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PRSRT PAID U.S. POSTAGE PAID STONE MOUNTAIN GA PERMIT #1037 The Gwinnett Area’s Family Lifestyle News Magazine Lilburn l Lawrenceville l Snellville l Grayson l Stone Mountain Our Town May 2013 Meet the Air Conditioning Experts ‘Family’ 5 Air Conditioning Experts: A Family Affair 9 Getting to know Trickum Middle School Principal Kay Sands 12 Gwinnett Soccer Association: It’s All About the Kids 16 Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

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Welcome to the May Online issue of Our Town Magazine Gwinnett. Hope you enjoy.

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Page 1: MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

PRSRT PAIDUS POSTAGE

PAID STONE MOUNTAIN GAPERMIT 1037

The Gwinnett Arearsquos Family Lifestyle News Magazine

Lilburn l Lawrenceville l Snellville l Grayson l Stone Mountain

Our TownMay 2013

Meet the Air Conditioning Experts

lsquoFamilyrsquo

5 Air Conditioning Experts A Family Affair 9 Getting to know Trickum Middle School

Principal Kay Sands

12 Gwinnett Soccer Association Itrsquos All About the Kids

16 Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

Please RSVP at 6789909400 by Monday June 15 Wersquore looking forward to meeting you at our Summer Evening Open House

See our website for a complete listing of workshops

These results may not be typical Results with products may vary from individual to individual These nutrition recommendations are provided solely to support good nutrition with the intent of sup-porting the physiological and biochemical process of the human body and not to diagnose treat cure or prevent any disease or condition Be advised that any nutritional program recommended by Dr Gravante is not intended as a primary therapy for any disease Prior to starting any diet nutrition or exercise program you should consult with your medical physician

The Center for Natural Healing and Weight Loss2176 Oak Road Suite DSnellville GA 30078wwwdrgravantecom

6789909400 wwwdrgravantecom

NUTRITIONAL WORKSHOPSat Dr Gravantersquos office

600 PMMay 7th and June 4th

Please call to reserve your seat

Look what difference a month can make

Lorraine Gravante DC

Call Today for Your Appointment

6789909400

Willie Before

Willie one month later

Hi my name is Willie Roman I am a construction superintendent

On October 2011 I suffered from a bleeding stroke in my brain Although I did not suffer paralysis internally I felt my body breaking down Since the stroke I have not had a full night sleep in the last 17 months without having to take a prescription sleeping drug Yes I said 17 months Itrsquos been horrible Because of the lack of sleep I had total loss of energy and was slow processing my thoughts I even found myself at times wandering in circles trying to figure out what I was supposed to be doing And on top of all that I had

constant pain in all my joints I could see that my health was spiraling

downhill fast My daughter was under Dr Gravantersquos care And after seeing what excellent results she experienced that convinced me that I needed to see Dr Gravante too I tell you it has been a life changing transformation Just to say the second day on her Program I was able to sleep the whole night without any drugs and I have been sleeping well since I lost over 10 lbs of fat alone I have energy and my entire outlook in life has changedhellipand this all happened within the first month of care Thank You Dr Gravante for helping me extend my life Willie Roman

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 3

PAGE 4 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

IN THIS ISSUEOur Town is published and direct mailed to select homes in the Gwinnett area Opinions expressed by the writers and staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher Our Town reserves the right to edit andor reject any editorial or advertising content Our Town 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 2013 by Our Town Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher

Our Town Monthly1227 Rockbridge Road

Suite 208-171

Stone Mountain GA 30087

678-825-2049

infoendresultzcom

wwwendresultzcom

Our TownFamily liFestyle News magaziNe

mdash An EndResultz Company

PublisherRyan T Sauers

Creative DirectorElsie Olson

Cover PhotographyChrista K Huggins

Feature Writers TeamHank CohenAllie Gardner

Stefanie LamprsquolAshton Pike

Contributing WritersDr Jeanette Altieri

Glenton Ashby Pastor Paul Ballard

Tamsen BooneSusan Cadley

Kelly FarrisChristine GilesTerie Hansen

Julie MillsRyan T SauersChrissy Thomas

Pam WalkerCarol Wood

5 About the Cover Air Conditioning Experts A Family Affair

6 One Manrsquos Opinion

7 May Calendar

8 Crossword Puzzle

8 Is Your Dog Properly Socialized

8 Great Content Is King

9 Getting to Know Trickum Middle School Principal Kay Sands

10 Are Your Hormones Driving You Crazy

10 Baseball Is Similar to Life

11 Is Testing Getting a Bad Wrap

11 Whatrsquos Keeping Your Child From Performing at Grade Level

12 Gwinnett Soccer Association Itrsquos All About the Kids

13 Understanding Sunscreen Protection

14 This Summer Prepare to Start School Sharp

15 ldquoGirl Timerdquo Is Important

16 Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

16 Diets Donrsquot Work

17 You Canrsquot Get There From Here

17 Fly-Fishing Patagonia

18 Chaplainrsquos Corner

Earl Stephenson Jr MD DDS

Certified American Board of Plastic Surgery

2220 Wisteria Dr Suite 209

Snevie GA 30078

wwwsignature-plasticsurgerycom

Are you ready for the beachSchedule your complimentary consultation770-466-4700

Get Ready for Summer Fun

Cosmetic Surgery of the Face Body amp Breasts

ldquowhere the beauty YOU feel becomes the beauty YOU seerdquo

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 5

REGISTER NOW FOR FINAL EXAM PREP SESSIONS AND SUMMER TUTORING

Five ForksLilburn Center770-381-5958

GraysonLoganville Center770-466-8282

Or Visit Us on the Web atwwwtotallearningconceptscom

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DEGREED amp EXPERIENCED INSTRUCTORS QUALITY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT 27 YEARS OF PROVEN RESULTS

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Ask about our incentive for early summer sign-up

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By Allie Gardner

Most companies are composed of employees who start as strangers with every person focusing on hisher specific job within the business Air Conditioning Experts Inc defies the stereotypical company Founded in 1995 by Bill and Heather Preston the business began with the desire to give custom-ers quality service that displayed the values that so many other organizations seem to lack as well as a satisfying and progressive work environment for their employees Their first employee was brother-in-law Chris Allen who started in 1996 and later became a partner in 2000

Air Conditioning Experts provides heating ventilation and air condi-tion (HVAC) services and installations for residential homes and commercial properties but specialize in working with real estate investors ACErsquos goal is to continue to serve homeowners businesses and investors in all of their markets with the personal service they deserve and always providing superior products exem-plary customer service and supreme workmanship in an unmatched cost effective manner The company expanded to Orlando and Charlotte after recognizing that the level of customer service they provided in Atlanta would do well in the other markets The owners felt that those particular cities were a great fit for their type of customer service

Owner Heather Preston said ldquoAs our customer you should always rest easy knowing we will be here for you for your comfort needs for years to comerdquo

The business is truly a family affair Allen partners with his sister and brother-in-law His mom and stepfather Nancy and Remo Loyal manage another company owned by Allen and the Prestons Steelworks Inc a security cage business Allenrsquos son Chris Jr stepbrother Remeno Loyal and nephew Keith Hodges also work for Steelworks Hillary Preston Allenrsquos niece works

About the CoverAir Conditioning Experts A Family Affair

as an administrative assistant for Air Conditioning Experts and Billrsquos mom Ella McCrater helps around the office part time Even as it has grown the company has made maintaining the family atmosphere a priority

ACE has employed multiple long time family friends to be part of the companyrsquos team some of whom have been with the business since the 1990s

Allen said ldquo[Working with family] is great You know that your partners truly have your best interest at heartrdquo

The company has made it a goal to be a big part of their community Everyone at Air Conditioning Experts is very involved in their churches Allen and his family are members of Mountain West Church of God located in Stone Mountain They work with the outreach program and other ministries that focus on giving back to the Tucker Lilburn and Stone Mountain areas The Preston family belongs to the Dacula Church of God and is involved in simi-lar organizations and ministries as Allen Bill Preston and Eric Medina who serve as the comfort advisors speak on a local gospel radio program twice each month

Air Conditioning Experts brings Gwinnett County a helpful service to homes and businesses a family environment that is hard to find anywhere else and a community outreach that touches hundreds of lives The business con-tinues to grow and expand providing unique customer service that is needed in this day and age

PAGE 6 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

See online message from publisher at

wwwourtownmagvideocom or scan the QR code below

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By Ryan T Sauers

Well Gwinnett can you believe it It is already May and summertime is on the way I want to start out by explaining why I chose the title One Manrsquos Opinion for this column My grandfather began a column with this name many decades ago for a large chain of weekly newspapers in DeKalb County So this is my way of paying tribute to a long family history in publishing My parents then took this publishing company and built it into a very successful printing company Without this heritage it is highly unlikely I would be writing this article today

Also I want to thank our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue The response to our first issue was overwhelming Thanks for all of your calls and emails in regard to new stories and thanks to our current advertisers as well as the new advertisers who are coming onboard We are quickly growing and have big plans for growth and change in the months ahead Also I encourage you to use the QR code or the URL address provided to view the video that goes along with this column It will make your reading experience even better

Last month the name of one of our writers Ashton Pike was inadvertently left off the superb article she wrote on Debra Dees the principal of Brookwood Sorry about that Ashton This month a new feature has been added called Chaplainrsquos Corner where different pastors from our community will highlight the good things going on in their churches We will be hearing from a lot of pastors begin-ning with Pastor Paul Ballard of Mountain Park Baptist We will be bringing in more stories of interest in coming months to make the magazine even better and keep the content strong

This month we have some great stories Here is an overview A terrific family run company AC Experts here in Snellville is profiled You get to meet Kay Sands who is the principal of Trickum Middle School You will read a neat story about GSA (Gwinnett Soccer Association) and the new developments that are taking place at the club Finally there is an insightful profile of Chase Morgan Salon and why the salon chose to move down Highway 78 from Decatur to Snellville You have to read them all to find out more

You will continue to see good news in this and future issues of the magazine We need it With the recent tragedy in Boston and other such incidents we need now more than ever to hear about good people events news and happenings It seems that every publication and news story I pick up focuses on negative news Gwinnett I am here to tell you there are some amazing people doing incredible things right here in our backyard Special thanks this month to Christa K Huggins for doing a great job with our cover photo shot this month and to Elsie Olson for your usual top notch design work And to all of the rest of you you know who you are I cannot thank you enough

We are working to update our website and social media tools so pardon our progress I have no doubt you will love it in the end as they will be better than ever Our goal is to offer an amazing integrated communications experience So enjoy this May issue of Our Town We look forward to your feedback as we seek to improve your reading experience each month Have a great month And remember this is your town This is OUR TOWN

From the Publisher One Manrsquos Opinion

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 7

Disney On Ice Presents Worlds of FantasyMay 1-5 2013Arena at Gwinnett CenterDuluthwwwgwinnettcentercom

The Atlanta Coin and Currency ExpoMay 3-5 2013North Atlanta Trade CenterNorcrosswwwnorthatlantatradecentercomFri amp Sat 10am-6pm Sun 10am-3pm

Krispy Kreme for a CureMay 4 2013Town Center ParkSuwaneewwwaplacetoimaginecom

Fodac Run Walk Nrsquo RollMay 4 2013Confederate Hall ndash Stone Mountain ParkStone MountainwwwstonemountainparkcomBenefitting the Friends of Disabled Adults and Children

FreshMay 7 2013Tannery Row Artist ColonyBufordwwwtanneryrowartistcolonycomJuried show 12pm-5pm

2013 Relay For LifeMay 10-11 2013Gwinnett County FairgroundsLawrencevillewwwgwinnettrelayforlifeorgThe nationrsquos largest Relay for Life raises funds to fight cancer

9th Annual Barefoot In the Park GalaMay 10-12 2013Duluth Town GreenDuluthwwwbarefootintheparkorgGwinnettrsquos premier juried arts festival

Atlanta Exotic Bird FairMay 10-11 2013North Atlanta Trade CenterNorcrosswwwnorthatlantatradecentercom

Reels at Robinson ndash Summer Movie SeriesMay 17 2013EE Robinson ParkSugar Hillwwwcityofsugarhillcom

Pet Revolution 2013May 17-18 2013Gwinnett County FairgroundsLawrenceville

Animal adoptions Fri 8pm ndash Sun 8pm (48 hrs straight)

SCCA NationalMay 19 2013Road AtlantaBraseltonwwwroadatlantacomSports Car Club of America National Race All day

Board Game BlastoffMay 20 2013Bethesda Park Senior CenterLawrencevillewwwgwinnettparkscomchallenge yourself to a game of scrab-ble mahjong chess and more

Two for the ShowMay 23 2013George Pierce Park Community CenterSuwaneewwwgwinnettparkscomArt show 9am-8pm

Nike Memorial Day ClassicMay 24-27 2013Suwanee Sports AcademySuwaneewwwsuwaneesportsacademycomBasketball ndash Boys 14U-17U

Gwinnett Daily Post Memorial Day ConcertMay 24 2013Town Center ParkSuwaneewwwsuwaneecomConcert

Taste of GwinnettMay 26-27 2013Peachtree CornerswwwtasteofgwinnettcomPremier food festival

Memorial Day Weekend CelebratioMay 26-27 2013Stone Mountain ParkStone MountainwwwstonemountainparkcomFireworks and fun 1030am-8pm laser show 930pm

Memorial Day in DaculaMay 27 2013Historic Downtown DaculaDaculawwwdaculamemorialdaycomParade ndash festival 9am-5pm

Memorial Day CelebrationMay 27 2013Thrasher ParkNorcrosswwwaplacetoimaginecom

Onion Manrsquos Summer Harvest Festival Keep it LegalMay 30-June 1 2013Norcross Cultural Arts and Community CenterNorcrosswwwlionhearttheatreorgA collection of short plays

May Calendar

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Call today to schedule your FREE Consultation AC Spine amp Wellness Center

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Serving Lilburn and Stone Mountain 626 E Riverbend Dr 186 Lockring Dr 4905 Annistown Rd Lilburn GA 30047 Lilburn GA 30047 Stone Mountain GA 30087

Residential Services - Respite Care - Hospice ndash Sitter Service- Adult Day Care

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PAGE 8 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Solution on page 16

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Residential amp Commercial bull Licensed amp Insured

Chris DukeOwnerOperator

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Professional Landscape and Design Services

Is Your Dog Properly SocializedBy Terie Hansen

Socializing your dog is a lifelong undertaking not just during the first year or two of their life with you Many who reach out to us for training are experiencing the side effects of an under-socialized dog

Does your dog bark wildly when it sees other dogs or pull on the leash towards other dogs or people Does it shy away from objects in its environment or does it act fearful or aggressive towards people or dogs These can be symptoms of an under-socialized dog

When you get a new dog whether puppy or adult you are excited to spend time with him and share him with everyone and anyone who will let you So you take your new pet on walks to parks on hikes and to pet stores This is great because he is learning how to act in these various environments and around other people and dogs As the newness wears off however you donrsquot take him out as often Therefore he is exposed to less stimulation

Three to six months or even one to two years can go by and your dog hasnrsquot come in contact with anyone other than your family Now all of a sudden you decide to take him someplace where there are other people and dogs Chances are he will act either uncontrollably excited or fearful which can look like aggression and you think ldquoOMG Whatrsquos the matter with my dogrdquo You decide that you can no longer take him out in public What happened Culture shock Many dogs need to be socialized on an ongoing basis If we stay in our house and didnrsquot come out until fifteen years later we would experience the same feelings of excitement fear and anxiety

This is easily preventable socialize socialize and socialize for the life of your dog If you are experiencing these symptoms already reach out to us We can help

Terie Hansen Professional Dog Trainer Pet Sitter amp Owner at Good Dog Coaching amp Pet Care-may be reached at 404-422-9832 infogooddogcoachingcom wwwgooddogcoachingcom

Great Content Is KingBy Ryan T Sauers

I often tell people that content is king And you know whatmdashthis is not quite right Why You seehellip content is good but great content is ldquokingrdquo Think about it Why do you become engrossed in a movie or show Why do you send a funny YouTube video to a friend Why do you enjoy talking with certain people Why do you like to read certain articles The answer is simple We do these things because we love watching hearing or reading great content By the way if you are still the person forwarding emailshellip not so funny J

We are all busy and whether we are in person (offline) or online (virtual) -- it takes something special unique to pull us in and ldquowowrdquo us We live in a world where most people have a short attention span You see I was talking to you Please put down your phone and let me finish So how do we accomplish this The secret is simple It is all about great content Good content is okay but will always lose to great content

For an article or any engagement to be enjoyable it must be more than my writ-ing and your reading It must be a two way dialogue or conversation It must be about taking the ink and words that are on the paper you are readingmdashso they are transformed in your mind into a story worth sharing and acting upon Isnrsquot this what you want your customers to do when they think of you If you sound like everyone else you are lacking great content Always remember people can duplicate your ideas but cannot replicate your DNA So what do you bring your stakehold-ers--online and offlinemdashthat is simply great content And can you produce such great content consistently Do you ever think about it If not there is no better time than now to begin thinking with such a strategic mindset As I travel across the country one thing has become clear those who are willing to be creative and break the box in their thinking in a purposeful manner are the companies that are running towards 2014

Ryan T Sauers is PresidentOwner of Sauers Consulting Strategies Our business is growing your business More info at wwwryansauerscom ryansauers ryanryansauerscom

MAY C

ROSS

WO

RD

Across1 Alone5 Mozartrsquos ldquoLrsquo___ del Cairordquo8 ldquo___ here longrdquo12 Legal prefix13 ___ Altaic languages14 ldquoFantasticrdquo15 ldquo___ Brockovichrdquo16 ldquo___ Smilerdquo (1976 hit)17 Red eye18 Assistant20 Feed21 Sheikrsquos bevy22 Impede withrdquodownrdquo23 Advantages26 Witnessed30 Bit od a draft31 Artificial34 Help35 Defeat37 Tokyo formerly38 Drive39 Ashcroftrsquos predecessor40 Hospital restroom42 Internrsquol Monetary Fund43 Rare earth element45 Bothers47 ldquo___ Doubtfirerdquo

48 Brunch serving50 Watered-down52 Generous56 Put off as a motion57 Capture58 Creole vegetable59 Bawl out60 ldquoEmpedocles on ___rdquo (Matthew Arnold poem)61 Newton fruits62 Pay (up)63 Do it yourself64 ChargesDown1 Particular for short2 Hawaiian tuber3 ldquoMi chiamano Mimirdquo eg4 Peacemaker5 Be bombastic6 Bank7 Apple spray8 Carriage9 ldquo___ on Down the Roadrdquo10 ldquohellipthere is no ___angel but Loverdquo Shakespeare11 ldquoSmoking or ___rdquo13 Certain shark14 Confuse

19 Blaseacute22 Show ___23 Loan shark24 Lab tube25 All in26 ldquoCut it outrdquo27 Native indian dwellings28 Swelling29 Dutch pottery city32 Appear33 Make sense with ldquouprdquo36 Usually38 All thumbs40 Greyhound eg41 ldquoTo dordquo list44 Angry46 Irritate48 Cousin of a raccoon49 Not set50 1993 standoff site51 Black in poetry52 Ran as colors53 ldquo___ From Muskogeerdquo54 Advocate55 Back talk56 Cooking meas

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 9

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With coupon Not valid with other offers or prior purchases One Water Heater per household Manufacturers limited lifetime unit replacement AC Furnace and Water Heater See comfort advisor for details Expires 053113

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By Stefanie Lamprsquol

ldquoLove everyone trust a few do wrong to nonerdquo This eminent quote by William Shakespeare written on the white board in the principalrsquos office at Trickum Middle School watches over Kay Sands as she leads a growing student body faculty and staff These words represent how Sands runs her school She is dedicated to educating her students and teaching principles that will allow them to better their community

Kay Sands was born and raised in Atlanta Georgia As a kid Sands loved sports especially tennis She majored in health and physical education at the University of Georgia and then attended graduate school at the University of Alabama Sands never saw herself becoming a teacher let alone the head of the administration Although it was not the original job she set out to do she loves every minute of it

Sands held several positions before finding a home at Trickum Middle School For three years she worked at Five Forks as a health and physical education teacher One of the most rewarding jobs she has had yet was being a stay-at-home mom to her three sons for thir-teen years During this time she also coached tennis a sport she always enjoyed playing Sands was an assistant principal for six years before becoming principal in 2008 Sands believes that it was the work of Lynn Davis and Calvin Watts prin-cipals of Trickum Middle School before Sands that encouraged her to take on the position They were incredible mentors who helped her make the transition from assistant principal to the head of Trickum Middle School

Even though Kay Sands never saw herself in her current role she is blessed by the position She has a tremendous opportunity to empower people to make a school great She wants her students to come to school to be engaged rather than disinterested As a kid Sands was not a big fan of school so her goal as an adminis-trator is to change this She wants to show her students how truly meaningful learning can be and to do her part in contributing to the community to make the dis-trict the best place to live She knows this is not possible without the incredible and competent faculty and staff who work beside her every day

Kay Sands does not shoot for perfection She knows that she will not always say the right thing or make the right choices She also knows that if she focuses on what is going well and what is positive she can rectify any situation and become a stronger leader

When Sands is not giving her all to bettering the lives and minds of her students she loves being out-doors She enjoys hiking or escaping

to a quiet place in nature There is no better place to her though than living and working in her community It is satisfying and reward-ing to be a part of developing passionate and educated students who will lead the commu-nity on to success

Getting to Know Trickum Middle School Principal Kay Sands

PAGE 10 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Hurt Less Heal QuickerHave a Better Quality of Life

Caring Experienced Professional

Gift Certificates AvailableCALL TODAY

(678) 344-00501780 Oak Road Suite A2 Snellville GA

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bull Wellness Massage bull Senior Massage bull Prenatal Massage bull Cancer Massage

One Hour Massage - $55

Love your mom with the comfort of a safe relaxing massage with

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Primrose Schoolsreg Summer Camp ndash

Passport to Adventure

copy2013 Primrose School Franchising Company All rights reserved

From the great outdoors and virtual travel to music and dance

Camp PrimroseSM is your familyrsquos passport to adventure and fun

this summer Exciting fi eld trips creative activities and fun

adventures with friends will help Explorers play laugh and

learn their way through an

unforgettable summer

Customize your adventure by

selecting specifi c camp weeks

or join us all summer long

Start planning your summer adventure now ndash CampPrimrosecom

Primrose School of Five Forks3030 River Drive Lawrenceville GA 30044

7709850028 | PrimroseFiveForkscom

Are Your Hormones Driving You CrazyBy Dr Jeanette Altieri AC Spine amp Wellness Center

At every age hormones fluctuate mdash and thatrsquos normal However when changes happen too fast or become too much for your body to handle you can start expe-riencing problems Canrsquot lose weight Tired all of the time Feeling overwhelmed What is your body telling you

When our body becomes overloaded and unable to support its systems therersquos a greater chance of developing some of the problems associated with hormonal imbalance Whether you are suffering from PMS mood swings bloating or head-aches or you have a family history of breast ovarian or other female cancers there can be imbalances in the ratios of estrogen progesterone testosterone and other hormones in your endocrine and adrenal system

Hormonal imbalances are caused by more than just estrogen Estrogen levels are important but so are progesterone and testosterone levels and their ratios to each other Insulin cortisol (the stress hormone) and thyroid levels can also play a big part More importantly women who are on hormone replacement therapy need to be tested to make sure hormones are broken down cleared and balanced

Letrsquos take a look at some of the most common signs of hormonal imbalances

Irregular or absent periods Weight gainChanges in the shape of your bodyAnxiety andor moodiness

By listening to your body yoursquoll be able to provide what you need to naturally rebalance its hormones Even healthy women who follow a good diet may find glitches in their hormone levels Effective natural options include high quality supplements dietary and lifestyle adjustments The first step is to get tested and find out what is causing these hormonal issues and then learn how to improve your personal hormonal health

Baseball Is Similar to LifeBy Glenton Ashby

Life is similar to going around the bases on a baseball diamond ndash itrsquos a pro-gression Our financial life is also a progression We progress through stages of financial life at the same time we move through various life stages from beginning to end

As you begin your financial life a number of basic steps are prudent and neces-sary Establish a budget (know what and where you are spending) begin a program of regular saving (the amount is not as important as the habit) commit to paying off whatever debt you do have (whether school debt or debt taken on as you begin life after school) and avoid unnecessary debt (eg debt for lifestyle)

Accomplishing these steps in combination with beginning your working life is like getting a runner to first base

Once on first base a variety of things can happen that may impact your ability to advance to the remaining bases Some things are in your control and some are not You are responsible for managing the things that you can control Think of this financial life progression as stewardship rather than ownership (The fact that any-thing we think we own will eventually go to someone else will be addressed later)

Things not in your control still require your awareness and vigilance in order to respond or react to them appropriately Otherwise you may have to start over and go back to first base Things you cannot control include job loss extended illness or disability You can exert a measure of control by having adequate health insur-ance and disability insurance if available and affordable

Sticking to the plan that got you to first base is essential for moving forward to second base This involves moving from the financial basics stage to the stage of a more established financial life

Feedback and topic suggestions are welcome ndash email HalcyonTimesHalcyonFPcom or comment at wwwHalcyonFPcomhalcyon-times Tweet halcyonplanning

Glenton Ashby is the founder and owner of Halcyon Financial Planning LLC a fee-only financial planning and Registered Investment Advisor firm Visit HalcyonFPcom

Skin issuesacneHair lossunusual hair growthInfertilityFatigueloss of energy

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 11

New Client Special

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First Visit

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We Service Natural and Relaxed HairLashes bull Eyebrow Waxing

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We Fix Lawnmowers

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or

Is Testing Getting a Bad Wrap By Tamsen Boone

Today I taught my 7th graders the meaning of the term ldquodevilrsquos advocaterdquo They devised many creative definitions on their own before I explained the concept As we batten down the hatches across the state for CRCT week Irsquove spent some time deliberating the testing catch-22 and I decided to play the role of devilrsquos advocate

Yoursquod be hard pressed to find a parent or an educator for that matter who thinks all the testing our students endure isnrsquot over the top This is my first year in middle school and Irsquom feeling the pressure myself However Irsquove decided to approach this with a ldquoglass half fullrdquo mentality If Irsquove done what Irsquom supposed to do in the classroom my students have been exposed to the material If Irsquove found a few creative and innovative strategies my students may even remember what Irsquove exposed them to despite middle school drama and raging tween hormonal shifts If Irsquove provided them with some test-taking strategies Irsquove given them the ability to move through information integrate it and discern the difference between good better and best options

I propose that this is necessary not only in the testing arena but in the real world as well I hope that my students will one day be able to read through cell phone contracts college brochures apartment leases closing statements and job offers to determine their best option Digesting information and discriminating between options (such as A B C or D answers) can be applicable to our daily adult lives Therefore I donrsquot envision myself as wasting time teaching students how to take tests I like to think Irsquom teaching them to analyze carefully when the stakes are high so that they can make solid decisions when the stakes really get high in the adult world

So this position begs the question if testing shouldnrsquot be such a big stressful deal why is it This is probably where I should keep my mouth shut Happy testing J

Whatrsquos Keeping Your Child From Performing at Grade Level

By Christine Giles

National Awareness Month Educates Parents about Speech and Language Disorders Affecting School Performance

Children with communication disorders frequently do not perform at grade level because they have difficulty understanding and speaking struggle with reading and writing misunderstand social cues show poor judgment have trouble taking tests and may avoid school Is this your child

This May as part of Better Hearing and Speech Month Creative Therapy Works in Lilburn GA and the American Speech-Language-Hearing (ASHA) continue their public education efforts for the communication health of our children by pro-viding information to parents to identify and prevent speech and language disorders

Children with communication problems have difficulty learning to listen speak read or write Parents and teachers should refer any student who shows signs of a speech and language problem to the school-based speech-language pathologist for an immediate evaluation

ldquoItrsquos crucial that children are identified and begin treatment as early as possible because summer break will only compound the consequences of a communication disorder if left untreatedrdquo Christine Giles Speech- Language Pathologist and owner of Creative Therapy Works LLC in Lilburn says

Parents should look out for the various types of speech and language disorders that affect school-age children including ~Speech sound disorders (difficulty pronouncing sounds) ~Language disorders (difficulty understanding others and expressing themselves) ~Cognitive-communication disorders (difficulty with thinking skills including per-ception memory awareness reasoning judgment intellect and imagination) ~Stuttering (fluency) disorders (interruption of the flow of speech that may include hesitations repetitions or prolongations of sounds or words) ~Voice disorders (quality of voice that may include hoarseness nasality or loudness)

For more information about speech and language disorders and prevention or to arrange a free speech and language screening for your child please visit wwwcreativetherapyworkscom or call 1-866-611-7855

PAGE 12 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

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Ages 6 weeks to 4 years old We implement age appropriate Creative Curriculum in all classes

See our website for details

Register Your Children Today Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

FIVE FORKS ACADEMY Enroll your children at Legacy Academy

3079 Five Forks Trickum RoadLilburn GA 30047

wwwf iveforksacademycom

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ann Weeks Owner

Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

Caring for childrenages 6 weeks to 4 years

BeforeAfter SchoolPrograms for ages 5-12

Visit us anytime for a personal tour

(770) 982-2000

NEW for 09-10 We will be serving Knight Elementary

amp St John Neumwnn Schools

Before and After School Program for children attending Brookwood Craig Head

and Gwin Oaks Elementary

(770) 982-2000 3079 Five Forks Trickum Road

Lilburn GA 30047

ldquoWe love learning inside and outsiderdquo

wwwfiveforksacademycom

By Hank Cohen

For many decades throughout Gwinnett youth sports have been of major importance to the community Whether the sport is baseball football swimming or one of the many others played in the county Gwinnett has continually been home to some of the best athletes in the state One organization that fosters a large number of stars is the Gwinnett Soccer Association (GSA) GSA located across the street from Parkview High School is dedicated to teaching youths of any age or skill level the rules and techniques of soccer With about 1500 kids and numerous teams at each age level GSA has been a thriving spot for soccer talent in the county

The association is currently led by Chip Stevens and a very talented staff The Girlsrsquo Director of Coaching Campbell Chapman spent ten years playing profes-sional soccer for multiple clubs in England Sweden Finland Malta and Qatar Appointed the Girlsrsquo Director in 2007 Campbell has since coached many state winning teams Nuno Piteira the Boysrsquo Director was the coach of the Charleston Battery professional team where he helped the club to win its first national champi-onship in 1996 When he first moved to Atlanta in 1999 Nuno coached the Atlanta Silverbacks professional team The impact of the Associationrsquos very capable coaches is evident in the talented and highly ranked teams that continue to dominate Currently the boys U15 and U16 have qualified for the national championship in Kansas City GSA currently has four players on US national teams

Each year GSA holds a major tournament where teams from across the Southeast come to compete The GSA Invitational held in December brings about 350-400 teams together Similarly GSA also holds a college showcase to expose col-lege soccer coaches to the extraordinary amount of talent within the organization Coaches from colleges such as Auburn Alabama and UGA have attended to look for future prospects Multiple soccer camps for any skill level also run throughout the year Nuno runs the boysrsquo camps which includes a residency camp at Rinehart College Campbell runs the girlsrsquo camps which include camps throughout the

summer GSA is always seek-ing to reach out to potential players ldquoWe want more kids to play soccer because itrsquos the best sport in the worldrdquo said President Stevens

Since its beginning in 1977 GSA has sought to provide a high quality organization for kids to become engaged in soc-cer Over the years the organi-zation has continuously grown and the association is planning to make changes in the future as well To accommodate the quality talent GSA is updat-ing the fields to provide better complexes for the players The organization will also be host-ing a Junior Academy for 4-8 year olds to teach them the basic skills of soccer and to spark a love for the sport in younger children As the club continues to grow the dedicated staff and coaches of GSA will continue to teach and spread soccer throughout the community Stevens wants to continue this participation in the area he grew up in He is a graduate from Brookwood High School and his wife and children are active at GSA as well The organization has opportunities for every child ldquoItrsquos all about the kidsrdquo Stevens said ldquoFrom young beginners to the elite players GSA has something for everyonerdquo

Gwinnett Soccer Association Itrsquos All About the Kids

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 13

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770-923-32165385 Five Forks Trickum Rd bull Suite M

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Always Fresh Restaurant and Mountain Park FitnessOPEN MON - FRI 10AM-6PM SAT 10AM-3PM

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Serving the Lilburn area for over 20 years

Best Haircuts in TownNO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY

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Five Forks Trickum Rd

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Visit our Decorated Model Homes Today1950 Grayson Hwy | Grayson GA 30017

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Understanding Sunscreen Protection

By Chrissy Thomas RN BSN

In June 2011 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new requirements for over-the-counter sunscreens These rules were put into place to ensure that sunscreens meet todayrsquos standards for safety and effectiveness The fol-lowing is an outline of some of the more important details for consumers to know when choosing sunscreen products

The primary purpose of the FDArsquos changes is to guarantee that sunscreen products are providing adequate protection Previously the Sun Protection Factors (SPFs) dealt with UVB (ultraviolet B) protection only This means that the risk of sunburn was the only factor considered on the label Now we know that much of the sunrsquos risk lies in UVA (ultraviolet A) radiation which contributes to skin cancer and early aging

After reviewing data the FDA determined that sufficient evidence is available to establish a ldquobroad spectrumrdquo test for determining a sunscreen productrsquos UVA protection By passing the broad spectrum test a consumer knows that the product will provide UVA protection that is proportional to its UVB protection Products that pass this test are going to be labeled as ldquobroad spectrumrdquo These products must be a SPF of 15 or higher to adequately protect the skin

Broad spectrum products SPF 15 or higher have been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging when used with other sun protection measures

Still the meaning of SPF confuses some All sun protection products are tested with a SPF test procedure The test measures the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation expo-sure it takes to cause sunburn when a person is using a sunscreen in comparison to how much UV exposure it takes to cause sunburn without sunscreen The product is then labeled with the appropriate SPF value indicating the amount of sunburn protection provided by the product Higher values provide higher protection Because this test is a measure of protection against sunburn itrsquos an indicator of UVB only With the new broad spectrum test SPFs with a higher UVB rating will also have a higher UVA value

Often new clients to About Face Skin Care donrsquot realize that UV protection should be worn on the face and neck daily to avoid dam-aging UV rays from windows in the home or

car -- or even the minimal time spent walking to the mailbox A moisturizer with a UVBUVA factor of 15 or higher will protect the accumulation that inevitably happens from these exposures Itrsquos been determined that by yearrsquos end not wearing daily SPF protection can equal a week at the beach unprotected

Physical blocks such as clothing provide some protection but our faces are constantly exposed And makeup is not a sunblock If your makeup offers UV pro-tection it should be counted as an extra layer Sun protection in makeup according to the Skin Cancer Foundation is the productrsquos secondary purpose Even though some makeup has sunscreen ingredients it doesnrsquot have the proper amount of cov-erage or the capabilities to protect against UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays

Additionally for most people one needs to use 7-14 times the normal amount of powder or foundation to get the SPF coverage stated on the makeup packaging

Just as important donrsquot forget to protect your lips Glosses without SPF react like tanning oil on the lips Skin cancers in this area are becoming more common not to mention the unattractive ldquosmokers linesrdquo that form as the delicate tissues of the lips and surrounding areas are damaged

About Face Skin Care has an array of high-quality products to give you superior protection while offering cosmeceutically-pleasing benefits

If you would like to explore the options of sun protection and other products and treatments offered by About Face schedule your free consultation appointment at 770-935-FACE(3223) or online at wwwaboutfaceskincom We look forward to meeting you

PAGE 14 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Fall in Love with your bodyagain

ldquowhere the beauty you feel becomes the beauty you seerdquo

Complimentary Cosmetic Consultation

Earl Stephenson Jr MD DDS FACS Plastic Surgeon Certified American Board of Plastic Surgery

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Gluteal Sculpting and Fat Grafting

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84 Patterson RoadLawrenceville GA 30044

770-995-0836pebblestonelandscapegroupcom

Pebblestone Landscape Group is a full service landscape management provider since 1994 Meeting the landscaping needs and requirements for the management groups such as yourself We help our clients increase the appeal of their property to potential customers

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This Summer Prepare to Start School Sharp

By Carol Wood

Woohoo School is out for the summer so learning can stop right Wrong Summertime provides the BEST opportunity for students to enrich their academic skills if they desire to get ahead before school begins again or to catch up on skills if they ended the school year below average If students fall behind during the school year they must catch up with what they have missed AND keep up with what is being taught on a day-by-day basis This is difficult to do and can be stress-ful So summertime is the best time for parents to give their student the oppor-tunity to do what they cannot easily do during the school year CATCH UP or MOVE AHEAD in their academics and solve their STUDY SKILL weaknesses

First locate your childrsquos recent school standardized test scores and examine your childrsquos levels compared to hisher grade level This can be located in the column that reads ldquoGErdquo for grade equivalency or ldquoPRrdquo for percentile Scores below the 50th percentile or below their grade and month level in the GE column when the tests were administered are the ones in which the student was performing below average at that time Scores above the 50th percentile or above his or her grade level show performance above average therefore summer tutoring could entail enrichment work to maintain skills or further build on the studentrsquos strengths in preparation for the next school year By examining your childrsquos most recent test scores and determin-ing which areas are below on or above average you will then know which academic areas to build upon so your student can START SCHOOL SHARP

Next locate professional educational resources with a track record of success should you decide to teach your children at home Purchase the appropriate levels of materials and teach your child using an established consistent weekly schedule Do not allow the student to skip around within workbooks and complete the ldquofunrdquo pages first as the material is purposefully presented in a sequential order Select a study place for each student which is equipped with the learning supplies and tools needed If you do not feel qualified to teach or you do not have the necessary patience with your own child which is not uncommon then seek a full-time professional and experienced educational center Schedule summer learning sessions on a consistent weekly basis with the same degreed and experienced instructor who utilizes nation-ally recognized materials and proven teaching methods Individualized instruction is best in an environment free from distractions and interruptions A professional center is usually preferred since it focuses on providing an ideal learning environment has many quality control measures to insure student improvement is maximized and has a reputation and level of accountability to maintain in order to remain in business Know the credentials of the instructor such as his or her areas of teaching experience and educational degree and match this with your studentrsquos academic area of summer instruction Ask for references and contact them to learn about their experience with the professional center you are considering Request to see the instructional area and observe sessions in progress

Remember SUMMER is the most ideal time for students to get a JUMP START on the next school year

Carol Wood is the founder and owner of Total Learning Concepts Inc a private profes-sional tutorial service located in Gwinnett County Please email questions to ccwoodbellsouthnet or fax to 770-381-1626

MAYCROSSWORDSOLUTION

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 15

1319 Scenic Highway n Lawrenceville GA 30045 n 770-979-9490At the intersection of Hwy 124 amp Webb Gin House Road

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ldquoGirl Timerdquo Is ImportantBy Julie Mills

As I sit and think about this yearrsquos Motherrsquos Day I thought I would take a few moments to emphasis the importance of ldquogirl timerdquo I feel so lucky that my work allows me to experience wonderful bonding with my female clients When receiv-ing body work many emotions are released Our bodies are wired to keep our emotions in and they manifest in the form of knots aches pains and sometimes even disease Part of my job is to provide a safe space for my clients to let those emotions go and to begin healing from the inside out Letrsquos talk about how women are wired and why it is so important for us to have friendships

As a woman I already knew that my ldquogirl timerdquo was important and actually kept my sanity at times However I did some research and found a landmark UCLA study that suggests friendships between women are very special They shape who we are and who we are yet to be They soothe our inner world and fill the emo-tional gaps in our male relationships

Researchers suspect that women handle stress in more ways than just fight or flight In fact says Dr Klein of UCLA it seems that when the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress responses in a woman it buffers the fight or flight response and encourages her to tend children and gather with other women When she actually engages in this tending or befriending studies suggest that more oxyto-cin is released which further counters stress and produces a calming effect Men do not have this response due to high levels of testosterone released during stress The estrogen in women seems to enhance the oxytocin and produces a calming effect

It was noted that when the women were stressed they came in to work cleaned the work space had coffee and bonded with other female coworkers When the men were stressed they holed up somewhere on their own and did not interact with coworkers Wow - this part of the study sounds so familiar When I am stressed or have a lot on my mind I get into my cleaning mode or I want to call my sisters These activities help me to think things through and to unwind My husband on the other hand says nothing and he has the unique ability to quietly disappear

It is interesting that nearly 90 of the stress research has been with males With this new research the fact that women respond to stress differently than men has significant implications for our health It may take some time for new studies to reveal all the ways that oxytocin encourages us to care for children and hang out with other women but the ldquotend and befriendrdquo notion developed by Drs Klein and Taylor may explain why women consistently outlive men Study after study has found that social ties reduce our risk of disease by lowering blood pressure heart rate and cholesterol Therersquos no doubt that friends are helping us live longer

Every time we get overly busy with work and family the first thing we do is let go of friendships with other women We push them right to the back burner Thatrsquos really a mistake because women are such a source of strength to each other We nurture one another We need to have unpressured space in which we can do the special kind of talk that women do when theyrsquore with other women Itrsquos a very healing experience

Have you had your much-needed girl time Make this month your month and have a very happy Motherrsquos Day

Julie Mills CMT is owner of Body of Health and Life LLC for more information visit wwwbodyofhealthandlifecom

PAGE 16 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Ashton Pike

ldquoBeauty starts from withinrdquo One may expect a famous womanrsquos name to fol-low this quote but the woman responsible for such accurate words is better than famous She is distinguished After all fame fades but a distinguished woman will be known for years since she will stand out from everyone Hair stylist and salon owner Sudonna Patterson meets these traits and more Being a mom of three young boys an adored wife and a successful entrepreneur Patterson has numerous accomplishments to her name and this is only the beginning

Born and raised in Macon Georgia Patterson practiced the basics of cosmetol-ogy as a young girl when she styled her dollsrsquo hair and when she put rollers in her great auntrsquos hair before bedtime each night Eventually moving from Barbie dolls to actual customers Patterson worked weekends as a shampoo assistant in a hair salon during high school This job led her to pursue a career in cosmetology at Dudleyrsquos Cosmetology University in North Carolina

After graduating Patterson became an instructor for Dudleyrsquos Advanced Cosmetology University and then she took her skills outside national borders as an International Educator Traveling to remarkable locations such as the Bahamas Barbados Aruba and Jamaica Patterson worked to communicate the latest tech-niques in cosmetology through seminars on product knowledge hair care advance cutting and styling techniques

Taking into consideration Pattersonrsquos spontaneous extrovert personality it was no surprise that she met her husband on a blind date in Atlanta while she lived in North Carolina She and her husband are now loving and dedicated parents of three sons Logan 8 and twins Bryce and Blake 4 The family of five resides in Lilburn Georgia where they spend copious amounts of time together either at home or at Peace Baptist Church where they attend regularly

Amid college and starting a family Patterson became an entrepreneur open-ing her own hair salon called Chase Morgan Salon which has been in business for

Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

Diets Donrsquot WorkBy Kelly Farris

Itrsquos that time of year again ndash panic mode has set in and yoursquore trying to get off the winter flub in time for bathing suit season

You might be considering a diet Maybe yoursquore stuck trying to choose between the wide variety of options 17 day cabbage soup weight loss shakes paleo and Atkins just to name a few

Unfortunately none of these work in the long run In fact fad diets can backfire and even contribute to weight gain You donrsquot have to have a perfect diet to have a good diet Eating normal portions of wholesome foods leads to the right body weight

Let your eating habits consist of 85-90 of quality calories with the remaining calories of ldquowhateverrdquo ldquoWhateverrdquo means you can have an orange one day or a cookie the next The trick is not to deprive yourself of foods you really like Sooner or later you will end up binging if you make certain foods taboo Take away the power to binge-eat by eating that certain food more often Chances are seven days of having a cookie for your ldquowhateverrdquo calories will make it less desirable by day eight

I advise all my clients to make breakfast the most important meal of the day I encourage eggs egg substitute turkey sausage veggie sausage grits or oatmeal These are all ldquofill-you-uprdquo foods Start your day with filling healthy foods and yoursquoll set the tone for the rest of your day while reducing sugar cravings

So eat but donrsquot deprive yourself Make good choices

over 10 years Named after her sisterrsquos children Chase and Morgan Chase Morgan Salon as Patterson states ldquohellipwas designed with the client in mind to create quality and efficient hair care services while being a positive environment for women to fellowship and relaxrdquo

Though the salon was origi-nally located in Decatur Georgia Patterson recently moved the loca-tion to Snellville Georgia to live out her dream of opening a conveniently located upscale salon that would allow her to actively participate in her childrenrsquos lives at school

Having been in the cosmetology business for 23 years and counting Patterson is highly dedicated to her career Every day she goes above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction Patterson commented ldquoMy clients tease me because I am known for being the resource lady As a hair stylist clients confide in you about their per-sonal struggles I feel it is my responsibility as a Christian to uplift them and speak positive things into their life that will encourage themrdquo

Being close to clients can also come with a cost According to Patterson the most difficult part of her job is losing faithful clients with the change in the econ-omy and increasing unemployment On one hand she strives to help them until their financial situation is better but on the other Chase Morgan Salon is still an operating business and needs to make a profit in order to stay in business

Though being a successful entrepreneur comes with positive and negative aspects the overall feelings of accomplishment and contentment with the Chase Morgan Salon trumps everything A distinguished devoted and aspiring woman Patterson has become a figure of hope proving that with hard work and dedica-tion a childhood dream can become a reality Pattersonrsquos future at Chase Morgan Salon seems bright ldquoMy goal for the salon is to always create an environment to derive success from teamwork and through education As techniques change and products improve I will prepare stylists through education to satisfy the new demands of clients thus ensuring a successful position in the futurerdquo

For contact information for Sudonna Patterson or information on location and operating hours of Chase Morgan Salon please visit wwwchasemorgansaloncom

One Employee

At a TimeStrengthening

Companies3

ldquoSolving Gwinnett Countyrsquos staffing needs for over 16 yearsrdquo

For client inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at clientsunitedstaffingservicecom

For employment inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at jobsunitedstaffingservicecom

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 17

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You Canrsquot Get There From Here By Susan Cadley LPC

Have you ever wished you could be like Harry Potter and wave a magic wand to fix a problem or get what you wanted If so you are in good company It is a natural tendency to avoid pain frustration or any feeling that is perceived as ldquobadrdquo It is also natural to have desires and goals for your life But herersquos the truth life is a process and when we resist or deny what we are feeling or what is happening in our life we actually cause ourselves more pain

We are all born with a wide range of emotions and these emotions are mes-sengers If we pay attention to them they have much to share with us We may learn what we react to what beliefs we hold and most importantly where our healing lies When we ignore these messengers they knock louder and harder at our subconscious until they get our attention So instead of working so hard to push emotions away welcome them in as a guest and lean into them You will find that the feelings dissipate and the pain of resistance yoursquove created will be eased

When we want to wish challenges away we lose the richness of life Imagine what it would be like to watch a movie and only view the first and last 10 minutes of the film By skipping the majority of the movie we miss out on the story and the experience as a whole And so it is with life When we wish for our lives to be different than they are we must then let go and live our lives right now with all the seeming imperfections that make up the movie we are living When we wish to go from ldquohererdquo to ldquothererdquo directly we miss out on personal growth

We are all here to learn love live fully and be more of who we are Embrace all of your life right where you are right now Then the real magic will begin

Susan Cadley LPC Licensed Professional Counselor is available for couplesadult individual counseling and creativity workshops in Suwanee GA She may be reached directly and confiden-tially at 678-296-1278 wwwcoaching foryoursoulcom

Fly-Fishing PatagoniaBy Pam Walker

What I know about Fly-Fishing you could put on the head of a straight pin So when asked to visit Patagonia I thought ldquoThis is my chance to learnrdquo

In early March I flew to Buenos Aires Argentina and then on to Bariloche From there I had an hour drive to Villa Angostura Aroyo Verde the famed fly- fishing lodge was further on down a dirt road

No signs No directions We had just a general sense of where we were going Anthony my naturalist guide headed into the Traful river canyon Fifteen minutes later we were greeted first by an authentic gaucho and then by riders on horseback After another 20 minutes we saw along a stream a lovely chalet with a sculpture gar-den Estancia Aroyo Verde

This private fishing and riding estancia is the home of one of Argentinarsquos most elite families Located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park the family-managed lodge hosts visitors from across the globe The Traful River is also home to land-locked salmon brown and rainbow trout This is a catch-and-release river with a season from November through April In this remote setting the fish some reaching 28 in for salmon and 29 in for Rainbows and Browns swim right up to you in the crystal clear water Best of all you need only your favorite fly rod Everything else is avail-able on-site Miles of nothingness surrounds this pristine spot Imagine standing in the river surrounded by the Andes What more could you ask for

Rooms are cozy all with private baths and meals are served family-style If yoursquore lucky join the family for an Argentine-style barbeque (Parillada) cooked outdoors by one of the resi-dent gauchos

Fishing horseback riding and even moun-tain bikes are here for your enjoyment Too bad I had to come back

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant and can be reached at Walker Adventures pliwalkerearthlinknet You can follow her travels by visiting Pamrsquos blog at httpwwwpamwalkersblogspotcom

PAGE 18 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Pastor Paul Ballard

The mission statement of Mountain Park First Baptist Church is to engage every man woman and child by living out Jesusrsquo love and sharing the gospel both locally and globally Since coming to MPFBC in May 2011 senior pastor Paul Ballard has been simple in his approach He has two priorities preaching the gospel and becoming a radiant church by being missional in nature

First Pastor Paul has prioritized the preaching of the gospel of Jesus The gospel is Godrsquos victory over sin and death through the person and work of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 151 says ldquoNow I would remind you brothers of the gospel

I preached to you which you received in which you standhelliprdquo The gospel is not just the entry point into Christianity It is the key to spiritual growth as we stand in Jesusrsquo finished work on the cross and His glorious resurrection

Second because the gospel has radically changed us God has called His people to give Him glory by living radiant lives resulting in missional living The church has moved from an internal to an external emphasis Some of the practical results have been

bull Adopting local fire stations and the Gwinnett South Precinct by providing meals and notes of encouragement

bull Hosting community events like Family Fest on May 4 2013

bull Mentoring ladies from the Atlanta WomenChildren shelter and adopting and fixing up a dorm

bull Offering an ESL program on Wednesdays with a provided meal afterward bull Holding food drives for Lilburn Co-op and providing Christmas for needy

familiesbull Deacons serving at Mountain Park Park in the concession stand so parents

could watch their children playbull Donating over $100000 from financial overages the last two years to support

local and international missions above the normal mission givingGod is at work at Mountain Park First Baptist Church For more information

go to wwwmpfbcorg

Chaplainrsquos Corner

hellipto our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue

Keep them coming

Thanks

Dr Louise DeLong Dr Franccediloise Tyler

ldquoHappy Motherrsquos Day from all of us at The Village Vetsrdquo Dr Will Draper

Dr Carrie McColganDr Amanda Irish

Hours Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm Sat 8am-2pm Sun 12-4pmwwwTheVillageVetscom

770-717-1650

7 Days a Week

1227 Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain(Near the Kroger Shopping Center)

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Page 2: MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

Please RSVP at 6789909400 by Monday June 15 Wersquore looking forward to meeting you at our Summer Evening Open House

See our website for a complete listing of workshops

These results may not be typical Results with products may vary from individual to individual These nutrition recommendations are provided solely to support good nutrition with the intent of sup-porting the physiological and biochemical process of the human body and not to diagnose treat cure or prevent any disease or condition Be advised that any nutritional program recommended by Dr Gravante is not intended as a primary therapy for any disease Prior to starting any diet nutrition or exercise program you should consult with your medical physician

The Center for Natural Healing and Weight Loss2176 Oak Road Suite DSnellville GA 30078wwwdrgravantecom

6789909400 wwwdrgravantecom

NUTRITIONAL WORKSHOPSat Dr Gravantersquos office

600 PMMay 7th and June 4th

Please call to reserve your seat

Look what difference a month can make

Lorraine Gravante DC

Call Today for Your Appointment

6789909400

Willie Before

Willie one month later

Hi my name is Willie Roman I am a construction superintendent

On October 2011 I suffered from a bleeding stroke in my brain Although I did not suffer paralysis internally I felt my body breaking down Since the stroke I have not had a full night sleep in the last 17 months without having to take a prescription sleeping drug Yes I said 17 months Itrsquos been horrible Because of the lack of sleep I had total loss of energy and was slow processing my thoughts I even found myself at times wandering in circles trying to figure out what I was supposed to be doing And on top of all that I had

constant pain in all my joints I could see that my health was spiraling

downhill fast My daughter was under Dr Gravantersquos care And after seeing what excellent results she experienced that convinced me that I needed to see Dr Gravante too I tell you it has been a life changing transformation Just to say the second day on her Program I was able to sleep the whole night without any drugs and I have been sleeping well since I lost over 10 lbs of fat alone I have energy and my entire outlook in life has changedhellipand this all happened within the first month of care Thank You Dr Gravante for helping me extend my life Willie Roman

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 3

PAGE 4 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

IN THIS ISSUEOur Town is published and direct mailed to select homes in the Gwinnett area Opinions expressed by the writers and staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher Our Town reserves the right to edit andor reject any editorial or advertising content Our Town 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 2013 by Our Town Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher

Our Town Monthly1227 Rockbridge Road

Suite 208-171

Stone Mountain GA 30087

678-825-2049

infoendresultzcom

wwwendresultzcom

Our TownFamily liFestyle News magaziNe

mdash An EndResultz Company

PublisherRyan T Sauers

Creative DirectorElsie Olson

Cover PhotographyChrista K Huggins

Feature Writers TeamHank CohenAllie Gardner

Stefanie LamprsquolAshton Pike

Contributing WritersDr Jeanette Altieri

Glenton Ashby Pastor Paul Ballard

Tamsen BooneSusan Cadley

Kelly FarrisChristine GilesTerie Hansen

Julie MillsRyan T SauersChrissy Thomas

Pam WalkerCarol Wood

5 About the Cover Air Conditioning Experts A Family Affair

6 One Manrsquos Opinion

7 May Calendar

8 Crossword Puzzle

8 Is Your Dog Properly Socialized

8 Great Content Is King

9 Getting to Know Trickum Middle School Principal Kay Sands

10 Are Your Hormones Driving You Crazy

10 Baseball Is Similar to Life

11 Is Testing Getting a Bad Wrap

11 Whatrsquos Keeping Your Child From Performing at Grade Level

12 Gwinnett Soccer Association Itrsquos All About the Kids

13 Understanding Sunscreen Protection

14 This Summer Prepare to Start School Sharp

15 ldquoGirl Timerdquo Is Important

16 Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

16 Diets Donrsquot Work

17 You Canrsquot Get There From Here

17 Fly-Fishing Patagonia

18 Chaplainrsquos Corner

Earl Stephenson Jr MD DDS

Certified American Board of Plastic Surgery

2220 Wisteria Dr Suite 209

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Are you ready for the beachSchedule your complimentary consultation770-466-4700

Get Ready for Summer Fun

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Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 5

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By Allie Gardner

Most companies are composed of employees who start as strangers with every person focusing on hisher specific job within the business Air Conditioning Experts Inc defies the stereotypical company Founded in 1995 by Bill and Heather Preston the business began with the desire to give custom-ers quality service that displayed the values that so many other organizations seem to lack as well as a satisfying and progressive work environment for their employees Their first employee was brother-in-law Chris Allen who started in 1996 and later became a partner in 2000

Air Conditioning Experts provides heating ventilation and air condi-tion (HVAC) services and installations for residential homes and commercial properties but specialize in working with real estate investors ACErsquos goal is to continue to serve homeowners businesses and investors in all of their markets with the personal service they deserve and always providing superior products exem-plary customer service and supreme workmanship in an unmatched cost effective manner The company expanded to Orlando and Charlotte after recognizing that the level of customer service they provided in Atlanta would do well in the other markets The owners felt that those particular cities were a great fit for their type of customer service

Owner Heather Preston said ldquoAs our customer you should always rest easy knowing we will be here for you for your comfort needs for years to comerdquo

The business is truly a family affair Allen partners with his sister and brother-in-law His mom and stepfather Nancy and Remo Loyal manage another company owned by Allen and the Prestons Steelworks Inc a security cage business Allenrsquos son Chris Jr stepbrother Remeno Loyal and nephew Keith Hodges also work for Steelworks Hillary Preston Allenrsquos niece works

About the CoverAir Conditioning Experts A Family Affair

as an administrative assistant for Air Conditioning Experts and Billrsquos mom Ella McCrater helps around the office part time Even as it has grown the company has made maintaining the family atmosphere a priority

ACE has employed multiple long time family friends to be part of the companyrsquos team some of whom have been with the business since the 1990s

Allen said ldquo[Working with family] is great You know that your partners truly have your best interest at heartrdquo

The company has made it a goal to be a big part of their community Everyone at Air Conditioning Experts is very involved in their churches Allen and his family are members of Mountain West Church of God located in Stone Mountain They work with the outreach program and other ministries that focus on giving back to the Tucker Lilburn and Stone Mountain areas The Preston family belongs to the Dacula Church of God and is involved in simi-lar organizations and ministries as Allen Bill Preston and Eric Medina who serve as the comfort advisors speak on a local gospel radio program twice each month

Air Conditioning Experts brings Gwinnett County a helpful service to homes and businesses a family environment that is hard to find anywhere else and a community outreach that touches hundreds of lives The business con-tinues to grow and expand providing unique customer service that is needed in this day and age

PAGE 6 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

See online message from publisher at

wwwourtownmagvideocom or scan the QR code below

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By Ryan T Sauers

Well Gwinnett can you believe it It is already May and summertime is on the way I want to start out by explaining why I chose the title One Manrsquos Opinion for this column My grandfather began a column with this name many decades ago for a large chain of weekly newspapers in DeKalb County So this is my way of paying tribute to a long family history in publishing My parents then took this publishing company and built it into a very successful printing company Without this heritage it is highly unlikely I would be writing this article today

Also I want to thank our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue The response to our first issue was overwhelming Thanks for all of your calls and emails in regard to new stories and thanks to our current advertisers as well as the new advertisers who are coming onboard We are quickly growing and have big plans for growth and change in the months ahead Also I encourage you to use the QR code or the URL address provided to view the video that goes along with this column It will make your reading experience even better

Last month the name of one of our writers Ashton Pike was inadvertently left off the superb article she wrote on Debra Dees the principal of Brookwood Sorry about that Ashton This month a new feature has been added called Chaplainrsquos Corner where different pastors from our community will highlight the good things going on in their churches We will be hearing from a lot of pastors begin-ning with Pastor Paul Ballard of Mountain Park Baptist We will be bringing in more stories of interest in coming months to make the magazine even better and keep the content strong

This month we have some great stories Here is an overview A terrific family run company AC Experts here in Snellville is profiled You get to meet Kay Sands who is the principal of Trickum Middle School You will read a neat story about GSA (Gwinnett Soccer Association) and the new developments that are taking place at the club Finally there is an insightful profile of Chase Morgan Salon and why the salon chose to move down Highway 78 from Decatur to Snellville You have to read them all to find out more

You will continue to see good news in this and future issues of the magazine We need it With the recent tragedy in Boston and other such incidents we need now more than ever to hear about good people events news and happenings It seems that every publication and news story I pick up focuses on negative news Gwinnett I am here to tell you there are some amazing people doing incredible things right here in our backyard Special thanks this month to Christa K Huggins for doing a great job with our cover photo shot this month and to Elsie Olson for your usual top notch design work And to all of the rest of you you know who you are I cannot thank you enough

We are working to update our website and social media tools so pardon our progress I have no doubt you will love it in the end as they will be better than ever Our goal is to offer an amazing integrated communications experience So enjoy this May issue of Our Town We look forward to your feedback as we seek to improve your reading experience each month Have a great month And remember this is your town This is OUR TOWN

From the Publisher One Manrsquos Opinion

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 7

Disney On Ice Presents Worlds of FantasyMay 1-5 2013Arena at Gwinnett CenterDuluthwwwgwinnettcentercom

The Atlanta Coin and Currency ExpoMay 3-5 2013North Atlanta Trade CenterNorcrosswwwnorthatlantatradecentercomFri amp Sat 10am-6pm Sun 10am-3pm

Krispy Kreme for a CureMay 4 2013Town Center ParkSuwaneewwwaplacetoimaginecom

Fodac Run Walk Nrsquo RollMay 4 2013Confederate Hall ndash Stone Mountain ParkStone MountainwwwstonemountainparkcomBenefitting the Friends of Disabled Adults and Children

FreshMay 7 2013Tannery Row Artist ColonyBufordwwwtanneryrowartistcolonycomJuried show 12pm-5pm

2013 Relay For LifeMay 10-11 2013Gwinnett County FairgroundsLawrencevillewwwgwinnettrelayforlifeorgThe nationrsquos largest Relay for Life raises funds to fight cancer

9th Annual Barefoot In the Park GalaMay 10-12 2013Duluth Town GreenDuluthwwwbarefootintheparkorgGwinnettrsquos premier juried arts festival

Atlanta Exotic Bird FairMay 10-11 2013North Atlanta Trade CenterNorcrosswwwnorthatlantatradecentercom

Reels at Robinson ndash Summer Movie SeriesMay 17 2013EE Robinson ParkSugar Hillwwwcityofsugarhillcom

Pet Revolution 2013May 17-18 2013Gwinnett County FairgroundsLawrenceville

Animal adoptions Fri 8pm ndash Sun 8pm (48 hrs straight)

SCCA NationalMay 19 2013Road AtlantaBraseltonwwwroadatlantacomSports Car Club of America National Race All day

Board Game BlastoffMay 20 2013Bethesda Park Senior CenterLawrencevillewwwgwinnettparkscomchallenge yourself to a game of scrab-ble mahjong chess and more

Two for the ShowMay 23 2013George Pierce Park Community CenterSuwaneewwwgwinnettparkscomArt show 9am-8pm

Nike Memorial Day ClassicMay 24-27 2013Suwanee Sports AcademySuwaneewwwsuwaneesportsacademycomBasketball ndash Boys 14U-17U

Gwinnett Daily Post Memorial Day ConcertMay 24 2013Town Center ParkSuwaneewwwsuwaneecomConcert

Taste of GwinnettMay 26-27 2013Peachtree CornerswwwtasteofgwinnettcomPremier food festival

Memorial Day Weekend CelebratioMay 26-27 2013Stone Mountain ParkStone MountainwwwstonemountainparkcomFireworks and fun 1030am-8pm laser show 930pm

Memorial Day in DaculaMay 27 2013Historic Downtown DaculaDaculawwwdaculamemorialdaycomParade ndash festival 9am-5pm

Memorial Day CelebrationMay 27 2013Thrasher ParkNorcrosswwwaplacetoimaginecom

Onion Manrsquos Summer Harvest Festival Keep it LegalMay 30-June 1 2013Norcross Cultural Arts and Community CenterNorcrosswwwlionhearttheatreorgA collection of short plays

May Calendar

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PAGE 8 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Solution on page 16

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Professional Landscape and Design Services

Is Your Dog Properly SocializedBy Terie Hansen

Socializing your dog is a lifelong undertaking not just during the first year or two of their life with you Many who reach out to us for training are experiencing the side effects of an under-socialized dog

Does your dog bark wildly when it sees other dogs or pull on the leash towards other dogs or people Does it shy away from objects in its environment or does it act fearful or aggressive towards people or dogs These can be symptoms of an under-socialized dog

When you get a new dog whether puppy or adult you are excited to spend time with him and share him with everyone and anyone who will let you So you take your new pet on walks to parks on hikes and to pet stores This is great because he is learning how to act in these various environments and around other people and dogs As the newness wears off however you donrsquot take him out as often Therefore he is exposed to less stimulation

Three to six months or even one to two years can go by and your dog hasnrsquot come in contact with anyone other than your family Now all of a sudden you decide to take him someplace where there are other people and dogs Chances are he will act either uncontrollably excited or fearful which can look like aggression and you think ldquoOMG Whatrsquos the matter with my dogrdquo You decide that you can no longer take him out in public What happened Culture shock Many dogs need to be socialized on an ongoing basis If we stay in our house and didnrsquot come out until fifteen years later we would experience the same feelings of excitement fear and anxiety

This is easily preventable socialize socialize and socialize for the life of your dog If you are experiencing these symptoms already reach out to us We can help

Terie Hansen Professional Dog Trainer Pet Sitter amp Owner at Good Dog Coaching amp Pet Care-may be reached at 404-422-9832 infogooddogcoachingcom wwwgooddogcoachingcom

Great Content Is KingBy Ryan T Sauers

I often tell people that content is king And you know whatmdashthis is not quite right Why You seehellip content is good but great content is ldquokingrdquo Think about it Why do you become engrossed in a movie or show Why do you send a funny YouTube video to a friend Why do you enjoy talking with certain people Why do you like to read certain articles The answer is simple We do these things because we love watching hearing or reading great content By the way if you are still the person forwarding emailshellip not so funny J

We are all busy and whether we are in person (offline) or online (virtual) -- it takes something special unique to pull us in and ldquowowrdquo us We live in a world where most people have a short attention span You see I was talking to you Please put down your phone and let me finish So how do we accomplish this The secret is simple It is all about great content Good content is okay but will always lose to great content

For an article or any engagement to be enjoyable it must be more than my writ-ing and your reading It must be a two way dialogue or conversation It must be about taking the ink and words that are on the paper you are readingmdashso they are transformed in your mind into a story worth sharing and acting upon Isnrsquot this what you want your customers to do when they think of you If you sound like everyone else you are lacking great content Always remember people can duplicate your ideas but cannot replicate your DNA So what do you bring your stakehold-ers--online and offlinemdashthat is simply great content And can you produce such great content consistently Do you ever think about it If not there is no better time than now to begin thinking with such a strategic mindset As I travel across the country one thing has become clear those who are willing to be creative and break the box in their thinking in a purposeful manner are the companies that are running towards 2014

Ryan T Sauers is PresidentOwner of Sauers Consulting Strategies Our business is growing your business More info at wwwryansauerscom ryansauers ryanryansauerscom

MAY C

ROSS

WO

RD

Across1 Alone5 Mozartrsquos ldquoLrsquo___ del Cairordquo8 ldquo___ here longrdquo12 Legal prefix13 ___ Altaic languages14 ldquoFantasticrdquo15 ldquo___ Brockovichrdquo16 ldquo___ Smilerdquo (1976 hit)17 Red eye18 Assistant20 Feed21 Sheikrsquos bevy22 Impede withrdquodownrdquo23 Advantages26 Witnessed30 Bit od a draft31 Artificial34 Help35 Defeat37 Tokyo formerly38 Drive39 Ashcroftrsquos predecessor40 Hospital restroom42 Internrsquol Monetary Fund43 Rare earth element45 Bothers47 ldquo___ Doubtfirerdquo

48 Brunch serving50 Watered-down52 Generous56 Put off as a motion57 Capture58 Creole vegetable59 Bawl out60 ldquoEmpedocles on ___rdquo (Matthew Arnold poem)61 Newton fruits62 Pay (up)63 Do it yourself64 ChargesDown1 Particular for short2 Hawaiian tuber3 ldquoMi chiamano Mimirdquo eg4 Peacemaker5 Be bombastic6 Bank7 Apple spray8 Carriage9 ldquo___ on Down the Roadrdquo10 ldquohellipthere is no ___angel but Loverdquo Shakespeare11 ldquoSmoking or ___rdquo13 Certain shark14 Confuse

19 Blaseacute22 Show ___23 Loan shark24 Lab tube25 All in26 ldquoCut it outrdquo27 Native indian dwellings28 Swelling29 Dutch pottery city32 Appear33 Make sense with ldquouprdquo36 Usually38 All thumbs40 Greyhound eg41 ldquoTo dordquo list44 Angry46 Irritate48 Cousin of a raccoon49 Not set50 1993 standoff site51 Black in poetry52 Ran as colors53 ldquo___ From Muskogeerdquo54 Advocate55 Back talk56 Cooking meas

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 9

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By Stefanie Lamprsquol

ldquoLove everyone trust a few do wrong to nonerdquo This eminent quote by William Shakespeare written on the white board in the principalrsquos office at Trickum Middle School watches over Kay Sands as she leads a growing student body faculty and staff These words represent how Sands runs her school She is dedicated to educating her students and teaching principles that will allow them to better their community

Kay Sands was born and raised in Atlanta Georgia As a kid Sands loved sports especially tennis She majored in health and physical education at the University of Georgia and then attended graduate school at the University of Alabama Sands never saw herself becoming a teacher let alone the head of the administration Although it was not the original job she set out to do she loves every minute of it

Sands held several positions before finding a home at Trickum Middle School For three years she worked at Five Forks as a health and physical education teacher One of the most rewarding jobs she has had yet was being a stay-at-home mom to her three sons for thir-teen years During this time she also coached tennis a sport she always enjoyed playing Sands was an assistant principal for six years before becoming principal in 2008 Sands believes that it was the work of Lynn Davis and Calvin Watts prin-cipals of Trickum Middle School before Sands that encouraged her to take on the position They were incredible mentors who helped her make the transition from assistant principal to the head of Trickum Middle School

Even though Kay Sands never saw herself in her current role she is blessed by the position She has a tremendous opportunity to empower people to make a school great She wants her students to come to school to be engaged rather than disinterested As a kid Sands was not a big fan of school so her goal as an adminis-trator is to change this She wants to show her students how truly meaningful learning can be and to do her part in contributing to the community to make the dis-trict the best place to live She knows this is not possible without the incredible and competent faculty and staff who work beside her every day

Kay Sands does not shoot for perfection She knows that she will not always say the right thing or make the right choices She also knows that if she focuses on what is going well and what is positive she can rectify any situation and become a stronger leader

When Sands is not giving her all to bettering the lives and minds of her students she loves being out-doors She enjoys hiking or escaping

to a quiet place in nature There is no better place to her though than living and working in her community It is satisfying and reward-ing to be a part of developing passionate and educated students who will lead the commu-nity on to success

Getting to Know Trickum Middle School Principal Kay Sands

PAGE 10 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

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From the great outdoors and virtual travel to music and dance

Camp PrimroseSM is your familyrsquos passport to adventure and fun

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Primrose School of Five Forks3030 River Drive Lawrenceville GA 30044

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Are Your Hormones Driving You CrazyBy Dr Jeanette Altieri AC Spine amp Wellness Center

At every age hormones fluctuate mdash and thatrsquos normal However when changes happen too fast or become too much for your body to handle you can start expe-riencing problems Canrsquot lose weight Tired all of the time Feeling overwhelmed What is your body telling you

When our body becomes overloaded and unable to support its systems therersquos a greater chance of developing some of the problems associated with hormonal imbalance Whether you are suffering from PMS mood swings bloating or head-aches or you have a family history of breast ovarian or other female cancers there can be imbalances in the ratios of estrogen progesterone testosterone and other hormones in your endocrine and adrenal system

Hormonal imbalances are caused by more than just estrogen Estrogen levels are important but so are progesterone and testosterone levels and their ratios to each other Insulin cortisol (the stress hormone) and thyroid levels can also play a big part More importantly women who are on hormone replacement therapy need to be tested to make sure hormones are broken down cleared and balanced

Letrsquos take a look at some of the most common signs of hormonal imbalances

Irregular or absent periods Weight gainChanges in the shape of your bodyAnxiety andor moodiness

By listening to your body yoursquoll be able to provide what you need to naturally rebalance its hormones Even healthy women who follow a good diet may find glitches in their hormone levels Effective natural options include high quality supplements dietary and lifestyle adjustments The first step is to get tested and find out what is causing these hormonal issues and then learn how to improve your personal hormonal health

Baseball Is Similar to LifeBy Glenton Ashby

Life is similar to going around the bases on a baseball diamond ndash itrsquos a pro-gression Our financial life is also a progression We progress through stages of financial life at the same time we move through various life stages from beginning to end

As you begin your financial life a number of basic steps are prudent and neces-sary Establish a budget (know what and where you are spending) begin a program of regular saving (the amount is not as important as the habit) commit to paying off whatever debt you do have (whether school debt or debt taken on as you begin life after school) and avoid unnecessary debt (eg debt for lifestyle)

Accomplishing these steps in combination with beginning your working life is like getting a runner to first base

Once on first base a variety of things can happen that may impact your ability to advance to the remaining bases Some things are in your control and some are not You are responsible for managing the things that you can control Think of this financial life progression as stewardship rather than ownership (The fact that any-thing we think we own will eventually go to someone else will be addressed later)

Things not in your control still require your awareness and vigilance in order to respond or react to them appropriately Otherwise you may have to start over and go back to first base Things you cannot control include job loss extended illness or disability You can exert a measure of control by having adequate health insur-ance and disability insurance if available and affordable

Sticking to the plan that got you to first base is essential for moving forward to second base This involves moving from the financial basics stage to the stage of a more established financial life

Feedback and topic suggestions are welcome ndash email HalcyonTimesHalcyonFPcom or comment at wwwHalcyonFPcomhalcyon-times Tweet halcyonplanning

Glenton Ashby is the founder and owner of Halcyon Financial Planning LLC a fee-only financial planning and Registered Investment Advisor firm Visit HalcyonFPcom

Skin issuesacneHair lossunusual hair growthInfertilityFatigueloss of energy

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 11

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Is Testing Getting a Bad Wrap By Tamsen Boone

Today I taught my 7th graders the meaning of the term ldquodevilrsquos advocaterdquo They devised many creative definitions on their own before I explained the concept As we batten down the hatches across the state for CRCT week Irsquove spent some time deliberating the testing catch-22 and I decided to play the role of devilrsquos advocate

Yoursquod be hard pressed to find a parent or an educator for that matter who thinks all the testing our students endure isnrsquot over the top This is my first year in middle school and Irsquom feeling the pressure myself However Irsquove decided to approach this with a ldquoglass half fullrdquo mentality If Irsquove done what Irsquom supposed to do in the classroom my students have been exposed to the material If Irsquove found a few creative and innovative strategies my students may even remember what Irsquove exposed them to despite middle school drama and raging tween hormonal shifts If Irsquove provided them with some test-taking strategies Irsquove given them the ability to move through information integrate it and discern the difference between good better and best options

I propose that this is necessary not only in the testing arena but in the real world as well I hope that my students will one day be able to read through cell phone contracts college brochures apartment leases closing statements and job offers to determine their best option Digesting information and discriminating between options (such as A B C or D answers) can be applicable to our daily adult lives Therefore I donrsquot envision myself as wasting time teaching students how to take tests I like to think Irsquom teaching them to analyze carefully when the stakes are high so that they can make solid decisions when the stakes really get high in the adult world

So this position begs the question if testing shouldnrsquot be such a big stressful deal why is it This is probably where I should keep my mouth shut Happy testing J

Whatrsquos Keeping Your Child From Performing at Grade Level

By Christine Giles

National Awareness Month Educates Parents about Speech and Language Disorders Affecting School Performance

Children with communication disorders frequently do not perform at grade level because they have difficulty understanding and speaking struggle with reading and writing misunderstand social cues show poor judgment have trouble taking tests and may avoid school Is this your child

This May as part of Better Hearing and Speech Month Creative Therapy Works in Lilburn GA and the American Speech-Language-Hearing (ASHA) continue their public education efforts for the communication health of our children by pro-viding information to parents to identify and prevent speech and language disorders

Children with communication problems have difficulty learning to listen speak read or write Parents and teachers should refer any student who shows signs of a speech and language problem to the school-based speech-language pathologist for an immediate evaluation

ldquoItrsquos crucial that children are identified and begin treatment as early as possible because summer break will only compound the consequences of a communication disorder if left untreatedrdquo Christine Giles Speech- Language Pathologist and owner of Creative Therapy Works LLC in Lilburn says

Parents should look out for the various types of speech and language disorders that affect school-age children including ~Speech sound disorders (difficulty pronouncing sounds) ~Language disorders (difficulty understanding others and expressing themselves) ~Cognitive-communication disorders (difficulty with thinking skills including per-ception memory awareness reasoning judgment intellect and imagination) ~Stuttering (fluency) disorders (interruption of the flow of speech that may include hesitations repetitions or prolongations of sounds or words) ~Voice disorders (quality of voice that may include hoarseness nasality or loudness)

For more information about speech and language disorders and prevention or to arrange a free speech and language screening for your child please visit wwwcreativetherapyworkscom or call 1-866-611-7855

PAGE 12 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ages 6 weeks to 4 years old We implement age appropriate Creative Curriculum in all classes

See our website for details

Register Your Children Today Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

FIVE FORKS ACADEMY Enroll your children at Legacy Academy

3079 Five Forks Trickum RoadLilburn GA 30047

wwwf iveforksacademycom

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ann Weeks Owner

Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

Caring for childrenages 6 weeks to 4 years

BeforeAfter SchoolPrograms for ages 5-12

Visit us anytime for a personal tour

(770) 982-2000

NEW for 09-10 We will be serving Knight Elementary

amp St John Neumwnn Schools

Before and After School Program for children attending Brookwood Craig Head

and Gwin Oaks Elementary

(770) 982-2000 3079 Five Forks Trickum Road

Lilburn GA 30047

ldquoWe love learning inside and outsiderdquo

wwwfiveforksacademycom

By Hank Cohen

For many decades throughout Gwinnett youth sports have been of major importance to the community Whether the sport is baseball football swimming or one of the many others played in the county Gwinnett has continually been home to some of the best athletes in the state One organization that fosters a large number of stars is the Gwinnett Soccer Association (GSA) GSA located across the street from Parkview High School is dedicated to teaching youths of any age or skill level the rules and techniques of soccer With about 1500 kids and numerous teams at each age level GSA has been a thriving spot for soccer talent in the county

The association is currently led by Chip Stevens and a very talented staff The Girlsrsquo Director of Coaching Campbell Chapman spent ten years playing profes-sional soccer for multiple clubs in England Sweden Finland Malta and Qatar Appointed the Girlsrsquo Director in 2007 Campbell has since coached many state winning teams Nuno Piteira the Boysrsquo Director was the coach of the Charleston Battery professional team where he helped the club to win its first national champi-onship in 1996 When he first moved to Atlanta in 1999 Nuno coached the Atlanta Silverbacks professional team The impact of the Associationrsquos very capable coaches is evident in the talented and highly ranked teams that continue to dominate Currently the boys U15 and U16 have qualified for the national championship in Kansas City GSA currently has four players on US national teams

Each year GSA holds a major tournament where teams from across the Southeast come to compete The GSA Invitational held in December brings about 350-400 teams together Similarly GSA also holds a college showcase to expose col-lege soccer coaches to the extraordinary amount of talent within the organization Coaches from colleges such as Auburn Alabama and UGA have attended to look for future prospects Multiple soccer camps for any skill level also run throughout the year Nuno runs the boysrsquo camps which includes a residency camp at Rinehart College Campbell runs the girlsrsquo camps which include camps throughout the

summer GSA is always seek-ing to reach out to potential players ldquoWe want more kids to play soccer because itrsquos the best sport in the worldrdquo said President Stevens

Since its beginning in 1977 GSA has sought to provide a high quality organization for kids to become engaged in soc-cer Over the years the organi-zation has continuously grown and the association is planning to make changes in the future as well To accommodate the quality talent GSA is updat-ing the fields to provide better complexes for the players The organization will also be host-ing a Junior Academy for 4-8 year olds to teach them the basic skills of soccer and to spark a love for the sport in younger children As the club continues to grow the dedicated staff and coaches of GSA will continue to teach and spread soccer throughout the community Stevens wants to continue this participation in the area he grew up in He is a graduate from Brookwood High School and his wife and children are active at GSA as well The organization has opportunities for every child ldquoItrsquos all about the kidsrdquo Stevens said ldquoFrom young beginners to the elite players GSA has something for everyonerdquo

Gwinnett Soccer Association Itrsquos All About the Kids

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 13

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770-923-32165385 Five Forks Trickum Rd bull Suite M

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Always Fresh Restaurant and Mountain Park FitnessOPEN MON - FRI 10AM-6PM SAT 10AM-3PM

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Serving the Lilburn area for over 20 years

Best Haircuts in TownNO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY

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Mountain Park Fitness

Five Forks Trickum Rd

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ge R

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Part-time Barber Needed

Beautiful Gated Neighborhood for Active Adults Homes amp Villas from the $200s

Visit our Decorated Model Homes Today1950 Grayson Hwy | Grayson GA 30017

OldeTownGraysoncom bull 6787297250

Gracious Hometown Living

Olde Town Graysonrsquos Sales Are Booming

Pick Your Lot Pick Your Floor Plan

Understanding Sunscreen Protection

By Chrissy Thomas RN BSN

In June 2011 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new requirements for over-the-counter sunscreens These rules were put into place to ensure that sunscreens meet todayrsquos standards for safety and effectiveness The fol-lowing is an outline of some of the more important details for consumers to know when choosing sunscreen products

The primary purpose of the FDArsquos changes is to guarantee that sunscreen products are providing adequate protection Previously the Sun Protection Factors (SPFs) dealt with UVB (ultraviolet B) protection only This means that the risk of sunburn was the only factor considered on the label Now we know that much of the sunrsquos risk lies in UVA (ultraviolet A) radiation which contributes to skin cancer and early aging

After reviewing data the FDA determined that sufficient evidence is available to establish a ldquobroad spectrumrdquo test for determining a sunscreen productrsquos UVA protection By passing the broad spectrum test a consumer knows that the product will provide UVA protection that is proportional to its UVB protection Products that pass this test are going to be labeled as ldquobroad spectrumrdquo These products must be a SPF of 15 or higher to adequately protect the skin

Broad spectrum products SPF 15 or higher have been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging when used with other sun protection measures

Still the meaning of SPF confuses some All sun protection products are tested with a SPF test procedure The test measures the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation expo-sure it takes to cause sunburn when a person is using a sunscreen in comparison to how much UV exposure it takes to cause sunburn without sunscreen The product is then labeled with the appropriate SPF value indicating the amount of sunburn protection provided by the product Higher values provide higher protection Because this test is a measure of protection against sunburn itrsquos an indicator of UVB only With the new broad spectrum test SPFs with a higher UVB rating will also have a higher UVA value

Often new clients to About Face Skin Care donrsquot realize that UV protection should be worn on the face and neck daily to avoid dam-aging UV rays from windows in the home or

car -- or even the minimal time spent walking to the mailbox A moisturizer with a UVBUVA factor of 15 or higher will protect the accumulation that inevitably happens from these exposures Itrsquos been determined that by yearrsquos end not wearing daily SPF protection can equal a week at the beach unprotected

Physical blocks such as clothing provide some protection but our faces are constantly exposed And makeup is not a sunblock If your makeup offers UV pro-tection it should be counted as an extra layer Sun protection in makeup according to the Skin Cancer Foundation is the productrsquos secondary purpose Even though some makeup has sunscreen ingredients it doesnrsquot have the proper amount of cov-erage or the capabilities to protect against UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays

Additionally for most people one needs to use 7-14 times the normal amount of powder or foundation to get the SPF coverage stated on the makeup packaging

Just as important donrsquot forget to protect your lips Glosses without SPF react like tanning oil on the lips Skin cancers in this area are becoming more common not to mention the unattractive ldquosmokers linesrdquo that form as the delicate tissues of the lips and surrounding areas are damaged

About Face Skin Care has an array of high-quality products to give you superior protection while offering cosmeceutically-pleasing benefits

If you would like to explore the options of sun protection and other products and treatments offered by About Face schedule your free consultation appointment at 770-935-FACE(3223) or online at wwwaboutfaceskincom We look forward to meeting you

PAGE 14 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Fall in Love with your bodyagain

ldquowhere the beauty you feel becomes the beauty you seerdquo

Complimentary Cosmetic Consultation

Earl Stephenson Jr MD DDS FACS Plastic Surgeon Certified American Board of Plastic Surgery

Breast Augmentation

Liposuction

Tummy Tuck

Gluteal Sculpting and Fat Grafting

(770) 466-4700

84 Patterson RoadLawrenceville GA 30044

770-995-0836pebblestonelandscapegroupcom

Pebblestone Landscape Group is a full service landscape management provider since 1994 Meeting the landscaping needs and requirements for the management groups such as yourself We help our clients increase the appeal of their property to potential customers

bull DesignBuildbull Irrigationbull Landscape Installationbull Lawn Maintenance

bull Seasonal Colorbull Site Enhancementsbull Turf Fertilization Programs

bull bull bull bull bull bull bull bull bull bull

This Summer Prepare to Start School Sharp

By Carol Wood

Woohoo School is out for the summer so learning can stop right Wrong Summertime provides the BEST opportunity for students to enrich their academic skills if they desire to get ahead before school begins again or to catch up on skills if they ended the school year below average If students fall behind during the school year they must catch up with what they have missed AND keep up with what is being taught on a day-by-day basis This is difficult to do and can be stress-ful So summertime is the best time for parents to give their student the oppor-tunity to do what they cannot easily do during the school year CATCH UP or MOVE AHEAD in their academics and solve their STUDY SKILL weaknesses

First locate your childrsquos recent school standardized test scores and examine your childrsquos levels compared to hisher grade level This can be located in the column that reads ldquoGErdquo for grade equivalency or ldquoPRrdquo for percentile Scores below the 50th percentile or below their grade and month level in the GE column when the tests were administered are the ones in which the student was performing below average at that time Scores above the 50th percentile or above his or her grade level show performance above average therefore summer tutoring could entail enrichment work to maintain skills or further build on the studentrsquos strengths in preparation for the next school year By examining your childrsquos most recent test scores and determin-ing which areas are below on or above average you will then know which academic areas to build upon so your student can START SCHOOL SHARP

Next locate professional educational resources with a track record of success should you decide to teach your children at home Purchase the appropriate levels of materials and teach your child using an established consistent weekly schedule Do not allow the student to skip around within workbooks and complete the ldquofunrdquo pages first as the material is purposefully presented in a sequential order Select a study place for each student which is equipped with the learning supplies and tools needed If you do not feel qualified to teach or you do not have the necessary patience with your own child which is not uncommon then seek a full-time professional and experienced educational center Schedule summer learning sessions on a consistent weekly basis with the same degreed and experienced instructor who utilizes nation-ally recognized materials and proven teaching methods Individualized instruction is best in an environment free from distractions and interruptions A professional center is usually preferred since it focuses on providing an ideal learning environment has many quality control measures to insure student improvement is maximized and has a reputation and level of accountability to maintain in order to remain in business Know the credentials of the instructor such as his or her areas of teaching experience and educational degree and match this with your studentrsquos academic area of summer instruction Ask for references and contact them to learn about their experience with the professional center you are considering Request to see the instructional area and observe sessions in progress

Remember SUMMER is the most ideal time for students to get a JUMP START on the next school year

Carol Wood is the founder and owner of Total Learning Concepts Inc a private profes-sional tutorial service located in Gwinnett County Please email questions to ccwoodbellsouthnet or fax to 770-381-1626

MAYCROSSWORDSOLUTION

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 15

1319 Scenic Highway n Lawrenceville GA 30045 n 770-979-9490At the intersection of Hwy 124 amp Webb Gin House Road

Join Us For Lunch

Daily Specials from $325

Fax 770-979-9590 Take-Out Orders

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With Any Food Purchase over $20Valid Mon-Thurs 3pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or Sun

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ldquoGirl Timerdquo Is ImportantBy Julie Mills

As I sit and think about this yearrsquos Motherrsquos Day I thought I would take a few moments to emphasis the importance of ldquogirl timerdquo I feel so lucky that my work allows me to experience wonderful bonding with my female clients When receiv-ing body work many emotions are released Our bodies are wired to keep our emotions in and they manifest in the form of knots aches pains and sometimes even disease Part of my job is to provide a safe space for my clients to let those emotions go and to begin healing from the inside out Letrsquos talk about how women are wired and why it is so important for us to have friendships

As a woman I already knew that my ldquogirl timerdquo was important and actually kept my sanity at times However I did some research and found a landmark UCLA study that suggests friendships between women are very special They shape who we are and who we are yet to be They soothe our inner world and fill the emo-tional gaps in our male relationships

Researchers suspect that women handle stress in more ways than just fight or flight In fact says Dr Klein of UCLA it seems that when the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress responses in a woman it buffers the fight or flight response and encourages her to tend children and gather with other women When she actually engages in this tending or befriending studies suggest that more oxyto-cin is released which further counters stress and produces a calming effect Men do not have this response due to high levels of testosterone released during stress The estrogen in women seems to enhance the oxytocin and produces a calming effect

It was noted that when the women were stressed they came in to work cleaned the work space had coffee and bonded with other female coworkers When the men were stressed they holed up somewhere on their own and did not interact with coworkers Wow - this part of the study sounds so familiar When I am stressed or have a lot on my mind I get into my cleaning mode or I want to call my sisters These activities help me to think things through and to unwind My husband on the other hand says nothing and he has the unique ability to quietly disappear

It is interesting that nearly 90 of the stress research has been with males With this new research the fact that women respond to stress differently than men has significant implications for our health It may take some time for new studies to reveal all the ways that oxytocin encourages us to care for children and hang out with other women but the ldquotend and befriendrdquo notion developed by Drs Klein and Taylor may explain why women consistently outlive men Study after study has found that social ties reduce our risk of disease by lowering blood pressure heart rate and cholesterol Therersquos no doubt that friends are helping us live longer

Every time we get overly busy with work and family the first thing we do is let go of friendships with other women We push them right to the back burner Thatrsquos really a mistake because women are such a source of strength to each other We nurture one another We need to have unpressured space in which we can do the special kind of talk that women do when theyrsquore with other women Itrsquos a very healing experience

Have you had your much-needed girl time Make this month your month and have a very happy Motherrsquos Day

Julie Mills CMT is owner of Body of Health and Life LLC for more information visit wwwbodyofhealthandlifecom

PAGE 16 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Ashton Pike

ldquoBeauty starts from withinrdquo One may expect a famous womanrsquos name to fol-low this quote but the woman responsible for such accurate words is better than famous She is distinguished After all fame fades but a distinguished woman will be known for years since she will stand out from everyone Hair stylist and salon owner Sudonna Patterson meets these traits and more Being a mom of three young boys an adored wife and a successful entrepreneur Patterson has numerous accomplishments to her name and this is only the beginning

Born and raised in Macon Georgia Patterson practiced the basics of cosmetol-ogy as a young girl when she styled her dollsrsquo hair and when she put rollers in her great auntrsquos hair before bedtime each night Eventually moving from Barbie dolls to actual customers Patterson worked weekends as a shampoo assistant in a hair salon during high school This job led her to pursue a career in cosmetology at Dudleyrsquos Cosmetology University in North Carolina

After graduating Patterson became an instructor for Dudleyrsquos Advanced Cosmetology University and then she took her skills outside national borders as an International Educator Traveling to remarkable locations such as the Bahamas Barbados Aruba and Jamaica Patterson worked to communicate the latest tech-niques in cosmetology through seminars on product knowledge hair care advance cutting and styling techniques

Taking into consideration Pattersonrsquos spontaneous extrovert personality it was no surprise that she met her husband on a blind date in Atlanta while she lived in North Carolina She and her husband are now loving and dedicated parents of three sons Logan 8 and twins Bryce and Blake 4 The family of five resides in Lilburn Georgia where they spend copious amounts of time together either at home or at Peace Baptist Church where they attend regularly

Amid college and starting a family Patterson became an entrepreneur open-ing her own hair salon called Chase Morgan Salon which has been in business for

Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

Diets Donrsquot WorkBy Kelly Farris

Itrsquos that time of year again ndash panic mode has set in and yoursquore trying to get off the winter flub in time for bathing suit season

You might be considering a diet Maybe yoursquore stuck trying to choose between the wide variety of options 17 day cabbage soup weight loss shakes paleo and Atkins just to name a few

Unfortunately none of these work in the long run In fact fad diets can backfire and even contribute to weight gain You donrsquot have to have a perfect diet to have a good diet Eating normal portions of wholesome foods leads to the right body weight

Let your eating habits consist of 85-90 of quality calories with the remaining calories of ldquowhateverrdquo ldquoWhateverrdquo means you can have an orange one day or a cookie the next The trick is not to deprive yourself of foods you really like Sooner or later you will end up binging if you make certain foods taboo Take away the power to binge-eat by eating that certain food more often Chances are seven days of having a cookie for your ldquowhateverrdquo calories will make it less desirable by day eight

I advise all my clients to make breakfast the most important meal of the day I encourage eggs egg substitute turkey sausage veggie sausage grits or oatmeal These are all ldquofill-you-uprdquo foods Start your day with filling healthy foods and yoursquoll set the tone for the rest of your day while reducing sugar cravings

So eat but donrsquot deprive yourself Make good choices

over 10 years Named after her sisterrsquos children Chase and Morgan Chase Morgan Salon as Patterson states ldquohellipwas designed with the client in mind to create quality and efficient hair care services while being a positive environment for women to fellowship and relaxrdquo

Though the salon was origi-nally located in Decatur Georgia Patterson recently moved the loca-tion to Snellville Georgia to live out her dream of opening a conveniently located upscale salon that would allow her to actively participate in her childrenrsquos lives at school

Having been in the cosmetology business for 23 years and counting Patterson is highly dedicated to her career Every day she goes above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction Patterson commented ldquoMy clients tease me because I am known for being the resource lady As a hair stylist clients confide in you about their per-sonal struggles I feel it is my responsibility as a Christian to uplift them and speak positive things into their life that will encourage themrdquo

Being close to clients can also come with a cost According to Patterson the most difficult part of her job is losing faithful clients with the change in the econ-omy and increasing unemployment On one hand she strives to help them until their financial situation is better but on the other Chase Morgan Salon is still an operating business and needs to make a profit in order to stay in business

Though being a successful entrepreneur comes with positive and negative aspects the overall feelings of accomplishment and contentment with the Chase Morgan Salon trumps everything A distinguished devoted and aspiring woman Patterson has become a figure of hope proving that with hard work and dedica-tion a childhood dream can become a reality Pattersonrsquos future at Chase Morgan Salon seems bright ldquoMy goal for the salon is to always create an environment to derive success from teamwork and through education As techniques change and products improve I will prepare stylists through education to satisfy the new demands of clients thus ensuring a successful position in the futurerdquo

For contact information for Sudonna Patterson or information on location and operating hours of Chase Morgan Salon please visit wwwchasemorgansaloncom

One Employee

At a TimeStrengthening

Companies3

ldquoSolving Gwinnett Countyrsquos staffing needs for over 16 yearsrdquo

For client inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at clientsunitedstaffingservicecom

For employment inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at jobsunitedstaffingservicecom

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 17

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Excludes seed sod straw sale items gift cardsCannot be combined with any other salecoupon discount promotion or previous purchase1 coupon per familyExpires 52013

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4975 Hwy 78Lilburn GA 30047

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You Canrsquot Get There From Here By Susan Cadley LPC

Have you ever wished you could be like Harry Potter and wave a magic wand to fix a problem or get what you wanted If so you are in good company It is a natural tendency to avoid pain frustration or any feeling that is perceived as ldquobadrdquo It is also natural to have desires and goals for your life But herersquos the truth life is a process and when we resist or deny what we are feeling or what is happening in our life we actually cause ourselves more pain

We are all born with a wide range of emotions and these emotions are mes-sengers If we pay attention to them they have much to share with us We may learn what we react to what beliefs we hold and most importantly where our healing lies When we ignore these messengers they knock louder and harder at our subconscious until they get our attention So instead of working so hard to push emotions away welcome them in as a guest and lean into them You will find that the feelings dissipate and the pain of resistance yoursquove created will be eased

When we want to wish challenges away we lose the richness of life Imagine what it would be like to watch a movie and only view the first and last 10 minutes of the film By skipping the majority of the movie we miss out on the story and the experience as a whole And so it is with life When we wish for our lives to be different than they are we must then let go and live our lives right now with all the seeming imperfections that make up the movie we are living When we wish to go from ldquohererdquo to ldquothererdquo directly we miss out on personal growth

We are all here to learn love live fully and be more of who we are Embrace all of your life right where you are right now Then the real magic will begin

Susan Cadley LPC Licensed Professional Counselor is available for couplesadult individual counseling and creativity workshops in Suwanee GA She may be reached directly and confiden-tially at 678-296-1278 wwwcoaching foryoursoulcom

Fly-Fishing PatagoniaBy Pam Walker

What I know about Fly-Fishing you could put on the head of a straight pin So when asked to visit Patagonia I thought ldquoThis is my chance to learnrdquo

In early March I flew to Buenos Aires Argentina and then on to Bariloche From there I had an hour drive to Villa Angostura Aroyo Verde the famed fly- fishing lodge was further on down a dirt road

No signs No directions We had just a general sense of where we were going Anthony my naturalist guide headed into the Traful river canyon Fifteen minutes later we were greeted first by an authentic gaucho and then by riders on horseback After another 20 minutes we saw along a stream a lovely chalet with a sculpture gar-den Estancia Aroyo Verde

This private fishing and riding estancia is the home of one of Argentinarsquos most elite families Located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park the family-managed lodge hosts visitors from across the globe The Traful River is also home to land-locked salmon brown and rainbow trout This is a catch-and-release river with a season from November through April In this remote setting the fish some reaching 28 in for salmon and 29 in for Rainbows and Browns swim right up to you in the crystal clear water Best of all you need only your favorite fly rod Everything else is avail-able on-site Miles of nothingness surrounds this pristine spot Imagine standing in the river surrounded by the Andes What more could you ask for

Rooms are cozy all with private baths and meals are served family-style If yoursquore lucky join the family for an Argentine-style barbeque (Parillada) cooked outdoors by one of the resi-dent gauchos

Fishing horseback riding and even moun-tain bikes are here for your enjoyment Too bad I had to come back

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant and can be reached at Walker Adventures pliwalkerearthlinknet You can follow her travels by visiting Pamrsquos blog at httpwwwpamwalkersblogspotcom

PAGE 18 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Pastor Paul Ballard

The mission statement of Mountain Park First Baptist Church is to engage every man woman and child by living out Jesusrsquo love and sharing the gospel both locally and globally Since coming to MPFBC in May 2011 senior pastor Paul Ballard has been simple in his approach He has two priorities preaching the gospel and becoming a radiant church by being missional in nature

First Pastor Paul has prioritized the preaching of the gospel of Jesus The gospel is Godrsquos victory over sin and death through the person and work of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 151 says ldquoNow I would remind you brothers of the gospel

I preached to you which you received in which you standhelliprdquo The gospel is not just the entry point into Christianity It is the key to spiritual growth as we stand in Jesusrsquo finished work on the cross and His glorious resurrection

Second because the gospel has radically changed us God has called His people to give Him glory by living radiant lives resulting in missional living The church has moved from an internal to an external emphasis Some of the practical results have been

bull Adopting local fire stations and the Gwinnett South Precinct by providing meals and notes of encouragement

bull Hosting community events like Family Fest on May 4 2013

bull Mentoring ladies from the Atlanta WomenChildren shelter and adopting and fixing up a dorm

bull Offering an ESL program on Wednesdays with a provided meal afterward bull Holding food drives for Lilburn Co-op and providing Christmas for needy

familiesbull Deacons serving at Mountain Park Park in the concession stand so parents

could watch their children playbull Donating over $100000 from financial overages the last two years to support

local and international missions above the normal mission givingGod is at work at Mountain Park First Baptist Church For more information

go to wwwmpfbcorg

Chaplainrsquos Corner

hellipto our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue

Keep them coming

Thanks

Dr Louise DeLong Dr Franccediloise Tyler

ldquoHappy Motherrsquos Day from all of us at The Village Vetsrdquo Dr Will Draper

Dr Carrie McColganDr Amanda Irish

Hours Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm Sat 8am-2pm Sun 12-4pmwwwTheVillageVetscom

770-717-1650

7 Days a Week

1227 Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain(Near the Kroger Shopping Center)

Serving Gwinnett

and Dekalb Counties

Mention this ad for

10 OFFFirst visit

Limit one per household Vaccines and services only Products not included Coupon need not be presented for discount Terms subject to change without

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Pictured Dr Will Draper with his mother Cheryl and her dogs Dolly and Kali

Page 3: MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 3

PAGE 4 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

IN THIS ISSUEOur Town is published and direct mailed to select homes in the Gwinnett area Opinions expressed by the writers and staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher Our Town reserves the right to edit andor reject any editorial or advertising content Our Town 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 2013 by Our Town Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher

Our Town Monthly1227 Rockbridge Road

Suite 208-171

Stone Mountain GA 30087

678-825-2049

infoendresultzcom

wwwendresultzcom

Our TownFamily liFestyle News magaziNe

mdash An EndResultz Company

PublisherRyan T Sauers

Creative DirectorElsie Olson

Cover PhotographyChrista K Huggins

Feature Writers TeamHank CohenAllie Gardner

Stefanie LamprsquolAshton Pike

Contributing WritersDr Jeanette Altieri

Glenton Ashby Pastor Paul Ballard

Tamsen BooneSusan Cadley

Kelly FarrisChristine GilesTerie Hansen

Julie MillsRyan T SauersChrissy Thomas

Pam WalkerCarol Wood

5 About the Cover Air Conditioning Experts A Family Affair

6 One Manrsquos Opinion

7 May Calendar

8 Crossword Puzzle

8 Is Your Dog Properly Socialized

8 Great Content Is King

9 Getting to Know Trickum Middle School Principal Kay Sands

10 Are Your Hormones Driving You Crazy

10 Baseball Is Similar to Life

11 Is Testing Getting a Bad Wrap

11 Whatrsquos Keeping Your Child From Performing at Grade Level

12 Gwinnett Soccer Association Itrsquos All About the Kids

13 Understanding Sunscreen Protection

14 This Summer Prepare to Start School Sharp

15 ldquoGirl Timerdquo Is Important

16 Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

16 Diets Donrsquot Work

17 You Canrsquot Get There From Here

17 Fly-Fishing Patagonia

18 Chaplainrsquos Corner

Earl Stephenson Jr MD DDS

Certified American Board of Plastic Surgery

2220 Wisteria Dr Suite 209

Snevie GA 30078

wwwsignature-plasticsurgerycom

Are you ready for the beachSchedule your complimentary consultation770-466-4700

Get Ready for Summer Fun

Cosmetic Surgery of the Face Body amp Breasts

ldquowhere the beauty YOU feel becomes the beauty YOU seerdquo

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 5

REGISTER NOW FOR FINAL EXAM PREP SESSIONS AND SUMMER TUTORING

Five ForksLilburn Center770-381-5958

GraysonLoganville Center770-466-8282

Or Visit Us on the Web atwwwtotallearningconceptscom

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By Allie Gardner

Most companies are composed of employees who start as strangers with every person focusing on hisher specific job within the business Air Conditioning Experts Inc defies the stereotypical company Founded in 1995 by Bill and Heather Preston the business began with the desire to give custom-ers quality service that displayed the values that so many other organizations seem to lack as well as a satisfying and progressive work environment for their employees Their first employee was brother-in-law Chris Allen who started in 1996 and later became a partner in 2000

Air Conditioning Experts provides heating ventilation and air condi-tion (HVAC) services and installations for residential homes and commercial properties but specialize in working with real estate investors ACErsquos goal is to continue to serve homeowners businesses and investors in all of their markets with the personal service they deserve and always providing superior products exem-plary customer service and supreme workmanship in an unmatched cost effective manner The company expanded to Orlando and Charlotte after recognizing that the level of customer service they provided in Atlanta would do well in the other markets The owners felt that those particular cities were a great fit for their type of customer service

Owner Heather Preston said ldquoAs our customer you should always rest easy knowing we will be here for you for your comfort needs for years to comerdquo

The business is truly a family affair Allen partners with his sister and brother-in-law His mom and stepfather Nancy and Remo Loyal manage another company owned by Allen and the Prestons Steelworks Inc a security cage business Allenrsquos son Chris Jr stepbrother Remeno Loyal and nephew Keith Hodges also work for Steelworks Hillary Preston Allenrsquos niece works

About the CoverAir Conditioning Experts A Family Affair

as an administrative assistant for Air Conditioning Experts and Billrsquos mom Ella McCrater helps around the office part time Even as it has grown the company has made maintaining the family atmosphere a priority

ACE has employed multiple long time family friends to be part of the companyrsquos team some of whom have been with the business since the 1990s

Allen said ldquo[Working with family] is great You know that your partners truly have your best interest at heartrdquo

The company has made it a goal to be a big part of their community Everyone at Air Conditioning Experts is very involved in their churches Allen and his family are members of Mountain West Church of God located in Stone Mountain They work with the outreach program and other ministries that focus on giving back to the Tucker Lilburn and Stone Mountain areas The Preston family belongs to the Dacula Church of God and is involved in simi-lar organizations and ministries as Allen Bill Preston and Eric Medina who serve as the comfort advisors speak on a local gospel radio program twice each month

Air Conditioning Experts brings Gwinnett County a helpful service to homes and businesses a family environment that is hard to find anywhere else and a community outreach that touches hundreds of lives The business con-tinues to grow and expand providing unique customer service that is needed in this day and age

PAGE 6 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

See online message from publisher at

wwwourtownmagvideocom or scan the QR code below

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By Ryan T Sauers

Well Gwinnett can you believe it It is already May and summertime is on the way I want to start out by explaining why I chose the title One Manrsquos Opinion for this column My grandfather began a column with this name many decades ago for a large chain of weekly newspapers in DeKalb County So this is my way of paying tribute to a long family history in publishing My parents then took this publishing company and built it into a very successful printing company Without this heritage it is highly unlikely I would be writing this article today

Also I want to thank our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue The response to our first issue was overwhelming Thanks for all of your calls and emails in regard to new stories and thanks to our current advertisers as well as the new advertisers who are coming onboard We are quickly growing and have big plans for growth and change in the months ahead Also I encourage you to use the QR code or the URL address provided to view the video that goes along with this column It will make your reading experience even better

Last month the name of one of our writers Ashton Pike was inadvertently left off the superb article she wrote on Debra Dees the principal of Brookwood Sorry about that Ashton This month a new feature has been added called Chaplainrsquos Corner where different pastors from our community will highlight the good things going on in their churches We will be hearing from a lot of pastors begin-ning with Pastor Paul Ballard of Mountain Park Baptist We will be bringing in more stories of interest in coming months to make the magazine even better and keep the content strong

This month we have some great stories Here is an overview A terrific family run company AC Experts here in Snellville is profiled You get to meet Kay Sands who is the principal of Trickum Middle School You will read a neat story about GSA (Gwinnett Soccer Association) and the new developments that are taking place at the club Finally there is an insightful profile of Chase Morgan Salon and why the salon chose to move down Highway 78 from Decatur to Snellville You have to read them all to find out more

You will continue to see good news in this and future issues of the magazine We need it With the recent tragedy in Boston and other such incidents we need now more than ever to hear about good people events news and happenings It seems that every publication and news story I pick up focuses on negative news Gwinnett I am here to tell you there are some amazing people doing incredible things right here in our backyard Special thanks this month to Christa K Huggins for doing a great job with our cover photo shot this month and to Elsie Olson for your usual top notch design work And to all of the rest of you you know who you are I cannot thank you enough

We are working to update our website and social media tools so pardon our progress I have no doubt you will love it in the end as they will be better than ever Our goal is to offer an amazing integrated communications experience So enjoy this May issue of Our Town We look forward to your feedback as we seek to improve your reading experience each month Have a great month And remember this is your town This is OUR TOWN

From the Publisher One Manrsquos Opinion

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 7

Disney On Ice Presents Worlds of FantasyMay 1-5 2013Arena at Gwinnett CenterDuluthwwwgwinnettcentercom

The Atlanta Coin and Currency ExpoMay 3-5 2013North Atlanta Trade CenterNorcrosswwwnorthatlantatradecentercomFri amp Sat 10am-6pm Sun 10am-3pm

Krispy Kreme for a CureMay 4 2013Town Center ParkSuwaneewwwaplacetoimaginecom

Fodac Run Walk Nrsquo RollMay 4 2013Confederate Hall ndash Stone Mountain ParkStone MountainwwwstonemountainparkcomBenefitting the Friends of Disabled Adults and Children

FreshMay 7 2013Tannery Row Artist ColonyBufordwwwtanneryrowartistcolonycomJuried show 12pm-5pm

2013 Relay For LifeMay 10-11 2013Gwinnett County FairgroundsLawrencevillewwwgwinnettrelayforlifeorgThe nationrsquos largest Relay for Life raises funds to fight cancer

9th Annual Barefoot In the Park GalaMay 10-12 2013Duluth Town GreenDuluthwwwbarefootintheparkorgGwinnettrsquos premier juried arts festival

Atlanta Exotic Bird FairMay 10-11 2013North Atlanta Trade CenterNorcrosswwwnorthatlantatradecentercom

Reels at Robinson ndash Summer Movie SeriesMay 17 2013EE Robinson ParkSugar Hillwwwcityofsugarhillcom

Pet Revolution 2013May 17-18 2013Gwinnett County FairgroundsLawrenceville

Animal adoptions Fri 8pm ndash Sun 8pm (48 hrs straight)

SCCA NationalMay 19 2013Road AtlantaBraseltonwwwroadatlantacomSports Car Club of America National Race All day

Board Game BlastoffMay 20 2013Bethesda Park Senior CenterLawrencevillewwwgwinnettparkscomchallenge yourself to a game of scrab-ble mahjong chess and more

Two for the ShowMay 23 2013George Pierce Park Community CenterSuwaneewwwgwinnettparkscomArt show 9am-8pm

Nike Memorial Day ClassicMay 24-27 2013Suwanee Sports AcademySuwaneewwwsuwaneesportsacademycomBasketball ndash Boys 14U-17U

Gwinnett Daily Post Memorial Day ConcertMay 24 2013Town Center ParkSuwaneewwwsuwaneecomConcert

Taste of GwinnettMay 26-27 2013Peachtree CornerswwwtasteofgwinnettcomPremier food festival

Memorial Day Weekend CelebratioMay 26-27 2013Stone Mountain ParkStone MountainwwwstonemountainparkcomFireworks and fun 1030am-8pm laser show 930pm

Memorial Day in DaculaMay 27 2013Historic Downtown DaculaDaculawwwdaculamemorialdaycomParade ndash festival 9am-5pm

Memorial Day CelebrationMay 27 2013Thrasher ParkNorcrosswwwaplacetoimaginecom

Onion Manrsquos Summer Harvest Festival Keep it LegalMay 30-June 1 2013Norcross Cultural Arts and Community CenterNorcrosswwwlionhearttheatreorgA collection of short plays

May Calendar

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AC Spine amp Wellness Center 217 Scenic Highway Lawrenceville GA 30046-5621

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Call today to schedule your FREE Consultation AC Spine amp Wellness Center

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PAGE 8 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Solution on page 16

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Professional Landscape and Design Services

Is Your Dog Properly SocializedBy Terie Hansen

Socializing your dog is a lifelong undertaking not just during the first year or two of their life with you Many who reach out to us for training are experiencing the side effects of an under-socialized dog

Does your dog bark wildly when it sees other dogs or pull on the leash towards other dogs or people Does it shy away from objects in its environment or does it act fearful or aggressive towards people or dogs These can be symptoms of an under-socialized dog

When you get a new dog whether puppy or adult you are excited to spend time with him and share him with everyone and anyone who will let you So you take your new pet on walks to parks on hikes and to pet stores This is great because he is learning how to act in these various environments and around other people and dogs As the newness wears off however you donrsquot take him out as often Therefore he is exposed to less stimulation

Three to six months or even one to two years can go by and your dog hasnrsquot come in contact with anyone other than your family Now all of a sudden you decide to take him someplace where there are other people and dogs Chances are he will act either uncontrollably excited or fearful which can look like aggression and you think ldquoOMG Whatrsquos the matter with my dogrdquo You decide that you can no longer take him out in public What happened Culture shock Many dogs need to be socialized on an ongoing basis If we stay in our house and didnrsquot come out until fifteen years later we would experience the same feelings of excitement fear and anxiety

This is easily preventable socialize socialize and socialize for the life of your dog If you are experiencing these symptoms already reach out to us We can help

Terie Hansen Professional Dog Trainer Pet Sitter amp Owner at Good Dog Coaching amp Pet Care-may be reached at 404-422-9832 infogooddogcoachingcom wwwgooddogcoachingcom

Great Content Is KingBy Ryan T Sauers

I often tell people that content is king And you know whatmdashthis is not quite right Why You seehellip content is good but great content is ldquokingrdquo Think about it Why do you become engrossed in a movie or show Why do you send a funny YouTube video to a friend Why do you enjoy talking with certain people Why do you like to read certain articles The answer is simple We do these things because we love watching hearing or reading great content By the way if you are still the person forwarding emailshellip not so funny J

We are all busy and whether we are in person (offline) or online (virtual) -- it takes something special unique to pull us in and ldquowowrdquo us We live in a world where most people have a short attention span You see I was talking to you Please put down your phone and let me finish So how do we accomplish this The secret is simple It is all about great content Good content is okay but will always lose to great content

For an article or any engagement to be enjoyable it must be more than my writ-ing and your reading It must be a two way dialogue or conversation It must be about taking the ink and words that are on the paper you are readingmdashso they are transformed in your mind into a story worth sharing and acting upon Isnrsquot this what you want your customers to do when they think of you If you sound like everyone else you are lacking great content Always remember people can duplicate your ideas but cannot replicate your DNA So what do you bring your stakehold-ers--online and offlinemdashthat is simply great content And can you produce such great content consistently Do you ever think about it If not there is no better time than now to begin thinking with such a strategic mindset As I travel across the country one thing has become clear those who are willing to be creative and break the box in their thinking in a purposeful manner are the companies that are running towards 2014

Ryan T Sauers is PresidentOwner of Sauers Consulting Strategies Our business is growing your business More info at wwwryansauerscom ryansauers ryanryansauerscom

MAY C

ROSS

WO

RD

Across1 Alone5 Mozartrsquos ldquoLrsquo___ del Cairordquo8 ldquo___ here longrdquo12 Legal prefix13 ___ Altaic languages14 ldquoFantasticrdquo15 ldquo___ Brockovichrdquo16 ldquo___ Smilerdquo (1976 hit)17 Red eye18 Assistant20 Feed21 Sheikrsquos bevy22 Impede withrdquodownrdquo23 Advantages26 Witnessed30 Bit od a draft31 Artificial34 Help35 Defeat37 Tokyo formerly38 Drive39 Ashcroftrsquos predecessor40 Hospital restroom42 Internrsquol Monetary Fund43 Rare earth element45 Bothers47 ldquo___ Doubtfirerdquo

48 Brunch serving50 Watered-down52 Generous56 Put off as a motion57 Capture58 Creole vegetable59 Bawl out60 ldquoEmpedocles on ___rdquo (Matthew Arnold poem)61 Newton fruits62 Pay (up)63 Do it yourself64 ChargesDown1 Particular for short2 Hawaiian tuber3 ldquoMi chiamano Mimirdquo eg4 Peacemaker5 Be bombastic6 Bank7 Apple spray8 Carriage9 ldquo___ on Down the Roadrdquo10 ldquohellipthere is no ___angel but Loverdquo Shakespeare11 ldquoSmoking or ___rdquo13 Certain shark14 Confuse

19 Blaseacute22 Show ___23 Loan shark24 Lab tube25 All in26 ldquoCut it outrdquo27 Native indian dwellings28 Swelling29 Dutch pottery city32 Appear33 Make sense with ldquouprdquo36 Usually38 All thumbs40 Greyhound eg41 ldquoTo dordquo list44 Angry46 Irritate48 Cousin of a raccoon49 Not set50 1993 standoff site51 Black in poetry52 Ran as colors53 ldquo___ From Muskogeerdquo54 Advocate55 Back talk56 Cooking meas

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 9

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By Stefanie Lamprsquol

ldquoLove everyone trust a few do wrong to nonerdquo This eminent quote by William Shakespeare written on the white board in the principalrsquos office at Trickum Middle School watches over Kay Sands as she leads a growing student body faculty and staff These words represent how Sands runs her school She is dedicated to educating her students and teaching principles that will allow them to better their community

Kay Sands was born and raised in Atlanta Georgia As a kid Sands loved sports especially tennis She majored in health and physical education at the University of Georgia and then attended graduate school at the University of Alabama Sands never saw herself becoming a teacher let alone the head of the administration Although it was not the original job she set out to do she loves every minute of it

Sands held several positions before finding a home at Trickum Middle School For three years she worked at Five Forks as a health and physical education teacher One of the most rewarding jobs she has had yet was being a stay-at-home mom to her three sons for thir-teen years During this time she also coached tennis a sport she always enjoyed playing Sands was an assistant principal for six years before becoming principal in 2008 Sands believes that it was the work of Lynn Davis and Calvin Watts prin-cipals of Trickum Middle School before Sands that encouraged her to take on the position They were incredible mentors who helped her make the transition from assistant principal to the head of Trickum Middle School

Even though Kay Sands never saw herself in her current role she is blessed by the position She has a tremendous opportunity to empower people to make a school great She wants her students to come to school to be engaged rather than disinterested As a kid Sands was not a big fan of school so her goal as an adminis-trator is to change this She wants to show her students how truly meaningful learning can be and to do her part in contributing to the community to make the dis-trict the best place to live She knows this is not possible without the incredible and competent faculty and staff who work beside her every day

Kay Sands does not shoot for perfection She knows that she will not always say the right thing or make the right choices She also knows that if she focuses on what is going well and what is positive she can rectify any situation and become a stronger leader

When Sands is not giving her all to bettering the lives and minds of her students she loves being out-doors She enjoys hiking or escaping

to a quiet place in nature There is no better place to her though than living and working in her community It is satisfying and reward-ing to be a part of developing passionate and educated students who will lead the commu-nity on to success

Getting to Know Trickum Middle School Principal Kay Sands

PAGE 10 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

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From the great outdoors and virtual travel to music and dance

Camp PrimroseSM is your familyrsquos passport to adventure and fun

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Primrose School of Five Forks3030 River Drive Lawrenceville GA 30044

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Are Your Hormones Driving You CrazyBy Dr Jeanette Altieri AC Spine amp Wellness Center

At every age hormones fluctuate mdash and thatrsquos normal However when changes happen too fast or become too much for your body to handle you can start expe-riencing problems Canrsquot lose weight Tired all of the time Feeling overwhelmed What is your body telling you

When our body becomes overloaded and unable to support its systems therersquos a greater chance of developing some of the problems associated with hormonal imbalance Whether you are suffering from PMS mood swings bloating or head-aches or you have a family history of breast ovarian or other female cancers there can be imbalances in the ratios of estrogen progesterone testosterone and other hormones in your endocrine and adrenal system

Hormonal imbalances are caused by more than just estrogen Estrogen levels are important but so are progesterone and testosterone levels and their ratios to each other Insulin cortisol (the stress hormone) and thyroid levels can also play a big part More importantly women who are on hormone replacement therapy need to be tested to make sure hormones are broken down cleared and balanced

Letrsquos take a look at some of the most common signs of hormonal imbalances

Irregular or absent periods Weight gainChanges in the shape of your bodyAnxiety andor moodiness

By listening to your body yoursquoll be able to provide what you need to naturally rebalance its hormones Even healthy women who follow a good diet may find glitches in their hormone levels Effective natural options include high quality supplements dietary and lifestyle adjustments The first step is to get tested and find out what is causing these hormonal issues and then learn how to improve your personal hormonal health

Baseball Is Similar to LifeBy Glenton Ashby

Life is similar to going around the bases on a baseball diamond ndash itrsquos a pro-gression Our financial life is also a progression We progress through stages of financial life at the same time we move through various life stages from beginning to end

As you begin your financial life a number of basic steps are prudent and neces-sary Establish a budget (know what and where you are spending) begin a program of regular saving (the amount is not as important as the habit) commit to paying off whatever debt you do have (whether school debt or debt taken on as you begin life after school) and avoid unnecessary debt (eg debt for lifestyle)

Accomplishing these steps in combination with beginning your working life is like getting a runner to first base

Once on first base a variety of things can happen that may impact your ability to advance to the remaining bases Some things are in your control and some are not You are responsible for managing the things that you can control Think of this financial life progression as stewardship rather than ownership (The fact that any-thing we think we own will eventually go to someone else will be addressed later)

Things not in your control still require your awareness and vigilance in order to respond or react to them appropriately Otherwise you may have to start over and go back to first base Things you cannot control include job loss extended illness or disability You can exert a measure of control by having adequate health insur-ance and disability insurance if available and affordable

Sticking to the plan that got you to first base is essential for moving forward to second base This involves moving from the financial basics stage to the stage of a more established financial life

Feedback and topic suggestions are welcome ndash email HalcyonTimesHalcyonFPcom or comment at wwwHalcyonFPcomhalcyon-times Tweet halcyonplanning

Glenton Ashby is the founder and owner of Halcyon Financial Planning LLC a fee-only financial planning and Registered Investment Advisor firm Visit HalcyonFPcom

Skin issuesacneHair lossunusual hair growthInfertilityFatigueloss of energy

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 11

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Is Testing Getting a Bad Wrap By Tamsen Boone

Today I taught my 7th graders the meaning of the term ldquodevilrsquos advocaterdquo They devised many creative definitions on their own before I explained the concept As we batten down the hatches across the state for CRCT week Irsquove spent some time deliberating the testing catch-22 and I decided to play the role of devilrsquos advocate

Yoursquod be hard pressed to find a parent or an educator for that matter who thinks all the testing our students endure isnrsquot over the top This is my first year in middle school and Irsquom feeling the pressure myself However Irsquove decided to approach this with a ldquoglass half fullrdquo mentality If Irsquove done what Irsquom supposed to do in the classroom my students have been exposed to the material If Irsquove found a few creative and innovative strategies my students may even remember what Irsquove exposed them to despite middle school drama and raging tween hormonal shifts If Irsquove provided them with some test-taking strategies Irsquove given them the ability to move through information integrate it and discern the difference between good better and best options

I propose that this is necessary not only in the testing arena but in the real world as well I hope that my students will one day be able to read through cell phone contracts college brochures apartment leases closing statements and job offers to determine their best option Digesting information and discriminating between options (such as A B C or D answers) can be applicable to our daily adult lives Therefore I donrsquot envision myself as wasting time teaching students how to take tests I like to think Irsquom teaching them to analyze carefully when the stakes are high so that they can make solid decisions when the stakes really get high in the adult world

So this position begs the question if testing shouldnrsquot be such a big stressful deal why is it This is probably where I should keep my mouth shut Happy testing J

Whatrsquos Keeping Your Child From Performing at Grade Level

By Christine Giles

National Awareness Month Educates Parents about Speech and Language Disorders Affecting School Performance

Children with communication disorders frequently do not perform at grade level because they have difficulty understanding and speaking struggle with reading and writing misunderstand social cues show poor judgment have trouble taking tests and may avoid school Is this your child

This May as part of Better Hearing and Speech Month Creative Therapy Works in Lilburn GA and the American Speech-Language-Hearing (ASHA) continue their public education efforts for the communication health of our children by pro-viding information to parents to identify and prevent speech and language disorders

Children with communication problems have difficulty learning to listen speak read or write Parents and teachers should refer any student who shows signs of a speech and language problem to the school-based speech-language pathologist for an immediate evaluation

ldquoItrsquos crucial that children are identified and begin treatment as early as possible because summer break will only compound the consequences of a communication disorder if left untreatedrdquo Christine Giles Speech- Language Pathologist and owner of Creative Therapy Works LLC in Lilburn says

Parents should look out for the various types of speech and language disorders that affect school-age children including ~Speech sound disorders (difficulty pronouncing sounds) ~Language disorders (difficulty understanding others and expressing themselves) ~Cognitive-communication disorders (difficulty with thinking skills including per-ception memory awareness reasoning judgment intellect and imagination) ~Stuttering (fluency) disorders (interruption of the flow of speech that may include hesitations repetitions or prolongations of sounds or words) ~Voice disorders (quality of voice that may include hoarseness nasality or loudness)

For more information about speech and language disorders and prevention or to arrange a free speech and language screening for your child please visit wwwcreativetherapyworkscom or call 1-866-611-7855

PAGE 12 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ages 6 weeks to 4 years old We implement age appropriate Creative Curriculum in all classes

See our website for details

Register Your Children Today Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

FIVE FORKS ACADEMY Enroll your children at Legacy Academy

3079 Five Forks Trickum RoadLilburn GA 30047

wwwf iveforksacademycom

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ann Weeks Owner

Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

Caring for childrenages 6 weeks to 4 years

BeforeAfter SchoolPrograms for ages 5-12

Visit us anytime for a personal tour

(770) 982-2000

NEW for 09-10 We will be serving Knight Elementary

amp St John Neumwnn Schools

Before and After School Program for children attending Brookwood Craig Head

and Gwin Oaks Elementary

(770) 982-2000 3079 Five Forks Trickum Road

Lilburn GA 30047

ldquoWe love learning inside and outsiderdquo

wwwfiveforksacademycom

By Hank Cohen

For many decades throughout Gwinnett youth sports have been of major importance to the community Whether the sport is baseball football swimming or one of the many others played in the county Gwinnett has continually been home to some of the best athletes in the state One organization that fosters a large number of stars is the Gwinnett Soccer Association (GSA) GSA located across the street from Parkview High School is dedicated to teaching youths of any age or skill level the rules and techniques of soccer With about 1500 kids and numerous teams at each age level GSA has been a thriving spot for soccer talent in the county

The association is currently led by Chip Stevens and a very talented staff The Girlsrsquo Director of Coaching Campbell Chapman spent ten years playing profes-sional soccer for multiple clubs in England Sweden Finland Malta and Qatar Appointed the Girlsrsquo Director in 2007 Campbell has since coached many state winning teams Nuno Piteira the Boysrsquo Director was the coach of the Charleston Battery professional team where he helped the club to win its first national champi-onship in 1996 When he first moved to Atlanta in 1999 Nuno coached the Atlanta Silverbacks professional team The impact of the Associationrsquos very capable coaches is evident in the talented and highly ranked teams that continue to dominate Currently the boys U15 and U16 have qualified for the national championship in Kansas City GSA currently has four players on US national teams

Each year GSA holds a major tournament where teams from across the Southeast come to compete The GSA Invitational held in December brings about 350-400 teams together Similarly GSA also holds a college showcase to expose col-lege soccer coaches to the extraordinary amount of talent within the organization Coaches from colleges such as Auburn Alabama and UGA have attended to look for future prospects Multiple soccer camps for any skill level also run throughout the year Nuno runs the boysrsquo camps which includes a residency camp at Rinehart College Campbell runs the girlsrsquo camps which include camps throughout the

summer GSA is always seek-ing to reach out to potential players ldquoWe want more kids to play soccer because itrsquos the best sport in the worldrdquo said President Stevens

Since its beginning in 1977 GSA has sought to provide a high quality organization for kids to become engaged in soc-cer Over the years the organi-zation has continuously grown and the association is planning to make changes in the future as well To accommodate the quality talent GSA is updat-ing the fields to provide better complexes for the players The organization will also be host-ing a Junior Academy for 4-8 year olds to teach them the basic skills of soccer and to spark a love for the sport in younger children As the club continues to grow the dedicated staff and coaches of GSA will continue to teach and spread soccer throughout the community Stevens wants to continue this participation in the area he grew up in He is a graduate from Brookwood High School and his wife and children are active at GSA as well The organization has opportunities for every child ldquoItrsquos all about the kidsrdquo Stevens said ldquoFrom young beginners to the elite players GSA has something for everyonerdquo

Gwinnett Soccer Association Itrsquos All About the Kids

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 13

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770-923-32165385 Five Forks Trickum Rd bull Suite M

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Best Haircuts in TownNO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY

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Understanding Sunscreen Protection

By Chrissy Thomas RN BSN

In June 2011 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new requirements for over-the-counter sunscreens These rules were put into place to ensure that sunscreens meet todayrsquos standards for safety and effectiveness The fol-lowing is an outline of some of the more important details for consumers to know when choosing sunscreen products

The primary purpose of the FDArsquos changes is to guarantee that sunscreen products are providing adequate protection Previously the Sun Protection Factors (SPFs) dealt with UVB (ultraviolet B) protection only This means that the risk of sunburn was the only factor considered on the label Now we know that much of the sunrsquos risk lies in UVA (ultraviolet A) radiation which contributes to skin cancer and early aging

After reviewing data the FDA determined that sufficient evidence is available to establish a ldquobroad spectrumrdquo test for determining a sunscreen productrsquos UVA protection By passing the broad spectrum test a consumer knows that the product will provide UVA protection that is proportional to its UVB protection Products that pass this test are going to be labeled as ldquobroad spectrumrdquo These products must be a SPF of 15 or higher to adequately protect the skin

Broad spectrum products SPF 15 or higher have been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging when used with other sun protection measures

Still the meaning of SPF confuses some All sun protection products are tested with a SPF test procedure The test measures the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation expo-sure it takes to cause sunburn when a person is using a sunscreen in comparison to how much UV exposure it takes to cause sunburn without sunscreen The product is then labeled with the appropriate SPF value indicating the amount of sunburn protection provided by the product Higher values provide higher protection Because this test is a measure of protection against sunburn itrsquos an indicator of UVB only With the new broad spectrum test SPFs with a higher UVB rating will also have a higher UVA value

Often new clients to About Face Skin Care donrsquot realize that UV protection should be worn on the face and neck daily to avoid dam-aging UV rays from windows in the home or

car -- or even the minimal time spent walking to the mailbox A moisturizer with a UVBUVA factor of 15 or higher will protect the accumulation that inevitably happens from these exposures Itrsquos been determined that by yearrsquos end not wearing daily SPF protection can equal a week at the beach unprotected

Physical blocks such as clothing provide some protection but our faces are constantly exposed And makeup is not a sunblock If your makeup offers UV pro-tection it should be counted as an extra layer Sun protection in makeup according to the Skin Cancer Foundation is the productrsquos secondary purpose Even though some makeup has sunscreen ingredients it doesnrsquot have the proper amount of cov-erage or the capabilities to protect against UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays

Additionally for most people one needs to use 7-14 times the normal amount of powder or foundation to get the SPF coverage stated on the makeup packaging

Just as important donrsquot forget to protect your lips Glosses without SPF react like tanning oil on the lips Skin cancers in this area are becoming more common not to mention the unattractive ldquosmokers linesrdquo that form as the delicate tissues of the lips and surrounding areas are damaged

About Face Skin Care has an array of high-quality products to give you superior protection while offering cosmeceutically-pleasing benefits

If you would like to explore the options of sun protection and other products and treatments offered by About Face schedule your free consultation appointment at 770-935-FACE(3223) or online at wwwaboutfaceskincom We look forward to meeting you

PAGE 14 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Fall in Love with your bodyagain

ldquowhere the beauty you feel becomes the beauty you seerdquo

Complimentary Cosmetic Consultation

Earl Stephenson Jr MD DDS FACS Plastic Surgeon Certified American Board of Plastic Surgery

Breast Augmentation

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Tummy Tuck

Gluteal Sculpting and Fat Grafting

(770) 466-4700

84 Patterson RoadLawrenceville GA 30044

770-995-0836pebblestonelandscapegroupcom

Pebblestone Landscape Group is a full service landscape management provider since 1994 Meeting the landscaping needs and requirements for the management groups such as yourself We help our clients increase the appeal of their property to potential customers

bull DesignBuildbull Irrigationbull Landscape Installationbull Lawn Maintenance

bull Seasonal Colorbull Site Enhancementsbull Turf Fertilization Programs

bull bull bull bull bull bull bull bull bull bull

This Summer Prepare to Start School Sharp

By Carol Wood

Woohoo School is out for the summer so learning can stop right Wrong Summertime provides the BEST opportunity for students to enrich their academic skills if they desire to get ahead before school begins again or to catch up on skills if they ended the school year below average If students fall behind during the school year they must catch up with what they have missed AND keep up with what is being taught on a day-by-day basis This is difficult to do and can be stress-ful So summertime is the best time for parents to give their student the oppor-tunity to do what they cannot easily do during the school year CATCH UP or MOVE AHEAD in their academics and solve their STUDY SKILL weaknesses

First locate your childrsquos recent school standardized test scores and examine your childrsquos levels compared to hisher grade level This can be located in the column that reads ldquoGErdquo for grade equivalency or ldquoPRrdquo for percentile Scores below the 50th percentile or below their grade and month level in the GE column when the tests were administered are the ones in which the student was performing below average at that time Scores above the 50th percentile or above his or her grade level show performance above average therefore summer tutoring could entail enrichment work to maintain skills or further build on the studentrsquos strengths in preparation for the next school year By examining your childrsquos most recent test scores and determin-ing which areas are below on or above average you will then know which academic areas to build upon so your student can START SCHOOL SHARP

Next locate professional educational resources with a track record of success should you decide to teach your children at home Purchase the appropriate levels of materials and teach your child using an established consistent weekly schedule Do not allow the student to skip around within workbooks and complete the ldquofunrdquo pages first as the material is purposefully presented in a sequential order Select a study place for each student which is equipped with the learning supplies and tools needed If you do not feel qualified to teach or you do not have the necessary patience with your own child which is not uncommon then seek a full-time professional and experienced educational center Schedule summer learning sessions on a consistent weekly basis with the same degreed and experienced instructor who utilizes nation-ally recognized materials and proven teaching methods Individualized instruction is best in an environment free from distractions and interruptions A professional center is usually preferred since it focuses on providing an ideal learning environment has many quality control measures to insure student improvement is maximized and has a reputation and level of accountability to maintain in order to remain in business Know the credentials of the instructor such as his or her areas of teaching experience and educational degree and match this with your studentrsquos academic area of summer instruction Ask for references and contact them to learn about their experience with the professional center you are considering Request to see the instructional area and observe sessions in progress

Remember SUMMER is the most ideal time for students to get a JUMP START on the next school year

Carol Wood is the founder and owner of Total Learning Concepts Inc a private profes-sional tutorial service located in Gwinnett County Please email questions to ccwoodbellsouthnet or fax to 770-381-1626

MAYCROSSWORDSOLUTION

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 15

1319 Scenic Highway n Lawrenceville GA 30045 n 770-979-9490At the intersection of Hwy 124 amp Webb Gin House Road

Join Us For Lunch

Daily Specials from $325

Fax 770-979-9590 Take-Out Orders

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With Any Food Purchase over $20Valid Mon-Thurs 3pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or Sun

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ldquoGirl Timerdquo Is ImportantBy Julie Mills

As I sit and think about this yearrsquos Motherrsquos Day I thought I would take a few moments to emphasis the importance of ldquogirl timerdquo I feel so lucky that my work allows me to experience wonderful bonding with my female clients When receiv-ing body work many emotions are released Our bodies are wired to keep our emotions in and they manifest in the form of knots aches pains and sometimes even disease Part of my job is to provide a safe space for my clients to let those emotions go and to begin healing from the inside out Letrsquos talk about how women are wired and why it is so important for us to have friendships

As a woman I already knew that my ldquogirl timerdquo was important and actually kept my sanity at times However I did some research and found a landmark UCLA study that suggests friendships between women are very special They shape who we are and who we are yet to be They soothe our inner world and fill the emo-tional gaps in our male relationships

Researchers suspect that women handle stress in more ways than just fight or flight In fact says Dr Klein of UCLA it seems that when the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress responses in a woman it buffers the fight or flight response and encourages her to tend children and gather with other women When she actually engages in this tending or befriending studies suggest that more oxyto-cin is released which further counters stress and produces a calming effect Men do not have this response due to high levels of testosterone released during stress The estrogen in women seems to enhance the oxytocin and produces a calming effect

It was noted that when the women were stressed they came in to work cleaned the work space had coffee and bonded with other female coworkers When the men were stressed they holed up somewhere on their own and did not interact with coworkers Wow - this part of the study sounds so familiar When I am stressed or have a lot on my mind I get into my cleaning mode or I want to call my sisters These activities help me to think things through and to unwind My husband on the other hand says nothing and he has the unique ability to quietly disappear

It is interesting that nearly 90 of the stress research has been with males With this new research the fact that women respond to stress differently than men has significant implications for our health It may take some time for new studies to reveal all the ways that oxytocin encourages us to care for children and hang out with other women but the ldquotend and befriendrdquo notion developed by Drs Klein and Taylor may explain why women consistently outlive men Study after study has found that social ties reduce our risk of disease by lowering blood pressure heart rate and cholesterol Therersquos no doubt that friends are helping us live longer

Every time we get overly busy with work and family the first thing we do is let go of friendships with other women We push them right to the back burner Thatrsquos really a mistake because women are such a source of strength to each other We nurture one another We need to have unpressured space in which we can do the special kind of talk that women do when theyrsquore with other women Itrsquos a very healing experience

Have you had your much-needed girl time Make this month your month and have a very happy Motherrsquos Day

Julie Mills CMT is owner of Body of Health and Life LLC for more information visit wwwbodyofhealthandlifecom

PAGE 16 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Ashton Pike

ldquoBeauty starts from withinrdquo One may expect a famous womanrsquos name to fol-low this quote but the woman responsible for such accurate words is better than famous She is distinguished After all fame fades but a distinguished woman will be known for years since she will stand out from everyone Hair stylist and salon owner Sudonna Patterson meets these traits and more Being a mom of three young boys an adored wife and a successful entrepreneur Patterson has numerous accomplishments to her name and this is only the beginning

Born and raised in Macon Georgia Patterson practiced the basics of cosmetol-ogy as a young girl when she styled her dollsrsquo hair and when she put rollers in her great auntrsquos hair before bedtime each night Eventually moving from Barbie dolls to actual customers Patterson worked weekends as a shampoo assistant in a hair salon during high school This job led her to pursue a career in cosmetology at Dudleyrsquos Cosmetology University in North Carolina

After graduating Patterson became an instructor for Dudleyrsquos Advanced Cosmetology University and then she took her skills outside national borders as an International Educator Traveling to remarkable locations such as the Bahamas Barbados Aruba and Jamaica Patterson worked to communicate the latest tech-niques in cosmetology through seminars on product knowledge hair care advance cutting and styling techniques

Taking into consideration Pattersonrsquos spontaneous extrovert personality it was no surprise that she met her husband on a blind date in Atlanta while she lived in North Carolina She and her husband are now loving and dedicated parents of three sons Logan 8 and twins Bryce and Blake 4 The family of five resides in Lilburn Georgia where they spend copious amounts of time together either at home or at Peace Baptist Church where they attend regularly

Amid college and starting a family Patterson became an entrepreneur open-ing her own hair salon called Chase Morgan Salon which has been in business for

Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

Diets Donrsquot WorkBy Kelly Farris

Itrsquos that time of year again ndash panic mode has set in and yoursquore trying to get off the winter flub in time for bathing suit season

You might be considering a diet Maybe yoursquore stuck trying to choose between the wide variety of options 17 day cabbage soup weight loss shakes paleo and Atkins just to name a few

Unfortunately none of these work in the long run In fact fad diets can backfire and even contribute to weight gain You donrsquot have to have a perfect diet to have a good diet Eating normal portions of wholesome foods leads to the right body weight

Let your eating habits consist of 85-90 of quality calories with the remaining calories of ldquowhateverrdquo ldquoWhateverrdquo means you can have an orange one day or a cookie the next The trick is not to deprive yourself of foods you really like Sooner or later you will end up binging if you make certain foods taboo Take away the power to binge-eat by eating that certain food more often Chances are seven days of having a cookie for your ldquowhateverrdquo calories will make it less desirable by day eight

I advise all my clients to make breakfast the most important meal of the day I encourage eggs egg substitute turkey sausage veggie sausage grits or oatmeal These are all ldquofill-you-uprdquo foods Start your day with filling healthy foods and yoursquoll set the tone for the rest of your day while reducing sugar cravings

So eat but donrsquot deprive yourself Make good choices

over 10 years Named after her sisterrsquos children Chase and Morgan Chase Morgan Salon as Patterson states ldquohellipwas designed with the client in mind to create quality and efficient hair care services while being a positive environment for women to fellowship and relaxrdquo

Though the salon was origi-nally located in Decatur Georgia Patterson recently moved the loca-tion to Snellville Georgia to live out her dream of opening a conveniently located upscale salon that would allow her to actively participate in her childrenrsquos lives at school

Having been in the cosmetology business for 23 years and counting Patterson is highly dedicated to her career Every day she goes above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction Patterson commented ldquoMy clients tease me because I am known for being the resource lady As a hair stylist clients confide in you about their per-sonal struggles I feel it is my responsibility as a Christian to uplift them and speak positive things into their life that will encourage themrdquo

Being close to clients can also come with a cost According to Patterson the most difficult part of her job is losing faithful clients with the change in the econ-omy and increasing unemployment On one hand she strives to help them until their financial situation is better but on the other Chase Morgan Salon is still an operating business and needs to make a profit in order to stay in business

Though being a successful entrepreneur comes with positive and negative aspects the overall feelings of accomplishment and contentment with the Chase Morgan Salon trumps everything A distinguished devoted and aspiring woman Patterson has become a figure of hope proving that with hard work and dedica-tion a childhood dream can become a reality Pattersonrsquos future at Chase Morgan Salon seems bright ldquoMy goal for the salon is to always create an environment to derive success from teamwork and through education As techniques change and products improve I will prepare stylists through education to satisfy the new demands of clients thus ensuring a successful position in the futurerdquo

For contact information for Sudonna Patterson or information on location and operating hours of Chase Morgan Salon please visit wwwchasemorgansaloncom

One Employee

At a TimeStrengthening

Companies3

ldquoSolving Gwinnett Countyrsquos staffing needs for over 16 yearsrdquo

For client inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at clientsunitedstaffingservicecom

For employment inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at jobsunitedstaffingservicecom

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 17

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You Canrsquot Get There From Here By Susan Cadley LPC

Have you ever wished you could be like Harry Potter and wave a magic wand to fix a problem or get what you wanted If so you are in good company It is a natural tendency to avoid pain frustration or any feeling that is perceived as ldquobadrdquo It is also natural to have desires and goals for your life But herersquos the truth life is a process and when we resist or deny what we are feeling or what is happening in our life we actually cause ourselves more pain

We are all born with a wide range of emotions and these emotions are mes-sengers If we pay attention to them they have much to share with us We may learn what we react to what beliefs we hold and most importantly where our healing lies When we ignore these messengers they knock louder and harder at our subconscious until they get our attention So instead of working so hard to push emotions away welcome them in as a guest and lean into them You will find that the feelings dissipate and the pain of resistance yoursquove created will be eased

When we want to wish challenges away we lose the richness of life Imagine what it would be like to watch a movie and only view the first and last 10 minutes of the film By skipping the majority of the movie we miss out on the story and the experience as a whole And so it is with life When we wish for our lives to be different than they are we must then let go and live our lives right now with all the seeming imperfections that make up the movie we are living When we wish to go from ldquohererdquo to ldquothererdquo directly we miss out on personal growth

We are all here to learn love live fully and be more of who we are Embrace all of your life right where you are right now Then the real magic will begin

Susan Cadley LPC Licensed Professional Counselor is available for couplesadult individual counseling and creativity workshops in Suwanee GA She may be reached directly and confiden-tially at 678-296-1278 wwwcoaching foryoursoulcom

Fly-Fishing PatagoniaBy Pam Walker

What I know about Fly-Fishing you could put on the head of a straight pin So when asked to visit Patagonia I thought ldquoThis is my chance to learnrdquo

In early March I flew to Buenos Aires Argentina and then on to Bariloche From there I had an hour drive to Villa Angostura Aroyo Verde the famed fly- fishing lodge was further on down a dirt road

No signs No directions We had just a general sense of where we were going Anthony my naturalist guide headed into the Traful river canyon Fifteen minutes later we were greeted first by an authentic gaucho and then by riders on horseback After another 20 minutes we saw along a stream a lovely chalet with a sculpture gar-den Estancia Aroyo Verde

This private fishing and riding estancia is the home of one of Argentinarsquos most elite families Located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park the family-managed lodge hosts visitors from across the globe The Traful River is also home to land-locked salmon brown and rainbow trout This is a catch-and-release river with a season from November through April In this remote setting the fish some reaching 28 in for salmon and 29 in for Rainbows and Browns swim right up to you in the crystal clear water Best of all you need only your favorite fly rod Everything else is avail-able on-site Miles of nothingness surrounds this pristine spot Imagine standing in the river surrounded by the Andes What more could you ask for

Rooms are cozy all with private baths and meals are served family-style If yoursquore lucky join the family for an Argentine-style barbeque (Parillada) cooked outdoors by one of the resi-dent gauchos

Fishing horseback riding and even moun-tain bikes are here for your enjoyment Too bad I had to come back

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant and can be reached at Walker Adventures pliwalkerearthlinknet You can follow her travels by visiting Pamrsquos blog at httpwwwpamwalkersblogspotcom

PAGE 18 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Pastor Paul Ballard

The mission statement of Mountain Park First Baptist Church is to engage every man woman and child by living out Jesusrsquo love and sharing the gospel both locally and globally Since coming to MPFBC in May 2011 senior pastor Paul Ballard has been simple in his approach He has two priorities preaching the gospel and becoming a radiant church by being missional in nature

First Pastor Paul has prioritized the preaching of the gospel of Jesus The gospel is Godrsquos victory over sin and death through the person and work of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 151 says ldquoNow I would remind you brothers of the gospel

I preached to you which you received in which you standhelliprdquo The gospel is not just the entry point into Christianity It is the key to spiritual growth as we stand in Jesusrsquo finished work on the cross and His glorious resurrection

Second because the gospel has radically changed us God has called His people to give Him glory by living radiant lives resulting in missional living The church has moved from an internal to an external emphasis Some of the practical results have been

bull Adopting local fire stations and the Gwinnett South Precinct by providing meals and notes of encouragement

bull Hosting community events like Family Fest on May 4 2013

bull Mentoring ladies from the Atlanta WomenChildren shelter and adopting and fixing up a dorm

bull Offering an ESL program on Wednesdays with a provided meal afterward bull Holding food drives for Lilburn Co-op and providing Christmas for needy

familiesbull Deacons serving at Mountain Park Park in the concession stand so parents

could watch their children playbull Donating over $100000 from financial overages the last two years to support

local and international missions above the normal mission givingGod is at work at Mountain Park First Baptist Church For more information

go to wwwmpfbcorg

Chaplainrsquos Corner

hellipto our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue

Keep them coming

Thanks

Dr Louise DeLong Dr Franccediloise Tyler

ldquoHappy Motherrsquos Day from all of us at The Village Vetsrdquo Dr Will Draper

Dr Carrie McColganDr Amanda Irish

Hours Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm Sat 8am-2pm Sun 12-4pmwwwTheVillageVetscom

770-717-1650

7 Days a Week

1227 Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain(Near the Kroger Shopping Center)

Serving Gwinnett

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Mention this ad for

10 OFFFirst visit

Limit one per household Vaccines and services only Products not included Coupon need not be presented for discount Terms subject to change without

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Pictured Dr Will Draper with his mother Cheryl and her dogs Dolly and Kali

Page 4: MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

PAGE 4 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

IN THIS ISSUEOur Town is published and direct mailed to select homes in the Gwinnett area Opinions expressed by the writers and staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher Our Town reserves the right to edit andor reject any editorial or advertising content Our Town 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 2013 by Our Town Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher

Our Town Monthly1227 Rockbridge Road

Suite 208-171

Stone Mountain GA 30087

678-825-2049

infoendresultzcom

wwwendresultzcom

Our TownFamily liFestyle News magaziNe

mdash An EndResultz Company

PublisherRyan T Sauers

Creative DirectorElsie Olson

Cover PhotographyChrista K Huggins

Feature Writers TeamHank CohenAllie Gardner

Stefanie LamprsquolAshton Pike

Contributing WritersDr Jeanette Altieri

Glenton Ashby Pastor Paul Ballard

Tamsen BooneSusan Cadley

Kelly FarrisChristine GilesTerie Hansen

Julie MillsRyan T SauersChrissy Thomas

Pam WalkerCarol Wood

5 About the Cover Air Conditioning Experts A Family Affair

6 One Manrsquos Opinion

7 May Calendar

8 Crossword Puzzle

8 Is Your Dog Properly Socialized

8 Great Content Is King

9 Getting to Know Trickum Middle School Principal Kay Sands

10 Are Your Hormones Driving You Crazy

10 Baseball Is Similar to Life

11 Is Testing Getting a Bad Wrap

11 Whatrsquos Keeping Your Child From Performing at Grade Level

12 Gwinnett Soccer Association Itrsquos All About the Kids

13 Understanding Sunscreen Protection

14 This Summer Prepare to Start School Sharp

15 ldquoGirl Timerdquo Is Important

16 Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

16 Diets Donrsquot Work

17 You Canrsquot Get There From Here

17 Fly-Fishing Patagonia

18 Chaplainrsquos Corner

Earl Stephenson Jr MD DDS

Certified American Board of Plastic Surgery

2220 Wisteria Dr Suite 209

Snevie GA 30078

wwwsignature-plasticsurgerycom

Are you ready for the beachSchedule your complimentary consultation770-466-4700

Get Ready for Summer Fun

Cosmetic Surgery of the Face Body amp Breasts

ldquowhere the beauty YOU feel becomes the beauty YOU seerdquo

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 5

REGISTER NOW FOR FINAL EXAM PREP SESSIONS AND SUMMER TUTORING

Five ForksLilburn Center770-381-5958

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bull Motivational Study Skills Courses

bull SATACT Preparation

bull Credit Recovery Classes

bull SUMMER TUTORING

By Allie Gardner

Most companies are composed of employees who start as strangers with every person focusing on hisher specific job within the business Air Conditioning Experts Inc defies the stereotypical company Founded in 1995 by Bill and Heather Preston the business began with the desire to give custom-ers quality service that displayed the values that so many other organizations seem to lack as well as a satisfying and progressive work environment for their employees Their first employee was brother-in-law Chris Allen who started in 1996 and later became a partner in 2000

Air Conditioning Experts provides heating ventilation and air condi-tion (HVAC) services and installations for residential homes and commercial properties but specialize in working with real estate investors ACErsquos goal is to continue to serve homeowners businesses and investors in all of their markets with the personal service they deserve and always providing superior products exem-plary customer service and supreme workmanship in an unmatched cost effective manner The company expanded to Orlando and Charlotte after recognizing that the level of customer service they provided in Atlanta would do well in the other markets The owners felt that those particular cities were a great fit for their type of customer service

Owner Heather Preston said ldquoAs our customer you should always rest easy knowing we will be here for you for your comfort needs for years to comerdquo

The business is truly a family affair Allen partners with his sister and brother-in-law His mom and stepfather Nancy and Remo Loyal manage another company owned by Allen and the Prestons Steelworks Inc a security cage business Allenrsquos son Chris Jr stepbrother Remeno Loyal and nephew Keith Hodges also work for Steelworks Hillary Preston Allenrsquos niece works

About the CoverAir Conditioning Experts A Family Affair

as an administrative assistant for Air Conditioning Experts and Billrsquos mom Ella McCrater helps around the office part time Even as it has grown the company has made maintaining the family atmosphere a priority

ACE has employed multiple long time family friends to be part of the companyrsquos team some of whom have been with the business since the 1990s

Allen said ldquo[Working with family] is great You know that your partners truly have your best interest at heartrdquo

The company has made it a goal to be a big part of their community Everyone at Air Conditioning Experts is very involved in their churches Allen and his family are members of Mountain West Church of God located in Stone Mountain They work with the outreach program and other ministries that focus on giving back to the Tucker Lilburn and Stone Mountain areas The Preston family belongs to the Dacula Church of God and is involved in simi-lar organizations and ministries as Allen Bill Preston and Eric Medina who serve as the comfort advisors speak on a local gospel radio program twice each month

Air Conditioning Experts brings Gwinnett County a helpful service to homes and businesses a family environment that is hard to find anywhere else and a community outreach that touches hundreds of lives The business con-tinues to grow and expand providing unique customer service that is needed in this day and age

PAGE 6 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

See online message from publisher at

wwwourtownmagvideocom or scan the QR code below

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LadiesWorkoutSnellville

SNELLVILLE

2135 East Main StreetSnellville 30078

7709856070

By Ryan T Sauers

Well Gwinnett can you believe it It is already May and summertime is on the way I want to start out by explaining why I chose the title One Manrsquos Opinion for this column My grandfather began a column with this name many decades ago for a large chain of weekly newspapers in DeKalb County So this is my way of paying tribute to a long family history in publishing My parents then took this publishing company and built it into a very successful printing company Without this heritage it is highly unlikely I would be writing this article today

Also I want to thank our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue The response to our first issue was overwhelming Thanks for all of your calls and emails in regard to new stories and thanks to our current advertisers as well as the new advertisers who are coming onboard We are quickly growing and have big plans for growth and change in the months ahead Also I encourage you to use the QR code or the URL address provided to view the video that goes along with this column It will make your reading experience even better

Last month the name of one of our writers Ashton Pike was inadvertently left off the superb article she wrote on Debra Dees the principal of Brookwood Sorry about that Ashton This month a new feature has been added called Chaplainrsquos Corner where different pastors from our community will highlight the good things going on in their churches We will be hearing from a lot of pastors begin-ning with Pastor Paul Ballard of Mountain Park Baptist We will be bringing in more stories of interest in coming months to make the magazine even better and keep the content strong

This month we have some great stories Here is an overview A terrific family run company AC Experts here in Snellville is profiled You get to meet Kay Sands who is the principal of Trickum Middle School You will read a neat story about GSA (Gwinnett Soccer Association) and the new developments that are taking place at the club Finally there is an insightful profile of Chase Morgan Salon and why the salon chose to move down Highway 78 from Decatur to Snellville You have to read them all to find out more

You will continue to see good news in this and future issues of the magazine We need it With the recent tragedy in Boston and other such incidents we need now more than ever to hear about good people events news and happenings It seems that every publication and news story I pick up focuses on negative news Gwinnett I am here to tell you there are some amazing people doing incredible things right here in our backyard Special thanks this month to Christa K Huggins for doing a great job with our cover photo shot this month and to Elsie Olson for your usual top notch design work And to all of the rest of you you know who you are I cannot thank you enough

We are working to update our website and social media tools so pardon our progress I have no doubt you will love it in the end as they will be better than ever Our goal is to offer an amazing integrated communications experience So enjoy this May issue of Our Town We look forward to your feedback as we seek to improve your reading experience each month Have a great month And remember this is your town This is OUR TOWN

From the Publisher One Manrsquos Opinion

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 7

Disney On Ice Presents Worlds of FantasyMay 1-5 2013Arena at Gwinnett CenterDuluthwwwgwinnettcentercom

The Atlanta Coin and Currency ExpoMay 3-5 2013North Atlanta Trade CenterNorcrosswwwnorthatlantatradecentercomFri amp Sat 10am-6pm Sun 10am-3pm

Krispy Kreme for a CureMay 4 2013Town Center ParkSuwaneewwwaplacetoimaginecom

Fodac Run Walk Nrsquo RollMay 4 2013Confederate Hall ndash Stone Mountain ParkStone MountainwwwstonemountainparkcomBenefitting the Friends of Disabled Adults and Children

FreshMay 7 2013Tannery Row Artist ColonyBufordwwwtanneryrowartistcolonycomJuried show 12pm-5pm

2013 Relay For LifeMay 10-11 2013Gwinnett County FairgroundsLawrencevillewwwgwinnettrelayforlifeorgThe nationrsquos largest Relay for Life raises funds to fight cancer

9th Annual Barefoot In the Park GalaMay 10-12 2013Duluth Town GreenDuluthwwwbarefootintheparkorgGwinnettrsquos premier juried arts festival

Atlanta Exotic Bird FairMay 10-11 2013North Atlanta Trade CenterNorcrosswwwnorthatlantatradecentercom

Reels at Robinson ndash Summer Movie SeriesMay 17 2013EE Robinson ParkSugar Hillwwwcityofsugarhillcom

Pet Revolution 2013May 17-18 2013Gwinnett County FairgroundsLawrenceville

Animal adoptions Fri 8pm ndash Sun 8pm (48 hrs straight)

SCCA NationalMay 19 2013Road AtlantaBraseltonwwwroadatlantacomSports Car Club of America National Race All day

Board Game BlastoffMay 20 2013Bethesda Park Senior CenterLawrencevillewwwgwinnettparkscomchallenge yourself to a game of scrab-ble mahjong chess and more

Two for the ShowMay 23 2013George Pierce Park Community CenterSuwaneewwwgwinnettparkscomArt show 9am-8pm

Nike Memorial Day ClassicMay 24-27 2013Suwanee Sports AcademySuwaneewwwsuwaneesportsacademycomBasketball ndash Boys 14U-17U

Gwinnett Daily Post Memorial Day ConcertMay 24 2013Town Center ParkSuwaneewwwsuwaneecomConcert

Taste of GwinnettMay 26-27 2013Peachtree CornerswwwtasteofgwinnettcomPremier food festival

Memorial Day Weekend CelebratioMay 26-27 2013Stone Mountain ParkStone MountainwwwstonemountainparkcomFireworks and fun 1030am-8pm laser show 930pm

Memorial Day in DaculaMay 27 2013Historic Downtown DaculaDaculawwwdaculamemorialdaycomParade ndash festival 9am-5pm

Memorial Day CelebrationMay 27 2013Thrasher ParkNorcrosswwwaplacetoimaginecom

Onion Manrsquos Summer Harvest Festival Keep it LegalMay 30-June 1 2013Norcross Cultural Arts and Community CenterNorcrosswwwlionhearttheatreorgA collection of short plays

May Calendar

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PAGE 8 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Solution on page 16

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Professional Landscape and Design Services

Is Your Dog Properly SocializedBy Terie Hansen

Socializing your dog is a lifelong undertaking not just during the first year or two of their life with you Many who reach out to us for training are experiencing the side effects of an under-socialized dog

Does your dog bark wildly when it sees other dogs or pull on the leash towards other dogs or people Does it shy away from objects in its environment or does it act fearful or aggressive towards people or dogs These can be symptoms of an under-socialized dog

When you get a new dog whether puppy or adult you are excited to spend time with him and share him with everyone and anyone who will let you So you take your new pet on walks to parks on hikes and to pet stores This is great because he is learning how to act in these various environments and around other people and dogs As the newness wears off however you donrsquot take him out as often Therefore he is exposed to less stimulation

Three to six months or even one to two years can go by and your dog hasnrsquot come in contact with anyone other than your family Now all of a sudden you decide to take him someplace where there are other people and dogs Chances are he will act either uncontrollably excited or fearful which can look like aggression and you think ldquoOMG Whatrsquos the matter with my dogrdquo You decide that you can no longer take him out in public What happened Culture shock Many dogs need to be socialized on an ongoing basis If we stay in our house and didnrsquot come out until fifteen years later we would experience the same feelings of excitement fear and anxiety

This is easily preventable socialize socialize and socialize for the life of your dog If you are experiencing these symptoms already reach out to us We can help

Terie Hansen Professional Dog Trainer Pet Sitter amp Owner at Good Dog Coaching amp Pet Care-may be reached at 404-422-9832 infogooddogcoachingcom wwwgooddogcoachingcom

Great Content Is KingBy Ryan T Sauers

I often tell people that content is king And you know whatmdashthis is not quite right Why You seehellip content is good but great content is ldquokingrdquo Think about it Why do you become engrossed in a movie or show Why do you send a funny YouTube video to a friend Why do you enjoy talking with certain people Why do you like to read certain articles The answer is simple We do these things because we love watching hearing or reading great content By the way if you are still the person forwarding emailshellip not so funny J

We are all busy and whether we are in person (offline) or online (virtual) -- it takes something special unique to pull us in and ldquowowrdquo us We live in a world where most people have a short attention span You see I was talking to you Please put down your phone and let me finish So how do we accomplish this The secret is simple It is all about great content Good content is okay but will always lose to great content

For an article or any engagement to be enjoyable it must be more than my writ-ing and your reading It must be a two way dialogue or conversation It must be about taking the ink and words that are on the paper you are readingmdashso they are transformed in your mind into a story worth sharing and acting upon Isnrsquot this what you want your customers to do when they think of you If you sound like everyone else you are lacking great content Always remember people can duplicate your ideas but cannot replicate your DNA So what do you bring your stakehold-ers--online and offlinemdashthat is simply great content And can you produce such great content consistently Do you ever think about it If not there is no better time than now to begin thinking with such a strategic mindset As I travel across the country one thing has become clear those who are willing to be creative and break the box in their thinking in a purposeful manner are the companies that are running towards 2014

Ryan T Sauers is PresidentOwner of Sauers Consulting Strategies Our business is growing your business More info at wwwryansauerscom ryansauers ryanryansauerscom

MAY C

ROSS

WO

RD

Across1 Alone5 Mozartrsquos ldquoLrsquo___ del Cairordquo8 ldquo___ here longrdquo12 Legal prefix13 ___ Altaic languages14 ldquoFantasticrdquo15 ldquo___ Brockovichrdquo16 ldquo___ Smilerdquo (1976 hit)17 Red eye18 Assistant20 Feed21 Sheikrsquos bevy22 Impede withrdquodownrdquo23 Advantages26 Witnessed30 Bit od a draft31 Artificial34 Help35 Defeat37 Tokyo formerly38 Drive39 Ashcroftrsquos predecessor40 Hospital restroom42 Internrsquol Monetary Fund43 Rare earth element45 Bothers47 ldquo___ Doubtfirerdquo

48 Brunch serving50 Watered-down52 Generous56 Put off as a motion57 Capture58 Creole vegetable59 Bawl out60 ldquoEmpedocles on ___rdquo (Matthew Arnold poem)61 Newton fruits62 Pay (up)63 Do it yourself64 ChargesDown1 Particular for short2 Hawaiian tuber3 ldquoMi chiamano Mimirdquo eg4 Peacemaker5 Be bombastic6 Bank7 Apple spray8 Carriage9 ldquo___ on Down the Roadrdquo10 ldquohellipthere is no ___angel but Loverdquo Shakespeare11 ldquoSmoking or ___rdquo13 Certain shark14 Confuse

19 Blaseacute22 Show ___23 Loan shark24 Lab tube25 All in26 ldquoCut it outrdquo27 Native indian dwellings28 Swelling29 Dutch pottery city32 Appear33 Make sense with ldquouprdquo36 Usually38 All thumbs40 Greyhound eg41 ldquoTo dordquo list44 Angry46 Irritate48 Cousin of a raccoon49 Not set50 1993 standoff site51 Black in poetry52 Ran as colors53 ldquo___ From Muskogeerdquo54 Advocate55 Back talk56 Cooking meas

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 9

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By Stefanie Lamprsquol

ldquoLove everyone trust a few do wrong to nonerdquo This eminent quote by William Shakespeare written on the white board in the principalrsquos office at Trickum Middle School watches over Kay Sands as she leads a growing student body faculty and staff These words represent how Sands runs her school She is dedicated to educating her students and teaching principles that will allow them to better their community

Kay Sands was born and raised in Atlanta Georgia As a kid Sands loved sports especially tennis She majored in health and physical education at the University of Georgia and then attended graduate school at the University of Alabama Sands never saw herself becoming a teacher let alone the head of the administration Although it was not the original job she set out to do she loves every minute of it

Sands held several positions before finding a home at Trickum Middle School For three years she worked at Five Forks as a health and physical education teacher One of the most rewarding jobs she has had yet was being a stay-at-home mom to her three sons for thir-teen years During this time she also coached tennis a sport she always enjoyed playing Sands was an assistant principal for six years before becoming principal in 2008 Sands believes that it was the work of Lynn Davis and Calvin Watts prin-cipals of Trickum Middle School before Sands that encouraged her to take on the position They were incredible mentors who helped her make the transition from assistant principal to the head of Trickum Middle School

Even though Kay Sands never saw herself in her current role she is blessed by the position She has a tremendous opportunity to empower people to make a school great She wants her students to come to school to be engaged rather than disinterested As a kid Sands was not a big fan of school so her goal as an adminis-trator is to change this She wants to show her students how truly meaningful learning can be and to do her part in contributing to the community to make the dis-trict the best place to live She knows this is not possible without the incredible and competent faculty and staff who work beside her every day

Kay Sands does not shoot for perfection She knows that she will not always say the right thing or make the right choices She also knows that if she focuses on what is going well and what is positive she can rectify any situation and become a stronger leader

When Sands is not giving her all to bettering the lives and minds of her students she loves being out-doors She enjoys hiking or escaping

to a quiet place in nature There is no better place to her though than living and working in her community It is satisfying and reward-ing to be a part of developing passionate and educated students who will lead the commu-nity on to success

Getting to Know Trickum Middle School Principal Kay Sands

PAGE 10 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

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From the great outdoors and virtual travel to music and dance

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Primrose School of Five Forks3030 River Drive Lawrenceville GA 30044

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Are Your Hormones Driving You CrazyBy Dr Jeanette Altieri AC Spine amp Wellness Center

At every age hormones fluctuate mdash and thatrsquos normal However when changes happen too fast or become too much for your body to handle you can start expe-riencing problems Canrsquot lose weight Tired all of the time Feeling overwhelmed What is your body telling you

When our body becomes overloaded and unable to support its systems therersquos a greater chance of developing some of the problems associated with hormonal imbalance Whether you are suffering from PMS mood swings bloating or head-aches or you have a family history of breast ovarian or other female cancers there can be imbalances in the ratios of estrogen progesterone testosterone and other hormones in your endocrine and adrenal system

Hormonal imbalances are caused by more than just estrogen Estrogen levels are important but so are progesterone and testosterone levels and their ratios to each other Insulin cortisol (the stress hormone) and thyroid levels can also play a big part More importantly women who are on hormone replacement therapy need to be tested to make sure hormones are broken down cleared and balanced

Letrsquos take a look at some of the most common signs of hormonal imbalances

Irregular or absent periods Weight gainChanges in the shape of your bodyAnxiety andor moodiness

By listening to your body yoursquoll be able to provide what you need to naturally rebalance its hormones Even healthy women who follow a good diet may find glitches in their hormone levels Effective natural options include high quality supplements dietary and lifestyle adjustments The first step is to get tested and find out what is causing these hormonal issues and then learn how to improve your personal hormonal health

Baseball Is Similar to LifeBy Glenton Ashby

Life is similar to going around the bases on a baseball diamond ndash itrsquos a pro-gression Our financial life is also a progression We progress through stages of financial life at the same time we move through various life stages from beginning to end

As you begin your financial life a number of basic steps are prudent and neces-sary Establish a budget (know what and where you are spending) begin a program of regular saving (the amount is not as important as the habit) commit to paying off whatever debt you do have (whether school debt or debt taken on as you begin life after school) and avoid unnecessary debt (eg debt for lifestyle)

Accomplishing these steps in combination with beginning your working life is like getting a runner to first base

Once on first base a variety of things can happen that may impact your ability to advance to the remaining bases Some things are in your control and some are not You are responsible for managing the things that you can control Think of this financial life progression as stewardship rather than ownership (The fact that any-thing we think we own will eventually go to someone else will be addressed later)

Things not in your control still require your awareness and vigilance in order to respond or react to them appropriately Otherwise you may have to start over and go back to first base Things you cannot control include job loss extended illness or disability You can exert a measure of control by having adequate health insur-ance and disability insurance if available and affordable

Sticking to the plan that got you to first base is essential for moving forward to second base This involves moving from the financial basics stage to the stage of a more established financial life

Feedback and topic suggestions are welcome ndash email HalcyonTimesHalcyonFPcom or comment at wwwHalcyonFPcomhalcyon-times Tweet halcyonplanning

Glenton Ashby is the founder and owner of Halcyon Financial Planning LLC a fee-only financial planning and Registered Investment Advisor firm Visit HalcyonFPcom

Skin issuesacneHair lossunusual hair growthInfertilityFatigueloss of energy

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 11

New Client Special

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Is Testing Getting a Bad Wrap By Tamsen Boone

Today I taught my 7th graders the meaning of the term ldquodevilrsquos advocaterdquo They devised many creative definitions on their own before I explained the concept As we batten down the hatches across the state for CRCT week Irsquove spent some time deliberating the testing catch-22 and I decided to play the role of devilrsquos advocate

Yoursquod be hard pressed to find a parent or an educator for that matter who thinks all the testing our students endure isnrsquot over the top This is my first year in middle school and Irsquom feeling the pressure myself However Irsquove decided to approach this with a ldquoglass half fullrdquo mentality If Irsquove done what Irsquom supposed to do in the classroom my students have been exposed to the material If Irsquove found a few creative and innovative strategies my students may even remember what Irsquove exposed them to despite middle school drama and raging tween hormonal shifts If Irsquove provided them with some test-taking strategies Irsquove given them the ability to move through information integrate it and discern the difference between good better and best options

I propose that this is necessary not only in the testing arena but in the real world as well I hope that my students will one day be able to read through cell phone contracts college brochures apartment leases closing statements and job offers to determine their best option Digesting information and discriminating between options (such as A B C or D answers) can be applicable to our daily adult lives Therefore I donrsquot envision myself as wasting time teaching students how to take tests I like to think Irsquom teaching them to analyze carefully when the stakes are high so that they can make solid decisions when the stakes really get high in the adult world

So this position begs the question if testing shouldnrsquot be such a big stressful deal why is it This is probably where I should keep my mouth shut Happy testing J

Whatrsquos Keeping Your Child From Performing at Grade Level

By Christine Giles

National Awareness Month Educates Parents about Speech and Language Disorders Affecting School Performance

Children with communication disorders frequently do not perform at grade level because they have difficulty understanding and speaking struggle with reading and writing misunderstand social cues show poor judgment have trouble taking tests and may avoid school Is this your child

This May as part of Better Hearing and Speech Month Creative Therapy Works in Lilburn GA and the American Speech-Language-Hearing (ASHA) continue their public education efforts for the communication health of our children by pro-viding information to parents to identify and prevent speech and language disorders

Children with communication problems have difficulty learning to listen speak read or write Parents and teachers should refer any student who shows signs of a speech and language problem to the school-based speech-language pathologist for an immediate evaluation

ldquoItrsquos crucial that children are identified and begin treatment as early as possible because summer break will only compound the consequences of a communication disorder if left untreatedrdquo Christine Giles Speech- Language Pathologist and owner of Creative Therapy Works LLC in Lilburn says

Parents should look out for the various types of speech and language disorders that affect school-age children including ~Speech sound disorders (difficulty pronouncing sounds) ~Language disorders (difficulty understanding others and expressing themselves) ~Cognitive-communication disorders (difficulty with thinking skills including per-ception memory awareness reasoning judgment intellect and imagination) ~Stuttering (fluency) disorders (interruption of the flow of speech that may include hesitations repetitions or prolongations of sounds or words) ~Voice disorders (quality of voice that may include hoarseness nasality or loudness)

For more information about speech and language disorders and prevention or to arrange a free speech and language screening for your child please visit wwwcreativetherapyworkscom or call 1-866-611-7855

PAGE 12 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ages 6 weeks to 4 years old We implement age appropriate Creative Curriculum in all classes

See our website for details

Register Your Children Today Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

FIVE FORKS ACADEMY Enroll your children at Legacy Academy

3079 Five Forks Trickum RoadLilburn GA 30047

wwwf iveforksacademycom

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ann Weeks Owner

Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

Caring for childrenages 6 weeks to 4 years

BeforeAfter SchoolPrograms for ages 5-12

Visit us anytime for a personal tour

(770) 982-2000

NEW for 09-10 We will be serving Knight Elementary

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Before and After School Program for children attending Brookwood Craig Head

and Gwin Oaks Elementary

(770) 982-2000 3079 Five Forks Trickum Road

Lilburn GA 30047

ldquoWe love learning inside and outsiderdquo

wwwfiveforksacademycom

By Hank Cohen

For many decades throughout Gwinnett youth sports have been of major importance to the community Whether the sport is baseball football swimming or one of the many others played in the county Gwinnett has continually been home to some of the best athletes in the state One organization that fosters a large number of stars is the Gwinnett Soccer Association (GSA) GSA located across the street from Parkview High School is dedicated to teaching youths of any age or skill level the rules and techniques of soccer With about 1500 kids and numerous teams at each age level GSA has been a thriving spot for soccer talent in the county

The association is currently led by Chip Stevens and a very talented staff The Girlsrsquo Director of Coaching Campbell Chapman spent ten years playing profes-sional soccer for multiple clubs in England Sweden Finland Malta and Qatar Appointed the Girlsrsquo Director in 2007 Campbell has since coached many state winning teams Nuno Piteira the Boysrsquo Director was the coach of the Charleston Battery professional team where he helped the club to win its first national champi-onship in 1996 When he first moved to Atlanta in 1999 Nuno coached the Atlanta Silverbacks professional team The impact of the Associationrsquos very capable coaches is evident in the talented and highly ranked teams that continue to dominate Currently the boys U15 and U16 have qualified for the national championship in Kansas City GSA currently has four players on US national teams

Each year GSA holds a major tournament where teams from across the Southeast come to compete The GSA Invitational held in December brings about 350-400 teams together Similarly GSA also holds a college showcase to expose col-lege soccer coaches to the extraordinary amount of talent within the organization Coaches from colleges such as Auburn Alabama and UGA have attended to look for future prospects Multiple soccer camps for any skill level also run throughout the year Nuno runs the boysrsquo camps which includes a residency camp at Rinehart College Campbell runs the girlsrsquo camps which include camps throughout the

summer GSA is always seek-ing to reach out to potential players ldquoWe want more kids to play soccer because itrsquos the best sport in the worldrdquo said President Stevens

Since its beginning in 1977 GSA has sought to provide a high quality organization for kids to become engaged in soc-cer Over the years the organi-zation has continuously grown and the association is planning to make changes in the future as well To accommodate the quality talent GSA is updat-ing the fields to provide better complexes for the players The organization will also be host-ing a Junior Academy for 4-8 year olds to teach them the basic skills of soccer and to spark a love for the sport in younger children As the club continues to grow the dedicated staff and coaches of GSA will continue to teach and spread soccer throughout the community Stevens wants to continue this participation in the area he grew up in He is a graduate from Brookwood High School and his wife and children are active at GSA as well The organization has opportunities for every child ldquoItrsquos all about the kidsrdquo Stevens said ldquoFrom young beginners to the elite players GSA has something for everyonerdquo

Gwinnett Soccer Association Itrsquos All About the Kids

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 13

BARBERSHOP

770-923-32165385 Five Forks Trickum Rd bull Suite M

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Best Haircuts in TownNO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY

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Understanding Sunscreen Protection

By Chrissy Thomas RN BSN

In June 2011 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new requirements for over-the-counter sunscreens These rules were put into place to ensure that sunscreens meet todayrsquos standards for safety and effectiveness The fol-lowing is an outline of some of the more important details for consumers to know when choosing sunscreen products

The primary purpose of the FDArsquos changes is to guarantee that sunscreen products are providing adequate protection Previously the Sun Protection Factors (SPFs) dealt with UVB (ultraviolet B) protection only This means that the risk of sunburn was the only factor considered on the label Now we know that much of the sunrsquos risk lies in UVA (ultraviolet A) radiation which contributes to skin cancer and early aging

After reviewing data the FDA determined that sufficient evidence is available to establish a ldquobroad spectrumrdquo test for determining a sunscreen productrsquos UVA protection By passing the broad spectrum test a consumer knows that the product will provide UVA protection that is proportional to its UVB protection Products that pass this test are going to be labeled as ldquobroad spectrumrdquo These products must be a SPF of 15 or higher to adequately protect the skin

Broad spectrum products SPF 15 or higher have been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging when used with other sun protection measures

Still the meaning of SPF confuses some All sun protection products are tested with a SPF test procedure The test measures the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation expo-sure it takes to cause sunburn when a person is using a sunscreen in comparison to how much UV exposure it takes to cause sunburn without sunscreen The product is then labeled with the appropriate SPF value indicating the amount of sunburn protection provided by the product Higher values provide higher protection Because this test is a measure of protection against sunburn itrsquos an indicator of UVB only With the new broad spectrum test SPFs with a higher UVB rating will also have a higher UVA value

Often new clients to About Face Skin Care donrsquot realize that UV protection should be worn on the face and neck daily to avoid dam-aging UV rays from windows in the home or

car -- or even the minimal time spent walking to the mailbox A moisturizer with a UVBUVA factor of 15 or higher will protect the accumulation that inevitably happens from these exposures Itrsquos been determined that by yearrsquos end not wearing daily SPF protection can equal a week at the beach unprotected

Physical blocks such as clothing provide some protection but our faces are constantly exposed And makeup is not a sunblock If your makeup offers UV pro-tection it should be counted as an extra layer Sun protection in makeup according to the Skin Cancer Foundation is the productrsquos secondary purpose Even though some makeup has sunscreen ingredients it doesnrsquot have the proper amount of cov-erage or the capabilities to protect against UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays

Additionally for most people one needs to use 7-14 times the normal amount of powder or foundation to get the SPF coverage stated on the makeup packaging

Just as important donrsquot forget to protect your lips Glosses without SPF react like tanning oil on the lips Skin cancers in this area are becoming more common not to mention the unattractive ldquosmokers linesrdquo that form as the delicate tissues of the lips and surrounding areas are damaged

About Face Skin Care has an array of high-quality products to give you superior protection while offering cosmeceutically-pleasing benefits

If you would like to explore the options of sun protection and other products and treatments offered by About Face schedule your free consultation appointment at 770-935-FACE(3223) or online at wwwaboutfaceskincom We look forward to meeting you

PAGE 14 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Fall in Love with your bodyagain

ldquowhere the beauty you feel becomes the beauty you seerdquo

Complimentary Cosmetic Consultation

Earl Stephenson Jr MD DDS FACS Plastic Surgeon Certified American Board of Plastic Surgery

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(770) 466-4700

84 Patterson RoadLawrenceville GA 30044

770-995-0836pebblestonelandscapegroupcom

Pebblestone Landscape Group is a full service landscape management provider since 1994 Meeting the landscaping needs and requirements for the management groups such as yourself We help our clients increase the appeal of their property to potential customers

bull DesignBuildbull Irrigationbull Landscape Installationbull Lawn Maintenance

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This Summer Prepare to Start School Sharp

By Carol Wood

Woohoo School is out for the summer so learning can stop right Wrong Summertime provides the BEST opportunity for students to enrich their academic skills if they desire to get ahead before school begins again or to catch up on skills if they ended the school year below average If students fall behind during the school year they must catch up with what they have missed AND keep up with what is being taught on a day-by-day basis This is difficult to do and can be stress-ful So summertime is the best time for parents to give their student the oppor-tunity to do what they cannot easily do during the school year CATCH UP or MOVE AHEAD in their academics and solve their STUDY SKILL weaknesses

First locate your childrsquos recent school standardized test scores and examine your childrsquos levels compared to hisher grade level This can be located in the column that reads ldquoGErdquo for grade equivalency or ldquoPRrdquo for percentile Scores below the 50th percentile or below their grade and month level in the GE column when the tests were administered are the ones in which the student was performing below average at that time Scores above the 50th percentile or above his or her grade level show performance above average therefore summer tutoring could entail enrichment work to maintain skills or further build on the studentrsquos strengths in preparation for the next school year By examining your childrsquos most recent test scores and determin-ing which areas are below on or above average you will then know which academic areas to build upon so your student can START SCHOOL SHARP

Next locate professional educational resources with a track record of success should you decide to teach your children at home Purchase the appropriate levels of materials and teach your child using an established consistent weekly schedule Do not allow the student to skip around within workbooks and complete the ldquofunrdquo pages first as the material is purposefully presented in a sequential order Select a study place for each student which is equipped with the learning supplies and tools needed If you do not feel qualified to teach or you do not have the necessary patience with your own child which is not uncommon then seek a full-time professional and experienced educational center Schedule summer learning sessions on a consistent weekly basis with the same degreed and experienced instructor who utilizes nation-ally recognized materials and proven teaching methods Individualized instruction is best in an environment free from distractions and interruptions A professional center is usually preferred since it focuses on providing an ideal learning environment has many quality control measures to insure student improvement is maximized and has a reputation and level of accountability to maintain in order to remain in business Know the credentials of the instructor such as his or her areas of teaching experience and educational degree and match this with your studentrsquos academic area of summer instruction Ask for references and contact them to learn about their experience with the professional center you are considering Request to see the instructional area and observe sessions in progress

Remember SUMMER is the most ideal time for students to get a JUMP START on the next school year

Carol Wood is the founder and owner of Total Learning Concepts Inc a private profes-sional tutorial service located in Gwinnett County Please email questions to ccwoodbellsouthnet or fax to 770-381-1626

MAYCROSSWORDSOLUTION

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 15

1319 Scenic Highway n Lawrenceville GA 30045 n 770-979-9490At the intersection of Hwy 124 amp Webb Gin House Road

Join Us For Lunch

Daily Specials from $325

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ldquoGirl Timerdquo Is ImportantBy Julie Mills

As I sit and think about this yearrsquos Motherrsquos Day I thought I would take a few moments to emphasis the importance of ldquogirl timerdquo I feel so lucky that my work allows me to experience wonderful bonding with my female clients When receiv-ing body work many emotions are released Our bodies are wired to keep our emotions in and they manifest in the form of knots aches pains and sometimes even disease Part of my job is to provide a safe space for my clients to let those emotions go and to begin healing from the inside out Letrsquos talk about how women are wired and why it is so important for us to have friendships

As a woman I already knew that my ldquogirl timerdquo was important and actually kept my sanity at times However I did some research and found a landmark UCLA study that suggests friendships between women are very special They shape who we are and who we are yet to be They soothe our inner world and fill the emo-tional gaps in our male relationships

Researchers suspect that women handle stress in more ways than just fight or flight In fact says Dr Klein of UCLA it seems that when the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress responses in a woman it buffers the fight or flight response and encourages her to tend children and gather with other women When she actually engages in this tending or befriending studies suggest that more oxyto-cin is released which further counters stress and produces a calming effect Men do not have this response due to high levels of testosterone released during stress The estrogen in women seems to enhance the oxytocin and produces a calming effect

It was noted that when the women were stressed they came in to work cleaned the work space had coffee and bonded with other female coworkers When the men were stressed they holed up somewhere on their own and did not interact with coworkers Wow - this part of the study sounds so familiar When I am stressed or have a lot on my mind I get into my cleaning mode or I want to call my sisters These activities help me to think things through and to unwind My husband on the other hand says nothing and he has the unique ability to quietly disappear

It is interesting that nearly 90 of the stress research has been with males With this new research the fact that women respond to stress differently than men has significant implications for our health It may take some time for new studies to reveal all the ways that oxytocin encourages us to care for children and hang out with other women but the ldquotend and befriendrdquo notion developed by Drs Klein and Taylor may explain why women consistently outlive men Study after study has found that social ties reduce our risk of disease by lowering blood pressure heart rate and cholesterol Therersquos no doubt that friends are helping us live longer

Every time we get overly busy with work and family the first thing we do is let go of friendships with other women We push them right to the back burner Thatrsquos really a mistake because women are such a source of strength to each other We nurture one another We need to have unpressured space in which we can do the special kind of talk that women do when theyrsquore with other women Itrsquos a very healing experience

Have you had your much-needed girl time Make this month your month and have a very happy Motherrsquos Day

Julie Mills CMT is owner of Body of Health and Life LLC for more information visit wwwbodyofhealthandlifecom

PAGE 16 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Ashton Pike

ldquoBeauty starts from withinrdquo One may expect a famous womanrsquos name to fol-low this quote but the woman responsible for such accurate words is better than famous She is distinguished After all fame fades but a distinguished woman will be known for years since she will stand out from everyone Hair stylist and salon owner Sudonna Patterson meets these traits and more Being a mom of three young boys an adored wife and a successful entrepreneur Patterson has numerous accomplishments to her name and this is only the beginning

Born and raised in Macon Georgia Patterson practiced the basics of cosmetol-ogy as a young girl when she styled her dollsrsquo hair and when she put rollers in her great auntrsquos hair before bedtime each night Eventually moving from Barbie dolls to actual customers Patterson worked weekends as a shampoo assistant in a hair salon during high school This job led her to pursue a career in cosmetology at Dudleyrsquos Cosmetology University in North Carolina

After graduating Patterson became an instructor for Dudleyrsquos Advanced Cosmetology University and then she took her skills outside national borders as an International Educator Traveling to remarkable locations such as the Bahamas Barbados Aruba and Jamaica Patterson worked to communicate the latest tech-niques in cosmetology through seminars on product knowledge hair care advance cutting and styling techniques

Taking into consideration Pattersonrsquos spontaneous extrovert personality it was no surprise that she met her husband on a blind date in Atlanta while she lived in North Carolina She and her husband are now loving and dedicated parents of three sons Logan 8 and twins Bryce and Blake 4 The family of five resides in Lilburn Georgia where they spend copious amounts of time together either at home or at Peace Baptist Church where they attend regularly

Amid college and starting a family Patterson became an entrepreneur open-ing her own hair salon called Chase Morgan Salon which has been in business for

Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

Diets Donrsquot WorkBy Kelly Farris

Itrsquos that time of year again ndash panic mode has set in and yoursquore trying to get off the winter flub in time for bathing suit season

You might be considering a diet Maybe yoursquore stuck trying to choose between the wide variety of options 17 day cabbage soup weight loss shakes paleo and Atkins just to name a few

Unfortunately none of these work in the long run In fact fad diets can backfire and even contribute to weight gain You donrsquot have to have a perfect diet to have a good diet Eating normal portions of wholesome foods leads to the right body weight

Let your eating habits consist of 85-90 of quality calories with the remaining calories of ldquowhateverrdquo ldquoWhateverrdquo means you can have an orange one day or a cookie the next The trick is not to deprive yourself of foods you really like Sooner or later you will end up binging if you make certain foods taboo Take away the power to binge-eat by eating that certain food more often Chances are seven days of having a cookie for your ldquowhateverrdquo calories will make it less desirable by day eight

I advise all my clients to make breakfast the most important meal of the day I encourage eggs egg substitute turkey sausage veggie sausage grits or oatmeal These are all ldquofill-you-uprdquo foods Start your day with filling healthy foods and yoursquoll set the tone for the rest of your day while reducing sugar cravings

So eat but donrsquot deprive yourself Make good choices

over 10 years Named after her sisterrsquos children Chase and Morgan Chase Morgan Salon as Patterson states ldquohellipwas designed with the client in mind to create quality and efficient hair care services while being a positive environment for women to fellowship and relaxrdquo

Though the salon was origi-nally located in Decatur Georgia Patterson recently moved the loca-tion to Snellville Georgia to live out her dream of opening a conveniently located upscale salon that would allow her to actively participate in her childrenrsquos lives at school

Having been in the cosmetology business for 23 years and counting Patterson is highly dedicated to her career Every day she goes above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction Patterson commented ldquoMy clients tease me because I am known for being the resource lady As a hair stylist clients confide in you about their per-sonal struggles I feel it is my responsibility as a Christian to uplift them and speak positive things into their life that will encourage themrdquo

Being close to clients can also come with a cost According to Patterson the most difficult part of her job is losing faithful clients with the change in the econ-omy and increasing unemployment On one hand she strives to help them until their financial situation is better but on the other Chase Morgan Salon is still an operating business and needs to make a profit in order to stay in business

Though being a successful entrepreneur comes with positive and negative aspects the overall feelings of accomplishment and contentment with the Chase Morgan Salon trumps everything A distinguished devoted and aspiring woman Patterson has become a figure of hope proving that with hard work and dedica-tion a childhood dream can become a reality Pattersonrsquos future at Chase Morgan Salon seems bright ldquoMy goal for the salon is to always create an environment to derive success from teamwork and through education As techniques change and products improve I will prepare stylists through education to satisfy the new demands of clients thus ensuring a successful position in the futurerdquo

For contact information for Sudonna Patterson or information on location and operating hours of Chase Morgan Salon please visit wwwchasemorgansaloncom

One Employee

At a TimeStrengthening

Companies3

ldquoSolving Gwinnett Countyrsquos staffing needs for over 16 yearsrdquo

For client inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at clientsunitedstaffingservicecom

For employment inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at jobsunitedstaffingservicecom

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 17

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You Canrsquot Get There From Here By Susan Cadley LPC

Have you ever wished you could be like Harry Potter and wave a magic wand to fix a problem or get what you wanted If so you are in good company It is a natural tendency to avoid pain frustration or any feeling that is perceived as ldquobadrdquo It is also natural to have desires and goals for your life But herersquos the truth life is a process and when we resist or deny what we are feeling or what is happening in our life we actually cause ourselves more pain

We are all born with a wide range of emotions and these emotions are mes-sengers If we pay attention to them they have much to share with us We may learn what we react to what beliefs we hold and most importantly where our healing lies When we ignore these messengers they knock louder and harder at our subconscious until they get our attention So instead of working so hard to push emotions away welcome them in as a guest and lean into them You will find that the feelings dissipate and the pain of resistance yoursquove created will be eased

When we want to wish challenges away we lose the richness of life Imagine what it would be like to watch a movie and only view the first and last 10 minutes of the film By skipping the majority of the movie we miss out on the story and the experience as a whole And so it is with life When we wish for our lives to be different than they are we must then let go and live our lives right now with all the seeming imperfections that make up the movie we are living When we wish to go from ldquohererdquo to ldquothererdquo directly we miss out on personal growth

We are all here to learn love live fully and be more of who we are Embrace all of your life right where you are right now Then the real magic will begin

Susan Cadley LPC Licensed Professional Counselor is available for couplesadult individual counseling and creativity workshops in Suwanee GA She may be reached directly and confiden-tially at 678-296-1278 wwwcoaching foryoursoulcom

Fly-Fishing PatagoniaBy Pam Walker

What I know about Fly-Fishing you could put on the head of a straight pin So when asked to visit Patagonia I thought ldquoThis is my chance to learnrdquo

In early March I flew to Buenos Aires Argentina and then on to Bariloche From there I had an hour drive to Villa Angostura Aroyo Verde the famed fly- fishing lodge was further on down a dirt road

No signs No directions We had just a general sense of where we were going Anthony my naturalist guide headed into the Traful river canyon Fifteen minutes later we were greeted first by an authentic gaucho and then by riders on horseback After another 20 minutes we saw along a stream a lovely chalet with a sculpture gar-den Estancia Aroyo Verde

This private fishing and riding estancia is the home of one of Argentinarsquos most elite families Located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park the family-managed lodge hosts visitors from across the globe The Traful River is also home to land-locked salmon brown and rainbow trout This is a catch-and-release river with a season from November through April In this remote setting the fish some reaching 28 in for salmon and 29 in for Rainbows and Browns swim right up to you in the crystal clear water Best of all you need only your favorite fly rod Everything else is avail-able on-site Miles of nothingness surrounds this pristine spot Imagine standing in the river surrounded by the Andes What more could you ask for

Rooms are cozy all with private baths and meals are served family-style If yoursquore lucky join the family for an Argentine-style barbeque (Parillada) cooked outdoors by one of the resi-dent gauchos

Fishing horseback riding and even moun-tain bikes are here for your enjoyment Too bad I had to come back

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant and can be reached at Walker Adventures pliwalkerearthlinknet You can follow her travels by visiting Pamrsquos blog at httpwwwpamwalkersblogspotcom

PAGE 18 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Pastor Paul Ballard

The mission statement of Mountain Park First Baptist Church is to engage every man woman and child by living out Jesusrsquo love and sharing the gospel both locally and globally Since coming to MPFBC in May 2011 senior pastor Paul Ballard has been simple in his approach He has two priorities preaching the gospel and becoming a radiant church by being missional in nature

First Pastor Paul has prioritized the preaching of the gospel of Jesus The gospel is Godrsquos victory over sin and death through the person and work of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 151 says ldquoNow I would remind you brothers of the gospel

I preached to you which you received in which you standhelliprdquo The gospel is not just the entry point into Christianity It is the key to spiritual growth as we stand in Jesusrsquo finished work on the cross and His glorious resurrection

Second because the gospel has radically changed us God has called His people to give Him glory by living radiant lives resulting in missional living The church has moved from an internal to an external emphasis Some of the practical results have been

bull Adopting local fire stations and the Gwinnett South Precinct by providing meals and notes of encouragement

bull Hosting community events like Family Fest on May 4 2013

bull Mentoring ladies from the Atlanta WomenChildren shelter and adopting and fixing up a dorm

bull Offering an ESL program on Wednesdays with a provided meal afterward bull Holding food drives for Lilburn Co-op and providing Christmas for needy

familiesbull Deacons serving at Mountain Park Park in the concession stand so parents

could watch their children playbull Donating over $100000 from financial overages the last two years to support

local and international missions above the normal mission givingGod is at work at Mountain Park First Baptist Church For more information

go to wwwmpfbcorg

Chaplainrsquos Corner

hellipto our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue

Keep them coming

Thanks

Dr Louise DeLong Dr Franccediloise Tyler

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Page 5: MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 5

REGISTER NOW FOR FINAL EXAM PREP SESSIONS AND SUMMER TUTORING

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bull SUMMER TUTORING

By Allie Gardner

Most companies are composed of employees who start as strangers with every person focusing on hisher specific job within the business Air Conditioning Experts Inc defies the stereotypical company Founded in 1995 by Bill and Heather Preston the business began with the desire to give custom-ers quality service that displayed the values that so many other organizations seem to lack as well as a satisfying and progressive work environment for their employees Their first employee was brother-in-law Chris Allen who started in 1996 and later became a partner in 2000

Air Conditioning Experts provides heating ventilation and air condi-tion (HVAC) services and installations for residential homes and commercial properties but specialize in working with real estate investors ACErsquos goal is to continue to serve homeowners businesses and investors in all of their markets with the personal service they deserve and always providing superior products exem-plary customer service and supreme workmanship in an unmatched cost effective manner The company expanded to Orlando and Charlotte after recognizing that the level of customer service they provided in Atlanta would do well in the other markets The owners felt that those particular cities were a great fit for their type of customer service

Owner Heather Preston said ldquoAs our customer you should always rest easy knowing we will be here for you for your comfort needs for years to comerdquo

The business is truly a family affair Allen partners with his sister and brother-in-law His mom and stepfather Nancy and Remo Loyal manage another company owned by Allen and the Prestons Steelworks Inc a security cage business Allenrsquos son Chris Jr stepbrother Remeno Loyal and nephew Keith Hodges also work for Steelworks Hillary Preston Allenrsquos niece works

About the CoverAir Conditioning Experts A Family Affair

as an administrative assistant for Air Conditioning Experts and Billrsquos mom Ella McCrater helps around the office part time Even as it has grown the company has made maintaining the family atmosphere a priority

ACE has employed multiple long time family friends to be part of the companyrsquos team some of whom have been with the business since the 1990s

Allen said ldquo[Working with family] is great You know that your partners truly have your best interest at heartrdquo

The company has made it a goal to be a big part of their community Everyone at Air Conditioning Experts is very involved in their churches Allen and his family are members of Mountain West Church of God located in Stone Mountain They work with the outreach program and other ministries that focus on giving back to the Tucker Lilburn and Stone Mountain areas The Preston family belongs to the Dacula Church of God and is involved in simi-lar organizations and ministries as Allen Bill Preston and Eric Medina who serve as the comfort advisors speak on a local gospel radio program twice each month

Air Conditioning Experts brings Gwinnett County a helpful service to homes and businesses a family environment that is hard to find anywhere else and a community outreach that touches hundreds of lives The business con-tinues to grow and expand providing unique customer service that is needed in this day and age

PAGE 6 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

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wwwourtownmagvideocom or scan the QR code below

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By Ryan T Sauers

Well Gwinnett can you believe it It is already May and summertime is on the way I want to start out by explaining why I chose the title One Manrsquos Opinion for this column My grandfather began a column with this name many decades ago for a large chain of weekly newspapers in DeKalb County So this is my way of paying tribute to a long family history in publishing My parents then took this publishing company and built it into a very successful printing company Without this heritage it is highly unlikely I would be writing this article today

Also I want to thank our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue The response to our first issue was overwhelming Thanks for all of your calls and emails in regard to new stories and thanks to our current advertisers as well as the new advertisers who are coming onboard We are quickly growing and have big plans for growth and change in the months ahead Also I encourage you to use the QR code or the URL address provided to view the video that goes along with this column It will make your reading experience even better

Last month the name of one of our writers Ashton Pike was inadvertently left off the superb article she wrote on Debra Dees the principal of Brookwood Sorry about that Ashton This month a new feature has been added called Chaplainrsquos Corner where different pastors from our community will highlight the good things going on in their churches We will be hearing from a lot of pastors begin-ning with Pastor Paul Ballard of Mountain Park Baptist We will be bringing in more stories of interest in coming months to make the magazine even better and keep the content strong

This month we have some great stories Here is an overview A terrific family run company AC Experts here in Snellville is profiled You get to meet Kay Sands who is the principal of Trickum Middle School You will read a neat story about GSA (Gwinnett Soccer Association) and the new developments that are taking place at the club Finally there is an insightful profile of Chase Morgan Salon and why the salon chose to move down Highway 78 from Decatur to Snellville You have to read them all to find out more

You will continue to see good news in this and future issues of the magazine We need it With the recent tragedy in Boston and other such incidents we need now more than ever to hear about good people events news and happenings It seems that every publication and news story I pick up focuses on negative news Gwinnett I am here to tell you there are some amazing people doing incredible things right here in our backyard Special thanks this month to Christa K Huggins for doing a great job with our cover photo shot this month and to Elsie Olson for your usual top notch design work And to all of the rest of you you know who you are I cannot thank you enough

We are working to update our website and social media tools so pardon our progress I have no doubt you will love it in the end as they will be better than ever Our goal is to offer an amazing integrated communications experience So enjoy this May issue of Our Town We look forward to your feedback as we seek to improve your reading experience each month Have a great month And remember this is your town This is OUR TOWN

From the Publisher One Manrsquos Opinion

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 7

Disney On Ice Presents Worlds of FantasyMay 1-5 2013Arena at Gwinnett CenterDuluthwwwgwinnettcentercom

The Atlanta Coin and Currency ExpoMay 3-5 2013North Atlanta Trade CenterNorcrosswwwnorthatlantatradecentercomFri amp Sat 10am-6pm Sun 10am-3pm

Krispy Kreme for a CureMay 4 2013Town Center ParkSuwaneewwwaplacetoimaginecom

Fodac Run Walk Nrsquo RollMay 4 2013Confederate Hall ndash Stone Mountain ParkStone MountainwwwstonemountainparkcomBenefitting the Friends of Disabled Adults and Children

FreshMay 7 2013Tannery Row Artist ColonyBufordwwwtanneryrowartistcolonycomJuried show 12pm-5pm

2013 Relay For LifeMay 10-11 2013Gwinnett County FairgroundsLawrencevillewwwgwinnettrelayforlifeorgThe nationrsquos largest Relay for Life raises funds to fight cancer

9th Annual Barefoot In the Park GalaMay 10-12 2013Duluth Town GreenDuluthwwwbarefootintheparkorgGwinnettrsquos premier juried arts festival

Atlanta Exotic Bird FairMay 10-11 2013North Atlanta Trade CenterNorcrosswwwnorthatlantatradecentercom

Reels at Robinson ndash Summer Movie SeriesMay 17 2013EE Robinson ParkSugar Hillwwwcityofsugarhillcom

Pet Revolution 2013May 17-18 2013Gwinnett County FairgroundsLawrenceville

Animal adoptions Fri 8pm ndash Sun 8pm (48 hrs straight)

SCCA NationalMay 19 2013Road AtlantaBraseltonwwwroadatlantacomSports Car Club of America National Race All day

Board Game BlastoffMay 20 2013Bethesda Park Senior CenterLawrencevillewwwgwinnettparkscomchallenge yourself to a game of scrab-ble mahjong chess and more

Two for the ShowMay 23 2013George Pierce Park Community CenterSuwaneewwwgwinnettparkscomArt show 9am-8pm

Nike Memorial Day ClassicMay 24-27 2013Suwanee Sports AcademySuwaneewwwsuwaneesportsacademycomBasketball ndash Boys 14U-17U

Gwinnett Daily Post Memorial Day ConcertMay 24 2013Town Center ParkSuwaneewwwsuwaneecomConcert

Taste of GwinnettMay 26-27 2013Peachtree CornerswwwtasteofgwinnettcomPremier food festival

Memorial Day Weekend CelebratioMay 26-27 2013Stone Mountain ParkStone MountainwwwstonemountainparkcomFireworks and fun 1030am-8pm laser show 930pm

Memorial Day in DaculaMay 27 2013Historic Downtown DaculaDaculawwwdaculamemorialdaycomParade ndash festival 9am-5pm

Memorial Day CelebrationMay 27 2013Thrasher ParkNorcrosswwwaplacetoimaginecom

Onion Manrsquos Summer Harvest Festival Keep it LegalMay 30-June 1 2013Norcross Cultural Arts and Community CenterNorcrosswwwlionhearttheatreorgA collection of short plays

May Calendar

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Offering Medically Managed Weight Loss Food Allergies Heavy Metals Thyroid or Hormone imbalances can be to blame Let our in-house lab testing identify these

AC Spine amp Wellness Center 217 Scenic Highway Lawrenceville GA 30046-5621

wwwacspineandwellnesscom

Call today to schedule your FREE Consultation AC Spine amp Wellness Center

217 Scenic Highway bull Lawrenceville GA 30046-5621wwwacspineandwellnesscom

Affordable senior housing and personal care for the elderlySpecialize in long-term disability physically challenged

Alzheimerrsquos disease dementia depression strokeheart condition and recovery after illness or surgery

ldquoGenuine Senior Carerdquo

404-996-8777wwwelainespchcom

Serving Lilburn and Stone Mountain 626 E Riverbend Dr 186 Lockring Dr 4905 Annistown Rd Lilburn GA 30047 Lilburn GA 30047 Stone Mountain GA 30087

Residential Services - Respite Care - Hospice ndash Sitter Service- Adult Day Care

bull Certified caregivers provide personalized carebull Maintenance of a healthy and safe environment

bull Assistance with activities of daily livingbull Housekeeping and laundry services

bull Nutritious meals and snacks dailybull Medication supervision and assistancebull Scheduled transportationbull On-call Nurse Practitioners Podiatrist and Beauticians

bull Quick accessibility to hospital doctorsrsquo offices and

emergency servicesbull Planned social and recreational activities

PAGE 8 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Solution on page 16

C Scapes

bull Lawn Maintenance bull Fertilizer amp Weed Control bull Trees amp Shrubbery bull Aerate amp Overseed bull Planting Beds bull Sod amp Seasonal Flowers bull Tree Pruning amp Trimming bull Insect and Disease Control bull Mulch amp Pine Straw Installation bull Stone amp Concrete Work bull Driveways bull Walkways bull Patios bull Outdoor Lighting bull Holiday Decorations bull Irrigation Systems amp Sprinkler Repair bull Walls amp Steps bull LED Lighting bull Water Features bull Outdoor Fireplaces bull Outdoor Living Areas

Residential amp Commercial bull Licensed amp Insured

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678-414-4003wwwcscapesunlimitedcom bull cscapesbellsouthnet

Professional Landscape and Design Services

Is Your Dog Properly SocializedBy Terie Hansen

Socializing your dog is a lifelong undertaking not just during the first year or two of their life with you Many who reach out to us for training are experiencing the side effects of an under-socialized dog

Does your dog bark wildly when it sees other dogs or pull on the leash towards other dogs or people Does it shy away from objects in its environment or does it act fearful or aggressive towards people or dogs These can be symptoms of an under-socialized dog

When you get a new dog whether puppy or adult you are excited to spend time with him and share him with everyone and anyone who will let you So you take your new pet on walks to parks on hikes and to pet stores This is great because he is learning how to act in these various environments and around other people and dogs As the newness wears off however you donrsquot take him out as often Therefore he is exposed to less stimulation

Three to six months or even one to two years can go by and your dog hasnrsquot come in contact with anyone other than your family Now all of a sudden you decide to take him someplace where there are other people and dogs Chances are he will act either uncontrollably excited or fearful which can look like aggression and you think ldquoOMG Whatrsquos the matter with my dogrdquo You decide that you can no longer take him out in public What happened Culture shock Many dogs need to be socialized on an ongoing basis If we stay in our house and didnrsquot come out until fifteen years later we would experience the same feelings of excitement fear and anxiety

This is easily preventable socialize socialize and socialize for the life of your dog If you are experiencing these symptoms already reach out to us We can help

Terie Hansen Professional Dog Trainer Pet Sitter amp Owner at Good Dog Coaching amp Pet Care-may be reached at 404-422-9832 infogooddogcoachingcom wwwgooddogcoachingcom

Great Content Is KingBy Ryan T Sauers

I often tell people that content is king And you know whatmdashthis is not quite right Why You seehellip content is good but great content is ldquokingrdquo Think about it Why do you become engrossed in a movie or show Why do you send a funny YouTube video to a friend Why do you enjoy talking with certain people Why do you like to read certain articles The answer is simple We do these things because we love watching hearing or reading great content By the way if you are still the person forwarding emailshellip not so funny J

We are all busy and whether we are in person (offline) or online (virtual) -- it takes something special unique to pull us in and ldquowowrdquo us We live in a world where most people have a short attention span You see I was talking to you Please put down your phone and let me finish So how do we accomplish this The secret is simple It is all about great content Good content is okay but will always lose to great content

For an article or any engagement to be enjoyable it must be more than my writ-ing and your reading It must be a two way dialogue or conversation It must be about taking the ink and words that are on the paper you are readingmdashso they are transformed in your mind into a story worth sharing and acting upon Isnrsquot this what you want your customers to do when they think of you If you sound like everyone else you are lacking great content Always remember people can duplicate your ideas but cannot replicate your DNA So what do you bring your stakehold-ers--online and offlinemdashthat is simply great content And can you produce such great content consistently Do you ever think about it If not there is no better time than now to begin thinking with such a strategic mindset As I travel across the country one thing has become clear those who are willing to be creative and break the box in their thinking in a purposeful manner are the companies that are running towards 2014

Ryan T Sauers is PresidentOwner of Sauers Consulting Strategies Our business is growing your business More info at wwwryansauerscom ryansauers ryanryansauerscom

MAY C

ROSS

WO

RD

Across1 Alone5 Mozartrsquos ldquoLrsquo___ del Cairordquo8 ldquo___ here longrdquo12 Legal prefix13 ___ Altaic languages14 ldquoFantasticrdquo15 ldquo___ Brockovichrdquo16 ldquo___ Smilerdquo (1976 hit)17 Red eye18 Assistant20 Feed21 Sheikrsquos bevy22 Impede withrdquodownrdquo23 Advantages26 Witnessed30 Bit od a draft31 Artificial34 Help35 Defeat37 Tokyo formerly38 Drive39 Ashcroftrsquos predecessor40 Hospital restroom42 Internrsquol Monetary Fund43 Rare earth element45 Bothers47 ldquo___ Doubtfirerdquo

48 Brunch serving50 Watered-down52 Generous56 Put off as a motion57 Capture58 Creole vegetable59 Bawl out60 ldquoEmpedocles on ___rdquo (Matthew Arnold poem)61 Newton fruits62 Pay (up)63 Do it yourself64 ChargesDown1 Particular for short2 Hawaiian tuber3 ldquoMi chiamano Mimirdquo eg4 Peacemaker5 Be bombastic6 Bank7 Apple spray8 Carriage9 ldquo___ on Down the Roadrdquo10 ldquohellipthere is no ___angel but Loverdquo Shakespeare11 ldquoSmoking or ___rdquo13 Certain shark14 Confuse

19 Blaseacute22 Show ___23 Loan shark24 Lab tube25 All in26 ldquoCut it outrdquo27 Native indian dwellings28 Swelling29 Dutch pottery city32 Appear33 Make sense with ldquouprdquo36 Usually38 All thumbs40 Greyhound eg41 ldquoTo dordquo list44 Angry46 Irritate48 Cousin of a raccoon49 Not set50 1993 standoff site51 Black in poetry52 Ran as colors53 ldquo___ From Muskogeerdquo54 Advocate55 Back talk56 Cooking meas

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 9

NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIAL

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With coupon Not valid with other offers or prior purchases One Water Heater per household Manufacturers limited lifetime unit replacement AC Furnace and Water Heater See comfort advisor for details Expires 053113

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By Stefanie Lamprsquol

ldquoLove everyone trust a few do wrong to nonerdquo This eminent quote by William Shakespeare written on the white board in the principalrsquos office at Trickum Middle School watches over Kay Sands as she leads a growing student body faculty and staff These words represent how Sands runs her school She is dedicated to educating her students and teaching principles that will allow them to better their community

Kay Sands was born and raised in Atlanta Georgia As a kid Sands loved sports especially tennis She majored in health and physical education at the University of Georgia and then attended graduate school at the University of Alabama Sands never saw herself becoming a teacher let alone the head of the administration Although it was not the original job she set out to do she loves every minute of it

Sands held several positions before finding a home at Trickum Middle School For three years she worked at Five Forks as a health and physical education teacher One of the most rewarding jobs she has had yet was being a stay-at-home mom to her three sons for thir-teen years During this time she also coached tennis a sport she always enjoyed playing Sands was an assistant principal for six years before becoming principal in 2008 Sands believes that it was the work of Lynn Davis and Calvin Watts prin-cipals of Trickum Middle School before Sands that encouraged her to take on the position They were incredible mentors who helped her make the transition from assistant principal to the head of Trickum Middle School

Even though Kay Sands never saw herself in her current role she is blessed by the position She has a tremendous opportunity to empower people to make a school great She wants her students to come to school to be engaged rather than disinterested As a kid Sands was not a big fan of school so her goal as an adminis-trator is to change this She wants to show her students how truly meaningful learning can be and to do her part in contributing to the community to make the dis-trict the best place to live She knows this is not possible without the incredible and competent faculty and staff who work beside her every day

Kay Sands does not shoot for perfection She knows that she will not always say the right thing or make the right choices She also knows that if she focuses on what is going well and what is positive she can rectify any situation and become a stronger leader

When Sands is not giving her all to bettering the lives and minds of her students she loves being out-doors She enjoys hiking or escaping

to a quiet place in nature There is no better place to her though than living and working in her community It is satisfying and reward-ing to be a part of developing passionate and educated students who will lead the commu-nity on to success

Getting to Know Trickum Middle School Principal Kay Sands

PAGE 10 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Hurt Less Heal QuickerHave a Better Quality of Life

Caring Experienced Professional

Gift Certificates AvailableCALL TODAY

(678) 344-00501780 Oak Road Suite A2 Snellville GA

wwwbodyofhealthandlifecomjuliebodyofhealthandlifecom

bull Wellness Massage bull Senior Massage bull Prenatal Massage bull Cancer Massage

One Hour Massage - $55

Love your mom with the comfort of a safe relaxing massage with

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Primrose Schoolsreg Summer Camp ndash

Passport to Adventure

copy2013 Primrose School Franchising Company All rights reserved

From the great outdoors and virtual travel to music and dance

Camp PrimroseSM is your familyrsquos passport to adventure and fun

this summer Exciting fi eld trips creative activities and fun

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unforgettable summer

Customize your adventure by

selecting specifi c camp weeks

or join us all summer long

Start planning your summer adventure now ndash CampPrimrosecom

Primrose School of Five Forks3030 River Drive Lawrenceville GA 30044

7709850028 | PrimroseFiveForkscom

Are Your Hormones Driving You CrazyBy Dr Jeanette Altieri AC Spine amp Wellness Center

At every age hormones fluctuate mdash and thatrsquos normal However when changes happen too fast or become too much for your body to handle you can start expe-riencing problems Canrsquot lose weight Tired all of the time Feeling overwhelmed What is your body telling you

When our body becomes overloaded and unable to support its systems therersquos a greater chance of developing some of the problems associated with hormonal imbalance Whether you are suffering from PMS mood swings bloating or head-aches or you have a family history of breast ovarian or other female cancers there can be imbalances in the ratios of estrogen progesterone testosterone and other hormones in your endocrine and adrenal system

Hormonal imbalances are caused by more than just estrogen Estrogen levels are important but so are progesterone and testosterone levels and their ratios to each other Insulin cortisol (the stress hormone) and thyroid levels can also play a big part More importantly women who are on hormone replacement therapy need to be tested to make sure hormones are broken down cleared and balanced

Letrsquos take a look at some of the most common signs of hormonal imbalances

Irregular or absent periods Weight gainChanges in the shape of your bodyAnxiety andor moodiness

By listening to your body yoursquoll be able to provide what you need to naturally rebalance its hormones Even healthy women who follow a good diet may find glitches in their hormone levels Effective natural options include high quality supplements dietary and lifestyle adjustments The first step is to get tested and find out what is causing these hormonal issues and then learn how to improve your personal hormonal health

Baseball Is Similar to LifeBy Glenton Ashby

Life is similar to going around the bases on a baseball diamond ndash itrsquos a pro-gression Our financial life is also a progression We progress through stages of financial life at the same time we move through various life stages from beginning to end

As you begin your financial life a number of basic steps are prudent and neces-sary Establish a budget (know what and where you are spending) begin a program of regular saving (the amount is not as important as the habit) commit to paying off whatever debt you do have (whether school debt or debt taken on as you begin life after school) and avoid unnecessary debt (eg debt for lifestyle)

Accomplishing these steps in combination with beginning your working life is like getting a runner to first base

Once on first base a variety of things can happen that may impact your ability to advance to the remaining bases Some things are in your control and some are not You are responsible for managing the things that you can control Think of this financial life progression as stewardship rather than ownership (The fact that any-thing we think we own will eventually go to someone else will be addressed later)

Things not in your control still require your awareness and vigilance in order to respond or react to them appropriately Otherwise you may have to start over and go back to first base Things you cannot control include job loss extended illness or disability You can exert a measure of control by having adequate health insur-ance and disability insurance if available and affordable

Sticking to the plan that got you to first base is essential for moving forward to second base This involves moving from the financial basics stage to the stage of a more established financial life

Feedback and topic suggestions are welcome ndash email HalcyonTimesHalcyonFPcom or comment at wwwHalcyonFPcomhalcyon-times Tweet halcyonplanning

Glenton Ashby is the founder and owner of Halcyon Financial Planning LLC a fee-only financial planning and Registered Investment Advisor firm Visit HalcyonFPcom

Skin issuesacneHair lossunusual hair growthInfertilityFatigueloss of energy

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 11

New Client Special

$10 offBy Appointment Only

First Visit

404-550-68602315 Oak Rd bull Snellville GA 30078

wwwchasemorgansaloncom

We Service Natural and Relaxed HairLashes bull Eyebrow Waxing

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We Fix Lawnmowers

Lilburn Lawn Mower has a new location

4450 Lawrenceville Hwy Suite CLilburn GA 30047

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Is Testing Getting a Bad Wrap By Tamsen Boone

Today I taught my 7th graders the meaning of the term ldquodevilrsquos advocaterdquo They devised many creative definitions on their own before I explained the concept As we batten down the hatches across the state for CRCT week Irsquove spent some time deliberating the testing catch-22 and I decided to play the role of devilrsquos advocate

Yoursquod be hard pressed to find a parent or an educator for that matter who thinks all the testing our students endure isnrsquot over the top This is my first year in middle school and Irsquom feeling the pressure myself However Irsquove decided to approach this with a ldquoglass half fullrdquo mentality If Irsquove done what Irsquom supposed to do in the classroom my students have been exposed to the material If Irsquove found a few creative and innovative strategies my students may even remember what Irsquove exposed them to despite middle school drama and raging tween hormonal shifts If Irsquove provided them with some test-taking strategies Irsquove given them the ability to move through information integrate it and discern the difference between good better and best options

I propose that this is necessary not only in the testing arena but in the real world as well I hope that my students will one day be able to read through cell phone contracts college brochures apartment leases closing statements and job offers to determine their best option Digesting information and discriminating between options (such as A B C or D answers) can be applicable to our daily adult lives Therefore I donrsquot envision myself as wasting time teaching students how to take tests I like to think Irsquom teaching them to analyze carefully when the stakes are high so that they can make solid decisions when the stakes really get high in the adult world

So this position begs the question if testing shouldnrsquot be such a big stressful deal why is it This is probably where I should keep my mouth shut Happy testing J

Whatrsquos Keeping Your Child From Performing at Grade Level

By Christine Giles

National Awareness Month Educates Parents about Speech and Language Disorders Affecting School Performance

Children with communication disorders frequently do not perform at grade level because they have difficulty understanding and speaking struggle with reading and writing misunderstand social cues show poor judgment have trouble taking tests and may avoid school Is this your child

This May as part of Better Hearing and Speech Month Creative Therapy Works in Lilburn GA and the American Speech-Language-Hearing (ASHA) continue their public education efforts for the communication health of our children by pro-viding information to parents to identify and prevent speech and language disorders

Children with communication problems have difficulty learning to listen speak read or write Parents and teachers should refer any student who shows signs of a speech and language problem to the school-based speech-language pathologist for an immediate evaluation

ldquoItrsquos crucial that children are identified and begin treatment as early as possible because summer break will only compound the consequences of a communication disorder if left untreatedrdquo Christine Giles Speech- Language Pathologist and owner of Creative Therapy Works LLC in Lilburn says

Parents should look out for the various types of speech and language disorders that affect school-age children including ~Speech sound disorders (difficulty pronouncing sounds) ~Language disorders (difficulty understanding others and expressing themselves) ~Cognitive-communication disorders (difficulty with thinking skills including per-ception memory awareness reasoning judgment intellect and imagination) ~Stuttering (fluency) disorders (interruption of the flow of speech that may include hesitations repetitions or prolongations of sounds or words) ~Voice disorders (quality of voice that may include hoarseness nasality or loudness)

For more information about speech and language disorders and prevention or to arrange a free speech and language screening for your child please visit wwwcreativetherapyworkscom or call 1-866-611-7855

PAGE 12 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ages 6 weeks to 4 years old We implement age appropriate Creative Curriculum in all classes

See our website for details

Register Your Children Today Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

FIVE FORKS ACADEMY Enroll your children at Legacy Academy

3079 Five Forks Trickum RoadLilburn GA 30047

wwwf iveforksacademycom

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ann Weeks Owner

Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

Caring for childrenages 6 weeks to 4 years

BeforeAfter SchoolPrograms for ages 5-12

Visit us anytime for a personal tour

(770) 982-2000

NEW for 09-10 We will be serving Knight Elementary

amp St John Neumwnn Schools

Before and After School Program for children attending Brookwood Craig Head

and Gwin Oaks Elementary

(770) 982-2000 3079 Five Forks Trickum Road

Lilburn GA 30047

ldquoWe love learning inside and outsiderdquo

wwwfiveforksacademycom

By Hank Cohen

For many decades throughout Gwinnett youth sports have been of major importance to the community Whether the sport is baseball football swimming or one of the many others played in the county Gwinnett has continually been home to some of the best athletes in the state One organization that fosters a large number of stars is the Gwinnett Soccer Association (GSA) GSA located across the street from Parkview High School is dedicated to teaching youths of any age or skill level the rules and techniques of soccer With about 1500 kids and numerous teams at each age level GSA has been a thriving spot for soccer talent in the county

The association is currently led by Chip Stevens and a very talented staff The Girlsrsquo Director of Coaching Campbell Chapman spent ten years playing profes-sional soccer for multiple clubs in England Sweden Finland Malta and Qatar Appointed the Girlsrsquo Director in 2007 Campbell has since coached many state winning teams Nuno Piteira the Boysrsquo Director was the coach of the Charleston Battery professional team where he helped the club to win its first national champi-onship in 1996 When he first moved to Atlanta in 1999 Nuno coached the Atlanta Silverbacks professional team The impact of the Associationrsquos very capable coaches is evident in the talented and highly ranked teams that continue to dominate Currently the boys U15 and U16 have qualified for the national championship in Kansas City GSA currently has four players on US national teams

Each year GSA holds a major tournament where teams from across the Southeast come to compete The GSA Invitational held in December brings about 350-400 teams together Similarly GSA also holds a college showcase to expose col-lege soccer coaches to the extraordinary amount of talent within the organization Coaches from colleges such as Auburn Alabama and UGA have attended to look for future prospects Multiple soccer camps for any skill level also run throughout the year Nuno runs the boysrsquo camps which includes a residency camp at Rinehart College Campbell runs the girlsrsquo camps which include camps throughout the

summer GSA is always seek-ing to reach out to potential players ldquoWe want more kids to play soccer because itrsquos the best sport in the worldrdquo said President Stevens

Since its beginning in 1977 GSA has sought to provide a high quality organization for kids to become engaged in soc-cer Over the years the organi-zation has continuously grown and the association is planning to make changes in the future as well To accommodate the quality talent GSA is updat-ing the fields to provide better complexes for the players The organization will also be host-ing a Junior Academy for 4-8 year olds to teach them the basic skills of soccer and to spark a love for the sport in younger children As the club continues to grow the dedicated staff and coaches of GSA will continue to teach and spread soccer throughout the community Stevens wants to continue this participation in the area he grew up in He is a graduate from Brookwood High School and his wife and children are active at GSA as well The organization has opportunities for every child ldquoItrsquos all about the kidsrdquo Stevens said ldquoFrom young beginners to the elite players GSA has something for everyonerdquo

Gwinnett Soccer Association Itrsquos All About the Kids

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 13

BARBERSHOP

770-923-32165385 Five Forks Trickum Rd bull Suite M

Stone Mountain GA 30087In Mountain Park Plaza between

Always Fresh Restaurant and Mountain Park FitnessOPEN MON - FRI 10AM-6PM SAT 10AM-3PM

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Serving the Lilburn area for over 20 years

Best Haircuts in TownNO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY

Walgreen

Always Fresh Restaurant

Mountain Park Fitness

Five Forks Trickum Rd

Rock

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Part-time Barber Needed

Beautiful Gated Neighborhood for Active Adults Homes amp Villas from the $200s

Visit our Decorated Model Homes Today1950 Grayson Hwy | Grayson GA 30017

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Pick Your Lot Pick Your Floor Plan

Understanding Sunscreen Protection

By Chrissy Thomas RN BSN

In June 2011 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new requirements for over-the-counter sunscreens These rules were put into place to ensure that sunscreens meet todayrsquos standards for safety and effectiveness The fol-lowing is an outline of some of the more important details for consumers to know when choosing sunscreen products

The primary purpose of the FDArsquos changes is to guarantee that sunscreen products are providing adequate protection Previously the Sun Protection Factors (SPFs) dealt with UVB (ultraviolet B) protection only This means that the risk of sunburn was the only factor considered on the label Now we know that much of the sunrsquos risk lies in UVA (ultraviolet A) radiation which contributes to skin cancer and early aging

After reviewing data the FDA determined that sufficient evidence is available to establish a ldquobroad spectrumrdquo test for determining a sunscreen productrsquos UVA protection By passing the broad spectrum test a consumer knows that the product will provide UVA protection that is proportional to its UVB protection Products that pass this test are going to be labeled as ldquobroad spectrumrdquo These products must be a SPF of 15 or higher to adequately protect the skin

Broad spectrum products SPF 15 or higher have been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging when used with other sun protection measures

Still the meaning of SPF confuses some All sun protection products are tested with a SPF test procedure The test measures the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation expo-sure it takes to cause sunburn when a person is using a sunscreen in comparison to how much UV exposure it takes to cause sunburn without sunscreen The product is then labeled with the appropriate SPF value indicating the amount of sunburn protection provided by the product Higher values provide higher protection Because this test is a measure of protection against sunburn itrsquos an indicator of UVB only With the new broad spectrum test SPFs with a higher UVB rating will also have a higher UVA value

Often new clients to About Face Skin Care donrsquot realize that UV protection should be worn on the face and neck daily to avoid dam-aging UV rays from windows in the home or

car -- or even the minimal time spent walking to the mailbox A moisturizer with a UVBUVA factor of 15 or higher will protect the accumulation that inevitably happens from these exposures Itrsquos been determined that by yearrsquos end not wearing daily SPF protection can equal a week at the beach unprotected

Physical blocks such as clothing provide some protection but our faces are constantly exposed And makeup is not a sunblock If your makeup offers UV pro-tection it should be counted as an extra layer Sun protection in makeup according to the Skin Cancer Foundation is the productrsquos secondary purpose Even though some makeup has sunscreen ingredients it doesnrsquot have the proper amount of cov-erage or the capabilities to protect against UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays

Additionally for most people one needs to use 7-14 times the normal amount of powder or foundation to get the SPF coverage stated on the makeup packaging

Just as important donrsquot forget to protect your lips Glosses without SPF react like tanning oil on the lips Skin cancers in this area are becoming more common not to mention the unattractive ldquosmokers linesrdquo that form as the delicate tissues of the lips and surrounding areas are damaged

About Face Skin Care has an array of high-quality products to give you superior protection while offering cosmeceutically-pleasing benefits

If you would like to explore the options of sun protection and other products and treatments offered by About Face schedule your free consultation appointment at 770-935-FACE(3223) or online at wwwaboutfaceskincom We look forward to meeting you

PAGE 14 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Fall in Love with your bodyagain

ldquowhere the beauty you feel becomes the beauty you seerdquo

Complimentary Cosmetic Consultation

Earl Stephenson Jr MD DDS FACS Plastic Surgeon Certified American Board of Plastic Surgery

Breast Augmentation

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84 Patterson RoadLawrenceville GA 30044

770-995-0836pebblestonelandscapegroupcom

Pebblestone Landscape Group is a full service landscape management provider since 1994 Meeting the landscaping needs and requirements for the management groups such as yourself We help our clients increase the appeal of their property to potential customers

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This Summer Prepare to Start School Sharp

By Carol Wood

Woohoo School is out for the summer so learning can stop right Wrong Summertime provides the BEST opportunity for students to enrich their academic skills if they desire to get ahead before school begins again or to catch up on skills if they ended the school year below average If students fall behind during the school year they must catch up with what they have missed AND keep up with what is being taught on a day-by-day basis This is difficult to do and can be stress-ful So summertime is the best time for parents to give their student the oppor-tunity to do what they cannot easily do during the school year CATCH UP or MOVE AHEAD in their academics and solve their STUDY SKILL weaknesses

First locate your childrsquos recent school standardized test scores and examine your childrsquos levels compared to hisher grade level This can be located in the column that reads ldquoGErdquo for grade equivalency or ldquoPRrdquo for percentile Scores below the 50th percentile or below their grade and month level in the GE column when the tests were administered are the ones in which the student was performing below average at that time Scores above the 50th percentile or above his or her grade level show performance above average therefore summer tutoring could entail enrichment work to maintain skills or further build on the studentrsquos strengths in preparation for the next school year By examining your childrsquos most recent test scores and determin-ing which areas are below on or above average you will then know which academic areas to build upon so your student can START SCHOOL SHARP

Next locate professional educational resources with a track record of success should you decide to teach your children at home Purchase the appropriate levels of materials and teach your child using an established consistent weekly schedule Do not allow the student to skip around within workbooks and complete the ldquofunrdquo pages first as the material is purposefully presented in a sequential order Select a study place for each student which is equipped with the learning supplies and tools needed If you do not feel qualified to teach or you do not have the necessary patience with your own child which is not uncommon then seek a full-time professional and experienced educational center Schedule summer learning sessions on a consistent weekly basis with the same degreed and experienced instructor who utilizes nation-ally recognized materials and proven teaching methods Individualized instruction is best in an environment free from distractions and interruptions A professional center is usually preferred since it focuses on providing an ideal learning environment has many quality control measures to insure student improvement is maximized and has a reputation and level of accountability to maintain in order to remain in business Know the credentials of the instructor such as his or her areas of teaching experience and educational degree and match this with your studentrsquos academic area of summer instruction Ask for references and contact them to learn about their experience with the professional center you are considering Request to see the instructional area and observe sessions in progress

Remember SUMMER is the most ideal time for students to get a JUMP START on the next school year

Carol Wood is the founder and owner of Total Learning Concepts Inc a private profes-sional tutorial service located in Gwinnett County Please email questions to ccwoodbellsouthnet or fax to 770-381-1626

MAYCROSSWORDSOLUTION

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 15

1319 Scenic Highway n Lawrenceville GA 30045 n 770-979-9490At the intersection of Hwy 124 amp Webb Gin House Road

Join Us For Lunch

Daily Specials from $325

Fax 770-979-9590 Take-Out Orders

FREE CHEESE DIP

With Any Food Purchase over $20Valid Mon-Thurs 3pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or Sun

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With Any Food Purchase over $20Valid Mon-Thurs 3pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or Sun

One coupon per ticket Cannot combine with any other offers Exp 053113

Join us

for Lunch

ldquoGirl Timerdquo Is ImportantBy Julie Mills

As I sit and think about this yearrsquos Motherrsquos Day I thought I would take a few moments to emphasis the importance of ldquogirl timerdquo I feel so lucky that my work allows me to experience wonderful bonding with my female clients When receiv-ing body work many emotions are released Our bodies are wired to keep our emotions in and they manifest in the form of knots aches pains and sometimes even disease Part of my job is to provide a safe space for my clients to let those emotions go and to begin healing from the inside out Letrsquos talk about how women are wired and why it is so important for us to have friendships

As a woman I already knew that my ldquogirl timerdquo was important and actually kept my sanity at times However I did some research and found a landmark UCLA study that suggests friendships between women are very special They shape who we are and who we are yet to be They soothe our inner world and fill the emo-tional gaps in our male relationships

Researchers suspect that women handle stress in more ways than just fight or flight In fact says Dr Klein of UCLA it seems that when the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress responses in a woman it buffers the fight or flight response and encourages her to tend children and gather with other women When she actually engages in this tending or befriending studies suggest that more oxyto-cin is released which further counters stress and produces a calming effect Men do not have this response due to high levels of testosterone released during stress The estrogen in women seems to enhance the oxytocin and produces a calming effect

It was noted that when the women were stressed they came in to work cleaned the work space had coffee and bonded with other female coworkers When the men were stressed they holed up somewhere on their own and did not interact with coworkers Wow - this part of the study sounds so familiar When I am stressed or have a lot on my mind I get into my cleaning mode or I want to call my sisters These activities help me to think things through and to unwind My husband on the other hand says nothing and he has the unique ability to quietly disappear

It is interesting that nearly 90 of the stress research has been with males With this new research the fact that women respond to stress differently than men has significant implications for our health It may take some time for new studies to reveal all the ways that oxytocin encourages us to care for children and hang out with other women but the ldquotend and befriendrdquo notion developed by Drs Klein and Taylor may explain why women consistently outlive men Study after study has found that social ties reduce our risk of disease by lowering blood pressure heart rate and cholesterol Therersquos no doubt that friends are helping us live longer

Every time we get overly busy with work and family the first thing we do is let go of friendships with other women We push them right to the back burner Thatrsquos really a mistake because women are such a source of strength to each other We nurture one another We need to have unpressured space in which we can do the special kind of talk that women do when theyrsquore with other women Itrsquos a very healing experience

Have you had your much-needed girl time Make this month your month and have a very happy Motherrsquos Day

Julie Mills CMT is owner of Body of Health and Life LLC for more information visit wwwbodyofhealthandlifecom

PAGE 16 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Ashton Pike

ldquoBeauty starts from withinrdquo One may expect a famous womanrsquos name to fol-low this quote but the woman responsible for such accurate words is better than famous She is distinguished After all fame fades but a distinguished woman will be known for years since she will stand out from everyone Hair stylist and salon owner Sudonna Patterson meets these traits and more Being a mom of three young boys an adored wife and a successful entrepreneur Patterson has numerous accomplishments to her name and this is only the beginning

Born and raised in Macon Georgia Patterson practiced the basics of cosmetol-ogy as a young girl when she styled her dollsrsquo hair and when she put rollers in her great auntrsquos hair before bedtime each night Eventually moving from Barbie dolls to actual customers Patterson worked weekends as a shampoo assistant in a hair salon during high school This job led her to pursue a career in cosmetology at Dudleyrsquos Cosmetology University in North Carolina

After graduating Patterson became an instructor for Dudleyrsquos Advanced Cosmetology University and then she took her skills outside national borders as an International Educator Traveling to remarkable locations such as the Bahamas Barbados Aruba and Jamaica Patterson worked to communicate the latest tech-niques in cosmetology through seminars on product knowledge hair care advance cutting and styling techniques

Taking into consideration Pattersonrsquos spontaneous extrovert personality it was no surprise that she met her husband on a blind date in Atlanta while she lived in North Carolina She and her husband are now loving and dedicated parents of three sons Logan 8 and twins Bryce and Blake 4 The family of five resides in Lilburn Georgia where they spend copious amounts of time together either at home or at Peace Baptist Church where they attend regularly

Amid college and starting a family Patterson became an entrepreneur open-ing her own hair salon called Chase Morgan Salon which has been in business for

Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

Diets Donrsquot WorkBy Kelly Farris

Itrsquos that time of year again ndash panic mode has set in and yoursquore trying to get off the winter flub in time for bathing suit season

You might be considering a diet Maybe yoursquore stuck trying to choose between the wide variety of options 17 day cabbage soup weight loss shakes paleo and Atkins just to name a few

Unfortunately none of these work in the long run In fact fad diets can backfire and even contribute to weight gain You donrsquot have to have a perfect diet to have a good diet Eating normal portions of wholesome foods leads to the right body weight

Let your eating habits consist of 85-90 of quality calories with the remaining calories of ldquowhateverrdquo ldquoWhateverrdquo means you can have an orange one day or a cookie the next The trick is not to deprive yourself of foods you really like Sooner or later you will end up binging if you make certain foods taboo Take away the power to binge-eat by eating that certain food more often Chances are seven days of having a cookie for your ldquowhateverrdquo calories will make it less desirable by day eight

I advise all my clients to make breakfast the most important meal of the day I encourage eggs egg substitute turkey sausage veggie sausage grits or oatmeal These are all ldquofill-you-uprdquo foods Start your day with filling healthy foods and yoursquoll set the tone for the rest of your day while reducing sugar cravings

So eat but donrsquot deprive yourself Make good choices

over 10 years Named after her sisterrsquos children Chase and Morgan Chase Morgan Salon as Patterson states ldquohellipwas designed with the client in mind to create quality and efficient hair care services while being a positive environment for women to fellowship and relaxrdquo

Though the salon was origi-nally located in Decatur Georgia Patterson recently moved the loca-tion to Snellville Georgia to live out her dream of opening a conveniently located upscale salon that would allow her to actively participate in her childrenrsquos lives at school

Having been in the cosmetology business for 23 years and counting Patterson is highly dedicated to her career Every day she goes above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction Patterson commented ldquoMy clients tease me because I am known for being the resource lady As a hair stylist clients confide in you about their per-sonal struggles I feel it is my responsibility as a Christian to uplift them and speak positive things into their life that will encourage themrdquo

Being close to clients can also come with a cost According to Patterson the most difficult part of her job is losing faithful clients with the change in the econ-omy and increasing unemployment On one hand she strives to help them until their financial situation is better but on the other Chase Morgan Salon is still an operating business and needs to make a profit in order to stay in business

Though being a successful entrepreneur comes with positive and negative aspects the overall feelings of accomplishment and contentment with the Chase Morgan Salon trumps everything A distinguished devoted and aspiring woman Patterson has become a figure of hope proving that with hard work and dedica-tion a childhood dream can become a reality Pattersonrsquos future at Chase Morgan Salon seems bright ldquoMy goal for the salon is to always create an environment to derive success from teamwork and through education As techniques change and products improve I will prepare stylists through education to satisfy the new demands of clients thus ensuring a successful position in the futurerdquo

For contact information for Sudonna Patterson or information on location and operating hours of Chase Morgan Salon please visit wwwchasemorgansaloncom

One Employee

At a TimeStrengthening

Companies3

ldquoSolving Gwinnett Countyrsquos staffing needs for over 16 yearsrdquo

For client inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at clientsunitedstaffingservicecom

For employment inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at jobsunitedstaffingservicecom

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 17

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You Canrsquot Get There From Here By Susan Cadley LPC

Have you ever wished you could be like Harry Potter and wave a magic wand to fix a problem or get what you wanted If so you are in good company It is a natural tendency to avoid pain frustration or any feeling that is perceived as ldquobadrdquo It is also natural to have desires and goals for your life But herersquos the truth life is a process and when we resist or deny what we are feeling or what is happening in our life we actually cause ourselves more pain

We are all born with a wide range of emotions and these emotions are mes-sengers If we pay attention to them they have much to share with us We may learn what we react to what beliefs we hold and most importantly where our healing lies When we ignore these messengers they knock louder and harder at our subconscious until they get our attention So instead of working so hard to push emotions away welcome them in as a guest and lean into them You will find that the feelings dissipate and the pain of resistance yoursquove created will be eased

When we want to wish challenges away we lose the richness of life Imagine what it would be like to watch a movie and only view the first and last 10 minutes of the film By skipping the majority of the movie we miss out on the story and the experience as a whole And so it is with life When we wish for our lives to be different than they are we must then let go and live our lives right now with all the seeming imperfections that make up the movie we are living When we wish to go from ldquohererdquo to ldquothererdquo directly we miss out on personal growth

We are all here to learn love live fully and be more of who we are Embrace all of your life right where you are right now Then the real magic will begin

Susan Cadley LPC Licensed Professional Counselor is available for couplesadult individual counseling and creativity workshops in Suwanee GA She may be reached directly and confiden-tially at 678-296-1278 wwwcoaching foryoursoulcom

Fly-Fishing PatagoniaBy Pam Walker

What I know about Fly-Fishing you could put on the head of a straight pin So when asked to visit Patagonia I thought ldquoThis is my chance to learnrdquo

In early March I flew to Buenos Aires Argentina and then on to Bariloche From there I had an hour drive to Villa Angostura Aroyo Verde the famed fly- fishing lodge was further on down a dirt road

No signs No directions We had just a general sense of where we were going Anthony my naturalist guide headed into the Traful river canyon Fifteen minutes later we were greeted first by an authentic gaucho and then by riders on horseback After another 20 minutes we saw along a stream a lovely chalet with a sculpture gar-den Estancia Aroyo Verde

This private fishing and riding estancia is the home of one of Argentinarsquos most elite families Located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park the family-managed lodge hosts visitors from across the globe The Traful River is also home to land-locked salmon brown and rainbow trout This is a catch-and-release river with a season from November through April In this remote setting the fish some reaching 28 in for salmon and 29 in for Rainbows and Browns swim right up to you in the crystal clear water Best of all you need only your favorite fly rod Everything else is avail-able on-site Miles of nothingness surrounds this pristine spot Imagine standing in the river surrounded by the Andes What more could you ask for

Rooms are cozy all with private baths and meals are served family-style If yoursquore lucky join the family for an Argentine-style barbeque (Parillada) cooked outdoors by one of the resi-dent gauchos

Fishing horseback riding and even moun-tain bikes are here for your enjoyment Too bad I had to come back

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant and can be reached at Walker Adventures pliwalkerearthlinknet You can follow her travels by visiting Pamrsquos blog at httpwwwpamwalkersblogspotcom

PAGE 18 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Pastor Paul Ballard

The mission statement of Mountain Park First Baptist Church is to engage every man woman and child by living out Jesusrsquo love and sharing the gospel both locally and globally Since coming to MPFBC in May 2011 senior pastor Paul Ballard has been simple in his approach He has two priorities preaching the gospel and becoming a radiant church by being missional in nature

First Pastor Paul has prioritized the preaching of the gospel of Jesus The gospel is Godrsquos victory over sin and death through the person and work of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 151 says ldquoNow I would remind you brothers of the gospel

I preached to you which you received in which you standhelliprdquo The gospel is not just the entry point into Christianity It is the key to spiritual growth as we stand in Jesusrsquo finished work on the cross and His glorious resurrection

Second because the gospel has radically changed us God has called His people to give Him glory by living radiant lives resulting in missional living The church has moved from an internal to an external emphasis Some of the practical results have been

bull Adopting local fire stations and the Gwinnett South Precinct by providing meals and notes of encouragement

bull Hosting community events like Family Fest on May 4 2013

bull Mentoring ladies from the Atlanta WomenChildren shelter and adopting and fixing up a dorm

bull Offering an ESL program on Wednesdays with a provided meal afterward bull Holding food drives for Lilburn Co-op and providing Christmas for needy

familiesbull Deacons serving at Mountain Park Park in the concession stand so parents

could watch their children playbull Donating over $100000 from financial overages the last two years to support

local and international missions above the normal mission givingGod is at work at Mountain Park First Baptist Church For more information

go to wwwmpfbcorg

Chaplainrsquos Corner

hellipto our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue

Keep them coming

Thanks

Dr Louise DeLong Dr Franccediloise Tyler

ldquoHappy Motherrsquos Day from all of us at The Village Vetsrdquo Dr Will Draper

Dr Carrie McColganDr Amanda Irish

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Page 6: MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

PAGE 6 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

See online message from publisher at

wwwourtownmagvideocom or scan the QR code below

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By Ryan T Sauers

Well Gwinnett can you believe it It is already May and summertime is on the way I want to start out by explaining why I chose the title One Manrsquos Opinion for this column My grandfather began a column with this name many decades ago for a large chain of weekly newspapers in DeKalb County So this is my way of paying tribute to a long family history in publishing My parents then took this publishing company and built it into a very successful printing company Without this heritage it is highly unlikely I would be writing this article today

Also I want to thank our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue The response to our first issue was overwhelming Thanks for all of your calls and emails in regard to new stories and thanks to our current advertisers as well as the new advertisers who are coming onboard We are quickly growing and have big plans for growth and change in the months ahead Also I encourage you to use the QR code or the URL address provided to view the video that goes along with this column It will make your reading experience even better

Last month the name of one of our writers Ashton Pike was inadvertently left off the superb article she wrote on Debra Dees the principal of Brookwood Sorry about that Ashton This month a new feature has been added called Chaplainrsquos Corner where different pastors from our community will highlight the good things going on in their churches We will be hearing from a lot of pastors begin-ning with Pastor Paul Ballard of Mountain Park Baptist We will be bringing in more stories of interest in coming months to make the magazine even better and keep the content strong

This month we have some great stories Here is an overview A terrific family run company AC Experts here in Snellville is profiled You get to meet Kay Sands who is the principal of Trickum Middle School You will read a neat story about GSA (Gwinnett Soccer Association) and the new developments that are taking place at the club Finally there is an insightful profile of Chase Morgan Salon and why the salon chose to move down Highway 78 from Decatur to Snellville You have to read them all to find out more

You will continue to see good news in this and future issues of the magazine We need it With the recent tragedy in Boston and other such incidents we need now more than ever to hear about good people events news and happenings It seems that every publication and news story I pick up focuses on negative news Gwinnett I am here to tell you there are some amazing people doing incredible things right here in our backyard Special thanks this month to Christa K Huggins for doing a great job with our cover photo shot this month and to Elsie Olson for your usual top notch design work And to all of the rest of you you know who you are I cannot thank you enough

We are working to update our website and social media tools so pardon our progress I have no doubt you will love it in the end as they will be better than ever Our goal is to offer an amazing integrated communications experience So enjoy this May issue of Our Town We look forward to your feedback as we seek to improve your reading experience each month Have a great month And remember this is your town This is OUR TOWN

From the Publisher One Manrsquos Opinion

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 7

Disney On Ice Presents Worlds of FantasyMay 1-5 2013Arena at Gwinnett CenterDuluthwwwgwinnettcentercom

The Atlanta Coin and Currency ExpoMay 3-5 2013North Atlanta Trade CenterNorcrosswwwnorthatlantatradecentercomFri amp Sat 10am-6pm Sun 10am-3pm

Krispy Kreme for a CureMay 4 2013Town Center ParkSuwaneewwwaplacetoimaginecom

Fodac Run Walk Nrsquo RollMay 4 2013Confederate Hall ndash Stone Mountain ParkStone MountainwwwstonemountainparkcomBenefitting the Friends of Disabled Adults and Children

FreshMay 7 2013Tannery Row Artist ColonyBufordwwwtanneryrowartistcolonycomJuried show 12pm-5pm

2013 Relay For LifeMay 10-11 2013Gwinnett County FairgroundsLawrencevillewwwgwinnettrelayforlifeorgThe nationrsquos largest Relay for Life raises funds to fight cancer

9th Annual Barefoot In the Park GalaMay 10-12 2013Duluth Town GreenDuluthwwwbarefootintheparkorgGwinnettrsquos premier juried arts festival

Atlanta Exotic Bird FairMay 10-11 2013North Atlanta Trade CenterNorcrosswwwnorthatlantatradecentercom

Reels at Robinson ndash Summer Movie SeriesMay 17 2013EE Robinson ParkSugar Hillwwwcityofsugarhillcom

Pet Revolution 2013May 17-18 2013Gwinnett County FairgroundsLawrenceville

Animal adoptions Fri 8pm ndash Sun 8pm (48 hrs straight)

SCCA NationalMay 19 2013Road AtlantaBraseltonwwwroadatlantacomSports Car Club of America National Race All day

Board Game BlastoffMay 20 2013Bethesda Park Senior CenterLawrencevillewwwgwinnettparkscomchallenge yourself to a game of scrab-ble mahjong chess and more

Two for the ShowMay 23 2013George Pierce Park Community CenterSuwaneewwwgwinnettparkscomArt show 9am-8pm

Nike Memorial Day ClassicMay 24-27 2013Suwanee Sports AcademySuwaneewwwsuwaneesportsacademycomBasketball ndash Boys 14U-17U

Gwinnett Daily Post Memorial Day ConcertMay 24 2013Town Center ParkSuwaneewwwsuwaneecomConcert

Taste of GwinnettMay 26-27 2013Peachtree CornerswwwtasteofgwinnettcomPremier food festival

Memorial Day Weekend CelebratioMay 26-27 2013Stone Mountain ParkStone MountainwwwstonemountainparkcomFireworks and fun 1030am-8pm laser show 930pm

Memorial Day in DaculaMay 27 2013Historic Downtown DaculaDaculawwwdaculamemorialdaycomParade ndash festival 9am-5pm

Memorial Day CelebrationMay 27 2013Thrasher ParkNorcrosswwwaplacetoimaginecom

Onion Manrsquos Summer Harvest Festival Keep it LegalMay 30-June 1 2013Norcross Cultural Arts and Community CenterNorcrosswwwlionhearttheatreorgA collection of short plays

May Calendar

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Call today to schedule your FREE Consultation AC Spine amp Wellness Center

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Serving Lilburn and Stone Mountain 626 E Riverbend Dr 186 Lockring Dr 4905 Annistown Rd Lilburn GA 30047 Lilburn GA 30047 Stone Mountain GA 30087

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PAGE 8 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Solution on page 16

C Scapes

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Chris DukeOwnerOperator

678-414-4003wwwcscapesunlimitedcom bull cscapesbellsouthnet

Professional Landscape and Design Services

Is Your Dog Properly SocializedBy Terie Hansen

Socializing your dog is a lifelong undertaking not just during the first year or two of their life with you Many who reach out to us for training are experiencing the side effects of an under-socialized dog

Does your dog bark wildly when it sees other dogs or pull on the leash towards other dogs or people Does it shy away from objects in its environment or does it act fearful or aggressive towards people or dogs These can be symptoms of an under-socialized dog

When you get a new dog whether puppy or adult you are excited to spend time with him and share him with everyone and anyone who will let you So you take your new pet on walks to parks on hikes and to pet stores This is great because he is learning how to act in these various environments and around other people and dogs As the newness wears off however you donrsquot take him out as often Therefore he is exposed to less stimulation

Three to six months or even one to two years can go by and your dog hasnrsquot come in contact with anyone other than your family Now all of a sudden you decide to take him someplace where there are other people and dogs Chances are he will act either uncontrollably excited or fearful which can look like aggression and you think ldquoOMG Whatrsquos the matter with my dogrdquo You decide that you can no longer take him out in public What happened Culture shock Many dogs need to be socialized on an ongoing basis If we stay in our house and didnrsquot come out until fifteen years later we would experience the same feelings of excitement fear and anxiety

This is easily preventable socialize socialize and socialize for the life of your dog If you are experiencing these symptoms already reach out to us We can help

Terie Hansen Professional Dog Trainer Pet Sitter amp Owner at Good Dog Coaching amp Pet Care-may be reached at 404-422-9832 infogooddogcoachingcom wwwgooddogcoachingcom

Great Content Is KingBy Ryan T Sauers

I often tell people that content is king And you know whatmdashthis is not quite right Why You seehellip content is good but great content is ldquokingrdquo Think about it Why do you become engrossed in a movie or show Why do you send a funny YouTube video to a friend Why do you enjoy talking with certain people Why do you like to read certain articles The answer is simple We do these things because we love watching hearing or reading great content By the way if you are still the person forwarding emailshellip not so funny J

We are all busy and whether we are in person (offline) or online (virtual) -- it takes something special unique to pull us in and ldquowowrdquo us We live in a world where most people have a short attention span You see I was talking to you Please put down your phone and let me finish So how do we accomplish this The secret is simple It is all about great content Good content is okay but will always lose to great content

For an article or any engagement to be enjoyable it must be more than my writ-ing and your reading It must be a two way dialogue or conversation It must be about taking the ink and words that are on the paper you are readingmdashso they are transformed in your mind into a story worth sharing and acting upon Isnrsquot this what you want your customers to do when they think of you If you sound like everyone else you are lacking great content Always remember people can duplicate your ideas but cannot replicate your DNA So what do you bring your stakehold-ers--online and offlinemdashthat is simply great content And can you produce such great content consistently Do you ever think about it If not there is no better time than now to begin thinking with such a strategic mindset As I travel across the country one thing has become clear those who are willing to be creative and break the box in their thinking in a purposeful manner are the companies that are running towards 2014

Ryan T Sauers is PresidentOwner of Sauers Consulting Strategies Our business is growing your business More info at wwwryansauerscom ryansauers ryanryansauerscom

MAY C

ROSS

WO

RD

Across1 Alone5 Mozartrsquos ldquoLrsquo___ del Cairordquo8 ldquo___ here longrdquo12 Legal prefix13 ___ Altaic languages14 ldquoFantasticrdquo15 ldquo___ Brockovichrdquo16 ldquo___ Smilerdquo (1976 hit)17 Red eye18 Assistant20 Feed21 Sheikrsquos bevy22 Impede withrdquodownrdquo23 Advantages26 Witnessed30 Bit od a draft31 Artificial34 Help35 Defeat37 Tokyo formerly38 Drive39 Ashcroftrsquos predecessor40 Hospital restroom42 Internrsquol Monetary Fund43 Rare earth element45 Bothers47 ldquo___ Doubtfirerdquo

48 Brunch serving50 Watered-down52 Generous56 Put off as a motion57 Capture58 Creole vegetable59 Bawl out60 ldquoEmpedocles on ___rdquo (Matthew Arnold poem)61 Newton fruits62 Pay (up)63 Do it yourself64 ChargesDown1 Particular for short2 Hawaiian tuber3 ldquoMi chiamano Mimirdquo eg4 Peacemaker5 Be bombastic6 Bank7 Apple spray8 Carriage9 ldquo___ on Down the Roadrdquo10 ldquohellipthere is no ___angel but Loverdquo Shakespeare11 ldquoSmoking or ___rdquo13 Certain shark14 Confuse

19 Blaseacute22 Show ___23 Loan shark24 Lab tube25 All in26 ldquoCut it outrdquo27 Native indian dwellings28 Swelling29 Dutch pottery city32 Appear33 Make sense with ldquouprdquo36 Usually38 All thumbs40 Greyhound eg41 ldquoTo dordquo list44 Angry46 Irritate48 Cousin of a raccoon49 Not set50 1993 standoff site51 Black in poetry52 Ran as colors53 ldquo___ From Muskogeerdquo54 Advocate55 Back talk56 Cooking meas

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 9

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By Stefanie Lamprsquol

ldquoLove everyone trust a few do wrong to nonerdquo This eminent quote by William Shakespeare written on the white board in the principalrsquos office at Trickum Middle School watches over Kay Sands as she leads a growing student body faculty and staff These words represent how Sands runs her school She is dedicated to educating her students and teaching principles that will allow them to better their community

Kay Sands was born and raised in Atlanta Georgia As a kid Sands loved sports especially tennis She majored in health and physical education at the University of Georgia and then attended graduate school at the University of Alabama Sands never saw herself becoming a teacher let alone the head of the administration Although it was not the original job she set out to do she loves every minute of it

Sands held several positions before finding a home at Trickum Middle School For three years she worked at Five Forks as a health and physical education teacher One of the most rewarding jobs she has had yet was being a stay-at-home mom to her three sons for thir-teen years During this time she also coached tennis a sport she always enjoyed playing Sands was an assistant principal for six years before becoming principal in 2008 Sands believes that it was the work of Lynn Davis and Calvin Watts prin-cipals of Trickum Middle School before Sands that encouraged her to take on the position They were incredible mentors who helped her make the transition from assistant principal to the head of Trickum Middle School

Even though Kay Sands never saw herself in her current role she is blessed by the position She has a tremendous opportunity to empower people to make a school great She wants her students to come to school to be engaged rather than disinterested As a kid Sands was not a big fan of school so her goal as an adminis-trator is to change this She wants to show her students how truly meaningful learning can be and to do her part in contributing to the community to make the dis-trict the best place to live She knows this is not possible without the incredible and competent faculty and staff who work beside her every day

Kay Sands does not shoot for perfection She knows that she will not always say the right thing or make the right choices She also knows that if she focuses on what is going well and what is positive she can rectify any situation and become a stronger leader

When Sands is not giving her all to bettering the lives and minds of her students she loves being out-doors She enjoys hiking or escaping

to a quiet place in nature There is no better place to her though than living and working in her community It is satisfying and reward-ing to be a part of developing passionate and educated students who will lead the commu-nity on to success

Getting to Know Trickum Middle School Principal Kay Sands

PAGE 10 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Hurt Less Heal QuickerHave a Better Quality of Life

Caring Experienced Professional

Gift Certificates AvailableCALL TODAY

(678) 344-00501780 Oak Road Suite A2 Snellville GA

wwwbodyofhealthandlifecomjuliebodyofhealthandlifecom

bull Wellness Massage bull Senior Massage bull Prenatal Massage bull Cancer Massage

One Hour Massage - $55

Love your mom with the comfort of a safe relaxing massage with

experienced caring therapists

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experienced caring therapists

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Passport to Adventure

copy2013 Primrose School Franchising Company All rights reserved

From the great outdoors and virtual travel to music and dance

Camp PrimroseSM is your familyrsquos passport to adventure and fun

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unforgettable summer

Customize your adventure by

selecting specifi c camp weeks

or join us all summer long

Start planning your summer adventure now ndash CampPrimrosecom

Primrose School of Five Forks3030 River Drive Lawrenceville GA 30044

7709850028 | PrimroseFiveForkscom

Are Your Hormones Driving You CrazyBy Dr Jeanette Altieri AC Spine amp Wellness Center

At every age hormones fluctuate mdash and thatrsquos normal However when changes happen too fast or become too much for your body to handle you can start expe-riencing problems Canrsquot lose weight Tired all of the time Feeling overwhelmed What is your body telling you

When our body becomes overloaded and unable to support its systems therersquos a greater chance of developing some of the problems associated with hormonal imbalance Whether you are suffering from PMS mood swings bloating or head-aches or you have a family history of breast ovarian or other female cancers there can be imbalances in the ratios of estrogen progesterone testosterone and other hormones in your endocrine and adrenal system

Hormonal imbalances are caused by more than just estrogen Estrogen levels are important but so are progesterone and testosterone levels and their ratios to each other Insulin cortisol (the stress hormone) and thyroid levels can also play a big part More importantly women who are on hormone replacement therapy need to be tested to make sure hormones are broken down cleared and balanced

Letrsquos take a look at some of the most common signs of hormonal imbalances

Irregular or absent periods Weight gainChanges in the shape of your bodyAnxiety andor moodiness

By listening to your body yoursquoll be able to provide what you need to naturally rebalance its hormones Even healthy women who follow a good diet may find glitches in their hormone levels Effective natural options include high quality supplements dietary and lifestyle adjustments The first step is to get tested and find out what is causing these hormonal issues and then learn how to improve your personal hormonal health

Baseball Is Similar to LifeBy Glenton Ashby

Life is similar to going around the bases on a baseball diamond ndash itrsquos a pro-gression Our financial life is also a progression We progress through stages of financial life at the same time we move through various life stages from beginning to end

As you begin your financial life a number of basic steps are prudent and neces-sary Establish a budget (know what and where you are spending) begin a program of regular saving (the amount is not as important as the habit) commit to paying off whatever debt you do have (whether school debt or debt taken on as you begin life after school) and avoid unnecessary debt (eg debt for lifestyle)

Accomplishing these steps in combination with beginning your working life is like getting a runner to first base

Once on first base a variety of things can happen that may impact your ability to advance to the remaining bases Some things are in your control and some are not You are responsible for managing the things that you can control Think of this financial life progression as stewardship rather than ownership (The fact that any-thing we think we own will eventually go to someone else will be addressed later)

Things not in your control still require your awareness and vigilance in order to respond or react to them appropriately Otherwise you may have to start over and go back to first base Things you cannot control include job loss extended illness or disability You can exert a measure of control by having adequate health insur-ance and disability insurance if available and affordable

Sticking to the plan that got you to first base is essential for moving forward to second base This involves moving from the financial basics stage to the stage of a more established financial life

Feedback and topic suggestions are welcome ndash email HalcyonTimesHalcyonFPcom or comment at wwwHalcyonFPcomhalcyon-times Tweet halcyonplanning

Glenton Ashby is the founder and owner of Halcyon Financial Planning LLC a fee-only financial planning and Registered Investment Advisor firm Visit HalcyonFPcom

Skin issuesacneHair lossunusual hair growthInfertilityFatigueloss of energy

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 11

New Client Special

$10 offBy Appointment Only

First Visit

404-550-68602315 Oak Rd bull Snellville GA 30078

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We Fix Lawnmowers

Lilburn Lawn Mower has a new location

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Is Testing Getting a Bad Wrap By Tamsen Boone

Today I taught my 7th graders the meaning of the term ldquodevilrsquos advocaterdquo They devised many creative definitions on their own before I explained the concept As we batten down the hatches across the state for CRCT week Irsquove spent some time deliberating the testing catch-22 and I decided to play the role of devilrsquos advocate

Yoursquod be hard pressed to find a parent or an educator for that matter who thinks all the testing our students endure isnrsquot over the top This is my first year in middle school and Irsquom feeling the pressure myself However Irsquove decided to approach this with a ldquoglass half fullrdquo mentality If Irsquove done what Irsquom supposed to do in the classroom my students have been exposed to the material If Irsquove found a few creative and innovative strategies my students may even remember what Irsquove exposed them to despite middle school drama and raging tween hormonal shifts If Irsquove provided them with some test-taking strategies Irsquove given them the ability to move through information integrate it and discern the difference between good better and best options

I propose that this is necessary not only in the testing arena but in the real world as well I hope that my students will one day be able to read through cell phone contracts college brochures apartment leases closing statements and job offers to determine their best option Digesting information and discriminating between options (such as A B C or D answers) can be applicable to our daily adult lives Therefore I donrsquot envision myself as wasting time teaching students how to take tests I like to think Irsquom teaching them to analyze carefully when the stakes are high so that they can make solid decisions when the stakes really get high in the adult world

So this position begs the question if testing shouldnrsquot be such a big stressful deal why is it This is probably where I should keep my mouth shut Happy testing J

Whatrsquos Keeping Your Child From Performing at Grade Level

By Christine Giles

National Awareness Month Educates Parents about Speech and Language Disorders Affecting School Performance

Children with communication disorders frequently do not perform at grade level because they have difficulty understanding and speaking struggle with reading and writing misunderstand social cues show poor judgment have trouble taking tests and may avoid school Is this your child

This May as part of Better Hearing and Speech Month Creative Therapy Works in Lilburn GA and the American Speech-Language-Hearing (ASHA) continue their public education efforts for the communication health of our children by pro-viding information to parents to identify and prevent speech and language disorders

Children with communication problems have difficulty learning to listen speak read or write Parents and teachers should refer any student who shows signs of a speech and language problem to the school-based speech-language pathologist for an immediate evaluation

ldquoItrsquos crucial that children are identified and begin treatment as early as possible because summer break will only compound the consequences of a communication disorder if left untreatedrdquo Christine Giles Speech- Language Pathologist and owner of Creative Therapy Works LLC in Lilburn says

Parents should look out for the various types of speech and language disorders that affect school-age children including ~Speech sound disorders (difficulty pronouncing sounds) ~Language disorders (difficulty understanding others and expressing themselves) ~Cognitive-communication disorders (difficulty with thinking skills including per-ception memory awareness reasoning judgment intellect and imagination) ~Stuttering (fluency) disorders (interruption of the flow of speech that may include hesitations repetitions or prolongations of sounds or words) ~Voice disorders (quality of voice that may include hoarseness nasality or loudness)

For more information about speech and language disorders and prevention or to arrange a free speech and language screening for your child please visit wwwcreativetherapyworkscom or call 1-866-611-7855

PAGE 12 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

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Ages 6 weeks to 4 years old We implement age appropriate Creative Curriculum in all classes

See our website for details

Register Your Children Today Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

FIVE FORKS ACADEMY Enroll your children at Legacy Academy

3079 Five Forks Trickum RoadLilburn GA 30047

wwwf iveforksacademycom

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ann Weeks Owner

Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

Caring for childrenages 6 weeks to 4 years

BeforeAfter SchoolPrograms for ages 5-12

Visit us anytime for a personal tour

(770) 982-2000

NEW for 09-10 We will be serving Knight Elementary

amp St John Neumwnn Schools

Before and After School Program for children attending Brookwood Craig Head

and Gwin Oaks Elementary

(770) 982-2000 3079 Five Forks Trickum Road

Lilburn GA 30047

ldquoWe love learning inside and outsiderdquo

wwwfiveforksacademycom

By Hank Cohen

For many decades throughout Gwinnett youth sports have been of major importance to the community Whether the sport is baseball football swimming or one of the many others played in the county Gwinnett has continually been home to some of the best athletes in the state One organization that fosters a large number of stars is the Gwinnett Soccer Association (GSA) GSA located across the street from Parkview High School is dedicated to teaching youths of any age or skill level the rules and techniques of soccer With about 1500 kids and numerous teams at each age level GSA has been a thriving spot for soccer talent in the county

The association is currently led by Chip Stevens and a very talented staff The Girlsrsquo Director of Coaching Campbell Chapman spent ten years playing profes-sional soccer for multiple clubs in England Sweden Finland Malta and Qatar Appointed the Girlsrsquo Director in 2007 Campbell has since coached many state winning teams Nuno Piteira the Boysrsquo Director was the coach of the Charleston Battery professional team where he helped the club to win its first national champi-onship in 1996 When he first moved to Atlanta in 1999 Nuno coached the Atlanta Silverbacks professional team The impact of the Associationrsquos very capable coaches is evident in the talented and highly ranked teams that continue to dominate Currently the boys U15 and U16 have qualified for the national championship in Kansas City GSA currently has four players on US national teams

Each year GSA holds a major tournament where teams from across the Southeast come to compete The GSA Invitational held in December brings about 350-400 teams together Similarly GSA also holds a college showcase to expose col-lege soccer coaches to the extraordinary amount of talent within the organization Coaches from colleges such as Auburn Alabama and UGA have attended to look for future prospects Multiple soccer camps for any skill level also run throughout the year Nuno runs the boysrsquo camps which includes a residency camp at Rinehart College Campbell runs the girlsrsquo camps which include camps throughout the

summer GSA is always seek-ing to reach out to potential players ldquoWe want more kids to play soccer because itrsquos the best sport in the worldrdquo said President Stevens

Since its beginning in 1977 GSA has sought to provide a high quality organization for kids to become engaged in soc-cer Over the years the organi-zation has continuously grown and the association is planning to make changes in the future as well To accommodate the quality talent GSA is updat-ing the fields to provide better complexes for the players The organization will also be host-ing a Junior Academy for 4-8 year olds to teach them the basic skills of soccer and to spark a love for the sport in younger children As the club continues to grow the dedicated staff and coaches of GSA will continue to teach and spread soccer throughout the community Stevens wants to continue this participation in the area he grew up in He is a graduate from Brookwood High School and his wife and children are active at GSA as well The organization has opportunities for every child ldquoItrsquos all about the kidsrdquo Stevens said ldquoFrom young beginners to the elite players GSA has something for everyonerdquo

Gwinnett Soccer Association Itrsquos All About the Kids

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 13

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Best Haircuts in TownNO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY

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Beautiful Gated Neighborhood for Active Adults Homes amp Villas from the $200s

Visit our Decorated Model Homes Today1950 Grayson Hwy | Grayson GA 30017

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Understanding Sunscreen Protection

By Chrissy Thomas RN BSN

In June 2011 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new requirements for over-the-counter sunscreens These rules were put into place to ensure that sunscreens meet todayrsquos standards for safety and effectiveness The fol-lowing is an outline of some of the more important details for consumers to know when choosing sunscreen products

The primary purpose of the FDArsquos changes is to guarantee that sunscreen products are providing adequate protection Previously the Sun Protection Factors (SPFs) dealt with UVB (ultraviolet B) protection only This means that the risk of sunburn was the only factor considered on the label Now we know that much of the sunrsquos risk lies in UVA (ultraviolet A) radiation which contributes to skin cancer and early aging

After reviewing data the FDA determined that sufficient evidence is available to establish a ldquobroad spectrumrdquo test for determining a sunscreen productrsquos UVA protection By passing the broad spectrum test a consumer knows that the product will provide UVA protection that is proportional to its UVB protection Products that pass this test are going to be labeled as ldquobroad spectrumrdquo These products must be a SPF of 15 or higher to adequately protect the skin

Broad spectrum products SPF 15 or higher have been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging when used with other sun protection measures

Still the meaning of SPF confuses some All sun protection products are tested with a SPF test procedure The test measures the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation expo-sure it takes to cause sunburn when a person is using a sunscreen in comparison to how much UV exposure it takes to cause sunburn without sunscreen The product is then labeled with the appropriate SPF value indicating the amount of sunburn protection provided by the product Higher values provide higher protection Because this test is a measure of protection against sunburn itrsquos an indicator of UVB only With the new broad spectrum test SPFs with a higher UVB rating will also have a higher UVA value

Often new clients to About Face Skin Care donrsquot realize that UV protection should be worn on the face and neck daily to avoid dam-aging UV rays from windows in the home or

car -- or even the minimal time spent walking to the mailbox A moisturizer with a UVBUVA factor of 15 or higher will protect the accumulation that inevitably happens from these exposures Itrsquos been determined that by yearrsquos end not wearing daily SPF protection can equal a week at the beach unprotected

Physical blocks such as clothing provide some protection but our faces are constantly exposed And makeup is not a sunblock If your makeup offers UV pro-tection it should be counted as an extra layer Sun protection in makeup according to the Skin Cancer Foundation is the productrsquos secondary purpose Even though some makeup has sunscreen ingredients it doesnrsquot have the proper amount of cov-erage or the capabilities to protect against UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays

Additionally for most people one needs to use 7-14 times the normal amount of powder or foundation to get the SPF coverage stated on the makeup packaging

Just as important donrsquot forget to protect your lips Glosses without SPF react like tanning oil on the lips Skin cancers in this area are becoming more common not to mention the unattractive ldquosmokers linesrdquo that form as the delicate tissues of the lips and surrounding areas are damaged

About Face Skin Care has an array of high-quality products to give you superior protection while offering cosmeceutically-pleasing benefits

If you would like to explore the options of sun protection and other products and treatments offered by About Face schedule your free consultation appointment at 770-935-FACE(3223) or online at wwwaboutfaceskincom We look forward to meeting you

PAGE 14 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Fall in Love with your bodyagain

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Pebblestone Landscape Group is a full service landscape management provider since 1994 Meeting the landscaping needs and requirements for the management groups such as yourself We help our clients increase the appeal of their property to potential customers

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This Summer Prepare to Start School Sharp

By Carol Wood

Woohoo School is out for the summer so learning can stop right Wrong Summertime provides the BEST opportunity for students to enrich their academic skills if they desire to get ahead before school begins again or to catch up on skills if they ended the school year below average If students fall behind during the school year they must catch up with what they have missed AND keep up with what is being taught on a day-by-day basis This is difficult to do and can be stress-ful So summertime is the best time for parents to give their student the oppor-tunity to do what they cannot easily do during the school year CATCH UP or MOVE AHEAD in their academics and solve their STUDY SKILL weaknesses

First locate your childrsquos recent school standardized test scores and examine your childrsquos levels compared to hisher grade level This can be located in the column that reads ldquoGErdquo for grade equivalency or ldquoPRrdquo for percentile Scores below the 50th percentile or below their grade and month level in the GE column when the tests were administered are the ones in which the student was performing below average at that time Scores above the 50th percentile or above his or her grade level show performance above average therefore summer tutoring could entail enrichment work to maintain skills or further build on the studentrsquos strengths in preparation for the next school year By examining your childrsquos most recent test scores and determin-ing which areas are below on or above average you will then know which academic areas to build upon so your student can START SCHOOL SHARP

Next locate professional educational resources with a track record of success should you decide to teach your children at home Purchase the appropriate levels of materials and teach your child using an established consistent weekly schedule Do not allow the student to skip around within workbooks and complete the ldquofunrdquo pages first as the material is purposefully presented in a sequential order Select a study place for each student which is equipped with the learning supplies and tools needed If you do not feel qualified to teach or you do not have the necessary patience with your own child which is not uncommon then seek a full-time professional and experienced educational center Schedule summer learning sessions on a consistent weekly basis with the same degreed and experienced instructor who utilizes nation-ally recognized materials and proven teaching methods Individualized instruction is best in an environment free from distractions and interruptions A professional center is usually preferred since it focuses on providing an ideal learning environment has many quality control measures to insure student improvement is maximized and has a reputation and level of accountability to maintain in order to remain in business Know the credentials of the instructor such as his or her areas of teaching experience and educational degree and match this with your studentrsquos academic area of summer instruction Ask for references and contact them to learn about their experience with the professional center you are considering Request to see the instructional area and observe sessions in progress

Remember SUMMER is the most ideal time for students to get a JUMP START on the next school year

Carol Wood is the founder and owner of Total Learning Concepts Inc a private profes-sional tutorial service located in Gwinnett County Please email questions to ccwoodbellsouthnet or fax to 770-381-1626

MAYCROSSWORDSOLUTION

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 15

1319 Scenic Highway n Lawrenceville GA 30045 n 770-979-9490At the intersection of Hwy 124 amp Webb Gin House Road

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ldquoGirl Timerdquo Is ImportantBy Julie Mills

As I sit and think about this yearrsquos Motherrsquos Day I thought I would take a few moments to emphasis the importance of ldquogirl timerdquo I feel so lucky that my work allows me to experience wonderful bonding with my female clients When receiv-ing body work many emotions are released Our bodies are wired to keep our emotions in and they manifest in the form of knots aches pains and sometimes even disease Part of my job is to provide a safe space for my clients to let those emotions go and to begin healing from the inside out Letrsquos talk about how women are wired and why it is so important for us to have friendships

As a woman I already knew that my ldquogirl timerdquo was important and actually kept my sanity at times However I did some research and found a landmark UCLA study that suggests friendships between women are very special They shape who we are and who we are yet to be They soothe our inner world and fill the emo-tional gaps in our male relationships

Researchers suspect that women handle stress in more ways than just fight or flight In fact says Dr Klein of UCLA it seems that when the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress responses in a woman it buffers the fight or flight response and encourages her to tend children and gather with other women When she actually engages in this tending or befriending studies suggest that more oxyto-cin is released which further counters stress and produces a calming effect Men do not have this response due to high levels of testosterone released during stress The estrogen in women seems to enhance the oxytocin and produces a calming effect

It was noted that when the women were stressed they came in to work cleaned the work space had coffee and bonded with other female coworkers When the men were stressed they holed up somewhere on their own and did not interact with coworkers Wow - this part of the study sounds so familiar When I am stressed or have a lot on my mind I get into my cleaning mode or I want to call my sisters These activities help me to think things through and to unwind My husband on the other hand says nothing and he has the unique ability to quietly disappear

It is interesting that nearly 90 of the stress research has been with males With this new research the fact that women respond to stress differently than men has significant implications for our health It may take some time for new studies to reveal all the ways that oxytocin encourages us to care for children and hang out with other women but the ldquotend and befriendrdquo notion developed by Drs Klein and Taylor may explain why women consistently outlive men Study after study has found that social ties reduce our risk of disease by lowering blood pressure heart rate and cholesterol Therersquos no doubt that friends are helping us live longer

Every time we get overly busy with work and family the first thing we do is let go of friendships with other women We push them right to the back burner Thatrsquos really a mistake because women are such a source of strength to each other We nurture one another We need to have unpressured space in which we can do the special kind of talk that women do when theyrsquore with other women Itrsquos a very healing experience

Have you had your much-needed girl time Make this month your month and have a very happy Motherrsquos Day

Julie Mills CMT is owner of Body of Health and Life LLC for more information visit wwwbodyofhealthandlifecom

PAGE 16 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Ashton Pike

ldquoBeauty starts from withinrdquo One may expect a famous womanrsquos name to fol-low this quote but the woman responsible for such accurate words is better than famous She is distinguished After all fame fades but a distinguished woman will be known for years since she will stand out from everyone Hair stylist and salon owner Sudonna Patterson meets these traits and more Being a mom of three young boys an adored wife and a successful entrepreneur Patterson has numerous accomplishments to her name and this is only the beginning

Born and raised in Macon Georgia Patterson practiced the basics of cosmetol-ogy as a young girl when she styled her dollsrsquo hair and when she put rollers in her great auntrsquos hair before bedtime each night Eventually moving from Barbie dolls to actual customers Patterson worked weekends as a shampoo assistant in a hair salon during high school This job led her to pursue a career in cosmetology at Dudleyrsquos Cosmetology University in North Carolina

After graduating Patterson became an instructor for Dudleyrsquos Advanced Cosmetology University and then she took her skills outside national borders as an International Educator Traveling to remarkable locations such as the Bahamas Barbados Aruba and Jamaica Patterson worked to communicate the latest tech-niques in cosmetology through seminars on product knowledge hair care advance cutting and styling techniques

Taking into consideration Pattersonrsquos spontaneous extrovert personality it was no surprise that she met her husband on a blind date in Atlanta while she lived in North Carolina She and her husband are now loving and dedicated parents of three sons Logan 8 and twins Bryce and Blake 4 The family of five resides in Lilburn Georgia where they spend copious amounts of time together either at home or at Peace Baptist Church where they attend regularly

Amid college and starting a family Patterson became an entrepreneur open-ing her own hair salon called Chase Morgan Salon which has been in business for

Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

Diets Donrsquot WorkBy Kelly Farris

Itrsquos that time of year again ndash panic mode has set in and yoursquore trying to get off the winter flub in time for bathing suit season

You might be considering a diet Maybe yoursquore stuck trying to choose between the wide variety of options 17 day cabbage soup weight loss shakes paleo and Atkins just to name a few

Unfortunately none of these work in the long run In fact fad diets can backfire and even contribute to weight gain You donrsquot have to have a perfect diet to have a good diet Eating normal portions of wholesome foods leads to the right body weight

Let your eating habits consist of 85-90 of quality calories with the remaining calories of ldquowhateverrdquo ldquoWhateverrdquo means you can have an orange one day or a cookie the next The trick is not to deprive yourself of foods you really like Sooner or later you will end up binging if you make certain foods taboo Take away the power to binge-eat by eating that certain food more often Chances are seven days of having a cookie for your ldquowhateverrdquo calories will make it less desirable by day eight

I advise all my clients to make breakfast the most important meal of the day I encourage eggs egg substitute turkey sausage veggie sausage grits or oatmeal These are all ldquofill-you-uprdquo foods Start your day with filling healthy foods and yoursquoll set the tone for the rest of your day while reducing sugar cravings

So eat but donrsquot deprive yourself Make good choices

over 10 years Named after her sisterrsquos children Chase and Morgan Chase Morgan Salon as Patterson states ldquohellipwas designed with the client in mind to create quality and efficient hair care services while being a positive environment for women to fellowship and relaxrdquo

Though the salon was origi-nally located in Decatur Georgia Patterson recently moved the loca-tion to Snellville Georgia to live out her dream of opening a conveniently located upscale salon that would allow her to actively participate in her childrenrsquos lives at school

Having been in the cosmetology business for 23 years and counting Patterson is highly dedicated to her career Every day she goes above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction Patterson commented ldquoMy clients tease me because I am known for being the resource lady As a hair stylist clients confide in you about their per-sonal struggles I feel it is my responsibility as a Christian to uplift them and speak positive things into their life that will encourage themrdquo

Being close to clients can also come with a cost According to Patterson the most difficult part of her job is losing faithful clients with the change in the econ-omy and increasing unemployment On one hand she strives to help them until their financial situation is better but on the other Chase Morgan Salon is still an operating business and needs to make a profit in order to stay in business

Though being a successful entrepreneur comes with positive and negative aspects the overall feelings of accomplishment and contentment with the Chase Morgan Salon trumps everything A distinguished devoted and aspiring woman Patterson has become a figure of hope proving that with hard work and dedica-tion a childhood dream can become a reality Pattersonrsquos future at Chase Morgan Salon seems bright ldquoMy goal for the salon is to always create an environment to derive success from teamwork and through education As techniques change and products improve I will prepare stylists through education to satisfy the new demands of clients thus ensuring a successful position in the futurerdquo

For contact information for Sudonna Patterson or information on location and operating hours of Chase Morgan Salon please visit wwwchasemorgansaloncom

One Employee

At a TimeStrengthening

Companies3

ldquoSolving Gwinnett Countyrsquos staffing needs for over 16 yearsrdquo

For client inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at clientsunitedstaffingservicecom

For employment inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at jobsunitedstaffingservicecom

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 17

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You Canrsquot Get There From Here By Susan Cadley LPC

Have you ever wished you could be like Harry Potter and wave a magic wand to fix a problem or get what you wanted If so you are in good company It is a natural tendency to avoid pain frustration or any feeling that is perceived as ldquobadrdquo It is also natural to have desires and goals for your life But herersquos the truth life is a process and when we resist or deny what we are feeling or what is happening in our life we actually cause ourselves more pain

We are all born with a wide range of emotions and these emotions are mes-sengers If we pay attention to them they have much to share with us We may learn what we react to what beliefs we hold and most importantly where our healing lies When we ignore these messengers they knock louder and harder at our subconscious until they get our attention So instead of working so hard to push emotions away welcome them in as a guest and lean into them You will find that the feelings dissipate and the pain of resistance yoursquove created will be eased

When we want to wish challenges away we lose the richness of life Imagine what it would be like to watch a movie and only view the first and last 10 minutes of the film By skipping the majority of the movie we miss out on the story and the experience as a whole And so it is with life When we wish for our lives to be different than they are we must then let go and live our lives right now with all the seeming imperfections that make up the movie we are living When we wish to go from ldquohererdquo to ldquothererdquo directly we miss out on personal growth

We are all here to learn love live fully and be more of who we are Embrace all of your life right where you are right now Then the real magic will begin

Susan Cadley LPC Licensed Professional Counselor is available for couplesadult individual counseling and creativity workshops in Suwanee GA She may be reached directly and confiden-tially at 678-296-1278 wwwcoaching foryoursoulcom

Fly-Fishing PatagoniaBy Pam Walker

What I know about Fly-Fishing you could put on the head of a straight pin So when asked to visit Patagonia I thought ldquoThis is my chance to learnrdquo

In early March I flew to Buenos Aires Argentina and then on to Bariloche From there I had an hour drive to Villa Angostura Aroyo Verde the famed fly- fishing lodge was further on down a dirt road

No signs No directions We had just a general sense of where we were going Anthony my naturalist guide headed into the Traful river canyon Fifteen minutes later we were greeted first by an authentic gaucho and then by riders on horseback After another 20 minutes we saw along a stream a lovely chalet with a sculpture gar-den Estancia Aroyo Verde

This private fishing and riding estancia is the home of one of Argentinarsquos most elite families Located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park the family-managed lodge hosts visitors from across the globe The Traful River is also home to land-locked salmon brown and rainbow trout This is a catch-and-release river with a season from November through April In this remote setting the fish some reaching 28 in for salmon and 29 in for Rainbows and Browns swim right up to you in the crystal clear water Best of all you need only your favorite fly rod Everything else is avail-able on-site Miles of nothingness surrounds this pristine spot Imagine standing in the river surrounded by the Andes What more could you ask for

Rooms are cozy all with private baths and meals are served family-style If yoursquore lucky join the family for an Argentine-style barbeque (Parillada) cooked outdoors by one of the resi-dent gauchos

Fishing horseback riding and even moun-tain bikes are here for your enjoyment Too bad I had to come back

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant and can be reached at Walker Adventures pliwalkerearthlinknet You can follow her travels by visiting Pamrsquos blog at httpwwwpamwalkersblogspotcom

PAGE 18 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Pastor Paul Ballard

The mission statement of Mountain Park First Baptist Church is to engage every man woman and child by living out Jesusrsquo love and sharing the gospel both locally and globally Since coming to MPFBC in May 2011 senior pastor Paul Ballard has been simple in his approach He has two priorities preaching the gospel and becoming a radiant church by being missional in nature

First Pastor Paul has prioritized the preaching of the gospel of Jesus The gospel is Godrsquos victory over sin and death through the person and work of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 151 says ldquoNow I would remind you brothers of the gospel

I preached to you which you received in which you standhelliprdquo The gospel is not just the entry point into Christianity It is the key to spiritual growth as we stand in Jesusrsquo finished work on the cross and His glorious resurrection

Second because the gospel has radically changed us God has called His people to give Him glory by living radiant lives resulting in missional living The church has moved from an internal to an external emphasis Some of the practical results have been

bull Adopting local fire stations and the Gwinnett South Precinct by providing meals and notes of encouragement

bull Hosting community events like Family Fest on May 4 2013

bull Mentoring ladies from the Atlanta WomenChildren shelter and adopting and fixing up a dorm

bull Offering an ESL program on Wednesdays with a provided meal afterward bull Holding food drives for Lilburn Co-op and providing Christmas for needy

familiesbull Deacons serving at Mountain Park Park in the concession stand so parents

could watch their children playbull Donating over $100000 from financial overages the last two years to support

local and international missions above the normal mission givingGod is at work at Mountain Park First Baptist Church For more information

go to wwwmpfbcorg

Chaplainrsquos Corner

hellipto our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue

Keep them coming

Thanks

Dr Louise DeLong Dr Franccediloise Tyler

ldquoHappy Motherrsquos Day from all of us at The Village Vetsrdquo Dr Will Draper

Dr Carrie McColganDr Amanda Irish

Hours Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm Sat 8am-2pm Sun 12-4pmwwwTheVillageVetscom

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Pictured Dr Will Draper with his mother Cheryl and her dogs Dolly and Kali

Page 7: MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 7

Disney On Ice Presents Worlds of FantasyMay 1-5 2013Arena at Gwinnett CenterDuluthwwwgwinnettcentercom

The Atlanta Coin and Currency ExpoMay 3-5 2013North Atlanta Trade CenterNorcrosswwwnorthatlantatradecentercomFri amp Sat 10am-6pm Sun 10am-3pm

Krispy Kreme for a CureMay 4 2013Town Center ParkSuwaneewwwaplacetoimaginecom

Fodac Run Walk Nrsquo RollMay 4 2013Confederate Hall ndash Stone Mountain ParkStone MountainwwwstonemountainparkcomBenefitting the Friends of Disabled Adults and Children

FreshMay 7 2013Tannery Row Artist ColonyBufordwwwtanneryrowartistcolonycomJuried show 12pm-5pm

2013 Relay For LifeMay 10-11 2013Gwinnett County FairgroundsLawrencevillewwwgwinnettrelayforlifeorgThe nationrsquos largest Relay for Life raises funds to fight cancer

9th Annual Barefoot In the Park GalaMay 10-12 2013Duluth Town GreenDuluthwwwbarefootintheparkorgGwinnettrsquos premier juried arts festival

Atlanta Exotic Bird FairMay 10-11 2013North Atlanta Trade CenterNorcrosswwwnorthatlantatradecentercom

Reels at Robinson ndash Summer Movie SeriesMay 17 2013EE Robinson ParkSugar Hillwwwcityofsugarhillcom

Pet Revolution 2013May 17-18 2013Gwinnett County FairgroundsLawrenceville

Animal adoptions Fri 8pm ndash Sun 8pm (48 hrs straight)

SCCA NationalMay 19 2013Road AtlantaBraseltonwwwroadatlantacomSports Car Club of America National Race All day

Board Game BlastoffMay 20 2013Bethesda Park Senior CenterLawrencevillewwwgwinnettparkscomchallenge yourself to a game of scrab-ble mahjong chess and more

Two for the ShowMay 23 2013George Pierce Park Community CenterSuwaneewwwgwinnettparkscomArt show 9am-8pm

Nike Memorial Day ClassicMay 24-27 2013Suwanee Sports AcademySuwaneewwwsuwaneesportsacademycomBasketball ndash Boys 14U-17U

Gwinnett Daily Post Memorial Day ConcertMay 24 2013Town Center ParkSuwaneewwwsuwaneecomConcert

Taste of GwinnettMay 26-27 2013Peachtree CornerswwwtasteofgwinnettcomPremier food festival

Memorial Day Weekend CelebratioMay 26-27 2013Stone Mountain ParkStone MountainwwwstonemountainparkcomFireworks and fun 1030am-8pm laser show 930pm

Memorial Day in DaculaMay 27 2013Historic Downtown DaculaDaculawwwdaculamemorialdaycomParade ndash festival 9am-5pm

Memorial Day CelebrationMay 27 2013Thrasher ParkNorcrosswwwaplacetoimaginecom

Onion Manrsquos Summer Harvest Festival Keep it LegalMay 30-June 1 2013Norcross Cultural Arts and Community CenterNorcrosswwwlionhearttheatreorgA collection of short plays

May Calendar

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AC Spine amp Wellness Center 217 Scenic Highway Lawrenceville GA 30046-5621

wwwacspineandwellnesscom

Call today to schedule your FREE Consultation AC Spine amp Wellness Center

217 Scenic Highway bull Lawrenceville GA 30046-5621wwwacspineandwellnesscom

Affordable senior housing and personal care for the elderlySpecialize in long-term disability physically challenged

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ldquoGenuine Senior Carerdquo

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Serving Lilburn and Stone Mountain 626 E Riverbend Dr 186 Lockring Dr 4905 Annistown Rd Lilburn GA 30047 Lilburn GA 30047 Stone Mountain GA 30087

Residential Services - Respite Care - Hospice ndash Sitter Service- Adult Day Care

bull Certified caregivers provide personalized carebull Maintenance of a healthy and safe environment

bull Assistance with activities of daily livingbull Housekeeping and laundry services

bull Nutritious meals and snacks dailybull Medication supervision and assistancebull Scheduled transportationbull On-call Nurse Practitioners Podiatrist and Beauticians

bull Quick accessibility to hospital doctorsrsquo offices and

emergency servicesbull Planned social and recreational activities

PAGE 8 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Solution on page 16

C Scapes

bull Lawn Maintenance bull Fertilizer amp Weed Control bull Trees amp Shrubbery bull Aerate amp Overseed bull Planting Beds bull Sod amp Seasonal Flowers bull Tree Pruning amp Trimming bull Insect and Disease Control bull Mulch amp Pine Straw Installation bull Stone amp Concrete Work bull Driveways bull Walkways bull Patios bull Outdoor Lighting bull Holiday Decorations bull Irrigation Systems amp Sprinkler Repair bull Walls amp Steps bull LED Lighting bull Water Features bull Outdoor Fireplaces bull Outdoor Living Areas

Residential amp Commercial bull Licensed amp Insured

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678-414-4003wwwcscapesunlimitedcom bull cscapesbellsouthnet

Professional Landscape and Design Services

Is Your Dog Properly SocializedBy Terie Hansen

Socializing your dog is a lifelong undertaking not just during the first year or two of their life with you Many who reach out to us for training are experiencing the side effects of an under-socialized dog

Does your dog bark wildly when it sees other dogs or pull on the leash towards other dogs or people Does it shy away from objects in its environment or does it act fearful or aggressive towards people or dogs These can be symptoms of an under-socialized dog

When you get a new dog whether puppy or adult you are excited to spend time with him and share him with everyone and anyone who will let you So you take your new pet on walks to parks on hikes and to pet stores This is great because he is learning how to act in these various environments and around other people and dogs As the newness wears off however you donrsquot take him out as often Therefore he is exposed to less stimulation

Three to six months or even one to two years can go by and your dog hasnrsquot come in contact with anyone other than your family Now all of a sudden you decide to take him someplace where there are other people and dogs Chances are he will act either uncontrollably excited or fearful which can look like aggression and you think ldquoOMG Whatrsquos the matter with my dogrdquo You decide that you can no longer take him out in public What happened Culture shock Many dogs need to be socialized on an ongoing basis If we stay in our house and didnrsquot come out until fifteen years later we would experience the same feelings of excitement fear and anxiety

This is easily preventable socialize socialize and socialize for the life of your dog If you are experiencing these symptoms already reach out to us We can help

Terie Hansen Professional Dog Trainer Pet Sitter amp Owner at Good Dog Coaching amp Pet Care-may be reached at 404-422-9832 infogooddogcoachingcom wwwgooddogcoachingcom

Great Content Is KingBy Ryan T Sauers

I often tell people that content is king And you know whatmdashthis is not quite right Why You seehellip content is good but great content is ldquokingrdquo Think about it Why do you become engrossed in a movie or show Why do you send a funny YouTube video to a friend Why do you enjoy talking with certain people Why do you like to read certain articles The answer is simple We do these things because we love watching hearing or reading great content By the way if you are still the person forwarding emailshellip not so funny J

We are all busy and whether we are in person (offline) or online (virtual) -- it takes something special unique to pull us in and ldquowowrdquo us We live in a world where most people have a short attention span You see I was talking to you Please put down your phone and let me finish So how do we accomplish this The secret is simple It is all about great content Good content is okay but will always lose to great content

For an article or any engagement to be enjoyable it must be more than my writ-ing and your reading It must be a two way dialogue or conversation It must be about taking the ink and words that are on the paper you are readingmdashso they are transformed in your mind into a story worth sharing and acting upon Isnrsquot this what you want your customers to do when they think of you If you sound like everyone else you are lacking great content Always remember people can duplicate your ideas but cannot replicate your DNA So what do you bring your stakehold-ers--online and offlinemdashthat is simply great content And can you produce such great content consistently Do you ever think about it If not there is no better time than now to begin thinking with such a strategic mindset As I travel across the country one thing has become clear those who are willing to be creative and break the box in their thinking in a purposeful manner are the companies that are running towards 2014

Ryan T Sauers is PresidentOwner of Sauers Consulting Strategies Our business is growing your business More info at wwwryansauerscom ryansauers ryanryansauerscom

MAY C

ROSS

WO

RD

Across1 Alone5 Mozartrsquos ldquoLrsquo___ del Cairordquo8 ldquo___ here longrdquo12 Legal prefix13 ___ Altaic languages14 ldquoFantasticrdquo15 ldquo___ Brockovichrdquo16 ldquo___ Smilerdquo (1976 hit)17 Red eye18 Assistant20 Feed21 Sheikrsquos bevy22 Impede withrdquodownrdquo23 Advantages26 Witnessed30 Bit od a draft31 Artificial34 Help35 Defeat37 Tokyo formerly38 Drive39 Ashcroftrsquos predecessor40 Hospital restroom42 Internrsquol Monetary Fund43 Rare earth element45 Bothers47 ldquo___ Doubtfirerdquo

48 Brunch serving50 Watered-down52 Generous56 Put off as a motion57 Capture58 Creole vegetable59 Bawl out60 ldquoEmpedocles on ___rdquo (Matthew Arnold poem)61 Newton fruits62 Pay (up)63 Do it yourself64 ChargesDown1 Particular for short2 Hawaiian tuber3 ldquoMi chiamano Mimirdquo eg4 Peacemaker5 Be bombastic6 Bank7 Apple spray8 Carriage9 ldquo___ on Down the Roadrdquo10 ldquohellipthere is no ___angel but Loverdquo Shakespeare11 ldquoSmoking or ___rdquo13 Certain shark14 Confuse

19 Blaseacute22 Show ___23 Loan shark24 Lab tube25 All in26 ldquoCut it outrdquo27 Native indian dwellings28 Swelling29 Dutch pottery city32 Appear33 Make sense with ldquouprdquo36 Usually38 All thumbs40 Greyhound eg41 ldquoTo dordquo list44 Angry46 Irritate48 Cousin of a raccoon49 Not set50 1993 standoff site51 Black in poetry52 Ran as colors53 ldquo___ From Muskogeerdquo54 Advocate55 Back talk56 Cooking meas

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 9

NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIAL

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By Stefanie Lamprsquol

ldquoLove everyone trust a few do wrong to nonerdquo This eminent quote by William Shakespeare written on the white board in the principalrsquos office at Trickum Middle School watches over Kay Sands as she leads a growing student body faculty and staff These words represent how Sands runs her school She is dedicated to educating her students and teaching principles that will allow them to better their community

Kay Sands was born and raised in Atlanta Georgia As a kid Sands loved sports especially tennis She majored in health and physical education at the University of Georgia and then attended graduate school at the University of Alabama Sands never saw herself becoming a teacher let alone the head of the administration Although it was not the original job she set out to do she loves every minute of it

Sands held several positions before finding a home at Trickum Middle School For three years she worked at Five Forks as a health and physical education teacher One of the most rewarding jobs she has had yet was being a stay-at-home mom to her three sons for thir-teen years During this time she also coached tennis a sport she always enjoyed playing Sands was an assistant principal for six years before becoming principal in 2008 Sands believes that it was the work of Lynn Davis and Calvin Watts prin-cipals of Trickum Middle School before Sands that encouraged her to take on the position They were incredible mentors who helped her make the transition from assistant principal to the head of Trickum Middle School

Even though Kay Sands never saw herself in her current role she is blessed by the position She has a tremendous opportunity to empower people to make a school great She wants her students to come to school to be engaged rather than disinterested As a kid Sands was not a big fan of school so her goal as an adminis-trator is to change this She wants to show her students how truly meaningful learning can be and to do her part in contributing to the community to make the dis-trict the best place to live She knows this is not possible without the incredible and competent faculty and staff who work beside her every day

Kay Sands does not shoot for perfection She knows that she will not always say the right thing or make the right choices She also knows that if she focuses on what is going well and what is positive she can rectify any situation and become a stronger leader

When Sands is not giving her all to bettering the lives and minds of her students she loves being out-doors She enjoys hiking or escaping

to a quiet place in nature There is no better place to her though than living and working in her community It is satisfying and reward-ing to be a part of developing passionate and educated students who will lead the commu-nity on to success

Getting to Know Trickum Middle School Principal Kay Sands

PAGE 10 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Hurt Less Heal QuickerHave a Better Quality of Life

Caring Experienced Professional

Gift Certificates AvailableCALL TODAY

(678) 344-00501780 Oak Road Suite A2 Snellville GA

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bull Wellness Massage bull Senior Massage bull Prenatal Massage bull Cancer Massage

One Hour Massage - $55

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Primrose Schoolsreg Summer Camp ndash

Passport to Adventure

copy2013 Primrose School Franchising Company All rights reserved

From the great outdoors and virtual travel to music and dance

Camp PrimroseSM is your familyrsquos passport to adventure and fun

this summer Exciting fi eld trips creative activities and fun

adventures with friends will help Explorers play laugh and

learn their way through an

unforgettable summer

Customize your adventure by

selecting specifi c camp weeks

or join us all summer long

Start planning your summer adventure now ndash CampPrimrosecom

Primrose School of Five Forks3030 River Drive Lawrenceville GA 30044

7709850028 | PrimroseFiveForkscom

Are Your Hormones Driving You CrazyBy Dr Jeanette Altieri AC Spine amp Wellness Center

At every age hormones fluctuate mdash and thatrsquos normal However when changes happen too fast or become too much for your body to handle you can start expe-riencing problems Canrsquot lose weight Tired all of the time Feeling overwhelmed What is your body telling you

When our body becomes overloaded and unable to support its systems therersquos a greater chance of developing some of the problems associated with hormonal imbalance Whether you are suffering from PMS mood swings bloating or head-aches or you have a family history of breast ovarian or other female cancers there can be imbalances in the ratios of estrogen progesterone testosterone and other hormones in your endocrine and adrenal system

Hormonal imbalances are caused by more than just estrogen Estrogen levels are important but so are progesterone and testosterone levels and their ratios to each other Insulin cortisol (the stress hormone) and thyroid levels can also play a big part More importantly women who are on hormone replacement therapy need to be tested to make sure hormones are broken down cleared and balanced

Letrsquos take a look at some of the most common signs of hormonal imbalances

Irregular or absent periods Weight gainChanges in the shape of your bodyAnxiety andor moodiness

By listening to your body yoursquoll be able to provide what you need to naturally rebalance its hormones Even healthy women who follow a good diet may find glitches in their hormone levels Effective natural options include high quality supplements dietary and lifestyle adjustments The first step is to get tested and find out what is causing these hormonal issues and then learn how to improve your personal hormonal health

Baseball Is Similar to LifeBy Glenton Ashby

Life is similar to going around the bases on a baseball diamond ndash itrsquos a pro-gression Our financial life is also a progression We progress through stages of financial life at the same time we move through various life stages from beginning to end

As you begin your financial life a number of basic steps are prudent and neces-sary Establish a budget (know what and where you are spending) begin a program of regular saving (the amount is not as important as the habit) commit to paying off whatever debt you do have (whether school debt or debt taken on as you begin life after school) and avoid unnecessary debt (eg debt for lifestyle)

Accomplishing these steps in combination with beginning your working life is like getting a runner to first base

Once on first base a variety of things can happen that may impact your ability to advance to the remaining bases Some things are in your control and some are not You are responsible for managing the things that you can control Think of this financial life progression as stewardship rather than ownership (The fact that any-thing we think we own will eventually go to someone else will be addressed later)

Things not in your control still require your awareness and vigilance in order to respond or react to them appropriately Otherwise you may have to start over and go back to first base Things you cannot control include job loss extended illness or disability You can exert a measure of control by having adequate health insur-ance and disability insurance if available and affordable

Sticking to the plan that got you to first base is essential for moving forward to second base This involves moving from the financial basics stage to the stage of a more established financial life

Feedback and topic suggestions are welcome ndash email HalcyonTimesHalcyonFPcom or comment at wwwHalcyonFPcomhalcyon-times Tweet halcyonplanning

Glenton Ashby is the founder and owner of Halcyon Financial Planning LLC a fee-only financial planning and Registered Investment Advisor firm Visit HalcyonFPcom

Skin issuesacneHair lossunusual hair growthInfertilityFatigueloss of energy

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 11

New Client Special

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Is Testing Getting a Bad Wrap By Tamsen Boone

Today I taught my 7th graders the meaning of the term ldquodevilrsquos advocaterdquo They devised many creative definitions on their own before I explained the concept As we batten down the hatches across the state for CRCT week Irsquove spent some time deliberating the testing catch-22 and I decided to play the role of devilrsquos advocate

Yoursquod be hard pressed to find a parent or an educator for that matter who thinks all the testing our students endure isnrsquot over the top This is my first year in middle school and Irsquom feeling the pressure myself However Irsquove decided to approach this with a ldquoglass half fullrdquo mentality If Irsquove done what Irsquom supposed to do in the classroom my students have been exposed to the material If Irsquove found a few creative and innovative strategies my students may even remember what Irsquove exposed them to despite middle school drama and raging tween hormonal shifts If Irsquove provided them with some test-taking strategies Irsquove given them the ability to move through information integrate it and discern the difference between good better and best options

I propose that this is necessary not only in the testing arena but in the real world as well I hope that my students will one day be able to read through cell phone contracts college brochures apartment leases closing statements and job offers to determine their best option Digesting information and discriminating between options (such as A B C or D answers) can be applicable to our daily adult lives Therefore I donrsquot envision myself as wasting time teaching students how to take tests I like to think Irsquom teaching them to analyze carefully when the stakes are high so that they can make solid decisions when the stakes really get high in the adult world

So this position begs the question if testing shouldnrsquot be such a big stressful deal why is it This is probably where I should keep my mouth shut Happy testing J

Whatrsquos Keeping Your Child From Performing at Grade Level

By Christine Giles

National Awareness Month Educates Parents about Speech and Language Disorders Affecting School Performance

Children with communication disorders frequently do not perform at grade level because they have difficulty understanding and speaking struggle with reading and writing misunderstand social cues show poor judgment have trouble taking tests and may avoid school Is this your child

This May as part of Better Hearing and Speech Month Creative Therapy Works in Lilburn GA and the American Speech-Language-Hearing (ASHA) continue their public education efforts for the communication health of our children by pro-viding information to parents to identify and prevent speech and language disorders

Children with communication problems have difficulty learning to listen speak read or write Parents and teachers should refer any student who shows signs of a speech and language problem to the school-based speech-language pathologist for an immediate evaluation

ldquoItrsquos crucial that children are identified and begin treatment as early as possible because summer break will only compound the consequences of a communication disorder if left untreatedrdquo Christine Giles Speech- Language Pathologist and owner of Creative Therapy Works LLC in Lilburn says

Parents should look out for the various types of speech and language disorders that affect school-age children including ~Speech sound disorders (difficulty pronouncing sounds) ~Language disorders (difficulty understanding others and expressing themselves) ~Cognitive-communication disorders (difficulty with thinking skills including per-ception memory awareness reasoning judgment intellect and imagination) ~Stuttering (fluency) disorders (interruption of the flow of speech that may include hesitations repetitions or prolongations of sounds or words) ~Voice disorders (quality of voice that may include hoarseness nasality or loudness)

For more information about speech and language disorders and prevention or to arrange a free speech and language screening for your child please visit wwwcreativetherapyworkscom or call 1-866-611-7855

PAGE 12 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ages 6 weeks to 4 years old We implement age appropriate Creative Curriculum in all classes

See our website for details

Register Your Children Today Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

FIVE FORKS ACADEMY Enroll your children at Legacy Academy

3079 Five Forks Trickum RoadLilburn GA 30047

wwwf iveforksacademycom

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ann Weeks Owner

Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

Caring for childrenages 6 weeks to 4 years

BeforeAfter SchoolPrograms for ages 5-12

Visit us anytime for a personal tour

(770) 982-2000

NEW for 09-10 We will be serving Knight Elementary

amp St John Neumwnn Schools

Before and After School Program for children attending Brookwood Craig Head

and Gwin Oaks Elementary

(770) 982-2000 3079 Five Forks Trickum Road

Lilburn GA 30047

ldquoWe love learning inside and outsiderdquo

wwwfiveforksacademycom

By Hank Cohen

For many decades throughout Gwinnett youth sports have been of major importance to the community Whether the sport is baseball football swimming or one of the many others played in the county Gwinnett has continually been home to some of the best athletes in the state One organization that fosters a large number of stars is the Gwinnett Soccer Association (GSA) GSA located across the street from Parkview High School is dedicated to teaching youths of any age or skill level the rules and techniques of soccer With about 1500 kids and numerous teams at each age level GSA has been a thriving spot for soccer talent in the county

The association is currently led by Chip Stevens and a very talented staff The Girlsrsquo Director of Coaching Campbell Chapman spent ten years playing profes-sional soccer for multiple clubs in England Sweden Finland Malta and Qatar Appointed the Girlsrsquo Director in 2007 Campbell has since coached many state winning teams Nuno Piteira the Boysrsquo Director was the coach of the Charleston Battery professional team where he helped the club to win its first national champi-onship in 1996 When he first moved to Atlanta in 1999 Nuno coached the Atlanta Silverbacks professional team The impact of the Associationrsquos very capable coaches is evident in the talented and highly ranked teams that continue to dominate Currently the boys U15 and U16 have qualified for the national championship in Kansas City GSA currently has four players on US national teams

Each year GSA holds a major tournament where teams from across the Southeast come to compete The GSA Invitational held in December brings about 350-400 teams together Similarly GSA also holds a college showcase to expose col-lege soccer coaches to the extraordinary amount of talent within the organization Coaches from colleges such as Auburn Alabama and UGA have attended to look for future prospects Multiple soccer camps for any skill level also run throughout the year Nuno runs the boysrsquo camps which includes a residency camp at Rinehart College Campbell runs the girlsrsquo camps which include camps throughout the

summer GSA is always seek-ing to reach out to potential players ldquoWe want more kids to play soccer because itrsquos the best sport in the worldrdquo said President Stevens

Since its beginning in 1977 GSA has sought to provide a high quality organization for kids to become engaged in soc-cer Over the years the organi-zation has continuously grown and the association is planning to make changes in the future as well To accommodate the quality talent GSA is updat-ing the fields to provide better complexes for the players The organization will also be host-ing a Junior Academy for 4-8 year olds to teach them the basic skills of soccer and to spark a love for the sport in younger children As the club continues to grow the dedicated staff and coaches of GSA will continue to teach and spread soccer throughout the community Stevens wants to continue this participation in the area he grew up in He is a graduate from Brookwood High School and his wife and children are active at GSA as well The organization has opportunities for every child ldquoItrsquos all about the kidsrdquo Stevens said ldquoFrom young beginners to the elite players GSA has something for everyonerdquo

Gwinnett Soccer Association Itrsquos All About the Kids

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 13

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770-923-32165385 Five Forks Trickum Rd bull Suite M

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Serving the Lilburn area for over 20 years

Best Haircuts in TownNO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY

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Understanding Sunscreen Protection

By Chrissy Thomas RN BSN

In June 2011 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new requirements for over-the-counter sunscreens These rules were put into place to ensure that sunscreens meet todayrsquos standards for safety and effectiveness The fol-lowing is an outline of some of the more important details for consumers to know when choosing sunscreen products

The primary purpose of the FDArsquos changes is to guarantee that sunscreen products are providing adequate protection Previously the Sun Protection Factors (SPFs) dealt with UVB (ultraviolet B) protection only This means that the risk of sunburn was the only factor considered on the label Now we know that much of the sunrsquos risk lies in UVA (ultraviolet A) radiation which contributes to skin cancer and early aging

After reviewing data the FDA determined that sufficient evidence is available to establish a ldquobroad spectrumrdquo test for determining a sunscreen productrsquos UVA protection By passing the broad spectrum test a consumer knows that the product will provide UVA protection that is proportional to its UVB protection Products that pass this test are going to be labeled as ldquobroad spectrumrdquo These products must be a SPF of 15 or higher to adequately protect the skin

Broad spectrum products SPF 15 or higher have been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging when used with other sun protection measures

Still the meaning of SPF confuses some All sun protection products are tested with a SPF test procedure The test measures the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation expo-sure it takes to cause sunburn when a person is using a sunscreen in comparison to how much UV exposure it takes to cause sunburn without sunscreen The product is then labeled with the appropriate SPF value indicating the amount of sunburn protection provided by the product Higher values provide higher protection Because this test is a measure of protection against sunburn itrsquos an indicator of UVB only With the new broad spectrum test SPFs with a higher UVB rating will also have a higher UVA value

Often new clients to About Face Skin Care donrsquot realize that UV protection should be worn on the face and neck daily to avoid dam-aging UV rays from windows in the home or

car -- or even the minimal time spent walking to the mailbox A moisturizer with a UVBUVA factor of 15 or higher will protect the accumulation that inevitably happens from these exposures Itrsquos been determined that by yearrsquos end not wearing daily SPF protection can equal a week at the beach unprotected

Physical blocks such as clothing provide some protection but our faces are constantly exposed And makeup is not a sunblock If your makeup offers UV pro-tection it should be counted as an extra layer Sun protection in makeup according to the Skin Cancer Foundation is the productrsquos secondary purpose Even though some makeup has sunscreen ingredients it doesnrsquot have the proper amount of cov-erage or the capabilities to protect against UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays

Additionally for most people one needs to use 7-14 times the normal amount of powder or foundation to get the SPF coverage stated on the makeup packaging

Just as important donrsquot forget to protect your lips Glosses without SPF react like tanning oil on the lips Skin cancers in this area are becoming more common not to mention the unattractive ldquosmokers linesrdquo that form as the delicate tissues of the lips and surrounding areas are damaged

About Face Skin Care has an array of high-quality products to give you superior protection while offering cosmeceutically-pleasing benefits

If you would like to explore the options of sun protection and other products and treatments offered by About Face schedule your free consultation appointment at 770-935-FACE(3223) or online at wwwaboutfaceskincom We look forward to meeting you

PAGE 14 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Fall in Love with your bodyagain

ldquowhere the beauty you feel becomes the beauty you seerdquo

Complimentary Cosmetic Consultation

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Gluteal Sculpting and Fat Grafting

(770) 466-4700

84 Patterson RoadLawrenceville GA 30044

770-995-0836pebblestonelandscapegroupcom

Pebblestone Landscape Group is a full service landscape management provider since 1994 Meeting the landscaping needs and requirements for the management groups such as yourself We help our clients increase the appeal of their property to potential customers

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This Summer Prepare to Start School Sharp

By Carol Wood

Woohoo School is out for the summer so learning can stop right Wrong Summertime provides the BEST opportunity for students to enrich their academic skills if they desire to get ahead before school begins again or to catch up on skills if they ended the school year below average If students fall behind during the school year they must catch up with what they have missed AND keep up with what is being taught on a day-by-day basis This is difficult to do and can be stress-ful So summertime is the best time for parents to give their student the oppor-tunity to do what they cannot easily do during the school year CATCH UP or MOVE AHEAD in their academics and solve their STUDY SKILL weaknesses

First locate your childrsquos recent school standardized test scores and examine your childrsquos levels compared to hisher grade level This can be located in the column that reads ldquoGErdquo for grade equivalency or ldquoPRrdquo for percentile Scores below the 50th percentile or below their grade and month level in the GE column when the tests were administered are the ones in which the student was performing below average at that time Scores above the 50th percentile or above his or her grade level show performance above average therefore summer tutoring could entail enrichment work to maintain skills or further build on the studentrsquos strengths in preparation for the next school year By examining your childrsquos most recent test scores and determin-ing which areas are below on or above average you will then know which academic areas to build upon so your student can START SCHOOL SHARP

Next locate professional educational resources with a track record of success should you decide to teach your children at home Purchase the appropriate levels of materials and teach your child using an established consistent weekly schedule Do not allow the student to skip around within workbooks and complete the ldquofunrdquo pages first as the material is purposefully presented in a sequential order Select a study place for each student which is equipped with the learning supplies and tools needed If you do not feel qualified to teach or you do not have the necessary patience with your own child which is not uncommon then seek a full-time professional and experienced educational center Schedule summer learning sessions on a consistent weekly basis with the same degreed and experienced instructor who utilizes nation-ally recognized materials and proven teaching methods Individualized instruction is best in an environment free from distractions and interruptions A professional center is usually preferred since it focuses on providing an ideal learning environment has many quality control measures to insure student improvement is maximized and has a reputation and level of accountability to maintain in order to remain in business Know the credentials of the instructor such as his or her areas of teaching experience and educational degree and match this with your studentrsquos academic area of summer instruction Ask for references and contact them to learn about their experience with the professional center you are considering Request to see the instructional area and observe sessions in progress

Remember SUMMER is the most ideal time for students to get a JUMP START on the next school year

Carol Wood is the founder and owner of Total Learning Concepts Inc a private profes-sional tutorial service located in Gwinnett County Please email questions to ccwoodbellsouthnet or fax to 770-381-1626

MAYCROSSWORDSOLUTION

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 15

1319 Scenic Highway n Lawrenceville GA 30045 n 770-979-9490At the intersection of Hwy 124 amp Webb Gin House Road

Join Us For Lunch

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ldquoGirl Timerdquo Is ImportantBy Julie Mills

As I sit and think about this yearrsquos Motherrsquos Day I thought I would take a few moments to emphasis the importance of ldquogirl timerdquo I feel so lucky that my work allows me to experience wonderful bonding with my female clients When receiv-ing body work many emotions are released Our bodies are wired to keep our emotions in and they manifest in the form of knots aches pains and sometimes even disease Part of my job is to provide a safe space for my clients to let those emotions go and to begin healing from the inside out Letrsquos talk about how women are wired and why it is so important for us to have friendships

As a woman I already knew that my ldquogirl timerdquo was important and actually kept my sanity at times However I did some research and found a landmark UCLA study that suggests friendships between women are very special They shape who we are and who we are yet to be They soothe our inner world and fill the emo-tional gaps in our male relationships

Researchers suspect that women handle stress in more ways than just fight or flight In fact says Dr Klein of UCLA it seems that when the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress responses in a woman it buffers the fight or flight response and encourages her to tend children and gather with other women When she actually engages in this tending or befriending studies suggest that more oxyto-cin is released which further counters stress and produces a calming effect Men do not have this response due to high levels of testosterone released during stress The estrogen in women seems to enhance the oxytocin and produces a calming effect

It was noted that when the women were stressed they came in to work cleaned the work space had coffee and bonded with other female coworkers When the men were stressed they holed up somewhere on their own and did not interact with coworkers Wow - this part of the study sounds so familiar When I am stressed or have a lot on my mind I get into my cleaning mode or I want to call my sisters These activities help me to think things through and to unwind My husband on the other hand says nothing and he has the unique ability to quietly disappear

It is interesting that nearly 90 of the stress research has been with males With this new research the fact that women respond to stress differently than men has significant implications for our health It may take some time for new studies to reveal all the ways that oxytocin encourages us to care for children and hang out with other women but the ldquotend and befriendrdquo notion developed by Drs Klein and Taylor may explain why women consistently outlive men Study after study has found that social ties reduce our risk of disease by lowering blood pressure heart rate and cholesterol Therersquos no doubt that friends are helping us live longer

Every time we get overly busy with work and family the first thing we do is let go of friendships with other women We push them right to the back burner Thatrsquos really a mistake because women are such a source of strength to each other We nurture one another We need to have unpressured space in which we can do the special kind of talk that women do when theyrsquore with other women Itrsquos a very healing experience

Have you had your much-needed girl time Make this month your month and have a very happy Motherrsquos Day

Julie Mills CMT is owner of Body of Health and Life LLC for more information visit wwwbodyofhealthandlifecom

PAGE 16 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Ashton Pike

ldquoBeauty starts from withinrdquo One may expect a famous womanrsquos name to fol-low this quote but the woman responsible for such accurate words is better than famous She is distinguished After all fame fades but a distinguished woman will be known for years since she will stand out from everyone Hair stylist and salon owner Sudonna Patterson meets these traits and more Being a mom of three young boys an adored wife and a successful entrepreneur Patterson has numerous accomplishments to her name and this is only the beginning

Born and raised in Macon Georgia Patterson practiced the basics of cosmetol-ogy as a young girl when she styled her dollsrsquo hair and when she put rollers in her great auntrsquos hair before bedtime each night Eventually moving from Barbie dolls to actual customers Patterson worked weekends as a shampoo assistant in a hair salon during high school This job led her to pursue a career in cosmetology at Dudleyrsquos Cosmetology University in North Carolina

After graduating Patterson became an instructor for Dudleyrsquos Advanced Cosmetology University and then she took her skills outside national borders as an International Educator Traveling to remarkable locations such as the Bahamas Barbados Aruba and Jamaica Patterson worked to communicate the latest tech-niques in cosmetology through seminars on product knowledge hair care advance cutting and styling techniques

Taking into consideration Pattersonrsquos spontaneous extrovert personality it was no surprise that she met her husband on a blind date in Atlanta while she lived in North Carolina She and her husband are now loving and dedicated parents of three sons Logan 8 and twins Bryce and Blake 4 The family of five resides in Lilburn Georgia where they spend copious amounts of time together either at home or at Peace Baptist Church where they attend regularly

Amid college and starting a family Patterson became an entrepreneur open-ing her own hair salon called Chase Morgan Salon which has been in business for

Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

Diets Donrsquot WorkBy Kelly Farris

Itrsquos that time of year again ndash panic mode has set in and yoursquore trying to get off the winter flub in time for bathing suit season

You might be considering a diet Maybe yoursquore stuck trying to choose between the wide variety of options 17 day cabbage soup weight loss shakes paleo and Atkins just to name a few

Unfortunately none of these work in the long run In fact fad diets can backfire and even contribute to weight gain You donrsquot have to have a perfect diet to have a good diet Eating normal portions of wholesome foods leads to the right body weight

Let your eating habits consist of 85-90 of quality calories with the remaining calories of ldquowhateverrdquo ldquoWhateverrdquo means you can have an orange one day or a cookie the next The trick is not to deprive yourself of foods you really like Sooner or later you will end up binging if you make certain foods taboo Take away the power to binge-eat by eating that certain food more often Chances are seven days of having a cookie for your ldquowhateverrdquo calories will make it less desirable by day eight

I advise all my clients to make breakfast the most important meal of the day I encourage eggs egg substitute turkey sausage veggie sausage grits or oatmeal These are all ldquofill-you-uprdquo foods Start your day with filling healthy foods and yoursquoll set the tone for the rest of your day while reducing sugar cravings

So eat but donrsquot deprive yourself Make good choices

over 10 years Named after her sisterrsquos children Chase and Morgan Chase Morgan Salon as Patterson states ldquohellipwas designed with the client in mind to create quality and efficient hair care services while being a positive environment for women to fellowship and relaxrdquo

Though the salon was origi-nally located in Decatur Georgia Patterson recently moved the loca-tion to Snellville Georgia to live out her dream of opening a conveniently located upscale salon that would allow her to actively participate in her childrenrsquos lives at school

Having been in the cosmetology business for 23 years and counting Patterson is highly dedicated to her career Every day she goes above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction Patterson commented ldquoMy clients tease me because I am known for being the resource lady As a hair stylist clients confide in you about their per-sonal struggles I feel it is my responsibility as a Christian to uplift them and speak positive things into their life that will encourage themrdquo

Being close to clients can also come with a cost According to Patterson the most difficult part of her job is losing faithful clients with the change in the econ-omy and increasing unemployment On one hand she strives to help them until their financial situation is better but on the other Chase Morgan Salon is still an operating business and needs to make a profit in order to stay in business

Though being a successful entrepreneur comes with positive and negative aspects the overall feelings of accomplishment and contentment with the Chase Morgan Salon trumps everything A distinguished devoted and aspiring woman Patterson has become a figure of hope proving that with hard work and dedica-tion a childhood dream can become a reality Pattersonrsquos future at Chase Morgan Salon seems bright ldquoMy goal for the salon is to always create an environment to derive success from teamwork and through education As techniques change and products improve I will prepare stylists through education to satisfy the new demands of clients thus ensuring a successful position in the futurerdquo

For contact information for Sudonna Patterson or information on location and operating hours of Chase Morgan Salon please visit wwwchasemorgansaloncom

One Employee

At a TimeStrengthening

Companies3

ldquoSolving Gwinnett Countyrsquos staffing needs for over 16 yearsrdquo

For client inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at clientsunitedstaffingservicecom

For employment inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at jobsunitedstaffingservicecom

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 17

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You Canrsquot Get There From Here By Susan Cadley LPC

Have you ever wished you could be like Harry Potter and wave a magic wand to fix a problem or get what you wanted If so you are in good company It is a natural tendency to avoid pain frustration or any feeling that is perceived as ldquobadrdquo It is also natural to have desires and goals for your life But herersquos the truth life is a process and when we resist or deny what we are feeling or what is happening in our life we actually cause ourselves more pain

We are all born with a wide range of emotions and these emotions are mes-sengers If we pay attention to them they have much to share with us We may learn what we react to what beliefs we hold and most importantly where our healing lies When we ignore these messengers they knock louder and harder at our subconscious until they get our attention So instead of working so hard to push emotions away welcome them in as a guest and lean into them You will find that the feelings dissipate and the pain of resistance yoursquove created will be eased

When we want to wish challenges away we lose the richness of life Imagine what it would be like to watch a movie and only view the first and last 10 minutes of the film By skipping the majority of the movie we miss out on the story and the experience as a whole And so it is with life When we wish for our lives to be different than they are we must then let go and live our lives right now with all the seeming imperfections that make up the movie we are living When we wish to go from ldquohererdquo to ldquothererdquo directly we miss out on personal growth

We are all here to learn love live fully and be more of who we are Embrace all of your life right where you are right now Then the real magic will begin

Susan Cadley LPC Licensed Professional Counselor is available for couplesadult individual counseling and creativity workshops in Suwanee GA She may be reached directly and confiden-tially at 678-296-1278 wwwcoaching foryoursoulcom

Fly-Fishing PatagoniaBy Pam Walker

What I know about Fly-Fishing you could put on the head of a straight pin So when asked to visit Patagonia I thought ldquoThis is my chance to learnrdquo

In early March I flew to Buenos Aires Argentina and then on to Bariloche From there I had an hour drive to Villa Angostura Aroyo Verde the famed fly- fishing lodge was further on down a dirt road

No signs No directions We had just a general sense of where we were going Anthony my naturalist guide headed into the Traful river canyon Fifteen minutes later we were greeted first by an authentic gaucho and then by riders on horseback After another 20 minutes we saw along a stream a lovely chalet with a sculpture gar-den Estancia Aroyo Verde

This private fishing and riding estancia is the home of one of Argentinarsquos most elite families Located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park the family-managed lodge hosts visitors from across the globe The Traful River is also home to land-locked salmon brown and rainbow trout This is a catch-and-release river with a season from November through April In this remote setting the fish some reaching 28 in for salmon and 29 in for Rainbows and Browns swim right up to you in the crystal clear water Best of all you need only your favorite fly rod Everything else is avail-able on-site Miles of nothingness surrounds this pristine spot Imagine standing in the river surrounded by the Andes What more could you ask for

Rooms are cozy all with private baths and meals are served family-style If yoursquore lucky join the family for an Argentine-style barbeque (Parillada) cooked outdoors by one of the resi-dent gauchos

Fishing horseback riding and even moun-tain bikes are here for your enjoyment Too bad I had to come back

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant and can be reached at Walker Adventures pliwalkerearthlinknet You can follow her travels by visiting Pamrsquos blog at httpwwwpamwalkersblogspotcom

PAGE 18 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Pastor Paul Ballard

The mission statement of Mountain Park First Baptist Church is to engage every man woman and child by living out Jesusrsquo love and sharing the gospel both locally and globally Since coming to MPFBC in May 2011 senior pastor Paul Ballard has been simple in his approach He has two priorities preaching the gospel and becoming a radiant church by being missional in nature

First Pastor Paul has prioritized the preaching of the gospel of Jesus The gospel is Godrsquos victory over sin and death through the person and work of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 151 says ldquoNow I would remind you brothers of the gospel

I preached to you which you received in which you standhelliprdquo The gospel is not just the entry point into Christianity It is the key to spiritual growth as we stand in Jesusrsquo finished work on the cross and His glorious resurrection

Second because the gospel has radically changed us God has called His people to give Him glory by living radiant lives resulting in missional living The church has moved from an internal to an external emphasis Some of the practical results have been

bull Adopting local fire stations and the Gwinnett South Precinct by providing meals and notes of encouragement

bull Hosting community events like Family Fest on May 4 2013

bull Mentoring ladies from the Atlanta WomenChildren shelter and adopting and fixing up a dorm

bull Offering an ESL program on Wednesdays with a provided meal afterward bull Holding food drives for Lilburn Co-op and providing Christmas for needy

familiesbull Deacons serving at Mountain Park Park in the concession stand so parents

could watch their children playbull Donating over $100000 from financial overages the last two years to support

local and international missions above the normal mission givingGod is at work at Mountain Park First Baptist Church For more information

go to wwwmpfbcorg

Chaplainrsquos Corner

hellipto our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue

Keep them coming

Thanks

Dr Louise DeLong Dr Franccediloise Tyler

ldquoHappy Motherrsquos Day from all of us at The Village Vetsrdquo Dr Will Draper

Dr Carrie McColganDr Amanda Irish

Hours Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm Sat 8am-2pm Sun 12-4pmwwwTheVillageVetscom

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7 Days a Week

1227 Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain(Near the Kroger Shopping Center)

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Page 8: MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

PAGE 8 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Solution on page 16

C Scapes

bull Lawn Maintenance bull Fertilizer amp Weed Control bull Trees amp Shrubbery bull Aerate amp Overseed bull Planting Beds bull Sod amp Seasonal Flowers bull Tree Pruning amp Trimming bull Insect and Disease Control bull Mulch amp Pine Straw Installation bull Stone amp Concrete Work bull Driveways bull Walkways bull Patios bull Outdoor Lighting bull Holiday Decorations bull Irrigation Systems amp Sprinkler Repair bull Walls amp Steps bull LED Lighting bull Water Features bull Outdoor Fireplaces bull Outdoor Living Areas

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Chris DukeOwnerOperator

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Professional Landscape and Design Services

Is Your Dog Properly SocializedBy Terie Hansen

Socializing your dog is a lifelong undertaking not just during the first year or two of their life with you Many who reach out to us for training are experiencing the side effects of an under-socialized dog

Does your dog bark wildly when it sees other dogs or pull on the leash towards other dogs or people Does it shy away from objects in its environment or does it act fearful or aggressive towards people or dogs These can be symptoms of an under-socialized dog

When you get a new dog whether puppy or adult you are excited to spend time with him and share him with everyone and anyone who will let you So you take your new pet on walks to parks on hikes and to pet stores This is great because he is learning how to act in these various environments and around other people and dogs As the newness wears off however you donrsquot take him out as often Therefore he is exposed to less stimulation

Three to six months or even one to two years can go by and your dog hasnrsquot come in contact with anyone other than your family Now all of a sudden you decide to take him someplace where there are other people and dogs Chances are he will act either uncontrollably excited or fearful which can look like aggression and you think ldquoOMG Whatrsquos the matter with my dogrdquo You decide that you can no longer take him out in public What happened Culture shock Many dogs need to be socialized on an ongoing basis If we stay in our house and didnrsquot come out until fifteen years later we would experience the same feelings of excitement fear and anxiety

This is easily preventable socialize socialize and socialize for the life of your dog If you are experiencing these symptoms already reach out to us We can help

Terie Hansen Professional Dog Trainer Pet Sitter amp Owner at Good Dog Coaching amp Pet Care-may be reached at 404-422-9832 infogooddogcoachingcom wwwgooddogcoachingcom

Great Content Is KingBy Ryan T Sauers

I often tell people that content is king And you know whatmdashthis is not quite right Why You seehellip content is good but great content is ldquokingrdquo Think about it Why do you become engrossed in a movie or show Why do you send a funny YouTube video to a friend Why do you enjoy talking with certain people Why do you like to read certain articles The answer is simple We do these things because we love watching hearing or reading great content By the way if you are still the person forwarding emailshellip not so funny J

We are all busy and whether we are in person (offline) or online (virtual) -- it takes something special unique to pull us in and ldquowowrdquo us We live in a world where most people have a short attention span You see I was talking to you Please put down your phone and let me finish So how do we accomplish this The secret is simple It is all about great content Good content is okay but will always lose to great content

For an article or any engagement to be enjoyable it must be more than my writ-ing and your reading It must be a two way dialogue or conversation It must be about taking the ink and words that are on the paper you are readingmdashso they are transformed in your mind into a story worth sharing and acting upon Isnrsquot this what you want your customers to do when they think of you If you sound like everyone else you are lacking great content Always remember people can duplicate your ideas but cannot replicate your DNA So what do you bring your stakehold-ers--online and offlinemdashthat is simply great content And can you produce such great content consistently Do you ever think about it If not there is no better time than now to begin thinking with such a strategic mindset As I travel across the country one thing has become clear those who are willing to be creative and break the box in their thinking in a purposeful manner are the companies that are running towards 2014

Ryan T Sauers is PresidentOwner of Sauers Consulting Strategies Our business is growing your business More info at wwwryansauerscom ryansauers ryanryansauerscom

MAY C

ROSS

WO

RD

Across1 Alone5 Mozartrsquos ldquoLrsquo___ del Cairordquo8 ldquo___ here longrdquo12 Legal prefix13 ___ Altaic languages14 ldquoFantasticrdquo15 ldquo___ Brockovichrdquo16 ldquo___ Smilerdquo (1976 hit)17 Red eye18 Assistant20 Feed21 Sheikrsquos bevy22 Impede withrdquodownrdquo23 Advantages26 Witnessed30 Bit od a draft31 Artificial34 Help35 Defeat37 Tokyo formerly38 Drive39 Ashcroftrsquos predecessor40 Hospital restroom42 Internrsquol Monetary Fund43 Rare earth element45 Bothers47 ldquo___ Doubtfirerdquo

48 Brunch serving50 Watered-down52 Generous56 Put off as a motion57 Capture58 Creole vegetable59 Bawl out60 ldquoEmpedocles on ___rdquo (Matthew Arnold poem)61 Newton fruits62 Pay (up)63 Do it yourself64 ChargesDown1 Particular for short2 Hawaiian tuber3 ldquoMi chiamano Mimirdquo eg4 Peacemaker5 Be bombastic6 Bank7 Apple spray8 Carriage9 ldquo___ on Down the Roadrdquo10 ldquohellipthere is no ___angel but Loverdquo Shakespeare11 ldquoSmoking or ___rdquo13 Certain shark14 Confuse

19 Blaseacute22 Show ___23 Loan shark24 Lab tube25 All in26 ldquoCut it outrdquo27 Native indian dwellings28 Swelling29 Dutch pottery city32 Appear33 Make sense with ldquouprdquo36 Usually38 All thumbs40 Greyhound eg41 ldquoTo dordquo list44 Angry46 Irritate48 Cousin of a raccoon49 Not set50 1993 standoff site51 Black in poetry52 Ran as colors53 ldquo___ From Muskogeerdquo54 Advocate55 Back talk56 Cooking meas

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 9

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By Stefanie Lamprsquol

ldquoLove everyone trust a few do wrong to nonerdquo This eminent quote by William Shakespeare written on the white board in the principalrsquos office at Trickum Middle School watches over Kay Sands as she leads a growing student body faculty and staff These words represent how Sands runs her school She is dedicated to educating her students and teaching principles that will allow them to better their community

Kay Sands was born and raised in Atlanta Georgia As a kid Sands loved sports especially tennis She majored in health and physical education at the University of Georgia and then attended graduate school at the University of Alabama Sands never saw herself becoming a teacher let alone the head of the administration Although it was not the original job she set out to do she loves every minute of it

Sands held several positions before finding a home at Trickum Middle School For three years she worked at Five Forks as a health and physical education teacher One of the most rewarding jobs she has had yet was being a stay-at-home mom to her three sons for thir-teen years During this time she also coached tennis a sport she always enjoyed playing Sands was an assistant principal for six years before becoming principal in 2008 Sands believes that it was the work of Lynn Davis and Calvin Watts prin-cipals of Trickum Middle School before Sands that encouraged her to take on the position They were incredible mentors who helped her make the transition from assistant principal to the head of Trickum Middle School

Even though Kay Sands never saw herself in her current role she is blessed by the position She has a tremendous opportunity to empower people to make a school great She wants her students to come to school to be engaged rather than disinterested As a kid Sands was not a big fan of school so her goal as an adminis-trator is to change this She wants to show her students how truly meaningful learning can be and to do her part in contributing to the community to make the dis-trict the best place to live She knows this is not possible without the incredible and competent faculty and staff who work beside her every day

Kay Sands does not shoot for perfection She knows that she will not always say the right thing or make the right choices She also knows that if she focuses on what is going well and what is positive she can rectify any situation and become a stronger leader

When Sands is not giving her all to bettering the lives and minds of her students she loves being out-doors She enjoys hiking or escaping

to a quiet place in nature There is no better place to her though than living and working in her community It is satisfying and reward-ing to be a part of developing passionate and educated students who will lead the commu-nity on to success

Getting to Know Trickum Middle School Principal Kay Sands

PAGE 10 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

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Caring Experienced Professional

Gift Certificates AvailableCALL TODAY

(678) 344-00501780 Oak Road Suite A2 Snellville GA

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Are Your Hormones Driving You CrazyBy Dr Jeanette Altieri AC Spine amp Wellness Center

At every age hormones fluctuate mdash and thatrsquos normal However when changes happen too fast or become too much for your body to handle you can start expe-riencing problems Canrsquot lose weight Tired all of the time Feeling overwhelmed What is your body telling you

When our body becomes overloaded and unable to support its systems therersquos a greater chance of developing some of the problems associated with hormonal imbalance Whether you are suffering from PMS mood swings bloating or head-aches or you have a family history of breast ovarian or other female cancers there can be imbalances in the ratios of estrogen progesterone testosterone and other hormones in your endocrine and adrenal system

Hormonal imbalances are caused by more than just estrogen Estrogen levels are important but so are progesterone and testosterone levels and their ratios to each other Insulin cortisol (the stress hormone) and thyroid levels can also play a big part More importantly women who are on hormone replacement therapy need to be tested to make sure hormones are broken down cleared and balanced

Letrsquos take a look at some of the most common signs of hormonal imbalances

Irregular or absent periods Weight gainChanges in the shape of your bodyAnxiety andor moodiness

By listening to your body yoursquoll be able to provide what you need to naturally rebalance its hormones Even healthy women who follow a good diet may find glitches in their hormone levels Effective natural options include high quality supplements dietary and lifestyle adjustments The first step is to get tested and find out what is causing these hormonal issues and then learn how to improve your personal hormonal health

Baseball Is Similar to LifeBy Glenton Ashby

Life is similar to going around the bases on a baseball diamond ndash itrsquos a pro-gression Our financial life is also a progression We progress through stages of financial life at the same time we move through various life stages from beginning to end

As you begin your financial life a number of basic steps are prudent and neces-sary Establish a budget (know what and where you are spending) begin a program of regular saving (the amount is not as important as the habit) commit to paying off whatever debt you do have (whether school debt or debt taken on as you begin life after school) and avoid unnecessary debt (eg debt for lifestyle)

Accomplishing these steps in combination with beginning your working life is like getting a runner to first base

Once on first base a variety of things can happen that may impact your ability to advance to the remaining bases Some things are in your control and some are not You are responsible for managing the things that you can control Think of this financial life progression as stewardship rather than ownership (The fact that any-thing we think we own will eventually go to someone else will be addressed later)

Things not in your control still require your awareness and vigilance in order to respond or react to them appropriately Otherwise you may have to start over and go back to first base Things you cannot control include job loss extended illness or disability You can exert a measure of control by having adequate health insur-ance and disability insurance if available and affordable

Sticking to the plan that got you to first base is essential for moving forward to second base This involves moving from the financial basics stage to the stage of a more established financial life

Feedback and topic suggestions are welcome ndash email HalcyonTimesHalcyonFPcom or comment at wwwHalcyonFPcomhalcyon-times Tweet halcyonplanning

Glenton Ashby is the founder and owner of Halcyon Financial Planning LLC a fee-only financial planning and Registered Investment Advisor firm Visit HalcyonFPcom

Skin issuesacneHair lossunusual hair growthInfertilityFatigueloss of energy

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 11

New Client Special

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Is Testing Getting a Bad Wrap By Tamsen Boone

Today I taught my 7th graders the meaning of the term ldquodevilrsquos advocaterdquo They devised many creative definitions on their own before I explained the concept As we batten down the hatches across the state for CRCT week Irsquove spent some time deliberating the testing catch-22 and I decided to play the role of devilrsquos advocate

Yoursquod be hard pressed to find a parent or an educator for that matter who thinks all the testing our students endure isnrsquot over the top This is my first year in middle school and Irsquom feeling the pressure myself However Irsquove decided to approach this with a ldquoglass half fullrdquo mentality If Irsquove done what Irsquom supposed to do in the classroom my students have been exposed to the material If Irsquove found a few creative and innovative strategies my students may even remember what Irsquove exposed them to despite middle school drama and raging tween hormonal shifts If Irsquove provided them with some test-taking strategies Irsquove given them the ability to move through information integrate it and discern the difference between good better and best options

I propose that this is necessary not only in the testing arena but in the real world as well I hope that my students will one day be able to read through cell phone contracts college brochures apartment leases closing statements and job offers to determine their best option Digesting information and discriminating between options (such as A B C or D answers) can be applicable to our daily adult lives Therefore I donrsquot envision myself as wasting time teaching students how to take tests I like to think Irsquom teaching them to analyze carefully when the stakes are high so that they can make solid decisions when the stakes really get high in the adult world

So this position begs the question if testing shouldnrsquot be such a big stressful deal why is it This is probably where I should keep my mouth shut Happy testing J

Whatrsquos Keeping Your Child From Performing at Grade Level

By Christine Giles

National Awareness Month Educates Parents about Speech and Language Disorders Affecting School Performance

Children with communication disorders frequently do not perform at grade level because they have difficulty understanding and speaking struggle with reading and writing misunderstand social cues show poor judgment have trouble taking tests and may avoid school Is this your child

This May as part of Better Hearing and Speech Month Creative Therapy Works in Lilburn GA and the American Speech-Language-Hearing (ASHA) continue their public education efforts for the communication health of our children by pro-viding information to parents to identify and prevent speech and language disorders

Children with communication problems have difficulty learning to listen speak read or write Parents and teachers should refer any student who shows signs of a speech and language problem to the school-based speech-language pathologist for an immediate evaluation

ldquoItrsquos crucial that children are identified and begin treatment as early as possible because summer break will only compound the consequences of a communication disorder if left untreatedrdquo Christine Giles Speech- Language Pathologist and owner of Creative Therapy Works LLC in Lilburn says

Parents should look out for the various types of speech and language disorders that affect school-age children including ~Speech sound disorders (difficulty pronouncing sounds) ~Language disorders (difficulty understanding others and expressing themselves) ~Cognitive-communication disorders (difficulty with thinking skills including per-ception memory awareness reasoning judgment intellect and imagination) ~Stuttering (fluency) disorders (interruption of the flow of speech that may include hesitations repetitions or prolongations of sounds or words) ~Voice disorders (quality of voice that may include hoarseness nasality or loudness)

For more information about speech and language disorders and prevention or to arrange a free speech and language screening for your child please visit wwwcreativetherapyworkscom or call 1-866-611-7855

PAGE 12 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

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Ages 6 weeks to 4 years old We implement age appropriate Creative Curriculum in all classes

See our website for details

Register Your Children Today Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

FIVE FORKS ACADEMY Enroll your children at Legacy Academy

3079 Five Forks Trickum RoadLilburn GA 30047

wwwf iveforksacademycom

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Ann Weeks Owner

Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

Caring for childrenages 6 weeks to 4 years

BeforeAfter SchoolPrograms for ages 5-12

Visit us anytime for a personal tour

(770) 982-2000

NEW for 09-10 We will be serving Knight Elementary

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Before and After School Program for children attending Brookwood Craig Head

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Lilburn GA 30047

ldquoWe love learning inside and outsiderdquo

wwwfiveforksacademycom

By Hank Cohen

For many decades throughout Gwinnett youth sports have been of major importance to the community Whether the sport is baseball football swimming or one of the many others played in the county Gwinnett has continually been home to some of the best athletes in the state One organization that fosters a large number of stars is the Gwinnett Soccer Association (GSA) GSA located across the street from Parkview High School is dedicated to teaching youths of any age or skill level the rules and techniques of soccer With about 1500 kids and numerous teams at each age level GSA has been a thriving spot for soccer talent in the county

The association is currently led by Chip Stevens and a very talented staff The Girlsrsquo Director of Coaching Campbell Chapman spent ten years playing profes-sional soccer for multiple clubs in England Sweden Finland Malta and Qatar Appointed the Girlsrsquo Director in 2007 Campbell has since coached many state winning teams Nuno Piteira the Boysrsquo Director was the coach of the Charleston Battery professional team where he helped the club to win its first national champi-onship in 1996 When he first moved to Atlanta in 1999 Nuno coached the Atlanta Silverbacks professional team The impact of the Associationrsquos very capable coaches is evident in the talented and highly ranked teams that continue to dominate Currently the boys U15 and U16 have qualified for the national championship in Kansas City GSA currently has four players on US national teams

Each year GSA holds a major tournament where teams from across the Southeast come to compete The GSA Invitational held in December brings about 350-400 teams together Similarly GSA also holds a college showcase to expose col-lege soccer coaches to the extraordinary amount of talent within the organization Coaches from colleges such as Auburn Alabama and UGA have attended to look for future prospects Multiple soccer camps for any skill level also run throughout the year Nuno runs the boysrsquo camps which includes a residency camp at Rinehart College Campbell runs the girlsrsquo camps which include camps throughout the

summer GSA is always seek-ing to reach out to potential players ldquoWe want more kids to play soccer because itrsquos the best sport in the worldrdquo said President Stevens

Since its beginning in 1977 GSA has sought to provide a high quality organization for kids to become engaged in soc-cer Over the years the organi-zation has continuously grown and the association is planning to make changes in the future as well To accommodate the quality talent GSA is updat-ing the fields to provide better complexes for the players The organization will also be host-ing a Junior Academy for 4-8 year olds to teach them the basic skills of soccer and to spark a love for the sport in younger children As the club continues to grow the dedicated staff and coaches of GSA will continue to teach and spread soccer throughout the community Stevens wants to continue this participation in the area he grew up in He is a graduate from Brookwood High School and his wife and children are active at GSA as well The organization has opportunities for every child ldquoItrsquos all about the kidsrdquo Stevens said ldquoFrom young beginners to the elite players GSA has something for everyonerdquo

Gwinnett Soccer Association Itrsquos All About the Kids

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 13

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770-923-32165385 Five Forks Trickum Rd bull Suite M

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Always Fresh Restaurant and Mountain Park FitnessOPEN MON - FRI 10AM-6PM SAT 10AM-3PM

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Serving the Lilburn area for over 20 years

Best Haircuts in TownNO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY

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Understanding Sunscreen Protection

By Chrissy Thomas RN BSN

In June 2011 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new requirements for over-the-counter sunscreens These rules were put into place to ensure that sunscreens meet todayrsquos standards for safety and effectiveness The fol-lowing is an outline of some of the more important details for consumers to know when choosing sunscreen products

The primary purpose of the FDArsquos changes is to guarantee that sunscreen products are providing adequate protection Previously the Sun Protection Factors (SPFs) dealt with UVB (ultraviolet B) protection only This means that the risk of sunburn was the only factor considered on the label Now we know that much of the sunrsquos risk lies in UVA (ultraviolet A) radiation which contributes to skin cancer and early aging

After reviewing data the FDA determined that sufficient evidence is available to establish a ldquobroad spectrumrdquo test for determining a sunscreen productrsquos UVA protection By passing the broad spectrum test a consumer knows that the product will provide UVA protection that is proportional to its UVB protection Products that pass this test are going to be labeled as ldquobroad spectrumrdquo These products must be a SPF of 15 or higher to adequately protect the skin

Broad spectrum products SPF 15 or higher have been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging when used with other sun protection measures

Still the meaning of SPF confuses some All sun protection products are tested with a SPF test procedure The test measures the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation expo-sure it takes to cause sunburn when a person is using a sunscreen in comparison to how much UV exposure it takes to cause sunburn without sunscreen The product is then labeled with the appropriate SPF value indicating the amount of sunburn protection provided by the product Higher values provide higher protection Because this test is a measure of protection against sunburn itrsquos an indicator of UVB only With the new broad spectrum test SPFs with a higher UVB rating will also have a higher UVA value

Often new clients to About Face Skin Care donrsquot realize that UV protection should be worn on the face and neck daily to avoid dam-aging UV rays from windows in the home or

car -- or even the minimal time spent walking to the mailbox A moisturizer with a UVBUVA factor of 15 or higher will protect the accumulation that inevitably happens from these exposures Itrsquos been determined that by yearrsquos end not wearing daily SPF protection can equal a week at the beach unprotected

Physical blocks such as clothing provide some protection but our faces are constantly exposed And makeup is not a sunblock If your makeup offers UV pro-tection it should be counted as an extra layer Sun protection in makeup according to the Skin Cancer Foundation is the productrsquos secondary purpose Even though some makeup has sunscreen ingredients it doesnrsquot have the proper amount of cov-erage or the capabilities to protect against UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays

Additionally for most people one needs to use 7-14 times the normal amount of powder or foundation to get the SPF coverage stated on the makeup packaging

Just as important donrsquot forget to protect your lips Glosses without SPF react like tanning oil on the lips Skin cancers in this area are becoming more common not to mention the unattractive ldquosmokers linesrdquo that form as the delicate tissues of the lips and surrounding areas are damaged

About Face Skin Care has an array of high-quality products to give you superior protection while offering cosmeceutically-pleasing benefits

If you would like to explore the options of sun protection and other products and treatments offered by About Face schedule your free consultation appointment at 770-935-FACE(3223) or online at wwwaboutfaceskincom We look forward to meeting you

PAGE 14 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

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This Summer Prepare to Start School Sharp

By Carol Wood

Woohoo School is out for the summer so learning can stop right Wrong Summertime provides the BEST opportunity for students to enrich their academic skills if they desire to get ahead before school begins again or to catch up on skills if they ended the school year below average If students fall behind during the school year they must catch up with what they have missed AND keep up with what is being taught on a day-by-day basis This is difficult to do and can be stress-ful So summertime is the best time for parents to give their student the oppor-tunity to do what they cannot easily do during the school year CATCH UP or MOVE AHEAD in their academics and solve their STUDY SKILL weaknesses

First locate your childrsquos recent school standardized test scores and examine your childrsquos levels compared to hisher grade level This can be located in the column that reads ldquoGErdquo for grade equivalency or ldquoPRrdquo for percentile Scores below the 50th percentile or below their grade and month level in the GE column when the tests were administered are the ones in which the student was performing below average at that time Scores above the 50th percentile or above his or her grade level show performance above average therefore summer tutoring could entail enrichment work to maintain skills or further build on the studentrsquos strengths in preparation for the next school year By examining your childrsquos most recent test scores and determin-ing which areas are below on or above average you will then know which academic areas to build upon so your student can START SCHOOL SHARP

Next locate professional educational resources with a track record of success should you decide to teach your children at home Purchase the appropriate levels of materials and teach your child using an established consistent weekly schedule Do not allow the student to skip around within workbooks and complete the ldquofunrdquo pages first as the material is purposefully presented in a sequential order Select a study place for each student which is equipped with the learning supplies and tools needed If you do not feel qualified to teach or you do not have the necessary patience with your own child which is not uncommon then seek a full-time professional and experienced educational center Schedule summer learning sessions on a consistent weekly basis with the same degreed and experienced instructor who utilizes nation-ally recognized materials and proven teaching methods Individualized instruction is best in an environment free from distractions and interruptions A professional center is usually preferred since it focuses on providing an ideal learning environment has many quality control measures to insure student improvement is maximized and has a reputation and level of accountability to maintain in order to remain in business Know the credentials of the instructor such as his or her areas of teaching experience and educational degree and match this with your studentrsquos academic area of summer instruction Ask for references and contact them to learn about their experience with the professional center you are considering Request to see the instructional area and observe sessions in progress

Remember SUMMER is the most ideal time for students to get a JUMP START on the next school year

Carol Wood is the founder and owner of Total Learning Concepts Inc a private profes-sional tutorial service located in Gwinnett County Please email questions to ccwoodbellsouthnet or fax to 770-381-1626

MAYCROSSWORDSOLUTION

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 15

1319 Scenic Highway n Lawrenceville GA 30045 n 770-979-9490At the intersection of Hwy 124 amp Webb Gin House Road

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ldquoGirl Timerdquo Is ImportantBy Julie Mills

As I sit and think about this yearrsquos Motherrsquos Day I thought I would take a few moments to emphasis the importance of ldquogirl timerdquo I feel so lucky that my work allows me to experience wonderful bonding with my female clients When receiv-ing body work many emotions are released Our bodies are wired to keep our emotions in and they manifest in the form of knots aches pains and sometimes even disease Part of my job is to provide a safe space for my clients to let those emotions go and to begin healing from the inside out Letrsquos talk about how women are wired and why it is so important for us to have friendships

As a woman I already knew that my ldquogirl timerdquo was important and actually kept my sanity at times However I did some research and found a landmark UCLA study that suggests friendships between women are very special They shape who we are and who we are yet to be They soothe our inner world and fill the emo-tional gaps in our male relationships

Researchers suspect that women handle stress in more ways than just fight or flight In fact says Dr Klein of UCLA it seems that when the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress responses in a woman it buffers the fight or flight response and encourages her to tend children and gather with other women When she actually engages in this tending or befriending studies suggest that more oxyto-cin is released which further counters stress and produces a calming effect Men do not have this response due to high levels of testosterone released during stress The estrogen in women seems to enhance the oxytocin and produces a calming effect

It was noted that when the women were stressed they came in to work cleaned the work space had coffee and bonded with other female coworkers When the men were stressed they holed up somewhere on their own and did not interact with coworkers Wow - this part of the study sounds so familiar When I am stressed or have a lot on my mind I get into my cleaning mode or I want to call my sisters These activities help me to think things through and to unwind My husband on the other hand says nothing and he has the unique ability to quietly disappear

It is interesting that nearly 90 of the stress research has been with males With this new research the fact that women respond to stress differently than men has significant implications for our health It may take some time for new studies to reveal all the ways that oxytocin encourages us to care for children and hang out with other women but the ldquotend and befriendrdquo notion developed by Drs Klein and Taylor may explain why women consistently outlive men Study after study has found that social ties reduce our risk of disease by lowering blood pressure heart rate and cholesterol Therersquos no doubt that friends are helping us live longer

Every time we get overly busy with work and family the first thing we do is let go of friendships with other women We push them right to the back burner Thatrsquos really a mistake because women are such a source of strength to each other We nurture one another We need to have unpressured space in which we can do the special kind of talk that women do when theyrsquore with other women Itrsquos a very healing experience

Have you had your much-needed girl time Make this month your month and have a very happy Motherrsquos Day

Julie Mills CMT is owner of Body of Health and Life LLC for more information visit wwwbodyofhealthandlifecom

PAGE 16 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Ashton Pike

ldquoBeauty starts from withinrdquo One may expect a famous womanrsquos name to fol-low this quote but the woman responsible for such accurate words is better than famous She is distinguished After all fame fades but a distinguished woman will be known for years since she will stand out from everyone Hair stylist and salon owner Sudonna Patterson meets these traits and more Being a mom of three young boys an adored wife and a successful entrepreneur Patterson has numerous accomplishments to her name and this is only the beginning

Born and raised in Macon Georgia Patterson practiced the basics of cosmetol-ogy as a young girl when she styled her dollsrsquo hair and when she put rollers in her great auntrsquos hair before bedtime each night Eventually moving from Barbie dolls to actual customers Patterson worked weekends as a shampoo assistant in a hair salon during high school This job led her to pursue a career in cosmetology at Dudleyrsquos Cosmetology University in North Carolina

After graduating Patterson became an instructor for Dudleyrsquos Advanced Cosmetology University and then she took her skills outside national borders as an International Educator Traveling to remarkable locations such as the Bahamas Barbados Aruba and Jamaica Patterson worked to communicate the latest tech-niques in cosmetology through seminars on product knowledge hair care advance cutting and styling techniques

Taking into consideration Pattersonrsquos spontaneous extrovert personality it was no surprise that she met her husband on a blind date in Atlanta while she lived in North Carolina She and her husband are now loving and dedicated parents of three sons Logan 8 and twins Bryce and Blake 4 The family of five resides in Lilburn Georgia where they spend copious amounts of time together either at home or at Peace Baptist Church where they attend regularly

Amid college and starting a family Patterson became an entrepreneur open-ing her own hair salon called Chase Morgan Salon which has been in business for

Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

Diets Donrsquot WorkBy Kelly Farris

Itrsquos that time of year again ndash panic mode has set in and yoursquore trying to get off the winter flub in time for bathing suit season

You might be considering a diet Maybe yoursquore stuck trying to choose between the wide variety of options 17 day cabbage soup weight loss shakes paleo and Atkins just to name a few

Unfortunately none of these work in the long run In fact fad diets can backfire and even contribute to weight gain You donrsquot have to have a perfect diet to have a good diet Eating normal portions of wholesome foods leads to the right body weight

Let your eating habits consist of 85-90 of quality calories with the remaining calories of ldquowhateverrdquo ldquoWhateverrdquo means you can have an orange one day or a cookie the next The trick is not to deprive yourself of foods you really like Sooner or later you will end up binging if you make certain foods taboo Take away the power to binge-eat by eating that certain food more often Chances are seven days of having a cookie for your ldquowhateverrdquo calories will make it less desirable by day eight

I advise all my clients to make breakfast the most important meal of the day I encourage eggs egg substitute turkey sausage veggie sausage grits or oatmeal These are all ldquofill-you-uprdquo foods Start your day with filling healthy foods and yoursquoll set the tone for the rest of your day while reducing sugar cravings

So eat but donrsquot deprive yourself Make good choices

over 10 years Named after her sisterrsquos children Chase and Morgan Chase Morgan Salon as Patterson states ldquohellipwas designed with the client in mind to create quality and efficient hair care services while being a positive environment for women to fellowship and relaxrdquo

Though the salon was origi-nally located in Decatur Georgia Patterson recently moved the loca-tion to Snellville Georgia to live out her dream of opening a conveniently located upscale salon that would allow her to actively participate in her childrenrsquos lives at school

Having been in the cosmetology business for 23 years and counting Patterson is highly dedicated to her career Every day she goes above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction Patterson commented ldquoMy clients tease me because I am known for being the resource lady As a hair stylist clients confide in you about their per-sonal struggles I feel it is my responsibility as a Christian to uplift them and speak positive things into their life that will encourage themrdquo

Being close to clients can also come with a cost According to Patterson the most difficult part of her job is losing faithful clients with the change in the econ-omy and increasing unemployment On one hand she strives to help them until their financial situation is better but on the other Chase Morgan Salon is still an operating business and needs to make a profit in order to stay in business

Though being a successful entrepreneur comes with positive and negative aspects the overall feelings of accomplishment and contentment with the Chase Morgan Salon trumps everything A distinguished devoted and aspiring woman Patterson has become a figure of hope proving that with hard work and dedica-tion a childhood dream can become a reality Pattersonrsquos future at Chase Morgan Salon seems bright ldquoMy goal for the salon is to always create an environment to derive success from teamwork and through education As techniques change and products improve I will prepare stylists through education to satisfy the new demands of clients thus ensuring a successful position in the futurerdquo

For contact information for Sudonna Patterson or information on location and operating hours of Chase Morgan Salon please visit wwwchasemorgansaloncom

One Employee

At a TimeStrengthening

Companies3

ldquoSolving Gwinnett Countyrsquos staffing needs for over 16 yearsrdquo

For client inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at clientsunitedstaffingservicecom

For employment inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at jobsunitedstaffingservicecom

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 17

99centFresh AnnualsStarting at

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Excludes seed sod straw sale items gift cardsCannot be combined with any other salecoupon discount promotion or previous purchase1 coupon per familyExpires 52013

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You Canrsquot Get There From Here By Susan Cadley LPC

Have you ever wished you could be like Harry Potter and wave a magic wand to fix a problem or get what you wanted If so you are in good company It is a natural tendency to avoid pain frustration or any feeling that is perceived as ldquobadrdquo It is also natural to have desires and goals for your life But herersquos the truth life is a process and when we resist or deny what we are feeling or what is happening in our life we actually cause ourselves more pain

We are all born with a wide range of emotions and these emotions are mes-sengers If we pay attention to them they have much to share with us We may learn what we react to what beliefs we hold and most importantly where our healing lies When we ignore these messengers they knock louder and harder at our subconscious until they get our attention So instead of working so hard to push emotions away welcome them in as a guest and lean into them You will find that the feelings dissipate and the pain of resistance yoursquove created will be eased

When we want to wish challenges away we lose the richness of life Imagine what it would be like to watch a movie and only view the first and last 10 minutes of the film By skipping the majority of the movie we miss out on the story and the experience as a whole And so it is with life When we wish for our lives to be different than they are we must then let go and live our lives right now with all the seeming imperfections that make up the movie we are living When we wish to go from ldquohererdquo to ldquothererdquo directly we miss out on personal growth

We are all here to learn love live fully and be more of who we are Embrace all of your life right where you are right now Then the real magic will begin

Susan Cadley LPC Licensed Professional Counselor is available for couplesadult individual counseling and creativity workshops in Suwanee GA She may be reached directly and confiden-tially at 678-296-1278 wwwcoaching foryoursoulcom

Fly-Fishing PatagoniaBy Pam Walker

What I know about Fly-Fishing you could put on the head of a straight pin So when asked to visit Patagonia I thought ldquoThis is my chance to learnrdquo

In early March I flew to Buenos Aires Argentina and then on to Bariloche From there I had an hour drive to Villa Angostura Aroyo Verde the famed fly- fishing lodge was further on down a dirt road

No signs No directions We had just a general sense of where we were going Anthony my naturalist guide headed into the Traful river canyon Fifteen minutes later we were greeted first by an authentic gaucho and then by riders on horseback After another 20 minutes we saw along a stream a lovely chalet with a sculpture gar-den Estancia Aroyo Verde

This private fishing and riding estancia is the home of one of Argentinarsquos most elite families Located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park the family-managed lodge hosts visitors from across the globe The Traful River is also home to land-locked salmon brown and rainbow trout This is a catch-and-release river with a season from November through April In this remote setting the fish some reaching 28 in for salmon and 29 in for Rainbows and Browns swim right up to you in the crystal clear water Best of all you need only your favorite fly rod Everything else is avail-able on-site Miles of nothingness surrounds this pristine spot Imagine standing in the river surrounded by the Andes What more could you ask for

Rooms are cozy all with private baths and meals are served family-style If yoursquore lucky join the family for an Argentine-style barbeque (Parillada) cooked outdoors by one of the resi-dent gauchos

Fishing horseback riding and even moun-tain bikes are here for your enjoyment Too bad I had to come back

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant and can be reached at Walker Adventures pliwalkerearthlinknet You can follow her travels by visiting Pamrsquos blog at httpwwwpamwalkersblogspotcom

PAGE 18 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Pastor Paul Ballard

The mission statement of Mountain Park First Baptist Church is to engage every man woman and child by living out Jesusrsquo love and sharing the gospel both locally and globally Since coming to MPFBC in May 2011 senior pastor Paul Ballard has been simple in his approach He has two priorities preaching the gospel and becoming a radiant church by being missional in nature

First Pastor Paul has prioritized the preaching of the gospel of Jesus The gospel is Godrsquos victory over sin and death through the person and work of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 151 says ldquoNow I would remind you brothers of the gospel

I preached to you which you received in which you standhelliprdquo The gospel is not just the entry point into Christianity It is the key to spiritual growth as we stand in Jesusrsquo finished work on the cross and His glorious resurrection

Second because the gospel has radically changed us God has called His people to give Him glory by living radiant lives resulting in missional living The church has moved from an internal to an external emphasis Some of the practical results have been

bull Adopting local fire stations and the Gwinnett South Precinct by providing meals and notes of encouragement

bull Hosting community events like Family Fest on May 4 2013

bull Mentoring ladies from the Atlanta WomenChildren shelter and adopting and fixing up a dorm

bull Offering an ESL program on Wednesdays with a provided meal afterward bull Holding food drives for Lilburn Co-op and providing Christmas for needy

familiesbull Deacons serving at Mountain Park Park in the concession stand so parents

could watch their children playbull Donating over $100000 from financial overages the last two years to support

local and international missions above the normal mission givingGod is at work at Mountain Park First Baptist Church For more information

go to wwwmpfbcorg

Chaplainrsquos Corner

hellipto our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue

Keep them coming

Thanks

Dr Louise DeLong Dr Franccediloise Tyler

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Hours Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm Sat 8am-2pm Sun 12-4pmwwwTheVillageVetscom

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7 Days a Week

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Page 9: MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 9

NEIGHBORHOOD SPECIAL

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With coupon Not valid with other offers or prior purchases One Water Heater per household Manufacturers limited lifetime unit replacement AC Furnace and Water Heater See comfort advisor for details Expires 053113

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By Stefanie Lamprsquol

ldquoLove everyone trust a few do wrong to nonerdquo This eminent quote by William Shakespeare written on the white board in the principalrsquos office at Trickum Middle School watches over Kay Sands as she leads a growing student body faculty and staff These words represent how Sands runs her school She is dedicated to educating her students and teaching principles that will allow them to better their community

Kay Sands was born and raised in Atlanta Georgia As a kid Sands loved sports especially tennis She majored in health and physical education at the University of Georgia and then attended graduate school at the University of Alabama Sands never saw herself becoming a teacher let alone the head of the administration Although it was not the original job she set out to do she loves every minute of it

Sands held several positions before finding a home at Trickum Middle School For three years she worked at Five Forks as a health and physical education teacher One of the most rewarding jobs she has had yet was being a stay-at-home mom to her three sons for thir-teen years During this time she also coached tennis a sport she always enjoyed playing Sands was an assistant principal for six years before becoming principal in 2008 Sands believes that it was the work of Lynn Davis and Calvin Watts prin-cipals of Trickum Middle School before Sands that encouraged her to take on the position They were incredible mentors who helped her make the transition from assistant principal to the head of Trickum Middle School

Even though Kay Sands never saw herself in her current role she is blessed by the position She has a tremendous opportunity to empower people to make a school great She wants her students to come to school to be engaged rather than disinterested As a kid Sands was not a big fan of school so her goal as an adminis-trator is to change this She wants to show her students how truly meaningful learning can be and to do her part in contributing to the community to make the dis-trict the best place to live She knows this is not possible without the incredible and competent faculty and staff who work beside her every day

Kay Sands does not shoot for perfection She knows that she will not always say the right thing or make the right choices She also knows that if she focuses on what is going well and what is positive she can rectify any situation and become a stronger leader

When Sands is not giving her all to bettering the lives and minds of her students she loves being out-doors She enjoys hiking or escaping

to a quiet place in nature There is no better place to her though than living and working in her community It is satisfying and reward-ing to be a part of developing passionate and educated students who will lead the commu-nity on to success

Getting to Know Trickum Middle School Principal Kay Sands

PAGE 10 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

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bull Wellness Massage bull Senior Massage bull Prenatal Massage bull Cancer Massage

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Are Your Hormones Driving You CrazyBy Dr Jeanette Altieri AC Spine amp Wellness Center

At every age hormones fluctuate mdash and thatrsquos normal However when changes happen too fast or become too much for your body to handle you can start expe-riencing problems Canrsquot lose weight Tired all of the time Feeling overwhelmed What is your body telling you

When our body becomes overloaded and unable to support its systems therersquos a greater chance of developing some of the problems associated with hormonal imbalance Whether you are suffering from PMS mood swings bloating or head-aches or you have a family history of breast ovarian or other female cancers there can be imbalances in the ratios of estrogen progesterone testosterone and other hormones in your endocrine and adrenal system

Hormonal imbalances are caused by more than just estrogen Estrogen levels are important but so are progesterone and testosterone levels and their ratios to each other Insulin cortisol (the stress hormone) and thyroid levels can also play a big part More importantly women who are on hormone replacement therapy need to be tested to make sure hormones are broken down cleared and balanced

Letrsquos take a look at some of the most common signs of hormonal imbalances

Irregular or absent periods Weight gainChanges in the shape of your bodyAnxiety andor moodiness

By listening to your body yoursquoll be able to provide what you need to naturally rebalance its hormones Even healthy women who follow a good diet may find glitches in their hormone levels Effective natural options include high quality supplements dietary and lifestyle adjustments The first step is to get tested and find out what is causing these hormonal issues and then learn how to improve your personal hormonal health

Baseball Is Similar to LifeBy Glenton Ashby

Life is similar to going around the bases on a baseball diamond ndash itrsquos a pro-gression Our financial life is also a progression We progress through stages of financial life at the same time we move through various life stages from beginning to end

As you begin your financial life a number of basic steps are prudent and neces-sary Establish a budget (know what and where you are spending) begin a program of regular saving (the amount is not as important as the habit) commit to paying off whatever debt you do have (whether school debt or debt taken on as you begin life after school) and avoid unnecessary debt (eg debt for lifestyle)

Accomplishing these steps in combination with beginning your working life is like getting a runner to first base

Once on first base a variety of things can happen that may impact your ability to advance to the remaining bases Some things are in your control and some are not You are responsible for managing the things that you can control Think of this financial life progression as stewardship rather than ownership (The fact that any-thing we think we own will eventually go to someone else will be addressed later)

Things not in your control still require your awareness and vigilance in order to respond or react to them appropriately Otherwise you may have to start over and go back to first base Things you cannot control include job loss extended illness or disability You can exert a measure of control by having adequate health insur-ance and disability insurance if available and affordable

Sticking to the plan that got you to first base is essential for moving forward to second base This involves moving from the financial basics stage to the stage of a more established financial life

Feedback and topic suggestions are welcome ndash email HalcyonTimesHalcyonFPcom or comment at wwwHalcyonFPcomhalcyon-times Tweet halcyonplanning

Glenton Ashby is the founder and owner of Halcyon Financial Planning LLC a fee-only financial planning and Registered Investment Advisor firm Visit HalcyonFPcom

Skin issuesacneHair lossunusual hair growthInfertilityFatigueloss of energy

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 11

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Is Testing Getting a Bad Wrap By Tamsen Boone

Today I taught my 7th graders the meaning of the term ldquodevilrsquos advocaterdquo They devised many creative definitions on their own before I explained the concept As we batten down the hatches across the state for CRCT week Irsquove spent some time deliberating the testing catch-22 and I decided to play the role of devilrsquos advocate

Yoursquod be hard pressed to find a parent or an educator for that matter who thinks all the testing our students endure isnrsquot over the top This is my first year in middle school and Irsquom feeling the pressure myself However Irsquove decided to approach this with a ldquoglass half fullrdquo mentality If Irsquove done what Irsquom supposed to do in the classroom my students have been exposed to the material If Irsquove found a few creative and innovative strategies my students may even remember what Irsquove exposed them to despite middle school drama and raging tween hormonal shifts If Irsquove provided them with some test-taking strategies Irsquove given them the ability to move through information integrate it and discern the difference between good better and best options

I propose that this is necessary not only in the testing arena but in the real world as well I hope that my students will one day be able to read through cell phone contracts college brochures apartment leases closing statements and job offers to determine their best option Digesting information and discriminating between options (such as A B C or D answers) can be applicable to our daily adult lives Therefore I donrsquot envision myself as wasting time teaching students how to take tests I like to think Irsquom teaching them to analyze carefully when the stakes are high so that they can make solid decisions when the stakes really get high in the adult world

So this position begs the question if testing shouldnrsquot be such a big stressful deal why is it This is probably where I should keep my mouth shut Happy testing J

Whatrsquos Keeping Your Child From Performing at Grade Level

By Christine Giles

National Awareness Month Educates Parents about Speech and Language Disorders Affecting School Performance

Children with communication disorders frequently do not perform at grade level because they have difficulty understanding and speaking struggle with reading and writing misunderstand social cues show poor judgment have trouble taking tests and may avoid school Is this your child

This May as part of Better Hearing and Speech Month Creative Therapy Works in Lilburn GA and the American Speech-Language-Hearing (ASHA) continue their public education efforts for the communication health of our children by pro-viding information to parents to identify and prevent speech and language disorders

Children with communication problems have difficulty learning to listen speak read or write Parents and teachers should refer any student who shows signs of a speech and language problem to the school-based speech-language pathologist for an immediate evaluation

ldquoItrsquos crucial that children are identified and begin treatment as early as possible because summer break will only compound the consequences of a communication disorder if left untreatedrdquo Christine Giles Speech- Language Pathologist and owner of Creative Therapy Works LLC in Lilburn says

Parents should look out for the various types of speech and language disorders that affect school-age children including ~Speech sound disorders (difficulty pronouncing sounds) ~Language disorders (difficulty understanding others and expressing themselves) ~Cognitive-communication disorders (difficulty with thinking skills including per-ception memory awareness reasoning judgment intellect and imagination) ~Stuttering (fluency) disorders (interruption of the flow of speech that may include hesitations repetitions or prolongations of sounds or words) ~Voice disorders (quality of voice that may include hoarseness nasality or loudness)

For more information about speech and language disorders and prevention or to arrange a free speech and language screening for your child please visit wwwcreativetherapyworkscom or call 1-866-611-7855

PAGE 12 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ages 6 weeks to 4 years old We implement age appropriate Creative Curriculum in all classes

See our website for details

Register Your Children Today Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

FIVE FORKS ACADEMY Enroll your children at Legacy Academy

3079 Five Forks Trickum RoadLilburn GA 30047

wwwf iveforksacademycom

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ann Weeks Owner

Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

Caring for childrenages 6 weeks to 4 years

BeforeAfter SchoolPrograms for ages 5-12

Visit us anytime for a personal tour

(770) 982-2000

NEW for 09-10 We will be serving Knight Elementary

amp St John Neumwnn Schools

Before and After School Program for children attending Brookwood Craig Head

and Gwin Oaks Elementary

(770) 982-2000 3079 Five Forks Trickum Road

Lilburn GA 30047

ldquoWe love learning inside and outsiderdquo

wwwfiveforksacademycom

By Hank Cohen

For many decades throughout Gwinnett youth sports have been of major importance to the community Whether the sport is baseball football swimming or one of the many others played in the county Gwinnett has continually been home to some of the best athletes in the state One organization that fosters a large number of stars is the Gwinnett Soccer Association (GSA) GSA located across the street from Parkview High School is dedicated to teaching youths of any age or skill level the rules and techniques of soccer With about 1500 kids and numerous teams at each age level GSA has been a thriving spot for soccer talent in the county

The association is currently led by Chip Stevens and a very talented staff The Girlsrsquo Director of Coaching Campbell Chapman spent ten years playing profes-sional soccer for multiple clubs in England Sweden Finland Malta and Qatar Appointed the Girlsrsquo Director in 2007 Campbell has since coached many state winning teams Nuno Piteira the Boysrsquo Director was the coach of the Charleston Battery professional team where he helped the club to win its first national champi-onship in 1996 When he first moved to Atlanta in 1999 Nuno coached the Atlanta Silverbacks professional team The impact of the Associationrsquos very capable coaches is evident in the talented and highly ranked teams that continue to dominate Currently the boys U15 and U16 have qualified for the national championship in Kansas City GSA currently has four players on US national teams

Each year GSA holds a major tournament where teams from across the Southeast come to compete The GSA Invitational held in December brings about 350-400 teams together Similarly GSA also holds a college showcase to expose col-lege soccer coaches to the extraordinary amount of talent within the organization Coaches from colleges such as Auburn Alabama and UGA have attended to look for future prospects Multiple soccer camps for any skill level also run throughout the year Nuno runs the boysrsquo camps which includes a residency camp at Rinehart College Campbell runs the girlsrsquo camps which include camps throughout the

summer GSA is always seek-ing to reach out to potential players ldquoWe want more kids to play soccer because itrsquos the best sport in the worldrdquo said President Stevens

Since its beginning in 1977 GSA has sought to provide a high quality organization for kids to become engaged in soc-cer Over the years the organi-zation has continuously grown and the association is planning to make changes in the future as well To accommodate the quality talent GSA is updat-ing the fields to provide better complexes for the players The organization will also be host-ing a Junior Academy for 4-8 year olds to teach them the basic skills of soccer and to spark a love for the sport in younger children As the club continues to grow the dedicated staff and coaches of GSA will continue to teach and spread soccer throughout the community Stevens wants to continue this participation in the area he grew up in He is a graduate from Brookwood High School and his wife and children are active at GSA as well The organization has opportunities for every child ldquoItrsquos all about the kidsrdquo Stevens said ldquoFrom young beginners to the elite players GSA has something for everyonerdquo

Gwinnett Soccer Association Itrsquos All About the Kids

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 13

BARBERSHOP

770-923-32165385 Five Forks Trickum Rd bull Suite M

Stone Mountain GA 30087In Mountain Park Plaza between

Always Fresh Restaurant and Mountain Park FitnessOPEN MON - FRI 10AM-6PM SAT 10AM-3PM

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Serving the Lilburn area for over 20 years

Best Haircuts in TownNO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY

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Always Fresh Restaurant

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Five Forks Trickum Rd

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Part-time Barber Needed

Beautiful Gated Neighborhood for Active Adults Homes amp Villas from the $200s

Visit our Decorated Model Homes Today1950 Grayson Hwy | Grayson GA 30017

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Understanding Sunscreen Protection

By Chrissy Thomas RN BSN

In June 2011 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new requirements for over-the-counter sunscreens These rules were put into place to ensure that sunscreens meet todayrsquos standards for safety and effectiveness The fol-lowing is an outline of some of the more important details for consumers to know when choosing sunscreen products

The primary purpose of the FDArsquos changes is to guarantee that sunscreen products are providing adequate protection Previously the Sun Protection Factors (SPFs) dealt with UVB (ultraviolet B) protection only This means that the risk of sunburn was the only factor considered on the label Now we know that much of the sunrsquos risk lies in UVA (ultraviolet A) radiation which contributes to skin cancer and early aging

After reviewing data the FDA determined that sufficient evidence is available to establish a ldquobroad spectrumrdquo test for determining a sunscreen productrsquos UVA protection By passing the broad spectrum test a consumer knows that the product will provide UVA protection that is proportional to its UVB protection Products that pass this test are going to be labeled as ldquobroad spectrumrdquo These products must be a SPF of 15 or higher to adequately protect the skin

Broad spectrum products SPF 15 or higher have been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging when used with other sun protection measures

Still the meaning of SPF confuses some All sun protection products are tested with a SPF test procedure The test measures the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation expo-sure it takes to cause sunburn when a person is using a sunscreen in comparison to how much UV exposure it takes to cause sunburn without sunscreen The product is then labeled with the appropriate SPF value indicating the amount of sunburn protection provided by the product Higher values provide higher protection Because this test is a measure of protection against sunburn itrsquos an indicator of UVB only With the new broad spectrum test SPFs with a higher UVB rating will also have a higher UVA value

Often new clients to About Face Skin Care donrsquot realize that UV protection should be worn on the face and neck daily to avoid dam-aging UV rays from windows in the home or

car -- or even the minimal time spent walking to the mailbox A moisturizer with a UVBUVA factor of 15 or higher will protect the accumulation that inevitably happens from these exposures Itrsquos been determined that by yearrsquos end not wearing daily SPF protection can equal a week at the beach unprotected

Physical blocks such as clothing provide some protection but our faces are constantly exposed And makeup is not a sunblock If your makeup offers UV pro-tection it should be counted as an extra layer Sun protection in makeup according to the Skin Cancer Foundation is the productrsquos secondary purpose Even though some makeup has sunscreen ingredients it doesnrsquot have the proper amount of cov-erage or the capabilities to protect against UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays

Additionally for most people one needs to use 7-14 times the normal amount of powder or foundation to get the SPF coverage stated on the makeup packaging

Just as important donrsquot forget to protect your lips Glosses without SPF react like tanning oil on the lips Skin cancers in this area are becoming more common not to mention the unattractive ldquosmokers linesrdquo that form as the delicate tissues of the lips and surrounding areas are damaged

About Face Skin Care has an array of high-quality products to give you superior protection while offering cosmeceutically-pleasing benefits

If you would like to explore the options of sun protection and other products and treatments offered by About Face schedule your free consultation appointment at 770-935-FACE(3223) or online at wwwaboutfaceskincom We look forward to meeting you

PAGE 14 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Fall in Love with your bodyagain

ldquowhere the beauty you feel becomes the beauty you seerdquo

Complimentary Cosmetic Consultation

Earl Stephenson Jr MD DDS FACS Plastic Surgeon Certified American Board of Plastic Surgery

Breast Augmentation

Liposuction

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Gluteal Sculpting and Fat Grafting

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84 Patterson RoadLawrenceville GA 30044

770-995-0836pebblestonelandscapegroupcom

Pebblestone Landscape Group is a full service landscape management provider since 1994 Meeting the landscaping needs and requirements for the management groups such as yourself We help our clients increase the appeal of their property to potential customers

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This Summer Prepare to Start School Sharp

By Carol Wood

Woohoo School is out for the summer so learning can stop right Wrong Summertime provides the BEST opportunity for students to enrich their academic skills if they desire to get ahead before school begins again or to catch up on skills if they ended the school year below average If students fall behind during the school year they must catch up with what they have missed AND keep up with what is being taught on a day-by-day basis This is difficult to do and can be stress-ful So summertime is the best time for parents to give their student the oppor-tunity to do what they cannot easily do during the school year CATCH UP or MOVE AHEAD in their academics and solve their STUDY SKILL weaknesses

First locate your childrsquos recent school standardized test scores and examine your childrsquos levels compared to hisher grade level This can be located in the column that reads ldquoGErdquo for grade equivalency or ldquoPRrdquo for percentile Scores below the 50th percentile or below their grade and month level in the GE column when the tests were administered are the ones in which the student was performing below average at that time Scores above the 50th percentile or above his or her grade level show performance above average therefore summer tutoring could entail enrichment work to maintain skills or further build on the studentrsquos strengths in preparation for the next school year By examining your childrsquos most recent test scores and determin-ing which areas are below on or above average you will then know which academic areas to build upon so your student can START SCHOOL SHARP

Next locate professional educational resources with a track record of success should you decide to teach your children at home Purchase the appropriate levels of materials and teach your child using an established consistent weekly schedule Do not allow the student to skip around within workbooks and complete the ldquofunrdquo pages first as the material is purposefully presented in a sequential order Select a study place for each student which is equipped with the learning supplies and tools needed If you do not feel qualified to teach or you do not have the necessary patience with your own child which is not uncommon then seek a full-time professional and experienced educational center Schedule summer learning sessions on a consistent weekly basis with the same degreed and experienced instructor who utilizes nation-ally recognized materials and proven teaching methods Individualized instruction is best in an environment free from distractions and interruptions A professional center is usually preferred since it focuses on providing an ideal learning environment has many quality control measures to insure student improvement is maximized and has a reputation and level of accountability to maintain in order to remain in business Know the credentials of the instructor such as his or her areas of teaching experience and educational degree and match this with your studentrsquos academic area of summer instruction Ask for references and contact them to learn about their experience with the professional center you are considering Request to see the instructional area and observe sessions in progress

Remember SUMMER is the most ideal time for students to get a JUMP START on the next school year

Carol Wood is the founder and owner of Total Learning Concepts Inc a private profes-sional tutorial service located in Gwinnett County Please email questions to ccwoodbellsouthnet or fax to 770-381-1626

MAYCROSSWORDSOLUTION

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 15

1319 Scenic Highway n Lawrenceville GA 30045 n 770-979-9490At the intersection of Hwy 124 amp Webb Gin House Road

Join Us For Lunch

Daily Specials from $325

Fax 770-979-9590 Take-Out Orders

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One coupon per ticket Cannot combine with any other offers Exp 053113

Join us

for Lunch

ldquoGirl Timerdquo Is ImportantBy Julie Mills

As I sit and think about this yearrsquos Motherrsquos Day I thought I would take a few moments to emphasis the importance of ldquogirl timerdquo I feel so lucky that my work allows me to experience wonderful bonding with my female clients When receiv-ing body work many emotions are released Our bodies are wired to keep our emotions in and they manifest in the form of knots aches pains and sometimes even disease Part of my job is to provide a safe space for my clients to let those emotions go and to begin healing from the inside out Letrsquos talk about how women are wired and why it is so important for us to have friendships

As a woman I already knew that my ldquogirl timerdquo was important and actually kept my sanity at times However I did some research and found a landmark UCLA study that suggests friendships between women are very special They shape who we are and who we are yet to be They soothe our inner world and fill the emo-tional gaps in our male relationships

Researchers suspect that women handle stress in more ways than just fight or flight In fact says Dr Klein of UCLA it seems that when the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress responses in a woman it buffers the fight or flight response and encourages her to tend children and gather with other women When she actually engages in this tending or befriending studies suggest that more oxyto-cin is released which further counters stress and produces a calming effect Men do not have this response due to high levels of testosterone released during stress The estrogen in women seems to enhance the oxytocin and produces a calming effect

It was noted that when the women were stressed they came in to work cleaned the work space had coffee and bonded with other female coworkers When the men were stressed they holed up somewhere on their own and did not interact with coworkers Wow - this part of the study sounds so familiar When I am stressed or have a lot on my mind I get into my cleaning mode or I want to call my sisters These activities help me to think things through and to unwind My husband on the other hand says nothing and he has the unique ability to quietly disappear

It is interesting that nearly 90 of the stress research has been with males With this new research the fact that women respond to stress differently than men has significant implications for our health It may take some time for new studies to reveal all the ways that oxytocin encourages us to care for children and hang out with other women but the ldquotend and befriendrdquo notion developed by Drs Klein and Taylor may explain why women consistently outlive men Study after study has found that social ties reduce our risk of disease by lowering blood pressure heart rate and cholesterol Therersquos no doubt that friends are helping us live longer

Every time we get overly busy with work and family the first thing we do is let go of friendships with other women We push them right to the back burner Thatrsquos really a mistake because women are such a source of strength to each other We nurture one another We need to have unpressured space in which we can do the special kind of talk that women do when theyrsquore with other women Itrsquos a very healing experience

Have you had your much-needed girl time Make this month your month and have a very happy Motherrsquos Day

Julie Mills CMT is owner of Body of Health and Life LLC for more information visit wwwbodyofhealthandlifecom

PAGE 16 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Ashton Pike

ldquoBeauty starts from withinrdquo One may expect a famous womanrsquos name to fol-low this quote but the woman responsible for such accurate words is better than famous She is distinguished After all fame fades but a distinguished woman will be known for years since she will stand out from everyone Hair stylist and salon owner Sudonna Patterson meets these traits and more Being a mom of three young boys an adored wife and a successful entrepreneur Patterson has numerous accomplishments to her name and this is only the beginning

Born and raised in Macon Georgia Patterson practiced the basics of cosmetol-ogy as a young girl when she styled her dollsrsquo hair and when she put rollers in her great auntrsquos hair before bedtime each night Eventually moving from Barbie dolls to actual customers Patterson worked weekends as a shampoo assistant in a hair salon during high school This job led her to pursue a career in cosmetology at Dudleyrsquos Cosmetology University in North Carolina

After graduating Patterson became an instructor for Dudleyrsquos Advanced Cosmetology University and then she took her skills outside national borders as an International Educator Traveling to remarkable locations such as the Bahamas Barbados Aruba and Jamaica Patterson worked to communicate the latest tech-niques in cosmetology through seminars on product knowledge hair care advance cutting and styling techniques

Taking into consideration Pattersonrsquos spontaneous extrovert personality it was no surprise that she met her husband on a blind date in Atlanta while she lived in North Carolina She and her husband are now loving and dedicated parents of three sons Logan 8 and twins Bryce and Blake 4 The family of five resides in Lilburn Georgia where they spend copious amounts of time together either at home or at Peace Baptist Church where they attend regularly

Amid college and starting a family Patterson became an entrepreneur open-ing her own hair salon called Chase Morgan Salon which has been in business for

Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

Diets Donrsquot WorkBy Kelly Farris

Itrsquos that time of year again ndash panic mode has set in and yoursquore trying to get off the winter flub in time for bathing suit season

You might be considering a diet Maybe yoursquore stuck trying to choose between the wide variety of options 17 day cabbage soup weight loss shakes paleo and Atkins just to name a few

Unfortunately none of these work in the long run In fact fad diets can backfire and even contribute to weight gain You donrsquot have to have a perfect diet to have a good diet Eating normal portions of wholesome foods leads to the right body weight

Let your eating habits consist of 85-90 of quality calories with the remaining calories of ldquowhateverrdquo ldquoWhateverrdquo means you can have an orange one day or a cookie the next The trick is not to deprive yourself of foods you really like Sooner or later you will end up binging if you make certain foods taboo Take away the power to binge-eat by eating that certain food more often Chances are seven days of having a cookie for your ldquowhateverrdquo calories will make it less desirable by day eight

I advise all my clients to make breakfast the most important meal of the day I encourage eggs egg substitute turkey sausage veggie sausage grits or oatmeal These are all ldquofill-you-uprdquo foods Start your day with filling healthy foods and yoursquoll set the tone for the rest of your day while reducing sugar cravings

So eat but donrsquot deprive yourself Make good choices

over 10 years Named after her sisterrsquos children Chase and Morgan Chase Morgan Salon as Patterson states ldquohellipwas designed with the client in mind to create quality and efficient hair care services while being a positive environment for women to fellowship and relaxrdquo

Though the salon was origi-nally located in Decatur Georgia Patterson recently moved the loca-tion to Snellville Georgia to live out her dream of opening a conveniently located upscale salon that would allow her to actively participate in her childrenrsquos lives at school

Having been in the cosmetology business for 23 years and counting Patterson is highly dedicated to her career Every day she goes above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction Patterson commented ldquoMy clients tease me because I am known for being the resource lady As a hair stylist clients confide in you about their per-sonal struggles I feel it is my responsibility as a Christian to uplift them and speak positive things into their life that will encourage themrdquo

Being close to clients can also come with a cost According to Patterson the most difficult part of her job is losing faithful clients with the change in the econ-omy and increasing unemployment On one hand she strives to help them until their financial situation is better but on the other Chase Morgan Salon is still an operating business and needs to make a profit in order to stay in business

Though being a successful entrepreneur comes with positive and negative aspects the overall feelings of accomplishment and contentment with the Chase Morgan Salon trumps everything A distinguished devoted and aspiring woman Patterson has become a figure of hope proving that with hard work and dedica-tion a childhood dream can become a reality Pattersonrsquos future at Chase Morgan Salon seems bright ldquoMy goal for the salon is to always create an environment to derive success from teamwork and through education As techniques change and products improve I will prepare stylists through education to satisfy the new demands of clients thus ensuring a successful position in the futurerdquo

For contact information for Sudonna Patterson or information on location and operating hours of Chase Morgan Salon please visit wwwchasemorgansaloncom

One Employee

At a TimeStrengthening

Companies3

ldquoSolving Gwinnett Countyrsquos staffing needs for over 16 yearsrdquo

For client inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at clientsunitedstaffingservicecom

For employment inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at jobsunitedstaffingservicecom

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 17

99centFresh AnnualsStarting at

LLMAY

$5Present this coupon

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of $30 or more

Excludes seed sod straw sale items gift cardsCannot be combined with any other salecoupon discount promotion or previous purchase1 coupon per familyExpires 52013

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By the piece or (pre-ordered) pallet

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You Canrsquot Get There From Here By Susan Cadley LPC

Have you ever wished you could be like Harry Potter and wave a magic wand to fix a problem or get what you wanted If so you are in good company It is a natural tendency to avoid pain frustration or any feeling that is perceived as ldquobadrdquo It is also natural to have desires and goals for your life But herersquos the truth life is a process and when we resist or deny what we are feeling or what is happening in our life we actually cause ourselves more pain

We are all born with a wide range of emotions and these emotions are mes-sengers If we pay attention to them they have much to share with us We may learn what we react to what beliefs we hold and most importantly where our healing lies When we ignore these messengers they knock louder and harder at our subconscious until they get our attention So instead of working so hard to push emotions away welcome them in as a guest and lean into them You will find that the feelings dissipate and the pain of resistance yoursquove created will be eased

When we want to wish challenges away we lose the richness of life Imagine what it would be like to watch a movie and only view the first and last 10 minutes of the film By skipping the majority of the movie we miss out on the story and the experience as a whole And so it is with life When we wish for our lives to be different than they are we must then let go and live our lives right now with all the seeming imperfections that make up the movie we are living When we wish to go from ldquohererdquo to ldquothererdquo directly we miss out on personal growth

We are all here to learn love live fully and be more of who we are Embrace all of your life right where you are right now Then the real magic will begin

Susan Cadley LPC Licensed Professional Counselor is available for couplesadult individual counseling and creativity workshops in Suwanee GA She may be reached directly and confiden-tially at 678-296-1278 wwwcoaching foryoursoulcom

Fly-Fishing PatagoniaBy Pam Walker

What I know about Fly-Fishing you could put on the head of a straight pin So when asked to visit Patagonia I thought ldquoThis is my chance to learnrdquo

In early March I flew to Buenos Aires Argentina and then on to Bariloche From there I had an hour drive to Villa Angostura Aroyo Verde the famed fly- fishing lodge was further on down a dirt road

No signs No directions We had just a general sense of where we were going Anthony my naturalist guide headed into the Traful river canyon Fifteen minutes later we were greeted first by an authentic gaucho and then by riders on horseback After another 20 minutes we saw along a stream a lovely chalet with a sculpture gar-den Estancia Aroyo Verde

This private fishing and riding estancia is the home of one of Argentinarsquos most elite families Located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park the family-managed lodge hosts visitors from across the globe The Traful River is also home to land-locked salmon brown and rainbow trout This is a catch-and-release river with a season from November through April In this remote setting the fish some reaching 28 in for salmon and 29 in for Rainbows and Browns swim right up to you in the crystal clear water Best of all you need only your favorite fly rod Everything else is avail-able on-site Miles of nothingness surrounds this pristine spot Imagine standing in the river surrounded by the Andes What more could you ask for

Rooms are cozy all with private baths and meals are served family-style If yoursquore lucky join the family for an Argentine-style barbeque (Parillada) cooked outdoors by one of the resi-dent gauchos

Fishing horseback riding and even moun-tain bikes are here for your enjoyment Too bad I had to come back

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant and can be reached at Walker Adventures pliwalkerearthlinknet You can follow her travels by visiting Pamrsquos blog at httpwwwpamwalkersblogspotcom

PAGE 18 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Pastor Paul Ballard

The mission statement of Mountain Park First Baptist Church is to engage every man woman and child by living out Jesusrsquo love and sharing the gospel both locally and globally Since coming to MPFBC in May 2011 senior pastor Paul Ballard has been simple in his approach He has two priorities preaching the gospel and becoming a radiant church by being missional in nature

First Pastor Paul has prioritized the preaching of the gospel of Jesus The gospel is Godrsquos victory over sin and death through the person and work of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 151 says ldquoNow I would remind you brothers of the gospel

I preached to you which you received in which you standhelliprdquo The gospel is not just the entry point into Christianity It is the key to spiritual growth as we stand in Jesusrsquo finished work on the cross and His glorious resurrection

Second because the gospel has radically changed us God has called His people to give Him glory by living radiant lives resulting in missional living The church has moved from an internal to an external emphasis Some of the practical results have been

bull Adopting local fire stations and the Gwinnett South Precinct by providing meals and notes of encouragement

bull Hosting community events like Family Fest on May 4 2013

bull Mentoring ladies from the Atlanta WomenChildren shelter and adopting and fixing up a dorm

bull Offering an ESL program on Wednesdays with a provided meal afterward bull Holding food drives for Lilburn Co-op and providing Christmas for needy

familiesbull Deacons serving at Mountain Park Park in the concession stand so parents

could watch their children playbull Donating over $100000 from financial overages the last two years to support

local and international missions above the normal mission givingGod is at work at Mountain Park First Baptist Church For more information

go to wwwmpfbcorg

Chaplainrsquos Corner

hellipto our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue

Keep them coming

Thanks

Dr Louise DeLong Dr Franccediloise Tyler

ldquoHappy Motherrsquos Day from all of us at The Village Vetsrdquo Dr Will Draper

Dr Carrie McColganDr Amanda Irish

Hours Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm Sat 8am-2pm Sun 12-4pmwwwTheVillageVetscom

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7 Days a Week

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Page 10: MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

PAGE 10 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Hurt Less Heal QuickerHave a Better Quality of Life

Caring Experienced Professional

Gift Certificates AvailableCALL TODAY

(678) 344-00501780 Oak Road Suite A2 Snellville GA

wwwbodyofhealthandlifecomjuliebodyofhealthandlifecom

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copy2013 Primrose School Franchising Company All rights reserved

From the great outdoors and virtual travel to music and dance

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Are Your Hormones Driving You CrazyBy Dr Jeanette Altieri AC Spine amp Wellness Center

At every age hormones fluctuate mdash and thatrsquos normal However when changes happen too fast or become too much for your body to handle you can start expe-riencing problems Canrsquot lose weight Tired all of the time Feeling overwhelmed What is your body telling you

When our body becomes overloaded and unable to support its systems therersquos a greater chance of developing some of the problems associated with hormonal imbalance Whether you are suffering from PMS mood swings bloating or head-aches or you have a family history of breast ovarian or other female cancers there can be imbalances in the ratios of estrogen progesterone testosterone and other hormones in your endocrine and adrenal system

Hormonal imbalances are caused by more than just estrogen Estrogen levels are important but so are progesterone and testosterone levels and their ratios to each other Insulin cortisol (the stress hormone) and thyroid levels can also play a big part More importantly women who are on hormone replacement therapy need to be tested to make sure hormones are broken down cleared and balanced

Letrsquos take a look at some of the most common signs of hormonal imbalances

Irregular or absent periods Weight gainChanges in the shape of your bodyAnxiety andor moodiness

By listening to your body yoursquoll be able to provide what you need to naturally rebalance its hormones Even healthy women who follow a good diet may find glitches in their hormone levels Effective natural options include high quality supplements dietary and lifestyle adjustments The first step is to get tested and find out what is causing these hormonal issues and then learn how to improve your personal hormonal health

Baseball Is Similar to LifeBy Glenton Ashby

Life is similar to going around the bases on a baseball diamond ndash itrsquos a pro-gression Our financial life is also a progression We progress through stages of financial life at the same time we move through various life stages from beginning to end

As you begin your financial life a number of basic steps are prudent and neces-sary Establish a budget (know what and where you are spending) begin a program of regular saving (the amount is not as important as the habit) commit to paying off whatever debt you do have (whether school debt or debt taken on as you begin life after school) and avoid unnecessary debt (eg debt for lifestyle)

Accomplishing these steps in combination with beginning your working life is like getting a runner to first base

Once on first base a variety of things can happen that may impact your ability to advance to the remaining bases Some things are in your control and some are not You are responsible for managing the things that you can control Think of this financial life progression as stewardship rather than ownership (The fact that any-thing we think we own will eventually go to someone else will be addressed later)

Things not in your control still require your awareness and vigilance in order to respond or react to them appropriately Otherwise you may have to start over and go back to first base Things you cannot control include job loss extended illness or disability You can exert a measure of control by having adequate health insur-ance and disability insurance if available and affordable

Sticking to the plan that got you to first base is essential for moving forward to second base This involves moving from the financial basics stage to the stage of a more established financial life

Feedback and topic suggestions are welcome ndash email HalcyonTimesHalcyonFPcom or comment at wwwHalcyonFPcomhalcyon-times Tweet halcyonplanning

Glenton Ashby is the founder and owner of Halcyon Financial Planning LLC a fee-only financial planning and Registered Investment Advisor firm Visit HalcyonFPcom

Skin issuesacneHair lossunusual hair growthInfertilityFatigueloss of energy

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 11

New Client Special

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404-550-68602315 Oak Rd bull Snellville GA 30078

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We Service Natural and Relaxed HairLashes bull Eyebrow Waxing

Makeup ApplicationCreative ColoringHair Extensions

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Lilburn Lawn Mower has a new location

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Is Testing Getting a Bad Wrap By Tamsen Boone

Today I taught my 7th graders the meaning of the term ldquodevilrsquos advocaterdquo They devised many creative definitions on their own before I explained the concept As we batten down the hatches across the state for CRCT week Irsquove spent some time deliberating the testing catch-22 and I decided to play the role of devilrsquos advocate

Yoursquod be hard pressed to find a parent or an educator for that matter who thinks all the testing our students endure isnrsquot over the top This is my first year in middle school and Irsquom feeling the pressure myself However Irsquove decided to approach this with a ldquoglass half fullrdquo mentality If Irsquove done what Irsquom supposed to do in the classroom my students have been exposed to the material If Irsquove found a few creative and innovative strategies my students may even remember what Irsquove exposed them to despite middle school drama and raging tween hormonal shifts If Irsquove provided them with some test-taking strategies Irsquove given them the ability to move through information integrate it and discern the difference between good better and best options

I propose that this is necessary not only in the testing arena but in the real world as well I hope that my students will one day be able to read through cell phone contracts college brochures apartment leases closing statements and job offers to determine their best option Digesting information and discriminating between options (such as A B C or D answers) can be applicable to our daily adult lives Therefore I donrsquot envision myself as wasting time teaching students how to take tests I like to think Irsquom teaching them to analyze carefully when the stakes are high so that they can make solid decisions when the stakes really get high in the adult world

So this position begs the question if testing shouldnrsquot be such a big stressful deal why is it This is probably where I should keep my mouth shut Happy testing J

Whatrsquos Keeping Your Child From Performing at Grade Level

By Christine Giles

National Awareness Month Educates Parents about Speech and Language Disorders Affecting School Performance

Children with communication disorders frequently do not perform at grade level because they have difficulty understanding and speaking struggle with reading and writing misunderstand social cues show poor judgment have trouble taking tests and may avoid school Is this your child

This May as part of Better Hearing and Speech Month Creative Therapy Works in Lilburn GA and the American Speech-Language-Hearing (ASHA) continue their public education efforts for the communication health of our children by pro-viding information to parents to identify and prevent speech and language disorders

Children with communication problems have difficulty learning to listen speak read or write Parents and teachers should refer any student who shows signs of a speech and language problem to the school-based speech-language pathologist for an immediate evaluation

ldquoItrsquos crucial that children are identified and begin treatment as early as possible because summer break will only compound the consequences of a communication disorder if left untreatedrdquo Christine Giles Speech- Language Pathologist and owner of Creative Therapy Works LLC in Lilburn says

Parents should look out for the various types of speech and language disorders that affect school-age children including ~Speech sound disorders (difficulty pronouncing sounds) ~Language disorders (difficulty understanding others and expressing themselves) ~Cognitive-communication disorders (difficulty with thinking skills including per-ception memory awareness reasoning judgment intellect and imagination) ~Stuttering (fluency) disorders (interruption of the flow of speech that may include hesitations repetitions or prolongations of sounds or words) ~Voice disorders (quality of voice that may include hoarseness nasality or loudness)

For more information about speech and language disorders and prevention or to arrange a free speech and language screening for your child please visit wwwcreativetherapyworkscom or call 1-866-611-7855

PAGE 12 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ages 6 weeks to 4 years old We implement age appropriate Creative Curriculum in all classes

See our website for details

Register Your Children Today Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

FIVE FORKS ACADEMY Enroll your children at Legacy Academy

3079 Five Forks Trickum RoadLilburn GA 30047

wwwf iveforksacademycom

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ann Weeks Owner

Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

Caring for childrenages 6 weeks to 4 years

BeforeAfter SchoolPrograms for ages 5-12

Visit us anytime for a personal tour

(770) 982-2000

NEW for 09-10 We will be serving Knight Elementary

amp St John Neumwnn Schools

Before and After School Program for children attending Brookwood Craig Head

and Gwin Oaks Elementary

(770) 982-2000 3079 Five Forks Trickum Road

Lilburn GA 30047

ldquoWe love learning inside and outsiderdquo

wwwfiveforksacademycom

By Hank Cohen

For many decades throughout Gwinnett youth sports have been of major importance to the community Whether the sport is baseball football swimming or one of the many others played in the county Gwinnett has continually been home to some of the best athletes in the state One organization that fosters a large number of stars is the Gwinnett Soccer Association (GSA) GSA located across the street from Parkview High School is dedicated to teaching youths of any age or skill level the rules and techniques of soccer With about 1500 kids and numerous teams at each age level GSA has been a thriving spot for soccer talent in the county

The association is currently led by Chip Stevens and a very talented staff The Girlsrsquo Director of Coaching Campbell Chapman spent ten years playing profes-sional soccer for multiple clubs in England Sweden Finland Malta and Qatar Appointed the Girlsrsquo Director in 2007 Campbell has since coached many state winning teams Nuno Piteira the Boysrsquo Director was the coach of the Charleston Battery professional team where he helped the club to win its first national champi-onship in 1996 When he first moved to Atlanta in 1999 Nuno coached the Atlanta Silverbacks professional team The impact of the Associationrsquos very capable coaches is evident in the talented and highly ranked teams that continue to dominate Currently the boys U15 and U16 have qualified for the national championship in Kansas City GSA currently has four players on US national teams

Each year GSA holds a major tournament where teams from across the Southeast come to compete The GSA Invitational held in December brings about 350-400 teams together Similarly GSA also holds a college showcase to expose col-lege soccer coaches to the extraordinary amount of talent within the organization Coaches from colleges such as Auburn Alabama and UGA have attended to look for future prospects Multiple soccer camps for any skill level also run throughout the year Nuno runs the boysrsquo camps which includes a residency camp at Rinehart College Campbell runs the girlsrsquo camps which include camps throughout the

summer GSA is always seek-ing to reach out to potential players ldquoWe want more kids to play soccer because itrsquos the best sport in the worldrdquo said President Stevens

Since its beginning in 1977 GSA has sought to provide a high quality organization for kids to become engaged in soc-cer Over the years the organi-zation has continuously grown and the association is planning to make changes in the future as well To accommodate the quality talent GSA is updat-ing the fields to provide better complexes for the players The organization will also be host-ing a Junior Academy for 4-8 year olds to teach them the basic skills of soccer and to spark a love for the sport in younger children As the club continues to grow the dedicated staff and coaches of GSA will continue to teach and spread soccer throughout the community Stevens wants to continue this participation in the area he grew up in He is a graduate from Brookwood High School and his wife and children are active at GSA as well The organization has opportunities for every child ldquoItrsquos all about the kidsrdquo Stevens said ldquoFrom young beginners to the elite players GSA has something for everyonerdquo

Gwinnett Soccer Association Itrsquos All About the Kids

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 13

BARBERSHOP

770-923-32165385 Five Forks Trickum Rd bull Suite M

Stone Mountain GA 30087In Mountain Park Plaza between

Always Fresh Restaurant and Mountain Park FitnessOPEN MON - FRI 10AM-6PM SAT 10AM-3PM

Chrisrsquo

Serving the Lilburn area for over 20 years

Best Haircuts in TownNO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY

Walgreen

Always Fresh Restaurant

Mountain Park Fitness

Five Forks Trickum Rd

Rock

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Kidrsquos Discount for May

Part-time Barber Needed

Beautiful Gated Neighborhood for Active Adults Homes amp Villas from the $200s

Visit our Decorated Model Homes Today1950 Grayson Hwy | Grayson GA 30017

OldeTownGraysoncom bull 6787297250

Gracious Hometown Living

Olde Town Graysonrsquos Sales Are Booming

Pick Your Lot Pick Your Floor Plan

Understanding Sunscreen Protection

By Chrissy Thomas RN BSN

In June 2011 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new requirements for over-the-counter sunscreens These rules were put into place to ensure that sunscreens meet todayrsquos standards for safety and effectiveness The fol-lowing is an outline of some of the more important details for consumers to know when choosing sunscreen products

The primary purpose of the FDArsquos changes is to guarantee that sunscreen products are providing adequate protection Previously the Sun Protection Factors (SPFs) dealt with UVB (ultraviolet B) protection only This means that the risk of sunburn was the only factor considered on the label Now we know that much of the sunrsquos risk lies in UVA (ultraviolet A) radiation which contributes to skin cancer and early aging

After reviewing data the FDA determined that sufficient evidence is available to establish a ldquobroad spectrumrdquo test for determining a sunscreen productrsquos UVA protection By passing the broad spectrum test a consumer knows that the product will provide UVA protection that is proportional to its UVB protection Products that pass this test are going to be labeled as ldquobroad spectrumrdquo These products must be a SPF of 15 or higher to adequately protect the skin

Broad spectrum products SPF 15 or higher have been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging when used with other sun protection measures

Still the meaning of SPF confuses some All sun protection products are tested with a SPF test procedure The test measures the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation expo-sure it takes to cause sunburn when a person is using a sunscreen in comparison to how much UV exposure it takes to cause sunburn without sunscreen The product is then labeled with the appropriate SPF value indicating the amount of sunburn protection provided by the product Higher values provide higher protection Because this test is a measure of protection against sunburn itrsquos an indicator of UVB only With the new broad spectrum test SPFs with a higher UVB rating will also have a higher UVA value

Often new clients to About Face Skin Care donrsquot realize that UV protection should be worn on the face and neck daily to avoid dam-aging UV rays from windows in the home or

car -- or even the minimal time spent walking to the mailbox A moisturizer with a UVBUVA factor of 15 or higher will protect the accumulation that inevitably happens from these exposures Itrsquos been determined that by yearrsquos end not wearing daily SPF protection can equal a week at the beach unprotected

Physical blocks such as clothing provide some protection but our faces are constantly exposed And makeup is not a sunblock If your makeup offers UV pro-tection it should be counted as an extra layer Sun protection in makeup according to the Skin Cancer Foundation is the productrsquos secondary purpose Even though some makeup has sunscreen ingredients it doesnrsquot have the proper amount of cov-erage or the capabilities to protect against UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays

Additionally for most people one needs to use 7-14 times the normal amount of powder or foundation to get the SPF coverage stated on the makeup packaging

Just as important donrsquot forget to protect your lips Glosses without SPF react like tanning oil on the lips Skin cancers in this area are becoming more common not to mention the unattractive ldquosmokers linesrdquo that form as the delicate tissues of the lips and surrounding areas are damaged

About Face Skin Care has an array of high-quality products to give you superior protection while offering cosmeceutically-pleasing benefits

If you would like to explore the options of sun protection and other products and treatments offered by About Face schedule your free consultation appointment at 770-935-FACE(3223) or online at wwwaboutfaceskincom We look forward to meeting you

PAGE 14 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Fall in Love with your bodyagain

ldquowhere the beauty you feel becomes the beauty you seerdquo

Complimentary Cosmetic Consultation

Earl Stephenson Jr MD DDS FACS Plastic Surgeon Certified American Board of Plastic Surgery

Breast Augmentation

Liposuction

Tummy Tuck

Gluteal Sculpting and Fat Grafting

(770) 466-4700

84 Patterson RoadLawrenceville GA 30044

770-995-0836pebblestonelandscapegroupcom

Pebblestone Landscape Group is a full service landscape management provider since 1994 Meeting the landscaping needs and requirements for the management groups such as yourself We help our clients increase the appeal of their property to potential customers

bull DesignBuildbull Irrigationbull Landscape Installationbull Lawn Maintenance

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This Summer Prepare to Start School Sharp

By Carol Wood

Woohoo School is out for the summer so learning can stop right Wrong Summertime provides the BEST opportunity for students to enrich their academic skills if they desire to get ahead before school begins again or to catch up on skills if they ended the school year below average If students fall behind during the school year they must catch up with what they have missed AND keep up with what is being taught on a day-by-day basis This is difficult to do and can be stress-ful So summertime is the best time for parents to give their student the oppor-tunity to do what they cannot easily do during the school year CATCH UP or MOVE AHEAD in their academics and solve their STUDY SKILL weaknesses

First locate your childrsquos recent school standardized test scores and examine your childrsquos levels compared to hisher grade level This can be located in the column that reads ldquoGErdquo for grade equivalency or ldquoPRrdquo for percentile Scores below the 50th percentile or below their grade and month level in the GE column when the tests were administered are the ones in which the student was performing below average at that time Scores above the 50th percentile or above his or her grade level show performance above average therefore summer tutoring could entail enrichment work to maintain skills or further build on the studentrsquos strengths in preparation for the next school year By examining your childrsquos most recent test scores and determin-ing which areas are below on or above average you will then know which academic areas to build upon so your student can START SCHOOL SHARP

Next locate professional educational resources with a track record of success should you decide to teach your children at home Purchase the appropriate levels of materials and teach your child using an established consistent weekly schedule Do not allow the student to skip around within workbooks and complete the ldquofunrdquo pages first as the material is purposefully presented in a sequential order Select a study place for each student which is equipped with the learning supplies and tools needed If you do not feel qualified to teach or you do not have the necessary patience with your own child which is not uncommon then seek a full-time professional and experienced educational center Schedule summer learning sessions on a consistent weekly basis with the same degreed and experienced instructor who utilizes nation-ally recognized materials and proven teaching methods Individualized instruction is best in an environment free from distractions and interruptions A professional center is usually preferred since it focuses on providing an ideal learning environment has many quality control measures to insure student improvement is maximized and has a reputation and level of accountability to maintain in order to remain in business Know the credentials of the instructor such as his or her areas of teaching experience and educational degree and match this with your studentrsquos academic area of summer instruction Ask for references and contact them to learn about their experience with the professional center you are considering Request to see the instructional area and observe sessions in progress

Remember SUMMER is the most ideal time for students to get a JUMP START on the next school year

Carol Wood is the founder and owner of Total Learning Concepts Inc a private profes-sional tutorial service located in Gwinnett County Please email questions to ccwoodbellsouthnet or fax to 770-381-1626

MAYCROSSWORDSOLUTION

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 15

1319 Scenic Highway n Lawrenceville GA 30045 n 770-979-9490At the intersection of Hwy 124 amp Webb Gin House Road

Join Us For Lunch

Daily Specials from $325

Fax 770-979-9590 Take-Out Orders

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With Any Food Purchase over $20Valid Mon-Thurs 3pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or Sun

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for Lunch

ldquoGirl Timerdquo Is ImportantBy Julie Mills

As I sit and think about this yearrsquos Motherrsquos Day I thought I would take a few moments to emphasis the importance of ldquogirl timerdquo I feel so lucky that my work allows me to experience wonderful bonding with my female clients When receiv-ing body work many emotions are released Our bodies are wired to keep our emotions in and they manifest in the form of knots aches pains and sometimes even disease Part of my job is to provide a safe space for my clients to let those emotions go and to begin healing from the inside out Letrsquos talk about how women are wired and why it is so important for us to have friendships

As a woman I already knew that my ldquogirl timerdquo was important and actually kept my sanity at times However I did some research and found a landmark UCLA study that suggests friendships between women are very special They shape who we are and who we are yet to be They soothe our inner world and fill the emo-tional gaps in our male relationships

Researchers suspect that women handle stress in more ways than just fight or flight In fact says Dr Klein of UCLA it seems that when the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress responses in a woman it buffers the fight or flight response and encourages her to tend children and gather with other women When she actually engages in this tending or befriending studies suggest that more oxyto-cin is released which further counters stress and produces a calming effect Men do not have this response due to high levels of testosterone released during stress The estrogen in women seems to enhance the oxytocin and produces a calming effect

It was noted that when the women were stressed they came in to work cleaned the work space had coffee and bonded with other female coworkers When the men were stressed they holed up somewhere on their own and did not interact with coworkers Wow - this part of the study sounds so familiar When I am stressed or have a lot on my mind I get into my cleaning mode or I want to call my sisters These activities help me to think things through and to unwind My husband on the other hand says nothing and he has the unique ability to quietly disappear

It is interesting that nearly 90 of the stress research has been with males With this new research the fact that women respond to stress differently than men has significant implications for our health It may take some time for new studies to reveal all the ways that oxytocin encourages us to care for children and hang out with other women but the ldquotend and befriendrdquo notion developed by Drs Klein and Taylor may explain why women consistently outlive men Study after study has found that social ties reduce our risk of disease by lowering blood pressure heart rate and cholesterol Therersquos no doubt that friends are helping us live longer

Every time we get overly busy with work and family the first thing we do is let go of friendships with other women We push them right to the back burner Thatrsquos really a mistake because women are such a source of strength to each other We nurture one another We need to have unpressured space in which we can do the special kind of talk that women do when theyrsquore with other women Itrsquos a very healing experience

Have you had your much-needed girl time Make this month your month and have a very happy Motherrsquos Day

Julie Mills CMT is owner of Body of Health and Life LLC for more information visit wwwbodyofhealthandlifecom

PAGE 16 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Ashton Pike

ldquoBeauty starts from withinrdquo One may expect a famous womanrsquos name to fol-low this quote but the woman responsible for such accurate words is better than famous She is distinguished After all fame fades but a distinguished woman will be known for years since she will stand out from everyone Hair stylist and salon owner Sudonna Patterson meets these traits and more Being a mom of three young boys an adored wife and a successful entrepreneur Patterson has numerous accomplishments to her name and this is only the beginning

Born and raised in Macon Georgia Patterson practiced the basics of cosmetol-ogy as a young girl when she styled her dollsrsquo hair and when she put rollers in her great auntrsquos hair before bedtime each night Eventually moving from Barbie dolls to actual customers Patterson worked weekends as a shampoo assistant in a hair salon during high school This job led her to pursue a career in cosmetology at Dudleyrsquos Cosmetology University in North Carolina

After graduating Patterson became an instructor for Dudleyrsquos Advanced Cosmetology University and then she took her skills outside national borders as an International Educator Traveling to remarkable locations such as the Bahamas Barbados Aruba and Jamaica Patterson worked to communicate the latest tech-niques in cosmetology through seminars on product knowledge hair care advance cutting and styling techniques

Taking into consideration Pattersonrsquos spontaneous extrovert personality it was no surprise that she met her husband on a blind date in Atlanta while she lived in North Carolina She and her husband are now loving and dedicated parents of three sons Logan 8 and twins Bryce and Blake 4 The family of five resides in Lilburn Georgia where they spend copious amounts of time together either at home or at Peace Baptist Church where they attend regularly

Amid college and starting a family Patterson became an entrepreneur open-ing her own hair salon called Chase Morgan Salon which has been in business for

Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

Diets Donrsquot WorkBy Kelly Farris

Itrsquos that time of year again ndash panic mode has set in and yoursquore trying to get off the winter flub in time for bathing suit season

You might be considering a diet Maybe yoursquore stuck trying to choose between the wide variety of options 17 day cabbage soup weight loss shakes paleo and Atkins just to name a few

Unfortunately none of these work in the long run In fact fad diets can backfire and even contribute to weight gain You donrsquot have to have a perfect diet to have a good diet Eating normal portions of wholesome foods leads to the right body weight

Let your eating habits consist of 85-90 of quality calories with the remaining calories of ldquowhateverrdquo ldquoWhateverrdquo means you can have an orange one day or a cookie the next The trick is not to deprive yourself of foods you really like Sooner or later you will end up binging if you make certain foods taboo Take away the power to binge-eat by eating that certain food more often Chances are seven days of having a cookie for your ldquowhateverrdquo calories will make it less desirable by day eight

I advise all my clients to make breakfast the most important meal of the day I encourage eggs egg substitute turkey sausage veggie sausage grits or oatmeal These are all ldquofill-you-uprdquo foods Start your day with filling healthy foods and yoursquoll set the tone for the rest of your day while reducing sugar cravings

So eat but donrsquot deprive yourself Make good choices

over 10 years Named after her sisterrsquos children Chase and Morgan Chase Morgan Salon as Patterson states ldquohellipwas designed with the client in mind to create quality and efficient hair care services while being a positive environment for women to fellowship and relaxrdquo

Though the salon was origi-nally located in Decatur Georgia Patterson recently moved the loca-tion to Snellville Georgia to live out her dream of opening a conveniently located upscale salon that would allow her to actively participate in her childrenrsquos lives at school

Having been in the cosmetology business for 23 years and counting Patterson is highly dedicated to her career Every day she goes above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction Patterson commented ldquoMy clients tease me because I am known for being the resource lady As a hair stylist clients confide in you about their per-sonal struggles I feel it is my responsibility as a Christian to uplift them and speak positive things into their life that will encourage themrdquo

Being close to clients can also come with a cost According to Patterson the most difficult part of her job is losing faithful clients with the change in the econ-omy and increasing unemployment On one hand she strives to help them until their financial situation is better but on the other Chase Morgan Salon is still an operating business and needs to make a profit in order to stay in business

Though being a successful entrepreneur comes with positive and negative aspects the overall feelings of accomplishment and contentment with the Chase Morgan Salon trumps everything A distinguished devoted and aspiring woman Patterson has become a figure of hope proving that with hard work and dedica-tion a childhood dream can become a reality Pattersonrsquos future at Chase Morgan Salon seems bright ldquoMy goal for the salon is to always create an environment to derive success from teamwork and through education As techniques change and products improve I will prepare stylists through education to satisfy the new demands of clients thus ensuring a successful position in the futurerdquo

For contact information for Sudonna Patterson or information on location and operating hours of Chase Morgan Salon please visit wwwchasemorgansaloncom

One Employee

At a TimeStrengthening

Companies3

ldquoSolving Gwinnett Countyrsquos staffing needs for over 16 yearsrdquo

For client inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at clientsunitedstaffingservicecom

For employment inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at jobsunitedstaffingservicecom

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 17

99centFresh AnnualsStarting at

LLMAY

$5Present this coupon

at time of purchase and save$5 off your purchase

of $30 or more

Excludes seed sod straw sale items gift cardsCannot be combined with any other salecoupon discount promotion or previous purchase1 coupon per familyExpires 52013

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CENTIPEDE

By the piece or (pre-ordered) pallet

Great Food Amazing EntertainmentRight here in Lilburn

4975 Hwy 78Lilburn GA 30047

770-978-1270Tuesday - Thursday 500 PM - 1200 AM

Friday - Saturday 500 PM - 200 AM Sunday - 500 PM -1100 PM

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Valid Tues-Thurs 8pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or SunOne coupon per ticket Cannot combine

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Visit website for amazing entertainment in Lilburn

httpwwwsunsetsportsbaratlcom

You Canrsquot Get There From Here By Susan Cadley LPC

Have you ever wished you could be like Harry Potter and wave a magic wand to fix a problem or get what you wanted If so you are in good company It is a natural tendency to avoid pain frustration or any feeling that is perceived as ldquobadrdquo It is also natural to have desires and goals for your life But herersquos the truth life is a process and when we resist or deny what we are feeling or what is happening in our life we actually cause ourselves more pain

We are all born with a wide range of emotions and these emotions are mes-sengers If we pay attention to them they have much to share with us We may learn what we react to what beliefs we hold and most importantly where our healing lies When we ignore these messengers they knock louder and harder at our subconscious until they get our attention So instead of working so hard to push emotions away welcome them in as a guest and lean into them You will find that the feelings dissipate and the pain of resistance yoursquove created will be eased

When we want to wish challenges away we lose the richness of life Imagine what it would be like to watch a movie and only view the first and last 10 minutes of the film By skipping the majority of the movie we miss out on the story and the experience as a whole And so it is with life When we wish for our lives to be different than they are we must then let go and live our lives right now with all the seeming imperfections that make up the movie we are living When we wish to go from ldquohererdquo to ldquothererdquo directly we miss out on personal growth

We are all here to learn love live fully and be more of who we are Embrace all of your life right where you are right now Then the real magic will begin

Susan Cadley LPC Licensed Professional Counselor is available for couplesadult individual counseling and creativity workshops in Suwanee GA She may be reached directly and confiden-tially at 678-296-1278 wwwcoaching foryoursoulcom

Fly-Fishing PatagoniaBy Pam Walker

What I know about Fly-Fishing you could put on the head of a straight pin So when asked to visit Patagonia I thought ldquoThis is my chance to learnrdquo

In early March I flew to Buenos Aires Argentina and then on to Bariloche From there I had an hour drive to Villa Angostura Aroyo Verde the famed fly- fishing lodge was further on down a dirt road

No signs No directions We had just a general sense of where we were going Anthony my naturalist guide headed into the Traful river canyon Fifteen minutes later we were greeted first by an authentic gaucho and then by riders on horseback After another 20 minutes we saw along a stream a lovely chalet with a sculpture gar-den Estancia Aroyo Verde

This private fishing and riding estancia is the home of one of Argentinarsquos most elite families Located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park the family-managed lodge hosts visitors from across the globe The Traful River is also home to land-locked salmon brown and rainbow trout This is a catch-and-release river with a season from November through April In this remote setting the fish some reaching 28 in for salmon and 29 in for Rainbows and Browns swim right up to you in the crystal clear water Best of all you need only your favorite fly rod Everything else is avail-able on-site Miles of nothingness surrounds this pristine spot Imagine standing in the river surrounded by the Andes What more could you ask for

Rooms are cozy all with private baths and meals are served family-style If yoursquore lucky join the family for an Argentine-style barbeque (Parillada) cooked outdoors by one of the resi-dent gauchos

Fishing horseback riding and even moun-tain bikes are here for your enjoyment Too bad I had to come back

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant and can be reached at Walker Adventures pliwalkerearthlinknet You can follow her travels by visiting Pamrsquos blog at httpwwwpamwalkersblogspotcom

PAGE 18 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Pastor Paul Ballard

The mission statement of Mountain Park First Baptist Church is to engage every man woman and child by living out Jesusrsquo love and sharing the gospel both locally and globally Since coming to MPFBC in May 2011 senior pastor Paul Ballard has been simple in his approach He has two priorities preaching the gospel and becoming a radiant church by being missional in nature

First Pastor Paul has prioritized the preaching of the gospel of Jesus The gospel is Godrsquos victory over sin and death through the person and work of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 151 says ldquoNow I would remind you brothers of the gospel

I preached to you which you received in which you standhelliprdquo The gospel is not just the entry point into Christianity It is the key to spiritual growth as we stand in Jesusrsquo finished work on the cross and His glorious resurrection

Second because the gospel has radically changed us God has called His people to give Him glory by living radiant lives resulting in missional living The church has moved from an internal to an external emphasis Some of the practical results have been

bull Adopting local fire stations and the Gwinnett South Precinct by providing meals and notes of encouragement

bull Hosting community events like Family Fest on May 4 2013

bull Mentoring ladies from the Atlanta WomenChildren shelter and adopting and fixing up a dorm

bull Offering an ESL program on Wednesdays with a provided meal afterward bull Holding food drives for Lilburn Co-op and providing Christmas for needy

familiesbull Deacons serving at Mountain Park Park in the concession stand so parents

could watch their children playbull Donating over $100000 from financial overages the last two years to support

local and international missions above the normal mission givingGod is at work at Mountain Park First Baptist Church For more information

go to wwwmpfbcorg

Chaplainrsquos Corner

hellipto our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue

Keep them coming

Thanks

Dr Louise DeLong Dr Franccediloise Tyler

ldquoHappy Motherrsquos Day from all of us at The Village Vetsrdquo Dr Will Draper

Dr Carrie McColganDr Amanda Irish

Hours Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm Sat 8am-2pm Sun 12-4pmwwwTheVillageVetscom

770-717-1650

7 Days a Week

1227 Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain(Near the Kroger Shopping Center)

Serving Gwinnett

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Limit one per household Vaccines and services only Products not included Coupon need not be presented for discount Terms subject to change without

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Page 11: MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 11

New Client Special

$10 offBy Appointment Only

First Visit

404-550-68602315 Oak Rd bull Snellville GA 30078

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We Service Natural and Relaxed HairLashes bull Eyebrow Waxing

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We Fix Lawnmowers

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4450 Lawrenceville Hwy Suite CLilburn GA 30047

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Is Testing Getting a Bad Wrap By Tamsen Boone

Today I taught my 7th graders the meaning of the term ldquodevilrsquos advocaterdquo They devised many creative definitions on their own before I explained the concept As we batten down the hatches across the state for CRCT week Irsquove spent some time deliberating the testing catch-22 and I decided to play the role of devilrsquos advocate

Yoursquod be hard pressed to find a parent or an educator for that matter who thinks all the testing our students endure isnrsquot over the top This is my first year in middle school and Irsquom feeling the pressure myself However Irsquove decided to approach this with a ldquoglass half fullrdquo mentality If Irsquove done what Irsquom supposed to do in the classroom my students have been exposed to the material If Irsquove found a few creative and innovative strategies my students may even remember what Irsquove exposed them to despite middle school drama and raging tween hormonal shifts If Irsquove provided them with some test-taking strategies Irsquove given them the ability to move through information integrate it and discern the difference between good better and best options

I propose that this is necessary not only in the testing arena but in the real world as well I hope that my students will one day be able to read through cell phone contracts college brochures apartment leases closing statements and job offers to determine their best option Digesting information and discriminating between options (such as A B C or D answers) can be applicable to our daily adult lives Therefore I donrsquot envision myself as wasting time teaching students how to take tests I like to think Irsquom teaching them to analyze carefully when the stakes are high so that they can make solid decisions when the stakes really get high in the adult world

So this position begs the question if testing shouldnrsquot be such a big stressful deal why is it This is probably where I should keep my mouth shut Happy testing J

Whatrsquos Keeping Your Child From Performing at Grade Level

By Christine Giles

National Awareness Month Educates Parents about Speech and Language Disorders Affecting School Performance

Children with communication disorders frequently do not perform at grade level because they have difficulty understanding and speaking struggle with reading and writing misunderstand social cues show poor judgment have trouble taking tests and may avoid school Is this your child

This May as part of Better Hearing and Speech Month Creative Therapy Works in Lilburn GA and the American Speech-Language-Hearing (ASHA) continue their public education efforts for the communication health of our children by pro-viding information to parents to identify and prevent speech and language disorders

Children with communication problems have difficulty learning to listen speak read or write Parents and teachers should refer any student who shows signs of a speech and language problem to the school-based speech-language pathologist for an immediate evaluation

ldquoItrsquos crucial that children are identified and begin treatment as early as possible because summer break will only compound the consequences of a communication disorder if left untreatedrdquo Christine Giles Speech- Language Pathologist and owner of Creative Therapy Works LLC in Lilburn says

Parents should look out for the various types of speech and language disorders that affect school-age children including ~Speech sound disorders (difficulty pronouncing sounds) ~Language disorders (difficulty understanding others and expressing themselves) ~Cognitive-communication disorders (difficulty with thinking skills including per-ception memory awareness reasoning judgment intellect and imagination) ~Stuttering (fluency) disorders (interruption of the flow of speech that may include hesitations repetitions or prolongations of sounds or words) ~Voice disorders (quality of voice that may include hoarseness nasality or loudness)

For more information about speech and language disorders and prevention or to arrange a free speech and language screening for your child please visit wwwcreativetherapyworkscom or call 1-866-611-7855

PAGE 12 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ages 6 weeks to 4 years old We implement age appropriate Creative Curriculum in all classes

See our website for details

Register Your Children Today Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

FIVE FORKS ACADEMY Enroll your children at Legacy Academy

3079 Five Forks Trickum RoadLilburn GA 30047

wwwf iveforksacademycom

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ann Weeks Owner

Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

Caring for childrenages 6 weeks to 4 years

BeforeAfter SchoolPrograms for ages 5-12

Visit us anytime for a personal tour

(770) 982-2000

NEW for 09-10 We will be serving Knight Elementary

amp St John Neumwnn Schools

Before and After School Program for children attending Brookwood Craig Head

and Gwin Oaks Elementary

(770) 982-2000 3079 Five Forks Trickum Road

Lilburn GA 30047

ldquoWe love learning inside and outsiderdquo

wwwfiveforksacademycom

By Hank Cohen

For many decades throughout Gwinnett youth sports have been of major importance to the community Whether the sport is baseball football swimming or one of the many others played in the county Gwinnett has continually been home to some of the best athletes in the state One organization that fosters a large number of stars is the Gwinnett Soccer Association (GSA) GSA located across the street from Parkview High School is dedicated to teaching youths of any age or skill level the rules and techniques of soccer With about 1500 kids and numerous teams at each age level GSA has been a thriving spot for soccer talent in the county

The association is currently led by Chip Stevens and a very talented staff The Girlsrsquo Director of Coaching Campbell Chapman spent ten years playing profes-sional soccer for multiple clubs in England Sweden Finland Malta and Qatar Appointed the Girlsrsquo Director in 2007 Campbell has since coached many state winning teams Nuno Piteira the Boysrsquo Director was the coach of the Charleston Battery professional team where he helped the club to win its first national champi-onship in 1996 When he first moved to Atlanta in 1999 Nuno coached the Atlanta Silverbacks professional team The impact of the Associationrsquos very capable coaches is evident in the talented and highly ranked teams that continue to dominate Currently the boys U15 and U16 have qualified for the national championship in Kansas City GSA currently has four players on US national teams

Each year GSA holds a major tournament where teams from across the Southeast come to compete The GSA Invitational held in December brings about 350-400 teams together Similarly GSA also holds a college showcase to expose col-lege soccer coaches to the extraordinary amount of talent within the organization Coaches from colleges such as Auburn Alabama and UGA have attended to look for future prospects Multiple soccer camps for any skill level also run throughout the year Nuno runs the boysrsquo camps which includes a residency camp at Rinehart College Campbell runs the girlsrsquo camps which include camps throughout the

summer GSA is always seek-ing to reach out to potential players ldquoWe want more kids to play soccer because itrsquos the best sport in the worldrdquo said President Stevens

Since its beginning in 1977 GSA has sought to provide a high quality organization for kids to become engaged in soc-cer Over the years the organi-zation has continuously grown and the association is planning to make changes in the future as well To accommodate the quality talent GSA is updat-ing the fields to provide better complexes for the players The organization will also be host-ing a Junior Academy for 4-8 year olds to teach them the basic skills of soccer and to spark a love for the sport in younger children As the club continues to grow the dedicated staff and coaches of GSA will continue to teach and spread soccer throughout the community Stevens wants to continue this participation in the area he grew up in He is a graduate from Brookwood High School and his wife and children are active at GSA as well The organization has opportunities for every child ldquoItrsquos all about the kidsrdquo Stevens said ldquoFrom young beginners to the elite players GSA has something for everyonerdquo

Gwinnett Soccer Association Itrsquos All About the Kids

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 13

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770-923-32165385 Five Forks Trickum Rd bull Suite M

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Always Fresh Restaurant and Mountain Park FitnessOPEN MON - FRI 10AM-6PM SAT 10AM-3PM

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Serving the Lilburn area for over 20 years

Best Haircuts in TownNO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY

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Visit our Decorated Model Homes Today1950 Grayson Hwy | Grayson GA 30017

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Understanding Sunscreen Protection

By Chrissy Thomas RN BSN

In June 2011 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new requirements for over-the-counter sunscreens These rules were put into place to ensure that sunscreens meet todayrsquos standards for safety and effectiveness The fol-lowing is an outline of some of the more important details for consumers to know when choosing sunscreen products

The primary purpose of the FDArsquos changes is to guarantee that sunscreen products are providing adequate protection Previously the Sun Protection Factors (SPFs) dealt with UVB (ultraviolet B) protection only This means that the risk of sunburn was the only factor considered on the label Now we know that much of the sunrsquos risk lies in UVA (ultraviolet A) radiation which contributes to skin cancer and early aging

After reviewing data the FDA determined that sufficient evidence is available to establish a ldquobroad spectrumrdquo test for determining a sunscreen productrsquos UVA protection By passing the broad spectrum test a consumer knows that the product will provide UVA protection that is proportional to its UVB protection Products that pass this test are going to be labeled as ldquobroad spectrumrdquo These products must be a SPF of 15 or higher to adequately protect the skin

Broad spectrum products SPF 15 or higher have been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging when used with other sun protection measures

Still the meaning of SPF confuses some All sun protection products are tested with a SPF test procedure The test measures the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation expo-sure it takes to cause sunburn when a person is using a sunscreen in comparison to how much UV exposure it takes to cause sunburn without sunscreen The product is then labeled with the appropriate SPF value indicating the amount of sunburn protection provided by the product Higher values provide higher protection Because this test is a measure of protection against sunburn itrsquos an indicator of UVB only With the new broad spectrum test SPFs with a higher UVB rating will also have a higher UVA value

Often new clients to About Face Skin Care donrsquot realize that UV protection should be worn on the face and neck daily to avoid dam-aging UV rays from windows in the home or

car -- or even the minimal time spent walking to the mailbox A moisturizer with a UVBUVA factor of 15 or higher will protect the accumulation that inevitably happens from these exposures Itrsquos been determined that by yearrsquos end not wearing daily SPF protection can equal a week at the beach unprotected

Physical blocks such as clothing provide some protection but our faces are constantly exposed And makeup is not a sunblock If your makeup offers UV pro-tection it should be counted as an extra layer Sun protection in makeup according to the Skin Cancer Foundation is the productrsquos secondary purpose Even though some makeup has sunscreen ingredients it doesnrsquot have the proper amount of cov-erage or the capabilities to protect against UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays

Additionally for most people one needs to use 7-14 times the normal amount of powder or foundation to get the SPF coverage stated on the makeup packaging

Just as important donrsquot forget to protect your lips Glosses without SPF react like tanning oil on the lips Skin cancers in this area are becoming more common not to mention the unattractive ldquosmokers linesrdquo that form as the delicate tissues of the lips and surrounding areas are damaged

About Face Skin Care has an array of high-quality products to give you superior protection while offering cosmeceutically-pleasing benefits

If you would like to explore the options of sun protection and other products and treatments offered by About Face schedule your free consultation appointment at 770-935-FACE(3223) or online at wwwaboutfaceskincom We look forward to meeting you

PAGE 14 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Fall in Love with your bodyagain

ldquowhere the beauty you feel becomes the beauty you seerdquo

Complimentary Cosmetic Consultation

Earl Stephenson Jr MD DDS FACS Plastic Surgeon Certified American Board of Plastic Surgery

Breast Augmentation

Liposuction

Tummy Tuck

Gluteal Sculpting and Fat Grafting

(770) 466-4700

84 Patterson RoadLawrenceville GA 30044

770-995-0836pebblestonelandscapegroupcom

Pebblestone Landscape Group is a full service landscape management provider since 1994 Meeting the landscaping needs and requirements for the management groups such as yourself We help our clients increase the appeal of their property to potential customers

bull DesignBuildbull Irrigationbull Landscape Installationbull Lawn Maintenance

bull Seasonal Colorbull Site Enhancementsbull Turf Fertilization Programs

bull bull bull bull bull bull bull bull bull bull

This Summer Prepare to Start School Sharp

By Carol Wood

Woohoo School is out for the summer so learning can stop right Wrong Summertime provides the BEST opportunity for students to enrich their academic skills if they desire to get ahead before school begins again or to catch up on skills if they ended the school year below average If students fall behind during the school year they must catch up with what they have missed AND keep up with what is being taught on a day-by-day basis This is difficult to do and can be stress-ful So summertime is the best time for parents to give their student the oppor-tunity to do what they cannot easily do during the school year CATCH UP or MOVE AHEAD in their academics and solve their STUDY SKILL weaknesses

First locate your childrsquos recent school standardized test scores and examine your childrsquos levels compared to hisher grade level This can be located in the column that reads ldquoGErdquo for grade equivalency or ldquoPRrdquo for percentile Scores below the 50th percentile or below their grade and month level in the GE column when the tests were administered are the ones in which the student was performing below average at that time Scores above the 50th percentile or above his or her grade level show performance above average therefore summer tutoring could entail enrichment work to maintain skills or further build on the studentrsquos strengths in preparation for the next school year By examining your childrsquos most recent test scores and determin-ing which areas are below on or above average you will then know which academic areas to build upon so your student can START SCHOOL SHARP

Next locate professional educational resources with a track record of success should you decide to teach your children at home Purchase the appropriate levels of materials and teach your child using an established consistent weekly schedule Do not allow the student to skip around within workbooks and complete the ldquofunrdquo pages first as the material is purposefully presented in a sequential order Select a study place for each student which is equipped with the learning supplies and tools needed If you do not feel qualified to teach or you do not have the necessary patience with your own child which is not uncommon then seek a full-time professional and experienced educational center Schedule summer learning sessions on a consistent weekly basis with the same degreed and experienced instructor who utilizes nation-ally recognized materials and proven teaching methods Individualized instruction is best in an environment free from distractions and interruptions A professional center is usually preferred since it focuses on providing an ideal learning environment has many quality control measures to insure student improvement is maximized and has a reputation and level of accountability to maintain in order to remain in business Know the credentials of the instructor such as his or her areas of teaching experience and educational degree and match this with your studentrsquos academic area of summer instruction Ask for references and contact them to learn about their experience with the professional center you are considering Request to see the instructional area and observe sessions in progress

Remember SUMMER is the most ideal time for students to get a JUMP START on the next school year

Carol Wood is the founder and owner of Total Learning Concepts Inc a private profes-sional tutorial service located in Gwinnett County Please email questions to ccwoodbellsouthnet or fax to 770-381-1626

MAYCROSSWORDSOLUTION

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 15

1319 Scenic Highway n Lawrenceville GA 30045 n 770-979-9490At the intersection of Hwy 124 amp Webb Gin House Road

Join Us For Lunch

Daily Specials from $325

Fax 770-979-9590 Take-Out Orders

FREE CHEESE DIP

With Any Food Purchase over $20Valid Mon-Thurs 3pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or Sun

One coupon per ticket Cannot combine with any other offers Exp 053113

DINNER SPECIAL$4 Off

With Any Food Purchase over $20Valid Mon-Thurs 3pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or Sun

One coupon per ticket Cannot combine with any other offers Exp 053113

Join us

for Lunch

ldquoGirl Timerdquo Is ImportantBy Julie Mills

As I sit and think about this yearrsquos Motherrsquos Day I thought I would take a few moments to emphasis the importance of ldquogirl timerdquo I feel so lucky that my work allows me to experience wonderful bonding with my female clients When receiv-ing body work many emotions are released Our bodies are wired to keep our emotions in and they manifest in the form of knots aches pains and sometimes even disease Part of my job is to provide a safe space for my clients to let those emotions go and to begin healing from the inside out Letrsquos talk about how women are wired and why it is so important for us to have friendships

As a woman I already knew that my ldquogirl timerdquo was important and actually kept my sanity at times However I did some research and found a landmark UCLA study that suggests friendships between women are very special They shape who we are and who we are yet to be They soothe our inner world and fill the emo-tional gaps in our male relationships

Researchers suspect that women handle stress in more ways than just fight or flight In fact says Dr Klein of UCLA it seems that when the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress responses in a woman it buffers the fight or flight response and encourages her to tend children and gather with other women When she actually engages in this tending or befriending studies suggest that more oxyto-cin is released which further counters stress and produces a calming effect Men do not have this response due to high levels of testosterone released during stress The estrogen in women seems to enhance the oxytocin and produces a calming effect

It was noted that when the women were stressed they came in to work cleaned the work space had coffee and bonded with other female coworkers When the men were stressed they holed up somewhere on their own and did not interact with coworkers Wow - this part of the study sounds so familiar When I am stressed or have a lot on my mind I get into my cleaning mode or I want to call my sisters These activities help me to think things through and to unwind My husband on the other hand says nothing and he has the unique ability to quietly disappear

It is interesting that nearly 90 of the stress research has been with males With this new research the fact that women respond to stress differently than men has significant implications for our health It may take some time for new studies to reveal all the ways that oxytocin encourages us to care for children and hang out with other women but the ldquotend and befriendrdquo notion developed by Drs Klein and Taylor may explain why women consistently outlive men Study after study has found that social ties reduce our risk of disease by lowering blood pressure heart rate and cholesterol Therersquos no doubt that friends are helping us live longer

Every time we get overly busy with work and family the first thing we do is let go of friendships with other women We push them right to the back burner Thatrsquos really a mistake because women are such a source of strength to each other We nurture one another We need to have unpressured space in which we can do the special kind of talk that women do when theyrsquore with other women Itrsquos a very healing experience

Have you had your much-needed girl time Make this month your month and have a very happy Motherrsquos Day

Julie Mills CMT is owner of Body of Health and Life LLC for more information visit wwwbodyofhealthandlifecom

PAGE 16 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Ashton Pike

ldquoBeauty starts from withinrdquo One may expect a famous womanrsquos name to fol-low this quote but the woman responsible for such accurate words is better than famous She is distinguished After all fame fades but a distinguished woman will be known for years since she will stand out from everyone Hair stylist and salon owner Sudonna Patterson meets these traits and more Being a mom of three young boys an adored wife and a successful entrepreneur Patterson has numerous accomplishments to her name and this is only the beginning

Born and raised in Macon Georgia Patterson practiced the basics of cosmetol-ogy as a young girl when she styled her dollsrsquo hair and when she put rollers in her great auntrsquos hair before bedtime each night Eventually moving from Barbie dolls to actual customers Patterson worked weekends as a shampoo assistant in a hair salon during high school This job led her to pursue a career in cosmetology at Dudleyrsquos Cosmetology University in North Carolina

After graduating Patterson became an instructor for Dudleyrsquos Advanced Cosmetology University and then she took her skills outside national borders as an International Educator Traveling to remarkable locations such as the Bahamas Barbados Aruba and Jamaica Patterson worked to communicate the latest tech-niques in cosmetology through seminars on product knowledge hair care advance cutting and styling techniques

Taking into consideration Pattersonrsquos spontaneous extrovert personality it was no surprise that she met her husband on a blind date in Atlanta while she lived in North Carolina She and her husband are now loving and dedicated parents of three sons Logan 8 and twins Bryce and Blake 4 The family of five resides in Lilburn Georgia where they spend copious amounts of time together either at home or at Peace Baptist Church where they attend regularly

Amid college and starting a family Patterson became an entrepreneur open-ing her own hair salon called Chase Morgan Salon which has been in business for

Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

Diets Donrsquot WorkBy Kelly Farris

Itrsquos that time of year again ndash panic mode has set in and yoursquore trying to get off the winter flub in time for bathing suit season

You might be considering a diet Maybe yoursquore stuck trying to choose between the wide variety of options 17 day cabbage soup weight loss shakes paleo and Atkins just to name a few

Unfortunately none of these work in the long run In fact fad diets can backfire and even contribute to weight gain You donrsquot have to have a perfect diet to have a good diet Eating normal portions of wholesome foods leads to the right body weight

Let your eating habits consist of 85-90 of quality calories with the remaining calories of ldquowhateverrdquo ldquoWhateverrdquo means you can have an orange one day or a cookie the next The trick is not to deprive yourself of foods you really like Sooner or later you will end up binging if you make certain foods taboo Take away the power to binge-eat by eating that certain food more often Chances are seven days of having a cookie for your ldquowhateverrdquo calories will make it less desirable by day eight

I advise all my clients to make breakfast the most important meal of the day I encourage eggs egg substitute turkey sausage veggie sausage grits or oatmeal These are all ldquofill-you-uprdquo foods Start your day with filling healthy foods and yoursquoll set the tone for the rest of your day while reducing sugar cravings

So eat but donrsquot deprive yourself Make good choices

over 10 years Named after her sisterrsquos children Chase and Morgan Chase Morgan Salon as Patterson states ldquohellipwas designed with the client in mind to create quality and efficient hair care services while being a positive environment for women to fellowship and relaxrdquo

Though the salon was origi-nally located in Decatur Georgia Patterson recently moved the loca-tion to Snellville Georgia to live out her dream of opening a conveniently located upscale salon that would allow her to actively participate in her childrenrsquos lives at school

Having been in the cosmetology business for 23 years and counting Patterson is highly dedicated to her career Every day she goes above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction Patterson commented ldquoMy clients tease me because I am known for being the resource lady As a hair stylist clients confide in you about their per-sonal struggles I feel it is my responsibility as a Christian to uplift them and speak positive things into their life that will encourage themrdquo

Being close to clients can also come with a cost According to Patterson the most difficult part of her job is losing faithful clients with the change in the econ-omy and increasing unemployment On one hand she strives to help them until their financial situation is better but on the other Chase Morgan Salon is still an operating business and needs to make a profit in order to stay in business

Though being a successful entrepreneur comes with positive and negative aspects the overall feelings of accomplishment and contentment with the Chase Morgan Salon trumps everything A distinguished devoted and aspiring woman Patterson has become a figure of hope proving that with hard work and dedica-tion a childhood dream can become a reality Pattersonrsquos future at Chase Morgan Salon seems bright ldquoMy goal for the salon is to always create an environment to derive success from teamwork and through education As techniques change and products improve I will prepare stylists through education to satisfy the new demands of clients thus ensuring a successful position in the futurerdquo

For contact information for Sudonna Patterson or information on location and operating hours of Chase Morgan Salon please visit wwwchasemorgansaloncom

One Employee

At a TimeStrengthening

Companies3

ldquoSolving Gwinnett Countyrsquos staffing needs for over 16 yearsrdquo

For client inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at clientsunitedstaffingservicecom

For employment inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at jobsunitedstaffingservicecom

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 17

99centFresh AnnualsStarting at

LLMAY

$5Present this coupon

at time of purchase and save$5 off your purchase

of $30 or more

Excludes seed sod straw sale items gift cardsCannot be combined with any other salecoupon discount promotion or previous purchase1 coupon per familyExpires 52013

SOD BERMUDA ZOYSIA

CENTIPEDE

By the piece or (pre-ordered) pallet

Great Food Amazing EntertainmentRight here in Lilburn

4975 Hwy 78Lilburn GA 30047

770-978-1270Tuesday - Thursday 500 PM - 1200 AM

Friday - Saturday 500 PM - 200 AM Sunday - 500 PM -1100 PM

HAPPY HOUR on Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm - 8pm

$4 OFFAny Meal Purchase over $20 or More

Valid Tues-Thurs 8pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or SunOne coupon per ticket Cannot combine

with any other offers Exp 053113

Visit website for amazing entertainment in Lilburn

httpwwwsunsetsportsbaratlcom

You Canrsquot Get There From Here By Susan Cadley LPC

Have you ever wished you could be like Harry Potter and wave a magic wand to fix a problem or get what you wanted If so you are in good company It is a natural tendency to avoid pain frustration or any feeling that is perceived as ldquobadrdquo It is also natural to have desires and goals for your life But herersquos the truth life is a process and when we resist or deny what we are feeling or what is happening in our life we actually cause ourselves more pain

We are all born with a wide range of emotions and these emotions are mes-sengers If we pay attention to them they have much to share with us We may learn what we react to what beliefs we hold and most importantly where our healing lies When we ignore these messengers they knock louder and harder at our subconscious until they get our attention So instead of working so hard to push emotions away welcome them in as a guest and lean into them You will find that the feelings dissipate and the pain of resistance yoursquove created will be eased

When we want to wish challenges away we lose the richness of life Imagine what it would be like to watch a movie and only view the first and last 10 minutes of the film By skipping the majority of the movie we miss out on the story and the experience as a whole And so it is with life When we wish for our lives to be different than they are we must then let go and live our lives right now with all the seeming imperfections that make up the movie we are living When we wish to go from ldquohererdquo to ldquothererdquo directly we miss out on personal growth

We are all here to learn love live fully and be more of who we are Embrace all of your life right where you are right now Then the real magic will begin

Susan Cadley LPC Licensed Professional Counselor is available for couplesadult individual counseling and creativity workshops in Suwanee GA She may be reached directly and confiden-tially at 678-296-1278 wwwcoaching foryoursoulcom

Fly-Fishing PatagoniaBy Pam Walker

What I know about Fly-Fishing you could put on the head of a straight pin So when asked to visit Patagonia I thought ldquoThis is my chance to learnrdquo

In early March I flew to Buenos Aires Argentina and then on to Bariloche From there I had an hour drive to Villa Angostura Aroyo Verde the famed fly- fishing lodge was further on down a dirt road

No signs No directions We had just a general sense of where we were going Anthony my naturalist guide headed into the Traful river canyon Fifteen minutes later we were greeted first by an authentic gaucho and then by riders on horseback After another 20 minutes we saw along a stream a lovely chalet with a sculpture gar-den Estancia Aroyo Verde

This private fishing and riding estancia is the home of one of Argentinarsquos most elite families Located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park the family-managed lodge hosts visitors from across the globe The Traful River is also home to land-locked salmon brown and rainbow trout This is a catch-and-release river with a season from November through April In this remote setting the fish some reaching 28 in for salmon and 29 in for Rainbows and Browns swim right up to you in the crystal clear water Best of all you need only your favorite fly rod Everything else is avail-able on-site Miles of nothingness surrounds this pristine spot Imagine standing in the river surrounded by the Andes What more could you ask for

Rooms are cozy all with private baths and meals are served family-style If yoursquore lucky join the family for an Argentine-style barbeque (Parillada) cooked outdoors by one of the resi-dent gauchos

Fishing horseback riding and even moun-tain bikes are here for your enjoyment Too bad I had to come back

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant and can be reached at Walker Adventures pliwalkerearthlinknet You can follow her travels by visiting Pamrsquos blog at httpwwwpamwalkersblogspotcom

PAGE 18 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Pastor Paul Ballard

The mission statement of Mountain Park First Baptist Church is to engage every man woman and child by living out Jesusrsquo love and sharing the gospel both locally and globally Since coming to MPFBC in May 2011 senior pastor Paul Ballard has been simple in his approach He has two priorities preaching the gospel and becoming a radiant church by being missional in nature

First Pastor Paul has prioritized the preaching of the gospel of Jesus The gospel is Godrsquos victory over sin and death through the person and work of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 151 says ldquoNow I would remind you brothers of the gospel

I preached to you which you received in which you standhelliprdquo The gospel is not just the entry point into Christianity It is the key to spiritual growth as we stand in Jesusrsquo finished work on the cross and His glorious resurrection

Second because the gospel has radically changed us God has called His people to give Him glory by living radiant lives resulting in missional living The church has moved from an internal to an external emphasis Some of the practical results have been

bull Adopting local fire stations and the Gwinnett South Precinct by providing meals and notes of encouragement

bull Hosting community events like Family Fest on May 4 2013

bull Mentoring ladies from the Atlanta WomenChildren shelter and adopting and fixing up a dorm

bull Offering an ESL program on Wednesdays with a provided meal afterward bull Holding food drives for Lilburn Co-op and providing Christmas for needy

familiesbull Deacons serving at Mountain Park Park in the concession stand so parents

could watch their children playbull Donating over $100000 from financial overages the last two years to support

local and international missions above the normal mission givingGod is at work at Mountain Park First Baptist Church For more information

go to wwwmpfbcorg

Chaplainrsquos Corner

hellipto our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue

Keep them coming

Thanks

Dr Louise DeLong Dr Franccediloise Tyler

ldquoHappy Motherrsquos Day from all of us at The Village Vetsrdquo Dr Will Draper

Dr Carrie McColganDr Amanda Irish

Hours Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm Sat 8am-2pm Sun 12-4pmwwwTheVillageVetscom

770-717-1650

7 Days a Week

1227 Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain(Near the Kroger Shopping Center)

Serving Gwinnett

and Dekalb Counties

Mention this ad for

10 OFFFirst visit

Limit one per household Vaccines and services only Products not included Coupon need not be presented for discount Terms subject to change without

notice at practice discretion By appointment only Expires 053113

Pictured Dr Will Draper with his mother Cheryl and her dogs Dolly and Kali

Page 12: MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

PAGE 12 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ages 6 weeks to 4 years old We implement age appropriate Creative Curriculum in all classes

See our website for details

Register Your Children Today Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

FIVE FORKS ACADEMY Enroll your children at Legacy Academy

3079 Five Forks Trickum RoadLilburn GA 30047

wwwf iveforksacademycom

AJW Enterprises Inc DBA Five Forks Academy

Ann Weeks Owner

Be sure to mention you saw this ad in Our Town Magazine

Caring for childrenages 6 weeks to 4 years

BeforeAfter SchoolPrograms for ages 5-12

Visit us anytime for a personal tour

(770) 982-2000

NEW for 09-10 We will be serving Knight Elementary

amp St John Neumwnn Schools

Before and After School Program for children attending Brookwood Craig Head

and Gwin Oaks Elementary

(770) 982-2000 3079 Five Forks Trickum Road

Lilburn GA 30047

ldquoWe love learning inside and outsiderdquo

wwwfiveforksacademycom

By Hank Cohen

For many decades throughout Gwinnett youth sports have been of major importance to the community Whether the sport is baseball football swimming or one of the many others played in the county Gwinnett has continually been home to some of the best athletes in the state One organization that fosters a large number of stars is the Gwinnett Soccer Association (GSA) GSA located across the street from Parkview High School is dedicated to teaching youths of any age or skill level the rules and techniques of soccer With about 1500 kids and numerous teams at each age level GSA has been a thriving spot for soccer talent in the county

The association is currently led by Chip Stevens and a very talented staff The Girlsrsquo Director of Coaching Campbell Chapman spent ten years playing profes-sional soccer for multiple clubs in England Sweden Finland Malta and Qatar Appointed the Girlsrsquo Director in 2007 Campbell has since coached many state winning teams Nuno Piteira the Boysrsquo Director was the coach of the Charleston Battery professional team where he helped the club to win its first national champi-onship in 1996 When he first moved to Atlanta in 1999 Nuno coached the Atlanta Silverbacks professional team The impact of the Associationrsquos very capable coaches is evident in the talented and highly ranked teams that continue to dominate Currently the boys U15 and U16 have qualified for the national championship in Kansas City GSA currently has four players on US national teams

Each year GSA holds a major tournament where teams from across the Southeast come to compete The GSA Invitational held in December brings about 350-400 teams together Similarly GSA also holds a college showcase to expose col-lege soccer coaches to the extraordinary amount of talent within the organization Coaches from colleges such as Auburn Alabama and UGA have attended to look for future prospects Multiple soccer camps for any skill level also run throughout the year Nuno runs the boysrsquo camps which includes a residency camp at Rinehart College Campbell runs the girlsrsquo camps which include camps throughout the

summer GSA is always seek-ing to reach out to potential players ldquoWe want more kids to play soccer because itrsquos the best sport in the worldrdquo said President Stevens

Since its beginning in 1977 GSA has sought to provide a high quality organization for kids to become engaged in soc-cer Over the years the organi-zation has continuously grown and the association is planning to make changes in the future as well To accommodate the quality talent GSA is updat-ing the fields to provide better complexes for the players The organization will also be host-ing a Junior Academy for 4-8 year olds to teach them the basic skills of soccer and to spark a love for the sport in younger children As the club continues to grow the dedicated staff and coaches of GSA will continue to teach and spread soccer throughout the community Stevens wants to continue this participation in the area he grew up in He is a graduate from Brookwood High School and his wife and children are active at GSA as well The organization has opportunities for every child ldquoItrsquos all about the kidsrdquo Stevens said ldquoFrom young beginners to the elite players GSA has something for everyonerdquo

Gwinnett Soccer Association Itrsquos All About the Kids

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 13

BARBERSHOP

770-923-32165385 Five Forks Trickum Rd bull Suite M

Stone Mountain GA 30087In Mountain Park Plaza between

Always Fresh Restaurant and Mountain Park FitnessOPEN MON - FRI 10AM-6PM SAT 10AM-3PM

Chrisrsquo

Serving the Lilburn area for over 20 years

Best Haircuts in TownNO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY

Walgreen

Always Fresh Restaurant

Mountain Park Fitness

Five Forks Trickum Rd

Rock

brid

ge R

d

Kroger

Plaza Chrisrsquo Barber Shop

Kidrsquos Discount for May

Part-time Barber Needed

Beautiful Gated Neighborhood for Active Adults Homes amp Villas from the $200s

Visit our Decorated Model Homes Today1950 Grayson Hwy | Grayson GA 30017

OldeTownGraysoncom bull 6787297250

Gracious Hometown Living

Olde Town Graysonrsquos Sales Are Booming

Pick Your Lot Pick Your Floor Plan

Understanding Sunscreen Protection

By Chrissy Thomas RN BSN

In June 2011 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new requirements for over-the-counter sunscreens These rules were put into place to ensure that sunscreens meet todayrsquos standards for safety and effectiveness The fol-lowing is an outline of some of the more important details for consumers to know when choosing sunscreen products

The primary purpose of the FDArsquos changes is to guarantee that sunscreen products are providing adequate protection Previously the Sun Protection Factors (SPFs) dealt with UVB (ultraviolet B) protection only This means that the risk of sunburn was the only factor considered on the label Now we know that much of the sunrsquos risk lies in UVA (ultraviolet A) radiation which contributes to skin cancer and early aging

After reviewing data the FDA determined that sufficient evidence is available to establish a ldquobroad spectrumrdquo test for determining a sunscreen productrsquos UVA protection By passing the broad spectrum test a consumer knows that the product will provide UVA protection that is proportional to its UVB protection Products that pass this test are going to be labeled as ldquobroad spectrumrdquo These products must be a SPF of 15 or higher to adequately protect the skin

Broad spectrum products SPF 15 or higher have been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging when used with other sun protection measures

Still the meaning of SPF confuses some All sun protection products are tested with a SPF test procedure The test measures the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation expo-sure it takes to cause sunburn when a person is using a sunscreen in comparison to how much UV exposure it takes to cause sunburn without sunscreen The product is then labeled with the appropriate SPF value indicating the amount of sunburn protection provided by the product Higher values provide higher protection Because this test is a measure of protection against sunburn itrsquos an indicator of UVB only With the new broad spectrum test SPFs with a higher UVB rating will also have a higher UVA value

Often new clients to About Face Skin Care donrsquot realize that UV protection should be worn on the face and neck daily to avoid dam-aging UV rays from windows in the home or

car -- or even the minimal time spent walking to the mailbox A moisturizer with a UVBUVA factor of 15 or higher will protect the accumulation that inevitably happens from these exposures Itrsquos been determined that by yearrsquos end not wearing daily SPF protection can equal a week at the beach unprotected

Physical blocks such as clothing provide some protection but our faces are constantly exposed And makeup is not a sunblock If your makeup offers UV pro-tection it should be counted as an extra layer Sun protection in makeup according to the Skin Cancer Foundation is the productrsquos secondary purpose Even though some makeup has sunscreen ingredients it doesnrsquot have the proper amount of cov-erage or the capabilities to protect against UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays

Additionally for most people one needs to use 7-14 times the normal amount of powder or foundation to get the SPF coverage stated on the makeup packaging

Just as important donrsquot forget to protect your lips Glosses without SPF react like tanning oil on the lips Skin cancers in this area are becoming more common not to mention the unattractive ldquosmokers linesrdquo that form as the delicate tissues of the lips and surrounding areas are damaged

About Face Skin Care has an array of high-quality products to give you superior protection while offering cosmeceutically-pleasing benefits

If you would like to explore the options of sun protection and other products and treatments offered by About Face schedule your free consultation appointment at 770-935-FACE(3223) or online at wwwaboutfaceskincom We look forward to meeting you

PAGE 14 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Fall in Love with your bodyagain

ldquowhere the beauty you feel becomes the beauty you seerdquo

Complimentary Cosmetic Consultation

Earl Stephenson Jr MD DDS FACS Plastic Surgeon Certified American Board of Plastic Surgery

Breast Augmentation

Liposuction

Tummy Tuck

Gluteal Sculpting and Fat Grafting

(770) 466-4700

84 Patterson RoadLawrenceville GA 30044

770-995-0836pebblestonelandscapegroupcom

Pebblestone Landscape Group is a full service landscape management provider since 1994 Meeting the landscaping needs and requirements for the management groups such as yourself We help our clients increase the appeal of their property to potential customers

bull DesignBuildbull Irrigationbull Landscape Installationbull Lawn Maintenance

bull Seasonal Colorbull Site Enhancementsbull Turf Fertilization Programs

bull bull bull bull bull bull bull bull bull bull

This Summer Prepare to Start School Sharp

By Carol Wood

Woohoo School is out for the summer so learning can stop right Wrong Summertime provides the BEST opportunity for students to enrich their academic skills if they desire to get ahead before school begins again or to catch up on skills if they ended the school year below average If students fall behind during the school year they must catch up with what they have missed AND keep up with what is being taught on a day-by-day basis This is difficult to do and can be stress-ful So summertime is the best time for parents to give their student the oppor-tunity to do what they cannot easily do during the school year CATCH UP or MOVE AHEAD in their academics and solve their STUDY SKILL weaknesses

First locate your childrsquos recent school standardized test scores and examine your childrsquos levels compared to hisher grade level This can be located in the column that reads ldquoGErdquo for grade equivalency or ldquoPRrdquo for percentile Scores below the 50th percentile or below their grade and month level in the GE column when the tests were administered are the ones in which the student was performing below average at that time Scores above the 50th percentile or above his or her grade level show performance above average therefore summer tutoring could entail enrichment work to maintain skills or further build on the studentrsquos strengths in preparation for the next school year By examining your childrsquos most recent test scores and determin-ing which areas are below on or above average you will then know which academic areas to build upon so your student can START SCHOOL SHARP

Next locate professional educational resources with a track record of success should you decide to teach your children at home Purchase the appropriate levels of materials and teach your child using an established consistent weekly schedule Do not allow the student to skip around within workbooks and complete the ldquofunrdquo pages first as the material is purposefully presented in a sequential order Select a study place for each student which is equipped with the learning supplies and tools needed If you do not feel qualified to teach or you do not have the necessary patience with your own child which is not uncommon then seek a full-time professional and experienced educational center Schedule summer learning sessions on a consistent weekly basis with the same degreed and experienced instructor who utilizes nation-ally recognized materials and proven teaching methods Individualized instruction is best in an environment free from distractions and interruptions A professional center is usually preferred since it focuses on providing an ideal learning environment has many quality control measures to insure student improvement is maximized and has a reputation and level of accountability to maintain in order to remain in business Know the credentials of the instructor such as his or her areas of teaching experience and educational degree and match this with your studentrsquos academic area of summer instruction Ask for references and contact them to learn about their experience with the professional center you are considering Request to see the instructional area and observe sessions in progress

Remember SUMMER is the most ideal time for students to get a JUMP START on the next school year

Carol Wood is the founder and owner of Total Learning Concepts Inc a private profes-sional tutorial service located in Gwinnett County Please email questions to ccwoodbellsouthnet or fax to 770-381-1626

MAYCROSSWORDSOLUTION

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 15

1319 Scenic Highway n Lawrenceville GA 30045 n 770-979-9490At the intersection of Hwy 124 amp Webb Gin House Road

Join Us For Lunch

Daily Specials from $325

Fax 770-979-9590 Take-Out Orders

FREE CHEESE DIP

With Any Food Purchase over $20Valid Mon-Thurs 3pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or Sun

One coupon per ticket Cannot combine with any other offers Exp 053113

DINNER SPECIAL$4 Off

With Any Food Purchase over $20Valid Mon-Thurs 3pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or Sun

One coupon per ticket Cannot combine with any other offers Exp 053113

Join us

for Lunch

ldquoGirl Timerdquo Is ImportantBy Julie Mills

As I sit and think about this yearrsquos Motherrsquos Day I thought I would take a few moments to emphasis the importance of ldquogirl timerdquo I feel so lucky that my work allows me to experience wonderful bonding with my female clients When receiv-ing body work many emotions are released Our bodies are wired to keep our emotions in and they manifest in the form of knots aches pains and sometimes even disease Part of my job is to provide a safe space for my clients to let those emotions go and to begin healing from the inside out Letrsquos talk about how women are wired and why it is so important for us to have friendships

As a woman I already knew that my ldquogirl timerdquo was important and actually kept my sanity at times However I did some research and found a landmark UCLA study that suggests friendships between women are very special They shape who we are and who we are yet to be They soothe our inner world and fill the emo-tional gaps in our male relationships

Researchers suspect that women handle stress in more ways than just fight or flight In fact says Dr Klein of UCLA it seems that when the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress responses in a woman it buffers the fight or flight response and encourages her to tend children and gather with other women When she actually engages in this tending or befriending studies suggest that more oxyto-cin is released which further counters stress and produces a calming effect Men do not have this response due to high levels of testosterone released during stress The estrogen in women seems to enhance the oxytocin and produces a calming effect

It was noted that when the women were stressed they came in to work cleaned the work space had coffee and bonded with other female coworkers When the men were stressed they holed up somewhere on their own and did not interact with coworkers Wow - this part of the study sounds so familiar When I am stressed or have a lot on my mind I get into my cleaning mode or I want to call my sisters These activities help me to think things through and to unwind My husband on the other hand says nothing and he has the unique ability to quietly disappear

It is interesting that nearly 90 of the stress research has been with males With this new research the fact that women respond to stress differently than men has significant implications for our health It may take some time for new studies to reveal all the ways that oxytocin encourages us to care for children and hang out with other women but the ldquotend and befriendrdquo notion developed by Drs Klein and Taylor may explain why women consistently outlive men Study after study has found that social ties reduce our risk of disease by lowering blood pressure heart rate and cholesterol Therersquos no doubt that friends are helping us live longer

Every time we get overly busy with work and family the first thing we do is let go of friendships with other women We push them right to the back burner Thatrsquos really a mistake because women are such a source of strength to each other We nurture one another We need to have unpressured space in which we can do the special kind of talk that women do when theyrsquore with other women Itrsquos a very healing experience

Have you had your much-needed girl time Make this month your month and have a very happy Motherrsquos Day

Julie Mills CMT is owner of Body of Health and Life LLC for more information visit wwwbodyofhealthandlifecom

PAGE 16 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Ashton Pike

ldquoBeauty starts from withinrdquo One may expect a famous womanrsquos name to fol-low this quote but the woman responsible for such accurate words is better than famous She is distinguished After all fame fades but a distinguished woman will be known for years since she will stand out from everyone Hair stylist and salon owner Sudonna Patterson meets these traits and more Being a mom of three young boys an adored wife and a successful entrepreneur Patterson has numerous accomplishments to her name and this is only the beginning

Born and raised in Macon Georgia Patterson practiced the basics of cosmetol-ogy as a young girl when she styled her dollsrsquo hair and when she put rollers in her great auntrsquos hair before bedtime each night Eventually moving from Barbie dolls to actual customers Patterson worked weekends as a shampoo assistant in a hair salon during high school This job led her to pursue a career in cosmetology at Dudleyrsquos Cosmetology University in North Carolina

After graduating Patterson became an instructor for Dudleyrsquos Advanced Cosmetology University and then she took her skills outside national borders as an International Educator Traveling to remarkable locations such as the Bahamas Barbados Aruba and Jamaica Patterson worked to communicate the latest tech-niques in cosmetology through seminars on product knowledge hair care advance cutting and styling techniques

Taking into consideration Pattersonrsquos spontaneous extrovert personality it was no surprise that she met her husband on a blind date in Atlanta while she lived in North Carolina She and her husband are now loving and dedicated parents of three sons Logan 8 and twins Bryce and Blake 4 The family of five resides in Lilburn Georgia where they spend copious amounts of time together either at home or at Peace Baptist Church where they attend regularly

Amid college and starting a family Patterson became an entrepreneur open-ing her own hair salon called Chase Morgan Salon which has been in business for

Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

Diets Donrsquot WorkBy Kelly Farris

Itrsquos that time of year again ndash panic mode has set in and yoursquore trying to get off the winter flub in time for bathing suit season

You might be considering a diet Maybe yoursquore stuck trying to choose between the wide variety of options 17 day cabbage soup weight loss shakes paleo and Atkins just to name a few

Unfortunately none of these work in the long run In fact fad diets can backfire and even contribute to weight gain You donrsquot have to have a perfect diet to have a good diet Eating normal portions of wholesome foods leads to the right body weight

Let your eating habits consist of 85-90 of quality calories with the remaining calories of ldquowhateverrdquo ldquoWhateverrdquo means you can have an orange one day or a cookie the next The trick is not to deprive yourself of foods you really like Sooner or later you will end up binging if you make certain foods taboo Take away the power to binge-eat by eating that certain food more often Chances are seven days of having a cookie for your ldquowhateverrdquo calories will make it less desirable by day eight

I advise all my clients to make breakfast the most important meal of the day I encourage eggs egg substitute turkey sausage veggie sausage grits or oatmeal These are all ldquofill-you-uprdquo foods Start your day with filling healthy foods and yoursquoll set the tone for the rest of your day while reducing sugar cravings

So eat but donrsquot deprive yourself Make good choices

over 10 years Named after her sisterrsquos children Chase and Morgan Chase Morgan Salon as Patterson states ldquohellipwas designed with the client in mind to create quality and efficient hair care services while being a positive environment for women to fellowship and relaxrdquo

Though the salon was origi-nally located in Decatur Georgia Patterson recently moved the loca-tion to Snellville Georgia to live out her dream of opening a conveniently located upscale salon that would allow her to actively participate in her childrenrsquos lives at school

Having been in the cosmetology business for 23 years and counting Patterson is highly dedicated to her career Every day she goes above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction Patterson commented ldquoMy clients tease me because I am known for being the resource lady As a hair stylist clients confide in you about their per-sonal struggles I feel it is my responsibility as a Christian to uplift them and speak positive things into their life that will encourage themrdquo

Being close to clients can also come with a cost According to Patterson the most difficult part of her job is losing faithful clients with the change in the econ-omy and increasing unemployment On one hand she strives to help them until their financial situation is better but on the other Chase Morgan Salon is still an operating business and needs to make a profit in order to stay in business

Though being a successful entrepreneur comes with positive and negative aspects the overall feelings of accomplishment and contentment with the Chase Morgan Salon trumps everything A distinguished devoted and aspiring woman Patterson has become a figure of hope proving that with hard work and dedica-tion a childhood dream can become a reality Pattersonrsquos future at Chase Morgan Salon seems bright ldquoMy goal for the salon is to always create an environment to derive success from teamwork and through education As techniques change and products improve I will prepare stylists through education to satisfy the new demands of clients thus ensuring a successful position in the futurerdquo

For contact information for Sudonna Patterson or information on location and operating hours of Chase Morgan Salon please visit wwwchasemorgansaloncom

One Employee

At a TimeStrengthening

Companies3

ldquoSolving Gwinnett Countyrsquos staffing needs for over 16 yearsrdquo

For client inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at clientsunitedstaffingservicecom

For employment inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at jobsunitedstaffingservicecom

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 17

99centFresh AnnualsStarting at

LLMAY

$5Present this coupon

at time of purchase and save$5 off your purchase

of $30 or more

Excludes seed sod straw sale items gift cardsCannot be combined with any other salecoupon discount promotion or previous purchase1 coupon per familyExpires 52013

SOD BERMUDA ZOYSIA

CENTIPEDE

By the piece or (pre-ordered) pallet

Great Food Amazing EntertainmentRight here in Lilburn

4975 Hwy 78Lilburn GA 30047

770-978-1270Tuesday - Thursday 500 PM - 1200 AM

Friday - Saturday 500 PM - 200 AM Sunday - 500 PM -1100 PM

HAPPY HOUR on Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm - 8pm

$4 OFFAny Meal Purchase over $20 or More

Valid Tues-Thurs 8pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or SunOne coupon per ticket Cannot combine

with any other offers Exp 053113

Visit website for amazing entertainment in Lilburn

httpwwwsunsetsportsbaratlcom

You Canrsquot Get There From Here By Susan Cadley LPC

Have you ever wished you could be like Harry Potter and wave a magic wand to fix a problem or get what you wanted If so you are in good company It is a natural tendency to avoid pain frustration or any feeling that is perceived as ldquobadrdquo It is also natural to have desires and goals for your life But herersquos the truth life is a process and when we resist or deny what we are feeling or what is happening in our life we actually cause ourselves more pain

We are all born with a wide range of emotions and these emotions are mes-sengers If we pay attention to them they have much to share with us We may learn what we react to what beliefs we hold and most importantly where our healing lies When we ignore these messengers they knock louder and harder at our subconscious until they get our attention So instead of working so hard to push emotions away welcome them in as a guest and lean into them You will find that the feelings dissipate and the pain of resistance yoursquove created will be eased

When we want to wish challenges away we lose the richness of life Imagine what it would be like to watch a movie and only view the first and last 10 minutes of the film By skipping the majority of the movie we miss out on the story and the experience as a whole And so it is with life When we wish for our lives to be different than they are we must then let go and live our lives right now with all the seeming imperfections that make up the movie we are living When we wish to go from ldquohererdquo to ldquothererdquo directly we miss out on personal growth

We are all here to learn love live fully and be more of who we are Embrace all of your life right where you are right now Then the real magic will begin

Susan Cadley LPC Licensed Professional Counselor is available for couplesadult individual counseling and creativity workshops in Suwanee GA She may be reached directly and confiden-tially at 678-296-1278 wwwcoaching foryoursoulcom

Fly-Fishing PatagoniaBy Pam Walker

What I know about Fly-Fishing you could put on the head of a straight pin So when asked to visit Patagonia I thought ldquoThis is my chance to learnrdquo

In early March I flew to Buenos Aires Argentina and then on to Bariloche From there I had an hour drive to Villa Angostura Aroyo Verde the famed fly- fishing lodge was further on down a dirt road

No signs No directions We had just a general sense of where we were going Anthony my naturalist guide headed into the Traful river canyon Fifteen minutes later we were greeted first by an authentic gaucho and then by riders on horseback After another 20 minutes we saw along a stream a lovely chalet with a sculpture gar-den Estancia Aroyo Verde

This private fishing and riding estancia is the home of one of Argentinarsquos most elite families Located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park the family-managed lodge hosts visitors from across the globe The Traful River is also home to land-locked salmon brown and rainbow trout This is a catch-and-release river with a season from November through April In this remote setting the fish some reaching 28 in for salmon and 29 in for Rainbows and Browns swim right up to you in the crystal clear water Best of all you need only your favorite fly rod Everything else is avail-able on-site Miles of nothingness surrounds this pristine spot Imagine standing in the river surrounded by the Andes What more could you ask for

Rooms are cozy all with private baths and meals are served family-style If yoursquore lucky join the family for an Argentine-style barbeque (Parillada) cooked outdoors by one of the resi-dent gauchos

Fishing horseback riding and even moun-tain bikes are here for your enjoyment Too bad I had to come back

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant and can be reached at Walker Adventures pliwalkerearthlinknet You can follow her travels by visiting Pamrsquos blog at httpwwwpamwalkersblogspotcom

PAGE 18 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Pastor Paul Ballard

The mission statement of Mountain Park First Baptist Church is to engage every man woman and child by living out Jesusrsquo love and sharing the gospel both locally and globally Since coming to MPFBC in May 2011 senior pastor Paul Ballard has been simple in his approach He has two priorities preaching the gospel and becoming a radiant church by being missional in nature

First Pastor Paul has prioritized the preaching of the gospel of Jesus The gospel is Godrsquos victory over sin and death through the person and work of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 151 says ldquoNow I would remind you brothers of the gospel

I preached to you which you received in which you standhelliprdquo The gospel is not just the entry point into Christianity It is the key to spiritual growth as we stand in Jesusrsquo finished work on the cross and His glorious resurrection

Second because the gospel has radically changed us God has called His people to give Him glory by living radiant lives resulting in missional living The church has moved from an internal to an external emphasis Some of the practical results have been

bull Adopting local fire stations and the Gwinnett South Precinct by providing meals and notes of encouragement

bull Hosting community events like Family Fest on May 4 2013

bull Mentoring ladies from the Atlanta WomenChildren shelter and adopting and fixing up a dorm

bull Offering an ESL program on Wednesdays with a provided meal afterward bull Holding food drives for Lilburn Co-op and providing Christmas for needy

familiesbull Deacons serving at Mountain Park Park in the concession stand so parents

could watch their children playbull Donating over $100000 from financial overages the last two years to support

local and international missions above the normal mission givingGod is at work at Mountain Park First Baptist Church For more information

go to wwwmpfbcorg

Chaplainrsquos Corner

hellipto our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue

Keep them coming

Thanks

Dr Louise DeLong Dr Franccediloise Tyler

ldquoHappy Motherrsquos Day from all of us at The Village Vetsrdquo Dr Will Draper

Dr Carrie McColganDr Amanda Irish

Hours Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm Sat 8am-2pm Sun 12-4pmwwwTheVillageVetscom

770-717-1650

7 Days a Week

1227 Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain(Near the Kroger Shopping Center)

Serving Gwinnett

and Dekalb Counties

Mention this ad for

10 OFFFirst visit

Limit one per household Vaccines and services only Products not included Coupon need not be presented for discount Terms subject to change without

notice at practice discretion By appointment only Expires 053113

Pictured Dr Will Draper with his mother Cheryl and her dogs Dolly and Kali

Page 13: MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 13

BARBERSHOP

770-923-32165385 Five Forks Trickum Rd bull Suite M

Stone Mountain GA 30087In Mountain Park Plaza between

Always Fresh Restaurant and Mountain Park FitnessOPEN MON - FRI 10AM-6PM SAT 10AM-3PM

Chrisrsquo

Serving the Lilburn area for over 20 years

Best Haircuts in TownNO APPOINTMENTS NECESSARY

Walgreen

Always Fresh Restaurant

Mountain Park Fitness

Five Forks Trickum Rd

Rock

brid

ge R

d

Kroger

Plaza Chrisrsquo Barber Shop

Kidrsquos Discount for May

Part-time Barber Needed

Beautiful Gated Neighborhood for Active Adults Homes amp Villas from the $200s

Visit our Decorated Model Homes Today1950 Grayson Hwy | Grayson GA 30017

OldeTownGraysoncom bull 6787297250

Gracious Hometown Living

Olde Town Graysonrsquos Sales Are Booming

Pick Your Lot Pick Your Floor Plan

Understanding Sunscreen Protection

By Chrissy Thomas RN BSN

In June 2011 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced new requirements for over-the-counter sunscreens These rules were put into place to ensure that sunscreens meet todayrsquos standards for safety and effectiveness The fol-lowing is an outline of some of the more important details for consumers to know when choosing sunscreen products

The primary purpose of the FDArsquos changes is to guarantee that sunscreen products are providing adequate protection Previously the Sun Protection Factors (SPFs) dealt with UVB (ultraviolet B) protection only This means that the risk of sunburn was the only factor considered on the label Now we know that much of the sunrsquos risk lies in UVA (ultraviolet A) radiation which contributes to skin cancer and early aging

After reviewing data the FDA determined that sufficient evidence is available to establish a ldquobroad spectrumrdquo test for determining a sunscreen productrsquos UVA protection By passing the broad spectrum test a consumer knows that the product will provide UVA protection that is proportional to its UVB protection Products that pass this test are going to be labeled as ldquobroad spectrumrdquo These products must be a SPF of 15 or higher to adequately protect the skin

Broad spectrum products SPF 15 or higher have been shown to reduce the risk of skin cancer and early skin aging when used with other sun protection measures

Still the meaning of SPF confuses some All sun protection products are tested with a SPF test procedure The test measures the amount of ultraviolet (UV) radiation expo-sure it takes to cause sunburn when a person is using a sunscreen in comparison to how much UV exposure it takes to cause sunburn without sunscreen The product is then labeled with the appropriate SPF value indicating the amount of sunburn protection provided by the product Higher values provide higher protection Because this test is a measure of protection against sunburn itrsquos an indicator of UVB only With the new broad spectrum test SPFs with a higher UVB rating will also have a higher UVA value

Often new clients to About Face Skin Care donrsquot realize that UV protection should be worn on the face and neck daily to avoid dam-aging UV rays from windows in the home or

car -- or even the minimal time spent walking to the mailbox A moisturizer with a UVBUVA factor of 15 or higher will protect the accumulation that inevitably happens from these exposures Itrsquos been determined that by yearrsquos end not wearing daily SPF protection can equal a week at the beach unprotected

Physical blocks such as clothing provide some protection but our faces are constantly exposed And makeup is not a sunblock If your makeup offers UV pro-tection it should be counted as an extra layer Sun protection in makeup according to the Skin Cancer Foundation is the productrsquos secondary purpose Even though some makeup has sunscreen ingredients it doesnrsquot have the proper amount of cov-erage or the capabilities to protect against UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays

Additionally for most people one needs to use 7-14 times the normal amount of powder or foundation to get the SPF coverage stated on the makeup packaging

Just as important donrsquot forget to protect your lips Glosses without SPF react like tanning oil on the lips Skin cancers in this area are becoming more common not to mention the unattractive ldquosmokers linesrdquo that form as the delicate tissues of the lips and surrounding areas are damaged

About Face Skin Care has an array of high-quality products to give you superior protection while offering cosmeceutically-pleasing benefits

If you would like to explore the options of sun protection and other products and treatments offered by About Face schedule your free consultation appointment at 770-935-FACE(3223) or online at wwwaboutfaceskincom We look forward to meeting you

PAGE 14 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Fall in Love with your bodyagain

ldquowhere the beauty you feel becomes the beauty you seerdquo

Complimentary Cosmetic Consultation

Earl Stephenson Jr MD DDS FACS Plastic Surgeon Certified American Board of Plastic Surgery

Breast Augmentation

Liposuction

Tummy Tuck

Gluteal Sculpting and Fat Grafting

(770) 466-4700

84 Patterson RoadLawrenceville GA 30044

770-995-0836pebblestonelandscapegroupcom

Pebblestone Landscape Group is a full service landscape management provider since 1994 Meeting the landscaping needs and requirements for the management groups such as yourself We help our clients increase the appeal of their property to potential customers

bull DesignBuildbull Irrigationbull Landscape Installationbull Lawn Maintenance

bull Seasonal Colorbull Site Enhancementsbull Turf Fertilization Programs

bull bull bull bull bull bull bull bull bull bull

This Summer Prepare to Start School Sharp

By Carol Wood

Woohoo School is out for the summer so learning can stop right Wrong Summertime provides the BEST opportunity for students to enrich their academic skills if they desire to get ahead before school begins again or to catch up on skills if they ended the school year below average If students fall behind during the school year they must catch up with what they have missed AND keep up with what is being taught on a day-by-day basis This is difficult to do and can be stress-ful So summertime is the best time for parents to give their student the oppor-tunity to do what they cannot easily do during the school year CATCH UP or MOVE AHEAD in their academics and solve their STUDY SKILL weaknesses

First locate your childrsquos recent school standardized test scores and examine your childrsquos levels compared to hisher grade level This can be located in the column that reads ldquoGErdquo for grade equivalency or ldquoPRrdquo for percentile Scores below the 50th percentile or below their grade and month level in the GE column when the tests were administered are the ones in which the student was performing below average at that time Scores above the 50th percentile or above his or her grade level show performance above average therefore summer tutoring could entail enrichment work to maintain skills or further build on the studentrsquos strengths in preparation for the next school year By examining your childrsquos most recent test scores and determin-ing which areas are below on or above average you will then know which academic areas to build upon so your student can START SCHOOL SHARP

Next locate professional educational resources with a track record of success should you decide to teach your children at home Purchase the appropriate levels of materials and teach your child using an established consistent weekly schedule Do not allow the student to skip around within workbooks and complete the ldquofunrdquo pages first as the material is purposefully presented in a sequential order Select a study place for each student which is equipped with the learning supplies and tools needed If you do not feel qualified to teach or you do not have the necessary patience with your own child which is not uncommon then seek a full-time professional and experienced educational center Schedule summer learning sessions on a consistent weekly basis with the same degreed and experienced instructor who utilizes nation-ally recognized materials and proven teaching methods Individualized instruction is best in an environment free from distractions and interruptions A professional center is usually preferred since it focuses on providing an ideal learning environment has many quality control measures to insure student improvement is maximized and has a reputation and level of accountability to maintain in order to remain in business Know the credentials of the instructor such as his or her areas of teaching experience and educational degree and match this with your studentrsquos academic area of summer instruction Ask for references and contact them to learn about their experience with the professional center you are considering Request to see the instructional area and observe sessions in progress

Remember SUMMER is the most ideal time for students to get a JUMP START on the next school year

Carol Wood is the founder and owner of Total Learning Concepts Inc a private profes-sional tutorial service located in Gwinnett County Please email questions to ccwoodbellsouthnet or fax to 770-381-1626

MAYCROSSWORDSOLUTION

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 15

1319 Scenic Highway n Lawrenceville GA 30045 n 770-979-9490At the intersection of Hwy 124 amp Webb Gin House Road

Join Us For Lunch

Daily Specials from $325

Fax 770-979-9590 Take-Out Orders

FREE CHEESE DIP

With Any Food Purchase over $20Valid Mon-Thurs 3pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or Sun

One coupon per ticket Cannot combine with any other offers Exp 053113

DINNER SPECIAL$4 Off

With Any Food Purchase over $20Valid Mon-Thurs 3pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or Sun

One coupon per ticket Cannot combine with any other offers Exp 053113

Join us

for Lunch

ldquoGirl Timerdquo Is ImportantBy Julie Mills

As I sit and think about this yearrsquos Motherrsquos Day I thought I would take a few moments to emphasis the importance of ldquogirl timerdquo I feel so lucky that my work allows me to experience wonderful bonding with my female clients When receiv-ing body work many emotions are released Our bodies are wired to keep our emotions in and they manifest in the form of knots aches pains and sometimes even disease Part of my job is to provide a safe space for my clients to let those emotions go and to begin healing from the inside out Letrsquos talk about how women are wired and why it is so important for us to have friendships

As a woman I already knew that my ldquogirl timerdquo was important and actually kept my sanity at times However I did some research and found a landmark UCLA study that suggests friendships between women are very special They shape who we are and who we are yet to be They soothe our inner world and fill the emo-tional gaps in our male relationships

Researchers suspect that women handle stress in more ways than just fight or flight In fact says Dr Klein of UCLA it seems that when the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress responses in a woman it buffers the fight or flight response and encourages her to tend children and gather with other women When she actually engages in this tending or befriending studies suggest that more oxyto-cin is released which further counters stress and produces a calming effect Men do not have this response due to high levels of testosterone released during stress The estrogen in women seems to enhance the oxytocin and produces a calming effect

It was noted that when the women were stressed they came in to work cleaned the work space had coffee and bonded with other female coworkers When the men were stressed they holed up somewhere on their own and did not interact with coworkers Wow - this part of the study sounds so familiar When I am stressed or have a lot on my mind I get into my cleaning mode or I want to call my sisters These activities help me to think things through and to unwind My husband on the other hand says nothing and he has the unique ability to quietly disappear

It is interesting that nearly 90 of the stress research has been with males With this new research the fact that women respond to stress differently than men has significant implications for our health It may take some time for new studies to reveal all the ways that oxytocin encourages us to care for children and hang out with other women but the ldquotend and befriendrdquo notion developed by Drs Klein and Taylor may explain why women consistently outlive men Study after study has found that social ties reduce our risk of disease by lowering blood pressure heart rate and cholesterol Therersquos no doubt that friends are helping us live longer

Every time we get overly busy with work and family the first thing we do is let go of friendships with other women We push them right to the back burner Thatrsquos really a mistake because women are such a source of strength to each other We nurture one another We need to have unpressured space in which we can do the special kind of talk that women do when theyrsquore with other women Itrsquos a very healing experience

Have you had your much-needed girl time Make this month your month and have a very happy Motherrsquos Day

Julie Mills CMT is owner of Body of Health and Life LLC for more information visit wwwbodyofhealthandlifecom

PAGE 16 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Ashton Pike

ldquoBeauty starts from withinrdquo One may expect a famous womanrsquos name to fol-low this quote but the woman responsible for such accurate words is better than famous She is distinguished After all fame fades but a distinguished woman will be known for years since she will stand out from everyone Hair stylist and salon owner Sudonna Patterson meets these traits and more Being a mom of three young boys an adored wife and a successful entrepreneur Patterson has numerous accomplishments to her name and this is only the beginning

Born and raised in Macon Georgia Patterson practiced the basics of cosmetol-ogy as a young girl when she styled her dollsrsquo hair and when she put rollers in her great auntrsquos hair before bedtime each night Eventually moving from Barbie dolls to actual customers Patterson worked weekends as a shampoo assistant in a hair salon during high school This job led her to pursue a career in cosmetology at Dudleyrsquos Cosmetology University in North Carolina

After graduating Patterson became an instructor for Dudleyrsquos Advanced Cosmetology University and then she took her skills outside national borders as an International Educator Traveling to remarkable locations such as the Bahamas Barbados Aruba and Jamaica Patterson worked to communicate the latest tech-niques in cosmetology through seminars on product knowledge hair care advance cutting and styling techniques

Taking into consideration Pattersonrsquos spontaneous extrovert personality it was no surprise that she met her husband on a blind date in Atlanta while she lived in North Carolina She and her husband are now loving and dedicated parents of three sons Logan 8 and twins Bryce and Blake 4 The family of five resides in Lilburn Georgia where they spend copious amounts of time together either at home or at Peace Baptist Church where they attend regularly

Amid college and starting a family Patterson became an entrepreneur open-ing her own hair salon called Chase Morgan Salon which has been in business for

Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

Diets Donrsquot WorkBy Kelly Farris

Itrsquos that time of year again ndash panic mode has set in and yoursquore trying to get off the winter flub in time for bathing suit season

You might be considering a diet Maybe yoursquore stuck trying to choose between the wide variety of options 17 day cabbage soup weight loss shakes paleo and Atkins just to name a few

Unfortunately none of these work in the long run In fact fad diets can backfire and even contribute to weight gain You donrsquot have to have a perfect diet to have a good diet Eating normal portions of wholesome foods leads to the right body weight

Let your eating habits consist of 85-90 of quality calories with the remaining calories of ldquowhateverrdquo ldquoWhateverrdquo means you can have an orange one day or a cookie the next The trick is not to deprive yourself of foods you really like Sooner or later you will end up binging if you make certain foods taboo Take away the power to binge-eat by eating that certain food more often Chances are seven days of having a cookie for your ldquowhateverrdquo calories will make it less desirable by day eight

I advise all my clients to make breakfast the most important meal of the day I encourage eggs egg substitute turkey sausage veggie sausage grits or oatmeal These are all ldquofill-you-uprdquo foods Start your day with filling healthy foods and yoursquoll set the tone for the rest of your day while reducing sugar cravings

So eat but donrsquot deprive yourself Make good choices

over 10 years Named after her sisterrsquos children Chase and Morgan Chase Morgan Salon as Patterson states ldquohellipwas designed with the client in mind to create quality and efficient hair care services while being a positive environment for women to fellowship and relaxrdquo

Though the salon was origi-nally located in Decatur Georgia Patterson recently moved the loca-tion to Snellville Georgia to live out her dream of opening a conveniently located upscale salon that would allow her to actively participate in her childrenrsquos lives at school

Having been in the cosmetology business for 23 years and counting Patterson is highly dedicated to her career Every day she goes above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction Patterson commented ldquoMy clients tease me because I am known for being the resource lady As a hair stylist clients confide in you about their per-sonal struggles I feel it is my responsibility as a Christian to uplift them and speak positive things into their life that will encourage themrdquo

Being close to clients can also come with a cost According to Patterson the most difficult part of her job is losing faithful clients with the change in the econ-omy and increasing unemployment On one hand she strives to help them until their financial situation is better but on the other Chase Morgan Salon is still an operating business and needs to make a profit in order to stay in business

Though being a successful entrepreneur comes with positive and negative aspects the overall feelings of accomplishment and contentment with the Chase Morgan Salon trumps everything A distinguished devoted and aspiring woman Patterson has become a figure of hope proving that with hard work and dedica-tion a childhood dream can become a reality Pattersonrsquos future at Chase Morgan Salon seems bright ldquoMy goal for the salon is to always create an environment to derive success from teamwork and through education As techniques change and products improve I will prepare stylists through education to satisfy the new demands of clients thus ensuring a successful position in the futurerdquo

For contact information for Sudonna Patterson or information on location and operating hours of Chase Morgan Salon please visit wwwchasemorgansaloncom

One Employee

At a TimeStrengthening

Companies3

ldquoSolving Gwinnett Countyrsquos staffing needs for over 16 yearsrdquo

For client inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at clientsunitedstaffingservicecom

For employment inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at jobsunitedstaffingservicecom

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 17

99centFresh AnnualsStarting at

LLMAY

$5Present this coupon

at time of purchase and save$5 off your purchase

of $30 or more

Excludes seed sod straw sale items gift cardsCannot be combined with any other salecoupon discount promotion or previous purchase1 coupon per familyExpires 52013

SOD BERMUDA ZOYSIA

CENTIPEDE

By the piece or (pre-ordered) pallet

Great Food Amazing EntertainmentRight here in Lilburn

4975 Hwy 78Lilburn GA 30047

770-978-1270Tuesday - Thursday 500 PM - 1200 AM

Friday - Saturday 500 PM - 200 AM Sunday - 500 PM -1100 PM

HAPPY HOUR on Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm - 8pm

$4 OFFAny Meal Purchase over $20 or More

Valid Tues-Thurs 8pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or SunOne coupon per ticket Cannot combine

with any other offers Exp 053113

Visit website for amazing entertainment in Lilburn

httpwwwsunsetsportsbaratlcom

You Canrsquot Get There From Here By Susan Cadley LPC

Have you ever wished you could be like Harry Potter and wave a magic wand to fix a problem or get what you wanted If so you are in good company It is a natural tendency to avoid pain frustration or any feeling that is perceived as ldquobadrdquo It is also natural to have desires and goals for your life But herersquos the truth life is a process and when we resist or deny what we are feeling or what is happening in our life we actually cause ourselves more pain

We are all born with a wide range of emotions and these emotions are mes-sengers If we pay attention to them they have much to share with us We may learn what we react to what beliefs we hold and most importantly where our healing lies When we ignore these messengers they knock louder and harder at our subconscious until they get our attention So instead of working so hard to push emotions away welcome them in as a guest and lean into them You will find that the feelings dissipate and the pain of resistance yoursquove created will be eased

When we want to wish challenges away we lose the richness of life Imagine what it would be like to watch a movie and only view the first and last 10 minutes of the film By skipping the majority of the movie we miss out on the story and the experience as a whole And so it is with life When we wish for our lives to be different than they are we must then let go and live our lives right now with all the seeming imperfections that make up the movie we are living When we wish to go from ldquohererdquo to ldquothererdquo directly we miss out on personal growth

We are all here to learn love live fully and be more of who we are Embrace all of your life right where you are right now Then the real magic will begin

Susan Cadley LPC Licensed Professional Counselor is available for couplesadult individual counseling and creativity workshops in Suwanee GA She may be reached directly and confiden-tially at 678-296-1278 wwwcoaching foryoursoulcom

Fly-Fishing PatagoniaBy Pam Walker

What I know about Fly-Fishing you could put on the head of a straight pin So when asked to visit Patagonia I thought ldquoThis is my chance to learnrdquo

In early March I flew to Buenos Aires Argentina and then on to Bariloche From there I had an hour drive to Villa Angostura Aroyo Verde the famed fly- fishing lodge was further on down a dirt road

No signs No directions We had just a general sense of where we were going Anthony my naturalist guide headed into the Traful river canyon Fifteen minutes later we were greeted first by an authentic gaucho and then by riders on horseback After another 20 minutes we saw along a stream a lovely chalet with a sculpture gar-den Estancia Aroyo Verde

This private fishing and riding estancia is the home of one of Argentinarsquos most elite families Located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park the family-managed lodge hosts visitors from across the globe The Traful River is also home to land-locked salmon brown and rainbow trout This is a catch-and-release river with a season from November through April In this remote setting the fish some reaching 28 in for salmon and 29 in for Rainbows and Browns swim right up to you in the crystal clear water Best of all you need only your favorite fly rod Everything else is avail-able on-site Miles of nothingness surrounds this pristine spot Imagine standing in the river surrounded by the Andes What more could you ask for

Rooms are cozy all with private baths and meals are served family-style If yoursquore lucky join the family for an Argentine-style barbeque (Parillada) cooked outdoors by one of the resi-dent gauchos

Fishing horseback riding and even moun-tain bikes are here for your enjoyment Too bad I had to come back

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant and can be reached at Walker Adventures pliwalkerearthlinknet You can follow her travels by visiting Pamrsquos blog at httpwwwpamwalkersblogspotcom

PAGE 18 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Pastor Paul Ballard

The mission statement of Mountain Park First Baptist Church is to engage every man woman and child by living out Jesusrsquo love and sharing the gospel both locally and globally Since coming to MPFBC in May 2011 senior pastor Paul Ballard has been simple in his approach He has two priorities preaching the gospel and becoming a radiant church by being missional in nature

First Pastor Paul has prioritized the preaching of the gospel of Jesus The gospel is Godrsquos victory over sin and death through the person and work of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 151 says ldquoNow I would remind you brothers of the gospel

I preached to you which you received in which you standhelliprdquo The gospel is not just the entry point into Christianity It is the key to spiritual growth as we stand in Jesusrsquo finished work on the cross and His glorious resurrection

Second because the gospel has radically changed us God has called His people to give Him glory by living radiant lives resulting in missional living The church has moved from an internal to an external emphasis Some of the practical results have been

bull Adopting local fire stations and the Gwinnett South Precinct by providing meals and notes of encouragement

bull Hosting community events like Family Fest on May 4 2013

bull Mentoring ladies from the Atlanta WomenChildren shelter and adopting and fixing up a dorm

bull Offering an ESL program on Wednesdays with a provided meal afterward bull Holding food drives for Lilburn Co-op and providing Christmas for needy

familiesbull Deacons serving at Mountain Park Park in the concession stand so parents

could watch their children playbull Donating over $100000 from financial overages the last two years to support

local and international missions above the normal mission givingGod is at work at Mountain Park First Baptist Church For more information

go to wwwmpfbcorg

Chaplainrsquos Corner

hellipto our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue

Keep them coming

Thanks

Dr Louise DeLong Dr Franccediloise Tyler

ldquoHappy Motherrsquos Day from all of us at The Village Vetsrdquo Dr Will Draper

Dr Carrie McColganDr Amanda Irish

Hours Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm Sat 8am-2pm Sun 12-4pmwwwTheVillageVetscom

770-717-1650

7 Days a Week

1227 Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain(Near the Kroger Shopping Center)

Serving Gwinnett

and Dekalb Counties

Mention this ad for

10 OFFFirst visit

Limit one per household Vaccines and services only Products not included Coupon need not be presented for discount Terms subject to change without

notice at practice discretion By appointment only Expires 053113

Pictured Dr Will Draper with his mother Cheryl and her dogs Dolly and Kali

Page 14: MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

PAGE 14 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

Fall in Love with your bodyagain

ldquowhere the beauty you feel becomes the beauty you seerdquo

Complimentary Cosmetic Consultation

Earl Stephenson Jr MD DDS FACS Plastic Surgeon Certified American Board of Plastic Surgery

Breast Augmentation

Liposuction

Tummy Tuck

Gluteal Sculpting and Fat Grafting

(770) 466-4700

84 Patterson RoadLawrenceville GA 30044

770-995-0836pebblestonelandscapegroupcom

Pebblestone Landscape Group is a full service landscape management provider since 1994 Meeting the landscaping needs and requirements for the management groups such as yourself We help our clients increase the appeal of their property to potential customers

bull DesignBuildbull Irrigationbull Landscape Installationbull Lawn Maintenance

bull Seasonal Colorbull Site Enhancementsbull Turf Fertilization Programs

bull bull bull bull bull bull bull bull bull bull

This Summer Prepare to Start School Sharp

By Carol Wood

Woohoo School is out for the summer so learning can stop right Wrong Summertime provides the BEST opportunity for students to enrich their academic skills if they desire to get ahead before school begins again or to catch up on skills if they ended the school year below average If students fall behind during the school year they must catch up with what they have missed AND keep up with what is being taught on a day-by-day basis This is difficult to do and can be stress-ful So summertime is the best time for parents to give their student the oppor-tunity to do what they cannot easily do during the school year CATCH UP or MOVE AHEAD in their academics and solve their STUDY SKILL weaknesses

First locate your childrsquos recent school standardized test scores and examine your childrsquos levels compared to hisher grade level This can be located in the column that reads ldquoGErdquo for grade equivalency or ldquoPRrdquo for percentile Scores below the 50th percentile or below their grade and month level in the GE column when the tests were administered are the ones in which the student was performing below average at that time Scores above the 50th percentile or above his or her grade level show performance above average therefore summer tutoring could entail enrichment work to maintain skills or further build on the studentrsquos strengths in preparation for the next school year By examining your childrsquos most recent test scores and determin-ing which areas are below on or above average you will then know which academic areas to build upon so your student can START SCHOOL SHARP

Next locate professional educational resources with a track record of success should you decide to teach your children at home Purchase the appropriate levels of materials and teach your child using an established consistent weekly schedule Do not allow the student to skip around within workbooks and complete the ldquofunrdquo pages first as the material is purposefully presented in a sequential order Select a study place for each student which is equipped with the learning supplies and tools needed If you do not feel qualified to teach or you do not have the necessary patience with your own child which is not uncommon then seek a full-time professional and experienced educational center Schedule summer learning sessions on a consistent weekly basis with the same degreed and experienced instructor who utilizes nation-ally recognized materials and proven teaching methods Individualized instruction is best in an environment free from distractions and interruptions A professional center is usually preferred since it focuses on providing an ideal learning environment has many quality control measures to insure student improvement is maximized and has a reputation and level of accountability to maintain in order to remain in business Know the credentials of the instructor such as his or her areas of teaching experience and educational degree and match this with your studentrsquos academic area of summer instruction Ask for references and contact them to learn about their experience with the professional center you are considering Request to see the instructional area and observe sessions in progress

Remember SUMMER is the most ideal time for students to get a JUMP START on the next school year

Carol Wood is the founder and owner of Total Learning Concepts Inc a private profes-sional tutorial service located in Gwinnett County Please email questions to ccwoodbellsouthnet or fax to 770-381-1626

MAYCROSSWORDSOLUTION

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 15

1319 Scenic Highway n Lawrenceville GA 30045 n 770-979-9490At the intersection of Hwy 124 amp Webb Gin House Road

Join Us For Lunch

Daily Specials from $325

Fax 770-979-9590 Take-Out Orders

FREE CHEESE DIP

With Any Food Purchase over $20Valid Mon-Thurs 3pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or Sun

One coupon per ticket Cannot combine with any other offers Exp 053113

DINNER SPECIAL$4 Off

With Any Food Purchase over $20Valid Mon-Thurs 3pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or Sun

One coupon per ticket Cannot combine with any other offers Exp 053113

Join us

for Lunch

ldquoGirl Timerdquo Is ImportantBy Julie Mills

As I sit and think about this yearrsquos Motherrsquos Day I thought I would take a few moments to emphasis the importance of ldquogirl timerdquo I feel so lucky that my work allows me to experience wonderful bonding with my female clients When receiv-ing body work many emotions are released Our bodies are wired to keep our emotions in and they manifest in the form of knots aches pains and sometimes even disease Part of my job is to provide a safe space for my clients to let those emotions go and to begin healing from the inside out Letrsquos talk about how women are wired and why it is so important for us to have friendships

As a woman I already knew that my ldquogirl timerdquo was important and actually kept my sanity at times However I did some research and found a landmark UCLA study that suggests friendships between women are very special They shape who we are and who we are yet to be They soothe our inner world and fill the emo-tional gaps in our male relationships

Researchers suspect that women handle stress in more ways than just fight or flight In fact says Dr Klein of UCLA it seems that when the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress responses in a woman it buffers the fight or flight response and encourages her to tend children and gather with other women When she actually engages in this tending or befriending studies suggest that more oxyto-cin is released which further counters stress and produces a calming effect Men do not have this response due to high levels of testosterone released during stress The estrogen in women seems to enhance the oxytocin and produces a calming effect

It was noted that when the women were stressed they came in to work cleaned the work space had coffee and bonded with other female coworkers When the men were stressed they holed up somewhere on their own and did not interact with coworkers Wow - this part of the study sounds so familiar When I am stressed or have a lot on my mind I get into my cleaning mode or I want to call my sisters These activities help me to think things through and to unwind My husband on the other hand says nothing and he has the unique ability to quietly disappear

It is interesting that nearly 90 of the stress research has been with males With this new research the fact that women respond to stress differently than men has significant implications for our health It may take some time for new studies to reveal all the ways that oxytocin encourages us to care for children and hang out with other women but the ldquotend and befriendrdquo notion developed by Drs Klein and Taylor may explain why women consistently outlive men Study after study has found that social ties reduce our risk of disease by lowering blood pressure heart rate and cholesterol Therersquos no doubt that friends are helping us live longer

Every time we get overly busy with work and family the first thing we do is let go of friendships with other women We push them right to the back burner Thatrsquos really a mistake because women are such a source of strength to each other We nurture one another We need to have unpressured space in which we can do the special kind of talk that women do when theyrsquore with other women Itrsquos a very healing experience

Have you had your much-needed girl time Make this month your month and have a very happy Motherrsquos Day

Julie Mills CMT is owner of Body of Health and Life LLC for more information visit wwwbodyofhealthandlifecom

PAGE 16 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Ashton Pike

ldquoBeauty starts from withinrdquo One may expect a famous womanrsquos name to fol-low this quote but the woman responsible for such accurate words is better than famous She is distinguished After all fame fades but a distinguished woman will be known for years since she will stand out from everyone Hair stylist and salon owner Sudonna Patterson meets these traits and more Being a mom of three young boys an adored wife and a successful entrepreneur Patterson has numerous accomplishments to her name and this is only the beginning

Born and raised in Macon Georgia Patterson practiced the basics of cosmetol-ogy as a young girl when she styled her dollsrsquo hair and when she put rollers in her great auntrsquos hair before bedtime each night Eventually moving from Barbie dolls to actual customers Patterson worked weekends as a shampoo assistant in a hair salon during high school This job led her to pursue a career in cosmetology at Dudleyrsquos Cosmetology University in North Carolina

After graduating Patterson became an instructor for Dudleyrsquos Advanced Cosmetology University and then she took her skills outside national borders as an International Educator Traveling to remarkable locations such as the Bahamas Barbados Aruba and Jamaica Patterson worked to communicate the latest tech-niques in cosmetology through seminars on product knowledge hair care advance cutting and styling techniques

Taking into consideration Pattersonrsquos spontaneous extrovert personality it was no surprise that she met her husband on a blind date in Atlanta while she lived in North Carolina She and her husband are now loving and dedicated parents of three sons Logan 8 and twins Bryce and Blake 4 The family of five resides in Lilburn Georgia where they spend copious amounts of time together either at home or at Peace Baptist Church where they attend regularly

Amid college and starting a family Patterson became an entrepreneur open-ing her own hair salon called Chase Morgan Salon which has been in business for

Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

Diets Donrsquot WorkBy Kelly Farris

Itrsquos that time of year again ndash panic mode has set in and yoursquore trying to get off the winter flub in time for bathing suit season

You might be considering a diet Maybe yoursquore stuck trying to choose between the wide variety of options 17 day cabbage soup weight loss shakes paleo and Atkins just to name a few

Unfortunately none of these work in the long run In fact fad diets can backfire and even contribute to weight gain You donrsquot have to have a perfect diet to have a good diet Eating normal portions of wholesome foods leads to the right body weight

Let your eating habits consist of 85-90 of quality calories with the remaining calories of ldquowhateverrdquo ldquoWhateverrdquo means you can have an orange one day or a cookie the next The trick is not to deprive yourself of foods you really like Sooner or later you will end up binging if you make certain foods taboo Take away the power to binge-eat by eating that certain food more often Chances are seven days of having a cookie for your ldquowhateverrdquo calories will make it less desirable by day eight

I advise all my clients to make breakfast the most important meal of the day I encourage eggs egg substitute turkey sausage veggie sausage grits or oatmeal These are all ldquofill-you-uprdquo foods Start your day with filling healthy foods and yoursquoll set the tone for the rest of your day while reducing sugar cravings

So eat but donrsquot deprive yourself Make good choices

over 10 years Named after her sisterrsquos children Chase and Morgan Chase Morgan Salon as Patterson states ldquohellipwas designed with the client in mind to create quality and efficient hair care services while being a positive environment for women to fellowship and relaxrdquo

Though the salon was origi-nally located in Decatur Georgia Patterson recently moved the loca-tion to Snellville Georgia to live out her dream of opening a conveniently located upscale salon that would allow her to actively participate in her childrenrsquos lives at school

Having been in the cosmetology business for 23 years and counting Patterson is highly dedicated to her career Every day she goes above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction Patterson commented ldquoMy clients tease me because I am known for being the resource lady As a hair stylist clients confide in you about their per-sonal struggles I feel it is my responsibility as a Christian to uplift them and speak positive things into their life that will encourage themrdquo

Being close to clients can also come with a cost According to Patterson the most difficult part of her job is losing faithful clients with the change in the econ-omy and increasing unemployment On one hand she strives to help them until their financial situation is better but on the other Chase Morgan Salon is still an operating business and needs to make a profit in order to stay in business

Though being a successful entrepreneur comes with positive and negative aspects the overall feelings of accomplishment and contentment with the Chase Morgan Salon trumps everything A distinguished devoted and aspiring woman Patterson has become a figure of hope proving that with hard work and dedica-tion a childhood dream can become a reality Pattersonrsquos future at Chase Morgan Salon seems bright ldquoMy goal for the salon is to always create an environment to derive success from teamwork and through education As techniques change and products improve I will prepare stylists through education to satisfy the new demands of clients thus ensuring a successful position in the futurerdquo

For contact information for Sudonna Patterson or information on location and operating hours of Chase Morgan Salon please visit wwwchasemorgansaloncom

One Employee

At a TimeStrengthening

Companies3

ldquoSolving Gwinnett Countyrsquos staffing needs for over 16 yearsrdquo

For client inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at clientsunitedstaffingservicecom

For employment inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at jobsunitedstaffingservicecom

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 17

99centFresh AnnualsStarting at

LLMAY

$5Present this coupon

at time of purchase and save$5 off your purchase

of $30 or more

Excludes seed sod straw sale items gift cardsCannot be combined with any other salecoupon discount promotion or previous purchase1 coupon per familyExpires 52013

SOD BERMUDA ZOYSIA

CENTIPEDE

By the piece or (pre-ordered) pallet

Great Food Amazing EntertainmentRight here in Lilburn

4975 Hwy 78Lilburn GA 30047

770-978-1270Tuesday - Thursday 500 PM - 1200 AM

Friday - Saturday 500 PM - 200 AM Sunday - 500 PM -1100 PM

HAPPY HOUR on Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm - 8pm

$4 OFFAny Meal Purchase over $20 or More

Valid Tues-Thurs 8pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or SunOne coupon per ticket Cannot combine

with any other offers Exp 053113

Visit website for amazing entertainment in Lilburn

httpwwwsunsetsportsbaratlcom

You Canrsquot Get There From Here By Susan Cadley LPC

Have you ever wished you could be like Harry Potter and wave a magic wand to fix a problem or get what you wanted If so you are in good company It is a natural tendency to avoid pain frustration or any feeling that is perceived as ldquobadrdquo It is also natural to have desires and goals for your life But herersquos the truth life is a process and when we resist or deny what we are feeling or what is happening in our life we actually cause ourselves more pain

We are all born with a wide range of emotions and these emotions are mes-sengers If we pay attention to them they have much to share with us We may learn what we react to what beliefs we hold and most importantly where our healing lies When we ignore these messengers they knock louder and harder at our subconscious until they get our attention So instead of working so hard to push emotions away welcome them in as a guest and lean into them You will find that the feelings dissipate and the pain of resistance yoursquove created will be eased

When we want to wish challenges away we lose the richness of life Imagine what it would be like to watch a movie and only view the first and last 10 minutes of the film By skipping the majority of the movie we miss out on the story and the experience as a whole And so it is with life When we wish for our lives to be different than they are we must then let go and live our lives right now with all the seeming imperfections that make up the movie we are living When we wish to go from ldquohererdquo to ldquothererdquo directly we miss out on personal growth

We are all here to learn love live fully and be more of who we are Embrace all of your life right where you are right now Then the real magic will begin

Susan Cadley LPC Licensed Professional Counselor is available for couplesadult individual counseling and creativity workshops in Suwanee GA She may be reached directly and confiden-tially at 678-296-1278 wwwcoaching foryoursoulcom

Fly-Fishing PatagoniaBy Pam Walker

What I know about Fly-Fishing you could put on the head of a straight pin So when asked to visit Patagonia I thought ldquoThis is my chance to learnrdquo

In early March I flew to Buenos Aires Argentina and then on to Bariloche From there I had an hour drive to Villa Angostura Aroyo Verde the famed fly- fishing lodge was further on down a dirt road

No signs No directions We had just a general sense of where we were going Anthony my naturalist guide headed into the Traful river canyon Fifteen minutes later we were greeted first by an authentic gaucho and then by riders on horseback After another 20 minutes we saw along a stream a lovely chalet with a sculpture gar-den Estancia Aroyo Verde

This private fishing and riding estancia is the home of one of Argentinarsquos most elite families Located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park the family-managed lodge hosts visitors from across the globe The Traful River is also home to land-locked salmon brown and rainbow trout This is a catch-and-release river with a season from November through April In this remote setting the fish some reaching 28 in for salmon and 29 in for Rainbows and Browns swim right up to you in the crystal clear water Best of all you need only your favorite fly rod Everything else is avail-able on-site Miles of nothingness surrounds this pristine spot Imagine standing in the river surrounded by the Andes What more could you ask for

Rooms are cozy all with private baths and meals are served family-style If yoursquore lucky join the family for an Argentine-style barbeque (Parillada) cooked outdoors by one of the resi-dent gauchos

Fishing horseback riding and even moun-tain bikes are here for your enjoyment Too bad I had to come back

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant and can be reached at Walker Adventures pliwalkerearthlinknet You can follow her travels by visiting Pamrsquos blog at httpwwwpamwalkersblogspotcom

PAGE 18 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Pastor Paul Ballard

The mission statement of Mountain Park First Baptist Church is to engage every man woman and child by living out Jesusrsquo love and sharing the gospel both locally and globally Since coming to MPFBC in May 2011 senior pastor Paul Ballard has been simple in his approach He has two priorities preaching the gospel and becoming a radiant church by being missional in nature

First Pastor Paul has prioritized the preaching of the gospel of Jesus The gospel is Godrsquos victory over sin and death through the person and work of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 151 says ldquoNow I would remind you brothers of the gospel

I preached to you which you received in which you standhelliprdquo The gospel is not just the entry point into Christianity It is the key to spiritual growth as we stand in Jesusrsquo finished work on the cross and His glorious resurrection

Second because the gospel has radically changed us God has called His people to give Him glory by living radiant lives resulting in missional living The church has moved from an internal to an external emphasis Some of the practical results have been

bull Adopting local fire stations and the Gwinnett South Precinct by providing meals and notes of encouragement

bull Hosting community events like Family Fest on May 4 2013

bull Mentoring ladies from the Atlanta WomenChildren shelter and adopting and fixing up a dorm

bull Offering an ESL program on Wednesdays with a provided meal afterward bull Holding food drives for Lilburn Co-op and providing Christmas for needy

familiesbull Deacons serving at Mountain Park Park in the concession stand so parents

could watch their children playbull Donating over $100000 from financial overages the last two years to support

local and international missions above the normal mission givingGod is at work at Mountain Park First Baptist Church For more information

go to wwwmpfbcorg

Chaplainrsquos Corner

hellipto our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue

Keep them coming

Thanks

Dr Louise DeLong Dr Franccediloise Tyler

ldquoHappy Motherrsquos Day from all of us at The Village Vetsrdquo Dr Will Draper

Dr Carrie McColganDr Amanda Irish

Hours Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm Sat 8am-2pm Sun 12-4pmwwwTheVillageVetscom

770-717-1650

7 Days a Week

1227 Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain(Near the Kroger Shopping Center)

Serving Gwinnett

and Dekalb Counties

Mention this ad for

10 OFFFirst visit

Limit one per household Vaccines and services only Products not included Coupon need not be presented for discount Terms subject to change without

notice at practice discretion By appointment only Expires 053113

Pictured Dr Will Draper with his mother Cheryl and her dogs Dolly and Kali

Page 15: MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 15

1319 Scenic Highway n Lawrenceville GA 30045 n 770-979-9490At the intersection of Hwy 124 amp Webb Gin House Road

Join Us For Lunch

Daily Specials from $325

Fax 770-979-9590 Take-Out Orders

FREE CHEESE DIP

With Any Food Purchase over $20Valid Mon-Thurs 3pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or Sun

One coupon per ticket Cannot combine with any other offers Exp 053113

DINNER SPECIAL$4 Off

With Any Food Purchase over $20Valid Mon-Thurs 3pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or Sun

One coupon per ticket Cannot combine with any other offers Exp 053113

Join us

for Lunch

ldquoGirl Timerdquo Is ImportantBy Julie Mills

As I sit and think about this yearrsquos Motherrsquos Day I thought I would take a few moments to emphasis the importance of ldquogirl timerdquo I feel so lucky that my work allows me to experience wonderful bonding with my female clients When receiv-ing body work many emotions are released Our bodies are wired to keep our emotions in and they manifest in the form of knots aches pains and sometimes even disease Part of my job is to provide a safe space for my clients to let those emotions go and to begin healing from the inside out Letrsquos talk about how women are wired and why it is so important for us to have friendships

As a woman I already knew that my ldquogirl timerdquo was important and actually kept my sanity at times However I did some research and found a landmark UCLA study that suggests friendships between women are very special They shape who we are and who we are yet to be They soothe our inner world and fill the emo-tional gaps in our male relationships

Researchers suspect that women handle stress in more ways than just fight or flight In fact says Dr Klein of UCLA it seems that when the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the stress responses in a woman it buffers the fight or flight response and encourages her to tend children and gather with other women When she actually engages in this tending or befriending studies suggest that more oxyto-cin is released which further counters stress and produces a calming effect Men do not have this response due to high levels of testosterone released during stress The estrogen in women seems to enhance the oxytocin and produces a calming effect

It was noted that when the women were stressed they came in to work cleaned the work space had coffee and bonded with other female coworkers When the men were stressed they holed up somewhere on their own and did not interact with coworkers Wow - this part of the study sounds so familiar When I am stressed or have a lot on my mind I get into my cleaning mode or I want to call my sisters These activities help me to think things through and to unwind My husband on the other hand says nothing and he has the unique ability to quietly disappear

It is interesting that nearly 90 of the stress research has been with males With this new research the fact that women respond to stress differently than men has significant implications for our health It may take some time for new studies to reveal all the ways that oxytocin encourages us to care for children and hang out with other women but the ldquotend and befriendrdquo notion developed by Drs Klein and Taylor may explain why women consistently outlive men Study after study has found that social ties reduce our risk of disease by lowering blood pressure heart rate and cholesterol Therersquos no doubt that friends are helping us live longer

Every time we get overly busy with work and family the first thing we do is let go of friendships with other women We push them right to the back burner Thatrsquos really a mistake because women are such a source of strength to each other We nurture one another We need to have unpressured space in which we can do the special kind of talk that women do when theyrsquore with other women Itrsquos a very healing experience

Have you had your much-needed girl time Make this month your month and have a very happy Motherrsquos Day

Julie Mills CMT is owner of Body of Health and Life LLC for more information visit wwwbodyofhealthandlifecom

PAGE 16 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Ashton Pike

ldquoBeauty starts from withinrdquo One may expect a famous womanrsquos name to fol-low this quote but the woman responsible for such accurate words is better than famous She is distinguished After all fame fades but a distinguished woman will be known for years since she will stand out from everyone Hair stylist and salon owner Sudonna Patterson meets these traits and more Being a mom of three young boys an adored wife and a successful entrepreneur Patterson has numerous accomplishments to her name and this is only the beginning

Born and raised in Macon Georgia Patterson practiced the basics of cosmetol-ogy as a young girl when she styled her dollsrsquo hair and when she put rollers in her great auntrsquos hair before bedtime each night Eventually moving from Barbie dolls to actual customers Patterson worked weekends as a shampoo assistant in a hair salon during high school This job led her to pursue a career in cosmetology at Dudleyrsquos Cosmetology University in North Carolina

After graduating Patterson became an instructor for Dudleyrsquos Advanced Cosmetology University and then she took her skills outside national borders as an International Educator Traveling to remarkable locations such as the Bahamas Barbados Aruba and Jamaica Patterson worked to communicate the latest tech-niques in cosmetology through seminars on product knowledge hair care advance cutting and styling techniques

Taking into consideration Pattersonrsquos spontaneous extrovert personality it was no surprise that she met her husband on a blind date in Atlanta while she lived in North Carolina She and her husband are now loving and dedicated parents of three sons Logan 8 and twins Bryce and Blake 4 The family of five resides in Lilburn Georgia where they spend copious amounts of time together either at home or at Peace Baptist Church where they attend regularly

Amid college and starting a family Patterson became an entrepreneur open-ing her own hair salon called Chase Morgan Salon which has been in business for

Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

Diets Donrsquot WorkBy Kelly Farris

Itrsquos that time of year again ndash panic mode has set in and yoursquore trying to get off the winter flub in time for bathing suit season

You might be considering a diet Maybe yoursquore stuck trying to choose between the wide variety of options 17 day cabbage soup weight loss shakes paleo and Atkins just to name a few

Unfortunately none of these work in the long run In fact fad diets can backfire and even contribute to weight gain You donrsquot have to have a perfect diet to have a good diet Eating normal portions of wholesome foods leads to the right body weight

Let your eating habits consist of 85-90 of quality calories with the remaining calories of ldquowhateverrdquo ldquoWhateverrdquo means you can have an orange one day or a cookie the next The trick is not to deprive yourself of foods you really like Sooner or later you will end up binging if you make certain foods taboo Take away the power to binge-eat by eating that certain food more often Chances are seven days of having a cookie for your ldquowhateverrdquo calories will make it less desirable by day eight

I advise all my clients to make breakfast the most important meal of the day I encourage eggs egg substitute turkey sausage veggie sausage grits or oatmeal These are all ldquofill-you-uprdquo foods Start your day with filling healthy foods and yoursquoll set the tone for the rest of your day while reducing sugar cravings

So eat but donrsquot deprive yourself Make good choices

over 10 years Named after her sisterrsquos children Chase and Morgan Chase Morgan Salon as Patterson states ldquohellipwas designed with the client in mind to create quality and efficient hair care services while being a positive environment for women to fellowship and relaxrdquo

Though the salon was origi-nally located in Decatur Georgia Patterson recently moved the loca-tion to Snellville Georgia to live out her dream of opening a conveniently located upscale salon that would allow her to actively participate in her childrenrsquos lives at school

Having been in the cosmetology business for 23 years and counting Patterson is highly dedicated to her career Every day she goes above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction Patterson commented ldquoMy clients tease me because I am known for being the resource lady As a hair stylist clients confide in you about their per-sonal struggles I feel it is my responsibility as a Christian to uplift them and speak positive things into their life that will encourage themrdquo

Being close to clients can also come with a cost According to Patterson the most difficult part of her job is losing faithful clients with the change in the econ-omy and increasing unemployment On one hand she strives to help them until their financial situation is better but on the other Chase Morgan Salon is still an operating business and needs to make a profit in order to stay in business

Though being a successful entrepreneur comes with positive and negative aspects the overall feelings of accomplishment and contentment with the Chase Morgan Salon trumps everything A distinguished devoted and aspiring woman Patterson has become a figure of hope proving that with hard work and dedica-tion a childhood dream can become a reality Pattersonrsquos future at Chase Morgan Salon seems bright ldquoMy goal for the salon is to always create an environment to derive success from teamwork and through education As techniques change and products improve I will prepare stylists through education to satisfy the new demands of clients thus ensuring a successful position in the futurerdquo

For contact information for Sudonna Patterson or information on location and operating hours of Chase Morgan Salon please visit wwwchasemorgansaloncom

One Employee

At a TimeStrengthening

Companies3

ldquoSolving Gwinnett Countyrsquos staffing needs for over 16 yearsrdquo

For client inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at clientsunitedstaffingservicecom

For employment inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at jobsunitedstaffingservicecom

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 17

99centFresh AnnualsStarting at

LLMAY

$5Present this coupon

at time of purchase and save$5 off your purchase

of $30 or more

Excludes seed sod straw sale items gift cardsCannot be combined with any other salecoupon discount promotion or previous purchase1 coupon per familyExpires 52013

SOD BERMUDA ZOYSIA

CENTIPEDE

By the piece or (pre-ordered) pallet

Great Food Amazing EntertainmentRight here in Lilburn

4975 Hwy 78Lilburn GA 30047

770-978-1270Tuesday - Thursday 500 PM - 1200 AM

Friday - Saturday 500 PM - 200 AM Sunday - 500 PM -1100 PM

HAPPY HOUR on Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm - 8pm

$4 OFFAny Meal Purchase over $20 or More

Valid Tues-Thurs 8pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or SunOne coupon per ticket Cannot combine

with any other offers Exp 053113

Visit website for amazing entertainment in Lilburn

httpwwwsunsetsportsbaratlcom

You Canrsquot Get There From Here By Susan Cadley LPC

Have you ever wished you could be like Harry Potter and wave a magic wand to fix a problem or get what you wanted If so you are in good company It is a natural tendency to avoid pain frustration or any feeling that is perceived as ldquobadrdquo It is also natural to have desires and goals for your life But herersquos the truth life is a process and when we resist or deny what we are feeling or what is happening in our life we actually cause ourselves more pain

We are all born with a wide range of emotions and these emotions are mes-sengers If we pay attention to them they have much to share with us We may learn what we react to what beliefs we hold and most importantly where our healing lies When we ignore these messengers they knock louder and harder at our subconscious until they get our attention So instead of working so hard to push emotions away welcome them in as a guest and lean into them You will find that the feelings dissipate and the pain of resistance yoursquove created will be eased

When we want to wish challenges away we lose the richness of life Imagine what it would be like to watch a movie and only view the first and last 10 minutes of the film By skipping the majority of the movie we miss out on the story and the experience as a whole And so it is with life When we wish for our lives to be different than they are we must then let go and live our lives right now with all the seeming imperfections that make up the movie we are living When we wish to go from ldquohererdquo to ldquothererdquo directly we miss out on personal growth

We are all here to learn love live fully and be more of who we are Embrace all of your life right where you are right now Then the real magic will begin

Susan Cadley LPC Licensed Professional Counselor is available for couplesadult individual counseling and creativity workshops in Suwanee GA She may be reached directly and confiden-tially at 678-296-1278 wwwcoaching foryoursoulcom

Fly-Fishing PatagoniaBy Pam Walker

What I know about Fly-Fishing you could put on the head of a straight pin So when asked to visit Patagonia I thought ldquoThis is my chance to learnrdquo

In early March I flew to Buenos Aires Argentina and then on to Bariloche From there I had an hour drive to Villa Angostura Aroyo Verde the famed fly- fishing lodge was further on down a dirt road

No signs No directions We had just a general sense of where we were going Anthony my naturalist guide headed into the Traful river canyon Fifteen minutes later we were greeted first by an authentic gaucho and then by riders on horseback After another 20 minutes we saw along a stream a lovely chalet with a sculpture gar-den Estancia Aroyo Verde

This private fishing and riding estancia is the home of one of Argentinarsquos most elite families Located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park the family-managed lodge hosts visitors from across the globe The Traful River is also home to land-locked salmon brown and rainbow trout This is a catch-and-release river with a season from November through April In this remote setting the fish some reaching 28 in for salmon and 29 in for Rainbows and Browns swim right up to you in the crystal clear water Best of all you need only your favorite fly rod Everything else is avail-able on-site Miles of nothingness surrounds this pristine spot Imagine standing in the river surrounded by the Andes What more could you ask for

Rooms are cozy all with private baths and meals are served family-style If yoursquore lucky join the family for an Argentine-style barbeque (Parillada) cooked outdoors by one of the resi-dent gauchos

Fishing horseback riding and even moun-tain bikes are here for your enjoyment Too bad I had to come back

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant and can be reached at Walker Adventures pliwalkerearthlinknet You can follow her travels by visiting Pamrsquos blog at httpwwwpamwalkersblogspotcom

PAGE 18 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Pastor Paul Ballard

The mission statement of Mountain Park First Baptist Church is to engage every man woman and child by living out Jesusrsquo love and sharing the gospel both locally and globally Since coming to MPFBC in May 2011 senior pastor Paul Ballard has been simple in his approach He has two priorities preaching the gospel and becoming a radiant church by being missional in nature

First Pastor Paul has prioritized the preaching of the gospel of Jesus The gospel is Godrsquos victory over sin and death through the person and work of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 151 says ldquoNow I would remind you brothers of the gospel

I preached to you which you received in which you standhelliprdquo The gospel is not just the entry point into Christianity It is the key to spiritual growth as we stand in Jesusrsquo finished work on the cross and His glorious resurrection

Second because the gospel has radically changed us God has called His people to give Him glory by living radiant lives resulting in missional living The church has moved from an internal to an external emphasis Some of the practical results have been

bull Adopting local fire stations and the Gwinnett South Precinct by providing meals and notes of encouragement

bull Hosting community events like Family Fest on May 4 2013

bull Mentoring ladies from the Atlanta WomenChildren shelter and adopting and fixing up a dorm

bull Offering an ESL program on Wednesdays with a provided meal afterward bull Holding food drives for Lilburn Co-op and providing Christmas for needy

familiesbull Deacons serving at Mountain Park Park in the concession stand so parents

could watch their children playbull Donating over $100000 from financial overages the last two years to support

local and international missions above the normal mission givingGod is at work at Mountain Park First Baptist Church For more information

go to wwwmpfbcorg

Chaplainrsquos Corner

hellipto our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue

Keep them coming

Thanks

Dr Louise DeLong Dr Franccediloise Tyler

ldquoHappy Motherrsquos Day from all of us at The Village Vetsrdquo Dr Will Draper

Dr Carrie McColganDr Amanda Irish

Hours Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm Sat 8am-2pm Sun 12-4pmwwwTheVillageVetscom

770-717-1650

7 Days a Week

1227 Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain(Near the Kroger Shopping Center)

Serving Gwinnett

and Dekalb Counties

Mention this ad for

10 OFFFirst visit

Limit one per household Vaccines and services only Products not included Coupon need not be presented for discount Terms subject to change without

notice at practice discretion By appointment only Expires 053113

Pictured Dr Will Draper with his mother Cheryl and her dogs Dolly and Kali

Page 16: MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

PAGE 16 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Ashton Pike

ldquoBeauty starts from withinrdquo One may expect a famous womanrsquos name to fol-low this quote but the woman responsible for such accurate words is better than famous She is distinguished After all fame fades but a distinguished woman will be known for years since she will stand out from everyone Hair stylist and salon owner Sudonna Patterson meets these traits and more Being a mom of three young boys an adored wife and a successful entrepreneur Patterson has numerous accomplishments to her name and this is only the beginning

Born and raised in Macon Georgia Patterson practiced the basics of cosmetol-ogy as a young girl when she styled her dollsrsquo hair and when she put rollers in her great auntrsquos hair before bedtime each night Eventually moving from Barbie dolls to actual customers Patterson worked weekends as a shampoo assistant in a hair salon during high school This job led her to pursue a career in cosmetology at Dudleyrsquos Cosmetology University in North Carolina

After graduating Patterson became an instructor for Dudleyrsquos Advanced Cosmetology University and then she took her skills outside national borders as an International Educator Traveling to remarkable locations such as the Bahamas Barbados Aruba and Jamaica Patterson worked to communicate the latest tech-niques in cosmetology through seminars on product knowledge hair care advance cutting and styling techniques

Taking into consideration Pattersonrsquos spontaneous extrovert personality it was no surprise that she met her husband on a blind date in Atlanta while she lived in North Carolina She and her husband are now loving and dedicated parents of three sons Logan 8 and twins Bryce and Blake 4 The family of five resides in Lilburn Georgia where they spend copious amounts of time together either at home or at Peace Baptist Church where they attend regularly

Amid college and starting a family Patterson became an entrepreneur open-ing her own hair salon called Chase Morgan Salon which has been in business for

Meet Sudonna Patterson of Chase Morgan Salon

Diets Donrsquot WorkBy Kelly Farris

Itrsquos that time of year again ndash panic mode has set in and yoursquore trying to get off the winter flub in time for bathing suit season

You might be considering a diet Maybe yoursquore stuck trying to choose between the wide variety of options 17 day cabbage soup weight loss shakes paleo and Atkins just to name a few

Unfortunately none of these work in the long run In fact fad diets can backfire and even contribute to weight gain You donrsquot have to have a perfect diet to have a good diet Eating normal portions of wholesome foods leads to the right body weight

Let your eating habits consist of 85-90 of quality calories with the remaining calories of ldquowhateverrdquo ldquoWhateverrdquo means you can have an orange one day or a cookie the next The trick is not to deprive yourself of foods you really like Sooner or later you will end up binging if you make certain foods taboo Take away the power to binge-eat by eating that certain food more often Chances are seven days of having a cookie for your ldquowhateverrdquo calories will make it less desirable by day eight

I advise all my clients to make breakfast the most important meal of the day I encourage eggs egg substitute turkey sausage veggie sausage grits or oatmeal These are all ldquofill-you-uprdquo foods Start your day with filling healthy foods and yoursquoll set the tone for the rest of your day while reducing sugar cravings

So eat but donrsquot deprive yourself Make good choices

over 10 years Named after her sisterrsquos children Chase and Morgan Chase Morgan Salon as Patterson states ldquohellipwas designed with the client in mind to create quality and efficient hair care services while being a positive environment for women to fellowship and relaxrdquo

Though the salon was origi-nally located in Decatur Georgia Patterson recently moved the loca-tion to Snellville Georgia to live out her dream of opening a conveniently located upscale salon that would allow her to actively participate in her childrenrsquos lives at school

Having been in the cosmetology business for 23 years and counting Patterson is highly dedicated to her career Every day she goes above and beyond to ensure client satisfaction Patterson commented ldquoMy clients tease me because I am known for being the resource lady As a hair stylist clients confide in you about their per-sonal struggles I feel it is my responsibility as a Christian to uplift them and speak positive things into their life that will encourage themrdquo

Being close to clients can also come with a cost According to Patterson the most difficult part of her job is losing faithful clients with the change in the econ-omy and increasing unemployment On one hand she strives to help them until their financial situation is better but on the other Chase Morgan Salon is still an operating business and needs to make a profit in order to stay in business

Though being a successful entrepreneur comes with positive and negative aspects the overall feelings of accomplishment and contentment with the Chase Morgan Salon trumps everything A distinguished devoted and aspiring woman Patterson has become a figure of hope proving that with hard work and dedica-tion a childhood dream can become a reality Pattersonrsquos future at Chase Morgan Salon seems bright ldquoMy goal for the salon is to always create an environment to derive success from teamwork and through education As techniques change and products improve I will prepare stylists through education to satisfy the new demands of clients thus ensuring a successful position in the futurerdquo

For contact information for Sudonna Patterson or information on location and operating hours of Chase Morgan Salon please visit wwwchasemorgansaloncom

One Employee

At a TimeStrengthening

Companies3

ldquoSolving Gwinnett Countyrsquos staffing needs for over 16 yearsrdquo

For client inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at clientsunitedstaffingservicecom

For employment inquiries please call (770) 338-0700 or email us at jobsunitedstaffingservicecom

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 17

99centFresh AnnualsStarting at

LLMAY

$5Present this coupon

at time of purchase and save$5 off your purchase

of $30 or more

Excludes seed sod straw sale items gift cardsCannot be combined with any other salecoupon discount promotion or previous purchase1 coupon per familyExpires 52013

SOD BERMUDA ZOYSIA

CENTIPEDE

By the piece or (pre-ordered) pallet

Great Food Amazing EntertainmentRight here in Lilburn

4975 Hwy 78Lilburn GA 30047

770-978-1270Tuesday - Thursday 500 PM - 1200 AM

Friday - Saturday 500 PM - 200 AM Sunday - 500 PM -1100 PM

HAPPY HOUR on Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm - 8pm

$4 OFFAny Meal Purchase over $20 or More

Valid Tues-Thurs 8pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or SunOne coupon per ticket Cannot combine

with any other offers Exp 053113

Visit website for amazing entertainment in Lilburn

httpwwwsunsetsportsbaratlcom

You Canrsquot Get There From Here By Susan Cadley LPC

Have you ever wished you could be like Harry Potter and wave a magic wand to fix a problem or get what you wanted If so you are in good company It is a natural tendency to avoid pain frustration or any feeling that is perceived as ldquobadrdquo It is also natural to have desires and goals for your life But herersquos the truth life is a process and when we resist or deny what we are feeling or what is happening in our life we actually cause ourselves more pain

We are all born with a wide range of emotions and these emotions are mes-sengers If we pay attention to them they have much to share with us We may learn what we react to what beliefs we hold and most importantly where our healing lies When we ignore these messengers they knock louder and harder at our subconscious until they get our attention So instead of working so hard to push emotions away welcome them in as a guest and lean into them You will find that the feelings dissipate and the pain of resistance yoursquove created will be eased

When we want to wish challenges away we lose the richness of life Imagine what it would be like to watch a movie and only view the first and last 10 minutes of the film By skipping the majority of the movie we miss out on the story and the experience as a whole And so it is with life When we wish for our lives to be different than they are we must then let go and live our lives right now with all the seeming imperfections that make up the movie we are living When we wish to go from ldquohererdquo to ldquothererdquo directly we miss out on personal growth

We are all here to learn love live fully and be more of who we are Embrace all of your life right where you are right now Then the real magic will begin

Susan Cadley LPC Licensed Professional Counselor is available for couplesadult individual counseling and creativity workshops in Suwanee GA She may be reached directly and confiden-tially at 678-296-1278 wwwcoaching foryoursoulcom

Fly-Fishing PatagoniaBy Pam Walker

What I know about Fly-Fishing you could put on the head of a straight pin So when asked to visit Patagonia I thought ldquoThis is my chance to learnrdquo

In early March I flew to Buenos Aires Argentina and then on to Bariloche From there I had an hour drive to Villa Angostura Aroyo Verde the famed fly- fishing lodge was further on down a dirt road

No signs No directions We had just a general sense of where we were going Anthony my naturalist guide headed into the Traful river canyon Fifteen minutes later we were greeted first by an authentic gaucho and then by riders on horseback After another 20 minutes we saw along a stream a lovely chalet with a sculpture gar-den Estancia Aroyo Verde

This private fishing and riding estancia is the home of one of Argentinarsquos most elite families Located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park the family-managed lodge hosts visitors from across the globe The Traful River is also home to land-locked salmon brown and rainbow trout This is a catch-and-release river with a season from November through April In this remote setting the fish some reaching 28 in for salmon and 29 in for Rainbows and Browns swim right up to you in the crystal clear water Best of all you need only your favorite fly rod Everything else is avail-able on-site Miles of nothingness surrounds this pristine spot Imagine standing in the river surrounded by the Andes What more could you ask for

Rooms are cozy all with private baths and meals are served family-style If yoursquore lucky join the family for an Argentine-style barbeque (Parillada) cooked outdoors by one of the resi-dent gauchos

Fishing horseback riding and even moun-tain bikes are here for your enjoyment Too bad I had to come back

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant and can be reached at Walker Adventures pliwalkerearthlinknet You can follow her travels by visiting Pamrsquos blog at httpwwwpamwalkersblogspotcom

PAGE 18 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Pastor Paul Ballard

The mission statement of Mountain Park First Baptist Church is to engage every man woman and child by living out Jesusrsquo love and sharing the gospel both locally and globally Since coming to MPFBC in May 2011 senior pastor Paul Ballard has been simple in his approach He has two priorities preaching the gospel and becoming a radiant church by being missional in nature

First Pastor Paul has prioritized the preaching of the gospel of Jesus The gospel is Godrsquos victory over sin and death through the person and work of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 151 says ldquoNow I would remind you brothers of the gospel

I preached to you which you received in which you standhelliprdquo The gospel is not just the entry point into Christianity It is the key to spiritual growth as we stand in Jesusrsquo finished work on the cross and His glorious resurrection

Second because the gospel has radically changed us God has called His people to give Him glory by living radiant lives resulting in missional living The church has moved from an internal to an external emphasis Some of the practical results have been

bull Adopting local fire stations and the Gwinnett South Precinct by providing meals and notes of encouragement

bull Hosting community events like Family Fest on May 4 2013

bull Mentoring ladies from the Atlanta WomenChildren shelter and adopting and fixing up a dorm

bull Offering an ESL program on Wednesdays with a provided meal afterward bull Holding food drives for Lilburn Co-op and providing Christmas for needy

familiesbull Deacons serving at Mountain Park Park in the concession stand so parents

could watch their children playbull Donating over $100000 from financial overages the last two years to support

local and international missions above the normal mission givingGod is at work at Mountain Park First Baptist Church For more information

go to wwwmpfbcorg

Chaplainrsquos Corner

hellipto our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue

Keep them coming

Thanks

Dr Louise DeLong Dr Franccediloise Tyler

ldquoHappy Motherrsquos Day from all of us at The Village Vetsrdquo Dr Will Draper

Dr Carrie McColganDr Amanda Irish

Hours Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm Sat 8am-2pm Sun 12-4pmwwwTheVillageVetscom

770-717-1650

7 Days a Week

1227 Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain(Near the Kroger Shopping Center)

Serving Gwinnett

and Dekalb Counties

Mention this ad for

10 OFFFirst visit

Limit one per household Vaccines and services only Products not included Coupon need not be presented for discount Terms subject to change without

notice at practice discretion By appointment only Expires 053113

Pictured Dr Will Draper with his mother Cheryl and her dogs Dolly and Kali

Page 17: MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

Our Town For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg PAGE 17

99centFresh AnnualsStarting at

LLMAY

$5Present this coupon

at time of purchase and save$5 off your purchase

of $30 or more

Excludes seed sod straw sale items gift cardsCannot be combined with any other salecoupon discount promotion or previous purchase1 coupon per familyExpires 52013

SOD BERMUDA ZOYSIA

CENTIPEDE

By the piece or (pre-ordered) pallet

Great Food Amazing EntertainmentRight here in Lilburn

4975 Hwy 78Lilburn GA 30047

770-978-1270Tuesday - Thursday 500 PM - 1200 AM

Friday - Saturday 500 PM - 200 AM Sunday - 500 PM -1100 PM

HAPPY HOUR on Tuesday Wednesday and Thursday from 5pm - 8pm

$4 OFFAny Meal Purchase over $20 or More

Valid Tues-Thurs 8pm - CloseNot Valid on Fri Sat or SunOne coupon per ticket Cannot combine

with any other offers Exp 053113

Visit website for amazing entertainment in Lilburn

httpwwwsunsetsportsbaratlcom

You Canrsquot Get There From Here By Susan Cadley LPC

Have you ever wished you could be like Harry Potter and wave a magic wand to fix a problem or get what you wanted If so you are in good company It is a natural tendency to avoid pain frustration or any feeling that is perceived as ldquobadrdquo It is also natural to have desires and goals for your life But herersquos the truth life is a process and when we resist or deny what we are feeling or what is happening in our life we actually cause ourselves more pain

We are all born with a wide range of emotions and these emotions are mes-sengers If we pay attention to them they have much to share with us We may learn what we react to what beliefs we hold and most importantly where our healing lies When we ignore these messengers they knock louder and harder at our subconscious until they get our attention So instead of working so hard to push emotions away welcome them in as a guest and lean into them You will find that the feelings dissipate and the pain of resistance yoursquove created will be eased

When we want to wish challenges away we lose the richness of life Imagine what it would be like to watch a movie and only view the first and last 10 minutes of the film By skipping the majority of the movie we miss out on the story and the experience as a whole And so it is with life When we wish for our lives to be different than they are we must then let go and live our lives right now with all the seeming imperfections that make up the movie we are living When we wish to go from ldquohererdquo to ldquothererdquo directly we miss out on personal growth

We are all here to learn love live fully and be more of who we are Embrace all of your life right where you are right now Then the real magic will begin

Susan Cadley LPC Licensed Professional Counselor is available for couplesadult individual counseling and creativity workshops in Suwanee GA She may be reached directly and confiden-tially at 678-296-1278 wwwcoaching foryoursoulcom

Fly-Fishing PatagoniaBy Pam Walker

What I know about Fly-Fishing you could put on the head of a straight pin So when asked to visit Patagonia I thought ldquoThis is my chance to learnrdquo

In early March I flew to Buenos Aires Argentina and then on to Bariloche From there I had an hour drive to Villa Angostura Aroyo Verde the famed fly- fishing lodge was further on down a dirt road

No signs No directions We had just a general sense of where we were going Anthony my naturalist guide headed into the Traful river canyon Fifteen minutes later we were greeted first by an authentic gaucho and then by riders on horseback After another 20 minutes we saw along a stream a lovely chalet with a sculpture gar-den Estancia Aroyo Verde

This private fishing and riding estancia is the home of one of Argentinarsquos most elite families Located within the Nahuel Huapi National Park the family-managed lodge hosts visitors from across the globe The Traful River is also home to land-locked salmon brown and rainbow trout This is a catch-and-release river with a season from November through April In this remote setting the fish some reaching 28 in for salmon and 29 in for Rainbows and Browns swim right up to you in the crystal clear water Best of all you need only your favorite fly rod Everything else is avail-able on-site Miles of nothingness surrounds this pristine spot Imagine standing in the river surrounded by the Andes What more could you ask for

Rooms are cozy all with private baths and meals are served family-style If yoursquore lucky join the family for an Argentine-style barbeque (Parillada) cooked outdoors by one of the resi-dent gauchos

Fishing horseback riding and even moun-tain bikes are here for your enjoyment Too bad I had to come back

Pam Walker is a Virtuoso travel consultant and can be reached at Walker Adventures pliwalkerearthlinknet You can follow her travels by visiting Pamrsquos blog at httpwwwpamwalkersblogspotcom

PAGE 18 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Pastor Paul Ballard

The mission statement of Mountain Park First Baptist Church is to engage every man woman and child by living out Jesusrsquo love and sharing the gospel both locally and globally Since coming to MPFBC in May 2011 senior pastor Paul Ballard has been simple in his approach He has two priorities preaching the gospel and becoming a radiant church by being missional in nature

First Pastor Paul has prioritized the preaching of the gospel of Jesus The gospel is Godrsquos victory over sin and death through the person and work of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 151 says ldquoNow I would remind you brothers of the gospel

I preached to you which you received in which you standhelliprdquo The gospel is not just the entry point into Christianity It is the key to spiritual growth as we stand in Jesusrsquo finished work on the cross and His glorious resurrection

Second because the gospel has radically changed us God has called His people to give Him glory by living radiant lives resulting in missional living The church has moved from an internal to an external emphasis Some of the practical results have been

bull Adopting local fire stations and the Gwinnett South Precinct by providing meals and notes of encouragement

bull Hosting community events like Family Fest on May 4 2013

bull Mentoring ladies from the Atlanta WomenChildren shelter and adopting and fixing up a dorm

bull Offering an ESL program on Wednesdays with a provided meal afterward bull Holding food drives for Lilburn Co-op and providing Christmas for needy

familiesbull Deacons serving at Mountain Park Park in the concession stand so parents

could watch their children playbull Donating over $100000 from financial overages the last two years to support

local and international missions above the normal mission givingGod is at work at Mountain Park First Baptist Church For more information

go to wwwmpfbcorg

Chaplainrsquos Corner

hellipto our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue

Keep them coming

Thanks

Dr Louise DeLong Dr Franccediloise Tyler

ldquoHappy Motherrsquos Day from all of us at The Village Vetsrdquo Dr Will Draper

Dr Carrie McColganDr Amanda Irish

Hours Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm Sat 8am-2pm Sun 12-4pmwwwTheVillageVetscom

770-717-1650

7 Days a Week

1227 Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain(Near the Kroger Shopping Center)

Serving Gwinnett

and Dekalb Counties

Mention this ad for

10 OFFFirst visit

Limit one per household Vaccines and services only Products not included Coupon need not be presented for discount Terms subject to change without

notice at practice discretion By appointment only Expires 053113

Pictured Dr Will Draper with his mother Cheryl and her dogs Dolly and Kali

Page 18: MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

PAGE 18 For more information call 678-825-2049 bull ourtownmagorg Our Town

By Pastor Paul Ballard

The mission statement of Mountain Park First Baptist Church is to engage every man woman and child by living out Jesusrsquo love and sharing the gospel both locally and globally Since coming to MPFBC in May 2011 senior pastor Paul Ballard has been simple in his approach He has two priorities preaching the gospel and becoming a radiant church by being missional in nature

First Pastor Paul has prioritized the preaching of the gospel of Jesus The gospel is Godrsquos victory over sin and death through the person and work of Jesus Christ 1 Corinthians 151 says ldquoNow I would remind you brothers of the gospel

I preached to you which you received in which you standhelliprdquo The gospel is not just the entry point into Christianity It is the key to spiritual growth as we stand in Jesusrsquo finished work on the cross and His glorious resurrection

Second because the gospel has radically changed us God has called His people to give Him glory by living radiant lives resulting in missional living The church has moved from an internal to an external emphasis Some of the practical results have been

bull Adopting local fire stations and the Gwinnett South Precinct by providing meals and notes of encouragement

bull Hosting community events like Family Fest on May 4 2013

bull Mentoring ladies from the Atlanta WomenChildren shelter and adopting and fixing up a dorm

bull Offering an ESL program on Wednesdays with a provided meal afterward bull Holding food drives for Lilburn Co-op and providing Christmas for needy

familiesbull Deacons serving at Mountain Park Park in the concession stand so parents

could watch their children playbull Donating over $100000 from financial overages the last two years to support

local and international missions above the normal mission givingGod is at work at Mountain Park First Baptist Church For more information

go to wwwmpfbcorg

Chaplainrsquos Corner

hellipto our readers and advertisers for all the great comments and feedback we received on the April issue

Keep them coming

Thanks

Dr Louise DeLong Dr Franccediloise Tyler

ldquoHappy Motherrsquos Day from all of us at The Village Vetsrdquo Dr Will Draper

Dr Carrie McColganDr Amanda Irish

Hours Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm Sat 8am-2pm Sun 12-4pmwwwTheVillageVetscom

770-717-1650

7 Days a Week

1227 Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain(Near the Kroger Shopping Center)

Serving Gwinnett

and Dekalb Counties

Mention this ad for

10 OFFFirst visit

Limit one per household Vaccines and services only Products not included Coupon need not be presented for discount Terms subject to change without

notice at practice discretion By appointment only Expires 053113

Pictured Dr Will Draper with his mother Cheryl and her dogs Dolly and Kali

Page 19: MAY 2013: Our Town Gwinnett/NE Dekalb Monthly Magazine

Dr Louise DeLong Dr Franccediloise Tyler

ldquoHappy Motherrsquos Day from all of us at The Village Vetsrdquo Dr Will Draper

Dr Carrie McColganDr Amanda Irish

Hours Mon-Fri 7am to 7pm Sat 8am-2pm Sun 12-4pmwwwTheVillageVetscom

770-717-1650

7 Days a Week

1227 Rockbridge Road in Stone Mountain(Near the Kroger Shopping Center)

Serving Gwinnett

and Dekalb Counties

Mention this ad for

10 OFFFirst visit

Limit one per household Vaccines and services only Products not included Coupon need not be presented for discount Terms subject to change without

notice at practice discretion By appointment only Expires 053113

Pictured Dr Will Draper with his mother Cheryl and her dogs Dolly and Kali