Up Close with Vecoma at the Yellow River, see story on page 5.
Grayson | Dacula | Lawrenceville | Snellville | Loganville
On the Cover: Plan Your Wedding with the Experts at Vecoma
By Kristen Eleveld
Did you or a loved one ring in the season with an engagement? Or do you think your special someone will pop the question soon? If so, you need the experts at Vecoma at the Yellow River, the perfect spot for an intimate and romantic wedding.
It’s still early in the year, but it’s never too early to start working on the details of one of the most memorable events of your life. And the team at Vecoma at the Yellow River is ready and waiting to help you plan every last detail.
Owner Caroline Tucker wants each wedding at this venue to be an unforgettable experience, and she keeps her finger on the pulse of wedding trends so she can best advise her clients. And, of course, she and the Vecoma team are always aware of the latest trends and ideas that make each wedding or event incredibly special—and they love to teach clients about these trends, too.
One of the first pieces of advice that Caroline wants newly engaged couples to know is that you have to figure out who you want to invite and what your wedding budget is. She cautions that while many clients try to do a rough estimate of their budget and costs, it’s far better to do an in-depth analysis of exactly what you will be spending. You can even look online for average wedding costs in your area to help you get started.
Then, of course, comes the venue.
“Choose your venue before anything else!” advised Caroline. “You want to get your day booked as soon as possible, and then you can work with the venue to get more information on preferred vendors and next steps.”
For instance, at Vecoma at the Yellow River, they don’t just provide a beautiful place to exchange vows. The Vecoma team can help you with catering, beverages, music, and they can also connect you with great resources for ordering your flowers and cake. They are the one-stop-shop of wedding expertise, which is already a huge step in the right direction when it comes to planning the big day.
Caroline and her team have also seen some fun variations on more formal traditions. For instance, they have seen flower boys (or “flower dudes”) bring flowers down the aisle instead of the traditional flower girls. Or maybe you want your bridesmaids to learn a special dance, or maybe you just want to include someone special in your wedding party in a non-traditional way. Vecoma can help with all of it.
“We had one bride who asked her grandmother to be the flower girl!” said Caroline. “That was so much fun and the grandmother really enjoyed it.”
You have likely been to a wedding or two with a photo booth for guests to take fun pictures with props. But have you seen a wedding with a live painter? This fun trend has a painter on site who paints the bride and groom (or whatever you want painted!) throughout the wedding and presents it to the happy couple at the end of the reception. It’s a personalized keepsake that will last forever— and you can work with the artist to ensure your painting reflects everything you love.
Caroline and her team know that sorting out every detail of a wedding is overwhelming. But the good news is, they want to help—and they are pretty
good at it. Whether you need a gorgeous outdoor venue, a recommendation on which shoes are most popular, or even how to get your friend ordained as your officiant, you can find all the answers and more right here in Gwinnett, courtesy of Vecoma at the Yellow River.
More information at https://vecoma1.com/, (770) 972-6540
Our Town
Gwinnett/Walton Community & Family Magazine
— An EndResultz Media Company EndResultz.com
Our Town Gwinnett is published and direct mailed to select homes in the Gwinnett/Walton 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 2025 by Our Town Gwinnett Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.
Publisher/Owner
Dr. Ryan T. Sauers Ryan@EndResultz.com
Creative Director Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultz.com
Editor
Catherine L. Osornio Editor@EndResultz.com
IN THIS ISSUE
Photography
Emil Powella
Photography
Distribution Coordinator
Holly Cooks
Cover Story
Feature Writer
Kristen Eleveld
Feature Writers
Victoria R. Crosby
Tana Poncsak
Traci Sanders
Contributing Writers
Jane Bishop
Bill Crane
Dr. Jenny Reesman
Tanisha Turner
5 On the Cover: Plan Your Wedding with the Experts at Vecoma
7 From the Publisher: Ryan’s Remarks
7 Learning Lessons: Skills Needed for Future Career Success and How to Build Them in Childhood
8 Happy 2025: New Goals in a New Year
8 FIRST… A Word for Your Day
9 Pet Perch: Winter Weight Gain
11 Wellness Matters: Tips for a New You in 2025
11 Father/Daughter Writing Duo of Brightly Pond
13 Getting to Know: Friendship Forest Academy
13 Making a Difference: One on One with Jambos Donates
13 Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful: Meet Garret Dufty
14 One Man’s Opinion: The Benefits of Aging
14 Gwinnett County Launches Microtransit Pilot in Norcross
15 Community Safety: “Scams” Every Older American Should Know About
15 Getting to Know Arthur Ratliff Photography
From the Publisher:
Ryan’s Remarks
By Dr. Ryan T. Sauers
@RyanTSauers @RyanTSauers
Goodbye, 2024. Welcome, 2025! I am excited for 2025 – a year of new hopes, dreams, healing, love, fellowship, friends, family, and goals – and I am thankful for everything possible with a new year.
I am also thankful to be alive and to be writing this column. I am grateful for family and friends. I am so thankful for our fantastic business and community partners, two magazines, and other media outlets. I am grateful for our fantastic team and for so many more things. You see, my friends, we all have much to be thankful for. As someone recently reminded me, as long as we are “on this side of the dirt,” there is time to be a blessing and make a difference in this world.
However, I am ready for the beginning of a new year. This column is written to inspire us to make 2025 an incredible year in the Our Town community. My question to you is simple: How badly do you want to grow as a person this year?
If you want something bad enough, you will find a way to achieve it. You will desire to solve things and make life better for everyone. In contrast, if you do not want something bad enough, you will find an excuse and complain about everything happening to you and around you. It is the way human beings are wired.
So, you see, we have two choices. The first is to stand around and complain and be frustrated about how things are. The second is to do anything in our power to develop a plan and/or find a way to improve things. In this new year, I challenge you to Keep Pushing Forward (KPF). KPF is what I tell all the graduate marketing and leadership students I teach. It is a mindset of finding a way to make things happen. It is the ability to believe in yourself, push harder,
Continued on page 11
Learning Lessons: Skills Needed for Future Career Success and How to Build Them in Childhood
By Tanisha Turner
When parents think about the earliest skills they should be nurturing in their children, language, reading, and motor skills likely come to mind. However, a recent survey revealed that another set of skills may be just as important to develop early in life to give children the foundation they need for future success.
According to a national survey of human resources managers responsible for hiring, problem solving, critical thinking, teamwork, self-control, adaptability and working memory –collectively referred to as executive function skills – are essential to succeeding in today’s workplace. In fact, survey respondents agreed that these skills are more important than good grades, technical skills, and other factors when it comes to hiring.
Yet, the majority of those surveyed said that entry-level employees are rarely proficient in executive function skills and agreed that they are difficult to teach. One in four respondents also indicated employees are becoming less proficient in executive function skills over time – a concerning trend given that research suggests these skills will only become more valued as society evolves. These statistics may sound worrisome, but encouragingly, executive function skills have their foundational roots in early childhood. The Harvard Center on the Developing Child reports that children’s early life experiences influence their capacity for executive function skills, and laying the foundation for such skills is one of the most important tasks of the early childhood years. All of the adults in a child’s life – parents, grandparents, teachers, and oth-
Continued on page 12
Happy 2025: New Goals in a New Year
By Tana Poncsak
To many, a new year signifies a blank page or screen. To others, it means a fresh start. Whatever the onset of a new year brings to mind, it’s never the wrong time to reassess your life goals.
According to History.com and The History of New Year’s Resolutions, the first people to make New Year Resolutions were the ancient Babylonians about 4,000 years ago. Amid their celebration, they also saw the need to mark the beginning of the new year, making sound intentions for the year to come. And we continue to do that very same thing today.
What’s the difference between a resolution and a goal? A quick Google search describes a resolution as “a firm decision to do or not to do something.” A goal is “the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.” Whether you call them resolutions or goals, what are some things you hope to accomplish during the new year?
Many people categorize their goals into different areas of life such as health, financial, professional, etc. Others have started to condense their efforts into a one-word concept for the new year. Words such as mindful, intentional, grateful, bold, and many others come to mind.
One thing’s for sure: as we say goodbye to one year and hello to the next, what most of us really want is for the new year to be better than the year before. But all the goal setting and resolutions in the world won’t help if once life gets back into full swing and there’s the daily grind to contend with, our intentions for the new year get lost in the shuffle and we fall back into the grip of our old habits. So here are some tips for making the most of your New Year’s goals or resolutions.
1. Set aside time to consider what you want 2025 to be like.
2. List your top priorities for the year and clearly define each goal. Don’t be vague. For example, “Get Healthy” is too ambiguous. Be specific and try to
visualize reaching each goal.
3. Make a plan of action of how you expect to accomplish each goal.
4. Keep the list handy and refer to it often throughout the year. Track your progress.
5. Things change, so don’t be afraid to revise and update the list of goals as needed.
6. Finally, pick a time before making your new goals for the next year and assess your progress. Where did you nail it, and where did you fall short? And why? Don’t beat yourself up for what you didn’t achieve. Perhaps there was a good reason. Be sure to make notes and recognize where you saw progress. We hope you realize all your goals and dreams, whatever the new year brings. And we wish you a safe, healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year in 2025!
FIRST… A Word for Your Day
By Jane Bishop
It’s a new year and an opportunity for a series of firsts! Consider how often we use first: first born, first of the month, first impression, first of many, and more. There can only be one first. So, as we enter the first days of a new year, it’s an opportune moment to reflect, reset, and renew. Consider shifting your focus to the word FIRST to guide thoughts and actions. To kickstart your thinking, ponder these F.I.R.S.T. thoughts.
Find Inspiration in Small Things: Being present in the small moments may hold the potential to inspire. Develop a habit to notice the FIRST smile in a day, the FIRST sip of morning coffee, or the FIRST sign of progress. These moments can evoke joy and motivation.
Initiate New Habits: We initiate new habits by disrupting current ones for 30 days. Start with simple changes. Whether it’s the FIRST ten minutes of your day spent meditating or the FIRST book you read this year, initiating small habits can lead to significant transformations. After the FIRST 30 days of disrupting habits and replacing them with new ones, continue for a second 30 days. Then, repeat the practice for an additional 30 days.
Reset and Refresh: What is the FIRST step required for you to press reset for the new year? Perhaps it is simply to stop, pause, and think. In that moment, focus on the FIRST thought that surfaces and consider how it helps with the reset and refresh.
Start with Self-compassion: When we extend compassion to self, it triggers our brain in a way that can help reduce stress, create clarity in thinking, and keep us aligned with our core being. The new year is an opportunity to FIRST practice self-compassion so that we can extend compassion to others. This practice may be a FIRST for many; however, it can provide a fresh start and a lighter heart.
Continued on page 11
Pet Perch: Winter Weight Gain
By Dr. Jenny Reesman, DVM
Now that it is winter, the trees are bare, the grass is dormant, and we all retreat inside to stay warm. For our pets, this is often a time of inactivity as well. Walks are shorter (as we pull our jackets on tight to stay warm, praying they will hurry up and pee!), walks are less often (most of us leave and get home now in the dark), and let’s face it, most of our dogs are about as excited about being out in the cold as we are.
Our cats, who typically aren’t very active to begin with, now retreat to the small sunny spot on the floor or curl up near the heating vent, spending their days (and often nights) curled up in a ball. This time of inactivity, though, can lead to weight gain, which
unfortunately leads to an array of health concerns. So, what can we do? Start with the food, and oh yes, those treats!
If pets are less active, they need less calories. Dial back a little. Even a small amount less in the bowl and from the hand can help prevent weight gain. Change to low calorie treats. There are some great commercial treats, and fresh veggies and fruit (but no grapes! They’re toxic!) can be great low calorie treat options for cats. Grab that string or toy and get them moving! Dragging, bouncing, and moving a toy can start play and increase activity.
Even a treat reward at the end can help them love it even more. So don’t let the cold weather let the pounds creep on. Then, come spring, your pet will be lean and ready to get back out into the nice weather! More information at https://www.brookwoodanimal.com/ or call 770-979-0089
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Proper documentation increases the likelihood of getting full coverage for repairs.
Wellness Matters: Tips for a New You in 2025
By Our Town Gwinnett Staff
If your New Year’s resolutions list is a mile long, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure where to start. Let these three essential wellness tips set you up for a successful year and give you the power, energy, and determination you need to reach all your other goals.
Make Time for Breakfast
Many people make the mistake of skipping breakfast, particularly if they are trying to lose weight. But breakfast is essential because it gives you the fuel and energy to power the day until lunch. This is important to help kickstart your metabolism and regulate your hunger. Don’t think you have time to prepare a healthy breakfast? You’re not alone. However, many are open to implementing this habit with quicker breakfast options, such as frozen breakfast foods, that cut prep time in half.
Eggland’s Best Frozen Breakfast Bowls, made with hearty ingredients, are ready to eat in minutes. Not only do the bowls taste great, but they are made with nutritionally superior Eggland’s Best eggs, which contain six times more vitamin D, more than double the Omega-3s and ten times more vitamin E compared to ordinary eggs, so you can feel confident that you’re getting optimal nutrition before taking on the busy day ahead.
Practice Self-Care
Between work, family life, and other commitments, carving out time for yourself can seem challenging. But a little self-care goes a long way toward helping you recharge and better manage all your responsibilities and stressors. Whether going for a run, taking a yoga class, doing arts and crafts, or reading a book, be sure to spend some time each week doing something you love that makes you feel your best.
Prioritize Sleep
Prioritizing sleep will improve every aspect of your physical and mental wellness and help you achieve all your other goals. Unfortunately, streaming devices, social media, and other distractions make it too easy to stay up later than intended. Setting an alarm in the evening can be a gentle reminder that it’s time to put down devices and start your bedtime routine, helping you create a more consistent sleep schedule. This will also eliminate exposure to blue light late in the evening, an environmental factor that has been proven to make it harder to fall asleep.
Achieving your goals starts with feeling your best. Make that happen in this new year by prioritizing the most essential health and wellness building blocks from sunrise to sundown. It will make all the difference in how you feel. (StatePoint)
FIRST… A Word for Your Day Continued
from page 8
Take a Bodacious Step: Take that FIRST bodacious step you have been avoiding and embrace new opportunities. Is it starting a new project, learning a new skill, or embarking on an adventure? Stepping out of your comfort zone can open doors to exciting possibilities!
Incorporating FIRST into your mindset can shift how you approach the New Year that will set in motion an adventure of potential inspiration, growth, and renewed purpose. Remember that every journey begins with a FIRST step. As you embrace it wholeheartedly, enjoy how it can positively reshape your life. More information at www.janebishoplive.com.
Father/Daughter Writing Duo of Brightly Pond
By Victoria R. Crosby
When Gary Intili found out his daughter Leighann Troino was expecting his first grandchild, he was so excited that his mind began to wander. While he was lying in his hammock and looking at the pond in his garden, he imagined the stories he would tell his future grandchild, and the character of Fribbit the frog was born.
He told Leighann the story he had created in his mind, and she loved the idea, so they decided they would put a children’s book together as a father daughter duo. It was Gary’s first attempt at writing a children’s story. Leighann is a former elementary and special needs teacher at a school in Decatur, who left work to raise her daughter Elliana (called Ellie). She acted as editor for the story and added some of her own ideas.
Leighann and her husband Anthony live in the house next door to her parents. There is a gate between the two properties, so they frequently spend time together.
Gary said they went “old school,” meaning a traditional publisher not a self-publishing company. It only took a few months after sending query letters to several publishing companies, when they received an acceptance letter from Mascot Books. It took two years for the complete process, from the concept to publication.
The illustrations were through the publishing company. Gary and Leighann were given a choice of several illustrators, and they chose Alejandro Echavez.
“We felt he captured the essence of the characters and scenery, so we gave him creative freedom,” Gary said. “He was very easy to work with and made some good suggestions.”
Since the release of Brightly Pond: The Adventures of Fribbit the Frog in October of 2022, the book has sold well. Gary and Leighann attend craft shows, festivals, and holiday markets where they do readings and book signings. They also give readings at elementary schools and daycare centers and have been interviewed on podcasts.
The book was submitted to The BookFest® and won two awards, 2nd place for children’s fiction with animals, and 3rd place picture books.
Ellie, who is now three and a half years old, loves the story and knows all the characters in the stories of Fribbit the frog. Her family reads the book to her often.
Gary and Leighann are working on a series of other books about the adventures of Fribbit.
“Observing something and thinking about stories, a moral or lesson may come up, but not a planned message,” Gary noted.
Mascot Books recommends the book for children ages four to eight.
Brightly Pond books are available at bookstores, online, and more locally at Storybook Market in Gainesville and Liberty Books in Lawrenceville.
Ryan’s Remarks Continued
from page 7
and dig deeper in every aspect of your life.
We all can go deeper and find a way. Do not be afraid to fail. As our little green friend Yoda says in Star Wars, “The greatest teacher...failure is.” Also, do not be scared to be your authentic and transparent self. Everyone desires to have genuine people around them. And if not, trust me – people will talk about you anyway, so why not give them a reason to talk?
So, here is a challenge for 2025: Plan your work and work your plan so you can grow—in all parts of your life—deliberately, purposefully, and intentionally. Control what you can control and leave the rest to the good Lord. This will lead to “success” in this new year (no matter what you encounter), and you will grow and help everyone around you grow to new heights.
Thanks for being part of our amazing Our Town community and for your ongoing support. Our team is so proud to bring you local and positive news (through all our media platforms) every month. Here is to a great 2025. And now, and as always, thank you for continuing with me on the journey of my town, your town, Our Town!
Learning Lessons Continued from page 7
ers – therefore, have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help set him or her on a pathway for success. And nurturing the executive function skills needed to succeed later in life doesn’t have to be difficult. Try the following fun activities for children at home:
Develop problem solving through play. Children work through their understanding of the world as they play. For example, when children play with blocks, they learn that putting heavier blocks on top make block towers tumble more quickly, but putting heavier blocks on the bottom make the tower stronger.
Promote critical thinking by asking thought-provoking questions. Whether you’re playing with blocks or at the grocery store, ask your child simple, open-ended questions like “Why do you think…” and “What if…” to inspire deeper thinking. Be sure to give your child plenty of time to answer the question, refraining from giving the answer yourself.
Encourage teamwork by leading by example. Children learn how to respond to others mostly by watching their parents and caregivers. Make it a
point to model behaviors like listening and being respectful at home. Cultivate self-control by giving instructions. Instructions don’t immediately sound like much fun, but singing songs like the hokey pokey and playing games like Simon Says actually encourage self-control by requiring children to move in a specific way at a particular time.
Nurture adaptability through dramatic play. Children can practice adaptability – the ability to take in and adapt to new information – by using everyday objects in new ways, like turning a paper towel roll into a telescope.
Foster working memory by reading aloud. Consistently reading aloud with children reinforces sounds and letters, helping them learn and store information in a way that feels more like play. Take things a step further by making up a story together. As the complexity of the story grows, your child will get more practice remembering the information.
By intentionally nurturing these skills during the first five years of life, parents and caregivers can help set children up for success that will last a lifetime.
Tanisha Turner is the Owner of Primrose School at Sugarloaf Parkway. More information at www.PrimroseSugarloafParkway.com or call 770-5130066.
&
CALLED TO CARE FOR YOUR A FAMILY OWNED
FAITH BASED COMPANY
Getting to Know: Friendship Forest Academy
By Victoria R. Crosby
Jennifer Hickey, an attorney and legal scholar, is a co-founder of the Friendship Forest Academy (FFA) in Lawrenceville. When her son, who is neurodivergent, had completed preschool, Jennifer and her husband sought a school for him, but they couldn’t find one near them that would meet his needs.
Amanda Green, a longtime friend, who also has a neurodivergent child the same age, was also looking for a similar school, and when they couldn’t find one close enough, they decided to start their own. The two women co-founded the school in 2023 after they found an available space at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Lawrenceville.
The Friendship Forest Academy is a place where neurodivergent children, ages five to fourteen, can learn and grow while having their sensory needs supported and encouraged; a place where children can be themselves and engage on their own terms, customized to individual unique learning style. The school’s mission is to create a safe environment where children can learn, explore, discover, and create.
The school offers very small classes with a two to one student-teacher ratio with customized learning plans, speech and occupational therapy, an indoor sensory room, and an outdoor classroom with sensory play equipment. They use an approach that aims to create an emotionally safe environment where neurodivergent children can benefit from a combination of child-led approaches and a structured schedule that favors a predictable routine for those sensitive to abrupt changes.
The Common Core Georgia Performance standards and other well established educational approaches are used as the basis for individual educational plans, so that all of a child’s unique abilities and challenges are addressed. The arts curriculum includes music, dance, drama, creative writing, and visual arts, which are organically integrated with all the disciplines.
FFA is a non-profit organization with lower tuition than other similar private schools, so that it is affordable. The school was recently awarded a grant for a gardening program. The children spend some time growing vegetables in container beds. Garden club members, and anyone with an interest in gardening, would be welcome as a volunteer, as are people with other special interests or skills that they could demonstrate or teach.
FFA also offers a summer camp for any neurodivergent student, not only those enrolled in the school. It includes five weekly sessions offering sensory activities, consulting occupational therapist, arts crafts, and gardening. Friendship Forest Academy is located at 12 Bethesda Church Road in Lawrenceville.
More information at 770 322-4361 or www.friendshipforestacademy.org.
Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful: Meet Garret Dufty
By Our Town Gwinnett Staff
A dedicated team member for the Gwinnett County Government since 2019, Garret Dufty proves an ideal fit for the county’s hybrid nonprofit/government organization focused on environmental education, advocacy, and engagement. After serving impactful roles for the Gwinnett County Departments of Parks & Recreation and Water Resources, Dufty will now fulfill the role of Environmental Outreach Program Coordinator for Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful.
In his new role, Dufty’s primary focus will be all programs and initiatives that involve water and water preservation. He will oversee the Adopt-A-Stream Program, Stormwater Protectors, Great Gwinnett Wetlands, Great Days of Service, Household Hazardous Waste, maintenance of the WaterGoat litter capture system at Bethesda Park’s Sweetwater Creek, and more.
“We are so excited to welcome Garret to the Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful team,” said Schelly Marlatt, Executive Director for the eco-focused nonprofit. “We have had such fun partnering with him over the last two years in his Department of Water Resources role. He is highly capable, as evidenced by his recognition with a 2023 New Trainer of the Year award from Georgia Adopt-
Making a Difference: One on One with Jambos Donates
By Tana Poncsak
Perhaps everyone can relate to slipping into a cozy new pair of pajamas. And for kids in the foster care system, receiving cozy new pajamas may bring them some much-needed comfort. Now, there’s an organization called Jambos Donates that provides new pajamas and comfort to those in the foster care system.
Rebekah Black knew at an early age she wanted to serve kids in some way. Still, after taking part in a mission trip to Montego Bay and Kingston, Jamaica, where Rebekah and her group served in rescue centers and orphanages, this desire become more evident. Rebekah decided to make serving children in the foster care system her life’s work.
“I was just a young girl,” Rebekah says, speaking about the mission trip. “I knew I really wanted to serve kids in the adoption and foster care space. It became very clear to me that I was called to do this.”
Taking a hard left turn from the sales and marketing roles she held early in her professional career, Rebekah, who is a single mother, took a risk answering the call and starting the organization located in Buford that sees that children in foster care experience the comfort of receiving and wearing new pajamas.
It all started with one simple question to those who work in the government agencies that handle foster care cases and those who have been through a foster care program. What do the kids in foster care need the most? Rebekah says time and time again the answer was that kids need pajamas.
“I thought, well that’s so simple,” she says. “How hard could it be? Let’s try it.”
And she did. Starting with the small groups at her church around Christmastime, she collected over 200 pairs of pajamas and got the first inkling that the idea had merit. Since that time, Jambos Donates has partnered with churches, schools, and the like. Over six years, they’ve collected 106,000 pairs of pajamas, and last year in 2023, they sent out 24,000 pieces.
As founder and chief executive officer of Jambos Donates that officially became a nonprofit in February 2018, Rebekah said she’s had a few challenges along the way as she worked multiple jobs to get the organization up and running.
“Personally, it really stretched me,” she says, adding that she had to believe and put her trust in God.
It’s with that faith that she started the organization on a shoestring budget in her living room. But since those days, Rebekah says the organization has made a difference in the community. Then during the pandemic Rebekah says the foster care program was at a standstill and many children were stuck in the system because they couldn’t go to court to have their cases heard.
“It was really hard,” she says.
A-Stream. But more than that, he truly loves nature and the community he serves. When he’s not facilitating an Adopt-A-Stream workshop, clearing the nets of our WaterGoat, or helping the rest of our team at a cleanup or recycling event, don’t be surprised if you see Garret out hiking the trails at the new Harris Greenway or birding at Harbins Park. This man doesn’t just talk the talk. He walks the walk. He is a certified Master Herpetologist and Master Naturalist. He sets a fabulous example for others to follow.”
Born in South Florida, Dufty grew up in the City of Jefferson, Georgia, which he still calls home today. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in political science, he completed a year of service through AmeriCorps Project Conserve
Continued on page 14
One Man’s Opinion: The Benefits of Aging
By Bill Crane
Having entered the “September of my years” as Frank Sinatra sings, or the 4th quarter of life as some others have less charitably put it, it reminds me of the importance of taking inventory and adjusting at the close of each year. It is not about how many more years of life we can squeeze out, but how much life, good work, and impact we can make with those years.
Though I have only once sent a telegram, I am old enough to have a lot of experience with landline phones and fax machines. I was selftaught on a Memory Writer, later MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows, and all its many updates since. Never really an early adapter, I can download and figure out most phone apps, though I still hate e-tickets.
As we are often led to express that “youth is wasted on the young,” I will admit, in my late 20s, near the start of my career, while serving as Press Secretary for then Georgia Secretary of State Max Cleland, that each of the time we updated his bio over a five-year period, he would insist and right in the word “youngest” near the start of almost every title upgrade. Cleland was in his middle 40s at the time. Well… I get it now.
There can be quite a sudden shift from “Hey kid” to “Wait a minute, old man” much quicker than you might think. I am also someone who tries to find and seek the better sides of life, the more optimistic vision, and who believes that if people are willing to work together and make compromises, almost any objective IS achievable.
With that in mind, I thought I might share some of the benefits of aging, beyond AARP senior discounts and the occasional surprise of someone holding a door or an elevator and saying, “After you, sir,” though that latter pleasure is almost entirely limited to the South.
Perspective: I am a bit too much of a control freak ever to be an easy-going or a WTH happens kind of guy, but age and some battle scars have taught me NOT
Gwinnett County Launches Microtransit Pilot in Norcross
By Our Town Gwinnett Staff
Gwinnett County officials, in collaboration with the Gateway85 Community Improvement District and the city of Norcross, gathered last month to celebrate the launch of Ride Gwinnett’s new microtransit pilot program. Microtransit is an on-demand, shared-ride service aimed at improving mobility for residents and businesses.
Ride Gwinnett currently operates microtransit services in Snellville and Lawrenceville. This new pilot provides microtransit service for areas of Norcross and the Gateway85 Community Improvement District.
“Microtransit is a flexible and convenient transportation option that represents a significant step forward in Gwinnett County’s efforts to achieve mobility for all,” said Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson. “Our collaboration with the Gateway85 Community Improvement District and the city of Norcross to add the service in this area is a prime example of the power of partnership in delivering exceptional services that enhance connectivity and accessibility for our residents, businesses and visitors.”
By using the Ride Gwinnett app, customers can select their pick-up and dropoff locations, choose pick-up times and specify the number of riders.
“It is incredible that we have been able to partner with the city of Norcross and Gwinnett County to launch the new on-demand microtransit pilot program, which will be a game-changer for our district,” said Emory Morsberger, executive director of Gateway85 Community Improvement District. “This service will provide a reliable and affordable transportation option for our community, helping employees get to their jobs and ensuring that transit-dependent residents can easily move around the area, all for just $3. We are committed to improving accessibility and enhancing the quality of life for everyone in our district.”
The pilot program will operate with the fixed price of $3 per ride. Service will be available Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., excluding
to fight every battle, to understand that others have their own well-formed opinions and preferences, as well as personal history and backgrounds. Living awhile has brought out the Libertarian in me, so you can do or think what you want to, as long as you don’t harm or take from others in the process of doing that.
Empathy/Kindness:
I credit my mother with this one, but raising a special needs child, being a parent to two daughters, and now being a grandparent remind me daily of the many simple joys of life if we take the time to appreciate them. They also remind me that manners, kindness, and the empathy of living by the Golden Rule cost us nothing and can contribute so much to so many with only the slightest of efforts.
Grandchildren:
If you know, you know, and I mean no insult to those without children. But becoming a grandparent makes all that earlier rollercoaster ride entirely worthwhile. I can also mention and strongly recommend that as life partners pass or marriages dissolve, you can still marry into becoming a grandparent, one of life’s great shortcuts.
Occasional Answers to the Mysteries of Life:
I still do NOT understand why women obsess over shoes, or how many of my friends can become more distressed over losing a particular football game than over losing a job. But I have figured out why weddings and funerals at times seem so similar and why your presence (when invited) is so essential at both, for different reasons. Having said “See you later” too soon to too many good people, I also believe we get to move on to a better place, though I am still figuring out what all I may still need to do to get there.
And perhaps leaving the best benefit of aging for last, having lost entirely too many friends, family (my own blood brother), and hundreds of acquaintances at entirely too young an age—still living certainly beats the alternative. My cremation is prepaid, and I hope the Irish wake is long, the bar is open, and the stories are funny...but I also still have a long bucket list and plans through at least the early 2040s—or so. Wishing you and yours all the best in 2025!
Bill Crane owns the full-service communications firm CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com
holidays. Payments can be made through the app or with exact change.
“We are honored to bring this transformative program to our community,” said city of Norcross Mayor Craig Newton. “My fellow council members and I believe it will greatly enhance the quality of life by providing more accessible and reliable transportation options for all of our residents. We are grateful for the collaborative effort between the Gwinnett County Commission, the Gwinnett85 CID, and the Norcross City Council in bringing this much needed transit initiative to our citizens. Seeing this service come to life is a proud moment for us all, and we can’t wait to witness the positive difference it will make in our city.”
The program is funded 44% each by Gwinnett County and Gateway85 CID, with the city of Norcross covering the remainder. The pilot is scheduled to operate for one year.
More information at https://ridegwinnett.com/
Jambos Donates
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But Jambos Donates still provided boxes of pajamas to the social workers on the frontline to give to the children as they interacted with them. And they got creative and created the Jambos to Homes program, and pajamas were delivered directly to the front porches of the homes that housed children in the foster care program.
In 2022 the organization was mentioned on social media by an influencer who has foster children of her own and a large foster care community following. The post ended up going viral, and they had about 4,000 families ask for pajamas within a three-week span.
“It was all over the country and thousands of kids got pajamas from us,” Rebekah says. “It happened very quickly.”
That was a couple of years ago, and she says they’re still catching their breath. Jambos Donates serves foster children in all fifty states and more than seventeen different countries. Rebekah said one of the rewards of doing her work is when she sees some of the children get pajamas.
“We were able to go to Kenya and Uganda and see the kids in their pajamas,” she says. “When I arrived at the infant rescue center, that was a big reward for me. It was a celebration moment. It was like, ‘Wow, we’re making a difference on the other side of the world.’”
More information at https://jambosdonates.org/
Community Safety: “Scams” Every Older American Should Know About
By Our Town Gwinnett Staff
Amid technological advances enabling scammers to commit fraud, elders and their loved ones must stay informed. Typically, elder scams involve transferring money to a stranger or imposter for a promised benefit or good.
According to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, in 2023, banks reported more than $27 billion in suspicious activity related to elder scams, and reports filed by the public to the Federal Bureau of Investigation indicated an average loss of more than $33,000 per case. However, these numbers may be conservative, as elder fraud cases may be underreported.
One technology behind these staggering figures is artificial intelligence (AI). Advanced methods of masking one’s identity using AI make it challenging to detect fakes. Voiceprint – or voice clone – scamming is becoming more of an issue regarding impersonation fraud. Using voice clips from social media or by calling and having a brief conversation with someone, criminals can generate an imitation to be used as part of their ruse.
“Older adults are often easier prey for these types of fakes because a recognized voice, when applied to certain scam strategies, is often enough to elicit action,” says Mark Kwapiszeski, head of Enterprise Fraud at PNC.
Most scams targeting elders generally follow one or two main strategies: 1) elicit strong feelings and apply a sense of urgency to get someone to act quickly before thinking, or 2) entice someone with an offer that seems too good to be true, yet too alluring to pass up. Here are some of the more common types of elder scams:
Scams That Apply a Sense of Urgency:
• Tech Support. Someone will claim they need to remotely access the victim’s computer to fix a software problem and then use that access to steal personal or financial information.
• Government Imposter. The fraudster may tell the victim they owe a debt that must be paid immediately or face arrest, asset seizure, or termination of benefits.
• Grandparent. An elaborate story is told by phone, sometimes involving a voiceprint of an actual grandchild, claiming a loved one is in trouble and needs money to be protected.
Scams That Offer Something Too Good to Be True:
• Investment. The scammer makes claims of a high-return investment to trick the victim into giving them money, often asking to be paid unconventionally, like cryptocurrency, where there’s little to no chance of recovering the funds.
• Romance. The scammer develops a fake identity and creates the illusion of a romantic relationship to manipulate or steal from the victim.
• Lottery/Sweepstakes. Scammers make contact by phone or mail to tell the victim they’ve won the lottery or sweepstakes but claim the elder has to remit a processing fee before they can get their prize.
The most effective way of preventing fraud is to pause when rushed and take time to verify the legitimacy of the person making contact and their claims. To reduce the odds of your voice being cloned, experts suggest exercising caution when speaking on the phone with strangers. If someone unfamiliar contacts you, disconnect from the original communication channel, verify their identity, and attempt to contact them through a different channel.
For instance, hang up the phone, get a number for the company, government agency, or family member from a trusted source (such as a company’s official website), and use that to call back and verify. When it comes to scammers that establish a relationship over time, verify legitimacy using third-party resources before investing.
Be leery of anyone asking for nontraditional payment forms, and when logic may be clouded by romantic feelings, confide in someone you trust for an objective opinion. If you believe you or someone you love has been a victim of fraud, contact the Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime’s National Elder Fraud Hotline website or call 1-833-FRAUD11.
From all of us here at OUR TOWN, we hope these tips help everyone stay safe. (StatePoint)
Getting to Know Arthur Ratliff Photography
By Kristen Eleveld
Who doesn’t dream of traveling around the world? Most of us have hopes of seeing what’s out there – and one local couple is not only living this dream, but also making their living at it. Since Arthur Ratliff was a kid, he loved taking photos. As the first one in his family and one of few in his community with a nice camera, he became popular with his friends and neighbors as he showed just how talented of a photographer he was. And since so few people had photos of themselves, they flocked to Arthur to get their picture taken by the expert.
It makes sense that Arthur would one day wind up with his wife, Denise Gunter, who he married in 2021. Denise also spent years honing her photography expertise as she made a name for herself with her artistry of choice: mixed media collages.
Both master gardeners, Arthur and Denise can be found at a local art exhibit – like the one in Tucker where Denise is currently showing some photos – or you might run into them in Spain, which is where one of their most recent adventures took them. Though their final products are unique to each of these talented artists, their love for learning about places around the world sees them through many exciting journeys.
“We want to learn from other cultures and then share what we have learned from them with people here,” said Denise of what motivates them to keep seeking new places and events.
Of course, while you can view many of their amazing photographs and collages online, you will also recognize some events and people from the greater Atlanta area. For instance, Arthur loved working on a project at the Mountain Park Library, where Congresswoman Lucy McBeth had donated several books. Arthur and Denise have become so well-known in the Tucker and Dekalb area that they often have business lined up for months at a time.
You will also see Arthur photographing some more traditional events, like weddings and baby showers. This works well, because he is looking to do more of those events in the coming months.
“I think my pictures are a lot different than the groups that come in with a large crew and looks like everyone else’s wedding,” said Arthur. “I get to know the people, connect with them, and be there for the whole process.”
For Denise, her photography and mixed media collages represent the opportunity to put a picture to the words she has read to describe some of her favorite places. For instance, as an art education major in college, she learned a lot about the Notre Dame Cathedral. But turning the corner in Paris and seeing the building itself was an entirely different experience. This experience also lends itself to the creativity that Denise brings to her collages.
“People like my unique perspective,” said Denise. “I love how collages let you meld two different ideas.”
And their love for their art does not end with the work they do. They have set a mission for themselves to help other budding photographers who show promise and just need some guidance – guidance that Arthur and Denise will gladly provide. They don’t even charge for their expertise, because they consider it a service to the community to encourage new photographers to develop their skills.
If you’re wondering how this dynamic duo can be part of your next event, just head to their website and fill out the contact form! Your memories will be captured in a way that lasts forever.
More information at https://www.arthurratliffphotography.com/
Meet Garret Dufty
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in Asheville, North Carolina. In this role, he first developed his environmental outreach skills as well as his volunteer leadership abilities.
Dufty enjoys hiking, gardening, spending time with his family, and cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs in his free time. He enjoys visiting local parks to study reptiles, amphibians, and birds native to Georgia.
Gwinnett County neighbors who would like to meet the newest member of the Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful staff can attend a future Adopt-A-Stream workshop or volunteer for the first Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful event of 2025 –the annual Bring One for the Chipper Event on January 25, 2025.
More information at www.GwinnettCB.org.
