DECEMBER 2015: Our Town Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Monthly Magazine

The Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Monthly Community and Family Magazine

Our Town

December 2015

Lawrenceville l Snellville l Lilburn l Stone Mountain

Meet the team at Excel Orthopaedics, see story on page 5.

7 Camp Creek Elementary 5th Grade: Making a Difference 9 Up Close with Charmelle Scott: BusiNeighbor Veterans Center 15 Getting Schooled: Brookwood High’s Band Invited to London 16 Sports Talk with Coach Danny Klinect: Parkview Boys Soccer

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Hormonal Imbalance…. the missing piece to weight loss?

As we age, our basal metabolic rate (BMR) slows down, increasing the number of calories that are converted to fat.

Estrogen is stored in fat cells and, as estrogen levels drop, your body compensates by storing more fat. The body responds to this change in hormone level by accumulating fat around the abdomen, creating more of an apple shape.

Common symptoms related to hormonal imbalance include: u Increased waist size u Bloating u Decreased stamina u Difficulty maintaining weight loss Hormone testing is a critical “PIECE TO THE PUZZLE” in a successful weight loss program. To evaluate your hormone function and begin seeing positive results, please feel free to contact our office for an initial consultation.

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These results may not be typical. Results with products may vary from individual to individual. These nutrition recommendations are provided solely to support good nutrition with the intent of supporting the physiological and biochemical process of the human body and not to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. Be advised that any nutritional program recommended by PAGE

information becoming an Our Town advertising partner call 678-825-2049 email Info@EndResultz.com Our Town Dr. 2Gravante is notFor intended as a primaryon therapy for any disease.

Prior to starting any diet, nutrition or exercise program, you shouldor consult with your medical physician.

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PAGE 3

Maurice Jové M.D. Nathan A. Jové M.D. Jeff A. Traub M.D. Decatur

Snellville

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2400 Wisteria Dr, Suite A Snellville, GA. 30078

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We are the team physicians for the Archer, Parkview, Grayson, Collins Hill, Loganville, and Walnut Grove communities along with Loganville Christian School, various Dekalb County Schools and now covering Atlanta Rhinos Professional Rugby League.

Fracture Care Sports Medicine Foot and Ankle Surgery Common conditions we treat: u Arthritis u Carpel Tunnel u Ankle Sprains

Hip and Knee Replacement Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Shoulder Replacement Minimally Invasive Techniques Hand Surgery Arthroscopic Surgery u Bunions u Rotator Cuff Tears u ACL Tears

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TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT CALL THE OFFICE NEAREST YOU.

PAGE 4

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Our Town

On the Cover: Excel Orthopaedics: Excellent Care with a Hometown Feel

By Michelle Watson

Excel Orthopaedics is an orthopaedic practice serving Gwinnett, Walton, and DeKalb Counties. They have three offices located in Decatur, Snellville, and Loganville.

Drs. Maurice Jové, Nathan Jové, and Jeff Traub are partners, with Drs. Maurice Jové and Traub offering fifty years of combined experience. Dr. Nathan Jové, Dr. Maurice’s son, represents the third generation of orthopaedists in the family, and has been a part of Excel Orthopaedics for about a year and a half. In that short period of time, the practice has gained enough patients to keep him very busy.

Upon stepping into one of the Excel offices, it is immediately clear why the doctors are so popular. The staff is friendly and efficient, and the doctors are very respectful of their patients’ time. Patients are never in the waiting room for long, and yet they don’t feel rushed to get through their appointment once they are in an exam room.

The same medical care philosophy resonates with all three doctors. Each will say he believes in a family atmosphere and in communicating with and educating patients.

The family atmosphere is seen in so many ways. It is in the way that Dr. Traub tells patients he would make the same recommendations to his sister or his mother. Or in the way the three doctors go to the football games of several area high schools so they can be on hand should an injury occur. It is for these reasons, and more, that the doctors want to maintain a “small” and more personal practice, not incorporating or becoming part of some major health care conglomerate.

At Excel Orthopaedics, communicating with the patients is a top priority. As Dr. Nathan Jové says, they are able to meet patients’ needs, as each one is different. Some want to get in, find out what’s wrong, and move forward with a plan to get better. Others want to know every detail of their treatment, including what materials a joint replacement is made of and where it is manufactured. Whichever the case, patients will leave the office with the level of information that makes them comfortable with the care they receive.

As an added benefit, and to further their communication endeavors, the doctors work closely

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with Atlanta Rehabilitation & Performance Center, an excellent physical therapy provider with a great reputation. There are several Atlanta Rehabilitation offices in the metro Atlanta area, with three of them sharing office space with each of Excel Orthopaedics’ locations. Doctor Maurice Jové says this partnership allows the doctors to be notified should something occur during a patient’s physical therapy that needs immediate attention. The surgeons frequently go to the physical therapy side to see their patients actively participating in rehabilitation. The therapists benefit from having direct access to the surgeons, helping them manage some of the complex rehabilitation protocols with ease.

Excel is ready to handle all your orthopaedic needs. They will do everything possible to avoid surgery, but should surgery be necessary, you couldn’t ask for better doctors and staff. The most commonly treated conditions are knee and hip arthritis, ankle sprains and breaks, carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff tears, ACL tears, and plantar fasciitis.

A state-of-the-art website should be arriving in the near future. Until then, you can call one of the Excel Orthopaedics locations for more information.

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Our Town Gwinnett is published and direct mailed to select homes in the Publisher/Owner Gwinnett /NE DeKalb area. Opinions expressed by the writers and staff are their Ryan T. Sauers Yoga and Pilates Ryan@EndResultz.com own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our Town classes Gwinnett reserves the right to edit and/or reject any editorial or advertising Creative Director available content. Our Town Gwinnett is not responsible for errors in advertising Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultz.com beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers.

Entire contents copyright 2015 by Our Town Gwinnett. Reproduction in Editor whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the Catherine L. Osornio publisher.

Cover Photographer Kerr Studio Inc. Our Town Gwinnett Webmaster 1227 Rockbridge Road Robert Fordham Suite 208-171 “Life is an Obstacle and No Obstacle is Too Big!!!”

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IN THIS ISSUE Ninja Warrior Obstacles

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5 On the Cover: Excel Orthopedics: Excellent Care with a Hometown Feel 7 From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion 7 Camp Creek Students Bring About Change 8 Lilburn Community Partnership: Preserving the Past While Looking to

the Future 9 BusiNeighbor Veterans Center: A Vision for Life 10 Living4ward: Fully Present 11 Dogwood Pizza owner Ron Weber has mastered the spirit of giving $25 E.OffQ.?

12 Learning Lessons: What is Your Value of a Good Hug 13 The and “Life is an Obstacle No Obstacle is Too Big!!!”

14 One on One with Richard Tucker & Beverage Superstore Train with Brookwood High’s Band Invited to London 15 Getting Schooled: American Ninja withat Coach Danny Klinect: Parkview Boys Soccer 16 Sports Talk Warriors the ONLY Ninja Warrior Gym JROTCinProgram raises money for Toys for Tots 17 Parkview High’s this Area!

18 Pet Perch: Dog Food or Junk Food?

21 Travel Tales: Guatemala Revisited!

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"Let's Be Glad You Did!" Let's Compare...

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One Man’s Opinion

By Ryan T. Sauers

Did!" “You’ll Be GladYou You Did!” "Let's Be Glad

Ronnie Cail, Agent

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Can you believe it is December? Thanksgiving has come and gone, and now Christmas and the New Year are nearly upon us.

There are so many wonderful things that are going on around us. And such great things are happening right here in our community. I encourage you to always keep faith, persevere, and remember all that we have to be thankful for, especially when the world and traditional media seem to share a constant stream of negative and sensationalistic news that attempt to scare and divide us.

With each column I write, I am reminded of how fast time goes by. We all have 168 hours each week (no more, no less), and our response cannot be that we did not have time to do xyz, but instead that we did not make time to do xyz. So I simply challenge everyone to make no excuses, and to focus on making each hour count. Time is precious. Where you spend it matters. I love spending time in our tight knit community and seeing so many people connected in so many different ways.

With this holiday season, and in this time of reflection at the end of another year, I want to share how much I appreciate the Our Town community. Moreover, I am thankful for the Our Town family, friends, staff, and partners. Both of the Our Town magazines continue to grow, and we have exciting plans for 2016. So, stay tuned… and connected with us online. A great way to do this is through our recently updated website at OurTownGwinnett.com I wish you a safe and blessed holiday season. Thank you for your role in our day by day, month by month, and year by year journey. We could not do it without you. So, until next year, and as always: this is my town, your town, Our Town!

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By Kim Hill Could you raise $1,000 in a week? Annette Santana and her fifth grade class at Camp Creek Elementary School (CCES) made it look easy. At CCES, the environmental club known as Earth Patrol is in charge of collecting the school’s recycling every other week. Prior to this year, there was no recycling bin on campus, so the students would push their shopping carts down the street, braving traffic, rain, and other deterrents, to deliver the goods to the recycling bin next door at Parkview High School. The need for an on-site recycling bin was evident, but costly, amounting to $1,020. Having been involved with environmental committees and projects at schools for many years, Ms. Santana decided to lead her pod in a fundraising campaign they called, “Change to Make a Change.”

Undaunted by their hefty goal, the enthusiastic youngsters set out to involve every classroom in the school. Ms. Santana was able to tie the project to concepts being taught, such as persuasive writing and using good manners. The class was divided into groups that were responsible for three or four classrooms each. Thursday and Friday prior to the week-long campaign, the groups spoke to their assigned classes, letting them know they would come by each morning for five minutes to trade baggies for change, and that the classroom collecting Continued on page 19

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Lilburn Community Partnership: Preserving the Past While Looking to the Future

By Kim Hill The Lilburn Community Partnership (LCP) is a vibrant organization that champions a wide variety of activities and projects. Organized as a non-profit in 2009, the LCP is headed up by past council member and former mayor Diana Preston and nine other board members, and is supported by a group of volunteers from throughout the community.

“Our purpose is really trying to engage all parts of the community, and then trying to look at the areas in the city where there’s a need,” says Ms. Preston. One such area is the Wynne-Russell House, the oldest structure in Lilburn, dating from 1826. The LCP currently leases and maintains the property, and started a preservation committee to bring awareness to this “valued treasure” through events like October ghost tours. Last year they used the house as a venue to help re-establish the Lilburn Lions Club. The property is available for rent for small events. Donations and volunteers are very welcome. “You don’t want things that you invest a lot of time in to go by the wayside, so you hope that your enthusiasm and your passion are transcendent…people will pick up on it,” Ms. Preston says.

The LCP has also hosted many events, including Taste of Lilburn, Business after Hours, Visit with Santa, and the Small Town, Big World: Lilburn International Festival. “We have events where certain populations come out, but we wanted something where everybody came out and felt comfortable,” Ms. Preston explains. Focusing on Lilburn’s diversity, the organization collaborated with the City of Lilburn last year to host the first Lilburn International Continued on page 19

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Our Town

BusiNeighbor Veterans Center: A Vision for Life

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By Kim Hill Charmelle Scott has a vision. She wants to put an end to the staggering numbers of suicides committed by our American veterans. The Veterans Administration puts that number at twenty-two a day. “In our lifetime,” she says, “we still know what it feels like to have a veteran, but can you imagine if we don’t have them?” A veteran herself, Ms. Scott knows firsthand how a vet can struggle with a reason to get up in the morning. That’s why her vision encompasses creating a place where veterans can interact with others who understand, and where they can clear their minds for a while.

Ms. Scott is the executive director of BusiNeighbor, Inc., a non-profit organization that has participated in many charitable projects such as raising money to purchase shoes and diapers for needy children, and partnering with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to raise awareness and funds for babies with blood cancers. “This is indeed the largest project thus far,” says Ms. Scott.

To make the BusiNeighbor Veterans Recreation Center a reality, Ms. Scott plans to raise the funds to purchase a 6.2 acre property in Stone Mountain. Located at the end of VFW Drive, the land will provide a secluded setting adjacent to VFW Park. The site has two buildings, a large stand-alone pavilion, and a lake, offering the potential for a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities.

Ms. Scott emphasizes that the focus is the recreation. “Most of the time when I say recreation, people hear resource. That is not what this is. This is a place where veterans can come and truly relax and eat and be merry, like a huge game room if you want to think of it like that.” She explains that unwinding is the hardest thing to do when a veteran returns from duty, and that the majority of the suicides occur within the first five years. The activities offered by the recreation center would help alleviate stress, and also offer opportunities for the vets to give back.

The need to see the vision through is $329,000. “I think that if the community knows about Continued on page 21

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Fully Present

By Jane Bishop, Professional Life Coach “We’re easily distracted these days. For instance, did you know that the average person picks up their phone more than 1,500 times a week? And that 95% of ... oh look, a cat! Holding concentration in the digital world is difficult. In fact, it’s gotten so bad that our attention spans have, on average, shrunk to 8.25 seconds – that’s shorter than a goldfish” (Sarah Quinn).

Not convinced this is true? As you read this article, notice your breathing. Is it shallow?

Steady? Calm? Are you comprehending this content, or thinking about what you will do next?

Notice your posture. What does it tell you? How many times have you been distracted to this point of the article? What will it take to continue reading and be fully focused, fully present in the moment? What did you learn about yourself?

Being fully present can be learned by practice. As a professional coach, I practice being fully present with clients. Before a client calls me, I take a break, clear my mind, quiet the mental chatter, and eliminate any distractions. These simple steps free the brain to be totally focused and provide a high standard of coaching. I also practice this in other areas of life and the benefits are rewarding. One benefit is how therapeutic and relaxing it is. I recently worked on a closet cleaning project and simply got lost in going through items, discarding, and organizing! The afternoon passed, and I had not experienced one moment of mental multitasking!

I invite you to practice being fully present often this month and see what you experience.

Not sure how? Contact me for a complimentary coaching session. I will help you shift and have a longer attention span than a goldfish!

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Dogwood Pizza owner Ron Weber has mastered the spirit of giving

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Team appreciation plaques line the walls inside Snellville’s Dogwood Pizza, some dating back twenty years. The back storage room reveals boxes overflowing with more team photos and plaques, which may begin to describe the community spirit that truly characterizes this local pizza parlor which has served the local schools and teams for two decades. “I love the children and being involved in the community,” shares owner Ron Weber, who left his job as a corporate Vice President to open his own business. “This is just a really cool place to be. My pizza parlor is the vehicle that allows me to work with my sons, Matthew and Trent, and be involved locally.”

Every school in the area has benefited from the generosity that has come to define Dogwood Pizza. Weber dedicates countless hours to his community involvement, whether he’s dressing as the Cat In the Hat to read to elementary children on Dr. Seuss’s birthday, speaking to middle schools about entrepreneurship and Junior Achievement, or cleaning up after Brookwood High school football games. He represents the community to fight zoning decisions that might negatively impact the area, and still finds time to sit on the school council at both Gwin Oaks Elementary and Five Forks Middle School, and serves as a trustee on the Brookwood Schools’ Foundation.

“We believe in our community,” says Weber. “If a school system successfully puts out graduates with high SAT scores, followed by strong athletic programs, it has a positive impact on home values. It is the home values and the schools that drive the business values. It’s the ‘three-legged stool’ you hear about all the time.”

Dogwood Pizza truly gives back. They offer special pizza pricing for local schools, and every Tuesday they host a “Spirit Night” for a local elementary school. On these nights, they give 20% of their sales back to the schools, which include Gwin Oaks, R.D. Head, Craig, and Brookwood Elementary schools, as well as Cannon Preschool.

In July, Dogwood Pizza opened its door under their new name, after cutting ties with the Buck’s Pizza franchise’s name that they operated under since 1995. Ron, along with his sons Matthew and Trent who manage the business, chose Dogwood Pizza as their new name. “We wanted our pizza parlor to truly convey the community spirit that drives us,” Weber shares, “and our revenues have gone up 20-30% since July when we changed the name.”

The new restaurant name did not change the food quality or menu at Dogwood Pizza. They continue to use their own recipes and quality ingredients. Their menu, which has gluten-free options, has non-pizza items as well, including sandwiches, salads, and wings. Weber explains that while they now have a dining area and beer, they will never be a place for partying and trivia nights. “We want to be a good pizza parlor who serves beer, not a bar who also serves pizza,” he clarifies. “We are into families; we are a family business. Of course, I couldn’t do this without the full support of my wife of 40 years, Charlotte!”

Dogwood Pizza recently received their second 100% on their Health Department inspection.

The Webers are very proud of this and are not aware of any other restaurant achieving this “back to back” rating. “I’m sure there must be some,” says Weber, “but they are few and far between.”

Dogwood Pizza has been recognized and honored for both their food and their generosity.

Along with formal awards including “Vendor of the Year” and “Best of Gwinnett”, Dogwood Pizza has also been applauded at school board meetings and celebrations involving Gwinnett Continued on page 19

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Learning Lessons: What is Your E. Q.?

By Carol C. Wood As a student have you ever wondered what your Intelligence Quotient (IQ) score was or wished it were higher? No matter the level of your IQ, when it comes to happiness and success in life, EQ, or Emotional Intelligence Quotient, is just if not more important than IQ. Emotional intelligence helps you build stronger relationships, succeed at school, and achieve your career and personal goals.

What is EQ? Emotional intelligence is your ability to identify, use, understand, and manage your emotions in positive ways to lessen stress, communicate with others more effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges, and defuse conflict. Emotional intelligence has an impact on various aspects of your daily life, such as the way you behave and the way you interact with others.

If you have a high emotional intelligence, you are able to recognize your own emotional state and the emotional states of others and interact with them in ways that draw them to you. You can use your understanding of emotions to relate better, form positive relationships, achieve greater success at school, and have a life with greater fulfillment.

EQ has four attributes: • Self-awareness – You are in tune with your emotions and how they affect your thoughts and behaviors; you know your strengths and weaknesses, and have self-confidence.

• Self-management – You are able to control your impulse feelings and behaviors, manage your emotions in positive ways, take initiative, follow through on commitments, and adjust to changing circumstances.

• Social awareness – You can understand the emotions, needs, and concerns of others, recognize emotional cues, feel comfortable socially, and recognize the power dynamics in a group setting.

• Relationship management – You know how to make and maintain good relationships, communicate concisely, inspire, lead and influence others, work well on a team, and manage conflicts.

Continued on page 19

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Our Town

The Value of a Good Hug

By Julie Mills-Watson, CMT, LLCC One of my favorite things to do is to hug someone I love and care about. The best way I can say thank you to someone is with a hug. The only way to say hello or good bye is with a hug. At my office hugs are mandatory! In this day and age, people just do not give or receive enough hugs! I wondered if there were any studies about hugs and if any research had been done on the benefits of hugs, and the answer was YES! Research shows a proper deep hug, where the hearts are pressing together, can benefit you in these ways: 1. The nurturing touch of a hug builds trust and a sense of safety. This helps with open and honest communication.

2. Hugs can instantly boost oxytocin levels, which heal feelings of loneliness, isolation, and anger.

3. Holding a hug for an extended time lifts one’s serotonin levels, elevating mood and creating happiness.

4. Hugging relaxes muscles, releases tension in the body, and can take away pain. It soothes aches by increasing circulation into the soft tissues.

5. Hugs teach us how to give and receive. There is equal value in receiving and being receptive to warmth, as to giving and sharing. Hugs educate us how love flows both ways.

6. Hugs are like meditation and laughter. They teach us to let go and be present in the moment.

7. The energy exchange between the people hugging is an investment in the relationship. It encourages empathy and understanding.

Family therapist Virginia Satir says, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth.”

So what are you waiting for? Start blessing people with a warm accepting hug and truly make their day.

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PAGE 13

One on One with Richard Tucker & Beverage Superstore

By Daidra Annis “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give” ~ Sir Winston Churchill.

Beverage Superstore of Grayson is more than just the area’s premier retail package store. Owner Richard Tucker has found a way to dynamically support the community. From the Gwinnett Public Schools Foundation to the Gwinnett Children’s Shelter to Walton County’s Ducks Unlimited (Animal Conservation), Tucker has used the success of his business to provide donations – both cash and in-kind – to many of the area’s not-for-profit organizations.

The recently opened Tasting Room, a separate room adjacent to the showroom, has been well received by the community. Every week, usually on Thursday evenings, the Tasting Room is open for Wine or Craft Beer Tastings. Hors d‘oeuvres that complement the week’s selections are offered as part of the nominal admission fee. On average, forty to fifty guests attend each week, and Tucker says that one of his joys is being able to educate his customers about the products they carry. A loyal, informed customer brings more revenue to his business, of course. But that revenue brings the opportunity to serve others and to “make our community better.”

Those who have lived or worked in Gwinnett for any length of time will recognize Tucker’s name. He has been an active member of the Gwinnett community for many years, and certainly does practice what he preaches. Georgia Trend Magazine has selected him multiple times for their annual list of “100 Most Influential Georgians,” and he was a founding member of the Board of trustees for Georgia Gwinnett College, which just celebrated its 10th Anniversary.

He has served as past president of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, and currently serves the Gwinnett Convention & Visitors Bureau (GCVB), Georgia Gwinnett College, the Board of Regents with the University System of Georgia, and Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, and Continued on page 20

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Our Town

Getting Schooled: Brookwood High’s Band Invited to London

By Kim Hill On September 11, 2015, Brookwood Band director Dr. Laura Stanley received a very special invitation from Robert Bone, the executive director of London’s New Year’s Day Parade.

Touting the stringent criteria for selection, the letter concluded by stating, “An invitation to this very special occasion is highly sought after, and I am therefore particularly delighted to tell you that the Brookwood High School Band has been recommended to us as recipients of an invitation to participate in the festival.” An official invitation ceremony followed in October, with distinguished guests, Mr. Bone and Roger Bramble, Former Lord Mayor of Westminster, in attendance to publicly invite Brookwood Band. The program accepted, and on December 27, 2016, the Brookwood Bronco Marching Band will be on its way to London.

Dr. Stanley reiterates that the parade is an invitation-only event, and is similar to Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Over half a million people will be there, with millions more watching. She explains that a parade band is very different from a half-time marching band.

Because there are certain things in a parade block and formations that you wouldn’t necessarily practice during the year, there will be special rehearsals just for this event.

The Brookwood Band program has 365 musicians in classes. About 130 are concert only, while the marching band has 266 members, including the color guard. Those who are in marching band next year are guaranteed a performing spot, but everyone currently enrolled in classes, all freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and this year’s seniors, as well as the eighth graders from Crews and Five Forks Middle Schools who will be in the program next year, are invited to participate.

The trip will cost about $3,400 per participant. The program is doing a 10-month fundraising campaign to help reduce the cost for those wishing to attend. The daughter of retired band directors, Dr. Stanley had the good fortune to make this trip in 2002 as an alternate marcher, and says it is by far the best trip with kids she has ever taken. ”It’s a magical place. You can imagine coming around and finishing out—Westminster Abbey’s on your right and Big Ben’s on your left, and you’re marching with these kids. Some of them may not have been on an airplane yet and here they are, doing this, which is really cool.”

More information about the band and its monthly fundraising campaigns at www.brookwoodband.org

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PAGE 15

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Sports Talk with Coach Danny Klinect: Parkview Boys Soccer

By Kim Hill Danny Klinect knows soccer, but he places a higher priority on the life lessons he has learned along the way. He played on the very first team at Duluth High School, played club soccer at GSA, and was a four-year starter at Georgia State.

In 1992, he was given the opportunity to try out for the Olympic soccer team, and made the final 40 pool. “I always use that as a teaching lesson,” he says, “that there are some things in life where you don’t quite get there, and that’s okay. I’ve learned from that.”

Klinect found himself back at Duluth to begin his coaching career. From there he went to Grayson, won a state championship in 2004, and then moved to Brookwood where he won a state championship in 2014. Though his accolades include Gwinnett County Coach of the Year three times for three different schools, State Coach of the Year twice, Regional Coach of the Year last year, and a finalist for National Coach of the Year for 2014, Klinect emphasizes that awards are a reflection of the kids you coach.

A great motivator to both his soccer players and the AP students in his classroom, Coach Klinect believes in helping kids develop character. “If you do the things right,” he says, “if you hold them accountable, if you instill discipline and teach them life lessons, the winning will come as a by-product of that.” His philosophy centers around competition and keeping kids on their toes, avoiding the mediocrity that results when they develop a sense of entitlement.

“My lineup changes a lot. I play a lot of players because I reward kids for their work, and when they understand that’s my philosophy, they play harder.”

Starting his first year at Parkview, Coach Klinect is looking forward to being part of a program that has won six state championships. Currently Walton holds that distinction as Continued on page 20

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Our Town

Parkview High’s JROTC Program: Raising money for Toys for Tots

By Heidi Campbell Since 2002, the JROTC at Parkview High School has dedicated its time and energy to Toys for Tots, a program started by the U.S. Marines to put new toys into the hands of less fortunate kids.

Major Ron Tootle and Gunnery Sergeant David Erwin, Parkview’s Marine instructors, work with their cadets and booster club to organize the drive each year. “We’re the largest non-corporate collector in the state of Georgia,” explains Erwin. “Our final collections fill a semi-trailer each year. We collect a combination of toys and cash of close to $80,000.”

Toys for Tots officially began in Los Angeles, California in 1947 when USMCR Major Bill Hendricks collected 5,000 toys at a campaign. Since then this important program has grown into a yearly tradition, and $284 million was collected last Christmas across the nation.

The Parkview ROTC program collects toys every weekend after Thanksgiving. They schedule cadets to collect outside of local businesses. “Our local Kroger stores and Walmart stores, particularly in Duluth, Lilburn, and Stone Mountain, have been great about giving us the time and space to collect our toys. They appreciate what we do for kids,” shares Erwin, “and we, in turn, use collected cash to buy toys in their stores.”

The entire school gets involved with the annual toy drive. The JROTC hosts a toy collection competition each year for guided study classes and clubs. Whichever club or class donates the most toys wins a pizza party. The spirit of giving truly comes to life in each classroom, and teachers and administrators support the cause and help motivate the community.

The JROTC collects at numerous events around Atlanta. Each event contributes to the final total, and cadets sign up to donate their time to the various opportunities. Erwin recalls one event a few years ago, where they were particularly blessed with generosity. “My Commanding Officer Parker Jordan got up on stage at the Kingsized Holiday Jubilee in front of 1500 people, and pulled a one hundred dollar bill out of his pocket,” recalls Erwin. “He said someone left it in the cash box. He challenged everyone in the audience to match it. We received nine $100.00 bills and we still use it at that show to date. Why? Because it worked. We ended up raising close to $4,000 that night in toys and cash.”

The ROTC building at Parkview is literally inundated with toys in December. “This is the time of year where everyone is a kid again and we know every kid won’t get a toy,” explains Tootle.

“We, as Marines, have witnessed some of the poorest people in the world. We will do whatever it takes to make sure every kid in this community has a toy and a Christmas to remember.”

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Pet Perch: Dog Food or Junk Food?

By Terie Hansen Does it really matter what you feed your dog?

Absolutely! When you feed your dog a good quality food, what you’ll get in return is a healthier pet, less visits to the vet, better dental health, and more.

Many well-advertised dog foods include ingredients that are of little to no nutritional value (containing fillers such as corn, wheat, chicken by-product meal, and corn gluten meal), and may also be doing more harm than good. They include sources of protein that are of a lower biological value than meat protein, but are used because they are cheap. As humans we could survive on Twinkies, soda, and potato chips, but we wouldn’t be very healthy! So too with dogs who are served low quality dog food.

Dogs have a natural and undeniable carnivore bias, which means left to their own they would prefer meat as the major part of their diet. Their teeth are narrow and pointy. Their jaw, which can only move in an up and down motion, is designed to tear and chop meat. True omnivores and herbivores (like humans, cows, etc.) have a jaw that can also move from side to side, with flat back molar type teeth that allow for grinding of grains and plant material.

Is better quality food more costly? It would seem yes, but typically with a better quality food the daily serving size is less, so in many instances it evens out and price becomes a nonissue.

What is the best food to feed a dog? That depends on many things such as age, size, and activity level, and if your dog is a canine athlete (meaning they compete in canine sports) since they will have different needs than the average companion animal. There are many high quality dog foods to choose from, so my advice would be to do some research. A great place to start is www.dogfoodadvisor.com, where you can search most any dog food on this site and it will tell you what’s in it, the purpose of each ingredient, and how that dog food rates overall in quality.

What about raw vs. dry or canned dog food? That is a hot issue, but generally for the majority of dog owners dry or canned makes more sense. You really have to know what you are doing to feed a traditional raw diet. There is a lot that goes into making sure your dog gets all the necessary nutrients.

Continued on page 20

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Continued from page 7 the most money would be rewarded with a popcorn or ice cream party. The kids also wrote letters to the teachers, offered them “jeans passes” for purchase, and donated stuffed animals for each classroom with a tag attached reminding everyone to donate. These talented students even made their own commercials, wrote their own scripts, and recorded them on tablets so Ms. Santana could send them to the teachers.

Each morning after collecting the change, the children thanked the classes and encouraged them to donate again the next day. They counted and tracked their donations daily, barely believing how much they had collected. At the end of the week, a whopping $1,800 had been raised!

“Kids can accomplish a lot if you give them direction and amazing things to work towards like environmental education, or helping others, or stopping bullying,” says Ms. Santana.

“They come together as a powerful force to make that happen. In this case, recycling is good, and kids are awesome!”

By exceeding their goal, these Camp Creek youngsters have developed a sense of how things can be accomplished, and are looking ahead to the next project, possibly the purchase of a “Bully Bench” to raise awareness of bullying, and to create a place to sit and talk with friends. Whatever they choose to take on next, the results will surely be awesome!

More info at: http://www.campcreekschool.com/

Lilburn Community Project

Learning Lessons

If you want to develop a higher EQ level and develop stronger and more meaningful relationships and interaction with others, contemplate the attributes listed above and strive to integrate them into your personality.

Carol is the Founder & Owner of Total Learning Concepts, Inc. More information at www.totallearningconcepts.com

Dogwood Pizza

Continued from page 11

County Public Schools.

“I’m very proud of my pizza parlor,” says Weber. “We’ve got integrity. We believe in the community, we believe in the children, and we spend a great amount of time and money supporting those things. That’s our culture here.”

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Frida’s Mexican Restaurant The Best In Town!

Continued from page 8

Festival. The event involved businesses, residents, non-profits, schools, and many different groups. An estimated 5,000 attended, and many wonderful connections were created. A second festival was held this September, with last year’s groups and many more people, churches, and organizations coming on board. “It’s all about connecting the community,” says Ms. Preston, “so that’s where I feel that we’ve really got a need for an organization like this.

It takes just a lot of time to get people to be willing to come out and break down the barriers and say ‘hi’ to people they don’t know.”

In addition to the events, the LCP publishes an online newsletter, Lovin’Lilburn, which tries to keep the community informed of positive local news and events. The LCP is always looking for volunteers – event helpers, story writers, graphic designers, and clean-up helpers.

More information at: www.Lilburncp.com, www.WynneRussellHouse.com, www.lilburnevents.com

Continued from page 12

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PAGE 19

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Continued from page 16 well. “My number one goal is for us to win number seven. I want to give Parkview a position in the state that no one else has – the most state championships for the highest classification for boys.”

Making a move between rival schools might prove tricky for some, but Coach Klinect already feels at home at Parkview, stating that he wears his orange and blue almost every day.

“My job is to do what’s best for kids. If my job is to be over here and make an impact, that’s what I’m going to do. Ultimately when I look back at my career, if I can say that I’ve impacted Parkview in a positive way, then I’ve done my job.”

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Pet Perch

Continued from page 18 How much should you feed your dog? This also depends on a lot of factors such as age, size, weight, activity level, etc. Every dog food has feeding “guidelines.” The guidelines are a good starting point, but if Fido starts to get overweight then reduce his daily serving amount.

Likewise, if Fido begins to lose weight, then increase his daily serving amount. Keep in mind that if you are like many dog owners who give their dog treats throughout the day, you should feed your dog less at each mealtime to make up for the treats you are providing. A better action would be to cut back on the treats as they typically have less nutritional value than dog food.

Terie Hansen is Owner of Good Dog! Coaching & Pet Care. More information at www. gooddogcoaching.com .

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Continued from page 14 he is the chairman of the board of the Mitsubishi Classic. Tucker is especially proud of the GCVB’s efforts to obtain approval for a $70 Million, 300-Room hotel project in the Gwinnett Center/Sugarloaf area. The new facility will enhance an already world-class convention and entertainment space that brings recognition and revenue to Gwinnett.

With the holidays fast approaching, there’s no better time to see what Beverage Superstore has to offer. Plans are in the works to host a Beer & Wine event in December, and invites will be extended to the community. Beer. Wine. Doing Good. Give me another…and make it a double!

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Travel Tales: Guatemala Revisited!

DEC

By Pam Walker

Now is a

I have been to Guatemala several times. It was one of the first places I traveled to early on in my travel industry career. I was fascinated with the early Spanish history and the colorful fabrics worn by the Mayan descendants. I loved the archaeology of the ancient Mayan people, and I spent hours climbing the ancient ruins in Tikal. I have not been back in many years, so when I was recently invited for a quick “re-visit,” I jumped at the chance.

When I landed in Guatemala City, I had forgotten how green the country was. To get to Antigua years ago, one had to drive out of the city and into the countryside and then to Antigua. In today’s Guatemala, the capital is so huge that you almost go from one city to the next without much countryside in between. Little else has changed.

Tucked between several active volcanoes, Antigua, with its cobbled streets and historic homes, is a breath from the past. Cathedrals, and palaces from the time of Spanish rule, are now historic reminders of times of wealth and power in Central America.

The Mayan decedents are for the most part farming as they used to, and the marketplaces are still as colorful as I remembered them. The locals still fish here in their dugout canoes, and the Mayan women still wash their clothes along the shores of Lake Atitlan by beating them on rocks. The wonderful ruins of Tikal that I climbed years ago are still standing tall in the jungle, but now there are wooden walkways and steps to make the climb easier for everyone.

Guatemala seems to be stuck in time, and it is still the wonderful, colorful country of my memories.

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso Travel Advisor. More information at pam@walkeradventures. com or www.walkeradventures.com

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