Community
Thankful and Grateful: Messages from Peachtree Corners
It’s safe to say that Thanksgiving 2020, like everything else this year, will look a little different.
This is a holiday about togetherness, yet everyone is six feet apart with masks hiding their faces as they shop for sweets and fixins’. And maybe there is a chair or two that would normally be filled by a loved one, but for their safety, it sits empty. It’s enough to make you want to throw in the towel, microwave a TV dinner and watch the Macy’s Day Parade, the virtual edition.
But the Peachtree Corners community is better than that. Thankfulness is a choice, and we choose to be thankful for our blessings because they are many, despite the confusion and chaos.
We asked Peachtree Corners residents to tell us what makes them grateful, and we share their answers with you in hopes that it resonates and inspires you to find your own reasons to celebrate small victories. Happy Fall from Peachtree Corners Magazine.
Holsworth Family 
Wooley Family 
Dr. Brandy Blount and Family McComas Family photo by Melissa Giles Photography. 
Watch Family
I am thankful:
■ To live in a caring, progressive, innovative community where people care and support each other.
■ For my family and for neighbors who are more like family.
■ For our police, firemen, first responders, public servants, nurses, doctors, clergy and others who serve on the front line of defense during this pandemic.
■ For our educators who continue to adapt so students can learn safely.
■ For our citizens who are volunteering and generously supporting those who need help.
■ To you for sharing inspirational stories about our citizens and their good deeds.
— Lorri Christopher, City Council Post 5
I am thankful for my family and friends. My family and friends were there for me for graduation and the beginning of the next chapter of my life at college.
— Quinn Watch
Quinn Watch 
Jackovich Family 
Chris Cleveland, head of Wesleyan School 
Bramble Family 
Bright Learning Academy
I am thankful for having something to do, someone to love and something to look forward to — it’s that simple.
I stay busy with fundraising for United Cerebral Palsy of Georgia which does a wonderful job of ensuring our handicapped son Robbie’s quality of life in a group home. I enjoy baking banana bread as gifts for our postman and Instacart shoppers. It’s fortunate to be quarantined with the love of my life, the great guy I met on a MARTA bus in 1977 who has always treated me as an equal partner. Finally, our youngest son, Scott, became engaged in August to a perfect girl, and it is indeed wonderful to have their May 2021 wedding to look forward to!
— Lori Howard
This year has been a challenge but the one thing I am thankful for is my family. Family will always be there for you.
— Cliff Bramble, Founder of Hungry Hospitality
I am thankful for my family during the holidays. We always have a lot of fun whenever we are all together!
— Stevie Bramble
I am so thankful for my family. The pandemic helped us rediscover how much we enjoy spending time together outside. We have really enjoyed the Peachtree Corners Town Center outdoor spaces. I started my first vegetable garden, and it quickly became my therapeutic hobby. I am blessed to work as a RN at Elite Personalized Medicine, where I have the privilege of helping patients improve their health and wellness. We are grateful our children are students at GAC, where the faculty and community are committed to providing a safe learning environment.
— Rachel McComas
I am so thankful for what this year has provided me. I am thankful that I have gotten to spend more time with my family, whether it was playing games, watching movies together or spending time at the beach. I am also thankful for all of my teachers at GAC because they have worked hard to help students learn through the pandemic both in class and online. I am grateful for the fact that they are always willing to help us.
— Jenna Jackovich
I am thankful 2020 has provided time to slow down and do things we never seemed to have time to do before. We have definitely spent more time as a family trying new things. I’m thankful for the administration and teachers at both GAC and Cornerstone Christian Academy who have worked tirelessly to get my kids back in school in person this year. The smiles on their faces say it all. I’m also super thankful for the creativity and perseverance of Karl and Emily Krug and the Spartans Aquatics Club at GAC that got my oldest back to the sport she loves — swimming — before most any club in the nation!
— Carol Jackovich
GAC gave me the opportunity to go to the Dominican Republic with my varsity baseball team last February. My favorite part of the trip was hanging out with young kids in their community, playing baseball and serving through the Lord.
— Trey, 11th grade, gratitude from the Woolley family
I appreciated time standing still for a while, quality time with our children and growing a vegetable garden. I celebrated a virtual COVID College 2020 graduation, grateful that this was enabled by technology. I had a college freshman 90-minute “Move-In” at NYU, and I am grateful that the college had the courage to open. Senior year at GAC with in-person learning and sports brings normalcy and fellowship for our son, so I am grateful to the technological and health care innovations the school has adopted. Grateful to Dr. Harsh of GAC for his daily videos, reminding us of the importance of family and an appreciation for life.
— Therese Bailey
2020 has been a year of perspective for our family. We have learned to appreciate long summer days, extra movie nights, board games that have collected dust and the joys of a simple vegetable garden. We’ve also enjoyed bird watching in our backyard. Since we’ve returned to school, we’ve learned to adapt to changes. We are thankful and blessed that GAC has provided us with innovative technology for synchronous learning and abundantly selfless teachers. Our children have thrived during this time and grown so much in maturity and resilience!
— Pam Cormack
During 2020, we are most thankful for our 8-month-old son, Emory. Having a newborn in the midst of a pandemic is no easy task, but he has been such a blessing to us this year. We love taking time to walk around our neighborhood as a family and enjoy the outdoors! We have also been especially thankful for Emory’s teachers at GAC. Emory attends five days a week in the Young Learners program and it is such a joy to watch how much he loves being dropped off each morning! He loves being a part of the “Happy Hoppers” class and we love that they are already helping him develop relationships. We are eternally grateful for the time they pour into him and the opportunities he has to learn about God’s love for us! While 2020 has been challenging for most families, we have appreciated the quality family time and quiet moments at home. We have so many things to be thankful for this year.
— Sarah, Michael and Emory Grant
What a year 2020 has been! Amid all the apparent chaos and turmoil, we are grateful for so much. 2020 has encouraged a slower pace, which has led to more quality family time. We are thankful that we have developed a deeper awareness of and appreciation for the little things: beautiful weather, training a new puppy, our kids learning to cook their favorite meals. We are grateful for GAC’s persistence, attentiveness and diligence in getting the kids back to in-person school, sports, fine arts and all that GAC has to offer. 2020 has truly been a blessing!
— Rachel Holsworth
Reflecting on 2020 makes me realize that this year has brought more hidden blessings than could be imagined. As the world around me shut down, I witnessed the hearts of many open up. Neighbors checked on each other, made scavenger hunts for kids and tried to make sure no one went hungry. Time slowed down and our family grew closer as we navigated academic technology, outdoor adventures and plenty of together time. I appreciate my boys’ teachers at GAC now more than ever. I am so grateful for the extra time they took to keep them grounded in faith and not fear during one of the most challenging years.
— Danelle Wilson
In these challenging times, I am so grateful for my family. I am blessed with an amazing wife who has taken the burden off of me so that I can lead Cornerstone through the pandemic. In addition, my kids bring me an amazing amount of joy and purpose. For me, there are no greater titles than dad and husband.
— Colin Creel, Cornerstone Christian Academy Headmaster
My family runs in different directions: my dad travels, my sister practices at night, I practice after school. Quarantine brought us together for dinner, game and movie nights, hiking, evenings around the firepit and daily walks. I’m so grateful for that time with my family.
I’m excited to be physically back at GAC! We’re lucky GAC gives us the option every day to choose on-campus or at-home learning, whatever works best for our family. I prefer learning in a face-to-face environment more than I do through my computer screen. I’m grateful to spend my senior year learning with my friends.
— Mitsue Ostapiuk
This is our first year at GAC, and everything that has transpired since has confirmed that it absolutely was the right decision. They have provided a near ‘normal’ experience while keeping the kids, faculty and staff safe. My daughter is socializing with her pod and participating in extracurricular activities all while being challenged to learn and grow in a loving environment. When touring GAC, someone said to me, “Everything GAC does, they do with excellence.” Truer words were never spoken. I am so grateful for GAC.
— Kristen Jones
Pandemic aside, the children at Bright Learning Academy are staying positive and thankful that they have their parents to keep them healthy and safe, that they can still play outside and have fun, that they have virtual learning school to stay connected with teachers and friends, that they have masks to keep themselves safe, and that stores are making it safe enough for us to visit. MOST IMPORTANTLY, we will be most thankful when the virus finally goes away!!
— Jialing Hsu, Bright Learning Academy Director
We are thankful for our healthy family and the time that we have had to continue to bond during this pandemic! Life slowed down considerably for us as a result of the pandemic, which was actually a welcomed change of pace for our family. As a long-time family at GAC, we are incredibly thankful for the Christian values and stellar education provided by GAC. We feel blessed to be a part of a school that prayerfully developed an effective plan to protect its students during this pandemic. GAC is not just a school but a family and we are thankful to be a part of the Spartan family!
— Dr. Brandy Blount
I feel so grateful to hold sacred space with hundreds of people each week. From Zoom gatherings, video chats, telephone calls, social media posts and livestream services, I have been able to connect with them, heart to heart, discovering new ways to encourage and inspire our community far beyond the Unity Atlanta church walls.
I also am doubly blessed that I work with a team of devoted staff and volunteers who remind me of my personal gifts and why I said, “Yes,” to this wondrous call of ministry.
— Reverend Jennifer L. Sacks, Senior Minister at Unity Atlanta Church
We are thankful for our health, and the well-being of our friends and family. We are thankful for our jobs which have given us the means to sustain a life close to normal. We are thankful for the time we have had to spend with each other, enjoying the time we have on the good ship Earth. We are incredibly thankful for our friends and family, who bring sanity into an insane world. Most of all, we are thankful for God blessing our family during these uncertain times.
— Amanda, Lola and Pete Chen
This year we have learned to celebrate every precious moment with our family. It was so easy to take so much for granted before COVID-19. Getting together with the family to celebrate my dad’s birthday this year was a treasured memory and a day we were all grateful for.
— Lisa Proctor, Peachtree Corners Business Association president
I am thankful for a school community of students, parents, teachers, administrators and staff who have rallied and risen to the challenges that COVID-19 has presented. It is a powerful reminder that much can be accomplished when the collective will of a dedicated group of people put their combined efforts toward a common goal. I am equally thankful for a heroic faculty and staff who have raised their own standard of excellence to reinvent our instructional model so that no student falls to the wayside as we strive to fulfill our mission to be a Christian school of academic excellence.
— Chris B. Cleveland, Wesleyan School, Head of School
I’m thankful for GAC’s immense efforts to provide a sense of normalcy in our educational environment throughout the pandemic. Whether students are learning while physically in school or from the comforts of their home, the new technology and thorough planning of GAC faculty allows Spartans to proceed the school year safely and efficiently. Despite the pandemic’s impeding effects on this generation’s typical high school experience, I am grateful that I am still able to participate in intrinsic school activities such as Friday night football games, lunch with friends, homecoming, and other extracurriculars safely and healthily.
— Cydney Merrick
I’m grateful for my community – my neighborhood community and the relationships formed and strengthened during quarantine, and my Wesleyan School community whose creativity and innovation has not only allowed us to open this fall, but continue to offer the special experiences that our students and families hold dear.
— Meg Foster, Director of Fine Arts at Wesleyan School
I am excited to serve in my first full year at Simpson Elementary! The students, teachers and support staff work extremely hard to ensure every minute of the school day is meaningful for students! Thank you to the entire Peachtree Corners/Norcross Parent-Community for supporting our school with teacher incentives, snacks and encouraging notes. We could not do this without you! Thank you for all you do to partner with us to support your children. A message that continues to ring true today, more than ever, is Great Schools Build Great Communities and in turn Great Communities Build Great Schools! Thank you for keeping us Simpson Strong!
— Dr. Taffeta Connery, Simpson Elementary Principal
Simpson Elementary Simpson Elementary Simpson Elementary
Wesleyan Artist Market “Thankful Thoughts”
By the 2021 Wesleyan Artist Market Team
artistmarket.wesleyanschool.org
2020 has been a year of challenge and reflection. We are grateful in all circumstances.
We remain as thankful as ever to the amazing Peachtree Corners community and their support after the unprecedented cancellation of the 2020 Wesleyan Artist Market.
Thank you to our friends, partners, sponsors and patrons encouraging us to come back strong for 2021.
Inspired by the resiliency and positivity of so many around us, we are thankful for the opportunity to redirect and #GoVirtual for the Wesleyan Artist Market, April 2021. Stay tuned for more information. Finally, we are thankful for good health, our families and the hope and promise we find through our faith.
For more than two decades, Dr. Sunit Singhal has been a member of the Peachtree Corners community. In February 2001, he opened Suburban Medical Center, making a significant contribution to community healthcare. Under his leadership, the medical center has expanded, notably by introducing Suburban Med Spa next door.
A 1988 graduate of the University College of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India, Dr. Singhal furthered his expertise in the United States, completing his residency in Internal Medicine at Harlem Hospital Center in New York.
An awakening at the Grand Canyon
A few years ago, the 60-year-old physician had an eye-opening moment about his own health. Most of his life was spent being overweight, which he accepted and managed the best he could.
“It’s not a secret that I was overweight. Anyone could see it; it’s how I was my whole life,” said Dr. Singhal.
The pivotal moment for Dr. Singhal was his attempt to join friends on a hike at the Grand Canyon a few years back. Despite his determination, Dr. Singhal was unprepared for the hike’s demands.
“I thought, okay, I will meet my friends one-third of the way down the canyon from the opposite end. That way, I can keep up with them towards the end of the hike,” he shared.
Even starting much later, Dr. Singhal struggled greatly with the hike. He experienced knee pain, breathlessness, and exhaustion. His struggle not only slowed him down but also his friends, who had been hiking for an additional 12 hours before he joined them.
The ordeal ended in the middle of a cold night, leading to a physically taxing recovery period that left Dr. Singhal sore for days.
Despite the arduous experience at the Grand Canyon, Dr. Singhal didn’t retire his hiking boots. Feeling motivated to conquer the obstacle, he began walking long miles with friends to get into shape.
A few months later, the call of the canyon echoed again, and friends proposed a new challenge: hiking from the South Rim to the river and back. While less daunting than their previous endeavor, the task was intimidating.
“This time, I was able to make the hike without holding anyone back,” he shared. Dr. Singhal already saw the difference his efforts were making.
His triumphs over physical and mental barriers were clear and exciting. Dr. Singhal’s return to the canyon increased his resilience and personal growth.
Conquering Kilimanjaro: a test of determination
Following a series of hikes through the Grand Canyon as his health improved, Dr. Singhal and his hiking group set their sights on Mount Kilimanjaro. They regularly engaged in 10-mile hikes each week to prepare for the trek.
“It was never on our minds to simply skip or cut the hike short because we didn’t feel like it that day,” Dr. Singhal said. Even family members occasionally joined, keeping pace with the senior group with varying success.
When the time arrived for their Kilimanjaro quest, they needed to identify the number of days their group would need to complete it.
“There are different levels you can choose for hikes. If you are very athletic, the 5-day hike is for you. It goes all the way up to 9 days if you need to go slowly,” Dr. Singhal explained.
The friends chose the six-day option. It seemed like a good balance of their confidence in their fitness coupled with a conservative approach. Yet, they completed the ascent in five days.
“We couldn’t believe we finished at such a quick pace. We weren’t straining ourselves to do it. It was the natural pace we wanted to go, and we finished with the group we viewed as the most fit and athletic.”
Mount Everest on the horizon
The hiking group isn’t resting on their laurels, though. The crew continues to meet and train for their next goal, climbing Mount Everest.
“There’s a lottery to be accepted to climb. We entered and are hoping to be selected for a hike this fall,” Dr. Singhal shared. When asked if he felt intimidated about this potential hike, he confidently replied, “No, not really.”
The team of friends will hear this summer if they are selected to climb.
Health and hope
Dr. Singhal’s health journey is the perfect example of the potential for change at any stage of life. It also highlights the importance of self-care, perseverance and pursuing one’s goals, regardless of the starting point.
His patients can rest easily. He isn’t walking away from his practice for the mountains full-time. Dr. Singhal is committed to his practice and patients. He firmly believes and displays that personal improvement and professional dedication can coexist harmoniously.
“I want my patients to know that I am equally dedicated to being here for them and their own health journeys.” When he’s not hitting the trails, Dr. Singhal can be found spending time with his family in Duluth or at his practice in Peachtree Corners.
What started 20 years ago with two Texas moms looking for ways to get their sons involved in community service projects while spending quality time together turned into the Young Men’s Service League (YSML).
The national organization has dozens of chapters in 20 states, including Georgia.
Peachtree Corners mom, Heather Fleming, heard of a chapter in the northeast part of metro Atlanta, but it was pretty much at capacity.
“The way the chapters work is each class can only have around 30 boys,” she said.
“The more people you have in your chapter, the harder it might be for people to get hours in and just managing that number of people [can be difficult],” she added.
Taking matters into her own hands
Fleming partnered with another mom whose son couldn’t get into the chapter either to start their own.
“She was determined that she wanted her boys to be able to have this experience,” said Fleming.
“Our chapter started with a full ninth-grade class , and then the tenth-grade class was a little bit smaller, with around 20 boys,” she added.
Even though it’s a good way for public school students to earn community service hours, most of the participants attend private schools that don’t have that requirement.
They do it to do good in the community and to have fun hanging out with their moms.
“The whole point is that we only have four years left before our sons go off to whatever their next step is after they graduate from high school,” said Fleming.
“It’s just to have that quality time together, serving the community and then also to give them the opportunity to hear from speakers they would not ever necessarily have access to,” she added.
Preparing the next generation
Fleming’s son Luke graduates next year and he’s found fulfillment in YMSL.
“It has been fun serving our community with many of my friends and their moms. I have also learned a lot from the various speakers we have had over the years,” said Luke. One of my favorite speakers was Tyler Hannel, who spoke about how to be a better version of yourself.”
There are many charities that need volunteers, and many align with the skills and interests of the young men.
“My most memorable experiences were serving with BlazeSports at their annual Big Peach Slam basketball tournament the last two years,” said Luke.
“Watching kids my age play basketball from a wheelchair was so inspiring. I am thankful for an organization like BlazeSports that gives kids and adults with disabilities a way to still compete in a variety of sporting events,” he stated.
Tracey Shell and her son, Carson, have similar views.
“Our first year was last year, so I didn’t know about this organization when my older son was in high school,” said Shell. “They learn about things like life skills and leadership, … but the real heart of the organization is volunteering in your community and learning about local philanthropy.”
Each YMSL chapter works with a certain number of nonprofits each year—usually nearby. Although this chapter is called the John’s Creek Young Men Service League, it has members from Peachtree Corners, Norcross, Berkeley Lake, Alpharetta and John’s Creek.
YMSL donates time and energy, not money
Every year, each chapter does what it calls the ultimate gift. This time around, the Johns Creek chapter went farther outside its boundaries and helped the Atlanta Music Project (AMP). It’s a nonprofit organization founded in 2010 to provide tuition-free world-class music training and performance opportunities in under-resourced communities.
In October, AMP presented its first event, which brought together its entire community of performers for an afternoon of music and fellowship. The AMP Experience took place at Pullman Yards and featured performances from past and present students, with about 500 participants in total.
To pull off such a feat, AMP needed many volunteer ushers and stage crew. That’s where Johns Creek YMSL stepped in, with nearly 80 local YMSL volunteers who gave 246 service hours. Mom and son volunteers loaded instruments, set up and cleaned up, served as parking lot attendants and greeters and supported social media outreach.
Both Fleming and Shell have seen their boys grow and mature and are proud of the young men they are becoming.
“They become more aware of the different nonprofits and philanthropy that are just right in our own backyard that they might not have known about,” said Shell.
Fleming echoed that sentiment. Her older son Andrew is a sophomore at Clemson University, and she’s seen him carry the lessons learned at YMSL into his daily life by being actively involved with service projects in his fraternity and a mission trip over Spring Break.
“He definitely has a heart for helping others, which … is the ultimate goal. When they’re not living at home, and I’m not necessarily making them serve, they want to do this on their own in college and beyond,” she said.
For more information, visit ymsljohnscreek.org.
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