MAY 2019 Gwinnett/Walton Community & Family Magazine
Our Town GWINNETT
Grayson Dacula Loganville Lawrenceville
Up Close with Reddy Medical Urgent Care, see story on page 5.
13 14 16 18
Meet Jordan Eugene: Creator of Who Would You TRUST? Collecting History: Stamp Collecting in Gwinnett County Getting to Know Mesum Zaidi: Grayson High’s 2019 Valedictorian iCan Bike Gwinnett: Making a Difference in Lives
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On the Cover: Reddy, Set, Go! Reddy Urgent Care Opens a New Location in Loganville By Kristen Eleveld In an age where information seems literally endless, we find ourselves presented with hundreds, sometimes thousands, of places to choose from for all types of services. But when it comes to picking an urgent care, you know you need to find a place that is not just available – it needs to be the right fit. Making that choice can seem daunting and maybe impossible, but for Loganville residents, your decision is over: Reddy Urgent Care has moved into town. With a history of medical care services going back nearly 40 years, Reddy Urgent Care and its accompanying medical centers have already established themselves as reliable and trustworthy. The Loganville urgent care center is the seventh such facility to open in Georgia, and they are committed to what Medical Director Dr. Ram Reddy calls “The Reddy Way.” “The Reddy Way means you will walk into an urgent care that is family-owned and committed to finding a solution for your needs,” said Dr. Reddy. “We work hard to be economically savvy while still offering you the highest level of medical care available.” The greatest thing about urgent care? It’s the best of both worlds. You can receive comprehensive medical treatments in a timely fashion that doesn’t blow your budget. In short, you are able to get what you need, when you need it, for the right price. But the “urgent” in urgent care does not mean you will be rushed out the door to save time. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Dr. Reddy and his team believe in the value of getting to know a patient and working with them to solve their problems instead of just sending them on their way. “We always want our patients to walk away with a solution and a plan,” said Dr. Reddy of his philosophy for urgent care. “It’s important to us that you know the next steps to take before you walk out of our doors.” As part of Reddy Urgent Care’s ever-increasing efforts to educate their patients, they also provide a list of current, relevant information for common medical situations. An on-call doctor stands ready to assist you 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And their patient portal allows for constant and reliable access to your medical records and the treatment you have received. It is these types of details that set Reddy Urgent Care apart from your average walk-in clinic. With full access to equipment like x-ray machines and EKGs, Reddy Urgent Care is able to address a wide variety of medical issues, ranging from the most common types of problems to
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isJohn honored to beIV, we are committed to providing you with the high AtDr. the Simmons dental office of W. Simmons, comprehensive dental care, focused on both the function and beauty of your smile. A one of only nine dentists improving in patient care and comfort are our primary concerns. We are proud to run a practice that treats ea Georgia to have passed the kind, gentle, and caring manner, just like family. We offer a full range of the latest cosmetic a rigorous required to long-lasting, earn procedures thattesting concentrate on ensuring brilliant results you will love, and others
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accreditation from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. His state-of-the-art equipment and updated technology allow him to affordably serveDENTAL CARE AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY D.M.D., P.C. • SUPERIOR his patients by providing healthy, beautiful smiles. Our experienced team provides five-star service, personalized care, and an extraordinary commitment to your health and well-being. Please join our Call for an Appointment family by scheduling a new patient exam.
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Our Town Gwinnett/Walton Community & Family Magazine
Publisher/Owner Ryan T. Sauers Ryan@EndResultZ.com Creative Director Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultZ.com
Editor Catherine L. Osornio Editor@EndResultZ.com Cover Photographer Marcie Reif Photography
Drs. Vic Koehler, Beau Upshaw and Stewart Helton
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Distribution Coordinator DeeDee Chapman Feature Writers Pearl Aidoo Heidi Campbell K. Coats Kristen Eleveld Emily Haney Kim Hill Amy Ney Traci Sanders Beth Volpert Johansen Contributing Writers Bill Crane Tanisha Turner Carol Tuttle Pam Walker
— An EndResultZ Media & Communications firm EndResultZ.com Our Town Gwinnett is published and direct mailed to select homes in the Gwinnett /Walton area. Opinions expressed by the writers and staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our Town Gwinnett reserves the right to edit and/or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our Town Gwinnett is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers. Entire contents copyright 2019 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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IN THIS ISSUE 5 7 8 9 10 10 13 14 14 15 16 17 18 20 21
On the Cover: Reddy, Set, Go! Reddy Urgent Care Opens a New Location in Loganville From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion Family Corner: Plan, Unplug, and be Positive at Mealtime Learning Lessons: Focus on the First Five Years to Foster Your Child’s Development It’s in the Blood: Meet Emily Rusch Keeping You Informed: Lawrenceville Neighborhood Alliance Meet Jordan Eugene: Who Would You TRUST? Collecting History: Stamp Collecting in Gwinnett Travel Tales: Re-Wilding South America Crane’s Corner: Insights from Bill Crane Getting to Know Mesum Zaidi: Grayson High’s 2019 Valedictorian McCurry Photography Exhibit Graces Halls in Gwinnett School iCan Bike Gwinnett: Making A Difference in Lives Local Book Review: Where the Crawdads Sing is a Great Read Feeling Unmotivated? Remove “Should” from Your Vocabulary
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A Mother’s Day Gift
From the Publisher:
To all mothers,canine and human alike Happy Mother’s Day!
One Man’s Opinion By Ryan T. Sauers
@RyanSauers
It is May and we are moving to the end of the school year. We all look forward to a great summer. My love of family, faith, and community is one of the many reasons I enjoy publishing two monthly magazines dedicated to these topics. I believe there are better things happening in the world than is ever reported. If you are a regular reader of this column, you may be thinking that I say this a lot. And you are correct. We all need to remind ourselves of the good that exists – yet is often overlooked – throughout our community, country, and world. Moreover, many of us see our world as overloaded with information and moving at warp speed – quite impersonal and “short attention” span in nature. If you consume any type of news (locally or globally), you witness a world that may can seem out of control, angry, and divided. But let me tell you something – there are more amazing people out there than we can ever do stories on. And that is just in our local community. The people I know desire peace, love, laughter, and a better world for their children/grandchildren. The Our Town community is simply a microcosm of all that is happening around America and the world. In our communities we have our own opinions, beliefs, and values. Thus, we must work hard to care about each person we meet. So, please put your phone down and talk to someone (and really and truly listen). Will you help me challenge others to think of further ways to strengthen our community, refrain from criticism, and to focus on solutions? Every human has emotions: love, anger, frustration, etc. Together we can make a difference and build strong bridges of understanding between one another. This allows us to develop trust that is needed as we all move forward together. A community is strengthened one person and one day at a time. I wish you and your family a wonderful and blessed May and upcoming summer season. I am so glad you are with us as we continue the journey of my town, your town, our town!
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Family Corner: Plan, Unplug, and be Positive at Mealtime By Our Town Staff With our busy lifestyles today, finding time to shop for groceries, cook, then meet as a family to enjoy a meal together can be a major challenge. A Harris poll shows only 30 percent of American families share dinner each night. Yet the benefits of maintaining that family time are so substantial that it’s well worth your while to make it happen. Research shows, for example, that kids and teens who share meals with their families three or more times per week are significantly less likely to be overweight, more likely to eat healthy foods and less likely to have eating disorders. Further, such togetherness is linked with higher grades, better self-esteem, and positive behaviors such as sharing, fairness, and respect among children who participate. In that spirit, we asked actress, host, food lover, and mom of two, Courtney Lopez, for some helpful tips on how she gets her family together for mealtime. Lopez has recently teamed up with Eggland’s Best (EB), a proud supporter of the American Heart Association’s Healthy for Good movement, to challenge families across America to pledge to stay at the table for an additional “dozen” minutes. 1. Unplug and unwind. Make your table a phone-free zone, encouraging everyone to talk about their day. This will help your family grow closer together and become more and more involved in each other’s lives. You might be surprised by what you will learn! 2. Try new dishes. Comfort food can be a great thing, but so can the sense of adventure that comes from trying new dishes. Eggland’s Best eggs can be incorporated into an endless spectrum of family-friendly recipes like the Southwestern Quinoa and Egg Breakfast Bowl. EB eggs are the only eggs good enough for my family meals, with superior nutrition like 25 percent less saturated fat and 6 times more vitamin D than ordinary eggs. 3. Make it a team effort. Your family will feel more involved if they share the work. My little guys love helping by cracking eggs, stirring, sprinkling spices, or setting the table. Allowing little ones to help can also get them excited about the meal, even if they tend to be picky eaters. And as the old saying goes, many hands make light work. 4. Plan in Advance: It can be tough to have nutritious meals ready to go with a busy schedule, but spending just a few hours of your weekend buying, prepping, or even cooking the components of your weekday meals will go a long way. You’ll thank yourself when you’re hungry and tired at the end of a long day. Having everything nearly ready to serve reduces the chances you’ll opt for fast food or other less-healthy food options. 5. Focus on the Positive. No one wants to share a table with fellow diners who are grouchy and unpleasant to each other – although sometimes that can be unavoidable with kids. To keep it positive during this relatively short time each day, avoid judgments, lectures, sarcasm, and snarky comments. Ask each person about the highs and lows of his or her day, setting aside this space and time to celebrate victories and help each other through life’s challenges. Sharing great food together can be an excellent way to create positive memories and boost family bonding. So, make some time to have a meal with your family. You will be glad you did. (BPT)
PAGE 8
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Learning Lessons: Focus on the First Five Years to Foster Your Child’s Development By Tanisha Turner The brain develops faster in the first five years of life than at any other point, and studies show that the human brain is never more receptive than during this time period. Understanding a couple of key facts behind children’s brain development can help parents and caregivers better support a child’s learning during this critical time. Dr. Laura Jana, a pediatrician, award-winning author, and member of the Primrose Schools Early Learning Council, employs four key connections to help explain why the first five years are critical for children’s development: Connecting the Neurons. Babies are born with more than 100 billion nerve cells in their brains. These neurons must connect and communicate with each other in order to form the circuits needed to think, learn and succeed – something neurons do at the remarkable rate of 700 connections per second in the first five years of life. In fact, peak development of sensory pathways, such as hearing, vision and language, occurs during the first six months of life. Parents can make the most of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity by nurturing their child’s natural desire to explore, asking meaningful questions, and creating as many learning experiences as possible! Making Connections with Caring, Responsive Adults. The everyday back-and-forth interactions adults have with babies – from babbling to singing, cooing, and other responsive gestures – shape brain development far more than parents and caregivers may realize. Research from The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University reveals that a strong relationship between a caring responsive adult and a child is so powerful that it can literally serve as a protective buffer against the potentially negative effects of stress and adversity on the developing brain. Start building this relationship with your infant by responding to his babbles, gestures, or cries with the appropriate eye contact, words, or a hug. This supports the development of your little one’s communication and social skills. Connecting Language and Literacy Skills with Future Life Success. Reading and talking to young children is fundamentally important to their development. Betty Hart and Todd Risley, child psychologists at the University of Kansas, found in their landmark 1995 study that the frequency and quality of words spoken to children have significant implications on their vocabularies, IQ, literacy skills, and future academic success. Parents don’t need to wait until their child can sit up, hold a book or even focus on the words to start reading together – the earlier, the better! Recognizing the Connection between Early Skills and Workforce Development. All parents strive to raise happy, successful children, but over time certain skills have become more relevant for success in today’s workforce. Instead of focusing solely on academic success, parents, caregivers and early educators are also focusing on instilling essential traits and skills like grit, perseverance, compassion, and problem-solving. Early childhood is when the foundation for these attributes is built and nurtured. Modeling these skills and traits is one of the best ways parents can help their child develop them. The first five years of a child’s life are special for many reasons. Recognizing the rapid development that takes place during this critical stage and fostering the above connections will help ensure your little one gets the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime learning opportunity! Tanisha Turner is Owner of Primrose School at Sugarloaf Parkway. More information at www. PrimroseSugarloafParkway.com
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The Heart of What Matters
It’s in the Blood: Meet Emily Rusch By Traci Sanders
Beverly D’Amico RN, MSN, GRS Life Coach & Grief Recovery Counselor TheHeartofWhatMatters.com 770-896-3871 TheHeartofWhatMatters@gmail.com
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Imagine the joy of hearing your doctor tell you that you’re pregnant with your second child, only to have all that joy sucked right back out when he also tells you that your baby is in danger because of your blood! This was one Loganville woman’s experience. At her initial doctor’s visit to confirm the pregnancy of her son in 2016, Emily underwent some routine blood tests. Four weeks later, she was diagnosed with a rare blood condition called isoimmunization. She later learned that she’d probably developed this disorder during the birth of her daughter in 2014, and it had gone undiagnosed. Isoimmunization – also known as alloimmunization, or simply Iso – is a condition where antibodies are produced in an individual that essentially battle the antigen of another related individual (as with transfusions between family members). In Emily’s case, her antibodies were destroying the blood of her son, which contained the FYA antigen her antibodies were programmed to attack during pregnancy. Emily was surprised by this because she had no history of this condition anywhere in her family, and she learned that Iso only affects her baby during pregnancy. One could consider this condition a cousin of the Rh factor disease. When doctors discover that a pregnant mom has Iso, the mother and baby must be monitored closely throughout the pregnancy to ensure that the baby’s blood is not too thin and pumping too quickly, which would indicate anemia and possible hemolytic disease. In some cases, the baby will need a blood transfusion in-utero. Generally, doctors will simply monitor the blood flow for the duration of the pregnancy and the baby might need a few transfusions once born, but is eventually weaned off them. This process can take up to six months. While researching Iso online one day, Emily came across a blog by another mom with Iso. Emily reached out and joined a Facebook group called Iso Moms, which had hundreds of moms who had also been diagnosed with this condition. Many times, a company called Access Biologicals was mentioned in the group as a way to help other Iso moms. Emily contacted the company and began setting up appointments to donate plasma that is used to create test kits for others who suspect they have isoimmunization. Since Emily’s blood plasma has something known as a high titer, it has the highest concentration of the anti FYA factor, which is extremely rare. Access Biologicals reimburses Emily for flying to Indianapolis up to twice per week to donate her plasma which serves as the control group for others to compare their antibody titer (or concentration) against. This company also accepts donations for autoimmune and infectious diseases such as fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, mono, lupus, and more. Having lost her first child just three days after birth, not related to this condition but due to unreported decelerations of the heart rate, Emily encourages women to educate themselves and share any findings with their doctor to advocate for their health and the health of their babies. One important question Emily suggests that women ask the doctor in charge of treatment is “How many procedures have you done in a year?” Five to ten is the minimum you want to look for when interviewing doctors. According to Emily, Dr. Moise out of Houston, Texas, is the country’s top expert on this condition. He performed one of the earliest in-utero blood transfusions at just fifteen weeks gestation. Continued on page 14
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City council meetings, code violations, and candidate forums. In the city of Lawrenceville, it can be difficult to stay up to date with everything happening within the community. Whether you’re unable to attend city council meetings or are unsure how to address code violations in your neighborhood, the Lawrenceville Neighborhood Alliance (LNA), according to its president, Gerold Martin, acts as a “conduit between the residents and the city.” What began by Beverly Dryden in 2008 over concerns with code enforcement in local neighborhoods has evolved into something more. There are about 100 families represented. If someone has a concern, LNA will help connect them to the proper person in the city. Recently, Martin Continued on page 13
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Who Would You TRUST? By Pearl Aidoo It’s the ultimate interactive party card game for adults and a fantastic social ice-breaker. It’s a game that very quickly gets everyone talking and laughing with questions like, “Who would you trust to lead you through a minefield blindfolded?” Or “Who would you trust to shave your body in places you can’t reach?” The objective of the game is to get five cards to win. Right off the bat, the person you actually trust in the group is eliminated from your choice, so now with a timer ticking away, you have a group of people creatively persuading you to trust them instead as they try to weed out the competition. Suddenly, the room is filled with excited voices, sounds of laughter, and fun. Everyone in the group is engaged and getting to know each other. Jordan Eugene is the creator and designer of the card game Who Would You TRUST? Back in August of 2018 an old friend from high school asked Jordan to accompany him to a dingy bar. Given the lengthy passage of time and the lack of communication between them, Jordan wouldn’t even trust said friend with getting him a glass of water. However, instead of voicing his thoughts, he politely declined. Later on as he considered the situation, Jordan thought, “Who would I trust to accompany to a dingy bar… or get me a glass of water?” Thinking it was a Continued on page 21
Lawrenceville Neighborhood Alliance Continued from page 10 met residents in the neighborhood of Grayland Hills. Drainage concerns came up, and he was able to put them in contact with the city engineer, who came, talked to the residents directly, and resolved the issue. LNA will also meet up with people, help them document a situation, and then present it in front of the city council on their behalf. “This gives them a greater voice than just one individual saying they need assistance,” said Martin. “We’re able to put some weight to that.” Along with speaking with members one on one, the group hosts events like an annual meeting with a guest speaker and city officials to talk about future city plans. Mark your calendars because to further inform the public, LNA will host another candidate forum on October 2, 2019 at the Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church. This is an opportunity for residents to learn more about who is running in local elections and to have a question and answer time with the candidates. LNA also sends out newsletters with what’s happening. They include city council agendas, reminders for referendum votes, and more. The goal is to keep residents as up to date as possible. City officials have even sent out material to the LNA board members to be shared within the newsletter, recognizing LNA as a key organization in the community. Playing an important part in the future of Lawrenceville, LNA has led the city to develop 2030 and 2040 plans. “They’re really planning ahead now,” said Martin. “When there are planning and zoning requests, they can refer to the plans and figure out how the request fits in.” According to Martin, Dryden, the founder of LNA, wanted the city to have an idea of what it should look like. This includes the plans for the future as well as working to get the new Lawrenceville signs that are up around town now. LNA believes that education is important for students, too, so the organization works to support groups such as the Central Gwinnett Cluster Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club. The Central Gwinnett Cluster Foundation provides grants to teachers to do programs with their students. From materials for fine arts and reading to robotics, the grants allow students to further their education. The Boys and Girls Club off Five Forks also contributes to expanding minds. “They’re teaching children how to accept responsibility and also to think about their own future,” said Martin. “That’s the perfect thing to be teaching youth.” According to Martin, LNA has always had a connection with teachers and youth, so these programs seemed like a natural fit. LNA not only helps to keep residents informed, but supports the future of the city (the youth) and encourages the city to do more as well while still holding code enforcements at the forefront. The organization is a voice for neighbors, students, and city improvements. More information at lawrencevilleNA@hotmail.com
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Emily Rusch Continued from page 10
Collecting History: Stamp Collecting in Gwinnett
Dr. Moise is also developing a drug that prevents antibodies from crossing the placenta during pregnancy. This drug is not currently available to Emily, but she hopes after FDA approval, a similar drug will be developed for her specific antibody type. This is different from the Rhogam shot, which stops D- antibodies from being developed in the first place. Once antibodies are created by the mother, there is no way to get rid of them. Even though Emily has learned more than she ever wanted to know about isoimmunization and other illnesses, she’s thankful to be a voice for other women and children affected by this and hopes to one day create a program that educates and provides resources to help them navigate the choppy and uncertain waters through which she has traveled. If you’d like to check out the Facebook group on isoimmunization, you may connect with Emily Rusch on Facebook and she will share more information, as it’s a closed group. To learn more about Access Biologicals and find out if your condition or illness qualifies for donations, please visit the below address and tell them you learned about them through Emily Rusch: https://www.accessbiologicals.com/?fbclid=IwAR0q52p3dLjDFEQuOCUlGQGypJPejHo_ MAkMDl8uWMcZLQUvgcQGxddbKwI
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Most “old time” stamp collectors began at a young age. According to Allen Johnson, who has been stamp collecting on and off since the age of 8, “People start collecting young, drop out sometime around high school and then pull [their collections] back out and start adding to it again.” Johnson became serious about stamps again in his early 30s. Now 63 and retired, he’s able to devote more of his time to growing his collection. “My goal,” he said, “is to try to own one of every stamp made between the beginning of stamps in the 1850s to 1974, when I graduated high school.” Johnson spends time each month with people who share his passion. The former president and the current secretary of the Button Gwinnett Stamp Club, Johnson attends club meetings on the third Wednesday of every month at Mountain Park United Methodist Church from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The nonprofit club has been around for more than twenty years. Meetings have a designated time for show and tell for anyone who has bought anything unusual that they want to share, and there is always an auction at the end of meetings. “The auction is open to anyone, but you have to be a club member to put items in,” said Johnson. Membership is $12 for the year. The stamp club gets quite a few people coming in for free appraisals of collections. Johnson is accustomed to seeing nine out of ten collections worth around 20 dollars, but there are surprises. A couple years ago he helped to appraise one lot that ended up selling for $23,000. “Most collectors don’t sell their stamps. They die and leave them to relatives,” said Johnson. The free appraisals offered by the Button Gwinnett Stamp Club can be very helpful to people who are often overwhelmed by the intricacies of collections. Depending on the time period, there can also be multiple variations of one stamp. One variation can be worth 35 cents while another can be worth $250. It all depends, and the club helps people to figure out the value of what they have bought or, more often than not, inherited. There is no one way to collect stamps. “It’s almost endless how you can collect – how finite you can make a collection or how infinite,” said Johnson. “Topical stamps are very popular among Continued on page 19
I am really a very fortunate person! To date, I have traveled to 123 countries and met people from everywhere in my effort to engage and spread peace through travel. I love the wild places of the world and have been so lucky to have traveled to the wilds of Africa, Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe, and South America. On a recent trip to Patagonia, I was ecstatic to have run into one of my personal idols! No, not a movie star, but a real hero in my eyes. Her name is Kristine McDivitt Tompkins. As former CEO of Patagonia – along with her husband, Douglas Thompkins, former owner and creator of North Face – Kristine created the Thompkins Conservation Foundation to RE-WILD huge swaths of land in South America. Unfortunately, Doug was lost in a kayaking accident in his beloved Chile, but Kristine continues the work of the Foundation, bringing the natural wildlife of South America back into existence. She and Doug purchased huge acres of land in Argentina and Chile with the intention of returning the true nature of their ancestry back to the people of these two countries. They were the original conservation activists, buying farms and grazing fields, unfencing them, and turning them back into the wilds they once were. The couple sowed seeds of native plants, started campaigns against commercial tree farming and single-use plastics, and much more. Kristine has continued the Foundation’s work by re-introducing the jaguar in Argentina as well as the Giant Anteater, Huemul Deer, Patagonian Deer, and the Patagonia Panther. She has created one of the best conservation museums in history at Patagonia Park with hopes of creating one in New York City as well. I urge you all to get to know what Kristine has done for our world at http://www.tompkinsconservation.org/home.htm. Save the planet, save the people, and most importantly, peace through understanding. Pam Walker is a Virtuoso Travel Advisor and can be reached at pam@walkeradventures.com
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Crane’s Corner: Insights from Bill Crane By Bill Crane “We cannot allow this dangerous disease to make a comeback in New York City,” said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaking to the city’s emergency powers in matters of public health during a press conference on April 9, 2019. There are limits to my belief in modern medicine. Currently, I am only taking one prescription drug for elevated blood pressure, lots of supplements, and CBD oil to deal with a chronic inflammatory illness. I’m a big believer in wellness, prevention, chiropractic, exercise, and a near daily yoga practice to help maintain good health. But the evidence is indisputable: vaccines have prevented serious illness among hundreds of millions, saved lives, and shrunk the world of many killer diseases into petri dishes deep frozen and secured within vaults at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Undoubtedly, preventative vaccines have spared both my children from most of the once more severe illnesses of childhood. Yet I did note a significant increase in both the type and number of required vaccinations from the birth of daughter #1 in 1992 to daughter # 2 in 2007. Both children have been spared the pleasure of the measles and its German cousin, chicken pox, mumps, and many other maladies too numerous to mention. And yet, in many parts of the first world, parents are increasingly vacillating or in many cases simply saying NO to childhood vaccinations. Some believe vaccinations harbor small amounts of heavy metals like mercury and other toxins as preservatives. Thiomersal, and its trade name, Merthiolate (patented by Eli Lily in 1928), is a preservative derived from Mercury and used in the manufacture of many medical vaccinations. A not small number in the scientific community, thousands of parents and families, and several well-regarded studies have indicated that Thiomersal may contribute to or cause autism and other illnesses, including cancer, SIDS, and other neurodevelopmental disorders. While parents have the right to make these decisions for their families and children, we are at
the same time, more and more congregating in cities where population density and commonly used surfaces and gathering places are also more and more the societal norm in the United States and elsewhere. A current resurgence of the measles in New York City, originating reportedly within Orthodox Jewish communities that do not vaccinate as a matter of faith, has moved into the broader public-school system population. New York’s Mayor Bill de Blasio is leading a public awareness effort, “Don’t Wait...Vaccinate,” to slow the measles outbreak, already resulting in hundreds of hospitalizations, from developing into a pandemic. The mayor and city council have mandated the measles vaccine for school-age children within several ZIP codes™ in Brooklyn where outbreaks first occurred. Prior to the public health emergency declaration, Orthodox Jewish families in the impacted neighborhoods and communities were simply urged to keep sick children at home. Vaccinations, on a global scale, have all but eradicated the threats of small pox and polio – and yet without continued vaccinations among our new population, these crippling and fatal diseases may likely make a return just as measles, chicken pox, and other ailments considered less threatening are occurring, even to the extent that some parents hold “measles/pox parties” to intentionally expose their offspring in hopes of naturally strengthening their immune systems. The annual flu vaccine, as an example, is often administered without any preservatives, while still sparing millions of Americans from the serious and in some cases fatal malady of the flu. And yet, with that vaccine both inexpensive and almost universally available, thousands of adults continually choose to avoid it, and Georgia was among the most flu-infested states in the nation yet again this year. The pharmaceutical industry, coming off another year of near record profits, would do well to make the common sense decision to research and deliver other preservative options. Protective mothers, like bears and lionesses, are not likely to simply accept assurances and admonitions of “trust us.” Trust once lost or broken must be earned. Let’s not gamble again with global public health. Drugs are tweaked and re-patented every day at the molecular level by big pharma when seeking the protections of a new patent. It’s time to step up, so that you help remove the doubts of thousands of families refusing to roll up their sleeves and point their child’s foot, upper arm, thigh, or other body part at the business end of a needle. How about a little bit of self-directed financial pain for a significant confidence and consumer trust gain? Don’t vacillate – make the smart and easy choice. Crane is the senior political analyst with WSB Radio and TV and owns the full-service communications consulting firm, CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com
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Getting to Know Mesum Zaidi: Grayson High’s 2019 Valedictorian By K. Coats
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Mesum Zaidi has always been a bright kid. He’s consistently been in the top of his class, and by all accounts he’s highly motivated. But it’s only been official for a short while just exactly how motivated and bright he really is. As the top student of his class, Mesum will lead the Grayson High School class of 2019 as valedictorian. Ending on a high note, he considers this his top accomplishment of his high school years. Mesum is a testament to Gwinnett County Public Schools and, specifically, the Grayson cluster. He began school at Pharr Elementary and went on to Couch Middle after that. At Grayson High, he was quick to stand out from amongst his peers. When asked about what one of his bigger struggles in high school was, Mesum was reflective in his response. “My main challenge was developing a consistent work ethic,” he responded. “While I could easily ‘breeze’ through a lot of my classes before, some classes in high school required me to develop and consistently study, which I found difficult at first.” Freshman year is certainly a pivotal time for developing good study habits, and Mesum was able to adapt and keep up the momentum. But even more than good study habits, Mesum wants to emphasize passion and balance as another key element to student success. He claims, “Contrary to what some people believe, I don’t spend all my time studying or doing school work. I have hobbies and interests, just like any other person.” But more importantly, when asked about his advice to other students as they enter high school, Mesum cautions against what most would assume to be obvious advice. He emphasizes passion, not college admissions boards and such. “I’d advise students to take classes they feel genuinely interested in and do things they enjoy, not just what looks good for colleges.” After all, if students are going to be in high school for four years, it seems logical that success would follow passion, and in that passion lies confidence and the foundation for a lifetime of growth and personal satisfaction. As far as his peers go, they had nothing but positive responses concerning Mesum. One even went so far as to say, “Mesum is a legend!” His teachers can all testify to his passion as well. Mrs. Gambria Lightfoot has had the pleasure of instructing Mesum in AP Literature and Composition this year, and she affirmed what Mesum’s peers have already claimed. “Of course Mesum is intelligent and has a reputation for setting the bar high,” she says, “ but with all of the accolades and recognition, Mesum remains humble.” And to further this, Mrs. Lightfoot adds, “Never once Continued on page 19
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McCurry Photography Exhibit Graces Halls in Gwinnett School By Kim Hill If you received a call from an art gallery owner asking if you would like to have an art display set up in your school, no strings attached, you would probably think it was too good to be true. Fortunately, when Trickum Middle School received such a call, the offer had come through a connection with the gallery owner and a former Trickum teacher, so those involved knew the offer was valid. “We didn’t know what they were at the time, just that they were artwork,” says Trickum visual arts teacher Christine Cliatt about the collection. “The gallery owner said his sole interest is to provide fine art for children to experience every single day right within their school.” The artwork provided is an exhibit containing 118 poster-sized images of photographer Steve McCurry, who is best known for his Afghan Girl photograph that was featured on the cover of National Geographic Magazine in June 1985. The collection, called Faces of Innocence, features photographs taken around the world. Afghan Girl is located beside an intro picture of McCurry from 1983. Trickum language arts teacher Joanna Shackelford explains that Massoud Besharat, owner of Besharat Museum Gallery in Atlanta, began achieving his vision by donating 75 framed prints to Elbert County Primary and Elementary Schools in northeastern Georgia, and later donated an exhibit to Saint Thomas More Catholic School in Decatur because he had a connection there. Debra Moody, a former Trickum language arts teacher who now teaches at Saint Thomas More, learned of Besharat’s desire to expand his exhibits throughout the Atlanta area and that he wanted the next one to be in a public school. Knowing Trickum would be an ideal location for the exhibit, she contacted Ms. Shackelford, who shared the proposal with Principal Ryan Queen and Cliatt, who were thrilled by the prospect. Cliatt and Shackelford were invited to visit Besharat at his gallery and residence in Castleberry Hills where he shared his big dream to expose children to art, saying he feels schools resemble institutions and that students do not have enough exposure to beauty. His idea is to bring the culture into the school so children can be exposed to cultures other than their own. However, because diverse cultures already exist in Gwinnett County Schools, Cliatt says many of the students are able to find children from their native countries captured in the photos. Queen says many students will pose in front of a selected image and take a selfie or have someone make a picture. “I think it’s a great representation of the diversity that we have [at Trickum],” he adds, “and I do think it was ironic. It wasn’t necessarily that we were chosen for our diversity; however, because of how diverse we are, it is very fitting because the kids definitely have a connection. They are very much finding themselves in the images.” At the same time, the images also give students some perspective of the differences between our culture and others. Shackelford says the collection captures her students’ interest every day as they return from lunch. “They are always pointing and seeing something new and interesting.” Queen has observed classes in the hallways doing projects as teachers are finding ways to incorporate the collection into their lessons. Cliatt has used the exhibit to teach her photography students about composition and use of light. As many students are oriented to social media and the “selfie,” she has them observe the pictures to realize that the artist never includes himself; there are no self-portraits. The exhibit has a created a lot of interest in photography circles and other groups, and Principal Queen welcomes these groups to see the collection as long as they call ahead and visit during school hours. “The cool thing,” he says, “is even the non-photography folks may not recognize his name, but as soon as you mention the Afghan Girl, those of us of that generation recognize that face and those green eyes and immediately have a connection to who Steve McCurry is.” The school is hosting an Open House on Tuesday, April 16th from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. Students will be available to guide people through the exhibit and talk about some of the photographs they have researched, or guests may choose to walk through freely. There will be student musical performances and student artwork on display as well. Queen says his understanding is that the exhibit is permanent, with a new collection provided about every year. Shackelford adds, “So this is just the first installation of many – this is what Mr. Besharat’s plan is, because he doesn’t want it to become mundane.” “I was overwhelmed with their generosity,” she continues, “because the first installation was 100 images, but when they saw this hallway, they said ‘you need more’ and so they came back and brought 18 more to fill the space.” Besharat’s only request is to hear, periodically, how the art affects the kids. Cliatt plans to have her students write letters about how the exhibit makes them feel and to send those to the gallery. “What a beautiful self-concept,” she says. “He wants nothing back.”
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iCan Bike Gwinnett: How One Summer Will Make a Lifetime of Difference for Kids By Kristen Eleveld When it comes to summer camp, you might think of the great outdoors, or learning a new sport, or even developing survival skills. But for one group of campers in Gwinnett County this summer, their camp will be focused on something a little less traditional: learning to ride a bike. iCan Bike is a national program that travels the country and holds camp sessions to teach people with disabilities how to ride a two-wheel bicycle independently – and they do it in a week. Campers attend a 75-minute session every day for five days to work on skills that incorporate balance, coordination, and other vital tasks that allow them to successfully ride a bike when the last session has ended. And they aren’t doing it alone – iCan Bike has partnered with The Guide Project, Inc., a local non-profit designed to connect people with disabilities and their families with opportunities to have enriching life experiences that others may take for granted. Together, they have created iCan Bike Gwinnett. “Riding a bike seems like a little thing, but little things can have a big impact,” says Stacey Cheney, who is the co-founder of The Guide Project. “We want to give these kids the chance to gain confidence and skills that will last long after camp is over.” The Guide Project has devoted itself to creating opportunities for individuals with special needs to have experiences that may otherwise be limited or unavailable to them. Their goal is to bridge the social gaps between people with and without disabilities and break down the stigmas often associated with disability. “We envision more opportunities that focus on the experience or activity – not the disability,” Stacey explains. “We don’t want to ignore their special needs, but we also believe they should have the chance to participate in something they love, just because they love it.” This is true inclusion – recognizing the value of a person with special needs that goes beyond Continued on page 21
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Mesum Zaidi Continued from page 16
Collecting History Continued from page 14
have I heard him brag or carry himself as if he’s better than anyone else. He continues to push himself, seeking every opportunity to improve, sometimes selling himself short.” Humility is such an underrated characteristic, and Mesum seems to have struck an uncommon balance in one so young. “Mesum will change the world, a true scholar with integrity and character to match,” Mrs. Lightfoot concludes. When asked what advice he would give to parents to help their students be successful, Mesum continued to focus on passion and choice as the foundation. “I think parents should give their children freedom to choose what they want to do in school. While it’s sometimes necessary to push your children, they usually know their own capabilities and interests,” he says. “If [parents] put [them] into a class they dislike or feel unprepared for, a student will naturally underperform.” For Mesum, his passion is leading him to Georgia Tech where he plans to major in biomedical engineering with a focus on genetic engineering. We look forward to following Mesum and seeing what great accomplishments his passion nets him and the field of science. Thank you, Mesum, for your advice, passion, and wisdom. Best wishes to you at Georgia Tech! More information at www.graysonhs.org.
younger people.” These would be stamps with a similar theme such as dinosaurs or Disney. Twice a year the Button Gwinnett Stamp Club hosts a stamp show, which has something for every kind of stamp collector. GWINNPEX Spring 2019 will be held on Saturday, May 4 this year. Admission to the stamp show is free, and you can purchase a table to sell for $25. Johnson enjoys the show because smaller and larger sellers all have a place. There’s a local Boy Scout troop leader who sells donated stamps for five cents, as well as a table for anyone under the age of 16. “If they have any interest in stamp collecting, they can get a free stamp as well as a beginner album to keep it,” commented Johnson. “We’d love to get more young involved – to keep [stamp collecting] from dying.” The stamp show is one of the ways Johnson and the Button Gwinnett Stamp Club share their passion for stamp collecting in Gwinnett. “It’s not a hobby that you do for investment,” remarked Johnson. “Stamp collection you do for the history and the beauty of the stamps. Every stamp has a history that you can research.” More information at ajrj1957@yahoo.com
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Local Book Review: Where the Crawdads Sing is a Great Read By Heidi Campbell Where the Crawdads Sing, a novel written by Delia Owens, is a captivating work of fiction that fits numerous genres including historical fiction, women’s fiction, and literary fiction. The New York Times bestseller not only was a finalist for the Southern Book Prize for 2019, but it also won the prize for Goodread’s Choice Award for Historical Fiction in 2018. The story of the “Marsh Girl” is simply unforgettable. Readers fall in love with the abandoned young girl, Kya, who rises above the criticism of an entire town and proves that she can more than survive – she can thrive. The triumphant story takes place during the 1960s in a small, coastal town in North Carolina. The town reeks of segregation, racism, and class division. The townspeople don’t respect the “marsh people,” and clearly don’t even think that Kya, an orphan, is important enough to rescue. At several points, the book begs the question: will no one do the right thing? This town allows a little girl to fend for herself in her shack by the marsh. The theme of survival manifests itself throughout the novel in ways that are, at times, completely predictable, yet other times not expected at all. Kya is thrown into her situation at a young age, and the author explains, “When cornered, desperate, or isolated, man reverts to those instincts that aim straight at survival. Quick and just.” This is exactly the way that Kya reacts when she finds herself alone and isolated – she instinctively does what she needs to do to survive. Kya is the heroine of the novel, and she well-deserves that title. She is abandoned by her family and learns to completely use her resources. She “…laid her hand upon the breathing, wet earth, and the marsh became her mother.” The marsh became her mother, indeed, as it provided food, love, education, and protection – all the things that her absent mother didn’t offer. Kya’s survival, however, could not have happened if it weren’t for Jump’in and his wife Mabel, who provided her with used clothes, extra supplies, and gas for her boat under the guise of buying her mussels. Although they did not “take her in,” they watched out for her. Perhaps the most influential person in her life, however, was Tate, a boy from town who loved Continued on page 22
GRAYSON 2019
Summer/Fall
Free Concerts & Movie ALL AGES WELCOME
2019 Concert Benefiting The Southeast Gwinnett Co. Cooperative Ministry Featuring:
Presented By:
Saturday, June 8th, 2019 6:00pm - 10:00pm Grayson Ampavilion Jimmy Buffett Tribute Show
@ Grayson City Park
Landscape Management Co.
06/22
Lanier Jazz
7:00pm
07/13
Young Elvis & Blue Suedes
7:00pm
07/27
Christmas in July
08/03
Fly Betty Band
08/09
10am-4pm
7:00pm
Movie Under the Stars 8:30pm
*Times subject to change
1st Annual Grayson Brew & Que October 5th, 2019 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm 21 and over - Must present ID - No outside coolers, food or pets permitted.
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Requires admission fee. Must be 21 & over
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Feeling Unmotivated? Remove “Should” from Your Vocabulary By Carol Tuttle Pause for a moment and think of that thing you need or want to do but have not gotten around to it. The idea or project is just sitting there, and the fact that it is unfinished is weighing on you. But when it comes down to doing it, you seem to have lost all motivation. So how do you recover motivation to do something you think you should do? You can start by giving up the word “should” and replacing it with something much more powerful! Say goodbye to the S-word...Should. I’ve found that whenever I used the word should, I would procrastinate and avoid the activity or project I thought I “should” do. That’s because the word should in the dictionary indicates a meaning of obligation or duty. Notice how often you might say something like: I should get out of debt. I should go work out. I should clean that closet. I should eat healthy. I should learn how to ____. I should lose 10 pounds.
iCan Bike Continued from page 18 their disabilities and looks at their interests and dreams. And it is this idea of inclusion that drives The Guide Project as they work toward helping those with special needs and their families to navigate the various opportunities available to them. “We want to increase the number and variety of choices for people with special needs,” says Stacey. “Everyone benefits when everyone is included.” iCan Bike currently has no more spots available for campers, but there are plenty of other ways for you to get involved. The camp needs volunteers to assist the riders as they learn to ride, and Stacey promises it will be a worthwhile workout. They are also in need of sponsors and donations which will allow The Guide Project to make iCan Bike Gwinnett an event to remember for all of their attendees. If you want to help, just head to https://www.guideeachother.org/icanbike-gwinnett to learn about the ways these organizations can use someone like you. No special skills or class required – just show up with a positive attitude and a willingness to love some amazing kids. Stacey Cheney is co-founder of The Guide Project, Inc. More information at www.guideeachother. org.
Why should can sabotage your success Whatever it is for you, it might even be a necessary or good idea such as organizing a closet, cleaning out the car, taking a class, or planting a garden. But if you’re trying to force it, you either just won’t make the time or have the energy, or you’ll probably keep putting it off because you don’t enjoy it. Or it might be a good thing to do, but maybe not for you to do. Get clear on what you want first Now, for every should statement you say, ask yourself, “Is this what I want?” Or do you think you should do it because someone told you to, or you feel under some obligation to do it? Sometimes our choices are influenced more about what others want than we want. Although they might all be great choices, we will not be motivated to follow through until we personally own them for ourselves. So, the first step to healthy motivation in the new year is to examine your should and get clear on what it is YOU want. You can also clarify what it is you want so it matches the outcome you want to create (i.e. I want to clean the closet, so I can always find what I need). Once we claim a choice for ourselves, we then can declare them with “I am” statements. Replace “I should” with: I am working out I am debt free. I am eating healthy. I am cleaning that closet. I am losing 10 pounds. I am learning how to ____. Take your choice even higher with gratitude An even higher vibration of belief is to act as if you have already accomplished it and to imagine your success with these statements of gratitude: I am grateful I choose to workout. I am grateful I am debt free. I am grateful I eat healthy. I am grateful I cleaned the closet. I am grateful I lost 10 pounds. I grateful I have learned how to ____. This simple but powerful shift can make a world of difference! Remember, when you declare your intentions, you uplift your energy so it can support you with the motivation to do it when it is right and timely for you. Carol Tuttle is a teacher, speaker, and author. More information at https://ct.liveyourtruth.com/.
Who Would You TRUST? Continued from page 13 funny and interesting question to ask a group of his peers – “Who do you trust?” – an idea began to form. He ran it by his mother Lisa, who as an entrepreneur and business owner has always encouraged her children to develop an entrepreneur’s mindset. Lisa immediately honed in on his vision, and helped him develop the concept. After months of tweaking, testing, and perfecting the idea, an engaging and hilarious party card game is now available for your entertainment. A native of Grayson, twenty-seven-year-old Jordan is a product of both Grayson and Archer High Schools, and a graduate of Savanna College of Art & Design (SCAD) with a degree in animation and illustration. Jordan is a very talented, fun loving young man, who enjoys meeting and interacting with people. When asked what excites him about the game he says, “The sheer pleasure of seeing a group of people animated and having fun.” Jordan is inspired by the idea of “getting people to talk again,” and through this engaging and interactive game, he hopes to draw people away from their electronics, social media, texting, emails, etc., even if it’s just for a moment, and get them to engage, relax, talk, and enjoy the real life company around them. More information at www.whowouldyoutrust.today.
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Where the Crawdads Sing Continued from page 20 the marsh. It was clear that Kya would fall for him when he told her that they “…better hide way out there where the crawdads sing,” which was what her mother used to say to her. It was Tate who taught Kya to read and helped to break up her complete isolation and loneliness. Readers loved Tate from the start, especially when they learned that “his dad had told him many times that the definition of a real man is one who cries without shame, reads poetry with his heart, feels opera in his soul, and does what’s necessary to defend a woman.” Their relationship blossomed until Tate went off to college, promising to return. Kya was left alone again. Unfortunately, Tate didn’t return, and Kya’s heartache and loneliness drew her into a perilous relationship with the town “player,” Chase Andrews. Her relationship with Chase was one that Kya maintained out of utter loneliness. Deep down, she really didn’t like him, and it was obvious when she said that she “laughed for his sake, something she’d never done. Giving away another piece of herself just to have someone else.” This relationship, however, was one that would change both of their lives forever. Aside from the relationships and ties made in the story, the importance of protecting natural
“Once a Cesarean, always a Cesarean.” …Unless there’s another way out.
resources is a theme that is not lost on readers. The author clearly respects the land, and writes beautiful descriptions of the wild beauty found all around the shack. Kya’s passion for the land is clear as the height of her eventual success is in the publishing of books about the marshlands. Kya’s connection to the marsh and its wildlife keeps her there for her entire life. The reader sees the marsh through the eyes of the characters who love it, and the relationship to nature is a special one that few grasp. Where the Crawdads Sing is a novel that makes a reader angry, sad, frustrated to the point of tears, thankful, resentful, and grateful. It is the story of loyalty and trust, and the story of the survival instinct inherent in human beings. This novel is the world of an abusive, alcoholic father and husband; a wife and mother who is pushed so far over the edge that she deserts her family; a young girl forced to make her own way in a world that considers her trash; a young boy who sees beyond circumstances; a caring couple who do all they can to help; and a young man who nearly destroys everything that Kya has worked to achieve. Calm balances with terror in this novel that intrigues through its final page.
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Gwinnett Office 449 Pleasant Hill Rd, Suite 200 Lilburn, GA 30047 770.923.5033
Our Town3/12/19 Gwinnett 3:11 PM
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LAWRENCEVILLE 4825 Sugarloaf Pkwy, Ste C (678) 985-0238
LILBURN – BEAVER RUIN 4145 Lawrenceville Hwy NW, Ste 8 (678) 691-7163
GRAYSON 2065 Grayson Hwy, Ste B (678) 376-0213
LILBURN 1227 Rockbridge Rd, Ste 402 (770) 925-9210
SNELLVILLE 2050 Scenic Hwy N, Ste A (678) 344-7197 SNELLVILLE CENTERVILLE HWY 124 3641 Centerville Hwy, Ste 400 (470) 365-2135
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NEUROSURGERY CASES ANNUALLY Treating a range of cerebral and spinal issues and conditions, the respected neurosurgeons at Gwinnett Medical Center provide comprehensive care to more than 850 patients annually across the region. To expedite the healing process for each individual patient, our board-certified surgeons and comprehensive neurosurgical team utilize the latest technology and advanced treatment options to provide the best care possible.
Dave J. Seechran, MD & Bethwel Raore, MD Neurosurgeons Neurosurgery & Spine Associates
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