October 2017 Gwinnett Citizen : Dacula, Buford, Sugar Hill, Lawrenceville (30043)

Gwinnett’s oldest locally owned newspaper - established 1988 Covering Buford, Sugar Hill, Dacula, Lawrenceville, Braselton

Vol. 29, No. 12

Parrish inducted into Hall of Fame page 2

Reduce Uncertainty

page 5

Skinny at the dog park

page 8

FREE

OCTOBER 2017

www.gwinnettcitizen.com

Kakos Lands Leading Role in Full Count

By Paige Havens Staff Correspondent In the spring of 2017, when John Paul Kakos walked off the Mountain View High School baseball field for the last time as a senior, it was a bitter sweet moment.

It was the end of his baseball career and the start of a new chapter in his life. John Paul had dreamed of playing baseball in college and beyond, but several shoulder injuries caused him to rethink his path.

As John Paul made plans to attend Kennesaw State University to pursue his college education, he thought he’d revisit an old interest, acting, to help earn some money for college.

In middle school, John Paul had dabbled in acting and won a few bit parts in some short films and television shows, but his love of sports pushed that aside in high school. John Paul reached out and rekindled some industry connec-

tions and stumbled on a role he couldn’t be more suited for.

It was an independent, faithbased film called Full Count.

The story follows a high school phenom pitcher, Milton Young, who has visions of going to college and breaking free from the family business. After being accepted to the state university, Milton is struck with a series of life-changing events that cause him to give up his dream of playing professional baseball and return home to the town he fought hard to escape. What emerges is a heart-warming story of perseverance, faith, and triumph.

John Paul says, “It was the perfect role for me. The casting call was for an 18-year old high school student that had played baseball. I had to go for it.” So, with no previous feature film experience, he jumped in and auditioned for the lead role. John Paul

See KAKOS on Page 6

A trip of a lifetime, thanks to ‘charmed’ dog

Photo by Paul Kakos

Mountain View High School graduate, John Paul Kakos

Green Financial Resources hosts annual benefit golf tournament

Special Photo

(L-R) Jonathan Brilling, Debbie Brilling, and Roger, Laura and Michael Green

Keys to emergency management page 15

INSIDE Gwinnett Pulse 2 Announcements 7 Health & Wellness 12 Classifieds 17 PRESORT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID LILBURN,GA PERMIT NO. 99 ECR-WSS POSTAL CUSTOMER

By Carole Townsend Staff Correspondent Special Photo

Tom, Cindy, Maddie and Marshall, Murphy. This is a family photo taken by the Nationwide photographer who traveled to Gwinnett in August. This photo was taken in Gwinnett Extended Care Center’s courtyard, at Gwinnett Medical Center in Lawrenceville. Cindy is the Associate Director of Development & Operations for the Gwinnett Medical Center Foundation.

By Carole Townsend Staff Correspondent

puppy a year ago (under some unusual circumstances), and he has led quite a charmed life ever since.

Cindy and Tom Murphy are “We saw a contest on Facebook, self-described parents of two dogs, and the contest winner could win a Maddie and Marshall. Maddie is puppy from a breeder called Coast a dachshund whom they rescued Bound German Shorthaired Point eight years ago when her former ers (GSPs). owners abandoned her. Marshall came to the couple as a See MARSHALL on page 16

On a brilliantly sunny, unseasonably warm day in late September, golfers gathered at the River Club golf course for the annual golf tournament and dinner hosted by Duluth-based Green Financial Resources, LLC. President and CEO Roger Green and his staff welcomed guests as they trickled into the clubhouse following a day of competitive golf.

“My clients and family are the reason we have been successful,” Green said, as he thanked clients and other golfers for participating. Green Financial Resources was awarded

both Small Business of the Year and Family-Owned Business of the Year for 2016, by the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. “Our employees are wonderful, service-minded people, and we’re grateful for them,” Green added.

Proceeds from this year’s golf tournament and raffle, as is true every year, go to the Auditory Verbal Center, Inc. The center is credited with giving Green’s son Michael the gifts of hearing and speech more than 20 years ago when he was a young child. Since then, the Center has been able to give those same gifts to children born with partial to complete deafness.

See GREEN on page 10

The Gwinnett Citizen

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October 2017

GCPS teacher inducted into Hall of Fame Co-Publishers/Editors Carolyn Ekenstierna Bagheri Auveed Bagheri Cawthon

107 W Crogan St, Lawrenceville, Ga 30046 Office (770) 963-3699 www.gwinnettcitizen.com info@gwinnettcitizen.com

The Gwinnett Citizen is a monthly community newspaper that has been providing community news for the past 28 years. It is Gwinnett’s oldest locally owned newspaper. Our readers know how to love life and have a passionate interest in the well being of our community. Through our stories and photos we bring to life the passion of living, working, playing, living healthy, and worshiping in Gwinnett. We help to connect readers with local businesses and services to promote shopping and buying local. We are a free and direct mailed publication with 3 geographic zones (newspapers) that contain hyper-local news pertinent to each community. Each zone distributes 20,000 copies via direct mail with a few select local businesses for rack distribution to total a distribution of 60,000 in Gwinnett County, Ga.

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© Copyright The Snellville Citizen, Inc dba Gwinnett Citizen, 2017. All rights are reserved, including those to reproduce this printing or parts thereof in any form without permission in writing from Gwinnett Citizen. Gwinnett Citizen is a monthly newspaper publication covering all of Gwinnett County. The publication was established November, 1988 as The Snellville Citizen. The views expressed in articles, columns and Letters to the Editor published in Gwinnett Citizen, do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Gwinnett Citizen.

Gina Parrish, the theatre director at Norcross High School, has been inducted into the Educational Theater Association’s Hall of Fame. Parrish, who is in her 29th year as a teacher and director, says she is humbled by the honor.

“To receive this honor from the Educational Theatre Association is just beyond words and to have my family there when I was honored – priceless,” Parrish said. “It is the kids that motivate me 100%.

When I feel like it might be time to hang it up, I get an email from a former student telling me how he might have dropped out had it not been for drama. Last year we lost one of our drama family members to a brain tumor. It was the strength that the kids and I gave to each other that got us through. I say this all of the time… I have the very best job in the world.”

Educational Theatre Association Hall of Fame inductees are selected by a committee that includes one member of the Association’s Board of Directors, one other volunteer leader, and one member of the Hall of Fame. The judges base their

decisions on several criteria, including professional achievement, education, continuing education, community service, commitment to theatre and theatre education, past work with the Educational Theatre Association or its forerunners, and letters of recommendation from peers. Parrish, who was inducted into the Georgia Thespian Hall of Fame in 2011, credits the culture and leadership in Gwinnett County for creating an environment where she and her students can grow.

“I have had a strong group of supportive administrators who have backed me in my work with the kids. For example, former principal Dr. Jonathan Patterson, now an associate superintendent for the district, who, when we won state at GHSA One-Act, treated our group just the same as he would have the football team for winning a championship,” Parrish said.

The Educational Theatre Association’s Hall of Fame was established by the Association’s Board of Directors in 1990

Gina Parrish

Special Photo

to recognize those members who have made outstanding contributions to theatre education.

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The Gwinnett Citizen

October 2017

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The Only Way To Test Gas Furnaces For Safety: Combustion Analysis If you’d like one of my licensed technicians to perform a 21-point Complete Precision Tune-up on your system, please call us at 770-271-7511 or schedule here.

It’s a great time to schedule, as this full tune-up will only be $68 for a limited time, a $40 savings over the normal price

Matthew Holtkamp, Owner of Holtkamp Heating & Air

By Matthew Holtkamp Getting a heating system tune-up makes sense for many reasons. For example, you’ll make sure your system is working at peak efficiency, lower your utility bills, help avoid costly repairs and extend the life of your system.

However, there is one key element of a heating tune-up that means the most for your family’s safety: Combustion Analysis.

What is Combustion Analysis?

Combustion Analysis is a careful test of the heat exchanger in your furnace to ensure it’s working properly. In fact, it’s the only test that will truly identify safe

Here is what a Combustion Analyzer looks like. operation. While most companies perform a visual inspection, it will not uncover hairline cracks, which can lead to carbon monoxide leaks.

Hairline cracks become a problem when the gas is burning, and the crack becomes larger in the heat. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, poisonous gas produced by the incomplete burning of carbon based fuels.

All of our technicians are equipped with a combustion analyzer, the tool that’s carefully inserted into the flue pipe of your gas heating appliance. Readings on the device will indicate whether there is proper combustion and that all levels are within safe limits.

If another company is performing your tune-up, this device is what you should look for when they are testing your system. Or simply ask if they use a combustion analyzer.

Next Steps Whether you use my company or any other HVAC company, please be sure to get a heating tune-up and ask whether a combustion analysis has been properly done on your system.

Since there is no industry standard on the words “tune-up,” “maintenance” or “safety check”, you will always want to make sure that combustion analysis is included no matter which company you choose.

of $108.

Again, no matter which company you choose, please have a combustion analysis performed. It will give you great peace of mind as you safely warm your family this winter!

The Gwinnett Citizen

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October 2017

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy explained: the most common cause of heart related death under the age of 30

Special Photo

Eastside Heart and Vascular Physicians Dr. Demir Baykal, Dr. Marcus Sims, Dr. Marc Unterman, Dr. Michael Lipsitt, Dr. Niraj Sharma

By Staff Reports Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common inherited cardiac disease and is present in 1 in 500 in the popula-

tion. It is one of the most common causes of heart-related death under the age of 30 and can affect both men and women equally. In an effort to raise awareness about the symptoms of this disease and

Special Photo

Dr. Marc Unterman

preventative measures and treatments that are available to patients, Dr. Marc Unterman, a cardiologist at Eastside Heart and Vascular, further, explains this condition.

“The diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy can be suspected in young people; particularly those performing

stressful athletics if there are certain symptoms, physical exam signs, or ECG abnormalities,” Dr. Unterman explains, “An echocardiogram can confirm the diagnosis.”

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart in which there is thickening (hypertrophy) of a portion of the left ventricle of the heart out of proportion to the others. This can commonly include the muscular septum between the left and right ventricles but rarely can cause the thickening of the apex (tip) of the left ventricle.

“In about two-thirds of cases, there is outflow obstruction of the left ventricle, causing decreased blood flow, particularly with exercise. This can be a generalized problem with the entire muscle of the left ventricle in severe cases,” says Dr. Unterman, “This disease is frequently associated with sudden cardiac death by arrhythmias, which are electrical abnormalities.”

Some people who have this disease have severe symptoms and complications while others have no signs or symptoms

and are not affected. The question then becomes, how do physicians diagnose this disease?

“Diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is determined by physical exam (a murmur), ECG abnormalities, and by ultrasound of the heart, which is called an echocardiogram. While the majority of patients may never have a problem, symptomatic patients must be treated,” stated Dr. Unterman.

“Treatment for this condition can include medications, implantable defibrillators, surgery on the heart muscle, or even alcohol septal ablation. Alcohol septal ablation consists of alcohol being injected down the septal branches of the coronary to destroy the offending muscle,” Dr. Unterman further explained, “The challenge we face now as a nation is how to screen our large population of athletes.”

If you would like more information on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, other cardiovascular conditions or treatments, you can count on Dr. Marc Unterman and the experienced physicians at Eastside Heart and Vascular for all of your heart care needs. The practice will be open to see patients at their Snellville and Lawrenceville locations as well as satellite offices throughout Gwinnett and Walton County on November 1. The physicians of Eastside Heart and Vascular will include Dr. Marc I. Unterman, Dr. Marcus C. Sims, Dr. Michael A. Lipsitt, Dr. Niraj Sharma, and Dr. Demir Baykal.

Dr. Unterman and his colleagues have assembled a team of physicians that will bring the latest expertise and techniques in cardiology to the local community.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please call 770-736-6300.

The Gwinnett Citizen

October 2017

Page 5

Plan Now To Reduce Uncertainty

James Miskell

Estate Planning

“Trick or treat” rings out every Halloween as children go door to door hoping for their favorite candy. My kids love sorting the candy at the end of the night and finding surprises in their candy haul.

Part of the fun and excitement of trick or treating is the uncertainty —you don’t know what you are going to get. Dying without estate planning is a lot like trick or treat for your surviving family members—no one knows what they are going to get.

If you die without advance planning, any property you own (your estate) will likely end up in Probate Court. An Administrator will be appointed by the Court. Usually, a family member will file a petition asking to be appointed the Administrator of the estate. The Court will require that all of your heirs be notified and that a notice be published in

the newspaper alerting creditors that they can file a claim against your estate to recover any debts they claim you owed.

If any of these heirs believe that they are better suited to be Administrator, they can object to the petition. Eventually, the Court will either grant the petition or appoint another person to be the Administrator.

The property in the estate will be distributed according to Georgia law—not necessarily according to your wishes. You may want your spouse to receive all your property when you die.

The disappointing fact is that if you die without planning ahead, Georgia law dictates that your spouse must divide your property with your children. The law dictates who qualifies as an heir and the portion of your estate that each heir is entitled to receive. Once the hierarchy of heirs is determined, the Administrator will distribute the assets of the estate. If the assets of the estate cannot be fairly distributed, the Administrator will make decisions about which assets to sell and how to sell those assets. The sale of assets can be time consuming and result in family members waiting long periods of time to receive funds.

Administrators of estates are paid for the work they do managing an estate.

They are entitled to two and a half percent of all funds they collect into an estate and two and a half percent of all funds that are paid out of the estate. If there is real estate or other property to distribute, an Administrator (with approval of

“Administrator fees are paid before heirs receive their inheritance. This means that the heirs get less.” the Court) can receive as much as three percent of the value of the property. Administrator compensation and legal fees are paid from the estate before heirs receive their inheritance. This means that the heirs get less.

Whether your estate is large or small, planning ahead lets you control costs and take uncertainty out of the process for your family. Planning that includes a will or living trust allows you to appoint the right person to handle your estate and to pay that person as much or as little as you think is right. You can designate the right people to be guardians for your minor children. You can make sure your possessions go to the right people—the people who will truly appreciate them.

Uncertainty is fun and exciting at Halloween but excitement and uncertainty are not so fun for your heirs during a time when they are grieving. Make sure your family doesn’t look back on the administration of your estate and think, like Charlie Brown at Halloween, “I got a rock.”

James M. Miskell received his law degree from the University of Georgia in 1993. His Asset Protection, Estate Plan-

ning and Elder Law practice has offices located in Lawrenceville and Johns Creek.

He offers educational workshops and free consultations to assist clients as well as fellow professionals in creating individualized solutions. Visit his website: www.

LetsTalkEstatePlanning.com. For more information, see his ad in this issue.

The Gwinnett Citizen

Page 6

October 2017

KAKOS continued from page 1

Photo by Paul Kakos

John Paul Kakos takes direction from Full Count film director Robert Eager as the crew preps in the background for the next scene.

submitted a video audition tape and was called in for two additional auditions.

He was beyond excited when he got the call that he was selected for the part. He

couldn’t help but think it was fate.

The script was penned by first-time writer/director Robert Eager from the Atlanta-based Buckhead Film Group, who said, “Many advised me against hiring a lead with no experience, but I loved John Paul’s audition. He had the look I wanted and a great presence on camera.

I took a big gamble on him, and I didn’t regret it. John Paul is so humble, and he’s one of the hardest working people on the set. He’s got a wonderful future ahead of him.”

Producer Bennie Swint of Reel One Entertainment shared, “It’s been so great to watch John Paul. He walked on a young, naïve kid. But every day he comes to the set on time and ready. He knows his lines and is eager to learn.”

Swint continued, “John Paul has had a rare opportunity to work every day with experienced actors. Some Emmy award winners. He’s had a chance to listen and learn from them every day. He’s been blessed for this to be his first project – to have this kind of support around him.

This rarely happens. You can’t ask for a stronger start to your career than this.”

Swint said proudly, “As a producer, it’s so cool to realize we are growing him.

Changing his life. It’s amazing to watch it

Photo by Paul Kakos

John Paul Kakos (center in green) stands on set flanked by fellow Mountain View teammates and cast members as they prepare to shoot a scene in the Bears’ dugout.

Photo by Paul Kakos

John Paul Kakos in action on the set at Mountain View High School’s baseball field.

right before your eyes.”

Kakos’ castmates included seasoned professionals like Natalia Livingston, Rick Hearst, Jason London, Robert Pralgo, E. Roger Mitchell, Victoria Staley, Vince Canlas, Robert Gresham and others. Several own their own acting studios and teach aspiring actors. John Paul said they helped him a lot because they would stop and offer him tips to make his scenes better. He said one of the biggest challenges for him was “bringing a character to life in situations I’ve never

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Photo by Paul Kakos

John Paul Kakos (center) stands proudly with his mom, Tracy; sister, Lauren; and dad, Paul as they support him on set at Mountain View High School. The family is wearing the official Full Count Movie production t-shirts with the #8 in memory of John Paul’s uncle who was a big mentor in his life. personally been in.”

Kakos enjoyed filming in various locations across Georgia – Macon, LaGrange, Watkinsville, and Gwinnett - but his favorite was coming home to Mountain View to spotlight his home turf. John Paul was even more thrilled when Eager and the production team suggested they include some of his old teammates and coach as extras. Mountain View Baseball Coach Jason Johnson was full of pride when asked what it was like to be a part of the film with John Paul. He said, “It’s special to me and for the entire Mountain View family to have John Paul represent us. We preach to our players that it’s all about character, about being a good person. Everyone’s sports careers come to an end, so it should never be all about sports. John Paul has lived that and there couldn’t be a more perfect movie for him to star in.”

When asked if being involved in a faith-based film has helped him grow in his faith, John Paul shared, “There are a lot of scriptures embedded in the plot line and script. As I studied my lines, I took time to look each one up and put them in perspective, to get to the meaning of the message. Doing that makes you think about how it applies to your own life too.”

Ironically, so much of the film’s message does apply to Kakos’ life. There’s even a hidden character watching over him that most will never know. John Paul’s Uncle Mark was a professional baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies, and he was John Paul’s role model.

Mark died of cancer four years ago.

When the filmmakers asked John Paul what jersey number he wanted to wear he

said number 8 – his Uncle Mark’s number. When they learned the story, the entire cast and crew wore the number 8 on their shirts too. John Paul wore his Uncle Mark’s jeans in the farming scenes, and Mark’s jersey hung in his bedroom on the set. John Paul’s grandmother, Helen Pottinger said, “I have no doubt Mark’s been here with John Paul through all of this.”

Full Count is an inspired film that is driven by the unrelenting passion, perseverance, and faith of so many on the set.

The film has been 16 years in the making.

Robert Eager wrote the first draft of the Full Count script in 2001 as part of Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s Project Greenlight. He was one of 1800 submissions that year, and he got great feedback on the script from some of the industry’s best. He took that feedback and built upon it. As he was rallying funds for production, the financial market crashed.

Eager had to put the project on hold until the market corrected. This filmmaking journey has pushed Eager, John Paul and many others involved to live the very message of the script – to have hope, never to give up and never to let go of your dream.

Full Count is expected to be released in the spring of 2018. To keep up with the movie follow the Full Count Movie page on Facebook. The hometown crowd can follow John Paul on his personal social media pages via Facebook at John Paul Kakos and on Instagram and Twitter @ Johnny_Kakos. In the words of Bennie Swint, “We can’t wait to see what he does next.”

The Gwinnett Citizen

October 2017

Page 7

Happy Anniversary Jack and Pat!

Weddings, Engagements & Announcements Engagements, Weddings, Births and Anniversaries are complimentary.

Email your announcement to: info@gwinnettcitizen.com or mail to: GwinnettCitizen.com, PO Box 1779,Lawrenceville, GA 30046

Congratulations Valerie and Kyle Jack and Pat Herren celebrated their 60th Anniversary on August 26, 2017 with family and friends.

They have 2 sons (John and Kenny), 9 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild. They are still childhood sweethearts and best friends.

Jack and Pat Herren

Special Photo

Happy Anniversary Bill and Lib! William Kyle Lovett and Valerie Marie Cropanese

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Bill and Elizabeth ‘Lib’ Deese of Snellville celebrated 71 years of marriage on October 7, 2017.

It is with great joy we announce the engagement of Valerie Marie Cropanese to William Kyle Lovett. Both are a high school graduates≠≠≠ from Dacula High School.

Valerie is a college graduate with a Bachelor Degree in History from Georgia Gwinnett College. William is employed by Rick Hendrick Chevrolet of Buford, Ga. The wedding will be held at Little Gardens on October. 13th 2017 on their 10 year anniversary of being together. The couple will reside in Braselton, Ga.

The Urban Land Institute Awards Duluth for Parsons Alley The Urban Land Institute Atlanta District Council celebrated 23 years of recognizing outstanding leadership in development in the Southeast at the annual Awards for Excellence Dinner at the Fox Theatre on September 14, 2017. Duluth’s 30,000 sq.ft. restaurant and retail district Parsons Alley was the winner of the Development of Excellence Award.

Last year’s ULI winners included Ponce City Market and the Porsche Experience Center. The ULI Jury comprised of 20 something development and design professionals reached outside the perimeter to recognize the blend of new design and respect for the oldest of Duluth’s downtown spaces.

Mayor Nancy Harris along with Council Members Marsha Bomar, Greg Whitlock, Billy Jones, and Jim Dugan accepted the award along with development partners, Kronberg Wall, Vantage Realty, Fabric Development, and Weissman. Also present was DDA Chairman Rob Ponder and Economic Development

Bill and Elizabeth Deese

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Pictured L to R: Council Member Jim Dugan, Jerry Miller, Mayor Nancy Harris, Eric Kronberg, Councilmember Greg Whitlock, Councilmember Marsha Bomar and Tyrone Rachel Manager Chris McGahee.

The ULI Awards for Excellence program recognizes an outstanding real estate development project or initiative that exemplifies the ULI’s mission of providing leadership in the responsible

use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities. The awards recognize the full development process of a project—construction, economic viability, marketing, and management—as well as design.

Special Photo

The Gwinnett Citizen

Page 8

The skinny at the dog park “I read somewhere that dogs are God’s apology

October 2017

Using plants to create a privacy screen

for humans. If so, He did a good job apologizing.” ~ Carole Townsend

Carole Townsend

(Not So) Common Sense Are you a dog person? I sure am. I read somewhere that dogs are God’s apology for humans. If so, He did a good job apologizing. Dogs are smart, loyal, sweet, eager to please and oh-so-devoted to their people. Not so surprising, then, to see to rising popularity of the dog park.

Also not surprising - here in Gwinnett, we have several from which to choose.

I must confess, I’m a dog snob. Oh, I don’t mean to say that I think one breed is better than another, or that a pure breed is any better than a delightful mutt.

Rather, I mean that I don’t let my dogs associate with just any other dogs. I treat my dogs just as I did our children; I handpicked their friends (for the most part, until they got old enough to outsmart me). I do the same thing with my dogs.

After all, I don’t want them picking up some horrid disease from a dog whose owners don’t keep their vaccinations up to date. Heavens, no. And we all know that there are plenty of dogs who just don’t have good manners. It all starts with the parenting, you know.

Recently, Gwinnett County opened another dog park, and this one is not far from our house. I love to walk the trails in Gwinnett parks, and I usually take our youngest dog with me. Now, she enjoys the added benefit of socializing with other dogs. It’s a win-win for us both. I love to take her to the dog park and just let her run, fetch her favorite stick, and play and wrestle with other dogs. A dog park is a great place to people-watch (and dog watch), and I’ve made a comfortable living doing just that over the years. In fact, we’ve spent so much time at the dog

park, I’ve learned that there are separate and specific categories of dog parents. Allow me to illustrate.

I’ll start with me. I’m in the Adoring/Doting category of dog parents. I love our dogs dearly, and I take my responsibility for their care and happiness seriously. Therefore, their toy box rivals anything our human kids ever had. I praise them often. I give them treats just for being cute. In other words, if our dogs were human, they’d be that kid in school that believes he deserves an award just for showing up. They’d be the kid that expects a toy every time Mom hauls him to the supermarket. They’d be the kind of kid that has a rude awakening as he grows older and reality dawns hard and heavy (I know what you’re thinking. No, I didn’t raise my human kids this way).

Another dog parent category is the Drill Sergeant. At the dog park, these are the dog parents who shout “No! Leave it!” every time the dog sniffs the ground or greets another dog. Parents like this make me wonder why they bothered to bring their dog to the park, anyway. What the heck is he supposed to do?

Yet another category I’ve identified at the dog park is the Practicing Parents.

These are the dog owners, typically young adults, who are together as a couple and have a dog who stands in for the child they hope to have one day. These dog parents correct the dog with no apparent consistency, and they usually explain why they are correcting him. They even go so far as to explain the consequences of the dog’s actions should he make a poor choice. I always feel kind of sorry for dog parents who fall into this category; I know for a fact how disillusioned and ill-prepared they are to raise human children.

Anybody who’s actually done so knows that it requires a will of steel, courage beyond measure, and the ability to hide a smile when trying to look stern.

The last category (and by far, my least favorite), is the High-Achieving Performance-Driven Parent. In this category are those annoying folks whose dogs perform on command, zipping through the agility course with ease, always looking to their masters for approval. These parents are usually smug and condescending, and more often than not, they make sure that their brilliant darlings don’t associate with the misbehaving, ill-mannered under-achievers at the dog park (dogs AND people). What these pet parents don’t realize is that when they’re not looking, their brilliant pooch licks himself, sniffs tree trunks with blissful abandon, and eats cigarette butts and large bugs just like the rest of the pack.

Whatever category you fall into as a dog parent, I will say this: if you love dogs, you’re a good person, no doubt about it. Now, time to take my little darlings to the park, right after I give them all treats. xxx Carole Townsend is a Gwinnett author and freelance writer. Her fourth book, BLOOD IN THE SOIL, was published in 2016. It is the true tale of a crime that took place in Gwinnett County nearly 40 years ago. Her previous three books are written with Southern humor. Her books can be found in bookstores, on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com, and at www.caroletownsend.com. When she’s not writing, Carole travels throughout the southeast, talking to groups about women, writing, family, and life in her beloved South.

Tim Daly

Gwinnett County Extension Agent Many homeowners would like something to provide them with privacy, especially in subdivisions where homes are close to each other. Many build fences and walls, but some plants do an excellent job at providing privacy planted correctly and given the proper growing conditions.

Some plants make better screens than others. Years ago red tip photinias were one of the most popular plants used for this purpose before a leaf spot diseased decimated them and today they are seldom used. The popular Leyland cypress has been overused and has a multitude of problems. They have the potential to grow over 50 feet tall and 15 to 20 feet wide. Although the tree has many excellent attributes such as rapid growth, easy propagation, and low cost, they are often planted so close together they lack adequate spacing for their healthy growth, which may cause serious problems such as poor air circulation and increased incidence of disease.

Other plants are better candidates that can be used for screens. Hollies, such as the American holly, Foster

holly, Savannah holly and three hybrid hollies, ‘Nellie R. Stevens’, ‘Mary Nell’ and ‘Emily Bruner’, are among the best varieties to use in these situations due to their rapid growth and dense foliage.

Wax myrtles grow well in our climate and can block unwanted views in a relatively short period. Some thick lower growing pine trees, such as the Virginia pine, also create effective screens. In shadier areas, fragrant tea olives and Canadian hemlocks make an excellent evergreen barrier as long as they have adequate drainage.

Arborvitaes, particularly the cultivars ‘Green Giant’ and ‘Emerald Green,’ as well as Japanese cryptomerias, are excellent substitutes for the Leyland cypress.

They are all coniferous evergreens with a similar growth pattern and appearance as the Leyland cypress but with better performance in the landscape. Dwarf southern magnolias cultivars such as ‘Little Gem’ and ‘D.D. Blanchard’ are small trees covered with dense foliage.

They are often planted as specimen trees, but a row of dwarf magnolias can also create an effective screen or help to establish a boundary between adjoining properties.

A multitude of plants are available for use as screens and can be successfully utilized for this purpose if installed and maintained correctly, are a better choice than Leyland cypress trees and red tips.

The privacy they provide is invaluable and worth the investment. .

Timothy Daly is a County Extension Agent with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Gwinnett County.

He can be reached at 678-377-4011 or tdaly@uga.edu.

The Gwinnett Citizen

October 2017

Page 9

“Your Green”: A Harvesting Plan for Retirement Assets

Roger Green, MSFS,CFP ® Green Financial Resources

Retirement planning does not end at retirement. The need to continue to grow assets to produce more cash flow remains important for most.

For 30 years I have been helping people with their money, and I understand what it takes to plan successfully for retirement. The following is an overview of my plan for harvesting of retirement assets; a plan I have seen work effectively for my clients regardless of their income or assets. This plan divides your savings and investment money into three parts.

To start, determine how much money you will need annually from your savings and investments to augment your Social Security and other income sources. Once you determine that annual figure, determine how much money is needed: • 1-2 years out • 3-5 years out • 5+ years out.

Whatever you need to supplement your Social Security and other income sources during approximately your next two years of retirement, at any given time, should be kept in cash reserves or readily accessible investments; such as savings accounts, Treasuries, Money Market accounts, and other types of liquid low-volatility investments.

The next three to five years of money you may need from your assets I recommend be kept in fixed income or moderate volatility investments. These include things like CDs, Treasury Inflation Protected Securities, Government or Corporate Bonds, Credit Risk Investments, and other lower or moderate volatility liquid investments.

With fixed income assets, remember to stagger maturity dates to allow for your investment duration to equal the year of your potential need to withdraw and to diversify your holdings within this category. For example, don’t buy a 10year bond that you anticipate needing to spend in the next 3-5 years.

For growth in your assets, history says investments in equities/stock investments are one of your best bets*.

For your money not needed for five years or more, I generally recommend a well-diversified portfolio of equity/stock market investments to try to achieve growth. The goal is to help try to stretch your assets for today’s longer life spans, and to overcome the effects of inflation and taxation that decrease the value of

your money over time. Most people I see need continued growth throughout retirement to help stretch their assets throughout their lifetime, and to allow them to potentially leave a legacy to others.

This is where you really need the help of a professional, as this is your longer-term investment money with which you will take on significant risk and potential volatility to try to grow your money for your longer term harvest. Your goal is to harvest (withdraw) from a well-diversified portfolio of assets only when they are up in value; using the shorter term liquid assets as a buffer during times of market volatility, when the time isn’t right to sell your equities because they are down in value.

I generally recommend at least one year of “need from assets” money be allocated into each investment category. So you will essentially have investment “silos” from which you can replenish your cash reserves. This allows you to “harvest” for any given year from any investment, depending on which portion of your portfolio is doing best at the time of need – so you can harvest where there is bounty.

Because of the potentially significantly large fluctuations of the stock markets, I believe it is prudent to only have your longer term dollars invested in equities, and that you need to have a “bear market emergency reserve” to buy yourself out of periods of market downturn.

Finally, to keep this plan rolling

forward, once each year, “fill-up” spent cash reserves from your investments and other assets to maintain accessible cash for living expenses. In the event of multiple down market years, you would draw that year’s harvest from your cash reserves or fixed income assets, which prevents you from having to sell when the market is “low”. Remember, with investments you always want to try to “buy low, sell high”.

Obviously this is a very simplified overview of my plan for asset harvesting.

The best place to learn more is in my retirement planning class being held starting October 10th at Gwinnett Technical College. Please call our office at 770.931.1414 or log on to www. rogersgreen.com for dates and additional information. Or call Gwinnett Technical College directly at 770.995.9697 to register for Successful Retirement Planning.

If you are unable to attend class,

but wish to discuss your situation further or learn more about this harvesting plan, please call my office to schedule a complimentary consultation. *Note: Past performance is not a guarantee of future success. Investments in securities do not offer a fixed rate of return. Principal, yield, and/or share price will fluctuate with changes in market conditions and, when sold or redeemed, you may receive more or less than originally invested.

Roger S. Green is a Registered Representative with Cetera Advisors LLC, member FINRA & SIPC, with his office located at 3700 Crestwood Parkway, Duluth, GA 30096. Hear more “Your Green”, Saturdays at 10AM on 970 AM or live at www.faithtalk970.com. Green Financial, Gwinnett Technical College, and Cetera Advisors LLC are not affiliated. Visit www. rogersgreen.com for more information.

Page 10

The Gwinnett Citizen

October 2017 GREEN continued from page 1

Special Photo

Roger and Laura Green (center) with the staff at Green Financial Resources Michael, who for two months now has worked in the family business, is young and exuberant, as well as eloquent and clear in his speech. Just recently, he assumed the role of Chairman of the Junior Board at Auditory Verbal Center.

Coincidentally, his father is the Chairman of the Board for the Center. Both men are passionate about the possibilities that are opened to a child who received the gifts of hearing, speech, and the understanding of language. “The ability to hear and speak gives a child the opportunity to do whatever they want in life,” Michael said.

The man is a testament to his own words, having graduated Mercer University with the highest GPA in his class, and earning a Masters degree in Finance from Georgia State University.

With the most profound cases of deafness, said Debbie Brilling, Executive Director and CEO of AVC, a cochlear implant is surgically placed in a child’s ear.

Trained therapists (719 nationwide) then teach that child to speak and more importantly, they teach that child the meaning of words and the understanding of language. “I started (at AVC) as a mom with two deaf kids,” Brilling shared. “Once my children graduated, I began volunteering at the Center. After a time, I was offered the position of Director of Development and ultimately, CEO. Currently, I wear both of those hats.”

As is true of any parent whose child has received the gifts of opportunity and possibility, Brilling can not say enough about the Center, nor about the Greens.

“Roger and (wife) Laura are just good people. They’re caring and passionate, and they’ve done so much for many children through their support of AVC,” Brilling said, adding that without that help and the help of donors, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of children would be forever trapped in a silent world. “How do you thank someone for a gift like that?” she asked.

With that generous help, AVC now offers two locations for therapy, one in Atlanta and one in Macon. Recently, Teletherapy was added to the list of AVC’s resources. Audio-Verbal Teletherapy offers therapy conducted virtually, allowing children from other areas of the state to receive the life-changing assistance that the Center offers. AVC therapy includes families in the process, as well, immersing the hearing-impaired child in the richness of everyday language.

The golf tournament was followed by a catered dinner, and participants learned

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Green Financial donated $50,000 to the Auditory Verbal Center (AVC). Pictured is Roger Green and Debbie Brilling, Executive Director and CEO of AVC.

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Green Financial donated $5,000 to the Friends of Gwinnett County Seniors.

Pictured is Roger Green, Gary Galloway and Jennifer Orton – all members of the Friends of Gwinnett County Senior Services Board. a little more about the AVC, as well as about deafness. For instance, about 3 out of every 1000 children are born deaf, and even more, lose their hearing in early childhood. Almost 50 million Americans live with hearing loss, and those with even mild hearing loss are more likely to develop dementia. Teen hearing loss has increased 30 percent, due in part to the widespread use of headphones and ear “buds.” Because of the rise in hearing loss among people of all ages, tournament participants and guests were treated to free hearing screenings during this September event.

At the end of the evening’s festivities, a grand total of $55,000 had been raised, benefiting both AVC ($50,000) and Friends of Gwinnett Seniors ($5000).

“This was by far our best event ever, fit-

ting in the year that Roger turns 50 and I turned 55. Also, 2017 marks Roger’s 30year anniversary of helping people with their money. It’s been a big year for us, and we are so happy to have been able to achieve this result,” said Laura.

To learn more about Green Financial Resources, visit www.rogersgreen.com. To learn more about the Auditory Verbal Center, visit www.avchears.org. To learn about friends of Gwinnett Seniors, another beneficiary of the Greens’ generosity, visitwww. friendsofgwinnettseniors.org.

Securities offered through Cetera Advisors LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Green Financial is not affiliated with Cetera Advisors. Awards cannot be considered a guarantee of future success, nor an endorsement.

October 2017

The Gwinnett Citizen

Page 11

The 15th Annual Green Financial Charity Golf Classic raised $55,000 and benefitted the Auditory Verbal Center and Friends of Gwinnett County Seniors September 19, 2017, The River Club

The Gwinnett Citizen

Page 12

October 2017

Health, Beauty & Wellness What Breast Cancer Doesn’t Want You To Know You’ve heard the statistics. You know that about 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop breast cancer. You may even know that this year alone, there will be 250,000 new cases of breast cancer.

But what these statistics don’t tell you, is that the true number of women impacted by breast cancer is far greater.

Even if you haven’t personally had breast cancer, you likely know someone who has. Maybe it’s your sister. Maybe your mom. Perhaps a friend?

These statistics also don’t begin to encapsulate the far-reaching effect that breast cancer has on the women who are diagnosed.

While this condition may be defined as the out-of-control growth of breast cells, it’s actually much more. Breast cancer may start as a purely physical condition, but it grows to impact patients mentally, emotionally and socially.

That’s why the Gwinnett Breast Program is redefining what it means to provide exceptional care to the complete individual.

One of the key ways that GMC does this is by prioritizing support groups for women at every stage of the healing process, from a recent diagnosis to survivorship.

Now, if you haven’t personally had breast cancer, you may be wondering why this should matter to you.

As Bobbie Menneg, a volunteer

with the Gwinnett Breast Program and a breast cancer survivor explains, “It’s important to recognize the power that social support—in all forms—can have.

Whether it’s a support group or spending time with close friends and family, social support plays a vital role in the well-being of breast cancer patients and survivors.”

In addition to reducing the experience of pain and fatigue, as well as improving self-image and feelings of control, here are some of the very real benefits that social support can have: • It reduces anxiety and stress.

To say a cancer diagnosis is stressful is an understatement. But with social support, women are able to release their feelings of stress and anxiety while connecting with others so they don’t feel alone in their experiences. As one cancer survivor explains, “It means a shoulder to cry on, a hand to help you up, a kind word, support, understanding and love.”

• It increases resilience. Throughout the cancer care process, there may be many instances where it seems easier to give up than to persist and stay the course. However, with social support, patients are more likely to stay motivated and committed to their treatment. “As much as we can ask the medical staff about things, it’s always helpful to ask the advice of those who have lived it,” ex-

presses another cancer survivor.

• It improves mood. During times of intense stress, like a cancer diagnosis, it’s not uncommon for patients to experience feelings of anxiety and depression.

These feelings are spurred on by the spike in cortisol, which is the primary stress hormone. This can also lead to low energy, headaches and insomnia, among other things. However, social support can prompt the release of oxytocin, which helps to reduce the negative effects of stress and improves mood. One cancer survivor reflects on her experience with a support group, expressing that “Even within an hour of meeting them, they make you feel better about everything you’ve been feeling and going through.”

• It increases longevity. While there are many factors that impact breast cancer survival rates, several studies have shown that patients who are socially connected tend to live longer. Experts believe that this is due to the fact that social support reinforces the healing process and helps to establish a sense of purpose for patients.

With GMC, you’re never alone.

Whether you’ve just been diagnosed with breast cancer, you’re a 10-year survivor or you’re a friend of someone who

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has been battling, GMC has something to offer you. Support means something different to everyone. As another cancer survivor describes, “It’s a friendship beyond words. Understanding. Being able to cry or laugh when there’s nothing else to do.” That’s why GMC offers a wide

variety of support resources, including Twisted Sisters Yoga, Appearance Specialist Support, Survivorship Group and more so that patients can receive care that’s as unique as they are. To learn more about GMC’s Breast Program, visit gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/breast.

October 2017

The Gwinnett Citizen

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The Gwinnett Citizen

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October 2017

The Atlanta Balalaika S.T.E.A.M back in Duluth Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math Society presents “An Evening of Russian Music, Song, And Dance

By Staff Reports The Atlanta Balalaika Society will present a concert of Russian and Gypsy folk music, song and dance on Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 7:30pm at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell, GA 30075. Tickets may be purchased in advance by calling (404) 292-7176, with a credit card at www.atlantabalalaika.com, or in the lobby with check or cash one hour prior to the performance. Adult tickets are $22, students and seniors $20, and children 12 years and under are $8.

The concert will feature the dance duo of Valentina Kvasova and Vladimir Nikitin, who perform with the Barynya Russian dance and music ensemble based in New York City. Marla Feeney on violin and The MarlaTov Cocktails klezmer ensemble of Atlanta will also be featured.

The Atlanta Balalaika Society will per-

form with solos by Angelina Galashenkova-Reed on domra, and David C. Cooper on balalaika.

The Atlanta Balalaika Society, now in its 36th year, is one of the largest orchestras of Russian folk instruments outside of Russia, and is the primary promoter of Russian folk culture in the Southeast.

Colorfully dressed in traditional folk costumes, the orchestra performs on balalaikas, domras, and bayans (Russian button accordions), along with other ancient wind and percussion instruments.

The Atlanta Balalaika Society is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) community orchestra dedicated to the performance and preservation of Russian and Eastern European folk music in the Southeast and in the United States.

The evening’s performance will be conducted by David C. Cooper.

Cooler days may be ahead but STEAM will heat things up with lots of fun activities for the community to enjoy.

The evening of October 13th will be filled with the wonders of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) to be enjoyed by all ages; including crowd-favorite DJ Rob in Downtown Duluth. The fun begins at 6:00 p.m. and ends at 9:00 p.m.

This year, all schools from the Duluth cluster will take part of the event; which has grown considerably the last few years. Duluth High, Coleman Middle, Duluth Middle, Chesney Elementary, Berkeley Lake Elementary, Harris Elementary, and Chattahoochee Elementary will join the event to showcase their Project-Based Learning (PBL) projects.

Each project at each grade level aligns to the first nine weeks curriculum. The projects are driven by science and mathematics with humanities and arts woven into each unit. These units of study were based on real-world applications, investigations and integration of content areas.

They demonstrate a high level of student engagement and mastery of the AKSs. These projects will be showcased on Duluth Town Green. Some of the projects you can expect to see: • Tiny home models that use renewable and non-renewable resources to conserve energy.

• The creation of petri dish art based on the use of bacteria growth, using kill

Special Photo

Student teacher discuss science project.

zones to create the artistic aspect.

• The challenge to create a mode of transportation using only air, water, rail, or road; to move goods from one location to another.

STEAM activities are kid friendly and include interactive displays sponsored by community groups, companies and individuals that challenge keen minds and demonstrate how everyday items can be used in imaginative and innovative ways. A few of the scheduled STEAM participants and programs you can expect to see at the event are: • Freeze Cream is a local vendor of delicious organic ice cream and uses

the freezing properties of Nitrogen to instantaneously make this favorite summer treat! A Freeze Cream representative will demonstrate to the STE(A)M audience how rapidly ice cream can be created using Nitrogen, and will share the yummy results of this “scientific dessert!”

• Georgia Gwinnett College will host a Cryptography Treasure Hunt around Town Green. The GGC booth will also include programs and interactive activities for all ages to enjoy such as the mathematics of card tricks and more!

• “Mathnasium” will test math skills and highlight the importance of math in everyday life.

• Visit Georgia State University’s Neuroscience Institute to make a brain!

They will have some brain model kits to learn about all the functions.

• Learn all about 3D printing at the Duluth Public Library tent! They will also have some interactive activities as well.

• Expect some free arts and crafts activities from Eye Candy Art Studio and Gingham & Eyelet.

As part of the ART portion of the event, the Duluth Fine Arts League will host an Art Walk in Parsons Alley. There, residents will find artists showcasing their work along with live music and other fun activities. Life-sized games such as Checkers, Chess and Connect 4 can be found throughout the event. Food Trucks will also be there to satisfy your most intense cravings.

Concussion Concerns Are Influencing Parents’ Decisions About Sports of parents said their decision would “depend on the sport.” Those respondents shared which sports they would allow their children to play. Here’s the recap:

Paige Havens

The Concussion Discussion

A recent survey commissioned by the America Osteopathic Association (AOA) asked over 1,000 parents if the risk of concussion influenced whether they allow their children to play sports.

51% said yes, while 33% said it “depends on the sport.” The remaining 16% said they’ve ruled out sports all together for their kids due to their concussion concerns. These results are very telling.

First, let’s consider 51% of parents are now factoring concussion risks as they consider youth sports for their children. This is real progress. It means that awareness of concussion is growing and it’s officially on the radar. That glass is half full in my eyes. To youth sports organizations, it’s a half-empty statistic. Some believe this is an indicator that parents are not as pro-sports as they once were.

I contend that just because parents are considering concussion risks, doesn’t mean it’s keeping them from enrolling.

By elevating awareness, we are helping parents make smarter, more informed decisions that are best for their children.

What’s more interesting is that 33%

Basketball 66% Baseball 63% Soccer 57% Gymnastics 47% Cheerleading 36% Wrestling 18% Football 18% Lacrosse 17% Field Hockey 16% Ice Hockey 12% Rugby 6% Other 2% The study showed that some parents perceive sports that involve more extensive protective equipment (i.e. football, lacrosse, hockey) as riskier sports for a concussion, but ironically, ALL of the sports listed above are among the most vulnerable sports for a concussion. Football gets the hype, but concussion risks in other sports are flying way under most parents’ radars. For example, soccer and basketball are the top two most vulnerable sports for girls, and concussion actual tops the list of injuries sustained by cheerleaders.

Other parents perceive sports with protective equipment as safer. That’s not true either. There is NO athletic equipment that prevents concussion. Helmets and pads are designed to prevent fractures and lacerations. As equipment evolves some pieces can now better absorb forces, but they do not prevent the jostling of the brain inside the skull. All sports have a risk of concussion. Parents need to know the facts about the vulnera-

bilities of each sport.

Unfortunately, the study shows 16% of parents are now deciding to avoid sports altogether because of their fear of a concussion. Even though I’ll tell you about the risk of concussion all day long, I’ll never tell you not to play. I believe wholeheartedly that the benefits of playing youth sports still far outweigh the risk of concussion.

Physical exercise is good for our children. Exercise strengthens their muscles and brains. Sports teaches them discipline, accountability, dedication, and leadership. Winning helps them feel accomplished and recognized for hard work. Losing teaches them how to feel proud for trying their best even when they don’t come in first. Sports strengthen social skills like teamwork, cooperation, and fair competition. And involvement in sports significantly decreases risky behavior. Those are all big wins for our kids!

Parents should consider all of the benefits and risks – not just focus on one single risk factor. The key is not avoiding sports, but engaging with athletic programs that take safety very seriously. Look for athletic associations that have well-trained coaches and provide well-maintained fields and properly fitting equipment. Ensure they have concussion policies and protocols that follow best practices. Seek programs that limit full-contact practices and teach good sportsmanship. And insist on having athletic trainers on the sidelines that focus on injury prevention and wellness, including concussion education, nutrition, hydration, and treatment.

The Gwinnett Citizen

October 2017

Planning and cooperation are keys to emergency management This is a salute-in-print to our first responders and everyone who worked hard before, during and after Tropical Storm Irma. Gwinnett’s police and fire crews handled three times their normal volume but they expected it and they were well prepared.

The hurricane’s remnants literally blew through Gwinnett County mostly on Monday, September 11, leaving dozens of roads blocked and about 100,000 county residents without power. Trees whipped by wind gusts up to 62 miles an hour were the main culprit.

Fallen trees not only damaged homes and businesses, they also blocked roads and knocked down power lines, creating dangerous conditions for both motorists and pedestrians. Our Fire and Emergency Services crews are trained and equipped to rescue people trapped in a mangled vehicle or building, overcome by quickly rising water or hazardous or explosive materials or buried alive in a collapsed trench.

“We didn’t miss any priority calls,” Fire Chief Casey Snyder said in a briefing to my fellow commissioners and me. “Everything that came in had somebody to go to it.” They had prepared by putting additional crews and equipment in service and dispersing them throughout the 437-square-mile county.

Greg Swanson, our director of

emergency management, coordinates our overall planning, response, and cleanup for all sorts of natural and manmade disasters. He credits our relatively new emergency operations center where all departments involved can work side by side as efficiently and effectively as possible.

At least 158 homes had serious structural damage from the storm and that damage had to be assessed on a case-by-case basis before state and federal authorities could make decisions about financial help for the victims. Recovery will be a months-long process for many, including our emergency response staff.

“A great deal of planning and coordination takes place during down times to be ready,” Swanson says, “so an actual emergency isn’t the first time they’ve been there.” Or as Gwinnett Police Chief Butch Ayers says, “The seeds for cooperation were sown a long time ago.” Gwinnett Police responded to 4,676 calls in three days.

Many others helped with storm response. Gwinnett’s animal shelter took in 42 dogs and 19 cats evacuated from the Georgia coast, for instance. Our water and wastewater treatment plant operators kept their facilities running, often with the assistance of generators.

And while you may not think about parks and recreation having a role in

Page 15

What’s in a name?

How did Alexander Park get its name?

By Katie Hart Smith

Charlotte J. Nash

County Business

emergency response, they along with our transportation and corrections departments provided equipment and assisted with debris removal.

Our county has faced many emergencies in almost 200 years of existence and our departments and agencies are steadily getting better at working together to recover. I’m so glad that Gwinnett residents can rely on these folks for protection and response when needed. Helping others when your own family is equally at risk takes a special kind of person.

Charlotte J. Nash is Chairman of Gwinnett County Commissioners.

As you jogged one of the paved or unpaved trails; strolled by the lake, streams, and rolling hills; or walked through the woods at Alexander Park, have you ever stopped to think what this land was once used for and how it got its name?

The ninety-one acre area, part of Gwinnett County’s award-winning park system, located at 800 Old Snellville Highway, Lawrenceville, Georgia, 30044, lays within lands principally owned and held by the Wade family in the early 1800s, followed by the Ambrose, Craig, and Alexander families.

Records indicate that the land had always been used for agricultural purposes. In the early 1800s, Asa Wade operated a mill east of the park on “Pew” Creek.

Wade was also a commissioner responsible for road construction in the 1820s for what is now known as Old Snellville Highway, which borders the park on the west, and Grayson Highway to the north.

The Craig family grew cotton on the land until the Alexander’s purchased the property in 1949. The Alexander family chose to grow vegetables and raise chickens.

Some sixty years later, Gwinnett County purchased the land, and Alexander Park opened in 2009.

Earlier this year, Polly Ann Ezzard

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Alexander Park, located in Lawrenceville, opened in 2009. The 91-acre area offers a lake for fishing, 18-hole disc golf-course, and miles of walking trails.

sold 40.7 acres of land to Gwinnett County. The Ezzard land nestles the southern border of Alexander Park, thereby growing the park’s footprint. The new section will be designated as the “Ezzard Nature Preserve at Alexander Park,” dedicated in memory of Dr. Webster P. Ezzard and Dr. George Ezzard.

To find a Gwinnett city or county park near you, visit: https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/portal/gwinnett/AboutGwinnett/ParksandRecreation Source: D’Angelo , James, J. (2006).

“Historical Research for the Alexander Park Project, Gwinnett County, Georgia.”

The Gwinnett Citizen

Page 16

October 2017

MARSHALL continued from page1 We had a GSP named Jaeger for thirteen years, and we loved him so much. We’ve missed him ever since we lost him.” Contestants were asked to write an essay explaining why they should win the adorable puppy. Of course, the Murphys read about the contest and concluded, as many do, that any contest advertised on facebook is a fake one. Still, neither of the Murphys could forget the face of that puppy, nor the face of the one they had loved so much for so many years.

On September 13, 2016, Cindy’s phone rang. “There were so many robo-calls right before the election, I just ignored it,” she said. But later that evening, she saw that the caller had left her a message. “It was the breeder, and she said that we had won the puppy!” Cindy said, adding that the call came exactly 3 years to the day that they lost their beloved Jaeger. For Cindy, that was both good news and bad news. She asked herself whether they could responsibly take a puppy. Maddie had ruled

the roost for so long, and a puppy could conceivably outlive her lucky owners.

Cindy told the breeder that she’d talk it over with her husband and get back with an answer the next day.

“Your husband?” the breeder asked her. “Is his name Tom? He entered the contest too, but he didn’t win.”

As it turned out, both Cindy and Tom had written essays to win the puppy, but neither had told the other about entering the contest. Once the couple was sure that the dog would have a good home should he outlive them (they made arrangements with a close friend who owns a farm), they decided to bring him into their home. Cindy and Tom drove to South Carolina, met the puppy, fell in love with him, and named him Marshall. “He has a personality all his own; he loves butterflies, points birds, and loves us dearly,” Cindy said. “He has brought so much joy to our lives.”

This summer, Cindy entered another contest. All she had to do was

Special Photo

One of the photos of Marshall taken after winning the contest. In August, Nationwide flew in a professional photographer who spent about 6 hours with the star pooch, being sure to get his good side!

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Tom Murphy, sporting a NASCAR “Hot” all-access pass, posed with the #88 car in the garage, just before the inspections took place

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Marshall as a puppy. This photo was included with the Facebook contest that brought Marshall and the Murphys together.

submit photos of her dogs, and if one of her dogs’ faces were selected, she and Tom would win something related to NASCAR. “I didn’t really read the rules or prizes because I figured there was no way we’d win,” Cindy said. However, in early August she received an e-mail from Nationwide Pet Insurance, informing her that

Special Photo

Dale Earnhardt, Jr’s #88 race car featured Marshall’s happy face during the New Hampshire race Sept 23. Here, the car is being inspected pre-race

Marshall’s photo had been selected.

“I didn’t even know what we’d won, so we went back to read the contest details,” said Cindy. The couple could hardly believe their luck when they read that Marshall’s photo would grace Dale Earnhardt, Jr.’s car during the New Hampshire race on September 23. Cindy and Tom were flown to the race, courtesy of Nationwide, and were treated like royalty at the track. Both diehard NASCAR fans and both loving “parents” to their dogs, a Nationwide representative said that the contest couldn’t have been won by a more deserving couple.

The Murphys were given rare inside access to the drivers’ meeting before the race, and they watched the race from the pit box, trackside (a rare honor, indeed). Nationwide opened their impressive hospitality RVs to them all day Sunday (race day), brought them to the garages where the cars are prepped before the race, and filmed a video of the couple for promotional use in the near future. They met NASCAR drivers and were gifted with a die-cast model of Dale, Jr.’s #88 car with Marshall’s photo gracing the exterior, a replica of the real thing. There were only 6 of those cars made, and the Murphys have one of them, signed by the driver himself. In fact, Cindy and Tom not only met and talked with Dale Earnhardt, Jr., but they also met his dog, Gus, too. “It was unbelievable,” Cindy said, “I keep thinking I’m going to wake up and realize it was all a dream!”

The weekend of the race also encompassed Tom’s Birthday and the couple’s 18th wedding anniversary.

To celebrate, they had dinner at a

Maine lobster restaurant that’s been on Tom’s bucket list for a long time.

The “Marshall magic” of this trip extended to that experience too, as lines to enter the restaurant are long and slow-moving. But Tom, anxious to see inside, was peering through a window when the owner came over to speak to him. Tom explained that they had traveled 1300 miles to eat there, and not only were they invited inside right away, but they were also given a personal tour of the fabulous kitchen, chock full of lobsters in pots and homemade blueberry pies and cobblers.

The only blip in the dream weekend was when Tom was hit in the face by a flying lug nut as the couple watched the race from the pit box.

He was injured, but the accident could have been much worse. The hot metal glanced off the rail around the pit box before hitting Tom. In a sense, Marshall’s luck held true even then, as his owner could have been injured much more seriously than he was.

If there’s a moral to this family’s story, it might be that dogs enrich any family. Maddie and Marshall have brought the Murphys so much happiness over the years that they can’t imagine their lives without them. And every now and then along comes a dog that brings an extra dose of magic, one that “lives under his own rainbow,” as Cindy describes Marshall. The circumstances and timing of his young life, from coming to the Murphy’s home when and how he did, to the whirlwind trip of a lifetime that his family enjoyed because of his intelligent, inquisitive face, may just be a preview of what’s to come in the Murphys’ future.

The Gwinnett Citizen

October 2017

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NOW HIRING Advertising Sales Executive

Advertising Sales Account Executive for established, 29 year community newspaper that is growing rapidly.

Candidates must be extremely articulate with strong communication skills and a team player. The ideal candidate will be professional, highly motivated, competitive, and energetic.

Experience in advertising sales a plus but not necessary.

To apply please email your resume to jobs@gwinnettcitizen.com

STORE CLOSING IN OCTOBER RJ Vintage Shop – Antiques and Collectibles 165 N. Perry Street Lawrenceville, GA 30045 770-338-2165

Hours of operation: Monday-Saturday 10 am – 3 pm

All individual items 50% to 75% off the marked price.

Show cases, display cases and shelving for sale.

Merchandise includes depression glass, paintings, lamps, clocks, chandeliers, Vinyl LPs, dinnerware sets, manneguqins and much, much more.

Building also For Sale.

Does your house tell a story?

MISSIONS PASTOR Develop missions strategy to recruit volunteers and missions budgets to support domestic or global communities; coordinate missions events to mobilize lay leaders for involvement in missions; provide oversight and pastoral care for church supported missionaries; Req’d. Masters degree in Divinity in Baptist; Foreign equiv. edu. acceptable; 40hr/wk; Mail resume to Atlanta Juhyang Baptist Church, Inc. at 4175 Buford Hwy., Duluth, GA 30096

FOR SALE DON’T MISS OUT ON 2.5 ACRES ZONED B3 IN BEAUTIFUL MONROE GA! THIS IS A PRIME COMMERCIAL LOT JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM THE NEW PANARA BREAD AND JUST MINUTES FROM THE MONROE COUNTRY CLUB AND GEORGE WALTON ACADEMY! THIS LOT HAS SEVERAL POSSIBLE OPTIONS INCLUDING MEDICAL OFFICE SPACE. DON’T MISS OUT THIS LOT IS PRICED TO SELL. CALL MIMI RUTLEDGE 678-776-2820, BYER REALTY 706-557-7760 TODAY!

Page 17

Katie Hart Smith From the Heart

As I finished up a phone call with Auveed Cawthon, Publisher for the Gwinnett Citizen, I always thank her for giving me the “lead” for the next story to write. I’m passionate about writing for the Gwinnett Citizen - telling the “good news” stories – where at the core, you’ll find the heart and soul of Gwinnett County. At the core of my “From the Heart” column, that’s where you’ll find my heart and soul.

While my articles and column inform, empower – share tales of the past, find the extraordinary in the ordinary in the present, or can inspire the future, when I look around our house, one that my husband, Jeff, and I have made over the years, I can see that our house also tells a story – a story of appreciation and love.

As I gaze out of my office window, I am appreciative of the colorful array of perennials. I see flowering white and lavender butterfly bushes, yellow and orange daylilies, autumn-colored Cora Bells - plants purchased from the Greenhouse at Creative Enterprises, Inc. (CEI), a center that cultivates the skills of dis-

abled adults located in Lawrenceville.

Upstairs in our bedroom hallway hangs a bronze-metal cross pattée acquired from CEI’s Thrift Store.

Indie music fills the air. The Atlanta-based sibling duo, “Chasing Lovely”, sang at The Depot in June. Jeff and I were introduced to their music at Lawrenceville’s new living room-style event venue set up for up and coming artists and hosted by Eddie’s Attic and The Gwinnett School of Music. The Depot is nestled next to the railroad tracks in an area of town dubbed the “entertainment” district.

A glittery, gold and green peacock, complete with diamond-shaped mirrors affixed to its tail, is perched on the back of my executive desk. An acquisition after visiting the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Lilburn, the bird represents a deity who stands for benevolence, patience, kindness, and good luck according to the Hindu religion.

Hand-written notes from Georgia’s First Lady, Sandra Deal, encourage me to forge forward. This summer, she informed me that she enjoyed reading my historical fiction novel set in 1900s Atlanta – Aspirations of the Heart. She writes to tell me that she has added it to the Governor’s Mansion library collection. In our correspondence, she explains that she is excited about the new novel coming out in October, Hope Never Rests. I learn that there is already a place reserved for it amongst Georgia’s literary collection. I am humbled and grateful beyond words for her recognition.

Local artist’s works are amassed on the shelves and on our walls throughout

the house. Family heirlooms and photos help to round out our story of appreciation and love, telling tales of family, friends, travel, adventures, and captured moments in time. My grandmother, Gigi’s black leather boot that she wore as a toddler is nestled amongst antique memorabilia on a shelf in the kitchen. It was neither a right nor left boot. At the turn of the century, shoes were made to be worn and twitched between your feet periodically to maximize wear.

Behind my executive desk, a bookshelf is filled with Gigi’s antique nursing text books, vintage china plates, to include my great-grandmother’s pink and black raffia hat with a black face net and pink ostrich feather hand-fan. A globe sits on the other end of my desk. For fun, Jeff and I spin it and randomly place our finger on a spot where we hope to venture next. I love that our home tells a story – our story.

Does your home tell a story? What story does it tell?

About Katie Hart Smith “Words, written or spoken, have power.” Katie Hart Smith’s column, “From the Heart,” touches the heart, inspires, entertains, and speaks to one’s heart and soul.

With over 20 years of experience, Smith has written for a wide array of audiences. Her historical fiction novels, Hope Never Rests and Aspirations of the Heart, have been placed in the Governor’s Mansion Library

by Georgia’s First Lady, Sandra Deal. To learn more about this Southern author, visit www.katiehartsmith.com.

Pre-press to Printing receives special award

TO PLACE A Classified AD

info@gwinnettcitizen.com

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NOW OPEN & HIRING!! **Delivery Drivers Cooks Servers Bartenders Cashiers Kitchen Staff Dishwashers

To inquire about a position please call (678) 392-5940 And/or email your resume to Nancysbuckhead.duluth@gmail.com

Ed From, owner Pre-Press to Printing, receives PIAG award from Steve Skeen, Heidelberg USA. August is normally a good month for Pre-Press to Printing since it is the month that they receive awards for Print Excellence from the Print Imaging Association of Georgia. The judging on entries is based on the craftsmanship, registration and many other factors that are required for a piece to stand out above the others.

Every year, PIAG has a print excellence competition where printers from the all over the state of Georgia enter the pieces they think are award worthy. Over the past 20 years, Pre-Press to Printing has received over 250 awards with this year being extra special in its accomplishments. Pre-Press to Printing entered 15 pieces and received 12 “Award of Excellence” and 3 “Best of Category” awards from the Print Imaging Association of

Georgia. One piece, “2015 Suwanee Annual Report”, was one of the pieces to win “Best of Category”. It was also awarded “Best of Show”. “Best of Show” is the top award in the state for a printed piece.

To make August even better for PrePress to Printing, “2015 Suwanee Annual Report”, and a printed piece for Allgood Plumbing, both won “Award of Recognition” from the Printing Industries of America. Each year, PIA has a international print competition where members from around the world submit over 2,200 entries for these prestigious awards.

“Pre-Press to Printing feels honored to have the ability and craftsmanship necessary to produce award winning printing,” says owner Ed From.

2015 Suwanee Annual Report won ‘Best of Category’ and ‘Best of Show’.

Gwinnett Chamber Entries 2016 Healthcare Awards Program 2016 Impact Awards Program 2016 Strategic Leadership guide City of Suwanee Entries 2015 Annual Report 2016 Event Post Card Allgood Plumbing Entries Flip Book Come Comfort Guide Post Card Campaign Christmas Card Christmas Card Individual Entries Talbert - Pocket Tool Instruction Marbury Group - Baby Book Hillman Floor - Note Cards Heart of Suwanee - Cards Gwi. Heart Spec. - Brochures

The Gwinnett Citizen

Page 18

My last fishing trip

Bill York

Nonagenarian Buy your kids fish in a market or restaurant and they learn nothing.

Teach them to fish and they will never go hungry.

When I could escape my grandfather’s disciplinary eyes at age 10 I would grab my fishing pole, dig some

worms and head to the pond nearby our farm where sunfish and bluegill were in abundance in the deep pool.

I caught enough for supper. When I caught a big crappie by the overflow I was hooked on fishing for life.

Operating a fur business in Buckhead allowed me to meet those who owned farms outside Atlanta. I knew the world record bass was in a Georgia farm pond.

I was lucky to have fished in many ponds in Georgia.

After retiring I fished in Canada and our northern-most rivers and lakes for a world record something.

I caught some huge Muskies and Northern Pike. On the Great Slave Lake I caught 145 Lake Trout averaging 21 lbs. in seven days, an exhilarating experience.

With time off it was difficult for me to choose between fishing, hunting, golf, tennis or canoeing.

A friend, Crayton Langford, was teaching his grandchild to be involved in sports. Aware I fished a lot he asked me to show a five year old kid how to catch fish.

I immediately thought of a springfed pond on a farm in Jackson County where I had caught many fish.

Will brought his own tackle box.

The contents consisted of a Little Debbie oatmeal cookie and a pack of vanilla wafers. He was going to be a serious angler.

For some reason the pond level was low and the water a little too warm so the bream had moved to a deeper spot where the creek was located before the dam was built.

Across the pond was a hill covered with trees where the deer bed down, the place for ticks, so we couldn’t fish the deeper spots.

Thinking where the fish might be I suggested they stand on the dam and drop their line near some weeds.

Bingo! A bream was on the hook.

Will did not handle the fish. “It’s wiggling,” he said, moving away.

With fishing over we left earlier than we had intended. As we got in the car Crayton asked Will how big was the fish they had caught.

The five year old kid was a good embellisher. He placed his hands one foot apart indicating a big fish, perhaps eight pounds. Bream do not get that big. It was maybe a half pound.

The kid will be a famous fisher-

October 2017

How big was that fish you caught?

man; they exaggerate the size of their fish.

The grassy incline up to the parking area is perhaps 40 yards wide.

Having lost my sea legs with a stroke four years ago, I discovered I could not make it up the hill. Without the strong arms of my friend I would

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still be sitting there by the pond, pondering my waning future.

It was my last fishing trip.

Bill is a WW II Navy veteran and retired President of York Furs in Buckhead. You can contact him by email at Sioux2222@gmail.com

October 2017

The Gwinnett Citizen

14th Annual Flowery Branch Car Show and Chili Cook Off

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The Gwinnett Citizen

October 2017