Gwinnett Citizen North October 2018

CITIZEN

Vol. 30 No. 12

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Spookier than ever!

Netherworld Haunted House open through November 4th at new location

By Julie Thompson GwinnettCitizen.com

Fishing days

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This Halloween season, the recently relocated Netherworld Haunted House will be spookier than ever with elaborate new sets and sinister background stories.

Guests can also enjoy additional activities including three escape rooms, activity rooms and expanded free parking.

For the past year, the staff has been constructing a set that is meant to be bigger and better than anything they’ve done before.

The attraction has moved to a larger building on 2076 W. Park Place Blvd. near stone Mountain.

“We really love this new building,” co-owner Ben Armstrong said

of the new 70,000 square foot warehouse that he and his partner now own. Following Netherworld’s ongoing model, there are two separate haunted houses, and depending on their ticket purchase, guests can choose to enter a single attraction or both.

Stepping foot in the haunt called “The Awakened”, guests will embark on a journey through the evil city of Whyshburg. They must pass through numerous layers of the disrupted town, including the village, a haunted forest, and a wicked mansion only to enter a portal that will transport them into the Netherworld. And to make it out to the other side, they must cross paths with numerous malignant creatures lurking in the dark.

With additional space on the property, the owners have added more outdoor revelries to the attraction as well. Once guests make

See ESCAPE on Page 18

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In each of the escape rooms at Netherworld, players must work together to solve the clues on time. Anywhere from four to eight players might play at once.

Opportunities to Give at Moving Kids to form the 16th Green Financial Positive Futures Charity Golf Classic

Art of hospitality

page 18 Roger Green, AVC Co-Founder Beth Mahaffey, and Michael Green

INSIDE Gwinnett Pulse What’s in a Name Health & Wellness

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By Julie Thompson GwinnettCitizen.com The secluded lawns of River Club in Suwanee were the setting for the 16th Charity Golf Classic hosted by Green Financial Resources LLC (GFR). Participants got to enjoy the sport while donating directly to two local nonprofits — The Auditory-Verbal Center and Friends of Gwinnett Seniors, as their sponsorship.

While everyone who participated in the tournament may be eligi-

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ble for a tax write-off next April, for Roger Green, the purpose is always to inspire a passion for giving.

“That to me is one of the greatest blessings in life — to be able to help someone who has greater needs than your own”, Roger said.

Roger recently celebrated 30 years of helping people with their money. He got started in the investment business when he was 19; his wife Laura joined him as COO 18 years ago, and now, two of their

See GREEN on Page 11

Photos by Julie Thompson

Riverside Elementary’s gym has a unique rock wall that kids climb sideways. Over the semester, they are encouraged to constantly challenge themselves to climb farther.

By Julie Thompson GwinnettCitizen.com

Every week, more than 1,000 kids enter the gym at Riverside Elementary in Suwanee. But their experience is very different than what some might picture when they think of P.E. class.

Mike Tontillo is the P.E. teacher

at Riverside, and he hopes to help his students cultivate a positive relationship with exercise so that they will continue to work out when they reach adulthood.

Located at 5445 Settles Bridge Road, Riverside Elementary’s gym is a unique facility filled with bright

See RIVERSIDE on Page 6

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October 2018

Gwinnett Pulse GAC School recognizes semifinalist for National Merit Scholarship

Capital projects delivery: Improving infrastructure and quality of life

By Staff Reports Senior Victoria Huynh was recently selected as a semifinalist for the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Competition. She is among approximately 16,000 semifinalists nationwide, which represents less than one percent of all U.S. high school seniors. Semifinalists are selected from about 1.6 million high school students who took the 2017 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/ NMSQT) during their junior year.

These semifinalists are competing for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million. Those scholarships will be announced in the spring of 2019.

Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

To be considered for a Merit Scholar award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level, including academic records, community participation, leadership abilities and honors received. The semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record, be recommended by a school official, write an essay, and achieve SAT scores that validate the student’s ear-

Charlotte J. Nash

County Business

Victoria Huynh

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lier performance on the qualifying test.

Victoria Huynh thrives on academics and enjoys academic competitions. She has been a participant in GAC Debate and Mock Trial. She has a passion for politics and women’s rights. Her aspirations for the future are to attend a great university and then pursue medical school.

The number of capital projects now under construction by your County government tells me Gwinnett County’s future is bright!

In September, we finally broke ground for a long-awaited new police precinct on Ozora Road adjacent to Bay Creek Park near Loganville.

The new facility will also include a backup 911 Call Center in case the main center in Lawrenceville becomes unusable for any reason.

Meanwhile, firefighters opened a new, relocated and expanded Fire Station 15 at 199 Scenic Highway in Lawrenceville. They responded to their first call from the new station on September 20 at 7:55 a.m. The old station across from the Lawrenceville Lawn has been demolished. That site will soon become a Bicentennial Plaza as a legacy of our 200th birthday celebration taking place this year. An improved Bicentennial Trail connects it to the Justice and Admin-

istration Center nearby.

Those two new buildings join a long list of public safety facilities built with pennies raised by various voter-approved SPLOST one-cent sales tax programs. SPLOST has also funded recent expansions that are underway at Graves Park and Alexander Park and a renovation at the Norcross Senior Center. And, more SPLOST projects are in the planning stages so stay tuned for more exciting announcements over the next year.

Since 1985, County voters have wisely chosen to invest in judicial and public safety facilities, roads, parks, and other public assets through a series of SPLOST programs which have raised approximately $3.3 billion for capital improvements. Using pay-as-you-go financing as much as possible has minimized long-term debt and saved us all more than $1.5 billion in financing costs compared to issuing bonds.

Gwinnett residents will vote on a major transportation referendum next spring that will determine the future of transit options throughout Gwinnett. If approved, Gwinnett County, through a contractual arrangement with the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, will then embark on implementing the transit projects laid out in our Connect Gwinnett Transit Plan. The first phase of the plan involves a major expansion of our existing bus service, with other modes of transit, includ-

ing bus rapid transit and a heavy rail connection to the Doraville station, to follow. To help pay for it, there would be a penny sales tax dedicated to transit.

Gwinnett transportation planners are also continuing to maintain and expand our network of roads throughout the county. One recent example is road improvements on Club Drive in the Meadowcreek school cluster. Another is widening Pleasant Hill Road from the Chattahoochee River to McClure Bridge Road. Commissioners approved both of these construction contracts last month and both are funded at least partially by SPLOST. Another exciting project about to be built, though not with SPLOST funds, is a new Water Innovation Center for research and education on state-of-the-art water-related technology. Gwinnett has become a world leader through the many innovations in place at our F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center. The new center will leverage our current position to keep us on the cutting edge of new technologies as they are developed and tested.

As we look back on Gwinnett County’s progress over the past 200 years during our year-long Bicentennial Celebration this year, we are also looking forward to planning and building the necessary infrastructure that will make Gwinnett an even better place to live, work, play, and raise a family in the decades ahead.

Free Uber rides to Downtown Duluth

Parsons Alley in Downtown Duluth.

By Staff Reports The City of Duluth’s Downtown Development Authority is partnering with Uber to offer free roundtrip rides (up to $25 each way) on Thursday evenings to its downtown restaurant and retail district. The promotion launched September 20th and will run through November 8th.

Riders will be able to redeem their rides with a unique promo code each week that will be posted on the city’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts.

The program is part of a larger plan to more pro-actively advertise and market the downtown area to residents and visitors.

October 2018

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“Duluth has seen a tremendous amount of growth throughout the city in the last couple of years,” said William Corbin, the city’s Economic Development Specialist. “This promotion is the perfect opportunity for both newcomers and regulars to check out all of the exciting changes to our downtown district.”

Visitors will be able to take advantage of downtown Duluth’s to-go drink district, and try out a variety of establishments new to the block, including Truck & Tap (a local restaurant/bar featuring a rotating selection of food trucks and craft beer), Good Word Brew Pub, and the newest restaurants – Noona and Four Forks/Madcap’s.

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Holtkamp Heating & Air announces public arts project and request for proposals for large building mural on new headquarters Holtkamp Heating & Air has issued a request for proposals and qualifications from professional artists to submit creative ideas for a large wall mural that will appear

on the side of their new headquarters on Interstate 85 at the Suwanee Gateway. The mural will transform the exterior of the new building into a highly visual landmark and source

Matthew Holtkamp

of pride for the city of Suwanee and Gwinnett County.

Although not limited to Suwanee, Gwinnett County or even Georgia residents, the artists must exhibit knowledge of and connection to the surrounding area and its history in order for their proposals to be seriously considered.

“Our goal with this project is to create a distinctive visual landmark

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art piece that celebrates and reflects elements of the area’s community, beauty, history and diversity,” said Suzanne Holtkamp, VP of Marketing & Operations. “Gwinnett has embraced public art, and we want to continue that trend with a creative and unique design visible from the interstate that will celebrate the arts and draw interest to the Suwanee Gateway.”

Professional artists are encouraged to visit the Holtkamp website (www.holtkamphvac.com/mural) to download line drawings, site plans, logos and other documents to assist in their proposals.

The deadline for submissions is November 30, 2018 at 5 pm. All submission details are contained within the RFP. Holtkamp Heating & Air has provided residents of Gwinnett County and surrounding areas with superior comfort and high-quality customer service for over 20 years. Owners Matthew and Suzanne Holtkamp have a strong, longstanding commitment to the arts and community groups throughout Gwinnett County.

Fall Back Nov. 4th

October 2018

My fishing days are over

Bill York

Nonagenarian It all started on my grandfather’s farm when I was 10 years old, during the Great Depression.

When my chores were done, I dug some worms, got my cane pole and headed for the old mine pond.

Maybe three hours later, I had my stringer full of chunky sunfish and bluegill. My grandmother was always pleased.

In the Navy, I sometimes saw dolphins and porpoises surfing our bow waves. Occasionally, we spotted a whale. Once we saw a pod of Orcas.

After taking one trip to the Great Slave Lake in the Canadian Northwest Territory, where I caught 155 lake trout in a week averaging 21 pounds, my future vacations were set.

Over the next thirty years, I was able to arrange my vacations and fish for freshwater trophies in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Canada.

I also fished the Columbia, Deschutes, Lewis and Fraser rivers in the Pacific Northwest. I caught a 90-pound white sturgeon in the Fraser River.

Rivers in British Columbia provide Chinook, Coho and Steelhead

Trophy Northern Pike – Wolverine River.

salmon in lengths that will boggle your mind.

Years ago, I caught rainbow trout in Lake Lanier. Soon after Lanier was stocked with stripers, the trout were gone.

I’m not fond of saltwater fishing, but while on vacation in Destin, I entered a local tournament and caught a 50-pound Cobia in a trench within sight of our gulf-side motel.

I had many customers who had farm ponds where I caught big mouth bass. In one pond, I hooked the biggest snapping turtle I had ever seen. It was a magnificent creature, possibly thirty pounds.

With my tongs, I carefully removed my hook. The turtle could bite my finger off. For a moment I considered turtle stew, but I decided to release it back into its world.

The photograph of the northern pike is always in a museum in my head. Fishing the Wolverine River in Nunavut, I caught the fish twice in four days. The fish was recognizable by three scars behind its dorsal fin. The Indian guide I was with had caught her before and named her “Big Momma.”

Three strokes have stopped

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my traveling but good memories remain.

Canada has a catch-and-release law, so they will always have great fishing.

Bill is a 92-year old WW II Navy veteran and retired President of York Furs in Buckhead.

You can contact him by email at Sioux2222@gmail.com

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Bill York with trophy Muskie on Leech Lake MN.

Co-Publishers/Editors Auveed Bagheri Cawthon Chris Cawthon PO Box 1779 • Lawrenceville, Ga 30046 • Office (770) 963-3699 www.gwinnettcitizen.com • info@gwinnettcitizen.com The mission of gwinnettcitizen.com newspaper, a publication of Media Maker Group Inc. dba gwinnettcitizen.com, is to provide our readers with stories about their communities and people. Our stories and photos bring to life the passion of living, working, playing, living healthy and worshiping in Gwinnett County. We help connect readers with local businesses to facilitate and promote shopping and buying local.

The newspaper, a free publication, is direct mailed to 3 geographic zones in Gwinnett County containing hyper-local news pertinent to each community for a total monthly distribution of 60,000 printed copies in Gwinnett County.

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October 2018

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RIVERSIDE continued from page 1

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murals depicting things like castles and volcanoes. Some of its features include rock climbing walls, pull-up bars of varying heights and a mini “Cosmic Bowling” alley. Throughout his years working at Riverside, Tontillo always knew this vibrant gym would help kids create a positive association with exercise, but the idea was reaffirmed recently when he read an article published in The New York Times.

The article sources research showing that people who found pleasure in P.E. class as kids are more likely to stay active in their adult life.

“Their memories apparently continued to color their attitudes towards exercise,” the article reads.

Tontillo works with P.E. Paraprofessional Mona Williams. Together, they try to create a fun atmosphere for the kids. They play upbeat music and give plenty of compliments over the loudspeaker. A big part of the class is about encouraging kids to challenge themselves.

The class starts with a warmup and lasts 50 minutes, and Tontillo tries to keep the kids moving for at least 40. They do circuit training, alternating briskly from one workout station to the next to keep their heart rates up. Periodically, kids will stop by a red monitor in the center of the gym to check their heart rates.

“When the kids tell me that they beat their record, I tell them how excited I am because I know that they had to work really hard to make that happen,” Tontillo said.

The class includes skill sessions where the kids work on specific movements. And as the year progresses, they try to build on those skills.

“Whenever we work on skills, we always have different levels where the kids feel comfortable working,” Tontillo said. “They can always feel successful and be at a level that’s comfortable, and they can always have room for improvement to move up to the next level. That’s a big part of each lesson.”

For some of the kids, this is their second or third year in the Riverside gym. Tontillo encourages kids by reminding them of their successes and how far their skills have progressed since they first began learning them.

Tontillo remembers the days in P.E. class when everyone would line up and stare while one person attempted a movement. He has tried to rewrite this kind of culture by encouraging kids to take leadership roles and help their peers.

At the end of every class, The

Photos by Julie Thompson

Students are always on the move during P.E. class at Riverside Elementary. They do circuit training, changing from station to station throughout each session.

Superkid Certificate is given to about seven or eight kids who show exceptional peer leadership. The entire class applauds as Tontillo presents the award.

Second graders are the first ones to come to the gym at 8:25 every morning. For fifth graders, there is also an afterschool option — the 5th Grade P.E. Club where they can enjoy 45 minutes of exercise in a smaller group than regular classes.

And now, Riverside students also have the option to attend P.E. in the summer. Riverside’s first P.E. Summer camp was held in June 2018. Participants could sign up for one session and then decide if they wanted to do the second week. Each session was held Monday through Thursday for three hours each of the four days. Except for a 20-minute lunch break, the kids stayed active the whole time.

Tontillo recognizes that video games and cell phones are distractions that may deter some kids from playing outside. He encourages students to share stories about how they stayed active over the weekend to make them feel special for breaking a sweat on their own.

At other times, Tontillo will compare the equipment in P.E. class to adult fitness centers. He describes the machines and equipment to get the kids excited about joining a gym when they grow up.

Paraprofessional Mona Williams shares Tontillo’s passion for getting kids to stay active. In her experience, she has found both the atmosphere and the teacher in a P.E. class can impact kids’ relationships with exercise.

“Some kids love to exercise

Photos by Julie Thompson

P.E. teacher Mike Tontillo and Paraprofessional Mona Williams try to help the kids in Riverside Elementary’s P.E. class form positive relationships with exercise by creating a fun and uplifting environment.

more than others, but if P.E. class is not fun, it will not be a class they look forward to,” Williams said.

She believes challenging the kids and changing up the activities is one way they will stay engaged and working towards new skills.

“The most important thing that I can do is to ensure that when my students leave the fifth grade they are successful in performing their skills and they have a positive feeling about physical activity and exercise, “ Tontillo said. “And that motivation in and of itself will have all students hopefully continue to try many different avenues to maintain their fitness through adulthood and for the rest of their lives.”

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October 2018

First graduation for inmate welding program

By Staff Reports The Gwinnett County Department of Corrections hosted a graduation ceremony Sept. 28 for the first graduating class of its welding vocational program.

The ceremony, which was held at the Gwinnett County Comprehensive Correctional Complex at 9:30 a.m., honored the program’s 13 graduates and feature speakers including Warden Darrell Johnson.

The 18-week program is offered through a partnership between Gwinnett County Corrections, the Georgia Department of Corrections, the Atlanta Regional Commission and Gwinnett Technical College.

The offenders enrolled in the program attend the class four days a week for six hours a day after completing their work detail. In class, students receive instruction that emphasizes basic skills, safety and quality workmanship.

Upon completion of the course, they’ll earn a certificate in Gas Metal Arc Welding from Gwinnett Tech.

Should they choose to return to school after their release, the credits earned during the course can transfer back to Gwinnett Tech as hours that can be used toward a diploma.

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Warden Johnson said, “The goal of this program is to make it easier for offenders to succeed once they are released. When they have a skill like welding, it’s easier to find employment and become a productive member of our community, which reduces recidivism.”

This first class of graduates has maintained an A average. The participant selected as valedictorian earned both his GED diploma and the welding certifications during his incarceration.

Corrections received Workforce Opportunity Investment Act funding from the Atlanta Regional Commission for the welding program. The program is overseen by Vocation/ Education Coordinator Shontese Renfroe-Wilson, who also offers job readiness workshops to offenders who complete vocational training.

Other vocational training offered

by Corrections includes forklift licensure, ServSafe, building maintenance and computer science. The department also provides literacy and GED classes for inmates, with GED testing conducted onsite.

The Gwinnett County Comprehensive Correctional Complex is located at 750 Hi-Hope Road in Lawrenceville.

What’s in a name?

By Katie Hart Smith GwinnettCitizen.com Which Gwinnett city established the first public library in the county? a) Grayson b) Snellville c) Norcross The correct answer is (c) Norcross. The first public library in Gwinnett was created by the Norcross Woman’s Club in 1907. The original public library was relocated in 1922 to a new building. The project was funded by a generous donor, Edward Buchanan who made the first car south of the Mason-Dixon Line, called “NorX,” in 1908. Today, the Gwinnett County Public Library System consists of fifteen locations.

The City of Norcross, located in the western part of Gwinnett County, was incorporated in 1870, becoming the second oldest city in Gwinnett. The area, formerly occupied by Cherokee and Creek Indians, was an important transportation route because it was situated along the Eastern Continental Divide, meaning streams traveling west of the city flow into the Chattahoochee River ultimately reach the Gulf of Mexico and waterways east of Norcross drain into the Yellow River eventually reach the Atlantic Ocean.

Jonathan Norcross, the fourth May-

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or of Atlanta, proposed that the Richmond-Danville Railroad build routes north of the city of Atlanta into the area of Gwinnett County with the hopes of opening up the northern region to commerce and growth.

Although the Civil War halted construction plans, twenty miles of tracks were eventually installed thirteen years later. The Brunswick Hotel, established in 1870, gave downtown-dwelling Atlanta residents a retreat destination in west Gwinnett.

In 1889, John Thrasher bought 250 acres surrounding the railroad depot and named the town after his friend, Norcross. As a result of the railroad, communities, businesses, and churches sprang up.

Did you know Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church of Norcross was founded by African-American newly-freed slaves? The church, also

referred to as “The City of Hope,” was originally created in 1865. Since that time, seven additional churches have branched out from this location and have been placed throughout other areas of the country to serve its growing congregation. Pastor William Sheals has been serving his members for thirty-eight years.

In 1980, the town of Norcross was added to the list of the National Register of Historic Places. The population of Norcross has nearly tripled from 5,515 in 1990 to over 16,787 residents in 2016 according to the U.S Census. Norcross, located twenty miles northeast of downtown Atlanta, consists of 4.65 square miles.

For more information about the City of Norcross and their calendar of community events, visit: http:// www.norcrossga.net/index.aspx.

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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

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to be appointed the Administrator of the estate. The Court will require that all of your heirs be notified and that a notice is 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

“Whether your estate is large or small, planning ahead lets you control costs” 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 the approval of 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 the 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

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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 Planning and Elder Law practice have 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.

Gwinnett County Animal Welfare celebrates Adopt-A-Dog month Gwinnett Animal Welfare and Enforcement is waiving all fees on adoptions through Oct. 20 in celebration of Adopt-a-Dog Month.

The animal shelter has large, small, mixed breeds and purebred dogs that are homeless and waiting for their new family. The free adoption special applies to cats and kittens, too.

All pets adopted at Gwinnett Animal Welfare are vaccinated, neutered and microchipped before they go to their new home.

“During Adopt-a-Dog Month, we encourage residents to visit the Gwinnett animal shelter to meet a potential new sidekick,” said Director Alan Davis.

Animal Welfare staff will offer trick-or-treat refreshments for visitors and Halloween candy for children Oct. 25 through Halloween.

Animal Welfare and Enforcement professionals will be onsite with helpful tips and information about pet care and the importance of spaying or neutering your cat or dog.

The shelter is located at 844 Winder Highway, Lawrenceville.

Visit www.gwinnettanimalwelfare.com for updates on available pets and activities.

October 2018

Gwinnett DAR Chapter celebrated 2018 Constitution Week with creative activities and projects

By Judy Dyer Philadelphia Winn Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) celebrated Constitution Week this year with a creative assortment of activities and projects, all built around the goal of educating and encouraging people of all ages, and from all walks of life, to read, study, and understand the Constitution of the United States.

With an impressive team effort, the Philadelphia Winn DAR Chapter from Lawrenceville sent personalized letters to all 235 members of the Georgia General Assembly, explaining the history and significance of Constitution Week, and encouraging legislators to join in celebrating the Constitution this year.

The Chapter also received Official Proclamations from the State of Georgia, signed by Governor Nathan Deal, and from the cities of Lawrenceville and Dacula, signed by the respective mayors of those cities.

Other members designed exhibits and activities explaining the Constitution and displayed them at schools, media centers, and public libraries in Gwinnett County. Often included were crafts, puzzles, and handouts related to the Constitution.

They also spoke to students in several Gwinnett County school class-

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Philadelphia Winn members are joined by First Lady Sandra Deal as Governor Nathan Deal presents the Proclamation for 2018 Constitution Week.

rooms about the importance of the Constitution. Another Philadelphia Winn Member displayed the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence in Braille at the GLASS Library for the Blind in downtown Atlanta, in order to make these historical documents accessible to the blind and visually impaired.

The September meeting of Philadelphia Winn Chapter featured keynote speaker Judge Melodie Snell Conner, Chief Judge of Division 7 of the Gwinnett County Superior

Court, who spoke about the Constitution, the Rule of Law, and the statutory underpinnings and functions of the Superior Court.

Social media was also employed by the Philadelphia Winn Chapter with daily FaceBook postings of interesting facts and figures about the U.S. Constitution.

Chapter members also participated in Bells Across America, a nationwide, annual program of bell ringing on September 17th, celebrating the date of the signing of the

Philadelphia Winn Member and State Constitution Week Member Judy Dyer made a display showcasing the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution in Braille for the Open House of GLASS Georgia Library for the Blind.

Constitution in 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Philadelphia Winn Chapter NSDAR of Lawrenceville, Georgia was chartered in 1982 with 41 organizing/charter members, and today has approximately 220 members.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded October 11, 1890, and currently has more than 950,000 mem-

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Constitution Week displays with patriotic handouts were set up at Winder Elementary in Winder and at Harbins Elementary School in Dacula. Olivia Harmon, who is Recording Secretary in the Elisha Winn Society Children of the American Revolution, and her grandmother, Ann Story, who is Regent of the Philadelphia Winn Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, gave a presentation on the Constitution to Mrs. Smith’s third-grade class at Winder Elementary School in Winder.

bers. The Historical, Educational, and Patriotic objectives laid forth in the first meeting of the DAR have remained the same in 125 years of active service to the nation.

Oct. 31, 2018

October 2018

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First Place Foursome

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Second Place Foursome

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Third Place Foursome

October 2018

GREEN continued from page 1 sons have also joined the business.

One of those sons is Michael, who received his Master’s degree in finance from Georgia State and earned a double accounting and finance Bachelor’s at Mercer University. Today, he is a registered investment advisor representative and is being mentored by his father.

But it wasn’t easy for Michael to get where he is now. When he was thirteen months old, his parents learned he was deaf. They decided to move to Atlanta so Michael could attend the Auditory-Verbal Center (AVC). AVC teaches children with mild to profound deafness to listen and to speak clearly without using sign language or lip reading.

At the Auditory-Verbal Center (AVC), Michael learned to speak and respond to communication using a cochlear implant and a variety of listening techniques. He is now able to converse as well as anyone, and he even answers phones at GFR. The Green family is still highly connected with the Center. Roger is the Chairman of the Board at AVC, and Michael is the Chairman of the Young Professionals Board. The golf tournament is an exciting day for Michael because he knows it will help change kids’ lives.

“Every new dollar that we get towards AVC is one step closer changing a future child’s life”, Mi-

chael said. “I’m always excited for an opportunity to help AVC be able to give another kid the same chance and opportunities that I was given.”

AVC was the Greens’ primary charity for the tournament. They raised a total of $51,000 via donations from sponsors and golfers, and a sum of $40,500 went directly to AVC. The remaining donations were directed by the givers to Friends of Gwinnett Seniors (Friends), who has been a primary beneficiary of the tournament in the past. Friends aim to assist needy seniors with transportation to medical care, meals, and home modification and safety services.

Roger, President-Elect for 2019 of Friends of Gwinnett Seniors, invited all to come out to the Fish4Friends fishing tournament October 5th from 8-12, being held at Port Royale on Lake Lanier. Green Financial is the title sponsor of the event.

Visit www.FriendsofGwinnettSeniors. org for more information.

GFR will also be sponsoring AVC’s Denim and Diamonds Gala on Nov. 3 from 6-11:30 at the Doubletree by Hilton Atlanta Perimeter Dunwoody.

The event will feature dancing, dinner, cocktails, and both live and silent auctions. You will find more information at www.avchears.org.

This year’s activities for the tournament started at 8:30 a.m. with a

breakfast provided by Chick-fil-A, and closed at 3:00 p.m. with a lunch, raffle, sponsor recognition, and the award presentation. The winning foursome consisted of Matt Moeck, Matt Parkerson, Stewart Fogleman, and Jonathan London who finished with an impressive score of 45 (-27).

Roger enjoyed that the tournament was an opportunity to have fun while “doing something good.”

“To me, one of the greatest blessings in life is to be able to help someone who has greater needs than your own”, Roger said. “Too many complain that they have depression or anxiety and challenges, and I think if they change their focus from themselves on to other people, then they will have a grateful heart and that makes for good medicine.”

Roger Green is an Investment Advisor Representative offering Securities and Investment Advisory Services through Cetera Advisors LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Green Financial, located at 3700 Crestwood Pkwy Duluth GA 30096, and Cetera Advisors LLC are otherwise unaffiliated.

Pictured left on page 10 are photos from the 16th Green Financial Charity Golf Classic.

We are Stronger; Together!

By Theresa L. Bailey Chairwoman, HRPC The Gwinnett County Public School System sold the Hooper-Renwick School structure to the city of Lawrenceville in 2014. This building and the white framed structure that preceded it (which is no longer present), were the only public high schools for African Americans in Gwinnett County from 1944 until 1968. School Choice, which became the law of the land, forced African Americans all over this county to migrate from Hooper-Renwick. African Americans were forced to leave their beloved institution where they had been physically and spiritually nurtured, immersed in cultural pride, academically bathed while benefiting from sacrificial volunteerism. The migration forced African Americans to attend predominately white institutions where most were not welcomed. Today, we announce that the building that was once targeted for complete demolition, the 12 original classrooms will be pre-

served! While it is true that demolition has already begun, at the time of this writing, we must remember that those ingrained characteristics witnessed and learned to remain with us. In fact, they are buoyed by an unwavering faith in God and will now be manifested in an International Governmental Agreement (IGA) between the City of Lawrenceville and Gwinnett County to present the first ever, African American Museum / Library. The group of concerned citizens (alumni and others) that gathered with the goal of preserving this important structure and legacy of education for African Americans in Gwinnett County, Georgia, and the United States continue in this effort.

It is due to the actions taken by these citizens, the City of Lawrenceville is now poised to recognize the significant historical value of Hooper-Renwick. The City is committed to commemorating this unique and important history as we move toward a progressive and unified vision. It is imperative that we join forces to preserve this structure and its legacy

within our community. Hooper-Renwick will be a historic cultural site and museum. Your help and support are solicited and needed. You are already a member of the Hooper-Renwick Community. We are only asking that you come and join us as we begin to lay the groundwork for establishing and erecting this great institution!

This is a 20th-century clarion call! Now is the time to come and let your voice be heard. Please email your contact information to us at historichrs@gmail.com, follow us on Facebook at Hooper-Renwick School Preservation Committee. Watch for updates, announcements, and meetings. If you, or anyone you know, are in the possession of artifacts or memorabilia pertaining to the Hooper-Renwick, please Sir or Madam, email us and make us aware. No relic is too small. One tree cannot make a forest, but many trees growing together, that’s another story! We are indeed, “stronger, together!”

Live Local, Shop Local, Support Local Thank you to all our advertisers and community partners.

Contact the GWINNETTCITIZEN.COM today to share your community news & inquire about advertising and partnering.

(770) 241-8801 • info@gwinnettcitizen.com • gwinnettcitizen.com October 2018

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Health, Beauty & Wellness Health Department one of only five in nation to meet FDA standards

By Staff Reports Out of 831 jurisdictions enrolled throughout the United States, Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County (GNR) Health Departments is now one of only five jurisdictions in the nation to meet all nine standards of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program (“Program Standards”).

Conforming to the Program Standards is a rigorous process according to Chris Smith, Retail Food Service director with the FDA: “On average most jurisdictions meet two to three standards out of the nine total.” Smith met with the county boards of health to present the nine standards certificates to Jason Reagan, director of environmental health at GNR Health Departments.

“Who hasn’t eaten at a restaurant in the last year?” Reagan asked. “We have created a uniform standard across our Food Service program. Everyone

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in our three counties will benefit from safer restaurants, all held to the highest standards.”

By achieving the Program Standards, GNR Health Departments is becoming part of a more uniform national inspection program. The “Trained Regulatory Staff” standard is a good example of how the Program Standards increase the level of consistency and accuracy of food inspections. GNR Health Departments has developed a comprehensive training program where new inspectors are exposed to a variety of foods, cultures, human interactions, and facility conditions during their joint field training. Employees also train under a program that covers various food inspection topics, procedures, and protocols in a classroom setting to better prepare them for real-world inspections.

One trainer is assigned to a maximum of two new inspectors for more one-onone interaction.

“Essentially, meeting all nine stan-

dards shows that our Food Service program is very similar to the FDA,” said Reagan. “This process is more than just checking boxes. It’s about standardizing our program. Within the Program Standards, we focus on the factors that cause and contribute to foodborne illness and work towards reducing the occurrence of those factors.”

The nine standards include, (1) Regulatory Foundation, (2) Trained Regulatory Staff, (3) Inspection Program Based on HACCP Principles, (4) Uniform Inspection Program, (5) Foodborne Illness and Food Defense Preparedness, and Response, (6) Compliance and Enforcement, (7) Industry and Community Relations, (8) Program Support and Resources, and (9) Program Assessment.

There are currently only four other jurisdictions in the country meeting all nine standards. Those include the Kansas City Missouri Health Department (Missouri), City of Vineland Health

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Special Photo

Nine standards certificates presented to the Gwinnett Board of Health. (Pictured L-R) Mayor Mike Mason, Alvin Wilbanks, Joseph Sternberg, Louise Radloff, Jason Reagan, Dr. Alan Bier, Dr. Lloyd Hofer, Dr. Earl Grubbs, Chris Smith

Department (New Jersey), Portsmouth Health Department (Virginia), and Virginia Beach Department of Public Health (Virginia).

To learn more about the Voluntary National Retail Food Regulatory Program Standards, visit the FDA’s website.

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Maternal Gynerations Moves Practice to New Building

By Julie Thompson GwinnettCitizen.com Maternal Gynerations (pronounced Maternal Generations) has provided obstetrics and gynecological care for generations of women. Over the past 20 years, the practice functioned in a 14,000 square foot office on Old Norcross Road, in Lawrenceville. The twelve providers OB/GYN practice has outgrown its current space and will be moving to a large office building on Professional Drive, which will formally be known as, “The Maternal Gynerations Building.”

The practice will occupy a space of 18,000 square feet on the second floor of 600 Professional Drive, in Lawrenceville. The space has been renovated to include more than 30 exam rooms, 2 procedure rooms, and an imaging suite. It has also been redesigned with all new furniture, artwork and exam tables.

Maternal Gynerations had roughly a dozen employees when it first moved to the office on Old Norcross Road. In the past two decades, the practice has grown to more than 50 employees and has two office locations in Gwinnett County.

Recently, Dr. Laura Morgigno was brought on board to become the newest OB/GYN of the practice. She joined the practice in the fall.

She is a Long Island, NY native. She graduated from SUNY Stony Brook with a BA in Art History.

She then went on to receive her medical degree at Ross University School of Medicine and completed her OB/GYN residency at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. She has a special interest in high-risk obstetrics and adolescent gynecology. Dr. Morgigno is board-certified and thoroughly trained in women’s health. “We think she’s going to be a significant addition to our practice,” said Dr. Andrew Doris.

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The practice will be opening the doors to the new space in mid-October. With the additional 4,000 square feet, Maternal Gynerations will have space to expand its services. The new office will include 3D/4D ultrasonography and a state-of-the-art mammography suite. With the new mammography suite, patients will be able to coordinate annual breast screenings with their annual exams, adding a layer of convenience and enhancing patient care. As the practice continues to grow, it will begin adding new specialized professionals to further broaden its capabilities. The practice has plans of adding a nurse practitioner who is a licensed lactation specialist, in the early months of 2019.

Maternal Gynerations offers an array of services ranging from high-risk pregnancy assistance to treatment for various women’s health concerns. While some services, like mammogram screenings, will only be offered at the main office in Lawrenceville, most conditions can be treated in either location. The practice uses Gwinnett Medical Center exclusively for deliveries and various surgical procedures. The hospital provides access to additional technology and equipment that enhances the practice’s level of care.

Dr. Doris is one of only two physicians to perform robotic gynecological surgeries at Gwinnett Medical Center, where he uses a technology called the Da Vinci Surgical System. This technology adds better visualization, greater flexibility and range of motion for difficult procedures like the removal of uterine fibroids, ovarian masses, and others.

“Robotic surgery, in general, is a revolution in how we go about doing surgery. It takes minimally invasive surgery to a whole new level as far as the complexity of the procedures we are allowed to do.” Dr. Doris commented.

One of the great things about the new space is that it will look more up-to-date and reflect the progressive treatment the practice offers. “We wanted the quality of our space to match the quality of our care,” Dr. Doris said.

From outside the new office, visitors will see a large sign with an updated logo depicting two parents holding each other and their infant. The inside will feature a modern look with cool colors and a relaxing atmosphere.

Maternal Gynerations aims to continue offering expert care from both male and female physicians, alongside the nurse practitioners to meet the needs of all women at all stages of life. For more information, visit www.maternalgynerations.net.

The office is now booking mammogram screening appointments with openings as early as December. It will also continue to host the postpartum depression support group lead by a licensed counselor. The sessions are held every month and are free to all patients. Contact the office to learn more about upcoming sessions or visit their website.

During the move, the practice will have modified office hours. Once the move has been completed, normal office hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, will resume.

To book an appointment call, 770.513.4000 or visit the Patient Portal on the website.

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Georgia Commissions on Dispute Resolution and Family Violence Collaborate on new Rules for mediating cases involving domestic violence

Special Photo

(L-R) Judge Charles E. Auslander, III; Raye Rawls; Joan Prittie; Judge M. Cindy Morris; Tracy B. Johnson; Stephanie Woodard; Peggy Wilson; and Jennifer Thomas.

By Staff Reports Following two years of concerted effort, the Georgia Commission on Dispute Resolution (GCDR) has adopted new Rules for Mediating Cases with Domestic Violence. These rules will be used by court Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) programs to screen cases for intimate partner violence/abuse (domestic violence) in domestic relations cases. The GCDR requires that these sensitive cases be carefully screened by especially skilled mediation court staff to determine whether the case should proceed to mediation, and, if appropriate, that the case be mediated only by state-registered mediators who have demonstrated proficiency in both practice and training.

The safety of victims of domestic violence is the GCDR’s highest priority. The new Rules specifically exclude any case from mediation that arises under the Family Violence Act, such as a Petition for a Protective Order, and exclude any criminal cases that involve allegations of family violence.

Collaboration, a cornerstone technique in mediation, played an important role in developing informed rules appropriate for present day.

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The Georgia Commission on Family Violence (GCFV) has endorsed the Rules and is committed to supporting a joint committee with the Commission on Dispute Resolution to oversee implementation, training, review, and revision of the Rules.

“The thoughtful consideration and work put forth by the Commission on Dispute Resolution in updating the Rules for Mediation in Cases Involving Issues of Domestic Violence marks a meaningful change for victims of intimate partner violence,” said GCFV chair Stephanie Woodard. “These changes mean access to a safe, informed, and prepared mediation process for families who are seeking safety and independence.

Instead of theoretical questions or judgments about why victims do not leave unhealthy relationships, the professionals of the Commission put their best work product into changes that allow a safe avenue to do so. On behalf of victims of intimate partner violence, we are thankful for this movement forward.”

At a recent GCDR meeting, Chair Charles E. Auslander, III, praised the work of both Commissions. “When two Commissions are able to work together, it makes for a unique partnership. I have always

had great respect for the Commission on Family Violence. To see the work that they do is unbelievable. It is the first time that two commissions have worked so closely together on a project, which is a true credit to all of the people involved who want a great product that protects the safety of all involved, allows the parties self-determination, and utilizes best practices but still can be as practical for implementation by the [court ADR] programs. We are thankful that we were able to partner with a group with the expertise and passion of the Commission on Family Violence which is composed of state leaders dedicated to protecting victims and ensuring they have a voice.”

The current guidelines, first adopted in 1994 and amended in 2003 and 2005, have been updated to ensure best practices are used based upon the latest research and practices in the fields of mediation and intimate partner violence/abuse. At their August 22 meeting, the Commission on Dispute Resolution voted to both repeal the old guidelines for mediating cases with domestic violence and enact the new Rules for Mediating Cases with Domestic Violence. The new Rules are effective January 1, 2021.

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Governor Nathan Deal Presents Proclamation for Constitution Week to Philadelphia Winn Chapter NSDAR, Lawrenceville, Georgia

Roots of Wisdom Exhibit at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center

By Judy Dyer On September 5, 2018, members of the Philadelphia Winn Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution gathered in the Ceremonial Office of Governor Nathan Deal to receive the 2018 Proclamation commemorating Constitution Week in Georgia. The Proclamation was signed by Governor Deal, with Philadelphia Winn members Lydia McGill, Kitty Watters, Connie Rifkind, Carol Pangle, Valerie Craft, Lynn Jacques, and Judy Dyer in attendance. First Lady Sandra Deal, also a DAR member, took part in the ceremony.

Every year throughout America, we celebrate Constitution Week from September 17th to September 23rd, commemorating the date the

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Special Photo

Special Photo

L-R: Constitution Week Committee Chair Judy Dyer, Second Vice Regent Lynn Jacques, Past Regent Kitty Watters, First Vice Regent Connie Rifkind, Governor Nathan Deal, First Lady Sandra Deal, Carol Pangle, Registrar Valerie Craft, Past Regent Lydia McGill.

Constitution was officially adopted on September 17, 1787 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Constitution

Week was initiated in 1955 by the Daughters of the American Revolution to encourage the study and understanding of the U.S. Constitution, and was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. Constitution Week emphasizes the importance of the Constitution as the foundation of the rights, liberties, and responsibilities we have enjoyed from its signing 231 years ago.

For more information regarding the Philadelphia Winn Chapter of the NSDAR, please visit our website at: philadelphiawinn.georgiastatedar. org.

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Visitors learn about traditional Hawaiian fishing practices and ecosystem management through exciting digital interactive displays and games.

By Staff Reports From duck decoys to surfboards, chocolate to popcorn, knowledge from indigenous people is of benefit to us all.

The Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center’s (GEHC) newest interactive exhibit, allows visitors to explore how the blending of age-old traditions and modern science work together to restore vital ecosystems, provide sustainable food sources and improve human health. “The Roots of Wisdom: Native Knowledge. Shared Science” exhibit will be on display from Sept. 22, 2018 to Jan. 2, 2019.

The exhibit highlights four Native American communities from across the country, including the Tulalip Tribes, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, native Hawaiians and the Eastern Band of the Cherokee. Visitors gather resources, examine data and take part in the growing movement toward sustainability and the reclamation of age-old practices. Visitors will hear voices of elder and youth, engage with digital interactive displays, hands-on games, puzzles and much more.

Exhibit stations allow visitors to

act as caretakers of a fish pond and join a droplet of water on an incredible journey down a Hawaiian mountainside, discover traditional practices of wild harvesting and gardening, help restore an ecosystem through stewardship of a lamprey and the restoration of river cane and even try their hand at basket weaving.

“As we celebrate Gwinnett’s bicentennial, it is important to recognize the people, including the Cherokee and the Creek that lived here before the county was officially established in 1818. This special exhibit reminds us that our community is continually influenced by different cultures, past and present,” Jason West, Program Manager said. Produced and toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the exhibit was made possible with funds provided by the National Science Foundation. The self-guided exhibit is included in free admission to the GEHC during its regular operating hours. For more information, including guided exhibit programming options, email EHCeducation@gwinnettcounty. com, call 770.904.3500 or visit www. gwinnettEHC.com.

October 2018

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 helped thousands of 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

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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 exam-

ple, don’t buy a 10-year 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 primarily 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,

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when the time isn’t right to sell your equities because they are down in value.

I generally recommend each year of “need from assets” money be taken from the part of your portfolio that did the best compared to its history. 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, “fillup” 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 reduces the chance of 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 one of my retirement planning classes at Gwinnett Technical College. Please call us at 770.931.1414 or visit www. rogersgreen.com for class dates and additional information.

If you are unable to attend a class, but wish to learn more about creating your own retirement harvesting plan, please call my office or visit our website to schedule a complimentary consultation. *Note: Past performance does not guarantee of future success, and no system or financial planning strategy can guarantee future results. Investments in securities do not offer a fixed rate of return. Yield, principal, 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 of Green Financial Resources is a Registered Principal with Cetera Advisors LLC, member FINRA/SIPC, with his office located at 3700 Crestwood Parkway, Duluth, GA 30096. Green Financial, Gwinnett Technical College, and Cetera Advisors LLC are not affiliated.

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The Art of Hospitality

ESCAPE continued from page 1

Special Photo

There are three escape rooms at Netherworld collectively called “Escape the Netherworld”. Groups can reserve the rooms for parties and events on weekends throughout the year.

Photo by Julie Thompson

The owners of Netherworld are film and television professionals and go to extended lengths to treat their guests to studio-quality haunts.

it out of the first haunted house, they can take a breather and enjoy fun games, a gift shop, food vendors and music before heading to the next house.

The setting for the second haunted house is a covert facility where aliens have contaminated the entire base so that military characters and scientists are becoming mutants.

Entitled “Subject: Unknown”, this attraction’s theme is sci-fi focused, and with its industrial set, the haunt is sure to have a unique appeal.

Many of the props in both attractions were made by local artists and by the Netherworld staff. Others are collectibles and artifacts from well-known movies like The Hunger Games.

Every night around 125 to 150 costumed actors hide amongst the props to jump scare the unsuspecting patrons. And with animatronics, revolving floors and other special effects, patrons are kept on their toes the whole time.

“There’s a lot of things in here to make you unstable,” Armstrong said.

Three escape room games are also housed at the new location.

Collectively called “Escape the Netherworld”, these attractions are open on weekends year-round and by appointment to groups and parties. At least four participants must join in order to play, although the rooms can hold up to eight people. In October, they will be open nightly by appointment which may be arranged at www.escapethenetherworld.com.

Like the haunts, each room has its own unique story. “Nosferatu” is an escape game set in 1890’s London and a group must solve the clues of the room before a vampire awakes from his coffin. What makes the game more difficult is that each character has a back-story, and they must unravel clues about each character in the group in order to break free on time. The other games are “Sasquatch” and “The Haunted.”

The owners are considering opening the haunted houses for

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special occasions like Christmas and Valentine’s Day. They have also considered booking the space for weddings.

“Every year we handle multiple marriage proposals . . ., but we never had the ability to handle things like weddings. Now we have the facilities to do that, “Armstrong said. “So, if that opportunity came up, we’d certainly be into it. It might be challenging while we’re open but in off hours and in off times throughout the year, it’s an absolute possibility.”

In the “House of Creeps” museum, guests can see some of the history of Netherworld’s iconic characters. It includes oddities and collectibles enclosed in glass cases, and upon pressing a button, visitors will hear an eerie history about the artifacts. It also includes movie special effects pieces and other monster pieces that Netherworld has collected over the years.

Armstrong explained that ever since Netherworld opened in 1997, they have created a new story for each season. And while all it all connects in an ongoing history, the seasons are usually planned in trilogy formats. With the new location, they have even more room for creativity and to elaborate on their back-stories. The narrative they have created for the current year will take many seasons to unfold.

As always, the owners hope to create a unique experience for their guests each night the attraction is open this season. And on Halloween night, guests are welcome to wear costumes without masks and to snap selfies with any of the monsters roaming about.

Katie Hart Smith From the Heart

Photo by Julie Thompson

Each of the characters at Netherworld was invented by the owners. While they create a new story for every season, many of the characters will return in following seasons and make appearances in the sets.

“Netherworld itself really has become a Halloween tradition in the whole Southeast, “Armstrong said.

“And we really want people to see this new location - we think they are really going to love it. It has the old aspects of Netherworld that they are familiar with, but it has new things that we think everyone is really going to enjoy. “ Free parking is available to all patrons in three lots - the Green Lot which you enter by turning in at the traffic light and following the staff members, the handicap parking lot, which is located to the rear of the building next to the box office, and the lot across the street in front of SpaceMax. Tickets for Netherworld Haunted House can be purchased online at www.fearwold.com. Additionally, parties can purchase tickets on site at the box office which is located at the rear of the building or book the escape rooms at www.escapethenetherworld.com.

The owners are film and television professionals, and they go to extended lengths to treat their guests to studio-quality haunts.

“We just want people who love Halloween and haunted houses to come out, and we think they are going to be pleasantly surprised,” Armstrong said.

Has the pleasurable experience of eating and dining out become extinct? In this fast-paced society of ready-to-eat meals and instant gratification, are we losing touch with the art of hospitality in our culture? Are we taking time to relish each other’s company and conversation when we break bread together?

Last month, Jeff and I visited New Orleans to celebrate our wedding anniversary. While we were there, we had Friday evening cocktails at the Bourbon House followed by dinner at Red Fish Grill, brunch at Brennan’s on Saturday, and our anniversary supper on Sunday at Commander’s Palace. What do all of these places have in common? All of these restaurants have been owned and operated by the Brennan family for decades. Imperative to their success is their attention to detail and hospitality. How do they make their clientele feel special? Table symbols and signals are used to alert the wait staff. While we were greeted at Brennan’s by maître d’, Mr. Shakespeare, he quickly handed a roll of green ribbon to a gentleman who unrolled it diagonally on the white tablecloth before Jeff and I took our seats. To the staff, it indicated we were celebrating an anniversary. Whenever a Brennan’s employee walked by our table, we were showered with well-wishes. During our anniversary dining experience at Commander’s Palace, this restaurant had their own unique ways of making guests feel special and valued. Stickers with the customer’s names were on the back of the tickets and staff called their diners by name. A subtle shift of the salt and pepper shakers, moving them closer together, indicated that our server, Lorenzo, had taken our cocktail order. While the meals were sheer perfection, their hospitality was genuine, warm, and welcoming, akin to being at a friend’s home.

The art of hospitality via social graces begins at home. I have my great grand-parents copy of Hill’s

Manual of Social and Business Forms – A Correct Guide to Writing

by Thomas E. Hill. Initially released in 1884 and filled will all kinds of “how-to” instructions to include the art of penmanship and letter writing, the hard-bound manual also contains a descriptive outline of the “Laws of Etiquette” that discusses regulations that should govern over gentility and politeness at the table such as asking for a certain item with, “if you please” or “will you please bring me.” When the particular article has been furnished, it’s imperative that guests respond with, “thank you.” An even longer list, is the overview of errors to avoid while at the table - never cut bread; always break it, never call loudly for the waiter, lest you draw attention to yourself, never discuss why certain foods disagree with you, a gentleman’s hat must remove, don’t eat quickly, or put your feet so far under the table they touch those opposite of you. Discussions, deep, obtrusive, or argumentative in nature, that tend to give one heartburn and impair digestion are to be avoided at all costs thereby eliminating the need for an antacid following dessert.

Why does hospitality matter?

The art of hospitality creates lasting memories and an overall positive experience for the customer. A joyous occasion celebrated with good food, family, and friends always has one special ingredient at the epicenter of it all – love. In my opinion, love is at the heart of hospitality.

“Graciousness and courtesy are never old-fashioned.... In the present day of rush and hurry, a few of us allow too little time for home example.

To the over-busy or the gaily fashionable, ‘home’ might just as well be a railroad station and ‘family’ passengers who see each other only for a few minutes before taking trains in opposite directions.... At a time when the whole world looks to America for leadership, our country is still youth personified. If we can keep these attributes and add to the perfect taste in living and thinking, we need have no fears about handing down to our children the tradition of gracious living that is the heritage of us all.” – Emily Post, Ettiquette,1960.

About Katie Hart Smith Katie Hart Smith’s column, “From the Heart,” touches the heart, inspires, and entertains.

Smith, a published author for over twenty years, believes that words, written or spoken, have power. To learn more, visit www.katiehartsmith.com.

Special Photo

In each of the escape rooms at Netherworld, players must work together to solve the clues on time. Anywhere from four to eight players might play at once.

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gwinnettcitizen.com

October 2018