November 27, 2015 — Gwinnett Daily Post

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IN WEEKEND, PAGE 1C Holiday production celebrates two decades

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IN KICKOFF EDITION Fifth-ranked Hawks host No. 4 Archer in all-Gwinnett quarterfinal showdown • Page 1B

Gwinnett Daily Post celebrates oductionrfo Annual prde pe rmances two deca s of

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

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10 spot

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10 gReAT CHRISTmAS SONgS

inspired a Christmas has e anthems variety of festiv timeless and — some are and silly. Even other are hokey n times, it’s touching and played a millio been e g the yulethough they’v forward to hearin plenty of great hard not to look year. There are get tide tunes each but here is a list of 10 to Christmas songs d: starte your playlist y Crosb Bing tmas” — Crosby 1. “White Chris tmas” — Bing Chris for 2. “I’ll Be Home Presley tmas” — Elvis Christmas” — 3. “Blue Chris elf a Merry Little 4. “Have Yours Judy Garland Dean Martin Bing ow World” — On Earth” — 5. “Marshmall mer Boy/Peace 6. “Little Drum Bowie Crosby and DavidHome For Christmas” — 7. “Please Come n esses Waitr Charles Brow The Wrapping” — 8. “Christmas to Me” — Stevie tmas Means 9. “What Chris ToWanna Fight Wonder tmas (I Don’t 10. “Merry Chris Ramones night)” — the

75 cents ©2015 SCNI

Vol. 46, No. 43

GWINNETT SCHOOLS

a look ahead

Discipline incidents on decline

4 Live Radio Friday, Dec. erful Life: A • “It’s a Wond Wonderful Life: A Live Raa the Dec. 3-20 at Play” — “It’s d be presented d at the Bufor dio Play” will Theatre locate Sylvia Beard r.

Community Cente

5 — Saturday, Dec. Christmas” Night Before present “Twas • “Twas the Puppets will The Piccadilly e Christmas” at 10 and the Night Befor a Children’s part of Auror in Law11:30 a.m. as re Theat a Auror Playhouse at Rock/Bluerenceville. ep’s Southern Waldrep will • Barry Waldr Jam — Barry grass Jingle ern rock, bluegrass Jingle in present a SouthRed Clay Music Foundry at Jam concert . ry Row Duluth House — Tanne y • Holiday OpenBuford is hosting a Holida in 6.

Artist Colony on Dec. 5 and Open House

6 ett BalSunday, Dec. acker” — Gwinn ” • “The Nutcr present “The Nutcracker in let Theatre will Infinite Energy Theater the Dec. 4-20 at Duluth.

y ’s Jolly Holly-da suwanee.com FUN: Suwanee Park • UPCOMING • Town Center r 4 • 6:30 pm Friday, Decembe

By Keith Farner

287954-4

keith.farner@gwinnettdailypost.com

The 30-foot Christmas tree lit Thursday during the 28th annual Lighting of the Tree will stand next to the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse for the rest of the holiday season. (Photo: Katie McKenna)

Ringing in the season

Warmer weather draws large crowd to Lawrenceville tree lighting

By Keith Farner

Shya Ledgister stares at the bright, newly lit Christmas tree at the 28th annual Lighting of the Tree at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse on Thursday Night.

(Photo: Katie McKenna)

MORE ONLINE Visit us online at gwinnettdailypost.com for a photo gallery.

the low 60s — some 20 degrees warmer than the last several years. The 30-foot Norway Spruce recently arrived in Lawrenceville from the mountains of

See DISCIPLINE, Page 8A

Transportation moving to the front burner

By Curt yeomans curt.yeomans@gwinnettdailypost.com

keith.farner@gwinnettdailypost.com

LAWRENCEVILLE — The Christmas spirit arrived with warmer temperatures this year in Lawrenceville, and that was just fine with Matthew Price.

Price’s family has established a tradition to visit Lawrenceville’s tree lighting festivities on Thanksgiving night for several years.

“There’s something about the cold weather that’s still like Christmas,” he said. “I’ve always loved cold weather for Christmas, but it’s much nicer standing out in the cold weather.”

The Christmas season was on the minds of a packed crowd in downtown Lawrenceville on Thursday night as revelers took advantage of temperatures in

SUWANEE — Discipline issues and reports are on the decline across Gwinnett County Public Schools, and district leaders have pointed to two initiatives as the catalysts for the improvement.

The new academy format in seven high schools combined with the Positive Behavior Interventions and Support program in 32 schools are linked to a noticeable decline in discipline reports for ninth-graders. James A. Taylor, executive director of academic support, said the decrease of 421 out-of-school suspensions among ninth-graders is the largest decline in at least nine years.

It’s a drop from 1,385 incidents to 964 for ninth-graders, annually the grade that

North Carolina.

Lighting installation technicians from Norcross-based Illuminating Design placed thousands of colorful lights on

the tree while Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation staff added ornaments.

See LIGHTING, Page 8A

There has been no shortage of interest in the future of transportation in Gwinnett County this year.

Whether it was the results of a Gwinnett Chamber survey on MARTA coming into the county, or the Gr8 Exchange on Transportation in August, the topic of how people move around the county has been a lot of people’s minds. It has even bled into discussions on the proposed 2016 county budget, which includes funding for new Gwinnett County Transit routes.

And now county officials are trying to bring a vision for that future into focus through their ongoing work to update the county’s Comprehensive Transportation Plan.

“Just the other week, on Nov. 12, we had two meetings, one with our community stakeholders advisory group and the other with our partner agencies advisory group,

See TRANSPORTATION, Page 8A

Local church continues three-decade Thanksgiving tradition

By Keith Farner

to be there for people who experience a sad day on Visit gwinnettdailypost.com Thanksgiving. Perhaps for a photo gallery. they’ve lost a loved one, LAWRENCEVILLE 200 meals, about half to family is not nearby or the — The volunteers numpeople who couldn’t make holiday is not like it used bered in the dozens as it out of their homes, and to be. they scooped servings and the other half who ate in the “That was our goal to packaged boxes, a tradition church’s Fellowship Hall. serve the homeless and peothat’s reached three decades The objective was to serve ple who needed someone at First Baptist Church of others and see that people to eat with on ThanksgivLawrenceville. have a good Thanksgiving ing,” said church member The church cooked, meal. Church members said served and delivered some See CHURCH, Page 8A they believe it’s important keith.farner @gwinnettdailypost.com

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Members and volunteers at First Baptist Church in Lawrenceville cooked, served and delivered some 200 meals on Thursday, about half to people who couldn’t make it out of their homes. The other half who ate in the church’s Fellowship Hall. (Staff Photo: Keith Farner)

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2A • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

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A new class recently graduated from the Snellville citizens police academy. From left, Robert Herrington, Anna S. Herrington, David Coe, Katie Thomason, Greg Purves, Alexandra Callaway, Jo White, Randell Crawford Sr., Jasmin Rivera-Sommano, Jeff Miller, Alfred K. Jallah, Nick Andrews and Lt. Robert Pendleton. Kimberly Kuharic and Kenny Venegas are in the front row. (Special Photo)

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Residents graduate from citizens police academy From StaFF reportS

It has grown to a 12-week program which is held in Another group of residents the spring and fall each year. are educated in law enforce- The city says it’s designed ment thanks to the Snellville to educate the public about Police Department’s citizens the operation of the police academy. department and how the inThe academy was founded volvement of the community in the spring of 2003 with the can help authorities reduce graduation of the first class. crime.

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Law enforcement topics are discussed and members engage in practical exercises with city police officers.

The topics include domestic violence, drug awareness, traffic stops, firearms training and crime scene processing. Participants will have a tour of the Gwinnett County Adult Detention Center and a graduation dinner provided at the last session of the academy.

The next class starts in March.

The free program is open to all Snellville and Gwinnett residents who are 18 years and older. Applications are on the city website at snellville.org or can be picked up at the police department.

A background investigation will be conducted on all applicants prior to acceptance.

For more information, contact Lt. Robert Pendleton at 770-985-3555 or rpendleton@snellville.org.

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 • 3A

Gwinnett’s shops prepare for Small Business Saturday

By Curt yeomans

curt.yeomans @gwinnettdailypost.com

Black Friday may belong to the malls and the Best Buys and Kohls of the world, but the day after is somewhat of a different story.

That day, which has come to be known as Small Business Saturday in recent years, belongs to the mom and pop stores of world. These are the kind of places that are often found in small town shopping areas, such as the downtown areas of Gwinnett County’s cities.

Saturday is when these stores will take their turn in the spotlight.

“If you think about it, by the time you get to the weekend, people want to get out and do something,” said Meg Earhart,

owner of Sparkle Designs in Lawrenceville. “They want to walk around, grab a bit to eat, maybe enjoy a cupcake and shop for something unique, and small towns have that.”

Small Business Saturdays has grown quickly in recent years from an idea created by American Express to promote local stores, to become a movement that is as engrained in the Thanksgiving shopping holiday as Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

It’s even got its own social media hashtag, #ShopSmall.

The National Retail Federation said shoppers are taking notice of the Small Business Saturday philosphy of “Shop Small.” It is projecting one in four holiday shoppers plan to visit small

businesses this weekend.

“These shoppers are planning to spend more than those not planning to shop small businesses this year, setting small retailers up for success if they play their cards right,” the federation said in a statement.

Many of Gwinnett’s locally owned businesses will celebrate the occassion with Small Business Saturday deals which are similar to the price cuts the big stores offer the day before.

The Gwinnett Chamber promoted it on Facebook earlier this week with Internet memes that promoted coffee shops, barber shops and clothing stores as Thanksgiving approached.

“After Black Friday, don’t forget to #ShopSmall this Saturday,” the chamber wrote on Facebook late Monday night.

“Show your love for our local small businesses.

We promise, they’ll love you back.”

Some Gwinnett officials are encouraging small business shopping beyond the confines of Saturday though.

Explore Gwinnett is also highlighting 10 small businesses in the county as potential destinations for shopping and entertainment throughout the entire weekend on its website, visitgwinnett.wordpress.com. The tourism group is pitching the businesses as viable alternatives to the packed stores seen on Black Friday.

“Getting some great Black Friday sales is great, but it’s not al-

Gwinnett County businesses are gearing up Small Business Saturday, which is their time to shine during the Thanksgiving holiday shopping weekend. (Special Photo)

ways fun or reasonable to camp out and survive a stampede just to save $20,” Explore Gwinnett officials said in their list.

“Lucky for you there’s a number of mom and pop stores with awesome sales as well.”

Explore Gwinnett’s list includes Sparkle skating rink in Grayson, The Dizzy Gypsy in Lawrenceville, Duluth’s Peace, Love and Decorating and Smith’s, Suwanee’s Pooch N’

Paws, Buford’s Queen of Hearts and Marisa Jill’s Boutique, Norcross’ Anna Balkan Jewelry and Good Things Home and Garden, and Lilburn’s Antiques in Old Town.

Some cities in Gwinnett are promoting it with contests and other special activities designed to get shoppers in as many of their stores as possible.

Auburn officials, for example, are holding a drawing for a $50 gift

card for shoppers who patronize 10 of the city’s small businesses. Shoppers must take a selfie with store owners or employees at each of the participating stores and upload the images to the city’s Facebook page to be eligible.

The participating businesses are Bruce’s Biscuits, Rustic Chic, Rawhide Boots, Merchandise World, Rocky’s Pizza, Margarita’s, Frank’s Consignment and Brotique, Brigman’s Gift Shop, Mystik/Shop Rite and Juggernaut Cycles.

Meanwhile, Braselton is turning Small Business Saturday into a bigger event in its downtown area, with food trucks invited to come in and set up shop to draw the foodies into the shopping district. Cousins Maine Lobster, Toasted Cheese and Atlanta Burger Truck are among the featured food trucks that will be there.

“All our stores will be offering sales and specials the Saturday after Thanksgiving and we want to keep you fueled and refreshed,” city officials said in a statement.

Duluth, on the other hand, is heavily promoting its small businesses with a social media blitz which touts that shoppers have “no need to go anywhere outside of Duluth” to buy holiday gifts.

In some cases local businesses are planning to cross promote each other in a show of solidarity on Saturday.

Earhart said businesses and restaurants on the Lawrenceville Square are doing that this week.

McCray’s Tavern on the Square went as far as giving residents a reason why shopping in small businesses matters with a picture of a sidewalk chalk board on Facebook on Tuesday.

“When you buy from a small business, you’re not helping a CEO buy a 3rd holiday home,” the message on the board read.

“You’re helping a litle girl get dance lessons, a little boy get his team jersey (and) a mom and dad put food on the table.

Thanks for shopping local.”

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Gwinnett Daily Post

4A • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 To Your Good Health

Keith Roach

Low risk associated with heated blankets DEAR DR. ROACH: Few things are more satisfying on a cold winter night than a nice warm bed with an electric blanket. I am concerned about the electromagnetic waves emitted from the wiring in the blanket. Should I be worried?

— D.A. ANSWER: This is a controversial area, but I think the best answer probably is that you do not have to be worried. It is true that electric blankets, like all electrical devices that run a current, generate magnetic and electrical fields, and that these fields can penetrate body tissues. However, the majority of research in the area finds no increase in risk of disease, especially cancer, from exposure to these lowlevel electromagnetic fields.

I have seen burns from electric blankets that have become worn, and older electric blankets lack automatic turn-offs and other safety features of newer blankets. I would recommend replacing an old electric blanket. Also, I don’t recommend any kind of heating device for people with damage to nerves, especially diabetic neuropathy.

People who remain concerned about the harm of EMFs can either use the blanket to warm up the bed and then turn it off, or buy a low-voltage electric blanket, which produces much-lower-strength EMFs. DEAR DR. ROACH: I am 64 years old and was diagnosed with hereditary hemochromatosis several years ago, following an enhanced annual physical exam that my company provides. I also understand that hemochromatosis is a relatively common genetic disorder, especially among those of Northern European descent. Should there not be more widespread screening for hemochromatosis among at-risk populations, given that it is relatively common, easily treated and can lead to so much unnecessary suffering or even death if it goes undiagnosed?

— S.M. ANSWER: Hereditary, or primary, hemochromatosis prevents the body from regulating absorption of iron. Normally, the body absorbs all the iron it can when body stores are low and very little when body stores are adequate, but in hereditary hemochromatosis, the body absorbs maximally all the time, leading to iron overload. This may affect multiple organs, including liver, heart, bone marrow and joints.

The policymakers who decide whether to recommend population-level screening have recommended against screening for hereditary hemochromatosis, based on the rarity of people who will develop symptoms of hemochromatosis. Even among people with the gene for hemochromatosis, development of overt disease is only in a subset of those with the highest-risk gene mutation.

However, this recommendation does NOT apply to family members of people with hereditary hemochromatosis, who should be screened. Also, clinicians should know to look for hemochromatosis in people with vague symptoms, such as fatigue, joint pain or skincolor darkening.

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It will be necessary to evenly divide your personal and professional responsibilities if you wish to reach your goals 20% 20% 40% 10% 10% 0% this year. Joint business 10% ventures look promising once clear lines are drawn. A tumultuous per39 49 51 49 48 39 sonal issue will develop and, if handled properly, will lead to a closer connection.

SOLUNAR TABLES SAGITTARIUS (Nov. The solunar tables for lakes are The Gwinnett Daily Post 23-Dec. 21) — Don’t Lake Full Yesterday Lake Full Yesterday based on studies that show fish (UPSP 921-980, ISSN 1086underestimate the power and game are more active at Lanier (1071.0) ........1070.7 Allatoona (840.0) .........

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West Point (635.0) .......... 631.6 Jackson (530.0) ......... 529.1 Grass: None 22-Jan. 19) — Instead of looking after everyone else, you should engage TODAY IN HISTORY LOTTERY in some personal pampering. A short visit to a 1970), singer-songwriter; Kathryn TODAY’S HISTORY: In 1895, Alfred Thursday spa, a sporting event or Bigelow (1951- ), film director; Bill Nye Nobel signed his last will and testaCash 3 Midday: 0-8-6 even a shopping spree (1955- ), educator/TV personality; ment, setting aside his estate to estabwill help free your mind Caroline Kennedy (1957- ), diplomat/ lish the Nobel Prize.

Cash 4 Midday: 5-1-3-0 and ease your stress. writer; Sharlto Copley (1973), actor.

In 1942, the French navy sank its Ga. 5 Midday: 9-1-3-4-0 AQUARIUS (Jan. 20TODAY’S FACT: Pierre and Marie fleet at Toulon to prevent its use by the Curie are the only husband and wife Feb. 19) — Participating Nazis. to receive the Nobel Prize in Physics In 1973, the U.S. Senate approved in a cause close to your Wednesday (1903). the nomination of House Minorheart will give you the Cash 3 Midday: 6-2-3 TODAY’S SPORTS: In 1985, Vince ity Leader Gerald Ford, a Michigan chance to make compatCash 3 Evening: 6-8-9 Republican, as vice president, following Coleman became the fourth person ible and interesting conever to be unanimously named Nathe resignation of Spiro Agnew.

Cash 4 Midday: 2-6-3-1 tacts. Delays regarding In 2005, French surgeons completed tional League Rookie of the Year. He travel and communicaCash 4 Evening: 8-8-8-4 had stolen 110 bases for the St. Louis the first known partial face transplant, tions are to be expected.

Ga. 5 Midday: 4-5-8-4-3 Cardinals. grafting a new nose, lips and chin.

PISCES (Feb. TODAY’S QUOTE: “America had TODAY’S BIRTHDAYS: Anders Ga. 5 Evening: 6-4-0-4-6 20-March 20) — Be sure many other discoverers besides CoCelsius (1701-1744), scientist/inventor; to evaluate the total cost Fantasy 5: 04-12-24-28-35 lumbus, but he seems to have made Robert Livingston (1746-1813), dipbefore taking on any Powerball: 16-29-53-58more satisfactory arrangements with lomat; Charles A. Beard (1874-1948), home renovations. Leave the historians than any of the othhistorian; James Agee (1909-1955), 69, Powerball: 21, Power some funds available for ers.” — Bill Nye, “Comic History of the author/critic; Bruce Lee (1940-1973), Play: 2X an unexpected expense United States” actor/martial artist; Jimi Hendrix (1942so you don’t incur debt and worry.

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5850. Editor Todd Cline is at Subscription Rates: com. between 6:30 a.m. and doubt. You have what it Classified Ads: Classi770-963-9205 ext. 1300; Subscriptions are $99 for fieds can be placed at the Sports Editor Will Hammock 10 a.m. Tuesday through Fri- takes to triumph. one year, $50 for 26 weeks day, and between 8 a.m. and GEMINI (May 21-June main office 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; is at 770-963-9205 ext. and $25 for 13 weeks within 20) — Refrain from start11 a.m. Saturday and Sunphone lines open 24 hours, 1310. To request a photo, Gwinnett County. Mailed ing something new. Focus subscriptions are $150 for seven days a week by callcall 770-963-9205 ext. 1327. day. on completing tasks that you have been reluctant to finish. Taking on more responsibilities when you are already overdoing it DEAR AMY: I was Your obligation is to the extent of serving up will be costly.

Ask Amy close to some friends my realize that they have passive-aggressive perCANCER (June 21-July age growing up, but I some leverage, should sonal swipes, they run the 22) — A business or haven’t seen or talked to they choose to use it. Their risk of enacting an age-old educational seminar will them in a long time. Life obligation is to realize that dance that will damage motivate you to begin a got in the way. this is supposed to be your their relationship with you new project. Be fair in A few years ago, their wedding. Accepting their (and your partner). your personal relationmother (“Jane”) accused money may cost you some You should behave ships. Ensure that you their father (“John”) and autonomy. respectfully but firmly toare not burdening your my mother of having an afDEAR AMY: My fiance ward your parents. Remind loved ones with too many fair, solely on the grounds and I have been together your mother that she isn’t responsibilities.

Amy Dickinson that they had to work for nearly five years. Our marrying your guy — you LEO (July 23-Aug. together on some church relationship is solid, but 22) — You will receive are. She doesn’t get to an enticing proposal, but functions. are fronting some of the my mom keeps trying to choose your friends or before you jump on it, This accusation had costs for the wedding, I persuade us to break up. your spouse for you. do your homework. An no basis in reality. They wonder if I am obligated I’m an only child, and my DEAR AMY: I’m impulsive leap to a new never met outside of the to accommodate. I’m sure parents’ relationship is on responding to the letter position will not bring the church environment and the friends would feel the rocks. from “Angry Widow,” results you were hoping only shared the occasional aggrieved at not being inI love my mom, but I who had learned after her for. phone call to coordinate on vited, so I’m not sure how feel like she is destroying husband’s death that he VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. church events. to best defuse the situation. my relationship with her had been cheating on her 22) — Don’t expect everySince then, John has Help, please! because of how she treats with a married woman. one to favor your ideas. If stopped talking to my — Confused Bride my fiance. She’s even gone You should suggest she mother and both Jane and DEAR CONFUSED: so far as to tell him to his have her doctor run a bank you have your heart set on a certain activity or John have been spreading I assume you are interface that she “likes him of STD tests. She needs to project, prepare to move nasty rumors about my ested in inviting only the as a person, just not as a know now if her husband forward on your own. The family. children (not their parents) boyfriend” for me. gave her a disease. And if final decision must be I’m getting married to your wedding. However, The rest of my family he did? THEN she has a yours. next year, and as I was you say you have not had seems to love him. reason to contact the other LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. extremely close with their even a conversation with My fiance does not like cheated-on spouse.

23) — An eye for detail kids growing up and have these childhood friends spending time with my — Mary and meticulous record no reason to burn bridges in a long time. Keep this folks because he always DEAR MARY: Good keeping will ensure that (other than our parents’ in mind as you decide feels unwelcome. I’ve tried point. Incidences of STDs all of your personal padislike for one another), whether to go head-to-head to talk to my mom about are up sharply among older pers are in tip-top shape.

I have always thought I with your folks. this, and she just talks people.

Leave some room for would invite them to the If you decide to proceed about how he and I should You can contact Amy romance late in the day. wedding. However, my fa- with the invitation, this is SCORPIO (Oct. 24break up.

Dickinson via email: askather informed me that I am worth a deep — and calm Please help me figure my@tribpub.com. You can Nov. 22) — Invest in yourself. Jumping into a not allowed to invite any— conversation with your out how to salvage my re- also follow her on Twitter one from that family, due parents. Explain your rea- lationship with my parents, @askingamy or “like” her fast-cash scheme will end to the situation between the soning and listen to their without sacrificing the man on Facebook. Amy Dickin- badly. Focus on educaparents. response. If they attach with whom I have chosen son’s memoir, “The Mighty tion, apprenticeships and raising your qualifications I am inclined to ignore conditions to their wedding to spend the rest of my life. Queens of Freeville: A and awareness. Greater his request and invite them funding (which is their — Torn in Two Mother, a Daughter and satisfaction will come anyway since I’ve never right to do), you will have DEAR TORN: When the Town that Raised through learning and takpersonally had issues with to make a choice about parents disapprove of Them” (Hyperion), is ing on challenges. them. But since my parents how to proceed. your choice in partner, to

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 • 5A

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Tips for choosing the perfect Christmas tree During the holiday, one of the most prominent holiday decorations is the Christmas tree. Its presence graces homes and businesses. Although some people prefer artificial trees, live trees are still a favorite amongst many.

They are available from a variety of sources, and they can be purchased either pre-cut or at cut-your-own tree farms. Choosing the ideal Christmas tree is a matter of preference, but by following several guidelines will help you select one that will remain attractive throughout the holiday season.

Several species of trees are used as Christmas trees. Trees that are com-

Gardening in Gwinnett

Tim Daly monly sold in Georgia include Virginia pines, red cedar, white pines, Leyland cypress, Scotch pines, Fraser firs, spruces and several others.

The obvious advantage in buying a pre-cut tree is convenience. The drawback is they were cut weeks before at tree farms and are not fresh.

Ask the retailer if the

trees were delivered all at one time at the beginning of the season, or if there were multiple shipments throughout the season.

Additionally, cut trees lose needles, can dry out easily and be a potential fire hazard. Lift the tree and bounce it on the ground. Very few needles should come off a fresh tree. When in doubt about the freshness of a tree, select another one.

A fresh cut Christmas tree retains its needles longer than the ones that are pre-cut. Most Christmas tree farms specialize in growing varieties that are adapted to local conditions and can be sheared into the classical conical shape. Keep in mind that, in most cases, you will have to cut your tree at a tree farm. You will need a sharp saw.

Sometimes Christmas tree farms will provide saws. Remember a larger the tree is, the more dif-

ficult it is to bring out of the field and to transport in your vehicle.

When choosing a good tree, there are several factors to consider. Make sure you select a tree that is at least a foot shorter than the ceiling in the room where it will be displayed. If the trunk is splitting, it most likely has dried to a point where it will not be able to absorb water. Look for a tree that is healthy, damage-free and welltrimmed. It should taper gently from a full bottom to a narrow top and have enough branches for hanging ornaments. The base of the trunk should be straight and cleared of limbs six to eight inches from the bottom to allow for placement in the tree stand. It should have a healthy green appearance. The needles should be fresh and flexible, and should not come off if you run your hand over a

branch.

Sometimes insects and spiders can hitch a ride on the tree and come into your home. You should hose off the tree and let it dry before bringing it indoors. Keep the tree in an unheated, sheltered area, such as a garage, until you are ready to set it up. Make a fresh cut on the base before you place it in water and then place it on a stand that has at least a gallon of water in it. The stand needs to have an adequate amount of water to prevent the needles from drying out and falling off the tree.

This also reduces the possibility of a fire. If the water drops below the base of the trunk, a seal of dry sap will form within a few hours, and another fresh cut will need to be made at the base. Place the tree in a location away from any drafts and heat sources such as fireplaces and

heater vents.

Test the light cords and connections before placing them on the tree, and do not use any cords with cracked insulation or broken sockets. Unplug the lights before going to bed or leaving the house.

Check with your sanitation provider to see if they will dispose of the Christmas tree after the holidays. There are several locations in Gwinnett County that will receive your tree for disposal.

Contact your sanitation provider to see if they will dispose of the Christmas tree after the holidays. There are several locations in Gwinnett County that will receive your tree for disposal.

Timothy Daly is an Agricultural and Natural Resource Extension Agent with Gwinnett County.

He can be contacted at 678-377-4010 or tdaly@ uga.edu.

Gwinnett Master Gardeners honored

By Zach Miles

Staff Intern

The Gwinnett County Master Gardeners Association recently received the Volunteer Award from the Georgia Recreation and Park Association at their annual conference to promote healthy environments.

GCMGA began in 1993 as an nonprofit, educational, adult volunteer group that promotes the maintaining of gardens and a healthy environment.

“Their enduring service has made significant, meaningful and lasting contributions to GCPR,” said in a the Division Director of statement by Tina Fleming, Operations.

The association was honored with the award for its work with Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation that has averaged 1,000 hours per year since 1999.

The volunteer work has spanned from revitilizing gardens to regularly main-

The Gwinnett County Master Gardeners Association recently recieved the Volunteer Award from the Georgia Recreation and Park Association at its annual conference. (Special Photo)

taining the environment by using native plants and the best enviornmental practices.

The Master Gardeners have helped GCPR’s Vines Park to receive the Honor Award by the Professional Grounds Management Society where the award was presented and accepted at their 2015 Green Star

Awards on Nov. 16.

GCMGA also has participated in major events, taught classes, led special needs students and helped add beauty to the parks while striving to keep the environment safe.

For more information, visit gwinnettmastergardeners.com.

PUBLIC NOTICE CITY OF SUGAR HILL 2016 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT AND OPERATIONS PROPOSED BUDGET The City of Sugar Hill Mayor and Council will hold Public Hearings for the 2016 Capital Improvement and Operations Proposed Budget Monday, December 7, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the City Council Work Session and Monday, December 14, 2015, at 7:30 p.m. at the City Council Meeting at which time the Budget will be considered for approval. Public comments are welcome during all Public Hearings. The Public Meetings will be held at City Hall 5039 West Broad Street, Sugar Hill, Georgia. A copy of the proposed budget is available for public inspection at City Hall in the City Clerk’s office Monday - Friday during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Jane Whittington City Clerk 296470-1

Have you heard any of these statements lately when you tried to rent or buy housing?

“This is a quiet neighborhood.

There are no children living here.”

“You probably wouldn’t be happy living here.”

“Sorry, I just rented that apartment.”

“This building is for adults only.”

296655-1

You may have been the victim of housing discrimination and not know it.

HOUSING DISCRIMINATION IS AGAINST BOTH FEDERAL AND GEORGIA LAW! Call Metro Fair Housing Services, Inc. at Atlanta: 404.524.0000 • Gwinnett: 770.935.5800 or email us at info@metrofairhousing.com.

Our services are always free.

Funded in part by the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development.

6A • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

NATION Remember the Pilgrims, Obama says, in appeal for generosity WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama urged Americans to show generosity to Syrian refugees in a Thanksgiving message on Thursday, reminding them that the Pilgrims who came to America in 1620 were themselves fleeing persecution.

Obama’s plan to accept 10,000 refugees from Syria has drawn political criticism since attacks in Paris two weeks ago that killed 130 people, which Islamic State claimed responsibility for.

The United States is leading an international coalition fighting the group in Syria and Iraq.

“Nearly four centuries after the Mayflower set sail, the world is still full of pilgrims — men and women who want nothing more than the chance for a safer, better future for themselves and their families,” Obama said.

Since the Paris attacks, Americans have identified terrorism as the nation’s top problem, Reuters-Ipsos polling shows.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill to suspend the refugee plan and intensify refugee screening measures before lawmakers left Washington for the Thanksgiving break. Several Republican candidates for the November 2016 presidential election have also said refugees pose a risk.

world&nation Macy’s parade draws huge crowd

By Kylie GuMpert and alexander Besant Reuters

NEW YORK — Crowds of spectators watched the marching bands, floats and giant balloons of Macy’s annual Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, held without incident under tight security almost two weeks after deadly attacks in Paris.

New York officials expected more than 3 million spectators to have lined the route for the city’s signature parade in its 89th year.

They had urged residents and visitors to carry on with holiday plans, saying there were no credible threats to the United States’ most populous city.

President Barack Obama sought to reassure Americans on Wednesday they were safe to travel over the holiday.

Police, who were patrolling in record numbers, arrested a 41-year-old Russian tourist for flying a drone in Central Park near the parade route with his son, 14. No other incidents were reported, a spokeswoman said.

Police walked alongside many parade groups and helicopters hovered overhead amid enhanced security following the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris. Islamic State militants have claimed responsibility for the assault

WORLD

Mali arrests two Report: Police officer indicted for suspects linked hoax found dead to hotel attack A fired Massachusetts police officer accused of a shooting hoax that put a Boston suburb in lockdown was found dead early on Thursday, CBS Boston reported.

The former officer, Bryan Johnson, 25, was pronounced dead in his home in Millis, a Boston suburb, CBS said, citing a statement from the Norfolk District Attorney’s Office.

No signs of foul play were discovered and the death is not being treated as a homicide, the office said, according to CBS. In a statement, Millis police said officers were called to the home for a medical emergency and found a man dead. They declined to identify him.

Police detain man after fence jump at White House WASHINGTON — A man was detained on Thursday after jumping the White House fence, triggering a lockdown of the presidential mansion even as the suspect was quickly caught, CNN reported.

Despite the quick apprehension, the building was locked down as the U.S. Secret Service conducted a security sweep of the area, and nearby streets were closed off, ABC News and The Washington Post reported.

Representatives for the Secret Service did not immediately return a call or reply to emails seeking comment.

— From wire reports

gwinnettdailypost.com

BAMAKO — Mali authorities arrested two people on Thursday suspected of links to an attack on a luxury hotel in the capital that killed 20 people, the security ministry said.

At least two armed men launched a dawn raid on the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on Friday last week, killing six Russians, three Chinese and an American among others, in the worst jihadist strike on the West African country in years.

The siege ended hours later when Malian commandos stormed the hotel and freed 170 hostages. Two attackers were killed.

“There are two suspects arrested,” said Amadou Sangho, a spokesman for the ministry, without naming them.

Three Islamist militant groups — al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, its splinter group al Mourabitoun and Massina Liberation Front — have claimed the strike.

Security analysts say they could be collaborating.

A source close to the investigation said the suspects had been brought in for interrogation, based on information found in one of the attacker’s mobile phones.

Russia seeks revenge against Turkey over jet ISTANBUL/MOSCOW — Russia threatened economic retaliation against Turkey on Thursday and said it was still awaiting a reasonable explanation for the shooting down of its warplane, but Turkey dismissed

PEOPLE ‘Men in Black 4’ will add female agent to mix

LOS ANGELES — The producers of “Men in Black 4” hopes to reinvigorate the franchise by adding a female agent to the mix.

According to the BBC, producer Laurie MacDonald promises that “there will be a prominent Woman in Black in the fourth [film],” which she’s developing with husband Walter Parkes.

While 1997’s “Men in Black” seemingly inducted Linda Fiorentino’s character into the agency at the end of the film, she was conspicuously absent from the two sequels. “Men in Black II” A float makes its way down Sixth Avenue during the 89th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Pa- featured Lara Flynn Boyle rade in the Manhattan borough of New York on Thursday. (Reuters/Shannon Stapleton) as the villainous Serleena, but the franchise has yet to have a female agent take a in which 130 people died. to travel. entrances and circulated lead role.

Debbie Irey, 50, a tourCrowds up to 80 people through crowds under Original franchise star ist from Salem, Ore., said deep in places applauded mostly sunny skies. security was on her mind baton twirlers, stilt walkers “The security is so strin- Will Smith is currently not attached to the project, but as she and her husband and giant helium balloons gent in NYC that it puts watched the parade. of such cartoon characters you at ease right from your Parkes hedged that the actor could be lured back, telling “You can’t live in fear,” as Snoopy and Hello Kitty, arrival at the airport,” said said Irey, who works in the which hovered over the Anne Marie Sheehy, 49, of the BBC, “Never count Will out.” financial sector. “The police parade route.

Liverpool, England, who officers with guns in Times Children on their parwas watching the parade Square heightens your ents’ shoulders narrated with her travel companion, Family of late awareness.” the parade to those in the Paula Deegan, 50.

Casey Kasem files About 50 million people crowd unable to see. Some A Reuters-Ipsos poll suit vs. widow worldwide were expected youngsters climbed onto shows Americans have to have watched the telepolice vans, adding to the become more concerned The widow of radio vised 2.5-mile parade on a holiday atmosphere. about threats since the personality Casey Kasem route ending at Macy’s flagPolice had added memParis attacks and identihas been sued by three of his ship store. The show ushers bers of a new counterterror- fied terrorism as the most children and his brother, who in the U.S. holiday season ism unit to parade security. important problem facing claim her actions led to his and the busiest time of year Officers guarded subway the country. death in June 2014.

The suit filed in Los will give an extra $75 mil- Angeles Superior Court lion to the United Nations’ on Wednesday accuses refugee agency to help it Jean Kasem of elder abuse, deal with the Syrian crisis, inflicting emotional distress International Development and breach of contract by Minister Marie-Claude restricting access to Kasem Bibeau said on Thursday. and failing to provide adBibeau told reporters equate medical care. that the money would Kasem, the former “American Top 40” DJ, died help the United Nations in Washington state at 82 High Commissioner for after suffering from Lewy Refugees provide shelter, body disease, a form of protection, education and dementia. health to some of the milHis three children from lions affected by the Syrian his first marriage — Kerri, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin speaks during a news civil war.

Michael and Julie Kasem — The money will also be conference after a meeting with his French counterpart have accused Jean Kasem Francois Hollande at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on used to identify, contact Thursday. (Reuters/Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool) of abusing their father, who and counsel Syrian refuwas suffering from bedsores gees in Jordan, Lebanon the threats as “emotional” at the end of his life, and prerestricting food imports from and Turkey eligible for and “unfitting.” resettlement. Canada says venting them from contactTurkey.

In an escalating war of ing him. it will accept 25,000 Syrwords, President Tayyip Belgium mounts ian refugees by the end of Erdogan responded to RusFebruary 2016.

Adele hits 3M sian accusations that Turkey search linked album sales for has been buying oil and gas to Paris attacks Germany plans from Islamic State in Syria ‘25,’ plans tour BRUSSELS — Belgian tax breaks for by accusing Syrian President LOS ANGELES — It’s a federal police searched a Bashar al-Assad and his refugee housing big week for Adele on both backers, which include Mos- house in a small town south sides of the pond. The British BERLIN — Germany cow, of being the real source of Brussels on Thursday in singer has now sold over 3 plans tax incentives for what prosecutors told local of the group’s financial and million copies of third album media was part of investiga- building apartments over military power.

“25” in the U.S., according the next three years to tions into the Islamic State The shooting down of to Nielsen Music, breaking avoid housing shortages attacks in Paris, adding that the jet by the Turkish air the previous record set by as an influx of refugees no one was detained. force on Tuesday was one *NSYNC with 2000’s “No increases demand, the The mayor of Sambreof the most serious clashes ville, Jean-Charles Luperto, Finance Ministry said in a Strings Attached,” which between a NATO member sold 2.42 million copies in its letter seen by Reuters on also told local media after and Russia, and further first week of release. There’s Thursday. the operation was over that complicated international The government expects time for Adele to add to that efforts to battle Islamic State police had been looking for tally, as Nielsen sales trackmaterial evidence rather than about 1 million asylum militants. seekers this year, far more ing was counted until the end World leaders have urged suspects. of the day Thursday, with Federal prosecutors could than any other European both sides to avoid escalathe official first week sales not be reached for comment. country. German politition. In an apparent attempt Brussels remains on high cians are under pressure to of “25” to be announced to cool the dispute — and appeal to Western countries alert after a four-day security accommodate and integrate by Nielsen on Sunday, per Billboard. lockdown ended on Wednes- the new arrivals.

— Turkish Prime Minister In the U.K., the Grammy Secretary of Housing day. That was prompted by Ahmet Davutoglu said in winner has sold 737,000 Barbara Hendricks estifears of more attacks like a letter to Britain’s Times copies of “25” as of Thursmates that some 350,000 the one carried out in Paris newspaper that Ankara apartments will be needed day, surpassing the record on Nov. 13 by French and would work with its allies achieved by Oasis in 1997 each year, and only Belgian militants. and Russia to “calm tenwith “Be Here Now.” 245,000 were built last sions.”

Capitalizing on the moyear. The tenant associaEarlier, Russian Prime Canada giving mentum of “25,” Adele also tion DMB said Germany, Minister Dmitry Medvedev $75M to help which has roughly 40 mil- announced Thursday that she ordered his government refugee crisis lion homes, needs 800,000 will embark on her first tour to draw up measures that in four years in early 2016. flats. would include freezing some — From wire reports OTTAWA — Canada — From wire reports joint investment projects and

New videos raise questions in Chicago police shooting of black teen

By Justin Madden and Fiona ortiz Reuters

CHICAGO — Newly released police dashboard camera videos from the scene of the shooting of a black teenager by a white Chicago patrolman could raise fresh questions over documentation of the killing, as the city braced for an organized protest march today.

Like the first video released on Tuesday, the new footage lacks

is in jail pending a second bond hearing on Monday.

Protests over police killings of discernible audio of the Oct. 20, black men have rocked a number 2014, shooting of 17-year-old of U.S. cities in the past 18 months.

Laquan McDonald by Officer Chicago has seen muted reaction Jason Van Dyke. Audio and video thus far to such incidents, even should be automatically activated though police shootings there have on the cameras, according to police been more frequent on average department policy. than in the bigger cities of New Van Dyke on Tuesday became York and Los Angeles. the first Chicago police officer in The new footage from dashdecades to be charged with murder board cameras on squad cars, sent for on-duty use of lethal force and to Reuters and other media in

MUST READ

response to public record requests, does not show the actual shooting.

McDonald’s killing and the 13-month delay in charging Van Dyke and releasing the video led to demonstrations on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The powerful Chicago Teachers Union is supporting a Black Friday march along Michigan Avenue, an upscale shopping street, organized by civil rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson.

“We have watched in anger and

disappointment as the city has covered up police violence,” CTU Vice President Jesse Sharkey said in a statement. He accused Mayor Rahm Emanuel of delaying release of the videos while he was running for re-election, which he won in April. Emanuel and other officials said they delayed releasing the video to avoid tainting the investigation of Van Dyke.

There were no signs of protests on Thursday despite some calls on social media for demonstrations.

perspectives

gwinnettdailypost.com

Todd Cline, Editor

todd.cline@gwinnettdailypost.com

PAGE 7 A • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

Republicans have created their own mess WASHINGTON — As the leading Republican presidential candidates rant and rave about deporting 11 million immigrants, fighting some kind of world war against Islam, implementing gimmicky tax plans that would bankrupt the nation and other such madness, keep one thing in mind: The party establishment brought this plague upon itself.

The self-harming was unintentional but inevitable — and should have been foreseeable.

Donald Trump and Ben Carson didn’t come out of nowhere. Fully half of the party’s voters didn’t wake up one morning and decide, for no particular reason, that experience as a Republican elected official was the last thing they wanted in a presidenEugene tial candidate.

Robinson The insurrection that has reduced Jeb Bush to single-digit support while Trump and Carson soar is nothing more than the understandable reaction of the jilted. Republican leaders have spent the years of the Obama presidency inflaming GOP base voters with extreme rhetoric and wooing them with empty promises. The establishment won its goal — electoral gains in Congress and many statehouses — but in the process may have lost the party.

Unrest was brewing among true-believer conservatives even before Barack Obama took office as the first African-American president. George W. Bush had angered the base with his budgetbusting expenditures for Middle East wars and a new prescription drug benefit under Medicare.

What had happened to the party’s commitment to fiscal responsibility?

The final straw for many came when the financial crisis hit in 2008 and Bush, in his final days, won authorization of the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program — a massive bailout for the big Wall Street banks. It was a wholesale violation of conservative principles that helped inspire the birth of the tea party movement.

With the economy still in crisis, Obama took actions that further riled conservatives — pushing through Congress a messy economic stimulus package and rescuing General Motors and Chrysler. And then the president turned to health care, ultimately winning passage of the Affordable Care Act. The GOP saw a golden political opportunity.

Rather than work with Obama toward compromise, Republicans positioned themselves as implacable foes of the president and all he stood for.

As the tea party increasingly came to demonize Obama for being an alleged Muslim or socialist — and even to delegitimize him as supposedly having been born in Kenya — the Republican establishment shamefully played along despite knowing that none of this rubbish was true.

The result was a sweeping victory in the 2010 election. Republicans captured the House by electing dozens of tea party-backed candidates, who came to Washington with revolution on their minds.

Experienced GOP politicians who should have known better allowed this insurgency to push the party into a series of showdowns with Obama that Republicans could not possibly win. Having told the base that great things could be accomplished by shutting down the government or threatening default on the national debt, the establishment had to say, in effect, never mind.

Voters began to realize that they’d been had.

The Republican leadership talked a good game at election time, but never delivered.

Is it any wonder, then, that 51 percent of Republican voters (according to the Real Clear Politics poll average) say they favor Trump, Carson or Carly Fiorina, none of whom has ever held public office? Or that another 11 percent support Ted Cruz, whose career in the Senate has consisted of vehemently opposing his own party’s leadership as a bunch of weak-kneed quislings?

If you add it up, roughly six of 10 GOP voters tell pollsters they reject any candidate the Republican establishment likes. That amounts to a party in open revolt.

There are those in the Republican establishment who look at prior elections and predict the outsider candidates will eventually fade. There are those who believe the fear of terrorism, post-Paris, will lead voters to choose safety over adventure.

Perhaps this is something other than whistling past the graveyard, but that’s what it sounds like to me.

Are voters who have been on the raucous, anything-goes Trump bandwagon for months going to fall meekly in line behind someone like Bush or Marco Rubio? It gets harder and harder to imagine such a thing.

Meanwhile, the whole field is being pulled so far to the right on issues such as immigration and taxes that any of the likely nominees will have a hard time winning the general election. This is a fine mess the Republican Party has gotten itself into, and we won’t know until the early primaries whether there’s any hope of a way out.

Eugene Robinson’s email address is eugenerobinson@washpost.com.

Hard-working college kids like Malik McCrary will rise to the top Does anyone know when college lets out in Iowa?

I hope it is soon, because I need Malik to come and see me in the worst way.

Malik would be Malik McCrary. I’m not saying “McCrae,” understand, although he does have kinfolk in Texas and seems to be on the same stock as Augustus McCrae of the “Lonesome Dove” television movie. I am saying “McCrary,” as in Jim McCrary, the guy who we all thought was Rob Brayton the day he came to work with us at Heritage High School.

Jim has Michigan blood in his veins, but I learned to overlook that when I had his son in my extremely rigorous AP U.S. History class and learned what a great kid he is. Smart, too. He passed the national exam at the end of the term. Few do.

Malik attends school at Clarke University in Dubuque, Iowa, where he runs cross-country and track. I once eavesdropped on a rather lengthy conversation between Malik and my lovely wife, Lisa, who assumed that Malik attended Clark Atlanta. She was very concerned about his safety on campus because she

Darrell Huckaby believes Clark Atlanta to be in a very bad part of town.

Malik finally convinced her that there aren’t really many bad parts of town in Iowa.

The reason I miss Malik so much, other than for the enlightened conversations and lively political discussions we enter into, is that there is always something that needs doing around my house and Malik and I have a great arrangement.

He comes over and does what needs doing and I pay him cash money. Works for him. Works for me. But he has been away at school since August and all those things Malik used to do for me, well, they haven’t been done.

So we have gutters to be cleaned and leaves to be burned and weeds to be cut and limbs to be pruned and, well, you get the idea. And

those weeds and limbs and leaves aren’t going to take care of themselves.

The thing I like about having Malik as my righthand man is that no amount of work intimidates him — which might surprise his father — and he never panics. He is the total opposite of me. I have no patience whatsoever. I want for a job to be over as soon as I start it. That just isn’t reasonable or feasible. Not my man, Malik.

He shows up at the house, after having done what most people consider a day’s work in the weight room and on the track, and in that country drawl that seems so out of place coming from his mouth, says “Well, Mr. Huckaby, what are we going to do today?”

What he means, of course, is “What am I going to do today?” because I haven’t hit a lick at a snake in my yard since Malik started taking care of things two or three years ago. I give him a list and he smiles and gets started and stays at it until it is done.

Last summer, when I was away quite a bit, my son, Jackson, spent some time working with Malik. I had

left instructions to paint the tool shed that is out behind our house. He thought I wanted him to paint our entire house and was quite relieved when Jackson told him that he was pretty sure I just meant the shed, since I only left a gallon of paint.

“But,” Malik told Jackson, “I had a plan if it had been the whole house.”

So there you go.

The point of all this, and I always have a point, is that we hear so much about kids these days, kids who are lazy and entitled and who want everything handed to them on a silver platter, that it is nice to be reminded that there are still plenty of good kids around like Malik McCrary — kids who are smart, who go to school and do right and learn and prepare themselves for a career and who don’t mind, when they have some time off, to work hard for a few extra dollars to spend. We don’t hear nearly enough about those kids, but Malik is one. Don’t try to look him up yourself, though.

I have plenty to do to keep him busy until school lets back in. Like he always says, there is always something to do around my house.

Kasich’s Judeo-Christian agency a bad idea Conservatives are supposed to be against big government and opposed to the left’s belief that problems can and should be solved by Washington.

Which is why Ohio governor and Republican presidential candidate John Kasich’s proposal to create a new government agency to promote “Judeo-Christian values” is a really bad idea.

Put aside for a moment that the federal government does few things well, or within budget, and consider also how preposterous and unworkable such an idea would be.

In a speech at the National Press Club in Washington last week, Kasich, who grew up Catholic and remains a man of Christian faith, said he thinks the U.S. needs such an agency to help the country be “more forceful in the battle of ideas.” He added, “U.S. public diplomacy and international broadcasting have lost their focus on the case for Western values and ideals and effectively countering your opponents’ propaganda and disinformation.”

Here is a short list of the many problems with such a proposal.

Problem No. 1: Who

Cal Thomas would represent the “Judeos” and the “Christians?” Would it be an Orthodox or reformed Jew? Would a Jewish mystic from the Kabbalah sect be included? There are numerous Christian denominations and sects, so how would Kasich select one as representative of Christianity? Would those left out protest? Would there be lawsuits, not only from excluded religious groups but from the ACLU? Church-state separation, you know.

Problem No. 2: What “values” would be promoted? Certainly not, one would hope, cultural values as displayed in many Hollywood films and on television. Are the “traditional values” Kasich supports even practiced by a majority of Americans in an age when we seem to tolerate everything (except traditional values) and

when the Kardashians take up far too much brain space?

Who would be the ultimate decider on which “values” to promote? And what about people who seek to promote values different from Kasich’s?

Problem No. 3: Do we really want to turn over what ought to be the responsibility and privilege of individual religious believers to the federal government, which can’t even save dollars taken from taxpayers, much less the souls of individual citizens? Too many churches, especially, have retreated from their responsibility to apply their faith to those who are hungry, homeless and imprisoned.

Tax-exempt ministries now do the work individuals have been commanded to do.

Problem No. 4: How do you promote American “values” to secular and Islamic societies, which mostly do not share them? Who has the credibility to speak for and represent such values, even if they could be agreed upon?

A president can promote values by talking about them and endorsing individuals and programs that practice them.

The Voice of America and Ra-

dio Liberty used to broadcast American values to the world during the Cold War, but in the Internet age, broadcasting, which can be easily jammed, is probably not as effective as the web.

In order for a country to promote something, it must first practice it. A better idea would be to allow school choice so that poor children especially can be liberated from failing public schools and given a chance for a better life. A good education is a value that can be enhanced by the federal government getting out of the way and busting the last major monopoly in the country: public education.

Kasich rightly laments the loss of some core values most Americans once embraced. It wasn’t the federal government that got rid of most of them — though the Supreme Court played a role. Rather, it is we the people who have chosen to live by different values to our detriment and shame. If they are to return, it will take the work of those “Judeo-Christians” and not the dysfunctional federal government.

Readers may email Cal Thomas at tcaeditors@tribpub.com.

8A • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

gwinnettdailypost.com

Lighting

•From Page 1A Emcee Randy Travis of Fox 5 television, who has led the annual event for about 15 of its 28 years, noted the larger crowd from his balcony out of the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse.

Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson said many families plan their schedule around the tree lighting event.

“It is a family time, which I think is very important this time of year,” she said.

“To be able to have families come out here together, to listen to music, to see Santa Claus and experience the lighting of the tree where they don’t have to go downtown and fight the traffic.

It’s a wonderful tradition.”

The crowd sang a host of familiar classics, and as “O Holy Night” reached the line “When Christ was born,” the tree was lit and brought an “aah” from the crowd of mostly families and young children waiting to see Santa make his way through the downtown square.

First in line to see Santa was Price of Lilburn, who saved a spot for his children, Savannah, 14, and

•From Page 1A

Bethany Livingston plays in the Christmas Lights at the 28th annual Lighting of the Tree at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse on Thursday Night. (Photo: Katie McKenna)

Before the 28th annual Lighting of the Tree on Thursday night, the 30-foot Christmas tree sat dark next to the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse. (Photo: Katie McKenna)

J.J, 9, while they watched for Santa. He chatted with Johna Rouse of Lawrenceville, who saved a spot for her 2-and-a-half-year-old grandson, T.J. At the top of his Christmas wish list is a bulldozer.

“We’ve been using that one for a long time,” Rouse

said.

Price added that his children’s Christmas wish lists were about 10 pages each.

The Lawrenceville event rivals in tradition-rich history with the Pink Pig at Rich’s and Macy’s in Atlanta, Rouse said.

“You always have to plan

your dinner in time so we can get over here,” she said.

Face-painting, funnel cakes, cotton candy and an elf’s workshop were also among a host of activities and entertainment along with the “Class Act Band,” which sang many of the Christmas carols.

Transportation

to get their input on the plan’s vision and mission,” Deputy Transportation Director Lewis Cooksey said.

“That’s where we are at this point. We’re beginning to put the vision and mission statements together.”

This is the first time county officials have done a major overhaul of the Comprehensive Transportation Plan since it was first adopted in 2001.

During the update, an inventory of Gwinnett’s entire existing transportation infrastructure — from its roads and public transportation system, to walking trails, bike paths and sidewalks — will be taken. The new plan also take recent and projected growth into account with short-term and long-term planning that looks out as far as 25 years into the future.

Commission Chairwoman Charlotte Nash said the county is addressing the plan and future transportation needs at a key point for several reasons.

“First, the CTP update is moving forward while we also are updating the County’s overall Comprehensive Plan, making it easier to ensure the two plans are synchronized,” Nash said. “Second, the passage of state legislation related to transportation funding provides the possibility of additional funding for transportation priorities in Gwinnett.

“Third, the recovering economy has resulted in increased congestion, which means that transportation

•From Page 1A

Ethan Lee decorates his paper Christmas Tree at the 28th Annual Lighting of the Tree at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse on Thursday Night. (Photo: Katie McKenna)

needs are on the mind of most Gwinnett residents.”

Due to the scale of the review taking place, officials aren’t expecting it to be a quick process either.

When the update was announced in July, Transportation Director Alan Chapman said he expected it to take at least 18 months to complete the process.

Cooksey said this week that a final result is still well over a year away, with a possible completion date expected to be sometime in early 2017. In addition to completing the vision and mission, county officials also plan to ask residents and business owners what they want to see put into the plan.

“We expect to have public input meetings probably sometime in the February to April range,” Cooksey said. “Our next step is to put the vision and mission in place first and we hope to have that put together by early next year.”

Due to the fact that it’s so early in the development process, it remains to be seen how much influence outside studies, such as the final Gr8 Exchange results report that was released Nov. 9, will have on the revised comprehensive plan. The report raised several concerns that residents have, including difficulty getting across the county, or to other parts of metro Atlanta.

The county’s advisory groups had similar concerns.

“The theme of what we heard from our advisory groups is that they wanted

to see something done to connect people with one another inside and outside the county,” Cooksey said.

Nash said the public input process will likely shine a line on multiple facets on how people get around.

“I anticipate that the first phase of the CTP will focus on shorter term needs and projects while a later phase will focus on the longterm,” Nash said. “I expect that the input from residents and businesses will include discussion of all sorts of transportation options, particularly when looking at the long-term needs.”

The Gr8 Exchange report highlighted the options issue, with findings that indicated residents and people who work in the county favor a multi-modal transportation network.

The difference between the Gr8 Exchange and the Comprehensive Transportation Plan, however, is that county was not involved in the development of the Gr8 Exchange. It was created by the Gwinnett Village Community Improvement District and supported by a cross section of community groups and elected officials.

Cooksey said it’s not surprising to see so much interest in the county’s transportation issues, whether it be talk about transit, road improvements, walking paths or bike routes, though.

“I think transportation is a big topic because it affects everyone,” he said.

“Everyone takes some form of transportation to get around at one point or another.”

Discipline

685, respectively.

“I like to say this sugSUWANEE — Discigests — underscore the pline issues and reports word suggests — that the are on the decline across academies in our high Gwinnett County Public schools have begun to Schools, and district lead- take a positive impact on ers have pointed to two student behavior,” Taylor initiatives as the catalysts said. “We’re encouraged for the improvement. by those figures.”

The new academy forIn-school suspensions mat in seven high schools also dropped by 922 overcombined with the Posiall, including by 339 in tive Behavior Intervenninth-grade. tions and Support program Overall across all in 32 schools are linked grades, out-of-school susto a noticeable decline pensions dropped by 699 in discipline reports for incidents (4,365 to 3,666), ninth-graders. James A. while in-school suspenTaylor, executive direcsions fell by 922 (9,619 to tor of academic support, 8,697). said the decrease of 421 The Georgia Departout-of-school suspensions ment of Education last among ninth-graders is the month honored Gwinnett’s largest decline in at least 32 schools that employ the nine years.

PBIS framework, which It’s a drop from 1,385 is used in 20,000 schools incidents to 964 for ninth- across the country, district graders, annually the officials said, and is degrade that nearly triples signed to reduce discipline any other for discipline incidents and increase a incidents — except 10th sense of safety and supgrade, which was 769 and port. School board chair-

woman Mary Kay Murphy said at last week’s Board of Education meeting that there is a link between the PBIS program and a decline in discipline incidents. Taylor agreed.

“We’re continuing to monitor those figures and we certainly think there is a correlation,” Taylor said.

Lilburn Elementary School Assistant Principal Guerlene Merisme said her school explicitly teaches students schoolwide expectations for acceptable conduct through intentional and purposeful lessons.

“Continual teaching of behavioral expectations combined with acknowledgement or feedback of positive student behavior will reduce unnecessary discipline and promote a climate of greater productivity, safety and learning,” Merisme said.

Across virtually any other education scenario, when a child can’t read,

Veronica Jones packs boxes of meals on Thursday at First Baptist Church in Lawrenceville, where some 200 meals were delivered or served to people who couldn’t make it out of their homes. The other half who ate in the church’s Fellowship Hall. (Staff Photo: Keith Farner)

Church

•From Page 1A

ministries the church offers, including serving Brenda Sue Davis, who the English as a second has participated since the language community. beginning. “It just contin“We love it when we ued.” see people across minisSome 60 volunteers tries,” he said. helped serve or deliver Donnie Upchurch, a the food, and several member of the church for more cooked dressing or about 14 years, called it delivered turkeys since a ministry and a “need in last Friday. The operation the community.” includes peeling pota“It’s as much fellowtoes days before and the ship as the meal,” said cleanup crew when the Upchurch, who served Fellowship Hall clears alongside several famout. ily members. When she On the tables inside the hands a meal to someone, Fellowship Hall at the Upchurch said they’re church, there were cards very thankful and apprethat listed the scripture ciative. of Psalm 100:4-5, which Two Central Gwinstates, “Enter his gates nett High School football with thanksgiving and his players, Micah Maxey courts with praise; give and Jamal Stewart, dethanks to him and praise livered about 20 meals his name. For the Lord is to one neighborhood and good and his love endures said they were amazed to forever; his faithfulness see the reactions of smiles continues through all and joy on people’s faces. generations.”

“It makes me feel better Pastor Inman Houston about ourselves,” Maxey said the meals are one said. “To help people extension of the various when they can’t help

themselves, and there’s always someone else to help them.”

Dan Williams, who helped with the meal operation, has worked with the football team this fall about service leadership and leadership development. He explained that just talking about doing something is like playing football without a ball.

“To me, you serve to lead,” he said. “If you want to understand leadership, you serve others.”

While Williams has worked with the team about five core leadership values, and then tying them to a service like delivering meals, he’s already seeing a different in students like Maxey and Stewart.

“You can tell from a relationship standpoint, they’re more engaged,” he said. “They’re willing to get in a car and drive to a church they’ve never been to talk with people they’ve never met.”

obituaries

For more obituaries, visit www.gwinnettdailypost.com.

SNELLVILLE

Barbara Miller Barbara “Bobbie” Miller age 72 of Snellville, GA passed away Tuesday, November 24, 2015. She was preceded in death by her loving husband in 2005, Richard Miller, Jr.. She is survived by her son and daughter in law, Neal and Cindee Miller; daughter and son in law, Ashley and Ben McCorkle; son, Nathan Miller; brother and sister in law, Gene and Eloise Adams; 2 grandchildren, Garrett Miller and Harrison Miller; several nieces and nephews;

and her devoted cat, Tippy Toes. Mrs. Miller was a homemaker. She was a talented artist and seamstress. She was an avid antique collector, animal lover and loved watching the birds that visited the many outdoor feeders in her backyard. She could be found every Saturday morning at local garage sales, and loved spotting bargains. She was a loving and caring mother, grandma and sister. The Funeral service to Honor and Celebrate the Life of Bobbie Miller will be held Sunday, November 29, 2015 at 2:00 PM at

Tom M. Wages, Snellville Chapel. Burial will follow at Hamilton Mill Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends on Saturday, November 28, 2015 from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Condolences may be viewed or sent to www. wagesfuneralhome.com Tom M. Wages Funeral Service, LLC, “A Family Company” Snellville Chapel, 770-979-3200, has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.

10A • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

gwinnettdailypost.com

Former Ms. Senior Georgia helps seniors get fit

By Katie Morris

katie.morris @gwinnettdailypost.com

Like many of us out there, growing old wasn’t something that Mary King Lee was looking forward to. In fact, she remembers dreading it.

That is until she won the title of Ms. Senior Georgia in 2012.

“After the Ms. Senior Georgia pageant, I embraced it,” said Lee. “I thought it could really be something wonderful, a new chapter. A chance to reinvent myself.”

At the time she was 63 years old and happily retired after a long career in day care. She decided the time was right to take on the mission of helping other seniors fight aging, both mental and physical, through exercise.

“If you stay active, you can stave off a lot of things,” Lee said. “We can make new cells and neurons in our brain all the time and the key way to do that is exercise.”

Lee became a certified trainer and educator through Ageless Grace as well as a certified nutritionist. She now teaches group fitness classes for seniors at Revolution Fitness in Lawrenceville and Sculpting Results in

Above right, former Ms. Senior Georgia, Mary King Lee, right, leads a strengthening exercise with Sarah Grant of Snellville at Sculpting Results gym in Snellville. Above left, Lee teaches a fitness class geared toward ages 60 and over to Sarah and Tom Grant. (Staff Photos: Katie Morris)

Snellville, as well as at area senior living facilities and memory care units.

Her classes are geared towards ages 60-plus and are designed to help improve body and brain function.

Each class includes lifting weights to strengthen muscles, performing light aerobics, working on balance and more, all set to upbeat music.

Lee describes her classes as “functional fitness” that help and said students of all abilities are welcome.

“It doesn’t matter because you can even do exercises in the bed,” she said. “As long as your moving you’re progressing.”

Lee also teaches ballroom dancing for Gwinnett County Parks and Rec. and said dancing is the No. 1 exercise. And the most beneficial is the tango because of the complicated movements, according to Lee. “You’re making a splitsecond decision on where to move your body, and when you are making a split

decision it’s not routine,” she said. “You’re opening up new pathways in the brain.”

Avid UGA football fans Tom and Sarah Grant love regularly attending games but were finding it more and more difficulty to make the walk from their tailgating spot to the stadium. According to Sarah, 79, they were on the verge of giving up going to the games.

The Snellville couple decided to start taking Lee’s fitness classes, thanks largely to the encourage-

ment of their son.

“I’m a nonbeliever,” Tom, 81, said. “I didn’t think exercise or coming to something like this would help me at all, and Mary Lee made a liar out of me. It was an amazing transition I went through.”

The Grants can more easily make the trek to Sanford Stadium, and Sarah said she’s noticed improvements all around, like getting up out of a chair with ease or dressing without holding on to their chest of drawers for

support.

According to the Grants, they won’t be giving up going to UGA games any time soon. Tom said they also have no plans of moving into a nursing home.

“I just don’t believe that there is anything we could do that would help us stay out of a nursing home more than what we’re doing right now,” Tom said. “I’m convinced that I’m never going to a nursing home. I’m doing the right things now and I’m going to continue.”

Video-savvy Mill Creek angler gets scholarship to SCAD

By Joshua sharpe

is Kickin’ Their Bass TV, has more than 170,000 followers on Instagram and a popular YouTube channel.

“My love of fishing led me to want to do something more,” the teen explains in his online biography for viewers. “I started Kickin’

Their Bass TV to share my love for fishing, my experience learning to fish at a professional level, the gear I use and of course, the fish I catch.”

In February, Noah was one of 10 high school anglers to fish the High School Bass Master Classic on the Bass Master Classic Stage with professional anglers.

He plans to major in advertising, with minors in marketing and entrepreneurship.

The family is amazed how far he’s come.

“We’re really excited for him,” the mother said.

“He deserves it because he worked really, really hard.”

Noah’s father even has come to love fishing and is known to drive the boat for his son.

Noah still has to take the fish off the hook.

influence.

Monday is the deadline for nominations, however.

Residents can submit nomi-

nations for the awards on the awards’ programs website, www.partnershipgwinnett. com/annual-pg-awards/.

joshua.sharpe @gwinnettdailypost.com

For the family, it wasn’t exactly clear from the beginning that Noah Pescitelli would end up a fisherman.

Mother Patti Pescitelli recalls when the Mill Creek High student was a toddler and liked to fish off the dock where the family kept the boat. But he didn’t grow up around many serious anglers. In fact, his father, Steve Pescitelli, is allergic to fish and can’t touch them or he’ll find himself in trouble.

But the family played along a few years ago when Noah showed more of an interest in fishing. Then they held on as he got caught up.

“It just kind of went super quick,” the mother said.

“The first year he competed he went all the way to na-

Zagat names Luciano’s ‘worth a drive from Atlanta’ Luciano’s Ristorante Italiano in Duluth recently received high praise from restaurant review website, Zagat, for being a top dining destination in metro Atlanta.

Zagat included what it called a “top-notch Italian eatery” on its “10 Day-Trip Restaurants Worth a Drive From Atlanta.” The list was released Nov. 12 but did not begin to pick up steam locally until earlier this week.

In it’s write-up on Luciano’s, Zagat noted the restaurant’s menu and a blend of dishes from northern and southern Italy, as well as American steak recipes. The website listed the restaurant’s grilled lamb chops scottadito, with eggplant caponata, grilled peppers and aged balsamic, as a “must order” dish.

Lawrenceville real estate business owner attends state workshop

tionals.”

Now, on both fishing and academic grounds, the northern Gwinnett student, who has competed in numerous tournaments, is headed for the Savannah College of Art and Design on a scholarship.

He’ll be joining the Bees’ new team, under head coach Isaac Payne, thanks in large

part to the work Noah has done to promote fishing through video projects.

“Noah is a very innovative angler that captures amazing digital footage both on and off the water to help share stories and to show the day and life surrounding his passion for fishing,” the coach said in a statement announc-

ing Noah’s signing with the school. “His love for fishing and creative use of video has awarded him with great sponsors in which he is the youngest member on the pro-staff for many of these companies.”

The teen, whose “brand”

BUSINESS BRIEFS mapping software for mobile and desktop applications that land professionals can use to move property files, according to Living Stone.

Cantrell and other attendees also had a chance to try their hand at marketing properties during another part of the workshop.

He is a member of the Rotary Club of Gwinnett County and a member of the Gwinnett Chamber board.

He is also a former member of the Lawrenceville Kiwanis Club.

Year and D. Scott Hudgens Humanitarian awards. Gwinnett Medical Center is the presenting sponsor.

Individual tickets cost $150 and a table of 10 can be purchased for $1,500.

Sponsorship opportunities ranging from $600 to $10,000 are also available.

Tickets and sponsorships can be purchased through the chamber’s website, www. gwinnettchamber.org.

Partnership Gwinnett taking Gwinnett Chamber PG nominations sets date for For a few more days, 68th annual dinner officials with the GwinThe Gwinnett Chamber has picked a date for its annual banquet and awards presentation.

The 68th annual Dinner will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. on Feb. 5 in the Tommy P. Hughes Grand Ballroom, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, in Duluth. During the event, the chamber will hand out its Citizen of the Year, Public Service, Ambassador of the

nett Chamber’s Partnership Gwinnett are seeking community leaders and companies who are considered exemplary representatives of the county that have shown excellence in the community.

The group wants those individuals as nominees for its annual PG Awards. Each year, Partnership Gwinnett recognizes one community leader and one business for

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Living Stone Properties owner Greg Cantrell recently got hands on training on mapping, marketing and technology.

The Lawrenceville business owner attended a Georgia Chapter of the REALTORS Land Institute workshop on those three areas at the Georgia Forestry Association Headquarters in Forsyth. The focus of the three-hour workshop was

Above, Mill Creek High senior Noah Pescitelli, right, shows off the bounty of one of his many fishing tournaments. At right, a cameraman films Pescitelli during one of the many shoots he has done for fishing videos. (Special Photos)

their contributions to the community in three categories. Those categories are innovation, imagination and

gwinnettdailypost.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 • 11A

health&wellness Shock as Mayo Clinic cuts loose Waycross hospital ing community hospitals, he said, “are not the highest and best use of Mayo’s Mayo Clinic’s startling time and capital.”

The Mayo Clinic decision to pull out of Beyond its famed mediin Jacksonville its “integration agreecal complex in Rochester, is shown in this undated photo. The ment’’ with Satilla Health Minn., and campuses in clinic has pulled out Services has left the South Arizona and Jacksonof an ‘integration Georgia hospital with an ville, Mayo has a network agreement’ with Sauncertain future. of clinics and hospitals tilla Health Services Officials with Mayo’s serving communities in in Ware County. (SpeFlorida operation said Minnesota, Wisconsin and cial Photo) Friday that they ended Iowa. the deal with Satilla in “Mayo Clinic’s Florida Waycross to focus on campus has been privileged to work with hospital expanding specialty care staff in Waycross, and we for people with complex — and renamed it Mayo are still owned by the Ware ments in quality of care, be immediate, he added. are honored to have been medical needs.

Clinic Health System County Hospital Authorand improved hospital Asked about the hospia part of the Waycross Mayo said it will in Waycross. The South ity, and board member Bill facilities by bringing in the tal’s future, Punsky said, community,” Dr. Gianrico concentrate on building Georgia city is a few miles Parham told the Florida latest technology to assist “The Waycross hospital Farrugia, CEO of Mayo relationships with other from the Florida line and Times-Union that he heard patients,’’ Herrin said. was viable before Mayo Clinic’s Florida campus, providers through affilionly about 80 miles from of Mayo’s pullout after the “Along with Mayo Clinic, Clinic’s involvement and said in a statement Friday. ation models, rather than Mayo’s Florida campus in fact. we are deeply committed will continue to be viable Eva Byrd, executive acquisitions.

Jacksonville.

“The board has been to a smooth transition and after the transition is made director of the WaycrossThe Mayo pullout will At the time the deal was told nothing,” Parham told moving forward to meet back to the community Ware County Chamber return Satilla Regional reached, Robert Trimm, the newspaper. “I was a the needs of our patients, board of directors.’’ of Commerce, sounded Medical Center to the president and CEO of little flabbergasted.” staff and the region.”

Kane, the health care an optimistic note about status of a standalone hos- Satilla, cited the economic Parham, who directs Mayo spokesman Kevin consultant, said Mayo pital at the very time when vulnerability of standalone emergency medical serPunsky said Monday in an “operates in a rarefied seg- Satilla’s future.

“Having the Mayo name consolidation of health hospitals at a time when vices for Ware County, email to GHN that Mayo ment of the health care incare facilities is accelerat- health care is rapidly said he is disappointed to Florida’s decision “has ab- dustry. With the Cleveland was a big deal,’’ Byrd told GHN on Monday. But she ing, propelled partly by evolving. see Mayo leave. solutely no impact on the Clinic [in Ohio], Johns added, “I think the biggest changes created under the Steering a lone commu‘It’s a tragic loss’ ownership of the Satilla Hopkins [in Maryland] thing is that it’s the people Affordable Care Act. nity hospital through those “They had brought in assets, which remain as and a few others, Mayo “Long-term success as dizzying changes would be a lot of physicians,” were they were prior to Mayo competes for patients and that made our hospital great. And the people are an independent hospital ‘‘challenging if not impos- increasing the the types Florida’s involvement.” talent worldwide.” still here.” is increasingly difficult,’’ sible,’’ Trimm said. “We’ll of specialty care available The transition will not Operating and sustainsaid Chris Kane, a health all need a big brother.” and had raised the level of care consultant with DHG Jimmy Lewis, CEO health care overall, Par$5 off $25 or more.

Healthcare in Atlanta. of HomeTown Health, ham said.

Expires 11/30/15 Kane said Monday that an organization of rural “I believe it’s a tragic Boost your he is not familiar with hospitals in Georgia, said loss. I sure am disappointthe Waycross hospital’s Monday that the Mayo ed,” Parham said, accordimmune situation, but noted that pullout “clearly means ing to the Times-Union. system publicly available finan[Satilla] has an uncertain Owen Herrin, past chairusing our cial data show the facility future.” man of Satilla Health Serhad a negative operating “This came out of the vices, said in a statement margin. “This may have blue,’’ Lewis said. “It Friday, “I’m very grateful been a factor in Mayo’s would appear that the for the positive relationdecision.” hospital has been losing ship we’ve had over the Three years ago, Mayo increasing amounts of past three-and-a half years Clinic, a renowned Minne- money since the Mayo with leadership, physicians sota-based health system, takeover.” and staff at Mayo Clinic in Follow us on struck an agreement with “It’s a large hospital and Florida.

Facebook/earthwisesnellville Satilla Health Services — a vital hospital for that “During this time, Mayo featuring a 231-bed hospi- area,’’ he added.

Clinic has helped the 2238 Snellville Plaza - Big Lots Shopping Center • 770.982.4333 • snellvillevitamins.com tal and two nursing homes The hospital facilities hospital achieve advance-

By Andy Miller

a.miller@georgiahealthnews.com

Give Thanks Be Healthy and Wise

295454-1

Kids - Naughty or Nice...Santa is waiting to read your letters!

Mail it, Email it or Bring it!

Mail your letter to: Letters to Santa, Gwinnett Daily Post, PO Box 603, Lawrenceville, GA 30046 Email your letter to SANTA@GwinnettDailyPost.com or Bring it in person to Santa at the

Gwinnett Daily Post presents

Dear Santa,

December 5 & 6 at Infinite Energy Forum (formerly Gwinnett Center)

Santa Hours: SAT. 12/5 11:00am - 12:30pm, 1:00pm - 3:00pm SUN. 12/6 12:30pm - 2:00pm, 2:30pm - 3:30pm All letters will be posted at the Holiday Expo Santa Stage and a select number of letters will be drawn to win prizes.

(Write your letter inside Santa’s beard and make sure to let us know your name, age and contact information.)

HomefortheHolidayExpo.com

NAME: ___________________ AGE: _________ EMAIL: ___________________ 294512-1

12A • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

gwinnettdailypost.com

sports

gwinnettdailypost.com

SECTION B • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

KICKOFF EDITION THE RUNDOWN

A quick look at this weekend’s high school football in the Gwinnett area: TODAY’S GAMES State playoffs, quarterfinals 7:30 p.m.

Class AAAAAA Archer at Mill Creek Collins Hill at Roswell Grayson at Westlake Class AAAA Buford at Thomson Class AA Brooks County at GAC

CLASH

AT THE CREEK

BY THE NUMBERS

61

Sacks this season by the Mill Creek defense, led by 16 from Tyler Vernon and nine from Peyton Moore

23

Touchdown passes to just three interceptions this season by Archer quarterback Will Bearden, who completes 69.1 percent of his passes

17

Straight seasons of 10 or more victories by Buford

328

Combined rushing yards

by Grayson’s Ernest Tiller and Cameryn Brent in last Friday’s win over Valdosta FANS CHOICE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Each week during the football season, the Daily Post will nominate four players for its Fans Choice Player of the Week. Online voting at www.gwinnettprepsports. com will begin by Monday morning and will end Thursdays at noon. This week’s winner is: Who: Grayson’s Owen Pappoe Class: Freshman Position: Linebacker Noteworthy: Returned an interception for a touchdown to spark a 54-21 win over Valdosta Coach Mickey Conn’s take: “Owen’s a really special kid and player. I’m really happy for him. He’s got good size and good speed — speed more than anything else — and natural ability. He’s been in the rotation at outside linebacker all year. He’s really adjusted well to the speed of the game, which was really fast obviously when he started out. At this point, after the second playoff game, he’s like a sophomore now. He just had a great game against Valdosta. He’s a real humble kid, too, with all the attention he’s gotten from media outlets. He’s handled it really well. Our team’s handled it really well, having a young player contributing so much. They’ve helped him and supported him.”

Results: Pappoe beat out Mill Creek’s Braxton Richburg, Collins Hill’s Jonathan Postell and Archer’s Sam Wright in fan voting this week.

FLASHBACK On this week in 2007, North Gwinnett’s Mikey Tamburo throws for 185 yards, rushes for 66 and even catches a pass in a 17-3 win over Brookwood in the second round of the Class AAAAA state playoffs. Brookwood’s Kenny Miles rushes for 157 yards, a season low, in the loss. … Grayson gets its firstever win over Norcross, a 34-16 victory in the second round. Chandler Priest rushes for two TDs and Tyler Horne throws one TD pass and runs for another score. … Colton Chapple throws for 330 yards and a TD pass to Christian Robinson, leading GAC to a 26-7 win over Calhoun in the AA second round.

Mill Creek running back Joe Thomas (15) steps over the tackle of Norcross’ Monty Montgomery (20) during a game this season at Mill Creek in Hoschton. (Photo: Karl L. Moore)

Fifth-ranked Hawks host No. 4 Archer in all-Gwinnett quarterfinal showdown

By Will Hammock • will.hammock@gwinnettdailypost.com Shannon Jarvis and Andy Dyer once knew each other best as baseball coaches.

Both were assistants for rivals that played frequently — Jarvis at South Gwinnett and Dyer at Brookwood — and much of their interactions were on the baseball diamond.

Eventually, the conversations drifted to football and led to the two coaching together when Mill Creek opened in 2004.

Jarvis became the Hawks’ first head football coach and one of his most noteworthy hires was luring Dyer away from his alma mater, Brookwood. Dyer was assistant head coach at Mill Creek from 2004-09, helping the program to its first state playoff berth.

“I didn’t know Andy too well at first, but I knew he was (Mill Creek assistant) Josh Lovelady’s roommate in col-

Archer running back Jamyest Williams (1) runs up the sideline during this season’s first-round playoff game against Etowah in Lawrenceville. (Photo: Chris Roughgarden)

lege (at West Georgia),” Jarvis said. “When the opportunity came up at Mill Creek, and I knew I had a chance at this, that’s when I first contacted

Andy in that dialogue. I remember the first time we talked how like-minded we were with our passion, how to treat kids. … He was a key

component for us that I had never coached with or worked with. In some sense, I didn’t know him to a degree, but you could feel that passion about him.

“When he decided to come, it was a huge win for us. I remember to this day, I was teaching in a trailer at South Gwinnett when I got final confirmation that (Dyer) was coming to Mill Creek. I knew at that moment it would be fun.”

Dyer left Mill Creek in 2009 to become the first head coach at Archer, drawing on the experiences he had starting up the Hawks’ program.

He built a state power very quickly at Archer, reaching the state championship game last season, and now his playoff path goes through familiar See CLASH, Page 4B

2B • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

gwinnettdailypost.com

ondeck Prep Schedule

Today

BASKETBALL

• Collins Hill boys in Charlotte Hoops • Lou Williams Classic at South • Mountain View girls in Showcase Hoopsgiving

The Home Teams TODAY

Gladiators

NEXT at Orlando Dec. 5, 7 p.m.

97.7-FM

at Orlando Dec. 6, 3 p.m.

97.7-FM

Off

Minnesota Sun, 1 p.m.

FOX/92.9 FM

at Tampa Bay Dec. 6, 1 p.m.

FOX/92.9 FM

Falcons

Hawks

at Memphis at San Antonio 8 p.m.

Sat, 8:30 p.m.

FSSE/92.9 FM FSSE/92.9 FM

Oklahoma Mon, 8 p.m.

FSSE/92.9 FM

Off

at Georgia Tech Sat, noon ESPN2/750-AM

TBD

Off

Georgia Sat, noon ESPN2/680-AM

End of season

at Ga. Southern Dec. 5, 2 p.m.

88.5-FM

End of season

Georgia

Tech

Georgia St.

UPCOMING

Orlando 6:05 p.m.

97.7-FM

Troy 2 p.m.

ESPN3/88.5-FM

FSSE = FOX Sports Southeast, FSS = FOX Sports South

On TV AUTO RACING

Grayson running back Cameryn Brent (1) fights off Valdosta defensive back Justin Sermons (12) during Friday’s game against Valdosta at Grayson High School in Loganville. (Photo: Chris Roughgarden)

Into the unknown

Grayson takes on new foe in Westlake

By DaviD FrieDlanDer

Today

8 a.m. — Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Practice 1. From Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. NBCSP

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

12:30 p.m. — Battle 4 Atlantis, Third Place: Teams TBA. ESPN 1 p.m. — Arkansas State at Baylor FSSE 3 p.m. — Battle 4 Atlantis, Championship: Teams TBA. ESPN 3 p.m. — NIT Season Tip-Off: Teams TBA. From Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. ESPN2 5 p.m. — Miami Invitational, Kentucky vs. South Florida.

ESPN 5:30 p.m. — DIRECTV Wooden Legacy, First Semifinal: Teams TBA. ESPN2 7:30 p.m. — Miami Invitational, Memphis vs. Ohio State ESPN2 8 p.m. — Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational, Third Place: Teams TBA. FS1 8:30 p.m. — Long Beach State at Oklahoma State FSSO 9:30 p.m. — AdvoCare Invitational, Second Semifinal: Teams TBA. ESPN2

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Noon — Navy at Houston ABC Noon — Miami at Pittsburgh ESPN2 Noon — Marshall at Western Kentucky FS1 2:30 p.m. — Missouri at Arkansas CBS 3:30 p.m. — Iowa at Nebraska ABC 3:30 p.m. — Washington State at Washington FOX 4 p.m. — Oregon State at Oregon FS1 7:30 p.m. — Baylor at Texas Christian ESPN

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

7:30 p.m. — Archer at Mill Creek PBS

NBA

8 p.m. — Atlanta at Memphis FSSE

NHL

1 p.m. — New York Rangers at Boston NBC 5 p.m. — Chicago at Anaheim NBCSP

Sports Calendar

BASEBALL

Ongoing through Dec. 31: Whitner Hitting Clinics are being held at Jack City Sports Center. The clinics are ongoing and cost $75 for five weeks. To sign up, email jackcitybaseball@aol. com or call 770-633-0948.

CHEERLEADING

Dec. 20: The Lawrenceville Youth Association Football/Cheer will hold its general membership meeting from 3 to 5 p.m. at Rhodes Jordan Community Center at 100 E. Crogan St. Elections will be held for vice president and football director.

FOOTBALL

Dec. 20: The Lawrenceville Youth Association Football/Cheer will hold its general membership meeting from 3 to 5 p.m. at Rhodes Jordan Community Center at 100 E. Crogan St. Elections will be held for vice president and football director.

WEIGHTLIFTING

Jan. 23-24: No Excuses CrossFit in Suwanee is hosting the USA Weightlifting Sport Performance Coaching Course and Certification.

The cost is $495 and will be instructed by C.J. Stockel.

Go to www.usaw.hangastar. com/EMS_Courses_Register.aspx to register for the course or contact the event coordinator at info@noexcusescrossfit.com for more information. The entry level course is open to anyone 17 and older and includes a one-year membership with USAW. The scope and sequence of the course includes the teaching progressions of the snatch, clean and jerk, and all associated movements. Participants will gain knowledge and experience of programming of training for both competitive weightlifters and for athletes using the weightlifting movements for strength and power development as it applies to their chosen sport.

david.friedlander@ gwinnettdailypost.com

Being successful in playing playoff football means being able to step outside one’s normal region or area — in other words, one’s normal comfort zone — to win and advance each week.

Even so, most teams have at least some familiarity with an opponent in any given postseason week.

That won’t be the case for Grayson in tonight’s Class AAAAAA state quarterfinal game against Westlake.

Aside from the fact the No. 2 state-ranked Rams (12-0) have never played the Region 3-AAAAAA champion Lions (3-0), they’ve rarely even come across any footage or even word of mouth from common opponents.

That’s forced Grayson coach Mickey Conn and his staff do a little extra homework this week.

“It’s hard to say because we’ve never played them before,” Conn said when asked about Westlake.

“So, it’s a little bit of the unknown for us. We’ve watched about all their games (from this season on film) and we know they’ve got a good team and their kids compete.”

If the Lions had not already demonstrated Conn’s point throughout the season, they made it abundantly clear in last

Wesleyan, Mountain View roll to wins From StaFF reportS ATLANTA — Wesleyan won all five of its matches and took first in the St. Pius Duals on Wednesday.

Haydon Koch led the Wolves (9-2) with a 4-0 record with three pins.

— Mountain View won a quad-meet Wednesday with Greater Atlanta Christian, North Paulding and Kennesaw Mountain.

The Bears defeated GAC 64-6, Kennesaw Mountain Mountain View wins meet 57-15 and North Paulding LAWRENCEVILLE 48-17, improving to 7-0 on

the season.

Their undefeated wrestlers were Carlos Gonzalez (3-0, 106 pounds), Yadriel Gonzalez (3-0, 126), Chase Standridge (3-0, 138), Alonso Reyes (3-0, 145) and Austin Brown (2-0, 195).

One Winner E

Pick The Winners Of The High School Football Games And You Could Win A

• Will Hammock, Sports Editor: will.hammock@gwinnettdailypost.com • Christine Troyke, Staff Writer: christine.troyke@gwinnettdailypost.com • David Friedlander, Staff Writer: david.friedlander@gwinnettdailypost.com • Paul Thomas, Staff Writer: paul.thomas@gwinnettdailypost.com • Scott Smith, Senior Correspondent: scott.smith@gwinnettdailypost.com • To report scores, call 770-339-5850

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Ronnie Blackmon (6 INTs) and Christion Abercrombie (4 INTs, 2 last week, including 1 for a TD).

But the way Conn sees it, that goal is no different from any other game. “(Avoiding turnovers) is always a key in any football game, especially the deeper you get into the playoffs,” Conn said. “It’s definitely important, but it’s no more important than any other game. These are Grayson wide receiver Evan Sturgill (3) stretches for the things we work on every end zone during Friday’s game against Valdosta in Lo- week, and our offense has been doing very well of it.” ganville. (Photo: Chris Roughgarden) But while the Westlake defense may be somewhat GRAYSON AT WESTLAKE of a known commodity, WESTLAKE LIONS GRAYSON RAMS Conn has also been doing (3-AAAAAA) (8-AAAAAA) a lot of homework on the Coach: Bryan Love Coach: Mickey Conn Lions’ offense.

Record: 10-2 Record: 12-0 While primarily strikLast week: Beat Peachtree Last week: Beat Valdosta ing on the ground behind Ridge 28-9 54-21 running back Marquez When: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Burdette (115 yards last Last meeting: First meeting week vs. Peachtree Ridge), Location: Westlake High School Westlake has shown some versatility behind quarterback Malik Willis (205 total yards last week). week’s second-round can score either on the So the challenge will be win over ninth-ranked ground behind Cameryn Peachtree Ridge, especial- Brent (170-1,205, 20 TDs) for the Rams’ front seven, led by Bryce Smith (94 ly on defense. and Ernest Tiller (55-601, tackles, 6 sacks), Mykelle Westlake limited 8 TDs rushing; 30-514, 4 Peachtree Ridge to 205 TDs receiving) or through McDaniel (60 tackles, 5 1/2 sacks) and Denzel yard and picked off three the air from Chase Brice Wright (92 tackles, 1 sack) passes in its convincing (147-221-6, 2,365 yds., to stay aggressive while victory.

6 TDs) and receivers like playing with discipline.

That latter is a particular Evan Sturgill (46-774, 7 “They have a very fast weapon for the Lions, who TDs) and Austin Nash (34quarterback and running have created 26 opponent 561, 5 TDs). back,” Conn said of Westturnovers and returned So, the biggest task for lake. “They utilize them them for an average of the Rams will be to keep with the option, which is a 23.2 yards. the ball in the hands of little different from anything That could be a great their own playmakers and we’ve seen. … Our kids equalizer against Grayout of those of Westlake’s have to come ready to play.” son’s prolific offense that big-play threats, such as

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 • 3B

gwinnettdailypost.com

GAC hosts ‘explosive’ Brooks Co. in quarterfinals

By Paul Thomas

paul.thomas@gwinnettdailypost.com

Greater Atlanta Christian is averaging 41.8 points per game this season after scoring 48 last week in the second round of the Class AA state playoffs against Vidalia.

This week the Spartans will face another offense that can put up big numbers of its own in Brooks County. The Trojans are averaging 34.1 points per game and have scored more 41 or more in their last four games.

“They’re explosive,” GAC head coach Tim Hardy said.

“Very explosive. Talented quarterback who can run it and throw it. Good receivers, excellent running back and they really are an explosive offensive football team and their scores indicate that.”

Last week Brooks County defeated Manchester 41-26 in the second round. It was the Trojans 10th-straight victory since starting the season 0-2.

Quarterback Demontay Jones ran for 83 yards and threw for over 200 yards and a touchdown in the win. Running back Jona-

Greater Atlanta Christian running back Alex Rowe gets a handoff from quarterback Davis Mills against KIPP Atlanta. (Photo: Colin Hubbard)

than White added 102 yards on just 16 carries.

Hardy said the key to slowing down Brooks County will be for his team to play assignment football. Last week Vidalia took an early lead, but the Spartans’ defense settled down and held them without a score until the final minutes of the game.

“It’s like anything, we need to play disciplined football,” he

said. “When you’re playing a talented team you try to make them earn everything and not give them any easy catches or easy runs. We’ve got to make them earn everything — they’re going to be able to have some success because they’re good. But we’ve got to be disciplined and play our responsibilities. I think for us, the key to defense is always team defense. Everybody individually

2,329 yards and passed for 2,457 yards. Junior quarterback Davis BROOKS COUNTY Mills is completing 61 percent AT GAC of his passes and has thrown 23 touchdowns to just five intercepBROOKS COUNTY tions.

TROJANS (1-AA) Coach: Maurice Freeman The running game has been Record: 10-2 led Alex Rowe (805 yards, three Last week: Beat Manchester TDs) and Marcus Young (785 41-26 yards, 10 TDs). Mills has also GAC SPARTANS (6-AA) added 410 yards and 10 scores Coach: Tim Hardy on the ground, with Josh Pickens Record: 11-1 scoring nine rushing touchdowns Last week: Beat Vidalia as well.

48-22 GAC has been able to achieve such offensive balance thanks When: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Last meeting: First meeting in large part to the play of its Locatin: Greater Atlanta offensive line. The unit is led by Christian School Vanderbilt commit and senior tackle Devin Cochran.

“They’ve been really good,” does a job, but collectively if we Hardy said. “Obviously you play with a lot of energy, passion don’t have success throwing the football unless your quarterand speed we can overcome back is clean and protected. Our some things. So we have to be disciplined but playing with team protection has been awesome. So for those guys to transition to be energy for sure.” able to run downhill and create Hardy said the Trojans are some opportunities for our backs multiple on defense and have a has been really good. So I think lot team speed. Offensively, the the consistency of our line play Spartans have achieved balance has really been key to our sucthroughout the season. cess up to now.”

As a team they’ve run for

No. 3 Buford hits road for another defensive challenge

By Paul Thomas

paul.thomas@ gwinnettdailypost.com

BUFORD AT THOMSON

For the second straight week Buford’s defense will have its hands full with its opponents’ rushing attack.

After shutting down Worth County’s wing-T last week in the second round, the Wolves will have to slow down the Thomson Bulldogs’ rungame tonight in the Class AAAA quarterfinals.

Buford will travel south to Thomson for tonight’s 7:30 p.m. kickoff.

The Bulldogs average 308 yards per game on defense, and have scored 52 rushing touchdowns. Last week in a 44-21 win over Grady, the Bulldogs racked up 336 yards rushing, despite leading rusher Billy Mance being sidelined with a deep thigh bruise.

Junior Michael Thomas carried the load with 287 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries.

Thomson hopes to have Mance, who has run for

BUFORD WOLVES (8-AAAA) Coach: Jess Simpson Record: 11-1 Last week: Beat Worth County 42-0 THOMSON BULLDOGS (3-AAAA) Coach: Rob Ridings Record: 11-1 Last week: Beat Grady 44-21 When: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Last meeting: Buford won 41-7 in the regular season in 2009 Location: The Brickyard, Thomson

Shug Frazier leads the Buford football team out onto the field shortly before the start of the Wolves’ second round playoff game with Worth County. (Photo: David McGregor)

1,698 yards and 27 touchdowns this season, back tonight for the quarterfinals according to the Augusta Chronicle.

“They really run it well with multiple people,” Buford head coach Jess Simpson said. “But they do have the ability to throw it. They’ve got a big-time receiver (Trey Parker), a big (6-foot-3) kid who has made a bunch of plays this year. They’re going to certainly run it first, but it’s

not like you can ignore the deep throws and the stuff to him.”

Buford is allowing just 1.9 yards per carry this season, and has given up just five rushing touchdowns all season. Last week the Wolves held Worth County to just 160 yards of total offense as they posted a third straight shutout.

North Carolina State commit Shug Frazier leads the team with 10 tackles

for loss, with senior Cooper Simpson and junior T.D. Roof each adding six.

Buford’s offense has been powered by its own ground game. Last week the Wolves rolled up 452 yards rushing.

Anthony Grant leads the team with 705 yards rushing and nine touchdowns. Martin Mangram has a team-high 20 rushing

touchdowns and has run for 596 yards. Christian Turner has nine rushing touchdowns and 545 yards on the ground.

A now-healthy Georgia Tech commit Xavier Gantt adds a home run threat to the backfield, showed last week on his 23-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

“We got Xavier back Senior Night, Week 10, he had been out all season mostly,” Jess Simpson said. “… He had a play last Friday night that was as good a run as you’ll see. But I’ll tell you what, boy, I think he’s better.

“I think he’s come back and he’s been really explosive and really physical.

He’s been downhill. He’s done a great job, having him back is just another weapon for us.”

Thomson has given up an average of 20 points per game this season, but kept Grady’s Caylin Newton, the younger brother of Carolina Panthers’ quarterback Cam Newton, in check for

much of the night. Xzavious Lewis brought down Newton in the end zone for a safety and Thomson also forced an interception.

The Bulldogs defense is led senior linebacker Nick Moss, who has 106 tackles and 10 sacks on the year.

Junior Patterson Hutto has also been a play-maker in the secondary, recording six interceptions and a fumble recovery.

The Bulldogs will have the advantage playing in Thomson’s Brickyard Stadium, but it’s one that Buford is ready for.

“I think the No. 1 thing is it’s all about communication,” Jess Simpson said. “Knowing how loud it’s going to be. A hostile environment is really a lot of fun in the sense that kids like ours love to play in big-time atmospheres.

“When you get in there it’s all against you and you know it’s going to be hard to win in a place like that, but the challenge of doing it is just a lot of fun.”

2015 GWINNETT COUNTY FOOTBALL LEADERS Last Jamyest Cameryn Jordan Marcko Steve Alex Jonathan Marcus Marcella Joe Anthony Jeremy Marquez Jesse Trey Ernest Martin Daniel Christian Jakob Jack Chris Ty Malik Michael Ryan Nick Davis Baron

Name Major Erron Evan Kyle Liam Canyon Malcolm Dorian Tucker Harrison Austin Aramis Ernest Christian Braxton Edmond Jalen Josh Johnathan Harrison Justin Bryce DeCarlos Cole Jeremiah DeAngelo Miles Terrell Brandon Azaviar Connor Preston Juwan Dylan Tyler Donavon

Name Micah Davis

First Williams Brent Argilagos Baity DuBose Rowe Postell Young Baity Thomas Grant Lewis Jackson Brown Vallery Tiller Mangram Leconte Turner Brashear Chambers McGee Harris Staples Stephens Lovelace Harris Mills Radcliff

Rushing School Gms Archer 12 Grayson 12 Wesleyan 11 Lanier 11 Hebron 10 GAC 12 Collins Hill 12 GAC 11 Lanier 11 Mill Creek 12 Buford 12 Collins Hill 10 Peachtree Ridge 10 Brookwood 8 C. Gwinnett 11 Grayson 12 Buford 12 Mill Creek 12 Buford 11 Dacula 10 Parkview 7 Hebron 10 Dacula 10 Peachtree Ridge 11 S. Gwinnett 8 N. Gwinnett 9 Mtn. View 6 GAC 12 Norcross 9

Receiving School Bellamy C. Gwinnett Price C. Gwinnett Sturgill Grayson Davis Archer Sullivan GAC Slade Collins Hill Cunningham GAC Miles Brookwood Cannon Wesleyan Cook Wesleyan Nash Grayson Bryant Archer Tiller Grayson Sutton Peachtree Ridge Richburg Mill Creek Graham Mill Creek Virgil Mtn. View Imatorbhebhe N. Gwinnett Boyd Parkview Sloan GAC Macaulay Collins Hill Riley Hebron Frazier Shiloh Paschall Lanier Nails Archer Gibbs Peachtree Ridge Riley Mill Creek Smith S. Gwinnett Marsh Buford Kufour C. Gwinnett Heyward Peachtree Ridge Norwood Mill Creek Powell Archer Singleton Archer Fleetwood Parkview Grier Shiloh

Maxey Mills

Rec 71 55 46 47 41 53 31 51 48 49 34 21 30 34 30 29 30 31 29 26 32 24 23 18 22 21 27 16 23 24 27 22 26 22 19 26

Att 192 170 180 177 150 134 150 115 153 164 84 96 116 143 173 55 80 124 51 94 76 123 92 90 85 68 100 80 86

Yards 1249 1205 1187 1076 930 805 798 785 726 706 705 669 633 627 617 601 596 580 545 529 528 507 502 480 460 458 451 410 401

Yds 1224 811 774 773 751 730 724 643 627 625 561 518 514 500 477 473 452 452 430 420 419 410 396 391 380 376 367 364 358 356 340 339 325 313 304 304

TD 23 20 10 14 9 3 10 10 9 14 9 9 6 6 6 8 20 13 9 6 10 6 0 6 2 2 4 10 4

TD 16 7 7 6 6 6 8 7 3 2 5 8 4 5 3 5 4 3 2 4 4 2 6 2 3 3 4 4 6 5 3 3 1 4 5 0

Ave. 104.1 100.4 107.9 97.8 93 67.1 66.5 71.4 66 58.8 58.8 66.9 63.3 78.38 56.1 50.1 49.7 48.3 49.6 52.9 75.4 50.7 50.2 43.6 57.5 50.9 75.16 34.2 44.55

YPC 17.2 14.8 16.8 16.5 18.3 13.8 23.4 12.6 13.1 12.8 16.5 24.7 17.1 14.7 15.9 16.3 15 14.6 14.8 16.2 13.1 17.1 17.2 21.7 17.3 17.9 13.6 22.8 15.6 14.8 12.6 16.4 12.5 14.2 16 11.7

Passing School Comp. Att. Comp. % Yds TD Int C. Gwinnett 180 307 0.586 2552 28 10 GAC 137 225 0.609 2457 23 5

Will Chase Cameron Banks Jarren Cade Jack Mic Tahj Drew Fred Monty Josh Angelo Tanner Chris Matthew Bubba Wes Darion Alex Baron

Name Robert Chris Monty Guillermo Juwuan Tyler Tomon John Nigel Drew Aaron Derrick Malik Justyn Bryce Micah Denzel Peyton Dylan Leonard Elijah Brian Khalil Bobby Aiden Jamal Sidney Devin Emmanual Devin T.D. Darral Jake Shaun Shane Ben Kymere Semaj Tim Julian Matt CJ Zach Isaiah Kedarius Jamie Justin Jacob Ryan Kevin Mykelle

Bearden Brice Turley Ramsey Williams Fortin Chambers Roof Tolbert Dinsmore Payton Horn Shim DiSpigna Winskie McGee Edwards Hickson Whitehead Hammons Scott Radcliff

Archer 150 Grayson 147 Mill Creek 147 Wesleyan 142 Shiloh 131 N. Gwinnett 130 Parkview 92 Buford 82 Lanier 85 Collins Hill 73 Peachtree Ridge 74 Collins Hill 77 S. Gwinnett 53 Brookwood 63 Brookwood 64 Hebron 43 Mtn. View 46 Peachtree Ridge 28 Dacula 56 Meadowcreek 48 Mtn. View 41 Norcross 50

Snyder Allen Montgomery Luna Jones Taylor Fox Dussling Adams Aspinwall Anderson Brown Robinson Brinston Smith Bull Wright Woulard Singleton Warner Robertson Eberhardt Blakely Sheehan Jarrett Stewart Otiwu Miller Belmar Thomas Roof Porter Simpson Hunter DeFreitas Ellison Faucette Hayden Gary McDuffie Andryusky Burress Reed Pryor Davis Arroyo Mascoll Martin Morrell Stipe McDaniel

217 221 254 208 279 255 155 122 159 169 123 150 109 127 116 83 94 49 131 131 91 105

Tackles School Collins Hill Norcross Norcross Brookwood Lanier Lanier Collins Hill Hebron C. Gwinnett Wesleyan Mill Creek Lanier S. Gwinnett Shiloh Grayson Mill Creek Grayson Collins Hill Archer Brookwood C. Gwinnett N. Gwinnett Collins Hill Collins Hill GAC C. Gwinnett Mill Creek Lanier Collins Hill GAC Buford Norcross Buford Lanier Brookwood Providence Collins Hill Brookwood C. Gwinnett Shiloh N. Gwinnett Lanier Hebron Archer Hebron Dacula S. Gwinnett Buford Archer Wesleyan Grayson

0.691 0.665 0.5768 0.683 0.47 0.51 0.594 0.689 0.535 0.432 0.602 0.513 0.541 0.496 0.552 0.518 0.483 0.571 0.427 0.366 0.45 0.476

2430 23 2365 27 2059 16 1721 13 1650 14 1475 11 1217 10 1188 13 1145 8 1043 11 924 9 904 10 825 7 803 6 675 4 636 4 571 3 568 4 551 5 549 4 548 5 514 4

Games 12 9 9 8 11 11 12 10 11 11 12 11 10 10 12 12 12 12 12 8 10 10 12 11 11 11 11 11 12 11 7 9 12 10 8 9 9 8 11 10 10 10 9 12 9 10 10 11 12 11 11

3 6 3 6 10 8 4 4 8 7 3 6 3 3 6 5 5 1 6 17 5 2

Tackles 134 124 113 109 105 103 103 103 99 98 97 96 96 96 94 93 92 91 89 88 87 86 85 85 84 83 82 80 78 74 74 73 72 69 69 69 68 68 68 67 67 66 66 64 63 63 62 62 61 60 60

Eugene Ismail Brett A.J. Micah Deandre

Name Tyler Derrick Shelton Emmanual John Peyton Breon Michael Justin Tomon Eugene Devin Anthony

Name Carlos Cole Darrien Da’Meon Drew Kishawn Breon

Mafah Abdul Shepherd McCain Harden Byrd

C. Gwinnett Grayson Collins Hill C. Gwinnett Hebron Peachtree Ridge

9 12 11 11 10 11

59 59 59 58 58 58

Vernon Brown Combs Belmar Dussling Moore Dixon Allen Mascoll Fox Mafah Miller Imbordino

Sacks School Mill Creek Lanier C. Gwinnett Collins Hill Hebron Mill Creek Peachtree Ridge Lanier S. Gwinnett Collins Hill C. Gwinnett Lanier Mill Creek

Sacks 16 12 11 10 10 9 9 8 8 8 7 7 7

Wade Mannion Warner Williams Aspinwall Miller Dixon

Interceptions School N. Gwinnett Wesleyan Parkview Norcross Wesleyan Mill Creek Peachtree Ridge

Interceptions 5 5 5 4 4 4 4

Name Jake Micah Brooks Connor Devin Will Jordan Tyler Nick Grayson Seth Matthew Noah Will

Punting School Camarda Norcross Bull Mill Creek Buce GAC Heyward Peachtree Ridge Orr Parkview VanPamelen Grayson Weaver Wesleyan Taylor Lanier Chemielowicz Buford Fowler N. Gwinnett Johnston S. Gwinnett Fritts Archer Thomas Lanier Banfield Brookwood

Name Brenton Will Matthew Brooks Zaniel Noah Cole Jordan Manuel Sam Will Antonio Daniel Mitchell Bernardo Luis Ty Dawson Cam Jarrett Phillip

Kicking School King Mill Creek VanPamelen Grayson Fritts Archer Buce GAC Phillips Peachtree Ridge Thomas Lanier Hanna Norcross Weaver Wesleyan Herrera N. Gwinnett Glenn Collins Hill Chandler Parkview Yin Dacula Garcia Buford Berry Brookwood Burgos Buford Aguilar C. Gwinnett Booker Mtn. View Newman S. Gwinnett Hall Hebron Burgos Buford Griffin Shiloh

Punts 51 42 25 57 16 29 26 26 13 53 35 33 12 38

FGM 15 6 6 11 5 5 7 6 5 4 3 5 1 4 0 1 2 1 0 0 2

FGA 21 9 8 13 9 10 9 11 10 4 3 9 5 8 0 3 3 3 0 0 3

Yds 2001 1597 932 2118 590 1046 934 931 459 1836 1204 1128 402 1269

XPM 52 68 60 45 45 36 27 28 25 24 24 16 28 18 24 20 16 16 17 16 7

Avg 39.23 38 37.3 37.2 36.9 36.1 35.9 35.8 35.3 34.6 34.4 34.2 33.5 33.4

XPA Pts 53 97 73 86 61 78 55 78 47 60 37 51 28 48 30 46 26 40 24 36 28 33 17 31 28 31 21 30 24 24 25 23 19 22 16 19 17 17 17 16 13 13

4B • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

gwinnettdailypost.com

Tech tries to finish harsh year on high note vs. UGA

By Stan awtrey

GEORGIA AT GEORGIA TECH

Staff Correspondent

ATLANTA — Paul Johnson has heard the same thing hundreds of times from fans since he came to Georgia Tech: Just beat Georgia.

“Since I arrived here a lot of people have told me you could win one game and it doesn’t matter what your record is,” Johnson said. “Hopefully we can see and find out if that’s true.”

The Yellow Jackets (38) host the season finale Saturday at noon against Georgia. While a win wouldn’t salvage a disap-

When: Saturday, noon Where: Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta TV: ESPN2

pointing season, it would definitely end it on a high note.

“I think it’s the time of year that all the fans and most everybody looks forward to the in-state rivalry game,” Johnson said. ”While nothing could make the challenges and the results go away totally, it would be a good way to try to end the season on a

positive note if we win the last one, the in-state rival game.”

The odds aren’t in the favor of the Yellow Jackets.

This is the first time under Johnson that Georgia Tech has entered the Georgia game after a loss.

The last time Georgia Tech entered the rival game with three or fewer losses was 1984 when Georgia won 48-10 to punctuate the Yellow Jackets’ 1-10 season.

Georgia Tech hasn’t beaten the Bulldogs in Atlanta since 1999.

“I feel sure our guys are going to get fired up and ready to play,” Johnson said. “We’re disappointed

with the record, but they’ve tried. The effort has been there every week. It says something about their character that they haven’t found a place to lay down and quit.”

And while there have been no signs of quitting, there are plenty of signs of frustration. It’s especially evident with Johnson, who is exasperated at the different ways his team has found ways to lose games.

Against Duke it was the breakdown of the special teams.

Against North Carolina it was the defense that gave up a 21-0 lead.

Against Pittsburgh it was

Eagles bracing for big Hornets’ attack

By DaviD FrieDlanDer

COLLINS HILL AT ROSWELL

SUWANEE — Neither Collins Hill coach Kevin Reach and his staff nor the players have any illusions about the monumental challenge facing them when they travel to Ray Manus Stadium to take on Roswell in a Class AAAAAA state quarterfinal game tonight.

“They don’t make a lot of mistakes,” Reach said of Roswell. “They’re good on both sides of the ball. They’ve got a plan in place, and they stick to that plan.”

That plan is to simply overwhelm the opposition, something the No. 3 state-ranked Hornets (12-0) have been particularly good at, winning their games by an average of 37.3 points, and scoring fewer than 34 points just once all season.

But having battled their share of powerhouses in Region 7-AAAAAA, the Eagles (7-5) don’t see Roswell as anything they haven’t seen before. “(Roswell) is probably one of the better teams in the state,” said senior defensive end Tomon Fox, who is among Colllins Hill’s leading tacklers with 103 combined stops and assists and eight sacks. “I know we’re up to the challenge. We’re going to step up and get behind each other.

“I’d compare their O-line to, probably, Mill Creek’s because they’re really big and thick. And they have the (skill) athletes like Peachtree Ridge. They’re fast and the come at you fast.

We just have to be physical with them, especially across the front. If our front seven does well, we could beat them.”

That may not be quite as easy as it sounds.

Aside from a large and powerful line led by 6-foot-3, 280-pound guard Cameron Whiteman, Roswell’s offense is filled by playmakers like 1,300yard rusher Sheldon Evans, quarterback Quintarius Neely (2,313 total yards, 29 combined TDs) and receivers A.J. Smith, Kendrick Jackson and Jayden Comma.

The Eagles must counter with a defense that has plenty of star power of its own, led

COLLINS HILL EAGLES (7-AAAAAA) Coach: Kevin Reach Record: 7-5 Last week: Beat Newton 31-24 ROSWELL HORNETS (5-AAAAAA) Coach: John Ford Record: 12-0 Last week: Beat Camden Co. 34-15 When: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Last meeting: Collins Hill won 24-21 in 2011 Location: Roswell High School

by the North Carolina-bound Fox and fellow ACC commits Emmanuel Belmar (Virginia Tech, 78 tackles, 10 sacks) and Robert Snyder (Virginia, 134 tackles, INT).

But as much as the Roswell offense concerns Reach, the Hornets’ defense also has gotten his attention.

If it isn’t the hard-hitting linebacking tandem of Clemson commit Tre’ Lamar and North Carolina-bound Tyrone Hopper, it is secondary playmakers like Xavier McKinney and Justus Harris creating turnovers to put the Roswell offense up in scoring position.

Therefore, the best defense for the Eagles may be a good offense, particularly one that can avoid mistakes and force the Hornets to earn everything they get.

“That’s where we are right now,” Reach said. “I’ve told (the offense), every possession we have is going to end with a kick, whether it’s a punt, extra point or field goal (and ensuing kickoff).

We’re not coming off the field any other way. That’s been our motto all week — no mistakes.”

That means the Eagles must strike a strong balance between the passing game led by quarterback Monty Horn and a legion of receivers, as well as running game that got a boost last week by producing more than 250 yards in last week’s second-round win over Newton, 150-plus of which came from Jonathan Postell.

“We’re going to have to feed our backs,” Reach said.

Look for the 290385-1

271269-1

territory when the Tigers (11-1) play at Mill Creek (12-0) tonight in the Class AAAAAA quarterfinals. “(Mill Creek’s) a special place to me,” said Dyer, who served as head coach for Mill Creek’s first-ever varsity win because Jarvis was at the hospital for his daughter’s birth. “It’s a special place because I’ve got so many friendships over there, all the buddies I’ve got over there.”

The friendships start at the top, where Jarvis and Dyer have become great friends. They generally talk at least once a week about football, whether it’s Xs and Os or the challenges that come with being a head football coach in Gwinnett.

“Toward the end of the season, we didn’t ever really say it, but we knew we could play each other (in the playoffs), so those conversations got a little less detailed about schemes,” Jarvis said.

“All of that (detailed talk) ceased,” Dyer said.

The assistants in the matchup have ties, too. Dyer and Lovelady’s former West Georgia teammate, Brian Lane, is the offensive line coach at Archer. Chad Rogers, Mill Creek’s defensive backs coach, also played at West Georgia during the same time.

The two coaching staffs have shared plenty of ideas in past seasons, just not any of late.

“There’s a lot of familiarity and I think the kids can sense how close we are (as coaching staffs),” Jarvis said. “But we compete hard, make no mistake.

Andy’s going to get everything we’ve got and he’s going to give us everything he’s got.”

Even those players know each other well. Mill Creek and Archer played preseason scrimmages against each other the past two seasons — both were very close with the starters in the game — and they have gone against each other frequently in passing league sessions the past couple of summers.

The lack of mystery regarding the opponent makes the quarter-

ARCHER AT MILL CREEK ARCHER TIGERS (8-AAAAAA) Coach: Andy Dyer Record: 11-1 Last week: Beat McEachern 24-21 MILL CREEK HAWKS (7-AAAAAA) Coach: Shannon Jarvis Record: 12-0 Last week: Beat Newnan 44-14 When: Today, 7:30 p.m.

Last meeting: First meeting Location: Mill Creek High School

final matchup unique.

“In a lot of ways, we’re very familiar with what they’re doing and they’re very familiar with what we’re doing,” Dyer said.

“It just comes down to execution and the team that makes the least mistakes. You don’t go in doing anything new. You do what you do, let your kids play fast and let them decide it on the field.”

Both teams play fast — on both sides of the ball. Neither offense has missed a beat with a new starting quarterback this season, while both defenses have played very well.

Will Bearden has completed 150 of 217 passes (69.1 percent) for 2,430 yards and 23 touchdowns to just three interceptions, taking advantage of targets like the nation’s top-rated senior receiver by 247Sports, Kyle Davis, and Aramis Bryant. Davis, who committed to Auburn on Wednesday, has 47 catches for 773 yards and six TDs and Bryant has 21 catches for 518 yards and eight scores.

The rushing offense has revolved around Jamyest Williams, whose 1,249 yards and 23 TDs on 192 carries have allowed Dylan Singleton to focus mostly on defense.

“The biggest thing they do offensively, it’s been that way every time we’ve played them, is they do a great job of attacking the whole field,” Jarvis said.

“You’ve got to defend the whole

field. They put pressure on you to tackle well in space.”

Mill Creek’s defense will be challenged, but it’s risen to every one so far this season. The Hawks have limited seven opponents to single digits, including five shutouts, and haven’t allowed any team to score more than 17 points all season.

Aaron Anderson and Micah Bull lead the unit with 97 and 93 tackles, respectively, while Tyler Vernon (16 sacks), Peyton Moore (nine sacks) and Anthony Imbordino (seven sacks) bring a lot of heat on the quarterback.

“Our defense has got to continue to be relentless,” Jarvis said. “On these quick screens, we’ve got to get out there and support. You have to have gang tackling against Archer. You’ve got to have your whole unit to the ball. I like our defense against anybody if we continue to be relentless and pursue the football. That’s going to be the key Friday night.”

Jarvis also sees a really good, speedy defense at Archer.

Singleton, the Daily Post’s reigning defensive player of the year, leads the Tigers’ defense with 89 tackles. Isaiah Pryor has 64 tackles and Ryan Morrell has 61 stops.

“We’re playing great on the defensive side,” Dyer said. “Our kids are flying around and being physical.”

Mill Creek will have to crack that unit with what is typically a balanced attack.

Like his Archer counterpart, Mill Creek’s first-year starting quarterback also has acquitted himself well. Cameron Turley has completed 147 of 254 passes for 2,059 yards and 16 TDs to just three interceptions. Joe Thomas (706 yards, 14 TDs) and Daniel Leconte (580 yards, 13 TDs) have shared the bulk of carries behind the Hawks’ big offensive front.

“They’re super efficient in all three phases,” Dyer said of Mill Creek. “They’re extremely wellcoached. They don’t do things to beat themselves. It’s going to take 48 minutes to decide this one.”

Daily Post Picks The staff makes its predictions for this week’s prep football winners

WILL HAMMOCK

CHRISTINE TROYKE

DAVID FRIEDLANDER

PAUL THOMAS

SCOTT SMITH

NICK MOORE*

Archer at Mill Creek

Mill Creek

Mill Creek

Archer

Archer

Archer

Archer

Collins Hill at Roswell

Roswell

Roswell

Roswell

Roswell

Roswell

Roswell

Grayson at Westlake

Grayson

Grayson

Grayson

Grayson

Grayson

Grayson

Buford

Buford

Buford

Buford

Buford

Buford

GAC

GAC

GAC

GAC

GAC

GAC

7-3 (147-31)

7-3 (147-31)

7-3 (151-27)

6-4 (148-30)

7-3 (147-31)

6-4 (143-35)

Buford at Thomson Brooks Co. at GAC Last week (total)

s

david.friedlander@ gwinnettdailypost.com

for me,” Johnson said. “It’s kind of been a situation where every game, for the most part, we’ve been in and we find a way to selfimplode. I don’t know if that’s just playing young guys or it’s just our turn.

You know, I’ve been doing this a long time, maybe it’s my turn.”

Part of the inconsistency can be traced to the number of young players who have been forced to play because of injuries, suspensions and players leaving the team. Georgia Tech has played 23 freshmen, 10 of them true freshmen. Six true freshmen have started at least one game.

Clash

•From Page 1B

Collins Hill’s Jonathan Postell (34) finds some running room behind the block of Aaron Sonkesak (72) earlier this season against Duluth. (Photo: Craig Cappy)

a late turnover that allowed the Panthers to eat up the clock and kick the winning field goal at the horn.

Against Virginia it was the defense that allowed 408 yards.

Against Virginia Tech it was the offense that vanished in the final three quarters.

Against Miami it was nine fumbles, two of them lost, and two interceptions.

Of Georgia Tech’s eight losses — the most for Johnson since his first year at Navy — there are only two games (Clemson and Notre Dame) in which the Yellow Jackets were outplayed.

“This is new territory

YOU PICK ’EM: Make prep football predictions at www.gwinnettprepsports.com/contests.

Each week’s winner receives a GoPro Hero.

*Each week’s picks feature a guest picker. This week’s guest picker is Brookwood grad Nick Moore, a fullback for the Georgia football team

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL In print & online at gwinnettprepsports.com & gwinnettdailypost.com

gwinnettdailypost.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 • 5B

Manchester edges Gladiators in rematch By chriSTine Troyke christine.troyke @gwinnettdailypost.com

DULUTH — The Atlanta Gladiators talked about needing another strong start for their rematch with Manchester.

Instead it was the Monarchs with the better jump out of the gates and the Gladiators ended up dropping Thursday’s game 3-2 before 3,870 at Infinite Energy Arena.

Atlanta’s first lead was its only lead in a nipand-tuck game between teams neck-and-neck in the conference standings.

“They got some bounces, but we say that puck luck is earned,” head coach Andy Brandt said. “And they earned it. They did a good job of hunting and hounding pucks tonight. As did we.

I thought we were good in certain facets of the game.

“Yeah, they got some bounces, but at the end of the day, that’s not an excuse for a loss. So tomorrow it’s about making sure we’re prepared and energized and ready to go against Orlando.”

The Gladiators, who beat Manchester 3-2 with a quick start on Tuesday, wrap up a set of five games in seven days

Atlanta Gladiators goalie Andy Iles fends off a shot with Manchester’s Joe Diamond on the doorstep during Thursday’s game at Infinite Energy Arena. (Photo: Amanda Hertel)

tonight at home against the Solar Bears.

“When you compare it to (Tuesday), both teams were feeling things out for the first little bit,” Brandt said. “I think that has to do with mutual respect. Two good hockey teams who played well.”

Atlanta (9-7-1-0) struck first on a goal from defenseman Ian Barteaux 13:49 into the game. Coming off a penalty kill, the Gladiators broke into the zone with numbers and Barteaux

was the second trailer charging to the slot. He smashed home a smart backhand drop pass from Brock Higgs on the goal line.

Manchester (10-70-0) countered with a tally from Zac Larraza at 17:15. Larraza lifted a tightly angled backhander through goalie Andy Iles to tie the game 1-1.

Iles continued to be impressive between the pipes but couldn’t do much about the pinballing puck that gave

the Monarchs a 2-1 lead at 13:45 of the second period. Yann Sauve let a shot from up top fly and it ricochetted off a stick and then the low post before sliding over the goal line.

“In the first and second, I thought we did a really good job keeping pucks and shots to the outside,” Brandt said.

“However, I thought Manchester did a good job of getting to Andy Iles. They did a good job getting in front of him,

making his life a little bit harder. But a lot of their shots came from the outside and Andy was able to eat up those rebounds.”

Captain Derek Nesbitt tied the game 30 seconds into the third period with a quick shot from the blue line, but his counterpart David Kolomatis restored Manchester’s lead at 8:19. The Monarchs’ captain beat a heavily screened Iles on the power play, and it ended up the game-winner.

Getting to Know … Justin Buzzeo Forward Justin Buzzeo signed with the Atlanta Gladiators after wrapping up his senior season at Ferris State University last spring. He had four points in seven games and re-signed with franchise in July ahead of his official rookie season. Buzzeo, who shared the team lead in points at Ferris State last season, scored the game-winning goal Tuusday against Manchester and has six points in 13 games so far.

In this installment of “Getting to Know …,” Buzzeo talks to staff writer Atlanta Gladiators rookie forward Justin Buzzeo carChristine Troyke about a ries the puck during a game against Greenville earlier variety of topics, including this season at Infinite Energy Arena in Duluth. (Photo: his alacrity for winning Amanda Hertel) cards games on the team toughest place to play in was the farthest by far. We bus, playing in front of college? exuberant Michigan fans were there for about two JB: I would have to say weeks. Long trips aren’t a and his memorable first Yost was a pretty tough game as a pro. change for me at all. barn to play in. Those CT: Did you use CT: Is (Gladiators Michigan fans are pretty sleeper buses — except captain) Derek Nesbitt a crazy. for to Alaska — for those legend at Ferris State? trips?

JB: Oh, for sure.

CT: There are a lot JB: No. The boys just (laughs) of long road trips in the had to find room on the CT: Nevermind there’s ECHL. How do you pass ground. a decade between when the time?

CT: Then it’s good he was there and when JB: We usually get on when you’re an upperyou were there. the bus late at night so we classman. Did you have a JB: You still hear some just throw in a movie and row to yourself? good stories. hope to go to sleep pretty JB: Oh, yeah.

CT: Gone but not quick. But if not, I like forgotten? to play a few cards, take CT: What had you JB: (laughs) Oh, for sure. some of the boys’ money. signing with the GladiSometimes. ators coming out of CT: You grew up in CT: Are you just saycollege?

Windsor (Ontario), ing that or are you actuJB: My agent called me across the border from ally good at cards. one day and said this was Detroit, so was going to a JB: No, I’m pretty a good fit and (head coach college in Michigan that good. You can ask anyone. Andy Brandt) liked what much of a change?

CT: I’m going to fact he saw. He was going to JB: The weather was check that. give me a great opportuthe exact same. (laughs) nity to come in and play No, it was a great transiCT: In college, did you my role. That’s exactly tion going there. I can’t have long road trips, too? what he did and I can’t say enough about my four JB: For sure. When we complain. I’m glad I came years there. I’ll remember switched leagues after here last year, which led to it forever. my second year, to the another contract this year.

WCHA, we had trips to CT: It was a good CT: What was the Minnesota, Alaska. That enough seven games for

you to re-sign this summer?

JB: I re-signed pretty quick, actually. I like what the coaching staff has to offer. I like their systems and they let you play your game. I think that’s an important part. At the same time, they want you to have fun. It’s crucial, especially at this level, you’ve got to make sure you’re coming to the rink and having fun when you’re playing this many games.

of course. Windsor Pizza is dynamite. If you’ve never had it, you should look into having one shipped here.

CT: It did snow there this week though.

JB: Oh, yeah. I was talking to my girlfriend and she said it had snowed. I mean, I’m happy I’m in Atlanta. I can’t complain.

CT: What kind of music do you usually listen to?

JB: I’m not really picky about it.

CT: Anything you like on game days?

JB: Nah. I’m good with whatever (Tyler Murovich) puts on. We can him DJ MP and we trust his judgement.

CT: How would you describe your game?

JB: I like to say I have a little bit of everything. I like to play with a little bit of an edge, but I also like to score goals and make plays. I consider myself more of a passer than a shooter. (laughs) So I need to start shooting the puck CT: Any TV shows you more. try not to miss?

JB: I’m not really big CT: Who is your room- on the TV shows, but the mate here? one I did watch was EnJB: (Brock) Higgs. tourage. That’s my go-to.

CT: Is that why he was so nice about compliCT: I’m going to give menting your Movember you a chance to return mustache when I asked the favor to Higgs if you last week who had the want to. Who has the best one on the team? best Movember ‘stache JB: Oh, he knows. How on the team? can he not?

JB: Aw, besides me? (laughs) CT: You had a good CT: Obviously. first game as a pro, JB: Definitely not right?

Higgs. I’m going to give JB: I scored that first this one to Office Ginn game, yeah. It was nice. It (goalie Matt Ginn). He’s was nice to get the first one rocking a pretty good out of the way right away. ‘stache. He’s definitely No complaints about that. second best on the team.

I’d like to have a few CT: Worst? more right now. A little bit JB: Probably … oooh. of a slow start, but hopeI’m going to have to go fully I can get it going here. with (Tyler) Shiplo.

CT: Just not happenCT: You miss anything ing? from your hometown JB: No. Just … some when you’re down here? guys got it, some guys JB: Friends and family, don’t. (laughs)

NFL ROUNDUP

Lions feast on Philly The SporTS Xchange DETROIT — Calvin Johnson got off to a quiet start, then began his annual Thanksgiving feast on opposing secondaries in earnest.

The Detroit Lions’ perennial All-Pro wide receiver was shut out on the first three drives and quarterback Matthew Stafford was determined to change that.

“We got through the first quarter without him having a catch and I was sitting there going, ‘Man, we’ve got to get 81 the ball,’” Stafford said. “(Offensive coordinator) Jim Bob (Cooter) dialed up some plays for him and he got open and made some big-time catches.”

Once Johnson got involved, the Detroit offense became unstoppable. Stafford threw five touchdown passes, three to Johnson, and the revived Lions won their third straight by walloping the Philadelphia Eagles 45-14 on Thursday afternoon at Ford Field.

Stafford completed 27 of 38 passes for 337 yards for the Lions (4-7), who have also won three consecutive Thanksgiving Day games. They scored on six straight possessions in their highest-scoring game of the season.

“It’s just guys making up their minds that we’re going to go out there and play well and win these games that we’re capable of winning,” Johnson said.

“Less mistakes, more concentration, all those things add up.”

Panthers beat Cowboys, improve to 11-0 ARLINGTON, Texas — The undefeated Carolina Panthers can put “defeated the Cowboys in Dallas on Thanksgiving” on their ever-growing resume.

Panthers middle linebacker Luke Kuechly intercepted two passes in the second quarter, part of a stifling effort by the Carolina defense in a 33-14 victory over the Cowboys on Thursday at AT&T Stadium.

Dallas quarterback Tony Romo completed 11 of 21 passes for 106 yards and three interceptions.

And then, after Carolina linebacker Thomas Davis sacked him, Romo left the game favoring his left arm on the final play of the third quarter.

Romo missed seven weeks with a broken clavicle earlier this season and the team reported he reinjured the left clavicle.

Dallas (3-8) was 0-7 with Romo out of the lineup.

Carolina quarterback Cam Newton turned in a stellar performance, connecting on 16 of 27 passes for 183 yards and rushed for 45 yards and a touchdown.

SPORTS AT A GLANCE Basketball

Milwaukee ............ 6 ... 9 ... .400........5

National Basketball Association EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Toronto ............... 10... 6... .625...... — Boston .................. 8... 7... .533..... 1.5 New York .............. 8... 8... .500........2 Brooklyn ............... 3. 12... .200.....6.5 Philadelphia ......... 0. 16... .000......10 Southeast Division W L Pct GB Miami.................... 9... 5... .643...... — Charlotte............... 9... 6... .600........5 Atlanta ................ 10... 7... .588........5 Washington .......... 6... 6... .500........2 Orlando ................ 7... 8... .467.....2.5 Central Division W L Pct GB Cleveland ............11... 4... .733...... — Chicago ................ 9... 4... .692........1 Indiana ................. 9... 5... .643..... 1.5 Detroit ................... 8... 7... .533........3

WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct GB San Antonio........ 12 ... 3 ... .800...... — Memphis .............. 9 ... 7 ... .562.....3.5 Dallas ................... 9 ... 7 ... .562.....3.5 Houston................ 5 . 10 ... .333........7 New Orleans ........ 4 ..11 ... .267........8 Northwest Division W L Pct GB Oklahoma City ... 10 ... 6 ... .625...... — Utah...................... 7 ... 7 ... .500........2 Minnesota ............ 7 ... 8 ... .467.....2.5 Denver.................. 6 ... 9 ... .400.....3.5 Portland ................ 6 . 10 ... .375........4 Pacific Division W L Pct GB Golden State ...... 16 ... 0 ..1.000...... — Phoenix ................ 7 ... 8 ... .467.....8.5 L.A. Clippers......... 7 ... 8 ... .467.....8.5 Sacramento.......... 6 . 10 ... .375......10 L.A. Lakers ........... 2 . 12 ... .143......13

Wednesday’s Games Charlotte 101, Washington 87 Orlando 100, New York 91 Boston 84, Philadelphia 80 Detroit 104, Miami 81 Toronto 103, Cleveland 99 Memphis 102, Houston 93 Sacramento 129, Milwaukee 118 Minnesota 99, Atlanta 95 Oklahoma City 110, Brooklyn 99 San Antonio 88, Dallas 83 New Orleans 120, Phoenix 114 Utah 102, L.A. Clippers 91 Today’s Games Cleveland at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Milwaukee at Orlando, 7 p.m.

Washington at Boston, 7:30 p.m.

Miami at New York, 7:30 p.m.

Chicago at Indiana, 8 p.m.

Philadelphia at Houston, 8 p.m.

Atlanta at Memphis, 8 p.m.

Detroit at Oklahoma City, 8 p.m.

San Antonio at Denver, 9 p.m.

Golden State at Phoenix, 9:30 p.m.

Minnesota at Sacramento, 10 p.m.

New Orleans at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.

Football National Football League AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA New England 10 .. 0 ...0 1.000 ...323 .. 182 N.Y. Jets ..........5 .. 5 ...0 . .500 ...234 .. 208 Buffalo .............5 .. 5 ...0 . .500 ...244 .. 227 Miami...............4 .. 6 ...0 . .400 ...205 .. 249 South W L T Pct PF PA Indianapolis .....5 .. 5 ...0 . .500 ...224 .. 248 Houston...........5 .. 5 ...0 . .500 ...208 .. 228 Jacksonville .....4 .. 6 ...0 . .400 ...211 .. 268 Tennessee.......2 .. 8 ...0 . .200 ...182 .. 233 North W L T Pct PF PA Cincinnati ........8 .. 2 ...0 . .800 ...266 .. 186 Pittsburgh ........6 .. 4 ...0 . .600 ...236 .. 191 Baltimore .........3 .. 7 ...0 . .300 ...226 .. 249

Cleveland ........2 .. 8...0 . .200...186 .. 277 West W L T Pct PF PA Denver.............8 .. 2...0 . .800...222 .. 183 Kansas City.....5 .. 5 ...0 . .500 ...257 .. 198 Oakland ...........4 .. 6 ...0 . .400 ...240 .. 259 San Diego .......2 .. 8 ...0 . .200 ...213 .. 282 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA N.Y. Giants ......5 .. 5 ...0 . .500 ...273 .. 253 Washington .....4 .. 6 ...0 . .400 ...221 .. 253 Philadelphia ....4 .. 7 ...0 . .364 ...243 .. 274 Dallas ..............3 .. 8 ...0 . .273 ...204 .. 261 South W L T Pct PF PA Carolina ......... 11 .. 0 ...0 1.000 ...332 .. 205 Atlanta .............6 .. 4 ...0 . .600 ...250 .. 214 Tampa Bay ......5 .. 5 ...0 . .500 ...236 .. 254 New Orleans ...4 .. 6 ...0 . .400 ...255 .. 315 North W L T Pct PF PA Green Bay .......7 .. 3 ...0 . .700 ...249 .. 198 Minnesota .......7 .. 3 ...0 . .700 ...211 .. 184 Chicago ...........4 .. 6 ...0 . .400 ...214 .. 251 Detroit ..............4 .. 7 ...0 . .364 ...230 .. 288

West W L T Pct PF PA Arizona ............8 .. 2 ...0 . .800 ...336 .. 216 Seattle .............5 .. 5 ...0 . .500 ...228 .. 192 St. Louis ..........4 .. 6 ...0 . .400 ...179 .. 199 San Francisco .3 .. 7 ...0 . .300 ...139 .. 252 Thursday, Nov. 26 Detroit 45, Philadelphia 14 Carolina 33, Dallas 14 Chicago at Green Bay, late Sunday, Nov. 29 New Orleans at Houston, 1 p.m.

St. Louis at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

Minnesota at Atlanta, 1 p.m.

N.Y. Giants at Washington, 1 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Buffalo at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Oakland at Tennessee, 1 p.m.

San Diego at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Miami at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.

Arizona at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Seattle, 4:25 p.m.

New England at Denver, 8:30 p.m.

Monday, Nov. 30 Baltimore at Cleveland, 8:30 p.m.

B6 • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

gwinnettdailypost.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 PUBLIC SALES/ AUCTIONS ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE

NOTICE Business name : Agraffe LLC dba Hwy 29 Lqr Sole Owner : Gail M. Anglin Address : 3242 N. Embry circle Chamblee, GA 30347 Retail Liquor Store selling Beer, Wine and Liquor Located at : 4132 Lawrenceville Hwy Lilburn, GA 30047 904-290612, 10/30-1/7

VIN: 2GCEK13T051136894.

Cassandra’s Body Work, 1855 Buford Hwy, Duluth, GA, 30097. 2000 BMW X5, VIN: WBAFB3348YLH01464, declared abandoned and foreclosed vehicles pursuant to Official Code of Georgia Annotated Section 40-11-5 929-296139, 11/20,27 NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OCGA 40-11-2, JAIME’S AUTO REPAIR, INC., WILL HOLD AN AUCTION FOR THE FOLLOWING VEHICLE(S).

2008 FORD F250 1FTSW21R08EC56542

PUBLIC HEARINGS

NOTICE OF ABANDONED VEHICLE 1999 GREAT DANE TRAILER VIN: 1GRAA0627XS008515 The above automobile was initially removed and presently stored at 4757 Buford Hwy, Norcross, Ga 30071, in possession of Tran’s Auto Repair. Attempt to locate the owner(s) of this vehicle’s have been unsuccessful. The vehicle is deemed abandoned under O.C.G.A.40-11-2 and will be disposed of if not redeemed. This notice is given pursuant to Georgia law.

928-297021, 11/27/12/4

MCCULLOUGH TOWING 4431 BUFORD HWY NORCROSS, GA 30071 770-263-8483 11/17/15 NOTICE OF ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE The following vehicle, advertised to O.C.G.A.Code Section 40-11-12, is being stored at 4431 Buford Hwy, Norcross, Ga. 30071. 770263-8483.

This vehicle is being deemed abandoned and will be auctioned or disposed of if not claimed by the legal owner and or lien holder.

The Vehicle was impounded from 500 Pleasanthill Rd Lilburn, Ga on 11/6/15, at the request of the property owner or manager.

2006 Chevrolet Impala VIN# 2G1WT58K969215033 No Tag 928-295854, 11/20,27

MCCULLOUGH TOWING 4431 BUFORD HWY NORCROSS, GA 30071 770-263-8483 11/17/15 NOTICE OF ABANDONED MOTOR VEHICLE The following vehicle, advertised to O.C.G.A.Code Section 40-11-12, is being stored at 4431 Buford Hwy, Norcross, Ga. 30071. 770263-8483.

This vehicle is being deemed abandoned and will be auctioned or disposed of if not claimed by the legal owner and or lien holder.

The Vehicle was impounded from 1355 Indian Trail Rd. Lilburn, Ga on 10/6/15, at the request of the property owner or manager.

2006 Chrysler 300C SRT-8 VIN# 2C3LA73W368377658 No Tag 928-295856, 11/20,27

PUBLIC MEETING CITY OF DULUTH, GEORGIA Tax Allocation District Advisory Committee Notice is hereby given to the public that the City of Duluth, Georgia Tax Allocation District Advisory Committee (TADAC) will be holding a public meeting to consider a Tax Allocation District Project Application. Said application, submitted by the Residential Group, is for the Proctor Square Redevelopment Project (aka Duluth Village) located at the southeast intersection of Buford Highway and SR 120 and relates to eligible development costs associated with the project.

All interested parties are invited to attend this meeting before the Duluth Tax Allocation District Advisory Committee at Duluth City Hall, 3167 Main Street on December 14, 2015 at 10:00 am in the City Hall Community Room. The TAD Project Application is tentatively scheduled for consideration by the Duluth City Council on February 8, 2016, pending a favorable recommendation by the TADAC. Information about the application may be obtained from the City Manager’s Office, Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. or by calling 770-476-3434. Email information is available by contacting James Riker at jriker@duluthga.net Written comments may also be received in lieu of testimony during the public meeting.

******************* PLEASE NOTE: This and other city meetings may be audio and/or videotaped for broadcast, transcription and/or archival purposes. As set forth in the Americans with Disabilities act (ADA) of 1992, the City of Duluth government does not discriminate on the basis of disability in the admission or access to or treatment of employment in its programs or activities, and complies with the requirements contained in section 35.107 of the Department of Justice regulations. Any requests for reasonable accommodations required by individuals to fully participate in any open meeting, program, or activity of the City of Duluth government should be made seven days prior to the event.

Inquiries should be directed to the ADA Coordinator in the Planning Department, located at 3167 Main Street, Duluth, GA. 30096, telephone (770) 476-1790.

TAD#Notice 928-296951, 11/27

PUBLIC SALES/ AUCTIONS PUBLIC AUCTION There will be sold at public auction on Saturday Nov 28, 2015 at 11:00 am the following vehicles at Bossi Auto Sales LLC, 4598 Buford Hwy, Ste-B. Norcross, GA 30071, 2010 Ford Fusion, VIN: 3FAHP0JG5AR399621. PEDRO’S TIRE SHOP & MECHANIC. 570 W. SHADBURN AVE, BUFORD, GA 30518, 2005 CHEVROLET SILVERADO,

WILL BE AUCTIONED ON DECEMBER 2, 2015 AT 10 AM at 65 EAST CROGAN ST SUITE B LAWRENCEVILLE, GA 30045 --7252 929-295844, 11/20,27 NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OCGA 40-11-2, PEACH STATE FREIGHTLINER, WILL HOLD AN AUCTION FOR THE FOLLOWING VEHICLE(S).

ZONINGS the variance as requested, grant the proposed variance as supplemented by conditions of approval, deny the variance request or table the variance request. The Mayor and City Council may/will discuss the details of the variance request on Monday, December 7, 2015 at 7:00 pm. A public hearing on the proposed variance request will be held before the Mayor and City Council on Monday, December 14, 2015 at 7:30 pm. in the Sugar Hill City Hall, located at 5039 West Broad Street, Sugar Hill, Georgia. The case file may be viewed by any interested party at the Department of Planning and Development from Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

934-296570, 11/27

1995 FORD F700 1FDWF80C1SVA80718 WILL BE AUCTIONED ON DECEMBER 2, 2015 AT 10 AM at 6535 CRECENT DR NORCROSS, GA 30071 --7255 929-295844, 11/20,27 NOTICE OF PUBLIC AUCTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OCGA 40-11-2, RICH HENDRICK CHEVROLET, WILL HOLD AN AUCTION FOR THE FOLLOWING VEHICLE(S).

2006 CHEVROLET COLORADO IGCDS136468180532 WILL BE AUCTIONED ON DECEMBER 2, 2015 AT 10 AM at 3277 SATELLITE BLVD DULUTH GA 30096 --7254 929-295853, 11/20,27 PUBLIC AUCTION Notice is hereby given that on December 7, 2015 U-Haul Company of Atlanta North will be offering for sale under the contractual landlords lien process by public auction the following storage units. The goods to be sold are generally described as household goods. U-Haul reserves the right to refuse any and all bids. Payment will be made in cash only. The sale will begin at 8:30 AM at 1290 Pleasant Hill Rd. Lawrenceville, GA. and continue to each location. Location stops subject to change or cancel.

1290 Pleasant Hill Rd., Lawrenceville, GA.: Brenton Lee Persall 0204, Tyaya Hoover 0310, Natividad Custodio 0320, Patrice Adams 0527, Leogarfield Seldon Jr. 1009, William George 1019, Nallene Garvey 1046, Karie Martinez 1048, Taqwaha Qadir 1051, Danica Maull 1061, Joseph Middleton 1136, Darlene Mosley-Alston 1151-52, Latrina Gaines 1223, Gary Henderson 1235, Damoris Carter 1237, Terence Boyd 1302, Donna Allen 1515, Antoinett Ellington 1602-04, Kerlene Anglin 1610, Dantrelle Mcclure 1721/1731-35, Latisha Taylor 2070, Vanessa Lanier 208485, Jonathan Logan 2216, Kim Garrett 2242, Treshia Forsythe 2517 3804 Buford Dr., Buford, GA.: Mike Pittman 0011, Odon Kubanangidi 0142, Shaneka Walker 0180, Shatoya Pack 0252, Michael Ramey 0287, James Enix 0334, Lavann Williams 0352, Karina Marroquin 0363, Keith Hunter 0411, 929-294250, 11/20, 27 NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: The following self-storage Cube contents containing household and other goods will be sold for cash

by CubeSmart 3494 Gwinnett Place Dr. to satisfy a lien on December 7, 2015 at approx. 10:00am at HYPERLINK “http://www.storagetreasures.com” www. storagetreasures.com Name Cube # Name: Derick T Colbert 1119 Name: Yeon W Cheong 1138 Name: Trivera V Porter 2027 Name: Frank C Woods 2158 Name: James Cambridge III 3103 929-294273, 11/20, 27 NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: The following self-storage Cube contents containing household and other goods will be sold for cash by CubeSmart #714, 105 Old Peachtree Road NW, Suwanee, GA 30024, to satisfy a lien on December 7, 2015 at approx. 10:00AM at www. storagetreasures.com.

Name; Unit # Shane C. Ewing 328 John R. Slaughter a/k/a Rich Slaughter 411 & 733 Wanda Renetta Jones 516 Ken Ballard 174 929-294276, 11/20, 27

ZONINGS CITY OF SUGAR HILL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING VARIANCE REQUEST VAR-15-004 FILE REFERENCE: 15-01601 PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given to the general public that an application has been filed for a Variance for the property known at Tax Parcel ID: 7-233-031, 7-233-023, 7-233-024, 7-233-029 & 7-233-028, located at 3960, 3980, 4000, 4020 & 4040 Westbrook Road, Sugar Hill, Georgia.

The property is currently zoned Medium Density Single Family Residential District (RS-100) for a Single Family Subdivision. The applicant, Home South Communities is requesting variances to allow the construction of a retaining wall in the 20’ construction buffer for lots 49-52, and to allow a 5’ side setback reduction on lots constructed with a three car side entry garage.

The Mayor and City Council have authority to grant

SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY HIRING:

LPN’S, CAREGIVERS, COOKS The Waterford At Oakwood is hiring LPN’s (FT for weekends & PRN), Caregivers PT & FT (2nd & 3rd shift) and Cooks (PT & FT).

Just a 25 min drive from Lawrenceville and 35 min drive from Suwanee via I-85. Please apply at 4251 Hudson Drive, Oakwood, GA 30566 (770)-297-6900.

MECHANIC

FULL TIME

ASSISTANT CFO Northridge Medical Center Commerce, GA. The ACFO will provide support in all efforts to ensure the financial viability of the hospital by establishing and monitoring financial and budgeting affairs.

This position will be a part of the senior management team.

REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting or related field. Minimum of 3 years’ sufficient management experience required in the area of hospital revenue cycle.

WE OFFER Competitive salaries, PTO, 401(k), Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits!

Please send resume to:

jjones@northridgemc.org or

tkubasta@ northridgemc. org EOE/M/F/D/V Drug Free Workplace

Snapping Shoals EMC has a position available for a Mechanic. Requires HS Diploma or Equivalent, Associates’ Degree or Certification in Auto Tech.

Minimum 5 years of exp. + training or combination of education and exp. Must be able to obtain CDL license.

Prefer ASE certified.

Req. knowledge & exp in repair of light to medium weight cars, vans, heavy equip and class 1-8 trucks.

Must be familiar with OBD-2.

Comprehensive Benefits Package.

Application at www.ssemc.com Mail to: Snapping Shoals EMC, Attn: HR, PO Box 509, Covington, GA 30015 EOE MEDICAL

Willow Wood Nursing

APPLICATIONS FOR • Full time Admin Assistant needed.

Must have experience in payroll and accounts payable.

Good customer service and computer skills, filing, organizing and answering phones.

8:30-5:00 p.m.

Mon - Fri., some weekends.

• LPN and RN’s needed days and evening for charge nurse positions • C.N.A.’s needed days and evenings APPLY IN PERSON: 4595 Cantrell Rd. Flowery Branch Email Resumes to: OR CALL: 770-967-2070

LICENSED ATTORNEY Our Law Firm is seeking a Colombian Licensed Attorney that has prior police and criminal scientific investigation experience, as well as experience working with Federal Colombia’s Prosecutor’s Office.

Please send resume to Piccareto Law Firm, P.O. Box 2197, Duluth, GA 30096 Concrete Laborer.

Location: Duluth, GA. Duties: Assist supervisors and/or craft workers; perform tasks involving physical labor at construction site; may cut and bend rebar when necessary; clean forms after work is performed; and clean debris from construction site. Will require daily travel to work sites within close proximity of Atlanta, Georgia. Reqs: Must be able to climb, kneel, stoop, crouch, balance, squat and tolerate heights without fear due to nature of job typically outdoor with often uneven and/ or muddy ground; must have the ability to exert heavy physical effort, handling average weight objects up to 50 lbs; lift to chest height, carry 100-lb. concrete forms repeatedly throughout the work day. Will require daily travel to work sites within close proximity of Atlanta, Georgia. Wage: $13.38/hr. Please mail resume to Mr. Javier Jaurez, JJ Concrete Walls, LLC 3451 Forest Knoll Court, Duluth, GA 30097 HEALTHCARE

NOW HIRING If you are interested in working for an energetic team and a fast paced environment Rockdale Healthcare Center Is seeking applicants for

Recreational Therapist To coordinate recreational based treatment for our Residents Please email resume: agrace@rockdalehc. com or apply within @ 1510 Renaissance Drive NE Conyers, GA 30012

HOUSES FOR SALE

LOGANVILLE, GA 30052

CONYERS, GA 30094

Beautiful Land Lot 3604 SAND HILL DR. Imagine Your Dream Home Here & You Sitting In Your Sunroom Overlooking The 8Th Fairway Of Honey Creek Golf Course While Sipping Morning Coffee. .51 ACRE LOT $22,000 Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com

NEW LISTING! 106 HOLLY COURT ALL BRICK 3BR/2BA ON PARTIAL UNFINISHED BASEMENT $174,900 2 ADJACENT LOTS AVAILABLE @ $35,000 • EHO Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com LAKE/RIVER/COASTAL PROPERTY FOR SALE

COVINGTON, GA 30014

PENDING APPROVAL PEMCO HUD HOME CASE # 105-294214 210 BRAMBLE BUSH TRL WELL MAINTAINED 2 STORY 3BR/2.5BA ON .59 ACRE LOT. Spacious Yard For Entertaining Guest INSURED W/ESCROW $90,000 • EHO Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com

SOUTH CAROLINA, LAKE KEOWEE Waterfront Cottages Gated, Luxury Amenities! Lodge, Pool, Fitness Center, Boat Slips & more.

Other New & Resale Cottages From $130’s to $299’s!

1-888-663-1133 www.backwaterlanding. com Office Hours: Fri 8:30-4:00 Sat & Sun By Appointment Only COMMERCIAL PROPERTY FOR SALE

COVINGTON, GA 30014

DO YOUR SHARE

Software Test Engineers: QA control methodology/validations & perform manual/ automated/system testing of web client/server & data warehouse apps; Systems Analysts: Develop, document & revise system design proc., test proc., & quality standards; Software Developers: Design, develop & modify enterprise sftwr systems; Database Administrators: Test programs or databases, correct errors, & make modifications; IT Project Managers: Plan, direct, or coordinate IT activities for the entire project; Software Technical Assessment Specialists: Discuss IT implementation needs (analysis, design, development, testing, & customization/configuration) with IT Professionals & outside tech. sales professionals to ascertain tech. req’mts.

Travel/reloc. to various unanticipated client sites across USA req’d for all positions except Sftwr. Technical Assessment Specialists.

Min. req’mts apply to all positions. For complete job details, min. req’mts &/or to apply, mail resume to HR Mgr., InfoSmart Technologies, Inc., 5400 Laurel Springs Pkwy., Ste. 706, Suwanee, GA 30024.

STAFFING DIRECTORY NOW HIRING WAREHOUSE ORDER PULLERS $9/ph-1st, 7a-3:45p $9.70/ph-2nd, 4p-1a Monday-Friday Requirements: 1-Ability to work in fast pace environment.

2-Ability to stand for long period of time.

Apply online today at: www.unitedstaffing service.com

ROOMMATE WANTED /ROOM FOR RENT LAWRENCEVILLE Room for Rent $525 / mo. Sugarloaf Mills area. Near Gwinnett Transit. Quiet neighborhood. Ideal for student & others.

678-825-2656

VEHICLES

VEHICLES

FORD EDGE LIMITED, 2012 Ingot Silver, Stk#GGA42213A $16,000 800-PREOWNED

COMMERCIAL RENTALS

Gwinnett, Lawrenceville RECORDING STUDIO SPACE AVAILABLE Office/Warehouses 1200 up to 18000 sf Mike 404-375-5438.

ACURA TSX, 2011 Crystal Black Pearl, Stk#U40549B $14,993 770-680-1000

WANTED FOR RENT

FORD ESCAPE XLT, 2011 Steel Blue, Stk#G5207623A $14,000 800-PREOWNED

WANTED TO RENT Single Male, 68, clean, quiet, seeking a large room, rooms, or efficiency apartment with full bathroom that only I will be using and cleaning. Unrestricted kitchen privileges and laundry machine privileges are required. No drugs, drama, drunks. Call 470-248-5275 and listen carefully to my message. Gwinnett/South Hall or Jackson area.

If your old stuff is collecting dust, it could be collecting cash!

classifieds 770-962-SELL

NOW ACCEPTING

jmilner@sterling-health care.com

ATTORNEY

HOUSES FOR SALE

FULL TIME

BMW 328I, 2009 Monaco Blue, Stk#GN707705A $14,975 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

FORD EXPEDITION XLT, 2013 Oxford White, Stk#P7886A $24,000 800-PREOWNED BMW Z3 ROADSTER, 2000. 99K MILES • $6750. Fabulous and priced way under the market. Auto trans, silver w/ black convert top and leather. Super CarFax & beautiful.

Rare M Sports handling pkg. Comparable cars are selling for over $9000. Owned

by California collector and babied. Drive daily, very collectable and should appreciate in price while you’re having fun. 770-882-4605.

FORD FOCUS SE, 2012 Sterling Gray, Stk#FC334060A $10,987 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

CONYERS, GA 30094 LAKE WALTON ESTATES! 6219 WATERS EDGE DRIVE All Brick, Executive Home In One Of Walton County’s Exclusive, Gated Communities Sits Across From Neighborhood Amenities On 2.18 Acres FULL FINISHED BASEMENT 4BR/4.5BA $579,900 • EHO Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com COVINGTON, GA 30016

NEW LISTING! PEMCO HUD HOME #105-423154 60 SUNFLOWER LN. Nice Brick Front 2 Story w/ 2 Story Entry Foyer. 1st Level Features Formal Living & Dining Room, 1/2 Bath, Family Room w/ Corner Fireplace, Kitchen w/ Breakfast Area 5BR/3.5BA $150,000 Insured W/ Escrow EHO Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com COVINGTON, GA 30016

NEW LISTING PEMCO HUD HOME#105-423154 90 FAIRVIEW CHASE Fantastic Find In This Well - Appointed Split Foyer W/Hardwood Floors Family Room, & Formal Dining.

4BR/3BA $125,000 Insured w/Escrow EHO Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com EATONTON, GA 31024

BACK ON MARKET! COMMERCIAL LISTING! REDUCED! 2302 S.E. EBENEZER RD Great Commercial Property In High Traffic Area Of Rockdale County At The Corner Of Ga Hwy 138 & Ebenezer Rd With Double Road Frontage $1,100,000 • EHO Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com CEMETERY LOTS FOR SALE CONYERS - Two adjacent mausoleum crypts at Green Meadows Memorial Gardens located at 677 Legion Road in Conyers, GA. These are located in the Interior Chapel A, Level B, Grave Sites B3, B4.

This price is below current price. $9000.

770-317-4776 REAL ESTATE FOR RENT

HOUSES FOR RENT

BARROW, HAMILTON MILL EXIT. 3BR/2BA, 2 car gar., DR, kitchen, deck, full bsmt.

1 ac. Built in 2000, exc. cond. $945/mo.

770-377-3703

LILBURN - Nice 4BR, LR, DR, sunken den w/ fplc., garage, computer room, fenced. Pool/Tennis n’hood. Reference. $1175. Available 11/25.

770-925-2127

DRYER/WASHER $125 ea.; Super Capacity $175 ea.

Front Loader Set $450 & up; Regular Refrig. & Ranges $175 & up; SXS Refrig. $300 & up.

Dishwasher $100 & up. Different colors.

Del/1 yr warr.

Tim 404-205-2222 FIREWOOD ALL OAK FIREWOOD FOR SALE $120 “Heaping Truckload”, Stacked, Gwinnett Area.

404-805-1783

FIREWOOD Select, Seasoned Hickory & Oak, $180/Cord or $120/Half Cord.

Delivered. MORE FOR YOUR MONEY! Gary, 404-772-1268

FORD FOCUS SE, 2014 Tuxedo Black, Stk#P7933 $11,000 800-PREOWNED CADILLAC DEVILLE, 2004. Purchased new.

Black with black leather interior, high mileage but well maintained.

New transmission 4 years ago. No dents or scratches. Seals recently replaced but without a warranty. New starter installed in Nov. $3600. 404-906-8938 FORD FOCUS, 2013 Sterling Grey Metallic, Stk#540663A $11,400 877-698-5030

CHEVROLET CRUZE, 2013 Champagne Silver Metallic, Stk#640087A $11,800 877-698-5030

FORD FUSION SE, 2011 Bordeaux Reserv, Stk#P7835A $11,000 800-PREOWNED

FURNITURE/ HOUSEHOLD GOODS WASHER/DRYER, Stacked, Frigidaire, 76”HX28”WX27”D, exc. cond., $550.

32” Flat Screen Vizio TV, exc. cond., $150.

Funai DVD Player, $15. Delomghi Space Heater, programmable, 25”X13”X7”, $35.

La-Z-Boy Dual Recliner Couch, electric, beige/ lt. brown, used 1 yr., 87”X41”X35”, $210.

Buyer respon. for transporting. Cash/ money order only.

Law’ville. 520-247-7149

DAIMLER DODGE RAM 1500, 2012 Flame Red, Stk#FFC18920A $24,000 800-PREOWNED

FORD EXPEDITION, 1998. Red, 257k mi., does not run, needs repair. Call for details. Call Stacy 678-768-8420

FORD MUSTANG, Performance WHI, Stk#G5111788A. $17,000 800-PREOWNED

APTS/DUP/CONDOS/ T’HOMES FOR RENT

GWINNETT DUPLEXES

2 Communities!

One on Singleton Rd. & One on Law’villeSuwanee Rd.! 2BR & 3BR, 2BA, Fireplace, vaulted ceilings, off street parking.

Starting @ $900/mo.

B.C. PROPERTIES 770-446-1550 770-995-8828 MOBILE HOMES & LOTS FOR RENT BARROW-AUBURN

LAKE SINCLAIR! $50K REDUCTION! 176 Twisting Hill Rd. Beautiful Lake Front Property On Deeded Lot! Inground Salt Water Pool, Detached 2 Car Carport, Front/ Back & Side Porches!

FULL FINISHED BASEMENT 4BR/4BA $649,000 • EHO Peters Realty Professionals 770-466-2885 www.petersrealtyprofessionals.com

APPLIANCES

1-2-3 BEDROOMS In Mobile Home Community. Rent starting at $100/week.

Large Lots.

770-513-3151 ROOMMATE WANTED /ROOM FOR RENT GWINNETT, LAWRENCEVILLE ROOMMATE needed to share 2BR/2BA apt. Furn.

Nice & clean.

Util. incl. $575/mo.

305-510-3499

Web Press Operator Gwi Gw wiin nne ett et tt Dai aiiily ly y Post Po osst has ha h as a ful fu ullll-ttiime me 2n 2nd Sh hiift ft posi sit iti tio ion on fo for raq qua ual alliifie fie ed ind in ndi div ivi viid idu du ual. al Mu ust st h hav av ve at least ve le ea e ast st 5 years ye ear ars rs w web eb pr pre re ess ss exp ex xp per erie eri rien enc nce nce e. P Po osi siiti sit tio ti ion on wiillll be re esp pon onsi siibl ble e fo for r mai ma aiint nte ten en nan anc nc c an ce and nd pr pre esss op per era rat ati tio ion n in a fa ast st pac ace ced ed env en nvi viir ro on nme n men ent ntt.

Hour urs rss ar are re: Tuesday-S ue esday y-S Sat atu turd ur rd day ay 5pm to o 3am.

gwinnettdailypost.com

SERVICES

FLOORING

CLEANING

HARDWOOD FLOORS

FREE REMOVAL

The Doctor Is In

HOME REPAIR/ REMODELING

BY M.D. NANNI

FOREST REMODELING, INC.

• Oak • Maple • Cherry • Walnut New Homes Repairs Refinishing Renovations

SERVICE We pick up any of the following items: All scrap metal such as all appliances, air conditioners, lawn mowers, metal windows & doors, garage doors, motorcycles, house & barn tin, gutters & awnings, metal signs, junk cars, old batteries, etc.

•Finished Basements •Bathroom Remodeling •Kitchen Remodeling •Custom Cabinets •Room Additions •Garages/Carports •Screened Porches •Custom Decks •Siding All Types

SPECIALTY WORK

• Borders • Stairways • Medallions Free Estimates Insured/Certified Michael Nanni

*No TVs or computer monitors.

WISE MASONRY & CONSTRUCTION, INC. Brick, Block, Stone Carpentry, Roofing, Fireplace, Room Additions, Vinyl Siding Decks, Steps, Mailboxes, Pressure Washing, Painting Insurance Repairs All Types Of Home Repairs

404-719-9753

Call John

770-867-9670

sdlovern@yahoo.com

HOME REPAIR/ REMODELING

770-962-2071

Call 770-601-8495 404-545-3299

HANDYMAN SOLUTIONS

BY HERNANDO

Leave message if no answer.

LANDSCAPING/ LAWN CARE

Expert Take Downs √ 20Years Experience √ Insured √ Free Estimates √ Stump Grinding

Summer Seasoned

Oak 1/2 Cord - $100 1 Cord - $190

Delivered & Dumped LICENSED

678-482-1702

hcorrales17@gmail.com

770-932-1751 Cell 770-313-5751

Call for a Free Estimate

All Major Credit Cards Accepted

VEHICLES

We offer 24 hour Emergency Service •Licensed & Insured •All Tree Service Needs •Landscaping •Fencing •Land Clearing

LANDSCAPING/ LAWN CARE

POWER WASHING

PERSONAL SERVICES

SERENITY LAWN CARE

PRESSURE WASHING

CHILDCARE PROVIDED

• Any Lawn Work!

If it’s in your yard, we do it!

Landscape Design using any material Trimming & debris Clean Up • Pressure Washing

HOUSES STARTING AT $89 • Roof Cleaning • Black streaks removed from roof • Mold & Mildew removed from homes • Drives-WalkwaysPatios-Decks cleaned/sealed • Gutters cleaned

Call 706-525-1881 or 904-874-1809

***CALL TODAY!*** For a Free Estimate

For a FREE Estimate

CALL OR TEXT

404.886.3587

770-905-2072

www.mandgtreeservice.com

Established 1989

Go Into The Holidays & New Year Knowing That Your Childcare Worries Are Solved Seasoned Christian Childcare Provider is seeking the right situation to provide excellent care for your child or children in my home or possibly yours. Offering a loving, safe, clean and structured environment.

Willing to teach reading, math, etc. Most of all character training from a Biblical prospective.

If interested contact Mary Beth, Hoschton, Ga., 770-940-1605

MIKE’S TREE SERVICE Experienced Tree Work 20+ Years All Phases of Tree Work

-

Please Recycle This Newspaper

Tree Removal Prunning Stump Grinding Wood Chipper

References Available

Free Estimate!

Made in USA

If your old stuff is collecting dust, it could be collecting cash!

classifieds

770-714-8250 770-271-7127

404-670-3087

293989-1

LANDSCAPING/ LAWN CARE

COUNTRY BOY TREE REMOVAL

Bucket Truck

All Home Remodeling Projects & General Repairs Including: HVAC troubleshooting & more!

Over 25 years of exp. in all home repairs & improvements. *Licensed & Insured*

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 • B7

770-962-SELL

VEHICLES

VEHICLES

VEHICLES

VEHICLES

VEHICLES

VEHICLES

VEHICLES

VEHICLES

HONDA CIVIC SEDAN, 2014 Taffeta White, Stk#8358 $14,000 877-698-5030

KIA SOUL WAGON, 2011 Molten, Stk#5X0004A $9,500 877-698-5030

LEXUS ES 350, 2011 Obsidian, Stk#U40502 $24,990 770-680-1000

LEXUS IS 250, 2015 Atomic Silver, Stk#G150285L, $33,993 770-680-1000

LEXUS RX 350, 2014 Claret Mica, Stk#U40569 $34,993 770-680-1000

MAZDA MAZDA5, 2012 Metropolitan Gray, Stk#D570399B $11.500 877-698-5030

MERCEDES-BENZ 450SL, 1977.

DRIVEN 2,500 MILES PER YEAR. WOW, FABULOUS. Red with tan leather interior.

Two tops. Owned and cherished by university pres. Extensive records. Looks super and drives great. NADA and Hagerty value $17,00036,000. Appreciating, spectacular and super bargain at only $9,900.

Call 770-895-7161

NISSAN SENTRA, 2012 Super Black, Stk#P5099 $10,982 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

FORD TAURUS SE, 1999. Elderly owner, leather bucket seats, auto. roof. Perfect, extra clean! $1995 Firm.

770-616-7399

FORD TAURUS, 2012 Tuxedo Black, Stk#P7904 $14,500 800-PREOWNED

HYUNDAI ELANTRA GLS, 2013 Desert Bronze, Stk#P5117A $10,988 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

GMC SUBURBAN, 1997, 4-WHD, leather, 3rd seat, clean, almost new tires, 270,386 road mileage, very clean, great orig paint, tow pkg, very comfortable ride, 3rd seat incl, 17 mpg hwy. 2 owners.

Low mileage on 4 Michelins. $3500 CASH. 770-736-2643

LEXUS ES300H, 2013 Nebula Gray Pearl, Stk#U40588 $29,993 770-680-1000

MAZDA 3, 2006 5 door. Automatic. Well maintained, premium tires, alarm. Great stereo w/CD player, front airbags, exc. mileage. $6995. 404-667-6768 LEXUS RX 330, 2005 Bamboo Pearl, Stk#G152316A $12,990 770-680-1000

PROTECT OUR PLANET

LEXUS CT 200H, 2011 Obsidian, Stk#G152331A $15,490 770-680-1000

MAZDA MAZDA 3, Meteor Gray, Stk#P7791B $16,000 800-PREOWNED HONDA CIVIC COUPE, 2012 Polished Metal Metallic, Stk#510043A $13,000 877-698-5030

INFINITI M35, 2008 Platinum Graphite, Stk#P5066A $14,996 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

LEXUS CT 200H, 2013 Matador Red Mica, Stk#U40659 $22,590 770-680-1000

LEXUS GS 350, 2013 Liquid Platinum, Stk#U40604 $38,990 770-680-1000

400

Boggs Rd Follow the signs to Boggs Road.

Boggs Rd

Hwy 316

CUMMING

4

PEA CH IND TREE BLV D

1

WINDER

Call: 770.882.9382

A RU VER IN R D

Thanksgiving Day

HEWATT RD

SNELLVILLE

Gwinnett Daily Post

LOGANVILLE

IAL

OR

M ME

20

20

CONYERS

HAYES LAWRENCEVILLE CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP

JIM ELLIS BUICK GMC MALL OF GA 3600 Buford Drive, Buford, GA 770-945-8700 www.jimellisbuickgmcmog.com

4

RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET OF BUFORD 4490 South Lee St., Buford, GA 30518 888-804-2957 www.hendrickbuford.com

5

NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5S, 2005. 124K MILES. Excellent drive anywhere car. Beautiful white with gray interior, great Car Fax. Exceptional and only $4950.

Call 770-895-7161

Publications Date

Ad Placement Deadline

Wed., Nov. 25th

Tues., Nov. 24th at 3pm

Thurs., Nov. 26th

Wed., Nov. 25th at 1pm

Fri., Nov. 27th

Wed., Nov. 25th at 1pm

Sun., Nov. 29th

Wed., Nov. 25th at 3pm

NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5SL, 2003. 134 K MILES. $4450. Black and beautiful with like new tan leather and great CarFax. High quality car loaded with options. Priced way under the market.

770-882-4605

NISSAN ALTIMA, 2011 Stk#570361B $11,500 877-698-5030 TOYOTA RAV4, 2011 Classic Silver, Stk#FP571566A $13,963 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

Happy Thanksgiving

RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET OF DULUTH

Gwinnett Daily Post

3277 Satellite Blvd., Duluth, GA 30096 888-475-8808 www.hendrickatlanta.com

NASH CHEVROLET 630 Scenic Hwy., Lawrenceville 770-963-9266 www.nashchevy.com 280565-1

3

NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5, 2010 Tuscan Sun, Stk#FC219299A $9,992 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

2015 Deadlines

LILBURN

719 Pike St, Lawrenceville 770-963-5251 www.hayeschrysler.com

2

TOYOTA HIGHLANDER, 2010 Sandy Beach, Stk#FC652679A $15,988 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

LAWRENCEVILLE

This map is not to scale and is for illustration purposes only.

1

NISSAN ALTIMA 2.5, 2013 Metallic Slate, Stk#GC398809A $12,994 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

TOYOTA COROLLA LE, 2014 Super White, Stk#P5073 $11,998 866-697-9241 Gwinnett Place

291634-1

3

BE

N'LAKE MALL

DECATUR

Wednesday Wednesdaay through througgh Sunday Sundaay or Sunday Sundaay only! o Gwinnett Gwinnett & Surrounding Surrounding Areas!

Areas!

r.

GWINNETT PLACE MALL

Be Your Your Own Boss!!!

Boss

MALL OF GA

BUFORD 2 D Buford

DULUTH 5

TUCKER

MALL OF GA

r.

Buford D

NORTHPOINT MALL

400 PERIMETER MALL

NISSAN 300ZX, 1984.

One owner, driven 4,700 miles per year.

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weekend entertainment FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2015

Annual production celebrates two decades of performances

10 spot

page 4C

the

10 GREAT CHRISTMAS SONGS

Christmas has inspired a variety of festive anthems — some are timeless and touching and other are hokey and silly. Even though they’ve been played a million times, it’s hard not to look forward to hearing the yuletide tunes each year. There are plenty of great Christmas songs but here is a list of 10 to get your playlist started:

holiday events calendar page 5C

1. “White Christmas” — Bing Crosby 2. “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” — Bing Crosby 3. “Blue Christmas” — Elvis Presley 4. “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” — Judy Garland 5. “Marshmallow World” — Dean Martin 6. “Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth” — Bing Crosby and David Bowie 7. “Please Come Home For Christmas” — Charles Brown 8. “Christmas Wrapping” — The Waitresses 9. “What Christmas Means to Me” — Stevie Wonder 10. “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Wanna Fight Tonight)” — the Ramones

UPCOMING FUN: Suwanee’s Jolly Holly-day Friday, December 4 • 6:30 pm • Town Center Park • suwanee.com

287954-4

a look ahead

Friday, Dec. 4 • “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” — “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” will be presented Dec. 3-20 at the Sylvia Beard Theatre located at the Buford Community Center.

Saturday, Dec. 5 • “Twas the Night Before Christmas” — The Piccadilly Puppets will present “Twas the Night Before Christmas” at 10 and 11:30 a.m. as part of Aurora Children’s Playhouse at Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville.

• Barry Waldrep’s Southern Rock/Bluegrass Jingle Jam — Barry Waldrep will present a Southern rock, bluegrass Jingle Jam concert at Red Clay Music Foundry in Duluth.

• Holiday Open House — Tannery Row Artist Colony in Buford is hosting a Holiday Open House on Dec. 5 and 6.

Sunday, Dec. 6 • “The Nutcracker” — Gwinnett Ballet Theatre will present “The Nutcracker” Dec. 4-20 at the Infinite Energy Theater in Duluth.

2C • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

gwinnettdailypost.com

dining

dish the

Sage Juice Bar and Cafe 3255 Pleasant Hill Road, Suite B, Duluth 770-232-4844 www.rawblisslife.com

Sage Juice Bar and Cafe in Duluth offers customers a variety of vitamin-rich, cold-pressed juices and smoothies, including the Lean Green made with spinach, apple, kale, kiwi, banana and flax seeds.

(Staff Photos: Katie Morris)

By Katie Morris katie.morris@gwinnettdailypost.com

Open Since: May 2014 Owners: Charlene Crumbly and Carolyn Butler of Lawrenceville Location: Sage Juice Bar and Cafe shares a building with the Citgo gas station at the intersetion of Pleasant Hill Road and Summit Ridge Parkway.

Hours: The cafe is open Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed Sunday.

Atmosphere: Sage Juice Bar and Cafe offers a cozy, neighborhood cafe atmosphere where folks can enjoy lunch with friends, grab a nutrient-rich juice to go or sit and sip a smoothie while working on their laptop.

The intimate eatery offers tables and chairs, a comfy loveseat and a high-top with stools for seating, as well as free WiFi. There’s lots of natural light brightening the homey cafe. The menu is handwritten on a large chalkboard painted on a wall behind the back counter, but patrons can also cruise through paper menus that are offered by the register.

The cafe is truly a family effort — it’s owned and operated by mother-daughter duo Charlene Crumbly and Carolyn Butler, who are former long-time Duluth residents who now reside in Lawrenceville.

Menu: Sage Juice Bar and Cafe specializes in cold-pressed juices and smoothies that are made with fresh fruits and vegetables. Each beverage is made with a cold press juicer that extracts the juice by first crushing and then pressing fruits and vegetables, so there’s no heat.

ON THE MENU

Sage Juice Bar and Cafe in Duluth is owned and operated by motherdaughter duo Charlene Crumbly, right, and Carolyn Butler, former long-time Duluth residents who now reside in Lawrenceville.

• Beet Bliss Smoothie — Coldpressed juice smoothie made with fresh beet, banana, kiwi, flax seed and apples. $6.25 for 16 oz., $7.25 for 20 oz., $6.50 for 16 oz. bottle • Lean Green Smoothie — Coldpressed juice smoothie made with fresh spinach, apple, kale, kiwi, banana and flax seed. $6.25 for 16 oz., $7.25 for 20 oz., $6.50 for 16 oz. bottle • Almond Milk Joy — Smoothie made with almond milk, agave nectar, medjool dates and vanilla. $6.25 for 16 oz., $7.25 for 20 oz., $6.50 for 16 oz. bottle • Black Bean Burger — Spicy black bean burger with cheddar on a wheat bakery bun with lettuce, tomato, red onion and house sauce served with kettle cooked chips. $6.99 • Breakfast Turkey Croissant — Hickory-smoked deli turkey and cheddar cheese served warmed on a croissant bun. $3.79 • House Salad — Mixed greens, carrots, tomatoes, black olives, cheddar and cucumber. $7.99 - Add turkey, salmon or black bean patty for $2.00

the Lean Green made with spinach, apple, kale, kiwi, banana and flax seeds. Other beverages include alkaline antioxidant water and caffeine-free Bio Coffee, which is alkaline coffee with wheatgrass.

Sage also offers a three-day juice cleanse that includes 18 bottles of coldpressed juices. Customers are given a According to Crumbly, the juices’ nutri- variety of juices and drink six bottles a ents and enzymes stay intact longer when day. Crumbly said the cleanse isn’t a diet made with a cold press juicer — as opbut a “lifestyle addition” meant to help posed to a centrifugal juicer — so the juice jumpstart a health regime, detox, increase can be stored in the refrigerator for a few energy and leave your body truly nourdays. All of Sage’s juices and smoothies ished. She also said cleansing with a friend are made with fresh, never frozen, fruits is a good way to stay focused and motiand vegetables, Crumbly said. vated, which is why Sage offers cleansing Sage offers several nutrient-rich comwith a buddy deals and specials. binations such as the Easy Green juice In addition to the variety of juices, Sage with kale, spinach, apple and lemon or offers sandwiches such as the Black Bean the Sweet Beet juice with beet, pineapple Burger Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon and apple. They also offer smoothies like Burger and Warm Turkey Sub. They alsof-

GWINNETT TASTES A selection of local eateries recently featured in the Gwinnett Daily Post:

3780 Old Norcross Road, Suite 106, Duluth, 770-4958828

2205 Pleasant Hill Road, Suite 130, Duluth, 678-4739399, www.thejuicycrab.com

cheese.

1095 Old Peachtree Road in Suwanee, 678-804-4580, www.tazikiscafe.com

New Saigon Vietnamese Bistro New Saigon provides patrons with a casual dining atmosphere that’s suitable for a variety of occasions from grabbing a bite to eat with friends to enjoying a family dinner. New Saigon specializes in traditional Vietnamese cuisine offering customers a menu with a variety of dishes such as Pho, Rice Vermicelli and more.

The Juicy Crab The Juicy Crab offers patrons a casual dining experience where they are encouraged to roll up their sleeves and get messy while enjoying one of the many seafood boils on the menu. The Juicy Crab specializes in a variety of seafood boils that are flavored with special, homemade seasonings. There are king and snow crab legs, shrimp, crawfish, clams, mussels and lobster.

Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe Taziki’s offers patrons a cross between fast-casual and casual dining concepts. The cafe has an open, spacious dining area with high ceilings and numerous windows allowing in plenty of natural light.

Taziki’s offers a menu with classic Mediterranean dishes — such as hummus, Greek salad and dolmades — along with a few Southern favorites like chicken salad and pimento

Chinese Dhaba Chinese Dhaba has a quick, casual concept where customers order at a counter in the rear of the dining area, choose a seat and then the food is brought to the table.

Chinese Dhaba specializes in authentic Indian-Chinese cuisine, which is based off of a popular concept often offered by street vendors in India.

3083 Breckinridge Boulevard, Suite 130, Duluth, 678682-8599, www.chinesed-

fer House and Kale salads; Friday and Saturday are “cheat days,” so customers can find a Fried Tilapia Sandwich with two pieces of tilapia fried in peanut oil and served on a croissant bun with lettuce, tomato and mayo.

Something you might not know: Crumbly said she’s always been passionate about health and wellness, and she was raised in a healthy household, where Butler kept with the family tradition of keeping whole, healthy foods in the kitchen.

Crumbly said it’s been a dream of her mother’s to own a restaurant, so they decided to marry the two ideas and open Sage Juice Bar and Cafe.

“It’s been interesting and very rewarding at the same time because we get to spend a lot of quality time together,” Crumbly said. “I’ve loved every minute of this ride.”

haba.com ArtBar at Sonesta Gwinnett Place ArtBar has a casual yet chic dining atmosphere that’s perfect for guests looking to unwind with a drink or share an intimate, up-scale meal with friends, family or colleagues. ArtBar is a gastropub featuring up-scale cuisine with a Southern flare with a seasonal and year-round menu, as well as an extensive beverage menu with cocktails, craft beers, whiskeys and bourbons.

1775 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth, 770-923-1775, ext.

3899, www.sonesta.com/ gwinnettplace Papa Jack’s Country Kitchen Papa Jack’s is a cafeteriastyle restaurant where diners walk down the line and choose items to create their meal as a staff member fixes their plate. Papa Jack’s specializes in Southern comfort foods offering lunch and dinner menus, featuring meat and two veggies platters, and a breakfast menu.

7437 Spout Springs Road, Suite B, Flowery Branch, 770965-7007, www.papajackscountrykitchen.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 • 3C

gwinnettdailypost.com

Suwanee Performing Arts hosting annual Christmas festival The Festival of Gingerbread sounds like a delicious way to launch the holiday season. Suwanee Performing Arts will be throwing this huge party with lots of performances, a gingerbread house decorating contest, edible goodies, crafts and more.

The celebration, held Saturday, Dec. 5, at Lanier High School, is all for seasonal fun, plus proceeds go to CURE Childhood Cancer.

“This year’s Gingerbread contest theme is ‘Christmas Present,’ and we are upping the ante with participation from the entire community,” said Berneta Bock-Davis, artistic director of Suwanee Academy of the Arts. “But the real Christmas spirit is this year’s focus and partnership with CURE Childhood Cancer, an Atlanta 501(c)(3) dedicated to conquering childhood cancer through funding targeted research and through support of patients and their families.”

Activities include two free performances featuring the Suwanee Youth Ballet, Sounds of Suwanee — which is an all girl a cappella jazz group performing Christmas songs — and a bit of mischief compliments of The Actor’s Company elves, who will be “all over the place.”

Shows are at 11 a.m. and again at 2:15 p.m.

There is also the traditional children’s Nutcracker Tea at 1 p.m. which is perfect for children ages 3 to 7.

Tickets for the tea are $25 per child and $10 per chaperone or parent and may be purchased online at www.

Art Beat

Suwanee Performing Arts will host its Festival of Gingerbread on Saturday, Dec. 5, with performances, a gingerbread house decorating contest, edible goodies, crafts and more.

(Special Photo)

Holley Calmes suwaneeperforms.com.

The Nutcracker Tea is “Miss Bernie’s” gift to young children. Bernetta Bock-Davis, co-owner and ballet director of Suwanee Academy of the Arts, delivers the story of “The Nutcracker” from start to finish, playing all the characters — Clara, Mom, Drosselmeyer, Fritz and more — while interacting with ballerinas who dance excerpts from the famous ballet.

Young audience members also interact with Miss Bernie and the dancers and even have the chance to leave their tea tables to share the stage in a battle scene with the wicked Mouse King.

“I tell the story so the kids understand it,” BockDavis said. “I explain some of the French terminology and some of the dances for little ones learning the story of ‘The Nutcracker.’”

Youngsters and their dolls are served lemonade and cookies by the corp de ballet before the beautiful ballerinas return to the stage to perform the traditional Snow scene.

The Gingerbread House contest is another favorite part of the day.

“What makes the Gingerbread House contest so

special is the imagination For more information Holley Calmes is a cializing in the arts. Email and creativity that varivisit www.SuwaneePerfreelance writer and public her at hcalmes@mindous people bring to their formingArts.org. relations consultant spespring.com. houses,” Etherton said.

“We’ve had houses with electricity, recorded music playing from inside, log cabins made from lots of pretzels and, perhaps my favorite, the use of candy ® from our youngest house makers.”

Entries will be accepted until midnight on Dec. 3.

The people’s award usually goes to the house that is over-the-top-can’t-believeits-made-out-of-food extravagant.

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4C • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

gwinnettdailypost.com

Christmas Canteen celebrates two decades of performances

By Katie Morris

katie.morris @gwinnettdailypost.com

When audiences come to Aurora Theatre’s Christmas Canteen, they can count on having a one-of-a-kind experience. Even if they’ve annually attended the festive holiday revue for the Actors, from left to right, Jen MacQueen, Lyndsay Ricketson Brown and Benjamin past 20 years.

According to veteran Sims in Aurora Theatre in Lawrenceville’s 20th anniversary Christmas Canteen. (Speperformer Brandon O’ cial Photo: Chris Bartelski) Dell, the variety is one of the things that brings him back for Christmas Canteen each year.

“I’m an actor because I like variety. I like to do things different,” he said.

“There are some people who see Canteen once and they say, ‘Well, I’m not going to come back again because I’ve already seen it,’ but that’s not possible because it’s different every year. I think that’s great.

That people who do come every year, they’re still surprised.”

Christmas Canteen, which is believed to be Gwinnett’s longest running theatrical, holiday tradition, will be no different this year.

The 20th anniversary show — directed by Aurora’s Producing Artistic Director, Anthony Rodriguez — pays tribute to two decades of Christmas Canteen and Aurora Theatre. This summer, O’Dell said Aurora reached out to the community to help craft this year’s lineup.

“We sifted through those e-mails and picked some of everyone’s favorite (Christmas Canteen) moments, so we’re going to revisit those,” O’Dell said. “As far as musicals go, we added a section this year that’s never been in Canteen before where we picked showstoppers from all of Aurora’s musicals over the past 20 years.”

This medley of fan DONATE TODAY TO THOSE IN NEED favorites will include segDrop off your food donation until 12/3 at ments from “Singing in the Rain,” “Mary Poppins,” “Memphis,” “A Chorus Line,” “Les Misérables” and more. Joining O’Dell on stage are veteran actors MacQueen, Travis 1000 University Center Ln. Jen 3699 Buford Drive Smith, Brian Walker, Diany Lawrenceville Buford Rodriguez and Lyndsay Ricketson Brown, with Gwinnett Daily Post offices - 725 Old Norcross Road, Lawrenceville choreography by MacQueen.

Musical direction is led

by Ann-Carol Pence and the canteen band comprised of Mark Biering on percus-

Actor Travis Smith, front, and, from left to right, Brandon O’Dell, Brian Walker and Benjamin Sims in Aurora Theatre’s 20th anniversary Christmas Canteen. (Special Photo: Chris Bartelski)

IF YOU GO • What: Christmas Canteen 2015 • Where: Aurora Theatre, 128 E. Pike St. in Lawrenceville • When: Through Dec. 20; Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

• Tickets: $30 to $50 • More Info: www.auroratheatre.com

FESTIVAL OF TREES Aurora Theatre is hosting its annual Festival of Trees in support of the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots drive and Gwinnett’s local food banks. More than 25 trees decorated by local businesses will illuminate the theater this holiday season.

All guests are encouraged to cast a vote for their favorite tree by placing a new, unwrapped toy and a non-perishable food item underneath it. All of the gifts will be donated to the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots and the food items will go toward the Holtkamp Can Challenge to be delivered to local food banks.

sion, Greg Armijo on bass and Jim Stallings on guitar.

Members of Aurora’s 2016 Apprentice Company will be featured on stage with T’Arica Crawford and Benjamin Sims, as well as in the band with Skyler Brown on guitar.

In addition to performing, O’Dell has penned the show for the last several years, and said each year he begins by asking: what will make the show fun and what’s something rarely seen in theater?

“Then I’ll pitch that to the gang, and they’ll either say yes or no, but a lot of times they say yes, so I get to do some crazy things I wouldn’t get to do anywhere else,” O’Dell said.

For example, folks who attended last year’s Canteen may remember the section that paid homage to the 80s. You know, the one where O’Dell played the keytar — a best-of-bothworlds musical instrument that’s a guitar and a keyboard.

“I thought that was pretty generous of them,” O’Dell said. “It’s not typically what you think of

when you think, ‘Oh, I’m going to a Christmas show.’

You don’t think there’s going to be an ’80s section, so they go out on a limb for me sometimes.”

In addition to being fun — and something rarely seen in a live Christmas show — O’Dell felt the ’80s throwback section would resonate with the multiple generations who attend Canteen.

“When we’re picking the different sections of the show, I try to think of ways we can hit every target,” he said. “That’s what I’m aiming for, just trying to find things that will appeal to multiple ranges of people, and mostly just be funny and fun.”

Aurora Theatre’s Christmas Canteen 2015 is recommended for all ages and will run through Dec. 20. On Saturday, Dec. 19, Aurora will offer an Autism and Sensory-Friendly Performance at 2:30 p.m., designed for families with children on the autism spectrum or those with sensory issues. For more information, visit www. auroratheatre.com.

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 • 5C

HOLIDAY EVENTS CALENDAR Nov. 27

Loganville will host its tree lighting at 6 p.m. on the Town Green located at 235 Main Street. Guests are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs as seating is very limited. For more information, visit loganvilleevents.com.

Nov. 28

The Simon Kidgits Club will host a Cookies with Santa event from 2 to 4 p.m. at Sugarloaf Mills.

Families are invited to share cookies with Santa in the mall’s food court. Simon Kidgits Club members receive free admission while admission for nonmembers is $5. Sugarloaf Mills is located at 5900 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville.

For more information, visit simon.com.

Nov. 30

Johns Creek will host its Santa Jam from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. featuring Santa and his reindeer, Christmas carols by State Bridge Crossing Elementary Schools’ chorus and lighting of the tree and dreidal. The Marine Corps Toys for Tots program will also be collecting toys for under-privileged kids. S’mores, hot dogs and hot chocolate will be available while supplies last. The event will be held at Johns Creek City Hall at 12000 Findley Road. For more information, call 678512-3274 or 770-639-0952.

Dec. 1

The City of Lilburn is hosting a tree lighting at 7 p.m. For free admission, attendees can watch the lighting of the tree in front of City Hall located at 76 Main Street in Lilburn. For more information, visit cityoflilburn.com.

The Mall of Georgia presents its #GivingTuesday throughout the entire day.

Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving back. Local charities will set up tables throughout the mall as they present their mission to shoppers. The Mall of Georgia is located at 3333 Buford Drive in Buford.

For more information, visit mallofgeorgia.com or call 770-271-9458.

Dec. 4

There will be a Puddle Ducks and Polar Bears

event at 10:30 a.m. at the Bogan Park and Aquatic Center located at 2723 North Bogan Road in Buford. The end of the year holiday celebration allows kids to swim, play games and eat snacks. At 6:30 p.m., there will be a Winter Wonderland Dance with a DJ, hot chocolate bar, family photo booth and more.

For more information, visit gwinnettcounty.com.

There will be a Holiday Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at Bethesda Park and Aquatic Center located at 225 Bethesda Church Road in Lawrenceville. The annual Senior Holiday Luncheon features a catered holiday meal by the Master’s Table and provides guests with a live musical performance by The Continentals. For more information, visit gwinnettcounty.com.

Suwanee will host a “Jolly Holly-day” at 6:30 p.m. at Town Center Park.

Multiple choruses from various elementary schools will be performing and Santa will light the Christmas tree at the event. For free admission, this family-fun event will feature crafts and activities for the whole family to enjoy. Suwanee Town Center Park is located at 330 Town Center Avenue in Suwanee. For more information, visit suwanee.com.

There will be a Melted Snowman Party at 6:30 p.m. at Collins Hill Park and Aquatic Center located at 2225 Collins Hill Road in Lawrenceville. Guests can write their letters to Santa, help light the tree in the pool, make crafts, enjoy snacks and drinks and go for a swim.

Norcross Cultural Arts and Community Center will host its Community Christmas Tree Lighting in Thrasher Park at 7 p.m.

Local choir groups will be performing, and Santa will arrive for his workshops.

Hot Cocoa and cookies will be provided while supplies last, and the event is located at 10 College Street in Norcross. For more information, visit aplacetoimagine.com.

Dec. 5

The Simon Kidgits Club is hosting a Breakfast with Santa at the Mall of Georgia at 8:30 a.m. Guests are welcome to enjoy crafts,

breakfast and a meet-andgreet with Santa Claus himself. Admission is free for Simon members, and it’s only $5 for non-members.

The Mall of Georgia is located at 3333 Buford Drive in Buford. For more information, visit simon.com.

Loganville is hosting its Loganville Christmas Parade at 6 p.m. The holiday parade is a great time to connect as friends, family and as a community.

Loganville invites you to be a part of the parade as well.

The parade will take place on Main Street in Downtown Loganville. For more information, visit loganvilleevents.com.

Lanier High School will host their Festival of Gingerbread from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event features ballet performances, Christmas carols, a Nutcracker tea party performance, strolling skits and a Gingerbread House contest.

All proceeds from the event benefit CURE childhood cancer. Lanier High School is located at 918 Buford Highway NE in Buford. For more information, visit suwaneeperformingarts.org.

Dec. 6

Christmas in Grayson will be held from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Grayson Community Park located at 475 Grayson Parkway. The event features many free activities including bounce houses, pony rides, train rides and more. For a small fee, children can get their picture taken with Santa Claus. The event will be capped off with the tree lighting at 6 p.m. For more information, visit cityofgrayson.org.

Sugarloaf Mills presents their private “Caring Santa”event from 9 to 11 a.m. The event is geared towards children and young adults with special needs to visit Santa and get a picture with him. The event will be held at the Santa Set near AMC Theaters. The special event includes adjustments to the envrionment that support the sensory, physical and other developmental needs of children of all abilities. Sugarloaf Mills is located at 5900 Sugarloaf Parkway in Lawrenceville.

For more information, visit simon.com.

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Dec. 11

The Bogan Park and Aquatic Center presents their Holiday Night Out for the Bogan Kids Club from 6 to 9:30 p.m. The night will be filled with swimming, dinner, games, crafts and more. Make sure you bring you swimsuit, a towel and a seperate pair of clothes as well. The Bogan Park and

Aquatic Center is located at 2723 North Bogan Road in Buford. For more information, visit gwinnettcounty. com.

The Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center invites guests to their “Night Treks: Holiday Hike” beginning at 7:30 p.m. Families are encouraged to enjoy the forest beauty and creature

dwellers of the night that fill the winter atmosphere.

Pre-registration online is required, and guests should meet at the front entrance outside of the Environmental and Heritage Center to begin the hike. The Gwinnett EHC is located at 2020 Clean Water Drive in Buford. For more information, visit gwinnettEHC.org.

6C • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

gwinnettdailypost.com

TobyMac to bring soulful, spiritual songs to Gwinnett

By Katie Morris

katie.morris @gwinnettdailypost.com

Christian music artist TobyMac’s favorite part about releasing a new record is being able to go on tour.

“These songs that you prayed over. You sweated over. You walk out on stage and you start to sing these songs and you see people singing them back to you and you see a full arena.

There’s not a more special moment for an artist,” he said. “It’s when the song and the people that you hoped it would touch or resonate with and the artist, all three things come together. It’s a really special moment.”

On Thursday, the Grammy-winning artist will be sharing that special moment with a crowd of local fans when his This Is Not A Test tour comes to the Infinite

Grammy-winning Christian music artist TobyMac is bringing his This Is Not A Test Tour to the Infinite Energy Arena in Duluth on Dec. 3.

(Special Photo: Scott Smith)

Energy Arena in Duluth.

According to TobyMac, he spent about 18 months in the studio recording his latest album “This Is Not A Test,” released in August.

“You kind of feel like you’re in cave working on this record. You don’t get to

run it by many people and you’re in there working and working and you feel a little bit isolated,” he said. “Then you kind of come out and hold up this thing called a record, or a release of 12 songs, and you’re like, ‘Here it is. Eureka, I’m finished.’

And your hope, your prayer is that these songs will resonate with people. That they’ll meet people where they are.”

TobyMac’s music has touched millions over the course of his career — he’s garnered six Grammy Awards and five of his solo albums are RIAA Gold Certified.

During the ’80s, TobyMac and his friends, Michael Tait and Kevin Max, formed the Grammy-winning, platinumselling Christian pop group dc Talk. When the group ended in 1999, he began a solo career, releasing his first album “Momentum” in

2001. His fifth studio album “Eye On It,” released in 2012, was the highest chart debut of his solo career, landing at the top of the Billboard 200.

While the songs from “This Is Not a Test” may not quite fit into the genre of soul music, TobyMac said they have a lot of soul in them.

“I really want people to feel these songs to their bones this time, and that to me is soul music,” he said.

“My goal in the studio is to not leave a song alone until it makes you feel something, and once it makes you feel something, then leave it alone.”

TobyMac said he puts out a new release every three years because he has “to live enough life to write about,” and “This Is Not A Test” is a special record that reflects his growth as a person and musician.

The song “Love Feels Like,” which features his former band mates from dc Talk, is partially based on his experiences with losing his father earlier this year.

“It’s about learning a new dimension of love,” TobyMac said. “Learning that this hands and feet love is really the deepest love that there is. I think that you can love someone with your heart, but when you start to love them with your hands and feet and you’re serving them — it’s beautiful, man. It’s a new level for me.”

TobyMac said he wrote the soulful, spiritual track “Move (Keep Walkin’)” with the hope of helping listeners find strength during difficult times, and the first single “Beyond Me” is about going beyond yourself.

“Trying to do something bigger than I can do on my own,” he said, “that’s in-

spired by something beyond myself, really my faith in God and trusting in Him and wanting to do something bigger than myself.”

Local fans can look forward to hearing TobyMac perform these soulful songs live with the help of a full band, complete with a horn section.

“I always say I want people to leave my show sweaty and hoarse but also refreshed on the inside, just feeling ready to take on life again with their heart in a good spot, ready to love people well,” he said.

TobyMac’s This Is Not A Test tour featuring guests Britt Nicole, Colton Dixon and Hollyn will be at the Infinite Energy Arena in Duluth on Thursday, Dec. 3.

Tickets are $10.47 to $69.50.

For more information, visit www.infiniteenergycenter. com/events.

Ferocious, Grand Vapids • Dec. 1: Jordan Bolch

RED CLAY MUSIC FOUNDRY 3116 Main St., Duluth 678-957-7283 www.eddieowenpresents.com • Nov. 27: Songwriters Open Mic Shootout #7 • Nov. 28: Jacob Harshman, Kurt Scoble • Dec. 3: Ray Wylie Hubbard, Aaron Lee Tasjan • Dec. 4: Andy McKee • Dec. 5: Barry Waldrep’s Southern Rock/Bluegrass Jingle Jam

BY VENUE — MUSIC 37 MAIN 37 E. Main St., Buford 678-288-2030 www.buford.37main.com • Nov. 27: Slippery When Wet • Nov. 28: Departure • Dec. 4: New Mantra • Dec. 5: Led Zepagain 37 MAIN 6000 Medlock Bridge Parkway, Johns Creek 678-580-2329 www.johnscreek.37main.com • Nov. 27: Billy Joel Tribute by

Mike Santoro • Nov. 28: Moby Dick • Dec. 3: Jason Morey of Slippery When Wet • Dec. 4: The Ruckus 40 WATT CLUB 285 W. Washington St., Athens 706-549-7871 www.40watt.com • Dec. 3: Motherfore, The Old World Moneys, Nuclear Tourism • Dec. 4: Zale, Chelsea Shag, Sydney Rhame, Kayla Berrie

• Dec. 5: Lonnie Holley INFINITE ENERGY CENTER 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth 770-813-7500 www.infiniteenergycenter.com • Dec. 3: TobyMac, Britt Nicole, Colton Dixon

BUCKHEAD THEATRE ATLANTA SYMPHONY HALL 3110 Roswell Rd., Atlanta 1280 Peachtree Street NE, 404-843-2825 Atlanta www.thebuckheadtheatre.com 404-733-4900 • Nov. 27: Futurebirds, Faux

Your Local Church Welcomes You Building People of Prayer, Purpose and Power

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3375 Church Lane, Duluth, GA Church Office: 770-497-8227 • Fax: 770-497-9775 Rev. Ronald L. Bowens, Pastor

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Poplar Hill Baptist Church

Two services 9:00 and 11:00 am

Church of God 1132 Buford Hwy 770-271-5610

770.945.6131

Pastor: Rev. Avery Headd B.A., M. Div.

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754 Brogdon Rd • Suwanee www.suwaneeworshipcenter.org

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www.atlantasymphony.org • Nov. 27-28: Star Wars and More, the music of John Williams • Dec. 3: Michael Feinstein and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra • Dec. 4-6: Cirque de la Symphonie’s Holiday Spectacular

Gwinnett Daily Post presents

December 5 & 6 Infinite Energy Forum (formerly Gwinnett Center)

293911-1

COBB ENERGY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta 770-916-2800 www.cobbenergycentre.com • Nov. 29: Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox • Dec. 2: Dave Koz and Friends Christmas 2015 • Dec. 4: Will Downing’s Soulful OSUnds of Christmas • Dec. 5: Brian Setzer Orchestra • Dec. 6: The Forgotten Carols EDDIE’S ATTIC 515-B N. McDonough St., Decatur 404-377-4976 www.eddiesattic.com • Nov. 27-28: Blind Boys of Alabama • Nov. 28: Ellis Paul • Nov. 29-30: Kristian Bush • Dec. 1: Mark Miller CD Release, Joe Robinson • Dec. 2: Mo Pitney • Dec. 3: Ken Block, Drew Copeland • Dec. 4: Robin Meade’s Holiday Round Robin • Dec. 5: Hunter Callahan, David Berkeley • Dec. 6. Decembersongs, Al Stewart, Diane Durrett EVERETT’S MUSIC BARN 4055 Stonecypher Road, Suwanee 678-858-5363 everettsmusicbarn.net • Nov. 28: Line Creek • Dec. 5: Alan Bibey, Grasstowne FOX THEATRE 660 Peachtree St. N.E., Atlanta 404-881-2100 foxtheatre.org • Nov. 28: The Hip Hop Nutcracker • Nov. 29: Mighty Mo and More THE LOFT 1374 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta 404-885-1365 www.centerstage-atlanta.com/ shows/the-loft/ www.centerstage-atlanta.com • Nov. 29: The Wombats • Dec. 3: Caskey • Dec. 4: Jojo • Dec. 5: Copeland

Be one of the first 200 adult attendees on Sunday and receive a FREE TICKET to Monster Jam!

Georgia Dome January 9 & March 5, 2016 monsterjam.com

CENTER STAGE THEATRE 1374 W. Peachtree St., Atlanta 404-885-1365 www.centerstage-atlanta.com • Dec. 8: Between the Buried and Me

at the Holiday Expo all day Sunday, Dec. 6th

Visit with Santa Free Photos | Write your Letter to Santa and personally deliver Mascot Appearances Ornament Making Face Painting Entertainment Stage w/ local talent, carolers, bands Free Gift Wrapping and much more Check website for details on Feld Entertainment Ticket giveaways on Saturday & Sunday!

Children 12 and under Free HomefortheHolidayExpo.com

THE MASQUERADE 695 North Avenue N.E., Atlanta 404-577-8178 www.masqueradeatlanta.com • Nov. 27: Blind Guardian, The World is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die, Foxing • Nov. 28: Mayhem, Watain, Ghost Town, Sloth Jam, SB IV Short • Nov. 29: Atlanta Battle of the Bands • Nov. 30: Havok • Dec. 1: We Were Promised Jetpacks • Dec. 2: Nik Turner’s Hawkwind, Dance Gavin Dance, Islander • Dec. 3: Our Last Night, Sea Cycles • Dec. 4: The Acacia Strain, Darwin Deez, TesseracT • Dec. 5: Copeland, The Academy is, Bless the Dead • Dec. 6: Volumes, Northlane PHILIPS ARENA 1 Philips Drive N.W., Atlanta 404-878-3000 www.philipsarena.com • Dec. 15: The Weeknd • Dec. 17: Jingle Ball

RED LIGHT CAFE 553 Amsterdam Ave., Atlanta 404-874-7828 redlightcafe.com • Nov. 27: Glenn Phillips • Nov. 29: The Roamin’ Jasmine, The Bonaventure Quartet • Dec. 2: The Gordon Vernick Quartet • Dec. 3: Old Sea Brigade, Wyldernesse • Dec. 4-6: International Pop Overthrow RIALTO CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 80 Forsyth St. N.W., Atlanta 404-651-4727 www.rialtocenter.org • Dec. 5-6: Georgia State University Holiday Gala Concert SMITH’S OLDE BAR 1578 Piedmont Ave., Atlanta 404-875-1522 www.smithsoldebar.com • Nov. 27: Southern Bred Co., Forje, D.C. Rail, Dylan Michael & The Family, The Last Waltz Ensemble, DJ Sky • Nov. 28: DJ Sky, Sanya, Lights in the Dark, Celebration of the Allman Brothers Band, Lanes, Logan Bradford, Yates • Nov. 29: Atlanta Beer and Hymns • Dec. 1: Marc Martel • Dec. 2: Martin Barre Band, Danielle Nicole • Dec. 3: Witless Protection, Jesse and the Great Perhaps, Clavvs •Dec. 4: The District Attorneys Farewell Show, American Roommates, King Guru • Dec. 5: White Animals, The Muckers, Deadwin • Dec. 6: Afton Showcase THE TABERNACLE 152 Luckie St., Atlanta 404-659-9022 tabernacleatl.com • Nov. 27: Blackberry Smoke • Nov. 28: Moon Taxi • Nov. 29: Mac Miller • Dec. 4: DigiTour SlayBells Ice • Dec. 5: Charles Kelley VARIETY PLAYHOUSE 1099 Euclid Ave., Atlanta 404-521-1786 www.variety-playhouse.com • Nov. 28: Shawn Mullins • Dec. 3: The John Kadlecik Band • Dec. 4: Nick Lowe’s Quality Holdiay Revue with Los Straitjackets • Dec. 5: 7th Annual Merry Y’allitude Celebration ft. THe Whiskey Gentry and Blair Crimmins VERIZON WIRELESS AMPHITHEATER AT ENCORE PARK 2200 Encore Parkway, Alpharetta www.vzwamp.com • April 16: Bryan Adams WILD BILL’S 2075 Market St., Duluth 678-473-1000 www.wildbillsatlanta.com • Dec. 12: 94.9 The Bull’s Georgia Country Christmas Most tickets available through Ticketmaster at 404-249-6400 or ticketmaster.com

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 • 7C

gwinnettdailypost.com

movies

‘Mockingjay Part 2’ film fans

Jeff Barger, Loganville

STANDOUT PERFORMANCE

PASS/FAIL

WHO WILL LIKE THIS...

EDITOR’S NOTE: Film Fans features local residents reviewing the movie of the week:“The Hunger Games — Mockingjay Part 2.” To be a film fan, email features@gwinnettdailypost.com.

SEE IT NOW OR WAIT

OVERALL IMPRESSION

Pass: Visually, the film was fantastic.

The camerawork was great. There were intense, action-packed sequences in this film that had you on the edge of your seat, biting nails and gripping arm rests. Coupled with some amazing special effects, these scenes were thoroughly enjoyable.

Fail: The problem was that these scenes were few and far between, and came mostly towards the end of the movie. This movie was very slow to develop, so slow that I was literally falling asleep early on, but I pinched myself a few times and hung in there until the good stuff happened.

Jennifer Lawrence was awesome as usual. Her character has changed so much since the first installment of this series, and I feel that she has evolved just as much as her character. As far as acting goes, I think her performance may have been overshadowed by Josh Hutcherson (Peeta). His scenes were particularly intense as he struggled with quelling his desire to kill Katniss due to the brainwashing he endured, prompting him to question almost everything in his reality as “real or not real.”

Action/adventure/ drama/suspense/ romance — this film really had a little bit of everything.

If you’re a die-hard fan of the books or movies then you should probably go see this in theaters, if for no other reason than to see the conclusion of the story. If you’re not bursting at the seams to find out what happens, you could wait for the Blu-ray.

Honestly, I’m less than impressed overall.

I mean, it was good, but it wasn’t amazing.

Even my teenage daughter thought it was just “OK,” and she’s a big fan of the books and movies. This installment really boils down to being a war movie, with the districts uniting against the Capitol to end their years of oppression. I’ve seen plenty of war movies, and many of those were much better.

I was genuinely surprised at some of the death sequences in the movie though.

At one point I thought, “Oh wow, they really went there.” So there was a little bit of “great,” a tad of “good,” with a large portion of “OK” thrown in, which left me underwhelmed.

Which reminds me of “10 Things I Hate About You” — “I know you can be overwhelmed, and you can be underwhelmed, but can you just be whelmed?” I don’t know the answer, but I can confirm the underwhelmed.

Good action and a satisfying conclusion to the series! It was a little slow at times and some editing would’ve made a better experience. If “Part 1” left you a little disappointed because of its slower pace, know that “Part 2” also has its slow moments but the action more than makes up for it.

It would be difficult to imagine anyone besides Jennifer Lawrence in the lead role of Katniss.

She has delivered consist performances throughout all four films.

The story line is just as intense as the first two “Hunger Games” with plenty of violence and action. Honestly, if you are not already a fan of the series, this is not the time to step into it.

Grab some popcorn and go see it on the big screen if you can!

The final chapter of the “Hunger Games” has finally come to a conclusion. All the movies have done a great job at staying consistent throughout the entire series. Just know that you will be completely lost if you didn’t see all the other movies. Especially since this one picks up at the exact point where the last one ended. No time lost. “Mockingjay Part 2” wraps up all the loose ends and you can leave satisfied knowing the story is complete.

Pass: For fans of the “Hunger Games” series, the books and movies, the final chapters were played out almost as written. All of the leading characters — Katniss ( Jennifer Lawrence), Peeta Mellark ( Josh Hutcherson), Gale ( Liam Hemsworth) and Haymitch (Woody Harrelson) are all back to complete the quest for a free Panem.

Fail: The underground scenes made me very claustrophobic and I couldn’t wait for them to be over.

Both Jennifer Lawrence and Josh Hutcherson gave stellar performances. Jennifer and Josh both portrayed their conflicted emotions to perfection. The love/ hate pushes and pulls between them played out to an obvious ending.

Literature enthusiasts will be able to dissect the characters, especially the politics, and be able to relate the events of war to our modern day wars.

This movie is best viewed on the big screen for all of the heart-wrenching special effects.

It would also be a great addition to your “Hunger Games” collection.

I enjoyed the overall screen interpretation of the final chapters. I was able to compare the book to the movie and focus on the main plot, which was perfectly executed. At times I had to remind myself as to which characters were going to survive. The ethnic mixture of the characters was masterfully portrayed.

HHHH

Kenny Grams, Lawrenceville

HHHH

Gail Nunez Blackshear, Lawrenceville

HHHH A: DeLorean Now, for this week’s questions: 1. Name two movies where Angelina Jolie appeared in the nude.

2. What ’80s Western featured three sets of offTest your screen blood brothers in film knowledge with the cast?

Michael Clark 3. Name the last movie to receive 10 or more So, you think you’re Oscar nominations and good at movie trivia? not win any.

Every week, we give 4. What two women readers the opportunity to won acting Oscars in the flex their movie muscles same category while beby answering five trivia ing directed by the late questions from our movie Anthony Minghella? critic, Michael Clark.

5. What non-fictional Congratulations to character has appeared last week’s winner, in the most feature films Robin Cook. ever?

Here are last week’s The first person (loquestions again and the cated within the U.S.) to answers: respond with all of the 1. What country procorrect answers receives vides the setting for “The a prize of an item or items King and I?” (movie T-shirts, hats, A: Siam posters, etc.). The winner 2. What movie based also gets their name pubon “Romeo & Juliet” lished in the next Weekend won the Oscar for Best section. Please email Picture? your answers, along A: “West Side Story” with your name to clark3. Name the last writer@mindspring.com. husband and wife to win Include “Gwinnett Daily Oscars on the same night. Post Trivia Contest” in A: Joel Coen and the subject line. In the Frances McDormand event no one answers all for “Fargo” of the questions correctly, 4. What character from the person with the most the “Terminator” francorrect answers submitchise has been played by ted by 6 p.m. the Monday the most performers? after the contest is posted A: John Connor will be the winner. Only 5. What make of car one winner per household was featured in “Back to is eligible for each 30-day the Future?” period.

Lights, camera,

questions

DISC SPOTLIGHT MICHAEL CLARK

Sinatra: All or Nothing at All Blu-ray (NR) Movie: HHHH Disc: HHHH

about the jazz/pop icon but it comes close. As far as his career as a singer and actor, Gibney misses nothing and the same goes for his tumultuous family life. In an effort to try to deflect away from Sinatra’s acknowledged ties to organized crime, a Originally airing on long stretch is dedicated HBO, this latest docuto his efforts to combat mentary from Oscar-win- racism in the entertainner Alex Gibney (“Taxi to ment industry. Even at the Dark Side”) doesn’t four hours, the production contain quite everything feels incomplete yet is you’d want to know stylishly framed.

Technical specs: aspect ratio: Widescreen (1.85:1/1080p), audio: English (Dolby Digital HD-MA 5.1), subtitles: none.

Special Features: • Interviews • Complete 1971 “Retirement Concert” • Walter Cronkite/CBS 1965 interview • 6 picture cards with envelope • 2 booklets (Eagle Rock Entertainment, $29.98)

COMING SOON TO OWN • “Ant-Man” (Dec. 8) — A thief (Paul Rudd) becomes a scientist’s (Michael Douglas) test vehicle for a size-shrinking technology in this Marvel fantasy.

(PG-13) • “Knock Knock” (Dec. 8) — A family man (Keanu Reeves) comes to regret answering a knock at his door by two apparently stranded women.

(R) • “Minions” (Dec. 8) — The animated “Despicable Me” characters get their own movie, taking them to 1960s-era New York and London; voices include Sandra Bullock and Jon Hamm. (PG) • “Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation” (Dec. 15) — Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) is an agent without an agency after the CIA shuts down his team.

(PG-13) • “Ted 2” (Dec. 15) — The talking teddy bear (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) runs into trouble in becoming an adoptive parent; Mark Wahlberg also returns. (R and unrated versions)

NOW SHOWING Recently reviewed films by movie critic Michael Clark now playing in metro area theaters • Brooklyn (PG-13) — 3 stars Mixing sweet and charming, old-fashioned 1940s simplicity with slightly edgier art-house underpinnings, “Brooklyn” isn’t terribly original yet at around 90 minutes does

it’s thing efficiently without making too many errors.

Well-crafted but kind of dull.

• By the Sea (R) — 1 ½ stars A pure vanity project written and directed Angelina Jolie, “By the Sea” co-stars her and husband Brad Pitt as a married couple from New York moping and navel-gazing in

the South of France while drinking heavily and doing a tag-team Peeping Tom act.

• The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (PG13)— 2 ½ stars After app. 10 hours of narrative spread out over three previous films, “The Hunger Games” saga ends with a relatively muted whimper with leading lady

Jennifer Lawrence looking spent, relieved and largely uninspired.

• Secret in Their Eyes (PG-13) — 3 stars A serviceable if not above average remake of the 2009 Oscar-winning Argentine original, this noirish murder mystery thriller starring Chitwetel Ejiofor, Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman presents an inter-

esting take on the meaning of justice.

• Labyrinth of Lies (R) — 3 stars The German submission for next year’s Best Foreign Language Oscar, this legal procedural about the pursuit of former Nazis by a German attorney in the late 1950s is almost a little too starchy but for 90 or so of its 124 minutes, it gets

everything right.

• My All-American (PG) — 2 stars Lauded sports uplift writer Angelo Pizzo (“Hoosiers,” “Rudy”) stumbles big time in his first outing as a director in this fact-based, religiously-flavored story about a scrappy and inspirational University of Texas football player from the late ’60s.

8C • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

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Bryan Cranston stars as Dalton Trumbo in “Trumbo.” (Special Photo: Bleecker Street)

‘Trumbo’ deftly explores Red Scare in Hollywood Trumbo (R) TRUMBO (R) 3 outHHHH of 4 stars

history as it relates to the First Amendment and does almost as good of a job and it comes from a pair of highly unlikely filmmakers.

By Michael clark It’s the first screenplay by Movie Critic long-time TV writer John McNamara and was directed Beginning in the 1940s

by Jay Roach, known mostly and lasting until at least the for the “Austin Powers” and early 1960s, Hollywood — “Meet the Parents” franchisin tandem with a beyond es — two guys not generally paranoid Congress — conassociated with this type of ducted a witch hunt that heady, introspective, mostly effectively ended the careers dramatic material. of hundreds of people.

At the time Trumbo One of the first pegged — became a target for the screenwriter Dalton Trumbo Feds, he was the highest(Bryan Cranston) — freely paid screenwriter in the admitted to being a combusiness. Happily married munist and (rightfully) to (non-communist) Cleo felt he was no threat to the (Diane Lane), Trumbo was American way of life. He a good friend of staunch also refused to back down or liberal democrat acname names. tor Edward G. Robinson In a manner not unlike (Michael Stuhlbarg) and that in the recent “Spotlight,” a borderline-adversarial “Trumbo” examines a truly professional acquaintance ugly chapter in American of ultra-conservative gossip

columnist Hedda Hopper (Helen Mirren).

He also kept company with a number of other writers, most of whom were also communists that came under the same crushing government thumb.

Apart from a bushy handlebar moustache, Cranston bears little resemblance to Trumbo, which is in no way an issue. Cranston isn’t shooting for an impersonation or imitation but rather something along the lines of an embodiment or channeling.

He put his mind to capturing Trumbo’s irascible temperament, headstrong determination and tottering gait and essentially did so perfectly. Although the real Trumbo is seen briefly in the closing credits, those interested in seeing more of him in the same story told much differently should check out

Online exclusive

‘Good Dinosaur’ stunning but familiar

MORE ONLINE Visit gwinnettdailypost.com for Michael Clark’s review of “Legend,” the story of London’s notorious Kray twins.

Edward “Mad Teddy” Smith (Taron Egerton), left, Leslie Holt (Charley Palmer Rothwell) and Ronnie Kray (Tom Hardy) star in “Legend.” From Academy Award-winner Brian Helgeland and Working Title comes the true story of the rise and fall of London’s most notorious gangsters, Reggie and Ronnie Kray, both portrayed by Hardy in a powerhouse double performance. (Special Photo: Simon Mein)

Reggie Kray (Tom Hardy) and Frances Shea (Emily Browning) share a moment in “Legend.” (Special Photo: Simon Mein)

the 2007 documentary of the same name.

With the exceptions of Lane, who is given little to do, and Stahlberg, who more or less tanks as Robinson, the rest of the supporting cast is wonderful. A late-inarriving Elle Fanning plays Trumbo’s oldest daughter Niki who is more like her father than either would have liked to admit to and in many ways was the one most affected by the interruption of his professional life. As he did in last year’s “The Gambler,” John Goodman (as B-movie producer Freddy King) is a menacing force not to be taken lightly and his performance alone is worth the price of admission.

Menacing in a different way is Mirren’s Hopper, a tight-lipped shrew and two-faced busybody who, not satisfied with reporting gossip, regularly instigates

confrontations between Trumbo’s friends and other conservative entertainment icons such as John Wayne (James Elliott).

Offering further proof that he is equally adept at comedy and drama, Louis C.K. has a pivotal role as Arlin Herd, another communist writer who calls Trumbo to task for spouting socialism while living the life of an unapologetic capitalist.

It is this dichotomy that makes Trumbo such a fascinating case study. One of the very few of the blacklisted hundreds who fully, almost gleefully admitted to being a communist, he was unlike so many others who went to jail rather than sacrifice his scruples. On top of all this he still managed to secretly remain an in-demand writer.

You don’t have to be a communist to respect a man so pure, honest and true to his

ideals.

Impeccably framed and shot by cinematographer Jim Denault, the film — with its deep blacks and rich yellow tones — bares more than a passing visual resemblance to “The Godfather” which shares the same narrative time frame. The meticulous attention given to set and costume design further enhances the authentic feel and while not quite Best Picture material, “Trumbo” will almost certainly receive Oscar nominations in at least one acting category as well as production, costume and design.

It is indispensible for any fan of film history and/or anyone who should become further informed about the Bill of Rights and the Constitution which — in a perfect world — would be every citizen of the United States.

(Bleecker Street)

By Justin chang Reuters

LOS ANGELES — Serving up a sweet tale of interspecies friendship and a stunning prehistoric vision of the American Northwest, “The Good Dinosaur” is easily one of the great landscape films of 2015, even if what unfolds against that landscape isn’t always as captivatingly rendered.

Pixar’s 16th animated feature centers around a boy-and-his-beast dynamic that will strike some of the same audience chords DreamWorks did with “How to Train Your Dragon,” albeit with a crucial reversal of perspective this time around.

It’s no knock on “The Good Dinosaur” to note that it is neither as ingeniously conceived nor as emotionally wrenching as this summer’s “Inside Out,” a movie it doesn’t even try to emulate; it falls into that humbler category of Pixar efforts, like “Brave” and “A Bug’s Life,” that are content to riff engagingly on material we’ve seen before, rather than imagining an entirely new world from scratch.

At the very least, it’s refreshing to see Pixar churn out two original, non-franchise-based efforts in between sequels (with “Finding Dory” due out next year), even if the movie in question doesn’t always feel like a prize specimen. But then, neither does our hero, Arlo, a runty apatosaurus

Spot and Arlo star in Disney Pixar’s “The Good Dinosaur.” (Special Photo: Disney•Pixar)

growing up in a very distant fictionalized past.

In the alternate history of Earth set forth in Meg LeFauve’s screenplay, the dinosaurs were not wiped out 65 million years ago by a wayward asteroid — as shown in a sly fakeout of an opening sequence — but instead survived, thrived and developed a remarkably advanced agrarian society.

It’s a lovely, mildly creepy pastoral scene — think of it as George Orwell’s “Jurassic Farm” — where dinosaurs notably behave just like people: laboring, laughing, bickering and trying to ensure the best for their children.

It’s jarring initially to hear American-accented English pouring from the mouths of Arlo (voiced by Raymond Ochoa) and his parents, Poppa (Jeffrey Wright) and Momma (Frances McDormand). Relentlessly teased and outshone by his bigger, braver siblings, Buck (Marcus Scribner) and Libby (Maleah Padilla), Arlo has developed a severe inferiority complex, though

Poppa tries to teach him the importance of bravery, as well as proper goal setting and follow-through.

The runty dinosaur through chance finds a pint-sized Neanderthal (Jack Bright), and the two have good reason to distrust each other at first — and it’s a measure of how adroitly the film has manipulated our sense of identification that we wouldn’t mind, at least at first, if Arlo just finished off the filthy, feral little troublemaker.

But the viewer’s sympathies naturally shift as the boy, who tellingly responds to the name Spot, finds ways to help the frightened Arlo, and their antagonism slowly turns to friendship. Crawling around on all fours and talking in growls, grunts and the occasionally well-timed bite, Spot is unmistakably presented as the savage pet in the relationship, a choice that raises some subtle moral and ecological questions about a world where humans aren’t at the top of the food chain.

At times it seems that every movie in the Disney

critter canon is up for grabs: Echoes of “The Lion King” reverberate loudly through these scenic mountain passes (Poppa is basically Mufasa with scales). And as Arlo and Spot encounter one colorful new species after another, the movie increasingly recalls “The Jungle Book,” another tale of a man-cub and a hissing, roaring menagerie.

By the time Arlo and Spot meet an unexpectedly friendly clan of T-Rexes who double as buffalo ranchers, it’s clear that the film means to be a Western throwback of sorts, one that just happens to be set closer to the dawn of time.

As our homeward-bound heroes near their respective destinations, “The Good Dinosaur” seems to falter and lose its way — and then, in almost the same moment, to find it again. Its lush, classical storytelling lapses into familiar beats and payoffs, en route to an outcome as certain as the recurrence of Mychael and Jeff Danna’s often distractingly Tolkienesque score.

(Disney•Pixar)

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 • 9C

PACKING A PUNCH

Bianca (Tessa Thompson), right, enters the ring to celebrate with her love interest Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) in “Creed.” (Special Photo: Warner Bros.)

‘Creed’ a worthy installment in ‘Rocky’ series Creed (PG-13) CREED (PG-13) 2 1/2HHHH out of 4 stars

By Michael clark Movie Critic

One of the few sports where the number of good efforts outnumber the bad, boxing movies always cover a lot of emotional terrain. Just on that level, “Creed” more than delivers.

There’s heartbreak, joy, anger, redemption, grit, determination, an unwavering pursuit of a goal and the nasty double-edged sword of proving oneself to be more than just the child of a legend.

Technically, “Creed” could just as easily have been titled “Rocky VII” as Sylvester Stallone is present as Rocky Balboa — not as a fighter but rather the trainer of one. Out of the now seven productions, “Creed” would rank as third best of the lot which is kind of good news.

As initially with the title character, the movie opts not to piggyback on the success of another more well-known entity and for

Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan), left, and Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) star in “Creed.” (Special Photo: Warner Bros.)

the most part it succeeds, albeit while often stumbling along the way.

Rising star Michael B. Jordan (“The Fantastic Four,” “Chronicle”) reteams with director Ryan Coogler (“Fruitvale Station”) as Adonis Johnson, the illegitimate son of Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), Rocky’s ring-nemesisturned-friend who died in the ring. Adonis never knew his father, which could be why he took his late mother’s last name. He wants to be his own man.

As a child, Adonis was adopted by Apollo’s widow Mary Anne (Phylicia Rashad) and lived the life of the idle rich.

While working unhappily as a desk jockey at Mary Anne’s company, Adonis not-so-secretly cuts his teeth fighting lower-rung matches in Mexico. With an undefeated 15-0 record, he moves from L.A. to Philadelphia and makes contact with Rocky with hopes of learning from him and hitting the big time.

Up until this point, the

screenplay co-written by Coogler and Aaron Covington is original and captivating. It’s not the beat, thread-worn, rags-to-riches story we’ve seen too many times before and starts shaping up to be, as Marlon Brando in “On the Waterfront” put it, “a contender.”

Not long — make that immediately — after Adonis’ first meeting with Rocky — the narrative switches over to autopilot and, from a creative standpoint, it’s all downhill from there.

The first sign of decline is the meet-cute scene with the requisite love interest (Tessa Thompson as Bianca, a fledgling jazz singer).

You know they’ll fall in love because they hate each other at first sight. This is followed by Rocky playing hard to get. He turns Adonis down repeatedly yet eventually succumbs.

Clunky foreshadowing of another boxer in England telegraphs us what will happen in the third act, which admittedly contains one pretty decent plot twist.

Even with the narrative treading water, Coogler keeps the visuals interesting with inclusions of “fake” commercials and HBO news/sportscasts including real HBO talking heads which adds an authentic, believable air to a plot point/scenario that — in the real world of boxing — would never happen.

Coogler and cinematographer Maryse Alberti also deserve hearty hats off for the filming of the fight scenes which are on a par with those in Martin Scorsese’s “Raging Bull,” albeit a bit less violent and graphic.

In a tiny bit of irony, this

is the first movie featuring Stallone as Rocky that he didn’t write and/or direct and is by far his best performance playing the character. There’s been a lot of pre-release buzz around him receiving awards consideration and — based on what we see in the second half of the film — that’s entirely possible. He hasn’t been this convincing as an actor since “Cop Land” nearly 20 years ago.

What keeps “Creed” from being very good or even great instead of just OK is an interminable 133-minute running time that contains a handful of unneeded scenes at least a half-hour of momentum crushing filler. Very few films need more than two hours to get the job done and sports movies even less.

Without giving anything away whatsoever, the movie concludes in a manner that — to no one’s surprise — all but guarantees a sequel. All the studio has to do from now on is what was done in the second half here: dust off those old “Rocky” scripts and change a few of the names.

(Warner Bros.)

‘Victor Frankenstein’ the worst adaptation to date Victor Frankenstein (PG-13) VICTOR FRANKENSTEINHHHH (PG-13) 1 out of 4 stars

By Michael clark Movie Critic

With now over five dozen movies and many other TV and stage adaptations, author Mary Shelley’s novel “Frankenstein; or, the Modern Prometheus” has and will likely remain to be the source material for filmmakers not yet born. The only other fictional character with more appearances and greater staying power is Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

You would think that after all of this time and with so many tries someone would quit tinkering with the details and just make a movie based solely on the book. Writer/director Kenneth Branagh’s 1994 “Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein” is considered by most to be the most faithful to date and if afforded with modern day technology, it would have been even better — maybe perfect.

Adversely we’ve now got “Victor Frankenstein” that, even with all the whiz-bang CGI technology anyone could possibly want or need, is arguably one of the worst Franken-

Daniel Radcliffe, pictured left, and James McAvoy star as Igor and Victor Frankenstein, respectively. (Special Photo: Twentieth Century Fox)

stein movies ever made; which is saying a lot.

Keep in mind Hollywood has previously given us “Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein,” “Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein” and the recent debacle “I, Frankenstein.”

For the first 20 minutes things look promising. A nameless circus hunchback (Daniel Radcliffe) narrates his hellish life while the camera captures abuse at the hands of his coworkers and handlers and his longing from afar of a beautiful trapeze artist.

During one show attended by the title character (James McAvoy), the hunchback saves someone from certain death with a pocket watch, thus impressing the hard-toimpress Victor to pieces.

Taking his cue from Guy Ritchie’s bastardization of “Sherlock Holmes,” director Paul McGuigan and screenwriter Max Landis call on McAvoy to do to his worst possible Robert Downey Jr. imitation. Instead of thoughtful scientist, Victor is a flip, arrogant, highly abrasive action hero who rescues the hunchback from his shackles in a manner akin to that of James Bond saving a damsel in distress.

In the movie’s last good scene, Victor cures the hunchback, makes him his understudy and christens him Igor. It should be noted that there was no Igor character in Shelley’s book; he was conjured up by Mel Brooks for his “Young Frankenstein” par-

ody from 1974. Separating himself from every other Igor since, Radcliffe’s version quickly morphs into a quasi-dashing dandy whose already considerable medical acumen accelerates rapidly under Victor’s brusque, backslapping tutelage.

To the filmmakers’ credit, they include an early subplot that hasn’t been seen before and doesn’t feature a creature assembled from loose human body parts. It’s the most visually-arresting section of the entire film and allows them to delay the big reveal of another more ambitious creation.

While welcome, this passage is only a mere temporary distraction from a story that grows more silly and inane by

the second. An already palpable homoerotic undercurrent brings itself to the fore with the introduction of a shady financier who agrees to bankroll Victor after it becomes clear that a rogue, religiously fervent Scotland Yard detective will stop at nothing to thwart Victor.

It’s beyond sad to witness a capable and well respected actor such as McAvoy descend to such embarrassing lows for the sake of a paycheck.

Nothing he does here gets close to subtle or nuanced and far too much of his bellicose and rapid-fire dialogue is delivered with accompanying “spray.”

One has to feel especially bad for Radcliffe who has spent every waking moment since

the “Harry Potter” franchise ended fighting the inevitable type-casting that comes with playing such an iconic character.

To his immense credit, Radcliffe — especially in the early scenes — gives it his all and even when the production hurdles ever southward, he’s still able to retain he and his character’s dignity.

Ending with a beyond over-the-top scene that looks as if it were conceived firmly tongue-incheek by Mel Brooks and Terry Gilliam, “Victor Frankenstein” adds insult to injury by including some “Sherlock Holmes” text and a cliffhanger that promises more of the same at a later date. Oh, the agony.

(Fox)

10C • FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2015

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A starry cast eases on down the road in ‘The Wiz Live!’ for NBC

By John Crook

Woodman, Mary J. Blige as the Wicked Witch of the West, David Alan Grier When executive produc- as the Cowardly Lion ers Craig Zadan and Neil and newcomer Shanice Meron decided on “The Williams as Dorothy. The Wiz” as their next live show also features Emmy holiday musical for NBC, winner Uzo Aduba (“Orthey had no idea of the ex- ange Is the New Black”) citement the project would and Amber Riley (“Glee”) generate within the black as the two good witches of music community. The Oz, Elijah Kelley (“Hairduo just loved the Tonyspray”) as the Scarecrow winning 1975 Broadway and Common as the Emershow, which reconceives ald City gatekeeper.

L. Frank Baum’s classic “This piece talks to fantasy “The Wonderful people in a way that we Wizard of Oz” as an R&B didn’t even realize,” Zadan tuner with an all-black said. “It has an emotional cast. resonance and when we Produced in associastarted calling people, tion with Cirque du Soleil, everybody wanted to be in “The Wiz Live!” premieres it. Everybody.”

Thursday, Dec. 3, with a The Broadway producpower cast that includes tion nearly closed on openQueen Latifah in the title ing night before finding its role, Ne-Yo as The Tin audience, going on to win Your TV L ink

seven Tony Awards and running for more than four years. A polarizing 1978 movie adaptation with Diana Ross and Michael Jackson initially flopped, but has since found a significant fan base.

“The Wiz Live!” strives to recapture the joyous energy of the Broadway original while blowing off the cobwebs of the past four decades. Grammy winner Harvey Mason Jr., who produced the “Dreamgirls” movie soundtrack, has been brought in to give the score a more contemporary sound.

“Instead of having a Broadway pit-band sound, which is a bit generic, he’s made it very specific, very black R&B,” Zadan said.

“It sounds authentic to the point where the songs just

bit looser in 1975. He also has made it funnier, and it’s real character humor.”

Stephanie Mills, who played Dorothy on Broadway in 1975, appears as Aunt Em in this telecast, for which Williams, 19, won the lead over hundreds of other contenders.

“We saw about a thousand girls,” Meron said. “To say that it was between several girls is simply not true. There was only one, and that David Alan Grier stars in “The Wiz Live!,” premiering Thursday, Dec. 3, on NBC. (Special Photo: Your TV Link) was Shanice. Besides being a really great singer come alive.” a young girl being swept and young actress, she’s Tony-winning playaway from Kansas to begin just real. She walks into wright Harvey Fierstein her journey in this world a room and you just love similarly has freshened up of Oz, but he has enhanced her. You need that with William F. Brown’s origi- the emotional connections Dorothy, to go on this nal stage script. between the characters journey with her, to root “Harvey blew the dust and connected the dots for her. She was the only off of it and set it now,” between all of the plot one that we collectively Meron explained. “It’s still points, which were a little felt could do the job.”

Cheers to 50 years: ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ has its 50th anniversary

By Jay BoBBin

ing,” said producer Lee Mendelson, who wrote the “Christmas Time Is Here” Few holiday specials are lyrics. “When we had as beloved, generation after finished the show, (director generation, as “A Charlie and fellow producer) Bill Brown Christmas” — and Melendez and I thought we this year, it marks a big had ruined Charlie Brown. birthday.

We thought it was too slow, The first animated and we took it to the net“Peanuts” special origiwork (CBS, initially) with nally brought Charles M. much trepidation. UnforSchulz’s comic strip to tunately, they also thought television in 1965, winning it was too slow. They said, an Emmy and a Peabody ‘Well, we’ll run it, and that Award for its story of will be it.’

Charlie Brown bemoaning “Of course, back then, the commercialization of there were only three (comthe yuletide while strugmercial) networks,” Mengling to direct a seasonal delson added, “and when play. Underscored by Vince it went on the air, it got a Guaraldi music — includ50 (rating) share, if you ing the instantly familiar can imagine that. Half of opening tune, “Christmas the country tuned into the Time Is Here” — that saw show, which is unbelievit voted into the Grammy able. The next Monday, the Hall of Fame, the classic top guy at the network — show gets its 50th-anniver- who had hated it — called sary telecast Monday Nov. and said, ‘We’re going to 30, on ABC. order four more (specials).

“It’s kind of overwhelm- But my aunt in New Jersey

Your TV L ink

Charlie Brown.”

It also includes a bounty of Guaraldi’s melodies, and Melendez recalls finding the composer as “serendipity. I was doing a documentary on Schulz in 1963, and riding over the Golden Gate Bridge, I heard (the Guaraldi-composed) ‘Cast Your Fate to the Wind.’ It had just won a Grammy, and I thought, ‘Gee, that’s perfect music for us. It’s adult-like and childlike.’ And I found out that he, like me, was a native San Franciscan.

“We met and he said, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” has its 50th anniversary ‘I’ll do the music for the broadcast Monday on ABC. (Special Photo: Your TV Link) documentary.’ A week later, he called and said, ‘I’ve got didn’t like it, either.’” performances by artists to play this song for you.’ It In addition to showing including Sarah McLachwas ‘Linus and Lucy,’ and “A Charlie Brown Christlan, Boyz II Men, Matthew it was so funny: Something mas,” ABC also will give Morrison (“Glee”), Pentato- in my head said, ‘This song it an hour-long celebration nix … and Kristin Cheis going to become very right before it the same noweth, who won a Tony important to all our lives.’ night. The retrospective Award for her portrayal of I had no idea why — the “It’s Your 50th Christmas, Sally in the 1999 Broaddocumentary never sold, by Charlie Brown” is hosted way revival of the musithe way — and two years

by Kristen Bell and features cal “You’re a Good Man, later, it became the theme

of the Christmas show.”

CBS was the home network of Charlie Brown and company for more than 30 years, but in 2000, ABC acquired the rights to the specials. They came to encompass tributes to such other occasions as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Easter, New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Election Day — even Arbor Day and the Super Bowl. And not only has the “Peanuts” gang gotten to the stage, but also to bigger screens, as indicated in part by the recently opened “Peanuts Movie.”

“It’s very rewarding, because it’s good family entertainment,” Mendelson said. “It’s been fascinating.

And significant. ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ and ‘Frosty the Snowman’ and ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ all happened around the same time, and they’re all still going strong.

We were very lucky.”