MAY 2025: (BLUE) Our Town Gwinnett Monthly Magazine for Gwinnett/NE DeKalb

MAY 2025 Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine

Our Town GWINNETT

Lawrenceville | Snellville | Lilburn | Stone Mountain | Tucker

Up Close with Lettum Eat! Inc., see story on page 5.

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We can help you plan to overcome any obstacles you may face as a woman preparing for retirement.

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Investment Advisor Representatives offering securities and advisory services through Cetera Advisors LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor, Broker/Dealer, member FINRA, SIPC. Green Financial and Cetera Advisors are not affiliated. Green Financial Resources 2014-2024 Best of Gwinnett Awards issued by Gwinnett Magazine. Winners chosen by a combination of readers’ votes and editors’ input across more than 20 business sectors. Results are further vetted through available info, such as Better Business Bureau records. Multiple winners in each sector may finish as “Best”, “Among the Best”, or “Ones to Watch”, depending on the size of the market sector. Awards do not guarantee future results, nor are they an endorsement by any client. No compensation was provided directly or indirectly for these awards. Since 1997, located at 3700 Crestwood Pkwy, Ste 140, Duluth GA 30096

May 2025 Our Town Gwinnett

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On the Cover:

Catching Up with Lettum Eat!

By Kristen Eleveld Many Gwinnett community members have already heard of Chef Hank, a professional chef in Snellville who has run the gamut of experience in the food service industry for over three decades. After running multiple restaurants and owning his own in the Snellville community, Chef Hank felt God’s call to take his talents where they could be most useful: feeding people in need.

Now, nearly six years later, Lettum Eat! has given those experiencing food insecurity an opportunity to have some incredible home-cooked meals.

Partnerships with several Gwinnett County High School Culinary Programs, including North Gwinnett High School and Maxwell High School, have been a huge blessing. Currently, students hone their skills by prepping ingredients that Chef Hank will use for his free meal distributions in serving the community.

The partnerships are a win-win: the students are helping serve a need while practicing their skills.

“We’re definitely in a growth phase,” said Chef Hank, to make Lettum Eat! an efficient and effective non-profit organization.

Most recently, they could be found expanding their territory in Augusta, Georgia and Newland, North Carolina, bringing meals to over 400 people in each location after the most recent hurricane devastated multiple communities.

Through their partnerships with other non-profits like the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Lettum Eat! is able to ensure they can continue to serve the tens of thousands of meals they give out each year. Joining efforts with Trinity Table in Atlanta to serve meals to the unhoused and North Gwinnett Co-op to give a hot meal to their clients, along with many other non-profits, lends to the cohesiveness of what all these organizations are trying to accomplish.

“We’ve been able to continue serving in the same capacity, serving members with food insecurity,” said Chef Hank. “And we have recently expanded to serving extended stay motels in Stone Mountain and Lilburn.”

Lettum Eat! has also purchased three modular classroom trailers that are currently undergoing renovations to be converted into modular production kitchens, or MPKs. These community production kitchens

May 2025 Our Town Gwinnett

will serve as a hub for Lettum Eat! to produce the volume of meals needed.

“Having our own production kitchens will allow us to focus on providing even more nutritional meals to those suffering from food insecurity in our communities,” said Chef Hank.

Lettum Eat! is expanding their territory into Walton County by purchasing a small farm to further support the non-profits’ sustainability and focus. Another idea being explored is partnering with small local farmers, as well as giving them the opportunity to crop share while supporting the efforts of Lettum Eat! “We just want to meet the need that has been laid out before us,” said Chef Hank. “With any obstacle we face, it just tells me I still have a lot of work to do. This is the lane God has put me in.”

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Our Town Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine

— An EndResultz Media Company EndResultz.com Our Town Gwinnett is published and direct mailed to select homes in the Gwinnett/NE DeKalb area. Opinions expressed by the writers and staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our Town Gwinnett reserves the right to edit and/or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our Town Gwinnett is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers.

Entire contents copyright 2025 by Our Town Gwinnett. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.

Publisher/Owner Dr. Ryan T. Sauers Ryan@EndResultz.com

Cover Photography Emil Powella Photography

Creative Director Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultz.com

Distribution Coordinator Holly Cooks

Editor Catherine L. Osornio Editor@EndResultz.com

Cover Story Feature Writer Kristen Eleveld

Feature Writers Victoria R. Crosby Tana Poncsak Traci Sanders

Contributing Writers Jane Bishop Bill Crane

IN THIS ISSUE 5 On the Cover: Catching Up with Lettum Eat! 7 From the Publisher: Ryan’s Remarks 7 Ebullience…A Word for Your Day 8 Military Appreciation Month: Five Ways to Show Your Support 9 One Man’s Opinion: Trade Wars 10 Lilburn Girl Scout Day Camp Celebrates the Summer with a Prehistoric Party Theme 10 Community Member Spotlight: Lora Sandler Talks Books and More 11 Seen in Gwinnett: Emil’s Photos of the Month 13 Up Close with Books and Brew 14 Retirement Matters: Taking on New Hobbies

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From the Publisher:

Ebullience…A Word for Your Day

Ryan’s Remarks

By Jane Bishop

Well, hello, May 2025! The birds are singing, graduation caps are flying, and summer is approaching. So, I figured there’s no better time to revisit something we all think about but rarely master: how we use our time.

No matter who you are, whether you are a CEO, student, soccer parent, or all three at once, time is the one resource we all get in equal measure. It’s also the one thing we can’t buy back once it’s gone. As we step into longer days and lighter schedules (maybe), let’s take a moment to re-center on how we can make time work for us, not against us.

In fact, I’ve got an acronym for you—because who doesn’t love a good acronym? Let’s talk about TIME and how these four simple concepts can help us reclaim our days and reenergize our goals.

T — Take control You’re the boss of your calendar. Not your inbox. Not your group texts. And certainly not your 17th “urgent” Zoom invite of the week. Be proactive, not reactive. Prioritize like a pro and practice the powerful art of saying “no” to the noise. The clearer your yeses, the stronger your nos.

I — Invest in yourself Self-care isn’t selfish, it’s strategic. You can’t pour from an empty coffee mug (or energy tank). Fuel your body, rest your mind, and move your feet.

Whether it’s a brisk walk, a good meal, or ten deep breaths between meetings— invest in the best asset you’ve got: you.

M — Manage your tasks Let’s ditch the endless to-do list for a focused action plan. Break goals into bite-sized wins. Tackle the big rocks first—one task at a time, all in.

Multitasking might look impressive, but it usually just means doing multiple

Spring has always been my favorite season. There’s something magical about the way daffodils and tulips rise from the soil, how fresh green leaves unfurl on trees, and how the world seems to exhale into bloom again. It’s a quiet kind of wonder that evokes joy, hope, energy.

That’s where the word ebullience comes in.

Ebullience is one of those words that feels like a little celebration. It means being cheerful and full of energy—bubbling over with enthusiasm. Its roots lie in the Latin word ebullire, “to bubble out,” and doesn’t that just sound like spring?

Life has seasons, too. The world gets heavy, and our joyful spirit—our ebullience—can quietly slip into dormancy, like flowers under winter snow. We go on, but something feels parked, paused, or disconnected. Lately, I’ve been in a season of reset—a time to slow down, breathe, and realign. And in this gentle, personal springtime, I’m beginning to rediscover my own ebullient spirit. It’s not a dramatic burst of energy; it’s a slow, steady reawakening. Like buds on a tree, my ebullience is emerging once again.

As someone who lives out of a “positive interrupter” mindset—always striving to lead with optimism—I’ve come to realize that even our brightest parts sometimes need tending. Sometimes, we have to brush off the dust, open the windows of our heart, and let in fresh air.

Rediscovering ebullience is not about forcing a smile or pretending everything’s okay. It is about reconnecting with what makes your spirit come alive.

It’s about allowing space for wonder, play, and spontaneity. and letting that energy bubble back up to the surface.

I invite you to rediscover your own ebullience. Here are 3 steps to get started:

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Continued on page 12

By Dr. Ryan T. Sauers

@RyanTSauers

@RyanTSauers

May 2025 Our Town Gwinnett

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Military Appreciation Month: Five Ways to Show Your Support

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff

U.S. military service members are ready to be called upon at any time to protect the country, and May, which is Military Appreciation Month, is the perfect opportunity to express gratitude for their sacrifice.

Military Appreciation Month was initially recognized by a U.S. Senate resolution in 1999. Although the entire month is designated to honor past and present military members and their families, several holidays are sprinkled throughout the month that honor service members: Loyalty Day, VE Day, Military Spouse Appreciation Day, Mother’s Day, Armed Forces Day, and Memorial Day. “This year, in particular, many more service members are overseas supporting NATO due to the war in Ukraine,” says Christopher Plamp, United Service Organizations (USO) senior vice president of Operations, Programs, and Entertainment and an Air Force veteran. “These deployments should be a

reminder to all Americans of the importance of expressing our gratitude to the men and women in the military who sacrifice so much for us.”

With its long history of keeping America’s military service members connected to family, home, and country, the USO is providing five ideas for how to honor and support service members and their families.

1. Say “Thank You.” The simplest way to support service members is to thank them for their service. According to the Blue Star Families 2022 Military Family Lifestyle Survey, only one-third of active-duty families feel a sense of belonging to their local civilian community. You can send service members a message of support and encouragement through the USO’s website.

“Acknowledging the immense challenges of military life can have a positive impact,” says Plamp. “The simple act of thanks can show military members that their work is valued and appreciated.”

2. Send a Care Package. Sending care packages with snacks and hygiene products lets service members know that the American people are thinking of them, even from thousands of miles away. The USO Care Package program simplifies sending military care packages, which can be complicated. You can support this program by making a monetary donation to the USO. Another option is to check out the USO Wishbook, where you can select from a catalog a symbolic gift, such as a USO Care Package, to be sent to service members. In 2022, the USO delivered 200,000 of these care packages globally.

3. Support Military Spouses. Deployments are challenging for military spouses. Aside from being separated from their loved ones, military spouses must also shoulder household responsibilities alone. For military families with children, this can be even more difficult. Offer to cook a family dinner or pick up groceries. Even simply asking how they are doing can make a difference.

4. Volunteer. Many challenging but rewarding volunteer opportunities are available to serve the men and women in uniform, including with the USO, where you will see the impact of your support firsthand. Many USO locations need volunteers who can facilitate programs and events and help ensure the military community has the resources and support they need to carry out their missions.

5. Donate. Show your support through the annual USO T-shirt campaign, which raises funds for the USO’s mobile and center operations, programs, and

Continued on page 15

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One Man’s Opinion: Trade Wars

By Bill Crane

The American people have long demonstrated antipathy towards tariffs and duty fees. In Boston on December 16, 1773, in response to increasing tariffs on tea under the monopoly control of Great Britain, American colonists, disguised as native Americans, boarded the Dartmouth, a British ship owned by the East India Tea Company, and dumped 342 chests of tea imported from China into Boston Harbor.

The self-labeled Sons of Liberty would later proclaim, “No taxation without representation.”

Later, President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt broke up a number of large monopoly industries and trusts while substantially reducing tariffs, which were a large source of federal tax revenue at the time. This set the stage for the creation and implementation of the federal income tax in 1913.

Post-World War I, the costs of the Great War, in lives and government treasuries, caused many nations of the world to consider nationalist and protectionist policies, in part to isolate themselves in the event of another future global conflict. The United States was among those countries considering such an internal-facing economic turn.

The League of Nations, a precursor to the United Nations, was formed in 1920 in Paris and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, to promote world peace. President Woodrow Wilson was a primary advocate for the League’s creation to maintain peace, though the U.S. never became a member.

Wilson was a Democrat, and the Republican Party of that day opposed the growing trend of free trade and the League of Nations. Thanks in part to the Industrial Revolution, the U.S. had a strong trade surplus, but as the country headed into a recession in 1929, there were beliefs that foreign trade was stealing American jobs.

In October 1929, the stock market crashed, rippling across global financial

markets. U.S. Senator Reed Smoot, a Mormon “prophet” businessman and Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, proposed a series of high tariffs and duties on 20,000 durable goods being imported into the United States.

Working with House Ways and Means Chairman Congressman Willis Hawley, the pair crafted the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act of 1930, which went into effect in June of that year. Duties on some popular imports were quadrupled. As the bill headed to President Herbert Hoover’s desk for signature, nearly 1,000 of the nation’s leading economists wrote a letter asking the president not to sign or veto it.

Though Hoover had previously been critical of the bill and tariffs in general, he signed it into law, beginning a global trade war. An outraged Canada placed a tariff of roughly 30 percent on American imports. The UK, France, and Germany immediately followed suit, either developing their own internal manufacturing capacity to replace American imports or locating alternative markets.

Global trade dried up, much of the world’s shipping fleet was mothballed, and new ship orders were cancelled. This, in turn, affected numerous other U.S. profit centers and industries, including steel production, fishing, farming, and manufacturing of all kinds. Along with the market crash and the present recession, the U.S. economy slid into the Great Depression.

Incoming President Franklin Delano Roosevelt faced economic meltdown and catastrophe. Speaking of the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, he said, that the U.S. had “...compelled the world to build tariff fences so high that world trade is decreasing to a vanishing point.”

From 1929 to 1933, U.S. exports plummeted by 61 percent, imports declined by 66 percent. The unemployment rate tripled from 8 percent to 25 percent. America’s aggregate wealth was nearly cut in half.

Though the negative impacts of the tariff hikes on allies and enemies alike were almost immediate, repairing this damage would take decades, both in terms of statecraft and rebuilding trust and U.S. trade markets. Until the U.S. joined the Allies in fighting World War II, when France was occupied by German forces and London was continually shelled, the U.S. had alienated itself from much of the rest of the world.

While I do not believe that the more immediate and ever-changing Trump Administration tariffs, duties, and taxes will have as immediate or drastic an impact, if the deal maker-in-chief cannot produce results quickly, the tariffs will become a net drag on the U.S. economy and consumer spending. U.S. export markets will shrink.

Time and again, our nation has been able to find the best path ahead, in part

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Snellville Events on the Towne Green

May 24

www.ExperienceSnellville.com

May 24

June 6

on the Lawn Food Truck Friday Memorial LiveFREE CONCERT 4-8 p.m. J Lee D Day Program 6-9 p.m.

4-8 p.m.

In front of Veterans Memorial

4 p.m. - Gwinnett Community Band 4:30 p.m. - Memorial Program May 2025 Our Town Gwinnett

6 p.m. - Gwinnett Community Band 7 p.m. - Chi-Town Chicago Tribute Band VIP Seating reservations at ExperienceSnellville.com

Tigi’s Cafe (Ethiopian) • Kona Ice 6 Pack Subs (Vietnamese) Paradiso Wood Fired Pizza Yaardie Eats • Hungray Man’s BBQ Lobster Dogs • Frozen Sweets PAGE 9

Lilburn Girl Scout Day Camp Celebrates the Summer with a Prehistoric Party Theme

By Tana Poncsak

With summertime just around the corner, many school-aged children are looking forward to the summer ritual—camp. And for many in Gwinnett, camp means Lilburn Girl Scout Day Camp.

Lilburn Day Camp started in 1982 with seventy-five campers and is still going strong more than forty years later with up to 350 campers in attendance before the pandemic. Kathy Lewis joined the camp in 2010 as one of the many volunteers, and she is now the director of the day camp. Kathy says being a part of the camp is more like being a part of a family.

“It’s awesome,” she says. “I love it. It’s so rewarding to watch the younger campers grow. Then many of those girls have now graduated high school, and they come back as leaders. Once you get involved with the camp, you want to keep coming back and stay part of the family. It’s just a really rewarding experience.”

Each year the campers help to decide the theme for the next year. On Thursday morning of camp week, they have a theme suggestion box. By the middle of that day, camp staff members review the suggestions for the most popular ones, and on Friday, the top suggestions are brought to the campers for

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Photo credit: Aleen Karakashian Photography

Community Member Spotlight: Lora Sandler Talks Books and More

By Tana Poncsak

Lora Sandler wanted to be a writer from the time she was a young girl. She was at an author event with her mother, and she asked the author, “How do I know what to write about?” Lora says the author looked her straight in the eye and answered, “Write about what you know.” That started her on a lifelong quest to learn as much as she could about anything and everything. “That’s how badly I wanted to write,” Lora says.

She started writing stories in a notebook, and she’s been writing stories ever since. Now as a published author, much of the content in her books comes from her own experiences. What she doesn’t know, she says she learns about it through research.

To date, Lora has self-published six different titles, including a children’s chapter book series and picture books.

“I like to describe them as wholesome,” she says, speaking about her books that include titles such as The Girl with Caterpillars in Her Hair, Sleep Well, Baby Girl, and Dream, and her chapter book series, Shannon, Molly, and Me, just to name a few.

Lora says writing is something that’s always been easy for her. But in addition to being an author, she’s also a nurse and a piano teacher, and has taught Spanish and is currently a Spanish tutor. So when it comes to writing, Lora’s biggest challenge is time.

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Seen in Gwinnett Emil’s Photos of the Month

May 2025 Our Town Gwinnett

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Lora Sandler Talks Books and More Cont’d from pg 10 “I have the fourth book of the series in my head,” she says. “I’m writing it and rewriting it in my head because I just haven’t had time to write out the initial manuscript.”

For Lora, family always comes first, whether it’s her husband, Bert, or their five children and seven grandchildren, or her parents. And it’s also family who has supported Lora and her writing career.

“My family is so kind,” she said. “They bought me my very own large iPad, and they got a screen protector that feels like paper with a special pen. On it they wrote, ‘Follow your dreams.’”

Lora doesn’t let anyone touch that iPad. It’s just for her work.

Lora has help from family members and others in the way of beta readers, proofreaders, and more, and then her husband helps her with many things, especially when it comes to technology.

“I hand him my manuscript and he, with some sort of technological grandeur and majesty that I could never possess, gets it formatted,” she says.

The formatting is part of the process that’s involved in self-publishing on the Amazon platform.

While Lora does the writing and editing of her books, as well as the illustrations for her chapter books, she says she has a fabulous illustrator for her picture books. It’s someone she says she watched grow up while attending the

same church.

“My illustrator is an amazing young woman,” Lora says. “She was just a little thing, and now she’s a grown woman, married and making me some beautiful drawings.”

Lora admits that writing can be a bit isolating, and one of her favorite things is getting out to events.

“I like meeting people,” she says. “I like meeting the youngsters and talking with them. It’s a huge part of who I am.”

She speaks at women’s organizations, schools, and more, and she says she loves visiting the classrooms.

“Those [events] are great for me, because having been a Spanish teacher and a piano teacher, I love the whole teaching environment,” she says. “I love standing in front of a classroom, and I especially love answering the kids’ questions.”

A third grader at one of the local elementary schools asked Lora if she ever had to edit her work. Her answer? Constantly.

“I’m editing it and reediting it and editing it again and proofreading it,” she says. “And even then, mistakes still happen. We’re all human.”

What’s next for Lora? More books are on the way. She has more ideas in store for her current readers, and fresh, new ideas for new genres and new audiences as well. You can find Lora’s books for sale on Amazon and at local events. You can also find Lora on social media platforms such as Facebook at Lora E. Sandler Author and on LinkedIn. Follow Lora E. Sandler for the latest information about her books, events, and more.

One Man’s Opinion: Trade Wars Continued from page 9 by looking at what did not work well in the past. The data is still there, but this point is not yet smooth.

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

Ebullience…A Word for Your Day Continued from page 7 • Pause and notice what brings you joy.

A walk in nature, a favorite song, laughter with a friend—these are sparks of ebullience waiting to be felt.

• Say yes to something spontaneous.

Let go of the schedule, even for a moment, and follow your curiosity.

Ebullience often hides in the unplanned.

• Let your energy shine.

Offer encouragement. Your energy, no matter how small, can be contagious, and giving it freely often multiplies it in return.

Be a positive interruption in someone’s day. People in your sphere of influence are watching, needing encouragement, and your renewed spirit might just be the inspiration and spark they’ve been waiting for.

More information at https://www.janebishoplive.com./

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Ryan’s Remarks Continued from page 7 things poorly. Let’s choose purpose over panic.

E — Eliminate distractions You know the culprits: buzzes, beeps, dings, pings. Time thieves dressed up as “digital friends.” Create zones of deep focus. Silence the noise. The world can wait twenty minutes while you lock in on what matters. Distraction is the enemy of depth.

The truth is, we all have time. We all have 168 hours each week, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The question is: Are we owning it or letting it slip away? Mastering time management isn’t about being busy—it’s about being intentional.

So, as we soak up the sunshine of May and look toward the halfway mark of this year (how did that happen?), let’s recommit to using our time wisely. When we take control, invest in ourselves, manage well, and eliminate distractions, we don’t just manage time. We magnify it.

Here’s to making this May magnificent. And as always, thank you for continuing with me on the journey of my town, your town—OUR TOWN!

Up Close with Books and Brew

By Victoria R. Crosby

When Irene Bethelmie retired after forty years in the medical field, she was pondering what the next chapter of her life would bring. Her daughter Quinelle and her boyfriend Nate, who both have law degrees, started to discuss the idea of a book shop, and they all partnered to create Books and Brew, a “home away from home where people can socialize, work, and find comfort throughout the day into the evening.”

Located at 4316 Lawrenceville Highway in Tucker, Books and Brew serves wine, beer, coffee, and tea, and delicious stews, with a choice of vegetable, beef, lamb, or chicken stew. The lamb stew is made with Guinness, which, as I grew up in England, is my favorite.

Quinelle is also an artist whose paintings hang on the walls and are for sale.

Although she has had no formal art training since high school, her artistic side is noticeably evident in her paintings, her poetry, her cooking, and the overall stylish design of the space with its tables, comfy chairs and couches, and a spectacular lighting fixture as you enter.

The shelves are filled with books that cover many subjects for adults and children, and include new and used books. Frequent events include books signings, a book club, and authors talking on popular topics.

“Out Loud with Beck” is an open mic night every other Friday from 7 p.m. until 9:30 p.m., and is led by poet Beck Duffield. She reads work from her book Letters from the Front, and invites others to read their own work or by their favorite poets. A diverse group of poets attend each session. Some are experienced with books of their own to sell, and some have never read in public before, but are encouraged and applauded for their courage. I have read inspirational, humorous, and British themed poetry from my own poetry books, and have found that the people who attend are also an appreciative audience of my three political, satirical, poetry books. My book of short stories Close Encounters of the Elvis Kind is now available on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Both Quinelle and Irene shared their poetry with the group in between serving food and drinks and selling books. Poets and writers of all experience levels are welcome to come and share some of their work.

Continued on page 15

May 2025 Our Town Gwinnett

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4. Number crunch: You don’t have to be in school to take up math as a hobby. There are plenty of recreational mathematicians of all ages who enjoy crunching numbers to work puzzles, compete in games, and uncover patterns in the real world.

5. Learn a language: Learning a new language not only creates new neural pathways in the brain, but it can also be just the motivational ticket you need to visit that bucket list destination you’ve finally been dreaming of. While formal lessons are great, you can help ensure your skills truly progress through conversation.

By taking on new hobbies and expanding your interests, you can create a retirement that is active, adventurous, and beneficial for your body, mind, and soul. (StatePoint)

Retirement Matters: Taking on New Hobbies

Lilburn Girl Scout Day Camp Continued from page 10

Retirement should be relaxing, not dull. Taking on new hobbies can keep your mind sharp and body vital as you age. Here are five ways to stay active in your golden years: 1. Join a gym: Joining a gym is one of the easiest ways to ensure you perform a mix of strength training and cardiovascular exercise. Doing both will help keep your bones and muscles strong, as well as your heart and lungs fully functional. Don’t forget to add yoga and stretching to promote balance and agility. If a gym is out of reach, explore other nearby opportunities to work up a sweat. Many towns and cities offer free and budget-friendly, community-based exercise programming.

2. Play music: Numerous cognitive and emotional benefits are associated with playing music. Whether you’re a beginner just looking to pick up the basics or a seasoned musician with hopes of performing in public, you can equip yourself to sound amazing with a high-quality instrument like the CT-S176 keyboard from Casio. It features 76 full-size keys and an upgraded 13-watt bass-reflex stereo speaker system with a surround effect, providing incredible sound quality and a dynamic playing experience.

3. Start a book club: It’s always more fun to read books when you can discuss them with friends. From tackling the classics to diving into non-fiction works that will challenge your perspective to enjoying some easy, breezy beach reads, the other members of the group must have the same reading goals as you. So do a little legwork in advance to ensure everyone is on the same page.

a vote. The one with the most votes is the theme for the next summer.

For 2025, Lilburn Girl Scout Day Camp will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. the week of June 2nd through June 6th at Lilburn City Park. This year the theme is Prehistoric Party, with daily dinosaur visits from Prehistoric Nation, fossil hunts, Jurassic jungle hikes, crafts, and more. Parents can expect their camper to be exhausted after a fun day of camp.

“And hopefully they’re going to talk their [parents’] ears off about what they did, and what they saw, and what they learned,” Kathy says.

And the campers? Along with learning songs, playing games, making new friends and bonding with the other campers, Kathy says they’ll have a blast learning scout skills and cooking outdoors, and for this year’s mad science project, campers will pull the DNA out of a strawberry.

“So there’s an educational component, too,” she explains.

With the hot Georgia summers, the camp staff stresses the importance of staying hydrated during the week of camp. Campers are encouraged to bring a refillable water bottle, and drinking water is provided throughout the day.

Chick-fil-A in Lilburn provides ice daily to help keep campers cool and hydrated. There’s also a plan in place in the event of inclement weather.

Lilburn Girl Scout Day Camp is for Girl Scouts who are rising first graders through seventh grade. Campers must be registered with the Girl Scouts to register and attend Lilburn Day Camp. Children, both boys and girls, of volunteers and staff members ages 3 and older may also register to attend.

More information at https://lilburndaycamp.org/ .

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff

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PAGE 14

Visit WagesandSons.com or call one of our locations today to learn more about how preplanning can protect your family.

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Military Appreciation Month Continued from page 8

Catching Up with Lettum Eat! Continued from page 5

entertainment, transition services, and more. The campaign also builds awareness and understanding of military families.

“From simple words of gratitude to hands-on volunteering, there are many ways to let service members who selflessly put their lives on the line every day know we value their service,” says Plamp. (StatePoint)

And, of course, the work they do would not be possible without their awesome team of dedicated board members and volunteers.

“God has given me the capacity to do what we’re doing. We’re not stopping,” said Chef Hank. “But we need help from the community.”

Specifically, the organization asks for prayers for Lettum Eat! and their ministry. In addition, donations and meal sponsorships are always needed. Or you can hire Certified Southern Catering, a benefit corporation to Lettum Eat! Inc. for your next event, as proceeds go back to Lettum Eat! in order to provide free meals to those suffering from food insecurity.

And, at the end of the day, Lettum Eat! just needs people who are willing to serve.

“It doesn’t take a lot of experience to want to help, no matter what walk of life they come from,” said Chef Hank.

If you’re interested in learning more, donating, volunteering, or any of the above, Chef Hank and his team are always ready to welcome you.

More information at https://lettumeat.com/, info@lettumeat.com

Up Close with Books and Brew Continued from page 13 Stop in and feel free to browse while enjoying a drink of your favorite brew, whether it’s wine, beer, coffee, or tea. You’ll be welcomed by Irene, Quinelle, or Nate, and possibly all three.

More information at www.booksandbrew.net or Instagram and Facebook @ thebooksandbrew

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Your child was born with curiosity.

Now is the best time to nurture it.

In the first five years, everything is big and exciting, and your child is learning by leaps and bounds. At Primrose School of Five Forks, we tap into the ways children learn best to help inspire a love of learning that will serve them for the rest of their lives.

Now Enrolling Ages 0-5 Primrose School of Five Forks 3030 River Drive Lawrenceville, GA 30044 770.985.0028 PrimroseFiveForks.com Each Primrose school is a privately owned and operated franchise.

Primrose Schools is a registered trademark of Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC. ©2025 Primrose School Franchising SPE, LLC. All rights reserved.

May 2025 Our Town Gwinnett

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