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SNELLVILLE – The city is one of the top places to retire in the state, according to a new study.

The study, by SmartAsset, a financial technology company, ranked the cities with the most recreational and social opportunities for retirees. SmartAsset's index factors in the number of recreation centers and retirement centers available to seniors as well as the percentage of the city's population they represent.

Snellville finished sixth in the state in the rankings.

The study looked at state and local tax rates, considering two types of taxes - income and sales. The study calculated effective rates based on a typical retiree, earning $35,000 annually (from retirement savings, social security or part-time employment), and spending their disposable income on taxable goods. Next the study determined the number of doctors' offices, recreation centers and retirement centers per 1,000 residents in each area. Finally, it found the number of seniors in each area as a percentage of the total population.

Snellville has 7.9 doctor's offices, one recreation center and .5 retirement centers per 1,000 people. The percentage of the population deemed a "senior" is 17.1 of Snellville's population.

SNELLVILLE – Archer High School senior Kristin Horne was raised in a military family. So when it came time to complete her Gold Award – the highest achievement a Girl Scout can receive – she knew it had to draw attention to issues facing military veterans.

Horne created a "Garden of Hope" with benches and a rock circle with a plaque highlighting the serious issues veterans face today – post traumatic stress disorder, suicide and homelessness.

On Saturday, her Gold Award project will be dedicated at T.W. Briscoe Park at a 12 p.m. ceremony with city officials.

"I chose the veterans issues because my entire family has basically been in the military and the military in general means a lot to me," she said. "No one really thinks about (the issues facing veterans) until they read about it. I think more people should know about (the issues) because the more people can know about, the more they can help those that are struggling."

There is a QR code on the plaque, which when activated, will take visitors to a website with more information about the effort.

"Her project is to honor those who serve in our military with emphasis on acknowledging that 'Not all wounds are visible,' meaning that those who return, even without physical scars, very much have injuries from what they have experienced," said Parks and Recreation Director Lisa A. Platt, CPRP. "She wanted to create a space in which patrons - ex-military or not - could spend quiet time to relax. Projects like this one, not only help to bring awareness to the sacrifices of those who give of themselves to protect and help us, but it helps beautify Briscoe Park and will allow all our patrons a place to rest, reflect and just enjoy being in nature."

The public is encouraged to attend the ceremony.

SNELLVILLE – The Snellville Police Department was recognized as the top agency in the state for its efforts to educate the public about the dangers of distracted driving and enforcement of distracted driving laws.

The accolades were handed down at the 19th Annual Governor's Challenge Awards last week.

"This award recognizes the efforts of the men and women of the Snellville Police Department who take the role of protecting our city seriously," Chief Roy Whitehead said. "It was a team effort that makes me proud to work with these officers every day."

SPD has been recognized for its efforts to reduce injury and fatality traffic accidents 12 of the 19 years that the Governor's Challenge has taken place.

More than 50 agencies from across Georgia entered the 2018 Governor's Challenge, which covers the 2017 calendar year.

Statewide, approximately 20 percent of all traffic accidents in 2017 involved a distracted driver. In Snellville, only 5 percent of all traffic accidents in 2017 involved a distracted driver, a testament to the work Snellville officers do to curb this dangerous driving behavior.

Officers can often be found speaking about the dangers of distracted driving to local school and civic groups, the Citizen's Police Academy and at city events such as Public Safety Night. The department also utilizes all of its social media platforms to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving.

The Governor's Office of Highway Safety hosts the annual Governor's Challenge Awards banquet to recognize statewide law enforcement agencies in seven different categories based on department size, as well as in several other specialty categories, according to the GOHS website. The awards program was designed to highlight outstanding achievements in highway safety enforcement and education. They recognize agencies for the approach and effectiveness of their overall highway safety programs. Agencies are evaluated not just for enforcement initiatives, but for innovative problem-solving in their communities, using public information activities and creating departmental policies that support their traffic enforcement campaign efforts.

SNELLVILLE – The city is updating its Towne Center Livable Centers Initiative Plan and is seeking input from community members about their priorities for the Towne Center.

The updated LCI plan will guide the City's efforts to create a livable, walkable heart of the community by establishing priorities and creating a work program for the next five years. The survey is live now through Sept. 30 and is available at www.snellville2040.org/participate.

This effort is a continuation of previous plans for the Towne Center area, which began in 2003 as part of the Atlanta Regional Commission's LCI Grant Program. The program is designed to incentivize cities to re-envision their communities as vibrant, walkable places that offer increased mobility options, encourage healthy lifestyles and provide improved access to jobs and services. Participating communities are required to create a plan to achieve these goals and update it every five years to remain in good standing and eligible to receive program funding for transportation improvements.

Snellville's Towne Center LCI Plan was last updated in 2013 and must be updated this year to maintain its LCI status. The update will incorporate the latest community feedback, ongoing initiatives, recent issues and market realities, and new project ideas into an actionable five-year work program. More information about the LCI program is available at https://atlantaregional.org/community-development/livable-centers-initiative.

The city has already begun soliciting input about the next steps for the LCI plan with a booth at the Snellville Farmers Market on Aug. 4 and with input from the Community Task Force, a group comprised of community members and elected officials that meets regularly to guide the development of the LCI plan and the City's 2040 Comprehensive Plan. The next opportunity for the community to engage in the LCI and Comprehensive Plan updates will be an open house on Nov. 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Snellville City Hall Community Room.

For more information visit the project website at www.snellville2040.org.

Please see the Bid Page for more information.

SNELLVILLE – Gwinnett County Transit has tapped Snellville exclusively to debut the new Microtransit Pilot.

The initiative is a new transportation option that will run for free in Snellville beginning Sept. 17.

The program provides an on-demand public transportation option. Riders will be able to be picked up and dropped off door-to-door within a specific zone in Snellville.

After the duration of six months when the pilot is completed, Gwinnett County Transit will evaluate the data to identify what works well and what needs improvements, and will roll it back out to Snellville and Buford the following year. These are areas currently without local transit options, and they have been recognized in the Connect Gwinnett: Transit Plan.

Everyone can use this on-demand service option. All vehicles used are ADA accessible for individuals with disabilities. There will be no bike racks on the vehicles during the pilot.

Microtransit will run Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The free pilot service will last for six months.

To schedule a pickup time for Microtransit's on-demand ride, you can download the free Microtransit app (available for iOS and Android devices), enter your pick-up and drop-off locations, your passenger count, and if you use a wheelchair or other mobility device, and your pick-up time to get Microtransit's on-demand ride. Visit microtransitapp.com/how-it-works/ to learn more about the Microtransit app. To reserve your trip, you can also call Gwinnett County Transit Customer Service at 770-822-5010 and select the Microtransit option.

The area served during this pilot covers much of Snellville and includes the following locations:

Walmart on Scenic Highway

The Home Depot on Scenic Highway

Eastside Medical Center

T.J. Maxx on Scenic Highway

Snellville Park and Ride

The Snellville Pavilion

Waffle House on Main Street

Snellville Oaks Shopping Center

Wisteria Village

Snellville Plaza

PNC Bank on Odum Street

New London Plaza Shopping Center

Walmart Neighborhood Market on Main Street

AutoZone on US-78

Hewatt Road Park and Ride

Mountain View Village Shopping Center

Chase Bank on Stone Mountain Highway

Gwinnett County Public Library: Centerville Branch

Centerville Senior Center

Centerville Community Center

Shiloh Middle School

Shiloh High School

For more information on the program visit www.gwinnettcounty.com/web/gwinnett/departments/transportation/gwinnettcountytransit/gctraceflexservice

Upcoming Senior Center Events

Upcoming Parks and Recreation Events

SNELLVILLE – Eastside Medical Center will be hosting "Crush the Crisis," an opioid take-back event Sept. 7.

Law enforcement officers from the Snellville Police Department will be on site to help with the collection and disposal of unused medications from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. to the right of the Main Campus Emergency Department located at 1700 Medical Way.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, in 2016 there were 918 opioid-related overdose deaths in Georgia- a rate of 8.8 deaths per 100,000 Georgians.

Volunteers will be collecting tablets, capsules and patches of Hydrocodone (Norco, Lortab, Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin, Percocet), Tramadol (Ultram), Codeine, Fentanyl (Duragesic), Morphine, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and Oxymorphone (Opana). Needles, syringes, lancets or liquids will not be accepted.

"Opioid addiction is a growing crisis not only in Gwinnett County, but across our nation," said Trent Lind, Chief Executive Officer at Eastside Medical Center. "Our goal for 'Crush the Crisis' is to raise awareness to the dangers of opioid addiction and increase awareness about the proper disposal of these medications. Opioid addiction can happen to anyone and we are providing this drop off opportunity confidentially and anonymously."

For more information visit EastsideMedical.com/CrushTheCrisis or contact Eastside Medical Center Marketing Manager Hope Moeck at 404.670.7072.

SNELLVILLE – Sept. 7 is World Duchenne Awareness Day in the city, following a proclamation at Monday's council meeting.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the most common and severe forms of Muscular Dystrophy, a group of genetic disorders characterized by muscle weakness. Duchenne is caused by loss of dystrophin. Historically, most boys who have it do not survive beyond their mid-twenties, and those that do will be using a wheelchair by age 12 and experience social isolation. The simplest of tasks become difficult, and in the later stages, heart and breathing muscles begin to fail.

Nearly 15,000 boys are living with the disease in the U.S. alone and more than 300,000 worldwide. The disorder knows no cultural, economic or social boundaries.

The proclamation was spurred by Planning and Development Director Jason Thompson, whose 7-year-old son Landon was diagnosed with DMD in August of 2017.

"Spreading awareness is our biggest weapon to end this terrible disease," Thompson said. "Please take some time if you are not familiar with DMD to educate yourself and advocate for a cure."

Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Bender also affected by Muscular Dystrophy. She is a carrier of Becker's Muscular Dystrophy and has a brother and one son that is affected.

For more information on DMD visit www.cureduchenne.org.