AUGUST 2024: (GREEN) Our Town Gwinnett/Walton Monthly Magazine
By Kristen Eleveld
Did you know that research shows that a garage door makes up to 40% of your home’s curb appeal? That 40% describes a national average, which means it may be even higher in your neighborhood. With that in mind, it’s no wonder that many homeowners are seeking the best expertise when it comes to maintaining, repairing, or replacing their garage doors. For those in the Gwinnett area, those experts can be found right at home –through Mike and Amy Daughtry, the owners of ProLift Garage Doors of Lawrenceville.
With a background as a manager for a disaster relief organization that housed over 6,000 utility workers during national crises like Hurricane Katrina, Mike is ready to tackle any challenge as it comes. Amy recently retired from her career as a teacher, which makes her perfect for her role in the company as she tackles tasks like bookkeeping and communication.
“The next chapter for us was to begin work in a service that is always needed,” said Mike. “A garage door adds a design element to a home, but it also adds security.”
While there may be other garage door companies in the area, you will not find one that works as hard as ProLift Garage Doors of Lawrenceville to make sure each customer gets the care needed. Mike and Amy encourage customers to maintain their garage doors and get regular tune-ups – a service they offer through a membership program for only $200 a year. This membership gives you two garage door tune-ups and assessments per year, meaning you won’t be surprised with a sudden repair need that could have been prevented.
And, of course, they will always come out to assess your needs at no charge.
“Maintenance makes everything last longer!” said Amy. “A well-maintained garage door could last for at least fifteen years.”
For those who are interested in repairs or maintenance, the process has
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Publisher/Owner Dr. Ryan T. Sauers Ryan@EndResultz.com
Creative Director Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultz.com
Editor
Photography
Distribution
Catherine L. Osornio Editor@EndResultz.com Photography
From the Publisher: Ryan’s Remarks
By Dr. Ryan T. Sauers
@RyanTSauers @RyanTSauers
Hello there, Our Town community. I hope this article finds you in good health and high spirits as we enjoy the month of August. Wow, it is hard to believe we are already in the second half of 2024. August means school is back, and the fall season will be here soon. I wish our teachers, educators, students, and staff a great start to the school year. In this article, I want to highlight an acronym encompassing the essence of resilience and determination – GRIT. In fact, GRIT was a crucial finding in my doctoral dissertation on leadership as to why people are successful.
Grit cannot be easily taught or learned; it is forged through adversity, nurtured through challenges, and honed through perseverance. Grit is the fuel that propels us forward when the road becomes rough and the path seems uncertain. With that said, I have created an acronym to help us best think about GRIT.
G: Growth The first letter of grit reminds us of our incredible potential for growth. Life should be a continuous journey of learning and evolving, and we have the opportunity to grow the most in times of difficulty. I encourage you to embrace your challenges, which provide fertile ground for personal growth.
R: Resilience is the bedrock upon which grit is built. It is the ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to adversity, and keep pushing forward despite obstacles. Resilience is not about being untouched by hardships but rather about finding the strength to rise again, even when life knocks us down.
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Heading Back to School: Drive Carefully
By Our Town Gwinnett Staff
As 1.6 million children across Georgia return to school, AAA urges motorists to slow down and stay alert in neighborhoods and school zones. They also must be especially vigilant for pedestrians before and after school hours. Children are particularly vulnerable during the afternoon hours following their school day. Over the last decade, nearly one-third of child pedestrian fatalities occurred between 3 and 6 p.m.
“We are aware of the risk to children in and around school zones, which is why we developed the AAA’s School’s Open–Drive Carefully awareness campaign to help curb unsafe driving behavior near schools,” said Garrett Townsend, Georgia Public Affairs Director, AAA-The Auto Club Group. “If Georgia motorists slow down and stay alert, they can save lives.”
The AAA School’s Open Drive Carefully awareness campaign was launched in 1946 to prevent school-related child pedestrian traffic crashes, helping kids live fulfilling, injury-free lives.
AAA offers seven ways to keep kids safe this school year:
1. Slow down. Speed limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling 25 m.p.h. is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 m.p.h. faster. A difference between 25 m.p.h. and 35 m.p.h. can save a life.
2. Eliminate distractions. Children often cross the road unexpectedly and may emerge suddenly between two parked cars. Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing.
3. Reverse responsibly. Every vehicle has blind spots. Check for children on the sidewalk, driveway, and around your vehicle before slowly backing up. Teach your children to never play in, under, or around vehicles – even parked ones.
4. Talk to your teen. Car crashes are one of the leading causes of death for teens in the United States, and more than one-quarter of fatal crashes involving teen drivers occur during the after-school hours of 3 to 7 p.m.
5. Come to a complete stop. Research shows that over one-third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.
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Ryan’s
Remarks
Continued from page 7
I: Initiative is the spark that ignites the fire within us. It is the proactive drive to take charge of our lives, pursue our passions, and positively impact our community. When we harness the power of initiative, we become catalysts for change and inspire others to follow.
T: Tenacity is the unwavering resolve to stay the course, no matter how difficult the journey. It is the refusal to give up, even when the odds are stacked against us. Tenacity enables us to push through tough times, persevere when others might falter, and emerge stronger on the other side.
You see, my friends, GRIT is not just an abstract concept – it is a force that empowers us to overcome obstacles, realize our dreams, and build a thriving community. It is the key ingredient that transforms ordinary individuals into extraordinary leaders, dreamers, and achievers.
I am continually amazed by the countless examples of grit in our community. From the small business owner who turns setbacks into opportunities to the volunteer who tirelessly dedicates time to uplift others to the student who defies all odds to pursue their dreams – the stories of grit are woven into the very fabric of our community. And our community is remarkable.
So, in August, let us recognize and embrace the power of grit and the idea that challenges are not roadblocks but growth opportunities. Let us embrace resilience, seize initiative, and hold steadfast to our dreams with unwavering tenacity. As I always say, behind every seeming problem lies a solution. In addition, I often say if you want something bad enough, you will find a way, and if you don’t, you will find an excuse.
Together, we can continue to grow our community that thrives on grit –where every individual is inspired to reach his or her full potential to make way for a brighter future. I wish everyone an excellent August 2024. And, as always, thank you for continuing the journey of my town, your town, OUR TOWN!
ProLift Garage Doors
been made simple by ProLift Garage Doors of Lawrenceville. You can give them a call and talk to Amy about your needs, or go through their website and request a free assessment. As Amy points out, “a picture is worth a thousand words,” so if you can provide a picture of the issue you are experiencing, the ProLift team can better assess and address your needs. And ProLift Garage Doors of Lawrenceville doesn’t just help their customers. They go above and beyond to give back to their community as much as they can.
The ProLift team contributes to the Kids-Lift charity, which works with Premium Service Brands franchise owners like Mike and Amy in communities across the United States and Canada to give back to vulnerable kids, their families, and their schools.
As their Kids-Lift initiative, Mike and Amy have chosen to partner with Extra Special People, or ESP, which provides advocacy, activities, and support for people of all abilities. Most recently, the team at ProLift Garage
Doors of Lawrenceville made 140 lunches for ESP campers, and many of them will also be “buddied up” with individual campers during activities to give them the best camp experience. Mike and Amy and their team work with ESP each month, dedicating themselves to whatever needs they can meet for the organization and its campers.
“Giving back to the community is a priority,” said Amy. “We don’t just want to donate – we want to participate.”
“I’m a people person,” Mike added. “I love people and I love listening to people. We follow through on everything we do. We can’t be perfect, but our desire is to do good for others and do right by them.”
If you are looking for a garage door company that loves its customers, has a combined seventy years of professional experience, and prioritizes helping its community, you have found all that and more in ProLift Garage Doors of Lawrenceville. Give them a call today to find out how they can help you.
More information at https://www.proliftdoors.com/lawrenceville/ or call 706-310-8165
I n t e r i o r & E x t e r i o r
P a i n t i n g
C a b i n e t P a i n t i n g
C a r p e n t r y R e p a i r s
G u t t e r & G u a r d
I n s t a l l a t i o n
B r i c k & C o n c r e t e
C o a t i n g s
OWNER, NATE MCMICHAEL
One Man’s Opinion: The Not-So Secret Service
By Bill Crane
The night of his visit to the Ford Theatre to see a play that would not finish, second-term President Abraham Lincoln was working on a plan to establish a Secret Service, not for the purpose of Executive Protection but to protect and ensure against the circulation of fraudulent currency. That second duty is still on the Secret Service’s duty roster today and explains why the agency was so long a part of the U.S. Treasury Department.
Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant and signed the Treaty of Appomattox on April 10, 1865. President Lincoln created the Secret Service to prevent rapidly growing counterfeiting and the continuing acceptance of some Confederate currencies on April 14, 1865. Lincoln was assassinated the next day, on April 15, 1865, by 26-year-old John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer and frustrated actor.
The Secret Service would not add the duties of Executive Protection for presidents and later former presidents, and still later presidential candidates until after the assassination of President William H. McKinley in 1901. McKinley’s vice-president, Theodore Roosevelt (T.R.), would become our nation’s youngest president, followed by his election to two more terms.
T.R., while making a third run for the White House in 1912 – challenging his hand-picked successor, William Howard Taft, and the Democratic nominee, Woodrow Wilson – would be shot in the chest at a campaign rally in Milwaukee by a former saloon-keeper, John Shrank. Roosevelt survived the shooting, thanks to a 50-page speech folded in half in his suit coat pocket, as well as his metal glasses case. Candidate Roosevelt completed his 84-minute speech and prevented the near lynching of his shooter onsite before seeking medical attention. T.R. would surpass Taft, but split the GOP vote, which helped put Wilson in the White House.
After Roosevelt’s shooting, the Secret Service added protection for the president-elect and in 1915, the agency was given additional duties to investigate acts of foreign espionage (spycraft). In 1917, protection was extended to the entire first family. The Secret Service prevented assassination attempts against President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Harry Truman. In 1962, protection was extended to the vice-president and to former President Eisenhower, for a reasonable period, estimated then to be six months.
After the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963, special
protection was extended to his widow and children for a period of two years. This protection was later extended to former presidents, first ladies, and minor-aged children for a period of four years. Following the 1968 assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, Secret Service protection was extended to major presidential and vice-presidential candidates.
In 1971, the Secret Service picked up the responsibility of safeguarding visits by foreign heads of state and received its own 60-acre training grounds and compound near Washington, D.C. During 1972, Alabama Governor and Democratic Presidential candidate George Wallace survived an assassination attempt without protection. And the Secret Service soon after twice blocked attempts to kill President Gerald R. Ford.
In 1984, the Secret Service received additional charges and was responsible for investigating credit card fraud. During 2003, the Secret Service was transferred from the Department of Treasury to the Department of Homeland Security. In 2013, all former presidents, their spouses, and minoraged children (up to age 16) were given lifetime Secret Service protection.
As a former president and presidential candidate, Donald Trump lands squarely in two of those protection categories. No one had done this since Teddy Roosevelt when the agency was only four years into the role of protecting presidents. However, as each successful assassination to date has reportedly been the act of lone wolf shooters, there still remain ways to
reach that target.
Most recently, our U.S. Secret Service experienced multiple system failures in Butler, Pennsylvania, at yet another outdoor campaign rally by former President Trump. This breach was large enough that the current head of the Secret Service, Director Kimberly Cheatle, recently tendered her resignation.
The Secret Service did successfully cover and remove Mr. Trump in a matter of seconds after he was shot. But as those shots came from behind and caused significant casualties and loss of life nearby, they did not entirely have his back. Thank God for the Secret Service sniper who ended the short life of the shooter, Thomas Crooks. Still, in this moment of pause and reflection, perhaps in addition to a change in leadership, it is time to take the service back to its original purposes and roots, minus a few more recent ancillary missions.
Bill Crane owns the full-service communications firm CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com
Drive Carefully
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6. Watch for bicycles. Children on bicycles are often inexperienced, unsteady, and unpredictable. Slow down and allow at least three feet of passing distance between your vehicle and the bicycle. If your child rides a bicycle to school, require that he or she wears a properly fitted bicycle helmet on every ride.
7. Look for AAA School Safety Patrollers. More than 679,000 AAA School Safety Patrollers stand guard at over 35,000 schools nationwide. When you see one, a school zone is likely nearby.
“If parents and other driver’s follow these simple rules when driving in and around school zones, countless children can avoid injury and death,” says Townsend. “It’s up to us to help all drivers become more aware of the risks of driving around our schools.”
More information at https://member.acg.aaa.com/mi/driving-safety/aaaschool-safety-patrol.html
Self-Care: A Word for Your Day
By Jane Bishop
What comes to mind when you think of self-care? How do you view self-care and/or practice it in your life? I have received a variety of responses, from “I don’t have time,” to “I don’t know what that means for me.” During an engaging catch up conversation with a coaching colleague in South Africa, we meandered into the territory of self-care, sparking a myriad of thoughts and reflections. At the time of our ZOOM visit, I was fully embedded in caregiving for my mother, and he knew I was an advocate of self-care. He asked good, probing questions.
In my work with clients, the topic of self-care is often discarded as not important. For me, self-care is not a luxury; it is non-negotiable and requires consistent intentional practice. Earlier in my professional journey, I allowed my self-care to be pushed to the side. Once I acknowledged that fact, I began to take steps to bring it back into my daily practice. It was essential for my healthy self-leadership.
Self-care is about consistently nurturing yourself to be in the best possible position, no matter what life throws your way. It is about prioritizing your own vitality and requires valuing self and allocating time for well-being. It also requires flexibility! For example, exercise is one of my core essentials. There are days when my preferred mode of exercise is not an option. Flexibility comes in choosing another mode versus not exercising at all.
Identifying your self-care essentials is the first step towards cultivating a more balanced and vibrant life. It is not about pampering yourself – although that’s part of it! It is about maintaining a balanced life so you can consistently be effective with self and others around you. Celebrate the areas where you shine while also extending grace to the parts that could use a little extra attention. Remember, it is all about progress, not perfection.
Intentionality is the secret sauce behind every meaningful endeavor in life and self-care is no exception. By approaching each day with a mindful focus on nurturing your well-being, you set the stage for a life filled with vitality
Legal Talk: Holding Title to Real Estate – An Intro to Owning Real Estate
By Drake Corbin, Esq.
There are two broad categories of owning real estate with another individual in Georgia.
The first is holding a property as tenants in common. If there are two individuals holding the title, you split the ownership interest 50/50. If there are three individuals, you split the ownership interest in thirds, and so on in proportion. If you die owning the property, your interest passes according to your will, or if you have no will, then to your heirs.
The second is holding property as joint tenants with a right of survivorship. You would own the property in the same proportion as with tenants in common, but if you die owning the property, your interest transfers proportionally to the surviving holders on title. When the last survivor passes away, the entire interest in the property transfers according to the terms of their will, or if they have no will, then to their heirs.
Trusts, limited liability companies, corporations, and other entities organized with the Georgia Secretary of State can hold title to property as well, but what happens to their interest in the property depends on the terms of the trust entity.
Drake Corbin is an Associate Attorney with Weinstein & Black, LLC. More information at https://wblegal.net/
and purpose.
I invite you to take a moment and check in with yourself today. Celebrate your victories, embrace your imperfections, and always remember that you are enough, just as you are. As you do that, you have practiced a “self-care moment”! Keep practicing it forward!
More information at www.janebishoplive.com.
Ready For My Closeup? Filming at Smoke Rise Country Club
By Victoria R. Crosby
I recently had an interesting experience as an extra on a film set – something I have never done before. The movie, Gander Man, which producer Mike Lindenmayer and writer and director Tom von Dohlen described as a mockumentary, was filming at the Smoke Rise Country Club, and volunteers were needed for certain scenes. The action takes place inside the clubhouse and outside on the golf course.
I jokingly asked if it was to be a remake of the 1980 movie Caddy Shack which featured Chevy Chase and Bill Murray, but I was informed that Gander Man was inspired by the 2005 documentary Grizzly Man by filmmaker Werner Herzog, in which Timothy Treadwell, originally from Long Island, New York (where I lived most of my life), goes to live in the wilderness of Alaska camping among the grizzly bears.
Gander Man is about a college dropout whose father is president of a country club, and Gander Man goes to live on the golf course with the geese. I don’t know the complete plot of the film, but our final scene was at a memorial, so it’s possible that the hero dies toward the end of the movie.
In the first scene a group of us, all women, were just walking down the corridor of the club, pretending to be talking, as the cameraman began filming. We had been told to wear clothes typical of country club attire, which varied from woman to woman, some wearing pants, some wearing skirts. We learned that we should mouth the words “walla walla” as it looks like a real conversation without any sound from us.
There is a lot of time that the actors and extras spend just waiting while the technical aspects of the film are being worked on. Snacks and drinks were available to actors, film crew, and extras, provided by the producers.
For our second scene the extras needed to be dressed in festive, colorful, beachy attire, as the scene was supposed to be a drunken board meeting. This was a great deal of fun to act in as we could laugh and act silly, and
Learning Lessons: Tips on Raising a Child to Work Well with Others
By Tanisha Turner
Cooperation is an essential life skill that allows children to make friends and work successfully with others. The definition of cooperation is simple enough – combining energies to work toward a common goal. But teaching it can be challenging as it requires a combination of character attributes, such as respect, honesty, patience, and thoughtfulness. Every parent wants his or her child to exhibit these skills, but they are tricky lessons to teach since young children are naturally focused on themselves. The good news is that cooperation can be learned over time through purposeful activities and frequent encouragement from parents and caregivers.
We know that children primarily learn character through imitation. They listen, observe, and learn cooperation skills by watching their caregivers’ and parents’ words and actions. When your child sees you working happily with others, he will sense the joy you feel and want to experience that joy, too. By practicing cooperative skills in front of your child, you teach behaviors that will ultimately help your child succeed. Here are some ways you can model cooperation:
• Listen carefully to others to understand what they are saying.
• Share or take turns when more than one person wants the same thing. Start at home with family conversations that allow everyone time to talk.
• Compromise when you have a serious conflict.
• Do your part of a shared task and do the very best that you can. When you complete your task, ask others how you might help them complete their work.
• Show appreciation for what people contribute to a group or team.
• Encourage others to do their best.
• Include everyone and make everyone feel needed. Help your child recognize that everybody has something valuable to offer in a group. In addition to serving as a role model, it’s essential to teach your child
Three Ways to Look and Feel Your Best This Summer
By Our Town Gwinnett Staff
The hottest days of the year can create several seasonal beauty challenges. Here’s a head-to-toe guide to looking and feeling your best in summer:
Hair: Dry heat and humidity can cause hair problems, such as drying and frizzing. Whether you’re hitting the beach or pool or just enjoying the warm weather, giving your hair the care it deserves to stay hydrated and frizz-free is essential.
When enjoying the sun, try protective hairstyles such as buns, braids, and ponytails. These will reduce frizz while preventing damage from wind and humidity. One bonus benefit of these dos is that getting your tresses off your neck will also help keep you nice and cool.
cooperation intentionally. Use the following everyday activities as opportunities to encourage your child to cooperate with family and friends:
• When you read a story with your child, point out times when the characters cooperate with each other. Discuss how the characters feel and how much easier it is to accomplish the task when they work together.
• Schedule household chores at times when all family members can work together to finish them.
• Praise your child for her attempts to help, and refrain from redoing the chore when she’s finished. Help her see the fun of working together to accomplish a goal. Talk about how much faster the chores were completed than if mom or dad had to do it alone.
• Point out how cooperation with chores allows for more time for family fun.
• “Catch” your child sharing or helping someone and show your appreciation. Encourage the behavior but refrain from giving material rewards; they are unnecessary. Children should learn the joy of helping others without expecting something in return.
By taking advantage of these moments and creating learning opportunities for your child, you will help him understand the importance of cooperation. Working together becomes fun for children as they develop an understanding of the skills and techniques needed to achieve a common goal.
Tanisha Turner is the Owner of Primrose School at Sugarloaf Parkway. More information at www.PrimroseSugarloafParkway.com or 770-5130066.
Ready For My Closeup? Continued from page 13
we even danced the conga line. For this scene we were joined by a male volunteer.
Our last scene, the memorial, takes place by a pond on the golf course in the evening just after sunset. For this scene we wore black and other dark colored outfits befitting a funeral. The actors and extras gathered around the pond. Some held votive candles and others had little blow-up swans, both black and white, with votives on their backs, which were lowered into the water on cue.
That was a wrap for the extras, although the actors and crew continued for a while longer.
It was a fun experience, and we were told that the film will be entered at several film festivals, including Sundance, and will be screened at Smoke Rise Country Club at a date to be announced.
It’s something I would consider doing again, but I would hope to get a paying gig in the future!
Skin: Unfortunately, summer activities and fashion choices can be associated with many skincare woes. After swim sessions, take a quick shower to rinse off chlorine and prevent sensitivity and dryness. Whether you go for a run or play pickleball, don’t sit around in your workout clothes afterward. Showering after sweat sessions of all kinds can help keep your skin clear of blemishes.
Remember that just like drinking water hydrates your body, using the right shampoo and conditioner can replenish and protect dehydrated strands. Your shampoo and conditioner should clean well, replenish, smooth, and condition to fight frizz and lock in the right balance of moisture.
You may also be shaving more frequently in summer. Prevent razor burn with exfoliation and by using after-care products that soothe skin. Finally, when it comes to your long-term beauty and wellness, it’s essential to protect your skin with a broad-spectrum SPF. Doing so is not only good for you, but it can also help prevent the appearance of aging. Nails: If you’ll be wearing sandals regularly this summer, you’ll want to treat your feet to pedicures so they look their best. Start any at-home pedicure session by soaking your feet in a bath prepared with Epsom salt or essential oils. Dry your feet, and then gently use a pumice stone to remove dried skin and calluses. After clipping and shaping your nails, consider painting them with clear nail polish for a finished look, or go bold with a bright summer color.
With a few tweaks to your beauty regimen, you can wholly embrace the summer while looking and feeling your best. We hope everyone is having a great summer and that these tips prove helpful to you. (StatePoint).
