MAR 2016: Our Town Gwinnett/Walton Monthly Magazine

The Gwinnett/Walton Community and Family Magazine

Our Town

March 2016

Grayson l Loganville and surrounding areas

Meet the team at Kathy Coots Realty see story on page 5.

7 9 12 14

One on One with Covenant Counseling: Making a Difference in Gwinnett Community Organization Profile: Helping Mamas Community Business Spotlight: Meet Cook’s Pest Control Sports Talk with Coach Chris Hays: Archer High School Baseball

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PAGE 2

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Our Town

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PAGE 3

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Our Town

On the Cover: Kathy Coots: Gwinnett’s Hometown Realtor

By Rachael Brice After twenty-two years in the mortgage business, Kathy Coots yearned for something more. In 2006, Coots decided to accompany a friend who was house hunting, and all of a sudden sparks began to fly. It was then that Coots knew what her next calling was: to be a real estate agent. The natural progression for Coots to become a real estate agent was fairly simple, and now ten years later she knows her decision was the right one.

Even though Coots started as an agent when the market was spiraling out of control, she still counts herself lucky. Not knowing a good market, she decided to start working, and quickly began to discover what worked and what didn’t.

Coots, a graduate from Stone Mountain High School, lived in Florida and South Carolina before transferring back to Georgia in 1995. She settled in Lawrenceville where she feels most at home because of everything Gwinnett has to offer: great schools, convenient shopping/dining, entertainment/sports venues, and easy access to almost everything.

According to 2015 MLS stats, there were 5,993 agents who transacted business in Gwinnett, and Coots is proud to be #4 in the county. An agent for Keller Williams, Coots is happy to have such a wonderful parent company backing her and her team. Not only

does she receive support and coverage, since stated that the average and median sales prices liability is huge in the industry, Coots can for eleven metro Atlanta counties continue attend Keller Williams hosted conventions to outpace 2015 figures. Demand also saw where she can learn about new rules and regua 3.3 percent jump from 2015 while supply lations as well as network and attend breakout dropped 3.8 percent from January 2015. and training sessions to help take her business Finding inventory for buyers is one of to the next level.

Coots’ biggest challenges right now. Since Coots also believes in providing outstandhomes are being sold so quickly and can go ing customer service and excellent communiunder contract within hours of being listed, cation for all of the clients she and her team she has a pool of buyers with no homes to buy. serve. Both Coots and her husband have Even though her job presents challenges, worked together as full-time business partners Coots admits she truly loves what she does. the past two years and strive to ask the right She said her daughter even likes to joke with questions to meet their clients’ needs. Along her and says it’s a good thing she loves her job with an executive assistant and part-time because she never turns off. assistant, a part-time marketing assistant, and “I don’t really look at this like a job,” she another husband and wife buyer team, the said. “When I take on a client, they become Coots team is always busy. very important to me, and it’s my responsibilOn average, Coots and her team can put ity to serve them to the best of my ability. a house under contract in forty-three days, Whether a client is looking to buy their very closing 112 transactions in 2015, includfirst home or sell their fifteenth, I enjoy helplook back and see substantial growth.” ing seventy-three listings all of which sold ing each of my clients reach their real estate Outside of real estate, Coots stays busy at just below 95 percent of the listing price. goals.” with her family and the Snellville community.

Normally, Coots carries over eight to fifteen It’s hard to believe that in 2006 Coots only A member of the Brookwood High School listings into a new year, but 2016 has proved closed two transactions, and now ten years PTSA and an HOA board member for her to be different as only three listings were carlater, she closed 112 in 2015. She has seen the neighborhood, Coots enjoys staying involved. ried over from last year. This means in 2015 market grow every year and realizes just how If you’re looking to buy or sell your home, Coots and her team sold 93 percent of all blessed she and her team are. give Kathy a call at (770) 654-8972. She offers homes they took in.

“The real estate business is about building free consultations and recently received her “This just goes to show we are truly shifting relationships,” she said. “Even though each certified staging professional certificate. to a seller’s market,” Coots said. year brings its new challenges, and you never Catholic • Financial know Aid • what’s In fact, •the AtlantaValues Business Chronicle Catholic Values going to happen, it’s• incredible Financialto Aid More information at www.kathycoots.com • 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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I work with buyers, sellers and renters. I’ve developed relationships throughout Gwinnett, Walton, Fulton and Dekalb in my 6 years as a real estate agent.

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Our Town

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PAGE 5

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Our Town The Gwinnett/Walton Community and Family M agazine

— An EndResultz Inc. Company

Publisher/Owner Ryan T. Sauers Ryan@EndResultz.com Creative Director Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultz.com Editor Catherine L. Osornio Cover Photographer Kerr Studio Inc. Webmaster Robert Fordham 101WebsiteDesigns.com Distribution Coordinator Ellen Sawtelle Feature Writers Daidra Annis Macrae Brennan-Fuller Rachael Brice Heidi Campbell Kim Hill Michelle Watson

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.

Entire contents copyright 2016 by Our Town Gwinnett. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.

Our Town Gwinnett

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

Stay Connected!

OurTownGwinnett.com Read Online: OurTownGwinnettOnline.com

Contributing Writers

1780 Oak Road, Suite A-2 • Snellville, GA

OurTownGwinnett

Gail Lane Julie Mills-Watson Mike Harper

www.bodyofhealthandlife.com

Come See What’s NEW FOR SPRING

OurTownGwinnett OurTownGwinnett

IN THIS ISSUE 5 On the Cover: Kathy Coots: Gwinnett’s Hometown Realtor

Your Happy Place

7 From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion 7 One on One with Covenant Counseling: Making a Difference in Gwinnett County

Over 5 acres of beautiful healthy landscape & garden plants.

8 Realty Reality: Help for Buying or Selling My Home 9 Community Organization Profile: Helping Mamas 1g Blueberries Reg. $5.99

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9 Up Close with Charles Minter Tae Kwon Do

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10 Catching up with Richard Tucker & Beverage Superstore

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10 Tender Loving Care: AmericanHeritage Animal Hospital 11 Health Matters: Therapeutic Benefits of Hot Stones 12 Community Business Spotlight: Meet Cook’s Pest Control

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13 Grayson Growth with Gail Lane 14 Sports Talk with Coach Chris Hays: Archer High School Baseball

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Our Town

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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 Let us help you become virtually nowhere else and that provide you a break from our “constantly connected” world. a happier & healthier YOU! 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 u Barre u Massage u Yoga see that here. We apply the best practices of marketing in 2016, and while it takes more time and u Circuit Training u Pilates 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 u Nutrition Counseling 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 One-on-One Individualized Care...

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 for All Your go. Stay tuned.

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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 20 Grayson New Hope Rd., Grayson 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 20 Grayson New Hope Rd. • Suite C • Grayson 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!

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One on One with Covenant Counseling: Making a Difference in Gwinnett County

By Michelle Watson Covenant Counseling is a pastoral counseling center that was founded in 1992 by Dr. Joseph Whitwell and Dr. Kerry Duncan. They were first supported by local, partnering churches and housed in a small office trailer behind Snellville United Methodist Church. The founders seek to help patients do well and be well through a variety of counseling services and programs.

Covenant Counseling’s board president, Dr. Yvonne Freeman, has served on the board for eight years. She reports that 313,000 people in Georgia have been diagnosed with mental health disorders or issues, and 186,000 children have been identified as having substance abuse problems, making centers such as Covenant Counseling essential to serving the needs of the people.

An individual’s environment, biology, or drug use (legal or illegal) can contribute to mental problems or illnesses. Whether the issue is drug or alcohol treatment, healing from rape or sexual abuse, or struggling to adjust to life after military service, patients can be assured they are receiving the best care possible by a counselor trained for that specific need.

At Covenant Counseling a counselor enters into a covenant relationship with the patient, something that Dr. Whitwell says is essential to recovery. Each counselor is dedicated to walking with the patient through the entire healing process, whether it takes a few months or several years.

His hope is that it will become a continuing cycle, and that once a patient has received help, he Continued on page 11

Our Town

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PAGE 7

Realty Reality: Help for Buying or Selling My Home

By Mike Harper, Realtor Buying or selling a home can be rewarding, exciting, and even fun as we look forward to new chapters in our lives that often involve different communities, jobs, schools, friends, and sometimes a different state. But the process also has numerous pitfalls for the unwary that can turn a happily anticipated move into a nightmare.

As an experienced real estate agent, I’ve learned that each transaction is different, and you never know what kind of unusual development is around the corner. Here are some sources of help a homeowner can seek out early in the process to prevent or alleviate some of the most common problems.

Mortgage Lenders – If you are considering moving, especially buying your first home, this should be your first stop. Your lender will assess your financial situation and determine how much house you can afford, and also recommend appropriate types of loans and assistance plans. If you are buying a home, you will need a lender’s pre-qualification letter to submit with any offer.

Real Estate Agents – Whether you are buying or selling, your agent is your advocate and is trained to guide you through often complicated processes and to deal with frustrating circumstances. It is helpful to find an agent with experience, but, above all, select one who you feel comfortable with and with whom you can communicate honestly and openly. Any agent can plant a sign in your yard, but when unforeseen issues arise, you need someone with you that you trust.

Home Stagers and Decorators – We often think our homes are relatively up-to-date, but far too often the tastes of buyers change significantly and some elements of our homes are outdated, making a sale more difficult. A home stager and decorator can make suggestions to elevate the attractiveness of your home, often at fairly low cost.

Real Estate Appraisers – When selling a home, setting the listing price is crucial. Too high and your home will sit unsold; too low and you might be leaving money on the table. Appraisers can conduct a pre-appraisal to assist your agent in setting an accurate selling price for your home.

Mike Harper is a Realtor with Virtual Properties Realty. More information at soldbyharper.com

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Our Town

NBHA offers treatment for various mental health issues, including: • Attention Deficit Disorder • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder • Adjustment Disorders • Anger Issues • Anxiety Disorders 4 Generalized Anxiety Disorder 4 Obsessive Compulsive Disorder 4 Post-Traumatic Stress disorder

Community Organization Profile: Helping Mamas

By Michelle Watson Helping Mamas is an organization that collects high chairs, beds, diapers, clothes, new car seats, and other baby necessities. They partner with social service organizations that give the donated items to clients throughout the metro Atlanta area.

It all started with friends seeing a need and collecting items in their garages. They soon decided they needed more room, so they put the collected items in storage units. In November 2015, they acquired a 2,500-square foot warehouse with one full-time employee and several volunteers.

Jamie Lackey, co-founder and CEO of Helping Mamas, points out that research shows an insufficient supply of diapers is not only a risk for poor infant and child health, but also for maternal mental health. Having been a social worker for fifteen years, Lackey knows what the cost of diapers sometimes forces moms to do. She has seen moms rinse out disposable diapers in an effort to make them reusable, with some leaving their babies in diapers for 24 hours due to the cost of buying more.

Lackey looked around and saw that there was no concerted effort to meet the physical, nonfood needs of children in metro Atlanta. Efforts were rather sporadic, with this church or that organization collecting and dispersing items to individuals in need on a very small scale. She decided there needed to be a more concentrated effort.

Helping Mamas’ unique charity model has earned them much-deserved recognition, including the 2015 Spark Prize from United Way. The Spark Prize was designed to assist small non-profits with innovative approaches to relieving poverty. Since its founding just two years ago, Helping Mamas has already served nearly 2,000 children.

There are many social service organizations in Snellville and Gwinnett County where clients can obtain the needed items that Helping Mamas collects. Some of those organizations are Norcross Cooperative Ministry, Street Wise, Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry, Pregnancy Resource Center of Gwinnett, Family Promise of Gwinnett, and Good Samaritan Clinic of Gwinnett.

Always concerned about moms and children, Lackey has even made her office space kidfriendly so moms who want to volunteer can feel comfortable working while their children are in the next room safely drawing on chalkboards, reading, or playing.

The greatest need for donations at Helping Mamas is for larger sizes of diapers (4, 5, and 6) and disposable training pants (i.e., Pull-ups or Easy Ups), new car seats, new cribs, portable playpens, and strollers.

More information at www.helpingmamas.org.

4 Panic Disorder 4 Separation Anxiety Disorder 4 Social Anxiety Disorder • Bipolar/Mood Disorders • Depressive Disorders 4 Major Depressive Disorder 4 Post-Partum Depression 4 Seasonal Affective Disorder 4 Situational Depression • Disruptive Disorders 4 Conduct Disorder 4 Oppositional Defiant Disorder • Grief Counseling • Personality Disorders • Phobias • Schizophrenia & other Psychotic Disorders • Self-Esteem • Stress Management • Mood Disorder 4326_Dr. Chris' March ad.pdf 1

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Please Call to Schedule an Appointment 2/18/2016 11:34:54 AM

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Up Close with Charles Minter Tae Kwon Do

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By Kim Hill

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Years ago in Jamaica, Charles Minter, just for fun, had his palm read. The reader told him he had more children than anyone she had ever seen. “You have many, many, many children,” she said. At the time, Charles had one daughter, and chuckled to himself, but a friend said, “You know, she was talking about your students.”

Master Minter truly feels his students are like his children, regardless of their age. No matter how proficient they have become under his tutelage, he feels protective of them. Minter began studying karate when he was 15. Eight years later he opened his own studio. In the 37 years since then, he has helped thousands of students develop skills, balance, respectfulness, and confidence.

“It helps develop the individual,” he says. “You don’t get lost in the crowd, everybody participates, everybody learns at their different level.”

When asked how he first became interested in martial arts, Minter replies, “Well, truthfully, I like to fight. But as I got into the martial arts, I realized more and more that it was about many other things; fighting is just part of it. It turned into learning that you want to be the good guys, and that’s what we always teach our students, that you don’t use it for the wrong reason. The more Continued on page 13

CMY

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Our Town

1982 E. Main Street , Suite D Snellville, GA 30078

770.979.5125

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

PAGE 9

Catching up with Richard Tucker & Beverage Superstore

By Daidra Annis “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give” ~ Sir Winston Churchill.

Beverage Superstore of Grayson is more than just the area’s premier retail package store. Owner Richard Tucker has found a way to dynamically support the community. From the Gwinnett Public Schools Foundation to the Gwinnett Children’s Shelter to Walton County’s Ducks Unlimited (Animal Conservation), Tucker has used the success of his business to provide donations – both cash and in-kind – to many of the area’s not-for-profit organizations.

The recently opened Tasting Room, a separate room adjacent to the showroom, has been well received by the community. Every week, usually on Thursday evenings, the Tasting Room is open for Wine or Craft Beer Tastings. Hors d‘oeuvres that complement the week’s selections are offered as part of the nominal admission fee. On average, forty to fifty guests attend each week, and Tucker says that one of his joys is being able to educate his customers about the products they carry. A loyal, informed customer brings more revenue to his business, of course. But that revenue brings the opportunity to serve others and to “make our community better.”

Those who have lived or worked in Gwinnett for any length of time will recognize Tucker’s name. He has been an active member of the Gwinnett community for many years, and certainly does practice what he preaches. Georgia Trend Magazine has selected him multiple times for their annual list of “100 Most Influential Georgians,” and he was a founding member of the Board of trustees for Georgia Gwinnett College, which just celebrated its 10th Anniversary. He has served as past president of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, and currently serves the Gwinnett Convention & Visitors Bureau (GCVB), Georgia Gwinnett College, the Board of Regents with the University System of Georgia, and Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, and he is the chairman of the board of the Mitsubishi Classic. Tucker is especially proud of the GCVB’s efforts to obtain approval for a $70 Million, 300-Room hotel project in the Gwinnett Center/Sugarloaf area. The new facility will enhance an already world-class convention and entertainment space that brings recognition and revenue to Gwinnett.

With the holidays fast approaching, there’s no better time to see what Beverage Superstore has to offer. Plans are in the works to host a Beer & Wine event in December, and invites will be extended to the community. Beer. Wine. Doing Good. Give me another…and make it a double!

More information at http://www.beveragesuperstoreofgrayson.com/

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Tender Loving Care: American Heritage Animal Hospital

By Michelle Watson If you have a cat or dog, the kind and caring staff at American Heritage Animal Hospital (AHAH) is willing and able to meet all your pet care needs. AHAH is located at 3475 Stone Mountain Hwy in Snellville, between High Point Road and Hewatt Drive.

Dr. Cat McGinnis purchased AHAH in 2013. Her love for animals is apparent in all the services and payment options that she and her staff offer.

One particular trait that sticks out when one speaks with Dr. Cat is her honesty concerning your pet’s condition. When you have a sick pet, it is nice to be given all the options. Dr. Cat will go over these options with you in a judgment-free environment. She understands that cost of care plays a major role in pet owner decisions, and that sometimes all the medical care in the world just will not make a difference. She will compassionately help you make a decision based on your family’s financial and emotional readiness.

To make paying for your pet’s everyday care more cost efficient, you can choose from a wide range of options besides full price cash. In addition to accepting third-party pet insurance, AHAH participates in Pet Assure, and they have their own Pet Wellness Plan. The Pet Wellness Plan is administered directly through AHAH, and essentially allows you to spread the cost of your pet’s routine health care across a 12-month period. There are different degrees of coverage, but all the options in the Pet Wellness Plan include shots and routine care as well as discounts on additional services.

Services that are often taken for granted by pet owners, such as spaying and neutering and nail trimming, are among the many offered at AHAH. Spaying or neutering your pet is important for safety and overall health whether the pet lives inside or outside. To help with the cost of spaying/ neutering, AHAH participates in Spay Georgia, a program funded by the state that allows pet owners to get their pets spayed or neutered at a discounted rate. Regular nail trimming prevents Continued on page 14

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Our Town

Covenant Counseling Continued from page 7 or she will then be a resource to others, directing them to Covenant or other counseling services and encouraging them not to be ashamed of seeking help.

With pastoral counseling, the counselors are ordained ministers in their respective churches or denominations. Dr. Whitwell describes Covenant Counseling as an interfaith counseling center. Though they are all Christians, the counselors adhere to one centralizing value – the dignity of all humankind – allowing them to serve patients from all walks of life, including Muslims, Eastern religion adherents, and others.

Because mental health is not only an individual but a community-wide concern, Covenant Counseling seeks to form relationships with local churches, schools, and public service organizations. They offer a variety of workshops to help churches deal with recurring issues.

They also have workshops for kids to train them in conflict resolution or anger management. The center can easily tailor a workshop to an organization or church’s specific needs.

Covenant Counseling desires to overcome the barriers patients face when seeking help. One such barrier is time. Because the counselors are able to devise their own schedules, patients may choose a counselor who offers evening or weekend hours in addition to regular office hours.

Another hindrance in seeking treatment is cost. Covenant Counseling accepts some insurance plans, as well as offering a sliding fee schedule for those who don’t have insurance. Additionally, interns and residents, who come from local universities and online schools, may be available to see patients who cannot afford even a small amount.

Drs. Whitwell and Freeman would like Gwinnett County citizens to know that the face of mental illness is everywhere – in our homes, churches, schools, grocery stores, and on our jobs.

Compassionate, impassioned contributions from the community are needed so that everyone can live together in safety and in good health.

Covenant Counseling, a fully independent counseling center, is not licensed through or accredited by any church, denomination, or organization. And, because Covenant Counseling is a non-profit corporation, all donations are tax deductible.

More information at www.covenantcounseling.org.

Health Matters: Therapeutic Benefits of Hot Stones

By Julie Mills-Watson, LMT, LLC When we think of hot stone therapy, we might associate it with a spa treatment, relaxation, being pampered, or getting an upscale massage. I actually did not know much about it either. So when my staff encouraged me to look into the therapeutic benefits of this treatment, I was pleasantly surprised with what I found.

Hot stone massage is a natural therapy in which warmed stones are positioned on specific parts of the client’s body, or used as an extension of the therapist’s hands, to maximize the therapeutic benefits. The stones are typically river rocks or other very smooth-surfaced stones made of basalt that are heated in sanitizing water before use. The high iron content in basalt helps the stones retain heat during the massage.

A hot stone massage combines thermotherapy with massage techniques to provide an effective healing therapy. The use of natural stones in conjunction with massage uses powerful earth energies to help the patient heal. The contrast of hot and cold temperatures forces the muscles to dilate and contract. This creates a pumping action for moving fresh fluids through muscle tissue and spaces in the joints. Combining this with deep tissue movements or other forms of massage creates a powerful detoxifying and invigorating treatment.

While a variety of massage techniques are effective in relieving pain caused by tense muscles, stiff joints, or injuries, a hot stone massage may provide greater relief due to the intense nature of the massage. Because the hot stones allow the therapist to sink into the muscle a little further, you may find that a hot stone massage leaves you feeling physically better than a treatment without the heat.

Poor circulation can lead to fatigue, which tenses the muscles and promotes a buildup of fluid and lactic acid. Increased circulation delivers more oxygen to the muscles, which can help ease aches and pains. The heat from the stones penetrates into your deeper body tissues and opens your blood vessels and improves circulation to the affected area.

Hot stone therapy amplifies all of the benefits of massage therapy and really takes healing to the next level. I am very excited to now offer this treatment at our clinic. I hope to see you at Body of Health soon. Take good care.

Julie Mills-Watson is owner or Body of Health and Life, LLC. More info at bodyofhealthandlife.com

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PAGE 12

Community Business Spotlight: Meet Cook’s Pest Control

By Macrae Brennan-Fuller For many years, Cook’s Pest Control has etched its Cookie the Cop mascot and its catchy jingle – “Lookie, Lookie, Lookie. Here Comes Cookie!” – into the minds of its customer base and anyone who owns a TV set or radio. But there is definitely more to this family-owned, customer service-oriented pest control company than its unforgettable jingle and memorable mascot.

Nearly ninety years ago, founder John L. Cook launched the company with only one full-time employee and a few accounts. Little did he know that his small business would grow into one of the nation’s largest pest control companies with more than 300,000 customers.

Although the size of Cook’s Pest Control has transformed over the years, one thing remains the same – its family-oriented approach to customer service. In fact, John R. Cook, carried on the family tradition when he abruptly took over the company after his father’s passing in the early 1950s. Soon after graduating from Georgia Tech, the younger Cook embodied the definition of customer service when he abandoned a promising career as an architect to fulfill the five-year termite guarantees his father contracted through North Alabama Termite Company. In time, he decided to add pest control services and changed the name of the company to its current name.

In building the company’s ethical foundation over the years, the Cook family has stressed the importance of honesty, courtesy, respect, and customer satisfaction. “Great customer service and satisfaction are the lifelines of our business,” Cook’s Pest Control Atlanta NE District Manager Keith Seamon said. “Our customer-first mindset is the reason for our continued success today.”

The company attributes the effectiveness of its protection from termites and pests to its dependable technicians, superior training program, guaranteed scope of services, and dedication to environmentally-responsible products. All of these factors contributed to the company earning the 2001 Better Business Bureau National Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.

Cook’s also believes a home should be a place of refuge and comfort, and is committed to ensuring that homeowners do not have to fear the presence of pests that can cause embarrassment or concerns about health.

In addition to residential properties, Cook’s also provides pest control and termite services to more than 20,000 businesses in a variety of industries such as food service, entertainment, healthcare, and manufacturing. Skilled technicians specialize in commercial service work and complete extensive training both in the classroom and the field.

Cook’s has also developed a strong reputation in the field of new construction. After decades of working alongside builders and developers to protect new homes and other new structures, Cook’s has concluded there is no better technology for termite protection than the Sentricon Termite Colony Elimination System. “Customers can have peace of mind and confidence with Sentricon because of our commitment to offer only the best for our customers,” Seamon said.

With small Sentricon stations placed discreetly around a home or structure, the system is more appealing to customers than traditional liquid chemical treatments. It does not require the drilling of floors and foundations or trenching. Additionally, the Sentricon System does not inject chemical solutions into floors, foundations, or yards.

Customers will find peace of mind knowing the Sentricon System currently protects more than two million structures, including the White House, the Statue of Liberty, the Alamo, and other national treasures. And, backed by the Cook’s commitment to excellence in customer satisfaction, it’s easy to see why so many customers are choosing Cook’s.

Nearly one century after its founding, Cook’s Pest Control continues to uphold the family tradition of customer service with a newer generation at the helm. Cook’s has 34 district offices in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee, with a roster of more than 1,400 employees.

More information at www.cookspest.com

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

Our Town

85

By Gail Lane

124

29

D E R

you get involved with it, you realize that you have a responsibility, besides learning to take care of yourself and to take care of others, not to misuse it.”

Minter attracts students of all ages and for a variety of reasons, from learning self-defense to competing at local, state, and national level competitions. Many adults just want to de-stress. “They can beat on the bags,” he says. Some see karate as an alternative to team sports because they can progress at an individual level. Some parents seek it out for their children to help with discipline. For those students, Minter says they teach that there is a time to have fun, and a time to work hard, and the hope is they will carry that balance with them wherever they are. “We try to help the children get on the right path to making good decisions and that is going to help no matter what they’re involved in.” Many families choose to participate together. While the family classes are split into groups so children and adults can learn at their different levels, Minter suggests that some 10-year-olds will progress more quickly than their parents! He says that anyone can participate. “We take you as you come to us, and then we work you from that point.”

Minter stresses that all his instructors are adults, many of whom started as students of his as early as age five. In addition to teaching at the main studio in Snellville, Minter has been partnering with Gwinnett Parks and Recreation for 25 years to offer classes at locations throughout Gwinnett County. Additionally, he runs an afterschool program in the Snellville area where kids are given time to do homework, and then to participate in martial arts training and other physical fitness exercises. “We keep them very active,” he says, “because we know they get enough time sitting at the computer or on the video.” He also brings his talents to area daycares. “This is what we do full time,” he explains. “Ages 4 to 70, we teach all the different levels.”

Charles Minter loves what he does, and says he’ll do it until he dies. There is no reason to retire, he explains, since this is what he would do if he retired. It has been gratifying for him to see students who started with him at a very young age advance to become Masters in the martial arts. He often has former students say what a difference his teaching has made in their lives. “I have been very fortunate and very blessed that I have been able to spend my life doing something that I love every day. I feel people enjoy what they are learning and have use out of it - I can’t ask for more.”

For more information, visit www.MinterKarate.com or call 770-985-0050

Y HW

IDG

Charles Minter Continued from page 9

E ILL EV C EN WR A L

LAWRENCEVILLE

KBR ROC

In the last few years it has become very clear that Grayson is no longer a “best kept secret.” Always a great place to live, it is also becoming sought after as a destination for families to enjoy dinner, coffee, a concert, and some shopping. In addition, Grayson is turning into a place where entrepreneurs set up shop, put down some roots, and build their businesses.

We have all looked around and said, “This is good” – except for the traffic that has increased as one travels through town on both Highway 20 and on Grayson Parkway.

Plans and paperwork have been drawn up, and the much anticipated intersection improvements at Grayson Parkway and Rosebud Road are set to begin in March. The equipment has already started to roll in, and utilities are being surveyed and moved where necessary. We’re experiencing the beginning of what will end up being something beautiful when completed.

For the next six to nine months – depending on the weather – things are going to be crazy: traffic patterns will be disrupted and tempers will be short as these improvements are made. We must look patiently toward that time when vehicles will move more smoothly and efficiently with leftturn signals in all four directions, making transportation through Grayson safer and less stressful.

But during this period of time, small businesses in this important corridor may be hugely affected. These entrepreneurs that have invested in Grayson will still be open and will still need your patronage.

Resolve to support these businesses by making Grayson a destination for coffee or dinner, for purchasing a gift or taking in a play, or for trying out a new hairstyle. Shopping locally has never been more important.

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Baseball is America’s favorite pastime, and Coach Chris Hays of Archer High School couldn’t be happier about that. A 1996 graduate of now rival Central Gwinnett High School, he has literally grown up on the field. Hays attended the University of Georgia, where he was a four-year letterman in Baseball. He became a teacher, and had the opportunity to be an assistant coach at his alma mater under his former high school coach. Hays became head coach of the Black Knights in 2007, finding time to marry his high school sweetheart, Angela. The couple now has four children, ages 5-12.

When Archer High School opened in 2009, Hays became head coach of the baseball program, a program that has experienced the same “growing pains” that many young athletic programs face. The first six seasons were challenging, as the Tigers did not celebrate a single winning season. Although disappointed, the team and coaching staff persevered. Their tenacity paid off, and the 2015 season brought them much deserved success. Not only did the Tigers have their first winning season with a record of 20-9, they also went to the playoffs! In addition, the team celebrated the first Tiger to be drafted: Curtis Terry, who was chosen in the 13th round and is now part of the Texas Rangers organization. This season they are celebrating three student athletes who have committed to playing baseball in college. Junior shortstop Crews Taylor will trade his Tiger stripes for Yellow Jacket stripes when he suits up for Georgia Tech after graduating in 2017. Seniors Cole Waites and Rhian Mann are headed to West Alabama and Kennesaw State, respectively. These three will join a handful of Archer graduates who are already playing baseball in colleges across the Southeast.

Coach Hays’ influence reaches past the baseball diamond and into the game of life. He uses baseball to build character, and to teach his athletes to become mature young men who are productive in society. Baseball, he says, is a great game to instill these life lessons. “It’s a game of failure and adversity; the natural ups and downs of the game equip players to deal with the challenges they will face in life.” Hays teaches them to focus on the things they can control – like attitude and a good work ethic. And his athletes understand that they represent more than just themselves; they represent their families, their team, and the Archer community. Players are also invited to participate in NG3, a fairly new outreach available to all Archer athletes. Character building skills and voluntary small group devotionals are offered outside of the classroom on a strictly volunteer basis.

Within the community, the Tigers Baseball Team is proud to host an annual youth clinic for all of the recreation teams in the cluster. The young athletes come to the high school to spend the day with the team, where they learn skills and drills to help develop their game. It is one of the highlights of each season, and a day that the team and staff look forward to each year.

More information at http://www.archerbaseball.com

American Heritage Animal Hospital

Continued from page 10

the nails from growing into the paw pads, which can cause severe complications. AHAH offers nail trimmings on Wednesdays at a great discount. By getting your pet’s nails trimmed in-office, you are better assured a doctor will be on hand to do an exam should the grooming technician see an issue that needs to be addressed.

Dr. Cat is ready to teach the next generation of veterinarians, too. The Explorer Program allows high school students to shadow Dr. Cat and the AHAH staff every afternoon. Thus, students are allowed to decide on a career in the veterinary field prior to making the academic and training commitment. And, for those interested in online courses in veterinarian assistant, all of their clinical or practical hours can be conducted at AHAH. No matter what your dog or cat’s needs may be, Dr. Cat and the AHAH staff will offer your pet the very best in care.

American Heritage Animal Hospital, Dr. Cat McGinnis. More information at www.snellvillevet.com.

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