Forsyth Herald, April 8, 2015 by Appen Media Group

Health & Wellness Sponsored section ►►PAGE 19

Population boom

Forsyth 2nd fastestgrowing county ►►PAGE 4

Habitat ReStore opens April 11 Hot spot for do-it-yourselfers ►►PAGE 10

Now you’re cookin’

Barbara Gordon constructed cookbooks for food pantry ►►PAGE 13

April 8, 2015 | forsythherald.com | 75,000 circulation Revue & News, Johns Creek Herald, Milton Herald & Forsyth Herald combined | 50¢ | Volume 11, No. 15

Ghost Out at NFHS hits close to home By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com

KATHLEEN STURGEON/STAFF

Forsyth County’s Ghost Out event switches schools each year. This year’s was at North Forsyth High School

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Sirens wailed, students cried and the Forsyth County coroner took away two “bodies.” These were just a few of the sights North Forsyth High School (NFHS) sophomores, juniors and seniors witnessed April 1 at the Forsyth County Schools’ (FCS) annual Ghost Out event. “FCS has held Ghost Out for many years, and it is rotated among the high schools,” said Hannah Orr, with FCS communications. “It is an annual event for high school students in which a car accident is recreated and simulated. Everything happens in real time, and students from the school portray the students in the accident.” The Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, EMS, Forsyth County Fire Department and other law enforcement were involved, and the event concluded with a funeral enactment.

Casey Waters and Ginger Adams with Forsyth County 911 narrated the event to give students a real-life feel of what was happening. “Ghost Out was created to help you recognize the need for sound independent decisions surrounding the use of motor vehicles at this time of year,” Waters said. “Most of you have taken a driver’s education course. Most of you have seen movies about what happens after an automobile crashes. Yet many of you aren’t aware or may not be concerned about the serious results of a car crash.” The program is a little different from other safety programs, Waters said; it happens in real time exactly as it would, and does, in a real situation. Michaela Bird, a senior, played the part of a casualty who was thrown from the car upon impact. “It took a lot of mental preparation but it still was

See NFHS, Page 29

Commissioners approve new residential zoning district By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners approved 3-2 (with Commissioners Brian Tam and Todd Levent against) April 2 to add CR2 (Community Residential District) to its residential zoning districts. This would modify the Unified Development Code (UDC). The new district’s “intent is to provide for subdivisions and neighborhoods consisting of detached single-

It was noted this flexibility for performance standards fostered what some consider the more recognized neighborhoods in the county.” JERRY OBERHOLTZER, Planning division family dwellings surrounded by yards that provide a desirable and healthy en-

vironment. The CR2 district is intended for larger-scale subdivisions built to

higher-than-minimum standards allowing for variability in lot sizes to encourage variation in design to enhance neighborhood character.” Jerry Oberholtzer, with the planning division, said they have been looking into the old CR1 residential district since February 2014. “It was noted this flexibility for performance standards fostered what some consider the more recognized neighborhoods in the county,” Oberholtzer said.

See ZONING, Page 4

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2 | April 8, 2015 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

Former Ole Miss student charged in noose case

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ALPHARETTA, Ga. – A former football and lacrosse player for Cambridge High School is facing civil rights charges from the Department of Justice after allegedly hanging a noose and Confederate flag around a statue of a black man Feb. 16, 2014. Graeme Phillip Harris, who played as quarterback and safety in Cambridge’s first football team as No. 7 and as a midfielder in the school’s lacrosse team, was attending the University of Mississippi (“Ole Miss”) until last year. He was at the school for the 201213 school year, his senior year and the first year the school was open. Harris was indicted March 27, 2015 by a federal grand jury on one count of conspiracy to violate civil rights and one count of using a threat of force to intimidate African American students because of their race or color. Prosecutors say Harris, a freshman

at the time, conspired with two others to hang a rope and an outdated version of the Georgia state flag, which prominently depicts the Confederate battle flag, around the neck of the James Meredith statue on the HARRIS campus of the University of Mississippi, with the intent to threaten and intimidate African American students and employees at the university. The statue honors Meredith’s role as the university’s first African American student after its contentious 1962 integration. “This shameful and ignorant act is an insult to all Americans and a violation of our most strongly held values,” said U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. “No one should ever be made to feel threatened or intimidated because of what they look like or who they are. By taking appropriate action to hold

wrongdoers accountable, the Department of Justice is sending a clear message that flagrant infringements of our historic civil rights will not go unnoticed or unpunished.” Ole Miss Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Brandi Hephner LaBanc expressed regret at the incident, both for the community and Harris. “I can’t help but feel the pain of the student and the parents who will now feel the full weight of our justice system, but also feel the pain of our campus community and the entire Ole Miss family, which suffered greatly from the terrible act committed a year ago,” said LaBanc. “We’re hopeful that this indictment will begin to bring closure and the next step in healing for our university.” Harris is no longer at the university. He was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, which has since been shut down at Ole Miss. The national fraternity cited poor academics and serious acts of hazing in its decision.

DUIS & DRUGS

►► Gary Ray Price, 38, of Carnes Drive,

and failure to maintain lane. ►► Grace Genelle Altwies, 39, of Brookwood Way, Cumming, was arrested March 21 on McGinnis Ferry Road in Cumming for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► Michael Brandon Lovins, 33, of Nancy Lane, Cumming, was arrested March 22 on Ga. 400 in Cumming for DUI and expired registration. ►► David Lawrence Chisholm, 45, of Knoxville, Tennessee, was arrested March 25 on Peachtree Parkway in Cumming for DUI, failure to maintain lane and expired license. ►► Amanda Lee Almond, 35, of Watson Road, Cumming, was arrested March 24 on Matt Highway in Cumming for DUI, failure to maintain lane, possession of methamphetamines, possession of drugrelated items, drugs not kept in original container and possession of schedule II, III and IV controlled substances. ►► Lucile Bedford Fink, 74, of Fairway Drive, Cumming, was arrested March 23 on Buford Highway in Cumming for DUI, failure to maintain lane and open container. ►► Scott Hunter Akridge, 47, of Suwanee was arrested March 14 on Ga. 400 in Alpharetta for DUI and failure to maintain lane.

All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

Cumming, was arrested March 23 on Settingdown Circle in Cumming for possession of methamphetamines and attempting to misrepresent tag.

DUI arrests

Drug arrests

►► Kimberly Ann Julien-Esnard, 26,

►► Sidney Aaron Weinberg, 74, of

of Blue Water Court, Cumming, was arrested March 20 on Bald Ridge Marina Road in Cumming for possession of marijuana, failure to maintain lane and suspended license. ►► Alisa Ann Jenkins, 43, of Cates Avenue, Cumming, was arrested March 25 on Buford Highway in Cumming for possession of methamphetamines and possession of a schedule IV controlled substance. ►► Cory Samuel Stanley, 21, of Trammel Drive, Cumming, was arrested March 25 on Mullinax Road in Alpharetta for possession of methamphetamines with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, possession of drug-related items and laying drag. ►► Samuel Carl Stevens, 40, of Alysbury Way, Cumming, was arrested March 25 on Matt Highway in Cumming for possession of marijuana.

Gainesville was arrested March 18 on Freedom Parkway in Cumming for DUI. ►► Oleg Malyshev, 26, of Harmony Court, Milton, was arrested March 19 on Browns Bridge Road in Cumming for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► Jason Howard Pruett, 41, of Lexington Lane, Cumming, was arrested March 16 on Settingdown Road in Cumming for DUI, open container and failure to maintain lane. ►► Luckson Jean-Pierre, 43, of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, was arrested March 16 on Ga. 400 in Cumming for DUI and failure to maintain lane. ►► Andrew Allen Burns, 39, of Pilgrim Lake Drive, Cumming, was arrested March 19 on Timberline Overlook in Cumming for DUI. ►► Michael Dewitt Johnson, 31, of Fort Mitchell, Alabama, was arrested March 20 on Ga. 400 in Cumming for DUI

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911 Call center awarded for actions during courthouse shooting CUMMING, Ga. — Personnel on Forsyth County 911 Center’s ‘A’ shift have been named the 911 Center Team of the Year in the state of Georgia. The ‘A’ Shift team received this honor for their dedication and professionalism demonstrated during the courthouse shooting event of June 6, 2014. The award was presented recently at the seventh annual Georgia Emergency Communications Conference held in Athens, Ga. “Alert and swift communication may have saved the lives of many of those in the courthouse, as law enforcement officers in the area were on scene within seconds and were able to assist courthouse deputies with preventing the suspect from entering the courthouse,” said Forsyth County 911 Center Director Pat Giordano. “I commend the on-duty shift for their professionalism and dedication that they demonstrated during this event,” said Giordano. “Their decisive actions and absolute competency, in the midst of an extremely tense situation, show that they are highly trained, skillful and adept in their roles

Forsyth Herald | April 8, 2015 | 3

POLICE BLOTTER All crime reports published by Appen Media Group are compiled from public records. Neither the law enforcement agencies nor Appen Media Group implies any guilt by publishing these names. None of the persons listed has been convicted of the alleged crimes.

Racist word causes argument

Forsyth County’s 911 ‘A’ shift have been named the 911 Center of the Year in Georgia for their professionalism during the Forsyth courthouse shooting of June 6, 2014. as communications officers.” County Manager Doug Derrer said, “Forsyth County government employees work diligently every day to provide vital services in an effective manner. The actions of our 911 Center personnel during this incident certainly reflect their commitment to providing outstanding service. We are proud of them and extend our sincerest congratulations on this recognition.” “The 911 Center functioned

seamlessly with law enforcement personnel in responding to this dramatic incident, showing that the coordinated training, planning and situational preparedness for an active shooter episode had paid off,” Giordano said. “The exemplary performance embodies the values set forth in the 911 Center’s mission statement and I thank all of our 911 Center employees for their dedication to our chosen profession.” —Joe Parker

CUMMING, Ga. — On March 18, a Cumming Police officer responded to terroristic threats at Dollar General, 121 North Corners Parkway, between a cashier and two customers. The cashier reportedly told police he was checking customers out when an older dark white haired female next in line yelled the n-word. The cashier told police everyone in the store stopped and looked at her, but she and a grey haired white male put their items on the check-out conveyor belt. The cashier told police he checked them out and told the male he would let that slide because he was at work, referring to the word the female had said. The male then reportedly proceeded to make comments about being in a “white” county and that people like the cashier get “hung around here,” according to the cashier. The cashier and the male continued to exchange

words and the couple left the store. The manager was able to pull a video of the couple and provide names she believed were the customers, but the officer was unable to confirm the names. The officer said if the couple arrived back at the store the manager is going to call the police department and request the couple be criminally trespassed from the store.

Man eggs car of ex-girlfriend’s mom CUMMING, Ga. — A Cumming Police officer was dispatched to Pollo Tropical, 1510 Market Place Boulevard, March 20 in reference to a criminal trespass. The manager called the police after leaving work and discovering her car got egged. When asked who she thought could have done it, she told police she and her daughter were having problems with her daughter’s ex-boyfriend. While talking to police, she received a call from her daughter who said her exboyfriend was at Walmart about an hour prior. The daughter said when she was leaving Walmart and walking to her friend’s car, she report-

See BLOTTER, Page 28

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NEWS

4 | April 8, 2015 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

Forsyth named second fastest-growing county By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — It’s something that gets brought up at almost all governmental meetings and is commonly talked about among residents — Forsyth’s population growth. Findings of a recent study from the U.S. MCCOY Census Bureau show Forsyth’s population grew from 195,312 in 2013 to 204,302 in 2014, an increase of 8,990 people or 4.6 percent. While that may not sound like a lot of people, to compare it with Georgia’s overall increase, the state’s population rose 102,584, which is only 1.02 percent. From April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014, Forsyth’s population rose 16.4 percent, while Georgia’s rose 4.2 percent. James McCoy, president and chief executive officer of the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce, said the other top counties are much smaller, decreasing their percentages a great deal. “Every single day, people are making

Zoning: Continued from Page 1 “Planning staff took direction from the board to research CR1. We looked at CR1’s performance standards through time and the subdivisions that were built while it was in existence. We then took a look at our residential districts as they were last year to see CR1’s functionality. From this,

At the micro and national levels, there’s no such thing as a static economy. It doesn’t exist. They either grow or shrink. They may be in transit, but never plateau.” JAMES MCCOY President and chief executive officer of the Cumming-Forsyth Chamber of Commerce

the most important decisions and the simplest of our lives – it’s economics,” McCoy said. “Forsyth County has in all of metro Atlanta the lowest tax rate, the highest quality school system and you get a lot of

staff developed a draft for a new residential district, singlefamily community residential or CR2.” Aberdeen, Laurel Springs, Olde Atlanta Club and Three Chimney’s Farm are examples of CR1. Anita Wilson spoke against the proposed modification to the UDC. “Given the way the county is feeling about all this high density, what’s going to happen is you can have volume

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house for your money. People are making choices to move here because those are the things they value.” Residents get more than they can in other areas of metro Atlanta and of the country, McCoy said, and not spend as much on those things in terms of taxes. There’s often backlash to the commissioners and chamber because of the rate of growth, but McCoy said it’s pure economics. “At the micro and national levels, there’s no such thing as a static economy,” McCoy said. “It doesn’t exist. They either grow or shrink. They may be in transit, but never plateau.” McCoy said he encourages people against growth to look into other communities that aren’t growing and see if they’d want Forsyth County to emulate that. “We do as a community have to be very thoughtful about planning for that growth and making sure that we have the end in mind,” McCoy said. “We are thinking about how do we grow in a sustainable way so we don’t hit some point and then experience a down turn. It’s unfair to say stop growth, but fair to say let’s be smart about a sustainable growth future.”

and the builder taking advantage of some corner pockets where you can’t use that to up their overall high-acreage,” Wilson said. “Using this method, if they decide to pocket those 10,000-square-foot homes in a particular area that’s close to another, you may have some neighbors and Forsyth County citizens who will be disparaged at those citizens who get the acreages. It’s going to cause a lot of problems and discontent. “I don’t see this as in the middle of RES2 and RES3, it’s more like in the middle of RES3 and RES4,” she said. “It does give advantages and flexibility to the builder in terms of the lay of the land and using pockets when they couldn’t use them before.” The commissioners addressed her concerns by saying they’ve never had 40 units per acre for 10,000-square-foot lots. “That’s a fallacy somebody has propagated out there,” Chairman R.J. “Pete” Amos said. “You can’t get 40 units

per acre for 10,000-square-foot lots.” Commissioner Cindy Jones Mills said she’s heard a lot of people say the board is trying to create a category for 10,000-square-foot lots. “They’ll need to give us the size of each one of their lots and we’ll do a calculation that in the end, no lot is smaller than 10,000 square feet and all the lots that average are at least 16,000 square feet averaged,” said Oberholtzer. “There’s been a note added saying to cap the lot size at an acre. “So you couldn’t end up with a scenario where one lot is a couple acres and are able to build the rest at 10,000,” he said. “So that acre at the maximum is going to split up how many 10,000 square foot lots you’ll have and how many larger-than-average lot sizes you’ll have.” The commissioners added a clause for a density max of two units per acre, and reduced the cap from one acre to threequarters of an acre.

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forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald | April 8, 2015 | 5

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SFHS band boosters to hold yard sale, car show CUMMING, Ga. — South Forsyth High School Band Boosters will be holding a mega yard sale on Saturday, April 18 at 585 Peachtree Parkway. Donations will be accepted at the school Monday, April 13 through Friday, April 17 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Arrangements can be made to pick up larger items by calling Mike Deal at 770 - 475-2201. In addition to the mega yard sale, the band boosters will be hosting a Vintage Car Show from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Trophies will be presented for several categories. –Kathleen Sturgeon

If you go What: SFHS Band Booster to host yard sale and car show Where: 585 Peachtree Parkway, Cumming Ga. When: April 17 More Info: Contact Mike Deal at 770 - 475-2201.

Reagan Lamb addressed the Forsyth BOC to raise awareness for children’s mental health disorders.

SCES student addresses Board of Commissioners CUMMING, Ga. — Reagan Lamb, a student at Silver City Elementary School, addressed the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners to raise aware-

ness on children’s mental health disorders. Lamb was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder at the age of nine. -Joe Parker

Atlanta Braves Baseball Camp to be held at Pinecrest Academy CUMMING, Ga. — Pinecrest Academy is one of just five Atlanta area schools selected to host the Atlanta Braves Baseball Camp. This camp offers boys and girls ages 5 to 13, of all abilities, the ultimate Major League Experience with a one-week session on the Pinecrest campus. Join fellow teammates for top-notch baseball instruction, combined with unforgettable moments, such as meeting a current or alumni Braves player and touring Turner Field in an official Braves uniform. Each Braves Camps family will get two complimentary tickets to an Atlanta Braves game during the summer (five different Sunday game options) with the ability to purchase additional tickets at a discount. The professional Braves coaching staff is committed to the individual development of each ballplayer. The curriculum is highly organized,

If you go What: Atlanta Braves Baseball Camp for 5 to13 year old boys and girls When: July 20- 24 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Where: Pinecrest Academy Baseball Field Cost: $429 More Info: info@ bravescamps.com or Phone: (404) 682-0709 or http://atlanta.braves. mlb.com/atl/fan_forum/ baseball_academy.jsp tailored to the age and ability of ballplayers, and infused with positive energy. The camp day runs 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and extended care is also available. This year’s instructor is Headfirst Camp Instructors. Visit braves.com/camps for more information and to register. —Kathleen Sturgeon

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SCHOOLS

forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald | April 8, 2015 | 7

School Climate Star Ratings rank Forsyth County at top All schools receive at least 3-star rating By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — The Georgia Department of Education released its first School Climate Star Ratings March 16, and Forsyth County Schools received gold stars for their educational climate. Based on survey results and data from the 2013-2014 school year, the 1- to 5-star rankings are given to schools based on their excellence according to the school climate index. Two schools, North Forsyth High School and Forsyth Central HS, received 3-star rankings. West Forsyth HS, Mashburn Elementary, South Forsyth HS, Chattahoochee ES, Vickery Creek Middle, Otwell MS, Little Mill MS, Lambert HS, Haw Creek ES and North Forsyth MS all received 4-star rankings. The rest of the schools, including iAchieve Academy, received 5-star rankings. “The climate star rating will be incorporated into the College and Career Ready Performance Index (CCRPI) data from that year that was

reported last fall,” said Forsyth Superintendent Dr. Jeff Bearden. “Forsyth County’s 35 schools all received a 3 or better on the rating. Twenty-three schools received 5s; 10 schools received 4s; and two schools received a 3.” School climate refers to the quality and character of school life – the “culture” of a school. A sustainable, positive school climate fosters youth development and student learning, which are essential elements for academic success, careerskill improvement and overall quality of life. The School Climate Star Rating helps determine whether a school is on the right path to school improvement, the report said. “Research has shown us that school climate has a strong impact on student achievement,” said State School Superintendent Richard Woods. “The data used to develop the 2014 star ratings proves this once again. If your school has a positive climate, it’s giving students the environment they need to learn. You’ll likely see high achievement there – or a school that’s on the right track toward high

achievement.” Bearden said the current 2014-2015 school climate survey is open until April 30 and was communicated to parents from November to the current month of this school year. “School climate and culture are very important to our schools, and though we do not receive the specific feedback from the state surveys, we do take this rating into consideration,” Bearden said. “We also use other processes to evaluate our climate and culture, such as the Georgia Assessment of Performance on School Standards (GAPSS), which provides us data collected from stakeholder surveys and interviews, and classroom observations. Another method that we use is our AdvancED district accreditation, which occurs every five years. “The data from these various methods, including the CCRPI climate star rating, is incorporated into each of our schools’ continuous improvement process and annual school improvement plans,” Bearden said. “We know that school climate has a strong impact on student achievement, which is why we use a variety of data processes to keep it a priority in our annual school improvement initiatives.”

Climate Star Rating by school School CCRPI Score School Climate Star Rating Settles Bridge Elementary School 95.7 5 Matt Elementary School 86.5 5 Cumming Elementary School 85.9 5 Sharon Elementary School 96.4 5 Riverwatch Middle School 94.7 5 Shiloh Point Elementary 92.6 5 West Forsyth High School 82.8 4 Johns Creek Elementary 98.1 5 Mashburn Elementary School 87.2 4 Coal Mountain Elementary School 87.6 5 South Forsyth High School 90.5 4 Chattahoochee Elementary School 87.9 4 North Forsyth High School 79.2 3 Daves Creek Elementary School 95.1 5 Vickery Creek Elementary School 90.5 5 Vickery Creek Middle School 95.1 4 Otwell Middle School 87.4 4 Sawnee Elementary School 84.4 5 Chestatee Elementary 81.2 5 Little Mill Middle School 85.1 4 Brookwood Elementary 97 5 George W. Whitlow Elementary 89.7 5 Lambert High School 90.2 4 Haw Creek Elementary 94.6 4 Lakeside Middle School 94.7 5 i-Achieve Academy 71.8 5 Liberty Middle School 92 5 Silver City Elementary School 82.9 5 Kelly Mill Elementary 90.4 5 Piney Grove Middle School 94.9 5 North Forsyth Middle School 92.6 4 South Forsyth Middle School 95.5 5 Big Creek Elementary School 96.2 5 Midway Elementary School 78.7 5 Forsyth Central High School 80 3

OPINION

8 | April 8, 2015 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

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Print advertising is key to local marketing Not a fool for Years ago, I talked with the marketing manager of Costco and he told me, “We don’t advertise” – especially in print. At the time, I remember thinking how off he was, and I wondered how long it would take him to realize that mistake. Today, I received a 20-page glossy sales magazine in the mail from Costco. We get those in the mail fairly often. Even if they print millions of these for nationwide distribution, I’ll bet it still costs between $1 and $2 each to print. Add mailing costs to distribute to their target audience – Alpharetta Costco members and potential members – and they still paid tens of thousands of dollars for these sales magazines in this area alone. Did I mention that all the products that were being marketed were available only online at Costco.com? Only online. Why didn’t Costco just email all their customers and tell them to go to the website for all these deals? Why didn’t they just post on their Facebook about these special deals? Of course, they could have tweeted the messages to all their Twitter followers too, and they could have relied only on Google AdWords. But they spent thousands of dollars on print and the mail when all their social media is “free” or at least “cheap.” Why would they do that? The answer is Marketing 101. Many people, including business owners and advertising agencies, could benefit from taking the class, because there has been a lot of spin and misleading information out there for quite a while. If Costco could spend their advertising budget only on social media and other digital options in lieu of buying traditional media – newspapers, magazines, direct mail, billboards, post cards – they absolutely would. The reason that they don’t is because it doesn’t work well enough. Online and digital media is rarely local enough. It’s not enough alone to merchandise and is light years away from being enough alone to “brand” products or companies locally. “Brand” is a small detail that one almost never hears mentioned by the online/digital marketing folks when they are trying to sell you advertising. The reason is because it is close to impossible to create and maintain a brand using

RAY APPEN

Publisher ray@appen mediagroup.com

Yes, social media and digital advertising should be a part of any marketing mix but if they try to tell you that is all you need, hand the cup back to them and say good day. They are not acting in your best interest; they are acting in theirs. digital marketing – at least locally. Without beating it to death, the Internet has an unlimited amount of information on it. The more it grows, the more difficult it becomes to be noticed in an effective way advertising online. Facebook can sell your personal information all day long and only serve your ads to a very targeted viewer. But the last thing that Facebook viewer wants to spend time doing is looking at ads on Facebook. Not only that, the viewer also has less and less time to spend anyway on any particular website. Today, we are a society on information overload. For all the access it brings us, the Internet is also drastically reducing the amount of time we spend on any specific digital address or product. So, do not drink the KoolAid. Yes, social media and digital advertising should be a part of any marketing mix but if they try to tell you that is all you need, hand the cup back to them and say good day. They are not acting in your

best interest; they are acting in theirs. Each year, Appen Media Group pays for an independent readership study, so we know how we are doing with our news and how well it is being read. For the past decade, the percent of people who are reading the papers; the percent that are making purchases from the advertising in the papers; and the percent of people who rely on us for reliable, accurate information has remained remarkably strong and constant. In some cases, it has actually increased. One reason for this is because our newspapers are not time destroyers like the Internet. We home deliver over 70,000 newspapers full of unique and personal local news, so access is really easy and the amount of news is finite. Most people know that they will spend maybe 10 or 15 minutes with it and then put it down. Our papers are not going to use up hours and hours of our readers’ time every week. That is why people still read us so loyally and why the Internet has had limited impact on our readership. There are only three newspapers that service our market instead of the unlimited number of websites on the Internet. The probability that your advertisement is going to be noticed and acted upon in the local newspapers is strong. Every week, approximately 112,000 people actually take the time to read our newspapers. Over 60 percent of them have household incomes over $100,000; more than a third make over $150,000. They remember our advertisers and the brands, because they see their advertising consistently. Brand-awareness is built when “lookers” become “buyers.” Those who have built and maintained their “brand’ in print are the ones who get the call or get the click and make the sale. No one does local like your local newspapers do. Online doesn’t even come close. Print is still the best way to connect your business to your local audience. It is also the only real way to build brand locally. The really successful local businesses and services have strong print components in their advertising and marking mix. If you’re not sure, look around. Or, just ask Costco!

WHAT’S APPENING? With Keith Still

April Fools’ Day Every year when my birthday comes around in early April, I get really excited because birthdays have always been so exciting and fun. Birthday anticipation tends to make me forget about one “holiday,” if you can even call it that, two days prior. It is one day a year to be feared, or at the very least, leery. It’s open season for pranksters – April Fools’ Day. It’s always thrilling to turn the calendar to my birthday month and see my birthday is a mere three days away, something I look forward to all year. However, it never fails that I will ultimately be pranked on something dealing with my birthday. I’ve had friends call me saying they can’t come to my party only to show up on my birthday saying “April Fools!” Well here’s something they, and others like them, may not realize. It’s not funny. Not only is my birthday not on April 1, it’s almost

KATHLEEN STURGEON Forsyth Herald Reporter kathleen@appen mediagroup.com

cruel to drag out the joke two days later. Maybe I put too much meaning into the importance of the annual birthday celebration – perhaps more so than some of my friends do. As someone who loves a silly joke and who appreciates people with great senses of humor, I don’t dislike the actual day of April 1. I love seeing companies that have a funny bone and like to poke gentle fun at their customers. A shoe company, Tieks, sent out emails and put ads up this year saying they would be giving a free bunny with every purchase.

See FOOL, Page 9

Looking back: An Appen internship For those who don’t remember, my name is Adam Barth. I’m a senior at Roswell High School and an intern at Appen Media Group (the guys who publish this paper). It has been about a month since my last update on interning, and now, nearing the end of my internship at Appen Media, I’d like to give a few final thoughts on my experience. Working at Appen has been a truly fantastic endeavor – I was privileged to have an advisor who allowed me to edit and publish quite often and who gave me sound advice on how to more effectively compile stories, write through an unbiased lens, apply AP style and generally improve my writing. I’ve met some very interesting people in connection to my work, and I’ve learned and practiced eloquence in both speaking and writing. My verbal interviewing skills

ADAM BARTH

Appen Intern news@appenmedia group.com

have improved tremendously, along with my confidence in speaking. Perhaps most significantly, my responsibilities here were important, and the work that I did directly benefitted the organization. It is easy in today’s world to face a sort of ennui and become discouraged, especially as a high-schooler lacking higher education. The knowledge that my work carried some significance encouraged me to take care in my tasks; I was encouraged to refine and polish my writing because it

See BARTH, Page 28

Check out Appen Media Group’s new blog focusing on the news, education and lifestyle issues that are important to everyone who lives and works in the northern suburbs of Atlanta. In other words, everything that’s ‘appening in your community. Visit northfulton.com/whatsappening to see more.

OPINION

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forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald | April 8, 2015 | 9

APS cheating scandal has no winners, only victims With the trial of the Atlanta Public Schools over, we are still left with the big question – why did this happen? How does one of the biggest school systems in the state stray so far from true north to alter test scores on such an enormous scale? It points to a number of problems in the education system today. First, we rely entirely too much on test scores to judge performance. Testing is necessary, of course. We have to measure results. But standardized tests are only one way to measure. But we are losing the point of education. We are a nation that seems only teach to the tests. Realtors are selling homes in neighborhoods based on the average SAT scores those neighborhoods produce. Parents are desperate for their children to perform well on standardized tests, and teachers are under enormous pressure to produce those scores as well. At the APS, that pressure – and the rewards given for performance – sent an entire school system over the cliff. In the end, it was almost laughable that the APS administration thought they could get away with it. As it turns out, state edu-

My first reaction was that these people did wrong, but they are not gangsters. How much of a threat to the community are they now?

HATCHER HURD

Executive Editor hatcher@ appenmediagroup.com

cators actually look at the tests and look for such institutional erasures on these standardized tests. Scanning tests that show abnormal amounts of erasures, especially from wrong answer to right answer, are then measured against the answers from all students as a whole. For example, one class of fourth-graders at one school would have erasures measured against all other fourth graders statewide. State Board of Education results showed APS tests were “off the chart” in terms of suspected tampering. So it was known fairly early that cheating was widespread in the APS. When confronted

with the evidence provided to APS School Superintendent Beverly Hall, she was charged to investigate what was happening on her watch. Instead, what happened was a total whitewash of the affair by what was supposed to be a blue ribbon committee. Give full credit to Gov. Sonny Perdue for initiating a more prudent investigation. Headed by, among others, former state Attorney General Michael Bowers, it quickly became apparent that the cheating was institutional, leading to the very top of administration.

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Continued from Page 8 The next day, they said “April Fools!” They also said giving a bunny away in the mail would be cruel, and to counteract it, they donated to the ASPCA. That’s a joke I can get behind. It’s become a joke in the newsroom that I hate holidays. But this simply isn’t true. And can April Fools’ Day even be considered a holiday? I honestly don’t even know how to categorize it. But birthdays are in their own realm. Birthdays are personal, sometimes sacred, exciting and highly anticipated. April birthdays aren’t the only ones in the shadow of holidays. Think of December babies sharing their day with Christmas and sometimes getting “one big gift.” I just think people with early April birthdays need more respect and shouldn’t be expected to think that April Fools’ jokes are naturally a great and welcome part of our annual, personal celebration of life. So please, finish your jokes on April 1. And I’m not joking.

Now, there has been some shock at the severity with which these former educators have been handled. They were led away in handcuffs (save one who is pregnant) and speculation is having been convicted of the worst offense, racketeering, will receive stiff prison sentences. My first reaction was that these people did wrong, but they are not gangsters. How much of a threat to the community are they now? But on further reflection – and hearing what parents of APS students were saying – my

heart has been hardened. Educators have the most sacred trust we can give – the education of our children. The APS administrators, principals and teachers who were involved betrayed that trust. Worse, they betrayed those children. To hear parents tell their stories is heartbreaking. “My child can’t read. I knew that. But I was told she could not receive remedial help offered by the [APS] because her test scores were too high,” said one parent. It was a story that was repeated over and over. Bowers put it bluntly. “They robbed a generation of children of their education,” Bowers said on a PBA 30 interview. “They are the real victims. This was a terrible wrong done to some of the most vulnerable children in the state.” And so it is. Whatever justice is meted out, it won’t repay those children for what was done to them.

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COMMUNITY

10 | April 8, 2015 | Forsyth Herald

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Habitat for Humanity launches North Fulton ReStore Roswell location a boon for the do-it-yourselfer By HATCHER HURD hatcher@appenmediagroup.com

Habitat ReStore Opens: April 11 Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. 11060 Alpharetta Hwy. Roswell Donation Hotline: 770415-1650

ROSWELL, Ga. – Want to drive a little and save a lot, as the car ads say? For the do-itDonors get a tax deduction, yourself folks, there’s no better customers a good bargain place for that than the Habitat and the Habitat clients a new ReStore, and one is opening home. here in Roswell. Habitat ReStores are owned The 27,000-square-foot and operated by local Habitat facility with bargains from floor for Humanity affiliates, and to ceiling is just waiting for the proceeds are used to build right person looking to fix up homes locally. And that builds their home, second home or communities and hope. man cave. Each local Habitat comHabitat for Humanity munity also tithes to help build ReStores are nonprofit home homes in dozens of countries. improvement stores and donaSo the dollars they bring in are tion centers that sell new and stretched worldwide. gently used furniture, home “The ReStore allows us to accessories, building materials be Habitat’s face to the comand appliances to the public at munity,” he said. a fraction of the retail price. Store Manager Ann Con“Every time customers buy gdon said after all the hard shelving for the garage or a rework getting the store ready, frigerator for the kitchen, they she is anxious to open the not only save a lot of money, doors. they are contributing locally “We’ve been processing and worldwide to Habitat for donations, cleaning, sorting Humanity’s goal. And that is to and pricing. I’m anxious to get see that everyone, everywhere, the doors open and customers has a place to call home,” said inside,” Congdon said. Drew Meyer, senior director, It’s a lean, mean operation ReStore Opwith only seven erations Group in full-time staff. So Atlanta. volunteers play a Meyer said the key role in keepReStore is much ing the operations more than a thrift running smoothly. store. There are Donations are 850 ReStores in welcome, but they the U.S. now, don’t take items and Habitat is that don’t meet still building the their standards. brand, Meyer said. “We strive to What they want have quality items is for people to and building maknow they will find terials,” he said. quality when they “That’s why we are come to the store. picky about what “It looks like we will accept. Old Home Depot in refrigerators and the back,” said other appliances Congdon. “It’s a are not acceptable. real home imNo torn matprovement center. tresses. But the donations “We have critefluctuate, so a lot ria for what donors of folks just stop can leave with us. by on a regular If you have any basis to see what doubts at all, call we have. ahead,” Meyer “We get a lot of said. treasurer hunters They don’t take who just like a real soft goods – linens, bargain no matter clothes, pillows or what it its.” sheets – and older DREW MEYER The do-it-yourSenior director, ReStore goods of any kind selfer is always in, that are past their Operations Group in Atlanta but so are small prime. They can’t contractors and afford to waste people who are space on things that won’t renovating. They get a lot of move quickly, he said. new cabinets, molding and What the ReStores try to even paint from jobbers. create is a win for all involved. Around 70 percent of mate-

Every time customers buy shelving for the garage or a refrigerator for the kitchen, they not only save a lot of money, they are contributing locally and worldwide to Habitat for Humanity’s goal.”

PHOTOS BY HATCHER HURD/STAFF

North Fulton’s Habitat ReStore is open for business. Welcoming everyone are ReStore Operations Group Senior Director Drew Meyer, Store Manager Ann Congdon and Marketing Director Jeremy Keen.

Many great finds await in the housewares section. rials are from resident donors, but the rest are corporate donations, mis-orders and missizes from retailers, remodelers and distributors who are just looking to unload stuff they can no longer use. “We get great items that would otherwise just find their way to the landfill,” Meyer said. Customers are all over the wall – pickers, housewives, contractors and the DIY guys, he said. As a Habitat representative, the ReStore expects to be involved in the community, Meyer said. “Each store has its own personality. People feel comfortable here. A lot of its appeal comes from the spirit of community Habitat exudes,” he said.

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SCHOOLS

forsythherald.com | Forsyth Herald | April 8, 2015 | 11

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South Forsyth students raised over $2,000 for Coins4CURE in Feb. In total, they raised over $2,700.

Forsyth schools raise money to fight childhood cancer Coins4CURE drive aims to end childhood cancer By JOE PARKER news@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Elementary, middle and high schools in Forsyth participated in the Coins4CURE drive, hoping to turn loose change into big changes in the fight against childhood cancer. The Coins4CURE fundraiser had students gather donations in the form of loose change to be donated to the Atlantabased nonprofit CURE Childhood cancer. Forsyth County Schools raised over $5,000 dollars during the month of February and $17,000 was raised in total. The Coins4CURE fundraiser was founded by Alpharetta Children’s Dentistry and Orthodontics. Liz Stockstill of Alpharetta Children’s stated the Coins-

4CURE fundraiser went very well, especially considering this was the first time Alpharetta Children’s has done such a fundraiser. “It was a really great first fundraiser,” Stockstill said. “We had great participation from schools, clubs, parents and the community as well as online donations.” The foundation of fundraiser was built upon the idea of students directly raising funds, and according to Stockstill it was a way to help children help other children. “We believe the fundraiser was a great way encourage students in community involvement and make a national impact,” Stockstill said. “It teaches valuable lessons on giving back and volunteering.” South Forsyth Middle

School raised $2,724, the most of any school. At the SFMS, students set up ‘wishing wells’ for donations. Students at Kelly Mill Elementary, who raised $1,932, held a ‘Dress Crazy for CURE’ day that allowed students to dress crazy if they donated to Coins4CURE. Funds raised by Forsyth County Schools, online donations and donations at Alpharetta Children’s totaled more than $17,000, all of which will go to CURE Childhood Cancer. Stockstill states that there is another Coins4CURE fundraiser planned for this September and more schools will be participating. For more information on CURE Childhood Cancer, visit www.curechildhoodcancer. org.

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SCHOOLS

12 | April 8, 2015 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

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Students selected for S.T.A.R. Council, 2015 Shuler Ensemble Cast ATLANTA - ArtsBridge Foundation, the arts education outreach arm of the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre, announced March 26 the 20 members of its 2015 S.T.A.R (Students Take A Role) Council and the 68 performers who will comprise the Shuler Student Ensemble for the 2015 Georgia High School Musical Theater Awards – Shuler Hensley Awards to be held on April 23. The S.T.A.R. Council gives technical theater students a professional and educational experience in theater and television production. S.T.A.R. Council students are nominated by their high school theater director and must display leadership, dedication, and a strong work ethic within their high school theater program. The S.T.A.R. Council, which is comprised of students from participating Shuler high schools, is invited to participate in several exclusive, behind-the-scenes events throughout the season. The main highlight for S.T.A.R. Council participants is serving as Production Assistants during Shuler Awards week in April where they will work alongside the programs’ professional designers and technicians to gain valuable experience.

Local students in 2015 Shuler Student Ensemble Coyvan Greer, Alpharetta High School Michaela Bramblett, Cambridge High School Maggie Thielens, Cambridge High School Amanda Hornef, Chattahoochee High School Andy Taylor, Chattahoochee High School Katelyn McCormack, Forsyth Central High School Connor Wood, Forsyth Central High School McKenna Conboy, Johns Creek High School Trevor Walker, Johns Creek High School Hayden Kerzie, Milton High School Mary Caroline Ownes, Milton High School Hannah Manikowski, North Forsyth High “Working with the cast and production crew of the Shuler Awards has opened doors to many new experiences and opportunities for me,” said S.T.A.R. Council Member Andrew Yarbro, a student at Lambert High School. “I have been able to work and learn from professional artists and technicians, which has given me knowledge that I can take back and apply to my school’s musical productions.” The Shuler Student Ensemble will feature 68 talented young men and women representing public and private schools throughout the state of

School Hannah Baughn, South Forsyth High School Jordan Duke, West Forsyth High School Kiarra Donnelly, Lambert High School Noel Isaacson, Lambert High School

Local students in S.T.A.R. Council Addison Webster, Cambridge High School Mikayla Mummaw, Forsyth Central High School Jack Stoffel, Johns Creek High School Sara Pekrul, North Forsyth High School Andrew Yarbro, Lambert High School

Georgia. These students, who were also nominated by their high school directors, will perform the opening and finale production numbers during the Shuler Awards. The Ensemble students will be taught by a team that includes a professional director, choreographer, music director and Tony Award winner Shuler Hensley. “I have had the pleasure of mentoring, performing with, and ultimately being inspired by the talented musical theater students who participate in the annual Georgia High School

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Music Theater Awards – Shuler Hensley Awards,” said Hensley. “For six years, I have observed firsthand how one moment on stage can change a child’s life. I have remained in contact with many students who have participated in the program over the years. All of them emphasize how important the experience was to their development as future artists and arts supporters. Being part of this program from its inception has been the most rewarding honor of my career.” The Shuler Awards will be at the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre. The Red Carpet

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I have been able to work and learn from professional artists and technicians, which has given me knowledge that I can take back and apply to my school’s musical productions.” ANDREW YARBRO S.T.A.R. Council Member, Lambert High School Studen

Event begins at 6:30 p.m. and curtain is at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are now on sale for $22.00 each. For more information, visit http://artsbridgega.org/programs/shuler-awards/. —Kathleen Sturgeon

COMMUNITY

Forsyth Herald | April 8, 2015 | 13 Submit your news & photos to news@appenmediagroup.com

COOKBOOKS FOR A CAUSE:

Local Girl Scout helps at food pantry By KATHLEEN STURGEON kathleen@appenmediagroup.com FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A local Girl Scout is hoping to make an impact in her community, one cookbook at a time. Breanne Smith, an eighthgrader at Pinecrest Academy, compiled, translated and constructed 100 cookbooks, in both Spanish and English, to give out at St. Brendan’s annual Easter Market food pantry event April 1. “The recipe book is based off ingredients they give out at the food pantry,” Smith said. “It took me about 62 hours off and on since last summer to make the cookbooks, 60 in Spanish, 40 in English.” St. Brendan’s, 4633 Shiloh Road, is a big contributor to Pinecrest, Smith said, so she wanted to give something back to the church. “I’ve always loved St. Brendan’s, and I always wanted to help out,” Smith said. There are three levels of Girl Scouts and a specific award for each, Smith said. She’s currently working on her Silver Award and this project

will help her achieve that goal, which is the highest award a Cadette can earn. “It’s been wonderful to watch her do this all by herself, including the research of the recipes, the leadership of working with the translator, getting copies made and labels,” said Donna Smith, Breanne’s mother. “It’s the first time she’s ever done a really big project like this on her own. I’m really proud of the initiative and drive she had to have to do it and to come up with the idea.” The food pantry is open weekly but clients are eligible once a month, said Barbara Gordon, who has been the director for the food pantry since it opened in 2009. “It’s amazing. It’s so refreshing when you have young people who want to get involved in helping,” Gordon said. The best part was gathering all the recipes, Smith said. She also said she loves to cook. Macaroni and cheese is her favorite. In addition to gathering the recipes, Donna Smith said Breanne wanted to make sure

PHOTOS BY KATHLEEN STURGEON/STAFF

Barbara Gordon, left, runs the food pantry Breanne Smith donated cookbooks to with her mother Donna Smith. the cookbook users would have everything they needed to make those recipes. “The intent initially was that they are easy-to-use recipes with a lot of ingredients that go with the ingredients they get from the pantry,” Donna Smith said. “That way they won’t have to struggle with how to make recipes; it’s all right here any time they get the ingredients.” This thoughtfulness was planned by Breanne and Gordon. “Before Breanne did her project, we talked a good bit and tried to come up with recipes that were practical – things the people can make with the food we give them,” Gordon said. “Some of the food and the way they like to cook are cultural. She’s done a marvelous job of trying to coordinate everything. It’s wonderful.”

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14 | April 8, 2015 | Forsyth Herald

Duaine Hathaway, Georiga CASA executive director, Janet Walden, CASA of Forsyth County executive director and Freda Hammonds Vice Chair, Georgia CASA Board of Directors.

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Front row, from left, Tonya Sheets, Leah Humphrey, back row from left, Timothy Haigood, Jake Morris, Jim Fuller, AJ Schramm, Victor Roman and Dr. Ray Perren, president of Lanier Technical College.

Forsyth CASA receives Lanier Tech medals at SkillsUSA competition award of excellence FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — CourtAppointed Special Advocated (CASA) of Forsyth County, Inc. has received the 2015 Established Program Award of Excellence from Georgia CASA. The award was given the CASA State Conference in Atlanta. The Forsyth County CASA was awarded for meeting benchmarks set by the state CASA. “We are truly honored to have earned this recognition,” said Janet

Walden, executive director of CASA of Forsyth County. “Our team of volunteers, child advocates, business partners and all who help our children through this program are part of our success in fulfilling our mission.” CASA of Forsyth County has served the dependent children in the county. In 2014, 92 CASA volunteers served 235 children. —Joe Parker

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FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Students from Lanier Technical College competed at the state SkillsUSA Postsecondary 2015 competition held at the Georgia International Conference Center in College Park. Team Lanier Tech won three gold and three silver medals. Lanier Tech students Victor Roman, AJ Schamm and Jake Morris took gold in Automated Manufacturing Technology. Jim Fuller won gold in Automotive Refinishing Technology and

Timothy Haigood won gold in Computerized Numeric Control. Lanier Tech also won three silver medals from Tonya Sheets in cosmetology, Leah Humphrey in nail care and from Juan Montoya and Matthew Williamson in mechatronics. Lanier Tech’s gold winners will compete in the 51st National Leadership and Skills Conference (NLSC) in Louisville, Ky. in June. —Joe Parker

15 | April 8, 2015 | Forsyth Herald | forsythherald.com

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SmileScapes Dentistry takes a stand against Oral Cancer using OralID™ Brought to you by: SmileScapes On March 1, 2015, Dr. Woods joined forces with Forward Science Technologies LLC, the manufacturer of OralID ™ and CytID ™ to promote early detection and public awareness of oral cancer. Currently, Cancer WOODS is the leading cause of death worldwide, but for almost all cancers the 5 year survival rate has improved over the last several years due to improved screening measures. Oral cancer is the exception, so Dr.

The standard of care for oral cancer screening lies in the responsibility of your general dentist. Woods has recognized the benefit of Fluorescence Technology that OralID ™ provides in efforts to discover oral can-

cer in its early stages and potentially save lives. The standard of care for oral cancer screening lies in the responsibility of your general dentist. Each year a visual and tactile exam should be performed, as part of your annual oral health assessment. Currently, 63% of oral cancer is found in late stages (stage III, IV), resulting in a 5 year survival rate of less than 50%. OralID ™ has the ability to “highlight” these irregularities in much earlier stages, before it is visible to your dental professional, in turn increasing the 5 year survival rate up to 80-90. It was once believed that only nicotine or

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increased alcohol use could lead to oral cancer, but we now know that due to environmental, socioeconomic, genetic and varied health factors; it makes the entire general public at risk. Dr. Woods wants to give all his patients the knowledge and opportunity to beat this epidemic. If you are interested in more information, you can call SmileScapes Dentistry at 770-551-0808 to schedule an appointment or visit www. oralid.com. With increased public awareness we hope change the trends, and encourage you to inquire with your dental professional on the precautionary steps necessary for early discovery of oral cancer.

Hearing with your brain? By Dr. Deborah Woodward Johns Creek Audiology Hearing affects EVERYTHING between your ears. If you’re like most people, you’re used to thinking of hearing as something that happens in your ears. What people often don’t think about is what happens between their ears, in the hearing part of their brain. That’s where sound becomes information that has meaning. Your brain has to work hard to make this happen. When the sound signals from your ears are compromised, your brain has to work even harder to fill in the gaps. This extra effort can take its toll. In fact, studies have shown that, over time, hearing loss can lead to isolation and depression. That’s why it makes sense to take care of your hearing health the same way you care about the rest of your health: There’s a lot more riding on it than just your hearing. What happens when you have a hearing challenge? The natural relationship between your ears and brain is disrupted. This is why it takes so much more effort to follow what is being said and why you may feel so much more tired at the end of a busy day. It’s your brain that hears - Not your ears. Your ears and your brain work together as a system, with your brain doing most of the heavy lifting. Give your brain exactly what it needs to hear. Your hearing is as unique as your fingerprint. And because no two are quite the same, no one else’s hearing profile is quite like yours. The right devices professionally selected and fit to your individual needs can: Be virtually invisible

Allow you to hear in “3D” so you can follow conversations that come from different directions in a room. Automatically select the best directional mode giving you clearer more natural sound - even in difficult hearing situations. Wirelessly connect to your Cell phone, tablet, TV, and car Along with award-winning service, the Johns Creek Audiology and Hearing Aid Center offers revolutionary pricing with initial costs often 30% to 40% less than typical because patients can choose to pay only for the hearing devices and not the 3-5 years of services “bundled” into the price. Complete diagnostic testing is provided along with tinnitus (ringing in the ears), vertigo, and ear wax management. All major insurance plans are accepted, and no-interest finance plans are available. Contact Johns Creek Audiology at 770-814-1260 to schedule your life changing appointment. www.YourHearingLink.com

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Your Itchy Pet: Spring Time Treat (ments)! Springtime in the South heralds the onset of allergic skin diseases in our favorite four legged furry family friends: our dogs and cats! Flea bite saliva and environmental allergens can trigger skin heat, redness, and itching sensations. The usual sites of itch are: the digits of the paws, face (especially around the eyes), the ears, and rears (anus and tail) of dogs and cats. Flea salivary allergens injected into the skin and environmental allergens (pollens; mold spores; house dust/

house dust mites, cockroach debris, etc.) are inhaled or absorbed through the skin to cause itch. Your pet may exhibit excessive scratching, paw licking and chewing, facial rubbing and hair loss. If your pet has fleas, be proactive and visit your primary care veterinarian for the most effective flea control products. Two prescription products with excellent safety profiles to kill fleas are 1) Oral, great tasting Nexgard (dosed month-

ly; also kills ticks) and 2) the Seresto Flea & Tick Collar (excellent repelling/killing effects for 8 months). What if your pet has been diagnosed with environmental allergies? Some excellent modes of therapy are available. The safest and most biologic treatment is weekly immunotherapy vaccine injections given usually for at least 3 – 5 years. A wonderful new oral

drug, Apoquel is available for severely allergic dogs needing immediate attention. Apoquel can be used in place of steroid pills and injections because Apoquel does not have the numerous potential worrisome

steroid side effects. Written by Dr. Mary Schick, your local board certified veterinary dermatologist, owner of Atlanta Veterinary Specialists, the specialists who know your pets best!

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April 8, 2015 23

Why older adults don’t get the sleep they need By Dr. David Westerman Getting a restful night sleep can become a nightmare, especially as we age. One big misconception is that as we age, the amount of sleep we need decreases. The truth is adults need seven to eight hours of sleep per night. This is harder to attain as adults become seniors. With age, sleep becomes lighter and deep sleep (known as delta sleep) may be entirely absent by the age of 80 (earlier in some patients). Sleep is often fragmented, especially in retirees, who nap during the day and sleep less at night. Certain medications can also interfere with sleep as well as forced changes in lifestyle or worrisome medical conditions. Nighttime sleep may also be interrupted by physical complaints such as arthritis, noise, heart disease, reflux, hot flashes (in women) and urges to urinate. Fragmented sleep leads to unrefreshing sleep and a sense that one has slept less. Other sleep disruptors include: Insomnia may be more frequent in the elderly, where nighttime disturbances are followed by difficulty in returning

Promote good quality sleep:

to sleep. Sleep Apnea, where pauses in breathing occur during sleep, is a sleep disorder seen with greater frequency in older adults. Restless Leg Syndrome is another disorder that could keep people up at night. Symptoms include creepy-crawly or irritable feelings in the feet and legs particularly in the evening while relaxing and watching television, for example. Rapid Eye Movement

Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a condition where subjects retaliate in response to a disturbing dream and may injure themselves or their bed partner. Patients with Parkinson’s sometimes have RBD. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease may be a major cause of sleep disturbance that sometimes causes agitation and confusion. Advanced Sleep Phase Syndrome (ASPS) is when the circadian rhythm or body clock

is adjusted, so the preferred sleep time is moved earlier and earlier. There is a treatment for most sleep disorders. If you or a family member feel unrefreshed or fatigued during the day, it’s important to discuss this with your doctor or a sleep specialist. In all cases, it is important to practice good sleep hygiene. Dr. David Westerman is medical director at the North-

• Keep regular sleep habits • Develop a period of relaxation or “downtime” before bedtime • Go to bed only when sleepy • Exercise regularly, but not close to bedtime • Maintain a healthy diet and avoid eating close to bedtime • Minimize napping, especially in the evening • Avoid caffeine, nicotine and alcohol before bedtime • Create an environment conducive to sleep (cool, dark and quiet) • Use your bed for sleeping and intimacy only (no TV, checking social media, emailing) side Hospital Sleep Disorders Center in Atlanta. The Northside Center is accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Call (404) 236-8200 to schedule a consultation with a board certified sleep specialist or please visit www. northside.com/sleep for more information.

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24 April 8, 2015

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OMG! No More Glasses! By Milan Eye Center Is LASIK surgery the right choice for you? LASIK (laserassisted in situ keratomileusis) is an outpatient refractive surgery procedure intended to reduce a person’s dependency on glasses or contact lenses. An excimer laser is used to permanently reshape the clear covering of the eye called the cornea. This reshaping of the cornea will improve the way the eye focuses light thus correcting a person’s nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/ or astigmatism.

First approved for use by the FDA in 1998, LASIK has been steadily gaining popularity and has satisfied millions of people worldwide. Each year, approximately 700,000 Americans have the procedure and the number continues to grow. Vast majority of patients are happy with their results and tend to recommend the procedure to their family and friends. As with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with LASIK but the overall complication rate is low. Infection and inflammation are rare possibilities and

usually can be treated with topical medications. LASIK is not suited for everyone. As a patient, it is important to have a clear understanding of the procedure, the risk and benefits, and candidacy status. What to expect before, during, and after surgery will vary from doctor to doctor and patient to patient. However, it is essential that individuals considering LASIK have realistic expectations. LASIK, if performed successfully, will allow individuals to perform most of their everyday tasks indepen-

dent of corrective lenses. LASIK is performed in an outpatient surgical center, with the patient reclining under a surgical device called an excimer laser. The length of the procedure can vary between 10-15 minutes depending on the patient’s prescription.

During your free LASIK consultation, our medical team will determine your candidacy for LASIK, explain the procedure in depth and answer any questions you may have. Schedule your free LASIK exam at Milan Eye Center where compassion meets excellence in eye care.

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Retirement living should be exceptional living. Situated in one of the most desirable spots in Johns Creek, this new 100 apartment community is within close proximity to world-class healthcare facilities, cultural venues, fine shopping and dining. Arbor Terrace of Johns Creek is a one-of-a-kind community offering a luxurious lifestyle with concierge services, chefprepared meals, housekeeping and more, without a large investment or long-term commitment. “We are changing the way people live,” says Beth Richardson, Executive Director at Arbor Terrace. “Working with strong on-site partners in healthcare, including 24 hour nursing staff and on site therapy, we can provide as

much or as little care as our residents need.” Arbor Terrace’s goal is to provide the residents with comfort, security and peace of mind. This beautiful community will have all the amenities you would expect including a fitness center with a variety of exercise and educational offerings as well as a vibrant social calendar. As Judd Harper, President of the Arbor Company points out, “We consider it our priority to help you stay fit and healthy. Our dedicated staff is committed to facilitating our residents’ physical, intellectual and cultural well-being.” For more information on Arbor Terrace of Johns Creek, please call (770)-999-9577 and visit our website at www.atjohnscreek.com.

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Caring for older adults (NAPSI)—With a growing aging population, the amount of family caregivers in the United States is also on the rise. There are nearly 45 million people who serve as a caregiver for a family member or friend who is 50 or older. Serving as a caregiver can be rewarding but difficult. Often, caregivers are unaware of local aging resources that might be able to assist them. The Eldercare Locator is a free, public service that connects older adults and caregivers to information about local resources and services such as meal delivery programs, transportation options, home modification assistance and in-home support services. Additionally, caregivers can find out about support groups in their community and programs that offer a break from caregiving responsibilities. The Eldercare Locator also has free informational brochures for older adults and caregivers on topics such as medication management, preventing falls in the home, transportation options, avoiding financial exploitation, and brain health. All brochures can be ordered by calling 800-677-1116 or downloaded online at www.

There are nearly 45 million people who serve as a caregiver for a family member or friend who is 50 or older. Serving as a caregiver can be rewarding but difficult. eldercare.gov. If you are a caregiver who is seeking information about caring for your loved one and you want to learn about community resources that may be able to assist, call the Eldercare Locator at 800-677-1116 or visit www.eldercare.gov. The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging and is administered by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

April 8, 2015 25

Are you having a hard time finding a primary care doctor? According to a recent report by the Georgia Board for Physician Workforce, the state ranked 39th in the ratio of doctors per 100,000 population. The doctor shortage continues to limit patients’ access to care and is most critical in primary care. Some doctors have stopped taking new patients altogether. If you do find a doctor that will accept you as a new patient, you may still have to wait if you want to schedule a routine visit. If you are on Medicare or Medicaid you might not be able to find a doctor and may have to visit the emergency room. In which case, you will have to wait and may not see the same doctor again. There is a solution – the best time to find a new primary care doctor is when a new practice opens. You need to sign up early on, even if it’s for a routine physical. Most insurances pay for a physical once a year without requiring any co-pay. If you sign up early on, the doctor will be familiar with your medical history and it will be easier to get an appointment later on when you have a medical condition. You need to sign up before the

doctor stops accepting new patients! Fortunately, for residents of North Atlanta, signing up with an experienced primary care doctor just got easier with the opening of a new clinic in Alpharetta. Alpha Family Medicine is a primary care clinic that specializes in Family and Geriatric Medicine for all ages – children, adults and elders. The clinic is centrally located on North Main Street (Highway 9), close to City Hall. Currently, the clinic is accepting new patients. You can walk-in or schedule a same day appointment with the Doctor. Or if you cannot make it during office hours, you can sched-

ule an appointment for early mornings late evenings, or weekends. The clinic is operated by Shyla Reddy, MD and her medical staff. Dr. Reddy has more than 15 years of primary care experience in Family & Geriatric Medicine. She is board certified in Family and Geriatric Medicine. She taught/supervised medical students and resident doctors in an university setting. She also obtained a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology from Emory University. To sign up as a new patient or to schedule an appointment, contact 678-619-1974 or visit www.alphafammed.com

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26 April 8, 2015

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A new nreakthrough in Oral Cancer early diagnosis April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month By Dr. Ushma Patel, DMD Did you know that Oral Cancer Kills One American every Hour? Within 15 years Cancer will become the #1 Killer surpassing Heart Disease. Cancer of the mouth kills thousands every year, and it leaves thousands more with a lifetime of hideous facial deformity as a result of surgical treatment. You don’t have to be a smoker or ‘chew’ tobacco to develop oral cancer. Anyone can get it. Oral cancer kills more people each year than either skin cancer (malignant melanoma) or cervical cancer. Of the 20 most common cancers, oral and laryngeal cancers are the only two that have not had a significant improvement in

survival rate over the last 20 years. And oral cancer has not had improvement in the death rate in the last 40 years! The average fivePATEL year survival rate for oral cancer is still only about 50%. Oral cancer usually starts out as a red, or more often, a white patch somewhere in the mouth. Although a large number of people have similar appearing white or red abnormalities in their mouth, the vast majority of these lesions are benign. However, up to 6% of these innocuous, harmless looking lesions have been found to be

pre-cancerous or even cancerous. In the past, because millions of people have had innocuous looking lesions in their mouths, it has not been practical to perform a surgical biopsy on most of them. As a result, many pre-cancerous or early stage cancers remained undetected. Deforming surgeries could have been prevented by early detection! But things have recently changed for the better. Dentists now have the ability to easily test each and every one of these lesions just to be sure they are harmless. Regular dental exams / checkups in our office now include this oral cancer screening. We now use OralID for Oral screening, for more info check out the videos at https://www.youtube.com/ user/TheOralID. “A two minute

exam could save your life!” For more information, contact Dr. Ushma Patel at 678-894-7926 or visit www.HiTechSmiles.com. In the month

of April we will offer complimentary oral cancer screenings when you come in for your regular dental checkup appointment.

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COMMUNITY

Forsyth Herald | April 8, 2015 | 27 Submit your news & photos to news@appenmediagroup.com

Beer bigger than ever Annual Rowell Beer Festival benefits STAR House Foundation By A.J. McNAUGHTON aj@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – Over the past few years, Roswell’s Beer Festival has grown dramatically. The event was once attended by a couple hundred people, but now is a must-go for the entire metro Atlanta area. About 1,500 people attended the March 28 event at Roswell Town Square. The festival benefited the STAR House Foundation, whose mission is to enrich the community by promoting academic success and empowering lifelong achievement in at-risk children. Proceeds from the festival went directly to STAR House. The estimated amount of money raised is $100,000. Festival-goers were able to purchase general admission tickets for $50, which included a souvenir tasting glass and as many beer samples that could be safely consumed. For $100, they could purchase a VIP ticket that included early access to the festival, a roped off section with access to cask beers made for the event, two free food tokens and access to the luxury restroom trailer. Roswell’s newest brewery, Gate City Brewing Company,

Festival-goers received tasting glasses to sample hundreds of beers. was handing out samples, including beers named 1864 and Copperhead. Other local breweries included Alpharetta’s Jekyll, Forsyth’s Cherry Street and Atlanta’s Sweetwater. The event was attended by people all over the area including Janelle DeLeonardis from Roswell. This was her third year in a row attending. Even people new to the area couldn’t pass up the festival. Nick Ziech had just moved to

PHOTOS BY A.J. MCNAUGHTON/STAFF

Roswell residents, from left, Janelle DeLeonardis, Katie Langston, Ray Cunliffe, Paul DeLeonardis and Samir Chauhan are all smiles during the Roswell Beer Festival. Atlanta a week prior and said he needed to attend. Live entertainment was also on-hand. Local bands The Free Byrds and The Highbeams provided the soundtrack for the afternoon. To learn more about the Roswell Beer Festival, visit roswellbeerfestival.com. For more about STAR House, visit starhousefoundation.org.

Roswell Town Square was filled with people ready to drink beer.

Roswell welcomes new brewery Gate City By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com ROSWELL, Ga. – Georgia’s newest brewery will be setting up shop in Roswell, adding to the list of new craft breweries in north Atlanta. Named after one of Atlanta’s historic nicknames, Gate City Brewing is the brain child of three Roswell residents. Pat Rains and Brian Borngesser met at the weekly Roswell Rotary meetings and discovered they shared a passion for beer as well as the dream of having their own business. The two hit it off. Rains grew up in Portland, Oregon, where, he said, “there is a brewery on every corner.” When he moved to Georgia 11 years ago, the beer scene was a little different. “It stood out to me how few choices there were,” he said. “I couldn’t get the styles I like.” So he started home brewing, making his own beer. “Beer has always been a passion of mine,” he said. “I like variety and will try every beer I can get my hands on. I like drinkability, a beer I can sit back and relax with. I envision our beers are ones you can sit somewhere and have a beer with friends and enjoy it.” He and his partners have taken that

JONATHAN COPSEY/STAFF

Meet the guys behind Gate City Brewing. From left, Garrett Nail, Pat Rains and Brian Borngesser lift a pint of their new beer at one of their kickoff celebration parties on Canton Street, Feb. 10. idea and put it into their own beer. The brewery opened with two beers – the “Copperhead” amber ale and the “1864” IPA. The Copperhead Ale is a medium-bodied American Amber flavored with Pacific Northwest hops with a copper color and crisp finish. 1864

IPA is an approachable American IPA, which offers a slightly fruity nose and a very drinkable hop flavor. Rains said there are plans for several more in the works. There will be four year-round beers with some specialty and seasonal beers as well.

Rains said there were over 200 people at the brewery’s weeklong kickoff schedule of events Feb. 9-13. “Everybody is so excited that there is going to be something local,” Rains said. “We are overwhelmed by the support we have seen. “To buy the first pint of beer that I had brewed is a good feeling,” he said. “It has taken years of work to get this going. It’s exciting.” It took the guys at Gate City about eight months to get all their licenses – opening a brewery is no easy task. But when it was complete, Rains and his partners have the state’s first “alternating proprietorship.” Right now, Rains has no permanent location, so Gate City is cohabitating with Woodstockbased brewery Reformation. Rains said Gate City is looking at moving into a permanent Roswell location in the coming months, where there will be a tasting room and event space along with the brewery. Rains said the brewery will focus on serving the Roswell area first. “This is our hometown,” he said. “We all live and work here in this community.” For more about Gate City and updates on their brewing, visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gatecitybrewing.

COMMUNITY

28 | April 8, 2015 | Forsyth Herald

Submit your news & photos to news@appenmediagroup.com

Dog of the week: Cooper FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Cooper is a really good dog. The Humane Society calls him “the Coop.” Cooper is a Chocolate Lab/American Staffordshire Terrier and he is 2-and-half years old. He loves people a lot. But when you think you need a little break from Cooper wanting hugs, all you need to do is give him a tennis ball. Visit Cooper at the Humane Society of Forsyth County at 4440 Keith Bridge Road. Hours are noon to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Also visit www.forsythpets.org for more adoptable animals. —Kathleen Sturgeon

Cat of the week: Miss Kitty FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — After she was rescued from a kill shelter, Miss Kitty has been settling in at the Humane Society’s adoption center. Hopefully she won’t get too comfortable because she needs a forever home. This petite brown tabby loves attention, and is so happy to be petted. She gets along well with other kitties too.

Blotter: Continued from Page 3

BEARFOOTRANCH.ORG

Bearfoot Ranch instructs ‘gentle-horsemanship’ FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — Bearfoot Ranch hosted a two-day clinic instructing riders on ‘gentle-horsemanship,’ a way for the relationship between horse a rider to be harmonious and nonabusive. Ed Dabney, horse trainer for major motion pictures and the television series, “Sleepy Hollow,” instructed the art of gentle-horsemanship, which provides horse and rider

essential communication, respect and safe riding skills for all levels. “As we prepare for Special Olympics of Georgia 2015, using gentle-horsemanship techniques will enhance our training methods, and allow us to continue our quest of providing healing with horses in a safer environment,” said Melanie Vaughan of Bearfoot Ranch. —Joe Parker

edly saw her ex-boyfriend running away from the car. When police came back the next night to review the video, they reportedly confirmed the ex-boyfriend, along with two other males, one of which was recently fired from Pollo Tropical, driving up to the car and egging it. The police are going to go to Walmart to see if there is any video of the men buying eggs. At the time of the report, no charges had been filed.

Child’s uncle and father fight over her FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A man called the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Officer March 25 in reference to a fight that just occurred. The man reportedly told the officer his sister’s child’s father came to the house to do a custody exchange. He told officers he was unhappy with the child’s health care insurance so when the father was leaving, he told him he needed to purchase better insurance.

DEATH NOTICES Larry Harold Bennett, 75, of Cumming, passed away March 25, 2015. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.

Fred North Poole, 93, of Cumming, passed away March 30, 2015. Arrangements by McDonald and Son Funeral Home.

Zackery Scott Gaydon, 26, of Cumming, passed away March 27, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home.

Casey Shea Ring, of Roswell, passed away March 25, 2015. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.

Yiqing Huang, 75, of Alpharetta, passed away March 29, 2015. Arrangements by Byars Funeral Home.

Virginia Anorma Wolfe Wood, 85, of Cumming, passed away March 27, 2015. Arrangements by Ingram Funeral Home. Lewis Yockey, of Alpharetta, passed away March 27, 2015. Arrangements by Northside Chapel Funeral Directors.

Friendly and sweet, she would be a great addition to a lucky home. Fill out an application on Miss Kitty or any of the cats online at www. forsythpets.org. The adoption center is at 4440 Keith Bridge Road. Hours are noon to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. —Kathleen Sturgeon

The uncle told officers he told the father very politely, but then the father ‘exploded into a rage.’ The father reportedly then threw the uncle into the side of a truck in the driveway leaving a large dent in the side of the truck. They tussled until the uncle was able to pin the father to the ground and the uncle’s mother, the child’s grandmother, came outside to separate the two men. None of the family saw the fight. The father left the area prior to the officer’s arrival. The owner of the truck said all he wanted was for his truck to get fixed. The uncle said he wanted to press charges and the officer told him how to obtain a warrant.

Man harassed walking home from school FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A 23-year-old man was coming home from school March 25 when as he got closer to his house the car in front of him stopped in the middle of the street and stared at him. After a minute of this, the man reportedly passed the car and the driver stared at him

Barth: Continued from Page 8 became my responsibility to directly contribute to the paper. In writing an article on the advent of electric vehicles in Georgia, I was able to put my research skills to practice, as well as interview one of the foremost advocates of electric vehicles in Georgia, Jeff Cohen. In addition, I assisted in the editing process of the article. After the article was published,

through the passenger side window as he parked at his home. The man said the car stopped in front of his driveway and said “you don’t pass on the side of my car like that. If you would have hit my Corvette, I would have killed you. You don’t know who you’re dealing with.” The man then went inside his house to get some belongs but when he came back, he noticed the driver passing his driveway again and said “you’re dead” from his car as he turned into his own driveway a few houses down. The driver then got out of his car with a camera and began to record the man. The officer went to talk to the driver who told officers he told the man he almost hit his car and if he would have there would have “been problems.” The driver told officers he then went to get his camera to take pictures of how the man was parked. Officers advised both parties it would probably be best if they avoided each other if they couldn’t get along based off of their encounter. The officer also told them to approach their HOA if they have issues about parked cars and speeding in the neighborhood. I received a great deal of positive feedback, which cemented my confidence in writing and served as a reward to my hard work. Interning along with school is somewhat of a challenge. However, the knowledge gained here at Appen has been well worth the time. I’m immeasurably grateful for the opportunity to work here at Appen. I know that my contributions have been beneficial to the company, and I hope that you as readers have enjoyed my work.

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Forsyth Herald | April 8, 2015 | 29 Submit your news & photos to news@appenmediagroup.com

NFHS:

Teen driving statistics: • Every day in America, 28 people die as a result of drunk driving crashes. • In 2012, 29.1 million people admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol, more than three times the population of Georgia. • The 2014 Youth Risk Behavior Survey found among high school students, 35 percent drank some alcohol, 21 percent binge drink, 10 percent drove after drinking alcohol and 22 percent rode with a driver who had been drinking • Teen alcohol use kills 4,700 people each year, more than all illegal drugs combined. • Every two minutes, a person is injured in a drunk driving accident. • On average, two out of every three people will be involved in a drunk driving crash in their lifetime. • Forsyth County has averaged 14.8 fatalities due to crashes from 2008-2012. • Twenty-two fatalities occurred in Forsyth County in 2012 due to traffic accidents (28 percent of those included alcohol).

Continued from Page 1 nothing compared to how intense it actually was,” Bird said. “At first, I thought I’d be lying there and it would be no big deal, but then it started happening and I had to make sure I didn’t cry. It was hard because of the narration talking about how I wasn’t breathing and how it would affect all of the other actors and the baby in the other car [who ‘died.’] It was really rough.” There have been a lot of casualties recently from NFHS, Bird said. “It’s been really hard and I think it’ll hit home with a lot of people,” Bird said. “The deaths break my heart because sometimes it was a mistake or it was out of their control completely, and it’s hard especially when they’re close friends with you.” A hooded figure, the Grim Reaper, walked around the scene during the event and was played by Jack Doyle, a senior. “I didn’t think it’d be as hard as it was,” Doyle said. “I’m really close with Michaela and I was standing by the tarp when they unveiled her, and it was horrible.” A lot of people make bad decisions, Doyle said, includ-

ing a driver of an 18-wheeler who almost killed Doyle’s brother. “The driver was drunk and ran through an intersection,” Doyle said. “My brother died three times and they had to revive him.” Before and during Bird’s “funeral,” senior Perri Rabbitt read two poems from the victim’s point of view. “I wanted to make an impact,” Rabbitt said. “If anybody’s eyes were opened today, even one person, so in their future they decided not to get into the car with a drunk driver or not to drink and drive themselves, then it’d all be worth it. I knew it was for a really good cause, and if there’s anything we can do to prevent

that, then we should do that.” Steve Honn, school safety manager for FCS, said they try to come up with a program around prom season. This year’s program stressed the importance of wearing a seatbelt, because there seems to be a trend of not wearing one at NFHS, Honn said. “We try to come up with a program that would be important for kids to view and see what their decisions, whether at a party or home, how they could affect them and what could ultimately happen,” Honn said. “We wanted to make sure we don’t get in the mindset of ‘it can’t happen to me.’ When we make the dramatization the way we do and with all these people involved,

it’s a stark contrast as to what’s in their minds of what can happen.” The program changes every year, Honn said, so that way it’ll seem more realistic. Apart from realizing this type of incident could happen to them, Honn said they try to help the kids feel how hurt family members would feel and realize their teachers, friends and family love them. “As I look around, I see tears coming from even our actors’ eyes,” Honn said. “I think it’s impactful. We never think we’ll affect 100 percent, but we

go by the old saying ‘if you affect one, you’ve done your job’ and that’s truly how we feel. If we change the mind of one who may make a bad decision in the future, that’s OK.” The event concluded with a sobering statistic. NFHS’s current enrollment is 2,382 students. Put into perspective, that’s 709 drivers between the ages of 15-20 who have been killed in vehicle crashes in the last four years. With 709 deaths, that would be equal to losing 64 percent of the junior and senior class combined at NFHS.

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