July 2019 North Gwinnett Citizen

CITIZEN

Vol. 31 No. 9

‘Daycation’

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.COM

N o rt h

gwinnett Est. 1988 Covering Dacula, Suwanee, Lawrenceville, Buford, Sugar Hill, Braselton

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www.gwinnettcitizen.com

JULY 2019

Vaping Attention to Prevention

By Julie Thompson GwinnettCitizen.com

Estate Planning

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Twin brothers Juan and Marco Borrego are upcoming sophomores at Buford High School. Last year, they participated in NPR’s high school podcast challenge, and along the way, they’ve founded a nonprofit organization “Vaping Attention to Prevention.”

Even before the podcast challenge, the boys had noticed a growing problem at school. In the hallways, in the bathrooms and even in class, kids their age and younger were inhaling vaporized nicotine like it was candy. And many of the teachers and administrators had no idea.

“It’s a big issue in our high school, Juan, age 15, said of the habit which requires a battery run E-cigarette device often referred to as the leading brand name, “Juul” or just a “Vape”. “No one seems to know how bad vaping really is, so we researched it and decided to make that our podcast topic for the challenge.”

The Georgia Department of Health (GDH) conducted a survey showing the number of high school students in Georgia who have used E-cigarettes at least once has increased by 66 percent from 2012 to 2017. Consequently, the GDM now considers electronic cigarette use among youth is “a major health concern.”

And yet, Marco and Juan find that many of their peers and even teachers aren’t aware that vaping is a

See VAPING on Page 18 Dance contestant

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L-R: Twin brothers Marco Borrego (in blue) and Juan Borrego (in red) during a meeting with Truth Initiative.

Cindy Hong Art Exhibit, Complete Care, Buford’s Giving Voice to the Voiceless Hometown Pharmacy

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Sacred Heart Series

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INSIDE Citizen Connection 4 Gwinnett Pulse 6 Health & Wellness 12 Spiritual 19

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“The Young Girl’s Statue for Peace Memorial” stands at Blackburn Park in Brookhaven and pays homage to Comfort Women who passed as well as the survivors. On June 28, 2019, the statue’s significance was brought to life through “A Stolen Girl’s Story: Opera” and an art exhibit by Cindy Hong.

By Julie Thompson GwinnettCitizen.com Cindy Hong is an art teacher at Sugar Hill Elementary. She moved from Korea as a child and spent most of her life in Gwinnett County.

She later attended the University of Georgia, where she chose to double major in two separate art fields — Art Education and Drawing and Painting.

In 2015, Cindy witnessed something that would define her purpose as an artist. It was her sophomore year in college, and she was visiting family in Seoul when she met some of the country’s last surviving “Comfort Women.”

“Every Wednesday in front of Japanese Embassy in Seoul, these grandmothers would protest, asking the Japanese government to apologize and admit their fault.

Many of the women were ill and couldn’t move easily, but they would come every Wednesday, and young adults would join them. That’s how I learned about the Comfort Women,” said Cindy.

In WWII, approximately 200,000 young women were trafficked and enslaved. Known as “Comfort Women”, many of these girls either were kidnapped from their families or willing left under

See HONG on Page 16

Special photo

Some of the Complete Care Pharmacy staff, during their Grand Opening celebration. L-R: Guy Green, Ken Kwarteng, Mia Kwarteng and Mary Brewer.

By Julie Thompson GwinnettCitizen.com Complete Care in Buford is no ordinary pharmacy. Its approach with patients can be explained in two words - ‘complete’ and ‘care’.

With drive-through and free delivery options as well as unit dose packaging services, Complete Care offers everything from standard household medications, sterile compounding, immunizations, medical supplies to highly customized prescriptions.

The facility offers compounding services to modify medications so

they better suit patients’ individual needs including medication in alternative forms such as ointments, capsules and nasal sprays.

It’s the kind of place owner Ken Kwarteng refers to as “a neighborhood pharmacy.”

The Pharmacy is also part of the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, and Ken hopes they will become an integral part of the community.

A long-time pharmacist at Northeast Georgia Medical Hospital, Ken opened the Buford store in early June, realizing a life-long dream to

See COMPLETE on Page 10

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July 2019

Summer Energy-saving Tips for Your Home & Appliances

Matthew Holtkamp Holtkamp Heating & Air

There are many things you can do to prevent your air conditioner and other appliances from running up your energy bill in the summer.

First, consider investing in a programmable thermostat. These devices can automatically adjust the temperature while you’re out of the house or sleeping, so your air conditioner only turns on when it’s needed most. Need help with an installation and understanding how it works? We’re always here to help.

You should also get into the habit of closing curtains, blinds and shutters during the day, especially for south-facing windows. That will keep summer heat on the outside, keeping you and your family comfortable on the inside.

July 2019

Give your outdoor unit plenty of space to operate efficiently by keeping all landscaping, bushes and shrubs trimmed at least 24” inches on each side of your system.

Proper air flow leads to peak operation!

The appliances in your home also offer easy ways to cut down on your energy bills. Of course, the easiest way to cut down your energy bill is by buying new, energy-efficient appliances. Not in your budget? Try some of these home energy saving tips for appliances: • Wash full loads of laundry in the washer and full loads of dishes in the dishwasher • Turn down your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees. This will use less energy to heat the water.

• Do not over dry clothes. A moisture sensor can avoid unnecessary dry time.

• Keep your lint screen clean in your dryer.

• Separate heavier clothing into a separate load from light weight clothing. Towels take longer to dry than t-shirts.

• Ensure your refrigerator door

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has a tight seal.

• For maximum efficiency, set your refrigerator to 36 to 38 degrees and your freezer to 0 to 5 degrees.

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Finally, the best way to make sure you’re not wasting energy and driving up your power bill is to make sure your air conditioner gets a check-up from one of our profes-

sional technicians. Sometimes fixing a simple problem can result in big savings! Call us for a $78 tuneup and we’ll be on our way.

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connection

GWINNETTCITIZEN

“What is your ideal ‘daycation’ and why?”

Citizen Connection is a random sampling of opinions regarding various subjects. Visit our Facebook page to add yours and see a whole lot more!

“We’re actually going to Savannah for a day at the end of July. It’s just something to do.” ~ Octavius Freeman, Lawrenceville, Ga. (Rock Springs Park, Lawrenceville, Ga.)

“I guess a lake. Just chill beaches, connection with nature. Around here Lake Lanier, and I’ve been to a few parks around here.” ~ Luis Varela, Lawrenceville, Ga. (Rhodes Jordan Park, Lawrenceville, Ga.)

“I guess spending time with my grandson. We usually go to the park or to Billy Beez at the Mall of Georgia.” ~ Pat Cohane, Lawrenceville, Ga. (Rock Springs Park, Lawrenceville, Ga.)

“I think the ideal place is somewhere with outdoor space. A mixed-use place, I guess. With trails, playgrounds, water. Rock Springs is pretty good, and Freeman Mill Park has a waterfall and a historical building, so that’s nice because it close and a little different.” ~ Jordan Mendoza, Lawrenceville, Ga. (Rock Springs Park, Lawrenceville, Ga.)

“It would be a park like Lake Lanier with water and camping. I have a two-yearold, so it would be anything I can do outside and be a kid again and bring my son and my daughter.” ~ Aaron Borders, Snellville, Ga. (Rhodes Jordan Park, Lawrenceville, Ga.)

“We like hiking. Usually somewhere in North Georgia like Blairsville, Helen or the Blue Ridge Mountains. Recently, we went to Cloudland Canyon [near Chattanooga, Tenn.] and Helton Creek Falls [ near Blairsville, Ga.].” ~ Hunter Wilkes, Lawrenceville, Ga. (Rock Springs Park, Lawrenceville, Ga.)

“Probably somewhere like Lake Lanier where you can lay out by the water, and they have a waterpark and it’s close enough to go and come back in one day.

It’s a good family area.” ~ Torian Salary, Lawrenceville, Ga. (Rock Springs Park, Lawrenceville, Ga.)

“We like to watch football games or go to Bogan Park [in Buford, Ga.] because it’s summer and there is nice weather.” ~ Mark Zaruba, Snellville, Ga. (Rock Springs Park, Lawrenceville, Ga.)

“I like to watch soccer games, so I’d like to go to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.” ~ Carlos Varela, Maracaibo, Venezuela (Rhodes Jordan Park, Lawrenceville, Ga.)

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“Helen. It’s a place to get away from the city in the mountains and where there’s less people.” ~ Lee Nguyen, Lawrenceville, Ga. (Rhodes Jordan Park, Lawrenceville, Ga.)

gwinnettcitizen.com

“This is my ideal daycation, because I can come here with my god children, who I don’t see often, and spend time together.” ~ Madeline Quashie, Alpharetta, Ga. (Rhodes Jordan Park, Lawrenceville, Ga.)

July 2019

Rezoning opposition turns into community movement for a better Gwinnett and beyond

By Carole Townsend GwinnettCitizen.com Homeowners were stunned, outraged, dismayed by the proposed rezoning request along the 800 block of Ozora Road; to allow a waste transfer station in a heavy residential area near Tribble Mill Park and two schools.

But in coming together to show their opposition, they’ve also seen another side of their community that gives them hope, not only for this area, but for all of Gwinnett.

The land in question, about 51 acres, has been zoned R-100 (residential) since the 1970s and updated for the same this past February in Gwinnett County’s 2040 Plan. Needless to say, residents and business owners in the Grayson area, and eastern Gwinnett had serious concerns when a special use permit and M-2 (Heavy Industry) zoning was proposed for that property to be used as a waste transfer station.

While Gwinnett County only need notify nearby residents of the rezoning 15 days prior to the Planning & Zoning meeting that would have been held on July 2 (and a July 26 for the vote by the Commissioners), by a fluke incident, local homeowners caught wind of the proposal in mid-May. Jeff Allen was among one of the first to start posting and sharing his concern on social media. Larry Rose created a Facebook group. Others saw the buzz, and they shared it. And shared it. And something began to happen.

New community leaders emerged, organization and structure formed, and a communication highway emerged and caught like wildfire.

A website, a GoFundMe page, flyers, t-shirts and signs were created.

Tee shirt sales and donations have raised enough money to retain an Atlanta attorney to help in the fight.

And something else began to happen.

People were going door-to-door and assembling to spread the word about the rezoning in front of subdivisions and shopping centers.

“With only a few days’ notice [and in some cases, only a few hours’], we got six-hundred people to attend a community meeting at Graystone Church on May 23rd,” said Rose.

“Keep in mind that this was both graduation and Memorial Day weekend.

We had tee shirts, lawn signs and flyers at that meeting.” One of the busiest weeks of the year for families.

Citizens set about learning how to fight the proposed rezoning by educating themselves on county rezoning processes, waste, water and health issues. Neighbors started talking to neighbors. Business owners took notice, and many threw their support behind the opposition.

“We’ve taken notice of those that have supported us in this fight,” says Larry.

July 2019

“It’s all about the movement, about a community coming together,” said Rose. Once word about the rezoning got out, people from all walks of life came together for a cause. They were opposing heavy industrial rezoning near their schools and homes, but the movement was bigger than that.

They were linking arms to protect their community.

The 51.62 acre rezoning is large enough to be considered a development of regional impact; therefore, the Atlanta Regional Commission and county planning staff must review and weigh in on the matter. Darron Britt and Buddy Johnson, who are the listed developers, withdrew the application in late June and then met with a couple of the new leaders in opposition. They stated they be would regrouping and looking at their options to bring another rezoning request and application in the future. When and whether the matter will resurface is unknown, but area residents are ready to continue the fight.

“Historically, developers have been allowed to run amuck in Gwinnett County. People believe that their city and county leaders must know what they’re doing, so they don’t pay attention and get involved in things like this,” said Ashley Smith, a Willowwind resident and one of the leaders of the rezoning opposition. “I admit that I used to be that person, but not anymore. We’ve learned that we can make a difference, even if things like this are considered to be ‘done deals,” like so many things here in Gwinnett seem to be.”

Amanda Leftwich, another opposition leader, said, “I was clearly told that this (rezoning) was a done deal, and I said, ‘No. I want to hear something different.’” Leftwich has been a hands-on leader of the community opposition movement.

Nicole Cummings lives in Kensington Forest, and the rezoning, if approved, would bring the waste transfer station right up to her back yard. “This has touched everyone who lives here, even the children. A local daycare center, in response to this movement, has begun teaching children about protecting the environment and getting involved in the community. This is not a ‘not in my backyard issue. It’s a not-in-anybody’s backyard issue,” says Nicole.

Opposition leaders are proud of the stance that thousands are taking against a plan that, in their view, would negatively impact the community and county. They are even more proud of all the good that has come from the swell of support.

When a woman from Owen County, Indiana, faced a similar rezoning near her neighborhood, she sought the Facebook Group for help. Larry Rose spoke with her on the phone, and she later posted in the Group, “Thanks to of you who responded to my request and armed me with good

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Caption for photo with a whiteboard in the background: Leaders in the movement to oppose the rezoning on Ozora Rd. L-R: Larry Rose, Jeff Allen, Nicole Cummings, Amanda Leftwich, Robyn Mauck and Ashley Smith.

information, we were able to persuade our zoning board to decline [the rezoning].” According to Larry Rose, they mean to maintain the Facebook Group as a resource and for advocacy purposes for Gwinnett and beyond.

“We learned that we can take a stand and make a difference,” said Robin Mauck, another leader of the opposition. “We learned how to communicate important news, using social media and e-mail,” added Rose.

These “newborn” community leaders learned quickly how to communicate and get things done at both the county and state level. They learned how to mobilize and equip their communi-

gwinnettcitizen.com

ty to effect change. And perhaps most important, neighbors of differing political views, diverse races and ethnicities, men, women and even children, rose up in a common cause.

“This has shown that community is stronger than partisan politics,” said Jeff Allen.

What none of them saw coming were the friendships that would emerge out of it. For some, it was an opportunity to cross their mailboxes and talk with their neighbors. In the case of Robin and Jeff Allen, a nearby resident who became an active opposition leader, it rekindled an old friendship from when they worked togeth-

er on a local school council. Others learned they had attended high school together. And just like that, the town of sidewalk and brick seemed like a community of people.

Energized and enthused, these individuals know they have each other’s backs. Together they mean to keep a watch on what happens in the county and are prepared to fight any rezoning that will place waste stations in residential areas.

FB: Stop the waste transfer station on Ozora Road!

Web: www.stopozorarezoning.com GoFundMe: Stop the waste transfer

on Ozora Road!

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Gwinnett Pulse

Ticket to Work program helps those with long-term disability re-enter the workforce

By Julie Thompson GwinnettCitizen.com Julie Chapman loved her job as a fourth-grade teacher. She’d been teaching elementary school for more than 20 years, but in late 2017, she realized her role was in jeopardy.

That December, Chapman was diagnosed with cancer. It was her second time battling the disease, and she already knew what she’d be facing in the upcoming months. Between the chemo and radiation treatments, the doctor appointments and “everything that goes with being sick,” she’d have to give up teaching, indefinitely.

“Chemo is just a beast in and of itself, but for me, as an elementary school teacher, I just don’t have the stamina,” Chapman said. “Plus, it wipes out your white blood cell count which can compromise your immune system, and a school is one of the top places for spreading germs. Going back to work would be like working in a dish of germs.”

The first time she battled cancer, Chapman attempted to go back to work after completing a combination of radiation and chemotherapies. Only a few days after returning to work, Chapman got strep throat and realized because of her immune system, it was impossible to keep working.

“I was trying so hard to continue to get paid as much as I could, and that just did not work,” Chapman recalled.

The second time around, she knew better. In 2017, the cancer came back in her lungs, and Chapman was approved for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) when it was clear she would not be able to work for more than 12 months. Even though she had paid for the disability insurance through her FICA payroll taxes, Chapman was hesitant to accept the financial assistance SSDI provided, but knowing she couldn’t work and there was no other choice.

Then, Allsup called. As an authorized employment network that partners with Social Security Administration (SSA), they would act as her personal representative in communicating with the SSA. And if she was up for it, they would include her in the SSA Ticket-to-Work program so she could start easing her way back into the workforce.

Senior Vice President Mary Dale Walters explained how the private company works.

“There are two companies under Allsup. One is a disability representation organization that help those eligible obtain their Social Security benefits. For those who get their SSDI benefits, we can help them with the option of trying to work again through the Ticket to Work program. About 52 percent of our clients want to go back to work,” said Walters.

Allsup turned out to be a game-changer for Chapman. She was concerned that if she started working part-time, she would be cut off from SSDI. But they assured her that for a set period of time she would be able to continue receiving financial benefits as

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gwinnettcitizen.com

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Julie Chapman and her husband Mitch.

she eased back into the workplace.

Like Chapman, most of Allsup’s clients have physical setbacks. Many are injured while working in highly physical roles such as a firefighter or a plumber. Others battle a progressive disease that finally affects their ability to continue working. In many cases, these clients may never have the strength to return to their previous position, and Allsup aids by assessing the individuals’ skillsets, helping them prepare for a job search and helping place them in a field where their skills can make a difference.

“In our model, we manage aspirational statements to help people establish tangible goals,” Walters explained Allsup’s return to work process.

“Many of us tend to think of ourselves as a certain job. That’s our identity. But often, we have skills that can be transferred to other types of work”.

Giving an example, she continued, “So, you think of a nurse with 35-plus years of experience. They understand the challenges patients have, treatment plans and medical records. They may make excellent case managers who can work via telephone for an insurance company. That’s a position where they don’t have to be on their feet as much and is less physically demanding.”

Getting back to the classroom remains Chapman’s end goal. Throughout her career, she’s worked at two schools and hopes to pick up where she left off at an elementary school in Hall County.

“This year, I was hired as a parttime para-pro and next year they have a position for me to go back to parttime teaching,” Chapman said. “And then, hopefully a year after that, I’ll be back to full-time teaching.”

With Allsup’s assistance, that goal is becoming tangible. Chapman admits the company has relieved a huge stress by dealing with Social Security so she can focus on her health.

“You know when you’re going through all of this — the paperwork, the doctor visits, the treatments — it’s just all pretty overwhelming. And, oh my gosh! I have to deal with Social Security and with all the paperwork that goes with that, but Allsup prepared all of it,” Chapman said. “It’s been great.

Allsup does all the legwork in order to

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Julie Chapman and her student Elise Hutchinson with a sign the students made after she returned from chemo.

communicate with Social Security, so you do get back some financial assistance.”

Only a few months ago, Social Security called Chapman saying she needed to turn in paperwork by the next day or her SSDI benefits would be cut off.

“It sounded like a scam, but she had my case number, and she left her name. Allsup took it from there, and, I tell you what, in 24 hours, they had that resolved. They had sent the paperwork over and they had the paperwork to fix it. And that was tremendous for me.”

Life has by no means gotten easy for Chapman. Even working part-time and receiving SSDI, her income is much less than what it was when she was a full-time teacher. But she now has hope that her life will return to some state of normalcy.

“Above all, I want to be very honest about where I am with my disability . . . because the second time going through the surgeries and the chemo took a lot out of me. And at 56-yearsold, I don’t know if I’ll ever be totally normal again with my stamina.”

To others who face debilitating injuries and disabilities, Chapman has a few words of advice.

“Keep the faith,” Chapman said.

“And if you have the ability to work with Allsup, I cannot put into words the emotional support that I got from them. My husband and I both had so much running through our heads . . . and they took the burden of working with Social Security to make sure I could get my disability benefits through them. They were fabulous about taking that burden off of me, and they took care of everything that had to be done. So, I would highly encourage anybody that could use Allsup to use them.”

Allsup is a specialized disability service with representatives who are trained to work with those seeking disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Allsup has been in business for over 35 years and has helped over 325,000 individuals receive the Social Security disability benefits they deserve. To learn more, visit https://www.truehelp.com.

July 2019

Estate Planning: Ask The Right Questions And Don’t Overlook The Details

James Miskell

Estate Planning

To begin planning your estate is to think through the intricacies of your life, to think about your values and your family. But there is nitty-gritty you might be overlooking: the financial, the legal, and the shared understandings. Make time to consider what you might be overlooking before planning in earnest.

Easily overlooked details can be discovered by following some simple guidelines: Estate Planning documents and beneficiary designations should be kept up to date; both you and your spouse should know the location of all financial accounts and have the information to access them; and both you and your spouse should participate in regular

July 2019

updates from your financial advisor.

These guidelines are only a start, but a solid one, especially for married couples. Following them is a natural lead-in to conversations you may not have realized you needed to have.

You should discuss who will be acting on your behalf as your agents, those people who represent your interests through a power of attorney, will or trust. Picking the wrong people can frustrate your plans, whether due to lack of capability, dedication or trustworthiness. You need to ensure that only the right people hold your durable power of attorney or serve as executor or trustee. Attempting to maintain equal footing and prevent hurt feelings among heirs can often lead to chaos. Some people are better suited for certain duties and it is not a comment on your love for or value of your heirs to make wise choices. Explaining the reasoning behind your choices while you are alive and allowing heirs to work through their emotional reactions now--without the stress of imminent decision making--will ensure a smooth execution of your wishes and lessen the possibility of poor decision making by your heirs.

And of course, you will also discuss your inheritance – choosing who will benefit from your estate.

“A plan for your estate that’s not committed to paper is no plan at all.”

Money can be easily divided among your beneficiaries in any proportions that you believe are appropriate. In contrast, it can be more difficult to plan for the disposition of particular objects. Oftentimes, physical items are difficult to split up. For example, you can’t simply tear the painting in half, divide a book, or even realistically split a set of china.

How you split up priceless family artifacts and other physical goods can start a fight, or, if thoughtfully done ahead of time, end fights before they happen. This is a topic worth discussing with your heirs and beneficiaries. That way everyone can express what things they may want and why. Family heirlooms represent an emotional connection that may even be more important to family members than financial assets. The estate you leave is not just about money it is also about the memories and shared values that hold families together.

Having the right conversations

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is only the beginning. A plan for your estate that’s not committed to paper is no plan at all. Determining your priorities and goals for your estate plan should then dictate the structure of your plan and the creation of the documents required to make it a reality. It takes a great deal of training to properly structure an estate plan. That’s why you consult competent and experienced legal counsel.

The critical first step, however, is starting the right conversations with

your spouse and family members.

Then continue the conversation with competent counsel who can guide you, your spouse and all of your loved ones in building the right plan to achieve your unique important goals.

James M. Miskell received his law degree from the University of Georgia in 1993. His Asset Protection, Estate Planning and Elder Law practice has offices located in Lawrenceville and Johns Creek. He offers educational workshops and free consultations to assist clients as well as fellow professionals in creating individualized solutions. Visit his website: www.LetsTalkEstatePlanning.com. For more information, see his ad in this issue.

DO YOU HAVE AN EVENT TO PROMOTE? We offer free event postings via our online calendar.

Upload your event today at gwinnettcitizen.com/events/calendar We offer promotional space for purchase in our printed edition, including a non-profit discount.

Email us at advertising@gwinnettcitizen.com for a quote.

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Power Up your Shades

Joan Miller

The Blind Ladies

When was the last time you pulled up in front of your garage, got out of your car, manually opened the garage-door, got back in your car, drove your car into the garage, and then manually closed it again? When was the last time you got out of your chair, walked up to your TV, and changed the channel?

For many years now we have done these simple tasks with the push of a button. What about window coverings?

More and more conveniences are now available with the trend moving in the direction of Smart Homes. With Tablet or Smart Phone and Wi-Fi, our heating and air-conditioning, our alarm systems, lighting, and on and on can be controlled automatically by pre-setting

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specific times of day to operate without even touching a button. We can even answer the doorbell remotely without being home.

The ability to operate shades according to a schedule is a simple operation. Enter the times of day into your app and it’s done! For those who travel frequently, it’s a way to make your home appear occupied.

You can program shades to lower when the sun hits the windows or when you turn out the lights at night. Raise the shades after you leave for work when it’s still dark.

The window automation technology integrates with Alexa and other Smart Home devices.

No longer are high windows the only ones that are remotely controlled. Automated Blinds, Shades, and even Plantation Shutters have become a part of many homes in recent years. Another benefit is that they are completely child-safe, having no exposed cords. The window covering industry has come under intense scrutiny because of the strangulation hazards of some corded products. No worries with motorized products.

For more information or for a complimentary consultation, please give Joan a call. 404 918-5288 or visit www.theblindladies.com

Chiggers can cause misery during the summer months Many pests can trouble people such as hornets, mosquitoes, and ticks, however, one that is often overlooked are chiggers. Their bites cause intense itching and being small in size, often people who encounter these organisms are not aware of their presence. If you have never experienced chigger bites consider yourself lucky.

Chiggers go by many names. In some areas of the country, they are known as “Red Bugs.” They are several related species of mites, which are arachnids like spiders, ticks and scorpions, not insects. They have eight legs.

The tiny adult mite spends the winter near the soil in sheltered areas. In early spring they lay eggs, which hatch into the small parasitic larval form. This life stage of chiggers is the only point in their life cycle where they feed on humans and animals. The small orange to red larva crawls around on the soil surface until a host is found. In addition to humans, they feed on small mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians.

Chiggers prefer to attach themselves to areas of the human body where clothing fits tightly, or the skin is thin.

That makes ankles, waistlines, knees, and armpits favorite feeding locations.

Contrary to what you may have heard, the tiny chiggers do not burrow into the skin. Instead, they suck fluids from the host, where they inject a di-

gwinnettcitizen.com

Tim Daly

Gwinnett County Extension Agent gestive enzyme that liquefies the tissue of the host, which causes an allergic response so that it is quickly sucked up by the chigger. If not disturbed, the chigger will finish feeding within three to four days and will drop from the host.

Itching from chigger bites usually starts within four to six hours. Frequently the chigger is scratched away before it finishes feeding, but the itching sensation will continue until the body neutralizes the digestive enzyme and repairs the damaged tissue, which could take as long as two weeks in some individuals.

Scratching a chigger bite, of course, can also lead to secondary infections of the wound.

Chiggers are most often found in low lying damp areas that have lots of vegetation such as small shrubs, and

small trees, and including blackberry thickets, which seem especially attractive to them. One of the easiest methods of reducing chigger infestations is to clear brush and mow the area carefully to eliminates the protective cover and moisture they need to survive.

Chemicals can also be used for chigger control. Products that contain bifenthrin, Cyfluthrin, Deltamethrin, Permethrin, and others can be helpful.

Always be sure to read and follow all label directions when using any pesticide to control chiggers. Repellents that contain the chemical DEET may be used on clothes when venturing into chigger-infested areas.

After visiting a likely chigger habitat, be sure to take a thorough shower.

A warm shower with plenty of scrubbing will dislodge many chiggers before they have a chance to feed. Check with your pharmacist for over-the-counter products that will help relieve itching.

Don’t fall victim to these tiny terrors this year. To reduce the chances you will encounter chiggers, control vegetation to eliminate their habitat and apply insect repellents. Thus, these tactics will reduce the likelihood you will suffer from their bites.

Timothy Daly is an Agricultural and Natural Resource Extension Agent with UGA Extension Gwinnett. He can be contacted at 678-377-4011or tdaly@uga.edu.

July 2019

Brodie Mullin competes in Atlanta Music contest

Kirby Smart, The Golden

By Julie Thompson GwinnettCitizen.com He’ll steal sandwiches directly from your hand. And keys. And butter from off the counter.

The day of the butter incident was like any ordinary day in the Leftwich household. Kirby Smart the Golden was up to his usual mischief, and when his humans left the room, he jumped on the counter, devouring an entire pack of KerryGold butter.

His humans caught it all on their security camera and sent the footage to the company who proceeded to send him cases of butter and cheese of his own so he wouldn’t have to steal.

But Kirby’s habit of swiping food persists. As his human, Amanda Leftwich, says, “When people meet him, they think he’s sweet and innocent, but he’s a thief!” So, neighbors be warned, Kirby Smart, an English Cream Golden Retriever, is a trickster!

Since adopting the pup last September from Calhoun, Ga., Amanda has had a hard time keeping track of her shoes and even house keys.

“I had been missing my spare for weeks, and one day Kirby walks in from the yard with the keys — he had them in his mouth!”

But he’s as lovable as he is uncouth. To the Leftwich family, Kirby came at just the right time — tricks and all. Conrad, their family dog of eight years had passed from cancer.

Their two boys had grown up with Conrad, and something was missing in their lives. Then along came Kirby, and he filled that space in a way only animal lovers will ever understand.

They say, the size turtles can grow to is dependent on the size of their habitat. Where sea turtles can grow to weigh a ton due to the spaciousness of their environment, in the case of Kirby Smart, his personality is only as large as the attention he receives from his humans and their capacity to love.

With a large backyard and a swimming pool which Kirby enjoys diving into and splashing around with the boys, Amanda calls her home ‘Dog Heaven.’

“We don’t treat dogs like pets.

We treat dogs like family, and so when someone comes over and doesn’t like him on the couch, we’ll just say, ‘Well, it’s his house!’”

After Halloween, Kirby’s flamboyance took on a life of its own through social media. Kirby was named after Kirby Smart, the Georgia Football coach, and so Amanda decided to dress him up as his doppelganger for Halloween. The photo, posted on Instagram, received 152 likes, and his account has close to 1,000 followers. Not bad for a fur ball.

“He definitely has some human-like characteristics and it’s become larger than life through social media,” Amanda said.

July 2019

By Staff Reports

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Kirby is good dog who does bad things, and he came into the lives of the Leftwich family at just the right time.

Kirby loves to swim with his humans.

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With humans who treat him more like family than a pet, Kirby Smart lives in “Dog Heaven.”

Conrad had quite the following, too, but it wasn’t until after he passed that she thought about what that meant.

“There’s something to be said for those dog posts on Instagram and Facebook. It’s a good break from everyday things. Dogs are like natural therapists. They have the ability to heal. And on social media, it’s something anybody can hop on

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and understand.”

Kirby’s journey with the Leftwich family can be traced scrolling through his Instagram. One of the first posts is of him as a small pup, drinking beside Conrad’s bowl. “I plan on being a big swimmer just like [Conrad]” the caption reads.

Kirby grows bigger in the pictures, and his voice becomes distinctly his own as his antics are posted more frequently through videos and meme-like images.

He had big shoes to fill — with a name like Kirby Smart that was inevitable. But the thing about Kirby is, he prefers to steal shoes, anyway.

He wears costumes on Halloween. He swims in the pool with his humans. Glasses and eyewear are some of his favorite chew toys. Kirby Smart is a ‘good dog that does bad things’, and he came at just the right time.

Follow Kirby on Instagram @kirbysmart_the_golden

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A local seventh grader’s dance moves and a passion for performing could propel him into the spotlight of a national competition show.

Brodie Mullin, a Suwanee resident, is hoping to make it to the top in a music contest held at the Vista Room in Atlanta on Thursday, August 22.

Brodie, a hip hop dancer from Suwanee, was selected as a contestant in the Atlanta Celebration of Music and could win with the help of his peers’ votes.

The Celebration of Music contest began two years ago and showcases young people’s musical talents across America, including singers, dancers, musicians, and bands between the ages of 4 and 25.

The Celebration of Music was inspired by Ethan Botnick, an American singer, songwriter, composer, pianist, musician, and actor who became the youngest artist to have his own PBS concert special, “The Power of Music.”

“There are so many talented musicians in Atlanta, I am excited to be performing with them. It would be awesome if I win, but if I don’t, it’s still a great experience,” Brodie said.

Brodie’s love for dance began at an early age watching “So You Think You Can Dance.” He currently attends All Stars Performing Arts in Sugar Hill, Georgia. His love for entertaining people has brought him to this point. He loves performing on stage. Awards for dance include 1st place at the Kids Got Talent Showcase for ages 9-12 for hip hop dance. He also won 2nd place for Gwinnett County Dance Choreography in 2018 and 1st place in 2017. Brodie recently performed at the Knock Music House in Atlanta, Georgia and will be performing at the Tower of Talent in October.

The Tower of Talent is a fundraiser for the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. When he heard about the Celebration of Music, his dance teachers, Jared and Aaron James formerly of Royal Flush (America’s Best Dance Crew competitors themselves), who have been an inspiration to him, encouraged him to audition.

“Two winners will go to Los Angeles to perform in a show that will be aired on PBS nationwide.

This is a great opportunity for Brodie and we are looking for community support as one winner is selected based on votes. The other winner is selected by the producers,” said Brodie’s mom, Stacy.

The winners compete against the nation’s best and will be introduced to music managers and contacts. If

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Brodie Mullin is a hip-hop dancer from Suwanee.

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Brodie Mullin was selected to compete in the Atlanta Celebration of Music Contest. The top two contestants will go on to Los Angeles to perform in a show aired on PBS.

the Atlanta show is sold out, PBS will air the local competition live across the United States and beyond.

“I am honored that I was given this opportunity to share my dance and I hope that I can inspire others to follow their dreams too,” Brodie said.

Do you want to help?

To help Brodie land a spot on the show, vote for him at https:// celebrationofmusic.com/br odie-mullin To purchase tickets for the show, visit https://www.bigtickets.com/e/thevistaroom/celebration-of-music/

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COMPLETE continued from page 1 own his own pharmacy. “We couldn’t ask for a better location than this!”

Ken said of his pharmacy at 4050 Buford Dr., located near the intersection with Satellite Blvd. “This is my first time opening a pharmacy, and I’ve always wanted to do it. I guess you could say it’s a dream come true.”

As the youngest in a family of medical professionals, Ken’s career followed a straight and narrow path.

“My father told me, we have a doctor in the family, and you will be the Special photo family pharmacist so if I get sick, your brother will diagnose me, and Complete Care Pharmacy which you will give me medicine.” From recently opened in Buford, is part of the then on, his father’s wish became Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce. his own, and Ken set his mind on becoming the best pharmacist he family. He has three children; His first daughter graduated from Vancould be.

After receiving his degree from derbilt University where she studied Long Island University at the Brook- Epidemiology and Biostatistics and lyn College of Pharmacy in New the youngest in high school at TalluYork, Ken moved south to raise his lah Falls in North Georgia.

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Complete Care Pharmacy owner Ken Kwarteng and his daughter, Mia Kwarteng, at the Grand Opening Celebration. Mia is in high school and enjoys seeing her dad bring his dream to life in opening his own pharmacy.

This neighborhood pharmacy adds another level of customization with the Clean Room machine specifically designed with compartmentalized spaces with controlled temperatures to store sterile medications, IV infusions and prepared antibiotics for infusion. These are rare to find in traditional retail pharmacies however, the demand for these kinds of medications are on the rise in recent time.

Ken pointed out that often patients are discharged from the hospital as soon as they are stabilized, but they may need some IV or infusion medications and antibiotics to fully recover, else would end up back in the hospital. “The Clean Room enhances our ability to do just that for them here and ensures those medications are stored in ideal conditions,” Ken said.

Ken and his staff work to fill the needs of patients across the spectrum of healthcare needs. He considers their team, “a first line of defense” as they provide a complete ‘arsenal’ of standard household medicines, vaccinations and flu-shots to

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On June 19, 2019, the Complete Care Pharmacy staff was joined by friends, supporters and neighbors who came to celebrate the Grand Opening of Buford’s true neighborhood pharmacy.

highly specified prescriptions.

Complete Care offers solutions for hospice patients, infants and many others who need to adjust their medications, while saving them a trip to a doctor. And for those taking Hormone Replacement Therapy, Complete Care can provide specialized doses of estrogen or testosterone as well as medical vitamin supplements in sterile form.

The Complete Care staff includes pharmacists and skilled technicians. They are accepting applications for all positions including pharmacists, technicians and drivers to expand their free delivery service.

Guy Green, is a fulltime pharmacist at Complete Care who graduated from UGA’s school of Pharmacy.

He grew up in the “one traffic light town” of Breman, Ga. and moved to Gwinnett in the 80s. In the following decades, he worked at various retail pharmacies before he met Ken. “Going into a chain store just isn’t the same,” said Guy. “Here you’ll get more relationship-based service.

That’s what really differentiates us from our competitors.” “We’ve got a special niche for what we do, and we have options to do things a little different from traditional retail pharmacies,” said Guy, affirming that they provide medications for pets as well.

“Helping people to be compliant with what their medical doctors prescribes is what we we’re most needed for. After they’re stabilized, we make sure they’re doing what the doctor asks and not missing doses.

In turn, that controls disease and ensures that people are healthier,” Guy added of their greater role in Gwinnett’s healthcare industry.

Playing double duty as both an entrepreneur and hospital pharmacist, Ken has gleaned invaluable in-

sight into the kind of care patients need, and it’s what he considers the best of both worlds. He’s witnessed the increasing need for professional healthcare and limited capacity to meet the demand. That’s why he believes there is a growing need for true neighborhood pharmacies.

“As a pharmacy, we are very accessible,” Ken said. “We are the first line of defense in the professional healthcare industry for people to come in and consult. You don’t need an appointment to benefit from our wide range of knowledge. You can tell us your symptoms, and we can help you find the right medication right there and then, so we are definitely the most accessible of healthcare professionals.”

Remarking on Complete Care’s forthcoming role in Gwinnett, Sandy Richardson of the Chamber of Commerce stated, “People often come to Gwinnett for two reasons. The education system and health care. I have to say from the bottom of my heart, that this absolutely enhances that health care landscape.”

As far as payment options, the staff works with customers on a budget. Most forms of insurance are accept and have an extensive database to find almost any plan. For those who do not have insurance, Complete Care also offers reduced price payment options.

Visitors are welcome to come by the store during business hours, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The staff can be reached by phone at (678) 288-9798 or by email at info@theCompleteCarerx.com Visit Complete Care online at www. theComplete Carerx.com.

July 2019

Two Gwinnett students win $8,000 GeorgiaPacific scholarships

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Brookwood High School graduate Allen Moore and Dacula High School graduate Tabitha D’Amato have won $8,000 college scholarships from Georgia‐Pacific.

They are pictured with Georgia‐Pacific President and CEO Christian Fischer.

More than $12 Million Awarded Since Program Inception

By Staff Reports Atlanta, June 18, 2018 Allen Moore, a recent graduate of Brookwood High School in Snellville, and Tabitha D’Amato, a recent graduate of Dacula High School, have been selected to receive a Georgia-Pacific Foundation Employees’ Children Scholarship. Both plan to study aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech.

Allen is the son of Paul and Elizabeth Moore. Mr. Moore is a senior IT manager for Georgia-Pacific.

At Brookwood High School, Allen lettered in Marching Band in four straight years, was a member of the National Honor Society, and participated in the 2018 National Science Olympiad.

Tabitha is the daughter of David and Samantha D’Amato. Mrs. D’Amato is a senior manager of business analysis for Georgia-Pacific. At Dacula High School, Tabitha was a member of the National Honor Society, earned the Director’s Award for the school chorus, and the Coaches and Leadership Awards for football Cheerleading.

The Georgia-Pacific Foundation Scholarship Program for Employees’ Children awards $2,000 per year for up to four years of full‐time college

undergraduate study or until baccalaureate degree requirements are completed, whichever occurs first, for a total maximum award of $8,000.

This year, Georgia-Pacific awarded $384,000, which will be distributed to 48 students across the country.

Since the scholarship program began in 1988, Georgia-Pacific has awarded nearly 1,600 scholarships totaling more than $12 million. The program is administered by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and is open to children of all active, full-time employees of Georgia-Pacific in the United States. More than 200 applications were received this year.

“Georgia-Pacific is very proud to offer this scholarship program to our employees’ children,” said Curley M. Dossman, Jr., president of the Georgia-Pacific Foundation.

“The students’ hard work, academic achievements and perseverance are a reflection of their promising futures – we wish them continued success in the next phase of their academic careers.”

Education is a cornerstone of Georgia‐Pacific’s community investment. Across the country, the company supports a wide array of community-based educational programs including ones that boost literacy, inspire children to pursue STEAM fields and train educators so they can take their skills to the next level.

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July 2019

August Adult Programming Events FREE N-400 NATURALIZATION APPLICATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM Friday, August 2 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm Lawrenceville Branch 1001 Lawrenceville Highway, Lawrenceville 30046 Tuesday, August 13 from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm Lawrenceville Branch 1001 Lawrenceville Highway, Lawrenceville 30046 Friday, August 16 from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm Lilburn Branch 4817 Church Street, Lilburn 30047 Legal permanent residents will be offered free legal assistance with filling out the N400 citizenship application form. This event is free and on a first come, first served basis.

SMALL BIZ MARKETING SERIES: AUTOMATE YOUR MARKETING Registration required: gwinnettpl.org/calendar Tuesday, August 6 at 6:00 pm Suwanee Branch 361 Main Street, Suwanee 30024 Join Stephanie Sokenis, an accredited small business consultant from SmallBiz Ally, to learn how to automate your marketing to save you time and result in more highly engaged subscribers.

MEET NATIONALLY KNOWN SPEAKER, ACTIVIST, AND AUTHOR TERENCE LESTER Thursday, August 8 at 7:30 pm Suwanee Branch 361 Main Street, Suwanee 30024 Terence Lester is the founder of the non-profit Love Beyond Walls and is a leader in the realm of systemic poverty. He is known for his nationwide campaigns that bring awareness to issues surrounding homelessness, poverty, and economic inequality. He has authored four books and his latest is titled, I See You: How Love Opens Our Eyes to Invisible People.

Meets the 2nd Wednesday of every month Wednesday, August 14 at 1:00 pm Buford Branch 2100 Buford Highway, Buford 30518 Meet with experts on Veterans resources. Discuss your needs and get real help on filing VA claims, medical care, housing, and job resources. Newly discharged or senior retirees welcome!

FALL VEGETABLE GARDENING Registration requested at gwinnettpl.org/calendar/ Thursday, August 15 at 6:30 pm Suwanee Branch 361 Main Street, Suwanee 30024 Join Tim Daly, from UGA Extension Gwinnett, and learn which type of vegetables thrive in cooler weather and the minimal maintenance needed for a successful harvest.

FIRST TIME HOME BUYER WORKSHOP Registration requested at gwinnettpl.org/calendar/ Saturday, August 17 at 11:00 am Lawrenceville Branch 1001 Lawrenceville Highway, Lawrenceville 30046 Join Yudenia Guerra, a real estate expert, to get on the path to home ownership! This program is designed to identify first time homebuyers who may not know they qualify for a home loan and down payment assistance on a county and statewide level. Learn about the steps to homeownership and receive guidance through the home buying process.

WATER WORKSHOP: FIX-ALEAK Saturday, August 17 at 11:00 am Five Forks Branch 2780 Five Forks Trickum Road, Lawrenceville 30044 Representatives from the Gwinnett County Water Department will discuss ways to make common plumbing repairs around the house.

FREE water conservation kit for indoor and outdoor use for all attendees!

DUAL ENROLLMENT - EARN FREE COLLEGE CREDIT IN HIGH SCHOOL In partnership with Gwinnett Technical College Tuesday, August 20 at 6:30 pm Collins Hill Branch 455 Camp Perrin Road, Lawrenceville 30043 Learn about this tuition-free program that includes free courses online or on campus, free textbooks, the ability to earn an Associate’s Degree while in high school, credits that transfer to University System of Georgia colleges, and more.

FOSTER PARENT INFO SESSION Thursday, August 29 at 6:30 pm Norcross Branch 6025 Buford Highway, Norcross 30071 Join the Gwinnett Division of Children Services to learn how to become a Foster Parent. Help children in your community who are victims of their circumstances. These children are in great need of compassionate, committed, and caring people like you.

AARP DEFENSIVE SMART DRIVER COURSE In partnership with AARP Reservations requested: events@gwinnettpl.org Tuesday, August 13 from 10:30 am - 5:00 pm Suwanee Branch 361 Main Street, Suwanee 30024 Learn defensive driving techniques and how to compensate for age-related changes in vision, hearing, and reaction time. Cost is $15 for AARP members (bring your card) and $20 for nonmembers - cash or check only. Pay at the door. Please bring a drink and a bag lunch.

VETERANS ROUNDTABLE In partnership with Goodwill Industries of North Georgia

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Health, Beauty & Wellness Tips to tell if your athletic shoes are the right fit Sure they’re cute, but what about support?

Beyond knowing your shoe size, most of us don’t give too much thought to the details of feet, like their shape or how they move. And most of the time these factors don’t really matter when picking out shoes. However, athletic shoes are a whole different story.

You have to consider whether or not your feet are wide or narrow, whether you have a high arch or are flat footed, and let’s not forget about pronation (how your foot rolls). Anyway, you get the point—there are an endless number of factors to consider when picking out athletic shoes.

So where do you start? Kristie Delgado, MS, GMC’s Fitness Specialist provides some helpful tips: Try some on.

But first, let’s get one common myth out of the way: shoes do not break in over time. If shoes don’t fit comfortably the first time you try them on, put them back and try on

another pair—don’t wait for them to become comfortable.

Plus, when you choose to try on shoes can also be a deal breaker.

That’s because your feet are actually different sizes throughout the day.

Because of this, it’s best to wait until the end of the day, when your feet are their largest. And while it may not sound especially fun to go shoe shopping when you’re sweaty, it’s even better if you can try on athletic shoes post-workout, so you know how they’ll fit when your feet are swollen.

Find your fit.

• Buy a shoe one-half inch longer than your longest toe. “This could be as much as 1-1.5 sizes larger than your normal size,” explains Delgado.

• The forefoot should not be crowded. Be sure your toes can extend by wiggling them around. “That means you should be able to lift them up, and spread them out,” says Delgado. “Ditch any shoe

that forces your toes to stay together.”

• Be sure there’s a snug fit around the heel of the shoe. “Remember, sometimes simply lacing the shoe differently can correct this,” notes Delgado.

• Your feet expand when bearing weight, so stand when your feet are measured. “Even better, do a few of the exercises you’ll be using the shoes for, whether that is running, jumping, or squatting, to check how they fit while you move,” emphasizes Delgado.

• In many people, 1 foot is larger than the other. Shoes should be fitted to your longer and wider foot. Although the toe box should be roomy, too much space can make your feet slide. This causes blisters.

Heel to Toe: Keeping You On The Go While it can be slightly overwhelming to pick out the perfect pair of athletic shoes, not to mention

find your perfect exercise routine, the experts at GMC’s Fitness & Performance Center can help. From answering common questions and helping you to overcome exercise obstacles to treating common inju-

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ries and helping you reach your fitness goals, you can count on GMC’s Sports Medicine Program.

Learn more by visiting gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/sports.

Truth’s Community Clinic receives Grant from Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation Funds will help Gwinnett County health clinic reach a struggling patient population

By Staff Reports Truth’s Community Clinic, a Lawrenceville, Ga., non-profit healthcare organization, was recently awarded a $60,000 grant from the Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation. The

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money will be used for operating expenses, to pay for referrals to medical specialists, and to fund pharmacy supplies.

Truth’s Community Clinic provides non-emergency primary care, including medical, dental and pharmaceutical services, to low-income families in the east Gwinnett County area. Patients with insurance or Medicaid are not accepted.

Although healthcare services at the clinic are free, a $20 donation is suggested to help defray expenses.

“This generous grant will allow us to expand our efforts to reach a

struggling patient population,” said Clinic Director Scarlett Rigsby, who noted that some of the money will be used to purchase asthma inhalers in honor of one of the clinic’s former patients, a 39-year-old woman who died from the disease last year. “Poverty and illness are inextricably linked, and low-income patients suffer disproportionately.

We are grateful to the Foundation for supporting our mission to provide compassionate and quality care to those who otherwise would not be able to afford it. This is an investment in both the health of individuals and the health of our community.”

Since 2005, the Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation has awarded more than $48 million dollars to healthcare-related nonprofit organizations and programs in Georgia. Organizations receiving the grants represent some of the most effective and efficient providers of health services in the state and demonstrate excellent service to those in need.

Truth’s Community Clinic was founded in 2003 and serves Lawrenceville, Dacula and surrounding communities with non-emergency primary care. It partners with Nothing but the Truth, a faithbased organization that assists struggling families in Gwinnett County through its food and housing ministries and community outreach events. The clinic is located at 250 Langley Drive in Lawrenceville. For more information, visit www.truthsclinic.org.

July 2019

July 2019

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13

Your Green: Inflation and Your Retirement

Roger Green, MSFS,CFP ® Green Financial Resources

Inflation is something frequently overlooked in retirement planning. Inflation can be defined as an overall upward price movement of goods and services in our economy as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), and it is what makes most things cost more today than they did in prior years. Because ongoing inflation increases the cost of goods and ser vices, it takes away the buying power of your money.

You will need more money to live on in the future than you need currently to maintain your standard of living, and this is ver y important to keep in mind when setting goals for retirement.

After hitting numbers like

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13.4% inflation in 1980 and 5.2% in 1991, inflation had been trending downward from its most recent peak of 3.6% in 2011. But after dipping to 0.4% in 2015, it is now again on the rise. Inflation was at 1.00% in 2016, 2.14% for 2017, and then hit 2.5% for 2018. The 2019 projection is for around 2.0%. (Statista 2019).

The average annual inflation from 1990 through 2018 was 2.46%, but the total cumulative inflation for the 28 years from January 1990 through December 2018 is 102.46% (InflationData.com).

This rate of inflation means something that cost $100 in Januar y of 1990 would cost over $200 in December of 2018 - in other words prices more than doubled (i.e. purchasing power fell by half) and that is what happens at relatively “low” inflation rates.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics website calculator, if you look back further to the span between January 1956 and December 2018, inflation was much higher, making what you could buy for $100 back in 1956 cost you over $930 in May 2019. To drive home this point, depending on your age, you may now be driving a car that

cost more than your first home!

Why is this important to your retirement planning?

Inflation turns your retirement goals into moving targets. You want to be able to afford the things you need and want in retirement, often years in the future; so inflation must be accounted for in your planning.

What must you always do to hit a moving target? You must lead the target to hit the target. There is a useful financial tool, called the “Rule of 72” that can be used to help you calculate how many years it will take for prices to double, based on the current inflation rates.

To apply this rule, you divide 72 by the inflation rate. For example, 72 divided by 3% average inflation equals = 24. This means it would take 24 years for prices to double based on an average 3% inflation rate. If the average was 4%, then it would only take 18 years for this to occur.

Applying the Rule of 72 and this example to your retirement planning, you could say that if you are 24 years from an age 65 retirement (age 41), you would need double the annual income you calculate in

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today’s terms for each year of your retirement.

Using a 3% average inflation rate, if you anticipate needing $25,000 a year in retirement based on today’s figures, then you would need double that figure – or $50,000 per year for retirement at 65.

Inflation doesn’t stop at retirement, so if you retire at age 65, the income you will need will effectively again double ever y 24 years (by age 89) if a 3% average annual inflation rate continued during that timeframe.

With today’s earlier retirements and long life spans, many people may see two or more doublings in cost during their retirement period, depending on the inflation rate.

And that isn’t all - due to the high cost of healthcare, the effective inflationary rate for seniors has actually trended significantly higher than it has for the overall economy (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Healthcare accounts for about 13% of expenditures by those 65 and older, but only 5% for other age groups (2015 Center for Retirement Research at Boston College).

Your retirement planning must include planning for the impact of inflation. For most people, simply saving is not sufficient and they need growth, earnings, and the power of compounding on their money even throughout retirement - to help their assets grow enough to keep pace with inflation.

To learn more, we recommend you register for one of our retirement planning classes offered through Gwinnett Technical College. No time for class? Contact us today for a no-cost consultation. Please visit www.RogerSGreen.com or call our office at 770.931.1414 for more information.

We are here to help!

Roger S. Green is an Investment Advisor Representative offering securities and advisory services through Cetera Advisors LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor, Broker/Dealer, member FINRA, SIPC. Green Financial Resources, LLC is located at 3700 Crestwood Parkway, Duluth, GA 30096. Green Financial, Gwinnett Technical College and Cetera Advisors are not affiliated.

July 2019

Work begins on School of the Arts at Central Gwinnett High School:

Gwinnett County Public Schools and the City of Lawrenceville partner to expand arts education opportunities for students

By Staff Reports Following the City of Lawrenceville’s groundbreaking on its new Performing Arts Center and the expanded home of Gwinnett’s only professional theatre—the Aurora Theatre, the city, and Gwinnett County Public Schools have announced its partnership to expand arts education opportunities. The School of the Arts at Central Gwinnett High School, a themed “school within a school” experience, will begin offering programs in the fall of 2020 with a stateof-the-art facility opening in 2021.

CEO/Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks says, “The City of Lawrenceville and the Aurora Theatre are leaders in the arts community and we are excited to partner with them to bring the School of the Arts to life. This will have a positive impact on the students at Central Gwinnett High School, other students in Gwinnett County, and the greater Gwinnett arts community.”

“Lawrenceville’s vision calls for a diverse and substantial talent pool within a regional epicenter of community, and the investment in this School of the Arts will move us closer to that goal,” said Lawrenceville Mayor Judy Jordan Johnson. “Good schools make good communities and we are excited about this opportunity at Central Gwinnett and grateful for the commitment of our City and Gwinnett County Public Schools to make it a reality.”

Central Gwinnett High School Principal Shane Orr and his team have worked with Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Fine Arts Director David Dubose to create an exciting program

ternships and work-based experiences.

In addition, the location of the School of the Arts at Central Gwinnett High School will expand arts experiences for students throughout the Central Gwinnett Cluster (Jordan and Moore middle schools and Jenkins, Lawrenceville, Simonton, and Winn Holt elementary schools).

Partnerships with the City of Lawrenceville, the Aurora Theatre, arts organizations, and postsecondary schools will be a hallmark of this new

PERSPECTIVE AT FINE ARTS LOBBY ENTRY

program, providing students many opportunities to engage with artists, businesses, and the larger community. To Principal Shane Orr these partnerships are a key to the new School of the Arts program. He explains, “With the help of our community partners we will create a unique school experience… one that positions our students to pursue their passion for the arts, hones their skills, and prepares them for their next step.”

HAVE YOU TRIED:

PERSPECTIVE FROM WEST CROGAN STREET

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This coming school year, plans will continue and construction will begin on the new School of the Arts at Central Gwinnett High School. The program will grow over a three-year period with plans to serve students in grades 9-12.

design. Through research and site visits to other Fine Arts schools, the team has developed an overview of the program and is working on the details regarding the student experience.

Currently, Central Gwinnett High School has a Fine Arts and Communications Academy that serves approximately 325 students. This academy will be greatly enhanced and the School of the Arts will provide a rigorous and engaging curriculum focused on three key areas: • Performing Arts— Theatre, Television and Film, Dance, and Music • Visual Arts— 2D-, 3D-, and Digital Art, and Fashion • Technology for the Arts— Film and Broadcasting, Theatre Technology, Sound Recording, and MIDI tech-

nology The School of the Arts’ college-preparatory curriculum will combine required coursework with expanded fine arts classes, internships, and work experiences for students at a pre-professional and professional level.

A unique feature of the School of the Arts will be the opportunity for select students to study in a Fine Arts Conservatory setting. Admittance and participation in the Conservatory program at the School of the Arts will be determined through auditions, interviews, and juried presentations and performances. The signature Conservatory program will provide students with expanded course opportunities, include regular work with industry professionals, as well as participation in in-

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Co-Publishers/Editors Auveed Bagheri Cawthon Chris Cawthon 107 W Crogan St • Lawrenceville, Ga 30046 • Office (770) 963-3699 www.gwinnettcitizen.com • info@gwinnettcitizen.com The mission of gwinnettcitizen.com newspaper, a publication of Media Maker Group Inc. dba gwinnettcitizen.com, is to provide our readers with stories about their communities and people. Our stories and photos bring to life the passion of living, working, playing, living healthy and worshiping in Gwinnett County. We help connect readers with local businesses to facilitate and promote shopping and buying local.

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July 2019

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HONG continued from page 1 the pretense of a well-paid job, only to be enslaved as sex workers for the Japanese Imperial Army. Many of these women died at the hands of their captors, while others have since deceased from old age and other causes. But 21 of these women are alive today and have shared their stories in hopes that it will never be forgotten.

Reading about the torture these women faced, Cindy’s discomfort escalated. Eventually, she decided to channel that emotion for her senior exit show and tell the story visually.

But recreating the Comfort Women’s tale was no easy task.

“It was like, this is real, and I wanted to share their story instead of just showing off my skill,” Cindy said. Above all, she didn’t want to only portray the pain these women suffered or define them as victims.

It was a stop and go process, but Cindy finally found a way to do the

Comfort Women justice. To show their triumph in the face of torture as well as their resilience and hope, she decided to name her exhibit “Freedom Fighters”.

To Cindy, “The name ‘Freedom Fighters’ is including us in the story because they are a fighter, and we are not just going to stay silent about it. It’s sort of a label for them and us.”

As she came to that realization, Cindy decided to simplify the story and ‘bring out the women themselves’. “So, I started drawing and researching the women who passed away, and I wrote down what they said word-for-word.”

Her “Presence” series demonstrates that process. The large framed pieces depict only a chair, drawn in graphite and overlaid by Korean calligraphy. “In Korea, every region has its own dialect. Each of the women’s stories show their uniqueness through their own dia-

lects. Each piece in this series has different stories of different women. Thus, the chairs all have unique style depicting that these women are not to be generalized but known and shown uniquely.”

As a rule, Cindy’s style is abstract, although surreal is the best word to describe a piece she called “Butterfly”.

“The butterfly flies passed through the rigid grid, which symbolizes the kind of captivity they were under,” Cindy said of the 3D painting, which stands out as the most vibrant in the exhibit. Blended in red and yellow, it signifies the Freedom Fighter’s hope and courage. The butterfly is an icon of The Comfort Women as is the image of an empty chair.

In the city of Brookhaven, the chair icon has been memorialized by “The Young Girl’s Statue for Peace Memorial” which was dedicated by the Atlanta Comfort Women Memorial Task Force (ACWTF) and local representatives at Blackburn Park on June 28, 2018. Depicting two chairs, one empty, one occupied by a young girl, the statue pays homage to the women who passed as well as the survivors.

On June 28, 2019, Cindy’s Freedom Fighter exhibit was displayed at an event held at the Korean American Association of Greater Atlanta in celebration of the statue’s second anniversary.

Showcased beside her work were paintings and drawings made by the last surviving Comfort Women who were able to tell their story through a visual medium during their art therapy session. That evening, those stories were brought to life through “A Stolen Girl’s Story: Opera” where performers put on a dramatic representation of the lives memorialized by the statue.

The “Freedom Fighters” exhibit was also displayed at the City of Sugar Hill earlier that same month.

While her senior exit show included only six pieces, Cindy was able to add to the original exhibit, creating enough art to fill an entire room at City Hall.

Describing the exhibit, Cindy wrote, “This series portrays a broken yet triumphant story of Comfort Women and the people who fight for freedom every day.”

The UGA grad doesn’t have as

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Cindy Hong stands beside a piece in her “Freedom Fighters” exhibit at the Second Anniversary Celebration for “The Young Girl’s Statue for Peace Memorial” held at the Korean American Association of Greater Atlanta on June 28, 2019 .

much time to create, now that she’s a teacher, but she finds joy in exposing her students to art and helping them express what they feel looking at it.

She’ll never forget the day she realized why she wanted to teach.

It was during a mission trip to Honduras where Cindy visited a house where a woman lived alone with her twin daughters, both of whom were deaf.

“They were kind of outcasts and lived on top of a mountain,” Cindy said of the family. “I could sense a deep depression to be so outcasted, and perhaps because they were raised in so much darkness, the mom said the girls never laughed and almost never smiled. But while we were there, I started drawing in the sand, and I drew a picture of the girl’s house on the mountain, and I drew Jesus carrying his cross walking towards the top to their house and I told them that he loved them.

They were smiling and laughing out loud, so their mom ran out to see what was going on. And she hugged me saying thank you because she had never heard them laugh like that before.”

It was then that Cindy realized she wanted to teach and create and bring joy by shedding light on people and stories that would otherwise be forgotten.

“I think for me as an artist and as

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Cindy Hong’s 3D painting, called “Butterfly” is meant to showcase the hope and courage of the “Freedom Fighters” or “Comfort Women” enslaved in WWII by the Japanese Army.

someone who loves kids, I realized what my purpose is as an artist,” Cindy said of her visit with the twins.

“My art can create joy, and I realized it’s important for me to create and not just hold onto it. I chose to be a voice for the voiceless, and as I continue to create, I want to share their stories. The stories of the voiceless.”

When she’s not teaching elementary school, Cindy accepts commission work and creates as often as possible. More of her work can be seen online at cindyhongart.com and on Instagram: @Cindy.Hong.Art.

This summer, Cindy Hong’s “Freedom Fighters” exhibit was displayed at a private room in Sugar Hill’s City Hall.

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July 2019

Gwinnett County Sheriff’s office employee recognized for Excellence Casey Duffield recognized during sheriffs’ conference for overseeing county’s 600+ sex offenders

By Staff Reports Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office (GCSO) employee Casey Duffield received national recognition this week for excellence in overseeing the county’s more than 600 sex offenders. Duffield and the sheriff’s office were recognized during an awards ceremony at the Major County Sheriffs of America annual summer conference in Louisville, K.Y. on June 13.

Duffield and GCSO use the software management tool OffenderWatch to keep track of registered sex offenders, often using the system to aid in investigations and proactively improve public safety. Of the more than 3,000 agencies and 14,000 users in the OffenderWatch network, the company selected Duffield and GCSO to receive the award.

Duffield was nominated for the

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Sheriffs and staff from around the country were recognized for outstanding service managing their sex offender registries during the annual Major County Sheriffs of America conference June 13, 2019.

award due to her work as the liaison between the Georgia Sheriff’s Association (GSA) and Georgia Bureau of Investigation. She works with GSA as a trainer for other sheriffs’ offices to meet statute requirements.

“Casey Duffield is a valuable member of our team, and I appreciate her dedication to doing the job

right. Her contributions are an important part of our successful management of the Sex Offender Registry,” says Sheriff Butch Conway.

“Casey, Sheriff Conway and the entire sheriff’s office go above and beyond what is required in statute to collect comprehensive data on each and every offender in their jurisdic-

Casey Duffield (R) accepted the award on behalf of the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office.

tion,” said Mike Cormaci, president of OffenderWatch. “Because of people like Casey, our communities are safer from sexual predators.”

The Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for managing,

tracking and verifying registered sex offenders in the county. The office is also responsible for notifying the public of registered sex offenders. The public can sign up to receive free notifications when a registered sex offender moves into their neighborhood or near any address using the link below.

Sign up for OffenderWatch sex offender notifications from GCSO: http://sheriffalerts.com/cap_ main.php?office=54503 Thee are more than 900,000 registered sex offenders in the United States. Most states have a different system for tracking these offenders, making it difficult for law enforcement agencies to keep records when the offenders cross state lines. The OffenderWatch Network is the largest sex offender registry system in the U.S., working with more than 3,000 local, state and federal law enforcement agencies in 37 states.

Help for landowners frustrated by flightless geese

By Staff Reports The Canada goose lives in a variety of habitats, often in locations that are in close proximity to people, such as suburban neighborhood ponds, office complexes, parks, and other developed areas. This can become a frustration factor for landowners when geese begin to molt in the summer, according to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division (WRD).

“Each summer, in late June and early July, complaints about geese tends to go up,” says WRD State Waterfowl Biologist Greg Balkcom. “This uptick in complaints goes hand-in-hand with the fact that geese go through a molting process in summer, during which they lose their flight feathers and are in the process of growing new ones.”

What can you do if you have goose problems? During most times of the year, geese can be scared away with the use of harassment techniques. But, because geese cannot fly during the molt, these techniques may not work. During the molting season, WRD personnel encourage affected landowners and homeowners to be patient. The new feathers will soon grow in, and the geese will regain their ability to fly and will likely move on.

However, if geese continue to cause problems, here are a few tips to try and reduce the trouble: • Harassment: Landowners who don’t want geese on their property

July 2019

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can first try a variety of harassment techniques, including chemical repellents, mylar balloons, wire/string barriers, and noise makers. These methods are proven to help reduce goose problems. However, they require consistency from the property owner and are not always 100% effective. More information can be found at www.georgiawildlife.com/ nuisancewildlife (scroll down and click on “Canada Geese”).

• Relocation or Lethal Methods: Homeowners who want to reduce or eliminate the goose population on their property can obtain a permit from their local WRD Game Management office (www.georgiawildlife.com/about/contact). This

permit allows them to have geese captured and relocated to a suitable area or allows them to legally and lethally remove the animals. The removal can be done by the homeowner or by a licensed nuisance wildlife trapper (list found at www.georgiawildlife.com/nuisancewildlife).

It is important to remember that Canada geese are a protected species under state and federal law. It is illegal to hunt, kill, sell, purchase or possess Canada geese except according to Georgia’s migratory bird regulations.

For more information, visit www. georgiawildlife.com/nuisancewildlife.

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Live Healthy Gwinnett Encourages Healthy Habits

Charlotte J. Nash

County Business

Free yoga in Gwinnett County parks, an initiative of Parks and Recreation’s award-winning Live Healthy Gwinnett program, is expanding this fall due to its popularity.

Led by certified instructor volunteers, yoga sessions will be offered at Vines Park on Sundays, Alexander Park and Ronald Reagan Park on Tuesdays, McDaniel Farm Park (Toddler & Me) on Wednesdays, Simpsonwood Park on Thursdays, and Freeman’s Mill, Little Mulberry Park and the Historic Courthouse on Saturdays. Times vary. Details will be posted soon at www.gwinnettparks.com.

This year marks the fifth anniversary of Live Healthy Gwinnett, which launched in 2014 as a partnership between the Gwinnett County Department of Community Services and Eastside Medical Center.

In those five years, they’ve worked with 145 agencies and groups to put on 787 programs and events that have drawn almost 24,000 participants plus 18,500 summer campers. So far this year, 182 volunteers have put in more than 700 hours running 51 programs and events with 4,544 participants and 30 partners. The goals are to promote healthy, active lifestyles

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and engage residents in personal wellness, focusing on four major areas: Be Active, Eat Healthy, Get Checked, and Be Positive.

A 2013 study showed about 20 percent of Gwinnett residents get no leisure time physical activity and more than a quarter of the adult population is at higher risk for serious health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, osteoarthritis, respiratory problems, and stroke.

In response, Live Healthy Gwinnett has developed the Be Active Gwinnett mobile recreation truck that brings sports and physical activities directly to underserved communities. It visits housing authorities, apartment complexes, child care facilities, extended stay hotels, faith-based facilities, new home developments, schools, camps, parks, afterschool programs, libraries, and community events.

The truck brings activities such as obstacle courses, hula hoops, jump ropes, broad jump, agility hurdles, giant tunnels, pop-up soccer, jumbo stacks, parachutes, fitness spots/dice, gaga ball, flag football, junior golf, nine squares in the air, bubble soccer, and more. If you’d like to request a visit by the Be Active Gwinnett truck to your community, call 770.822.8825 or email info@livehealthygwinnett.com.

A related effort, called Harvest Gwinnett, is now building the first of three community gardens in County parks, working with Georgia Gwinnett College, the Sheriff’s Office, and the city of Lawrenceville. It’s a low-cost, sustainable effort to help address food deserts and counteract food insecurities faced by seniors and families. The first garden is at Rhodes Jordan Park in Lawrenceville. Water Resources has sponsored a similar community garden at the Lanier Filter Plant since 2008.

Live Healthy Gwinnett also sponsors free community health fairs including one at Bogan Park on July 27, Best Friend Park on September 27, and Lenora Park on November 9.

In June, Live Healthy Gwinnett attracted more national attention when the National Recreation and Park Association awarded its Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Award for Health Equity to Tina Fleming, community services director, and Lindsey Jorstad, outreach manager.

The well-deserved award honored them for implementing “a systems change approach to reduce health disparities in his/her community within the past two years.” The foundation seeks to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to live in healthy environments.

Gwinnett County wants you and your family to be active, eat healthy, get checked, and be positive. So here’s to your health.

VAPING continued from page 1 huge problem at their school. They formed the non-profit Vaping Attention to Prevention (VATP) for that very reason.

“Our purpose is to educate and prevent future use of E-cigarettes amongst teenagers and adolescents,” Juan said.

To get started, the boys connected with Dr. Ellis from Tennessee and Dr. Halpern-Felsher, the creator of the Stanford Tobacco Prevention Toolkit which provides a wealth of information and research on tobacco, E-cigarettes and other addictive behaviors.

From there, they were able to address one of their first goals – education.

Utilizing their research, the boys have designed both middle school and high school curriculum with PowerPoint slides about vaping, its harmful effects as well as prevention strategies. They hope the curriculum will be integrated into health classes in both middle schools and high schools.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and the boys know that the best strategy is to start small at their own high school. With the help of their teacher sponsor, Mr. Gillis, they’re working on getting a club formalized for fall 2019 to attract more students to become VATP ambassadors and start hosting school-wide meetings.

“We think teens are more likely to listen to other teens than if it were an adult telling them not to vape,” said Marco who is fully invested in training their growing ranks of student ambassadors.

Kids from their soccer team were among the first to join the club.

Other ambassadors got involved online connecting from other states through social media, and they now have a total of five student ambassadors.

Each of these youth ambassadors will be required to complete a “Train the Trainer” Toolkit which condenses their curriculum into four engaging modules for ambassadors to pick one every nine weeks and create their own marketing campaign to make vaping “not cool.”

The program should be ready by fall 2019.

Consulting with their mom, Justine Henao, who is a physician at a local hospital, the boys realized it’s important to also educate parents and teachers. As Dr. Henao points out, “Some don’t even know what these things look like.”

E-cigarettes are battery-run, smoking devices operated by heat and use a liquid called “e-juice” to create their distinctive vapor. The devices are particularly convenient for teenagers to use because they are produced to look like common objects including USB’s, pens and sharpeners.

“A lot of our friends vape. Some kids do it in the bathroom, and it doesn’t leave a smell like cigarettes do. Some kids even do it in the back of the classroom because they have vapes that hardly put out any

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Marco Borrego and Juan Borrego working with mealworms for their upcoming Science Fair where they will test the effects of “e-juice”, the liquid used in E-cigarettes.

smoke,” Marco said.

To educate youth, parents and anyone interested in learning more about what vaping does to the human and teen body, Juan and Marco are now planning the first VATP town hall to take place sometime this summer. The meeting will be hosted alongside Truth Initiative, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring individuals to live tobacco-free lives.

At their initial meeting, Juan and Marco proposed several partnership opportunities with Truth. Vincent Irving, who works for the nonprofit, was highly impressed with the boys’ initiative. “It takes teens like Marco and Juan to notice issues, learn about the impact those issues are having, and then gather resources, to create positive generational change. The fact that they have taken the initiative to mobilize teens across the country around this issue is extremely motivating.”

The Borrego twins are optimistic about the possibilities the new partnership could bring. They hope Truth can provide additional training for their ambassadors in becoming public spokespersons.

As fifteen-year-old sophomores, Juan and Marco aren’t sure where all this will lead them. They’ve loaded their schedule with AP courses and study vigilantly, hoping to be accepted into an Ivy League college after they graduate. What they will study and do for their careers thereafter remains a mystery. For now, their goal is to ensure VATP takes root.

And one day in the not too distant future, they hope to see legislation passed that will deter teens from picking up the habit.

“We have already met with a few local representatives, and with some coaching, we hope to formally address our local legislators in hopes of raising the age for vaping to 21,” Marco said.

Banning flavors is another legislation they hope to see passed. Without a wide variety of sweet flavors like mango and cotton candy, Juan and Marco believe vaping wouldn’t have the same appeal.

“A lot of people our age think cigarettes are gross, and there’s been so much education on cigarettes it’s not as cool as it used to be. But E-cigarettes come in all these different flavors — some people just think of it

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E-cigarettes or “vapes” are battery-run smoking devices that use “e-juice”, which often contains nicotine, to create their distinctive plumes of smoke.

as inhaling flavored vapor that tastes like candy,” Juan said.

To the contrary, a 2017 study from Stanford’s School of Medicine showed certain flavors to be toxic.

The researchers studied a variety of flavors, finding two flavors in particular — cinnamon and menthol — decreased the viability of bacteria cells used in their study. The finding suggests that the cinnamon and menthol flavors can cause DNA damage and are carcinogens, even in the absence of nicotine.

To build the case, the boys plan to do their own research. They are working on a Science Fair project to test the effects of e-juice on meal worms for the upcoming school year. Through the project, they hope to shed light on the effects vaping has on human cells.

As a health professional, Dr. Henao is particularly curious about the long-term effects of vaping and how it remains largely undocumented and enshrouded in myth.

She’s proud her sons are working to change that.

“I’m glad, but not exactly surprised the boys have gotten so involved with this. I wouldn’t expect anything less because they’re always very motivated and hard working.

They always put 110 percent into something,” Dr. Henao said.

Research and politics aside, if the Borrego twins can make vaping seem less cool, maybe they have a chance of reversing the trend and preventing younger generations from following the fad altogether.

Those interested in learning more or becoming a peer ambassador, regardless of the school they go to, can reach the boys through their website contact page (www. vaping-attentiontoprevention.org) or message them on facebook: @vapingAttentionToPrevention.

July 2019

Author Katie Hart Smith releases final novel in historical fiction trilogy

By Staff Reports In High Cotton and Magnolias, the protagonist, Addie Engel, continues her life journey as a nurse-in-training at Atlanta’s Sacred Heart Hospital School of Nursing, where she finds that hope, faith, love, and change are the only constants. Throughout High Cotton and Magnolias, Addie must discover her true grit as Atlanta undergoes an economic and social upheaval that will change the world.

But while toiling over textbooks and patients and fighting to overcome the rising tensions of a country almost at war, Addie finds her eyes opened to disappointment, deception, and deceit . . . as well as the true colors of those closest to her. Yearning to find the familiar in the aftermath of all this stress — on top of a near-death experience — Addie can’t help but struggle with matters of the heart.

Who does she truly love: Garrett, the boy-next-door she’s known all her life, or Randall, the dashing doctor who promises a brighter future?

Despite daily disasters, a growing web of dark schemes, a deadly pandemic, and the biggest war the world has ever seen, Sacred Heart Medical Center and her medical staff all rise to the challenge. Whether they emerge triumphant is another matter entirely.

Set in the maze of mounting social strain and growing pains that is early 20th century Atlanta, High Cotton and Magnolias is an immensely satisfying finale to Aspirations of the Heart and Hope Never Rests, novels that have received a place of honor in Georgia’s Governor’s Mansion Library.

GC: Who or what inspired you to write the Sacred Heart series?

KS: “The Sacred Heart series – Aspirations of the Heart, Hope Never Rests, and High Cotton and Magnolias – was inspired by my grandma, ‘Gigi,’ a strong-willed woman who defied her father’s orders to stay on

the family farm in southern Indiana, marry, and have children. She wanted to pursue a college education so she secretly applied to nursing school at Methodist Episcopal Hospital in Indianapolis and was accepted. She and her mom sewed her uniform during the day and hid it away in her hope chest at night. Until one day when he came home off the fields, she was gone, having left for the big city. As a result, he disowned her. Gigi knew that an education was the key to breaking the chains of poverty. She wanted to become a registered nurse, serve others, travel the world, and experience a life well-lived. By being brave enough to follow her heart, Gigi forever changed our families’ trajectory.”

“I took my grandma’s inspirational story and transplanted it into a city that I know and love dearly – Atlanta.

Growing up, my dad was the organist for the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception Church, downtown. The priests shared rich stories and tantalizing tales of the old South, how the church served as a hospital during the Civil War and wasn’t burned by Sherman during his march to the sea, about the architecture, and city’s historical landmarks. The experience sparked my creative imagination. After reading the Sacred Heart series,

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Georgia author and columnist, Katie Hart Smith introduced her latest novel, High Cotton and Magnolias, at a launch party held at Truth’s Community Clinic on Sunday, June 30, 2019, donating a portion of the book’s proceeds to the non-profit organization. (from L - R: Marcy Terranova, Scarlett Rigsby, Katie Hart Smith, Mamie Outler, Cassie Terranova, Marie Beiser.

I invite readers to revisit Atlanta with new eyes, because the buildings and places I write about, many still are in existence today.”

GC: Tell us about your inspiration for Sacred Heart Hospital.

KS: “As a registered nurse, I pulled on the history and my different experiences either visiting or clinical experiences at the various hospitals in Atlanta. The best part of building Sacred Heart hospital was the ability to construct it in such a fashion that was authentic for the time when it came to developing the various wards and departments, to include my favorite parts of any hospital which are underground tunnels. Today, tunnels connect the main hospital to outpatient buildings and parking decks.

Tunnels allow for the medical staff and/or patients to walk between facilities, especially during bad weather.

I love hearing feedback from book clubs that tell me that they think that the hospital itself is its own character in the book because it is also evolving and changing just like the characters do over time.”

GC: How did you weave in factual details into the historical fiction novels?

KS: “I developed timelines for social issues, medical discoveries, political figures (local and national), origins of medical colleges and nursing schools, new food products, local and federal laws, and landmark events with the Great War and drew an intersection in time, allowing me the ability to weave in historical facts into the fictional storyline.”

“Ideal for book club discussions, High Cotton and Magnolias contains rich topics about events that were occurring over 100 years ago that could be ripped from today’s headlines that include immigration, social settlements, healthcare for the indigent, pay to play press, mental illness, and a foreign government’s interference with the U.S. economy.

“Readers tell me how they would love to see the series turned into a movie or produced for television because the subject matter is so relevant, the female characters buck society’s expectations, and while the story

takes place in Georgia, there are national and international touchpoints.”

An accomplished author for twenty-five years, Katie Hart Smith has an expansive body of work ranging from medical, academic, children’s poetry, to memoir and historical fiction.

A sought out speaker on a local and national level, Katie Hart Smith has been invited again to moderate the historical fiction panel at the 2019 AJC Decatur Book Festival.

The book launch/signing party will be held at Truth’s Community Clinic, 250 Langley Dr., Suite #1316 in Lawrenceville on Sunday, June 30, 2019, from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm. The public is welcome.

Excited about new projects on the horizon, Katie Hart Smith looks forward to participating in future literary and philanthropic endeavors. “As a mentor and leader in my community, I feel that giving back is important.

Two years ago, our family created the History of Nursing display at Georgia Gwinnett College/School of Nursing, donating my grandma’s cape, and her textbooks, memorabilia, medical instruments, report cards, vintage photos, and diploma and license. The display even has my nursing cap.

We share my grandma’s story as a first-generation graduate with the students to inspire and light the way for the next generation of nursing students. In addition to volunteering in activities that support literacy or provide healthcare to those in need, I donate a portion of my book proceeds to support the nursing program at Georgia Gwinnett College or to Truth’s Community Clinic.”

High Cotton and Magnolias is available via Deeds Publishing, major online book retailers, independent book stores, and libraries. For a complete listing of Smith’s publications or to learn about upcoming speaking and book signing events, visit: http:// www.katiehartsmith.com.

Stop Comparing Yourself to Others

Jonathan Howes

Lead Pastor Graystone Church In life, we all feel like we have been cheated at times. We do not always get what we think we deserve. When this happens, we can suffer from resentment. I think we can all relate to our team being cheated out of winning a game or a championship, because the referee made a bad call or a series of bad calls. Or we pay for a combo meal at the fast food drive thru and get home to find out that our order of fries is missing. We deserve those fries, be-

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cause we paid for them.

There are two types of resentment. The first type of resentment is when we do not get what we think we deserve. The second type of resentment is when someone else receives what we do not think they deserve.

Comparing ourselves to others can lead to jealousy, bitterness, anger and all kinds of negative emotions that steal our peace and happiness.

In the gospel of Matthew Jesus tells a very interesting story. He tells the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16). Jesus begins most of his parables in the book of Matthew with the phrase, “The kingdom of Heaven is like…” Jesus teaches us about God and His kingdom through telling stories. In this parable, the landowner represents God, the workers are believers, and the vineyard is the kingdom of Heaven. I will summarize the story and put it in today’s language to help you better understand.

The landowner goes out early in the morning and hires workers to work in his vineyard for the day. He promis-

es to pay them $100. They agree and begin working around 6:00AM. Then the landowner hires another set of workers at 9:00AM to work for the rest of the day promising them a fair wage.

Then he hires three more sets of workers at 12:00PM, 3:00PM and 5:00PM. At the end of the workday (6:00PM), the landowner pays his workers beginning with the last ones hired. He gave $100 to the workers who only worked for one hour. Wow! This is incredibly generous. The workers who worked all day began to get excited thinking they will make more money.

But the landowner pays all the workers the same amount of money, $100.

The workers hired first grumble and complain, because they do not think it is fair. But the landowner said, “I paid you the amount we agreed upon. It’s my money, and I can spend it how I chose. Why are you envious, because I am generous?”

It’s a fascinating story which has many spiritual and eternal implications. I think it’s interesting that the workers who were hired first only

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thought $100 was unfair, because they compared their amount of work with the other workers. They received the wage that was promised to them, but they resented the other workers, because they worked harder and longer than them. I believe comparing ourselves to others in one of the biggest challenges in our culture. We are constantly comparing ourselves to others. We think, “How do we measure up? How good is my life compared to someone else?” And social media multiples the problem, because everyone post pictures of their “great lives” on Facebook and Instagram.

When God is good to us, we are blessed, #blessed. When God is good to someone else, we say, “Why them?

They do not deserve it. We have worked harder than them. We have better morals than them. We pray more than they do. They don’t deserve it.”

Jealousy steals our joy and destroys relationships with friends, family and coworkers. When God blesses someone else, if we truly love and care

for them, we would celebrate with them. “Wow! God has blessed you with a raise, a new house, a nice vacation, etc. PRAISE GOD! I am so happy for you.”

As we see in the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16), God rejects our comparisons.

God showers us with His amazing grace, and His grace supersedes fairness. God does not give us what we deserve. He gives us way more than we deserve. Instead of comparing ourselves with others, let’s celebrate and be grateful for all of God’s blessings in our lives.

Jonathan Howes has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance from Jacksonville State University and a Master in Divinity Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the lead pastor for Graystone Church - 1551 Ozora Road Loganville, GA 30052.

Phone: (770) 466-3159 Website: GraystoneChurch.com

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