Gwinnett Citizen West November 2018

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gwinnett Est. 1988 Covering Norcross, Lilburn, Peachtree Corners, Berkeley Lake, Duluth

Vol. 31 No. 1

Mosley

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FREE

page 10

Home Care

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Bird feeding

page 18

NOVEMBER 2018

Community effort to bring supplies to low-income school in Mississippi

By Julie Thompson GwinnettCitizen.com

Marlene

www.gwinnettcitizen.com

It started with a van, then a U-Haul full of school supplies — and then a bus full of high school students and a school willing to donate books, electronics and do anything they could to make a difference for the small, low-income elementary school in Mound Bayou, Miss.

There’s no doubt that the project Mike and Terri Emery started three years ago, when they made the first trek to the Miss. Delta, has grown.

It began in the summer of 2015, just before the couple was going to retire. Mike, a music lover and the former Athletics Director of Gwinnett County Public School System, suggested to his wife they hit the road and follow the Blues Trail down the Miss. Delta.

Terri agreed to go strictly for educational purposes. As an Elementa-

ry school teacher for 30 years, she saw it as more as a field trip than a vacation.

Terri took an interest in the schools they passed along the way, so when they made a stop in Mound Bayou Miss. to visit the spot where an old Blues establishment once stood, her attention was immediately averted to the elementary school across the road.

Approaching the school, the couple found the doors unlocked, so they made their way through the hallways and entered classrooms without interference.

“We noticed things were packed up for the summer but didn’t see many books,” Terri said. “I didn’t see computers. I didn’t see much of anything packed away.”

As soon as she got home, Terri emailed the school’s Principal and

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Mike and Terri Emery visiting staff and friends at I.T. Montgomery Elementary in Mound Bayou, Miss.

See EMERY on Page 16

Standards and Classics Concert Series begins this Christmas

Human Trafficking Night of Awareness

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Allan Wiltshire and “The Andrews Sisters” (L-R: Leslie Pennington, Bonnie Pennington, Theresa Hawkins) perform Christmas Classics

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

PRESORT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ABC DIRECT ECR-WSS POSTAL CUSTOMER

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By Tiffany Brix GwinnettCitizen.com Major holidays are often a time that we not only celebrate but also reflect. We reflect on those similar moments and how they have evolved over our life. We reflect on the people around us. We reflect on who we miss the most who aren’t beside us for whatever reason. We reflect on what that holiday means to us.

Allan Wiltshire has an extra special gift of reflection to give

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us —The Standards and Classics Concert Series, a 1960s variety show-type concert with live covers of iconic music from the 40s, 50s, and 60s that celebrate the essence of each holiday. Standards and Classics of Christmas is the first installment of the series. Allan and Standards and Classics partnered with Eddie Owen Presents at the Red Clay Theatre for this unique entertainment opportunity for the 20182019 season. The Red Clay Theatre,

Nonprofits Bridges PC and Street Grace collaborated with law enforcement officials, a state representative and Perimeter Church’s Justice Team to host a “Human Trafficking Night of Awareness” at Landmark Church in Peachtree Corners.

See CONCERT on Page 18

See HUMAN on Page 15

By Julie Thompson GwinnettCitizen.com As football fans anticipate one of the largest sporting events of the year, nonprofits and law enforcement across the metro Atlanta area are preparing for an influx of visitors during the Super Bowl and the boom in illegal businesses that will follow.

With an influx of visitors and tourists coming to Atlanta for The Super Bowl, sales in local restaurants and businesses will soar. And so will local incidents of human sex trafficking.

In October, President and founder of local nonprofit Bridges PC Joe

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November 2018

Gwinnett Medical Center’s Glancy Rehabilitation Center celebrates 30 Years of patient successes and I’ve just continued to get better since the time I was here. I’m able to walk, drive, mow grass, do a little bit of everything now. And as my wife says, I’m almost better than I was before.”

In the fiscal year 2018, Glancy Rehabilitation saw approximately 660 patients. The facility is an acute inpatient physical rehabilitation unit specializing in stroke, traumatic head, and orthopedic injuries and

other neurological health conditions.

The transitional fitness and outpatient services allow patients to experience continuity of care in a single environment.

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Gwinnett Medical Center Executive Vice President and CFO Tommy McBride, Duluth Mayor Nancy Harris, Senior Vice President and Chief HR Officer Steve Nadeau, GMC President and CEO Phil Wolfe

By Staff Reports Patient commitment, diversification of services are organization’s hallmarks Gwinnett Medical Center’s (GMC) Glancy Rehabilitation Center recently celebrated its 30 year anniversary of offering inpatient and outpatient therapy and transitional fitness to the community. Founded in October 1988 by the current medical director, Dr. Sunil Bhole, and GMC administration including Thomas Shepherd, executive vice president, and system COO, they launched Glancy Rehabilitation so that patients could receive care closer to home.

The facility traces its roots back to a three-room clinic that opened in 1941 to serve the community, by the community. The Joan Glancy Memorial Clinic evolved into a hospital a few years later. Then in 1988, when Glancy Rehabilitation first opened its doors, it operated alongside Joan Glancy Memorial Hospital until 2006.

That was the year that GMC-Duluth opened its doors to meet the needs of area growth and to replace Glancy Memorial Hospital.

“As we began to plan for the new hospital, GMC-Duluth, it was important to identify a service that would preserve the heritage of Joan Glancy Hospital,” said Shepherd.

“Rehabilitation met the needs of the community and was an ideal fit for the existing facility.”

“Initially, we were encouraged and inspired by the history of Glancy, and while that’s important today, our rehab facility has developed a reputation of its own that’s one of patient success,” said Dr. Bhole. “We were always committed to meeting patient’s needs, and by incorporating new technologies and service expansion, among other strategies, we’ve continued to achieve patient-centered results.”

“I’m encouraged by Gwinnett

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Former Glancy Rehabilitation Center Patient Bill Barry and GMC Executive Vice President and System COO Thomas Shepherd

Medical Center’s commitment to the community,” said Kathryn Willis, longtime Duluth resident. “Many years ago when they acquired Joan Glancy Memorial Hospital, the leadership understood the relationship between the community and the hospital. Today, they maintain that same dedication to Duluth by providing patient care and success that’s second to none.”

As part of the anniversary celebration, leadership unveiled the Hall of Resilience at Glancy Rehabilitation which honors three decades of patient success. It features three patients, one from each decade. The patients honored include Floyd Perala, a patient in 1990; Karen Stewart, a patient in 2008; and Bill Barry, a patient in 2018. The Hall of Resilience is designed to encourage current patients and their families during their journey of healing.

“I was really a poor patient, to begin with,” said Bill Barry who was in the center for two weeks in February. “But the staff was great to work with, and my family was here to support me during the whole thing.“ Barry added, “And the staff and everyone was just so super, so helpful and encouraging . . . and they really encourage you to make that little bit of progress every day, and I did.

And thankfully that work went well,

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Gwinnett Pulse World Polio Day

By Barbara Myers “Rotarians are the backbone of this extraordinary human endeavor” was the headline of Dr. Abhijeet Anand’s slide deck as he shared a progress report about the polio disease with Gwinnett Rotarians. Dr. Anand, the keynote speaker at Gwinnett’s Rotary clubs’ observance of World Polio Day, is a medical epidemiologist who focuses on polio at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. Anand said, “The world is closer than it has ever been to eradicating polio forever.”

In addition, Past District 6910 Governor Bill Strickland shared his experience of participating in a National Immunization Day in India with Gwinnett’s Rotarians.

In 1988, polio paralyzed more than 350,000 children each year. In 2017, there were only 22 polio cases found in Pakistan and Afghanistan, a

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L - R: Mark Willis – President, Gwinnett Rotary Club, Dr. Abhijeet Anand – Team Lead for the Polio Eradication Branch of the CDC, Michael Park – President, Gwinnett Mosaic Rotary Club, Mark DiGiovanni – President, Gwinnett Tomorrow Rotary Club, Randy Redner – President, Duluth Rotary Club, Clark Jensen – President, Buford/North Gwinnett Rotary Club, Barbara Myers – President, Sugarloaf Rotary Club, Craig Roberts – President, Lawrenceville Rotary Club, Past District Governor Bill Strickland – Bartow County Rotary Club, Assistant District Governor Mark Abrams – Sugarloaf Rotary Club, Assistant District Governor Jef Fincher - Duluth Rotary Club

historical low. This was great news for Rotarians to hear as we’re “this close” to eradicating polio.

Hosting the community-wide polio discussion were the Rotary Clubs

of Buford/North Gwinnett, Duluth, Gwinnett, Gwinnett Mosaic, Gwinnett Sunrise, Gwinnett Tomorrow, Lawrenceville, Peachtree Corners and Sugarloaf.

Mosley to lead new high school in Meadowcreek Cluster

sciences high school GCPS Employment:

By Staff Reports At its regular monthly meeting, the Gwinnett County Board of Education named Berkmar Middle School Principal Nicole Mosley as the principal of a health sciences-themed high school opening in the Meadowcreek Cluster in August of 2019. Ms. Mosley will continue at Berkmar Middle until a new principal is named and then will transition to her new role.

The new high school in the Meadowcreek Cluster has yet to be named. It is located at 3921 Club Drive in Duluth. As a theme high school, its focus will be on providing a rigorous, college preparatory curriculum through the lens of health science, combining required coursework with practical medical and health industry experiences. The

Nicole Mosley, Principal of Meadowcreek Cluster.

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main program areas will include: Patient care, Allied health, Health Informatics, and Advanced Medicine.

The school will serve students in the Meadowcreek Cluster.

Nicole Mosley, Principal of Meadowcreek Cluster health

2014- Present - Principal, Berkmar Middle School; 2010-2014 - Assistant Principal, Peachtree Ridge High School; 2007-2010 - Assistant Principal, Berkmar Middle School; 2003-2007 - Social Studies Teacher, Peachtree Ridge High School; 20022003 - Social Studies Teacher, Collins Hill High School; 1996-2002 - Social Studies Teacher, Summerour Middle School Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education — University of Alabama Master’s degree in Secondary Education — Georgia State University Specialist’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction — Piedmont College Ms. Mosley is a 2015 graduate of the GCPS Quality-Plus Leader Academy Aspiring Principal Program.

25th Annual National Public Lands Day

By Staff Reports Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation (GCPR) celebrated National Public Lands Day on Sept. 22 at Jones Bridge Park. The 30-acre park along the Chattahoochee river bank is the heartbeat of the Peachtree Corners community, offering adventure in just about any weather or season. More than 20 volunteers took environmental ownership in the park and worked to protect a critical amphibian habitat by reclaiming an area from destructive invasive plants. More than 300 plants were installed and the volunteers hope to find the plants and wildlife flourish-

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ing upon their return next year.

In partnership with the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), volunteers joined hundreds of thousands of people at sites throughout the country to take part in the annual National Public Lands Day. National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands. NEEF uses the day to connect people to public lands and their communities, inspire environmental stewardship, and encourage use of public lands for education, recreation and general health. The efforts aim to ensure that public lands continue to be beautiful places for all to enjoy. Jones

Bridge Park is located at 4901 East Jones Bridge Rd. in Peachtree Corners. For more information about upcoming events, visit www.gwinnettparks.com. For future volunteer opportunities, visit www.volunteergwinnett.net.

November 2018

Little Helpers Trevor’s Toes & Tushies

By Staff Reports Not all superheroes can leap over tall buildings or see through walls, but some pint-size cape crusaders showed us how anybody could be a superhero by performing kind deeds.

A child may appear well dressed on the outside but lack clean socks and underwear. This October the family volunteer group Little Helpers tried to fill a gap left by regular clothing drives. Members from Atlanta, Marietta, Roswell, Suwanee, Union City, and Alpharetta collected new 350 pairs of socks and 350 underwear for Simple Needs GA, Inc. in Marietta as part of the group’s annual Trevor’s Toes and Tushies Socks and Underwear Drive.

Simple Needs GA, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to meeting the simple needs of children, people experiencing homelessness and others while inspiring the community to do the same.

The drive was held in honor of a special Little Helpers member Trevor George, who passed away from SUDC or Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood in August 2014 at the age of 6. Trevor came to every community service project with a smile on his face, a sparkle in his

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eye and a desire to make others happy. Members wore superhero outfits and mismatched socks, which were Trevor’s trademarks, to make the delivery to Simple Needs GA, Inc. They also rolled up their sleeves and worked in the donation center sorting items, making blankets and decorating cards.

Simple Needs GA (SNGA) started with one person’s mission to meet the simple needs of people experiencing homelessness in Cobb County. These acts of kindness might seem small, but they can make a huge difference in the life of a person in need.

For more information, please contact Brenda Rhodes, the founder www.simpleneedsga.org 678-523-4122 brenda@simpleneedsga.org Special Photo

Jessica, Lucas, Matias & Gabriel Aucar, Suwanee

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Jessica and Gabriel Aucar, Suwanee

Gabriel and Lucas Aucar, Suwanee

November 2018

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Did Mom Seem Different to You?

James Miskell

Estate Planning

Holidays give us the opportunity to spend more time with family.

When we spend more time with our aging parents at these holiday gatherings, we often notice the early indications that a parent is slipping. You may notice a parent forgetting things or no longer participating in things he or she always enjoyed. Perhaps it is a conversation over coffee, and a short while later, Dad is repeating himself with no signs that he remembers the same conversation the two of you had that morning.

Many adults are uncomfortable broaching the topic of estate planning with their aging parents, worrying that parents may be insulted or offended. At times, this worry is well-founded - the prospect of losing

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independence can be frustrating, depressing and very frightening. It is easy to put off. Most often, the cost of avoiding that conversation is a high one. Rather than a smooth transition with a well-established plan, families often end up in a situation where they are trying to manage a crisis, while also dealing with the accompanying emotional upheaval.

You may consider it an unpleasant topic to approach with your parents, but becoming informed and organized will help you more efficiently assist them, as well as yourself and other family members.

Be prepared for the conversation by coming up with a list of topics to cover and actions to be taken. What is their monthly income? What are the expenses? How do they keep track bills and account balances? Are they using automatic bill pay? Where do they keep information on account numbers, PINs, CDs, stocks and bonds, retirement accounts, etc.? Do they have a financial advisor? Where do they keep important papers like social security cards, birth and marriage certificates, insurance policies and tax returns? Who do they trust to speak for them if they become disabled? Do they have current powers of attorney and health care directives? Do they have a will?

“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.” ― Pablo Picasso Holidays and family gatherings can be ideal times to start a conversation. You will likely want to include siblings and other extended family that will likely to be involved in future decisions. Maintaining transparency by keeping family members “in the loop” is important – it avoids misunderstandings and any appearance of impropriety or self-serving interests on your part. Your parents’ home is an ideal place to have the conversation because they will be in a comfortable and secure environment. This will also make it easy for them to show you where important documents are located.

Be direct and diplomatic. Express your respect for your parents and acknowledge that it is an uncomfortable topic. Tell them that you want them to be independent as long as possible and are willing to assist them. A good tactic is to describe your planning. Describe the steps you have taken to ease the burden on family members. Of course, it will be harder to convince them of

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the importance of planning if you haven’t done yours. Perhaps a great approach would be for you and your parents to do the planning together.

As parents age, their needs change, and decisions will need to be made about their living situation and finances. They should continue to make those decisions independently as long as possible. Let them know that planning now provides a roadmap for the family so that when they do need help, the choices made reflect their wants and needs

and not those of well-meaning relatives. Planning is the most effective way to avoid personal, financial and emotional hardship because it keeps control with your parents where it belongs. Consulting with an estate planning attorney can help you make sure your parents are comfortable and secure in their senior years.

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

November 2018

Lopez home rises from ashes to star in Lilburn Christmas Tour of Homes

By Brenda Dana Lilburn Woman’s Club Publicity The Lilburn Woman’s Club is delighted to announce the addition of the Lopez Home on Tom Smith Rd to the Christmas Tour of Homes on Dec. 1st. This 7800 square foot home tragically burned to the ground in Nov. 2009, several months after its completion. The owners rebuilt the home and it, like the Phoenix, has risen from its ashes to become one of the stars of this year’s Christmas Home Tour hosted by the Lilburn Woman’s Club.

The fire in the home was attributed to a faulty non-combustible space under the fireplace.

Ms. Lopez was awakened by the smell of smoke and discovered smoke around the fireplace. She hurriedly got her family out of the house and 11 minutes after their exit, the house imploded, destroying all of their belongings.

A fireman brought out their family Bible which did not burn in the fire. The Bible was opened to scripture referencing being “plucked from the fire.” Also, a ceramic plaque hanging on a garden wall outside that said “End of the Rainbow” was blown off the

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and it also will be decorated and open on the Tour, along with a summerhouse in between the two houses set and ready for Christmas dinner.

We hope you will visit this and the other homes and businesses on our Lilburn Christmas Tour of Homes. For ticket information

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The morning after the fire at the Lopez Home the firemen’s water spray created a rainbow over the house that ended on a plaque that blew off a garden wall that said “End of the Rainbow!”

please visit www.lilburnwomansclub.org and click on Christmas Tour of Homes. Tickets may be purchased in advance for $15 per person and the evening of the event for $20 per person.

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Local firemen worked tirelessly through the night and the following morning putting out hot spots, but the house was a total loss.

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This plaque was hung in the garden to represent how the family felt about their new home which burned to the ground 3 months after completion.

The plaque was amazingly blown off a garden wall by the fire landing 15 feet away without breaking.

wall and landed on the patio but didn’t break. The next morning, a photo was taken of the burned house and showed a rainbow over the house with its end on the patio where the plaque was found. The family feels that they were certainly meant to continue to stay in this spot, and so they rebuilt and

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The Lopez family has rebuilt their home and are excited for their new home to be showcased as one of the stars of the Lilburn Christmas Tour of Homes.

remain there today.

On the tour, guests will be able to tour a good portion of this lovely home decked out in all its holiday finery. The Lopez family has recently purchased the home next door as their guest house,

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Gwinnett Chamber Announces 2018 Pinnacle Small Business Awards winners Winton Machine Company Named Overall Winner

By Staff Reports In an effort to salute Gwinnett’s small businesses and entrepreneurs as pivotal to America’s economic growth and stability, the Gwinnett Chamber and presenting sponsor Purchasing Alliance Solutions hosted the 2018 Pinnacle Small Business Awards luncheon and ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 17, at the Infinite Energy Forum. In conjunction with the Gwinnett Small Business Summit, the event honored many of successful small businesses and entrepreneurs for their extraordinary achievements.

“We are honored to celebrate and recognize the region’s top small businesses and individuals that contribute greatly to our local economy,” said Dr. Dan Kaufman, President & CEO, Gwinnett Chamber. “These businesses, led by risk-takers and visionaries, are essential to creating jobs and sustaining economic growth.”

Winton Machine Company was awarded both the 2018 Pinnacle Overall Gwinnett Small Business of the Year Award and the Small Business of the Year: 25+ Employees.

“Knowing who has won this award in the past, and the finalists in this year’s event, we are humbled, honored and surprised to receive the top award in our category. For Winton Machine to then be recognized as the Overall Winner was even more exciting, but completely unexpected,” said Lisa Winton, Co-Owner and CEO, Winton Machine Company.

“We are grateful to the Gwinnett Chamber leadership and event team for this opportunity. George and I are especially proud of our Winton Machine team and appreciate our customers who really made these awards possible.”

Winton Machine was founded in 1997 by company owners, George and Lisa Winton, in the basement of their home in Lawrenceville, Georgia. The company started by designing and building dedicated hand benders. Over the next 12 months, it acquired some chip cutting machines and soon the Winton’s basement machine shop was filled with equipment and supplies. A few short months later, Winton Machine received its initial machinery order and the company moved into its first manufacturing facility. In the past 20 years, the company has expanded using Small Business Administration (SBA) loans and has moved to a larger facility four times. Today, Winton Machine employs over 20 people and has a 13,000 square-foot facility in Suwanee.

The category winners are as follows: Small Business of the Year: 0-5 Employees – Condor Tours & Travel, Inc. Condor Tours & Travel is a woman-owned agency offering customized worldwide travel packages for individuals, business retreats, chamber Incentive

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Pinnacle Small Business Award winners 2018. travel, family, romantic and adventure signs and builds over 100 machines that getaways. The management of Condor provide standardized engineered soluTours & Travel works with its clients tions in major industries such as HVAC/ to construct the perfect dream getaway, Refrigeration, Aerospace, Electronics, giving suggestions and meeting if not Microwave and Military. Winton Maexceeding expectations. Condor Tours chine also works with clients to create & Travels does not just book its clients’ custom engineered solutions. Winton travel but is with its clients throughout has developed a proprietary software the whole trip. Condor Tours & Travel to optimize user interfaces which maxiprovides a level of concierge service to mize performance and output. its client that they will not receive utiliz- Family-Owned Small Business ing a travel site or other agencies of the Year – Georgia Swarm Pro Small Business of the Year: 6-24 Lacrosse Employees – TIE – Marbury Creative The Georgia Swarm Pro Lacrosse Group and Mighty 8th Media team is a member of the National LaMarbury Creative Group: crosse League (NLL). In 2017, the Marbury Creative Group, located in Swarm became NLL World Champions. downtown Duluth, is a group of 10 cre- The NLL ranks third in average attenative and operational professionals with dance for professional indoor sports a vision to help clients “Tell it Better! (If worldwide behind only the NHL and Necessary, Use Words)®. Marbury Cre- NBA. The Swarm competes in an 18ative Group is a strategically-driven cre- game regular season schedule from ative studio that supercharges brands December to April, followed by the NLL through unique creative approaches Playoffs in May and June. The Swarm and campaigns across digital, print, and plays their home games at Harrah’s broadcast media. The mission is to cre- Cherokee Casino Field at Infinite Enerate advertising concepts that help com- gy Arena in Duluth, and offers season panies “Tell it Better” to reach business tickets, single game and group tickets, goals. Marbury’s industry experience suites, and Goal Zone club tickets as well spans healthcare, food service, food as sponsorship opportunities. ingredients, food and beverage manu- Home-Based Small Business of the factures, banking, professional services, Year – East2West Creative, LLC. and Fortune 500 division/department East2West Creative is a full-service areas (such as AT&T and Halyard photography company, specializing in Health), and higher education. portraits and event capture. They capMighty 8th Media: ture with the mind of marketing and proIn 2005, business partners Bradley motion, as its sister company, East2West Sherwood and Jonathan Holmes had a Media, includes social media managedream to start their own agency. Mighty ment, they do everything with market8th’s namesake comes from the Eighth ing in mind. Also, freezing those smiles Air Force out of Savannah, GA during in those little moments that people can WWII. They wanted a brand that em- cherish forever is the icing on the Canon bodied respect and a drive to change cake. the world for the better — a place where Minority-Owned Small Business of clients come first, and the staff is treated the Year – Willis Mechanical, Inc. like family. Thirteen years later, Mighty Since its inception in 2002, Willis 8th is consistently selected as a Top 50 Mechanical, Inc. has continued to proAgency in Atlanta and one of the Best vide outstanding customer service on Places to Work. Its mission is to make its construction projects specializing in clients successful and to see its creativi- mechanical systems, as well as excellent ty better their business.

HVAC maintenance and services. Willis Small Business of the Year: 25+ Mechanical provides outstanding serEmployees – Winton Machine vice and superior quality to our customCompany ers, performing safely, within budget Winton Machine solves production and with on-time delivery. We reward and safety problems for manufactur- our employees for their integrity, loyalty, ers who need tube and semi-rigid coax and creativity by providing career opfabricating to make their end products. portunities, training and education and Winton machines are designed to meet a challenging environment. specific production demands and have Small Business Resource the highest safety standards for both do- Champion of the Year - GarageWorx mestic and global markets. Winton deGarageWorx is a business incubator

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for suburban entrepreneurs. Its mission is to improve the lives of people, families, and communities through entrepreneurship.

Rising Star Small Business of the Year – Atlanta Water Store The Atlanta Water Store is a distributor of Japanese water ionizers that transform your tap water into alkalizing, anti-oxidantrich, superiorly hydrating drinking water. The company focuses on education and providing its distributors with the resources they need to make them successful. From its 1,400 square foot teaching and resource center in downtown Suwanee, Atlanta Water Store provides its prospects a powerful value proposition to allow them to make the right health decision for their families.

In turn, we provide our distributors with the same value proposition, mentoring, and additional resources for their prospects. Our mission is nothing short of making people healthier and longer lived.

Young Entrepreneur Small Business of the Year – Shuma Sports Established in 2014, Shuma Sports, places a premium on customer value and satisfaction by simplifying the ordering process of uniform and specialty apparel. Offering a full line of sports team uniforms, equipment, school spirit wear, corporate apparel and much more, every team member associate ensures selection and design choices are customized to ensure the best products are delivered to its customers.

Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year – TJS Deemer Dana LLP TJS Deemer Dana LLP is a full-service certified public accounting firm with offices in Duluth, Dublin, Sandy Springs, and Savannah, Georgia. The firm offers traditional services in ac-

counting, auditing and taxation as well as consulting services. It is committed to creating value in each relationship by providing personal attention and professional resources to each of its clients.

Specialties include audit and compliance work for financial institutions, the post-secondary education sector, the architecture/engineering/construction industry, employee benefit plan audits and the governmental and nonprofit arena.

Nonprofit of the Year - The Hudgens Center for Art & Learning The Hudgens Center for Art and Learning brings art lovers, leaders, and learners together through quality programs and exhibits. The 34,000 square-foot Hudgens Center houses several galleries, a Children’s Art Zone, two classroom wings, state of the art ceramic studio, sculpture garden and more.

Founded in 1981, it offers year-round fine art exhibits and classes for all ages, as well as community arts initiatives which reach out to underserved students and people struggling with chronic illness or disability. The Hudgens puts Gwinnett County on the map within the national arts community by offering The Hudgens Prize every other year.

Pinnacle Small Business Award Fan Favorite (awarded from among the semi-finalists) - Aaron Overhead Doors Atlanta Family owned and operated since 1968, Aaron Overhead Garage Doors is a turn-key garage door company based in Buford. It is a customer service company in the garage door business, providing repair and installation of garage doors and operators with a smile. Aaron Overhead Doors Atlanta does customer service in a way that puts customers first.

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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November 2018

Gwinnett School Nutrition Program honored for Farm to School initiative

By Staff Reports

Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) has been recognized for its efforts to provide farmfresh food to students. Georgia Organics, a non-profit organization devoted to promoting sustainable foods and local farms in Georgia, has named GCPS as a Gold Level Golden Radish Award winner. The Golden Radish Award publicly recognizes school districts for all aspects of farm to school, from local food procurement to hosting taste tests and gardening with students.

Karen Hallford, GCPS executive director of School Nutrition, says the award validates the school district’s commitment to providing fresh locally produced food to students. She adds, “Farm to School is a very important part of our School Nutrition Program and we are thrilled to have it recognized once again with a Gold Level, Golden Radish Award. Our Farm to School Program is more than just local food procurement, we incorporate those local foods into our menus regularly, we host taste tests for our students, and support student gardening by preparing the harvest in our kitchens so that our students can see the entire process from seed to plate. We are

A Foster Child Needs YOU this Christmas!

Are you ready to call...

770-390-4134 to request a child from infant to teenager, for whom you can be Santa? Please consider sponsoring one of our youth over the age of nine because we have a much more challenging time finding help for our older children in every area of outreach.

Lori-Ann J. Spears , Communications Specialist II Gwinnett Division of Family and Children Services Phone: 770-390-4134 Email: Lori-AnnJ.Spears@dhs.ga.gov

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Gwinnett School Nutrition team members accepting the district’s Golden Radish Award on behalf of the district.

honored to be recognized for our efforts.”

This award evaluates school districts on their work in 10 different activities of farm to school.

GCPS is one of 39 school districts across the state honored for its commitment to farm to school.

December Adult Programming Events AARP DEFENSIVE SMART DRIVER COURSE

In partnership with AARP Reservations requested: events@gwinnettpl.org Wednesday,Dec. 5 10:30 am - 5:00 pm Suwanee Branch 361 Main St., Suwanee, 30024 Learn defensive driving techniques and how to compensate for age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time. Cost is $15 for AARP members and $20 for nonmembers. Pay at the door. Please bring a bagged lunch.

GOODWILL JOB FAIR

Wednesday, Dec. 5 from 11:00 am - 2:00 p.m.

Lilburn Branch 4817 Church St., Lilburn 30047 Looking for a job? This event is for you! Bring your resume, dress professionally, and get hired!

FREE N-400 NATURALIZATION APPLICATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Friday, Dec. 7 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lawrenceville Branch 1001 Lawrenceville Hwy. Lawrenceville 30046 Legal permanent residents will

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be offered free legal assistance with filling out the N400 citizenship application form. This event is free and on a first come, first served basis.

VETERANS ROUNDTABLE

In partnership with Goodwill Industries of North Georgia Meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 1:00 p.m. Buford Branch 2100 Buford Hwy., Buford, 30518 Meet with experts on Veterans resources. Discuss your needs and get real help on filing VA claims, medical care, housing, and job resources. Newly discharged and senior retirees are welcome! For more information, please email cwalker@ ging.org.

FREE N-400 NATURALIZATION APPLICATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Friday, Dec. 21 from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lilburn Branch 4817 Church St., Lilburn 30047 Legal permanent residents will be offered free legal assistance with filling out the N400 citizenship application form. This event is free and on a first come, first served basis.

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Savannah and its friendly ghosts

Marlene Ratledge Buchanan Hey Y’all

It was a dark and stormy night on the lonely, haunted cobblestone streets of Savannah. During the Revolutionary War, many soldiers on both sides of the battle were killed.

The townspeople could not bury them fast enough. The heat, typhoid, and yellow fever were causing even more deaths. Trenches were dug in the roadway. The dead from both sides of the conflict were rolled into mass burials. This is one of the most haunted streets in the world, if not the most.

Well, actually the street lights were on. It wasn’t storming. There was a ghost tour group of us, so it wasn’t very lonely, either... but it was haunted.

Our first stop was the Andrew Low House. It was the threat of the destruction of this house that started the Savannah Preservation Society. Initially, the Low home was a private residence. After Andrew Low’s death, it became a boarding house. It remained a boarding house operated by one family for 109 years.

Many children lived there. Some were moved in after they had lost parents to many of the epidemics rampant in Savannah and outlying areas. Of course, bringing in children from the home of a typhoid sufferer meant that the child could also be a carrier of the disease. This perpetuated the sicknesses infecting others in the house. The death toll was enormous.

The ghost story told on the tour of this house is about those children who still inhabit the home. Our tour guide, Lady Ivor, said to us that the children liked to play tag and run along the upstairs landing. They do that to this day. Their cat still stays around, and occasionally some visitors feel him brush against their legs or see him in one of the upstairs windows. Only the basement and first floor have electricity. Nevertheless, lights have been seen in the upper floor windows. Obviously, hoo-doodies doing their thing.

We were told to take a picture up the stairwell. Frequently people later find orbs of light or the shadowy outline of a child or two in the photograph. Our son James took a picture of the original owner’s top hat which is in the front parlor. His camera worked perfectly, and the picture is clear as it can be. When he used his zoom lens on the staircase, the lens started zooming in and out on its own. He couldn’t get a picture. As soon as he stepped away from the first-floor staircase, the camera worked as it should. Close to the steps—zooming frenzy—away, perfect behavior. You decide. Was a ghostly child messing with our son’s fancy camera? Maybe.

Next, we went into the Gribble home where someone had used an ax to murder the three women of the Gribble family. The crime is still unsolved. One woman lived a few days and muttered the name of her ex-husband. He was promptly brought to trial. He swore he was innocent. “Don’t they all?” thought the jury, who promptly sentenced to him to life imprisonment.

Snell could not understand the tour director clearly, so I was explaining the story as we proceeded to the Gribble’s spooktacular location. It was along this street, paved over hundreds of dead soldiers, that I had my ghostly encounter. Suddenly, one of the Revolutionary War soldiers reached up from his ancient burial pit and grabbed me by the ankle. I was thrown flat on the ground.

I am sure that it was the ghost and not the manhole cover or cobbled streets that got me.

Here is a bit of news that you may not know. If a fragrant homeless person comes to your rescue, you will not need smelling salts. Trust me. I couldn’t stand up, but I regained consciousness very quickly.

People were accommodating, but I had to lie there for a minute before they could stand me up. I am not sure if my eyes were watering from the pain or the aroma of the helpers.

I was left with a broken right wrist, torn up cartilage in my left knee and lingering olfactory memory.

That is my version of my ghost experience in Savannah, and I am sticking to it! It has nothing to do with the cobblestone streets and a faulty manhole cover.

The Power of Play

Katie Hart Smith From the Heart

When was the last time you took time out of your busy schedule to play? Whether inside or outdoors, and regardless of your age, can you recall the last time you permitted yourself to have unbridled free time – to imagine, to explore, or to escape?

As adults, I think we view vacations as our “play time,” an opportunity for rest and relaxation from the grinding schedules of work and the family’s extracurricular activities.

However, throughout the week, I think it’s vital to find time to tap into your inner child, releasing laughter, silliness, and letting go of structured schedules.

Lately, I had forgotten about the importance of play until my husband, Jeff, and I visited New Orleans in August to celebrate our anniversary. One day we visited the exhib-

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its at The Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes and Culture, owned and founded by Carl Mack. The center contained the largest collection of Mardi Gras costumes in the city. As I walked into one of the rooms that I dubbed the “costume closet,” I discovered racks and racks of glittering, sparkling, bangled, and beaded headdresses and costumes. I grew wide-eyed and ecstatic, dressing up in these extravagant jeweled-toned outfits and modeling them in front of fulllength mirrors to see my transformed appearance. For the next hour, I lost myself, magically transported into a world of imagination, laughter, and entertainment.

While touring the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida last month, Jeff and I stumbled across the Blue Angels simulation rides for kids and adults. Jeff and I dared each other to try this new and unexpected encounter. I bit my nails, grew apprehensive, and began to let fear take over when I saw that the capsule could roll, pitch, and yaw just like the planes flown by the expert pilots in their mid-aerial acrobatics shows.

Despite my rising nerves, I hunkered down and embraced the unknown as Jeff bought our tickets. Once buckled into the five-point restraints and the cockpit lid closed, I remained wideeyed, belly laughing, and scared all at the same time as I gyrated in circles,

endured nosedives, and deep rolls to the left and right while watching the terrain on a simulated screen. When the ride was over, I stepped back out on solid ground, grateful I didn’t throw up or yell too many obscenities during the experience. I realized how much fun, having fun could be.

What are the health benefits of unstructured play-time for adults?

There is a myriad of reasons for adults to find time to play that include alleviating stress, enhancing and deepening relationships through shared experiences, releasing good endorphins – the “feel-good” hormones, unlocking creative solutions to problems, boosting morale, and improving mental health.

While it’s imperative that children need to find time for unstructured play in their lives, whether at home or at school, so do adults. So, give yourself permission and go out and go play. After all, laughter is the best medicine. “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones” (Proverbs 17: 22).

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.

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2018 Duluth Festival of Trees

By Staff Reports

A one of a kind fascinating and whimsical holiday event is coming your way. The Duluth Historical Society is pleased to announce the 4th annual Festival of Trees to be held at the Southeastern Railway Museum, November 16 – December 31st this year. Our colorful Christmas Trees are a great way for the Duluth community to support the holiday season and present themselves while supporting the preservation of history by two organizations.

Proceeds from sponsoring trees go to support the Historical Society and it’s various projects. As in previous years, there will be voting boxes by each tree. Each vote is $0.25.

There will be two awards. One is Peo-

ples Choice, by the box that has the most money collected. The other one is Best of Show that will be decided by the organization.

Admission to the Festival of Trees is included in your admission to the Southeastern Railway Museum during the exhibit. The Train Museum has a number of other holiday themed events including Santa’s arrival, breakfast with Santa and lunch with Santa. The Jingle Bell Dancers from Miss Cindy’s Dance School will meet Santa’s arrival. For more details about the Train museum and it’s holiday offering, please see their website at www.train-museum.org.

For questions about the Festival of Trees events you can contact us at secretar y@duluthhistoricalsociety. org or 678-365-1641.

Gwinnett Commissioners send 2040 Unified Plan to Department of Community Affairs and Atlanta Regional Commission

By Staff Reports The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved forwarding the draft 2040 Unified Plan to the state Department of Community Affairs and the Atlanta Regional Commission for review.

The 2040 Unified Plan, also known as a comprehensive plan, contains analysis, policies, maps and proposals to help guide progress and development countywide on multiple fronts through 2040. It was crafted after months of public input from stakeholder meetings, open house information sessions across the county, intercept interviews at parks and surveys.

The Unified Plan provides a blueprint of how the County’s residents and other stakeholders would like to see Gwinnett grow and develop over the next 22 years. It affords the County an opportunity to review conditions in the community, anticipate future needs and establish shortterm and long-term goals.

Broad in its scope, the plan addresses community goals, needs and opportunities, housing, transportation, economic development and land use and establishes a community work program.

The plan, developed by consulting firm Pond & Co., traces Gwinnett’s history, covers the results from public input sessions, incorporates demographic trends, and inventories

the county’s infrastructure, community amenities, land use and built environment.

It establishes a vision taking into account the County’s needs and opportunities and incorporates five themes: Maintain Economic Development and Fiscal Health, Foster Redevelopment, Maintain Mobility and Accessibility and Accessibility, Provide More Housing Choices, and Keep Gwinnett a Preferred Place.

Other plans are incorporated into the Unified Plan, including the County’s recently approved Comprehensive Transportation Plan, Connect Gwinnett: Transit Plan, Countywide Trails Master Plan and water and sewer plans.

Future development possibilities are laid out, identifying higher density areas, more pastoral areas and those in between. The plan enumerates possible activity centers, employment centers, residential neighborhoods and low-intensity areas. A future land use map shows recommended development patterns in detail.

The plan is required by law and necessary for certain state and federal grants. It will be reviewed by the state Department of Community Affairs and the Atlanta Regional Commission, and the final plan will be adopted by the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners in February 2019.

To read the draft plan, visit www. gwinnettcounty.com.

November 2018

Norcross Co-op and local community partners to sponsor First Annual Merry Market shopping event for needy families

By Staff Reports

The Norcross Co-op is excited to announce they will be partnering with neighboring churches and community organizations to host the very first Merry Market shopping event serving more than 800 co-op families. The shopping events will be held on Dec. 8 and 15, 2018, at the Peachtree Corners Baptist Church and the Norcross First United Methodist Church.

The Merry Market provides the opportunity for parents and guardians of children in-need to shop and select gifts for their families at Christmas time. Last year, the Norcross Co-Op annual gift giving programs supplied more than 2,000

children with toys and clothing, and more than 800 community volunteers donated their time.

This year’s sponsors and community partners include: Peachtree Corners Baptist Church, Norcross First United Methodist Church, Simpsonwood United Methodist Church, Perimeter Church, Johns Creek Baptist Church, Johns Creek United Methodist Church, Robert D Fowler YMCA and many others.

Here’s how you can spread JOY this Christmas season to our neighbors in need: DONATE OR SPONSOR A TOY DRIVE: New toys, sweatshirts or hoodies for children of all ages and $25 gift cards to Target and Wal-Mart. Items can be dropped at

Peachtree Corners Baptist Church between Nov. 26 – Dec. 7 or contact christmas@norcrossco-op.org for a pick up. Or order online: https:// tinyurl.com/shopMerryMkt. VOLUNTEER: Volunteers may sign up by visiting https://tinyurl. com/MerryMkt. There are many activities between Dec. 4th through 15th that include toy sorting, set-up and Merry Market events. This is a great way for our students to earn community service hours and serve other during the holidays. Some activities have age restrictions.

SPREAD THE NEWS: Follow us on our Team Elf Facebook and share our posts!

Philadelphia Winn DAR supports Fort Daniel Faire

By Kitty Watters, Publicity Chair Cloudy skies did not dampen the enthusiasm of Philadelphia Winn Chapter members on Saturday at the Fort Daniel Faire in Dacula as they set up a tent and talked to history buffs about the merits of DAR. Patriotic materials were given away, and the Chapter’s PEP, or Portable Education Project, displayed many artifacts and reproductions of items used during the era. Fort Daniel was constructed by militia organized in Georgia during the Creek Indian War of 1814-1815. Pioneer Elisha Winn, along with his daughter Philadelphia, and other families lived nearby and doubtless were glad to have the fort as protection.

The area was to become Gwinnett County, created from land ceded by the Cherokee and Creek Indians and established on December 15, 1818.

Philadelphia Winn Chapter is a sponsor of the new Elisha Winn Society Children of the American Revolution, and the Society’s second meeting was held under the pines by the DAR tent, with 12 members and 16 Seniors/Guests attending. The historical setting held a fascination for the youngsters, as they joined in saying the Pledge of Allegiance, singing the National Anthem, and learned about “Defending the Frontier” at the site of old Fort Daniel.

Leslie Perry, a member of the Gwinnett Archaeological Research Society, presented a fascinating program to the C.A.R. members about local Indians and how they lived off the land. To each child, she gave a marble made of clay similar to those played with by Indian children, an heirloom seed packet, and a smooth

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Photos Courtesy of Frank Marchese

Raising of the American flag by War of 1812 re-enactor Eli Stancel, with young C.A.R. participants in period costume.

rock “millions of years old.” Frank Perry, GARS member, showed pioneer weapons, demonstrated tools made of points and deer horns and told of the hardships on the frontier.

The children especially enjoyed the archaeological dig, the exhibit of a War of 1812 camp with a tent, watching the blacksmith use his skills and Scott Goodlow’s exhibit of Native American foods and beverages. They sampled rabbit, bison and venison stews and sipped persimmon tea. A tour of the archaeology lab enabled all to view actual Fort Daniel artifacts found on site. A replica of the Fort was displayed in a tent near the site of the actual fort on top of the hill. Especially touching was the patriotic raising of the American flag by War of 1812 reenactor Eli Stancel, along with the SAR Color Guard, near the gate on the site of the Fort.

The day of living history was one to remember for the young patriots of the Elisha Winn Society and the members of the Philadelphia Winn Chapter.

Members who worked at the Faire were Regent Ann Story and Second Vice Regent Lynn Jacques.

Supporting the Elisha Winn Society

Photos Courtesy of Frank Marchese

Frank and Leslie Berry, of the Gwinnett Archaeological Research Society, presented a program on local Native Americans and the pioneers’ weapons and tools.

C.A.R. were Senior President Emily Tindall, Senior Treasurer Anne Lockhart, Senior Registrar Kitty Watters, Carol Pangle, Lynda Welch, and Kathleen Wilson.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With more than 177,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations. DAR members are committed to volunteer service having served more than 12.5 million hours in communities throughout the world during the past three years. To learn more about the work of today’s DAR, visit www.DAR.org or connect with DAR on social media at facebook.com/TodaysDAR, twitter.com/TodaysDAR, and youtube.com/TodaysDAR. For more information regarding the Philadelphia Winn Chapter, NSDAR, please visit our website: philadelphiawinn.georgiastatedar.org.

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Health, Beauty & Wellness Why Is Juuling All The Rage Right Now? Do you want the good news or the bad news first? Let’s start with the good news: the number of adults smoking cigarettes continues to steadily decrease—currently only 15.5% of U.S. adults. Thanks to increased awareness and ongoing publicity surrounding traditional cigarettes, more and more adults recognize all of the harmful effects of smoking.

But this recent decrease in tobacco popularity has paved the way for a new type of nicotine product to step into the spotlight. Enter e-cigarettes. “Not only have these devices skyrocketed in popularity since they came on the scene in 2007, they’ve also taken high school students by storm,” explains Nan McCormick, RN, GMC’s thoracic nurse navigator.

“In fact, the FDA’s latest preliminary data, not yet published, shows that 2018 ushered in a 75% increase in e-cigarette use among high schoolers (since 2017).”

But not all e-cigarettes are created equal. The latest craze in the vaping world is the Juul device, which alone accounts for two-thirds of the e-cigarette market. So what exactly does all of this mean?

According to McCormick, this is

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everything you need to know about the booming juuling trend: 1. Juuling—or vaping of any kind—isn’t the same as smoking. “With traditional tobacco cigarettes, the smoking process involves burning tobacco, along with several other harmful chemicals, like tar, oxidant gases, carbon monoxide and of course, nicotine,” describes McCormick.

But e-cigarettes successfully eliminate the harmful burning process and its many toxic byproducts.

“Instead, e-cigarettes use battery power to heat flavored liquid, containing nicotine and other chemicals, releasing a vapor.”

2. The flavored liquid in Juuls definitely isn’t harmless. Don’t let those delicious-sounding flavors— mango, cool cucumber, crème brulee, fruit medley—fool you. There’s more to the health picture.

“In addition to nicotine, which isn’t good for anyone, the flavored liquid includes chemicals, like propylene glycol or glycerol, both of which can damage cells, alter brain chemistry and potentially cause cancer,” emphasizes McCormick.

“Not to mention that many of the flavorings can impact blood vessel

function.” The bottom line here is that juuling (or vaping) isn’t a safe alternative to smoking.

3. Juuls are especially appealing to high schoolers. That must be why over 11.3% of high school students have admitted to vaping in the last 30 days. “Despite the fact that the Juul, and many e-cigarettes, were initially created to help adults quit smoking tobacco cigarettes, roughly 40% of e-cigarette users had never actually been cigarette smokers,” says McCormick.

On top of that, there are many aspects of e-cigarettes, the Juul in particular, that make them ideal for high schoolers: • Their USB-style appearance makes them easily concealable • Their connection to technology makes them seem more like a gadget and less like a vaping device • Their social media presence makes their brand popular and trendy • Their sweet, dessert-like flavors are appealing teenagers and first-time smokers • Their disassociation with tobacco cigarettes causes users to believe they’re not addictive • Their high-levels of nicotine

gwinnettcitizen.com

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are easily absorbed and encourage higher amounts of smoking per day 4. The FDA is trying to regulate Juuls and other e-cigarettes.

But despite their best efforts to minimize the exposure and accessibility of e-cigarettes to teens, their online presence makes it difficult. Not only are many e-cigarette companies active on social media, they also make purchasing devices and flavor pods online easy and convenient.

5. There are ways to stop smoking, vaping, juuling—or all of the above. The truth is, whether it’s smoking, vaping or juuling, they’re all harmful for your lungs, as well as your overall health and wellbeing. “Year after year, lung can-

cer continues to be the number one cause of cancer death in both men and women,” notes McCormick, “this has got to stop.”

That’s why Gwinnett Medical Center offers a variety of resources to help protect the health of your lungs. Whether you’re an every-once-in-a-while kind of vaper, or someone who has smoked for decades, GMC’s experts can help.

With everything from a free Freshstart Smoking Cessation Program to an innovative lung cancer screening program, GMC is here to support lasting lung health. To learn more, visit gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/ lung.

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Getting to know Certified Home Care of Georgia

Judine Lynch

Certified Home Care of Georgia

My name is Judine Lynch, and I have been providing care and staffing since 1987. Each month I will provide information on home care and resources available to people of all ages with constraints and the frail older population. I am not a scientist, nor a mathematician or can I claim to know it all, but I will work my hardest to

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get vital information to share with readers. If you have any questions about home care and the resources available, please submit it to askjudy@thecaregateway.com. I will be happy to share what I know, answer your questions or research the information you need.

Last month a lady walked in our office with a donation of a walker and a bath chair (new). If you know anyone we can give these items to please call us, that is what we do share and give information in addition to providing care in the comfort of your home – 770 635 8042.

Years ago, I was introduced to a man by way of insurance and I thought to myself this Man can sell ice to Eskimos. His name is Peter James and he sells Final Expense Life Insurance. A Final Expense policy is a gift you give to your kids, making them stress-free after you have departed.

Peter and I soon after started

networking together. I met his wife, Jossette, and his three lovely daughters, and I sensed right away he was a great match for Certified Home Care of Georgia. Today, it’s going on almost two years since he joined us at Certified Home Care of Georgia. Peter is now our Community Liaison at Certified Home Care of Georgia. He is still a Final Expense Advisor and currently writes policies. Let me introduce you to Peter James: “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” ~ T. Roosevelt This quote is applicable in every sphere I have represented.

Often times, folks disregard this wise saying to their peril. Imagine yourself being the recipient of care from a trusted person or organization. Wouldn’t it be an awesome feeling? Well, look no more! Certified Home Care of GA LLC was

gwinnettcitizen.com

Peter James

created with the above quote in mind. Founded in 2009 from humble beginnings, this agency has blossomed; in just under 10 years, we have become one of the premier home care agencies in North Georgia.

Certified Home Care of GA believes that with the current expansion of aging baby boomers, and the associated need for personalized, one-on-one care, are two of the factors driving the need for the services we offer. Providing help in the home or outside facility is what we do best. Certified looks out especially, for the frail and elderly in communities in and around Metro-Atlanta. As a home care organization Certified Home Care assist clients of all age groups, however, the need is more apparent in the senior segment, who all possess the desire to maintain and enhance their daily living activities.

Research indicates that over 85% of people who heal the quickest also have a faster recovery rate from traumas or accidents when they stay in their own homes. Most recovering patients would rather stay in a familiar setting versus being relegated to a hospital or other health facilities. The “peace of mind” that accompanies- the stay at home phenomena- is highly recommended by healthcare providers all over the globe.

The questions that are usually asked are: What makes us different? Why we are a step above?

1. Certified takes the utmost pleasure in the home care needs of our clients. Our founder believes that care has to emanate from the heart. And as such, caring has been an integral part of the fabric of the caring culture. Certified Home Care prides itself as a customized, personalized agency that seeks not only to meet but to also exceed our customers’ expectations. We make every effort to match our customers with the qualified caregivers that will understand their specific needs.

2. All our caregivers (Nurses, Certified Nursing Assistants and Personal Care Assistants) are thoroughly screened, background

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checked, drug tested and possess a drivers license where necessary.

We also run them against the state database frequently to ensure that their certifications remain current.

3. We are accredited by the BBB-Better Business Bureau as well as the Georgia Association of Community Health, members of 4 (four) different Chambers of Commerce, and a host of other health care and business affiliated organizations 4. Certified Home Care Of GA specializes in handling tough cases and mostly handle, Alzheimer, Dementia, Mental Issues, Respite care, and companionship to name a few.

5. We pride ourselves as being very approachable; We are local and easily accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We have no minimums and can handle almost any need. We customize our care to fit the needs of our clients. We like to believe we are an extended a part of the family.

Our founder and COO Judine Lynch is the driver of this passionate organization which provides “top-notch” services to clients in over 10 counties throughout North Georgia. Our current saying is “we put the CARE in-home care”.

Our certified care team can be reached by calling (770-635-8042) or by visiting our website (www. certifiedhomecareofgeorgia.com.)

We are excited to work with you or your loved ones.

The time you have been waiting for is here. Call us today and start the planning before it’s too late!

Peter James is the Community Liaison with Certified Home Care Of GA LLC and also a Final Expense Advisor who works with seniors throughout Metro Atlanta and beyond.

Certified Home Care of Georgia is licensed by the state of Georgia Department of Community Health., we provide one-on-one care in companionship and personal care. Call Us Today 770 635 8042.

November 2018

Improvements to Peachtree Corners intersection slated

HUMAN continued from page 1 Sawyer decided to take initiative to raise awareness about the issue and held the “Human Trafficking Night of Awareness “on Oct. 11, 2018.

Sawyer said the event, which was held at Landmark Church from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., was the first step in his initiative to raise awareness on the issue — and it won’t be the last.

Bridges PC, whose mission is to address issues of economic disparity in the city of Peachtree Corners and the surrounding areas, aims to partner with the City of Norcross to hold another sex trafficking event closer to the Super Bowl.

One of the goals for The Night of Awareness and similar upcoming events is to educate the community about the sex trafficking industry in the suburbs of Atlanta. The event was a collaboration of several organizations including Perimeter Church’s Justice Team, Street Grace and local law enforcement. The mayor of Peachtree Corners and State Representative Scott Hilton also participated as guest speakers.

As the first speaker of the evening, the Mayor addressed the elephant in the room, admitting that crimes of human trafficking can happen anywhere, even in “a demonstrably affluent community” like Peachtree Corners.

“It can happen anywhere, “Mayor Mike Mason said. “So tonight, in the city of Peachtree Corners we will hear some discussions, presentations and see what we can do to solve this terrible problem.”

Bob Rodgers, CEO and President of Street Grace, a 501©3 seeking to end sex trafficking through preventative action, said that the community should feel confident that progress has been made in the past decade.

In the years since it was founded in 2009, Street Grace has taken a multi-pronged approach to tackle sex trafficking. For one, they focus on domestic minor sex trafficking transactions that involve minors under the age of 18. Rodgers said he has presented at hundreds of middle schools and high schools as a preventative measure to educate youth and teachers.

A second approach Grace Street takes is targeting buyers of sex, and this is one of the greatest challenges they face, according to Rodgers.

In recent years, Street Grace has collaborated with a major marketing corporation to launch a technology that will potentially solve that challenge. In October, they launched “Gracie”, a chatbot that receives phone calls from persons responding to online sex ads and messages the potential buyer posing as a teenage boy or girl. Gracie then stores their information in a permanent database made available to federal and state law enforcement. The CVC predicts that Gracie will disrupt over 12,000 illegal attempts to purchase sex.

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By Staff Reports

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Bridges PC is a nonprofit that aims to alleviate economic disparities in Peachtree Corners and the surrounding areas.

“Research tells us the underground sex economy in the United States is a $13 or $14 billion a-year industry,” Rodgers said. “To give context [to that figure], the combined revenues of the NFL two years ago equated $14 billion.”

Rodgers quoted research specifying that Atlanta’s underground sex economy is a $290 million a year business, placing it among the top three economies for sex trafficking within the country.

But Scott Hilton, State Representative of District 95, is optimistic that the state government can make a difference.

During the event at Landmark Church, Hilton described two legislations the state approved in the past two years that could improve the problem. Hilton described House Bill 341, a legislation that has increased penalties for pimps and buyers of sex. Prior to the legislature, pimping or pandering sex with minors was a felony, while trafficking adult victims received only a misdemeanor charge and a minimum of 24 hours in jail. House Bill 341 ensures that even trafficking adults receives harsher penalties.

“House Bill 341 went to address that issue and we upped the minimum [jail time], “Representative Hilton said. “So, you are not in so short.

The minimum is now 72 hours, and the judge has the discretion to keep you there as long as a year, and the second offense is a felony. Good legislation the General Assembly addressed there. “ Amendment 2 of Bill 8, Resolution 7 was the second legislation Hilton described. It appeared on the 2016 voter ballots. The amendment was passed by the General Assembly and ensures that penalties and fees on panderers and sellers of sex go into a safe harbor fund that is used to help sexually exploited children.

Commanding Officer of the Westside Precinct Everette Spellman spoke to law enforcement’s renewed commitment to the issue.

In order to address sex trafficking, law enforcers have formed a special coalition, in a collaboration with the FBI’s Metro Atlanta Child Exploitation Task Force and the Gwinnett Police Department Vice Unit.

According to Major Spellman, The Vice Unit has investigated three

cases of sex trafficking and made and made 34 prostitution arrests, 6 pimping arrests and 43 pandering arrests in this year alone.

Major Spellman advised that anyone who sees anything suspicious report it to Gwinnett’s tip line by calling (770)513-5480 or by emailing gcpdetips@gwinnettcounty.com.

Rodgers is optimistic about the work he and other partners have done in the past decade. While Street Grace has offices across the country, he believes that “what we have in Atlanta is unique, and we should feel good about that.”

“We have mounted this response that is beginning to work, “Rodgers said. “I think that if research was done here today just like it was done 10 or 12 years ago, I think we would see that we’ve made progress. “ Bridges PC and Street Grace will provide volunteering opportunities in the months leading to the Super Bowl.

Formed in 2014, Bridges PC regularly coordinates projects to provide aid to underprivileged families in Peachtree Corners and the surrounding areas. For Thanksgiving, Sawyer is organizing a drive to donate turkeys to needy families on the south side of Peachtree Corners. For January, Bridges PC has planned a fundraiser for Peachtree Corners Elementary, and the nonprofit has begun planning another human trafficking awareness event.

Sawyer and his associate Bradley Joseph invite everyone to play a part in their initiative to tackle sex trafficking in Peachtree Corners. Visit www.bridgespc.org or call (678)7726661 to volunteer with Bridges PC or to support their upcoming projects.

Street Grace also invites the community to participate in any of their upcoming fundraisers and functions.

Rodgers stressed that while the Super Bowl is in no way associated with sex trafficking, the entire economy will prosper during that time, including illegal markets in Atlanta and its suburbs. Street Grace will be active during and prior to the Super Bowl and is accepting volunteers.

Visit www.streetgrace.org for more details, or contact Bob Rogers via bob@streetgrace.org.

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Relief is on the way for residents and commuters who regularly navigate the intersection of Medlock Bridge and Bush roads. Improvements for this busy intersection, in which over 25,000 vehicles pass daily, is expected to begin as early as spring 2019.

The improvements include adding dedicated thru lanes and extending turn lanes to increase capacity on both Bush and Medlock Bridge roads.

Additionally, the dedicated right-turn lane on Bush Road for northbound traffic on S.R. 141 will be separated by a raised median to allow a continuous flow of traffic.

Pedestrian safety features will also be enhanced and will include upgrading signals and crosswalks and adding a pedestrian island.

“We are pleased to be able to announce this partnership with the city of Peachtree Corners on this project,” said Gwinnett County Commissioner Lynette Howard (Dist. 2). “As the

county continues to grow, it is paramount that we continue our work on road improvements and pedestrian safety.”

The project for these two county-maintained roads will be funded through a joint inter-governmental agreement with Gwinnett County and the city of Peachtree Corners utilizing SPLOST funds. The final construction costs for this project are still being developed. Once the construction documents are finalized, construction could be underway as soon as spring 2019. The project is estimated to take 15 months to complete.

“Improving traffic flow throughout the community has been one of our main objectives since we incorporated in 2012,” said Peachtree Corners Councilmember Alex Wright (Post 3).

“We are happy to be able to work with Gwinnett County on these intersection improvements as we continue our focus on reducing traffic congestion throughout our city”.

Unspeakable gratitude for public safety professionals

Charlotte J. Nash

County Business

Flags flew at half-staff over the State Capitol and throughout Gwinnett County in late October. Memorials poured in and people lined the procession route after the funeral for Gwinnett Police Officer Antwan Toney. He was shot dead while investigating a suspicious vehicle. He had been with the police department since October 2015.

Officer Toney was a native of Southern California. He was a member of the 94th Gwinnett Police Academy and was loved and respected by everyone who knew him.

Officer Toney was the fifth Gwinnett Police officer ever killed in the line of duty and the first since 1993.

I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of grief and support from our community. A patrol car was parked in front of police headquarters as a memorial to Officer Toney was quickly covered with flowers and stuffed animals. It’s obvious that the people of Gwinnett County deeply appreciate the police officers, the firefighters, the sheriff’s deputies, and

the corrections officers who keep us all safe 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

They leave their own families to protect us… or to rescue us… or to provide emergency medical care on the way to the hospital. They work long shifts at odd hours, even on holidays. Sometimes they put their lives on the line. For us.

We know it’s not an easy job. We know their days can go from dull to heart-pounding in a split second. We know they run toward danger while the rest of us run away.

I speak to our police and fire academy graduates several times a year. Each time, I express my gratitude for their willingness to serve the people of Gwinnett. I express my respect for their courage and dedication to duty. And I express my admiration for their ability to accept the unknown and unknowable aspects of the job. I hope they know how deeply I mean those words.

I don’t like adding names to our Fallen Heroes Memorial. I wish we never had to do it. But seeing those names permanently etched in black granite – some dating back to Gwinnett’s earliest years – reminds me that a few brave and honorable men and women will always step forward to protect the rest.

I am so grateful for those few.

And so devastated when we lose one. But when the whole community stands together in grief – expressing it as best we can – I realize I am not alone. Someone has our back. Someone like Officer Antwan Toney.

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EMERY continued from page 1 asked if she could donate some supplies.

“It all started with me just thinking, in a year, I’m going to retire, and I have an enormous personal library of children’s books,” Terri said. “What am I going to do with them when I retire? I’d like just to donate them. “ At the end of 2015, the Emerys made their first trip to deliver school supplies to I.T. Montgomery Elementary School located on W M.L.K. Jr. Dr. in Mound Bayou, Miss.

And by then, others had taken interest and donated book, supplies, and money to pay for a U-Haul to carry it all.

The next year, Mike started teaching at Paideia, a private school in Atlanta. There he met Carl Rosenbaum, and when the two bonded over a common interest in the Miss. Delta, they saw an opportunity to get the school involved.

“The Mississippi Delta: A mu-

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High school students from Paideia, a private school in Atlanta, brought school supplies to Montgomery Elementary in Mound, Bayou, Miss. during a class trip.

sic and Culinary Journey” was introduced as an elective course and part of the short-term curriculum at Paideia. The class is unlike anything kids would experience at a public school — for two hours a day for three weeks, kids are immersed in the music, history, and culture of the Miss. Delta.

They spend most of the class pre-

paring for the trip to the Miss. Delta when they visit major Blues sites in Clarksdale and Cleveland. And along the way, they make a special stop in Mound Bayou to deliver supplies to Montgomery Elementary.

“We try to give kids the opportunity to be exposed to what life is like outside this beautiful Druid Hills area, “Mike said. “Our kids come from a lot of privilege. They come from very well to do families for the most part. So for them to spend four days in the Miss. Delta and see poverty at its height is a valuable experience.”

As part of the curriculum, the kids learn about the unique history of the Miss. Delta and of Mound Bayou.

Founded in 1887 by former slaves, Mound Bayou became one of the first autonomous, all-black communities. At one time, the town bustled with activity and included facilities such as post offices, schools, and hospitals.

But as the Great Migration occurred, people moved North, and Mound Bayou was left behind. Today the population is below 1,500, and according to Carl, who also teaches the class, there are hardly any businesses in the town.

Of course, there is the old Mississippi Blues Trail marker that led Mike and Terri to Mound Bayou in the first place. The marker tells of the town’s former renown as a major Blues spot where artists like Charlie Patton and Son House lived and performed.

Although the stop in Mound Bayou is brief, Mike and Carl believe it leaves a big impression on the kids.

“To be quite frank, I hadn’t thought about it for a long time, “said Drew Nickels, a senior at Paideia who went on the first trip. “I wouldn’t say it changed me, but it definitely opened my eyes to more than other things have.”

Drew vividly remembers other parts of the trip, like the time they stopped in Clarksdale to see a performance at Red’s juke joint.

“I’m not very in tune with the Miss. Delta culture, [but] what I learned is that Red’s has big cultural significance in the greater Miss. area, and it’s just this shack that probably sits about 30 people,” Drew said.

Another part of the trip that stood out to Drew was the time they met a

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traveling musical act called Southern Halo, and the kids were invited to the group’s house for a free performance.

Drew also remembers eating catfish for the first time at a Blues club called Ground Zero and considers this one of the most memorable parts of the trip.

By exposing them to music and food, Mike and Karl Try to teach students what makes the Delta’s culture rich and unique.

And they are careful when teaching about the economic plight of the area, especially as it concerns Montgomery Elementary.

“I haven’t really been exposed to that much low-income areas in my life,” Drew continued,” and I have a ton of respect for the Principal because we got to meet her and hear her speak. She’s very dedicated to the community, and that was very interesting for me. “ Terri found it took a while to gain the Principal’s trust, but over time, they have formed a friendly relationship. The Principal, Montresia Cain, is now more open about the school’s needs.

“I had to present the whole thing very carefully in that I didn’t want to insult them or be seen as the hero on the white horse coming in to save the day, “Terri said recalling her first attempts to help the school. “It wasn’t anything like that. It was just I had these resources. They were in need.

It was just what can I do, what can I do to make a difference?”

“And you know,” Terri continued, “so many people go on mission trips and out of the country, and it’s just amazing what’s there in the U.S. And the Delta of Miss. is one of these places — we have now found out that some don’t have electricity, [and] almost 100% of them are on free and reduced lunch.”

Drew admits the prospect of missing regular class time to travel and eat was why he took Mike & Carl’s class, but he ended up getting a lot more out of it than he expected.

“It was a very humbling experience,” Drew said of the visit to Montgomery Elementary. “It’s one of those places where the cafeteria stays open year-round to feed students and the community — it was humbling.

“That’s our goal — to expose the kids to much more than they would be exposed to otherwise,” Mike said.

As a retired teacher, Terri Emery always takes interest in schools she spots on trips with her husband.

But since the couple first found Montgomery Elementary in Mound Bayou, Miss. during a summer road trip, they have been back many times bringing donated school supplies and books.

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Wheels keep turning down the Miss. Delta as Mike and Terri Emery bring supplies to I.T. Montgomery Elementary. And those wheels keep getting bigger as more of the community gets involved to donate books and school supplies.

“Gives them the chance to see that five hours away or two hours away in South Ga. — in the U.S., the plight is there.”

On the last trip, Paideia donated enough iPads so that every classroom in Montgomery Elementary now has some form of technology. On another trip, they have brought P.E. equipment to replace the school’s worn out supplies.

Carl and the Emerys have planned another trip for this January, and they hope to take a supply of shoes and clothes to the school.

Currently, the couple is accepting donations from Paideia and from anyone in the community who wants to help. Some buy new books, and others donate items they don’t use anymore.

“We have taken board games.

More books,” Terri said. “Just — I want to make a difference for that school.“ “And this [article] was very uncomfortable for me, “Terri admitted.

“I do think people need to know there are places like Mound Bayou, Miss. that don’t have the resources that we do.”

The trip is planned for Jan. 24, 2019. Those who would like to donate books, school supplies, or make a contribution to the trip can contact Terri by emailing taemery@bellsouth.net.

November 2018

What’s in a name?

By Katie Hart Smith GwinnettCitizen.com

Which Gwinnett city was first an established Indian village? a) Suwanee b) Snellville c) Lawrenceville The correct answer is (a) Suwanee. For hundreds of years the original Indian settlement, where the Suwanee River flows into the Chattahoochee River, was located three miles southwest of the current downtown area. Three Indian nations, Shawnee, Creek, and Cherokee, converged in the region called,

“Suwanee Old Town,” with “Suwani” being the original spelling.

Established in 1871 after the railroad came through and later incorporated on February 25, 1949, the community is nestled in the northwest section of Gwinnett County.

Erected in the same year, the first city hall was located at the corner of Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road and Buford Highway. Today, that building is home to Suwanee’s Municipal Court. The second city hall building was converted in 2010 into the police station. The current Suwanee City Hall was erected ten years ago.

Did you know? The Atlanta Falcons, an NFL football team, once housed its headquarters and

practice facility in Suwanee from 1978-1998 before making Flowery Branch, Georgia its new franchise home in 2005.

The population of Suwanee has exploded from 615 in 1970 to 19,410 residents in 2016 according to the U.S Census. Suwanee, located thirty-three miles northwest of downtown Atlanta, consists of eleven square miles.

For more information about the City of Suwanee and their calendar of community events, visit: http:// www.suwanee.com/explore-suwanee/about-suwanee.

Riding into the future – on Micro-transit

Dave Emanuel

Cut to the Chase

On October 27,1904, public transportation achieved a trend-setting milestone when New York City opened its subway system. For a 5-cent fare, a subway rider could quickly and easily travel to areas that were formerly difficult or extremely expensive to reach. New York City’s high population density and, concentrated residential and commercial districts made a subway system was the best option, given the technology of the day.

The system, which operates 24 hours per day, seven days a week, dramatically transformed the city’s landscape; it provided the only form of affordable transportation. Automobiles were “new-fangled” apparatuses, well beyond the budget of all but the most wealthy and horsebased transportation was expensive and impractical to house in a city environment. Consequently, for the majority of the city’s population, walking was the only option for getting from one place to another. For a century, New York’s subway system, served as the prototype for the urban heavy rail systems that developed in cities across the country, including Atlanta. (Heavy rail is defined as

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a system that is underground, elevated or otherwise separated from street traffic.)

After automobiles became a major form of transportation, heavy rail systems remained viable in many cities as streets became clogged with traffic and parking spaces became as rare as a street without potholes.

Yet heavy rail, like all forms of fixedroute transit, has seen a significant drop in ridership as other, more convenient forms of transportation have developed.

In metropolitan Atlanta, rail just doesn’t make sense. The area’s relatively low population density and far flung residential and commercial centers create economic and logistical challenges that cannot be met by any form of fixed-route transportation. That’s especially true of heavy rail and light rail, given their respective construction costs of $250 and $125 million per mile.

For metro Atlanta in general and Gwinnett County in particular, micro-transit, which utilizes van-sized buses, is a much more practical and cost-effective option. That point is currently being demonstrated by pilot program launched in September by the Gwinnett County Department

of Transportation. The 6-month program, which is based in Snellville, offers on-demand, door-to-door rides at no charge, and operates Monday through Friday from 6:00 am until 8:30 pm and 7:00 am until 7:00 pm on Saturdays. To arrange for transportation, you can call or use the micro-transit smart phone app. At the program’s conclusion, county officials will evaluate ridership, costs and public response and use the data collected to shape future transit plans.

Requiring no construction costs, micro-transit can be put in place anywhere served by existing roadways. For home-to-work commutes micro-transit buses can use limited access Interstate lanes and then transition to city streets to bring riders to their destination.

Autonomous vehicles are coming on line faster than most projections, and that technology will undoubtedly be applied to all forms of transportation. Self-driving vehicles make micro-transit even more compelling. Clearly, the future of public transit will drive itself, and riders will enjoy a level of convenience that rail and every other form of fixed-route transportation cannot provide.

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 November 2018

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CONCERT continued from page 1 located in Duluth, seats 260, and the Standards and Classics of Christmas Concert will be on December 1st at 8:00 pm.

Allan already had me sold at the music of the 40s, 50s, and 60s—but the real story and a beautiful reason to see these concerts is Allan’s motivation behind this whole concept.

Allan travels the country performing this same genre with a professional touring group. Over his travels, Allan collected observations about the people in the audience. This genre of music celebrates our “Greatest Generation”—the WWII Generation, the Builders. This generation is invaluable to the history of our country.

They worked hard with little expectation; they sacrificed for their community; they lived toward a higher purpose and felt their life was more than their own. The music that Allan carefully chooses for each Standards and Classics Concert represents those timeless values. “Things have moved so fast and are so different than when this generation grew up. People can lose their identity,” Allan explains, “We can help recreate some memories. It is important to us to give this greatest generation a demonstration of value—not obsolescence.” This concert is not only for those who lived this era but also for anyone who loves someone of this era as well as those who still appreciate the beauty and grit of life during this generation.

The Christmas Concert kicks off the series with songs lined up that are, indeed, the standards by which our idea of classics formed. These

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Make sure you purchase your tickets now to get advanced pricing!

songs are not just familiar tunes, but inseparable from the history of our country. Behind each song is a story.

There will be singers, musicians, and costumes. To deepen your experience of each song, Allan gives the history of each song and how each came to be. Often the song we know today has a surprising evolution behind it.

Next in the series will be Standards and Classics for Lovers on February 15th around Valentines Day. Allan is particularly excited about the Fourth of July Concert Standards and Classics of Freedom. His own experience gave Allan a change of perspective for this holiday. His son graduated from the Citadel and is a captain in the Marine Corps. Being an American has a deeper meaning to Allan. You will hear him speak from his heart during this particular concert in the series.

I got a taste of the passion Allan will share—if you just like this country of ours even a little bit, you do not want to miss this concert. The first three concerts in the Standards and Classics series will be at the Red Clay Theatre. The final show, a late summer Back-to-School celebration, will

likely have an outdoor venue still to be determined.

Allan’s career has been a traveling one. His travels have shown him incredibly special moments all over the nation. However, one thing he learned from studying this Greatest Generation is the importance of local community—relationships made by handshake to handshake over coffee and conversation. “Greatness of macro starts with greatness of micro— each of us—that’s what Standards and Classics is all about,” says Allan.

This concert series is more than feelgood entertainment. It is even more than celebrating the Greatest Generation. Allan is also nurturing his local community. He wants to spend more time close to home building those handshake relationships. Starting with himself through this concert series, Allan intends to live the best parts of the Greatest Generation and try to make sure future generations know these same values. Many of the performers are people he has worked with for over 20 years. Even this fact builds that same sense of community and trust. Standards and Classics is not just a concert—it is the beginning of a movement.

For tickets, go to eddieowenpresents.com or call (404) 478-2749 Tickets are $25 ($29 for premium) for advance purchase Day-of tickets are $28 ($32 for premium) http://allanwiltshire.com/standardsandclassics

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Making your garden ‘bird friendly’

Tim Daly

Gwinnett County Extension Agent

People travel thousands of miles to search for rare and elusive bird species inhabiting exotic locations such as the frigid tundra in Alaska or the tropical rainforests of Costa Rica.

However, one does not need to travel long distances to observe diverse species of birds as their backyard garden can potentially attract a multitude of bird species.

Birds require food, shelter, and water throughout the year. Most birds feed on seeds, small berries, and insects. If they can find their basic needs in your yard, they will visit it. Plants that have berries, nuts or fruits will be attractive to birds.

Evergreen trees and shrubs provide shelter for them.

Birdfeeders are great, but providing a diversity of plants, especially native plants, are just as good at attracting many bird species to your yard. Birds love small trees, such as dogwood, sourwood, sparkleberry, and redbud, as well as shrubs like blueberries, viburnums, and hollies. These plants produce an abundance of seeds and berries for forage. Vines such as Carolina jessamine, Virginia creeper, and clematis provide shelter for birds to nest. The ruby-throated hummingbird loves the orange and red flowers of the trumpet creeper vine and coral honeysuckle. Birds do not like to be out in the open but prefer to be in areas that offer cover. Having a variety of plants in the landscape will provide some protection and security for them.

Birdfeeders are an additional source of food for birds. Feeders come in many varieties. Some are small and hang from a wire; others are larger and mounted on steel

or wooden poles. Suet is simply animal fat mixed with nuts, raisins, peanut butter or dried fruit. They are high in calories which provide energy for birds, especially during the colder weather. Often squirrels will raid the birdfeeder to feast on the food. However, several feeders are designed to be squirrel-proof by having a squirrel baffle that prevents them from climbing onto the feeder.

You may want to supply the squirrels with some food to their likings, like corn on the cob and nuts. Place these in another part of your yard to divert them away from the bird feeder.

Birds need a source of water.

Bird baths are an excellent source of drinking water and a place for them to wash. They come in every imaginable size, shape, and cost. Make sure you change the water every few days, and during the warmer weather, drop a few mosquito dunks in it to control any mosquito larvae. Ornamental fish ponds, as well as pans and other containers placed on the ground, can also be a source of water.

Bluebirds, wrens, sparrows, finches, and woodpeckers are birds that like to build nests in birdhouses.

They usually make ones naturally in tree cavities. The species of birds that will create a nest in your birdhouse is partly determined by the type of habitat in your yard. Multiple trees with dense shrubs in the surrounding area will attract the forest-loving birds while open; open fields will attract birds that prefer those types of habitats. Many species of birds are territorial and will not tolerate the presence of other birds. Some birds prefer to have many others of their kind around them, such as purple martins and tree swallows. Other birds tolerate different species in their territory. Learn about the types of habitats for each species of birds that visit your yard through various resources, such as the National Audubon Society website http:// www.audubon.org.

Timothy Daly is an Agricultural and Natural Resource Extension Agent with UGA Extension Gwinnett. He can be contacted at 678-377-4011or tdaly@ uga.edu.

November 2018

Your Green: Age 70.5 or older? Don’t forget your RMDs!

Roger Green, MSFS,CFP ® Green Financial Resources

In the year in which you turn 70 ½ years of age, the current IRS guidelines require you to take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD), by April 1 of the following year, from your Qualified accounts (tax advantaged accounts). For each year thereafter, you must take your RMD by 12/31 each year.

The types of retirement accounts impacted by the RMD requirement include, but are not limited to: 401(k), 403(b), 457 plans, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), SEP IRAs, and SIMPLE IRAs. It is important to note that Roth IRAs do not have an RMD requirement while the owner is alive.

The RMD from your Defined Contribution Plans, which includes your 401(k), 403(b), 457 and TSP

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plans, is separate from the RMD from your IRA, SEP, SIMPLE, and other IRA type accounts. While your IRA RMDs can be combined and taken from one account, your 401(k) and similar account types must have the RMDs taken separately from each account.

How are RMDs calculated?

RMDs are calculated by dividing the prior year-end fair market value of the retirement account by the applicable distribution period, or life expectancy. While you must withdraw the minimum amount, you are still legally allowed to withdraw any amount above that number. To calculate your RMD, visit the IRS website to ensure you are using the correct calculation worksheet. Generally, you will need to do three things for each account: 1) Determine the account balance on December 31st of the previous year by account 2) Find the distribution factor listed on the IRA calculation tables corresponding to your age

Source: IRS

3) Divide the account balance by the distribution factor number to determine your RMD.

When Should I take my RMD? You will be required to take your RMD from your accounts prior to December 31 each year, except for the year you turn 70 1/2 , when you are required to take the RMD

by April 1 of the following year.

Failure to take the withdrawal as required may result in a 50% IRS excise penalty on the amount of the distribution you should have taken. The RMD amount is calculated based on the total in the retirement account as of December 31 of the prior year, so even if that account has a zero balance this year, the balance of that account from last year will impact the RMD requirements you have this year.

If you have multiple IRA accounts you may take the aggregate required total from one of the accounts, or the required amount from each account, or any other mixture of withdrawals from those impacted accounts; as long as you satisfy at least the full amount of the RMD as calculated across all accounts.

There are valid investment planning reasons why you may want to vary how you take your RMDs from your IRAs. If actively working beyond 70 1/2, you may be able to defer 401(k)/403(b) RMDs without penalty. Generally, you must take your distribution each year whether

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you are working or not from your IRA type accounts. However, if you are still actively working past the age of 70 ½, it is possible to defer your Defined Contribution Plan RMSs (such as 401(k)/403(b) accounts) until retirement. As with anything else, conditions apply and require: • That you are actively employed currently.

• Your current employer sponsors the 401(k) plan in question (a former employer 401(k) requires an RMD after age 70 ½.

• You have funds in the account.

• Your plan allows for it.

• You are not a 5% or more owner of the company. Owners holding 5% or more are required to take RMDs beginning at age 70 ½.

There is, however, a way to prevent the need for an RMD from a plan you have with a prior employer; when still actively working and eligible for a current employer’s plan. If you have more than one 401(k) and your plan allows for rollovers, it may be possible to consolidate all 401(k) funds into the 401(k) of your current employer, allowing you to delay RMDs on all of the funds in the following year, if the other exceptions apply. This will also simplify RMD planning once you retire by minimizing the number of different RMD distributions you must calculate and take.

Additionally, because RMDs

are not required from Roth IRAs, conversion of IRA accounts to Roth IRA accounts is another way to potentially avoid the need to take RMDs after age 70 ½.

Inherited IRAs also must have RMDs taken from them.

Generally, if you have inherited an IRA from someone age 70 ½ or older, for the year of the account owner’s death, use the RMD the account owner would have received. For the year following the owner’s death, the RMD will depend on the identity of the designated beneficiary. Many other rules apply.

This is a highly simplified overview of RMDs. There are multiple rules to follow, so for these decisions the input of a financial advisor and/or a tax professional is recommended. To inquire about your situation, please contact our office at 770.931.1414 to schedule a free consultation, or sign up for one of our upcoming retirement planning classes. Learn more at www.rogersgreen. com. We are here to help!

This information is not intended to be tax or legal advice, and it may not be relied upon for the purpose of avoiding any federal or state tax penalties. Roger Green is an Investment Advisor Representative offering securities and advisory services through Cetera Advisors LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Roger’s office is located at 3700 Crestwood Parkway Duluth, GA 30096.

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