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SNELLVILLE – Sept. 12 was named Amanda Riley Day in the city.

On Monday, Mayor Tom Witts named the day after the young Brookwood High School student who passed away following her battle with cancer in 2010.

"From this day forward, in honor of her courage, selflessness and inspiration to other children, Sept. 12 shall be known as 'Amanda Riley Day' in the city of Snellville," Witts said. "I commend the Amanda Riley Foundation and (parents) Barbara and Steve Riley for their dedication to fighting childhood cancer and bringing smiles to kids with cancer. I encourage all of Snellville's citizens ... to help bring a smile to the face of a young person fighting childhood cancer."

Amanda was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 16 and after a courageous 405-day fight, she passed away April 9, 2010. Her fight and legacy became a symbol of childhood cancer. Known for her kindness, beautiful smile and generosity, she was a three-sport varsity athlete at BHS.

Last year it was announced the basketball courts at T.W. Briscoe Park will be named after Amanda. A dedication ceremony will take place in the upcoming months, city officials said Monday.

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. Her parents were on hand to accept the proclamation Monday.

Nationwide, September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month with the hope it will increase awareness about the issue of childhood cancer, including the need for early detection, prompt treatment, new medications, continued research and attention on the late term effects of treatment on childhood cancer survivors.

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

SNELLVILLE – A joint student entrepreneur venture between local schools and the city got a big boost in the form of a $250,000 award from Gwinnett County Public Schools.

"One of the primary purposes of this award is to recognize the behaviors we want exhibited in our schools and classrooms," GCPS Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks said in letter informing Brookwood High School officials of the award. "Therefore, the $250,000 awarded to the Brookwood Cluster Schools is to further the innovative and engaging practices you have been using to educate out students to the highest possible level."

The Brookwood Cluster Schools' Integrated Entrepreneurship program will now expand to the elementary and middle school levels and other facets of the program will be bolstered after the 2016 Innovation and Transformation Award was given to the cluster. Brookwood schools have offered the successful business experience-based education program in partnership with the city's Office of Economic Development for a number of years.

"Success is rewarded. For the last five years the City of Snellville has partnered with local schools to create a workforce that meets the needs of a 22nd century business," said city Economic Development Director Eric Van Otteren. "The Brookwood Cluster has embraced the concept of entrepreneurship as a learn-by-doing pathway to meet the future."

The funds open the door for Brookwood Elementary School to further grow its student entrepreneur programs, the first of its kind for an elementary school in the county, program officials said.

"I am so thankful to GCPS for providing the Innovation Award," said Cindy Quinlan, GCPS Entrepreneurship Program Specialist Work-Based Learning Coordinator. "Now, more than ever before, students need skills to create their own opportunities and to develop soft skills crucial for a successful future. We must continue to innovate in our classrooms to meet the demands in an ever changing world. With this funding, we will continue to go grow our entrepreneurship education programs within the Brookwood Cluster Schools."

Now, in the Brookwood Cluster, the following business experience-based education programs will be offered, allowing a student to engage in business throughout their school career:

Elementary School Level

• Token economy and class jobs
• Market Day
• School-based enterprise

Middle School Level

• Small group "Shark Tank" pitches
• Soft skills development
• Focus on social entrepreneurship

9th Grade Year

Focus: Building foundational knowledge

• Honors or CP 9th grade language arts
• Marketing principles
• Intro to business and technology
  

10th Grade Year

Focus: Launching a business

• Honors or CP 10th grade language arts
• Entrepreneurship

• Public speaking (language arts elective)
  

11th Grade Year

Focus: Operating a business

• Honors or CP 11th grade language arts
• Legal environment of business
• Marketing management

12th Grade Year

• Work-based learning
• Business expansion
• Leadership opportunities mentoring younger entrepreneurship students

Upcoming Senior Center Events

Upcoming Parks and Recreation Events

SNELLVILLE – Get your taste buds ready.

Local eateries will feature their favorite dishes and offer succulent food for the tasting at the city's first "Taste of Snellville" event Sept. 17.

Come experience the diverse tastes of the city's many cultures as area chefs prepare their favorite foods for the event which takes place from 4 to 8 p.m. on the Towne Green.

Some of the restaurants participating are: Ionie's Caribbean Kitchen, Fratelli's, Beren's Frozen Custard, Chick-fil-A (Highway 78), American Tavern, Stevi B's, Zoës, Grayson Coffee House, Baby Jane's Home Cooking, The Village Corner German Restaurant and Bakery, Fresh Market, Wild Wing Café, Spice Oven, Pollo Tropical and more. Lincoln Fill Station will be on site selling beer and wine as well.

While the event is free, to taste food samples and take part in other activities, visitors must buy tickets at the information booth. When visitors purchase tickets, they can also pick up a card that will have each restaurant name on it that can be stamped once they visit each restaurant. The card also enters patrons for door prizes to be awarded at the end of the event.

Food is just part of this new event, as the Jazz Fusion Kings will take the stage from

4 to 5 p.m. and the Metro Jazz Club will perform from 5-8 p.m.

Many art vendors will be displaying their art pieces along with other vendors that will be set up on the Green and on Oak Road. Event organizers Snellville Tourism and Trade is partnering with the Snellville Arts Commission to offer Sip N Paint packages for both wine glass and canvas painting. Attendees can to sip wine and taste food while painting in the middle of Oak Road. Wine Glass Sip N Paint sessions will be offered from 4-8 p.m. for $10 which includes a drink ticket and two food tickets. The Canvas Sip N Paint is $30 and includes the canvas, one drink ticket and five food tickets. Visit www.snellvillearts.com to sign up for the canvas and wine glass painting classes and the free sidewalk art squares.

Sam Roper with Rope-A-Dope Toons will be teaching a character drawing class for $5 which includes a souvenir pencil set to take home and a finished character designed by participants. Sign up for those classes online at www.snellvilletourism.com. Classes are limited to 20 patrons per seating and will be offered at 4, 5, 6 and 7 p.m.

Stop by the Family Tree Garden Center Tent and create a Fairy Garden for $10 which includes supplies.

There will also be inflatables and the Trackless Train for children.

For more information visit www.snellvilletourism.com

SNELLVILLE – The city's police department will be out in force hosting its annual Snellville Public Safety Night Sept. 27.

The event will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the Towne Green in front of City Hall. A Flag Ceremony will kick off the event at 5:30 p.m.

This successful annual event allows residents to meet and ask questions of local police officers.

Police vehicles with anti-crime accessories, tactical equipment and weapons and the Snellville Police SRT (special response team) will be on hand. The Air-Evac Lifeteam Helicopter, Gwinnett County Fire Department equipment and personnel, Gwinnett Animal Control, the Gwinnett County Bomb Squad's van, Emergency Medical Service workers and first responders are all scheduled to attend.

Numerous exhibitors will be providing information on personal safety, road safety for adults, teens and young children, gun safety and training, financial security, home and pet security. Members of the Snellville Citizens Police Academy will be available with information of the popular Citizens Police Academy. Information on the free emergency notification system Code RED and fingerprinting of kids will be available. A number of animal mascots, a Treasure Hunt and a drawing for a door prize will keep children engaged and entertained.

The SPD K-9 officers will give several demonstrations throughout the evening along with a "How to manage a traffic stop" demonstration. Also the animal mascots, including Snellville's own STAT the Cat, will have a skit for the kids on "Being Safe."

Bring the family for fun and get great information on protecting yourself, your family, your pets, your home and business and your personal identity.

The event is free.

For more information contact Kathy Emanuel (Snellville Citizens Police Academy Alumni) at kae10@bellsouth.net, or Tom Martin (Snellville Citizens Police Academy Alumni) at twmartin50@yahoo.com.

For more information please visit our Bid page.

SNELLVILLE – A new signal bridge and two sign bridges will soon span the intersection of highways 124 and 78 after the city approved a memorandum of understanding with the Georgia Department of Transportation Monday.

When construction begins on the city's busiest intersection sometime next year, it will now include an arched metal span with decorative signage at either end.

The project will not exceed $600,000 from city funds and will be funded through Special Local Option Sales Tax funds, city officials said. The cost has already been budgeted in the current Fiscal Year 2014 SPLOST.

The decorative posts mirror a sign to be placed at the western entrance to the city. Both structures were designed as part of the Downtown Development Authority's wayfinding signage project completed last year.

The measure passed 4-0 as Mayor Tom Witts and Mayor Pro Tem Barbara Bender were not present.

GDOT is currently in land acquisition negotiations for the intersection project which will feature a uniquely engineered traffic flow design which has worked very well in other major intersections across the country.