JULY 2018 Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine
Our Town GWINNETT
Lawrenceville Snellville Lilburn Stone Mountain Tucker
Meet the team at Wages & Sons, see story on page 5
8 11 13 19
Brookwood High’s Ruby Lee: Presidential Scholar Semi-Finalist Lilburn Elementary School: The Legomatics Team Community Member Spotlight: Meet Annaliese Mayo Movie Review: The Incredibles 2 is Great Family Fun
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isJohn honored to beIV, we are committed to providing you with the high AtDr. the Simmons dental office of W. Simmons, comprehensive dental care, focused on both the function and beauty of your smile. A one of only nine dentists improving in patient care and comfort are our primary concerns. We are proud to run a practice that treats ea Georgia to have passed the kind, gentle, and caring manner, just like family. We offer a full range of the latest cosmetic a rigorous required to long-lasting, earn procedures thattesting concentrate on ensuring brilliant results you will love, and others
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On the Cover: Wages and Sons: Honoring Life. No Regrets. By Joanna Shackelford Death was never a taboo subject at the Wages family table. In fact, it was part of their everyday conversation, and it still is. Since he was thirteen years old, Jeffrey Wages worked by the side of his father, Billy K. Wages, Sr., and brother, Billy Wages Jr., at Wages and Sons Funeral Home, helping families during a critical time of need. Jeffrey remembers as a kid going out on calls with his dad, who was Gwinnett County coroner at the time, wearing a big fireman’s hat, curious and proud. “The business of our family has been death for my whole life,” he says. “It was very normal. This is what we did.” Now, following in the footsteps of his father as funeral director, Jeffrey and his family continue their 50-year-old tradition of creating services of remembrance with respect and kindness. Billy Wages, Sr. opened Wages and Sons in Stone Mountain in the 1960s. “My father was a giver,” says Jeffrey. “He cared for humankind and loved his community like no one else I knew.” He remembers his father caring for people with guidance and expertise, taking their best interest to heart. He and his dad served together in an organization called Order of the Golden Rule, an association made up of independent funeral directors across the globe. According to Jeffrey, his father embraced the philosophy completely. “His quiet, gentle way and firmness in leading his staff made an impression on me. I’ll always remember how kind he was,” says Jeffrey. “We carry it every day, and it’s a big stick.” Billy Wages, Sr. passed away in 2004. Today, Wages and Sons has evolved into two locations, Stone Mountain and Lawrenceville, with 20 + staff members – a far cry from the original mom-and-pop operation of two full-time
employees many years ago. Jeffrey’s brother Billy plays a pivotal role in the family business by overseeing crematory operations for both the Gwinnett Chapel and Stone Mountain locations. The brothers have taken their father’s legacy and continue to pay it forward in the community. They are most passionate about advocating for children in need, and they serve on multiple boards, from the Gwinnett Library Association to Partnership Against Domestic Violence (PADV). “There are so many areas of need, sometimes you don’t know where to start,” Jeffrey admits. “But you’ve got to start somewhere, or you won’t make a difference.” His greatest act of service, however, happens within his own business. Meeting a family in their darkest of days and taking them through the difficult process of preparing arrangements to properly honor a loved one’s life can weigh heavily on a person. Jeffrey says his satisfaction for his job comes when he can see a person’s healing process begin. He is passionate about caring for people not just during this period, but after the funeral has happened, a time when many would think a funeral director’s job is over. This is why Jeffrey began a grief counseling program, opening their doors to anyone in the community in need of healing. It has taken a long time to build – nearly 18 years – but if anyone knows about the needs of people during and after the death of a loved one, it’s Jeffrey. “So many times people hide those feelings and need some way to release,” he says. Their grief support program offers one-on-one counseling or group sessions for adults and children led by licensed and experienced professionals. Partnering with local churches, they host meetings in various locations in Lawrenceville and other nearby
cities. Currently, in partnership with Gwinnett Medical, Wages and Sons is preparing for a major evening event on September 6th where bereaved families can attend a valuable seminar led by world-renowned author and grief counselor Alan Wolfelt. “This is our way of showing people that we really do care, not only today, but the next day and the next,” says Jeffrey. “Grief counseling may be subtle, but it’s probably the most impactful.” Today, Jeffrey sees changes in what families want in a service. “They are wanting more of an experience, like catering and a place to have meals, and we’re changing in order to accommodate them in this way.” They have also seen a major shift toward cremation services in recent years. Wages and Sons has adapted to these changes, not just because they have owned and operated their own cremation facilities for many years, but also because of their growing desire to take care of people and their community. “Our job is to find how we can accommodate any family. We don’t turn anyone down for race, religion, or lack of money,” says Jeffrey. Their mission, he says, is to help families find a way to honor their loved one and come away from the experience with no regrets. The Wages and Sons family business works and lives by this simple principle, harkening back to the Golden Rule. In this way, they honor their father’s legacy. More information at https://www.wagesandsons.com/
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PAGE 5
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Our Town Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine
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Our Town Gwinnett is published and direct mailed to select homes in the Gwinnett /NE DeKalb area. Opinions expressed by the writers and staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our Town Gwinnett reserves the right to edit and/or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our Town Gwinnett is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers. Entire contents copyright 2018 by Our Town Gwinnett. Reproduc-tion in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.
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IN THIS ISSUE 5 On the Cover: Wages and Sons: Honoring Life. No Regrets. 7 From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion
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8 Brookwood High’s Ruby Lee Selected as Semi-Finalist for Presidential
Scholars Program
11 Lilburn Elementary School: The Legomatics Team 12 One on One with Lilburn Farmers Market 13 Community Member Spotlight: Meet Annaliese Mayo — Beauties
Against Bullies
15 Safety First with Summer Fun in Lawrenceville 16 Up Close in Lawrenceville: Beat the Heat – Or At Least the Boredom 19 Audiences of All Ages Flock to See The Incredibles 2 21 Book Club Revival
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From the Publisher: @RyanSauers
By Ryan T. Sauers
I hope everyone is having a great summer. I encourage you to spend some of it with the people you enjoy the most. On a personal note, it is hard to believe how fast time is going. I will have three daughters at different schools in the fall: University level, High School, and Middle School. My kids’ elementary school days are over. Man, that went fast. So, again, enjoy the present. It is A PRESENT, and all any of us are guaranteed. I encourage each of you to Keep Pushing Forward (KPF) no matter what you are facing in life. And, always inspire others in our community to make it the best it can be. Always find the good in people and seek to make others laugh and smile. It makes a difference. I am so very thankful for the Our Town community. I wish you a wonderful and safe July. So while this column is concise, growth mode is coming, and I will have more for you in August. As always, thank you for continuing with us on the journey of my town, your town, Our Town!
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Brookwood High’s Ruby Lee Selected as Semi-Finalist for Presidential Scholars Program
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By Kim Hill When Our Town last spoke with Ruby Lee, she had joined three fellow Brookwood High School orchestra students in the honor of being selected to perform at New York’s Carnegie Hall. Now a senior, the talented Ms. Lee is being recognized once again – this time as a semi-finalist for the U. S. Presidential Scholars Program. The program, established by executive order of the president in 1964, recognizes graduating seniors who demonstrate excellence in academics, leadership, and school and community service. It was expanded in 1979 to include those students who, in addition to academic excellence, exhibit talent in visual, creative, and performing arts, and in 2015 it broadened to spotlight accomplishment in career and technical fields. Ms. Lee, who is Brookwood’s 2018 Salutatorian, says she was initially selected for the program’s application process based on her grade point average. She was then required to write an essay about something that had impacted her life and to include an applicable photograph. Ms. Lee chose a photo of an old restaurant called Buffalo House to represent the wing shop her family opened when they arrived in America. Ms. Lee was about four years old at that time, and the essay relays her experiences in the restaurant in downtown Atlanta and how that exposure impacted her growth. Ms. Lee also had to select her most influential teacher. She chose Vicky Smith, her sophomore AP World History teacher. “Before high school I was super STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) heavy,” Ms. Lee explains, “but she’s the one who inspired me. She said you can do so much with a history and liberal arts background.” Another component of the application was to describe an experience involving struggle or overcoming failure. At a very young age, Ms. Lee almost drowned trying to retrieve a life vest that had floated out into the ocean. After that, she had a huge fear of water and would avoid beaches and pool parties. “I was fine,” she explains, “because to be honest you can live life without swimming. But as I started to try new things, like ultimate Frisbee and art, if I realized I wasn’t good at it, I immediately
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Meet the state champion robotics team from Lilburn Elementary School (LES): Lucas Niemi, Michelle Diep, Jaden Ha, Faith Mwangala, Juan Ramos-Pena, Shamira Villarreal, Gianna Chambry, Vinci Tu, Mina Lee, and Nevaeh Sullivan, collectively known as the Legomatics. Although their name sounds like a rock band, their current accomplishment includes beating out 769 middle and elementary school STEM teams using their brains and teamwork. Each year elementary and middle school STEM students are challenged to research a real-world engineering problem such as recycling, food safety, and energy issues, and their coaches/teachers help to guide them into designing and implementing a LEGO-based robotic solution using LEGO MINDSTORMS®. This year’s challenge was in the field of Hydrodynamics, the branch of science that deals with the dynamics of fluids in motion. With clean drinking water believed by many to become the currency of the future, the Legomatics worked together to address the problem and to reduce usage. The team’s solution was to wipe down the water fountains with compostable wipes that could then be thrown into the school’s outdoor learning gardens, thereby using clean potable water from the fountains and reducing the environmentally damaging effects of the single-use non-compostable products. “Perhaps the greatest draw for us as teachers,” says their coach Simone Dreifuss, “is the emphasis placed on Core Values.” The FIRST organization (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), founded by Dean Kamen in 1989, has partnered with LEGO to create programs where teachers can help students develop critical thinking and team-building skills. The program’s core values emphasize discovery, teamwork, and good sportsmanship, and along the journey having fun, getting creative, and practicing presentation skills all within the parameters of basic STEM curriculum. After winning the coveted State Championship, the Legomatics moved up to the FIRST Lego League World Championship held this past April in Houston, Texas. Imagine 33,000 students from over 60 countries coming together with their coaches and chaperones, competing on a table-top playing field and focusing on robot design and performance to attempt to solve a real-world engineering problem. “Meeting people and kids from around the world was awesome,” stated Vinci Tu. “The city of Houston was beautiful, and we saw Minute Maid stadium,” said Mina Lee. “The side trip to the Johnson Space Center was a huge hit with all the students and chaperones alike!” added Dreifuss. While the World Championship was out of reach, the Legomatics still hold the title of State Champions at LES, and according to their coach Beverly Allen, “These students represent the best the future has to offer!” Next year’s Destination Deep Space theme promises to continue to inspire young people’s interest in science and technology, and perhaps encourage them to consider a career in one of the STEM fields. More information at https://www.firstinspires.org/about/vision-and-mission
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Fresh. Local. Healthy. That’s what you will find at the Lilburn Farmers Market. Fresh, locally produced goods that help you stay healthy and happy. It’s a recipe that has been working for the south Gwinnett community for the past eight years. And June 1st marked the opening of the market’s ninth season. Through August you can visit the market every Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church at 1400 Killian Hill Road in Lilburn. This year the market is participating in the Georgia Fresh 4 Less program, which doubles the amount on SNAP/EBT cards dollar for dollar spent at the market. For example, $10 on a SNAP/ EBT card becomes $20 worth of buying power at the market. If you have a craving for a farm fresh tomato bursting with flavor or a real Georgia peach, you will find them at the market, along with lots of other fresh fruits and vegetables. And while produce takes center stage, you will also find vendors selling herbs, preserves/jellies, baked goods, milk, cheese, meats, honey, pasta, and handcrafted soaps and candles. And there is, in fact, a stage at the Lilburn Farmers Market, where local musicians add some rootsy music to the festive atmosphere. In addition to the farmers and vendors, community residents have market manager Mandy McManus, as well as co-manager Andrea Brannen, to thank for their summer time tradition. McManus says her efforts are very rewarding. “I like seeing the repeat customers every week walking in with an empty bag and leaving with an overflowing shopping bag with ingredients for meals they are planning to make for the week. I love seeing the smiles, the happy people,” she says. Many of them, of course, are friends and neighbors of the long-time Lilburn resident. McManus raised two daughters in Lilburn. Older daughter Jessamy, 25, is a painter who works for an art consulting group, while Jolee, 21, is a junior at the University of Georgia, majoring in creative writing. With kids’ activities, tractor rides, face painting, a free library, food trucks, and chef demos with ingredients from the market, smiles are plentiful at the Lilburn Farmers Market. “It’s a fun family night out,” says McManus. “It is a unique opportunity to interface directly with the farmer or producer or baker or creator of the item. You can’t do that at a grocery store or anywhere else.” More information at http://www.lilburnfarmersmarket.org/
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Community Member Spotlight: Meet Annaliese Mayo — Beauties Against Bullies By Patty Gabilondo How were you spending your days when you were sixteen? Studying for tests, hanging out with friends, dreaming about summer vacation? Parkview High School sophomore Annaliese Mayo does all that, and so much more. When you look at her photos, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that she is a talented violinist who has been playing since the age of 3. You probably won’t be surprised to learn that she is also a part-time professional model. You probably won’t be surprised to learn that she won Miss Cumming Fair’s Outstanding Teen, or that she recently competed for the Miss Georgia’s Outstanding Teen competition in Columbus, GA. However, when you look beyond the surface of this title-holding beauty queens’ softer side, you might be surprised (and frankly a bit in awe) by the fiercely competitive spirit that has earned her the rank of sergeant in the Marine Corps JROTC (MJROTC) program and the Superior Marksmanship Award for the highest average on the Rifle Team. Mayo ranks #11 in the Georgia High School Association Rifle Championship, qualifies for the Marine Corps National and All Service National Rifle Championships, and is getting ready to launch Beauties Against Bullies, a world-wide photo campaign to help young people stand up for themselves when bullied. The Miss Georgia Outstanding Teen organization that Mayo will be participating in is a sister program of the Miss America Organization. Its mission is to nurture scholastic achievement and encourage healthy living and community involvement. But make no mistake – it is a fierce competition requiring poise and stamina. The Miss America Organization is the largest scholarship provider for young women in the world. Each contestant must be able to communicate effectively in public, to stand up for what they believe in, and be willing to serve as a role model for others as they travel during their reign. Each contestant is expected to identify a cause that she can support publicly as a show of her core values and principles. Annaliese has declared Beauties Against Bullies as her platform. According to Mayo, “My goal is to use my personal experience to help the kids who are being bullied to stand up to their bullies and show them they can survive and thrive. I hope to help the kids who are being bullies to stop the mean things they are doing.” She recently visited Lilburn Elementary School where she demonstrated the toothpaste analogy, explaining that words are like toothpaste. “One of the children squeezed the toothpaste out of the tube, and then we discussed how once you say something, you can’t take it back.” Continued on page 18
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Safety First with Summer Fun in Lawrenceville
We’re halfway We’re halfway We’re halfway through the year! We’re halfway through theyear! year! We’re halfway through the through the year! through the year!
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By Kristen Eleveld Now that summer is in full swing, you and your family are probably enjoying the gorgeous days, cool nights, and all the fun in between. We want this summer to be a great one – and a safe one. That’s why we talked to the Lawrenceville Police Department about the top tips they have for staying safe this season.
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Tip #1: Plan Your Days The great thing about summer is that it’s more flexible. But while your days may be less structured, local officers caution you to make a plan with your kids for their daily routine. Arrange some playdates, find a great childcare center, or give your older children a list of tasks to complete each day. You don’t need to fill every second, but giving your kids a little bit of structure over the summer can keep them safe and keep boredom from setting in. Tip #2: Make an Emergency Plan While you’re making plans, the Lawrenceville PD strongly suggests talking to your kids about a plan for emergencies over the summer. If you’re at an event with your family, it’s important for each member to know what to do if you all get separated. You might tell them to meet at a landmark, send out a group text, or to look for a certain storefront so everyone can find each other. The police department also urges each family to talk to their children about the basics of first aid and emergency services. Even young children can learn how to dial 911 and can memorize their address. If your child can read, you can list out important steps for emergencies and post them in an easily visible place, like the refrigerator. Keep your plan simple, and practice it often.
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This summer, Locally Owned Locally Owned and and Operated Operated strong is stunning! Locally Operated Locally Owned Owned and and Operated
Tip #3: Keep Track of Your Valuables One of the best ways to lose something valuable is to leave it in your car and walk away – only to have it stolen by a watchful observer. This type of crime, according to Lawrenceville police, easily makes up the highest percentages of thefts that are reported. Always lock your car, and never leave valuables inside. Another way to keep your valuables where they belong is to give them each a serial number. Keep Continued on page 18 12279_Dogwood forest full page ad.pdf 2 1/26/2018 2:44:30 PM
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ssucces 2144 Fountain Square, Snellville, GA. 30078 2144 Fountain Square, Snellville, GA. 30078 2144Locally Fountain Square, Snellville, GA. 30078 Owned and Operated 678.344.0200 678.344.0200 678.344.0200 2144 Fountain Square, Snellville, GA. 30078 678.344.0200
* Enrollment fee and monthly fees vary by location. Offer expires 6/30/17 and requires joining same day as first visit for a minimum 12-month recurring * Enrollment fee and monthly fees vary by location. Offer expires 6/30/17 and requires joining same day as first visit for a minimum 12-month recurring billing contract. Valid for new Curves members only. Not valid with any other offer or discount. Valid at participating locations only. No cash value. * Enrollment fee and monthly fees vary by location. Offer expires 6/30/17 and requires same dayatas first visit forlocations a minimum 12-month billing contract. Valid for new Curves members only. Not valid with any other offer or joining discount. Valid participating only. No cashrecurring value. * billing Enrollment fee and varymembers by location. Offer expires 6/30/17 and requires joining same day as first visit forlocations a minimum recurring © Not 2017 Curves International, Inc. (1704) contract. Validmonthly for newfees Curves only. valid with any other offer or discount. at participating only.12-month No cash value. © 2017 Curves (1704)Valid billing contract. Valid for new Curves members only. Not valid withInternational, any other offerInc. or discount. Valid at participating locations only. No cash value. © 2017 Curves International, Inc. (1704) * Enrollment fee and monthly fees vary by location. Offer 6/30/17 and requires Inc. joining same day as first visit for a minimum 12-month recurring © expires 2017 Curves International, (1704) billing contract. Valid for new Curves members only. Not valid with any other offer or discount. Valid at participating locations only. No cash value. © 2017 Curves International, Inc. (1704)
* Enrollment fee and monthly fees vary by location. Offer expires 6/30/17 and requires joining same day as first visit for a minimum 12-month recurring billing contract. Valid for new Curves members only. Not valid with any other offer or discount. Valid at participating locations only. No cash value.
You are invited to our July Events! © 2017 Curves International, Inc. (1704)
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The city of Lawrenceville has a history of making summer one of the best seasons to celebrate, and this year is no exception. Whether you’re looking for a great date night or a chance spend time as a family, there is no shortage Only toProfessional Theatre of options waiting for you just down the road. After an extra-long winter, this summer is all about the outdoor fun. If you love old and new movies alike, you’ll want to head to Movies on the Lawn to catch some of these fabulous flicks and features. Of course, you won’t want to skip dinner – you can check out some of the delicious cuisine from the food trucks, or head to a local restaurant on the square to start your evening off right. “We love eating in the square,” says Sherry Ward, who has been a resident of Lawrenceville for the last twenty years. “Some of our favorites are McCray’s Tavern and Dominic’s. It’s great to have such a wide variety to choose from.” Mrs. Ward’s favorite activity to attend is the Summer Concert Series, which also takes place on the Lawn a couple of times each month over the summer. “My husband and I are really excited about the Eagles tribute band coming at the end of July,” Mrs. Ward adds. “We love going to these events because it make us feel like we’re part of a community.” Of course, no summer in Lawrenceville is complete without their legendary Fourth of July celebration. You won’t want to miss the chance to be part of this year’s events – especially because 2018 is particularly exciting. Lawrenceville will commemorate 200 years of Gwinnett County history, looking back at how Gwinnett has changed over the last two centuries, and how its residents are what make it so great. While the actual bicentennial date falls in mid-December, the city couldn’t miss the chance Continued on page 19
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Safety First with Summer Fun Continued from page 15 an inventory of the items that you would want police to be able to track and return, and make sure it’s up to date. You can get creative with this by making up your own serial numbers – use your initials, meaningful dates, or other memorable ways to label and organize your keepsakes. If your items do go missing, you have a current list ready to go – making it that much more likely they will be found before it’s too late.
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Tip #4: Be Part of Your Community “If you’re going to be in a community, you have to be attached, not detached,” says Lieutenant Jake Parker, who has served with the Lawrenceville police department since 2000. “Get to know your neighbors and get to know your street.” In order to help your neighborhood, stay safe, be part of it! Become familiar with your neighbors’ cars and daily routines and observe what’s happening around you on a daily basis. You don’t need to start following your neighbor to the grocery store, but it’s important to know the basics so you can spot something out of place. If something does seem off, speak up! Reach out to your local police department to let them know something might be wrong. Don’t wait until the next day – if something is going on, the police are much more likely to catch a suspect or find information when you contact them immediately. Now that you know where to start, you can help keep Lawrenceville safe this summer, so everyone can enjoy the fun! Remember – be smart, be safe, and be part of your community. More information at www.lawrencevillega.org/187/Police-Department
Beauties Against Bullies Continued from page 13 Judging consists of extensive personal interviews, a talent competition, athletic wear/swimsuit competition and evening wear, plus participation in two stage shows. Then if they are lucky enough to pass through to the semi-finals, the girls get to do it all again with more interviews and clothing challenges. Much like training for a sharpshooting competition, Mayo’s mother, Jolie, confirms, “Preparation time is a constant family affair. These young women who compete are so highly qualified for anything that life has to offer, and this competition is so much more than the beauty aspect!” When she is not wearing either her “Camo Cover” for MJROTC or her “sparkly hat” as she refers to her crown, Mayo continues to pursue her long-term goals of attending Georgia Southern University on a Rifle scholarship to study to become a Special Education teacher. More information about “Beauties Against Bullies” via Annaliese Mayo on Twitter.
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3/26/17 1:48 PM3/26/17 To become an Our Town advertising partner email Info@OurTownGwinnett.com or call 678-825-2049
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Audiences of All Ages Flock to See The Incredibles 2
Up Close in Lawrenceville Continued from page 16
By Heidi Campbell Fourteen years ago, audiences were completely delighted by the Disney Pixar film The Incredibles. On June 15th of this year, the long-awaited sequel hit the theaters, selling out nationwide. Directed and written by Brad Bird, The Incredibles 2 pulled in an astounding $180 million dollars in the opening weekend and got a 94% rating from Rotten Tomatoes. In the film, the beloved Parr family returns with a renewed sense of purpose, while maintaining their entertaining status as a family with superpowers. The film is at once tender, action-packed, and humorous. On the very surface level, it is a film of good vs evil – the superheroes set normalcy aside to make the world a safer place. The backdrop of the film is the fight to make superheroes “legal” again. William Deaver (Bob Odenkirk) and his sister Evelyn (Catherine Keener) introduce plans to reinstate the super heroes. “It’s time to make some wrong things right,” says Deaver. “Help me bring supers back into the sunlight. We need to change people’s perceptions about superheroes and Elastigirl is our best play.” The Incredibles and Lucius Best (Frozone), played by Samuel L. Jackson, are pitted against the evil Screenslaver, a villain revealed only in the last quarter of the film, who is working against them from the start. Screenslaver tells the superheroes, “Supers are no longer in control… I am.” Much of the film’s charm stems from the everyday struggles found in the average family. While the youngest audience members might not catch the depth of some of the parenting issues, they are not lost on the Gen X viewers and beyond. When Helen Parr, Elastigirl (Holly Hunter), agrees to work for Winston Deavor to reinstate the legality of superheroes, she thoughtfully tells her husband, “I know it’s crazy, right? To help my family, I got to leave it. To fix the law, I got to break it.” The struggle to manage life with kids is real, and Bob tells her, “You’ve got to, so our kids can have that choice.” The plan is set in motion, and the parents do what they must do for the benefit of all. The family’s “daily struggles” also serve as the basis for much of the film’s humor. Bob, Mr. Incredible, assures his wife, “I’ll watch the kids. No problem.” Famous last words. Of course, he had no idea what kind of “problems” would ensue. Little did he know that he would struggle to help his son with his math homework. In frustration, he yells, “I don’t KNOW that way! Why would they change math? Math is math!” He also encounters the trials of a baby who wouldn’t sleep, not to mention a large helping of teenage girl drama. At the end of the first day, he is exhausted! The baby, Jack-Jack, provided loads of humor as he inhaled cookies, repeatedly escaped his crib, and wrestled a raccoon. This brush with the raccoon is where Jack-Jack realizes his superpowers, and the rest of the film follows his entertaining super-power “learning curve.” Below the surface, the film weaves in an interesting mix of stereotypical and more modern gender roles. While the stay-at-home-dad humor might be a bit overused, Bob quickly adapts to his new role Continued on page 20 You and your team have one hour to explore mysterious rooms, solve clever puzzles and beat the game before time runs out!
to celebrate with its residents this summer. “The Fourth of July events are always my favorite,” says Jenna Cooper, who was born and raised in the heart of Lawrenceville. “My family has a tradition of celebrating the Fourth of July as a family, and we always celebrate in the square.” As always, the Independence Day fun happens on July 3rd, to give city workers time with their families on July 4th. Movies and concerts aren’t the only ways to get involved with your community. If you want to find out more about where the city is heading for the next 100 years (or least the next 10), why not join one of the City Council meetings this summer? These meetings take place once a month and give you the opportunity to be part of the changes you want to see in your town. Anyone can attend – all you need to do is check the calendar for the next meeting date. From concerts to movies to all types of celebrations in between, the people of Lawrenceville invite you to join them as they make the most out this summer. Grab your favorite chair, try a new restaurant, and we’ll meet you on the Lawn for all the fun. More information at www.lawrencevillega.org.
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Brookwood High’s Ruby Lee Continued from page 8 stopped doing it. I traced this back to my fear of water and how that hurt my self-confidence, so I knew I had to learn how to swim.” Re-learning how to swim was a turning point. “Now I like swimming, even though I am not good at it, and I like ultimate Frisbee and art. I think that is where I changed my outlook on life – that you don’t have to be perfect at everything. I think that is super important for everyone.” Ms. Lee’s mom has inspired her and has always been supportive. “She is the one who decided to come to America,” she says. “I am super blessed that she brought us here. That has motivated me to take advantage of everything in America. In Korea I would not have had opportunities to do student government or orchestra. In Korea you either do studies or music – you can’t do a mix.” She is really interested in Korea’s educational system, where she says students go to school on Saturdays and the norm is to also attend a private institution after school where studies last until 10:00 at night throughout the school year. The academies also offer summer programs. “If parents don’t pay for these private academies, it is really easy to fall behind,” says Ms. Lee. “My family wasn’t well-off in Korea and probably wouldn’t have been able to afford that. Here in America there is more equity; everyone has more equal footing within education.” Because of her academic success, Ms. Lee had lots of good options for college, and has decided to attend the University of Pennsylvania. “When I stepped off the airplane in Philadelphia, I knew that was my city,” she says. The opportunities she has experienced in America have given her aspirations of making a difference in her home country. “I am thinking of going to law school because I really want to work for educational justice in Korea.”
Incredibles 2 Continued from page 19 as the domestic leading man. Elastigirl, on the other hand, seems so buried in work that she seems to hardly have time to think about her family. Helen is given the chance to be the “breadwinner” while her husband stays home to care for the kids, which is certainly a growing trend in modern families. She tells the other Supers, “Girls, come on! Leave the saving of the world to the men? I don’t think so!” The woman-power motif is strong for sure, and women are given not only hero status, but also the rare villain status as well. The Incredibles 2 offers something for everyone. The story is fast-paced, comical, and endearing. Baby Jack-Jack steals most of the show, and could successfully be the star of the next helping of Incredibles. This is the family movie of the summer for sure.
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Book Club Revival By Beth Volpert-Johansen Book club participation is on the rise. This is great news for people for whom the written word is a non-calorie handful of deliciousness meant to connect reader and writer with a world-wide audience. My personal research has shown book club participation leads to excellent conversation, new friendships, new connections with old friends, and connections one never considered. One such consideration is Suwanee resident Daphene Jones, who gently floated into my own home on a Southern breeze when it was my turn to host my neighborhood book club. A bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of folks in my kitchen who had anticipated meeting the author of Our Southern Breeze, Daphene soon sized up the group and began to tell her story. Our Southern Breeze gives the backstory of Daphene and her twin sister, Debbie Hall, upon whose life the book and movie Same Kind of Different as Me was based. Compelling in its own way, Our Southern Breeze gently dives into the circumstances that separated them as twins, what pulled them back together, and how, after losing her twin sister to a knock-down, drag-out fight with cancer, Daphene continues the legacy of reaching out to people who don’t even realize they need a good, warm Southern breeze to melt away a frozen heart. “We all have a story,” says Daphene with a very Southern lilt to her voice. “I write about how we can all be restored to the people we were created to be.” It is that gentle drawl that makes her speaking events so compelling. Reaching out to women – mostly through ministry, but also through book clubs, luncheons, and any event where her story can intersect with the stories of others – is where the heart of Daphene’s personal mission continues. While her sister’s outreach and ministry directly addressed homelessness in Texas, Daphene speaks to women in need of hope and healing from any number of abuses. “You never know who in the audience believes they are not good enough, smart enough, pretty enough,” says Daphene. “We hear things we take in and we believe them.” And as to the power of a book club, Daphene can attest to exactly how it affected her. After a family health crisis, Daphene had been feeling down, a little like she might not have the energy or drive to speak in public again. Then one day out of the blue, a woman she had briefly met at the Texas homeless shelter that was the setting for Same Kind of Different as Me extended an invitation to attend our little book club. “I immediately saw it – you loved on me and gave me the strength to know that this upcoming event I had committed to was something I could do,” says Daphene. “I smiled all the way home.” Continued on page 22
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While the formats and delivery of written words continue to evolve, the appetite for those words appears nearly insatiable. What book clubs offer today’s readers is the opportunity to gather, bond, discuss, and create community based on common ground. The Gwinnett County Public Library maintains a calendar of available book clubs along with suggested readings from a variety of sources. Visit them at www.Gwinnettpl.org for more local information. And if you are in need of the Hollywood perspective, check out the just released flick Book Club that’s all about book club gals and their antics. What further proof could you need? In the meantime, put Our Southern Breeze on your list under Local Writers. More information about booking Daphene Jones for speaking engagements at djones@djconsultants.com.
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