Introducing Snellville Today - A Brand New Snellville Website

On 11/1/11 at 1 p.m., a new Snellville website will be revealed. Called Snellville Today, the new site integrates all 2,000-plus blog posts from My Snellville Blog that have been written over the past 6 years. So, we won't be losing anything, but creating something that will have a fresher and stronger presence in Snellville.

Please become a fan of Snellville Today on Facebook and on Twitter. Over the next month, the Facebook and Twitter accounts for My Snellville Blog will be gradually phased out of operation.

If you're concerned you'll miss the hometown feeling of My Snellville Blog, I understand and have thought about that. However, since I will be writing almost everything on the new site, you will still find it personable, interesting, and informative. With the new site, I'll be able to bring you much more, and you'll be able to participate more. I've always thought of this blog as a conversation, not a one-way broadcast. The new platform will allow us to share even more with each other.

So, November 1 at 1 p.m. Hope to see you there!

http://SnellvilleToday.com

Our Food Bank's Statistics Will Amaze You

I don't know if you've noticed, but in Snellville, caring is what we do!

Here are some facts from our local food bank, the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry. I think you'll be amazed at what they accomplish out of 2 pretty small mobile home trailers in a church parking lot.

-Each month we are seeing between 600 and 700 families coming for assistance.

-August set a record for food items distributed in a single month at 37,413.

-We are blessed with around 150 on sight volunteers who give of their time to serve the Lord joyfully.

-We have distributed $174,000 in financial assistance in 2011.

-We are a true picture of the Body of Christ, supported by 32 local churches.

-Items that are the most difficult to keep in stock: jelly and toilet paper.

-Mobile Mini has to come and fix our doors about once every 6 months because they open and shut an average of 300 times each day that we are open.

-Our Victory Garden has produced over 1,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables for our clients.

Want to help the food bank too? Visit the website SEGwinnettCoop.org today to make an online donation or find out how you can volunteer your time or donate food.

Melvin Everson Endorses Barbara Bender for Mayor

The endorsements just keep pouring in for Barbara Bender. Former State Representative and Snellville City Councilman Melvin Everson endorsed Barbara Bender for mayor in a statement today.

Everson said, “I have known and worked with Barbara for years, and I am proud to endorse her for Mayor. Barbara has proven herself as a visionary leader with the ability to get the job done for the people of Snellville. Through her vision, leadership and hard work, she has accomplished great things for the city, and I know she will continue that record as Mayor. Barbara has my vote, and I encourage all Snellville residents to support her as well.” 

Said Bender, “It has been a great honor to work with Melvin over the years. He has done great things for Snellville, and I am proud to have his support. With the support of the citizens of Snellville, I will continue providing visionary leadership to move Snellville forward.”

Snellville Recycling Center Wins Keep Georgia Beautiful Award

City of Snellville Recycling Center Wins Statewide Recognition with a Prestigious Keep Georgia Beautiful Award

Selected for Exemplifying Leadership in Protecting Snellville’s Natural Environment.

SNELLVILLE, GA. (October, 2011) – For over 30 years, Keep Georgia Beautiful (KGB) has been highlighting the work of government agencies like The City of Snellville Recycling Center. The KGB Awards program honors ongoing efforts in community improvement, waste reduction and recycling, and litter prevention as well as honoring individual volunteer efforts with the Woman of the Year and Man of the Year awards, Public Works Employee of the Year,

Wisteria Square Property Should NOT Be Used for Amphitheater

 Wisteria Square/Photo by Darla Dixon

Why turning the "bridge to nowhere" on the Wisteria Drive/Wisteria Square property is not a good idea.

On October 20th, Kelly Kautz pointed criticism at Barbara Bender during the mayoral debate. Kelly Kautz charged that Barbara Bender wanted to spend $200,000 on a sound stage for the Snellville Towne Green (the green field off of Oak Road near US78/Main Street that is used for the Snellville Farmers' Market and various entertainment events now. Barbara Bender corrected Kelly Kautz on that. The figure proposed was actually $120,000.

Oh, why are people always picking on Kelly Kautz? [Insert my sad, pouty face here] She was only off by a mere $80,000. Let me repeat that again...Kelly Kautz, a candidate who wants to be mayor and handle our city budget was off by EIGHTY. THOUSAND. DOLLARS.

Kelly Kautz proposed an idea that probably a lot of people support. That is, to turn the unfinished structure on the Wisteria Square property into an amphitheater. I am not against your vision. It shows some creativity and positivity, and I'm not knocking that. Glad to see it, however late.  HOWEVER -- If you support this idea, you do not know the whole story. If you just drive by the property, it looks like it only has that bridge on it, and some parking.

Look a little closer. Do you see fire hydrants? Why do you suppose that is?

Well, I'm here to tell you that the vision of having an amphitheater on the Wisteria Square property is "penny wise but pound foolish." The property is already set with water and gas lines.

In the foyer of Snellville City Hall several months back when the city council voted to purchase the property at a garage sale price,  I spoke to Doug Spohn, the original developer of the property. Mr. Spohn told me that the property already has millions of dollars invested in it in just the infrastructure -- all the water and gas lines to code, etc.

In my opinion, it wouldn't make sense to built an amphitheater there and lose out on all the potential the property has for something that is closer to what was originally planned for the lot.

The best analogy I can think of is to imagine that your house has a gorgeous professional chef-grade kitchen in it with all gourmet appliances in it, 3 stainless steel refrigerators, Venetian marble counter-tops and so on, and you want to tear all that out to make a patio. Sure the patio is really nice, but look what you have missed out on. The patio would be better somewhere else on your property.

Well that's why the sound stage should be put on the Snellville Towne Green, the same place where the Snellville Farmers' Market and the Beatles tribute band concert was held, among other great events. It is about location. You want the thousands of people who drive through Snellville to see exciting events happening all the time and stop to find out what all the excitement is about! Visitors need to see the excitement in front of OUR city hall right off of Main Street.  They're not going to crane their necks down Wisteria Drive.

In addition, I believe the Wisteria Square/Wisteria Drive property isn't even coded for such use at this time. I believe it's considered mixed-use/office/professional. It was zoned that way so the development there would be quiet. I haven't been on the city council for 4 years like Kelly Kautz -- I haven't been on the council at all, and even I have a clue about that. I'm surprised the homeowners behind the property aren't upset about the very idea. An amphitheater in that location would be entirely too noisy.

Letter: Why do so many Snellville volunteers support Barbara Bender for mayor?

"It has been my observation that of the hundreds of people who volunteer for city events, an overwhelming number of them support Barbara Bender. In fact, I personally don't know one that doesn't. Is this because they were friends with Barbara then volunteered OR is it because of their unselfish involvement that they have come to know who the true leaders are in this city, the leaders with their eye on moving forward. I think the latter is the case. Hope you can work this into your blog."

Thanks, 

Joe Williams
 

Dear Joe,

That is an interesting question.  It made me think about why I'm more interested in Snellville events myself, and how I first became acquainted with Barbara Bender.

Of course by writing the blog, I became more aware of what was really going on and who the people were who were and are a driving force behind things that are happening in Snellville.  Many of the really positive "movers and shakers" who volunteer at Snellville events have been doing so a long time. Marilyn Swinney and Marcy Pharris are two examples. They've both been active in more important events and committees than I can name. They are both the type of people who will give you any help you need, but aren't the type to brag about it. They don't care who gets the credit, as long as it helps the city. They don't do it for any praise. They're the quiet resourceful types. I admire them so much.

Another Snellville person of note is Dave Emanuel, who I'm sure you know better than I do, since you worked with him on the Snellville Planning Commission. He will begin his first term as city council member on November 14th. Dave works the trash detail at Snellville Days, movie nights at Briscoe, and the Snellville Fall Festivals. He is also a very logical thinker. I can only dream about acquiring such logic (lol). Diane Krause is another former Planning Commission member who will be serving a first term on the council. Diane is also a quiet, thoughtful person who never blows her own horn about her accomplishments. To all these folks I've already mentioned, add in Tom Witts, our city council man. He has hugely improved Snellville's image over the past couple years.