MARCH 2023: (BLUE) Our Town Gwinnett Monthly Magazine for Gwinnett/NE Dekalb

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On the Cover:

Catching up with BenchMark Physical Therapy

By Kristen Eleveld

BenchMark is a name that many of Gwinnett’s residents know, thanks to their commitment to excellence and to their highly qualified team of therapists and specialists that helps people through a variety of injuries and other needs. All of the BenchMark offices promise to go above and beyond, but the Grayson location is one you will want to keep up with as they lead the charge in innovation and customer service.

“Everyone here is a team player,” said DPT Michelle Huggins, who serves as the site director for the Grayson location along with three other locations in Snellville, Lawrenceville, and Buford. “We all work together to use everyone’s best skill set for the good of the patient.”

As clinic director for Grayson and multi-site director for the other locations she serves, Michelle has led her incredible team as they work to provide much needed physical therapy services to the Grayson area and its neighboring communities. Within the last six months, BenchMark’s parent company, Upstream Rehabilitation, has partnered with an organization that brings physical therapists in from around the world to BenchMark clinics. The Grayson site is proud to employ one of these international therapists, with two others joining the other sites, as they work together to learn new treatment methods and provide even better customer service for those patients who may not speak English as a first language.

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Our

Town

Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine

— An EndResultz Media Company EndResultz.com

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

Entire contents copyright 2023 by Our Town Gwinnett. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.

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Dr. Ryan T. Sauers

Ryan@EndResultz.com

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Elsie Olson

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Feature Writers

Victoria R. Crosby

Tana Poncsak

Traci Sanders

Beth Volpert Johansen

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Catherine L. Osornio

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THIS ISSUE

Wendy Head

Cover Story

Feature Writer

Kristen Eleveld

5 On the Cover: Catching up with BenchMark

Jane Bishop

Myra Coria, M.Ed.

Bill Crane

Terie Hansen

Contributing Writers IN

Ryan’s Remarks

By Dr. Ryan T. Sauers

@RyanSauers @RyanTSauers

I am writing this column for March 2023, and I would be grateful if you could consider a few things that began occurring over three years ago. February 25, 2020: CDC Says COVID19 is Heading Toward Pandemic Status; March 6, 2020: 21 Passengers on California Cruise Ship Test Positive; March 11, 2020: WHO Declares COVID-19 a Pandemic; March 13, 2020: President Declares COVID-19 a National Emergency (https://www.ajmc.com/view/a-timeline-of-covid19-developmentsin-2020).

Wow. Okay, I will stop there. It is difficult for me, and I am sure for you, to read this and see that these events were over three years ago. That said, it seems they were both yesterday and a lifetime ago. This time will be etched into our minds forever. On a personal note, I finished my doctoral studies during the pandemic, defended my dissertation, and obtained my doctorate in leadership in late 2022. I was determined to stay focused on things I could control and to “control the controllables.”

In early March 2020, I first heard the term “pivot” from a friend regarding changes needed in business to be successful. I have since heard the term pivot thousands of times. However, it is funny that this study area is part of my dissertation. We likely all experienced

Peters Park Community Celebrates Black History Month

By Victoria R. Crosby

Recently, I attended a fundraising event for the Peters Park Community Association. I had met Karen Peters in 2021 when I had just moved to Atlanta from Long Island, New York. I first met her father who was handing out flyers at Tucker Day for his daughter, who was running for office at that time. I was impressed with Karen and her passion for her community.

The Peters Park Community involves four streets founded by four African American families, the Peters, the Clarks, the Rameys, and the Barkers, who all still live in the same neighborhood: Peters Street, Clark Drive, and Herbert Street after Herbert Barker. Ramey Street was renamed Tucker Industrial when businesses started to take over and when the church, which had been founded by the families, was torn down to make way for a Longhorn Steakhouse.

This fundraiser was held at the St. John Apostolic Holiness Church on Clark Drive and was titled an Evening of Reflections Celebrating Black History Month, Featuring the Four Streets. Linda Clark, who is president of the organization, acted as MC as she welcomed the diverse audience and introduced her brother, Dr. Curtis Clark, Pastor of Power of God Church, who gave the opening prayer.

Rashanda Barber, a parishioner of the St. John Apostolic Church, then welcomed everyone and sang a powerful and moving Gospel hymn, accompanied on the organ by talented musician Sherman Jordan.

Linda Clark then acknowledged the members of the audience, introducing Virginia Rece, Tucker Councilwoman, and members of the Rotary Club, the Kiwanis Club, and the Women’s Club.

Virginia Turks spoke about the history of the four streets, then a video documentary, Four Streets, was shown of how the community evolved. This can be seen on YouTube: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Xkhd6nYrH-4 . The documentary is about “A family steeped in faith, family, and neighborhood.”

Since 2018 the organization has formed a committee to head revitalization, with frequent meetings to keep neighbors informed. They have organized and executed several community cleanup campaigns and meet with the City of Tucker officials regularly for updates and solutions to problems and keep code enforcement informed on property violations. They have formed a neighborhood watch and formed relationships with the Tucker Police Precinct and District Attorney liaison and have also reached out to DeKalb officials.

St. John’s Praise Team performed several uplifting Gospel songs.

Linda Clark, with Karen Peters, Virginia Turks, and Patricia Smith. unveiled a portrait by artist Jeanie Cofer Wilson of William McKinley Peters, Karen Peters’ great, great uncle, for whom the park was named.

Pastor Curtis Clark gave a closing blessing, then the people were invited to join in for refreshments, which were provided by the Peters Park Community Association, including a large cake with a portrait of the four ladies of the founding families on it. There were books, posters, and other items reflecting Black History Month on display.

I hope to attend more of their wonderful fundraising events in the future.

Community Matters: Rainbow Village is Making a Difference

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff

In 2017, Rainbow Village established its Women’s Giving Circle as a means for women with a passion for philanthropy and volunteerism to connect while increasing awareness about family homelessness and promoting the concept of “giving” of one’s time, talent, and treasure. In 2020, the group established its “Be the Change” Microgrants Initiative to benefit members of the nonprofit’s Aspire Residential and Thrive Alumni Programs. Over the last two years, the group has raised and awarded $16,800 to help current residents and alumni overcome obstacles in the path to achieving their goals. On Wednesday, December 7th, Women’s Giving Circle members, community guests, Rainbow Village staff, and microgrant applicants gathered at the Duluth Festival Center to celebrate the holidays, the organization’s many victories over the course of the last year, and to bestow a series of small grants to deserving recipients at its largest Grand Total to date – $23,650.

“This has become one of my favorite nights of the year,” said Rainbow Village CEO Melanie Conner. “Our first year was virtual, due to COVID-19, but this year and last, we were able to see the excitement and gratitude of each microgrant recipient firsthand, and that’s a powerful thing. As I looked around that room, I thought to myself ‘THIS is what the holidays are all about – coming together to bestow gifts and bring joy.’ Only these microgrants bring more than joy. They bring meaningful change. The finish line is in sight for many of our resident applicants. They’re nearing the end of our program, but they have a hurdle to clear before they can get there. These microgrants help them pay off medical bills, student loans, business license application fees, and so much more that may have been weighing them down or keeping them from saving what they need to pursue self-sufficiency. For our graduates, they still have their success coaching goals in mind and need a little help with car or home repairs. I love that our Women’s Giving Circle is there to help them with that.”

Marking the top honor for the night, the Barbara Howard High Achiever Award was bestowed upon a very deserving Adrian K., who has been a resident of Rainbow Village for a little over a year. Named in honor of the late Barbara Howard, this award reflects Howard’s energy, enthusiasm, and inspiration. In addition to being the owner of Georgiabased food processing company, Susanna’s Kitchen, for fifty-five years, Howard and her husband were prolific philanthropists. She supported Rainbow Village in a wide variety of ways including serving as the capital campaign chair to aid in building the Duluth campus. Her hard work and dedication helped the organization raise over $6 million to provide housing for families experiencing homelessness. Recipients of the Barbara Howard High Achiever Award have demonstrated

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Two Gwinnett Latina’s Re-imagine Your Child’s Next Gift

By Myra Coria, M.Ed.

Shopping for gifts is so fun – until it’s not. When was the last time you purchased a gift for a child? The long lines, the traffic, and not to mention those rising toy prices. One is left to wonder if it’s all worth it for a toy that will likely end up under the car seat or get forgotten after about fifteen minutes. What about gifting something that will last a lifetime? What about gifting a memory, something that was previously out of reach for a family?

Dani Vasquez Robles vividly remembers throwing a tennis ball in the air and smashing it with her racquet. Gabby Bautista will never forget feeling the wind through her hair as she cheered and flipped

in the air during a high school football game.

Dani and Gabby were both raised in Snellville and attended South Gwinnett High School. Dani is grateful she was able to think of creative ways to pay for her high school memories. Twelve years later, Dani has had to get even more creative as a mother of two active and curious boys, one who enjoys playing baseball, and the other who likes going to the zoo. When Dani’s sisters asked Dani what toys her youngest wanted, Dani looked at the stack of toys that had not been played with for months, and instead asked them to contribute to a trip to the zoo. This idea sparked her interest in meaningful gift-giving.

A pediatric nurse practitioner and mother of a two year old, Gabby had a similar experience regarding her daughter’s birthday gifts. Gabby’s daughter received the same gift three times and was tasked with giving away the toy intended for her daughter. Instead of toys for her birthday, her active daughter would love to attend a toddler gymnastics class.

Gabby soon joined Dani in the movement toward finding a way to make gifting more meaningful, memorable, and easier on everyone!

Dani is the co-founder and COO at Gift Nabü, and Gabby is the Head of Community Engagement. Gift Nabü is an innovative way to gift children learning experiences, life lessons, and memories

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Ryan’s Remarks

Continued from page 7

the pandemic in different ways. However, it is fair to say, we have all gone through a once-in-a-lifetime experience together. It has been tough, strange, weird, etc., to have so many things (even those trickle-down effect items) in a constant state of change. Some might say… exhausting!

We are approaching the spring season and warmer weather. This means longer daylight hours and more fun. I predict we will all have a great spring and summer of 2023. Also, I may not know you directly, but your feedback and encouragement to me (directly or indirectly) are greatly appreciated. Your support helps me remain optimistic and encouraging in writing these columns, magazines, speaking, radio, TV, podcast shows, etc. Iron (indeed) sharpens iron.

Let me encourage us all to take a moment and reflect on the past three years so we can appreciate where we are now. It has been Tough. Unprecedented. Frustrating. Confusing. Overwhelming. Unknown, etc. Quite frankly, no words are good enough to encompass or describe how historians will define this period. However, we have made it through this time together. Together indeed!

So, let us continue to give each other the benefit of the doubt, love more, listen better, judge less, care more, smile, and be patient. Simply said, we need to BE KIND. I do not profess to have mastered all these things, and I work on them daily. And please know we can only control what we can control.

To all my family, friends, colleagues, and this community, you are the best. Your support and partnership mean more than I can ever tell you. I wish all of you the best, and thank you for continuing with me on the journey of my town, your town, OUR TOWN!

R.U.T. – A Word for Your Day

By Jane Bishop

How do you know if you are in a R.U.T.? I like to define R.U.T. as Reinforcing Unrealistic Thoughts. As Albert Einstein said, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over in the same way and expecting different results.” When we are in a R.U.T., we are on the same trajectory and yet we unrealistically think that we’ll eventually receive different results. So, what do you do when you’re in a R.U.T.?

When I find myself in a R.U.T., I usually turn to my “Talk to The Hand: Five A’s” method.

1. Become very AWARE. Recognize the R.U.T. that you are in and acknowledge the reality.

2. ASSESS the situation. When I know I’m getting into a R.U.T., I often get bored and restless. I must ask myself, “Is this a R.U.T. or is it a necessary routine?”

3. ASK yourself what resources are available to get you out of your R.U.T. – perhaps an accountability partner or take a class. Whatever it may be, analyze the best option for you and see what is feasible for your situation.

4. ALIGN yourself with what you decide is best. Maybe this R.U.T. snuck up on you and came out of nowhere. When unpredictable things happen, it is important to realign yourself with what you’re

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BenchMark Physical Therapy

But the Grayson clinic does not just stop at serving their clients well; they work hard to serve the community around them, too. Most recently, the Grayson clinic teamed up with the Snellville clinic in December to host a canned food drive to benefit the Southeastern Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry, which serves the Gwinnett area through providing food and other daily essentials, like toiletry items. This annual canned food drive is just one of the ways that BenchMark strives to give back to the community it has called home for so long.

The Grayson clinic also encourages interested students to participate in their volunteer program, which allows high school and college students to volunteer for observation hours within the clinic. This program is designed to foster the interest of any student who is considering physical therapy as a future career. For those physical therapists who come to work at BenchMark, the clinic makes a promise to partner with them as a new employee through a mentorship program for an entire year.

For Michelle and her team, their job is all about helping others. Whether they are offering canned food to people in need or providing valuable expertise in their field, they always have the same goal: give their patients the best treatment they can.

“Every day is different,” Michelle said. “Patients come in with different injuries and levels of function.” She noted that many of their patients come to BenchMark for help after being in a car accident or a work-related injury. “We want to help patients reach their goals and promote patients to be as pain-free as they can be in everyday life.”

If you think the Grayson BenchMark clinic might meet your needs, there’s even more good news. They are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. four days a week, meaning you can go to physical therapy before your classes start for the day or after your shift ends at work. The team at the Grayson clinic has worked hard to make sure that they can accommodate as many clients as need their help.

Of course, for Michelle, it doesn’t feel like a job. She was born and raised in Snellville and enjoys working in the same place that has been her home her whole life.

“I love seeing patients meet their goals and witnessing their progress along the way, so it never gets boring,” Michelle said. “It never feels like work. At the Grayson clinic, we enjoy working together so much that we even hang out together outside of the clinic.”

BenchMark in Grayson is waiting for you. Give them a call today to find out how they can help.

More information at www.benchmarkpt.com/locations/grayson/, or (678) 376-0213

One Man’s Opinion: The Moon’s a Balloon

By Bill Crane

There is a tendency, well-documented by historians and military experts, to defend and prepare for the next enemy of the United States with the tools and techniques that worked well in the prior war.

NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (I know the acronym doesn’t match...take it up with the Pentagon), was founded by the U.S. and Canada in 1958, relatively early in the Cold War, to both monitor U.S. airspace and particularly to identify fast-moving projectiles or aircraft headings towards the U.S. land mass (including Alaska and Hawaii). Identifying, intercepting, and deflecting the detonation of an intercontinental ballistic missile in the early outer atmosphere or meeting unidentified or hostile enemy aircraft flying in formation (like Pearl Harbor) before reaching U.S. landfall were top mission priorities.

NORAD has served us well, but its radar, sonar, and multiple early detection technologies were not really ever intended to detect large, slow-moving craft, particularly at lower altitudes. Balloons, blimps, and Zeppelins were long ago reduced in terms of threat analysis after the explosion of the Hindenburg. However, the Germans continued using various airships for reconnaissance and submarine surveillance throughout World War II.

You may remember our U-2 spy planes, first commissioned by the United States Air Force for high-altitude reconnaissance in 1957. Lockheed has built 104 U-2s since, many which are still in service. One of these single-engine jets was shot down over Russia on May 1, 1960, causing an international incident and resulting in the U.S.S.R. imprisonment of pilot Francis Gary Powers. Powers was released in 1962 in exchange for a Russian spy in U.S. custody. He returned stateside and eventually became a pilot for a Los Angeles news station and its news chopper. Powers was killed flying that craft in 1977.

Still later in 1990 during the first Persian Gulf War, a coalition of nations challenged Iraq after its invasion of the neighboring sovereign nation Kuwait. The first night’s bombing of Baghdad by U.S. and allied forces were well documented and covered live by CNN and other news outlets. Departing Baghdad days later to maintain their safety, CNN anchor Bernard Shaw, and then war correspondent John Holliman left Baghdad in the dark of night for a long desert drive on the only road available connecting Baghdad to Damascus, Syria. When the caravan arrived safely in Syria, they received a secure phone call from CNN President Tom Johnson, inquiring about their condition and safety, and then asking for a fax number.

The caravan had made at least one pit stop along the 90+ mile route to Damascus. The fax showed a photograph taken by a U.S. military satellite showing the top of Holliman’s bald head and the motorcade in the complete dark of a desert night in Syria while Holliman was doing his business facing a small shrub roadside.

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Doc Talk: Fall Prevention Strategies

PRESENTED BY DR. EMILY BOYD

It’s just one of the many ways we’re here to support you.

RSVP to 678-841-0030

For the safety and well-being of all residents and guests, all recommended safety precautions will be taken. Please call to inquire about our safety measures for this event.

outstanding leadership during their time at Rainbow Village. They must have also exhibited a high regard for the goals and mission of the organization while making significant contributions to the improvement of resident engagement. Adrian represents all these qualities, and Conner and her team are certain that Barbara would have been honored to know her.

In addition to the High Achiever Award, 2022 Be the Change Microgrants were awarded to twenty-seven residents to accomplish the following goals:

• Improve well-being by accessing dental care

• Achieve financial stability by eliminating or reducing debt

• Achieve family stability with assistance in obtaining a vehicle

• Build credit with the gift of a secured credit card

• Receive a bonus for achieving a 700+ credit score

One resident’s request for funding to cover the expense of real estate classes and materials as she works toward her dream of becoming a real estate agent was denied. However, what she received in return was far better than her original request. Hilda Abbott, Founder of Rudhil Companies, not only offered to pay for the resident’s real estate training, but also committed to providing a mentor and assistance for the resident’s first five listings!

The Rainbow Village Women’s Giving Circle is a diverse, dynamic, and generous group of women engaged in an exciting venture of strategic philanthropy. It leverages the resources of individuals for greater impact by pooling members’ dollars and using the money to award microgrants to families of Rainbow Village. Members also seek to engage and educate the public about families experiencing homelessness. Gatherings are held quarterly and often involve a speaker, food, beverages, games, prizes, and fun. The kickoff meeting for 2023 will be held in March. Women who’d like to join the Women’s Giving Circle in 2023 can learn more and register at https://rainbowvillage. org/womens-giving-circle/.

More information at www.RainbowVillage.org.

Fielding Life’s Curve Balls

By Bill Crane

Though admittedly, I have led a somewhat blessed life and have so much to be grateful for each day, I was not unhappy to say goodbye to 2022.

We lost our mother and grandmother/great-grandmother, Lynn Crane, and witnessed other close friends and family suffer similar losses due to age and mortality, long Covid, or other ailments. The business had an incredible year, and I got to suffer through an interesting 15 minutes of fame, departing from a part-time gig that I really enjoyed. Health challenges came to many in my immediate circle, including my first-born daughter, Barclay Carson, as well as her twin Mighty Mites, and their household, which seemingly faced down nearly every viral infection that vaccinated toddlers might expect.

And yet, through almost all that, with only the occasional sighs of fatigue, Barclay soldiered on through it all with a smile and warm heart. She reminded me again, as I am sharing with you today, the great importance of attitude and gratitude in surmounting life’s numerous challenges.

We all have acquaintances, friends, and family who have real trouble fielding life’s curve balls. -Some sink into despair, depression, addiction, and worse. It is also incumbent upon each of us to be

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GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club Celebrates 50 Years

By Tana Poncsak

The GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club celebrated 50 years with a 50th Anniversary Gala in February at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Reynolds Hall. Past presidents and anyone who has been involved with the club in the last 50 years were invited to the gala. Susan Allred, president of the Lilburn Woman’s Club, said they had at least seventy people in attendance of the celebration that included a Master of Ceremonies and a presentation of the club’s history.

“I look back at these ladies and I think, wow, they’re so inspiring.

It’s fun to look back at the history. We’ve been learning so much digging into the archives and seeing what the women before us accomplished. It’s exciting and fun.”

The club of about 60 members has a motto, “Community concerns.” The members care about serving the community and living the volunteer spirit.

“We, as a club, care about the community,” she said. “A member may see a need in the community, or someone may bring one to our attention, and we see if we can address it. We have different groups – what we call programs that focus on different areas.”

The different areas include Arts and Culture, Civic Engagement and Outreach, Education and Libraries, and more.

The club supports a number of projects throughout the year, including scholarships and their Dictionary Project, where every Lilburn public school third grader receives a dictionary.

“We’re proud of it,” Allred said of the Dictionary Project. “The kids love it. We go into the schools and present the dictionaries to the students”

The books are pretty comprehensive, so the club members take the time to go through them and explain how to use them, and then the teachers use them with their curriculum. In addition, Lilburn eight graders receive Pocket Constitutions compliments of the Lilburn Woman’s Club.

Lilburn Daze is held in the fall, and with more than 100 vendors this past year, it’s the club’s biggest fundraiser of the year. So big,

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Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson: Serve with Intention in 2023

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff

Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman

Nicole Hendrickson recently addressed hundreds of business owners, residents, and stakeholders during her third State of the County address. “The choices of almost a million people – and more over the years – created Gwinnett’s steady past, its vibrant present, and its promising future,” Hendrickson said. “And whether subconscious or not, every decision we make is guided by intention – the choice to proactively solve a problem. It’s the small, yet intentional acts of bravery, kindness, and support that fuel the Gwinnett spirit. This is serving with intention.”

Hendrickson said that intentionality has been the reason Gwinnett has solidified itself as a proven leader in the region. From water testing and quality of life to public safety and a low unemployment rate, the County’s proven track record has forged public-private partnerships that are key to the County’s success. During her remarks, Hendrickson acknowledged the death of Gwinnett Corrections Officer Scott Riner by leading a moment of silence. Sadly, Riner was killed while arriving to work last December. Within days, Gwinnett Police identified and arrested the suspect in the case, due to quick actions and excellent investigative work.

Here are more takeaways:

Gun Crimes Unit, Gwinnett Safe Communities Program

“Our police department is also leveraging technology to reduce and respond to gun violence,” she said. “When a gun-related crime is committed in Gwinnett, our Gun Crimes Unit uses ballistic science to connect shell casings from scenes to guns possessed by suspects.” That information is then entered into a national database to make connections with other crimes across the country.

Connections are also what has made the Gwinnett Safe Communities Program a success. The program allows police to work with community stakeholders to provide access to cameras, license plate readers, and other technology.

Housing and a new homeless shelter

While access to affordable housing continues to challenge communities across the country, the County will do its part to make sure Gwinnett is a place where everyone thrives.

“Over the next few years, in partnership with the Gwinnett Housing Corporation and Gwinnett/Walton Habitat for Humanity,” Hendrickson said, “we will be able to provide 390 affordable low-income housing units. But the work doesn’t end there.” A multi-family building in Lawrenceville will be converted into shelter units to serve adult men and couples with no children. Federal funds will be used for the shelter.

New name, new look for Gwinnett Transit

2023 kicked off with a new look and a name for Gwinnett Transit: Ride Gwinnett. “Not only does it tell you what to do,” Hendrickson added, “this new name and look connects with Gwinnett County’s brand to show riders that they can expect the same great service they get from their county government in their local transit.”

Building a future with the Rowen Project

“Late last year,” Hendrickson said, “I joined federal, state, and local

Continued on page 22

The Moon’s a Balloon

Continued from page 13

True, a Chinese-launched balloon, for whatever purpose, carrying a payload we now understand to be as large as three buses, should NOT have been flying through U.S. airspace without clearance. But other than surveillance and monitoring multiple telecom and broadcast frequencies or potentially looking into buildings at night with infrared technology, that burst balloon and the three other lesser unidentified flying objects subsequently taken down recently don’t terribly concern me.

Our next war will begin more like our 1990 attacks on Iraq. Take out their telecommunications infrastructure, and knock out power and water supplies as the Russians continue to focus their efforts in Ukraine. And though the potential of nuclear warfare still looms large as a potential world-ender, most of our enemies still seem to prefer global domination over the extinction of our species, I am a bit more concerned about all the data being gobbled, assembled, and prepared for use against us by foreign-owned/controlled media apps like TikTok.

And if/when otherworldly aliens decide on an invasion or have already landed on our planet, I think they will make their presence a bit more known and threatening than balloons gliding through mid-atmosphere, when they likely would have arrived here at something closer to the speed of light. It remains to me the height of U.S. hubris to believe that we are the only planet in the universe capable of hosting intelligent life.

In the words of Rod Serling, “Imagine if you will…” a U.S. without Wi-Fi and mobile phone networks in operation for a period of a month or more from the perspective of our digital-first Generation Z and Millennial population. Now THAT scares me.

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

Healthy Habits: Choose a Weight Loss Plan for Your Goals

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff

It’s that time of year again when many Americans resolve to lose weight and start a healthier routine. This year in particular, with the pandemic largely behind us, many Americans will once again focus on their health.

In fact, 64% of Americans are motivated to lose weight because they know it impacts their immunity, according to a recent poll of 2,000 U.S. adults aged 30 and above. And 61% also realize that a healthy diet and lifestyle can better protect their long-term health. So what should you look for when it comes to a weight loss plan? Courtney McCormick, MPH, RDN, LDN, corporate dietitian at Nutrisystem, offers these tips to help you choose the right program.

Keep it Simple: Let’s face it, in our crazy busy world, we have to make hundreds of decisions a day, often at lightning speed. You shouldn’t have to worry about counting points or measuring foods. Look for a plan that’s easy and convenient and does the work for you.

Focus on Protein: Protein is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and a key to weight loss. Protein helps with satiety, so it’s important to include some in each meal and snack. Look for plans with high-protein options, which include up to 30 grams in each meal and keep you full for up to five hours.

Look for Value: As prices continue to rise at grocery stores nationwide, many people struggle to find affordable options to help them eat healthier and lose weight. However, those options do exist. Look for plans that are cost-effective and deliver the majority of meals right to your door.

Don’t Give Up Your Favorite Meals: Look for a plan that lets you eat your favorite foods. Losing weight doesn’t have to mean giving up the things you love. Weight loss plans like Nutrisystem offer comfort foods made healthier that are perfectly portioned so you can enjoy them without guilt. The plan also offers dessert for those with a sweet tooth.

Seek Support: Achieving the goals you’ve set for yourself is so much easier when you have a support system. The best people to have on your team when you’re trying to lose excess weight are those who sit down at daily meals with you. Even better, your chances of reaching and maintaining your weight loss goal increase dramatically if another person in your household joins you on the journey. Look for plans that offer options for you and your partner to get healthier together.

Remember, your weight loss goals will be more than achievable this year if you follow the right plan for yourself. Look for a program designed to help you succeed. (StatePoint)

Grieving with The Compassionate Friends

By Victoria R. Crosby

Last year I joined a club that nobody chooses to join, yet it is growing in numbers. The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is the name of an organization comprised of groups of bereaved parents who meet regularly for emotional support. I attended my first meeting in December of 2021, three months after the death of my youngest son, at the First Christian Church of Atlanta on LaVista Road in Tucker. The Compassionate Friends has been meeting at this church hall for over forty years. There are over five hundred chapters in all fifty states and in Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam, and worldwide. Meetings are in Lawrenceville, Duluth, and Tucker. The groups are very diverse and every grieving parent is welcome.

TCF was founded in England in 1968 and as a nonprofit organization in 1969, at what was then the Warwickshire Hospital, now the University Hospital, Coventry, when two young boys died within days of each other, and the chaplain brought the two sets of grieving parents together. There are now chapters all over the world.

In December the forty-second annual candlelight memorial service was held for all the chapters to participate, at the First Christian Church of Atlanta. A memorial video of children whose families had submitted photos was shown while a pianist played beautiful music. Among the pieces were “Memory” from Cats, and the theme from the film

Somewhere in Time

Five Memory Candles on an altar were lit by a parent, each one representing a different emotion: Grief, Courage, Memories, Love, and Hope, as they read the words in the program that went with each memory candle. I was asked to read and light one of the candles, and I chose Hope as it was a short reading and my first time attending, so I was not sure I could read it without my voice breaking.

The speakers were a bereaved man and his daughter, the deceased young man’s sister. Everyone present was given a candle which they lit from one of the five larger ones and said the name of their child into the microphone.

A mass candle lighting, believed to be the largest in the world, is held on the second Sunday of December each year at 7 p.m. local time, creating a virtual twenty-four hour wave of light as it moves from time zone to time zone, uniting families and friends around the globe to

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The Compassionate Friends

honor the memories of sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, and grandchildren who left too soon.

The death of a child is traumatic, and parents grieve no matter the age of their son or daughter, whether infants or adults forty and older. A parent never recovers from the loss of a child; it’s not the natural order of life.

There were also many sorts of deaths, but there is no judgment only understanding. Everybody who attends is in a different phase of their grief journey. Some are new to the group and have just recently experienced the loss; others have attended meetings for years, helping others to cope with their loss. Many of the longtime attendees become the leaders of the groups, who welcome the new people, and read the names of those children whose birthdays are that particular

month.

There are guidelines to participation. Nobody is obliged to speak, but when it is your turn to speak, others must listen. You are asked to speak only of your own experience and not to offer solutions to others. If your faith has been helpful that is fine, but some people have a difficult time and experience anger at God or their higher power. At meetings it’s fine to cry, and it’s also fine to laugh. Many people attending say that The Compassionate Friends has been a life saver for them. If you, or someone you know, has lost a child, sibling, or grandchild, please let them know there is a caring support group available to help guide them through their grief.

The mission of TCF is to provide friendship, understanding, and hope to those going through the natural grieving process. I know that it has been a great help to me.

More information at www.tcfatlanta.org or www.compassionatefriends.org

Small Business Spotlight: Three Ways to Support Local Small Businesses

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff

There are millions of small businesses in the United States and so many in our community owned by passionate people working hard to make their dreams a reality. Rather than buying from a big retailer the next time you need something, consider supporting the locally owned businesses around you. When you support a small business, you’re not only helping build your community, but also directly impacting someone’s life. Every customer counts when it comes to small business, which means your dollars can help that small business owner thrive.

For example, as the nation’s largest insurer, State Farm® has more than 19,000 agents who are small business owners themselves, and who are committed to restoring lives, rebuilding neighborhoods, and investing in the communities where they live and work. This desire to help started 100 years ago when the company was founded by a farmer who was concerned that big city insurance companies would not serve the specific needs of his business and community.

Here are three simple ways to support small businesses and have a positive impact:

1) Get to know your community through its businesses

Your support matters all year long. For many people, this means shifting their mindset to thinking about local options first and getting to know the types of products and services your local businesses are providing. Whether you are purchasing items for yourself or someone else, start to understand how these local businesses can fill your needs. Don’t forget, many small businesses offer gift cards, which are wonderful ways to show ongoing support.

2) Support small business service providers

Small businesses aren’t just for tangible goods. Many provide important services, such as your local mechanic, dentist, or plumbing company. So, no matter your needs, try and find businesses that are active in the community. You can spot these businesses by seeing how they engage with their neighbors. Look for the providers that are going above and beyond to support the neighborhood and other small businesses. By supporting those that have a strong investment in your community, you are helping them create a greater impact.

3) Share your experiences

Many small businesses rely on satisfied customers to tell others so they can grow their client base. People trust word of mouth, so your effort makes a difference. In fact, more than eight out of 10 people around the world said they completely or somewhat trust the recommendations of friends and family, according to Nielsen. Plus, two-thirds said they trust online opinions from consumers. So, tell a friend in person, share a post on social media, or leave a positive review online.

If you’re a small business owner, consider using your platform to build up other entrepreneurs in your neighborhood. The next time you have a need arise, think of how a small business can help. Every effort counts to build your community, show your support, and ensure you continue to have thriving small businesses near you. (BPT)

there for them. Though some of the stigma is finally fading around issues of mental health, and there is actually a new 24-hour mental crisis prevention hotline, 9-8-8, many may still be overwhelmed by a sudden hostile turn of events.

I am speaking of the damage that can be wrought by an unexpected divorce, loss of a job, or sudden death of a partner or family member. Having attempted to be there for friends and family experiencing each of these circumstances during 2022, I can also attest that at times the offer of assistance/support is not readily accepted. Still, I can assure you that the offer of a helping hand is noted, and at least inside their heart and mind, it is appreciated.

We don’t get to choose the cards we get dealt, only how we react and play that hand. Many view adversity and conflict as insurmountable obstacles. They are not. In my mid-40s, after a productive decade with a global public relations firm, a personality conflict with my supervisor could no longer be avoided. I took a leap of faith and left the enterprise. There were some really challenging early years building out our small firm, but I have never looked back. And the successes since, economically and otherwise, would never have arrived in that other structure and environment.

Our youngest child was not planned, but once expected, we prepared as we understood hers might be a life with some cognitive

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they use volunteers from the community, like the ROTC members from Parkview High School.

The organization’s newest project is Taste of Lilburn planned for April 29th at Heritage Hall. They are inviting restaurants to share their tastings with the community.

The club is hoping for about twenty-five vendors, along with a few craft vendors as well. If all goes well, the club hopes to make the Taste of Lilburn an annual event in the spring.

“We think Lilburn is looking for this,” she said. “Tastings are a really fun community event, and a nice event to add to the things we already do.”

Allred has been a part of the club for about five years now. When she joined, she was looking to have more of a connection with her community. She said it was her husband who encouraged her to check out the Lilburn Woman’s Group. Now she serves as the club’s president, and she really loves it.

“I love the people,” Allred said. “And I’ve learned so much from them. Working with one another you learn from one another and support one another. And I’ve enjoyed getting to know the people and welcoming their gifts – the things they have to offer. It’s just a really neat experience.”

For anyone interested in joining the club, prospective members are asked to attend at least a couple of the general meetings and a couple of different program meetings, so they can get a good idea about how the club works. This also allows members to get to know prospects as well. Members are required to be registered voters.

“We are looking for citizenship,” Allred said. “People who are likeminded who want to work with us and are interested in serving in the community.”

The GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club is a nonprofit organization. Other ways to help include making a donation to support one of the many projects, or come out and support one of the many community events the club holds.

“If people want to support us, it helps a lot to have the financial support,” Allred said. “But the community participation helps, too. We enjoy it and that’s why we’re here.”

More information at www.lilburnwomansclub.org.

and other health challenges. Our Olivia also turned out to be both the glue and the sunlight in our small family, particularly in those early years. My lucky number, 13, is considered bad luck and even a bad omen by many; yet time and again, in Las Vegas and elsewhere, it has delivered for me – again – those choices of how you play the hand.

Entering this year, with some familial rebounds underway, I can’t help but feel and believe that 2023 will bring us some wonderful surprises. Those too, require an appropriate attitude, gratitude, and response. I have again witnessed quite a few others blow some wonderful opportunities, primarily due to the sudden nature of the offered change of life and pace.

Don’t be afraid as you see those curve balls coming across the plate to seek advice and counsel from those whose opinions and thinking you admire most. Friends and family sincerely want to help you. The best of those have also learned the lesson of withholding their advice until it is sought, versus always having the best ideas to offer and suggest, unasked.

Enough parables for this column and day, but seriously as you go through 2023, remember how much easier it is to smile versus frown – two muscles versus a few dozen – to offer a handshake versus a stiff arm and raised palm. Never having been much of a great athlete, I typically missed those curve balls back in the day, but I did learn pretty quickly if you see them coming and lean in, the ball may glance or strike you, and you get that free base walk. Again, it’s all about those choices. Take care out there.

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

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partners to break ground on the Rowen knowledge community, another gleaming example of intentional collaboration that will unlock opportunity for Gwinnett and beyond. Built atop a portion of the land being supported by our Eastern Regional Infrastructure project – which is bringing water, sewer, and trails to 8,500 acres in east Gwinnett –Rowen will be home to innovation in the agricultural, environmental and medical fields.”

Of the overall contractors, Rowen is prioritizing economic equity with a goal of 30% of the contractors being small, women, and minority-owned businesses.

R.U.T. – A Word for Your Day

trying to accomplish.

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5. Take ACTION. After practicing the other four A’s, it is now time to put all that to work and pull yourself out of that R.U.T!

If you’ve been counting these five on your hand, you’ll notice your hand has opened up to show your palm. Take a look at your palm and notice that all your fingers are connected and held up so that you can function properly. With your palm wide open, there is one more A to add to the list: ACCOUNTABILITY. We all need accountability, whether we are self-disciplined to hold ourselves accountable or whether we need an outside resource. Create an accountability plan for yourself that can be your go-to next time you’re in a R.U.T. As a coach, that’s one of the benefits I offer, or any other coach offers. Not only are we your encourager and supporter, we are also steady accountability partners.

Today, I challenge you to do a R.U.T. audit. Are you Reinforcing Unrealistic Thoughts? If you are headed down a path or trajectory and are not able to accomplish it, this may be an indicator that you are in a R.U.T. Practice these five A’s, with accountability, to help you shift from Reinforcing Unrealistic Thoughts to Realistic Planning.

For more information visit www.janebishop.live

GFWC Lilburn Woman’s Club

Nicole Hendrickson

Pet Perch: Dogs and Grief, How You Can Help

By Terie Hansen

Dogs, like people, have different personalities, each being an individual. When a family experiences the loss of a dog and they have another dog or dogs, the dog(s) left behind will grieve the loss of the passing pack member.

Some dogs grieve longer than others, but in general, compared to their human counterparts, their grieving process is less emotional and much shorter. However, if the human puts all their emotions into the dog or dogs left, it can certainly extend the grieving process and may even create some behavioral problems.

While it can be difficult for you, the best approach is:

If possible allow the companion dog(s) to be present at the Euthanasia. A mobile veterinarian can typically perform an in-home euthanasia, allowing for a peaceful passing and the presence of the other family dog(s).

Keep your emotions in check as much as possible. Easier said than done for sure! And yes, a little extra TLC goes a long way, but too much can do more harm than good.

Keep a normal routine going. This helps dogs feel safe and secure, and helps to relieve or keep stress to a minimum.

Some added exercise is in order, as this will get their feel-good chemicals (endorphins) flowing, helping them to be in a peaceful, happy state. The same will work for you as well, so get out and walk!

This is a great time to introduce some training as a means of stimulating your dog’s brain in a positive way. Perhaps some agility, nose work, or some good old fashioned basic obedience is in order. Dogs thrive on learning new things.

Remember, time heals, and you and your canine companion will feel happy again one day, maybe even enough to open your heart and your home to another dog in need of a family.

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

Re-imagine Your Child’s Next Gift Cont’d

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with the help and collaboration from loved ones. Parents start by creating a Gift Nabü campaign for their child’s birthday or any special occasion. The campaign link is then shared with loved ones near and far and on social media. The campaign funds are kept in a secure account until they are ready to be used for a chosen activity, trip, concert, or therapy session.

Just like that, a child’s gift becomes a lifetime memory.

When asked why Gift Nabü was created, Dani responded, “We need a new way to gift. We have the toys; I think what we want is memories and to provide more access. I know that child development comes from childhood experiences, and we can make it so much easier for parents by coming together to gift these experiences.”

Dani and Gabby have re-imagined the gift-giving scene. They are happy to have found each other at South Gwinnett High School, but are even happier to know that their friendship and innovation will make a difference in the lives of children near and far.

So next time you think about your child’s next gift, ditch the guesswork, long lines, and countless hours in traffic, and gift something memorable and meaningful with Gift Nabü.