Thursday, March 7, 2013
After the community banded together in solidarity with the nonprofit, the once imminent eviction has been postponed indefinitely.
The saga of Parkwood Farms, a therapeutic riding center for children with disabilities, has been through an emotional rollercoaster for the past few months. In November of 2012, owner Marilyn Peterson was served with an eviction notice. Fearing what she thought was inevitable, she packed up her house, boarded the horses and canceled classes until further notice. It was rough; without the farm, she and her family had no income. One of her sons is fully disabled, while another never leaves the house due to Asperger's. It was their disabilities that inspired Peterson to begin the therapeutic farm to begin with, eleven years ago. When the Snellville community found out what was happening, however, things began to change. A candlelight vigil …
Sunday, December 16, 2012
It's been quite a year in Snellville. We hope these stories will lift your spirits and remind you of all the good that has happened in town in 2012.
While it has been a difficult year for our nation, particularly over the past few weeks -- the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy and the horrific school shooting on Friday -- there have been a few stories in Snellville that have exemplified courage under fire and the determination of the human spirit. 1. The Schulz Duo Doing Good The Schulz' helped found a great thing in Snellville. Joy Woodson's story on this couple, Kurt and Gretchen Schulz, featured two people who inspired the Snellville Farmers Market and founded the Snellville Community Garden, all while remaining humble and attempting to stay out of the spotlight. 2. Wednesday's Woman: Emily Good Emily Good was featured a number of times in Snellville Patch for her work in …
Monday, December 10, 2012
With an official halt on the eviction process, the farm now has to raise a very large sum of money.
Dr. Marilyn Peterson will not be evicted from her farm - at least, not until February, 2013. The request for an emergency temporary halt on her eviction was granted last week by Gwinnett Superior Court, and she is in negotiations with her mortgage company to find a way to permanently keep her home. Currently, the bank is asking for between $150,000 to $175,000 cash. That's a pretty tall order. Despite that, the farm is operating as usual and is accepting new riders and volunteers. They have already overcome the biggest hurdle, and that was getting a meeting with the bank, according to Peterson. Peterson has been fighting the banks for over two years now. She said that she received a predatory loan in 2004, and when she refinanced it in …
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Classes resumed on Nov. 27.
Following a two-week disruption, families flocked back to Parkwood Farms, a therapeutic riding center in Snellville, on Tuesday afternoon, following the threat of imminent eviction just a few short weeks ago. Owner Marilyn Peterson issued a plea for help from the community, many of whom rallied around her in the coming days. Peterson said that she received a predatory loan in 2004. When she refinanced it in 2011, she was told that the terms would be good for "the life of the loan." "What they didn't tell me was that the 'life of the loan' was only two years," she said. Following a rally, candlelight vigil and dozens of phone calls and negotiations, the mortgage company has now agreed to negotiate the terms of her loan, although the …
Monday, November 26, 2012
Just in time for the holidays, Dr. Marilyn Peterson may get the miracle she's been hoping for.
With the verbal promise of a temporary halt on the eviction of Parkwood Farms -- through the holidays, at least -- classes at the therapy center in Snellville will resume tomorrow, Nov. 27. "We aren't going to be held hostage anymore by these proceedings," said owner Marilyn Peterson. Volunteers are signed up and ready to go, and they're looking forward to this coming year. After countless hours of phone calls, negotiations, and some admittedly bad press, Everhome Mortgage has agreed to halt the eviction process until after the holidays. On top of that, a longer term measure could be put in place on Dec. 6 through the Gwinnett County Superior Court. And the likelihood of a permanent solution is just around the corner; Dr. Marilyn …
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Around 100 people gathered at Parkwood Farms to show their support on Nov. 13.
It was a passionate crowd that gathered at Parkwood Farms on Tuesday, Nov. 13. Parents and children, most of them riders at the therapeutic center, stood together to show their support for Dr. Marilyn Peterson and the farm. The farm is in foreclosure, and Peterson and her Board of Directors are hoping to get a temporary halt placed on the eviction process. She has a case pending in federal court and claims that she is facing a wrongful foreclosure. (When a home is in foreclosure, payments cannot be made.) A representative for her lawyers with Landguard America said that the mortgage company has made a number of illegal moves, including Mortgage Electronic Registration System (MERS) violations, possible notary law violations, which would …
A candlelight vigil will be held at the Farm this evening, Nov. 13, at 6 p.m.
On Monday, Nov. 12, friends, family, students, Snellville city officials and Occupy Our Homes Atlanta stood in solidarity with Parkwood Farms, a therapeutic riding center in Snellville for children with disabilities. Owner Marilyn Peterson has issued a plea for support and a call to action to help save the riding center. The Sheriff's department arrived on Wednesday, Nov. 7, with an eviction notice, even though she said they did not receive a warning beforehand. ------Click here to find out how to help save Parkwood Farms. Without the farm, she and her family have no income. One of her sons is fully disabled, while another never leaves the house due to Asperger's. It was their disabilities that inspired Peterson to begin the therapeutic …
Sunday, November 11, 2012
A rally will be held at the therapy center on Monday, Nov. 12, at 11 a.m. Donations are also being accepted.
Snellville has once again shown itself to be compassionate and caring, as you all have rallied around Dr. Marilyn Peterson and Parkwood Farms. Citizens and public officials, including Mayor Kelly Kautz and State Rep. Dar'shun Kendrick, have reached out to show their concern and offer advice. After dozens of phone calls and emails, the following action plans have been put into place by concerned citizens. First, on Monday, Nov. 12, a press conference will be held at the Farm. This is also a time for people to stop by and show their support. “These beautiful children deserve a place to go where they can interact like other children, if, just for a little while," said Renn McClintic-Doyle, who sent her son Chris to Parkwood after no one …
Friday, November 9, 2012
Owner Marilyn Peterson pleads for assistance.
Update: For more information on how to help, click here. ---------- Parkwood Farms, a therapeutic riding center in Snellville for children with disabilities, is facing eviction. Owner Marilyn Peterson has issued a plea for support and a call to action to help save the riding center. The Sheriff's department arrived on Wednesday with an eviction notice, even though she said they did not receive a warning beforehand. Now, they are scrambling to board the horses and pack their belongings. Without the farm, she and her family have no income. One of her sons is fully disabled, while another never leaves the house due to Asperger's. It was their disabilities that inspired Peterson to begin the therapeutic farm to begin with, eleven years ago. …
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
The team representing Gwinnett County won nine gold medals, seven silver and six bronze at the state Special Olympics Horse Show.
Riders representing Gwinnett County brought home the gold, and lots of it, from last weekend's Special Olympics Georgia Horse Show. The team, coached by Dr. Marilyn Peterson of Parkwood Farms Therapy Center in Snellville, medaled in all the categories it entered. The three-day annual competition for children and adults with disabilities brings together teams from across the state at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, just south of Macon. Eight Parkwood Farms riders from age 8 to 23 represented Gwinnett in 27 beginner, intermediate and advanced events. They won a total of nine gold, seven silver and six bronze medals in the sprawling indoor and outdoor arenas that are a central feature of the fairgrounds. "I couldn't be more pleased…
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Crystal Huskey
2:45 pm on Sunday, December 16, 2012
Thanks Mr. Emanuel! I agree, there are many stories that can be added. The Shop with a Cop evening should definitely have made this list, I just overlooked it. That was very inspiring. more ›