Forsyth Herald, February 3, 2016

Fe b r u a r y 3 , 2 0 1 6 | Fo r s y t h H e r a l d . c o m | A n A p p e n M e d i a G r o u p P u b l i c a t i o n | 5 0 ¢ | Vo l u m e 1 9 , N o . 5

Principal on leave for ‘Islamophobic’ posts Social media frenzy ignited Lambert High School principal Gary Davison was put on a temporary leave of absence Jan. 28 after he posted what the school district called discriminating Facebook posts.

Read more, Page 4.

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2 | February 3, 2016 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

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By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A 29-yearold Cumming woman was charged with theft and forgery recently after she reportedly faked having stage IV ovarian cancer.

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was arrested Jan. 15 on Ga. 141 in Suwanee for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► Shayan A. Khan, 27, of Barrett Drive, Cumming, was arrested Jan. 14 on Ga. 400 in Cumming for DUI and reckless driving. ►► Gregory Gordon Grimm, 43, of Park Forest Court, Cumming, was arrested Jan. 13 on Freedom Parkway in Cumming for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► William Franklin Padgett, 53, of Hoschton, was arrested Jan. 13 on Buford Dam Road in Buford for DUI, failure to maintain lane, suspended license, possession of drug-related items, and possession of methamphetamines. ►► Alan Ray Middleton, 30, of Dawsonville, was arrested Jan. 16 on Oakland Street in Cumming for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► Bart Howard Rush, 55, of

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Bennett is currently unemployed but is a licensed practical nurse. She was charged with a misdeBENNETT meanor because more businesses haven’t pressed charges against her, according to the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

Bennett was charged with forgWoodcreek Drive, Cumming, was arrested Jan. 17 on Peachtree Parkway in Cumming for DUI and expired tag. ►► Maria Calas Robinson, 52, of Castlebrooke Xing Drive, Cumming, was arrested Jan. 16 on Castleberry Road in Cumming for DUI and impeding traffic. ►► David E. Oliver-Kinnard, 33, of Social Circle, Georgia, was arrested Jan. 16 on Market Place Boulevard in Cumming for DUI. ►► Adam Lee Aguirie, 26, of Independence Trail, Cumming, was arrested Jan. 17 on Browns Bridge Road in Cumming for DUI, failure to obey a traffic-control device, suspended registration, and possession of a scheduled II controlled substance. ►► Jacob Glenn Stephenson, 26, of Groomsbridge Road, Johns Creek, was arrested Jan. 15 on State Bridge Road in Johns Creek for DUI and following too close. ►► James David Ball, 27, of Eider Down Court, Alpharetta, was arrested Jan. 12 on Old Alabama Road in Johns Creek for DUI. ►► Paul Daniel Mineck, 39, of Bossier Drive, Alpharetta, was arrested Jan. 18 on Hopewell Road in Milton for DUI, child endangerment and driving on the

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ery after the FCSO requested medical records to prove treatment, but she reportedly forged the signatures.

She also would allegedly have friends and family take her to the hospital but would go in alone, so no one knew if she was in fact getting treatments.

In addition, she faked a treatment at Northside Hospital where she posted a picture online of bandages on her head, which were later found to be fake.

The FCSO asks for anyone with information to contact Detective Jeffrey Roe at 770-781-3038.

Man killed in domestic incident, brother charged FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — On Jan. 26 at 1:00 a.m., deputies with the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence on Montcliff Drive in reference to a domestic homiBROWN cide.

The incident involved a verbal altercation between brothers which turned physical and resulted in the victim receiving a fatal stab wound.

The victim was identified as 36-year-old Stuart Brown of Cumming.

The suspect was identified as 30-year-old Mitchell Brown, also of Cumming. Mitchell Brown is currently being held at the Forsyth County Jail on one charge of murder.

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4 | February 3, 2016 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

NEWS

Facebook posts earn Lambert principal temporary leave of absence BOE calls Facebook posts discriminating

BY KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Some ill-advised and controversial Facebook posts have put Lambert High School Principal Gary Davison in hot water.

He has been put on a leave of absence following a meeting DAVISON Jan. 28 with Forsyth County Schools Superintendent Jeff Bearden. The posts on Davison’s personal Facebook account were deemed blatantly offensive to Muslims. Bearden appointed Assistant Principal Pam Bibik as Lambert’s acting principal.

Davison has been Lambert’s only principal since it opened in 2009. He came to the school after serving as the principal at South Forsyth High School and Settles Bridge Elementary School.

According to Jennifer Caracciolo, FCS director of communications, the inflammatory posts surfaced when Lambert class of 2015 alumnus Yassin Watson posted screenshots on social media of Davison’s Facebook posts.

FCS was notified of the posts Jan. 27.

Some people are calling Davison’s posts inflammatory, racist, Islamophobic and politically charged. One of his posts included a picture of a cross with the words, “One nation under God, not Allah.”

Davison shared a number of posts blaming world terrorism on all Muslims. He also posted on his Facebook page, “Giddy up, Governor!” in response to a statement from Gov. Nathan Deal saying Georgia will not accept Syrian refugees.

“The school district values all individuals and does not tolerate discrimination,” Bearden said in a press release.

Davison has released a statement apologizing.

Addressing current and former students of Lambert, their parents, the school staff and the community, Davison said, “I offended many individuals and embarrassed our school. I ask for your forgiveness. I have learned a valuable lesson from these mistakes and I am committed to regaining our community’s trust.”

As of press time, Davison had not responded to emails from the Forsyth Herald requesting further comment.

Bearden said Davison has acknowledged the damage his personal posts have done to his position as the leader of Lambert and is committed to addressing those concerns.

“The school district is also committed to assessing its ongoing efforts with staff and students to celebrate the diversity of our community and promote acceptance of everyone,” Bearden said.

The firestorm erupted when Watson, 19, who now attends Georgia Tech, said he learned of Davison’s posts by “stumbling upon” them. He said he decided to contact the district in part because of the county’s influx of minority students who, he said, are “being oppressed.”

“Many staff are incredible people,” Watson said. “But sadly the people who make the overarching decisions seek to push ‘controversy.’

“They push justice under the rug,” Watson continued. “The road to having a safe environment will require very uncomfortable change.”

The fallout over Davison’s posts led to lively exchanges on social media, with some attacking or defending Davison, which quickly devolved into simply trading insults.

One Facebook comment, written

by Lambert alum Jack Jenkins, noted that, as the principal of Lambert, Davison “has the responsibility to make sure that his students are safe from bullying and shame and ridicule. If he could show that his posts in no way affected his treatment of his students, then he would not be in this situation.”

One transgender student defended Davison, saying the school had been supportive of her transition from male to female.

“While I never personally met Dr. Davison, the administration he controlled allowed me to use the bathrooms I wanted, change my name on the rosters, and be the runner-up in the female category for senior superlatives,” the student posted.

Davison’s supporters are circulating an online petition to save his job and have already collected over 3,000 signatures.

In addition to the screenshots Watson saved from Davison’s Facebook page, Watson also collected testimonies from current and former Lambert students. The 20-some accounts, also on Watson’s Facebook page, are what the authors of the testimonies say are personal experiences at Lambert that

From Facebook Since this story broke Thursday, Jan.28, on the Forsyth Herald Facebook page, it has reached over 40,000 people, been shared by more than 1,300 users, and received over 60 posted comments.

Here is a sampling of what readers are saying on Facebook: Karen Duffy: “Gary Davison is a man of incredible character and it makes me sick that a few people cry political correctness and hurt a good man’s name.

How about hearing from the majority of students and parents who love Gary and have for many years? Our children were blessed to have him as both elementary & high school principal and consider him one of the strongest role models in their lives.”

Claire Bee: “Freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences of that speech ... say all the bigoted stuff you want, but the first amendment doesn’t protect you from losing your job.”

Ada Basilone DeRosa: “This is not discrimination. Discrimination is when you purposely don’t put a qualified child on a sports team or allow them to join a club because you don’t like them because of their race, religion, or condition.”

Deborah Smith Author: “Sadly, his racism is very well suited to his community.

That’s obvious. Let me guess--if he’d posted that he’s an atheist, and that he’s got severe problems with fanatical Christians--you’d all be screaming for his head. BTW, Freedom of Speech does not and never has prohibited an employer from telling an employee to stop being a bigoted moron in public.”

involved interactions they considered racist, homophobic or that generally made them feel uncomfortable.

However, one of the testimonies, written by Ruwa Romman, a South Forsyth High School 2011 alumna and Muslim, had a different tone. She said that, while she has experienced much of the same discrimination as the other students who wrote testimonies, she wants to extend a hand of friendship and dialogue as opposed to attacking Davison.

“I would love to sit down and engage in a dialogue where you ask me about this faith that so many misunderstand … and talk about how you can lead this school towards a place of acceptance and real learning,” Romman wrote.

“I do not think that suspending principals is a constructive way to fix this, and I truly believe that your leadership can really turn this page towards a better chapter, but it has to start with you being truly willing to listen and learn.”

NEWS

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | February 3, 2016 | 5

BOC vice-chair Mills announces campaign for re-election CUMMING, Ga. – Incumbent Board of Commissioners Vice-Chairman Cindy J. Mills announced her intention to seek re-election to the BOC in Forsyth County’s fourth commission district.

MILLS First elected in 2012, Mills is a lifelong resident of Forsyth County. As a trusted voice for taxpayers, homeowners and small businesses, Mills earned the support of her peers to achieve the position of commission vice-chairman for three consecutive years.

“During my first campaign, I pledged to improve transportation, listen to citizen input and to respond to their needs,” she said. “Today, I am pleased to report Forsyth County’s future looks brighter than ever as we have collaborated to preserve property rights, enhance customer service and keep taxes low while expanding transportation and facilitating new litter campaigns along the Ga. 400 and Hwy. 369 corridors.”

Since Mills took office, she said

... I am proud of the work we have done to bring more parks to district four, recruit new businesses, open our roads and increase citizen involvement in local government...”

CINDY JONES MILLS Forsyth County Board of Commission more than $350 million in local, state and federal transportation funding has been announced—contributing to the widening of state route Ga. 400 to Hwy. 369 including the addition of a long anticipated interchange at 400 and 369.

“While I am proud of the work we have done to bring more parks to district four, recruit new businesses, open our roads and increase citizen involvement in local government. I am equally proud of the work we have done to fight the war on drugs, combat domestic violence and help bring equity to our schools in North Forsyth. We have also addressed critical funding issues

in juvenile justice, mental illness and family and children’s services,” Mills said.

Founding the Forsyth County Drug Awareness Council, hosting multiple transportation summits and working in partnership with local nonprofits, Mills has utilized her position to find real solutions to end the problems troubling our community.

“District Four citizens have different concerns than other areas of our county, particularly in education. I will continue to work closely with our local schools in North Forsyth to ensure that our students are afforded the same op-

portunities as those in other districts,” Mills said.

As a recipient of the Don Hendricks Award, Mills was recognized for her efforts at Chestatee Elementary School where she secured funding for personal computers for children.

In addition to her work at Chestatee, last year Mills raised $40,000 for the state REACH scholarships to assist eligible children.

Honored by the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia as the 2015 Advocate of the Year, Mills currently serves as the chair of the organization’s county government policy committee. She is an active member of the North Forsyth 400 Rotary and serves on the United Way of Forsyth County Board of Directors.

Mills has two daughters, Megan Mills Bottoms, married to Nathan Bottoms, and Courtney, and resides in North Forsyth where she and her family worship at Oak Grove Baptist Church, where she teaches Sunday school. She is the proud grandmother of Brooklyn and Charlie.

For information about Mills or her campaign for re-election, visit Vote4CindyJMills.com.

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NEWS

6 | February 3, 2016 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

Todd Jones announces campaign for House District 25 Local Republican business executive FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Todd Jones, an accomplished international business executive and community leader who was formerly named the Forsyth County Board of Education’s Volunteer of the Year, announced JONES his intention to run for House District 25 Jan. 27, calling for an outsider’s approach to bring a better quality of life to local residents.

“Like so many others, I’ve grown tired of politicians who can only hear their own voices and see each office as a stepping stone for their political ambitions,” Jones said. “I believe in our community and what makes it special; the people and their belief to build a better life for their family. I am a committed conservative who understands a lawmaker’s decisions are about serving his constituents, not making headlines.”

Jones, a committed fiscal and social conservative, is dedicated to bringing Forsyth and Fulton County’s unique concerns to the Georgia Assembly. His platform consists of lowering the tax burden for families and businesses, protecting and enhancing public schools, strengthening the state of Georgia’s business climate to encourage entrepreneurship, and creating more public input, transparency and control in local issues.

The announcement of Jones’ campaign was also accompanied by the endorsement of current State Representative, Mike Dudgeon.

“Todd Jones is a great fit for our community. His business background and commitment to our conservative values will help lead our community forward. Todd has proven leadership skills and I know he can get the job done for us in Atlanta,” Dudgeon said.

Jones currently serves as Executive Vice President of ProcessMAP Corporation, an international EHS technology firm with customers including Johnson Controls, Goodyear, Cardinal Health, John Deere and Walgreens and previously served as Vice President of Cambridge Technology Partners.

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Like so many others, I’ve grown tired of politicians who can only hear their own voices and see each office as a stepping stone for their political ambitions.”

TODD JONES Candidate for House District 25 In addition, Jones has served on several boards in the past including acting as an advisor for the Florida Virtual School, the largest public online education program in the USA that has served over 2,000,000 enrollments in Florida, expanded into the remaining 49 states and 53 countries and has an approximate annual budget of $150 million dollars.

Ever since moving to Forsyth County, the Jones family has been actively involved in the community. Jones co-founded the Shiloh Point Elementary School Dad’s Club in 2009 and was awarded the co-volunteer of the year in 2010 by the Forsyth County Schools for his work.

He has served on the Board of Directors for South Forsyth High School’s Touchdown Club and most recently successfully led the effort to bring the Nike Rating Day to Forsyth County.

He and his high school sweetheart Tracey have been married for 23 years and have four children: Justin (19), Bryce (16), Colton (14), and Riley (11).

Tracey’s involvement has been centered around their four children where she has served on the Executive Boards of Shiloh Point’s and Piney Grove’s PTAs. In addition, Tracey was appointed for a multi-year term to the Forsyth County Local School Council.

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8 | February 3, 2016 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

OPINION

Hate and bigotry do not belong in schools “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.”

–First Amendment of the United States Constitution As a journalist, the First AmendKATHLEEN STURGEON ment was drilled into my head. In Reporter kathleen@appenmediagroup.com college I had a class called Media Law that required us to write out the exact words of the First Amendment on every test. We were expected to know what it means since it grants journalists the opportunity to do our jobs without interference.

That amendment is simple and yet says a lot. It gives me and my fellow journalists the right to freely investigate the truth. It gives citizens the right to protest or petition if they don’t agree with leaders, without fear of retribution.

And it also gives anyone in America the right to worship as they please.

A debate broke out last week on the Forsyth Herald’s Facebook page, Twitter account and website that quickly turned into a widespread, heated dispute invoking First Amendment rights on both sides of the controversy.

When Lambert Principal Gary Davison was placed on administrative leave for comments he made on social media, a deeply divided discussion erupted, immediately escalating to name calling, insults and degradation the likes of which simply can’t be printed in the pages of a family newspaper.

One side stands by Davison, who has been hailed as a pillar in the Forsyth school system. He was the first and only principal at Lambert, and had served as principal at South Forsyth High School and Settles Bridge Elementary School.

He has touched the lives of countless students and parents and, judging from online comments made in support of him, has clearly made a positive impact in the community. Many have said

Davison’s comments were on his personal Facebook account and, therefore, should be considered free speech.

A petition has collected over 3,000 signatures in support of giving Davison back his job.

One student wrote, “This year I began my transition from male to female, with [administration’s] support. While I never personally met Dr. Davison, the administration he controlled allowed me to use the bathrooms I wanted, change my name on the rosters, and be the runner-up in the female category for senior superlatives ... But his personal opinion should NOT matter.

His personal opinion is that — an opinion.

And he has made it very clear, at least with me, that his opinion does not come into play as an administrator. He has been fair to me, and he is a renowned principal.”

However, his detractors say the principal of a public school with a diverse student body is wrong to make what some are calling “racist, Islamophobic and homophobic posts.”

While nothing about this situation is uplifting, some of the worst parts of the ordeal are the backlash and response to Davison’s suspension.

Many of the comments I’ve read online are just simply horrifying. Students are turning on students and saying they should kill themselves for speaking out against Davison.

Eventually, I had to stop reading the comments. It just got too depressing to see how much real hated, racial and religious, the issue has inspired.

As I’ve stated before, I’m very much in favor of our First Amendment rights.

Nevertheless, I am held accountable by my newspaper for the things I write for the public.

To a lesser degree, I must be ready to defend to my publishers my personal

So when responsible leaders dip their quill into that poisonous ink, they must accept not only responsibility for their words, but the consequences.

beliefs that I am allowed to express on this, the Opinion Page. Were I to express opinions that my bosses felt were too extreme, they have the right to deny me this platform for the expression of those thoughts.

As any banker, lawyer, minister or other person who holds a position of public trust in their community knows, their private opinions should be kept private.

Most bankers, for example, would be hard pressed to demonstrate in favor of or against a controversial cause, say abortion rights. It is simply not a subject the bank wants associated with its name, either pro or con. And the banker knows, to take a public stance invites censure.

Likewise, the Forsyth Board of Education has a similar duty to remain independent of even the odor of discrimination. Social media today is like speaking on a street corner. You may intend it only for friends, but the reality is you are sharing it with the world.

As a high school principal, Davison knows better than most people how easy it is for his students to see what is posted online. He also should know that, as a high school principal, he has

a tremendous amount of influence on his students.

The basic issue is Davison, as principal of a high school, must be held to a higher standard. As principal, he must be a person his students can trust and feel comfortable talking to.

The moment he shared that first post depicting followers of the Muslim religion as killers and terrorists, he instantly ruined his connection to any Muslim students at his school.

Davison’s posts – which imply much about such subjects as Muslims and transgender individuals – cross that line of responsible speech. That is to say speech for which his employers may hold him responsible. It is a principal’s job to be a leader and role model to all students.

A principal should not create artificial boundaries that separate students into “good” or “bad” groups.

The trouble with Facebook and the catchy slogans that are passed around is they often reduce each side to trading insults and name-calling. So when responsible leaders dip their quill into that poisonous ink, they must accept not only responsibility for their words, but the consequences.

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | February 3, 2016 | 9

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10 | February 3, 2016 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

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From left is the alternate, Pravith Rathin, a fifth-grader from Big Creek Elementary School, second runner-up, Akshat Gautam, an eighth-grader from South Forsyth Middle School, first runner-up was Monish Jampala, a fifth-grader from Daves Creek Elementary School, and champion, Sweta Munagapati, an eighthgrader from Piney Grove Middle School.

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By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Students from around the county competed Jan. 25 at the Forsyth County School annual spelling bee.

After 15 rounds and three hours, the champion was Sweta Munagapati, an eighth-grader from Piney Grove Middle School. She won with the word “byzantine.”

The alternate was Pravith Rathin, a fifth-grader from Big Creek Elementary

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The champion and first and second runners-up will compete at the district four spelling bee at North Atlanta High School on Feb. 27. There were 29 students ranging from fourth to eighth grade who participated in the FCS bee, with one winner from every elementary and middle school.

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12 | February 3, 2016 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

Rep. Duncan discusses townships at town hall meeting

KATHLEEN STURGEON/HERALD

Rep. Geoff Duncan discusses townships at his recent town hall.

who apparently wanted to look into creating townships.

“The model says ‘Let’s not jump into every single service area, let’s just focus on zoning and code enforcement and try and keep it into a small, confined area.’ I’m anxious to hear more about it and see if it’s a good process that applies here,” Duncan said.

This bill would not only apply to Sharon Springs, Duncan said, but

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coming forward with more townships and ideas of expanding government when we have such a weak financial system in a lot of these areas,” Mills said. “We have counties that are dying and we need to be figuring out how to consolidate those counties instead of creating more government. That should be what government’s figuring out – how do we consolidate government and shrink it rather than spreading it out?”

But, with that, Duncan said there is a lot that is right in Forsyth County.

“We’re proud of what we do,” he said. “I want to get so many things right here that we influence other counties.

I want how we handle growth, governance, poverty, education and health care that, instead of waiting for us to be influenced by other counties, they’re influenced by us. We all talk about wanting to change Washington, D.C. The true way to change D.C. is to start here in Georgia. Be the model. Be the example. Let other states see and adopt how we’re educating our kids and handling our major issues. Then it becomes a priority to them. It’s going to take more than one presidential election to change this country. It’s going to take an entire generation of changing the pendulum and taking control of this country.”

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FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Local, state and national issues were all discussed Jan. 27 at Rep. Geoff Duncan’s town hall meeting at the University of North Georgia’s Cumming campus.

Topics included statewide gambling, a conversation that often suggests it could potentially help the HOPE scholarship fund, Duncan said, but he was not certain it actually would.

The issue of impact fees for schools was brought up, as well.

“Boy, we got a lot of people’s attention down at the Capitol with that one,” he said. “The challenge with that issue is that you can’t see it with almost any other scenario in this state, and obviously it has to pass with a state referendum.”

But one of the biggest topics of the night was the township bill that Rep. Mike Dudgeon recently introduced.

While the proposed city of Sharon Springs might not happen in the form of a city light, as that was recently deemed unconstitutional, it possibly could be created as a township.

Duncan said this bill was “dropped” previously in 2008 by Mark Hamilton,

other Georgia cities, as well, adding St. Simons is facing a similar challenge.

“We look at it through the lens of Forsyth County, but what we approve has to work in Waycross and Valdosta, too,” he said. “The best entertainment is to hear other cities’ problems. It’s wild how different all of our different issues are. So whatever we come up with, it’s an act of general assembly, a twothirds vote in both houses and then it comes out for a statewide referendum.”

Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills was in attendance and she mirrored Duncan’s sentiments about Forsyth’s problems versus those in other cities.

“What bothers or worries me is sitting in the room with commissioners from all over the counties and listening to the problems we have in Forsyth County that would be a luxury in those other parts of the state,” Mills said.

“Most of them are so envious of us because the problems we have they’d die to have. They’re worried about their hospitals shutting down. One of them said she was excited they had two building permits that month.”

Part of what bothers her is what she called a crippling financial system in so many Georgia counties.

“It concerns we that we’re looking at

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ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | February 3, 2016 | 13

14 | February 3, 2016 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

COMMUNITY

FCSO places 1st in National Law Enforcement Challenge

By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office says citizens keep telling them they are the best sheriff’s office in the country. And now they may have proof after taking first place in a national traffic safety recognition program.

In the 2015 National Law Enforcement Challenge, the FCSO was No. 1 in the largest division for sheriff’s offices, those with 251 or more sworn deputies.

The NLEC, which focuses on the traffic safety issues of impaired driving, occupant protection and speed awareness, is supported by the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is held in partnership with the National Sheriffs’ Association, the Governors Highway Safety Association, and the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators.

The FCSO said Sheriff Duane Piper and his deputies were commended on their efforts toward reducing fatalities and serious-injury crashes on the roadways.

The FCSO said Sheriff Duane Piper and his deputies were commended on their efforts toward reducing fatalities and serious-injury crashes on the roadways.

In the 2014 challenge, the FCSO placed second in the same category.

Other Georgia departments that placed include the Hall County Sherriff’s Office, which came in third behind the FCSO; the city of Byron Police Department (first in the category of municipal with one to 25 sworn officers); Peachtree City Police Department (first in municipal with 26 to 75 sworn officers and a special award for occupant protection); Dalton Police Department (third in

Sheriff Duane Piper and his deputies were commended on their efforts toward reducing fatalities and serious-injury crashes on the roadways. municipal with 76 to 250 sworn officers and a special award for distracted driving); Georgia Department of Public Safety, which includes the Georgia State Patrol and Motor Carrier Compliance

Division (third in the category of state police/highway patrol with 501 to 1,500 sworn officers); and Coastal Area Traffic Enforcement Network (first in regional enforcement efforts).

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15 | Forsyth Herald | February 3, 2016

MAYOR’S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS:

Roswell has great future but lacks unity of purpose Greets new maverick council members warmly but common ground needed to move forward

By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – Roswell Mayor Jere Wood rose to deliver his 17th State of the City address Jan. 29 with usual bonhomie and optimism despite facing a legal challenge to his tenure in office and three new maverick council members who seem bent on stirring things up.

“These three new council members have taken on the toughest job in the city, and they have taken on a lot of heat and pressure with enthusiasm and energy,” Wood said. “And they have energized me, too.”

He had a pretty picture of Roswell to paint, as well. Wood started off by noting the unemployment rate in Roswell is 3.9 percent.

“That’s the lowest it has been in Roswell during my entire term as mayor,” he said.

In addition, Roswell has $90 million “in the bank,” he said.

Capital projects for Roswell this year include: • Holcomb Bridge Road improvements totaling $7 million.

• Ground broken recently on the Sun Valley Connector which will connect Mansell Road/Westside Parkway with Ga. 9.

• The House Road roundabout is slated for 2016 completion • Sidewalks are coming down Hardscrabble Road.

• The Roswell Water Treatment Facility will get a $15 million improvement.

To cap off improvements, the $3.7 million senior therapeutic pool on Grimes Bridge Road opens Feb. 3.

WOOD The city has also bought the 6-acre shopping center on Ga. 9 that contains the former Southern Skillet.

“That is a key element in the redevelopment of our downtown area, and we were not sure what was going to happen there. So the City Council thought it prudent for the city to control its development,” Wood said.

It represents a $15 million investment in the city’s future. But Wood said the city will recoup the investment when a satisfactory development plan comes along.

With a nod to the impending zoning moratorium for downtown apartments and townhouses, Wood asked the rhetorical question what is the future for housing in the downtown district.

“There are limitations to what the city can do with zoning,” he said.

Wood pointed out that new townhouses in the historic district such as those on Goulding Place, which had upset many folks as “too much density” in the Canton Street area, had already been approved for some time.

Today, we are more divided on where we want to go. What we need is a common vision. We need to come together, and it won’t be easy.

But I am a son of Roswell – born here and lived here. I will do everything I can to reunite this city. So let’s all come together to do this.”

JERE WOOD Roswell Mayor

“We are constantly challenged by what we risk when we [oppose] some zonings,” he warned.

Meanwhile there is a plan for a new Transportation Special Local Option Sales Tax. While no one likes more taxes, T-SPLOST offers a way to pay for some big-ticket projects the city would like to accomplish, Wood said.

These include: • South Atlanta Street improvements including the Riverside intersection, which has a $20 million price tag.

• The proposed Big Creek Parkway which would provide a fly-over bridge at Ga. 400 comes in at $50 million.

• Holcomb Bridge Road, the major east-west corridor for all of North Fulton, is estimated to cost $70 million to $80 million.

The T-SPLOST could mean $1.3 billion for all of Fulton County with Roswell’s share over the five-year life of the sales tax at $120 million.

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However, there are some hurdles to cross yet. First, there is an attempt in the General Assembly to have some T-SPLOST dollars diverted to MARTA if it were to pass. That has its own legal problems since any tax dollars for MARTA must be leveraged over 40 years and the T-SPLOST sunsets in five years.

Also, every Fulton city must pass the T-SPLOST or there will not be a full penny tax on the dollar.

If a majority does pass the sales tax then something less than a penny will be assessed.

In conclusion, Wood said while the city has accomplished great things to date, there is no consensus on how the city should proceed.

“Today, we are more divided on where we want to go. What we need is a common vision. We need to come together, and it won’t be easy,” he said.

“But I am a son of Roswell – born here and lived here. I will do everything I can to reunite this city. So let’s all come together to do this.”

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16 | February 3, 2016 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

BUSINESSPOSTS

Frank Norton gives economic outlook for Forsyth Says county has ‘much going for it’

By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Frank Norton said Forsyth County has a lot going for it.

From the boom in population to the excellent schools, he said the county will continue to expand productively for many more years, however there are a few things that need to be addressed.

At his annual economic outlook breakfast Jan. 26, Norton, known for his real-estate expertise, talked about many topics relating to the county and the state as a whole including affordable housing, population increases and the county’s future.

“I’m bullish about Forsyth, and about your future,” Norton said. “You have so much going for you. You have position, you have strength, you have geographic position, you have a tax base.

KATHLEENSTURGEON/STAFF

Frank Norton gives his annual economic outlook.

If you look at the return on investment of what I pay in taxes and what I get here, it’s amazing. You have school test scores which are the envy of the entire Southeast. You have a can-do, positive attitude. You have communities I would love to live in.”

Forsyth is the fastest-growing

county in the Southeast, he said.

However, the lack of affordable housing might start turning people off from living in the area. He said if you talk about affordable housing in the context of metro Atlanta, the average is $175,000. But Norton said there is no way to build a $175,000 house in Forsyth.

Homes under the $175,000 mark could be gone by 2020, according to Norton, with townhomes following in 2023. The affordable housing definition in Forsyth is probably at $250,000 to $275,000, he said.

“We have to fix affordable housing,” he said. “This affordable housing problem is going to affect you. If we lose affordable housing surrounding you, it gives me great concern. If we lose affordable housing in Dawson and Cherokee and Gwinnett and Hall, where are your teachers — who you have probably already lost and are commuting in — going to live?”

But this isn’t all bad news. In 2015, the county sold nearly 1,800 homes in the $250,000 to $399,000 price range, something that is good, he said.

In discussing the population boom Forsyth has experienced in recent years, he predicts the county will be at 500,000 residents by the 2030s or ’40s.

“We need to understand and blueprint life at 500,000” residents, he said.

“Your next-door neighbor today is at 850,000 people. That’s the gorilla called Gwinnett. They’re projected by 2030 to be 1.3 million people. If they’re 1.3 million, could you conceive us at 500,000?

We need to be building infrastructure and we need to be building water resources and transportation resources for 500,000 people. I don’t want this to be a cry in the dark. This needs to be a collective conversation.”

He ended by using a metaphor, saying the county needs to be careful they don’t “kill the golden goose.”

“You can’t squeeze it to produce more golden eggs and you can’t kill it because then you lose all you have,” he said. “You have to care and nurture and feed it and protect it from all kinds of outside influences. If you do that, Forsyth County will continue to be on that pedestal that every other county around you wants to be like you.”

Southern Aquatics opens doors in Roswell Local fish store offers rare fish, sustainable lessons

By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – The saying goes that if you do something you love, you will never work a day in your life.

For sisters Ashley Burre Hilburn and Taylor Burre, their love of fish has turned a hobby into a career.

They are the new co-owners of Southern Aquatics Local Fish Store, recently opened on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell.

The sisters, who were born and raised in Roswell, say owning and operating an aquatic store was never their life dreams. Hilburn has a degree in English and Burre has hers in retail management and fashion.

However, they both shared one love: animals, namely fish.

The sisters became interested in fish at a young age. Hilburn convinced her younger sister to pressure their parents for an aquarium. The fish in it died quickly, because the girls did not know how to care for them.

“You can’t create an ecosystem in one day,” Burre said. “It takes time to grow and replenish. It can take weeks or months.”

Despite that unfortunate early aquarium experience, it eventually spurred an interest in the care of fish that led to finally opening a store.

“We thought, ‘We can do this,’” Hilburn said.

For the past nine months, they have kitted out the

location on Holcomb Bridge Road, not far from the intersection with Ga. 9/Alpharetta Highway, one of the busiest areas in town.

Even though they haven’t had a grand opening yet, they put a sign out front, hoping simply to generate excitement, and customers began coming by, looking for help with their fish.

“We thought we would have a few weeks, but people started showing up,” Hilburn said.

With 3,000 square feet to work with, the store specializes in both fresh and saltwater fish, a first for Roswell. They also focus on rare or uncommon species that can’t be found in “big box” stores.

They have hundreds of fish varieties, sharks, eels, shellfish and even a stingray. There are coral gardens with a variety of colors and types. They even have shark eggs.

Education is a large part of the sisters’ mission.

They recently donated a large tank along with two shark eggs to a local school for the students to learn about fish and their life cycle.

“We believe in education,” Hilburn said. “But if we are going to educate people, we have to be responsible.”

One example of responsible business practices is not selling a customer a “cute” shark baby in a small tank since they know the shark will quickly outgrow it. Similarly, small eels may be popular pets, but many stores do not tell customers eels can get large and aggressive.

“We handhold a lot of customers,” she said. “We don’t want things dying in their home aquarium because they are too big or the customer doesn’t know how to care for them.”

The owners of the new Southern Aquatics Local Fish Store are, left, Ashley Burre Hilburn and, right, Taylor Burre, and between them is their father, David Burre.

And conservation is another key consideration.

“I have to know where I am getting my animals,” Hilburn said. “We buy from local suppliers where we can, and we promote sustainability.”

The new Southern Aquatics Local Fish Store is located at 620 Holcomb Bridge Road, Suite B, Roswell, 30076 and can be found online at southernaquaticslfs.com.

BUSINESSPOSTS

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | February 3, 2016 | 17

Meet Geoff Smith: Mortgage banker, southerner, Herald columnist Two hundred articles and counting

GEOFF SMITH

Assurance Financial, gsmith@lendtheway.com

ROSWELL, Ga. — I was born and raised here in Roswell, which I suppose makes me a Southerner – even though my mother is from New Jersey.

So, with that in mind, I’ll go ahead and introduce myself before diving into the business

news of the day.

I am a mortgage banker for Assurance Financial and work here in the North Fulton area. I write residential home loans for purchases and refinances and I am a junkie when it comes to development news in and around the Metro area. I write a weekly newsletter about development and Ray Appen, one of the longtime publishers of the Herald newspapers, read a couple and asked if I would do a weekly column for his papers. Obviously I jumped at the chance.

Let me first be clear: I’m not a real newspaper person like the other reporters on this staff. I used to be, though. Almost 12 years ago, I worked directly under the great Hatcher Hurd.

I say great because, to a guy not far

out of college with dreams of being an old-school reporter, I thought he was.

Being in the business world, it’s easier for me to see how important a good, honest, tell-it-like-it-is newsperson is to the health of a community.

Obviously we all like it when reporters cover our events and highlight our children’s accomplishments. With some news outlets, that’s really all they do. But I always respected the journalistic ethics of this paper. You could probably count on one hand the number of council meetings that have been held in North Fulton over the last 15 years without a Herald reporter sitting somewhere in the audience.

And that is important. Because what our leaders see is not just the reporter, but they also see all of you readers.

It’s the power of the pen, and here that power has always been used humbly and honestly.

Roswell, and especially Alpharetta, were very small towns when I was growing up. I remember taking back roads to get to downtown Atlanta.

I remember when the Roswell Mall (now called Roswell Town Center at the northeastern corner of Holcomb Bridge and Ga. 9) was the big deal up here. I remember when a Greek father and son from New York opened

Mama’s Pizza there. The good old boys and girls in Roswell used to go there to watch Pete’s girlfriend (Pete was the father) yell at him in her New York accent because he wasn’t getting the pizzas out fast enough.

It was a small town that was blessed. We got Ga. 400. We got Country Club of the South. We got fiber-optic cable. And we became the “Golden Corridor” and the “Silicon Valley of the East Coast.” We have the best schools in the state, some of the best recreation and parks in the state, fantastic natural parks along the most famous river in the state, and we even have some of the coolest nightspots of any suburb in the state. Yes, folks – it’s great to be living and working up in these parts. We’ll see you next week.

Geoff Smith is a mortgage banker with Assurance Financial focusing on residential home loans for refinances and home purchases.

Geoff Smith gsmith@lendtheway.com 770-674-1433 Personal: NMLS#104587 Business: NMLS#70876 *The views and opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of Assurance Financial Group

C2 Education to award up to $10,000 to Forsyth high schools FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – C2 Education, the nation’s fastest growing network of subject tutoring, SAT, ACT and PSAT test prep and education support centers, will award $25,000 to high schools in nine states throughout the country, including North Forsyth and West Forsyth high schools.

C2 joined forces with Forsyth area high schools to host new SAT practice tests in January. The tests gave students an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the redesigned SAT and accurately measure performance before taking the real test on March 5.

The SAT has been revamped before, but the updated format and scoring system bring a considerable difference to the test. In order to help ease student anxiety, as well as

support area high schools, C2 will donate all proceeds from the January events to the hosting high schools. The company will award $5,000 to the four schools whose students obtain the highest average score and randomly select five participating schools for a $1,000 donation.

To qualify for a donation, the school must have had at least 30 students participate on-site or at a C2 center during the month of January.

The January test events were part of the C2 Community Giveback Program, which, in addition to school support, offers support programs for parents and students.

For more information on Forsyth SAT prep opportunities, go to www.c2educate.com/north-forsyth or www. c2educate.com/west-forsyth or call 888-777-3889.

YARD SIGNS

Four years ago, Hans Appen, the general manager of Appen Media Group (which publishes the paper you are reading), asked me if I would be interested in writing a small-business adDICK JONES vice column. With Founder & President Jones Simply Sales my 35 years of experience working with small businesses, I thought it would be a great opportunity to share tips and ideas to help small-business owners run and grow their businesses.

I initially thought I would be able to write weekly articles for at least three to four months before I ran out of ideas on topics to write about. I was totally wrong.

The list of challenges, responsibilities, tasks, activities and the “balls in the air” that a small-business owner has to deal with goes on and on and on.

Growing sales, retaining customers, developing new products and services, hiring and training employees, attracting and retaining customers, managing finances, day-to-day operations, entering new markets, beating the competition, and improving working capital are just the tip of the iceberg in what small-business owners do every day.

Last week my 200th article was published, and the pipeline of future topics is still a mile long. The point of this article is not the topics I have written about; it’s an article itself about the hundreds of things small-businesses owners have to deal with while running their businesses! Hopefully those who read these articles each week have been assisted in running their businesses better, or at least received ideas to improve and grow their businesses. I wonder when I’ll run out of topics …. probably never!

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Phone: 678-731-7767 Website: www.phonerepairstore.com/ roswell

Business name: OH Pharmacy Opened: Dec. 21, 2015 Owner: Min Hwan Oh, Pharmacist What: We are a professional, fullservice, independent pharmacy focused on standard prescriptions, personalized compounding of medications, wellness and health management, a full line of health care

Business name: NutriMost Opened: May 2015 Owner: Dr. Joseph McNamara What: We use cutting-edge technology to detoxify and bring a person’s body into maximum fat-burning mode.

Address: 767 Peachtree Parkway #3, Cumming, GA 30041 Phone: 770-268-3148 Website: www.letslosepounds.com

tionally, all repair service is backed by the industry-leading Staymobile lifetime warranty. For businesses, Staymobile offers device buyback programs, device trade/upgrade programs, mobile device accessories, as well as corporate incentive programs tailored toward each business it serves.

Address: 675 West Crossville Road, Suite 142, Roswell, GA 30075 Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday noon-4 p.m.

Phone: 470-219-5828 Website: staymobile.com/roswell-ga Business name: The Original Mattress Factory Opened: Oct. 1, 2015 Owner: Dave Choppa, Randy Cromer, Mike Newcomb What: We manufacture our own high-quality mattresses and box springs in our own factory and sell directly to our customers, through our own stores, every day at factory-direct low prices.

Address: 11270 Medlock Bridge Road, Suite 220, Johns Creek, GA 30097 Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, noon-6 p.m.

Phone: 770-232-0770 Website: www.originalmattress.com

and over-the-counter products, and are dedicated to providing exceptional service.

Address: 10900 Medlock Bridge Road, Suite 308 Johns Creek, GA 30097 Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Phone: 470-223-4775 Website: www.ohpharmacyga.com

Business name: Puppy Haven Opened: Dec. 11, 2015 Owner: Laura Bryant What: Puppy Haven is a doggy day care and boarding facility that offers a unique and exciting experience for your pups. Our 10,000-squarefoot facility includes large play areas separated by dog size and temperament, climate-controlled guest rooms, luxury suites and apartments, and live web cameras for you to watch your dog throughout the day. We pride ourselves on providing person-

alized attention for every guest and treating your pups as if they are our own. Puppy Haven was voted the top doggy day care in Atlanta by Best Self Atlanta Magazine for 2013, 2014 and 2015.

Address: 2854 Holcomb Bridge Road, Alpharetta, GA 30022 Hours: Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.7:30 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m.

Phone: 770-609-7483 Website: www.puppyhavenatl.com

BUSINESSPOSTS

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | February 3, 2016 | 19

Mammoth Car Wash to open new location Third location for Alpharetta chain

By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Mammoth Car Wash is expanding to a new location in a new town with new partners.

A staple of downtown Alpharetta for two decades, Mammoth’s new location will be in Norcross.

It’s not a really a franchise, said owner Jimmy Tester, but the new store has license agreement to use the Mammoth processes, software, logo and procedures.

Tester said Mammoth began in Alpharetta’s historic district in 1996.

“I always washed my own car,” he

said, “and I was always disappointed with the car washes around town. So I decided to open my own car wash.”

The first location was on Main Street, just south of the intersection with Old Milton Parkway.

Mammoth uses only hand washing – no machines – to which Tester said the community responded very well.

“We specialize in hand car washing and detailing, so you can pamper your car with a luxury bath,” he said.

Within nine years, he was looking for a new location and opened the second store on Old Milton Parkway.

Business boomed.

When the new Norcross store opens, it will be headed up by Ted Marcus and his son, Andrew. They were early supporters of Tester and Mammoth Car Wash.

“I’m a car guy,” said Marcus. “My

son is a car guy too,” so much so that Andrew has worked with Tester for over a year and will be director of operations at the Norcross site.

Marcus said he has wanted to open his own location for years and, when the Norcross property opened up, it was a perfect fit.

“The traffic count is high, the demographics are great and it’s already been a car wash for years. We are very excited,” Marcus said.

“We’ve completely remodeled the building and parking lot to attract high-end customers,” he said. The newest Mammoth Car Wash be just like the Alpharetta locations both in looks and in services offered – a fast hand wash and detail.

Marcus anticipates hiring at least 15 new employees. The business will open in the coming weeks.

The new location is at 4050 Holcomb Bridge Road, Norcross, convenient to Roswell, Norcross, Peachtree Corners and Sandy Springs.

For more on Mammoth Car Wash, offerings and locations, visit mammothdetail.com.

the North Fulton Community Improvement District

fit,” she said.

“I love having the ability to feel engaged in public service while also having private resources to get infrastructure projects built quickly and efficiently,” said Hanlon, who has a bachelor’s degree in government and computer science from Notre Dame and a master’s degree in public administration from GSU. Tying in with her professional role, she was appointed by Gov. Nathan Deal to the board of directors for the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority to help coordinate transportation in the state.

Communication for all this is key, she said.

“Especially in our modern world with so much technology, leaders still must be able to effectively communicate and develop relationships to get work done,” she said. “I hope my peers see me as someone they can sit down with face-to-face and have a productive conversation.”

Part of this, she said, is putting down the cell phone and actually talking with colleagues.

“Effective communication, or lack thereof, can really make the difference between organizations that succeed and ones that suffer. Always be the one who offers to go have lunch or coffee with a colleague and communicate face-toface.”

40 UNDER 40:

Ann M. Hanlon Editor’s note: The North Atlanta Business Post, an Appen Media Group publication, recently recognized 40 individuals under the age of 40 with outstanding accomplishments in their professional or extracurricular lives.

Each week for the next 40 weeks, we will publish a profile showcasing one of these individuals.

Visit NorthAtlanta BusinessPost.com for more info.

Age: 36 Title/Company: Executive director of

As the executive director of the North Fulton Community Improvement District, Ann Hanlon is able to bridge the public-private gap HANLON by being a public servant with private resources.

She began her work with the Atlanta Regional Commission when she moved to Atlanta in May 2002 while doing graduate work at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University, “so it was a perfect

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20 | February 3, 2016 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

CALENDAR ROSWELL UMC PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN 2016-17 REGISTRATION

15TH ANNUAL ROSWELL ROOTS FESTIVAL

One of the largest and most comprehensive celebrations of black history and culture in the Southeast, the festival will feature a variety of events. Activities through Feb. 29 Various locations throughout Roswell.

Visit roswellroots.com for more info.

Looking to get the word out about your event?

Email us with photo and description of your event to calendar@appenmediagroup.com.

EVENTS: FELLOWSHIP CHRISTIAN SCHOOL ADMISSIONS TOUR

What: For prospective families with K412th-grade students. Meet in the high school foyer. No reservations required.

When: Thursday, Feb. 4 Where: Fellowship Christian School, 10965 Woodstock Road, Roswell More info: fellowshipchristianschool.org

3RD ANNUAL PALESTINE CHILDREN’S RELIEF FUND TRIVIA NIGHT

What: A fun night of trivia! Show off your smarts and enjoy time with friends and family while helping to support a great cause!

When: Saturday, Feb. 6, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Casablanca Banquet Hall, 631 N Main Street #113, Alpharetta More info: Pcrfatlantayouth@gmail.com

CUPID CHASE 5K ROAD RACE

What: The PT Solutions Physical Therapy Cupid Chase 5K is for all skill levels and age groups and benefits Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research.

When: Saturday, Feb. 6, 8 a.m.

Where: PTS Store, Sweet Apple Village, 12050 Etris Road, Roswell More info: ptssports.com/events/ptscupid-chase-5k

ROSWELL GREEN EXPO

What: Keep Roswell Beautiful announces the Roswell Green Expo, with family-friendly activities designed to introduce residents to vendors and organizations that can assist them in becoming more green at home.

When: Saturday, Feb. 6, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Where: Roswell Area Park Community Activity Building, 10495 Woodstock Road, Roswell More info: www.roswellgreenexpo.org

BOW TIES & PEARLS ROSWELL MARDI GRAS BALL

What: Benefitting the Emory ALS Center, the Krewe of Viola will present the inaugural Roswell Mardi Gras Ball, Bow

Ties & Pearls.

When: Feb. 6, 2016, 7-11 p.m.

Where: Country Club of Roswell, 2500 Club Springs Drive, Roswell More info: facebook.com/roswellmardigrasball

DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION MEETING

What: The DAR Patriots of Liberty chapter will help you determine if you are a descendant of a Revolutionary Patriot and how to begin the process of substantiating your lineage.

When: Sunday, Feb. 7 Where: Alpharetta Public Library, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: PatriotsOfLibertyNSDAR@ Yahoo.com

ROSWELL UMC JOB NETWORKING

What: The Roswell United Methodist Church Job Networking event will feature workshops, job interview opportunities and eight keynote speakers in a single hour.

When: Monday, Feb. 8, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.

Where: Roswell United Methodist Church, 814 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell More info: rumcjobnetworking.com

OFFICIAL BOOK LAUNCH, AUTHOR SIGNING FOR “BLACKHEARTS”

What: Nicole Castroman will be on hand for the official launch of her first book, “Blackhearts.”

When: Tuesday, Feb. 9, 7 p.m.

Where: Barnes & Noble, The Collection at Forsyth, 410 Peachtree Parkway, Cumming More info: nicolecastroman.com

MARDI GRAS PUB CRAWL AT AVALON

What: In celebration of Fat Tuesday, Avalon will host its second-annual pub crawl featuring New Orleans-themed drinks, food, and live music that will transform Avalon Boulevard into Bourbon Street.

When: Tuesday, Feb. 9, 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

Where: Avalon, 2200 Avalon Blvd., Alpharetta More info: experienceavalon.com/events/ eventitems/mardi-gras-pub-crawl

What: The Roswell United Methodist Church Preschool and Kindergarten will hold registration for 2016-17.

When: Monday, Feb. 8, for RUMC members and alumni of RUMCK and Parents’ Morning out; Tuesday, Feb. 9 for the general public.

Where: Roswell UMC, 814 Mimosa Blvd., Roswell More info: rumc.com/RUMCK

MUSIC, ARTS & THEATER: ROSWELL VISITORS CENTER FEATURES ARTISTS’ WORKS

What: Works by two of North Fulton’s highly regarded artists, Joan Hilliard and Barry Etris, will be on exhibit, with originals available for purchase as well as a selection of prints.

Spruill Arts Student & Instructor When: Through February Where: Roswell Visitors Center, 617 Atlanta St., Roswell More info: visitroswellga.com

EVENING OF ART, JAZZ & COCKTAILS IN JOHNS CREEK

What: Opening reception for a trio of new exhibits: Tina Dunkley’s new artwork from the Merikans series; “Sistagraphy: When the Spirit Calls Me,” perspectives on spirituality from African-American women photographers; and “Photography on the Color Line,” photographs compiled by W.E.B. DuBois for the 1900 Paris Exhibition.

When: Saturday, Feb. 6, 6 – 8 p.m.

Where: Johns Creek Arts Center, 6290 Abbotts Bridge Road, Building 700, Johns Creek More info: johnscreekarts.org

LIVE! IN ROSWELL PRESENTS BLIND BOYS OF ALABAMA

What: LIVE! In Roswell presents the Blind Boys of Alabama, recognized worldwide as living legends of gospel music, have won five Grammys.

When: Saturday, Feb. 6, 8 p.m.

Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell Cost: Tickets $40 More info: roswellgov.com

GEORGIA PHILHARMONIC PRESENTS YOUNG CONCERTO WINNERS What: The Georgia Philharmonic will continue its 2015-2016 season with a performance featuring the six winners of the annual Samuel Fordis Young Artists’ Concerto Competition.

When: Saturday, Feb. 6, 7 p.m.

Where: Lassiter Concert Hall, 2601 Shallowford Road, Marietta More info: georgiaphilharmonic.org

ST. JAMES UMC HEART HEALTH SCREENING AND INFORMATION

What: St. James United Methodist

Church’s Health and Wellness ministry will host a heart and health screening and information session.

When: Sunday, Feb. 7, following 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. services Where: St. James United Methodist Church, 3000 Webb Bridge Road, Alpharetta More info: sziegler@stjamesumc.org

SPRUILL METALS DEPARTMENT’S 8TH ANNUAL STUDENT & INSTRUCTOR JEWELRY MARKET

What: Selections for purchase will include diverse jewelry styles in precious metals, glass, beads, gemstones and more at prices for every budget.

When: Sunday, Feb. 7, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Where: Spruill Arts Education Center, 5339 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Atlanta More info: spruillarts.org

ONCE UPON A TIME: SONGS OF IMAGINATION

What: Kaleidoscope, the 36-voice ensemble from The Michael O’Neal Singers, will take a musical journey exploring songs written about the world of imagination from composers including Brahms, Shumann, Eric Whitacre, John Rutter and Ola Gjeilo, among others.

When: Sunday, Feb. 7, 3 p.m.

Where: Alpharetta Presbyterian Church, 180 Academy Street, Alpharetta Cost: $10 More info: mosingers.com/kaleidoscope

“LOVE IS A VERB” SCREENING

What: “Love Is A Verb” is an examination of a social movement of Sufi-inspired Muslims that began in Turkey in the 1960s and now reaches across the globe. The group is called Hizmet, the Turkish word for service, or the Gulen Movement after its inspiration, leader and beloved teacher Fethullah Gulen, a man that Time Magazine named one of the most influential leaders in the world in 2013.

When: 6:30-7:45 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11 Where: Regal Cinemas Avalon, 3950 1 St., Alpharetta Cost: $12 per person More info: tugg.com/events/82771#

ROSWELL DANCE STARZ PRESENTS “EVER AFTER: A JOURNEY FROM NEVERLAND TO WONDERLAND” What: The Roswell Dance Starz will present “Ever After: A Journey from Neverland to Wonderland” at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, featuring scenes from some of the most beloved children’s tales of all time as well as more recent Disney hits.

When: Friday, Feb. 12, 7 p.m. Performances also Feb. 13 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St., Roswell More info: roswellgov.com/everafter

CALENDAR

DOCUMENT SHREDDING, GREASE RECYCLING IN JOHNS CREEK

What: The city of Johns Creek, Keep Johns Creek Beautiful and Panera Bread will offer a chance for residents to shred documents and dump cooking fats.

When: Saturday, Feb. 6, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Where: Panera Bread, 11715 Medlock Bridge Road, Johns Creek More info: 770-551-7766

LIBRARY EVENTS: For a complete list of North Fulton events, go to afpls.org/events For a complete list of Forsyth events, go to forsythpl.org/eventCalendar/eventCalendar.aspx

LIBRARY’S ONE WORLD FORSYTH PROGRAM TO HOST JAPANESE, CHINESE EVENTS

What: Two special One World Forsyth events, sponsored by the Forsyth County Public Library and the FCPL Friends and Advocates, will spotlight Japanese and Chinese events.

When: 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Sharon Forks Library to celebrate Japan; 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 7 at Post Road Library to celebrate Chinese New Year.

Cost: Free More info: forsythpl.org.

ROSWELL LIBRARY BOOK SALE

What: Book sale is sponsored by the Friends of the Roswell Library. All proceeds go back into the library.

When: Feb. 4-7, 10 a.m.-5:30 Thursday, Friday, Saturday and 2-5:30 on Sunday.

Where: Roswell Library, 115 Norcross St., Roswell More info: 770 643 4839

FRIENDS OF THE ALPHARETTA LIBRARY BOOK SALE

What: Come support the library shopping at the Friends’ Book Sale. All ages.

Library porch and Friends Bookstore.

When: Feb. 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Where: Alpharetta Library, 10 Park Plaza, Alpharetta More info: 404-613-6735

BECOMING A RESPONSIBLE PET OWNER

What: Focuses on teaching responsible pet ownership. Find out how to take care of your fur kid and learn about volunteer opportunities at the Humane Society.

When: Saturday, Feb. 6, 2 p.m.

Where: Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Milton More info: 404-613-4402

COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES IN PALLIATIVE/HOSPICE CARE

What: Courtesy of AmityCare, join us for explanations of alternative therapies available to those in palliative or

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | February 3, 2016 | 21

hospice care.

When: Friday, Feb. 12, 10:30 a.m.

Where: Milton Library, 855 Mayfield Road, Milton More info: 404-613-4402

PET ADOPTIONS: FORSYTH COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER What: Pet adoptions When: Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: The Forsyth County Animal Shelter, 4065 County Way, Forsyth County More info: 678-965-7185

FULTON COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES

What: Pet adoptions When: Every Saturday and Sunday, noon-5 p.m., PetSmart, 6370 North Point Parkway, Alpharetta Additional adoptions: Monday-Friday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at Fulton County Animal Services, 860 Marietta Blvd NW, Atlanta More info: 404-613-4958

OF INTEREST ELSEWHERE: “DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST” DISCOUNTED STUDENT TICKETS What: Broadway’s classic fairy tales returns to the Fox Theatre for a week of musical enchantment. For any local college students looking for a night of romantic hilarity mixed with magic and charm, Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta presents a special $25 Student Rush ticket price.

When: Feb. 2-7, times vary Where: Fox Theatre, 660 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta More info: broadwayinatlanta.com

MARDI GRAS STREETCAR ADVENTURE

What: The 2nd Annual Mardi Gras Streetcar Adventure, a tour including nine locally owned restaurants, bars and attractions with a New Orleans vibe.

When: Saturday, Feb. 6, 1 p.m.

Where: Park Bar at Centennial Olympic Park and Sweet Auburn Curb Market off Edgewood Avenue More info: AtlantaBarTours.com

ATLANTA BALLET’S “MOULIN ROUGE” What: Get up close and personal with the bohemian world of Paris in its heyday and the spiritual birthplace of the cancan – Moulin Rouge, the most famous cabaret in history. Experience the explosive story of young love and rising stardom set against a glamorous, sizzling Parisian backdrop.

When: Feb. 5-13, 8 p.m.

Where: Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, 2800 Cobb Galleria Parkway, Atlanta More info: cobbenergycentre.com

Trout fun at the Buford Trout Hatchery “Let’s go see the fish!”

This enthusiastic request is heard all the time at the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Buford Trout Hatchery, located just off Ga. STEVE HUDSON 20 about five miles Get Outside Georgia, Chattahoochee Media Group from Ga. 400.

Located adjacent to the Chattahoochee River, this hatchery provides rainbow and brown trout for stocking in Georgia’s trout waters – and it just may be a perfect choice if you’re looking for something truly unique to do with the family this weekend.

The Buford Trout Hatchery really is a great place to visit with the family. First, of course, you’ll get to see the trout – lots of trout – which are being reared in the site’s raceways.

At this site, fisheries biologists raise hundreds of thousands of trout each year. The products of their efforts are eventually stocked into the state’s public streams and range from small trout measuring just a few inches long to what the hatchery folks call “showand-tell” fish of 10 pounds or more.

One of the best ways to experience the hatchery is to take the free guided tour offered every Saturday at 1 p.m.

This family-friendly tour, which lasts 45 minutes to an hour, starts at the hatchery’s office building. First, you’ll get a great overview of how the facility operates and what it does. Then it’s off to the raceways where you get to see the fish up close and personal.

For many visitors, especially kids, the highlight of the tour is the chance to help feed the fish. The young folks get a huge kick out of tossing bits of “trout chow” to the fish, which respond enthusiastically. The water actually seems to boil as the trout go after the food.

But kids are not the only ones who get into this. The adults in the group will have just as much fun – and that’s the voice of experience speaking.

The trout, of course, are the stars at the Buford Fish Hatchery. But there’s plenty more to do here as well.

For example, you can hike the site’s nature trail, which offers excellent birdwatching opportunities.

If the weather’s good, you can also try your hand at some catch-and-release fishing in the site’s family fishing pond. The pond is stocked with bream and catfish, and young anglers in particular will have a blast (especially as the weather warms toward spring).

You’ll want to bring your own bait and gear, though a limited number of loaner rods are available. Kids under 16 can fish for free, but anglers 16 and over will need to have a current fishing license. Good baits for bream are worms, crickets and dough balls made from white bread; for the catfish, try some night crawlers or even small pieces of hot dog. Nearby picnic tables make this a great place to spend an afternoon.

The Buford Trout Hatchery is located at 3204 Trout Place Road (what a great address) in Cumming. It’s open daily from 8 a.m. till 4:30 p.m.; the pond and nature trail are open till 3 p.m.

By the way, the Buford Trout Hatchery is a great jumping-off point for a fantastic hike up the Chattahoochee River to Buford Dam. We’ll look at that hike next time.

Steve Hudson has written numerous books on fishing, hiking, the outdoors and more. Check them out at www. chattahoochee media.com.

22 | February 3, 2016 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

22 | Forsyth Herald | February 3, 2016

Sponsored Section

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REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | February 3, 2016 | 23

Searching for a Real Estate Agent and Company Brought to you by Mike Garcia, REALTOR® In today’s, multi-media, hi-tech environment, we are relentlessly bombarded by advertising and the competition for mere moments of our attention is fierce. That means your real estate company and agent has to have the right combination of experience, skills, and tools to lift your property out of the background hubbub and increase its visibility. So, how do you find a company and agent that has this supernatural ability?

Boiled down to the nuts and bolts, what you’re looking for is an experienced and knowledgeable REALTOR®, a professional who conducts his or her business by a strict code of ethics. Only National Association of REALTORS® are allowed to use the term REALTOR®, and as a member of the N.A.R., they sign a pledge promising to protect and promote your best interest in any transaction that they conduct on your behalf. Don’t hesitate to ask your REALTOR® for a copy of their code of ethics.

The purchase or sale of a home is usually the largest financial transaction a person will make in their life. When you are guided through this important

process by a REALTOR®, you will receive the benefit of their dedication to continuing career education, and can be assured that they have access to the most up-to-date market information, and sophisticated GARCIA tools.

The timeworn practice of merely listing your home in the local classifieds and holding an open house or two might sell your home, but in most cases nowadays, a few balloons tied to a yard sign is not enough. Ask your REALTOR® if their company equips them with a support team, such as a skilled graphic designer, or an experienced marketing coordinator who can reach the greatest number of buyers by leveraging print, the internet and social media.

In addition to marketing expertise, you need a REALTOR® and real estate company that will bring longevity, credibility, and a stellar reputation to the table. Look for a real estate company that has stood the test of time, weathering the ups and downs in the economy, building trust in the community and a reputation for excellence along the way.

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Although your potential REALTOR® may be the friendliest, most experienced and hard-working person you know, the odds are they aren’t a professional photographer. When you put your home on the market, your home should be shown to its best advantage and in the best light. That means your REALTOR® should pull out their smart phone, and call a professional photographer. High-quality, bright, beautifully staged photos of your home will generate more online views and Facebook shares, and greatly decrease the time it spends on the market. Some photographers can even digitally stage your home, adding photos and furniture, appliances and plants, making it easy for a buyer to imagine themselves living there. Don’t forget to ask about a ‘virtual tour’, a slideshow of your home’s photos to add interest. One of the newest and most useful tools in any savvy

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24 | February 3, 2016 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

REAL ESTATE REPORT • Sponsored Section

Crye-Leike, Real Estate services

Sales Leaders Ashley Zhang Johns Creek 678-707-2005

Grace Yoon Norcross 404-514-1000

Linda Bell McDonough 678-898-4900

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View ALL area homes at CRYE-LEIKE.com

Since 1977, Harold Crye and Dick Leike have known great resources make great associates. Crye-Leike, REALTORSÂŽ offers several customs programs, in-house and online, to help our associates learn quickly and stay up-to-date with the newest technology and best practices in the real estate industry.

Crye-Leike’s website, www.cryeleike.com, annually wins awards from Leading Real Estate Companies in the world for its innovation with property listings and search engine optimization.

Unlike other national real estate websites, Crye-Leike.com offers all area home listings including all home photos from the multiple listing service.

Over 400,000 listings are updated every 12 minutes on Crye-Leike’s website to ensure the most accurate information.

In comparison, studies revealed it can take 7-9 days for new home listings to appear on national sites such as Zillow and Trulia.

With over 12,000 visitors per day and 30 million hits per month, no local company comes close to Crye-Like.com on internet activity.

Crye-Leike makes substantial in-

vestments to provide agents with the latest and most advanced technological tools in order to give them a viable advantage over the competition.

Crye-Leike is the only real estate company in the region with a large team of in-house information technology specialists who are readily available to provide technical support and personal training to all sales associates.

In 2015, Crye-Leike totaled 192,000 scheduled appointments for showings.

Many calls for showings come after business hours and on weekends when many real estate companies are not open. Crye-Leike’s in-house appointment call center is available to schedule appointments on listings seven days a week until 8pm.

Crye-Leike’s new appointment software enables home owners and agents to get an interactive view of showings for homes during the selling process.

With the combination of in-house call center and custom mobile apps for agents, Crye-Leike offers a superior and more flexible service to give agents and home owners a greater level of collaboration when selling a home.

SCHOOLS

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | February 3, 2016 | 25

Education issues abound for legislators Religious freedom in schools debated under gold dome

BY CANDY WAYLOCK candy@appenmediagroup.com ATLANTA — With all signs pointing to few, if any, seismic changes on the education landscape this legislative session, Georgia lawmakers are still considering a number of initiatives that could impact the classroom in significant ways.

Rep. Mike Dudgeon of Forsyth County has introduced House Resolution 864 which would allow school boards to impose impact fees on developers in high-growth school districts.

Based on current information on enrollment growth, the resolution affects only Cherokee, Forsyth and Fulton county boards of education.

If passed, the resolution would require a two-thirds approval of Georgia voters as a constitutional amendment.

Currently, impact fees can be assessed and used for infrastructure improve-

ments, such as roads and bridges, but not for new classroom space.

Dudgeon’s bill would allow impact fee proceeds to pay for a share of the cost of “additional educational facilities” in districts which have had growth of at least 15 percent over the past five-year period.

A number of bills related to “religious freedom” in the classroom, as well as general freedom of speech, are also in the hoppers on both sides of the aisle. Those include: HB 816 — The Georgia Student Religious Liberties Act of 2016. This bill would swing the doors wide open to “voluntary student expression of religious viewpoints in public schools.”

Students would be allowed religious expression in class assignments, freedom to organize religious groups and activities, and allow districts to have voluntary prayers at school events and graduation events.

HB 870 — High schools that receive state funding cannot participate in an athletic association which bans religious expression on the clothing of student athletes. This is a reaction to the GHSA disqualifying a Forsyth County cross country runner who

Religious Services

competed in an event last year wearing a headband with a religious saying.

The bill would also ban state-funded schools from joining an athletic association which does not allow the school to play scrimmage matches, games or other athletic competitions with nonmember schools. Again, a political jab at the powerful GHSA. SB 275 — Prohibits the governing body of any county, city or school board from having a policy, rule or other provision that prevents the members of that body from exercising their right to free speech. So, in essence, local school boards would not be allowed to limit free speech of students and teachers in the classroom, or elsewhere. How this would impact free speech on a person’s social media account will certainly be considered in light of high profile cases involving content on Facebook accounts.

SB 284 — The First Amendment Defense Act of Georgia. While not targeted specifically to schools, the impact could have implications. If passed, this law would essentially prohibit nonprofit organizations from being penalized because they believe “marriage is or should be recognized as the union of

one man and one woman or that sexual relations are properly reserved to such marriage.” In recent years, some schools have banned groups such as the Boy Scouts of America from using space in public schools because of their “morally straight” oath.

Other bills of education interest in the current legislative session include: HB 740 — Creates an income tax credit of $15,000 over five years to someone who purchases a home that qualifies for a homestead exemption in the attendance zone of a low-performing school.

HB 744 — Revises the criminal code to make it a sexual assault if any employee of a school engages in sexual conduct with an individual they knew or should have known is enrolled at the same school.

HB 814 — Authorizes the Department of Education to provide a unique identifier for students from military families so their data can be disaggregated.

HB 825 — Protecting Military Children Act, relating to notifying the Department of Defense of child abuse in a military family.

COMMUNITY

26 | February 3, 2016 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

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Vietnam Veterans announce Forsyth high school scholarship program FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Graduating high school seniors in Forsyth County will be able to compete for two college scholarships sponsored by the Cumming Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Eligible students must be the child, grandchild or great grandchild of an honorably discharged U.S. military veteran with demonstrated scholastic excellence, and active in school and/ or community activities. Financial need may also be considered. Each candidate must be recommended by a guidance counselor or principal.

Applicants must also submit a minimum 500 word essay on the topic “Freedom Isn’t Free.”

Qualifying candidates must be accepted on a full-time basis to an accredited two or four year post-secondary institution.

Applications will be available from high school guidance counselors in the next few weeks.

Scholarships will be awarded in the name of Chapter 1030 of the Vietnam Veterans of America and will honor the memory of an individual killed in Viet-

Completed applications must be postmarked by no later than April 15 in order to be considered.

Students needing applications can also contact the VVA at 770500-7234. nam or Missing in Action.

“Our organization is proud to offer this educational assistance to young men and women in our community,” said Chapter President Billy Darby.

“We view it as a way to reward student achievement, to recognize the military service of a member of their family and to honor the memory of those who fought in Vietnam and did not come home.”

The recipients of the two $1,500 scholarships will receive their awards at the organization’s May 2 general membership meeting.

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COMMUNITY

28 | February 3, 2016 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

‘What’ll ya have?’

Varsity Alpharetta closes

Nearby Locations of The Varsity:

By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. – After more than a dozen years open, the Alpharetta location of The Varsity will close its doors Monday, Feb. 1.

The North Fulton branch of the Atlanta landmark opened in 2003 on Old Milton Parkway and (later) Westside Parkway.

The chain is famous for its quick service featuring chili dogs, burgers and shakes.

Those wishing to visit The Varsity will now have to go to one of its seven other locations.

Ron Jackson, a Roswell resident, said he ate at the Alpharetta location about once a week.

“I’m really sorry that this Atlanta-area iconic restaurant will be closing in Alpharetta,” Jackson said. “It was a familiar place where I would almost always run into people I know. We will survive, but nothing is quite like The Varsity.”

He said it was the famous chili

• The Varsity Downtown 61 North Ave. NW Atlanta, Georgia 30308 Phone: 404-881-1706 • The Varsity Jr. Dawsonville 73 Bethel Drive Dawsonville, Georgia 30534 Phone: 706-265-7273 • The Varsity Town Center 2790 Town Center Drive Kennesaw, Georgia 30144 Phone: 770-795-0802 • The Varsity Gwinnett 6045 Dawson Blvd.

Norcross, Georgia 30093 Phone: 770-840-8519 dogs that kept him coming back to the restaurant. Now, to get his hot dog fix, he said he would have to visit the downtown Atlanta location.

The company and President Gordon Muir released a statement on the closing: “After a great deal of thought and consideration, the leadership of The Varsity has decided to close our

The Varsity Alpharetta closed Feb. 1 after more than a dozen years in service. store in Alpharetta on Feb 1. We would like to sincerely thank the people of Alpharetta for welcoming us in their community for the past 12 years. We weighed a number of options and came to the conclusion that our three other stores north of the perimeter –Town Center (Kennesaw), Dawsonville and

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Gwinnett (Norcross) – can effectively serve our customers in this area. Many of the outstanding team members from our Alpharetta store already work at our other locations and will continue to carry the spirit of hospitality to our customers that The Varsity has been known for since 1928.”

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ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | February 3, 2016 | 29

Snoopy and Leah

Jasper

Hershey

Fester

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Snoopy and Leah are best buddies that share everything. They share their kitty bed, they share snuggles, and they both share the hope that someone will come in soon and adopt them. These two tabbies are so sweet and gentle. These ladies would be so happy in a quiet and loving home where they can relax and be comfortable. Loud noises and lots of activities can make them a little jumpy.

Fill out an application on Snoopy and Leah at forsythpets.org.

It’s bittersweet to watch Jasper grow up at the Humane Society of Forsyth County in the kitten room. On one hand, volunteers get to see all his activities and behaviors of kitten-hood, but on the other, they know how happy he would be in a home of his own. He’s a beautiful spotted and striped tabby just waiting for his turn to be picked.

He gets along well with others, and is just an all-around sweet and mellow guy. Meet him at our adoption center at 4440 Keith Bridge Road. Hours

are noon to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.

Look at these sad eyes. Hershey waits patiently at the shelter, wondering when his turn will come to find his forever family. He often gets overlooked because of his size and age. Hey, more to love and he still has plenty of years left on him. Someone give this handsome sweetie a chance. He deserves a warm home/bed and a forever person to love on him. He does need to go to a home free of other animals and children.

Fester is a 4-month-old, Cairn terrier mix. He is currently waiting on visits in the Humane Society of Forsyth County’s dog building. Fester is running and playing with two other pups at the shelter. He is a very adoptable boy that keeps a clean kennel and is looking for a home.

Fill out an application on Diva at forsythpets.com or meet Hershey and Fester at the adoption shelter at 4440 Keith Bridge Road. Hours are Tuesdays through Sunday noon to 5 p.m.

Pets of the week: Snoopy, Leah, Jasper, Hershey and Fester

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30 | February 3, 2016 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

COMMUNITY

Government go-getters: Meet Pat Giordano

By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Forsyth County had just been put under a winter weather advisory, a change that would upset many people’s schedules and throw them for a loop. However, for Pat Giordano, this was just another day as the director of the county’s 911 Center.

A meeting was called between the Forsyth County Fire Department, Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, the county’s risk management division and Forsyth County Schools as they all listened in on a call that attempted to predict the next few hours.

Sitting in on the call was just was one of Giordano’s duties for a job that — from hours to responsibilities — is anything but routine.

“We’re here 24 hours, seven days a week, 365 days a year,” she said. “In any situation where we have to come together out of the ordinary, we thrive.

That’s the county as a whole. All the different departments work so well together so we can all make things smooth for people visiting or living here.”

Clearly, Giordano relishes the challenges of her position. It’s something of a family tradition, after all. Including her father, brothers and other relatives, at least 15 members of her family have worked law enforcement.

When she began looking for a job, law enforcement seemed the natural course. But she had young children at the time so she decided a job in the communications side would be the best fit.

Pat Giordano participates in a weather emergency meeting.

We try to be as proactive as we can but in some cases we are reactive.”

PAT GIORDANO 911 Center director

“I got in and figured out really fast I was really good at being a dispatcher and I liked it,” she said. “The busier it was, I liked it more. I progressed through.”

In 1988, she began working full time for a fire rescue department in Florida. In 1994, she moved to Georgia and came to work for Forsyth as a dispatcher three years later. After working her way up to supervisor, she assumed the director’s position in 2004.

“All days are different,” she said. “A typical day in a communication officer’s world you don’t know who’s going to call or what their needs are going to be.

On my side, it’s a little more plannable since I’m not totally hands-on. I’m in the office making the big-picture decisions. We try to be as proactive as we can but in some cases we are reactive.”

Sometimes, though, she is out in the field when she has to decide what to do next. Take, for instance, the shooting at the old county courthouse in June 2014. Giordano was doing an active shooter drill with the FCSO, helping to train deputies to understand that, while they’re in the heat of a situation, they still have to communicate with everyone else, including dispatchers.

“So we go out there and part of their scenario was interacting with us,” she said. “We got the phone call and I had to go down and tell the person running the training scenario, ‘I have real live traffic.’ That’s the thing in training, you have to tell them this is a real-life scenario and what’s going on back in town. The shift on duty just clicked and did what they’re trained to do. Their instincts and training went in and it had the outcome it did. I won’t forget that.”

While that day ended with a fatality, all the officers involved survived. Which is not to say all calls are so bleak — dispatchers have even walked callers through childbirth. As Giordano said, her favorite part of the job is knowing she and her employees do so much good and help so many people, especially during times of crisis.

“We have the ability to impact

PHOTOS BY KATHLEEN STURGEON/HERALD

Pat Giordano said one of the accomplishments she is most proud of has been expanding the 911 Center. people at their worst and it’s a horrific thing the individual calling is dealing with that we can have an impact to help people through that,” she said.

“The worst is on the flip side of that, when you can’t help the person and there isn’t anything you can do other than be a calming, consoling voice to that person.”

No matter what, she encourages anyone in a potentially dangerous situation to call 911.

“If you’re at that crux of ‘is this or isn’t this an emergency?’ we’d rather you call,” she said. “If you’re in doubt, pick up that phone and call.”

Someone will answer at the center’s current location of 3520 Settingdown Road, and helping to make that site a reality is something else of which Giordano is proud. In the past, the center was housed in a corner of the old county jail.

“We had terribly outgrown it. We didn’t have space and it hindered our ability to grow to provide the type of service I had envisioned we’d do,” she said. “When we moved here we were able to spread out. We were able to separate the two rooms and add people that had a primary duty of answering

phones so we could split some of the duties.”

But even with the updated location and soon-to-be updated software, Giordano said, the job does occasionally take a lot out of her.

“People don’t generally call us to say ‘have a great day’ or ‘hello.’ They’re calling because they’re at a critical point and something’s happening that’s generally not a good thing,” she said.

“Whatever’s going on, they are at their crisis. Knowing how we build that foundation is how it helps the whole event evolve. If we do a fantastic job, then we set the stage for the rest of the responders. We are the true first responders.

We’re the ones who say ‘hello’ before the medics and deputies get there.

But she said she has never doubted her career choice and can’t envision herself in any other job, partially because of her co-workers.

“I couldn’t be as successful as I am here without the support of other people who are driven to do the same type of job,” she said. “The people who still get to sit there and answer those calls and be those people. Without their dedication to their profession, it wouldn’t all gel. We have a dedicated team here.”

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | February 3, 2016 | 31

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32 | February 3, 2016 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

SPORTS

Central downs Cambridge 48-32 in region matchup Julie Richards scores 16 in Bulldogs win

By JOE PARKER news@appenmediagroup.com CUMMING, Ga. — The Forysth Central girls (11-13, 7-4) beat Cambridge (9-15, 3-8) 48-32 on Jan. 30 in Cumming.

After a slow start, the Bulldogs took the lead midway through the second quarter and never looked back against their Region 7-AAAA Division B rival.

Central senior forward Julie Richards led the Bulldogs in scoring with 16 and rebounds with six.

Richards also had a standout performance defensively with five blocks and a steal.

Abby Fagan added 13 points for the Bulldogs as well as two steals and junior Caroline Hearn scored 11.

For the Lady Bears, freshman Julie Powell led in scoring with 10 points and shot 80 percent on free throws.

Fellow freshman Audrey Smith compiled 9 points, 15 rebounds and a steal.

Cambridge got off to a positive start with 5 points from Smith and a 3-pointer from Powell to open the game with an 8-2 lead.

In the first quarter, Cambridge’s defense limited the Bulldogs’ passes inside the paint. However, beginning in the second quarter, the Bears were unable to do so.

The Bulldogs outscored Cambridge 12-4 in the second quarter after 3-pointers from Hear and Fagan and took a 21-15 lead into halftime.

The Bulldogs continued their offensive success in the third, opening the second half with an 8-0 run to extend their lead to 29-15. The Bulldogs were also able to outduel Cambridge’s Smith for rebounds, getting jump balls when they could not bring in the rebounds.

A reverse of the first quarter, Cambridge struggled to get passes inside the paint and were forced to shoot outside shots, which limited Smith’s production under the net.

Cambridge would continue to build their lead for the remainder of the game and take the win 44-32.

Forsyth Central finished out their regular season with their Tuesday game against subregion-leading Kell while Cambridge completed their regular season against Sprayberry.

JOE PARKER

Lady Bears center Audrey Smith battles with Bulldogs’ Julie Richards for a rebound under the net. Richards had a standout performance against Cambridge with 16 points, six rebounds, a steal and five blocks

Other notable games (boys):

Other notable games (girls):

Alpharetta 62 – Johns Creek 65 Johns Creek won in a shootout last Friday in a Region 6-AAAAAA matchup against Alpharetta, battling back to regain the lead in the final minute.

Johns Creek’s defense created multiple turnovers late and were able to take the lead with free throws.

Johns Creek is off to their best start in school history (21-2) while two-time defending regular-season champion Alpharetta fell to 9-14 overall.

South Forsyth 60 Chattahoochee 44 The War Eagles improved to 16-0 in Region 6-AAAAAA with their win over Chattahoochee on Friday. Maryland commit Sarah Myers led South in scoring with 23 points. South will close out their regular season against North Forsyth this Friday.

West Forsyth 46 Lambert 74 Connor Mannion led the Longhorns with 23 points as the Longhorns remained unbeaten in Region 6-AAAAAA this season.

The Longhorns (21-2, 16-0) will face Johns Creek this Friday in what could be a winner-take-all game for the regular-season region championship.

King’s Ridge 55 St. Francis 82 St. Francis locked up the Region 6-A Division B subregion championship with their win over King’s Ridge on Friday. Senior Knights player Kobi Simmons was presented as a McDonald’s All American earlier that day. King’s Ridge lost their second consecutive region game with the loss.

West Forsyth 62 Lambert 46 West won their fourth straight region game Friday after losing to region-leading South on Jan. 18. West (18-5, 15-1) was led by senior Jenna Staiti who scored 40 points in the win.

West is seeking their first regular-season region title. West fell to nonregion opponent McEachern on Saturday.

Pinecrest Academy 57 Fellowship Christian 63 Fellowship Christian greatly helped their chances of earning a playoff berth with their win over Pinecrest. In the most recent Power Rankings, which determine the top-16 teams that will make the playoffs in Class A Private, FCS was on the outside looking in as they were ranked 22nd. Their win over Walker on Friday and Pinecrest on Saturday could push them into the top 16 if they can win out. Pinecrest, on the bubble at 16th, beat Whitefield Acad-

Weekend Scores Boys scores (Friday) • West Forsyth 46 Lambert 74 • South Forsyth 64 Chattahoochee 58 • Alpharetta 62 Johns Creek 65 • Milton 77 Lassiter 35 • North Springs 61 Cambridge 54 • Sprayberry 40 Forsyth Central 58 • Blessed Trinity 42 Decatur 44 • King’s Ridge 55 St. Francis 82 • Mount Pisgah 61 Providence Christian 35 • Pinecrest Academy 40 Whitefield Academy 59 • Fellowship Christian 41 Walker 50 Boys scores (Saturday) • North Forsyth 50 Walton 70 • Lassiter 62 Roswell 51 • Milton 49 Etowah 38 • Cambridge 65 Forsyth Central 70 • Mount Pisgah 46 North Cobb Christian 76 • Pinecrest Academy 51 Fellowship Christian 40 • King’s Ridge 45 Greenforest 74 Girls scores (Friday) • West Forsyth 62 Lambert 46 • South Forsyth 60 Chattahoochee 44 • Alpharetta 42 Johns Creek 33 • Northview 47 Habersham Central 39 • Milton 47 Lassiter 31 • North Springs 31 Cambridge 27 • Sprayberry 51 Forsyth Central 39 • Blessed Trinity 46 Decatur 49 • Mount Pisgah 34 Providence Christian 29 • Pinecrest Academy 62 Whitefield Academy 41 • Fellowship Christian 40 Walker 38 Girls scores (Saturday) • McEachern 58 West Forsyth 37 • Cambridge 32 Forsyth Central 48 • Milton 34 Etowah 41 • Mount Pisgah 36 North Cobb Christian 45 • Pinecrest Academy 57 Fellowship Christian 63 emy on Friday, possibly keeping them in the top 16 even with the loss to FCS.

SPORTS

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | February 3, 2016 | 33

St. Francis’ Kobi Simmons named McDonald’s All American Will play at All American Games in Chicago March 30

By JOE PARKER news@appenmediagroup.com ALPHARETTA, Ga. — St. Francis senior basketball player Kobi Simmons was selected to play in the 39th annual McDonald’s All American Games that will take place in Chicago’s United Center on March 30. Simmons was one of only two Georgia players selected for the 24-player roster from among 755 nominees nationally.

During a McDonald’s American Hometown Heroes presentation at St. Francis Jan. 29, Simmons, who has committed to the University of Arizona, said being named an All American is “a dream come true.”

“It means the world to me to be selected,” he said. “It’s just really a blessing and I’m honored to be named an All American.

“This is something a young man dreams to be a part of. You dream about it as a little kid and now it’s actually happening.”

Simmons, a 6-foot-5 point guard, is St. Francis’ all-time leading scorer with 2,186 points. Simmons also has 469 assists, over 200 steals and is sixth on St. Francis’ list of all-time leaders in rebounding.

Simmons said he was shocked when he saw his name on the list of All Americans.

“When I saw my name on ESPN I was shocked — I couldn’t move.

Everybody was just surrounding me and giving me hugs but I just couldn’t move. I stayed there and just stared at the screen in shock,” he said.

Regarding what he hopes to accomplish at the All American Games, Simmons said, “My goal is to play well, win at the highest level and overall just have fun. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so I want to have fun out there.”

Simmons thanked his family “for getting me to this point,” as well as his coaches and all who have supported him through his career.

St. Francis Head Coach Andrew Catlett said of Simmons, “I met Kobi when he was in middle school and I saw a lot of potential. As a coach you become connected with the players and the feelings are deep. To see a kid realize his dreams is extremely gratifying as a coach.”

Don’t Miss Out!

JOE PARKER

St. Francis’ Kobi Simmons is the alltime leading scorer at St. Francis and has committed to the University of Arizona.

Simmons will join the list of some of basketball’s all-time greats who have been selected for the games, including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Anthony Davis. Simmons became the 36th player from Georgia to be selected for the All American Games.

Georgia has produced the ninth-most All Americans in the 39-year span of the games.

Simmons, who has led St. Francis to 91 wins in the past four seasons and two state championships, said he believes the team will repeat as state champions in Class A this season. The Knights will play their last regular-season game this Friday.

After graduation, Simmons will begin his tenure with the Arizona Wildcats. Simmons, who said he is very excited to play for the prestigious program, said his relationships with the Arizona coaches led to his decision to commit to a school so far away.

“My relationship with Coach Miller and the assistant coaches are great. At first I didn’t know if [Arizona] was going to be the right fit, but after the trip to Arizona I woke up knowing that’s where I wanted to go. I can’t wait to get to Tucson,” said Simmons.

The 39th annual McDonald’s All American Games will be played in Chicago at 9 p.m. March 30 and will be televised live on ESPN.

Join Today.

Visit our website at alpharettachamber.com or call Kristen Franks at (404) 545-0212

34 | February 3, 2016 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

SCHOOLS

SFHS’S DECA prom fashion show defies stomach cancer FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Prom fashion and stomach cancer may not seem to go together. One is glamorous; the other far from it. South Forsyth High School’s DECA chapter and marketing students will present DECA Defies Gravity, a prom fashion show, on Thurs., Feb. 11 at 6:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. in the school’s Performing Arts Center.

Although the production showcases this spring’s top prom fashions in the context of space travel, students also wanted to defy the devastation cancer can bring upon families. South Forsyth senior and DECA member, Bryan Guevara, knows first-hand about the devastating consequences of stomach cancer as both his grandmother and father have battled the disease.

Guevara’s grandmother lost her battle in 2014.

“When I first heard of the news of my father’s diagnosis, my family and I were devastated,” Guevara said. “We didn’t realize that someone his age could get the disease.”

Community service has always been a large part of the SFHS DECA Prom Fashion Show, so this year is no exception. Students wanted to help Guevara bring awareness to stomach cancer and also raise funds for

Fact Sheet: 2016 SFHS DECA prom fashion show • The 2016 theme is DECA Defies Gravity.

• A highlight of the show will be the announcement of the top male and female models. A Queen and King of the Show, with the runners-up crowned Princess and Prince, will be selected by the audience.

• Daniela Matejkova, a senior DECA member, has experience with the show. “I’ve been involved in the show for the past three years. I have had a

research. The show will support Debbie’s Dream Foundation, a non-profit organization devoted to raising awareness about stomach cancer, advancing funding for research, and providing education and support to patients, families, and caregivers. Its ultimate goal is to make the cure for stomach cancer a reality.

Members of DECA, an association of marketing students, have been busy planning the production

major responsibility in the planning of the show and have also modeled. I’m looking forward to walking across the stage in a beautiful dress with some of my closest friends.”

• Junior marketing student, Sam Short, has had a major leadership role in the show. “Working on the DECA Prom Fashion Show this year has had its kinks, but throughout all the challenges, this experience has taught me more than I could’ve imagined.” since August 2015. More than 50 students will model in this year’s show. Entertainment provided by SFHS students will be showcased throughout the show. The prom fashions will be provided by A Formal Affair in Roswell and Tuxedo WearHouse in Cumming.

Tickets are $7 and can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling the school at 770-781- 2264 (ext. 100213).

VARSITY BRIEFS Send us your news!

Email to news@appenmediagroup.com More Info: 770-442-3278

Georgia College MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — The following students completed courses with exemplary marks and made the 2015 fall president’s list at Georgia College.

Students making the president’s list completed at least 12 hours of coursework with a 4.0 GPA. From Alpharetta: Erica West, Lucas Clari, Ashley Pinkerton, Alyssa Ahrens, Jennifer O’Neill, Leo Mager, Sarah Scott, Kendal Tomasin, Hannah Houston, Blake Nipper, Hannah House, Hannah Mead, Sydney Watts, Brett Grauss, Laura Campen, Corinne Hullfish, Chloe Clark, Michaela Schival, Nickolas Wiedemann, James McCormick, Jenna Allenson, Allie Dawson, Cayla Orris, Kelly Rankin, Olivia Ruark, Jack Waylock, Catherine Parker, Chason Wakefield, Krista Campbell, Caroline Dumas, Evan Thomas and Lauren Chiodo.

From Cumming: Blakely McDonald, Kaitlyn Ray, Ryan Matthews, Lindsay Waller, Meagan Wolfe, Isaac McAninch, Taylor Roeck, Katelynn Coleman, Courtney Miotti, Hillary Hunnings, Sofia Papa, Brian Skoglind, Valerie Acquaviva, Ashlyn Pyden, Ashley Jonassen, Nathaniel Vestal, Daniel Sexton, Gabrielle Apa, Matthew Panetta, Julieta Flores Alvarez, Susan Heikkila, Emilee French, Rae Cathcart, Emma Bohnet, Taylor Crow and Sasha Tadros.

From Duluth: Lauren Clement,

Jessica Sullivan, Katherine Cox and Benjamin Lyons.

From Johns Creek: Ashley Leblanc, Kyle Witt, Andrew Hooper, Taylor Dukes, Matthew Pelli, Sydney Powers, Cain Gantt, Jackson Bowers, Margaret Smith, Janae Innis, Kaylee McCullion, Kayla Gula, Melissa Waits, Andrew Hooper and Kylie Barber.

From Milton: Emily Eubanks, Nolan English, Morgan Carter, Kourtney Raby, Madison Gamma and Sarah Pollifrone.

From Roswell: Caitlin Murray, Marykate Malena, Natalie Pizzuto, Kristin Baron, Rachel Jenkins, Chloe Parker, Jacob Zawoysky, Collin Joiner, Connor Sova, Joseph Tomassi, Camille Tracy, Jordan Ball, Madeleine Robertson, Whitney Sweet, Veronica Ulicny, Bailey Moran, Kathryn Jacobs, Julia Lee, Leah-Kathryn Collier, Brandon Schultheis, Elizabeth Casstevens, Madison Lord, Jonathan Golden, Marley Fiveash and Elise O’Neal.

From Suwanee: Caroline Cline, David Madore, Caroline Williams, Jeanne Brock, Mikaela LaFave, Lindsay Hamilton, Abigail Stout, Margaret Duran, Sarah Patrick, David Gastley, Frank Chavez, Lindsay Porter, Jacob Lee, Katherine Cryan, Chelsea Ciminera, JMarissa Beindorf, Kathryn McGraw, Chance Jones, Jennie Pless, Parker Jameson, Samantha Baker, Loren Lownes, Lacey Najafi, Lauren Boone and Emily Fowler.

In addition, Dr. Steve Dorman, president of Georgia College, has awarded degrees to the graduating class of De-

cember 2015. Local students include: From Alpharetta: Nicholas Hanchey, Sarah Holding, Colin Hughes, Alexis Nesselroad, Cara Powell, Alexander Kesner, James Callahan, Rory Filberg and Colin Rosenberger.

From Cumming: Taylor Crow, Hunter Lively, Alexandra Pershing, Sasha Tadros, Alexandra Terrell and Zachary Webber.

From Duluth: Katherine Lynch.

From Johns Creek: Travis Skillingstad.

From Milton: Lauren Dort, Phillip Speer, Caitlin Pease and Katherine Stratton.

From Roswell: James Clark, Shelby Hatcher, Shelby Light, Caitlin McGinty, Olivia Moesser, Jordan Orlandini, David Teston, Robert Woodward and Emily Zilleox.

From Suwanee: Danielle Bonet, Ella Corry, Bennett Gualdoni and William Strickland.

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi BATON ROUGE, La. — The following local residents were recently inducted into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines: Kasey Shepp, Roswell, and Carter Garrison, Alpharetta, both of whom were initiated at Auburn University; Kaylee Jacks, Johns Creek, initiated at the University of Mississippi; Brandon Soloff, Roswell, initiated at Columbus State University; and Taylor Walton, Johns Creek, initiated at Clemson University.

University of Massachusetts NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. — UMass Dartmouth student Dipak Karthikesan, Alpharetta, has been named to the chancellor’s list in recognition of earning a spring 2015 semester grade-point average of 3.8 or higher of a possible 4.0.

University of Nebraska-Lincoln LINCOLN, Neb. — Tyheacha Kawana Kennerly, of Alpharetta, earned a master of science degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in ceremonies Dec. 18.

University of North Carolina Asheville ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Kathleen Dakota White, of Alpharetta and Sydney Karen Maisano, Roswell, have been named to UNC Asheville’s fall dean’s list. The dean’s list is made up of fulltime students who have achieved between 3.5 and 3.99 grade point average.

University of Southern Mississippi grad HATTIESBURG, Miss. —The University of Southern Mississippi held fall commencement exercises Dec. 11 on its Hattiesburg campus. Austin Hecht, Johns Creek, earned a Bachelor of Science degree.

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | February 3, 2016 | 35

36 | February 3, 2016 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

‘Goin’ to Chicago’ Roswell Roots screening ROSWELL, Ga. – As part of the monthlong Roswell Roots Festival, the city and the Roswell Historical Society will host a screening of “Going’ to Chicago,” an Atlanta documentary about the unprecedented migration of African Americans in the U.S. after World War II. They traveled en mass, leaving the cotton fields and Jim Crow laws of the South, in search of a better life in the cities of the North and the West. One woman boarded a Greyhound bus with no money, just a box of Ritz crackers.

About four million African Americans left the South after World War II in the largest internal migration in the United States.

Atlanta director and producer George King chronicles this historic exodus in “Goin’ to Chicago,” a 50-minute

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If you go What: “Goin’ to Chicago” Roswell Roots screening When: Feb. 9, 4 p.m.

Where: Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest St, Roswell Cost: free Info: www.roswellgov.com documentary film that will be screened on Tuesday, Feb. 9, as part of Roswell Roots: A Festival of Black History and Culture.

The event begins at 4 p.m. at Roswell Cultural Arts Center and is free to the public. After the screening, King will lead a question-and-answer session, and the Roswell Historical Society will host a reception.

Produced in the 1990s, the documentary weaves together archival film and photographs, narrated home videos, music, and interviews telling the personal stories of a group of older Chicagoans from the Mississippi Delta. It’s part oral history, part musical history.

Historic recordings include the “field hollers” that were the beginning of the blues as well as songs by blues greats Muddy Waters and Jimmy Rogers. Gospel and jazz round out the soundtrack along with rap improvised in Chicago’s Cabrini Green housing project. Many songs were recorded specifically for the film in dynamic community venues like Artis’s Bar, a south side Chicago blues club.

“I made this film because I recog-

The Atlanta documentary of “Goin’ to Chicago” will be screened Feb. 9 at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center. nized the significance of the African American great migrations and the impact they have had on contemporary history and culture,” King said. “I learned how to make films in hopes of changing the world a bit – to present people with information that would challenge their thinking, attitudes, and perspectives. The prejudices that continue to divide us are perhaps the most significant impediment to progress.”

Elaine DeNiro, archivist for Roswell Historical Society/City of Roswell

Research Library and Archives, said, “There are so many facets to the period of the great migration, and George King has the talent to put them all together in one film.

“It’s just amazing that we can have this caliber film as part of our roots celebration. It’s something that people are not going to want to miss.”

For more about the Roswell Roots Festival, a month-long event honoring the city’s African American roots, visit roswellroots.com.

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | February 3, 2016 | 37

Arrests

►► Kathryn Marie Whitehead, 26, of

Woodstock, was arrested Dec. 18 on Mansell Road in Alpharett

Continued from Page 2 wrong side of the roadway. ►► Michael James Mueller, 48, of Flying Scot Way, Alpharetta, was arrested Jan. 14 on North Point Parkway in Alpharetta for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► Madeline Emma Whitefield, 25, of Highland Colony Drive, Roswell, was arrested Dec. 13 on Davis Drive in Alpharetta for DUI and failure to yield when entering roadway. ►► Jennifer Lee Hutchins, 35, of Masters Way, Alpharetta, was arrested Jan. 16 on Windward Parkway in Alpharetta for DUI, failure to maintain lane, and headlights required.

Drug arrests ►► Michael Ray Ferrell, 42, of

Gainesville, was arrested Jan. 16 on A.C. Smith Road in Dawsonville for possession of marijuana, open container, and seat-belt violation. ►► Ashley Semoan Davis, 34, of Maysville, was arrested Jan. 16 on Old Taylor Road in Dawsonville for possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamines with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, possession of a scheduled II & IV controlled substance, and possession of drug-related items. ►► Michael Shane Wallis, 22, of

Dawsonville, was arrested Jan. 16 on McFarland Parkway in Alpharetta for possession of a scheduled II controlled substance, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and drugs not kept in the original container. ►► Martin S. McLemore, 27, of State Bridge Road, Johns Creek, was arrested Jan. 11 on Medlock Bridge Road in Johns Creek for possession of marijuana and suspended license. ►► Michael Bazile, 25, of Gran Crique Drive, Roswell, was arrested Jan. 14 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana. ►► Daniel Tilson Mitchell, 27, of Holcomb Court, Roswell, was arrested Jan. 14 on Kimball Bridge Road in Alpharetta for possession of marijuana, wanted person and passing a school bus.

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38 | February 3, 2016 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com

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30 yrs. exp./FREE ESTIMATES • 1 YR WARRANTY/Lic. & Ins. Flooring

Handyman

Flooring Installation & Repairs: Carpet, Ceramic, Laminate, Tile, Vinyl, Wood. Free Estimates!

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PHILLIPS FLOORING Hardwood, laminate, carpet & tile installation and repairs. We do tile floors, showers, tub surrounds and kitchen back-splashes.

Re-grouting is also available. Call 678887-1868 for free estimate.

RELIABLE HOME REPAIRS: 20 years experience.

References.

Electrical, plumbing, carpentry, wood rot repair, siding, painting, pressure washing.

Free estimates! 770-6050340

Gutters AARON’S ALL-TYPE GUTTERS Repaired and Installed. Covers, siding, soffit, facia. www.aarons-gutters. com. Senior citizen discount!

770-934-2766

Handyman L&D Home Services: Kitchen remodeling, home repair/ maintenance, HoneyDo list, painting, garage organization/ cleanout, pressure washing/sealing, Reliable.

Licensed.

15 years experience.

443-398-1100

Kitchen & Bath Remodeling

Plumbing,Electrical and Drywall Repair and Installation Complete home maintenance We do it all!

Call Mike 678-763-2420 Haulers Bush Hogging, Clearing, Grading, Hauling etc. Many local references. Call Ralph Rucker at 678-898-7237

Need work done on your home?

Call the Experts

in the

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Bush Hogging, Clearing, Grading, Hauling etc. Many local references. Call Ralph Rucker at 678898-7237 Finegan Home Improvements LLC: License #RBQA004932.

R e m o d e l i n g , handyman.

31 years experience.

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Landscaping Yellow Ribbon Tree.

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Lawn Care Bush Hogging, Clearing, Grading, Hauling etc. Many local references. Call Ralph Rucker at 678-898-7237

Painters

Advantage Painting 770-255-8575 Interior/Exterior Decks Sealed & Stained Carpentry Repairs No Up Front Money Proudly use Benjamin Moore & Sherwin Williams paints Prompt Professional Service Free Estimate, Insured

Pinestraw PINESTRAW, mulch delivery/installation available. Firewood $110/$200, plus delivery.

Licensed, insured. Angels of Earth Pinestraw and Mulch. 770-831-3612.

Tree Services JJ Tree Cutting Services. Complete Tree Removal. Call us for a Free Quote, 678467-1325 or 770-6306672. Licensed and insured. jjtreecutting@ gmail.com Yellow Ribbon Tree.

Near perfect reviews and award-winning service. Hands on owner. Free estimates and insured. 770Tree. com 770-744-2200 and ask for Gary.

404Cuttree. One of the most experienced and reliable tree companies in North Atlanta.

Perfect reviews and reliable, professional, and honest service. Free quotes. Fully insured.

770Tree.com 678506-0006 Thank you for reading the classifieds.

ForsythHerald.com | Forsyth Herald | February 3, 2016 | 39

CADNET ADS

Reader Advisory: The National Trade Association we belong to has purchased the following classifieds. Determining the value of their service or product is advised by this publication. In order to avoid misunderstandings, some advertisers do not offer employment but rather supply the readers with manuals, directories and other materials designed to help their clients establish mail order selling and other businesses at home. Under NO circumstance should you send any money in advance or give the client your checking, license identification or credit card numbers. Also beware of ads that claim to guarantee loans regardless of credit and note that if a credit repair company does business only over the phone it’s illegal to request any money before delivering its service.

All funds are based in U.S. dollars. 800 numbers may or may not reach Canada.

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New Driveways | Patios | Pavers | Stone and More Landscaping Retaining Walls Ponds Hardscapes Lighting Irrigation

Wants to purchase minerals and other oil and gas interests. Send details to P.O. Box 13557 Denver, Co. 80201

Thanks for Reading The Classifieds!

250 OFF

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LANDSCAPING

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40 | February 3, 2016 | Forsyth Herald | ForsythHerald.com