Gwinnett Magazine Staff

Five Ways to Minimize Wedding Party Expenses

For many, the wedding is no longer a one-day affair — it’s grown into a wedding weekend with expensive festivities lasting three days or more. It’s estimated that guests alone will spend $500 to attend one and that figure doesn’t even include the wedding gift, according to EngagementExperts.com. Bridesmaids can plan on spending up to $1,400 to be a part of a friend’s big day, according to TheKnot.com.

Getting together a game plan before the wedding season kicks off will ease the strain on your closest friends’ and families’ wallets — and help alleviate your stress levels. Since you’re already looking to save money wherever you can, here are some unique ways you can save your guests and your wedding party money as well.

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Gwinnett Magazine Staff

Seven Cost Effective Ways for Baby Boomers to Exercise

Baby Boomer-supreme Jane Fonda started it all with her slinky leotard and goofy leg warmers. The one-time workout fad soon became a way of life for a generation that plans on living longer and better. Aging has its disadvantages, however, including the inability to perform high-impact aerobics or scale mountains in several bounds.

And so was born an entire industry designed to keep Baby Boomers in shape without eliminating precious cartilage or boring us stiff. As added advantages, exercise also reduces our arthritic pain, depression and anxiety.

My personal mantra is “Pain means no gain,” so I’m always looking for low-impact workouts that don’t hurt my wallet. Fortunately, there always seems to be a new exercise trend designed specifically for my generation. Here are a few healthy yet money-saving tips I’ve learned on my journey to physical fitness (which isn’t by any means complete).

 
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Gwinnett Magazine Staff

Make Gwinnett Greener and Cleaner – Recycle Your Christmas Tree

The Gwinnett community continues its annual tradition of Christmas Tree Recycling through Georgia’s ‘Bring One for the Chipper Program.’ The annual tradition of Christmas Tree Recycling began in 1984 as a partnership between Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, 13 local governments, Georgia Power and Jackson EMC to reduce the illegal dumping of trees on roadsides. Since the beginning of the program, it is estimated that more than 1,300,000 trees have been recycled and diverted from landfills.

Residents are encouraged to give back to nature and bring their Christmas tree, stripped of all lights and decorations, to one of approximately 30 local drop-off locations listed below between December 26 and January 16. Artificial trees will not be accepted.

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Gwinnett Magazine Staff

Be a Stress-Free Volunteer!

If volunteerism is a measure of someone’s passion, then Lisa Sellman’s knows no bounds.

Sellman, a professional dog trainer and owner of a pet care business, volunteers periodically with no fewer than 16 different organizations, with her activities ranging from working at an animal shelter to taking disabled kids on nature hikes during the summer. She is a community activist and lifelong volunteer, and she knows what it means to serve others.

“If you want to feel good, volunteer,” said Sellman, also author of the children’s book “The Legend of the Wolves of Gunflint Lake (www.lisasellman.com),” which contains the theme of the value of community service. “There are few ways to feel as good about yourself as volunteering. Now, I realize that many of us are wrapped up with work and family, trying to make ends meet, so the idea of volunteering can seem like it’s just another ‘have-to’ to write into the already crowded calendar. However, I know for a fact that if you do it right, it can be a great stress reliever and a source of true joy in your life.”

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Gwinnett Magazine Staff

AARF Holiday Auction Raises Funds for Homeless Pets

Raising funds for non-profit organizations has been tough in this economy. Donations are smaller and less frequent, and many foundations have less money available for grants.

One local animal welfare organization is partnering with Atlanta businesses to raise funds to save homeless pets. The AARF 2011 Holiday Auction features items from restaurants, museums, doggy day care centers and more! In addition, the auction includes two round-trip tickets on AirTran Airways and a weekend getaway at a historic bed and breakfast in Savannah.

All of the items have been donated, so 100 percent of the winning bids will be used to support AARF’s work to save homeless pets in Atlanta. AARF is hoping to raise at least $2,500 with the holiday auction. Holiday donations in addition to the auction would also be very appreciated.

 
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Gwinnett Magazine Staff

Tips for Teaching Your Kids the Importance of Voting

Did you know barely a quarter of young people made it to the polls in the last midterm election?

“In school, we teach them about the revolutionary war and all the wars our country has fought in order to protect our freedoms, so it doesn’t make any sense to me why young people do so little to participate in the democracy we teach them about every year in school,” said McKittrick, author of the children’s book “Election Day.” “I’m not sure what happens when kids turn 18 and decide they don’t need to vote, but I think it’s a problem worth addressing.”

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Gwinnett Magazine Staff

Hudgens Prize Winner Solo Exhibit Opening

Gyun Hur, She Prays Happiness

Gyun Hur, the winner of the $50,000 Hudgens Prize, will open her solo exhibit at the Hudgens Center for the Arts in Duluth on December 6.  Titled, “In a Landscape Anew,” the exhibit will be on view through February 11, and will include a fascinating chance for the public to observe the artist at work December 6 through 10, during which visitors can watch as Hur and her helpers painstakingly install the central work of art.

Hur was chosen as the recipient of the life-altering cash prize in November of 2010, the result of a nearly two year long process for the Hudgens Prize visual arts competition.  Announced by the Hudgens Center for the Arts in January 2010, the competition caused quite a stir in the state, as the prize was one of the biggest cash art awards in the nation and open only to Georgia artists.

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Mary Rennie

Gwinnett Celebrates America Recycles Day

Got an old TV set you just can’t seem to get rid of? Or maybe a collection of glass bottles and jars piling up? From books to cereal boxes, car parts to tennis shoes, there are more than 100 everyday items that you can recycle instead of throwing in the dumpster. Make Gwinnett the greenest and cleanest county by participating in these two free recycling events in honor of America Recycles Day.

The Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful is hosting a community recycling event on Saturday, November 12 from 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Residents can drop off over 60 different types of recyclables at the Recycling Bank of Gwinnett in Duluth. Recyclers can earn cash for their aluminum cans, shred their sensitive documents for free and have a chance to win cash prizes each hour. For a complete listing of recyclables and additional information, visit gwinnettcb.org.

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Gwinnett Magazine Staff

Veterans Day Ceremony Honors Gwinnett’s Military Heroes

Gwinnett County will host the annual Veterans Day ceremony on Friday, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. at the Gwinnett Fallen Heroes Memorial in Lawrenceville. The public is invited to attend this observance to pay tribute to the men and women who have served honorably in the military, during wartime or peacetime, and to memorialize the fallen heroes who have sacrificed their lives to protect our nation.

Gwinnett County Chairman Charlotte Nash, District 1 Commissioner Shirley Lasseter and County Administrator Glenn Stephens will lead this year’s ceremony. The keynote address will be given by retired Brig. Gen. Daniel J. Kaufman, president of Georgia Gwinnett College. Honor guard units from the Gwinnett County Police, Fire and Emergency Services and Sheriff’s Departments and the Lawrenceville Police Department will also take part in the event. No new names will be added to the memorial during this year’s ceremony.

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Gwinnett Magazine Staff

Gwinnett Great Days of Service is Back!

Photo courtesy of the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services

The Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services in partnership with the United Way of North Metro presents the 12th Annual Gwinnett Great Days of Service scheduled for September 30 and October 1. This remarkable event engages thousands of volunteers in a day of community service throughout Gwinnett County. Last year, over 95,000 volunteers participated, including individuals from large corporations, schools, small businesses, church groups, and families, and amazingly completed over 500 community service projects, making it one of the largest volunteer initiatives in the country!

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