DECEMBER 2018: Our Town Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Monthly Magazine

DECEMBER 2018 Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine

Our Town GWINNETT

Lawrenceville Snellville Lilburn Stone Mountain Tucker

Up Close with Chick-fil-A Stone Mountain, see story on page 5

9 11 13 17

Humorous Brits: Invite the Parkview Band to 2020 London Parade Crane’s Corner: Civility Begins at Home Girls Take the Field: Gwinnett’s New Flag Football League Community Gathering Place: Kay Sands Outdoor Theatre

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Providence Christian Academy admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its admissions policies, educational policies, scholarship programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.

isJohn honored to beIV, we are committed to providing you with the high AtDr. the Simmons dental office of W. Simmons, comprehensive dental care, focused on both the function and beauty of your smile. A one of only nine dentists improving in patient care and comfort are our primary concerns. We are proud to run a practice that treats ea Georgia to have passed the kind, gentle, and caring manner, just like family. We offer a full range of the latest cosmetic a rigorous required to long-lasting, earn procedures thattesting concentrate on ensuring brilliant results you will love, and others

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On the Cover: How One Chick-Fil-A Restaurant Created a Community-Wide Impact

By Kristen Eleveld Cliff Daniels has literally spent a lifetime learning the ins and outs of running a restaurant – specifically, Chick-fil-A, a brand that has endeared itself to people nationwide for decades. So it should come as no surprise that the location he runs is one of the busiest and most successful businesses in the Stone Mountain area.

What started as a small operation has become a force for positivity and goodwill for everyone around.

And, as with all happy endings, it took a lot of work to make a dream a reality.

When Cliff came on as the operator for the Stone Mountain Chick-fil-A at the end of 2013, he saw a need for change. There was a lot of unrealized potential in many areas across the board. The first changes, however, were not the external ones. Cliff saw that his team needed to create a new mission and culture that truly emphasized their love and goodwill for their neighbors. A new mission statement was created – and people in the community took note. By 2017, it was evident that the community had embraced those changes.

While Cliff and the team welcomed the positive changes, the increased amount of service they were now providing made it increasingly difficult for the restaurant to serve all its customers with the speed, accuracy, and customer service that had made the brand so famous.

“There weren’t enough seats for our guests inside, and we were running out of parking spaces,” said Cliff. “People had to cross the drive-through area to come into the restaurant, which can be very dangerous.”

It was exceedingly clear that a change was needed if the Stone Mountain location wanted to serve its community to the best of its ability. Cliff and the Chick-fil-A corporate team put their heads together and came up with a plan. Instead of trying to fit their community within the current restaurant, they decided to build a restaurant that would fit their community.

The building itself was small, but sat on a larger patch of land that was also owned by Chick-fil-A. The Stone Mountain restaurant partnered with its corporate headquarters and the Gwinnett County Planning Division to design a new space that would offer more seating, better parking, and a more efficient drive-through area.

With an additional 2,000 square feet that also included a major kitchen renovation, the restaurant nearly doubled its capacity to make and serve the chicken they’re famous for – not to mention the seasonal milkshakes. They added refrigerators, fryers, grills, a dedicated dish cleaning area and isolated prep area, and a breakroom for team members, and they updated all the equipment for easier and Continued on page 8

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Our Town Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine

Publisher/Owner Ryan T. Sauers Ryan@EndResultZ.com Creative Director Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultZ.com Editor Catherine L. Osornio Editor@EndResultZ.com Cover Photographer Marcie Reif Photography Distribution Coordinator DeeDee Chapman Feature Writers Heidi Campbell K. Coats Kristen Eleveld Emily Haney Kim Hill Amy Ney Beth Volpert Johansen Jess Wells Contributing Writers Jane Bishop Bill Crane Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz Carol Tuttle Janice J. Wilmot, DDS

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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 2018 by Our Town Gwinnett. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.

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On the Cover: How One Chick-Fil-A Restaurant Created a Community-Wide Impact From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion Local Movie Review: Bohemian Rhapsody Captures the Essence of Queen Humorous Brits Officially Invite the Parkview Band to the 2020 London Parade College Spotlight: Gwinnett Tech Earns National Recognition for Veterans Services “G” Whiz! Spreading Good News with Melvin Everson Crane’s Corner: Civility Begins at Home Star Struck! – The Life of a Background Extra in Gwinnett Straight Talk: Age 7 is the Magic Number for an Orthodontic Check-Up Girls Take the Field: Gwinnett School’s New Flag Football League My Parent, My Teacher: What it’s Like When They are the Same Person Chaplain’s Corner: Big Steps, Small Starts!

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From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion @RyanSauers

By Ryan T. Sauers

Can you believe it’s December? This year seems to have flown by. Thanksgiving has come and gone, and now Christmas and the New Year are nearly upon us. It is hard to believe it is almost 2019. And, nearly two decades since Y2K. Time never stops.

I love this country and our freedom. This means we have the right to disagree with each other. However, I want to stress – when we do disagree – that we must actively listen more and talk less as the goal is always to find a place of agreement. Why? This allows the other person to feel fully heard out and understood. As the late Stephen Covey said, “Seek first to understand then to be understood.” Again, our goal should be to find common ground with others, and I think in most cases this is possible.

However, if we cannot achieve this, we must “agree to disagree” in an agreeable (not combative) manner. Nobody wins when everyone yells and tempers flare in person or online. The Golden Rule (which has roots in many religions) is based on the fact that we should treat others as we want to be treated. I challenge us ALL to do more of that. We can bring about positive change one relationship at a time.

We must always look for the best in each other, giving another a chance to be human beings first, and not some kind of “box” you check off that defines you (ex., age, gender, race, etc.). We are not boxes – we are special. We are all unique. We each have an important story and our own unique DNA. We all matter. Everyone! Let me say it again: WE ALL MATTER. I challenge you during this holiday season to dig deep, do your own research, reflect on your own worldview (what you truly believe), and don’t settle for letting the sensationalistic (often negative) media “tell you” what to believe or what should make you angry. Remember, for every person who is covered on the news doing something wrong, there are so many more people (getting little publicity) doing things right.

Continued on page 9

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Movie Review: Bohemian Rhapsody Captures the Essence of Queen

By Heidi Campbell Bohemian Rhapsody, written by Anthony McCarten and directed by Bryan Singer, hit the big screen on November 2, and has already grossed over $138 million at the box office. The film, just over two hours long, brilliantly explores the music and relationships of the members of the legendary rock band Queen.

The lead singer, Freddie Mercury, played by Rami Malek, is highlighted throughout as the front man, yet the film makes it clear that he cannot stand alone; the band is his family and he needs them.

Malek plays Mercury with uncanny accuracy. He not only looks like a mirror reflection of the late superstar, but he masters Mercury’s stage presence and mannerisms as well. Mercury is portrayed as the quintessential artist; he struggles throughout the film to run from his darkness, finding temporary solace in his wild, Dionysian lifestyle. He meets “the love of his life” Mary Austin, played by Lucy Boynton, and they get married. He cannot maintain this marriage, however, because he finds himself drawn to men. “Your life is going to be very difficult,” Mary tells him. And she was right. He struggles for years before he comes to terms with who he is.

The film follows the band as they work together to create new, cutting edge music. They want music that people will have to engage with, but their original manager, Ray Foster, played by Mike Meyers, doesn’t share their vision. When they play him their recording of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” he has no interest in it, declaring it is too long. Mercury leads his band out of his office and tells Foster that he (Foster) will forever be the man who lost Queen.

For fans of Queen, this film is spectacular. The backstory brings deeper understanding to some of their legendary songs, including the foot stomping behind “We Will Rock You,” the catchy disco beat of “Another One Bites the Dust,” and the pathos hidden behind “You’re My Best Friend.” Between the writing, recording, and performing, the film gives the audience a true taste of how the band collaborated and polished their work. Mercury (Malik) perhaps most accurately described the band when he said, “We’re four misfits who don’t belong together, we’re playing for other misfits.”

Mercury spent most of his life searching for his place; the only place that ever felt like a “fit” to him Continued on page 11

Chick-Fil-A Continued from page 5 more efficient use.

Even the drive-through area received a makeover. Long canopies were added over much of the drive-through lane, along with heaters and fans to use in all types of weather. These much-needed improvements allowed team member working in the drive-through section to do their job in a comfortable, safe environment (which, in turn, boosts the team’s morale as whole). These updates gave the restaurant everything it needed to give each guest a memorable and delicious dining experience.

“I’m very grateful that Chick-fil-A had a vision that served both the community and team members better,” said Cliff of the updated restaurant.

Now that the renovations have been completed just over a month ago, the team is back to serving each guest that walks through their doors. Looking to the future, Cliff says he wants to continue to build up both the community and his team members, who he notes are integral to the success of their store.

“Everyone has a story,” Cliff said, referring not only to the restaurant guests but also to the 130 employees who are there to serve them. “We can’t change someone’s circumstances, but we can give them honor, dignity, and respect every single day that they are here.”

The Stone Mountain location is committed to making every person inside its building feel welcomed and valued. Their mission statement says it all – their goal each day is “To be a light in the darkness and a safe place for team members and guests.”

While these words sound nice on paper, it’s the action put behind them that makes this Chick-fil-A restaurant stand out. Regular guests are greeted by name, and oftentimes team members follow up by asking a guest about school, work, or another personal detail they have taken time to remember. Team leads and managers do the same for their team members. Cliff is particularly careful to call each team member by name and offer support or interest for their families, sports careers, or after-school activities. Many team members are new to both the industry and the location, so they have spent hours learning the ropes and getting to know each other as they work to serve their guests.

“We have an opportunity to be a force for good, and to create a place where good meets gracious,” said Cliff. “Our team is doing more than just clocking in. They want to have a positive influence on the community.”

If all this talk of Chick-fil-A is making your mouth water, you know what to do: Head to 5075 Stone Mountain Hwy, Stone Mountain, GA 30087 to order your favorite meal. Say hello to Cliff and the team while you’re there – you will probably make a friend for life.

Cliff Daniels is Operator of Chick-fil-A Stone Mountain. More information at www.cfastonemountain. com

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Advocacy Institute. Mr. Rodriguez is a Cancer Survivor and has been cancer free for 25 years.

One Man’s Opinion Continued from page 7 Humorous Brits Officially Invite the Parkview ANN-CAROL PENCE (Associate Producer/Co-Founder) arranged the music for There are wonderful things going on in this community. Are they often reported? No. So, I Band to first the Christmas 2020 London Parade Aurora’s Canteen in 1996 and was hired full-time in September of challenge you to help us get the news out. Share a copy of this magazine, in print, social or digital

1998 as Resident Musical Director.

An education major at James University, mediaMadison form, or the online version. You will find positive news and events that should encourage

By Heidi Campbell readers. I challenge all of us to keep a “thankful and hopeful heart” as we enter this new year – a she used her background to develop Learning Library (or L2).

As a musician, she year fresh for new beginnings.

On Tuesday, September 26th, throngs of created Aurora’s Musicals by Moonlight, and Aurora’s New Musical SheIS a present. The future is what we must work on, one hour, The past is Initiative. the past. The present students, parents, teachers, community memday, and week at a time to make this community and in turn our country, a better place. And we bers, and local director officials gathered in the Parkview has performed as pianist and/or music both nationally (Goodspeed Opera can do just that, one person at a time. So, start with small things. Say please. Say thank you. Hold High School stadium to witness a very special House, Pasadena Playhouse, The Cleveland Playhouse, The the Kennedy Center) and Let the little things go and truly live. It makes a big differdoor for someone.

Smile. Laugh. ceremony. The Lord Mayor of the City of ence. Again, we are ALL human, so tap into your childlike spirit and have fun again during the Robert Ensemble Davis, togethlocally (The Alliance, TheatricalWestminster, Outfit,Councillor Georgia Theatre, The Horizon). holiday season. er with the Executive Director of the London As a proud citizen of Gwinnett, Ann-Carol is most proud of I Aurora Theatre want to share how much Iwinappreciate the Our Town community. I am thankful for the Our New Year’s Day Parade Bob Bone, graced the Town family, friends, staff, and Orange for JungleLarge with an engaging, lively, infor-This goes well with herpartners. ning the first ever Pinnacle Award Non-Profit.

4 I wish you a safe and blessed holiday season. We could not do it without you. So, until next time and as always: this is my town, your town, Our Town! mative, and humorous presentation. They used Suzi Awards for Outstanding Music Direction for Mary Poppins and Les Misérables, the evening to officially invite the Parkview Marching band to play in London’s 2020 New Year’s Day Parade.

Lilburn world Mayor Johnny Crist was atof the Clyde event, and’n introduced the British guests. He told the A Catered Affair and her Aurora’s premiere Bonnie: A Folktale, and band students what an incredible opportunity this was. “You will reference this trip thousands of times multiple nominations for In the Heights, Memphis, A Year with Frog & Toad, Annie throughout your lifetime,” Crist assured them. “Your life will be forever imprinted by gathering with friends, an airplane, and crossing the pond.” in the Rain and A Chorus Line. She is a participant Get getting YouronGun, Godspell, Singin’ After a number of impeccable selections, including a beautiful rendition of “The Sound of Silence,” in this year’s Atlanta Regional Leadership Institute. the marching band and color guard cleared the field so that organizers could set up for the ceremony.

Chairs were set out for Assistant Director of Bands Lance Kindl, Director of Bands Jason Atha, Mayor D.H.Crist, MALCOLM, (General Manager) Theatre part-time in 2007 Johnny Parkview Principal III David Smith, Executive Parade Directorjoined Bob Bone,Aurora and the Lord Mayor, Councillor Robert Davis.

After Atha welcomed the crowd, he turned the microphone over as the bookkeeper and business manager for the new facility. Now in charge of to Crist, who proudly spoke on behalf of the people of Lilburn. “We deeply thank you for choosing day-to-day D.H. your manages Aurora Theatre budget, spearheads the Parkview Marchingoperations, Band,” Crist said. “Through generosity, ourthe city will forever be changed.

Thank you very much.” and provides the theatre with sound business advice. His background development The British, often straight-faced and exalted for their humor, managed to slide sarcastic, ironic, witty includes graduating from obtaining a BSthefrom Duke University and little quips into nearly every conversation.

BobMarist Bone took School, the microphone and truly entertained crowd.

He began with a proper “boast” about the parade, explaining that it included 8,500 performers later an MBA from Georgia State University. D.H. has extensive management from twenty different countries, and that it is twice as large as the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in experience in explained both that entrepreneurial andwatching largein businesses.

New York City. He then there will be 650,000 people person and another He serves on the board 600 watching the live television broadcast. “You have to be invitedof in person by a patron of million the Downtown Development Authority the City of ofLawrenceville. In his other the parade. We are lucky to have one of our most senior patrons and most enthusiastic supporters of life, hewith is usan golfer and a professional club fitter for Callaway Golf. D.H. has two the parade thisavid evening,” Bone said, and added with a grin, “wearing suitable attire for a warm Georgia evening.”

The crowd erupted in laughter at this, as Councillor Robert Davis walked to the wonderful children, Katie and Cam podium (on that 89 degree evening) wearing a full length, red, wool, fur-cuffed ceremonial robe.

Davis instantly gave the crowd a playful welcome. “I come from the city of Westminster, as thebeen based in the metroJUSTIN ANDERSON (Associate Artistic Director) has Deputy Lord Mayor,” he said. “I am the longest serving member of the Westminster City Council, Atlanta area 2009 full-time with Aurora since January 2014. Artistic ashaving first been electedsince over thirty-six years and ago when I was just three and a half.”

Davis, following his introduction, began a crash course in the history of Westminster as the audi- and Serenbe Playhouse. sociations include Theatrical Outfit, Synchronicity Theatre, ence hung on his every word. He claimed that the key ingredients involved in being the Lord Mayor While studying directing at Rutgers University, Justin had the privilege to work were “protocol, alcohol, and cholesterol”.

He reminisced of times he’d met the Queen, Prince Charles, William, and Harry.

He talked of dancing and dining in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace, and he with Amy Saltz, Pamela Berlin, William Carden, and Deborah Headwall. He holds discussed his time as a student at the illustrious Cambridge University. “At Cambridge,” he recalled, BA in Theatre Arts from Campbell University andthean “Ialearned about integrity, objectivity, impartiality, about the search for truth and about questMA for in Theatre Studies from knowledge.

And then I went into politics and had to give them all up!”

Regent University. His work has been seen at regional theatres in the Southeast His keynote humor didn’t end there. He recollected a time when a local editor called his secretary including Aurora Theatre, Garage Company, Florida and asked what theActor's Lord MayorExpress, wanted for Christmas.

He said that he wasDad's in the middle of writingTheatre a speech, and he thought that he should say something modest, so he told his secretary that he would “be Repertory Theatre, Horizon Theatre Company, Serenbe Playhouse, Stage Door very happy with a box of chocolates.” When he opened the paper, he was shocked to see the headline, Continued on page 10

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College Spotlight: Gwinnett Tech Earns National Recognition for Veterans Services

By Our Town Staff Military Times recently released their Military Times Best: Colleges 2019 rankings and Gwinnett Technical College is ranked third among career and technical colleges in the nation for its commitment to education and for providing opportunities to America’s veterans, service members, and their families. This marks the third consecutive year Gwinnett Tech has moved up in the rankings, and the second consecutive year in the Top 5. In 2018, the College was ranked 4th in the nation.

“Gwinnett Tech is honored to be named one of the top colleges in the nation for Veterans,” stated Dr. D. Glen Cannon, president of Gwinnett Tech. “Our Office of Veterans Affairs continually strives to serve prospective and current students as they transition from military life to civilian life.”

Gwinnett Tech Veteran Services include: • Student Veterans Organization • Veterans Educational Benefits Support • Veterans Resource Advocate • Yellow Ribbon Program • Career Counseling • Veterans Scholarships • Dedicated Computer Lab “Our office is deeply committed to helping veterans repurpose their military training and skills into lucrative careers in both public and private sectors,” stated Travis Simpson, coordinator of Gwinnett Tech’s Office of Veterans Affairs.

Annually, Military Times invites career and technical colleges from across the US to complete a rigorous survey comprised of 150 questions, about their operations involving current and former service members and their families. Additional data is then collected from the Veterans Affairs and Defense departments, as well as three Educational Department sources: the IPEDS Data Center, College Scorecard, and the Cohort Default Rate Database. Institutions are independently evaluated in five key categories: university culture, student support, academic outcomes/quality, academic policies, and cost and financial aid.

More information at http://www.gwinnetttech.edu/veteransaffairs/

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which read “What Our British Leaders Want for Christmas.” “Apparently,” began Davis, “the Dean of Westminster Abbey wanted to end poverty, the Prime Minister wanted world peace, and Robert Davis, Lord Mayor, wants a box of chocolates!”

The parade plan was the next portion of his address, and it included an exciting walk down the streets of London. The parade route, according to Davis, begins at the famous Ritz Hotel and travels to Piccadilly Circus and past Trafalgar Square, home to Nelson’s Column and the National Art Gallery.

The parade continues all the way through Parliament to Westminster Square. He concluded his tour of the city with a final vignette before reading his official invitation. “I was so impressed by the energy and flexibility of the cheerleaders last year, that I was inspired to hire a gym instructor to teach me some gymnastics,” he said. “The instructor looked at me and said, ‘Robert, how flexible are you?’ and I said, ‘Well, I can’t do Tuesdays or Fridays.’”

After the laughter of the audience calmed, Davis officially invited the Parkview Marching Band to the 34th annual 2020 New Year’s Day Parade, an honor, he claimed, “very few high schools receive.”

Once Director Atha accepted the invitation, Bob Bone came back to the podium to give out several gifts. To Principal David Smith he gave a plate commemorating Queen Elizabeth, England’s longestrunning monarch. He awarded royal cufflinks to Smith, Crist, and Kindl, and the student band leaders received pins symbolizing the Coat of Arms of Westminster.

As he began to wrap up the ceremony, Bone spoke of the weather in London, and the fact that rain is a common occurrence. He recalled that in 2017 “It didn’t just rain, it was a deluge!” He said that the best way to ensure that there will be no rain is to make sure “that you always have an umbrella.”

Since carrying an umbrella wards off rain, he said that they’ve begun awarding a Symbolic London Parade Umbrella to every group they invite. “It worked,” he declared. “We were totally dry in 2018, and it will work in 2019.”

Senior Barron Wallace, one of the student band leaders, was given the title “Custodian of the Umbrella.” As he presented Barron with the umbrella, Bone announced, “Whenever you see Barron without the umbrella, we want to know. For fifteen months, your band director has sentenced you to carrying this around with you!”

Overall, the evening was a rare treat for the Parkview community, let alone any high school in the United States. Atha is excited to take as many as one hundred twenty-five students to the trip which departs on December 26, 2019. He will offer graduating seniors the opportunity to attend the trip as well as current 8th graders. Atha says that the band is “ramping up a large fundraising force,” which will center around private and corporate donations. The Parkview Band Booster Association is a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization, and, according to Atha, they will need to raise at least $25,000 to offset the initial costs of going on the trip. “The most exciting part for me,” shares Atha, “is the opportunity to expose my students to a different culture. While the parade in itself is a once in a lifetime opportunity, traveling internationally at a young age challenges students to step outside of their comfort zone and explore life from a different perspective.”

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By Beth Volpert Johansen Say what you will about the merits or evils of social media. Like all things, social media can be used for dissent, division, and derisiveness. Or, the power of all available platforms can be harnessed for decency, development, and decisiveness. For Melvin Everson, a very positive social media spin is where his heart leads.

Melvin Everson follows his heart all around the state of Georgia in his leadership capacity with Gwinnett Technical College and a variety of other goodwill missions. His travels give him the opportunity for spreading some love and stumping for his beloved Georgia Bulldogs along the route. Putting miles on his car and using social media to document his travels, Everson has taken to surprising unsuspecting UGA fans with a very special Georgia G plaque.

“This all started with a plaque I found at the Snellville Farmers Market about a year ago,” says Everson.

“The handmade plaques were in this tent, and I knew immediately that they were something special.”

Those plaques, made by South Gwinnett graduate, Nelson Cross, have made their way across the United States, surprising the recipients and serving as a symbol of the kind of pride associated with UGA. Everson’s method of surprising recipients began with his son, Ricardo, a UGA grad. Proud dad surprised Ricardo and took his son’s positive reaction on the road. “He loved it, so I decided to get another one to surprise my pastor, Dr. James Merritt,” says Everson. “From there, it began to grow into a movement.”

That movement has parlayed into its own Facebook page, the ME “G” Award, where photographic evidence of the presentation of this unexpected award is posted. The page description says that the Me “G” Award is intended to recognize the significant contributions of individuals for their public service and commitment to UGA. Additionally, the award generally comes as a big surprise to the recipient.

Some of the higher profile recipients include Governor Nathan Deal, Representative Rob Woodall, and Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black. However, for the most part, Everson tries to surprise the most unassuming folks, and is always prepared with plenty of plaques right alongside the travel essentials found in his trunk.

“There was this time I bumped into a gentleman I had met during a Snellville Commerce Club meeting,” explains Everson. “As I was coming out of the Auto Zone in Snellville, here comes Rod Parham. He greeted me, and I remembered his support when I ran for office. I observed his vehicle had lots of UGA paraphernalia on it, so I popped the trunk, grabbed a plaque and walked back into the store with that G. Boy was he surprised!”

More humbling in nature is the presentation Everson made to Officer Matt Cooper of the Covington Police shortly after Officer Cooper survived a bullet to the head. “When I heard Office Cooper was a big UGA fan, I knew I needed to make this happen,” says Everson, who presented the award to Covington Assistant Police Chief Phillip Bradford, who accepted the award on Cooper’s behalf. “I wish all the best in the world to Officer Cooper as he continues to recover,” Everson says.

Everson can rattle off story after story, recalling the smallest details about each presentation. But what they all have in common is good news. From cancer survivors to county clerks, the plaques have found their way into the possession of some very surprised and delighted recipients. “These presentations take people’s minds off of the current craziness,” says Everson. “These awards cut across party lines and help to establish a unity among different people.”

For his part in preserving the Good News, Everson lives out his mission each and every day documenting his movements all around the South. “Delivering these Me ‘G’ Awards makes people feel good for the moment, and maybe that can carry along to someone else,” says Everson. “People are delighted to get this award, and they post pictures, tag others, and the movement goes on and on.”

Check out Melvin Everson and his Me “G” Award travels on Facebook and Twitter. And, share some Good News every day.

Crane’s Corner: Civility Begins at Home

By Bill Crane “If a man continually blusters, if he lacks civility, a big stick will not save him from trouble, and neither will be speaking softly avail, if back of the softness there does not lie strength, power...” President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919).

Teddy Roosevelt, or as he often preferred, T.R., is my favorite president by far. The former “Boy Governor of New York” became President of the United States in 1901, ascending from the vice-presidency following the fall 1900 assassination of President William H. McKinley.

The Roosevelts – Teddy, and later F.D.R., Eleanor, and others – were not above hard-fought political contests and even occasional mud-slinging; but in the White House, as well as on the campaign trail and in public life, this split-party family believed in the civility of the discourse.

Our current president did not create the great divide in our nation, nor did he alone bring things to their current state of frequent shootings or acts of domestic terrorism.

And civility – teaching it, practicing it, and living it – begins at home. As a columnist, commentator, and analyst of things political, I have lost count in recent months of how many times I’ve been approached by a reader, listener, or viewer, sharing their concerns about the great divide present in our nation. Invariably and with increasing frequency, at some point during these brief encounters my new Continued on page 14

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Bohemian Rhapsody Continued from page 8 was on stage. The film presents a truly three dimensional look at this complex man, including his family, his friendships, his passions, his weaknesses, and his ultimate understanding of what is truly important. Perhaps the words of his father were truly the lesson he needed to learn in the end: “You can’t get anywhere by pretending to be someone you’re not”.

Mercury realized that he didn’t have to hide behind his wealth and parties – he said, “We’re family. We believe in each other. That’s everything.” After learning that he had AIDS, he gained a new perspective. He realized that he didn’t want a solo career and he wanted to settle into a more peaceful, loving life. This epiphany came just in time to perform at the Live Aid performance, which was one of Queen’s most legendary performances.

Bohemian Rhapsody is the most fitting name for this film, since Queen’s music was certainly unconventional and “bohemian.” The title song aptly summarizes the band, their music, their lead singer, and their spirit. Interestingly enough, Rotten Tomatoes only offered up a score of 64% for this film, but the “Audience Score” was a 92%. This seems to be right in line with Queen’s music – they were often met with lukewarm press while audiences couldn’t get enough. Queen fans will not be disappointed by this film.

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Star Struck! – The Life of a Background Extra in Gwinnett

By Emily Haney Dressed as a music executive, Jeff Allen strolls down a hallway until he approaches his spot 2 mark. He watches the performers finish the scene, waiting to hear “cut” before he turns around. A few inches from him stands Queen Latifah. She has almost walked right into him. “How’s it going?” she asks. He’s speechless as he thinks, “Wow, she’s a big deal.” This is one of the days Allen has had since retiring.

Since June 2017 Allen, who is from Grayson, has worked 35 days as an extra, several of them in Gwinnett. Allen became an Uber driver after retiring from Lifetouch to stay busy, and later started looking into extra roles at the suggestion of friends. Not long after he was registered with Central Casting, one of the leading casting companies in Atlanta.

If you look close enough, you can spot him in Ozark, Brockmire, STAR, The Resident, and Insatiable – just to name a few. Oftentimes he’s there for a couple of seconds. Other times you can only see the back of his head. In the Netflix series Ozark, he listens to the preacher street preaching in a scene, but you can only see him from behind. To play on this, Allen took a picture of the back of his head and posted it for reference. It falls under his personal motto of having fun with it.

“You just have to have fun with it,” remarked Allen. “A lot of wonderful people are doing this. Some of them like me are doing it for fun, some are trying to be the next great star; but I have no illusions of grandeur. I’m usually going to be out of focus and when I can see myself it’s a bonus.”

One bonus came when he appeared in the season two promo of Brockmire. The show filmed at Coolray Field, which is home in Lawrenceville to the minor league baseball team the Gwinnett Stripers.

A friend texted him and said, “You need to go look at this promo. I think it’s you.” This was the first time someone watching noticed Allen in a show. In the promo, the actor was using a rubber bat for safety reasons, but to the viewer, you couldn’t tell the difference. “People said to me, you really looked like you were startled,” said Allen. “What they don’t realize with the wide angle is he came inches away from me so when he swung, it was a natural reaction.”

Most days on set are long. The longest day was when Allen worked on Doom Patrol on the Lawrenceville Square. Call time was 5:30 a.m., and he left after 9 p.m. According to Allen, when you Continued on page 16

Straight Talk: Age 7 is the Magic Number for an Orthodontic Check-Up

By Janice J. Wilmot, DMD, MS, PC As a parent, you want the best for your child, and that includes a pleasing smile with healthy teeth and the proper bite. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up with a specialist at age seven. An orthodontic specialist receives an additional two to three years of education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align teeth and guide developing jaw growth.

What’s so great about age seven? Enough permanent teeth – particularly the first molars – have grown in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to erupt, and problems such as crowding, deep bites, crossbites, and open bites can be detected.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age gives your orthodontist the opportunity to recommend the appropriate treatment at the best time. If early treatment is needed, the orthodontist may be able to achieve results that may not be possible once the face and jaws have finished growing.

Early evaluation may indicate a need for early treatment if the following are present: • Early or late loss of baby teeth • Difficulty in chewing or biting • Mouth breathing • Thumb/finger sucking or other oral habits • Crowding, misplaced or blocked out teeth • Speech difficulty • Jaws that shift or make sounds • Biting the cheek or roof of the mouth • Teeth that stick out too far • Teeth that don’t meet correctly • Grinding of teeth • Missing or extra teeth developing While most orthodontic treatment begins between the ages of nine and fourteen, some children’s orthodontic problems can benefit from earlier treatment. Trust your child’s smile to an orthodontic specialist. Please call our office, 770-921-2233 or visit http://www.jjwilmot-ortho.com/ if you have any questions and/or to schedule a free consultation.

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Girls Take the Field: Gwinnett School’s New Flag Football League

By Emily Haney Football in Georgia just got bigger.

Thanks to funding from USA Football, ESPN, and the Atlanta Falcons, Gwinnett County Public Schools have launched a flag football league. This is an opportunity young women have been waiting for as hundreds of them showed up to try out.

“I walked in to the gym where we were holding the initial meeting, and it was full of girls. My jaw dropped,” said Archer High School’s head coach Leslie Stuart, who also coaches lacrosse in the spring.

“We had almost 100 girls try out, and we kept twenty for the team.” After the team was formed, Stuart and Sarah Brooks, assistant coach, told the team the news. There was no cost for playing on the team.

Most teams formed after the school year started, which resulted in a quick turnaround time. Some schools only had one week to prepare before the first game. “They’re doing good at being flexible. It helps that they want to be out there,” said Stuart. “I haven’t had any issues as far as hustling and teamwork. They are just as aggressive and as big of go getters as the boys.”

Each school played a total of fourteen games. The regular season play officially began on October 9 and ended in late November. The tournament and championship game follows in December. Games are hosted at five schools: Brookwood, Collins Hill, Discovery, Lanier, and Peachtree Ridge, with two games playing simultaneously on a field.

When it comes to games, parents are glad to see their kids enjoying themselves. The energy is high, and players can be heard cheering on each other from the sideline and on the field. “Everyone brings something different to the table, whether it’s with talent or just personality,” said Archer player Sydney Clay. “I love how we all come together and motivate each other.” Archer’s team takes the games seriously. Alicia Booth remarked, “We have a team full of athletes who care about that they do.”

Booth scored her first touchdown in the fourth game of the season against Berkmar. “It’s not as easy as it looks,” said Booth. “I’m a football manager, so when I see guys miss the ball on Fridays, I’m like what the heck. Now I get it.” She also represented juniors in the Powder Puff game last year. “Powder puff was just one game. This is a whole season, so I’m excited to grow as a team and win more,” said Booth.

Flag football is not currently recognized as a sport by the Gwinnett High School Association, the state athletics association. There are hopes that won’t be the case next year. This recognition would lead to more dedicated practice time for the flag football teams as it is technically still an out-school activity.

In the meantime, players like Booth want you to know, “Girls can do anything guys can do. I think if you watch our games, you’ll see that. It’s actually very intense like any other football game you would watch.”

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Smith is the son of Sebastian “Rudy” Smith, a special education teacher and football coach. Coach Smith discussed the concern he had being so close to his children all the time. He observed, “There have been moments that my presence was difficult for my son and daughters. I coached all three of them in all of their youth sports, and they felt at times that I didn’t let them experience the freedom of not being coached by their parent.” Both Dr. Kenyon and Coach Smith echoed that strong need Continued on page 21

Crane’s Corner Continued from page 11

acquaintance will offer, “And I can’t even speak to my children, husband, high school best friend...fill in the blank here...about the President or politics anymore.”

I hear you and I understand where you are coming from. But if we can’t, as a nation, or even within your own circle and family, speak civilly with our relatives, friends, and neighbors about the direction and leadership of our country, what hope can we EVER have that our elected leaders will get it together? In other words, if it’s “okay” to write off a friendship of decades or to not speak to a sibling or progeny or parent over differences of politics, then why isn’t it okay for a Supreme Court confirmation hearing to devolve into the spectacle the world recently witnessed?

Hate speech and arguments laced with profanity and insults as the first volley among strangers seems to have become the conversation style point of today. And yet—and there are reams of research to back me up on this – once one side starts shouting during a dispute, the other side most typically stops listening.

We have real, yet comparatively minor differences of age, race, culture, education, demographics, etc. But we are all humans, comprised primarily of salt water resembling the cleaner parts of our oceans. We all value freedom, safety, peaceful communities, and quality schools, and we take pride in being Americans. As usual the devil is in the details in achieving these standards that we value, as well as in how to determine how these things might be funded and who best to pay.

But those differences are not likely to go away. And we can only control our own actions, and possibly influence small circles immediately around us. Our children and others ARE paying attention and are watching us. Leadership by example is real; it’s not just some trite cliché. I try to practice this every single day.

During this holiday season, as we gather or sit for the great feast, try a fresh approach to discourse and the political beast in between courses. The midterm elections and absent run-offs will at that point be safely a few weeks in rear-view.

“I’m sorry, I know in recent years I’ve let my strong beliefs or opinions be shared too loudly. I have often tried to drown out or simply not listen to other points of view. That is wrong. I apologize. I don’t want to ruin our wonderful celebration with talk of politics or faith, but when these do come up again, I promise I will do everything I can to listen, to be respectful, and, even when I disagree with you, to remember that our family/friendship is more important...and trumps winning the argument itself every time (pun intended).”

Try it. What have you got to lose? And once we can all get enough of our own houses back in order, then it might be time to ask the folks at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and on Capitol Hill to get back with the program as well. Civility begins at home. Here’s wishing you and yours the very best during the holiday season.

Bill Crane is the senior political analyst with WSB Radio and TV and owns the consulting firm, CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com

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Chaplain’s Corner: Big Steps, Small Starts!

December Photo of the Month:

By Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Cruz He was a 7-year-old boy in desperate search of the meaning of Christmas. He was seeking to understand why he always ended up depressed around the holidays. On the advice of a friend from school, he gets involved in directing a school play about the nativity story. When he loses control of the production because of the cast members’ refusal to listen to him, he is given the lesser responsibility of finding a Christmas tree for the play.

But instead of buying a big and shiny tree like he was instructed to do by his friend, he chooses to buy a pitiful little branch. This makes him the target of laughter and ridicule by all of his friends in school.

As this boy cries out in hopeless desperation, he wonders if anyone understands what Christmas is all about. Another boy (the one who didn’t make fun of him) gets in front of all those around and starts explaining: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, so, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men.”

The 7-year-old boy is Charlie Brown, who is best known for his uniquely striped shirt. His best friend is a little dog named Snoopy. But the other little boy who recites the Christmas story to him was his friend Linus. Linus is best known for his ever-present security blanket.

You see, throughout the story of Peanuts™, Lucy, Snoopy, Sally, and all the others attempt on several occasions to separate Linus from his blanket. And even though his security blanket remains a major source of ridicule for all his friends, he simply refuses to give it up.

Continued on page 20

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11/6/18 12:59 PM

Christmas is Here Pre-Lighted Trees Wreaths & Garlands Byer’s Choice Carolers Annalee Elves & Dolls Fontanini Nativities Mark Roberts Fairies & Elves

Holiday Travel Tips: Save Your Sanity

By Our Town Staff

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Follow these tips to save time, money, and your sanity this holiday season.

1. Avoid busy travel days: If you’re willing to be flexible, there are a few ways to avoid the madness of popular holiday travel days. If your plans permit, take a red-eye, which is the last flight out each night. Red-eye flights are typically cheaper and less crowded. Traveling on the actual day of the holiday can also help you avoid airport congestion.

2. Clear your browser history, cookies, and cache before searching flights: Are you waiting for flight prices to drop and they just won’t budge? Airlines and travel websites can track how many times you’ve visited their website and change their prices accordingly. Make sure you’re starting fresh every time you browse to get the best prices.

3. Join loyalty and rewards programs to save money: Most airlines have a free rewards program where you can earn miles toward free flights. For example, with Delta SkyMiles, every trip can earn you more miles toward travel on any Delta Air Lines flight. And SkyMiles members can link their SkyMiles and Lyft accounts via delta.com/lyft to earn even more miles with the Delta SkyMiles program.

4. Travel light: If you plan on giving out holiday gifts at your destination, it’s best to mail them before you fly. Not only will that save you packing room, but airport security can open gifts in checked and carry-on luggage, ruining your hard work. Mail your gifts by early December to make sure they arrive on time. If you must bring gifts with you, pack the wrapping paper and presents separately to avoid security snafus.

5. Screen shot and save your travel details: You never know where cell service or Wi-Fi won’t be available, especially on an airplane. It’s smart to have your boarding pass, hotel details, and other travel information ready at any moment.

6. Check in online: If you don’t have luggage to check, save a step at the airport by checking in online before you arrive. Most airlines will send you an email when it’s time to check into your flight.

For an even faster experience, download your airline’s app and your boarding pass will automatically sync to your phone. You’ll skip the check-in line and spend less time waiting at the airport. (BPT)

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first show up on set you have people approve or deny your outfit. Later on, someone else can change you back into the first outfit you had on to start. “It’s a rollercoaster, but that’s part of the fun,” said Allen. After this it’s a day of waiting with working on a couple of scenes in-between. The set feeds you, though, so that’s a perk of the job. What Allen finds to be the biggest perk is “watching how they bring everything together.”

Some sets are different, especially if the number of extras is smaller. While working on Ozark one day, Allen found himself waiting out a rainstorm next to Jason Bateman, who is one of the stars of the show. “We’re sitting there eating soup as a snack and just having a normal conversation. It was surreal,” remembered Allen.

Allen has an album on his phone listed as casting. He keeps screen grabs from his appearances on shows and images he takes of himself in costume and around set, which he posts after the episode airs.

He keeps the album to remember his time on set.

Allen suggests being an extra to anyone – if you have free days. You might not have to go far from home, since more than 40 productions filmed in Gwinnett last year. “It’s like jumping in the deep end of a pool,” said Allen. “You just have to do it.” He suggests getting registered with a casting company and applying to anything where you almost fit the description. Once working, you should stay connected with your fellow background workers. They often know what productions are using what companies and what time of the year each is busier. “It’s all a numbers game,” said Allen. “You just have to keep applying and eventually it’ll happen.”

If you’re looking to work as an extra, here is a list of casting agencies in Georgia: Central Casting, Casting All Talent, Marinella Hume Casting Atlanta, Tammy Smith Casting- Atlanta, Extras Casting Atlanta, CL Casting, Casting TaylorMade, Southern Casting Associates, Rose Locke Casting, CAB Castings, Extra Extra Casting of the South, Project Casting

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Our Town

8 Steps of Gratitude that Will Change Your Life

By Carol Tuttle You can’t force change. You need to allow it.

And a key to allowing change is accountability.

When we take accountability into every aspect of our life, we are in the most powerful position to allow change to occur. Implementing these 8 steps of gratitude will help you create remarkable change for good in your life!

1. Appreciate everything -- even that which you judge as bad, wrong, and painful.

2. Express gratitude for every single moment of your life. The more you create feelings of appreciation and gratitude, the more things you will attract into your life that you can appreciate and feel gratitude for.

3. Gratitude is one of the highest vibrations that we can be. Look for things for which you can be grateful. Play the Grateful Game. By yourself or with others, take turns saying what you are grateful for.

4. Start a Gratitude Journal. Every Thanksgiving, as a family, we get out our Gratitude Journal and write 1,000 things for which we are grateful. We number from one to 1,000, leave the journal on the kitchen counter with a pen, and invite family members and friends to write in it as often as they would like. It usually takes us between a week and ten days to get to 1,000.

5. If you pray, thank God for believing in you, for giving you the agency to create your life, and for remembering your truth.

6. Thank all the people who have played a part in your life.

7. Write a thank-you note once a week to someone to express your appreciation for them.

8. Most importantly, appreciate yourself for what you are remembering and for the joys you are creating.

These simple steps of gratitude address the core issues that most people struggle with at a deeper level. Putting a daily focus on these moments of thanks will shift your core vibration, which allows greater shifts in your life.

Remember, you DO have the power to change anything in your life. Whether the actual event changes or you change your response and perception, both create a new experience. And the first big step to making use of that power is by showing gratitude for your life. Be accountable first, and great change will follow!

Carol Tuttle is a teacher, speaker, author and pioneer in the field of personal development. More information at https://my.liveyourtruth.com/dyt/blog/

Community Gathering Place at Trickum Middle School

By Amy Ney There is a place in Lilburn where on any warm afternoon, you might find students eating at picnic tables, a band performing underneath the shade of trees, or a local student organization hosting a community event.

This isn’t the city park, but the newly dedicated Kay Sands Outdoor Theatre at Trickum Middle School.

Kay Sands, the former principal at Trickum, said the idea came in 2006 when the school relocated from its former location next to Parkview High School to its current location. “We lost something in the move,” she said. “We had a place to which we humorously referred as The Pit that gave us a campus feel and was often enjoyed by students and teachers as somewhere to stop and enjoy some fresh air and have a moment of relaxation. I wanted us to have a similar area at our new building, and I wanted it to be something that would help us celebrate the arts at Trickum.”

The work began in 2011 and was completed in 2013. Assistant Principal Gloria Thomas explained the inspiration for the name of the theater was the founder herself. “Kay’s former administrative assistant, Lyn Deitrich, and I thought it would be a good idea to name it in Kay’s honor when she announced her retirement. Because she gave birth to the idea of the outdoor theater and worked so hard for two years to bring her idea to fruition, it is only fitting that it was named after Kay. She is much deserving of the honor because she gave so much to the students and families of Trickum Middle School and the Parkview Cluster during her years as assistant principal and then her eight years as principal here.”

When Sands began the project, the financial climate in Georgia was challenging, but Sands said that with the dedication and help of the school’s PTSA, they were able to meet the challenge. “My Continued on page 20

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PAGE 17

Heidi Campbell wins Gwinnett County 2019 Teacher of the Year

Paddling Along the Yellow River Water Trail

By Emily Haney

By Our Town Staff On November 8, one hundred thirty-seven Teachers of the Year (TOTY) from all the schools in Gwinnett County gathered in the ballroom at the Infinite Energy Forum for a special evening: the 2019 Teacher of the Year Banquet. The banquet is a Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) tradition that celebrates the best teaching around the county. The 2019 Elementary School teacher of the year is Kelly Specht from Riverside Elementary School, the 2019 Middle School Teacher of the Year is Lindsey Saa of Couch Middle School, and the 2019 High School Teacher of the Year is Heidi Campbell of Parkview High School. Campbell was also named the 2019 Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year.

Dr. Doug Doblar, the 2018 GCPS TOTY, gave the evening’s opening inspiration. As an elementary teacher at R.D. Head Elementary School, Doblar was also a top ten finalist for the 2018 Georgia Teacher of the Year Award. His opening remarks welcomed the crowd with warmth and praise. He said, “Welcome to the 137 teachers here tonight. We are here because our district made a promise. We promised 180,000 kids that we would make sure they would reach their full potential. We are here tonight because when it comes to keeping that promise, no one keeps it better than you.”

The evening was sponsored by numerous corporate sponsors and business partners. Dr. Jonathan Patterson, Associate Superintendent of Curriculum and Instructional Support, took the stage to thank those partners. The Presenting Sponsor, Peach State Federal Credit Union, donated cash awards and a crystal peach to the GCPS TOTY. Dr. Patterson detailed the prizes that the local school recipients would receive, and then introduced the Masters of Ceremonies, Dr. Terry Watlington and Dr. Jon Valentine. Each TOTY, from every school in all five districts, were presented with TOTY plaques.

In the final portion of the banquet, CEO and Superintendent of GCPS, J. Alvin Wilbanks, took to the podium to congratulate the six county finalists and to announce the level winners and the GCPS TOTY for 2019. These Top 6 Finalists – Juah Nyemade Baker-Marsh of Lovin Elementary School, Kelly Specht of Riverside Elementary School, Chandra Harmond Brandel of Coleman Middle School, Continued on page 22

Your next outdoor adventure might be closer than you think. Just fifty-three miles from Gwinnett County down to Lake Jackson in Newton County, the Yellow River provides not only scenic views all year round, but they also have a large and active paddling community.

Helping to keep the river clean and accessible for recreational use is the Yellow River Water Trail, a nonprofit group formed in 2014. Mark Wilson, Yellow River Water Trail Vice Chairman, says the group is “concerned with river and watershed health; but also fostering a partnership with citizens, local governments, and businesses to promote healthy outdoor recreation and economic and social opportunities.”

Every year the group hosts two large scale events: The Yellow River Music Jam and River Paddle, and the Yellow River Trash Bash. The first is a free social event in Porterdale where people have the opportunity to paddle six miles downstream, then take-out at Porterdale Park and enjoy food and brews and music from invited bands. Donations are appreciated, with all proceeds going to maintaining the river.

This year the third annual Trash Bash was held on September 15. In partnership with the Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, the Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation, the Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources, and Rivers Alive, the event was one of the largest in size with 153 volunteers picking up more than 7,000 pounds of trash across the 18 sites that had been set up. Fifteen of the cleanup sites were located in Gwinnett County. “We pick up mostly plastic water bottles, Styrofoam, spoons, and forks,” commented Wilson. “It really points to the single use plastic people use.” Volunteers also found dozens of tires and, according to Wilson, the oddest find was a mannequin head that he suspected was once part of a school project “We thought that 15 to 18 sites seemed like almost too much, but it was just right this year,” added Wilson. “The population of people coming out is doubling, so I think we will add a few more sites in Gwinnett and other counties next year.”

Wilson and the Yellow River Water Trail also partake in water testing, where several areas of the river throughout the month are tested to ensure nothing is out of the norm. This is also an activity you can do with your local creek through Gwinnett Clean and Beautiful, which keeps a record of all of the results they receive. As Wilson put it, you can be your own “local river keeper.”

Continued on page 21

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3/26/17 1:48 PM3/26/17 To become an Our Town advertising partner email Info@OurTownGwinnett.com or call 678-825-2049

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Valor, Achievement, and Service: Honoring Gwinnett’s Veterans

Sports Talk: Fall Middle School Golf League

By Emily Haney

The Five Forks Middle School golf team won the Fall Season Middle School team competition.

The team, comprised of Eric Ervin, Grady Freeman, Hakim Kitabwalla, Duncan and Thomas Reid, Sean Smith, Isaiah Taylor, Julie Langenderfer, and McKinlee Proctor, along with team marshal Kevin Ervin, shot a combined score of 24 under par during the four weeks of team play.

Couch Middle School’s Paige Greco won the Girl’s Drive, Chip, and Putt end of season competition, and Joshua Parker from Trickum Middle School won the Boy’s competition. For the 9-hole Individual Stroke Tournament, Couch’s Paige Greco also won for Girls with a score of 42, and Five Fork’s Thomas Reid won the Boys with the low score of 40.

“We experienced continued growth going from 81 players in the spring to 112 this fall,” said Middle School Golf League Director Les Witmer. “We added two new Middle School teams from Loganville and Shiloh to our returning teams from Bay Creek, Couch, Creekland, Crews, Dacula, Five Forks, McConnell, and Trickum Middle Schools. We also added Trophy Club of Apalachee in Dacula to our existing golf courses of Summit Chase Country Club and Country Club of Gwinnett in Snellville, Cedar Lake Golf Course in Loganville, and Collins Hill Golf Course in Lawrenceville.”

According to Witmer Most Improved Golfer Awards for the fall season were given to Tara Dolan for Bay Creek; River Morrow, Jordan Hanna, and Presley Pope for Couch; Michael Higgins for Crews; Noah Dixon for Creekland; Evan Higdon for Dacula; Isaiah Taylor for Five Forks; Carson Barnett for Loganville; Aiden Whitman, Dorien Smith, and Olivia Robertson for McConnell; Trey Grant for Shiloh; and Chloe Gordon and Eliot Prior for Trickum. Also, Crews’ Zac Choi won the closest to the hole putting contest and received a free registration for the 2019 Spring Season.

The Middle School Golf League is organized through the South Gwinnett Athletic Association and plays mainly on Sunday afternoons during both fall and spring seasons. Each team has a volunteer marshal who supervises play and keeps score. Parents support their players and may ride carts and follow play from the golf course cart paths.

By Our Town Staff

“Thank you for your service” were the five words that helped Colonel Richard White’s “non-purple heart wound” heal years after he returned from the Vietnam War. With thirty-one years of active service, White is the co-director and chairman of the Georgia Military Veteran’s Hall of Fame. He recently addressed veterans from WWII to present day at the Veterans Day Ceremony held at the Gwinnett Fallen Heroes Memorial. White recalled returning from war to a country that did not accept what he had just fought for, which led him to develop a chip on his shoulder.

However, that feeling of resentment began to change with Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield from the 1990s. More and more people started to thank veterans for their service. White told the crowd about visiting an elementary school a week prior. “The grammar school had a veteran appreciation day, and as everyone walked in, the first and second graders, little boys and girls, were waving flags,” he recalled with some emotion. “Everyone said those five words: ‘Thank you for your service.’”

White never tires of hearing those words of affirmation and is a firm believer in thanking veterans “in person and loudly.” “War is not normal. We have a lot of gratitude to give to our veterans, and a lot of gratitude to give to our loved ones back home,” he advised.

Accepting thanks and sharing your story is all part of your legacy and your family, White believes.

What a veteran shares with his/her family allows them to better understand; and it turn, these recollections can be passed down to later generations. If you don’t share your story, it ends with you.

This Veterans Day marked the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, when the armistice with Germany went into effect. The day celebrates and honors each individual who has served in the military. “Since the beginning of our nation, there have been over 44 million men and women who have had the honor to don the cloth of military service,” said White.

The Gwinnett Fallen Heroes Memorial honors the local soldiers who died in the line of duty.

Thirteen black granite markers pay tribute, beginning with Gwinnett’s natives before the American Revolution. “Here in Gwinnett County we have never lacked folks who will step up when there’s a Continued on page 22

Continued on page 21

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PAGE 19

Chaplain’s Corner Continued from page 15 Well, until precisely this moment in the story of Charlie Brown. You see, right in the middle of his explanation of the Christmas story, Linus drops the blanket. Right in the moment when he is retelling the angel’s words “fear not,” the blanket hits the ground.

For the first time in the history of the show, Linus doesn’t need his security blanket. For the first time in his life, he is not afraid.

Personally, I don’t think that was a coincidence by the artist Charles Schultz. I believe what this cartoon is telling us is simply that: The birth of Jesus separates us from our fears and from the habits we are unable to break ourselves.

The reality is that the world in 2018 can be a scary place to live. Yet, in the midst of fears, uncertainties and insecurities, I want to remind you the words from the book of Luke that were retold by a cartoon in 1965: “Fear not.” I want to invite you to seek true peace and true security in the one place that it has always been and can always still be found. And that is Jesus.

Rodrigo Cruz is the Lead Pastor of a multi-ethnic and multi-site church called The Nett Church. More information at www.thenettchurch.com .

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Gwinnett’s 200th Birthday Events

By Emily Haney Gwinnett County’s bicentennial is fast approaching.

The county and residents have been celebrating their 200th birthday with events throughout the year, but the actual day, December 15th, is coming up, so mark your calendars. If you haven’t had the chance to partake in one of the events yet, there’s still plenty of time. Here are just a few options.

Gwinnett’s 200 Birthday Celebration What better way to celebrate Gwinnett’s bicentennial than attending the birthday celebration? From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on December 15th head over to the Hudgens Center for Art and Learning at the Infinite Energy Center. There will be events for all ages. Eat a birthday cupcake, watch a docuseries about Gwinnett, or see live ice sculpting. The event is free for all who attend, and you’re sure to leave having learned more about the county you live in.

Bicentennial Traveling Art Exhibitions The traveling art exhibitions have been circulating throughout the county since January. You can choose between four options: Kudzu Artists, Looking Back Through the Lens, Peggy Sullens, and Charlotte Elizabeth Edwards Howerton. Two of the exhibitions are currently in Lawrenceville. At the Bethesda Park Senior Center, learn all about Howerton, a Gwinnett native turned member of the Women’s Army Corps turned painter. Discover her life story and the role Gwinnett played in this exhibit.

Displayed at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, Looking Back Through the Lens shows images of Gwinnett before 1978. If you’ve ever wondered what the county used to look like, here’s your chance.

The exhibitions will run until December 18th, so don’t miss out on learning more about Gwinnett’s history and citizens. The event is free for all ages.

Historical “Sovereign Scavenger” Hunt Happening daily until the end of December, the Sovereign Scavenger Hunt is an event for the ages.

Grab a list from the front desk at the Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, and take time finding, exploring, and learning about each item on the list. You can even receive a prize if you finish the list and bring it back to the front desk, and you’ll get your name added to the hunt’s certificate on display. The hunt is free for all ages.

Light Up Gwinnett with Kindness For the entire month of December partake in a new Gwinnett tradition. Light Up Gwinnett with Kindness was created by Cindi Pickett to encourage the community to come together as the county enters the next century. Pickett hopes everyone will be more intentional in their actions performing various acts of kindness and that they will place candles in bags across the county to “light up” and commemorate the event. Visit lightupgeorgiawithkindness.com to get ideas for the month.

More information at https://www.gwinnett200birthday.com/

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Trickum Middle School Continued from page 17 PTSA president at the time, David Brock, was an invaluable partner,” Sands said. “He secured the architectural firm and met with them and me on many occasions. We just plugged away with various fundraising projects. He was enthusiastic about the project and was a wonderfully dependable partner with whom to work.”

In September 2018, Trickum held the dedication of the Kay Sands Outdoor Theatre. “I was very honored when the Board of Education approved the naming of the theater after me,” Sands stated.

“Senior Assistant Principal Gloria Thomas notified me; it was so like Gloria to do something so incredibly thoughtful. I know firsthand how busy she stays, and for her to take on the organizing and planning responsible for making the dedication a special occasion was amazingly gracious. I was overwhelmed, though not surprised, at the loveliness of the celebration. Gloria thought of everything!” The dedication was itself a fun community event. Many former and present Trickum teachers, clerical staff, and administrators who served under Kay were in attendance at the event. There were also current and former students and families, Kay’s family, both immediate and extended, as well as close friends who came to celebrate Sands and the theater’s dedication.

Thomas worked tirelessly for months to make the event a success. She explained, “I took pride in planning both the remodeling of the area and the program of events because it was for someone who deserved every bit of energy that I invested into doing so. I enlisted a wonderful team, including Trickum clerical staff members Linda Dudish, Denise Howard, and Julie Whritenour, bookkeeper Carol Price, former Administrative Assistant Lyn Deitrich, and head custodian Joseph Alexander to help me. I am grateful to current Principal Ryan Queen for his support and trust in me to see this project through. Each team member had his or her own expertise which came together beautifully to create this spectacular event.”

More information about Trickum Middle School and the Kay Sands Outdoor Theatre at https://www. gcpsk12.org/TrickumMS

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Our Town

Never Suffer from Holiday Stress Again

By Jane Bishop Recently, I had to put over 15 gallons of gas into my 16-gallon gas tank because the needle on my gauge was well beyond the last orange mark. I had been aware for days that my fuel was low, but I kept going. Had I delayed just a few more miles, my next step would have been calling AAA. That gave me pause to think. Why is it at this time of year that we push our personal tanks so close to that Big “E” mark?

We get into an end of the year syndrome with all of our extra activities. We are drawn into margin-less living, so we shift into a “do it all” mindset. Many of us place the word “no” into storage because we have those self-sabotaging conversations with ourselves and feel guilty if we don’t do it all. It’s as if we have parked our common sense into the nearest long-term parking lot for the remainder of the year.

When we choose to run our auto gas tank to empty, we know the outcome: we get stranded. But what happens when our personal fuel tanks get to empty? We become frazzled and feel out of control and may experience activity paralysis.

Think about what you experience when you get overcommitted. For some, it might be, “Yes, I am a bit stressed. Why do you ask?” For others, a short supply of patience with an abundance of irritability is experienced.

So how can we minimize and even avoid that Empty in our personal fuel tanks at this time of the year? Short answer: shift to a white space mindset and consider what Richard Swenson, author of Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives, identifies as margins: • “Margin is the space between ourselves and our limits.”

• “Margin grants us freedom and permits rest.”

• “Margin is the gap between rest and exhaustion.”

White space as a margin in life provides structure and a framework. Consider what a frame provides around a work of art. It defines the art and creates focus. As you look at a framed item, notice how your eyes are drawn to what’s in the frame, reducing any distractions. The frame frees you up to focus on what is important.

Continued on page 22

Our Town

Fall Middle School Golf League Continued from page 19 “We began our season again with a clinic for all, an extra clinic for new players to golf for the league in preparation for their team best ball play, and a practice round to get everyone organized,” said Witmer. “We had forty-one players at registration who indicated that they were true beginners who had never played golf on a golf course, but by the end of the season they were hitting good shots and had learned a lot about the game of golf!”

After the practice round, it was four weeks of team best ball play, and then they players were introduced to stroke play where the more experienced juniors participated in a 9-hole tournament, and then everyone got to play their own ball for an individual score. “It culminated with the very popular Drive, Chip, and Putt competition just as at the national event, and then a pizza party and awards presentation,” added Witmer.

The 2019 Spring Season for the Middle School Golf League will begin in March, with play through the end of May. More information at https://www.facebook.com/middleschoolgolfleague/

Yellow River Water Trail Continued from page 18 The Yellow River Water Trail is all about encouraging people to get out, use, and help preserve their local rivers, no matter the size. “You’re upstream from someone else’s water sources,” said Wilson.

“There’s fish that live in it and wildlife that drink it. Just take care of it, and it’ll take care of you.”

More information at www.facebook.com/yellowriverwatertrail/ or www.yellowriverwatertrail.org/

My Parent, My Teacher Continued from page 14 for their children to have their own space. Coach Smith gave some great advice. “Just ask them the general question of ‘How was your day?’ instead of directly asking them, ‘What happened in [3rd period] today?’ They sometimes think that you are spying on them when you ask them a direct question concerning school.”

When it came to the perks of having a parent at his school, Jeremiah pointed out a detail that only a child of the coach would understand. He claimed he actually liked it because he was “able to see [him] more than I did in previous years because football takes over his life.” So in this case, being at school together helped to increase quality time.

As a final piece of advice for students of teachers, both parents and students cautioned, ”Be ready for your parent to know your grades before you do.”

To become an Our Town advertising partner email Info@OurTownGwinnett.com or call 678-825-2049

PAGE 21

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Gwinnett TOTY Continued from page 18 Lindsey Saa of Couch Middle School, Heidi Campbell of Parkview High School, and Meredith White of Peachtree Ridge High School – received a check for $500, a generous gift card and basket from Kroger, and a plaque.

Wilbanks then announced the level winners. Kelly Specht of Riverside Elementary was named the Elementary Teacher of the Year. Specht, who has been teaching for twenty-nine years, was thrilled with her award. “This is an absolutely wonderful surprise!” Specht told the crowd in her speech. “My entire career has been dedicated to my passion for teaching reading to struggling learners.” Specht is a Reading Recovery and Early Intervention Program teacher.

Lindsey Saa, an 8th grade Social Studies Teacher from Couch Middle School, was named the Middle School TOTY. “This is a dream and so I appreciate it,” Saa told the crowd with excitement. “This goes to every person in this room. You guys make me better. We learn from each other. We are in it together, and when these kids are successful, we are successful.” Saa has been teaching for fourteen years.

Parkview High’s Heidi Campbell was named the High School TOTY. She has been teaching since graduating from Oglethorpe University in 1994. “Everyone has their own personal story,” Campbell told the audience, “and, as a Language Arts Teacher, I’m in the business of stories. The honor of being Teacher of the Year will be added to the stories of each and every one of us here tonight. What a special night. I am so thankful to add this night and this honor to my story.”

The evening ended with a final announcement from Mr. Wilbanks: the 2019 GCPS Teacher of the Year, Heidi Campbell. Campbell received numerous gifts from the sponsors, including a $1,000 annual stipend, a check for $500, a crystal peach from Peach State Federal Credit Union, a ring from Sholastic Images, a $500 Kroger gift card, a one-year lease on a Jeep Cherokee Lattitude from Hayes Chrysler Dodge Jeep, and a laptop from EMTEC. Excited by the honor, Campbell said, “When I think about what is the most important thing we do as teachers, I truly believe it is making connections with all kids. Optimal learning takes place when we connect.” She went on to read an original poem that she had entitled, “Connecting With the World in My Classroom,” which described the diverse student population that she proudly connects with each day. Campbell will proceed to the next level, which will be consideration for the Georgia Teacher of the Year.

More information at https://publish.gwinnett.k12.ga.us/gcps/home/gcpstv/videos/events/toty .

Holiday Stress Continued from page 19 Relate that to your life. Most of the time, we’re the ones creating our chaos. Draw or visualize a frame and ask, “What do I want framed in my life? What do I want people to focus on?” Margins create boundaries and release us to live our lives responsibly.

Consider a printed book or a magazine. Without white space or margins, words would “bleed off” the page. There would be no clarity, no design, and there would be confusion. The same effect happens in our lives when we don’t create margins or white space.

Authors John Townsend and Dr. Henry Cloud, frame it this way in their book, Boundaries, “Boundaries are anything that helps differentiate you from someone else.” In other words, where you begin and end.

To avoid the “big E” at this time of the year, take these steps: 1. Choose to shift from the “do all” to a white space mindset.

2. Create a tangible frame and choose what goes in it. Begin with the daily non-negotiables. Put in the frame what you want to focus on, what you want to draw attention to, and what will help you eliminate the distractions. If it’s not in the frame, then it doesn’t get your time or attention.

3. Identify your limits (i.e. time, capacity, space). I learned years ago that it was foolish for me to attempt everything that came across my path at this time of the year. I could not be fully present at each activity. I now consider what I can and what I cannot do. Practicing this now provides a way for the end of the year to be satisfying, fulfilling, and enjoyable.

4. Get adequate rest. After that end of the year syndrome appears, rest tends to disappear.

5. Spend quality time investing in healthy relationships, be it family, friends, or a support community.

These are relationships where you invest in positively and they invest in you as well.

BONUS: Play is a great way to avoid the big E! I have my annual checkup in December, so I started a fun thing a few years ago. I show up with a fun, playful holiday accessory or headgear. Now, it’s “We can’t wait to see what Jane’s going to show up in this year.” It’s a playful and fun way to keep things in the frame, with boundaries, to create that white space so that life can be enjoyed, even at this time of year. What will be in your end of year frame?

More information at https://www.takethenextstepcct.com/about.php

Gwinnett’s Veterans Continued from page 19 need for military service going back to colonial times,” said Chairman of Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners, Charlotte Nash.

Our veterans have allowed us to maintain the freedoms that we enjoy. “May we never say the phrase ‘freedom is not free’ as a cliché,” said White. “It is the most true statement. It costs a lot.” Veterans Day is a time to reflect on our freedoms and to say, “thank you for your service” to all of those you come across.

White encourages everyone to nominate someone for the Georgia Military Veteran’s Hall of Fame.

Everyone who gets nominated, even if they don’t win, receives a certificate of honor presented by White. “Valor, achievement, and service are what you need, and all of you have it,” said White.

To become an Our Town advertising partner email Info@OurTownGwinnett.com or call 678-825-2049

Our Town

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PAGE 23

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