AUG 2017: Our Town Gwinnett/Walton Monthly Magazine

AUGUST 2017 Gwinnett/Walton Community & Family Magazine

Our Town GWINNETT

Grayson Loganville Lawrenceville

Meet the team at J.M. Tull-Gwinnett YMCA, see story on page 5.

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Up Close with Lauren Garland of Solid Ground Tutoring Grayson Othodontics is Now Embrace Orthodontics SportsTalk: Archer High Football is Ready for Action Getting to Know: Grayson High’s Marching Band

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Our Town

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On the Cover: J.M. Tull-Gwinnett YMCA: Healthy Happens Here

By Joanna Shackelford On any given day of the week, even during the dog days of summer, the J.M. Tull-Gwinnett Family YMCA on Sugarloaf Parkway buzzes with activity. The Lawrenceville community has watched people scurrying to swim lessons, summer camps, or aerobics in this facility for thirty-one years. Most would assume this Y is just like any other, but there’s something about J.M. Tull that makes it special.

Ask Wellness Director Rhonda Tingle and she will tell you, “Our approach is relationship building.” She believes her staff achieves this, not just through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility – the three pillars of the YMCA – but through their ability to reach specific populations that are often overlooked in typical health clubs.

Recently, the Y partnered with PD Gladiators, a support group for people with Parkinson’s Disease, and launched a new program called Parkinson’s Movement. Tingle’s wellness instructors attended extensive training at Emory where they learned about Parkinson’s and about the best exercise formats to support people with the disease. Now individuals at any stage of Parkinson’s can participate in group exercise classes at J.M. Tull, including cycling.

“Big rewards. Small steps,” reads the motto of the YMCA’s Diabetes Prevention Program, another wellness initiative that J.M. Tull-Gwinnett

offers to the community in an effort to reduce the number of new cases of diabetes. Adults 18 and older with prediabetes partner with a trained Lifestyle Coach to learn how to improve their overall health and how to adopt permanent lifestyle changes to reduce their chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

Their efforts do not stop there. Along with the regular schedule of water exercise classes and swim training, the Aquatics Department at J.M. Tull-Gwinnett, led by Tina Henderson, has developed water classes dedicated to those with more specialized needs. Most recently, she added adaptive swim lessons to help children and adults with special needs learn about water safety and how to swim. Henderson has worked with the Gwinnett Division of Family and Children Services, reaching out to foster families in the area to offer “Safety Around Water” classes to children currently in foster care.

There are also water aerobics classes specifically tailored to meet the needs of people suffering from arthritis.

In addition, the J.M. Tull-Gwinnet Y connects with cancer survivors through a special partnership with Gwinnet Medical Center.

They call it GMC at the Y. Their goal is to provide cancer survivors a support program aiming to address their specific needs through coaching and exercise.

Executive Director Kim Nelson organizes and implements community projects for the club,

keep excess weight off for life. ranging from Salvation Army Kettle Drives to Shannon Campos, senior membership and Blessing Bag donations for the local Women’s marketing director, knows that it’s the relationShelter. Her community outreach runs deep. ship piece that keeps members coming back year And it’s clear that this YMCA is achieving its after year. Perhaps it’s also why she has stayed mission, “Open to serving all.” Tingle has served there for seventeen years and counting. “I enjoy as J.M. Tull’s wellness director for eight years, the people,” she says. “I love the smiles you see but has been a part of the Y since 1981 where on their faces when they’re here.” she taught group exercise classes. She says, “The One of only two YMCA’s in Gwinnett members here are amazing, and the Y’s mission County, the J.M. Tull Y is more than just a is what motivates me to do what I do.” work-out facility. Its successful anchor programs Tingle is most proud of one particular signaand membership status of close to 14,000 people ture program called “Coach Approach,” which prove that health and wellness can be achieved allows any individual who hasn’t worked out in a diverse community with growing needs. for six + months a chance to build the habit of Undoubtedly, this Y is a place where ALL exercise with help from a wellness coach. This people are invited to thrive. “We are open to year they introduced the new evidence-based all – regardless of socio-economic status,” says “Weight Loss for Life,” which is an enhanceTingle. “You can really affect community health ment to the Coach Approach program. Unlike when you don’t have those barriers.” methods like Weight Watchers or Nutrisystem More information: http://www.ymcaatlanta.org that focus only on nutrition, this program conChris's Natural Remedies July Ad Dr. Ashley Reed ad.pdf 1 7/25/2017 11:40:41 AM centrates on11108_Dr. the behavioral changes necessary to

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Our Town Gwinnett/Walton Community & Family Magazine

Publisher/Owner Ryan T. Sauers Ryan@EndResultZ.com

— An EndResultZ Media & Communications firm 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 Beth Volpert Johansen The Picky Peaches – Gaye, Julie & Susan Kelly Webb Matt Williams

Our Town Gwinnett is published and direct mailed to select homes in the Gwinnett/Walton 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.

Our Town Gwinnett

1227 Rockbridge Road Suite 208-171 Stone Mountain, GA 30087 678-825-2049 Info@OurTownGwinnett.com

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OurTownGwinnett.com Read Online: OurTownGwinnettOnline.com OurTownGwinnett OurTownGwinnett OurTownGwinnett

IN THIS ISSUE 5 7 7 8 8 9 10 11 11 12 13 14 14 15 16 17 17 PAGE 6

On the Cover: J.M. Tull-Gwinnett YMCA: Healthy Happens Here From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion Beat the Heat in Gwinnett: Tips to Stay Hydrated and Healthy Making a Difference: JMJ Home Care Services Fitness Fundamentals: Smash Complacency Up Close with Lauren Garland of Solid Ground Tutoring Character Counts with Matt Williams of NG3: 33 for NG3 Golf Talk: 2017 Fall Middle School Golf League Community Spotlight: S.O.S. Daffy’s Pet Soup Kitchen One on One: Diamond in the Rough Grayson Orthodontics is Now Embrace Orthodontics Restaurant Review: Bleu House Café SportsTalk: Team 9 Hits the Gridiron for Archer High Football Getting to Know: Grayson High’s Marching Band Catching Up with Park Springs City Spotlight: Loganville City Hall Wonder Woman is Not Just Another Super Hero Flick

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

Our Town

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.

A community is strengthened one person and one day at a time. That is what I am dedicated to doing. I am so glad you are with me as we continue the journey of my town, your town, OUR TOWN!

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Beat the Heat in Gwinnett: Tips to Stay Hydrated and Healthy We love summertime in Gwinnett and with good reason. It is the best time for outdoor fun and travel with our family. Many people enjoy outdoor activities such as bicycling, kayaking, and hiking, and kids are more active with sports. One thing to keep in mind when out in the summer heat is to stay properly hydrated. Unfortunately, many of us are not drinking enough water. In fact, 36 percent of adult Americans drink only three or fewer cups of water per day, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Here are some tips for healthy hydration.

Replace your Electrolytes: Engaging in physical activity when it is hot outside means you are losing water which must be replaced. You are also losing electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate) which also need to be replaced. Very high temperatures – especially for a prolonged period – can be dangerous, especially for seniors.

Ideally, anyone engaging in outdoor activity in the heat or even an indoor exercise program should drink 8 to 12 ounces of fluid every 15 to 20 minutes during a session. If exercising exceeds an hour, a beverage that contains electrolytes is preferable to plain water. That is why most sports drinks contain salt. Of course, anyone can easily make their own sports drink by adding a quarter to a half teaspoon of salt per liter or 32 ounces of water. Replacing lost electrolytes is important because they help to regulate cardiovascular and neurological functions, fluid balance, and oxygen delivery.

Avoid Hyponatremia: Replacing water without sufficient salt can produce hyponatremia, a potentially deadly condition caused by too little sodium in the bloodstream. Symptoms can range from mild to severe, and can include nausea, muscle cramps, disorientation, confusion, seizures, coma, and even death.

There have been several documented cases of illness and even deaths from hyponatremia over the past several years. According to the British Medical Journal, sixteen runners have died because of too little sodium and over-hydration, while another 1,600 have become seriously ill. It is true that water intoxication is more commonly seen among extreme athletes, but older individuals may also be at risk.

Exercise and Aging: It is important to be active, but be careful not to push yourself especially in high heat. As we age, Continued on page 9

Our Town

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Kathy Farriba’s special connection with the elderly began early in life. Cooking with her grandparents, learning how to knit from her elderly neighbors, and listening to the life experience stories of the nursing home residents in her community were some of her favorite activities during her childhood and teen years.

These interactions sparked a lifelong passion for senior care and a vision to provide them with the best possible physical and spiritual care.

Four years ago Farriba took this care for her community and developed a successful home care business in JMJ Home Care Services. After two years of dedication and hard work, JMJ Home Care Services received their license from the GA Department of Community Health to provide in-home care for seniors. During that time Farriba also earned her certification as a Certified Nursing Assistant and learned the ins and outs of the senior care industry. “The variety of running a business and caring for seniors is one of my favorite parts of this work,” she said. Being a part of the community is a strength for Farriba – who has been a resident of Lawrenceville for the past thirty years – because it creates a connection to the surrounding area and an awareness of the need for outstanding caregivers for her clients.

When Farriba opened JMJ Home Care Services, she placed an emphasis on creating a personal one-on-one experience for her clients. Now as the business grows, there is a continuous desire to epitomize the word “care.” “Building my business from the ground up, rather than buying into a franchise, allowed me to personally design the vision for JMJ,” Farriba said.

JMJ is dedicated to providing superior care for its clients, treating them with respect and meeting not only their physical needs, but their spiritual needs as well, which is very important to Farriba as she is a strong woman of faith. Some of the services provided include companionship, light housekeeping, assisting with dressing and grooming, and transportation. “Working every day toward a vision that is near and dear to my heart in providing outstanding non-medical in home care with full and complete respect for the dignity of each human being is a dream come true,” Farriba said.

The opportunity for clients to receive full care in the comfort of their own home is what sets JMJ Home Care Services apart. “For my clients,” Farriba stated, “the desire to stay in their own homes can easily become a reality with the one-on-one, in-home, personal care we provide.” However, the care for clients goes beyond the home. JMJ is also able to “enhance the experience for a client who is in a facility by providing them with exceptional care where they are,” Farriba added. As they continue to grow, JMJ Home Care Services will go on to serve its clients with dignity, integrity, honesty, and dependability.

More information at jmjhomecare.com

Fitness Fundamentals: Smash Complacency

By Kelly Webb Certain seasons of life are exciting: graduation, going to college, getting married, having children, taking vacations, to name a few. But what happens when life settles into a routine and everyday life becomes, well, everyday? It’s easy to become complacent with our lives. Complacency can lead to boredom, boredom can lead to guilt, and soon it becomes easy to forget that each day is a blessing.

One of the best ways to smash complacency is to set goals. Categorize your goals as short term, midterm, and long term. Short term goals can be set daily and will encourage you to stay focused even when life feels mundane. Midterm goals can be anything from learning a new skill, to completing a new challenge. These goals will give you vision into the future and help break up the weeks as they pass by. Long term goals are your big goals; you may even refer to them as “bucket list” items. Take time to set long term goals so you have something to work toward and look forward to in the future. Once

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you have set your goals, the real work begins because talking about wanting something and doing the work to obtain something are two different things.

Here’s what you need to reach a goal: • A well-organized plan • A realistic time frame • Information • Hard work • Dedication • Perseverance to press forward when the going gets tough • Discernment to regroup when things don’t go according to plan • Determination to see your goal through to the end It takes action to achieve what you want out of life, and the amount of effort you apply will equal the type of results you attain. If you are willing to stay consistent and put in big work, you can expect a big payoff. Goals are not only for athletes, superstars, and superheroes. Goals are for anyone willing to work for what they want. Stay away from complacency at all costs and look for new ways to achieve great things every day!

Kelly Webb is owner Ladies Workout Snellville & co-owner of KF Fitness. More information at www.ladiesworkoutexpresssnellville.com .

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

Our Town

Up Close with Lauren Garland of Solid Ground Tutoring

By Kim Hill When Lauren Garland was teaching Joanna Dean’s son at a private Christian school eight years ago, the two ladies had no idea that this was the beginning of a long and special relationship. The following year, much to Lauren’s surprise, Joanna, a corporate trainer, decided to homeschool her children. “I thought she was crazy,” remembers Lauren. “It wasn’t popular then – it wasn’t something that everyone was doing.” Joanna agrees, but persevered and some twenty of her circle of friends followed suit the following year. While she was schooling her kids, Joanna realized her son was having some reading struggles and contacted Lauren, who provided private tutoring in her home. Over the next several years, the two continued to work together, and eventually decided that maybe they should start a business. Solid Ground Tutoring was the result!

Of the many services Solid Ground offers, SAT Boot Camps is one of the favorites. Lauren receives calls from parents whose children need to reach a certain score to get into college. In the summer, the group tutoring classes comprise the majority of calls because parents are trying to make decisions for the coming school year. A broad range of classes is offered for all age groups. Boot camps and group tutoring are held at Forrest Hills at Mountain View Baptist Church in Snellville, while Lauren and Joanna both offer private tutoring as well. Lauren explains, “Our base is the church, but we will go out.” They often meet clients at a library, coffee shop, park, or at their home.

“We’re flexible, and with no overhead, we keep it affordable for families.”

Tutoring private, public, and homeschool families, Solid Ground offers workshops, study skills, essay help, and more. Joanna remembers that with the implementation of Common Core, eighth grade integrated math brought a lot of calls. “These straight A kids were suddenly failing. Also, we started to see a push toward homeschooling.” Lauren recalls one family pulled their kids out of public school in December and “basically homeschooled out of my house – they didn’t know where to turn and needed options.”

As lack of socialization is often discussed in association with homeschooling, a big focus for Solid Ground is to create a homeschool community for kids. “We want them to have ice cream socials, picnics, family gatherings and other activities where they can meet friends and moms can talk,” says Lauren. “We want to offer a well-rounded, well-balanced education if you want to homeschool your child.” They are also meeting with an accrediting foundation so students can have an accredited diploma for college. Joanna adds that this will allow them to have access to HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships at graduation, as most homeschooled kids have to “prove themselves” the first year of college to become eligible. She adds that colleges are becoming more accepting of homeschooling as numbers have risen to between 3 and 4% of the school-aged population.

“Our heart and our passion is to provide quality education,” says Lauren. “We want excellence, but not at the cost of the children.” By that she means that while they choose high-level teachers to be a part of Solid Ground, they want to be sure they are the type of teacher that can share what they know and be able to assist the children. “All teachers on the staff have a heart for the struggling learner, either through experience at home or through having other students who have struggled.”

Solid Ground has a proven track record helping children with challenges like dyslexia and ADHD. Joanna says, “Aside from nurturing them in the way they learn, we also want to nurture their soul a little bit. We let them know it’s okay that you’re different and its okay that you learn differently than your neighbor.”

Once kids start with Solid Ground, they usually stay. Joanna has a group that has been with her for five years. The small classes allow the teachers to build strong relationships with the students.

Joanna teaches, among other things, writing skills, and says she gets to know the children through their writing.

Solid Ground also adds a spiritual component to its service. Lauren says, “We incorporate God and the Bible as much as we can without offending.” Joanna adds, “As a Christian, I can’t separate that; I can’t pull that out of who I am. We have a lot of different faiths come to us, including atheists, but I still incorporate that in a way that it’s not offensive.”

“This is our tool,” says Lauren. “We teach. We work hard at it. We try to spread the word the best that we can. Our work is quality.”

More information at solidgroundtutoring.com

Beat the Heat Continued from page 9 our kidneys become less efficient at conserving the salt we need when the body is stressed, such as from dehydration and high temperatures. When combined with common medications such as diuretics, which are often prescribed to treat hypertension, the result could be a greater risk for hyponatremia. When you exercise, your body’s metabolism works at a much higher rate, breaking down and regenerating tissues and creating waste metabolites that need to be flushed out of your system. However, regardless of your level of activity, you still need to maintain good hydration.

Thus, remember to always drink plenty of water to beat the heat, and you may also want to up your intake of electrolytes. And remember, when you live in a hot and humid area like Gwinnett county, following these tips keeps us healthy and hydrated. (BPT)

Our Town

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PAGE 9

New Year • New Ladies workout • New You!

Character Counts with Matt Williams of NG3: 33 for NG3

By Matt Williams

770-985-6070

ladiesworkoutsnellville.com FB: Ladies Workout Snellville 2135 E Main Street • Suite 150 • Snellville, GA 30078

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 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.

More information at http://www.ng3.org/

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“We bring the Fun to You”

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Our Town

Golf Talk: 2017 Fall Middle School Golf League

By Our Town Staff It’s back to school, and that also means the start of fall school sports like the fall Middle School Golf League. Parents can register their students for the league through the South Gwinnett Athletic Association. Players are assigned teams based on middle school attendance, and they will receive golf shirts with their middle school or feeder high school colors.

“The changes we made in the spring to the format and the instruction we gave especially to the beginning golfers will hopefully lead to more middle school players registering this fall,” said Les Witmer, Middle School Golf League director. “Ball striking for beginners and for those who played before can be challenging; but there’s no better sight than to see the smile on the face of junior golfers when they hit a great shot. That’s what brings you out again and makes you want to play the sport!”

According to Witmer, beginning golfers will spend more time during the first weeks becoming more proficient at ball striking and understanding golf rules and etiquette. And then they will take that knowledge onto the golf course and join repeat league players or the more advanced junior golfer playing as team members in the best ball “Lauderdale” format. Players play from forward or junior tees based on ability.

“We will again have four weeks of team best ball play for all including a week where we plan on having a high school player play with each team and then introduce our players to stroke play where they play their own ball for an individual score,” added Witmer. “We will culminate our fall season with a Pitch, Putt, and Drive competition, party, and awards presentation.”

League play and/or clinics will be held on Sundays, normally at 4 p.m. Each team has a volunteer team “Marshall” who is responsible for team lineups and who supervises the play on the course. Parents are welcome to walk or ride carts along the course as spectators, but they must remain on the cart paths. The host courses currently planned for this season are Snellville’s Summit Chase Country Club and Loganville’s Cedar Lake Golf Course.

A parent orientation will be held prior to the beginning of the season with more detailed information. There will also be a Q&A session with League Director Les Witmer and SGAA’s Tim Gains.

More information at https://www.middleschoolgolfleague.com

Community Spotlight: S.O.S. Daffy’s Pet Soup Kitchen

By Michelle Watson Tom and Diane Wargo have a great love for pets, which is why they founded both a pet supply store and a pet soup kitchen. They have been serving the pet owners and pets of Gwinnett County for twenty years.

Daffy’s New and Used Pet Supplies (Daffy’s) and S.O.S. Daffy’s Pet Soup Kitchen (S.O.S.) are located at 134 S. Clayton Street in Lawrenceville. Daffy’s has a large selection of pet supplies that includes dog and cat food, animal crates, leashes, flea and tick prevention, rabbit supplies, and much more. S.O.S. allows families and their pets to stay together during hard times.

Many families have to give up their pets when they experience a job loss or economic crisis. Some Gwinnett citizens who are particularly fond of their pets go without food to make sure their pets get proper nourishment. Daffy’s and S.O.S. make it a little easier for families to provide for everyone, so no one, whether human or animal, has to go without food.

In order to receive free food from S.O.S., families must qualify. To apply, pet owners may come to the pet food bank on Saturdays or apply online. The S.O.S. pet food bank is located in the lower parking lot behind Daffy’s. All pets need to be spayed or neutered and have their rabies shots up to date, though there is a 45-day grace period.

S.O.S. provides nearly a million pounds of food throughout the state. There are no residency requirements. Anyone with a pet is welcome to apply for assistance. S.O.S. has never run out of food, and they have set the model for the approximately 200 pet soup kitchens across the nation.

But that is not all the Wargos are doing. They are expanding their services as more businesses and service providers continue to partner with them. One major development worth noting is the new pet boutique they are opening not far from their current location. The new store will have a kit and cat room. Many studies show that playing with cats provides relaxation and coping abilities for those with autism, PTSD, or dementia, and other issues. Playing with the kittens will also help the animals get socialized before being adopted.

S.O.S. has a regular need of committed volunteers for sorting food or unloading it, along with other tasks. There is something for everyone of every capability. To volunteer, apply online. Their volunteer coordinator, Briana, will be in touch to schedule an interview.

More information at www.daffyspetsoupkitchen.info.

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7/21/17 4:02 PM

One on One: Diamond in the Rough

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Diamond in the Rough, Inc. (DITR) is an organization that strives to empower girls of all ages and from all walks of life.

Nicole Steele has been working with young people for over twenty-five years, volunteering with programs including Junior Achievement and the Boys & Girls Club. In 2004, Steele founded DITR to meet the changing needs of girls.

Since its inception, DITR has served nearly 5,000 youth and families, and has operated with a waiting list for the past eleven years.

DITR has something for girls ages 4 -18. As Steele puts it, “All girls are at-risk.” She tells how it is not any one thing that puts a girl at risk. It isn’t just her skin color or ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or her neighborhood. With the many challenges and pressures facing young girls today – from technology, social media, and peer pressure – all our youth are at risk. As a result, many girls may lack confidence or doubt their abilities.

Steele intends to dispel the misconception that the need for mentoring is only in the inner city.

She says suburban places need mentoring and services. So, when God told her to stay and minister in Gwinnett County, she obeyed.

Over the past twenty-five years, Steele has seen a shift in society that affects both girls and boys.

With the growth of social media and technology, there is an extreme amount of pressure on today’s youth. There is an assault on their self-esteem. DITR works to build up girls’ confidence and teach them they are not the sum of their body parts, and they are not to be objectified. Steele says the DITR programs help girls find their voice and shine.

The main focus of DITR is group mentoring. Groups are divided by age and grade. The program runs through the school year from September to May, with events held at Cannon Church in Snellville. Three or four mentors are assigned to every group of twelve to thirteen girls, giving the girls a chance to learn from several different role models and each other. It also lessens the pressure on mentors who may otherwise feel they have to bond with each child.

Other DITR programs include CROWNS College and Career Coaching Program and CORE Leadership Program. These help build leadership skills and provide exposure to opportunities to serve.

DITR does not focus on the girls and forget about the rest of the family. They want to provide opportunities for the girls to bond with their families and create memories. They offer FREE parent workshops monthly, and have a Diamond Dads program to support dads, as well as a single parent component called Solitaires that reaches out to both single moms and single dads. DITR hosts father/daughter dances and mother/daughter retreats and teas, as well as other enrichment activities for the family.

Steele sums up the mission of DITR in one statement, saying as a community, we can “invest now or pay later.” She says our society is too often reactive, always bent on fixing things and pouring in resources on the back end; but prevention is key to truly helping girls build character and keeping them from being victims.

DITR’s success can be contributed to a modest staff and over seventy-five volunteers. Steele says everyone has a role to play. Not everyone can commit to mentoring every Saturday, but business Continued on page 18

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Grayson Orthodontics is Now Embrace Orthodontics

By Heidi Campbell Celebrating their tenth anniversary this summer, Grayson Orthodontics is buzzing with excitement over the unveiling of their new name and updated office. While the practice is home to the same group of smiling faces, Dr. Cardenas and his staff are now enjoying a renovated location with a new color scheme and a new name. Since the Dacula office was opened, Dr. Cardenas wanted to unite the two practices under one brand, so the Dacula and Grayson locations are both now called Embrace Orthodontics. “We are excited about the new branding,” says Dr. Cardenas with a smile, “and we want to make sure that everyone knows that even though our name has changed we are still the same practice!”

The practice hosted a celebration on July 13th, a day Allison Wilkerson, the mayor of Grayson, declared “Hug Day.” On this day, Embrace Orthodontics stationed staff members at the Grayson Coffee House and the local Dunkin’ Donuts to give out hugs and free coffee. At the office, they had their own celebration. “It was an exciting event,” shares Dr. Cardenas. “We had sixty to seventy people here. We had food and drinks and gave away prizes. One woman won cruise tickets for two. She and her husband were so excited! This was a great way to make our patients and community feel appreciated.”

On top of their new name and updated office, they have also created an adorable mascot: a red

panda named Kobi. They selected this particular animal because it seemed to represent both boys and girls. The name came from Dr. Kobayashi, who developed the little hooks that people get on their braces to attach the rubber bands. The office staff refers to these hooks as Kobi hooks, and the name seemed perfect for their new mascot. Kobi’s smiling face truly represents the entire practice. Public Relations Coordinator Rebekah Vardaman says, “Our staff knows our patients. We do a lot of contests and give always and work to ensure that our clients look forward to their appointments. We have trivia games, basket giveaways, and even a Halloween costume contest! It is serious work we do, but we try to have a fun time!”

Dr. Cardenas recently added a state-of-the-art scanner to the office. To his surprise, this $40,000 piece of equipment arrived in the mail. He is thrilled to leave behind the antiquated practice of making impressions.

“The molds we have always had to make were really uncomfortable because patients had to sit and wait,” Dr. Cardenas explains. “A lot of times, the impressions, which had to be sent away, would end up not being exactly correct, which meant we had to redo them. Now they are made digitally and they are perfect.” . Dr. Cardenas, who moved here from Colombia, got his dental and orthodontic credentials at Tufts University in Boston. He moved to the Atlanta area to be closer to his brothers. When the practice opened in 2007, Continued on page 15

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Restaurant Review: Bleu House Cafe The Picky Peaches – Gaye, Julie & Susan Finally, we found it! The best iced tea ever! “Nice and Southern. Sweet enough to make Northern lips curl.” At least that’s how our sweet tea connoisseur and Picky Peach described it. This icy goodness was waiting for us at the eclectic Bleu House Cafe. The quaint little cottage was built in 1908.

Now, over 100 years later, this popular, downtown Norcross lunch spot is known for its fresh salads, generously-sized sandwiches, delectable sides, and mouth-watering desserts.

As you approach the entrance, there may be a line of people waiting to get in the door. Don’t let that scare you. Pick up a menu from a wall rack just inside the door to read while you’re waiting.

The daily specials are listed on a large chalkboard on the dining room wall. When it’s your turn, just place your order at the counter with the friendly, helpful cashier and find a seat. We suggest that you go on a day when the weather is nice enough to sit outside under the arbor.

Here are some items we highly recommend: If you’re a meat-lover, try the Fanelli sandwich. It’s pastrami, turkey, Swiss cheese, 1000 Island dressing, and coleslaw, piled on a hoagie roll. Potato salad, made with red potatoes and seasoned with dill, pairs well with this sandwich. We especially liked that the coleslaw and the potato salad weren’t too heavy on the mayonnaise, which means both dishes successfully relied on other things for flavor.

Quiche selections are made fresh daily, and there are usually two kinds from which to choose.

We liked the spinach and artichoke quiche with a side of marinated olives.

Cranberry salad is listed as one of the side dishes, and it’s very tasty; but it may not be what you’re expecting. It’s cranberries on a bed of romaine lettuce with walnuts and sweet cranberry dressing.

For vegetarians, and anyone else who wants to eat a little lighter, The Alfalfa wrap is a healthy, refreshing choice. It’s a spinach tortilla stuffed with cheddar, provolone, sprouts, tomatoes, cucumbers, red peppers, mixed greens, and sun-dried tomato spread. For your side, try the delightfullyseasoned Vegetable Pasta.

Save room for dessert because the luscious 7-Layer Bar is a divine combination of butter, graham cracker crumbs, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut, sliced almonds, and sweetened condensed milk. This heavenly dessert is sometimes called Magic Cookie Bar, but no matter what it’s called, it’s so rich that you might want to share a piece with a friend or two. Other dessert bars available include Praline Brownie, Blondie, Chocolate Raspberry, Peanut Butter, and Granola.

In addition to an assortment of green salads, they also have tuna salad, chicken salad, potato salad, coleslaw, vegetable pasta salad, marinated olives, tomato mozzarella salad, marinated vegetables, and fresh fruit. In case you need to pick up something for dinner, many of the salads can be purchased by the pound.

All sandwiches, wraps, and quiches include your choice of a side dish.

For those with special dietary needs, there are many healthy options on the menu, including vegetarian and gluten-free selections.

Located in a light blue cottage with darker blue shutters, Bleu House Café is easy to find and there’s ample parking behind the building.

The Bleu House Café is located at 23 Holcomb Bridge Road in Norcross. They are open Monday-Friday 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. and closed weekends.

More information at Bleuhousecafe.com Article adapted with permission from The Picky Peaches’ Hidden Gem Restaurant Challenge. Visit our blog pickypeaches.com for more great places to eat and fun things to do.

SportsTalk: Team 9 Hits the Gridiron for Archer High

By Dana Harvey Team 9 is the appropriate name for the 2017 Archer High School football team as it prepares for its ninth year under the leadership of its only head coach, Andy Dyer, in its program’s young history. Their goals are to win the region championship, make it to state playoffs, and ultimately win a state championship. “Achieving those goals means winning at each practice and each game one day at a time,” Dyer said.

Coach Dyer’s philosophy on team building is centered on family. Family and football are two words that symbolize a bond between people who have an interdependence on one another. Football is a culture of brotherly love that challenges each member on the team to rely on each other to do its job and to overcome the mental and physical demands of the game together – just as a family would do in everyday life.

“With each team we try to build a family bond with our guys that is hard to break because they will need to lean on each other during the season,” said Dyer.

Orchestrating the offense for Team 9 will be sophomore quarterback Carter Peevy. Though very young, he has gained valuable experience under center last season and will have a stacked backfield behind him that will share the load in the Tigers’ running attack that includes senior Keegan Strickland and juniors Emmanuel Michel, Dj Taylor, and Semaj’e Banks. To anchor the Continued on page 16

PAGE 14

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Grayson High’s Band

By Beth Volpert Johansen Established with the opening of Grayson High School (GHS) in 2000, the GHS Marching and Concert Bands have played for a variety of crowds. The current marching membership checked into the 2017 Band Camp at 125, with 60 of the marchers being rookie members. The Bands as a whole have grown from 160 students in 2016 to over 200 for the 2017-2018 school year. Among the rookies, fans will find a number of younger siblings who chose to join the music program as a result of watching the fun, fellowship, and friendships enjoyed by their older siblings.

This year’s marchers are looking at an ambitious performance schedule that includes football games, the Gwinnett County Marching Exhibition, three competitions, and the Grayson Day Parade. During the year, the bands perform at community events at the Grayson Senior Center, Grayson Farmer’s Market, and the tree lighting ceremony, and they host several Band Nights at Bruster’s and other local businesses. The GHS Band program gives back to their community by performing at numerous grand openings in the Grayson/Loganville area. They have traveled to Disney World, Universal Studios Orlando, Pigeon Forge, Williamsburg, Washington, D.C., and the Bahamas.

The Corps Style of marching is a strong tradition at Grayson High School, with many students participating in Drum Corps Associates and Drum Corps International summer tours over the past several years. Locally, GHS Bands placed 1st overall in Music Performance and Best Visual Performance at the 2016 USBands North GA Regional Championships.

In addition to Marching Band, GHS has two percussion ensembles and a jazz band, and they are expanding to add a third concert band this year. Musicians from the bands also enjoy performing with the orchestra and theater programs to bring outstanding productions to the stage each year. A major highlight of the 2016 season was supporting their state championship football team all the way to the Dome.

The growth and success of the GHS bands have a great deal to do with reaching into the middle school programs to provide mentors for young students interested in music. The middle school feeder programs are growing at such a rate that a second full-time band director was hired for the upcoming year at Bay Creek Middle School.

Adding to the leadership team has been a longtime dream of Band Director Robert Barnes, who has been a Gwinnett County Schools’ teacher for 28 years. “I’m in my 18th year as the band director at GHS, and my focus from day one has always been to develop the band program such that I serve my students and the band program serves its community,” says Barnes. “The legacy I wish to leave behind is the mindset that when all is said and done, the students, parents, and myself can look back on a season or a school year and say that they had a great experience.”

In March 2016 the band set a plan to raise over $35,000 within 15 months. “With great band parent help and our business community support, we have reached our goal and will have new marching band uniforms for the fall of 2017,” Barnes said. But as that goal is reached, there will always be another expense around the corner. The addition of so many rookies, coupled with the greatly increased numbers at both Bay Creek and Couch Middle Schools, makes another capital campaign necessary for additional uniforms and instruments. With that many students chanting “GRAYSON BAND PRIDE!”, the hope is the community will take notice and offer support where they can.

More information at www.GraysonHighBand.net

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Grayson Orthodontics Continued from page 13 he had no patients, and Grayson was only in the early stages of development. He recalls, “Opening this office was an act of faith! We are so lucky. The city has been great to us, and we love the schools and community events.”

Embrace Orthodontics participates in all the Grayson activities. “We go all out for Grayson Days,” shares Vardaman. “We chose a theme and have costumes and a float. We also participate in Christmas in Grayson and the Dacula Chili Cook-off. We are really close to our mayor, and she lets us know when she needs our help at local events.”

Embrace Orthodontics is a family oriented practice. They offer payment plans, promotions during certain months, and family discounts.

Complimentary consultations are offered to all new patients, which include the initial x-rays.

They are dedicated to creating a warm, friendly atmosphere for their patients who range in age from seven to their mid-seventies. Dr. Cardenas enjoys his work, and says, “I love to see the change in kids who come in with low selfesteem. They are shy and they don’t have good social development. Once we take their braces off, they come out of their shell. They smile more, talk more, and their social skills improve 100%! Straight teeth and a beautiful smile make people happier!”

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

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Catching Up with Park Springs

By Our Town Staff Great lifestyle and great healthcare are two things that most of us hope to have as we age gracefully into retirement. Some may think they are mutually exclusive, but that is not the case for residents – also known as Members – of Park Springs, a resort-style community in the shadow of Stone Mountain.

It’s just one of the adult communities developed by the team at Isakson Living where active, independent, healthful lifestyles are encouraged. Members enjoy a 60-acre campus that offers a full range of amenities, like bistros and pubs for your dining options, various fitness and social activities, and a full spectrum of healthcare options should they ever be needed.

In August, Park Springs will open the Park Springs Health Services Center, based on the household model of living. While this concept is already popular in Europe and other parts of the United States, Park Springs is the first property to use the household model in a large-scale community in Georgia. Within Park Springs Health Services, small households of 18 residents will have their own front door, country kitchen, and dedicated staff to provide relationship-oriented care, rather than the more common task-oriented care that is available in most other facilities. At Park Springs Health Services, the Members are empowered to make their own decisions for their daily routine, and they will work with the Caregivers and the Homemaker within each household. Members will set their own schedules and be able to control the flow of their day. Even the simple decision of when, what, and where to eat will be guided by the Member, not the staff. When care is less institutional, and more individual, both Caregiver and Member morale is proven to be higher and confidence in care is increased.

The goal of the Park Springs community is to support its Members in living a life of well-being, and Park Springs Health Services’ households will continue that mission. As an expansion of the current skilled and memory care facilities at Park Springs, Park Springs Health Services will offer skilled nursing, assisted living, adult day care, home care, and memory care options. The Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation center will also serve the local community.

While 85% of Members come to Park Springs for independent living, those needs can change, and having the resources available for a lifetime provides peace of mind for Park Springs Members.

Park Springs and Park Springs Health Services have placed an emphasis on providing options for those living with dementia. Members founding the new memory care households in Park Springs Health Services will be protected by the “Price For Life” provision that stabilizes monthly costs, even as Members age.

Living at Park Springs offers more lifestyle choices than traditional retirement communities, while still allowing its Members to be an active part of their community. The Director of Community Life Services coordinates all events on campus and invites guest speakers for discussions on a variety of topics. Transportation is provided to various cultural activities in and around Atlanta, like the Atlanta Ballet, Atlanta Botanical Garden, and the Fox Theatre. Many of Park Springs’ Members have spent most of their lives in the Atlanta area, and the community offers a way to stay close to the city that is home to them.

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

Archer High School Football Continued from page 14 line of scrimmage, the Tigers will rely on the leadership of senior lineman Joshua Ezeudu. Peevy will have an experienced wide receiver core to throw to in junior Andrew Booth and seniors Jelani Baker, Ronald Schjang (slot), and Taiyon Palmer, a Duke University commit. Booth and Palmer pull double duty on offense and defense as defensive backs, and tight end Brandon Shelnutt rounds out the offensive pedigree.

“Our goals offensively are simple: don’t turn the ball over, and score early and often,” said Dyer.

With a host of young players on the defensive line, Coach Dyer expects them “to grow up in a hurry and get themselves ready to battle against some good teams this upcoming season.” The key to winning is to have a good line, and for Archer that begins with senior Will Choloh – a Georgia State University commit who Dyer refers to as the “heart and soul” of the defensive line – with the addition of sophomore Ethan Lane, junior defensive end Colby Wooden, and senior Jadden Knott.

In the middle of the defense, the senior linebacker duo of Jordan Roman and Colin Stein will provide a lot of leadership for this group, while Jalyn Phillips, Booth, and Palmer will be expected to direct the secondary. With such a young, but talented squad, Archer will look to build as much depth as possible throughout the season.

A real test for the Tigers will come early as they open the season on a neutral site against Brookwood High School in the Corky Kell Classic August 19th at the new Georgia State Stadium (formerly Turner Field).

“We are excited about this game among others, and this will be a great challenge for our kids,” Dyer added.

To kick off the season, the Tigers will host their annual “Taste of Archer” fundraising event August 5th from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the school’s cafeteria where the community can sample good food from local restaurants. Tickets can be purchased at the door on the day of the event.

More information at www.archerhighathletics.com/football.

PAGE 16

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City Spotlight: Loganville City Hall

By Our Town Staff Loganville’s new City Hall opened for business July 17th. “We have completed a number of renovation projects on the first wing, and there will still be some additional work to be done, but we will be ready and open for business,” City Manager Danny Roberts said. “This has been a major undertaking, but it is the first step toward being able to meet all of the needs of our residents under one roof.”

The current City Hall, located at 4385 Pecan Street, has been home to the city’s government since January 2000. But as the city has grown, so have the number of services and employees needed to meet the demands of the residents of Loganville. When the Walton County School District opened up a new school, and the old Loganville Elementary School campus became vacant last summer, city leaders determined that this was an opportunity to take over a key piece of property in the downtown area and be able to move a number of city services under one roof.

Financing was approved in September for the purchase of the old school campus, located at 4303 Lawrenceville Highway, and work began soon after to transform the hallways and classrooms to meet the needs of a city government.

All City Hall operations will be moved into the front wing of the old school, with the addition of Code Enforcement and the Fire Marshall’s office. Beginning July 15th, residents will need to go to the new City Hall to pay their utility bills and request government services such as Planning and Zoning permits, new water service, and facility rentals. All phone numbers and email addresses will remain the same.

Work is ongoing for the new council chambers, meaning that Loganville City Council meetings are not expected to move until August.

Additional plans are in the works for the sprawling 10-acre campus. Long-range goals include moving police and court operations into the second wing of the school and adding possible recreation opportunities to the grounds.

More information at http://loganville-ga.gov/

Wonder Woman is Not Just Another Super Hero Flick

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By Heidi Campbell The summer’s hit film, Wonder Woman, is far more than a mere comic book brought to life. It is an epic tale of love, honor, and the pursuit of all that is good, told through the eyes of Diana Prince (aka Wonder Woman), played

by Israeli actress Gal Gadot. The film, directed by Patty Jenkins, hit theaters on June 2nd, and has already raked in nearly $400 million domestically.

The film is set in two primary locales: the secret, protected island of Themyscira, and World War I Europe.

The original Wonder Woman comic books actually took place during World War II, but according to Nathalie Caron’s Syfywire article, “Why the Wonder Woman Movie Changed the Setting to World War I,” the director found more comparison to modern life by going back to the first World War. Prior to the war-torn European setting, the story unfolds in Themyscira, an island inhabited by a tribe of battle-trained Amazon women. Zeus created the island to safeguard them from Ares, a supervillain in the comics and the God of War in Greek Mythology. The island is a magical place, surrounded by a seemingly protective, celestial orb. The women are fierce, brave, and completely sheltered from issues in the modern world. Their only life objective is to train for battle, and because of this, they are considered unbeatable. The back story provided by these early scenes make the transformation of Diana Prince so gripping.

The film does an impressive job of blending its dramatic nature with the special effects of a science fiction film. The setting moves to war-torn Europe only after a pilot manages to magically plunge through the island’s protective stratosphere. Pilot and spy Steve Trevor, played by Chris Pine, is the bridge that connects Diana to the “real world.” He tells her of the war that is going on, and she decides that she will “fight for those who cannot fight for themselves.”

The characters are powerful, engaging, and well-cast. Diana’s mother, Queen Hippolyta, played

by Connie Nielsen, is the stereotypical protective mother, but what differentiates her is that she holds a secret from the gods. Because of this, she doesn’t want her daughter, Diana, to be a warrior.

In fact, she forbids it. Diana’s desire to fight, however, is too strong. The Queen reluctantly allows Antiope, played by Robin Wright, to train her to become a warrior. The Queen is devastated when Diana grows into a woman and decides to leave the island to end the war in Europe. She doesn’t want Diana to learn her secret, and she warns, “Be careful in the world of men, Diana. They do not deserve you. You have been my greatest love. Today, you are my greatest sorrow.”

From the moment that Steven Trevor crashes his airplane, the film makes a conscious shift in narContinued on page 18

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Wonder Woman Continued from page 17 ration, and Diana, a grown woman, becomes the camera’s lens. The audience has watched her grow from a little girl into a strong, beautiful, confident woman. She makes her own decision to leave her Xanadu, against her mother’s wishes. Her personality is focused and confident, and she would be confused as to why the audience finds her so adorably comical. At one point she explains to Steven, “I had no father. My mother sculpted me from clay, and I was brought to life by Zeus.” Steven responds, “Well, that’s neat.” The audience cannot get enough of the rapport between this duo.

Humor continues to blend with action as Diana must learn everything about the world outside Themyscira. She is amazed, for instance, at the power of a watch. Her complete naiveté adds both charm and humor as her eyes are opened to experiences in the real world. She is amazed by ice cream, and tells the vendor that he should “be very proud.” When she sees London for the first time, she calls it “hideous,” and when she first sees snow, she calls it “magical.” She is Eliza Doolittle in Professor Higgin’s bungalow, and audiences adore her.

Evil is prevalent throughout the film as characters Sir Patrick Morgan (David Thewlis) works with Ludendorff (Danny Huston) and Dr. Maru (Elena Anaya) to create a new type of chemical gas that will be more lethal than any on the planet. These villains are ruthless and thirsty for blood and power. As Diana and her sidekicks get closer to the core of the evil, Diana begins to realize the power that she possesses, and she becomes impassioned to do the right thing. She says, “It’s about what you believe. And I believe in love. Only love will truly save the world!”

The special effects become more and more remarkable as the film nears a finish. The action rises to an amazing grand finale, which will shock, anger, disappoint, gratify, amuse, and wow audiences.

Without revealing too much, Wonder Woman faces her foe and must discover the secret that was kept from her if she hopes to prevail. Steven encourages her to fight and never give up when he says, “I can save today. You can save the world!”

The film is one that is best seen on the big screen, and it is well worth the ticket price. At just under two and a half hours, it is an evening’s entertainment that will not disappoint.

Diamond in the Rough Continued from page 12 professionals and other community leaders can invite DITR representatives out to speak or share the organization’s vision and join in partnership.

Steele says the significance of DITR’s name is that no two diamonds are the same. They come in different shapes and colors. “They are a mirror of what we are in God’s eyes,” says Steele. “We are all beautiful, brilliant, and full of potential. Once girls know who and Whose they are, it’s a game changer, and the sooner that light goes off, the better.”

More information at www.ditr.org.

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