AUGUST 2017: Our Town Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Monthly Magazine

AUGUST 2017 Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine

Our Town GWINNETT

Lawrenceville Snellville Lilburn Stone Mountain Tucker

Meet the team at Major Tae Kwon Do, see story on page 5

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GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club: Making a Difference Getting to Know: Friends of Disabled Adults and Children SportsTalk: Brookwood High’s Cross Country Set to Excel Getting Schooled: Annistown Elementary’s Dual Language Program

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On the Cover: Major Tae Kwon Do in Lilburn

By Our Town Staff Grandmaster Seong Ji, owner of Major Tae Kwon Do in Lilburn, humbly says that the keys to success are respect and perseverance. At age 51, he has come to understand that by giving respect to all, regardless of a student’s age, an instructor not only teaches respect, but also heightens the students’ enjoyment of Tae Kwon Do as well. When Ji’s students enjoy Tae Kwon Do, they have the opportunity to gain the wonderful benefits characteristic of the discipline.

Born in 1964 in Ansung City, South Korea, young Ji began his studies in Tae Kwon Do in elementary school. By the time he was twelve, he had earned his black belt. This accomplishment gave him incredible personal strength and self-confidence. To Seong Ji, earning a black belt gave him a way to handle the difficult tests of life – be they mental, physical, or emotional. It was the self-respect that Ji gained as a black belt that he considers to be the key to his success.

Attending Kyung Hee University – the world’s first university to offer a bachelor’s program in Tae Kwon Do Education – solidified Ji’s future as a Tae Kwon Do professional. By 1990, Ji had earned his bachelor’s degree, opened his first school, and started a family. A series of fortuitous events led him to the United States, where he was submersed in a different culture, a different language, and a different landscape. After teaching in the Midwest for almost three years under the guidance of Grandmaster Woo Jin Jung, Ji moved to Georgia to start a new chapter in his life.

When the doors of Major Tae Kwon Do opened in 1996 in Lilburn, he was the only instructor and had only three students. The number of students did not faze him as he knew he had the privilege of holding what he considered to be the most rewarding responsibility: influencing and inspiring the students within and outside the framework of Tae Kwon Do. As a humble man, Seong Ji’s greatest pride comes from each student enjoying his classes. Even now, after over twenty years from the start of his Tae Kwon Do journey in the US, Grandmaster Ji still considers himself to be a student as his students daily teach him how to be a better teacher.

One of the greatest challenges he faces is when students want to quit if they have a difficulty or struggle within the discipline. Grandmaster Ji hopes to teach his students and their parents that if a student has a setback, such as having a difficult time with a technique, that is when encouragement and support from family and peers are most needed. He teaches the importance of helping bear each other’s burdens and struggles in order to provide confidence and inspiration.

“You need to believe in their abilities and encourage them to persevere,” says Ji. If the student

leaves Tae Kwon Do during a difficult time, a cycle of self-doubt is learned rather than a cycle of determination, self-respect, hard work, and success. An important lesson Grandmaster Ji teaches his students is that a black belt is a white belt who never gave up.

As the owner and chief instructor at Major Tae Kwon Do, he believes teaching has provided an avenue for him to inspire and influence the people in his own community. He also draws strength from his loving family. Eun, his college sweetheart and wife of 25 years, raised their three sons, all of whom earned their 3rd degree black belt. Dabin entered medical school last fall, Robin is a senior at the University of Georgia, and Harbin is in 10th grade. As Major Tae Kwon Do continues growing and expanding, Grandmaster Ji credits his success to not only his wonderfully dedicated staff, but also to the continued friendships and relationships he has formed with his students and their families.

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Our Town Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine

— An EndResultZ Media & Communications firm EndResultZ.com

Publisher/Owner Ryan T. Sauers Ryan@EndResultZ.com Creative Director Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultZ.com Editor Catherine L. Osornio Cover Photographer Amadorphoto Distribution Coordinator DeeDee Chapman Feature Writers Daidra Annis Heidi Campbell Dana Harvey Kim Hill Joanna Shackelford Karla Socci Somers Michelle Watson Contributing Writers Emma Carlson Kathy Coots Dr. Rodrigo Cruz Terri Grunduski Kelly McAloon David S. Walker Ann Weeks Matt Williams Carol C. Wood

Our Town Gwinnett is published and direct mailed to select homes in the Gwinnett /NE DeKalb area. Opinions expressed by the writers and staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher.

Our Town Gwinnett reserves the right to edit and/or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our Town Gwinnett is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers.

Entire contents copyright 2017 by Our Town Gwinnett. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.

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IN THIS ISSUE

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On the Cover: Major Tae Kwon Do in Lilburn From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion Chaplain’s Corner: Find Broken and Do Good Character Counts with Matt Williams of NG3: 33 for NG3 Community Spotlight: Lilburn Cooperative Ministry GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club: Making a Difference Getting to Know: Friends of Disabled Adults and Children SportsTalk: Brookwood Cross Country Teams Set to Continue Dominance Getting Schooled: Annistown Elementary’s DLI Program Harmony Grove UMC Preschool: 50 Great Years in Lilburn Things are Hopping in Snellville Insights from Ann Weeks: Lost Opportunities Learning Lessons: Study Skills: Each Student’s Key to Academic Success Photo of the Month: Rising Talent at GSA Soccer Retired Brookwood High Teacher Publishes Her First Young Adult Novel Legal Matters: What is an Uncontested Divorce?

Prepping for Football Season with the Kids & Pros #YouthFootball Camp Let’s Dance: Simply Dancing is Back Realty Reality: A Nice Home or a Nice Neighborhood?

Op-Ed by Emma Carlson: Cutting Trees is NOT the Answer

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Our Town

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From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion

By Ryan T. Sauers

@RyanSauers

I love positive family and community stories. This is one of the reasons I enjoy publishing two monthly magazines dedicated to these topics. I believe there is more good in the world than is ever reported. And I am fortunate to see so much of it firsthand.

However, many of us view our world – that is overloaded with information and moving at warp speed – as impersonal and negative in nature.

Moreover, if we watch a variety of media outlets, we are often shown a world that looks out of control. If I did not know better, I would think there weren’t any good and caring people left. But let me tell you something. This is not the case. There are more amazing people doing incredible things than you can ever imagine. Negative stuff does happen (as it has throughout history), but in our “24/7 world,” much of the media has become fixated on reporting only sensationalistic (often negative) type news. You will never find that here.

I believe that most people desire peace, love, laughter, and a better world for their children.

Right here in our own communities we have a variety of opinions, values, and worldviews. There is nothing wrong with this. Let us never take our differences and let them divide us. Instead we should embrace them, learn from them, and collectively become stronger from them.

As human beings, we are all here on this earth for a short time. That is why life is “a present” and “the present.” As I mentioned, many positive events are not given much coverage; thus, Our Town makes it a priority to share stories that you are proud of and want to know more about. We love to highlight the great people, families, schools, teams, parks, nonprofits, and other organizations that are the backbone of our community.

Let us focus our collective energy on growing our community to reach even greater heights.

People need encouragement and are eager to hear a kind word. People need to laugh and they want to smile. So, let’s make another person’s day amazing.

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In June of 2016, my wife Kelly and I decided to increase our family of five by adopting from China. Last month, we traveled there for two weeks to finalize the adoption and to bring our son home. In all honesty, we never anticipated adopting a child. But as scary as it is, we were only responding in faith to what clearly has been God’s call for our family. At that point, we had a full plate at home with three kids.

Since we started the process, people have asked, “Why adopt from China?” Let me first clarify that I believe finding homes for orphans is a huge need in many different countries as well as here in the United States (including the state of Georgia). And I strongly believe that God needs men and women who can go to every corner of the world and get those kids, in the same way that God needs men and women who can respond to children suffering in our foster care system. In our case, God put a burden on our hearts for children in China. Asia is home to the largest number of orphaned children in the world – 60 million at last count, according to the CAFO. And for the Cruz family, God challenged us to make ONE less orphan, so we could take a part in changing ONE life forever, and eventually discover how many lives that ONE life can change.

In so many different ways, we felt overwhelmed with questions such as: Can we afford it? Do we have what it takes? Would we be a good fit for him and would he be a good fit for our family?

Is this the right decision?

The more we thought about it, the more we wanted to say no. Yet, the more that we prayed about it, the harder it was to say no. Finally, God spoke to us clearly through the Bible verse Ephesians 1:5 that says, “God destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will.” It was in that moment that we got the assurance that in the midst of all questions and doubts, God was with us; that adopting wasn’t just a nice idea, adopting for us was simply finding broken and doing good.

Well, a whole year has gone by. The adoption process is done. Benjamin is home and is adjustContinued on page 21

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Character Counts with Matt Williams of NG3: 33 for NG3

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By Matt Williams Over the past year, Ryan Sauers and the team at Our Town Magazine have been very gracious to allow NG3 to be in their magazine. Ryan is a big advocate and very supportive of the work of NG3 and the students we impact.

NG3 is a faith-based non-profit organization that offers character development programs and small group mentoring to public high schools. We believe that relationships bring change, not just information. Our focus is simple: take people from the community and connect them to students who want to be a part of an off-campus, small mentoring group that goes beyond a transfer of information. Most kids don’t need more data; they need deeper relationships. Don’t get me wrong, without a transfer of information, they wouldn’t know the rules. The problem is that rules without relationship most often lead to rebellion. Students need people to invest in their lives and in who they are, not in what they can do. As “connected” as they are to everything around them, they are very “disconnected” when it comes to people. They need people to listen to them, to ask how they’re doing, to reiterate what it means to be a good father/mother or husband/wife, and to give them a chance to grow spiritually. This is what NG3 is trying to do.

We work with schools as well as athletic programs to help with character development by offering our character lessons (all of which are school appropriate). But this is only the beginning.

Our heart is to connect kids with caring, loving, supportive adults who will treat them like they’re going to know them the rest of their lives.

We are asking people to sign up for our “33 for NG3” campaign. This means helping NG3 by donating $33 per month for the next 12 months. Yes, you’ll get the tax write off; but more importantly, you’ll be making a difference in the life of a local student. The only way we can do this is with the help of the communities we serve.

Please go to our website and look for the “33” button on the home page to sign up. I know you have many things pulling you in a million places, but at the end of all this, it’s the relationships we forge and the investment in people that will far outlast our “stuff.” Thanks for your help.

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Community Spotlight: Lilburn Cooperative Ministry

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By Michelle Watson The Lilburn Cooperative Ministry has been serving the Lilburn area since 1994.

Through partnership with faithful patrons and area churches, they have grown from a nearby house to their current location at 5329 Five Forks Trickum Road.

The Co-op offers financial services to residents in Lilburn and Stone Mountain within the 30087 ZIP Code, as well as Tucker residents in the 30084 ZIP Code. Assistance and programs include rent, utilities, and food programs. The group also works with its partners to provide school supplies and Christmas gifts for area children.

Over thirty churches support the Co-op, with many providing volunteers as well. Volunteers help with sorting donations and picking up large donations. The support churches also hold food drives once a year. About ten to twelve schools provide food drives, and the students volunteer, too. Some of the schools participate during the nationwide Great Day of Service program, while others hold their food drives on a day of their choosing. This helps ensure the Co-op is supported throughout the school year.

Local grocery stores provide donations to the Co-op food bank. Fresh Market provides a lot of the donations, and all the bread and pastries donations are provided by Fresh Market, Publix, and Kroger. The Co-op is also the beneficiary of the Harvest Program, a program that is part of the Food Donation Connection and that works with local restaurants to provide food to local food banks. Some participating restaurants include Red Lobster, Pizza Hut, KFC, and Papa Johns.

The Lilburn Cooperative Ministry has a thrift store that is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. They have everything from home furnishings to clothing to holiday decorations for every major holiday. Most adult clothing is only $1.25, and kids’ clothing is 75 cents each item.

Continued on page 21

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GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club: Making a Difference

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You may be familiar with any number of causes the GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club (LWC) is currently involved with, but did you know they actually started the first library in Lilburn? As an affiliate of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs – whose members have been instrumental in starting libraries in little towns around the country since the early 1900s – the LWC membership has long had its sights on this sort of project since its inception.

Back in 1973, a group of about twenty ladies realized a need in the community, and decided to fill it. Co-president Barbara Brooks says, “One of the very first things they did was start a library.

There was a little ugly building where the tennis courts are now in the park. The woman’s club went in and painted the place and put out a little sign and actually ran the first library in Lilburn.”

She adds that they also were instrumental in creating the first city park in Lilburn, and for putting in railroad crossing gates because there were none. “You know how women are – when they see a need, they say, ‘We need to fix this!’ and they do!”

It is no surprise, then, that when the Lilburn branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library moved to its new building last fall, the Lilburn Woman’s Club wanted to contribute. Recording Secretary Patty Gabilondo had found a statue of a little girl reading, and the membership agreed it would be perfect for the new library. “We started asking some questions,” says Barb. They started with the city and were told to go to the library, and eventually ended up in a meeting with the Gwinnett County Library Foundation. While the foundation liked the idea of the statue, there were many other things on their wish list. One was an interactive television set to be used for children’s story time. There was also a big white wall spanning the back of the children’s area crying out for an artistic touch. That’s how the idea for a mural project got started.

Patty says, “We did a little research on the internet about other children’s libraries and how they had used the theme of a train depot.” The ladies reached out to the Lilburn Art Alliance for help with renderings, and Mark Watkins from Good Day Studio said he would love to work on the project. Having found an artist, and gotten the county, library foundation, and art alliance on board, Patti says it was a matter of identifying the budget and presenting it to the membership. “We are 70 women strong and let me tell you, we get a lot of things done! Our group of 70 women just recently donated $10,000 to the Gwinnett County Library Foundation, so we can get this done, and hopefully there will be enough to also get the interactive story-telling device.”

Co-president Trish Biemiller says, “What I really like about this project is that the studio is having our members come in and work on the project, which gives us a sense of ownership; even if you can’t paint, come in and bring your sanders!” The goal is to have the mural installed before school starts. Patty says that there is a sign-up sheet for members of the groups involved, and for anyone else 14 or older who would like to be a part of this community project. Trish adds that the train featured in the mural will have windows containing historic pictures of Lilburn. The artist was told specifically that one of the pictures had to be of the original Lilburn library building.

The GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club holds many fundraisers throughout the year to raise money for its projects. The primary one is Lilburn Daze, with others including a garden tour, Christmas Home tour, and a Christmas dinner/live auction event. Barb says, “We are a nonprofit, so it comes right back into the community. When people support these activities, they know it’s coming right back in another form.” As the group believes strongly in education, a large number of scholarships are given each year, and many other groups and causes are supported as well. Trish sums it up: “I had a friend who said, ‘It’s wonderful to help a person starving on the other side of the world, but it’s not okay if there’s someone in need right next door.’ And that’s really been an emphasis – that we help locally. We build our communities and we help those here.”

More information at www.lilburnwomansclub.org

For information on becoming an advertising partner visit OurTownGwinnett.com or call 678-825-2049

Our Town

Getting to Know: FODAC

By Daidra Annis If you (or someone you love) have never had the need for durable medical or mobility equipment, you may not know there is an organization to help with those needs. FODAC (Friends Of Disabled Adults And Children) began serving the community thirty years ago, and is headquartered right here in Metro Atlanta. What began in the home of Ed Butchart, a local resident who was also well-known as a Santa Claus, has grown into a full-service organization with expanded services, warehouse space, and a thrift store. Butchart recognized the overwhelming needs of those in the disabled community, and founded FODAC with the ambitious mission to provide wheelchairs and other mobility equipment at little to no cost for persons with disabilities, equipment that is vital to helping them lead more independent lives.

Chris Brand has been the executive director of FODAC since 2001, but he has worked with the organization since 1993 (with a three-year break in the late 1990s). He first became involved with FODAC as a volunteer. Brand was exposed to the disability world when he was just a toddler through the son – who had been diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy – of the family that helped raise him. Through his experiences he was introduced to FODAC, and, as they say, the rest is history!

Under Brand’s leadership, great strides have been made in making FODAC a more viable and sustainable organization. Through its most recent fundraising campaign, FODAC paid off the substantial mortgage on its property, allowing more funds to go directly to the mission. A recent matching grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta will support planned green upgrades to the current facility, which will maximize energy efficiency and greatly reduce operating costs in the future.

When an individual requests services from FODAC, a profile assessment is completed so the client’s needs can be fully met. FODAC staff then works to effectively match the equipment to the applicant. A one-time registration fee of $25 is the only cost to the client, other than the cost of replacement batteries for power chairs, and small fees for repairs on items that the client brings to them. FODAC provides a variety of services, including vehicle modifications, durable medical equipment (crutches, wheelchairs, hospital beds, etc.), and home modifications. For modifications like wheelchair ramps, FODAC is able to provide the installation by skilled staff members and/or volunteers, with the client providing the materials needed for the project.

One thing that sets FODAC apart from similar organizations is its accessibility to both the community at large as well as medical professionals. It partners with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Rockdale Medical, Grady Healthcare, and several independent living facilities to offer

delivery services directly to the facility as well as to patients’ homes. Visiting nurses at all area hospitals can get the equipment they need for their clients, and hospitals often refer patients who are under financial hardship. Twice a month FODAC makes deliveries to other parts of the state, including Macon, Savannah, Columbus, Augusta, Dalton, Darien, and Rome. Children’s needs are met with special-sized equipment, and they can also provide specialty equipment like recreational bikes and sport wheelchairs, which are often not covered by insurance plans.

While FODAC receives a small amount of federal grant funds, it primarily relies on equipment and monetary donations from the community. Thirty drop-off sites provide convenient locations for donors to contribute gently used equipment for refurbishment and redistribution. Lack of awareness of the organization and its services are the primary challenges that FODAC faces. It depends on community advocates to spread the word about the services they offer and the needs they have. Currently, it is actively pursuing expanded donation sites, especially outside of Metro Atlanta. In addition, FODAC hosts three fundraising events each year, all of which rely on the support of the community: Run/Walk/Roll in the spring, a golf tournament in October, and the most popular of all, “Breakfast with Santa” in December.

More information at www.fodac.org

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OUSE

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Covenant Counseling Institute Third Annual Golf Tournament

By Dana Harvey Brookwood High School girls and boys’ cross country teams, two highly decorated Broncos programs, are set to defend their 2016 Area 4-7A and County Championships and to avenge their 2016 second place state championship finish as they kick off this upcoming season in August.

“We have been fortunate to consistently have talented kids who really love to work hard,” said Boys Head Coach Ben Dehnke. “Over the years our programs have also thrived on great support from our athletic and school administration.”

For the Broncos this hard work begins well before the season during their annual summer team camp, which has been a part of Brookwood’s cross country tradition for over ten years. This summer both teams enjoyed a time of team bonding and training in the Smoky Mountains.

“It shows that our teams are committed to putting in the necessary work to get better,” said Girls Head Coach Chris Carter. “They want to work hard and are willing to do what it takes to excel as distance runners because they are dedicated to what they do. “ Both teams had impressive runs to the state championships last season by capturing the area and county titles. The season gets underway for both teams in August with their eyes squarely set on performing well at the state meet after runner-up finishes last year. For the boys, they will be without six of their seven top runners from last season because they have graduated. To pick up the slack, Coach Dehnke will rely on seniors Thomas Ridley, Jake Weiezel, Zach Roberts, and others to lead the team.

“I expect these guys among others to have an impact on the team and lead by example,” said Dehnke.

Paced by senior Elizabeth Saliba, junior Hannah Gatland, and sophomore Reese Saddler, the Brookwood girls cross country team will compete for its fourth consecutive area and county championships this season.

“These girls are willing to do what other girls won’t do, like get up and run early Saturday mornings, to prepare themselves for the season,” Carter added.

Longevity and consistency in coaching have helped both programs remain competitive, with Coach Dehnke being at the helm of the boys team for over ten years, and with Coach Carter entering his tenth year this season as head coach of the girls team. Both coaches enjoy working with the runners and value seeing the students’ improvement in most cases over the course of four years, which lends to success both individually as a runner and collectively as a team. So when the teams line up for their first race, they will not only be playing for individual accolades, but for an opportunity to continue the tradition of excellence in Brookwood Cross Country.

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Our Town

Getting Schooled: Annistown Elementary’s DLI Program

S E R V I C E

By Joanna Shackelford When Annistown Elementary in Snellville was offered the opportunity to start a dual language program by the Gwinnett County Foreign Language Department, Principal Steve Frandsen jumped at the chance.

Dr. Frandsen, a former South Gwinnett High School Spanish teacher, did not need to be convinced of the advantages of foreign language immersion on young minds. He was thrilled.

Two other elementary schools also agreed to the challenge. Thus, Annistown Elementary, along with Tripp and Bethesda Elementary, took the plunge in 2014 to pioneer the Dual Language Immersion Program (DLI) for their schools.

When word spread throughout the Annistown parent community that rising kindergarteners would have the chance to be in a program where at least 50% of their school day would be spent learning the curriculum in a new language, Spanish, they had mixed feelings. Some thought Annistown was too small to take on such a difficult task. Others, however, knew it would give their children a competitive advantage in the real world if they stuck with the program all the way through high school. Overall, parents embraced the idea and two classes of kindergarteners were filled through a volunteer lottery system. The DLI program was born.

“The program was a good fit for the Shiloh district,” explains Frandsen. Shiloh is an IB (International Baccalaureate) school, and Shiloh Middle was going through the process to become an IB middle school.

Frandsen’s hope was that by placing the DLI program in his elementary school, it would only “strengthen the middle school as students would be able to pick up the IB track easily.”

Now, after three years of implementation, Annistown will be introducing the program to its fourth set of kindergarteners, which is a sign of success. This achievement did not come easily, however.

The biggest hurdle for Frandsen and any DLI program is staffing. As Frandsen puts it, “We don’t need a Spanish teacher. We need a great kindergarten teacher who can speak Spanish.” The program requires two teachers, one fluent in the target language, to work together.

Math and Science and target language literacy are taught exclusively in Spanish, while Language Arts and Social Studies are taught in English. Students begin in kindergarten and build to the next grade level each year. This means each year two more teachers must be added who fill the requirement necessary to teach DLI. Students can stick with the track all the way through their elementary school years, then continue through middle and high school in the IB program.

Frandsen’s concern each year is not only recruiting talented teachers, but retaining them. The workload DLI teachers sustain to help their students master the curriculum is onerous, especially since they have two groups of students during the day as opposed to just one in the traditional setting. Many experience burn-out after just a few years. Frandsen’s goal is to keep them there longer.

Another difficulty principals of DLI programs like Frandsen worry about is attrition. If students drop out of the program, as they progress through each grade level, there may not be enough students to fill a class for the next year. This is not the case at Annistown. Although they have lost a small handful students each year, Frandsen says most of them left for reasons unrelated to the program.

The teachers and staff at Annistown must be doing something right. Responses from the students have been overwhelmingly positive. “The kids have pride in the program,” says Frandsen.

School numbers are expanding due to out-of-district students who also want to take on the opportunity. Every year Frandsen has had to place 10-15 kids on a wait list for DLI in kindergarten.

The program doesn’t just help kids learn Spanish. It helps them learn to think. “We’re putting a cognitive load on the child’s brain,” Frandsen says, “and it’s changing the way the kids learn. This will help them learn any new vocabulary.”

Frandsen gives major props to the parents of students in his DLI program. “They’re really walking out on a plank!” he exclaims, referring to the risk many feel when placing their children in a program where they will need to work harder to understand the curriculum. Annistown parents have worked together and created a network of support for each other through meetings and even Facebook groups. Many parents are choosing to place the second sibling of the family in the program, too, which is another affirmation of its success.

As for Annistown, they are forging ahead with DLI and have paved the way for others in the county to follow their lead. Now, three other elementary schools have adopted the program.

Continued on page 21

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PAGE 13

Harmony Grove UMC Preschool: 50 Great Years in Lilburn

By Dana Harvey In 1966, the doors of Harmony Grove United Methodist Church (UMC) Preschool opened to a class of 30 kindergarteners to provide children with opportunities for development in all areas of their growth while establishing independence and promoting a life-long love of learning. Today that same philosophy for the success and development of young children still exists in every aspect of the preschool as this past May marked its 50th Birthday Celebration.

“This is a very exciting time for our preschool, and we are thrilled to continue serving the Lilburn community,” said Preschool Director Megan O’Keefe. “It is a testament to our service, and the community’s desire to send their children to our school.”

The 50th birthday was a festive celebration with current and past church members, the preschool’s alumni, current students, staff, and the community. The event featured fun activities, games, presentations, pictures, and memorabilia from the past 50 years.

Harmony Grove UMC Preschool, an accredited program, offers classes for children ages 12 months to 4 years using a combination of Bright From the Start Curriculum and The Creative Curriculum for Preschool which encourages development in the areas of social, cognitive, and academic skills, spiritual values, personal and physical growth, problem solving, and creative expression through the inclusion of music, arts, and language classes. Students also participate in chapel services once a week led by Harmony Grove United Methodist Church’s Senior Minister Reverend Deborah Carlton and Associate Pastor Jim Landis. With 100 years combined service, the teachers – each with over ten years at Harmony Grove – have been a consistent presence at the school.

“Our staff is very nurturing to the whole child and is skilled at helping children get acclimated to the school environment,” O’Keefe added. “All of the teachers are highly experienced and understand how to meet the individual needs of the children.”

Another unique aspect of the preschool is that it introduces and teaches children about sharing with friends in need by giving back to local charities and the community once a month through partnerships with the Lilburn Co-op and Parkview High School’s MCJROTC Toys for Tots program, in addition to providing lunch donations/school items to local elementary schools for students in need.

As a staple in the Lilburn community, Harmony Grove UMC Preschool will continue to help young children achieve developmental milestones and skills and foster a life-long love of learning with a positive “I can do it!” attitude.

Harmony Grown UMC Preschool is an outreach service of Harmony Grove United Methodist Church. More information at www.harmonygrovepreschool.weebly.com.

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Do you want to meet a famous Rock & Roll Hall of Famer? Come see Roger Fisher, the original lead guitarist from the band Heart. Roger will talk about his time with the group, pose for photos, and sign autographs during his one hour Meet and Greet from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on August 19th at Snellville City Hall, 2342 Oak Road. You may purchase tickets for this one-time event for $25 at SnellvilleEvents.com Following the Meet and Greet with Roger Fisher, there is the three-hour Live on the Lawn free concert from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m., featuring MIMIC, a Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute, a Boston Tribute, and a Heart Tribute Band. During the Heart tribute, Roger Fisher will play a cameo performance of some of the songs he wrote, including “Barracuda,” “Crazy on You,” and more. You won’t want to miss this show stopping performance of some the greatest music tributes of all time.

Beer, wine, and food will be available on site for purchase. No alcohol may be brought on site per the city ordinance.

Are you a Food Truck Fanatic? Food Truck Friday is held on the Snellville Towne Green the first Friday of every month through October from 4 – 8 p.m. Get there early to avoid the long lines of people waiting for all the scrumptious food. You will always find a wide variety to choose from. DJ Lee will keep you entertained throughout the evening, along with the mega checkers and connect-4 games. Hope to see you on the Snellville Towne Green!

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Our Town

Insights from Ann: Lost Opportunities

By Ann Weeks As I was getting ready for work this morning, a commercial came on TV that caught my attention. A family was in their minivan. The children were in the back, the mother was in the passenger seat, and the father was driving, touting his safe driving habits. The family members were all engaged in their own personal technology, including ear buds. The father was smiling and making statements that he knew they would not hear. The woman smiled and returned her attention to her device as the man was sharing that he had just made a purchase the wife was unaware of. It was funny. I liked the commercial’s message of safe driving.

However, it reminded me how sad it is when families don’t seem to TALK to each other due to the technology at our fingertips. I see entire families eating with one hand, holding a device with the other, and never saying a word to anyone else at the table. I have seen parents walk into the center to pick up their child while having a conversation on their phone. I have seen the same parent continuing the conversation on the phone, with a child tagging along behind and no interaction between parent and child.

Technology is here to stay; social media is a part of our lives. But do we want our child to believe that someone else on the phone is more important than what he or she has to say? We are losing opportunities to have meaningful conversations with our children. Young children have missed seeing their parents. They want to share their achievements. They want to report someone being nice or mean to them. They want to celebrate going to the potty all by themselves! Children want some undivided attention from their own parent. They have been in a group all day, having to share, to wait their turn, and to be patient. Take the opportunity to give your children the love and attention that they want and need. Listen to what they have to say. Ask them questions about their day. Tell them about your day. Share a surprise, talk about dinner plans, and allow them to make suggestions. Your mobile device will save all messages, posts, and missed calls. Don’t lose another opportunity to let your child know that he or she is the most important person in your life.

Ann Weeks is Owner of Five Forks Academy. More information at http://www.fiveforksacademy.com/

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PAGE 15

Learning Lessons: Study Skills: Each Student’s Key to Academic Success

Photo of the Month:

By Carol C. Wood As an educator and educational consultant, I have clearly seen that the reason many students do not earn high grades or reach their full academic potential is due to less than ideal study skills.

Not all students innately know how to approach their school work in the most effective and efficient ways. Students often tell me they know what to do, but just aren’t doing it. Well, it’s not quite that simple!

Good study techniques are comprised of many components such as organization, goal setting, motivation, notetaking, test taking, memorization, reading strategies, communication skills, positive attitude, and more. Effective study techniques must first be taught, then understood and practiced by the student in order to be successful. It is not enough to study “harder.” Students need to learn how to study “smarter!”

SOUND STUDY ORIENTATION is comprised of two components; Study Habits and Study Attitudes. Study Habits consist of the manner in which a student approaches academics and the promptness in which he/she works. This includes notetaking, listening skills, memorization techniques, methods of test preparation, test taking strategies, and more. Study Attitudes reflect how a student “feels” about teachers, textbooks, course curriculum, and school expectations. Whether a student agrees with or likes the teacher or school, in order for him or her to have optimum study orientation, all areas of effective study habits and attitudes are to be properly executed.

To further describe the importance of good study orientation and what is necessary to enable students to reach their academic potential, they must have three areas in place: a solid reading, writing, and math foundation, a good grasp of current course material, and excellent study orientation. If any of the three areas are weak or neglected, it is probable the student will not reach his or her full academic potential. Thus, college and career opportunities could be missed.

If you want your student’s academic situation to improve and college and career goals realized, then you need to help him or her assess, repair, and then maintain his or her academic foundation, Continued on page 21

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Alayne Smith knew when she retired from Brookwood High School in 2004 that she wanted to explore the possibility of writing. Smith, who created the award-winning Brookwood Broadcasting at Brookwood High School, was instrumental in building the high school journalism programs in Gwinnet County. Recognized as Brookwood’s Teacher of the Year in 2003, she also found time to serve as an advisor on the CNN student Bureau, created the first courses in Broadcast Journalism and Video Production at the high school level, and served on the International Student Media Festival committee. Her passion for journalism has not waned since retiring, and after signing with an agent in 2015, her first young adult novel, Ellen and the Three Predictions, was recently published by Cactus Moon Publications.

Smith grew up in Marion, Alabama and graduated from the University of Montevallo. She married her husband, LC, over fifty years ago, and they have two sons. Soon after she retired, she convinced her husband that they both needed to sit down and write their story. “I knew when I retired I wouldn’t be happy unless I was creating something and being productive,” Smith explains with a smile. “I wanted to write our story for our children, who think they know us. We both wrote our stories from our earliest memories up until the boys were born. I encourage everyone to do this!”

Once they wrote their stories, the memories inspired Smith to begin writing her novel. She took a class at Emory on writing for children, and planned her story, originally thinking it would be a three-book series. After outlining her plot, she decided that Ellen and the Three Predictions should be combined into one novel, one which would prove to be rich in character development, packed with broadcast journalism pointers, and spun with family memories and adventures.

“After writing about my own Aunt Zena, I realized that there was a story for my novel’s Zia. The publication of this book is a miracle to me!” Smith shares. “I’m not a writer!”

Ellen and the Three Predictions is the story of Ellen Jones, a multi-dimensional character who tells the story through her eyes. She is level headed, stands up for what’s right, and knows that she wants to be a broadcast journalist. After losing her mother, Ellen find a role model in her Aunt Zia, a relationship that ultimately leads to the novel’s most daring adventure in Cuba. The three predictions mentioned in the title serve as the foundation of the novel’s plot, which lead Ellen to heightened levels of heroism as the story unfolds. The novel incorporates not only valuable broadcast journalism connections, but it also includes a compelling love triangle, a historic mystery, comical characters, and compelling action.

A great deal of her own memories and backstories are incorporated into the plot of Smith’s novel. For instance, the air force stationed Smith and her husband in Libya, which became their first home. This made a great locale for Jojo, one of Ellen’s suitors in the novel, who travels to Tripoli. Smith’s aunt Zena was also a great backdrop for the compelling character of Zia. “I have heard so many stories about her [Zena] in my life,” shares Smith. “She supposedly studied with Freud in Austria and was at a cocktail party with him when the war started. We don’t know if that’s true, but we do know that she married a plantation owner in Cuba and that she had no children! She, like Zia, would come home from Cuba and bring us books written in Spanish and we had to count to learn to count to 100 in Spanish before she’d give us the books!”

In one part of the novel, Zia manages to get her stepson into the United States, and he joins several other kids, known as “Pedro Pan” kids. This story line came about because an acquaintance of Smith was a Pedro Pan kid, and was able to provide Smith with all the details about her experience. “During this time, Castro was sending kids to the Soviet Union camps,” explains Smith.

“Parents felt they were losing rights over their children, which is why I felt like I needed to include that in my story. It was so terrible for those kids.”

In one scene of the novel, Ellen finds herself at the National Honor Society “Tapping Ceremony.” This event was one that Smith actually experienced as a high school student; she never forgot the anxiety of waiting to see if a current member might tap her on the shoulder. In another scene, Ellen describes her frustration with trying to learn to dance in college, which was also something that Smith struggled with. “The Twist came out when I was in college,” recalls Smith. “I couldn’t do it at all! My college roommate really did get down on her knees to physically move my knees and teach me!”

On top of the exciting plot line, Smith weaves in some excellent life lessons which will benefit teenage readers. One of the strongest involves Ellen standing up for the rights of a Jewish student to participate in the local beauty competition. In numerous scenes, Ellen describes the Continued on page 21

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Legal Matters: What is an Uncontested Divorce?

By David S. Walker, Attorney At Law The word “uncontested” generally means not opposed. A divorce that is filed by one spouse that is not opposed by the other spouse is not contested. In a practical sense, an uncontested divorce is one that is settled between the parties without a judge deciding any of the issue. The divorce that is truly uncontested is one where a written settlement agreement is reached before the divorce is filed. The agreement can be filed with the divorce petition. One spouse files the petition and the other acknowledges service. With this kind of case, the final decree can be obtained after the case has been filed for at least 30 days.

A case that starts out uncontested such as this can be handled by one attorney who represents the filing party, although it is recommended that each party has its own attorney, because one attorney cannot represent both sides.

The case can become uncontested even if it started out to be contested. The parties can settle the issues any time with a written settlement agreement. However, a settlement agreement has to be approved by the judge. When the case is settled with a written agreement, many judges will allow the parties to avoid coming to court if they file a motion for judgment on the pleadings.

Attorney fees for uncontested divorces are sometimes quoted without including the settlement agreement or other necessary documents. If a quote seems artificially low, questions should be asked about what is and is not included.

One option in obtaining a settlement is using a mediator. This is a trained neutral person, frequently an attorney experienced in this area of law, who will meet with the parties and attempt to help them facilitate a settlement.

Although our firm handles divorce trials frequently when a fair settlement cannot be obtained, it is still less expensive, less time-consuming, and less stressful to settle a divorce case. We would be happy to answer your questions about these matters.

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Prepping for Football Season with the Kids & Pros #YouthFootball Camp

By Terri Grunduski Former Atlanta Falcons Defensive Back Bobby Butler and Linebacker Buddy Curry continued their 16th year of Youth Football Camps across the Southeast, in conjunction with Kids & Pros Inc., by hosting the 4th annual #youthfootball camp and parent information session at Peachtree Corners Baptist Church. The skills and drills camp ran for three nights, from July 11-13, with more than 270 youth ages 7–13 from Gwinnett County, passing, running, and learning proper tackling techniques. The safe, non-contact football instruction teaches campers, parents, and coaches the right way to play and how to avoid injuries.

What sets Kids & Pros apart from other camps is the messaging that the camp directors and coaches share throughout the week. In addition to the football skills shared by former NFL players, Kids & Pros offers a parent information session on the first night of camp to talk with parents about the sport, football safety, proper equipment fitting, impact as a coach as a role model, character building through football, concussion avoidance, and proper tackling techniques. NFL coaches are also encouraged to share their “stories” through positive messaging after drills, and GameChanger talks (5-10 minute Q & A sessions and life skills lessons with the athletes at the end of each night of camp).

The Kids & Pros Norcross camp boasted the largest NFL Alumni turnout to date, with 11 alumni present to encourage and mentor the athletes. The participants included: Evan Cooper (DB) 1984-1987 Philadelphia Eagles, 1988 & 1989 Atlanta Falcons; Bobby Howard (RB)1986-1988 Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Stefon Adams (DB) 1986-1989 Los Angeles Raiders, 1990 Cleveland Browns, 1990 Miami Dolphins; Ed Hartwell (LB) 2001-2004 Baltimore Ravens, 2005 & 2006 Atlanta Falcons; Marvin Sims (FB) 1980 & 1981 Baltimore Colts; Anthony Sessions (LB) 2001 Washington Redskins; Marquis Floyd (DB) 2009 Cleveland Browns; Charrod Taylor (DE) Georgia Southern; Rahim Abdullah 1999-2000 Cleveland Browns; and Buddy Curry (LB) Atlanta Falcons 1980-1987.

The parent information session was led by Curry, a USA Football Master Trainer and Executive Director of Kids & Pros. Over 150 parents attended the session, and Gwinnett Medical Center had staff present to answer any questions about medical safety and their Concussion Institute, a unique offering in the Atlanta area.

“I was nervous when my son first started playing football – to start in 6th grade as a first-time player – but his daddy wanted him to play, so I went along with it,” said LaQuita Nelson, a mom of an athlete at the camp. “I was glad when they offered the parent information session at camp.

I did pick up info to learn more about football safety.”

“For us moms, Kids & Pros gave us the skill set to help our athletes,” said Amanda Edwards, mom of sons attending the clinic. “We learned about dehydration, equipment fitting, and what to look for if you suspect your athlete might have a concussion – so they gave us an education while we were at the camp as well, instead of us just sitting there.”

Edwards continued. “We love the messaging as well at the Kids & Pros camp,” she shared.

“Last night Rahim Abdullah shared with athletes his experience and encouraged them to work hard to fulfill your dreams, but have another backup plan besides wanting to be in professional sports. As a mom, I think that was good advice to share, as you never know what will happen in life. Injury can take you out fast, so you need to always have a backup plan.”

More information at https://grunduskigroup.com/

Our Town

For information on becoming an advertising partner visit OurTownGwinnett.com or call 678-825-2049

PAGE 19

Let’s Dance: Simply Dancing is Back

By Joanna Shackelford

We’re Hiring Bus Drivers!

• Competitive hourly wages.

• Benefits and paid training.

• Good driving record required.

• High School Diploma or GED required.

"I love doing what I do. It's a certain type of reward you get when you know that you have an impact on students—we ALL have an impact and play a vital role. It's fun seeing the little ones get in in the morning. You're the first person and last person from GCPS they see each day. You're not just a driver, you're an encourager and counselor.

Training is in-depth. They walk you through it and if you have questions, they'll go back and go over anything again. Trainers are patient and stay with you throughout. They give you the tools you need to be a successful driver."

Deborah Shelton Team Leader, Duluth

Interested?

Call 678-225-7670

Apply to posting #48340 at GCPSjobs.org

PAGE 20

Seven months ago, dancer Camila Olivera sat in her car, stuck in the heat of Atlanta rush hour traffic, exhausted and late to teach her next dance class. This was her regular routine for nearly two years, pinballing around the Atlanta area from studio to studio, teaching dance and dance history to kids three through 18.

“At one point I was working four different jobs at one time,” she recalls. “I remember driving from Avondale to Sandy Springs, to downtown Atlanta, then back to Lilburn in one day. It was becoming very stressful.” As a result, her enthusiasm for dance waned, and she considered calling it quits. Luckily, an opportunity landed in her lap that seemed to come at just the right time.

Coby Richardson, owner of The Dance Center at Harmony Grove in Lilburn, knew Camilla well. She had seen Camila grow from a dancer to a teacher in that very studio. But it was 2016, and Coby was ready to move on after thirty years in the business. She offered the lease to Camila, who jumped at the chance. “I said, ‘YES!’ My dream was being handed to me – a studio that already had equipment, mirrors, and students. It was all ready to go!”

From a young age, Camila knew the power of dance. Beginning at just five years old, she pursued many forms of dance all the way through high school. During her senior year, her competition dance group was chosen to dance at Disney World and participate in the Disney parade.

In 2016, a year after graduating from Brookwood High School, she landed a coveted internship at DC Next, a youth program that’s part of the Atlanta-based organization called Dance Canvas.

Founded by Angela Harris, the program offers career development for emerging professional choreographers. This experience marked an important turning point for Camila. As part of the internship, she was given time to choreograph and perform a solo. Her modern contemporary piece told a deeply personal story. “Growing up I was really shy,” she says. “I had severe social anxiety. My piece was about coming out of that and blossoming and not being scared anymore.”

Now, with the keys to her very own studio in her hands, this young first-time entrepreneur has garnered much support from the students and parents who knew her as a dancer and teacher there. But no one is more excited about this opportunity than her very own mother and father.

“When I told them about the opportunity,” Camila says, “my mom started crying and my dad was very emotional. They said they would help me every step of the way.”

No strangers to hard work, Camila’s parents immigrated to Georgia from Uruguay seventeen years ago when Camila was just three years old, and they have since built a successful commercial plumbing business. Drawing from this experience, they have instilled in their daughter an entrepreneurial spirit and the confidence to take on a difficult task.

Although young, Camila is not naïve to the challenges that lie ahead. Before taking the keys, she knew the studio needed revamping and that enrollment had been suffering a decline. It came as no surprise that her parents dove right in with her, sometimes pulling fourteen-hour days, to help tackle the much-needed renovations, giving the studio a better flow and a fresh look just in time for the Grand Opening on June 24th.

Camila’s biggest hope is to bring back the family environment that used to fill the walls of the studio decades ago, and that’s partly why she decided to take it back to its original name, Simply Dancing. The studio has already successfully completed its summer season of dance camps.

Simply Dancing offers classes to anyone three years old and up. For ages 3-18, classes like ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, modern, contemporary, and even musical theater are available, while adults have options like Zumba, ballet barre, Pilates, and tap, to name a few. To see a full range of class offerings for specific age groups and interests, visit their website or Facebook page.

Although the studio space has a long history in Lilburn, a different, fresher vibe now emanates from within. Maybe it’s the new paint, or the hip, youthful staff. Or perhaps it’s Camila’s obvious passion to share the art of dance with her community, regardless of age, body type, or prior experience. “I want people to come through that door and immediately feel welcomed,” she says.

“And when you sign up, you become part of the family.”

More information at www.simplydancing.org

For information on becoming an advertising partner visit OurTownGwinnett.com or call 678-825-2049

Our Town

Learning Lessons Continued from page 16 current course material, and sound study orientation!

Carol Wood is Founder & CEO of Total Learning Concepts, Inc. More information at http://www. totallearningconcepts.com/

Lilburn Cooperative Ministry Continued from page 9 There are many ways to give to the Co-op. You can donate food, clothing, or household items.

Donations can be made through Kroger’s Community Rewards program by signing up at kroger. com/communityrewards. Or, you can participate in the annual Stamp Out Hunger campaign.

More information at lilburncoop.org.

Annistown Elementary Continued from page 13

DeKalb Psychiatric Associates 2711 Irvin Way, Suite 211 v Decatur, GA 30030

Neil A. Kahn MD v Adult and Geriatric Psychiatry Brittany Burchfield PhD v Adult and Child Psychologist

Accepting new patients Medicare and most major insurance plans accepted Call 404.501.0001 for more information and to schedule appointments

“These students will have the upper hand in the professional world,” Frandsen believes. “They’ve been forced to persevere and find meaning in the fog from the beginning. Their ability to persevere in unknowns is something they will carry with them in life.”

More information at http://annistownelementary.weebly.com/home.html

Chaplain’s Corner Continued from page 8 ing to his life in America and with us. In just one month we have discovered that he loves pizza, Cheerios, and the pool. Yet, we have also discovered that he hates dogs, milk, and bugs.

More than anything, we have discovered that when God is calling you to do something, God walks with you during that journey, no matter how scary and overwhelming it may be. We have discovered that God doesn’t expect you to have everything figured out; He just wants you to respond in obedience.

I am not sure what God may be calling you to do at this point in your life, but I want to encourage you to answer this: If not you, who? If not now, when?

Rodrigo Cruz is the Lead Pastor of The Nett Church. More information at www.thenettchurch.com.

Retired Brookwood HS Teacher Continued from page 17 value of family history and learning from her elders. She finds a soldier’s grave and explores her grandfather’s plantation to learn about the past. “My grandfather also had 12,000 acres,” explains Smith, “and there was a small cemetery on the property. I remember hiking to the tombstones of a revolutionary soldier and his wife, which led me to Ellen’s fascination with Jonas Stockman’s tombstone.”

Ellen and the Three Predictions is not only available on Amazon in both print and Kindle editions, but it is in all Gwinnett County Public libraries as well. Smith has enjoyed promoting her novel through book signings and festivals, and was featured as one of the emerging authors at the Fox Tale Book Shoppe in Woodstock. She was thrilled to be interviewed recently on the “Artist First” radio show. She is enjoying every step of the publication process and says enthusiastically, “I’m so excited to share my book!”

More information at http://www.alaynesmith.com/

Our Town

For information on becoming an advertising partner visit OurTownGwinnett.com or call 678-825-2049

PAGE 21

Op-Ed: Cutting Trees is NOT the Answer

Realty Reality: A Nice Home or a Nice Neighborhood?

By Emma Carlson

By Kathy Coots, Realtor When you start shopping for a home, you probably have a very specific image of what you would like that home to look like. You probably see the perfect neighborhood surrounding that perfect home. But in reality, compromises are often necessary.

Compromising on the House: There may be certain things that are non-negotiable, such as the number of bedrooms or a two-car garage. But as you look at the homes, you may discover that it is not likely you will get everything on your wish list. Once you are in your new home, you can renovate to create the home you really want. And if you have managed to stay below your budget, you will even have the extra money each month to make some of those changes.

Compromising on the Neighborhood: So, you’ve found the house of your dreams, but the neighborhood isn’t precisely what you were hoping for. Too much traffic, some run down houses, or many other issues can mar the area your house is in. In most cases, you will have to accept that you cannot change the neighborhood, and this means that you have to decide if the problems are things you can live with or not.

In some cases, buying in a run-down neighborhood can be a strategic move. If many people are buying up the houses and improving them, then your home might one day be worth a lot more.

However, you must realize that this is a risk, and it might not work out that way.

Another thing to bear in mind is that if you choose to buy the nicest house in the neighborhood, you may have trouble selling it down the line.

So Which Matters More?

In the long run, when it comes down to choosing between the right house and the right neighborhood, you should choose the right neighborhood. While you can change your house for the better, you can’t count on your neighborhood changing; in fact, it might get worse. So choose the best neighborhood you can afford, even if the house there isn’t perfect.

Kathy Coots is the owner of Coots & Company with Keller Williams Realty. More information at www.KathyCoots.com

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAYS

First Friday of every month through October

4-8 P.M. • TOWNE GREEN

•Aug. 4 •Sept. 1 •Oct. 6 •Wide variety of food trucks

•Fun and games with DJ Lee •Play Mega Checkers and Connect 4 PAGE 22

Everyone loves Lilburn for his or her own reason. We all have quirks and facts that we love about our little town, but deforestation should not be one of those. Gwinnett County was ranked #2 in the South for cutting trees, according to the World Resources Institute (2011). Since then, we have only increased our deforestation levels to support the ever present development projects that we have going on. I don’t know about you, but I’m extremely upset by the amount of clearing going on for new subdivisions.

Unfortunately, another project is underway. The pecan trees on Rockbridge Road between Walmart and Kroger have been sentenced to death in a development project that originated in 2009. People, including myself, only found out about this project because the trees were marked with big X’s. There were many complaints, and a meeting was held by the county commissioner, Mrs. Howard, to hear our opinions. Only thirty-five people attended, which is what inspired me to write this article. More people would have attended the meeting and voiced their opinions if they had known about the project.

So here is the gist of it. The county wants to widen the road by two feet, insert a shoulder and add a curb for driver safety, as well as add a sidewalk for pedestrian safety. Apparently, too many drivers fly off of the road because it is too narrow. However, I hold a different opinion. I think people fly off the road because they are driving too fast and not paying attention. If driver safety is the concern, add speed bumps to enforce a safer speed. It sure would be cheaper. Also, the county emphasized that the people who fly off of the road have been striking the trees, which is dangerous. I hold the opinion that it’s not the tree’s fault that it was hit. There is also the problem that if the trees are in fact cut down and a sidewalk is implemented, do the cars now get to strike the innocent pedestrians? Speed bumps with a sidewalk behind the trees are better than widening the road.

I do not think that the trees should be cut down. They are beautiful pecan trees that change with the seasons, adding a quaint feeling to our town. All I ask is that if you care at all about these beautiful pecan trees, speak your mind. Let’s all try to save some trees!

Emma Carlson is a graduate of Parkview High School and current sophomore at Duke University.

UPCOMING SNELLVILLE EVENTS

MEET & GREET

Rock N’ Roll Hall of Famer

ROGER FISHER

4:30-5:30 PM • Aug. 19 • City Hall, 2342 Oak Road

Buy tickets now for only $25 at www.SnellvilleEvents.com - Limited Seating

FREE CONCERT • MIMIC • 6-9 PM • AUG. 19 • TOWNE GREEN •6PM - Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute •7PM - Boston Tribute •8PM - Heart Tribute FOOD • BEER • WINE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ON SITE

www.SnellvilleEvents.com

For information on becoming an advertising partner visit OurTownGwinnett.com or call 678-825-2049

Our Town

The Village Corner German Restaurant, Bakery & Tavern We are a full-service bakery, restaurant, and tavern specializing in German cuisine.

6655 James B Rivers Dr. Stone Mountain, GA 30083

(770) 498-0329

Hours Of Operation: Tuesday - Friday 9am-10pm Saturday 8am-11pm Sunday 10am-9pm Closed Monday

Don’t let pain keep you from doing what you love!

Visit your local BenchMark Physical Therapy.

Our licensed physical therapists are musculoskeletal experts who are trained to identify the source of your pain or injury and recommend treatment to get you feeling better and moving better, faster.

Let our team focus on your full recovery so you can focus on what matters to you.

Call your local BenchMark today to set up an evaluation.

BUFORD I-85 • 2815 Buford Dr, Ste 102 • Buford, GA 30519 • (770) 271-4413 GRAYSON • 2065 Grayson Hwy, Ste B • Grayson, GA 30017 • (678) 376-0213 LAWRENCEVILLE • 455 Philip Blvd, Ste 160 • Lawrenceville, GA 30046 • (678) 985-0238 LILBURN • 1227 Rockbridge Rd, Ste 402 • Stone Mountain, GA 30087 • (770) 925-9210 SNELLVILLE • 2050 Scenic Hwy N, Ste A • Snellville, GA 30078 • (678) 344-7197

Our Town

For information on becoming an advertising partner visit OurTownGwinnett.com or call 678-825-2049

PAGE 23

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Sept. 9 Lilburn City Park cityoflilburn.com