FEBRUARY 2020 (BLUE) Our Town Gwinnett Monthly Magazine for Gwinnett/NE DeKalb by Our Town Gwinnett Magazine

FEBRUARY 2020 Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine

Our Town GWINNETT

Lawrenceville Snellville Lilburn Stone Mountain Tucker

Up Close with Vecoma at the Yellow River, see story on page 5

10 18 20 21

The Village Corner: You’re in for a Treat One on One: Snellville Mayor Barbara Bender Run the Reagan: Giving Back to the Community Top Dogg K9 Foundation: Taking Care of Gwinnett’s Vets

The Village Corner

German Restaurant, Bakery & Tavern We are a full-service bakery, restaurant, and tavern specializing in German cuisine.

Happy Valentines Day!

“Dr. Simmons is proud to offer Botox and Dermal Fillers. Call the office to schedule your consulta

6655 James B Rivers Dr. Stone Mountain, GA 30083

(770) 498-0329

Hours Of Operation: Tuesday - Friday 9am-10pm Saturday 8am-11pm Sunday 10am-9pm Closed Monday

Celebrate with Us!

At the dental office of John W. Simmons, IV, we are committed to providing you with the high comprehensive dental care, focused on improving both the function and beauty of your smile. A patient care and comfort are our primary concerns. We are proud to run a practice that treats ea kind, gentle, and caring manner, just like family. We offer a full range of the latest cosmetic a procedures that concentrate on ensuring long-lasting, brilliant results you will love, and others

Cosmetic Dentistry The cosmetic procedures we offer can dramatically enhance the appearance of your smile. We offer a wide selection of procedures that can correct almost any dental imperfection.

• Porcelain Veneers • Teeth Whitening • Dental Bonding • Gum Recontouring • Dental Implants • All-Porcelain Crowns

BEFORE

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Compassionate Dentistry Our superior services can recapture the health, functionality, and youthful appearance of your natural smile. Our practice focuses on providing Before After long-lasting results and promoting overall dental health. Hexcellent e a lt H y • B e a u t i f u l • i n s p i r e d PAGE 2

J OHN W. S IMMONS,

D.M.D., P.C. • SUPERIOR DENTAL CARE AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY

2381-B Main Street E Dr. John Simmons and Dr. Snellville, Robert French combine a blend of Georgia 30 experience, wisdom and fresh new knowledge to affordably serve

Call for an Appointment

our patients with healthy, beautiful smiles. Our experienced team provides 5 star service, personalized care, and an extraordinary commitment to your health and well-being. Please join our family by scheduling a new patient exam!

770-985-2437

John W. Simmons, IV, DMD, PC www.smilesbysimmons.co Robert J. French, DDS

Office Monday 9:00am30078 - 7:00pm Tuesday 7:00am 2381-B Main Street EastHours: • Snellville, Georgia Wednesday 7:00am - 6:00pm Thursday 7:00am - 2: 770-985-2437 • SmilesBySimmons.com Dr. John W. Simmons, IV

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Our Town Gwinnett

together Now

for your health.

Northside Hospital and Gwinnett Medical Center have joined forces to bring better health care to the communities we serve. We don’t take this mission lightly. That’s why our new system unites our many convenient locations, our broad network of distinguished physicians and extensive array of comprehensive services. Because exceptional health care isn’t any one thing. It’s everything.

Welcome to your Northside.

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Our Town Gwinnett

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PAGE 3

FANCY FEATHERS 3180 Oakcliff Industrial Street, Doraville Georgia 30340

Open 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Mon.-Wed.-Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. & 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Tues.-Thur. Also open by appointment. Offering all parrot/bird supplies at wholesale prices. We sell hand fed BABY PARROTS and cockatiels. Please call 770-986-0661 or visit fancyfeathersstore.com. Featuring Zupreem, Pretty Bird and Dr. D’s pelleted diets, laAvian seed diets along with our own mix, Fancy Feathers, of seeds specialized for parrots, cockatiels, parakeets, finches and Gouldian finches.

Online store at fancyfeathersstore.com

2019 babies are coming in!

Currently available l Macaws l Amazons l Cockatoos l Cockatiels l Conures See Facebook page ‘Fancy Feathers Atlanta’ for pictures.

Educational Entertainment

Learn

Touch

Cuddle

Be entertained while you learn! Enjoy an interactive hour learning about these magnificent birds.

Parrot Productions Brenda Bean (770) 715-5337

Call us now to book your next party, school or retirement home entertainment.

parrotproshows.com

Check our website for events! Go to menu, then events—we might be at a library near you! PAGE 4

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On the Cover: Style and Flair: Vecoma at the Yellow River Gives Brides an Unforgettable Experience By Kristen Eleveld Planning a wedding, big holiday party, or even an important corporate gathering is no small task. You have to find the perfect venue – a place that is run by experts in the business who can offer you guidance and ideas while still allowing you to add your unique style to make the event your own. Luckily, for the citizens of Gwinnett, you can find all that and more in Snellville at Vecoma at the Yellow River. Vecoma at the Yellow River is celebrating its 25th year as an official corporation, but the history of this gorgeous area extends all the way back to the 1800s. Now, mother-anddaughter team Judith Warren and Caroline Tucker run Vecoma with the efficiency and expertise that has become synonymous with the venue itself. As co-owners of this amazing site, both Judith and Caroline have worked to ensure that every event, from bar mitzvahs to quinceañeras, have every detail attended to in order to create a celebration that no one will soon forget. “We hold over one hundred events a year and have hosted thousands of weddings, anniversary parties, birthday parties, celebrations of life, holiday parties, bar mitzvahs, and corporate meetings,” Caroline said. “We have even done baptisms in the river!” With so many events taking place in such a short time, it may seem like it would be difficult to remember each of them individually. But for Caroline, the celebrations that stick out the most in her mind are the hundreds of themed weddings they have hosted. “At Vecoma, brides can be creative and put their own unique flair on their wedding,” said Caroline. “Some of our most fun weddings have been ‘theme’ weddings. Our couples are so creative!” Indeed, the couples who are tying the knot at Vecoma have certainly run the gamut of possibilities when it comes to choosing a theme to commemorate their special day. Caroline and Judith have seen it all, from Harry Potter, to Star Wars, to a variety of favorite Disney movies. They have even seen themes centered around lumberjacks and Harley Davidson

motorcycles. At this point, it would be hard to surprise Caroline or Judith with any kind of theme a couple chooses – though they certainly invite you to try! Hosting so many weddings has made the Vecoma team experts at noticing and predicting trends for upcoming ceremonies. For instance, Caroline noted that purple had a long reign as the most popular color to appear in a wedding. More recently, the colors burgundy and blue have been playing larger roles, and Caroline predicts that blue will stick around, while burgundy may be traded for icy shades of green instead. Whatever your color choice, you don’t have to spend months thinking about it – Vecoma at the Yellow River can put together a wedding with very short notice. In fact, when many couples found themselves unable to go through with their wedding plans after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, the experts at Vecoma at the Yellow River were able to help several couples move their weddings to the Vecoma venue and create the wedding of their dreams. If you’re not one for parties at a wedding, Vecoma has a plan for that, too. A growing trend for many couples is elopement, and Vecoma at the Yellow River offers “elopement packages” that allow you to have a gorgeous wedding in the perfect setting, without adding a reception at the end. These weddings take place Monday through Thursday, and have gained a lot of attention for its unique approach to planning a ceremony. Finding the perfect venue for your wedding doesn’t have to be stressful – just call Vecoma at the Yellow River, tell them about your wedding dreams, and watch as their talented crew makes it all come true. More information at vecoma1.com.

Celebrating 20+ Years Of Making Smiles Blossom!

e Lov r youle! smi

“Where Smiles Blossom” Janice J. Wilmot DMD • MS • PC O RRTTH HO D DO O N T IIC SSPP E C I A ALLIISSTT

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956 Killian Hill Rd. Suite D Lilburn, GA 30047

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PAGE 5

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Publisher/Owner Ryan T. Sauers Ryan@EndResultZ.com Creative Director Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultZ.com

Editor Catherine L. Osornio Editor@EndResultZ.com Cover Photographer Marcie Reif Photography Distribution Coordinator DeeDee Chapman Feature Writers K. Coats Kristen Eleveld Ron Lambros Amy Ney Emily Rubin Traci Sanders Beth Volpert Johansen Contributing Writers Bill Crane Rhonda Frankhouser Taryn Haber Terie Hansen David Walker Pam Walker

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Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine

— An EndResultZ Media & Communications firm EndResultZ.com 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 2020 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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IN THIS ISSUE

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Our Town

2019

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7 7 8 8 9 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 18 19 20 21

On the Cover: Style and Flair: Vecoma at the Yellow River Gives Brides an Unforgettable Experience From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion Travel Tales: Dunes and Lagoons Pet Perch: Teaching Your Dog About Thresholds Home Safety Tips: Getting Your Home Ready for Anything this Winter Legal Talk: Powers of Attorney, Wills, and Advance Directives for Healthcare The Value of Handmade Gifts The Village Corner: Du bekommst eine Belohnung! (Translation: You’re in for a treat!) Alternative Valentine’s Day Ideas Writing Believable Love Stories Sports Talk: 2020 Spring Middle School Golf League Crane’s Corner: Realities of Recycling The Gift of Failure Gwinnett Technical College Earns National Recognition for Veterans Services G.R.E.A.T. Little Minds Book Exchange One on One: Snellville Mayor Barbara Bender Saving Animals Since 1979: Meet the Gwinnett Humane Society Run the Reagan: Giving Back to the Community Top Dogg K9 Foundation: Taking Care of Gwinnett’s Vets

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From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion

1988 Eddie’s Automotive Service 2020

5440 Webb Pkwy.

Lilburn, GA

By Ryan T. Sauers

@RyanSauers

770-381-7574 “Eddie’s” opened Feb.20, 1988

@RyanTSauers

I hope everyone is off to a great February and second month of the new decade. Our community continues to grow. 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 I want us to think about. 1. People love to smile and 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? 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? We laugh. Make someone’s day and make them smile and 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 and noisy 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 Continued on page 12

Old location on Hwy.29

Remembering 1988 s e i ’ d d EAutomotive

r embe R emNight Drop

Service

+yrs.

Matt Was Born in 1988 ... (9 mths. later)

p off Ourn you need tooudrsro, Whe r after h ca n your re we ope fo or be

5440 Webb Pkwy Lilburn, GA 30047

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Est.19

Travel Tales: Dunes and Lagoons By Pam Walker It takes effort to travel to Lençóis Maranhenses National Park in the far northeast corner of Brazil. This is a desert that is not a desert. The vistas are spectacular. Sand dunes reach 150 feet in height, and the annual rainfall of 30 inches qualifies this place as an oddity on the world map. As large as it is, it does not technically qualify as a desert. I had always wanted to see these magnificent white sand dunes that lie about 50 miles inland from the coast. The park itself – all 380,000 acres of white dunes – are dappled with over 800 freshwater lakes formed by rainwater during the rainy season. Many of the lakes disappear during the dry season from August to November, but because of the bedrock that this amazing desert sits on, there are still many to enjoy all year round. The entire trip is an adventure from a four hour car ride from Sao Luis to the dock in Barreirinhas where you board a small taxi boat that takes six hours on the Preguiças River to reach the small town of Atins. There are no cars in town – only 4 x 4’s and flatbed trucks with blown up tires to get through the deep sand that lines the streets. There is a great kite sailing school as winds are constantly blowing. Those winds too are how the dunes have formed over the years. There are minimal places to stay, and hammocks are de rigueur if you plan on staying. The only air conditioning in this constantly hot climate is in the cabs of the trucks. After a day of sandboarding, horseback riding, or just zooming up and down the dunes, even in a hammock with fans and breezes blowing, sleep comes easily. Was the adventure getting here worth it? You bet! Pam Walker is a Virtuoso Travel Advisor and can be reached at pam@walkeradventures.com

Our Town Gwinnett

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PAGE 7

Pet Perch: Teaching Your Dog About Thresholds By Terie Hansen

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Thresholds at it pertains to dogs is an important but oftentimes overlooked area of training with many owners and dog trainers. Teaching a dog not to move through a threshold (door to the house, car door, crate door, etc.) unless invited to do so can be lifesaving. So many times I hear of dogs escaping through, only to get lost, or worse, hit by a car or engage in dog fights. You can start by having your dog on a leash and having him or her sit or down a short distance from the door (giving space) when you take your dog out/in. YOU should be closest to the door, not your dog. You don’t want your dog right by the door as this is too difficult and he or she will be out the door as soon as it’s open. When you begin to open the door, if he or she attempts to move out of position, you can pop the leash back on as you quickly close the door. Repeat the process over and over until your pet doesn’t move while you are opening the door. Remember, teaching your dog something new takes the longest the first few times, so patience is important. For car doors, do the same as the above when having your dog get into the car. Coming out of the car, slowly crack the door, reach in, and take hold of the leash. If your dog moves towards the door, simply close it. Repeat until you can open the door fully and your dog waits to be invited out. DO NOT talk to your dog during the process as this will only excite your dog. Role play these behaviors in drill like sessions. Go out the door, car, crate, and then come back inside. Repeat, repeat, repeat. This will help your dog learn much more quickly than doing it once or twice a day. Enjoy a calmer, safer, better behaved dog! Terie Hansen is Owner of Good Dog! Coaching & Pet Care. More information at www. gooddogcoaching.com

Home Safety Tips: Getting Your Home Ready for Anything this Winter By Our Town Staff

Weddings & receptions, holiday parties, anniversary celebrations, sweet 16 parties, corporate events and more!

(770) 972-6540 • www.vecoma1.com PAGE 8

No matter where you live, there are bound to be weather challenges this winter. Your home may suffer damage, minor or major, from the onslaught of colder weather, wind, heavy rain, ice storms, or even major snow systems. This can affect not only the integrity and value of your home but may lead to costly repairs down the road. That’s why it’s smart to prep now to prevent bigger problems in the future. It’s also a good idea to make sure that your home is prepped for spending more time indoors. Here are some basic tasks to prepare for wintry weather, and to ensure your family stays healthy and safe inside. 1. Perform a safety check: Are your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in good working order? Make monthly testing of these safety features a regular part of your seasonal household chores. Keep battery-operated units up to date with battery changes as per manufacturer instructions. Also, make sure you have a home fire extinguisher in your kitchen. 2. Ensure clean indoor air: Make sure your home’s heating and air conditioning units are in good condition, and schedule regular tune-ups to avoid unpleasant surprises. Change Continued on page 13

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Legal Talk: Powers of Attorney, Wills, and Advance Directives for Healthcare

American Heritage Animal Hospital

By David Walker How does one make sure his or her last wishes for healthcare, including life support, are honored? Georgia has a document for this purpose called an Advance Directive that replaces the old Living Will and the Healthcare Power of Attorney. And how does one make sure that financial matters will be taken care of if he or she becomes unable to manage? Georgia has a Durable Financial Power of Attorney format for that purpose also. Everyone who knows us knows that we strongly recommend a will, medical advance directive, and durable financial power of attorney. These are vital to help your loved ones handle your financial and medical affairs upon your disability or death. Some of the best referrals we get are from people who have these documents and have found out how they smooth the road. With these documents and a will, you have the basic estate plan everyone needs. Continued on page 12

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The Value of Handmade Gifts By K. Coats Gift-giving is an art form in and of itself, and it takes many factors into consideration: age, cost, usefulness, etc. The best gifts can also remind the recipient about the giver as well, and this is where a unique group of gift-givers excel – in handmade gifts. It’s a common misconception that handmade gifts are low cost or even “cheap.” But nothing could be further from the truth. When someone takes the time to buy/collect supplies and craft an item specifically for a loved one, then he or she is making a personal investment that simply cannot be duplicated in an item purchased from a store. Not to say that bought items aren’t special because, of course, they can also be cherished. But there is something about a handmade gift that endures beyond its time and even beyond the item itself. Some of my favorite pieces of furniture, while not the most attractive, are special to me simply because my great-grandfather made them. And as of the last several years, they are also a lasting memory as the man himself is no longer with me. So what is it about a handmade item that gives it that lasting power? The explanation is more profound than one might first think. In 1992 Gary Chapman released his book The Five Love Languages. He identifies five areas where people express their love for others as well as how they feel the most loved. These areas include Acts of Service, Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Receiving Gifts, and Physical Touch. As a quick review, Acts of Service translate to doing nice things for a person, like washing their dishes or mowing the lawn. Words of Affirmation simply mean a person likes to be told how much they matter. Quality time can mean a date or any oneon-one time. My eight-year-old daughter feels most loved when we spend time together, so a trip alone with her to the grocery store can help her feel connected and loved. Receiving Gifts doesn’t mean that a person is greedy – just that a gift, no matter how small, is a gesture that means more than just the item itself. My sister showed her love to her friends every year as a child by spending her birthday money on Christmas gifts for them. And she is so very proud when she knows she has found THE perfect gift for Continued on page 14

Our Town Gwinnett

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PAGE 9

We’re Hiring Bus Drivers! • Competitive hourly wages • Bene its & paid training We’re• Required HiringtoBus Drivers! have a good driving record • Competitive hourly wages • Benefits & paid training • Must havea good a Highdriving Schoolrecord Diploma or GED • Required to have

The Village Corner: Du bekommst eine Belohnung! (Translation: You’re in for a treat!)

We’re Hiring Bus Drivers! By Ron Lambros

As you round the corner of East Ponce de Leon Avenue and get ready to head onto Main Street in Stone Mountain, you might just think you’re on the set of a Heidi movie. Standing before you is a beautiful chalet, picturesque, and reminiscent of Southern Germany, Switzerland, or Bavaria. In reality, it’s The Village Corner Restaurant, Bakery, and Tavern, which has served authentic German dishes, pastries, and beer in the same location for almost forty-six years. And, true to German style, the meal portions are hearty, the atmosphere is genuine, and the service is warm and friendly. “My mom and dad, Claus and Hilde, came to the United States from Germany years ago,” says 1st generation manager, Carl Friese. “They moved from Maryland to Atlanta and opened this restaurant when my father decided real estate wasn’t for him. It’s grown a

• Must have School Diplomaand or GED • Competitive Calla High 678-225-7670 apply hourly to wages Call 678-225-7670 and apply • Bene itsto& paid training posting # 52993 at GCPSjobs.org posting #52993 at GCPSjobs.org • Required to have a good driving record • Must have a High School Diploma or GED @GCPSHR

Call 678-225-7670 and apply to posting #52993 at GCPSjobs.org

Continued on page 15

Here to help you keep your promise to always be there. Take steps to plan for your future! Sign@GCPSHR up for

Successful Retirement Planning

Gwinnett Tech Sugarloaf Campus March 5, 12, & 19, Three Thursdays | 6:15-9:15pm Tuition of $149 covers you and an adult guest of your choice Includes a complimentary consultation after class to apply the concepts you learned to your personal situation

Registration: go to www.GwinnettTech.edu/CE.

SRP will be found under the Hobbies and Personal Enrichment section. Questions about registration? Call the Continuing Education Dept. at 678.226.6739. Unable to attend class? Call 770.931.1414 today to schedule a no cost consultation - even if you just need a second opinion. For more information visit www.RogerSGreen.com

Roger S. Green, MSFS, CFP®

Green Financial Resources

With more than 30 years of experience helping people with their money through the tough times and the good times, and teaching retirement planning classes since 1997, Roger is highly qualified to assist with all of your financial and investment planning needs.

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Investment Advisor Representative offering securities & advisory services through Cetera Advisors LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor, Broker/Dealer, member FINRA, SIPC. Green Financial, Gwinnett Tech & Cetera Advisors are not affiliated. Office located at 3700 Crestwood Pkwy, Ste 140, Duluth, GA 30096.

PAGE 10

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Alternative Valentine’s Day Ideas By Taryn Haber The season of love is upon us and it’s time to celebrate. In 2020, Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday, a perfect opportunity to explore beyond the classic dinner date. If you and your partner are looking to commemorate your relationship in a unique way this year, try one of these alternative Valentine’s Day dates. 1. Go on a Hike – Nature can be a beautiful location for lovebirds. Georgia has many beautiful local parks and great hiking locations. A particularly popular spot is Stone Mountain Park. There are many options for different experience levels of hikers and attractions for couples of all types. Stone Mountain Snow Park is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information at https://www. stonemountainpark.com/Events/Snow-Mountain 2. Go to a Museum – Walk hand in hand among works of art, discussing how the pieces make you feel or expanding your minds with new views of the world. Bond over the beauty of sculptures of old or learn new things together. Museums can be a great way to explore history, different ways of thinking, and each other. The High Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and has beautiful current exhibits. More information at https:// high.org/ 3. Cook a Meal – Cooking together can be a great way to bond and reconnect after a long week of work. Since it’s Valentine’s Day, why not try something special? Look up a recipe and learn how to make it together. You can use YouTube as a resource and save on an expensive cooking class. Another option is to surprise your loved one with his or her favorite meal. Even if you end up burning it, you can laugh together over take-out. 4. Go See a Comedy Show – Speaking of laughing together, why not catch a stand-up comedy show? There are lots of big name comedians who come through Atlanta on a regular basis, but you never know what rising talent is in your own backyard. Go catch a comedy show at the Atlanta Comedy Theater. They have a Valentine’s Lover’s Night that begins at 7:30 p.m. More information at https://www.atlcomedytheater.com/ 5. Craft Your Love – Creating something together can be a wonderful way to memorialize your love. Go to a pottery class, start a home improvement project, or go to a local painting class. There are several locations throughout Atlanta where you can bring your own bottle of wine and food while a professional painting teacher walks you through a beautiful painting you get to take home at the end of the night. This Valentine’s Day season will have many options for love-centered paintings to hang in your home. Painting With a Twist is one such location that has several classes on Valentine’s Day night. More information at https://www.paintingwithatwist.com/studio/lawrenceville 6. Escape Together – Escape rooms can be a great way to test your love. Work together to solve puzzles or mysteries, beat the time limit to escape, and win each other’s hearts. Every Escape Room has its own theme, but Paranoia Quest Escape the Room has an Alice in Wonderland theme room available Valentine’s Day for those interested in exploring the classic tale. More information at https://www.paranoiaquest.com/buford/ 7. Just Desserts – Skip the classic dinner date and go straight to the sweet stuff with your sweetie. There are lots of local shops entirely focused on the perfect nightcap, but Valentine’s Day can be a great time to explore something you’ve never done before. Go to Sweet Hut Bakery & Cafe and try Korean sweets, including Boba tea and a Sweet Hut Donut. They are open from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. More information at https://www. sweethutbakery.com/. Another fun experience is the new way to have ice cream: rolled and mixed at a chilly -8 degrees. 8° Fahrenheit Ice Cream is open from 12 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. and serves up an insane amount of options for any sweet tooth. More information at http:// eat8f.com/ 8. Celebrate You – Rather than brave the hordes of lovers out in the brisk Valentine’s Day night, why not pick a date for yourselves? Celebrate the date of your first kiss or the first day you laid eyes on each other. This is a Leap Year and February 29th is traditionally the day that women are encouraged to propose. June 22nd is National Kissing Day. August 18th is National Couples Day. There are plenty of other unofficial dates that you can claim as your substitute Valentine’s Day to celebrate the one you love.

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Legal Talk Continued from page 9 The financial power of attorney is indispensable in caring for a person who has lost the capacity to manage his or her affairs. These are effective up until death, and they are the best tools to use to avoid a court guardianship. An advance directive is useful in life and at death. A person can name an agent to make health care decisions for him or her if he or she cannot communicate. Almost all other medical decisions and life support decisions are also covered. This is a more comprehensive document than the living will and healthcare power of attorney it replaced. It covers all medical treatments, including treatments preferred or not wanted. Our firm has been assisting clients with wills, healthcare and advance directives, and estate planning matters in Metro Atlanta since 1976. Give us a call and you and your loved ones will be glad you did. David S. Walker is Attorney at Law and Owner of the Walker Law firm. More information at http://www.walker-law-firm.com/

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Writing Believable Love Stories By Rhonda Frankhouser When I first started writing, I fancied myself a philosopher of sorts. I read books by critical thinkers like Aldous Huxley, René Descartes, and Ayn Rand. I watched movies with French subtitles and meditated to the New Age, spiritual strumming of Santoo Govi. I was all about broadening my mind and creating intellectual prose that would impress even the most persnickety scholar. My dream was to – let’s say it together – write the next great American classic. All that changed on a flight from California to Hawaii. I’d picked up a copy of Nicolas Evans’ best-seller, The Horse Whisperer, looking for a light read to pass the time. What I found was anything but light. The plot was sophisticated and unpredictable, and one of the most romantic I’d ever read. I was converted. So, I laid down my feathered philosopher pen and turned my sights to romance. A jump from complicated prose to stories about real human connection would be easy, right? Ummmm, no. Romance authors are magicians who weave emotions, scents, visions, sounds, and touch into something that makes the reader experience love as it blooms between the characters. That is no easy task, let me tell you. After many failed attempts, and a truckload of over-used adjectives, I stopped trying so hard to FORCE my characters to love one another. Instead of creating the cliché tall, dark, and handsome heroes, and perky, blonde heroines, I penned a list of characteristics I find intriguing. I closed my eyes and visualized the person I wanted to create. How they walked. Their ticks. How their clothes fit against their body. The way their mouth moved when they spoke. Not only the way they smelled and tasted, but how those things affected me. And this list went on and on, for each character. Once I employed all the senses, the characters came to life and guided me through their story. My trick to writing believable love stories is simple: make the characters real, and flawed. It’s more interesting, trust me. Put yourself in the mind of the character. Think about what would make you trust, appreciate, and finally desire, a love interest. The most realistic stories have heroes and heroines who build relationships the old-fashioned way through hard work and understanding, with a hefty dose of that undeniable chemistry we all crave. Rhonda Frankhouser is an award-winning novelist, now living in the beautiful state of Georgia. More information at www.rhondafrankhouserbooks.com.

One Man’s Opinion Continued from page 7 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.” Thus, be sure technology works for us and that we do not work for it. The personal touch in relationships built on trust 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. People want to see real, genuine, and authentic behavior. 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 is to 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. I wish everyone a super February, and I encourage you to make someone’s day. WOW them. Why? Because it feels great, and it is an amazing thing to do. Be upbeat, be encouraging, smile, laugh – and 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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Sports Talk: 2020 Spring Middle School Golf League

Home Safety Tips Continued from page 8 your furnace filter frequently so your air quality stays clean indoors where you’re likely to spend more time as temps get cooler. Also, consider setting up a schedule with a professional to have your ductwork cleaned on a regular basis. 3. Keep the outside out: Check weather-stripping around exterior doors, replacing where necessary, then seal and caulk exterior wood since wood trim can rot around windows and outside doors. Walk around the outside of your home with spray foam gap sealer and caulk to plug gaps, cracks, and holes in siding and around windows. Find and seal air leaks where you may be losing valuable heat and letting in the cold. Many energy companies offer an energy audit to discover where you may be losing both heat and money and to advise you on ways to improve your insulation. Making sure your gutters are cleaned out and in good condition helps protect your home’s exterior from exposure to moisture due to rain, ice, or snow melt. 4. Install back-up power: Power outages occur for many reasons, usually outside your control. In major storms, outages can last for days or even weeks when a large area is affected. To protect your home and family, an automatic standby generator gives you peace of mind – even when you’re not at home. 5. Trim your trees: Now is a great time to get your trees trimmed while it’s easier to access branches without all the extra foliage. Trimming dead branches helps prevent problems that can occur due to wind or ice storms when a falling branch could endanger a power line, car, or home. 6. Check your roof: Whether you inspect your roof yourself or hire a professional, it’s a good idea to take care of repairs before wind, hail, snow, and ice do their worst. Look for blistering, curling, buckling, or missing shingles. Any visible sagging of your roof, rust, or cracks around flashing or vent pipes should also be repaired promptly to avoid later problems like leaks. Don’t let the calamities of winter take you and your family by surprise. Prep work and maintenance on your home now, with a focus on safety, will ensure that you’re ready for anything that may come your way – even if it’s just hunkering down in your home for the season. (BPT)

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff Online registration for the 2020 spring season of the Middle School Golf League will open February 1st and is scheduled to close on February 17th. However, participation will be limited to the first 100 registrations. Play will begin in March and run through the end of May. Players are assigned teams based on middle school attendance and will 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, Monroe’s Bear Creek Golf Course, and Snellville’s County Club of Gwinnett and Summit Chase Country Club. “We had a great spring season with players participating who attend many different middle schools including Bay Creek, Couch, Creekland, Crews, Dacula, Five Forks, George Walton, Loganville, North Gwinnett, McConnell, Osborne, Providence Christian, Shiloh, Trickum, and Youth Middle Schools,” said League Director Les Witmer. “We’re really proud of the interest we are getting from these middle school players and parents and the support from their middle school administration and their cluster high Continued on page 17

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The Value of Handmade Gifts Continued from page 9 someone. And Physical Touch doesn’t have to be overly dramatic. It could be as simple as hand holding. My six-year-old son feels loved if we are sitting beside one another while watching a movie. As long as some knee or foot is touching me, he feels loved. And while it is possible that some gestures can fall across multiple areas, I can only think of one thing that combines all five. A handmade gift is unique in that it covers multiple Love Languages. The act of making it with a specific person in mind, the time spent on designing and crafting it, and even a sweet note accompanying it all touch on multiple routes wherein people feel loved. . So if you are lucky enough to receive a handmade gift this, take a moment and realize exactly what you have been given. It isn’t a mere item or token. It certainly isn’t cheap. It is the ultimate expression of what it means to love another person from every conceivable angle. Honor the handmade gift for it was made with love. More information on The Five Love Languages at www.5lovelanguages.com.

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Crane’s Corner: Realities of Recycling By Bill Crane Recycling first with newspapers during elementary school paper drives made sense as our family was also in the newspaper business, and public pressure was growing on publishers to use recycled stock. By college, I had added collecting empty aluminum cans to my recycling habits. I was a broke college kid, and at its peak recycling centers were paying around 33 cents a pound. Those realities have shifted substantially though, and in just the past two years, markets for the bulk of recyclable commodities have all but collapsed. You may still be sorting, separating and placing recyclables in your blue bin at home, but there is a more than decent chance that a healthy portion of that once recyclable waste stream is now heading straight to a landfill. More than a generation ago, China was a fastdeveloping country in need of multiple types of raw materials which it was unable to manufacture in sufficient supply on its own. Already a massive net exporter, the Chinese government and shippers realized that they had thousands of empty cargo containers in the United States and elsewhere in the western world about to be shipped back to China. Buying discarded metals, plastics, paper, and glass for a pittance and filling those empty containers that had to be shipped back anyway was an inexpensive solution to producing more raw materials. As late as 2017, the US exported roughly 14.5 million metric tons of recycled waste to China. China announced in 2017 that beginning in 2018 it would no longer accept many kinds of waste. During the phase-down in 2018, China still accepted 9.4 million metric tons, and only a fraction of that tonnage so far in 2019. Because of the collapse of the recycled commodity markets, mixed paper, which was going for $67.00 a metric ton as late as August of 2017, is now in negative numbers with the city, county, or state government seeking to dispose of the paper at -$2.00 a metric ton. And while many municipalities here and elsewhere consider banning single use plastics altogether, consider your community without pooper scoop baggies, your local newspaper sitting on the lawn soaked in a light rain without a bag delivery, or having to remember to carry bags/boxes on every shopping trip. And a good bit of single use plastics came about for product safety reasons: the interior lid/sealant on most all food products and the plastic wrap around virtually every over-the counter drug (a result of the Tylenol tampering scare of the 1980s). These plastics can be removed, but are we willing to sacrifice those protections and assurances of some degree of product safety? Illegal dumping also remains a problem, particularly and often in lower income communities. The ingenuity of American industry should be incentivized here to do more. Most tire rubber can be granulized into rubber and used for playground and other recreational surfaces, or perhaps as a roadway substrate. Coal ash, a by-product of burning coal for energy, is toxic and filled with heavy metals like mercury, but could potentially be used as a low cost road patching material, as well as mixed with traditional asphalt (a petroleum based product); and if a rubber liner (from tires) was under that same road bed, there would be much less opportunity for leaching into any nearby underground aquifer. The Chinese still incinerate our old unusable trash as a fuel source, but there are plenty of air quality concerns with that approach. As it continues to reduce its waste product footprint, the Coca-Cola Company developed a partnership a couple of decades ago, to turn its waste plastic bottles into carpet fiber. More carpet is now produced with polyesters and similar recycled plastic fibers than wool. However, only about 9 percent of all plastics are currently being recycled. Nearly eight million metric tons of plastic waste are seeping and creeping into the world’s oceans every year. Depending on where your fish and shellfish are caught, you are probably now occasionally eating some micro-bits of that plastic waste. Not exactly an appetizing thought, but choking on our own waste never is. We can’t look the other way anymore. With China out of the mix, our trash is here to stay, so let’s figure out more ways to again turn that trash back into treasure. 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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The Gift of Failure By K. Coats One of the classes I teach is Advanced Placement Literature and Composition, or AP Lit for short. It’s a challenging class, and it asks a lot of its students. They must analyze passages they’ve never seen before at a college level, and also write about that analysis at a college level – most times within a timed setting. For many, it’s the first time they’ve ever been told that their writing isn’t perfect, that there is room for improvement. My biggest challenge as their teacher is to get them to be patient with themselves and to embrace those low grades as stepping stones to more impressive skills in the future. They often think that because they didn’t do it perfectly the first time, then my class isn’t for them. I can see them planning the quickest route to the administrator in charge of schedules to get a change before lunch, and I all but block the doorway in my attempt to deescalate their fears. But I can’t blame them for panicking. They are constantly given the message to do well, score high, and perform at peak, so to them failure is, well, failure. And there isn’t much I can do to show them that they’re wrong. In life, some of our greatest growth comes from failure. In fact, I’d argue most of it does. Success is nice. Who doesn’t like that feeling of a job well done, right? But success is limited in what it can do. Success merely confirms what we already thought and did. It encourages that same behavior or effort. But failure? Failure pushes you to try harder, take a different route, and look at other options. It forces you to be more than you were on the previous attempt. Failure can be a gift. It can even enhance that feeling of success later on. That first successful bike ride is only a victory because

it comes at the end of many failed attempts. As adults, failed relationships help teach us boundaries – ours and theirs. When we step out of our comfort zone, risking failure helps to redefine those lines and gives us an even bigger comfort zone in the end. And what has the cartoon character Miss Frizzle from the Magic School Bus told a generation of kids? “Take chances, make mistakes, get messy!” The foundation of science itself is learning through one’s mistakes. For my students, failure comes as a shock. I have to assure them that this is normal and part of an overall process. I tell them, “I can’t make you better writers while telling you your writing is already perfect.” So in many ways, some of my biggest lessons don’t come from the literature we cover but rather from the challenges the students face. They learn to get back up and try again when they don’t get the grade they want. They learn to reflect and ask what they can do differently the next time. They learn that failure isn’t the end of the lesson; it’s the beginning. They learn to be patient. They learn to grow. So as we journey through this weird experience of life, I encourage you all to look at the gift of failure as a chance for growth as part of a larger lesson and not as the end of the lesson itself. Failure can be a gift if one only takes a long, hard look at it.

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The Village Corner Continued from page 10 lot over the years, but hasn’t changed its focus to serve authentic German cuisine the oldfashioned way. They’re both still very involved with the restaurant. In fact, they even live upstairs.” The Village Corner continues to be a family-run business to this day. Carl and his wife both work there, as do their children when they’re not away at college. “Honestly, everyone here is like family,” Friese said. And you sense it when you visit. Walking through the front doors, you’re immediately greeted by the wonderful odor of fresh pastries and breads, made on-site daily. Each delicacy is meticulously created by Pastry Chef Paul Priaz, a Chicago transplant of over thirty years, who sees far more than just sweet temptations in each of his creations. “I’ve been here for over seven years, and I take great pride and pleasure in the process of making each and every one,” Priaz said. “It’s like art. There’s a calming effect every time I bake. It’s almost like meditation.” Carl Friese says the same thing about the food dishes the restaurant serves. A graduate of culinary school, he sees each menu item as an art form and loves the creative process that goes into each one. Along with an incredible Sunday Brunch Buffet, and numerous continental and specialty items, The Village Corner has all the dishes you’d expect to see at a genuine German restaurant. Scan the menu and you’ll find German pancakes, German potato pancakes, schnitzel, fresh pretzels, Reubens, a large selection of German sausages, sauerbraten, and Wiener schnitzel. Top it off with a freshly-made dessert and your favorite beverage, and you have the makings for a wonderful dining experience, all served up as only The Village Corner can. “We grew and expanded when the Olympics came to Atlanta. People loved our authentic German fare,” Carl Friese proudly says. “And we have a large group of patrons who were stationed in Germany while in the military service that dine with us regularly because we’re the only place they can find authentic German food like they once enjoyed there.” Whether you’re dining in, taking out, or having a special event catered, The Village Corner does it all. German food at its best, pastries and breads to die for, and cold beverages for every taste -- all served in an authentic German atmosphere. There’s only one word that comes to mind…wunderbar! More information at www.GermanRestaurant.com.

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Gwinnett Technical College Earns National Recognition for Veterans Services

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By Our Town Staff Military Times® recently released their Best for Vets: Colleges 2020 rankings, and Gwinnett Technical College has been ranked second among career and technical colleges in the nation for its commitment to education and for providing opportunities to America’s veterans, service members, and their families. This marks the fourth consecutive year Gwinnett Tech has moved up in the rankings, and the third consecutive year in the Top 5. In 2019, the college was ranked 3rd in the nation. “Gwinnett Tech is honored to be named one of the top colleges in the nation for Veterans,” said Dr. D. Glen Cannon, president of Gwinnett Tech. “Our Office of Veterans Affairs has worked diligently over the last three years to remove any barriers veterans, service members, and their families may face while enrolling in college, and activating their GI Bill and all other available veterans benefits.” Gwinnett Tech Veteran Services include: • Admissions Fee Waiver • Assistance with GI Bill© certification • Dedicated Computer Lab • Priority Registration • Program Supplies Provided • Student Veterans Organization • Texts for Troops Program • Veterans Scholarships • Veterans Engagement Advisor • Yellow Ribbon Program “Gwinnett Tech is dedicated to providing support for our veterans to ensure they are successful the day they decide to enroll at Gwinnett Tech, to the day they walk across the stage at graduation and start their next career,” stated Travis Simpson, coordinator of Gwinnett Tech’s Office of Veterans Affairs. Annually, Military Times® invites career and technical colleges from across the US to complete a rigorous survey comprised of 150 questions about their operations involving current and former service members and their families. Additional data is then collected from the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments, as well as three educational department sources: the IPEDS Data Center, College Scorecard, and the Cohort Default Rate Database. Institutions are independently evaluated in five key categories: university culture, student support, academic outcomes/quality, academic policies, and cost and financial aid. More information at http://www.gwinnetttech.edu/veteransaffairs

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Sports Talk Continued from page 13 school golf coaches.” Witmer emphasized that the program’s goal is to teach the fundamentals of golf, and through team best ball play, provide a positive environment where everyone participates no matter whether just a beginner or a junior player who has playing experience. During the first weeks, beginning golfers will spend more time becoming more proficient at ball striking and understanding golf rules and etiquette. They then will 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 high school players are invited to play with their cluster middle school team, and then the middle school golfer is introduced to stroke play where he or she plays his or her own ball for an individual score. The season culminates with a very popular Drive, Chip and Putt competition and awards party. The league play and clinics are normally held on Sundays at 4 p.m. “Each team has a volunteer team marshal who is responsible for team lineups and supervises the play on the course,” 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 online registration and before the opening clinics, a parent orientation will be scheduled to provide more detailed information about the season schedule, play, and courses, as well as information about golf equipment and clubs. There will also be a Q&A session with Les Witmer and South Gwinnett’s Athletic Association’s Tim Gains. More information at https://www.middleschoolgolfleague.com or lawitmer@comcast.net.

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G.R.E.A.T. Little Minds Book Exchange

One on One: Snellville Mayor Barbara Bender

By Traci Sanders

Gwinnett Coalition of Health & Human Services has partnered with the Hudgens Center for Art & Learning in the Gwinnett Reading Exchange & Art Transforms (G.R.E.A.T.) Little Minds book exchange program. Participating pieces will be painted, adorned, and magically transformed into works of art by local artists. Gwinnett Coalition Executive Director Ellen Gerstein commented, “It is undeniable that artists will have long lasting community impact on transforming these book exchanges into inspiring works of art.” G.R.E.A.T. Little Minds is a campaign that brings more awareness to public art and inspires the love of reading in young children by providing free access to early learning children’s books and by encouraging appreciation for public art in Gwinnett County. The vision for G.R.E.A.T. Little Minds is to have 200 free book exchanges that will be sponsored by local businesses and individuals. Research has proven that the most effective way to improve reading achievement in young children is to increase access to books, and this program is sure to accomplish that goal. Hudgens Center Executive Director Ife Williams said, “As an artist, administrator, and parent, I believe artwork and illustrations play such a critical role in capturing young children’s interest in books. I am excited to have the Hudgens Center for Art & Learning involved in the launch of the G.R.E.A.T. Little Minds Call for Artists because this is an unparalleled opportunity for Georgia artists to bring artwork beyond the pages of books which will in turn encourage children to explore what is inside.” Continued on page 21

I recently interviewed Mayor Barbara Bender to learn more about the woman who has brought about so many wonderful changes in the Snellville community. After some friends encouraged her to run for an open council seat, Barbara did some research about the city. She saw a study that showed an area with the potential to be developed into a downtown, something Snellville didn’t have yet. Her excitement about making this a reality is what inspired her. Barbara was first elected in November 2005 as a council member. She was re-elected in 2009 and resigned her seat in 2011 and ran an unsuccessful campaign for mayor. She continued to stay involved working with two non-profits, one that encouraged entrepreneurship in Snellville and one that built the Snellville Veterans Memorial. In 2013 Barbara was re-elected as a council member and served until being appointed mayor in January 2019 to fill the remaining term of Mayor Tom Witts. Barbara was unopposed in her bid for mayor in November, and will serve a four-year term. Barbara’s influence on the community was evident even before her election as mayor. The city of Snellville signed a development agreement in August of 2019 to build The Grove at Snellville Towne Center, a document she had been bringing to fruition since first being elected in 2005. The city expects to break ground on this project in June 2020. Barbara’s other previous accomplishments include the Snellville Farmers Market and Community Garden and the Snellville Spirit Magazine. She also had a hand in the improvements at T.W. Briscoe Park and the completion of Oak Road Park. Barbara worked with other city officials to increase housing options for the senior population and took an active role in encouraging entrepreneurial startups within the city. Community is always at the heart of Barbara’s goals and projects. As a thirty-fourContinued on page 22

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By Traci Sanders Gwinnett Humane Society was founded in 1979 by a group of innovative ladies who wanted a local no-kill animal rescue program so people didn’t have to drive downtown to the Atlanta Humane Society. To date Gwinnett Humane Society has been serving Gwinnett and surrounding counties for over forty years and has rescued, re-homed, and provided love for thousands of animals as well as educating adults and children on responsible pet ownership, which includes the benefits of spaying and neutering companion animals. Often Gwinnett Humane Society is confused with the Gwinnett Animal Control program. Animal Control operates a shelter and is funded by Gwinnett County. Gwinnett Humane Society is a private, volunteer rescue organization that operates exclusively through foster homes where animals live until they are adopted. Both organizations fill a need in the community and thus work together to find homes for the unwanted and unloved animals in need. Since Gwinnett Humane Society doesn’t have a shelter, they operate out of a retail shop Continued on page 22

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Run the Reagan: Giving Back to the Community By Emily Rubin Once a year Ronald Reagan Parkway is closed for a day so about 1,800 runners can come out to race in Run the Reagan, a road race that gives back to the community. Since 1994, Run the Reagan has been raising money for local charities. Chairman Ron Weber and board member Steve Ridley joined the Run the Reagan board four years ago and have been seeing the number of runners and the amount of donations increase each year. This year the board hopes to get 2,000 runners to participate and raise $60,000 in net proceeds. Since its inception, Run the Reagan has donated over one million dollars to local charities. The race takes over 1,000 hours to plan each year and generous sponsors to make it happen. Cannon United Methodist Church provides a staging venue as well as buses to transport race volunteers, the Gwinnett Board of Commissioners closes the parkway down each year for the race, and the City of Snellville allows the race to use its police department while also providing a stage for the School of Rock to perform. Check-in and registration is held at Academy Sports. Eastside Medical Center is the title sponsor of Run the Reagan and has contributed over $300,000 to the charities the event supports over the years. Eastside has been with the race since its inception, and the event could not happen without its involvement. “We live in a very generous community, but we also live in a community with a lot of needs, and our job as is any charitable organization in the community is about that,” Steve said. “It’s about connecting resources with needs, and I hope that as a race that remains our priority and that people see this is something that we do effectively in our community.” Donations from the race to the Southeast Gwinnett Co-op allow families to come twice as often for food in the summer since students that rely on school breakfasts and lunches are home for the break. The donation to the Lilburn Co-op during Ron’s first year with Run the Reagan helped keep the co-op’s doors open. “The day we brought this $18,000 check in to them, they were going to shut the doors,” Ron said. “They had no money. It just rang true to me what impact we have on this community.”

Over the past five years, both co-ops have received $85,000 each. The money goes directly to fighting hunger, to supporting families in the community, and to providing clothes and other low-cost items to those in need. The remaining money raised after expenses goes to the other beneficiaries such as the Brookwood School Foundation. Even though the Brookwood School Foundation is a beneficiary, this is not a Brookwood event. Grayson, Berkmar, Shiloh, Parkview, and South Gwinnett High Schools have all become involved in the race by providing entertainment for the runners with their drumlines and cheerleaders stationed along the course. When schools participate, they can earn money to further education in their cluster through the form of grants. “We would really like to have more school clusters participate,” Ron said. “We really want this to be a community event and it’s all based on participation.” Participants in Run the Reagan can choose to run in any of the four races including a half marathon, a 10k, a timed or untimed 5k, and a 1-mile fun run. Run the Reagan is a competitive race for people of all ages and is open and welcome to all. There are also many different ways to get involved without running, from donating directly to the charities, to volunteering, to coming out as a fan. More information at http://runthereagan.net.

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Top Dogg K9 Foundation: Taking Care of Gwinnett’s Vets By Traci Sanders Every day in the United States, an estimated twenty-two veterans succumb to suicide due to mental illness or emotional trauma, and many others perish from malnourishment or physical illness. Thankfully, there is one local organization that is taking steps to rectify that. Top Dogg K9 Foundation (TDK9F) was founded by Army veterans, Blake and Sheila Rashad, in 2011. Blake (aka “Top Dogg”) served in the US Army as a K-9 Dog Trainer and has trained dogs since the young age of 12. As a child, Blake suffered from depression and required a service dog to constantly be by his side, which allowed him to mask his depression and anxiety well from others – everyone except Sheila, that is. She recognized the difference in Blake very quickly when he was away from his dog, and she inspired him to start speaking to others about his challenges and to help those who also struggled by training service dogs for them. The catalyst for launching Top Dogg K9 Foundation came after Blake met Vondell Brown, at the time Alumni Manager of the Wounded Warrior Project. Brown served in two wars during his twenty year US Army career and deals with the mental and emotional scars still today. Blake partnered with Brown because he knew he could use his expertise in dog training, along with his military combat skills, to impact the health and well-being of other veterans through the TDK9F. This program stands on the principle that Veterans Deserve Outstanding Generosity and Service (VDOGS) and supports that principle by rescuing, training, and pairing suitable dogs with disabled veterans and those struggling with mental health challenges post-deployment. Veterans are screened through a comprehensive application process, enrolled into the program, and then matched with an appropriately trained canine based on each one’s specific and most prominent needs. This care is provided for as long as the veteran needs support and continues through group training classes. Services such as dog training (which can take as little as eight months or as much as eighteen months), referrals for support/social services, canine therapy workshops, and networking opportunities with other veterans and military families are all provided through TDK9F at no cost to veterans. These resources are made possible by income generated from boarding, grooming, and training services for the public. TDK9F also educates the community at large on the challenges warriors face concerning physical and mental health issues, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Military Sexual Trauma, depression, and other common diagnoses experienced after deployment. These warriors include Active Duty Military, Reserve, National Guard, Military Veterans (Honorable or Other Than Honorable Discharge), and Gold Star Families. TDK9F aspires to raise money to rescue more dogs from local shelters while simultaneously rescuing disabled military veterans from the wounds of war, in the Southeast and all of Georgia. They are affiliated with several other organizations to provide the most comprehensive resources for these soldiers including the Gwinnett Jail Dog Program, Wounded Warriors Project, the Arthur Blank Foundation, Wal-Mart, The Home Depot Foundation, and Military Veteran Community At-Large. TDK9F has been featured on WSB-TV, CBS46, 11 Alive, FOX5, and the NFL Network. Keeping a program like this thriving requires ongoing donations and volunteers for tasks such as dog walking, cleaning kennels, public access trips, painting, dog bathing, setting up for events, and administrative support. The kennels are in disrepair and need complete remodeling. A GoFundMe page has been set up to work toward this goal. Other immediate needs are premium dog food/sports mix, flea control medicines, veterinarian services funding, and monetary donations to cover the down payment on new kennels. The current kennels were built in the 1980s for short-term boarding. Some are falling apart, limiting the number of dogs they can save and board. The goal is to raise $30,000 for the entire remodel, but $7,850 is the amount of the deposit needed to order the material to get started, so every donation helps. By simply donating $22 per month, community citizens can help defray the cost of locating, training, and gifting these dogs that are so valuable to warriors. Social media users can also use the hashtag #Save22 in their posts to increase the number of dogs provided to veterans annually. More information at http://topdoggk9.org/ or www.vdogs.org.

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G.R.E.A.T. Little Minds Book Exchange

Continued from page 18

The Hudgens Center will host a G.R.E.A.T. Little Minds exhibition in February where the public will be invited to view the book exchanges. The book exchanges will begin in March and will take place in various locations throughout Gwinnett county where books are needed most. The process will operate on the honor system, and anyone is welcome to participate. The coordinators are asking for a clean exchange – one book replacing another – to ensure an ample supply of books. An assortment of 30 to 50 multi-language books, appropriate for children ages 0-8, will be distributed throughout the community, as well as bookmarks and educational literature regarding the importance of early education. This book exchange promises to be just one more way our great community will come together for the entertainment, education, and betterment of its citizens, especially our youth. More information at GREATLittleMinds@gwinnettcoalition.org

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Snellville Mayor Barbara Bender Continued from page 18

Gwinnett Humane Society Continued from page 19

year resident of Snellville, everything she does encourages engagement within the city. “Snellville went from a small town where everyone knew everyone, to a larger bedroom community where people lost track of each other,” she said. “We wanted to bring back the hometown feel we lost in the growth, so we created Snellville Tourism and Trade Association to offer events that will bring our people back together.” This group has been very successful in implementing fun events that unite the community and foster a large volunteer base in the city. Barbara’s love of family is what drives her to create a family-like feel within the Snellville community. She moved from Baltimore, Maryland to Lilburn in 1971 when her father was transferred for his job with Western Electric. Barbara graduated from Parkview High School in Lilburn and married Greg Bender, with whom she just celebrated their 35th anniversary. Greg and Barbara have two grown children. Barbara’s family is very supportive of her career. “They are very understanding of the meetings and events I need to attend,” she said. Barbara also helps local families through her CPA firm, which she established four years ago. Barbara would like people to know that Snellville is a welcoming community that is working hard to remain a place where people want to live, work, and raise a family. “We have great amenities,” she explained, “like city-owned T.W. Briscoe Park, a wonderful medical facility at Eastside Medical Center, our Community Garden, and many events that bring families together to have fun and make memories, while also offering a better qualityof-life experience. The Grove at Snellville Towne Center will add to that quality of life with additional gathering space and a new Gwinnett County library within walking distance to downtown. Also in the works is Greenway Trails that will connect all the city’s parks to the Towne Center and the Gwinnett County Trails system.” It’s apparent that Snellville is blessed to have a mayor with such strong familial ties and roots. Barbara’s pride for her city is evident in her acts while in office as well as her excitement when she talks about the community and its people. “We have a lot going on in Snellville,” she added, “so come see us. We’d love to show you around.” More information at https://www.snellville.org/mayor-council

in the Publix Shopping Center at the intersection of Sugarloaf Parkway and Five Forks Trickum Road. The success of this program relies solely on donations from local citizens and businesses as well as various fundraisers throughout the year. The most popular fundraiser is PAWfest, a community awareness event that has been in place for the past twenty-six years and strives to educate the public on pet-related issues while celebrating the human-pet bond. The next community fundraiser is on Saturday, March 7th where they will be partnering with Pet Wants Johns Creek to host the first Run Your Tails Off 5K in downtown Sugar Hill. Dogs are not only welcomed to join the fun, they are encouraged. In addition to homing and caring for local animals, Gwinnett Humane Society offers other services such as: EZ Pet low-cost Vaccine Clinic on the 3rd Saturday of each month at their Adoption & Community Center on Sugarloaf Parkway, and Pat-APet Visits, an outreach program which involves pet visits by their volunteers and their canines with residents who cannot have pets of their own. They’ve been visiting the residents of Annandale Village in Suwannee for over fifteen years. The organization also visits local schools to discuss pet education. Some of the most recent visits include Lovin Elementary, Harbins Elementary, and Cooper Elementary for the Great Day of Service celebration. If you’re an animal lover and have the means to do so, please consider adopting a local pet or volunteering to care for the animals at Gwinnett Humane Society. They always need new foster homes to help provide a temporary home to animals in their adoption program. Plus, monetary donations are always needed to fund their programs and cover medical costs. Other items such as clumping kitty litter, pet food and treats, blankets, and pet toys are always welcomed as well. More information at gwinnetthumane.com or facebook.com/gwinnetthumane.

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125 King Ave, Athens, GA 706.433.4030

3543 Hwy 81 S, Loganville, GA 706.549.1663

1553 Janmar Rd, Snellville, GA 706.549.1663

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK:

WALK-INS WELCOME:

M-F: 7am-7pm S & S: 10am-4pm

M-Th: 8am-7pm F: 8am-2pm

M-T: 7:30am-5pm F: 7:30am-2pm

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