I can haz 100 dogs?

Did you realize that your neighbor(s) can have as many pets as they like? Your neighbor could have 100 dogs if he can take care of them all.

I found this out today, when I unfortunately had to call Animal Control about a loose dog I didn't recognize who charged at my family in our own driveway.

So the Animal Control officer came out, tried casually to catch the dog but was unsuccessful. (They don't really want to take the dog if they can tell it's connected with a house, because it would take the shelter space away from another dog).

The dog was protective of a certain house (a certain house that repeatedly has dogs out loose in the neighborhood, but I didn't recognize this one). The Animal Control officer said she looked in the windows and there were 2-3 dogs in the house and "several" dogs in the yard...add the one that's roaming to that number.

So I said, "Wow - is there a limit on how many dogs somebody can have?" And the officer replied that "they can have as many as they want, as long as they can afford to take care of them."

A note was left by Animal Control on the neighbor's door. I am certain that they will read it and just throw it in the trash. When the neighbor comes home, they will (hopefully) take the dog inside.

Anyway, isn't it incredible that somebody can have as many dogs as they want to have in Snellville? I really don't see why anybody would need more than 8 dogs. But you can't set a limit apparently, because somebody will cry that their civil rights are being violated. What about your neighbor's rights?

Fall leaves are pretty, but not in the drains

Fall is in the air and the leaves are starting to fall. Please help keep our Stormwater system clean by keeping leaves and landscape debris out of streets, drainage culverts and drainage easements. Dumping leaves and grass clippings in creeks and drainage swales quickly restricts the natural flow and can cause upstream and downstream effects to other properties. The City of Snellville appreciates your cooperation on keeping our Stormwater system clean! Thanks, from the Snellville Public Works Department, 770-985-3527.

Canned food drive to benefit food bank

The City of Snellville in association with the Gwinnett Municipal Association will hold a canned food drive from November 30 through December 18.

Food items can be dropped off at the Snellville City Hall lobby to benefit the Southeast Gwinnett Co-op. The Southeast Gwinnett Coop provides food and financial assistance to those in the local area. Please see the Southeast Gwinnett Co-op’s website for a list of the food that is most needed.

Snellville Christmas tree lighting

On December 7 at 7:00pm the City of Snellville will celebrate its 28th annual lighting of the tree at City Hall. Deborah Rich will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies. Entertainment by Jackie Ginn, Snellville First Baptist Church, St. Oliver Plunkett Catholic Church, Britt Elementary and Snellville Middle School.

Mayor Oberholtzer will lead the countdown to the lighting of the tree, followed by Santa's arrival. Children will have the opportunity to visit and take pictures with Santa. (There is usually a fee to have photos taken with Santa) .Refreshments will be served by the Snellville Keenager Club.

Guests from the Marines will be present, representing Toys for Tots. If you would like to help the Toys for Tots cause, please bring a small, unwrapped toy or a monetary donation.

For more information, contact the Snellville Parks and Recreation Department at 770-985-3535.

Snellville sign waste

Would you ever think about parking in a designated exit/turn lane on Highway 124/Scenic Highway? Do you need about 39 signs to tell you that?

How about duplicate signs - a sign right behind another one that has the same message on it? (I think the duplicates are there because it's one teams' job to install the signs, and another teams' job to uninstall and the uninstall team hasn't been out yet to do their work...well, let's see...



Check out the video, leave a comment...who do we talk to about this issue?

A bit of a rant

Earlier this week, school planning officials made alterations in their original proposal to reflect some of the early input from parents. Those changes include adjustments that would keep the Magill Elementary students in Snellville from transferring to Britt Elementary. But many Britt parents objected Thursday, saying that triggers a chain of events that keeps Britt attendance above the building's capacity, so some children will be forced to remain in trailers on the campus.
http://www.ajc.com/news/gwinnett/parents-appeal-to-school-205762.html

Oh, people so hate those trailers! More on that at the bottom of this post...*

I thought at first it might be possible my child would need to switch schools with the redistricting plan. It turns out my son will not be affected, but my thought on the matter was that if it happened, we would deal with it. Britt, Magill, Norton...they're all good schools.

If kids need to change schools, there is an adjustment, but kids are smart and they can make the change. The AKS (Academic, Knowledge and Skills criteria) is the same, no matter what Gwinnett County School you child attends.

Kids are going to take the cue for how to deal with change from how they see their parents react. When my husband attended public schools in Savannah, he was bussed to different schools 3-4 times within a decade. He was bussed to a downtown Savannah school for "racial balancing," even though there was an elementary school at the end of his street! He dealt with it.

Complain if you feel you must, but realize the Gwinnett County School System is not asking parents and kids for a terrible sacrifice.

We all know Gwinnett County is in a budget crisis. Most of us are in a budget crisis. We think things are really bad. But if you happened to notice Veteran's Day slip by us, and remember what that's all about...we all have to make sacrifices sometimes - we aren't always going to get what we want. Sometimes we have to just accept. We'd all love life to be like it used to be. Hey, this is life during wartime. If this is the worst sacrifice you have to make, you are a blessed person!

Our sacrifices are nothing like our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents had to make. Letting our children see that we can cope with disappointment and roll with the punches is something that can help build their character.

I'm all for people standing up for rights and trying to improve things, however [in my opinion] there's too much whining and complaining because things have gone sour. We're mad that our library's not open anymore on Sundays and Mondays. Libraries are being turned into computer labs. Now kids might have to change schools. (I hate to tell you that we are also probably going to receive another Gwinnett property tax bill!)

Bad stuff happens, and yes it stinks. It shouldn't have happened. But it's not like you are in a convoy in Afghanistan, hoping you don't get killed by an IED. Those are the people making the REAL sacrifices - our military and their families.

PS: *If your child does stay in a trailer, it's actually a good thing - because when viral illnesses run through a school, your child is less likely to become sick. During the day, the trailers are kept locked, and if bad weather is predicted, the kids go inside the main building. I've been inside several "portable classrooms" in trailers and they are quite nice!

Charity fraud

I just heard on Channel 2 news that a woman is going around to businesses claiming to be collecting money for Toys for Tots. She will show a business card with another woman's name on them to give herself credibility, but she is reusing business cards from other women she has approached for donations.

Toys for Tots is a real charity, but obviously this woman is not giving the money to the real charity.
Please use the safest way when you donate, to make sure your donation goes to the real charity, not door-to-door scammers like this one. You can find charity ratings at CharityNavigator.com

Snellville Special Olympian competes in Perry

Eric Ermutlu has been riding for eight years now. He is 16, and his mother Anna Maki, of Snellville, says that he is autistic and has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

“It’s been a wonderful program for him,” Maki said. “His confidence and willingness to be outgoing is wonderful for an autistic kid.”

Maki said that her son takes pride in how his horse looks. The horse he rides is Avatar, a black Percheron.

The pair ride at Parkwood Farms in Gwinnett County.

“He has to work him,” Maki said. “He gets the fact that he sees they are a team.”

She said that the judge reinforces what the therapists emphasize. For showmanship classes, eye contact is important and hard for an autistic child.

The show judges on how well the athlete controls the horse, the rider’s balance, the confidence of the rider and the rider’s balance. Maki said that what is unique about the show is that they get scores and the athletes are able to see what to focus and improve upon for next year.

“It’s a celebration of everything they’ve learned,” Maki said.

Special Olympians compete at horse show in Perry
Macon Telegraph

Snellville Middle School evacuated

Gwinnett middle school evacuated
Atlanta Journal Constitution
By Megan Matteucci A faulty air condition forced firefighters to evacuate Snellville Middle School for about two hours Monday, officials said. ...

Sandra Wright Shannon, age 63 of Snellville

SNELLVILLE — Sandra Wright Shannon, 63, of Snellville went to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009. The service celebrating the life of Mrs. Shannon will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Snellville First Baptist Church with the Rev. Joel Thomas and the Rev. Steve Foster officiating. Burial will follow at Snellville Historical Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Tom M. Wages Funeral Service in Snellville.

Mrs. Shannon was born Nov. 20, 1945. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend. When the Lord said to serve, she took it literally, spending her life serving the needs of others.

She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Charles “Darwyn” Shannon; sons and daughters-in-law, Charles Braxton and Jeannie Elizabeth Shannon and Clifton Wright and Jennifer Anne Shannon; daughter and son-in-law, Rachel Shannon and Nicholas Robert Dahm; grandchildren, Alexandra Elizabeth Shannon, Abigail Leigh Shannon, William Wright Shannon, Nathan Gifford Shannon and Elijah Dean Shannon; brother and sister-in-law, Stanley and Cynthia Wright, and other relatives and a host of friends.

Mrs. Shannon requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made toward serving those in need through Streetwise Ministries; P.O. Box 657 Dacula, GA 30019. Condolences may be sent or viewed at www.wagesfuneralhome.com. Tom M. Wages Funeral Service in Snellville is in charge of arrangements.

Sandra W. Shannon
Tifton Gazette
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Flood warning Snellville GA

A flood warning has been issued as of 9:21 pm November 10, 2009 for Snellville GA, per The Weather Channel. Residents should be extra careful, especially when driving.

The Flood Warning mentions Suwanee, but I received an alert which includes Snellville and Gwinnett County area.

"Flood Warning: Issued at: 9:19 PM EST 11/10/09, expires at: 11:18 AM EST 11/11/09The NWS in peachtree city has issued a flood warning for the suwanee creek near suwanee. From this evening until late Wednesday night. At 8 pm Tuesday the stage was 6.9 feet, and rising. Minor flooding is forecast. Flood stage is 8.0 feet. Forecast to rise above flood stage by tonight and continue to rise to near 9.1 feet by Wednesday morning. The river will fall below flood stage by Wednesday evening. At 9.0 feet, suwanee creek greenway floods."

Science is all around you

I thought this was great, wanted to share this with you.

By Tom McNeill
Tom McNeill is a Science Coach/Teacher at W.C. Britt Elementary School in Snellville.

I’ve been teaching Science Specials for three years now. And believe me, in this short amount of time, I’ve been asked just about every imaginable question from the students here at Britt: “Can we make a potion?”, “Are we going to mix chemicals?”, “Why does the moon follow me when I’m riding in a car?”, “What will happen if I drop a cement block on to a balloon full of shaving cream?”.

Students’ fascination and curiosity with science is natural and abundant, and they are always eager to get their hands on any lab activity that comes their way. However, one thing that I have noticed among the students is a general misconception that “science” is performed by
“scientists”, usually in a laboratory setting. This generalized belief is actually quite common among all children. When I ask, “What scientific things have you done lately?”, the common responses usually have to do with what they did in class with their teachers. Students are very
skeptical when I inform them that they “do science” every day of their lives!

If science means making observations and then acting on those observations, then every time you put on a jacket, you’re doing science. As parents, we have unique opportunities to turn what is academic into real-world learning. Children learn about the moon and stars in class, but only we can look up into the night sky with them.

Perhaps the easiest and most natural setting for science is in the kitchen. Many children are not aware of the similarities between chemists in a lab and cooks in a kitchen. Allow your children to help make breakfast. Talk about chemistry in the kitchen! Just making pancakes involves measuring solids and liquids, mixing substances, using heat energy, and manipulating and observing physical and chemical changes.

So, start at home and try not to let these little “teachable” opportunities pass you by. The more science children are exposed to at home, the more likely they will succeed here at school. Go make something delicious! Hey, sometimes you have to crack a few eggs to do good SCIENCE!

School make-up days schedule changed due to flood

From school newsletter:

Due to the two flood days which occurred in September, students and staff will be in session on February 12 & March 15.

As winter has not even begun and there is the chance that inclement weather may force additional school closings, Gwinnett County Public Schools has amended its 2009-2010 school calendar to include two more snow make-up days. Both of these days were originally scheduled as student/staff holidays.

The two new make-up snow days are:

• Monday, February 15 (snow make-up day # 1)

• Friday, April 2 (snow make-up day # 2)

• May 27 will remain as snow make-up day # 3. If the district does not

need to use these days as make-up days, they will be holidays for students and staff.

My Snellville Blog is now on Facebook

"My Snellville Blog" is now on Facebook! So, if you use Facebook, you can pick up the blog posts there too. Here is the link to My Snellville Blog on Facebook

If you have photos you'd like to share with our readers, please tag My Snellville Blog!

Veterans Day observance in Lawrenceville

Gwinnett County will host the annual Veterans Day ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Gwinnett Fallen Heroes Memorial in Lawrenceville. The observance will pay tribute to the county’s military veterans and honor two servicemen who were killed in the line of duty this year.

The public is invited to attend this event to thank the men and women who have served honorably in the military, during wartime or peacetime, and to memorialize the fallen heroes who have sacrificed their lives to protect our nation.

Veterans Day ceremony honors Gwinnett's military heroes
Duluth Weekly

Parents join forces to alter school redistricting plans

Since the redistricting maps were unveiled last month, the district's central office has received about 1,000 formal notices from parents, many seeking a change in the proposed boundaries. More opinion forms are expected to filter in from schools affected by the redistricting.

The redistricting proposal, set for fall 2010, relocates some 9,000 students in 29 schools as the district cuts back on trailers and draws boundaries for six new schools. The Gwinnett school system, the largest in the state, has about 160,000 students.

The east Gwinnett group, comprised of parents in Snellville and Loganville, is drafting strategies to stop the proposed relocation of about 200 students at Magill Elementary in Loganville to Britt Elementary in Snellville.

The problem, according to parent Shoshone Abdulkariem of Snellville, is that Britt is already overcrowded. Just as important, she said, parents are upset that their children would now graduate from Britt to Snellville Middle School, while Magill students would graduate to nearby Midway Middle, which is set to open next year.

"A lot of residents here felt they had a hand in building that school," Abdulkariem said.

Parent Andrea Raphael of Snellville said the group turned in 160 opinion forms to the district office Wednesday, the deadline for the questionnaires.

"Britt already has about 900 students, and they want to reduce that to about 530," Raphael said. "They'll achieve it with a lot less disruption if Magill students stay at Magill and fewer students are removed from Britt."

The group is sending about a dozen representatives door-to-door to summon more support and address the board of education when it hears public input Nov. 19.

Greg Stanfield, director of planning for the district, said the case of Britt Elementary is part of a domino effect that involves several schools beginning with the new Snell Elementary. All suggestions will be considered, he said. The opinion forms will be reviewed by an educator and a parent based at each of the 29 schools affected. From there, he said, the planning department will evaluate any suggested modifications.

Parents organize to alter redistricting plans
Atlanta Journal Constitution

Baggett appears to have mistrust of Snellville vote

I received some inside news that Niria Dominguez Baggett (the candidate who is getting a recount from Tuesday's Snellville City Council election after losing to Barbara Bender by only 7 votes) has now filed an open records request for thirty-seven items, including the maintenance records on the voting machine.

I can see supporting a recount when the vote is this close, but needing maintenance records on the machine?!? That's closing in on the ridiculous in my opinion. Especially after a candidate has personally witnessed the machine recounting the paper ballots with many reputable people in attendance. After the recount, her loss appeared to be by only 6 points instead of 7. I guess that was enough to cast additional doubt.

Ugh, is Hubs back from Taco Bell yet? I'm sick of politics.

Snellville's fresh start

An opinion piece by Rick Badie in the AJC. It pretty much sums up things here...a little off - (media always wants to wrap up a story in a neat little package and real life isn't that way) but well-written overall.

Rick Badie's Gwinnett: Fresh start for civility in Snellville
Atlanta Journal Constitution
Alas, the Snellville snafus that we've come to know the past two years may be a past relic. Thank Tuesday's city election. ...

Snellville estate sale

I went to a couple garage/yard sales today, and thought you might want to know about this one - the resident told me I could list the address here.

It's 2157 Hartridge Drive, Snellville GA 30078.

The sale is closed for today, but they'll be having the yard sale again tomorrow, Saturday, November 7th, from 9 am to 3 pm. It's a great sale for anyone who does crafting, wreaths, or designing - there's stuff for most holidays, especially Christmas. When I was there, they had quite a few vintage Christmas items.

Here's how to get there - it's very easy. From US78/Main Street, turn down Skyland Drive (that's the road that runs by W.C. Britt Elementary and South Gwinnett High School. Turn left on Hartridge Drive (Hartridge will be the first left after you pass Rockdale Circle). The house is on the left. Signs are on the mailbox.

Voting statistics Snellville 2009 election

I'm a statistics nut. I just find it interesting. Yeah, total nerd! I hear ya.

I got to wondering how many out of some 18,500 residents in Snellville actually vote.

Not only did I find out how many registered voters are in Snellville as of November 1, 2009 (10,797), I also found out ethnicity and gender.

• Black female voters: 1,452

• Black male voters: 1,021

• White female voters: 3,907

• White male voters 3,287

• Asian/Pacific Islander female voters: 79

• Asian/Pacific Islander male voters: 77

• Hispanic/Latino female voters: 117

• Hispanic/Latino male voters: 180

• Native American female voters: 3

• Native American male voters: 4

• Other (not specified male or female or any ethnicity): 770

Data from: Georgia Secretary of State's Office

In the November 3, 2009 Snellville City Council election, about 10% of those registered to vote did vote.

Do you think that was a good turn out of voters?
Maybe it was a good turn out as far as municipal elections usually go.

Proposal for extension of Sugarloaf Parkway

Sugarloaf Parkway is in Lawrenceville, but I thought I'd share this information anyway, because so many of us in Snellville use Sugarloaf Parkway.

I-75/I-575, I-285, Ga. 400, "Gwinnett Connector" toll projects proposed
Atlanta Journal Constitution
400, northern I-75 and I-575, and an extension of Sugarloaf Parkway in Gwinnett County. DOT staff say the projects discussed ...

Toll lanes proposed for Atlanta-area roads
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
An extension of Sugarloaf Parkway in Gwinnett County is also included. The state announced this week that it was abandoning its partnership with the ...

Baggett demands vote recount

Well, I really, really considered Ms. Baggett for Snellville City Council. I was moved by her concern for the citizens of Snellville when I read her website. But what finally tipped the scale to vote for Barbara Bender was Ms. Bender's experience in Snellville (and I had previously never even heard of Niria Dominquez Baggett, even though I have been working on this Snellville blog for over 5 years) - However, I was willing to consider Ms. Baggett for Snellville City Council.

But finally, what it really came down to for me was to choose someone who would work well with the other candidates I had chosen. I knew Barbara Bender would/could do that, but I didn't know enough long-term information about Niria Dominguez Baggett on that important point. Maybe she would work well, but I didn't have enough information to know. So yep, one of those 6 or 7 votes that put Barbara Bender over the top was mine.

I'm not blaming Ms. Baggett though. If I was Niria Baggett, I would probably ask for a recount too, because the vote was so close.

Baggett said she wants a recount "to make sure everything is as it should be. A lot of people who were supporting me asked me to do that, and I think I owe it to my supporters."

Baggett, who is an attorney, said Georgia law gives her the right to be present during the hand recount and to inspect the ballots.

"I will make use of both those rights," she said.

Snellville City Council candidate wants recount
Atlanta Journal Constitution

Snellville woman injured when car flips several times

From the Rome News-Tribune:

A Snellville woman flipped her car on U.S. 411 about two miles east of the bypass on Wednesday afternoon. She was taken to Floyd Medical Center for treatment of her injuries.

A Snellville woman was injured late Wednesday afternoon after her car flipped on U.S. 411.

According to Lt. Mark Blanton with the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office:

A black Honda sedan, driven by 21-year-old Julia Elizabeth Broz of 1505 Holly Lake Circle in Snellville, was traveling east on U.S. 411 around 5:15 p.m. Witnesses told Blanton that she appeared to veer off the shoulder, and when she turned back onto the roadway, she overcorrected and flipped several times.

Blanton said when rescue units arrived, Broz seemed conscious and alert, and she was taken to Floyd Medical Center for treatment of her injuries.

The wreck happened about two miles east of the bypass, and one outbound lane of 411 was closed for about 30 minutes while emergency crews worked the scene.

Snellville in "The Vent"

While not a perfect way to see what local folks are thinking (as I'm sure there's only a certain percentage of the population who would write a "Vent" to the Atlanta Journal-Consitution), it can be interesting.

"Another taxable office complex moves to Loganville because Snellville City Council can't seem to get anything done unless it's been 2 years on the books."

"Snellville City Council needs voted out the same as the Gwinnett BOC. It's time to have elected officials who care about the community and not the locations of their families properties meeting new road construction."

If you want to see the "Best of the Vent" in Gwinnett County, click here.

Snellville election results 2009

Snellville City Council Post 3

Tom Witts: 1,039 votes (55%)
Robert Jenkins: 845 votes (45%)

Snellville City Council Post 4

Barbara Bender: 946 votes (51%)
Niria Dominguez Baggett: 940 votes (49%)

Snellville City Counci Post 5

Mike Sabbagh: 954 votes (51%)
Jackie O. Ginn: 917 votes (49%)

The Special Election item for Tax Allocation Districts (TAD) was defeated:

“Shall the Act be approved which authorizes the City of Snellville to exercise redevelopment powers, under the 'Redevelopment Powers Law,' as it may be amended from time to time, for the purpose of improving economic and social conditions in depressed areas within the City?”

797 voted Yes and 1,1018 voted No.

Snellville election results

• Tom Witts has unseated Robert Jenkins

• Mike Sabbagh has defeated Jackie O. Ginn

• Barbara Bender wins re-election over Niria Dominguez Baggett

From AJC's Election: Minute by Minute:

7:51 am: A report from Snellville City Hall: By 7:30 a.m. about 40 people had voted. Poll manager Nelson Williams said he expected it to pick up as the day went on.

9:10 pm : Snellville voters elected businessman Tom Witts, accountant Barbara Bender and electronics engineer Mike Sabbagh to the city council. Incumbent Robert Jenkins was ousted from Post 3 by Witts in the most lopsided of the three races. Bender defeated attorney Niria Baggett by just six votes to retain her Post 4 seat. Baggett told Bender she planned to challenge the results.

By the time I arrived at Snellville City Hall (about 9:50 am), the parking lot was probably about 75% full. I was really glad to see all the interest in the election.

Election links and updates:

Snellville outcome to 'end divisiveness'

Voters consider parks, taxes, roads
Atlanta Journal Constitution - Atlanta,GA,USA

Snellville elections

Reminder to vote on
Tuesday, November 3rd at
Snellville City Hall!
Polls will be open from 7 am until 7 pm.

• Details from City of Snellville's website.

• Check out all the candidate's websites here

Everson endorses Tom Witts, Barbara Bender, Jackie O. Ginn

Don't forget to vote Tuesday, November 3rd at Snellville City Hall!

Everson Endorses Bender, Witts and Ginn in Snellville Races
Gwinnett Gazette - Lawrenceville,GA,USA
In an open letter to his constituents in House District 106, State Representative Melvin Everson endorsed this year's City Council candidates in Snellville. ...

Victims of Lawrenceville plane crash identified

Gwinnett authories have identified the pilot of a small plane that crashed into a Lawrenceville house as James Wardlaw, 58, of Atlanta, and the woman who died in the house as Judith Kirchner, 62.

From: Pilot in home crash was flying to visit daughters (AJC)

A video of a Snellville commercial property

Here's a video showing the property that lies between Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers and Dickey's Barbeque on Highway 78 in Snellville.

I don't know for what purpose this video was made - it doesn't appear to be an advertisement for the property, but perhaps by a company that plans to open in that location.

The YouTube username of the person who uploaded it is TireWorldLLC, so perhaps we can expect a tire company to move into that location soon. The video was shot on October 26, 2009, according to the YouTube listing.