NOV 2017: Our Town Gwinnett/Walton Monthly Magazine

NOVEMBER 2017 Gwinnett/Walton Community & Family Magazine

Our Town GWINNETT

Grayson Dacula Loganville Lawrenceville

Meet the team at St John Neumann Regional Catholic School, see story on page 5.

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Community Spotlight: SMILE Organization Serves Others Getting Schooled with Grayson High’s Chorus Up Close with Duke’s Family & Nursery Making a Difference: McConnell Middle School PTA

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10/12/17 8:35 AM

By Heidi Campbell Thirty years ago, when St. John Neumann Catholic School opened its doors, it was the only Catholic school in all of Gwinnett County, thus it was deemed a regional Catholic school. Currently serving 250 students in grades K-8, the school has started off the new school year with a truly inspiring new principal, Dr. Julie Broom, who brings experience and leadership to the campus. “I’m excited to be a part of this school,” Broom explains, “where we are about striving to reach every child’s full potential through academic excellence. We focus on their mind, body, and spirit, and ensure that they are also active members of the community.”

Dr. Broom is no stranger to education. She spent years as an English language teacher, a reading specialist, a district administrator in Houston, and a principal of a K-8 Catholic school in the Denver area. She also helped build IRRE, the Institute for Research and Reform in Education, which is a non-profit organization that works with urban schools across the country to improve teaching and learning. She is excited to share strategies and new technology with the staff, and they are currently eager to begin using state of the art Clear Touch wireless interactive boards in the school. She also is excited to bring a pre-K program in the fall of 2018.

The faculty of St. John Neumann Catholic School has totally impressed Broom. When she arrived, she met with each teacher and asked them what they felt she should keep, what they would like to change, what they needed from her, and what she should know about them.

These questions helped her establish her goals and focus, as she lives by the idea that her role “is to support teachers – not vice-versa.” Broom says, “This campus is beautifully diverse with teachers who are committed to the success of their students; it is like nothing I’ve seen elsewhere. The teachers get here before they are required in the morning, and stay long after school. Each one of them volunteers to serve one or more clubs without getting paid.

The teachers are what make the school so successful.”

The curriculum of the school, according to Broom, who has her doctorate in curriculum and instruction, is “a perfect balance of classical and 21st century skills.” While every student in grades 5-8 has a Chrome book, the school ensures that they do not spend all day on their screens. “We have a great balance of classical learning and STEAM, developing children’s love of words and numbers from the start,” explains Broom. “We use computer apps to enhance learning across all content areas, while still instilling a love and yearning for good literature. We also work to ensure that students are talking and using content vocabulary without being on a device. We ensure plenty of time for the basics – we create a solid foundation for our kids.”

Broom enjoys working with teachers and

Our Town

PATIENTS SEE

OUR

On the Cover: Dr. Julie Broom Joins the St. John Neumann Catholic School Community

COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION

AMAZING RESULTS

WE GO THE EXTRA

students, and likes to promote leadership and learning on all levels. Her belief about discipline is that it should provide guidance and not just be punitive. She also believes in providing students with positive leadership and mentoring experiences. Each student in eighth grade has a job to be the captain of something, whether it is the “sign captain” – writing and displaying messages for the public on the school sign, the News Crew, the Safety Captain, or the “flag captain.” These eighth graders also spend their year mentoring a kindergartener. They sit in weekly mass with these younger kids, and they also spend hours reading to their “buddies” and engaging with them in a variety of learning activities each week.

The school has not only strong academics and a Catholic focus, but also has an impressive list of extracurricular sports and club options to meet the interests of all students. Basketball, volleyball, and softball programs are offered in their respective season, and Tae Kwon Do is offered once a week. They have a STEAM program for first graders and up that meets weekly. This program begins with a Lego’s club and works its way up to large-scale robotics competitions. They offer numerous clubs for those interested in music, games, journalism, drama, and academics, and, perhaps the most unique club they offer is the garden club. “The Garden Club is something that involves our whole school,” explains Broom. “Every class, K-8, has a plot in the garden and they get to experience three seasons of growing. They even get to cook what they grow!”

Another unique feature of the school is their commitment to serving the community. Each grade works on a service project aligned with the corporal works of mercy. The first graders, for example, sing and talk with the residents at Continued on page 13

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Our Town Gwinnett/Walton Community & Family Magazine

— An EndResultZ Media & Communications firm EndResultZ.com

Publisher/Owner Ryan T. Sauers Ryan@EndResultZ.com Creative Director Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultZ.com Editor Catherine L. Osornio Cover Photographer Amadorphoto Distribution Coordinator DeeDee Chapman Feature Writers Daidra Annis Heidi Campbell Kim Hill Amy Ney J. Rice Joanna Shackelford Karla Socci Somers Michelle Watson Contributing Writers Kathy Coots Dr. Rodrigo Cruz Terie Hansen John Lemley Rebecca Sherman Pam Walker Ann Weeks Matt Williams

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 2017 by Our Town Gwinnett. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.

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IN THIS ISSUE 5 7 8 8 9 10 10 10 12 12 13 14 14 15 15 15 16 17 18 18 19 20 21 21 22 PAGE 6

On the Cover: Dr. Julie Broom Joins the St. John Neumann Catholic School Community From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion Chaplain’s Corner: Thanksgiving Day -- A Day to Shine, Whine, or Recline!

Overcoming Holiday Headaches S.M.I.L.E. Provides a Community of Care for Developmentally Disabled Adults Health Matters: Aquatic Physical Therapy Getting to Know: Hope Clinic Realty Reality: Sell or Remodel: Which is Right for You? Grayson High’s Chorus Celebrates “A More Perfect Union” Travel Tales: Holiday Travel around the Corner Character Counts: Up Close with NG3 Archer Duke’s Market & Nursery Getting Schooled with McConnell Middle: PTA Works to Complete Project 2017 Gwinnett County Music Teachers Association TOTY City Spotlight: Growth in Lawrenceville Family Traditions Are What Make the Holidays Special Photo Fun: Spooktacular on the Square in Lawrenceville College Corner: Gwinnett Technical College’s Enrollment Soars Getting to Know: David Walker: Helping Others, One Case at Time Mind Bender: Sudoku Puzzle Pet Perch: When is it Safe to Socialize My Puppy – Immunization vs Socialization History Matters: A Sprig of Moss: Gwinnett County and Her Cemeteries One on One with Neighbor To Family November Photo of the Month: Camp Bow Wow of Lawrenceville Stay Connected with Snellville Commerce Club

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From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion @RyanSauers

By Ryan T. Sauers

As it’s November and we are inching closer to Thanksgiving, I am thankful for family and community among many other things.

However, my love of family and community is one of many reasons I enjoy publishing two monthly magazines dedicated to these topics. I believe there is 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 and world. Moreover, many of us see our (nearly 2018) world as overloaded with information and moving at warp speed – quite impersonal and “no attention” span in nature.

If you consume any type of news (and how can you not), you witness a world that “appears” out of control, angry, and frustrated. If I did not know better, I would think there weren’t any good, loving, 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.

Rest assured I am not missing what is going on around us. The tragedy in Las Vegas last month was horrific. The great suffering and tragedies from the hurricanes were horrible. But, here is what I want to stress. The love for each other that came out of these disasters was incredible to witness. At our core, we are one and always will be. I believe the worst in Mother Nature brings out the best in human nature.

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. Thus, I challenge each of us to focus on what unites us, not divides us.

In the Our Town community, we have super families, great schools, amazing teams, wonderful parks, loving churches and nonprofits, and people of character. Our diversity and uniqueness is one we must ALWAYS embrace and one 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 talk). Will you help me challenge others to think of further ways to strengthen our community, refrain from criticism, and to focus on solutions? Remember, every human has emotions: joy, love, anger, frustration, anxiousness. Together we can make a difference and build stronger bridges of understanding between one another.

I could not be more 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 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 yours 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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Chaplain’s Corner: Thanksgiving Day -- A Day to Shine, Whine, or Recline!

By Dr. Rodrigo Cruz

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I have been living in the United States for over ten years.

During this time I have been able to learn and embrace the American culture – and with that comes the holidays. This month we celebrate one of my favorites, the day when families from different cultures and backgrounds come and break bread together. Isn’t that amazing? Isn’t that a glimpse of heaven itself?

Most of you on Thanksgiving Day are going to get together with families and friends. You are going to eat turkey, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, corn bread, etc. You are going to watch some football and spend some time with the people you love.

Isn’t that amazing? Isn’t that a glimpse of heaven itself?

So if Thanksgiving Day is like heaven, what on earth can possibly go wrong? Well, considering the fact that some of us have relatives who drive us bananas, then a lot. Some of them we just love because Jesus is asking us to.

Thanksgiving is a day when so many interesting family dynamics take place – from choosing the place to gather, to choosing who’s cooking what, to choosing who’s sitting where. In some families, mom (which now is grandma) is in charge of everything, and nobody dares to mess with her system.

In other families, there is a perfect rotation system where the families go to one house one year and to another the following year, and where everyone brings something specific to share. They have everything detailed on an Excel sheet, and they may even have a PowerPoint presentation showing the duties and responsibilities. Yet, in other families, everything is decided in a more organic way, with everyone giving excuses why they can’t be the host and the last one to respond or the one with the worst excuse getting chosen to host the event.

No matter how your family works out those details, when Thursday gets here, and different people with different personalities get together, then that is when things start getting interesting.

So I believe there are three options to respond to Thanksgiving Day: you can shine, you can whine, or you can recline.

You can choose to shine and go the extra mile, responding with love, patience, kindness, peace, goodness, gentleness, and self-control.

You can choose to whine and complain about the food, or the noisy nephews, or weird Uncle Bob. Or you can choose to recline, where you can just go and not care about anything or anyone else – just chill and watch football, Can you relate to any of these family dynamics? Have you had any of these reactions? It is my hope that this Thanksgiving you will choose to shine!

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Overcoming Holiday Headaches

By Our Town Staff The holiday season is full of magic and wonder – until your flight gets cancelled, you blow your budget, or you get sick at the worst possible time.

Fortunately, staying merry despite common holiday conundrums is easier than you think with the right attitude and a few simple steps. Here are a few solutions to overcome the most notorious holiday hurdles and to enjoy the best of the season.

Holiday hang-up: Blown budget The holidays can get expensive fast. Buying something for everyone on your list shouldn’t put you in debt. Instead, think in a creative and new way.

Solution: Organize a gift exchange where each person draws one name and buys one gift.

Additionally, consider homemade gifts to cut costs, as well as give experiences, like taking kids sledding or ice skating.

Holiday hang-up: Sickness From holiday travelers being confined in planes, cars, and trains, to loved ones gathering under one room for festivities, it’s no surprise that germs are rampant during the holidays. Germs are not a gift anyone wants to receive, and they can quickly strip a joyous occasion of all its fun. In fact, a recent survey by Robitussin found that 68 percent of people have been sick and miserable during holiday gatherings and 24 percent have had a holiday gathering ruined because a family member was sick.

Solution: Tis the season of giving, but sharing your germs will get you on Santa’s naughty list.

One sick person at Christmas dinner can turn into the whole family ringing in the New Year sick in bed. If you feel ill, be prepared with a medicine that will provide relief for your worst symptoms.

If you’re still not feeling yourself when festivities are occurring, it’s best to stay home. Put on comfy Continued on page 21

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S.M.I.L.E. Provides a Community of Care for Developmentally Disabled Adults

By Heidi Campbell Lawrenceville has a host of nonprofits doing great things for the local community, and one of those programs is an organization called SMILE, which stands for St. Mary’s Independent Living Extensions. Their website says they are a “…nonprofit organization of trained caregivers who work around-the-clock to enrich the lives of adults with developmental disabilities by maximizing independence, breaking down barriers and advocating for greater community access.”

Paul Pieper and the late Nancy Bernard co-founded the Catholic organization in 2007, and they welcome people from all faiths. “This whole thing has been a miracle,” says Pieper. “It has allowed us get our clients out in the community. In the past, these disabled adults were often institutionalized, and that is certainly not what is best for them. People want to be with other people, and it is such a blessing that we can provide this kind of care.”

The 24-hour care program, accredited through CARF, provides daytime care as well as private, in-home care to adults with developmental disabilities. SMILE has services to assist parents with the home care of their disabled adult children, and they also help place developmentally disabled adults in supportive, private homes with other disabled adults. Oftentimes, if parents pass away, their disabled adult children have limited care options. Through SMILE’s programs, these families can find safe, nurturing living arrangements for these disabled adults who have lost their parents.

Together with three or four roommates, these adults are cared for by trained caretakers during the hours they are not attending the day program. “They get to live where they want to live, which is so nice for them. They get a variety of care, between the day program staff, the house managers, and the night shift staff,” explains Pieper, “but they also get the comfort and peace of being in their own home, receiving compassionate care.”

The day program, which recently added transportation to and from clients’ houses, takes place at St. Marguerite’s Catholic Church. Bill Marten, a retired deacon from St. John Neumann Catholic Church, who is now the organization’s program director, says, “The classrooms in the church aren’t used during the weekdays, so we are able to rent out those rooms Monday through Friday from 9-3 p.m. The space is perfect for our needs.”

The day program is designed to focus on life skills and social skills while promoting independence. With a trained caregiver for every six adults, the program is able to meet the individual needs of the participants. “The volunteering component of the program is definitely everyone’s favorite,” shares Antwanette Suggs, Director of the Day Program. “They all love to work. We do a lot of work with the Lilburn Co-op. They put clothes on hangers and organize the food. They love it, and we hold ceremonies for them. When they’ve put in one hundred hours, their name goes on a plaque.”

One of SMILE’s current clients is an autistic woman named Betsy, whose life has been made into a movie called Disabled But Able To Rock. She and her brother were able to join the SMILE program after their mother passed away. “Betsy is actually one of the founders of Dragon Con,” shares Pieper. “She still performs in it every year. She’s the little lady with the cape that goes by ‘Dangerous Woman.’ She writes music and performs concerts. Betsy is just tremendous. She is one of our most inspiring clients. We are so blessed to have her!”

While the program has grown and moved from its small Lilburn center to a larger Lawrenceville location, it still cannot meet the demand for new clients. With a tremendous waiting list, the Continued on page 21

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PAGE 9

Health Matters: Aquatic Physical Therapy

Getting to Know: Hope Clinic In Lawrenceville

By Rebecca Sherman, PT, DPT

By Michelle Watson

What is Aquatic Physical Therapy?

The aquatic physical therapy program at Benchmark PT allows patients to exercise in warm water (84-94 degrees F) using its benefits to assist in the process of recovery. Physical therapists guide patients through individualized exercises including walking, balancing, and stretching while in the water.

Hope Clinic is a profit medical clinic located at 121 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville.

Dr. William B. Martin has practiced medicine in Gwinnett County for over forty-five years.

In 2002 he left private practice and founded the Hope Clinic. The clinic provides internal medicine, primary care, and chronic care to the uninsured and underserved of Gwinnett County and metro Atlanta. By 2010 they had outgrown their 5,000-square foot space and received a grant to move to their current location where they renovated the two-story building to accommodate their increasing patient list.

At the time of the clinic’s founding, there had been a major construction boom in the Atlanta area. This brought many migrant workers of different backgrounds, especially Latinos. Many of these workers were uninsured. When the construction stopped and many people lost their jobs, even more of the area’s population were left both jobless and without insurance. These are the patients Dr. Martin wanted to continue serving, and who he and his staff still serve today. They provide 8,700 doctor visits per year to a highly diverse demographic.

The Hope Clinic staff consists of two doctors and one nurse practitioner, along with thirteen support staff members. The main clinic is on the first floor, where patients are seen for acute and chronic care. The second floor houses the Chronic Care Program. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has identified nineteen diseases as being chronic, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension. All nineteen are included in the Chronic Care Program, which includes one-on-one attention with a registered nurse who helps the patient develop a plan of action to change the factors that contribute to the patient’s illness. Chronic care patients also attend monthly small group meetings and receive comprehensive patient education.

Hope Clinic is truly a concierge service. They have on-site lab and imaging services. Imaging services such as ultrasounds are provided on Mondays. One day a week mental health services are provided through partnership with Salveo Integrative Health.

Dr. Martin’s philosophy is simple: Every patient, every symptom, every time. The staff is not just there to “serve” the patients; they are there to show they care by engaging the patients and learning about their lives. Luke Lenahan, Chief Operations Officer of Hope Clinic, says, “Medicine happens Continued on page 14

Why Aquatic Physical Therapy?

When pain, disability, limited weight-bearing, or other factors make traditional physical therapy difficult, patients can benefit from aquatic therapy. No matter a patient’s age or fitness level, water is a great equalizer. Three unique properties – buoyancy, resistance, and warmth – allow it to be an effective treatment.

Buoyancy can reduce weight-bearing stress on the joints up to 90%, allowing for efficient muscle-building exercise to occur without the limitations of pain. Resistance allows for multiple muscle groups to work collectively, improving muscle and cardiovascular endurance, which is beneficial to those who may be deconditioned. Warmth encourages muscle relaxation and increases blood flow to injured areas. Performing exercise in the water affords a person the ability to move with some relief as it decreases the stress on joints, promotes muscle relaxation, and improves swelling in the extremities.

Who can benefit from Aquatic Physical Therapy?

Aquatic Physical Therapy benefits those with the following diagnoses: • Rheumatoid arthritis/osteoarthritis • Fibromyalgia • Obesity • Chronic pain • Pain during weight-bearing activities • Pain in multiple joints • Orthopedic/non-orthopedic surgeries • Impaired balance • Neurological disorders Following aquatic therapy, the physical therapist will help determine if the patient should transition to a land-based program or an aquatic home exercise program or class.

If you have struggled with pain and previous treatments have not helped and you want to find out more about aquatic physical therapy, connect with the Lilburn or Monroe locations. Appointments are usually available within 48 hours. Complimentary assessments are available with an appointment.

More information at www.benchmarkpt.com .

Realty Reality: Sell or Remodel: Which is Right for You?

By Kathy Coots, Realtor Whether the initial love has faded, or your home just doesn’t work for you and your family anymore, deciding between selling your home and remodeling can be a difficult decision. So how should you decide to stay or list?

What is the Current Condition of Your Home?

If part of the reason your home isn’t working for you or your family anymore is that several areas of the home need updating or improving, then you may want to reconsider selling your home. Often an outdated kitchen and bathroom can have a considerable effect on the resale value of your home, and a renovation of these areas may be necessary anyway to get the maximum profit from your home.

What is it You Need From Your Home?

If you are thinking of selling your home because its current size or the size of your property is no longer working for you, or if the area in which the house is located no longer serves the needs of your family, then selling your home is likely the best choice versus a remodel. Renovations that add additional rooms can be a huge cost and inconvenience, and, in most cases, will not give you a good return for your investment.

What is Your Financial Situation?

Another thing you need to consider before deciding whether to sell or remodel is your financial situation as well as the financial standing of your home. If the value of your home is less than the outstanding balance of your mortgage, you may not want to sell. Also, if you are thinking of a remodel, you’ll want to be sure it will not put a financial burden on you or your family.

Overall, deciding on whether to sell or remodel depends on a number of factors, and contacting your local REALTOR® is always a great way to get the best advice for your particular situation.

Kathy Coots, Keller Williams Realty. More information at www.KathyCoots.com

PAGE 10

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When Grayson chorus teacher Michelle Green began planning this year’s fall concert, she wanted to incorporate the idea that despite all our differences, we are all Americans. “I initially was just thinking patriotism and bringing a positive message,” she says. One day in class a student asked exactly what the message would be because she didn’t want her family taking offense.

At that point Ms. Green explained that she was trying to promote unity. The students got on board with the idea and began planning creative ways to incorporate patriotism in the concert.

Some students wrote personal stories about what it means to be American. Others shared stories of their families who had recently come here from other countries and how they were grateful for the opportunities America offered them. Ms. Green had students read some of these stories at the concert between songs. Additionally, some students traced their origins, and Ms. Green ordered flags to represent all the countries at the concert, with the American flag displayed front and center. Student Ethan York came up with the name for the concert, “A More Perfect Union,” borrowed from the Constitution. This brought about a discussion of the values of our country and the Constitution. One of the songs included in the concert features the words from the poem displayed on the Statue of Liberty: “Give me your tired, your poor...” Ms. Green explains, “All these pieces just came together, and it turned out to be so much more than I ever imagined it would be. It was just a beautiful thing, and the kids were excited to be part of it because they really felt they were making a difference; they were making an impact rather than just singing at a concert.”

Student Abby Hearn shared her feelings: “To me, music is about moving someone through the words I sing. I feel like the Grayson High School Chorus accomplished that at our concert, A More Perfect Union. Being able to participate in such a powerful message through song was truly a moment I will never forget. As I watched a veteran stand and cry while he sang to his military song, Continued on page 19

Travel Tales: Holiday Travel around the Corner

By Pam Walker Hopefully you have made plans for the December holidays.

The Caribbean has suffered greatly with the hurricanes, and if the island you chose is not going to open in time, contact your travel advisor to see what places are still up and running.

Cruise ship itineraries have also changed substantially as many ports are not ready to receive ships this holiday season.

Again, check with your travel advisor to make sure that your cruise is going to the best Caribbean locations.

Now is the time to start planning for Spring Break. While holiday trips should be booked in May for December trips, now is the time to start planning for March and April. Given that so many places will be still recuperating from Hurricanes Irma, Maria, and even Nate, start thinking “outside the box.”

The coasts of Nicaragua and Costa Rica were affected by Nate, but they are already back to normal with great resorts like Mukul and Morgan’s Rock in Nicaragua and the Four Seasons on the Peninsula Papagayo in Costa Rica open for

business.

Mexico, too, has received some negative publicity due to the earthquake and drug cartels. But areas like Merida, Cozumel, or Isla Mujeres are unaffected. What could be better than staying in a historic hacienda like Hacienda Temozon or the Intercontinental Presidente on the beach in Cozumel? Or try Zoetry’s Villa Rolandi on the protected side of Isla Mujeres for a new kind of all-inclusive vacation.

If skiing is more your thing for Spring Break, then book now. There is still good skiing in March, but April is a little “iffy” depending on the current weather patterns of the world.

Florida resorts are up and running all the way from Amelia Island to Key West. These areas enjoyed quick recoveries from Hurricane Irma.

If you start planning now, you should be able to get the best rooms at the best rates – and always contact your favorite Travel Advisor to help you make the most of your vacation!

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso Travel Advisor and can be reached at pam@walkeradventures.com.

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

Our Town

Character Counts: Up Close with NG3 Archer

By Matt Williams Mary Lyn Dyer is a senior at Archer High School and has been involved with NG3 for two years. She’s one of the teachers of the Archer NG3 student leadership program and is also involved with Beta club and the National Honors Society. She is a volunteer for Path Project and at Graystone Church, has an internship at Kidspeech, Inc. for speech pathology, and has gone on two mission trips to Curitiba, Brazil. Mary Lyn is also one of the chosen leaders of the “Redzone;” the student section for football games, which, if you’ve been to an Archer football game, is a big deal! She has all the potential in the world, and is truly using her time as a high school student to impact lives.

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Matt Williams (MW): What is your involvement with NG3?

Mary Lyn Dyer (MLD): I am a leader for the NG3 Student Leadership Program at Archer High School, and I also attend an NG3 huddle group every week.

MW: What are some things you’ve learned while being active with us?

MLD: I have definitely learned valuable leadership and life skills through NG3. The biggest impact that NG3 has had on my life is giving me the opportunity to get to know mentors like Matt Williams, Jamie McKee, and Heidi Bray, and being able to turn to them when I need anything at all.

MW: What are you hoping to achieve by being involved with NG3?

MLD: I hope to continue using and building on the things that I’ve learned in NG3 after I graduate. NG3 will always have a lasting impact on my life; I will always remember the relationships I’ve made and the mission of NG3.

More information at ng3.org

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a local nursing home once a month. Older students, eighth graders, work with feeding the hungry at Floyd’s Kitchen each month. They spend a full day making lunches and cleaning. One Friday a month, the students can wear jeans if they donate food for St. Vincent de Paul’s. The kids truly gain a sense of helping others, which, according to Broom, creates a more generous community.

One of the things that Broom most enjoys about her new role is being a part of such a selfless community. Just after she began her new position at the school, she asked the school community to come help with a “Clean up” day. Eighty-five people showed up and worked for four hours. Broom sees this giving spirit in the students, the parents, and the teachers. “When Houston flooded, I had a little girl come into my office with her piggy bank wrapped in a shirt,” shares Broom.

“This little girl, who is one of several children in her family, told me that she wanted to help someone have a home, and wanted to give them the $37.00 she had been saving for a violin. I recognized her for doing that, and the next week another parent brought her a violin! I am so impressed by who this community is!”

More information at www.sjnrcs.org

We believe in “Personal Care” at the doctor’s office. By partnering with a network of specialists and a state-of-the-art health system, we give you the care you need and the attention you deserve.

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PAGE 13

Hope Clinic Continued from page 10 in the back, but healing begins in the front.”

Although Hope Clinic is a Christian organization, they welcome everyone of any faith. They are funded through grants, patient fees, donations, churches, secular organizations, and various foundations. When asked what their greatest needs are, they would like the community to remember the importance of private donations, which can be given through the “Donate” link on their website.

Secondly, in-kind donations of office supplies such as paper and printer ink are things non-profit organizations must ration much more than their for-profit counterparts. Any such donations are especially welcome.

More information at www.hopeclinicgwinnett.info.

Top-Tier Academics in a Christ-Centered Environment Providence offers top-tier academics, competitive sports, and a wide range of fine arts offerings to K-12th grade students.

Most important, Providence is a school centered around the person of Jesus Christ.

Whether it’s in the classroom, on the stage, or on the ballfield, spiritual formation is an everyday part of school life.

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The long-awaited Duke’s Market and Nursery has finally opened, and the City of Loganville is welcoming its newest business with open arms. Devon Rifkin and his family opened Duke’s Market and Nursery in mid-September, and they are excited about all they will offer to Loganville residents. Rifkin, originally from Miami, moved his family to Georgia in 2014. Back then he didn’t have plans to open a neighborhood market, but when Rifkin saw the available lot that Duke’s now occupies, his entrepreneurial spirit took over and he learned all he could about plants and produce.

Even though the store just recently opened, there is still a lot more to come. Devon wants Duke’s – named after his own nickname from his wife and friends – to be a destination where people can gather and slow down to enjoy life for a bit. Currently, they offer hand-made milkshakes (delicious, by the way!), Cider Slushies, Shaved Ice, and Boiled Peanuts. The menu will expand in the coming weeks to include Hot Dogs, Sandwiches, and Salads, and eventually a breakfast offering.

The wooden playset and grist mill in the outdoor play area is a big hit with the youngest visitors.

Inside, customers can find locally crafted items and vintage candy and sodas, along with Rifkin’s own private label, locally-sourced “Farm to Y’all” spices, sauces, honey, jams, and preserves.

Fresh produce is now available at Dukes, thanks to a merger with Three Peas in a Pod Produce.

Completed in mid-October, the merger brings the Three Peas reputation of high-quality produce to a new location, and the entire team at Duke’s is looking forward to serving their customer’s produce needs. Coming soon, Duke’s will be selling mulch and pine straw, and in the spring, a full-service nursery will occupy the back side of the lot behind the store. Seasonal offerings like pumpkins, firewood, and Christmas trees will be available for purchase as well.

Since opening, Devon has wasted no time in extending support to the community through partnerships with Loganville High School Baseball, and he has been invited to be on the council at Bay Creek Elementary. The official Grand Opening for Duke’s was held on October 21st and included pony rides and face painting. In the future, Duke’s will host Bar-B-Q Dinners, and other family events like Pig Races and family movie nights.

More information at dukesnursery.com

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Getting Schooled with McConnell Middle: PTA Works to Complete Project

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PAGE 14

This office complies with applicable Federal Civil Rights Laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex.

Two years ago there were only three green seldom-used picnic tables outside the lunchroom at McConnell Middle School in Loganville. This was not what Principal Clent Chatham envisioned.

He wanted a bigger area where 100+ students and teachers could go outdoors to eat lunch and take a break from the monotony of their classrooms. The school’s PTA embraced the idea for the project and absorbed part of the cost for about two dozen brand-new, bright red picnic tables (the Archer color). The large concrete pad on which to place the tables was partly donated by William Maloney, counselor at McConnell Middle, and by McConnell Middle School.

But it didn’t take Mr. Chatham long to realize that having some shade would make the new picnic area much more pleasant for everyone. Again, the PTA stepped up and paid for more than half the cost of a shade pavilion. The project was completed in mid-August just as the new school year began.

Continued on page 16

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Our Town

2017 Gwinnett County Music Teachers Association TOTY

Family Traditions Are What Make the Holidays Special

By Our Town Staff

The holidays are just a few weeks away and early plans are being made. Many of us have family and children traveling home from out of town, college, and/or military service. The excitement of seeing loved ones brings to mind the family members who are no longer with us. The holidays can be bitter sweet for those who have recently lost a significant loved one – the grandmother who orchestrated the kitchen duties; the grandfather who manned the grill and stoked the flames; the aunt or uncle who was “one of the kids” bringing mischief and games to the family get-together. No matter who is there or not, our families practice loved traditions. Those traditions include specific recipes, activities, and memories.

I was talking to my sister, planning our Thanksgiving Menu, the time, and who would be with us. We were talking about serving ham, and we could not remember Momma’s recipe. We joked about the cookbook that Momma rehabilitated with a teal vinyl book cover. It was her mother’s favorite recipe book. Now it is our favorite! We have found lost dishes that we remember as children but did not enjoy eating. Now they are prepared each time we get together. We laugh joyfully, telling the story of the spiked eggnog at Grannie’s house. A cousin recently asked for that recipe because they too recalled that same Christmas Eve tradition.

Some families decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. Some have a tradition of cutting down their tree. Volunteering at a homeless shelter has become tradition for several families I know. These traditions teach our children about the joy and importance of sharing time with family. Preparing and eating meals using recipes of the family culture remind us of our “roots” – who our people are. We teach our children about compassion by giving our time, effort, and assistance to someone who is estranged from his or her own family or just down on his or her luck.

Some years we leave the hustle and bustle of the holidays to others. However, babies and young children seem to “revive” these traditions. We realize that the youngest in the family needs to share in the family traditions. We need to teach our children about who they are, where their family comes from, and how special they are to their family. So, this year as you plan, remember to include one of your favorite family traditions and be proud of who you are.

Ann Weeks is Owner of Five Forks Academy. More information at http://www.fiveforksacademy.com/

Gwinnett County Music Teachers Association (GCMTA) is proud to announce its 2017 Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Debbie Murphy. Debbie is awarded this distinction because of her excellence in teaching and her professional service to the organization. A member of GCMTA for nearly twenty years, she has served as president (2001-2003), Music Day (formally November Festival) chair (1998-1999), and Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Foundation chair (2003-2005), and she currently holds the position of Theory chair. Debbie also served on the board of Georgia Music Teachers Association as MTNA Foundation Chair, Publicity Chair, and Arts Awareness and Advocacy Chair.

Debbie gives private instruction in both piano and voice, and motivates her students to a high level of achievement. Through careful teaching and encouragement, her students excel in various local events and competitions. Debbie’s vocal students are often winners at Georgia Music Teachers Association local, regional, and state auditions, and have frequently been given the distinction of Outstanding Performer. Likewise, her students are regular winners in Music Day, Jr./Sr. Scholarship and Federated Festival. Additionally, Debbie has students who have gone on to major in music and become professional musicians.

Although having received a music degree from the University of South Carolina in Piano and a minor in Voice, Debbie’s strong commitment to professional development led her to go back to college as an adult where she earned a Bachelor of Music with emphasis in Voice and Accompanying from Brenau University in 2011. Active in her community, Debbie serves as Music Director for Rock Springs United Methodist Church and as an accompanist for Glenn C. Jones Middle School choirs.

Debbie gives 100% in everything she commits herself to. An exemplary teacher in so many areas – quality teaching, loyal service to professional associations at local & state levels, dedication to professional development, and service to the community – she is the epitome of a GCMTA Teacher of the Year!

Gwinnett County Music Teachers Association is the local chapter of the MTNA and Georgia Music Teachers Association. Nearly 100 members strong, GCMTA exists to encourage, support and enrich the professional lives of its members in order to equip them to advance the music education of students of all ages. GCMTA initiated the Teacher of the Year Award in 2014, and it is presented each year at the May luncheon. Previous honorees are: Susan Andrews (2016), Jean Mann (2015), and Marge Engle (2014).

More information at http://gcmta.org.

City Spotlight: Growth in Lawrenceville

By Our Town Staff Gwinnett County and City of Lawrenceville officials have begun formal discussions for a new urban facility that will relocate the Lawrenceville Branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library to the African-American Hooper-Renwick School. The historic building, owned by the City of Lawrenceville, is located in a strategic part of Downtown. This development marks the first step in a multi-phased project to expand Lawrenceville’s Downtown and infuse Gwinnett’s core with an urban residential, retail, and cultural focus in a mixed-use environment.

“The County is very pleased to accept the City’s offer of a site for a new Lawrenceville branch library within its exciting Downtown development,” said Gwinnett County Chairman Charlotte Nash. “It is especially meaningful that the library will be adjacent to the historic Hooper-Renwick School building which has great significance for the African-American community and for the story of Gwinnett. The City and the County aim to pay tribute to history while providing learning opportunities for the future. We look forward to working with the City to weave these shared objectives together into an experience that touches and enriches all who visit.”

Hooper-Renwick School was Gwinnett’s original school for the African-American community prior to integration in the late 1960s. In efforts to learn more about the facility’s history and explore options for redevelopment and use of the space, the City of Lawrenceville appointed a 12-member legacy preservation committee that provided insight and a framework on which to build this strategy for a combined civic space.

“Hooper-Renwick is a significant part of both the City and County’s history,” added City of Lawrenceville Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson. “Thanks to the leadership of Lawrenceville’s HooperRenwick Legacy Preservation Committee (HRLPC) and City staff, we now have a deeper understanding of the profound impact this facility has had on the African-American community – it’s past, present and future.”

Theresa Bailey, Chairperson of the HRLPC, shared, “Today, we, the Hooper Renwick Preservation Committee, having met at the table of compromise in working to preserve the building’s original 12-room structure, are proud to declare before God Almighty that the demolition ball, once assigned to the dismantling of our beloved Hooper-Renwick High School, by its own Continued on page 20

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McConnell Middle Continued from page 14 “It’s an impressive structure,” Chatham says. “And it survived the tropical storms of recent weeks without a single problem.” It’s quickly become a favorite spot for teachers and students alike.

“It’s used for outdoor classrooms as much as for lunch,” Chatham says. “I expected high usage, but this has gone even beyond what was intended.”

This year the school has made a switch from PTA (Parent Teacher Association) to PTO, which should provide the school with an increase in funds for such projects. “Now that we are a Parent Teacher Organization, 100% of membership dues are held at the local school,” Chatham explains, “so more resources will stay here with the school” (In contrast, the PTA retained a small portion of membership proceeds).

“We are fortunate to have a PTO that works as hard as they do,” says Chatham. “We have at least 10-20 hard core volunteers. Amy Schnupp is our PTO president and our previous PTA president.

She goes above and beyond as a volunteer.”

Chatham states, “In addition to that, McConnell Middle has a wonderful partner in Chick-Fil-A on Sugarloaf Parkway. Its owner, Daniel Perry, has a son who was one of our students here.” Every Wednesday morning, the PTO in conjunction with Chick-Fil-A provides chicken biscuits and bottled water to be sold on campus, which is currently their sole fundraising campaign. “Mr. Perry has been instrumental in helping us realize a good profit margin,” Chatham says.

“I’d like to encourage even more parents to get involved this year in our PTO program and help make this our best year to date.”

More information at mcconnellms.org

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Our Town

College Corner: Gwinnett Technical College’s Enrollment Soars

By Our Town Staff For the third semester in a row, Gwinnett Technical College has recorded the highest enrollment numbers in the College’s thirty-three year history. This fall, more than 8,400 students across the region are filling classrooms for exciting educational programs and career opportunities.

Fall semester 2017 recorded a 13% boost in enrollment over a year ago. This past spring, the College saw a 14% jump in enrollment over the previous spring enrollment. In fact, for the 2016-2017 academic year, Gwinnett Tech had a record enrollment of more than 11,000 students with more than 2,000 graduates.

Dr. D. Glen Cannon, president of Gwinnett Tech, attributes this surge in enrollment to a few key factors: The opening of new and expanding academic programs designed to feed high demand careers such as engineering, cybersecurity, computer programming, business and accounting, criminal justice, early childhood education, welding, and respiratory care.

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 19th in the nation on the 2017 Best Colleges for Vets list.

A dramatic increase in the number Gwinnett county high school students enrolled in the Dual Enrollment program.

Dr. Cannon says, “Clearly, many across our community are seeking the affordable, flexible, experiential learning environment that Gwinnett Tech offers. We are constantly working to respond and deliver the educational programs that meet the real-time needs of our community. Our faculty and staff are diligent and dedicated to offering a career-focused education for real-world jobs.”

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

Dr. Cannon stresses that Gwinnett Tech’s focus on superior academic quality and student success is another key growth catalyst.

Cannon proudly states, “Many of our programs are ranked in the top ten academic programs in the nation. One of the biggest measures of our commitment to student success is the College’s 99% job placement rate.” Gwinnett Tech also works to help students continue their education beyond a two-year degree, now offering 37 transfer agreements with other academic institutions across Georgia.

More information at GwinnettTech.edu.

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Getting to Know David Walker: Helping Others, One Case at Time

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“Any entrepreneur knows, if you want to do well, you’ve got to work hard,” David Walker says as he reflects back on his forty years of practicing law in Gwinnett County and the surrounding counties. For someone who has handled over 140 jury trials and thousands of court appearances, one would expect a seasoned litigator like David to encourage anyone involved in a dispute to fight out their differences in court. However, this is not always David’s advice.

“Litigation has a lot of disadvantages for the client,” he says. “It’s stressful, time consuming, and expensive. The courts are unpredictable. And there’s a winner and a loser.”

Although his experience yields to trial cases, the best alternative to achieve dispute resolution, David says, could be through mediation. The key to a successful mediation is to let it be known that you are ready, prepared, and willing to go to trial if necessary.

His professional background did not begin here, though. He started practicing after graduating as a “double dawg” from the University of Georgia (UGA) School of Law. In 1976 he hung out his shingle as a closing attorney in Snellville, and then moved on to become a Gwinnett County court appointed criminal defense lawyer where he learned the fundamentals of jury trials. He has handled a myriad of business litigations, serious injury and death disputes, and even a number of tractor-trailer truck collision cases.

He views the grueling investigative and trial preparation work to be enlightening. But with certain cases, especially medical malpractice and products liability suits, David says, “The cases are so controversial and emotional.” It takes a toll.

David eventually narrowed his focus to family law, small business law, estate planning, wills, and probate. He takes a limited number of injury cases as well. This career shift mirrors David’s early training back when he was a law student at UGA, when he worked for a solo practitioner. Now with his own similar practice, he enjoys the personal nature of a small firm and the more intimate contact with people.

Perhaps this is why he includes mediation as a method to handling disputes. Legal mediation involves a neutral participant, often a lawyer, so the parties can feel free to speak. David says, “The mediator cannot force a settlement, but the mediator can facilitate a settlement.”

The option of going to court is both costly and emotionally taxing. Mediation has become popular since both sides split the cost and can come to an agreement.

“You can always negotiate prior to or during your suit,” he says. “We believe in settling cases if you can get a fair deal. And we give it our best effort. If the other side won’t offer a fair deal, then we’ll go to court.”

The hardest part of David’s job, he admits, is handling the sheer volume of the workload. The amount of time it takes and the attention to detail involved to carry out any case can be taxing.

Not only that, but the paperwork grows progressively more complicated every year with federal and state regulations.

He attributes much of his success to his legal assistant, Sandra Walker, a woman whose expertise lies in public relations and paralegal work. She also happens to be his wife. Handling two offices, one in Duluth and the other in Snellville, David does much of his work on the go. “I couldn’t work this way without someone like her.”

Somehow David also finds the time to engage in community outreach opportunities, most recently serving on the board for Covenant Counseling Institute. This nonprofit, faith-based counseling service offers mental health services to the public, promoting healing through education, counseling, and psychotherapy.

Lately, he’s been busy organizing a fundraiser for Covenant that is open to the public. The third annual golf tournament event will be held at Stone Mountain Golf Club on September 18th.

“Anyone who wants to play, call me!” he says.

According to David, he would do more if he had time. He is in the business of helping people, and not just when conflict boils. He reflects on certain cases he has closed which could have been done more easily, quickly, and less expensively through mediation.

In the end, he says, “It’s rewarding to settle a dispute on a fair basis.”

More information at www.walkerlaw-firm.com

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Pet Perch: When is it Safe to Socialize My Puppy – Immunization vs Socialization

By Terie Hansen As a new puppy owner, you may have been told by your veterinarian, read on the web, or heard from another dog owner that you should not socialize your puppy until he or she has been fully vaccinated.

If you heed this advice, you will be missing a critical developmental period that may result in negative behavior issues as your pet matures. Fear, aggression, over-arousal/hyper-excitement, and avoidance behaviors can all stem from a lack of social skills.

The first twelve weeks is the most important time for socialization to begin. Exposing your puppy to many new people, dogs, sights, sounds, and environments in a calm manner is highly beneficial. During this time your puppy’s sociability outweighs its fear, allowing your puppy to adapt more quickly to new people, places, and things.

The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior (AVSAB) believes that it should be the standard of care for puppies to receive such socialization BEFORE they are fully vaccinated.

Why then do so many veterinarians continue to tell new puppy owners to keep their pups secluded until they are fully vaccinated? Veterinarians are not always abreast of the most current behavioral or even nutritional findings. Their expertise is in health, wellness, and illness.

Socializing your puppy in safe, clean environments with safe puppies (that have had at least their first round of shots) or fully vaccinated adult dogs minimizes the risk of illness. Compared to a lifetime of poor social skills (adverse reactivity or aggression towards dogs and/or people) the value of early socialization is clear.

Dogs that are socialized early but whose owners don’t continue the process begin to forget the social skills they’ve learned. A dog with poor social skills often exhibits fear aggression when placed in a social situation after a long period of no practice. In simple terms, if you learned a new skill but didn’t use it very often, you wouldn’t be very good at it. Socialization should start early and continue throughout the dog’s lifetime for a happier, healthier well-socialized dog.

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

Grayson High’s Chorus Continued from page 12 I knew I had touched his heart and that of many others.” Another student, Kinza Surani, put it this way: “It was certainly inspiring to be a part of such a unifying experience! You could feel the love and warmth in the theater, and it felt as if all of the hate and mindless acts of violence had faded away long enough for everyone to agree that in spite of our differences, the unique and beautiful tapestry of individual stories and beliefs that we call America is and always will be our home.”

The concert took place on Tuesday, October 3rd in the school theater. Friends and family of chorus members were in attendance as well as some residents of the Dogwood Forest retirement community, and among these were many veterans. As the students sang the songs from each branch of the military, the veterans stood and sang with them, making a resounding impression on the students. Ms. Green says the students did not understand at first why they were learning the military songs, but when they saw members of the audience stand and sign along, it clicked for them. A particularly moving part of the concert came when Taps was played, evoking the type of emotion that Ms. Green believes only music can touch. The Men’s Chorus came up with their own arrangement of “Imagine” by John Lennon. Ms. Green says they were surprised to learn how old the song was as they felt the lyrics were relevant to present day. Patriotism rang true as the chorus sang “America, the Beautiful,” “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” “God Bless America,” and many more inspiring titles.

Feedback on the concert was overwhelmingly positive, and Ms. Green received many complimentary emails. Seniors attending from Dogwood Forest voiced their praise. “Those kids did an amazing job,” said AJ Cote. “They really worked hard.” Jean Burch echoed those sentiments. “I had a marvelous time. Absolutely loved it.” Perhaps Bob Llera expressed the message best: “They really did a good job. Made me proud to think that the kids of this generation love our country as much as we do.”

More information at www.graysonhs.org/

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TNT Academy 5510 Lilburn Stone Mountain Road Stone Mountain, GA 30087 Phone 770.921.3690 n Fax 770.921.3693 admin@tntacademy.com n www.tntacademy.com

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PAGE 19

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History Matters: A Sprig of Moss: Gwinnett County and Her Cemeteries

By John Lemley “Is that what I think it is? What in the world is that doing here?!”

Finding an old cemetery nestled within a suburban neighborhood can be quite a surprise. Those of a more superstitious sort may find it downright disturbing. However, it’s not quite as rare as you think. In fact, Gwinnett County is home to a number of residential developments claiming ancient burial grounds, each with its own unique and intriguing stories. These cemeteries were here long before Gwinnett became part of the ninth-largest metro area in the United States, and they remain today to tell us a great deal about the history of this place we call home.

Truth be told, I have no close ancestors buried in Gwinnett County. This is mainly due to the fact that all of my early 19th century “greats” and “grands” viewed Georgia as a passageway to their ultimate goal – beginning a new life in the wilds of what was then the Wild Southwest, and what we know today as Alabama. Even though my Georgia roots are rather shallow, this does not lessen my fascination with the history and people of the state where I’ve lived for the past twenty years.

After moving from Decatur to Lilburn a year ago, I immediately started familiarizing myself with Gwinnett’s many historic landmarks and, yes, cemeteries. One of my favorite tools as an historian and family history researcher is the app, Find A Grave. The name is an excellent example of truth in advertising, as it integrates burial data, grave marker details, photos, and maps into the perfect little companion for exploring cemeteries anywhere in the world. Give it a try. It’s free and requires only a simple download from your device’s app store.

Over the months to come, we will visit Gwinnett County’s many burial grounds together and “meet” some of the residents who now take their eternal rest in those spots. Each installment of this column will focus purely on a single cemetery and the people buried there. As you’ll discover, each cemetery holds a special place in the history of Gwinnett County and each has its own unique stories to tell.

A Sprig of Moss? This unusual column title is taken from a poem by the 19th century Scottish writer, William Topaz McGonagall. You can find a link to the full poem on this column’s companion Facebook page.

More information at A Sprig of Moss: Gwinnett County & Her Cemeteries on Facebook.

City Spotlight: Growth in Lawrenceville Continued from page 15 destructive forces has been demolished!”

Chuck Warbington, City Manager, added, “We have a special and unique opportunity to take a site known for its exclusion and make it an inclusive and collaborative place for the whole community. We are excited to see both history and the future combine into one common facility and appreciate the County’s partnership with us to achieve this vision.”

The City hopes to begin design and initial preservation activities in 2018 with the goal of completion by 2020/2021. Funds for this facility have been identified through the 2017 SPLOST. More information at www.lawrencevillega.org

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

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Overcoming Holiday Headaches Continued from page 8

One on One with Neighbor To Family

By Michelle Watson Neighbor To Family is a non-profit, evidence-based foster care organization. Their official motto is to provide “Foster care that keeps siblings together.” Keeping siblings together goes beyond the work they do for families; it is part of the organization’s culture.

Neighbor To Family works hard to reunite families. They serve the birth parents by helping them meet the mandates set by their family court judge, and they help the children by first trying to keep them together. The organization also helps with tutoring and other needs children may have.

Foster parents are also well-trained and supported. The organization requires 32 hours annually of foster parent training. When foster parents are overwhelmed and need a rest bit, or when they have a family emergency of their own, they know that Neighbor To Family is there to find temporary care for the children until their caregivers are able to return.

Naturally, not all children return to their birth parents as planned, but with all the support families receive, Neighbor To Family has a very good success rate. The average child only stays in their care for eight to ten months. Once the child returns home, Neighbor To Family continues to work with both the foster and birth parents. For example, many times foster parents are able to be more objective in their observations of the children in their care. They may notice that a child needs tutoring or other educational services. Getting their input ensures the children continue to get the support they need once the children are no longer in their care.

Foster parents are honored each year, too. They work hard, often on short notice, to provide loving homes for children who need them. Neighbor To Family hosts an appreciation luncheon every year that includes honor awards. As president and CEO Tony Everett says, it is their chance to “just love on” these parents who do so much.

As a national organization, they have offices in Georgia, Maryland, and Florida. The Stone Mountain office, located at 2075 W. Park Place Blvd., Suite E-F, serves all eighteen of the major counties of metro Atlanta, and currently serves 170 children with 55 to 60 foster parents. Of course, they are always in search of more parents who want to care for these precious children.

pajamas and binge watch your favorite holiday movies while you rest up. Sure, it stinks to miss the fun, but in the long run you’re protecting others from getting sick, and you’re giving yourself the rest you need to get well again.

Holiday hang-up: Kids get the “gimmes” Commercialism runs high during the holiday season. Kids’ wish lists seem to grow with each passing day. You want them to focus on the “season of giving” while they want to focus on “the season of getting.”

Solution: Show kids how good it feels to give back. There are many ways to help those in need, especially around the holidays. Volunteer at a local nonprofit, donate gifts to a local shelter, or assist an elderly neighbor by shoveling his or her driveway. Be sure to encourage your kids to participate, too! It just feels great.

Holiday hang-up: Travel problems Whether it’s a missed connection, delayed flight, or bad weather, travel is difficult during the holiday season.

Solution: If you’re stuck at home, make the best of it with a staycation. Sleep in, make yourself a big breakfast, and do all the things you never get to do. Explore the fun that’s available in your hometown, whether that’s a trip to the museum or splurging on tickets to the local theater.

Spontaneous adventures can be some of the most memorable!

Holiday hang-up: You burned the food or messed up the recipe.

Did you mess up Grandma’s famous apple pie? Do your gingerbread men look a little deranged?

Are your kids concerned that Santa will refuse your holiday cookies? Kitchen failures happen to even the most skilled chefs.

Solution: Always have a backup. An extra store-bought pie or a batch of cookies from the cupboard can provide peace of mind. Plus, during the holiday crunch, avoid trying new recipes. It is best to stick to tried-and-true for the best shot at success.

Holiday hang-up: Unexpected party guests.

When your cousin RSVP’d for one but ended up bringing his new girlfriend, there’s no need to panic. Unexpected holiday guests can put you in a tailspin, but being flexible is all part of a memorable holiday adventure.

Solution: Don’t stress! Now is a good time to remember the old saying, “The more the merrier!”

Put out an extra table setting and slap a bow on top of a spare gift. Savvy hosts and hostesses will plan ahead by keeping a few emergency gifts on hand, so whether there’s an extra child looking for a present under the tree or an adult who needs a bit of holiday magic, you’re always set with the perfect present.

Don’t let “holiday hang ups” slow you down. Make it a great and safe holiday season. (BPT)

November Photo of the Month:

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

S.M.I.L.E.

Continued from page 9

SMILE organization continues to work hard to secure funding to help more and more adults with disabilities. The care is expensive, and Medicare waivers do not cover all of the expenses of the program. “We need additional funding to sustain the system for those adults living in our homes,” Pieper explains. “Many of these adults only have their social security, and some cannot afford the payments for their rent. This program is so important. These people are human beings who deserve the opportunity to be with other human beings.”

The SMILE organization welcomes monetary donations of any amount. For the past seven years, they’ve teamed up with St. John Neumann Catholic Church to raise money with their 5K & One Mile Fun Run. The race has gotten larger each year, with over 400 people racing in this past April’s event. “One man approached me after the race with tears in his eyes,” recalls Pieper, “and he said that he runs this race for his brother who is developmentally delayed. He said that day was his birthday, so they all came to run.”

Aside from the need for donations, the nonprofit group also welcomes background-checked volunteers who are willing to help with office work, house cleaning, cooking, or art activities. “We are an agency with a conscience,” shares Pieper. “We work very hard to be a family for our folks. We do our best to create an environment that is person-centered and meets the individual hopes and dreams of our clients through specialized care.”

More information at http://www.smile4.info/home

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Vincent enjoys dropping his big sister off at Camp Bow Wow Lawrenceville before he goes to day care!

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PAGE 21

Stay Connected with Snellville Commerce Club

By Joanna Shackelford

It begins with a plan Planning is everything, particularly when it comes to your long-term financial objectives.

It It begins begins with with aa plan plan

Planning is everything, particularly when it comes to your Planning everything, particularly when it comes to your long-termisfinancial objectives. long-term financial objectives.

Chris Buckley

Financial Advisor 3500 Piedmont Road, Suite 725 Atlanta, GA 30305 office 404-766-0725 ext. 116 cell 404-434-5034 ccbuckley@wradvisors.com

Waddell & Reed, Inc. Member SIPC

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President Theodore Roosevelt once said, “This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in.” If anyone knows this to be true, it’s the civic leaders and business owners of the community. In Snellville, these two groups have found a way to connect – through the Snellville Commerce Club.

Since the Commerce Club’s conception in 1984, local entrepreneurs and other members of the community have been forging relationships pivotal for the growth and development of the city. But by 2011, the city of Snellville had experienced so much growth that a certain community spirit was missing. Thus, the Snellville Tourism and Trade organization (STAT) was created, which in turn, opened the door for Commerce Club members to really get involved with city programs and events in ways they hadn’t before.

Barbara Bender, a member of the club since the early 2000s, describes it as simply, “good community involvement.” Each month, members meet for an hour over lunch. To an outsider, this may look like a typical luncheon of mingling city officials. However, what’s happening at the table is the cultivation of relationships that only strengthen the roots of a growing, evolving city.

As Bender puts it, “It’s a chance to talk one-on-one with other business owners and gives you a support network. You can meet fellow community members and get a pulse of what’s happening in the city.”

It’s also the reason she ran for city council in 2005 and now serves the community as Mayor Pro Tem. “I decided to run in ‘05 through encouragement from other club members,” she says. And she’s been dedicated to serving the community in big ways ever since.

True to the Commerce Club’s core, each month they bring in guest speakers from every corner of the city. From Chief of Police Roy Whitehead to local nonprofit spokespersons, and from city judges to professors at Gwinnett Tech, club members get plugged in to the community.

Commerce Club members also reach out to the city in philanthropic ways. Along with donations to local nonprofits, Toys for Tots, and even deployed military, the club offers scholarships each year to deserving Brookwood and South Gwinnett High School seniors who are involved in DECA or FBLA. In that way, they honor the city’s emerging leaders who exhibit community involvement, work experience, and academic achievement.

Nothing would be possible without the woman behind the scenes, Kelly McAloon, Executive Director of STAT and official emcee for Snellville Commerce Club. Bender admits, “Kelly’s a whirlwind – she just never stops! She wants every event to be bigger and better than before.” Things like the Snellville Christmas tree lighting, The Taste of Snellville, and even the Snellville Farmers’ Market have exploded under her leadership. And she’s able to bring local business owners and community members together to make them all feel part of this exciting growth.

The Commerce Club’s biggest challenge? Driving membership. A city’s growth is contingent on its leaders. Luckily, in the last six months, the club has welcomed a new crop of members. “We’re always looking for that next generation of leadership to come along,” says Bender.

It is clear Snellville still values that small-town feel, and civic leaders like Bender and McAloon are the driving forces behind fostering the kind of community involvement necessary for the future.

The Commerce Club is just one essential component to that vision.

The good news is that membership is open to anyone. Perhaps you would like to be engaged in the community and make good things happen. Snellville’s Commerce Club is waiting for you to get connected.

More information at www.snellvilletourism.com/about-stat/snellville-commerce-club

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Chris Buckley Financial Advisor Chris Buckley

Our Town

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