MAY 2020 Gwinnett/Walton Community & Family Magazine
Our Town GWINNETT
Grayson Dacula Loganville Lawrenceville
Up Close with Simply Green Lawn Care, see story on page 5.
10 12 13 16
Community Matters: Let’s Try Fighting Together Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful: Celebrating 40 years Community Member Spotlight: Meet Jasper Watkins III City Spotlight: Loganville Rotary Club – Wing Fling
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On the Cover: Simply the Best: How the Right Lawn Care Can Make All the Difference By Kristen Eleveld Between work responsibilities, spending quality time with your family, and handling all of the errands that go in between, you may feel like you are running out of hours in the day to attend to things like keeping your yard healthy. But when you look out the window and see that your plants just aren’t thriving like you hoped, you want to make a change. For many people in Gwinnett, the name of that change is Simply Green Lawn Care. Based in Lilburn, Simply Green Lawn Care has provided lawn care for the Gwinnett area for over fifteen years, and offers a myriad of services to keep your yard, shrubs, and trees as healthy as they can be. You might have even seen some of their handiwork at the Parkview High School sports fields. “We are here to be the total service provider for the care of your lawn,” said Sales Manager Mary Thompson. “We focus on the health of the entire landscape.” It’s easy to see what makes Simply Green Lawn Care the choice for so many Gwinnett residents: their dedication to excellent customer service. In fact, the high level of customer support is one of the biggest missions of everyone who works for Simply Green, from the service managers in the field to the administrative staff working in the office. “We like to say we are a customer service business that happens to offer lawn care,” said Mary. “We always make an effort to really get to know our clients.” One of the ways the Simply Green staff accomplishes this goal is through education, both for their team members and the customers they serve. When you call Simply Green they will work with you to determine exactly which of their services would help your landscape thrive, and will let you know what types of results you can expect. Once a service manager comes out to inspect your lawn, he or she will provide additional information that will help you make an informed decision about what your lawn needs most. Mary emphasizes that they never recommend services just for the sake of it. Each recommendation is customized and carefully reviewed to ensure that every client gets exactly what he or she needs. Their website also offers tips and information to anyone who is looking for
some education about their lawn, or even to help identify potential plant diseases or pests. And, since Simply Green is local to Gwinnett, all of the information they provide is created especially for the nearby areas. Protecting your landscape investment is important, so they always recommend the services they think will do just that. “There is a real level of care and concern for everyone here,” said Mary of the overall workplace attitude. “We are not just employees – we are family.” Indeed, with a small, close-knit team that works seamlessly together to serve all of Gwinnett – made all the easier by the fact that they are located in Lilburn – it’s easy to see how this company has created such an atmosphere. There are also added benefits to working with a small company – anyone in the Simply Green Lawn Care office can help you with your needs. They each have assigned roles, but everyone receives training and wears a few different job hats to ensure that customers have their needs met with a minimal wait. One thing each team member at Simply Green understands better than anything is the partnership they create between themselves and each of their clients. “You provide the mowing and watering, and we will provide all of your fertilization, weed Continued on page 20
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PAGE 5
VOTE…General Primary Election - June 9, 2020
Elect Jasper Watkins III
Our Town Gwinnett/Walton Community & Family Magazine
Commissioner District 3 Gwinnett County
Publisher/Owner Ryan T. Sauers Ryan@EndResultZ.com
(Auburn, Braselton, Centerville, Dacula, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Loganville, Mountain Park & Snellville)
Decisive, Determined, Dependable Military Decorated Registered Pharmacist & Licensed Nuclear Pharmacist Gwinnett Rotary & Chamber of Commerce VFW Post 5255 & American Legion Post 232 Medical Reserve Corps GEM After receiving 49% of the vote in 2016, I feel compelled to run again for Commisioner of District 3, providing proven leadership and transparency as our District representative. As a retired Lieutenant Colonel who served 25 years in the U.S. Army, I know how to manage programs efficiently and balance budgets. My candidacy is motivated by my commitment to serve, and I am confident that my military skills and executive experiences will provide solutions that our county and cities are demanding. My grassroots efforts will bring the people of Gwinnett County together to discuss one of the most pressing issues facing our community today, transportation. The way we move and reach the places we live, work and love, shapes our everyday lives. Moreover, I will address our concerns about the safety of our neighborhoods, investments in job creation, fiscal accountability, and inclusion. In less than two years, Gwinnett County will have more than 1.5 million residents!
Now is the time to decide to protect our future quality of life by creating an upward cycle of prosperity for the 21st Century. Committee to Elect Jasper Watkins III 1911 Grayson Highway, Ste.8-233, Grayson, GA 30017 770.609.5548 www.watkins3for3.com
Creative Director Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultZ.com Editor Catherine L. Osornio Editor@EndResultZ.com Cover Photographer Gena Ford Photography Distribution Coordinator DeeDee Chapman Feature Writers K. Coats Kristen Eleveld Ron Lambros Amy Ney Emily Rubin Traci Sanders Beth Volpert Johansen Contributing Writers Bill Crane Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz Terie Hansen Dr. Kerith Powell Tanisha Turner Darrell Watson
770-965-8973
— 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 2020 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 On the Cover: Simply the Best: How the Right Lawn Care Can Make All the
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Difference 7 From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion 8 Learning Lessons: Simple Activities to Teach Preschoolers About Weather 8 Crane’s Corner: Twenty-Eight Days – and Then Some 9 Quaran-Education, Fragrance, and Family 10 Quarantine Times with Kelly Liddell, Program Director for The Wellness Studio 10 Community Matters: Let’s Try Fighting Together 12 Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful Celebrates 40 years 13 Community Member Spotlight: Meet Jasper Watkins III 14 Insurance Matters with Darrell Watson 14 Senior Graduate Spotlight: A New Kind of Graduate 16 Postcards – Travel the World and Never Leave Home! 16 City Spotlight: Loganville Rotary Club – Wing Fling 17 “Oh Brave New World that has such [Teachers] in It.” 17 Chaplain’s Corner: Are We There Yet? 19 Health Matters: How to Stay Healthy During the Current Health Situation 19 Pet Perch: COVID-19 and Your Pets – What You Should Know
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From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion By Ryan T. Sauers
@RyanSauers
@RyanTSauers
How are you? I hope and pray each of you is safe and well. We are living in unprecedented times. We have said for years that we “did not have time” to do “xyz” (insert your own word here). The past couple months we have had more time than ever. The question is what we have done with this time. What have we learned about ourselves? What have we learned about others, and also how much do we take our freedom for granted? We are in what I am calling the great human reset. We have all been social distancing and staying in our homes for a long time now. This means, being human, you have likely created new habits. Maybe you have begun to cook or play a musical instrument. Maybe you have started to catch up with old friends you have not had time to connect with. Maybe you wish you had bought some ZOOM stock. I sure wish I had. As a student of human behavior, I predict this quarantined time will impact us for years to come. I want us to focus on four “P” words to reflect on now and moving forward. First is purpose. What is your purpose? Have you had a chance to think about it and your legacy in this world? For me it is about helping people in as many ways as I can. I created a new show during this time called Community Connections to profile so many people/organizations doing amazing things. I have been reminded that none of us will live forever. We must focus on how we conduct ourselves and treat others. We should listen for God’s voice and remind ourselves that we are not in control of this situation. How about you and your purpose? Second, is passion. Americans are tough and resilient. We can take a punch or two. I have seen passionate business owners “pivot” and change their models in a few weeks. I have seen community members (in great numbers) support local restaurants each night through take out. I have been part of two Zoom groups and caught up with some old fraternity brothers in one and have gotten to know some local friends a lot better in the other. The passion and energy from everyone has been amazing. Simply said, we need each other. Zoom has been a good tool – but human beings are created in God’s image and meant to have relationships with each other. I have missed that. I have missed it a lot. Third, is perseverance. Let us face it, as time went on, we all came to realize this was not some extended Christmas vacation. The things we love have been taken away. We have not been able to hug the ones we love. We have been separated from dear friends and family. We have worked from home. We may not even have a job. Our frontline workers (health care and others) have been amazing and brave. Our teachers and students have been amazing. And, kudos, to you Class of 2020. You exemplify toughness born near 9-11 and graduating during this. We shall persevere together. It is not the norm for most of us to stand six feet apart or walk around other people in a park. It is not the norm for most of us to wear masks. Think about how many things have changed in two months. However, we are tough, and we will persevere. We WILL get to the other side of this Finally, we have learned patience. We have been forced to do so. I cannot recall how Continued on page 11
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PAGE 7
Learning Lessons: Simple Activities to Teach Preschoolers about Weather
Crane’s Corner: Twenty-Eight Days – and Then Some
By Tanisha Turner
We are all creatures of habit. We crave routine and the expected, as much as we may prefer surprises and occasional spontaneity. And though this “new normal” is far from our normal routine, its ever-lengthening tenure is likely causing many of us, knowingly or not, to form new habits and routines. It is a given in the framework of addiction recovery and detoxification that it takes approximately twenty-eight days to break old bad habits, and to hopefully begin to replace them with things new, different, and better for you. Making that new habit/routine automatic requires more like sixty-six days, and it increasingly appears that before most gates are lifted, we will be well beyond that number in our home-based semi-quarantine. Regular exercise and de-compression: Although I had built my yoga practice up to 5-6 days a week, I am practicing less frequently online now. However, I have added long walks averaging 3-5 miles, 3-4 early evenings or mornings each week. I do have the benefit of living on the PATH trail, but for most of us there is a neighborhood with sidewalks or a park with trails near enough to make part of your daily routine. Listening to and speaking with your children: Our regular workday world – commuting, earlier bedtimes during the school year – is not conducive to regular parent/child interaction. But our forced togetherness – sharing space every day, homeschooling, and perhaps most importantly shared family mealtimes – offers great opportunities to listen to our children and their concerns and to share the high and low points of their day. Ban electronics at the dinner table and your kids will still be there after the meal. Suggest a board game or two once a week after dinner for some real fun and bonding time. Better connecting with your partner: Even the healthiest relationships can suffer from a lack of regular two-way sharing and communication. Discuss your plans post-shut-in or plan a reward family trip or weekend away to visit other relations and friends. Build some time for intimacy back into your calendars, and surprise your partner with flowers or a favorite meal. These are still things that can easily be Continued on page 22
If you have a preschooler in your family, chances are you’ve been asked about the weather: Why does it rain? What is thunder? Why does it get cold in the winter and hot in the summer? It’s easy to offer children the simplest explanation possible when it comes to these questions, but the concept of weather is a perfect topic to explore with little ones and lends itself to lots of family fun! Children learn best when they can see, touch, smell, hear, and even taste something. Weather is full of sensory experiences for children to explore, like the feeling of rain on their skin, hearing the sound of wind in the trees, or seeing the changing colors and textures of leaves in fall. Because of this, it is easier to create meaningful learning experiences for your child. Here are some ideas to take learning about weather to the next level for your little scientist: At Primrose School at Sugarloaf Parkway, each day begins with students peeking out the window to observe the weather, and then discussing what they see with their teachers. Make this a daily ritual at your home. Ask your child questions to encourage observation: Is it sunny or raining? Is it foggy or clear? If it’s windy, talk about how you’ll need a coat before going outdoors, or if it’s sunny, point out that your child might need a hat. By learning how the weather relates to them, children begin to understand it better. Read all about it. Books can help open your child’s eyes to many different aspects of weather, especially if you live in an area of the country that doesn’t regularly experience certain weather conditions like snow, or doesn’t have distinct changes in the weather each season. Try Clifford and the Big Storm by Norman Bidwell, Mouse’s First Snow by Lauren Thompson, Like a Windy Day by Frank Asch & Devin Asch, or Little Cloud by Eric Carle. Make it fun. Do a weather-related art activity together, like creating a tornado in a bottle (get instructions on the internet), or making a rainy day picture using cotton balls for clouds, Continued on page 11
By Bill Crane
Grateful for, and still serving, our local community. Roger S. Green, MSFS, CFP® Green Financial Resources, LLC
These uncertain times may be impacting your finances in a variety of new ways. With 30 years of experience helping people in the good times and the bad, we can help you with financial guidance for whatever situations you are facing at this time. We remain open for telephone contact, and are here to help.
No matter where you are in life, call 770.931.1414 or visit RogerSGreen.com today to schedule a no-cost, no-obligation telephone consultation to discuss not only your personal financial concerns, but also your small business concerns and steps to navigate the uncertain times we are in. We can help with the following and more: • • • • • • • •
Financial and retirement planning Estate planning Pension and retirement decision making Impact of changing/losing a job Financial protection for dependents Income protection Planning for potential incapacity Tax reduction and deferral advice
• • • • • •
Retirement withdrawal advice “harvesting” plan for assets Small business financial planning Timing of Social Security Caring for elderly parents and special needs dependents Mortgage and real estate decisions IRA/Roth contributions
www.RogerSGreen.com
Investment Advisor Representative offering securities & advisory services through Cetera Advisors LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor, Broker/Dealer, member FINRA, SIPC. Green Financial & Cetera Advisors are not affiliated. Awards are not to be considered a guarantee of future results, nor as an endorsement by any client. Best of Gwinnett winners are chosen via voting and editors’ input, & opinions are vetted with the use of other available information. Pinnacle award rankings are based on growth, revenue, community service, & other criteria. Barron’s: based on total assets (AUM), revenue, & other factors. Office located at 3700 Crestwood Pkwy, Ste 140, Duluth, GA 30096.
PAGE 8
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Quaran-Education, Fragrance, and Family By Beth Volpert Johansen The five members of the Edwards family of Grayson are sharing their “quaraneducation” experience with one another – and a whole host of critters who keep them entertained. Representing students from middle school to grad school trying to create their own place in the “new normal,” the Edwards crew sat down to talk about their experience and how it has changed things in just a few short weeks. Dad (Anthony) is a teacher at Grayson High School as well as a graduate student at UGA. Will is finishing his time at Bay Creek Middle, Lauren is at Grayson High School, and Lesley has just returned from her first year away at Columbus State University. The only escapee on any given day is mom (Jada) who works as a hospital pharmacist. Despite the grand interruption to what is generally a busy household, the Edwards family has managed to find peace in the quieter hours that have materialized since activity has come to a screeching halt. “I think I might be the one who has had to adjust my way of thinking the most,” says Jada. “For the most part, I am very much a get-up-and-go kind of gal. The kids really have no problem starting their days later after sleeping in.” The kids seem to be moving right along without too much issue with the online classes. Dad is used to the learning platform as his graduate studies are already online. “Some students take to online learning, some don’t,” says Anthony, who teaches Information Technology at Grayson High School. “We have actually seen some improvement in grades since going online for some students, but it isn’t working for everyone.” The idea of teaching from home may sound good in theory; however, it is not always the case. “What I am seeing as I support these teachers is that many are working far more hours than they used to,” he explains. “We have had e-Class for a long time, but it was not the main delivery model for our teachers. They have had to do a lot of catch-up.” Keeping in touch by digital means is a natural extension of this tech-savvy family who still make connections one way or another with friends, family, and even fans. Will and Lauren chat with friends during online gaming, as does Anthony who also collaborates with colleagues at Grayson and at UGA while working on his doctorate. Lesley tends to stay current with more traditional texting and chats, while Jada is a social media “scent-sation.” The love of perfumes and fragrances has been almost a life-long obsession for Jada. She hosts her own videos on a variety of social media outlets, describing the best (and worst) of her scent collection, and stays connected with her family, friends, and fragrance fans. As her interest in fragrance has blossomed over the years, Jada has become a firm believer in the idea that certain scents can trigger strong memories and emotions. “I think, right now, with people being more anxious in general,” she explains, “it is a good idea to not stick with any one scent. We will all forever likely associate the smell of bleach and rubbing alcohol with Continued on page 13
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Quarantine Times with Kelly Liddell, Program Director for The Wellness Studio By Our Town Gwinnett Staff
678-469-1599 | scottpressurewash@gmail.com
Our Town Gwinnett (OTG): How has your daily routine changed since social distancing measures began? Kelly Liddell (KL): I am not waking up as early as before when my kids left for school, so I am sleeping longer, which is WONDERFUL! Many of my work tasks have changed because we went from having classes in The Wellness Studio all day to an online/virtual format. I must say, it has been an exciting (and at times somewhat scary) adventure! I find that I am moving more slowly, more mindfully, more present in conversations, more pensive. With my family all home all the time, our lives have slowed down quite a bit, and it’s really nice. OTG: What are the biggest challenges in doing your job during this crisis? KL: The biggest challenge has been the change to virtual classes as we all had to learn how to use the technology to make that happen as well as get our members/clients trained. I typically utilize about 25-30% of my work time for communication, and for the first couple of weeks of the change, my communication time went up to about 75% of my work. I’m very proud of the way everyone we work with and all of our members/clients have rolled with the changes. OTG: What do you miss most about how you did your job before? KL: Hands down, having our members/clients in the studio! I miss hugs, smiles, faces, laughter, stories – all of it! We are a very encouraging and supportive community, and there is a SPECIAL energy at The Wellness Studio. It feels like a big part of that energy is missing. OTG: What surprised you most about how life has changed? Continued on page 20
Community Matters: Let’s Try Fighting Together By Bill Crane
PAGE 10
“There is only one thing worse than fighting with allies, and that is fighting without them” British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (1874-1965), during the throes of World War II. It is as clear in my mind as yesterday how quickly many divides and gaps in the American culture and psyche narrowed, tightened, or closed in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. Fortunately, that tragedy did not occur against the backdrop of a presidential election year. If anything, it caused much of the nation to forget how close and controversial the result of the 2000 election was between then Texas Governor George W. Bush and sitting Vice President Al Gore of Tennessee. I was in Washington covering that January 20, 2001 Bush Inauguration, and you could cut the tension between the Bush and Gore camps and clans, sitting together on that Capitol grandstand, with a knife. How soon we can as a nation forget. As later President Bush stood amongst the rubble of the World Trade Center Towers at Ground Zero to inspect the damage, as well as recognize and spotlight the ongoing heroic work of first responders, his approval ratings soared into the low 90 percentiles. Days after the attacks, on the steps of our US Capitol building, Congress gathered for remarks of resilience, and then broke, impromptu and without planning, into an off-key but emotionally searing rendition of God Bless America. Flying in and out of nearempty airports on jets, which on a couple of occasions gave me my own private flight crew, America seemed to be looking beyond many divisions, the major and the minor, towards unifying as one people against our common, as yet unknown enemy. We do know this time, that our enemy is an invisible, insidious, and easily transmitted virus, but it also appears that many are willing to extend this battle as an overlay or reflection of this presidential contest, down to local races for school board and county commission. I will echo Mr. Churchill: if we are not our own allies, who can we look to? Our greatest trade partner, China, may have played some role in this pandemic, either in misinformation or something viler and more like a James Bond movie. Our relationships with many of our Continued on page 12
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One Man’s Opinion Continued from page 7
Learning Lessons Continued from page 8
many times I have seen someone (from six feet away) and told them to go ahead as I was not in a hurry. This is not the norm for me. Moreover, people and organizations of all sizes have been forced to learn patience. Will the SBA loan come in? How many employees can they keep employed? When can one go to a sporting event again? How will elections work? Will this “new normal” ever end? There are more unknowns than knowns. Things change on a weekly basis. We have been forced to slow down. In my case, and this is hard for me, I can hear the birds settle in my trees each night and I can watch the sunset. These were things I rarely made time to do. I do love this new habit. We are all in this together. We must be patient, passionate, remember our purpose in the world, and never quit. We WILL persevere together and get through this side by side. Just remember, one step at a time, one punch at a time, and one round at a time. You are an awesome community. Keep the faith. We shall prevail. Thank you, as always, for continuing with me on the journey of my town, your town, OUR TOWN!
small paper cut-outs for rain drops, and aluminum foil for lightning and puddles. Have your child make up a rainy-day story to go along with the picture. Teach weather safety. As you explore weather with your child, take the opportunity to explain the importance of safety. Ask questions like, “What do we do in a thunderstorm?” or “How can we be careful around ice?” and explain the proper safety measures to help young children be more prepared for potentially dangerous weather situations. Find more tips, games and resources for teaching preschoolers about safety at www.primroseschools.com/ blog/topic/safety/. The next time your little one asks about the weather, use one of these easy-to-do ideas to make the most of his or her curiosity and take your child’s learning to the next level. You’re sure to rediscover the magic of weather and have lots of fun together along the way! Tanisha Turner is Owner of Primrose School at Sugarloaf Parkway. More information at www.PrimroseSugarloafParkway.com
What B.T. Parker’s experience will bring to Gwinnett County
Elect
B.T. Parker Gwinnett Superior Court Judge
• Second-Chance-Accountability Court – B.T. Parker will work with the District Attorney’s office to create an Accountability Court which will give non-violent and non-sexual offenders a Second Chance. This Court will help to educate and employ, so that offenders will have purpose. Investing in offenders’ rehabilitation costs far less to taxpayers than imprisonment. • Prison-Prevention Program – B.T. Parker will work in cooporation with the Gwinnett School Board to create
a program to deter our youth from committing crimes so they will avoid the consequences of being in the Criminal Justice System. • Judicial-Efficiency Committee – Our Gwinnett court system is backlogged. As B.T. Parker has litigated cases in about 100 of the 159 counties, she will bring efficient practices from other counties to Gwinnett County.
Committed to Family and Community:
Experienced i Tough i Fair ii
Create a Second-Chance-Accountability Court ii ii
Create a Prison-Prevention Program
Create a Judicial-Efficiency Committee
B.T. Parker…be sure to mark her!! BTParkerForJudge.com 678-523-8674 Vote June 9, 2020
ENDORSEMENTS:
• Wife and Mother • 2019 Award Recipient–100 Most Influential Women in Georgia, Global Women Wealth Warrior, recognized by Governor Kemp for service, mentorship and financial literacy • Gwinnett resident for 24 years; Attorney for 24 years • Trial Attorney Advocate, National Institute of Trial Advocacy • Attorney for working class, celebrities, and the poor • Litigated multi-million dollar cases • Volunteer Attorney, Gwinnett Legal Aid • Volunteer Attorney, Gwinnett Truancy Intervention Program • Member of Berean Christian Church • President and Board Member of Various Organizations • Foster Parent, Gwinnett County • Cheerleading Coach, Gwinnett–Grayson Athletic Association
David “Big Dave” Cuffie (Loganville) Jessie Curney III, Pastor of New Mercies Arteen Afshar (Sugar Hill) Christian Church (Lilburn) Sanford Bishop, U.S. House Garrison Douglas (Dacula) Representative, 2nd Congressional Dr. Ronald D. Dunnigan, Pastor District of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church Gerard and Veta Blanding, Pastors of (Lawrenceville) Hopewell Northeast Baptist Church Steve Edwards, Mayor of Sugar Hill (Grayson) (Sugar Hill) Ronald Lee Bowens, Pastor at Friendship Mariela Gimenez (Lawrenceville) Baptist Church (Duluth) Chris Hankins (Dacula) Angi Bransdorf (Lawrenceville) Dr. Richard B. Haynes, Pastor of Salem James Bruin (Lawrenceville) Missionary Baptist Church (Lilburn) Dr. Jasmine Clark, Georgia House Rep., Avery Headd, Pastor of Poplar Hill Baptist District 108 Church (Buford) Scott and Bobbi Cromlish (Stone Chris Houston (Lawrenceville) Mountain) Lucretia Hughes, Talk Show Host
Our Town Gwinnett
Hank Johnson, U.S. House Representative, 4th Congressional District Rory Johnson, Sr. Executive Director of Boys & Girls Club (Lawrenceville) LC Johnson (Peachtree Corners) Victoria Jones, City Council Member of Lawrenceville Gregg Kennard, Georgia House Rep., District 102 Janelle King, Panelist on the Georgia Gang Vesna Kurspahic, Congressional Staffer (Lilburn) Rajendra and Alejandra Lakhan (Loganville) Dr. Kevin B. Lee, Pastor of Berean Christian Church (Snellville)
PO Box 1424, Grayson, GA 30017
Thomas Livesey (the Promised Land, Snellville) Daelen Lowry (Duluth) Rey Martinez, Mayor of Loganville (Loganville) Cheryle Renee Moses (Lawrenceville) Edward Muldrow (Snellville) Angela Murray (Auburn) Craig Newton, Mayor of Norcross (Norcross) Gabe Okoye (Lawrenceville) Pat “Obiasaambal” Okpala (Loganville) Alice O’Lenick (Dacula) Rod Parham (Snellville) Raj Patel (Duluth) Kelly Ragin (Lilburn) Pat and Judi Quigley (Peachtree Corners)
TGutterParker@yahoo.com Marion Sailor, Pastor of Christ the King (Dacula) Bishop William L. Sheals, Pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church (Norcross) Peter and Steve Toggerson (Lawrenceville) Louis and Jacqueline Tseng (Duluth) Shannon Volkodav (Lawrenceville) Mychal H. Walker Sr. (Duluth) Dennis Washington, Rev. at Poplar Hill Baptist Church (Buford) Brian Whiteside, Solicitor General of Gwinnett County Bishop D.A. Williams, Pastor of Salvation and Deliverance Church (Peachtree Corners) Shelly Wynter, Talk Show Host
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PAGE 11
Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful Celebrates 40 years By Beth Volpert Johansen At a time when the world is busy scrubbing, cleaning, and using unprecedented numbers of disposable items, Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful (GC&B) celebrates forty years of reducing, reusing, and recycling. While the current circumstances more than call for reducing contaminated surfaces by using disposable items, the reality is there is significant reduction of car pollution since people are staying home. What a paradox. Each action has an equal and opposite reaction. Gwinnett County is, as per usual, ahead of the curve on many things. Among them are the F. Wayne Hill Water Resources Center, The Gwinnett Heritage Center, and Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful. All these entities serve to improve the environment and educate the community about the importance of living the healthiest lives possible. The forward thinking began in early 1979 when the Lawrenceville Junior Women’s Club identified growing community concerns about illegal dumping and littering. In 1980, Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful was created to educate and most importantly, engage the public in the effort to improve our community’s environment and quality of life. Led by the first executive director, Tine Liegerot, GC&B began what would become a legacy of volunteerism, corporate sponsorship, and county support. Along with the identification of illegal dumping and littering came the realization that new jobs were bringing more people to the county, meaning more people, more litter. Interestingly, those same people predicted to add to the problem served to help solve it. “On a positive note, the more people who came to Gwinnett, the more development followed,” says former GC&B director, Connie Wiggins. “So much of the dumping was done down long dirt roads, those dirt roads started to see new housing, schools, and commercial development which cut down on the illegal dumping.” Continued on page 21
A Mother’s Day Gift To all mothers,canine and human alike Happy Mother’s Day!
Community Matters Continued from page 10 ®
CampBowWow.com/lawrenceville-ga PAGE 12
strongest G-7 allies have been tattered by new trade agreements, withdrawal from other treaties and climate accords, and generally harsh statements offered on all occasions except when meeting in person and face to face. And yet, it is our own divisions, wobbling economy, and efforts to turn almost on each other that give me much more pause and concern than this virus or the new killer Asian hornet which has also recently made landfall in Seattle, most likely onboard a cruise or cargo vessel from Asia. During WWI and WWII, the first Persian Gulf War, and later 9/11, Americans were able to put aside our differences in the main and attack these battles and common enemies together. As that same former President George W. Bush reminded us recently and eloquently, public health is NOT a partisan issue. In a video call for unity, released on May 2, the younger Bush president said, “In the final analysis, we are not partisan combatants, we are human beings, equally vulnerable and equally wonderful in the sight of God. We rise or fall together. And we are determined to rise.” We may live in the shadow of this pandemic, without a vaccine or reliable treatment, for some time. I’m not likely to agree with everything that New York Governor Andrew Cuomo or Georgia Governor Brian Kemp does, but I respect both their office and the individual in both cases, and if I can’t bring some part of a solution to the table, you won’t find me kibitzing about the verbiage or their leadership traits/intelligence in this space. And it was another favorite president of mine who wisely said in 1858, prior to a quite uncivil Civil War, during his pre-candidacy for the White House in a speech to Illinois Republicans, “A house divided against itself, cannot stand.” We are still standing, but these legs feel a bit wobbly to me. Let’s remember that despite a difference of opinion, political party, and favorite pols, we are all in this together, and until we are on the other side of this, let’s act a bit more like it. Take care out there, do not leave your common sense at home, and God bless America. 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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Community Member Spotlight: Meet Jasper Watkins III By Beth Volpert Johansen For retired military pharmacist Jasper Watkins III, MSA, RPH, NP, LSSBB, having knowledge is a gift, not a power, and one that he willingly shares. The impressive string of letters that follows his signature – each one earned and representative of hard work and dedication to the health and well-being of our nation – is made more significant because of his commitment to serve. A self-admitted army brat, Watkins is as comfortable trotting the globe as he is hanging out at home in Grayson. And knowing how to hang out at home is a new skill that has come in very handy during the early months of 2020. “I specialize in pharmacy supplies and helping legislature-funded entities get the supplies they need,” he says. In other words, Watkins speaks “government contract language” and interprets it for the rest of us. Watkins has taken his experiences as a pharmacist in the Medical Services Corps and put it to good use helping federal, state, and local governments move the supplies they need during a disaster. And while a pandemic is a relatively new disaster on American soil, the country has seen its fair share of hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods over the years to warrant already having a detailed plan applicable to pandemic on the books. “It is basic cause-andeffect,” explains Watkins. “If you don’t have a plan, if you are not prepared for ‘what if,’ if you are not ready on a clear day, you will not be ready in a disaster.” Keeping his business strong and healthy comes with some sacrifice. A Disabled American Veteran, Watkins has found his interests and support efforts to be centered here in Gwinnett County as a member of several organizations like Rotary International and the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. For many years during Jasper’s military career, his wife, Felicia, stayed local, but was involved in her own work. “My wife started as a writer/producer and now works with as a disaster management professional,” says Watkins with just a hint of pride. “These days, I am at home and she is deployed; but that is okay because we both love
to serve.” Continually keeping himself relevant and useful is of utmost importance to Watkins as he takes his commitment to service up to a new level – as a candidate for the Gwinnett County Commissioner for District 3. “I’m running for commissioner of Gwinnett County District 3 because our district deserves bold leadership to discuss and put forth the measures to improve and, in some cases, fix the immediate issues facing our region,” says Watkins. “As a former Executive Army Officer (Lt. Col.), I have incorporated a holistic approach to management, which is paramount to making the change that will serve everyone in District 3.” His approach to management is supportive of his 3T platform: Transportation, Transformation, and Transparency. “We live in a vibrant community with a lot to offer and a lot to give.” With the current pandemic affecting every aspect of the lives of his neighbors, both locally and globally, Watkins has made the application of his experience to the current situation a daily part of his considerations as he works to move supplies from where they are warehoused to where they are most needed. “I think about the businesses here in Gwinnett, how Continued on page 14
Quaran-Education, Fragrance, and Family Continued from page 9 this pandemic, but it would be a crime to taint your favorite scents with a ‘scent memory’ of this emotional time.” While Anthony is incredibly busy teaching and studying, he has also noticed a by-product of sheltering in place. “Suddenly, I feel like I am in a never-ending episode of Home Improvement,” says Anthony. “Things that had bothered me but were not that important are getting done.” For a busy Lesley who is used to having a job, school, friends, and other commitments, figuring out what to do with a great deal of free time means getting creative. A product of the hospitality program at Grayson, Lesley picked right up where she left off – cooking and baking. While her brother is a picky eater, she has been able to get him to at least try a few new things. As for the rest of her family, they never had it so good. “I LOVE that she and Lauren like to cook,” says Jada. “It’s great to come home to a tasty meal.” Not to be left out, dad has been trying his hand at homemade bread, and even used an antique Pullman bread pan just like bakers did during the era of train travel. In all, the whole family has fared well. Even the critters seem to love the extra attention. Many days, Jada can be found giving “voice” on social media to the pets of the place she affectionately refers to as The Edwards Zoo. “I loved posting a picture of our cat, Shadow, who has taken to ‘hanging out’ on the very top railing of our bannister,” says Jada. “It’s like he is watching over everything, and it is fun to figure out what he might say about all of us being here all of the time.” Maintaining grades, staying current, sharing talents, and basically just being a family have all been positive products of sheltering in place. Plans for a spring garden are already in the works, and Jada is busy posting her own “two-scents” worth on social media spurring plenty of discussion and a critical connection to the new normal.
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Community Member Spotlight Continued from page 13 they are connected globally, and if they are really prepared for what could happen in any disaster,” says Watkins. “I want businesses to ask themselves if they could manage if there was a disaster and how long could they function without money.” Having his finger on the pulse of Gwinnett through his volunteer efforts and memberships, Watkins is constantly rethinking what it is that he could provide as the Gwinnett County Commissioner for District 3. “My Vision,” he explains, “would be to leverage private/federal/local government funds, to allow community leaders and actual property owners to determine an area’s economic growth and lasting vitality. At the same time, it is ensuring that our cities’ vibrant Towne Center concepts merge multigenerational and multicultural values that set the standard for improved quality of life, balanced growth, and prosperity for all.” As a resident of the county and former soldier, Jasper Watkins III has set a good example in the use of his knowledge for his own children, his cohorts, and the community at large. The message is simple: Serve.
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Every high school senior goes into his or her final year with eyes on the many prizes that being a senior offers: signing yearbooks for the last time, going to senior prom, and, of course, graduation. But for the graduates of 2020, the year did not go exactly the way they had planned. Instead of preparing for prom, seniors found themselves taking tests and learning new material online as a result of state-wide school closures amid the COVID-19 pandemic. While the year certainly won’t finish in a traditional manner, these seniors will still graduate and move on to post-graduation plans. One senior, Garrett Spikes, wasn’t sure at first what to make of the closings. Gwinnett originally only closed schools until after spring break, and then the state continued those closures to stem the spread of the virus. “I thought we would eventually return to school,” Garrett said. “I thought we would possibly not have prom, but I never imagined that I would only play ten baseball games my senior season.” The disappointment in having so many wonderful extra-curricular activities cut short was felt by all seniors this year. While the schools were able to schedule a virtual graduation ceremony, many students, like Garrett, will be taking Advanced Placement exams during that time. However, in spite of the many adjustments that these kids have had to make, there is still plenty of positivity to be found. “I’ve learned not to take anything for granted,” said Garrett, who is graduating from Mountain View High School in Lawrenceville. “Having close friends is important, but family is more important.” Continued on page 22
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different countries are not just statistics, they are people. “Sending postcards is a way to remind ourselves that we are all connected,” says Leeann. “We are all part of the By Beth Volpert Johansen human experience.” Most of the messages that Leeann receives are all Dear Friend – How many introductions have begun with those and similar words? Plenty about the homes, cultures, and lives of the writers. it seems. For Grayson resident, Leeann Hill, such greetings are what she finds attached to The only recent change is that many of the cards in postcards she pulls from her mailbox almost daily. “I feel such an anticipation at the mailbox her mailbox have a short note acknowledging the fact every day,” says Leeann. “I look for a postcard tucked in the middle of all these ads. It comthat humans worldwide are self-isolating and are often pletely changes my attitude just going to the mailbox!” accompanied by best wishes and prayers for the health Leeann actively takes part in a global initiative called Postcrossing. The goal is to allow of Leeann’s family and friends. anyone to send and receive postcards from all over the world. For each postcard sent, the One of the most remarkable aspects of the postcards is that they are somewhat reminiscent sender receives a postcard from somewhere in the world! The idea of receiving “real mail” is of times gone by. Many of the cards are quite intricate, representing the lives and communities exciting and lots of fun. Each postcard is like a little surprise. of the sender. Additionally, most cards come with an array of very interesting stamps. “I get In the current world pandemic situation, citizens are more aware of the fact that ours is some cards with really cool stamps,” says Leeann. “The different denominations run right certainly a global society. Getting to personally know the people of different countries gives across the top of the cards. Sometimes I get cards with a branded official country Postcrossing “Postcrossers” a feeling of community. Because of the postcard exchange, those who live in stamp.” The postcards really are a work of art displaying the personalities of each sender and offering a glimpse into the postal practices of countries around the world. Recently, Leeann opened her mailbox to find a postcard from a country she didn’t have marked off on her wall map or tucked into her scrapbook. “I was so excited to get a card from Austria!” she says. “I had never had one from there before.” In addition to adding new locations to her map, Leeann finds learning about exotic places she has never heard of very exciting. “I had never heard of the Åland Islands. Every time I get a card from somewhere new ***** CHECK OUT OUR 300+ REVIEWS ON GOOGLE ***** CHECK OUT OUR 300+ REVIEWS ON GOOGLE ***** CHECK OUTOUT OUROUR 300+ REVIEWS GOOGLE ***** CHECK 300+ REVIEWSON GOOGLE Continued on page 18 ***** CHECK OUT OUR 300+ REVIEWS ONONGOOGLE
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City Spotlight: Loganville Rotary Club – Wing Fling By Traci Sanders
The Loganville Rotary Club, formed in 2002 by a group of community business and civic leaders, stands by its motto “Successful people helping people.” The organization is constantly hosting fundraising events and finding ways to give back to the community. Thus far in 2020 they have built two wheelchair ramps, donated money to the Pregnancy Center, awarded $10,000 to Special Needs and Treats, given $10,000 to the Christian Learning Center, and blessed the Alms Food Pantry with $1,000. They also undergirded a literacy program by providing two books for each Kindergarten student in three different elementary schools in Loganville. One of their events will be their 6th Annual Wing Fling. This event, rescheduled to September 5th, will charge contestants/cookers an entry fee of $125. Each cooker will be given 625 wings to cook for the competition. No outside wings will be allowed. There will also be a wing-eating competition where contestants are timed to see how many WWW.TRUMANSTEEMERS.COM WWW.TRUMANSTEEMERS.COM WWW.TRUMANSTEEMERS.COM WWW.TRUMANSTEEMERS.COM wings they can eat in a two-minute period. Participants for this event will be chosen by the WWW.TRUMANSTEEMERS.COM WWW.TRUMANSTEEMERS.COM WWW.TRUMANSTEEMERS.COM primary event sponsor, Johnny’s Pizza in Loganville. After covering expenses, 100% of the profits for Wing Fling will be donated to support local charities and community organizaSERVING GWINNETT, HALL, WALTON, BARROW & NORTH FULTON COUNTIES especially a few very specific Rotary International sponsored organizations. SERVING GWINNETT, HALL, WALTON, BARROW & NORTH FULTON COUNTIES SERVING GWINNETT, HALL, WALTON, BARROW &&NORTH FULTON COUNTIES SERVING GWINNETT, HALL, WALTON, BARROW & NORTH FULTON COUNTIEStions, SERVING GWINNETT, HALL, WALTON, BARROW NORTH FULTON COUNTIES Wing Fling serves as an effective marketing opportunity for local businesses as well. Last SERVING GWINNETT, HALL, WALTON, BARROW & NORTH FULTON COUNTIES year about thirty vendors paid a $50 entry fee to set up tents where they distributed promotional materials for their businesses. So far, the Loganville Rotary Club has added the following sponsorship categories: Featured Sponsor for $4,000, Platinum Sponsor for $2,000, Gold Sponsor for $1,000, Silver Sponsor for $750, Bronze Sponsor for $500, and Community Sponsor for $250. Each sponsorship category offers a different level of advertisement privileges and free entry into the event. Inside the visitor greeting packets are something called Vegas chips. After taste testing all of the wings, visitors vote for their top three favorite cookers by putting one of the chips in a WE ARE THE MOST HIGHLY RATED IN NORTH GEORGIA: ARE THE MOST HIGHLY RATED NORTH GEORGIA: container at that corresponding booth. The chips are counted at the end, and the three highest WEWE ARE MOST HIGHLY RATED IN NORTH GEORGIA: WE WE ARE MOST HIGHLY RATED ININ NORTH GEORGIA: ARETHE THE MOST HIGHLY RATED IN NORTH GEORGIA: WE THE ARE THE MOST HIGHLY RATED IN NORTH GEORGIA: totals are announced. CARPET CLEANING FABRIC PROTECTION This will be the first year featuring the Wing Fling 5K, which will begin at the Loganville WE ARE THE MOST CARPET CLEANING FABRIC CARPETHIGHLY CLEANINGRATED IN NORTH GEORGIA: FABRIC PROTECTION PROTECTION PET ODOR REMOVAL UPHOLSTERY CLEANING CARPET CLEANING FABRIC PROTECTION CARPET CLEANING FABRIC PROTECTION High School and will be an out-and-back course. The Loganville Rotary Club is partnering CARPET REMOVAL CLEANING FABRIC PROTECTION PET UPHOLSTERY PETODOR ODOR REMOVAL UPHOLSTERY CLEANING with the Walton County FCA, who is overseeing the event, and all the proceeds for the 5K HARDWOOD FLOOR CLEANING SERVICE TILE CLEANING PETCLEANING ODOR REMOVAL UPHOLSTERY CLEANING PETODOR ODORREMOVAL REMOVAL UPHOLSTERY CLEANING CARPET FABRIC PROTECTION PET UPHOLSTERY CLEANING will be split 50/50. A t-shirt will be provided to all participants, with prizes awarded to the HARDWOOD TILE HARDWOODFLOOR FLOORCLEANING CLEANINGSERVICE SERVICE TILE CLEANING top three contestants in several categories. HARDWOOD FLOORFLOOR CLEANING SERVICE TILETILE CLEANING HARDWOOD FLOOR CLEANING SERVICE TILE CLEANING PET ODOR REMOVAL UPHOLSTERY CLEANING HARDWOOD CLEANING SERVICE CLEANING Admission for Wing Fling is $10 per adult and $5 for each child under the age of 12. The HARDWOOD FLOOR CLEANING SERVICE TILE CLEANING $10 admission allows one to receive a wing from every cooker, which ends up being between FACEBOOK.COM/TRUMANSTEEMERSCARPETCLEANING 20-30 wings. Arm bands will also be available for purchase for $10, which allow children FACEBOOK.COM/TRUMANSTEEMERSCARPETCLEANING FACEBOOK.COM/TRUMANSTEEMERSCARPETCLEANING unlimited access to three fun activities, one of which is a rock-climbing wall. This is a rain FACEBOOK.COM/TRUMANSTEEMERSCARPETCLEANING FACEBOOK.COM/TRUMANSTEEMERSCARPETCLEANING FACEBOOK.COM/TRUMANSTEEMERSCARPETCLEANING or shine event located outside at the pavilion on Main Street in Loganville. Parking is free. Continued on page 18 FACEBOOK.COM/TRUMANSTEEMERSCARPETCLEANING
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“Oh Brave New World that has such [Teachers] in It.” By K. Coats
By Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz
On the afternoon of March 12th, I had an ominous feeling as I looked around my classroom. It was a Thursday, and we, teachers and students alike, were happy for a long weekend as Friday was an unused Inclement Weather Day. We were excited, but we’d all been watching the news, my seniors and I. And the “news” was inching closer to our homes. But it was still a far cry from the noisy hallway right outside my classroom. Then the noise died down as the students left and the buses pulled out, and there was the echoey silence that came with empty areas meant to host large crowds. I couldn’t shake the feeling that we wouldn’t be back on Monday. It was so strong that I gave in and unplugged some items in my room and grabbed a stack of essays that I’d planned on grading the next week. Sure enough, the news came that very evening. Gwinnett County schools would be closed for a week. And again, I was pretty sure it would be more than a week, but I held on to hope that, maybe, we’d be back at the beginning of May. That was week one of what’s now called Digital Learning Days (DLDs). Here’s a typical morning for me, a senior language arts teacher, in this new normal. I get up and make sure my daughter is logged in to her 3rd grade eClass. I can see Google assignments and videos of her teacher and the other 3rd grade teachers at Grayson Elementary playing as she listens through headphones. If my husband is working from home, then I’ll make breakfast for my 1st grade son as he watches the Good Morning video his wonderful teacher makes for them each day. Then he and I will use my work laptop and go through his assignments together, as I’m thinking how I want him to hurry, but I can’t rush him, as I need to get logged in to my own classrooms with my own students. If my husband has to go into his office, then I can multitask, bouncing back and forth between computers on the kitchen table with my son and the portable tray parked in front of my couch. I’ll work with my own classes, fielding questions, grading assignments, and I do a lot of make-shift counseling and commiserating. By early afternoon, I’m mentally exhausted from tending to my five classes and my two children’s classes. Nonetheless, seeing the work the teachers at my children’s school have put in is touching. They’re trying to put on a brave face, give structure and routine, and make those personal connections – even if it’s through a video chat. They’ve gone outside their comfort zones to learn new concepts quickly and publicly as all their students and the students’ parents look on. I hear them tell my kids repeatedly, “I love you. I miss you.” I saw one of them wipe a tear away during that first video chat when she saw them again. They’ve done drive-bys to give gifts; they’ve sent handwritten cards, and they’ve texted and called. And the middle and high school teachers are right there with them. I’ve seen my co-workers making personal calls to Continued on page 22
n e e r G e h t n o ’ n i v Gro o LO G
Chaplain’s Corner: Are We There Yet?
2020 • A G LE, ANVIL
How many of you have ever been on a road trip with your children in the back seat asking every five minutes, Are we there yet? Well, my wife Kelly and I have five kids, and for the past couple of weeks we have felt at times like we are on the longest road trip ever, with our kids asking that very same question. In other words, when is this going to be over? As a parent, I know the reasons behind their questions are anxiety, frustration, and an overwhelming fear of the unknown. If you are experiencing these feelings, let me share with you what I tell my children. First, I genuinely do not know when this will be “over.” But maybe the real question that we need to ask ourselves is not when this will pass (because it will), but what are we learning in the process, and is there a purpose for all this? The reality is that in six months, five years, or forty years, we all will remember these weeks. We are the generation that has been given the responsibility to respond to the coronavirus. In history books we read about those who responded to the Civil War, the Great Depression, or the Civil Rights Movement. Generations to come will wonder what the people who faced the coronavirus did. This is our time to respond to this global crisis. The decisions we are making today about the virus and our faith, will determine who we become when the virus is gone. In other words, how we react today will determine our actions tomorrow. And what I have found is that if we can find a purpose in what we are facing, we are more likely to make better choices. So, what is the purpose of this pandemic season for your life? Is it drawing you closer to your family? Is it is drawing you closer to God? Is it inspiring you to be more generous with what you have? Is it encouraging you to find a community that can help you get through your challenges? Whatever it may be, you can learn something during this time. Just pay a little bit more attention. Finally, I tell my kids not to only find a purpose, but to live it. Here are some ways how I encourage them to do this: 1. Live your purpose with your prayers. Pray for those who are sick, those who are isolated, those who are being affected by this financially, those fighting in the front lines, and for the whole world. 2. Live your purpose with your presence. Be present in people’s lives by staying home. Love others by doing no harm and by allowing the curve to be flattened. Encourage others via phone, text messages or social media. People need people, which means that someone needs you. Just find a safe way to be present in their lives. 3. Live your purpose with your generosity. Donate blood. Write a note of encouragement to people in hospitals and to first responders. Donate food to one of the local cooperative Continued on page 18
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City Spotlight Continued from page 16
Postcards Continued from page 16
The Loganville Rotary Club is a membership-based organization, and one must be invited by a current member. This year, the president, Brian Peart, issued a challenge for each member to invite a new person to be able to double the membership. Full and corporate memberships are available. More information at loganvillerotary.org.
to me, I locate it on Google Maps and then go to the Postcrossing site to record my receipt.” When she records each card’s location, she leaves a note for the sender thanking them for broadening her world. “Postcrossing pushes me outside in that you can be somewhere else via the Internet,” says Leeann. “Getting involved in this allows me to be a part of a bigger stage. Just today, I had cards from Taiwan and Singapore. They all had something positive to say. That makes it lots of fun!” Recently, Postcrossing is facilitating mail to and from China again. The site closely monitors postal service and offers suggestions for getting involved during the global health crisis. The Postcrossing blog indicates that they have had lots of people who are self-isolated around the world for whom a Postcrossing postcard was a bright spot in a lonely world. The site says, “Whatever your situation might be, sending and receiving postcards seems to bring people a small measure of comfort in these troubled times and we are thankful for that.” More information at Postcrossing.com.
Chaplain’s Corner Continued from page 17 ministries. It takes a village to take care of a village. Do not let this season go by without it being meaningful for you and for those around you. It may not be easy, but it can be a purposeful one. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz is the Lead Pastor of The Nett Church. More information at www.thenettchurch.com.
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Health Matters: How to Stay Healthy During the Current Health Situation Dr. Kerith Powell, Chiropractor Using this time to really take control of your health and reduce stress levels may be just what the doctor ordered. Your ultimate and best defense against the coronavirus is to improve your health and strengthen your immune system. That means you need a good health plan, because if you have not been exposed to the coronavirus yet, you may be exposed to it in the coming weeks and months. The first step in this situation is to avoid eating sugar, grains, alcohol, and dairy products, because in excess they lead to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and lung disease – which all seem to make COVID-19 more dangerous. One of the most helpful tips I can give you is to perform breathing exercises every day to make sure your lungs get stronger and remain healthy. Challenge yourself and see how long you can hold your breath. Pretend to blow out the candles of a birthday cake. When you do breathing exercises, remember to exhale twice as long as you inhale. If you can inhale for 8 seconds and exhale for 16 seconds, your lungs are doing well. Also, drink at least the amount of water that equals half your body weight in ounces, and drink it frequently. If you take a sip of water every twenty minutes, that will help you stay healthy. You can also use a humidifier to add moisture to the air, as well as take a steam or a hot shower every day. In addition, drink hot water and hot teas. Go outside in nature and daily get at least twenty minutes of sunlight between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Exercise each day for at least twenty minutes, combining weight resistance as well as aerobic exercise. Meditation can also help reduce stress levels, as well as help with depression and anxiety. Continue with social distancing and keep wearing masks in public places. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water, and wash your phone with alcohol. Do not touch your face because that is how most people have contracted the virus. Take off your clothes when entering the house from the outside, and especially take off your shoes. After returning, do not
Pet Perch: COVID-19 and Your Pets – What You Should Know
touch anyone or talk to anyone in the house until you have taken a shower. If you are in a high-risk group such as the elderly, immunocompromised, diabetics, the obese, or people with lung or heart disease, stay at home and do not leave the house. In addition, do not accept any visitors, and take extra precautions. Make sure you make phone calls to your friends and family members frequently. Check in on those who would appreciate hearing from you. Have Skype or Zoom video calls so you can see facial expressions. This activates different parts of the brain that you don’t get by communicating over text messages. Give your spouse, children, parents, and siblings lots of compliments, and be helpful around the house. Clean up your closet, your car, and your mind. Take this time to reflect and be aware of the important things in life – and stop sweating the small stuff. Write down what you appreciate, and what your goals are in life. Have a family project where you make mind maps or vision boards. Start a journal and record your deepest thoughts and intuitions. Start practicing mindfulness and meditation. If possible, spend lots of time in nature. Take off your shoes and stand on the earth. Dig your toes into the grass or dirt in a process Continued on page 22
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By Terie Hansen With the COVID-19 Pandemic and Shelter in Place Orders, our pets may be out of sorts due to a major change in their schedule or daily routines. Owners staying at or working from home may cause pets to become over excited and to develop demanding behaviors. Having a conference call while your dog is barking his fool head off is no fun! The best thing you can do for them is to keep as normal a routine as possible. Regular exercise can help them stay healthy, happy, and out of your hair. If your dog is crate trained, use the crate when you are on work calls or truly focused on your work. Take time out of your day for a break for you and them. A ten minute game of fetch can expend some excess energy. Thus far there is no evidence in the United States that pets are a source of coronavirus infection. However, you should always practice safe, healthy habits such as hand washing after handling your pet, their food, and their waste. Don’t let your pets lick you. Clean up waste immediately and dispose of it properly. Take your pet for regular vet checkups, and be sure to seek veterinary care if you suspect your pet is ill. If you need help getting your pet to your vet, seek help from a trusted pet care company that provides Pet Taxi service. If you become sick with the Coronavirus (whether suspected or confirmed) limit contact with your pets, and whenever possible have someone else (friend, family, or pet sitter) care for your pet until you are well. This ensures the safety of all of you. Avoid petting, snuggling, sleeping with, kissing, being licked, and sharing food with them. Hand washing for at least 20 seconds with plain soap is just as effective as antibacterial soap. These are common sense steps that pet owners should adhere to at any time, but especially now. Terie Hansen is Owner of Good Dog! Coaching & Pet Care. More information at www. gooddogcoaching.com.
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Quarantine Times Continued from page 10 KL: I was surprised at how amazingly well people have adapted – teachers, students, parents, businesses. It’s really been amazing. Another wonderful thing, but not much of a surprise because people are good, is how communities and businesses and people have worked to help each other! Also, I was not thinking about how much cleaner the air would be. That’s a happy surprise. OTG: What new things have you learned about yourself or business? KL: I have learned that I need to slow down and enjoy more life, more family, more friends (and thankfully I work with many friends), and to take better care of myself. Something about this business that has been reinforced is that we have something at The Wellness Studio that people really need that enhances people’s lives. We have been helping people feel better – physically, mentally, and emotionally, as well as helping them boost their immune systems – for seven years, and we are here to keep on doing just that! More information at https://www.facebook.com/thewellnessstudioatPM/
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Simply Green Continued from page 5 control, and insect and disease control,” said Mary. Partnership is also a key part of the Simply Green’s attitude towards serving their community. Aside from treating the training fields at Parkview High School, Simply Green also donates to the school, and works closely with the coaches of different teams to find out exactly what kind of terrain their players need in order to play their best. In return, Simply Green makes sure that all the fields are healthy and can stand up to damage done by cleat-wearing athletes. If you’re ready to make your yard the envy of the neighborhood and boost your curb appeal, it’s time to try out the experts at Simply Green Lawn Care. You can reach them in whatever way suits you best – phone, email, or even Yelp – but Mary recommends filling out the form on their website so you can be quickly directed to the person who can help you the most. Ditch your brown grass and finish out spring with the healthiest yard on your block! More information at https://simplygreenlawncare.com/
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Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful Continued from page 12 One of the most impactful accomplishments for GC&B came during Wiggins’ tenure as director. “When I came on, we put into place a public-private partnership that brought together the county government and various industry partners that built the Recycling Bank of Gwinnett,” says Wiggins. “That facility provided a way to conveniently recycle many items that had previously ended up in landfills.” The reduction in waste going to landfills was just one of the many benefits to the center. Education became an enormous issue for both students and adults. “People were surprised when we began to speak publicly about the bigger issue of the environment,” says Wiggins. “It raised questions of who is responsible and why we should care about the effects of pollution and waste on the environment. It caused people to start thinking about the issues.” Following in Connie Wiggin’s footsteps is the dynamic and creative current GC&B Director, Schelly Marlatt. To her, fell the task of keeping up with the rapidly growing and vastly diverse Gwinnett, maintaining programs, and developing relevant community outreach to build a governing board that represents the interests and needs of Gwinnett County. “We will host our 14th annual Governor’s Environmental Address and celebrate our 40th Anniversary/Birthday celebration on Friday, October 23rd at the Infinite Energy Center in the evening,” says Marlatt. “We are working hard to put together a meaningful evening that encompasses many aspects of how GC&B has and continues to ‘Connect People and Resources for a Sustainable Gwinnett.’” The event will be the one and only fundraiser for the year, and they are currently seeking sponsorships. The message of connecting people and resources is timeless. Historically, GC&B has always worked hard to connect people who can get things done. Public and private partnerships have taken the Gwinnett County entity into the next level of ideas and ingenuity. Supporting that drive to keep Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful depends upon community partners like Primerica Foundation that has provided grant funds to develop a new, interactive, multilingual website to bring their message to the community. Additionally, GC&B has partnered with the World Wildlife Fund and Gwinnett County Public Schools on a project to continue championing the fight against hunger and reduction of food waste. The Project is aptly named, Food Waste Warriors 2.0. “We are also evolving and launching a new and rebranded Green Schools Platform,” explains Marlatt. “Instituting a supporting ‘green school’ web-based organization and platform with tools will enable continued expansion of problem-based learning including that of wasted food issues and audits as an integral component of Gwinnett’s Green Schools Program.” Providing a scalable and repeatable program will enable other schools, hospitals, and other institutions to replicate the efforts in the fight against hunger while reducing food waste and waste in general. Projects like these and support from a variety of corporate, governmental, non-profit, and private sources has allowed Marlatt and her team to dream big and be innovative in response to the growing needs of the Gwinnett community. “We are proud to have been recognized as Best of Gwinnett for the second consecutive year,” she says. “We could not be successful without the collaboration and partnerships from many organizations: Gwinnett County and all of their departments, the Board of Commissioners, Primerica Foundation, GCPS, Bank of America, and Keep America Beautiful, just to name a few. “Gwinnett is so much more than our shared playground, workplace, and community,” Marlatt continues. “It is our combined responsibility, and for Gwinnett to continue to serve as a desirable destination for businesses, travel, and tourism, and a growing number of families, we need to work together to keep her clean, beautiful, and thriving.” In order to accomplish those goals, GC&B relies on the ongoing support from local environmental stewards to support many volunteer opportunities throughout the community all year long. Whether volunteering as an individual or as a group through the workplace, civic organization, church, or school, participation is vital to the continued success of GC&B’s actions. “This support impacts our ability to transform public places into beautiful spaces, conserve natural resources and improve our watersheds – each serving as a powerful outlet for people who are passionate about the environment. Each year, we partner with more than 100,000 volunteers and 100 community partners to protect health, landscape, habitats, streams, and water quality,” Marlatt says. “As we celebrate our 40th birthday this year,” Marlatt adds, “we continue to look at ways that we can serve the community in the best possible way. Gwinnett is a growing, changing, and ever-evolving community, and GC&B will grow, change, and evolve along with our
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citizens. We want to be the preferred resource for sustainability solutions because we’re not just stewards of the environment; we’re stewards of the community. GC&B looks forward to having a hand in a long-standing tradition of bringing people together to do great things and solve problems. Connecting People and Resources for a Sustainable Gwinnett is our passion and we will continue to serve the county we love.” Reaching out to the global community that calls Gwinnett home takes forward-thinking initiative. Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful has come a long way since they waged a war on illegal dumping and litter. Education has been the strongest method for bringing the consequences of unfettered waste into the spotlight. While trash isn’t exactly a glamorous topic, GC&B has managed to capture the attention of a whole host of community stakeholders and convinced them to commit to a sustained and renewable effort to keep Gwinnett County Clean and Beautiful. More information at www.gwinnettcb.org.
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Brave New World Continued from page 17
every single student, drive to homes to give out awards, and push themselves beyond their limits to stay connected. And throughout all of this, I’ve realized one important thing about my co-workers across all grade levels, subjects, counties, and states – teachers are as close to “magic” as I think we’ll get in this world. Beyond the videos, the calls, the letters, and assignments, and even the quizzes and tests, here’s the real reason why teachers are so important, especially in trying times like these. They offer a guidepost when all else seems lost or trivial. I’ve watched my seniors struggle to pull themselves out of their disappointment and depression. Many feel lost, and a couple of them have expressed confusion as to why we’re still even doing school. “What’s the point?” they ask. And I can see them fading away from me. But school is about much more than the assignments in times like these. Is it super important that my students learn about the poetry of William Blake right now? No. Not at all. But it is important that they have something familiar to hold on to. It’s important that they have a shred of routine from before March 12th. It’s important that they can still see themselves accomplishing something, anything, during the confusion that is coronavirus – even if it’s nothing more than completing a chart on some William Blake poetry elements. When you look at upheavals throughout history, at the refugee camps and the shifts mankind experiences, there’s a common element that will always pop up when people are expected to stay in one area for a while – a school. Teachers have always known that our jobs were more than just academics. We represent a constant throughout the ages, and we will always take that role to heart. We’re there to remind our students that there will be a time after this period. There will be a time when we can move on from fear. There will be a time when this is a memory. And the assignments, quizzes, video chats, and emails are all part of forcing that reminder through the thick layer of fear. So if you have a teacher in your life, take a minute, please, to tell him or her thank you. Many people confuse their role as guidepost with one of whipping post, and teachers can often be the target of displaced frustration and helplessness. Yes, this eClass platform is annoying, the assignments might be confusing at times, but remember that the teachers are also in uncharted territory. I can promise you my education classes did not in any way prepare me for this scenario. We’re all trying to make our way, do some damage control, and be a guide until the air clears and the fear subsides. Parents, you all are doing a great job as partners in educating our kids. No parenting class prepared us for this scenario either, right? So here’s to all of us: students, teachers, and parents. We will make it through this time. There will be an other side. And if we remember that we are all on the same team, then we can come out of this stronger and wiser together.
Crane’s Corner Continued from page 8
achieved without stepping much further than your pantry or backyard. Begin your Victory Garden: We are greatly expanding our raised bed gardens this year. Time not spent commuting is easily transferred to watering, weeding, and care for the garden, and again once the habit is formed, you will find it later to be an easy tack on to the start or finish of each day. Greater Employer Flexibility and Increase of Telemedicine: Your workplace and boss are hopefully becoming accustomed to work getting done without seeing your face and body at your desk or place of business every day. Prior studies in other countries, already more pre-disposed to telecommuting, have documented increases in productivity when workers can set their own schedule. American medicine AND patients are also finally utilizing, in significant percentages, the use of telemedicine, long available, but seldom used prior to this pandemic. Lower risks of infection and fear of sick people in office lobbies are expediting this transition, and this will not be the first time that fear served as a primary catalyst for shifting American behavior. Maintain friendships with more than the occasional text: You do have more time in home quarantine. You are not commuting, you are setting your own schedule, and your kids are around you constantly. Take some adult time, which is easiest to gather in the evenings and on weekends, and send a friend an email first or a text. Then set a time for a long catch up phone call, Facetime, Skype, or Zoom session. You will come away with feelings of nostalgia and hope, likely lifting spirits in at least two households in the process. During the midst of any great battle, there is a tendency to feel overwhelmed, and the lack of certainty of when this will end is probably presenting the greatest challenge, other than perhaps crippling blows to our economy. But American birth rates have been dropping like a rock for several years now, and our population growth, absent immigration, has dropped below 0 percent (births versus deaths). I am predicting a second Baby Boom this year, just in time for Christmas. That will be quite a gift from this pandemic. Pick a new good habit and get cracking. 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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Health Matters Continued from page 19 called earthing or grounding. There are so many great online virtual classes that are free and fun that you can take, as well. Whether it’s Yoga, TaiChi, Qigong, Pilates, Meditation, Breathing, Mindfulness, Zumba, Dance, Weights, Aerobics, Rebounder, or Belly Dancing, you can find an activity that will get your heart beating and help improve your cardiovascular health in addition to your brain health. It is also a good idea to learn a new skill like gardening or sewing. Read some new books of different genres that you are not used to reading. Become more artistic with poems or drawings. Listen to music or learn to play an instrument. Paint a room or put a shelf up on the wall. Learn a new language or learn how to cook healthy meals. If you do not know how to do something, Google it or check YouTube. If you can leave your house and visit friends from a safe distance, I think it is important to do, especially for children. Do not fight about money in front of your children. Do not let them watch the news, and do not watch the news yourself. It does not do your family any good to hear about every coronavirus death that occurs in every state or country. It is important to educate our children to love our neighbors, not live in fear, and to appreciate our health and freedom. We desperately need more love. Enjoy this time with your family. Do not be stressed by helping your children with their schoolwork. Stress makes your immune system worse, so relax and have some fun. Let them sleep in occasionally or stay up late to watch a movie with you. Let them create their own schedule some days. Teach them things in addition to schoolwork, like how to cook and how to change a tire. Show them the proper way to do laundry and proper dinner etiquette. Now is the time to teach your children the things that the schools might not stress. The coronavirus has created a turning point in humanity. We can focus on testing and tracking and hope the government, pharmaceutical companies, and vaccines will save us from this one virus, or we can take responsibility for our own health, build our own immune systems, not be scared, and not depend on the government or pharmaceuticals to save us. The human body is amazing at healing and can handle a lot of adversity, including millions of bacteria and thousands of viruses that we are exposed to that the media never talks about. There is a lot of hope for a better future. Take care of your body now, and your body will take care of you later. Considering these kinds of changes, you may need supplementation to keep your immune system at its best. If you are interested in getting more information, please call my office to set up an appointment in person or a phone consultation. Connect with us on your preferred social media platform. A special thanks to Dr. Eric Kaplan who, in addition to writing for the Pascack Press, has a functional neurology practice Kaplan Brain & Body. Dr. Kerith Powell is the owner of Dr. Chris’ Natural Remedies. More information at www. drchrisnaturalremedies.com.
A New Kind of Graduate Continued from page 14 In Garrett’s case, he learned firsthand to value each moment with his family, as he lost both his head football coach and his grandfather within a week of each other during the crisis. “Not being able to celebrate the lives that they lived in the traditional manner has been difficult,” he said. “We have discovered new ways to mourn and celebrate our life’s moments. For example, my grandfather’s funeral was broadcast on Facebook live. Moving forward, I will always make an effort to keep in touch with my friends and family.” There is also life after graduation to look forward to as students head off to colleges or careers. For Garrett, this means he will begin his freshman year at the University of Georgia this fall, where he will continue to play baseball while studying engineering. But he still has high hopes for the end of his senior year, and knows that it can still be one of the best. “To current seniors I would say, finish strong,” Garrett said encouragingly. “To future seniors I would say, have fun and enjoy every moment!” Congratulations and good luck, Class of 2020! Finish strong!
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We will make it through this, and the strength of hope will shine brightly.