October 2007
Gwinnett Park Life 1
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Park Life Gwinnett
CONTENTS Volume 1 | Number 1 | October 2007
Cover Feature
Playing It Safe: Sports Injuries in Gwinnett PAGE > 8
Park Profile
Pinckneyville Park & Sports Complex PAGE >18
Compass Guide
Halloween in the Parks PAGE > 6
How-to Article
Tackling Sports Clutter PAGE > 27
In Every Issue
PAGE > 5 Compass Guide PAGE > 24 School Sports PAGE > 16 Sport Life PAGE > 30 In Focus
Where to Live & Play Near Great Parks PAGE > 25 Where to Eat After The Games PAGE > 28 October 2007
Gwinnett Park Life 3
From the Publisher At some point in our lives we all feel an urge, a need, a calling to do something for the greater good. I spent three years on the Gwinnett Parks Authority. I got to know the folks that make our parks great. The people that develop master plans, with citizen participation, for parks should be thanked. The staff and crews that take care of our passive parks, sports complexes, aquatic centers and recreational programs are some of the best in the southeast; they’re always looking to do the greater good. Visit a park. Get involved. Save some green space and give input to those that serve us. Our parks - passive or sports complexes - are the core of a community. Rico Figlioini, Publisher rico@gwinnettparklife.com
Contributor Highlight Heather Loveridge An avid equestrian for more than 20 years, writer Heather Loveridge has been fortunate enough not to have been injured from the sport. She and her husband have three horses and recently added a pony for their 3-year-old son. They love trail riding and camping in Georgia’s parks whenever they have the opportunity. When not riding, Heather spends her time writing and editing for various local and national publications. She has been writing about Gwinnett for the past six years.
Penny Duncan, a photographer, homemaker, wife and friend is thrilled to be a part of Gwinnett Park Life. This U.S. Navy veteran is a native of Peoria, Illinois, but has called Gwinnett County her home since 1993. She suffers from over-volunteerism and obsessive penny pinching. A member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she loves her role as wife and mother best. Penny studied photography at Illinois Central College and started Penny Pix Photography in 2003. Please drop in and view her online gallery at www.PennyPix.net, You may see someone you know!
Have comments about this article? Email Heather at heather@gwinnettparklife.com.
Cover Photo We would like to thank the The cover photo are the children following people for their great of two featured help, advice, and kind words: doctors in “PlayDiane Clausen, Shari Donaing it Safe.” Ryan tell, Tammy Gibson, Koelling Quisling (football Borneman, Sharon Plunkett, player) and Al Viller, Scott Walch, Charles Michael Morris, Jr. (doctor). Casey Coffey, Mark Ogden, the guys at Gwinnett Sports Photo credit: Penny Pix Commission Photogrpahy
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Park Life Gwinnett
Rico Figliolni PUBLISHER AND EXECUTIVE EDITOR FEATURE WRITER Heather Loveridge CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Mark McGovern Penny Pix Photography ADVERTISING Dan Knutson MAILING ADDRESS Gwinnett Park Life P. O. Box 923296 Norcross, GA 30010-3296 EDITORIAL SUBMISSIONS FOR STORIES, NEWS, EVENTS AND LISTINGS editor@gwinnettparklife.com events@gwinnettparklife.com PARK PHOTOS ARE ALWAYS WELCOMED greatparkphotos@gwinnettparklife.com Please include a caption, when taken, park location, one line description and photo credit. RETAIL To display and make available Gwinnett Park Life magazine in your store or offices please email rico@gwinnettparklife.com Please visit us online at
www.gwinnettparklife.com Copyright 2007 Figliolini Holdlings LLC. All rights reserved. Gwinnett Park Life (GPL) is published 10 times per year. We reserve the right to refuse any advertisement we deem inappropriate for our publication. We make no warranties on any suggestions, recommendations or other advise in our editorial content.
Farm Fest October 27
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Visit McDaniel Farm Park and step back into time at the annual Farm Fest event. See live farm animals and enjoy hayrides, music, food, crafts, demonstrations of blacksmithing and quilting and more. Admission is $3 per person payable at the door, 3-under get in free. Call 770-814-4920. McDaniel Farm Park is located at 3251 McDaniel Rd. in Duluth
Shorty Howell Line Dance-a-thon October 27
6 p.m. – midnight. Come join us for an evening filled with line dancing at Shorty Howell Park Activity Building! Bring a snack to share, drinks will be provided. Early registration is $5 per person. Price increases to $8 after 10/20. Call 770-814-4914. Shorty Howell Park Activity Building is located at 2750 Pleasant Hill Rd. in Duluth.
Schools Out Fun Day (Student’s Holiday) October 15
9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Spend an actionpacked day discovering new things and having an adventure at Rhodes Jordan Park Community Center! Bring a lunch and a snack. Pre-registration required by 10/10. Ages 6 – 12. Cost is $20. Register early as space is limited! No cell phones or electronic games allowed. Call 770-822-5414. Rhodes Jordan Park Community Center is located at 100 E. Crogan St. in Lawrenceville.
Harvest Moon Ball October 12
7 – 10 p.m. Come on out to Prime Timers Pointe at George Pierce Park Community Center and kick up your heels with the band Capital City Xpress. Ages 50-up. Admission is $5. Call 770-831-4173. George Pierce Park is located at 55 Buford Hwy. in Suwanee.
Compass Guide Snellville Fall Carnival October 27
6pm-9pm FREE Hayride & Costume Contest. Games, food and fun for the entire family. T.W. Briscoe Park For more information visit www.snellville.org or call 770-985-3535
34th Annual Lilburn Daze
Eco-Explorer October 20
1pm - 4 pm Admission: $9/girl, Min.15/Max.50 Introduce your own Brownies to ecology and how plants and animals live together in the environment. Learn how to explore the nature around you. Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center Sabrina Jones : 678-420-6870 www.gwinnettEHC.com
October 13
Murder Mystery Dinner
2nd Annual Women’s 50K Tennis Classic
6 – 9:30 p.m. The Parkview High School Drama Club will have you guessing “who dunnit?” until the very end! Join us at the Mountain Park Activity Building for dinner and the show. Ages 18-up. Pre-register by 10/19. Cost is $20 per person or $30 per couple. Space is limited, so sign up early! Call 770-564-3060. The Mountain Park Activity Building is located at 1063 Rockbridge Rd. in Stone Mountain.
9am-5pm / FREE Lilburn City Park Call for more info 770-921-2210 The festival features more than 200 booths for arts and crafts, numerous food concessions, a children’s area, entertainment, exhibits on community organizations and services as well as a health fair.
October 14 October 21
Visit event website for times each day Adm: FREE www.gcvb.org/tennis Collins Hill Athletic Club 770-814-6052 USTA Pro Circuit Event. Over 60 professional women tennis players, some in the top 100 WTA rankings, will compete for $50,000 in prize money. Come out for the “Community Tennis Festival” on Saturday, October 20th for tennis contests and games, raffles, autographs, interactive games, food and much more.
Oct. 27
Flapjack Fly-Ins! August 4 December 1
Breakfast 8am-10:30am / Program 10:30am Briscoe Field / Lawrenceville 770-394-5466 Admission: please call or go online for admission. Pancake breakfast and an Aviation Program. www.eaa690.org
Send Your Event, Program and News Happening at County or
BE HERE TOO City Parks to events@gwinnettparklife.com
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Halloween in and throughout the Parks Gwinnett $12 adults / $9 children It’s a 90-minute walking tour of some of Lawrenceville, GA’s most interesting places and the stories behind its most bizarre events, hauntingly told with the charm and personality of a real southern storyteller.
22nd Annual Tour of Southern Ghosts October 12 October 28
Halloween Costume Carnival and Haunted Hall October 19
7 – 9 p.m. This fun carnival (pictured above) will have prizes for the best family costume, the funniest, the scariest and more! Buy tickets early as they sell out fast! Cost is $10 for a family of four, plus $3 for each additional person age 4-up. Call 770-4172200. Pinckneyville Park Community Center is located at 4650 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. in Norcross.
Hairy Halloween October 27
6 – 9 p.m. Enter your pet in this annual and fun pet parade. A snake was our surprise guest last year! Prizes awarded for pet/owner look-alike, funniest costume, scariest and more! Pre-register by 10/15. Cost is $5 per pet. Call 770-417-2200. Pinckneyville Park Community Center is
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located at 4650 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. in Norcross.
5th Annual Pumpkin Festival October 5 October 28
Fri 10am-6pm Sat 10am - 7pm, Sun 10am - 6pm Stone Mountain Park at Crossroads For more information visit www. stonemountainpark.com or call 770-498-5690 Admission: $8 vehicle fee Enjoy the games, food and of course pumpkins.
Ghost Tours Now until December 22
Fri & Sat 8:30pm Lawrenceville, Aurora Theatre For more information visit www.scarystroll.com or call 678-407-6690
Fri & Sat 7pm-9:30pm Sun 7pm - 9pm Stone Mountain Park Learn more about the Southern ghost history at this annual affair. Admission: $8 vehicle fee / $10 adults / $5 children. For more information visit www.stonemountainpark.com or call 770-498-5690
New London Theatre Presents “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” October 19 November 4
Fri & Sat - 7:30pm Sun - 2:30pm South Gwinnett High School - Snellville. $10 advance / $12 door For more information visit www. newlondontheatre.org or call 770979-3691
Halloween on the Green / Flicks on the Bricks October 27
Movie “Monster House” Starts at dusk Duluth on the Town Green Visit www.duluthga.net for more information or call 770-476-3434 Admission is FREE
Trek or Treat October 27
Starts 11am FREE Suwanee Creek Park For more information call 770-945-8996 or visit www.suwanee.com
7th Annual Sugar Hill Fall Festival October 20th
11AM - 6 PM E.E. Robinson Park Rain or Shine • There will be a variety of things going on including: a Car Show, Chili CookOff, Infflatable rides, Live Entertainment, Animal Adventure Petting Zoo, Arts & Crafts Vendors, Sugar Maple 5K Race (October 19, 2007 at 6 PM) and Great Tasty Foods. For more information visit www.cityofsugarhill.com or call 770-831-7413
Halloween Hikes
At the Chattahoochee Nature Center Minutes from Gwinnett County Parents love to return to this annual event at the Chattahoochee Nature Center every year with their youngsters. Some of them came here as children themselves and recall that this was one of the most exciting things they remembered from their own childhood! If you are looking a safe adventure that’s fun for the entire family, then get your costume on for the Chattahoochee Nature Center’s annual Halloween Hikes; October 19, 20, 26 and 27 from 7:00 - 10:00 PM. This non-scary Halloween alternative will thrill and delight you. You’ll experience the mystery of guided night hikes as you walk through the lighted Nature Center trails and meet friendly forest creatures with a tale to tell. For more information, call the Nature Center at 770-992-2055 ext 236 or send a message to r.gilbert@chattnaturecenter.com
Rhodes Jordan Park Community Center
Annual Mother/Son Halloween Dance 6 – 9 p.m. Moms...grab your sons and a costume and join us for this spooky dance at Rhodes Jordan Park Community Center! Dancing, games, prizes, snacks and a commemorative keepsake photo are all a part of this fun event. Ages 3-up. Costumes are required to enter the dance! Pre-registration required by 10/22. Call 770822-5414 for more information. Rhodes Jordan Park Community Center is located at 100 E. Crogan St. in Lawrenceville.
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Cover Feature
PLAYING IT SAFE Youth Sports Injuries in Gwinnett
Written by Heather Loveridge | Photos by Penny Pix Photography
It was a normal day in the weight room for Greater Atlanta Christian School freshman Blake Southerland. He was coming off a successful football season, free of any major injuries. While doing some squats though, he felt his knee lock up. Little did he know on that January day two years ago that his sports career was going to be temporarily put on hold. A trip to the doctor revealed he had osteochondritis dissecans – a condition resulting from a loss of blood supply to an area of bone beneath the surface of a joint. Osteochondritis occurs most often in teenage and young adult men, according to the Mayo clinic. Causes are unknown but most doctors believe certain factors contribute to the condition such as repetitive trauma to the joint, commonly from playing certain sports. Hundreds of youths like Southerland sit in doctors’ offices every day 8 Gwinnett Park Life
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with sport-related injuries. More than 30 million U.S. children and teens compete in an organized sport and more than 3.5 million injuries are reported each year, according to the National SAFE KIDS Campaign and the American Academy of Pediatrics. As a result, the field of sports medicine has drastically grown over the past 20 years or so. Here in youth sportssaturated Gwinnett, finding a good sports medicine practice, orthopaedic surgeon, physical therapist or even athletic trainer is as easy as asking a fellow sports parent for a referral. Southerland turned to Dr. Michael Morris of Resurgens Orthopaedics, the team physician for Greater Atlanta Christian Schools. The Lawrencevillebased doctor took x-rays, ordered an MRI, diagnosed the condition and told Southerland he’d have to have surgery
Above: Greater Atlanta Christian School football player Blake Southerland (inset) proves he’s not slowed down since his knee surgery, even with a broken hand, as this shot from a September game against Greene County High School shows. Inset Photo by Martin Photography
to correct the condition. It was a hard blow for an athlete who had been playing football since he was 9 years old. He would be off his feet for two months and then spend the next six months ramping back up to full speed. Southerland was shocked at the diagnosis – he had no idea his injury was so severe. “I can be empathetic to the kids I see because I went through those same emotions as a high school senior – the anger and the frustration,” Morris said. “I was knocked out of my senior year in high school because of a bad car ac-
cident. I was a football, basketball and baseball player and I missed two out of the three seasons. I’m able to share that with them sometimes and tell them, ‘Look, life goes on. I know this is hurtful to you, but God’s got a plan and he had a plan for me and you can use this to grow from.’”
Trends among Gwinnett athletes
Orthopaedic surgeons like Morris and his colleague Dr. Scott Quisling have dedicated their lives to helping October 2007
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Resurgens Orthopaedics Dr. Scott Quisling His father and grandfather were physicians. In fact, almost everyone on his father’s side of the family was a physician. So it seemed inevitable that Scott Quisling would continue the family tradition, but with a slight twist. An avid baseball and basketball player, he decided to combine his love of sports with his desire to become a doctor. After graduating high school, he went to college at the University of Florida and then graduated from the UF College of Medicine as an orthopaedic surgeon. In 1994, Quisling moved to Atlanta for a residency with Georgia Baptist Medical Center. Once he was finished there he headed west. “My wife and I traveled to Lake Tahoe for my sports medicine fellowship at Lake Tahoe Orthopaedic Institute after I finished my residency,” Quisling said. “We left all family and friends behind and escaped to this mountain community. It was so different from where we had grown up, with its breathtaking scenery and small town charm. It was a very special time in our lives and I am very glad we went.” Afterward, they came back to Georgia, and in 2000, he began practicing in Gwinnett. “I have been busy since the day I arrived [in Gwinnett] and have worked hard to provide the best orthopedic care I am capable of for that same time period,” Quisling said. “I am proud of all of the patients I have helped, not just the high school athletes but all who suffer orthopedic injuries. However, returning an athlete to play is a very special reward as well. Helping them overcome these various obstacles is very gratifying, whether it be fixing a broken angle, a knee ligament that’s torn or a shoulder that keeps dislocating.” Keeping with family tradition, Quisling married a doctor. His wife Yvette is a pediatrician with Gwinnett Pediatrics. They have three sons: Ryan, 7, Matthew, 6, and Parker, 4. Quisling enjoys spending his free time coaching his sons’ athletic teams. He’s secretly hoping that at least one of them attends the University of Florida!
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people. Along with their full-time jobs as surgeons, the two also are team doctors for Peachtree Ridge High School. They donate their time to the school, attend games, give physicals, are on call for injured players, help coaches rehabilitate players and more. “They’ve been a tremendous asset to us not only from their professional expertise but also from the fact that they’re in our community,” said Bill Holleman, director of athletics at Peachtree Ridge High School. “They’ve given a phenomenal amount of time and dedication to our students and coaches – they’re on call for any athletic event we have.” According to Morris and Quisling, knee and shoulder injuries are the most common among athletes. But they’ve also noticed an alarming occurrence of elbow injuries in baseball players. “We’re seeing an epidemic of elbow injuries in young throwing athletes,” Morris said. “Now kids are getting the Tommy Johns surgery at 14 and 15 years old and five years ago it was never heard of at that
age. Kids are throwing too many hard pitches at too young of an age, and they’re really just destroying their elbows at unheard of ages.” Named after a lefthander that played in the majors, the Tommy Johns surgery (ulner collateral ligament replacement surgery) is a reconstruction of elbow ligaments using a tendon from the forearm. Dr. Yvonne Satterwhite, of Premier Orthopaedics in Suwanee, said most overuse injuries such as the aforementioned elbow injuries result from trauma to the
Resurgens Orthopaedics Dr. Michael Morris In a roundabout way, Dr. Michael Morris owes his career to a car wreck. As a senior in high school, he was injured in a serious accident. He broke his pelvis, dislocated his hip and had multiple facial injuries. The crash sidelined the teenage athlete for two out of three seasons but it also piqued his interest in medicine. After seeing the impact the orthopaedic surgeon and plastic surgeon had on his recovery, coupled with his love of math and science, Morris realized becoming a doctor seemed like the best career move. After graduation, the native Georgian attended the University of Alabama School of Medicine, then completed his residency at Georgia Baptist Medical Center. In 1996, he went into practice in Gwinnett with Resurgens Orthopaedics, working out of the Lawrenceville office. Along with seeing his daily patients, Morris also is the team physician for Peachtree Ridge High School and Greater Atlanta Christian School. In 2005, he helped form Good Samaritan Health Center of Gwinnett, a Christian-based primary care clinic, and has been serving on the executive committee and board since. “It’s just unbelievably rewarding,” Morris said about his profession. “You get a return on your investment every day. I start out with a problem, with someone in a lot of pain or injured, and I help get them to the goal of recovery.” But Morris is also focused on maintaining a balance between family and work life. He and his wife Carol have three children: Mallory, 9, Michael, 7 and Mary Caroline (better known as Peanut), 4. In 2003, Morris was offered the position of team medical consultant to the Atlanta Falcons but after realizing the position cut too much into his family life, he relinquished it.
Dr. Satterwhite
growth plate. “There are two kinds of growth plates: the physis that truly makes you taller and then
“I want to leave a legacy with my family and community and make an impact for the kingdom of God, not only ministering through my practice but also in the short-term missions trips I do,” Morris said.
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Advanced Sports Medicine Dr. John Buchanan He’s been a movie extra, a college baseball player and a flight surgeon. These days, Dr. John Buchanan spends his time treating patients at his practice, Advantage Sports Medicine in the Braselton Clinic. A native of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Buchanan moved around a bit before landing in Gwinnett. He started his medical education at Mercer University in Macon where he played four years of Division I baseball. From there he went to Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, graduating in 1994 with top honors. Since he was on a military scholarship, he interned at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. and then worked as a flight surgeon at William Beaumont Army Medical Center/Ft. Bliss in El Paso, Texas for four years. After finishing his military duties, he then completed a family medicine residency in Birmingham at UAB and a sports medicine fellowship at Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. He decided to practice in Wisconsin, but after two years grew tired of the cold weather and headed south to Gwinnett. Now in his fourth year at Advantage Sports, Buchanan has become well loved and respected by his patients and the young athletes he treats through his volunteer work as a team doctor for Mill Creek High School, Buford High School, Winder Barrow High School and Apalachee High School. He also teaches medical students at the Georgia Campus – Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Suwanee. “It’s very rewarding to me to treat a patient for an injury and later watch them succeed in their sport,” Buchanan said. “My proudest accomplishment is just being a physician and helping people, especially the kids.” Buchanan and his wife Sherri, who is a family nurse practitioner, have two children: 7-year-old Kylie and 5-year-old Jackson. His kids get a kick out of the fact that their dad was in a movie. In 1988, Buchanan had a brief appearance as a physician in the movie Cocoon: The Return, starring Don Ameche and Courtney Cox. 12 Gwinnett Park Life
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there’s the apophysis that is a growth plate to which tendons attach. This is the one we see the overuse injuries to the most,” Satterwhite said. “If someone’s having severe symptoms and they continue to participate in their sport without restrictions, then they can, of course, just pull those little growth plate bones right off and end up having to have them fixed with screws.” Satterwhite is the team doctor for Providence Christian Academy, Mount Pisgah Christian School and Rabun County High School and works with Sharon Springs Park’s recreation division. She has also been the U.S. team physician for the Olympic downhill alpine ski team. Also a concern is the increasing number of female sports injuries since the Title IX inclusion rule. “The trend I’ve noticed, that I think people have noticed nationwide, is that we’ve seen an increase in the number of female athletes with ACL tears,” said Dr. Scott Quisling. “Specifically basketball and soccer seem to be the two big-
gest sports that have these types of injuries.” When working with these types of injuries, Scott McInturff, a physical therapist and certified athletic trainer at the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Sports Medicine Program at Snellville, uses a relatively new technology called Dartfish. A digital video software, Dartfish allows McInturff to video patients in the middle of action and then highlights biomechanical patterns with angles, measurements and by drawing shapes. “In the ACL prevention program, we use the technology of Dartfish to look at their landing and jumping mechanics and then give them a visual cue of ‘Okay, see how your knees are pointing inward?’” McInturff said.
Too much of a good thing?
Medical professionals across the board are concerned with the prevalence of overuse injuries in today’s youth, even among those as young as t-ball players. “’There is no doubt in my mind that I see more chronic or over use injuries today than I did five years ago,” said Tim Simmons, a board certified, statelicensed athletic trainer with Gwinnett Sports Medicine Clinics, a service of Gwinnett Medical Center. “People today, especially younger athletes, are pushed harder and for longer periods of time without adequate time off. Not only are these kids poorly conditioned but they literally play
year round. The problem is that most of these kids are still physically immature both muscularly and skeletally. These are the main two ingredients that predispose them to overuse injuries and even possibly injuries that would end their careers.” There also are physiological factors that come into play with a sports injury. Children are still developing their self esteem, their identity and their relationships and can have trouble understanding losing and winning. “I’ll see some children that are faking their injury or blowing it out of proportion – they are burnt out. They’re practicing six days a week, the coaches are putting a lot of pressure on them and the parents are putting a lot of pressure on them,” said Dr. John Buchanan of Advantage Sports Medicine in Braselton who also is the team physician for Mill Creek High School, as well Below: Tim Simmons, an athletic trainer with Gwinnett Sports Medicine Clinics, wraps a patient’s hand.
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as Barrow County schools and Buford High School. “The reasons why they’re doing that may be varied. They need a break but they don’t want to let their parents down or their coaches down – that’s an easy way out”, he said. “Second thing is they just don’t want to participate in the sport at all. They don’t like it but they can’t bring themselves to tell people. And the third thing is sometimes they want an excuse.” Buchanan takes that same philosophy to the sports teams under his care. At Mill Creek High School, coaches there know that he puts the kids’ well being above everything else. “He comes by the practices two, sometimes even three times a week just to check on the players. He puts many hours in our program,” said Shannon Jarvis, football coach for Mill Creek High School. “The best part is he’s pretty fair with the kids. There are some injuries he knows they can play through but when he says a kid needs to be out two weeks, I know that kid needs to be out two weeks.” So how can parents help their child’s doctor do his job better? First of all, listen, talk and watch. Know what’s going on with your child. Attend practice once in a while. Second, don’t ignore an injury. If a child injures a limb, don’t just automatically assume that because they can move it it’s okay. There can be interior fractures or tears that are not apparent. Third, encourage your child to cross train and not specialize in one sport. For Southerland, the ending was a 14 Gwinnett Park Life
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happy one. After going through rehabilitation, he was able to start football practice again and played his first football game the November following his February surgery. These days, the 17 year old is a junior linebacker and fullback for Greater Atlanta. He’s hoping to follow in his brother Brannan’s footsteps, who’s currently a fullback for the University of Georgia. Thanks to doctors like Morris, Southerland’s football career looks as bright as ever. w
Gwinnett’s Senior Clubs meet as follows:
Lawrenceville Fun Time Club Gwinnett Senior Center at Bethesda Park 1st Fri. of ea. month, 11:30 a.m. Suwanee Goodtimers Prime Timers Pointe at George Pierce Park 2nd Tues. of ea. month, 11 a.m. Shorty Howell Hi-Steppers Shorty Howell Park Activity Building 1st Thurs. of ea. month, 11 a.m. Get Up & Go Rhodes Jordan Park Community Center 2nd Tues. of ea. month, 11:30 a.m. Bogan Gold Wing Bogan Park Community Center 2nd Wed. of ea. month, 11 a.m. Evergreen Mountain Park Activity Building 4th Tues. of ea. month, 11:30 a.m. Mountain Drifters Mountain Park Activity Building 2nd Thurs. of ea. month, 11:30 a.m. Dacula Rainbow Dacula Park Activity Building 1st Tues. of ea. month, 11:30 a.m. Good Age Pinckneyville Park Community Center 1st Tues. of ea. month, 11:30 a.m. Best Friend Club Gwinnett Senior Center at Bethesda Park 2nd Thurs. of ea. month, 11:30 a.m
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Sport Life
Fall 10U North Gwinnett Boys Beat East Cobb to win Tournament in LaGrange, GA The fall 10U North Gwinnett travel ball team won a tournament in LaGrange, Georgia. The team went 4-0 and beat East Cobb in the championship game. The team players are Trevor Austin, John Paul Baselj, Riley Burns, Connor Darling, Michael Germano, Matt Hausser, Tanner Hanes, Justice Leonardo, Taylor Mills, Carson Southard, Sammy Strausser, Kyle Stanford, and Stephen Wise. The team’s head coach is Greg Singleton, and assistant coaches are Neil Burns, David Darling, and Daniel Szathmary. Source: http://www.ngbsa.org/
Peachtree Ridge Youth Athletic Association
INSPIRE Flag Football and Cheerleading PRYAA Opening Day for INSPIRE families will be November 23rd. This will be the 2nd year that the Association has run the Flag Football and Cheerleading Program for those with special needs. They started registration in September, but the new Peachtree Ridge Park has had several delays. Targeting an open date has been difficult. The park itself will be phased into completion over the next year. PRYAA has started fundraising with “Brick the Den” campaign, selling bricks with custom engraving for only $100. To find out more about the new Adapted Sports field, the master plan and PRYAA’s different sports programs, visit www.pryaa.com. Send Your Athletic League & Sports Stories and Pictures
BE HERE TOO to sports@gwinnettparklife.com 16 Gwinnett Park Life
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Duluth Youth Assoc.
Basketball DYBA Recreation Basketball League 2007-2008 Season For more information, visit www.duluthyouth.com. InPerson Registration takes place the following dates: Saturday, October 6th 1:00 till 3:00p Saturday, October 13th 1:00 till 3:00p Wednesday, October 17th 6:00 till 8:00p Saturday, October 27th 1:00 till 3:00p Location: Bunten Road Park Gym Peachtree Corners Baptist Church
From Adult Basketball to T-Ball PCBC Sports had over 100 children in the Fall 2007 Youth Soccer program with ages from 4-11 (3 age divisions). They have Youth Basketball - ages 7 - 12 - Boys and Girls Leagues running now. But Mens Basketball League - Ages 20 and up registration begins November 1st - November 30th. Cost: $60 Games played January - March on Saturday nights. PCBC will have approx 8 teams - register early to get placed on a team. Registration for Spring T-Ball League and Middle School Girls Volleyball begins January and February respectively. Call Tammy Love at 770-582-7665 or Kim Hagan at 770-582-7669
Corporate Challenge Raises $18,600 for Recreation Scholarships This year’s 8th annual Gwinnett Corporate Challenge was a fun and rewarding success once again with Lloyd-Bennett Professional Services Group returning this year as the Corporate Challenge’s title sponsor, along with other major supporters. The competition began on Sept. 9 and ran through Sept. 21. This year 17 companies competed in fun picnic games, golf, kickball, rock climbing, tennis, trivia, bowling, a 5K run, team building exercises, table tennis, laser tag, and sand volleyball, and raised $18,600. “Teams really love to go for their gold medals each year,” said Tammy Gibson, Marketing Coordinator for Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation. “It’s really great to see them having fun competing against one another, all for a great cause. Even though we just completed the Challenge this year, the teams are already planning for next year. Even smaller companies can get involved next year by combining with another company; we had two teams do that this year.” Monies raised from the Gwinnett Corporate Challenge go toward recreation scholarships that allow children, and now even senior citizens, to participate in summer camps, swim lessons, and other recreation classes who may not have been financially able to do so. Tiffany Sanders found out about the recreation scholarships last year and was able to enroll her two children, Christopher (7) and Hannah (2), in a summer day camp and the “Moving Tots” program offered by Gwinnett County Parks & Recreation. Without the scholarship money, both children would not have been able to attend. Christopher said the best thing about being able to attend the
Above: BravePoint, developer of technological applications, took first place in Division B (1-99 employees) of the Gwinnett Corporate Challenge. Additional photo of WIKI, Division A First Place is on the Focus Page (page 31).
summer day camps was “playing neat games like bulldog-chicken in the gymnasium and making friends – it was really fun!” The teams are already gearing up for next year’s Corporate
Challenge. Those interested in getting involved in the Corporate Challenge can get in on the early-bird special at a reduced rate. For more information, call 770-822-8840.
2007 ADventure Ad
Run For The River 5K Run Saturday, October 27, 2007 - 8:00 a.m. Race Start The race proceeds will benefit the Upper Chattahoochee Chapter of Trout Unlimited, keeping the river clean for consumption and accessible for recreation. The new nostalgic loop course in Downtown Historic Buford, GA will run through the city’s eclectic dining and shopping district, past the famed Bona Allen Mansion and ending at the Tannery Rows arts center. Race headquarters (parking, start/finish and post-race Expo) will be located at 554 W. Main Street, Buford, GA 30518. The 2007 ADventure Advertising Run for the River 5K will feature a USA Track & Field-certified course (course # GA07017WC) and state-of-the-art AMB chip-timing system, providing runners with fast, accurate results. You’ll love this system; it’s been used at past Tour De Georgia bike races and 2007 Lance Armstrong Foundation LIVE STRONG running event series.
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Park Profile
Pinckneyville Sports Complex Pinckneyville Park:
4707 S Old Peachtree Rd, Norcross, GA 30071
Description Acres: 35 acres
This park features: n 5 lighted soccer fields n a concession building with restrooms n 1.1-mile paved multi-purpose trail n picnic pavilion n two playgrounds n two ponds n several picnic spots n A walking trail connects to the Pinckneyville Community Center.
Source: GwinnettParks.com
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In 1973 one quote coming out of surveys and research would highlight the key strategy that Gwinnett County would implement over the last few decades : “The larger the county grows, the more its citizens will need and seek open space. Today’s open space will be tomorrow’s subdivision or shopping cener if Gwinnet fails to acquire land now. The projected growth in the county indicates the need for planning, acquiring and preserving open space today.” That insight helped drive the acquisition and preservation of passive park land. But, in addition the county developed active parks with baseball , soccer and football fields to meet the demand of families moving to the county. Development of a community center at Pinckneyville Park was one of several recommendations that came out of the 1996 Comprehensive Master Plan developed by the Parks Department. The original community center was on Holcomb Bridge Road near the Chattahochee river and was outgrowing the 70s built facility. County voters also approved a Special Purpose Local Option Sale Tax (SPLOST) in the fall of 1996 that included millions of dollars for additional land acquisition and park development. SPLOST has continued to help meet the growing need for more passive parks and sports complexes. The county’s first free skate plaza and outdoor hockey rink was at Pinckneyville Park. Eventually a 3 acre enclosed dog park was added to Pinckneyville becoming the third one in the county. You’ll find families, business people and seniors all sharing the park for a wide variety of reasons. American Boot Camp Company makes their home there and could be found at 5:45am doing their outdoor fitness bootcamp program. They also run a mid-morning bootcamp. Youth leagues make their home at Pinckneyville and have helped develop the fields by funding field lighting, and creating sports programs that attract families to the parks.
NSA Shooting Stars 2007 Soccer Photos Courtesy of Norcross Soccer Academy
Norcross Soccer Academy, a unique soccer experience in Gwinnett
Georgia has the 12th highest rate of overweight children (ages 10-17) in the nation at 16.4 percent, according to a new Trust for America’s Health report. That has many parents looking to get their kids involved in something physical and fun. Parents of very young children find it difficult to find a sport that’s appropriate for them. Soccer is a fun sport that is quickly growing in popularity among kids of all ages, and Norcross Soccer Academy (NSA) offers a variety of programs designed for both the recreational and competitive athlete as well as the
preschooler, all in an environment that nurtures the overall physical well-being of each participant. NSA, operating since 1982, is raising the bar for youth soccer programs by placing good nutrition and healthy habits - in addition to physical fitness - at the heart of a child’s soccer experience. It’s also important that an organized sports program not only get kids active but provide some life lessons as well. For example, Ryan White began playing soccer at NSA in 1987 when he was 5. Now, 26, he owns Tripod Median, his own production company, and is working on a documentary film called “The Soccer Project.” “More than just soccer, I think my experience at NSA taught me some valuable life lessons,” said Ryan. “I learned the value of teamwork, which October 2007
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selected the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Sports Medicine Program to provide Athletic Trainer Coverage for its 2007 season. NSA’s home field is the Pinckneyville Park Soccer Complex, located off Peachtree Industrial Boulevard at 4707 South Old Peachtree Road, which features five full-size, fully-lit playing fields, concession facilities, playgrounds, and walking trails. For more
91 Norcross Fury (under 16 girls’ select team) Disney Soccer Showcase 2007 Champions.
has paid off in the classroom as well as in the professional world.” NSA’s programs are inspired by the vision and direction of Executive Director of Coaching, Tony Annan. With his playing and coaching experience as well his educational background in nutrition, Tony reinforces NSA’s unique approach to complete physical and educational training. “We pride ourselves on applying a more holistic approach to youth soccer,” explained Tony. “We look at the complete player, and our programs offer something for every level, beginning with Shooting Stars for preschoolers, recreational soccer for the leisure-time player, and select soccer for the more competitive player. This structure offers a logical progression for those who are interested. However, some kids are happy to compete in our recreation league for their entire soccer experience. We meet the needs of both athletes.” Run as a primarily volunteer-based non-profit organization, NSA also has professional-level coaches from all over the world. NSA has also recently 20 Gwinnett Park Life
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Norcross Soccer Academy
Fast Facts
n Established: 1982 n Non-profit: registered as 501(c)(3) organization n Number of Teams: 68 Recreation, 33 Select n Number of Players: 628 Recreation, 447 Select n Free weekly clinics offered to members n Free clinics provided to parent recreational coaches n Worth Noting: NSA is home to Georgia Soccer‘s Girls’ Coach of the Year and Gwinnett AAAAA Girl’s Soccer Coach of the Year n Norcross Nike Cup 2007 Tournament: December 1 & 2, deadline to apply: November 6 n Spring Registration begins: December 2007 n website: www.nsafury.org
information, visit NSA’s website at www.nsafury.org or call 770-840-9275.
Pinckneyville Park Youth Baseball and Softball
The Norcross youth baseball and softball programs have been providing quality programs for children ages
5 to 18 for over 30 years. The volunteer organization serves over 900 families in the greater Norcross area. For the spring 2007 season, the park was home to 96 teams and 903 players. The goal oriented programs are designed to meet the following needs: • Foster a sense of fellowship between families from our community • Provide a pleasant environment for our children to learn the life lessons associated with sports and sportsmanship • Provide competitive athletic programs to develop the skills associated with baseball and softball These goals are accomplished thanks to the help and support of dozens of unpaid volunteers. The league is always looking for volunteers. They need managers, coaches, team parents and people that would be interested in helping run the league. You can indicate your interest on either the online or in-person registration form. If you want to manage or coach a team, you
Pinckneyville Park: 4707 S Old Peachtree Rd, Norcross, GA 30071
Description Acres: 58 acres
This park features: n seven baseball fields n softball complex n concession buildings and restrooms n 1.1-mile paved multi-purpose trail n family pavilion n four playgrounds n pond n dog park area (under 3 acres) n roller hockey rink and free-skate area In addition, the Medlock Pavilion, the only one of its kind in the Gwinnett County park system, is a 5,000-square-foot covered event facility with a catering kitchen and 300-500 guest capacity. General, Program and Rentals (except Medlock Pavilion): 770.417.2200 Medlock Pavilion Rentals Info: 770.814.4914 Adult Athletics Information: 770.822.5149 Youth Athletics Information: 770.417.2212 Source: GwinnettParks.com
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will also need to fill out an application form which is available on the website. Baseball and Softball recreation leagues are broken in five age groups: T-ball ages 5-6, Pee-wee ages 7-8, Minor ages 9-10, Major ages 11-12, and Pony (Junior) ages 13-14. The association fields one travel baseball team in each of the following age groups 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. Travel softball is broken into two-year increments of 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 and under teams. Spring 2007 registration is right around the corner beginning in January followed by player evaluations in early February. After evaluations, teams are drafted and practices begin in mid February. The regular season begins in mid March and the park shuts down for spring break (public school). The season winds down with league tournaments by the end of May. Dixie Youth All-star teams are nominated and selected based on player performances during the season and the district tournament is played in early June. They strongly recommend that you 22 Gwinnett Park Life
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register online instead of in-person. The association has a new and improved on-line registration system that makes the registration process quicker for returning players (even if you did not register online in the past). They are also allowing payment by personal check online for those that do not want to pay using either Visa or Master Card. For those unable to register online in-person registration is held at Pinckneyville Baseball Softball Complex (Main Concession Stand) from 9:00am to 10:00 am usually on the Saturday of the first tryout. There is no advance registration. For more information about youth baseball and softball at Pinckneyville Park, please visit: http://www.norcrossbaseballsoftball.com/.
Hockey Without the Ice When the weather turns cool, people throughout Gwinnett County turn their
attention to winter sports. And at one local outdoor rink, kids in growing numbers will be strapping on skates, slipping on helmets, and picking up sticks for the exciting sport of roller hockey. Pinckneyville Park will again host a small army of youngsters making wrist shots, kick saves and pinpoint passes to the delight of cheering parents and friends. It’s all part of one of the country’s fastest growing youth sports. Few activities offer the combination of skill and exercise that roller hockey does. Skating builds balance and cardiovascular endurance, puckhandling and shooting require hand/eye coordination, and teamwork is essential to score. And unlike ice hockey, there is no checking or boarding allowed, so it’s a safe and fun sport for boys and girls alike. The PBC Roller Hockey program is open to children in grades K through 9. All games and practices are held at Pinckneyville Park, near Norcross on Peachtree Industrial Blvd. Registration begins in October, with practices starting the first week in November. The season ends by March 1 to clear the way for spring sports. PBC Roller Hockey has been sponsored by Peachtree Booster Club for over 30 years. It started in the gym at Peachtree Elementary School and graduated to a new outdoor facility in 2001. Recently, Gwinnett County resurfaced the rink and repaired the boards for the upcoming season, and more improvements are planned for next year. To introduce people to the sport, PBC is hosting Hockeypalooza – a day of fun, exhibition games and skills competition on October 20th, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at
Pinckneyville Community Center:
4650 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Norcross, GA 30071
Description Acres: 15 acres
This center houses arts programming along with many other recreation programs. It features: n 20,500-square-foot building n pottery studio n dance/aerobics room n large community room with a catering kitchen n outdoor classrom n 5 indoor classrooms n Private rentals available General, Program and Rentals Information 770.417.2200 Source: GwinnettParks.com
the rink. Interested people can check it out and sign up to play this season. More information can be found on the web at www.pbcsports.org. Thank you to the following people that contributed to this feature: Scott G. and Michelle Walch of Norcross Baseball and Softball; Al Viller of Norcross Soccer Academy; Dave Nelson (www. davidnelsom.com) for the baseball photos; Mark Ogden for Hockey and Peachtree Boosters Club.
Next Month: McDaniel Farm and Peachtree Ridge Parks email us at editor@gwinnettparklife.com
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School Sports Peachtree Ridge High School 2007 Varsity Football Game Schedule Opponent Forsyth Central Bulldogs North Gwinnett Bulldogs Open Week Mill Creek Hawks Lions Den--Homecoming North Forsyth Raiders Duluth Wildcats
Date October 5 October 12 October 19 October 26
Time 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
November 2 November 9
7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Location Forsyth Central HS North Gwinnett
7:30 PM North Forsyth HS Lions Den--Senior Night
Norcross High School 2007 Varsity Football Game Schedule Opponent South Forsyth Mill Creek Forsyth Central Collins Hill North Gwinnett
Date 10/05 10/19 10/26 11/02 11/09
Time 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM 7:30 PM
Location Norcross High School Mill Creek High School Norcross High School Collins Hill High School Norcross High School
Duluth High School 2007 Varsity Football Game Schedule Opponent North Gwinnett South Forsyth North Forsyth Collins Hill Mill Creek Peachtree Ridge
Date Time 10/5 7:30PM 10/12 7:30PM 10/19 7:30PM 10/26 7:30PM 11/2 Senior Night 7:30PM 11/9 7:30PM
Location Duluth High School South Forsyth School Duluth High School Collins Hill High School Duluth High School Peachtree Ridge HS
Berkmar High School 2007 Varsity Football Game Schedule Opponent Brookwood Shiloh Parkview Meadowcreek South Gwinnett Grayson
Date 10/5 10/12 10/19 10/26 11/02 11/09
Time 7:00PM 7:00PM 7:00PM 7:00PM 7:00PM 7:00PM
Location Berkmar High School Shiloh High School Parkview High School Berkmar High School Berkmar High School Grayson High School
Send Your High School Sports Stories and Pictures
BE HERE TOO to sports@gwinnettparklife.com 24 Gwinnett Park Life
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Collins Hill HS Cross Country Girls take County Championship Collins Hill HS Cross Country team had an outstanding performance at the Gwinnett County Championships on Saturday, September 15, 2007, in Duluth. The girls swept all the team titles and the boys had a first and two 3rd’s. The Varsity Girls started the day with their record low points (28) in winning their 5th consecutive county title. Individual Champion Amanda Winslow led the way and Nicky Akande and Allyson McGinty made it 3 Eagles in the top 4 for the 3rd year in a row. The Varsity Boys also benefitted from the Individual Champion. This time it was Philip O’Brien running a personal best time of 15:51 for the 3.1 mile course. The boys missed Rob Manning though (out with a hamstring injury), and finished 3rd in the tough field. The Open Boys and Girls won both team and individual titles as the Boys Champion Danny Cook and the Girls Champion Lena Watkins led the way. The 9th/10th grade girls also were victorious and the 9/10 boys placed 3rd. Overall, it was a great day and we are very proud of our running Eagles! Source: Collins Hill HS
Live and Play Near Great Parks
Three Bridges Thrives in Stylish Suwanee Exciting city named one of the top 100 places to live in the U.S.
Recently Suwanee was named by CNN Money as the number 10 place to live in the United States. Three Bridges, a community developed by The Providence Group, offers single family homes, courtyard townhomes and traditional townhomes, along with swim and tennis, quaint retail shops and office condominiums. In addition, Suwanee boasts more than 270 acres of green space and a newly developed Town Center – two reasons it was chosen as a great place to live and raise a family in the U.S. Located at Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and Suwanee Dam Road, Three Bridges is conveniently located to major roadways, shopping and dining and offers homes priced from the $250,000s to the
$450,000s. “Suwanee truly is a wonderful place to live, work and play,” said Martin Anker, Director of Sales and Marketing for The Providence Group. “Three Bridges offers an ideal location with something for everyone including an array of home plans to choose from at varying price points which makes it easy to find exactly what a new home shopper is looking for.” Three Bridges offers two-story single family homes, and two- and three-story townhomes which range in size from 2,300 to 3,400 square feet. The spacious townhomes feature elegant tradition-
al facades with two-car garages in the back of the home, private dining rooms, and architecturally designed patios or deck/sunroom combinations. The single family garden homes offer many of the same features as the townhomes, along October 2007
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with optional third floor retreats, libraries, sitting rooms and landscaped courtyards. Basements are also available on some of the single family floor plans. An array of luxurious touches may be found throughout the interiors of the homes as well. Standard features of both the townhomes and single family homes include rich site-finished hardwood floors, granite countertops, built-in cabinetry, stainless steel
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appliances and vaulted ceilings. In the single family homes, homeowners may opt to have the master on the main, and may enjoy the spacious living area on the main level which encompasses the kitchen, breakfast area and main living area into one, open room – perfect for entertaining guests. Three Bridges is a gated community and includes winding sidewalks, pocket parks, a swimming pool and
tennis courts. Homeowners will also have plenty of time to go shopping or dining at one of the nearby venues, because all lawn care is handled by the homeowner’s association. Children attend Level Creek Elementary, Lanier Middle and North Gwinnett High schools. For more information on Three Bridges, contact the on-site agents, Debbie Johnson and Kimberly Grier Moore, at 678-9329284.
Tackling Sports Clutter
Special for GPL by Kim Bauman
I love the fall. The weather is changing, the leaves are changing, and down the street at one of the many Gwinnett County parks is a group of 12-yearold football players, clashing helmets and preparing to meet this week’s competition. As the sun goes down and the backdrop of the sky changes, team moms are handing out t-shirts, parents are visiting, and coaches are mentoring the young kids in their care. With all of the excitement of the season comes all of the sports equipment into your home. And for the many families with multiple family members involved in different sports, finding
ways to store the seemingly never-ending equipment can be overwhelming and even steal some of the joy of the sport. You can begin to “tackle” your equipment clutter by following these organizational tips: n Take inventory. Put your hands on each piece of equipment your family owns and decide whether it needs to be donated, thrown out, or kept. n Sort equipment by sport and/or family member. Decide whether you want a designated place for each family member’s gear, or if you want all shin guards stored together. Think about which set-up
will make it easier to put things back after they are used. (This is the goal.) n Choose your storage location. This might be the garage, shed, utility room, or mudroom. Ideally, this location is close to the exit/ entrance used most often. n Take full advantage of vertical space. The use of vertical space maximizes your storage options without stealing floor space. Cubbyholes can be mounted with hooks underneath (used for anything you can hang). Vertical storage options also include bike storage poles that extend from floor to ceiling and require no mounting. Local home organization stores provide a variety of solutions for using vertical storage space for sports equipment. n Get the family involved. Children (and spouses) are more likely to follow your new system of organization if they are involved in the process. Allow children to help label smaller containers and design customized signs for larger bins. Anything that can be labeled has a greater chance of staying organized. Help the whole family to know where each item goes, and encourage them to put things away immediately after each use. Additional Resources: www.ikea.com www.thecontainerstore.com www.stacksandstacks.com Send Kim Bauman your comments at kim@ organized-delight.com or call 404-395-4381
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Food and Entertainment
Where to Eat After Deciding where to eat after the game’s over is a traditional sport of families leaving their last game of the day. You can’t get away from the fact that food and sports have a lot in common. Dairy Queen and Shane’s Rib Shack have been long time supporters of Norcross Soccer Academy; Lenny Mac’s Barbeque is a favorite of
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the Peachtree Ridge HS Football fans; Atlanta Bread Company at the Forum on Peachtree Parkway supports Norcross HS Football; and the list goes on. Wherever you go to eat check-out the crowd on a Friday or Saturday and I’m sure you’ll see kids, coaches and parents enjoying a great American past time - sports and food.
the Game’s Over Fives Guys Burgers & Fries
The thing here is simplicity. The burgers come in two sizes - regular (2 patties) and “little” (1 patty). You can select from a variety of toppings. The french fries are made in peanut oil and come plain or in cajun spice. It’s different and the food’s good.
Pepperoni’s Pizza
www.fiveguys.com 350 Town Center Ave, Suwanee 30024 (770) 945-4670
Pepperoni’s is a casual dining restaurant that provides superb quality meals for a very moderate price. This sports bar-pizzeria has a menu that includes pizza, pasta, ribs, hot wings, and salads. The unique aspect of the restaurant is its glass-topped tables have individual themes that generates lively conversation - there is also a half a dozen televisions throughout the restaurant so you don’t miss the games.
Sidelines Grill
2750 Buford Hwy, Duluth (770) 232-0224
Watch Sports on more than 40 TV’s strategically placed to access every seat in the house while you enjoy a ‘Cold One’ along with Sidelines Famous Loaded Potato Soup, or their fabulous Sidelines Chili. The menu will please most of the family, service is good and you won’t miss the game. sidelinesgrill.com 1500 Satellite Blvd NW, Suwanee (770) 814-9694
Ledo’s Pizza, Pasta & Pub
Ledo’s has become a staple in the community. It’s square pan pizza is a throwback to the 50s, before the round pizza pans became the rage. The Peachtree Corners location has become a favorite of Wesleyan and Norcross High School teams. Check out their Italian salad which is large enough for a meal and comes with the famous LEDO salad dressing. Other delicious entrees include lasagna, spaghetti, manicotti, soup, salad, and breadsticks. www.ledopizza.com 5450 Peachtree Pkwy, Norcross (770) 449-1500
Atlanta Bread Company
A long-time supporter of the local schools, ABC has become a great family restaurant. The owners Ron and Mary are really great people. The food is good and there is such a variety of meals to pick from off the menu. The service is quick, friendly, and courteous. You’ll be surprised that they have a variety of pastas, pizzas, sandwiches and soups - of course the omlettes are great. www.atlantabread-forum.com 4880 Peachtree Corners Circle, Norcross (770) 662-0900
LongHorn Steakhouse
Granted it’s a chain restaurant, but it sponsor’s the Collins Hill High School football team. The menu at LongHorn serves up thick burgers, fresh salads, steak, chicken, pork, BBQ ribs and seafood. “It’s a recipe for freshness that their guests have come to depend on.” 800 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road Lawrenceville (770) 338-0646
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In Focus
Recently Jim Veal became Peachtree Ridge High School’s Teacher of the Year. Not only did Mr. Veal receive a Teacher of the Year ring from Balfours, but he also received a Ford Focus car from Casey Coffey, owner of Gwinnett Place Ford - which has been a partner with PRHS on the Focus on Education Program and, each year, supplies their Teacher of the Year with a new Ford Focus! Photo (right) by McGovern Photography
Above: 91 Fury Boys - Sun Bowl 2007 (Norcross Soccer Academy) Left: North Gwinnett vs. Loganville Below: Peachtree Corners Baptist Sports Program, 4-year-old soccer
Bottom Left: Photographer Richard Calmes and Gwinnett Ballet Theatre Artistic Director Lisa Robson took Gwinnett Ballet Theatre ballerinas to McDaniel Farm Park for a day of shooting. The new production of “The Nutcracker” will begin November 30th in the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center.
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Above: Norcross Blue Devils (12 year olds) goof around for the camera. Right: A great time with friends on the river at Jones Bridge Park (photo by Penny Pix Photography)
Left: The Zimmerman (left to right: Matt, 16, B12; Lolly, 162, G9; and Katie, 10, G14) and Godleski (Rachel, no visible number, G8; Maddie, 39, G11) cousins were all smiles after the Peachtree Corners Youth triathlon. Photographer: Shelly Zimmerman Right: Halloween Hikes Favorite Fall Family Adventure and Tradition At the Chattahoochee Nature Center
Left: WIKA, manufacturers of pressure and temperature instrumentation, came in first place in Division A (100+ employees) of the Gwinnett Corporate Challenge
Send us your pictures to greatparkphotos@gwinnettparklife.com Please include Park, School or League Name, one line description, date taken and your contact name and number for verification purposes.
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