PHOTO GALLERY: Pee Wee hockey tourney at The Cooler

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Duluth officials urging construction that lasts

The new city hall has been completed a little more than one year. In that time, Chris McGahee believes the building has made a statement. And the Duluth Economic Development Manager said he's going to use the building to urge other developers to strive for the same level of construction.

"What you start to see are disposable buildings," he said, "meaning it lasts less than 50 years. I'm trying to get people to focus on legacy buildings. What you want is to have the city you occupy be the same city that your children and their children will live in generation after generation. This city hall is a great example. We need to build buildings that are timeless instead of buildings that are stuck in time."

McGahee said the city hall "makes a statement about the government."

"It says to any developer that they have to match that standard," he said.

McGahee said the building now occupied by Street Smarts, a privately held planning, design and engineering consulting firm, and Mathias Corporation, a privately held construction firm, is a perfect example of what he wants Duluth to strive for.

"The best compliment they have received at that building is that they did a great restoration job on the building," he said. "That's the kind of compliments you want to receive."

McGahee and the city planning staff is taking this idea and targeting the Buford Highway corridor where the city is the process of creating a Tax Allocation District (TAD).

"This allows developers to overcome challenges," he said, "and there are a lot of challenges on Buford Highway. For example, sewer costs could be prohibitive and might just stop a project."

Duluth Director of Planning Clifford Cross said site preparation is a "significant cost" to developers.

"It's hard to market a lot requiring a great deal of site preparation," he said.

McGahee said the TAD would allow taxes to be deferred for 20 to 25 years "so the development creates revenue for the TAD."

"The difference in taxes will be able to be poured into projects for the TAD so the TAD does the heavy lifting," he said.

Duluth staff is currently working with the county to draw out the boundaries of the TAD which McGahee said would include the downtown area.

"We will work with developers and existing owners to hopefully end up with legacy buildings," he said.

McGahee said he hopes to have the plan submitted to the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners by December.

Redeveloping areas of Duluth and creating character areas is important to the city since there is not a great deal of vacant land remaining, McGahee said.

"Duluth is mostly built out," he said. "That's where the redevelopment concept comes in.

"What do we do so someone doesn't have to come in here in 50 years and redevelop and build.

"The additional cost of a legacy building is paid off year after year. That's because they build it right the first time."
- www.gwinnettherald.com

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Gwinnett students attend presidential inauguration

Collins Hill High Student Dorian DeRamus can tell her classmates what it was like to witness an historical event in the nation's capital.

Dorian was accepted into the People to People Presidential Inauguration program, and became part of a delegation of student ambassadors to witness the swearing in of Barack Obama, the 44th president and the first African American president, of the United States.

Another Gwinnett student, Brandon Ona of Mill Creek High, attended the inauguration at the invitation of the Congressional Leadership Council. He listened to keynote speakers, visited memorials and museums and attended the Inaugural Ball.

Dorian and fellow ambassadors also heard the inaugural address. While in Washington, she was able to gain insights into American leaders throughout history by having discussions with political experts. The group also toured the U.S. Capitol and National Archives, explored the newly reopened National Museum of American History, and visited Washington's monuments and memorials.

In addition, more than 100 Advanced Placement Social Studies students at Parkview High attended the Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C. The 111 juniors and seniors, along with teacher and administrative chaperones, boarded three school buses at Parkview High on Saturday evening, Jan. 17, departing for the nation's capital.

On the day of the inauguration, the students began their morning with a 4:30 a.m. breakfast, followed by a trip to the charter bus parking area in D.C. and a walk to the National Mall to clear security checkpoints and join the millions watching the Presidential Inauguration and the parade.

The students and their teachers visted local museums, monuments, and other historic sites, and returned to Parkview High that Wednesday.

Several Gwinnett schools were involved in class projects, and school activities, using this national event as a teachable moment for Gwinnett students.

For example, Charles Brant Chesney Elementary participated in a Mock Inauguration on Tuesday, Jan. 20, in the school's gymnasium. With "Hail to the Chief" playing in the background, the "official" swearing in of our new President-elect will be at 10 a.m. With balloons, ribbons, and banners flying, students sang patriotic songs and celebrated this moment in time.

Fifth-grade students at Norcross Elementary turned the school's gymnasium into a ballroom as they celebrated the president's inauguration with an Inauguration Ball. Numerous students dressed in suits, acting as the "secret service" providing "clearance" for the VIPs as they enter the ballroom. Participants dressed for the occasion. The "invitation-only" gala included a formal address by the student council president.

At noon, the entire Norcross Elementary student body watched the presidential inauguration from their classrooms.
- www.gwinnettherald.com

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PHOTO GALLERY: Gwinnett Gladiators vs. Florida Everblades

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Gwinnett Gladiators Fall to Everblades, 4-2

Two goals by Matt Siddall was not enough to continue a three game winning streak, as the Gwinnett Gladiators lost to the Florida Everblades by a score of 4-2 at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. With the win, Florida stretched its own winning streak to six games.

After a scoreless opening stanza, the Gladiators put the first goal on the board 7:29 minutes into the second. After a bevy of penalties for both teams, forward Matt Siddall scored on a four-on-three advantage. Jean-Claude Sawyer passed the puck across right to left, and Siddall put a slapshot past Florida netminder Anton Khudobin for the 1-0 score.

The action quickly heated up midway through the period. Florida tied the game at 10:06. Ernie Hartlieb carried the puck behind the net to the left wing corner, fired a pass in front of the net to Ryan Lang who shot it past Gwinnett goalie Joe Fallon to make the score 1-1.

Florida took the lead at 2-1 just :29 seconds later, Steve McJannett scored his second goal of the season on a rebound opportunity. Matt Auffrey and Peter Metcalf picked up the assists.

Gwinnett scored the equalizer only :18 seconds later. Matt Siddall scored his second goal of the game on a breakaway opportunity to make the score 2-2. The goal was his eighth of the season; Josh Engel and Dirk Southern tallied the assists.

The three goals scored came in a :47 second span, which set a Gladiators team record for shortest time for three goals to be scored by both teams. The previous record was :54 seconds, set on December 10, 2004, against Charlotte.

Kevin Baker scored the eventual game winning goal for Florida with just under two minutes remaining in the second. Mark Lee brought the puck around the net, threw it to Baker on the right boards who put it past Joe Fallon for his 29th goal of the season, which ranks him second for most goals in the league.

Ernie Hartlieb scored 1:33 into the third period, Joe Fallon stopped a wrap-around attempt, but the puck slid to Hartlieb on the left wing side. The goal made the score 4-2, which is how it ended.

Gladiators outshot the Everblades 28-17 on the game.

With the loss, Gwinnett falls to 15-16-0-4, while Florida improves to a division leading 25-8-1-1.

Gwinnett gets a chance for revenge as it continues action January 17, against the Florida Everblades. The game is the annual Teddy Bear Toss.
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Duluth leader undaunted by demands of new job

Mayor Nancy Harris's first foray into politics won for her the seat of mayor in her hometown.

She must now follow in the footsteps of her popular predecessor Shirley Fanning-Lasseter, not always an easy task. It also has brought her into one of the most serious economic crises brought on by the worldwide recession.

Harris has completed her first year in office and agreed to sit down with the Gwinnett Herald to talk about that first year and her plans for 2009.

Gwinnett Herald: What would you say was the biggest surprise of your first year in office?

HARRIS: The biggest surprise I guess is how this can be a full-time job. I was not surprised about the issues and problems the city has. When I decided I might want to run for mayor, I began attending City Council meetings about two years before the election.

So I really had a good idea of the issues we would be dealing with, so I can't say anything really surprised me.

But the amount of time the job demands is not a complaint. I am retired so I knew I would be able to devote the time needed to the job. But I always go home feeling I've left something unfinished.

GH: What would you say has been the toughest part of the job?

HARRIS: The toughest part has been being understood. That goes back to communication. I am surprised when I hear things I supposedly said. As a principal I was used to brainstorming and dialoguing with people.

Now I realize when I say something, it is taken as my position, when what I might be doing is exploring or just floundering or reaching for ideas so I can hear other ideas.

GH: And what has been your proudest accomplishment so far?

HARRIS: I'm most proud of paying attention to the Buford Highway Corridor. Many people have told me it is an embarrassment as the entrance to the city and the first thing people see.

We have hired an economic planner to analyze the challenges Buford Highway presents and how to make it attractive to new businesses. It may seem odd at this economic moment to be hiring someone to expand our economic capabilities, but we are not just looking at one area of the city but all of it.

At the end of this summer we adopted the Buford Highway Overlay plan which lay out our guidelines for redevelopment. We spent months working with Clifford Cross, our planning director, to work on what we wanted Buford Highway to look like and feel like, not just today but 25 years or 50 years or 100 years from now.

Before we could attract the kinds of businesses and development we want, we needed to have a plan in place. And now we have that plan.

GW: What is the big problem or job that is on your plate right now?

HARRIS: My biggest dilemma is for the old City Hall and how it can be saved. I have definitely shifted my time from many of the projects I came in hoping to accomplish. Perhaps that is why I haven't got other things as far along as I would have liked. For instance I am still working on an arts task force. I've just had to put things on the back burner.

I do not agree with where the old City Hall block is headed. I think the focus should not necessarily be on saving it, the focus should be on economic sustainability. I am concerned about putting more commercial development on that block right now. I think the timing is wrong now.

We have a lot of empty strip malls and storefronts already within the city limits. I just don't think it is the time to be building more. A lot people are upset about destroying those buildings and replacing them with a huge parking deck on that block.

There is also the historic preservation side of it. But we already have a traffic problem right there. With the railroad coming through town, we will always have a traffic problem in this town.

GW: What is the city doing to meet the harsh economic realities of 2009?

HARRIS: First, we will have to see what actions the General Assembly takes in its session. That will have a big effect on what we can do.

We have some major transportation projects in the city for 2009. We want to add a lane to Abbotts Bridge Road [Ga. 120], and we want to put a new entrance in for Duluth High School. We also plan for a connector road to join West Lawrenceville Road with Abbotts Bridge.

But we can't do it without state and federal funding.

We also have concerns about the revenue from SPLOST. With sales tax revenue down, we may not have the funds to do all that we wanted with the SPLOST projects.

We have already called on departments to reduce spending and plan on no new employees. However, we have not announced any hiring freezes for existing positions so far.

The city is also planning a huge software investment to modernize all of our city functions. This is not necessarily a good time to do that. But on the other hand it will save us money and free up employees who duplicating a lot of work. That is a big decision we will have to make.

On the good side, we are going to work smarter, and spend more time planning for the good times. It is a time for re-evaluation.
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Gwinnett Gladiators Beat Checkers 5-3

Gladiators netminder Kevin Nastiuk made 26 saves to help the Gladiators to a 5-3 win over the Charlotte Checkers on Friday night at the Time Warner Cable Arena. With the win, Nastiuk snapped a personal 6 game losing streak for the netmdiner while it was the Gladiators 5th 2-goal come-from-behind win this season. Gwinnett moved back to .500 and is now 15-15-4 on the season with the victory.

After a scorelss first period, Charlotte to jumped out to an early lead in the second period. Jeff Miles ripped a slapshot from the top of the right wing face off circle past Nastiuk for the marker at 4:03 of the second period. Michael Leveille added an assist on the goal for the Chekers.

Julian Brouillette pushed the Checkers lead to 2-0 just 35 seconds later. Nastiuk poked the puck out of pile up in the slot but it bounced right to a waiting Brouillette who whipped the puck past Nastiuk for the marker. Mike Bayrack and Matthew Ford notched the assists on the goal for the Checkers.

Gwinnett battled back in the later stages of the second period to tie the game at 2-2 before the second intermission. Adam Hobson collected his 6th goal of the season shorthanded just two minues after Charlotte's second goal of the game. Hobson finished a 2-on-1 break with Adam Berti as he beat Checkers netminder Jeff Jakaitis to the shortside for the marker. Brennan Turner collected an assist on the shorthanded goal for Gwinnett at 6:26 of the period.

Jean-Claude Sawyer tied the game at two with his first goal as a Gladiator with 2:29 left in the second period on the power play. Sawyer's shot was deflected in the slot and shot high in the air before landing behind Jakaitis and rolling into the net for the goal. Andy Brandt and Matt Siddall notched the assists on the goal for the Gladiators.

Gwinnett jumped out to a 3-2 lead on the Checkers at the 14:31 mark of the third period on Matt Siddall's 6th goal of the season. Parked on the goal line, Siddal was able to knock a loose puck past Jakaitis for the goal. Jeff Mason and Pat Bateman had the assists on the goal for Gwinnett.

Charlotte answerd just mintues later at the 15:58 mark of the third period to tie the game at three. Ford posted the goal for the Checkers as he was wide open on the left wing circle and ripped the puck past Nastiuk for the marker. Bayrack and Mike Taylor had the helpers on the tally for Gwinnett.

Travis Fuller answers just 35 seconds later for Gwinnett to regain the lead for the Gladiators. Fuller picked up a loose puck in the slot as he trailed an odd man rush and beat Jakaitis on the put-back for the marker. Chris Cava and Jeff Dunne notched the assists on the goal for Gwinnett at 16:33 of the third period.

Adam Berti collected his 5th goal of the season with 1:43 left in the final period to put the contest away for the Gladiators. Berti took an outlet pass from Siddall along the Charlotte blue line and walked in untouched on Jakaitis before beating the netminder for the tally.

Gwinnett went 1-for-5 on the power play in the win while Charlotte was 0-for-4 on the man advantage while giving up a shorthanded goal to the Gladiators in the contest.

Gwinnett continues action in the 2008-09 season on Wednesday, Janaury 14th as they host the Florida Everblades at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:05 p.m.
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'Nonstop great things' in Suwanee

Dave Williams knew being mayor would be a mixture of hard work and fun. And his first year as Suwanee Mayor didn't disappoint.

"The last year has just been a whirlwind," he said. "There has been almost a nonstop series of great things happening."

When looking back over the past year, Williams said it's hard to believe so many big events happened in Suwanee just this year. From the Tour de Georgia beginning Stage 5 downtown to the Life is Good festival as well as a new Lowe's opening and the grand opening of Sims Lake Park, the city has seen its share of large events.

"There has just been a tremendous amount of volunteers this year," he said. "It's been great, just one fabulous event building on top of another."

Increasing and encouraging civic engagement was one of Williams' goals when he took office.

"I wanted to help lead the effort to increase civic engagement," he said. "I wanted to help create many opportunities for people and businesses to get involved."

Williams and the city have helped increase involvement through the water system study group and the downtown master plan steering committee, among others. He said the Suwanee Day base had grown and Trek or Treat saw 700 families take part.

"I think we have been doing a better job of tracking those participants and capturing data," he said. "This has helped us find out what people liked and what they thought could be improved."

For example, Williams said a survey with Suwanee Day vendors was a great help.

"We had extraordinary results from vendors and a couple hundred people," he said. "It's easy to confuse activity with results. This way we can make sure our efforts are effective as they can be. You can be busy, but that doesn't mean you're successful."

Overall, Williams said 2008 has been a "pleasure" and he attributes that to the wonderful city staff and council.

"I think it was a seamless transition," he said. "The staff is so great and I really think the government works well together. The staff and government body trust one another. This attitude has allowed us to get past what we might not agree on and that is what has made Suwanee distinctive. I want to help preserve that."

To preserve that, Williams said Suwanee must continue its foundation based on trust.

"Our foundation is a group trust," he said. "If we don't have that, nothing else matters. It allows us to work effectively toward our common goals. I'm aware something could come along and take that away, so one of my goals is to help maintain that attitude."

Williams said Suwnaee can "pick our future" and that many of the current projects show what the city government and residents are capable of.

"Sims Lake Park is a great example of that," he said. "We said we wanted a world class park and we set out to do that. Now, I think we have it."
- www.gwinnettherald.com

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North Fulton Regional Hospital reflects on successful 2008

December is here, the holiday season is upon us, and 2009 is just around the corner. North Fulton Regional Hospital looks forward to the coming year with great promise as it reflects on an eventful 2008.

The People
New leadership helped drive some of the innovation that took place over the past year. Wes James joined the hospital team as Chief Financial Officer while Kathy Young, former Director of Quality Management for the hospital, was appointed to the position of Chief Nursing Officer.

The Technology
Technological enhancements also served to push North Fulton Regional Hospital ahead as 2008 progressed. Some of these innovations included the custom-fit knee replacement option, 5-day targeted radiation therapy treatment and a recently adopted computer system to convert the radiology department into a virtually film-less operation. With the custom-fit knee replacement procedure, surgeons are able to preserve more bone and ligaments, allowing for better implant fit and alignment. Benefits include shorter surgery time, easier post-op rehabilitation and the potential for better longer term results.

Patients receiving radiation treatment for breast cancer after surgery are now able to do so using a much quicker method. Using a five-day, targeted radiation therapy model, physicians are able to achieve comparable results to traditional radiation therapy, which can take up to six to seven weeks. Patients now have options for this method of radiation therapy, increasing flexibility and enhancing the level of care they can receive.

The Radiology Department has also seen its share of technological improvements. North Fulton Regional Hospital welcomes the addition of PACS, Picture Archiving and Communication System. This computer-based system digitally processes and displays medical images taken of patients.

The Quality
The most advanced technology in the world would not mean anything if the people utilizing it don't adhere to the highest standards of quality and medical care. In 2008, North Fulton Regional Hospital was the recipient of numerous quality awards and prestigious designations, helping to once again set it apart from the many other hospitals in the state.

From winning second place in a contest of the Georgia Hospital Association (GHA) for achieving a 95.5 percent reduction in ventilator associated pneumonia through an infection control project, to being placed on GHA's Honor Roll, to winning the Circle of Excellence Achievement Award through Tenet Healthcare, to being recognized for quality respiratory care by the American Association for Respiratory Care, North Fulton Regional Hospital has been busy.

The Community Commitment
While North Fulton Regional Hospitals excels at caring for patients who are in need of medical care, it also is committed to community education and outreach, helping to keep people healthy and informed and providing support wherever possible. In 2008, the hospital, along with

Harry's Farmers Market in Alpharetta began a seminar series to address timely health topics. From stress management to supplements, baby safety to skin care, the Whole Body, Whole Health Seminar Series offers attendees direct communication with physicians and other health experts, all free of charge. The success of this program has led to its extension into 2009.

Other events, including the annual Roswell Woman Expo as well as the 50+ Health Expo, provided free health screenings for the community. This year also featured the first CPR Marathon at the hospital.

The Silver Milestone
To help end the year on a positive note, North Fulton Regional Hospital celebrated 25 years of caring for the community. On Nov. 6, joined by elected officials in the surrounding communities, hospital governing board members, community business members, friends, physicians and staff members, North Fulton Regional Hospital "cut the ribbon" to signify movement into the next phase of the facility's history.

The Next Steps
The end of one year signifies a fresh start and a new approach for the coming months. North Fulton Regional Hospital looks forward to 2009 and all it has to offer in high-quality patient care, new technology and new programs for the community. The hospital will leverage the many successes of 2008 and parlay them into new successes. From moving to a digital platform in mammography to expanding community services, the future already shines.
- www.gwinnettherald.com

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Gwinnett Gladiators Post 2-1 win over Stingrays

After being blanked 2-0 by the South Carolina Stingrays the night before, the Gwinnett Gladiators were looking for revenge and found it in their own 2-1 win over the Stingrays on Saturday night. Goalie Joe Fallon, in his first start since being assigned to the Gwinnett Gladiators from the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks, held the Stingrays scoreless through the first and second period making a mere 20 saves.

Matt Siddall put one on the board for the Gladiators with his fifth marker of the season, his first since being re-assigned to Gwinnett on December 21st. The goal came at 14:19 of the period with assists from Jordan Fox and Jean-Claude Saywer.

Forward Jordan Fox notched another for the Gladiators with less than a minute to go in the middle stanza. Fox's goal found the bottom of the net as he fell backwards in a second effort attempt to score on the rebound.

The Stingrays made a goalie change in the final period, putting in John Havrilack to replace Michal Neuvirth after the netminder was injured. Neuvirth faced 21 shots and allowed two goals in the 42 minutes he played between the pipes.

The Stingrays finally found a way to beat Gwinnett's Fallon with 31 seconds to go in the third, when Maxime Lacroix tallied a goal for South Carolina. Pierre-Luc O'Brien and Travis Morin were on hand to assist on Lacroix's marker.

While Fallon made just 20 saves in the net, South Carolina's Neuvirth and Havrilack made a combined 30 saves with their shared time in goal.

Gwinnett continues action in the 2008-09 season on Thursday, Jan. 8 as they host the South Carolina Stingrays again at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:05 p.m.

- www.gwinnettherald.com

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Duluth Violin shop is 'destination business'

Roland and Dixie Huthmaker didn't know what they were getting into.

Their love of violins and passion for music has stretched a lifetime, from teaching to performing. But the owners of Huthmaker Violins in downtown Duluth never knew this endeavour would grow into a destination business serving customers across the southeast.

The Huthmaker story begins with a friend and a viola. At the time, both Huthmakers had been professional musicians and taught at different high schools.

"A friend asked us if we could sell this viola," Dixie said. "We both tried with our high school orchestras, but the students did not want it because they thought it was too old."

Dixie bought the instrument, had it appraised and discovered it was "very valuable." And the rest is history.

The interest in restoring violins has grown to the largest violin shop in the Southeast.

"Be careful what you wish for," she said with a grin.

Part of the business includes regular trips to Vichy, France to purchase high quality instruments. It sounds great, but Dixie said the trip is truly a business trip.

"It's really hard work," she said. "There are more than a thousand instruments and bows and we have to look at each two or three times. We want to be sure because once we take it home, we can't give it back."

Operating the business is truly a family affair. The Huthmakers employed their daughter, Anna, to manage the store and she also restores bows, earning her the moniker of "bow queen."

"The three of us fit together like a puzzle," Dixie said. "We all bring different stuff to the table."

Their son, Charles Huthmaker, does not work in Duluth full time, but he does travel to France because he speaks the language and helps during the auctions.

"Of course," Dixie said, "he helps us whenever he's in town and helps customers."

The Huthmakers may be a puzzle, but it's a puzzle that equals up to a great love of the instruments.

"The instruments are so beautiful," she said. "They are a work tool, but they are really a piece of art."

Why did the Huthmakers choose Duluth for their business? Its character.

"In metro Atlanta," Dixie said, "it's becoming difficult if not impossible to find original downtowns. We went all over Atlanta and we decided to come here 15 years ago. There's history here. There's older buildings. We felt we needed to be in a place that was unique."

Huthmaker Violins boasts instruments and accessories at a variety of prices. They repair, restore and appraisal, also.

"If you brought in your grandpa's violin," she said, "we could tell you what it is worth."

There are also four acoustically designed studios where about seven to eight teachers work with students. Huthmaker Violins sponsors the "Main Street Symphony," an adult amateur orchestra that performs at events such as the Duluth Fall Festival.

"The conductor calls it a 'love fest,'" Dixie said. "That's because they all love what they are doing. It's not really a symphony, it's an orchestra. But maybe someday."
- www.gwinnettherald.com

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Former Mayor's Photographs Donated to the City of Duluth

Local artist Beth Moody, photographer Wallace Reid of Wallace Reid Portraiture and Judy Wilson of the Duluth Historical Society presented a donation of photographs of four former Mayors, which were obtained through a recent photo contest and from families and friends of the Historical Society, to Mayor Nancy Harris. The photos are of Mayor Alice Strickland who served as Mayor from 1922 to 1923 and was the first woman Mayor in Georgia, Mayor H.G. Herron who served from 1930 to 1931, Mayor Mack Pittard who served from 1911-1914, and Marlon Corley who served from the late 60s to early 70s. The prints will be hung on the "Wall of Mayors" in the community/elections room of City Hall.
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PHOTO GALLERY: Event at the Wknd. store in Suwanee

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Gwinnett Gladiators lose to Elmira Jackals

The Gwinnett Gladiators fell to the Elmira Jackals for the second time in a week by a score of 3-2 at the Arena at Gwinnett Center. The Jackals improve to 3-1-0 against the Gladiators all-time with the win while the Gladiators fall below .500 with a 11-12-4 record on the season.

Jordan Fox opened up the scoring at 1:48 of the first period on Gwinnett's first penalty kill of the evening. Fox looked as if he was ready to pass the puck, but decided to hold onto it and stuck it in past goalie David Shantz instead. The unassisted marker is Fox's 12th of the season.

The Jackals evened up the score on a power play at 5:43 of the same period when Josh Aspenlind took a pass from Pierre-Luc Faubert straight off the faceoff and shot the puck past goalie Kevin Nastiuk. Almost 10 minutes later, the Jackals then took the lead with a goal from defenceman Joe Grimaldi, his first of the season.

Bruce Graham took the rebound shot away from Shantz and lifted the puck up and over the goalie's left shoulder to tie up the game at 11:33 in the second. Brad Schell and Matt Siddall both tallied an assist on Graham's tenth of the season. It is the first assist for Siddall after being re-assigned to Gwinnett on December 20th from the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves.

After going scoreless for over a period, the Elmira Jackals once again took the lead in the final period. Brian Ihnacak gave the Jackals the go-ahead at 12:05 with assists from Chris Korchinski and Ben Geelan.

The Gladiators next take on the South Carolina Stingrays on Friday, December 26th at 7:35 p.m. at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.
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PHOTO GALLERY: Duluth's Trail Dames

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Duluth woman's hiking group growing

It all started on the Appalachian Trail. Anna Huthmaker became truly hooked on the outdoors when she hiked 700 miles of the trail a couple years ago, something she believes everyone should try. The Duluth resident then started taking more similar trips where she kept noticing something that got her thinking.

"There was no one like me out there," she said. "More than that, I saw no women hiking by themselves."

Inspiration struck one night she decided to "create something." A couple hours later, Trail Dames was born.

"I sent it to some of my friends and they liked it," she said. "I took some flyers to a local Curves to invite people to the first meeting."

The first meeting took place in the Spring of 2007. Huthmaker's goal was three strangers.

"I didn't just want it to be my friends showing up," she said, "so I had this goal of three strangers. When nine showed up, I thought it was so cool."

And the numbers kept growing. Within three months of the first hike in April 2007 up Springer Mountain, 50 women had joined the group.

Today, there are 350 in the Atlanta Chapter with other chapters started in Tennessee, Texas and New Hampshire.

The group has grown faster than Huthmaker ever believed possible.

"It's wonderful," she said. "It's my passion. I started this because I knew there were women like me out there that had never considered doing this. It doesn't even occur to them to hike up a mountain. They need to know it's OK to sweat while they get to the top."

Trail Dames invites women of all different shapes and fitness levels, Huthmaker said. That has included everyone from great-grandmothers to marathon runners.

"Everyone is invited," she said. "What's important is that we create a safe place where women can do something physical and feel comfortable, especially if they are overweight."

Huthmaker's one rule: She's always last.

"I will also be last on a hike," she said. "I don't want anyone to feel they are slowest one. I want everyone to feel comfortable and enjoy what they are doing. If they thought they could never do it, I love to see the look on their face when they see what they have accomplished. I like to look at them and say, 'you climbed a mountain.' It creates are part of themselves they never knew existed."

Huthmaker hopes Trail Dames spreads across the United States. But despite its growing popularity, she said it will remain free of charge.

"People say I'm crazy but I don't every want anyone to feel like they can't do it," she said. "That's really important to me. I just want to show people that it's easier than they think to accomplish this."

And men are not always excluded.

"We have "Bring your man" hikes twice a year," Huthmaker said.

Huthmaker said she encourages anyone interested to visit www.traildames.com.
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AFL suspends 2009 season for Georgia Force

The Georgia Arena won't be quite as lively as expected next year, as the Georgia Force and the entire Arena Football League's 2009 season has been suspended.

The league's board of directors will suspend the 2009 season subject to agreement and cooperation with the Arena Football League Players Association while the League works on developing a long-term plan to improve its economic model.

"Every owner in the AFL is strongly committed to the League, the game, and, most importantly, the fans," said Acting Commis-sioner Ed Policy. "Owners, however, recognize that, especially in light of the current unprecedented economic climate, the AFL, as a business enterprise, needs to be restructured if it is to continue to provide its unique brand of this affordable, fan-friendly sport."

Georgia Force officials began meeting with coaches players and staff Monday after the announcement. Ticket refunds already were being mailed to fans.

"We are disappointed that we will not be playing in the 2009 season, but we agree with and support the need for the Arena Foot-ball League to take this time to strengthen its financial foundation to ensure long-term success," Georgia Force President Dick Sulli-van said. "We are very proud of the achievements of the Georgia Force over the last four seasons of ownership, and we hope to field another strong team in 2010."

Full refund checks will be mailed immediately to Georgia Force fans who have already purchased tickets for the 2009 season. Fans with any other questions may leave a message at 1-888-55-FORCE, and a Force representative will return their calls within two busi-ness days.

"We have a very talented group of associates, and we are sorry to see them go," Sullivan said. "We hope to have the opportunity to work with many of them again in the future."

The Georgia Force finished the 2008 season with a 10-6 record and the club's first back-to-back winning seasons. The Force won three Southern Division Championships in the last four years.

The league's board met via conference call Sunday night and voted in favor of a motion to suspend the 2009 season. Columbus Destroyers co-owner and vice chairman of the AFL Executive Committee Jim Renacci was asked to spearhead the restructuring proc-ess.

"We, the owners of the Arena Football League, realize we have the most fan-friendly, affordable and accessible sport anywhere," said Jon Bon Jovi, co-owner of the ArenaBowl champion Philadelphia Soul. "These are trying economic times. The revamping will ensure that the AFL continues to provide value to its fans and not only survives but thrives in the years to come."

"Our involvement with the Arena Football League was always geared toward promoting football on a year-round basis," said Dal-las Desperados owner Jerry Jones. "Our experience with the Desperados has accomplished those goals and has been very positive. As we move forward we will explore all of the options that are available in regard to the future of the AFL and the Desperados."

After 22 seasons, the second-longest tenure of any U.S. pro football league, the decision to suspend the 2009 season was not made lightly. AFL ownership has conducted multiple meetings over the past several weeks, discussed numerous options and concluded that this decision is in the best interests of the 16-team AFL and its fans.
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Gwinnett Gladiators post Comeback, Beat Sea Wolves 3-2

The Gwinnett Gladiators knocked off the Mississippi Sea Wolves 3-2 on a late goal by Jeff Mason on Sunday night at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum. Gwinnett improves to 11-9-4 on the season and moves back into sole possession of fourth place in the ECHL's South Division as Charlotte lost in regulation on Sunday afternoon as well.

Mason notched the game winner with just three minutes left in the third period as he slid across the blue line and fluttered the puck to the front of the net where it eluded Mississippi netminder Riku Helenius for the goal. Brandon Kalenicki had an assist on the goal as he rolled the puck back to Mason at the point to set up the tally.

For the second consecutive game, Mississippi jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead on the Gladiators. Just 1:11 into the first period Mathieu Melanson crashed the Gladiators net and jammed the puck past Gwinnett goaltender Josh Johnson for the goal. Kyle McAllister and Travis Lisabeth notched the assists on the marker for the Sea Wolves.

Mississippi pushed their lead to 2-0 at 5:52 of the first period. Jeremy Hall slipped past the Gladiators defensemen and walked down the right wing wall before ripping a snapshot that eluded Johnson for the goal. Jason Tejchma and Ryan Menei hooked up to set up Hall on the goal for Mississippi.

Gwinnett answered with a pair of goals in the second period to send the game tied 2-2 into the third. Dan Sullivan got the Gladiators first goal of the game when he squeezed the puck through the legs of Helenius to cut the Mississippi lead back to a goal. Sullivan took a rink wide pass from Bruce Graham and slipped down the right wing before beating Helenius at 4:34 of the second period.

Kaleniecki's sixth goal of the season on a 5-on-3 power play tied the contest at two. Graham added his second assist of the game as he was able to find Kalenickei hanging out all alone on the far post to set up the goal. Jordan Fox also had an assist on the power power play goal for Gwinnett at 13:24 of the second period. Kaleniecki's marker set the stage for Mason's game winner late in the third period for Gwinnett.

Josh Joshnson finshed with 16 saves for the Gladiators in win. Gwinnett went 1-for-6 on the power play while holding the Sea Wolves off the board on six chances onthe man advantage in the contest.

The Gladiators return to action on Tuesday, December 16th as they host the Elmira Jackals at the Arena at Gwinnett Center at 7:05 p.m.
- www.gwinnettherald.com

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Entrepreneur magazine named Haven Trust Bank to its 'Hot 100' list

Earlier this year, Entrepreneur magazine named Duluth-based Haven Trust Bank to its annual list of the "Hot 100" fastest-growing businesses in America, achieving a rank of No. 44, based on it 2007 finances and growth.

The bank, which opened in January of 2000 with one location and eight employees, had four branches and almost 80 employees by July 2008, with assets approaching $525 million.

"We started our community bank as a way of helping entrepreneurs – especially in Atlanta's thriving Asian-American community – who were not being properly served by big banks and other traditional lending sources, so it's a particular honor to be recognized by a magazine that celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit," said Mukesh "Mike" Patel in that article earlier this year.

Patel was among the founders of Haven Trust Bank and had served as chairman since the bank's inception.

The bank focused on entrepreneurs and had customers throughout the country. It touted its simplified application process, innovative financing, and fast local loan approval – often as quick as 24 hours.

Among the founders of Haven Trust Bank were numerous prominent local Indian-American business leaders, including Balvant "Bill" Patel, Dhiru "Danny" Patel, Mukund "Bobby" Patel, Narendra "Tony" Patel, R.C. Patel, Brij Kapoor, and the late Dr. Sumant Patel.

Entrepreneur magazine's "Hot 100" list is in its 14th year, with criteria for consideration this year including a business founded between 1999 and 2003 which had annual sales of more than $100,000 in 2003 and no more than $1 billion in 2007.

Haven Trust Bank was the highest-ranked of four Georgia companies in the listing, all of which are located in metro Atlanta. Only two banks were on the list, with Haven Trust Bank being the highest ranked.
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Duluth's Haven Trust Bank closes

Haven Trust Bank of Duluth was the fifth bank to be closed in Georgia this year, one of 24 in the country.

Depositors kept access to their money, as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) entered into an agreement with BB&T of Winston-Salem, N.C., to assume all of Haven Trust's deposits, including those that exceeded the insurance limit.

Over the weekend, depositors of Haven Trust can access all their money by writing checks or using ATMs or debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed. Loan customers should continue to make their payments as usual.

The fourth Haven Trust branches -- the Duluth headquarters on Sugarloaf Parkway next to The Gwinnett Center, the Johns Creek brank on McGinnis Ferry Road east of Medlock Bridge Road, the Decatur branch on Lawrenceville Highway at North Druid Hills Road in DeKalb County and the Snellville branch on Scenic Highway North -- will reopen Monday as branches of BB&T.

Haven Trust opened its Johns Creek branch in summer 2006 as it built the current two-story, 12,000 square foot facility.

All the depositors of Haven Trust will automatically become depositors of BB&T. Deposits will continue to be insured by the FDIC, so there is no need for customers to change their existing banking relationship to retain their deposit insurance coverage. Customers of the failed bank should continue to use their existing branches until they receive further information from BB&T.

Don't reply to e-mail
It is important to note that neither the FDIC as receiver nor BB&T as the acquiring institution will e-mail customers of Haven Trust asking them to validate their deposits or to request personal, confidential information, such as account numbers, social security numbers or driver's license numbers. Customers will not be asked to revalidate passwords, deposit accounts or deposit insurance.
If customers receive e-mails asking for such personal information, they should consider the e-mails fraudulent and should not respond.

Haven Trust Bank was closed by the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, and the FDIC was named receiver. To protect the depositors, the FDIC entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with BB&T, to assume all of Haven Trust's deposits. BB&T agreed to assume all of the deposits for $112,000. In addition, BB&T will purchase approximately $55 million of the failed bank's assets. The FDIC will retain the remaining assets for later disposition.

As of Dec. 8, Haven Trust had total assets of $572 million and total deposits of $515 million.

The FDIC estimates that the cost to the Deposit Insurance Fund will be $200 million. The BB&T's acquisition of all deposits was the "least costly" resolution for the FDIC's Deposit Insurance Fund compared to alternatives. The last bank to be closed in the state was First Georgia Community Bank, Jackson, on Dec. 5.
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