FEB 2017: Our Town Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Monthly Magazine

FEBRUARY 2017 Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine

Our Town GWINNETT

Lawrenceville Snellville Lilburn Stone Mountain Tucker

Meet the team at American Heritage Animal Hospital, see story on page 5

7 9 10 12

Up Close with Lisa & Byron Porter of Unique Face Options in Lilburn Conversation with Pastor Hildebrant of 12Stone Church Snellville CFA Tucker: Serving the Community with Brad Spratte & His Team Catching Up with Coach Chan Brown & Parkview High Baseball

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Our Town

On the Cover: American Heritage Animal Hospital

By Heidi Campbell Dr. Cat McGinnis, known to her veterinary customers as “Dr. Cat,” is the owner of American Heritage Animal Hospital in Snellville. She recognized her passion for working with animals at a young age, and worked in veterinary hospitals ever since she was fifteen. When she was ten, she got her first dog.

The deal she made with her parents was that if she got a dog, she had to promise to take care of it. She promised over and over. On the way home, the new puppy became carsick and started to wretch. “In my great attempt to prove to my dad that I would take care of the dog,” recalls Dr. Cat with a grin, “I put my hands under the dog’s mouth to catch the vomit!”

Born and raised in Decatur, Dr. Cat graduated from the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 2008, gained experience doctoring small animals and horses in South Carolina, and moved back to the Atlanta area to open her veterinary hospital in 2013. She has four dogs of her own – a Great Dane, a spunky mixed breed, and two Chihuahuas – and enjoys her regular boarding guests and rescue dogs. “I have customers who tell me all the time,” Dr. Cat admits, “that they think I love their pets as much or more than they do. And I do!”

American Heritage Animal Hospital, which currently offers half price exams for new clients, is a small practice with a full range of services for dogs and cats. The practice provides all preventative care and surgeries, and Dr. Cat works to stay within a family budget, which she believes is a major advantage to a smaller practice. “I’m not a veterinary conglomerate,” she explains, “so I can really tailor the care here to meet the

individual needs of my customers.”

Many clients board their cats and dogs at the hospital where they are treated like family members. They are kept in runs where they interact with the people working in the kennel, and they get to go out for three walks a day in their fenced back yard. Frequently, boarding guests who prove they get along with other animals will get time to hang around up front as well. The office is one that truly loves animals and treats them like their own, which makes it hard when they have to put an animal down. “I’ve had quite a few people come to me when they need to put their pet down because they have heard that I’m caring and compassionate about it,” says Dr. Cat about one of the most difficult parts of her job. “It is heartbreaking for all of us when the life of a pet is at its end.”

While there are sad days in her field, Dr. Cat has countless inspiring days as well. She recently had a man bring in his Pomeranian. The dog was completely weak and barely moving. When she looked closely at the dog’s skin, she realized that it was covered with fleas, which were making the dog anemic. She did not need to run any additional expensive tests; she simply administered a Capstar to kill the fleas. She kept the dog overnight, and the next day he was up eating and livelier. “I love being able to diagnose and treat these animals,” Dr. Cat says. “People come in thinking that they are going to have to put their animal to sleep, and I’m elated when a pet gets better.”

Dr. Cat enjoys helping the community, and donates her

time, talent, and resources to three different Great Dane rescue organizations. She works with the fostered animals to provide medical care and to find loving homes, is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and takes part in numerous local festivals. “Whenever I can, I like to teach people how to be better pet owners,” says Dr. Cat. Students benefit from the guidance of Dr. Cat as she works with three different student programs. She has an active Explorer program where high school kids come and shadow her work. This opportunity, developed by the Boy Scouts of America, enables kids to really see if they want a career in veterinary science. She also has a Veterinarian Assistant program that helps students at the Animal Behavioral College get their clinic hours for certification. Finally, she provides clinic hours for Grayson Tech’s Veterinarian Tech students. Dr. Cat says, “I Continued on page 22

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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 Cover Photographer Amadorphoto Distribution Coordinator DeeDee Chapman Feature Writers Daidra Annis Heidi Campbell Kim Hill Karla Socci Somers Michelle Watson Contributing Writers Bill Crane Rev. Rodrigo Cruz Dana Pike-Van Vlake Pam Walker

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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 2017 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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IN THIS ISSUE

5 On the Cover: American Heritage Animal Hospital 7 From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion 7 Up Close with Unique Face Options 8 Garden Talk: Sleep Better with Houseplants 9 Welcome to 12Stone Church Snellville with Pastor Trey Hildebrant

10 Chick-fil-A Tucker Station and Northlake: Serving Chicken, Serving the Community

“Exceptional coffees and teas complimented with house made breads, sweets and savories.”

12 Catching Up with Coach Chan Brown and Parkview High Baseball 13 Chaplain’s Corner: Live Into Your Vision!

14 Community Spotlight on the City of Lilburn 15 The Potter’s House Family and Children Treatment Center 17 Crane’s Corner: Political Insights from Bill Crane

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18 Travel Tips: A New Year and New Opportunities for Travel

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21 Business Sense: Saving Money is a Client’s Top Desire. Or, is it?

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Our Town

From the Publisher:

One Man’s Opinion

By Ryan T. Sauers

@RyanSauers

I hope everyone is off to a great February. Our community continues to prosper. Why? We are blessed with amazing people who live, work, and play right here in Our Town. We should be proud of our community. Most communities are not as close as the ones we have. With that said, our attention span is short, so here are some points to ponder.

1. People love to laugh. How many times have you heard a funny story that made your day? How often have you seen something so silly that it just makes you laugh hard? You know – when you just keep laughing – and can’t stop? How much fun do we have with long term friends who we can truly be ourselves with? And what do we do? Yes, we laugh. How much fun is it to see the Atlanta Falcons in the Super Bowl and “laughing” in an excited and not nervous way. Make someone’s day... and make them laugh.

2. People love to have fun. Why do you see so many people playing fantasy football, going to costume parties, or playing mindless games on their mobile devices? Many use these things as breaks from their everyday routine and to relieve stress from our constantly connected world.

They are fun, simple, and mindless. Have you ever seen adults dress up in full gear for football games? Man, people get into it. Why? We all love to have fun. This “feeling like a kid again” is the magic that most experience when they visit Disneyworld. We are supposed to act like kids and smile there. Remember, people love to have fun.

3. People love technology, yet miss the personal touch. How many of us just want someone to handle our requests in a timely manner, get things right the first time, and save us time when we are dealing with a problem that we’ve had with a good, service, etc.? I know I do. But instead we hear, “For faster service, visit us online.” Note: this is CODE for, “Don’t call us. We are busy, and if you go online, we don’t have to talk to you, or staff as many people.” Technology may be the best and worst thing that has happened to us. Thus, be sure technology works for us and that we do not work for it. The personal touch matters now more than ever.

So, there you have it. If we want to communicate more effectively, we must consider our audience. Do we make other people laugh and have fun? After all, most adults are just big “kids at heart.” So, make business fun and make life fun. And bring back the personal touch while saving people time, which is our most valuable asset.

I wish you a super February. And until next month, make someone’s day. WOW them. Why? Because it feels great and it is a super thing to do. And until then and as always, this is my town, your town, OUR TOWN!

Up Close with Unique Face Options

By Michelle Watson Unique Face Options, Inc. is located at 4051 Stone Mountain Hwy, Suite E-109, in Lilburn, at the corner of Hwy 78 and Killian Hill Road.

Lisa and Byron Porter cofounded Unique Face Options (UFO) in April of 1996.

When UFO first opened, they offered free facials and worked with salons to get client referrals so they could get introduced to the community. UFO soon grew to a full-service day spa.

When business slowed down in 2007, the Porters knew it was time for a change. They tailored their services, their location, and their staff, becoming more of a niche boutique. Lisa focused solely on providing skin care services so she could continue to personally serve each client. Honoring their faithful, long-term patrons, the Porters designed personalized loyalty programs that locked-in services at the lowest prices. Today, Lisa continues to provide corrective skin care, waxing, brow sculpting, and laser services. Making the decision to move from a large business complex to their current location not only increased their visibility but also their clientele.

The Porters serve Gwinnett County and the community at large, as well as local and interContinued on page 11

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PAGE 7

Garden Talk: Sleep Better with Houseplants

By Dana Pike-Van Vlake Air quality in your home is important! Poor air quality can cause headaches, sore throat, and other common but annoying irritations. Fortunately, scientists at NASA have conducted research and experiments on these issues. One of the most promising solutions was the cleansing and purifying properties in houseplants. And, houseplants can help you sleep better!

No matter how ventilated your home or apartment may seem, pollutants from outside can still make their way inside and become trapped. These pollutants, along with the chemical release of cleaning products, combine and linger in your air. A simple and affordable way to combat these pollutants is adding some houseplants into your living space.

Plants cleanse the air by simply doing what they are designed to do – create oxygen. Through photosynthesis, plants draw in the dirty carbon dioxide in the air and releases oxygen. This process helps get rid of the three main indoor pollutants: formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene. The research done by NASA helped reveal six specific houseplants that help remove up to 90% of these toxins, making your air cleaner and healthier to breathe so that you can sleep better.

Snake Plants: These plants need low to moderate light, freshen the air, and remove pollutants.

Place in your bedroom to help you sleep. Super easy care.

Peace Lily: Needs moderate light, removes all three pollutants, and needs very easy care.

Aloe Vera: Aloe Vera needs moderate to bright light, is used for its medicinal value, and cleans the air. It’s also easy care.

Ficus Trees: These trees need bright light and they remove pollutants and toxins. They are great in kitchens and sunrooms.

Golden Pothos: This plant needs low to moderate light, looks great in hanging baskets, and can be placed in bedroom and bathroom to clean the air. It’s also easy care.

Dracaena: The Dracaena needs moderate light, cleans the air, and removes all three pollutants. It comes in many varieties and is easy care.

To naturally clean your air, help with sleep, and offer an overall feeling of well-being, NASA recommends between 15 and 18 air-purifying plants in an 1800 square foot home, with a few of these varieties in each bedroom.

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Our Town

Welcome to 12Stone Church Snellville with Pastor Trey Hildebrant 10% OFF Online Orders

By Karla Socci Somers In a church that serves the spiritual needs of 17,000 people every weekend, the maxims of “One Matters” and “You Matter to God. You Matter to Us” are tall orders for the eight campus pastors of 12Stone Church. But, as Trey Hildebrant, Campus Pastor of 12Stone Church, Snellville notes, “Despite how large we’ve gotten, we seek to be a place where individual stories are important.”

Pastor Hildebrant continues to say that every new family that visits any 12Stone Church campus receives a personal phone call, emails, and letter of welcome. “We want to reach out to people to affect their lives and help them get connected.”

Connecting with the community and serving their spiritual needs are a big part of what Pastor Hildebrant believes creates a church that people desire to be part of. And he and his Snellville team have been doing just that for the past two years.

The Snellville 12Stone location opened in January 2015 at Brookwood High School. In a rented space, dedicated volunteers would arrive in the early morning hours every Sunday to set up for worship services in their community. In September 2016, the church was able to move into their permanent worship space at the old Best Buy location at 1709 Scenic Highway, Snellville, where they now enthusiastically serve 2,000 people at three services every Sunday.

Their new worship space seats 800 people and offers childcare for infants and worship experiences through fifth grade.

“We have found a way of creating worship services for people of all ages, from kids to adults in their 90s,” Pastor Hildebrant says. “People enjoy our worship services!” he says. “We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we take God very seriously.” Pastor Hildebrant and his fellow pastors at each of the 12Stone locations often deliver God’s word through music, humor, and more non-traditional praise methods.

“We don’t want the HOW people worship to be sacred, we want the WHY people worship to be sacred,” Pastor Hildebrant notes. Making sure people enjoy the services in combination with the church’s “pursuit with intent” of every individual is what makes such a large church able to connect with worshipers in a very personal way.

In addition to Sunday services, 12Stone Church is also known for its thriving Wednesday night Student Ministry for grades six through twelve. At the Snellville location alone, nearly Continued on page 11

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PAGE 9

Chick-fil-A Tucker Station and Northlake: Serving Chicken, Serving the Community

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“We like to think we are doing more than just selling chicken,” says Brad Spratte, Operator of both the Tucker Station and Northlake Festival Chick–fil-A restaurants.

“We are working to make a difference in the community in which we live and serve.”

Spratte began his decade-long career with Chick-fil-A in Snellville and within two years, was selected to operate the Tucker Station location, less than five miles from where he grew up. Within a year, the property on Lavista became available and Spratte was selected to open the Northlake Festival location. Both locations in Tucker have been under his direction since 2014.

Spratte says he is happy to be serving – more than chicken – in his hometown. “We firmly believe that our businesses should be involved in the communities in which they serve.” This philosophy comes from Chickfil-A founder, Truett Cathy, and still lives on today.

Making a difference in the lives of the 170 team members that work for Chick-fil-A in the community in which he lives and serves is something Spratte strives for. His company offers tuition reimbursement to help working team members attend college, and has a leadership development program for those wishing to further their career and build leadership skills.

“So many young people have to work to go to school, so we try to help balance that with tuition assistance so they don’t have to choose between going to work and going to school,” Spratte says enthusiastically. “Helping young men and women get an education helps us attract talent and lets them know that we care about their future.”

Each year, Spratte’s company partners with many local schools and organizations to support youth, education, and the needy in the local community. Through his involvement with the Tucker Northlake Community Improvement District (CID) and Sports Dekalb, Spratte works to support the future of the community in which he grew up. In addition to hosting local sports and athletic events, Spratte’s two Chick-fil-A’s also support the efforts of Winshape Camps held at Briarlake Baptist Church with over 300 children attending every year.

Spratte joined Chick-fil-A in order to make a difference. By selling chicken, his team is supporting many of the programs that Chick-fil-A assists including the Shared Table program, which supports first responders at times of disaster; Chick-fil-A’s scholarship program, which has given out over 35 million dollars in scholarships; and Winshape, which operates multiple foster care homes, a marriage retreat for distressed marriages, camps for kids, and missions all over the world.

“Our philosophy has always been one of a spirit of generosity,” Spratte continues. “We meet people where they are in their day, and in their lives. We try to make people feel welcome and make an effort to do everything to the best of our ability.”

In addition to their philanthropic endeavors, Spratte also notes how Chick-fil-A stands apart from many other fast-food restaurants. He offers this difference between “fast-food” and “quickserve” meals: “We work to build on the legacy of Truett Cathy by serving meals made from the best ingredients in the quick-serve food industry. We prepare, not just a meal, but an experience, and we believe in kindness as a higher calling.”

Truett Cathy’s philosophies have taken some Chick-fil-A team members on amazing journeys. Today, many who began their careers with a part-time, afterschool job at Chick-fil-A in Northlake Mall have gone on to become Operators and to play important roles at the corporate support center. Spratte notes that the president of the company started working at Northlake Mall in high school in the early eighties.

One of Spratte’s favorite sayings from Truett Cathy is: “If it is to be, it’s up to me.” Spratte believes that anything is possible if you set your mind to it, keep a positive attitude, and work hard to achieve your goals.

“Chick-fil-A is everything I thought it would be and more,” Spratte says about his own career with the company. He loves having the opportunity to have a positive influence on his staff and his community. “Chick-fil-A is a great platform on which to work to improve the community, be involved, and make a difference in the lives of the people that I work with and in the area in which we serve,” he says. “It starts and it ends with people.” Serving great chicken is just one of the many perks.

Brad Spratte is the Operator of Chick-fil-A Tucker Station and Northlake Festival. More information at https://www.chick-fil-a.com

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Our Town

Unique Face Options Continued from page 7 national celebrities in the media, music, and film industries. They generously donate gift cards and services to Boys & Girls Clubs, debutante balls, sororities, fraternities, and other charities for silent auctions and fundraisers.

The Porters’ innovations don’t stop at their business practices. Lisa has created a skin care line, the Flawless Collection, which currently consists of six products. She also holds the patent on a bathroom rug designed especially for bidets. The rug is part of her bath collection, Unique Bath Options, for which she is designing more products.

She has also trademarked her Weekly Medi- Spa Facial Kit for those clients who can’t come in for regular facials. The kits are customized for each skin type, and one is specifically designed for men. Another innovative idea is their Beautiful Ones membership, an exclusive program that gives clients the opportunity to get 20% off services, a personalized, embroidered luxury smock, spirits, and more. However, the Porters make certain that “Every client who comes in is treated with the same level of care and consideration.”

More information at www.uniquefaceoptions.com.

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12Stone Church Continued from page 9 200 students attend the program each week. “In six months, we went from having 40 kids in a clubhouse to using our main worship space,” says Pastor Hildebrant. 12Stone Snellville has its own student pastor, as well as a preschool/elementary director for their Kids’ Ministry.

Under the leadership of Senior Pastor Kevin Myers, 12Stone Church is “one church in many locations.” The Central Campus, located at 1322 Buford Drive in Lawrenceville, became a multi-site church in 2007 and has been growing ever since. Its latest growth spurt occurred when Snellville was launched, along with four other new campuses all on the same day in January 2015.

With families coming for services each week from Monroe, Conyers, Covington, Tucker, Lithonia, and Stone Mountain, Pastor Hildebrant is excited about where 12Stone Snellville is going next. “We want to dig deep roots in the community, not just be a new church that people try out. We want Snellville to be better off because we are here.”

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PAGE 11

Catching Up with Coach Chan Brown and Parkview High Baseball

Gwinnett Soccer Association

By Daidra Annis The Parkview High School Baseball team has experienced a lot of success through the years.

In their forty-one-year history, the Panthers have earned two national championships, six state titles, and twenty region championships. As you can imagine, all of those accolades do not come without a lot of hard work. Every spring the coaching staff begins tryouts for the incoming 9th grade team, followed by workouts and weightlifting for that group in the summer.

Once everyone is back in school, preparation for the current season really begins, as all baseball hopefuls spend their seventh period in weight training to gain back muscle base that has been lost over the summer. In fall they add swimming and plyometrics to the routine twice a week, thanks to Mountain Park Aquatic Center.

For the past several years, Parkview has partnered with Hammersmith Sports for speed and agility training for the winter tryouts, which were just completed for this season. Now that the roster is set, they begin their “Marathon Three Weeks” which includes daily six hour practices during the school week, plus an additional eight hours on Saturday.

Chan Brown has been at Parkview for a total of fourteen years, and Head Coach for thirteen.

Amazingly, he is only the second Head Baseball Coach that Parkview has ever had, taking over the reins from Coach Buchanan, who headed Parkview Baseball for twenty-eight years. Coach Brown has had the privilege of leading Parkview to over a dozen of the championships they have earned. And, although winning is important, there’s a lot more to baseball than the scoreboard.

Coach Brown and his staff place high importance on sharing their talents with the community.

Throughout the fall, they work with all the travel teams that come through the Mountain Park 9482_Dr. in Chris's Natural Remedies January Ad 2017.final.pdf 1 12/14/2016 3:32:53 PM a pre-season camp for all program. Then, mid-winter, the newly formed Parkview team hosts Continued on page 22

Spring 2017 Recreational Soccer League Registration open now at www.gsasoccer.com Leagues form in February 2017, please register no later than January 31, 2017 League-style play with weekday practices and weekend games for under 5 - under 19.

At Dr. Chris' Natural Remedies,

Get the details on our website at www.gsasoccer.com under Programs tab.

we don’t consider ourselves to be alternative healthcare providers. We don’t replace

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Our registration system will place your player automatically.

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PAGE 12

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Our Town

Chaplain’s Corner: Live Into Your Vision!

By Rev. Rodrigo Cruz I have been happily married for over twelve years. My wife Kelly knows that going shopping is not one of my favorite things to do. But I like to spend time with her, and sometimes shopping is the way to do it.

Every time I’m going shopping with her, I say to myself, “Okay, Rodrigo, this is going to be a good experience. You are going to spend quality time with your wife. Just have a positive attitude…” But just five minutes in the store, and it feels that the life is sucking out of me.

Not sure why, but it happens every time.

A couple of months ago I told Kelly that we were going to spend the whole day together, regardless of what she needed to do. Well, she needed to go to a place called “Target.”

We got there, I parked the car, and we started unloading the kids. We had a back pack, snacks for the kids, and coloring books. It felt like a trip to Disney World. And as soon as we got out of the car, the kids started complaining: “I’m hungry; I’m tired; I don’t want to be here;” etc. So, I told the kids, “Guys, this is going to be a quick trip. Five minutes max. Just hang in there.” I looked at Kelly, very proud of my controlling the situation, and she gave me that look of “Are you kidding me? Five minutes?”

Once we were inside the store, Kelly found a dress and asked me a very simple but loaded question: “Do you like it?” I’m not sure what I was thinking, but I answered, “I guess; it’s okay.”

(Guys, if your wife has something in the shopping cart and she asks “Do you like it?” the answer is always yes). But I have to be honest, right? She puts the dress down and just says, “Okay, we are leaving,” and walks out of the store.

My first reaction was to look at my watch and think, “Five minutes. Yes!” But then, I had to think what in the world just happened? What went wrong? What did I miss?

After some serious thinking, it came to me: the problem was in the vision. And not just in the simple concept of vision – which for me was to spend time with Kelly that day – but in the implementation of that vision. How can I live that vision out effectively and benefit my whole family? And that is precisely what I want to share with you today: how you can get a vision for Continued on page 22

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PAGE 13

Community Spotlight on the City of Lilburn

By Daidra Annis If you haven’t been to downtown Lilburn recently, you are in for a pleasant surprise. In fact, you may not even recognize it. Over the past few years there have been quite a few changes, and the city is excited about all the new things it can offer.

The most noticeable change might be the re-alignment of Main Street. Fifty acres of previously undeveloped land has been opened, and a totally new street was formed.

The intersection of Main Street and US 29 has been straightened, and two roundabouts have been added to improve the flow of traffic. Then, on October 18, the doors opened to the brand new building that houses both Lilburn City Hall and a branch of the Gwinnett County Public Library. Located on the north corner of Main Street and Church Street, the L-shaped building was funded by the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) and took a little more than a year to complete. The new library is twice the size of the old one, and features all the latest technology and programming like a podcast room and an Xbox. Perhaps the best part of the new facility is the convenience it offers Lilburn residents. Offices for all city services, except police, are now located in one central location within the City Hall/Library building.

City officials worked closely with the county to build the first joint city and county building, and they are proud of the relationship that brought not just the new building and street, but also increased water and sewer lines and new sidewalks. The transformation of downtown actually began about three years ago with a goal to create a true downtown destination experience.

Lilburn is a small town with a neighborly feel, and the re-design of Main Street is a way to bring everyone together and foster that community spirit.

Additional developments are currently in progress, including construction of a new 148home subdivision on a newly annexed property, which is due to be completed in 2017. The old library building, owned by Gwinnett County, will likely become a community center over the next few years.

The City of Lilburn invites you to come out and check out their new library, as well as parContinued on page 22

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Our Town

The Potter’s House Family and Children Treatment Center

By Michelle Watson The Potter’s House Family and Children Treatment Center, located at 2300 West Park Place Blvd, Suite 135, Stone Mountain, is a full-service family and children counseling services agency. They work to provide their clients everything they need to be emotionally, mentally, and spiritually healthy.

The Potter’s House is a product of the vision of founders Jeffrey and Vivian Tobias, who wanted to help hurting and neglected children. In 1999 they began as The Potter’s House Homes for Children, where they accepted foster children who had been abandoned, abused, and neglected. Eventually, they grew to the size of four homes. In 2007 they opened the doors of The Potter’s House Family and Children Treatment Center. This allowed them to work with children, as well as their entire family, school, and community, making the changes longer lasting and more permanent.

Lori Maddock is the Director of Client Services and Development. She brings awareness of the ways in which the community can help and locates resources that will benefit clients.

Program Manager Jeevanshay Blake oversees the function of the programs offered at The Potter’s House. She ensures the programs work together in a comprehensive manner and that the various needs of the clients are met.

The Potter’s House serves men, women, and children ages five and up. They provide individual, family, and group therapy in the office, at home, or at school. The agency is staffed with a variety of Mental Health Professionals, including a licensed psychiatrist, a registered nurse, and several other licensed and degreed counselors, social workers, and paraprofessionals. The agency is accredited by CARF International (The Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitative Facilities), and was awarded the highest CARF accreditation offered. In addition to traditional counseling, The Potter’s House offers Biblical counseling to those who prefer faith-centered advice.

Continued on page 20

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For information on becoming an advertising partner visit OurTownGwinnett.com or call 678-825-2049

Our Town

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

Crane’s Corner: ANN-CAROL PENCE (Associate Producer/Co-Founder) arranged the music for Political Insights from Bill Crane Aurora’s first Christmas Canteen in 1996 and was hired full-time in September of ower

P

1998 as Resident By Bill Crane

House Electric, LLC

Musical Director. An education major at James Madison University, S E Rshe V I C E & R E P A I R she used her background to develop Library (or L2). As a musician, Since passage of Georgia’s Quality Basic Education Act (QBE)Learning in 1985 – thirty Aurora’s years, four governors, and fifteen assemblies and Aurora’s New Musical Initiative. She created Musicals by general Moonlight, Taz Butler ago – the state has dedicated as much as 60 percent of its budget has performed aswhich pianist and/or music director both nationally (Goodspeed Opera toward delivery of a product remains often middling.

Owner The passagePasadena of QBE was largely driven by a The desire Cleveland to equalize House, Playhouse, Playhouse, The Kennedy Center) and public education funding across Georgia. Prior to QBE, each of the locally (Thereceived Alliance, Theatrical Outfit, Georgia Ensemble Theatre, The Horizon).

187 school systems state allocations on the basis of student (Text) As a proud citizen of for Gwinnett, Ann-Carol is most proud of Aurora Theatre winheadcount, without any adjustments the ability of the local communities to supply required or the fiscal conditions ning the first everfunding Pinnacle Award forof that Large Non-Profit. This goes well with her 4 Licensed & Insured No Job Too Small system. Suburban and urban districts held a distinct advantage over their rural counterparts, Suzi Awards Outstanding Music Direction for Mary Poppins and Les Misérables, particularly as related for to access to funding and resources.

Funding soared for public education under QBE and economic expansion ofand the A Catered Affair and her Aurora’s world premiere of Clyde ’nGeorgia’s Bonnie: A Folktale, 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. But the deep and lasting recession of the latter part of the prior multiple for In Heights, Memphis, A funding Year with Frog & Toad, Annie decade broughtnominations steep cuts in state funding and the a return of some of those concerns about disparities. Even while multiple major metropolitan systems and contribute collectively Line. She is a participant Get Your Gun, Godspell, Singin’area in school the Rain A Chorus dozens of millions in Equalization Grant funding back to the state and out to their less wealthy in this Atlanta Regional Leadership peers, rural year’s Georgia educators often feel starved and complain of theInstitute. still incomplete funding

770-856-1845

BUY SELL TRADE

($166 million shy in the last budget cycle).

D.H. MALCOLM, (General Manager) joined Aurora Theatre part-time in 2007 A primary platform plank ofIII Governor Nathan Deal during his 2014 re-election campaign was reconfiguration of the QBEand fundingbusiness formula. Dealmanager made clear a desire his most asa the bookkeeper forthat the newlast-facility. Now in charge of ing legacy be in public education, and he began an ill-fated effort to first serve the starkest needs day-to-day operations, D.H. manages the Aurora Theatre budget, spearheads of students in repeatedly under and non-performing schools and districts. He offered a charter development and provides the with sound business school-centric state constitutional amendment to theatre create Opportunity Schools and Districts advice. His background (OSD), but he did not effectively make the case that state run charter schools offer potentially includes graduating from Marist School, obtaining a BS from Duke University and MORE local control than can be found in most schools today. The amendment failed by a wide later an MBA from Georgia State University. D.H. has extensive management margin.

Deal has since indicated that a Plan B is coming for those and nearly 70,000 still trapped He serves on the board experience in both entrepreneurial largestudents businesses. in non-performing classrooms in a list of now 150 failing schools. And noting current discusof the Downtown Authority thepossibility City ofis Lawrenceville.

In his other sions in Washington, DC andDevelopment other GOP-controlled state capitals, of a likely a voucher system parents to “spend” scholar’s state allocation dollars at the for schoolCallaway of life, he is allowing an avid golfer andtheir a professional club fitter Golf. D.H. has two their choice within their county or community. Using conservative growth estimates, the goverwonderful children, Katie and Cam nor is forecasting state revenues in the range of $25 billion, and education spending is expected to consume $9-10 billion of that.

JUSTIN ANDERSON (Associate Artistic has been based in the metroThat may sound like a lot of money, even with 2 million studentsDirector) and 200,000 educators Atlanta areato since 2009 and full-time with Aurora since January 2014. Artistic asand administrators pay for. Yet after delivering a 3-percent pay raise to state employees and teachers last year, Deal later learned that many local systems chose NOT to use those funds in and Serenbe Playhouse. sociations include Theatrical Outfit, Synchronicity Theatre, that fashion. At the very least expect any re-worked QBE to come with more funding strings and Whileallocated studying directing at Rutgers University, had the privilege to work expressly revenue streams and resources, shifting control back to the stateJustin versus typical GOP the benefits of local, local, local.Carden, and Deborah Headwall. He holds withcampaign Amyrhetoric Saltz,regarding Pamela Berlin, William There is no simple percentage funding-cut solution like the early salvage of Pre-K or even the Mainstreetfirearms@gmail.com a BALite in scholarship Theatrewhich Arts University anareMA HOPE the from bulk of Campbell its recipients receive today. Schooland systems the in Theatre Studies from largest employer in several dozenHis Georgia counties and abeen like-percentage cities. The math and Mainstreetgunsandrange.com Regent University. work has seenof at regional theatres in the Southeast politics here are much dicier, and a bad result could leave a much damaged legacy. We hope the including Express, Aurora Theatre, Theatre Company, FantasticFlorida Firearm Training Classes Available governor is eatingActor's his Wheaties every morning before heading back to Dad's school on Garage this one.

Repertory Horizon Theatre Company, Serenbe Playhouse, Stage Door Crane is the seniorTheatre, political analyst with WSB Radio and TV and owns the full-service communications consulting firm, CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com

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PAGE 17

Travel Tips: A New Year and New Opportunities for Travel 6015 Old Stone Mountain Rd.

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Hanjun is a visiting Post-doctoral researcher from China working at Georgia Tech. He had been struggling with depression for many years. He went to doctors, did research on his own and tried various solutions but still struggled. Some friends from work invited him to church but he refused since he was an atheist. At a research conference, he spent time with Jason, who is a part of Discipleship International, and another friend who spoke to him about Jesus and his love for Hanjun.

Hanjun listened and decided to try this Jesus they talked about. He prayed with them and decided to follow Jesus and experienced forgiveness of sins and found that his depression was gone! When the depression would try to come back, he remembered Jesus, prayed to him and the depression would leave!

Hanjun now is growing in Christ and serves on our translation team.

By Pam Walker This is the time of the year when people want to get away – away from cold weather and away from the doldrums of those long dark days of winter. It is also time to think about spring break trips and summer vacations.

The airlines have clamped down on Frequent Flyer Seats, so even travelers with high status on a particular airline are having trouble finding available seats during heavy traffic times.

Travel has now become the hottest commodity in the world.

Not only are we competing with US travelers, but we are also dealing with people from Europe and other colder climates who also want to get away.

A trip to the Caribbean at this time of year can be costly.

Rates are approaching $1,000 a day at some of the 5 star resorts, while lesser properties can fetch $500 per night.

The best pricing will be found on cruise ships as there are tons of cheap prices to the warmer spots of the world. But buyer beware. The cost of a soda or a glass of wine aboard can be close to $15.00. This is where the cruise lines make their money. Yes, meals are free and there is always food available everywhere, but a cocktail before dinner and wine with dinner will cost you dearly.

There is even a fee if you try to bring your own booze aboard, so don’t even try.

Bargains are out there, but you will have to search the internet from top to bottom to find the real deals. So the best use of your time is to call on a good travel advisor. These professionals work every day looking for the best pricing for their clients, and they have information ready and waiting to share with you. Your more professional travel advisors charge small fees for doing this, but in the long run, that little bit will be worth it when they find you pricing that is affordable.

So get out of the cold and go traveling. It’s a wonderful time of the year to enjoy!

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso Travel Advisor and can be reached via email at Pam@WalkerAdventures.com

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Potter’s House Continued from page 15

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In addition to counseling, The Potter’s House ensures all other needs are met. Whether a family needs food, clothing, or assistance with other community resources, there is a way The Potter’s House can help. They even provide help in filing for services provided by state and nonprofit agencies.

The Potter’s House meets the needs of those dealing with behavioral health issues, physical abuse, homelessness, and substance abuse by teaching life skills, budgeting, transitioning into the community, and job search and interview training. “Anyone who completes the programs at the agency is considered to have graduated once they have learned the skills and the abilities to implement them without assistance,” says Blake. However, consumers are welcome to return any time they feel the need for help again.

The Potter’s House has a year-round clothing bank for the clients enrolled in the program.

Once a year, they open the clothing bank for the upcoming school year. They take the children on outings to skating rinks or the park, and take an annual trip to Six Flags. Children in the program are picked up at school and driven to the agency’s office where they are helped with their homework, provided with necessary counseling, and given an opportunity to participate in physical activities and fellowship with their peers. The agency currently serves the students attending schools within a 15-mile radius of their Stone Mountain address, and planning is currently underway to extend services out to Rockdale County this school year.

The Potter’s House accepts donations of clothing, financial assistance, and food year-round.

Their greatest need is often hygiene products, shoes, clothing, and school uniforms.

More information at http://www.thepottershouseinc.org.

Parkview Baseball Continued from page 12

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players in the Mountain Park leagues. On average, 80-100 young athletes work with the high school team at the four-hour camp. In addition in the summer, the coaching staff hosts two camps and continues to work with the 10th-12th grade Panthers, even while they are playing with other travel leagues.

This season’s hard work – which began almost a year ago with those 9th grade tryouts – is about to pay off on the diamond. The first pitch of the 2017 Panther season will be thrown in February, and Coach Brown and the team hope to still be rounding the bases at the State Championships in May. More information contact Coach Chan Brown via email at chan_brown@gwinnett.k12.ga.us

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As I travel across the country, I am asked how important price is in the buying decision. Yes, it is a key part (not the part) of the purchasing process. However, if you are focusing solely (consciously or unconsciously) on saving money for clients, then you are missing part of the bigger picture. Of course, you need to find ways to save them money; but this should come under the value you offer. Value= price + goods/services + YOU. If you offer a ton of value, something may “cost more” but it may be a more viable overall option for someone, making price a non-issue or minor issue.

So, in today’s world the greatest currency/resource anyone has is their TIME. You cannot get it back, cannot carry it forward, cannot make more of it, and cannot be two places at once. Do you hear many people saying, “I wish I had fewer hours in the day”? No. you get the idea.

Therefore, we must focus on making every minute meaningful. We must become more human in approach and focus on the person we are talking to, not on the numerous distractions around us. This applies to all human beings, no matter your job title or the industry you work in.

We need to help our clients and give them much needed headache and stress relief by providing true value. This value must be centered on helping them with their top desire, which is not saving money, but the need for more time. So, begin thinking of ways you can you help clients free up time so they are under less stress. You will be amazed at the results.

Also, begin to study the words people say. Among many similar things, people say, “I am slammed; buried; swamped; snowed under; drowning; covered up, etc.” If you understand this mindset, you can solve these issues and make their lives easier. You can save them time. And in turn, they win and YOU WIN. Saving money then becomes a footnote under everything else in the value proposition.

Ryan T. Sauers is President of Sauers Consulting Strategies and is both a best-selling author and national speaker. More information at SauersConsulting.com

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Chaplain’s Corner Continued from page 13

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City of Lilburn Continued from page 14 ticipate in the various outdoor activities this spring. The annual Easter Egg hunt on April 15th will be held in Lilburn Ctiy Park, and the warmer weather will bring back the $5 bicycle rental program that started this past fall. The greenway hosts a geo-caching trail with ten caches and the opportunity to “catch ‘em all” with your fellow Pokémon Go-ers.

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American Heritage Animal Hospital Continued from page 5

14 Locations Duluth

2017 and live into it.

We all have heard about the importance of vision. We need vision for our lives. The Bible says that without vision, people perish. And if we believe God created us to be people of purpose, vision is then God’s tool to help us reach that purpose. For me the vision is a picture of the future that produces passion.

God chooses to reveal his vision for our lives in so many different ways. In Scripture, there are plenty of examples of how God does that: a burning bush to Moses, a dream to Joseph, an angel to Mary, etc. But for the majority of people, God chooses less dramatic ways, often coming in the midst of our days.

I want to encourage you to not let your days go by like my day at Target. Seek God’s vision for your life and find the way to implement it effectively. You never know when God’s vision for you can impact the lives of others.

Rodrigo Cruz is the Lead Pastor of The Nett Church. More information at www.thenettchurch.com.

Snellville

like to teach the students about animal care and what they should be doing. Students learn to draw blood and run heartworm and fecal tests.”

American Heritage Animal Hospital is a small practice with a big heart. Dr. Cat isn’t afraid to educate her clients along with her students. She encourages pet dietary health, and doesn’t shy from suggesting alternative treats such as baby carrots and green beans to help control a pet’s weight. “I believe in being completely straightforward with people,” Dr. Cat shares. “I will never run unnecessary tests, and I will always be truthful with what a pet needs.”

More information at http://www.snellvillevet.com/

Session 1: June 5 – June 23 Session 2: June 26 – July 14 (no camp on July 4) Session 3: July 17 – August 4

PAGE 22

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PAGE 23

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