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Vol. 31 No. 9
‘Daycation’
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JULY 2019
www.gwinnettcitizen.com
“Freedom Fighters” By Julie Thompson GwinnettCitizen.com
Rehearse Live
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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 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
See FREEDOM on Page 18 Customer Experience page 9
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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 .
City Celebrates Completion Kirby Smart, The Golden of its Veterans Monument Over 400 attended the Peachtree Corners dedication. By Staff Reports
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INSIDE Citizen Connection 4 Gwinnett Pulse 6 Health & Wellness 12 Classifieds 14
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On a brilliant Saturday morning with American Flags flying in the breeze, the community gathered on the city’s Town Center to celebrate the dedication of its new veterans’ monument. It was a culmination of a years-long dream that began in 2015. Friends, families, veterans, dignitaries, city leaders and hundreds of well-wishers joined in the ceremony that featured all the pomp and circumstance of a military affair including music by the 116th Army Band Georgia Army National Guard, Pledge of Allegiance led by local Cub Scout Pack 575, speeches, prayers, and the long-awaited unveiling of the sculptures that represent the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. Located on the 2-acre Town Green, over 400 attended the dedication and unveiling ceremony of the new monument. “June 15 was an important day for our community and a historic one for our city,” said Mayor Mike Mason. “We are proud that we are able to present a monument that
Photos by Jason Getz
Friends, families, veterans, dignitaries, city leaders and hundreds of wellwishers joined in celebrating the completion of Peachtree Corners’ Veterans Monument.
represents our gratitude for the men and women who have served our great nation, and for those who are serving now.” The monument, located on the city’s Town Green, features a 2,500 square-foot plaza. Mounted on a central pillar is an eagle atop a globe representing the presence of the U.S. Armed Forces across the world. Surrounding the central
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Kirby loves to swim with his humans.
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
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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.
See KIRBY on Page 14
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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.
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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.)
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“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
Business Spotlight:
Rehearse Live offers musical support and resources By Julie Thompson GwinnettCitizen.com Mike Cady’s vision for opening his own rehearsal and music education facility off Pleasantdale Road is summed up in Rehearse Live’s mission statement: “It is Rehearse Live’s mission to provide the resources needed to help musicians of all levels and skills, achieve their personal musical goals, and to foster a supportive music and arts community.” “Rehearse Live stands out for being clean, safe, and professional,” said Mike, who owns Rehearse Live. As a longtime musician and music teacher, Mike has visited his fair share of rehearsal and recording studios in the metro area. Many of those facilities were ‘grungy’ and hardly suitable for teenagers and young children. So, when starting his business, Mike decided to go for the exact opposite. Providing both monthly and hourly studio rehearsal spaces, Rehearse Live allows musicians to practice, take lessons, and perform out of a clean, safe environment. Offering services including monthly lockout rooms, hourly and daily backlined rooms, band coaching, private lessons and much more, Rehearse Live is a multi-faceted business, but in Mike’s mind, it all boils down to a singular purpose. “I wanted to create a place to learn, practice, and perform; fostered by a supportive community,” Mike said. “That’s the idea of this building.” It seems the promise of a supportive community has already started to become a reality, as Rehearse Live is currently home to several professional recording studios, as well as a video production studio. These independent businesses operating on the premises allow Rehearse Live to become a one stop shop for artists when they rent space. Founded little over a year ago, Rehearse Live has already become a hub for musical talents of all ages. During the summer, it hosts the Atlanta Rock ‘N Blues Camp, and all throughout the year, Rehearse Live encourages musicians to collaborate and become part of a bigger, performance-based music and arts scene. “So, often a private lesson student might not ever have their musical journey culminate with a performance in front of people. Students might have recitals where they play by themselves, but often they don’t even have that. Eventually they might lose interest and move on to the next thing. But with a community for people to meet each other to practice in bands, and
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Mike Cady teaching guitar lessons at Rehearse Live.
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Rehearse Live offers rehearsal space that can be rented both monthly and by the hour by bands, teachers and anyone looking to hone their craft out of a safe, clean environment.
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classic black and white stage, the space can also be used for celebrations like baby showers, and they even hosted a Star Wars-themed wedding reception a few months back. Hoping to create solutions for bands, teachers and parents, Rehearse Live offers a variety of rental options. Those looking for a central space to teach music lessons can rent rooms with everything they need to teach, for as low as $10 an hour out of a convenient location minutes from downtown Atlanta. And for parents hoping to turn their child into a musical prodigy,
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Jacob Waddy with “Dope Year Recordings” working out of a monthly rental space at Rehearse Live. Rehearse Live is home to several professional recording studios, as well as a video production studio. These independent businesses operating on the premises allow Rehearse Live to become a one-stop shop for artists when they rent space.
it doesn’t get more convenient than Rehearse Live’s after school program. Mike has thirty years of experience teaching children’s music lessons and for those in his afterschool program, he will drive to schools and pick up his pupils, taking them to the Rehearse Live building where they will also have time for snack and a homework session. With his toddler’s program, Mike teaches students as young as age two years of age. He also works with background-checked teachers
to provide niche skill training and coaching for both beginning and advanced musicians. “It’s a fun atmosphere, and the character is going to keep growing with time, but we will always maintain our clean, smoke-free, and safe environment,” Mike said. Rehearse Live aims to provide the support and resources to help musicians reach their personal goals. For information, call (404)493-4069, or visit their website, www.rehearselive.com.
actually perform; those musical journeys can become much more sustained, fulfilling, and supported. That is my vision for this space,” Mike said. While Mike is working on a blog and forum to enhance the social aspect, he beleives that most artists connect organically. “The nice thing about setting up shop in a professional rehearsal space is being exposed to all of the contacts that you would otherwise never meet. People are all here for the same goal — to work on their artistry. They meet each other in our green room lounge, while they’re getting snacks from our vending machines, or just by walking down our halls. It’s like they hear the music coming out of another room and it becomes a curiosity, so people begin to explore the building and meet each other. You can’t get that kind of natural connection on the internet, in a storage space by yourself, or practicing out of your garage,” Mike said. Their multi-purpose event space is ideal for intimate concerts and recitals where Mike will take care of the sound and lighting and leave the rest to the host. With a
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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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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
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.
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Snellville business owner launches book on finding passion and strategy for entrepreneurs By Julie Thompson GwinnettCitizen.com In her soon-to-be-released book, Passion and Strategy go Hand in Hand, Aysha Treadwell goes by her maiden name in inviting readers to share her experience and hardearned lessons as a business owner of ten years while revealing how to run a successful enterprise with love. The book’s rhythm follows a quick and steady flow, tracing Treadwell’s journey as an entrepreneur from her first money-making pursuits and culminating to reveal how she was able to expand an award-winning adult day center that provides a much-needed service to the community. Growing up in Indianapolis, Treadwell never imagined her life would follow the path she is on today. As the founder and owner of an established adult day center and having worked as a business consultant at the University of Georgia, Treadwell is a firm believer that entrepreneurs should not “reinvent the wheel” but rather build strategies based on tried and true processes and by learning from the example of others. Treadwell offers her story as both a guide and a trajectory for other business owners to utilize for their own growth strategies. Her hope is that readers will apply what has worked for her, learn from her pitfalls, and then work to find their own strategies. In each chapter her advice grows more specific to drive home her key points. Throughout the pages, Treadwell shares how she learned to select the right team and manage it, as well as tips on creating multiple revenue streams, exit strategy advice, and she even shares insight on failing which can be summarized in the line “fail fast” and rebound faster. Passion and Strategy go Hand in Hand is a heartfelt narrative, juxtaposed with strategy and practical tips through which Treadwell ultimately challenges her audience to revisit their “WHY”, the reason they got started in the first place. Gwinnett Citizen interview with Author Aysha Treadwell: GC: You stay pretty busy as a business owner, a consultant and a mother. What inspired you to write the book? AT: “I’d been thinking about writing it since 2015. I’d been faced with so many challenges and I was like, ‘I know didn’t go through all this not to share it with other business owners.’ So, I started thinking about the book after I completed my MBA and expanded the center after buying the building. And I was like, ‘Okay. We’re going to survive this thing.’ At that point I was in the busi-
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my first taste at business.”
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Aysha Treadwell is releasing her new book Passion and Strategy go Hand in Hand, wherein she invites readers to learn from her experience and hardearned lessons as an entrepreneur and long-time business owner in Snellville.
ness for five years, and I had been through more than most, or I guess, more than I thought was normal or would have anticipated.” GC: If there was one moment that summed up your journey as an entrepreneur, what would that be? AT: “If I could choose one moment that really stands out, it would be when I purchased my building and expanded. I guess I had, you know, learned what to expect at that point.” GC: Your book offers a wealth of practical advice for entrepreneurs and business owners. The sections about creating an ‘exit strategy’ are particularly interesting. What is this and why do you think this is important for entrepreneurs to understand? AT: “It’s about asking the question, ‘Where are you now and where do you want to be?’ A lot of entrepreneurs, when building a business, assume that their children will take over. That’s not always the case [so you need to plan for the alternative]. I think I was first introduced to the concept at SBDC 2011 Growth Smart. And there, I learned that the first thing you want to do to pass on your business is scale it and grow it. Documenting your systems and where you want to go will help you strategize to work on your business, not in it.” GC: In your book, you trace your first experiences as an entrepreneur back to your childhood when you sold candy for a local store. Can you tell me a little about that? AT: “Yes. (Laughs) Growing up in Indiana, we had these neighborhood candy stores. As a kid, I would go there and buy blow pops, and the owner said, ‘Why don’t you sell these at school and bring me back a portion?’ The candy was cheaper if I did it that way, so that’s kind of how I got
GC: It seems you were, in a way, wired to be an entrepreneur. Do you believe that most business owners are born to be entrepreneurs? AT: “You have to be a certain kind of individual. You have to be wired with risk-taking abilities, wanting to do it all yourself in the beginning. You have to be able to entrench yourself in your dream. So, I do think you have to be born with certain qualities that make you want to take those risks.” GC: You tried a variety of different business endeavors before starting McKinley Community Care. When you found the senior care industry, did you feel like you had finally found your calling?” AT: “Like I say in the book, it kind of found me. Through unique situations, it was presented to me, and out of love for our senior community, I decided I was going to be the one to show what senior care with heart looks like.” GC: In one chapter, you describe the team-building and hiring process. After all these years, do you consider yourself an expert? AT: “I know how to identify which people are better for certain jobs. People can sell themselves as one role or another, but we do have staff conduct meetings where I explain our expectations. I won’t hold it against someone personally for not being able to meet those expectations, but I have zero tolerance for anything less. And I always understand if someone wants to spread their wings and fly.”
GC: What are the most important lessons for creating a sustainable business? AT: “No fear. Fail fast in some areas, and if they are not going to work, nip it! Do it with ease and love. I like the pace I’m at now. The pace of your life has to be with ease and love.” GC: How long did it take you to write the book? AT:“I started in January with a different focus, but then I went back and completely rewrote it to have a different focus. So, it was really two months to write this version.” GC: Was the writing process ever emotionally difficult? Were you glad to finish? AT: “The easy part was writing about the business, and the hardest was writing about myself. But I carved out time every night. And when I was done, I was like, ‘Yay. I have this time back again!’ I only finished the final draft today.”
AT: “Yes. I’d like to write stories about our senior citizens and caretakers and what they go through. I see these couples come in and it’s amazing to watch all the love they have and the love that they’re losing. One thing I’ve really learned from the senior care industry is what real love looks like.” The Passion and Strategy go Hand in Hand book launch will be held July 26, 2019 from 6:30 to 11 p.m. The event will take place at The Vines Mansion located at 3500 Oak Grove Road SW, Loganville, Ga. 30052. Entry is free, and the charge for a signed book copy is $15. Treadwell invites the entire community to come celebrate and bring their enthusiasm for business as she shares hers with family, friends, neighbors and supporters. She welcomes anyone everyone interested in expanding their business. RSVP for the event here: https:// ayshatreadwellbooklaunchevent. eventbrite.com.
GC: What do you believe business owners will find most helpful in reading your book? AT: “First, I want to help them resonate with their WHY and implement strategies to help them reach wherever they want to go. GC: Do you plan on writing more books?
GC: It seems you’re a glasshalf-full kind of person. Do you think that’s an important trait for business owners? AT: “Very much so. If you’re going to sit there and think of all the things you’re doing wrong, how are you going to focus on the necessary pieces to reach your dream?” GC: In another part of your book, you talk about finding a work/life balance to spend time on yourself and with your family. How did you find that balance? AT: “There were several things that helped with that. After finishing my MBA, I got 20 hours back in my week, so rather than going and working those 20 hours, I asked myself, ‘How can I take that time for me and my family?’ So, I started taking golf lessons. You have to know how to prioritize. You have to give yourself time to pause. A lot of people won’t make that time, but I think it’s critical for your longevity.”
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Aysha Treadwell is launching her first book on July 26, 2019.
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July 2019
Power Up your Shades 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 specific times of day to operate without even touching a button. We can even answer the
Joan Miller
The Blind Ladies
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
CarMax to Open Customer Experience Center in Peachtree Corners The center will bring over 300 new jobs to the city. By Staff Reports CarMax, the United States’ largest retailer of used cars and Fortune 500 company, announced recently it is opening a new Customer Experience Center in Peachtree Corners creating over 300 new jobs. Over the next few months CarMax will hire customer experience consultants, assistants and managers to work at the new center located at 5707 Peachtree Parkway.
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. The newspaper, a free publication, is direct mailed to 3 geographic zones in Gwinnett County containing hyper-local news pertinent to each community for a total monthly distribution of 60,000 printed copies in Gwinnett County.
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July 2019
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L-R: 2nd from left Peachtree Corners Councilmembers Phil Sadd and Weare Gratwick, 5th spot, Gwinnett County Board of Directors Chairman, Charlotte Nash, 6th position Commissioner Ben Ku, back right Nick Masino, Sr. VP of Economic Development & Partnership Gwinnett. The others are CarMax representatives.
CarMax said the center will offer a customer-driven buying experience that the company plans to scale nationwide. Through the center, customers can buy a car on their terms, whether they want to buy a car completely from home, in-store, or both. Employees at the new Customer Experience Center in Peachtree Corners will assist customers over the phone or online to help them find their ideal vehicle, navigate financing, and provide any assistance needed. “We are pleased to have CarMax’s new Customer Experience Center bring over 300 jobs to our city,” said Mayor Mike Mason. “As a regional job hub, our city continues to attract top-tiered businesses like CarMax.” CarMax has had an established presence in the Atlanta metro area for more than 20 years and currently employs approximately 2,000 Georgians. For 15 consecutive years, CarMax has been recognized as a “Fortune 100 Best Company to Work For.” The company was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. For employment information for the Peachtree Corners location, visit the CarMax website.
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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
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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.
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Having the right conversations 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.
July 2019
Rezoning opposition turns into community Fall Middle School Golf movement for a better Gwinnett and beyond League registration to open
July 2019
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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.
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 handson 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-inanybody’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 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 community 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 together 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
The Middle School Golf League has announced registration will open July 29 and will close on Aug 18 for the fall season for play to begin August 25. Parents can register their Middle School players by going to the Middle School Golf League website at: https://www.middleschoolgolfleague.com “We’re again excited about offering a fall season for the Middle School Golf League, said League Director Les Witmer. “Returning spring season players can pick up where they left off and new players to golf and to the league will get a chance to learn the game playing with their friends and classmates.” The Middle School Golf League is organized with parents registering through the South Gwinnett Athletic Association. Players are assigned teams based on middle school attendance and receive golf shirts with their middle school or feeder high school colors. According to Witmer this spring there were teams from Bay Creek, Couch, Crews, Creekland, Dacula, Five Forks, Loganville, McConnell, Shiloh and Trickum Middle Schools. “And we anticipate adding more middle schools this fall,” he added. “Also, we now have the interest and support of all these cluster high school golf coaches!” This past spring the MSGL teams played at Summit Chase Country Club and Country Club of Gwinnett in Snellville, Cedar Lake Golf Course in Loganville, and Collins Hill Golf Course in Lawrenceville, Trophy Club of Apalachee in Dacula and Providence and Bear Creek in Monroe. “Ball striking for a beginner golf-
er at any age can be frustrating, but this is the ideal time for someone to first pick up a golf club,” added Witmer, a long-time golf enthusiast. “We’ve developed a program that helps to teach these young golfers the rules and fundamentals of golf, and through team best ball play has provided a positive environment where everyone participates no matter whether just a beginner or an accomplished junior player,” added Witmer. “We begin the season with a clinic for all, an additional orientation for new and beginning players, a get organized and practice round for everyone and again have four weeks of team best ball play for all including a week where we invite high school players to play with each team and then introduce our players to stroke play where they play their own ball for an individual score, “ added Witmer. “ We will culminate our fall season again with the Drive, Chip and Putt competition, party and awards presentation.” According to league information, play is held on Sundays, normally at 4 p.m. with play beginning Sunday, Aug 25, off Labor Day Weekend, and then every Sunday through the end of Oct. Each team has a volunteer team “Marshall” who is responsible for team lineups and supervises the play on the course. Parents are welcome to walk or ride carts along the course as spectators but must remain on the cart paths. “At our registration site is a list of frequently asked questions and answers that address most every question that has come up, “ concluded Witmer. “Parents may register or learn more about the Middle School Golf League by going to www.middleschoolgolfleague.com.”
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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. “It’s all about the movement, about a community coming together,” said Rose. Once word about the rezoning got
By Staff Reports
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By Carole Townsend GwinnettCitizen.com
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.
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
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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 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.
July 2019
July 2019
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KIRBY continued from page 1 “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. Conrad had quite the following, too, but it wasn’t until after he passed
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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.
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 and understand.” Kirby’s journey with the Left-
wich 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.
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With humans who treat him more like family than a pet, Kirby Smart lives in “Dog Heaven.”
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
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. 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 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
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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.
July 2019
BAPS Charities donates items to Berkmar High School CARE Closet By Staff Reports Over the past three years, through the continuous support of the BAPS Charities, the CARE (The Community Assistance and Resource Effort) of Berkmar High School is able to serve students throughout the community. The CARE closet at Berkmar has been open for almost three full years and has been able to support over 100 students and their families. BAPS Charities has donated over 15,000 pounds of food/hygiene items. This has helped students gain access to the necessities during their time of need. The sustainability plan for CARE closet has been able to work through this partnership and this partnership has allowed the community to truly embrace the full spirit of CARE Closet by involving others in the process to positively affect the overall school culture. BAPS Charities is thrilled to be a continued supporter of this great effort to better the
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BAPS Charities & CARE serve students at Berkmar and throughou the community.
lives of local high school students. During a recent weekend of giving, BAPS Charities presented its
most recent donation to the Berkmar High School CARE Closet.
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Fall Middle School Golf League registration to open The Middle School Golf League has announced registration will open July 29 and will close on Aug 18 for the fall season for play to begin August 25. Parents can register their Middle School players by going to the Middle School Golf League website at: https://www.middleschoolgolfleague. com “We’re again excited about offering a fall season for the Middle School Golf League, said League Director Les Witmer. “Returning spring season players can pick up where they left off and new players to golf and to the league will get a chance to learn the game playing with their friends and classmates.” The Middle School Golf League is organized with parents registering through the South Gwinnett Athletic Association. Players are assigned teams based on middle school attendance and receive golf shirts with their middle school or feeder high school colors. According to Witmer this spring there were teams from Bay Creek, Couch, Crews, Creekland, Dacula, Five Forks, Loganville, McConnell, Shiloh and Trickum Middle Schools.
“And we anticipate adding more middle schools this fall,” he added. “Also, we now have the interest and support of all these cluster high school golf coaches!” This past spring the MSGL teams played at Summit Chase Country Club and Country Club of Gwinnett in Snellville, Cedar Lake Golf Course in Loganville, and Collins Hill Golf Course in Lawrenceville, Trophy Club of Apalachee in Dacula and Providence and Bear Creek in Monroe. “Ball striking for a beginner golfer at any age can be frustrating, but this is the ideal time for someone to first pick up a golf club,” added Witmer, a long-time golf enthusiast. “We’ve developed a program that helps to teach these young golfers the rules and fundamentals of golf, and through team best ball play has provided a positive environment where everyone participates no matter whether just a beginner or an accomplished junior player,” added Witmer. “We begin the season with a clinic for all, an additional orientation for new and beginning players, a get organized and practice round for everyone and again have four weeks of team best ball
play for all including a week where we invite high school players to play with each team and then introduce our players to stroke play where they play their own ball for an individual score, “ added Witmer. “ We will culminate our fall season again with the Drive, Chip and Putt competition, party and awards presentation.” According to league information, play is held on Sundays, normally at 4 p.m. with play beginning Sunday, Aug 25, off Labor Day Weekend, and then every Sunday through the end of Oct. Each team has a volunteer team “Marshall” who is responsible for team lineups and supervises the play on the course. Parents are welcome to walk or ride carts along the course as spectators but must remain on the cart paths. “At our registration site is a list of frequently asked questions and answers that address most every question that has come up, “ concluded Witmer. “Parents may register or learn more about the Middle School Golf League by going to www.middleschoolgolfleague.com.”
Divorced? Separated? We Understand - You Don’t Have To Go Through It Alone By Joette Segars Separation and divorce are among life’s most difficult, painful and stressful experiences. Healing is not easy, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Unless you’ve been there, it’s hard to understand the hurt that comes from separation and divorce. That’s why many of your friends and family don’t fully under-
July 2019
stand what you are going through and don’t know how best to help you. We do. Our DivorceCare group is led by people who have been through divorce and successfully rebuilt their lives. We understand how you feel because we’ve been in the same place. We’ll show you how to deal with the hurt caused by your separation or divorce. If you are in need of an ongoing support team, then join the next 13-week group session of DivorceCare which will begin Sunday, August 18, 2019, 4:00 p.m., in the Faith Annex at Lilburn First Baptist Church, 770-921-1220, 285 Main
Street, Lilburn, GA. 30047. Seminar sessions include “What’s Happening to Me?,” “Facing My Anger,” “Facing My Loneliness,” “Depression,” “New Relationships,” “KidCare,” and “Forgiveness”. Child Care (through 5th grade) will be provided upon request. For contact information, visit www. divorcecare.org and click on ‘Find a Group’. You may also visit www.firstbaptist. net and click on Ministries>DivorceCare.
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CITY continued from page 1 pillar are five sculptures representing each of the Armed Forces and one sculpture to honor the veterans of the National Guard, Federal Reserves and Merchant Marines. Kent Feuerbach of KLF Hardscapes built the plaza and granite bases for the sculptures which were donated by renowned artist Chad Fisher. The monument also features an interactive component that allows visitors an opportunity to hear veterans narrate their own stories via a kiosk at the monument entrance. The monument plaza includes engraved stone benches and is lined with customized brick pavers donated by families and friends. To get this project off the ground, it would require a strong leader, dedicated board members and nearly 50 volunteers to propel it to completion. It required countless meetings, fundraisers, and many hours of outreach efforts. Led by Bob Ballagh, a long-time resident and retired Army colonel, the Peachtree Corners Veterans Monument Association was formed. The men and women of this non-profit organization oversaw the design of the monument and sculptures, its location, corresponded and scheduled the veteran interviews which would be the interactive component of the monument and countless other details. “It took close to 40 or 50 volunteers,” said Bob Ballagh. “We had nine board members, all contributed in some way, and a core volunteer group who kept track of the veterans and communicated with them via mass email and another who managed the orders for the engraved pavers.” The design for the layout of the pavers was done by Eagle Scout can-
All photos by Jason Getz
Friends, families, veterans, dignitaries, city leaders and hundreds of well-wishers joined the ceremony that featured all the pump and circumstance of a military fair.
didate Troy McGahren, who came up with a systematic design so that visitors could easily locate the personalized bricks using the kiosk app. More than 800 separate private donations from 646 individuals or businesses contributed yielding more than $429,000 in private donations to date. The paver count, 705 thus far, represent veterans from the American Revolution to the current operations in the Middle East, Four Prisoners of War from WWII and Korea and three Medal of Honor
awardees. “We had tremendous support from our local businesses,” said Ballagh. “Their support and help with everything from waiving cost for printing and video services, architectural concept drawings, legal services, kiosk and app package, and electrical work. We also offer our gratitude to Chad Fisher who donated his artistic talent and love of sculpture with his gift of the seven bronze sculptures.”
Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners Partners with Smart City Expo Atlanta By Staff Reports Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners today announced its strategic partnership with Smart City Expo Atlanta (SCATL) and the grand opening of its 5G enabled autonomous vehicle and smart city living laboratory on the first day of the conference. SCATL is the only U.S. edition of Smart City Expo World Congress held annually in Barcelona. The conference will bring together more than 2,500 attendees, 200 speakers and 50 exhibitors at the Georgia World Congress Center from Sept 11-13, 2019 to discuss the state of “smart cities” and the technological trends driving their success. Curiosity Lab is a publicly funded, real-world living laboratory and testbed featuring a one and a half mile autonomous vehicle test track within a 500 acre commercial office
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park. The Lab offers companies the opportunity to transition unique, innovative technologies from controlled environments into an active community. “Startups and mature companies around the world are interested in using the Lab’s test track to better understand how their technology operates in a suburban community with people working and living around them,” said Brian Johnson, City Manager for Peachtree Corners. “Our partnership with Smart City Expo Atlanta offers companies the opportunity to demonstrate their technology firsthand and jumpstart the Expo. It will also provide citizens and conference attendees a glimpse of what the future test site will look like.” Conference attendees are invited to view live demos the morning of September 11th and can expect to see drones, autonomous vehicles
and other innovative technologies moving about. There are a limited number of demo slots available, but companies looking to secure a spot can submit a proposal to info@curiositylabptc.com. “As the Southeast’s largest and most advanced technology hub, Atlanta is a natural location for the development of IoT, mobility, and smart city technology,” said Aarti Tandon, Co-Founder and CEO of Smart City Expo Atlanta. “Our partnership with Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners is a transformative way to exhibit real-world IoT technology in action and will help conference attendees visualize the future of their communities. We are thrilled to be working together on this cutting-edge demonstration.” Those looking to attend Smart City Expo Atlanta can use coupon code UILXATL for a 20 percent discount per ticket here.
July 2019
Brodie Mullin competes in Atlanta Music contest By Staff Reports 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
July 2019
Customer-owners learn co-op seeks to lessen Vogtle impact Board chair shares information on nuclear plant at annual meeting By Staff Reports
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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 o die-mullin To purchase tickets for the show, visit https://www.bigtickets.com/e/thevistaroom/celebration-of-music/
Customer-owners participating in Walton Electric Membership Corporation’s (EMC) Annual Meeting on June 15 learned that the cooperative’s board has been planning for Plant Vogtle’s impact for years. “Even though Vogtle’s impact is still somewhat unsure, your board has been actively and aggressively pursuing any way possible to lessen its effect,” said Board Chair Sam Simonton. “We’ve been looking at this issue for years, continually adjusting our response as we learn new information.” The remarks came during a yearly address to fellow customer-owners where the board chair reports on the state of the business. “Although we’re doing everything we can, including putting money aside to lessen the impact, Plant Vogtle is going to raise our electric bills some. How much that’s going to be is still up in the air, but our best estimates right now are around eight to 12 percent,” said Simonton. “Every electric consumer in Georgia, no matter where they get their power, is going to see an increase in what they pay.” Simonton reminded those in attendance that the board’s primary focus is to watch out for customer-owners’ interests and keep that ideal in mind as the basis of every decision. CEO Ronnie Lee updated customer-owners on the progress of serving the state’s largest electrical load, the Facebook Newton Data Center, that provides statewide benefits. “We executed contracts for two solar facilities in South Georgia to supply the renewable energy [for the data center],” said Lee. “The two farms will generate more than 800 jobs and add substantial money to each county’s tax income. The total investment will reach more than $230 million.” “Our cooperation with Facebook is being noticed by other companies locating in and near our area. They’ve seen how we met Facebook’s needs and are interested in having your cooperative serve their facilities as well. Every one of these contracts benefits us all,” said Lee. Lee informed the crowd that Walton EMC had a community impact of nearly $20 million in 2018 through the combination of various charitable programs (like
gwinnettcitizen.com
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Walton EMC Board Chair Sam Simonton reminded those attending the Walton EMC Annual Meeting that the board’s primary focus is to watch out for customer-owners’ interests and keep that ideal in mind as the basis of every decision.
School EmPOWERment Grants, Operation Round Up, employee charities and corporate donations) and local taxes. Also during the business session, customer-owners re-elected three directors – Billy Ray Allen of the Mountain Park district, Johnny Allgood of the Southwest Walton district and Dawn Taylor of the Five Forks-North Snellville district. Customer-owners showed great interest in new and updated exhibits as well as new attractions in the children’s area. They also enjoyed annual meeting traditions like free ice cream, soft drinks, door prizes and entertainment. The answer to the most-asked question after the annual meeting, “Who won the truck?” is Edward and Shelley Lynn of Watkinsville. The Lynns received the keys to a recycled pickup truck retired from the Walton EMC fleet. Walton EMC is a customer-owned electric utility that serves 130,000 accounts across 10 Northeast Georgia counties between Atlanta and Athens. Its
primary focus is providing exceptional service at the lowest possible cost.
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What happened to customer service?
Bill York
Nonagenarian While training employees at Sears Roebuck I recall the instruction manual. When there’s a complaint employees are told to apologize first, determine the problem and satisfy the customer’s complaint. At York Furs a client justifiably complained about a restyle I did on her mother’s old fur coat. I quickly returned her money then suggested I make pillows and hats so she could be near her mother’s favorite mink, and at no cost. After three strokes I gave my Ithaca 20 gauge shotgun to a son. I bought it in 1953. With abundant wildlife on the farm we rarely had to go to the meat market. To provide my son and his wife with a training session I could not recall some vital facts about the gun so I called a nearby sporting company and asked for the gun department. For several minutes I heard a voice telling me what a superb company it is, and how many charities in which they are involved. Every few minutes a voice informed me that someone would be with me shortly. Impatiently after too many rings I hung up and called another of that
store only to be annoyed by the same promotional pitch. The experience reminded me of trying to get the price on a lawnmower from a major retailer. I was told often that someone would be with me shortly. I was curious as to how long the connection would take and since I’m retired I have some available time to be a complete nuisance. After many un-answered rings to their mower department, interrupted by a voice saying someone would be with me shortly I erupted with some incendiary naval vernacular and considered buying some cows and goats. Instead I called their main competitor only to discover that they also had no employees to answer an inquiry by a person ready to buy a lawn mower. Hoping to accomplish my objectives I telephoned another store, and asked for their gun department. A man answered on the second ring. I asked him how many shells I could load in an Ithaca model 37 20 gauge pump gun. “We don’t sell the Ithaca but the Browning is about the same,” the man said. “It holds one shell in the chamber and four in the breech.” What a difference employee training makes. With the most professional customer service program in retail I can’t understand why Sears is closing so many stores. If I still had my fur shop I would try to hire the guy. He’d be a super mink salesman. Bill is a 93-year old WW II Navy veteran and retired President of York Furs in Buckhead. You can contact him by email at Sioux2222@gmail.com
FREEDOM continued from page 1 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-forword.” 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 dialects. 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 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
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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.
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 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.
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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.
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July 2019
Holtkamp Heating & Air celebrates 25th Anniversary with celebration
Chiggers can cause misery during the summer months
By Staff Reports Holtkamp Heating & Air is excited to invite the public for an Open House and Arts Celebration in their new, energy efficient headquarters on I-85 in Suwanee. On July 28th from 1-5pm, attendees can enjoy tours of the new facility, food and drink, raffle prizes, kids’ face painting and much more. As part of the Open House, the Holtkamps will also be celebrating the arts by having a gallery of artwork throughout their office, all created by some of the area’s most talented artists. Their large mural project will also be under way on the outside of the building, giving the public a chance to see this art piece up close and in progress.
Tim Daly
Gwinnett County Extension Agent
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Matthew Holtkamp, Owner, Holtkamp Heating & Air
Artwork by Yesha Panchal.
‘Cool with the Arts’ Open House Sunday, July 28, 1-5pm 60 Old Peachtree Road NE Suwanee, GA 30024 Featured artists include: • Vivian Antonini, painter, sculptor • Michael Montgomery, illustrator, painter • Margaret Agner, silk painter • Yesha Panchal, ceramics • And more… “Since our founding nearly 25 years ago, we’ve always been committed to the arts and our community, and we’re pleased to partner with Artworks Gwinnett, the North Gwinnett Arts Association and the Hudgens Center for Art & Learning as we open the doors of our brand new building to the public and help connect citizens with beautiful, inspirational art.” said Suzanne Holtkamp, VP
Artwork by Vivian Antonini.
Marlene Ratledge Buchanan Hey Y’all
What accent? ME? No, you have the accent. Have you ever noticed that those of us from here—the southern part of the United States—are often told by strangers that they love our accent? When I worked as a high school counselor I registered a lot of children from many places. Almost all of them told me they loved my accent. Y’all, if we are from here, we
July 2019
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of Marketing & Operations. “This open house will give local families a chance to see our new space while also celebrating many of the incredibly gifted artists located right here in community.” For more information or to RSVP, please visit www.HoltkampHVAC.com/OpenHouse.
I love your accent.
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DON’T have an accent. They do. They are from off somewhere else. Granted the way we speak in North Georgia is different from South Georgia. The Atlanta metropolitan area is rapidly losing that pronounced southern drawl because of all the newcomers. Listen to the speed of our language. The closer to Atlanta, the faster it is. Go down to the most southern areas and there is still a drawl. Of course, now you have to find someone who is actually born and raised in those territories. I blame air conditioning for all the new transplants. In some places they think “Y’all” is an abomination and make fun of us. Y’all is a much more gentle way of say “Youse guys.” “HI” is a harder form of “Hey”. Doesn’t “Hey Y’all” sound a lot nicer greeting than “Hi, Youse guys?” Personally I prefer the slower, softened approach. It just sounds more gracious. Mama was from Eastman, Geor-
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Artwork by Michael Montgomery.
gia. That is in the hotter part of the state in South Georgia. You may notice that the hotter the territory the slower home grown folks speak. Sometimes we drop letters like g. It is hot. It takes effort to talk and it can be the drawl was drawn out so long that the softer letters at the end of word just fell off. Daddy’s mother was from Rome, Georgia. His daddy grew up in Atlanta. They were born in the late 1880 and early 1990. There wasn’t as much migration from other parts of the United States to Georgia. Their language patterns were still pure from their birth zone. Daddy grew up in Atlanta. I was born and raised in Atlanta with a blend of southern drawl and a crisper Atlanta speech pattern. I am a blend of the two, with a little more southern honey poured on top. I owe that honey to Rosa Cofield. Rosie helped raise me. She was the most delightful person. She was originally
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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 digestive 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 disfrom the coastal South Carolina area. She met her husband Oliver during World War II and moved to Atlanta after he was released from service. He was shot to hell and back. He came home and Rosie saved him physically and emotionally. She nursed and raised him back to a more healthy man. So I am a little bit Coastal South Carolina, a lot Atlanta, but mostly South Georgia. Now, that is not an accent. That is from being brought up in the South. Think about the influences on your speech and the words you choose. If Rosie could say something in three words she used seven. I find that I do that, too. Concise is a word I am going do one day. But it is going to
turbed, 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. take me some time to get there. So what’s your blend? Think about it. Who do you sound the most like? Are you a blend or are you more one parent than another? Does your cousin who was reared somewhere else sound like you or one of your parents? The next time someone tells you they love your accent, just smile. They are from off somewhere else and they don’t know. We’re from here. We have no accent. They do. Just welcome them in your most gracious southern manner and let them know they are as close heaven as they are going get for a while. We hope. Bye, y’all.
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