NOVEMBER 2018: Our Town Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Monthly Magazine

NOVEMBER 2018 Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine

Our Town GWINNETT

Lawrenceville Snellville Lilburn Stone Mountain Tucker

Up Close with The Village Corner, see story on page 5

8 9 11 19

Gwinnett Music Teachers Association: Meet TOTY Cathy Thacker Back to the Future: Snellville Baptist Opens Time Capsule The Song of Success: The Parkview Cluster Foundation Christmas 2018: Another Year of Cheer at M.C. Twinklin’s

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Providence Christian Academy admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its admissions policies, educational policies, scholarship programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.

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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On the Cover: The Village Corner: Forty Years of Family and Fine Cuisine

By Kristen Eleveld In a world full of chain restaurants, food trucks, and meals delivered to your door, it’s rare to find a truly unique place to sit down for a meal. Fortunately, for residents of Gwinnett County, The Village Corner German Restaurant & Bakery is committed to giving you a genuine and inimitable place to go for dinner – and, if you’re lucky, dessert.

When Claus and Hilde Friese moved to the United States from their hometown in Germany, they decided to work in the fields that they knew best. For Hilde, this was baking her homemade bread, which she made fresh in her own kitchen and sold to her neighbors. Claus, who was more experienced with the corporate side of things, took care of the business-related details of the operation. Soon, the Frieses found themselves with so many regular customers that they knew they needed a bigger space from which to serve their community.

It started as a wholesale bakery where customers could not only buy delicious bread, but cookies, pastries, and a variety of other homemade treats as well. Hilde’s extraordinary baking skills combined with Claus’ business know-how made them popular in the neighborhood, and they continued to grow and expand their bakery into a much larger opportunity. A small sandwich shop was added so customers could enjoy lunch or dinner after shopping for their favorite dessert, and The Village Corner quickly became a growing presence in the Stone Mountain community.

In the meantime, one of the Friese’s three children, Carl, was making his way through Johnson & Wales Culinary School, after which he obtained a master’s degree in the art of fine cuisine. He joined the family business, using his skills as a chef to add even more variety to the menu options. With so much talent in one family, it was no surprise that the once-tiny bakery is now a full-fledged restaurant and bar – where they even brew their own beer on the premises.

Now in its third location in the Stone Mountain area, The Village Corner has proven itself to be a one-of-a-kind experience time and again.

“It’s hard to find another place like ours,” said Carl Friese, who is now the owner/operator of the restaurant. “People love to drive by to see what we’re about, and we are a great stop to make on your way to Stone Mountain.”

Last month, they celebrated Oktoberfest with menu specials, live bands, and an authentic accor-

dion player. It’s one of their busiest times of the year, and they celebrate in style!

But if you missed the festivities in October, there are still plenty to choose from for the rest of the year. In December, The Village Corner will host three gingerbread house workshops. They provide everything you need to build your gingerbread house. All you have to do is sign up online and enjoy your delicious creation. There will be plenty of holiday treats for you to munch on while you build, Continued on page 11

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Our Town Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine

Publisher/Owner Ryan T. Sauers Ryan@EndResultZ.com Creative Director Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultZ.com Editor Catherine L. Osornio Cover Photographer Marcie Reif Photography Distribution Coordinator DeeDee Chapman Feature Writers Heidi Campbell K. Coats Kristen Eleveld Patty Gabilondo Emily Haney Kim Hill Amy Ney Jess Wells Contributing Writers Bill Crane Terie Hansen Andy Isakson Beth Volpert Johansen Kelsey Mims Pam Walker

— An EndResultZ Media & Communications firm EndResultZ.com

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

Entire contents copyright 2018 by Our Town Gwinnett. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.

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

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On the Cover: The Village Corner: Forty Years of Family and Fine Cuisine From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion Gwinnett Music Teachers Association: Meet TOTY Cathy Thacker Back to the Future: Snellville Baptist Opens Time Capsule Developing 21st Century Life Skills through Yearbook Publishing The Song of Success: The Parkview Cluster Foundation Lilburn Christian Church Presents “A Christmas to Remember” First Man Movie Gives Gwinnett Daughter First Chance on the Big Screen Health Matters: Physical Therapy Helps Prevent Injuries and Improve Performance Musical Fallout: Thoughts on Generations and Genre Gwinnett Spotlight Story: When Less Really Means MORE Making a Difference in Lives: The Butterfly Model Local Book Review: The Great Alone is Full of Adventure and Suspense College Talk: Gwinnett Tech Hits Record-Breaking Enrollment From Facebook to Funnel Cake: A Story That’s Twice as Sweet Christmas 2018: Another Year of Cheer at M.C. Twinklin’s Making an Impact: How Lawrenceville Youth are Making a Difference Pet Perch: Food is a Powerful Motivator and Bridge to Learning Travel Tales: Adventures in Columbia Garden Talk: Gardening and Plants Can Reduce Stress

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From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion @RyanSauers

By Ryan T. Sauers

It is November and we are inching closer to Thanksgiving. I am thankful for family, friends, and community among many other things. My love of family and community is one of the many reasons I enjoy publishing two monthly magazines dedicated to these topics.

I believe there is so much more good in the world than is ever reported. If you are a regular reader of my column, you may be thinking that I say this a lot. And you are correct. Why do I do this? We all need to remind ourselves of the good that exists – yet is overlooked – throughout our community, country, and world.

Moreover, many of us see our (nearly 2019) world as overloaded with information and moving at warp speed – quite impersonal and “no attention” span in nature.

If you consume any type of local, national, or global news (and how can you not), you witness a world that “appears” out of control, angry, divided, and frustrated. If I did not know better, I would think there weren’t any good, loving, reasonable, and caring people left. 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. And, in all my travels, I see these types of people all over the country.

Rest assured I see everything (good and bad) that is going on around us and it can all seem overwhelming. But, here is what I want to stress to you. It is always the outpouring of love, caring, and our coming together (even when bad things happen) that makes me proud. This community truly has each other’s “back,” and we help push each other to move forward one step, one hour, and one day at a time. We do this side by side and shoulder to shoulder.

The people I know desire peace, love, laughter, and a better world for their children and grandchildren. You see, the Our Town community is simply a microcosm of all that is happening around America and the world. Right here in our own communities we have our own opinions, beliefs, values, and worldview. As I have said before, UNTIE (coming undone) and UNITE (coming together) are not that different in “word appearance,” but so different in meaning.

Continued on page 10

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Gwinnett County Music Teachers Association Awards Cathy Thacker Their Top Prize

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Cathy Thacker has been named the Gwinnett County Music Teachers Association (GCMTA) 2018 Teacher of the Year. Thacker has been teaching piano for over twenty years, and has been very active in the GCMTA, serving as a member for the last sixteen years and as President from 201113, Treasurer from 2007-2011, and Music Day Chair from 2013-15. She has her own private piano studio in Snellville where she teaches close to fifty students, mostly from the Brookwood cluster. “When I won this award I was shocked and dumbfounded,” shared Thacker. “Our group has many fabulous teachers, and this is a high honor. My husband and two youngest kids came to the presentation, and I didn’t realize it until I stood up to receive the award! They knew a few weeks ahead of the event and kept the secret really well!”

Thacker grew up in Lima, Ohio where her father was a pastor and her mother was an elementary school teacher, so teaching was in her genes. She admits to being apprehensive about supporting herself as a piano teacher, so she got a degree in English Education from Bob Jones University while continuing to study piano all through college. In 2014, she became a nationally certified teacher of music in piano through the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). She said, “Earning the national certification required many hours of research projects and recorded performances of my students and me. Only approximately 15% of Georgia Music Teachers Association teachers have this distinction.”

Music is Thacker’s passion and her favorite piece to play is the Intermezzo in A, Op. 118, No.2 which she says is “a beautiful lyrical piece by Johannes Brahms.” She welcomes people to visit her webContinued on page 10

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Snellville First Baptist Preschool Opens Time Capsule

By K. Coats The year 1993 was a busy one. Bill Clinton was president, Israel and Palestine reached an accord, a bomb went off in the garage of the World Trade Center, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg was appointed to the Supreme Court. And while Snellville, Georgia might seem small compared to the scale of global events, 1993 was still a special year because it marked the 25th anniversary of Snellville First Baptist Preschool.

To celebrate that anniversary in an important way, the staff and children of the preschool set up a time capsule. Using a large, capped off PVC pipe, they filled it with a variety of items, and buried it on the property.

Fast forward to 2018, and after a couple of hours of digging, current staff, children, and local community members – around 60 people in all – were treated to a trip down memory lane in celebration of the preschool’s 50th anniversary.

The scent of hardened red clay was unmistakable as the capsule and its contents were unloaded.

Inside were various papers, artwork, programs, brochures, budgets, rosters, handbooks, newspaper clippings, and a child’s t-shirt. All of the items brought back memories of a time before smartphones or Google were everyday terms.

Of course, the budgets and cost sheets were some of the immediate documents that would tell how times had changed since that silver anniversary back in 1993. When the capsule was buried, a teacher pay’s was anywhere from $190 to $752 a week. To send your child to school there for five days, you could expect to pay between $80 and $86 a month. Current tuition of $215 is a price comparable to most church preschools in the area.

But beyond the costs, other small details give away different changes. The rosters looked like they had been typed on an older word processor, with one looking like it was a Ditto Machine document.

The edition of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution showed a picture of Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin shaking hands in front of a smiling President Clinton, boasting “Peace in the Middle East appears to be contagious.” And that edition of the news? It cost 50 cents.

However, what is also remarkable is what hasn’t changed over the years. The news clipping of the preschool’s plans to celebrate its Silver anniversary showed children who looked the same then as those do in 2018. And the sweet lady sitting with those children is Mrs. Lorene Haynes, the school’s director, who was present at both the capsule’s internment and its exhumation. The children’s artwork is timeless, and the older, chalky pigment paint still smells like what you’d find in any self-respecting preschool or Sunday school materials closet.

What also remains the same is the preschool’s dedication to its children. The love and care evident in the time capsule’s documents and artwork are still solid and the program strong. And as the preschool continues its mission of educating and ministering to its youngest community members, there is no doubt they’ll look fondly back on those documents and pictures from the Golden Anniversary in 2018 as they celebrate their Diamond in 2043.

Thank you and best wishes to Snellville First Baptist Preschool in their service for many years to come.

Diane Wiggins is the director of Snellville First Baptist Preschool. More information at fbcsnell.org

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Cathy Thacker Continued from page 8 site (cathythacker.com) to listen to a recording of her playing that selection. Her favorite composer is Beethoven. She feels that he “…forever changed the course of music by bridging the Classical period to the Romantic period in the world of classical music.” She believes in lifelong learning, and has been studying piano for over four years with David Watkins, an MTNA nationally certified master teacher in Atlanta, who is also a Professor Emeritus of piano at Kennesaw State University.

Thacker worked in several office settings after graduating from college. Once she got married and had her three children, she realized her desire to teach music lessons. “Being a mom showed me how rewarding working with young children could be,” she says, “and I have now been teaching music for over twenty years.”

Her goal as a music teacher is to help her students not only develop a lifelong love of music, but also to be the best pianists they can be. She works to help them develop their technique and their note-reading skills to their full potential, and encourages her kids to participate in as many musical endeavors as possible. Many of her students are involved with band, orchestra, and chorus. Thacker also works as an accompanist for band members who compete at Solo & Ensemble events and at flute recitals. Since 2016, she has also accompanied the choral groups at Alton C. Crews Middle School.

While many of her students stop taking lessons when they go off to college, Thacker loves hearing from them when they reach out to her on occasion. She gets great affirmation when she hears that students ask for keyboards to take to college so that they can continue playing, or they decide to continue lessons after college for their own enjoyment. One student in particular made her truly feel that her life’s work has been worth it. This gentleman took lessons from Thacker all through his high school years. He wrote her a letter that she will never forget. In it, he said, “I want to say a few things that I’ve kept to myself ever since leaving your studio. I could not have asked for a better piano teacher. You put your heart and soul into teaching me and I’m so grateful for that… You’re probably wondering why I’m reaching out now, and to be honest I was sitting at a piano at my friend’s house and just started crying… because I realized that you gave me an incredible gift that I took for granted… I will always love the gift of music that you gave me.”

When she’s not teaching her lessons or practicing her craft, Thacker enjoys spending time with her husband, H.D. Thacker, whom she met in college. They enjoy time with their three children, who all graduated from Brookwood High School. Her two oldest children graduated from UGA and her youngest is currently a student there, so Thacker is “a Mom Dawg three times over!” Her passion for her work comes from her affection for kids and her love of music.

More information at cathythacker.com

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By Patty Gabilondo As once stated by Cesare Pavese, “We don’t remember days, we remember moments.”

Few things transport us back to our younger self more than our school yearbooks. I can’t think of a better way to recapture those special childhood moments with both friends and foes than flipping through the pages of a book designed to commemorate and highlight a particular school year. My favorite yearbook is the one that is able to transport me back with references to pop culture, such as the #1 song of the year, favorite movies, the cost of a favorite food, the top-selling album or CD of the year, or a particular clothing or hair style. Remember the Farrah Fawcett flip or tie-dyed T-shirts, which, by the way, are making a comeback now?

In spite of the ever-growing popularity of Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and other alternative internet based social media technology, a school yearbook also serves as the perfect opportunity for capturing special moments of the year. It not only preserves memories, but at the same time it builds basic life skills such as collaboration, critical thinking, creative thinking, leadership, ethics, accountability, and adaptability.

According to Lilburn’s local yearbook specialist, Lyndsey Bland-Gunn, “Working with the faculty advisors and yearbook staffs at local Lilburn schools is so important to me and something that helps me connect with my community and neighbors. I was actually yearbook editor myself in high school, went on to work for my college newspaper, and then came right back to yearbooks. It really has been a lifetime of love for yearbooks!” Bland-Gunn has worked for Jostens Yearbooks for over fifteen years and is a proud publishing partner with local Lilburn schools such as Arcado Elementary, Camp Creek Elementary, Killian Hill Christian School, Knight Elementary, Providence Christian Academy, and Trickum Middle School.

Bland-Gunn says that as a student member of any yearbook staff, “…you’re able to express creativity through either writing, design, or photography; you will work and get along with other people, and learn to meet firm deadlines. Working on a yearbook publications team, students of all ages learn all those things and real-world 21st century skills.”

Writing, communicating, and working with a team are all skills that are fundamental for students of all ages. With the advent of computers, digital cameras, photo editing software, and design software, students at young ages can now become proficient in the literacy of communications technology. It may be hard to imagine your middle-schooler running a business, but in fact those students who sign up to work on the yearbook staff must be goal oriented with the intent to produce a tangible finished product designed to generate a profit. These same students are accountable to their “customers” and peers for making a high-quality product that will be cherished and will serve to highlight and record the activities of the past school year.

“At least once a month I receive an email or a phone call asking me if I can help procure a yearbook of years past,” says Bland-Gunn. “Never have I heard anyone say, ‘I regret buying my yearbook, or buying a yearbook for my child.’”

The moments of today become the memories of tomorrow, and that tangible, hard copy yearbook will always be treasured for years to come. If your student is looking for a way to contribute to a creative process and to learn and practice 21st century skills, encourage him or her to consider contributing behind the “pages” of their local school’s yearbook publication staff. It’s a great investment in their future in more ways than one.

One Man’s Opinion Continued from page 7

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I challenge each of us to focus on what unites us, not divides us. Be the person who is willing to hear another person out (without getting angry) even if you do not agree with them. As the late Stephen Covey said, “seek first to understand then to be understood.” If we all do this, we can make our small corner of the earth a better place.

In the Our Town community, we have a lot to be proud of. We have super families, great schools, amazing teams, top businesses, wonderful parks, loving churches and nonprofits, and people of character. Our diversity and uniqueness are things we must ALWAYS embrace, and that makes us all stronger.

We must work hard to care about each person we meet. Yes, put your phone down and talk to someone (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 not problems? Remember, every human has emotions: joy, love, anger, frustration, anxiousness. Together we can make a difference and build strong bridges of understanding between one another. This allows us to develop trust and such trust and strong relationships are what are needed to move us all forward.

I am so very proud of where I live, work, and play. People need encouragement and are eager to hear a kind word. People need to laugh, and they want to smile. Be the person that gives them that laughter. Let’s all make another person’s day amazing.

A community is strengthened one person at a time and one day at a time. I wish you and your family a wonderful and blessed November and Thanksgiving holiday. I am so glad you are with me as we continue the journey of my town, your town, OUR TOWN!

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The Village Corner Continued from page 5 so be sure to bring your sweet tooth along.

Throughout the year, the restaurant also reaches out to the community through small but significant gestures. They may raffle off a dinner for two, or give away a free dessert. To ring in St. Patrick’s Day, they promote the “Raising of the Green” event for the local Art Station.

You don’t have to wait for a holiday to celebrate at The Village Corner. The Frieses and their restaurant have played host to many rehearsal dinners, birthday parties, wedding showers, and even private corporate events.

“We’ve been here for forty years, and it’s still a one-of-a-kind place,” said Carl of his parents’ legacy.

“We would love for new faces to stop in for a meal!”

If The Village Corner sounds too tasty to pass up, head over there for your next meal: 6655 James B. Rivers Drive in Stone Mountain. Don’t forget to visit their website and sign up for their newsletter to keep up with all the events they are hosting for the neighborhood! With a fun, unique atmosphere and a plethora of authentic German dishes, it’s impossible not to enjoy your time at The Village Corner.

More information at www.germanrestaurant.com.

The Song of Success: How the Parkview Cluster Foundation Helped One Music Teacher Change a School

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In a large school system like Gwinnett County, there are many teachers, faculty members, and staff who go the extra mile to give their students the best education and opportunities available. Jeff Schaefer is one of those teachers.

Schaefer, Guitar Director at Trickum Middle School, is passionate about music and about teaching his students the kind of impact music can have. With nearly two decades of experience on the job, he also understands the value of working with students through a process to help them learn new ideas and concepts that can affect more areas of their lives than just music.

“What I love about teaching is seeing the light bulbs go off with students,” said Schaefer, who is embarking on his fifth year as Guitar Director. “I see it as an honor and privilege to be able to be a part of that learning process with others. It truly brings great joy to me throughout the day.”

With so much love for his job and joy for his students, Schaefer unsurprisingly has received a grant to provide resources and supplies for his classes for the last three years in a row. In 2015, he received $100 for two theory modules for guitar and music lessons. In 2016, he received $1,499 for ten guitar amps. And in 2017, he was awarded $1,500 for purchase of thirty ukuleles. These small funds have had a huge impact for both his students and Trickum Middle School as a whole.

For instance, the theory modules are used for all three grade levels from August to May. The guitar amps are used with the Intermediate Guitar classes for rehearsals and concerts. The ukuleles are used primarily with the Beginner Guitar classes and provide a fun and different opportunity to learn an instrument.

“What is most exciting about receiving a grant is being able to provide students with music equipment that is appropriate for the style of music being performed,” said Schaefer. “The guitar has a rich history in so many different styles of music. Down the road, I see other fretted string instruments like the banjo and mandolin joining the ensemble.”

Each year, the Parkview Cluster Foundation’s grants are made possible by a partnership between their cluster schools and the parents, businesses, and residents of the Parkview community. The goals of the grant awards, according the cluster’s guidelines, are to promote academic enrichment, growth, and excellence for the Parkview Cluster’s students and schools. Foundation grants support educational needs that provide for advancement and distinction for our cluster schools when other funds may not be available.

The Parkview Cluster Foundation Executive Committee reviews all grant proposals. Grant recipients are chosen based on overall quality, development, and educational value or benefit of the grant request.

If you want to help teachers like Jeff Schaefer in their mission to enrich the lives of each student, there are dozens of options available. One fun way to participate is the Battle of the Classes challenge, where alumni donate according to their graduation year. So if you are the class of 1998, you can donate $19.98, $199.80, or more! Whether you donate to a fundraiser for the grant funds or serve on a committee, you can make your own difference in these schools. Great teachers need great resources to teach great students – and a great community doesn’t hurt, either.

More information at parkviewfoundation.org.

PAGE 11

Gwinnett’s premier event destination for 20 years!

Lilburn Christian Church Presents “A Christmas to Remember”

By Jess Wells

Weddings & receptions, holiday parties, anniversary celebrations, sweet 16 parties, corporate events and more!

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Are you looking for a great way to get your family into the Christmas Spirit this year? On the weekend of December 7-9, Lilburn Christian Church (LCC) will be presenting a very special program of music and drama entitled “A Christmas to Remember” as a way to invite our Lilburn community together to celebrate the magic of the Christmas Season.

According to Dwayne Wylds, Minister of Music at Lilburn Christian Church, the program will consist of performances from a myriad of ensembles, including a handbell choir, carolers, a full chorus, an orchestra, and a troupe of actors.

Wylds has been directing music at LCC for the past thirty-one years, and is proud of the musical community of friends and family that has developed in the church. While he will be directing the music for this holiday program, Wylds’ wife, Marla, will play cello in the orchestra, and his son, Elliot, will perform on percussion.

The ensembles at LCC will also be welcoming into their ranks singers and musicians from churches in Jefferson and Winder, Georgia – places that do not have the performance opportunities available at Lilburn Christian. Creating an inclusive evening of music and drama such as this serves to build even stronger relationships between people and their different worshiping communities.

The evening’s program will be split into two parts. The first half will consist of the different ensembles performing music for the Christmas season. During the second half, the audience will see actors performing in tandem with musicians to create a narrative for the Christmas season that moves from the secular to the divine.

With the commercialization of Christmas coming earlier and earlier every year, Lilburn Christian Church hopes that their weekend of performance will offer friends and family a chance to take a break and enjoy the magic and music of Christmas. “We’re excited for people to come,” said Wylds. “We believe it will definitely be worth your time.”

“A Christmas to Remember” will perform at Lilburn Christian Church on December 7-9. Parking is free and plentiful, and there will be attendants on duty to guide you to a parking spot. Seating begins one hour prior to the start of the performance. The program lasts about one hour. The sanctuary at LCC is handicapped accessible, and there will be free child care offered for children ages four and under.

More information at http://www.lilburnchristianchurch.org/

First Man Movie Gives Gwinnett Daughter First Chance on the Big Screen

By Jess Wells Lauren Stafford had been keeping an eye on the Facebook page for Baby Faces Atlanta for some time. The page was a place for agencies to list calls for kids for print modeling jobs in the Atlanta area. Lauren, a mother of four living in Suwanee with her husband, Brad, had previously placed her daughter, Lucy, in a Graco advertisement through the page.

When she saw a rare casting call for a feature film looking for a young girl between the ages of two and four, she decided on a whim to submit a photo of Lucy. Four days later, to her surprise, Lauren heard back from the agency asking her to submit a video of Lucy, “Just acting like a kid.”

“Brad and I don’t want Lucy to necessarily become a child actor,” said Lauren. But when the agency called back saying that Universal/ DreamWorks wanted to hire Lucy to play Karen Armstrong, daughter of Neil and Janet Armstrong, in the upcoming film, First Man, the Staffords agreed to let Lucy, at two years old, take the role.

At that point, things started moving quickly. Lauren brought Lucy to Tyler Perry Studios for her costume fittings. “Lucy loved trying on the clothes and shoes,” said her mom. “She wanted to try on every costume!”

Fittings moved into rehearsals, where Lucy got to meet the film’s Academy Award-Winning Director, Damien Chazelle, and the two actors playing Lucy’s parents, Ryan Gosling and Claire Foy. After rehearsals, the shooting schedule was released, and Lucy was called for three days of filming on set. “It was eye-opening being behind the scenes,” said Lauren. “I don’t think people realize that movies aren’t filmed in order. Many of Lucy’s shots were done when Ryan and Claire weren’t on the set, even though both of them appear in those scenes with Lucy.”

Lauren was extremely appreciative of the care and attention the production gave to her and Lucy.

Continued on page 15

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Our Town

Health Matters: Physical Therapy Helps Prevent Injuries and Improve Performance

By Kelsey Mims, PT, DPT, OCS Have you noticed having more difficulty squatting down to pick objects up from the floor, not being able to reach behind your back to get your jacket on, or not seeing the strength improvements you want at the gym? You may want to consider going to see a physical therapist to help you move better and get stronger. Although the common use for physical therapy is to treat aches and pains and to rehab after a surgery, the scope of the physical therapy profession goes far beyond that. Another benefit that is often underutilized in physical therapy is injury prevention and the improvement in functional movement.

One way this is done is through a Selective Functional Movement Assessment, a comprehensive evaluation that helps uncover movement dysfunctions that may limit mobility and predispose someone to future injury. Through the assessment, the therapist is able to specifically prescribe a treatment plan to use at home or in the gym to help improve mobility, increase strength, and, as a result, prevent injury.

Physical therapists can use a variety of methods for treatment including manual (hands-on) therapy, therapeutic exercise, and specific functional training. One of the manual therapy techniques used by BenchMark Physical Therapist, Kelsey Mims, is the Graston Technique. Graston treatment utilizes stainless steel instruments to aid in soft tissue mobility, the breakdown of scar tissue, the increase of blood flow and circulation to an area, and to increase tissue healing and recovery. Combining the use of the functional assessment with the hands-on techniques has been very successful in the treatment of the ‘weekend warriors’ as well as professional athletes. It has helped with overall mobility, increased tissue mobility, and improved tissue recovery. As a result, they are able to perform at their best in their daily activities. One of her clients, Kevin Wilson, is an IFBB Men’s Classic Physique Professional Bodybuilder. He states, “I love working out, but that means nothing if I don’t have good mobility in order to ensure proper technique with my lifts. Ensuring my body fully recovers helps me to see and feel the results of my hard work.”

Kelsey Mims is an Area Director for BenchMark Physical Therapy. More information at www.bmrp.com

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PAGE 13

Musical Fallout: Thoughts on Generations and Genre

By Beth Volpert Johansen

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Recently, I hosted a book club meeting at our home. The book was entitled, The All-Girl Filling Station Last Reunion by Fannie Flagg. The setting bounced back and forth between present day Point Clear, Alabama and 1940s Pulaski, Wisconsin. In the story, Fannie Flagg made certain to mention the music of the wartime era, so in addition to crab, shrimp, hushpuppies, and Polish sausage with pierogis, we set the mood with some 1940s background music.

The question as to whether today’s kids listen to this type of music came up. Those of us who have watched our own kids play the popular video game series, Fallout, can attest to the fact that indeed kids DO listen to early wartime music. Turns out their video game music can potentially qualify as “deep eclectic cuts.”

The discussion at the book club made me think about what kids are listening to and if it has some connection to generations past. So, like any good journalist, I went right to the source. When you have five kids in the house like I do with about two to three friends each on any given weekend, you get a varied and valid research sample. All one needs to do is provide some snacks to get survey questions answered.

And the question I asked was, “What kind of music do you and your parents listen to together?”

This being the South, country came up, but not just any type of country. Seems the kids and their parents are keen on the old Johnny Cash and Conway Twitty tunes – a kind of nod back to the burgeoning Nashville scene. Second in the results was classic rock. Several of the sampled kids had seen an old 96 Rock license plate tacked up somewhere on the garage wall at home. Journey managed to edge out Van Halen for the top seed in the rock race among the sampling pool gathered at my kitchen table. Interestingly, Frank Sinatra also made the very honorable mentions.

Just after the survey, I walked by my stepdaughter’s room and heard what I thought was Paul Anka.

Sweet, I thought. Put Your Head on My Shoulder is a real classic, but it turns out, it wasn’t Paul at all.

It was a “Lo-Fi” cover delivered with the exact kind of teen pain and angst that is cross-generational.

I mean, hasn’t every pre-teen mooned over an adorable idol crooning just for her? We spent the rest of the evening belting out the soundtracks to Grease and Mama Mia. One of the kids who regularly hangs out at our house is a walking discography. He has an uncanny knowledge of a vast array of musical genres. His classic vinyl collection includes albums from ASIA to Zeppelin and everything in between. And, that stuff isn’t just for show; he knows the original release Continued on page 18

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PAGE 14

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Gwinnett Spotlight Story: When Less Really Means MORE

By Bill Crane “The most frequent complaint we hear at MARTA [Metro Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority] about transit is that we simply need MORE of it,” says longtime MARTA Board Chair, Robbie Ashe. “We’re working on that now.”

The metro Atlanta region gained another nearly 80,000 residents during 2017. The largest population increase was in Gwinnett County, and the highest percentage gains against base population in the 9-county core metro were in Cherokee and Henry counties.

At the same time, growing recognition of the benefits of mass transit for the metropolitan Atlanta region, as well as improved connectivity and performance by existing transit agencies in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett counties – along with state players at the Atlanta-Region Transit Link and the Georgia Department of Transportation – have the area on the real cusp of region-wide transportation system planning and expansion.

Much fretting has been done by some during these discussions of a nationwide decline in transit riders in most every major metropolitan jurisdiction. From San Francisco’s BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) to metro New York’s MTA, the Chicago subway and L-Train, and metro Washington D.C.’s Metro, most every major system has seen a year over year ridership decline in the 5 percent range.

Near full employment, near record minority employment, and growth in the second quarter exceeding four percent all suggest a healthier economy, which means more consumers with greater incomes and more choices. Greater employment options and higher wages among lower skilled workers also typically mean there will be fewer transit dependent riders.

The Atlanta United soccer team now brings on average 70,000 soccer fans, predominantly via MARTA, to the new Mercedes Benz stadium for 17-18 homes games per year. Taking a round trip, that’s well over 2-million new riders for MARTA per season, many from the outer suburbs. We call these folks “choice riders,” and by every indication, those numbers are rapidly on the rise.

Commercial and residential real estate adjacent to our new MARTA Transit Oriented Developments (TODs), as well as the Atlanta Beltline, are among the highest in demand for residential addresses in the region. Transit access appears to be one of the primary factors on realtors’ radar.

Continued on page 20

First Man Movie Continued from page 12 “We were allowed to park very close to the set each day,” she said. “I got to be with Lucy the whole time. They always had a special place for me to sit while Lucy was on the set.”

For Lucy’s part, she seemed to enjoy the experience, although one of the days was a challenge. Said Lauren, “We were called the second day from one to seven to shoot an outdoor scene at sundown.”

Lauren, however, knowing that could be a tough time for kids, was prepared. “Every day, I made sure to pack a bag full of snacks and activities.” When Lucy would get restless, Lauren was there with a snack.

“I love to tell my friends that Ryan Gosling told me my ‘snack game was strong!’” Lauren shared glowingly. “He loved that I brought Skittles and asked to have some. So when Lucy finished her last day, we brought little bags of Skittles for the cast and crew to say ‘thank you’ for the experience.”

First Man was released in theaters on October 12. The Staffords had arranged a private screening at the Movie Tavern for family and friends. There was even a red carpet for Lucy to walk down.

While the film has received some criticism concerning the topic of planting the US Flag on the moon, Lauren hopes that everyone will still come see the movie. “It’s a stirring film about relationships, loss, and sacrifice. The story of the man behind the mission.”

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PAGE 16

Making a Difference in Lives: The Butterfly Model

By Andy Isakson Imagine living a full, healthy life – experiencing the sweetest, extraordinary highs and simple joys as well as the hardest challenges that come with being human. Maybe you have raised generations of children. Maybe you have loved and lost. Each day, you gave it what you had, and now those memories are fading. You cannot do things for yourself as you once were able.

You need more than you would prefer to admit, and you must rely on your children to make many of your decisions for you.

Now, imagine watching the man who has been your hero for the entirety of your life, slowly fade. Your father is still with you, but his memories, personality, and cognition slowly slip away as you try to lead and care for him as he always has done for you.

This is a challenge countless families face around the globe and in our very own neighborhood. I have managed continuing care communities for 15 years and watched families deal with the emotional reality of losing a loved one to dementia while they are still physically here on earth. The process is exhausting for loved ones caring for an aging parent or relative. Some feel guilty for removing them from things that are familiar, but they do not have the means or skills to properly care for their aging relatives in the home.

Traditionally in the US, assisted living facilities provide routine to help individuals suffering with dementia, giving families needed support and space as loved ones slowly decline and receive needed care. A steady, familiar schedule helps management work consistently in caring for large numbers of patients. However, facilities throughout the United Kingdom have seen those living with dementia actually make improvements in their emotional state and behavior so that their life can be the best that it can be. These facilities operate within an innovative approach known as the Butterfly Model.

When I learned about this unique method to care, I decided to undergo the process to obtain the Highest Level 1 credential for Park Springs, a Memory Care home by Isakson Living in Gwinnett County. We are the first in the nation to offer this approach to families walking through the challenge of dementia. We underwent a year-long staff training, construction, and evaluation, and we are honored to bring the Butterfly Model to families in Gwinnett and beyond.

The Butterfly Model and Household Model of Care encourage Members – as certified homes refer to the people living there – to retain their independence with the support of the care partners and homemaker in each household. The innovative concept is focused on Members and the emotional connections we look to nourish. When memory begins to fail, emotions still remain, and may even be heightened as the body compensates. Our mantra and training is based on “feelings matter most.”

Requests and preferred routines are first priority, while scheduled times for wakeup, meals, or activities are no longer the standard. Members are met in their own reality – where they are emotionally and mentally – to provide meaningful experiences and relationships in a setting specifically designed for their needs and interests.

For example, a former physician would be encouraged to discuss medicine, and former teachers are offered school papers to “grade.” There is an open kitchen concept offering members the opportunity to observe or assist with meal preparation and cozy seating areas with many engaging items placed strategically for interaction and conversation.

Additionally, at Park Springs, the staff wears regular clothes instead of uniforms to enhance the home-like setting, even donning pajamas when on night shift.

The Butterfly Model’s focus on meeting members where they are in their mind’s eye has shown tangible results with unprecedented emotional and behavioral improvement , which lead to improvements in their general health.

Members are loved for both who they are and who they were. This helps bring out the best in members and creates meaningful moments with the individual, family, and friends.

If you are visiting an aging individual who is struggling with dementia, try to engage them where they are. If they are in college in the 1940s, ask them about class. If they are gardening in their golden years, comment on the beautiful roses and ask which plant is doing best this season. While they may not meet you in your present, you may learn something new about the life your loved one lived.

Managing Partner Andy Isakson is the Park Springs’ visionary-in-chief. More information at http:// www.parksprings.com/

To become an Our Town advertising partner email Info@OurTownGwinnett.com or call 678-825-2049

Our Town

Local Book Review: The Great Alone is Full of Adventure and Suspense

By Heidi Campbell Kristen Hannah, the author of over twenty novels, is perhaps best known for her international bestselling book The Nightingale – an epic, award-winning work of historical fiction that takes place in France during WWII. Her latest novel, The Great Alone, is set in Alaska in the early 1970s. The 435 page novel is sewn together with paradoxical strings: isolation and community, power and weakness, mental illness and mental strength, loyalty and betrayal, dependence, and uncertainty.

The story begins with antagonist Ernt Allbright, tortured by his time as a POW in Vietnam and struggling to find his place in the world.

He learns that he inherited some land and a cabin in a remote part of Alaska, and he decides to move his wife Cora and 13-year-old daughter Leni to this new life as homesteaders. Ernt feels that this is the answer to his unhappiness. He sells the idea to his wife and daughter, explaining that it is “A house that is ours. That we own. In a place where we can be selfsufficient, grow our own vegetables, hunt our meat, and be free… we could be free. Think of it.”

The family arrives in the tiny town of Kaneq, completely unprepared for what life in Alaska requires. They pull up to their new home – it is dirty, with no electricity and no running water. The land around it is so overgrown that they cannot even drive their VW Bus to the cabin. Fortunately for the Allbrights, they meet Large Marge, a former D.C. attorney, who gathers a few locals to help the new family prepare for their first winter. Everyone in town continuously reminds them that Alaska is very dangerous and everyone must prepare. One local, Natalie, tells them, “There’s a saying: up here you can make one mistake. The second one will kill you.”

As winter nears, Ernt’s behavior becomes scarier and scarier, and the story takes a dark turn. Leni never had friends at any of her other schools, and is ecstatic when she meets Matthew on her first day of school. He is her nearest neighbor and they become best friends almost immediately.

With winter closing in, Ernt begins spending time with “Mad Earl,” the father of his soldier friend who left him the land. Ernt drinks more and more, and paranoia seems to be his only motivation. His actions spiral out of control, leading to a shocking end. Leni, knows that she must be very careful, but she is a teenager in love. She is caught between doing what she needs to do to survive and doing what she wants to do. This dilemma is captured when Hannah writes, “Love and fear. The most destructive Continued on page 18

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Musical Fallout Continued from page 14 dates, current and former band members, recording studios, and more. It’s just uncanny. We leave it up to him to set the weekend cookout playlist because he always has something for everyone.

Concerts are quite another story. We have been dragging our kids to live music venues since they were old enough – well, maybe not even old enough – to hear uncles, dads, grandfathers, and brothers perform live. So, it did not come as a big surprise that their obsession with live music and concerts began to edge into our “date nights.” Once they were old enough to figure out where we were headed, the concert ticket price went from two in comfortable seats to the family on the lawn. I once, very casually, asked the lads making their own music in our basement whether they were interested in seeing Steely Dan. Mercy! Did I get an earful! Shortly thereafter, I procured lawn seats for everyone, and a good time was had by all.

Just like at our book club, there is background music for most any event. Our place has been known to leak an assorted mix of original prog rock, jazz, big band, barbershop harmony, cover band mixes, lo-fi, and rap on any given day. Weekends are a free-for-all that includes plenty of video games and the accompanying music.

Today’s generation has heard the oldies, and I am here to report they tend to think the oldies are still goodies.

Book Review Continued from page 17 forces on earth. Fear had turned her inside out, love had made her stupid.”

The isolation found in Alaska, otherwise known as The Great Alone, was more than most could take, but Leni and Cora were able to find happiness that Ernt could not. They enjoyed the locals, the school, and the life, even while being caged in by a man who was mentally ill. Hannah describes the relationship between Leni and her mother by saying, “A girl was like a kite; without her mother’s strong, steady hold on the string, she might just float away, be lost somewhere among the clouds.”

This novel is not for the weak at heart. It is loaded with suspense, twists, and turns. It is a story of love and terror, and the reader can truly grasp the life of the Alaska homesteaders. Hannah writes, “You think you know what wild means. It’s a word you’ve used all your life. You use it to describe an animal, your hair, an undisciplined child. In Alaska, you learn what wild really means.”

After reading this novel, readers, at the very minimum, have a slightly more realistic view of a life they could previously not even imagine. More than the wild nature of the land, however, this novel touches on the wild found in human beings. There are simply things that cannot ever be tamed.

College Talk: Gwinnett Technical College Hits Record-Breaking Enrollment

By Our Town Staff For the third consecutive year, Gwinnett Technical College has recorded the highest enrollment numbers in the College’s thirty-four year history. More than 12,000 students across Gwinnett and North Fulton enrolled at Gwinnett Tech for exceptional educational programs and exciting career opportunities. The 2018 academic year’s enrollment took a sizeable jump, recording an 8.5% uptick over a year ago.

David Welden, acting president of Gwinnett Tech, attributes this surge in enrollment to a few key factors: Expanding HOPE Career Grant offerings from 30 certificates and diplomas to 51. Programs of study include automotive and construction, computer sciences, early childhood care and education, health sciences, heavy diesel, logistics management, and welding and joining technology.

Increased awareness about programs and support services for veterans and their families. The College’s Office of Veterans Affairs earned the 2017 Military Friendly® School designation and ranked 4th in the nation on the 2017 Best Colleges for Vets list.

A dramatic increase in the number of high school students enrolled in the Dual Enrollment program. This year, 2,248 high school students from public, private, and home schools across the community are actively enrolled in Gwinnett Tech, taking classes both online and on-campus.

Welden says, “We are continually working with our industry partners to respond and deliver the educational programs that meet the real-time needs of our community.”

The College offers more than 140 different associate degree, diploma, and certificate programs.

Gwinnett Tech’s programs continue to grow and expand to meet the ever-changing demands of the job market.

More information at GwinnettTech.edu

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From Facebook to Funnel Cake: A Story That’s Twice as Sweet

By Kristen Eleveld In 2013, Kashaun and Domonique met by chance over Facebook. In 2014, their relationship was still going strong, and they decided to take their children to a local theme park for the day. During their visit, they stopped to enjoy some funnel cake. It was then that one of their boys said he thought funnel cake should be available all the time, and not only at a theme park.

Kashaun and Domonique liked the idea of starting a funnel cake restaurant that would be available to everyone all the time. They started filling out paperwork and working on making their idea a reality. Over the next few years, they never lost interest in the idea, but they had a lot on their plates in both their personal and professional lives. Kashaun and Domonique had married (becoming the Coopers), and their five boys and full-time jobs kept them very busy.

The Coopers were also focusing on other interests near and dear to their hearts. Both had long seen the need to care for the less fortunate in their community. In 2009, Kashaun had started Father’s Rock, a non-profit that helped fathers become active parts of their homes and communities. Together the Coopers started the YO Gwinnett program, which focused on housing for homeless or runaway teenagers. They also have co-authored multiple books, including What If I Am? The Four Stages in Life for Teens, which seek to show struggling teenagers how resilient they can be and how they can be great in their own way.

Kashaun and Domonique believe in the power of education, and have served on multiple school boards and councils to make their voices heard in their community. They also have worked with the G.I.V.E. Center in Lawrenceville to mentor students who are struggling to pursue their education, and they continue to be active school council members. Domonique serves on the Salvation Army’s Advisory board, and they both serve many other philanthropic organizations in order to reach out to families, children, and teenagers who need a helping hand.

With so much community involvement, it’s no wonder that it wasn’t until early 2018 that their restaurant dream could become a reality. They saw a perfect space for rent in Lawrenceville, quickly assembled a team, and got to work.

In the eight months that followed, the whole family created a unique and flavorful menu that is unlike anything else in Georgia. They asked each of their boys to create or contribute to a specialty menu item, making it a true family business. By the beginning of August, they had over thirty delicious funnel cake menu options that were just waiting to be enjoyed by the community around them.

Finally, on August 15th, after months of hard work, Fancy Funnel Cake opened its doors to Lawrenceville and surrounding cities.

And, contrary to popular belief, Fancy Funnel Cake is more than just a dessert shop.

“We are here for lunch, dinner – any time you want to try something new!” says Domonique. “You could eat here every day for a month and still not make it through the menu.”

There are plenty of sweet treats available at Fancy Funnel Cake, but the options for lunch and dinner seem limitless. If you’re looking for a new twist on an old classic, give the PB&J Funnel Cake a try!

Or maybe you’re more in the mood for a BLT Funnel Cake. You can even enjoy a breakfast treat with the Fancy Frooty Loopy Funnel Cake. Whatever your taste, you will find a new way to experience it at this restaurant. If you stop by on holidays or during a new season, you will also have the chance to try seven new, seasonal recipes in addition to the dozens that are available year-round.

Looking ahead, Domonique and Kashaun hope to expand their business into multiple locations, Continued on page 22 You and your team have one hour to explore mysterious rooms, solve clever puzzles and beat the game before time runs out!

Christmas 2018: Another Year of Cheer at M.C. Twinklin’s

2076 West Park Place Blvd - Stone Mountain, GA 30087 Our Town

Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine

Our Town GWINNETT

Lawrenceville Snellville Lilburn Stone Mountain Tucker

Meet the team at M.C. Twinklin’s, see story on page 5

By Jess Wells Last year, Our Town Gwinnett reported on the magical Christmas wonderland that is M.C. Twinklin’s. ‘Tis the season to check back in for 2018!

As you may remember, M.C. Twinklin’s is THE Christmas store on our side of Atlanta. Located in Lilburn on Stone Mountain Highway, the store is celebrating its 36th consecutive year of bringing Christmas cheer to all, far and near.

“We’ve always had great customers,” says Cheryl Gaston, owner of the spectacular shop, “but things go fast. I recommend no one wait too long to pick out a tree and decorations. We close the store Christmas Eve Day because at some point I have to decorate my own house!”

Fear not, there is plenty of time for Christmas shopping. M.C. Twinklin’s is open seasonally from October through the first weekend in January. As Gaston mentioned, they are closed on Christmas Eve Day. The only other days the shop is shuttered are on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve Day, and New Year’s Day. M.C. Twinklin’s – whose initials stand for the original owners, Cheryl, and her late brother-in-law, Mike, but also Merry Christmas – is the only “permanent tree” retailer in the Atlanta area carrying Neuman Trees. “Neuman is a small company that specializes in making great trees,” shares Gaston.

Both pre-lighted and unlighted trees are available from two feet to twelve feet, with much larger sizes available by special order. Styles vary by color, width, and size. Gaston is also happy to sell fullyornamented trees. “We do seven or eight each year,” she says.

The store sells custom wreaths, bows, and flower arrangements. Gaston teaches workshops each year in ribbon and wreath making, tree decorating, and the home fabrication of unique tree toppers.

One of the most special and popular items that M.C. Twinklin’s sells is the full range of nativity scenes from Fontanini. The pieces are based on hand carved Italian characters made of a durable, unbreakable material. They come in five sizes, the five-inch size being the most popular for home display. That particular size, according to Gaston, offers 127 unique pieces in the collection.

Continued on page 22 9 10 10 12

Trickum Middle School Hosts: A Day of Thanks

Brookwood Elementary Supports the Amanda Riley Foundation

Community Member Spotlight: Meet “Mr. Tennis” Bryan Shepherd Getting to Know: Nancy Gordeuk & TNT Academy

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frustrated with a lack of answers or resources them in payroll • account reconciliation • rental properties • elder bill management Lawrenceville. They decided to gather community leaders every month and pray for 404.719.4769 | info@growsmc.com | www.growsmc.com their city. Today, what started as a prayer meeting has turned into one of the most impactful youthoriented community initiatives in Gwinnett County.

As the group of two grew to include more and more people working for the same goal, they decided 12 AURORA THEATRE Gwinnett’s Only Professional Theatre it was best to create an organization dedicated to positive change in their neighborhood. They called it Impact46 – both in reference to their local zip code, 30046, and in reference to Psalm 46, which has been the main source of inspiration for the group’s mission. As an organization, Impact46 seeks to build partnerships with a purpose to change their city. They believe that a collaborative investment will lead to a collective impact in Lawrenceville.

Though they have been partnering with the community for several years, Impact46 officially became a non-profit organization in May of 2017. Since then, they have not wasted a moment in their efforts to promote a positive, growing community atmosphere that includes nearby schools, local businesses, and teenagers and children who desire the opportunity to learn and develop new skills.

At the beginning of the year, three key players worked together to create the Summer of Impact, which is a community impact initiative for teenagers in the Central Gwinnett High School cluster.

The initiative facilitates a partnership between local businesses and the school to provide internships for juniors and seniors who are interested in developing skills for future jobs.

In addition to the internship program, each participant will attend Leadership Development Training, which is a weekly meeting facilitated by Impact 46 that provides the interns with additional skills that will allow them to rise as a leader in their own community.

But the high schoolers aren’t the only ones who were given the chance to have a big impact this summer. In partnership with SportsServe, Impact46 also runs Kidsgames, a one-day community camp that targets the elementary schools in the Central Gwinnett cluster, as well as local neighborhoods. The interns are encouraged to participate in the camp as leaders, both as a way to increase their leadership skills and as a way to give back to their own community.

“We want to help students discover their God-given purpose, passion, and influence as we build a legacy of leadership in Lawrenceville by investing in children and students,” said Jen Young, Executive Director of Impact 46.

Together with Brent Cruce, Academy Coach at Central Gwinnett High School, and Jasmine Billings, Event Coordinator for the City of Lawrenceville, Young and her team hold a firm belief that, given the right resources and opportunities, Lawrenceville can become a place where families go to find a positive, uplifting community that is focused on developing leaders.

Looking forward, the Impact46 team hopes to expand the number of internships to twenty for the summer of 2019. They also hope to find additional businesses that will provide an internship and n Traditional, private elementary, n Accredited by the GACincrease the types of experiences available to the interns. However, as Young emphasized, their first goal will always be the enrichment of future leaders. Whether 2019 brings twenty participants or middle and high school Georgia Accrediting twelve, Impact46 is focused on developing leaders at a personal level that will help their community Commission rise together. n Non-traditional high school Indeed, this is truly a community effort – and one that needs your help. Whether you think your n Accepted to all Colleges own child is a great fit for this iniative or you think your business is a wonderful internship opporn Credit Recovery tunity, Impact46 needs you! and Universities n Accredit homeschool work More information at 770-842-4363

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Gwinnett Spotlight Story Continued from page 15 Limiting transit options will likely raise rates on the remaining rides and potentially push some riders back towards more expensive cabs. Here in Atlanta, the latest arrival on the streets of Midtown, Downtown, and Buckhead are electric scooter rentals from two more ride sharing services called Bird and Lime. These smart phone enabled scooters are an inexpensive, sustainable and privately funded “last mile” transit option, ideal for that short hop from a MARTA rail station to your final home, work, or play destination.

If you have the benefit of regular travel, try out some of these options locally, but also experience similar networks in other cities and metro regions. Check out the signage, ease of use, and connectivity. Pick up a few “best practices” that you might bring home to your community. That is, of course, your choice, just like being a “choice” rider, but I think if you give it a shot, you will also find out that not always being on a packed train or bus is a good thing, and that if we can spread demand from rush hours and drive-time to a broader cross section of each day, then less really is more.

Bill Crane is the owner of CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com

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Pet Perch: Food is a Powerful Motivator and Bridge to Learning

New

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By Terie Hansen As a dog trainer I work with many personalities of dogs.

One of the most important things I need to do is to find ways to motivate dogs to get a desired response. Food is that motivator for many. Not dog treats, but food. Their food.

Food training is very different from treat training in that we actually use the dog’s kibble to train. This method uses the dog’s daily allotment of food to train the dog on simple basic commands such as sit, down, come, and place. In this way the dog earns its food for learning/ performing the commands.

When initially starting to train, a dog may not be motivated by their food because they have been free feeding (food left out all the time) or they’ve eaten just hours earlier. We offer the food and work to get them to perform the simple commands, but if the dog is not motivated, then we stop and try again later. However, this is the only way the dog will be fed, so if the dog is not initially motivated to learn/perform the commands, it does NOT get its food in a bowl afterwards. In other words, it has lost that food for the day. Pretty soon the dog begins to get hungry and becomes more motivated to learn/train/perform the tasks asked of it.

The key is using food long enough to create a conditioned response with regards to the commands.

This can take weeks or months, depending on the consistency of the owner in working with their dog. However, using food training protocols implies that you would be working with your dog daily so they can earn their meals.

Once your dog understands that the key to gaining the food is learning and listening to you the handler, then having your dog work for its food is quite fulfilling for them. In this way the food becomes a bridge to learning. This is a great way to spend time with your dog. They have your undivided attention and you get a well-trained companion!

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

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By Pam Walker I have been to Colombia several times. Most people who have been there visited when their cruise ship docked in Cartagena. But I have really been there – exploring this wonderful country that unfortunately is better known for Pablo Escobar and the Narco shows on TV and Cable. I have been in the capitol city of Bogota when police dogs guarded hotel arrivals and the ugly face of crime scared off most visitors. Even then, the Colombian Tourist Board promoted the country with the slogan, “The only thing to be afraid of is not wanting to go home.” Genius, I thought. But the Colombian government is trying to do everything to forget its ugly past and move on to show what a wonderful country it is.

Full of friendly people, Colombia welcome you to their now very safe nation.

Medellin, once the home of Pablo, has an amazing art museum filled with the works of native artist Fernando Botero. Here also you can find the longest “metrocable” where the metro system is linked to a cable car system that takes you to beautiful Arvi Park in about forty minutes. It is one of the longest aerial tramways in the world and an engineering marvel.

But the main reason I went back this time was to see Cano Cristales (Crystal Channel), located on a tributary of the Guayabero River near the small town of La Macarena. This is the only place in the world where you can see a “Liquid Rainbow” made up of red, green, blue, and black macarena clavigera plants that grow in the river bed. The place is heavily guarded by Colombian military, and you must take a half hour course on what you can and cannot do to see this wonder. Only with the course paper bracelet and park entrance bracelets will the guards let you in to see it. Here, too, are many endemic plants and flowers that have been around since prehistoric man inhabited the area This is a magical place to visit, along with so many other wonderful regions of Colombia. I have just begun my exploration of this lovely country that has been hidden for so many years. Colombia is back, and very safe!

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso Travel Advisor. More information at pam@walkeradventures.com

Our Town

Lilburn Christian Church 314 Arcado Road Lilburn, GA 30047 770-921-2993 | www.LilburnChristianChurch.org

To become an Our Town advertising partner email Info@OurTownGwinnett.com or call 678-825-2049

PAGE 21

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PAGE 22

Garden Talk: Gardening and Plants Can Reduce Stress

By Our Town Staff In today’s busy world, we’re continually searching for new ways to slow down and unwind. This has led more people to discover the calming benefits of gardening and how incorporating plants into decor provides a way to reduce everyday stress.

Studies have shown that indoor plants clean the air by removing 87 percent of airborne toxins in 24 hours and can make people more relaxed. In fact, the very act of planting and maintaining a garden provides relaxing stress relief in today’s busy world. With such pronounced benefits, there are many reasons people who live in crowded cities and spacious suburbs have taken up gardening.

1) Add a fiddle leaf fig to your living room With large, waxy green leaves that look like a fiddle, the photogenic fiddle leaf fig adds a stunning pop of green to any living space. The trees thrive in bright to medium light and prefer room temperatures. Water them only when the surface of the soil is dry or when the leaves start to wilt. You’ll know your tree is happy when its leaves are perked up toward the sun. Caring for the tree energizes your mood and, in turn, its healthy green leaves liven up your home.

2) Grow an herb garden in your kitchen Home chefs and foodies alike know how important it is to have fresh herbs on hand. Rosemary, mint, sage, and basil thrive in small terra cotta pots on your sunny windowsill. They not only add the finishing touch to a meal or a refreshing drink, but tending your herbs helps to relieve daily stress while enticing you to experiment with new healthy recipes featuring your homegrown harvest.

3) Monitor the air quality with Aloe vera plants Most people know about the medicinal properties in Aloe vera plants. Most of us have slathered some on after getting a sunburn. In addition, they’re great for purifying the air. They can also serve as a monitor of air quality because they will display brown spots if something isn’t quite right. Aloe vera thrives in sunny spaces and at room temperature, so make sure to position it near an interior window to help maintain a healthy plant.

4) Put a snake plant in your office or wherever you’re most busy Offices and cubes can be some sterile spaces, which can make it hard to stay motivated or feel content during the work day. There are a million and one reasons for putting a plant in your office, and because you need to focus on the work at hand, you need a stress-free plant. When it comes to caring for a plant, it doesn’t get much easier than a snake plant. These beautiful plants grow in a wide-range of lighting conditions and at any normal room temperature. They offer a low-maintenance boost of zen, produce oxygen, and, because sometimes you go on vacation, can go weeks without water.

5) Liven up your shaded bathroom with a peace lily The dark leaves and curvy white blossoms on a peace lily are easy on the eyes and easy to grow.

Perfect for those less-well-lit areas of the house, peace lilies thrive in shade and can withstand a variety of temperatures. Looks aside, they’re known for reducing both airborne toxins and mold, making them the perfect plant for bathrooms or other damp areas of your home.

The wellness benefits of caring for and being around plants are endless. The next time you’re feeling stressed, spend some time in the garden or take a stroll through a park to enjoy the greenery and the natural comfort that comes with being surrounded by plants. You will be glad you did and you will reduce your stress in the process. (BPT)

Funnel Cake Continued from page 19 including a food truck, and even franchising in 2019. They are also restructuring their YO Gwinnett program to include younger children who need housing, and will begin calling the organization Youth of Gwinnett once restructuring is complete.

The official Grand Opening for Fancy Funnel Cake is scheduled for later in the fall, but don’t wait until then. Stop by today to see what makes their restaurant – and their family – one of a kind!

Kashaun and Domonique Cooper are owners of Fancy Funnel Cake. More information at www.fancyfunnelcake.com

M.C. Twinklin’s Continued from page 19 Furry pets and woodland creatures bedecked for Christmas are consistently popular, says Gaston.

And for families that are willing to pay, Gaston is happy to recommend personal decorators that will come to your home and fill your house with gorgeous seasonal displays.

New this year, M.C. Twinklin’s is carrying exclusive Atlanta ornaments, each adorned with famous Atlanta landmarks. You can trim your tree with depictions of Peachtree Plaza, the Fabulous Fox Theatre, Tara, and the Giant Peach.

Come visit M.C. Twinklin’s and fill yourself with the holiday spirit – and bring some of the same home with you!

More information at http://mctwinklins.com

To become an Our Town advertising partner email Info@OurTownGwinnett.com or call 678-825-2049

Our Town

The Village Corner

German Restaurant, Bakery & Tavern Sunday December 16 at 2 pm and 6 pm Wednesday December 19 at 7 pm

We are a full-service bakery, restaurant, and tavern specializing in German cuisine.

6655 James B Rivers Dr. Stone Mountain, GA 30083

(770) 498-0329

Hours Of Operation: Tuesday - Friday 9am-10pm Saturday 8am-11pm Sunday 10am-9pm Closed Monday

Teams of Two • Materials Provided Holiday Snacks! • Winner Prizes!

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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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PAGE 23

AT H E N S O R T H O P E D I C C L I N I C

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