OCTOBER 2023: (BLUE) Our Town Gwinnett Monthly Magazine for Gwinnett/NE Dekalb

OCTOBER 2023 Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine

Our Town GWINNETT

Lawrenceville Snellville Lilburn Stone Mountain Tucker

Up Close with City of Lilburn, see story on page 5.

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On the Cover:

Big Things in Store for the City of Lilburn

By Kristen Eleveld It’s no secret to Lilburn residents and neighbors that this medium-sized town is making huge strides in developing the community that their residents are looking for. We were able to catch up with Lilburn City Manager Jenny Simpkins and Lilburn Police Chief Chris Dusik to learn more about what the Lilburn community can expect to see in the coming weeks and months.

As City Manager, it’s Ms. Simpkins’ job to carry out city policy, manage daily operations, and keep her finger on the pulse of Lilburn residents’ visions for their city. This allows her to not only understand what Lilburn needs in order to achieve these goals, but also to partner with each community member to develop new visions as the city grows and changes.

For instance, one project that Ms. Simpkins is particularly excited about is a development coming to the corner of First Street and Main Street, where the Lilburn Downtown Development Authority has secured three acres that will be used for restaurants, coffee shops, and an adjoining courtyard with a residential area.

This is more than the city just providing places to get a great meal or to live close to the downtown area. Before taking any other steps, the city did an economic impact analysis that demonstrated just how beneficial this development would be for residents and business-owners alike.

“Walkability is an amazing thing, and people want that,” said Ms. Simpkins. “And we want to provide that.”

Lilburn is not only providing more and more changes for residents to be able to walk or bike to work, but also to enjoy the local greenway that often sees people and pets enjoying the weather. Another upcoming development is that of 275 luxury apartments on Railroad Avenue that will open up to the greenway, providing more residents with easy access to enjoy the outdoors – and, of course, with even more opportunities to

October 2023 Our Town Gwinnett

get to know their neighbors and community.

Much of the success of the latest updates to Lilburn is thanks to a partnership with businesses and other towns. Ms. Simpkins works with other Gwinnett cities, like Lawrenceville and Norcross, to determine what works well for their cities and what isn’t a good fit. Lilburn also partners with multiple agencies and developers to ensure that the end result of any new addition to Lilburn reflects the city and the people who live, work, and play in it every day.

“The potential of Old Town, and our city in general, is due primarily to Continued on page 9

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Our Town Gwinnett/NE DeKalb Community & Family Magazine

— An EndResultz Media Company EndResultz.com Our Town Gwinnett is published and direct mailed to select homes in the Gwinnett/NE DeKalb area.

Opinions expressed by the writers and staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our Town Gwinnett reserves the right to edit and/or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our Town Gwinnett is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers.

Entire contents copyright 2023 by Our Town Gwinnett. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.

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

Cover Photography Emil Powella Photography

Creative Director Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultz.com

Distribution Coordinator Holly Cooks

Editor Catherine L. Osornio Editor@EndResultz.com

Cover Story Feature Writer Kristen Eleveld

Feature Writers Victoria R. Crosby Tana Poncsak Traci Sanders

Contributing Writers Jane Bishop Bill Crane Ryan T. Sauers Pam Walker

IN THIS ISSUE 5 On the Cover: Big Things in Store for the City of Lilburn 7 From the Publisher: Ryan’s Remarks 8 Get Ready for Soups and Ciders – It’s Officially Fall!

8 SOMEDAY… A Word for Your Day 9 Marketing Matters: Your Brand Makes All the Difference 10 Creativity Corner: Tips to Boost Your Creativity 11 Holiday Travelers are Booking Earlier This Year 12 Catching Up with FASTSIGNS of Snellville 12 The Feeney Legacy Project: Turning Grief into Action 12 Seen in Gwinnett - Emil’s Photo of the Month 13 Health Matters: Older Adults Should Protect Their Health This Fall 13 The City of Tucker: Remembering 9/11 14 Gwinnett Swim League Coach of the Year 2023: Meet Jenna De La Pena 15 Travel Tales: Visit Saudia Arabia?

17 One Man’s Opinion: Knowing When it’s Time to Go Home 18 Expert Tips to Organize Your Home for Fall 21 One Man’s Opinion: Georgia to Get Quite a Kick 22 Getting to Know Universal Aquatics

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From the Publisher: Ryan’s Remarks

By Dr. Ryan T. Sauers

@RyanTSauers

@RyanTSauers

Wow, it is October and fall is here. Can you believe it? That means we are also in the final quarter of 2023, and the holidays will be here before we know it. The holidays always tend to bring times of busyness and stress. With that in mind, I have written an article that I hope can help all of us.

In our fast-paced world, getting caught up in the whirlwind of social media updates, texts, calls, invitations, and constant notifications is easy.

The Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO) has become a prevalent concern, leaving many of us feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and perpetually dissatisfied. But don’t worry, because today we’re going to discuss ways to overcome FOMO and embrace the present moment.

Let me explain. FOMO is that nagging feeling that you’re missing out on something better, more exciting, or more critical happening elsewhere.

It can be triggered by seeing friends’ posts about their vacations, parties, or achievements, or simply by the relentless stream of information vying for your attention. But here’s the bottom line: FOMO is a construct of our minds. It is not real, and it’s time to regain control over it. So how do we do that?

First, we need to define our priorities. What is our “WHY” and what truly matters to us in life? So, the first step in conquering FOMO is to clarify our values and priorities. What are our long-term goals and dreams?

If we knew we had one more day to live, would we be worried about missing out on something? By having a clear vision of what’s essential, we can filter out distractions and focus on what aligns with our values. And Continued on page 14

October 2023 Our Town Gwinnett

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Get Ready for Soups and Ciders – It’s Officially Fall!

SOMEDAY… A Word for Your Day

By Tana Poncsak

We all have a Someday. Often, the word has infiltrated our vocabulary to the point the brain processes it as an actual future date. When I polled a group of friends to complete the sentence “Someday I will…” responses included, “…start exercising; get more organized; be able to do what I want to do; take a trip to Alaska; organize my family pictures.” This demonstrates they each have a Someday.

Check your calendar. Where is Someday? Whether you prefer to plan every part of your day or choose to go with the flow, someday will not show up. Someday is an unspecified time in the future, so it is not on any calendar. Yet, it occupies valuable brain space in our thinking.

Someday consumes energy without producing tangible results. It keeps us in neutral, unable to move in any direction, and may even hinder us from being responsible. Someday also fuels procrastination. What is the cost of continually waiting for Someday? It may cost better health, realized dreams, clarity, contentment, and living4ward.

It is possible to remove the Someday embedded in our vocabulary and thinking and how we view it as an actual future date. This requires interrupting the neural pathway (i.e., habit) that has been established. One technique to begin the interruption is to practice “start and replace.”

Start with a different “day” word: Monday, Tuesday, today, etc., and replace Someday with that word. For example, I will schedule time on Thursday to organize my family pictures. That simple replacement begins to interrupt the default of Someday and replace it with placing the thought, idea, or dream on the calendar, so it becomes a reality while beginning to create a new habit. Is it really that simple? Yes. However, for it to become embedded as the new neural pathway, it takes time.

In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear defines habits as the “small decisions you make and actions you perform every day.” He went on to share about research from Duke University where they found that habits Continued on page 16

Change is good, right? Many say change is inevitable. And when the seasons change, the weather isn’t the only thing that changes. You may also notice a difference in food, clothing, routines, and activities. And after the hot days of summer, fall is often a welcomed change!

Here are some easy things you can do to embrace the fall season.

Food When it comes to food, fall is generally the season to pull out the recipes for warm, hearty soups and stews, and to replace your frozen concoctions with warm teas and hot apple cider.

Relish in the taste of seasonal vegetables and enjoy the robust flavors of roasted acorn and butternut squash. And don’t forget the pumpkin!

For the home Make some small changes to the decor in your home to celebrate the season. Change out your sofa pillows with some that have fall colors or themes.

Add a fall wreath to your front door.

Replace summer smelling candles for some with autumn fragrances such as apples and cinnamon. Or fill your home with the smell of autumn with a big pot of hot apple cider simmering on the stove.

Activities With the cooler temperatures, people still want to get outside and enjoy the cooler weather. Fun fall activities include: Apple picking – We’re lucky in that apple picking is just a short drive away. And with those apples, you can bake my grandmother’s Apple Cake – a family favorite.* Take in a nearby festival or chili cook off – Many metro areas hold festivals to celebrate the community and welcome the season.

It won’t be long before the greenery of summer will give way to the beautiful colors of fall. Take a hike or a drive and enjoy the scenery.

And for those sports fans, there’s always plenty of football!

Happy fall y’all!

Continued on page 15

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By Jane Bishop

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Marketing Matters: Your Brand Makes All the Difference

By Dr. Ryan T. Sauers How can we lead when we are looking down? We cannot. Leaders must look up. Leading individuals and organizations look up and ahead, and they almost always have a strong brand. So, let us focus on the word brand and how it positions us as a leader.

We communicate a message in everything we do – and it’s especially true when we use the term brand. We often discuss brands that we prefer and those we do not. Why? Because brands stand out in an emotional way in our minds. Think about our instant recognition of Nike when we hear “Just Do It,” or the image of Walt Disney World when you hear the words “the happiest place on earth.”

These messages are effective in connecting customers with the brand and in positioning us as market leaders. You see, perception is reality when it comes to our brand. Thus, the goal is to make such brand experiences personal in nature. For example, are you a Coke or Pepsi person?

Mac or PC? You get the idea. Your brand is the one thing about you or your organization that people cannot copy. They can try to duplicate what you do, but they cannot be you or replicate your DNA. They cannot be your brand.

I hope you are beginning to see that your brand is the unique value that you bring to the table that no one else can. A price is the cost of something. In contrast, value= price + goods/services + YOU. Without the value of you (your brand) in the aforementioned equation, you are nothing more than a commodity where low price wins. No good as the goal is value.

So how can we best define a brand? It can be defined as the sum total of key ideas, emotions, and perceptions that are communicated to your audience and associated with you or your organization’s work.

When your stakeholders reflect upon their experiences with you or your organization, the brand is the “shorthand” way of summing up those characteristics and feelings. A brand can be thought of as your distinguishing characteristics that could be considered your own unique fingerprint.

To help simplify this subject, I have developed a newly revised acronym: A BRAND can be considered the Baseline (measurement) of our Reputation, Attributes, Name, and Distinctiveness. Reputation is all you or your organization stands for; attributes are the characteristics others use when describing you; your name suggests something (good, bad, or indifferent) when a person hears it; and your distinctiveness answers the question, “Why you? What makes you different or unique?”

So the question is not if we have a brand or not, because we do. All individuals and organizations have a brand. Instead, the question is reframed to: What do we do with our brand? In short, our brand is not defined by what we say it is, but by what others say it is. To that end, successful individuals and organizations work hard to develop their brands through effective communication. Always remember that building a strong, recognizable, and reliable brand takes time, effort, and commitment. Simply said, it requires a deliberate, purposeful, and intentional strategy.

Such consistency in strategic branding pays off with brand awareness and loyalty – one of the most valuable assets any person or organization can have. To review your brand, obtain feedback from those around you as a first step. Be sure to obtain this 360-degree feedback (all directions) from those close to you as well as those who are more removed from you.

Moreover, develop a PACT mindset as it pertains to your brand (P = Passion; A = Authenticity; C = Creativity; T = Trust). Merriam Webster Continued on page 20 October 2023 Our Town Gwinnett

City of Lilburn Continued from page 5 stakeholders who have claimed the vision to make Lilburn a destination,” Mayor Tim Dunn said. “Vision requires forward-thinking leadership, partnerships, and buy-in from the community. We are optimistic that our town will enjoy many successes in the coming years.”

The partnerships don’t end there. Chief Chris Dusik of the Lilburn Police has also developed and fostered important partnerships during his time with this department. An officer for nearly twenty years, Chief Dusik was recently chosen as the city’s next police chief, and he has taken this task to heart.

“We’re lucky to have a great relationship with citizens and entities in the city,” said Chief Dusik. “If we don’t engage with citizens, we are destined to fail.”

This philosophy has also driven Chief Dusik’s desire to continue an environment in which the police department is a true resource for the people it serves. That’s why you will see the Lilburn Police at many local events, like blood drives, church festivals, and child safety seat events.

They also offer a Citizens Police Academy, designed to help those residents who want to understand more about what the police department does and how it carries out the many responsibilities it has undertaken each day.

In addition to these local initiatives, Chief Dusik created a multi-jurisdictional response team that combines the resources of other local cities to give officers the safest option and necessary equipment when they respond to a call. You will usually find this response team working in Gwinnett, but they are authorized to work throughout the state of Georgia and will not hesitate to team up and pool resources in the interest of keeping their officers and citizens safe.

There’s never been a better time to check out the city of Lilburn.

Whether you are looking for a place to live, work, play, or all of the above, Lilburn is waiting for you.

For more information please visit https://www.cityoflilburn.com/

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Creativity Corner: Tips to Boost Your Creativity

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff Even the most creative people can feel stuck and out of ideas sometimes. So what do you do? If you’re looking to boost your creativity and tap into your inner artist, here are some tips to consider.

Embrace failure: Many people are afraid to take risks or try new things because they are afraid of failing. However, failure is often an essential part of the creative process. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things, even if they don’t work out. Every failure is an opportunity to learn and grow.

Take breaks: Sometimes, the best way to get your creative juices flowing is to take a break and step away from your work. Go for a walk, take a yoga class, or simply sit in a quiet space and let your mind wander. Giving yourself time to recharge can help to spark new ideas and perspectives.

Try new things: Creativity often thrives on novelty and new experiences. Try taking a class in something you’ve never done, or travel to a new place and immerse yourself in a different culture. Exposing yourself to new ideas and experiences can help to open up new pathways in your brain and inspire new creative ideas.

Collaborate with others: Sometimes, the best way to spark creativity is to work with others. Join a creative writing group, collaborate on a musical project with a friend, or take a workshop in a new art form.

Collaborating with others can help to stimulate new ideas and perspectives and provide valuable feedback and support.

Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness practices such as meditation and yoga can help to quiet your mind and open up space for creativity. Set aside time each day for meditation or mindful breathing, or try a yoga class to help reduce stress and boost creativity.

Keep a journal: Journaling can be a powerful tool for unlocking creativity. Try keeping a daily journal where you jot down your thoughts, ideas, and inspirations. This can help you to stay connected to your inner creativity and provide a record of your journey as a creative person.

By following these tips, you can help to unlock your inner creativity Continued on page 20

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Holiday Travelers are Booking Earlier This Year

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff Although the summer travel season just ended, Georgians are already beginning to lock in their holiday travel plans. In fact, according to a new AAA survey, 69% of residents are already planning to take a holiday vacation.

More than half of them (55%) booked holiday plans earlier this year due to higher travel prices.

Three-fifths of holiday travelers (61%) say they plan at least one flight during the holiday season.

“Whether you plan to book a flight, cruise, or visit a theme park, it’s best to get ahead of the holiday rush and finalize your plans now,” said Debbie Haas, Vice President of Travel for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “This will help ensure you get the itinerary you want at a competitive price. While it’s possible that those who wait until the last minute could catch a lower rate, their preferred options may already be gone.”

Thanksgiving Travel Two-thirds of Georgia travelers (66%) are planning a trip with at least one overnight stay for Thanksgiving. The busiest travel days will be Tuesday, Wednesday, and Sunday. Consider booking a flight on Sunday or Monday before Thanksgiving and Saturday after the holiday. Airports should be less busy, and flights should have more availability.

Christmas Travel The timing is spread out for Georgians planning a Christmas trip. Only

10% have already finalized plans, as a fifth waited until September (20%), with more waiting until October (38%) and November (19%) to book.

Regardless of what date Christmas falls on, most travelers depart two to four days before the holiday. Since Christmas Day falls on a Monday this year, travelers should expect the busiest days at the airport to be Friday and Saturday before the holiday.

AAA’s Advice for Booking a Flight • Book early for the best combination of availability and price. Most travelers want to skip layovers and get right to their destination. That means nonstop flights will fill up fast, especially those going cross-country and internationally.

• Book a direct flight that leaves early in the morning. Afternoon and evening flights are more susceptible to delays/cancellations due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Connecting flights multiplies the risk of something going wrong.

• Consider traveling a day or two earlier than planned. Even if you face delays, you are still likely to arrive on time.

• If your flight has connections, build between flights in a couple of hours. This way, if your first flight is delayed, you are less likely to miss your second one.

Flight Concerns One-third of Georgians (34%) say they are less likely to fly this year because they’re concerned about flight delays and cancellations. AAA urges travelers to consider travel insurance, which provides financial compensation if your flight is affected by covered reasons like severe winter weather, which can ruin your plans.

“Given recent challenges with air travel, we are seeing more and more passengers opt for travel insurance,” Haas said. “Travel Insurance is such a valuable resource for air travelers because it provides financial benefits for lost or delayed luggage, flight cancellations, and flight delays of as little as three hours.”

More People are Gifting Experiences Instead of Presents AAA travel advisors say they’re seeing more people gift travel experiences to loved ones instead of presents. That means those people are Continued on page 19

We invite you to honor and remember your loved one.

Even if Wages & Sons did not serve your family.

DEC. 3RD 3:00pm

Gwinnett Chapel 1031 Lawrenceville Hwy Lawrenceville, GA

RSVP by Nov. 26 to receive a FREE Remembrance Snowflake personalized with your loved one’s name.

Scan with your smartphone camera

SEATING IS LIMITED. RSVP and submit your loved one to be honored and remembered in our video tribute presentation at WagesandSons.com/Candlelight

The event will include live musical performances, a video tribute presentation and a touching candle lighting ceremony for all to participate in.

Owned by The Wages Family

Honoring Life. No Regrets.

October 2023 Our Town Gwinnett

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Catching Up with FASTSIGNS of Snellville

By Kristen Eleveld The premier place to find quality, customized signage and other visual aids is FASTSIGNS in Snellville. With a decade of serving the Snellville community and beyond under their belt, the team at FASTSIGNS of Snellville has offered incredible customer service and high-quality signs for a wide variety of local businesses and residents. As they have continued to grow alongside the community they have served for so long, FASTSIGNS of Snellville has brought on new equipment to offer even more options for their clientele.

“We are so excited to let you know that over the last few years we have re-invested our profits into acquiring more technology to be able to do more under our roof to better serve our community,” said Edward MacFarlane, who owns and operates the franchise alongside his wife, Kareen. “We just added two new machines that will allow us to produce eighty percent or more of our products in-house.”

The newest additions to the machine family, as Edward calls them, are a 25-watt laser, which allows FASTSIGNS to engrave materials such as name badges, plaques, small acrylic letters, and much more, and a Mutoh UV texture printer. The UV texture printer machine gives FASTSIGNS the capability of producing ADA compliant signage for all commercial applications, along with the ability to create custom dimensional signage on a smaller scale. The team at FASTSIGNS of Snellville is excited about using these new machines to offer even more options to the businesses and community members in the area.

The process for getting your custom sign made is simple. Just describe your vision to the team at FASTSIGNS and they can help you make it a reality. While client input is a huge factor when it comes to designing your visual aid, FASTSIGNS of Snellville has an incredible team of graphic designers who will offer additional details and ideas to make your sign look the best it possibly can. The same goes for name badges, electronic signs, menu boards – anything and everything that FASTSIGNS provides comes with the graphic design expertise they offer.

“Designing for signage is what we do best!” said Edward. “Our customers have a lot of input into the design process, as they tell us what Continued on page 16

The Feeney Legacy Project: Turning Grief into Action

By Victoria R. Crosby On April 15, 2022, Kathy Feeney Armistead lost her son Feeney, whose death might have been avoided had 911 been called and CPR been administered immediately. During his thirty-three years on this earth, Feeney embraced his life and everyone who was a part of it.

Feeney’s trademark stance in pictures was with arms flung wide open and an exuberant grin on his face. He excelled at playing baseball, was goofy, athletic, a storyteller, and a writer, as well as big-hearted and loyal. He loved his DAWGS and the Atlanta Braves with boundless passion. A big dude, Feeney’s booming laugh filled the room.

He pushed boundaries and lived on the edge. Again, Feeney might have had a second chance at life if 911 had been called immediately, followed

by CPR when he collapsed from cardiac arrest.

Kathy founded the Feeney Legacy Project (FLP) in memory of her son.

FLP advocates for the public to take immediate action to call 911 and administer CPR for anyone in medical distress. This mother is turning grief into action.

The Feeney Legacy Project is a group of determined women – sisters, family, and friends aged 13 to 85 – bound by their mutual love of Feeney and Kathy, each motivated to ensure the FLP mission is spread to ALL. The FLP aims to advocate for the life-saving actions of calling 911 and administering CPR so that another may not experience the tragic loss of a child, a family member, or a friend.

The mission of the Feeney Legacy Project: • ADVOCATE for the immediate calling of 911 and administering CPR to one in medical distress • EDUCATE about the protection provided by the Good Samaritan and 911 Amnesty Laws to one who acts to save a life. CALL 911…BE SOMEONE’S SECOND CHANCE. The goal of FLP is to educate teens and adults about the laws in Georgia so that they may not fear repercussions if they call 911. Some may be reluctant to call 911 in an emergency where there are drugs or alcohol involved out of fear: fear of arrest; fear of trouble with parents, partners, or peers; fear of school suspension; fear of financial impact; Continued on page 16

Seen in Gwinnett Emil’s Photo of the Month

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Health Matters: Older Adults Should Protect Their Health This Fall

The City of Tucker: Remembering 9/11

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff With cold and flu season upon us, it’s time to protect yourself from those seasonal threats and other health risks. “During the holidays, our lives get very busy with family and friends,” said Dr. J.B. Sobel, chief medical officer for Cigna Healthcare’s Medicare business. “Before then, please take time to ensure you get the preventive care you need to stay healthy.”

Preventive care is critical for everybody, but particularly for older adults, and especially in fall when risks can increase. Recommendations vary based on age, gender, and health status, but the following are some Sobel says are the most common for seniors.

Vaccinations: There are several vaccines older adults need to consider to protect themselves. For example, flu and pneumonia are among the most common causes of senior deaths. There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach to vaccination. Timing and frequency vary, depending on your health history. Ask your healthcare provider which vaccines are appropriate for you.

• Flu. This vaccine is administered annually, generally before the end of October, and is designed to match the latest circulating flu strains.

• Pneumonia. Administration varies based on health history. If you’re 65 or older and you’ve never had the vaccine before, you’ll likely need two shots administered a year apart.

• Shingles. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends two doses of the shingles vaccine for healthy adults aged 50 and older, spaced two to six months apart, to prevent shingles and related complications.

• COVID-19. Ask your doctors about current recommendations for the prevention of COVID-19 infections.

• RSV. Earlier this year, the Federal Drug Administration approved two separate vaccines to address respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in older adults. RSV, a common respiratory infection, usually causes mild, coldlike symptoms but can be more severe in older adults and children. Talk to your doctor about whether you should get an RSV vaccine.

Health Screenings: The following health screenings are commonly recommended for older adults.

• Mammogram. According to the CDC, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States. Every woman is at risk, and risk increases with age. Fortunately, breast cancer can often be treated successfully when found early. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends women 50 to 74 years old at average risk get a mammogram every two years.

The annual remembrance ceremony for 9/11 took place in Tucker on Sunday, September 11, twenty-two years after the terrorist attacks on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and the plane that went down in a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania in what was an aborted attempt to fly the highjacked plane into the Capitol Building or the White House. The heroic passengers of that plane saved the lives of everyone who would have died if the plane had reached its intended target.

The ceremony began at 8:46 a.m., the time when the first plane hit the North Tower. A giant American Flag hung between two extra-long ladders from the fire engines as the crowd gathered on a beautiful sunny morning, much as it was in New York the day the towers were attacked.

A steel sculpture of a phoenix wing, symbolizing the rising from the ashes, stood behind a piece of the beams from one of the towers in New York.

At the granite base of the sculpture, which is in the shape of a pentagon, are several plaques: one with the Police Officer’s Prayer, another with the Firefighter’s Prayer, a plaque with a brief history of the World Trade Center, and one with information about the memorial. It was designed

by Doug Harms, a firefighter and a bagpiper, and sculptor Curtis James Miller, a former Marine Corps sergeant.

The ceremony began with a lone bagpiper, Doug Harms, followed by the presentation of the colors. A female officer sang our national anthem, the Star-Spangled Banner. The Garden Clubs of Georgia provided the floral wreath of beautiful red, white, and blue flowers, which was carried

by Alex Lane, accompanied by Garden Club members Susan Turner, scholarship chairman and representative of the Georgia Garden Clubs, and me, as president of the Smoke Rise Garden Club.

A recording of Taps was played, and I was honored to read my poem “A Tribute to Heroes,” written in 2002. I read this poem every year in The City of Glen Cove, New York before I moved to Georgia.

Continued on page 19

Continued on page 22

October 2023 Our Town Gwinnett

By Victoria R. Crosby

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Gwinnett Swim League Coach of the Year 2023: Meet Jenna De La Pena

By Traci Sanders Coach Jenna De La Pena was only eight years of age when her parents signed her up for the Gwinnett Swim League. By the end of that summer, Jenna had fallen in love with the sport.

However, she had no idea that she would one day not only end up coaching her own swim team, but winning an award for it!

Jenna’s children became involved in swimming in high school, so she began coaching at Grayson High School in 2020 to better prepare them for the sport.

The following summer, Jenna was given the opportunity to coach her own kids at Waterton Waverunners.

When Jenna realized that many talented kids couldn’t afford to swim year-round, she looked into starting a fall middle school team. The following year, Jenna and her husband, Gio, started the Grayson Swim Club at Waterton Waverunners. The program is now headed into its third season of operation, with twenty-five kids enrolled for fall.

Jenna was surprised and honored to be named Gwinnett Swim League Coach of the Year for 2023. She was up against several other nominees who she said are “fantastic coaches who are loved and respected by the communities they serve.” So much of her success, she believes, is due to her partner and husband, making it truly a joint effort. Their own children were super proud of their parents for this award, sending them sweet congratulatory messages.

When asked about her coaching style, Jenna replied, “I just want kids to feel successful. Every kid comes in at their own level, and I want them to focus on their own growth and abilities.” She went on to say that swimming is an interesting sport because, while it does have the team aspect, it also teaches many values on a personal level. The athletes are able to set and achieve personal goals at their own pace without the peer pressure typically associated with traditional team sports.

Coach Jenna and her team celebrate even the smallest of wins. “One second we’re cheering for the kid who just made a state time cut,” she said, “and the next we’re all screaming for the kid who completed a race without stopping for the first time.” For her, the most rewarding thing about coaching is watching kids make new friends and find their go-to sport. She’s proud to offer a place for these kids to all grow and

thrive together. “Youth sports is incredibly important for kids,” she added, “because they need places to go where they can be social in a safe environment while also getting exercise to keep their bodies healthy.”

One thing Coach Jenna always teaches her athletes is respect for each other. “There’s always a level of banter between kids,” she said, “especially when it’s co-ed and mixed ages; but I do not tolerate disrespect for one another. There will always be someone who is better than you in sports or anything in life.” Instead of allowing the kids to boast about who is better at certain skills, the De La Penas teach mentorship by encouraging those with advanced skills to reach back and help beginners or those who might be struggling.

When the team becomes discouraged, the De La Penas always remind them that they are loved no matter what. “We make sure they know,” Jenna explained, “there’s always going to be another race where they can try again. Then we get back to work and start training through the mistakes to perform better next time. It’s not the race that defines the athlete, it’s how the athlete handles failure that makes them a winner in our book.”

Above anything else, Jenna measures her success as a coach by seeing if the kids return season after season. She strives to provide a safe space for families to bring their children, to make them feel like they belong.

But she says it’s a partnership.

“I do sometimes wish people understood how much home life affects athletes,” she said. “So much of their success comes from their home support. I can make the sets and provide the place, but I can’t monitor their sleep, diet, or overall physical and mental health.”

The De La Penas would eventually like to build an indoor swim facility for the southern side of Gwinnett to service the area with a year-round swim program. “The Grayson/Loganville area has really needed a proper indoor facility for the high schools to use for some time,” Jenna said.

“We’d love to be a part of creating that for the kids in this community.

We could offer lessons for all ages, competitive teams, and even physical therapies.”

Coach Jenna believes that swimming is a life skill, and when pools are not affordable or accessible, many kids and even some adults are at risk.

“Kids can learn water safety skills at an early age that can help prevent future drowning incidents,” she shared. “It’s never too late to learn!”

Congrats again to Gwinnett Swim League Coach of the Year 2023, Coach Jenna De La Pena.

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

quality of our experiences matters more than the quantity. So, my advice is instead of trying to attend every event or accept every invitation, focus on the activities and relationships that bring genuine joy and fulfillment always ask yourself, is this something that will make any difference ten to our lives. In addition, we must live with gratitude and contentment. We years from now? must shift our mindset from scarcity to abundance by practicing gratiSecond, we must limit social media time. Social media platforms are tude. I suggest we make a daily habit of listing the things we are thankful fantastic for sharing information but are a breeding ground for FOMO. for. This will help us remember how much we have to be thankful for and Such platforms make it easy to focus on things that don’t matter and decrease feelings of FOMO. where we can waste a lot of time. They are also a place where we can Finally, it is important to disconnect to reconnect. We should take occaget caught up in comparing our lives with other’s lives. So, I recommend sional digital detoxes to fully reconnect with the real world and the people we take control of our digital life by setting specific times to check our around us. Engage in meaningful conversations, enjoy face-to-face interaccounts. Reducing our screen time helps alleviate FOMO and improves actions, and savor the moments from which technology often distracts us. our overall mental well-being. I say that being “constantly connected” The fear of missing out is a common modern-day struggle, but it doesn’t will drain the life out of all of us. So be purposeful, deliberate, and intenhave to control our lives. By defining our priorities, limiting screen time, tional with your time. practicing mindfulness, and embracing gratitude, we can learn to appreThird, we must cultivate mindfulness in our lives. Mindfulness is the ciate the present moment and live a more fulfilling life. Remember, life practice of being fully present in the moment. So, we must engage in is happening right now, and it’s beautiful in its own unique way. Life is a activities encouraging mindfulness, such as meditation, yoga, prayer, present. Life is the present. Life is being present. or simply walking in nature. These practices can help us appreciate the Thank you as always for your support as we work to make a difference beauty of the present and reduce the anxiety associated with FOMO. in lives. And also, and as always…thank you for continuing with me on Fourth, we should focus on quality over quantity. Remember that the the journey of my town, your town, OUR TOWN! PAGE 14 Become an Advertising Partner: Info@OurTown Gwinnett.com or 678-825-2049

Ryan’s Remarks Continued from page 7

Travel Tales: Visit Saudia Arabia?

By Pam Walker Every August, I attend one of the largest travel shows on earth in Las Vegas.

Vegas is not my favorite place to be during August, but in reality, I never am outside the meeting rooms in the Bellagio and Aria hotels. This year was no different.

Aside from 3,000 travel advisors from all over the world, there are representatives from government tourist offices, hotels, and attractions, as well as folks from all the major cruise lines. Every year they tell us the latest and greatest news of upcoming events and products.

One such player “new to the game” is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was only in 2019 that the Saudi Minister of Interior and Foreign Affairs issued the first tourist visas to visit the Kingdom. It is now the second biggest tourist destination in the Middle East. Obviously, not many US citizens traveled there during the Pandemic, but now the push is on to receive visitors from all over the world.

I have long been fascinated with the history of the Middle East. Not only does it encompass many religions, but there is an amazing network of Nabatean ruins dating from the 3rd Century BC. It wasn’t until the Roman Empire annexed it in AD 106 that the power of this ancient culture ceased to exist. They carved homes and temples into the sandstone, which can be seen today. The most famous ruin to date is Petra in Jordan.

But now there is the Alula area in Saudi! Archaeologists have just started excavating various places in the Saudi desert, such as the ancient town of Hegra and the ancient oasis in the midst of this desert wasteland.

It is a vast area filled with history and rare rock forms. It is so unique that there are now five deluxe hotel companies that have built hotels there, all blending in with the desert architecture.

In all the Saudi government has spent over $15 billion in structuring this fantastic place, and I, for one, have to go and see the things that they have done. Yes, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is still a conservative Muslim country, but they are letting down their barriers as they want to share their history with the world.

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso Travel Advisor. More information at pam@ walkeradventures.com

October 2023 Our Town Gwinnett

It’s Officially Fall! Continued from page 8 *Nanny’s Apple Cake

Ingredients: 2 eggs 1 1/4 cup vegetable oil 3 cups all-purpose flour 3 cups chopped apples 1 cups sugar 1 cup brown sugar 2 tsp vanilla flavoring 1/4 tsp salt 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp baking soda 1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Beat eggs, add sugar, vanilla flavoring, and oil. Beat three minutes Mix all dry ingredients together Mix ingredients together -- the dry and the egg, sugar, and oil mixture Add the chopped apples, then add chopped pecans - mix all ingredients thoroughly Pour into a greased Bundt pan or cake pan Bake at 350 degrees for one hour and 15 minutes or until cooked through Top with a dusting of powdered sugar Serve topped with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream

PAGE 15

FASTSIGNS of Snellville Continued from page 12

Turning Grief into Action Continued from page 12

they want. We then bring their vision to life with our design...all the while thinking how we can best give their design maximum impact to get their message to their customers.”

“Even a simple sign someone asks for gets the same treatment as a ten thousand dollar sign project,” added Kareen. “We love to make our customers look great!”

When FASTSIGNS of Snellville is not busy creating the perfect visual representation for their clients, they can often be found giving back to the Snellville community and beyond. They are members of the Gwinnett Chamber and the Snellville Tourism and Trade. They also have two dedicated Outside Sales Professionals, Robert and Dianne, who are always out in the community either prospecting or attending ribbon cuttings and networking events. In addition to these connections, FASTSIGNS of Snellville has maintained a ten year relationship with their friends at Special Kneads and Treats in Lawrenceville, and a nine year relationship with the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry, and has provided either donated or discounted signage for these organizations.

For Edward and Kareen and the rest of their team, the number one goal is excellent customer service. They make it a priority to pick up the phone any time a customer calls and to turn a project around as quickly as possible. In fact, FASTSIGNS of Snellville has never missed a deadline in the ten years they have been in operation.

“Customer service is our number one strength, followed by expertise,” said Edward. “We love doing what we do and in our ten years in business we are so happy to have exceeded our customers’ expectations every step on the way.”

If you need a custom visual aid to help your business make itself known, you have come to the right place. Get in touch with FASTSIGNS of Snellville for all of your signage dreams to come true.

More information at www.fastsigns.com/snellville-ga, or (678) 3955559

fear of employer; and fear that they do not know how to administer CPR. Armistead said, “If 911 is not called immediately and CPR isn’t started immediately when someone goes into cardiac arrest, the lack of oxygen to the brain will cause permanent damage in as little as four minutes. In another four to six minutes, without the brain receiving blood, will result in increased brain damage, coma, and death.”

When 911 is called immediately, the dispatcher will give the caller instructions on CPR. The Good Samaritan Law protects anyone from civil litigation “who in good faith renders emergency care at the scene of an accident or emergency to the victim or victims thereof without making any charge.”

Armistead’s heartfelt wish is to spare other parents from losing a child in the way she lost her own. “We must ensure that everyone understands the urgency in calling 911 and administering CPR to try to save a life,” she said, “and that these lifesaving attempts are legally protected – Life over Law. This message takes on even more urgency in the face of the fentanyl crisis, but kids and adults need to understand that alcohol, cocaine, and other drugs can cause cardiac arrest.

“Don’t walk away from a friend in distress,” she continued. “Act. Be someone’s second chance. FLPers need you to help build a stronger community by teaching those in your life the importance of calling 911, to be sure CPR is in everyone’s toolbox, and reminding all about Life over Law.” As Armistead says, “Let’s save lives.” Become part of the Feeney Legacy Project – passion, talent, skills, and wanting to make a difference for our community is all it takes.

More information at https://www.feeneylegacyproject.org/

A Word for Your Day Continued from page 8 make up about 40% of our daily behavior, adding that many of these “happen in our unconscious brain because we repeated them enough to happen without conscious thought.” Practicing start and replace for thirty days will interrupt the current habit of Someday. However, it must be practiced for a minimum of ninety days for the new habit to become part of your unconscious thoughts.

Harvard-trained scientist Dr. David Bach supports this. In his research on rewiring the brain, he found that a process had to be repeated at least two hundred times to interrupt the pattern and direct it to a new pathway.

As you practice start and repeat consistently and develop a new habit, enjoy the significant lessons and simple pleasures you will experience.

More information at www.janebishoplive.com

PAGE 16

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

One Man’s Opinion: Knowing When it’s Time to Go Home

By Bill Crane I first had the pleasure of meeting U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky in Scottsdale, Arizona, roughly six months into his first term. McConnell was energetic, vibrant, quick-witted, and thoughtful in his public policy position statements.

McConnell is now the U.S. Senate Minority Leader and has led the GOP Senate Caucus since 2007. While still a brilliant political strategist and tactician, the Senator is clearly missing a step after a fall and reasonably severe concussion that resulted this spring. Though given a conditional clean bill of health by the U.S. Senate physician, McConnell is pale, appears fragile, speaks slowly, and in a softer timber. In addition to the two highly documented “freeze” moments, some of his public speaking has occasionally been non-sensical.

That said, Mitch McConnell is a friend, a fraternity brother of mine from another school, and I have had the opportunity to have supper a few times with the Senator and his wife, Elaine Chao, a former U.S. Secretary of Transportation and former Director of the U.S. Peace Corps. Love or loathe their politics, this power couple is devoted to our nation, and both are decades-long public servants.

Power and fame are two very highly addictive as well as fleeting circumstances in life for some. Letting go of either voluntarily is challeng-

October 2023 Our Town Gwinnett

ing, and perhaps even harder for those who become accustomed to that life is knowing when it is time to go home.

I started this column discussing Senator McConnell, though the effective service warranty and date of expiration on President Joe Biden has been blinking red hot for well over a year now. Yet McConnell (81) and Biden (80) appear as young pups next to Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) at 89. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) is 83 and announced that she will again be seeking re-election as a member of the House Democratic Caucus in 2024.

I don’t believe in term limits, and there is almost no place where more value is placed on seniority than on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Still, when senior moments become daily or weekly occurrences, it also becomes time for self-evaluation and medical assessment.

Congressional staff often tend to be closest, even making policy decisions in the White House or on the Hill for aging and failing elected officials. But that is NOT representative democracy. There is some incredible staff in government at all levels, but staff members’ desire to maintain their own power and position does not justify propping up public servants who also endanger their own health by staying past their effective expiration dates. No matter how much coddling you might receive from staff and some party officials, public life is no picnic. The hours are long, and the schedules are demanding.

Here in Georgia, Senator Johnny Isakson resigned when his Parkinson’s Disease had too fully compromised his ability to serve. And for several years after his diagnosis, he put in ten miles every day on a treadmill. Senator Saxby Chambliss, after receiving a cancer diagnosis, decided not to seek re-election and to focus on his family and remaining time, which thankfully has likely been years more now due to stepping back to that lighter and less demanding lifestyle and schedule.

I am not suggesting that we codify age limits, particularly as modern medicine and new treatments slow, or in some cases, roll back the clock advancing. But as with periodic tests for the re-issuance of a driver’s license primarily about keeping our roadways safe, we need to consider Continued on page 22

PAGE 17

Expert Tips to Organize Your Home for Fall

By Our Town Gwinnett Staff From the walk-in closet to the kitchen pantry, catch-all spots make all the difference in daily routines – but only if they’re kept neat. Family organizing expert Jessica Litman, also known as “The Organized Mama,” is on a mission to help families declutter and stay organized. She’s sharing her pro tips for getting your home in shape for this busy time of year.

Clear Away Cabinet Clutter: ‘Tis the season for autumn chili, stew, and other comfort foods. That means it’s also time to put your essential slow cookers and pans where you can reach them so that food prep will be hassle-free. “When the weather starts to cool, I swap out summer cookware for winter bakeware,” says Litman. “I put the grilling items in the back of the cabinet and pull the turkey roaster and baking dishes to the front.” For added storage, Litman recommends using a shelf rack or vertical organizer to keep cutting boards and pie pans easily accessible.

Prep the Pantry: Create a system that gives grab-and-go snacks and cooking necessities a home. This will help keep the kitchen tidy amid busy work and school schedules. “Do a pantry cleanout,” Litman says.

“Remove everything from the area and wipe down the shelves. Take the canned goods you didn’t eat and donate them to a local food bank.”

Use a combination shelf liner and new containers to restore order to the space. Measure the shelves, cut the liner to length, and then lay it flat.

The shelf liner is durable, waterproof, and designed to keep surfaces dry, while making them easy to wipe clean. Use the measurements to determine what size bins will best fit the area. Store crackers, cereal, oats, and pasta in clear labeled containers, and put spices and seasonings in a slim organizer. “Set up items similarly to grocery store shelves by placing like items together,” Litman suggests. “When you do this, it’s like you are shopping in your pantry instead of hunting for things.”

Out with the Old: Before pulling out your fall wardrobe, declutter the piles of “stuff” from the closet. This will make your space seem more extensive and more organized. “Remove clothes from this past season,” Litman recommends. “Look through each garment. If you didn’t wear it,

donate, toss, or sell it.” Now that there is more room, hang an over-thedoor shoe rack for rain boots and work shoes and use a closet organizer to store accessories, such as belts, purses, and scarves. Litman also recommends dry cleaning winter jackets now, so they’re ready to wear when cold weather comes.

Find Balance in the Bathroom: Whether it’s the primary bath or the kids’ washroom, make the most of your space by organizing everything into different categories, like towels and haircare. Once everything is grouped, you can decide what will be kept based on the available areas.

Use a tray on the counter and bins in pullout drawers.

Litman says to wipe and line surfaces, especially under the sink, before putting essentials away. Antimicrobial agents inhibit mold and mildew growth to protect the liner and will catch makeup smudges and water spills to give the area an extra clean feeling. She also recommends waiting until after the organizing process to buy bins and caddies so you know exactly what you need. Once these organizing projects are complete, your home will be ready for all the fun fall festivities and family gatherings.

(StatePoint)

Snellville Events on the Towne Green 2342 Oak Road

OCTOBER 14

SNELLVILLE FALL FESTIVAL FREE

12-6 p.m. Community Event

• Pumpkin Painting - $2 • Costume Contest - all ages • Arts and Craft Vendors • Great Festival Food www.ExperienceSnellville.com PAGE 18

Kids Activity Band - $15

(Includes Rock Wall, Train, Gaming Bus, Inflatable Slide, Bounce House, Ultimate Eagles Obstacle Course, Inflatable Tribute Band Basketball and 9-hole Mini Golf) 4-6 p.m.

Thanks to our Keystone Sponsors

Bronze Sponsor: Kids R Kids Friend of Snellville: Platinum Elite Roofing

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

Health Matters Continued from page 13 • Colorectal screening. Colorectal cancer risk increases with age. Screenings can find precancerous polyps early, so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. The USPSTF recommends colorectal cancer screening for adults age 45 to 75. Though colonoscopy is the most comprehensive test, there are other options you may consider with the help of your provider.

• Bone density scan. USPSTF recommends women aged 65 and older and women 60 and older at increased risk be routinely screened for osteoporosis, a disease in which bones become weak and brittle. Screening may facilitate treatment that helps prevent fractures.

• Eye exam. Routine eye exams can identify early signs of eye disease that are more likely as people age. People with diabetes, in particular, are prone to retinopathy, which leads to vision

Holiday Travelers Continued from page 11 already thinking about the holidays. “I just booked travel for one family who’s surprising their children on Christmas morning with a trip to Disney World, leaving later that same day! That family was sure to book early to get exactly what they wanted,” said Cady DeBlois, a travel advisor for AAA. YOLO (You Only Live Once) is Replacing Bucket Lists After three years of a pandemic, many travelers are tackling their bucket lists now! “I’ve had travelers tell me, ‘I don’t know what my health will be in five or ten years, let’s go abroad this year,’” said Jodi Abata, AAA travel advisor, who frequently books international trips for members.

October 2023 Our Town Gwinnett

loss. It’s recommended that people with diabetes have annual retinal screenings.

• Mental health checkup. Many people experience seasonal depression during the fall. Mental health is strongly linked to physical health. Talk to your healthcare provider about your personal and family history. They can connect you with additional mental health resources.

To prevent unpleasant surprises, Sobel suggests talking with your healthcare provider, pharmacist, or insurer about preventive care costs. Fortunately, costs are often covered entirely by Medicare or Medicare Advantage.

Note: The information contained in this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment before undertaking a new healthcare regimen. (StatePoint) “There seems to be a sense of adventure from more people now. They don’t want to delay travel any longer.”

Europe, Cruises, and Theme Parks Sell Out in Advance European travel is booming this year, and the holidays will be no exception. AAA travel advisors say touring Christmas markets in Europe is extremely popular, and itineraries sell out in advance. River cruises are also in high demand during the holidays, along with Caribbean cruises.

Theme parks are a holiday favorite among families with kids when students are on winter break. DeBlois added, “I’ve already booked theme park vacations for Christmas 2024! That’s how eager many families are to get their holiday plans on the books.”

More information at AAA.com, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

PAGE 19

Marketing Matters Continued from page 9 defines pact as “a formal agreement between two people or groups.” We want to focus on the word “agreement.”

A person buys from another person when they feel authentic passion fueled with creativity that is built on trust. Any strong brand is built upon mutual trust. Thus, our brand must be built upon some of these key criteria. When a person has tremendous passion, they have energy, dedication, and enthusiasm in all that they do. When a person is authentic, they are consistent in behavior no matter the circumstances. Moreover, they are real and focus on ethics and integrity. And when a person is creative, they approach life in a different and unique manner. They operate with an “as if” mindset. This means they operate “as if” this could be done or why can’t this be done. So instead of being goal oriented, they are growth mindset oriented. They find a way and never settle for less than the best.

This is what the best individual and organizational brands are all about.

Once you can better define what your own brand is about and what you

PAGE 20

want it to be about, you can determine the ways you want to purposefully grow, change, re-frame, promote, and/or strengthen your current brand position. So, does our brand make a difference? Yes. Does it matter? You bet it does. Our brand makes all the difference for those individuals and organizations seeking to lead the way in 2023 and beyond.

Dr. Ryan T. Sauers is CEO of Sauers Consulting Strategies. For more information on how we can help with individual or organizational sales, marketing, branding. or leadership growth please visit www.

SauersConsulting.com or call 678-825-2049

Creativity Corner Continued from page 10 and tap into your artistic potential. Remember that creativity is a process, and it takes time, patience, and practice to cultivate. But with dedication and effort, anyone can become more creative and expressive in their work and life.

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

One Man’s Opinion: Georgia to Get Quite a Kick

By Bill Crane In 1972, the then-United States Olympic Committee (USOC) relocated its headquarters from New York City to Colorado Springs, Colorado. In the following decades, twenty-five amateur sports federations and training programs (each privately financed) also relocated their athletic training programs, athletes, and training staff to Colorado Springs.

In 1978, a federal statute, the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports act, was enacted, creating a federally chartered nonprofit corporation that does not receive federal government financial support (other than for a select set of Paralympic military programs). The renamed United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) received exclusive rights to use and authorize the use of all Olympicrelated images, marks, and trademarks. The USOPC then licenses those rights to sponsors and selected manufacturers as their primary revenue source, along with television broadcast rights to telecast the Winter and Summer Olympic Games every four years and related national and international trial competitions that precede each Olympic and Paralympic Games. Most other countries in the world, all of the Eastern Bloc, and our major sports competitors are funded by their governments, in all or part, with gifted athletes often used as props or elements of propaganda campaigns between Olympic Games.

During the late 60s and early 70s, the National Professional Soccer League, and later the North American Soccer League, were attempting to launch a national professional soccer league across America. The Atlanta Chiefs were Georgia and the southeast’s entry in that league, including a season in 1973 as the Atlanta Apollos. Metro Atlanta and Georgia more successfully launched soccer as an amateur youth sport at the time, which continues growing to this day. I played on YMCA and AAA high school soccer teams from early elementary through high school. I met many of the Atlanta Chiefs, attended a few of their player training camps, and even met global soccer star Pelé at an exhibition game. Those years of play instigated my soccer fandom, which lasts through today.

Several other attempts at a national professional soccer league came

October 2023 Our Town Gwinnett

and went until Major League Soccer (MLS) established a twenty-nineteam league (twenty-six in the U.S. and three in Canada). The MLS is a men’s professional soccer league sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) and headquartered in Midtown Manhattan, not too far from the headquarters of Major League Baseball and the NFL. The league and MLS team owners operate under a shared revenue model, and all teams have a salary cap on their rosters.

Many youth soccer players from earlier decades are also continually fueling that fan base for the sport across the nation. Following that earlier example by the USOC relocating from New York to Colorado Springs, the headquarters of the USSF will be relocating from Chicago to Atlanta, thanks in large measure to a $50-million pledge and gift from Arthur Blank.

U.S. Soccer plans to construct the nation’s first ever purpose-built and designated National Training Center for soccer, to be utilized by all twenty-seven of U.S. Soccer’s National Teams, as well as additional facilities for U.S. Soccer’s nine Extended National Teams (ENTs), including teams with athletes who have Cerebral Palsy, the Deaf and Power Soccer National Teams, and including locker rooms and training facilities designed to maximize accessibility for those players.

In 2026, Atlanta and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium will play host to the FIFA World Cup Soccer Championship. The World Cup has a larger fan base and typically draws more international visitors than the Olympic Games. Though foreign-born players, mainly from Latin America and Europe, continue to fill the rosters of most MLS teams, often identified as the most skilled players, the U.S. has continually been upgrading the caliber of play and talent of our home-grown stock. Atlanta United operates a farm team system and a second franchise, frequently including a higher percentage of native-born American players. These new state-of-the-art U.S.-based training facilities coming to Atlanta should only expand the number and depth of those American players.

The USSF headquarters and training center will require a large swath of land, leaning more towards a suburban or ex-urban site with interstate and quick airport access. The economic boon will later be measured in Continued on page 22

PAGE 21

One Man’s Opinion Continued from page 17

Getting to Know Universal Aquatics

By Kristen Eleveld Have you ever dreamed of designing a water feature for someone famous like Shaquille O’Neal? For one local business who has mastered the art of water feature design, function, installation, and maintenance, that isn’t a dream—it’s just part of a resume. And the team at Universal Aquatics is making that resume more impressive with each passing day.

Founded and owned by John Magyar, Universal Aquatics has quickly made a name for itself in the Gwinnett area and surrounding communities, offering expertise at designing and installing water features for homes and yards. John and his team have worked hard at giving customers and potential customers the information they need to create the water feature they want. A self-confessed “pond snob,” John always emphasizes quality over quantity for his company’s installations, and their expertise is not limited to function or design. Universal Aquatics strives to give each customer all the information they can.

“All water feature companies are not created equally,” said John, who has a biology degree that often informs innovative solutions to client needs.

“We start from the inside out. If you are going to have fish in a pond, the first thing we have to do is figure out the needs of the fish! Then we can work out the correct filtration system and style of your water feature.”

For those unfamiliar with water features, you may be picturing koi ponds and outdoor fountains, both of which are offered by Universal Aquatics. But the potential for adding a water feature to your home goes far beyond a pond. You might be interested in installing a fountain in your foyer, or maybe you want to create a place where your kids and grandkids can go swimming on hot days. Whatever you are thinking of, John and his team can almost certainly get it done—and they do it in style.

“I love designing features that have mossy boulders and logs—ways to make it look like it’s been plucked out of nature,” said John. “But I know some clients don’t like the natural look. Go with your gut and find the style that you like.”

The process is easy. First, John and his team will talk to you to discuss what kind of features you want, your budget, and other considerations like design styles and whether you will have fish in your outdoor pond. One thing John prides himself on is his honesty with potential customers. If a proposed feature is out of line with a proposed budget, John lets a customer know that upfront. If the feature isn’t practical for the space the clients have, he works with them to redesign the feature or offer other options, keeping in mind the original inspiration that drove the client to pursue this idea from the beginning. At the end of the day, John would rather not install a feature than install one that isn’t right for a client.

Of course, when that client is Shaq, the team can let their imagination run a little wild. On two separate occasions, John and Universal Aquatics have partnered with other businesses to create a water feature for the famous basketballer’s home in our very own McDonough, Georgia.

“It was a beast,” said John of the most recent undertaking. “It took us ten days to complete, and we used over a million pounds of stone.”

You can check it out for yourself at https://www.youtube.com/@ Universalaquatics to see not only this fantastic installation but several of the projects that Universal Aquatics has completed.

Are you ready to talk about water features with John and his team? Just call them at (404) 680-2150 or email info@universalaquatics.com to start designing and implementing your water feature.

More information at universalaquatics.com

PAGE 22

basic fitness and competency tests for continuing service after a benchmark birthday, such as 75.

I am a big believer in the many values of proven performance and experience, but there comes a time when the best leaders realize it is time to step aside or focus on shaping and building that next leadership team. At least to my knowledge, none of us live or can perform at near-optimum levels in perpetuity. To slightly misquote “The Gambler” song by Kenny Rogers, “You got to know when to hold’em, know when to fold’em, know when to walk away, and know when NOT to run.”

Thank you, Senator McConnell, President Biden, and others, for your decades of public service. Please consider making the intelligent choice before a stroke or, possibly worse, make that selection for you. It is time to plan for your successor, organize your affairs, and then take the long road home.

Bill Crane owns the full-service communications firm CSI Crane.

More information at www.CSICrane.com

Georgia to Get Quite a Kick Continued from page 21 the hundreds of millions of dollars. And though I have personally been a soccer fan and player since about age eight, the entire state is about to get a big Kick out of this coming soccer wave heading for metro Atlanta and north Georgia. Play ball!

Bill Crane owns the full-service communications firm CSI Crane.

More information at www.CSICrane.com

Remembering 9/11 Continued from page 13 Communities throughout the nation mark the day our country was attacked and remember the brave police, firefighters, and many other first responders who tried to save and help people trapped in the burning buildings. People from various countries were in those buildings, and according to reports, 2,753 died in the World Trade Center and the surrounding areas, 184 died at the Pentagon, and forty passengers and the crew died in Pennsylvania, with 6,000 injured.

I personally knew two people who died in one of the towers and was acquainted with several others from Long Island, New York who were members of my church.

Several thousand more have died over the past twenty-two years from illnesses related to the terrorist attacks. Many first responders and survivors of the attacks developed cancers years later after breathing the toxic air at ground zero. The City of Tucker will never forget!

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BUFORD I-85 2815 Buford Dr, Ste 102 P (770) 271-4413

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October 2023 Our Town Gwinnett

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