Up Close with Lettum Eat!, see story on page 5.
Gwinnett/Walton Community & Family Magazine
Grayson | Dacula | Lawrenceville | Snellville | Loganville
On the Cover: Growing the Community with Lettum Eat Specialty Farm!
By Kristen Eleveld
If you are part of the Gwinnett Community, you have almost certainly heard of Chef Hank, a professional chef from Snellville. Chef Hank uses his leadership and considerable talents to provide fresh prepared meals to those experiencing food insecurity in Gwinnett County. Since 2019, Lettum Eat has supplied over 390,000 meals and is now engaged in creating a level of sustainability.
In May of 2025, Chef Hank and the Lettum Eat team started the Lettum Eat Specialty Farm on a plot of land in Walton County. They have over seven acres of farmland, housing two 960 squarefoot greenhouses, barn, and enclosures for the eight goats, four pigs, and a Great Pyrenees named Tank (The Protector). Lettum Eat is using the farm to grow all sorts of delicious items. Pumpkins, figs, blueberries, potatoes, and herbs are just a few of the crops you will find growing. But this farm is not just about growing food—it’s also an opportunity to teach new skills to the entire community.
“As a chef, I want to make you the best mashed potatoes you’ve ever had,” said Chef Hank. “Then I want to give you a bag of potatoes and the recipe and, finally, I want to show you how to grow those potatoes and make that recipe on your own. Once you embrace the potential of the resources you have, you can change your circumstances.”
With this idea in mind, Chef Hank’s goal is to educate the community on agriculture, the ecosystem, farming, livestock management, organic soil
development, and how people can grow their own crops with minimal space. Lettum Eat wants to show the entire process of where our food comes from, how it’s prepared, and how it eventually gets to our table.
Even those in both traditional urban and suburban settings are finding ways to engage in farm life. Chef Hank has had the benefit of learning from private growers supplying micro-greens to local restaurants to a small-scaled quail farm in a suburban garage. People in metro Atlanta suburbs frequently start patio herb gardens, which don’t create substantial amounts of food or replace someone’s food source, but they do provide essential nutrients and enhance flavor when preparing meals.
it’s done with others willing to serve. In fact, they even developed a funding resource of their own— Certified Southern Catering.
“We see this as a way to help battle food insecurity and to empower people to create supplemental food resources of their own,” said Chef Hank. “The Specialty Farm is not intended to replace support from food banks and other community partners, but to enhance our offering of free, hot, chef-prepared meals along with the ability to show people where the components come from and that they can create these resources on their own.”
When it comes to developing resources, Lettum Eat has spent years cultivating partnerships with other nonprofits, organizations, and businesses to ensure they have what is needed to not only serve their community but to share the knowledge of how
With Chef Hank at the helm, Certified Southern Catering has become synonymous with professional service and great food. As their website says, “Choosing us for catering today, feeds hungry families tomorrow.”
Whether you are looking for a caterer to provide an upscaled banquet event for a wedding or a backyard graduation barbecue, Certified Southern Catering can accommodate your needs—and their profits go directly toward helping those who benefit from Lettum Eat.
“The catering operation offers us a self-funding mechanism a lot of non-profits don’t have,” said Chef Hank.
Of course, Lettum Eat looks to food banks, support from the community, grants, and contributions to support the ministry. The catering company and
Continued on page 11
Our Town Gwinnett is published and direct mailed to select homes in the Gwinnett/Walton area. Opinions expressed by the writers and staff are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Our Town Gwinnett reserves the right to edit and/or reject any editorial or advertising content. Our Town Gwinnett is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the cost of the space or for the validity of claims made by advertisers.
Entire contents copyright 2026 by Our Town Gwinnett Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden in any media without written permission from the publisher.
Publisher/Owner
Dr. Ryan T. Sauers Ryan@EndResultz.com
Creative Director Elsie Olson Elsie@EndResultz.com
Editor
Catherine L. Osornio Editor@EndResultz.com
Cover
Contributing
IN THIS ISSUE
5 On the Cover: Growing the Community with Lettum Eat Specialty Farm!
From the Publisher: Ryan’s Remarks
Learning Lessons: Skills Needed for Future Career Success and How to Build Them in Childhood
2026 New Year Outlook: 3 Ways to Win in Business When the Rules Are Changing
Dining Out More, or Prepare to Eat in A LOT
From the Publisher:
Ryan’s Remarks
By Dr. Ryan T. Sauers
@RyanTSauers @RyanTSauers
As we close the door on another year and step into a new one, I find myself doing what I often encourage others to do—taking a moment to reflect. Not just on goals or the calendar, but on people. On relationships. On the moments that truly mattered.
I’m truly grateful to still be writing this column and to remain part of a community that supports each other. I appreciate my family and friends, our business and community partners, the team behind Our Town, and the many stories that remind me why local matters. As someone once said, as long as we’re “on this side of the dirt,” there’s still work to do and good to share.
A new year always brings a fresh sense of possibility, but growth doesn’t just happen with the flip of the calendar. It occurs when we intentionally choose to do something different—think differently and show up differently. So here’s the simple question I’ll leave you with as we move forward: How much do you want to grow this year?
When we want something badly enough, we tend to find a way. We plan, adjust, and keep going. When we don’t, we often make excuses and usually blame someone else. That’s not judgment; it’s just human nature.
Which means we all face a choice. We can complain about what isn’t working—or we can get honest, make a plan, and start improving what we can control.
That mindset is what I call Keep Pushing Forward (KPF)—a phrase I frequently share with my marketing and leadership students. KPF isn’t
Continued on page 13
Learning Lessons: Skills Needed for Future Career Success and How to Build Them in Childhood
By Tanisha Turner
When parents think about the earliest skills they should be nurturing in their children, language, reading, and motor skills likely come to mind. However, a recent survey revealed that another set of skills may be just as important to develop early in life to give children the foundation they need for future success.
According to a national survey of human resources managers responsible for hiring, problem solving, critical thinking, teamwork, self-control, adaptability and working memory – collectively referred to as executive function skills – are essential to succeeding in today’s workplace. In fact, survey respondents agreed that these skills are more important than good grades, technical skills, and other factors when it comes to hiring.
Yet, the majority of those surveyed said that entry-level employees are rarely proficient in executive function skills and agreed that they are difficult to teach. One in four respondents also indicated employees are becoming less proficient in executive function skills over time – a concerning trend given that research suggests these skills will only become more valued as society evolves.
These statistics may sound worrisome, but encouragingly, executive function skills have their foundational roots in early childhood. The Harvard Center on the Developing Child reports that children’s early life experiences influence their capacity for executive function skills, and laying the foundation for such skills is one of the most important tasks of the early childhood years.
All of the adults in a child’s life – parents, grandparents, teachers, and
others – therefore, have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to help set him or her on a pathway for success. And nurturing the executive function skills needed to succeed later in life doesn’t have to be difficult. Try the following fun activities for children at home:
• Develop problem solving through play. Children work through their understanding of the world as they play. For example, when children play with blocks, they learn that putting heavier blocks on top make block towers tumble more quickly, but putting heavier blocks on the bottom make the tower stronger.
• Promote critical thinking by asking thought-provoking questions. Whether you’re playing with blocks or at the grocery store, ask your child simple, open-ended questions like “Why do you think…” and “What if…” to inspire deeper thinking. Be sure to give your child plenty of time to answer the question, refraining from giving the answer yourself.
• Encourage teamwork by leading by example. Children learn how to respond to others mostly by watching their parents and caregivers. Make it a point to model behaviors like listening and being respectful at home.
Continued on page 13
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Pet Perch: Happy New Year to All!
By Dr. Jennifer Reesman, DVM
As we move from one holiday to the next, New Year’s Day often brings resolution for the year to come. Here are some resolutions, inspired by my pets. Maybe your pets can relate?
From the cats:
(1) This includes no longer late-night snacking from the dishes in the sink or trying to steal things from the counter.
(2) Keeping the litter in the box. Do I really need to dig and throw litter everywhere?
(3) Getting along with my brother. I can try to stop hissing at him though the baby gate. Mom wants us to be friends.
(4) Exercise more. I could try to run and play with the toy, not just stare at it, then Mom, as I lay in the middle of the floor.
(5) Drinking more. I like the stuff she adds to the water, so why not drink more?
(6) Take better care of my teeth. Yeah, sorry Mom. Brushing just isn’t happening over here.
(7) Being gracious to guests. Knocking on the door in the middle of the night because they are sleeping in my room and have closed the door to keep me out is not the best hospitality.
From the dogs:
(1) Eat healthier—no more snacking from the litter box!
(2) Wiping my paws before coming inside. Mom spends so much time
Happy 2026: New Goals in a New Year
By Tana Poncsak
To many, a new year signifies a blank page or screen. To others, it means a fresh start. Whatever the onset of a new year brings to mind, it’s never the wrong time to reassess your life goals.
According to History.com and The History of New Year’s Resolutions, the first people to make New Year’s Resolutions were the ancient Babylonians about 4,000 years ago. Amid their celebration, they also saw the need to mark the beginning of the new year and make sound intentions for the year to come. And we continue to do that very same thing today.
What’s the difference between a resolution and a goal? A quick Google search describes a resolution as “a firm decision to do or not to do something.” A goal is “the object of a person’s ambition or effort; an aim or desired result.” Whether you call them resolutions or goals, what are some things you hope to accomplish during the new year?
Many people categorize their goals into different areas of life, such as health, financial, professional, etc. Others have begun to condense their efforts into a single word for the new year. Words such as mindful, intentional, grateful, bold, and many others come to mind.
One thing’s for sure: as we say goodbye to one year and hello to the next,
trying to keep the house clean already, at least I can help!
(3) Getting along with my siblings. I can try to no longer hump and growl at my brother. We are just playing, but it makes my mom a little crazy!
(4) Exercise more. I will not run and try to play with Mom when she is trying to put my harness on me to take me for a walk. I LOVE all the smells when we do get outside and walk around the neighborhood!
(5) Rest better. I should just stay put and rest on my bed instead of having to run to the kitchen EVERY TIME someone is in there. I don’t get snacks just for being there anyways.
(6) Drinking more water. Mom even adds this stuff that smells great and helps my teeth!
(7) Take care of my teeth, or at least let Mom brush them every day. And not eating out of the litterbox may help this, too…just a thought.
From my furry family of two cats (Loki and Thor) and three dogs (Odin, Castor, and Pollux) to yours, cheers to a Happy New Years and have an amazing 2026!
Dr. Jenny Reesman is owner of Brookwood Animal Hospital. More information at https://www.brookwoodanimal.com/
Wellness Matters: Tips for a New You in 2026
By Our Town Gwinnett Staff
If your New Year’s resolutions list is a mile long, you may feel overwhelmed and unsure where to start. Let these three essential wellness tips set you up for a successful year and give you the power, energy, and determination you need to reach all your other goals.
Make Time for Breakfast
Many people make the mistake of skipping breakfast, particularly if they are trying to lose weight. But breakfast is essential because it provides the energy to get through the morning until lunch. This is important to help kickstart your metabolism and regulate your hunger. Don’t think you have time to prepare a healthy breakfast? You’re not alone. However, many are open to implementing this habit with quicker breakfast options, such as frozen breakfast foods, that cut prep time in half.
Eggland’s Best Frozen Breakfast Bowls, made with hearty ingredients, are ready to eat in minutes. Not only do the bowls taste great, but they are made with nutritionally superior Eggland’s Best eggs, which contain six times more vitamin D, more than double the Omega-3s and ten times more vitamin E compared to ordinary eggs, so you can feel confident that you’re getting optimal nutrition before taking on the busy day ahead.
Practice Self-Care
Between work, family life, and other commitments, carving out time for yourself can seem challenging. But a little self-care goes a long way toward helping you recharge and better manage all your responsibilities and stressors. Whether going for a run, taking a yoga class, doing arts and crafts, or reading a book, be sure to spend some time each week doing something you love that makes you feel your best.
Prioritize Sleep
Prioritizing sleep will improve every aspect of your physical and mental wellness and help you achieve all your other goals. Unfortunately, streaming devices, social media, and other distractions make it too easy to stay up later than intended. Setting an alarm in the evening can be a gentle reminder that it’s time to put down devices and start your bedtime routine, helping you create a more consistent sleep schedule. This will also eliminate exposure
Continued on page 14
Let’s Be Honest About the New Year
By Our Town Gwinnett Staff
Every January, we hear the same things.
“This is the year.” “I’m going to slow down.” “I’m finally going to focus on what matters.” And then February hits. The emails pile up. The calendar fills. The pace picks up. And before long, we’re right back where we were— busy, distracted, and telling ourselves we’ll get to that later.
We’re not here to judge. We’re guilty, too.
After years of working with local businesses, nonprofits, schools, and families, one thing is clear: most people don’t fail at change because they don’t care. They fail because they never slow down long enough to decide what they’re actually going to do differently.
Not just in theory. Not “someday.” But this week.
The Truth About Progress
Progress in our community typically doesn’t come from grand announcements or flashy new plans.
It comes from the business owner who finally has the tough conversation they’ve been avoiding.From the organization that stops trying to be everything to everyone and gets clear about who they serve best. From leaders who realize that being busy is not the same as being effective.
Those moments can be uncomfortable. They don’t look good on social media and rarely earn applause. But they matter. Because small, intentional choices—made consistently—are what distinguish growth from simply staying in motion.
Community Isn’t Automatic
We often use the term “community,” but it doesn’t sustain itself. Community forms when people choose to support local businesses over convenience, and when companies invest in people, not just profits. It also grows when organizations communicate clearly instead of assuming everyone “just knows.” It’s built when someone decides to care a little more than required. That doesn’t happen by accident, and it doesn’t happen without effort.
So, Here’s the Real Question
As this new year begins, here’s the question worth asking: What are you actually willing to do differently?
Not perfectly.
Not all at once.
But intentionally.
Because another year will pass either way, the difference between simply
Continued on page 14
2026 New Year Outlook: 3 Ways to Win in Business When the Rules Are Changing
By Our Town Gwinnett Staff
Unprecedented. That’s the consensus for the 2025 economy. Business leaders navigated supply chain challenges, geopolitical tensions, technology disruptions, economic uncertainty, and government shutdowns. It’s natural that they look toward 2026 with concern.
According to Wells Fargo Commercial Banking, the weathering of 2025 presents an opportunity for decision-makers who prioritize resilience, innovation, and talent development.
Here are three ways your business can tap into 2026 opportunities:
1. Stress Test
While the goal should always be to increase resilience and mitigate weaknesses, these pursuits should be a priority during economic uncertainty. To stay competitive, companies must understand their current strengths and weaknesses and precisely anticipate opportunities and risks. Conduct a series of best/worst/ probable simulations to model budgeting impacts, and stress test your credit facility’s structure to ensure it meets potential needs.
Using these insights to drive dynamic cash flow strategies and assess organizational agility can enable your company to respond swiftly by activating strategic, operational, and financial levers. For example, exploring financing options such as asset-based lending can help an asset-rich company preserve cash flow and secure working capital, enabling it to make strategic decisions rather than react to urgent demands.
For companies seeking to prepare and position themselves strategically, self-evaluation through simulation is not a nice-to-have. It’s a must-have.
2. Innovate Intentionally
Innovation—especially through AI and automation—is a priority for more than 70% of commercial businesses nationwide, according to a survey from Bain & Company. McKinsey reports that over 62% are piloting AI agents, while 80% are looking to increase efficiency through AI initiatives, according to Deloitte.
Despite this enthusiasm, management that doesn’t carefully align innovation investment with operational goals risks hindering organizational progress. Without disciplined planning, your company may over-invest in technology
while neglecting other critical areas, disrupting balance sheets and employee engagement.
Instead, your firm should deliberately integrate new capabilities without losing sight of your long-term vision. Further, leaders should evaluate if additional cybersecurity measures or fraud insurance are needed. Regularly consulting with strategic advisors (lawyers, accountants, bankers) who can evaluate progress and provide expertise can help you mitigate this risk.
3. Empower Talent
Despite deliberate and thoughtful strategies, if business leaders fail to engage employees and prioritize talent development, long-term productivity and adaptability could be at risk. Tools and preparedness research are only effective if people remain central to strategy.
A Society for Human Resource Management study finds that organizations that invest in talent see reduced turnover. This investment also has a real dollar return. McKinsey reports that human capital development drives revenue and better integration of technology—which is especially important as AI applications increase.
Companies with training programs generate more income per employee and enjoy 24% higher profit margins, according to IDC research. Economic uncertainty may tempt leaders to deprioritize employee development, but with tech adoption, productivity, and retention at stake, it’s more critical than ever.
(StatePoint)
Lettum Eat Specialty Farm!
Continued from page 5
the farm are designed to offer Lettum Eat additional funding resources, and their goal is to grow crops using practical and sustainable systems, using the harvests in both ministry and catering applications, and educate the community, particularly young people, on where their food comes from.
“The average kid wouldn’t know what to do if they had an opportunity to pick a ripe plum from a tree or a tomato from a live plant,” said Chef Hank. “We want to create these opportunities and inspire a new generation of kids comfortable with being outdoors and enjoying the fruits of Mother Nature as opposed to the isolation of the digital world we’ve unfortunately become too familiar with.”
More information at https://lettumeat.com/specialty-farm, info@lettumeat.com
New Goals in a New Year
Continued from page 9
what most of us really want is for the new year to be better than the year before. But all the goal-setting and resolutions in the world won’t help if once life gets back into full swing and there’s the daily grind to contend with, our intentions for the new year get lost in the shuffle, and we fall back into the grip of our old habits. So here are some tips for making the most of your New Year’s goals or resolutions.
1. Set aside time to consider what you want 2026 to be like.
2. List your top priorities for the year and clearly define each goal. Don’t be vague. For example, “Get Healthy” is too ambiguous. Be specific and try to visualize reaching
each goal.
3. Make a plan of action for how you expect to accomplish each goal.
4. Keep the list handy and refer to it often throughout the year. Track your progress.
5. Things change, so don’t be afraid to revise and update the list of goals as needed.
6. Finally, pick a time before making your new goals for the next year and assess your progress. Where did you nail it, and where did you fall short? And why? Don’t beat yourself up for what you didn’t achieve. Perhaps there was a good reason. Be sure to make notes and recognize where you saw progress.
We hope you realize all your goals and dreams, whatever the new year brings. And we wish you a safe, healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year in 2026!
New Year, New Roof!
BEGIN THE YEAR WITH PEACE OF MIND FOR YOUR HOME
inspection
One Man’s Opinion: So Thankful, So Blessed
By Bill Crane
As 2025 began, I marveled at being here, among other things. Because of some of my life choices along the way, I wasn’t entirely expecting to live this long, thinking that a jealous husband or an overzealous political supporter of any number of those I have opposed might take me out early. Yet, approaching the midpoint of my sixth decade, I had made my yoga practice a priority, been eating better for several years, and generally making smarter life choices. With that in mind, I began to settle into that long, slow decline away from leaving a good-looking corpse.
So, on the day after my birthday last year, on January 31st, I received surprising news of my cancer, found during my annual colonoscopy—rarely found in the colon, fast-growing, and faster spreading. As the Signet Rings Cells portion of my Stage 3b High Risk diagnosis initially offered very little good news, aggressive surgery and treatment were explained to me as perhaps my only real option for still being here this year to share good news with you.
So, with an incredible surgeon, Dr. Cici Zhang, and later my oncologist, Dr. Kathleen Lambert, and the amazing medical teams at Northside Hospital’s Cancer Center and the Georgia Cancer Specialists in Decatur, I dove into the ups and downs of becoming a cancer patient. The medical care I received throughout this past year has been incredible. My doctors listened as I at times pushed back on their counsel, and the various support physicians in radiology, anesthesia, rehab, etc., as well as the nursing staff and medtechs, in-patient and out-patient, and the counselors and other support staff, all helped make this journey bearable.
I cannot say that chemotherapy was a breeze. Still, I can again say that the nursing care and staff who administered that care did everything in
Learning Lessons Continued from page 7
• Cultivate self-control by giving instructions. Instructions don’t immediately sound like much fun, but singing songs like the hokey pokey and playing games like Simon Says actually encourage self-control by requiring children to move in a specific way at a particular time.
• Nurture adaptability through dramatic play. Children can practice adaptability – the ability to take in and adapt to new information – by using everyday objects in new ways, like turning a paper towel roll into a telescope.
• Foster working memory by reading aloud. Consistently reading aloud with children reinforces sounds and letters, helping them learn and store information in a way that feels more like play. Take things a step further by making up a story together. As the complexity of the story grows, your child will get more practice remembering the information. By intentionally nurturing these skills during the first five years of life, parents and caregivers can help set children up for success that will last a lifetime.
Tanisha Turner is the Owner of Primrose School at Sugarloaf Parkway. More information at www.PrimroseSugarloafParkway.com or call 770513-0066.
their power to make several dozen other patients and me as comfortable as possible.
Throughout this journey, I worked when I could and returned to a near normal world just a week or so after moving back home. A trip to the movies or the grocery store would bring hugs and words of prayer from complete strangers. Among the benefits of spending time working in television is that many of these folks knew me, even if the reverse was not yet true. Prayer circles across north Georgia, and one or two in Texas and Mississippi, became familiar to me. Thoughts or memories of an old and dear friend often triggered a simultaneous phone call or text appearing on my phone.
In March, my entire colon and dozens of lymph nodes were removed. Life with an ileostomy and stoma bag is manageable, but I wanted a colon back. And in November, I got that, courtesy of a J-Pouch, making my semi-colon much closer to the original and now bionic, with again a few accommodations to be made, but with all the plumbing back on the inside. I am still taking precautions after that second major surgery this past year. But I am resuming my morning Tai Chi and a more moderate version of my yoga practice. I am walking several miles each week, an activity encouraged by all members of my medical team.
And now, roughly eleven months from my diagnosis, I remain cancer-free, my N.E.D. status most recently affirmed by two CT scans of my upper and lower torso, showing no cell masses, new tumors, or any evidence of disease, other than some slight post-surgical swelling of lymph nodes. I now know more about the entirety of my gastrointestinal system than I ever wanted to know, and it is again, fully functional—if only a bit more frequently than most.
So many of you helped give me this gift, and this year also gave me the time to refocus a bit on what matters most, with whatever time God decides that I have left. This cancer has a more than reasonably high rate of return. I am doing what I can to prevent that, with diet, exercise, and a positive attitude. Happiness and smiling are choices. I hope you’ll see MORE of both from me in the days and years ahead. I don’t mind saying goodbye to the roller coaster that was 2025 as I roll into 2026, healthy, happy, and alive. Who could ask for anything more? Very thankful and incredibly blessed. Wishing you the same in the New Year ahead!
Bill Crane owns the full-service communications firm CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com
Ryan’s Remarks Continued from
page 7
about achieving perfection. It’s about persistence. It’s about having faith that there’s always a next step, even when the path ahead isn’t clear.
Growth demands effort and humility. Failure will happen. But, as Yoda reminds us, it is often the greatest teacher. So don’t be afraid to try. Don’t be scared to be real. Authenticity is still what this world needs most. And if you’re worried about what others might say, remember—people talk anyway. You might as well give them something meaningful to discuss.
As we enter this new year, my challenge is simple: Plan your work, work your plan, and grow intentionally. Control what you can, trust the rest to God, and focus on becoming a little better—at home, at work, and in your community—one step at a time.
Thank you for being part of the Our Town story. We’re proud to continue sharing positive, local stories and news across all our platforms, and we’re grateful you choose to be part of this community with us.
Here’s to a strong year ahead. And as always, thank you for continuing with me on the journey of my town, your town—OUR TOWN
Start Dining Out More, or Prepare to Eat in A LOT
By Bill Crane
With the cold and flu season in full swing, it is hard to believe that more than five years have passed since the start of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic affected economies worldwide, and nearly every industry faced setbacks, though some more than others. Among the hardest hit and still recovering are the restaurant, dining, and hospitality sectors.
The shutdown here in the U.S. was not uniform, but almost every major urban and rural market experienced business losses, with the hospitality sector being disproportionately impacted. The failure rate, under normal conditions, for a new restaurant is typically well above 50 percent in the first year. Add to that many months with no customers or income, while regular expenses such as leases, equipment rentals, utilities, and facility maintenance continued in full.
As a former hospitality industry worker, I knew from the start that many of my favorite staple locations and restaurants would need customer support and regular clients yesterday and going forward to stay in business. During the first week of the shutdown, I drove to four of my favorites and bought gift cards ranging from $100 to $200 each. Of course, there was no guarantee that each of those places would remain open, but I figured their chances of survival increased if they had some cash flow. I also pre-tipped some of my favorite wait staff with both gift cards and cash, since their own jobs and incomes were also about to be paused.
And yet, as wage pressures and other costs continue to rise, I am puzzled every time I see hostile, critical, or dazed/confused posts on social media mourning the closure of another dining spot. In metro Atlanta, several closures within the Ponce Market Food Hall, on Atlanta’s trendy westside, and in popular suburban and intown areas like Atlantic Station, Avalon, and Decatur have grabbed headlines and attention.
Athens, Georgia, quite quickly lost its legendary Varsity, soon after losing the multi-generational family “meat n’ three” Mayflower, as well as several longtime watering holes in Normaltown. When I hear neighbors and influencers complain about the lack of a Cheesecake Factory on the southside, I have to remind them—the Cheesecake Factory in Buckhead also closed.
At times, ancillary issues overly impacted locations and markets. The ever-trendy VirginiaHighlands Atlanta submarket lost the original Taco Mac, as did downtown Decatur. In addition to new owners seemingly having lost a bit of their zest and focus, tight parking and an aging/small kitchen contributed to the decision that costs far outweighed profits, with the tariffs of 2025 impacting the costs of most fresh food products, adding insult to injury.
I am happy to say that all four of my favorites remain in business. Though nostalgia and fond memories don’t fuel cash registers. Grubhub, DoorDash, and the like are convenient for consumers, but not only leave wait staff hanging dry—without the beverages (soft drinks, coffee/tea, or an adult libation), the restaurant loses sales on its most profitable menu items.
Trendy dining halls seem to be suffering the transition from malls to online shopping. Lookie-loos walking and talking may make an establish-
Wellness Matters
Continued from page 10
to blue light late in the evening, an environmental factor shown to make it harder to fall asleep.
Let’s Be Honest About the New Year
ment look busy, but that long and lingering cup of coffee, while enjoying the atmosphere and free WiFi, is again a drain on resources and typically results in little to no tip income for the wait staff. This is actually one of those rare situations where the choices of every household matter. Make eating out a treat but reward yourself—and your favorites—regularly. Recommend your watering holes and favored staff to friends and neighbors. Clipping and using coupons is fine, but try to make up for that by dining more frequently and bringing others, even by splitting the check. Five checks on a 10-top may be a pain, but that is likely ten more entrées with beverages that night for the house.
Post notes or photos of an enjoyable evening on social media or fill out a Yahoo or Google review. Those dining establishments will notice and appreciate you giving them that free support and exposure.
And especially if you had solid meal service and your courses timed out as they should, and the staff didn’t hover too much—tip well. If for no other reason, the staff will remember you—and the karma of taking care of those who routinely take care of others is off the charts. Check please. Bon Appétit!
Bill Crane owns the full-service communications firm CSI Crane. More information at www.CSICrane.com
First…A Word for Your Day
By Jane Bishop
It is the first of a new year with an opportunity for reflection, fresh starts, and quiet promises to ourselves. Calendars reset. Goals resurface. For some, there’s an unspoken pressure to do something meaningful with this sense of beginning, i.e. this “first.” Before deciding how this year should unfold, let’s consider what first truly means. What if first isn’t always what we think?
We’re taught to chase first. First place. First response. First to finish. First to be noticed. Somewhere along the way, first became shorthand for better, faster, more important. It quietly influences our choices, unconsciously urging us to rush, compete, and justify ourselves.
What if first isn’t about position at all? What if first is less about where we land and more about how we begin?
Most days don’t need a dramatic overhaul. They need a small, intentional positive interruption, something that shifts the way we step into the next moment by prompting us to stop, pause and think. That’s where first can become a practice rather than a pressure.
As we begin another new year, consider FIRST as a consistent daily lens: F — Focus.
Before pushing harder, pause long enough to ask what actually matters at this present moment. Energy without direction is just noise. Focus turns effort into impact.
I — Identify your response.
Life brings constant demands—emails, interruptions, and disappointments. Your strength lies in choosing your response, not reacting automatically.
R — Release the rush.
Urgency isn’t the same as importance. Not everything deserves immediate action. Some things need space to become clear.
S — See the person in front of you.
Whether it’s a colleague, a client, or your own reflection, presence is a rare gift. Being fully present often matters more than being first to speak.
T — Take the next step that is right for you.
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Achieving your goals starts with feeling your best. Make that happen in this new year by prioritizing the most essential health and wellness building blocks from sunrise to sundown. It will make all the difference in how you feel. (StatePoint) getting through it and truly moving forward comes down to clarity, courage, and follow-through—especially when no one is watching.
That’s the kind of progress we believe in.
That’s the kind of leadership our towns need.
And that’s the kind of community worth building together. Here’s a year that doesn’t just sound good—but does good. From all of us here at OUR TOWN, here’s to a great new year!
The whole plan is not necessary, but rather one grounded step forward. Momentum follows clarity, not perfection.
Maybe the most meaningful first isn’t winning or arriving early. Maybe it’s the first deep breath before responding. The first boundary you honor. The first moment you choose alignment over approval.
The first of the year doesn’t require you to have it all figured out. It simply asks you to begin—on purpose and aligned with who you are.
And that kind of first can change everything!
More information at www.janebishoplive.com.
T h i s V a l e n t i n e ’ s D a y
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