One on One with Atlanta Botanical Gardens

By Victoria R. Crosby

As you enter the Atlanta Botanical Garden (ABG), not only do you see beautiful flowers, shrubs, and trees, but different sculptures and works of art that intrigue and delight, with a view of the Atlanta skyline as the backdrop. The exhibits change seasonally, so there is always something new and fun to see as you stroll through the gardens.

The latest exhibit at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens is called Trolls: Save the Humans. The Trolls look a bit scary at first, but these vast sculptures are made from recycled materials. Inspired by folklore and created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo, they can be viewed and enjoyed by people of all ages. Dambo gave a recent lecture at the ABG, titled “Trash Trolls and Treasure Hunts,” and signed copies of his book with the same title. The book talks about his adventures and includes photos and poems about his journey in his home city of Copenhagen on his cargo bike, dumpster diving for items to use in his first small installation, and how he eventually gained international recognition as the leading recycling artist in the world.

Each of the six humungous trolls has a name and a different personality, which is recognizable by their facial expressions. The Trolls will travel to other botanical gardens nationwide, but this is their debut appearance.

Like most of our gardens this year, the ABG suffered from a deep freeze at the end of last December. Some plants didn’t make it, and some are very slowly recovering. However, this won’t affect a visitor’s enjoyment of the flourishing plentiful plants that survived.

A Japanese garden within the gardens is a place for quiet reflection and meditation, and there is a beautiful display of lights and music during the Christmas holidays. Orchids are on display inside the Fuqua Orchid Center, with annual special exhibits. The Longleaf Restaurant in ABG offers full-service dining and has excellent reviews.

Membership in ABG has many perks and special events, including discounts at the gift shop, cocktails in the garden, musical events, previews of exhibits, and classes for adults and children. It’s a lovely place

Georgia to Get Quite a Kick

Continued from page 14 the hundreds of millions of dollars. And though I have personally been a soccer fan and player since about age eight, the entire state is about to get a big Kick out of this coming soccer wave heading for metro Atlanta and north Georgia. Play ball!

Bill Crane owns the full-service communications firm CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com

Meet GCAA Continued from page 14 accelerate their studies to graduate early and move forward with plans for college, military service, work, or athletic careers.

Acceleration Academies provide a blend of independent online study and in-person academic, social, and emotional support to meet such needs. Like all public school programs, GCAA is free of charge and open to students up to age 21 who want to earn their high school diplomas. Education Week featured the network due to its success in re-engaging students after the Covid pandemic.

More information at Accelerationacademy.org for taking photos of weddings and other special events.

Part of the permanent collection, and one of my favorite features in the garden, is a very large sculpture called Earth Goddess. Her head is covered with different flowers and plants, changing with the seasons. There are also two large glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly in different parts of the gardens.

The Atlanta Botanical Gardens first opened in 1976, and there are two locations, 1345 Piedmont Avenue, NE, in Atlanta, and 911 Sweetbay Drive, Gainesville, GA., which opened in 2015.

The Gainesville location is smaller, but is a little gem! A recent exhibit featured nine large fiberglass sculptures of Mexican artists, including Frida Kahlo. Ricardo Soltero, an artist from Los Angeles, created these colorful sculptures. They represent Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, but it is a celebration of life, not death. These celebrations are part of Mexican and Latin American culture and include a celebration of the Monarch butterflies, which migrate to Mexico from Canada and the US every winter.

There is also a wonderful children’s garden and playground, including Fairytale Fridays at 11 a.m., where young children can come dressed as their favorite fairytale characters and participate in a fairytale parade.

More information at www.atlantabg.org

Career Corner: How to Attract the Best Candidates for Your Business

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff

As most business owners know, top-notch talent is one of the most valuable assets your enterprise needs to thrive. With one in four U.S. adults currently looking for a new job, the right people are out there; it’s just a matter of connecting with them.

According to CareerBuilder, here’s how to make your company attractive to job seekers and how to leverage tools to find them. One good idea is to make room for growth. The same survey found that when it comes to what’s most important to job seekers, it’s “good salary/benefits and interesting work.” So give potential employees confidence that working for you will allow them to take care of their finances, provide for their families, and do work they are proud of.

Before posting the position, seek industry insights to ensure your compensation package is competitive. Also, ensure that you’re offering a clear path for growth. During the interview process, let candidates know you will invest time and energy in seeing them develop professionally.

“Employers must get creative in their approach to skill development and training to fill the existing skills gap and accelerate promotions,” says Kristin Kelley, chief marketing officer of CareerBuilder.

• Find your purpose: A people-oriented, purpose-driven work culture can help you attract great job candidates and retain employees. “Companies with a powerful mission who value their employees will stand the test of time. Creating an environment where people can thrive is equally important,” says Kelley.

• Be flexible: If the nature of your business allows for it, consider embracing new technologies that enable you to implement flexible work experiences, such as remote or hybrid work. Giving your employees the option to work from home is a critical benefit that will attract talent, plus it could potentially broaden your pool nationwide or even internationally.

• Turn to easy-to-use hiring platforms: Finding the best fit for a position can be highly labor-intensive and time-consuming. However, hiring software featuring industry-leading technology can make the process smoother and more efficient.

Talent acquisition is just one of a business owner’s many priorities. With the right mindset, strategies, and tools, you can quickly attract the best candidates for your business and bring them on board. (StatePoint)

Travel Tales: Visit Saudia Arabia?

By Pam Walker

Every August, I attend one of the largest travel shows on earth in Las Vegas.

Vegas is not my favorite place to be during August, but in reality, I never am outside the meeting rooms in the Bellagio and Aria hotels. This year was no different. Aside from 3,000 travel advisors from all over the world, there are representatives from government tourist offices, hotels, and attractions, as well as folks from all the major cruise lines. Every year they tell us the latest and greatest news of upcoming events and products.

One such player “new to the game” is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was only in 2019 that the Saudi Minister of Interior and Foreign Affairs issued the first tourist visas to visit the Kingdom. It is now the second biggest tourist destination in the Middle East. Obviously, not many US citizens traveled there during the Pandemic, but now the push is on to receive visitors from all over the world.

I have long been fascinated with the history of the Middle East. Not only does it encompass many religions, but there is an amazing network of Nabatean ruins dating from the 3rd Century BC. It wasn’t until the Roman Empire annexed it in AD 106 that the power of this ancient culture ceased to exist. They carved homes and temples into the sandstone, which can be seen today. The most famous ruin to date is Petra in Jordan. But now there is the Alula area in Saudi! Archaeologists have just started excavating various places in the Saudi desert, such as the ancient town of Hegra and the ancient oasis in the midst of this desert wasteland. It is a vast area filled with history and rare rock forms. It is so unique that there are now five deluxe hotel companies that have built hotels there, all blending in with the desert architecture.

In all the Saudi government has spent over $15 billion in structuring this fantastic place, and I, for one, have to go and see the things that they have done. Yes, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is still a conservative Muslim country, but they are letting down their barriers as they want to share their history with the world.

Snellville Police Department

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Pam Walker is a Virtuoso Travel Advisor. More information at pam@ walkeradventures.com efit from the program, and they take kids to pick out their favorite items.

If this sounds like a group you want to be part of, there’s more good news – the Snellville Police Department is looking for officers who are passionate about working with their community to make it as safe as possible. Just head to www.snellville.org/police-department to learn more about what it means to be part of the Snellville PD.

For Chief Perry, working with excellent officers is what makes his job great. “Their group is the best group by far,” he said. “They truly have hearts of service. It’s an honor to come and work with them and FOR them every day.”

It’s easy to keep up with all the places and events you can hang out with the Snellville Police Department. Just check out their Facebook and Instagram pages to hear all the latest news, including safety tips and important community updates.

“I love the people I work with and the community I serve,” said Chief Perry. “Regardless of your rank, you’re an officer first, and you can impact people’s lives in a positive way.”

More information at https://www.facebook.com/Snellville.Police, or www.snellville.org/police-department