FEBRUARY 2019: Our Town Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Monthly Magazine

FEBRUARY 2019 Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine

Our Town GWINNETT

Lawrenceville Snellville Lilburn Stone Mountain Tucker

Up Close with Providence Christian Academy, see story on page 5

13 15 16 17

Lilburn Police: Huge Help to Flooded Mainstreet Guns & Range Let’s Go Camping: How One Camp is Changing Lives SwimTalk: Inspiring a Winning Attitude at Brookwood High Community Business Spotlight: Gwinnett School of Music

#EquipToThrive OPEN HOUSES “Dr. Simmons is are going on NOW!

Providence is equipping students to lead, serve, and embrace faith in Christ while providing top-tier academics, competitive sports,to award-winning fine arts, a nationally-recognized proud offer Botox andandDermal Fillers. Call STEM program.

Come and see how we prepare the next generation to be hard-working, articulate and gracious young people who live out their faith and thrive in an ever-changing world.

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Providence Christian Academy admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its admissions policies, educational policies, scholarship programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.

isJohn honored to beIV, we are committed to providing you with the high AtDr. the Simmons dental office of W. Simmons, comprehensive dental care, focused on both the function and beauty of your smile. A one of only nine dentists improving in patient care and comfort are our primary concerns. We are proud to run a practice that treats ea Georgia to have passed the kind, gentle, and caring manner, just like family. We offer a full range of the latest cosmetic a rigorous required to long-lasting, earn procedures thattesting concentrate on ensuring brilliant results you will love, and others

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Our Town

On the Cover: Providence Christian Academy Builds a Tradition of Leadership and Service

By Kim Hill Adam Cantrell was a Lilburn high school junior when Providence Christian Academy – founded by a group of parents whose vision was to establish a private Christian school in Gwinnett County – opened its doors in 1991. He had no idea that he would return to the school one day to teach and coach and be part of the school’s decades-long story. Since opening twenty-seven years ago, Providence has grown to nearly 700 students in grades K-12, including a second high school location in Johns Creek. The school has built a reputation for combining a top-tiered academic program (including a nationally-recognized STEM program) with an intentional emphasis on spiritual growth and the preparation of students to lead and serve others.

Before spending nearly twenty years as a teacher and coach at Providence, Cantrell’s plan was to be a doctor. But during his sophomore year in college, his focus changed to veterinary medicine.

Unfortunately, his cumulative score fell short by 3 points to get into vet school. He was disappointed, but had been praying all along for God to guide his path. When he returned home from college, he found his younger brother’s baseball coach had quit in the middle of the season, and he reluctantly agreed to at least help at practice. “I went to one practice, and I was done,” he says. “I loved it, loved coaching, loved every part of it.” From that point forward there hasn’t been a baseball season that he hasn’t coached.

Cantrell’s mindset now shifted to “what can I do to also coach?” He decided that teaching was probably the best idea, but initially thought he would become a community coach at his school.

Over time, the Lord changed his heart so teaching became all he really wanted to do. “Since then, it’s become incredibly clear that teaching is the deal,” he says. “I might have gotten into teaching because of baseball, but now I would give up baseball in a heartbeat to keep teaching. Teaching is what makes my blood flow every day.” He returned to Providence at age twenty-three to teach science, the subject that he studied and loved in college.

What he remembers about being a student at Providence is how much the teachers cared about him as an individual, and he tries to make the same impact on his students. Don Hart, who was one of Cantrell’s favorite teachers at his previous school, came to Providence during Cantrell’s senior year and was his teacher once again. “The impact he had on my life as a student has influenced

Coach Adam Cantrell in Detroit watching Providence graduates Collin McHugh, pitcher for the Houston Astros and Christin Stewart outfielder for the Detroit Tigers compete in their teams’ series. me more than anybody else except for my father. I want to be for students what he was for me.”

Cantrell’s two children, AJ and Sazy, now attend Providence. “That was always the plan, from the time that I was a student,” he says. “I knew that I wanted my kids to have the same kind of opportunities that I had, at a school like this where people love them. You are free to make mistakes, but you are helped through those mistakes and are held accountable to being the best ‘you’ that you can be.” Cantrell’s wife is also a graduate who understands the value of Providence. She volunteers on Wednesday mornings in the school chapel program, where she advises and leads a student prayer team. Cantrell says that the emphasis Providence places on each student’s relationContinued on page 20

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Our Town Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine

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Distribution Coordinator DeeDee Chapman Feature Writers Heidi Campbell K. Coats Kristen Eleveld Emily Haney Kim Hill Amy Ney Traci Sanders Beth Volpert Johansen Contributing Writers Bill Crane Terie Hansen Pam Walker

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Our Town Gwinnett is published and direct mailed to select homes in the Gwinnett /NE DeKalb area. Opinions expressed by the writers and staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our Town Gwinnett reserves the right to edit and/or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our Town Gwinnett is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers.

Entire contents copyright 2019 by Our Town Gwinnett. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.

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5 On the Cover: Providence Christian Academy Builds a Tradition of Leadership and Service 7 From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion 8 Community Member Spotlight: Getting to Know Roger Bice 10 Love Thy Neighbor Car Show Begins a Tradition of Paying It Forward 11 Brookwood High School Renames Theater After Beloved Directors 12 SportsTalk with Middle School Golf League 13 Helping Hands: Lilburn Officers Go Above and Beyond to Help Flooded Mainstreet Guns & Range 14 The Upside is a Heartwarming Film, Regardless of its Many Critics 15 Love Your Valentine’s Day Plans 15 Let’s Go Camping: How One Summer Camp is Changing Lives 16 SwimTalk: Inspiring a Winning Attitude at Brookwood High 17 Community Business Spotlight: Gwinnett School of Music 18 Pet Perch: When in Doubt, Dogs Work it Out 18 Travel Tales: Fly Fishing Patagonia 19 Crane’s Corner: Gwinnett: Turns 200 and at a Crossroads 20 Woman to Woman 21 One on One: Nothing but the Truth Ministry 22 Take a Deep Breath: Five Ideas to Reduce Stress

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From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion

By Ryan T. Sauers

@RyanSauers

I hope everyone is off to a great February. Our community continues to prosper. Why? We are blessed with amazing people who choose to live, work, and play right here in Our Town. We should be proud of our community. Most communities are not as close as the ones we have. With that said, our attention span is short (or some might argue non-existent), so here are three points to ponder.

1. People love to laugh. How many times have you heard a funny story that made your day? How often have you seen something so silly that it just makes you laugh hard? You know – when you just keep laughing and can’t stop? How much fun do we have with long term friends who we can truly be ourselves with? A lot of fun. And what do we do? Yes, we laugh. Make someone’s day and make them laugh.

2. People love to have fun. Why do you see so many people playing fantasy football, going to costume/theme parties, and/or playing mindless games on their mobile devices? Many use these things as breaks from their everyday routine and to relieve stress from our constantly connected world. They are fun, simple, and mindless. Have you ever seen adults dress up in full gear for football games? People really get into it. Why? We all love to have fun. This “feeling like a kid again” is the magic that most experience when they visit Disneyworld. And, it is what Disney is selling. We are supposed to act like kids and smile there. And, (in case you missed the memo) it is okay to have fun each day of your life. It is contagious.

3. People love technology yet miss the personal touch. How many of us just want someone to handle our requests in a timely manner, get things right the first time, and save us time/stress when we are dealing with a problem that we’ve had with a good, service, etc.? I know I do. But instead we hear, “For faster service, visit us online.” Note: this is CODE for, “Don’t call us. We are busy, and if you go online, we don’t have to talk to you, or staff as many people.” Technology may be the best Continued on page 10

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Community Member Spotlight: Getting to Know Roger Bice

By K. Coats It’s a common amusement for many children to pretend to play an instrument along with the radio – eyes closed, hands and arms strumming or drumming along. Some precocious kids take it a step further and conduct the recording with arms raised and posture straight, demanding the best of their musicians.

One of those kids was Roger Bice, and his basement conducting sessions were a hint to what would eventually become a lifetime of music, most recently culminating in a performance at Carnegie Hall. “I remember when I was in elementary school I would go downstairs, put a recorded copy of an orchestral arrangement called ‘The Long Ships’ on the recorded player, and stand in the middle of the basement and conduct my imaginary orchestra,” Bice recalls. “It must have been the great leading of their eight-year-old conductor because the orchestra looked and sounded great and never made a mistake.” Well those sessions have certainly paid off, and the congregation at Westside Baptist Church in Snellville, where Bice is the Minister of Worship and Music, can attest to.

The piano is Bice’s main instrument, but he can also play the clarinet and is a talented tenor vocalist as well. Beginning lessons at the age of nine, Bice is entering his 59th year as a dedicated pianist with a long line of performances, the first being a televised performance while in the 6th grade. But lest one think this came easily, Bice claims, “When I realized that I had been gifted with musical talent, I poured all my efforts into being the best musician I could be. I was not a prodigy, so it took years of hard work and commitment.”

And that same attitude and philosophy has formed the backbone of Roger Bice’s playing. He considers his music a ministry of the church, and his calling to perform both at church and away a spiritual one. His earliest training and performance

experience were all courtesy of his church. He recalls, “I never lose sight that my talent to play and sing is a gift from God. I began playing for the church our family attended when I was in ninth grade. On Sundays each Sunday school department would start with an opening assembly that always included singing. This was the start of my accompanying a large group of people.” And with a congregation numbering in the thousands, Bice had plenty to practice each and every Sunday. Decades later, that same high school musician found himself on stage at Carnegie Hall.

The performance was organized by the Lawrenceville-Suwanee School of Music where Bice is one of its instructors. The concert also featured nine-time Grammy award winner Bobbie Sparks. “My solo piece,” Bice explains, “was ‘My Tribute’ a sacred song written

by Andre Crouch. I took the song and made my own arrangement. It is my ‘go to’ song and is well received because it begins and ends very big, and by the time I am finished I have played almost every one of the 88 keys on the piano. I have played this piece since I was in college, and it will always remain one of my favorites. I received great reviews from my performance.

Along with my solo piece, I accompanied five vocalists. Songs included ‘You Raised Me Up,’ ‘Part of Your World,’ and ‘Beauty and the Beast.’”

Backstage at Carnegie Hall is just as interesting, apparently, as the front. “It was so surreal,” Bice recalls. “When I was in the holding hallway ready to go on stage, I looked at the floor to ceiling photos lining the hallway of the great musicians who have performed at the famed venue. Over my right shoulder was Judy Garland, and next to Miss Garland was Benny Goodman.

On the left was Ella Fitzgerald and the Beatles. As you walk

down the hallway, there are more photos of great classical musicians, Isaac Stern and Vladimir Horowitz. I asked myself how I got from that small black spinet piano that I started studying piano on to this moment playing a nine foot concert Steinway grand piano at Carnegie Hall.” Practice, sir. Practice and a lifetime of dedication. That’s how.

Bice was called back to the stage afterward and presented with a commemorative framed certificate to celebrate his performance. And after all this, after the concerts, certificates, and honors, Bice still echoes his early roots as a church accompanist.

He gives credit to God for his gifts and talents, and he continues to bless those around him with them. He states, “I have to give all the glory to the Lord because all my talent and experiences come from Him. ‘Delight thyself also in the Lord and He shall give Thee the desires of thy heart,’ Psalm 37:4.”

Roger Bice is the Minister of Worship and Music at Westside Baptist Church in Snellville and an instructor at the LawrencevilleSuwanee School of Music. More information at www.lawrencevillesuwaneeschoolofmusic.com.

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One Man’s Opinion Continued from page 7 and worst thing that has happened to the personal touch. Thus, be sure technology works for us and that we do not work for it. The personal touch in relationships matters now more than ever.

So, there you have it. If we want to communicate more effectively, we must consider our audience. Do we make other people laugh and have fun? After all, adults are just big kids at heart. Being “normal” (whatever that means) is pretty boring. So, be YOU and enjoy living in your own skin and quit worrying what other people are doing. People will talk about you no matter what you do.

So, my advice, give them something good to talk about. Time is ticking and today is “a present,” “the present,” and “our present.” So, make the best out of each hour you have and encourage and inspire each other. Nobody wants to hear all your sad, woe is me, and end of the world stories. So, for lack of a better example, be more like Tigger and less like Eeyore. For younger readers please visit G..O..O..G..L..E. I wish everyone a super February. And until next month, make someone’s day. WOW them.

Why? Because it feels great, and it is an amazing thing to do. Be upbeat, encouraging, and smile – and laugh if all else fails: “fake it until you feel it.” And until next time and as always, this is my town, your town, OUR TOWN!

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Love Thy Neighbor Car Show Begins a Tradition of Paying It Forward

By Kim Hill The idea of doing a car show for charity began to take hold a few years ago among a close-knit group of friends in the Grayson community. Considering themselves “car people” and having two members actually in the car restoration business, the group felt a car show would be a great community event. However, the idea remained dormant until one of the friends, James Smith, was diagnosed with cancer in the fall of 2015. Though initial treatments went well, the disease returned the following June, and James spent the next six months giving his best fight. At this point, unbeknownst to James and his wife, the group of friends decided to hold a car show on James’ behalf. In what James’ wife Libbey calls “an outpouring of love from the community of Grayson,” the group pulled together the efforts of friends, neighbors, family, and businesses to promote and organize a hugely successful show. On that day James stated, “I can’t wait to be back here next year to pay this forward to somebody else in need.”

That was September of 2016. James lost his battle with cancer three days before Christmas that year. The following year, the group of friends vowed to fulfill James’ wish to pay it forward, and gave Libbey the task of finding a recipient. She learned of a young man named Blake Huffman who was in need of a kidney transplant. Blake had contracted the E. coli virus as a child and had needed a transplant at an early age. His mother, Cindy, was his first donor, but that kidney began to fail when Blake was twenty-seven. James had also been a kidney transplant patient. He had been diagnosed at age 27, and received a kidney from Libbey a few years later. The similarity made Libbey feel James would have chosen Blake as the recipient, so the 2017 Love Thy Neighbor Car Show was held that October for Blake. This second successful show raised funds to help with the necessary medications and expenses that lay ahead for Blake, and it also promoted the need for Living Donors, as both Libbey and Cindy were living proof that giving of yourself to save a life is truly the best gift you can give. Through the car show’s social media presence, several people came forward hoping to be a match for Blake, including a woman from out of state who had recently lost her husband to kidney complications. Blake successfully received an anonymously donated kidney on Valentine’s Day of this year.

When considering a recipient for the 2018 show, the group of friends became aware of a young girl named Madeline McNeely who attends a local preschool. At four years old she was diagnosed with a Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor, a rare and aggressive childhood cancer that grew around her spinal cord. Madeline is courageously fighting the disease and was chosen as the beneficiary of the third annual Love Thy Neighbor Car Show. As her ongoing treatments of both radiation and chemotherapy keep her in the hospital often, Madeline was unable to attend the show, but her parents and siblings were in attendance, and her brother and sister decided the “Madeline’s Choice” car award on her behalf, confirming the choice with her via FaceTime. Madeline’s latest MRI report has shown good news.

The Love Thy Neighbor Car Show has become an anticipated annual community event with an attendance that is growing each year. It takes place in Grayson City Park, and is a fun day featuring music with a DJ and lots of donated food, including baked goods and hot dogs. This year’s show, in honor of Madeline, featured a bouncy house and face painting that was provided by students from Archer High School. Eighty cars were registered, not counting the special kids’ section, which developed as the result of a neighbor’s grandchild wanting to bring his own car and donate his piggy bank money to help James at the first show. The kids register their cars and make their donation themselves so they understand what they are doing and who their donation is helping. Additionally, 50-50 raffle tickets are sold for $1.00 each or people can get a car length for $20. “The neat thing is,” says Libbey, “this year Blake’s family volunteered to come and paid it forward for Madeline, and next year her family will do the same. We just become a bigger family every year.” What started as a gift of love for a friend is a continuing legacy of loving one’s neighbor.

More information at www.cityofgrayson.org

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Brookwood High School recently announced a big change for one of their biggest programs at the school. By the end of the 2018-2019 school year, they will officially rename their school’s theater to the Ken and Patty Lindahl Performing Arts Center.

Ken and Patty Lindahl proudly served as the school’s theater directors for thirty years. While they are now retired, their legacy lives on through the hundreds of plays they produced, along with the programs and camps they directed and the students they influenced every day.

For the Lindahls, it was their opportunity to teach their students what they cherished the most.

“We hope that what they learned in theater gave them skills like teamwork, creativity, and confidence, that helped them in whatever profession they pursued,” said the Lindahls. “We enjoy following so many of the students who have gone into community and professional theater.”

It’s no wonder that this couple’s influence in their school’s theater program is still felt five years after they retired. The two continue to serve as volunteers at Brookwood. Among the many accomplishments are the founding Brookwood Summerstage; developing the Brookwood Performing Arts Camp in the 1980s, which still serves the community today; and, of course, guiding the thousands of students involved in the theater program. They were also inducted into the Georgia Thespian Hall of Fame, and have produced numerous award-winning productions.

But even with this long list of impressive accomplishments, perhaps one of the most amazing results of their time at the high school is the close guidance they have given the current theater director – who happens to be their daughter.

Laura Lindahl, alongside her brother and sister, grew up watching her parents direct the theater program. She and her siblings were as much a part of the productions as anyone in the cast or crew, even when they were too young to participate in any official capacity.

“In the summer, the theatre was our playground,” said Laura. “By the time the show was up and running, we would know every single line and every word to every song. We watched the magic as they created something out of nothing. The actors and crew were our family, and we loved being a part of something bigger than ourselves.”

Indeed, Laura loved it so much that after attending Brookwood High School herself, she went on to study theater in college, as did her brother and sister. Once she graduated, she traveled and performed all over the world. But as much as she enjoyed the many roles she got to play, she knew in her heart that teaching and directing were her true aspirations.

“My husband and I were doing shows up in Chicago and were in serious discussions about moving back home to Georgia and starting a children’s theatre program,” said Laura. “It was then that my parents told us they were retiring. We thought this was the perfect opportunity to give back to a community that had given us so much.”

Laura and her husband, another graduate of Brookwood High, returned to their hometown to take over the incredible legacy her parents had started back in 1983.

“It has been the hardest, yet most rewarding job I have ever had,” Laura said of her current role.

As for Ken and Patty, they were surprised, humbled, and honored by the announcement that the theater would be renamed for them. But for the Lindahls it was never about seeing their names up high for the world to see. They were always doing the job they loved for the students they loved just as much.

Continued on page 20

PAGE 11

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SportsTalk with Middle School Golf League

By Our Town Staff

The best in music education www.gwinnettmusic.com

Private & group lessons Recitals & concerts All styles, levels, ages & instruments

Lilburn Grayson Lawrenceville 4615 Highway 78 2057 Grayson Highway 106 Depot Street Lilburn, GA 30047 Grayson, GA 30017 Lawrenceville, GA 30046 Lawrenceville Sugar Hill (770) 982-0640 (404) 106 Depot Street (770) 962-4001 245 Peachtree Industrial Blvd963-8628 Lawrenceville, GA 30046 Sugar Hill, GA 30518 PAGE 12 (404) 963-8628 To become an Our770-945-3663 Town advertising partner email

The Middle School Golf League announced that registration for the 2019 spring season will open Feb 1st and is scheduled to close on Feb 15th. However, participation will be limited to the first 100 registrants. Play will begin in March and run through the end of May. Parents can register their Middle School players by going to the Middle School Golf League website at: https://www. middleschoolgolfleague.com The Middle School Golf League is organized with parents registering through the South Gwinnett Athletic Association. Players are assigned teams based on middle school attendance, and they receive golf shirts with their middle school or feeder high school colors. Play during the spring season will again be at Dacula’s Trophy Club of Apalachee, Lawrenceville’s Collins Hill Golf Course, Loganville’s Cedar Lake Golf Course, and Snellville’s County Club of Gwinnett and Summit Chase Country Club.

“We had a great fall season with teams representing Bay Creek, Couch, Crews, Creekland, Dacula, Five Forks, Loganville, McConnell, Shiloh, and Trickum,” said League Director Les Witmer. “We’re really proud of the support we are getting from the middle schools, our golf courses, the high school golf coaches, and our parents.”

Witmer emphasized that the program teaches young golfers the fundamentals of golf and through team best ball play provides a positive environment where everyone participates no matter whether just a beginner or an accomplished junior player.

During the first weeks beginning golfers spend more time becoming more proficient at ball striking and understanding golf rules and etiquette. And then they take that knowledge onto the golf course, joining repeat Middle School Golf League players or the more advanced junior golfer playing as team members in the best ball “Lauderdale” format. Players play from forward or junior tees based on ability. The league schedules four weeks of team best ball play for all, including a week where a high school player plays with each 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 Pitch, Putt and Drive competition, party, and awards presentation.

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,” Witmer said. “Parents are welcome to walk or ride carts along the course as spectators, but must remain on the cart paths.”

At the close of registration and before the opening clinics, a parent orientation is scheduled to be held with more detailed information about the season schedule, play and courses, information about golf equipment and clubs, and a Q&A session with League Director Les Witmer and SGAA ‘s Tim Gains.

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

Info@OurTownGwinnett.com or call 678-825-2049

Our Town

Helping Hands: Lilburn Officers Go Above and Beyond to Help Flooded Mainstreet Guns & Range

By K. Coats Mainstreet Guns & Range is reputed to have the “Largest selection of handguns in the region at the lowest prices” and the “Largest Selection of calibers of ammunition.”

This sounds impressive and is a source of pride for the Lilburn business. That is, of course, until you have to move it all in a hurry as store owner and staff found out in the early hours of December 18th. An alarm went off at 2:15 a.m., alerting both employees as well as local Lilburn officers patrolling the area.

Staff and officers arrived to find water coming out of the building.

It seems a pipe burst, shooting water up towards the ceiling and running all over the floor and throughout the store. With excessive damage throughout the ceiling, walls, carpet, and furniture, it looked like Mainstreet Guns and & Range was in trouble. Manager Vikki Kreps explained, “When we first saw the store, I think all of our reactions were complete SHOCK. We were just in disbelief that that much water from the bathroom flooded the entire store that much! There was probably 1-2 inches of water. We had a lot of water damage to our store. We are having to replace the carpets, the wall mounting, multiple electric outlets, and much more!” With regret, the store posted on social media that it would be closed for the day. And that would have stayed the case if the Lilburn police had not stepped in again.

Already on the scene, Sgt. Madden and Officers Northway, Ajanovic, and Lamb all grabbed a tool not normally associated with an officer’s uniform – a Squeegee. Officer Lamb said, “I believe one of the other officers said something to the effect of ‘Hey, let’s grab some Squeegees from the range and see if we can get some of this water outta here.’ So I didn’t think twice about it, and we just went to work.” For the next four hours, those officers helped move furniture and push water out the front door of the local business. Of course, ever the professionals, they did this in full uniform, Kevlar and all. But Officers Lamb and Northway didn’t think much of that fact. According to Officer Lamb, “We are lucky here in Lilburn. Our uniforms allow us to wear our vests on the outside which allows for a little more ventilation underneath, but they still get plenty hot. It’s something you get use to after a while, but luckily it wasn’t summer time.” And Officer Northway agreed. “Wearing the equipment we do wear is necessary for our job,” he said. “Starting out on the job, the vest was heavy, but as time goes on I have gotten used to wearing it.”

This isn’t the first time officers have found themselves doing service for the community in an unconventional way. “About a week or two prior to the gun shop flood,” Officer Lamb explained, “Sgt. Madden, Officer Northway, and I cut up and removed a large tree that fell across Lawrenceville Hwy near Bryson Park. It was the middle of the night, so there was no telling when public works would be able to get to it, so we just took care of it.” And it’s serving the Lilburn community in ways like this that helps the community run smoothly and keeps everyone at their best. And in the end, it’s the community that matters most. “The Lilburn Police Department has a standard in which working with our business owners is very important to having a thriving and successful city,” Officer Northway observed. “I didn’t want to see a business possibly closed due to an unfortunate event where it would hurt not only the business owners but the employees’ earnings as well.” So four hours, four officers, and a Squeegee later, Mainstreet Guns & Range was able to re-open at noon.

For Sgt. Madden and Officers Northway, Ajanovic, and Lamb, it’s days like these that they see as an opportunity. Officer Lamb explains, “Any time we can have a positive interaction with the public is great. With so much bad publicity in the news and media, I personally enjoy leaving a citizen with a positive opinion of law enforcement. When folks come up to you on the street and are genuinely thankful for the job you do, it reinforces why you chose this career.”

Ms. Kreps wanted to express her gratitude to the officers who helped, saying, “We are just beyond thankful for the Lilburn Police officers that stayed to help us push water out the front doors. We really want them to know how appreciative we are of them going above and beyond.”

Continued on page 22

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PAGE 13

The Upside is a Heartwarming Film, Regardless of its Many Critics

By Heidi Campbell

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The current box office hit, The Upside, directed

by Neil Burger, is arguably far more entertaining than Rotten Tomatoes would lead viewers to believe. The film, which was designated a 39% on the “Tomatometer,” was criticized for being predictable, cliché, and “preachy.” There is certainly a case for all three of these claims, yet this touching, comedic, inspiring film is also highly engaging, which explains why that same Rotten Tomatoes report has the Audience Score at an 88%.The Upside is a true story adapted from the French film Les Untouchables. Rated PG-13 for drug use and adult language, the film was released on January 11, and has already raked in over $48 million dollars at the box office.

The Upside is the story of multi-millionaire Phillip Lacasse (played by Bryan Cranston), a quadriplegic who is hiring a “life auxiliary” to assist him with his daily needs. Ex-convict Dell Scott, played by Kevin Hart, fortuitously “happens upon” this interview and gets the job, not having a clue about what the job entails. His employment disgusts Phillip’s personal assistant Yvonne Pendleton, played by Nicole Kidman, who tells Dell, several times, “You are not qualified for this position.” Phillip, however, doesn’t care about Dell’s qualifications; he wants to do something that will break his life’s monotony. In typical Hollywood style, the opposites attract and Dell and Phillip develop a life-long friendship. Of course, the story line is just as predictable as the critics’ claim.

Predictable, however, can be comforting, and this movie is just that.

The influence that Dell’s brutal honesty has on the other characters is predictable, but the audience cheers for his success, and fingers remain crossed that he will positively influence his wealthy boss. The film uses stereotypes to cross racial boundaries and bring about unity. When Dell attends his first opera with Phillip, for example, his initial behavior is absolutely cringe-worthy. By the end, however, Dell is on his way to becoming an opera aficionado. Phillip, in return, embraces Dell’s love of Aretha Franklin, and says, “Yeah, it’s uncanny” when Dell claims to sound “just like her.”

The humor between the two characters seems contrived at times, but the roaring laughter in the audience indicates viewers are completely entertained.

Continued on page 22

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Our Town

Let’s Go Camping: How One Summer Camp is Changing Lives

By Kristen Eleveld

Love Your Valentine’s Day Plans

By Kristen Eleveld You’ve probably already noticed that your local grocery and convenience stores are gearing up for Valentine’s Day. Whether it’s fuzzy stuffed animals or heart-shaped napkins, there is no shortage of supplies to make a special day even more fun. But what should you actually do to celebrate a day with your loved ones? We have some ideas – and they are right in your neighborhood.

If dinner and dancing isn’t your thing, why not get your heart pumping with a good, oldfashioned race. Anyone from the age of 10 to 95 is invited to participate in either a 5K, 10K, or half marathon. The best news is that the race happens on Sunday, February 10th, which still leaves plenty of time to make a dinner reservation or stream your favorite movie on the 14th. Register at https://www.active.com/snellville-ga/running/distance-running/valentine-s-half-marathon10k-and-5k-8am-2019.

Maybe you were hoping to spend a special evening with your spouse, but you can’t find a sitter for your kids on such a busy night. Why not head over to Kids & Main Playcare to give your kids the chance to play, make crafts, and enjoy some delicious pizza while you and your partner enjoy an evening to yourselves? The drop-off time is at 5:00 p.m., and you have until 9:00 p.m. to finish that killer dessert at your favorite restaurant. Sign your children up at https://www.eventbrite. com/e/valentines-day-parents-night-out-tickets-54157517593.

Sometimes, dealing with the hustle and bustle (not to mention long wait times for dinner) is too much to deal with on a weekday. Why not save your celebrating for the weekend instead?

GracePointe Community Church in Lawrenceville is hosting a Valentine’s Gala on Sunday, February 16th. You can buy tickets at https://bit.ly/2RVyoiE. The best part about this gala is that not only do you get a fun night out with your spouse, but the proceeds from the ticket sales go to H.Y.P.E. (Helping Young People Excel), a ministry of GracePointe that offers educational opportunities to underprivileged kids.

Maybe you’re looking for a quiet night at home with your family. Valentine’s Day is about celebrating everyone you love, right? If this is more your style, why not check out some fun Valentine’s Day crafts you can make with your whole family. Head over to https://www.nobiggie.net/25-easydiy-valentines-day-cards/ to get some great tips on making your own Valentine’s Day cards. After you exchange cards, work together on some of these other DIY crafts - https://www.countryliving. com/diy-crafts/g1093/valentine-day-crafts/. Of course, no evening is complete without a few delicious snacks. Check out https://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelysanders/adorable-valentines-day-treatsto-melt-your-heart to find ideas on sweet treats to make your evening just right. Bonus: Some of these are great for lunchboxes, so you can celebrate with your kids all week long!

Whether you decide to make this Valentine’s Day a date night, an evening of family fun, or even a new personal record for a 10K, turn this day into an opportunity to show your loved ones how much you care. Happy Valentine’s Day to all!

Our Town

Summer is coming, and you’re already asking the question that parents around the country are all thinking: What should you do with the kids this summer? Whether you need a safe and fun place for them to go while you’re at work, or you just want to keep them from playing video games inside for two months, you know it’s crucial to engage your kids in fun activities that will get them out into the beautiful outdoors.

That’s why High Meadows Camp has been offering enriching and educational activities for children since 1973.

With activities ranging from arts and crafts, sports, pony rides, and nature studies for the younger campers, and options like animal care, ropes course, canoeing, and performing arts for the older crowd, High Meadows Camp knows how to give its campers a unique experience that will stay with them for a lifetime.

“Our campers are able to challenge themselves through our activities, discovering and developing talents in an environment that celebrates childhood,” said Director of Camp John Dovic, who has been with the program for twenty-one years. “They are encouraged by positive role models, inspiring them to become their best possible selves.”

Indeed, there is no shortage of inspiration to be found at this gorgeous, 40-acre facility that is filled with streams, meadows, hiking trails, and dozens of other nature scenes. Campers between the ages of four and fourteen are invited to challenge themselves and try new activities that will teach them valuable skills.

“Children return to High Meadows Camp summer after summer to renew strong friendships and to progress in personal achievements in our activities,” said Dovic.

And the experience isn’t over once a participant ages out as a camper. They can return to High Meadows Camp to partake in a two-summer leadership training program that helps campers recognize the skills and talents they have to share, and prepares them with 21st century job skills. Many even become camp counselors to continue promoting positive youth development at High Meadows.

“When children attend High Meadows, they truly become members of a strong, caring, and enriching community,” Dovic said. “Campers are welcomed and respected for their uniqueness within a vibrant, diverse community.”

High Meadows Camp sits nearby in Roswell, ready and waiting for new campers each summer.

They are accredited by the American Camp Association in acknowledgement of their dedication to the highest quality standards in camp operation. In short, they are the best of the best, and your child will walk away from each session with new skills, new confidence, and a grasp of what it truly means to explore the great outdoors.

If you are interested in registering your child for High Meadows Camp this summer, don’t wait!

Spots begin filling up at the beginning of the year, and you won’t want to miss your chance to experience this amazing facility firsthand.

“High Meadows is characterized by traditional and unique programming, dedicated and mature staff members, and a commitment to providing a fun experience that also intentionally focuses on self-improvement, relationship building, and skill development,” Dovic said. “We hope all of our campers find High Meadows to be a place of joy, acceptance, adventure, friendship, and learning.”

John Dovic, Director of Camp. More information at www.highmeadowscamp.org.

To become an Our Town advertising partner email Info@OurTownGwinnett.com or call 678-825-2049

PAGE 15

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2018

ate h your

SwimTalk: Inspiring a Winning Attitude at Brookwood High

By Amy Ney

What specifically does a hero do that inspires awe in us?

If it is hard work and success, then Brookwood head swim coach, Jack Gayle, will inspire with his winning record and coaching passion.

Gayle grew up swimming in Gwinnett County as a part

of the Gwinnett Summer Swim League at his neighborhood rket pool. At age eleven, Gayle began training at Swim Atlanta and competed there year-round. He eventually swam for 36% of 2017 Parkview High School, which won two state championships Call• today to put our proven while he was there.

130 transactions closed After high school, Gayle swam for the University of track record to work for you. n track • Average 31 days on market Georgia, where he met his wife, Megan, and then returned • Our listings sold for 98.36% of u. to Parkview to teach and coach Parkview’s swim team for list price ATTENTION Double check ad for ALL content. eleven years. Gayle took a brief hiatus and taught in Forsyth 72 County for a few years, then returned to Gwinnett to coach Kathy Coots ATTENTION - Double check ad for770 ALL654-8972 content.

Phone, web, address, coupons, etc.

Call today to put our proven track ATTENTION - Double check ad for ALL content. at Brookwood during the 2017-2018 school year. “My wife is a math teacher at Brookwood, and m Phone, web, address, etc. once www.KathyCoots.com Assume nothing - Reply back that adcoupons, is approved record to work for you.

Phone, web, address, coupons, etc. both our kids attend Brookwood schools; so it made sense for me to come back here when I came Assume nothing - Reply that adACCURACY. is approved ALLAssume ITEMSnothing HAVE CHECKED FOR -BEEN Reply backback that ad is approved once once back to Gwinnett,” explains Gayle. “I grew up as an honorary member of the Brookwood comKathy Coots 770 654-8972 ALLITEMS ITEMS HAVE BEEN CHECKED FOR ACCURACY. ATTENTION - Double check ad for ALL content.

ALL HAVE BEEN CHECKED FOR ACCURACY. munity and my wife is a Brookwood graduate, so I am comfortable here and know a lot of people www.KathyCoots.com Phone, web, address, coupons,around etc. Brookwood.”

Brookwood swim and dive team has a long history of success, and Coach Gayle has already Assume nothing - Reply back that ad is approved once found a way to contribute to it. The Broncos hold twenty county Championships and twelve ALL ITEMS HAVE BEEN CHECKED FOR State ACCURACY. Titles, including a swim title in 2018, Gayle’s first season at Brookwood. Both the boys and the girls teams won that year. “When both teams won the state titles last year, it was the first time

in twenty years a single high school had won both titles,” said Gayle. The last time was in 1998, Gayle’s senior year at Parkview, when both girls and boys won, as well. “Kevin Rodgers, my assistant coach at Brookwood, was the assistant coach at Parkview in 1998,” Gayle reminisced, “so we’ve both been a part of winning two state titles at the same time, twenty years apart – which is very cool. I’ve been fortunate to coach a number of swimmers who went on to swim in college. Nothing Pork • Ribs • Brisket • Chicken makes me happier than seeing a high school swimmer have the opportunity to swim at the next Pork •Pork Ribs Brisket • Chicken Brunswick Stew •• Ribs • Brisket • Chicken level. It’s truly special.”

Brunswick StewStew Brunswick Freshman backstroker, Blake McCluggage, says, “Coach Gayle is a great coach. He makes us Jambalaya, Red Beans & Rice train really hard, do difficult workouts, and has made me a much better swimmer. I have a lot of Pork • Ribs • Brisket • Chicken • Turkey Southern Style Vegetables & Sides respect for Coach.” His mom, Suzanne, agrees. “Blake has had tremendous growth this year,” she Jambalaya, RedStew Beans & Rice Jambalaya, Red•Beans & Rice Brunswick Red Beans & Rice says, “not just in swimming, but overall, and I believe the swim team and coaching had a lot to do Southern Style Vegetables & Sides Southern Style Vegetables & Sides Pork • Ribs • Brisket • Chicken SouthernTUESDAYS: Style Vegetables & Sides with it. He expects each swimmer to give more than your best.” She added that she knows Gayle Brunswick Stew KIDS EAT FREE! cares about each swimmer and making them better, not just his top swimmers.

Gayle knows hard work will produce results and strives to instill that work ethic in his athletes.

1TUESDAYS: FreeTUESDAYS: Kids Meal Jambalaya, Red Beans & Rice “I want our swimmers to love swimming for Brookwood, but I also want them to understand the KIDS EAT FREE! w/Every Adult Entree KIDS EAT FREE! Southern Style Vegetables & Sides responsibility that comes with being a part of such a successful team,” Gayle says. “Swimming is Day Tuesday 1 Free Kids Meal 1 All Free Kids Meal one of the most difficult physical sports, requiring a balance between physical strength and endurCannot combine w/other coupons or discount cards.

PORKAHOLIC w/Every Adult Entree w/Every Adult Entree ance that makes it unique.” His favorite thing of all, though, comes when a student finds that WEDNESDAY! Buy a Pork Plate All Day Tuesday truth for him or herself. He adds, “Watching kids go faster than they ever thought they would; $ All Day Tuesday TUESDAYS: & 2 Drinks, Get 1 Cannot combine w/other coupons or discount cards. sometimes they ‘discover’ an ability they didn’t know they had. That’s fun to see.”

PORKAHOLIC Pork Plate FREE Cannot combine w/other coupons or discount cards. KIDS EAT FREE! HOLIC Any Purchase of $25 or More (Standard sizes only) WEDNESDAY! Gayle and his family are active in the Snellville community. During the summer, Gayle coaches Dine In Only ESDAY! Cannot combine w/other 1 Free Kids Meal Buy acoupons Pork Plate or discount cards.

Food only. w/Coupon. Cannot $ at Flowers Crossing Subdivision. When he isn’t poolside, you will probably find him driving his rk Plate combine w/other coupons or discount & 2 Drinks, Get 1 $ cards. Exp 11/5/16w/Every Adult Entree ks, Get 1 FREE daughters to their practices. “Ella, my daughter in seventh grade, plays club volleyball. She loves Pork Plate Any Purchase of $25 orAll More te (Standard FREE sizes only) it and hopes to play for Brookwood Any PurchaseDine of $25 or More Day Tuesday In Only izes only) Cannot combine w/other Cannot combine w/other coupons or discount cards. someday,” explains Gayle. Hallie, his coupons or discount cards.

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Food only. w/Coupon. Cannot ally watch pro ball,” jokes Gayle. combine w/other coupons or discount HHH New Location HHH cards. Exp 11/5/16 “We are huge Georgia fans. But we Faith, Family, Fresh Barbecue Faith, Family, Food cheered against the Patriots – just Downtown Lawrenceville because.” He adds, “I love coachFaith, Family, Food +1 (678) 878-3251 ing in the Brookwood community because it allows me to inspire the 85 Ray Rd. • Loganville • 770-466-8228 next generation of Broncos.”

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Our Town

Community Business Spotlight: Gwinnett School of Music

By Our Town Staff The musical notes floating from the doors and windows of the Gwinnett School of Music have carried themselves from a strip shopping mall in Mountain Park to the unique building overlooking Lake Lucerne and on throughout the county since 1984. The far-reaching effects of those notes can be heard and seen in a few locations in Gwinnett County – each offering lessons, workshops and performances in music and dance, and growing well beyond the dreams of founder Kelly Bowlin’s first thoughts of a music store.

Bowlin graduated from the University of Georgia with a major in Guitar Performance. He quickly learned there were not a lot of opportunities for classical guitarists. However, there was a demand for teaching, and in 1984 Bowlin opened the Gwinnett School of Music. Soon the business side extended into a retail presence offering gear along with lessons. In the late 90s “the big box” stores moved into the Atlanta area, and the retail side of the business began to fade. In the long run, it worked out. “I’m not much of a gearhead anyway,” Bowlin states. “My natural inclination has always been towards education.”

The benefits of music education are beyond measure. Providing quality, real-life performance opportunities is a huge step for students. “We started the original School of Rock in Gwinnett twenty-five years ago,” Bowlin says. “Our School of Rock students hold full concerts at places like The Hard Rock in Atlanta, Eddie Owen Presents, 37 Main, and festivals like the Duluth Fall Festival, the Rockin Rib Fest, St. Paddy’s Day in Lawrenceville, and many more.”

The additional locations propelled the Gwinnett School of Music into unique situations.

“Grayson was the next place we opened,” says Bowlin. The Grayson school is in the McConnell House, with the town’s circa 1900 stable in back. Today the barn, along with the old McConnell House in the front, doubles as an events venue. “It is a multi-use facility that also host weddings and other special events,” he adds.

In 2008 Gwinnett School of Music opened a third location in the Suwanee/Sugar Hill area.

When Bowlin heard that the City of Duluth was looking for something to go into the vacant Red Clay Theater, he kept his eye on it. “Later when I learned that Eddie Owen, of the famous Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, opened a new music venue there, and was thinking about opening a music school in the theater basement, I saw an opportunity for collaboration,” Bowlin recalls. The affiliation with the Foundry allowed the school to expand beyond private lessons and add workshops, many by the artists who perform on its stage. The workshops cover instrumental, songwriting, recording, improvisation, production, and more. All recitals are held on the Foundry stage, the area’s finest,

which features some of the best regional, national, and international acts.

Following the success of the Red Clay Music Foundry location, it was no time at all before an opportunity to work with a studio in Lawrenceville led to the leasing of the Old Train Depot just off the Lawrenceville Square. “The Historic Train Depot has an 800 square foot room with smaller rooms suited for lessons,” says Bowlin. “I thought the 800 square foot room would make an awesome listening room. The city of Lawrenceville wanted to turn the area into an entertainment district, so I pitched the idea to them, and they loved it. Today, in addition to the music lessons, we have a concert series at the Train Depot with shows about every other weekend featuring soloists, duos, trios and bands.” Singer songwriters, Americana, Blues, Rock, and Country are all influences that can be seen at the Depot. There is something for everyone in an intimate setting.

Celebrating thirty-five years in the Gwinnett School of Music has brought things full circle for Kelly Bowlin and his company. Pushing forward into all areas of Gwinnett has been part of the dream. “With all these schools in a variety of locations,” Bowlin states, “we are able to offer quality music lessons and performance experiences to our students. We offer a variety of musical exposure, educating people from across the county in unique venue settings.”

More information at http://gwinnettmusic.com/

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PAGE 17

Pet Perch: When in Doubt, Dogs Work it Out

By Terie Hansen

Travel Tales: Fly Fishing Patagonia

By Pam Walker

Dogs don’t live in a vacuum. They are constantly learning about their environment and about us. They are watching and deciphering what we are trying to communicate to them, even though we may be unaware that we even ARE communicating to them. When unclear about what we are saying to them (and let’s face it, we usually use WAY too many words than we need), they “listen” to our body language. Cues, cues, and more cues! Your body language (cues) may be incongruous with your verbal commands, causing your dog to be confused as to what behavior you prefer.

When this happens, your dog shapes his or her world to his or her best advantage. In other words, dogs will resort to whatever suits them.

When guests arrive at your home and your dog rushes the door, many things are happening at that moment. Most people talk to their dog in a high pitched (excitement inducing) tone: “Who’s here?! Let’s go see!” Then they open the door (with the dog in a highly excited state of mind), greeting guests in a high pitched (excitement inducing) tone. Their dog may be jumping or barking, so they try to correct their dog by saying “no,” “down,” “off,” “sit,” etc., usually with erratic moves, which cause the dog to lift off even more. Sound familiar?

You want your dog to be calm, right? Your actions say otherwise. Calm dogs make better choices.

Now, picture the same scenario. Guests arrive – but now BEFORE you open the door, leash your dog. Calmly give your dog a one-word command. Only say it once. Wait for calm (a dog can be holding a command and not be calm). Anytime he or she breaks command, calmly pick up the leash and direct your dog back into the command. Guests enter, you greet them, and ONLY release your dog once the initial excitement subsides. This teaches your dog to be calm in order to get what he or she wants (which is to greet your guests). The more you practice, the quicker your dog will get to calm.

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

What I know about fly fishing you could put on the head of a pin. So, when asked to visit Patagonia, I thought …this is my chance to learn!

I flew to Buenos Aires and then to Bariloche with an hour drive to Villa Angostura. Arroyo Verde, the famed fly fishing lodge, was further on down a dirt road.

No signs, no directions – just a general sense of where we were going. We headed into the Traful River canyon until we got to a gate manned by a gaucho. Complete with red bandana, white shirt, and black “bombachas” (big wide pants) tucked into his boots, the gaucho opened the gate and let us pass into the valley. Fifteen minutes later we were greeted first by more gauchos, and then by riders on horseback. After another twenty minutes, we saw a lovely chalet in the distance with a sculpture garden along a stream. Estancia Arroyo Verde!

This private fishing and riding estancia is home to one of Argentina’s most elite families. The land was originally a gift to the family. In Argentina, as in the rest of South America, it is all about “who you know.” Like most people who live here, the family returns to Buenos Aires for the winter months. Remember that in the southern hemisphere, their summer is our winter and our winter is their summer.

Arroyo Verde is home to land-locked salmon, brown and rainbow trout, and more. It is a catch and release river from November through April. The fish can reach up to 29 inches for rainbows and browns, and they swim right up to you in the crystal-clear water. Best of all, bring only your favorite fly rod. Everything else is available on site. Imagine standing in the river surrounded by the Andes. What more could you ask for? Miles of nothingness surrounds this pristine spot. Did I learn to fly fish? Maybe! Too bad I had to come home!

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant. More information at pam@walkeradventures.com

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Crane’s Corner: Gwinnett: Turns 200 and at a Crossroads

By Bill Crane One of Georgia’s oldest counties, Gwinnett County, became 200 years old on December 15, 2018. Looking ahead, as the man whom the county is named for frequently did, it may be time for bold decisions and potentially new directions.

Button Gwinnett – briefly Georgia’s provisional president in 1777, an early speaker of the Georgia state legislature and later signer of the Declaration of Independence – like most Georgians of his time felt that an independent United States might be unthinkable. Great Britain was then the world’s mightiest empire, and the colonies of the Americas were but a fledgling cluster of port cities and plantation towns up and down the eastern seaboard of North America with no organized militia.

But while first serving in a Georgia provincial assembly in Savannah in January of 1776, Gwinnett was selected as a delegate to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, where he was first seated that May. Gwinnett became convinced that American independence was worth the risk and price that would likely be paid, and on July 2, 1776 and again on July 4th, Gwinnett voted in support of the Declaration of Independence. Georgia was considered a remote colony, but all three of its delegates to the Continental Congress became enthusiastic supporters of the Declaration and the American Revolution.

During the century that followed, Gwinnett County remained a predominantly rural county, and still later a somewhat remote bedroom community for fast growing Atlanta to its south. By the 1940 census, prior to World War II, the county population remained just under 30,000. Rapid growth defined the post-war decades, and now approaching the 2020 census, Gwinnett has become Georgia’s second most populous county, with nearly 1,000,000 residents. Gwinnett is home to Georgia’s largest public-school system and one of its highest performing. A strong cluster of municipalities offer differing tastes of Gwinnett life and county pride, and its percentage of lifelong residents remains high. A strong technology corridor exists along the county center, and the I-85 corridor is ripe for re-development.

But Gwinnett County is also changing. During the last census, Gwinnett’s population became

majority-minority. For decades thousands of Gwinnett workers streamed each morning along interstates, state highways, and major thoroughfares into metro Atlanta’s core. But that traffic is now much more two-way, with workers heading in and out, both high and low-skill variety. Interstate connectivity along I-85, 985, 316, and US Highway 78 remain almost unmatched in the region, while east/west connectors apart from the Ronald Reagan Parkway are few and far between. And while Gwinnett Transit System and GRTA Xpress buses offer service across Gwinnett to other parts of the metro Atlanta region, route frequency is largely limited to rush hour commutes.

Gwinnett county sites were left on the sidelines recently during competition for the nation’s largest economic development prospect, the Amazon HQ2 search, solely because of lack of direct access to region-wide transit. The Gwinnett County Commission has developed an ambitious transportation plan for the future, but they are leaving the decision on whether or not the county significantly expands and enhances its local transit options to area residents and businesses.

Gwinnett voters previously approved Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) referendums to improve local schools, parks, libraries and other infrastructure. Now they can even more significantly invest in their future through a March 2019 Transportation SPLOST special referendum.

Gwinnett County has reached many milestones with an even brighter future potentially ahead, but to maximize those successes and share the wealth with all levels of the local citizenry, a deeper and more tangible series of connections to the rest of the metro region are needed. A dedicated lane on Ronald Reagan Parkway or the Highway 120 corridor for high occupancy vehicles or bus rapid transit could easily improve and expedite county traffic east and west.

Direct rail or light rail access from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport would provide an explosive boost in convention and tourism business at the Gwinnett Convention Center, Infinite Energy Arena, and the upcoming Revel development.

In his day, British born and raised Button Gwinnett, who was first a modest merchant and later a plantation owner, heard the voices of those afraid of the future; but he also knew that America and its people could not prosper as a subordinate under the yolk and thumb of a large and sometimes oppressive government. If Button Gwinnett was still around today, I’m pretty sure he would be leading the way to get on board this train. Go Gwinnett.

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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Brookwood Theater Continued from page 11

Woman to Woman

“What a pleasure to teach a subject in which students would constantly surprise you with their ability and talent,” said the Lindahls. “Every time you create a production, you create a second family.”

The Lindahls have certainly created one of the largest families in the community through their efforts and mentorship in the Brookwood theater program. Now, they get to participate as volunteers while Laura takes over the job they still love.

“I love working with high school students!” said Laura. “I love their energy. I love their view of the world. I love to be in a place where I can watch them grow not only as actors, but as people.

I am passionate about theatre, and there is nothing more rewarding than watching young people develop this passion.”

For the Brookwood High School community, this honor is just one way to say thank you to a couple that changed their school, neighborhood, and students in a very real way. While no official date has been set for the renaming of the theater – it really remains a formality – the Lindahls have already left an indelible and unchangeable mark on the theater they love so much.

By Traci Sanders

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As a mother of three, who also operated a full-time child care business in my home for fourteen years, I endured the daily pressures of both societal labels: “stay-home mom” and “workaholic mom.” Various levels of negativity and judgement accompanied both roles. Perhaps this article will offer a different perspective and encourage an appreciation for all roles that women fill in our lives.

“Wash this, find that, help me, buy me, take me, fix me, bring me.” And after all that you hear, “What’s for dinner?” Do these phrases mimic the scripts of your daily life? If so, you are not alone. Many women in America – regardless if they hold a job outside of the home or not – maintain the role of primary caretaker of their families.

Women are genetically charged to be the nurturers and givers. And while being a mom can be one of the most thankless jobs in existence, most mothers would attest that they wouldn’t give up that role for all the money or prestige in the world. This is not to say that these same women don’t also harbor occasional resentment or frustration within their roles, which usually stems from self-neglect.

Because women are givers by nature, they often experience guilt (whether self-inflicted or outwardly assigned by others) if they spend time or money on themselves. We women feel lazy if we sit down for a moment to catch a favorite television program. We feel unproductive if we haven’t crossed off most of our to-do items each day, and less worthy if our homes and daily lives don’t at least appear to be organized and clutter free.

How did we get to this place as women? Was it the introduction of women’s rights? Did all of America (women included) interpret that to mean because we are allowed the privilege to speak up for ourselves or vote that we must also be superheroes? Yes, we are allowed to work if we choose, but often the price we pay is enduring scrutiny for being a “workaholic,” essentially abandoning our children or not fulfilling our motherly duties if we aren’t able to keep a perfect home or be present for all of our children’s activities.

Then there is the other extreme end of the spectrum where working people (especially women) criticize those who choose to be stay-home moms as being “lazy or lacking ambition.” Either label can become a detriment to the self-valuation of women and create impossible standards to live up to.

Why can’t we appreciate both roles that women play? Why not support the stay-home mom’s choice to be more materially present in her children’s lives without making her feel like a second-class citizen for not bringing home a paycheck? Instead of judging her, offer her a complimentary child care session to give her a much-needed break from baby talk (whether she feels she needs it or not) and allow her to return to her family as a well-rested, more compassionate mother.

In contrast, what gives anyone the right to label a working mom uncaring or materialistic? I say commend her for having the courage to penetrate a predominantly male identified work environment and stop refraining from inviting her to birthday parties or PTO fundraisers because you think she’s too “self-involved” to contribute. We women are so compassionate and considerate of our husbands and children and even other people’s children, but treat other women with a spirit of jealousy or competition.

Let’s give ourselves and each other a break from judgment!

Whether you are organizing the school bake sale, homeschooling your teenager, or leading a team of employees in changing the parental guidelines for children’s television, know that you are making very important contributions to society. Each of you, in your own unique way, is creating a more stimulating, comforting, safer, and healthier world for children. That’s what truly matters.

Providence Christian Academy Continued from page 5 ship with Jesus and the way teachers try to build true bonding relationships with them is what makes it unique.

When Cantrell returned to Providence in 1999, he was the youngest baseball coach in the county and remained so for a number of years. “I don’t think I’m the youngest anymore,” he jokes, “but I am the longest tenured coach in Gwinnett County. I have been at my school longer than anyone else.” The Providence baseball team has made the playoffs fourteen of the nineteen years that Cantrell has coached, winning two region championships, the state runner-up in 2011, and the state championship in 2012. Over thirty players have gone on to play in college, and three players are currently playing professionally. This year three seniors have all signed to play in college.

Cantrell currently serves as head of the Gwinnett Dugout Club along with Jed Hixson of Grayson High School. After the former head stepped down, Cantrell laughingly says he was put in charge because he left the meeting early to watch his son play baseball.

Communications director Stephen Daniels points out that Cantrell is one of many Providence alumni who have returned to be staff members, as well as being one of the next generation of parents. Daniels, who is also a graduate, has been on staff for six years and has three children who attend Providence. He says it has been fun to see the large number of graduates who want to come back to be involved in some way. “We all had a great experience at Providence, and we certainly want that for our children,” he explains. “To be able to work at a school that we love is really gratifying.”

More information at www.providencechristianacademy.org

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One on One: Nothing but the Truth Ministry

By Emily Haney Scarlett Rigsby never imagined that she and her dog, Truth, would be running a ministry. When she was laid off from the YMCA eighteen years ago, she had to find a new path. She felt the Lord was leading her towards a different kind of work, but she wasn’t sure what yet. A mission trip to Eastern Kentucky later, Rigsby knew she wanted to help children— leading her on the path of starting Nothing but the Truth Ministry.

The name came before the ministry. She knew a puppy was coming along and prayed for a name. “As we met people I wanted to show who God is in what we do,” said Rigsby. “One day the verse John 14:6 kept flooding my mind. It’s about truth and light because Jesus said that’s who He is.” So that became the name of the ministry’s mascot, with the name for the ministry’s being based on the same Scripture.

In 2010, the group piloted a program that would provide meals for the weekend for fifteen students in need at one school. Today they pack meals each week for forty-five schools and around 1,000 students. From working with schools, Rigsby learned how students were classified as homeless and how some were living in extended stay hotels. She worked to start a weekly Bible study at the hotels that included a meal. The ministry began to grow from this weekend food ministry.

Nothing but the Truth focuses on the mind, body, and spirit of the people they serve. They offer adult ESL classes, reading help for kids, life groups, and Truth Homes, just to name a few.

Truth Homes are transitional housing for families that live in extended stay places or are classified as homeless. A family will move in for a year to have some time to get caught up and catch their breath. “They’re in a more stable environment where we equip them with the tools to be selfsufficient when they move out,” said Rigsby. “It helps kids succeed in school as well if they’re not roaming around in hotels or homeless.”

Building relationships and equipping people with tools is the main focus of the ministry. “We’re not a handout ministry,” said Rigsby. “We’re an equipping ministry.” They believe that if they can aid someone in getting back on his or her feet without just giving handouts, then that person can thrive. According to Rigsby, they want the people they help to see themselves as God created them and to be loved. Nothing but the Truth focuses on getting to know those they serve by returning week after week.

Truth, the mascot, helps Nothing but the Truth build relationships. “Whenever we go in to places like apartment complexes, we have Truth there to help us build the bridge,” said Rigsby.

“Most kids like the pretty dog and want to come pet her. She starts the conversation.”

Rigsby said that they pray for the next neighborhood to help. “The Lord brings in community partner’s that lead us to who we’re looking for. Those who are having life struggles, we want to show them that they’re not forgotten.” They always find the perfect fit.

Scarlett Rigsby is the creator of Nothing but the Truth Ministry. More information at https://nothingbutthetruth146.org

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PAGE 21

Take a Deep Breath: Five Ideas to Reduce Stress

Lilburn Police Continued from page 13

By Our Town Staff

The store employees stayed to clean for about twelve straight hours that day, setting up fans and dehumidifiers, moving more furniture around, and completely rearranging the store to protect stock.

Of course, the store is still cleaning up, but with an understanding customer base and doors open for business, Mainstreet Guns & Range is still smiling. Special thanks to the officers of the Lilburn Police Department for their support and help in the community.

More information at mainstreetgunsandrange.com or https://www.facebook.com/lilburnpolicedepartment/

From work to working out, kids’ activities to household tasks and so much more, modern life has never been busier. The problem is that our hectic schedules can lead to unnecessary stress.

If you’re one of the many who feel frazzled on a regular basis, you’re probably longing for a vacation or a day at the spa. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy ways to cut stress that you can sneak into everyday life. From mealtime to bedtime, if you start embracing small moments to be more mindful, you’ll be surprised how fast you can cut down on overall stress. Here are five simple examples of how you can find your own moments of Zen today: 1. Take a 5-minute walk: Whether it’s getting fresh air or just getting yourself moving, a change of place and pace can reduce stress and give you a few moments to relax, especially during hectic times.

For example, take a 5-minute break while dinner’s cooking to walk around the block. Weather not right for a walk? Give your body a quick stretch with an at-home yoga session.

2. Find quick-and-easy solutions: If making dinner for your family seems like a daunting task, choose quick-and-easy options designed to take the hassle out of meal prep. The frozen food aisle is a great place to begin your journey toward finding your happy place in the kitchen. Here you can find a variety of products that taste great and require minimal prep work, so you can dedicate more time to doing the things you love, like spending quality time with your family.

3. Choose quality over quantity: Make the most of your time each day by being intentional with your activities. Whether it’s playing a new board game with the kids after dinner or watching a TV show with your spouse, small quality moments can help you relax and enjoy yourself and your family when at home.

4. Take time to reflect: When using great-tasting, low-hassle products to make dinner, you’ll be spending way less time in the kitchen. Take those extra moments to reflect on everything you accomplished during your day or week. This will help give you a sense of pride and is a real confidencebooster.

5. Break from technology: Take a break from technology, even if it’s only for 5 minutes. Put down your phone, turn off the television, and step away from all electronics. Just giving your mind a break from the active world of technology can reduce stress and help you mentally reset, especially during mealtimes, where being present is particularly important.

These are just five simple examples, but moments of peace can be found anywhere if you take the time to look for them. Remember, the little moments are what make the biggest impact in life, and by embracing mindfulness, you’re setting the stage to be able to focus on what really matters. Life is a present, so take time to enjoy the moment. (BPT)

The Upside Continued from page 14 There is no doubt that the very basis of the film is cliché: a poor, African American parolee befriends a rich, white quadriplegic. The two seem to have nothing in common, yet their friendship develops against all odds. Of course, this is cliché, but this is based on a true story, so apparently LIFE is cliché! Cranston and Hart are believable and endearing as they bounce one-liners off each other effortlessly. Cranston expertly acts the part of a man who can only move his head; he is a man who hates his life, but has not completely given up hope. It is this same sense of hope that Dell embraces, in wanting to rise above his past mistakes. Both men have the power to help each other, and the result is a feel-good movie – just the type of appealing film Hollywood likes to produce.

The film is hilarious and offers insights into two opposite socioeconomic levels, pointing out that both ends have their own useful experiences and knowledge that can be universally helpful and harmful. Is the film preachy? Yes. It preaches against stereotypes, against racism, against classism, and against academic snobbery, and it does it with grace and humor. At one point, Dell tells Phillip, “You can have any girl you want. What about this lady with all the Botox? You’re perfect for each other. You can’t move your body, and she can’t move her face.” The film expertly takes seriously depressing life situations and finds an “upside” to them.

The Upside is entertaining and worth its ticket price for those seeking a good laugh and a heartwarming story. Does the comical ex-con manage to break through the brick exterior of the milliondollar man in less than rare fashion? Absolutely. Is it a good reminder that we should all have hope, no matter how terrible our situation may seem? Absolutely. Are stereotypes questioned and broken?

Yes. There is a reason that millions of people enjoy these “feel good” films – they inspire and prove, as the old cliché says, that “anything is possible.” If viewers can overlook the flaws highlighted by the critics, The Upside can be an excellent choice for an entertaining night out.

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PAGE 22

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