JUNE 2018 Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine
Our Town GWINNETT
Lawrenceville Snellville Lilburn Stone Mountain Tucker
Meet the team at Conservative Spine & Joint Center, see story on page 5
12 14 15 18
Parkview Cluster Dodgeball Tournament: Building Community Getting to Know Lilburn Musicians: Laura & Allen McHan Making a Difference: No Limits Tryathlon in Lawrenceville Getting Schooled: Five Forks Middle School Robotics
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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
Cosmetic Dentistry The cosmetic procedures we offer can dramatically enhance the appearance of your smile. We offer a wide selection of procedures that can correct almost any dental imperfection.
• Porcelain Veneers • Teeth Whitening • Dental Bonding • Gum Recontouring • Dental Implants • All-Porcelain Crowns
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accreditation from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. His state-of-the-art equipment and updated technology allow him to affordably serveDENTAL CARE AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY D.M.D., P.C. • SUPERIOR his patients by providing healthy, beautiful smiles. Our experienced team provides five-star service, personalized care, and an extraordinary commitment to your health and well-being. Please join our Call for an Appointment family by scheduling a new patient exam.
J OHN W. S IMMONS,
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2381-B Main Street East www.smilesbysimmons.co Snellville, Georgia 30078 Hours: Monday 9:00am - 7:00pm Tuesday 7:00am 770-985-2437 Office • SmilesBySimmons.com Wednesday 7:00am - 6:00pm Thursday 7:00am - 2:
Dr. John W. Simmons, IV
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On the Cover: Conservative Spine and Joint Center in Lawrenceville By J. Rice The crisis of opioid addiction and overdose has been front page news in recent months. Physicians and their patients are increasingly seeking alternative treatments for pain management. According to Dr. Ruben Diaz of the Conservative Spine and Joint Center in Lawrenceville, there are conservative and comprehensive programs for all musculoskeletal problems, which can help in diminishing and often alleviating pain in the back, neck, joints, nerves, and muscles. “Many Americans suffer from chronic pain, and these patients deserve a safe and effective pain management,” Dr. Diaz says. “Prescription opioids can help manage some types of pain in the short term. However, there is not enough information about the benefits of opioids long term, and it is known that there are serious risks of opioid use disorder and overdose – particularly with high dosages and long-term use. Alternatives like pain management procedures, physical therapy, and maximizing non-opiates medications are safer and do not lead to dependence. These alternatives are what we offer at the Conservative Spine & Joint Center.” As a teenager, Dr. Diaz worked in a summer camp for individuals with disabilities. The experience impacted him to such a great degree that he credits it for his decision to work in the specialty of spine and joint problems. In 2013, with the help of his wife Vivian Avella-Diaz as his office manager, Dr. Diaz opened his own office, acting on his lifelong desire to help patients improve their way of life, and avoid unnecessary surgeries and unnecessary medications. He is Board Certified in PM&R (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation) and Pain Management, and he and the staff are bilingual (English and Spanish). “Our goal is to help patients decrease pain, avoid the need for strong opioids, increase function, and increase quality of life,” Dr. Diaz says. In addition, Conservative Spine and Joint works in the local community to inspire the next generation of healthcare workers. “We started a student internship with the Gwinnett School of Math, Sciences and Technology to teach minority students interested in medicine about the administrative aspect of a medical office as well as the expectations of medical school,” Dr. Diaz explains. “This internship has grown to include college students interested in applying to medical school, and is now a yearlong internship where students learn about physiology, anatomy, coding, and billing, among other medical related aspects.” At present the internship is only available to Gwinnett county students. “We not only teach them,
Our Town
but also help them through the process of applying to medical school,” Dr. Diaz states. “So far we have had two students accepted to major medical schools and have a long list of students waiting to be able to participate in our internship.” Dr. Diaz has been practicing medicine for over 26 years and worked for the Atlanta VA helping veterans for 10 years as a service to the military and their families. It was his way of saying thank you for all those who serve our country. For Dr. Diaz and his staff, the most rewarding moments are the testimonials they hear from their patients. “For me it is very gratifying when a patient calls us out of the blue just to let us know they are pain free and enjoying their way of life,” says Vivian. “Even though we have not seen them in a while, and Continued on page 9
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PAGE 5
Our Town Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine
Publisher/Owner Ryan T. Sauers Ryan@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 Kristen Eleveld
— An EndResultZ Media & Communications firm EndResultZ.com
Our Town Gwinnett is published and direct mailed to select homes in the Gwinnett /NE DeKalb area. Opinions expressed by the writers and staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our Town Gwinnett reserves the right to edit and/or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our Town Gwinnett is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers. Entire contents copyright 2018 by Our Town Gwinnett. Reproduc-tion in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.
Patty Gabilondo
Kim Hill Maple Johnson Amy Ney J. Rice Joanna Shackelford Michelle Watson Contributing Writers
n Traditional, private middle and high school n Non-traditional high school n Credit Recovery n Accredit homeschool work n Accredited by the GAC- Georgia Accrediting Commission n HIGH ACT/SAT scoresWay above state averages n Accepted to all Colleges and Universities n Hope Scholarships/MOWR
TNT Academy 5510 Lilburn Stone Mountain Road Stone Mountain, GA 30087 Phone 770.921.3690 n Fax 770.921.3693 admin@tntacademy.com n www.tntacademy.com PAGE 6
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
Terie Hansen John Lemley Kelly McAloon Janice J. Wilmot
@OurTownGwinnett @OurTownGwinnett @OurTownGwinnett
IN THIS ISSUE 5 On the Cover: Conservative Spine and Joint Center in Lawrenceville 7 From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion 8 Summer Events are Smokin’ Hot in Snellville: One of the Best Firework Shows in the Southeast! 10 Straight Talk: What is the Right Age for Braces? 11 GHP Promises a Rewarding Summer for Parkview High Students 12 Dodgeball Tournament Raises Funds and Builds Community in Parkview 13 One on One with GUIDE, Inc. 14 Getting to Know Lilburn Musicians: Laura and Allen McHan 15 How the Special Needs Community Inspired Each Other to Victory 16 Run the Reagan: Approaching its Silver Anniversary 18 Getting Schooled: Five Forks Middle School Robotics 19 Spotlight on Gwinnett Tech: Students Earn 35 Medals at State Competition 20 A Sprig of Moss: Gwinnett County & Her Cemeteries 20 Pet Perch: Special Needs of Senior Cats
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American Heritage Animal Hospital
From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion @RyanSauers
By Ryan T. Sauers
School is out and summer is here. Kudos to all the graduates of 2018 and all the academic and athletic state championships in our schools. Amazing! In this issue, as always, you will find local stories that are covered virtually nowhere else and provide a break from our “constantly connected and noisy world” that often focuses on little but negative news. At Our Town, we never settle for less than the best in writing local and organic stories. And, our goal in writing each one of them is to focus on positive community and family content. This demands a great team, and we have just that. We have amazing feature and contributing writers. We are blessed with a talented creative director, editor, and webmaster. We have top accounting, customer service, and photography people. Our distribution coordinator, print partners, mailing team, online, and digital media group do an amazing job. As you can see, I am quite proud of everyone. They see Our Town as an opportunity to give back to the place they love and make a positive difference. Well done team! With that said, we are never satisfied, and are aware that there is always room to improve. This is our goal each day, week, and month. Again, I may be writing this column (and you see my smiling face), but it is the super team of Our Town that makes it ALL happen. We are in growth mode and exciting things are in the works. You see, we are not merely a “print publication,” but instead...a community connection point that people trust. Others may sell “advertising.” We offer value, expertise, and creativity. You have a choice of where you invest your marketing dollars. Go with who you trust and who understands 2018 and beyond. So, the next time you are deciding where to allocate your funds, I suggest you ask the person “selling to you” what they know about branding and marketing. And I mean “all marketing” (i.e. content marketing, digital marketing, inbound marketing, influence marketing, traditional marketing, integrated marketing etc.). My guess is that they know quite little. So, when you need help, feel free to connect with us and we will confidently walk you through the pros and cons of each medium, make Continued on page 9
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Gwinnett’s premier event destination for 20 years!
Summer Events are Smokin’ Hot in Snellville: One of the Best Firework Shows in the Southeast! By Kelly McAloon With Independence Day less than a month away, we will kick off our July events on July 4th with Star Spangled Snellville – one of the best firework shows in the Southeast – to be held on the Towne Green from 4 – 10 p.m. Continuing a long tradition, Snellville Tourism and Trade Association will present an unforgettable Fourth of July experience in the heart of Snellville. The event begins with family friendly entertainment, including the tastes and smells of some of your favorite festival foods, a large playground of inflatables, the BIG KAHUNA water slide, train rides, and a bungee jump. Ride as often as you like with an all-day arm band for only $10. Two high performance bands will be on tap to keep you moovin and groovin throughout the day. CONTAGIOUS Band will take the stage at 5:00 p.m., followed by RHYTHM NATION at 7:30 p.m. The fireworks display will begin when the sky becomes dark, approximately 9:30 p.m. Stay close to the Towne Green as Food Truck Friday will bring a wide variety of food trucks to the Towne Green on Friday, July 6th from 4 – 8 p.m. D.J. Lee will keep everyone entertained with music, fun, and games. Our Live on the Lawn Concert Series will feature Queen Nation, a Queen Tribute Band, on July 14th from 6 – 9 p.m. Food, beer, and wine will be available on site. For information on concert tables, please contact Kelly McAloon at kelmca@comcast.net
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Wages and Sons has 2 grief support professionals on staff. As a service to the community, we offer 8 week grief support groups at different times throughout the year, as well as individual support. PAGE 8
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One Man’s Opinion Continued from page 7 the process simple, and save you time. People look forward to reading Our Town each month. They trust it, pay attention to it, and spend time with it. There is no “trick” in what we do – just expertise built on strong relationships to help you grow your organization in a methodical manner... one brick at a time. We are excited about the future – there’s exciting growth ahead! I wish you a wonderful and safe summer. And as always, thank you for continuing with us on the journey of my town, your town, Our Town!
Conservative Spine & Joint Continued from page 5 they don’t need to be seen, they just want to thank us for everything we did and for how much the procedure Dr. Diaz did helped them.” Dr. Diaz adds, “The most gratifying moments are when the patients tell you that you made an incredible difference in their lives.” More information on Conservative Spine & Joint at conservativespine.com.
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Conservative Spine & Joint Center Interventional Pain Management At the Conservative Spine & Joint Center At the Conservative Spine & Joint we strive to provide a conservative, Center we strive to providetoa help you with comprehensive program conservative, comprehensive all musculoskeletal problems including: program to help you with all v back and neck pain v joint pain musculoskeletal problems v muscles including: v pinch Ruben Diaz, M.D. -back andnerves neck pain Interventional Physiatrist v tendons and nerve problems -joint pain Board Certified in PM&R v numbness on hands and legs Board Certified in Pain Medicine -muscles Ruben Diaz, M.D. goal is to help you minimize pain -pinch“Our nerves “Our goal is to help you minimize pain Interventional Physiatrist and the need for chronic pain medications, -tendons and nerve problems and the need for Certified chronic in pain Board PM&R avoid unnecessary surgeries, increase your medications, avoid unnecessary -numbness hands andyour legsquality of life.” functionon and improve Board Certified in Pain Medicine surgeries, increase your function and improve your quality of life.”
*Se habla español
*Se español habla español *Se habla
720 Old Snellville Hwy, Suite 150 Lawrenceville, GA 30044
Phone: (770)601-4340
conservativespine.com
Straight Talk: What is the Right Age for Braces? By Janice J. Wilmot, DMD, MS, PC Two of the most frequent questions that I am asked are, “Is there a right age for braces?” and “Am I too old for braces?” The American Association of Orthodontists recommends evaluating children at age 7 when the first adult molars and incisors are beginning to grow in. Some problems that are best treated early are: * thumb or finger sucking habits * crossbites, either of the front teeth or molars * severe crowding not allowing teeth to grow in * protrusion of the incisors increasing the risk of fracture * an affected self-esteem when children are teased about their teeth Many young children don’t need any early treatment and are evaluated annually until more adult teeth have erupted to begin any treatment, typically around ages 11-13. At the initial complimentary orthodontic exam, a digital panorex film is taken to see that all of the adult teeth are developing and if there are any missing teeth or have extra teeth. Again, this might not be the best age to have braces, but having a plan in place is helpful. If treatment is needed, braces are typically worn for a shorter time. Once the braces are removed, the child would have a retainer to sleep in to maintain the improved incisor alignment and would be seen periodically to evaluate the eruption of the remaining adult teeth. Sometimes children may need a Phase II treatment after all of the adult teeth have grown in to correct rotations or overbite, but these problems can sometimes be corrected with Invisalign treatment or a shorter length of treatment with braces. As far as the question of being too old for braces, currently our practice has patients in their 80s seeking correction of their lower incisor alignment or bite issues. As long as the teeth and bones are healthy, the teeth can be moved with either traditional braces or Invisalign. The improved technology of being able to scan the teeth instead of taking impressions allows the patient to visually see various treatment options, and for the orthodontist to work with the general dentist in developing the best treatment plan. One of the biggest motivators for adults to seek treatment is to not lose any teeth due to the severe crowding and inability to clean their teeth properly. After the teeth are straightened, one of the most frequent comments we hear is, “I wish that I had done this sooner!” More information at http://www.jjwilmot-ortho.com/
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GHP Promises a Rewarding Summer for Parkview High Students
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By Heidi Campbell Four Parkview High School students will attend this summer’s 2018 Georgia Governor’s Honors Program (GHP). Current juniors Yara Andriamaromanana, Priyanka Menon, and Connor Van Drie, as well as current sophomore Christopher Roebuck, will head to Berry College in Rome, GA for a four week educational enrichment program that will have them learning from high school and college instructors and engaging in in-depth studies in their field of interest. “These kids are a wonderful representative group from our school,” says Dr. Judy Days-Dee, a counselor at Parkview who is in charge of the GHP process from start to finish. “Our students who attend this program come back with amazing memories about their experiences. We are thankful to our parents and our teachers for helping us with this process each year.” The GHP involves a process that begins in August and wraps up in March. Students are nominated by a teacher to compete in one of eleven instructional areas: Communicative Arts, Foreign Languages, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Visual Art, Theatre, Music, Dance, Technology, and Executive Management. The nominees first compete at the county level and then at the state level. Essays are required, and the county finalists must attend interviews or auditions with three GHP judges. The written evidence, student interviews, and other information gathered are used to rank nominees and select finalists. According to Karen Ye, a current senior at Parkview who attended GHP in the summer of 2017, “The interview came bundled with another essay, and we later found out if we were accepted or rejected by checking online. Only about 30% at the state level get in.” The selected students do not have to worry about any financial burden, as almost everything is included for the attendees. According to the Governor’s Honors website, “Meals and rooms are provided by the program with the only required and expected costs to the students being travel expenses to and from the interviews, a few basic supplies for classes and dorm rooms, and spending money as desired during the program.” Brenda Roebuck, a math teacher at Parkview, has truly enjoyed GHP for both her students and her own children. “GHP has been an incredible opportunity for my children,” she shares. “My daughter Hannah attended in 2016 as a Social Studies major, and my son Christopher was accepted to the 2018 program as a Math major. GHP provides an unparalleled avenue for growth both intellectually and socially. The structure of the program allows students to collaborate, to explore new areas of study, and to learn from their peers across the state. Hannah was challenged in her thinking and beliefs in a way she had not previously experienced. She left GHP with more knowledge, deeper Continued on page 15
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Dodgeball Tournament Raises Funds and Builds Community in Parkview By Amy Ney After three grueling rounds of dodgeball in the Panther gymnasium, Knight Elementary walked away as the champions of the first annual Parkview Cluster Dodgeball Tournament, held on April 12th. “We had over 750 tickets sold in admissions,” explained Wendy Smith, Parkview Cluster Foundation (PCF) Grant Selection Committee member. “The stadium was full of supporters: students, parents, community members, educators – all here to raise support and awareness for the Foundation. Thanks to the event, we were able to raise more than $2,000.00.” There are six schools that comprise Parkview Cluster: four elementary schools – Arcado, Camp Creek, Knight, and Mountain Park; a middle school – Trickum; and the high school – Parkview. The mission of the Foundation is to support, enhance, and enrich the academic and arts programs for students attending these schools. Smith said, “We do this by providing funding to extend and supplement opportunities for students, teachers, and administrators. Educators can apply for grants. The grants we are most interested in funding are those which engage students with out-of-the-box ideas.” Smith told how a recent recipient requested a computer. “Not for word processing,” she explained, “but because he was a technology instructor, and he wanted his students to learn to take apart and reassemble computers.” The Parkview Cluster Foundation’s grants are made possible by a partnership between cluster schools and the parents, businesses, and residents of the Parkview community. The goal of the grants are to promote academic enrichment, growth, and excellence for the Parkview Cluster students and schools. Jennifer Haynes, Spanish Language Teacher at Camp Creek, is a grant recipient. “The program we purchased was a computer program, Rockalingua,” she said. “It is a great subscription language acquisition program that keeps kids engaged with multisensory learning and uses songs and games to teach children Spanish so that they will be prepared to be global learners.” Haynes added, “Rockalingua is a great program in the classroom, but what I also really loved about it was that my students could also access it at home.” Foundation grants also support educational needs that provide for advancement and distinction for our cluster schools when other funds may not be available. The Foundation isn’t the same as the Parent Teacher Association at individual schools. Smith explained, “The Foundation represents all six schools equally. We give every penny we earn to enhance the classroom experience.” The Foundation has been looking for a signature event to raise funds and awareness about their role in the Parkview Continued on page 19
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One on One with GUIDE, Inc. By Michelle Watson Gwinnett United in Drug Education (GUIDE), Inc. is a community engagement organization located in Lawrenceville that focuses on substance use and abuse prevention and positive youth development. GUIDE was founded in 1986 as a partnership between the county’s Board of Commissioners and Board of Education. Gwinnett County did not have a widespread drug problem at the time, and they wanted to be proactive in preventing underage drug and alcohol use. As a stand-alone entity, GUIDE is a non-profit organization that continues to receive support from the founding boards through in-kind donations. They also receive funding from several state entities and various foundations and fundraisers, and they partner with other organizations around the county to accomplish their mission. By utilizing partnerships with Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation, Department of Communications, and many other departments, as well as other non-profits, GUIDE is able to have a greater impact on the community. One way that GUIDE leverages community partners is through compliance checks with the Gwinnett County Police Department and several city police departments around the county to make sure employees follow current laws and ordinances, that they don’t sell alcohol to teens and underage young adults, and that they check IDs. Underage decoys visit local restaurants, gas stations, and convenience, grocery, and drug stores to attempt to buy alcohol. If the employee does not ask for ID and sells or serves the decoy alcohol, then the employee receives a citation from the police officer or detective. Compliance checks are a well-known effective strategy to reduce the number of youths having access to alcohol. GUIDE’s longest running program is their summer Georgia Teen Institute. Started in 1989, this flagship program brings youth groups, called Youth Action Teams, together from around the state where teens learn to identify needs in their own communities and to formulate plans to address them. The youth are taught to ask why drugs and alcohol are used, and to approach the root cause. Many of the staff at GUIDE attended the program as teens. The current executive director, Jessica AndrewsWilson, attended Teen Institute before becoming a volunteer, an intern, and then an employee. She is proud of the fact that staff and volunteers believe in the program so much that many have been volunteering for as long as thirty years. Through the Youth Action Teams that attended Teen Institute, more than 150,000 youths were reached in 2017 through projects, events, and meetings. These groups, which include nine from Gwinnett County, engaged more than 3,600 volunteers in over 14,000 volunteer hours last year. The projects and events included distributing information and hosting tables at health fairs and community events, working with younger youth to teach prevention messages, conducting prevention obstacle courses, and participating in advocacy days to engage legislators. Andrews-Wilson wants county residents to know GUIDE is there to help. As they effect change at the community level, they are willing to speak with parents, adults, youth, and community leaders about ways to prevent and reduce drug and alcohol abuse in their homes and communities. More information at guideinc.org.
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Getting to Know Lilburn Musicians: Laura and Allen McHan
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Laura and Allen McHan comprise the husband and wife music duo well-known around Gwinnett as McHanIx. They took some time from their busy performance and rehearsal schedule to have a Q&A with us: Q: Did either of you have dreams of a career in music while in high school or college, or did that come later in life? Laura: I sang in the high school chorus and have always loved to sing. However, I never considered pursuing a career in music. When our twin daughters were born, I sang all the time to them. After our third daughter was born, I decided to join the praise band Messenger at our church, Trinity Lutheran. Soon I was singing solos and ringing handbells. I also became one of the music leaders for VBS. Music is now a very important part of our lives. I am thankful to Trinity for giving me a place to try out my musical wings! Allen: Growing up, my dad, George, played regularly for supplemental income. My Uncle Don spent most of his life writing Christian songs, but is best known for co-writing “The Pill” for Loretta Lynn and “You Love The Ground I Walk On” (with Harlan Howard) for Waylon Jennings. My brother, Kevin, would practice 3-4 hours a day and write his own music. So, as a youth I suppose I was too intimidated – that, and I wanted to be Jimmy Connors or a baseball player. As an adult, I was content just to noodle on guitar (and sax and keys) sparingly over the years. But a funny thing happened! Laura and all three of our girls entered the Lilburn Idol competition in 2012, with Laura coming in second in the Adult category. I knew she was hooked then. I was gently “coerced” into joining her for an event in October 2015, and now here we are.
5901 Hugh Howell Road, Stone Mountain, GA 30087 Rev. Deborah Reeves, Interim Director
Q: Did both of you grow up here in Georgia, and how did you meet? Laura: I grew up in Atlanta – Doraville to be specific. I graduated from Henderson High in Continued on page 22
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The Real Secret to Success: How the Special Needs Community Inspired Each Other to Victory
TNT Academy Presents
By Kristen Eleveld On a warm day in May, hundreds of people from dozens of towns and communities gathered at the Bethesda Aquatic Center in Lawrenceville. They came from different backgrounds, different jobs, and different lives. But one thing bound them together: they loved someone with special needs. Each spectator was there to cheer on a loved one at the first No Limits TryAthlon, an event designed especially for people with movement and cognitive challenges. It was a true sporting spectacle. Participants between the ages of four and 21 years old with a variety of developmental challenges showed exactly how tough they were by getting through a triathlon course that consisted of biking, running, and swimming. All About Kids Therapy Services, Inc., and Swim Angelfish partnered together to give these kids the chance to push themselves to their highest ability. “We feel it is extremely important for the special needs population to have the opportunity to participate in a competitive environment where they are comfortable and are supported by the community,” said Aimee Eblen, co-owner of All About Kids Therapy Services, Inc. “As pediatric therapists, we think it’s vital to get into the community and turn what we do in therapy into an event that looks like one that typical peers can do,” added Erin Bishop, one of the TryAthlon coordinators. “We want to give everyone with special needs the confidence to look into other activities within the community.” Participants with all degrees of skill and ability were invited to compete. Some had to overcome physical challenges – some were working through cognitive challenges – but every participant was given the tools needed to succeed. Volunteers and therapists stood ready to assist those who needed it, whether it involved swimming alongside their special needs partner, pushing a wheelchair over the finish line, or cheering a participant on as he or she biked the trail. At the end of the day, the victory was shared by all. “It’s so important to go the extra step to provide the opportunity for a child with special needs to be able to participate in community events and be inclusive,” said Bishop, who is also a pediatric therapist. “We are focused on removing the stigma that someone can’t be included or that they can’t do something just because they need a little extra help.” All About Kids Therapy Services, Inc. and Swim Angelfish plan to make this a bi-annual event, and have high hopes for inviting even more participants for the next TryAthlon. But no matter the size of the event, the goal will always be the same: To give people with special needs the opportunity to prove to their community just how unlimited they are. More information at www.allaboutkidstherapyservices.com and www.swimangelfish.com.
GHP Parkview Students Continued from page 11 cultural understandings, stronger convictions, new perspectives, and life-long friends. I am excited to see how Christopher is impacted by his GHP experience this summer. I am so thankful for the opportunities GHP has afforded my children, and as an educator, I am fully supportive of the mission of the program.” The students in the four-week program get the opportunity to live on the sprawling Berry College campus. Every student chooses a major and a minor field of study. Ye chose Communicative Arts as her major and Counseling as her minor. “Communicative Arts was actually incredibly interesting and engaging,” shares Ye. “You could sign up for classes that seemed to interest you, and the teachers offered a variety of classes, such as a course on Edgar Allen Poe and classes on personal identity, literary canon, and fanfiction.” Ye also felt that the Counseling minor provided a unique experience as it was “a sort of talk group/ support group” that met to talk and “vent out emotions.” One of her favorite memories was when the Counseling group had to say goodbye to each other. “Some cried as they finally got to let out their emotions and goodbyes,” explains Ye. “It was kind of sad to see everyone part ways. After all, we had all become so comfortable with each other and it was like a familial bond.” While students certainly gain tremendous academic rewards from the program, there are other parts of the experience that benefit the attendees. Aside from morning and afternoon classes in specific areas of study, students also have social opportunities in the evenings. Ye’s favorite memory was near the end of her GHP experience. “The Communicative Arts department was subdivided,” recalls Ye, “and we had to compose a song about GHP with a specific genre. We chose campfire. We ended up composing an excellent campfire song that segued into Hotel California. I got to play the egg shaker and people loved my overdramatic performance. I shook the egg shaker, so hard my arms hurt for a week after!”
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PAGE 15
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the Brookwood Schools Foundation got involved and its president, Steve Ridley, and others joined the Run the Reagan Board as new members with the intention of injecting new life into the project and making it an even bigger community event. “This year was successful beyond our hopes,” says Ridley. “This year’s race raised $55,000 to be split between the beneficiaries.” Special events were recently to present checksTheatre to the recipients. Only hosted Professional One of the things that was done over the last couple of years to bring in more runners was to invite the drum lines from some local schools. Grayson, Berkmar, and Brookwood drum lines were stationed along the course. “The race is just an out and back course with not much to see, so we created some of our own stuff to add excitement to the race,” Ridley explains. Cheering sections from Brookwood and Shiloh were also present along the parkway, and volunteers from South Gwinnett, Shiloh, and Brookwood were everywhere manning water stations. A radio station that was part of last year’s festivities was unable to participate this year, but Ridley hopes to have it back next year for the 25th anniversary. There were over 250 volunteers this year, including a team from Primrose School of Five Forks as well as medical personnel from Eastside Hospital. Large volunteer groups come from the co-ops also. Generous sponsorships from over twenty-five community businesses play a huge part in making the race possible. This year over 1,500 runners participated, and the board is hoping to continue to grow that number. The race draws from a large area, with over 20% of the runners coming from outside the county. Ridley wants to see it become a bigger race involving more groups, and they are trying to get lots of the schools involved by helping them see the opportunity to earn money by forming a team. “This year we will be giving back $3,500 directly to schools in the community for their participation and involvement in the race,” says Ridley. “Brookwood Schools Foundation wants to improve educational opportunities for students. That’s our whole purpose – to raise money for grants for the schools in our cluster. Similarly, the school foundations for all the other clusters want to do the same thing, so we can help all the schools in the community by getting them engaged in the race.” As community outreach director at Cannon Church, Ridley understands that co-op resources are strained in summer months as they try to provide additional food to families whose children rely on school lunches the rest of the year. He explains that his church and others reach out to provide additional resources and volunteers, but that alone doesn’t cover it. The money from the race enabled the co-ops to provide the additional services to clients over the summer. “Of course being a part of the race makes us feel so good in knowing where those resources are going and how it’s really helping people in an immediate and local way,” he adds. These groups can be reached via their websites at segwinnettcoop.org and lilburncoop.org. Ridley says the race feels like a real community event with vendors and businesses and teams wearing matching shirts. “It’s more than a race,” he says. “It’s a time to gather and get folks together and see people outside of your regular community. They only close the parkway one day a year. It’s such a neat opportunity to see the whole community get together and enjoy the day.” He is excited to promote the upcoming 25th anniversary race and hopes to draw a record crowd. “We’re excited every year to get to see the community come together, both sponsors and participants, to help make it a great event and raise this money for the community organizations that we support,” Ridley explains. “We hope we’ll find new groups to partner with and new schools to help and continue to grow in a way that helps our community and gives back to all those that have been a part of it for so long.” More information at runthereagan.net
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Getting Schooled with Five Forks Middle School By Amy Ney
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More than 1,000 teams from around the world arrived in Louisville, Kentucky on April 28th to compete in the VEX Robotics World Championship. The competition was so large that it set a new Guinness World Record, but more importantly, Five Forks Middle School was there representing Gwinnett County and Georgia. The Robotics Education & Competition Foundation hosts the VEX Robotics Competition. It is the largest and fastest growing middle school and high school robotics program globally with more than 20,000 teams from fifty countries, competing in over 1,700 competitions worldwide. The Foundation’s website explains, “There is an even greater need [than ever] for individuals equipped with the knowledge and skills to tackle tough problems by gathering information, evaluating it, and presenting effective solutions.” Still, relatively few students are skilled in the subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, or STEM, and even fewer show an interest in pursuing these fields beyond high school. Because of that, educators and students are investigating first-hand and economical approaches to help engage students and maintain their interest in STEM through elementary school, middle school, and high school. Stephen J. Griffith is the coach for the Five Forks’ Team, Bronocobots. He has been involved with robotics for the past fifteen years, and has been the Five Forks’ coach since 2015. “[Robotics] teaches pure engineering, allowing students to really learn from mistakes, analyze results, make improvements, and test again,” Griffith explains. Griffith coaches six robotics teams: two VEX teams and four Lego teams. Most of the students on Broncobots have progressed through two years of Lego robotics in 6th and 7th grade. Starting in September, competitors have two months to learn a new robotics system, understand the materials and criteria, appreciate the constraints of each competition, and learn programming language and the game itself before the first competition in November. Competition is hard but always fun. Last November, the Broncobots scored two to four, progressing to the State Competition where they held an eleven to two record and a win. “At the State Championship, we lost the first round in the championship,” tells Griffith. “As [the officials] were Continued on page 21
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Spotlight on Gwinnett Tech: Students Earn 35 Medals at State Competition Gwinnett Technical College students had an exceptional showing at SkillsUSA, Georgia’s Post-Secondary State Leadership & Skills Conference, hosted late March at the Georgia International Convention Center. Of the fifty-nine Gwinnett Tech students who competed, thirty-five of them earned competition medals. Joanna Key, Gwinnett Tech’s SkillsUSA Lead Advisor, says, “Our students’ results at this competition continue to prove that their educational foundation is exceptional and that they can apply their learning in real-world situations.” The Gwinnett Tech 2018 gold award winners were: Michael Cuddy, Emilie Rush – Web Design Jonathan Kirkland – Related Technical Math Dieu Ngo – First Aid/CPR Ben Nguyen – Medical Math Angela Philpot – Health Occupations Professional Portfolio Ja’Lia Edwards, Spencer Duncan, Renee Harvey, Judith Crouch, Michelle Taylor – Quiz Bowl Laura Gregg, Jared Salzinger, Matt Royal, Hannah Atkinson, Amber Hendrix – Health Knowledge Bowl Special congratulations to Tyler Butler for being elected as a SkillsUSA State Officer. He is the third Gwinnett Tech student elected to one of the statewide leadership posts. Butler’s position on the board will be determined at an upcoming officer retreat this summer. Dr. D. Glen Cannon, president of Gwinnett Technical College, shares, “These results reflect an outstanding level of academic commitment and leadership. Gwinnett Tech students continue to prove again and again that they are some of the very best in Georgia.” SkillsUSA contests begin locally and continue through state and national levels. State Gold Medalists now have the opportunity to compete in the SkillsUSA 54th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference in Louisville, KY, June 25-29, 2018. The National SkillsUSA Championships showcase the skills of post-secondary students through hands-on competitions in leadership, health occupations, trades/industry, and technical contests. More than 16,000 students, teachers, and business partners participated in the weeklong national competition. SkillsUSA is a national, nonprofit student organization that has developed more than 10 million workers through active partnerships between employers and education. Hundreds of American industries have turned to SkillsUSA as the source for employees who exemplify “Champions at Work” in both skills and attitudes. SkillsUSA’s mission is to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders, and responsible American citizens. SkillsUSA improves the quality of America’s skilled workforce through a structure program of citizenship, leadership, employability, and technical and professional skills training. More information at GwinnettTech.edu You and your team have one hour to explore mysterious rooms, solve clever puzzles and beat the game before time runs out!
Dodgeball Continued from page 12 Cluster. “We didn’t really know what to anticipate, but the dodgeball event really exceeded our expectations,” Smith said. “We didn’t realize what kind of support the dodgeball tournament could have. I am looking forward to next year, too.” Leading up to the tournament, the six cluster schools competed with a penny-contest where students brought in change. Knight Elementary School placed first in raising the most money. And they won the contest for most spectators, too. Knight didn’t completely steal the show. Trickum went home with awards for best uniforms and best school spirit. The Foundation is always looking for new members. Smith said, “We have many ways to volunteer with PCF. We need people to donate money. We need people to volunteer time. There is everything from one-time volunteer at specific events to ongoing opportunities within the organization leadership.” Smith also said that volunteers don’t need to have children who are current students. “Right now, many of us serving in the PCF don’t have students in the schools, but we know how important schools and community are. We would welcome people to join us regardless. We just need people who want to help make a difference in our schools.” More information at http://parkviewfoundation.org.
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A Sprig of Moss: Gwinnett County & Her Cemeteries
Pet Perch: Special Needs of Senior Cats
By John Lemley
Just as human seniors may have special needs, so do senior cats. A cat can be considered senior at ages 7-9 years, and geriatric beyond that. As your cat ages, the process can be accompanied by physical and behavioral changes which may not be outwardly obvious. An aging cat’s immune system can be weaker than that of a younger cat. Dehydration, which is common in older cats, can further diminish blood circulation and immunity. Older cats tend to groom themselves less, leaving their fur to matte or smell. Their claws can thicken and become brittle. They may experience memory loss or dementia, causing them to wander about, meow excessively, and even become less social. Hearing loss is also found in cats of advanced age. Dental disease is extremely common and painful, and may cause a loss of appetite which can further lead to the cat’s overall decline in health. A cat’s kidneys can undergo a number of age related changes, which may lead to diminished function or even complete failure. Arthritis and hyperthyroidism are also common ailments. Although aging is inevitable, you can make a difference. Starting with nutrition, feed your cat a healthy diet. Wet food is preferable to kibble in keeping your cat hydrated. Annual teeth cleanings can go a long way in maintaining your cat’s overall health. Exercise is important. A daily dose of playtime can increase muscle tone and blood circulation. Lastly, reduce stress by keeping a routine. If you have multiple cats, make sure you have ample litter boxes, preferably not all in the same place as territorial disputes can be stressful. If you travel, an in-home pet sitter is absolutely less stressful than boarding. These few simple changes can have your cat living longer and healthier! Terie Hansen is Owner of Good Dog! Coaching & Pet Care. More information at www.gooddogcoaching.com .
Long before sociologist Arlie Russell Hochchild chose it as the title of his 2016 book focused on the Tea Party movement in Louisiana, Strangers in Their Own Land was an apt description of Native Americans in the southeastern United States. What we now refer to as Gwinnett County was home to Indian tribes for hundreds of years before white settlers set foot on this portion of north central Georgia. We need look no further than early British and French maps of the region to see that the Catawba tribe inhabited Gwinnett County until the American Revolution. In fact, the territory controlled by the Georgia Catawba during that span of time was far greater than that of the Catawba in South Carolina. Nevertheless, the Georgia Catawba have been all but forgotten by history books, most likely because this particular branch joined the Creek Confederacy. Within an average life span, the Catawba had assimilated into the larger tribe and were probably speaking one of the Creek languages. Sometime in the 1700s, in all likelihood after the French & Indian War, a Shawnee town was established on the Chattahoochee River in present-day Gwinnett County. These Shawnees were in all probability from the mountains of North Carolina, near what is today the city of Asheville. All Creek, Yuchi, Shawnee, and Cherokee towns east of the 84th meridian were removed from the North Carolina Mountains in 1763. The location of the Shawnee town is now the city of Suwannee, Georgia. The very fact that there’s a river in Gwinnett County that is named after the Apalachee Indians strongly suggests that at one time this tribe also lived in the region. This inhabitation most likely occurred in the 18th century as well. Once the Mountain Apalachee had joined the Creek Confederacy, their ethnic distinctions quickly disappeared. So, even though many historians through the years have described the Cherokees as the original inhabitants of Gwinnett County, that nation never had any territory within its boundaries. In fact, Continued on page 22
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Five Forks Middle School Continued from page 18 resetting for the second round, I asked one of the team members if they wanted me to throw some magic on the mat. After responding yes at the beginning of the match, I waved my hands wildly while saying some gibberish and threw my hands out towards the mat. Twenty feet away, one of the opposition robots fell over! The student looked at me in awe, and I simply stated, ‘See that! You don’t want to mess with me.’” The robots are expensive to build and competition requires dealing with failed sensors and purchasing more steel and aluminum for the modifications, among other things. Griffith adds, “Although the students pay $100 dues at the start of the season, it requires finding sponsors who wish to donate to help make it as successful of a program as it has become in the two short years that Five Forks has been competing in VEX robotics.” Griffith says the community can assist in many ways, whether it be helping with funding or donating materials, or becoming a mentor to the teams as they continue to revisit the design process and help keep their optimism high after a failure. Griffith believes robotics is very important to the future. He maintains that “VEX robotics embody the best of what education is. Students learn through curiosity, and that drives further research and experimentation of design trying to create a solution to a problem. The ability to go to a competition and fail miserably but learn and analyze the failure to redesign, build, and test again at further competitions is what allows a team with no experience in September to compete at the World Competition in April.” More information at https://ffmsrobotics.weebly.com/
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Lilburn Musicians Continued from page 14 DeKalb County. Allen: I grew up in Tennessee, so I heard a lot of Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, and Johnny Cash growing up. Laura brought me to Atlanta. Laura: We met at Rhodes in Memphis in 1988 and dated for five years until we married in 1993. Then we graduated with MBAs from Georgia State in 1998. We took every class together in graduate school! We have three daughters – Faith and Sarah are 16 and Caroline is 11. Faith plays in her school’s band, while Sarah and Caroline are both in chorus. They all play handbells at our church. Our daughters are our most precious gifts! Allen: We’ve been in Lilburn now for twenty years. We’re glad to call it home and raise our daughters here.
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Q: What was your first “gig”as McHanIx, and how did that get started? Laura: It was at Red Brick Brewing Company in Atlanta. I had been emailing festivals and bars, trying to get our foot in the door. The venue just happened to have a cancellation, so we jumped on it. We played for two hours and had a blast! One thing we’ve learned since we started this journey over two years ago is that you have to get out there and stay visible so that people will begin to notice you. It was our friend Terry Wolf who gave me the push to begin performing at local open mics in 2015, many of which were hosted by Paul Sanner, who has become a dear friend to all of us. We brought Allen into the fold and then added Terry’s bandmates from The So-Called Arthur Kings, Jack Crouse and Gib Heuett, to form McArthur. The past three years have seen McHanIx and McArthur playing more in the Lilburn-Lawrenceville-Grayson area. There’s so much going on in our area with local music! We hope people will support live music at local restaurants and bars. Q: What’s coming up next? Laura: Our group McArthur is honored to be appearing again as the entertainment for Lilburn Food Truck Tuesday, June 12th at Lilburn City Park. It’s enjoyable watching the kids running in the playground and seeing everyone soaking up the sun while enjoying the eats and the music. We’re delighted to perform again as McArthur along with Terry Wolf (guitar/vocals), Gib Heuett (guitar/ vocals), and “Saxman” Jack Crouse, and bring you over two hours of primarily classic rock songs. Allen: The style of McHanIx ranges from soft coffeehouse songs to more standard country, pop, and rock from multiple decades. McHanIx hopes to play again at Lilburn Daze in October. We hope to see you there or around town! More information at mchanixband.com.
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Sprig of Moss Continued from page 20 Cherokees only arrived west of the Chattahoochee River after the Treaty of 1793. This land was, indeed, home to a great number of Native Americans. It’s simply that they were not who you would call by the name Cherokee. Of course, where a people live, they also die and are buried. Consequently, many Native Americans remain in Gwinnett County, albeit buried underground – or, more specifically, under mounds. Over the past few decades, a number of historians, preservationists, and other concerned citizens have battled to save Gwinnett County sites that possibly contain the remains of Native Americans. In next month’s article we’ll explore just such a site, one at the center of a well-publicized controversy in 1990. More information and photos at A Sprig of Moss on Facebook.
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