OCTOBER 2020 Gwinnett/Walton Community & Family Magazine
Our Town GWINNETT
Grayson Dacula Loganville Lawrenceville
Up Close with Perimeter Roofing, see story on page 5.
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Dinner & a Smile: Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry Romeo & Juliet: Grayson Shakespeare in the Park Making a Difference: Still Staying SagerStrong Community Business Spotlight: Meet the Fire Extinguisher Men
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Our Town Gwinnett
On the Cover: Bringing Quality to the Community with Perimeter Roofing By Kristen Eleveld It’s hurricane season, and many of our roofs are starting to feel the effects of being pelted with tree branches, hail, and the rainstorms that have frequented our area over the last few months. You may worry that your roof needs to be repaired or replaced, but you’re not sure where to begin. We have an excellent resource for you: Perimeter Roofing. Perimeter Roofing’s main mission is to give clients exactly what they need. Whether that means a new roof or just a part replaced, they place a high priority on meeting your needs while helping you learn something in the process. For instance, did you know that you need to have your roof inspected every year? Even if your shingles are promised to last another decade, you can stay ahead of many serious issues by making sure your roof is in top condition on an annual basis. Providing education like this is just one way that Perimeter Roofing provides customer service that goes above and beyond. They also have state-ofthe-art equipment that tracks storms and any subsequent damage that may contribute to your roof needing repair, and they use that information to help you understand the best way to protect your home. “We are always going to be honest with you,” said President and CEO Todd Price. “We don’t ever want to suggest you need a new part or a new roof when that just isn’t the case.” Price and his team will often inspect a roof multiple times before deciding that any changes need to be made, just to ensure that they are only giving clients the best recommendations. This level of integrity has carried their reputation far in the community. Perimeter Roofing is well-known for their excellent relationships with insurance companies and adjustors, meaning they are able to help clients get more of their repairs
covered. Perimeter Roofing stands out even more in the roofing industry through Price, who not only is a fully licensed roofer, but has earned multiple certifications and awards for his dedication to offering the highest quality work at competitive industry prices. While a roofing license is not required in Georgia, Price felt that taking that extra step was important so he could reassure clients that his company is not only qualified to cover all their roofing needs, but also that they genuinely care about giving their clients a good experience. When it comes to caring, Perimeter Roofing has recently undertaken another endeavContinued on page 16
Dr. John Simmons and Dr. Robert French combine a blend of experience, wisdom and fresh new knowledge to affordably serve our patients with healthy, beautiful smiles. Our experienced team provides 5 star service, personalized care, and an extraordinary commitment to your health and well-being. Please join our family by scheduling a new patient exam!
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Our Town Gwinnett/Walton Community & Family Magazine
Publisher/Owner Ryan T. Sauers Ryan@EndResultZ.com Creative Director Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultZ.com
Editor Catherine L. Osornio Editor@EndResultZ.com Cover Photographer Aleen Karakashian Photography Distribution Coordinator
DeeDee Chapman
Feature Writers K. Coats Kristen Eleveld Ron Lambros Amy Ney Emily Rubin Traci Sanders
Beth Volpert Johansen Contributing Writers
Bill Crane Aleen Karakashian Tanisha Turner Darrell Watson
770-965-8973
— An EndResultZ Media & Communications firm EndResultZ.com Our Town Gwinnett is published and direct mailed to select homes in the Gwinnett /Walton area. Opinions expressed by the writers and staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our Town Gwinnett reserves the right to edit and/or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our Town Gwinnett is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers. Entire contents copyright 2020 by Our Town Gwinnett. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.
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IN THIS ISSUE
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5 On the Cover: Bringing Quality to the Community with Perimeter Roofing 7 From the Publisher: Ryan’s Remarks 8 What to Wear: Your Family Photo Session 8 Community Event Recap: BT Parker’s Golf & Tennis Challenge 9 Crane’s Corner: Roll Up Your Sleeve and Get Your Flu Shot 10 Civility Begins in Your House 11 Learning Lessons: Encouraging Daily Physical Activity for Children 11 Insurance Matters with Darrell Watson: How Often do you? 12 Dinner & a Smile: See What’s on the Menu at the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry 13 Romeo and Juliet: Grayson Shakespeare in the Park Comes Back for the Fall 14 Virtual Outreach-Gwinnett County 17 Blazing New Trails: How Your Child Can Be Part of a Bigger Story 19 The Post-9/11 Generation 21 Still Staying SagerStrong! 22 Growth Mode: Gwinnett Technical College Names New Board Members 22 Challenges and Differences in College Education Amid the Pandemic 23 Community Business Spotlight: Meet the Fire Extinguisher Men
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From the Publisher: Ryan’s Remarks By Ryan T. Sauers @RyanSauers
@RyanTSauers
We are in unprecedented times indeed. It seems like everything around us has changed and yet at the same time most days feel the same. School is different, jobs are different, masks are different, and in short, LIFE is different. With that said, we are now in the final quarter of 2020. So, let us take a moment and reflect. Instead of saying we need to skip the year 2020, I ask that we consider what we have learned about ourselves and others this year. What are you thankful for (even if it is only one thing) in 2020? Our emotions and feelings are real. Thus, how we channel them is important for all of us. We must make the best of any situation. Enjoy each day and make your precious time count. There are no guarantees in life. Zero! If we ever needed to be reminded that God is in control and we are not, 2020 has shown us that. We recently had the privilege of writing an article on a person who celebrated her 100th birthday and we will be doing another story on a person who hit this age as well. These are amazing lives. However, even 100 years go faster than you think. If you have not done so, listen to Kenny Chesney’s song Don’t Blink. It encompasses all the things I am trying to articulate about our time. We have said for years we “didn’t have enough time to do xyz.” Now we do. So, the question is what have we done with this time? Have we grown physically, socially, spiritually, mentally? I know I have, and hope you have too. And if not, it is never too late to start. Continued on page 13
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What to Wear: Your Family Photo Session By Aleen Karakashian, Photographer What should we wear? This question is often asked during a consultation for a family photo session, and it is an important one. I do not want to see you in your day-to-day flip flops or shorts! In all seriousness, what I want you to see once done is the best version of yourself presented in those images. I do not want your outfits to match. I want them to blend. I am a mother of two, and it takes me longer to find an outfit where I feel comfortable and beautiful. I know I am not the only one. So as you plan for your family photo session, I recommend starting with the mother’s outfit. Establish the primary color(s) found in her outfit, and build outfits for the rest of the family members to complement hers. Find contrasting colors or different shades of those primary colors for the rest of
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the family. If one outfit has a print or texture of some sort, try not to repeat that within the family unit but choose solid colors instead. Be creative! If your top is harvest yellow, one of the kids can wear pants with that same color, and maybe a scarf of that same color for your teenage daughter. A good idea is to spread the outfits on the floor, along with shoes, socks, belts, hair accessories, scarves, etc. If one color looks strikingly odd or your eyes go straight there, take it out and bring in a softer color. We want all eyes on you! I recommend steering away from branded outfits. A large logo or text on clothes takes attention away from your face. Also, I recommend steering away from very dark colors and go with lighter, softer colors that will reflect light back into your face. Then, when you hang up that beautiful artwork of your family, your eyes will go immediately to the faces, followed by the outfits and the surroundings. Do you like how your outfits work altogether as a family? How about when it is just the parents together? Or one parent with the kids and then kids together? Hooray, you have done a great job visualizing all those variations! Plan to take time for hair, makeup, haircuts, and a clean shave. I encourage you to take this opportunity and turn this night into a special family dinner. You’re already dressed up, and you deserve a good treat after all that work. The kids can get the outfits dirty after the photo session, and you get to make memories that last. These moments are precious! Let’s plan for your photo session together and showcase lasting memories of your family. More information at www.aleenkarakashian.com
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Community Event Recap: BT Parker’s Golf & Tennis Challenge By Traci Sanders Over one hundred people showed up to a picturesque Friday, September 4th at the Chateau Elan Resort for a golf and tennis challenge hosted by BT Parker, an attorney and servant leader in Gwinnett for over twenty-four years. Even with social distancing and masks in place, smiles were evident throughout the crowd as they gathered to raise money for a free Carnival Parker is later hosting at the Lawrenceville Boys & Girls Club. The festivities for the day were kicked off with Parker’s inaugural swing, when she hit a tee shot off the first hole. Continued on page 17
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Crane’s Corner: Roll Up Your Sleeve and Get Your Flu Shot By Bill Crane Just as certainly as we are experiencing hurricane season this fall, we will soon be experiencing another cold and flu season. There are multiple strains of flu circulating the globe each year, and billions of flu vaccines are prepared, identifying, and selecting currently the most prominent and potentially damaging strains of the flu. The Spanish Flu of 1918-1920 was an H1N1 strain of the virus. Globally, half a billion were infected and more than 20 million died. The flu itself is typically not the cause of death, with the virus compromising the immune system and at times causing various organs to fail. It is typically secondary infections – pneumonia, heart or respiratory failure – linked to other pre-existing conditions that rapidly accelerate the downward spiral of a body fighting to stave off multiple infections. This year’s flu strains will arrive atop a global pandemic of a novel coronavirus (SARS virus cousin of the common cold) with symptoms that present like the flu. As these flu strains arrive, that achy body, fatigue, or low-grade fever might be symptoms of COVID19, or they might be the flu. And here is the real beauty: as these are two separate viruses, catching one makes you more susceptible to the other, and treating the two at the same time will be extremely difficult for physicians. Most of the world is anxiously awaiting the tested and proven arrival of a vaccine for COVID19. And yet we have had flu vaccines for decades, with acceptance and injection of those vaccines seldom reaching higher than 60-70% of the population here in the United States. Getting a flu shot cannot give you the flu. In twenty plus years of annual flu shots, I had ONE episode of a sore arm near the injection site and minor body aches and fatigue that lasted a day or so. And in those same twenty plus years, while watching co-workers and occasionally family members succumb to varying degrees of fever, vomiting, and other flu systems, I have never gotten the flu. This year, the Center for Disease Control’s best-recommended calendar window for vaccination is September and October, though the flu will be in circulation long after that. The vaccine takes just a few minutes to administer, and is covered by all forms of insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid, as well as many non-insurance copayments and pharmaceutical discount programs. You can choose to get your flu shot through your primary care provider, at your preferred pharmacy, at some places of work (far fewer this year due to the pandemic), or at an increasing number of big-box retailers with onsite clinics or pharmacies. Like mask-wearing, handwashing, and social distancing, a flu shot is a preventative measure that protects YOU, your family, and others you come in contact with. In my case, I went to a Publix grocery store to pick up a few items and I noticed a sign promoting a free flu shot and a $10-gift card for getting the vaccine. That was enough for my buggy and me to go check it out. I filled out a one-page form that took less than two minutes. It needed no long medical history, and I presented a driver’s license and insurance card. I was asked to go shop or run errands for 15-20 minutes while my vaccine dose was prepared and requisite paperwork was filed. I returned a few minutes early, rolled up my sleeve, felt the slight prick of a tiny needle, and was handed the documentation of which strains of flu are covered in the vaccine I received, along with a Publix $10-gift card. I am a big believer in using carrots as well as sticks as an incentive for positive behavior, and I want to tip my hat and thank Publix for such a thoughtful and helpful boost to serve as a catalyst for a few thousand more shoppers to do the right and bright thing. I have heard, time and again, many express frustrations during this pandemic of a desire to “do something” to positively impact our situation, or to retake some element of control in one’s own or their family’s health care. This is one of those things. The flu shot is recommended for EVERYONE age six months and up. Roll up your sleeve, make your appointment, or go shopping and tack on this errand. But either way, now is the time, and this really will make a difference. Go get your flu shots. STAT! Bill Crane is the senior political analyst with WSB Radio and TV and owns the full-service communications consulting firm, CSI Crane. More information at www. CSICrane.com
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Civility Begins in Your House By Bill Crane
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“If a man continually blusters, if he lacks civility, a big stick will not save him from trouble, and neither will speaking softly avail, if in back of the softness there does not lie strength, power...” President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919). Teddy Roosevelt, or as he often preferred, T.R., is my favorite president by far. The former “boy governor of New York” became president in 1901, ascending from the vice-presidency after the 1900 assassination of President William H. McKinley. The Roosevelts – Teddy, and later F.D.R., Eleanor, and others – were not above hard-fought political contests and even occasional mud-slinging, but in the White House, as well as on the campaign trail and in public life, this split party family believed in the civility of the discourse. Our current president did not create the great divide in our nation, nor did he alone bring things to their current state of almost daily shootings in our major cities or most recently regular acts of violent protest to a level which some consider domestic terrorism. Civility – teaching it, practicing it, and living it – begins at home. As a columnist, commentator, and analyst of things political, I have lost count in recent months of how many times I am approached by a reader, listener, or viewer sharing their concerns about the great divide present in our nation. Invariably and with increasing frequency, at some point during these brief encounters my new acquaintance will offer, “And I can’t even speak to my children, husband, high school best friend (fill in the blank here) about the president or politics anymore.” I hear you, and I understand where you are coming from. But if we can’t, as a nation, or even within your own circle and family, speak civilly with our relatives, friends, or our neighbors about the direction and leadership of our country, what hope can we EVER have that our elected leaders will get it together? In other words, if it is “okay” to write off a friendship of decades, or to not speak to a sibling or progeny or parent over differences of politics, then why isn’t it okay for a Supreme Court confirmation hearing to devolve into the spectacle the world recently witnessed? Hate speech and screaming arguments laced with profanity and insults as the first volley among strangers seem to have become the conversation style point of today. And yet – and there are reams of research to back me up on this – once one side starts shouting during a dispute, the other side most typically stops listening. All of humanity is composed primarily of saltwater, and regardless of visible differences of age, race and culture, we all have so very much in common. We all value freedom, safety, peaceful communities, and quality schools, and we take some pride in being Americans. I am forever dismayed about why we spend so much time focused on our differences versus our many commonalities. And yet, we can only control our own actions, and potentially influence small circles immediately around us. But do not forget, our children and others are paying attention and watching us. Leadership by example is real, not just some trite cliche. I try to practice this every single day. As this fall election season moves into full swing, divides are getting wider, families and friendships are splitting. But seriously, those relationships should matter much more to you than how that person you care about votes. If/when the discourse becomes heated, take a step back and consider offering something like this: “I’m sorry, I know in recent years I’ve let my strong beliefs or opinions be shared too loudly. I have often tried to drown out or simply not listen to other points of view. That is wrong. I apologize. I don’t want to ruin our limited time together with talk of politics, but when these do come up again, I promise I will do everything I can to listen, to be respectful, and even when I disagree with you, to remember that our family/friendship is more important and trumps winning the argument itself every time (pun intended).” Try it. What have you got to lose? And once we can all get enough of our own houses back in order, then it might be time to ask the folks at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and on Capitol Hill to get back with the program as well. Civility begins at home. This pandemic and related semi-quarantine are giving us all more time to practice. Let us put all this unplanned “togetherness” to some additional good use. More information at www.CSICrane.com
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Learning Lessons: Encouraging Daily Physical Activity for Children
Insurance Matters with Darrell Watson: How Often do you?
By Tanisha Turner
By Darrell Watson
If you have a toddler or preschooler in your family, chances are you have more trouble getting him or her to sit still than be active. But even with all of their natural energy, it’s still important for parents to encourage and support children’s physical development. Research shows that daily physical activity may help increase attention span and improve cognitive processing, and children who develop basic physical skills, such as throwing, catching, and balancing, are more likely to grow into healthy, active adults. In short, learning basic physical skills is essential to your child’s healthy growth and development. Children, however, do not necessarily learn physical skills on their own. They need guidance from adults and challenging activities and opportunities to practice and refine physical skills. To help your child develop physically, use the tips below to create a fun, active, and healthy environment for your family. Provide safe spaces for physical activity. Designate safe spaces inside and outside of your home for your child to be active. Take a moment to see the world through his or her eyes to identify any potential hazards in the space. For example, are there any cords to trip over when playing inside? Similarly, before playtime begins, address any rules, like staying in the yard and out of the road, and discourage any negative behaviors, such as throwing a ball at another child’s face. Make age-appropriate equipment available. Developing motor skills and other physical skills is like learning to read, write, or do math problems. It requires the proper materials or equipment. For infants, soft blocks and rattles promote fine motor skills like pinching and grasping, and toddlers may use shape sorters, puzzles, and nesting toys to develop fine motor skills. Balls of various sizes will help preschoolers practice gross motor skills like throwing, rolling, catching, and kicking. Regardless of your child’s age, be sure that the equipment is soft, lightweight and age-appropriate. Watch how your child naturally plays with the equipment and feel free to change the game to help him or her enjoy the activity. Promote a feeling of success for your child. Skills are acquired incrementally, and children who do not experience success tend to lose interest and quit trying. Try to create some easy victories for your child. For example, if he or she is not yet able to successfully throw and hit a target, encourage your child to move a little closer. Regardless of your child’s skill level, be a supportive coach and acknowledge effort with specific, Continued on page 15
How often do you... Get a physical? My wife and I strive to visit our General Practitioner at least once per year for this very purpose. Getting my PSA level checked, and her getting a pap smear and mammogram annually are extremely important aspects regarding our general health and wellbeing. Go to the Eye Doctor? In general, it is recommended that everyone schedule an eye exam every two years. If you have issues or prescriptions for contacts, you may need to go even more frequently. Ensuring your eye health is an important aspect of one’s general health and wellbeing. Go to the Dentist? It is recommended that you visit your dentist/dental hygienist every six months. Oral health is an important aspect of one’s general health and wellbeing. Have a conversation with your Insurance Agent? (Did you see this coming?) It is recommended that you have a conversation with your insurance agent every twelve to eighteen months. State Farm agents call this checkup an Insurance and Financial Review (IFR). You may be asking, “Why would I need to ever speak to my insurance agent?” My son-in-law posed this to me when I became his insurance agent. He is an engineer, so convincing him that it was in his best interest was no small feat. This is what I shared with him: • The primary reason you need to speak with your insurance agent every twelve to eighteen months is because of how much life changes in that time frame. Families experience new births, deaths, divorces, children moving away to college, children moving back home from college, retirements, and the list goes on and on. Life is not static, but rather ever changing – just like your needs are ever changing. Making adjustments to your insurance based on your current needs is an important part of your risk management. • Insurance companies are ever changing. Insurance companies are businesses, and if Continued on page 15
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This is it! We need you! Vote early for November 3rd. Elect
Jasper Watkins III Commissioner District 3 Gwinnett County
(Auburn, Braselton, Centerville, Dacula, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Loganville, Mountain Park & Snellville) Decisive, Determined, Dependable Registered Pharmacist & Licensed Nuclear Pharmacist I’m Jasper Watkins III, a decorated military veteran, civic leader, and a 14-year resident of Gwinnett County. I need your support to win on November 3rd. I’m committed and excited to become the next County Commissioner of District 3, Gwinnett County. Throughout my 25 years of military service and 15 years of private sector experience, I have devoted my life’s work to serving my community and defending our nation’s principals. My goal is to unite us with a sensible platform that restores economic security for the middle class, invests in workforce development, creating good-paying jobs, building a clean energy economy, and removes barriers to business opportunities to jump-start our economy post-pandemic. Moreover, I will address our everyday concerns about the safety of our neighborhoods, protecting our voting rights, justice reform, transportation infrastructure investments, smart mixeduse development, fiscal accountability, and diversity with inclusivity. In less than two years, Gwinnett County will have more than 1.5 million residents!
Now is the time to decide to protect our future quality of life by creating an upward cycle of prosperity for the 21st Century. Committee to Elect Jasper Watkins III 1911 Grayson Highway, Ste.8-233, Grayson, GA 30017
770.609.5548 www.watkins3for3.com
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Dinner and a Smile: See What’s on the Menu at the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry By Kristen Eleveld This year has been rough on a lot of people. Many families are finding it hard to put food on their tables every night. But one local ministry is working to not only feed those people, but to remind them that they are loved. “My main qualification for this job is that I can’t do it,” said Laura Drake, Executive Director of the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry. “Which is perfect, because that means God can do it through me.” After serving as the executive director of this co-op for over a decade, Laura has seen it all – including the amazing things that can happen when someone answers a higher calling to serve one’s community. While she had volunteered for the local Lawrenceville Cooperative Ministry, Laura had never imagined herself as the person in charge of running an entire cooperative. Yet, twelve years later, she is still thriving in the role. A large factor in the success of the co-op is due to Laura’s passion for helping people – not just to put food on their tables, but to realize their value to the community as a whole. “A friend of mine once said that he thinks we’re all called to something,” Laura said. “I felt the Lord calling me to let people know that they have so much worth – more than they could ever imagine.” It is this commitment to encouraging the people she serves that motivated Laura and her team to continue serving through the coronavirus pandemic that has affected so many families since March. While the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry typically serves around 150 families a week, that number has doubled over the last several months as more people turned to the co-op for assistance with meeting essential needs. Usually, the families would go inside the co-op to pick out their food and speak with a team member to learn what other services and opportunities were available to them. Now, in an effort to comply with social distancing guidelines, the co-op has started serving people by loading food and other supplies directly into their cars – a system Laura and her team created in just three days. Laura estimates that they have loaded food in
about 9,000 cars, and the demand is not slowing down. But for Laura and the staff and volunteers at the cooperative, this is not an obstacle to overcome, but another chance to love their community. “We want people to know that this is about more than just putting food on their tables,” said Laura. “If they come to us for help, we are able to take the burden of food expenses off them, which hopefully allows them to use that money for other needs.” Laura attributes much of co-op’s success during the pandemic to the incredible response of the Gwinnett community and the state of Georgia as a whole. Gwinnett County Parks and Rec employees have made dozens of runs to the food bank, ensuring that the co-op always has food to distribute to the people who are counting on them. Georgia deployed its National Guard to offer assistance with loading the food into cars, Continued on page 21
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Romeo and Juliet: Grayson Shakespeare in the Park Comes Back for the Fall By K. Coats What do Shakespeare’s Montagues and Capulets have in common with Rams and Tigers? They’ll all be invading Grayson Park November 6-8 at 6 p.m.! Drew Kenyon and co-director Tyler Kenyon are back at it again with a new Shakespeare in the Park production. This time they’re tackling a text that most of us are familiar with from around freshman year of high school – Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. But this time, it will have a more local twist. “As Tyler and I spoke about this production,” Drew explains, “we both came to the conclusion that Romeo and Juliet is severely overdone, and everyone at least knows the ending of the play. So the question became, how do we make it interesting within our community?” Inspiration was much closer than expected, though, and the Brothers Kenyon decided to bring the story back to the youth it centers around. “With this idea, we decided to have the two rival families within the play be represented by two of the local high school rivalries,” Drew says. “If high school football can have those rivalries, why can’t we capitalize on them as well?” This alternate version of the play has been honed down to a central seven scenes which will be placed and performed around the park, making the play mobile. So leave the camp chairs at home and be sure to wear comfy shoes for walking. The script has some added elements from Tyler Kenyon to give it a frame story of two students working on a book report. “We have added a sort of ‘second play’ within Romeo and Juliet though,” Drew explains. “This was done for the simple reason of having actors follow the audience from scene to scene in the park, while also keeping them within the world of the play. Therefore, the audience is within the show at all times.” When asked what inspired him to make a mobile play, Drew says, “There was a version of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, with a noir-twist, done in New York in 2011 called Sleep No More. The entire play took place within a house, in which the audience was taken from room to room to see different scenes. Ever since I had heard about this production, I was intrigued by the idea. This is my interpretation of that idea within our community – plus, it doesn’t hurt that it’s also COVID-19 appropriate, due to the movement and location.” This production is the third in this blossoming theater company’s repertoire, following A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Taming of the Shrew. It is the first tragedy for the company. Drew hopes to get more people involved and to become more known in the community. “We are still in our growing phase,” he says, “and we want to become a known entity within our city and surroundings! We also want people and other companies to see that we are versatile.” And one would think that it would be hard to be versatile with a text already so well known to most people. Even if they haven’t studied the play directly, most people know the names and basic idea of those two star-crossed lovers from Verona. This familiarity is the direct reason for the drastic setting change. Continued on page 18
One Man’s Opinion Continued from page 7 I encourage each of you to Keep Pushing Forward (KPF) no matter what you are facing right now. Always try to inspire others in our community. I encourage you to find the good in people and to try and make others laugh and smile (even if it is behind a mask). We all need it. I challenge you to take the high road in dealing with others. Many people are at their emotional maximum, so be a blessing to them and do not push them over the top. Let us all focus on the many things we have in common and not our differences. Have a blessed October Our Town Gwinnett Community. And as always, thank you for continuing with me on the journey of my town, your town, Our Town!
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Virtual Outreach-Gwinnett County By Beth Volpert Johansen In a county the size of Gwinnett varied outreach programs designed to meet the needs of its citizenry begin at birth and continue through to serve the most mature in the community. Even the non-human occupants are considered in the services offered by Gwinnett. But what happens to those outreach services when a pandemic changes everything in a single day? Like many things, Gwinnett reacted to the unprecedented events surrounding COVID-19 by putting heads together, making a plan, and moving forward, adjusting to changes along the way. A non-negotiable point in all the planning and executing of changes was that services to the community would not be discontinued. There would be a way to reach the most vulnerable of the population: children, seniors, and their companions. With food insecurities already an identified need in the county, COVID-19 instantly placed more stress on the system. Even with employees in departments across the county facing personal COVID-19 choices, every department met the challenge to switch gears by adapting service models. Overwhelmingly, employees came together bringing innovative ideas to the table. The Department of Community Services is one of those intricate departments encompassing a broad swath of duties. The www.GwinnettCounty.com website describes the department as being organized into divisions that provide high-quality recreational, educational, electoral, human services, and other services in partnership with the Gwinnett community. With considerable responsibility, Community Services set about to triage the many needs and literally “hit the road” to provide meals to the children and seniors who were dependent upon the outreach. “We began by expanding our food delivery through a State of Georgia exemption with the USDA, so we were not restricted by previous site qualification standards,” says Community Services Deputy Department Director Lindsey Jorstad. “To date, we have served over 321,095 breakfast and lunch meals.” One of the many ways Gwinnett County has managed to shift gears so quickly for the
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delivery of services has been the reassignment of staff. “Staff from several different departments helped fill the need of bringing services to the community,” explains Jorstad. “Grounds Maintenance, Recreation, the Public Library, and Health and Human services are among those who collaborated to bring meals to 33 sites around the county. This has been an all hands on deck model with adapted staff roles.” In addition to providing “grab-and-go” style meals, Gwinnett County has relied on the community and other departments by partnering to bring services to the pick-up lines. “We have been able to provide on-site car seat safety checks by partnering with Gwinnett Fire and Emergency Services,” says Jorstad. Kids have also received STEAM kits from the Girls Scouts and have kept up with literacy efforts through the Gwinnett County Public Library. Beyond the basic work of providing nutrition is the human contact part of the wellness equation. One of the most important components of outreach is that of human contact. Seniors who were dependent upon Gwinnett’s Senior Centers were suddenly homebound – many of them alone. “The staff at our Senior Centers remained in contact with our Seniors to make sure they had healthcare transportation, food, and social engagement,” says Jorstad. “We developed a contactless system to deliver meals on doorsteps, back away, and wave at a distance in order to maintain that social connection.” Mid-July saw more than 79,506 meals served to Senior residents. To accomplish all the necessary outreach, Gwinnett County made good use of all things digital. “We have changed our operations to include a digital impact,” says Jorstad. “Using these resources is setting a good model for future programming.” The future of Gwinnett’s programming has already begun by calling on resources at TV Gwinnett, Health and Human Services, and the University of Georgia Extension Gwinnett. “We have worked with TV Gwinnett to create short videos geared toward Seniors,” explains Jorstad. “Some of the topics include cooking, exercise, and UGA Extension Services.” Despite the current outreach and commitment to quality programs, Gwinnett County is researching additional resources to serve an aging population. “Our priority is to make sure our Seniors can age in place – at home,” says Jorstad. “We continue to seek input and guidance from our Seniors all the time. They bring an array of knowledge and stories.” An upcoming innovative service delivery model facility in Dacula will fill a service gap. “Multi-generational programming is exploding because Seniors want to connect with our youth,” Jorstad adds. “They offer a great deal of wisdom.” Along with the wisdom of the ages comes additional responsibility for many Seniors in the Gwinnett Community. “There are many grandparents raising grandchildren or supporting working parents,” says Nazanin Weck, Community Services Marketing Coordinator. “Their contributions go beyond caregiving and into transferring knowledge to a new generation.” Seniors also share histories by planting things from their hometowns or home countries in Gwinnett’s community gardens, as well as providing treasured traditional recipes. “We also thank them for contributing to volunteer hours,” Weck adds. Beyond the human element, but no less important to those who depend on them, are the furry companions. Whether waiting to be adopted into a fur-ever home, or already in place, but also food insecure, pets of all types offer a critical component to the health and well-being of humans of all ages. “These animals that act as companions directly impact the improvement in mental wellness engagement,” says Jorstad. “Case managers noticed people were saving a portion of their meals to feed their pets, especially when transportation was an issue.” Pairing those needing assistance with community partners has allowed the county to help residents feed their furry friends. Assisting with keeping pets at home has cut down on the number of animals surrendered at the Animal Welfare Shelter. But for those animals waiting for adoption, the process has gone digital. With a limited number of people able to occupy the shelter at
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Continued on page 19
Our Town Gwinnett
Learning Lessons Continued from page 11
Insurance Matters Continued from page 11
encouraging comments. Be active with your child. Be a role model and get some exercise at the same time by participating in games and other activities that require physical exertion. Easy and fun activities include: • Playing four-square or hopscotch, using sidewalk chalk to create the grid • Blowing bubbles then chasing them around the yard to see who can catch them • Playing lawn games like Red Light, Green Light • Running through the sprinklers, weather permitting When children come into the world, physical activity is at the very center of their lives. They are on a mission to learn to crawl, walk, run, throw, catch, and kick. Nurture that desire to be active that begins in infancy by playing with your child each day to ensure he or she develops a love for fitness and healthy habits for years to come. Tanisha Turner is Owner of Primrose School at Sugarloaf Parkway. More information at www.PrimroseSugarloafParkway.com
they are going to survive in the marketplace, they must change to best meet the needs of the customer. In the four years that I have been an insurance agent, there have been many changes. Perhaps one of the biggest changes is the use of telematics to gather data on the insured as a way to customize their specific rates and savings. • It is important to refresh your memory regarding what coverage you actually have. Oftentimes, people either do not remember or truly understand their coverage. Insurance agents are professional risk managers, and it is our responsibility to constantly educate and inform our customers regarding their coverage. Do you know what your homeowner’s deductible is? Do you know what your liability limits are on your automobiles? Do you know if the person you divorced is still the beneficiary of your life insurance policy? Talking with your insurance agent helps you to manage the risk of everyday life, recover from the unexpected, and realize your dreams. More information at www.rup3prepared.com
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Perimeter Roofing Continued from page 5 or to help out their community: a 501(c)3 non-profit organization called Perimeter Cares. This organization, which started a year ago, aims to help children in Gwinnett schools by paying off lunch debt and providing more kids with the opportunity to eat a hot lunch every day. “When I heard that some of these kids were not able to have a hot lunch every day because they didn’t have the money, I wanted to see how we could help,” said Price. “Kids rely on us to do the right thing for them, and they should be able to have a hot lunch at school.” Along with paying off lunch debts, Perimeter Cares also collects backpacks and school supplies a few times a year to donate to any child who needs those items but can’t afford them. Price, who overcame his own battle with addiction and homelessness, feels strongly that everyone deserves a chance to be treated well and given the opportunity to thrive.
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PAGE 16 Become an Advertising Partner: Email Info@OurTownGwinnett.com or Call 678-825-2049 19-AGOB-0423 Our Town Green - A Pair of Reasons 10x7.5306 OCT.indd 1
Gwinnett Office 449 Pleasant Hill Rd, Suite 200 Lilburn, GA 30047 770.923.5033
Our Town8/28/20 Gwinnett 10:02 AM
Blazing New Trails: How Your Child Can Be Part of a Bigger Story By Kristen Eleveld As a parent, you know how valuable it is for your child(ren) to have a safe place to grow and learn and make new friends. Thanks to the events caused by the COVID-19 crisis, many children are missing their usual opportunities to participate in after-school activities or groups that they love. But there are two local groups that check all the boxes for meeting your child’s needs – and they are always welcoming new members. The American Heritage Girls (AHG) and the Trail Life USA (TLUSA) organizations have made a name for themselves over the last few years as they work with children and teenagers to learn and develop important life skills. Much like the Girl and Boy Scouts of America, these groups are organized into local troops, which then work with each member on specific skills and tasks. But these troops also add something extra: an emphasis on the Christian faith and what it means to be a godly man or woman. While you can find these troops all over the country, one man recently decided to start a local troop in Norcross, and, three years later, is just as dedicated to this goal. “I saw an opportunity to start a group that was more than just a youth group – it was a place to help kids grow,” said John Dunn, Charter Representative for AHG Ga-0210 and Troop Ministry Advisor for TLUSA Ga-0109. He will transition to Troop Master for his Trail Life group later this year. Dunn first heard of American Heritage Girls when his own daughter joined a local chapter a few years ago. Unlike many other programs, Dunn noticed that the troop did not focus solely on the activities and events typically found in an all-girls organization. Instead, this group was teaching girls archery, camping skills, and, most importantly, Continued on page 20
Community Event Recap Continued from page 8 The event was sponsored by dozens of corporations and small businesses. There were competitions for all levels in the Putting Challenge, Golf, and Tennis. Of course, Parker had to have special awards for Best Dressed. Each category offered first place, second place, and third place prizes. Gift certificates to restaurants and local businesses, gift cards and baskets, a $5,000 wedding package, diamond tennis bracelets, and more were awarded to these winners and participants. Even three people who were not present won raffle items, as they purchased raffle tickets in advance online. Attendance and participation fees ranged from $25 to $155 per person, depending on the category. The inspiration for this event came about when Parker realized, firsthand, how much the Boys & Girls Club of America does for foster children, as Parker’s foster daughter used to attend. BT Parker is immensely grateful for all those who participated and offered their support, the beautiful weather everyone enjoyed, and the funds raised from that momentous event. She looks forward to hosting this event for years to come! More information at http://www.btparkerforjudge.com/.
we appreciate your business In-restaurant dining service is temporarily suspended. We will continue to serve our community through curbside pick ups and delivery services. Please visit us online to place your order at
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BEST BEST BEST BEST
Romeo and Juliet
Along a highway stands new rivalry, Where local teams make local feuding teens. From forth the able schools of these two foes A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life; Whose misadventured torments which arose Do with their death bury their teammates’ strife. The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love, And the continuance of their schools’ rage, Which, but their dear friend’s end, nought could remove, Is now the evening’s traffic of our stage; The which if you with patient ears attend, When it comes to finding the What here shall miss, our tour shall strive to mend.”
Continued from page 13
“You can’t reinvent the story,” Drew explains, “so you have to reinvent the space and delivery of said story!” If you’re in the mood for a new twist on an old story, Grayson Shakespeare in the Park will gladly help. “We really want to reiterate that this is a walking tour style show,” Drew says. “We have made an effort to make it physically friendly to all, but please be aware that this is not an audience sitting show. That being said, we will have flashlights provided, should they be needed! If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email drewjkenyon@yahoo.com.” When it comes to perfect roof To prepare you for this production, here is this writer’s revision of that timeless prologue: for your your home we have a HUGEroof selection home we When it comes to finding the perfect When for it comes to roof finding the perfect “Two high schools, both alike in dignity, information of brands of home brands and colors to choose from, so and colo for your More home we have a@graysonshakesinthepark. HUGE selection for atyour we have a HUGE selection In fair Grayson Park, where we lay our scenes,
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When it comes to finding the perfect roof for your home we have a HUGE selection of brands and colors to choose from, so we can Certified Professionals Certified Professionals make your house look perfect. All Perimeter Cares pays off When it a comes to your home you need a it comes to your home you need Certified Professionals of our roofs come with oneCertified of the When Professionals unpaid lunch debt for best warranties in the industry andcompany that is fully insured and company that is fully insured and certified certified When it comes to your home you need a home you need elementary school students. When it comes to your a we use above standard roofing We have paid off over 60 before you let anyone put your hard earned before you let anyone hard earned company that is fully insured and company that iscertified fully insuredput andyour certified materials. schools and plan to take care home at we risk. Here at Perimeter Roofing of we all elementary schools in home athard risk.earned Here atyour Perimeter Roofing before you let anyone put your before you let anyone put hard earned Certified Professionals the state of Georgia. have experts have the experts and trained roofing techs that and trained roofing techs that home at risk. Here atyou Perimeter Roofing we When it comes to your home home at risk. Here at Perimeter Roofing wethe perimetercares.org need a company that is fully insured have years of experience in the roofing busihave years of experience in thetechs roofing busihave the experts and trained roofing techs that roofing have the experts and trained that and certified before you let anyone ness. ness. We are fully insured to work on We anyare sizefully insured to work on any size years of experience in the roofing busiof experience in the roofing busiput have your hard earned homehave at risk.years Here at Perimeter we have project project noon matter how big oron small. ness. We areRoofing fully insured toare work any size ness. We fully insured to work any sizeno matter how big or small. the experts and trained roofing project noyears matter how bigno or matter small. how big or small. project techs that have of experience in the roofing business. We are fully Roof Repair and ReplacementRoof Repair and Replacement insured to work on any size project Perimeter Roofing is Metro Atlanta’s Roofing Perimeter Roofing is Metro Atlanta’s Roofing Roof Repair and Replacement no matter how big or small.Roof Repair and Replacement
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facebook.com/perimeterr facebook.com/perimeterroofingllc perimeterroofing_ga perimeterroofing_ga facebook.com/perimeterroofingllc facebook.com/perimeterroofingllc www.perimeterroofing.com facebook.com/perimeterroofingllc perimeterroofing_ga perimeterroofing_ga perimeterroofing_ga Continued on page 21
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Our Town Gwinnett
The Post-9/11 Generation
Virtual Outreach-Gwinnett County Continued from page 14
By K. Coats
any one time, staff had to get creative. Social media has played a big part in showcasing the pets available for adoption, and technology has streamlined the process. “We have had a great response to social media,” says Jorstad. “People are more engaged and educated about the pets before they arrive.” For Lindsey Jorstad, Nazanin Weck, and all the departmental staff and community partners they work with, COVID-19 has been a challenge – just like it has been for everyone. Their response to the shift in delivery models and the ability to leverage social media and other technologies have allowed them to fast-track a path to the future of each vital program. Whether life returns to a more “normalized” state in the near future is yet to be determined. In the meantime, the Gwinnett Department of Community Services will continue to seek input and respond in a forward-thinking manner for the good of its residents. More information at www.GwinnettCounty.com
Recently, the country paused to observe 9/11 and reflect on the events of that day. My own social media was filled with people detailing where they were when everything happened that fateful morning in 2001. For me, I was in college, walking across the student lobby to check my mail when I saw everyone staring at the TV and walking slowly towards it. When I began teaching close to fifteen years ago, the students and I could discuss the events together. After all, they had been about thirteen years old at the time. And through the years I have taught high school seniors, their memories have been fainter and more confused as they were younger when it happened. One group remembered nothing more than upset parents picking them up early from school. But this year’s group was one of the first ones to have absolutely no one even alive yet on 9/11/2001. So, when I looked around the room on that Friday morning of the 19th anniversary, I looked at a group who shouldered a unique burden. Like many times when I’m at a loss for words with my class, I was quiet for a bit and then spoke the simple truth, “None of you were alive for this event, were you?” There was a small shaking of the heads. They were trying to be respectful and serious, but in their silence, there was a tinge of confusion. I felt bad for them. You see, the events of that day have followed these students all their lives, but they do not share in the collective grief the other citizens feel. It is like they are at a funeral for a relative they did not really know. They are sad and try to understand the gravity of things, but there is a disconnect. They have no measure of what life was like “pre 9/11.” They have never known what it was like to greet a loved one right off the plane at the actual gate. They have never known an airport without body scanners. They have never known a seventh inning stretch at a Braves game without “God Bless America” sung by Mr. Timothy Miller. Many of what stands out to us as decidedly “different” from that historical moment is their normal. They have grown up in a time where that collective national trauma shapes our choices subconsciously. I’ve noticed over the last few years a certain romanticization from my students for the 1990s. They have certainly never lived in that time, so I was confused as to why it was getting wistful murmurs from them. Nineties vintage shirts and grunge fashions crept back into my classroom. And while I am always glad to see flannel shirts tied about the waist, I had to force myself not to laugh when I heard one girl say “the 90s” in a reverent tone. Short term, I put a stop to the romanticizing of that decade. It had its share of problems, and I wanted my formative years decade to be viewed in all its reality – both good and bad. But for the long term, I tried to see why they had picked that specific decade to yearn for. I suppose, in the end, it is the last decade they have learned about before this horrific event that their parents and loved ones lived through. It is the last stop, in their mind, before their own reality. On the one hand, I do like talking about “life before” 9/11, but I think there is a risk of disservice to these younger citizens. We cannot allow ourselves to constantly yearn for what was before and lament its loss and stagnate there. For their sake, the shadow of those events must be put into light alongside the hope for a brighter future. For each time we lament about what was, let us also seek to look forward to what might be. In giving our youth something to hold on to for the future, we give ourselves something as well. They have shouldered a burden of an event they have not even experienced. Maybe now we should help them also know the joy of their own time. Celebrate today and seek out that future that will be. They deserve as much, and so do we.
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Blazing New Trails Continued from page 17 how to grow in their faith. Meanwhile, Pastor Carole Hulslander had been praying for a way to start scouting organizations for children as a ministry of Still Waters Community Church. The Norcross pastor reached out to Dunn to see if he would be interested in chartering a new AHG troop, as well as a Trail Life USA troop for boys. While Dunn was less familiar with Trail Life USA, he agreed to be the representative for both new troops and began to work with the church and community to invite kids to join. Dunn was joined by Hugh and Cindie Nguyen, who served as the Trail Life committee chairman and the American Heritage Girls troop coordinator, respectively. Together, they worked to form each troop and reached out to the community to join in the fun. “I love being part of these troops because it isn’t just a meeting – there are so many activities for the kids to do, and so many new skills for them to learn,” Dunn said. He also loves that both organizations are faith-based. While AHG and Trail Life USA
are not identical in every way, they do share the priority of setting aside time to help each of their members develop their faith. One of Dunn’s roles is to act as the liaison between the troops and the church that hosts them, to ensure everyone is on the same page when it comes to their beliefs. If you are looking for a fun, faith-based option that will allow your child to grow in multiple areas of their life, your search is over. Contact John Dunn at c3a.scouts@gmail. com to learn how your child can be part of a troop. And while these programs are for kids, they rely on parents and volunteers to make sure they can provide each child with a safe and fun experience. So, consider making this a family activity, and sign up to help with your child’s troop. “If you are searching for a troop like ours, we’re waiting for you!” said Dunn. “We welcome anyone who wants to join.” More information at americanheritagegirls.org or www.traillifeusa.com
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as well as with keeping the entire process organized and supplies updated. By Our Town Gwinnett Staff “I can’t put it into words to say how humbled I am to see how the community has ral lied around the cause and pivoted during the crisis,” Laura said. “Gwinnett County has With Major League Baseball reopening this done a ton to help us. I am so glad I live in this county.” past summer without fans in the ballpark, the While the co-op has received a lot of help and donations, they are always in need of SagerStrong Foundation planned their Second additional supplies to meet the increasing demand of the community they serve. They Annual Stadium Fun Run with the Atlanta Braves can’t currently accept more volunteers due to CDC guidelines, but they are accepting all as a virtual race to stay safe, give back, and raise types of food and many toiletry items as well. money for #bloodcancer research during these “A ministry like this isn’t like a mission trip,” Laura explained. “The need is constant trying times. – we are never finished serving people.” The SagerStrong Foundation, created by the late Everyone needs help sometimes – and, as Laura says, it’s up to the community to take Hall of Fame Sports Reporter Craig Sager and his care of the people who live in it. wife Stacy in 2016, was established with the misMore information at https://www.segwinnettcoop.org/ sion to give hope to those who need it most fighting blood cancer. Sager, who battled leukemia for three years, was an avid runner as well, so Stacy decided to host a run to raise funds for blood cancer research to someday find a cure for the deadly disease that took her husband. “We wanted to host an event in Craig’s honor ***** CHECK OUT OUR 300+ REVIEWS ONGOOGLE GOOGLE ***** CHECK OUT OUR 300+ REVIEWS ON GOOGLE ***** CHECK OUT OUR 300+ REVIEWS that really spoke to who he was – full of life, full ***** CHECK OUT OUR 300+ REVIEWSON GOOGLE ***** CHECK OUT OUR 300+ REVIEWS ONONGOOGLE ***** REVIEWS ONON GOOGLE of fun, and full of style,” said Stacy. “Since Craig *****CHECK CHECKOUT OUTOUR OUR300+ 300+ REVIEWS GOOGLE had a long history with the Atlanta Braves (Craig covered the story of Hank Aaron breaking the homerun record in 1974), we decided the Stadium Fun Run would be a perfect way to honor him and raise money to one day find a cure so other families won’t have to go through what we did to fight blood cancer.” This year’s event offered a different kind of run. Participants were able to sign up to run one race, or run for the “cycle” as they say in baseball, running all of the distances, in one weekend virtually – 3K, 5K, 10K, or a half marathon – anytime from Friday to Sunday the weekend of August 21-23. Participants downloaded the virtual bib, and shared photos after running in colorful #SagerStyle. Craig was known for his colorful suits on the sidelines, so the Foundation had asked people to dress creatively, run the race, and send photos. Some runners went a step further by giving blood over the next week as the SagerStrong Foundation partnered with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive as well, all in support of National Blood Cancer Awareness Month. All participants received a special commemorative face mask after the race, courtesy of the Sager Strong Foundation’s virtual race sponsors: Northside Hospital, the Atlanta WWW.TRUMANSTEEMERS.COM Braves, and Rand Refrigeration. WWW.TRUMANSTEEMERS.COM WWW.TRUMANSTEEMERS.COM WWW.TRUMANSTEEMERS.COM WWW.TRUMANSTEEMERS.COM “Blood was like water to Craig, he needed it to survive daily,” Stacy shared. “So,WWW.TRUMANSTEEMERS.COM WWW.TRUMANSTEEMERS.COM we wanted to host the blood drive as well, to make it easy to give back in a time when blood is in short supply, because of these trying times. Those who donated received a SERVING GWINNETT, HALL,WALTON, WALTON, BARROW NORTH FULTON COUNTIES SERVING GWINNETT, HALL, WALTON, BARROW NORTH FULTON COUNTIES GWINNETT, HALL, BARROW &&&&NORTH FULTON COUNTIES free COVID-19 Antibody test, courtesy of the American Red Cross – so it was a win- SERVING SERVING GWINNETT, HALL, WALTON, BARROW & NORTH FULTON COUNTIES SERVING GWINNETT, HALL, WALTON, BARROW NORTH FULTON COUNTIES SERVING GWINNETT, HALL, WALTON, BARROW & NORTH FULTON COUNTIES win for everyone!” SERVING GWINNETT, HALL, WALTON, BARROW & NORTH FULTON COUNTIES The Foundation also announced its Second Annual SagerStrong Foundation Hometown Hero last month, Kale Corbett. Corbett, a senior from Tallulah Falls School, is a pediatric cancer patient who has fought through a rare cancer, and not only persevered, but thrived through his fight. In addition, the Foundation is beginning to plan for next year’s fundraising events, the Living Out Loud Golf Tournament in May 2021, and a return to Truist Park with the Third Annual SagerStrong Foundation Stadium Fun Run with the Braves in August 2021. Mark your calendar and please plan to join in the fun. WE ARE THE MOST HIGHLY RATED IN NORTH GEORGIA: WE More information at https://sagerstrongfoundation.org WEARE ARETHE THEMOST MOSTHIGHLY HIGHLYRATED RATED IN IN NORTH NORTH GEORGIA: GEORGIA:
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Growth Mode: Gwinnett Technical College Names New Board Members By Our Town Gwinnett Staff Gwinnett Technical College is pleased to announce Mark Abrams, Founder and President of Aspen Information Systems, Pam Garland, Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer for Northside Hospital Gwinnett and Northside Hospital Duluth, and Srinivas Jalla, Deputy Director for Technical Services at Gwinnett County’s Department of Water Resources, to the college’s board of directors. Abrams, Garland, and Jalla will join in the board’s work to advance support for Gwinnett Technical College’s program and facilities and workforce development initiatives. In addition to welcoming the new directors, Julie Haley, CEO of Edge Solutions, has been announced as the incoming board-chair, and Keith Holmes, Executive Vice President of Cox Business has been named vice-chair. “I am excited to welcome Mark, Pam, and Srinivas to our board,” said Dr. D. Glen Cannon, President of Gwinnett Technical College. “I am confident their knowledge and expertise will continue to serve the Gwinnett Tech community and workforce demands.” Mark Abrams is an accomplished performance-driven IT leader with a proven twentyyear track record of executive and hands-on experience delivering mission-critical services to Fortune 500 clients and partnering closely with business leaders. Abrams obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Abrams is active in the community, having served in Rotary International as Club President, as Assistant District Governor, Gwinnett Technical College CIS Advisory Board President, and DeKalb Habitat Board President. Abrams is also a graduate of Leadership Gwinnett Class of 2013. Pam Garland, RN, BSN, MN, CCRN, CNRN, has more than thirty years of nursing experience. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Medical College of Georgia, and a master’s degree in Nursing, Neuroscience/Trauma from Emory University. She designed and opened both the Center for Neuroscience and the Cardiovascular Care unit, a unit that provides a comprehensive care model from admission to discharge. Garland is a member of the American Nurses Association, Georgia Hospital Association, Vizient Southern States Nursing Executive Network, Georgia Organization of Nurse Leaders, American Associate of Critical Care Nursing, and the American Organization of Nurse Executives.
Julie Haley, a former business and commercial litigation attorney, was named the North Fulton Small Business Person of the Year in 2011, one of CRN’s Top 100 Women of the Channel in 2011-2015, and a finalist for the Women in Technology’s Woman of the Year in 2011. She is a graduate of Roanoke College and the University of South Carolina School of Law. Keith Holmes is responsible for driving sales through Cox Owned Retail, MDU, Third Party Retail, Direct Sales Channels, Retention Centers, and Inbound Sales. He received his bachelor’s degree in Management from Georgia Tech while playing on its National Championship football team. Keith received his MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Keith also dedicates a significant amount of time to non-profit community service, having served as mentor and board member for the Boys and Girls Clubs, Camp Fire Boys and Girls, and Camp Twin Lakes. He served as a volunteer for Junior Achievement and as a volunteer high school football coach. Srinivas Jalla is a registered professional engineer and currently serves as a Deputy Director for Technical Services at Gwinnett County’s Department of Water Resources. Jalla has twenty-five years of private sector and local government experience designing water and wastewater treatment systems. He currently serves on the foundation board of Leadership Gwinnett. He is a graduate of Leadership Gwinnett Class of 2014 and Regional Leadership Institute Class of 2011. Jalla earned a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of New Orleans and a Certificate of Local Government Management from UGA. More information at GwinnettTech.edu.
Challenges and Differences in College Education Amid the Pandemic By Emily Rubin Alternating between my bed and my desk all day working on assignments or attending virtual class was not how I imagined spending my junior year. This year I was supposed to be in my majorspecific courses and meeting peers with the same career interest, but in reality, I just sit in my apartment and only chat with my classmates when one of us needs help understanding a homework assignment. The day is lonely even though I have three roommates here doing the same thing. Classes are different now, too. Some professors just post a video once a week and give us assignments, while some try their hardest to make their virtual sessions as close to in-person class as possible. I have noticed that my roommates and I spend more time on our online classwork than we did when we had regular classes. Without a consistent schedule, we end up falling behind a bit and end up working nonstop during the weekend trying to get back on track. “I don’t feel as motivated because I don’t have to go on campus,” my
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roommate Alaina said. I rarely set foot on campus, but when I do there are maybe thirty other people there. Masks are required and our restaurants are mobile ordering only. The student center where we used to eat our fast food has tables blocked off and regular sanitization, but most students prefer to eat in their cars or apartments now. I do not even have a meal plan to eat at the cafeteria
this semester because I do not feel comfortable taking my mask off and eating in an area with a bunch of other people. Because of this, I must plan my meals when I go grocery shopping and come up with some sort of variety since I was used to eating on campus when I lived there last year. “I can only cook one meal a week,” another roommate Katy said. “I’m just too busy to do it more often.” During our exams with Lockdown Browser, a software that only gives users access to the exam page and requires video and audio recording, we experience some difficulties. If you look away from your screen you get flagged as cheating, but we have a kitten in the apartment who likes to attack us randomly. If the cat is in the room with one of us while we take an exam, we risk getting flagged for cheating or our legs getting bitten. The bus also stops right outside our apartment every 15 minutes. The brakes on the bus are so loud that I have to time when I can turn my microphone on and answer a question in class. Overall, this semester is just harder than last year because of the lack of structure and interaction. We cannot stay after to talk to our professors or ask questions during class when a professor just posts videos for class. My roommates and I hope that everyone continues to wear their masks and follow CDC guidelines so we can return to in-person classes in the spring.
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Community Business Spotlight: Meet the Fire Extinguisher Men By Traci Sanders In 1992, Mike Kennedy became the thirty-ninth person in the state of Georgia to be certified in the field of installing and servicing fire extinguishing equipment. He took this knowledge and founded his own company, JD Extinguisher Service Inc., with the help of his son Josh in 2010 and has been steadily growing since that time. Josh enlisted in the Navy soon after and gained firsthand knowledge of just how important the work his father’s company does. In 2016, Josh was deployed to the Persian Gulf and realized that having a good-conditioned, working fire extinguisher around is crucial to the everyday potential hazards we all face. Josh was honorably discharged in January after four years of active duty as a Damage Controlman, Petty Officer Second Class. This job entails being the subject matter expert on shipboard firefighting, and the life-saving equipment technical expert for things such as emergency lighting and portable (and installed) fire protection equipment. Currently, JD Extinguisher Service Inc. installs and maintains equipment for commercial and residential properties in the following counties: Newton, Gwinnett, Dekalb, Fulton, Barrow, Walton, Clayton, Jackson, Forsyth, Hall, Douglas, and Cherokee. Their services also include fire demonstrations, annual inspections, sales, and placement for equipment (i.e. company relocation, hydro testing, and emergency lighting). Mike and Josh are also certified by the International Code Council, governed by the Insurance & Safety Commissioner for the state of Georgia. They travel to all their customers’ locations, but customers are always welcome to visit their home office in Grayson as well. Mike started JD Extinguisher Service Inc. with nothing more than a desk and filing cabinet. Soon, his business gained momentum and he moved into his garage and eventually into a well-known commercial office shared with Challenge Fire Protection. Over
the years, he became known as The Fire Extinguisher Man, and now he is ready to pass that title onto his son, who will officially take over the family business at the beginning of 2021. More information at https://jdextinguisherservice.com/.
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