Newsletter of the Settles Bridge Homeowner’s Association, Inc.
Post Office Box 837 Suwanee, GA 30024
Who's Been Digging in our Subdivision?
I know that many of you are both curious and concerned about the sewer line that is being run through our neighborhood. It will provide service to the new subdivision being built adjacent to the dead end on Settles Point Rd. Shocked is the only word I can think of that described my initial feelings when I saw the "path of destruction" that was created. Several very large trees (mainly behind my house) were destroyed. The picture that the initial builder (Mike Embry) painted to us was surely not the one that is developing.
I did find out that the minimum construction easement for sewer lines in Gwinnett County is 40 feet wide. This explains the wider than expected path. Once construction is complete, only a 20-foot right of way has to maintained. Ninety percent of the sewer line construction traffic will take place off of Suwanee Dam Road. Unfortunately, approximately ten percent will have to come through our subdivision. The sewer line will be bored under Settles Point Road so that it will not have to be torn up. Once started and weather permitting, the project should only take about ten days to complete.
If any of you would like to discuss this issue further, give me a call. See you next month.
We have already received a few telephone calls from some residents asking when SBHA dues will be due. The SBHA Board will soon have another Board meeting in March and will then launch this year's contribution drive. You will probably receive the annual mailing for dues sometime around the first few weeks of April so this notice will give you time to set aside your financial contribution of $50 for the year 2000.
When the Board holds their meeting, they will also plan to announce when we will hold the Spring SBHA Neighborhood meeting. At this meeting, Ron Rogers will present the financial statement for 1999.
The Suwanee Police department is composed of 21 certified police officers and one civilian administrative assistant. This month, we meet one of those officers, Elias Casanas,
My name is Sgt. Elias Casanas Jr. I have been with the Suwanee Police Department since May 1990. Before that I was with Eastern Airlines for 17 years. I am now the training coordinator for the Suwanee Police department. I also teach a program to 5th graders at the Suwanee Elementary School. The program is part of a greater initiative started by the Gwinnett County School System and the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Department. The program is called A.D.V.A.N.C.E. This acronym means Avoiding Drugs Violence And Negetive Choices Early. The City of Suwanee Police Department has also started a new Community Oriented Police initiative. This initiative will of better service to our citizens with programs such as a Citizen Police Academy, Seniors and Lawmen Together and a new Police Explorer Post for our teenagers.
Sergeant Elias Casanas, Suwanee Police Department
Cyber-Shopping
Check out the new web site introduced by The American Bar Association that give tips on safer Internet shopping and buying. It's located at http://www.safeshopping.org . Some of the tips offered are:
· Be sure the web site uses secure encryption technology to protect credit card numbers
· Pay by credit card instead of debit card or check since they can be legally disputed with the credit card company
· Unauthorized credit card charges are limited to a $50 maximum
· Check out "feedback" and opinion areas where other shoppers rate their experiences with the sellers
· Make a printout of the web page that shows the item being purchased
Cable TV verses Satellite
Thinking about switching from Cable TV service to Direct Satellite Broadcasting? Well, there are certainly a number of things to consider. You've probably already seen the ads on Cable TV knocking the fact that you should ever consider satellite programming so let's talk a bit about the benefits of satellite programming.
There are a couple of providers of satellite TV service and each one has a variety of programming but each one also requires the homeowner to purchase a system compatible with their service. So, if you decide to switch satellite service providers you would also have to switch equipment. Back in August of 1999 I decided to use the Direct TV Satellite service and purchased a Sony DSS system with receiver capable of Digital Dolby and Surround sound audio. My family is certainly enjoying this system!
"Direct TV", one of the satellite providers, offers over 225 channels of entertainment. Besides the popular movie channels, pay-per-view events, special sports packages (up to 20 College and NFL football games per weekend!), multiple selections from HBO, Starz, Cinemax, Showtime, and Encore, DSS systems also offer up to 32 channels of commercial free digital audio. When wired to your stereo system these music channels provide CD quality, uninterrupted music great for parties & relaxation time.
Satellite TV systems use a small 18' dish type antenna and the receiver connects directly to your telephone line so when you order a pay-per-view event of movie ($1 cheaper than Cable) your receiver automatically calls a 1-800 number and orders the program for you. The downstream of data from the satellite contains information that your receiver uses to tell it that you can then watch that particular program.
On a price by price comparison, you will probably find that you can buy more entertainment from a satellite service than you can from Cable. Don't forget that when cable TV claims you will get 73 or more channels with their service that they are including all of what I call the "junk channels" that many households never watch. As I said, there are cost trade-offs and satellite system cost of ownership that you need to understand before making a decision.
Until this past Jan. satellite service providers were not allowed to re-broadcast local TV stations (WSB-TV, etc.) and you either had to use an additional outside TV antenna or keep cable service to receive those channels. Well, Congress signed a new bill in Jan. that now allows satellite service providers to re-broadcast those channels. Direct TV service already is re-broadcasting 4 of the major TV stations in the Atlanta area and you can receive those now on your satellite system. I suggest you check out the web site for Direct TV at www.directv.com to see what's available.
As I work an average of 60 hours / week, it has been very difficult for me to get any type of regular exercise. Several months ago, I started searching for something that would be physically challenging, that I would enjoy, and that would be convenient, no matter what the weather. I found all of this at our local Tae Kwon Do studio.
Tae-Kwon-Do Seoul opened about 1 year ago next to Fajitas at the intersection of Suwanee Dam and Peachtree Industrial. From my front door to the floor of the workout room is under 5 minutes, and classes are held every night, so I can adjust my workout to fit my schedule. Some weeks I go on Tuesday and Thursday, some weeks Monday and Wednesday. They have classes for adults and children - in fact, my whole family is now participating. And on Fridays, they have a class where we can all go at once!
The instructor is really excellent - he combines a mastery of his subject with a patience and good nature that make him very effective, even with small children. The classes are not easy, but if you if you have been talking about starting a program, take the time to visit. There is a viewing area right as you walk in, and I would suggest coming and watching a class and talking with some of the people. There are introductory specials that make it very easy to get started.
David Hancock
While "The Big Dipper" is is actually part of Ursa Major, "The Great Bear" (the handle is his tail), it is always one of the easiest to spot, and most kids can find it with ease. It is also useful as a roadmap to other stars.
If you extend the handle in your mind and continue the arc across the sky, the first bright star you reach will be Arcturus. Keep going a little further, and you reach Spica (in Virgo). I can remember this because of the little saying "Arc to Arcturus and Speed to Spica.". Go the other way ("shooting" up out of the cup portion of the Dipper) and the first bright star is Polaris. This is the North Star, and has been used for thousands of years to help people in the Northern Hemisphere find their way.
Because the Dipper is so close to Polaris, it also serves as a sort of a "year clock", spinning around the North Star once a year. If you look at in the evening, you will notice that in the winter, its handle hangs down (think "icicle"). As we move into spring, it turns upside-down, pouring out water for new growth. By Summer it looks like it is ready to dip up water, and by autumn it is right side up (think of it getting ready to hold all that food coming at Thanksgiving).
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