JUNE 2024: (GREEN) Our Town Gwinnett/Walton Monthly Magazine

On

Ten Years with Cutting Edge Painting

By Kristen Eleveld

Those in the Gwinnett area are more than familiar with the excellent service that Cutting Edge Painting brings to every job it takes on. For over a decade, the team at Cutting Edge Painting has maintained its commitment to excellence in everything it does – and that applies to more than just painting. These ten years have been filled with incredible customer service, high-quality work, and a focus on giving each client what they need.

“As a quality and customer focused company, we truly look at each job we do as more than a job,” said Nathan McMichael, who has owned the company since 2016. “We see it as our success and as our relationship with each client. We’re not just there to do the job and get the check. We keep in touch with customers and follow up with customers for years afterward. The little stuff matters.”

One way that Cutting Edge Painting ensures their dedication to a job well done is always top of mind is through their REACH initiative, which stands for the five tenets of their business values: Respect, Excellence, Availability, Character, and Humility. Nathan and his team seek to implement these tenets which each customer experience, and it seems to be working, based on the positive feedback they often receive from their clients.

“The referrals and repeat customers are the biggest crowd that makes up our customer base,” said Nathan. “Great service always multiplies.”

The REACH initiative is also the company’s way of giving back to their community. Each year they seek out needs within their neighborhood that they can help meet. They also partner with NG3, Taste of Grayson, Lifewell Ministries, and other local fundraisers to raise awareness and funds for pressing needs in their own community.

And while the word “painting” might be in the company name, Cutting Edge Painting can do so much more. Are you trying to replace your gutters or hoping to finally get your deck stained? Maybe you really need to get your fence repaired after the last storm knocked a tree branch into it. Cutting Edge Painting can do it all – and their commitment to the highest level of service extends to any type of job they are hired for. They have worked on everything from finished carpentry to concrete flooring and brick masonry applications, as they have spent many years

finding and developing expertise in multiple areas.

Along with that expertise comes the experts themselves. Cutting Edge Painting now has a devoted Project Manager, Milton Pineda, who has been with the team for over two years.

“Milton has been huge in helping run the operational side of things,” said Nathan of his growing business. “He is always our go-to guy to assist all of the teams and to help us maintain standards and manage each customer experience.”

Lindsey Zellner, who heads up all of the marketing for Cutting Edge Painting, is another valuable asset to the team as she works to ensure that each client is engaged and has access to unique ideas that are specifically suited to their needs.

As Nathan would say, it takes everyone to make this company the success that it is, including the talented teams out in the field. For Nathan, a lot of his goals have been motivated by the desire to show his clients that there are companies and people who care and want to do right by their customers.

“It’s worth stating that there are still good people that are striving for healthy community, respectful engagement; people that do care and who aren’t there just for personal gain,” said Nathan. “That belief comes from my faith and my belief that a lot of people have sacrificed for many years to give us what we have today.

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Where learning meets fun.

At Primrose Schools Summer Adventure Club, your child will discover new things every day-and they’’ have a great time doing it. They’ll explore hands-on activities--like sports, robotics, and more--that encourage them to think with creativity, compassion, and resourcefulness. School may be out for the summer, but the learning is still in.

2-3 field trips per week Begin practicing basic skills for the next grade level Nutritious, homemade multicultural meals every day

Our Town

Gwinnett/Walton Community & Family Magazine

Entire contents copyright 2024 by Our Town Gwinnett Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher. — An EndResultz Media Company EndResultz.com

Our Town Gwinnett is published and direct mailed to select homes in the Gwinnett/Walton area. Opinions expressed by the writers and staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our Town Gwinnett reserves the right to edit and/or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our Town Gwinnett is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers.

Publisher/Owner

Dr. Ryan T. Sauers Ryan@EndResultz.com

Creative Director Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultz.com

Editor

Catherine L. Osornio Editor@EndResultz.com

IN THIS ISSUE

Photography Emil Powella

Photography

Distribution Coordinator

Holly Cooks

Cover Story

Kristen Eleveld Feature

Contributing

Tanisha

5 On the Cover: Celebrating Ten Years with Cutting Edge Painting

7 From the Publisher: Ryan’s Remarks

8 Learning Lessons: Summer Activities that Help Children Learn

8 Travel Tales: Summer Adventures – Maybe!

11 One on One with Family Promise of Gwinnett

11 Trickum Middle School’s Ryan Queen named Principal of the Year

13 Relationship Coaches Help Others with “Chameleon Love”

15 One Man’s Opinion: Those Great Pies in the Sky

15 Making a Difference: Celebrating the Resilience of Military Children

15 Getting to Know Epie’s Electrical Services

16 Mistake…A Word for Your Day

16 Gwinnett County Breaks Ground: Beaver Ruin Wetland Park

16 Community Spotlight: Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful

18 One Man’s Opinion: It’s NEVER Too Late

18 Pet Perch: No, You Can’t Pet My Dog

From the Publisher: Ryan’s Remarks

By Dr. Ryan T. Sauers

@RyanTSauers @RyanTSauers

In a world where uncertainties abound, and noise and chaos often drown out the authentic voices, it is crucial to pause, reflect, and recognize the values at the heart of genuine relationships and ultimate success. This means working hard to build the indispensable virtues of honesty, authenticity, integrity, and trust. We should not HATE, but indeed we should HAIT

Honesty, the unwavering beacon of truth, is essential in building meaningful relationships. When we embrace openness, we create an atmosphere of transparency where open communication can flourish. Honest conversations build trust and enable us to navigate conflicts with empathy and understanding. By valuing honesty, we foster an environment that encourages growth and fosters resilience, laying the groundwork for success.

Authenticity, the art of being genuine to oneself, is a powerful force that attracts like-minded individuals and paves the way for impactful connections. When we have the courage to embrace our authenticity, we inspire others to do the same, leading to a harmonious community where everyone’s unique strengths can shine. Embracing our true selves fosters an environment of acceptance and inclusivity where diversity of thought and experience can thrive.

Integrity serves as the bedrock upon which strong relationships are built. It embodies the essence of being true to oneself and others, fostering an environment of mutual respect and reliability. When we act with integrity, we demonstrate our commitment to our values and principles, even when faced with challenges or temptations. This unwavering dedication inspires trust in others, forming a solid foundation for lasting connections.

Trust, the delicate thread that weaves our relationships together, is success’s lifeblood. Trusting relationships are built on integrity, honesty, and authenticity. When we trust one another, we can collaborate more effectively, embrace vulnerability,

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Learning Lessons: Summer Activities that Help Children Learn

By Tanisha Turner

Summer is a time to slow down, spend time outdoors, and have some fun! While this change of pace is an opportunity for families to get more rest and relaxation, it’s important that children still engage in activities that encourage learning.

Fortunately, the summer season provides plenty of ways for children to explore nature and discover science, so “finding learning opportunities” does not have to be another addition to your to-do list. The outdoors provides the perfect setting for young children to experience physics, chemistry, and biology in ways that they can relate to and understand.

Swinging, sliding, and swimming are great examples of activities that your little one is likely already doing that also introduce her to the fascinating world of science.

• Swinging: Swinging back and forth on a swing set allows children to experience the effects of motion and gravity. Children realize that as the swing comes

to a stop, they must push off the ground to set the swing back in motion.

• Sliding: Slides allow children to experience the effects of gravity and friction. Children realize they can slow down by pressing on the soles of their shoes, or go faster by lifting their feet.

• Swimming: Children experiment with the scientific principle of buoyancy while learning to swim, asking questions like, “Why do I float sometimes and other times I sink?”

It’s not necessary for you to explain the science behind each activity. The experiences alone build a foundation for learning and help children grasp scientific principles later in life. But, to build on your child’s learning and encourage his natural curiosity, consider explaining the science in a hands-on way by setting up simple experiments.

For example, if your child asks what she needs to do to float, try this interactive game to help teach her why some objects sink and others float:

1. Help your child fill a bucket with water and gather miscellaneous items that will not be harmed if they get wet.

2. Ask your child to predict if the items will float or sink, and ask for the reasoning behind each prediction.

3. Allow your child to place the items in the water, one at a time. As each item is tested, let her change her prediction—it shows she is thinking critically and refining her thoughts based on evidence. Listen to her observations each time. After your child has tested each item, ask her how the items that float or sink are similar to one another.

Finding ways to play with science this summer doesn’t have to be complicated. Just follow your child and listen to her questions – science is everywhere!

Tanisha Turner is Owner of Primrose School at Sugarloaf Parkway. More information at www.PrimroseSugarloafParkway.com or call 770-5130066.

Travel Tales: Summer Adventures – Maybe!

By Pam Walker

Wow…can you believe it? Summer is almost here! This year has flown by so far! Have you made your vacation plans by now? I hope so!

Europe is filling up more than ever this summer, and if you are planning a last-minute trip to Italy – good luck. It is full! There have been horrendous pictures on the internet of crowds around the Trevi Fountain in Rome and St. Marks Square in Venice. Hotels, both large and small, are charging outrageous prices, too.

Other places in the world are busy as well. It is a magical year for Scandinavia. Everyone wants to go to Norway. My friend Jan, who owns a tourism company in Oslo, says he has never been busier.

Africa and South America, both continents in the Southern Hemisphere where in our summer it is their winter, have also been slammed. Safari space is very limited, and in Patagonia in southern Argentina and Chile, hotels are full.

Asia, too, is experiencing unprecedented tourism, and Japanese tour companies have stopped taking tour requests through October. All in all this year’s travel boom is alive and well. So again, if you have not made your plans yet, contact your travel advisor as soon as possible to get to where you want to go.

Don’t forget the USA. You won’t find space in Orlando as the home of the Mouse is always on everyone’s list to visit. Plus, Orlando is building new attractions and theme parks every year. There are six major parks there now, and two new ones are being built as I write this.

Don’t forget our national parks! We have some homegrown beauties across the USA. Go to their website (nps.gov) before you travel as tickets to enter the parks are now required at quite a few of them.

One final word – always remember to be patient and kind when you travel. Travel is the best way to share worldwide peace, and we learn so much from each other when we travel to new places. Enjoy your summer travels!

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel advisor. More information at pam@walkeradventures.com

Ryan’s Remarks

and achieve greater heights. Trust empowers us to take risks, knowing we have a support network that believes in us and our aspirations.

In a world often marked by skepticism and cynicism, it is vital to remember that the HAIT words hold immense power. They are not mere buzzwords, but guiding principles that can transform lives and communities. By embodying these virtues, we can foster deeper connections, nurture genuine relationships, and create a ripple effect that resonates far beyond our immediate circles.

When we cultivate such values, we create a positive and nurturing ecosystem where success becomes inevitable. Let us strive to exemplify these values not only in our personal lives, but also in our professional endeavors. Let us lift each other, celebrate each other’s victories, and champion the power of these virtues in all our interactions.

Remember, every action we take, no matter how small, has the potential to make a difference. Let us create a world where success is not measured solely by material gain, but by the positive impact we make on the lives of those around us. Together, let us forge a community that stands tall on the pillars of these critical ideas in this article.

Perimeter Roofing specializes in offering

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These are some thoughts I wanted to share with our fantastic community. Thank you for supporting us and all the small business partners who make a difference in our lives daily. They all operate in a manner built on trust. Finally, and as always, thank you for continuing with me on the journey of my town, your town, OUR TOWN!

Cutting Edge Painting

Continued from page 5

Nothing is perfect, but there is an ongoing pursuit of happiness that a lot of people are working hard for.”

Nathan’s faith has also encouraged him to consistently put his best foot forward, and he asks his team members to do the same. As the multiple five-star Google reviews will attest to, his strategy is working – Cutting Edge Painting leaves its customers satisfied with a job well done.

If you need help with your commercial or private property, you know where to go. Just fill out the form on the website or give Nathan and his team a call, and they will take care of the rest.

More information at www.cepaintcompany.com or (678) 571-5975

I n t e r i o r & E x t e r i o r

P a i n t i n g

C a b i n e t P a i n t i n g

C a r p e n t r y R e p a i r s

G u t t e r & G u a r d

I n s t a l l a t i o n

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OWNER, NATE MCMICHAEL

One on One with Family Promise of Gwinnett

By Traci Sanders

In 2009 a young forensic accountant named Carol Love found herself being laid off from her job. “I found myself ‘homeless’ for the first time in my adult life,” she said, “at least in my career. I very well could have ended up without a place to live as well. I was lucky that since I had traveled extensively for my job, I had been living with my mother as my home base when in town.”

Prior to losing her job, Love felt uncertain about the direction of her life. She reconnected with Jesus Christ and her local church where she had grown up. Shortly after, she sought counsel from her minister about feeling called to serve in some capacity. He referred her to a woman who was involved with serving families in motels. Love’s church had a ministry that

Trickum Middle School’s Ryan Queen named Principal of the Year

By Tana Poncsak

How hard would it be to surprise a school principal during a teacher workday in the middle of a faculty meeting? If you ask Ryan Queen, the principal of Trickum Middle School, his answer would perhaps be “easy.”

On March 15, 2024, as Ryan conducted a faculty meeting, he found himself surprised. It was a good surprise, as he was recognized as Middle School Principal of the Year by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals.

Ryan says being chosen as Middle School Principal of the Year is first and foremost a great honor. “It was a great day and a wonderful surprise,” he says. “I thought the setting couldn’t have been any better.”

Trickum Middle School faculty and staff had almost a month to plan and prepare for the surprise. In addition, Ryan’s wife, children, and his parents all attended the event where representatives from Gwinnett Public Schools were on hand to make the presentation.

Ryan started his twenty-seven-year career in education with Gwinnett Public Schools as a biology teacher at Parkview High School in the Parkview cluster, and he spent time working in several other areas of Gwinnett Public Schools. Eventually, he started thinking about expanding his leadership and seeking principalship.

“Leadership is really about influence,” he says. “As a classroom teacher, you

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partnered with a Presbyterian church in Atlanta that offered breakfast to homeless people on Sundays. Love began serving there while she waited for God to reveal what her next steps should be.

After she lost her job, Love served as a volunteer case manager at the Norcross Cooperative Ministry. There she learned how to communicate with and advocate for those in need.

“God put it on my heart to serve and empower the homeless in my community,” she said. “I didn’t know exactly how it would all play out and come to fruition, but I trusted in His plans for me.”

More than a year passed when Must Ministries asked Love to introduce a summer lunch program in Gwinnett County for children with nutritional needs. Success with volunteers and distribution in this non-profit work opened the door to Family Promise of Gwinnett (FPG). In 2011 Love helped open up their Salt Light Center in a Lawrenceville church. The center was an emergency shelter for single women and women with children.

In 2014 Love left FPG after the birth of her son and was able to work from home with another company. During this hiatus, Love became a single mom. This life-altering experience has helped her understand and relate to the fears, anxieties, and issues that single moms face. Love understands the pressures of working, parenting, paying bills, and trying to balance all these feats in life.

In 2019 a door opened for Love that changed the course of her life again. Family

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Family Promise of Gwinnett

from page 11

Promise of Gwinnett approached her with a new offer to become their Executive Director. Love would oversee a program that consisted of a system of churches that offered rotational shelters for local families with children under eighteen years of age. These churches transformed a few of their Sunday School classrooms into bedrooms for the families free of charge, with FPG providing the beds and allowing the church the opportunity to act out their faith in love, providing hospitality, community, and safe shelter.

“Our goal was to keep families together during their struggles,” Love said, “allowing them shelter and food for thirty to ninety days at a time.”

Love began to realize that her accounting skills were a true gift from God that allowed her to help these people with more than basic necessities. Through FPG she was able to help them secure employment and learn budgeting skills to encourage self-sufficiency. She conducted an evaluation every thirty days to create plans for helping them move forward and find more permanent housing and other resources.

Unfortunately, the program was brought to a halt when Covid came onto the

scene, and everyone quarantined.

“We found our program ‘homeless’ in a sense,” Love said. “We had nowhere to place these families.”

Thankfully, in 2022 the program found a new home, now called Promise Haven, when a local Episcopal church offered shelter through a house on their property at an extremely discounted rate. Families who meet eligibility requirements are allowed to stay at Promise Haven in the evenings and use the FPG Day Center during the day as needed. The Day Center provides families with access to a mailing address, counseling services, case management, and a place to go when Promise Haven is closed during the day. FPG also offers two transitional houses for families that graduate from Promise Haven.

FPG has been going strong, living out their mission of transforming lives and strengthening families through financial resources and familial resources such as cooking and parenting sessions. There are seven Family Promise affiliates in metro Atlanta and Athens, and each one operates independently to address the underlying causes of homelessness.

As their website states, “Together we are ending homelessness – one family at a time.”

More information at https://familypromisegwinnett.org/.

Trickum Middle School Principal

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have influence over your students in your classroom. But it’s not until you come out of that classroom and realize that as a building leader, you can have an impact on a lot more students.” Ryan explains that it’s similar to throwing a rock in a pond and having a ripple effect. “I impact those around me, and they impact those around them,” he adds. “Ultimately, that goes all the way down to impacting the students in the classroom, which is our goal. That’s really the approach I take and the philosophy that I bring to the role.” Ryan is completing his eighth year as principal at Trickum Middle School.

It was around the end of 2023 when Ryan was first notified that he had been nominated for Georgia Middle School Principal of the Year. He says he was touched by the fact someone thought enough of him and his work to nominate him, and out of respect for that person, he completed the application form. By mid-January, Ryan was notified that he was one of three finalists and invited to Athens for a panel interview. On a Saturday in late January, Ryan made the drive to Athens and went through the interview process. Once the interview was done, it was a waiting game – waiting for a “Thanks, but no thanks” email or waiting for a BIG surprise. Ryan got the BIG surprise. He says he’s humbled.

“This recognition has my name on it, but it’s really a recognition of Trickum Middle School and the hard work of the staff,” he says.

Ryan feels like he’s come full circle with his career in education having started out in the Parkview cluster and now he’s made his way back to the same cluster where it all began. He says from time to time, it’s not unusual that he’s stopped by former students from his biology teaching days who are now dropping off their own kids at the very same school the parent attended some years ago.

“The fact these folks are now sending their kids to the schools they attended…I don’t know if there’s a better compliment than that,” Ryan says.

For now, Ryan hopes to continue to have a positive impact on the faculty and students at Trickum Middle School. “We become leaders because we hope to impact more students and our colleagues in a positive manner, and I guess ultimately, I became principal for that same opportunity,” he says. “Whether it’s impacting the school or impacting the district or just simply impacting my colleagues that are immediately around me, that’s really all that I hope for in the future. That I can continue to become better at whatever I’m doing, and that I continue to have a positive impact on those who I interact with.”

Congratulations, Principal Ryan Queen!

More information at https://schools.gcpsk12.org/TrickumMS, or https://www. gcpsk12.org/, or https://www.gassp.org/.

Relationship Coaches Help Others with “Chameleon Love”

By Tana Poncsak

It wasn’t a good time for Da’Von and Jennifer Heath. In fact, Da’Von calls it the “toughest season” in their marriage. Da’Von had been laid off. They had two young sons. Jennifer wasn’t employed. And they were expecting their third child. Da’Von says that at the time, they were freaking out. With all the stress of their situation, they simply stopped talking.

It was also during this time that Da’Von woke up around four o’clock one morning with one thought on his mind. According to Da’Von, it was Divine Intervention with a message saying, “You’re going to have to love her the way she needs to be loved, and as she changes, because we all change, you’re going to need to adapt to how she needs to be loved.” And in those wee hours of that morning, the idea of “Chameleon Love” was born. As he shared the idea with his wife, Jennifer wasn’t sure how they would live the idea out and bring it to fruition, but over time they figured it out.

Both Da’Von and Jennifer recognized early on that they both came from family backgrounds where appropriate communication and other positive behaviors were not the norm and not even encouraged, and it’s the desire to break that cycle that drives Da’Von and Jennifer today. They worked individually, as a couple, as a family with their three sons, and beyond to improve their communication skills and their relationships, and now they practice what they teach.

Much of what Chameleon Love entails comes from a place of self-love. “One of the biggest things that we’re working on with some of our clients right now is we’re finding that a lot of people don’t love themselves,” Jennifer says. “In conjunction with that, they don’t take care of themselves. With Chameleon Love, one of our major things is that self-love is the best love. And if you don’t properly love your-

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One Man’s Opinion: Those Great Pies in the Sky

By Bill Crane

Zelma Calhoun made some great pies for Chickfil-A. Though she did not work in a factory, and this is no “piep” dream, the estimates are that she baked more than 650,000. This is another one of those reasons and stories why those of us in the South may seem to worship at the altar of Chick-fil-A.

When I was a freshman in Athens at the University of Georgia (UGA), I was witness to a curious and somewhat regular happening on Sundays following most every UGA Dawgs Saturday home game. I had left my dorm room on the fourth floor and entered the long hall. There were no elevators, only stairs, and a slight and spritely older and bald man, with a big smile on his face, was walking up the stairs, and then down that long hall. He was carrying more than anyone probably should carry, in neatly stacked and stringtied boxes, of what I would soon learn were incredibly delicious and near freshly baked pies.

The man was Truett Cathy, the founder of the Chick-fil-A sandwich and then owner of a successful but modest chain of primarily mall food court restaurants called Chick-fil-A (CFA). I was fortunate to grow up near one of their then-few mall locations at the North DeKalb Mall. This was the early 1980s, and you could count the CFA stores on a handful of hands. The first free-standing location, also near that mall shop, had not opened quite yet.

The original store, called the Dwarf House, opened in 1949 by Cathy. Though twice remodeled, it still serves huge crowds and quantities each week on the Dwarf House diner and grille side. As well as a standard Chick-fil-A restaurant inside, there is now also a mini-bakery and pie shop named for Zelma Murphy Calhoun, who was hired while she was still in high school in 1954 at the Dwarf House in Hapeville

On those football Saturdays, Cathy could still make the drive around to EACH and every CFA location in a few hours. All CFA’s and the famed Dwarf House were closed on Sundays. Cathy would make the store rounds after the dinner rush each Saturday, gathering up all of the unsold pies. Those few-day-old pies were NOT going to be sold “as fresh” to his customers on Monday.

Making a Difference: Celebrating the Resilience of Military Children

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff

Life in the U.S. Armed Forces can be challenging, especially for the youngest members of the nation’s military community: the 1.6 million children of service members. These brave young souls – from constant change and uncertainty to being uprooted every few years and finding their place in a new school with each new location to their service member parent deploying suddenly for months, or even years, at a time – face realities of military life that can take a toll.

“Military children go through many experiences that most children don’t go through,” said military spouse and mother Jessica McLaughlin. “Having to leave their friends and everything they know to move across the world presents a different set of challenges.”

During April, the Month of the Military Child, the United Service Organizations (USO) raised awareness about the specific challenges these so-called “military brats” face and celebrated them to thank and support them for their invaluable role.

Beyond special events that took place in April, military families can find yearround support and entertainment at many of the over 250 USO locations around the globe. These centers, a home-away-from-home, foster a strong sense of community. Here, military kids are surrounded by a supportive network and other military children who understand the unique challenges they face. Programs such as arts and crafts, game nights, cooking classes, and scavenger hunts are designed to offer a little fun so that they can even briefly forget the stress of life as a military child. By age 9, Victoria Hegedusich has lived in California, Maine, and Japan, and she’ll most likely move four or five more times before she graduates high school, as military families, on average, move every 2.5 years. Hegedusich and her family are frequent visitors at the USO Yokosuka Center in Japan, where they make use of the free Wi-Fi, comfortable seating, snacks, books, and games, as well as take part in events and programs geared specifically to families and children.

“The USO is really fun,” Hegedusich said, who has especially loved any events and programs that involve science. “I like coming here to do the activities.”

Military children are resilient, and thanks to programming just for them, they can feel grounded and appreciated wherever they are. (StatePoint)

More information at https://www.uso.org.

So Cathy, a devout Christian and thrifty survivor of the Depression, did for what for him was only practical, as well as practicing his faith – he gathered up all those pies for redistribution. The first of many Cathy family foster children, Woody Faulk, lived in my dorm hall at Reed Hall at UGA, next door to Sanford Stadium. Cathy was hauling those pies to Woody and any of his hungry friends.

Those pies – lemon, chocolate, and coconut cream – were to DIE FOR. Fried apple and peach pies were later menu additions, with Ms. Zelma serving as the lead baker for forty-five years. Towards the end of her professional baking, Ms. Zelma was making more than 100 pies per day.

When she decided to retire in 2000, Truett Cathy gave her a brand-new Ford Mustang as a parting gift. Looking like new, that car still sits in her driveway as she transitioned this past week at the age of 89. As the Dwarf House went through a second major re-model in 2022, the new pie shop, just inside the entrance, was named in her honor, and in the large kitchen, which serves two dining rooms, she is a star on the Dwarf House Wall of Fame.

A letter from Truett Cathy accompanied that Mustang, which is a family keepsake. At the age of 88, in 2023, Ms. Zelma returned for one last stint of baking to give the new pie shop with her name on the wall and just inside her beloved work home one more tour of duty. They lined up around the building for those pies.

The bakery in heaven just got a major upgrade. I imagine Mr. Cathy will give her the full tour, if not already. Please save me one slice of that lemon pie, Ms. Zelma, assuming I eventually make it to that counter.

Bill Crane owns the full-service communications firm CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com

Getting to Know Epie’s Electrical Services

By Kristen Eleveld

When it comes to DIY, there are some things you don’t mind trying, like wallpapering your own living room or repainting some old furniture. But there are other things, like haircuts, legal advice, and electrical work, that are always best left to the professionals. That’s where Epie’s Electrical Services comes in. They may not be able to advise you on whether you should get bangs, but when it comes to residential and commercial electric work, there is just no one better.

Led by founder and owner Dan Doster, the team at Epie’s Electrical Services has made a name for themselves from Lawrenceville to Sandy Springs, leaving nothing but a trail of excellent work and happy customers behind them. Dan, who is a Georgia contractor with experience in all areas of construction, opened the business ten years ago and has been serving the same neighborhood he grew up in ever since.

“My grandfather was a tradesman, my uncle was a tradesman – it’s been going back for a while,” said Dan. “I’ve been doing this type of work since 1972.”

With Dan at the helm, Epie’s Electrical Services has spent the last decade committing itself to quality work and quality client care. Master Electrician Philip Scarborough leads the charge for the electrical work itself, and there are five to seven trucks in a seven-mile radius at any given time as the Epie’s team works to meet each client’s needs.

For Dan, the priority is investing into the relationship with each person he comes in contact with.

“What we do is care,” said Dan. “I care about people a lot. I care about your house, about your dogs, about your job – I care about the human side.”

Dan’s investment into each of his clients is not just talk. He really does want to know the names of his client’s family furry members, where they went to school, what interesting talents they have – all of it. And, of course, this genuine love for people is not confined to customers only. Dan pours into his team members just as often with just as much fervor.

“Anyone can turn a wrench, but it takes someone different to believe in you,” said Dan. “I believe it’s my job to do that for my team, and I believe it’s my job to nurture that belief in my team so they can leave a legacy in their own families.”

In addition to a desire for investing into his employees’ lives, Dan also instills into his team the idea that they will do their work well and leave every place better than they found it. Even if that means sweeping up a mess they didn’t make, Dan’s team knows that the standard of the work they do is the best of the best and that they will take care of every client to the very best of their ability – which is why you will often find these men sweeping up the messes they did not make.

While Dan runs a tight ship, he also recognizes the incredible talent he has on his team.

“The guys who work for me are the real craftsmen,” said Dan. “People know we are going to treat them right and take care of them.”

So the next time you notice the kitchen light is flickering and you’re tempted to pick up your toolset, pick up your phone instead and call Dan and his team at Epie’s Electrical Services. You will be guaranteed quality work, an excellent experience, and a team who wants to play with your dog just as much as you do.

More information at epies-electrical.com, (770) 939-8808

Mistake…A Word for Your Day

By Jane Bishop

In our lives, mistakes are inevitable. They are the markers of our missteps and misguided decisions, revealing areas where growth and improvement are needed. While the consequences of mistakes vary, the value they bring to our personal and professional development is immeasurable.

Mistakes help us learn. Pause for a moment and be present with what is coming to mind. While mistakes can help us learn, it can be awkward, uncomfortable, and challenging to acknowledge a mistake and “own it.” Recently in a conversation with a friend, I was somewhat sure of a specific fact on a subject we were discussing. The next day, I had to acknowledge to my friend they were right, and I was wrong!

Reflecting on my own experiences, I’ve come to realize that mistakes often arise from three contexts:

Gwinnett County Breaks Ground: Beaver Ruin Wetland Park

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff

County officials broke ground on the new Beaver Ruin Wetland Park in unincorporated Duluth last month. The project promotes sustainability and is a collaborative effort between Gwinnett Water Resources and Gwinnett Parks and Recreation.

Approaching an anticipated June completion, the first phase of this project has focused on restoring wetlands to preserve our local ecosystems. Over the last two years, efforts included stabilizing stream banks, enhancing habitats, removing invasive species, and introducing native vegetation. As one of the largest wetland areas of its kind in Gwinnett, stormwater from 4.5 square miles collects here, capturing runoff from Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Beaver Ruin Road, Buford Highway, and Old Norcross Road. The wetlands then naturally clean and filter the water before it returns to Sweetwater Creek and the Yellow River.

Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Hendrickson emphasized how these sustainable efforts will enhance the community. “Projects like this hold immense potential for improving the quality of life for our residents,” said Hendrickson. “The Beaver Ruin Wetland Park will serve as a catalyst for positive change, fostering sustainability and supporting our environment and communities today and for future generations.”

Beaver Ruin Wetland Park will provide recreational and educational opportunities. Spanning eighty-six acres of land, the park will include a variety of community spaces, including a state-of-the-art wildlife observation tower, an open play lawn, a covered picnic area, a restroom building, a 41-space parking lot and a playground equipped with swings, nature-inspired play elements, and climbers. The playground’s design repurposes an existing detention basin, enhancing opportunities for unstructured adventure play for children.

“Residents in District 1 will soon enjoy expanded access to leisure activities at Beaver Ruin Wetland Park to enhance their physical and mental well-being,” said District 1 Commissioner Kirkland Carden. “I’m proud that our county’s leadership continues to prioritize people with an ongoing commitment to providing quality services such as parks and the protection of wetlands.”

A 12-foot-wide concrete loop trail boardwalk will seamlessly integrate with the surrounding neighborhood. Additionally, the park will serve as a hub for environmental awareness with interactive exhibits and interpretive panels.

“Our goal is to achieve platinum-level certification from the Sustainable Sites Initiative, putting Beaver Ruin Wetland Park on course to set a new standard in environmental stewardship,” said Tina Fleming, director of the Department of Community Services. “If successful, it would be the first of its kind in Gwinnett County and among a select few nationwide to attain this prestigious certification post-construction.”

Gwinnett County is using $5 million from the 2017 SPLOST program to support the development of the park, $1.3 million from the Recreation Fund for the playground, $4 million for the boardwalk, and $4.5 million from the Watershed Improvement Program for the wetland restoration. Officials expect the new park to open in late 2025.

1. I have not listened to my gut or intuition. I made a misguided decision and it was a mistake.

2. I have mistaken stubbornness for grit and tenacity. This was a lesson I fondly refer to as “The $10,000 Mistake” I made early in my solopreneur career.

3. I have been too hasty and impatient. I’m in a rush or hurry and I don’t take time to just stop and think for a moment. This can either be when I’m writing something and reviewing it to make sure there are no mistakes, or if it’s thinking for a moment before taking a phone call.

However, the beauty of mistakes lies in the lessons they can impart. Acknowledging a mistake is the first step towards growth. From my perspective, I find that 9.9 times out of 10, I don’t repeat the same mistake. This margin accounts for the acknowledgment that perfection is unattainable, but learning is continuous. One of my Janeisms is “strive for consistent excellence not perfection.”

Mistakes provide us with valuable data about our emotions and responses to various situations. They are intricate details that shape our journey, offering insights into our strengths and areas that require more attention. By learning from our mistakes, we enhance our effectiveness as leaders. Remember, leadership is influence, and the better we lead ourselves, the greater the impact we have on those around us.

As you navigate through your day, consider recent mistakes you made. Acknowledge them, learn from them, and leverage them as a stepping stone toward becoming a more effective and influential leader. Embrace mistakes as a necessary part of your journey, for they are key to continuous learning and leadership development. Keep leading4ward!

More information at www.janebishoplive.com.

Community Spotlight: Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff

Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful’s Carmita Rivera was one of only twenty Gwinnett County applicants accepted to participate in the University of Georgia’s Cooperative Extension Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteer (MGEV) Program during the first quarter of 2024. After successfully completing forty-two hours of core horticultural training and two exams, the nonprofit’s Resources & Marketing Coordinator earned her Master Gardener Certification. MGEVs are trained volunteers with unique skills and abilities who share a love of plants and gardens and enthusiasm for learning. Rivera’s achievement is a testament to her passion and commitment to environmental sustainability, and she will use her new certification to enhance existing programs and events at Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful.

“Many people associate Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful with recycling events, litter cleanup programs, and education through our Green & Healthy Schools program,” said Schelly Marlatt, Executive Director of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful. “As a Keep America Beautiful affiliate, community beautification and sustainability are also core elements of our mission.

“Carmita’s new Master Gardener role will help us enhance our programs and events like Great Gwinnett Wetlands, the Preston C. Williams Gateway Park preservation project, and more,” Marlatt continued. “We also hope to share her expert advice with Gwinnett County residents through our monthly e-blast and social media posts, so be on the lookout for information about pollinator gardens, vegetable gardens, tree plantings, and more over the months to come. We’re excited to have a Master Gardener in our midst and know it will help our organization grow in exciting new directions.”

MGEVs share UGA Extension consumer horticulture programming about the selection and care of plants for ornamental value, recreation, and home food production. Master Gardeners teach community members how to use plants and gardening to improve their environment, personal health, and quality of life. By making this information readily available, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful hopes to empower the community to improve their own gardening practices and contribute to a more sustainable Gwinnett.

“I wanted to express my sincere gratitude to Lisa Klein and the UGA Extension team for providing the Master Gardener Class of 2024 this collaboration opportunity,” said Rivera. “Your commitment to extending knowledge and delivering research-based information while empowering individuals and communities is truly commendable. I am deeply impressed by the dedication and expertise exhibited by the UGA Extension team in serving the needs of Georgians. I am excited about the potential to work together and positively impact our community. I’d also like to share my heartfelt thanks for the unconditional support from my Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful team. It means a lot to me, and I genuinely appreciate it.”

More information at www.GwinnettCB.org.

One Man’s Opinion: It’s NEVER Too Late

By Bill Crane

Thankfully, it is now more than a dozen years in the rear view that I realized a series of poor choices that I was making related to alcohol. Then in the front end of middle age, I was interacting more with beer and booze like an aging frat boy than a father and businessman. The results of some of those bad decisions got my attention in a significant way, and I made some not-insignificant mid-life, mid-course corrections. In almost every way and every day, my life and world are better for the clarity that came from that sobriety.

As I surveyed the damage some of my choices in those years had caused, I researched and looked to the experts and followed the steps that had helped millions recover their lives and get back fully on a better path. This included a few readings of what is referred to in Alcoholics Anonymous and other recovery support organizations as “The Big Book.” The most helpful and illuminating chapters for me, which still ring true today, surround the simple fact that it is never too late to begin making good decisions, nor is it too late to begin/attempt to make amends and apologize to those who you hurt with your earlier bad choices.

I began my own personal apology tour with my first born child, who was very gracious in accepting my offerings and me taking responsibility for some hurtful words and actions which caused her pain. Then to other family, close friends, and more than I might care to admit prior broken relationships, in which my thinking fueled by alcohol, had been a major contributing factor to those relationships failing. And in all but one case, as I took responsibility for the majority of damage leading to my divorce, and a series of other failed relationships and broken friendships, the amends were accepted, and in most cases those relationships began to

Chameleon

Love Continued from page 13

self, it’s going to be very difficult for you to properly love someone else.”

We all know relationships can be hard, and many of us have heard that communication is key. Da’Von adds that a big part of communicating is also comprehending. He points out that often we listen to respond, not to understand. This is what causes the intent of our message to be misconstrued and is the root cause of misunderstandings. Da’Von adds that thinking about formatting a response while someone is still talking may cause us to miss key elements of what they’re saying, which can lead to an emotional response that can escalate the misunderstanding. Da’Von and Jennifer can offer techniques and strategies to help alleviate misunderstandings and lead to better and deeper relationships.

Through their own hardships, Da’Von and Jennifer now have a relationship that’s stronger than ever. It was after a lot of prayer and hard work that they now help others through Chameleon Love as Certified Relationship Coaches offering coaching services in Couples/Marriage Coaching, Family Relationship Coaching, Dating Coaching, Individual Coaching, Conflict Resolution Coaching, and Communication Skills Coaching. They have received an additional certification in Life Coaching as well.

After extensive research, the Heaths say they found the International Association of Professional Relationship Coaches and went through the six-to-eight-week online program.

“It was an amazing program,” Jennifer says. Heavy on topics like conflict resolution and effective listening, the program provided the foundation the two needed to take Chameleon Love from idea to practice. They held their first official live event in February 2023 in Atlanta and had a good turnout. “It was just a really good event,” Da’Von says. “As we were leaving people were asking us, ‘what’s next?’”

Da’Von says when they have individuals or couples come to them for help, they see each situation as unique, and they don’t look for a “one size fits all” resolution. “We tailor our sessions and conversations to what’s going on specifically in their [the clients’] lives,” Da’Von says.

In addition to coaching, the Heaths have a YouTube channel, are active in Gwinnett County schools speaking with the students about self-love and confidence, and they hold leadership meetings for staff members of after school camps and other programs. Currently, they are taking speaking engagement requests for local schools, businesses, and local universities and colleges.

Da’Von and Jennifer recently added Simply Passive, an offering to help others learn how to use their skills, gifts, and talents to create something that can be monetized for income. This helps keep people’s focus on the most important things, like home and family. “Home is the ultimate priority,” Da’Von says, “and we’re excited about looking for ways to help families.”

Da’Von is also a consultant and a best-selling author of the children’s book, This Brown Skin of Mine. Jennifer has a background in geriatrics and is dementia

heal or rebound, or in a few circumstances rekindle.

My father and I have had a difficult relationship since my own adolescence. I won’t go into the particulars, other than to say over the span of decades there has been a lot more head-butting than hugging. When we lost Shirl (a family pet name for Mom), coming up on two years ago, I recommitted to building a stronger bond with Dad, and though there have been bumps along the way, we both made this a focus, and the results have made those efforts worthwhile. It’s never too late. Dad is now 85, and until just over two months ago, he was living independently.

An ill-timed medical complication and fall, overlaid with the AT&T Mobility service outage, with Dad having an AT&T Mobile phone, resulted in a lengthy hospitalization, two significant surgeries, and having survived that, a long period of recovery and convalescence, under the dutiful and watchful care of my sister, Tanya, a skilled Nurse Practitioner, with our father now living with her family for the near to mid-term. Giving her some relief, I spent half a dozen overnights in that ICU with Dad, and since his return “home,” either a Saturday or Sunday each weekend, from mid-morning to early evening, tending to his needs, assisting with his medications and nutrition, etc.

These more extended visits with Dad, when I know he is convalescing, frustrated, and somewhat humbled by the dependence he is now experiencing versus eight decades of independence, have allowed him to open up, share, and even make inquiries of me that have not come since prior to my college years. This past Sunday, he asked about my current five-year life plan. Dad knows that I am a “planner,” but the last time he made a query like this one, I was 21 and just out of college. I had an answer, and I was pleased to see and hear his positive reaction, particularly given the apparent lack of interest for the interim two generations. Amends come in all shapes and sizes. Both parties simply need to want to make them. I’m very fortunate to have this opportunity with Dad, though I wish for him it was under more auspicious circumstances. Make and take the time for the people and family who matter to you. It is always easy to postpone difficult conversations until later. As my own mortality comes more recently into view, later may not always be there. Though as long as you wake up on the “right side” of the dirt, and you open your eyes under a clear blue sky...it’s never too late

Bill Crane owns the full-service communications firm CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com

certified. She also runs an online women’s group and is a swim instructor. Da’Von and Jennifer have made their home in Gwinnett with their three sons: Tyson, Ace, and Kano.

More information at www.chameleonlove.org or Stan.store/ChameleonLove.

Pet Perch:

By Terie Hansen

No, You Can’t Pet My Dog

Do you let random strangers come up to you or your child, get into your personal space, and touch you or your child? No, of course you don’t. Why? Because you don’t know them, because it would be uncomfortable, because it would make you feel nervous, anxious, or even scared. And because it’s just plain weird.

Well, it’s no different for your dogs. Having someone they don’t know approach them and come into their personal space, make direct eye contact, touch them, talk to them, etc., makes most dogs uncomfortable. You just don’t realize it because you don’t recognize subtle cues dogs exhibit to show their discomfort. Cues such as turning their head away, looking away, yawning, exposing their belly, or licking their lips are just a few of the cues they display. Furthermore, just because a dog is wagging its tail doesn’t mean it’s happy. Dogs wag their tails for many reasons, even right before they attack.

With repeated exposure to strangers your dog can become reactive (growling, barking, lunging, biting, etc). You may ask, “But what about the dog that is excited, looks happy, and pulls towards people?”

That dog can become reactive out of overarousal and excitement. Advocating for your dog (protecting your dog’s personal space), strengthens the bond of trust and helps your dog feel safe and secure. When around strangers, whether in your home or out in public, it’s as simple as not allowing people to interact with your dog.

If you feel awkward saying no, here are some polite ways you can respond when someone asks, “Can I pet your dog?”

“No, he’s in training, but thank you!”

“No thanks, he isn’t friendly.”

“No, my dog wouldn’t be comfortable with that.”

“No, not today, but thank you!”

Remember, you wouldn’t let strangers approach your children, let alone touch them! Speak up and advocate/protect your dog from entitled, albeit well-meaning strangers. It may save your dog from going down the road to reactivity.

Terie Hansen is Owner of Good Dog! Coaching & Pet Care. More information at www.gooddogcoaching.com.