FEBRUARY 2020 Gwinnett/Walton Community & Family Magazine
Our Town GWINNETT
Grayson Dacula Loganville Lawrenceville
Up Close with Benchmark and Drayer Physical Therapy, see story on page 5.
19 20 20 22
One on One: Dr. Jann Joseph, President of GGC Operation Rally Point: No Person Left Behind Spring Preview: Green Curtain Players of Grayson High Theatre Getting to Know: Dacula Mayor Trey King
More than 50 years of compassionate care. thethe cost keepsSince going costof ofliving living keeps going up.up. Since 1968, we've been been dedicated dedicated to to 1968, we've yourfuneral funeral doesn't havehave to. helping Snellville families celebrate celebrate helping Snellville The The costcost of ofyour doesn’t to. families special lives. lives. special why pre-plan your memorial? Like many things,costs will continue to increase, so locking Why pre-plan your memorial? Like many things, costs will continue to increase, so locking in now is a
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On the Cover: Stronger Together: How Two Local Businesses Joined Forces to Better Serve their Community By Kristen Eleveld What’s better than one incredible physical therapy practice providing much-needed services to people in Gwinnett? How about two incredible physical therapy practices teaming up to ensure that no one who needs care goes without the very best. Thanks to Regional Vice Presidents Wesley Spake of BenchMark Physical Therapy and Colby Allen of Drayer Physical Therapy Institute, their services have joined together to create a multitude of resources in order to serve even more of Gwinnett County. A large part of their success is also thanks to their merger with the Upstream Rehab Family of Care, which is a leading provider of outpatient rehabilitation services that works with additional physical therapy service providers to create a member network that allows everyone to better serve more communities. For Drayer Physical Therapy, the merger, which happened in early 2018, provided a lot of resources that allowed them to offer even better care to clients. “We have seen increased stability, increased accessibility to resources, and better longterm sustainability,” said Colby of how the merger helped Drayer thrive in its industry. Of course, the benefits are not only one-sided. Upstream Rehab Family of Care also benefits from the partnership with both Drayer and BenchMark, which has been part of the Upstream family for several years. “Both sides have something to offer,” said Wesley. “Upstream has helped BenchMark with the process of onboarding clients, and both Drayer and BenchMark have created a culture centered around patient care, which we have continued through Upstream.” One thing that both BenchMark and Drayer have always placed as a top priority is the way they treat their clients. From the front office all the way to meeting with the therapy team, these offices are all about creating a positive experience for everyone who walks through their doors. “What separates us from other providers is our patient-first culture that is present in each
of our offices,” said Colby. “Our goal is to create a remarkable experience where every patient leaves knowing we care about them.” These providers are so dedicated to treating patients to the best of their ability that they promise not to make new or recently referred patients wait weeks for an appointment. Instead, they commit to getting a person into an office within the next 24 to 48 hours in order to assess a patient’s needs and to provide treatment and relief. It is important to Colby and Wesley that patients are not only seen quickly, but that they are given relief and help as soon as possible. It is this patient-first culture that has given both BenchMark and Drayer the reputation for being among the best of the best in Georgia. And, now that they are both operating under the Upstream Rehab Family of Care, they are able to combine their efforts to create even more opportunities for patients to receive the treatment they so desperately need. “We are one organization now, working together to serve the Snellville and Loganville area,” said Wesley. “Our teams have blended to provide every patient with a great experience.” “We’re stronger together,” added Colby. “We have taken the best of both brands and combined them to create something even better for our patients. We want to get you healthy as fast as we can.” More information at benchmark.urpt.com or drayer.urpt.com
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Our Town Gwinnett/Walton Community & Family Magazine
Are you looking to enjoy a night out for Valentines day, but are
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worried leave pupa out? Are youyou'll looking to your enjoy night
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out for Valentines but will are Bring them to camp day, and they
out for Valentines day, but are Are youyou'll looking to enjoy a night worried leave your pup be spoiled rotten with loveyour andout? worried you'll leave pup out? out for Valentines but are Bring them to campday, and they will treats!to camp and they will Bring them worried you'll leavewith yourlove pupand out? be spoiled rotten be spoiled rotten with love and Bring them to camp and they will treats! treats! be spoiled rotten with love and
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5 On the Cover: Stronger Together: How Two Local Businesses Joined Forces to Better Serve their Community 7 From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion 7 Travel Tales: Dunes and Lagoons 8 Crane’s Corner: Romance of the Rails 8 Pet Perch: Teaching Your Dog About Thresholds 9 Home Safety Tips: Getting Your Home Ready for Anything this Winter 10 Learning Lessons: Five Essential After-School Activities for Busy Families 12 Alternative Valentine’s Day Ideas 12 Writing Believable Love Stories 13 Find Your Momentum with Momentum Arts 13 The Value of Handmade Gifts 16 Principal of the Year: Getting to Know Dr. Julie Broom 16 Sports Talk: 2020 Spring Middle School Golf League 17 Black History Month in Gwinnett 19 Up Close with Quality Rated Band 19 One on One: Dr. Jann Joseph, President of GGC 20 Spring Preview: Green Curtain Players of Grayson High Theatre 20 Operation Rally Point: No Man Left Behind 21 Camp Kudzu: Easing the Journey of Type 1 Diabetes 22 Exchange Student Stories: The Road from Lilburn to Grayson 22 Teacher, Mayor, and Everything in Between: Meet Trey King
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From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion By Ryan T. Sauers
@RyanSauers
@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 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 Continued on page 9
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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. Continued on page 22
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Crane’s Corner: Romance of the Rails
Pet Perch: Teaching Your Dog About Thresholds
By Bill Crane
By Terie Hansen
If you travel much outside of the United States, particularly in Europe or Asia, you will find rail travel remains a primary method of transportation, particularly on distances of 500 miles or less. Here in the United States, rail is only a primary transit method in the congested northeast and around other major population centers like Chicago, as well as increasing its presence again in Rust Belt power centers like Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. Thanks to a lot of Amtrak business travel in the northeast during a prior decade, and a credit card which also racks up Amtrak Reward miles, most of my rail travel is in Sleeper Cars, with all meals included. It’s the only way to roll. Amtrak’s service frequency is limited. The Crescent rolls seven days a week out of Atlanta, but with only one train heading north from New Orleans and one south from New York City each day. Departures from Atlanta are in the evening heading north and in the morning heading south. If you are heading to either the Big Easy or the Big Apple, you will have the opportunity also for three meals by rail. The trip north rolls through Charlotte and the Carolinas into the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia and on to Washington, D.C., with stops in several charming towns associated with the Civil War, such as Charlottesville with the UVA campus just steps away. In wintertime or during the holiday season, parts of this trip make you feel like you are moving through a Christmas card. Though I believe that high speed rail in the United States is largely a fantasy due to the high costs of right of way acquisition, our vast terrain, and differences in topography, Continued on page 10
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 .
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Home Safety Tips: Getting Your Home Ready for Anything this Winter By Our Town Staff 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 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. Continued on page 13
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Gwinnett Business RadioX is pleased to announce our new weekly series, beginning February 7th. CAB Incorporated presents the “Celebrating Powerhouse Women” series. We will salute and recognize women who are making an impact, whether it is in business, philanthropy, public service or elsewhere. Join us every Friday at 11:30am! You can listen live via businessradiox.com/ gwinnett-studio/ or through your favorite podcast app.
About our presenting sponsor:
CAB Incorporated has been a distinguished leader in manufacturing and global sourcing of precision machined iron and steel products serving infrastructure, hydraulics, automotive, rail and a variety of other industries, As a women owned company, CAB is proud to partner with Gwinnett Business RadioX for the “Celebrating Powerhouse Women” series. A big THANK YOU to Terri Jondahl and CAB.
To learn more about Gwinnett Business RadioX and podcasting, email Amanda Pearch at amanda@businessradiox.com
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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!
This series is brought to you in part by CAT Rangers, saving the lives of cats and kittens one paw at a time. Learn more by visiting CatRangers.org
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Crane’s Corner Continued from page 8 there is a solid and well-established rail network already in place, though the bulk of rail lines are not owned by Amtrak outside of the northeast, and though federal transit rules dictate otherwise, the rail freight corporations that own those rails frequently switch the Amtrak passenger trains onto spurs to expedite movement of their freight. This can result in hours long delays, and makes departures and arrival planning problematic for all passengers, but particularly difficult for business folks on a tight schedule. Our airlines are subsidized, at least indirectly, by massive federal expenditures and support of US airport infrastructure. Federal funds for replacing our aging rail stock and repairing decrepit infrastructure are finally moving Amtrak’s way. The two single under-water tunnels connecting New York and New Jersey, each more than a century old, are leaking and will cost nearly $250 million to shore up, expand, and potentially replace. Arguments between the two states on the funding split, as well as the federal government piece of that pie, result in regular service delays and periodic outages. Let’s hope repairs are fully underway before either tunnel collapses. As you travel east to west, there are some incredible routes to consider which can show you this country in all of its grandeur. From New Orleans to Chicago and the Great Lakes and Midwest, there is the City of New Orleans line, and from New Orleans to Los Angeles, there is the Sunset Limited. From Tijuana and San Diego to Seattle along the Pacific Coast and parallel to much of the Pacific Coast Highway is the Coast Starlighter, which includes a glass-domed observation and bar car. That trip is thirty-three hours, but there are few more beautiful ways to experience America’s left coast. Amtrak packages and offers more than 30 routes crisscrossing our continental United States. Admittedly, the longer routes tend to be heavy with young families with children (seeking a scaled back version of The Polar Express) as well as more senior citizens, long familiar with and generally preferring rail travel. Like your first time on a cruise ship, you can always spot the land-lubbers learning the wide legged gait best suited for a moving train, and some don’t like the constant rock at night (I sleep like a baby) as the train rolls through towns large and small towards its next destination. Though the sheer vastness of our nation will not likely expand our passenger rail network anytime soon, I’m hopeful you will consider expanding awareness of rail as
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a travel option. My daughter and I are next off to Tuscaloosa on the Crescent in a few weeks – there and back in 48 hours. The drive and the rail trip are approximately the same length, if there are no major freight delays. And I can assure you – the train ride is a LOT more fun. Bill Crane owns the full-service communications consulting firm, CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com
Learning Lessons: Five Essential After-School Activities for Busy Families By Tanisha Turner These days, it’s easy to see why families feel like there are not enough hours in the day. Whether it is balancing responsibilities at both work and home, keeping up with busy after school activity schedules, or simply finding time to do laundry, many households are challenged with growing to-do lists, which quickly become points of tension and stress. One of the most effective ways to balance out a busy schedule with quality family time is to plan and combine enjoyable activities with tasks you need to get done. Here are five after-school activities that will help you find better balance in your home: 1. Develop a routine -- and stick to it. Establishing an after-school routine is key to making evenings run smoothly. Include children in the process of making your family’s after-school schedule so they feel part of decisions that will affect them. Ask limitedchoice questions, like “Would you prefer to read a story before or after your bath?” Once the whole family has agreed to a routine, document it with pictures and words so the emerging readers in your family can follow the sequence. Most importantly, keep the routine consistent. Once little ones know what to expect after school, nightly tasks like brushing teeth or picking a story for bedtime are more likely to run smoothly. 2. Prepare healthy snacks in advance. Unhealthy snacking habits are easy to fall into, especially at the end of a long day. Try preparing a week’s worth of healthy snacks in advance. Pre-chop and store fruits and veggies in plastic containers so they are ready for eating and are easily accessible right after school. Most grocery stores also sell presliced cheeses, fruits, and vegetables if you want to save even more time. You can make after-school snack time even more valuable by leaving paper and crayons or books near the table to help keep children occupied. 3. Turn everyday tasks into games. Children love to help. Getting them involved in something on your to-do list is a great way to stay productive while spending quality time together. Turn the task of folding laundry into a matching game, or ask children to sort unwashed clothes by color. Make up a song about silverware and plates while doing dishes. Get creative to make the task seem more enjoyable for both you and your little ones. 4. Fit in fitness. Some days, making time for physical activity seems impossible. One way to get in a few minutes of fitness is to have a Family Dance Party while dinner is in the oven. Put on a favorite song and show off those dance moves! Need to keep the children occupied for longer than one song? Invite each member of the family to select a favorite tune. It helps to remember that daily physical activity doesn’t have to mean a run every morning. Dancing keeps your family active and releases pent-up energy after a day at work and school. 5. Prepare for the next day. Preparing at night for the next day sounds daunting, but it really does save time and eliminate stress in the morning. Pack lunches and school bags, help your children pick out clothes, and talk about the schedule for the next day. You’ll feel a lot better in the morning knowing your family is ready to face the day. Tanisha Turner is Owner of Primrose School at Sugarloaf Parkway. More information at www.PrimroseSugarloafParkway.com
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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.
Writing Believable Love Stories By Rhonda Frankhouser
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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 Continued on page 14
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Find Your Momentum with Momentum Arts By Traci Sanders If you are in the Gwinnett area and are looking for a fun, safe place to go and get your dance, sweat, laugh, or cry on, Momentum Arts invites you to come find your momentum, in whatever way feels best to you. This non-profit organization is committed to providing wellness opportunities to Gwinnett citizens through a variety of creative programs. Low and no-cost classes, such as theater and performing arts, dance, visual arts, and music, are available to adults and children of all ages. These programs are funded by the generous donations of foundations, corporations, and individuals committed to supporting the arts. Momentum offers a variety of dance classes including ballet, tap, hip hop, jazz, and African dance. If you want to improve your fitness, there are Zumba, Pilates, Yoga, POUND, and HIIT classes available in a no-judgment zone. In fact, their slogan of “all bodies welcome” invites people of all shapes and sizes to come and get creative, get fit, and get well. Those who are musically inclined might be interested in individual and group piano and voice lessons, as well as theater classes. Weekly multimedia art workshops and events are also available. Finally, for those who’d like more information on proper nutrition and holistic options, Momentum offers a variety of wellness resources to help improve one’s overall health. Youth classes are offered at 3150 Hewatt Court, Suite B, in Snellville for just $50 per month. Students can take part in a Winter and Spring show. Pre-registration is required, and free trial classes are available. Homeschool classes are only $40 per month, and other community classes, events, and workshops are offered upon request, including private parties and Scout events. A calendar of events can be found on their website. With the plethora of affordable experiences offered by Momentum Arts, Gwinnett citizens now have the opportunity to become their best in their overall health and well-being. More information at www.momentumatlanta.com.
Home Safety Tips Continued from page 9 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)
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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 Continued on page 14
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The Value of Handmade Gifts Continued from page 13
Writing Believable Love Stories Continued from page 12
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 one-onone 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 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, 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.
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 overused 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.
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Principal of the Year: Getting to Know Dr. Julie Broom By Kristen Eleveld Dr. Julie Broom has only been the principal of St. John Neumann Regional Catholic School for two and a half years. But in that short time, she has made a big difference for the hundreds of students in her care. In fact, she has had such a positive influence on her students that she was just named Principal of the Year for the 2019-2020 school year. St. John Neumann is one of twenty-three Catholic schools in the Office of Catholic Schools under the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Dr. Broom was informed that she had been selected as Principal of the Year in early October. The staff and students managed to surprise her the next Monday with a celebration and a banner made for her by her teachers, congratulating Dr. Broom on her recent honor.
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For Dr. Broom, the award is nice, but her main focus is on her school and on her students. St. John Neumann is home to a diverse population of students, with over a dozen countries and over thirty languages represented by those who walk through its doors. It is this diversity that provides St. John Neumann with a rich culture and heritage, which is one of the qualities that Dr. Broom loves best about her school. “Our students come from all over the world, and they and their parents have created a giving and loving community,” said Dr. Broom. Along with the incredible students in her charge, Dr. Broom credits the school’s faculty and staff with creating an environment where students can learn to become the best versions of themselves. “It’s easy to lead a group whose mission is to bring out the best in every child,” Dr. Broom said. “We provide both pastoral and educational support; it isn’t just about our classes. We see the whole child.” Of course, no school can be successful without the help of parents. Fortunately, the parents at St. John Neumann are already part of their success story as they come together to achieve a common goal: the best education for their child. The seamless teamwork that takes place between students, staff, and parents has made St. John Neumann a place where everyone is truly out to help his or her fellow man as much as possible. “It is our diversity and the dedication and love of the parents that make the building alive with the beauty of who we are,” Dr. Broom said. “We are only as strong as we are when we are one.” Parents often return to St. John Neumann long after their children have graduated to thank teachers and staff for providing a strong foundation that set their children up for success in high school and beyond. Dr. Broom would love for you learn more about St. John Neumann. They are tucked away off Tom Smith Road in Lilburn, and they are ready and waiting to learn how they can serve you as part of their community. Between the incredible staff, the educational content, and their fearless leader, St. John Neumann has quickly become one of the best schools in Gwinnett. More information at www.sjnrcs.org.
Sports Talk: 2020 Spring Middle School Golf League 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 Continued on page 18
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Black History Month in Gwinnett By Beth Volpert Johansen with Rubye Neal Gwinnett County is LAWRENCEVILLE rich with history. Evidence of that fact can be found at the Historic BRANCH 1001 Lawrenceville Hwy., Lawrenceville, GA 30046 located in downtown Lawrenceville, and at the Courthouse’s Gwinnett Historical Society www.Gwinnett200.com website established to celebrate 200 years of Gwinnett County history. Housed on those web pages are countless hours of personal recollections and family stories that date back to the earliest days of settlement. Many of the stories, with respect to black history, were recorded as a result of Gwinnett resident and historian Rubye Neal’s commitment to preserving the facts for future generations. In preparation for Gwinnett’s Black History African American Education in Month, Neal has been making plans throughGwinnett After Integration out the county. For starters, she will host special extended hours at Salem Missionary Saturday, February 22 at 2:00 pm Baptist Church’s African American History Lawrenceville Branch Museum in Lilburn. Salem is the oldest African American Church in Gwinnett, and Join us as local historian and 1956 Hooper-Renwick graduate Rubye Neal and a it houses an extensive collection of artifacts guest panel share their experiences of education ranging from religious items, commerce repin Gwinnett after integration. resentation, and the development of education for African American children in the early days of Emancipation through Desegregation. 770-978-5154 Onegwinnettpl.org of the more somber special subjects will chronicle the horrific history of lynchings in the county. Neal will be available to help guide individuals and groups on tours of the museum. Special hours will be held Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Extended tour options can be arranged by calling the church at 770-923-3936. “It is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate not only African American History, but our collective history offerings to the community,” says Deacon Gregory Bailey of Salem Missionary Baptist Church. “The exhibits chronicle over 185 years of history.” As an extension of her work with the students and teachers who taught at the pre-Desegregation Hooper Renwick School, Neal has assembled a panel to present African American Education in Gwinnett After Integration. The event will be held on Saturday, February 22th at 2:00 p.m. at the Lawrenceville Branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library. The panel members will share their experiences in the post-Integration education system that emerged after the Hooper Renwick School, which served the county’s African American children,
was closed. Included in the panel will be two beloved educators who many students will recognize. Now a pastor, Ann McKibbins began her teaching career at Hooper Renwick. Following Integration, McKibbins was placed in the 7th grade at the new Snellville Middle School – the first middle school in Gwinnett. She would be the only teacher of color at the school that year. “Those were years that really crowned my career,” says McKibbins. “I was the first black teacher some of those children had ever seen, and it was those children who made it worth it.” As a math teacher, her love of the subject was well-known; but her love of all students was even more evident. “Students keep up with me,” she says. “I think they could see I had such a passion for children. When I retired, students came from as far away as Alabama. I had no idea that I had that kind of impact.” Today, McKibbins serves as founder and pastor of Tabernacle of Refuge in Lithonia, where she still continues to serve children. “I had a hunger to continue working with children, and the Lord laid it on my heart to start a church.” In addition to McKibbins, Barbara Brown Fleming of the Buford City Schools will also participate in the guest panel. Fleming grew up in Lawrenceville, attended Hooper Renwick School, and then went on to Spelman College. She secured a master’s degree in education from Georgia State University and an add-on certification from the University of Georgia. She served first as a teacher in Atlanta and then at Buford City. Following her first fifteen years as a teacher, Fleming became an administrator. Reflecting upon her experiences, Fleming says, “I am looking forward to passing on to a younger generation what we experienced as young educators.” As a guest panelist, Fleming isn’t sure what questions people will ask of her, but hopes that a young representation will be present. “I went to segregated schools through Spelman,” she says. “The culture and the diversity weren’t there when I was in school. Students need to realize what has happened and what needs to happen in the future.” In addition to the abundantly rich historical resources already mentioned, Neal will also sponsor an exhibit at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Building in Lawrenceville which will be made available to the community. It is Neal’s hope and prayer that everyone in the county finds time to visit the museum at Salem Baptist as well as take advantage of hearing first-hand the experiences of students and teachers from the post-Integration of Gwinnett education. More information at www.Gwinnett200.com.
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Sports Talk Continued from page 16 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 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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Up Close with Quality Rated Band By Emily Rubin Quality Rated is a local band – consisting of 14-year-old Cady Walls and 13-year-old Avery Britt – that has played at the Yellow Daisy Festival and other venues throughout the community. The band started in July of 2017, just months after the two girls met. Cady was at a concert with her mother Maggie when she decided she wanted to start a band. Unsure of who she could start a band with, Cady was encouraged by her mother to invite her new friend Avery, who had been vocal training. “My mom said ‘Well, you know Avery is like a prodigy. You should team up with her and try to do some songs,’” Cady said. “I told her okay and she texted Avery’s mom right there, and the band was born.” The band name came from a name on a billboard the girls passed on their way to their first rehearsal. Quality Rated has played two years in a row at the Yellow Daisy Festival, and they played a few gigs at TradeWind Coffee Company in Dacula. The band has also played for the Amped Kids Foundation, 500 Songs for Kids, the Sound of Summer Music Festival, and the Bold Gala. Quality Rated performs at other random events such as open mic nights and music showcases at Momentum Arts. The group started out as a rock band, but has lately performed covers – remakes or reworkings of songs as a tribute to the original artist(s) – and two new original Christmas songs. Cady wants to start releasing and performing more original songs. Both she and Avery love to write songs and would love to put out original music.
One on One: Dr. Jann Joseph, President of GGC By Beth Volpert Johansen The first time I met Dr. Jann Joseph, the newly named president of Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC), I completely missed her name and title in the introductions. Since we were in a group, surrounded by the twinkling community-created Christmas trees located in the Aurora Theater lobby, I just smiled, shook her hand, and then tuned my ears to the conversation. The saying, “First impressions are lasting” was an understatement as I continued to listen, and by the time I had used my investigative journalism powers to determine her name and title, I was a fan. Born in Trinidad, West Indies, Dr. Joseph is the youngest of five siblings. Her parents, Sybil and Fred Pantor, raised their children with a strong insistence on the value of education as a means to transform lives. At home, Sybil provided lessons and reading material, and Fred worked as a tailor. Both parents gave Dr. Joseph a rock-solid foundation that would serve her well as she worked her way towards a higher education and a higher calling. “In our home, just outside my bedroom was a sign that my mother had framed,” recalls Dr. Joseph. “It read: Perseverance is the key to success. That was the first phrase I learned to read from my mother.” Statements like that were indeed key to Dr. Joseph’s success in life. Along with her mother’s love of words came lessons from her father on how to stay in touch with her creative side. “I grew up in a place where you made stuff,” says Dr. Joseph. “I could measure you, draft my own pattern, and make you a dress.” As a young wife and mother of three boys, Dr. Joseph continued her educational studies and taught classes. In between she continued to stay in touch with her creative side by making all of her husband’s slacks. “I had made all my own dresses growing up, and as I grew older, I taught myself to knit, crochet, and how to use power tools!” Balanced by family, creativity, and her own higher education, Dr. Joseph found herself teaching and researching in the biological sciences. She began her first full-time faculty appointment at Grand Valley State University in Michigan where she rose to serve as associate dean in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Most recently, she served as executive vice chancellor at Indiana University at South Bend. It was there that she began to serve on a variety of boards for several professional and civic organizations. In doing so, Dr. Joseph realized yet another love for service beyond the campus – love of community involvement and of setting a good civic example to students that had placed her in the lobby of the Aurora Theater the night we met. That night, Dr. Joseph met many new people; mostly those who serve the county through Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful. She had just recently joined the board and was obviously enjoying her time getting to know the other members. Her smile captivated both her small
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The girls perform covers of some Indigo Girls songs. As they have explored songs by this duo girl band, Quality Rated has fallen in love with their harmonies and have found songs that match their own sound. Indigo Girls has become Quality Rated’s biggest inspiration. When discussing their dreams for the band, Cady and Avery both agree they want to have fun. Cady dreams of the band going on tour. Avery agrees and wants to do what she
loves because she has fun performing. “I don’t really care about fame,” Avery said. “I just want to be happy.” The band won the PBS Celebration of Music competition in August of 2019. Quality Rated won the people’s vote and tied with another performer. The band will go to Los Angeles later in the year and perform on television. “It feels really cool to be sent to national TV at such an early age,” Avery said. “It’s just really exciting. I can’t wait to see what happens.” As the band has rehearsed and played more at various events, the girls have become more comfortable performing with each other. They also have tips for aspiring musicians. “Practice every day,” Cady said. “Try new things because the best part about music is being unique to yourself. So even if you’re playing covers, make it unique to yourself; and that comes from practicing and knowing your own sound.” More information at https://www.facebook.com/qualityratedband audience as well as others in the lobby waiting for shows to begin. It was no accident that the trees decorating the scene represented the many service related opportunities available in Gwinnett. “Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful is the first board I joined,” says Dr. Joseph. “My predecessors had both served, and there was a space on the board for me. I was happy to say yes! My late husband, Dr. Edwin Joseph, was a professor of sustainability. My son also has a degree in sustainability. This allows me to honor their work.” Welcoming Dr. Joseph to the Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful board was a natural for Executive Director Shelley Marlatt. “We are honored and excited about Dr. Joseph joining Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful’s Advisory Board,” says Shelley. “With her passion of paying it forward, she is a perfect addition and will bring so much knowledge and experience to our organization. The partnership and relationship we have with GGC is truly a special one, and I am grateful that together, we are carrying on the legacy of having the president involved in our mission and vision of connecting people and resources for a sustainable Gwinnett.” Additionally, Dr. Joseph has committed to supporting the local charity, Rainbow Village. “It is easy for women with children to find themselves alone at one time or another due to so many circumstances,” says Dr. Joseph. “There for the love of God go I – and I want to recognize them, mentor them, help them with the things that challenge them. My parents did not have a formal education, but they had a passion for education. It is the great equalizer. My parents placed no limitations on their expectations for me.” Dr. Joseph sees her desire to serve the community as president of Georgia Gwinnett College on local civic boards as a tool for teaching the students on campus. “College is both a privilege and a responsibility for students,” says Dr. Joseph. “Their access to school is providing them the opportunity to learn from mentors and develop good leadership. I have to set a good example.” Fitting into the campus in order to visibly set that good example seems to be something that comes with ease to Dr. Jann Joseph. “I imagine in my head, all these people who invested in me, and I am determined not to squander that investment,” says Dr. Joseph. “I have an unwavering and unrelenting desire to help our students succeed.”
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Spring Preview: Green Curtain Players of Grayson High Theatre By K. Coats The Grayson High School theater troupe, The Green Curtain Players, is a fairly industrious crew, putting on several shows each semester. The Musical Theater class has already completed one show before the end of January, Zombie Prom, a musical with music by Dana P. Rowe and book and lyrics by John Dempsey. They have been preparing for this performance since October of 2019. Senior Patricia Adams, who plays the character Candy, says, “I loved sharing the stage with these girls and the whole class. It’s been an awesome learning experience.” And senior Bethany Ponder, who plays the principal Miss Delilah Strict, says her favorite part about this experience was growing into her part. “This is the first time I’ve had a major part in a production,” she says. “I opened up the script expecting one or two lines here and there, but I have large parts, monologues. There are times when I’m alone on stage. At first it was overwhelming, but now it’s exciting.” And that is the type of growth any theater program encourages. One might be tempted to think that four months of preparation would mean a little down time, but theater teacher Amy Morrow has no such plans. Shifting gears from Zombie Prom, the Advanced Drama class will present The Triangle Factory Fire Project, an ensemble piece written by Christopher Piehler in collaboration with Scott Allen Evans. Anyone familiar with this terrible 1911 historical event will know that this performance will be a much more austere and somber piece than the January production. The performance will take place in the more intimate Grayson Tech Black Box Theater to suit the mood of the piece. Students have spent most of last semester researching and discussing the real events on which the piece is based. The Triangle Factory Fire Project will explore the events leading up to the fire as well as the resulting trial. Morrow points out that “until 9/11, this was the biggest tragedy to hit NYC.” And in homage to the real event, the Green Curtain Players are performing
Operation Rally Point: No Man Left Behind By Traci Sanders There is a term in the military known as a “rally point” that basically means a central point for assessment and regrouping. When soldiers are deployed, they are divided up into groups and assigned a rally point, which serves as their headquarters for communication. The leader instructs the group to meet back at that location at a certain time. Any soldier who does not return at the specified time is considered missing. When this happens, a Quick Response Force is sent out to search for the missing soldier and to bring him or her back to the rally point. It truly is a “no man left behind” effort. Soldiers become accustomed to such practices and to depend on them for their support and survival. But what happens when the war is over, when the soldiers return to their original homes to be reunited with their loved ones? Many come back and face the realization that they no longer have a home, a job, or a family. Where do they turn? A large number end up on the streets – alone, cold and hungry, and completely disconnected from society. A veteran named Johnny Grimes found himself in just such a situation. After serving a tour in Iraq, Johnny found himself divorced, with full custody of his children, and with nowhere to live when he was sent home from the Army to take care of his children. Thankfully, Brandon Watts – a fellow soldier and good friend who Johnny had served with in Iraq – stepped in. Brandon helped Johnny secure a place to live and get back on his feet. Throughout the process, Brandon and Johnny began wondering how many other soldiers in the area might have been struggling with reintegrating themselves into society. The two soldiers decided to go undercover across several counties to learn the backstories of veterans living on the streets. They wanted to dive deep into the thought and decision-making processes of these veterans to determine how their lives had taken such a drastic turn. What Brandon and Johnny discovered changed their perspectives and their lives forever. One major realization the two men had was that numerous veterans had been all but forgotten. They didn’t want to impose on society or cause people to feel sorry for them, and they didn’t want handouts, so many decided to lay low, fade into the background, and live on the streets if necessary to be the least amount of burden on others. In 2015, Brandon, Johnny, Brian Green, Beth Briele who’d served 2nd tour in Iraq with Brandon, and their good friend Randy Delvaux who had lost his Navy veteran father to suicide in 2013, came together and formed an organization to start addressing the needs of local veterans. Sadly, Beth lost her battle with cancer in April of 2019. Each of these individuals
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it just a few days before the 109th anniversary which occurred on March 25th, 1911. Performances will be from March 19-21 at 7 p.m. in the Black Box Theater, located in Grayson Tech at 50 Hope Hollow Road, Loganville. People planning to attend should park in front of the Grayson Tech building instead of the Grayson High School building for ease of access. Each spring, the Green Curtain Players show the school and community everything they’ve got with their largest production of the year – the spring musical. Past musicals have included In the Heights, The Sound of Music, Les Miserables, Beauty and the Beast, and many more familiar shows. This year they will treat the community to Children of Eden, written by John Caird, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. This two-act musical is based loosely around the events in the book of Genesis – the Garden of Eden and the Great Flood. The musical explores the biblical characters in more of a family drama style as each generation explores both enduring as well as changing dynamics, and audience members are introduced to new characters along the way as well. The spring musical will be performed April 16th -18th at 7 p.m., and April 19th at 3 p.m. in the Grayson High School main theater. People planning on attending this production should park in front of Grayson High School for ease of access. Tickets for these shows can be purchased online at gofan.co (that’s .co, not .com) or at the door. More information at www.gcpsk12.org/GraysonHS. had some sort of military affiliation and wanted to do his or her part to give back to the veterans who had courageously served our country. They decided to call this effort Operation Rally Point. “There is a separate system of reciprocity in the civilian world and veteran community,” Randy said. “Unfortunately, the two don’t often meet on the same terms. They are grossly disconnected, and vets don’t feel that civilians would understand what they go through. They don’t want to burden others with their experiences, and they don’t want people to pity them. If you take a really good look, from all the angles, 99.9 % of problems vets deal with is human stuff, not stuff unique to the military. We want to start that conversation about what veterans go through and educate folks on how we can all support our vets together.” As the Chief Strategy Officer, Randy said that Operation Rally Point functions to serve vets in three ways: welcome them back home, assist, and provide. “Veterans all share a common bond of brotherhood/sisterhood,” he added, “and a lot of our time is spent making sure our brothers and sisters have the help they deserve, and that when we leave them, they’re as ready as they can be.” Most of Operation Rally Point’s clients come from the VA system in the Atlanta area. As CEO, Brandon receives between five and ten calls per week. The team jumps in quickly to assess a veteran’s immediate needs – food, shelter, and clothing – and then begins focusing on other resources to help them acclimate to their new home, basically their new way of life. “I meet with each veteran personally and assess his or her situation,” Brandon shared. “We also offer guidance and connection to outside resources to clients over the phone. Most of these veterans are in survival mode. We address each one individually based on their needs, not just their circumstances. Sure, we help them later secure permanent homes, vehicles, and even jobs; but in the first few hours, days, we are focused on letting them know that they matter and that they are no longer alone. We are in it for the totality and focus on success as a whole.” Unlike many veteran organizations, Operation Rally Point receives no government money Continued on page 22
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Camp Kudzu: Easing the Journey of Type 1 Diabetes By Traci Sanders Camp Kudzu recently celebrated a huge milestone at The Stave Room in Atlanta. The event was hosted by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and marked the 20th anniversary of Camp Kudzu, a nonprofit that has lived out its mission since 1999 of educating, empowering, and inspiring over 4,000 campers living with Type 1 diabetes (T1D). Nearly 400 guests in attendance, including founding board members, past and current campers, counselors, ambassadors, and volunteer medical staff, clapped and cheered when it was announced that the organization had exceeded its goal of $300,000 to cover year-round programming and outreach across the state. Thanks largely to the caring contributions of one camper’s parents, the grand total came to nearly $400,000. More than 6,000 Georgia children and teens are living with T1D. Camp Kudzu has transformed the lives of more than 4,000 of these youngsters with this life-long, insulindependent autoimmune disease. Campers learn how to manage the disease in an inclusive, fun-filled environment where life-long friendships develop for both campers and volunteers. Trace Wood, a fifth grader at Camp Creek Elementary in Lilburn, was diagnosed with T1D at age seven. The boy shied away from overnight camping until his family discovered Camp Kudzu. Karen and Art Wood, their son Trace, and their nine-year-old daughter, Makenna (who does not have T1D), attended the fall Family Camp and received a wealth of insight on how to support a loved one living with this condition. It was an enriching and educational experience for the whole family. “We immediately felt connected at camp and welcomed new friendships and relationships built there,” Art said. “The Camp Kudzu staff really cares about the entire family and the impact T1D has on all of us. With other organizations you often feel like a number, but with Camp Kudzu we felt like part of the family.” Trace attended overnight summer camp in 2019 for the first time and the results were better than expected. The camp helped him embrace and empower himself with the tools and confidence to better manage his disease while also making new friends in the T1D community. “He is counting down the days until next year when he can attend again,” Art added. The Wood Family is quite active in the community and founded The Taste of Tucker in 2010, an event in which the proceeds are donated to local charities. Camp Kudzu has benefited from this event since 2017 and is now the primary beneficiary. At the anniversary party, Art challenged the crowd to increase funds for “camperships” by stating that he and Karen would match The Taste of Tucker proceeds, up to $20,000 of the funds raised. The end result was more than $150,000 collected for the Fund a Camper program. Camp Kudzu’s philosophy is that until there’s a cure for T1D, there’s at least a place where these kids and teens can go to get support and to take their minds off their disease for a minute. Today, Camp Kudzu is accredited by the American Camp Association and has been recognized as one of the top T1D camps in the country. It hosts year-round programs through multiple summer sessions, family camps, and Sprouts Day Camp. In 2019 Camp Kudzu introduced over 229 new campers to their programs, serving a total of 935 children and teens from 80 Georgia counties and awarding $213,000 in scholarships to those in need. Camp Kudzu Executive Director Robert Shaw is continually in search of champions who will join them in their mission to help make a difference in the lives of children throughout Georgia, particularly those living with T1D who have inadequate or limited access to essential diabetes care and resources. “Our goals are ambitious for 2020,” Shaw shared, “expanding programming, deepening our reach into underserved communities, honing our ability to serve culturally diverse families where language or other factors could be a barrier to receiving the best potential diabetes management education. And I have 100% confidence we will succeed.” More information at www.campkudzu.org
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Exchange Student Stories: The Road from Lilburn to Grayson
Teacher, Mayor, and Everything in Between: Meet Trey King
By Harper Randolph, Parkview High Junior
When it comes to choosing the right career path, many people find themselves split between two options. While taking on both jobs may not work for just anyone, one local man, Trey King, has found a way to not only work both of the jobs he loves, but to do them with the passion each deserves. You might find King teaching chemistry at Collins Hill High School or working with the Science Club. But when the final school bell rings each day, King’s work is far from over – in fact, his second job is just beginning. For the last year, King has served as the mayor of Dacula, leading the city through both time-honored traditions and the daily bustle that comes with any growing city. But if you asked him which job he loved the most, he wouldn’t be able to tell you, because not only does he excel in each of his roles, but he also takes pride in performing all of his duties to the best of his ability. So how does one man do it all? King says that for him, the key is balance – and an excellent team to help him out. “The only way I am able to strike this balance is with the help of the fantastic staff working for the City of Dacula,” King said. “And the early start time of my Gwinnett County high school teaching position allows me to attend to needed business at the city each afternoon.” Though he has only been the mayor for a little over a year, King has been an active part of the city’s government for quite some time. He has been the chairman of the Dacula Planning and Zoning Board, participated as an active member of the Steering Committee for the Comprehensive Land Use Plan along with the Dacula Zoning Board of Appeals, and served as a Dacula City Council member, all of which he feels contributed to the preparation and experience needed to help him succeed in his role as mayor. King has found his position as mayor to be a rewarding one, especially as it gives him better opportunities to meet the needs of the city he loves. “Being able to address the concerns of the citizens of Dacula and solve important issues the city faces is the most rewarding part of being mayor,” said King. “There isn’t anything I find much more rewarding than helping real people solve real problems they face in their daily lives.” Of course, his students are well aware that King is the mayor, and he says he has seen some positive changes as a result. “I would have to say that the overwhelming support from the kids in my classes at school is my favorite part,” King said of how his pupils have reacted to his second job. “Students are now much more interested in the role of local government and politics and how working together can have a positive impact on individuals and communities.” It also helps that Dacula is home to many wonderful traditions and events, which King hopes more and more people find out about and participate in for years to come. Dacula hosts an annual Memorial Day parade, which is one of the largest in Georgia, and honors military veterans and first responders through a two-mile walk through the city. They also have a tree-lighting ceremony in Olde Mill Park, which boasts opportunities for caroling, the lighting of a 30-foot tree, and an opportunity to meet Santa Claus. One of King’s favorite places in Dacula is Maple Creek Park, which is home to a variety of activities and amenities: a full disc golf course, a walking and jogging trail, a playground area, and a pavilion that can be rented for special events or enjoyed by everyday visitors. Teacher by day, mayor by nights and weekends, Trey King has found a way to take his talents and interests and combine them into two leadership roles that make a difference for every community he is a part of. More information at daculaga.gov
Last summer, my family had our first experience as foreign exchange hosts. The experience began when Lilly, a girl from Germany, came to stay with us. She was a junior while I was a sophomore, and it was the first time there was someone else my age in our home. As an only child, having a sibling took some getting used to, but it was by far one of the best experiences of my life. We explored a bit of the US when we went to Texas to visit family, we attended a big American wedding in the Georgia mountains, and we loved our visit to Sapelo Island. We also lived through some serious TV drama and cooked quite a few random recipes, though we do not recommend trying Japanese cheesecake. Hosting Lilly didn’t just give me a new experience for my college applications, but I gained a sister and a best friend over the course of the year. From our first hug to our final goodbye, I knew that hosting was something that I had to do again. As a family, we planned on signing up for another student when I was a senior. However, our plan changed when we got a call asking to help a student from Spain. We ended up inviting this new student into our home only six months after Lilly left. His name is Iker, and like me, he is a junior. Iker was originally placed in Cordele, Georgia, but then some things went awry. He was faced with the decision of getting placed with a different family in a different school system, or being sent back home to Spain a whole semester before he had planned. The coordinator for exchange students in our area reached out to us and asked for help. That is how Iker came to live with us over the holiday break, and I got a brother for Christmas. Iker arrived with hopes of playing a sport and making friends in his new school. He came to Georgia from a small school in Spain with about a thousand students, ranging from Kindergarten to Twelfth grade. A leader on his soccer team, Iker was always busy with friends, visiting restaurants, and spending time together. He also enjoyed his family time with his parents. His shift to Gwinnett county schools didn’t just mean a new family to break in, but he also had a new school to try to fit into and figure out. His arrival for the spring semester did create some challenges. Schools in Gwinnett County only accept five exchange students per year, and Parkview was all filled up. They only had openings in Grayson. My father works in the Grayson cluster, so he could get Iker to school every day. Naturally, sending him so far from Lilburn wasn’t our first choice. As a family, we wanted him to attend Parkview. It would be easier for us to get to and from school, and I would have been able to drive him around. We had to follow Gwinnett rules, so, sadly, Parkview was not an option. This meant my new brother would attend Grayson and I would be at Parkview. Our job now as a family is to make sure Iker has a good year. We plan to help him be successful at school and make new friends outside of our family. His English is great so that isn’t a problem. We hope this is a year Iker will remember and look back on with smiles and laughter when he’s back in Spain waiting for a visit from his American sister.
Operation: Rally Point Continued from page 20 and is funded solely through private donations, fundraisers, and personal contributions from Brandon, Johnny, and Randy. These funds have helped many veterans secure hotel rooms, vehicles, and, of course, the basic necessities. Operation Rally Point is always in need of volunteers with a heart for veterans who are willing to offer their labor, time, monetary donations, and other resources. As Brandon mentioned, “We’re not just here to help provide basic necessities for survival. We want to help these people thrive by offering guidance and mentoring as well. Some of these veterans just need to know they’re not alone.” More information at http://www.oprallypoint.org/ or https://www.facebook.com/oprallypoint/.
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By Kristen Eleveld
Travel Tales Continued from page 7 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
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GRAYSON 2065 Grayson Hwy, Ste B (678) 376-0213
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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.
northside.com
