SEPTEMBER 2016: Our Town Gwinnett/Walton Monthly Magazine

The Gwinnett/Walton Community and Family Magazine

Our Town

September 2016

Grayson l Loganville and surrounding areas

Meet the Team at City of Grayson, see story on page 5.

8 12 13 17

Community Organization Spotlight: Pregnancy Center of Walton One on One with Junior Achievement Discovery Center Character Counts: Up Close with NG3 & Archer High School Getting to Know: Wild Oak Horse Farm in Loganville

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

Cosmetic Dentistry The cosmetic procedures we offer can dramatically enhance the appearance of your smile. We offer a wide selection of procedures that can correct almost any dental imperfection.

• Porcelain Veneers • Teeth Whitening • Dental Bonding • Gum Recontouring • Dental Implants • All-Porcelain Crowns

BEFORE

accreditation from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

His state-of-the-art equipment and updated technology allow him to affordably serveDENTAL CARE AND COSMETIC DENTISTRY D.M.D., P.C. • SUPERIOR his patients by providing healthy, beautiful smiles. Our experienced team provides five-star service, personalized care, and an extraordinary commitment to your health and well-being. Please join our Call for an Appointment family by scheduling a new patient exam.

J OHN W. S IMMONS,

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Compassionate Dentistry Our superior services can recapture the health, functionality, and youthful appearance of your natural smile. Our practice focuses on providing Before After long-lasting results and promoting overall dental health.

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PAGE 2

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Our Town

Maurice Jové M.D. Nathan A. Jové M.D. Jeff A. Traub M.D. Decatur

Snellville

Loganville

2801 N. Decatur Rd. Suite 200, Decatur, GA. 30033

2400 Wisteria Dr, Suite A Snellville, GA. 30078

4743 Atlanta Highway, Suite 100, Loganville, GA. 30052

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Fracture Care Sports Medicine Foot and Ankle Surgery Common conditions we treat: u Arthritis u Carpel Tunnel u Ankle Sprains

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We are the team physicians for the Archer, Parkview, Grayson, Collins Hill, Loganville, and Walnut Grove communities along with Loganville Christian School, various Dekalb County Schools and now covering Atlanta Rhinos Professional Rugby League.

TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT CALL THE OFFICE NEAREST YOU.

Our Town

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PAGE 3

Crane’s Corner: Political Insights from Bill Crane

By Bill Crane

NBHA offers treatment for various mental health issues, including: • Attention Deficit Disorder • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder • Adjustment Disorders • Anger Issues • Anxiety Disorders 4 Generalized Anxiety Disorder 4 Obsessive Compulsive Disorder 4 Post-Traumatic Stress disorder

4 Panic Disorder 4 Separation Anxiety Disorder 4 Social Anxiety Disorder • Bipolar/Mood Disorders • Depressive Disorders 4 Major Depressive Disorder 4 Post-Partum Depression 4 Seasonal Affective Disorder 4 Situational Depression • Disruptive Disorders 4 Conduct Disorder 4 Oppositional Defiant Disorder • Grief Counseling • Personality Disorders • Phobias • Schizophrenia & other Psychotic Disorders • Self-Esteem • Stress Management • Mood Disorder

PAGE 4

What Is a Libertarian...and Why Should I Care?

“Every face on Mt. Rushmore was a third party candidate at some point or another.” Former New Mexico Governor, Gary Johnson, Libertarian Party Presidential nominee 2016.

George Washington was a Federalist. Thomas Jefferson helped birth a third party among the Federalists and Whigs. Teddy Roosevelt, who became president following the assassination of President McKinley, was re-elected as a Republican, and later ran as a Progressive (Bull Moose) third party candidate.

America’s third political party was originally called the Democratic-Republican Party, which split into two factions during the 1820s, the National Republicans and the Democrats. Though the Democratic and Republican parties both claim Thomas Jefferson as being among their founders, Jefferson first ran for president as a National Republican against Federalist John Adams with whom he had served as vice president in 1800.

Jefferson attempted to run on a “ticket” with Aaron Burr as his running mate. The Electoral College made no distinction between candidates for president and vice president. Jefferson and Burr tied with rival/peer and former president John Adams and his running mate, Charles Pinckney, finishing a close second. With no Electoral College majority, the election moved to the U.S. House of Representatives. Jefferson won the White House on the 35th ballot, and Burr was selected as vice president.

After losing his first presidential bid in 1824, Andrew Jackson organized his supporters into what we now know as the Democratic Party around the election of 1828, a “third party” to the Federalists and Whigs in that day.

This brings us back to the present election year. At no time since modern day polling data has been available have both major party nominees had such high negatives and unfavorable ratings among voters. Though each nominee has their strengths and followers, millions of TYPES OF SERVICES OFFERED voters are already lamenting their choice of “the lesser of two evils.”

1. Outpatient services for children, adolescents and The most established third party in America today is the Libertarian Party. Though an adults include: over-simplification, Libertarians believe in state’s rights, a very limited federal government, little or no social policy/laws, and are often described as fiscal conservatives/social liberals.

• Comprehensive Psychiatric Diagnostic Assessments The Libertarian Convention nominated two well-regarded former GOP governors, Gary • Follow-Up Psychiatric Assessments Johnson of New Mexico and William Weld of Massachusetts. When re-elected to his second • Medication Education and Management Services term in “Tax-achussetts,” a state long-controlled by Democrats, Weld won by the largest • Individual/Family/Group Psychotherapy majority in the history of the office or the state. He was nominated by then President Bill • Referrals to other health care professionals Clinton to serve as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico to assist with the implementation of • Bariatric Surgery Assessments NAFTA. After stepping down as governor, Weld’s nomination was blocked by Senator Jesse 2. Inpatient/Hospital Services Helms who considered Weld an unacceptable social moderate.

3. Consultation Services If Libertarians average 15% in national polls during August, they qualify for participation • Behavioral Health Consultations to Employers in the presidential debates which begin in September. A popular vote showing anywhere near • Employee Assistance Program Services 15 percent would likely deny both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump the required number • Tele-Psychiatry Services to the State of Georgia of 270 Electoral College votes to win the White House. various Behavioral Health Agencies.

President George W. Bush won the Electoral College by 271 votes over Vice President Al Gore (265 votes) during the 2000 election, though Gore had won the popular vote. The last time a president had won the Electoral College while losing the popular vote was in Mehmood Mehdi, M.D. 1888. Following the 12th Amendment process with no Electoral College victor, it would be Board Certified Psychiatrist the current and seated members of the U.S. House of Representatives who would select the president from among the top three vote getters, and the Senate would select the vice president from among the remainder. This could lead to a split ticket in the White House. There is precedent for this as well (second term for Lincoln and Democrat Vice President Andrew Johnson of Tennessee).

Board Certified Psychiatrist 367 Athens Hwy SteThe 1050Libertarian Party may not cause such pause, hanging chads, or a historic vote by www.neurobehavior.net Loganville, GA 30052 Congress, but even a double digit ballot count in most states would give the party permanent 367 Athens Hwy Ste 1050, Loganville, GA 30052 770-554-2999 Office ballot access (as the Libertarians in Georgia already enjoy), giving birth to a third national 770-554-2999 Office • 678-353-6979 Fax 678-353-6979 Faxparty. They don’t always win, but as history shows, they often play a significant role in the outcome of elections at pivotal points in our nation’s history. www.neurobehavior.net Please Call to Schedule an Appointment

Mehmood Mehdi, M.D.

Opening October 1, 2016 1026 Twelve Oaks Drive Ste A, Watkinsville, GA 30677

Crane is the senior political analyst with WSB Radio and TV and owns his own full-service communications consulting firm, CSI Crane, in Decatur. More information at www.CSICrane.com

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

Our Town

On the Cover: Up Close with City of Grayson

By Daidra Annis There are a lot of big things going on in the little city of Grayson! Its citizens – affectionately called Graysonites – “Get Into Grayson” in a big way, thanks in part to Mayor Allison Wilkerson and the full-time staff of four that tend to the day-to-day business of the city. With 25% more residents, and 28 new businesses (with 67 NEW jobs) welcomed last year, the city has truly thrived under Mayor Wilkerson and her team.

Grayson’s schools provide exceptional learning environments for students. Thanks to the community’s support of the Grayson Cluster Schools Foundation, innovative ideas have been implemented in the classroom, and students have excelled at all grade levels. From the Odyssey of the Mind teams (grades 4, 7, and high school) that earned the opportunity to compete in the World Championship, to an appointment at West Point, Grayson students are setting high standards. While Grayson High School may be best known for its phenomenal sports program, it has also found a place on the distinguished list of Advanced Placement Honor Schools.

Grayson’s residents are not just mentally fit; they are physically fit as well. The city is home to The Grayson Cycling Club, one of the largest growing Cycling Clubs in the state. Social rides have now become challenging rides for all levels of cyclers. Their weekly rides depart from The Grayson Coffee House and average 90 cyclists who each cycle approximately 70 miles per week. That’s a lot of bikes! Off the roads, there is Fit Body Boot Camp and

BodyPlex, which hosts almost 3,200 members collectively and offers two options for yoga in Grayson. It’s no wonder that Grayson is currently in the lead for 2016’s Most Active City in the Active Georgia challenge. As of mid-August, Team Grayson has logged 443,460 points with a 226,905 point lead over its closest competition.

A renewed residential housing market, transportation upgrades, and park improvements are also part of the new Grayson. In 2007, construction in multiple residential communities halted due to the national economic downturn.

Today, however, the sound of hammers means that construction is once again in full swing in eight communities.

In 2017, all of these communities are expected to be completely built out, and ready to welcome new families.

Improvements to city-maintained roads and the busy Rosebud-Grayson Parkway intersection are among the projects currently underway. New residents of Benton House and soon-to-be Dogwood Forest represent just a sampling of the diverse residents that call Grayson home. Both of the assisted living communities offer memory care units, and they bring high quality elder care to the city.

The Grayson Community Park, site of the weekly summer Farmer’s Market, various festivals, and concerts, is getting much needed parking spaces in the new lot beside City Hall. Construction on the parking lot begins at the end of October 2016. An “ampavillion” to accommodate Grayson’s nearly famous concerts and events is in the final design phase, so look for information on this positive enhancement to Grayson Community Park in the near future!

Mayor Wilkerson has been proud to be a part of imple-

menting a positive vision for Grayson, from her terms as council person to her current role as mayor. “Bringing together our businesses, residents, churches, civic groups, and our administration to create Team Grayson sets us apart from other cities. Grayson is a unique community that maintains high building standards which reflect the quality of life that encourages families and businesses to make their home here.”

When looking ahead to Grayson’s future, Mayor Wilkerson says, “Decisions on moving forward are made with deliberation, discussion, and an eye towards a vision of a well-balanced community.” The city remains focused on making Grayson a “destination” for both residents and visitors alike. The newly erected clock tower really is the perfect “welcome home” to the city’s 3,400 residents, who realize that time spent in Grayson is time well spent.

More information at www.cityofgrayson.org.

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PAGE 5

Our Town The Gwinnett/Walton Community and Family Magazine

— An End Resultz Inc. Media & Communications firm

Let Your Smile Shine!

Publisher/Owner Ryan T. Sauers Ryan@EndResultz.com Creative Director Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultz.com Editor Catherine L. Osornio Cover Photographer Kerr Studio Inc. Distribution Coordinator Ellen Sawtelle Web Development Webkat Design Feature Writers Daidra Annis Rachael Brice Heidi Campbell Kim Hill Tony Socci Karla Socci Somers Michelle Watson Feature photographer Anthony R. Socci

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 2016 by Our Town Gwinnett. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.

Our Town Gwinnett

1227 Rockbridge Road Suite 208-171 Stone Mountain, GA 30087 678-825-2049 Info@OurTownGwinnett.com

Stay Connected!

OurTownGwinnett.com Read Online: OurTownGwinnettOnline.com

Contributing Writers

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Bill Crane Sean Moynihan Dana Pike-Van Vlake Julie Mills-Watson Matt Williams

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IN THIS ISSUE 4 Crane’s Corner: Political Insights from Bill Crane 5 On the Cover: Up Close with City of Grayson 7 From the Publisher: One Man’s Opinion 8 Community Organization Spotlight: Pregnancy Resource Center of Walton

Dr. Cesar Cardenas

At Grayson Orthodontics we welcome our patients into a comfortable and fun environment where getting orthodontics treatment is a pleasant experience.

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10 Youth Sports: A Training Ground for the Modern Workplace 11 Health Matters: Craniosacral Therapy Provides Powerful Healing 12 One on One with Junior Achievement Discovery Center 13 Character Counts: Up Close with NG3 and Archer High School 13 Making a Difference: Cannon Church Seeks to Increase Opportunities through its Outreach 16 Up Close with The Potter’s House Family and Children Treatment Center 17 Getting to Know: Wild Oak Horse Farm in Loganville 18 Garden Talk: Five Great Benefits of Houseplants

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Our Town

From the Publisher:

SEP

One Man’s Opinion

By Ryan T. Sauers

Love your lawn, all year long.

@RyanSauers

As I have been giving speeches in recent weeks, I have opened my remarks with the following statement. I ask the audience to reflect upon two words that are not that different in appearance, but quite different in meaning. The two words are UNTIE and UNITE. You see, the two words are comprised of the exact same letters. The only change is switching the place of the letter “T” and “I. What does this mean?

When “T” is in front of “I” we get the words UNTIE which means things are coming apart or undone. It means we are divided and pointing fingers about what is wrong. In contrast, when the “I” is in front of the “T” we get the word UNITE. This means people/ things are coming together. We are finding common ground. And instead of pointing out differences, we are embracing our common humanity.

The Our Town community epitomizes what the word UNITE is all about. We are diverse and we embrace it. It makes us the best community around. We are all human.

We are made of flesh and blood. We sleep, eat, drink, and love. You see, we all want to be loved, to seek peace, to laugh, to have less stress, and to be encouraged, and we wish we had more time. We all want an as good if not better life for our kids and grandkids than the life we have.

The people I see in the Our Town community are doing amazing things. They are not “talking” about making a difference but are “living out” making a difference. I wish you could sit in my place for one month. You would be amazed at the amount of positive happenings that are personally shared with me. It is overwhelming, and Our Town shares as many of these stories as possible.

However, we must be careful as (month after month) we are bombarded with negative news. And it can be easy to almost become “tricked” into believing this is the norm. The mainstream media is clever in grabbing our attention with negative headlines. Please know this is only a tiny sliver of news. And, it is not representative of the positive things going on in our country and our community. In the Our Town community, we do not buy into negativity… as this negativity does not help us UNITE. We do not settle. Ever. We continue on our never-ending journey of good to great.

I challenge you and I challenge myself. Do not waste a moment in the world of UNTIE… stay focused on UNITE. If we continue to look at ourselves (in the proverbial mirror) first, it is difficult to focus on what is wrong with others. Let’s continue doing what has made us one of the best communities in this country, and then… stretch some more. Let’s love more and criticize less. Let’s work to find common ground (UNITE) with others we may not know or understand. If we start with a couple of things we share in common, then relationships can blossom and great things will happen. Together we can and will let the Our Town community become the model that other parts of the country seek to emulate.

I could not be more proud of you all. I could not be more proud of where I work, live, and play. People need encouragement, and they are eager to hear a kind word. People need to laugh and they want to smile. So, give them that smile... and make their day. Let’s make September (as football – yes, my favorite time of year – begins) an amazing month. I am so glad you are with me as we continue the journey of my town, your town, OUR TOWN!

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graft: “grafting” is a way of uniting or inserting vines or branches in order to preserve a garden or vineyard, and it is our way of “uniting” food, wine and community.

Ashley, the chef and owner, creates menus seasonally, based upon the daily offerings of at least 10-15 local farmers. “We are not trendy, we are not fancy. We are real and passionately pure.

My utmost joy is knowing that we have created a delicious, unique dining experience amongst community in downtown Grayson.” – Ashley

Our Town

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PAGE 7

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9 Community Organization Spotlight: Pregnancy Resource Center of Walton

By Michelle Watson

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Pregnancy Resource Center of Walton (PRCW) is located at 3060 Hwy 81S, Loganville.

Although they are in Walton County, they serve anyone who comes into the center. Much of their support comes from nearby churches, including those in the Gwinnett County town of Grayson.

Yvonne Genest is the Executive Director of PRCW, where they minister to the emotional, spiritual, and physical needs of pregnant parents and those grieving after an abortion. Many baby fathers participate in prenatal education, get mentored by a trained male volunteer in the Fatherhood program, and receive support along with their wives or girlfriends.

Educational programs include sexual health education in schools, mentoring parents, and their Earn While You Learn program – a video curriculum that allows mothers to earn coupons that can be used to purchase baby items or maternity clothes in the center’s “Hope Closet.”

Trained advocates conduct pregnancy tests at the Loganville and Monroe locations. Their office in Monroe is equipped to do ultrasound scans. If women are pregnant, they qualify for these services. There are no income or insurance requirements, and all their services are free. The center operates under the supervision of Dr. David Fields, along with two sonographers, the staff nurse manager, and a volunteer RN. PRCW is expanding medical services to the underserved and will begin to conduct STI urinalysis testing and treatment in 2017. Their plan includes a three-year strategy with the goal to also provide breast exams and pap smears in the future.

Since they have been a 501(c) (3) from the time they were founded in 1996, PRCW relies on the donations of churches and individuals and annual fundraisers. They are increasing their corporate development, too, and many businesses are partnering with them for major fundraisers, such as their annual gala in the spring of 2017. A neat way for churches to participate in giving is through the Baby Bottle Boomerang campaign. It includes baby bottles left at the church for each family to take home and filled with cash or check donations.

PRCW has served over 2,500 women from the beginning, and they are on schedule to serve 200 new clients in 2016 alone. They have twenty-five active volunteers, four part-time staff, and seven volunteer members on their board of directors.

More information at www.prcwalton.com or www.waltonpregnancy.com.

PAGE 8

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Our Town

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Our Town

Dr. SUMANA REDDY Endocrinology Rockdale Endocrinology Associates 1567 Milstead Rd., Suite B Conyers, GA 30012

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PAGE 9

Youth Sports: A Training Ground for the Modern Workplace

HELPING YOU LIVE BETTER

By Sean Moynihan, Commercial Tenant Advisor & Youth Soccer Coach Why do you sign your child up for youth sports? Is it for the huge professional contract? Is it for the college scholarship?

Maybe you will be happy if your child is a high school star so they can recall those glory days when they coach their own kids.

What if the real reason we sign our children up for youth sports and pump billions of dollars into athletic companies is to help prepare them for a successful career in the workplace of the future? What if you celebrated your child’s collaboration, communication, or decision making on the athletic fields instead of a goal, touchdown, or home run?

The workplace of the future will be an open, collaborative environment that will be made up of a diverse group of people working together to achieve the mission of their company. If you take a close look at the makeup of any youth sports team today, it is very likely that those children will closely resemble the person your child will be working with for their entire adult life.

It is on the fields and courts around the world where acceptance and tolerance will be taught.

In addition to the ability to engage with a diverse workforce that will be competing against people from around the world, your child will need to own his or her decisions and deal with the results of those decisions, good or bad. The organized games your child plays for their teams is an opportunity for them to make their own choices based on the objective of the game, the coach’s plan, and their preparation. These decisions are not much different than what we adults make in our grown up world everyday based on the goals of our job and our leaders and how much we prepare to be successful in what we are trying to accomplish at work.

How many of you complain about being micro-managed at your job? How different is your boss’s nitpicking compared to “kick it, pass it, shoot it, catch it, hit it!”? Your child is the one practicing/preparing all week. What have you done to get ready to play on the weekend? Oh wait, you 5181_Dr aren’t Chris playing in the game.

If we look on12:20:34 the bright side, today’s children will be so September ad with bleeds.pdf 1 8/11/2016 PM Continued on page 15

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Our Town

Health Matters: Craniosacral Therapy Provides Powerful Healing

VOTE…Early Voting October 17th & Election Day November 8th

Elect Jasper Watkins III

By Julie Mills-Watson, LMT, LLC, and Calhoun Stallings, LMT This month, one of my new therapists, Calhoun Stallings, and I want to introduce you to an awesome therapy called Craniosacral (CS). While I have taken one level of CS, Calhoun is well-versed and specializes in this treatment.

Most practitioners just call it CS. The C – cranio – refers to the cranial vault also known as the skull. The S – sacral – refers to the sacrum, the triangle-shaped bone at the end of the spine. Even though the cranium and sacrum are bones, the focus of CS therapy is the nervous system protected by those bones. If the nervous system isn’t happy, no “body” is happy!

Bone doctors, or osteopaths, discovered that the bones of the skull never fully fuse. In between the bones are the sutures where blood supply and nerves have been found in connective tissue.

These sutures not only allow for small movement, but use the movement to cue the production of cerebral spinal fluid. The fluid is produced in the cranium and flows through the dural tube – which encases the spinal cord – to the sacrum, and then back up to be reabsorbed and reproduced, which creates a rhythm.

To trained hands, this rhythm can be felt anywhere on the body. It is this rhythm and the movement of soft tissues under the CS practitioner’s hands that inform and guide the therapist to treat areas that are limited in flow. When there is limited flow, the nervous system is affected and even brain function can be impaired. The typical things that can cause limited flow and disruption of the rhythm are falls involving the pelvic bone (falling off a horse or down stairs), migraine headaches, concussions, car accidents, surgeries of the spine or brain, or some neurological issues.

The news of CS is spreading as pleased moms testify to its benefits for children with autism and sensory processing disorders. Calhoun is one of those pleased moms and a craniosacral practitioner. Her son hardly ever met anyone’s eyes, had a hard time communicating, and was distressed in places with lots of people and noise. Once she started treating him with craniosacral techniques, all of those things subsided. Now, nearly sixteen, he is looking forward to having a girlfriend.

Julie Mills-Watson is owner, and Calhoun Stallings is a therapist, at Body of Health and Life, LLC. More information at bodyofhealthandlife.com

Commissioner District 3 Gwinnett County

(Auburn, Braselton, Dacula, Grayson, Lawrenceville, Lilburn, Loganville, Mountain Park, Rockbridge & Snellville)

Decisive, Determined, Dependable Military Decorated Registered Pharmacist & Licensed Nuclear Pharmacist VFW Post 5255 & American Legion Post 232 Past President, Association of Black Health-System Pharmacist Former Scout Master As a retired Lieutenant Colonel who served 25 years in the U.S. Army, I know how to manage programs efficiently and balance budgets. My candidacy is motivated by my commitment to serve, and I am confident that my military skills and executive experiences will provide solutions that our county and cities are demanding. My grassroots efforts will bring the people of Gwinnett County together to discuss one of the most pressing issues facing our community today, transportation.

The way we move and reach the places we live, work and love, shapes our everyday lives. Moreover, I will address our concerns about the safety of our neighborhoods, investments in job creation, fiscal accountability, and inclusion.

In less than two years, Gwinnett County will have more than 1 million residents!

Now is the time to decide to protect our future quality of life by creating an upward cycle of prosperity for the 21st Century.

Committee to Elect Jasper Watkins III 1911 Grayson Highway, Ste.8-240, Grayson, GA 30017 770.985.4531 www.watkins3for3.com

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PAGE 11

One on One with Junior Achievement Discovery Center

By Michelle Watson Junior Achievement Discovery Center at Gwinnett is a hands-on learning center for sixth and eighth grade students that opened in 2015. The center, located in Lawrenceville, is in partnership with Gwinnet County Public Schools. It is one of two in the metro Atlanta area, the other being downtown at the Georgia World Congress Center. There are thirty such centers throughout the country.

JA Discovery Centers are designed to teach students about commerce and finance and how to make real-world decisions. The JA Discovery Center at Gwinnett contains two separate parks: JA BizTown, presented by Cisco for sixth grade students, and JA Finance Park, presented by Assurant for eight grade students. In order to prepare for their day as adults, students go through weeks of in-class curriculum and activities.

Continued on page 14

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Our Town

Character Counts: Up Close with NG3 and Archer High School

We are the first in the country to create a Ninja Kids Team League. Call us or visit http://xoleague.siplay.com/site/ to find out more.

By Matt Williams, NG3 President Sam Wright is a senior at Archer High School and has been a part of NG3 – the non-profit that offers relationally-driven character development and chaplain services to high school athletics – for the last year. He throws discus and shot-put, is a captain on the varsity football team, is a tremendous asset to his teammates, and conducts himself in such a way that he is usually referred to as “preacher.”

Sam has a deep desire to become all that God intends him to be. His hopes are to either play football or throw collegiately, and who knows, maybe we will see him on the podium at the next Olympics! A young man of great character, Sam has a huge heart for the world around him.

OT: What does NG3 mean to you?

SW: NG3 is my family of brothers and leaders, who together, we do what we say, serve others, and bring change. It’s a place where we can share our lives together and open up about our spiritual journey and ask questions. NG3 means relationships and serving others, leadership, and the importance of our character. It helps me see how a follower of Christ lives.

OT: What is your most memorable moment with NG3?

SW: Last year our huddle group went to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to pass out gifts and candy to heart patients. Those kids were either waiting on a heart transplant or had just gotten one. The people we met and the faces of the kids we got to hang out with was something I’ll never forget. I hope we get a chance to go back and help out other kids who are struggling.

OT: What would you tell someone who had never heard of or experienced NG3?

SW: It’s a powerful organization that’s all about serving others and bringing change to their communities and, through their outreach, bringing change to the world. They value togetherness, family, and the spirit of Christ in order to serve their community around them. It’s a place that is needed in these communities, and if you don’t have it, you NEED it!

Matt Williams is President of NG3. More information at http://ng3.org/

Making a Difference: Cannon Church Seeks to Increase Opportunities through its Outreach

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By Kim Hill Enthusiasm. It radiates from Steve Ridley’s core when he talks about Cannon Church’s Community Outreach ministry. Guided by its Mission statement, “to Mobilize people to offer Christ,” this youth-minister-turned-outreach-coordinator sees endless possibilities for sharing resources in this community and beyond. Ridley explains that in general, churches have always done missions, which tend to be reactionary in that when there is a need – such as dealing with a hurricane or helping the homelessness – they attempt to fill it. By contrast, he sees outreach as proactive, focusing on developing relationships with groups in the community ahead of need and looking at ways each can help the other. When Cannon Church began the new outreach ministry three years ago, the vision was to be the “good neighbor” that people could feel comfortable seeking out for assistance.

Eagle’s Landing Restaurant catered Cannon’s Wednesday night suppers and hosted weekly Bible studies. When the restaurant burned shortly before Thanksgiving, the business was suddenly without a facility to fulfill its holiday catering commitments. The church opened its own kitchen and the catering side of the restaurant was able to continue. More recently, Cannon offered a small apartment on its property as temporary housing to victims of a house fire. The church makes its Education Building available to the community, and allows Brookwood High School students to use its parking lot during the week. “In a simple

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Continued on page 15

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PAGE 13

Junior Achievement Discovery Center Continued from page 12 In JA Biztown, the students portray such roles as CEO, CMO, and Managers. They practice banking skills and being part of a community as responsible citizens. Students receive a paycheck in BizBucks for their work, which they use to pay taxes. Then they have to decide how to spend the remaining money. In JA Finance Park, students are given personal profiles. The profiles are random and are made up of factors like family dynamics, education level, income level, and credit score. Students then use the profiles to decide how they would make real-world decisions. They must budget for groceries and decide whether they can buy a house or a car, even taking vehicle maintenance into consideration when figuring out a household budget.

In order to make the experience authentic and realistic for Gwinnett students, the JA Discovery Center at Gwinnett is modeled after local areas: downtown Lawrenceville in JA BizTown and Suwanee in JA Finance Park. The storefronts, like Assurant, Cisco, Cricket, Chick-fil-A, and Home Depot, are sponsored by local companies that students see and even visit in their daily lives.

The sponsoring businesses as well as other organizations in the community provide volun-

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teers, which the center relies heavily on to bring the simulation to life. Sixty percent of volunteers come from corporate sponsors, while 40% are parents, sororities performing service days, etc.

The simulations run every school day from September to May, and serve 27,000 students per school year.

JA of Georgia’s most recent initiative is the JA Academy. This high school program rethinks education to create a learning solution that is more relevant, experiential, and authentically connected to the complexities of the real world. The learning moves past theory to bring meaning to academics and to enrich the education experience. With strategic school systems and business partners, they are able to build new learning models to enhance curriculum, teaching methods, and cultural mindsets. The first JA Academy, located at Banneker High School in Fulton County, just completed a successful freshman year with 130 students. The JA Academy at Norcross High School opened in August 2016.

More information about volunteering opportunities at: http://www.georgia.ja.org/take-action/.

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Making a Difference: Cannon Church Continued from page 13

Youth Sports Continued from page 10

sense, we are trying to figure out what resources do we as a church have that can benefit our community,” says Ridley, “whether that’s a bus to drive a shuttle, a building for a group to meet, or volunteers to help staff something.”

Cannon’s annual Pumpkin Sale uses its proceeds to purchase shoe cards to donate to those in need.

Brookwood High School had students wanting to serve, so the groups partnered and BHS provided two thirds of this year’s volunteers to run the sale. “It’s such a joy when we can find a connection that wasn’t there that’s mutually beneficial to everybody involved,” says Ridley.

When the ministry sought to find ways to help the schools, it was rewarded with a long list of needs. Response from Gwinnett County School system has been positive. “We’re not crossing any boundaries; we’re leveraging the resources that we have,” Ridley explains.” I would argue that in any community that has a struggling school, I bet there is a non-struggling church. If you can get that school and that church to partner together, they are going to take people that need something to do, and a place that needs people to do something, and it’s going to put those two things together.”

Ridley stresses that the message is not about what Cannon Church is doing, but about mobilizing people to serve. “We hope people reading about what is happening with community outreach will be inspired to either A, plug into it and be involved, or B, if you are part of a church or another group, say, ‘How can we get started?’ The goal is to create opportunities beyond one church’s resources by partnering with businesses, schools, other churches and non-profits, and using these connections to place money, people, space and other resources where they will do the most good.”

For more information, contact Steve Ridley at SteveR@CannonChurch.org

sick of being micro-managed in youth sports that when they get into the work place they will create an environment that will allow and accept people learning from their successes or failures without spectators trying to play them like a video game.

Youth sports should be about a game that can teach positive lessons that may be used throughout life if you let your child drive the learning. Tomorrow’s leaders understand that their experience in the game is driven by their hard work, effort, and learning from their decisions.

The parents who create children dependent upon them while playing a game are inhibiting their potential to lead in the workplace. If we keep the end in mind, a child who grows up to be a person who can lead with decisiveness and communication, will be worth every penny you spend on youth sports.

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Joyce Chandler Trusted Effective Leadership.

Committed to Us. JOYCE’S EFFECTIVE RECORD:

Nothing is more important to me than serving you and ensuring that we improve the future of our community for our children and grandchildren I ran for State House to continue my commitment to this community—the same commitment I had as an educator, a community volunteer and business owner.

Politics and partisan fights are not the answer to the challenges we face.

The solution is having effective leaders who will rise above politics and deliver for us.

That’s exactly what I’ve done as your Representative.

If you want an effective leader you can trust, I ask for your vote.

New Jobs, A Growing Economy, A brighter future Nearly $2 billion added for our public schools to improve education Preserved the HOPE Scholarship Ethics Reform Kept Taxes Low, Ballanced the Budget Protected access to quality healthcare

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PAGE 15

Up Close with The Potter’s House

By Michelle Watson The Potter’s House Family and Children Treatment Center is a full-service family and children counseling services agency. They work to provide their clients everything they need to be emotionally, mentally, and spiritually healthy.

The Potter’s House is a product of the vision of founders Jeffrey and Vivian Tobias, who wanted to help hurting and neglected children. In 1999 they began as The Potter’s House Homes for Children, where they accepted foster children who had been abandoned, abused, and neglected. Eventually, they grew to the size of four homes. In 2007 they opened the doors of The Potter’s House Family and Children Treatment Center.

This allowed them to work with children, as well as their entire family, school, and community, making the changes longer lasting and more permanent.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Potter’s House accepts donations of clothing, financial assistance, and food year-round. Their greatest need is often hygiene products, shoes, clothing, and school uniforms.

More information available: www. thepottershouseinc.org.

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Wellness/Dietary Centered Environment Throughout our community fresh wholesome fruit and fruit flavored H2O for hydration can be found in one of our multiple bistro areas. Our culinary menu offerings are developed with an array of healthful options clinically proven to stimulate appetite while also offering items with nutritional value for our Seniors.

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PAGE 16

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Getting to Know: Wild Oak Horse Farm in Loganville

By Karla Socci Somers Many kids would be excited to learn how to ride a horse – any horse, really. But kids (and adults, too) can learn how to ride World Champion horses at Wild Oak Horse Farm in Loganville.

Anna and Jeff Dickson and their three American Quarter Paint horses live on the farm they bought from the Brand family in 2012.

Anna has been riding horses for more than twenty-five years, and she is happy to share her passion for riding with students of all ability levels.

Anna teaches new riders, beginning at age eight, about horses “from the ground up.” A one-hour lesson begins with bringing the horse in from the pasture or getting him out of the barn. Students learn to tie up the horse properly, walk him around the barn, and walk around the horse without getting stepped on. Next, the students learn to “lunge” the horse, which means running him around the corral on a long line.

“Once kids feel comfortable with the horse on the ground, it is easy for them to get on and feel comfortable,” Anna says. Students also have to groom and saddle the horse before they ride him.

The horses at Wild Oak Horse Farm – Jimmy, Wink, and Harley (two males and a mare, respectively) – are somewhat of celebrities as far as horses go. “There are five world titles between them!” Anna says, enthusiastically. “They are very well-trained, high-quality show horses, so that makes them great lesson horses. They are very safe with the kids.”

They could win even more championship ribbons, as Anna and her students are preparing for another horseshow in October. She notes that it takes about a year to prepare a new rider for competition, but she has most students learning how to jump in just three to five lessons. “Just small jumps,” she says, “and the kids have to know their right from their left.”

The competitions include English and Western styles of riding – which use different saddles –with events including barrel racing, hunter/jumper, Western pleasure, and pattern work.

Students who don’t compete still learn all about horses and how to ride them while having fun. With beginners, Anna recommends one-on-one lessons so she can devote all of her attention to each student. Once kids become more independent, she offers two or three riders at a time in group lessons at a discounted rate. Riders of all ages enjoy trail riding at area parks.

Since purchasing the farm, the Dicksons have been working to restore the farmhouse that was built in the 1800s and owned by the Brand family for 100 years. Additionally, Anna’s father recently purchased seventeen acres of land behind Wild Oak Horse Farm and they plan to create riding trails on the property.

Anna says she loves teaching, and is amazed at how learning to ride horses really helps children. “Especially shy kids,” she says. “They become more confident, they open up, and they come out of their shells. It helps them become more independent, too.”

At Wild Oak Horse Farm, equestrian skills and life skills seem to go hand-in-hand. And what better way to learn all this than from a world-champion quarter horse who nuzzles your shoulder and eats carrots out of your hand?

Anna Dickson teaches lessons Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays. More information at https://wildoakhorsefarm.com

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Garden Talk: Five Great Benefits of Houseplants

By Dana Pike-Van Vlake Did you know houseplants can benefit your overall health and wellness in addition to making your home look beautiful and inviting? With the changing weather coming, bringing your gardening inside is easy and fun.

Choose from hundreds of varieties for bright light and low light, large areas and small. Here are some of the many benefits of houseplants in your home.

1. Removal of Airborne Contaminants: We breathe the same air again and again, potentially inhaling harmful substances that are trapped inside. Indoor plants can help to remove pollutants including airborne compounds that cause headaches, nausea, and more.

2. Upping Your Happiness Levels: House plants can contribute to a feeling of well-being, making you calmer and more optimistic. Studies have shown that patients who have flowers in their hospital rooms often recover more quickly than those who do not.

3. Improved Mental Health: It has been proven that caring for a living thing, be it a pet or a plant, can help when you’re depressed and lonely. Having something completely reliant on you for love and sustenance will give you a new purpose in life! Try gifting a pretty fern or bright African violet to someone who could use cheering up.

4. Improved Sleep: Who doesn’t want a good night’s sleep every night? All plants give off oxygen as a result of photosynthesis, which studies show can help improve sleep. Place a houseplant or two (or three!) in your bedroom and you will be reaping the benefits in no time!

5. Reduced Sick Time: Indoor plants have been shown to reduce cold-related illnesses by more than 30%! This is due to their effect of increasing humidity levels and decreasing dust.

What better reason to get a houseplant as we head into cold season!

Dana Pike-Van Vlake is the Owner of The Family Tree Garden Center. More information at http://thefamilytreeinc.com/ A customized day full of imaginative adventures for them.

A stress-free party for you, or in other words an

At a The Little Gym Awesome Birthday Bash, your child and their friends will have the whole place to themselves for fun activities created especially for them. Plus we’ll handle everything from set-up to clean-up, making birthdays at The Little Gym a big wish come true for parents too.

Call or go online to schedule your child’s next birthday at The Little Gym The Shoppes at Webb Gin www.thelittlegym.com/snellvillega 770-982-0901

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Our Town

Meet the therapists at your Lawrenceville BenchMark!

Your BenchMark physical therapists are licensed musculoskeletal experts, trained to get you moving and feeling better— faster!

Call your Lawrenceville BenchMark at (678) 985-0238 to schedule an evaluation, or contact one of our other local BenchMark clinics: BUFORD I-85 • (770) 271-4413 GRAYSON • (678) 376-0213 SNELLVILLE • (678) 344-7197 LILBURN • (770) 925-9210

Lawrenceville therapists: (from left) Kristen Brooks, PT, DPT; Rob Maresca, PT, DPT, OCS; Dwayne (Emmanuel) Perry, PT, DPT; Jessica Leivers, PT, DPT, OCS, CLT

Give us a call today at 770-813-1033 to schedule your free initial consultation.

We will customize our services to meet your business and individual needs and goals.

2016 Planning Opportunities Are Running Out. Several Expire In October Call Today For An Appointment l l

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2037 Grayson Hwy, Grayson, GA 30017 Our Town

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TENNIS • GOLF • SWIMMING • DINING • SOCIAL OUR FAMILY MEMBERSHIP JUST GOT•BIGGER AND TENNIS • GOLF • SWIMMING DINING • BETTER! SOCIAL Be one big happy family at Summit Chase!

GREAT FACILITIES.GREAT FAMILIES.GREAT TIMES! Add your grandchildren for free!

Be one big happy family at Summit Chase!

Year round golf, tennis, and swimming programs for grandchildren the entire family.

Add your for free!

Family, Corporate and Individual Memberships

Year round golf, tennis, and swimming programs for the entire family.

NO INITIATION FEE

Family, Corporate and Individual Memberships

Give the gift of membership and start building your legacy today!

NO INITIATION FEE YOUR FAMILY BELONGS HERE!

YOUR FAMILY BELONGS HERE!

For monthly membership special, additional information or to schedule a facility tour, contact Carol Sapp or Charlene Adams.

For monthly membership special, additional information or to schedule a facility tour, contact Carol Sapp Zamzow.

3197 Classic 3197 ClassicDrive Drive Snellville, GA Snellville, GA30078 30078

770-979-9000 770-979-9000

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