AUGUST 2020 Gwinnett/Walton Community & Family Magazine
Our Town GWINNETT
Grayson Dacula Loganville Lawrenceville
Up Close with Darrell Watson - State Farm, see story on page 5.
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Cleaning with a Purpose: Meet Lisa Siciliano & Glen Eddins Getting to Know Spa Stinny: Relax Your Way to Better Health Peace of Thread: Purses with a Purpose Raising the Voices of the Gwinnett Business Community
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Investment Advisor Representative offering securities & advisory services through Cetera Advisors LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor, Broker/Dealer, member FINRA, SIPC. Green Financial & Cetera Advisors are not affiliated. Awards are not to be considered a guarantee of future results, nor as an endorsement by any client. Best of Gwinnett winners are chosen via voting and editors’ input, & opinions are vetted with the use of other available information. Pinnacle award rankings are based on growth, revenue, community service, & other criteria. Barron’s: based on total assets (AUM), revenue, & other factors. Office located at 3700 Crestwood Pkwy, Ste 140, Duluth, GA 30096.
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On the Cover: Keeping You Covered: One Man is Making Great Strides in the Insurance Business By Kristen Eleveld The way you perform at any job is shaped by your previous experience in life. You might decide to become a swim coach after realizing what a great workout swimming can be. You might decide to become a salesperson after realizing that you love talking with people and teaching them new things. Or, like Darrell Watson, you might even become an insurance agent after spending nearly three decades as a church pastor. Darrell served as the senior pastor of four churches over his twenty-eight-year ministry, a job he thoroughly enjoyed and thrived in. But eventually he felt the need to make a change. Both his father-in-law and a friend worked for State Farm, one of the most popular insurance companies in the country. Darrell felt like he would be successful at the job, and joined the State Farm team three years ago. And while it might not be immediately obvious how his two jobs utilized many of the same skills, Darrell says he feels like it is the perfect combination. “I’ve been able to marry the old with the new,” said Darrell. “I still get to work with people, which is what I love to do.” Though Darrell has continued to serve as a pastor in different capacities, you will most often find him in the Grayson area where his State Farm office is located. From there, he and his team serve the Snellville, Lawrenceville, Loganville, and Grayson communities, offering their expertise and advice to those seeking help from State Farm. One thing that Darrell notes is that, while most people associate State Farm with car or homeowner’s insurance, the company offers a wide range of services that covers every need in your life. These seven services, known as the Planned Protection Portfolio, include: 1) Auto Insurance, 2) Home/Renters Insurance, 3) Asset Protection, 4) Life/Long Term Care Insurance, 5) Health Protection, 6) Finance Protection, and 7) Final Wish Protection. Each component is something that State Farm, and especially Darrell, feel very strongly about, and he makes it a priority to make sure his clients have what they need in every area of their life. “I want to make sure everyone I talk to understands the Planned Protection Portfolio
because it’s just so important to have these things in place,” Darrell said. “Even if the client doesn’t have all of their policies through State Farm, educating them so they understand what they need is what motivates me to come to work each day.” Darrell certainly is not lacking in motivation. In 2014 he partnered with the Monroe County Habitat for Humanity to raise money to build homes. After challenging his friends, Continued on page 14
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Our Town Gwinnett/Walton Community & Family Magazine
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IN THIS ISSUE
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5 On the Cover: Keeping You Covered: Making Great Strides in the Insurance Business 7 From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion 7 Learning Lessons: Ten Ways to Reduce the First Few Weeks of Back to School Jitters 8 Health Matters: COVID-19 Update 9 Travel Tales: Flying the Friendly Skies with Masks 10 Take TWO Doses of Some Common Sense, and Call Me in the Morning 10 Cleaning with a Purpose: Meet Lisa Siciliano and Glen Eddins 11 Summer Fun: Make the Most of Summer Get Togethers in 2020 12 High School Students Organize Peaceful Protest in Gwinnett 13 School Days, Rue Days, Dear I Am Confused Days 14 Getting to Know Spa Stinny: Relax Your Way to Better Health 14 Pet Perch: Flirt Pole Fun – How to Engage Your Terrier 16 Peace of Thread: Purses with a Purpose 16 Raising the Voices of the Gwinnett Business Community 17 SportsTalk: 2020 Fall Middle School Golf League 19 Back the Blue: Just Like You and Me 19 Navigate Recovery Gwinnett: Support for Individuals and Families 20 My Waking Moment 21 Thinking of Becoming a Freelancer? Six Things You Should Consider 22 Crane’s Corner: Raising Cain
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From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion By Ryan T. Sauers
@RyanSauers @RyanTSauers I want to thank each of you for being a unique and special person. We are all created in God’s image and desire to have relationships with other people. I may not know all of you, but your feedback and encouragement to me is greatly appreciated. And it helps me in writing these columns and other things I do. Iron sharpens iron. So, let me share some things on my mind in August 2020. Let me encourage us all to the consider the time we are living in. It is tough. Unprecedented. Lonely. Frustrating. Confusing. Overwhelming. Unknown, and much more. Quite frankly, there are no real words that are good enough to encompass or describe 2020. In such an environment where we are isolated a lot more than we are used to, we often turn to social media to interact and express ourselves. There is nothing wrong with these tools and I use most of them. However, social media can be toxic. These amazing tools of communication can create great division and can seemingly push our buttons and/or push us over the edge. So, if what we post divides people, puts people down, or is not encouraging in nature, then maybe we should think twice before posting. Right? I hope we can give each other the benefit of the doubt, and love more, listen better, judge less, care more, smile, and be patient. We all need to be loved and told it is all going to be okay. IT WILL. This too SHALL pass. Trust me, I do not profess to have mastered all these things, and I work on them each day. Despite all we are facing, we will get there. But we can only do so “shoulder to shoulder” and together. We must remain UNITED and not become UNTIED. Finally, we must be extra careful if we are posting when we are sad, hungry, angry, lonely, or tired (SHALT rule). So, to all my family, friends, colleagues, and to this community, you are the best. We can do this, we will do this, we will prevail – and we will prevail together! Keep Pushing Forward. I wish all of you the best, and thank you for continuing with me on the journey of my town, your town, OUR TOWN!
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Learning Lessons: Ten Ways to Reduce the First Few Weeks of Back to School Jitters
AUGUST Time to fertilize your warm-season turf and get rid of those pesky summer weeds.
By Tanisha Turner The first few weeks of school are often a nerveracking time for parents and young children alike. Little ones are embarking on a brand new milestone in their educational journey, and parents have to come to terms with their baby growing up. It can be tough on the whole household, but there are steps parents can take to help ease the transition. Children need to feel confident and prepared going into their first few weeks of school. Simple adjustments to their routines at home leading up to the first big day and month can help the whole family feel better about the change. Primrose Schools provides the following ten tips to help reduce your child’s first week jitters: 1. Read about the beginning of school with your child. It is often the anticipation of the unknown that makes children anxious about going to a new school or classroom. Reading about it gives children an opportunity to imagine their own experience and express their fears. The following books can help your little one prepare for how they might feel when school starts: • When Mommy and Daddy Go to Work by Joanna Cole • First Day by Joan Rankin • The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn • Don’t Go by Jane Breskin Zalben 2. Prepare your child for longer periods of separation in increments. Before leaving your child at school for the first days, have her stay with a grandparent or a babysitter for increasingly longer periods of time. This time away will help her build trust that you will always return. Continued on page 11
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Health Matters: COVID-19 Update By Dr. Kerith Powell Humans are outnumbered by microorganisms and we need to come to terms with that. We cannot sterilize our way to health. In fact, the more we disinfect, the more resilient the microorganisms become. These microorganisms for the most part make our life possible. They turn organic matter into soil; they feed other life forms that in turn feed other living things that we depend on for our sustenance. Even our food is made available to our bodies in part because of them. What is happening now is the introduction of a strain of a known virus that our immune systems have not encountered in our DNA history, and as such requires some time and exposure for us to develop the needed tools for our defense on a cellular level. Why we do not require masks in our office We have weighed the risk/rewards of the mask and have concluded that requiring everyone to have a mask would more likely increase the concentration of all germs, not just COVID19, in our office. We took into consideration the length of time the mask has been in use, the
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locations in which the mask has been used, and the type of mask people choose to wear. You may know by now that the N95 mask got its name from being able to filter 95% of environmental hazards when worn properly. It has become the standard for those who are serious about protecting themselves. The particle size of the COVID-19 virus is less than 0.140 microns (between 0.06-0.140)1. The N95 mask filters between 0.3 and 0.8 microns. Now that does not mean that some protection is not available by wearing masks, it means that the virus is smaller than the filtration of the mask. The virus plus whatever the carrier is, let us say water for example, could be filtered by the N95 when worn properly under the right conditions. However, now you have a virus particle attached to your mask. If you are not careful with the handling of that mask, you have now placed the virus somewhere else unintentionally. I will not bore you with the details of the surgical (the light blue) or cloth (ones made at home or sold) or respirator masks (ones with breathing holes) because they do not compare to the N95 mask and they offer less protection. Respirator masks do nothing to protect others as the holes are designed not to restrict exhalation. The surgical masks offer little protection to the wearer as it is designed to protect the environment from the user. Just know that if you must wear a mask, you should use it properly and dispose of it correctly, and please use a new one when coming into the office. I have also been asked about protecting others by wearing masks. Asymptomatic carriers of the virus do not seem to be able to spread the virus. That is the conclusion of a study in which one infected person encountered 455 people, none of whom became infected. For Everyone’s Safety We continue to ask symptomatic patients to take advantage of our phone consults. We have also arranged to offer IgG antibody testing next door. The IgG test that is offered next door is more specific to COVID-19 than previous tests. Call Dr. Millington’s office for more details at (470) 395-3618. We continue to check temperatures, no longer on everyone, but of those who meet certain criteria. The studies show that prolonged exposure is necessary to transmit the virus. “Public health authorities define a significant exposure to COVID-19 as face-to-face contact within 6 feet with a patient with symptomatic COVID-19 that is sustained for at least a few minutes (and some say more than 10 minutes or even 30 minutes). The chance of catching COVID-19 from a passing interaction in a public space is therefore minimal.” If you need our providers to wear a mask for you, we can accommodate. You can wait in your car for your appointment, and we can even schedule your next appointment and check you out from your car. Gloves You should use a new pair of gloves after just washing your hands and about to undertake some risky behavior, like caring for someone who may be at risk or entering a contaminated area. You should immediately remove your gloves when the task is completed, dispose of them appropriately, and scrub your hands again. The Virus vs. the Terrain One of the things I like to point out is that seeds do not grow where the environment is inhospitable. That is to say that if you take your favorite seeds and put them on the carpet and expect them to grow, you will be disappointed. The same can be said of any bug, virus, or germ. They too need a suitable environment to grow, develop, and reproduce. The healthiest approach is to make the environment inhospitable to the growth and development of bugs, viruses, and germs. This in effect is happening already, based on data being released, in the general population. The Good News If you are reading this, chances are that your body is in a much better position to ward off overgrowth of any foreign invader by virtue of the fact that you have an interest in your health and preservation. The right mindset is absolutely the first and most critical step. You also act on your understanding and conclusions, which is vital for the fulfillment of your stated goals. You are a patient in a practice that believes that all health comes from above, down, and inside out. We are confident that the power that made you has the power to protect you and heal you. That does not mean that you or I can take any of that for granted, but what it does mean is that you understand that everything we need to thrive is already given to us by our Creator. Keep Learning We cannot sanitize our way out of this current health situation. We cannot predict the next health crisis of a similar nature. The pathogen is of little consequence; the environment is more important. In other words, our focus needs to be on the hardening of the host, because there will continue to be environmental threats to us. We share this planet with microbes that far outnumber us. For the most part they help us. People most susceptible to this current situation have underlying health conditions that people like me have been discussing for years; but that is a subject for another time. Soon we will have Dr. Don Clum – a Chiropractor, a functional fitness expert, and a specialist in Advanced Metabolic Nutrition – visit us for a weekend workshop. We will provide more information on that next month. **Note: The references for this article are available upon request. More information at https://www.drchrisnaturalremedies.com/
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Travel Tales: Flying the Friendly Skies with Masks By Pam Walker “Fly the Friendly Skies” used to be the tagline of one of the major US carriers. I booked a direct flight to the West Coast in early January way before Covid. It was cancelled, then changed, then changed again, and now I am on three flights with stops in airports along the way. The skies are indeed friendly. The airlines need us. Flights are only 50% full with blocked seats and social distancing everywhere. And if you don’t have a mask, they give you one and ask you to wear it. In a usual year, I travel every month. This was the first time I had been in an airport since February. I cannot say I was not apprehensive. I was about to spend the night in a hotel as well as begin flights that would take at least thirteen hours in a mask. Overnight in a hotel was different, too. Plexiglass shields, like those at the grocery stores, are everywhere. So are those little round dots on floors to keep you six feet from each other. But I could avoid the dots and the plastic shield, and check in and go right to my room directly on my smartphone. My phone even unlocked the door to my room, which smelled so clean and nice that I knew it had just been disinfected. I wiped everything down anyway! The next morning, I took the shuttle to the airport. No social distancing here – just a little van and a driver with a mask. Once in the airport, the plastic shields are everywhere. What wasn’t everywhere were people. Check in again was on your phone, but you must show the agent your driver’s license. In the TSA line it was actually taken from me in the gloved hand of an agent. There were minimal TSA agents in place, and whether you had PreCheck or not, there was only one line that separated at the agent into the Precheck path or the regular line. Boarding the flight was easy – much better now than before. For years, foreign air carriers have been boarding passengers from the back forward. Now my beloved Delta was doing the same. They still board people who need assistance, then military, then First/ Business Class, then Comfort class. After that, they board from the back of the plane. One thing that has not changed is the fact that people still jam the aisle while they get in their seats. No social distancing here. If that makes you nervous, you do have the right to get off the flight and ask the Gate Agent to put you on another flight without charge. A suggestion would be to stay away from aisle seats if the boarding process puts you too close to those anxious bodies getting aboard. Seating is still spaced so as not to sit too close to other passengers unless you are in that aisle seat. Gone are the drinks on board. You now get a baggy with a bottle of water, a cookie, and some crackers for the duration of your flight. No differentiation with Business Class or coach. Everyone gets the same thing on domestic flights.
On the way back home, Delta decided to add a glass of wine or a beer in Business and Comfort Class. Deplaning was excellent. While I am not sure about the other major airlines, Delta asks you to remain seated until the person in front of you has collected his or her bag and exits the plane. Believe it or not, everyone was respectful of that rule and it worked much more quickly than the old pushing and shoving to get off the plane. Now back home again, I cannot state enough that flying is like it was years ago when only the elite could travel: no crowded airports, people very quiet and polite and standing in line like they are asked too. There is no crowding and the airlines are delighted that you are flying with them. Things are opening again, and I would not hesitate to fly the friendly skies again soon – even with my mask on! Pam Walker is a Virtuoso Travel Advisor. More information at pam@walkeradventures.com
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Take TWO Doses of Some Common Sense, and Call Me in the Morning By Bill Crane
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If it has not already been clear in the past several weeks, we are in this mess for the long haul. This pandemic, in multiple hots spots and red zones across the United States, is about to get worse before it gets better. More testing or false positives alone don’t fill hospital beds or need ICUs and ventilators, but hospital capacity is filling up, and the state of Georgia has re-activated extra pop up bed capacity at the Georgia World Congress Center, as well as entered into a partnership with Piedmont Hospital Systems to bring more hospital beds online. Here are a few doses of common sense to expedite reduced severity of our looking stupid symptoms: The Great Mask Debate – Keep touching your face with unwashed hands to adjust your mask, wear the mask below your nose, or pull it down under your chin when you are having a conversation and you might as well go without. That said, the masks are barriers; they do trap more of what is coming out of your mouth, as well as the mouths of others you encounter who are wearing masks. If you remain convinced that the mask does nothing, then go ahead and stop covering your mouth or nose when you cough or sneeze, using Kleenex or the crook of your elbow. Those are all just human emissions to a greater degree, surely purely harmless, without even considering human emissions from our southern hemispheres. Hoax or Chinese Viral Conspiracy – As I review the daily conspiracy and counterconspiracies on social media, often from the same folks posting, I am trying to discern where their head and heart lie. Is this all a media hoax, designed to take out an incumbent president which many national legacy media outlets want to embarrass and run out of office? Or is it a James Bond villain-like scheme by the Chinese to kill old people, minorities, and the medically fragile, with the Chinese using their own population first as Guinea pigs? Real and Lasting Impact – Through trial and error and millions of patients globally, from hydroxychloroquine to Remdesivir and other anti-viral drug treatment, options for this vile virus are improving, and the medical community and health care researchers Continued on page 15
Cleaning with a Purpose: Meet Lisa Siciliano and Glen Eddins By Traci Sanders
PAGE 10
Lisa Siciliano and Glen Eddins started a maid service in 2017 called Rescue My Time Cleaning Service at the encouragement of Lisa’s mom, who owned a cleaning business with Lisa’s siblings. The business became so successful that Glen was able to quickly retire from his moving business and Lisa retired from a thirty-five year career with AT&T. Within one month of business, they were able to hire their first staff member. Today, Lisa and Glen have ten employees and offer residential and commercial cleaning services in multiple cities around Gwinnett. When Lisa’s mother developed cancer, her sister decided to create a foundation called Cleaning for a Reason, which provides free cleaning services to cancer patients all over the world. When a customer calls the number on the foundation website, they are matched with a participating cleaning company in their area to schedule the service. Rescue My Time Cleaning offers two, three-hour complimentary cleanings through this foundation. To date, the company has donated over $4,000 worth of services to cancer patients. The COVID-19 pandemic created an interesting situation for Lisa and Glen’s business. Some of their regular clients opted out of their scheduled cleanings and instead donated them to local first responders and medical personnel. Lisa and Glen started seeing a rise in the number of clients who were willing to donate either monetary funds or cleanings to these hard-working people in the medical field. Lisa decided to advertise this through a Facebook page and through email campaigns, hoping to be able to simply give back to others in the community. She also advertised a free cleaning to cancer patients. Rescue My Time Cleaning Service raised $1,835, which allowed them to provide twelve free or discounted cleanings. Lisa and Glen expect to continue growing the business to be able to service other surrounding counties in the next few years. “Maid service is essential and more needed now than ever because of this pandemic,” Lisa stated. “We also provide the CDC Lysol-approved Continued on page 13
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Summer Fun: Make the Most of Summer Get Togethers in 2020 By Our Town Gwinnett Staff While traditions may be a bit different this summer, some things can remain the same. Finding new ways to celebrate our favorite summer events make for a great opportunity to reunite in a safe manner with small groups of friends and family members. With a little thought and creativity, our get togethers will still be as fun as in years past. Make it safe: Gathering outdoors more safely means keeping your distance, so plan to help everyone be together, without being too close. Review current CDC health guidelines before your event and follow the rules from your local authorities regarding party size limits. Some suggestions are: • Arrange picnic tables, patio furniture, or picnic blankets into groups, with adequate space between each group. • Make decorative signs for each person with their names or photos so everyone can find his or her spot. Get creative! • Ask guests to bring their own drinks, snacks, and utensils. • Offer plenty of disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer to keep hands and objects clean. Also, do not forget to remind guests that washing hands with soap and water is essential if hands are visibly dirty. • Provide patriotic-themed masks for everyone to wear and encourage guests to bring their own.
Make it fun: Choose outdoor games or bring indoor games outside and set up activities that help encourage social distancing for guests. • With an outdoor screen and a projector, you can recreate that theater experience in the great outdoors or show fireworks on a loop as the sun sets. • Bring out washable games like Connect 4 or life-sized Jenga, or revisit those outdoor classics like horseshoes and cornhole. • If you all cannot get together in person, bring the party to those who are missing with a Zoom call. Set up a call time, select a patriotic background, pull up a frosty beverage, and let guests interact with those they miss with a virtual meet-up. Enjoy your summer celebrations with care this year, making them memorable, safe, and fun. (BPT)
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Learning Lessons Continued from page 7 3. Tour the school with your child. If possible visit the classroom your child will be in, meet the teacher, and tour the playground so the places and faces he will see on the first day will feel familiar and safe. Afterward, talk about what you both saw and how fun the different activities looked. Refer to the teacher by name to help your child think of him or her as a person you know and trust. Reinforce the idea of school being a safe place to learn and play. 4. Set the stage. Talk to your child about their first days of school and help her visualize what each day’s activities are likely to be. “On Monday when you go to school, you will see your friends, play on the swings, and read stories. Ms. Smith will be there to help you. It will be a great day! And Mommy or Daddy will be there to take you home when school is over for the day.” 5. Shop for school supplies. Most children love shopping for school supplies. Give your child the opportunity to pick out a few items he likes (within reason, of course) to provide a sense of ownership and responsibility in the decision-making process. 6. Establish a daily routine that fits your family’s school-year schedule and try to stick to it. Don’t wait until school begins to start implementing your weekday morning routine. Begin activities at the same time every day starting at least two weeks before the first day of school. 7. Nighttime routines are important, too. The whole family can help make the morning of every school day easier by taking care of tasks the night before. Try making it a habit to pack book bags, complete homework, and pick out the next day’s clothes in the evening to avoid morning mayhem. 8. Get your rest. Read a bedtime story early enough in the evening for your child to get a good night’s sleep. Many morning issues can be avoided if everyone is well rested and ready to begin the day! 9. Say a quick goodbye and promise to come back. When dropping your child off at school, give a quick hug and kiss, cheerfully say goodbye, and promise to return later. When you linger, you undermine your child’s confidence that you feel good about where you are leaving her. 10. Establish a partnership with your child’s teacher. Children look to their parents’ behavior for emotional cues. The more comfortable you are with your child’s teacher, the more comfortable your child will be. Over the first few weeks of school, regularly touch base with your child’s teacher about how he is adjusting. The more visible you can make the connection between home and school, the more secure your child will feel. Tanisha Turner is Owner of Primrose School at Sugarloaf Parkway. More information at www.PrimroseSugarloafParkway.com
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High School Students Organize Peaceful Protest in Gwinnett By Emily Rubin Everyone knows that our youth are our future. They will be the ones to make change in the world and make it a better place for their children. One strong example of the youth making change can be found here in Gwinnett. Parkview High School students Raven Toney and Cathy Martiato and Brookwood High School student Aja Thomas organized a peaceful protest in Lilburn City Park on June 5th to demonstrate against police brutality following George Floyd’s murder. The protest began with touching speeches and spoken word poetry by the teens and other volunteers. To keep everyone safe, masks were mandatory for participation, and social distancing was strongly suggested. “We really tried to keep it as safe as possible with the pandemic,” Cathy said. “Obviously when we got to City Hall, we tried our best to social distance. But our main concern was to make sure everyone was safe.” When protestors arrived at City Hall, volunteers and organizers continued with speeches. The crowd collectively took a knee for a 9-minute moment of silence to match the minutes Derek Chauvin knelt on Floyd’s neck. Another speech followed in which protestors began to yell out the names of countless other Black Americans killed by police. Tears were shed, and it was obvious that a large part of the community came together to mourn and demand change. “We expected maybe fifty people,” Raven said. “I don’t know if anyone actually counted, but it was at least 300 people.” Even though the expected turnout was small, the young women had prepared for a much larger group. Aja collected donation money for Cathy to purchase medical supplies and first aid kits. Excess supplies were donated to the Lilburn Co-op and other similar non-profit organizations. When Raven had the idea to organize the protest, she reached out to Representative Jasmine Clark who provided her with contact information for others who wanted to help. Raven then contacted Lilburn Police Chief Bruce Hedley to confirm the plans and make sure no police officers would interfere with the protest. She referenced the Atlanta protests and the police with riot gear, rubber bullets, and tear gas. Raven knew people wanted to protest, but Atlanta was not safe enough for them. By clearing her plans with the police chief and
ensuring no cops would taunt the Lilburn protestors, she created a safe option for peaceful protestors. “It’s way easier to keep everybody safe if we make the protest peaceful than if we just say, ‘Oh, we’re going to go out and vandalize’,” Aja said. “Plus, that is not our goal; we wanted everybody to hear us out. The main thing was keeping everyone safe, and it’s way easier to do that when everyone is peaceful.” The protest was not just a way to demand change; it was a meaningful experience for the young women. Raven’s grandmother organized and protested in the Civil Rights Movement, and now she is doing the same. “This means so much to me,” Cathy said. “I’ve been struggling with a lot of racial issues since I was little, not only that but I also struggle with social anxiety, so speaking was a very hard thing for me, but it felt really good to speak. Looking out into the crowd I could see everyone was there for one reason, and it was to support.” Change does not happen overnight. Police brutality and racism will not disappear in a short span of time either. Raven, Cathy, and Aja say they can see themselves organizing more protests in the future, perhaps even in areas outside of Lilburn where others have not yet organized protests. The young women encourage other youth looking to get involved in activism to talk to others, to ask advice, to not be afraid, and to take the opportunity to make a change. They want others to make their ideas into a reality, no matter how young they are.
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School Days, Rue Days, Dear I Am Confused Days By Bill Crane “There is nothing in the data that suggests kids being in schools is in any way dangerous,” said US Department of Education (DOE) Secretary Betsy DeVos during a recent interview with Chris Wallace on Fox News. With all due respect Madam Secretary, I respectfully disagree, and we may all rue the day if we rush to get kids back in their respective classrooms and schools too soon to do things safely. Let us first get down to brass tacks. I think every parent and most every child want their local, public, private, neighborhood, or church-based school to re-open. But, like it or not, home rule will set the structure, agenda, class schedule, and rule book for schoolhouses across the nation this fall. The DOE, the Center for Disease Control, and various state departments of education have already released their guidance and guidelines, including in-person instruction, half-days, alternating days, online-only, online hybrid, and almost every combination in between. It is a mess. The city of Atlanta is postponing start of ONLINE ONLY instruction to August 24th. Several north metro suburban counties will open schools with primarily in-person instruction as early as August 3. Griffin/Spalding County Schools are offering hybrid options and a start date after Labor Day. Pity the family with children in more than one school system. Remote Learning challenges: 1. Technology gap – Home internet, Wi-Fi, or even a nearby reliable connection is not a given in many households. Libraries remain closed, leaving restaurants, hotel lobbies, and other places not ideally suited for instruction for many families. 2. Further weakened immune systems – Socialization and interaction do strengthen the immune system. Like a muscle, our immune system weakens over time with minimized use or exposure to outside elements. Think Bubble Boy. 3. Child abuse/unsupervised minors – One-parent households, or homes with both parents in first responder, health care, or front-line jobs cannot continue to stay home indefinitely, potentially leaving thousands of school-aged children through late teens unsupervised and online. 4. Nutrition – In as many as 25% of Georgia households, the one solid, nutritional meal per day for hundreds of thousands of Georgia school children is a meal served at school. In-School challenges: 1. Transmission of COVID-19 – Though young children through pre-teen cases of the Coronavirus generally result in milder symptoms, there have been fatalities, lingering symptoms, and related severe and rare illnesses. For the medically fragile, childhood cancer survivors, or those with breathing disorders or a compromised immune system, the threat of the virus remains quite real. Asymptomatic children and teens may also carry the virus unknowingly home with them, or on a visit to see a grandparent, as well as transmit to school faculty and staff during dozens of hours together each week in enclosed spaces. 2. Older HVAC and physical plants – Air conditioning systems in most schools are older and rely heavily on recycled air. As we learn more about this virus, we understand that microscopic virus droplets hang in mid-air when the air is cooled. Outdoors, hot air leaving our body rises into the atmosphere, but inside people walk right through our last breath or those droplets can be riding recycled cool airwaves right down our throats. 3. In-person/online hybrid instruction – Though Georgia already offers certified and trained online academies and instruction in high school, technical school, and for many license certifications, less online curriculum is available and standardized for elementary and middle school children, in part due to varying speeds of learning and shorter attention spans. But for the educator, it is far from easy or simple to lead a live tutorial or lecture online as well as have children in the classroom using the same materials simultaneously. My oldest child is a fourth-grade teacher in Gwinnett County. She is also in the midst of a high-risk pregnancy, carrying twin boys. Her obstetrician and medical team have all advised her that she is also at high risk from this virus, as well as her unborn sons. Our youngest child has asthma as well as a slightly compromised immune system. It is hard to imagine a safe classroom environment for either child, amid an ongoing spike in COVID-19 cases. Yes, we all want kids heading back to school, but for now, until I hear or see Baron Trump or a DeVos, Jr. trotting off to class, perhaps with a Secret Service Agent in tow, we will keep our two under close supervision, with both likely schooling from home. Safety first. More information at www.CSICrane.com
Cleaning with a Purpose Continued from page 10 application to all touchpoints that are more important in the home than ever.” This husband-wife team continues to make an impact in their community by offering professional cleaning services with a personal touch, and giving people back their most important commodity – time. As their website says, they are “rescuing your weekends, one cleaning at a time.” More information at www.rescuemytimecleaningservice.com
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Keeping You Covered Continued from page 5 family, and community members to sponsor him at a dollar per mile, Darrell competed in the ultimate triathlon, the Texas Ironman. He covered 140.6 miles in just under fourteen hours and managed to raise $19,000 dollars for the Habitat cause. He even got to help paint the home that his funds went toward building. It is easy to see why Darrell makes such a great insurance agent – he does not quit until he makes sure his clients have what they need at the fairest price. In fact, that is the goal of the State Farm company as a whole. They want to offer the best coverage at the best price. And their services are not just limited to insurance. State Farm has developed a relationship with U.S. Bank and Rocket Mortgage to assist with mortgages – if the insurance agent has their mortgage license, which, of course, Darrell does (NMLS 1593384). Whatever you need, Darrell can almost certainly help – and not just with insurance, either. “I like to say I want to help you earthly and eternally,” Darrell joked. More information at www.rup3prepared.com
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Getting to Know Spa Stinny: Relax Your Way to Better Health By Kristen Eleveld Spa Stinny, voted Best of Snellville and Best of Gwinnett, was once an oasis that was Snellville’s best-kept secret. Fast forward eight years later, and the cat is out of the bag. Meeting the needs of Snellville, Loganville, Grayson, and Lawrenceville for nearly a decade, Spa Stinny has made a name for itself among top student athletes and community members by providing the essential relief and release necessary for the ultimate self-care success. The spa began in 2012 by offering massage therapy for relaxation. Now, it offers a variety of cutting-edge massage services such as Lymphatic Massage, CBD Oil Massage, Cupping Massage, and even a hands-free Muscle Tension Relief Massage. And although Spa Stinny made its mark on delivering the best massages in town, even becoming your massage therapist massage studio of choice, they have branched out with an extensive Esthetician line and have begun offering Laser Lipo, Cool Sculpting, and other non-evasive fat reduction and skin tightening procedures. Still, Spa Stinny has always retained its community-centric strategy, making sure that each client knows he or she is a priority. “We’ve gotten great support from the community,” says Ayana Stinson, Manager at Spa Stinny. “And we want them to know we care. They are the glue that holds us together.” It is this commitment to care that drives Spa Stinny to offer the personalized appeal of a small business that makes a point to get to know its clientele. Along with the personalized feel is state-of-the-art equipment and specialists who are among the best of the best, and who also care deeply about their community. In fact, a love for the community is one of the qualifications the spa looks for when hiring new therapists, going so far as to offer training that encourages and teaches team members to value each client who walks through their doors. “We love to listen to our clients, and develop relationships with them,” says Stinson. “Our Continued on page 18
Pet Perch: Flirt Pole Fun – How to Engage Your Terrier By Terie Hansen Terriers love to chase. It is an instinct that runs strong in the breed. A flirt pole is a great way to allow your terrier (or any dog) to engage the chase instinct in a positive manner. A flirt pole is a long pole with a bungee rope attached and a dog tug toy at the end. These toys are amazing for play and exercise, but they are even better for training purposes. It is a great way to reinforce impulse control and other commands such as sit, down, and out. Have your dog sit or down. Then just before you engage the toy, release them from command “break” and off they go! Go a few rounds letting them chase the flirt pole toy and then let them catch it. Give them a few seconds to enjoy their catch, then give them the out or drop it command and repeat. By starting and stopping frequently throughout the game you are not enabling your dog to get over aroused. You are also training an on/off switch. Sit/down, break, out. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Do not go for too long. Chasing a flirt pole can quickly exhaust a dog. And remember to change directions. Also, be aware of where your dog is at all times as terriers can get tunnel vision when in high drive and may accidentally run right into you at the knees when trying to make a quick turn. Play safe, play smart. Keep the toy on the ground. Do not have your dog jumping in the air after it. This can cause injury to your dog’s joints. Play for short periods of time and stop before your dog loses interest. This keeps the game fresh and exciting each time you bring out the flirt pole to play. It is best to play on cool days, so your dog does not overheat. Terie Hansen is Owner of Good Dog! Coaching & Pet Care. More information at www. gooddogcoaching.com
*Every year, evaluates plans based on on a 5-star *EveryMedicare year, Medicare evaluates plans based a 5-star rating system. rating system. Kaiser Permanente is an HMO a Medicare Kaiser Permanente is an HMO plan plan with with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Kaiser Permanente depends contract. Enrollment in Kaiser Permanente depends on contract You renewal. mustinreside in the Permanente Kaiser contractonrenewal. mustYou reside the Kaiser Permanente Medicare plan service in which Medicare health plan servicehealth area in which youarea enroll. Kaiser you enroll. Kaiser Plan of Georgia, Inc., Foundation Health Plan Foundation of Georgia,Health Inc., Nine Piedmont Center, Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta, Center,Nine 3495Piedmont Piedmont Road3495 NE, Atlanta, GA 30305. GA 30305. 492024364_C 04/20 H1170_020_09_M H1170_020_09_M 492024364_C 04/20 PAGE 14 Become an Advertising Partner: Email Info@OurTownGwinnett.com or Call 678-825-2049
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TWO Doses of Some Common Sense Continued from page 10 are making steady progress as the race continues on multiple fronts for a reliable vaccine as well as better anti-body tests. And even as fatalities stagnate or decline, an increasing number of patients are recovering with lingering symptoms and maladies, from mild to severe, ranging from near-permanent loss of smell or taste to ongoing issues with breathing and proper circulation to reoccurring symptoms and reasonably frequent relapse. In Schools...or Out – Though the calendar says it is time to ring the schoolhouse bell and resume normal school days, how many places of business, restaurants, churches, or other parts of your community are already there and remaining there? Why would we consider experimenting again first with our children, or our teachers, knowing full well that whatever the experience there, it will likely come back home with our children as well? What about suspending the entire fall semester until late September or early October, and then plowing through Thanksgiving break and wrapping up a week prior to Christmas and Hanukkah? PPP Loans Mature and other economic devastation – Those 3-month forgivable SBA
payroll loans which can be covered by Uncle Sam are all about to hit maturity. Expect a second, and significant round of layoffs during these early days of slight recovery, unless Congress and the Trump Administration further extend those Payroll Protection Program loans, as companies and particularly small business owners have to reach into their own pockets or reserves to keep the doors open and make payroll. And finally, Atlanta City Hall and our state capitol building is roughly a short two-block walk apart, though increasingly miles apart on philosophy and approach to this pandemic. I do not see this changing without at least having a good face to face chat on Zoom, or, when both parties are COVID free, the gentleman walking a few blocks to chat and iron out differences. Yes, a mask ordinance can be difficult to enforce, and differing local laws in 500+ municipalities and 159 counties would create an impossible regulatory patchwork, but attempting to muzzle criticism or differing viewpoints is equally inane. Please pick up the phone and soon – without lawyers on the call – or at least send in your senior staff to the same room and WORK THIS OUT. And oh yeah, WEAR YOUR MASKS. Crane is the senior political analyst with WSB Radio and TV and owns the full-service communications consulting firm, CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com
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Peace of Thread: Purses with a Purpose By Ron Lambros My grandmother used to quote, “A stitch in time saves nine,” but in the case of Peace of Thread, it may save many more! Peace of Thread is a non-profit organization working in Clarkston with the purpose of employing women of vulnerable populations by providing them with a sustainable source of income, practice in English, and job skills. It is the passion and ministry of its founder and CEO, Denise Smith, who openly shares its mission with excitement and pride. “We began over eight years ago with an invitation to come to Clarkston to help the refugee women in the city,” Smith says. “My husband and I had spent over six years in Lebanon, working with Iraqi refugees and Lebanese natives, so it was a natural fit.” But the big question was how? How could she and her volunteers best work with a group of women who spoke very little English and were still getting acclimated to a new country and culture? The answer? Sewing!
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“We are an all-women company,” she explains. “This provides the refugee women, all artisan threaders, a sense of peace and safety. The artisans get to work out of their home, so they get to be good wives and mothers to their family’s while being able to earn an income that helps to provide for them.” She adds, “Each bag that is produced is handcrafted and one-of-a-kind – just like our artisan threaders – and serves as a statement piece for our customers to carry the stories of our artisans into the world. They get to be a part of our story. They get to help ‘sew peace’ into these artisan’s lives. Wearing Peace of Thread is a fashion-forward choice that intentionally gives purpose. Each bag is crafted with the finest materials, both inside and out. While the outside of each bag is stunning, the inside is even more beautiful. We teach the women that they were designed the same way.” Peace of Thread currently has twelve artisans working with them, but when you factor in their families, the impact grows exponentially. But it is far more than just making quality bags for a living that the women benefit from. There are the friendships and bonds made with women of mixed cultures; there is the emotional support for many stressed by adapting to a new culture from impoverished or war-torn countries; and there is the sense of accomplishment that each woman feels by contributing her part to making a difference. When asked what Denise Smith personally feels is her greatest accomplishment, she quickly replies, “It has to be their ceremony when they become American citizens. When I can speak English clearly to them and they understand, that is a great accomplishment because I have begun to empower them and teach them to think in a different language and in many ways.” Smith adds, “We have made many mistakes as we have learned together. However, trust is earned, not just given. I would say my greatest challenge from the beginning has been the different languages. I was teaching them something that I did not know how to do, but through many trials and errors, and language barriers, we now have begun to trademark ourselvesand our business with exceptional quality of their work. The women are truly artisans!” More information at peaceofthread.com.
In the best of times and in the worst of times, one thing is true for all business owners: they need an outlet to let their voice be heard. While each business addresses this need in its own way, there are several Gwinnett businesses that have taken advantage of one of the best resources in town to get their message to the community. It might not be what you think it is – unless, of course you were thinking of Business RadioX. For the last eight years, the Gwinnett location of Business RadioX has made it their mission to give local businesses a platform for their voice and thoughts, along with the opportunity to let the community know why their business makes a difference for Gwinnett. While the word “radio” is in the company name, it is more accurate to think of this business as a podcast producer and content creator for business leaders, available for anyone to listen to at his or her convenience. “The internet is changing the landscape of broadcasting,” said Mike Sammond, who owns the Gwinnett studio and comes from a long career in the broadcasting industry. “Most people are listening in their cars, or while exercising, or even at work.” It is true that this form of broadcasting, while newer to many, is certainly effective, because it is literally always accessible. Whether you are listening through iTunes or pulling up a podcast on your Spotify app, there are dozens of ways for people to hear what these community leaders have to say. Mike and his team, including Director of Marketing/Business Development Amanda Pearch, have eschewed the traditional sales methods of cold calls and knocking on doors for a much more refreshing approach to finding businesses who want to create a podcast. “We believe in service-led leadership,” Mike said. “If we serve others, we know things will come together for us.” This attitude has created a solid rapport between Business RadioX and the business community, and word has quickly traveled that leveraging the services that Business RadioX offers can mean big things for your business. While the podcast is certainly the main event, so to speak, the team at Business RadioX offers even more services to help each client make the most of his or her opportunity to reach the community. “Think of us as an extension of your marketing team,” said Amanda, who has been in the sales and marketing industry for over a decade. “We will promote your podcast on your Continued on page 18
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SportsTalk: 2020 Fall Middle School Golf League By Our Town Gwinnett Staff The Middle School Golf League (MSGL) on-line registration for the 2020 fall season opened July 26th and is scheduled to close on August 25th. However, participation will be limited to the first 100 registrations. Play will begin in August and run through the end of October. Parents can register their middle school players at the league’s website. The Middle School Golf League is organized with parents registering through the South Gwinnett Athletic Association (SGAA). Players are assigned teams based on middle school attendance, and receive golf shirts with their middle school or feeder high school colors. Play during the fall season is planned to be at Dacula’s Trophy Club of Apalachee, Lawrenceville’s Collins Hill Golf Course, Loganville’s Cedar Lake Golf Course, Monroe’s Bear Creek and Providence Golf Course, Snellville’s Country Club of Gwinnett, and Summit Chase Country Club. “Unfortunately, we had a start-stop spring season because of COVID-19,” said League Director Les Witmer. “Parents were given an option of a partial refund or they could carry their registration forward for the full fall season.” MSGL will be following the guidance provided to the schools and other sports organizations from state medical experts. “Because we usually have two to four teams at one of our six golf courses, we will not have a large gathering of players and parents at one place,” added Witmer. “We, of course, play outdoors, and that increases our safety precautions.” With digital learning, school starting later, and uncertainty among parents, there is a shorter window for the league to promote registration through the schools. In the past participants attended many different middle schools including Bay Creek, Couch, Creekland, Crews, Dacula, Five Forks, George Walton, Loganville, North Gwinnett, McConnell, Osborne, Providence Christian, Shiloh, Trickum, and Youth Middle Schools “We’re really proud of the interest we have received in the past from these middle school players and parents and the support from their middle school administration and their cluster high school golf coaches,” Witmer said. The program’s goal is to teach the fundamentals of golf and through team best ball play provide a positive environment where everyone participates no matter whether he or she is a beginner or a junior player. During the first weeks beginning golfers spend time becoming more proficient at ball striking and understanding golf rules and etiquette. Then they take that knowledge onto the golf course, joining repeat league players or the more advanced junior golfers as team members in the best ball Lauderdale format. Players play from forward or junior tees based on ability. The league schedules four weeks of team best ball play for all, including a week where high school players are invited to play with their cluster middle school team, and then the middle school golfers are introduced to stroke play where they play their own ball for an individual score. The season culminates with a very popular Drive, Chip, and Putt competition and awards party. The league play and clinics are normally held on Sundays at 4 p.m. “Each team has a volunteer team marshal who is responsible for team lineups and supervises the play on the course,” added Witmer. “Parents are welcome to walk or ride carts along the course as spectators, but must remain on the cart paths.” COVID-19 has altered the planning for many things including school activities and youth sports. “We will be in regular contact with host facilities prior to and throughout the season to discuss local precautionary rules, flagsticks remaining in, raking sand traps, etc., and sanitizing practices for common touchpoints such as carts, practice balls, bathrooms, etc.,” Witmer said. “While we aim to be consistent across the entire schedule with policies and procedures, there may be certain instances where a participating golf club’s policy take precedence.” Before arriving on-site for a competition, if a player or parent feels sick, or shows any symptoms of COVID-19, or if within the last fourteen days have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or been in close contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19, they will be requested to stay home and not play. At the close of on-line registration, the SGAA is planning to conduct the parent orientation via video conferencing. Also, because of COVID-19 precautions, the beginning all player clinics will be held over two days in smaller groups. More information at https://www.middleschoolgolfleague.com or lawitmer@comcast.net.
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By Rev. Ron Lambros I was recently asked to serve as a volunteer chaplain with the Gwinnett County Police Department. As a group, we are made up of different ages, sexes, races, and religions, but we are united in purpose, which is to assist the responding officers by rendering comfort, support, and spiritual guidance to those individuals directly affected by each difficult and challenging scenario, and to personally support the officers as well. Part of my training involved a ride-along with two officers based out of one of the precincts in Gwinnett County, one on a morning shift (5:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.) and the other on the evening shift (5:30 p.m. - 5:30 a.m.). This would expose me to a typical shift for a police officer and all they normally face during that time. Now, I have seen my share of C.O.P.S. and Live PD episodes, but, trust me, my ride-alongs were nothing like what you might see on television. Both shifts involved traffic stops and patrolling, accident investigations, domestic disputes, and a host of what I considered routine work. While we were never involved in a high-speed chase or a take-down of a wanted felon, we stayed busy enough to make the shift incredibly eye-opening and with the time passing all too quickly. The pace of both shifts allowed me to really carry on a conversation with each police officer and get to know them – not chaplain to patrolman, but more like friend to friend. And I discovered something amazing with both men. Both were passionate about, and loved, being a police officer. They both expressed the pride they have every time they put on their uniform and how honored they were to serve Gwinnett County. And while they loved their work, they actually had lives outside the department. One talked about his girlfriend and the life they planned when their finances would allow, his hobbies, and the food he enjoyed. The other talked about his journey to becoming a police officer, and lovingly told me about his wife and children. He spoke of how they worried when daddy went to work, but how proud they were of him for his willingness to serve. These men had lives and were normal, human beings just like you and me. They had hopes and dreams, they had families and friends, and they both had a calling to serve. When my training was done, I committed to pray for these men; in fact, I committed to
pray for every man and woman in uniform every day, for their safety and wisdom, and I thanked God for their willingness to put their life on the line for my safety and security. Since my training, much has happened in our city. There are riots and protests, seemingly every day. And I have watched our men and women in blue take incredibly harsh criticism, sometimes bordering on hatred, and be subjected to venomous verbal assaults and physical harm. I know they are not perfect and sometimes make mistakes. Goodness, don’t we all? And I know that there are rogue officers who choose to do things their way. But I also know that they are the exception, rather than the rule, and it is my personal belief and experience that 99.99% of the men and women who serve our city as police officers are good, moral, decent human beings, doing their very best to do what they’ve sworn to do, all for a salary that is far less than they deserve, and at great personal sacrifice for their families. I have become one of them. With every siren I hear, with every call-out made, my heart quickens just a bit, and I pray for those involved and for the police officers that will respond. And I feel the pride they feel to be a part of the men and women that proudly serve our city, our county, our state, and our nation as police officers. We all should. More information at ronlambrosministries.org.
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My Waking Moment By Bill Crane I am a middle-aged white male, proudly born and raised a son of the South, though not always proud of things we Southerners have done, or the way we have treated others. But I would never describe myself as “woke.” Even now I am not entirely sure what that term means. But I can tell you the experience, circumstances, and the year that I woke up, and finally came to realize the challenges almost all African-Americans likely experience in their lives, that I am likely never to experience in mine. It was 2015, and through a friend, I received a call from someone I had met briefly once before, Lisa Cupid, a Cobb County Commissioner. As our conversation began, her voice was trembling, she was still clearly in shock and had suffered recent trauma. I cannot do her story justice, but I will try. Lisa Cupid was a young mother of two, living with her husband in southwest Cobb County, near the Six Flags Amusement Park. Commissioner Cupid had been elected District 4 Commissioner in 2012, the first black female on the Cobb County Commission, and at the time, its lone Democrat. In 2012, she also completed her law degree studies at Georgia State University but had not yet taken the State bar examination. She remained determined to pass the bar. Fortunately, Cupid found a friend and campaign supporter who owned a hotel several miles from her home, with a comfortable lobby, Wi-Fi, and coffee readily available for latenight studying. For several nights a week, often until early morning, Cupid studied in that lobby. After a long night of study, she trudged out with her law books to her car for the short drive home. Another vehicle pulled out almost immediately behind her, following closely and copying her every turn and signal. As she grew closer to home, she became increasingly concerned that the vehicle aggressively tailing her had some intention to do her harm. So, she purposely chose to turn into the wrong subdivision and see if she could lose the tail. She called 911, shared her situation, her fear, and the fact that she was a Cobb County Commissioner, as she tried to rapidly turn around in a cul-de-sac, leaving behind the car following her, as she raced back out of the subdivision. Finally, the car stopped following her and broke away. Cupid would soon learn that her pursuer was an undercover Cobb County Police Officer driving an unmarked car. Later, Cupid was told the officer was working the hotel and sur-
rounding area looking into a series of automobile break-ins. Fortunately, Cupid was not beaten, nor killed by the errant officer. She was simply terrorized for the crime of leaving a hotel lobby late at night, while being a black woman. I assisted the Commissioner during these trying days and weeks, as well as through the passage of her bar examination. I strangely got calls, some from peers and others who lived in Cobb County, each from a white male, each chastising me. “You live in DeKalb County, why are you even involved in this?” “You might be doing your own business harm by sticking your nose into this matter.” “I thought you had more sense than to wade into something like this…” These calls were a nuisance, but my life was not altered, and I was not suffering daily slings and arrows as Cupid was, nor being isolated on the commission, nor spoken ill of publicly. And yet, she persisted. Cupid is now a candidate for Cobb Commission Chair, has no primary opposition, and will face either current Chair Mike Boyce or one of his GOP primary opponents in November. She recently led the Cobb Commission in the unanimous adoption of a resolution condemning racism in all its forms. Though there is still a long way to go, she has also made inroads with reforming policing in Cobb. Though I no longer make public endorsements, if I lived in Cobb County, there is no question who I would be voting for. As important as the recent marches and protests were for thousands, electing people who understand the way things are, as well as the need for more than subtle change, is what will make the difference between a series of dramatic events, and a movement. Choose wisely, and VOTE. Crane is the senior political analyst with WSB Radio and TV and owns the full-service communications consulting firm, CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com
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Thinking of Becoming a Freelancer? Six Things You Should Consider By Our Town Gwinnett Staff Considering the economic challenges the world is faced with today, including some of the highest unemployment numbers in recent history, now could be an excellent time to begin a career as a freelancer. Recent nationwide furloughs and layoffs caused by the struggling economy and the social distancing necessitated by COVID-19 make that particularly true. But statistics show the number of freelancers has been growing over the past decade, partly because people enjoy the flexibility, control, and better work-life balance that can come with the role. And independent contractors span a range of professions these days, from law to graphic design to engineering. In a survey conducted in the nation’s top thirty cities for freelancing last year, for example, some six million independent contractors were collectively earning $150 billion. Some of the largest markets for freelancers these days? New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. Nashville and Austin are also up-and-comers, with the population of skilled freelancers growing by 26% and 27%, respectively, between 2012 and 2017. Miami’s skilled freelance workforce contributes most to its overall city GDP, making up a full 2.3%. Here are notable advantages to consider if you are mulling a move to the freelance lifestyle. Control Over Your Schedule Freelancing empowers you with much more control over your workload and when you choose to complete it. Not only can you accept or decline assignments based on your availability and preferences, but in many cases, you can finish them during the hours most convenient to you. That can be invaluable when you are juggling other family or business commitments, or simply wish to reserve certain time periods for other endeavors. Relaxed Work Environments As your own boss, you establish your own workspace, rules, dress code, and core values. Having that kind of flexibility in this uncertain world can be a huge boon to your health, comfort, and sense of individuality. Unprecedented Reach Digital technology enables work-at-home capabilities for those who may not have had that option in the past, allowing those in many professions to work entirely online while keeping a safe distance from COVID-19 and other possible threats. Though many people find their freelance work through word-of-mouth or social media, a full 18% now find their clients through online marketplaces such as Fiverr, according to the survey. Last year Fiverr connected 2.4 million customers with independent contractor clients from more than 160 countries across the globe.
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Job Satisfaction Those who freelance often see their work as more rewarding than others. In the survey, for example, seven of ten US freelancers called their work highly satisfying, compared to about half of US workers in general. The primary reasons for that added satisfaction are the freedom to work from home, the flexibility of work schedules, and the interesting nature of their work. Healthy Paychecks Because they can control their own pricing, profit margins, and productivity, many freelancers earn more working for themselves than for others, and they are not expecting their revenues to change significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey found that 59% of independent contractors surveyed expected to earn equal or increased revenues in 2020. Income Equality Men and women both find success through freelancing, and the gender pay gap seems to be a non-issue among freelancers. Of freelancers worldwide working through Fiverr, for instance, 44% are women and they earn almost 20% more than men. For many, the option of becoming an independent contractor is becoming more and more attractive. Are you ready to become your own boss? (BPT)
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Crane’s Corner: Raising Cain By Bill Crane The year 2020 continues to be the year of the GREAT Suck. The world and Georgia lost two Civil Rights giants within hours of each other, and just recently, we lost another leader, and at least to me, a good friend. Herman Cain, a successful entrepreneur, former presidential and US Senate candidate, and longtime radio talk show talent at WSB Radio, as well as a nationally syndicated commentator, succumbed to the coronavirus. He will not be the first person taken too soon by this pandemic, nor the last; but the place he leaves behind was and is a unique one. Herman Cain was a Black conservative. They are not as rare as a white rhinoceros or white deer, but they can be hunted and targeted, even within their own communities, almost as fiercely. Herman was originally brought in to the WSB Radio team in Atlanta as a fill-in host, and I would later learn of his many abilities and highly impressive business career with Burger King, Pillsbury, Godfather’s Pizza, and the National Restaurant Association, and that he had also chaired the regional Federal Reserve Bank during his tenure in Kansas City. I joined the deep talent roster of WSB Radio in Atlanta as a political analyst in 2006. As I got to know Herman, I heard often of his wife Gloria and his two children, and as Herman’s conservative star was rising, he became WSB Radio’s nighttime conservative voice and talk show host. The New Herman Cain Show was born. Heading into the 2008 presidential campaign season, Herman and his longtime radio show producer, Shane Backler – or Shaney B. as he is known to longtime Cain fans – began to call and to book me during the 9-10 p.m. hour of Herman’s show. We would discuss the presidential primaries, the field shaping up for contested races in the US Senate and House, as well as the issues driving the attention and focus of the electorate. I am not sure who suggested it first, but this segment became a Wednesday night regular feature of Herman’s show called, “Cain & Crane: Food for Your Brain.” My politics were not and are not as conservative as Herman’s; there were and are many
things we agreed on, particularly the responsibility of EACH INDIVIDUAL to take control of his or her own life, and to not look to or rely on the government (at any level) to solve every problem. Yet, on those rare occasions that we disagreed, Herman was never disagreeable. I asked Herman as he was entering the presidential contest in 2012 why he would give up the lucrative and safe perch of a nationally syndicated radio program for the crapshoot of national politics, as well as the possible negative impacts of a presidential campaign on his family. He said it had been a hard lesson that took him a long time to learn to tell the difference between what you had to do and what you ought to do – the latter coming to him in church, often as it related to helping or leading others in a better direction. Herman felt he had something to offer our nation, and he ably entered the arena as he felt it was something he ought to do, with little regard for the financial and personal sacrifices he was making. Finally, as news outlets and particularly cable networks, will continue to insinuate that Herman caught COVID-19 while attending a Trump campaign rally in Tulsa on June 20th, sans mask, I think you should know that it was Cain’s daughter, who came home to be with Herman and his wife Gloria, who was experiencing several COVID-19 symptoms after the rally. On July 1st, Herman was taking her to be cared for at an area hospital. Having survived multiple forms of cancer and aggressive chemotherapy treatments, Herman had a somewhat compromised immune system. As his daughter was being taken into care, Herman stood up out of his car to check on her and collapsed at the door to the ER. He was taken into the hospital as well, and unfortunately this virus did the rest. But even until the end, Herman was fighting back, and I hear from those who did speak to or email him, he still had those jokes and that smile and high spirit until the end. I imagine about now it will be happy hour in heaven. Herman, please go ahead and pour one for me. I will be there before too terribly long to join you. Rest in peace, my friend. Crane is the senior political analyst with WSB Radio and TV and owns the full-service communications consulting firm, CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com
Understanding Alzheimer’s: Effective Communication Strategies Thursday, September 24 at 5:30 pm. The Mansions Assisted Living & Memory Care communities are coming together to host this informative virtual event that aims to help caregivers and loved ones gain a better understanding of Alzheimer’s. Don’t Wait! Register with one of The Mansions communities below!
Contact Kristen at (470) 735-4475 OR KLockwood@TheMansionsatAlpharetta.com PAGE 22
Join us as we learn how Alzheimer’s and dementia affects a person’s communication skills and how we can better connect and communicate with them. Presented by: Brandi Hackett, LMSW, C-ASWCM, Clinical Care Specialist at Family Private Care LLC.
Contact Stacey at (770) 901-2477 OR SDonald@TheMansionsatGwinnettPark.com
Contact Vicki at (470) 338-5316 OR VLuna@TheMansionsatSandySprings.com
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