALT WOODEN

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Suwanee Magazine is published bi-monthly by Veugeler Design Group.

Opinions expressed by the contributing writers and editors are not necessarily those of the publisher, editor or Suwanee Magazine. The publisher will not accept responsibility for submitted materials that are lost or stolen. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this publication. However, the publisher cannot assume responsibility for errors or ommissions. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. ©2019 Veugeler Design Group. The editors welcome unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. Please email submissions to Alicia Carter at Alicia@suwaneemagazine.com.

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RIDE-ALONG WITH THE SUWANEE POLICE DEPT.

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES 15

suwanee business community news and info.

WEAPONS TRAINING 16

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

HUDSON LEGAL Danielle Hudson Laughlin went from a philosophy major to a law degree and now helps local small businesses thrive.

STORY BY:

ALICIA CARTER

PHOTOS BY WALT WOODEN

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Laughlin opened Hudson Legal in 2015 with a focus on business and real estate litigation.

Danielle Hudson Laughlin refers to herself as a “second career lawyer,” and although her road to practicing law was a little more curved than straight, she says she’s always had a passion for government and law.

“I studied philosophy as an undergrad,” Laughlin says. “I really kind of geeked out on society — the rules we have, why we have them, and how we all work together in an organized civilization.”

Despite this passion, she found herself working for a global real estate firm as a licensed real estate salesperson during the beginning of the Great Recession. Laughlin’s career in real estate would be shortlived, however, and a new role as mother would ultimately lead her back to her true passion: law.

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e were starting to see the beginnings of the residential market crash in 2007, and at that time I left real estate to be a mom,” Laughlin says. “I had my son and I didn’t really know what I would do, but I always wanted to be a lawyer.” Laughlin decided to take the LSAT and enrolled at Georgia State University College of Law during the height of the recession in 2008. As a new mom, law school was no small feat, but Laughlin excelled and performed at the top of her class, graduating cum laude. “I treated law school like a full-time job,” she says. “I only gave school my 9-to-5 attention, and then once my son was asleep I would do my homework and reading and things of that nature. I’ve been working since I was 15, so I was used to juggling a lot of things. It really was par for the course for me.”

HUDSON LEGAL

Laughlin spent her law school career following up on real estate, and her passion and work ethic eventually led her to open Hudson Legal in 2015. “Our practice is kind of niche down,” she says. “When I first opened I had a broader umbrella, and now we really focus primarily on business and real estate litigation.” A

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quick visit to Hudson Legal’s website reveals they focus on four main areas: business planning, estate planning, real estate protection, and litigation services.

Their specialty, business and real estate litigation, “includes contract disputes, primarily, but it also can include tort claims, such as breach of fiduciary duty, partnership disagreements and derivative action of members in business litigation,” she says. “We do a lot of things with commercial landlords who have issues with tenants, and we also represent commercial tenants — smallbusiness owners who have issues with their landlords for various reasons. We have residential real estate work as well, so our focus is really on helping small businesses, but because we are real estate lawyers we do some residential work as well.”

AN ADVOCATE FOR THE COMMUNITY

While Laughlin’s goal is to help the community with its legal needs, she’s also focused on serving and has worked hard to become a pillar in the community. She is a member of the International Association of Women, a mentorship and networking group that offers seminars, webinars and more to help women with professional development. “It’s a place where you can recognize other women who are lifting women up,” she says. “A lot of the industries represented are predominantly male-dominated. So I think it’s important for organizations like the International Association of Women to exist because it gives women a way to stay focused on their long-term goals. I joined

because I felt like it was a place where I could try to connect — not only for myself but for my clients. Our clients have a lot of needs beyond just legal services so it’s nice to be able to tap into different networks to try to help them find what they need.”

Laughlin’s commitment to serving the community landed her a Moxie Award nomination in 2018, which recognizes women who are bold in business.

“This was the first year that the Gwinnett Chamber did the Moxie Awards for women in the community. I was very honored and humbled to be included,” she says. “I was nominated as a ‘moxie,’ someone who has a force of personality.”

That force of personality is what drives Hudson Legal to be a strong and vocal advocate for people in the community. “What

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sets us apart from other law firms is our heart,” Laughlin says. “We really care about our clients. We care about what they care about.”

“I think that’s the bigger picture — that we’re known for the care we show our clients and the community as well,” Laughlin continues. “Our goal is to help good businesses stay in business and help them get a larger market share by snuffing out the competition. We want to help the community thrive by helping small-business owners who are here for the right reasons to continue doing good work.”

Laughlin’s drive is inspiring. That initial passion for law that paved the way for a degree in philosophy helped her see society in a bigger picture. And the willingness to leave her job to return to school to pursue her dream is admirable, especially considering she was raising her first child in the midst of law school. While her path to opening Hudson Legal was unconventional, it was paved with determination and heart. When asked what her message to the community would be, she laughs and says, “Never be afraid to call us!” ■

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I N V E S T M E N T S T R AT E G I E S BY: Bill and Cindi Porter, AILERON INVESTMENT ADVISORS

Q: Is inflation something we still need to worry about?

A: Absolutely!

Consider this – during the past 20 years, the government has reported that we have experienced only a negligible amount of inflation. Really?

• The U.S Census Bureau reports that in 1998 the median price for a house was $153,000, but in 2018 it is now up to $325,200.* • The College Board tells us that in 1998, public college cost $5,020, but in 2018 it has more than doubled to $10,230.* • The National Conference of State Legislatures tells us that in 1998 the annual premium for a family health insurance plan was $5,532, but now it has nearly quadrupled to $19,616.* If you do not need a house, health insurance, or care about college, perhaps these statistics are meaningless. However, these examples are just a small sampling of the major price increases that have skyrocketed during a period of “low inflation.”

In the 1970s, 18% mortgage rates, the price of gas doubling overnight, and the price of nearly all products increasing weekly shook our nation.

“Stagflation” suddenly became the new normal — skyrocketing prices coupled with stagnant wages. Everything was more expensive, but paychecks remained the same. Could it happen again?

Think about this: The Federal Reserve artificially kept interest rates at nearly zero during the entire Obama administration while the national debt was doubled. In 2007, rising interest rates exposed the folly of individual sub-prime mortgages. In 2019 it may be the federal government’s turn.

The U.S. Treasury tells us that the national debt in 1998 was $5.4 trillion and in 2018, it has now quadrupled to $21.7 trillion.* The government must now pay the interest on that debt at increasing rates of interest — perhaps another sub-prime fiasco in the making and a recipe for inflation.

A conversation with your trusted advisor about inflation may be time well spent. ■ *Sourced from InvestmentNews, November 12, 2018 This hypothetical example is for illustrative purposes only, should not be deemed a representation of past or future results and is no guarantee of return or future performance. This example does not represent any specific product and/or service. A 6% annual rate of return is for illustrative purposes only.

Securities and advisory services offered through Madison Avenue Securities, LLC (MAS), member FINRA/SIPC and a Registered Investment Advisor. MAS and Aileron Investment Advisors are not affiliated entities. Neither the firm nor its agents or representatives may give tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult with a qualified professional for guidance before making any purchasing decisions.

Send your investment questions to: submissions@ SuwaneeMagazine.com

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MEGGITT TRAINING SYSTEMS:

LIVE-FIRE AND VIRTUAL WEAPONS TRAINING IN SUWANEE WITH RECENT PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE SUWANEE AND GWINNETT COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENTS, MEGGITT TRAINING SYSTEMS IS HELPING TO MAKE A GIANT IMPACT ON LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY AND BEYOND. BY LIZZY KIDNEY Located in a 235,000-square-foot building just off of Brogdon Road in Suwanee, Meggitt Training Systems is the leading supplier of integrated live-fire and virtual weapons training systems in the world.

With over 13,000 live-fire ranges and 5,100 virtual systems fielded internationally, the company’s virtual simulators and ranges are used to provide judgmental, situational awareness and marksmanship training to law enforcement, the armed forces and other security organizations around the world.

Meggitt employees demonstrate the FATS 300LE system.

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“At a time when law enforcement training has never been more important and under greater scrutiny, Meggitt Training Systems is uniquely positioned to help police officers safely enforce local laws.” states Andrea Czop, Vice President for strategy, sales and marketing at Meggitt Training Systems.

The custom-built facility in Suwanee acts as headquarters for support functions, development and manufacturing. The blue-fire weapons that are produced here maintain a 10% balance and weight of an actual weapon and can be used along with virtual training simulations to improve an officer's motor skills, aim, and reactions within certain scenarios.

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“We wanted to develop a more immersive training program that helps law enforcement adjust to dynamic environments that are more prominent in today’s society,” states Meggitt President Jeff Murphy, “For example if an officer’s gun doesn’t fire, he has to know how to react in a life-threatening situation.”

The virtual law enforcement systems allow instructors to change scenarios to see how officers handle situations such as active shooters, verbal de-escalation tactics, use of force, and cultural diversity.

Each system is equipped with a lookback camera that allows the officers to go back and watch how they handled a certain situation, and in turn how they can make - ANDREA CZOP, Vice President For Strategy, Sales and improvements.

Marketing at Meggitt Training Systems Meggitt Training Systems recently partnered with the Gwinnett County Police Department to offer the FATS 300LE system to officers, which provides a 300-degree immersive training environment that includes high-definition and 5.1 surround sound, providing realistic, engaging training.

AT A TIME WHEN LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING HAS NEVER BEEN MORE IMPORTANT AND UNDER GREATER SCRUTINY, MEGGITT TRAINING SYSTEMS IS UNIQUELY POSITIONED TO HELP POLICE OFFICERS SAFELY ENFORCE LOCAL LAWS.

“Our end goal is to make training as realistic as possible,” states Gwinnett County Corporal Sheriff Nathan Friddle, “this immersive capability helps to make the officers feel that they are in a reallife situation, and not that they are simply in a simulation.”

Since the facility is located right here in Suwanee, the Suwanee Police Department also has the unique opportunity to take advantage of Meggitt’s blue-fire weapons and simulators to train their officers.

“We are very fortunate that Meggitt is in our city. Our guys use the simulation training at least once a month,” says Richard Pope, Suwanee Police Department’s Community Relations Training Officer, “Our goal is to help the Suwanee community feel safe while they are out enjoying what makes Suwanee so special.”

Aside from local law enforcement, Meggitt supplies training systems and blue fire weapons to the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the U.S. Army, U.S. Marshall’s Service, Federal Reserve Banks, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Postal Service, NYPD, and many more.

Meggitt’s ability to deliver an immersive training system has helped law enforcement departments across the country and around the world improve marksmanship and judgmental decision-making. ■

Meggitt employees explain the training software used throughout the facility.

Law enforcement training officers, including Gwinnett County sheriff Nathan Friddle and City of Suwanee’s Richard Pope, held a panel to discuss the benefits that Meggitt Training system has on local law enforcement.

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My Ride-Along with The Suwanee PD Suwanee’s Citizens Police Academy gives residents a better understanding of the day-to-day functions of police officers as well as an opportunity to patrol Suwanee’s streets alongside an officer. In order to get a better understanding of what Suwanee officers do to protect our community, we sent Suwanee Magazine writer Lizzy Kidney to ride along with one of the officers for a day. STORY BY LIZZY KIDNEY

t’s not out of the ordinary for people to smile, wave, and thank the police officers in Suwanee for their service — at least that’s what it seemed like during my five-hour ride-along. I should mention that I’ve never been on a ride-along before, so my expectations revolved around a series of “Cops” episodes I’d watched in the past. However, my experience was nothing like that.

I may have started my day at noon, but Officer Todd Cribbs was already halfway through his 12-hour shift. Throughout the day, no guns were fired, no drug busts were made, and there were no high-speed chases. However, I did get insight into the daily life of a Suwanee police officer and to be honest, I was okay with avoiding most of the “action.”

Before becoming an officer in Suwanee, Officer Cribbs worked in the jail with the DeKalb Police Department for 12 years. As a Duluth native who wanted to get out on the streets, Cribbs and his wife, Megan, made the move to Suwanee where he has been an officer for a little more than a year now.

“I love my job,” Cribbs said. “I get to help protect a community that I spent a lot of time in growing up.”

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Over the five-hour ride-along, we responded to a 911 hang-up, pulled a few people over for traffic violations, filed a police report for a stolen wallet, escorted a young lady to the Gwinnett County Jail, and even stopped to bird watch with fellow community members (I definitely didn’t expect this one).

“There’s really not a typical patrol day in Suwanee,” Cribbs said. “There are some days we can respond to calls all day long and then others where we just do traffic stops all day.”

I found my anticipation growing every time a call came over the radio, even if I didn’t exactly understand what was going on. Because of this, I spent the majority of the five hours trying to decipher the codes officers use among themselves and dispatch. The Suwanee Magazine’s only thing I could Lizzy Kidney and

Officer Todd Cribbs.

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wrap my head around were the “10” codes.

These are shorthand codes that officers use to let dispatch know that they are en route, confirming an action, or letting them know a situation is under control.

While my ride-along wasn’t necessarily as eventful as I hoped it would be — which is probably a good thing — I walked away with a better understanding of law enforcement. I heard some great stories about all of the odd situations local law enforcement are faced with. From dramatic car chases and gangrelated crimes (yes, even in Suwanee) to on-foot pursuits ending in officers jumping down a 40foot embankment, the life of a Suwanee police officer is never boring.

My time spent with Officer Cribbs gave me firsthand insight into the problems and solutions police officers are faced with on a daily basis. I have always respected and appreciated law enforcement, but after leaving that day I can confidently say the Suwanee PD is a major reason why my family, friends, and coworkers can sleep peacefully at night.

If you’re interested in learning more about what goes on behind the scenes in our community, the Suwanee Citizens Police Academy is held for 10

Lizzy Kidney got a peek behind the scenes with Suwanee PD.

weeks every year. The academy gives the community a glimpse behind the badge with training in crime scene processing, traffic stops, building searches, narcotics identification, and crime prevention. To learn more or apply for this year’s academy, visit friendsofthesuwaneepolicedepartment.com. ■

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INTRODUCING THE 2019

SUWANEE MAGAZINE

GET FIT

CHALLENGE CONTESTANTS CONTEST SPONSORED BY: PHYSIQUE REFINEMENTS PERSONAL TRAINING STUDIO

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fter the success of last year’s Get Fit Challenge, in which the contestants lost a combined total of more than 100 pounds and nearly 20 inches, we decided to keep the momentum going into 2019!

Once again we reached out to the Suwanee community looking for six people who wanted to reclaim their health and fitness in the new year. We received entries from moms looking to get healthy so they can keep up with their kids, women who were leaving behind unhealthy relationships to refocus on themselves, as well as a firefighter who wanted to get fit so he could better serve his community. Although it was difficult to narrow it down to only six contestants, we feel confident that we landed on a group who are ready to make a positive change, and who have stories that will inspire the community. During the 2019 Get Fit Challenge, the contestants will be paired with a local trainer, receive nutrition education, as well as support from Suwanee Magazine and the community.

Follow along with the contestants’ journeys at suwaneemagazine.com and in upcoming issues of Suwanee Magazine.

STEPHANIE EVANS

MICHELLE W.

STARTING WEIGHT:......... 270

STARTING BODY FAT %:........... 53.4%

STARTING BODY FAT %:........ 49.5%

STARTING WEIGHT:...........................325

“Now that two of my kids have gone off to college, I am starting to get back into my career as a project manager. When I applied for this challenge the only thing I could think of was what better project to start managing than myself.” › Stephanie’s story is one many women in the community can relate to. As a mother of three children and currently caring for her aging parents, she struggles to find the time to put herself first.

However, with two of her three kids out of the nest, she now believes it is time to make herself and her health a main priority.

Stephanie entered the Get Fit Challenge with the hopes of getting an opportunity to reset and refocus on herself. Like many of the other Get Fit contestants, Stephanie feels that this competition will give her the accountability she needs to finally make the change and develop a healthier lifestyle. She has worn the caregiving hat for a long time, and we are excited to support her over the next three months as she finally makes herself a priority.

“I have never stepped foot into a gym before, but it’s at the point where my weight is affecting not only myself but also my son.

After recently getting out of an unhealthy relationship, I’ve decided to do this competition to not only change my life but make my son’s life easier as well.”

› Michelle is a school teacher who is new to the Suwanee community and entered the Get Fit Challenge in hopes of giving herself the accountability she needs to make a life change. She has tackled weight loss on her own in the past and knows the impact that weight loss can have on the way you look, act, and feel.

 STEPHANIE AND MICHELLE WILL TRAIN AT:

TERRY GATEWOOD

Since retiring from the Military, Terry became the most sought-after trainer by seniors in the Suwanee community who wanted bone strengthening and flexibility programs.

Terry specializes in developing specific training programs for individuals who suffer from Fibromyalgia, Osteoporosis, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other health and fitness needs. He creates comprehensive transformation training programs for men, women and teens that uniquely help build confidence and meet goals.

Physique Refinements Personal Training Studio, 425 Buford Highway, Suite 206, Suwanee. 678-765-2413. www.PhysiqueRefinements.com.

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2019 GET FIT CHALLENGE CONTESTANTS

TERRY GROSS JENNIFER CLACK STARTING WEIGHT:......... 227

STARTING BODY FAT %:........ 50.2%

› Recently single and ready to take back control of her own life, Jennifer entered the Get Fit Challenge looking for a fresh start. She is a Type 1, borderline Type 2 diabetic whose weight has fluctuated over the last 14 years.

After overcoming so much, Jennifer wants to get healthy not only for herself but also for her 12-year-old daughter.

Like so many of us, Jennifer has been trying to please others over herself. Ready to finally change that, she is determined to push herself to make a change in her health this new year. Her overall goal throughout the challenge is to lose 40 pounds, tighten up her midsection and, most importantly, get healthy for her daughter.

“I want to get back to where I was pre-baby, pre-stress weight. My goal is to be confident and happy with who I am inside and out!”

STARTING WEIGHT:......... 235

STARTING BODY FAT %:........ 37.4% › Terry recently finished going through the Gwinnett County Fire Academy and is looking to get fit so he’s better able to do his job as a firefighter and paramedic. The nature of his job requires that he be ready at the drop of a hat. “I can be called on at any time of the night or day and have to be able to perform in order to take care of the citizens of Gwinnett County,” he says.

Terry is hoping the Get Fit Challenge will give him an edge. After all, being in better shape will help him to perform better. And while his ultimate goal is to improve his health in order to better serve the community, Terry is also the father to three young girls, and like many of the contestants in the challenge, wants to be the best parent he can be by first taking care of himself.

 JENNIFER AND TERRY WILL TRAIN AT:

BRANDON BRIGMAN

Brandon started CrossFit in January 2010, and received his CrossFit Level 1 certification a year later. He has experience coaching beginner athletes and highlevel competitors. Brandon has been coaching at No Excuses since 2011, was named the General Manager in March 2014, and became the owner in August 2018. Prior to working full-time at No Excuses, Brandon worked as a sports writer for the Gwinnett Daily Post, covering prep sports. No Excuses CrossFit, 305 Shawnee N. Drive, Suite 600, Suwanee. 770-783-0753. NoExcusesCrossFit.com.

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“I want to lose weight, but not just that. I want to lose BMI. I want to build muscle while losing weight.”

ERIKKA CHAMBERS

BRIAN MUTZBERG

STARTING WEIGHT:......... 190

STARTING WEIGHT:.293

STARTING BODY FAT %:........ 30.7%

STARTING BODY FAT %:........................ 39.3%

“If you look at me I know you don’t think I need to lose weight, but my goal is to lose about 30 to 40 pounds. I really just want to be healthy and to be more confident with myself.”

› Brian is the father of two young children who hopes that the Get Fit Challenge will be the encouragement he needs to finally get healthy for not only himself, but also for his family. Although Brian has been working out for the last few months, his progress has been limited and he’s ready to join a challenge to kickstart his momentum. “My goal is to achieve a weight and endurance that is in no way limiting to anything myself or my family wants to do,” he says.

› Erikka was diagnosed pre-diabetic just over a year ago but is having trouble making the changes necessary to improve her health. “I have tried to do better but I get frustrated because I don’t necessarily see results, and in the meantime, I just continue to gain weight,” she says. Erikka is hopeful the Get Fit Challenge will help her get on track to reversing her diagnosis so she can avoid the constant check-ups.

In addition to taking control of her health, Erikka is looking for guidance and motivation in the gym.

“I’ve been doing cardio and light weight lifting for like 10 minutes, but with no one really showing me I don’t know if I’m doing it right,” she says. “If you look at me I know you don’t think I need to lose weight, but my goal is to lose about 30 to 40 pounds. I really just want to be healthy and to be more confident with myself.”

“As my children get older I do not want my weight and health to be a limiting factor in the activities we can do together. I ruptured my achilles almost three years ago and have really let my weight slide since then. I now am in a place where I need to improve my health for my family.”

 ERIKKA AND BRIAN WILL TRAIN AT:

DAN LEBLANC

 With more than 10 years experience in the fitness industry, Certified Personal Trainer and Sports Nutritionist Dan Leblanc opened Crux Fitness in June 2017, implementing the H.I.R.T. (high intensity resistance training) program. H.I.R.T. focuses on targeted strength training for fat loss that breaks down muscle as quickly as possible so the body can naturally restart the rebuilding process. In his career as a trainer, Dan has rendered over 10,000 personal training and nutrition counseling sessions, and taught thousands of group classes.

Crux Fitness, 4140 Moore Road, Suwanee. 678-765-2630. OurCrux.com.

Follow along with the Get Fit Challenge online at suwaneemagazine.com/getfit, Suwanee Magazine’s Facebook and Instagram pages, and via #suwaneegetfit.

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your health,

wellness and happiness

GUIDE TO AREA DOG PARKS

SUWANEE OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES 28 / GUT HEALTH 32 / ACTIVE KIDS 34 / SUWANEE WHOLE LIFE CO-OP 36 / FARMERS MARKET 37

BLOCKING BLUE LIGHT BY: KALEIGH STURGILL, ADVANCED FAMILY EYECARE

Suwanee’s Advanced Family Eye Care offers technologically advanced diagnostic and treatment alternatives to maximize one’s vision and eye health care. A current hot topic in eye care is blue light — blue-violet rays of the visual light spectrum that are present in sunlight and all back-lit devices, including computers, digital game and smartphone screens, tablets and televisions. While it’s hard to escape these screens in today’s technology-dependent world, there are ways to protect yourself from damaging blue light.

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new threat to eye health is emerging as we spend more time connected to devices. Blue-violet rays of the visual light spectrum, known as “blue light,” are present in sunlight and all back-lit devices (computer, digital game and smartphone screens, tablets and televisions). Blue light rays cause damage as they penetrate deeper into the tissue of the eye, specifically the center of the retina, known as the macula. Over time, damage from blue light can lead to the onset of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). One of the leading causes of vision loss in those over 50, AMD affects central vision and can increase in severity over time.

+90% Today, over 90% of people aged 20-65 use digital devices daily, on average switching between four different devices.

- essilor.com.

Just as previous generations developed tools to protect against UV light damage, lens manufacturers, including industry leader Essilor, have developed several options to protect eyes from damaging blue light. Transition lenses are lenses that change from clear to tinted in sunlight.

These lenses filter blue light both when clear and activated. Transitions are now available in seven different colors and several styles.

REDUCING BLUE LIGHT  Eyezen lenses are a newer technology that filter out blue light and help to reduce eye fatigue and strain when used for computer work. These lenses are great for those of any age because they are digitally designed and provide excellent clarity and protection.

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The blue-violet color of Crizal Prevencia indicates deflection of harmful light.

Crizal Prevencia is an anti-glare treatment that also reduces blue light. It is an ideal option for glasses that will be used on digital devices because the glare reduction and blue light filtration combined lead to a very comfortable experience.

Although they have not yet officially launched, Johnson & Johnson has developed a new Transition contact lens, Acuvue Oasys with Transitions, that should launch in 2019. These lenses will block 100% of UVB rays and filter out blue light as well—the first contact lens to do so.

Our doctors and opticians at Advanced Family Eye Care partner to help find the best solutions for each patient and look forward to serving you! â–

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The Suwanee Greenway is four miles of wooded areas, wetlands and wildlife habitat making for an attractive backdrop to an afternoon stroll.

5 OUTDOOR WAYS TO GET ACTIVE IN SUWANEE BY: ALICIA CARTER

t’s the beginning of a new year, which means most of us have set lofty goals for ourselves — “new year, new me” as the saying goes. We often plan to get healthy, lose weight, or commit to some other healthrelated “resolution.” Although we mean well, sometimes those big goals fall to the wayside because gym memberships are too expensive or intimidating, or we come up with another excuse related to inconvenience.

Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to get active right here in Suwanee. We’ve highlighted five local ways to get moving in the new year, from hoofing it on the Greenway to taking up a friendly game of disc golf.

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The first step to getting active is to simply get moving!

In fact, it’s been reported that just 20 minutes of walking a day can lower your chance of premature death by almost a third while reducing your risk of dementia, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Walking has many other proven health benefits, including improving your mood and boosting your vitamin D, which keeps your bones, teeth and muscles healthy. While taking a lap around your neighborhood or heading over to the local high school to jog around the track are good ways to get started, we suggest taking advantage of the Suwanee Greenway, a hard-surface, multi-use trail that begins at George Pierce Park and runs along Suwanee Creek all the way to Suwanee Creek Park, with several access points along the way. On any given day you will find a number of people getting their steps in on the trail, which follows along four miles of wooded areas, wetlands and wildlife habitat making for an Disc Golf at Suwanee attractive backdrop Creek Park. to an afternoon stroll.

HIT THE GREENWAY

2.

RENT A BIKE FOR THE DAY

Suwanee is home to a number of parks with walking trails, playgrounds and other ways to get moving:

TOWN CENTER PARK 330 Town Center Ave.

SIMS LAKE PARK 4600 Suwanee Dam Rd.

SUWANEE CREEK PARK 1170 Buford Highway

PLAYTOWN SUWANEE 425 Main St.

WHITE STREET PARK 752 White St.

MAIN STREET PARK 687 Main St.

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DISC GOLF

SETTLES BRIDGE PARK 380 Johnson Rd.

Biking is an excellent low-impact exercise that has the added bonus of being good for the environment. As with any physical activity, there are a myriad health benefits, including increased muscle strength and flexibility, improved joint mobility, decreased stress levels, improved posture and coordination, and reduced anxiety and depression, among other benefits. Don’t have a bike? No problem. The Suwanee Bike Share Program launched in 2016 The Suwanee Bike Share Program is a fun and accessible and is a fun and accessible way to explore the city. way to explore Suwanee on two wheels. Simply download the Zagster smartphone app to rent a bike for up to three hours for free.

Each additional hour costs $3 per hour, with a maximum daily fee of $30. Riders must be at least 18 years old and provide their own helmets. There are two bike share locations in Suwanee: one at Town Center and another at Suwanee Creek Park. Signage explaining how to use the bike share program is placed at each station to orient new users to the system. For additional information, visit zagster.com/Suwanee.

Suwanee is home to many parks filled with walking trails, playgrounds, open fields and more that offer a number of ways to get active. But only Suwanee Creek Park is home to disc golf, a game that evolved as an offshoot of the Frisbee craze when people began aiming Frisbees at different targets, such as trees, trash cans and light poles. According to the Disc Golf Association, disc golf is similar to regular golf, but instead of using golf clubs and balls aiming for a hole, disc golf players use golf discs and aim for a disc golf basket, a pole extending up from the ground with chains and a basket where the disc lands. The Suwanee Creek Disc Golf Course is a short, technical course that is good for beginner to moderate level players. So instead of kicking back on a lazy weekend in the recliner with a bowl of snacks, consider taking up a new sport for some family fun. More information available at Suwanee.com/Services/Parks.

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4.

Big Peach Running Co.'s Tuesday night run group.

Group runs are a great way to exercise in a social setting. While running is often thought of as a solo sport, joining a group run will give you access to experienced coaches and scheduled workouts that will help you stick to a training schedule and become a better athlete. They are also fun and motivating because you’re surrounded by people who all have a common goal: to become better runners. Suwanee’s Big Peach Running Co. hosts group runs on Tuesdays (6:30 p.m.), Thursdays (6:30 p.m.) and Sundays (7:30 a.m.). If you’re new to running, consider attending one of Big Peach’s “TransFORMed Running Engaged,” a two-and-ahalf-hour clinic where you’ll learn dynamic warmup and cool-down techniques, skills and drills to help transform your running, and other running basics. Check Big Peach’s website for the next scheduled clinic or to sign up for a run: bigpeachrunningco.com/ locations/suwanee.

JOIN A GROUP RUN

RUN A 1/2 MARATHON

The Suwanee Half 5.

Marathon has been an annual tradition since 2015. This year’s race will take place on Sunday, February 10th, beginning at 7:40 a.m. on Main Street (across from the library). If you aren't ready for a half marathon but want to get a few miles in, check out the Old Town 5K which takes place the same day.

Consider that the race will benefit the Suwanee Public Arts program, and participants will receive a medal and a long-sleeve technical shirt (Old Town 5k participants will receive a short-sleeve technical shirt). The first 250 half-marathon participants will receive a special blanket. New to marathons? Helpful tips include: arrive to the start line early; pace yourself to preserve your energy for the entire race; and be sure to fuel up before the race with a carb-rich, low-fiber and easy-todigest breakfast the morning of the race. For more information about the Suwanee Half Marathon, visit SuwaneeHalf.com.

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HEAL YOUR GUT AND LOSE WEIGHT FOR GOOD BY: DR. CONNIE JEON, FOUNDER OF ALKALINE WELLNESS

s we start our new year, it's very common to set New Year's resolutions. But, did you know that 80% of those resolutions fail by February? Despite this, we often make a feeble attempt at setting those resolutions. When it comes to health and weight loss, though, let's commit to positioning ourselves for success this year. After all, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results," as said by Albert Einstein. Did you know that much of your behavior can be dictated by the microorganisms that live within you? We've all heard about the leaky gut or gut permeability.

More than 80% of Americans have some degree of leaky gut, which means that we've got more of the "bad" guys living in our gut.

Slowly but surely, we begin to lose the war within and become outnumbered by the bad guys.

What does this mean? 7080% of our immune system resides in our gut, and a normal healthy gut doesn't have "gaps" for the toxins, bacteria, and yeast to enter our bodies. But a leaky gut means just that, it allows the toxins to enter our gut and wreak havoc.

We live in a toxic world where we are bombarded with toxins from the air we breathe to the foods we eat. This doesn't include the stressors in our lives and the stuff that we put on our skin. Not only that, many of us take medications that further cause toxicity, especially antibiotics. All such things cause gut permeability.

Toxins love fat cells and as the bad bacteria take over within your body, they tend to crave fat and ultimately begin dictating your behavior. This causes a gain in fat but a loss in muscle which makes it hard to exercise as we aren't able to supply energy to our muscles.

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You know the sweet tooth that you have on a daily basis? It might not be your fault, it may be the bad bugs that are driving your behavior so they can be fed. Remember, the more you feed the bad guys,

7 KEY SIGNS THAT YOU COULD HAVE LEAKY GUT: 1. DIGESTIVE ISSUES; bloating, gas, irritable bowel syndrome 2. BRAIN FOG; difficulty with focus, ADD, ADHD 3. MOOD ISSUES; anxiety and depression 4. DIAGNOSIS OF CHRONIC FATIGUE OR FIBROMYALGIA 5. SKIN ISSUES; acne, rash, rosacea, or eczema 6. AUTOIMMUNE CONDITION; lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto's 7. FOOD INTOLERANCE OR SENSITIVITIES

the more fat you absorb, also causing fatigue because you're not feeding your own cells. This causes inflammation, a spike in your blood sugar, the release of insulin, and you crash and burn. This happens day in and day out, and unless you

are intentional about it, it's so hard to break the cycle.

This is why this year, I want you to pay closer attention to your microbiome; the organisms within your gut. It's smart to make sure to start with healing your leaky gut before trying yet another diet to lose weight. Once you heal your gut, your inflammation will decrease, you'll improve your metabolism, your immune system will begin to function as it should, and you'll begin to lose the stubborn fat in no time.

You'll regain your energy, your brain fog will lift, you’ll have more motivation to exercise, and you’ll begin to look and feel your best. This will ultimately have a positive effect on every facet of your life. This year, do things differently by setting yourself up for success on your health endeavors. Let's not buy into yet another diet. Diets don't often work and food isn't our enemy.

Instead of getting on the Keto, Paleo, Pesco, or any other diets that seem to clamor for our attention, how about we transform our bodies first so that we are in control?

Let's have the best 2019 and transform our health and lives.

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TIPS FOR HEALING YOUR LEAKY GUT 1) Start your day with 12 ounces of lemon water.

2) Take quality probiotics with diverse strains to ensure you protect your gut lining.

3) Eat plenty of colorful vegetables to feed the good bugs as well as to supply your body of the nutrients to support gut healing and detoxification.

4) Decrease your intake of processed foods: packaged foods with loaded sugar content and ingredients with names you can't pronounce.

5) Avoid soft drinks, energy drinks, alcoholic drinks, and fruit juices.

6) Drink plenty of water, half of your body weight in ounces per day.

7) Eat a balanced diet with lower carbohydrate foods and increased intake of vegetables.

8) Choose organic produce and grass-fed or organic meats.

9) Choose an exercise regiment that you can commit to daily.

DR. CONNIE JEON, Founder of Alkaline Wellness, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Board Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner, Masters in Nutrition, Registered/ Licensed Dietitian, Registered Yoga Teacher, Certified Pilates Instructor. alkalinewellness.com info@alkalinewellness.com / 678-335-5566 Heal Your Gut and Lose Weight for Good

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Let’s Play!

Baby it’s cold outside, but that doesn’t mean the kids should be cooped up indoors staring at screens all winter.

KEEP THE KIDS ACTIVE WITH THE HELP OF ONE OF THESE SUWANEE MAINSTAYS

All that youthful energy needs to be released before a major case of cabin fever sets in, so we’ve crafted a handy list of places to take the kids to keep them active all year long.

BY: ALICIA CARTER

MYSPORT AFTER SCHOOL AT THE SUWANEE SPORTS ACADEMY Suwanee Sports Academy’s MySport program is the ideal place for parents looking for something different than traditional aftercare.

The kids who participate in MySport have a great time while having the opportunity to try many different sports. Time is set aside each day for homework as soon as the kids arrive from school. After a healthy snack, the kids hit the courts for a warmup and learn the sport of the day.

The best part is the program offers flexibility for parents who want their child to participate in different sports after school but may not need five days per week. MySport believes sports and physical activity make lasting impacts on individuals and communities. Not only does participation in sports at a young age lead to healthier and more active lifestyles, it also helps kids learn valuable lessons. These include teamwork, sportsmanship, and the value of working toward a common goal. Most of all, sports and exercise should be fun! 3640 Burnette Road, Suwanee / 770-614-6686 / ssasports.com.

ADRENALINE CLIMBING Adrenaline Climbing is a family-owned climbing gym that’s fun for the whole family.

They offer beginner level youth classes that teach the fundamentals with an emphasis on fun. Climbing is a fun exercise for kids that develops strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, problem solving skills, independent thinking, and more. Check out their family fun nights on Fridays from 6pm-8pm. Adrenaline also hosts camps that focus on outdoor adventure. 460 Brogdon Road, Suwanee / 770-271-1390 / adrenalineclimbing.com.

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ATLANTA SILVERBACKS SUWANEE INDOOR Atlanta Silverbacks Suwanee Indoor is a 48,000-square-foot facility that features two large indoor turf fields and organizes and operates a variety of leagues and programs year-round such as indoor soccer, flag football, and an after-school program. They also offer a number of multi-sport youth camps to keep your kids active all throughout the year. We also know an active kid is a hungry kid, so pick up a snack, lunch or dinner at Banana's Restaurant. 4285 Brogdon Exchange N.E., Suwanee / 678-714-7454 / atlantasilverbacks.com/silverbacks-suwanee-indoor.

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SUWANEE WHOLE LIFE CO-OP

SO FRESH, SO LOCAL CO-OP GIVES THE COMMUNITY ACCESS TO NUTRIENT DENSE, ORGANICALLY GROWN FOODS AND HEALTHY PRODUCTS By Alicia Carter

Suwanee Whole Life Co-op leads regular farm tours for its members.

ora Lea was frustrated with the inconsistent quality and price of organic produce in the local supermarkets, so she decided to do something about it. She reached out to a company that delivered organic produce to her house, and after gauging interest from her friends, she created Suwanee Whole Life Co-op, a buying club that allows consumers to buy directly from farms and producers. We spoke with Lea about how Suwanee Whole Life Co-op came to be and how the Suwanee community can join in.

HOW DID SUWANEE WHOLE LIFE CO-OP GET STARTED? I've always had an interest in eating healthy, but it wasn't until I became pregnant with my first child that I really took the time to think about what I was putting in my body.

After doing some research on my own, I completely switched to trying to buy organic or organically grown foods.

Once I had kids, it became a struggle to get to the grocery store. I was constantly disappointed in the quality of the produce and meats. I started purchasing a customizable produce box from a local company that delivered organic produce to my house. They offered me and my friends a discount if all of us could pick up at one location. I sent out an email to about 20 like-minded friends and the next thing I knew Suwanee Whole Life Co-op was

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born, with my home being the pickup location. I then called some farms I was already buying from and they started delivering to my house as well. After our first farm tour that I coordinated with our members and their families, I saw how excited the kids were about learning where their foods came from. They were literally mesmerized watching the hens lay eggs in a nesting box and had never seen that before — and honestly, I never had either. I knew from that moment this is what I was meant to do, to try to make a difference in my community and help hardworking farmers.

Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suite 1104, Suwanee, 30024). We offer local farm fresh eggs, pastureraised meats, wild-caught seafood, organically grown fruits and vegetables, dairy, local raw honey, fermented foods, prepared foods, organic breads and baked goods, pantry items, body/skin care, natural laundry care, essential oils, natural pet care, and more. Most items come from local farms and businesses. We also have special seasonal orders, such as unfiltered maple syrup that we buy directly from a farmer in Pennsylvania in the spring when he taps his maple trees. I haven't been able to purchase store-bought maple syrup since!

HOW OFTEN DO ORDERS COME IN AND WHAT TYPE OF FOODS ARE OFFERED?

Anyone can join the co-op by creating an account on our website, suwanee.locallygrown.net. You will not have to pay the annual $25 membership fee until after your second order. We allow you to try it out first to make sure we fit in your schedule and budget.

Orders come in every week on Wednesdays, year round. Ordering takes place on Fridays and goes through 6 pm on Sundays. Order pick-up is on Wednesdays from 1-6:30 pm at our host location at Cultured Traditions (1300

HOW CAN SOMEONE JOIN THE CO-OP?

For more information about Suwanee Whole Life Co-op, visit suwanee.locallygrown.net.

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S U W A N E E

W I N T E R

FARMERS MARKET Fresh food lovers can rejoice in knowing that Suwanee is extending the Suwanee Farmers Market through the winter months. The market is scheduled to run the second Saturday of every month from 9am to 11am through April 13th, 2019! Suwanee residents will be able to visit the farmers market and have the opportunity to enjoy fresh local winter produce, such as lettuces, greens, potatoes, carrots, Brussels sprouts, baked goods, and a variety of other delicious, local flavors. BY: LIZZY KIDNEY

B&B Enterprises Honey (Flowery Branch)

Bob and Bev Bradbury are known for producing raw wildflower honey that is not only delicious but can also help build up your immune system against allergies. The company also makes sourwood honey which is known for not containing dextrose, making it a tolerable product for many diabetics. B&B grows more than 200 kinds of flowers, 36 kinds of vegetables, 12 kinds of fruit, many herbs, and other trees Bob and Bev Bradbury and bushes. Visit their stand located on Lot

4 for a variety of creamed honey in seven different flavors, raw wildflower and sourwood honey, as well as 100% beeswax candles.

Southern Essentials (Buford)

Run by Erin and Mark Fantom, Southern Essentials is a local North Georgia company that provides 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oils, natural skin care

products, natural deodorants, insect repellant, handcrafted soap and other items based on aromatherapy and the use of essential oils. The Fantoms have been making all of their products at their Buford home for more than 35 years, and each product uses only all-natural products such as cocoa butter, shea butter, and coconut. Visit their stand to purchase diffusers, face creams, deodorants and more! Southern Essentials.com.

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under the Certified Naturally Grown program. The family has built strong relationships with their customers and truly enjoy providing fresh produce to the Suwanee community. Visit their stand to purchase fresh eggs, fruits, vegetables and more!

Fry-Farm.com.

everyone warm this winter season.

JavaGenesisCoffeeRoasting.com.

El Cuate Foods (Duluth)

El Cuate is a small family business that brings 100% authentic Mexican salsas and tamales to your table. Founded in 2017, all of their products are made with locally grown vegetables and no preservatives. Aside from the Suwanee Winter Farmers Market, you can also pick up some of their homemade salsa and tamales at the Alpharetta, Smyrna, and Peachtree City Farmers Markets.

Facebook.com/ElCuateFoods.

Carrell Farms (Monroe)

Carrel Farms, Inc. is a family farm owned and operated by David and Shalley Carrell. They pride themselves on having “unique meat raised right,” and are dedicated to providing family and friends with honest, nutrient-dense food. All of the meat the farm sells is free of antibiotics, chemicals, and GMOs. The farm is also home to animals ranging from baby lambs to buffalo, and sometimes invites the public to join them on the farm to see the animals as well as bring coolers to take meat home with them.

Visit their stand to purchase grass-fed meats, fish, and other fresh produce.

CarrellFarms. com.

Fry Farm (Bethlehem)

The Fry Farm has been owned and operated by the Fry family for over a decade now. Vicky Fry and her father have been selling their vegetables at the local Suwanee Farmers Market for 11 years. Their produce ranges from rhubarb to popcorn and is all inspected and certified

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Java Genesis Coffee Roasting (Bethlehem)

Java Genesis Coffee Roasting is a small-batch coffee roaster that has been helping coffee-lovers “discover the fresh roast difference” for over 16 years.

Owners, Tom and Juanice Christian discovered home roasting in 2003, and after their coffee quickly grew to become in high-demand, they followed their love for coffee and created Java Genesis Coffee Roasting. From fresh roasted coffee beans to care packages for the troops, Java Genesis has something to keep

FarmHouse Poundcakes (Dacula)

For many of us Southerners, poundcake is one of those desserts we just can’t live without. From real butter to farm fresh eggs, FarmHouse’s pound cakes are made with the finest local ingredients. The bakery rotates its flavors depending on the season, and even features gluten-free cakes. For those unable to make it to the farmers market, poundcakes are also available for purchase through their website at FarmHousePoundcakes.com.

WINTER FARMERS MARKET NOVEMBER 2018 thru APRIL 2019 _________________ SECOND SATURDAY OF THE MONTH, 9-11AM _________________ TOWN CENTER PARK

NOV 18 JAN // DEC FEB 19

SPOTLIGHT ON 6 AREA DOG PARKS Dogs don’t want to be cooped up all day, they like to stretch their legs, run around, and mingle with other furry friends, which is why dog parks are such a valuable part of any community.

Having a designated area where dogs can shed their leashes and socialize is beneficial for both pup and owner and an important part of a dog’s development. Thankfully, there are plenty of parks around town to take Fido for some dog-time fun! STORY BY ALICIA CARTER

Chattapoochee Dog Park 4291 Rogers Bridge Road, Duluth

Settles Bridge Park 380 Johnson Road, Suwanee

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This off-leash park features three separate fenced areas for small dogs, large dogs, and a long dog run. In addition to space to run freely, there’s also agility equipment for some extra exercise as well as water stations to help cool off during the summer months.

In addition to the dog park, Settles Bridge Park also has several paved and unpaved trails for leashed walks so you can both get your steps in.

Located in Rogers Bridge Park, Chattapoochee Dog Park is known for being a friendly space for pups to run freely on the well-kept grassy area. It’s separated into two parks, one for smaller dogs under 30 pounds and one for larger dogs over 30 pounds, and features small obstacles and plenty of room for your furry friends to run around. There are water fountains, but they’re turned off during the winter so be sure to pack a water bottle.

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Newtown Dream Dog Park 3150 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek

DOG PARK ETIQUETTE This fenced, one-acre doggie paradise features artificial turf, sprinklers for dogs to play in, obstacles like hoops, tunnels and a bridge, along with water fountains for both people and pets.

There are separate areas for large and small dogs, along with benches, shelters, and shade trees.

The dog park is situated inside the impressive Newtown Park, which is also home to athletic and recreational options like walking trails, baseball/ softball fields, tennis courts and picnic pavilions, bocce and more.

Windermere Dog Park 3355 Windermere Parkway, Cumming Part of a larger park in Cumming, Windermere Dog Park has separate areas for small and large dogs. There’s little shade, but the park is a flat, fenced-in area where the dogs can run and play. Take a seat at one of the benches and relax while your pup gets his energy out, then let him rehydrate at the water area.

5 TIPS FOR PLAYING NICE AT YOUR LOCAL DOG PARK

1. MAKE SURE YOUR DOG IS READY FOR THE PARK. Before you plan a trip to an off-leash park,

it’s important to make sure your dog is ready so that it will be a fun and safe environment.

Is your dog well-behaved, over-hyper or do they pull when on a leash? These may be signs that your dog needs a little more training before attempting to visit a dog park. It’s also important to make sure your pup is up to date on all vaccinations.

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BE PRESENT WHEN AT THE PARK. While a visit to the dog park is a great time for your dog to socialize with his canine friends, it’s not the best time for the dog owners to be distracted by conversation, phones, a book, etc.

Keep an eye on your dog to make sure he’s behaving and safe.

3.

PICK UP AFTER YOUR DOG. If your dog does his business while inside

the park, be sure to scoop, bag and dispose of the mess — this will help keep the park clean and sanitary.

4. DON’T BRING FOOD INTO THE PARK. The scent of food can be distracting to dogs

and some may become aggressive when they know food is nearby. Leave the dog treats at home, too. Instead of a doggie treat, give your dog verbal praise when he behaves or obeys a command.

5.

HOLD ON TO THE LEASH. It’s important to keep the leash nearby even at

an off-leash park because you never know when you may need to quickly remove your dog from an unpleasant situation or an aggressive dog.

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Harbins Dog Park 2550 Indian Shoals Park, Dacula

This pet-friendly park is the perfect place for your pup to get in some off-leash play in one of the three fenced areas, including separate small dog and large dog areas. There’s also a covered bench and water source during the warm months to keep your four-legged BFF hydrated. The park is open from sunrise to sunset unless otherwise posted.

Rabbit Hill Dog Park 400 Rabbit Hill Road, Dacula Rabbit Hill features plenty of grass space as well as rough space with sand and fun obstacles.

The park also boasts tons of trees which means pets and owners will be able to find some reprieve in the shade. There are separate areas for large and small dogs as well as another area for just running.

Rabbit Hill features plenty of grass space and tons of shade for pets and their owners.

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thrive

OF T HE I S S U E

LEX, THE BEARDED DRAGON

THINK YOU HAVE THE CUTEST PUP IN SUWANEE?

2019

The annual Suwanee Magazine Cutest Pup returns for its sixth year! The winning pup will receive a variety of amazing prizes to primp, spoil, and feed your pup, PLUS a feature in the 2019 March/April issue of Suwanee Magazine.

 Kim from Dacula nominated Lex, her daughter’s “laid-back beardie.” We love Lex’s festive holiday sweater and confident pose. Congrats, Lex! Want to see your animal BFF in the pages of Suwanee Magazine?

Nominate your pet to be considered for our Pet of the Issue! We’ll choose our favorite and publish their photo in the Pet Section of the upcoming issue. We love your dogs and cats, but we also want to see your turtles, fish, birds, guinea pigs and other unique animal friends. To nominate your pet, visit SuwaneeMagazine.com/PetoftheIssue.

Submit your entry between January 9th and January 23rd.

Tell your family and friends to vote for your cute pooch daily from January 28th to February 6th.

Details are available @

suwaneemagazine.com and on our Facebook page: facebook.com/ suwaneemagazine.

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Shayne Jackson (left) and Lyle Thompson hope to lead the Georgia Swarm to another championship season.

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THE BUZZ: ON

017 NLL 2 E H T WITH W E E TEAM I S V S R E O T R C N I LA B IVE ARL LAM K EXCLUS RLD CHAMPION Y B S OTO WO EY / PH Y KIDN

BY LIZZ

nbeknownst to most, the City of Atlanta’s two-decade championship dry spell was actually brought to an end well before the big Atlanta United win in December of 2018. In just their second season in Atlanta, the Georgia Swarm Lacrosse team didn’t waste much time bringing a world championship trophy back to Atlanta in 2017.

We had the chance to catch up with the Swarm and get all the details on what to expect going into the 2019 season.

PHOTO BY JOSH SCHAEFER

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ANDY ARLOTTA

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT….

CO-OWNER AND PRESIDENT

The Swarm won the National Lacrosse League World Championship in 2017, defeating the two-time defending champion Saskatchewan Rush with a 15-14 win in overtime of Game 2.

Miles Thompson, one of 3 brothers who currently play for the Swarm, scored the game-winning goal after receiving a pass from brother Lyle Thompson. After falling just one game short of defending their title in the NLL Championship in 2018, the Swarm return this season with a vengeance and strong desire to bring the cup back to Atlanta.

Tell us a little bit about your history as well as your family's history with the Swarm.

ANDY ARLOTTA: Our family is going into our eleventh year in the business, and this will be our fourth year in Georgia. It was always my dream to work with my dad, so when the opportunity for us to get involved with the Swarm came up, we took a look and said let's give it a shot. ______________________________________ What made you decide to bring the Swarm to Atlanta?

AA: We originally had the Swarm in Minnesota, but we wanted to have big Saturday night games and the schedule for the arena out there just wasn’t lining up with ours. We came across the Infinite Energy Arena in Georgia and knew this would be a great opportunity for us. ______________________________________ Since you guys are still fairly new to the area, what has the fan support been like?

AA: Our fan support has continued to increase year after year, and we, of course, saw an increase in our fan base after winning the championship. However, as a newer sports team in the area, we are still looking to grow. We are extremely happy here and love playing for lacrosse fans in Atlanta.

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PHOTO BY JOSH SCHAEFER

 IN THE SUMMER OF 2015, ARLOTTA MANAGED THE SWARM’S RELOCATION TO THE METRO ATLANTA AREA AFTER THE TEAM SPENT 11 SEASONS AS THE MINNESOTA SWARM IN TWIN CITIES. IN 2019, ARLOTTA ENTERS HIS 11TH SEASON AS COOWNER AND PRESIDENT OF THE SWARM. HE RUNS ALL ASPECTS OF THE TEAM’S DAY-TO-DAY BUSINESS OPERATIONS, AND EVEN SERVES ON THE NLL’S BOARD OF GOVERNORS.

Tell us a little bit about what it was like winning the NLL Championship as an organization and also in terms of the community support you’ve had afterward?

AA: You get into this business to win, and when my dad took over as GM about seven years ago, he really brought his own philosophy and mentality to this franchise. He always said that if we can’t win with character and a team who can compete, then we need to get out of the business. Winning a championship with my dad really was a dream come true and we were ecstatic to bring a championship to Georgia. ______________________________________ What are some things you guys hope to accomplish as an organization this upcoming season?

AA: We have goals set on a couple different levels. We, of course, want to get back to playing for a World Championship, but from a business standpoint, we also want to increase our ticket sales and grow our fan base.

If the team plays well, we hope that more fans will come out to games and help fill this arena.

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Coach Comeau congratulates his players after winning the NLL World Championship in 2017.

How has the team been preparing in the offseason?

EC: We lost a few players from our team last year, but the draft was good to us this year. The guys work hard on their own and when we get together we introduce our systems and principles. Our training camp was great and competitive and we are ready to get going. __________________________________ I read that the majority of the players and coaches fly into town a few days before a game.

Does that prove challenging practice-wise?

PHOTO BY KYLE HESS

How long have you been a head coach in the NLL? ED COMEAU: I have been coaching in the NLL for 20 years, and I have been a head coach for eight of those years. __________________________________ What made you want to come coach in Atlanta?

ED COMEAU HEAD COACH

 COACH COMEAU IS ENTERING HIS FOURTH SEASON AS THE SWARM’S HEAD COACH. INTERNATIONALLY, HE HAS WON SEVEN GOLD MEDALS IN BOX AND FIELD LACROSSE. BEFORE COMING TO ATLANTA, COACH COMEAU HAD PREVIOUSLY WON FIVE NLL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, NOW SIX, AND WAS NAMED THE 2017 NLL HEAD COACH OF THE YEAR.

EC: I think John Arlotta, Swarm owner and GM, is a great man and team leader. He really convinced me that he was going to build a winner and made me feel like I would be a part of the Swarm family. __________________________________ Aside from winning the NLL Championship of course, what has been your most memorable moment as the Swarm’s head coach?

EC: Besides the championship, opening night here during our first season in Georgia was definitely the most memorable. It showed the kind of fan base we can really have down here, and winning in front of a huge crowd at home always makes for a great night.

EC: One of the challenges in the NLL is that we aren’t quite at the point of being full-time yet. The majority of guys have jobs during the week, so they fly in Friday, practice Friday night, play a game Saturday, and then fly home Sunday.

It proves hard but I tell people to look at how great the sport is now and imagine what it could be if it were a full-time thing. __________________________________ What are some of the goals and expectations you have set for the team this upcoming season?

EC: I always say we want to win a championship, but 11 teams in the league also say they are going to and the reality is that 10 of those teams are lying. Our goal is to try to improve each and every time, whether it’s in practice or a game and we strive towards heavy consistency. We want to be good and great, not mediocre and good. __________________________________ What do you think your toughest games this season will be?

EC: I think most coaches would say their toughest game is the next game. There are so many good teams in this league, but one of our biggest competitors would have to be Saskatchewan. They are the team we beat in the championship two years ago, and our match-ups have kind of become an East-West rivalry.

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PHOTO BY KYLE HESS

How long have you been playing in the NLL? SHAYNE JACKSON: This is my seventh year in total.

I played three seasons with Minnesota and this is my fourth with Georgia. ______________________________________________ What was it like winning a championship in terms of community support, team morale, etc.?

SJ: It was great winning something with a group of guys who had one goal of winning it all and to accomplish that was great. ______________________________________________ What is it like being an assistant captain on a championship team?

SJ: I was honored when I was asked to be a captain for this organization. I like to say that although three of us wear letters, everyone on this team has the ability to be a leader. ______________________________________________

Shayne Jackson FORWARD

How do you use that role to help motivate your teammates?

 AFTER SIX SEASONS WITH THE SWARM FRANCHISE, SHAYNE JACKSON HAS EARNED THE NICKNAME “MR. CONSISTENCY.” JACKSON HAS PLAYED IN OVER 100 CAREER GAMES, SURPASSED 400 CAREER POINTS AND HAS PICKED UP OVER 400 LOOSE BALLS. AS A SWARM ASSISTANT CAPTAIN, HIS COACHES AND TEAMMATES WILL BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU THAT HE’S ONE OF THE TOUGHEST, MOST HARDWORKING AND DEDICATED LACROSSE PLAYERS IN THE NLL.

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SJ: I don't think anything you say helps lead a team.

I think the best way to be a leader is by your actions, working hard, and setting a good example. ______________________________________________ I know you coach at Pace Academy and are very involved in the local lacrosse community here in Georgia. Can you tell me a little bit about that?

SJ: Myself and Bryan Cole both live down here fulltime, and we were fortunate enough to jump on board at Pace my second year down here. It is a great school and a great program. The kids, the parents, and the team as a whole are great. ______________________________________________ What are some goals you guys have as a team this season?

SJ: I think if you ask everyone on our team, the main goal is to perform and win championships. Our team knows how to do that and we are just ready to get after it.

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Lyle Thompson FORWARD

 ENTERING HIS FOURTH SEASON WITH THE SWARM, LYLE THOMPSON IS CURRENTLY KNOWN AS THE BEST LACROSSE PLAYER IN THE WORLD. AFTER BEING THE NO. 1 DRAFT PICK IN THE 2015 NLL DRAFT, THOMPSON HAS GONE ON TO BE NAMED THE 2017 NLL MVP, NLL CHAMPION'S CUP MVP, AND RECEIVED THE 2017-2018 SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD. LYLE IS ALSO SUCCESSFUL OFF THE FIELD, OPENING HIS OWN COMPANY, THOMPSON BROTHERS LACROSSE, WITH HIS THREE SIBLINGS.

PHOTO BY KYLE HESS

Lyle Thompson and his two brothers all play for the Swarm. The Thompson Brothers are known for wearing their traditional braids during games.

I read that you and your three brothers all play in the NLL. What is it like playing on the same team as two of them, and then, of course, competing against the other?

LYLE THOMPSON: Playing with my brothers is a special feeling, and hopefully one day we will all be able to play together on the same team. When I'm around my parents, it means a lot to them and they're really proud of us. For me, I've played with Myles my entire life, so we have a great dynamic and work really well together. It’s great to train with them throughout the week and then play together on the weekends. ______________________________________________ After winning the championship, you were named the 2017 NLL MVP. What was that experience like?

LT: It was a very cool experience. It was a successful year and anytime I have an accomplishment like that, I have to remember that there are so many other factors besides just me that go into receiving an award like that.

I was only a second-year player and I was surrounded by a great team. My coaches instilled a lot of confidence in me and my teammates really allowed me to take on that role as a goal leader.

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PHOTO BY KYLE HESS

You’ve had a lot of accomplishments both on and off the lacrosse field. You and your brothers have your own company, Thompson Brothers Lacrosse, can you tell us a little bit about that?

to go back to art school for three months next fall. __________________________________

LT: Together, my brothers and I run Thompson Brothers Lacrosse where we try to inspire the next generation through our stories. We run lacrosse clinics throughout the United States and Canada and are partnered with Nike. I am the artist, so I get to design the clothes, sticks, etc., which I really enjoy since I was an art major in college and it allows me to exercise one of my passions. __________________________________

LT: For us, there isn't really an offseason. There are two professional lacrosse leagues, the NLL and the MLL. Once the Swarm season ends I jump right into the next. I really only get a month to two months of an offseason, but I train every day and it’s part of the process that I truly enjoy. __________________________________

Speaking of art, you recently had an art exhibit with the Miami School of Art. Tell us a little bit about that.

Lyle Thompson set a new Swarm record for single-season points (116) and assists (71) in 2018. Lyle's 45 goals rank second in franchise history.

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LT: John Arlotta, the Swarm’s GM, saw an opportunity for me to come to the Miami School of Art down here, and he recommended I take part in this exhibit. I grabbed my stick and some paint and made a little bit of a mess, but it was a great opportunity. And thanks to John, it has even opened the door for me

How have you been preparing in the offseason?

Do you have any goals set as an individual player and then also as a team for this season?

LT: I always base my goals off of the previous season. Last season, even though I had my highest scoring season, my shooting percentage wasn't the best. That means that I am scoring more, but I’m also taking more shots in order to do so. To me, those percentages have to be better.

I also want to continue to be a leader on this team and help to get us back to a championship this season. ■

news from the suwanee schools universe

STUDENT WRITER SUBMISSIONS

ARE NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS OVERRATED? ERE AT SUWANEE MAGAZINE, WE LOVE ENCOURAGING STUDENTS OF ALL AGES TO WRITE ABOUT THINGS THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT. THIS ISSUE, OUR TEAM ASKED LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO DISCUSS THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS. WE LOVED ALL OF THE SUBMISSIONS WE RECEIVED, BUT THESE STUDENTS STOLE THE SHOW!

NEW YEAR, SLIGHTLY NEW ME BY: Savannah Luney, AGE 16 NORTH GWINNETT HIGH SCHOOL  TEN... NINE... EIGHT… The anticipation builds as the crowd chants in unison, eyes glued to the countdown displayed on the screen. Seven..Six..Five…

Almost there, the beginning of a new chapter. Four...

The tension escalates. Three... The masses shout louder. Two… Yes, yes, yes. One...

The clock strikes midnight, confetti erupts, screams of joy echo, champagne glasses clink. “New year, new me,” or so the saying goes. But are you really any different than you were an hour ago? Five minutes ago? Ten seconds ago? This isn’t Cinderella. Life isn’t one bippity boppity boo, the clock strikes midnight, and your whole world is suddenly magically different.

Here’s how New Year’s resolutions usually go. You start with the decision to lose weight in this new year.

You dive head first into a whole new regimen. Kale for breakfast. Kale for lunch. Kale for dinner. By day three, you’re going, “Oh, kale no.”

The problem with New Year’s resolutions is not that they are overrated. It is simply that people’s fresh goals tend to be too extreme. One cannot

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expect to suddenly alter their entire lifestyle simply because when the clock struck twelve, they decided they were going to stop wasteful spending or quit smoking. With these standards, you are more likely to win the lottery than last a week with your new plan.

Stop trying to turn the wheel 360O. Make a plan for what you can accomplish today. And then the next day. And then the day after that. Whereas striving for giant leaps may send you spiraling out of control, baby steps will help you turn your life around. There’s no bippity boppity boo; there’s just you. ✦

BY: Cole Cline, AGE 17 PEACHTREE RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

THE NEW NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION

BY: Imani Sabur, AGE 16 PEACHTREE RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL

 It’s the end of the year! The holidays are here, and even closer is the new year. With the New Year, brings old traditions such as partying with your friends and family or watching the ball drop in Times Square in the comfort of your home.

You are suddenly moved by excitement and anxiety rolling off your body flowing into the room, you heavily think and hope for greatness out of the next 365 days, you intentionally make changes. Changes you feel are beneficial to make your hopes and dreams come true. One of the biggest New Year’s traditions are New Year’s resolutions.

The tradition of New Year's resolutions dates to 153 B.C. The month January is named after Janus, a mythical god of early Rome. Janus had two faces which allowed him to look back into the past and the toward the future. On December 31st, the Romans imagined Janus looking backward into the old year and forward into the new year. This became a symbolic time for the Romans to make resolutions and changes for the new year, believing Janus could forgive them for their wrongdoings in the previous year. In the belief that Janus would bless them in the year ahead the people would give gifts and make promises. This was the start of a tradition that still occurs today around the world.

However, how many of us make New Year’s resolutions that fail later in the year? I began my journey in making resolutions at the age of eight. I started small by promising to keep my room clean and helping around the house. As I’m getting older, my resolutions have become more demanding such as working out regularly and enhancing my finances. Though I have the intention to follow through with my resolutions, why wait until the new year to perform them? A study constructed by the US News reveals approximately 80% of resolutions fail by the second week of February, so why wait until the new year to change if statistically the odds are against you?

I believe we still follow the acts of the Romans because it’s tradition, and no one wants to be offbeat to the sound of the world by not following it. However, I also believe you should change when you are ready, not when others expect you to be.

I gather that the 80% of people who failed to accomplish their goals had reachable resolutions; unfortunately timing was most likely the cause of failure.This is an ongoing cycle that can be discontinued by the power within you. The new year should not define when you are ready for change.

So while counting down from 10, waiting for the ball to drop and feeling those familiar emotions dancing off your skin, remember to listen to yourself. You know when you are ready to make a change in your life. The changes you decide that will make your hopes and dreams come true! ✦

 There is something quite entrancing about the idea of a time of change to refresh ourselves and the world around us. Reinventing oneself to become “the best version of you!” as it is splashed on cheap prints in big-name retailers. It’s seen in everything from our television to t-shirt slogans, almost as ubiquitous as those who complain about this reinvigoration of spirit. For many, even the resistors, New Year’s is the trendiest season for the masses to rush to bookstores for self-help novels, to wellness shops for yoga mats, and their wallets to remind themselves what the three numbers on the back of their card are so they can purchase a subscription to an educational website. The caveat of this excitement lies in its lack of accountability and the distance between the next point of change – a whole year away. No rules of New Year’s resolutions require participants to reaffirm their covenants monthly, or quarterly, or at all. This open-ended nature of half-hearted change fills our homes and empties our bank accounts; with expensive tennis rackets shoved in linen closets along with the designer sportswear purchased alongside it. Indeed, this is the crux of why we love New Year’s resolutions even though they are abandoned in weeks’ time.

Americans are consumerists and we know it.

Yet, we do little about it, as some even embrace the companies shilling them cheap trash at increasing prices. Almost a million and a half people follow Walmart on Instagram, and it certainly isn’t for the aesthetically innovative photography. People long to know what’s on sale, what’s for sale at all. On the other hand, we don’t like change, even though we claim we do. Symbols throughout mythology that represent change have come to mean only chaos and destruction, such as the raven and crow, which in old folk tales share a myriad of prophecies, but despite that, we see them only as bringers of death. Many would scramble in their defense at that statement, that no, I really go with the flow! And other trite falsities that they know are to save face. It’s all about the appearance, another thing Americans value, to our detriment. New Year’s is a time when people can proverbially kill two birds with one stone as they demonstrate their progressiveness and selfdevelopment, while pouring cash into the gutter for useless material objects. Everything loved by the shallow is wrapped in an elegant, seasonal package at the start of the year.

There are a few that reject this notion. Some call them minimalists, but I call them (and count myself among) the Neo-Transcendentalists. We commit to our goals, set by months or weeks or lunar cycles or astrological occurrences. We focus not on what things make us our ideal self but what actions and friends and words. We depend on ourselves to look inward, instead of filling voids with cheap facades. We know that the time and energy we spend lies in our own hands – not the hands of others. ✦

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STUDENT WRITER SUBMISSIONS BY: Makayla Finch, 10TH GRADE NORTH GWINNETT HIGH SCHOOL BY: Avery Fowler, 10TH GRADE NORTH GWINNETT HIGH SCHOOL No, you do not need a New Year to make a change; you can decide to change whenever. The summer before ninth grade my perspective on life took a total 180. I would always be the girl who wanted to start fights, call people out for their wrongs even if it wasn’t my place to say anything, and was so self-conscious about myself, my decisions, and what others thought about me. Now, people’s opinions are the last thing that matters to me. I hate getting myself in drama and instead of trying to look “bad” and call people out, I keep to myself and let the situation happen without stating my opinion. Not caring about what others have thought of me has positively impacted my life tremendously and I’ve kept up with my change by the help of my friends supporting me and giving me guidance to make the right decisions. You have no worries when the only opinion you care about is your own, you make decisions for yourself and only yourself. You don’t have to worry about what others think and if it makes you happy then that’s all that matters. It also causes less stress, not having to fight with others and just living your best life, stress free of what people think of you. I have kept this change the whole year and it has had such a great impact on my life every day. ✦

BY: Fionna Huang, 10TH GRADE NORTH GWINNETT HIGH SCHOOL Many people say the phrase “new year, new me”; I don’t agree with this saying. Some people set goals at the beginning of the year hoping to accomplish it. In my opinion, if a person desperately wants to accomplish a goal, he/she does not need a new year. People will still achieve their goal whether it’s a new year or not; it is based on how desperately they want to accomplish it.

For example, if my goal is to pass all classes with A’s and B’s, I need to work for the grade. If I just say I want to get all A’s and B’s then I would not be able to earn it because I did not work for it, or I just slacked off. Many people say that a new year would change a

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 According to which way you look at it, a new year may or may not be necessary in order to make a change. Some people see a new year to make a change beneficial. Others see making a new change randomly to be beneficial as well.

Usually you hear the saying “New Year, New Me” or “New Year, New Beginnings” when a new year is approaching. Most people feel that a new year indicates leaving all the stressors behind in the past year. Looking at it this way makes it feel as if you have a clean slate.

Setting a “change” in the new year in my opinion is good for long term goals. I made a long-term goal at the beginning of 2018 to be more fit and active. When setting long term goals, it is important to break it down into fragments. Doing it this way makes it easier for you to see what you have already accomplished and what you need to accomplish to complete your goals. I failed my personal tasks by not breaking the workouts and physical activities down to be spread out for each month.

On another note, there is never a wrong time to make a “change”.

At certain points in people’s lives, they feel that something different from the usual needs to happen. During this year, I set a goal for my personal academic achievements. This was on a random day that I decided I needed to work harder in school and set a good precedent for myself. I started by realizing that I was spending more time on my phone rather than working on school work and studying. I started putting my phone on do not disturb and placing it out of my reach. I also turned my phone on silent and turned my brightness down. Doing all of this would have required me to do more work to look at my phone rather than to leave it alone, which discouraged me from wanting to engage in my phone. When it came to me being in the classroom, I would put in my earphones and listen to music if the teacher allowed it. This helped to keep me from being distracted by conversation with my friends and peers. I was successful at these tasks and I was satisfied with the outcome that my change made.

Overall, a new year does not need to occur for somebody to make a change or set a goal. A “change” is basically a goal, and people set goals all the time. As long as you stick to your goal and plan it out, then you should be successful. ✦

person but changing someone/something is not as easy as it looks.

Just like habits, I wasn’t able to change my habits just because it’s a new year. One year I said I was going to exercise to lose weight but plans never catch up with the change. I would procrastinate and say I will exercise tomorrow and so forth, but tomorrow ends up being never. Then I made a choice of just not eating at nights, but later on my mom would make food and tell me to go downstairs and eat. It’s food! Who would say no? Because of that, not eating became eating tons.

If I were really willing to make a change, I would not procrastinate; I would exercise every day continually. It has nothing to do with what year, season, or day it is based on whether you are willing to work for it. ✦

BY: Sarah Punjani, 11TH GRADE PEACHTREE RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL  I’ve recently read a quote which is, “In a society that profits from your self-doubt, liking yourself is a rebellious act.” You may be thinking; how does this quote have anything to do with New Year’s Resolutions? Well, as each year passes, we grow and mature. Growing up is generally associated with liking yourself; thus, I believe that New Year’s Resolutions are a way to increase your self-love.

As an inquisitive seventeen-year-old, I witness all the monsters in the world attempting to make me sink down a deep, dark black hole. The social media monster infiltrates my mind and makes me question my self-worth. The monsters who surround me at school make me question my beauty and intellectuality. The monsters nag at my brain constantly, and I search far and wide to find a ray of positivity, and many others also struggle to fend off these monsters. New Year’s Resolutions may seem like an unlikely source to find that ray of positivity, but each individual can make their own resolution(s) to make their life better.

This may mean engaging in activities which are not in your comfort level but have no fear. Jump off that cliff, even if no one else jumps with you. Adventure to foreign lands, even if you are worried about the dangers. For crying out loud, eat better even if it means straying away from your normal diet. Start and end the New Year right by engaging in things which are positive for your body and mind and if you do, I promise that society and its monsters will have a hard time reaching you. ✦

BY: Hayden Barron, 10TH GRADE NORTH GWINNETT HIGH SCHOOL The new year starts, and a new chapter begins. A new year is like a fresh start. Every New Year I try to make a new set of goals. One thing I wished I changed last new year were my grades and effort towards school. When the New Year comes I like to reflect on the things I did in the previous year and look at what I need to change for a better me and my future.

If you have no New Year resolutions then just try to make a goal for yourself to accomplish and really challenge yourself to meet that goal. Every new year just try to challenge yourself to become the best person you can and try to really achieve the goal you’re going for. ✦

TO READ MORE SUBMISSIONS, VISIT SUWANEEMAGAZINE.COM

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5 LOCAL BEERS TO TRY IN THE NEW YEAR

local food. craft beer. wine trends.

IN A

OF ITS OWN LOCATED IN THE ATLANTA SILVERBACKS INDOOR ARENA, BANANA’S PROVIDES SPORTS LOVERS WITH A SAFE, KID-FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT THAT MAKES WATCHING THE GAME FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.

BY LIZZY KIDNEY / PHOTOS BY BYRON BECKWITH AND DASH DIGITAL

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MAGINE A SPORTS BAR THAT IS ACTUALLY SURROUNDED BY SPORTS. WOULDN’T IT BE NICE TO ENJOY THE BIG GAME ON A 20-FOOT TV WHILE YOUR KIDS RUN AROUND AND PLAY? AT SUWANEE’S NEWEST SPORTS BAR, ALL OF THIS IS THE NORM. Tucked away in an industrial area near Suwanee Town Center, Banana’s is the ultimate sports lover’s paradise where the recreational sports create an atmosphere that makes watching the game and

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grabbing a bite to eat fun for the entire family. Setting itself apart from others in the area, the sports bar features the largest TV in Suwanee, and recreational areas to entertain kids and adults alike.

“I wanted Banana’s to be the complete sports package for restaurant patrons,” says General Manager Byron Beckwith. “Since we are located in the Atlanta Silverbacks Indoor Center, we offer the man-cave environment for guys to not only watch sports but physically play them as well. We host viewing parties on our 20-foot TV for the community, and on top of all of that we also offer a safe, kidfriendly environment.”

Banana’s features a bar area, three TVs to watch the latest games and a few beers on tap.

The restaurant area is enclosed by see-through walls, so parents can see their kids from all

angles of the facility, with the left side of the complex open to children visiting the restaurant at all times. Kids can entertain themselves with a mini bowling alley, a basketball court for freethrows, as well as a large indoor soccer field that can be used for pickup games of football, soccer, and kickball.

“We wanted community members to feel comfortable letting their kids run and play while they enjoyed their meal,” Beckwith says. “It was important to us that we not only offered parents a fun night out, but we also gave them the opportunity to bring the kids.”

Another thing that sets Banana’s apart from other local restaurants is that it’s quite literally a sports bar. The Atlanta Silverbacks Indoor arena is home to many indoor adult leagues, with games going on almost every night.

savor

“WE WANTED COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO FEEL COMFORTABLE LETTING THEIR KIDS RUN AND PLAY WHILE THEY ENJOYED THEIR MEAL.” - BYRON BECKWITH, GENERAL MANAGER

WINGS AND MORE

between 5 pm and 8 pm Monday through Friday.

Aside from the atmosphere, the food is a big hit with restaurant patrons, especially their wings. From Lemon Pepper to Tongue Tranquilizer, all 12 of Banana’s wing sauces  Banana’s also hosts plenty of are handmade for 2-3 hours each day. community events that are fun Not a wings fan? No problem. The sports for the entire family. With the bar also features menu items like the Bacon largest TV in Suwanee and three All the Way Burger — a half-pound burger additional TVs throughout the ABOVE: The restaurant is piled high with triple bacon, lettuce, tomato, restaurant, Banana’s is the perfect enclosed with see-through walls, onion, and Banana’s burger spread. Another spot to host viewing parties for so parents can see their kids popular menu item is the Philly Cheese major sporting events. from all angles of the facility, Steak with thinly sliced rib-eye grilled with with the left side of the complex Starting in February of 2019, the onions, peppers, and Swiss cheese. And with open to children at all times. restaurant will begin offering movie the recent additions of desserts like the Molten Lava Cake, Banana’s menu continues to grow.

“We wanted to keep our menu simple at first, so we could make sure to perfect it before adding on additional items,” Beckwith says. “All of our food is fresh and never frozen, and that’s something that we take great pride in.”

Banana’s also offers happy-hour specials like 65 cent wings, rotating $3 domestic pints as well as $4 craft/ imported pints Setting itself apart from others in the area, the sports bar features the largest TV in Suwanee, a mini bowling

FAMILY EVENTS

alley, soccer fields, and basketball courts.

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and date nights where parents can drop their kids off for a night of fun. The small fee will include a meal from Banana’s, playtime and supervision with the Atlanta Silverbacks indoor coaches, and a movie shown on the 20-foot TV.

The Atlanta Silverbacks Center has been in the community for more than 16 years and the new family-oriented restaurant also prides itself on being heavily involved in the Suwanee community.

All of the restaurant and facility employees are hired locally, with some even staying through high school, college, and beyond.

At Banana’s, restaurant patrons are immediately immersed into a sports lover’s paradise. The atmosphere and delicious food make watching the big game a fun experience for everyone. ■

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5 LOCAL BEERS TO TRY IN THE NEW YEAR eorgia is home to a craft beer boom. Since last year’s passage of Senate Bill 85, which allowed Georgia breweries and distilleries to sell their products directly to consumers for the first time, it’s now estimated that there are more than 60 breweries in Georgia.

Lucky for us a number of those are turning out amazing craft beer right here in our backyard. We recently reached out to five local breweries and asked them to hand-select one of their new beers for Suwanee Magazine readers to try in the new year. Cheers!

BY LIZZY KIDNEY

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DIRTY BEACHES

_____________ Scofflaw Brewing Company ATLANTA _____________ Scofflaw got down and dirty with its new tropical wheat, Dirty Beaches.

This spirited collaboration with Victory Brands is a wheat and IPA hybrid that features a creamy body and waves of tropical fruit aromas.

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HAZY LIKE A FOX

___________________________ New Realm Brewing Company ATLANTA ___________________________ This New England-style Hazy IPA is double dry hopped with El Dorado and Azacca hops. Left unfiltered and sent straight to the can for ultimate freshness, this hop-heavy beer contains the perfect blend of juiciness and fruity aromas.

LAGER JAMMIN

____________________________ Slow Pour Brewing Company LAWRENCEVILLE ____________________________ Making its 2019 debut, Slow Pour’s Lager Jammin is a Mexican-style, Vienna Lager. With hints of lime, this toasty lager is the perfect crisp and refreshing beer to try in the new year.

SHADE TAIL NUTTY PECAN ALE _____________ Left Nut Brewing Company GAINESVILLE _____________

With hints of roasted Georgia pecans and blends of Maris Otter barley, biscuit, and brown malts, Left Nut’s brown ale sets itself apart from others of its kind. Fuggles and EKG hops help to provide a balance and traditional profile, without overpowering the malt and hop characters.

NEVER SLEEP

_______________________ Good Word Brewing DULUTH _______________________ The first in its “Sleepwalker Series,” this 7% IPA is one of Good Word’s juciest beers.

Never Sleep features Vic Secret and Citra hops that provide IPA lovers with a juicy yet well-balanced taste.

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9th Annual

PARK R E T N E C N OW SUWANEE T

M A R JANUARY 1PM 5PM TICKETS ON SALE

11

TH

@ NOON!

16

(VIP GATES OP EN AT NOON!)

TICKETS ARE LIMITED AND WILL SELL OUT!

SUWANEEBEERFEST.COM 2019 SUWANEE AMERICAN CRAFT BEER FEST SPONSORED BY:

BEER & WINE BREWING SUPPLIES

GWINNETT’S BIGGEST

ST. PATRICK S DAY WEEKEND PARTY!

300+

CRAFT BEERS TO SAMPLE! ST. PADDY’S WEEKEND!

THE

THE LATEST FROM IN AND AROUND SUWANEE

Suwanee Beer Fest Tickets on Sale January 11th at Noon ■ The 2019 Suwanee American Craft Beer Fest returns to Town Center Park for its ninth year on Saturday, March 16, 2019, from 1-5pm. Even though beer is the name of the game at Georgia's largest craft beer fest, attendees always come decked out in all things green; including shamrocks, kilts and Irish garb in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. Recognized as one of the best craft beer festivals in the Southeast, Suwanee Beer Fest features unlimited samples of more than 300 craft beers — more than enough to sate the appetite of thirsty hopheads. The beer selection will have something for everyone and ranges from hard-to-find seasonals to perennial favorites, as well as local brews mingling with national breweries.

■ 2018 was the year of the woman and Medieval Mark your calendars Times Atlanta joined in on the celebration, introducing because tickets its first-ever female-led show. The new queen-led go on sale January show was announced in 2017, 11th at noon at “Having marking a major break from a 34-year suwaneebeerfest.com. a strong long tradition of casting a king as General Admission female lead the lead role. Since then, the show tickets are $50 until February 23rd and is a positive has made its way throughout eight castles in the U.S. and Canada, and include unlimited and timely opened in Atlanta on November 9, samples of craft beer, step. Little 2018, for its final hurrah. live music, backyard girls can In the new show, Collins Hill games such as cornhole look up to graduate Ashlyn Süpper plays Queen and giant Jenga, and her, and Doña Maria Isabella who ascends food for purchase from local restaurants and that’s what to the throne after her father, the king, dies. Süpper steps into this food trucks. Suwanee we need.” groundbreaking role after working Beer Fest will also - WILLIAM PHILLIPS, her way up in the Medieval Times host the 2019 8th General Manager, program for the last three years.

Medieval Times annual Home Brew “Having a strong female lead is Competition sponsored a positive and timely step,” says General Manager

by Brew Depot. The William Phillips. “Little girls can look up to her, and VIP Experience is $110 that’s what we need.” and includes early entry The new performance not only includes a female to the fest (beginning lead but new costumes, armor, fight scenes, and at noon), rare and musical score. However, favorites like the fourexclusive beers, access course meal, jousting, horsemanship, and swordplay to a private dining and remain staples throughout the production. tasting area, and more!

Medieval lovers can see the new show now through Purchase tickets starting September 2019 at the Sugarloaf Mills Medieval January 11th at noon at Times location.

SuwaneeBeerFest.com.

Collins Hill Graduate Takes the Reigns at Medieval Times

- David Morton

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Suwanee Wine Fest Donates to Local Nonprofit, Annandale Village ■ The 6th annual Suwanee Wine Fest took place on November 3rd, 2018, at Suwanee Town Center Park. Each year the festival organizers have partnered with local nonprofit, Annandale Village, as their benefiting charity. Annandale Village is a residential and nursing facility off of Satellite Boulevard in Suwanee that provides life assistance to adults with developmental disabilities such as Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, acquired brain injuries and more. A portion of proceeds from the Suwanee Wine Fest ticket sales is given to Annandale to support their award-winning programs and services. Thanks to much-needed fundraising, Annandale’s residents, affectionately called Villagers, are able to live as independently as possible in a comfortable, secure environment with nurses and assistance on staff 24/7, if needed.

Skye Precious Kids, a New Metro Atlanta Nonprofit Launched by a Local Gwinnett Mom ■ Skye Jones, a passionate advocate for children and the needy, became acquainted with a working mom who was struggling financially while caring for a sick child. The number of hours the mom could spend working was minimal, and Jones’ heart ached for the families who were struggling to make ends meet while caring for their children. Because of this, Skye Precious Kids was born.

The Georgia nonprofit’s mission is to provide resources to families in financial

crisis who are caring for children who are facing life-threatening illnesses and disabilities. The organization focuses on Georgia families with documented economic hardships and works to provide families with a healthy and safe home environment, full access to medical care and equipment, as well as educational support.

Through an application screening, families can apply for support to their unique needs. If approved for aid through one of the nonprofit’s three key programs, SPK works directly with medical providers, utility companies, vendors and other payees directly.

Financial aid is never given directly to individuals.

For more information on upcoming events and to learn how you can help, volunteer and make a difference, visit SkyePreciousKids.org or call 404-478-9794.

All for Lunch Pays Off Lunch Accounts ■ Local nonprofit All for Lunch strives to wipe out delinquent lunch accounts in schools to ensure no child goes hungry due to their family’s financial situation. In the month of November, All for Lunch was able to pay off all of the delinquent lunch accounts in the North Gwinnett cluster of Suwanee elementary schools.

Schools like Riverside Elementary, Robert's Elementary, Suwanee Elementary, and Level Creek Elementary are now 100% lunch debt free! The nonprofit is currently working toward its goal of ridding Georgia's school lunch debt, so that all kids can receive nutritious hot lunch meals at school.

To learn more about All for Lunch, or to make a donation, visit AllforLunch.com.

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North Gwinnett High School defeats Alaska Eagle Eye Shooting Club ■ North Gwinnett High School’s Air Rifle team had a very successful 2018 season. After breaking every record the school has held in the past 15 seasons, the team went on to win the National Air Rifle League's Distinguished Division Junior Rifle Club Conference Title.

The win came after defeating the Alaska Eagle Eye Shooting Club 2219 to 2190 in the beginning of December. In the title game, North Gwinnett High School was led by Matt Herrington who shot a 567. The remaining contributing members were Corina Fluker, Shasta Robinson, Ethan Woyce, and Caitlyn Miller.

Gwinnett Parks and Recreation Receives Awards

Community Services Director Tina Fleming, and Director and Recreation Deputy Director Chris Minor receive the Agency of the Year Award along with employees of Gwinnett Parks and Recreation

■ Gwinnett Parks and Recreation was named the 2018 Agency of the Year in the 50,000 and over population category by the Georgia Recreation and Park Association. The award recognizes excellence and leadership in providing quality recreation programs, parks, and facilities that enhance the quality of life in communities.

In addition to the agency award, Gwinnett Parks and Recreation employees and community partners were also award recipients. The Volunteer Award was presented to Liberty Mutual and Safeco Insurance Company’s Serve with Liberty program for completing 1,122 hours of service in the last six years in Gwinnett County parks.

Monte Harpe received the Distinguished Professional Administrator Award for his dedication to the field of aquatics and his work in the community. The Roy A. Hammond Leadership Award was presented to Chris Minor, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation, for his leadership and vision, inspiring success in his team, organization and the community. The Hammond award is given to those who embody what a recreation and park professional should be: a leader who enjoys the special privileges of complexity, ambiguity, and diversity.

For more information on the GRPA, visit grpa.org.

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the buzz

Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful Sets Shining Example During America Recycles Day 2018 ■ In celebration of America Recycles Day 2018, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and Gwinett County Solid Waste Management teamed up to host a community recycling event at Coolray Field on November 17th. Over the course of three hours, about 140 volunteers served an estimated 4,000 residents in the recycling or safe disposal of difficult to recycle items that are not accepted curbside in Gwinnett County.

“As a proud Keep America Beautiful affiliate, we always strive to serve as an example for other environmentallyfocused nonprofits to follow,” said Schelly Marlatt, Executive Director for Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. “This year, we served nearly 900 more residents and processed more recyclables than last year’s event. We’re making an impact and touching more lives and that’s an amazing feeling.”

The event also saw to secure the shredding of over 41,000 lbs. of sensitive documents, and the 6,500 gallons of paint that were collected will be used to help support Global Paint for Charity. This organization’s mission is to recycle leftover paint and reprocess and distribute it to vulnerable families and individuals in order to change lives and beautify underserved communities around the world.

NGHS President and CEO Receives Women Who Mean Business Award ■ Carol Burrell, Northeast Georgia Health System’s President and CEO, has been recognized as one of the most influential businesswomen in Metro Atlanta. Burell was listed as one of the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2018 Women Who Mean Business, along with 19 other women who are recognized for driving business in their industries. The women were selected out of more than 350 nominees and were chosen for making significant strides in their careers, communities, and paving the way for future generations.

Under Carol Burrell’s leadership, the Northeast Georgia Health System has received multiple national and state ratings for quality clinical care from several independent sources; expanded into a three-hospital health system; was named one of the AJC’s top workplaces in metro Atlanta for seven consecutive years; and was recognized as one of Atlanta's top 25 employers by the Atlanta Business Chronicle.

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z z u B City S U G A R

H I L L

Sugar Hill is stepping up and adding active entertainment to the long list of fun features the city already offers to keep residents active and engaged. The city's award-winning E Center proudly serves as "The Center of Everything" with 180,000 square feet of restaurant, retail,

on community Open to the 2nd, 2019!

January

recreation, and fine arts space. The project includes a community gymnasium with walking track, spacious community rooms, recreation classrooms and more than 40,000 square feet of leasable commercial space.

The E Center recreation area boasts a gym court striped for basketball, volleyball, and pickleball; fitness rooms for classes including yoga, dance, and karate; programming and fitness opportunities for all ages; and an indoor walking track.

Sugar Hill residents will have free access to the gym facilities and other community members nearby can join for a minimal annual fee. For more information about classes or access to the gym, call 770-945-6716 or visit the City of Sugar Hill website at cityofsugarhill.com.

The city's award-winning E Center proudly serves as "The Center of Everything" /CityofSugarHill

@CityofSugarHill

@CityofSugarHill_

Sugar Hill has invested in other amenities to strengthen the community and provide opportunities for health and wellness: › Downtown sidewalks perfect for running or walking › Active Sugar Hill Running Club › 16-mile greenway loop around the entire City (in process) › February health screening in the Community Center › Beautiful, clean community parks for a day off with fresh air, friends and family › A wonderful community garden in Pirkle Park to grow fresh food › Sugar Hill Golf Club continues to create fun tournaments and special events, with lessons and clinics, and weekend tee-times. › Athletic leagues and clubs to participate and compete in › Active community groups to connect residents, build relationships, and provide volunteer opportunities

/CityofSugarHill

@CityofSugarHill

@CityofSugarHill_

citybuzz

ON THE SCENE

Jolly Holly Day Friday, Nov. 30th

TOWN CENTER PARK

PHOTOS BY: KIM TOWNE

VIEW MORE PEOPLE & PLACES PICS @

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SBA December Meeting

Pete Patel, John and Kathy Ferroni and Cristina and Jeff Oliver from Postal Plus

Tuesday, Dec. 12th SUWANEE CITY HALL

PHOTOS BY: ANGELA VEUGELER

Friendship Paint and Body's Troy Wilson, Danny Radford from Friendship Complete Auto Care and Barry Calano

Business Radio X's Mike Sammond and fiancĂŠ, Tracy Byrd Suwanee City Councilmembers, Dan Foster and Linnea Miller with Patty Etherton and Bernie Bock-Davis from Suwanee Academy of the Arts

Suwanee Magazine's Julie Perdue and Lila Kelley

Betty Ann and Eddie Prince, Marly Cartledge and Richard Trice

Suwanee Businee Alliance Board of Directors

Gwinnett Chamber's Sandy Richardson, Ray Stanjevich from Friends American Grill and Donna O'Brien from Cooper's Crew Ed and Lucy Szczesniak

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Reeves Young Tree Lighting Event Wednesday, Nov. 28th REEVES YOUNG

PHOTOS BY: ANGELA VEUGELER

Peach State Chili Cookoff

Saturday, Nov. 17th TOWN CENTER PARK

PHOTOS BY: KARL LAMB

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Suwanee Wine Fest

Saturday, Nov. 3rd, TOWN CENTER PARK

PHOTOS BY: KARL LAMB

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people & places

VIEW MORE PEOPLE & PLACES PICS @

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Happy Feat Fest and Run Saturday, Dec. 17th TOWN CENTER PARK

PHOTOS BY: KARL LAMB

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A R E A

E V E N T

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HAPPENINGS THIS JANUARY & FEBRUARY

SUWANEE BEER FEST TICKETS ON SALE AT NOON! JAN. 1 FEB. 10

____________________

ICE RINK AT SUGAR HILL OPEN___ _________________ For more information, visit HaveAnIceDayRinks.com

January

3 5

9:00am-4:00pm _____________________

Sims Lake Park

19

HAPPY FEAT PROM___ _____________________

Tickets on sale for Gwinnett's Biggest St. Paddy's Day Weekend Party on March 16th! For more information and to purchase tickets go to SuwaneeBeerFest.com.

2019 EE SUWAENST IS BEER FADDY’S ST. P KEND! WEE

16 Feb. 24

Thru

6:00pm-10:00pm _____________________

LICENSE TO CHILL SNOW ISLAND AND MAGICAL NIGHTS OF LIGHTS _______________________

For details, to register or sponsor a guest visit happyfeat.org/prom.

Entrance to Magical Nights of Lights begins at $43 per vehicle. Tickets to License to Chill begin at $24.99.

The Battery at Suntrust Stadium _____________________

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Suwanee Magazine

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY GWINNETT COUNTY SCHOOLS HOLIDAY

GWINNETT COUNTY SCHOOLS BACK IN SESSION

BRING ONE FOR THE CHIPPER CHRISTMAS TREECYCLING _____________________ ___

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_________________ ______________________ Friday, January 11th @ NOON ______________________________________

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Lake Lanier Islands ________________________

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GEORGIA SWARM VS. SASKATCHEWAN RUSH _______________________ 4:05 pm ________ _______________

Infinite Energy Arena___ _________________

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit georgiaswarm.com.

February

10

SUWANEE HALF MARATHON/OLD TOWN 5K ________________ ___

7:30am-11:00am __________________

Suwanee Town Center Park __________________

Register at suwaneehalf.com.

22 15TH ANNUAL TASTE OF COLLINS HILL

___ ___________________ Friday, February 22nd @ 6:00pm9:00pm _____________________

14 22 18 24 Collins Hill High School _____________________ For more information and to purchase tickets, visit tasteofcollinshill.com.

VALENTINE'S DAY

PRESIDENT’S DAY GWINNETT COUNTY SCHOOLS HOLIDAY

2021

thru

MARVEL UNIVERSE LIVE! _______________________ Infinite Energy Arena___ _________________ For more information or to purchase tickets, visit infiniteenergycenter.com.

thru

GWINNETT COUNTY SCHOOLS EARLY RELEASE ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS 81