OshKosh B’gosh Celebrates Grand Opening of new Mall of Georgia Store
OshKosh B’gosh, one of the most recognized brands of baby and children’s apparel in the U.S., celebrated its grand opening in the Mall of Georgia Sept. 18. The OshKosh brand that combines its heritage with a fresh, updated look is owned by Carters, Inc. based in Atlanta and has a one million square foot distribution center in nearby Braselton. The center currently employs more than 200 people and continues to grow. This is the first of many stores that the company plans to open in shopping malls. The store in the Mall of Georgia is located on the lower level of the children’s wing.
Community celebrates at annual Suwanee Day
Thousands of area residents took part in the community celebration – Suwanee Day. The event was held on Sept. 15 at Town Center Park. This year the event started at 9 a.m. with the kick-off parade. The parade was immediately followed by a “dreamy” flash mob performance staged by the Royal Dance Academy and then nearly 12 more hours of eclectic entertainment, giving the more than 50,000 festival goers 60 more minutes to celebrate the community. Parade grand marshals were Olympian Amanda Weir and Miss Georgia Leighton Jordan. The Smithereens headlined the
entertainment for the event, and a fireworks display topped of the day-long event.
Moondance Restaurant & Lounge to hold 2nd annual adult prom
Moondance Restaurant & Lounge will hold its 2nd annual adult prom from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Nov. 10.
This year’s event will feature Fantastic Voyage Band, a soulful dance band that performs a variety of genres. A photographer will be on hand taking photos.
So men, don your best suit or tuxedo, and ladies dress in style…this is Prom Night. Call for reservations: 770-831-9700 or email us at [email protected] or visit, www.moondancelounge.com for more information.
Suwanee reduces millage rate for 3rd consecutive year
Suwanee City Council has set the City of Suwanee’s millage rate for 2012 at 4.93 mills, a reduction of 0.72 mills from last year. This marks the third consecutive year that Suwanee has reduced its millage rate.
This year’s reduced rate was made possible, in part, by terms of the service delivery agreement reached earlier this year between Gwinnett 
County and its cities. Over the next six years, Suwanee anticipates receiving about $660,000 annually from the county through this agreement. Property tax notices were issued in October with payments due by December 20.
Suwanee’s Own Mucho Macho Man to run in the $5 Million Breeders’ Cup
The Breeders’ Cup Classic will air in primetime on NBC Saturday, November 3, from 8-9 p.m.
Suwanee owners Dean and Patti Reeves of Reeves Thoroughbred Racing will send their 2011 Kentucky Derby 3rd place finisher, Mucho Macho Man, to the $5 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Saturday, November 3. Mucho Macho Man won this year’s Florida Sunshine Millions Stakes; the Gulfstream Park Handicap, Belmont’s Grade II Suburban, and was beaten by a neck by To Honor And Serve in the Woodward for heart-transplant recipient trainer Kathy Ritvo. Mucho Macho Man is currently ranked among the top older horses in the country.
In addition Reeves Thoroughbred Racing filly Miss Suwanee raced at Belmont on Sept. 30 and is one to watch. With three starts in 2012, so far, the horse named for the community where the Reeves reside, has taken one first and one third place with earnings totaling $53,784.
To learn more about Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, visit reevestr.com, or “like” Mucho Macho Man on Facebook.
The Goddard School of Sugar Hill donates overnight bags
The Goddard School of Sugar Hill collected backpacks and overnight supplies to donate to AdventureBags.org, an organization which provides the overnight bags to children who are displaced into the foster care system. In total, the school collected 78 backpacks/diaper bags and more than 1,075 items, and teachers and families joined together with the representatives from Adventure Bags on Oct. 20 to assemble the overnight bags.
City announces new emergency notification service
The city of Suwanee recently rolled out a new emergency notification service to its residents. The city contracted with Emergency Communications Network to provide its CodeRed emergency and general notification services via phone calls, email, and/or text.
Suwanee residents may sign up for the service via the CodeRed link located 
in the bottom right box of the city of Suwanee’s homepage at www.suwanee.com. The service made test/informational calls Oct. 1 to Suwanee phone numbers collected through online sign-ups and using existing public phone databases; most of these calls, informing residents about the service, are anticipated to go to landlines.
Notifications made through the system fall into three categories:
■ Emergency weather
■ Emergency situations (such as a gas leak or terrorism threat)
■ General notification about events and other non-emergency city information.
Residents will be required to opt in for general and weather notifications and to opt out of emergency notifications.
As residents sign up online, they can indicate preferences for how they wish to be contacted (e.g., cell phone call, text, email) and what kinds of information – weather and/or non-emergency notifications, etc. – they wish to receive. Residents will also be given the option of opting out of receiving emergency calls by completing a “do not call” form.
SculpTour podcast available on iTunes
With City Hall as the starting point, the 2012 Suwanee SculpTour guided audio tour/podcast provides walking directions to and information about each of the 15 sculptures included in the exhibit as well as insights from the 11 participating artists. Suwanee SculpTour is an annual walkable exhibit of public artworks placed in and around Town Center; the current display will be up through March 2013.
As last year, Annette Phelps, the city’s receptionist, and Councilmember Dick Goodman lead the tour, offering clear walking directions, information about each piece, and gentle humor.
Before beginning the guided tour, it is helpful to pick up a Suwanee SculpTour brochure/map from city hall or participating Town Center businesses or download one from the website.
Each year, SculpTour is organized by Suwanee’s Public Arts Commission and funded solely through corporate and private donations. This year’s sponsors include People’s Bank & Trust; Suwanee Magazine; Chandler, Britt, Jay, Beck & Zwald; Mellow Mushroom; and the Gwinnett Convention and Visitors Bureau, who sponsored the podcast.
Suwanee Police Department opens new facility/substation
The Suwanee Police Department held a grand opening ceremony at its new training facility/substation in the Suwanee Gateway in early September.
The grand opening event included tours of the 7,100 square food building, firing range demonstrations and an introduction to simulated tactical situations in the new training classroom.
GuideOne Insurance Grand Opening
Foskey Insurance, a GuideOne Insurance office, raised about $400 for the Suwanee Police Department and Mothers Against Drunk Drivers at a recent grand opening/charity event.
Annual Trek or Treat event scares up a good time at Suwanee Creek Park
Suwanee’s mascot, Parker the Dog, led a group of witches, ghosts, rock stars and superheroes Oct. 27 at the city of Suwanee’s annual Trek or Treat event at Suwanee Creek Park. Activities included a costume parade, face painting, games, crafts, and pumpkin hunt. A DJ was on hand for dancing, games, and fun. 
Taste of Suwanee:Food Festival Benefits North Gwinnett Basketball
More than 6,000 people showed up hungry at Town Center Park on Oct. 13 to get a Taste of Suwanee. The annual event is a fundraiser held by the North Gwinnett Basketball Booster Club with proceeds going to benefit the North Gwinnett Basketball Program.
Many restaurants in and around the community participated in the event offering samples of their menu specialties and favorites. Entertainment during the event included live stage performances by local performers at the Town Center Park Amphitheater, rides and games for children, and other activities.
North Gwinnett Schools Foundation’s Big T’do
North Gwinnett Schools Foundation held the annual Big T’do on Oct 12 at Bear’s Best Golf Course all to raise funds for education for the local North Gwinnett cluster. More than 350 people attended this year’s event. Dinner, costumes and a silent auction highlighted the evening festivities. The vision of the organization is to enhance the quality of public education for the students of the North Gwinnett cluster schools by providing funds which enrich and extend educational opportunities.
