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SNELLVILLE – Cathy Rickman has been named Senior Center Senior Center Volunteer of the Year.

The more than 30-year Snellville resident accepted the honor from Mayor and Council at Monday's council meeting.

Rickman is often found at the front desk of the Senior Center and frequently calls Bingo games.

"Her willingness to be wherever she is needed has been such a contribution to the success of the Senior Center," Senior Center Director Kathi Gargiulo said. "If not for volunteers like Cathy, we would not be able to provide the amount and the quality of programs that we currently offer."

Rickman also volunteered regularly at her church as a youth advisor, a counselor, in the woman's club and as part of the annual craft auction. She enjoys making wreaths, cards, scarfs and other crafts. She also enjoys cross-stitching, scrapbooking and painting.

"She has often come at the last minute and shows up with a smile on her face," Gargiulo said. "Cathy has done an exceptional job in going above and beyond to help our community and we truly appreciate all of her hard work and dedication."

PHOTO CAPTION: From left are Snellville Senior Center Director Kathi Gargiulo, 2016 Senior Center Volunteer of the Year Cathy Rickman, Mayor Tom Witts and Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Platt.

SNELLVILLE – City officials took part in a strategic planning retreat Wednesday, continuing the effort to make the city's Towne Center project a reality.

The joint strategic planning board retreat with the city's Development Authority and the Downtown Development Authority brought project leaders together to discuss progress and next steps to create a walkable and livable downtown, something city officials have been working toward for nearly a decade.

"We are soon going to be making some critical decisions," said City Manager Butch Sanders. "And this planning effort will keep all partners – the Downtown Development Authority, the Development Authority and Mayor and Council - moving forward together."

After receiving information about the city's demographics and commercial and retail stability, those who attended the meeting heard about development agreements, financing and the ins and outs of real estate acquisitions needed to make the Towne Center vision come true.

In the upcoming months, city officials will meet with developers and lenders to determine a financial strategy for the project, including finalizing a budget and identifying necessary funding sources. Project leaders will also create a strategic plan to secure available funding and address transportation issues. There is also a plan to have another in a series of Town Hall meetings early next year spotlighting the activities of the DDA as they reach out to business owners in the Towne Center area, keeping them abreast of the plan.

The city will also unveil a new social media and website strategy to keep residents informed about the plan's progress in the near future.

PHOTO CAPTION: Snellville Economic Development Director Eric Van Otteren speaks to those gathered at a strategic planning retreat of the Downtown Development Authority and the city's Development Authority.

Upcoming Senior Center Events

Upcoming Parks and Recreation Events

SNELLVILLE – The Mayor and Council approved a 201-unit senior housing development to be located behind Eastside Medical Center last week.

The project by Senior Lifestyle Corporation and Griffin Fine Living calls for a 201-unit, mixed-senior housing development for those 62 and older, consisting of 24 independent living cottages (duplexes and triplexes), 64 assisted living units and 32 memory care units located in a three-story, 75,000-square-foot building. Also included is a 81 independent living units located in a three-story, 89,000-square-foot building as part of Phase I of the master-planned development with the option to add up to 192 additional senior type units and not exceed 51,500 square feet of medical offices in Phase II of development.

The council approved the project 5-1 with Councilman Bobby Howard voting no.

As part of the approval, developers were asked to make changes to the plan by neighbors concerned about the proximity of the development near Tree Lane and New Hampton Drive.

The developer agreed to a 50-foot non-disturbed buffer along the adjacent residential property line and Waterford Township Community development. The buffer will be enhanced with evergreen landscaping and plantings, subject to the City's review and approval, with limited access for utilities and landscaping maintenance, where necessary. The buffer also includes a row of evergreen plants where necessary to create a visual screen. The building may also not exceed 60 feet in height.

SNELLVILLE – City officials welcomed new City Planner Genevieve Bigner earlier this month.

Bigner, who graduated with a Bachelor's degree in landscape architecture and a Master's degree in environmental planning and design from the University of Georgia, fills a void in the city's Department and Planning and Development after Jason Thompson was promoted to department director earlier this year.

"We are excited to welcome Genevieve to the City of Snellville team," Thompson said. "Her background will have her well prepared to help forge the city forward in its planning endeavors, more specifically the implementation and construction of the city's Towne Center Masterplan."

The New Orleans native worked with Archway Partnership and the Center for Community Design and Preservation during her time at UGA on various planning and design projects throughout the state. Through these organizations, she said she's had the opportunity to collaborate directly with community members to create spaces and facilitate positive change within their neighborhoods by providing high quality design work produced by faculty, staff and outside professionals.

Bigner's passion for city planning came at UGA during hearings for a proposed Walmart in Athens. She said it was fascinating to hear different points of view and how they could affect the city, positively or negatively.

"After that, I decided to pursue planning for my master's degree so I would have the skill to contribute valuable input at all stages of the design and development process by not only being able to identify issues and areas of potential growth at the larger scale but also provide viable and appropriate solutions at the smaller scale," she said. "I greatly look forward to becoming a part of the City of Snellville and doing my part to help the community grow and evolve in a way that further promotes the city's goals as a whole. In my short time here, I've heard nothing but great things and I'm excited to see everything Snellville has to offer."

SNELLVILLE – The basketball courts at T.W. Briscoe Park are now named after Amanda Riley, the 17-year old Brookwood High School teen who succumbed to cancer in April of 2010.

Riley, an avid basketball player and fan, captured the hearts of locals during her battle with the disease.

A dedication ceremony took place Monday at the courts off of Lenora Church Road, officially naming them, the Amanda Riley Basketball Courts.

"We will never be able to express how very much this means to us as there is no greater gift than one that helps keep our girl's memory alive. It is a great feeling knowing that long after we are gone, Amanda and her love of basketball will always be remembered," her mother Barbara Riley said in a Facebook post.

A monument surrounded with flowers reads, "She was only among us for a few years but left an everlasting impact on our lives. Basketball was her passion and some of her happiest times was when she was on the court playing the game she loved. Dedicated by the City of Snellville Mayor and Council November 14, 2016."

The Amanda Riley Foundation, a Snellville non-profit, was founded by Amanda's parents in her honor. The foundation has helped countless children with cancer.

Sept. 12 was named "Amanda Riley Day in Snellville."

For more information about the Amanda Riley Foundation, visit amandarileyfoundation.org.

SNELLVILLE – The city will honor those who served our country during a Veterans Day celebration Friday.

The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oak Road in front of City Hall.

The Gwinnett Community Band will start playing at 6:15 p.m. Food trucks Mac the Cheese and Atlanta Burger will be on site selling food and beverages.

Mayor Tom Witts, a U.S. Navy Vietnam combat veteran, will be the master of ceremonies for the program.

The Button Gwinnett Militia will present and retire the colors and later fire muskets during a 21-gun salute. Witts will recite the "Gettysburg Address" and there will be a candlelight vigil during a performance of "Taps" by a Gwinnett Community Band bugler. Forever In Ministry will take the stage and sing "America the Beautiful" and the Gwinnett Community Band will play the "Armed Forces Salute."

Lighted balloons will be released during the grand finale balloon launch and will be for sale from 5 to 7 p.m. near the Veterans Memorial in front of City Hall. Car flags and United We Stand paper weights to benefit the Veterans Memorial will also be on sale.

The Button Gwinnett Chapter Militia will have a tent set up with a colonial display and information for children on how to make corn husk dolls and corn cob darts. The Veterans of Foreign Wars, Blue Rose Media, Army Navy Outfitters, Brookwood High School DECA selling Wounded Warrior Shirts will all be on site.

Upcoming Senior Center Events

Upcoming Parks and Recreation Events