MAR 2016: Our Town Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Monthly Magazine by Our Town Gwinnett Magazine

The Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Monthly Community and Family Magazine

Our Town

March 2016

Lawrenceville l Snellville l Lilburn l Stone Mountain

Meet Ronnie Cail of State Farm in Snellville, see story on page 5.

7 Brookwood High School Orchestra: Making Music at Carnegie Hall 12 Community Member Spotlight on Steve Ridley: An Upstanding Neighbor 14 Trickum Middle School Students: A Global DECA Challenge 15 Sports Talk: Youth Lacrosse Programs Continue to Grow in Gwinnett

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Our Town

On the Cover: Old-Fashioned Customer Service is the Focus of Ronnie Cail’s State Farm Office in Snellville By Heidi Campbell Ronnie Cail grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, and was no stranger to the world of insurance. At fourteen, he and his family moved to Tallahassee where he watched his father find success in the north Florida area as a district manager for State Farm. After graduating from Georgia Southern University, Cail returned to Tallahassee and spent four years working for the State of Florida Division of Finance before realizing that he truly had insurance in his blood. He was hired as a State Farm agent in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where he spent four years before moving to Snellville to open his own State Farm agency. “Growing my agency as Snellville has grown and developed,” beams Cail, “has been my privilege for the last thirty-five years!” His wife of forty-five years, Pat Cail, who Cail says is his “heart and his biggest supporter,” was eager to settle down in Snellville, as she felt it was the perfect place to raise their two daughters. The couple met while attending North Florida Jr. College, and went on to graduate from Georgia Southern University. Four days after their college graduation, the couple married. Cail recalls it was love at first sight for him. “I remember sitting with a friend on campus, and I saw Pat,” he reminisces. “I told my friend that she’d be going with me to the movies that weekend. That friend didn’t believe me. He laughed and said he’d pay for the tickets. And sure enough, that friend did pay for the tickets!” Cail is admittedly old fashioned in his business sense. He believes in greeting people with a smile as soon as they walk through the door as customer service is everything. He enjoys his role as a true representative for his clients, helping them through good times like buying houses, as well as the more trying times like filing claims. State Farm is, according to Cail, at the top of the list in service to their policyholders. In a time when many companies are cutting the agent out of the claims process, State Farm believes these agents are critical to the process. “We are here for our clients. We handle everything personally,” he explains. “You are not a number with us. You

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are family.” He also believes that the level of experience he has in his office truly sets him apart in the industry. Along with his four decades with State Farm, his office manager of twenty-nine years, Michelle Barry, has been in the business for thirty-five years, and his assistant manager of eight years, Wilma Reed, has spent seventeen years in the field. Cail’s expertise and success with his customers has made him not only a National Convention Qualifier and Millionaire Club Qualifier with State Farm, but a recipient of the esteemed Crystal Excellence Award as well, which requires twenty-five years as a Legion of Honor Qualifier. Cail’s long-time motto is “Let’s Compare. You’ll Be Glad You Did.” While a majority of his business comes from automobile and home insurance, he also offers health and life insurance, as well as financial products. He says, “A lot of people probably don’t realize that we also offer CDs and auto loans. We really have it all.” Cail truly looks out for his clients and their families. He remembers one client, a school teacher, who purchased a life insurance policy a few years back. She had no spouse or children, but was the caretaker for her mother. A year later, she was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Her dream was to take her mother and brother to Disney World, but she knew she couldn’t afford it. “We were able to secure a loan on her life insurance policy,” recalls Cail, “and she went on the trip and fulfilled that dream. It is so wonderful to be in a position where we can help people and Continued on page 16

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

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Contributing Writers Paul Ballard Kelly Farris Phil Mobley Pam Walker

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IN THIS ISSUE Ninja Warrior Obstacles

Parkour/Free Running/Tumbling TrainingCustomer Center Service is the Focus of Ronnie Old-Fashioned 5 On the Cover: Fitness

Cail’s State Farm Office in Snellville

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7 From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion 7 Brookwood High School Orchestra: Making Music at Carnegie Hall 8 Travel Tales: A Study of Oxford 9 Fitness Foundations: The Truth about Sustainability 10 One on One with PCS: Disciples Who Love Learning 11 Flashback Games Brings Welcomed Nostalgia to Date Nights, Family Night Outings, and Parties

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12 Community Member Spotlight on Steve Ridley: An Upstanding Neighbor 13 Chick-Fil-A Scenic Highway Snellville and the Community: Meet Tom

“Life is an Obstacle and No Obstacle is Too Big!!!”

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17 4 HOPE Brings Message of Healing and Health to Domestic Violence 18 Chaplain’s Corner: The Love of God

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Our Town

"Let's Be Glad You Did!"

From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion

“You’ll Be Glad You Did!” "Let's Be Glad

@RyanSauers

I hope you are off to a great March. Before long we will see signs of spring (hopefully no late winter storms) and warmer temperatures. Oh, yes, and Spring Break will be here soon. Are you ready? I am. As always, we have a number of local stories, written by our talented team of local feature and contributing writers, on local topics. These are stories that are covered virtually nowhere else and that provide you a break from our “constantly connected” world. Trust me. It would be easy to pull generic content off the internet, and much quicker to have others write and submit their own story. However, I find this lazy and old school, so you won’t see that here. We apply the best practices of marketing in 2016, and while it takes more time and effort, the final product is so much better. Also, let me thank you for your referrals and ever-growing support. We strive to improve each issue in both of our two monthly magazines in two ways. We never settle for less than the best and we focus on insightful local community and family content. This demands a great team, and I promise you, we are one that never becomes complacent. We are never satisfied and know there is always room to improve. This is our goal each month. And we have so much further we can go. Stay tuned. Our Town’s overall readership continues to grow each month. We mail a high quantity of copies (yes, lots of postage) to select homes, distribute additional thousands of copies in our display shelves, publish a heavily-read online version (OurTownGwinnettOnline.com), and stay connected with you through digital media all month (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and more). Our goal is not to be limited to ink and paper but to have a constantly connected audience each day of the month. Raving fans are what we strive for in all that we do. There is no place for anything less than an A+. It is fun to see so many “competitors” try to duplicate what Our Town is doing. It is makes me smile and it is the ultimate compliment that we are doing things the right way. I never worry as people can “copy our ideas,” but they can never “replicate our DNA.” Our magazine is mailed to so many homes (for free), so I ask that you support our advertising partners who invest in, believe in, and support this community. Please consider where you spend your money and choose an Our Town partner. These are organizations you can trust, and we are quite selective of who we partner with. We turn many advertisers down if they do not fit our core values and beliefs. We have a brand to uphold, and we are not interested in simply filling ad space. Every ad and each story must be one that you, our valued readers, want to know more about. We are excited about the future, ready for warmth, and know our best days are ahead. We have an appreciation of the past, a dedication to the present, AND a clear vison for the future of Our Town. We are excited to be on this journey with you. So, again, stay connected, and have a great month. And as always: this is my town, your town, Our Town!

Brookwood High School Orchestra: Making Music at Carnegie Hall

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By Kim Hill The selection board of the 2016 High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall processed over 18,000 nominations, selecting almost 750 talented students worldwide to perform in the 125th anniversary season. Three outstanding Brookwood High School orchestra students were chosen for this elite group: Evan Butterworth, cello; Ruby Lee, violin; and Eunice Choi, violin. The event took place on February 7th, with the students enjoying a 5-day stay in New York City that focused on performance preparation as well as experiencing the sights and shows of the city. After being nominated by their teacher, Dr. Cathie Hudnall, the students had to submit an application and an audition recording for review by the Honors Selection Board. Ruby says making the recording was very stressful for her because it took a long time to make and she was using her iPhone to record it. “I was so scared just doing the recording,” she says. “But when I got the results, I was so happy. It was all worth it.” Of the experience, Evan says, “You hear this name, Carnegie Hall, and it’s a big deal to anybody who’s a musician; but you really don’t know until you play there. For example, before our performance, we did a fifteen minute sound check. Our piece starts out with everyone in the orchestra in sync playing four quarter notes, and so we played those, and the last quarter note, it Continued on page 20

Our Town

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

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PAGE 7

Better Grades, Better Scores… BETTER STUDENT!

Maximize your test scores and grades at Total Learning Concepts, where students’ needs and goals are our top priority! For 30 years, our experienced and professional instructors have been helping Gwinnett students reach their maximum potential. We provide customized instruction for every student we teach – offering academic support and test preparation for learners of all ages, grades and ability levels. Our team is available afternoons, evenings and weekends to meet your student’s busy schedule.

Travel Tales: A Study of Oxford By Pam Walker Oxford University has such a dignified connotation. Around 1096 the school was founded by a group of English scholars and today is the oldest university in the world. When Henry II banned English students from studying in France in 1167, he never realized that one day, from these humble beginnings, a small city in England would end up with a total of 38 colleges – all named Oxford University. Most of the colleges are closed to visitors, but you may be lucky to meet an Oxford Fellow (graduate), who will bless you with some spectacular sites for each college. Most colleges are constructed around a big quadrangle of grass. But beware. Stepping on the grass can send you to jail. Inside each quadrangle are student rooms, dining halls (most looking like Hogwarts of Harry Potter fame), and impressive chapels with their historic depictions of various scenes from Bible history. Portraits of England’s kings and queens are also hung reverently throughout the university. There are also many libraries that are available to students and some to the public, but no books are allowed to be checked out, ever. All books, both new and ancient, must be taken from the stacks, used, and returned the same day. There are deep tunnels under the buildings that house books dating back to the time of Elizabeth I. Outside of the college is a fun town of pubs and shops filled with students and visitors alike. To find a table at a pub any time of day takes luck! There is also a covered market, quaint old hotels, and much more. Oxford is a true gem of the English countryside and a great place to absorb the modern and historic culture of the United Kingdom! Day tours are available from London. Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant. More information atpam@walkeradventures.com

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Our Town

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Fitness Foundations: The Truth about Sustainability By Kelly Farris, ACSM CPT These days, when you hear the word “sustainability” you probably think of the environment first. However, let’s talk about sustainability where your fitness, health, and well-being are concerned. Sustainability is the ability to continue a defined behavior indefinitely. Being active and healthy should, optimally speaking, be a lifestyle. It should be second nature and an integral part of your day to day life. Changing our patterned behavior takes effort and dedication. You have to practice something repeatedly for it to become routine. Often the case isn’t so much that we are trying to add a new positive habit, but that we are trying to “unlearn” a bad one. Once the idea of exercise, weight-loss, or diet alterations is realized, we assume the journey is going to be painful and we want to get it over with as quickly as possible. It is simply human nature. This sets us up for repeated attempts and failures. We start looking for short cuts and miracles. For some reason we do not want to accept the truth that true change = effort + time. We want to believe what the ads tell us about the newest quick fix. But let’s say you try it, and that it shows you results. What is your contingency plan for when your hyper restrictive diet comes to an end? Or you stop taking the miracle pill? What are you going to do for the rest of your long life? Try to find healthy habits that you can sustain – things that work for you. The basic tenets might be boring, but they are true. Have a healthy relationship with food. Get enough sleep. Move your body. The world of fitness has something for everyone. Find what you love to do and take care of your health so you can keep doing it for as long as possible. Healthy living is never done. Healthy living is a lifelong endeavor. C

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PAGE 9

One on One with PCS: Disciples Who Love Learning By Phil Mobley

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Parkview Christian School (PCS) is no stranger to achievement. Second graders can point out a Monet in a magazine or recognize Mozart from the sound system Boxing combines cardio, balance + strength in a waiting room, and in the past two to-ALL give you big benefits just 30 minutes. years the middle school has produced four -NEW -BOXING OUROUR ALL NEW OUR ALL BOXING NEW CLASS BOXING CLASS ISCLASS HERE. CLASS ISinHERE. * IS HERE. -NEW ALL BOXING IS HERE. -NEW winners of the Daughters of the American -NEWCLASS OUR ALLOUR BOXING IS HERE. OUR ALL BOXING CLASS ** IS HERE. -NEW OUR ALL BOXING HERE. your core Revolution American History Essay Contest. Achievement also demonstrates itself in the thorTone your entire body Engage multiple musclesCLASS at once * IS Strengthen -NEW OUR ALLcardio, BOXING IS+HERE. Boxing Boxing combines Boxing combines combines cardio, balance cardio, balance +CLASS strength balance + strength strength oughly Christian approach. 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Tonebody your entire body Engage multiple at once Strengthen your core Tone your entire Engage multiple muscles at oncemuscles Strengthen core ment.” But this would miss the true purpose of PCS. “We are primarily about making disciples * to give you big benefits in just 30 minutes. Tone your entire body Engage multiple muscles at once Strengthen your core Our classes range from low to high intensity,which Tone yourfor entire of Jesus Christ,” explains Cindy Nation, principal at PCS. “The Bible tells us to love God with all means there’s always a program that works you.body Engage multiple muscles at once Strengthen your core Tone your entire body Engage multiple muscles at once Strengthen your core our heart, soul, mind, and strength,” she continues. “Loving God with the mind includes training OurNEW classes Our classes rangeOur from range classes lowfrom to high range lowintensity,which to from highlow intensity,which to high intensity,which CLASS it and using it as He designed it, and that’s how we view education.” means there’s means always there’s means aalways program there’s afrom program always that works ato that program forworks you. that for you. works for you. Our classes range from low to high intensity,which Our classes range low high intensity,which Boxing means there’s a program that works you. Ouralways classes range from low to for high intensity,which means there’s always a program that works for you. The word integration aptly describes the way PCS functions. Students read great literature and means there’s always a program that works for you. Our classes from low to high intensity,which † Boxing Boxing range Boxing study science, math, and the arts, all while learning about historical context in which great disOur classes range from low to high intensity,which means there’s always a program that works for you. Boxing † † † Bodymeans Balance Boxing there’s always a program that works for you. coveries were made in these fields. There is plenty of time devoted to music, drama, and physical Try3Try 3classes classes 3Try classes 3 FREE. classes FREE. FREE. FREE. Boxing † Body Balance Body Balance Body Balance † Try Boxing education. 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It is not uncommon to find middle Dance and Tone CurvesCurves Circuit Circuit with Curves Jillian with Circuit Michaels Jillian with Michaels Jillian Michaels Curves Curves .com Curves .com .com Snellville, GA 30078 678.344.0200 Curves Circuit withand Jillian Michaels Dance Tone Curves .com schoolers playing with their kindergartener prayer partners at recess. They thus participate in disCurves Circuit with Jillian Michaels 678.344.0200 Curves .com Dance and Tone Curves Circuit with Jillian Michaels Curves .com cipling others while they themselves are being discipled. “The way the kids care for each other is Curves Circuit with Jillian Michaels Curves.com Curves Circuit with Jillian Michaels Curves.com really sweet,” Nation says. “So many relationships from PCS have lasted for decades.” *At participating locations only. Curves Circuit with Jillian Michaels Curves.com More information at www.parkviewchristian.com † Limit three free classes per person at participating locations only. 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Flashback Games Brings Welcomed Nostalgia to Date Nights, Family Night Outings, and Parties

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By Macrae Brennan-Fuller Looking to teach your significant other or children the pattern to Pac-Man? Interested in reliving your glory days in the 70s and 80s playing Donkey Kong or Space Invaders? The owners of Flashback Games invite you to take a short trip down the road and back in time to enjoy your retro game fix. Just two years ago, Flashback Games, a retro arcade and grill, relocated to Loganville after outgrowing its Athens. Co-owners William Geiger and Roger Ozbolt continue to enjoy sharing their passion for the retro world of gaming with their patrons. “Flashback Games draws people from near and far to Loganville to come play the classic games,” Geiger said. “Many people have said they are happy Loganville has such a unique attraction that appeals to the young and old alike.” The arcade provides numerous options for new and experienced gamers, including more than fifty original game cabinets that Ozbolt and Geiger fully restored. All of the old favorites, such as Donkey Kong, Galaga, Pac-Man, and Space Invaders, among many others, live on at Flashback Games. The place also features seven cabinets that serve as “Multicades,” which offer more than 950 games on one single gaming machine. A full list of games is available at www.flashbackgames. org/game-list. Gamers of all ages are encouraged to continue their travel through time into the console area, where they will find a selection of six old-school home gaming systems that offer several hundred retro games. Patrons can also enjoy pinball and air hockey in separate corners of the area. Although many of the games found there bring patrons back to the exciting 1980s, the retro arcade also includes modern touches such as a jukebox that the owners converted into a full karaoke machine. Hungry and thirsty gamers can also enjoy a variety of food and drink, including burgers, chicken tenders, hot dogs, nachos, wings, and soda and beer. Gamers can also take advantage of the $14.99 Eat and Play Combo, where they receive one entrée or two snacks and access to the arcade and consoles. One-month memberships with full access to the arcade and consoles are available to patrons for $49, and annual memberships are $249. Gamers can also drop in and pay an entry fee that covers unlimited access to the arcade games and the consoles. “The Eat and Play combo is certainly one of the best entertainment values around. Where else can you get all-day entertainment and get fed for $14.99 a person?” Geiger said. “Monthly and yearly passes are equally great values for the gamer who loves to be in the arcade twice or more a week.” The arcade is also available to host parties, and features a lounge with plenty of places to sit, relax, and strategize for your next gaming adventure.

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Steve Ridley holds many titles – husband, father, trusted advisor, board member, and mentor – but he is most currently known around Gwinnett with another title, Minister of Community Outreach. For the past sixteen years, Ridley has worked at Cannon United Methodist Church, thirteen spent as the Youth Minister and three as the Young Adult and Community Outreach Leader. Ridley admitted that when he transitioned into his new role as the Minister of Community 1983 Main Street East (Hwy. 78) Outreach three years ago, his focus greatly shifted. “As a youth minister, I spent most of my time at the church investing in the lives of the students and parents who were part of our congregation,” he Snellville, GA 30078 said. “As a community outreach minister, it is quite different. It is much more about empowering and facilitating our church to see its primary role as serving others in our community.” Tom Elliott, Cannon’s previous pastor, is the one credited with creating Ridley’s new role. He had Over 700 Garden Roses Familytreegardening.com a vision to see Cannon focus more on being the church in the community rather than trying to get including NEW Varieties the community to come to the church. As a part of that vision, Elliot realized the church needed to staff a new position accordingly and invited Ridley to come into the new role. But what does a Community Outreach Minister do? Ridley confessed he didn’t have a clue when he first started. However, from the beginning, Blair and Will Zant, Cannon’s current pastors, have helped Ridley shape the Community Outreach role into what it is today. Once he settled into his new position, Ridley decided to visit and meet with all the principals of the surrounding schools to begin building those connections and fostering relationships with others. Ridley believes, as any community member should, that the community rises and falls with its schools, so he knew and understood the importance of making those connections and building eeping teens and the roadways safe those first relationships. At first, he confessed, it was difficult to describe his role at church to those who asked, but now it’s second nature. “If you have an issue at your house and need to rely on your neighbor to watch your kids for a while or take care of your pets while you’re away, there are some neighbors you would trust to do so and others you wouldn’t,” Ridley said. “All we want to do is be one of those neighbors you would trust. We want the people in our community to know that when there’s a need, they can call on Cannon to help them.” In 1993, Ridley and his new bride, Eleanor, decided to settle in Gwinnett and build their home in the Brookwood district. As their family grew, the couple became more involved in the community. While Ridley became a Boy Scout leader, head of the River Oak swim team, and mentor for 8th grade boys at Crews Middle school, Eleanor continued to pursue her passion for teaching, moving Continued on page 17 • Catholic Values • Financial Aid • Catholic Values • Financial Aid • Community Service • Extended Day • Program Community Service • Extended Day Program • Catholic Values • Financial Aid • Family Involvement • Blue Ribbon School of Involvement Excellence• Community • Family • Blue Ribbon School of Excellence Service • Extended Day Program • Family Involvement • Blue Ribbon School of Excellence

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By Michelle Watson Tom Balsamides is the owner-operator of Chick-fil-A on Scenic Highway in Snellville. He has been an employee since getting his first job at the Chick-fil-A in North DeKalb Mall in 1977. After moving from crew member to manager, Balsamides became an owner, and has owned a Chick-fil-A for the past twenty-eight years. When asked what was his favorite thing about his job, Balsamides waved his hand across the table and said, “This. Relationship.” Having been an owner of a few Chick-fil-As in the area, Balsamides says he has been part of a great community, one that he calls the best in the world. He says Snellville is such a great place because of its people, and that Snellville, Lilburn, Stone Mountain, Grayson, and other surrounding towns are all connected because of the people. And they are people he knows well. Not only is he part of a corporation that is known for supporting the community, he is a member of a local church also known for its connection to and outreach in the community. Balsamides is truly humbled at the thought of being part of the great legacy left behind by Truett Cathy. He was part of the generation that was mentored by Cathy, riding in his car, and meeting with him personally. Balsamides quoted Cathy as saying, “‘People get it wrong. We are not in the chicken business; we are in the people business.’” These words of wisdom Balsamides takes to heart as he prays each morning, “Lord, let me be the man who inspires people.” You won’t see much of a difference from one Chick-fil-A to another, something Balsamides is proud to say as he tries to consistently uphold the standard customers have come to expect from all Chick-fil-A stores. But he does hope that something about the Chick-fil-A on Scenic Highway will give you that “wow factor” that will keep you coming back to whichever store you may patronize. More information at http://www.cfarestaurant.com/scenichighway/home

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Trickum Middle School Students: A Global DECA Challenge By Kim Hill DECA Idea Challenge 2015, an event of Global Entrepreneurship Week, received submissions from over 2,230 teams representing some 8,456 students from around the world. When the Global finalists were announced in January, three local youngsters put Lilburn, GA on the map. Julian Ashby, Charlie Ashby, and Andrew Marshall, who attended Knight Elementary and are currently students at Trickum Middle School (TMS) and members of the Parkview DECA chapter, comprised one of five teams selected in the Elementary/Middle School Category, and the only team in that age group representing the United States. The competition encourages elementary through college-aged students to devise a new use for a commonplace item, in this case a cardboard box, and then create a 3-minute YouTube video to present their idea. The timeline was eight short days. With scissors, glue, and aluminum foil, the imaginative team developed the Run-off Planter Box, an innovation that conserves water that runs off when plants are watered. DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) is an organization that fosters the development of emerging leaders and entrepreneurs at college and high school levels. The Parkview DECA chapter began holding middle school meetings a couple of years ago when Julian Ashby was in 6th grade. He joined immediately and entered his first DECA competition the following year, earning a trip to the international competition in Orlando where he was a top 20 finalist. Inspired by his older brother’s success, Charlie Ashby joined this year, and Andrew Marshall also plans to join following this rewarding experience. TMS teacher Sheila Haynes is the group’s sponsor. The Idea Challenge was presented as an activity at the November meeting, giving small groups about twenty minutes to brain-storm uses for a cardboard box. Charlie suggested a greenhouse. Julian and Andrew liked Charlie’s eco-friendly idea; then Julian thought of a planter box with an irrigation system. The boys began drawing up different models until they settled on one they felt they could build, and decided to enter the competition. The day the finalists were to be posted on the DECA Direct website, the boys checked the site often throughout the day. When Julian and Charlie finally saw their names listed in the finalists, they called Andrew, who had not yet seen the results. The brothers momentarily withheld their excitement to keep Andrew in suspense; then he spied their picture among the finalists and realized they had made it. “Do your best and try to figure out the best idea and stick with it,” says Andrew to would-be competitors. Charlie adds, “We didn’t really think we would go far in the competition, but we came up with a pretty good idea, I think, and that’s how we got there. It doesn’t have to be that smart of an idea; don’t think about it too much.” “The three of us really worked together, and changed it a lot, and collaborated,” explains Julian. He advises, “Listen to other people’s ideas and try to work together to make a product. We really didn’t think it would be the winning idea, but we thought, hey, it will be fun to make the video. We might as well try. So try, don’t just stop because you don’t think you that you’ll make it. Try!” Watch the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiIyQZ1xu_s

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Sports Talk: Youth Lacrosse Programs Continue to Grow in Gwinnett County By Heidi Campbell Fast breaking, cradling, cutting, double teaming, and slashing are just a few of the actions spectators will see when they watch the exciting sport of lacrosse which is spreading in popularity throughout the Southeast. In fact, youth lacrosse in Gwinnett County has exploded, and county parks have added the sport to their recreational options. In 2008, the rapidly growing lacrosse programs were in need of governance, and the Gwinnett Lacrosse League (GLL) was founded in order to bring a safe, organized recreational league to the players in the county. This league, which is one of only eighteen US Lacrosse Gold Stick leagues, helps prepare kids to play in their respective high schools. They currently serve twelve associations: Archer, Brookwood, Buford, Collins Hill, Duluth, Greater Atlanta Christian, Grayson, Mill Creek, Mountain View, Oconee, Parkview, and Peachtree Ridge. All associations in the league must agree to abide by the rules and by-laws set forth by the GLL, which is run by an executive board that includes President Bob Lombardo, Vice President Scott Hall, Treasurer and Rules Coordinator Henry Autler, and Girls Director Andrea Braun. The Board members are volunteers who work hard to make the league run smoothly. “We [the GLL] maintain the website, produce the nine-division schedule, organize the certified refs; we put on coaches’ clinics, and we are the governing body who makes sure that the rules and regulations are followed,” explains Lombardo. “We oversee the team drafts so there are no shenanigans or stacking teams. Our mission is to create a safe, fun environment for the players.” The largest program in the league is the Mill Creek Association, with close to 270 kids making up ten boys teams and five girls teams. According to Dan Blake, the league’s youth director, the program, which has grown between 5-10% in the last two years, is lucky to have dedicated volunteer coaches who have, for the most part, played lacrosse themselves. The association not

only has great participation, but in the last two seasons they have been represented in more than half of the championship games in the GLL. Blake sees their high numbers as a sign of people wanting to try something new. “When kids see lacrosse being played, they want to know what it is about,” says Blake. “Once the parents see how much fun it is for the kids, they want to learn about the sport. We involve those parents in practices and camps to improve their knowledge as well.” Another program that has seen tremendous growth is the Parkview program, which has 113 players this season, filling three girls teams and four boys teams. Although there is no designated field at Mountain Park (practices are held at Parkview High School), the program is flourishing. Scott Bunson, the director of their Youth Lacrosse Association, has helped build the program for the last six years. “We distribute school fliers, keep a presence on social media, and use word of mouth,” explains Bunson. “We are fortunate to have a very dedicated and loyal core group of parents of younger players in grades 2-5 who do a great job getting the word out about our program. These players are the lifeblood of the future of our program.” Lacrosse, which was played by Native Americans as far back as the seventeenth century, has finally infiltrated Gwinnett County. The GLL has set up a well-respected league, where coaches receive training and referees are certified through US Lacrosse. Bunson explains that although it can be a tough and physical sport, a huge emphasis is placed on coaches to make sure players act in a way that brings honor to the sport. Sportsmanship is everything. “Lacrosse may be the only sport that features a handshake between opposing teams prior to and after a game,” explains Bunson, “and players from opposing teams are friends on and off of the field.” More information at http://gwinnettlacrosseleague.com

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see them smile.” Supporting the community is important to Cail. He supports the local law enforcement initiative that creates a drug education magazine given to local schools. He also works with local real estate agents to educate new homebuyers about the world of insurance. He volunteers as a speaker to high school business classes, and he supports the athletic programs at Brookwood, South Gwinnett, Grayson, and Shiloh high schools. “When my policy holders bring in their children looking for fundraising support,” he says, “I love to see their smiles when I say yes.” Ronnie Cail is a friendly, charismatic individual with a knack for the unique. For twenty-four years, Cail has spent weekends sharpening his passion for shooting sporting clays. He not only holds the 2015 National Title, but is also a 24-time All American Team Member. He enjoys yoga with his wife who runs a yoga studio out of their Snellville home, and he cherishes time with his two daughters and five grandchildren. “My daughters are beautiful,” Cail says with a smile. “They got their looks and brains from their mother. I tell folks, ‘Marry way over your head so your kids come out okay. It worked for me!’” More info at: https://www.facebook.com/RonnieCailAgency/

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4 HOPE Brings Message of Healing and Health to Domestic Violence By Kim Hill The statistics are frightening: one in four women will be victims of domestic violence (DV), and 1,300 victims die each year, according to Allstate Foundation’s Click to Empower website. Not all DV victims suffer physical abuse, however. Many undergo a less recognized and perhaps less understood form of domestic abuse that 4 HOPE – Out of Domestic Violence founder, Angie Cushwa, wishes to bring to light: non-physical domestic violence (NP DV). A former victim herself and a writer, Ms. Cushwa started 4 HOPE with the intention of raising awareness of this form of domestic violence by sharing her story and partnering with other victims who are willing to come forward and share their experiences. This collection of stories will be published in a book with the main intent of reaching those still in the clutches of NP DV and to offer them the courage and inspiration they need to leave, while also serving to educate society at large. As the 4 HOPE website explains, the most common non-physical occurrences involve economic abuse, in which the abuser controls finances to the extent that the victim has little or no access to shared money and feels powerless to leave. Cyberstalking is a means of monitoring texts, email, internet searches, etc. to keep constant tabs on the victim. With gaslighting, the abuser systematically presents false information that, over time, causes the victim to doubt her own perception and judgment. Extreme cases can render a victim suicidal. Verbal and emotional/mental abuses are other means of degrading the victim. Victims often live in denial as there is little or no physical violence. Ms. Cushwa feels the stories will help victims “identify what they can’t see because they’re living in it.” When describing her story, Ms. Cushwa states, “I tell the raw, black truth because you can’t help people get to their pain (otherwise). I’m doing an original work that is going to make a difference.” She is soliciting stories from women who have walked this journey; stories that will contain awareness and wisdom. “In partnership we can bring their story to life, to help other women.” Continued on page 21

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to Crews Middle School where she has taught 6th or 7th grade social studies for the last fifteen years. Ridley himself is a member of the Brookwood Schools Foundation, which raises money for the seven schools in the Brookwood cluster, and a volunteer car-door opener in the car-rider lane at RD Head Elementary. He is surprised by how many people he has met and how many other community connections these programs and opportunities have led to. It has served as a great reminder to him that getting involved and volunteering, even in small ways, can lead to great things. As a proud parent of two boys who attend Brookwood High School and are heavily involved in academics and athletics, Ridley credits his wife and sons with the skills he has learned over the last three years in his role as Community Outreach Minister. “Being involved in each of these places has given me the opportunity to connect with new folks, new people, and new students,” Ridley said. “For me, there is something invigorating and fulfilling about serving. When you give of yourself and contribute to something beyond yourself, there is something motivating about that, and being able to have the opportunity to actively live out my faith as a career is exciting!” More information at www.cannonchurch.org.

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Chaplain’s Corner: The Love of God By Pastor Paul Ballard J.A. Medders in his insightful book Gospel Formed tells the following story: “My sweet husband, John, and I were married for 46 years. Each Valentine’s Day, he’d send me the most beautiful flowers containing a note with five simple words: ‘My love for you grows.’ Four children, 46 bouquets and a lifetime of love were his legacy to me when he passed away two years ago. On my first Valentine’s Day alone, 10 months after I lost him, I was shocked to receive a gorgeous bouquet addressed to me...from John. Angry and heartbroken I called the florist to say there had been a mistake. The florist replied, ‘No, ma’am, it’s not a mistake. Before he passed away, your husband prepaid for many years and asked us to guarantee that you’d continue getting bouquets every Valentine’s Day.’ With my heart in my throat, I hung up the phone and read the attached card. It said, ‘My love for you is eternal.’”* Every Valentine’s Day, Sue is reminded of her husband’s great love for her. Today, the gospel of Jesus Christ stands as God’s bouquet of love for you. It is not wrapped in plastic, but in flesh. There are no red roses, only red blood. There is no vase, only a cross. The words written on the cross declare, “My love for you is eternal.” Today, know that you are greatly loved by your Father. The greatest summary of God’s love for the world is found in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Our response to this vast and endless love must be to bow before our King and say, “How can I serve you?” Our response to His love must be our love. For more info visit Mountain Park First Baptist Church at: www.mpfbc.org * Taken from Gospel Formed © Copyright 2014 by J.A. Medders. Published by Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, MI. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.

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Total Learning Concepts In Lilburn Prepares Students for the NEW SAT

otal Learning Concepts, a professional tutorial and test preparation center in Lilburn, has begun conducting preparation classes for the newly redesigned and reformatted SAT! The new SAT is aligned with the Common Core Curriculum. There are two sections: the evidence based reading and writing section consisting of reading comprehension passages and writing passages, and the math section consisting of pre-algebra through basic trigonometry. Both reading and writing passages now include science questions. The essay is now 50 minutes and optional in which students must analyze a passage and evaluate the author’s reasoning and rhetoric. The math section consists of a “calculator prohibited” section along with a “calculator allowed” section. There are 13 free response math grid-in questions. Total Learning Concepts offers students in the community a combined SAT and ACT Preparation course, which is an 11-week/34-hour curriculum, with additional at-home practice exercises

required. Total Learning Concepts’ course is taught by degreed and professional adult instructors, not by college students, and is taught at their center, rather than at the students’ school. Their instructors and professional center provide students with the highest caliber of teaching and coaching and the ideal learning environment for these most important tests in the college admissions process. Total Learning Concepts has a 30-year proven record of success enabling students to reach their college and career goals by improving SAT scores an average of 300 points and ACT composite score an average of 4 points. For details on their combined SAT and ACT preparation course, contact them at 770-381-5958 or visit their website, www. totallearningconcepts.com Total Learning Concepts is currently offering FREE full-length practice tests for either the SAT or ACT, whichever the student selects. When contacting the center, ask for dates from which you can choose.

Brookwood HS Orchestra

Continued from page 7

just rang, for five or six seconds. Everyone was just astounded.” Ruby adds, “Playing at Carnegie Hall was amazing for me, too. The hall is designed so that the whole crowd is around you, and you can see everything, and you can hear everything. But what happened before Carnegie Hall was equally amazing because I worked with so many amazing people around me. Everyone was so into the music and the conductor was awesome, too. I learned so much.” Evan agrees. “The quality of musicianship that was there – I have never been in an orchestra where every single person has put in 100% of their effort and time and cared so much.” Dr. Hudnall and fellow teacher Philip Reesman attended the Sunday event. “From the audience, all the groups that performed sounded phenomenal!” says Reesman. Dr. Hudnall concurs. “The performance was fantastic,” he said. “There were three performances that night, and they [the students] were in two different orchestras, but both orchestras were fantastic. It was so exciting, and they seemed to feel like it was life changing.” Evan and Ruby, who both started playing piano at an early age and then developed their love of their respective instruments in middle school, plan to keep music a part of their lives through college and beyond. Evan currently teaches cello to middle school students. He wants to continue teaching, to play gigs, and to join a community or professional orchestra. “I definitely want to keep it in my life.” ”When I grow up, no matter how busy I am,” says Ruby, “I am going to make time for music. It brightens up your day, whatever mood you’re in – when you play or when you listen even, it gets you feeling so bright. Music is awesome!”

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4 HOPE

Continued from page 17

She seeks funding for the project as well, and donations can be made through a GoFundMe page where donors can remain anonymous if they wish. “It is a sensitive topic and I understand that people may prefer anonymity when donating to this important cause,” Ms. Cushwa says. “I’m just trusting God to bless it.” Ms. Cushwa wants this to be a well-known and utilized book, a resource that could be found in the offices of doctors and counselors, as well as in battered women’s shelters. The end result will feature about ten unique stories showing how each woman found her path out: what they did and how they did it. “When you are living in domestic violence, there is a strength that allows you to endure that every day. That’s what I understand from being on the other side of it. That’s the message that I want the women to get who are trying to leave…Use your strength that you don’t really realize and think you have. It’s in you and it’s formidable. Tap and re-channel it to get to safety and health.” More information at 4hopeoutofdv.wix.com/4hopeoutofdv or call the National Domestic Hotline at 800-799-7233

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Lilburn