With a Gwinnett County Public Library card you have free access to sewing machines, 3-D printers, Cricut®, video and podcast studios, Glowforge® and more. We also offer programs to help get you started.
Learn more: gwinnettpl.org/learninglabs
10 First Up Events
36
20
Good Grief: Life After Loss Part 2
52
DOING GOOD
18 | Your Guide to Fall Fun 2023
26 | Business: Gwinnett County DA Shows Compassionate Side of Law
28 | Rojoli Provides Cloud and Managed IT Services with Strong Local Commitment
30 | PCBA Scores Big with Tailgate Themed Fundraiser
32 | Business Organizations and Events
34 | Deliveries May Soon Come from Driverless Carts
45 | Life After Loss Part 3: Losing Our Furry Friends
48 | Community: Veterans Day Event Has New Components This Year
50 | Teen Cancer Survivor Aims to Raise Funds for Research
56 | Water at Work Ministry and Its Impact on Communities Across the Ocean
59 | Peachtree Corners Festival and EV Car Show Electrify PTC
60 | Knowledge: Ashley Wright Honored as Gwinnett County’s 2023 Teacher of the Year
62 | Retail & Shopping: New Retail Concepts Join Merchandise Collection at The Forum Peachtree Corners
66 | Nourish: Great Barbecue and Strong Community Spirit Bring Families to Moe’s Original BBQ
68 | H&W Steakhouse Opens in Peachtree Corners
Nia, 23, is the Grand Prize winner in our Pets and their People giveaway. She is pictured with Kraken who earned his Air Retrieve Senior title this summer.
PEACHTREE CORNERS
The official city news and updates
EXECUTIVE EDITOR & PUBLISHER RICO FIGLIOLINI
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
ARLINDA SMITH BROADY
EDITOR EMERITUS KATHY DEAN
EDITORIAL CONSULTANT RITA FIGLIOLINI
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES
JULIE DAVIS
julie@livinginpeachtreecorners.com
LISA JONSSON lisa@mightyrcokets.com
Publisher & Executive Editor
Rico Figliolini is a creative director and social media strategist, three-time magazine publisher and podcast host. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York and is a political junky, sci-fi and anime fan, and avid reader and movie binger.
RITA FIGLIOLINI
Editorial Consultant
Rita Figliolini has lived in PTC for 23 years with her husband and life partner, Rico Figliolini. Proud mom of 3 — Jason, Kinsey and Jack. Former Managing Editor of the original Inside Gwinnett, she’s now Advisor to PTC Magazine. Telling stories is in our blood!
Account Executive
Julie Davis is an accomplished sales rep with over 20 years of experience in the telecom industry. When not working or spending time with friends and family, Julie can be found melting glass, as she is an avid fused glass artist.
Graphic Designer
Harry J. Pinkney, Jr is an accomplished Graphic Designer with over 25 years of experience. A Philadelphia native who now calls Atlanta his home. He enjoys his dog, Chloeé, working out, movies, and running his own freelance graphic/ web design business.
Photographer
Contributing Editor
Arlinda Smith Broady is of the Boomerang
Generation of Blacks that moved back to the South after ancestors moved North. With 30 years of journalism experience, she’s worked in tiny newsrooms to major metropolitans. She brings professionalism, passion, pluck, and the desire to spread news.
KATHY DEAN
Editor Emeritus
Kathy Dean has been a writer and editor for over 20 years. Some of the publications she has contributed to are Atlanta Senior Life, Atlanta INtown, Transatlantic Journal and The Guide to Coweta and Fayette Counties.
Writer Patrizia hails from Toronto, Canada where she earned an Honors B.A. in French and Italian Studies at York University, and a B.Ed. at the University of Toronto. This trilingual former French teacher has called Georgia home since 1998. Catch her reporting about our vibrant city on the Peachtree Corners Network.
Photographer George Hunter is an IT professional from Alaska by way of Texas. His primary hobby is photography, covering a wide range of subjects from pets to cosplay, sports to fashion. Volunteering and fostering dogs brings him much joy. George, his wife Lila and their rescued dogs have made their home in west Gwinnett for almost 20 years.
Writer
instagram.com/peachtreecornerslife facebook.com/peachtreecornerslife twitter.com/peachtreecrnrs www.pinterest.com/ PeachtreeCornersMagazine
PUBLISHED BY MIGHTY ROCKETS LLC.
P. O. BOX 923207
Peachtree Corners, GA 30010 678-438-5310 editor@livinginpeachtreecorners.com
Peachtree Corners Magazine is published six times a year by Mighty Rockets LLC. Opinions expressed by the contributing writers and editors are not necessarily those of the publishers, editors or Peachtree Corners Magazine. The publisher will not accept responsibility for submitted materials that are lost or stolen. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy of this publication. However, the publisher cannot assume responsibility for errors or omissions. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. Publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisement it seems unfit for publication or does not fit in our guidelines.
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2023 issue
Volume 5 Number 29
©2023 Peachtree Corners Magazine
The editors welcome submissions, event listings, achievements and photography. Please direct them to editor@livinginpeachtreecorners.com.
This publication is independently and privately owned, and managedby Mighty Rockets LLC
After a long career in global marketing for Fortune 500 companies like The Coca-Cola Company and Texas Instruments, Tracey earned a degree in Commercial Photography and now owns her own photography business. She specializes in portraits, events and real estate photography. She is the President of the Peachtree Corners Photography Club.
Photographer
Bruce has been a resident of Gwinnett County for over 30 years and is heavily involved in the Southwest Gwinnett community. A former General Manager of the Hilton Atlanta Northeast hotel, he is active with the SWGC, PTC Business Association and Norcross community meetings/events. Currently, he works for Explore Gwinnett.
Photographer
Richard Phillips, an avid photographer since high school, is now a professional photographer. He specializes in casual or formal portraits, engagement photos, and small weddings as he photographs our most beautiful world. rlphillipsphotography.com
Journalist Intern Zoey Schlueter is a senior who attends Greater Atlanta Christian School and has lived in Peachtree Corners her whole life. She enjoys written journalism inside and outside of school and plans on pursuing journalism in college.
Kristen Corley is an Atlanta native with over a decade of experience in content creation. She lives in Historic Norcross with her family and writes “Young Norcross,” a weekly newsletter that focuses on building community and local engagement.
Writer
Forrest Brown is a freelance journalist and content marketer from Metro Atlanta. He has written for Facing South and currently writes Sticky Weather, a biweekly newsletter covering climate and sustainability in the South.
Writer/Newsletter Editor
Anna is a contributor to Peachtree Corners Magazine. She graduated with a B.A. in English Composition from Georgia State University and has five years of experience performing multimedia writing, editing, and publishing for automotive, small business, and general assignment media.
Sports Podcast
Quinn Watch is a student at Kennesaw State University pursuing a degree in History Education. She grew up in Gwinnett and graduated from Paul Duke STEM High School in 2020. She enjoys spending time with her dog Max and stand-up comedy.
Every Thursday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Pinckneyville Park
4758 S. Old Peachtree Rd., Norcross GwinnettParks.com, 678-277-0920
Admission: free
The club meets every Thursday for ages 50 and up. Please call for availability.
Fridays weekly. 7-8 a.m.
Moe’s Original Barbecue
5005 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 810, Peachtree Corners yieldedmen.org
Admission: free
Yielded Men (YM) is a weekly safe, small discussion group focused on building relationships and encouraging men in their walk with God. Each week the group addresses a specific issue that most men face in life. All are welcome.
Every other Saturday. 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Pinckneyville Park
4758 S. Old Peachtree Rd., Norcross GwinnettParks.com, 678-277-0920
Register with Tom Emch, 770-605-0429, ibemch@charter.net
Admission: free
Chess for all ages. All experiences are welcomed.
Saturday and Sunday, October 7-8.
Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Downtown Norcross
45 S. Peachtree St., Norcross splashfestivals.com/events-festivals/norcross-art-splash
Admission: free
Eighty artists from across the U.S. will showcase their folk art, ceramics, paintings, photography, mixed media, fiber art, metalwork and jewelry. The interactive Kidz Zone, in the Crossing Steakhouse parking lot, features face painting, sand art and inflatable rides. Plenty of festival food and drink will be available, too.
Thursdays, October 12 and November 9 6:45-8:15 p.m.
Atlanta Tech Park
107 Technology Pkwy., Peachtree Corners pcphotoclub.org
October’s meeting is “The Cheapskates Guide to Photography (and still making great images).” Photographers of all skill levels are welcomed at 6:15 p.m. for social time.
Readiness Event
Thursday, October 12. 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Cornerstone Christian Academy
process. Admissions experts and parents who have been there are on hand to answer questions and share advice.
Blessing of the Animals
Sunday, October 22. 12:30 p.m.
Christ the King Lutheran Church
5575 Peachtree Pkwy., Peachtree Corners ctklutheran.org
Admission: free
Pets and their parents are invited to the church’s outdoor pavilion for a special blessing. Please be sure furry family members are leashed and secure.
Deutsche Klassic German Car Show
Saturday, October 28. 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Downtown Norcross
87 Thrasher St., Norcross deutsche-klassic.com
Tickets: TBD, check online
More than 250 classic German automobiles will be on display, including BMWs, Audis, Porsches, Mercedes Benzes, Volkswagens and Opels. Visitors will also indulge in traditional German cuisine and beer while listening to a lively polka band.
Dia de los Muertos Festival
Saturday, November 4. 5-9 p.m. Thrasher Park
93 Park Dr., Norcross norcrossga.net
Admission: free
It’s a night of remembrance, dance and live authentic entertainment, followed by a parade around the park. Experience a rich cultural experience and an opportunity to celebrate ancestors and history with authentic Mexican food and beverages.
5600 W. Jones Bridge Rd., Peachtree Corners facebook.com/FowlerY/, 770-246-9622
Every other Friday, 12:15 p.m.
For ages 50 and up, Lifelong Learners offers seniors the chance to come together and enjoy guest speakers, local field trips and spirited cultural discussions. Held in the Senior Center.
For more information, contact Rob Wilson at robertw@ymcaatlanta. com.
Every Monday, 11 a.m.
Grief and loss are two of the most difficult emotions to face, but you don’t have to face them alone. This is a safe and caring environment for participants. Held in the Senior Meeting Room.
For more information, contact Ellie Garrett at ejgarrett@gmail.com.
Every Tuesday, 11:45 a.m.
The YMCA’s weekly Caregivers Group provides a dedicated meeting space for caregivers to offer and receive emotional support. If you are providing care for a loved one, or want to learn more about long term caregiving, this group is for you. The group offers practical information while respecting confidentiality and encouraging camaraderie. Held in the Senior Meeting Room.
For more information, contact Mary Crawley at mcrawley@wans. net.
6
5293 Triangle Pkwy., Peachtree Corners
cornerstonecougars.org
This fun and informative night will help prepare parents of rising kindergartners for the application
Senior Activities include:
• Canasta — Every Monday, 2 p.m. in the Senior Meeting Room; and
• Dominoes — Every Thursday, 10:45 a.m., in the Senior Meeting Room.
September 14 - October 31 | Norcross Gallery & Studios & The Rectory, (Rectory By Appointment Only)
September 14 - October 25 | 45 South Cafe
HISPANIC HERITAGE CELEBRATION
September 16 | 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. | Summerour Middle School Parking Lot
* PLUS, CHALK ART SPONSORED BY EXPLORE GWINNETT
DOWNTOWN YARN BOMBING
October 5 - 8 | Downtown Norcross
DINNER
October 6 - 8 | Downtown Norcross Businesses & Lionheart Theatre
LIONHEART’S ‘BEWITCHING’ SHOW
October 6 - 15 | Lionheart Theatre
NORCROSS ART SPLASH FESTIVAL
October 7 & 8 | Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. & Sunday, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Downtown Norcross
DÍA DE LOS MUERTOS
November 4 | 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. | Thrasher Park
SCAN HERE FOR MORE DETAILS:
5140 Town Center Boulevard, Peachtree Corners peachtreecornersga.gov
Scan QR for Calendar ►
Friday, October 6. 7 p.m.
Admission: free
About the film: In honor of the Atlanta Sci-Fi Film Festival, sci-fi favorite E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial will be presented. E.T., produced and directed by Steven Spielberg, is the story of a gentle alien stranded on Earth that is discovered and befriended by a young boy. Prior to the movie, there will be a showing of Kizai Moto: Moremi. Moremi is the third episode of the Kizai Moto: Generations of Fire series, an African-futurist animated anthology short film series produced by Triggerfish that airs on Disney.
Saturday, October 14. 7-9 p.m.
Admission: free
About the band / artist: Chuck Martin & the Line-Up is a high-energy country rock band that plays hits from the 90s to today. Leah Belle Faser opens the show with an authentic musical style grounded in a sound seasoned with county, pop, rock and folk influences.
Saturday, October 21. 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Although registration for the decathlon is closed, everyone is invited to support local and region-
November 18 — UGA v Tennessee
November 25 — UGA v Georgia Tech
December 2 —
SEC Championship 4 p.m.
December 9 — Army v Navy 3 p.m.
Saturday, October 28. 7-9 p.m.
Admission: free
About the band: The eight-piece tribute band, also known as NYC, features the pop and R&B sounds of the 1970s and 80s.
Saturday, November 11. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Admission: free
The Veterans Day ceremony starts at 11 a.m. This year’s event includes a health fair with immunizations, health screenings, blood pressure checks, a Veterans’ Benefits booth and giveaway items.
Thursday, November 30. 5:30-8 p.m.
Admission: free
Peachtree Corners celebrates the season with the lighting of a sixfoot menorah and innovative LED tree at Town Green. There will be complimentary hot chocolate, a sing-along and a holiday concert.
October 6-15
October 6-8 and 13-14, 7:30 p.m.; October 15, 2 p.m.
Lionheart Theatre
10 College St., Norcross lionhearttheatre.org, 404-919-4022
Tickets: $18; students and seniors, $16
Friday-Sunday, October 6-8. 7-9 p.m.
Town Green and CMX | CineBistro atlantascififilmfestival.com
Admission: free with registration
Events at the Festival include family-friendly films and live music performances, a 48-Hour Sci-Tech Film Challenge where filmmakers race against time to craft short films and an exclusive advance screening of National Geographic’s documentary film “The Space Race.” There will also be screenings of 2021 film festival winners and panel discussions.
al athletes as they compete. The 72 participants will compete in 10 events at the Town Green Path to Fitness. An awards ceremony will be held Monday, October 23 at the Curiosity Lab innovation Center, 147 Technology Parkway in Peachtree Corners.
Select Saturdays. Times to be determined unless otherwise noted. Tailgate and cheer on your favorite teams. Everyone is encouraged to bring their own coolers or purchase food and drink from one of Town Center’s many restaurants.
Admission: free
October 21 —
Alabama v Tennessee
November 4 — UGA v Missouri
About the show: Get into the Halloween spirit with this collection of chilling short plays. This spooky collection returns with new scares and laughs.
October 16-17
Greater Atlanta Christian School King’s Gate Theatre
1575 Indian Trail Rd., Norcross greateratlantachristian.org, 770-243-2000
About the show: “Play on!” Is the
GAC High School entry to the One Act Play Festival; the Middle School will present “Miss Nelson Is Missing.”
Fall Orchestra Concert
Tuesday, October 17. 7 p.m.
Paul Duke STEM High School Auditorium
5850 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Norcross pauldukestem.org
The Concert, Symphonic, and Chamber orchestras of PDSHS will feature pieces from all areas of the world in their first concert of the year.
Thursday, October 19. 7 p.m.
Paul Duke STEM High School Auditorium
5850 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Norcross pauldukestem.org
The wind ensemble, wind symphony and jazz band will perform mu-
sic that includes a funeral march honoring the March King to and Korean folksongs as well as jazz standards such as Autumn Leaves and Caravan.
October 19-21
Thursday and Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Norcross High School Auditorium
5300 Spalding Dr., Norcross nhs-drama.com
Tickets: $10 general; $20 premium; $5 on Saturday at 2 p.m. only
About the show: This is NHS’s one-act play entry for the GHSA Region One-Act Play Competition.
Norcross Cluster Band Concert
Wednesday, November 1. 7 p.m.
Norcross High School Auditorium
Amazing students from the Paul Duke STEM HS, Norcross HS, Summerour MS and Pinckneyville MS top ensembles perform a wide variety of music.
November 3-19
Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.
Lionheart Theatre
10 College St., Norcross lionhearttheatre.org, 404-919-4022
Tickets: $18; students and seniors, $16
About the show: Playwright Sidney Bruhl plots and plans to get his hands — and his name — on a bestselling show. Written by Ira Levin and adapted into a film starring Michael Cain, the play features twists and turns galore.
Dreamcoat
November 16-19
Thursday and Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m.
Valor Christian Academy
4755 Kimball Bridge Rd., Alpharetta
Tickets: $20; $25 at the door
About the show: Told entirely through song, this musical follows
November 3-4
Friday, 7 p.m.; Saturday, 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Cornerstone Christian Academy
5295 Triangle Pkwy., Peachtree Corners
cornerstonecougars.org
770-441-9222
About the show: Disney’s Aladdin JR. is based on the 1992 film and the 2014 Broadway show about the “diamond in the rough” street rat who learns that his true worth lies deep within. With expanded characters and new songs, this adaptation opens up “a whole new world.”
preferred son Joseph. After being sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph winds up in jail. While imprisoned, he discovers his ability to interpret dreams and soon finds himself in front of the mighty but troubled Pharaoh. Presented by Christian Youth Theater (CYT).
November 27-December 1. 7 p.m.
Paul Duke STEM High School Auditorium
5850 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Norcross pauldukestem.org
5155 Peachtree Parkway, Peachtree Corners theforumpeachtree.com/events
Scan QR for more information ►
Every Wednesday through October 25. 6-7 p.m.
Admission: free
The weekly fitness session combines strength conditioning, cardio and mindfulness, leaving participants feeling balanced and empowered. Earn a loyalty stamp for every completed class. Remember to bring your yoga mat.
Thursday Night Live
Every Thursday through October 26. 6-8 p.m.
Admission: free
Kick back, relax and enjoy local musicians as they bring their smooth signature sounds to the Forum.
October 5 — Jason Gardner Trio
October 12 — East & Ward
October 19 — Taylor Harlow
October 26 —The Bourbon Brothers
Saturday, October 28. 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Admission: free
Young children are invited to dress up, visit the stores and collect treats.
Tuesday, October 31. 4-6 p.m.
Admission: free
It’s an ultimate playdate for the little ones with kid-friendly games, crafts and entertainment.
Saturday, November 18. 6-8 p.m.
Admission: free
Ring in the holidays with festive entertainment and family-friendly activities while counting down to the official tree lighting and arrival of jolly Saint Nick.
Friday, November 24. 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Admission: free
Get a jump start on holiday shopping during Black Friday with promotions, activations and more from The Forum’s retailers and restaurants.
Photos with Santa Tuesdays, November 28, December 5 and December 12. 5-8 p.m.
Admission: Appointments required. Watch for details.
Visit Santa at The Forum on select Tuesdays throughout the season as he spreads holiday magic and has photos taken with families.
Thursday, December 7. 4-5 p.m.
Admission: free
The Chabad Enrichment Center of Gwinnett cohosts this Chanukah celebration. Guests are invited to kick off the first night of Chanukah with a Menorah lighting ceremony, family-friendly activities and entertainment.
Thursdays, December 7, 14 and 21. 4-5 p.m. and 5-6 p.m.
Admission: free
Cozy up at the Forum with blankets and hot cocoa while listening to classic holiday stories read by Santa.
(Adapted by Rick Cummins and John Scoullar)
October 26-28
Come join us at One Heart Church for a family friendly afternoon at our trunk or treat! Dress up the kids in their costumes, bring a school supply for our School Supply Drive and enjoy seeing the fun decorated trunks! No sign up is necessary, just come and join us. For our school supply drive we are collecting notebook paper, pencils, glue sticks, colored pencils, small scissors, crayons, paper towels, Clorox wipes and Kleenex. All supplies will be donated to local schools
Open to the public, tickets required. Learn more and purchase tickets at Drama (wesleyanschool.org)
5570 Spalding Drive, Peachtree Corners 30092 770-978-5154 | gwinnettpl.org
Mondays, October 2, 16, 23, 30 and November 6, 13, 27. 4-6 p.m.
Admission: free
Kids ages 6-11 can develop their reading skills by reading aloud with a volunteer Reading Buddy.
Tuesdays, October 3, 10, 17; November 7, 14, 21 and December 5. 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Admission: free
Stories, songs and simple rhymes for children, ages 2 and under, and their caregivers.
Tuesday, October 3. 6-7 p.m.
Admission: free
Visite la biblioteca en Peachtree Corners para conocer los formularios legales que están disponibles para usar y descargar para uso personal. This program aims to educate the community on legal resources at the library.
Wednesday, October 4, November 15 and December 6. 5-6 p.m. Wednesdays, October 18 and November 1. 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Admission: free
Adults and kids, ages 6 and up, can see a demonstration of how to find and prepare 3D models for printing, using a 3D printer and how to troubleshoot printer issues.
Thursdays, October 5, 12, 19; November 2, 9, 16 and December 7. 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Admission: free
Fun for preschool children, ages 3-5, as they listen to stories, play games and sing songs.
Thursday, October 5. 1-2 p.m.
Admission: free; registration required
Ages 6-11 learn basic painting with acrylics in a class taught by a local artist.
October 10, 11, 17, 24, 25 and November 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 28, 29. 4-6 p.m.
Admission: free
Volunteers provide free one-on-one homework help for students in grades K through 8.
Wednesday, October 11. 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Admission: free; registration required
Kids 12 and up, and adults, will learn to set up and operate a sewing machine.
Friday, October 13. 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Admission: free
Ages 19+ are welcome as represen-
Applications are now open for fall 2024 at Wesleyan School! Visit campus, speak with the admissions team, and meet current Wesleyan parents at a variety of events scheduled throughout the fall. Learn more and register online at Admissions Events | K-12 Private School l Wesleyan (wesleyanschool.org)
tatives from the East Georgia Cancer Coalition provide tips and education on lowering risks for skin cancer.
Friday, October 13. 4-5 p.m.
Admission: free
Kids 6-11 will learn about the Earth’s past by exploring core sampling, then make their very own core sample out of candy.
Saturday, October 14. 2-3 p.m.
Admission: free; registration required
Kids 9-14 years old will learn the basics of coding for a robot by using block-based code and an already built LEGO EV3 robot.
Thursday, October 19. 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Admission: free; registration required
This new program is for homeschoolers to meet new friends and learn new things. This month’s program is about bats.
Wednesday, October 25. 5-6 p.m.
Admission: free; space is limited
Students aged 12-18 will learn to shoot green screen video. There will be a demonstration on how to best set up the lights and camera for recording as well as editing practice.
Thursday, October 26. 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Admission: free
Everyone aged 19+ is invited to hear representatives from the East Georgia Cancer Coalition provide information about the importance of a healthy diet and drinking water as well as recommendations for exercises that can be done at home.
Thursday, October 26. 6-7 p.m.
Admission: free
Writers 19 and up are invited to the circle for discussion on new writing techniques as well as networking with others.
Monday, October 30. 11 a.m.-12 p.m.
Admission: free
Representatives from the East Georgia Cancer Coalition will provide tips for self-care and other resources for caregivers of cancer patients.
Monday, October 30. 4-5 p.m.
Admission: free
Learn about The Day of the Dead, a holiday that reunites the living with the dead, and make a decorated paper skull to honor the dead. For ages 6-11.
Wednesday, November 1. 4-5 p.m.
Admission: free
Students 12-18 will stretch their prefrontal cortexes with problem-solving puzzles and learn a bit more about some of the earliest logic puzzles.
Friday, November 3. 4-5 p.m.
Admission: free
Teens interested in starting their own businesses can learn about free resources to make their entrepreneurial dreams a reality. For ages 12 and up.
Wednesday, November 8. 5-6 p.m.
Admission: free; registration required
Learn to sew simple gift bags for any occasion.
Tuesday, November 14. 4-5 p.m.
Admission: free
Kids 6-11 will learn about the importance of basking weaving in Native American culture and make a small basket.
116 Carlyle St., Norcross | norcrossgalleryandstudios.org, 770-840-9844
Contact instructors for supply list.
Beginning Watercolor
Mondays, October 16, 23, 30 and November 6. 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Cost: $135 for members; $155 for non-members
Instructor Lucy Brady, lucyart2@yahoo.com
Meet the Artist of the Month
Wednesday, October 25 —
Anne Labaire (above)
Wednesday, November 29 —
Traci Dickson
4:30-6:30 p.m.
45 South Café, 45 S. Peachtree St., Norcross
Tuesdays, 1-4 p.m.
Cost: $16 for members; $22 for non-members
Moderators: Lynda Ellis, lyndaellis@gmail.com; Anne Hall, annehallstudio@yahoo.com
Daytime Open Studio
Thursdays, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: $5 for members, $10 for non-members
Moderator: Anne Labaire, labaireart@gmail.com
Evening Open Studio
Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m.
Cost: $5 members, $10 non-members
Moderator: Patty Grewe-Mullins, pgrewemullins@gmail.com
Beginning Painting in Oil
Mondays, October 16, 23, 30 and November 6, 13. 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Cost: $135 for members; $155 for non-members
Instructor Patty Grewe-Mullins, pgrewemullins@gmail.com
Abstraction in Acrylics
Fridays, October 20, 27 and November 3, 10. 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Cost: $135 for members; $155 for non-members
Instructor Chitra Ramanathan, chitra.fineart@gmail.com
Contact instructors for supply list.
Plein Air: Paint Your Art Out
Friday-Sunday, October 6-8. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Cost: $150 for members; $170 for non-members
Instructor Kathy Collins, mkcollinsart@yahoo.com
Painting plein air is the art of painting outdoors. Join award-winning Impressionist painter Kathy Collins for a 3-day workshop that outlines the basics of painting plein air.
Saturday, November 4. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Cost: free
Instructor: Anne Emerson Hall, annehallstudio@yahoo.com
Understanding structure is the key to creating a likeness. You’ll see the head as a three-dimensional object and how skeletal landmarks show where to place the features.
Saturday, November 11. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Cost: $25
Instructor: Anne Emerson Hall, annehallstudio@yahoo.com
After a hot summer, the cool, crisp autumn air is finally setting in and you know what that means. It’s time to make the most of what the season has to offer. Whether you are on the hunt for the perfect pumpkin or looking for a spark to your spooky season, there is plenty to see and do this fall. Here is a list of some of the top events happening in and around Peachtree Corners during October and November.
31, every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pumpkin Patch Story Time will be held every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. For more information, visit the church website, Mtcarmel-umc. org.
It’s back! Founded in 2008, the Buford Corn Maze is located on a 32-acre family farm dating back to the early 1800s. Over the past decade, the Corn Maze has expanded to include a whole lot of old-fashioned fun for families with the special Kids CORNer area, a Haunted
farm skeeball, a pumpkin train, duck races, tricycle races, apple cannons and concessions. This 500-acre family-owned and operated farm is located at 5340 Cornelia Hwy in Alto, Georgia.
Going apple picking in Georgia is a fall tradition you can’t miss! B.J. Reece Apple House and Orchards is a family-owned and operated orchard in Ellijay, Georgia. Tucked in the North Georgia Mountains, B.J. Reece is home to U-pick orchards, a country bakery, petting farm, pony rides and much more.
Christ the King Lutheran Church is holding a very special Blessing of the Animals celebration on October 22, at 12:30 p.m. in the outdoor patio area of the church located at 5575 Peachtree Pkwy. in Peachtree Corners. Christ the King’s congregation has grown from a fledgling mission into a well-established parish where worship, outreach, fellowship, evangelism and discipleship form and shape lives.
life of the festival is found on the streets of Duluth. Vendors sell everything you can imagine, with something for everybody. You will find handmade crafts of every description, including clothing, original art, fall and Christmas decorations, furniture, jewelry, toys and many other items.
Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, apple orchards and celebrations
Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church in Peachtree Corners will have its annual Pumpkin Patch beginning October 8 through October
Forest, a pumpkin patch and more. The last day to visit Buford Corn Maze is November 12.
Take a day trip up to Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch in Dawsonville, Georgia. This 15-acre corn maze and pumpkin patch is home to tons of farm fun, delicious food and unforgettable family memories. Explore the farm grounds, including pick-yourown pumpkins, jumping pillow, tire mountain, kids’ maze and gem mining.
Head on down to the Norcross Art Splash Festival on Saturday, October 7 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, October 8, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Norcross. Eighty artists from across the country will show off their talents with folk art, ceramics, paintings, photography, mixed media, fiber art, metalwork and jewelry. Bring the kids for an interactive Kidz Zone in the Crossing Steakhouse parking lot on S. Peachtree St., with face painting, sand art and inflatable rides.
Get ready to celebrate Dia de los Muertos in style at Thrasher Park on Saturday, November 4 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.! Enjoy a night of remembrance, dance and live authentic entertainment, followed by a parade around the park. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural experience with delicious, authentic Mexican food and beverages. It’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate your loved ones while enjoying a night out with the community.
By Anna Delvillar
Open daily until Sunday, November 5, Jaemor Farms’ annual Harvest Celebration offers a complete fall farm experience, including hayrides, farm slides, a petting zoo,
The Duluth Fall Festival begins on Saturday, September 30, with a huge parade through the streets of Duluth that involves more than 3,000 participants. The parade is followed by an opening ceremony on the festival center stage. Entertainment then takes over the stage for the rest of the day.
With more than 375 booths, the
Stone Mountain Park’s Pumpkin Festival, Play by Day, Glow by Night, is returning this fall. Guests are welcome to celebrate the autumn season during the park’s Pumpkin Festival, a family tradition featuring a variety of glowing experiences. For more information about Stone Mountain Park and hours of operation, call 1-800-401-2407 or visit stonemountainpark.com.
Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church Pumpkin PatchThe Suwanee Taste of BBQ and Music Festival is a family-friendly event featuring a taste of BBQ, live music and local vendors. Check out the artist market and a family fun zone with activities for children of all ages. Festivities start Saturday, October 7, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Suwanee Taste of BBQ & Music Festival is a fundraiser for Project Green, a local kids’ non-profit.
On November 4, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., the City of Lawrenceville will host its annual Harvest Festival at the Lawrenceville Lawn. This family-friendly event features a wide range of activities and entertainment, sure to delight visitors of all ages. Take a stroll through the marketplace, where you can shop for locally made crafts, goods
Museum of Monsters, roaming creatures who are (usually) more than happy to snap a selfie with you and more! Tickets are sold at escapethenetherworld. com.
Celebrating Halloween with your furry friend? Mark the special occasion with a memorable photo shoot at Brook Run Park in Dunwoody on Sunday, October 15, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Fifteen-minute photo slots cost $20 and all proceeds go to benefit The Brook Run Dog Park Association.
Registration is now open for Suwanee Wine Festival’s Spooky Spirits 5K on Saturday, October 14 at 11 a.m. For the third year in a row, the Spooky Spirit 5K offers a cocktails and costumes twist on the traditional 5K race. This timed Peachtree Road Race-qualifying event is fit for anyone, whether you are a competitive runner trying to beat your personal record or you’re just looking to sip and stroll with your closest cocktail-loving friends. Prizes will be awarded after the race for the most spirited costumes, so come dressed in your most festive running gear!
Tree Lighting event on Saturday, November 18, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Celebrate the arrival of jolly Old Saint Nick while the whole family enjoys festive entertainment, family-friendly activities and more.
Stop by Unity Atlanta Church for even more trick-or-treating with a special Trunk-or-Treat event starting at 1 p.m. Trunk-ortreating is a community-focused alternative to traditional trickor-treating. Adults decorate their cars with Halloween themes and gather in a parking lot. Kids then collect candy from car to car while adults mingle and enjoy the festive atmosphere.
rants are serving fantastic specials to satisfy your hunger before the show.
ART Station in Stone Mountain is hosting the 38th annual A Tour of Southern Ghosts. This storytelling experience showcases the best ghost tales from the South. For six nights this fall, 10,000 visitors will be guided on a lantern-lit tour of yesteryear, vividly brought to life through the grand tradition of Southern storytelling. The guided tours take place between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays for the last three weekends in October. Learn more at atourofsouthernghosts.com.
Lawrenceville is the oldest city in metro Atlanta and for many years, it was a sleepy suburban Southern town. With the growth and development of the metro area, much of historic downtown Lawrenceville was renovated at the turn of the century. These renovations awakened sleeping ghosts and sparked increased reports of paranormal activity, thus setting the stage for Lawrenceville Georgia Ghost Tours. Sign up, if you dare, for a 90-minute tour of some of Lawrenceville’s most interesting places and hear the stories behind its most bizarre events. Learn more at auroratheatre.com/haunted-happenings/.
and other artisanal products. Enjoy live music from some of the area’s top performers and indulge in a delicious array of fall-themed food and beverages.
It’s time to pop that champagne!
Chateau Elan’s Vineyard Fest is officially set to return for its 26th year with more unique experiences, activities and live entertainment than ever before. Sit back, relax and indulge in internationally inspired wine and food on Sunday, November 12.
Visit Netherworld Haunted House this fall to experience two brand new haunts, Primordial and Cryptic Charos, during the 27th season of screams. In addition to the haunts, there are tasty treats, photo ops, five escape rooms, the
Start your Halloween early at Railyard Halloween in Loganville, Georgia on Saturday, October 21, starting at 4 p.m. The evening begins with Trick-or-Treating followed by live music, a scavenger hunt, a bounce house, a costume contest and a movie on the lawn. Adults can skip the tricks and check out the Small Business Vendor Market.
Ghosts, goblins and goodies, oh my! Kick off Halloween early and collect all the treats from participating retailers and restaurants. The Forum will host Trick-orTreating on Sunday, October 29, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Plus, enjoy face painting, balloon art, costume characters and more family-friendly fun.
The Forum will also be ringing in the holidays during its annual
Lionheart Theatre presents Bewitching, a captivating collection of Halloween and horror-themed short films! Running from Friday, October 6 through Sunday, October 15 at the Lionheart Theatre, the shows are scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Don’t miss out on opening weekend where downtown restau-
Local historian Gene Ramsay will guide visitors through Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church’s Cemetery and History Tour on Sunday, October 29 at 2 p.m. Travel back in time and hear fascinating stories about Mt. Carmel and Pinckneyville’s past told by an experienced guide who has lived in the metro area for over 40 years. To learn more, contact the church office at mtcarmelumc@ comcast.net or call 770-449-4498. ■
Dia de los Muertos at Thrasher Park in 2022
Trick or Treat at The Forum (2022)
Carmel United Methodist Church’s Cemetery and History Tour
By Patrizia Winsper
We sadly lost the legendary Tina Turner this year.
The superstar didn’t fear death. She believed it was just part of life.
But what happens when death is not at all part of the natural order of things? What happens when a nine-year-old child loses her mommy at the hands of an ex-boyfriend, when a mother of three is
senselessly murdered or when a son in the prime of his life is lost to a drug overdose?
These unspeakable tragedies led to the making of a grief and trauma counselor, a push towards legislation to protect drivers of ride-hail-
ing apps and the launch of an organization aimed at saving lives.
“My mom was murdered when I was nine.”
When she was a little girl, Grief, Trauma and Domestic Violence Therapist Danielle Edwards went to school one morning, not knowing she’d never see her mother again. Her mother’s ex-boyfriend, Nat — whom Edwards knew well and had visited with — had been stalking her mother. He was a
correctional officer.
A month prior, her mother was hospitalized after Nat assaulted her in front of their home. On the day Edwards’ mom went to get a protective order, Nat followed her to a friend’s house and shot both her and her friend to death.
The house was full of people when Edwards came in from playing that day; the pastor, the police, everyone was there except her mom. Her aunts were crying.
Even at such a tender age, Edwards was able to deduce her mother had been killed. Before her grandmother could share the sad news, Edwards asked, “Is she dead?”
A white rose represented her loss at the next Mother’s Day brunch, but Edwards did not receive any counseling. Though her grandmother had talked to her about going to see a “different kind of doctor,” her uncle didn’t feel therapy was necessary.
Adults ultimately make that call for children. Depending upon a family’s cultural views about psychotherapy, some children may be denied services that would undoubtedly be helpful.
Imagine being haunted by thoughts of what the last moments were like for a relative who was murdered.
“Finding out your loved one died in a violent way is traumatic. It feels like a violation. Someone was taken from you. You don’t get to tie up loose ends or say good-bye. You can’t believe this horrible thing has happened,” Edwards shared.
Edwards was impacted by domestic violence and her mother’s homicide as well as the subsequent grief she experienced as a child but, unfortunately, did not receive any wrap-around services.
As a child, she didn’t ask a lot of questions. She understood her mother wasn’t coming back and remembers being unable to go to bed alone for a while.
“I don’t recall how I did immediately, but eventually I did fine. I remember looking up at the stars and asking God, “Why?” I wanted to call Heaven,” Edwards recounted.
Today, Edwards is part of the Georgia Murder/Suicide Response Network and proud of the progress the state is making to provide families with the tools necessary to process this very specific type of loss and grief.
“It felt like a natural progression
from my own experiences to an interest in providing grief support to others,” she said.
Full circle
Thirty years after losing her mother, Edwards found herself sitting under those same stars, providing support to grieving kids at Camp MAGIK. “It felt like such a full circle moment for me,” she said.
Having seen how grief impacted her own family, Edwards is an advocate for kids receiving help. “I see it in the work I do at the grief camps. Survivors need support to navigate grief as a family particularly if there are children,” she said. There’s now a program through the Georgia Commission on Family Violence focused on providing assistance to people impacted by domestic violence, murder and suicide.
had happened to their daughter on the evening of November 21, 2022.
A friend who regularly stayed on the phone with her for safety — they were both Lyft drivers — heard the moment Lauren was shot.
“I was nervous, in a panic, pacing the floor, trying to call around everywhere,” Kim said. “We tried to find out what was going on. The detectives confirmed her death at about 2 a.m.”
There was no getting close to the crime scene. The Sawyers relied on WSB-TV journalist Larry Spruill Jr. who was covering the story for information.
Lauren had dropped off a passenger who was disputing with the father of her children during the ride to his house. Seven months pregnant, the passenger was on her way to pick up her baby. She asked Lauren to wait for her.
over to call 911. It was dark. The man ran up to the passenger side and shot up the car. The passenger got away, but Lauren wasn’t able to; she was still in her seatbelt. She was found hanging out of her car door,” Councilman Sawyer shared.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the car “light up with gunfire” and smoke pouring out of the vehicle when a door was opened. The shooter was later killed when officers returned fire at a nearby gas station.
“He didn’t know Lauren was a Lyft driver. She was just doing her job,” Councilman Sawyer said.
The Sawyers, tasked with cleaning out their daughter’s car, were able to count at least 18 bullet holes. They found a photograph of Lauren and her kids in the car. In Lauren’s place in the photo, there was just a bullet hole, but the children’s images remained intact.
Lauren was torn away from her children, family and friends forever because of a quarrel that had nothing to do with her.
A 31-year-old single mother of three trying to make ends meet, Lauren Allen lost her life to a shooter one night in Lithonia.
Peachtree Corners Councilman
Joe Sawyer and his wife Kim were alerted that something terrible
“All we know is that the man came running out of the house, chasing the girl with a 22-assault rifle. He started shooting but she jumped back in the car, and they were able to get away. He chased them on foot.
“At some point, Lauren pulled
The social connections forged by the Sawyers during their 34 years together have helped to sustain them in many ways during their darkest hours. Family and friends flooded their home, so they were not alone when they received verification of their worst nightmare.
“There were probably 30 people here. When something happens, we’re all there — brothers, sisters, everybody,” Councilman Sawyer said.
Their church group, surround-
Grief is hard. Without the community it would’ve been a lot harder. We’ve had a meal train, donations to the Go Fund Me Account (gofund. me/28d0ee33). This made us feel loved. It’s meant a lot to us and helped us make it through.
Joe SawyerCouncilman Joe Sawyer and his wife Kim are lobbying for ride-share app drivers to be armed.
ing congregations, the City of Peachtree Corners and nearby municipalities reached out to them. Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens had a proclamation honoring Lauren delivered to her viewing. His representatives were the first to arrive.
Crowell Brothers Funeral Home collected Lauren’s body from the coroner’s office and sheltered Kim from seeing her daughter before she was funeral ready. “I wanted to see her, but they told me to wait, not to see her like that,” Kim said.
One of her oldest friends saw to it that Lauren’s makeup was just right on the morning of the service. The family is grateful to the Senior Pastor of Peachtree Corners Baptist Church, Jay Hackett, for holding Lauren’s homegoing service where she was baptized.
“Grief is hard. Without the community it would’ve been a lot harder. We’ve had a meal train, donations to the Go Fund Me Account (gofund.me/28d0ee33). This made us feel loved. It’s meant a lot to us and helped us make it through,” Councilman Sawyer stated.
With the help of a well-respected Peachtree Corners attorney, the Sawyers are seeking full custody of Lauren’s children by two different fathers, rather than splitting
up the siblings. They had always taken care of their grandchildren, who range in age from 8 to 13, while Lauren worked.
It’s not an easy task for “Mimi” and “Papa” to care for three children but they wouldn’t have it any
other way.
They feel it’s best to keep the children together, though one of the fathers is contesting it. “We’re not trying to keep him away. We want to keep her in an environment with her brother and sister. They’ve grown up together,” Councilman Sawyer said.
In the meantime, the children are in counseling. Kelsey and Kya go to Summit Counseling Center in John’s Creek. Kameron sees Jordan Yates, a licensed professional counselor (LPC) at Christ the King Lutheran Church.
The couple has been to grief counseling once but are challenged to find the time to return. They hope to join a church group in the fall.
According to Edwards, it’s not uncommon for bereaved individuals to wrestle with their spirituality. The grief counselor has witnessed people who hadn’t believed in a higher power begin to ponder the possibility after experiencing a loss. Conversely, she’s had clients with a previously ironclad belief system become upset and unsure following the loss of a loved one.
what to believe. I’m here to provide a space for you to work through whatever it is that’s coming up,” Edwards explained.
Councilman Sawyer found himself filled with hate for six months. “I hated the world. I was torn up, miserable. I couldn’t sleep. I stopped praying. I was too busy asking God why he took my daughter until my sister told me I needed to get rid of my anger because as I go, my family goes,” he said.
Then a friend in London called, urging him to let it go or he’d be consumed by hatred which would in turn, consume his family. When she prayed for him, it felt as though a weight had lifted. He instantly felt different.
That same day, Councilman Sawyer’s sister said, “I don’t know if you’re ready for this, but Lauren just crossed over. She went running to daddy, calling him “Papa”, and hugged him. Daddy was waiting on her in Heaven. Lauren didn’t want to leave you, Joe, because she knew you were in a bad spot.”
Brokenhearted herself, battling a stream of tears and trying to be strong, Kim was relieved when her spouse’s fury dissipated.
“Dealing with it and living with him was not very good. Thank goodness, it’s so much better,” she said. The couple believes things changed for the better because people were praying for them.
Together they make a strong unit, but Councilman Sawyer and his wife have had some contrasting experiences. What is healing for one can be a trigger for the other. While Kim wishes to hear the 911 call made by Lauren for example, Councilman Sawyer does not.
Hearing “I’m sorry for your loss” is comforting to Kim who finds it difficult when people avoid discussing it. Councilman Sawyer prefers the remark from Senior Pastor of Northpoint Church, Andy Stanley: “I’m not going to say anything. I don’t have the words.”
While Kim is tormented about not having seen her daughter on that fateful day, Councilman Sawyer feels fortunate to have spent some quality father-daughter time with Lauren on the day of her shooting.
John and Caroline Manning
“If you were raised not to question your faith and suddenly you are questioning, you don’t know what to do with that. This is a place where you can talk about it. I’m not going to judge or tell you
Everyone is distinct in their grieving. “It’s hard. You can be talking and all of a sudden you start crying. I see what Kim goes through. This has allowed us to spend more time together. Our marriage has gotten stronger,”
Councilman Sawyer said.
Hoping to lobby Georgia State Representatives Scott Hilton and Ruwa Romman, the Sawyers plan a push to have drivers of ride-hailing apps like Lyft and Uber be allowed to carry guns. They realize it’s a politically contentious issue.
According to Councilman Sawyer, it’s concerning that Georgia Governor Brian Kemp passed the permitless carry gun law in 2022, allowing citizens to carry handguns in public without a license or background check. The black community has the highest rate of gun deaths in America; he fears it will only increase as more states pass the same legislation.
The couple would rather see stronger licensing laws in place. They’re eager to work with both parties to achieve their goal. They don’t want what befell Lauren — being helpless in the face of a gunman, armed only with pepper spray — to happen to anyone else’s child.
The Sawyers cited a new Atlanta-based ride-sharing app (Black Wolf) that offers a bullet-proof SUV and armed drivers who are highly trained in security. They hope others will follow suit.
“Young people are buying guns. They don’t take classes. They’re going out and killing. It’s happening all over. It needs to be addressed,” Councilman Sawyer exclaimed. “These companies have to look out for their people. We’re arming the public. We have to make sure drivers are protected.”
To honor their daughter’s memory, the Sawyers have set their sights on getting what they hope to call “Lauren’s Law” sponsored, through the House of Representatives, and all the way to the governor’s desk. Fighting for the protection of these drivers is what they believe Lauren would want.
As they brace themselves to face life without her, Councilman Sawyer vowed, “I’m not gonna rest ‘til I get something done.”
On April 14, 2022, Kathy Armistead also received an earth-shattering 2 a.m. phone call. “He’s gone,” her son’s friend said. Feeney was 33 years old. He’d gone out with a friend to get some cocaine, telling his girlfriend he’d be back soon.
When jovial, sports-loving, larger-than-life Feeney collapsed while using, his friend must’ve panicked. He didn’t administer CPR or call
911. Feeney died of cardiac arrest.
Armistead pieced a timeline together after emerging from having been frozen in grief for a month and was able to deduce that 30 to 40 minutes had lapsed before anyone dialed emergency services.
When the heart stops, the brain
happen. Feeney may have had a second chance at life had those around him acted quickly. A
As she sat by his side in the hospital, Feeney appeared to be asleep. “He looked healthy, relaxed. He had just gotten back from the beach. He was laying like he would take a nap; his legs spread out,” Armistead recounted.
She was able to talk to him, scream at him, tell him how upset she was that he was leaving her this way. “I laughed and cried. It was really good for me, but some people didn’t look at it that way,” Armistead said.
The most majestic animal
As doctors pulled Feeney’s blanket off, Armistead spotted a bad tattoo on her son’s ankle — a giraffe. “I looked at Feeney and laughed, “What the hell is this?”
Feeney’s dog, Fred, was at his funeral service roaming around greeting the attendees who came to pay their respects. A month later, Fred suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. It was another blow for the Armisteads, but they believe Feeney called him home.
Edwards advises, “Let the bereaved person take the lead. If they want to talk about their loss, don’t change the subject. You don’t have to know what to say. You can just listen. If they don’t want to talk, don’t pry.”
Armistead is alarmed at how hesitant people of all ages are to talk about tragic deaths like drug overdoses, alcohol poisoning or car accidents involving driving under the influence. “It needs to be discussed, not silenced. If we’re quiet, it’ll keep happening,” she said.
essentially dies after six minutes of oxygen deprivation. The hospital confirmed Feeney was braindead but because he was donating his body and organs, he was kept on a ventilator until they were ready to harvest everything usable the following day.
Feeney’s last act was one of the most generous conceivable; multiple recipients have benefitted from his life-saving organs and tissues.
“He was a force, a handsome, 6’3”, scruffy, mountainy-looking guy with a beard. He loved to let everyone know he was there and make everybody laugh. He was a live-life-to-the-fullest kind of guy,” Armistead beamed.
The hardest part of her loss is knowing that it didn’t have to
Friends provided the backstory. Feeney and some former colleagues had decided to get a tattoo. When they asked him what design he wanted, he replied, “I want a giraffe. Don’t you think it’s the most majestic animal in the world?” That sold them on the giraffe; they all got the same one.
Never having had a tattoo, Armistead chose to get one inked onto her own ankle in Feeney’s memory, but she opted for a more stylized giraffe drawn by her artistic mother.
“My daughter, my sister and I got one. Now I look down at my ankle and smile,” Armistead said.
Her 35-year-old niece has had 15 friends die since she graduated from college. A friend of Feeney’s shared that he’d been to four funerals the year Feeney passed. Armistead has a friend whose son attended eight funerals in his freshman year of college.
“What’s going on?! Nobody’s talking about it!” Armistead exclaimed.
Determined to break the silence, Armistead explained, “I give Feeney’s story body. I tell the truth about what happened. It makes a difference to the community and the world,” she said. Since risky behaviors are more common among youngsters who imagine themselves invincible, bringing awareness of potential consequences to
I think you’re guilty, no matter what, when your kid dies. It’s a fact. There’s guilt all around it, even if you had nothing to do with it.
Kathy ArmisteadKathy and Feeney
this demographic is vital.
Realizing that others may be uncomfortable or unsure about how she’ll react, Armistead divulged how it’s awkward for a bereaved individual when nobody asks about it.
“They think I should be over this. That may or may not be true,” she acknowledged. When chatting with individuals who are mourning, Armistead suggests, “Don’t gloss over it.”
Guilt
What of the potential sense of shame associated with losing a child? “I think you’re guilty, no matter what, when your kid dies. It’s a fact. There’s guilt all around it, even if you had nothing to do with it,” Armistead shared.
Losing a child is the worst thing that could ever happen to someone in Armistead’s view, because it’s not the way life is supposed to go. She thanks God every day that she still has her daughter, Lia.
Kids may not comprehend how deeply connected parents are to them. “You have a heart string to each other. When you lose one, it’s just indescribable. It tears your heart apart,” Armistead sobbed.
Inertia was not an option if Armistead was to come through this tragedy. “Being active is a critical piece for me,” she said. “Even when he was in the hospital, I’d have to get out and walk.”
Determined to advocate for Feeney and ensure this doesn’t hap-
pen to others, Armistead’s beloved son was gone but her mission was born.
Founding the Feeney Legacy Project
Wishing to spare other parents from having to bear the loss of a child in this way, Armistead founded The Feeny Legacy Project (FLP). FLP is a growing grassroots, woman-led non-profit organization comprised of sisters, aunts and friends spanning in age from 13 to 85.
Launched on the first anniversary of Feeney’s death, the organization spreads awareness about the importance of calling first responders and administering CPR immediately to anyone in medical distress.
Some might hesitate to call 911 out of fear of incrimination for being high, intoxicated or in possession of illegal substances. FLP provides education about the Georgia Good Samaritan and 911 Amnesty Laws which protect those providing emergency care from being arrested. To learn more visit feeneylegacyproject.org.
“We want people to feel safe about calling 911,” Armistead said.
Some people may be unsure about how serious a medical emergency is and consider waiting it out, but acting quickly always results in the best chance of survival: Call 911, administer CPR, save a life.
In January of this year, TV viewers witnessed a Buffalo Bills trainer jump into action and revive football player Damar Hamlin on the field by initiating CPR. But being someone’s lifesaver doesn’t require a trained professional or even a CPR certification.
FLP has looked to the good work of the American Heart Association and partnered with national organization Parent Heart Watch for accessible, inventive ways to demonstrate performing CPR. Chest compressions can be practiced on a roll of toilet paper!
“I love the idea of teaching everybody to be confident to do CPR — keep the rhythm going and don’t worry if it hurts, you’re saving someone’s life,” Armistead said.
Even if you have no idea what to do in a crisis, someone can walk you through the steps of performing CPR, if necessary, when you dial 911.
FLP is open to partnering with schools, clubs, Scouts, coaches and athletic teams to reach as many people as possible with its life-saving message.
The book “Finding Meaning” by David Kessler was a source of comfort for Armistead. It provides
a roadmap to remembering those who have departed with more love than pain. “I hung onto that and learned a lot,” Armistead said.
For several months, she addressed daily journal entries to Feeney in the early morning hours from her porch.
In many cultures cardinals are regarded as messengers from Heaven, symbols that lost loved ones are near. Armistead talks to them as though they’re Feeney, alternating between telling him to stop messing with her, and thanking him for stopping by. She’s always delighted in collecting cardinal figurines and ornaments.
Crying wherever she was — in the grocery store for example — is something Armistead gave herself grace for in the early days. “I did what I had to do,” she said.
She and her husband, Chris, didn’t attempt to process their grief jointly. “It’s almost impossible to do. It doesn’t work,” she said.
“The advice I got was: do your thing, let him do his. And that’s what we’ve done. We’ve worked in our own ways,” she shared. They both found grief counseling helpful. ■
See Good Grief: Life After Loss, Part 3, Losing Our Furry Friends - Page 45
■ Support for Survivors of Murder-Suicides — gcfv.georgia.gov/ssms
■ Support for Parents who Lost Children to Murder — pomc.org
■ Support for Death after an Overdose — sadod.org
■ Support for Death by Suicide — afsp.org
■ Support for Parents who Lost Children — compassionatefriends.org
■ Camp MAGIK (Mainly About Grief in Kids) — campmagik.org
The camp is free of charge. Children get a weekend of support surrounded by other grieving kids and licensed professionals facilitate groups. Caregivers can attend too.
■ Kate’s Club — katesclub.org
The club brings grief groups to children 5-18 in Metro Atlanta and beyond.
This resource list is provided by: Danielle Edwards, MSW, LCSW — Grief, Trauma and Domestic Violence Recovery Edwards Psychotherapy and Consulting LLC. 470-668-5930, info@edwardspac.com
Although crime shows like “Law & Order” may have many of us thinking we know how the legal system works, we probably aren’t as accurate as we think we are. To inform the business community about the resources available and the responsibilities of the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s office, the Southwest Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce (SWGC) invited Gwinnett DA Patsy Austin-Gatson as the speaker at its September Coffee Connections.
Austin-Gatson started off by talking about a special initiative to bring local high school students to work in her office to get a firsthand look at how the wheels of justice turn. She started it last year with 12 students and it has already grown to a cohort of 49 this fall that spent 10 days with the DA’s office.
“I love our community. It’s diverse, it’s beautiful. And these students when they came in, they didn’t know really what to expect,” said Austin-Gatson. “But we expose them to what the DA’s
By Arlinda Smith Broady Photos by Rico Figliolinioffice does, and how we work, and also to other agencies like the police department and medical examiners. …We just took them around and really showed them a lot.”
Besides putting education first, Austin-Gatson said the program is fiscally responsible in that it didn’t cost taxpayers anything. “Restaurants and businesses donate their lunches every single day. So it was just a beautiful experience, and demonstrated how cohesive our community is,” she said.
A few things Austin-Gatson wanted to key in on was that her office works directly with local police and courts. The mission of the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office is to seek and pursue justice on behalf of victims of crime through the fair and ethical
prosecution of those who commit offenses in the community.
The DA’s office strives to impact the community through education, engagement and reduction in recidivism while working vigorously to keep the community safe so that all Gwinnett County citizens and residents can thrive.
With that in mind, she explained that her office is an advocate for
victims of crime.
“They have a right to know everything that’s going on with a case that they are involved in. And that’s a constitutional requirement …that we walk them through the system,” she said.
Anyone who’s tried to read through a legal document can attest to how complicated the law can be, but the DA’s office strives to make sure victims are aware of their rights and completely understand the process.
On the flip side, those accused of a crime have rights as well.
“There’s a plea of guilty / not guilty. …If there’s a trial, we go through that, and sometimes there are appeals,” she said. “Basically, the legal case is still centered on protecting the defendant’s rights, just like victims’ rights.”
Austin-Gatson pointed out that often friends and family want to see a conviction overturned.
“I’m getting some groups of people that go out and send 20 million texts, emails and things like that to [get the convicted person] freed, but unless they have additional evidence, we can’t let them walk,” she said. “We have to support the jury system when somebody was convicted of a crime; they went through appeals, they got that handled, then I’m not going to be one to set that aside.”
But a high conviction rate isn’t the goal for Austin-Gatson.
The DA’s office has initiatives such as rehabilitation and maintenance programs to turn former criminals into productive citizens.
“That’s where 17- to 28-year-olds were having their first brush with the law,” said Austin-Gatson. “We try a program …to deflect people from getting deeper into the criminal justice system.”
The first cohort graduated in December, she said.
“We all have a responsibility to do something. We sit back and say things are so horrible, things are awful,” she said. “I’m all about getting people [changing] their future.” ■
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To anyone familiar with Peachtree Corners and Technology Park — the city’s sprawling 500-acre center for engineering and technology companies — the sight of an autonomous shuttle going down the road still sparks interest.
Along with Tech Park’s 5G infrastructure and numerous prototypes for smart city devices, the shuttle is a symbol of the area’s commitment to innovation and advancements in high-tech.
High-tech can improve people’s
lives and continue pushing the limits of what was previously thought possible.
And while Rojoli’s work may not be as visible to someone walking down the street, it’s no less impactful or important. A large number of small businesses in Peachtree Corners and beyond rely on it for cloud and IT services.
In 2008, cloud computing was
just beginning to take off. Amazon had only launched its cloud computing division, Amazon Web Services (AWS), two years earlier. Microsoft followed close behind in October 2008 with the launch of Azure.
Now, multibillion-dollar companies are responsible for the IT infrastructure powering large swathes of the internet.
Many industry experts were unsure if the services that companies like AWS and Azure sold — known as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) in tech-speak — would catch on in the mainstream. But to Ganote, this emerging market seemed like a good opportunity.
Ganote worked as the chief information officer (CIO) at the PGA Tour Superstore before getting into cloud computing.
During his time there, he and his team began implementing some infrastructure virtualization — one of the main technologies that makes cloud computing possible.
“I really felt that [cloud computing] was going to be big and take off. I had some colleagues that were in the IT field looking to host stuff, and I just thought that it was an opportunity,” Ganote said. “I ended up starting with a couple of customers and started the hosting company in 2008. I was just one man for a year, year and a half.”
Over the next two years, Ganote steadily grew the business, going on to merge in 2010 with another local small business founded by Stan and Brad Allen.
Stan and Brad had some customers in need of IaaS and managed services, a type of outsourcing where a company hires a vendor like Rojoli to manage and monitor its IT network.
With the merger, Rojoli became a managed IT service provider (MSP) and cloud hosting company. The company took on bigger clients while continuing to serve the small business communities of Metro Atlanta and the state of Georgia.
In 2019, the company merged again. This time with a fellow Peachtree Corners-based company called Cloud AG, founded in 2013 by David Huseonica.
Today, Rojoli offers several services, from its original cloud host-
ing service to managed IT services to data backup and recovery as well as Microsoft 365 and Exchange implementation.
The company operates data centers in New York and Georgia, providing cloud and IT services to national companies in addition to many small businesses in the Peach State.
Rojoli originally started in downtown Norcross before moving to Technology Park’s Curiosity Lab around 2015, but the company has deep ties to the area. Ganote himself went to Norcross High School before earning his bachelor’s in computer science from the University of Georgia.
While a student at UGA, he got his first job as a software developer for a company based in Technology Park. Now, nearly 40 years later, Ganote is still happy to call Peachtree Corners home — both for him, his family and the business.
“I’ve had an affinity for this location,” he said. “I grew up here, I went to Norcross High School. So for me, it’s personal… I’ve been here for a long time, and I really appreciate the vibe and the whole area.”
a close-knit community where people could live, work and play.
He also pictured it as a place to host technology companies to employ new engineering, technology and business graduates from Georgia Tech and UGA.
GE and Scientific Atlanta (now part of Cisco Systems) were some of the first businesses in the office park. It’s only grown since then and includes a number of technology companies, not to mention one of the country’s only roadways for autonomous vehicles.
There is also Curiosity Labs, a business accelerator for companies developing smart city technology. Tech Park has a rich history of technological innovation, and Ganote says it continues to change today.
“It’s got a good atmosphere,” he said. “There’s always something going on.”
Aside from participation in a culture of progress and innovation, being in the area also helps Rojoli provide excellent service to its customers.
Ganote described Rojoli’s cloud hosting business as “hightouch boutique hosting.” He said it provides value to local
businesses that need help removing some of the complexity of large cloud service providers like Microsoft Azure and AWS.
Having a local presence makes it easier for Rojoli to help local businesses that may be facing challenges associated with aging on-premises IT infrastructure.
As systems age and become outdated, maintaining them can become increasingly difficult and costly for the businesses that rely on them.
Rojoli helps alleviate these pain points for small businesses by either managing on-premises systems or by providing cloud hosting, which generally offers lower costs and better reliability.
This is especially important, Ganote said, for companies with large remote workforces who rely on collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams and Zoom to stay connected.
“It makes a lot more sense to put [IT systems] into the cloud,” Ganote said. “It’s up 24/7, 365. The network connectivity is always on, so it provides a much more solid, secure and redundant system.”
This is Rojoli’s niche, and it’s where Ganote sees the company continuing to expand in the years ahead.
Because of its unique relationship with the local business community, Rojoli can provide more of a boutique experience than might be found elsewhere or with more nationally focused MSPs and cloud providers.
Like buying from a local shop versus a big box retail chain, the difference for Rojoli is about relationships and providing a personalized touch.
This approach makes it a unique member of the local business community in Peachtree Corners and across the state. ■
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Once again, the Peachtree Corners Business Association pulled off a spectacular fundraising event that not only garnered much-needed support for three local non-profits, but
By Arlinda Smith Broady
Phillips
also kicked off football season with a fun and entertaining evening.
“We kicked off the night with three key objectives — I wanted everyone to have a great time, help us raise a lot of money and make sure to sign into the silent auction early and get their bidding strategy set so that people did not have problems logging in at the end when last minute fitting got fierce,” said Lisa Proctor, PCBA president.
The final numbers are still being calculated since the second chance auction ran through the end of September 29. Still, Proctor said the tally so far guarantees that at least as much will be donated as last year — $4,000 per charity. That number rose as new items continued to be donated for auction even after the event.
The fundraiser did so well, PCBA
was able to include an additional donation.
“The PCBA is proud to donate a check for $1,000 to be used to positively impact the community and support the Peachtree Corners Festival. This year is especially impactful as the festival celebrates one of their founding members, Ms. Debbie Mason,” Proctor said. “Our Outreach Committee and Board are impressed with their mission and their ability to continue to provide a quality event for our community.”
All positions with PCBA are held by volunteers, and Proctor thanked everyone for the extra effort to make the event a success.
“Our board members — Allison Reinert, Michael Pugh, Toby
Anderson, Donna Linden, Suzanna Martinez and Jeff Fairchild worked on this event 365 days a year to ensure the success of this night’s event,” she said. “We’re already working on the 2024 annual charity event and look forward to sharing more details in the near future.”
She also thanked the 13 sponsors that gave money and had representatives who attended the event. Highlights of the evening included the 32 different silent auction donors. A Dynatrap ½ Acre Mosquito and Flying insect Trap, donated by Sanford Rose Associates – Lake Lanier Islands, garnered the
most bids.
Other top items bid on included: cryotherapy treatment from Icebox Peachtree Corners, Marlow’s Gift Cards, Henri’s Bakery & Deli gift cards, Peterbrooke Chocolatier gift cards, a Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 donated by Thompson O’Brien and four suite tickets with parking pass to an Atlanta United game donated by Flagship Solutions Group.
To find out more about PCBA, contact the association at 678-969-3385 or membership@ peachtreecornersba.com or visit their website, peachtreecornersba. com. ■
107 Technology Parkway, Peachtree Corners 404-797-1221 | atlantatechpark.com
Tuesdays, October 3, November 7 and December 5. 6-8 p.m
Sponsored by Resolvit, the monthly meet-up is held on the first Tuesday of every month in the Atlanta Tech Park Café. Everyone is invited to network and join a good group of people discussing anything related to technology.
Tuesday, October 17. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Tech Summit: Partnership Gwinnett, in participation with InnovATL week, will showcase tech businesses all around the metro-Atlanta area. Learn about trends and best practices in the technology sector and hear from industry leaders on the state of technology. Tickets required; lunch is provided. ATL Unplugged: Sponsored by Intersystems Technology, hear from Dean Andrews, Head of Developer Relations at InterSystems. He and his team manage the InterSystems Startup Program and Venture Fund, helping accelerate startups through their innovation journeys. Free; registration required.
Wednesdays, October 18, November 1 and November 15. 12-2 p.m.
Join experienced start-uppers and ATP members Kelly Flynn and Tim Chalk as they lead an open forum for all entrepreneurs to bring their
issues and questions to the table. Get advice and connections from other start ups while also sharing your knowledge with other participants. Free to attend; lunch is provided. Registration required.
Fridays, October 20 and November 17. 12-2 p.m.
The group meets every third Friday of the month. Go to gwinnettwomenschamber.com for updates.
Wednesday, October 25. 5-6:30 p.m.
The annual pumpkin carving contest will be held during Wine Wednesday. Everyone is invited to bring their best carving skills for the chance to win a gift card. Also, entrepreneurs are welcome to pitch their business concepts to other business owners and potential investors.
ATP Potluck 2023
Tuesday, November 14. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Bring your favorite dish, big or small to the ATP event space and share a meal.
Tuesdays, October 10 and November 14. 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, 5215 Town Center Blvd., Peachtree Corners
Free admission for PCBA members and their guests. Register online as space is limited. Meet with other PCBA and business professionals over coffee in a positive atmosphere on the second Tuesday of the month. Business cards will be shared with all attendees.
Thursday, October 19 and Wednesday, November 29. 11:30-1:30 a.m.
Oct. 19: Marlow’s Tavern, Peachtree Corners Town Center Nov. 29: Location TBA. Open to PCBA members and their guests. Online registration is required. Meet up with PCBA members for an enjoyable way to network and save 15% off your lunch check.
Friday, October 6. 7:30-9 a.m. Atlanta Northeast Hilton, 5993 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Peachtree Corners
Admission: $28 for members, $35 for non-members; registration required.
Atlanta Regional Commission Board Chairman Kerry Armstrong will share his insights.
Thursdays, October 26, November 16 and December 7. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Hilton Atlanta Northeast 5993 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Peachtree Corners
Event registration is $35. Advanced registration is $25 for members and $30 for guests. Includes appetizers and drinks.
Oct. 26: Details TBA.
Nov. 16: Kathryn Stewart, owner of Performance Trucking, will speak. Dec. 7: PCBA Business After Hours will hold its Year End Celebration. Details TBA.
Thursday, October 12. 5-7 p.m. Social Fox Brewing, 20 Skin Alley, Norcross Special happy hour pricing on all beer; non-alcoholic options will be available. SWGC and member Tuckers Catering will provide complimentary heavy apps. Be sure to bring your business card.
Thursday, October 19. 9:45-11:15 a.m. Atlanta Tech Park Auditorium, 107 Technology Park, Peachtree Corners
All nonprofits invited; no registration necessary. Presenters Darcy Copeland of Smith + Howard and Tom Ralser of Convergent Nonprofit Solutions will present updates specific to nonprofits on tax credits, financial statement best practices, using the 990 tax return to tell your story and financial tips for grant writing.
Thursdays, October 26, November 9, 16 and December 7. 8:30-9:30 a.m. Free admission for SWGC members and visitors.
Meet up with local business professionals over coffee. Meetings are normally held in the large meeting space behind the SWGC office at Atlanta Tech Park.
Norcross Cultural Arts & Community Center 10 College Street, Norcross 30071 peachtreecornersrotary.org
Meetings are held on Mondays, including October 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. 12-1 p.m. Speakers include Chuck Kays on Oct. 2; Andrew Hixson on Oct. 9; Mike Carey / Supply Chain Logistics on Oct. 16; and Kristina and Jim Blum / Great White Sharks on Oct. 23.
Meetings held the second Tuesday of every month. Meeting locations are announced monthly. duluthbusiness.org
Tuesdays, October 10 and November 14. 6-7:30 p.m.
Oct. 10 location: Northside Hospital Duluth, Hudgens Professional Building, 3855 Pleasant Hill Rd., Duluth; atrium on the first floor
tegration into the network because they just made a partnership with T Mobile — how does the delivery service start to integrate with the network, the different areas of the network?” said Branham.
“Obviously, the Curiosity Labs environment can bring a lot for testing on the network because of the trees and the curves and the hills,” he added. “That’s why they brought it here to test versus some of the other T Mobile headquarters.”
The goal is to first do that testing and then to start to integrate the actual delivery side of it. “We’ll work with a couple of the local restaurants who will use the system to deliver food for event meetings and such,” said Branham.
The City of Peachtree Corners, one of the nation’s first smart cities powered by real-world connected infrastructure and 5G, recently announced that Clevon, a global autonomous delivery leader, is joining the city’s Curiosity Lab ecosystem.
Clevon develops and manufactures autonomous robot carriers that make last-mile delivery more innovative, environmentally friendly and efficient. The company’s autonomous robot carriers (ARCs), powered by T-Mobile connectivity, are designed to collect orders at warehouses, retail stores,
dark stores and micro fulfillment centers. They then deliver those goods to people and businesses around the city, according to a press release.
“It was only fitting to bring our second major operation here in the United States to one of the most advanced smart city environments in the world at Peachtree Corners,” said Sander Sebastian Agur, Clevon’s chief executive officer in a press release.
“A future-forward environment like this — complete with city-owned smart infrastructure, T-Mobile’s best-in-class network and opportunities to interact with connected vehicles and people and businesses — is invaluable to our continued efforts to optimize autonomous robot carrier operation, including how they will navigate through real-world situations,” Agur continued.
By Arlinda Smith BroadyCity officials agreed that Clevon’s partnership with Peachtree Corners is another fitting example of how Curiosity Lab is fulfilling its goal of growing technology, modernization and sustainability without costing local taxpayers
anything.
Peachtree Corners Assistant City Manager Brandon Branham, who’s also chief technology officer, said that most people only know about the small delivery robots that are currently on the market. They drive on the sidewalk and only go about three or four miles an hour.
“This is a big change from that. It’s about the size of a golf cart. It is large and goes about 20 miles an hour. Its delivery range is further extended versus the traditional sidewalk robot,” he explained.
Clevon’s ARCs operate on U.S. public roadways and are purpose-built for delivering multiple shipments during a single trip, according to the company.
Although Peachtree Corners residents have seen many interesting inventions in recent years, this will be among that ones that aren’t just in the infrastructure or in the background. They will be interacting with the technology firsthand.
“What they’re testing here is in-
The autonomous vehicle is loaded with the delivery at site. It can carry up to six individual deliveries inside its box. When it reaches the destination, the recipient enters a code and retrieves the package, similar to a post office box or Amazon locker.
Although the concept appears perfect for large operations, it’s scalable to small businesses as well. Clevon’s fully electric ARCs have customizable configurations to fulfill a multitude of business needs and offer an efficient and timely customer delivery experience.
The robots can reduce failed deliveries, carbon emissions, cost of delivery per customer and stolen packages. Clevon brings a secure, on-demand and extremely energy-efficient delivery service that has proven itself in all-weather conditions on multiple continents.
There’s currently one prototype in town, but Clevon has other locations with entire fleets. It may just be a matter of time before package delivery has a different face.
Clevon’s U.S. headquarters is set in Fort Worth, Tex., and it operates in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) region. Learn more at clevon.com, or through the company’s social media pages on Flickr, LinkedIn and YouTube. ■
If we’re honest, the animals in our lives are more than just pets. They’re companions, family members, sometimes even soulmates. That’s why Peachtree Corners Magazine takes the time and holds the space to celebrate our non-human friends each year. The 2023 Pets and Their People Giveaway attracted a lot of submissions.
We loved looking through all the photos that were sent our way. Congratulations to the lucky three winners. Our generous local sponsors make sure they’ll get special treats. And we look forward to even more enjoyable pet and people photos next year.
Second Prize
◄ Annabel Lee and Tikaan, Peachtree Corners
Annabel is a student at Paul Duke STEM High School whose interests are Krav Maga, building Legos and architecture. She lives with her parents, Kerith and Mike Lee, and Tikaani, a mostly Australian Cattle Dog and Husky that is four years old and loves people.
Grand Prize
▲ Nia Hemphill and Kraken, Peachtree Corners
Nia, 23, has lived in Peachtree Corners since 2007. “I do sports with my dog, specifically dock diving and fastcat,” she said. This summer, Kraken earned his Air Retrieve Senior title.
Third Prize
► Jacqueline Koch-Yarden and Itay Yarden, Halle and Pepper, Peachtree Corners
Jacqueline grew up in Gwinnett County and works for Motorola Solutions; Itay, originally from Jerusalem, Israel, came to the U.S. in his 20s and owns a car rental business. They moved to Peachtree Corners three years ago. “In addition to our 9-year-old Havanese dogs, Halle and Pepper, we have a 7-monthold daughter, Talia, who is keeping us busy,” Jacqueline said. “We absolutely love this kid and pet-friendly community!”
The conclusion of my “Good Grief” series seemed ideal in this issue featuring pets and their people. Paris Hilton lost her beloved chihuahua this year. In a farewell tribute on Instagram, the socialite wrote, “In 23 amazing years, she brought endless love, loyalty, and unforgettable moments to my life.”
Some may not understand — eye rolls may ensue — but fellow pet people know all too well that losing a companion animal is just as heartbreaking as losing a human loved one.
“The pain I feel right now is indescribable,” Hilton posted.
Yet our cultural playbook is devoid of any protocols for those mourning pets. There are no pet obituaries, no official rituals or religious ceremonies to support us through the loss of a fur baby. When such perfectly normal and deep emotions can be considered a mere overreaction by some people in our own tribe, one could argue that losing a pet is even more difficult.
Though domestic companions can be scale or feather-covered too, I spoke to the bereaved owners of the furry variety.
Thousands of years of evolution have led to dogs morphing from the wild wolves they once were
into man’s best friend, able to read our emotions and willing to sit, bark, roll over and play dead on command – all to please us. If you’re not a pet owner yourself, you’re sure to have friends with pets.
Max, tennis ball chaser extraordinaire
Long before Matt and Faith Harding had children, they had their dogs, Jazzy and Max, who were part of their lives for over 11 years. Losing them was hard.
“We lost Max and Jazzy within a year of each other. We had to put Jazzy down because she was older and suffering. It was the right thing to do. What made it more difficult with Max was that it was so unexpected,” Matt said.
The Hardings had been treating Max, who suffered from seizures common to Belgian Malinois. They were able to keep the seizures under control for years.
What makes a grown man cry
It was a week like any other. Faith had gone out of town. The kids and Max were left in Matt’s care. Max chased tennis balls in the backyard. There were no warning signs that something was about to go terribly wrong.
Matt found Max in his kennel when he came home one evening. It looked as though he’d had a seizure — like those he’d recovered from many times before. Matt rinsed him off and brought him back inside.
When Matt came downstairs after putting his daughter down for a nap, Max drew his last couple of breaths and passed away. “He waited for me to come back,” Matt said.
By Patrizia WinsperHaving to call Faith to share the sad news while she was traveling was heartbreaking. “After the initial shock and plenty of tears, you’re stuck with trying to figure
out what to do next,” Matt said. With their baby on one arm and their wailing toddler holding his hand, Matt walked the kids over to the neighbors’ house. The only thing he could utter was, “Please watch them.” Seeing his tearstreaked face, his neighbor took the children without hesitation.
“I had to text her and let her know what was happening. I could not even get words out of my mouth. They were a huge help and very sympathetic to what was
What helped the Hardings most was looking at pictures and reminiscing about their “incredible dog,” Max.
“He loved people. Plenty of people reached out to tell me some of their favorite memories with him and I couldn’t help but smile and laugh at how he left an impression on so many,” Matt said.
Conversely, Matt viewed the
act of putting away the dog beds, bowls and toys as an admission that Max was now just a memory. “I couldn’t bring myself to do it,” Matt confided.
“The loss of Max is still hard to think about. Faith and I budget. We have a line item for Max. We were doing the budget a couple of nights ago and couldn’t bring ourselves to remove him as a line item,” Matt said. “Thank you for letting me share our story.”
Before Sandra Hutto and her siblings could spread their parents’ ashes, she was faced with the sudden death of her 11-year-old Doberman, Rio.
Three losses in rapid succession were a hard knock-back for Hutto. She is grateful for supportive friends and being able to process her grief with the help of her husband Mark, a psychiatrist.
According to Hutto, sharing stories about her parents was as helpful in dealing with her loss as it was funny. “There were things I didn’t know. It was fascinating,” she said. “Family stories are important. Apparently, my mother was kind of a floozy,” she laughed.
Her aunt had shared about her mother misleading a boy to spend a day at the lake. When he asked her out, she claimed to have gotten a headache from all the sun. But later, she called another boy about going to a movie.
Hutto advised, “You have shared stories and individual stories. You can let that isolate you or bring you closer. You could say, “That wasn’t my experience, I’m shutting it out,” but it lets you know more about your parents. They have stories from before you were born.”
Before her father’s passing, Hutto and her husband took her dad on a road trip to Wyoming, along with Rio, in their 1993 Bluebird Wanderlodge to visit her sister. Unsure how her father would take to such a big dog, she was pleased when they bonded.
“He fell in love with her. Rio would get up in the middle of the night to lay down next to him. I joked with dad, “You know daddy, we do keep the dog.””
After he died, people said, “That trip was great for him.
He never stopped talking about how much fun he had.” That was heartwarming,” Hutto said. She danced on the sand
An American Kennel Club purebred dog, Rio’s registered name is, She Dances on the Sand, after the Duran Duran song.
Bred in Germany to be the intimidating protectors of tax collectors, Dobermans are strong, intelligent dogs, able to attack on command. Rio didn’t exactly fit the bill. Terrified of a neighborhood Yorkie, she’d watch him as she cowered behind Hutto.
Her tail was docked but she had natural, floppy ears. She wasn’t steely-looking, but she did have a big bark. “Mostly she would try to convince people that she was neglected. She was a drama queen; such a good, funny dog,” Hutto said.
Rio passed almost exactly the same way their previous Doberman, Jet had. (Jet was named after the Paul McCartney and Wings song.) Though Rio had a longer life, Hutto expressed the common sentiment among pet-owners: it’s never long enough.
Rio had received a clean bill of health and a rabies shot that day. By the evening, she was restless and wouldn’t settle in her bed. Mark had gone out.
“She got up and started walking around. She walked into our dining room, went around the table, her back feet collapsed from under her. She struggled to get up. She howled a couple of times and she was gone,” Hutto said.
Hutto believes cardiac arrhythmia killed both Jet and Rio. Heart issues are common in Dobermans, partly because of breeding and because they’re deep-chested dogs.
“Not again!” Hutto remembers shrieking as she witnessed Rio’s passing. Jet had passed away in the same manner, but she was with Mark. The swift but horrible departure allows for the only consolation, “at least she didn’t suffer.”
After the ordeal of burying 70-pound Jet in the rain, the Huttos decided to have Rio cremated. They were pleased with Deceased Pet Care, Inc. in Chamblee.
“They were kind, empathetic and respectful. They knew we were in
pain. They took good care of her, made a point to tell us that they cremate each dog individually, and gave us her paw print in clay,” Hutto recounted.
“Peachtree Forest is the neighborhood to live in if you want to come back as a dog. People here love their dogs. They’ll greet your dog — and then they’ll say hi to you,” Hutto chuckled. When neighbors learned about Rio’s passing, some sent sympathy cards.
Hutto was almost thankful for a
sprained knee shielding her for a while from the inevitable moment she takes her first walk alone and people will ask, “Where’s Rio?”
“I’ll probably bawl in the street,” she predicted.
Able to better prepare for losing her parents, Hutto remarked that her grief journey is different for Rio because it was so sudden. “It was a shock and harder in some ways. It’s important to talk about it so people see you can get through it,” she said.
When they’re ready, the Huttos plan to get another Doberman. “I’m going to name her Roxanne. You’re not going to be able to help yourself when you call her. You’re going to have to do the song,” she said.
Pets are not “just animals,” as some may be tempted to say when we lose them. For those who form strong bonds with our four-legged friends, they become part of our favorite routines, our protégés, our sweetest companions, delighting us daily with joy and unconditional affection; they become family.
If the emotional connections we can form with pets are virtually indistinguishable from those we form with people, it stands to reason that pet bereavement can be on par with the grief we experience for our cherished, human loved ones. Let’s remember to be kind to those grieving the loss of their pets.
of that program …that the desire to grow the organization and perhaps bring a new perspective and strengthen the association’s awareness in the community [appealed to me],” he said. “But I also wanted to take a fresh look at things like the mission, which we’ve recently rewritten.”
It’s a broader umbrella with some realistic goals, given the size of the organization — and the fact that burnout can make it necessary to focus on specifics instead of trying to be everything to everybody, Lindenau added.
“I’m humbled that they would be interested in having me take over the organization,” said Lindenau.
But he really wanted to focus on next steps. He wanted to make sure that now that the monument has been finished, the focal point would be the veterans themselves.
With its main mission accomplished, the Peachtree Corners Veterans Monument Association recently voted to change its name.
“We built the monument between 2015 and 2019, so our first
By Arlinda Smith BroadyVeterans Day ceremony held at the monument was in 2019,” said Robert Ballagh, past president of the Peachtree Corners Veterans Monument Association.
With the structure in place, the volunteers who make up the organization voted to focus more on the mission and dropped the word “monument.” It is now the Peachtree Corners Veterans Association.
“We want to form a broader community awareness in Peachtree Corners and provide a place for veterans to come in and seek assistance in getting the right kind of assistance,” said Ballagh. “We’re not going to replicate [existing services]. There are a lot of things
that we can do for veterans who want to do get actively involved with those.”
Another big step has been putting a new leader in place.
“We invited Chris Lindenau to join the board and then to become our executive director, and he accepted,” said Ballagh.
Lindenau is CEO of Fusus, a company known in law enforcement and public safety circles for its leading-edge RealTime Crime Center In The Cloud (RTC3) platform. A 2020 member of Atlanta Inno’s “50 on Fire,” Fusus has been recognized as among the hottest new companies in the Atlanta area.
“Bob approached me with [board member] Tiffany Grave de Peralta about taking over,” said Lindenau.
He was impressed with what they’d accomplished so far — a beautiful monument to commemorate the brave men and women in military service.
“They were such good stewards
“We all just kind of had a realization …that the objective [of building the monument] has been achieved and yet the broader objective of reaching out to the veteran community and to the larger Peachtree Corners community that appreciates the veterans [was next],” he said.
With that, the association vowed to align efforts towards something to honor and support the existing veteran community and Peachtree Corners and their families. “So we felt justified in the creation of a [new] mission statement,” Lindenau added.
Now with new marching orders, the renamed organization will continue its expanded mission of serving veterans and the community.
In the short time that Lindenau has come aboard, the board has decided on two areas as the cornerstones.
• Philanthropy: Through the sale of pavers and some engraving at the monument, the organization has banked a tidy sum. It is looking at providing
post-secondary education funds for children of veterans, whether at a four-year college, technical school an advanced learning program or something in between.
• Socialization: With so many veterans in the community, it’s important to bring them together on a regular basis. Even though special events like Veterans Day and Memorial Day are imperative, the other 363 days of the year are important as well.
“We’re thinking about holding another event …where we can spend some time with veterans,” said Lindenau. “Obviously, the challenge is always to identify who are the veterans in the community. …But it’s probably a good time for us to get the word back out to the veteran community that we’re thinking about holding an event so that they can come in, we can hear their opinions, obviously, through that process, identify who’s in the area and then provide a forum to listen and really solicit feedback.”
When all is said and done, the ultimate goal is to find out what issues matter the most to the veterans and support them. As a veteran himself, Lindenau understands the importance of transitioning back into civilian life.
“We’ve identified a handful of things that are always challenges for veterans, like the transition from service to the private sector,” he said. “And many, many folks, like myself, have made that transition and are interested and eager to help, because candidly, our companies can benefit from the kind of leadership and teamwork characteristics that people from the service espouse. So it’s actually a win-win, in that regard.”
The Peachtree Corners Veterans Association will strive to build relationships on local veterans, while also honoring their service and contributions to our nation and community. ■
This year, there are a few changes to the Veterans Day festivities. Of course, it will be at the monument and, as usual, the association rotates the principal speaker and supporting roles.
“We like to do two ceremonies a year — Veterans Day and Memorial Day — and we like to involve the community in both of those ceremonies,” said Ballagh. “For Veterans Day, because it’s during the school year, we’ve always had a band. And we always have the Norcross High School Junior ROTC participate in the ceremony.”
This year, however, the Wesleyan School Band will perform, but once again the Norcross Junior ROTC will participate as ushers and with a color guard.
Because it’s a sacred ceremony, there will be an invocation. This year it will be performed by Father Charles Byrd, pastor of Mary Our Queen Catholic Church.
The actual ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. sharp with Peachtree Corners Director of Communications Louis Svehla as master of ceremonies. The new director of the newly named Peachtree Corners Veterans Association, Chris Lindenau, will be the keynote speaker.
In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved indoors to Christ the King Episcopal Church. New this year, there will be access to services that veterans can tap into, said Ballagh.
“Sometimes all you need is somebody to point you in the right direction,” he explained. “Ora Douglass approached the city with adding these services and vendors and I think it dovetails nicely with the event.” ■
Saturday, November 11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Town Center Veterans Monument
3200 Peachtree Corners Blvd., Peachtree Corners
The health fair will include immunizations, health screenings, blood pressure checks, AIDS/HIV screenings, veterans’ benefits, mental health information and giveaway items.
chemotherapy. At that time, they didn’t have a complete diagnosis.
“Additionally, I would have 10 months of going in every week, taking lots of shots and pills,” he said. “And then if I ever had a fever, I would have to stay in the hospital for days, weeks or even months.”
However, updated research allowed Stolle to have a year cut off his chemotherapy.
“In total, I took over 2,000 chemotherapy pills. I had about 36 spinal taps, which is where they stick a needle in my spine to send chemo to my brain. …I spent over 50 nights in the hospital. I missed 163 days of school and my fifthgrade year,” he lamented — but doesn’t feel sorry for himself.
Ask him how he’s doing now.
“I’m awesome! I finished treatment in January of 2022. I’m a year and a half out of treatment and I’m feeling a lot better. I still go in every few months, and then I’ll have to go in every year for, I
someone younger,” he said. “So I decided to do this project last year just for Peachtree Corners.”
He’s talking about his brainchild, Cancer Cards.
“Seeing so many kids go through what I did really got to me, and I felt the urge to make a difference. That’s how the idea for Cancer Cards came about. … They’re about the size of a credit card and they hold special discounts (between 15% off meals to free appetizers) for 9 to 12 local businesses.”
This year, he’s gone beyond Peachtree Corners to include cards exclusive to Milton/Alpharetta, Marietta, Buckhead and Athens. The cards are $25 each and the money raised goes to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta — the same place where Stolle received his treatment.
“We are so proud and honored to have Lex Stolle’s support of the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta,” said Lydia Stinson of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Foundation. “After three long years of undergoing chemotherapy treatment, Lex was inspired to give back to help kids like him, and he has been determined to give back to Children’s in so many ways.”
When Lex Stolle was 10 years old, he started behaving in ways that weren’t like the energetic pre-teen.
“There were a lot of things that just weren’t right, like I wasn’t eating well. I was losing a lot of weight; I had fluid in my lungs. There were just so many problems that ultimately did lead to my diagnosis,” he said referring to high risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALS.
By Arlinda Smith BroadyThe medical team initially told Stolle’s family that there would be three and a half years of intense
think, the rest of my life,” he said. “And I’ve started to get back into the shape that I was in — but it’s still hard to be a teenager.”
Stolle’s cancer journey began in 2019. Now at 14 years old, he wants to do what he can to keep the deadly disease from other kids.
“I have always had a passion for helping others, and especially with my cancer, I know what it’s like to be put through everything I went through. I don’t want any kid to have to suffer, let alone
The lengths that Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta went to keep his spirits up — therapy dogs, clowns, etc. — made many of his worse days some of his best, Stolle said.
“I raised around $500 last year, but this year, I’m hoping to raise a little over $90,000,” he added.
Stolle hopes the funds can help wipe out childhood cancers. “I want one day for my grandkids to not even have to think about getting cancer, or if they do get cancer, that it can be a very easy treatment,” he said.
Cancer cards are on sale now and are active through May 25, 2024. They can be purchased online at cancercard.net. ■
Giving Tuesday is a global day for giving back. It falls on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, following the shopping frenzies of Black Friday and Cyber Monday.
Launched in 2012 by New York’s 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation, the day aims to shift focus from consumerism to charity. Some ways to celebrate
By Kristen Corleyinclude donations, volunteering and doing social good.
Over the years, it has become an international movement, inspiring generous acts worldwide.
This Giving Tuesday, consider the impact you can make in your local community. There is competition for donations from large, national nonprofits. Yet, local organizations provide an opportunity for meaningful, close-to-home contributions.
Below are five local organizations worthy of your attention and support.
Boy With a Ball, a nonprofit rooted in faith, collaborates with a diverse network of leaders, donors, volunteers, religious groups, educational institutions and
businesses.
The organization’s core mission is to empower young people to make sustainable changes in their communities. According to Communications Director Molly Johnson, Giving Tuesday serves a purpose beyond a single day of fundraising.
“It’s not just a 24-hour donation window for us,” Johnson said. “It actually kicks off a season of impactful giving that extends through the end of December.”
During this giving season, the organization solicits contributions and releases special content to underscore the long-term effects of these donations.
“From Thanksgiving to December 31, we share updates and insights about the tangible impacts of giving,” Johnson explained. “We also outline our vision for the up-
coming year. It’s an exciting and crucial time for our mission.”
Financial transparency is a hallmark of Boy with a Ball.
“These funds are used to broaden our efforts in communities and schools,” Johnson said.
Donations can serve multiple purposes, such as providing snacks for the mentoring program or funding tutoring for a student for an entire year.
In fact, Giving Tuesday has evolved into one of the nonprofit’s
Opposite page, Every Saturday, the team at Boy with a Ball participate in a Love Your City Walkthrough and take a picture together.
Middle down, Every July, Boy with a Ball holds a literacy camp called Read Write to Lead, where learning and literacy become meaningful and fun for students! Perimeter Church and Juneau Construction Company participated this year.
Every week, teams, like leagues of super-heroes, go into hurting neighborhoods and form deep and transformational relationships with families and young people.
June Summer Camp at the community where Boy with a Ball works. This page, top row from left, Maria Bortolucci, Cultivation Golf Tournament Group
Cultivation Foundation plant donation and Union Bros (Meat Market) Hog Roast
most crucial fundraising days, often drawing first-time donors. On some occasions, the day’s contributions have funded specific initiatives like Velocity, a schoolbased mentoring program.
Boy with a Ball is committed to transforming Gwinnett County by empowering its young population and strengthening family bonds.
“We’re here to help young people realize their dreams, bolster family cohesion and, in turn, build a safer, more vibrant community,”
Johnson added.
Those interested in contributing can do so either by volunteering or offering financial support.
“Both kinds of giving make a transformational difference in young lives across Gwinnett County,” Johnson said.
Monetary gifts grant access to resources and mentorship, while volunteers contribute to the personal development of emerging leaders.
For more information or to get involved, contact Maria Bortolucci at Maria.Bortolucci@ boywithaball.com or visit the organization’s website at boywithaball.com.
Cultivation Foundation, stemming from Cultivation Brewery in Norcross, Georgia, established its roots in the late summer of 2022.
Born from a modest brewery, this philanthropic endeavor prioritizes community relationships.
It’s not just a 24-hour donation window for us. It actually kicks off a season of impactful giving that extends through the end of December.
Molly Johnson
Its vision revolves around supporting local charities and the local environment. This foundation’s mission is to create positive change for the underprivileged members of its local community.
The term “cultivate” deeply resonates with the team at Cultivation Foundation. They have ambitions to leave a lasting mark on the Norcross community. By identifying and supporting local charities that mirror their values, they aim to fill gaps where assistance is needed.
Their contributions include donations to local food pantries, aiding in setting up family holiday gift stores, and collaborations with organizations like Norcross Cooperative Ministries
They also partnered with Peachtree Corners’ newest meat market, Union Brothers Market, to raise money with a whole pig roast in 2023. Such activities further highlight the vast scope of charitable work that lies ahead.
This Giving Tuesday, the spotlight shifts to hyperlocal philanthropic initiatives as the holiday season commences. The foundation works hard so that its impact in Norcross remains innovative, substantial and beneficial to those in need.
As part of its journey, the foundation is unveiling the 2nd Annual Cultivation Cup Golf Charity Tournament, scheduled for October 30, 2023.
Profits from this event will bolster both the Cultivation Foundation and Norcross Cooperative Ministries. Interested participants can register on their website.
Those wishing to support Cultivation Foundation can learn more at cultivationfoundation.com or email info@cultivationfoundation.com.
The Georgia Center for Opportunity aims to break down the barriers that perpetuate poverty, working both at the grassroots level and advocating for policy change at state and federal levels.
In addressing community challenges, the Center believes a multifaceted approach is essential.
The organization goes beyond meeting immediate local needs by actively engaging with the community to gather insights. These interactions inform wider policy initiatives aimed at fostering a thriving environment.
This Giving Tuesday, the center is spotlighting transformative tales and introducing fresh pathways to support its mission, like Ms. T’s journey.
After a separation, Ms. T, a mother of five, grappled with homelessness, losing her apartment and vehicle.
The Lawrenceville Response Center, an instrumental partner, stepped in to provide shelter and later put her in touch with the Georgia Center for Opportunity in June. The center connected her to a local business and coordinated an interview with partnering employers.
The mentoring initiative addressed Ms. T’s challenges, like participation and childcare constraints. Collaborating with Heirborn Servants, the center facilitated Lyft transport for her interview.
By June’s end, Ms. T secured a warehouse associate position that started in July, which offered a sustainable wage. Working with her new employer, the center ensured a morning shift, facilitating
afternoon time with her children and minimizing childcare hurdles.
Her contributions at work didn’t go unnoticed. Employers commended her proactive participation, spotlighting her zest during the company’s backpack drive project.
Reflecting on her two-month tenure, Ms. T remarked, “Things are going great. I’m beyond pleased with the job. It’s hard to believe it’s approaching two months; it feels longer.”
The center emphasizes that continuous backing, via one-time or recurring donations, provides stability.
Beyond financial aid, it encourages mentorship and volunteering, allowing the community to aid peers in their ascent from poverty. To collaborate with the Georgia Center for Opportunity, reach out to Info@foropportunity. org or dial 770-242-0001.
Growing Leaders: cultivating tomorrow’s trailblazers
Marking its 20th year in 2023, Growing Leaders focuses on
more than just academics. The organization places equal emphasis on helping students develop emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills and academic achievement.
Giving Tuesday is a key funding moment for them, attracting both longtime supporters and newcomers. These financial contributions allow the group to expand its reach, helping underserved students gain essential life skills and emotional well-being.
Growing Leaders celebrated its 20th anniversary in September 2023, marking two decades of imparting life skills and leadership to 2.8 million children.
At the event, the organization also shared its future plans, including a merger with the Maxwell Leadership Foundation and a goal to reach 40 million students.
Unlock lasting impact by becoming a partner with Growing Leaders. Your year-round volunteer efforts or financial commitments don’t just sustain the organization — they power transformative work in underserved schools and enrich extracurricular programs.
It’s more than a contribution; it’s an investment in shaping tomorrow’s leaders. For opportunities to make a long-term difference, reach out to Anne Machemer at Anne@GrowingLeaders.com.
Aiming to drive positive change for vulnerable children in the child welfare system, Promise686 has embarked on a campaign to amass $50,000 this Giving Tuesday.
These designated funds offer a lifeline to families in the adoption pipeline and ensure they aren’t financially strained.
Promise686 channels approximately $300,000 in grants annually to families in the adoption process. A snapshot of this impact resonates in Eliana’s narrative, as shared by her adoptive parents.
“Eliana was introduced to us via a hosting program for Ukrainian orphans. At age 10, she spent six weeks under our roof. As her departure neared, she was candid: she wanted to stay,” they recalled.
“Echoing her sentiments, we had, unbeknownst to her, already initiated the adoption process, nearing the tail end of our home study. Regrettably, she returned to Ukraine amidst a myriad of paperwork awaiting clearance. Over the subsequent six months, amidst a
sea of forms, medical exams, and fingerprinting sessions, a Promise686 grant emerged as our saving grace,” they added.
“It bridged our financial gaps, setting Eliana’s adoption in motion. Six months down the line, our voyage to Ukraine marked a celebratory reunion. Today, as we vie for a Post Placement Support Grant to bolster Eliana’s educational needs, our gratitude runs deep.”
But Promise686’s fundraising isn’t restricted to Giving Tuesday. The organization offers many donation avenues, from tapping into their bespoke software to grassroots engagement in local church, Family Advocacy Ministries.
To learn more about partnering with the organization, John Flores, VP of Strategic Growth, encourages you to reach out to him at JFlores@ Promise686.org.
Since its launch in 2019, ReClif Community has emerged as a haven for families touched by autism, providing invaluable resources and events ranging from sensory-friendly movie outings to intensive parent communication training workshops.
As they gear up for this year’s Giving Tuesday, the spotlight is on the collective power of small donations, which have been a game-changer for this growing organization.
What started as discounted events has blossomed into a rich catalog of fully funded community activities, thanks to the generosity of Giving Tuesday supporters in previous years.
Activities include age-appropriate, sensory-friendly movie outings featuring titles like “Top Gun” and “Dungeons & Dragons,” family trivia nights, bowling at Bowlero and specialized events such as painting workshops.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, ReClif pivoted in its mission to emphasize scholarship opportunities, providing financial assistance to families impacted by autism.
Now, with the easing of pandemic restrictions, the focus is back on organizing more community outings, including a potential visit to the Fernbank IMAX or Planetarium, an initiative strongly championed by founder Reece.
The organization’s rise has been assisted by enduring relationships within the Lilburn community and beyond.
Among them are Janice and David Whitcomb, title sponsors of the yearly “Aces FORE! Autism” golf fundraiser. Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves first baseman, along with his wife, Nicole, continue to be strong advocates and supporters of ReClif.
Over 95 families have attended free Braves games through partnerships with the Atlanta Braves Foundation, cementing community ties.
With Giving Tuesday just around
the corner, ReClif Community is optimistic about building momentum. The global movement has not only enabled them to expand their reach, but also allows them to make their offerings free to participants.
For those interested in contributing to the impactful work of ReClif Community, involvement isn’t just a donation; it’s an investment in a cause that transforms lives every day.
For more information, reach out to Reece at reece@reclif.com.
Participation in Giving Tuesday can have a lasting impact, creating a ripple effect of goodwill that benefits not just individuals, but the entire community.
As Giving Tuesday continues to grow in prominence globally, its message remains clear: even during rampant consumerism, we must prioritize giving back.
Embracing this spirit, focusing on local organizations can lead to tangible change right in our backyards. The efforts of such groups, often overshadowed by larger entities, serve as a cornerstone of community welfare.
This year let’s redirect our attention to those working tirelessly nearby and recognize that sometimes, the support we can give is closer to home than we think. ■
When the Dominican Republic (DR) comes to mind, many of us envision stunning all-inclusive resorts located in Punta Cana. However, for Jennifer Yin, a resident of Peachtree Corners, the country’s appeal goes beyond indulging in crystal-clear waters
By Zoey Schlueterand delicious cuisine.
She doesn’t find herself continuously in the Dominican Republic for luster and splendor, but rather for something much humbler and wholesome.
Yin previously worked as a schoolteacher but found a calling to work to improve safe water supply to developing countries. To help provide clean, safe water, Yin started a simple lemonade stand in her front yard with her two sons.
From this modest lemonade stand, Yin was redirected by neighbor Dan Blevins to look into Water at Work. Blevins is the Executive Director of the Water at Work Ministry. Their mission is to transform the lives
of over one million of the poorest people in the Dominican Republic through clean water production plants, business development and access to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Water at Work had humble beginnings. Over 10 years ago, Tom Flaim created the Water at Work Ministry after visiting the DR with his church group and being astounded by the lack of clean water available to residents.
Since then, the ministry has created a partner organization in the DR. Water at Work establishes small water businesses in the country through partnering with local churches and ministries, help-
ing to provide many communities access to clean and safe water.
Yin, the Director of Donor Relations, visits the DR annually. Her last trip was in the middle of June. On every trip, Yin continues to connect with residents like Rosemary, a staff member who leads community development efforts and recently created mobile dental clinics in the communities they serve for a very low cost.
During the mobile dentist clinics, Yin saw the fruit of her efforts and witnessed Rosemary and other dentists enter the Con-
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suelo community and treat over 50 people in eight hours with no running water or air conditioning.
Additionally, on this most recent trip, Yin visited House of Light, an orphanage for disabled children where Water at Work had installed a water purification system 10 years ago. However, the upkeep of the basic water purification system had become too expensive for the orphanage to maintain, so the ministry began installing a new system.
“We are in the midst of building them a completely renovated, state-of-the-art water purification system where they will be able to provide clean water for all the orphans who live there,” said Yin.
Through this system, they will also be able to bottle and sell water to residents nearby and use those profits to benefit the orphanage. It’s not charity, it’s a sustainable business model.
Yin has greater aspirations for Water at Work but needs support. She wants to challenge the Peachtree Corners people to look
beyond their own community.
“I challenge people to think outside of their immediate communities because I’ve found that when you’re able to do that, it opens up your heart and your mind to so
much more,” said Yin. “It’s amazing. The joy that you can get from helping others is something that is indescribable.”
There are many ways to support the Water at Work Ministry, one of which is Giving Tuesday. On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving this year, November 28, Water at Work will have a fundraiser.
“It is a fundraiser we do every single year, and we’ll have a matching donor for it,” said Yin. “Every dollar that is donated on Giving Tuesday will be matched 100% by someone else. So that’s a great way to band together with other people worldwide to make a difference in the nonprofit world,” Yin explained. Also, becoming a donor is a
great way to support the ministry and its mission at any time.
“We love when folks sign on to be monthly givers. It costs just $17 a month to provide one person with clean, safe water going forward for their lifetime,” she said.
Churches can easily get involved in the ministry’s efforts too. Simpsonwood United Methodist Church and Peachtree Corners Baptist Church put together Water and Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) bottles before Yin’s trip to DR. Later, those WASH bottles made in Peachtree Corners were handed out to DR residents during dental clinics.
Learn more about Water at Work Ministry at wateratworkministry.org, or contact Jennifer Yin at jyin@wateratworkministry. org. ■
On Nov. 10, 2022, Gwinnett County Public Schools announced Ashley Wright as the 2023 Teacher of the Year. Wright is a graphic design and production teacher for all grade levels at Paul Duke STEM High School. The journey to excellence Wright grew up in Gwinnett
By Terri Iriajen
County and attended Craig Elementary, Crews Middle and Brookwood High School.
She played varsity basketball at her high school, which inspired her to become a teacher and coach. She later discovered she enjoyed the teaching side of things more than coaching.
“One day, I passed Paul Duke, and I really felt like there was a calling, so that was like, ‘Ok, I’ve got to look this school up,’” she said. “Something’s happening over there. It looks really cool. Maybe this is where I’m meant to be. And, sure enough, they had everything I wanted to teach.”
Before Wright became Teacher of the Year, she earned a nomination as the 2023 Gwinnett County High School Teacher of the Year. This nomination put her in
contention with five other finalists who were eligible for Teacher of the Year.
Gwinnett County Public Schools held a celebratory event to honor these individuals at its Instructional Support Center. A recording of the live-streamed event is available on the GCPS website and via the GCPS TV app.
Wright has 12 years of experience as an educator. So far, four of those years have been with Paul Duke STEM High School.
“When I left my past private school that I was working at, we didn’t have the technology. We didn’t have the funding,” Wright explained.
While much of the world was grappling with COVID-19 uncer-
tainty, Wright’s teaching approach kept students engaged. In this case, it was a print shop.
“The vision was to build an inclusive community of student designers to grow and achieve success through building a creative-based business for all,” Wright said. “We exceeded that goal by working with clients to create custom designs, print and assemble high-quality products, calculate costs and invoice clients
while earning a profit.”
One of the privileges third-year graphic design students earn is the option to take a test certifying them in Adobe Illustrator. These students also have the opportunity to develop their own brand line.
Wright’s teaching philosophy revolves around building meaningful relationships with her students. She believes that understanding her students is crucial to unlocking their potential.
“I focus on building relationships with my students, empathizing with them, so I can better understand how they learn and what might be affecting them in their life currently,” Wright stated.
At the beginning of each year, she surveys her students to learn about their interests and preferences. She then uses that information to encourage creativity throughout the academic year.
Wright believes in the power of empathy and connection because she has seen the impact it can have on her students.
She shared a story of a struggling student who, with one-onone guidance, became an engaged learner and produced work he was proud of.
“Students need to feel safe, respected and valued for learning to take place, which is why I create a safe learning environment for all students regardless of race, gender and ethnicity,” she emphasized.
Wright believes in providing personalized instruction tailored to each student’s needs.
Her teaching toolbox is full of strategies that encourage peer collaboration. She employs techniques like chalk talks, pair and share, carousel collaboration and mini “focus” groups.
“At the end of the day, semester, and year, the students know I am here to support them and help them grow professionally and personally,” Wright stated.
Wright’s educational journey is rooted in her academic accomplishments.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in business education from Valdosta State University and a master’s degree in instructional technology from Kennesaw State University.
Congratulations to Ashley Wright on being named Gwinnett County Public Schools’ 2023 Teacher of the Year.
As North American Properties (NAP) and Nuveen Real Estate (Nuveen) transform The Forum Peachtree Corners into a mixed-use development, several new businesses are joining the merchandise mix.
National retailers that signed long-term leases include Lovesac, Petfolk and Stretchlab. Temporary license agreements were
reached with Auburn Candle Company, The Baby Nook and Girl Tribe Co.
Meet the retailers
Lovesac – This company designs, manufactures and sells unique furniture that’s guaranteed for life. It offers modular couches called Sactionals, foam beanbag chairs called Sacs and associated home décor accessories, including home
audio systems.
Upon opening next to Chico’s in spring 2024, Lovesac at The Forum will be the ninth location in Georgia and fourth in NAP’s portfolio.
Petfolk – Founded by vets with decades of experience in clinical practice, Petfolk is an animal hospital and pet care center built with pets and their owners in mind.
Veterinary services include exams, vaccinations, urgent care,
nutrition, diagnostic testing, digital radiology and more.
The Forum location opens this October by Chipotle, marking the brand’s second brick-and-mortar in metro Atlanta.
Stretchlab – Recognized for its customized, assisted-stretch sessions, Stretchlab is a wellness
concept specializing in one-onone routines led by nationally accredited flexologists.
Using a proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) approach, paired with dynamic and static stretching, the team is able to identify tightness and imbalances in the body. They then build a custom routine for each
client to develop a wider range of motion and flexibility.
Stretchlab opens next to Club Pilates at The Forum this winter.
Auburn Candle Company – Established in 2020 and based out of Auburn, Alabama, Auburn Candle Company hand-crafts signature candles and fragrances, free from additives and dyes.
In addition to shopping for prepoured candles as well as other bath, body and home goods, candle lovers can develop their own creations at the in-store pour bar.
Its year-long pop-up at The Forum, opening in October, will be the company’s first venture in Georgia.
The Baby Nook – A haven for anyone seeking baby essentials and gifts, The Baby Nook will feature a select collection of baby items that combine functionality, safety and aesthetic appeal.
The year-long pop-up will open in October next to Soft Surroundings.
Girl Tribe Co. – NAP is expanding its existing relationship with Charlotte-based Girl Tribe Co. to bring a temporary store to The Forum from October 6 through December 31.
Created by childhood best friends and co-founders Sarah Baucom and Carrie Barker, the brand offers a collection of clothing, graphic tees, accessories and lifestyle products.
A combination of proprietary products and items made by local female entrepreneurs will be available for purchase in Suite 505, next to HomeGoods. Girl Tribe Co. also plans to host a series of events, workshops and networking sessions during its stay at The Forum. The Forum’s merchandise mix
These forthcoming brands join KeenaBela, Gifts We All Want and
Go! Calendars, Toys, and Games as the latest additions to The Forum’s tenant collection.
KeenaBela, an Atlanta-based, eco-friendly sleep, lounge and resort-wear brand, officially opened its year-long pop-up at The Forum last month.
Additionally, specialty boutiques Gifts We All Want and Go! Calendars, Toys, and Games, have once again returned for the holiday season.
“We have seen a tremendous amount of interest from small, local business owners looking to grow their brands in a low-risk, incubator-style environment,” said Emily Narchus, director of ancillary revenue at NAP.
“As our leasing and development teams continue moving forward on The Forum’s renaissance, we are excited to play a part in upgrading the center’s retail makeup.”
NAP is nearing completion on the north end plaza and anticipates an early fall delivery of the 1,700-square-foot greenspace. This is the first, and smaller, of two community-driven spaces being adding to the property as part of its overall redevelopment.
Along with the ongoing retail improvements, renovations to the office lobby in building 5185, anchored by Trader Joe’s, are now complete.
The Forum has partnered with the Peachtree Corners Photography Club to display and sell winning pieces from its first juried exhibition in the revamped entrance.
To stay up to date on the latest property news and happenings, follow The Forum on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit theforumpeachtree.com. ■
Born and raised in Peachtree Corners, Harris Carlock probably didn’t give much thought to Alabama-style barbecue. But he did while attending the University of Alabama.
There he became good friends with classmates who eventually founded Moe’s Original BBQ — Ben Gilbert and Jeff Kennedy.
According to Moe’s company history, another founder, Mike
Fernandez learned to fire roast meats back in 1988 from Tuscaloosa legend Moses Day, whose distinct style makes up Moe’s original flavor of barbecue.
Eventually the founding partners all relocated to Vail, Colo., where each refined their cooking skills, according to the Moe’s website. Together, they created something special by using fruit wood to smoke their meats and complementing them with two sauces — a classic red and an Alabama white.
The first Moe’s that’s part of the franchise is actually located in Vail, said Carlock.
With a day job selling commercial real estate, Carlock said he
By Arlinda Smith Broady Photos by George Hunter
always wanted to open a Moe’s in his hometown — in the spot where it is now.
“I had been watching that particular location for years hoping that it would become available,” he said. “My hope is that it would be a really a big part of the community. I see it as a place for families to come after t-ball and soccer games.”
In 2021 his wish came true. He partnered with his cousin, Scott Carlock, who has an extensive restaurant background, as well as another Moe’s Original BBQ owner, Kyle McCarter.
“I live a mile from Moe’s and that’s really why we started it — to add to the local community,” said Harris Carlock. “I know the brand, because of my friends, but also, I know it’s a great product. Knowing that there are not a lot of other barbecue places in Peachtree Corners, I thought it would be a good fit.”
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L-R: James Garmon, Isabelle Carlock, Kyle McCarter, Victoria Gilbert, Noah Brown, Connor Naddra
Harkening back to his youth, Harris Carlock reminisced about playing football on Norcross High’s offensive line. “On Thursdays, the coach would take us to Sonny’s BBQ and we would eat all we could eat. …That’s pretty neat,” he said. “I love that we’ve set up the same program with Norcross today. The Norcross offensive line comes every Thursday.”
Not to be outdone, Johns Creek has started the tradition this year.
“To me, that’s really what we’re
about. That’s exactly what I want to do. You know, it’s not about making money. We do that at our cost, and it really makes us happy to see those kids out there. They love it; they come in and eat lots of wings and pork,” Harris Carlock said.
Moe’s isn’t just a one-sport spot, however.
“We also have a partnership with the Peachtree Corners Football Club, which is the soccer program that plays out of Jones Bridge Park,” he added. “We’re all about families coming in. We have ‘Kids eat free’ on Wednesday night.”
Harris Carlock wants everyone to give Moe’s a try.
“Ribs are really what we’re famous for, but in addition to that, our smoked wings are probably our best seller. The other thing, I think, that sets us apart is we make our sides fresh daily from scratch,” he said.
In addition to the side dish staples that are on the menu every day, there are specialty dishes — mainly vegetables — that rotate. On occasion, a customer may get perturbed because their favorite
has run out and there’s not a vat of it in the back to scoop out.
“Our philosophy is that all our meats are smoked fresh every day — same with the vegetables. So when we’re out of them, we’re out,” he said. “We purposely don’t cook more than we think we’ll sell because we don’t want to reheat it the next day.”
That’s kind of a pet peeve, he said.
“There are a lot of places where you can get good ‘cue, but then they’ve got potato salad that they just got from the deli or whatever, and they didn’t put that same kind of care into the sides,” he said. It’s
The big thing that stands out is the Alabama-style of smoking the meat. Traditional barbecue in Alabama centers around pork cooked in open pits over hickory wood. Other hardwoods, such as oak and pecan, are also used.
Sauces vary by the proximity to other states — the closer to North Carolina, the more vinegar based; the closer to South Carolina, the more mustard based; the closer to
Memphis the sweeter and more tomato-y.
But the white sauce — a mayonnaise-based concoction with vinegar, lemon juice, horseradish and cayenne pepper — is an Alabama tradition by itself.
McCarter, who’s actually a metro Atlanta native from Roswell, was trained under the original franchise owners in Vail and runs the day-to-day operations.
“Kyle smokes all the meat. He runs the restaurant. He’s the one responsible for the delicious food,” said Harris Carlock.
Moe’s invites families and friends to trivia on Thursday nights and ‘Kids eat free’ on Wednesday nights. Everyone is welcome to watch the Braves or the Falcons or the Hawks on one of the eight TVs.
Of course, there’s always the option to dine while sitting on the patio and enjoying being part of a great community. ■
Moe’s Original BBQ
5005 Peachtree Pkwy., Ste. 810, Peachtree Corners 770-696-2631
moesoriginalbbq.com
Norsan Restaurants has announced the opening of its new restaurant concept, H&W Steakhouse. H&W is the third fine-dining steakhouse concept from Norsan Restaurants.
The company also operates Pampas Steakhouse in Johns Creek and Frankie’s The Steakhouse in Duluth.
H&W aims to bring modern fine dining to Peachtree Corners with USDA Prime Steaks and a variety of seafood options.
The restaurant was designed by architect Filipao Nunes out of Monterrey, Mexico.
“It fills us with great pride to be part of such an important project, which was designed to create an experience on par with the menu,” says Nunes. Our goal was to allow for elegance to shine in every single detail, staying faithful to the essence of the brand.”
Chef Thomas Minchella leads the culinary team at H&W and has served as Norsan Restaurant’s Executive Corporate Chef from 2020.
Chef Minchella, formerly the Executive Chef of McKendrick’s Steakhouse, is looking forward to the opening and sharing his menu and creations with guests. He states, “Creating delicious food is my passion, creating a culinary staff is my ambition, and creating guests is my love!”
Norsan CEO Norberto Sanchez shares, “We are very excited to open our new concept
H&W Steakhouse. Taking center stage at H&W will be handpicked premium steaks and a fantastic array of seafood offerings. Our hospitable and professional service team has one goal: to make our guests feel at home.”
H&W had its soft-open in late September with a limited number of reservations available.
Reservations is available via Opentable and directly through the restaurant. Follow along on Instagram for the official information and ongoing events @hwsteakhouse. ■
Plan helps steer housing choice locations, growth, lead development, and prioritize infrastructure projects
In February, the City of Peachtree Corners began the task of updating our Comprehensive Plan. As per Georgia’s regulations, the Comprehensive Plan must include the five topical elements of economic development, natural and historic resources, community facilities and services, housing, and land use, and must be updated every 10 years.
We firmly believe that governments have a responsibility to anticipate needs and provide adequate infrastructure to ensure that citizens can live in a safe and prosperous community. Our growth-management plan helps us ensure that future development will occur where, when, and how the community and local government want.
We are proud to announce that during the August City Council Meeting, the City Council approved its 2045 Comprehensive Plan. This plan helps ensure that city leaders and residents share a vision for the future, ensuring a high quality of life, plentiful employment opportunities, mobility options, housing choices, and a sound, resilient economic base. It will help determine housing choice locations, steer growth, lead development, and prioritize infrastructure projects.
One of the main functions of the plan is the development of housing options throughout the City. The City worked hard to include the community when developing this plan to ensure their voices were heard when determining the types of housing options and where they should and should not be located. This plan establishes the specific character areas where types of housing are either appropriate or discouraged.
The plan promotes rational, controlled growth decision-making, providing stability to current homeowners, attractive alternatives for future residents, and confidence to business investors.
In addition to performing a vital government function, this plan enables the City of Peachtree Corners to qualify for financial aid such as Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Georgia Environmental Finance Authority (GEFA) loans, and a variety of other state agency programs.
We strongly believe that broad public participation is essential to the success of any comprehensive planning process. Defining the community’s values and needs is the first step in the planning process, and we are committed to effectively communicating these values and meeting the community’s needs.
The community engagement process aimed to gain a deep understanding of the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs of
Peachtree Corners’ residents and neighbors. We provided multiple opportunities for Peachtree Corners’ residents, leaders, visitors, and other stakeholders to shape this planning effort and provide feedback on interim findings. The final plan was formed after input from city officials, online survey respondents, and people who attended community events.
Our leadership team recognized the value of the current Vision adopted in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan and sought to refine it with input from stakeholders and the public. The resulting plan reflects the community’s values, supports the vision, and follows the goals set for this update.
Our comprehensive plan addresses critical questions such as where people will live and work, what type of housing they will have, and how they will commute. In addition to these fundamental concerns, Peachtree Corners’ residents have expressed a keen interest in aesthetics, public art, a sustainable environment, and investing in technology. To address these issues and leverage the city’s inherent opportunities, we evaluated land use, transportation, housing, economic development, broadband connectivity, potential changes to the character area map, and potential work program items. The resulting recommendations, if implemented, will bring significant benefits and public good to the entire community.
Our full report is a comprehensive guide that provides valuable insights into the current conditions of our City. It includes expert recommendations on crucial areas such as land use, housing, economic development, transportation, and education. Additionally, we have developed a community work plan that outlines our vision for the future.
We are proud to announce that during this process, we have updated our Economic Development Plan, which is included as an appendix in the full Comprehensive Plan. This plan will serve as a roadmap for our City’s economic growth and prosperity. We are confident that our efforts will lead to a brighter future for our City, and we are excited to share our findings with you.
peachtreecornersga.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2788/ Stay
Gwinnett County’s newest and largest city, Peachtree Corners, was founded July 1, 2012 and is located along the Chattahoochee River in the southwest corner of the county. The city is home to over 45,000 residents and 3,000 businesses.
Communications Director FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Direct), lsvehla@peachtreecornersga.gov Parkway, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092 www.peachtreecornersga.gov
heavy pedestrian traffic, our solution can prioritize this category and will develop models for pedestrian tendencies across wait time, how long it takes to cross the street, etc. Cities can then prioritize pedestrians in mixed traffic by limiting the wait time to cross the street based on foot traffic. Similarly, this can be applied to public transit and even school buses in mixed traffic, ensuring for these categories efficient trips to remain on schedule.”
Peachtree Corners – one of the nation’s first smart cities powered by real-world connected infrastructure and 5G – announced a partnership with ITC Intelligent Traffic Control Ltd (ITC), providing an agnostic software solution that can be applied to existing traffic infrastructure to measure traffic and predict and mitigate congestion before it occurs for a more safe, sustainable and efficient travel experience. ITC will be partnering with Curiosity Lab to launch this solution for the first time in the United States and will be deploying the solution in select Peachtree Cor -
agnostic solution connects to existing traffic infrastructure for adaptive control of traffic signal timing
“According to recent studies, more than 40% of traffic accidents occur in intersections, and congestion accounts for 25% of car greenhouse gas emissions - with the average driver spending three days per year stuck in traffic,” said Brandon Branham, Curiosity Lab Executive Director. “This cost-effective traffic solution is going to be a game-changer for
cities across the U.S. ITC’s solution gives city managers and traffic engineers the affordable tools to make our roadways safer, more efficient and thus more sustainable for everyone on the road. We will be able to manage intersections in real-time and can easily download a traffic report and adapt traffic signal patterns remotely, which is a huge advantage for city managers when there are major wrecks, community events and sudden surges in traffic. The ease of scalability is also impressive, which makes this even more appealing to city managers and CTOs across the country. As a city, we are excited to witness how ITC continues to improve our residents’ daily driving experience.”
ners’ traffic intersections for demonstrations and testing.
said Aharon Brauner, ITC Co-Founder and CEO. “That ecosystem is the perfect opportunity for us to demonstrate the effectiveness of our solution with consistent mixed traffic, public transit and pedestrian activity along the corridor. Proven to be 99% accurate in both daytime and nighttime scenarios, our solution is more accurate than human or other data collectors, and we are looking forward to using this opportunity to enhance traffic management throughout Curiosity Lab’s ecosystem and into Peachtree Corners to improve the everyday lives of visitors and citizens.”
CORNERS, Ga. – September 21, 2023 – Peachtree Corners – one of the nation’s first smart cities real-world connected infrastructure and 5G – announced a partnership with ITC Intelligent Traffic ), providing an agnostic software solution that can be applied to existing traffic infrastructure to and predict and mitigate congestion before it occurs for a more safe, sustainable and efficient experience. ITC will be partnering with Curiosity Lab to launch this solution for the first time in the United be deploying the solution in select Peachtree Corners’ traffic intersections for demonstrations
ITC’s software solution connects to existing traffic cameras and uses ground-breaking computer vision analysis to accurately identify all road objects and collect data including speed, acceleration, traffic flow, distance, pedestrian activity and more, while complying with privacy regulations by hiding license plates and faces. Using proprietary machine learning models, this data is then used to create a traffic model that highlights patterns of each intersection or corridor with the ability to connect across a grid of intersections and create one holistic image. ITC is also predicting traffic patterns in real-time based on historic data, enabling cities to have proactive and adaptive control of traffic congestion.
In addition to uncovering patterns, ITC’s solution can create traffic simulations across intersections and corridors where the software is deployed. Here, traffic controllers and city managers will be able to see real-time object-driven visualization and simulation with a geographic overlay and to create countless theoretical traffic scenarios for the software to solve. Through its proprietary algorithms, ITC’s software can also manage traffic based on a city’s specific goals, whether that be to limit carbon emissions and improve sustainability or provide general traffic management, prioritize pedestrians or public transit and more.
The City of Peachtree Corners is partnering with the Alliance of Norcross-Peachtree Corners to help feed local students and families during the holidays by offering an innovative donation program through our Choose PTC local shopping app.
Now through October 31, users of the app can donate their points to the Alliance. The Alliance will receive funding from the City at the rate of $1 per point donated.
Do you have points on your Choose PTC account that you are not using? Would you like to help feed some of our Peachtree Corners students and families over the holidays?
solution connects to existing traffic cameras and uses ground-breaking computer vision analysis identify all road objects and collect data including speed, acceleration, traffic flow, distance , activity and more , while complying with privacy regulations by hiding license plates and faces Using machine learning models, this data is then used to create a traffic model that highlights patterns of intersection or corridor with the ability to connect across a grid of intersections and create one holistic also predicting traffic patterns in real-time based on historic data, enabling cities to have proactive control of traffic congestion .
Each year, the Alliance of Norcross-Peachtree Corners hosts a holiday food box drive for local school families. Non-perishable food is purchased for each box and a gift card is included to be used for perishable goods. In Peachtree Corners alone, 122 boxes are needed to help our families.
solution already deployed across Israel, in Australia and other countries worldwide, Curiosity Lab will world playground for us to continue to develop our solution and to officially launch in the U.S. office in the Innovation Center ,” said Aharon Brauner, ITC Co-Founder and CEO. “That ecosystem
“With our solution already deployed across Israel, in Australia and other countries worldwide, Curiosity Lab will serve as a real-world playground for us to continue to develop our solution and to officially launch in the U.S. with an official office in the Innovation Center,”
“Our software not only learns and adapts traffic signals and patterns in real-time, but also has the capability to manage traffic to prioritize certain categories of road users,” said Dvir Kenig, ITC Co-Founder and CTO. “This allows cities to manage each intersection or corridor differently based on the type of traffic they are seeing and/or time of day. If an intersection regularly has
These donations will be used to purchase food and gift cards for our Peachtree Corners families that need it most.
Donating is easy. Simply open your app, click on redeem, choose Nonprofits, and tap the Alliance to redeem.
Don’t have the app yet? It is not too late to start earning points for donations or discounts. Download the app in the Apple Store or Google Play.
Just like every Peachtree Corners student and family, every donated point matters.
For more information on the Alliance, visitthealliancenpc.org/volunteer-opportunities.html.
For more information on Choose PTC, visitchooseptc.com
On Friday, September 8, Peachtree Corners Mayor Mike Mason visited the BIA Charter School to read to the kindergarten class of Ms. Meredith Huxtable.
The Mayor visited BIA as part of the Mayor’s Reading Club, a program launched by the City in August that is designed to encourage and support literacy skills and early reading success for children and youth in Georgia cities.
While at BIA, the Mayor read “Georgia Caroline Visits City Hall,” and answered questions asked by the students. Following his reading of the book, the Mayor proudly took part in an interview conducted by the school’s morning team that will be broadcast as part of a morning news segment to the entire school.
This program was developed by Georgia City Solutions and is designed to foster partnerships and collaborations between the city, county, local nonprofits, schools, libraries, and business community. In addition to the Mayor, other elected officials, city staff, youth, and community members can participate in the program as guest readers.
On Wednesday, August 23rd, members of the Peachtree Corners City Council, along with Mayor Mike Mason, celebrated the Spalding Drive widening project with representatives from Gwinnett County and Sandy Springs.
The project was completed through the collaboration of the three entities and was years in the making. The final project widened Spalding Drive between Holcomb Bridge and Winters Chapel from a two-lane bridge and road to a 5-lane section. It also included 3,000 ft of new 10-foot-wide multiuse path.
The construction of the project took 5,000 square yards of concrete, 9 million pounds of asphalt, and 35,000 pounds of steel bridge structure.
The project was budgeted for $8 Million but came in just over $6.6 Million. This section of roadway has a daily traffic count of over 22,000 vehicles.
In addition to Mayor Mason, City Councilmembers on hand for the event were Vice-Mayor Weare Gratwick, Eric Christ, and Phil Sadd.
While it is certainly hard to think about when it is still so hot outside, fall is just around the corner and the time to plan is now. It’s a magical time of year, with bright-colored falling leaves, cool crisp air in the evenings, and the return of pumpkin spice and eggnog.
As we move towards buttoning up our jackets, we should give thought to doing the same for our homes. Before the first cold weather, here are a few things you should do to prepare your roof for the cold, and potential wet weather ahead.
Most species of trees grow steadily all year long. Those tiny branches hanging barely above the roof could become a real nuisance by the time spring is here. Trimming back any branches near the house now can help prevent damage, as well as reduce the volume of leaves that will fall on the roof.
You may not associate the summer months with clogged gutters and downspouts but don’t be tricked by Mother Nature. Summer storms may have driven leaves, needles, twigs, and other debris into your gutter system. As the autumn leaves begin to collect on your roof and in the gutter system, there is a greater risk that they will block the downspouts. This can lead to rainwater overflowing your gutters and damaging your trim and siding. With the added weight of soggy, decaying leaves and water buildup, there’s also a chance the gutters could actually pull loose from their anchor points and collapse.
It’s equally important that you remove leaves, pine needles, branches, and other debris from the entire surface area of your roof. Gunk loves to collect in any valley where two roof lines meet. Even small deposits will hold moisture, and could lead to mold and rot conditions that may damage your roof. If you are experienced in walking on the roof, and feel confident, you should be able to remove any debris with a bristle broom or leaf blower.
While you’re up there, be sure to check your roof for moss, algae, and
mildew. If you discover one of these conditions or think you might have, it’s best to have a professional roofer inspect the roof, and treat it where necessary.
When your roof is clean, check the surface for missing or curled shingles. Leaks often begin at the flashings around vent stacks, chimneys, and skylights. If you discover any defects, or areas that look suspect, this is the time to have a professional check the integrity of the roof. A damaged or deteriorating roof could produce leaks and also drive up energy costs as temperatures drop. Check the attic insulation
You will also want to peek in the attic. Here you’re looking for areas where moisture has built up, and excessive heat. It’s a good idea to check the vents, to make sure none of the local critters have found refuge from the elements. During the day, the sun beats upon your roof, heating the air in the attic. Vents at the soffits, ridges and/or gables of your roof should remove much of that heat from the attic.
When the heat is allowed to build up in the attic, it can lead to condensation buildup and moisture damage. When the hot air has nowhere else to go, it can seep into the living space below, encouraging you to turn on the air conditioning during the cooler months.
Check the insulation carefully. Are there any damp areas, or evidence that it has been wet at some previous time? Look for thin spots, batting that has become detached, or material that does not extend to the edges.
If you discover moisture buildup in the attic, or it seems hotter up there than seems reasonable, you may be overdue for a roof inspection.
A few hours every fall can significantly extend the life of your roof and help you catch small problems before they become big ones.
Information sourced from various professional websites
EV charging solutions, Siemens, has joined the Curiosity Lab smart city ecosystem to support bringing 5G electrification to America. Siemens American-built charging stations and infrastructure will be installed at Curiosity Lab leveraging T-Mobile’s 5G network as the company continues to evolve its EV charging infrastructure solutions.
“With our eMobility R&D headquarters just across the street, we’re thrilled to be supporting Peachtree Corners and joining the Curiosity Lab ecosystem alongside so many great partners whose goals are to bring EV infrastructure to the forefront of cities across the country,” said John DeBoer, head of Siemens eMobility North America. “With our community charging their vehicles each day right where we live and work, this will be a great way to continuously evaluate our charging infrastructure as we collectively seek an electrified future.”
With both Siemens eMobility R&D hub and the North American Headquarters for Siemens Electrical Products located in Peachtree Corners, Siemens is the city’s largest employer and is actively supporting the community with six EV chargers already deployed. These chargers contribute to Peachtree Corners having the largest EV charging hub outside of Metro Atlanta.
“Siemens shares our vision of leveraging the benefits of 5G for the betterment of our communities,” said Dave Bezzant, Vice President, T-Mobile for Government. “We are thrilled to have Siemens joining the Curiosity Lab ecosystem, and we are looking forward to working with their team to provide 5G wireless connectivity for this project.”
“As one of the leading smart cities in the United States, we are always looking towards the future,” said Brian Johnson, City Manager of Peachtree Corners. “The electrification of America is well on its way, and here in Peachtree Corners we are proud to be embracing this technology further with Siemens joining our Curiosity Lab ecosystem. As a global leader in this space, we are honored to have had Siemens’ continuous support for our city’s adoption of this technology. Expanding their charging infrastructure at Curiosity Lab only strengthens that ongoing support. Together with Siemens, T-Mobile’s 5G and our real-world environment, we will be able to continue to improve EV infrastructure for a positive impact towards the future of the electrification of America.”
Find out more about Siemens’ presence in Peachtree Corners and Atlanta at https://www.siemens.com/ us/en/company/siemens-in-the-usa/ atlanta.html.
■ Minor deck repairs (non-structural)
■ Minor repair to roof coverings
■ Minor repairs to brick, siding, or stucco
■ Retaining walls 48’ inches or less measured from the bottom of the footing (unless holding an additional load)
■ Fences not over 7 feet high
■ Prefabricated swimming pools that are less than 24 inches deep, not greater than 5,000 gallons, and installed completely above ground (residential)
■ Swings and other playground equipment (one- and two-family dwellings)
■ The replacement of lighting fixtures, ceiling fans, etc. that do not require installing new conductors
Almost all commercial and residential construction will require a building permit and inspection.
Permits and inspections are required for the safety of the public and the family at home. Permits are also beneficial in keeping property values stable, and insurance rates affordable. There are some projects that do not require a building permit or inspection.
Here is a list of the most common:
■ One-story detached accessory structures 200 square feet or less (residential)
■ Appliance replacement for plug-in appliances
■ Plumbing fixture replacement that does not require moving or adding supply lines or waste and vent piping work
■ Door or window replacement that does not require structural alterations to the building
■ Window awnings supported by an exterior wall that do not project over 54 inches from the exterior wall and do not need additional support (residential)
■ Garage door repair or replacement
■ Interior painting, tiling, carpet, trim work, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
This is a public service announcement to bring awareness to the various resources provided by the City of Peachtree Corners for floodplain awareness. Peachtree Corners is bordered by the Chattahoochee River to the north and contains tributaries and streams throughout the City. Flooding damage can occur due to large rainfall events or when the natural flow of water is redirected. A wealth of information can be found on the City’s Floodplain Management webpage that pertains to:
■ Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) – the only legal document allowed to be used by lenders to write a flood insurance policy.
■ Floodway Data – Properties located in or near the floodplain have special regulatory requirements for development. Prior to any building construction, please apply for a building permit
■ Special flood-related hazards – such as local drainage problems, areas predicted to be flooded in the future, and erosion
■ Approximate Depth of Flooding – information about how deep flood waters can be anticipated on a property can be provided
■ Historical flood information – to find out if a property has been flooded in the past or is a repetitive loss
■ Wetlands and Natural Conservation Data – areas mapped in the: National Wetlands Inventory, critical habitat by the US Fish and Wildlife Services, areas receiving natural floodplain functions
■ Flood Insurance – it is mandatory for a property located in the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) to purchase flood insurance
Please visit the City’s Floodplain Management webpage at https://www.peachtreecornersga.gov/222/Floodplain-Management
The projects listed above are not an all-inclusive list of projects that do not require permits.
As stated, most construction-related projects will require permits and inspections. Remember, when in doubt about your project please call the Building Department at 770-609-8812.
The City provides one-on-one advice specific to your property. If you are concerned and have any questions pertaining to flood insurance or are in need of any flood protection advice, please contact the City’s Certified Floodplain Manager, Katherine Francesconi at kfrancesconi@peachtreecornersga.gov to schedule an onsite appointment or discussions can take place over the telephone or face to face.
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