JULY 2017: Our Town Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Monthly Magazine

JULY 2017 Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine

Our Town GWINNETT

Lawrenceville Snellville Lilburn Stone Mountain Tucker

Meet the team at Gwinnett Orthodontics, see story on page 5

7 8 13 15

Catching Up with Brenda Bean and Parrot Productions Meet Nick Gast: Parkview High’s New Athletic Director SportsTalk: Brookwood High Seniors Lead Volleyball Team Community Member Spotlight: Meet Christopher Buckley

Top-Tier Academics in a Christ-Centered Environment Providence offers top-tier academics, competitive sports, and a wide range of fine arts offerings to K-12th grade students.

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Whether it’s in the classroom, on the stage, or on the ballfield, spiritual formation is an everyday part of school life.

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It’s A Sweet Life at Dogwood Forest!

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Our Town

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6/16/17 12:56 PM

Park Springs. A Place. A Plan. A Promise.

BEST DECISION EVER From trivia night at the Park Springs Pub to fitness, travel and gardening, our Members are having the time of their lives. The Atlanta area’s only campus-style continuing care retirement option, Park Springs is a community unlike any other.

Members live in maintenance-free homes, cottages and villas, with resort-style amenities and onsite healthcare.

Mame and Charlie Hooper have been active Park Springs Members for more than 10 years. The energetic couple regularly organizes social events, and both are cast members in the annual Member-directed musical.

Christy Northam moved to Park Springs from California to be closer to her children and grandchildren. Her Golf View Villa has become headquarters for family fun - from treks up Stone Mountain to lazy days at the Park Springs pool.

Linda and Chris Clark moved to the community from Sandy Springs after looking at retirement options across the country.

They love meeting neighbors for dinner in the Park Springs dining room where fine food and great company are always on the menu.

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Our Town

On the Cover: Dr. Janice Wilmot’s Office Celebrates 20 Years of Orthodontics in Lilburn

By Heidi Campbell As a little girl, Dr. Janice Wilmot, a Lilburn orthodontist, remembers having buck teeth and low self-esteem before braces changed her life. She never forgot the feeling she had when her braces were removed and she no longer had to hide her smile. This renewed sense of confidence played a huge part in her decision to go into the field of dentistry. Dr. Wilmot, who was the first female orthodontist to open her own practice in Gwinnett County, has been serving patients needing orthodontic care for over twenty years. Her office, located at 956-D Killian Hill Road in Lilburn, is decorated with flower-framed photos of patients. It truly is a place where “smiles blossom.”

Born and raised in Columbus, Georgia, Dr. Wilmot received her undergraduate degree from Emory University, her dental degree from the Medical College of Georgia, and her Master’s in Orthodontics from the University of Michigan, where she continued to work before she and her husband returned to Georgia to raise their young family. “I love Lilburn,” Dr. Wilmot explains. “We are active in our church, Eastminster Presbyterian. My husband is in the choir and has also been playing in the Three Blind Mice jazz lunches a couple times each month. My boys, who both graduated from Parkview, were active in the band program. I play tennis in my neighborhood, and I just got a golden retriever puppy to keep me busy!”

Dr. Wilmot began her Georgia career working in a group practice in Atlanta, where she learned the ins and outs of the business side of a dental office. In 1997, she opened her own practice. “I always knew I wanted to work with people,” explains Dr. Wilmot, “and this career allows for a flexible work schedule for raising a family. It is very rewarding helping people

improve their smiles. I love watching a patient see their smile when the braces are removed.”

Her Lilburn practice employs nine staff members, several who have been with Dr. Wilmot for nearly two decades.

Patients enjoy the personalized care they get from the staff, which sends out individualized notes of encouragement, and genuinely takes an interest in each patient. Dr. Wilmot has created an appealing work environment with a family and professional feel, thanks to her dedicated staff.

Dr. Wilmot believes in providing her patients with the most up-to-date services. Her office now boasts an iTero Element scanner, which makes the once uncomfortable impression process a proverbial piece of cake. “I keep up with the latest continuing education because I always want to learn and grow,” says Dr. Wilmot. “This is how I learned about the benefits of the cutting-edge technology iTero. And now that I have it, I can’t imagine working without it!”

Education is an integral part of life for Dr. Wilmot’s staff, her patients, and herself. She believes in educating both kids and adults about how to take care of their teeth and improve their overall health. Dr. Wilmot believes in a healthy lifestyle and recently participated in the National Senior Olympics games in Birmingham where she came in 7th in the 50-meter backstroke. She strives to be at the top of her game in not only her personal fitness, but in her professional life as well.

She is a nationally board-certified orthodontist, and was the 3rd woman in the state of Georgia to achieve this designation.

“This certification wasn’t required, but it was important to me,” reveals Dr. Wilmot. “In the process, I had to show my before and after cases, which illustrate the pride I take in my work.”

The office offers a full range of orthodontic care, from

traditional braces to the Invisalign style which is popular with adults.

While most of Dr. Wilmot’s patients are teenagers, she has some as young as six years old and others into their 70s.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends the first screening exams for children at age seven, but that doesn’t mean they all will be needing treatment at that time.

Dr. Wilmot recommends early treatment for “children who are still sucking a thumb or finger, who have a dental cross bite, severe crowding that does not allow the adult teeth to grow in, protrusive teeth that are at a huge risk of being chipped or broken, and for kids who are being teased about the appearance of their smile.”

While Dr. Wilmot sees positive changes with every patient she works with, some of the transformations are truly remarkable. She sees self-conscious, introverted teenagers become more confident once they have a beautiful smile. She recalls one patient’s orthodontic work that truly changed his life. “He went to a family reunion,” she recalls, “and his family members were in tears because they could see how much his bite and teeth had moved and changed. These before and after changes Continued on page 16

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PAGE 5

Four Agents - One Team One Goal 100% Customer Satisfaction • Sold 90% of properties listed in 2016

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Our Town Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine

Publisher/Owner Ryan T. Sauers Ryan@EndResultZ.com

— An EndResultZ Media & Communications firm EndResultZ.com

Creative Director Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultZ.com Editor Catherine L. Osornio Cover Photographer Amadorphoto Distribution Coordinator DeeDee Chapman Feature Writers Daidra Annis Heidi Campbell Dana Harvey Kim Hill Joanna Shackelford Karla Socci Somers Michelle Watson

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 2017 by Our Town Gwinnett. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.

Our Town Gwinnett 1227 Rockbridge Road Suite 208-171 Stone Mountain, GA 30087 678-825-2049 Info@OurTownGwinnett.com

Stay Connected!

OurTownGwinnett.com Read Online: OurTownGwinnettOnline.com

Contributing Writers Kathy Coots Mechele Stewart Kelly Webb Carol C. Wood

OurTownGwinnett OurTownGwinnett OurTownGwinnett

IN THIS ISSUE 5 On the Cover: Dr. Janice Wilmot’s Office Celebrates 20 Years of

“Exceptional coffees and teas complimented with house made breads, sweets and savories.”

Orthodontics in Lilburn

7 From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion 7 Catching Up with Brenda Bean and Parrot Productions 8 Meet Nick Gast: Parkview High’s New Athletic Director 11 Getting to Know: Lauren Garland and Solid Ground Tutoring 12 Fitness Fundamentals: Take Responsibility 13 SportsTalk: Brookwood Seniors Set to Lead Volleyball Team 14 Learning Lessons: What is Credit Recovery?

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Our Town

From the Publisher:

American Heritage Animal Hospital

One Man’s Opinion Don’t Be a Sloth: Treat Time as Your Most Valuable Resource

By Ryan T. Sauers

@RyanSauers

My oldest daughter works at one of my favorite “fast food” places: Chick-Fil-A (CFA). Why do I bring this up? First, they are a great example of something all of us can do a better job in – providing great customer service and a super customer experience. For example, they do not say, “Next customer.” They say, “Next guest.”

Yes, we are treated special, and they mean it. Wow. I wonder how much it costs them to do this. Time out…Let me calculate…yep, ZERO. Second, every person at almost every CFA I have ever been to does not say “Thank you,” but “My pleasure” when they do something for you. Every place and every time (anywhere in the country), and they make me feel special. They move quickly and value our time. The cost of that? ZERO as well. You see, for the most part, their team buys in, loves what they do, and it shows. The cost… yes, again… ZERO! Return on Investment (ROI) = Amazing!

Here is another example. I have recently observed some Chick-Fil-A stores having employees outside to speed up the “drive thru window process.” The employees use tablets/smart devices to take your order face to face (That’s face to face… personal touch. What a novel concept!). And often they have a second stop where somebody takes your payment, and then your food is waiting for you at the window. Genius. Why? They value efficiency and effectiveness, they add the personal touch, and they save us time!

You see, what once was fast... is NOW SLOW! You know, like a sloth (see Zootopia). How about being flexible? CFA has an APP where you can order ahead, pull into a space, and they will bring your order to your car. Here is the point. We must innovate. Each year, each month, and each day. We are either moving forward, or going backward. We must embrace a blank sheet of paper mindset and look at things backward, sideways, and upside down if needed. While things like a drive thru window, ATM, Fed-EX, or movie rental were innovative 20 years ago, they are “slow” in today’s instant gratification, rapidly moving, and “I want it NOW” world.

So, what is your most precious commodity? The one thing you wish you had more of? Bingo.

Your time. We all want more “time” to do what we want (not have) to do. The organizations that tap into this deep human need (in our information overloaded world) will be the ones (like ChickFil-A) who are not just growing, but are thriving.

Our Town is committed to making your customer experience amazing and helping you make things as easy as possible (saving you time) in our role as a community connection point. I wish each of you a blessed July and wonderful summer. And finally, and as always, we appreciate your continuing to be part of the journey of my town, your town, OUR TOWN!

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Catching Up with Brenda Bean and Parrot Productions

By Heidi Campbell Brenda Bean, the owner of Parrot Productions, is not a native of Georgia. In fact, her father was in the oil business, so her childhood was spent in twenty-two different schools in interesting places like Alaska, North Africa, and Texas. She moved to Georgia in 1987, and once her children were grown, she began promoting her business, which offers bird shows, grooming services, and bird training for people needing help with their pets. “I love sharing my knowledge of birds with people old and young,” says Bean.

“Birds are truly the most intelligent pets I’ve come across.”

Parrot Productions puts on shows for parties, schools, retirement homes, libraries, and hospices, and sets up at numerous fairs and festivals. Recently at Fernbank’s Pirate Day, for example, Bean set up her birds so that visitors were able to interact and meet her “performers.” Her flock of parrots includes Cash and Lucy, a pair of Solomon Island Eclectus, African parrots Edgar and Baby Gray, a couple of Caiques and Cockatoos, and several large Macaws – Harold, Amelia, and, finally, Max, a large Hyacinth Macaw, who stretches to nearly four feet long. Bean calls Max her “gentle giant,” and with Royce, the black Palm Cockatoo, her collection of tame exotic parrots is very impressive. The origins of her birds stem from Indonesia, Africa, South America, and Continued on page 9

Our Town

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PAGE 7

Meet Nick Gast: Parkview High’s New Athletic Director

By Dana Harvey After leading the Parkview High School boys basketball team for the past four years, Nick Gast has turned in his whistle to be the school’s new athletic director beginning this upcoming school year.

“I am honored to be the athletic director at a program like Parkview where I plan to continue the tradition of excellence in athletics while serving our student-athletes and coaches,” said Gast. “I believe God was working this out long before it happened. This opportunity is far beyond anything I could have done on my own.”

The Jacksonville native has spent eleven years as an educator and thirteen years as a basketball coach, both at the high school and collegiate levels. He was a four-year starter in basketball at Valdosta State University, where he also spent six years as the men’s basketball associate head coach prior to his stint at Parkview. Though growing up he knew he would be a basketball coach one day, he always thought he would also be an athletic administrator down the road.

As an administrator, Gast plans to bring the same passion for the growth and success of studentathletes at Parkview as he had as a coach. Continuing a student-centered atmosphere in athletics and leading by example through his faith are very important to him in his new role.

“In sports we get the opportunity to teach life lessons that prepare student-athletes to go into the world and be productive young men and women,” Gast added.

As with any new opportunity, there is an unknown factor, and for Gast transitioning from a coach to an administrator will bring its own set of challenges that he will also tackle with what he calls the best support system.

“We have great coaches at Parkview who work hard and know what they are doing,” said Gast.

Coach Mark Whitley, the previous athletic director, “left the program running incredibly well and laid out an amazing blue print for me to follow and keep the blue and orange tradition going strong.”

As Gast begins to charter his own path as an athletic administrator this fall, there are a few things he is most certain of: “I am exactly where God wants me to be right now, and this is a real blessing for me and my family. I love Parkview and I would not want to be anywhere else. It’s a Continued on page 18

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Parrot Productions Continued from page 7 Australia, yet they all, according to Bean, “sit together peacefully, even within striking distance!”

The Parrot Productions bird shows are tailored to their specific audiences, and all include education about the birds, a short, humorous skit, and at least forty-five minutes for the audience members to cuddle, touch, and learn about the birds. According to Bean, the most gratifying part of her work is the frequent opportunities she gets to use her birds therapeutically. “I love to visit retirement homes and the hospice centers,” she says. “These people are nearing the end of their life, and they’ve often never held a bird. It is neat to add one more thing that they haven’t done.”

Bean remembers getting her first bird, a parakeet, when she was fourteen, and by the early 80s, she began training birds. She started buying birds and training them, and the business naturally grew from there. Bean buys birds as naked babies from breeders, hand-feeds them with a syringe 4-5 times a day, and then finds homes for them. When she sells a bird, she includes free grooming for them, which includes wings, beaks and toenails. “I usually try to find them homes while they are still being hand fed,” explains Bean. “It is important to bond with the birds, and hand feeding them really helps that process.”

Anyone who has seen Bean’s rapport with her birds realizes that she has a deep understanding of birds. She recalls her mother’s yellow nape Amazon, a South American Parrot named Gallager.

He went through a grieving period when her mother passed away, and Bean recalls, “He loved my mother, and he thought I’d done something to her. He was angry and he didn’t like me. Luckily, I found him a new home and he loves his new owner. Animals know more than we give them credit for, especially their ability to cope with different things in life.”

Many bird owners call on Parrot Productions for help with bad bird behaviors. She teaches her clients techniques to avoid a bird bite and shows how providing structure leads to better-behaved birds. She learned to train birds through trial and error, and believes that they respond to energy better than anything else. Sometimes, according to Bean, the bad behaviors are because there is a failure to communicate. “Birds only love one person, and some mate for life,” explains Bean. “But we can teach them how to love again and how to trust again. Most of the time, we can do it in one session, as long as the client follows through with our advice and techniques.”

Karma, one of Bean’s parrots, is fifty years old, has a vocabulary of over one hundred words, and can even sing Here Comes Peter Cottontail. Karma is another example of a bird that was able to find love again. When her owner passed away, Karma was angry and heartbroken. One of Bean’s main volunteers, Beth Royals, says, “Karma absolutely loves Brenda. She saved this bird’s heart.

Karma really doesn’t like me, and tries to get me to leave whenever I’m around! In fact, when I start to walk away, she says, ‘Bye, bye! Have a good day!’”

Known by her grandchildren as “Nana” and “Nana B,” Brenda Bean is a nurturing soul who truly cares for her community. She volunteers for Agape Hospice each month, and performs shows for Grace Fellowship Church. She also works with rescue birds to help them find caring homes. Bean believes that it is crucial that people not catch birds from the wild because birds should not be taken from their natural habitats. “She has a way of connecting people and birds,” explains volunteer Royals, “and it is amazing to see what I call ‘unicorn moments’ – when someone holds a bird and you can see that they bond with it.”

Bean finds that the best part of her work is bringing people, parrots, and education together.

“It is magic when you hold a bird and realize it wants to play with you. These creatures are so intelligent it just boggles the mind. I find pure joy in these birds, especially when they want to cuddle with me!”

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Our Town

Getting to Know: Lauren Garland and Solid Ground Tutoring

By Kim Hill When Lauren Garland was teaching Joanna Dean’s son at a private Christian school eight years ago, the two ladies had no idea that this was the beginning of a long and special relationship.

The following year, much to Lauren’s surprise, Joanna, a corporate trainer, decided to homeschool her children.

“I thought she was crazy,” remembers Lauren. “It wasn’t popular then – it wasn’t something that everyone was doing.” Joanna agrees, but persevered and some twenty of her circle of friends followed suit the following year. While she was schooling her kids, Joanna realized her son was having some reading struggles and contacted Lauren, who provided private tutoring in her home. Over the next several years, the two continued to work together, and eventually decided that maybe they should start a business. Solid Ground Tutoring was the result!

Of the many services Solid Ground offers, SAT Boot Camps is one of the favorites. Lauren receives calls from parents whose children need to reach a certain score to get into college. In the summer, the group tutoring classes comprise the majority of calls because parents are trying to make decisions for the coming school year. A broad range of classes is offered for all age groups.

Boot camps and group tutoring are held at Forrest Hills at Mountain View Baptist Church in Snellville, while Lauren and Joanna both offer private tutoring as well. Lauren explains, “Our base is the church, but we will go out.” They often meet clients at a library, coffee shop, park, or at their home. “We’re flexible, and with no overhead, we keep it affordable for families.”

Tutoring private, public, and homeschool families, Solid Ground offers workshops, study skills, essay help, and more. Joanna remembers that with the implementation of Common Core, eighth grade integrated math brought a lot of calls. “These straight A kids were suddenly failing. Also, we started to see a push toward homeschooling.” Lauren recalls one family pulled their kids out of public school in December and “basically homeschooled out of my house – they didn’t know where to turn and needed options.”

As lack of socialization is often discussed in association with homeschooling, a big focus for Solid Ground is to create a homeschool community for kids. “We want them to have ice cream socials, picnics, family gatherings and other activities where they can meet friends and moms can talk,” says Lauren. “We want to offer a well-rounded, well-balanced education if you want to homeschool your child.” They are also meeting with an accrediting foundation so students can have an accredited diploma for college. Joanna adds that this will allow them to have access to HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships at graduation, as most homeschooled kids have to “prove themselves” the first year of college to become eligible. She adds that colleges are becoming more accepting of homeschooling as numbers have risen to between 3 and 4% of the school-aged population.

Continued on page 21

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Fitness Fundamentals: Take Responsibility

By Kelly Webb Excuses. We all have them, we all use them, and we all rationalize them at some time or another. Some excuses are legitimate; but many are used as justification when we cannot get something done we know we should be doing. The number one reason people give for canceling their gym membership is lack of time. The same answer goes for healthy eating habits – there is no time to cook, food prep, grocery shop, etc. I’m concerned that this excuse is so widely accepted, yet so rarely challenged.

The truth is you make time for what is important to you.

Saying you don’t have time for healthy habits does not automatically make it true. It may just mean you aren’t willing to move things around to make something else a priority. We all have 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week. Adding 30 minutes of physical activity, 5 times a week, will change your body in many positive ways! A FEW benefits of exercise include boosting mental wellness, improving physical wellness, prolonging optimal health, preventing bone loss, boosting energy level, improving self-image, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke, keeping weight under control, helping to manage stress, combating anxiety and depression, increasing muscle strength, and the list goes on! There is nothing more important than your health, and it is a responsibility you must take seriously.

Maybe it’s time to sit down and reprioritize the things you have time for and the things you don’t. Making time for exercise (and all other healthy habits that contribute to your health) is easier than risking your wellbeing and quality of life, and the anxiety you feel knowing you should be proactive when you aren’t.

You don’t have to spend hours in the gym to make a massive impact on your health. Basic education along with a realistic, established routine will change your life for the better. The best part? The benefits don’t stop with you, and THAT’S what makes all the difference!

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PAGE 12

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Our Town

SportsTalk: Brookwood Seniors Set to Lead Volleyball Team

By Dana Harvey With the loss of six players from last year’s squad, Brookwood High School’s Head Coach Stacey Bennum will depend on her quartet of seniors to set the tone for this year’s volleyball team.

“Our senior leadership is going to be really good this year, which will help with our team chemistry,” said Bennum.

Brookwood senior setter Lauryn Tillman will generate the Lady Broncos’ offensive attack. “She is a great multi-talented player, and we will rely on her a lot this year,” noted Bennum.

Tillman will have plenty of opportunities to set up her fellow senior hitters Samantha Ligori and Paige Vujasinovic from the Senior No. 15 Lauryn Tillman, Senior middle and right side, respectively. Every team needs a great No. 11 Samantha Ligori and Sophomore defense to win games, and Brookwood’s defense starts with Sophia Koop Photo by Chris D’Aquin senior libero Olivia LaPlume, who, according to her coach, “will be a key player for our defense. She brings high energy, and is a really positive player.”

Along with the senior core, the Lady Broncos will return four juniors, four sophomores, and add one freshman. They will be led this year by the sophomore tandem of Sophia Koop and Cydney Gardner, who will be big contributors as outside hitters.

This year’s team will look to avenge a first round loss in the state playoffs last season. With a rich history of success in volleyball, Brookwood has won six out of the last seven Area 7A championships, along with three Elite 8 and three Sweet 16 finishes in the state tournament. Their quest for the school’s seventh consecutive Area championship ended last season with a second place finish.

“We have had a lot of success that we hope to continue and expand the tradition of Brookwood volleyball,” said Bennum.

The road to their success will begin August 5th. The Lady Broncos will kick off their season in the Queen of the Southeast Tournament, a dual match against West Hall (Oakwood, GA) and Continued on page 16

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Learning Lessons: What is Credit Recovery?

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A new buzz phrase in education today is “credit recovery.” And, no, it has nothing to do with finances and the recovery of money! Credit recovery courses are for students who have taken a high school course previously, but did not successfully complete it. This incompletion caused the students to not earn credit hours toward graduation.

Credit recovery is an option offered to students by many public and private schools as a way to retake a course, and, upon successful completion, “recover” the hours not earned the first time. These courses are typically shorter in duration than the traditional ones since the student already sat through the course and needs to prove mastery of topics not previously learned. A student must take a final exam, and if an End of Course Test is required by the State of Georgia Department of Education in that subject, then the student must take the applicable EOCT, even if he/she passed it previously.

There are many options for students regarding how and where they can “recover” the course hours not yet earned. Online classes are available through various schools, school systems, and the Georgia Department of Education; however, the online environment is not ideal for some students. Other options include enrolling in an accredited private school or educational center.

Some of these private educational schools and centers teach students in-person with an instructor and in a structured setting, while others provide students with a packet of work to be completed at home with associated deadlines for each assignment. A final exam is administered at the end of all credit recovery courses.

For parents who are looking at a credit recovery course for their student, they need to consider their student’s previous course grade, style of learning, level of discipline, best mode of instruction, and the time frame in which the student must recover the course credit hours. If the student has earned less than 60% the first time through a course, his/her school will likely not allow the student to take a credit recovery course, but rather require an entire course be retaken after school hours, during the summer, or in an evening course. If a student learns best in a traditional class setting or lacks good study habits, educational priority, or personal discipline, an in-person credit recovery course is best. If a student cannot learn at a rapid rate, it is best to select a credit recovery Continued on page 16

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Community Member Spotlight: Meet Christopher Buckley

By Joanna Shackelford What do you get when you combine a trained classical guitarist, a financial advisor, and the quintessential family man? The answer is Christopher Buckley.

Born and raised in Decatur, Chris – also known as Uncle Buck to his nieces and nephews – grew up in a home where hard work and education were valued. At the age of 15, he discovered classical guitar and studied it with such curiosity that he began to understand the math behind the music. This new love and understanding forged a unique path for Chris as a budding musician.

Chris’s guitar skills progressed into a fondness for blues and jazz music, especially Latin jazz. After graduating from Marist, he set out seeking adventure and culture. He followed his passion for jazz to its birthplace, New Orleans.

Chris was accepted into Loyola University and earned a degree in both Classical Guitar Performance and Music Business. He later moved on to Tulane to earn a Master’s in Classical Guitar Performance and Behavioral Economics, an interesting combination for a creative musician, but a decision that would set him up for success later in life.

A kind of nostalgia takes over when Chris talks about his New Orleans days. And it’s no wonder.

Throughout college he worked for the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, or, as the locals call it, Jazz Fest. One of the highlights of his experience was picking up musicians from the airport.

He spent time with music legends like Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and even the Dave Matthews Band.

But best of all, after grad school, Chris landed a gig at Biloxi’s brand new Beau Rivage Resort and Casino, where he played Latin jazz guitar six nights a week all while teaching guitar at Loyola, Tulane, and another community college during the day.

To say Chris fell in love with the New Orleans jazz scene would be an understatement. He fully Continued on page 21

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Brookwood Volleyball Continued from page 13

Dr. Janice Wilmot Continued from page 5

Madison County. Their twenty-three-game schedule will feature their own 20 team tournament, the Aloha Bash, to be held at Brookwood on August 26th. A couple of tri-matches fill some early dates on the road for the Lady Broncos, including August 15th against North Gwinnett (host school) and South Forsyth, and August 24th against Collins Hill (host school) and Flowery Branch. Area play begins September 12th against Meadowcreek and Lakeside, with Brookwood’s rivalry match against Parkview slated for September 26th at Parkview.

“We tried to plan a tough schedule that will prepare us for the area and state competition, and this team will be ready to compete every night,” added Bennum.

More information at www.brookwoodvolleyball.com.

are amazing. A nice smile really does make a difference.”

Community involvement is something Dr. Wilmot truly cares about. She supports the local schools, numerous tennis teams, swim teams, cheer squads, dance teams, drama clubs, and Parkview’s Odyssey of the Mind. She volunteers her services to the Special Olympics at Emory University every summer, and does dental screenings of all the athletes. She sponsors a booth at the Lilburn Relay for Life rally, and sponsors the train at the Lilburn Days festival. She participates in career days, and mentors students who plan to become dentists and orthodontists. One of her favorite things to do is speak to kids about dental health. “I go to the elementary schools in February,” Dr. Wilmot says, “and I talk teeth! I go over brushing and eating healthy snacks, and I give out goodie bags. I believe in education!”

In October, the practice supports Breast Cancer Awareness. Dr. Wilmot encourages her patients to have pink colors put on their braces. A donation is then made to the American Cancer Society with each patient’s name. “It is so heartwarming to see how many patients participate for this good cause,” says Dr. Wilmot.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of her Lilburn office, Dr. Wilmot is planning a birthday party on Saturday, August 5th from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the JB Williams Park Pavilion for all current and former patients. Dr. Wilmot is excited about the event and says, “There are lots of fun activities being planned: a bouncy-house, game truck, pizza, Kona ice, and face painting!”

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Learning Lessons Continued from page 14 course that allows more time for the student to master the topics presented. I do not recommend online math and math-related science courses for students for credit recovery or for an accredited course of study since math is a skill subject and sequentially learned. These courses are best taken in an educational setting with teacher and student working together.

The fees for credit recovery courses vary and are typically based on the amount of instructional time, length of the course, and costs for technology use and/or textbooks. For more information on credit recovery courses in your community, search for accredited private schools, public schools, or educational centers. Be certain to check with your student’s school before registering for any credit recovery course to gain prior approval for the accredited school or center you have selected for your student. Most schools have a form for you to complete and for the counselor’s signature, which you will present to your choice provider of credit recovery coursework.

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Country Kids Camp: Batteries Not Included

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By Joanna Shackelford Beginning June 6th, you may have heard a sound echoing through the green forests of Loganville, a sound seemingly unfamiliar these days.

That’s the sound of children outside hootin’ and hollerin’ and playing in the dirt. Nestled down at the bottom of a hill on Centerhill Church Road, Country Kids Camp (CKC) awaits eager children ages 3-13 who wish to escape from their techno-driven lives and play outside like good ole country kids.

With a name that seems to have leaped out of a storybook, Shelley Shelnut, along with her husband Kevin, has created this fairytale retreat in their own backyard. But this is no simple backyard playground. Country Kids Camp runs like a well-oiled machine, beginning with an organized parent drop-off system, then progressing into a day full of activities run by her team of well-trained camp counselors.

This comes as no surprise since during the other ten months of the year, Shelley is a teacher, gaining most of her experience at Loganville High School. The bulk of her summer counselor staff comes from a program at LHS called Early Childhood Ed, a course Shelley and another teacher created for future educators. The students who become her summer staff gain hands-on leadership experience with children and play an essential role in making camp enjoyable for all.

“Our goal is to get kids outdoors and off their devices,” says Shelley. And that’s exactly what she does. In the pond, children canoe, fish, or splash off the waterslide and rope swings. In the shade, they play under giant bamboo teepees, or along the Tonka track, while others shoot bows and arrows in the archery range. The mud pit is a popular spot for mud pies or cooling off. Deeper into the property, children trek down the creek where they may find “fairy rocks” and fool’s gold glittering in the sunlight, and others saddle up for horseback riding. They can climb up into the treehouse for arts and crafts or swing through the branches on the zipline. Kevin can even be seen entertaining a group with his red-tailed hawk because, yes, he’s also a falconer. At CKC, the possibilities are endless.

Campers feel a great sense of freedom and wonder as they play, and according to Shelley, that’s one reason why she was inspired to open Country Kids Camp eight summers ago. In her very first week, she hosted just twelve local kids, but that number steadily grew. Now she accommodates up to 200 excited campers per day, a testament to her well-run operation, but also to her good Continued on page 18

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Country Kids Camp Continued from page 17 Samaritan heart.

Every summer, amid the weekly camp activities, Shelley incorporates a way for the campers to give back by sponsoring a child in need. CKC campers raise money and learn about the importance of helping others.

You would think that after an exhausting school year and a summer full of thrilling camp activities, Shelley would take her winter vacation time to relax and unwind. Think again. After her father passed away in 2008, Shelley wanted to honor his legacy of charity work, thus establishing Country Kids Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps local needy children during the Christmas season. Shelley works tirelessly to pair every child in need to a donating family. The December culminating event is something she calls Country Kids Roundup, where the donating families meet at Centerhill Baptist Church gym to wrap their gifts, ensuring a magical, meaningful Christmas for all.

It’s no wonder Shelley has caught the attention of local businesses wanting to support her worthy programs. Local businessman Jeremy York sponsors over twenty kids every Christmas season.

Walton Wellness Foundation donates equipment to her summer camp every year as part of their campaign to invest in keeping kids healthy. Walton EMC also pays for twenty-five scholarships to widen the scope of opportunity for any local child to become a happy camper at CKC. According to Shelley, her favorite part about Country Kids Camp is “watching the children supporting each other, learning to work together, and just being able to communicate in a positive way.”

Think your child may be ready to ditch the device for a few days and go outside for some adventure? Give Shelley a call. Leave a message as she may be out buying 5,000 popsicles, or replacing a tarp for the homemade slip-n-slide.

The best way to ensure a spot for your child is to join the Country Kids Camp public group on Facebook and download the registration packet.

More information at COUNTRY KIDS CAMP 5889 Centerhill Church Road Loganville, GA 30052, or call 770-554-8882

Parkview Athletics Continued from page 8 great day to be a PANTHER.” Gast and his wife Traci reside in Lilburn with their two children, Caleb and Caroline.

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Realty Reality: Ideas to Make Your Home More Welcoming to Buyers

By Kathy Coots, Realtor

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It may seem obvious, but many sellers fail to recognize that a home that feels, looks, and smells welcoming will more likely raise a buyer’s interest when they come for a showing. Of course, you think your home is pretty comfortable and welcoming already, but there are a few things you can do to make buyers feel right at home from the moment they walk in the door.

Lead with the Nose If your home smells good, it will make buyers want to stick around longer. The sense of smell is the strongest of all the five senses in its connection to our emotions. Certain smells simply make us feel comfortable and at home no matter where we are. Try a flameless scented burner that is safe but releases a wonderful fragrance. Choose scents like vanilla or spices, smells that remind people of home cooking and sweet treats.

Be sure your fragrance isn’t overwhelming, however, and don’t use it to mask other odors like cat litter or food smells. Buyers will know right away that you are trying to hide something!

Let the Light Shine In Clean your windows and open all the blinds and curtains to let the sunshine in. A brightly lit home looks bigger, too, while a dark home will appear smaller.

Be sure you replace burnt out light bulbs so your home will be fully lit and have a welcoming glow even in the evening or on a cloudy day.

Set the Table It may seem odd, but a table set as though a family is about to sit down to a meal makes the home feel lived in and comfortable without being cluttered or too personal. Use matching dishes and a nice but simple centerpiece to give the dining room that ready to sit down feel.

Making buyers see your house as a home is important in getting them really interested in making it their home. With just a few simple adjustments, you can create a feeling that welcomes buyers to settle in. They will want to make an offer so they never have to leave!

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Solid Ground Tutoring Continued from page 11 “Our heart and our passion is to provide quality education,” says Lauren. “We want excellence, but not at the cost of the children.” By that she means that while they choose high-level teachers to be a part of Solid Ground, they want to be sure they are the type of teacher that can share what they know and be able to assist the children. “All teachers on the staff have a heart for the struggling learner, either through experience at home or through having other students who have struggled.” Solid Ground has a proven track record helping children with challenges like dyslexia and ADHD. Joanna says, “Aside from nurturing them in the way they learn, we also want to nurture their soul a little bit. We let them know it’s okay that you’re different and its okay that you learn differently than your neighbor.”

Once kids start with Solid Ground, they usually stay. Joanna has a group that has been with her for five years. The small classes allow the teachers to build strong relationships with the students.

Joanna teaches, among other things, writing skills, and says she gets to know the children through their writing.

Solid Ground also adds a spiritual component to its service. Lauren says, “We incorporate God and the Bible as much as we can without offending.” Joanna adds, “As a Christian, I can’t separate that; I can’t pull that out of who I am. We have a lot of different faiths come to us, including atheists, but I still incorporate that in a way that it’s not offensive.”

“This is our tool,” says Lauren. “We teach. We work hard at it. We try to spread the word the best that we can. Our work is quality.”

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Chris Buckley Continued from page 15 lived it and became a part of its vitality. He also met his wife there, Angelle, a New Orleans native who shared his love of the arts. They married in 1995.

A year after their second child was born, Chris and Angelle moved back to Chris’ home state and settled in Stone Mountain. Instead of playing the blues nostalgic for his performance past, Chris was busy building a new life and family in a community he believed offered more opportunities for his children – community he embraces still today for its diversity.

Shortly after returning to Georgia, Chris combined two of his talents – number sense and working with the public – to earn himself a successful career as a financial advisor at Waddell and Reed where he still works today. To him, it was still a “people-driven” job, more enjoyable than sitting down with spreadsheets and crunching numbers all day, because “you gotta have fun!” he says.

Now with a family of six, Chris devotes most of his free time leading boy scout meetings and cheering at wrestling matches with his son Matthew, attending ballet recitals for his daughters Grace and Caroline, volunteering at his church with Angelle and the kids, and practicing his best train whistle and ambulance siren impressions with his five-year-old son William, all while maintaining a steady rhythm. His rich musical past has not been forgotten, however. Today Chris, Angelle, and his three oldest children perform for a new kind of audience, their church. On any given Sunday, you’ll hear them singing in the choir and you may even see Chris play a solo on his guitar.

Chris does not shy away from performing solo gigs when he has the chance, playing at private parties, weddings, and events through word-of-mouth.

But on most Saturdays and Sundays you’ll likely find him in the backyard putting ribs on the Big Green Egg surrounded by laughter and loved ones. This family man is one cool cat.

Our Town

For information on becoming an advertising partner visit OurTownGwinnett.com or call 678-825-2049

PAGE 21

Insights from Mechele Stewart: Gwinnett County School Bus Driver

By Mechele Stewart

At the Conservative Spine & Joint Center we strive to provide a conservative, comprehensive program to help you with all musculoskeletal problems including: -back and neck pain -joint pain -muscles -pinch nerves -tendons and nerve problems -numbness on hands and legs *Se habla español

Ruben Diaz, M.D. Interventional Physiatrist Board Certified in PM&R Board Certified in Pain Medicine

“Our goal is to help you minimize pain and the need for chronic pain medications, avoid unnecessary surgeries, increase your function and improve your quality of life.”

I love what I do. Being a school bus driver is not easy, and it’s not just for anyone. It takes someone special to do what we do. First, we drive a 40-foot long, 12-ton vehicle. That’s about thirty feet longer and ten tons heavier than the average vehicle on the road. But that’s not what it’s all about.

To do our job requires compassion, consistency, good listening, and great multi-tasking skills. We safely transport students, being their role models as we are the ones teaching them good safety behaviors on the bus. It takes a good rapport with both the students and their parents to accomplish our goals.

As a bus manager I have been thanked, hugged, and highfived by students. I have been confided in and I have been complimented. I have been asked, “How old are you?”, “How much do you weigh?”, “Are you married?”, and “Are you having a bad hair day?” I have been asked, “Can I go to your house?” and “Can you be my driver forever?” I have even been told, “I wish you were my mom.”

These are the things that will stick with me forever. The good and the bad has made my job wonderful, and I wouldn’t change a single moment.

It’s in each of these moments that I have learned something about those children; but I have learned a lot about myself. I love when I get the chance to meet and to get to know each student who boards my bus. They are all unique and diverse. There is a great deal we can learn from kids. They are the most honest and forthcoming individuals I meet daily.

The hardest two days of school are the first and last day. These two days are packed with an overwhelming amount of emotion – joy, happiness, excitement, fear, panic, and worry to name a few. It’s not just the kids’ emotions, either. Just being there for the students as they make their transitions from home to school and school to home means so much for them, and for me as well.

More information at http://www.gcpsjobs.org/bus-drivers/

SNELLVILLE EVENTS IN JULY

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY

First Friday Evening of the month through October.

July 7 • 4-8 p.m.

TOWNE GREEN

• Cousins Lobster • Tex’s Tacos • Dominick’s Brick • Tracy’s Tastees Oven Pizza • Scoop-Itz • Mac the Cheese • Kona Ice • Atlanta Burger • The Fry Truck Guy Next Food Truck Friday Events Aug. 4 • Sept. 1 • Oct. 6

PAGE 22

FREE CONCERT

July 15 • 6-9 p.m.

TOWNE GREEN

DEPARTURE - Journey Tribute Band

Food, Beer and Wine Available On Site!

Reserve your table for 8 at Kelmca@comcast.net • Aug. 19 - 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. - Meet and Greet with Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Roger Fisher.

Buy tickets at www.snellvilleevents.com.

• Aug. 19 - 6 to 9 p.m. MIMIC - Lynyrd Skynyrd, Boston and Heart Tribute • Sept. 23 - 6 to 9 p.m. - Bennie and the Jets - Elton John Tribute

www.SnellvilleEvents.com

For information on becoming an advertising partner visit OurTownGwinnett.com or call 678-825-2049

Our Town

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

6655 James B Rivers Dr. Stone Mountain, GA 30083

(770) 498-0329

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

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT July 1st & July 15th

Don’t let pain keep you from doing what you love!

Visit your local BenchMark Physical Therapy.

Our licensed physical therapists are musculoskeletal experts who are trained to identify the source of your pain or injury and recommend treatment to get you feeling better and moving better, faster.

Let our team focus on your full recovery so you can focus on what matters to you.

Call your local BenchMark today to set up an evaluation.

BUFORD I-85 • 2815 Buford Dr, Ste 102 • Buford, GA 30519 • (770) 271-4413 GRAYSON • 2065 Grayson Hwy, Ste B • Grayson, GA 30017 • (678) 376-0213 LAWRENCEVILLE • 455 Philip Blvd, Ste 160 • Lawrenceville, GA 30046 • (678) 985-0238 LILBURN • 1227 Rockbridge Rd, Ste 402 • Stone Mountain, GA 30087 • (770) 925-9210 SNELLVILLE • 2050 Scenic Hwy N, Ste A • Snellville, GA 30078 • (678) 344-7197

Our Town

For information on becoming an advertising partner visit OurTownGwinnett.com or call 678-825-2049

PAGE 23

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