JANUARY 2024: (GREEN) Our Town Gwinnett/Walton Monthly Magazine

JANUARY 2024 Gwinnett/Walton Community & Family Magazine

Our Town GWINNETT

Up Close with Loganville Police Department, see story on page 5.

Grayson Dacula Lawrenceville Snellville Loganville

PAGE 2

Become an Advertising Partner: Info@OurTown Gwinnett.com or 678-825-2049

January 2024 Our Town Gwinnett

PAGE 3

PAGE 4

Become an Advertising Partner: Info@OurTown Gwinnett.com or 678-825-2049

On the Cover:

Getting to Know the Loganville Police Department

By Kristen Eleveld For his entire life, Police Chief Dick Lowry has wanted to be one thing: a police officer. Inspired by the career of his father, who served as an officer in Dekalb County for nearly two decades, Chief Lowry realized from a young age that he wanted to be in law enforcement, too. Now, with thirty years of serving in a variety of law enforcement roles, Chief Lowry is working with his officers to ensure that the Loganville community knows it has a department it can trust.

“In my whole life, I have never been able to tolerate bullies,” said Chief Lowry, who was promoted from Assistant Chief to Chief two years ago.

“When I have the opportunity to stop bullies and help victims, there is nothing more satisfying.”

Chief Lowry doesn’t just enjoy working in Loganville – leading the police department there has brought him full circle, as he was raised in Loganville and went on to graduate from Loganville High School. He has lived in Loganville for over fifty years and takes pride in the opportunity to give everyone living there now the chance to grow up in the same safe environment that he experienced as a child.

One of the ways the Loganville Police Department works to create this environment is evident in the many intentional efforts they make to connect with the Loganville community and their neighbors. Officers are encouraged to visit local businesses, greet people by name, and make genuine, personal connections with the members of their town. In addition to the ongoing support and safety that seeing an officer can bring, Chief Lowry also believes that connecting with the community is a way to show the town he loves that he and his team are dedicated to doing their very best for them each day.

“Being a police officer is a very stressful job,” said Chief Lowry. “You

see things that stick with you. I try to instill in young officers the ideas that this is an honorable profession, that what they do matters, and they can be the bedrock that people in the community can count on to keep them safe.”

It is this mission that motivates Chief Lowry the most, as he recognizes that he and his officers often serve as a source of hope for those who have been victimized by crime or who just need someone to talk to on a bad day. And along the same lines, Chief Lowry recognizes that he and his department have a responsibility to maintain the trust they have earned from their community.

“Once trust is lost, it’s very difficult if not impossible to get back,” Chief Lowry said. “The nature of our job and our duties requires us to make decisions that not everybody will be happy about. But we can always treat people with respect and dignity, no matter what the situation is.”

It’s easy to see how much Chief Lowry and his officers value their community, and it’s just as easy to see how readily their community values its officers. The Loganville Police Department partners with local businesses Continued on page 9

CIVIL • CRIMINAL ESTATE PLANNING & WILLS 3050 Amwiler Road Suite 200-C Atlanta, GA 30360

167 Lee Street Jefferson, GA 30549

404-228-2629 Email: info@wblegal.net January 2024 Our Town Gwinnett

PAGE 5

Our Town Gwinnett/Walton Community & Family Magazine

— An EndResultz Media Company EndResultz.com

Our Town Gwinnett is published and direct mailed to select homes in the Gwinnett/Walton 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 2024 by Our Town Gwinnett. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.

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

Photography Emil Powella Photography

Creative Director Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultz.com

Distribution Coordinator Holly Cooks

Editor Catherine L. Osornio Editor@EndResultz.com

Cover Story Feature Writer Kristen Eleveld

Feature Writers Victoria R. Crosby Tana Poncsak Traci Sanders

Contributing Writers Jane Bishop Bill Crane Drake Corbin Tanisha Turner

IN THIS ISSUE

5 On the Cover: Getting to Know the Loganville Police Department 7 From the Publisher: Ryan’s Remarks 8 Learning Lessons: Skills Needed for Future Career Success and How to Build Them in Childhood 8 Present…A Word for Your Day 8 Legal Talk: Please Check Your Beneficiary Designations 11 Up Close with The Play Parlor 11 Wellness Matters: Tips for a New You in 2024 13 Happy 2024: New Goals in a New Year 13 Growing Leaders: Ready for Real Life 14 One Man’s Opinion: In Celebration of Non-Traditional Families 14 Georgia Garden Clubs 15 Education Matters: AI and Education 15 Community Spotlight: Gwinnett Technical College’s Automotive Technology Program 17 Getting to Know: Tickled Past Pink Foundation, Inc.

PAGE 6

Become an Advertising Partner: Info@OurTown Gwinnett.com or 678-825-2049

From the Publisher:

Ryan’s Remarks

By Dr. Ryan T. Sauers

@RyanTSauers

@RyanTSauers

Goodbye, 2023. Welcome, 2024! It seems that we were saying good riddance to 2020 not so long ago. Man, time flies. I am excited for 2024 – a year of new hopes, dreams, healing, love, fellowship, friends, family, and goals – and I am thankful for everything possible with a new year.

I am also thankful to be alive and to be writing this column. I am grateful for family and friends. I am so thankful for our fantastic business and community partners and our two magazines and our other media outlets. I am thankful for our super team and for so many more things. You see, my friends, we all have much to be thankful for. As someone recently reminded me, as long as we are “on this side of the dirt,” there is time to be a blessing and make a difference in this world.

However, I am ready for the beginnings of a new year. The last few years have been draining, unpredictable, and in a state of constant change. This column is written to inspire us to make 2024 an incredible year in the Our Town community. My question to you is simple: How badly do you want to grow as a person this year?

If you want something bad enough, you will find a way to achieve it. You will desire to solve things and make life better for everyone. In contrast, if you do not want something bad enough, you will find an excuse and complain about everything happening to you and around you. It is the way human beings are wired.

So, you see, we have two choices. The first is to stand around and complain and be frustrated about how things are. The second is to do anything in our power to develop a plan and/or find a way to improve things. In this new year, I challenge you to Keep Pushing Forward (KPF). KPF is what I tell all the graduate marketing and leadership students I teach. It is a mindset of finding a way to make things happen. It is the ability to believe in yourself, push harder, and dig deeper in every aspect of your life.

We all can go deeper and find a way. Do not be afraid to fail. As our little green friend Yoda says in Star Wars, “The greatest teacher...failure is.”

Also, do not be scared to be your authentic and transparent self. Everyone desires to have genuine people around them. And if not, trust me – people will talk about you anyway, so why not give them a reason to talk?

So, here is a challenge for 2024. Plan your work and work your plan so you can grow – in all parts of your life – in a deliberate, purposeful, and

Continued on page 11

January 2024 Our Town Gwinnett

PAGE 7

Learning Lessons: Skills Needed for Future Career Success and How to Build Them in Childhood

By Tanisha Turner

When parents think about the earliest skills they should be nurturing in their children, language, reading, and motor skills likely come to mind. However, a recent survey revealed that another set of skills may be just as important to develop early in life to give children the foundation they need for future success.

According to a national survey of human resources managers responsible for hiring, problem solving, critical thinking, teamwork, self-control, adaptability and working memory – collectively referred to as executive function skills – are essential to succeeding in today’s workplace. In fact, survey respondents agreed that these skills are more important than good grades, technical skills, and other factors when it comes to hiring.

Yet, the majority of those surveyed said that entry-level employees are rarely proficient in executive function skills and agreed that they are difficult to teach. One in four respondents also indicated employees are becoming less proficient in executive function skills over time – a concerning trend given that research suggests these skills will only become more valued as society evolves.

These statistics may sound worrisome, but encouragingly, executive function skills have their foundational roots in early childhood. The Harvard Center on the Developing Child reports that children’s early life experiences influence their capacity for executive function skills, and laying the foundation for such skills is one of the most important tasks of the early childhood years.

All of the adults in a child’s life – parents, grandparents, teachers, and others – therefore, have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help set him or her on a pathway for success. And nurturing the executive function skills needed to succeed later in life doesn’t have to be difficult. Try the following fun activities for children at home: • Develop problem solving through play. Children work through their understanding of the world as they play. For example, when children play with blocks, they learn that putting heavier blocks on top make block towers tumble more quickly, but putting heavier blocks on the bottom make the tower stronger.

Continued on page 12

Legal Talk: Please Check Your Beneficiary Designations

By Drake Corbin, Esq.

When both new and old clients come in to discuss their estate plan, I routinely tell them that they must check their beneficiary designations on insurance policies, brokerage accounts, and other financial accounts. Beneficiary designations provide for the automatic transfer of insurance proceeds and account funds, but they must be completed, and, most importantly, kept up to date.

If you have a prior spouse, please ensure they are not still the designated beneficiary. If you have children, they should be the designated beneficiary after your spouse. Additionally, you should check how you took title to your house or any other real estate. If your

PAGE 8

Present…A Word for Your Day

By Jane Bishop

Present as an adjective is defined as “fully focused on or involved in what one is doing or experiencing” (online Oxford Dictionary). In my world of professional coaching, one of the core skills vital to the process is to be fully present with the client(s). To do that, I must be mindful of my surroundings, quiet the chatter in my brain, and practice intentional listening. That blocks distractions that might prevent me from being present in the moment with the person. The focus shifts from me to them so I can provide an effective coaching session.

That fully present skill can be practiced by anyone. I heard Dan Cathy of Chick-fil-A say once, “We have our customers for a moment and in that moment, we must deliver good customer service.”

How often do you miss a moment and pass someone by? How often do you stay focused on a situation and do not share a smile? How often are you talking about your own business in conversations and don’t grasp what others are really saying?

Being fully present is not about quantity of time; it is about quality of time. It requires us to be intentionally invested in the moment whether five seconds, five minutes, or longer. Consider what’s alive in you right now.

For example, where is your mind between the words you are reading? Do you know that where your mind goes, so goes your body (ex. if stressed, the body becomes tense)? And where your mind goes, your energy follows!

Focus on what you notice about your body while reading this article: breathing, body position, etc. Stop reading and capture in writing where your mind is. Then, be fully present with that intel for sixty seconds.

Whether you chose to do the activity or not may reflect your mindset.

The mindset we operate from reflects our attitude, which comes from our belief system and how we view self. From my coaching perspective, if you are unable to be fully present with yourself for sixty seconds, how can you be fully present with others?

In our culture of real time information streaming 24/7 over multiple virtual sites providing an overload of noise, I invite you to step aside for a moment and begin practicing being fully present. Look for a “Vuja De Moment” which occurs “…when you see everything as if for the first time or better still, you see everything everyone else sees but you understand it differently, more keenly” (from Shift Your Brilliance by Simon T. Bailey).

It’s these fully present moments that can stretch our thinking, shift our focus, and trigger a different attitude. Enjoy experiencing the benefits of practicing being fully present with yourself and with others.

More information at www.janebishoplive.com. deed says that you and your spouse are joint tenants with a right of survivorship, their interest in the property will pass automatically outside of probate.

If not, you’ll have to probate their will or petition the court for letters of administration to convey that real property into your name individually.

Finally, if you do not have a will, but are married with children, the default inheritance provided by statute splits your estate between your spouse and your children. This means that if you pass without a will, your spouse will have to have your children’s consent to distribute estate assets, and your children will have to sign a disclaimer for your property to be distributed solely to your surviving spouse. That is an unpleasant situation in an already grief-stricken time.

Drake Corbin is an Associate Attorney with Weinstein & Black, LLC. More information at WBLegal.net

Become an Advertising Partner: Info@OurTown Gwinnett.com or 678-825-2049

Loganville Police Department Continued from page 5 and organizations for several events and activities each year. Most recently, the department facilitated their Shop With A Hero event, in which local kids who have been identified as being in financial need can shop with a Loganville police officer to pick out Christmas presents for themselves.

This annual activity is a favorite for kids and officers alike, who all enjoy the chance to shop while getting to know more about each other.

Another community favorite is the annual Masters Car Club show, which donates all of its proceeds to the police department in order to allow them to buy necessary equipment and tools. Thanks to the generosity of the Masters Car Club and the Loganville community, the department was able to purchase six mobile AED devices, which allows officers to give life-saving treatment to injured people while waiting for paramedics to arrive. The show is a hit across the board – they have run out of room for additional attendees every year due to its immense popularity.

January 2024 Our Town Gwinnett

While the Loganville Police Department appreciates the funds brought in by events and the community, at the end of the day, Chief Lowry says his officers need one thing above all else.

“The thing that helps the most is to say thank you when you see an officer,” he said. “Shake hands, show appreciation; that sort of thing. It means a great deal to these officers. We have so much support from the community and we know that we are blessed to have that each day.”

Building a reputation based on mutual respect and understanding is just one of the ways that the Loganville Police Departments stands out above the crowd. They are always looking for officers who share these values, so if you or someone you know is looking to be part of a department like this, just get in touch with the Loganville PD. If you see Chief Lowry or one of his officers around town, be sure to say hello! And while it’s not necessary, they certainly won’t turn down any tasty treats you want to send their way.

More information at www.loganville-ga.gov/departments#Police, or call (770) 466-8087

PAGE 9

Locally owned + trusted!

OWNER, NATE MCMICHAEL

Interior & Exterior Painting Cabinet Painting Carpentry Repairs Gutter & Guard Installation Masonry Coatings Commercial Painting Callus us today today for freeestimate! estimate!

Call foryour a free

INSTALLATION | GUARDS | CLEANING | REPAIRS

Over 20 colors available to choose from!

PAGE 10

AMS

Financial We Finance!

Become an Advertising Partner: Info@OurTown Gwinnett.com or 678-825-2049

Up Close with The Play Parlor

By Traci Sanders

Gwinnett citizens, it’s time to get your game on at The Play Parlor!

This 3,000 square foot, family-friendly game lounge is situated just down the street from Lawrenceville Square. It ensures a fun experience for all, whether you want to enjoy a simple game like Uno or Candyland, or prefer a more action-packed activity like karaoke.

Founder and owner Tiffany Welch stepped away from a career in family medicine and a PA in urgent care in December 2022 to provide a place where people could briefly break away from technology and enjoy in-person connections when she saw the effect that technology and social media addiction was having on people, especially teens and young adults.

I recently visited The Play Parlor and was enamored by the nostalgic-yet-modern atmosphere. When you first walk in the door, you see the timeline of the company displayed above the threshold as a mural featuring the original Monopoly man and the Lawrenceville railroad system stretched out across the city.

As you enter the main game lounge, booths and tables are set up to accommodate single-person games, activities, and group endeavors.

Behind the counter, you’ll discover the game rental closet that houses multiples of nearly any game you can imagine – from puzzles to board games to Rubik’s cubes. For just $10 per hour, you can enjoy any activity or board game, excluding the themed rooms.

A stage lines the back wall to accommodate karaoke singers who don’t mind a crowd, but there’s also a private themed room called The Acting Out Lounge that offers a more intimate experience for you and up to nine other close friends if you so choose. Play loud and active games such as Blurt It Out, Charades, or sing until your heart’s content in private along with the karaoke machine.

Wellness Matters: Tips for a New You in 2024

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff

If your New Year’s resolutions list is a mile long, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure where to start. Let these three essential wellness tips set you up for a successful year and give you the power, energy, and determination you need to reach all your other goals.

Make Time for Breakfast Many people make the mistake of skipping breakfast, particularly if trying to lose weight. But breakfast is essential because it gives you the fuel and energy to power the day until lunch. This is important to help kickstart your metabolism and regulate your hunger.

Don’t think you have time to prepare a healthy breakfast? You’re not alone. However, many are open to implementing this habit with quicker breakfast options, such as frozen breakfast foods, that cut prep time in half.

Eggland’s Best Frozen Breakfast Bowls, made with hearty ingredients, are ready to eat in minutes. Not only do the bowls taste great, but they are made with nutritionally superior Eggland’s Best eggs, which contain six times more vitamin D, more than double the Omega-3s and ten times more vitamin E compared to ordinary eggs, so you can feel confident that you’re getting optimal nutrition before taking on the busy day ahead.

January 2024 Our Town Gwinnett

The Billboards Walk is the second of the three themed rooms that offer active games such as pool, air hockey, ping pong, and darts. You get all this and more for just $50 per hour, and the room holds up to thirty-two people with ample space for sitting and standing.

This room is perfect for birthday parties or group socials. Zono Technology, which kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria, is used to sanitize the board game pieces and structures to ensure a safe and healthy experience.

The Deck of Cards is another private-themed room that can be rented by the hour. Picture the ambiance of a gentleman’s cigar lounge – without the cigars, of course – set up with a conference-style round table that accommodates up to twelve people. You’ll even see the poker dogs mural featured on the light that hangs above the table. This room can be rented for just $25 per hour, providing a great space for business socials and card game nights.

If you live close by and wish to frequent The Play Parlor regularly, they offer a membership that allows unlimited play one day per week for just $39.99 per month. They also offer monthly events to support and connect students, such as their Homeschool Membership Package, certified tutors to help with schoolwork, and socials on the last Tuesday of every month.

Chess coaching is available every Thursday as well. Their concession stand offers theater-style snacks and treats such as nachos, popcorn, candy bars, and chips for those who get snack-ish during play. Memberships and tickets to events can be purchased through their website.

Suffice it to say, The Play Parlor offers something for everyone.

My husband and seventeen-year-old daughter enjoyed a rousing game of Scrabble and Giant Uno, and then belted out some tunes on the karaoke machine. We had a blast! And the best part was, we barely looked at our phones the entire two and a half hours we were there.

So, it seems The Play Parlor accomplishes its goal of providing enough nostalgic games and entertainment to encourage the entire family to unplug from technology and plug into real-life conversations, even for a brief moment.

More information at the-play-parlor.com/.

Practice Self-Care Between work, family life, and other commitments, carving out time for yourself can seem challenging. But a little self-care goes a long way toward helping you recharge and better manage all your responsibilities and stressors. Whether going for a run, taking a yoga class, doing arts and crafts, or reading a book, be sure to spend some time each week doing something you love that makes you feel your best.

Prioritize Sleep Prioritizing sleep will improve every aspect of your physical and mental wellness and help you achieve all your other goals. Unfortunately, streaming devices, social media, and other distractions make it too easy to stay up later than intended. Setting an alarm in the evening can be a gentle reminder that it’s time to put down devices and start your bedtime routine, helping you create a more consistent sleep schedule. This will also eliminate exposure to blue light late in the evening, an environmental factor that has been proven to make it harder to fall asleep.

Achieving your goals starts with feeling your best. Make that happen in this new year by prioritizing the most essential building blocks of health and wellness from sunrise to sundown. It will make all the difference in how you feel. (StatePoint)

Ryan’s Remarks Continued from page 7 intentional manner. Control what you can control and leave the rest to the good Lord. This will lead to “success” in this new year (no matter what you encounter), and you will grow and help everyone around you to grow to new heights.

Thanks for being part of our amazing Our Town community and for your ongoing support. Our team is so proud to play a role in bringing you local and positive news (through all our media platforms) every month.

Here is to a great 2024. And now, and as always, thank you for continuing with me on the journey of my town, your town, Our Town!

PAGE 11

Learning Lessons Continued from page 8 • Promote critical thinking by asking thought-provoking questions.

Whether you’re playing with blocks or at the grocery store, ask your child simple, open-ended questions like “Why do you think…” and “What if…” to inspire deeper thinking. Be sure to give your child plenty of time to answer the question, refraining from giving the answer yourself.

• Encourage teamwork by leading by example. Children learn how to respond to others mostly by watching their parents and caregivers.

Make it a point to model behaviors like listening and being respectful at home.

• Cultivate self-control by giving instructions. Instructions don’t immediately sound like much fun, but singing songs like the hokey pokey and playing games like Simon Says actually encourage self-control by requiring children to move in a specific way at a particular time.

PAGE 12

• Nurture adaptability through dramatic play. Children can practice adaptability – the ability to take in and adapt to new information – by using everyday objects in new ways, like turning a paper towel roll into a telescope.

• Foster working memory by reading aloud. Consistently reading aloud with children reinforces sounds and letters, helping them learn and store information in a way that feels more like play. Take things a step further by making up a story together. As the complexity of the story grows, your child will get more practice remembering the information.

By intentionally nurturing these skills during the first five years of life, parents and caregivers can help set children up for success that will last a lifetime.

Tanisha Turner is the Owner of Primrose School at Sugarloaf Parkway.

More information at www.PrimroseSugarloafParkway.com or call 770513-0066.

Become an Advertising Partner: Info@OurTown Gwinnett.com or 678-825-2049

Happy 2024: New Goals in a New Year

By Tana Poncsak

To many, a new year signifies a blank page or screen. To others, it means a fresh start. Whatever the onset of a new year brings to mind, it’s never the wrong time to reassess your life goals.

According to History.com and The History of New Year’s Resolutions, the first people to make New Year Resolutions were the ancient Babylonians about 4,000 years ago. In the midst of their celebration, they also saw the need to mark the beginning of the new year making sound intentions for the year to come. And we continue to do that very same thing today.

What’s the difference between a resolution and a goal? A quick Google search describes a resolution as “a firm decision to do or not to do something.” A goal is “the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.” Whether you call them resolutions or goals, what are some things you hope to accomplish during the new year?

Many people like to categorize their goals into different areas of life such as health, financial, professional, etc. Others have started to condense their efforts into a one-word concept for the new year. Words such as mindful, intentional, grateful, bold, and many others come to mind.

One thing’s for sure: as we say goodbye to one year and hello to the next, what most of us really want is for the new year to be better than the year before. But all the goal setting and resolutions in the world won’t help if once life gets back into full swing and there’s the daily grind to contend with, our intentions for the new year get lost in the shuffle and we fall back Continued on page 17

January 2024 Our Town Gwinnett

Growing Leaders: Ready for Real Life

By Traci Sanders

Growing Leaders is a global non-profit organization that encourages and equips young adults to take on real-life opportunities and challenges in the classroom, in their careers, and in the community.

This organization was founded by Tim Elmore in 2003, who served alongside Dr. John C. Maxwell for over twenty years. Elmore has been featured in many national publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, USA Today, and Psychology Today, and has appeared on CNN’s Headline News and Fox and Friends.

The vision of Growing Leaders is to create a world improved, even transformed, by the next generations. Its programs use real stories, memorable images, and engaging experiences to help students discover their purpose, equip them for leadership, and prepare them to use their gifts to serve the world around them. The goal is to equip and mobilize one percent of the world’s population under age 25 (around 40 million students) to think and act like authentic, life-giving leaders.

Continued on page 17

PAGE 13

One Man’s Opinion: In Celebration of NonTraditional Families

By Bill Crane

I can’t even remember the first time I heard the phrase non-traditional family, but I think it was related to one of my daughter Olivia’s school meetings, where we were being referred to as a non-traditional family. There is perhaps no other time of year more wrapped up in traditions, as well as bows, than the holiday season, from Chanukkah through Christmas and Kwanza, as well as Mawlid al-Nabi (the Muslim celebration of the Prophet Mohammed’s birthday during December), and various other non-denominational celebrations squeezed in between. Though my parents were together for sixty-two years before Mom transitioned nearly eighteen months ago, my own marriage ended in divorce, as do more than half of all marriages today.

I am blessed with two daughters, born of two loving and different mothers, as well as two grandsons and a son-in-law. My two girls have six sets of grandparents between them, and it requires geometry to tabulate all the cousins and second cousins. The logistics and planning of traditional holiday events thus became harder, as everyone wants their children and family nearby, but short of cloning (still working on that), being in multiple places all at once remains the most significant demand of the holiday season.

Being the classic divorced Disney Dad, I have tried to appreciate and celebrate those special days, like birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and Day, whenever we can gather, versus on the actual day. The time spent together is magic, even if it’s a few days early or late.

It’s that attitude that shapes gratitude. Olivia’s mother and I alternate holidays, so she was in Alabama this Christmas Eve and Day. Still, she

Georgia Garden Clubs

By Victoria R. Crosby

There are more than five hundred Garden Clubs in Georgia, divided into seven geographical districts, all named for trees or shrubs: Azalea, Camelia, Dogwood, Laurel, Magnolia, Oleander, and Redbud.

The statewide non-profit organization has the following missions: Beautification, Conservation, and Education. This mission is accomplished by encouraging garden clubs to participate in projects and programs of their choosing.

The first garden club in America, the Ladies’ Garden Club, was organized by twelve ladies in Athens, Georgia in January 1891. Some clubs have men, although most members are women.

Members are of all ages and backgrounds and all levels of gardening. Some are beginners, and some are master gardeners. Some clubs meet in restaurants or other venues. All are welcome.

I’m president of the Smoke Rise Garden Club in the Redbud District.

We meet once a month in each other’s homes in the evening. Most other clubs are during the daytime. There is a speaker each month on a variety of gardening topics. In the past, we’ve had speakers on caring for roses, growing orchids, and planting pollinator gardens.

Most clubs also plant flowers in special areas, such as the fire station, entrance to communities, or other public places. Each year, our club goes on a field trip to pick blueberries at a farm owned by one of our members.

We have potluck dinners, go on field trips to garden centers, garden tours,

PAGE 14

returned on the 26th for a Crane family trek to Orlando, the House of Mouse, and Universal Studios. Memories of a prior trip with this crew and the pre-arrival of our twin Mighty Mites to the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, fill my mind and heart with memories, stories, and smiles. And this trip should fill a whole other life chapter.

We will land in the Disney Parks first, staying nearby in Disney Springs. The trip, as was the Greenbrier, will be a splurge, but the photos alone will be worth this investment. Trips to Orlando became a summer and holiday staple with both of my girls, Barclay from grade school into her late teens and Olivia since kindergarten. Typically traveling as a party of two, this will be my first time traveling to the Orlando parks with a party of six. Though both my banker and broker warned me, the interest rates on home equity lines and second mortgages are coming down again. Surprisingly affordable, thanks to Bidenomics...Ho, Ho, Ho. I used to move through this time of year in a non-traditional fashion, tacking a snow/sin/sun week or weekend on the slopes in Colorado, followed or preceded by a swing through Las Vegas. I spent many a Christmas through the New Year this way, and I was on the Vegas Strip early Christmas morning in 1995 when Dean Martin passed through the pearly gates into that high roller suite in the sky. That flight back was a little melancholy. The in-flight movie was the original, Santa Clause, a Disney flick adding nicely to the staples of the Christmas season. Several tearful moments were spent during that movie, with my divorce still fresh in the rear-view. I would not have the opportunity to spend Christmas Eve, Day, or morning with my firstborn again until almost the recent day.

And yet, for all the challenges facing our nation, I, for one – and I think there are several million more of me – am glad to see we have reached a time and place of acceptance and celebration of families of all stripes, all genders, all races, all cultures/faiths, and all ages. Family and blood relations still matter, but so do families of friendship, choice, and increasingly second choice. My namesake and grandfather, William C. “Bud” Crane, had five wives. He was just a bit ahead of his time.

And so, as we head south, in hopes of a bit drier and warmer weather, with Santa having just paid us all a visit and those bills not due until at least mid-January, please join me in wishing a blessed holiday season and New Year to all. From our non-traditional and, on occasion, dysfunctional family (you cannot spell dysfunctional without the fun), may all your days, holidays, and New Year be bright! God bless us, everyone.

Bill Crane owns the full-service communications firm CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com and plant sales of other clubs, and hold our own plant sale each year.

Garden clubs also raise funds for charities with their plant sales. Our club donates gift boxes each year at Christmas to children in the hospital.

Monthly meetings of the Garden Clubs of Georgia are held at Callanwolde in Decatur, and the recent awards luncheon was at Bellemere in John’s Creek.

The convention this past year was held at the Evergreen Lakeside Resort in Stone Mountain.

Over three hundred people attended the three-day event from all over Georgia. Lisa Hall is the elected president from 2023 until 2025. Awards were given in over sixty categories, including Garden Therapy, Civic Improvement, Litter and Pollution Control, Wildflower, Poetry, and many others. My poem, Ode to Hydrangeas, won second place.

Garden Gateways is an official publication of the Garden Club of Georgia Inc., sent to all Garden Clubs of Georgia members. The Gwinnett Master Gardeners Club is for those who are Master Gardeners, but they have a division called Friends of Master Gardeners for those who are not there yet.

In Gwinnett and DeKalb Counties, there are many Garden Clubs to choose from if you wish to attend a meeting as a potential member.

Live Healthy/Harvest Gwinnett has many community gardens including those in Loganville, Suwanee, Dacula, Snellville, Grayson, Sugar Hill, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, and others. Raised plots can be reserved by gardeners of all skill levels, or you can volunteer in other ways by contacting HarvestGwinnett@Gwinnettcounty.com.

Gardening is much more than digging in the dirt; it’s also about making a difference in your community.

More information at www.gardenclubsofgeorgia.org.

Become an Advertising Partner: Info@OurTown Gwinnett.com or 678-825-2049

Education Matters: AI and Education

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff

When ChatGPT came onto the scene, it and similar generative artificial intelligence (AI) platforms immediately began sparking heated debates among educators, students, and parents about its potential to disrupt education.

A recent study from the global learning platform Quizlet found that high school and college teachers, and students aged 14-22, who have used ChatGPT or a similar AI technology agree that it is an effective study tool, with students, in particular, responding that it helps them to understand the material better and study faster and more efficiently.

Generative AI will be on the minds of students and teachers as it continues to grow in popularity. With this technology top of mind, here are some things to consider this new year.

Students study smarter, not harder, with AI Those who claim the use of AI in the classroom hinders students’ academic potential can think again. Students who spend three or more hours a night studying on an average weeknight during the school year gave credit to ChatGPT and similar AI technologies’ ability to streamline studying by generating helpful resources like study guides.

Other popular uses among students included conducting research and summarizing or synthesizing information. Twenty-six percent of students in this group also said that teachers had encouraged them to use AI-generated technology like ChatGPT while they study. In contrast, students who reported less than two hours of studying on an average weeknight during the school year were less likely to have a teacher recommend using this technology.

UC Berkeley student Sam Clement gives AI-generated learning a thumbs up, saying, “It feels like an extension of my brain or a supplementary boost to my own thinking abilities. Platforms like ChatGPT make studying engaging by allowing me to probe concepts over and over until I understand. It can feel like unlimited office hours, something invaluable to busy college students.”

Students also reported that AI-generated technology has positively impacted their mental health, with 73% claiming it helps reduce stress and anxiety, and 57% claiming it decreases their workload.

Teachers give it an “A” High school and college teachers that have used ChatGPT and similar AI technologies for school cite the top four uses as research, generating lesson plans, summarizing or synthesizing information, and generating classroom materials like tests and assignments. Nearly half of the teachers agreed that the vast capabilities of AI have made their workload more manageable.

Maureen Lamb, Dean of Educational Technology and Innovative Pedagogy and a member of the Latin faculty at The Ethel Walker School, says, “The notion that tools like Google Bard and ChatGPT are essentially shortcuts focuses on the output rather than what we want the technology to help us achieve. It’s the same question teachers ask ourselves when creating assessments and exams: What skill or concept do I want my students to demonstrate? If ChatGPT can provide a teacher with a lesson plan for the day or generate an essay prompt, then great. It allows teachers to refine our teaching approach and challenge students appropriate to their unique needs.”

Students and teachers embrace AI in the classroom Some students and teachers are already working together to set ground rules for using platforms based in generative AI at school and while studying at home. Thirty-seven percent of student respondents have had teachers or instructors talk to them about the proper use of AI technology as it relates to course work, and 60% of teachers say that students are proactively approaching them about using these platforms to enhance their studies.

Teachers who have been approached by students about using ChatGPT or similar technologies say their students are either asking for permission to use AI-powered platforms, examples of proper use cases, or instructions on how to use AI technologies.

Lamb, who embraces the use and exploration of new technologies in

January 2024 Our Town Gwinnett

her classroom, says, “A strong and trusting classroom community was something we struggled to find learning virtually during the pandemic.

We need to think about technology in the classroom now like we did then. AI should think with us, not for us. Now, more than ever, we should encourage students to trust the power of their own voices. While AI-generated technology is a powerful tool in our toolbox, human voices still hold a huge creative advantage.”

AI can help create equitable learning environments Students and teachers see a future with limitless potential when learning and AI come together. Forty-two percent of all respondents positively categorized their attitude toward AI technology in education.

Respondents who disagree with bans on the use of AI technology in schools say that it expands access to information, assists with studying, and enhances creativity and critical thinking. Fortyeight percent of teachers predict that ChatGPT and similar AI technology will help students recover from learning loss caused by the pandemic.

“Personally, I love the technology and don’t think that its benefits to the classroom have been fully discovered yet,” Clement added. “AI-generated technology allows students to find learning solutions that work for them and applies what works for them to any and every problem or concept they could need. Teaching students the proper way to use this technology will be key, but I for one am very optimistic about its future.”

AI is here to stay and will play a larger role in the learning process now and in the years to come. (BPT)

Community Spotlight: Gwinnett Technical College’s Automotive Technology Program

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff

Gwinnett Technical College’s Automotive Technology program has been approved by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) for a five-year accreditation. This accreditation assures students receive a quality education in automotive technology which is current with emerging technologies and requirements in the automotive industry. In addition, the accreditation assures potential employers that graduates have completed the program and have the ability and knowledge to make immediate contributions to their organization.

Gwinnett Tech is one of eleven public colleges in Georgia to hold this level of certification. “The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence is recognized throughout North America and Canada for industry-leading technician training and certification,” states Automotive Technology Program Director Bob Baumann. “Our instructors are all Master ASE certified, which demonstrates our exceptional automotive knowledge and experience. Becoming an ASE Education Foundation Accredited program is a long and rigorous process that is difficult to achieve. Being ASE accredited ensures our students receive the most up-to-date and relevant automotive education. This gives our students the best opportunity to enter the automotive industry and enjoy a long successful career.”

Dr. D. Glen Cannon, president, states, “The automotive industry is consistently growing and looking for a highly skilled and trained workforce.

Here at Gwinnett Tech, we are dedicated to providing our students with a quality education that will allow them to excel in the automotive industry.

This accreditation will help students feel confident and assured they will be workforce ready upon program completion.”

More information at GwinnettTech.edu or call 770-962-7580.

PAGE 15

PAGE 16

Become an Advertising Partner: Info@OurTown Gwinnett.com or 678-825-2049

Getting to Know: Tickled Past Pink Foundation, Inc.

By Victoria R. Crosby

Like many other women I have met who have suffered tragedy in their lives, Maxine McDaniel, a twelve-year breast cancer survivor, has turned grief into action by helping others, which in turn helps those who have suffered a loss in their own healing process.

Maxine grew up in a family of ten siblings: two brothers and seven sisters. All but two have had cancer. One sister died from breast cancer. Their mother died at age fifty-nine of breast and uterine cancer, and their father, a navy man, died of a heart attack at age forty-two.

Maxine and her siblings were born and raised on a Naval Base in Lexington Park, Maryland. The Naval Air Station Patuxent River, known as NAS Pax River, was commissioned in 1943 at the Patuxent River overlooking Chesapeake Bay, as a centralized air systems testing facility.

In 2011 Maxine had knee surgery, then went for her regular mammogram which showed some irregularities. Following a needle biopsy, she discovered that she had stage two breast cancer. She had the surgery, but had a serious problem as her stitches opened and she was bleeding at her breast. Maxine had to undergo more surgery and suffered a staph infection during her hospitalization. Following surgery, she was told she didn’t need chemotherapy, but underwent thirty-eight radiation treatments.

In 2015 Maxine founded the Tickled Past Pink Foundation Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that is dedicated to working to support men and women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Yes, breast cancer can also affect men. Maxine told of a thirty-eight-year-old man who passed away from breast cancer. Men don’t realize they also need to check for this disease. Also, there is no age limit, as many people in their thirties have been diagnosed with breast cancer, so early detection is paramount.

Maxine said, “It’s not just cancer awareness month, it’s all year round.”

And she added, “I truly believe that there is a cure for cancer.”

The foundation has won many awards, including the 2022 R.I.C.E.

Growing Leaders Continued from page 13 The processes are grounded in research and a unique understanding of the emerging generations and recognize that leading others at any level begins with learning how to lead yourself.

The University of Michigan conducted a longitudinal study demonstrating that students are 40% less empathetic than ten years ago. It further provided that students have diminished self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. Other studies have shown that Gen Y – Millennials (born 1984-2000) and Gen Z (born 2001-2015) are hungry to change the world. This program arms them with the tools to begin that journey.

Some of the ways Growing Leaders empowers students include helping them break out of the herd mentality to influence others in a positive way, creating an environment conducive to higher grades, raising empathy and minimizing bullying, and capitalizing on personal strengths to be careerready upon graduation. Students also receive guidance in developing critical thinking skills that allow them to produce better life choices concerning choosing healthy friendships, improving study habits, and setting meaningful goals.

Growing Leaders has created more than forty leadership training resources and is partnered with over 8,000 schools and organizations, such as Boys and Girls Clubs of America, the National FFA Organization, Purdue University, and the Georgia Department of Education. They have also trained over 500 thousand educators, athletic staff, employees, coaches, youth workers, and parents with tools and resources to understand and connect with this generation by sparking conversations and creating life-changing experiences with them.

The idea behind Growing Leaders is to prepare the child for the path rather than the path for the child. Some of the values its programs boast include leaving things better than you found them, always adding value,

January 2024 Our Town Gwinnett

(Rising In Community Excellence) Award, the 2021 Women of Honor Community Service Award, 2019 Gospel Choice Community Service Award, 2019 Atlanta Braves Diamond of Hope Award for Community Service, and the 2016 State of Georgia Outstanding Citizen Award for Community Service by now Governor Brian Kemp. She has just been nominated by the Atlanta Falcons as one of the Community Service Award winners for Breast Cancer.

Maxine has been producing clean comedy shows for many years, so it was natural for her to use her expertise to create fundraisers for her foundation. Survivors can attend for free at the shows, and the performers take a reduced fee. Maxine said that most people know someone with cancer, so they donate. The Security DeKalb Police Officers at events donate back their fees, too.

Some of the services provided for cancer survivors include providing blankets, medical supplies, counseling, wigs for women who have lost their hair through chemotherapy, and any other kind of assistance that is needed. The organization has also raised funds and sent money to hurricane victims, donated to Domestic Violence Foundations, and partnered with men’s foundations for prostate cancer. Volunteers from the foundation help drive patients to doctors’ appointments, provide clothing, school supplies, and Christmas Gifts, and help purchase food, pay for utilities, and pay for rent if they don’t have the resources. During the pandemic her organization made sure people had all their needs met.

On July 24, 2021, on her way to take food to a survivor, Maxine’s car was t-boned, and she had to be cut out of the car by the paramedics.

The Georgia Injury Attorneys, a division of Brian Poe and Associates, Attorneys PC, have been very supportive of her and the foundation.

She won her case and donated the proceeds to the Tickled Past Pink Foundation, Inc. When she was able to, she took dinner to the firemen who helped her during accident.

Maxine has over twenty years of experience in marketing. She has worked for Equifax, IRS, Phillips Ultrasound, and Action Printing Center.

Retired now, Maxine currently serves as Director full-time for her foundation and her church, New Mercies Christian Church, in Lilburn where Dr. Jesse Curney III is the pastor.

Tickled Past Pink Foundation, Inc. partners with other organizations and churches to help people in need. Funds are raised through Paint Parties, Walks, Fitness Events, Raffles, etc., and they support Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

More information on the Tickled Past Pink Foundation, Inc. at https:// www.facebook.com/tickledpinkfoundation turning up the fun, beginning with belief, fostering teamwork, and taking pride in your work.

Elmore’s philosophy is that teens need to learn leadership skills to thrive in the real world – solving problems and serving people. Growing Leaders is doing its part in this mission by providing speakers, curriculum, and training opportunities to empower adults and students alike to ensure a brighter future for all.

More information at growingleaders.com.

New Goals in a New Year Continued from page 13 into the grip of our old daily habits. So here are some tips for making the most of your New Year’s goals or resolutions.

1. Set aside time to think about what you want 2024 to be like.

2. List your top priorities for the year and clearly define each goal. Don’t be vague. For example, “Get Healthy” is too ambiguous. Be specific and try to visualize reaching each goal.

3. Make a plan of action of how you expect to accomplish each goal.

4. Keep the list handy and refer to it often throughout the year. Track your progress.

5. Things change, so don’t be afraid to revise and update the list of goals as needed.

6. Finally, pick a time before making your new goals for the next year and assess your progress. Where did you nail it, and where did you fall short?

And why? Don’t beat yourself up for what you didn’t achieve. Perhaps there was a good reason. Be sure to make notes and recognize where you saw progress.

We hope you realize all your goals and dreams whatever the new year brings. And we wish you a safe, healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year in 2024!

PAGE 17

PAGE 18

Become an Advertising Partner: Info@OurTown Gwinnett.com or 678-825-2049