March/April 2021

C O V E R I NG G W I N N E TT: A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH:

GEORGIA FORCE CHRISTIAN ATHLETICS

SUWANEE, SUGAR HILL, DULUTH, BUFORD, LAWRENCEVILLE & JOHNS CREEK!

MAR / APR 21

RESTAURANT SPOTLIGHT:

RUSHING TRADING COMPANY

SUGAR HILL’S FAVORITE BRUNCH SPOT

VITALITY MED SPA HOLTKAMP HEATING & AIR 2021

SUMMER CAMP GUIDE

BREWERY SPOTLIGHT:

ANDERBY BREWING PEACHTREE CORNERS CRAFT BREWERY MAKES A NAME FOR ITSELF

CUTEST PUP IN SUWANEE WINNER BACKYARD

BLISS

UPGRADE YOUR OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE WITH TIPS FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES

Ride the waves this summer with Lanier Experience Water Sports Summer Camp

Personal Care Home for the Elderly

Savannah Plantation enjoys a 25-year tradition of providing quality care at a reasonable rate. We offer all the services you’ll find at larger facilities, for half the cost. On average, we save families over $20,000 yearly in elderly care services.

ALL-INCLUSIVE INDEPENDENT LIVING RATES STARTING AT

2,450

$

per mo.

Savannah Plantation

102 Level Creek Rd. Buford, GA Admissions: 404-680-6896

SavannahPlantation.com Savannah Plantation Personal Care Homes Inc. savannah_plantation SavannahPlanta1

Georgia State License no. 067-02-011-1

QUALITY CARE IS BEST MEASURED IN YEARS. SINCE 1994

Savannah Plantation is an exclusive all women’s facility in Buford that is safe, secure, and affordable.

• Exclusive All Women’s Facility • 24 Hour Awake Staff • Visiting Physician/ Nurse Practitioner • Visiting Podiatrist • Visiting Lab Services • Daily Laundry Services • Daily Housekeeping Services • 3 Home-Cooked Meals Daily (Special Diets Available) • Visiting Beautician/ Beauty Shop on Premises • Licensed Practical Nurse Compliance Manager • Pharmacy Delivery Services • Cable TV Access in Every Room • Staff To Patient Ratio Exceeds State Regulations • Secure Facility with Alarms • Daily Activities (Guest Singer on Weekends) • Security Cameras in Common Areas • Loving Family Environment

LEADING CARE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. From diagnosis to treatment and recovery, we believe every patient deserves personalized, comprehensive care that fits their needs. That’s why our network of expert providers is dedicated to delivering patient-first care backed by leading treatment options. Discover the power of Northside in your neighborhood.

Contact a practice below to schedule your in-person or virtual appointment today.

Our Locations Adult Primary Care Associates

General Surgeons of Gwinnett

575 Professional Drive, Suite 510 Lawrenceville, GA 30046 770-513-2072 northside.com/apc

3890 Johns Creek Parkway, Suite 240 Suwanee, GA 30024 770-978-0561 generalsurgeonsofgwinnett.com

Arthritis & Total Joint Specialists

Georgia Colon and Rectal Surgical Associates

Northside Suwanee Primary Care

771 Old Norcross Road, Suite 135 Lawrenceville, GA 30046 770-292-6500 arthritisandtotaljoint.com

721 Wellness Way, Suite 200 Lawrenceville, GA 30046 770-277-4277 gcrsa.com

1120 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Suite 208 Suwanee, GA 30024 678-312-8400 northside.com/suwaneepc

Duluth Family & Sports Medicine

Gwinnett Consultants in Cardiology

3855 Pleasant Hill Road, Suite 100 Duluth, GA 30096 678-312-7800 northside.com/dfsm

3855 Pleasant Hill Road, Suite 250 Duluth, GA 30096 770-962-4895 gwinnettcardiology.com

Jess D. Schwartz, MD, FACS, FCCP

Georgia Hill, DO

Gwinnett ENT 3855 Pleasant Hill Road, Suite 280 Duluth, GA 30096 678-312-7390 gwinnettent.com

Northside Thoracic Surgery

500 Medical Center Boulevard, Suite 390 Lawrenceville, GA 30046 404-252-9063 northsidethoracicsurgery.com

MAR/APR 21

34 The Faces of Suwanee

Learn more about Suwanee’s former Police Chief Mike Jones who retired after 23 years of service.

42

Backyard Bliss

Local businesses offer tips to help upgrade your outdoor living space just in time for spring.

10 Holtkamp Heating and Air

The story of one of Suwanee’s most well-respected and charitable businesses.

28 Vitality Med Spa

We caught up with owner, founder and self-described “boss babe” Monique Hicks to learn more about Vitality Med Spa’s team, services and latest award.

13 Investment Strategies

All the details on the gorgeous new event space in downtown historic Buford.

4

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

38 Kids and Chiros

Caring for children, and even babies, is by far one of the most rewarding and misunderstood aspects of Dr. Lauren Millman’s job.

40 Spring Into the Kitchen!

Contributing writer Natalie Garrett offers tips for spring cleaning and meal prepping -- as well as a delicious springtime recipe!

A mother-and-daughter team who pride themselves on their coffee, charcuterie boards and giving back to the community run Sugar Hill’s favorite brunch spot.

14 Room 99

Bringing gallery and class space to Town Center Park.

Grow Counseling’s Molly Halbrooks offers tips on how to balance your relationship with social media.

54 Rushing Trading Co.

Suwanee’s Aileron Investment Advisors answers your investment questions.

32 Suwanee Arts Center

PHOTO COURTESY AMERICAN CASUAL LIVING

37 Social Media Balancing Act

58 Anderby Brewing

16

Cutest Pup in Suwanee Winners

The 2021 Cutest Pup in Suwanee winners are announced.

What started as a Groupon for a make-your-own-beer class has evolved into a new local brewery that is making a name for itself with quality craft beer.

18

Summer Camp Guide

Our annual Summer Camp Guide is jam-packed with local camps that will cater to all of your child’s interests — and even teach them a new skill or two!

62 Tastes Like Spring at StillFire Brewing

All the details on the events coming to the Suwanee brewery this spring.

64 Beer Chaser 5K

Suwanee Beer Fest announces a new socially distant beer event coming to Town Center Park this March.

71 A Force to Reckon With Georgia Force Christian Athletics fosters character development, camaraderie and hard work in a Christian environment.

IN EVERY ISSUE: 6 Editor’s Letter 9 Currently Loving 66 The Buzz

74 Sugar Hill City Buzz 75 Event Calendar 76 People & Places

5

letter

a note from our managing editor

Spring is in the Air PRING IS most definitely in the

air in Suwanee. We are awaking from our wintertime slumber, ready to once again emerge outside to enjoy the sunshine and all that our community has to offer. From the beautiful parks and Greenway to Town Center, we are fortunate to call Suwanee home. And as we approach a year since we were first ordered to shelter in place due to the COVID pandemic, the community is slowly attempting to return to some normalcy -- albeit very cautiously. In fact, the City of Suwanee has several new 5K's on the calendar, including the Suwanee Arts Center’s Superhero 5K, taking place April 24, as well as a brand-new event from the team behind Suwanee Beer Fest, the Beer Chaser 5K, set to take place on March 20. Read more about all this new event has to offer on p. 64.

Speaking of the outdoors, we’ve all been spending quite a bit of time at home these days. Many of us have chosen to take advantage of the extra “down time” and work on sprucing up our homes. As we enter spring, many of these renovations have moved outside with a renewed interest in updating our backyard. Turn to p. 42 for our “Backyard Bliss” article, in which we spoke with local businesses about how to turn our outdoor living spaces into our own personal oasis, from lawn care and equipment to barbecues and water features.

As we approach the warmer months, it’s important to also keep air conditioning top of mind. We caught up with Matthew Holtkamp of Holtkamp Heating and Air on p. 10 to learn more about the story behind one of our area’s most respected businesses, as well as get some advice on how to keep our HVAC systems in tip-top shape. Turn to p. 28 to learn more about the recent recognition another beloved local business received. Vitality Med Spa was recently named the No. 1 Account in Cosmetic Injectables in the Southeast U.S.,

Nothing beats a cold beer on a warm spring day, and our friends at StillFire are brewing up plently of opportunities for you to celebrate the onset of spring.

and owner Monique Hicks spoke with us about how her business has grown over the last 10 years and what the future holds for the medical weight loss and wellness facility.

On p. 54 we profile Sugar Hill’s new favorite brunch spot, Rushing Trading Company. Run by month-daughter duo Amber and Mattie Rushing, Rushing Trading Company prides itself on its coffee, charcuterie boards and giving back to the community. We also spoke with Preston and Michell Smelt, owners of Peachtree Corners’ Anderby Brewing, on p. 58, to learn more about how a well-gifted Groupon evolved into a craft brewery that’s making a name for itself with good beer and a love of cats.

We are also very excited to announce the winners of our 2021 Cutest Pup in Suwanee Contest in this issue. This year’s contest was our most popular yet, with 98 dogs entered into the contest and more than 2,500 votes! Turn to p. 16 to see our super cute winner!

ALICIA CARTER, MANAGING EDITOR Alicia@suwanee magazine.com

6

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

2019 GWINNETT DAILY POST READER’S CHOICE

GWINNETT’S BEST WEBSITE DESIGN FIRM

Call or email us for a FREE, no-stringsattached website assessment.

A mobile-responsive website is a must in today’s economy. Veugeler Design Group builds award-winning, lead-generating websites, landing pages, micro-sites, web banners and more, all optimized to turn online visitors into customers and maximize brand equity.

Veugeler Design Group 678-482-2270 / info@vdgatl.com / VDGatl.com WEBSITE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

I

BRANDING

I

GRAPHIC DESIGN

I

DIGITAL MARKETING

I

CONTENT DEVELOPMENT

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 JAMES • NATALIE GARRETT Production Manager APRIL MILLER Web Editor CLARKE GLIDEWELL Graphic Design SHAY HARBAUGH LAURA HOLCOMBE

Photographers KARL LAMB • JULIE PERDUE GARY DOWD

JULIE PERDUE Executive Sales and Business Development julie@suwaneemagazine.com

Published by VEUGELER DESIGN GROUP 554 W. Main Street, Suite 200 Buford, GA 30518 SuwaneeMagazine.com For SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES or BACK ISSUE ORDERS, call 678-482-2270.

For ADVERTISING INQUIRES, call 678-482-2270, or email info@suwaneemagazine.com.

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. ©2021 Veugeler Design Group. The editors welcome unsolicited manuscripts and photographs. Please email submissions to Alicia Carter at Alicia@suwaneemagazine.com.

8

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

Snapshots of the food, shops, events and more we’re loving around town.

Favorite Rescue Group BEST CHORIZO TORTA

NEW FAVORITE #TACOTUESDAY SPOT A LOCAL FAVORITE, Beto’s Tacos, has

Whether you’re looking for the perfect fur baby for your family or just wanting to help out by donating your time, Cat Rangers is the place! Located in Buford, Cat Rangers provides a wonderful service to help rescue and foster cats all over Gwinnett County. Last year they rescued more than 600 cats and helped find them the perfect home. The Luney household is currently fostering two of their adorable kittens while they await placement. It is a wonderful opportunity to help out in our local community! Cat Rangers is located at 289 W. Shadburn Ave. in Buford. For more information, visit CatRangers.org.

become twice as yummy now that it’s opened up a second location! The new taco shop in Lawrenceville offers another convenient opportunity to fill up on authentic Mexican cuisine. From tacos to BEST tortas (the chorizo is SOUTHERN my fave!) and soups FOOD to salads, Beto’s has something for everyone.

The Suwanee location has been open for almost two years now and I’ve been lucky enough to get to know owner Roberto Correa ("Beto”) throughout my frequent visits. His passion radiates and I’m so excited to see his business If you love Southern food, Flavor Rich growing! Beto’s Tacos’ Food Truck is a must! It is almost new location is located at impossible to decide on just one 4825 Sugarloaf Parkway favorite dish, but the Strawberry in Lawrenceville. For Shortcake French Toast is a sinfully more information, visit delicious breakfast option. You BetosTacos.com. can also never go wrong with their creamy grits! Flavor Rich Food Truck - Natalie Garrett, is located at 1175 Buford Hwy. in Contributing Writer Suwanee. For more information, visit FlavorRichRestaurant.com.

Best Breakfast

-- Tammy Luney, Ad Manager

BEST CAT RESCUE

- Tammy Luney, Ad Manager

GO-TO SPRING BEER With spring finally here, my friends and I are currently loving enjoying a beer out on StillFire Brewing’s patio.

BEST SPRING My go-to SOUR spring beer has been their delicious Koastal Krush Mimosa Sour, because it's super light, refreshing and easy to sip on all day long! The best part? It’s also available in package stores and restaurants across the state!

- Natalie Garrett, Contributing Writer

9

B U S I N E S S

S P O T L I G H T

HOLTKAMP HEATING AND AIR How a throwaway course at vocational school ignited a passion that would lead to one of Suwanee’s most well-respected and charitable businesses.

By Alicia Carter / Photos by Karl Lamb

SUWANEE’S Holtkamp Heating and Air was

founded on CEO and President Matthew Holtkamp’s deep desire to not only continue his family’s tradition of entrepreneurship, but also on a newfound interest discovered during his time at a vocational school in his home state of Iowa. Having grown up surrounded by the farming industry, Matthew had always been drawn to hard work and fixing things with his hands. After graduating from high school in 1984, he briefly ventured into computer repair. “The new thing at the time was computers and I knew I liked to fix things with my hands, so I went to our local vocational school for computer repair,” he says. Like many of us during that time in our life, Matthew focused more on the social aspect of school over his studies, and was advised by his guidance counselor to take a class that would help him improve his GPA. On a whim, he enrolled in an appliance repair course that included air conditioning in its studies. While the course was originally meant to be a throw-away, Matthew ended up falling in love with it.

“In computers, I hadn't gotten to fix anything in those classes; it was all theory at that point,” Matthew says. “It was high-level math. We didn’t call it coding back then, it was basically computer programming. So even though I wanted to learn how to fix computers, I wasn’t going to get to do that for many more semesters down the road. I was a tactile learner and here I was trying to learn something out of books — it just wasn’t going well.”

Likening it to a kind of divine intervention, Matthew honed in on appliance repair for

10

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

the remainder of school. After graduating, he took a chance and moved to Georgia following the promise of more job opportunities. His home state of Iowa was in the middle of a farming crisis, with many farmers out of work. After settling in DeKalb County, Matthew received a direct mail piece from Emory University advertising an Evening at Emory course titled “How to Start and Manage Your Own Successful Small Business.” Matthew took the class and from there created a 10-year plan on how he was going to start his own company.

While the Emory course awarded Matthew the knowledge he needed to start his own business, he credits a large portion of his drive and desire to be self-employed to the farming industry where he grew up.

“It wasn’t all just Evening at Emory, it’s growing up on a farm and everybody in this farming community — you’re getting all this influence because farming is basically a small business.

They’re all entrepreneurs,” he says. “You’ve got that circle of influence and I always knew I wanted to be self-employed.

In computers I saw that it would be much more difficult to be self-employed. It would be a lot less difficult to do appliances and HVAC. So even in my 19-year-old mind, these gears were turning.”

After a decade of working in the industry and acquiring all of the knowledge he could, Matthew opened Holtkamp Heating and Air with his wife, Suzanne, shortly after they married in 1995. In 2019, they celebrated 25 years in business.

A WHOLE-HOUSE APPROACH TO HEATING AND AIR

Matthew Holtkamp

As opposed to just any run-of-the-mill heating and air company, what sets Holtkamp apart is that they take a whole-house approach to their business. “A lot of people don’t understand that their air conditioning and heating is really just adding heat or removing heat that’s been caused by your house in some way, shape or form,” Matthew says. “So it’s going to be the windows, insulation, doors — how leaky is your house?”

Matthew says there are two approaches to finding a solution.

You can put in a bigger air conditioner to overcome all of

the deficiencies of your house or you can fix the problems of your house and put in a smaller air conditioner.

“Your solution isn’t just the box,” he says. “A lot of companies say, ‘Well, we will put in a bigger box.’ I educate my guys on being able to look at the house as part of the system.

Don’t just look at, ‘Is If you the air conditioner approach broken?’ We train your business our guys to be relationships and able to look at your your customer structure as a whole and ask questions relationships with like, ‘Do you have mutual respect and any uncomfortable long-term thinking, it rooms?’ or ‘What benefits everybody. challenges are you It’s not all about facing?’ The solutions to those challenges making money will a lot of times solve today off this one transaction. It’s about the air conditioning problems.” building customer It’s clear when loyalty through talking to Matthew that mutual respect.” he truly loves what he does. He takes pride - Matthew Holtkamp in growing a business CEO and President Holtkamp Heating and Air that not only takes care of its customers, but also its community. “I love this business; I want to be around for the long haul and the only way I can be successful is to help my customers,”

he says. “It’s not about making money, although that obviously comes with it. But if you approach your business relationships and your customer relationships with mutual respect and long-term thinking, it benefits everybody. It’s not all about making money today off this one transaction. It’s about building customer loyalty through mutual respect.”

GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY

Holtkamp takes a "whole house" approach when addressing your air conditioning issues.

Over time, Matthew’s role with the company has shifted to focus more on community engagement. With an Operations Manager in place to focus on the day-to-day operations of the business, Matthew is free to build professional and personal relationships while engaging with the community. As a member of Rotary International, he takes part in what he calls “high-level marketing” that enables him to meet with like-minded business owners who work together to identify and address community needs. Matthew has taken part in numerous volunteer opportunities, including Leadership Gwinnett, collecting food for local food banks, and has been actively involved with Special Kneads, a local bakery employed by adults with special needs.

The Holtkamps also actively support the local arts, inspired in part by their oldest daughter, a recent graduate with a musical theater degree. Their love of the arts is most notable by the large mural that adorns the side of their headquarters in Suwanee, ever present while traveling north or south on I-85.

11

In addition to overseeing Holtkamp’s philanthropic endeavors, Matthew is also responsible for training all of their employees. “I am solely in charge of all onboarding and training to make sure that every new employee is fulfilling the customer expectation that Holtkamp has come to be known for, which is a high level of customer service and high level of technical expertise,” he says.

Matthew credits the success of Holtkamp Heating and Air to the reputation he and his team have built after more than 25 years in business. “For 25 years, word of mouth has been the No. 1 source of new customers for us,” he says. “Our company was built one day at a time, and one customer at a time.” ■

➜ To learn more about Holtkamp Heating and Air, visit holtkamphvac.com.

12

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

BUSINESS

BY: Bill and Cindi Porter, AILERON INVESTMENT ADVISORS

Q: IS IT WISE TO INVEST IN THE S&P 500 INDEX?

Maybe. The S&P 500 is comprised of 500 large U.S. stocks which cover 11 major sectors of the economy. Although it is not possible to invest directly into the S&P 500® Index; some feel it is a representative of how the American economy is doing as a whole. But is it? Consider this: The S&P 500 was up 18% for 2020, BUT if you eliminate the top 24 companies, the remaining 476 companies as a group were negative for 2020. Tech firms carried most of the 18% average return.1 Investors can invest in all the same stock as the entire S&P 500, or instead, just one or more of the 11 individual sectors. Opting to limit an investment to only part of the S&P 500 offers more upside and downside potential. For example, in 2020 the S&P 500 Information Tech sector was up 42%, but the S&P 500 Energy sector was down 37%.2 If you limit your investment to only specific sectors, be sure you know why you are making that decision. However, if you are correct in your assumptions and pick a top performing sector, your returns will exceed the overall S&P 500 index. Of course, the reverse is also true.

Sometimes stocks are added to the S&P 500 index, which means others are removed because the index is always limited to 500 companies. In 2020, Tesla (TSLA) was added to the S&P Consumer Discretionary sector, and Apartment Investment and Management (AIV) was removed from the S&P Real Estate sector. Not only did two stocks change the S&P 500 lineup, but they also significantly altered the size of their respective sectors.3 That matters for investors who may be thinking of opting for individual sectors rather than the S&P 500 index as a whole.

Your trusted advisor can help you decide if, how, and how much you may want to invest in the S&P 500 or any of its 11 sectors. ■ 1Madison Market Monitor – January 4, 2021 Madison Market Monitor 4Q 2020 (constantcontact.com) 2https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-stocks-energy/battered-energy-sector-could-get-reprieve-fromgolden-cross-chart-signal-idUSKBN29421R 3Barron’s “S&P’s Addition of Tesla Revives Indexer Debate” December 21, 2020

Aileron Investment Advisors is an independent financial services firm that utilizes a variety of investment and insurance products. 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. All investments are subject to risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. This information is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation. Please note, it is not possible to invest directly into the S&P 500® Index; this measure is provided solely as a benchmark of overall market performance. Past performance of the S&P 500® is not an indication of future performance and is not guaranteed. This content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as the basis for financial decisions.

Send your investment questions to: submissions@ SuwaneeMagazine.com

13

HEALTH & WELLNESS

IT’S PARTY TIME AT DOWNTOWN BUFORD’S NEW EVENT SPACE: ROOM 99 plan a party, rehearsal dinner, shower or corporate event? Be sure to check out Room 99, a gorgeous event space on charming Main Street in downtown historic Buford.

Featuring exposed brick walls, beautiful bamboo floors and flexible seating options, Room 99 is the perfect canvas to be personalized with flowers and décor for your event.

Room 99’s Executive Chef has crafted a broad catering menu ranging from charcuterie boards to full plated meals or buffet dinners.

Whether you're looking for down-home comfort or highend elegance, Room 99 offers customizable menus for every Whether you're looking for down-home comfort or style of event, high-end elegance, Room 99 offers customizable from Southern menus for every style of event.

Comfort to Little Italy, Tex-Mex and everything in between. A wide selection of boutique wines and craft beer pair perfectly with the delicious appetizers, entrées and desserts offered. Room 99 will even create a custom menu for private corporate dinners of 20 or more. Rent the entire space and dine with your guests in complete privacy.

The experienced party staff will take care of your attendees while you simply enjoy your event.

Conveniently located next to the brand-new parking garage in downtown Buford, Room 99 has plenty of parking for your guests.

Visit Room99Events.com to get a free party quote, take a photo tour of the space, and check out their delicious catering menus. ■ NEED TO

Room 99 is located at 99 E Main St. N.E. in Downtown Buford. For more information call 470-252-6913.

14

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

A GATHERING PLACE

Your Private Party Place in Historic Downtown Buford

RENT ROOM 99 AND MAKE YOUR PARTY MEMORABLE Elegant Events • Birthday Parties • Baby Showers • Rehearsal Dinners • Corporate Events

“The venue is gorgeous and the people are amazing.

So easy to work with and the food was absolutely delicious! A great night!” ~ Mary W.

See Menus & Get a Party Quote at

Room99Events.com • 470.252.6913

2021

And the winner is …

Townley Julep!

THIS YEAR’S Cutest Pup in

Suwanee Contest was our biggest contest yet, with 98 entries and more than 2,500 votes and, we must say, all of the pups were pretty darn cute. It was a tight race, with less than 20 votes separating first, second and third place.

In the end, the people have spoken and crowned Townley Julep, a miniature Piebald Doxie, the 2021 winner!

First Place Townley Julep Miss Townley Julep is a miniature Piebald Doxie shop dog. She is a happy gal who loves treats and is such a snuggler. She can often be found “sunbathing” or under her blankie. She would like to thank you in advance for voting for her. She can often be found at Mint Juleps in Sugar Hill.

Mattie Sullivan and her sweet pup Townley Julep celebrate Townley’s first place win in the 2021 Cutest Pup in Suwanee Contest.

16

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

Thank you to our sponsors:

Second Place Molly Michael McClelland Molly Michael was rescued after being left in a parking lot. She is two years old and enjoys long walks, vacationing with her family, playing with toys, and watching college football.

...and thank you to the local businesses that donated amazing gift baskets and treats to spoil our winners:

THIRD Place Lexi Lexi is 11 months old. She is is her parents’ quarantine baby.

She doesn’t fetch but loves to play “I’m gonna get you” with her toys. She loves to play in any body of water. There are two boys in the family and she believes she is their sister and wants to do what they do!

17

20

21

Scratching your head on what to do with the kiddos this summer? Don’t panic! Our annual Summer Camp Guide is jam-packed with local camps that will cater to all of your child’s interests — and even teach them a new skill or two!

From sports camps to nature, science, art camps and more, our guide is a handy resource for keeping the kids happy and occupied during summer vacation.

Spark your kid’s creativity and confidence with the new Camp Invention® program, Recharge!

Campers in grades K-6 will collaborate in hands-on activities exploring fun STEM concepts by taking apart their own microphone, exploring solar-powered crickets and more! Visit invent.org/local to secure your spot and save!

800-968-4332

I Invent.org/camp

Open to youth ages 12-18. A one-of-a-kind experience with an introduction to all things aviation with hands-on projects and experiences. Aviation Summer Camp's professional pilots, engineers and educators provide a rewarding experience for any youth interested in aviation. Camp dates June 14-18.

770-630-8567

EAA690.org Email Gay Roberts at: researcher.r@comcast.net

18

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

From day camp to dozens of specialty camps, GAC offers something for every camper from the age of 3 to 18. Sign up today: GreaterAtlantaChristian.org/summer-camp.

Questions? Email summercamp@greateratlanta christian.org or call 770-243-2275.

770-243-2275

I GreaterAtlantaChristian.org/summer-camp

Coach Kip Cobb and the staff of On The Rise Tennis Summer Camps have over 25 years of coaching experience and are USPTA1 Certified. Players ages 6-15 years and all abilities welcome. There is a 6:1 player/coach ratio, with the camp being held in Suwanee's Village Grove neighborhood. HALF DAY CAMPS: 9am-noon (Friday pizza party noon-1pm). Price includes: t-shirt, bag and water bottle.

CAMP DATES: June 1st-June 4th ($240 per player) June 7th-11th ($300 per player) June 21st-25th ($300 per player) June 28th-July 2nd ($300 per player)

404-754-2955 OnTheRiseTennis.net Email Coach Kipp at: Kipcobb10s@gmail.com

19

Eye Candy Art Studio Summer Art Camp explores different art mediums, such as clay sculpture, glass fusion, tie-dye, canvas and pottery painting, and much more! Located in historic downtown Duluth. Perfect for ages 6+, $190/week or $45/day.

Monday-Friday, 10am-2pm. Free Eye Candy shirt with full week enrollment.

Open to boys and girls ages 4 to 13. Camp will run Tuesday, June 1st through Friday, July 30th. The GGA camp experience includes structured gymnastics instruction and recreational games and activities.

Half-day and full-day sessions are available.

770-945-3424

GGAcademy.com

678-714-5683

SUMMER CAMPS 2021

EyeCandyArtStudio.net

i9 Sports, The Way Youth Sports Should Be.

GUIDE TO

Offering summer, multi-sport camps, as well as summer evening and Saturday leagues and clinics, i9 Sports focuses on FUN! i9 Sports will exceed your expectations by providing convenient, organized, safe sporting opportunities in a friendly atmosphere that teaches sportsmanship and increases self-esteem.

Promo code - SUWMSUM21, code expires July 26th!

20

470-655-6370

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

I Jennifer.Jordan@i9Sports.com

Virtual Tech and On-Campus Summer Camps for Ages 7-16

Valley View Ranch in Cloudland, Georgia has been a horse lovers’ paradise since 1954, with overnight camp for girls ages 8-17. Valley View is located on 600 acres and offers riding in English, Western, Barrels, Vaulting, and Trails. CHA instructors teach beginner to advanced riders. Spend up to six hours a day riding and caring for your OWN camp horse. The Jones family are third generation horse lovers, camp administrators, and equine educators making girls’ dreams come true!

Nationally recognized Kids 4 Coding bridges the gap between what kids learn in traditional academic classes and what they need to succeed in our rapidly evolving techbased society. With more than 20 years in public education and private entrepreneurship, the founders of Kids 4 Coding have established partnerships with tech experts, educators and entrepreneurs to develop a highly engaging curriculum integrating trending technologies and 21st Century Learning.

Now in its 8th year of operation, Kids 4 Coding continues to develop new programs and serve new communities each year.

706-862-2231 Fax 706-862-6190 ValleyViewRanch.com

800-484-2664

I kids4coding.com

Age-appropriate outdoor adventures! Ages 8-13. Each one-week program is jam-packed with field trips.

770-271-1390

AdrenalineClimbing.com

21

A creative specialty camp of sewing and hands-on activities that appeals to a kid’s interest. Learn and develop a life skill that will expand their imagination!

Unique, fun, skill-building projects every week. Kids will have “sew” much fun this summer! Reinforcing STEM fundamentals that build confidence and self-esteem.

Open to ages 8 & up, beginners & experienced kids welcome. Supplies included with registration; sewing machines provided.

Your child may be a superstar soccer player or a recreational whiffleballer but Silverbacks Indoor multi-sports camp is for all ability levels ages 5-13. Youth indoor multi-sports camp kicks off on June 1st from 8:30am-4:30pm. Cost: $185 (field trip included). *Extended hours are $25 more (7:30am-6:30pm).

SUMMER CAMPS 2021

678-765-0791

ThreadedFromHeaven.com

GUIDE TO

678-714-7454

22

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

I SilverbacksIndoor.com

KICKOFF

J UNE 1S T

From the moment anyone steps on a field at All-In, they know they are welcome and joining a family in the community that is dedicated to growing and developing each individual to the best of their ability in a fun and quality coaching environment. Come join us for one or more of our summer camps! We are the #AllInFCFamily, #AreYouAllIn?. Camps are held the weeks of June 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th.

Lanier Experience is a premium water sports summer camp that focuses on wakeboarding and wakesurfing. We welcome campers age 5-17. Camps are Monday-Thursday 8am-5pm. Whether you are a veteran or a novice, our instructors can help you achieve your goals. We are licensed, insured, and owned by a local Suwanee educator.

I allinfc.com Email Mark MacKain at: mark.mackain@allinfc.com

SUMMER CAMPS 2021

770.335.1341

LanierExperience.com Adam@LanierExperience.com

Metro Gymnastics and Tumbling Summer Fun Camps offer half day sessions Monday-Friday beginning June 7th through July 30th. A detailed camp schedule will be available in April. Boys & girls ages 2-12.

770-831-1520

metro-gymnastics.com

4317 Brogdon Place Cove Suwanee, GA 30024

GUIDE TO 24

678-439-9895

metro1gymnastics@gmail.com

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

Bodacious Broadway Burger Camp June 14th-June 18th from 9:00am-3:00pm. Where campers will accept the challenge to be bold, brave and bodacious as they explore their hidden potential through singing, dancing, acting, games and some special sauce! An “all-swim” for budding young artists ages 6-12, with no experience necessary.

Campers will rotate between singing, dancing, acting, games, and a surprise session. Each day will end with time on stage. Extended childcare options available. The week will end with a performance for family and friends.

Princess Camps June 7th-11th or June 21st-June 25th from 9:30am- 12:30pm. Your princess will have a magical adventure beginning each day at the castle. You will delight in watching her twirl and dance with Miss Bernie, sing with Fairy Godmother and create lovely crafts with Rainbow Fairy. The week concludes with a Royal Ball with parents as the honored guests.

678-482-6333

SuwaneeAcademy.com/ Summer/

25

32

SUWANEE ARTS CENTER SUWANEE WELCOME CENTER

healthy living and lifestyle tips

health &

wellness

THE FACES OF SUWANEE: CHIEF JONES page 34 FAMILY MATTERS page 37 HEAL YOURSELF 360 page 38 SPRING INTO THE KITCHEN page 41

Vitality Med Spa

CATCHING UP WITH SUWANEE’S PREMIER MEDICAL WEIGHT LOSS AND WELLNESS FACILITY

BY ALICIA CARTER / PHOTOS BY KARL LAMB

27

SINCE 2016,

Vitality Med Spa and Plastic Surgery Center has served as our community’s premier medical weight loss and wellness facility, offering medically supervised weight loss programs, non-surgical treatments, anti-aging services, cosmetic lasers, and skincare aesthetics. As a woman-owned business, Vitality Med Spa is dedicated to helping its patients incorporate affordable and convenient beauty and wellness solutions into their lives. Now, after 10 years in business, the beloved Suwanee institution has been recognized as the No. 1 Account in Cosmetic Injectables in the Southeast U.S. We recently caught up with owner, founder and selfdescribed “boss babe” Monique Hicks to learn more about Vitality Med Spa’s team, services and what an award like this means for her growing business.

28

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

Monique Hicks

Owner Vitality Med Spa

TELL US ABOUT YOUR ROLE WITH VITALITY MED SPA. I am a girl with a dream. I opened Vitality Med Spa 10 years ago with fierce determination, a willingness to work really hard, and just enough 27-year-old “I know it all” thinking sprinkled in. I opened a small office in Grayson, Georgia, because I had family there and I felt the people were underserved outside the Perimeter. I opened with myself and Kara Williamson, my best friend, right hand and everything in between. In the last 10 years, we built a business that we never imagined in the best ways possible — and we did all this while raising our children and growing up ourselves. My role has been to become the best leader and visionary I can. To make sure that we are the best at what we do, that we serve our community and build relationships so that we uplift ourselves and those we serve.

TELL US ABOUT VITALITY MED SPA AND SOME OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED. Vitality Med Spa is a place where you can come to relax, rejuvenate and feel really good about yourself. We have learned with this pandemic about the silver linings in life. And our takeaway is to remember to focus on what really matters in life. And as they say in the airlines, “You must always put your oxygen mask on first.” We’ve seen our clients making more time for themselves and it has been so refreshing. To have the opportunity to help clients restore his or her selfconfidence is a true blessing in our work. Sure, some of the work we do is purely cosmetic but every drop of it is helping our clients to feel great about themselves.

We have multiple services in our office offering medical-grade, results-oriented treatments. We guarantee our work and strive to make sure that every client has the best experience possible. Our service offerings start with medical weight loss and wellness, which are comprised of physician-prescribed plans to help clients lose weight and keep it off, Coolsculpting or permanent fat removal for those stubborn areas of fat that don’t go away with diet or exercise, and hormone replacement with Testosterone or Sermorelin to help you sleep better, lose weight and feel better literally overnight. Several

of our staff and clients rave about how well they feel after beginning these programs. We also offer Smart Lipo, which is permanent fat removal as well. Dr. Kennedy performs this quick and immediate procedure in our office sculpting the area(s) treated with beautiful results that our clients love. Lastly, we offer skin tightening, face Vitality Med Spa was recently recognized as the No. 1 Account in Cosmetic Injectables in the Southeast U.S. and body rejuvenation, collagen stimulation, dark spot or melasma removal, hair removal, pore and scar a team player, be ambitious and reduction, custom brow design and professional. I lead knowing that I much more! have a seat on this “bus” but that each seat is as important to the WHAT ARE VITALITY MED SPA’S collective group as the next.

CORE VALUES AS A COMPANY? Our core values are to always do the TELL US A LITTLE MORE ABOUT next right thing, be client focused, YOUR TEAM. We are a concierge medical spa of professionals who have blended our love of science with the beauty of art. Collectively, we share this love of serving and helping others to feel great. And when you do a job that fills your own cup, it’s like making magic. I’ve learned to structure this company in a way that allows people to shine Vitality Med Spa’s at what they’re really good at and services include watch them excel. Our leadership medically supervised weight loss programs, team is comprised of myself and non-surgical treatments, Kara, Dr. Kennedy, Graham, Jessica anti-aging services, cosmetic lasers, and and Ashley. We all work together skincare aesthetics. to lead our team while challenging

29

HEALTH & WELLNESS

ourselves in areas of personal growth, mentorship of our peers as well as continued professional development. The rest of our amazing team, Shana, Victoria, Suzi, Dede, Phoebe, Amanda, Matt and Danielle, all work together to create this unique and inspiring workspace.

YOU WERE RECENTLY NAMED THE NO. 1 ACCOUNT IN COSMETIC INJECTABLES IN THE SOUTHEAST. TELL US ABOUT THIS ACHIEVEMENT AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR VITALITY MED SPA. This achievement is a true testament to our clients’ satisfaction. To be the No. 1 account out of hundreds over multiple states is a true honor. We love working with Galderma and our reps, Lauren and Camille. With our partnership and commitment to excellence, we have reached the pinnacle of success in our industry. We look forward to continued success and to bringing the best we can to each client we serve.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS AND GOALS? After being named the No. 1 account and the highest rated med spa in Georgia with more than 550 reviews and a 4.9 rating, we are excited to announce that we are ready to expand our brood.

We put a poll on our website for new locations and we had overwhelming responses to open in Dawsonville and Braselton. We have identified 11 additional locations around Georgia that we intend to expand toward thanks to our clients’ feedback.

We are very excited to continue to expand and look forward to this new year of growth. ■

To learn more about Vitality Med Spa, visit vitalitymedspamd.com.

30

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

WELCOME TO AN EVEN BIGGER, BETTER NETWORK Now that T-Mobile and Sprint have merged, T-Mobile has added more towers, more engineers and more coverage.

So you donʼt have to choose between an amazing network and great prices. At T-Mobile, you get both!

Check out your coverage at T-Mobile.com/coverage-map Coverage not available in some areas. See Terms and Conditions (including arbitration provision) at www.T-Mobile.com for additional information.

T-Mobile, the T logo, Magenta and the magenta color are registered trademarks of Deutsche Telekom AG. © 2021 T-Mobile USA, Inc.

S U WA N E E W E L C O M E C E N T E R PHOTOS BY CHRIS ANDERSON

T

ucked away on a side street in Town Center is an unassuming space with a cheerful blue awning and turquoise café tables and chairs, harkening the bright, colorful interior that awaits.

The City of Suwanee and Suwanee Arts Center (SAC) partnered in 2016 to create a joint Welcome and Arts Center, allowing the SAC to have much-needed gallery and class space in Town Center, while also providing the city with a staffed Welcome Center. Thanks to a strategic partnership with a valued nonprofit art organization, visitors and locals alike are welcomed to the City of Suwanee not by a boring desk with pamphlets and maps, but with a high-energy, beautiful, art-filled space in Suwanee Town Center.

“The combination Welcome and Arts Center allows the city to have a presence that extends beyond normal business hours,” said Marty Allen, Suwanee's City Manager. “City Hall is closed on weekends and after 5pm, which is when a large percentage of our visitors are in Town Center. Collaboration with SAC allows us to have a welcoming presence when Town Center is at its busiest.”

Located at 3930 Charleston Market St., half of the 2,300-square-foot facility is dedicated to welcoming visitors with information, Suwanee swag, and an art

32

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

gallery, while the other half hosts art classes, camps, and workshops for the community.

The SAC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the appreciation of local art through exhibitions, festivals, and other media.

The SAC maintains an open membership policy where artists of all types, art lovers, and even students are welcome to be a part of the organization.

The city’s annual contract with SAC to host the welcome center in the art gallery is funded out of the hotel/motel tax fund, which is intended to go toward such programs.

The unique partnership won a 2018 Georgia Downtown Development Award. In addition to staffing the Welcome Center, the SAC hosts two community-wide arts events in Town Center Park annually.

“What better way for Suwanee to say ‘Welcome!’ than with art?” commented Suwanee’s Assistant City Manager Denise Brinson.

“Public art has become an integral part of Suwanee’s identity. It’s not enough to simply create a place. That place has to come alive – through art, events, activities, and just making things fun.

People need a reason to keep coming back and connecting.”

“Arts and cultural activities are at the heart of Suwanee.

The partnership between the SAC and the City of Suwanee Welcome Center does just that, helping to bring that energy to the community.”

I MAR / APR 21

A RTI S T SP O T LIGH T:

RICH A RD

S H IVER S POTTERY

Richard Shivers

Local artist Richard Shivers created A Measure of Clay from a blend of his musical career and his artistic interest in pottery. His journey to becoming the respected potter he is today began after retiring from a long career in education as a music specialist. In 2004, Shivers began participating in pottery classes and learned from some of the best teachers in the metro Atlanta area.

A Measure of Clay features wheelthrown and slab-built clay pottery in functional ware. “The greatest joy is using a piece of pottery in a functional everyday use, whether it is a mug, tumbler, plate, tray, small bowl, etc.,” Shivers says. “Gathering around the table with family and friends is a wonderful part of life, and using pottery pieces is a very hospitable way of enhancing that time.” Shivers’ pottery is created in food-safe glazes for functional purposes, although he also creates pieces for more artistic appeal. “I especially enjoy using nature’s leaves to enhance portions of the piece or become the whole piece, making a one-of-a-kind artistic statement,” he says.

Shivers has volunteered at the Suwanee Arts Center for the past four years as the Education Director and Pottery Instructor. He has also participated in the Arts Center’s exhibits in the gallery and has pottery pieces for sale in the gallery shop.

For more information on Richard Shivers and A Measure of Clay, visit Facebook.com/RichardShiversPottery.

SUWANEE ARTS CENTER

SUPERHEROES! 5K RUN/WALK ❱ SATURDAY, APRIL 24, 8 A.M. SUWANEE TOWN CENTER

Be a superhero for the arts! The Suwanee Arts Center is hosting its Superheroes! 5K Run/Walk on April 24, and is encouraging participants to get in the spirit and come dressed as their favorite superhero! You can dress as your mom, a nurse; your dad, a first responder; or any character you choose, such as Superman, Spiderman, the Black Panther, Wonder Woman or the Hulk. Maybe it's a Disney princess or maybe it's a Disney villain — no judgement here!

There will be a staggered start for social distancing and chip timing so your time starts when you cross over the start line. This race is a Peachtree Road Race qualifier! In addition to the race there will be lots of fun including an awesome T-shirt, photo ops with superheroes, and awards to the Top 3 Overall male and female, Top 1 Overall Masters male and female (50 years old +), Top 1 Overall Grand Master male and female (60 years old +), and the Top 1 male and female in a variety of age groups. There will also be awards for Best Dressed Pet and Best Dressed Family!

For more information and to register, visit: RunSignUp.com/Race/GA/Suwanee/ SuwaneeArtsCenterSuperHeros5K

33

Mike Jones

Former Suwanee Police Chief

Interviews and Photos by Julie Perdue

CREATING CLOSER community is a big part of what we do here at Suwanee Magazine. That’s why we’re proud to bring you The Faces of Suwanee. Suwanee is a great community with great people. We’ll be featuring conversations we have with

After 23 years of service to the City of Suwanee and a total of 47 years in law enforcement, Suwanee Police Chief Mike Jones announced his retirement at the beginning of the year. Jones has served as president and vice president of the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and on the Reinhardt College Police and Gwinnett Technical College advisory boards. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and Georgia Command College.

Jones was also honored with Police Chief of the Year in 2019. Needless to say, he is very dear to Suwanee’s heart.

members of our community as a way of telling the story of Suwanee, one smiling face at a time. The Faces of Suwanee shines a light on the people who live and work here. You can read all of the interviews at TheFacesofSuwanee.com, and even nominate someone you think should be featured on the website. Be sure to follow Suwanee Magazine’s Facebook page where we’ll be sharing new Faces of Suwanee interviews weekly.

34

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

WHAT INSPIRED YOU OR LED YOU TO YOUR CAREER? My father was a police officer in Rome, Georgia, so

I watched him go to work every day and became interested in law enforcement. Originally, I wanted to work for the FBI, but during high school I went to work for the Rome Police Department as a radio dispatcher, working from 3 o’clock in the afternoon after school until 11pm every day. As soon as I turned 21, I was hired as a police officer. I worked in Rome for 25 years and in Suwanee for more than 20 years.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED OR LIVED IN SUWANEE? I’ve worked here 20 years. I live in Braselton but stayed close to Suwanee in case there was an emergency here, I could get here quickly.

WHAT HAS KEPT YOU HERE? My environment, the community, the

people I work with. The average Police Chief stays for 3-4 years, and I was the Chief in Suwanee for 20 years. Peachtree Industrial Boulevard was a two-lane road when I moved here, and the population of Suwanee was about 5,000 people. I did not realize that this was going to be the fastest growing city in Gwinnett! Our police department receives tremendous support from our city, city council, and the community. We are a nationally ranked department.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

More Faces of Suwanee…

Elvira Rogers Former Suwanee City Clerk

If you have been in Suwanee long, then you’ll recognize Elvira Rogers as a familiar face at City Hall. This ageless beauty who has also recently retired has lived in the beloved Old Town District, the historic heart of our town, for 32 years.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU OR LED YOU TO YOUR CAREER? I worked

for Buford City Schools and then became the first African American hired in Gwinnett County for my position. Later, I transferred to Gwinnett County Department of Transportation. I was chosen to join the GwDOT team for my ability to stay organized, and I worked for the county for 12 years.

In 1998, I decided to be a stay-at-home mom and quickly realized that I needed to be around people. From there, I decided to look for a part-time job and on the same day, found a job as Assistant Development Coordinator with the City of Suwanee. In 2001, I became the Administrative Services Director. I was one of seven department heads at City Hall in Suwanee.

For more of this interview go to TheFacesOfSuwanee.com

Matt “Mayor Matt” Savitt I.T. Specialist

WHO IS THE MOST INTERESTING PERSON YOU’VE MET IN SUWANEE? Former Mayor

Chris Yoder. He has a huge heart and loves people.

I would not be where I am without him.

IF YOU COULD TRAVEL ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW, WHERE WOULD IT BE AND WHY? I would travel up the East Coast to Maine on my Harley-Davidson and eat at a fish camp. I would also travel out west to California.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A CROWD OF PEOPLE? Three things I really believe in:

Priorities are God, family and then job, in that order.

It seems like everyone knows Matt because he has been a fixture at Suwanee's StillFire Brewing since they opened their doors. Known as “Mayor Matt”, his streak of consecutive days at the brewery ended recently at 400 (but he came back the next day and has started a new streak).

WHAT INSPIRED YOU OR LED YOU TO YOUR CAREER? I got into I.T. because I was

asked to. I have been interested in computers for as long as I can remember, and it came naturally to me. After helping out family friends and friends of friends, my career blossomed from there. I now work for a medium-sized company in Suwanee, Georgia Expo.

WHAT HAS KEPT YOU IN SUWANEE? The people and the

community. I meet new people every day from all walks of life and find that everyone is just wonderful. I love the diversity here and the fact that most people here would give you the shirt off their back if you needed it. It seems that people move here and don’t leave.

For more of this interview go to TheFacesOfSuwanee.com

For F more of this interview and more The Faces Of Suwanee interviews, go to

TheFacesOfSuwanee.com

35

HEALTH & WELLNESS

FAMILY MATTERS

By Molly Halbrooks, LMFT, Grow Counseling

Here are a few tips on how to balance your relationship with social media:

THE SOCIAL MEDIA BALANCING ACT In recent years social media has come under scrutiny as the way we engage and interact with each other on these social platforms continues to evolve and change. Just as with anything else in life, there are positives and drawbacks to social media. The key is finding the right balance, and remaining intentional about maintaining that balance.

Social media allows us to stay connected with those already in our lives who might not be available in person, as well as opens us up to new connections with those who share similar life experiences or interests. It lets us stay up to date with news, learn a new skill, or establish a business all from the same platforms.

It can also create some problems. It is incredibly easy to get drawn into comparison, and feel as though your life is not as exciting or as perfect

as what you constantly see on your feed. It’s easy to get bogged down in the sheer amount of information available, so that we actually end up retaining less information and taking less action. Furthermore, when we follow curated profiles and influencers who only show picture-perfect versions of their life, our own feelings of isolation and loneliness increase.

Know your red flags. Pay attention to your physical body, and notice when you start to feel tightness in your chest, have an upset stomach, feel your muscles tense, or get a headache.

These are all signs that you’re having a reaction to something you’re viewing and it’s time to disconnect for a while.

Take “time-outs” — both long and short term. When you notice those red

flags, that means it’s time for a short time-out.

Give yourself a break, move your body, drink some water, engage with those around you — whatever it takes for you to reset. If you’re noticing these symptoms frequently, or if your overall well-being is negatively affected, it may be time for a social media fast. Give yourself some time away from social media altogether, and when you return try to keep a better balance.

Keep your feed varied. Make sure that the

content you’re consuming is as representative of real life as possible. That means there are going to be different viewpoints, different ages and physical appearances of those you follow, and a variety of content. What you see most feels real, so make sure what you’re feeding your brain with is as close to reality as possible.

Remain engaged with real life outside of your online presence. Make sure you are taking time to cultivate those relationships and connections off of the internet. When you’re with friends or family, put down the phone and really engage. If scrolling is a hard habit to break, use structure — set reminder alarms, use apps that track how long you’re online, or enlist a caring friend to keep you accountable! ■

MOLLY HALBROOKS, LMFT Molly Halbrooks is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who works in the Suwanee area at Grow Counseling. She received her Masters of Family Therapy from Mercer University School of Medicine. She works with individuals and families dealing with a variety of concerns. She specializes in working with anxiety, life transitions like divorce or job change, grief and loss, trauma, and ADHD.

37

Kids and Chiros: WHAT EVERY PARENT SHOULD KNOW Many parents are initially petrified by the thought of a child receiving chiropractic care.

However, they quickly change their tune when they witness for themselves just how well children and babies respond to gentle chiropractic care. Caring for children, and even babies, is by far one of the most rewarding aspects of my job. It’s often one of the most misunderstood, too.

BY DR. LAUREN MILLMAN

38

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

I KNOW you’re thinking, “Why would

anyone need to send their child or baby to a chiropractor?!” Most people, and surprisingly many doctors, are simply uninformed as to what chiropractors actually do, and that misinformation boils over to a lack of understanding in the care for children. Many people believe all chiropractic care is performed in an aggressive, twisting, and cracking fashion, and they simply cannot fathom the thought of this being performed on a child. I agree with you! However, there are many forms of chiropractic methods and many of them are surprisingly gentle, which don’t require any twisting, cracking, or even harsh jerking motions. The method used on babies is so gentle they often fall asleep during mid-procedure. Just like how adults receive vast health improvements under chiropractic care, techniques are modified to address little spines. In fact, addressing a baby or a child is drastically different than addressing an adult spine, just as it should be.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Why would a child possibly need to see a chiropractor? ➤Ironically enough, I would make the argument that it’s more important for a child to be under chiropractic care because it impacts every aspect of healthy growth and development. For starters, chiropractic care for children is rarely about neck or back pain. In my decade of private practice, I have helped hundreds of babies and children with colic, torticollis, recurring ear infections, recurring colds and sickness, asthma, allergies, behavioral challenges, growth and developmental challenges, in addition to scoliosis, headaches, and improving posture, just to name a few. Quite often parents bring me their child to help improve one or more health challenges, and then choose to continue periodic checkups to maintain good health throughout their growth and development.

This is what we call preventative care. You wouldn’t wait to have a cavity before you visit a dentist.

Of course not. Instead, it makes sense to receive periodic dental checkups to avoid those cavities, or something worse. Just as you value your oral health and practice these preventative measures, you wouldn’t wait until you have pain or health problems before seeing a chiropractor. In fact, wellnesscentered care around children is rarely about pain at all, it’s more about preventing challenges and encouraging the healthiest possible development. Many parents seek chiropractic care to maintain an already healthy child as a part of their wellness routine because they understand healthy children grow into healthy adults.

The saying goes, “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree.” Many problems in adulthood are often traced back to original injuries in childhood that were left uncorrected. Kids are resilient and injuries in young bodies don’t express themselves like injuries in adult bodies. Sometimes injuries sustained in childhood don’t show their impact for years, even decades.

This is why we encourage children to be checked after falls, bumps, slips, and sports injuries.

So much of adult ailments can be cut off at the pass into adulthood if addressed in a timely fashion.

Many problems in adulthood are often traced back to original injuries in childhood that were left uncorrected.

➽ Gentle, natural care for children is often a very welcomed and happy discovery for parents.

When parents discover just how simple improving their child’s health can be, they often respond with, “I just didn’t know! I only wish I knew sooner!” Getting and keeping your family healthy doesn’t have to be complicated to be powerful and effective. ■

Dr. Millman is the founder and upper cervical chiropractor of Suwanee Spine and Healing Center, author of The Ultimate Healing Handbook, and recently voted Best of Gwinnett 2019. For more information, visit DrLaurenMillman.com.

39

Spring into the Kitchen!

SPRING CLEANING

AH, THE warm,

lingering sunshine, harmonious NATALIE GARRETT, Contributing Writer voices of birds, and colorful budding of flowers.

Springtime is upon us! Along with the encouragement that the weather is finally moving away from the dreadful winter slump, this season certainly brings a sense of renewal and rejuvenation. This year, I challenge you to channel that refreshed energy into the heart of your home - the kitchen!

➜I know, I know… the thought of diving head first into spring cleaning can be looming for many.

But, take confidence in knowing that getting started is truly the hardest part!

Once you kick it off, you’ll quickly be on your way to lighting that commencement candle that officially (at least in my household) marks the completion of your cleaning spree.

Break down your cleaning to-do list into digestible phases and divide it up over time so you can work at your own pace. It doesn’t matter if you are able to accomplish a step in one day or one week, any progress is a check off the list!

An example outline could look like: Phase 1:

Cleaning OUT

- Step 1: Cabinets - Step 2: Drawers - Step 3: Refrigerator - Step 4: Pantry

Phase 2:

Cleaning UP - Step 1: Refrigerator Shelves/

Drawers - Step 2: Cabinet/Drawer

Surfaces & Handles - Step 3: Appliances - Step 4: Dining Table - Step 5: Countertops - Step 6: Rugs & Hand Towels - Step 7: Floors

40

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

SPRING PLANNING ➜The never-ending question of a lifetime: “What’s for dinner?” Now that you’ve detoxed your kitchen, take this opportunity to dedicate some effort to your family’s approach to meal planning.

Break down This can your cleaning also seem to-do list into overwhelming to think digestible about, but phases and I promise divide it up over time so some basic you can work planning on the forefront at your own can help ease pace. the headache of figuring out “what’s for dinner” as you skurry through each week.

The key to meal planning is to formulate a strategy that works for YOUR family and YOUR schedule.

I’m home most evenings, so my goal is to cook dinner Monday through Thursday, with leftovers serving as lunch the next day. At the beginning of each week I decide what I want to cook, make my list and shop for those ingredients, and then we’re set for the work week without having to think about it again. That might be

HEALTH & WELLNESS Spring is here, which means it’s time to tackle a little spring cleaning.

completely unrealistic for your world, or you simply might not enjoy cooking that many times a week - and that's perfectly okay, too! Your meal plan might consist of preparing a few larger meals on Sunday that are ready to be heated up throughout the week, or the frozen pizza you can bake in 18 minutes on the night you get home late. If you can just work toward the habit of thinking through the week in advance and what makes sense for your family, you’ll begin to feel the relief of one more item marked off your list.

SPRING COOKING ➜ Now that your kitchen is a newlyfound haven, put that shiny stove and meal-planning madness to good use! Try one of my crowd-pleasing appetizers, and (bonus points!) it's super easy to make.

Cowboy Caviar Ingredients: - 2 cans black eyed peas, drained - 1 can corn, drained - 1 green bell pepper, diced - 1 red bell pepper, diced - ½ sweet onion, diced - ½ jalapeño, seeds removed and diced - 4 oz. jar of pimientos - 1 cup zesty Italian dressing - Tortilla chips for dipping Directions: Prepare ingredients as directed above.

Mix together black eyed peas, corn, bell peppers, onion, jalapeño, and pimientos. If liquid accumulates in the bottom, use a colander to strain excess juices (sometimes this happens if the black eyed peas and/or corn are not drained well enough). Add Italian dressing and toss well. Refrigerate (preferably for at least 30 minutes) until ready to dig in! Enjoy!

41

42

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

PHOTO COURTESY AMERICAN CASUAL LIVING PHOTO COURTESY AMERICAN CASUAL LIVING

BACKYARD

bliss

LOCAL BUSINESSES OFFER TIPS TO HELP UPGRADE YOUR OUTDOOR LIVING SPACE JUST IN TIME FOR SPRING.

BY ALICIA CARTER

43

to believe but in March we will have reached one year since the first stay-at-home orders were given following the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, there’s been a massive shift toward spending time at home.

In order to quell the fight or flight feelings of cabin fever, many of us are getting handy around the house, taking advantage of the extra downtime by making improvements to our home. As we approach spring, it only makes sense that we should refocus that home improvement energy outside.

As we leave winter behind and emerge from our homes for fresh air and warm weather, it’s time to turn our outdoor living spaces into the oasis of our dreams. From tackling lawn maintenance and installing a calming water feature to creating an outdoor area perfect for a springtime barbecue, local businesses have come together to offer tips and tricks on ways to upgrade our backyards.

T’S HARD

44

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

Get your lawn in tip-top shape When creating the yard of your dreams, it’s important to take care of the basics first. Investing in the bells and whistles won’t help hide a lawn that is suffering from weed overgrowth, insect infestation and unruly shrubs.

Creating a clean -- and green! -- backdrop is the first step toward creating a beautiful yard. This year, consider investing in a professional lawn care provider who can help establish a strong foundation for your yard.

Since 1997, Magnolia Lawn has provided all facets of lawn maintenance to help local residents maintain picturesque lawns free from unsightly weeds and harmful pests. Licensed by the Georgia Department of Agriculture for the application of its materials, the Suwanee business specializes in fertilization, weed control, disease control and insect control, as well as offers tree and shrub treatments, mowing and cleanup services, and pinestraw and mulch installation.

“Spring trends in 2021 seem to weigh heavily toward homeowners wanting to make the most of their home environment,” says owner Chuck

LeBar. “If you don’t want to spend time caring for your property and would rather spend your time enjoying it — by all means hire a professional.

If you are a hobbyist and enjoy doing your own yard work, get all the advice you can. In the case of fertilization and weed control particularly, it is very easy to make extremely costly mistakes. I am always available to give advice to homeowners who prefer to do their own treatments and yard work, so I welcome anyone who needs any advice.”

Magnolia Lawn doesn’t just stop at lawn treatments and lawn care services. In the fall and winter, Magnolia Lawn morphs into Christmas Décor by Magnolia Lawn, and installs lights and decorations on commercial buildings, subdivision entrances, and homes. As Nite Time Décor by Magnolia Lawn, they design and install landscape lighting systems to help create a beautiful yard in both the day and nighttime all year long.

Contact Magnolia Lawn today for a free estimate at 770-831-6404. For more information, visit MagnoliaLawn.com.

If you don’t want to spend time caring for your property and would rather spend your time enjoying it — by all means hire a professional.”

- CHUCK LEBAR OWNER, MAGNOLIA LAWN

45

Invest in Quality Products for Lawn Maintenance IN ORDER to properly maintain your yard, it’s

important to invest in quality lawn equipment. For years, Buford’s S&S ACE Hardware has worked toward making its store a complete destination for home repair, painting projects, lawn equipment and outdoor barbecues. “Last year with the pandemic we really saw folks getting outside in their yards,” says owner Scott Snedecor. “From upgrading lawn equipment to getting a new grill, longtime customers and many new customers found that ACE is the Place for great quality products for the home and yard.”

When recommending high-quality products, Scott says Stihl powered lawn tools, which are made in the U.S., have had great sales increases. “Besides some of the better quality gas tools, many folks have chosen to step up to the Stihl battery-powered products,” he says. For those with larger yards, Scott recommends Toro mower models that have added comfort and performance features that make mowing more pleasurable than ever before. “The Toro Myride

46

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

system has a floating driver platform that is more comfortable than most easy chairs,” he says.

S&S ACE Hardware is located at 4160 Buford Drive in Buford. For more information call 770-932-1458 or visit SSAceHardware.com.

Upgrade Your Barbecue Game THERE’S NO outdoor activity more well-

suited for the backyard than home grilling.

Manifest your inner Steven Raichlen by upgrading your barbecue game with the help of Suwanee’s newest barbecue headquarters and grilling authority, Playing with Fire BBQ Emporium.

Owners Craig and Elise Tabor have been in the barbecue world for a long time and offer their seasoned experience to their customers. They are experts on all of the products they offer because they have been using the items they sell for years.

Only the highest of quality grills, smokers and fire pits will be found at Playing with Fire. Let their expertise guide you toward the right cooker that fits your needs.

“The hottest trend in BBQ right now has to be pellet smokers,” says Craig. “The ease of push button temperature control, monitoring through a Wi-Fi enabled app, and lots of fuel and smoking capacity make a pellet smoker a fantastic BBQ tool!

PWF’s pellet smokers are hand-built right here in the U.S.” Craig also offers a grill master tip for those looking to improve their barbecue skills: “Proper food temperatures are key to ensure your food is safe as well as cooked to perfection.

Wired and instant-read thermometers are a necessity for any grill master.”

The hottest trend in BBQ right now has to be pellet smokers.

The ease of push button temperature control, monitoring through a Wi-Fi enabled app, and lots of fuel and smoking capacity make a pellet smoker a fantastic BBQ tool!

PWF’s pellet smokers are hand-built right here in the U.S.” - CRAIG TABOR OWNER, PLAYING WITH FIRE BBQ EMPORIUM

Playing with Fire BBQ Emporium is located at 4092 Suite A Suwanee Dam Road in Suwanee.

For more information call 470-439-7969 or visit PlayingWithFireBBQEmporium.com.

47

Give Your Outdoor Space a Furniture Makeover AS MORE people are spending the majority of their

time at home, the springtime shift to better weather and blooming flowers provides the perfect backdrop to enjoying time outdoors. Updating your outdoor living space will allow you to gather and socialize more safely with family and friends surrounded by the comforts of indoor living in your own backyard.

According to Lee Recchia of American Casual Living, an outdoor furniture showroom in Buford, people tend to gather where they are most comfortable. “The current trend has been away from traditional outdoor dining in favor of a more relaxed, casual environment,” he says. Advancements in materials and fabrics make it possible for outdoor living areas to mirror the comfort and functionality of your favorite indoor settings. Current customers are gravitating toward sectionals, deep seating options, cushioned and upholstered furniture, outdoor fire features, shade products, awnings, pavilions and other structures. “Not just more usable, but more livable,” Recchia says. “Not just more functional, but more comfortable and more personalized.” For those on a tighter budget, Recchia suggests freshening existing furniture with new cushions and throw pillows. “We have cushions made for us locally and we can customize virtually any cushion size and design,” he says.

48

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

According to Recchia, COVID has slowed the supply chain and orders are taking longer to arrive regardless of origin. “We are fortunate in that we prepared in advance and we have plenty of exciting, quality products available for immediate enjoyment,” he says. However, he still advises to shop early and shop local, and says to begin by imagining your space as you intend to use it. “Scale is important,” he says. “Envision the space with everything you desire so that it is sized appropriately, and navigability is accounted for. It’s easier to scale back than to add on once everything is installed. Outdoor spaces are often created without considering the furniture or accessories, and compromises on configuration, design or size result because space is lacking.”

If you are able, make a trip to American Casual Living’s 25,000-square-foot showroom to peruse its selection of quality outdoor furniture, grills, gas logs and a large selection of outdoor accessories. The locally owned business’s team of design specialists can offer guidance and personalized in-store consultations to help customers plan and build an outdoor space that works with their vision and budget.

American Casual Living is located at 1955 Mall of GA Blvd. in Buford. For more information visit AmericanCasualLiving.com.

perfect furniture the

SCHEDULE A PERSONALIZED APPOINTMENT WITH ONE

OUR OUTDOOR DESIGN OF

SPECIALISTS

FOR YOUR OUTDOOR VISION.

V I S I T O U R 2 5 , 0 0 0 S Q U A R E F O O T S H OW R O O M TO V I E W O U R U N M ATC H E D SELECTION OF OUTDOOR FURNITURE, GRILLS, AND ACCESSORIES.

1955 Mall of Georgia Blvd, Buford

770.325.0500 AmericanCasualLiving.com

Install a Calming Outdoor Water Feature ADDING AN outdoor water feature, such as a

pond or waterfall, can have a major impact, essentially transforming your outdoor space overnight into a calming sanctuary you’ll enjoy for years to come. When deciding on which water feature will work best in your space, Jeff Krenner from Paradise Ponds and Waterfalls in Buford says that the current trends are gravitating toward fountains such as spillway bowls and bubbling urns.

“There are a lot of new styles and some that even include a fire option,” he says. “This is the simplest way to add the sounds of water into a small courtyard or front yard.”

Water features can be installed year round and a professional can work with you to design one that will enhance your outdoor space and help determine the best location and size

50

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

There are a lot of new styles and some that even include a fire option. This is the simplest way to add the sounds of water into a small courtyard or front yard.”

-JEFF KRENNER OWNER, PARADISE PONDS

for your new water feature. “One of the most important tips I can give to anyone about installing a water feature such as a koi pond, disappearing waterfall, or bubbling fountain is to have it installed by a certified Aquascape pond contractor,” Jeff says. “This is someone that specializes in only water feature installations and maintenance.”

Spillway bowls, bubbling urns and koi ponds can transform an outdoor living space.

Visit ParadisePondsAndWaterfalls.com for more information or call 404-519-8870.

51

58

local food, craft beer & wine trends

ANDERBY BREWING

NEW PEACHTREE CORNERS BREWERY

 SPRING EVENTS AT STILLFIRE BREWING page 62  BEER CHASER 5K page 64

RUSHING TRADING CO.

SUGAR HILL’S FAVORITE BRUNCH SPOT IS RUN BY A MOTHER-DAUGHTER TEAM WHO PRIDE THEMSELVES ON THEIR COFFEE, CHARCUTERIE BOARDS AND GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY. BY LIZZY JAMES, PHOTOS BY MATTIE RUSHING

53

mother-daughter duo Amber and Mattie Rushing, the Sugar Hill location has been open since January 2019. Mattie, however, is no stranger to the coffee world and has run the wildly popular Chilly Bean coffee truck since 2017. “I started serving when I was 16 and have been a barista since I was 19,” Mattie says.

“I eventually went on to start a coffee truck in 2017 and would travel to different cities and events to serve our coffee.”

The Chilly Bean truck ultimately caught the eye of the City of Sugar Hill, and when it came time to revamp the downtown area, they knew they wanted the Rushing family to open a brick-and-mortar location. “I originally was against the idea since I was still in school at the time,” Mattie says.

“But after meeting with the city and seeing the possibilities, I eventually gave in and even decided to add a full kitchen and obtain our liquor license so we could serve so much more than just coffee.”

OWNED BY

Rushing Trading Co.’s menu items are locally sourced, refrain from using any artificial mixes or ingredients, and also feature a wide range of vegan and gluten-free options.

may appear as an ordinary coffee shop in downtown Sugar Hill, but its wide range of menu items goes far beyond coffee. Upon entry, guests are greeted with the strong and satisfying smell of fresh espresso, deliciously sweet hints of French toast and savory sights of bacon. The atmosphere and decor radiates a rustic Alpine-meets-modern look with wooden floors, multi-toned wood paneling on the walls and shiny ceramic tiles spread throughout the dining area. On any given day, you’ll find guests who live nearby ordering a coffee to-go, sitting on one of the barstools enjoying a quick (but delicious!) buttermilk biscuit, or with friends and family at one of the tables sipping a cocktail or mimosa with their brunch.

USHING TRADING CO.

54

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

LET’S DO BRUNCH

➼ Open weekdays from 9am-2pm and weekends from 9am -3pm, the restaurant features pretty much any brunch dish you can imagine, including stuffed French toast, buttermilk biscuits, a variety of brunch plates and açaí bowls, as well as lunch items such as wraps, sandwiches, salads and frittatas. All of their menu items are sourced locally, refrain from using any artificial mixes or ingredients whatsoever, and also feature a wide range of vegan and gluten-free options. But perhaps the thing that sets Rushing Trading Co. apart the most is its full espresso and alcohol bar.

“As far as brunch goes, no other brunch location near us has an official espresso bar like we do,” Mattie says. “We handcraft each of our beverages and provide our own personal touch on them. We also have a full service bar where we serve cocktails, local craft beer, and even bottomless mimosas and Bloody Marys.”

FOOD & DRINK

Although her favorites change on a regular basis, Mattie highly recommends guests try their new Le Chateau sandwich. Served on a warm baguette, the sandwich features sliced apples, prosciutto, brie cheese, and is topped with a cranberry aioli. Other menu standouts include an Instagramworthy breakfast charcuterie board with Irish cheddar, smoked gouda, two eggs, fresh fruit, country ham, bacon, sausage, two buttermilk biscuits, apple butter, roasted potatoes and breakfast trail mix. For those looking for a lighter brunch option, the restaurant offers two different açaí bowl options and a wide variety of “brunch” toast.

A “TRULY” WORTHY CAUSE

➼ If you can’t decide on what to order, we highly recommend trying their Truly's stuffed French toast. Not only is it stuffed with a delicious filling of your choice, but the proceeds of each dish have benefitted the family of 13-year-old Truly Worthy. Truly and her family were some of Rushing Trading’s very first customers, and became regulars in the restaurant.

About three months after opening, Truly became very sick with a rare autoimmune disease and ended up having to go through several hospital stays.

“After Truly became sick, she stopped by the restaurant and asked me to try her new French toast recipe,” Mattie says. “We loved it and decided to add it to our menu permanently! It is one of our best sellers and all of the proceeds went back to Truly and her family to help with her medical expenses.”

Unfortunately, Truly passed away on February 6th of this year, but Truly’s French toast remains a permanent menu item. The entree features Rushing Trading’s signature French toast dipped in brown sugar and stuffed with delectable sweetened cream cheese. The best part? Patrons can choose to stuff it with strawberries, bananas, blueberries and more for a really incredible variety!

EXTENSIVE CATERING MENU

➼ Aside from a delicious in-restaurant menu, Rushing Trading Co. also offers an extensive catering menu for those looking to add a bit of brunch flair to their next event. “Catering and our charcuterie boards are something we really pride ourselves on,” Mattie says.

“We really go all out on our boards, and can help make our clients’ visions come to life. We’ve even begun offering dessert charcuterie boards!”

Rushing Trading also offers breakfast catering, pre-boxed lunches, build-your-own-sandwich trays, and

premade pasta dishes. From weddings and bridal showers to corporate events and office meetings, Rushing Trading’s catering team allows you to sit back, enjoy your event, and even helps to tailor a menu specifically to you. All orders must be placed four days in advance, and can be sent to Mattie@rushingtradingco.com.

BUILDING COMMUNITY

➼ Giving back to the community that has embraced them is a high priority for the Rushing family. They love to

With a full bar and liquor license, patrons can pair any of Rushing Trading Co.’s menu items with a draft beer, cocktail, bottomless mimosa, or Bloody Mary.

Rushing Trading Co. offers an extensive catering menu for those looking to add a brunch flair to their next event.

55

Amber and Mattie Rushing, co-owners Rushing Trading Co.

WE HANDCRAFT EACH OF OUR BEVERAGES AND PROVIDE OUR OWN PERSONAL TOUCH ON THEM. WE ALSO HAVE A FULL SERVICE BAR WHERE WE SERVE COCKTAILS, LOCAL CRAFT BEER, AND EVEN BOTTOMLESS MIMOSAS AND BLOODY MARYS.” 56

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

support local vendors and only source their ingredients from small and local folks in the surrounding areas. But the community support doesn’t stop there. During the height of the Coronavirus pandemic, the family made pre-boxed lunches to take to local police stations, firefighters, and first responders as a thank you for their service. They also put up an Angel Tree at the restaurant over the holidays with the names of local families in need. They collected donations and were able to provide Christmas presents to children and adults in the area who otherwise would’ve been unable to afford it. Aside from community outreach, the restaurant also hosts regular events such as trivia nights, wine tastings, and aspiring baristas can sign up online to take a barista class with Mattie herself where she will teach you how to craft the perfect beverage as well as how to perform espresso and latte art.

Rushing Trading Co. prides itself on being a familyoriented business, and when you are a guest at the restaurant, you feel as if you

FOOD & DRINK

Co. to grab your caffeine fix at their espresso bar or indulge in a delicious brunch with friends! ■

 Rushing Trading Co. is are a part of that family. “At Rushing Trading, we are more than just your average coffee shop,” Mattie says. “We invite our guests to come in and enjoy their experience with us. We aren’t

one of those eat and leave type places. Although our name may be Rushing, we want you to come in and stay a while!” So next time you are strolling through downtown Sugar Hill, stop in Rushing Trading

located at 5029 W. Broad St. in Sugar Hill. View their brunch menu, sign up for barista classes, and learn more about catering at RushingTradingCo.com.

57

B R E W E RY

S P OTL I G H T

Anderby Brewing’s 19 taps rotate frequently, so there’s always something new to try in the taproom.

PEACHTREE CORNERS' ANDERBY BREWING:

FROM HOMEBREW CLASS TO PRODUCTION BREWERY

WHAT STARTED WITH A GROUPON FOR A MAKEYOUR-OWN BEER CLASS HAS EVOLVED INTO A LOCAL CRAFT BREWERY THAT IS MAKING A NAME FOR ITSELF WITH GOOD BEER AND A LOVE FOR CATS.

BY LIZZY JAMES / PHOTOS COURTESY ANDERBY BREWING

LIKE MANY

brewery owners, Preston Smelt developed his love for craft beer as a home brewer. Unlike most, however, his passion for craft beer was sparked by none other than a “How to Brew” Groupon gifted to him by his wife, Michell. After attending the class, Preston left with his arms full of new homebrew equipment. Eventually, his skill and ambitions outgrew their kitchen, and he began the search for property that could support a full-scale production brewery. The result was Anderby Brewing, a 19-tap brewery and taproom located off of Technology Parkway in Peachtree Corners. We had the chance to catch up with Preston and Michell to learn more about the exciting things Anderby is bringing to the Georgia craft beer scene.

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE CRAFT BEER INDUSTRY? Michell: Craft beer definitely started out as Preston’s thing. About nine years ago I just happened to stumble across a Groupon for a make-your-own beer class, and decided to buy it for Preston and a friend. After the class, Preston found a passion for it and decided to buy his own kit. He started brewing on the stove in the townhouse we were living in at the time, and when we bought our current house we designed the den to be a spot where he can brew.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO OPEN A BREWERY? Michell: One day Preston approached me and asked, “How do you feel about opening a brewery?” and I supported it.

He knows all about craft beer and the

58

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

FOOD & DRINK

come back to work in the offices here and say, “Wow, this isn’t the same brewery from before.”

different beer styles, whereas I didn’t even really start drinking beer until about two years ago. It’s been a big learning experience but we’ve enjoyed it.

WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND THE NAME ANDERBY? Preston: We struggled with names because we didn't know where we were going to be. Because of that, we didn’t want our name to be Atlanta specific or anything that stamped us to a specific location. However, when researching our family name it came up that in the 12th century my family had a tie to Anderby England.

The name kind of had a ring to it, and after some research we found out that it is a small coastal village of only about 300 people. Through our whole evolution of trying to build a brand, that name and idea of it being a place off the beaten path that you go to because you’re trying to go there really stuck.

WHY PEACHTREE CORNERS? Preston: The longest part of the location search was trying to figure out where we wanted to be located.

We had some criteria that we were cognitive of and at the time we didn’t want to go into an area that was already dense with breweries. I was also working in Dunwoody and wanted a location that was easy to get to, since the original plan was to

keep our full-time jobs for as long as possible. We needed something where at the end of the work day we could get to the brewery. My broker found a place off Peachtree Circle Corners that we really liked, but never went through. I started talking to the city during that time and very quickly the city said, “We are about to do some cool stuff on Tech Park and turn it into a very different area. It would be great to have a brewery over there.” So we found our current space and learned that it had a local owner who always wanted to do something fun and different in the building. We ended up approaching him with the idea and now here we are!

WHAT SETS ANDERBY APART FROM OTHER GEORGIA BREWERIES? Preston We are craft malt certified and use craft malts in 85-100% of our recipes. I have yet to hear of a Georgia brewery that leans into using local and regional malts as much as we do. We use Riverbend Malt House and they specialize in regional-grown malt. All of the grain we receive from them comes from a 500-mile radius around Asheville. For us, it brings a unique twist on all of our beers.

Riverbend does a lot of fun stuff like applewood-smoked malts that we have used and every once in a while they come up with new one-off flavors that we incorporate into our recipes.

I don’t brew for me, I try to brew for the marketplace. If I don’t listen to the market and adjust accordingly then our business won’t succeed. We don’t

WHAT HAS THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT BEEN LIKE? Preston: Everyone in the community has been so supportive. Pre-COVID, people who worked on Tech Park would stop in for a beer or two after work. Since then, we’ve done even more to better ourselves and our beer recipes. We spent some time last November with a consultant and he really helped us to elevate our voice so to speak.

Now, in my opinion, the beer is night and day from when we first opened. The beer we’ve been putting out recently is worlds above from when we first opened.

So it’s going to be fun when people

59

FOOD & DRINK

do anything to try to inflate our ratings, so once we put ourselves out there we just roll with it. Initially, I was focused on a large variety of styles and not a lot of variations within those styles. Unfortunately, we learned that’s not what drives people in.

We noticed an increase in foot traffic when we started to expand with stouts and IPAs. We want to build a foundation on a few good core beers and then begin to play around on those variations.

Michell: I think that something else that sets us apart is that ability to be really self-aware. We are okay with someone not liking our beer, especially if they can be constructive about what it is they don't like about it. We encourage honest feedback

from our patrons, because we can’t grow unless we know what our customers like and don’t like.

Something else that is unique to us is our love for cats. A lot of our beers have cat themes, and I feel like we are kind of segmenting into the catthemed brewery. For example, our Chunkzilla Imperial Stout is named after one of our cat's nicknames, so when designing the can label we wanted to do a throwback to the old Godzilla movies and I wanted her to be the feature. My hope is to continue adding in animal components, and bring awareness to things that affect the rescue community.

WHERE ELSE CAN PEOPLE FIND YOUR BEER OTHER THAN THE BREWERY? Preston: As of right now we are in 30-40 package stores across the state and in all Georgia Total Wines. We also have kegs in Marlow’s Avalon, Buffalo Wild Wings in Northpoint and a few other local restaurants in the Peachtree Corners area. ■ For more of this interview go to

SuwaneeMagazine.com

 Anderby Brewing is located at 110 Technology Pkwy., Suite 200, in Peachtree Corners. For a complete beer list and to stay up to date on everything Anderby, visit AnderbyBrewing.com or follow them on social media.

Local.

Unfiltered.

Passion.

11455 LAKEFIELD DR. SUITE 300 JOHNS CREEK, GA 30097

SIXBRIDGESBREWING.COM

61

, W H AT S B R E W I N G AT S T I L L F I R E

TASTES LIKE SPRING AT STILLFIRE! SPRING IS A PERFECT TIME TO FIND YOUR FIRE AT STILLFIRE BREWING! a cold beer on a warm spring day, and our friends at StillFire are brewing up plenty of opportunities for you to celebrate the end of winter. From live music and events, to exciting new releases and the return of some of your locally brewed favorites, we’ve highlighted everything you need to know about StillFire’s Spring Lineup.

NOTHING BEATS

MAR

StillFire St. Patricks Day Party

MAR

Beer Chaser 5K After Party

MAR

Station Park Opens

Come celebrate the luck of the Irish StillFire style. On Saturday, March 13th, the brewery will feature live music from 3-10:30pm and delicious food options from Daddy O’Brien’s Irish Pub from 12-9pm and The Grubbin’ Out food truck onsite from 3-10pm.

Plus, stock up on St. Patrick’s Day swag available for purchase and get festive with pints of green beer!

Looking to celebrate at home? Swing by and grab a crowler of their O’Farrell’s Irish Red! This easydrinking, light caramel malt clocks in at 5.6% ABV and is sure to put you in the Irish spirit.

13

StillFire Brewing will be waiting at the finish line of the inaugural Suwanee Beer Fest Beer Chaser 5k with 16 oz. beers for the race finishers. Along with their beer, runners will also receive a ticket for an exclusive Beer Chaser/StillFire Brewing branded pint glass that can be picked up across the street at the brewery. Once there, keep the party going with live music and delicious food at the official after party! To sign up for the Beer Chaser 5K visit suwaneebeerfest.com/beer-chaser-5k.

20

MIMOSA SOUR Koastal Krush Mimosa Sour combines 5 different fruit flavors including orange, guava and passionfruit to create a fun, tasty, tropical fruit sour! NOW ON TAP AND AVAILABLE IN 4-PACK CANS ACROSS GEORGIA.

The City of Suwanee has been busy the past few months - they had a colorful new mural painted on the courthouse wall on the beer garden side of the brewery, and have also been upgrading Station Park on the patio side of StillFire. The park is set to open on March 22nd and features an astro-turf cornhole area, string lights, and plenty of room to spread out. Plus, the playground area has been given a facelift with new paint, mulch, and new benches for parents to sit and watch their kids while enjoying a beer from the brewery.

22

62

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

MAR

27

Dueling Pianos/ Double Fightin' 13 IPA Release

Make it a parents night out with the Andrews Brothers Dueling Pianos on March 27th! The allrequest-sing-along music and comedy show (definitely not for kids) kicks off at 8pm. Outdoor tables are first come first serve, Andrews Brothers Dueling and social distancing will be Piano's open-air event in the encouraged at all times. There StillFire Beer Garden. will be a $10 cover in the brew garden for those wanting to watch the show starting at 6pm! PLUS - StillFire Brewing is once again honoring the former fire-fighting tenants of their building by releasing a limited taproom-only Double Fightin’ 13 Imperial Red IPA. Like the original, the brewers made 13 additions of centennial hops (including a double dry hopping) for this special imperial red IPA. Available for a limited time and only at the taproom, patrons can reserve 4-packs in advance at stillfire.oznr.com.

APR

Happy Feat Charity Beer Run

Orange Diva Belgian Wit Beer is a fragrant, delicate beer with blood orange added in just the right amount for the ultimate spring refresher. NOW ON TAP AND AVAILABLE IN 4-PACK CANS ACROSS GEORGIA.

The Happy Feat organization will be hosting a “Happy Hour” Beer Run and 5K on April 17th. After the race, head over to StillFire for the official after party with live music and delicious food trucks! Make sure to order the "Happy Feat" beer - $1 of every draft will go to benefit Happy Feat. To sign up for the 5K visit happyfeat.org.

17

Hopnoxious Release Party

2020 Great American Beer Festival Winner

One of StillFire Brewing's most popular beers ever is FINALLY making its return to the taproom and in cans on April 24th.

Hopnoxious Double IPA is bursting with insane amounts of grapefruit, orange, and apricot flavors with a rich lingering pine bitterness that had patrons screaming for more when it was first released last April. Surprisingly balanced and smooth, the delicious drinkability of this beer belies its massive 10.24% ABV punch. If you are a hop-head, this is a beer you simply cannot miss! Come try it for yourself at the release party featuring live music, food trucks and more!

APR

24

Visit StillFireBrewing.com for more events, current taplist and food truck schedule.

BRONZE MEDAL Belgian-Style Specialty Ale

63

BEER CHASER 5K: A TASTY TWIST ON A TRADITIONAL 5K SUWANEE BEER FEST ANNOUNCES A NEW SOCIALLY DISTANT BEER EVENT COMING TO TOWN CENTER PARK THIS MARCH. BY ALICIA CARTER year, the organizers of Suwanee’s beloved annual craft beer festival, Suwanee Beer Fest, announced the 2021 event would be postponed until June 26 due to concerns over COVID-19. In order to keep Suwanee’s St. Patrick’s Day tradition alive, Suwanee Beer Fest teamed up with presenting sponsor Taco Mac to announce the Beer Chaser 5K, a new socially distant beer event coming to Town Center Park on March 20, 2021. The first annual Suwanee Beer Fest Beer Chaser 5K offers a “choose your own adventure” twist on the traditional 5K with options for elite runners and novices alike. A Peachtree Road Race-qualifier, the Beer Chaser 5K has two sign-up options: The first is for more serious runners who can run for their best time with a tasty 16-ounce beer waiting for them at the finish line. The second is best for those looking for the most fun and includes five beer stops along the route. Partakers of the second option will be able to sip and stroll (or jog or run) as they pick up 4-ounce pours from five “refueling” stations featuring beer from Six Bridges Brewing, Monkey Wrench Brewing, Slow Pour Brewing, Southern Brewing Co., and Tantrum Brewing Company. Suwanee’s own StillFire Brewing will be at the finish line handing out a final 16-ounce beer.

The 5K will feature a staggered start (beginning at 11 a.m.) to encourage social distancing. To mark the occasion, runners will receive an official Beer Chaser 5K T-shirt, medal, and pint glass to show off their well-deserved accomplishment.

Beer Chaser 5K organizers encourage attendees to keep the St. Paddy’s festivities alive by arriving decked out in all things EARLIER THIS

64

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

green! Prizes will be awarded for Best Individual Costume, Best Group Costume, and Best Running Kilt. Feeling extra festive? Keep the party going by heading across the street to StillFire Brewing after the race for an after party with live music, a food truck and 25 beers on tap.

RUNNING FOR A CAUSE

➼ A portion of proceeds from the Suwanee Beer Chaser 5k will be donated to Suwanee Kiwanis Club in order to support HomeFirst Gwinnett, in honor and memory of Adam Edge.

Adam was known for his huge smile and amazing laugh. He served as Suwanee’s downtown development manager, and built relationships with so many in and around our community. He loved life and was one of the most genuine, kind, and encouraging human beings who had a positive impact on all those who knew him.

Adam passed away on March 25, 2020 at the young age of 37 after a hard fought battle with mouth cancer. Adam’s best friend, Matt Elder started HomeFirst Gwinnett due to the county having one of the largest homeless populations without any operating homeless facilities. Adam was passionate about this organization dedicated to developing innovative and coordinated solutions to ending homelessness in Gwinnett County by better connecting services for those who need them most. For more information on HomeFirst Gwinnett visit https://www. unitedwayatlanta.org/program/ homefirst-gwinnett/. ➼ For more information and to register for the race, visit SuwaneeBeerFest.com/beerchaser-5k.

PARTICIPATING BREWERIES:

PR ES ENT S

SU BEE

S U W AFNE ES ET BEER

MA

20 RCH

20TH

5K • TOWN C

21

R E T N E

SATURDAY

MARCH 20TH

P

Every runner will also get to take home an official BEER CHASER 5K SHIRT, a MEDAL and a PINT GLASS to brag about your well-deserved accomplishment.

K R A

*Must register by Wednesday, March 3rd to be guaranteed a race shirt, medal and glass day of race.

11AM START

SUWANEE TOWN CENTER PARK ALL THE DETAILS AT

2021 BEER CHASER 5K SPONSORED BY:

Veugeler Design Group

suwaneebeerfest.com/beer-chaser-5k/

THE LATEST FROM IN AND AROUND SUWANEE

NEW WEDDING FACILITY OPENS IN HISTORIC BUFORD CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NORTH GWINNETT EQUESTRIAN HUNT SEAT TEAM The North Gwinnett Equestrian Hunt Seat Team would like to congratulate our six amazing seniors! We could not be prouder of their perseverance and amazing attitudes overcoming the hurdles (no pun intended) of their senior season. Congratulations to Audry Buzby, Gabby Fiveash, Shea Ballar (LHS), Bella Mitchell, Madison Lindberg and Emma Maleski!

STONEHEDGE HOUSE is a charming new

wedding venue coming to historic downtown Buford. Built in 1903, the Stonehedge estate has been privately owned and occupied and is now open for use by the public for events up to 200 guests. Final renovations are underway with events planned beginning in April. The beautiful estate features multiple sitting areas and a private bridal suite and groom’s lounge, as well as over two private acres of magnolia and champion trees, indoor and outdoor event areas, a large fire pit, picturesque balconies, multiple ceremony sites, stone patios, and lots of open-air entertaining spaces. It’s an ideal location to host weddings, corporate events, and special events such as quinceaneras, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, and holiday parties.

Dates are still available for 2021!

Stonehedge House is located at 406 E. Shadburn Ave. in Buford. For more information call 404-647-4705 or visit StonehedgeHouse.com.

66

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

Local Elementary School Student Publishes Book is a 9-year-old elementary school student who lives in Buford. He is an honor roll student who loves math, writing, science and spending time with his family. Mark is also an avid sports fan who dreams of playing Major League Baseball and becoming a sports agent. He also loves cheering on Braves player Ronald Acuna Jr., who is his favorite athlete.

Mark may sound like your typical kid, but he recently did an extraordinary thing: He wrote and published his first book! Mark’s book, Knocking Greatness Out of the Park, is a children’s book written to inspire and motivate readers to dream big, set goals and make it happen!

According to the book’s synopsis, the main character Ace “is an average active MARK C. SANDERS

young boy who enjoys playing sports. He is developing a love for the game of baseball. How will he make his dreams come true? This enjoyable read will help young readers discover they have what it takes to achieve greatness. This book is based on a true story and characteristics needed to achieve greatness.”

Knocking Greatness Out of the Park is published by Sanders Publishing LLC and was released on Amazon on January 11, 2021. It has already hit No. 1 in the New Release Children’s Baseball Books category and has been inducted into the Library of Congress.

Knocking Greatness Out of the Park is also available online at BarnesandNoble.com and Books-A-Million.com. For more information, visit MarkSanders.com.

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW FIRE STATION IN SUWANEE APPROVED

NORTH GWINNETT CO-OP CELEBRATES 30 YEARS Gwinnett Co-op is so much more than just a community food bank. In addition to food distribution, the local institution offers tutoring services, adult education courses, and medication and utilities payment assistance.

In October 2019, the co-op expanded 14,000 square feet, just in time to serve the highest number of people in the community in its history. This year, the faith-based nonprofit celebrates 30 years in business and is helping our community THE NORTH

THE GWINNETT County

Board of Commissioners is working with Reeves Young, LLC, on the construction of a new Fire Station 13 next to the planned Suwanee Town Center on Main park project. The City of Suwanee will provide two acres of land at the intersection of the new Main Street/library driveway and Suwanee Dam Road. The county will fund and manage the design and construction of the station, and will construct related road improvements to Main Street and the intersection with Suwanee Dam Road. The county’s share of the project is funded by the 2017 SPLOST program.

The 11,000-square-foot station, to be located at 105 Main Street, will house a fire engine, an ambulance, and a minimum of five firefighters and paramedics each day. To accommodate future growth in the area, the station was designed to accommodate up to 11 personnel at a time. The facility will be an EarthCraft certified building with sustainable green initiatives.

“This new station will enable Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services to continue to provide the outstanding service that people have come to expect,” said Chief Russell Knick. “It is strategically placed to enhance the emergency response capabilities and the community risk reduction initiatives of the department.”

The station, set to open next winter, will feature three drive-thru apparatus bays, gear and equipment room, industrial grade kitchen, administrative office area, and individual bunk room cubicles with separate male and female locker and shower facilities.

in more ways than ever. In 2019 the coop distributed 171,953 pounds of food, and the following year in 2020, that number more than doubled with the co-op distributing 544,725 pounds of food. Last year, the co-op also distributed $39,125 in medication assistance to 562 households. During the recent holidays, they delivered meal boxes and seniors gifts to 200 seniors, sponsored 551 children with gifts, and gifted more than $25,000 in gift cards.

This year the co-op will make an even bigger impact on the community when its Second Blessings Thrift Store opens in late spring. The North Gwinnett Co-op is located at 4395 Commerce Drive in Buford. For more information about the co-op as well as volunteer and donation information, call 770-271-9793 or visit NorthGwinnettCoop.org.

North Georgia Urgent Care Opens Second Location in Suwanee NORTH GEORGIA Urgent

Care recently announced the opening of its second location in Suwanee.

With the success of its Duluth location serving the community for more than 10 years, it was time to expand. The Suwanee branch, located at 451 Northolt Parkway near Main Event, is open seven days a week: MondaySaturday, 9am-7pm and Sunday, 10am-6pm.

They welcome walk ins where no appointment is necessary, and also accept most insurance plans and self-pay patients. North Georgia Urgent Care treats various non-emergency medical needs, including infections, cough, sore throat, cold, flu, COVID, musculoskeletal pain/strains

and much more. They also offer services of primary care, physicals, occupational medicine, immigration exams and digital X-rays. Be sure to stop by to meet their friendly staff and physicians.

For more information about North Georgia Urgent Care visit mynguc.com.

67 25

JPAR REAL ESTATE METRO ATLANTA OPENS IN SUWANEE YOU MAY have seen the new bright

blue JPAR Real Estate Metro Atlanta awning in Suwanee Town Center, or maybe you saw the JPAR Metro Atlanta “agent on duty” board out on the sidewalk in front. Suwanee Town Center recently announced its newest tenant, JPAR Real Estate Metro Atlanta, who opened their doors January 21, 2021.

Chris and Lisa Schlitz brought JPAR Real Estate Metro Atlanta to Suwanee Town Center a year and a half after opening their first office in Brookhaven, and quickly became the fastest growing real estate brokerage in Atlanta in 2019-2020, with well Chris and Lisa Schlitz over 100 agents joining them in their first year!

"We chose Suwanee Town Center because of the hometown community feel," Chris explains.

"There's just so much going on here, lots of activity, shopping, and dining. It just seemed to be an ideal location for a real estate company to come and serve the community of Suwanee and the surrounding cities."

Trop Drop & Roll IPA leans on a wide variety of citrus flavors and aromas, mixing in with an array of exotic guava, melon and passion fruit notes. NOW ON TAP AND AVAILABLE IN 4-PACK CANS ACROSS GEORGIA.

➼ JPAR Real Estate Metro Atlanta is located at 340 Town Center Ave, A9. Learn more at JPARMetroAtlanta.com.

68

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

THE BUZZ

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION RETURNS TO THE HUDGENS CENTER FOR THE ARTS THE GWINNETT Chapter of Georgia

Nature Photographers Association is hosting the 6th annual “Stand In Ansel Adams Footsteps” Photographic Competition and Exhibition, currently on display at the Hudgens Center for Art and Learning. The concept and goal of the competiton is to shoot black and white (monochrome) photographs to emulate the style, look and feel of Ansel Adams’ work. Adams is wellknown for his remarkable black and white landscapes and finely focused textures, forms, and details of nature.

This year, 59 photographers registered 326 photographs and more than 130

2021 Best of Show "Water Stone Leaves Sky" by Charles Scheff, Roswell Chapter

are on exhibit at the Hudgens Center in three categories: Landscape, Macro/ Close Up and Open.

This year’s Juror, Charlotte Gibb, is an award-winning and renowned nature and landscape photographer based in Northern California. She is known for her mastery of "Intimate Landscapes" — small scenes derived from a large landscape with an eye for

the subtle, and sometimes overlooked, beauty of nature. ➼ “Stand in Ansel Adams Footsteps” is on view through April 17 at the Hudgens Center for Art and Learning, located at 6400 Sugarloaf Pkwy., Building 300, in Duluth. For more information, visit TheHudgens.org.

69

PHOTO COURTESY GEORGIA FORCE CHRISTIAN ATHLETICS

THE BUZZ

GEORGIA FORCE CHRISTIAN ATHLETICS:

A FORCE TO RECKON WITH FOSTERING CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT, COMRADERY AND HARD WORK IN A CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENT

AS A PARENT,

considering what who are restricted from playing at is best for your child is always their local public schools. But we top of mind. If you have a son or are so much more than sports for daughter in middle or high school homeschool or private education who loves sports, Georgia high school students,” Force Christian Athletics she says. “On so could be an answered many levels we prayer. The league is offer community, open to students who friendship, mentoring, are homeschooled or and family. Many attend a private Christian families who find school that does not the Force often report offer sports, as well as back how much they a small percentage of are surprised to find a students who attend very welcoming set of public school. Georgia volunteers who truly Force is committed to want them to be in fostering athletes in a our community.”

Christian environment with Not only does a mission to encourage, Georgia Force lead, teach and develop provide students young men and women to with a traditional be Godly leaders within Friday night the community. lights experience According to Karyn — including a Artz, whose two sons Homecoming played Varsity football game and dance, - Tamara Koval with the Force, that is Senior Night and exactly what they do. more — it does “The Georgia Force High School so in a welcoming and Christian Athletic Association is here for your environment. But make no mistake, high school students seeking sports the league is also a force to be

Each of my sons received multiple college football scholarships and made memories that will last a lifetime.

reckoned with. Georgia Force won the 2020 National Homeschool Football Championship, held in Panama City Beach, despite facing more than their fair share of challenges during the season.

One parent shared on Facebook before heading to the championship, “This 2020 season has been like none other - pandemic, loss of spring season, loss of our league, loss of our field due to hurricane damage, and injuries just to name a few. BUT GOD. He has walked through all the ups and downs with us and we are better for it. We head to Panama City Beach, FL this week as the #3 team in the National Homeschool Football Association Tournament and we don’t take competing for the National Championship lightly. We can do all things through Him who strengthens us and no matter the outcome we are family. GO FORCE!” Tamara Koval, another Force mom, shared of their experience, “Both of my sons (Nick Koval #30 and Ted Koval #73) played for the Georgia Force football team all four years of high school. The coaches led them and their teams to two national championships. Each of my sons received multiple college football scholarships and made memories that will last a lifetime. Ted is a freshman playing on a football scholarship at Benedictine College in Kansas and Nicholas is considering seven football scholarship offers.”

In addition to football, Georgia Force offers basketball, cheerleading and marching band. Winter conditioning for the football team kicks off this spring and is a great way to check out the organization.

Conditioning will take place on March 13, March 27, and April 17 followed by the spring season. The regular fall season kicks off in July. The team plans to play at Gary Pirkle Park in Sugar Hill pending the new turf being completed.

For more information about Georgia Force or winter conditioning, contact Karyn Artz at 404-844-9718, karynzartz@ gmail.com or check them out at ForceHSFootball.com.

71

Author Kevin Williams poses with brother Brad and Chick-fil-A team members, family and friends

Local Restaurateur’s New Book, Irrational Kindness! Shares Secrets of Chick-fil-A's Success ACCORDING TO Chick-fil-A

restaurateur Kevin Williams, “a little bit of light changes a whole lot of darkness.”

That is just one piece of wisdom he shares in his new book, Irrational Kindness! The Canton Chick-fil-A restaurant owner visited the “Kevin’s new Suwanee Chick-fil-A on Moore book, written as Rd., owned by Williams’s brother part-operating Brad, on January 9th to promote manual for life, his book, which released on part-employee January 12th. handbook, In the book he shares secrets Irrational from 30 years of leading at one Kindness! flips of America’s fastest growing companies. His secret is not traditional just random acts of kindness wisdom on its but rather the strategic spirit of head and gives irrational kindness. According us a different lens to the website, “Kevin’s new through which to book, written as part-operating look at life.” manual for life, part-employee handbook, Irrational Kindness! flips traditional wisdom on its head and gives us a different lens through which to look at life. Irrational Kindness! provides the inspiration we all need to favor understanding over being understood and prioritize kindness—toward ourselves as well as others—over everything.” ➼ Irrational Kindness! is available for sale at Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Amazon and Bookshop.

To learn more visit irrationalkindness.com.

72

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

THE BUZZ

Three More Local Girls Earn Eagle Scout Rank last issue we told the story of Lena Towne, one of the country's first female Eagle Scouts. In this issue we are excited to announce that three more girls have earned the rank of Eagle Scout, celebrating in a ceremony that took place in February. Joining Lena are Audrey Kenney, Sara Whittier, and Madison Burrell.

Audrey Kenney is a freshman at North Gwinnett High School and her Eagle project was to build a hammock village at Epiphany Lutheran Church. She has earned the Bronze Award in Girl Scouts, played violin since 2nd grade, and attended both the county science fair and the Readers Rally championship two years in a row.

Audrey Kenney

Sara Whittier

Madison Burrell

IN OUR

Sara Whittier is a senior at North Gwinnett High School and her Eagle project was building 15 dog beds and collecting food and supplies for Planned Pethood. Sara grew up tagging along on many of her brother’s outdoor experiences, and she is very thankful to have had her father with her throughout the entire scouting adventure. These opportunities gave her a love of the outdoors, specifically hiking and backpacking.

Madison Burrell is an 8th grader at North Gwinnett Middle School and her Eagle project was to create 20 mason bee houses to be installed at Gwinnett County parks. She has also earned her Bronze Award in Girl Scouts, where she was active for six years. She has served for years as an acolyte at St. Columba's Episcopal Church, and staffed Vacation Bible School. Congratulations Audrey, Sara and Madison!

73

S U G A R

H I L L

CityBuzz

T

 H sp T cr cy co th P

FUN IN THE SUN INin THE Summer the Sweet City

S

Georgia means ummer isSUMMER nearly IN here.

The days aregetting longer, outside to kick a ball around with school is out, the sun is shining, and the warm exploring nature, or finding weather friends, is inviting you to get outside and a cool body of water to splash around in! When make the most out of your summer months in you’re thinking of your next place to play, visit the sweet city! Sugar Hill may be a growing Sugar Hill to explore the newly renovated Gary city, but we know that places to play are just Pirkle Park and everyone’s favorite free, familyas important as places to live and work. friendly Splash Park in downtown.

Gary Pirkle Park features 67 acres of land GARYwith PIRKLE PARK Richland Creek running through the area. Gary Pirkle Park,has located just off Suwanee Dam Road, The park six synthetic turf fields, a giant offers plenty of spaceunder for play and programming.

Pirkle playground a 90-foot solar-powered Park is home to the largest synthetic turf fields in the pavilion, 1.7 miles of paved and lighted walking Southeast as well a shaded playground, two miles trails andas benches, viewing of paved and lighted walking trails, and the Sugar Hill grandstands, public Wi-Fi, restrooms, two concession Community Garden. facilities, picnic pavilions, and a community garden.

The CLUB park’s THE SUGAR HILL GOLF two natural grass were Just down the street, Thefields Sugar Hill Golf Club has replaced with highearned recently an established reputation as one of the most quality synthetic turfpublic making beautiful, and challenging, courses in the North the largest synthetic Georgiaitfoothills.

With some ofoutdoor the most spectacular turf facility in the Southeast. golfing vistas, the unique course offers plenty of daily With all this excellent green tee times as well as regular tournaments and a club space, grab some friends and house available for special events. come out to Gary Pirkle Park for a day of fun in the fresh air!

After working up a sweat at Gary Pirkle Park, visit downtown to cool off at the Splash Park at Sugar Hill.

Located behind City Hall and The Bowl at Sugar Hill off West Broad Street, the Splash Park is a 60-foot-in-diameter water feature with LED lighting and more than 90 spray nozzles for nonstop fun to beat the heat.

The Splash Park opens annually in April (weather permitting) and is open daily from 10am to 8pm until late September. The Splash Park is subject to close due to maintenance, inclement weather, or special events at any time.

It is strongly recommended to check the City’s social media accounts and website before visiting to ensure that the Splash Park is open for guests.

Come enjoy fun in the sun this summer in the Sweet City! ■

74

I

I

I

Suwanee Magazine suwaneemagazine.com MAR / APR 21 uwanee Magazine suwaneemagazine.com NOV / DEC 19

I

I

SUGAR HILL SPLASH PARK

Kids can cool off and splash around at the Sugar Hill Splash Park in the heart of Sugar Hill. The exciting water feature offers free fun for all ages and is open seasonally from late spring to early fall. Located directly behind City Hall, the Splash Park offers familyfriendly fun with dancing water fountains and lights as well as plenty of local restaurants within a five-minute walk. Grab something to go or enjoy your own treats at shaded picnic tables or soak up the sun on the plaza surrounding the fountain.

Gary Pirkle Park Bridge Gary Pirkle Park

/CityofSugarHill

@CityofSugarHill

@CityofSugarHill_

72

Suwanee Mag

MARCH / APRIL 2021 M A R C H

5

SIP & SWINE BBQ FESTIVAL Coolray Field,

thru Lawrenceville

May 6

20

17

SAINT PATRICK’S DAY

Sipandswine.com.

SUWANEE BEER FEST BEER CHASER 5K 11am

Town Center Park

For more information and to register visit suwaneebeerfest.com.

The City of Sugar Hill has lots of outdoor options for fun in the sun this spring, including the newly renovated Gary Pirkle Park, which features turf fields, a large playground, walking trails, a community garden and more. Families will also love the Splash Park at Sugar Hill with a great selection of restaurants with patio dining nearby.

A P R I L

1 4 5

CHEERS DAY

Bringing back kindness, one random act at a time. In honor and memory of Adam Edge. #CheerstoAdam.

For more info visit @SuwaneeKiwanis on facebook.

EASTER SUNDAY

GWINNETT COUNTY thru SCHOOLS April SPRING BREAK 9

10

MONKEY WRENCH BREWING 5K 8:30am

Monkey Wrench Brewing

17

HAPPY FEAT'S HAPPY HOUR 5K 3pm

Town Center Park To register go to HappyFeat.org.

24

SUWANEE ARTS CENTER SUPERHERO SPRINT 8am

Town Center Park

24

NORTH GEORGIA thru ARTS GUILD April PRESENTS 26 CELEBRATE CLAYTON 10am

Downtown Clayton

More information at celebrateclayton.com.

75

ON THE SCENE

Happy Feat's Night to Shine Prom Friday, Feb. 12th

TOWN CENTER PARK

PHOTOS BY TIM NETTLETON TRUESPEEDPHOTO.COM

76

I

Suwanee Magazine

I

suwaneemagazine.com

I MAR / APR 21

77

Now in Suwanee!

3665 Swiftwater Park Dr, Suite 304 Suwanee, GA 30024 770-422-6464

Schedule your

FREE

DESIGN CONSULTATION

today!

Closets have always been the engine of the home. We'll show you how life changing a brilliantly imagined closet can be

spacemakersclosets.com

Closets, Garage, Pantry, Home Office, Entertainment, and more!

A

N E W ,

C H A R M I N G

&

S P E C I A L

E V E N T S

V E N U E

Stonehedge House is a hidden gem located in historic, downtown Buford with over two acres of beautifully manicured landscape, multiple ceremony locations, indoor and outdoor entertaining spaces, and picturesque balconies to create your idyllic event.

This is the perfect venue for private parties, corporate events and weddings up to 200 guests.

DATES STILL AVAILABLE FOR 2021 & BEYOND

406 E. Shadburn Ave. • Buford, GA 30518 www.stonehedgehouse.com (404) 647-4705 I info@stonehedgehouse.com

OPEN AIR EVENTS ARE

I N S U WA N E E TOWN CENTER! SUWANEE BEER FEST BEER CHASER 5K

SUWANEE ARTS CENTER SUPERHERO 5K APRIL 24 | 8:00 AM

MARCH 20 | 11:00 AM

GWINNETT CHAMBER BUTTON DOWN DASH 5K/10K MAY 22 | 6:30 AM

WINTER FARMERS MARKET MARCH 13 & 27 APRIL 10 & 24 9:00 – 11:00 AM

FARMERS MARKET

EVERY SATURDAY MAY 1 – SEPTEMBER 25 8:00 AM - NOON

Visit Suwanee.com for more information!