HOMETOWN HERALD News from the Hamilton Mill Community Association
January 2017
Welcome
COMMUNITY NEWS
2 | HOMETOWN HERALD | January 2017
The Board of
DIRECTORS
Get to Know Your Board Members
Karen Taylor, President Kyle Shields, Vice President Chris Singleton, Secretary Megan Kaderli, Treasurer Jeff Timler , Member at Large Tony Hinnant, Member at Large Anne Dotter, Member at Large
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To advertise in the Reunion Patriot, contact Cindy Wellborn at The Times - 770.718.3443 - cwellborn@poultrytimes.com The Hometown Herald is a publication of The Times. Subject matter published is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the publisher of this newsletter. Professional advice should be obtained before making any decision in which a professional is readily available. Advertisers assume responsibility for the content of the ads placed in publication. Material published may not be reproduced without the written permission of The Times. The information and advertisements contained in this Newsletter are provided for the members of the Hamilton Mill Homeowners Association as a courtesy only. No representations are made as to information presented, the quality of the goods or services advertised, or the veracity of the statements relating to the goods and services. The printing of opinions, information or advertisements does not constitute an endorsement by the Neighborhood or such opinions, information, goods or services.
Hamilton Mill HOMETOWN HERALD
inside this
ISSUE 5 Board Member Election
Residential Information & Helpful Numbers
16
Social Committee
4
7
Grounds & Facilities
12
Hello
18
January 2017 | HOMETOWN HERALD | 3
HELPFUL INFORMATION
SHABEN & ASSOCIATES
GOVERNMENT SERVICES
Customer Care Center: 770-271-2252, Ext. 203 After Hours Emergency: 770-271-2252, Ext. 203 P.O. Box 3189 Suwanee, GA 30024-0989
Emergency ......................................................... 911 Police Headquarters............................770.513.5000 Non Emergency...................................770.513.5700 Gwinnett Sheriff/Jail..............................770.619.6500 County Courthouse..............................770.822.8000 Dacula City Hall...................................770.963.7451 Dacula Post Office...............................770.962.4390 Poison Control......................................404.616.9000 Fire Headquarters.................................678.518.5018 Station 18.............................................678.518.5018 Tag Office............................................770.822.8801 Drivers License Services........................770.995.6855 Property Tax..........................................770.822.8800 Voter Registration.................................770.226.7210 Animal Control.....................................770.339.3200 Gwinnett Senior Services......................770.822.8850
ACTIVITIES DEPARTMENT
UTILITIES
ON-SITE PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Ph: 678.546.3737 1669 Hamilton Mill Parkway, Dacula, GA 30019 Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm Email: PropertyManager@Hmill.com CORPORATE OFFICE (for after-hours common area maintenance emergencies)
BFI Waste Management......................678.963.2800 Water Resources..................................770.376.6800 You are welcome to contact the Activities Office via Buford Gas...........................................770.945.6761 email at hmillevents@gmail.com for information on Jackson EMC/Street Light Outage........770.963.6166 Charter Communications....................678.410.9362 planned events or to RSVP for an event. AT&T.....................................................800.436.8638 TENNIS SHOP Direct Satellite/Dish Network.................678.714.1495 Email: hmillevents@gmail.com
Ph: 770.945.6452 Jeff Dudacek: On-Site Tennis Pro GWINNETT POLICE NON-EMERGENCY
For a complete listing of Gwinnett County Departments, please visit www.gwinnettcounty.com/portal/gwinnett/Departments
STREET MAINTENANCE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS Puckett’s Mill Elementary School.................. 678.765.5110 www.pmseonline.org
Contact Gwinnett County at 770.822.7474 to report a problem with street, curb or sidewalk.
Millcreek High School........................... 678.714.5850
Ph: 770.513.5700
MAILBOX REPLACEMENT/REPAIR
All mailboxes must be the same as a Community-Wide Standard: STYLE 311K • Addresses of Distinction: Ph: 770.436.6198 www.aodmailboxes.com • Imperial Mailbox Systems: Ph: 800.647.0777 These are resources only, no recommendations or assurances are made by the Association. AMENITY CARD REPLACEMENT
Hamilton Mill Amenity Cards are available to goodstanding residents. Please call 678.546.3737 or 678.546.1597 to set up an appointment. Replacement cards/tenant cards are $25 each. Check or money order ONLY. No cash or credit cards accepted. LOST DOG/CATS/ANIMAL DISTURBANCES
If you have lost your pet, please email the On-Site Property Management and they will be happy to email the community. Please also contact the Gwinnett County Animal Control at 770-513-5100 to report your lost pet or a dangerous pet is running loose.
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Osborne Middle School....................... 770.904.5400 www.gwinnett.k12/ha.us/OsborneMS.home.org www.millcreekhighschool.org
Dacula High School............................. 770.963.6664 www.daculahs.org
PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Hebron Christian Academy..................770.962.5423 Dacula Classical Academy.................678.377.0080 Dominion Classical Christian Academy...... 770-338-7945 Sugar Hill Christian Academy...............678-745-4121 Greater Atlanta Christian......................770-243-2258 HOSPITALS/URGENT CARE
Gwinnett Medical Center.....................678-312-1000 ChoiceOne Urgent Care - Hamilton Mill...... 470-326-7300 Northeast Georgia Medical Center.....770.219.9000 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta........... 404.150.KIDS Northeast Georgia Urgent Care...........770.848.6195 RECREATION
Community After Hours emergency....404.835.9100 Millcreek Athletic Association............ millcreekaa.net Dacula Soccer............................. dscrevolution.com Bogan Park (for reservations at any park).......678.227.0850 Gwinnett County Public Library.............770.978.5154 Gwinnett County Cultural Center.........770.813.7500 Lake Lanier Islands................................800.840.LAKE Road Atlanta....................................... 800.849.RACE
HAMILTON MILL ASSOCIATION NEWS
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING January 23rd, 2017 7:00 pm Lakeview Community Clubhouse Ballots will be distributed at the door for voting for three (3) positions for the Board of Directors. Please contact Chris Shanks at (678) 546-3737 or email at propertymanager@ hmill.com, if you have any questions.
KARAOKE MIXER PARTY
Save the date for our first get-together of the year… and it’s going to be a FUN one!
PENNINGTON FENCE
January 27 • 7-10pm Lakeview Clubhouse
Quality Built Since 1972
DJ Williams Kitchens hosting a fun night of Karaoke Meet up with neighbors and catch up from the holidays - Get to know new people!
770-963-9961
BYOB and snacks • 21 & up Prizes! • FREE EVENT!!
We Look Forward To Building Your New Fence Ask Us About Wood Fence Staining
Award-Winning Pain Management Physicians
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Dr. Steven Nguyen
Dr. Sri Mandyam
Dr. Jose Mathew
1255 Friendship Rd. Suite 150 Braselton, GA 30517 770-962-3642
www.georgiapainandwellnesscenter.com
January 2017 | HOMETOWN HERALD | 5
COMMUNITY NEWS
CANDIDATES FOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS Anne Dotter: Hello Residents of Hamilton Mill. I would love to have your support in being elected to the Board. I have been a resident since 2010 and have been actively involved in our neighborhood. I have served as the Social Committee Chair for the past two years and more recently filled a seat on the Board when a prior member stepped down. I attended Penn State University with both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Services Education. I’ve worked in several different industries including healthcare, technology and Real Estate. Having been in Real Estate, I know the importance of keeping our neighborhood maintained. If elected, I would like our Board to adhere to our Covenants and follow the policies and procedures set in place while maintaining fiscal responsibility. My goal is also to keep lines of communication open with all residents and improve the ways in which we deliver information to the community. Hamilton Mill is a great place to live with wonderful amenities and activities for everyone. It is critical that we make sound financial decisions, keep everything looking great and protect our investment. Thank you! Josh Emmett: I am 39 years old and have been married to my Wife Brandy for 15 years. We have 2 children who are 13 (Sydney) and 10 (Gray) years old. We have lived in Dacula for a total of 12 years and have been in Hamilton Mill since April of 2016. We currently live in the Lake Forrest Community and you can typically see me and my children throwing the football or baseballs on Lamont Circle in the evenings. I am a United States Marine Corps veteran and served one tour in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004 and another deployment in 2010 as a civilian contractor. I have 14 years of Law Enforcement experience in the Metro Atlanta area. I am currently the Director of Security at Phipps Plaza Mall and I have served as a board member for a homeowner’s association before (2 years as Board President 2008-2010). I enjoy fishing on the lake behind our house, spending time with my family and friends and anything UGA!
Stephen (Steve) Smith: I grew up in Savannah, GA. I moved to Marietta, GA to attend Southern Polytechnic State University. I graduated with a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology. After graduation in 1998, I worked for Siemens as a design engineer, project engineer, and then project manager. After 7 years with Siemens, I left and went to work with Convergint Technologies in 2005 as a commercial security sales account executive and have been there ever since. I am a member of ASIS (American Society of Industrial Security) and hold the PSP (Physical Security Professional) certification. My wife Kim and I moved into Hamilton Mill in May of 1999. My son Carter and niece Heather Kyle are in the 10th grade and attend MCHS. My daughter Savannah is in the 8th grade and attends OMS. We all attend Prince of Peace Catholic Church and have been members since 2001. I love the community so much, I encouraged my sister and her family to move into the neighborhood too. I believe that I can provide common sense opinions and direction to other members on the board with the common goal to preserve and increase all home values within Hamilton Mill by overseeing the maintenance of the common grounds/facilities, listening to issues raised by fellow neighbors, keeping fellow neighbors aware and engaged with the board’s current issues, and helping to keep a balanced budget that creates just competition for all outside contracting. My business and sales experience, along with my engineering background will allow me to work well with others and help to make decisions and provide guidance towards this direction. Jeff Timler: Hi, I’m Jeff Timler and I have been a resident of Hamilton Mill for 10 years. I have been married for 17 years, and we have two middle school aged daughters. I am a native of Gwinnett county, and a UGA graduate! I have a background in commercial construction and municipal consulting. Since June of 2016, I have been on the Board volunteering to head up the retention pond and lake projects. I took the lead on getting the proper permits and hiring contractors to start the lake clean out and retention pond maintenance. I hope to get the chance to see the project out and make our lakes and ponds beautiful again! Chuck Thomas: I relocated my family (wife and daughter) to HM from Savage, MN in 2001. I have an MBA in Finance, a BS in Chemistry, and almost thirty years of experience in truck/trailer dealership operations. I left the corporate-world in 2012 and now own/operate a real estate contract-to-close business with my wife that serves 20+ real estate agents inside the I-285 Perimeter. This year we won an arbitration ruling against the HM-HOA for failure to enforce the covenants with the rental property next door to us. Here are a few of the reasons why I’m running for the Board of Directors: 1) Keep the HOA-BOD from being sued by homeowners; 2) Improve communications from the HOA-BOD to the HOA members; and 3) Improve the process for common-area maintenance and upkeep. I look forward to tackling these priorities in 2017, and to work to continuously improve the quality of life and home values in our community.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
VOTE
YES
Protect YOUR home value and keep YOUR association dues from rising again in 2018 by voting YES for Hamilton Mill HOA Initiation Fee! Q: What is the HOA Initiation Fee? Q: Why do we need this?
A: Our community is aging and the costs to restore Hamilton Mill are increasing, causing our association dues to rise. There are several common area issues we will be able to address sooner and get our community back into TOP SHAPE before it is too late.
Q: What if I move to another home in Hamilton Mill, do I have to pay this? A: NO! Homeowners living and moving within Hamilton Mill WILL NEVER PAY this HOA Initiation Fee
Q: How much of a difference will this really make?
A: A HUGE DIFFERENCE! Approximately 100 homes are sold and bought each year in Hamilton Mill. This would be an approximate gain of $100,000.00 each year!
Q: What if I don’t vote for it?
A: We will lose a great opportunity to add revenue that can help keep our dues from going up again. Yes, the increased revenue from the new initiation fee could actually bring our dues down!2
Be on the lookout for instructions on how to VOTE for the HOA Initiation Fee coming in 2017!
1 Investment property buyers may incur an additional fee. 2 This estimation is based on at least 90% of residents staying current on their association dues.
A: The HOA Initiation Fee will require NEW buyers in Hamilton Mill to pay an initiation fee of $950.00.1
January 2017 | HOMETOWN HERALD | 7
COMMUNITY NEWS
Join Reunion Country Club... Become a Member Today! Weekday Membership - $195 per month Young Executive (Full 7 Day, under age 35) - $195 Full Membership - $249
Join by the end of the year & receive 2 free months! All memberships include green fee, cart fee, & range balls. Plus members receive a discount in our restaurant & pro shop.
5609 Grand Reunion Drive Hoschton, GA 30548
8 | HOMETOWN HERALD | January 2017
www.reuniongolfclub.com
770-967-8300
COMMUNITY NEWS
January 2017 | HOMETOWN HERALD | 9
10 | HOMETOWN HERALD | January 2017
8
1
29
22
15
New Year’s Day
SUNDAY
16
9
2
3
30
Sun Kichun Yoga 9-10am Chung Sun Do 6-7pm
31
24 Sun Kichun Yoga 9-10am Chung Sun Do 6-7pm
23
Sun Kichun Yoga 9-10am Chung Sun Do 6-7pm
17
Sun Kichun Yoga 9-10am Chung Sun Do 6-7pm G&F Com. 7pm Social Com. 6:30pm
10
Sun Kichun Yoga 9-10am Chung Sun Do 6-7pm
TUESDAY
Annual Meeting 7:00pm Lakeview Clubhouse
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Mill Creek Cluster Holiday
Event Listing
MONDAY
Meetings Tennis
Social Events
FYI
Fitness/Class
25
18
11
4
WEDNESDAY
5
6
20
13
Karaoke Mixer Party 7pm Lakeview Clubhouse
27
Inauguration Day
FRIDAY
Join us for any of the listed events RSVP to Hmillevents@gmail.com!
Notes ____________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________
Sun Kichun Yoga 9-10am Chung Sun Do 6-7pm
26
Sun Kichun Yoga 9-10am Chung Sun Do 6-7pm
19
Sun Kichun Yoga 9-10am Chung Sun Do 6-7pm
12
Mill Creek Cluster Back to School
Sun Kichun Yoga 9-10am Chung Sun Do 6-7pm
THURSDAY
7
28
21
14
Calendar Sponsored by:
SATURDAY
JANUARY 2017 HAMILTON MILL CALENDAR
COMMUNITY NEWS
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Breakfast with Santa was on Saturday, Dec 3 from 9-12 at the Lakeview Clubhouse. Over 100 families came out to eat from a yummy breakfast buffet, listen to Christmas music, make their lists for Santa and then visit with Mr. and Mrs. Claus! Boy Scout Troop 1597 came out to be Santa’s little helpers, sell luminaries, and to help with the food donation drop offs. Hamilton Mill families collected three HUGE bins of food and canned goods for the Hamilton Mill United Methodist Food Pantry. A huge shout out to Jodi Monaghan Photography for taking all of the pictures for the Hamilton Mill families and friends. Pictures with Santa are such precious memories‌ thank you for capturing them!
We hope everyone had a great time visiting with each other, had many photo ops, and most of all a very happy holiday!
January 2017 | HOMETOWN HERALD | 11
COMMUNITY NEWS
GROUNDS AND FACILITIES C ommittee Update
“Grounds and Facilities provides input to Hamilton Mill’s management relative to the supervision of the common elements in our beautiful ‘Hometown’ community. The primary purpose of the committee, which is comprised entirely of homeowner-volunteers, is to learn about and help protect the vast physical assets of our community. These assets include common landscape, courts and fields, clubhouse, fitness center, lake, landscape, and pool.” This is verbatim out of our original Community activities section of the Hamilton Mill handbook for original homeowners. The scope of G&F’s responsibilities has not changed, other than the board and property management has taken over the lake and pond maintenance. G&F reports to the Hamilton Mill Board of Directors. Hamilton Mill has over 35 miles of frontage including entrances that it maintains, 2 swimming pools, 16 tennis courts, 2 playground facilities and 2 clubhouses along with soccer, baseball fields and volleyball courts. We are truly a small city with small city flavors and problems. We are a community with a history of over 20 years of success. We have homeowners move and return or long to return to our hometown. We now have children return as adults to raise their family in our hometown and we are proud. G&F has a huge responsibility to the homeowners of Hamilton Mill and we take it very seriously. Many of us have been on this committee for over 5 years, some 10, and some even 15 and go back to when we were under developer control. We need that history to be a part of this community just due to our size. Many times we receive questions from homeowners and need that history for answers. Sometimes the history is lost and makes it that much harder to find answers. Irrigation has been a thorn for many years. The irrigation was basically shut down to all areas except for flower beds when the drought began in 2006 and water restrictions were put into effect. Many areas of our irrigation system are over 20 years old. Not all are run with electricity, some have battery packs, and some areas of grass do get watered along the parkway because we cannot cut down the zones on some of the areas. The irrigation system was not designed to be efficient, it was designed during a time of cheap and plentiful water and we are trying to manage the system as best we can. Rain sensors were installed this year, and then it stopped raining. It figures. Pressure regulators are the next upgrade to the system. As many of you know, we have pressure issues in this
12 | HOMETOWN HERALD | January 2017
area and just like we have to change our pressure regulators for our homes we have to for the entire irrigation system. This should greatly reduce the blow outs we experienced this year. When irrigation heads are replaced we are replacing with stainless steel instead of plastic for greater longevity. Thanks needs to go to Beatty McCaleb for getting us to the right person at JEMC to come up with a solution for the Millview and Parkside entrances. These areas have not had irrigation for many years and we are almost at a complete resolution. Millview repairs are almost complete and we hope to have flower beds restored in the spring. Parkside is almost resolved. These areas had issues with addresses with both Gwinnett Water and JEMC and here is where the history was lost. Even JEMC cannot find the address for an old electric meter in the area. Again, resolutions are coming and we hope to get these areas irrigated and improved this fiscal year. The aging of the community and the need for repairs is ongoing. Millview and Lakeview clubhouses were supposed to be painted in 2014 (according to the reserve study), and were deferred due to budget and cannot continue to be deferred. They will be repainted and repaired with non-rotting boards where necessary. Bids were sought last year so the money set aside for this project should be on target. Millview pool is undergoing extensive repairs and upgrades. As previously noted the decking is being resurfaced, and the area relandscaped with improved drainage. As with all projects unexpected repairs are found. Cracks were discovered in the slide and we hope to be able to get this repaired in the spring before reopening. Further information for plans for the 2017 year will be presented at the annual meeting. G&F meets the second Tuesday of every month at the Lakeview conference room. Thank you to all of our neighbors that report issues to us. With the large area Hamilton Mill is responsible for it takes a village to oversee. Should you see anything that needs attention please report through hmill.com. Go to the committees section and G&F can be found there. Sometimes we don’t get to respond to each email individually but we do look at everything submitted and repair when necessary.
RECIPES
HAMILTON MILL Recipes It’s the New Year! Another trip around the sun… start the year off right with these quick and easy clean-eating recipes.
CHIPOTLE CHICKEN QUINOA BURRITO BOWL
GREEN SMOOTHIE
This chipotle-flavored burrito bowl recipe is even better than takeout and just as fast. Loading it with vegetables and using quinoa in place of rice adds nutrition for a healthy dinner.
• Get your daily dose of dark leafy greens any time of day with this delicious green smoothie. Ground flaxseed adds omega-3s. Pour any extra into a freezer-pop mold and have it later as a frozen green smoothie pop.
From: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2016
Nutrition profile • Egg Free • Nut-Free • Soy-Free • Diabetic Appropriate
• Gluten-Free • Healthy Aging • Healthy Immunity • Heart Healthy
Ingredients: Makes 4 servings • 1 tablespoon finely chopped chipotle peppers in adobo sauce • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder • 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 2 cups cooked quinoa • 2 cups shredded romaine lettuce • 1 cup canned pinto beans, rinsed • 1 ripe avocado, diced • 1/4 cup prepared pico de gallo or other salsa • 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese • Lime wedges for serving Preparation: Ready in 30 minutes 1. Preheat grill to medium-high or preheat broiler. 2. Combine chipotles, oil, garlic powder & cumin in a small bowl. 3. Oil the grill rack (see Tip) or a rimmed baking sheet, if broiling. Season chicken with salt. Grill the chicken for 5 minutes or broil it on the prepared baking sheet for 9 minutes. Turn, brush with the chipotle glaze and continue cooking until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part registers 165°F, 3 to 5 minutes more on the grill or 9 minutes more under the broiler. Transfer to a clean cutting board. Chop into bite-size pieces. 4. Assemble each burrito bowl with 1/2 cup quinoa, 1/2 cup chicken, 1/2 cup lettuce, 1/4 cup beans, 1/4 avocado, 1 tablespoon pico de gallo (or other salsa) and 1 tablespoon cheese. Serve with a lime wedge.
To oil a grill rack, oil a folded paper towel, hold it with tongs and rub it over the rack. (Do not use cooking spray on a hot grill.)
From: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2011
Nutrition profile • Gluten-Free • Healthy Immunity • Heart Healthy • High Blood Pressure
• High Fiber • Low Added Sugars • Low-Calorie • Low Fat
Ingredients: 2 servings • 2 ripe medium bananas • 1 ripe pear or apple, peeled if desired, chopped • 2 cups chopped kale leaves, tough stems removed (see Notes) • 1/2 cup cold orange juice • 1/2 cup cold water • 12 ice cubes • 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed (see Notes) Preparation: Ready in 10 minutes Place bananas, pear (or apple), kale, orange juice, water, ice cubes and flaxseed in a blender. Pulse a few times, then puree until smooth, scraping down the sides as necessary. • Choose organic kale when possible. Nonorganic can have high pesticide residue. • Look for ground flaxseeds (or flaxmeal) in the natural-foods section of large supermarkets or in natural-foods stores. Store in the refrigerator or freezer. Nutrition information • Serving size: about 1 3/4 cups • Per serving: 213 calories; 2 g fat(0 g sat); 8 g fiber; 50 g carbohydrates; 3 g protein; 75 mcg folate; 0 mg cholesterol; 29 g sugars; 0 g added sugars; 1820 IU vitamin A; 64 mg vitamin C; 61 mg calcium; 1 mg iron; 16 mg sodium; 763 mg potassium • Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (210% daily value), Vitamin C (208% dv), Potassium (28% dv), Magnesium (21% dv), Folate (18% dv). • Carbohydrate Servings: 3 1/2 • Exchanges: 2 1/2 fruit, 1 vegetable
Nutrition information • Serving size: 1 burrito bowl, about 2 1/2 cups • Per serving: 452 calories; 19 g fat(4 g sat); 9 g fiber; 36 g carbohydrates; 36 g protein; 160 mcg folate; 90 mg cholesterol; 3 g sugars; 0 g added sugars; 2274 IU vitamin A; 7 mg vitamin C; 111 mg calcium; 3 mg iron; 462 mg sodium; 995 mg potassium • Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (45% daily value), Folate (40% dv) • Carbohydrate Servings: 2 1/2 • Exchanges: 2 fat, 3 1/2 lean protein, 2 starch, 1/2 vegetable
January 2017 | HOMETOWN HERALD | 13
COMMUNITY NEWS
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COMMUNITY NEWS
January 2017 | HOMETOWN HERALD | 15
TENNIS NEWS
TENNIS NEWS from Jeff Dudacek, Director of Tennis Welcome to Winter Tennis 2017. Only in the south, it can be snowing, temperatures near freezing… but if it is match day, then the courts will be full. Playing during the day is better than making it up at night. I have seen water bottles freeze at night. Those are the matches that you ask yourself, “Why do I play winter tennis?” Mix-doubles We have 9 Alta Mixed Doubles Teams for the winter. They are the die-hards that play on Sundays at 1:00. If you can come down and watch you are in for a real treat. You will see all different styles of winter tennis gear. C5 Fields C3 Everson B8 Mancillas
B7 Hilderhoff B5 P. Foley B4 Egan
B2 Gibson B1 Perkins A5 Woody
Hamilton Mill Boys 14U team wins ALTA City Finals! Congratulations to our Hamilton Mill Juniors Boys team for making a hard earned trip to ALTA City Finals! The boys had an impressive season, finishing second in their division. Their playoff season was highlighted with an exciting semi-finals victory against the team that had beat them during the regular season. The boys success continued at City Finals where they brought home the top prize! Keep up the good work boys!
Pro-shop News New Hamilton Mill logo shirts, jackets, long sleeve shirts, visors and hats are available in the pro-shop. When you wear your Hamilton Mill logo clothes during the match, your opponents will never forget who beat them 6-0, 6-0. Winter Adult Tennis Activities (Weather permitting) Tuesday Night Adult Drills - 7:30-8:30pm; Cost $10.00 Join us Tuesday evenings for an hour of fast paced, high energy drills to help you improve your game. RSVP by 5pm Monday – you must have a reserved spot to attend. Friday Adult Drills-Friday 9:30am-10:30am; Cost $10.00 TGIF Drills! Work on your tennis skills to be ready for that next match. RSVP by 5pm Thursday – you must have a reserved spot to attend. Winter Tennis Activities and Classes for Adults and Juniors You must have a reserved spot to attend any activity. You can reserve a spot for any of these events from the Hamilton Mill Web Site Events Calendar or by contacting the Tennis Shop directly at 770-945-6452, or email milltennis@bellsouth.net. WINTER COURT UPDATE The courts and roll dries do not get the use like they do in the summer but the winter weather can be just as bad. All roll dries need to be hung up on the fence after use or they will develop a flat side. Again rollers are to be used for rolling off the top layer of water, not to dry the court. Do not press hard on the roller. Removing ice and snow on the courts with shovels and a heater will damage the courts. If your courts are not playable, do not move courts unless the shop is contacted for court availability. Snow or iced courts are treated like rain during league play. IMPORTANT ALTA DATES AND SPRING DEADLINES January 8th Winter Mix-Doubles starts on Sunday at 1:00 Spring Alta League Registration opens 1/1/17 and runs through 1/23/17.Remember that these are Alta deadlines not Hamilton Mill deadlines. Online booking is the only way to get picked for a team or transfer to another team.
Players (L-R): Chris Spengler, Noah Cunningham, Brendan Brannock, Kade Wells, Travis Shields, Ryan Kopanski, Jackson Maloney, Ben Cook (not pictured)
16 | HOMETOWN HERALD | January 2017
TENNIS TIPS
TENNIS TIPS How to P lay in the C old The Atlanta winters can be mild but the cold weather quickly creeps up and usually it happens on match day. Cold weather matches are tough for the players playing and for your team mates watching. Down in the south we do not have the luxury of indoor courts (according to league rules). If it is above 32 degrees, we have to play. Here are some tips to ensure the cold weather doesn’t affect your tennis game. Dress for success Playing tennis in 40 degrees as opposed to 90 degrees is definitely a change. Most importantly, you have to dress accordingly. Wear several thin layers of clothing so you can take off small amounts as you warm up. If you need to, wear a glove on your non-dominate hand because that is the hand that gets the coldest. Don’t forget the hand warmers! The winter sun sits lower in the sky, and it is more likely to be a bother. Sunglasses can help even if you are not used to wearing them. Restring your racket The pace of a ball is determined by several factors, including the bounce of the ball. With a diminished bounce in colder temps, the ball will naturally come off the racket slower, making it harder to generate more pace. Also, your hands are cold and you have too many layers. To offset that, I recommend stringing your racket 2-3 pounds lower in winter. This will generate more power on your shots. Streeeeeeetch it out If you only take away one thing from this tip, it must be this: be sure and stretch at home, before you get to the courts, and then stretch again before you get on the court. Our muscles take a lot longer to warm up in the cold, so it’s important to stretch them and get them warmed up before putting them through the rigors of a tennis match. If not done properly, you risk all sorts of muscle injuries, which could keep you off the courts for a long time.
Shots That Work in Cold Weather Without the sweltering summer heat and humidity, you’re more likely to make it through that third set and play longer rallies without feeling like you’re going to pass out. And while it’s important to keep in mind that the colder weather will have an impact on the way you play, it will also have an effect on the ball as well; the colder the weather is, the less bounce the ball will have. That being said, these are the three most effective shots you can play in cold weather: • Drop shots • Slice • Flat serves and slice serves While these are great tactics, you need to realize that your opponent can also use them against you. If that happens, you need to make sure you prepare early and get your racket back, starting your back swing a little lower than you normally would, and bending at the knees so you can really get down and under the ball. Move it or lose it In case your opponent uses the above shots against you, stay ready to move forward so you can get quickly get to those drop shots and short balls. Also, make sure to bring your racket back early for good preparation, and start your back swing a little lower than you normally would to adjust to the lower bounce. These are just a few quick tips that will help you compensate for the flatter balls this winter. So, layer up and get out on those courts… and win more winter matches!
See ya on the courts!
Peace Renewed Eagle Ranch offers a peaceful, stable environment to promote healing for children and their families. Boys and girls live in one of our 10 on-campus residential homes, gaining the space and time they need to work through their struggles. Families stay connected throughout their child’s time in our program. Our goal is renewal: restoring peace and unity in families for a more promising future.
E a g l E R a n c h . o R g
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SOCIAL COMMITTEE
IT’S THE PERFECT TIME TO JOIN THE SOCIAL COMMITTEE It’s the start of the new year and plans are being made quickly for social events in Hamilton Mill. Let’s get together and brain storm on January 10, 2017 at 6:30pm. We welcome new faces, new ideas and new volunteers! And coming soon… a Welcome Wagon and Hospitality team! If you are interested in joining us, email hmillevents@gmail.com for more information. We would love to have you!
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The New Signature of Assisted Living & Memory Care has arrived at Hamilton Mill! Drop in or schedule a private tour today to experience the finest senior living in the area.
3581 Braselton Hwy, Dacula, GA 30019 (770) 999-0421 • www.at-hamiltonmill.com
2016-0114 HM
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HEADLINE
Accounting Services Bookkeeping Services Business Tax Planning and Preparation
Business Consulting Payroll Services Setup and Maintain Accounting System
CONTACT US TODAY TO FIND OUT WHAT WE CAN DO FOR YOUR BUSINESS
(770) 727-0337 WWW.CFVACCTING.COM
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SWIM TEAM NEWS
HAMILTON MILL SWIM TEAM Gearing Up for the 2017 Season! The weather may be chilly, but summer will be here before you know it! The Hamilton Mill Swim Team Board is hard at work getting ready for a great 2017 season, and we have some important dates to share with you. Our team usually fills up quickly, so please note the relevant dates on your calendar if you’re interested in joining our neighborhood’s team. January 29-February 10 Preregistration for returning families. Families who swam with us during the 2016 season may register at this time, giving you the best chance of securing a place on the 2017 team. All preregistration will take place online at hamiltonmill.swimtopia.com. Fees will remain the same as last year: $165 for the 1st swimmer, $115 for the 2nd swimmer, $80 for the 3rd swimmer, and additional swimmers from the same family are free. Like last year, swimmers in the 15-18 age group will have the choice of FREE tuition or NO required adult volunteer shifts! ** Please remember that we have age group number caps in place to ensure that swimmers have a fair number of events in each meet. We highly encourage returning families to take advantage of preregistration. Sat., February 11 at 9 a.m. Informational meeting for new families in the Lakeview Clubhouse small meeting room. If you have children interested in joining the swim team and would like to learn more, this is a great opportunity to get all your questions answered before making a commitment to our team. Sat., February 11 at 9 -11 a.m. New swimmer registration and swimsuit try-ons. Registration can be completed in person or online at hamiltonmill.swimtopia.com. It is all done through the Swimtopia website, so registration can be completed at home or in person at the Lakeview Clubhouse if you have questions or prefer to pay with cash or check. Team suits will be available to try on at this event. The team suit is the same one that we used last year, so returning families do not need to purchase a new one if last year’s suit still fits. Fri., March 24 at 6:30-8:30 p.m. Back to the Pool Party and swim evaluations at Bogan Aquatic Center. Registered swimmers are invited to our kick-off party, and all new swimmers must complete one length of the pool at this event in order to join the team. Our coaches will be on deck to assist and evaluate swimmers. All swimmers are welcome and encouraged to come join the fun and reconnect with teammates! We are VERY excited about the 2017 swim season and look forward to seeing everyone at the pool! Have questions? Team information can be found at hamiltonmill.swimtopia.com as it becomes available. Or, email us at HMSTHammerheads@gmail.com. HMST 2017 Board
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HEADLINE
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KID’S CORNER
My New Year’s Resolutions This year I really want to: I really need to: I want to be better at: I want to learn how to:
The Year of the Rooster
Years of the Rooster:1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, and 2029 The Rooster's Personality: Observant and Hardworking Lucky numbers: 5, 7, and 8 Lucky colors: gold, brown, yellow
Signed:
Another Great New Year! ...At Your Children’s Dentist Visit Dr. Dave to help your child start the New Year out with a healthy smile! 770-744-4581 2119 Hamilton Creek Pkwy., Ste 200, Dacula, GA Next to Moe’s, across from Home Depot in Hamilton Mill
We look forward to seeing you soon.
Give us a call today!
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MeMber
EVENTS AROUND TOWN
Community News
HAPPENINGS IN & AROUND ATLANTA NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM
Friday, January 27 at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center | 5pm
FIRST FRIDAY CONCERT SERIES: THE LEGACY BAND
Friday, January 6 | 7pm | Norcross Arts and C ommunity Center
Join us for an evening of Rock and Old School R & B. It’s FREE! Reserve your table by calling 678-421-2048 as seating is limited. www. aplacetoimagine.com COSMIC CLIMBING
Friday, January 6, 13, 20 and 27 from 8:00pm to 10:00pm
Adrenaline Climbing now offers Atlanta’s first and only blacklit, techno climbing session. For safety, this session includes our professional climbing Guides, and for added value, your harness is FREE! Perfect for kids , teens, and adults. All this, and awesome dance music , are included for just $15. www.adrenalineclimbing.com
Ever wonder what happens at the museum after hours? Join us for a special drop-in festival titled Night @ the Museum and see how our exhibits come to life after dark. Participate In A Mystery Museum Tour, Listen To Historic Stories Around A Campfire, Explore The Only Sensoriumin In The Southeast, Conduct Magic Lab Experiments, Enjoy A Magic Show Inspired By Our Newest Exhibit “Abracadabra”. $8 Program Fee per person. EHC members and children ages 2 and under are free. gwinnettehc.org THE CHINESE LANTERN FESTIVAL
Now – January 15, 2017, Centennial Olympic Park
Centennial Olympic Park will be decorated with 25 handcrafted lanterns, a three-story pagoda, and a 200-foot-long Chinese dragon. All creations are constructed by artisans from China making the Park come alive each night. The festival also promises nightly entertainment featuring acrobatics, dancers, theatre, and more. Craftsmen will be present each night creating everything from edible sugar dragons to Chinese paintings. www.centennialpark.freshtix.com THE LITTLE MERMAID
MARK PITTS TRIBUTE TO ELVIS
1/12/2017 - 2/15/2017 at the Fox Theatre
Saturday, January 7 | 8pm
New Dawn Theater in Duluth proudly welcomes back Mark Pitts Tribute to Elvis for the “Birthday Concert”! www.newdawntheatercompany.com AURORA COMEDY NIGHTS: DAD’S DOES THE BURBS
January 13-14, 2017
This is what Dad’s Garage does best: fast-paced comedy scenes and games made up on the spot using your suggestions. If you’ve been to an improv show there, you know what we mean. If you haven’t, think of it as a Whose Line is it Anyway? type show starring the most talented improvisers in Atlanta. They’ll knock your socks off with a one-of-a-kind hilarious, interactive performance... so bring an extra pair as a back up. www.auroratheatre.com TROLLEY STOP CABARET: THERESA HIGHTOWEr
The Little Mermaid tells the musical story of Ariel, the little mermaid who is tired of flipping her fins and longs to be part of the fascinating world on dry land. Come join in her transformation and adventures! http://foxtheatre.org/ THE MUSIC OF DAVID BOWIE ACCOMPANIED BY THE ATLANTA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
1/20/2017 Atlanta Symphony Hall at Woodruff Arts Center
The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra pays tribute to the one and only David Bowie, this January – the anniversary of his passing. Join Conductor Brent Havens, vocalist Tony Vincent and a full rock band on a symphonic musical odyssey that explores the incredible range of David Bowie’s music including the hits Space Oddity, Changes, Under Pressure, Heroes, Rebel Rebel, Fame, China Girl and more! www.atlantasymphony.org
Saturday, January 21 in Stone Mountain | 8:15pm
Ms. Hightower is regarded as one of the great jazz and blues vocalists of her generation and is known as an Atlanta legend in the music industry. Doors open at 7:30 PM for drinks, sandwiches and desserts. First set begins at 8:15 pm. Second set begins at 9:15 pm. First come, first served. 770-469-1105 www.artstation.org/cabaret SONGWRITERS OPEN MIC HOSTED BY EDDIE OWEN
Sunday, January 8 and 22 | 5pm
The event takes place every 2nd & 4th Sunday night of the month starting at 5:00 PM in Duluth. It serves as a platform for local, national, touring, aspiring, and established singer-songwriters. www.eddieowenpresents.com
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